Four Plays of Gil Vicente Part 26

704. _bom_ A, B. _boa_ C.

707. _vale_ A.

712. _encosso_ A. _ensoco_ C.

FINIS. B omits _Finis_ and has: _Vanse estas figuras & acabouse esta farsa. Laus Deo_

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

_The Carriers._

_The following farce was played before the very powerful and excellent King Dom Joo III of Portugal in his city of Coimbra in the year of the Lord 1526. Its argument is that a n.o.bleman with a very small income lived in great state and had his own chaplain, goldsmith and other officials, whom he never paid. His chaplain seeing himself penniless and in tatters enters, saying:_

_Chaplain._ In such straits I cannot pray, So to lessen my distress And to win lightheartedness I'll walk along this Sandy Way And, the cares that on me press To soothe, the old romance I'll gloss "I was in Coimbra city"

Since Coimbra without pity Brings us to such dearth and loss.

10 I was in Coimbra city That is built so gracefully, In the plains of the Mondego Straw nor barley could I see.

Thereupon, ah me! I reckoned 'Twas a trap set artfully For the horses of the Court And the mule that carried me Ill I augured when I saw The young maize cut so lavishly 20 And selling for its weight in gold: O my mule, I grieve for thee!

In the plain along the river I saw a host in battle free Not of men, of mice the host was, They were fighting furiously.

There are cabbages--in Biscay And there's meat--in Brittany.

I'm chaplain to a n.o.bleman, Poor as a church-mouse is he; 30 On great show his heart is set Although his household famished be, Rustic louts he has for pages And all goes disastrously.

Now will I ask leave of him And demand my salary.

_The chaplain arrives at the n.o.bleman's room and converses with him thus:_

_C._ Sir, it is high time, I ween....

_N._ Say on, good padre, say on.

_C._ I say three years are wellnigh gone Since your chaplain I have been.

40 _N._ Say on, for such a truth convinces.

_C._ And I might have been the Prince's Yes, and might have been the King's.

_N._ In good sooth that's not so clear.

_C._ For I'm meant for higher things Though I stayed to serve you here.

So then, sir, please to consider What I am to gain thereby, For besides priest's service I Served as buyer and as bidder.

50 _N._ That I surely won't deny.

Come now, make out a pet.i.tion Of all you would have me pay.

_C._ Sir, put me not off, I pray, For indeed your one condition Seems delay and still delay.

In your service I became Priest and man of business too.

_N._ Yes, and I bestowed on you Many a favour for the same, 60 More than most are wont to do.

What more should a priest require Of money or emolument Than his meals beside the fire --That's daily one penny spent-- All things to his heart's desire?

And besides there is the glory: He's chaplain to Lord So-and-so.

_C._ Of dress you think not, nor the worry Of meals e'er taken in a flurry, 70 And sleeping with my head so low My tonsure touched the ground, and no Comfort nor pillow for my head, And early ma.s.s, and late to bed.

And I, your favour for to win, Served out-of-doors as well as in, Bought sh.e.l.l-fish in the market-place, To many an errand set my face --You know, sir, it is as I say-- That ill became my dignity.

80 Your carrier on the highway --Gee-up, gee-wo, the livelong day-- Was I, and charge was given me Of the kitchen-negroes and the cats, I cleaned your boots, I brushed your hats, And might add other things to these.

_N._ Yes, for so 'twas my intent To trust you with my charities, And for the love of G.o.d you spent, Nor asked I how the money went.

90 _C._ For the three years of which I speak I'll tell you now without ado: To a blind man a farthing you Once bade me give in Holy Week.

_N._ I'm not denying that it's true.

_C._ And then just one year afterward, An orphan's dower to help to find, You bade give cloth--the roughest kind Of Alcobaca--half a yard.

And also, perhaps you bear in mind, 100 Three lots of fish you bade divide Among the convents round about During these first three years: supplied Were they from Pederneira, out Of that same fund must I provide.

Now in three years I did receive One hundred reis, and at this rate Just this one halfpenny they leave.

_N._ I see you are most accurate.

But come now, without more debate, 110 Make one account of everything And give't my secretary, he Will the matter to my notice bring.

_C._ O Sir, leave all that for the King Our master, and speak seriously.

My services your promise was, Sir, when we were at Santarem, That you would pay right well for them.

_N._ How often saw you me at Ma.s.s?

--I mean when 'twas you said the same.

120 _C._ If that was so am _I_ to blame?

They have been said on your behalf.

_N._ O keep them, keep them for yourself, You're very welcome to them--so, G.o.d will your due reward bestow.

My money I waste not that way On ma.s.ses muttered anyhow.

_C._ What, would you have your mummeries now And think you need no fiddler pay?

This is presumption's height, I trow.

130 Unless your lords.h.i.+p's purse possesses Means for pomp and state so high To reduce them and spend less is Merely not a hawk to buy If you are without its jesses.

Pages six in cloaks arrayed Wait upon you in the street In state that for a king were meet.

Yet you have not, I'm afraid, The Pope's lands nor Guinea's trade.

140 For your revenues shrink and shrink Much like Alcobaca cloth.

_N._ Even so every n.o.ble doth Who to high birth small means must link.

There's no other way, I think.

But I see, padre, what you want, And my wish has always been To give you to the King or Queen.

_C._ That would be good wheat, I grant, If its flour could be seen.

150 Sir, if that should come to pa.s.s At your kindness I'll rejoice.

_N._ Well then, without more ado, That so I may judge your voice, Sing a preface of the Ma.s.s.

_C._ That will I most gladly do, But who will the responses say?

_N._ I. _C._ _Per omnia secula._