Mad for Love

(La Dama Boba)

by

LOPE DE VEGA
translated by John Farndon

Page 1 of 113
 Copyright © 1997, 2008 by John Farndon

Caution
This play is fully protected by copyright. All rights
reserved.
All enquiries concerning performing rights should be
addressed to John Farndon, 43b Offord Road, London
N1 1EA. No performance may be given unless a licence
has been obtained.

This translation of La Dama Boba was first performed on 23rd

April 1997 at the Riverside Studios in London.

Page 2 of 113
 MAD FOR LOVE
(La Dama Boba)

ABOUT LOPE DE VEGA

Dramatist, poet and novelist, Lope de Vega (1562-1635) is

one of the most remarkable figures in the history of theatre.
Rivalling Calderon de la Barca as the greatest playwright of
the Golden Age of Spanish Drama, he is perhaps the most
prolific serious writer of all time. Cervantes described Lope
as a prodigy of nature and it is true. Besides more than 20
volumes of prose and poetry and countless letters, he is
known to have written at least 500 plays and may have
written 1500! Shakespeare wrote just 36.

Lope wrote plays of almost every kind – tragedies, comedies,

cloak-and-dagger plays, romances, history plays, religious
plays – and they include many of the masterpieces of
European drama. He had a particular knack for searching out
good plots, and his easy mastery of stagecraft and his ability
to please audiences was unrivalled. Almost singlehandedly,
Lope created the three-act dramas that dominated European
theatre for centuries, and it was Lope who developed the
comedia which became the standard playform of the Spanish
Golden Age.

Lope was a man of enormous passion and vitality, and his

long and tempestuous life brought him two wives, numerous
affairs, 14 children and repeated brushes with authority. At
the age 52, he became a priest, but immediately began an
intense and tragic affair with a woman called Marta de
Nevares which survived the loss of her sight and her sanity.

Page 3 of 113
When she died in 1632, he was irreconcilable, and spent his
last years in repentance, whipping himself every Friday until
blood dripped from the walls of his chamber. Despite the
scandal his affairs aroused, Lope died in 1635 a national
hero, and his funeral lasted nine days.

Notes on the verse

In El perro del hortelano, Lope de Vega uses a variety of
verse forms, each creating a particular effect. There are seven
forms in all – redondillas, quintillas, decimas and romances
with eight syllables/stresses a line; and sueltos, octavas and
sonetos with eleven syllables/ stresses a line. Redondillas, for
instance, rhyme abba. Romances have assonance on every
other line. Sonetos are 14 lines, ending in a couplet. And so
on.

Because the verse is so important to the dynamics of the play,

I have tried to follow the original verse forms as far as
possible. But Lope de Vega does not stick to the formula
rigidly, and neither have I. In a few places, I have used a
verse form that, in English, better recreates the original
effect. In a very few places, too, where it seemed appropriate,
I have dispensed with both rhyme and assonance, or allowed
myself a little flexibility with the metre.

Page 4 of 113
CAST

STORYTELLER

OTAVIA, a noble widower of Madrid

Her daughters:
NISE
FINEA

Their suitors:
LISEO, a not so wealthy heir
LAURENCIO a poor scholar

The companions:
CELIA, Nise’s friend
CLARA, Finea’s friend
TURIN, Liseo’s friend
PEDRO, Laurencio’s friend

Nise’s fans:
DUARDO
FENISO

Finea’s tutors
RUFINO
DANCIN MAESTRO

Otavia’s assistants
MISENO
LENA

LEANDRO, a traveller

MUSICIANS

Page 5 of 113
Storyteller:

Hello, everyone! Today, we are here to tell you a story inspired by

Lope de Vega's "La Dama Boba," written back in 1613. We much
prefer John Fardon's translations title "Mad for Love." Worth
mentioning, in this version you will also hear texts from female
writers of the same period, Sor Juana, Maria de Zayas, Ana Caro,
Santa Teresa...

And guess what, this is a story about LOVE...Now, let's talk about
this subject. It's a big word, right? What does Love mean? Are we
talking about romance, friendship, trust, or are we looking into
from the perspective of its complexities such as betrayal and
revenge, or the simple pleasures like love music, cats, yes cats?

Is this the prologue? I guess that it is, so imagine this: Two

daughters, FINEA AND NISE and their mother OTAVIA. She's
throwing a party to find suitors for her girls because, you know,
weddings are part of the agenda.

I can hear the music, it has already started ….

Page 6 of 113
OPENING SONG by A Sonnet by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Oh world, what do you want?

How have I offended you,

I hold a beautiful mind

I am not for empty beauty.

I don't want treasures nor money,

the riches I seek are in me ,

When I think big I am free

I don't give my time to money .

Beauty comes and beauty goes,

Gold is a malleable thing

Time is passing for us all

This is why I've always known

The vanities of this world

Are just play and nothing more

¿En perseguirme, mundo, qué interesas?

Page 7 of 113
 ¿En qué te ofendo, cuando sólo intento
poner bellezas en mi entendimiento
y no mi entendimiento en las bellezas?
Yo no estimo tesoros ni riquezas,
y así, siempre me causa más contento
poner riquezas en mi entendimiento
que no mi entendimiento en las riquezas.
Yo no estimo hermosura que vencida
es despojo civil de las edades
ni riqueza me agrada fementida,
teniendo por mejor en mis verdades
consumir vanidades de la vida
que consumir la vida en vanidades.

ACT 1

Enter LISEO and TURIN. TURIN is

shivering

Liseo Gorgeous inn!

Turin So well ventilated!

Liseo It's not too cold!

Page 8 of 113
Turin And that fine blend Of polyester and lice, such
a trend.

Liseo Yes, the Yllescas is venerated

For its ‘nightlife'. They say that
Traveller’s not been anywhere
Until they breath it's homely air.

Turin Greasy carpet and dead rat.

Liseo And folk of all kinds drop in here –

From Granada and from Seville,

From Galicia and from Castille.
From the whole Andalusia
A few sit quietly with their beer –
But most come to bend their ear
With tales of the Golden Age,
And also, there's nothing strange
About the taste of this place –
For I could eat their whole menu
You said you've tried the casserole?

Turin I might pass on that but strangely,

and also most coincidentally,
That reminds me, we must dine.

Liseo Sadly, Turin, there isn’t time.

We must leave this hostelry
By the next coach, and we'll be
landing at Madrid by midnight.
A lover must come by day,
before the sun goes away.

Page 9 of 113
Turin Lucky then, I thought to pack
A repast for you and me.

Liseo What have you got?

Turin Wait and see.

Liseo What is it?

Turin A little snack.

Liseo Come on, now what’s in your bag?

Turin A surprise. Just wait and see.

Liseo Oh Turin, stop teasing me!

Hunger is not such a drag
If there's a menu to grab?

Turin So you really want to know?

Liseo Yes, Turin, I want to know.

Turin You really do?

Liseo Yes, I do.

Page 10 of 113
Turin Well, sausage meat.

Liseo Sausage meat.

Turin And plum jam.

Liseo Jam! Turin, please.

Couldn’t you’ve brought some cheese?
Real men do not eat sweets.

Turin But you are not a real man.

You’re a suitor and a fiancé.

Liseo Not until later my friend.

Turin Well, enjoy it while you can.

Highborn ladies like Finea
Are so fragrant and so neat
That they might not like to eat…

Liseo Yes?

Turin Anything that’s too severe.

I bet she has a sweet tooth
And that she's stuffing her belly
With just honey, candy and jelly.

Liseo Then I'll be eating sweets too.

Turin Have you heard of what its said

About her nice sister Nise?

Liseo Is her sister Nise nice?

I'm sure that she's also fair.
Page 11 of 113
Turin Nise’s gorgeous - so they say.

Liseo My Finea is lovely, too

If all the rumours say true.
She’s well-endowed, suffice said.

Turin Lovely stacks of cash you mean?

Liseo Over forty thousand ducats.

Turin That's nice. I do like big buckets

Of cash, and cash in between.
If a common man could afford
Some luxuries and expensive treats...

Liseo Come on, Turin, it’s time to eat.

Turin He’d be as good as any lord!

Enter Leandro walking

Leandro Friends, is the food here good?

Liseo We’ve only just arrived, sorry.

Leandro And you are in such a hurry?

Liseo Are you travelling Madrid-ward?

Leandro No, for I left there yesterday;

The race proved too much, I guess!

Liseo It can be really tough , yes;

But if you are lucky, it pays.

Page 12 of 113
 We won’t be staying with you;
We’re going to the city!

Leandro Perhaps you must. God have pity.

Liseo Maybe you've heard of the lady

We’re visiting?

Leandro Just one lady?

Madrid is a game of chess
Where small pieces are destroyed.
The rooks, the bishops and Queen Stand firm
aloof from everything; The pawns fall
into the void.
It is chaos and confusion.

Liseo But Otavioa is not a pawn.

Leandro Ah, no. not her, she is highborn;

A true lady – a noblewoman.

Liseo And mother of two ladies.

Leandro Yes, A strange pair of trees.

One is tall, the other thick
That's what the mean voices say
But it's better not to hear
Nise, is wise, clever and calm
Finea is weird, wild, no charm
And really bossy!

Liseo Oh dear!

Page 13 of 113
Leandro A massive dowry is at stake.
I pity the man who weds her;
Beside a monster he'll wake.
But no doubt there will be cake.

Liseo And so you said, sir, that Nise

Is both beautiful and clever?

Leandro Well, I do know that wherever

Her special charm has been praised.

Liseo How can two born of same blood

Grow up so unequal, then?
And why so different when
They’re both sisters of blood?

Leandro They say that the father’s brother.

Left her with all of his estate
Because that was the only bait
That might just persuade another
Of equal rank to marring her
Even though she is not all there.

Liseo It seems unfair.

Leandro Why unfair?

Seems to me that poor Finea

Is thus balanced by these riches

To Nise’s riches of the mind.

Page 14 of 113
Turin Have some cold meat.
Liseo I am not hungry.

Which is mine?
Leandro Any thing else?

Liseo No…thanks.
Exit Leandro
Oh my God.

Turin Well who’d

Have thought it? What now?

Liseo Forget food.

Get your stuff. It‘s time to go.

Turin Don’t you worry. It mayn’t be so.

Liseo I’ll kill myself; it’ll be painless

If it’s true and she’s so brainless.

Turin Of course, you could just say no.

ENTER OTAVIA, MISANO AND LENA

Otavio I love my daughters dearly but I swear

Finding their suitors is making me despair
The two of them will drive me wild,
Finea’s, of course, a problem of a child.
Though now she clearly has the wherewithal,
Page 15 of 113
 But its's Nise exasperates me mainly
For, dear Misena, I should tell you plainly
She is too clever and too arrogant by half.
She may be feted for her wit and charm,
But it’s only vulgar men approve or laugh.
I tell you friend, without a single qualm,
If I had to make a choice between the two:
Odd or clever, then odd would always do.

Lena For God’s sake, please don’t talk like this again.

Otavio Don’t get me wrong; I am not talking here

Of wisdom but of over-education.
In women, the quality I hold dear
Is true virtue and not sophistication.

Lena So, Otavia, just let me get this clear.

You’re saying women should have children no brains

Otavio I am saying the wisdom of a wife remains

In love and honest service to her man,
She should have a quiet and modest life.
She should cultivate respect around the house.
She should dress quite simply as befits a wife.
She should move around as silent as a mouse.
She should avert her ears, avoid strife.
She should always teach her children what's right

Page 16 of 113
 That it’s better to be clean than to be bright.
Why educate a girl to speak her mind?
This search for Nise’s match’ll drive me mad
The more I fret, the less answers I find.
You know, Misena, what would make me glad?
That Nise was just slightly less refined.

Miseno Let's see what future son-in-laws have you ...

Lena Well, Miseno, Nise’s just a few,

Even though she is so erudite and clever.
But sweet Finea with her bags of gold
Has no shortage of suitors whatsoever.

Otavio On her prospect, not her nature, they'r sold.

So many of them, now, I’d rather never Meet
another disingenuous groom.

Miseno READS SOME SUITORS PROFILES

Miseno Well look a this one, Carlos says ...

"I like my women young". And Miguel:
I" can't stand a chatterbox"

Speaking ill of women, as I see it,

isn't always necessarily a reflection
of personal sentiments, but rather
an adherence to the vulgarity
of the masses. It's akin to the chaos
that ensues during a revelry,
where people from all walks, common or illustrious,
are swept up in the tumult.
If questioned about their destination,
their response would likely be
Page 17 of 113
"where everyone goes."
The same holds true for those who
about women foully speak.

The truth is, that is appears

that we've all fallen into the habit
of disparaging women,
akin to the habit like tobacco
that also afflicts both the distinguished and the common.
Speaking ill of others becomes a ritual;
they bring their tobacco case closer at hand
and guard it more closely than their watch.
As if, just because they come in boxes
of gold, silver, and crystal, they cease to be mere tobacco.
When questioned about why they indulge,
the answer echoes the justification
for tobacco use—it's simply customary.

Blame is often laid at the feet of women for everything,

as if, upon contemplation, one were to inquire
of the most ardent critic, 'Why do you speak ill of women?'
The response, might be no more profound than
'because it is customary.'"

And by the way, this is something that Maria de Zayas said.

Lena You are quite sick of this whole business.

Otavio Yes.
Miseno We will find the answer, be our witness.

Otavio Away for her comes Nise, and with a book!

Exeunt OTAVIO and MISENA. Enter NISE and CELIA

Celia Si llevas una pantarba, no sientas

espanto por la violencia del llamas;
Page 18 of 113
 pues el miedo es aun más imprevisible
que el fuego.

Nise Ah, Heliodorus, troubadour,

And poet to the Greeks divine.

Celia A poet? writing in prose?

Nise Prose can tongue the voice of a poet.

Celia Can it now? wouldn’t you know it;

Book One alone made my eyes close.

Nise To understand the art of Greece,

Read through Book Five to the end.
For only then you’ll comprehend
The glory of the frontispiece.

Celia So this poem is in prose?

Nise A love's tale so true and deep

that theatre crowds might weep.
Now, there are two types of prose:
The historical is plain
Telling the facts with pure words
all clear and methodical.
The poetical is gorgeous –
An elegant libertine,
A weird, ingenious cuisine
Of ornaments and fanciful
Flourishes of fine rhetoric.

Celia how many can appreciate

Any stuff that’s so ornate?
Page 19 of 113
Nise Celia, don’t be quite so quick
To raise such trivial objections;
For therein lie the delusions
Of the great, wide world made small.

Enter FINEA with a spelling book, and RUFINO, her

tutor.

Finea You’ve taught me nothing at all.

Celia Your sister and her tutor, miss.

Rufina Can you write?

Finea I know the basics.

Rufino Patience, we must learn vocalics. Now,

Finea, what is this?

Finea It’s writing.

Rufino Yes, a letter

Finea Oh.

Rufino Not an O but a D, you see.

Finea Not an O but a D, U, C?

Then comes K for duck, I know.

Rufino Eh?

Page 20 of 113
Finea Not A, but K; you’re the teacher.

Rufino There’s just one letter: a D.

Finea That’s one, two, three, if you ask me.

Rufino What a nice heavenly creature.

Finea Come on, another test, teacher!

Rufino What have I here?

Finea A letter?

Rufino Come now, you can do better.

Finea Three letters.

Rufino It’s a P, see?.

Finea You should held your P till later.

Rufino Lovely creature!

Finea Creature, I?.

She has a P and now she calls me
A moster?

Rufino Now here is Y.

Finea Y?

Rufino Because I tell you, miss!

Nise What a pitiful display.

Page 21 of 113
Rufino gets out a cane.

Finea You’re giving me a cane? How nice!

FINEA grabs the cane and threats with

beating her.
Nise Oh my God, she will kill him.

Rufino Wait don't you dare! She’ll kill me!

Nise What could make you hit your teacher?

Finea She tricked me, the unpleasant creature.

Rufino I tricked you!

Finea Yes, you tricked me.

Nise How?

Finea There was me, the perfect student, Learning two

letters, those were W and T…

Nise You know them both by now surely?

Finea Yes, but I thought it would be–

Prudent to learn them again.
But then she showed me this stick
‘What a lovely gift’ I thought
the creature likes to be Whipped!

Rufina I swear I'd never again

Page 22 of 113
 Will Teach this crazy young lady

Celia There is the door Push off, then.

Exit RUFINO
Enter CLARA and ANA

Clara Finea, at last We found you.

Nise There, now, three friends rendezvous.

Celia Oh yes, but Clara always was

Finea’s favourite friend.

Clara Finea, I just had to tell you.

You wont believe it, but it’s true!

Finea What is it?

Clara I can't say it.

Finea Yes?

Clara Roman the cat…

Finea God bless Yes?

Clara Our own dear Roman…

Finea Yes?

Page 23 of 113
Clara She’s had kittens!

Finea Are you sure?

Clara This morning!

Finea Oh Clara, tell me

Clara in the bedroom

Finea not the roof?

Clara Roman’s a distinguished lady.

Finea, just listen to me.
It was amazing, I'll tell you

ANA TRANSLATING

She came out where the dawn shines

And as glorious and as gallant
As the king's robes, flamboyant
In hues of gold and adamantine.
The early carts were rattling past,
Shaking off the heavy catarrhs
Of Madrid's night, reaching far
Beyond Calle Major at last,
The great ceremony starts:
While the noblemen were sleeping
Key workers were waking up,
A bunch of revellers ran
Through dusky streets and alleyways,
Whooping loud in every quarter.
Page 24 of 113
In shining amber streams of water,
pledged a toast of health and praise.
When suddenly The house cat cried,
“Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay!” “Time is near!
I’m ready to give birth, my dear.”
Her husband Oziquimocho
with the news at once ran off
To tell all his cat kith and kin –
Soon then came a dowager cat,
Dressed in pristine black and white –
White as snow and black as night.
Oh, she was idle and she fat.
Well, she gave her a kind of grease,
To soften and ease the birth.
But mum yelped for all her worth;
Seemed the cries would never cease.
She paused a little while quivered
And straightaway she delivered
six little kittens...oh how
Small those kittens are and lovely –
so, so very cute and tiny.
Soon the rejoicing friends came
From the rooftop narrow edge
padding down along the ledge
To join in the celebrations:
Lamicola, Arañiçaldo,
Marfuz, Marramao, Mizilo,
Tumbaollin, Mico, Miturrio,
Rabicorto, Zapaquildo.
Some were elegantly dressed
mantles, capes or leather vests.
Gallant Golosine did glide
in the scene with regret
So that no-one could forget
His pa committed caticide.
They brought them all kinds of gifts,
Page 25 of 113
Puddings, fish and finest meat,
Tasty titbits for sharp teeth,
also, pigeons, wrens and swifts.
Now a banquet’s being planned
Seems they’ve only just begun
the senate of feline fun,
There’s never been feast so grand.
Come on now; come on and listen.
They sound just like children.
You must congratulate the mother
This was a day like no other!

Salía, por donde suele,

el sol muy galán y rico,
con la librea del rey
colorado y amarillo;
andaban los carretones
quitándole el romadizo
que da la noche a Madrid;
dormían las rentas grandes,
despertaban los oficios,
tocaban los boticarios
sus almireces a pino,
cuando la gata de casa
comenzó, con mil suspiros,
a decir: Ay, ay, ay, ay!
Que quiero parir, marido.
Levantóse Hociquimocho,
y fue corriendo a decirlo
a sus parientes y deudos;
Vino una gata vïuda,
con blanco y negro vestido
sospecho que era su agüela
gorda y compuesta de hocico;
y si lo que arrastra honra,
Page 26 of 113
como dicen los antiguos,
tan honrada es por la cola
como otros por sus oficios.
Hubo temerarios gritos.
No es burla. Parió seis gatos
muy remendados y lindos,
Regocijados, bajaron
de los tejados vecinos
caballetes y terrados,
todos lo deudos y amigos:
Lamicola, Arañizaldo,
Marfuz, Marramao, Micilo,
Tumbahollín, Mico, Miturrio,
Rabicorto, Zapaquildo,
unos vestidos de pardo,
otros de blanco vestidos,
y otros con forros de martas,
en cueras y capotillos.
De negro vino a la fiesta
el gallardo Golosino;
luto que mostraba entonces
de su padre el gaticidio.
Trazando quedan agora,
para mayor regocijo
en el gatesco senado,
Ven presto, que si los oyes,
dirás que parecen niños,
y darás a la parida
el parabién de los hijos

Finea There’s nothing you could have told me

That would’ve made me happier!
Clara Let’s go.
Page 27 of 113
Finea We’d follow where you lead.

Exit FINEA, ANA and CLARA

Enter DUARDO, FENISO, PEDRO and LAURENCIO.

Duardo We're guided to your loveliness

As to a star in the darkness.

Feniso From the sun shines your pure light.

Laurencio Splendid queen shinning bright!

Duardo O Nise!

Felisa Oh dear friend

Nise Bienvenue!

Laurencio

We’ve come today!

Now cast your percipient eye
Upon our urge to versify,
And praising you in every way.

Nise To praise me?

Laurencio Yes, you alone.

You Sybil, loved in all places.
You who proves there are four Graces;
Who is tenth Muse, and best known.
Page 28 of 113
 It's only fair that you should judge.

Nise Well, If you ignore the facts,

And bend the truth if-it distracts,
Then you may say I’m fit to judge.

Feniso Your perfect taste for poetry

Could not be more fine and heady.

Nise Read the sonnet; I am ready

Duardo Oh how the very elements do conspire

To bind to the Earth my celestial love
Mirrored in minds of angels far above
Where alone exists true love’s burning fire.
No, this is not the fire of Earth, base element of air,
Whose blaze destroys with heat infernal,
But the clear bright flame of the soul eternal
Which led by seraphs soars up like a prayer.
Oh this celestial fire that burns within me
Cannot confound for it sweeps me higher
To realms where angels alone aspire,
Realms of heaven untouched by mortality.
And so this high pure love will surely bring me
Untrammelled bliss throughout eternity.

Nise I do not understand a single word.

Duardo One may read more into each phrase

Than what it actually says.
It is full of things unheard.

Page 29 of 113
 The real sense – or argument –
Is very simply to portray
One who has now found the way
To freedom in love’s firmament,
Is then blinded by the light
Of true understanding; like
lifted to the highest levels
of the mind, and unsurpassed
By this love that burns pure, bright
As seraphic fire does.

Nise Of course, I understand now.

Laurencio Well; it’s hardly middlebrow.

Fenisa There is a basic underlying

Obscurity.
Duardo
Now, you see
There are three levels of fire
To each of which one may aspire
Each dwells in singularity.
Each in its own world, you see.

Nise What three kinds, may I inquire?

Duardo The Elemental fire is a fire

Inside us warming materially.
Celestial fire is the brightest flame
Of virtue that is merely never warm
But recreates. The highest of the forms
which is the Angelic; that's the name given
To the purest Idea of what's warmth.

Page 30 of 113
Nise
Don’t forever make it up in your head; Go to

school.

Duardo I’ll stay here instead.

Where you are, there is my school.

Nise Quiet! I don't have a clue,

what you’re talking about.

Your poem’s…exhaust …throughout

Fenisa Let show you how it is done ...

Soul, thou must seek thyself in Me

And thou must seek for Me in thee.

Such is the power of love's impress,

O soul, to grave thee on My heart,
That any craftsman must confess
He ne'er could have the like success,
Howe'er superlative his art.

It was by love that thou wert made

Lovely and beautiful to be;
So, if perchance thou shouldst have stray'd,
Upon My heart thou art portray'd.

For well I know that thou wilt see

Thyself engraven on My breast
An image vividly impressed
Page 31 of 113
And then thou wilt rejoice to be
So safely lodg'd, so highly blest.

And if perchance thou knowest not

Whither to go in quest of Me,
Go not abroad My face to see,
Roaming about from spot to spot,

For, soul, in thee I am confin'd,

Thou art My dwelling and My home;
And if one day I chance to find
Fast-clos'd the portals of thy mind
I ask for entrance when I come.

Oh, seek not for Me far away,

For, if thou wilt attain to Me,
Thou needest but My name to say
And I am there without delay.

Alma, buscarte has en Mí,

y a Mí buscarme has en ti.

De tal suerte pudo amor,

alma, en mí te retratar,
que ningún sabio pintor
supiera con tal primor
tal imagen estampar.

Fuiste por amor criada

hermosa, bella, y así
en mis entrañas pintada,
si te perdieres, mi amada,
Alma, buscarte has en mí.

Que yo sé que te hallarás

Page 32 of 113
en mi pecho retratada,
y tan al vivo sacada,
que si te ves te holgarás,
viéndote tan bien pintada.

Y si acaso no supieres
dónde me hallarás a Mí,
No andes de aquí para allí,
sino, si hallarme quisieres,
a mí buscarme has en ti.

Porque tú eres mi aposento,

eres mi casa y morada,
y así llamo en cualquier tiempo,
si hallo en tu pensamiento
estar la puerta cerrada.

Fuera de ti no hay buscarme,

porque para hallarme a mí,
bastará sólo llamarme,
que a ti iré sin tardarme
y a mí buscarme has en ti.

PEDRO translates

Pedro Did you write that?

Fenisa No, I didn't

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz did.

NISE to one side with Laurancio.

Nise Tell me what feel for me?

Laurencio As one who is bound to you.

Page 33 of 113
Nise I've given so much to you.
You had to bring these pair of fleas
Who bounce around and-stop-us talking?

Laurencio Nice, I’m too humble for you;

Dabbling with trash of low value
Would shame you before the Queen
But if you truly are above the mundane,
Make me rich by loving publicly

Nise Take this note read it secretly.

How can I do?

Laurencio Try to feign

A fainting fit, then, as you’re falling,
Give your hand and the note to me.
Nise Oh! (she faints)

Laurencio What's it?

Nise I fell.

Laurencio I see, You went for it. How enthralling.

Nise Doing speak louder than telling,

There's no love without deeds.
God keep you, Laurencio. Goodbye.

Laurencio Duardo and Feniso!

Duardo May good fortune come to you,

As beauty surely has. Adieu.

Page 34 of 113
 Exit NISE and CELIA - FENISO and DUARDO
exit leaving LAURENCIO alone

Laurencio To think of you’s to know that you are lovely

And as you’re lovely so you’re honest too.
A quality you lack; it’s sad but true.
Oh Nise, your mind of such sagacity,
Enriched by a capacity for love;
But to put it bluntly, you are too poor,
And in this world, one must romance abjure.
If you lack gold, it’s not enough to love;
When gold is your aim in life, I tell you,
You plot your course according to the wind.
So now I must change tack, I am determined,
And hold upon a different helm hereto.
Yes I've pursued you, but you've been
unwise, to choose to follow me.

Enter PEDRO, LAURENCIO’s manservant

Pedro What an idiot I'm to dream

you’d be anywhere but here.

Laurencio You are lucky, to find me near

My soul’s now fled, it seems.

Pedro She’s gone and left you, has she?

Laurencio No, although it must seem so

It’s I who have left her, Pedro.
If you look at-a clock, you see
The hour hand appears to be
Page 35 of 113
 Yet it’s moving nonetheless.
It's ghostly from two to three.
Well, my soul is like this hand
You may see me here unmoving
Since Nise left at twelve…

Pedro Proving?

Laurencio Time’s not stood still, you understand.

I have moved on from noon to one.
This hand points to noon and Nise…

Pedro Yes?

Laurencio …now to one and Finea, see?

Pedro Come, now, sir. You’re having fun.

Do you expect me to believe you.

Laurencio Why not, it’s logical too?

Pedro Oh yes? Actually, one is Nise

Who’s charms are, totally, unique.
Finea’s more like twelve, you see.
Twelve’s the time for benediction
For indulgence, relaxation.
At twelve, officials all agree
To cease from work a while and eat.

Laurencio What I’m trying to say, in essence,

Is that with her comes sustenance
With Finea, I will be replete.
Now, Pedro, I’m rather poor,
Page 36 of 113
 So twelve’s the only choice for me;
Without her I’m in poverty.
Nise’s time’s in luck no more.

Pedro Your perverse sphere, I see,

Has spun on with movement hostile
To the quadrant of the sextile
Where it confronts hers directly.

Laurencio Finea's time has now come.

For now the benign Jupiter
In the triad joins with her.

Pedro In short, this plan seems more handsome.

Caring for Finea, I-understand
Means caring for forty grand.

Laurencio Well you could put it that way.

Pedro Well, sir, I admire your boldness But isn’t there a

basic flaw?

Laurencio What’s that?

Pedro Finea is not poor

but do forgive my bluntness
In her there's a sort of madness.

Laurencio Who gives a fig for those details

When you dine and dress in style
And sleep the sleep of privileged?

Page 37 of 113
Pedro But sir how could you bear to leave
Someone who's as great as Nise
So beautiful in every way
For her sister so naive.

Laurencio It’s you who’s silly and naive.

Gold shines brighter than brains, Pedro.
Who's poor stays ever poor
If ignorant, you can be sure.
Who's rich stays ever rich
If wise enough to keep his niche.
There's no fault, however marked,
that money can't cover up.
Is there a natural defect
that lack of money will not
exaggerate and expose?

Pedro No. And that is why you want

to fall in love with Finea?
I ’ve a feeling that her genius
Is so deeply locked away
That you may not find the doorway
Through which to enter.

Laurencio Oh, Venus

Will find a way.

Pedro Will she Now?

Enter FINEA, and CLARA.

Laurencio Just watch me It’ll be so easy.

I know now the radiant sun
Rises not only in the East.
Page 38 of 113
 There’s one That rises right here.
It’s shady, until her beams
flash out from her brilliant eyes.
If you shine so bright at night
What must happen when is mid-day?

Finea I will eat my lunch, I’d say.

Not beams and suns, jam and buns…
And some other tasty things.

Laurencio Walking by your side is walking

With all the twinkling stars above.

Finea If you’re up walking with stars,

You will surly catch cold.

Pedro We should get an early night.

Laurencio I am not speaking of the stars.

But of love – pure, honest, true.

Finea What is love?

Laurencio longing.

Finea What for?

Laurencio Beauty .

Finea A diamond? a ruby?

A kitten? aren't they lovely?
Laurencio No, for a beauty like you.
Page 39 of 113
Finea And me ? What do I have to do?

Laurencio Long for me. Has no-one told you

Love is repaid by love?

Finea Oh dear

I don’t know how to, I fear.

I have never ‘longed’ before.
It’s not in my book, I’m sure.
And mum never showed me how.
Perhaps I’ll ask Clara now.

Laurencio Let me explain.

Finea Explain what?

Laurencio From my eyes come living rays Darting blood

red and ablaze
Like visual spirits, fiery, hot
To enter into your eyes.

Finea I'm told not to play with fire.

Laurencio Our spirits that must be afire.

They burn as one and atomise
And mix in one perfect flame,
That combined in utter peace;
An Ecstasy that doesn't cease.
A blessed spiritual communion
That surely bears my one soul
At last into your pure heart.
Page 40 of 113
Finea All this happens when you marry?

Pedro He's clearly beyond control.

Now he's dying for her love –
Yesterday it was for Nise’s.

Clara What would you say that love is?

Pedro Love? Madness.

Clara Wow. Heavens above!

So you have to be mad for love?
Pedro It's a sweet madness, you see,
People with sense will gladly
Swap their sanity for love.

Clara It sounds a rather poor exchange.

Pedro When a love affair commences

The will falls ill and the senses

Succumb to sweet sickness

Clara How strange.

Well don’t want that disease.
All I’ve ever had is chill-blains.

Finea Oh I see now. Yes, that explains it. So you ‘look

after’ me.
Page 41 of 113
Laurencio If you please.

Finea Then you take me to your place

And look after me as well.

Laurencio Yes.

Finea And is good? It’s hard to tell.

Laurencio So your father and mother did;

Probably after they married
Thus you were born.

Finea Me? Oh my God!

Clara! I was born already
When my mammy and daddy married
Laurencio I think a romance of this kind
Could drive me out of my mind.
Finea My mother is coming now. Bye.

Laurencio I’m going now; please think of me.

Finea If I want to.

Exit Laurencio

Clara See you soon.

Pedro Ok
I 'll see you later anyway.
I like the things that you said.

Exit Pedro
Page 42 of 113
Clara Why?

Finea Well, Clara, do you know

There is thing they call love

Clara Who’d thought of such a thing?

Laughs. We hear OTAVIA.

Finea The trouble with my mother is

She’s always talking irrelevancies.
She comes to me, when I’m at pelota,
Says I must wed a caballero
From the Indies, Seville, Toledo.
Once she came to speak to me
And she had signed me up on hinge
So that i would have a date
“Check it, Finea, for this is to be
Your husband.” And then off she went.
I look at the guy's profile
and he's posing with no shirt
and it says "I don't take my self
too seriously I am a mother-earth lover
and on sunday's I do yoga"
I've never see no-one here
Without a shirt.

Clara You’re right, Finea.

Can I see the picture?
Finea It’s right here.

She gets her phone out.

Page 43 of 113
Clara Very nice face and torso.

Finea Nothing covering those muscles.

Clara But doesn’t he have nice eyes.

Finea He could date Nise…

Clara Isn’t he
Supposed to date you?

Finea Oh no,
I’m not date him, you know.
The man who just left here

Had a shirt and other things.

Clara Yes, he has a hunting hound

And wants to make you his quarry.

Enter OTAVIO and NISE

Otavio He came via the post-house

From Toledo's road , they say.

Nise He should be here by now.

Otavio He might be looking for lodging

I am worried for Finea,

Nise I know but here she's coming.

Otavia Do you know what we’re ...

Page 44 of 113
Fiena No;

Nise Your date is now in Madrid.

Otavio Don't you remember my dear

The Hudson guy from the app

Finea Yes; but it was only a picture.

Otavia He has come all the way here!

Because he wants to meet you!

Enter CELIA

CELIA Señoras Liseo is here.

He’s alighting from his coach.

Otavio Take care. Do nothing to worsen

The opinion he has of you
Discreet and ladylike, please.
Chairs and cushions for our ease!

Exit CELIA. Enter LISEO and TURIN.

Liseo Ma'm, allow me the liberty

I come as your son-in-law.
Otavio It's a great honour to meet you.

Liseo And now tell me which of these two, is the

one I shall love?
Page 45 of 113
Finea Me. Can’t you guess?

Liseo An embrace
from you do not I deserve?

Finea Do I have to?

Otavio Yes you may.

Fiena Clara…

Clara si

Finea What do I say?

Clara At least he's wearing a shirt.

Otavio Now embrace you sister-in-law.

Liseo The rumours do not lie at all

When they talk of your great beauty.
Nise Oh, thank you, and nice to meet you.

Liseo You are really beautiful… you.

Finea If you’re my boyfriend-to-be ...

Otavio So, tell us, how was your journey?

Fiena Why are you flirting with my sister?

Liseo Delays, I could have come faster

I hate flying now a days.

Page 46 of 113
Octavia Oh do be quiet, Finea.

Finea Oh I'll be quite my dear.

Octavia Though gorgeous and good, I fear

Finea has these strange moods

Liseo I’d love some water.

Otavio Quite right.

water? Are you sure that’s all?
Oh dear. Go and fetch a hamper.

LANA enters with water, towel, cups and a hamper on a

tray.

Lana Here’s the water and hamper.

Otavio Eat! Sorry, we don't have ice.

Liseo (To Turin) This is just making me sick

She is clearly taking the piss
Should I drink or should I eat? (He drinks)
Finea He's drinking just like a donkey
– lick, Lick, lick. Lick, lick lick, lick

Turin Oh, she does know how to flirt.

Otavio You are really quite annoying. Please, be

quiet.

Finea Oh you’re spilling

There, is just a little bit ...
Page 47 of 113
Otavio This is worse than I have feared.

Finea Don't you move. What is the matter?

Let me help! you have some butter ...

Liseo Leave me half my beard.

I think I’m falling in love.

Otavio Why don’t you go and lie down.

I think you might need a rest.
Finea lets go and get dressed
Maybe you need to calm down?
Clara Come along with me.

Finea In there?

Clara Yes.

Finea Goodbye! See you!

Otavia I will be going now too

To arrange things, see you soon.

Liseo God send me some kind of rescue.

Exeunt, leaving LISEO and TURIN alone.

LISEO kicks the ground

Liseo Turin, I don't like my life.

She's mean she's rude and she's bad!
She is just completely mad!
I cannot make her my wife?
Page 48 of 113
Turin Yes, sir, it does seem a shame.
So you want to call it all off.

Liseo Even if I’d have the whole

estate I'dont want her, mate.

Turin She’is young and well-spoken,

A bit weird I must say ,
I think you will find a way

Liseo No, Turin, the deal is broken

Tear up the contracts and token.
No money, when all’s said,
Can compensate me for this.
But if it were Nise…

Turin I see,
an angry man may be assuaged
in his uncontrollable rage
By making him look in a mirror,
For the reflection of his face
Seems to make him quite serene.
When Nise graces the scene –
Reflects her sister’s lack of grace –
And in her you see your freedom.

Liseo True, She alone can save me

From the anger of her mother –
Which I really rather not face.
Turin So you’ll swap a chest of gold
For a golden chest that is bold?
Page 49 of 113
Liseo I swear, Turin, by the above
That I am going mad, for love!

Exit LISEO and TURIN

Page 50 of 113
 ACT TWO

Pedro habla and Fenisa translates...

Love, is that glorious genius

Which they call the world’s true soul.
It is the tutor of the whole
Of knowledge, science’s total radius.
Through love alone can we learn
The gifts of discrimination.
This is the very foundation
Of Plato’s talks; in his turn,
Aristotle said love
Is both human and divine.
Is the desire to know,
born of the same high fervour.
And so too is true admiration,
which seed then Philosophy
revealing to us the light
of societies foundation.
It is love to which is due
Our quest for knowledge, too.
Love with force and gentle ease
Awakes the knowledge of feeling,
Inspires the laws by which
we live and gives meaning
to honesty and plain-dealing.
Love, root of civilization –
origin of peace and concorde –
When war has bared its sword
swiftly bring reconciliation.
Love gave birds song, the-earth its fruit,
And moisture to the parchéd root.
And by lodging in our hearts
Teaches us poetry, arts.

Page 51 of 113
 Love imbues with natural grace
Love masters the elegance,
Source of music, song and dance, T
Creator of lyric verse.
Who falls in its universe
Cannot fail to prove its worth.

Amor, señores, ha sido

aquel ingenio profundo
que llaman alma del mundo,
y es el doctor que ha tenido
la cátedra de las ciencias;
porque sólo con amor
aprende el hombre mejor
sus divinas diferencias.
Así lo sintió Platón;
esto Aristóteles dijo;
que como del cielo es hijo,
es todo contemplación;
de ella nació el admirarse,
y de admirarse nació
el ilosofar, que dio
luz, con que pudo fundarse
toda ciencia arti icial,
y a amor se ha de agradecer
que el deseo de saber
es al hombre natural.
Amor, con fuerza süave,
dio al hombre el saber sentir;
dio leyes para vivir
político, honesto y grave.
Amor repúblicas hizo;
que la concordia nació
de amor, con que a ser volvió
lo que la guerra deshizo
Amor dio lengua a las aves,
Page 52 of 113
f
f
vistió la tierra de frutos,
y como prados enjutos
rompió el mar con fuertes naves.
Amor enseñó a escribir
altos y dulces concetos,
como de su causa efetos
el maestro; el inventor
fue de los versos primero;
la música se le debe
y la pintura. Pues quién
dejará de saber bien
como sus efetos pruebe?

Laurencio The birth of love will give birth

To Finea's understanding

Feniso Well said. I’m sure that her mother

Is only arranging her marriage
To bring her a little knowledge.

Duardo You know, Feniso, I rather

Think our friend Laurencio is saying
That the way to cupidity
Is just stupidity.
Fenisa Vicious!

Laurencio I…don’t know what I’m saying.

Feniso It’s a perfect match, then, Duardo –

A couple whose conversation
Page 53 of 113
 Is based on brain deprivation.

Feniso Already a month has gone by

And Liseo is still unattached.

Duardo His greed is clearly not matched

But his lust? Perhaps he is shy.

Laurencio Surely Nise’s infirmity

Is the main cause for delay?

Feniso It was the discovery, I’d say,

Of Finea’s stupidity.

Laurencio She seems better now than once

Feniso But love must be ingenious

To fire a stone so impervious.

Duardo To strike a spark in such a dunce

Would take a miracle of love.

Fenisio Not even Orpheus’s art

Could find a soul in that heart!

Duardo Not even all the saints above.

Page 54 of 113
Laurencio But friends, it’s so hard to know

If her ignorance's a show.

Duardo Then take a look at her sister –

With her charm, can you resist her?

Feniso Divine. Celestial, Duardo.

The only thing with Finea
Is just that I can’t figure out
How so often she would come out
With insults so quick and clever?

Enter NISE and CELIA

Duardo Storm and tempest torn we were

Until upon us you conferred
Your calming presence and grace
Bringing blessings to this place.
Just as in spring, rain clouds scud
Across the sky threaten mud
In brightest times we still need
The light of your beams, indeed!

Feniso Yet when fountains do dry up

You make the waters we sup.
You refresh us like the dew.
You make the birds sing anew.
You are the heaven’s distillation –
The air’s crystal condensation.
Oh you of Fortune’s pure daughter

You bring us celestial waters.

Page 55 of 113
Laurencio Oh Nise, I’m your instrument
I vibrate to your government
I feel your ills; and your woes.
My health is your; for thus goes.
If I ever bring you pain.
I feel the sickness; it’s plain.
You possess my very soul
My body is in your control.

Nise You all have my congratulations

Your criticism’s so precise.

Laurencio We would welcome your advice In finding its

limitations.

Nise Now, you two, since you like Nature

Why not go and cut some flowers?
Amuse yourself for a few hours
With garden’s living literature,
While I shall talk with Laurencio

Duardo I think her bouquet might seen

To be interlaced with green.

Feniso She loves him.

Duardo Of course, I know.

Exit FENISO and DUARDO

Laurencio They’ve gone. Now, divine Nise

Page 56 of 113
 May I celebrate your taste
With my arms around your waste?
Nise You lying, cheating, treacherous,
Deceitful, false, and malicious
Fickle, shady, mealy-mouthed,
Slippery-tongued, and coward.
For one month you've left me –
As if you took the sick leave –
And in a month, you've changed minds?
When you finally arrive
You have the huge gall to say
The reason why you stayed away
Was 'cause you thought I was ill.
But for our sickness, you had a pill,
A sweet balm for our malady
A pure romantic remedy -
You fell in love with Finea!

Laurencio What are you saying?

Nise Such a wise, well-reasoned move.

You are broke and you are clever
She is rich, and she is a fool.
Sure, you go so well together
And in chasing her you wished
to gain what you didn’t have.
In leaving me you just left
Things which you already are.
You are wise enough to see
Two brains together'r no wiser.
Go get the love of Finea
With all the gold that you need.

Page 57 of 113
Laurencio Listen…

Nise What's there to listen to?

Laurencio It has only been a month

What makes you think I'm disloyal.

Celia Is a month so short for you?

I know you’re guilty, be quiet.
In the sky, the silvery moon
With no mortal aims at all
In a month – or even less
Waxes and wanes its full cycle.
Here on Earth, in Madrid,
Fickleness is no miracle.

Nise Tell him, Celia, what you saw.

Celia You needn’t be so surprised

That Nice treats you like this.
For Laurencio I didn't miss
The complements you paid Finea.

Laurencio I object these accusations.

Celia Oh come on now; you know it’s true.

To cap it all, not only did you
Betray Nise with Finea
Your friend Pedro’s wooing Clara.
Do-you want to know any more?

Laurencio I see Celia; that’s the score.

You’re jealous - I have to pay.
Page 58 of 113
 Pedro, Clara, what do I say?

Celia Why're you so offended by this?

There was an astrologer
Who always predicting doom
In far-off lands for foreigners
But overlooked wrongs at home.
“I’ll confess it all to Nise,
But there’s no need to tell
All the unimportant details.”

Nise You should learn to speak romances –

For a scholar and a dunce,
Only speaks in assonance;

Celia I’m sure he can't ever rhyme.

Nise Oh what a fee you’ll earn

In such a true noble love!
The test of friendship I’ve heard
lies in bed or in a cell.
I see, my bed was a prison
For I was so lonely in there.
Your gifts were inconsistency,
Deception, lies, trickery –
Gifts so hard you might as well
Given me diamonds instead.
I’ve had enough now; the end.

Laurencio Wait a moment ...

Nise Wait for you?

Page 59 of 113
 Enter LISEO who was listening. Exit Nise and Celia.

Liseo What are you going to do then?

Laurencio Probably nothing whatsoever.

Let’s take a stroll down to this afternoon.

I have something to say to you.

Exit LAURENCIO and LISEO. And TURIN

who was listening.

Enter FINEA and DANCING MAESTRO.

Maestro You're worn out already?

Finea Yes.
I - don’t want to dance any more.

Maestro You get tired because your three/four

Is too fast, and a total mess.

Finea Dancing’s such a waste of time.

Nothing could be quite so boring –
Round and round until you’re snoring!
What a pointless pantomime.
One or two steps, then a flourish.
Is there anything so foolish?

Page 60 of 113
Maestro There’s never been so thick a liquid
In such a delicate, clear glass.
I think that for our next class
I’ll bang a drum ’til you're exhausted.

Finea Maybe a tambourine to bash.

Maestro They are such vile things and noisy.

Finea But all those bells make brilliant dings.

Maestro They’re only fit for a steed’s sash!

Finea Well, like an elegant horse.

Just hang it around your head.

Maestro I think I’d rather be dead

I’m going.

Exit MAESTRO.

Finea That’s no loss.

Page 61 of 113
 Enter CLARA

Ana Have you been dancing?

Finea Of course.
Lessons, lessons, all day long.
Reading, writing, dancing songs.
But Laurencio’s my real source
Of pleasure I must confess.
Ana It's bad to sleep during the day?

Finea No. Though they say that Adam did

And woke with one less rib.

Clara If Women came from forty winks

Everyone should wink more often.

Finea You know, perhaps that is the reason

Why Men follow us. They think
They will find their missing bone.
It’s like a dog after his dinner…

Ana That’s why Laurencio’s looking thinner.

Finea …Finally get you home

And bury you in a little plot.
Ana Amor, divina invención
Page 62 of 113
 de conservar la belleza
de nuestra naturaleza,
o accidente o elección!
Extraños efectos son
los que de tu ciencia nacen,
pues las tinieblas deshacen
en pura imaginación,
Pues la divina razón
de tu fuego tibio nace.

Clara Speaking of which I have a note

Which your new friend Laurencio wrote.
For sure it says something hot.
But oh, these secret messages
Are so difficult to handle.
You see, I hid it by the candle –
Next to the Castilian sausage –
Then I had a little nap –
You know how tiring things are.
I woke up, what did I see?
Oh it put me in such a flap –
The basket in which the note was
caught a fiery conflagration.
So without any hesitation
I leaped up, put my boot in,
Stamping out the roaring flames.
So I come to you hot footed.

Page 63 of 113
Finea Never mind – a little soot?

Clara A knack, from your childhood games?

Finea And have you got the note?

Clara Yes.
Like Saint Paxares survived
The flames and lives to be revived. I’m
sorry it’s in such a mess.

Enter OTAVIA, LENA & MISENO

Otavio I’m so tired of my foolish daughters.

Finea Oh welcome, now my most idiotic father.

Otavio Idiotic? Why do you say idiotic?

Finea My dancing teacher said I must discover

That arguing proved me truly idiotic.
Since you come in such a quarrelsome mood.
It's clear that you must be idiotic too.

Otavio Don’t believe all your teacher tells you.

Finea Well, mother, perhaps I misunderstood.

Page 64 of 113
Otavio Perhaps.
Finea Mother, could you read this letter?
Maybe it’ll make you feel a little better.

Miseno (reading) ‘I am very grateful for the favour that

you have shown me, although my nights have been
far from peaceful, thinking of your
beauty.’

Otavio Thats all.

Miseno The rest is burned; there’s nothing more.

Otavia Who gave it to you?

Finea well, it was Laurencio One of Nise’s intellectual

friends, you know,
Who says he loves me to distraction.

Otavio I 'm sure.

Have you had much to do with him, by chance?

Finea Yesterday upon the stairs – on the first step –

He put one arm around me – no, the pair.

Otavia (To Lena) My god, there is some hope finally!

Now, daughter, listen to me. I am annoyed.
You must not embrace him. Do you understand?

Finea Yes, dear mother, your word is my command.

But it may not be so easy to avoid.
Page 65 of 113
 At the time it was rather nice, I really thought.

Otavia You must embrace your husband only.

Is that clear?

Enter TURIN

Turin Ah, you are here

Otavia What is it?

Turin Well I fear Liseo may be locked

in deadly sport with Laurencio,
the noble gentleman who has been addressing Nise
with his verses.

Octavia Where have they gone?

Turin They’re going

To Recoletos not far from el Prado.

Octavia What utter madness, this is. Let us go.

Exit ANA, TURIN and OTAVIO at a rush.

Clara You think your mother was upset?

Finea Upset? Why would she be?

Clara No reason. But I don’t see

Why show her the letter yet.
Page 66 of 113
Finea I thought it would be the best.

Clara But surely now you can’t be

with Laurencio as you were.
I don’t think he’ll be impressed.

Finea I don’t understand this feeling

Since Laurencio spoke to me
It’s as if he took from me
The very sense of my being.
When I’m asleep, I dream of him
When awake, I think of him.
When I drink there's his reflection
On the water shimmering.
Finea Have you seen there glimmering
In a mirror, faint inflection,
The ghost of another face?
A reality that's fake
Well, when I feel his affection –
My self blends-in with his visage.
Clara You have never talk like this.
I am hearing someone else.
Finea Yes for I am someone else.
I'm feeling, but I am not mindless
I must stop, before I do
More damage than could cure.
Clara I will break with Pedro, then.

Finea Oh, are you going out with him.

Clara Well I only really agreed

To go on a date with Pedro
Page 67 of 113
 When I saw you with Laurencio.
It wont be too hard to leave him

I wish Laurencio would vanish ,

But I feel that to forget him,
I'll have to forget myself,
I wish I could speak Spanish.

Exit FINEA and CLARA. Enter LISEO and LAURENCIO

Laurencio For Nise?!

Liseo Yes, as God’s in heaven above.

Laurencio Then Nise’s yours, I too give up my claim

And with our history I wish you luck
I pass on too my days of being moonstruck
My yearnings, my insomnia and my pain,
My jealousies, suspicions and my poems –
And if you end just as another victim
Don’t you blame me for dealing you the cards.

Liseo Thank you friend, for bequeathing me your discards

I really am content with what you deal.

For I am rich and I can buy my pleasure;
It’s Nise grace and wit that I will treasure.
I’ve no need to crawl at her sister’s heel.

Laurencio There’s no need to remark me my situation;

I know I’m poor and have no real estate.

Page 68 of 113
 But in marrying Finea, I will associate
Not just with her but with a house as consolation.

Liseo Let us shake hands in friendship on the deal

Finea is yours; Nise is for me. Our pact is sealed.

Enter OTAVIO and TURIN.

Otavio Is this them?

Turin Yes.Yes!

Otavio And is this the fight?

Turin Perhaps they saw us coming…well they might.

Otavio Gentlemen…

Liseo Otavia, it’s good to see you.

Otavio What’s going on now?

Liseo Since I came to you

This gentleman Laurencio’s been my friend
So we came strolling in the country to extend
Our friendship and to chat on certain issues.

Otavio Well I am so glad that you two are friends.

This garden is of a friend of mine.
Perhaps you’d like to call with me for wine?

Liseo It would be an honour.

Laurencio My friend apprehends

Page 69 of 113
 My feeling entirely.

Otavio It seems, Turin

That you have made a mistake.

Turin Can you imagine? They have patched it up.

Otavio It seems that this was just a wasted trip.

Exeunt. Enter NISE and FINE

Nise You’re so conceited, Finea;

I can hardly recognise you.

Finea Don’t be so offensive, you.

I’m no different, my dear.

Nise Perhaps you’re less diligent.

Finea I certainly can’t work you out.

Nise An extra class or two, no doubt.

A secret class with a gent.
You forgot your cashew nuts –
That made you memory poor.

Finea I’m the same now as before –

You know I’ve never liked nuts.

Page 70 of 113
Nise Laurencio is mine, alright?

Finea And how is he engaged to you?

Nise Love, of course.

Finea Is that love true?

Well, I don't know if you're right.
But he said he loved me too.

Nise Finea, I’m going to kill you,

You!

Finea I know you’re enraged

But if you lend him your heart
He'll be breaking it in two.
He never will be loyal to you.
I know you think I’m rather dim
But all my life I’ve understood
Much more than people thought I could.

Finea I know you think I am rather dim

But all my live I've understood
More than people thought I could.

Nise I suppose you think you are clever.

From today he will not spare- you
A single thought. So there!

Page 71 of 113
Finea Who?

Nise Laurencio

Finea Never

Nise At least you will stop complaining.

Finea If he sets his eyes on you again

I’ll pluck them out, I will and then…

Nise Fine.
Oh Finea, I am begging
You, leave me with Laurencio.
You already have a suitor.

Finea Nise, dear, I understand

We shouldn’t be arguing, go.
God be with you.

with you too.

Exit NISE

Nise What am I going to do?

I feel dreadful, I-really do.
Now they’re all attacking me.

Enter LAURENCIO

Finea Don’t expect to see me again, Laurencio.

Page 72 of 113
 Because of you Mother hates me. Nise too.

Laurencio Why, what are they saying then?

Finea You will find out soon enough.

Laurencio I see.

Finea Where do my thoughts lie?

Laurencio Your thoughts?

Finea In you they lie.

I would be much happier though
If they lay with me, you know.
Yes.

Laurencio Can you see them now?

Finea No.

Laurencio
Good.
Nise said you never would
Give a thought to me again.
Laurencio, I'm begging you, please
Keep your thoughts away from me.

Finea If you drive my thoughts away

May I give my eyes to you?

Laurencio No, take your eyes away too.

Page 73 of 113
Finea But they’re filled with love today.

Laurencio _________

Finea Then just wipe my eyes for me

With your handkerchief, I beg you,
Your love is filling mine too.

Laurencio The irritation’s gone, see.

Finea There's nothing in my eyes?

Laurencio No.

Finea Then you must wipe your eyes too –

Now there's nothing in mine for you.

Laurencio What delightful nonsense you sew.

Finea You must turn your eyes on Nise.

Laurencio Wipe my eyes with the handkerchief.

Finea Are they dry?

Laurencio Yes, such relief.

Finea Laurencio don’t look at me –

Or I'll have to punish you.
Not only me, but my mother
Page 74 of 113
 Who was standing by the lather
And saw how you embraced me, dude.

Laurencio This is all so very silly.

Finea Take your embrace away, too.

Laurencio How do I do that?

Finea Up to you.

Laurencio Oh, how forgetful of me.

I take my right arm away.
I take my left arm away.
You’re completely unembraced.

Finea I hope so, sir.

Enter NISE
“You are completely Unembraced”

Finea I hope so.

Enter NISE

Nise I hope so too.

Finea And I also hope that you

Will not say something misplaced.
For Laurencio has no longer
A thought for me nor his eyes.
From now, it’s you he’ll scrutinize.
You’ll be merry! What a wonder!

Page 75 of 113
Lauren You’ll laugh to what’s going on.

Nise Let’s go out into the garden –

God Knows We’re sure to quarrel..

Lauren Whats that? I am begging you, perdón?

We’ll go wherever you want.

LAURENCIO and NISE exit.

Finea Well that’s it. She’s got him then.

And mother will be so glad.
So why does it make me sad?
I’ve cheated myself again.
Mother comes, I must be brave
Tongue stop moving; eyes behave.

OTAVIO enters.

Otavio Are you ok?

Finea The first thing I’d have thought

You would want to ask about when seeing me
Is whether I’ve obeyed you, totally.
Page 76 of 113
Otavio What?

Finea Don’t you remember, that we just fought,

You said it was bad to embrace Laurencio.
So I asked him to disembrace me away.
And now he’s retracted his last embrace.
What do you say?

Otavio Then he embraced you again?

Finea Oh, no, no.

He disembraced me this time, I am sure.
it was with his right arm he started before.
This time he raised his right arm then his left.
So I am totally free from his embrace.

Otavio Dear, you seem more ignorant than ever.

Finea Tell me, mother, please; I know you’re clever.

How you call it when there's sadness in your

face.

Because some one you love and cherish

dearly.

Has departed with someone else rather

quickly?

Otavio This is a trial of love named jealousy –

The bad offspring of love, it's what it is.
Finea A mother may be the happiest woman
If all her children turn out as she hoped.
But if they disappoint her, she mopes
Page 77 of 113
 And becomes a wretched creature.

Octavia Sometimes you just seem to be far too wise .

Finea Tell me, mother – how do you cure jealousy?

Octavia Falling out of love’s the only remedy.

For wherever there's love, it must be said,
There is always jealousy; it's the price
That heaven makes us pay for this brief
bliss. Where is Nise?

Finea Not sure. I think she is

Out there with Laurencio.

Octavia Oh very nice.

They’ll be singing poetry or lyric prose;
It is time I break the metre, I suppose.
I do love you don't be sad
Exit OTAVIO.

Finea How in the world did this happen?

How could I just be so stirred
By his embrace? It never occurred
To me. Jealousy’s the reason,
So mother says and She is right,
But it seems more like an illness.

Enter LAURENCIO

Page 78 of 113
Lauren My lady.

Finea I’m not speaking to you.

Finea Why did you go off with Nise?

Lauren Not because I wanted to.

Finea Why then?

Lauren Not to upset you.

Finea Oh it hurts me not to see you. Yes, it does.

But when I do
I just want you to go away.
Laurencio, my mind has turned
into fear and desire – born
Of jealousy my mum says.
And she also has the cure.

Laurencio What is it?

Finea To fall out of love.

Laurencio How do you fall out of love?

Finea I don’t know; I can't be sure

If the one of whom I'm in love
Stopped loving me, it’ll help a bit.

Laurencio I have a better cure.

Enter PEDRO and FENISO

Page 79 of 113
Finea Which is?

Laurencio You agree to marry me.

Then all jealousy will end.

Finea Is that all? Then I agree.

Laurencio We must have witnesses.

Finea I see.

Pedro, Feniso. Come here.

You must bear witness to me.

Laurencio Take my hand.

Finea I'll be your wife.

Pedro That’s your fortune made for life.

Feniso What a farce.

Finea My jealousy, gone!.

Exit FINEA.

Exit LAURENCIO and PEDRO, and FENISO.

Enter NISE and OTAVIO, with FINEA alone

Nise We're talking figuratively.

Otavio One thing can lead to another.

Nise Laurencio is important for me

He knows poetry and prose.
He is broke, but I am keen.
Page 80 of 113
Finea Is it me you’re talking about?
You really didn’t have to shout.
I'm here what do you want?

Otavio This girl’ll be the death of me.

Finea I’m no more trapped by jealousy. Laurencio said

I would be free
Entirely if I'd agree
To be his wife. So, naturally,
I gave my word immediately.
Pedro and Fenisa did witnessed .

Otavia I think she’s trying to kill me.

Nise You cannot give your word

You’re betrothed already.

Otavia Laurencio, it’s totally clear,

Must never enter this house.

Nise No, mother, I think you’re wrong.

Otavia I have nothing more to say.

Let us lock our tongues away.

Exit OTAVIO and FINEA. Enter LISEO.

Liseo Did Laurencio speak to you

About my hopes in you Nise?
Page 81 of 113
Nise What are trying to say?
You dreaming and babbling too?

Liseo Laurencio gave word to me

That he’d arrange a rendezvous
I have set my heart on you.

Nise You must be getting tired, then

Of speaking to your future wife.
Has she’s blunted your wit’s knife?
You wish to whet it again?
By trying it on me instead.

Liseo Truth is I’m in love with you.

Don’t mock me.

Nise You are mad. Are you?

Liseo I was forced to change my mind.

Nise How fickle! I can’t believe it

You’re so false and so deceive

Enter LAURENCIO behind LISEO

Laurencio Liseo and Nise together.

NISE sees LAURENCIO but carries on speaking as

if she is talking to LISEO.
Page 82 of 113
Nise I can’t believe you betrayed me.
I know you have a soul. you!

Liseo Nise, I never betrayed you.

Nise God would spare me from this wrangling!

I’m surrounded by deception.

Liseo Listen to my explanation,

Nise, wait…

Nise Let me go through.

Exit NISE

Liseo You were standing there were you?

Laurencio Please. Don’t be ashamed, Liseo.

For the hardest stone, you know
Is worn down by drips of water.
Nise is the toughest daughter.
You must fail to win her round.
She will accept. I am bound

Only to the soft Finea.

Liseo Perhaps you’re right, yet I fear

They won't take your remedy.

Laurencio Why not leave the cure to me.

Exit LAURENCIO and LISEO.

Page 83 of 113
 ACT THREE

Enter CLARA

Clara Everyone talks about you

About your new intellect.

Finea They’re dazzled by it, I guess.

And my mum is happy too

Ana She’s talking to Nise, now

About your literary fame.
She thinks Liseo’s to blame
For this miracle somehow.
But ,f course, she doesn’t know
That you owe it to Laurencio.

Clara You don't owe it to Laurencio

That is just a stupid joke.
I know you, you are lots of fun
Now you've also grown enough
to share the wits and the laughs,
I've cherished, with everyone.

Ana It does make me laugh for hours

This fun miracle of ours.

Exit FINEA and CLARA. Enter OTAVIO and

MISENA

Miseno This seems to be the best plan

Now Finea is well in hand –
Page 84 of 113
 Nise will marry Duardo
His family is very good.

.Otavia But will Duardo have Nise?

Her arrogance and love for verse
Is becoming something such a curse.
I’m sure he has stayed away
Because her literary tastes
Have just proved too much for him.
What use have men for a poem?
No lad wants to be displaced
By a refined literature book;
He wants her to sews and cook.
What men wants a woman reading
Old Petrarch and Garçilaso?
Or the Virgil’s odes or Tasso
When his bodily wants feeding?
I went to her study last night.
There were many books and papers –
Many intellectual capers!
I thought a bible, I would find.
A prayer book– things like these.
But that in there would be unique!
Love tales translated from Greek
Is the only stuff there is,
And poems by Lope de Vega,
The Galatea of Cervantes,
Camoens tales from Lisboa
The Pastoral works of Belen,
Comedies by Don Guillen
De Castro, Songs by Ochoa,
Ballads written by Luis Velez
and by the Duke Of Pastrana,
Page 85 of 113
 Don Juan of Arguijo’s letters,
A hundred sonnets by Sor Juana,

The divine Herrara’s works,

And The Diary's of Bridget Jones
And a dozen more I can’t recall
I just want to burn them all!

Lena Then marry her off; you’ll see

Her bookishness will soon subside
When she is fully occupied
With giving birth...

Otavio you’re right,

If Duardo does write poetry
They'll be ideally suited.

Miseno It is a matter of taste...

Otavio Nise’s verse is inclined to err

Towards bad taste, I consider.
If she would have it her way
Don Quixote would be female.

Lena Why could not that be the case?

Cervantes wrote is a feminist in
character, Marcela a Shepherdess:

I was born free, and to live free I chose the solitude of the
countryside….I am the distant fire and the far-off sword….If…
A woman who doesn’t love any man can’t make any man
jealous, then disabuse must not be confused with disdain.
Those who call me fierce can leave me alone, as something evil
Page 86 of 113
and dangerous; those who call me an ingrate can stop courting
me; those who call me distant can keep their distance; those
who call me cruel can stop following me: because this fierce
basilisk, this ingrate, this cruel and distant woman is most
certainly not going to seek, court, approach or follow any of
them.

Enter LISEO and NISE

Liseo Since you treat me with disdain

Perhaps its best for me to turn
Where my attentions will earn
The respect I'm due again.
Can’t you see, my lovely Nise,
That Finea has grown wise?
The love I thought to despise
Has proved remedy, they say.
Your disdain, which I believed
would lessen, just seems to thrive
Upon my love grows alive
With each show of faith I give.
There is a madness in you

To scorn a love that's so true.

Nise You take love just as you find it.

It's not a choice but accident.
Look where it's heaven-sent
Not where there's reason for it.
Love's not rational condition
But of the star’s a conjunction
Page 87 of 113
 Which brings two good wills together.
Until they one, forever.

Liseo Oh, my lady, tis not fair –

And I’m not simply being jealous –
But you must see it’s ridiculous
To blame the wishes of the air
For what’s a matter of taste?
If we choose poorly we are
Wrong to say, ‘It was my star.’

Nise I'm not saying my star’s to blame

Laurencio’s the kind of man –
A trueborn leader a Knight –
That you should honour…

Liseo I'll Pass.

Nise You should respect him.

Liseo I can

Otavia Liseo!

Liseo Yes my sweet lady. Yes ma'm!

Enter CELIA

Celia The dancing will begin at two.

Otavio Good, let’s have no more ado.

Let’s have some music now Lena.

Liseo Well, my love’s been truly spurned.

Page 88 of 113
 I think perhaps is time to turn
All my hopes back to Finea
Love when disguised as vengeance
May prove of a perfect measure
And move from disdain to favour.

Otavia Let the music start! Let's dance!

SONG based on a monologue from El Conde Partinuplés by Ana

Caro.

ANA, CLARA, FENISA, CELIA, LENA, TURIN

It seems that we're forced to choose

to have a partner in life,
and this feeling haunting us
it's a misleading device.
Before we make a decision
We could do with some advice.
If we could see and know rst
of the lover we should like,
the charm, the presence, the air,
whether they are dull or wise
for if we know where they stand,
and see of their soul, inside
their heart: pleasure, speech, and hopes
their understanding and mind
If we could puncture their propose,
examinante of their eyes
the concept, and of their chest
peaceful, the virtue or vice...
Then we could have an idea
and sooth these worries inside.
If we can't know, none of this
and we have to throw my life
Page 89 of 113
fi
fl
 into the arrogant sea
of becoming someones wife,
who would govern the empire
of our souls, by judging blind.
what joys could we ever have
For I consider that I, ...
don't need to own, or be owned.

Yo no sé si he de elegir
algún ingrato por dueño,
que el alma que me amenaza
es un bárbaro instrumento.

Quisiera yo, vida mía,

ver y conocer primero
de mi amor lo que me agrada
el arte, presencia e ingenio,
saberle la condición,
y verle el alma hacia dentro,
el corazón, el agrado,
discurso y entendimiento,
penetrarle la intención,
examinarle el concepto
de su pecho, en lo apacible,
o ya ambicioso o ya necio.

Mas, si nada de esto puedo

saber, y me he de arrogar
al mar profundo y soberbio
de elegir por dueño a un hombre
que ha de regir el imperio
de mi alma con libertad,
o ya ambicioso, o ya ciego,
Page 90 of 113
​​
¿qué gusto puedo tener
cuando, --¡ay Dios!-- me considero
esclava, siendo Señora,
y vasalla, siendo dueño?

¡Espíritus infelices!
que en el espantoso reino
habitáis por esas negras
llamas, sin luz y con fuego,
os conjuro, apremio y mando
que juntos mostréis a un tiempo,
de la suerte que estuviere,
el amor que yo deseo

Therefor: Spirits! that in the high ...

realms dwell surrounded by ames,
made half shadows and half light,
I conjure, urge you, command you
send me a sincere sign
Burn of your wisdom the ame
and reveal at the same time,
how lucky and how sad is,
the one that my love shall nd.. DANCE!

Exeunt all but LISEO and TURIN

Liseo Turin.

Turin Is's me you’re talking to?

Liseo I’ve some good news to tell you.

Turin It’s about your love affairs?

Page 91 of 113
fl
fi
fl
 What you need is a good lawyer.
Liseo I think I’ve had a change of heart.

Turin Perhaps a much better start

Might be a change of mind, friend.
I think you should forget Nise.

Liseo Well strangely, Turin, I agree.

I’m trying again, you see,
to find true love in Finea …

Turin Never knew you were so clever.

Liseo …And so I exact my revenge.

Turin That’s no recipe for marriage –

To bind yourself there forever
For a moment’s satisfaction.
When it’s sure to end in friction.
No, it’s due to her elegance
Because she has gained some sense –
Which Nise has lost, I fear –
That you should marry Finea.

Exit LISEO

Enter LAURENCIO and PEDRO

Laurencio Keep quiet about our plans.

Pedro The walls have ears.

Laurencio Turin.
Page 92 of 113
Pedro Si.

Turin Ah! Laurencio…

Laurencio Why do you,

Stand so stiff and silent too.

Turin It’s a my responsibility

To be totally discrete;
I can't even move my feet.

Laurencio Where is Liseo?

Turin I shouldn’t say.

He’s gone off to marry, yei.

Pedro Now that’s discretion for you.

It’s because he loves Finea

He’s going to marry her, –
And not in order to pursue
His revenge on missis Nise.
He’s with Otavia, I swear,
Asking for her hand this moment

Laurencio Do men ever do what they

say?

Turin No. No one does.

Laurencio He you barely a week ago

That he never would consent
Page 93 of 113
Turin Ah you see, it isn’t Finea…

Lauren Sorry?

Turin She has changed, it is so clear

She is someone else after after all.

Pedro How someone else?

Turin A while ago

She appeared to be unwise;

But now she seems otherwise.
Do you need anything else?

Laurencio No

Turin Then 'll say goodbye to you.

Exit TURIN.

Laurencio What am I going to do?

All I feared would ensue
From the wisdom that has fallen
so Sudden upon Finea
Has come true and Liseo now
Sees it shining in her brow.
So his attachment reappears.

Page 94 of 113
Pedro And her gold has played no part?

Enter FINEA and CLARA.

Finea Oh your clear Laurencio

Brought me more than you could guess –
Such pure shining happiness
I feel my cheeks start to glow.
I see you in every mirror,
Every drop of liquid light
That glistens clear and bright –
Reflects us being together.
Oh my new-found love wherever
I turn I can see your image
Like a miraculous mirage
In fountains of bright pure silver.

Laurencio Oh by the heavens’ pleasure,

Your mind’s never been so clear
I can see it now, Finea,
In such undiluted measure.
I always knew you were wise
Behind your masked nastiness.
But I denied it to myself, you see.
I never took your advice.
I did not want to be told
What to do – or call on you

For guidance when I fell into

Disastrous errors you’d foretold.
I thought you quite innocent
For a woman who's quiet and meek
Does not make a man feel weak.
Page 95 of 113
 That's the virtue of the silent.
I have written for the stage
Of bold women of the highway
Who prey on coaches everyday –
Whose sharpness leaps off the page
In tales of love and trickery.

But I confess in a wife

I wanted one free from strife.
See the harm that society
Has done to us, now Liseo
Wants you for his wife, you know.
He’s leaves Nise for you instead.
He’s marries you and I'm dead.

Finea For what are you blaming me?

I've never had a good teacher
No-one taught me of love before.
You’ve opened books and poetry.
You are the knowledge I am learning,
So why then are you complaining?

Laurencio My complaint is losing you.

Finea The cure's easy.

Luarencio What is it, then?

Finea Liseo only came back when

My coarse style which all of you
Found so very irritating
Turned into this sagacity
You have now revealed in me.

Page 96 of 113
 So if I now return to being
Crazy once again, you see,
He will go bak to hate me.

Laurencio And can you pretend to be

So thick as to fool him then?

Finea I‘ve pretended all my life.

Girls learn early how to fake –
For both love and fear’s sake.
It does saves a lot of strife.
We pretend before we’re even born.

Laurencio Before you are born?

Finea listen, that ... .

Laurencio I’m listening.

Finea When we're sat

There inside our mothers’ thrown,
We are able to hear the world
And its obvious that most parents
Would prefer to have male infants
So we learn to gently turn
A passing doubt to happiness,
By smiling, loving, obeying
By giving, worrying and caring
By pleasing just like sweet girls.
And that is that.

Lauren I understand.
To quickly change Liseo’s mind
In such a little space of time.
Page 97 of 113
 Let's see how well you feign mad.

Finea Be patient. Here comes Liseo.

Laurencio I’m going to hide.

Finea Quick.

Laurencio Pedro!

LAURENCIO and PEDRO hide. Enter LISEO

and TURIN.

Liseo I suppose you know, dear lady

That Misena is trying to arrange
For Nise and Duardo marriage.
It would be nice if our wedding.
Could happen on the same day.

Finea I don’t believe this is true

I’m certain told by Nise
That she in secret married you.

Liseo Me? I don’t know what to believe.

Finea If my eyes are not mistaken

You’re El Cid, and this your grave. Who
are you?

Liseo Have wits forsaken her again?

Finea You have lost your handkerchief.

Page 98 of 113
Turin Can a week work such mischief?

Finea Look up into the sky at night

And there you’ll see the old moon
Once a month pass out of sight
To be replaced by the new.

Liseo What’s this about the moon, Turin?

Turin She’s saying she’s a lunatic.

Finea What I want to know is this:

We’ve had new moons all these years

What happens to all the old ones?

Liseo Her madness seems worse than ever.

Finea You don’t know do you? Admit it.

They save them to mend the holes.

Liseo You are rather ignorant, you.

When I saw you yesterday
I admired you in every way,
For your wisdom was all plain
Now it has vanished again.

Finea Well it is your turn to show

Your true intelligence, you know.
The greatest wisdom, they say,
Will adapt in every way
To what is in front of you.

Liseo I don’t like you any more.

Page 99 of 113
Finea I’ve no mind for you, it’s true.

Liseo What a weird stroke of fortune!

I come for your love Finea
Then as soon as I get here
I find you have become immune
Once again to sense and logic.
It’s quite enough to make me sick.
Lady, I beg you, please fulfil
Your true calm and dignity
Remember I want you to be
Mistress of my heart forever.

Finea Me, a heart mistress? That’s mad.

You know my education’s bad.

Liseo Is this a way to behave

When I offer you my soul .

Finea What do you mean?

Liseo Here's my soul.

Finea What’s a soul?

Liseo Is our body’s whole Means of governance.

Finea Oh, really?

What’s it look like? Tell me clearly.

Liseo As a yogi I can feel it

But I cannot put it into words.

Page 100 of 113

Finea Can our souls speak?

Liseo Souls operate

By instruments that permeate

Through the feelings and the senses Which the

whole body condenses.

Finea Do souls eat long pork sausages?

Liseo Surely this is just true madness?

Turin Stupid people don't go mad.

Liseo And who does then?

Turin Well, I’m glad

You asked, for I know of this.
Smart people – they’re the ones Who go
mad, I sure can tell you.

Liseo Please, Turin, take me back to Nise love her

thinking and sense
Despite her indifference.
My dear lady, I intended
To give you love, but that’s ended.
I know now I’m unable to.
So I must now say, adieu.

Finea Souls are spirits, aren’t they?

And spirits are ghosts, they say.
They must be so terrifying.
Page 101 of 113
 On All Souls night they’re flying
Above rising from the dead.
I want to cover my head.
It is rather scary, really!

Turin It's Madness, not stupidity.

Liseo I'll tell Otavia of this.

Exit TURIN and LISEO. LAURENCIO and

PEDRO emerge.

Lauren Can I come out?

Finea Yes you may?

Lauren Such remarkable display!

Finea Oh wow, I could almost feel

Madness taking over me.
Laurencio, do speak to me
With utter delicacy
For never ever I wish
Again to doubt myself worthy.

Enter NISE and CELIA, unseen

Nise Well Finea and Laurencio

You are always found together,
That must be because you are lovers.
Celia They have been fooling you.

Page 102 of 113

Nise Let's Listen to what they’re saying.

Lauren Finea your are such a blessing

Nise Those are the words of a lover

Or a gardener.Not sure.

Celia Are those pure consoling words?

Consolation is not over .

Finea I can see the day is coming

I will soon become your mistress

Lauren Let there be no more distress.

Pedro Your sister’s listening to you.

Finea Time to be stupid again.

Laurencio Absolutely.

Finea Si.

Nise Well, Now

Tell me what is going on?
Laurencio Are you jealous is that all?

Nise Jealousy is just suspicion

But treachery is very real.

Laurencio How quick you fall in deception

And tell yourself of how you feel.
You’re just wanting an excuse
Page 103 of 113
 To fall in love with Liseo
Who’s quite ready to produce
The wedding plans that you want.
Congratulations, Nise; well done.
I deserve a testimonial
For the part I’ve played in this
Most auspicious matrimonial.
Go and enjoy your wedded bliss.

Exit LAURENCIO.

Nise I am glad to see you going.

I came in to complain to you,

End up hearing you complaining.
Not even get a chance to speak.

Pedro He’s an idiot, don't you listen.

I would forget him straightaway?

Exit PEDRO.

Nise What’s going on?

Celia I don't know.

Nise I hate him. No, I abhor him.

Our quarrels are improving.
Even when I start reproving,
He’s taken it upon him
To hit me with his comeback.
Page 104 of 113
Celia Did you see how he was leaving –
He looked so devious and cunning.

Nise And as for you and your betrayal;

Your false heart is all deceit –

You are stuffed full of lies.
Like a sly mermaid you arise
From the deep to catch your mate.

Celia Half fish, half woman, you change

From animal to human form
So wickedly to perform
Your schemes on him –
and he’s bewitched.

Nise Are you enjoying it, siren?

Finea Are you giving me a fish?

Have you just come from the sea?
I’ve already had my tea.
Couldn’t face another dish.
Come now, Nise, you’ve gone mad.

Nise What's this?

Celia She’s stupid again.

Nise Do not play with me, Finea:
Can you not see I'm in pain
Finea What about forgiveness, then?

Page 105 of 113

Nise Finea, I can’t forgive you
For such treason. Why did you
Give me back my heart, you traitor!
Give me back my life, false sister.

Can’t you see, you scheming shrew,

You’ve robbed me of my very heart.

Finea I'll be the hearts-keeper then

For so many I have stole.
Everyone is asking for hearts!
I'll go and hide inside a hole
And be a serpent there, yes!

Nise There's no time for foolishness.

Give me back my very soul.
Enter OTAVIO and DUARDO

Otavio Now what is happening here?

Finea They’re asking for their souls of me.

They think I am in purgatory?

Nise I think you should be my dear.

Finea Perhaps I should try to escape.

Otavio Will one of you please just tell us

What is the cause of this fuss?

Finea I am in rather a scrape.

Nise says she’s given me
Things like sirens, souls and fish.

Page 106 of 113

Otavio Has she again become foolish?

Nise Yes.

Otavio You seem a little angry.

Nise She’s taken from me what is mine.

Otavio Oh dear,

Nise Let me be plain.

Otavio Speak, Nise, as you are inclined.

Nise The only way to end this mess ...

Lena Just a second Nise dear ...

MISENO AND LENA RECAP

REDEMPTION AND DISCOVERIES

MISENO:

Last time you talked to your daughter she was experiencing

what you yourself de ined as the feeling of jealousy.
Finea told Laurencio that she wanted to be ‘unembrace’ by him,
but Nise interrupted and took Laurencio away into the garden
to give him a piece of her mind. He escaped, seeking Finea to
trick her into declaring herself his intended wife, using Feniso,
Duardo, and Pedro as witnesses, to dispel the previously
Page 107 of 113
f
mentioned jealousy over Nise. Meanwhile, Liseo professed love
to Nise, unaware of Laurencio's presence. Laurencio reassured
Liseo and declared his intentions toward Nise void.
In the third act, Finea, who is now showing clear signs of
diligence, manipulated situations dextrally. Despite your
objections, Laurencio stills persuade marriage with Finea so she
suggested to hide in the attic with him, and the cats, of course .
Ah no! the attic scene was cut, but still we might want to rescue
the attic monologue which shows Lope's artistry and today its
sounds great like a classic rock n roll song.

THE ATTICK SONG?

Lena:

Wow that was great, but going back to where we left it and to
the plot of the girls which to me is actually the most important
one of the story:

FINEA is now married to Laurencio, they promised eternal love

to each other in front of witnesses I am not sure that is legaly
effective but will sure check on that.

NISE is devastated. Now Liseo in wouing NISE, he really thinks

he has a chance, although he did courted FINEA for a bit while
she was showing signs of a clear mind, I am not sure about how
Finea is doing right now, or in what state she is at all.

So both Laurencio and Liseo have been discussing over who

shall be marring who as if marring was gamble. They’ve change
their minds like the wind changes only depending on their own
interests and with no conscience or so ever of how this might
affect their mistresses.

Page 108 of 113

Otavio It seems things have gone beyond me.
Finea is married already
And Nise is matched with Liseo.

Laurencio The wind blows all into place.

Finea, will you take my hand?.

Finea ... and Clara and Ana

Liseo I offer mine to Nise's grace.

Nise ... and Fenisa and Celia

Pedro Actually --- would you ...

-------- I thought you would never ask

I've been waiting for a date
Since the day that we both met.

Turin And did I come of an age

Where people weep at being born
And smile when they die?

Otavio Stars must be whirling high above

For we are all mad for love.

SONG based on a poem by na de San

Bartolomé

OTAVIA

My two daughters fly today

Page 109 of 113

with such a sovereign leap

far from the sweet nest of love,

where they were always with me.

They will abandoned the nest

They are looking for their paths,

because they would rather die

then to live usual life.

Love will find them, at some point

now all they want is to fly;

in their chest there is a light,

that will soon show them the way.

In this flight so high they spring

But who has given them strength?

love did shot the arrow, then

Page 110 of 113
But they have found their own wings.

And thirsty they have been searching

and although love could sure hurt them,

and though life might weigh them down,

in their freedom they have trusted.

This sovereign flight of theirs

might not be pleasant for all,

for the palate of the world

can be sour, but who cares.

They do not think of what's next,

they are flying without fear;

my daughters are free to chose

I am crying happy tears.

Storyteller

So, here's the epilogue. Our ending took a detour from Lope
de Vega's play where everyone neatly walked down the aisle
– Nise with Feniso, Finea with Laurencio, and Celia with
Page 111 of 113
 Pedro, ticking all the boxes of class and societal
expectations.

Finding an ending for us was no easy, I mean, nowadays,

there are just too many options, right? What should one do?
Study, work, travel, or try to do it all while keeping our
social lives a loat both in-person and online. It's a lot.

At the beginning, we asked ourselves the question what is

love? And, surprise, no one had a simple answer. Life's a
journey with plenty of twists and turns, and our characters?
Well, they're still iguring it out

OPTION 2:

So I guess here comes the epilogue

Behold, dear audience, our tale
unwinds,
In this mad story where each
character inds
A place in our hearts, a story well
spun,
As the inal act draws to a close, its
course is run.
Now, as the curtain falls, we're
prompted to see,
Love's meaning transformed in this
age that we be.
No single answer to the question so
grand,

Page 112 of 113

f
f
f
f
For love, these days, is a
multifaceted land.
It's not just romance, nor a simple
embrace,
But a myriad of hues, a kaleidoscope
grace.
Friendship, trust, the bonds we
create,
Love, is madness maybe fate.

End

Page 113 of 113