Four Plays of Gil Vicente Part 39

_G._ What reason canst thou give me now To refuse to marry me?

365 I shall have of wheat enow And thy life with me shall be As a goldfinch's free from toil.

I will not have thee hoe the soil, I will not have thee work in the sun, 370 But thou shalt sit and take thy ease And by me all the work be done.

Art thou willing, Madanela?

_M._ Goncalo, go back, go back to thy plough, With none will I marry, I avow, 375 In the whole Serra da Estrella, In vain wilt thou persist and tease.

Catalina is a very good girl And fair enough, though not a pearl, Comes of good stock and loves thee well, 380 And she is very sensible.

Then take what's offered thee and so Shalt balm of thy desire know.

_G._ Nay, but I pray thee do not seek To teach my heart what way to go.

385 _M._ Go hence, if nonsense thou must speak.

_G._ I say I will not marry her.

_M._ And I will not marry thee.

But yonder comes Rodrigo, see, After Felipa, and I aver 390 That not a fig for him cares she.

_Enter Rodrigo, singing:_

My love, let's be going, be going together, Be going together.

Rodrigo and Felipa were crossing the river, My love, let's be going.

395 How is it, Felipa, with thee?

_F._ And what business is that of thine?

Days past I've bidden thee thy chatter To thy father to confine.

_R._ But that, my dear, does not suit me.

400 _F._ And why drag me into the matter?

_R._ Felipa, turn thy eyes this way And give me that fair hand of thine.

_F._ Away, away with thee, I say, What art thou to me, in the name of evil?

405 _R._ So, Felipa, thou art here, I see.

_F._ Rodrigo, wouldst thou begin again?

If ever there was feather-brain, But I would not be uncivil.

_R._ Would then that thou mightest be 410 Now less shrewish and unkind.

Yet even that is to my mind, So charming art thou unto me So graceful and so fair to see.

_F._ Everyone should regulate 415 At reason's bidding his request, Thou my heart requirest But I cannot give thee that Nor listen to thee save in jest.

And as to my marrying I wis, 420 Although I keep the sheep, withal An honoured judge my father is And by his side the rest are small, He's best related of them all.

At Court too he's been many a day 425 And the king once spoke to him, to say: 'In the district of Monsarraz And Fronteira, Affonso Vaz, What is the price of wheat, I pray?'

So that here to marry would be for me, 430 Rodrigo, to act unreasonably.

_R._ Shouldest thou a courtier marry What amus.e.m.e.nt unto me And consolation that would carry!

For if as a country-lout he harry 435 Thee all day and for evermore, Would I, what though my heart should grieve, Rejoice, since, though I thee adore, Me thus contemptuously dost thou leave, And if he bid thee keep thy place 440 As being but of low degree: Since thou despisest such as me Thee shall the mighty then abase.

_F._ When I see a courtier fine With his velvet slippers, and 445 His viola in his hand, 'Tis all up with this heart of mine Nor can I his ways withstand.

_R._ Goncalo, come help me now At the labour of my plough 450 And I'll help thee anon with thine.

For as to the other 'twill be in fine When its fortune shall allow.

_G._ As for Madanela, I Have ceased at last my luck to try.

455 _R._ Ah! then the same thing it must be As with Felipa and me.

_G._ Yes, 'tis even so we stand.

_R._ And how is't with thee, Ferdinand?

_F._ I am in both smiles and frowns, 460 And a lover's life is planned In a maze of ups and downs.

_Enters a hermit who says:_

_H._ Shepherds, for love of G.o.d, on me Pray bestow your charity.

_R._ Rather him it now behoves 465 Charitable towards us to be And tie the knots of all our loves.

_H._ Marrying is in G.o.d's hand And from Him comes fortune too, For by His especial grace 470 All men fortune may embrace And good sense a.s.sists thereto.

Place yourselves beneath His sway, Take not any thought to choose But receive what comes your way, 475 For these idle loves, I say, You'll in sure repentance lose.

Your names, my daughters, here you leave; My sons, now each your lot receive: Behave yourselves in such a sort 480 That you your infinite thanks shall give To G.o.d, and to the King and Court.

_The hermit takes from his sleeve three small written pieces of paper and gives them to the shepherds that each may take his lot, and Ferdinand says:_

Rodrigo shall the first lot claim.

We'll see now if he acts aright.

_R._ In the Virgin Mary's name 485 Read it, padre, for the same Brings to me my day or night.

_The hermit reads the writing:_

'By Fortune's and by G.o.d's command Whosoever draws this lot Shall to Felipa give his hand, 490 Shall do so and reason not.'

_R._ I have won the victory, Felipa, come hither to me, my dear.

_F._ Away with thee, away, dost hear, Thinkest thou this will profit thee?

495 Ne'er such a victory shalt thou see.

_G._ Draw thy lot now, Ferdinand, Let's see what for thee is planned.

_F._ Here goes then in the name of Heaven; Read, padre, what is written there.

_The hermit reads:_

500 'The sentence is already given And its substance doth declare That thou shalt Madanela wed.'