diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954-8.txt | 2699 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 49958 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 52704 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954-h/14954-h.htm | 2883 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954.txt | 2699 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 14954.zip | bin | 0 -> 49931 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 8297 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14954-8.txt b/14954-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7852b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/14954-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2699 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cid + +Author: Pierre Corneille + +Release Date: February 7, 2005 [EBook #14954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: This text is no longer copyrighted; original +copyright note preserved for accuracy.] + + +Handy Literal Translations + + +CORNEILLE'S + +THE CID + + +A Literal Translation, by + +ROSCOE MONGAN + + + +1896, BY HINDS & NOBLE + + + +HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE, Publishers, + +31-33-35 West Fifteenth Street, New York City + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Cid Campeador is the name given in histories, traditions and songs to +the most celebrated of Spain's national heroes. + +His real name was Rodrigo or Ruy Diaz (i.e. "son of Diego"), a +Castilian noble by birth. He was born at Burgos about the year 1040. + +There is so much of the mythical in the history of this personage that +hypercritical writers, such as Masdeu, have doubted his existence; but +recent researches have succeeded in separating the historical from the +romantic. + +Under Sancho II, son of Ferdinand, he served as commander of the royal +troops. In a war between the two brothers, Sancho II. and Alfonso VI. of +Leon, due to some dishonorable stratagem on the part of Rodrigo, Sancho +was victorious and his brother was forced to seek refuge with the +Moorish King of Toledo. + +In 1072 Sancho was assassinated at the siege of Zamora, and as he left +no heir the Castilians had to acknowledge Alfonso as King. Although +Alfonso never forgave the Cid for having, as leader of the Castilians, +compelled him to swear that he (the Cid) had no hand in the murder of +his brother Sancho, as a conciliatory measure, he gave his cousin +Ximena, daughter of the Count of Oviedo, to the Cid in marriage, but +afterwards, in 1081, when he found himself firmly seated on the throne, +yielding to his own feelings of resentment and incited by the Leonese +nobles, he banished him from the kingdom. + +At the head of a large body of followers, the Cid joined the Moorish +King of Saragossa, in whose service he fought against both Moslems and +Christians. It was probably during this exile that he was first called +the Cid, an Arabic title, which means the _lord_. He was very +successful in all his battles. + +In conjunction with Mostain, grandson of Moctadir, he invaded Valencia +in 1088, but afterwards carried on operations alone, and finally, after +a long siege, made himself master of the city in June, 1094. He retained +possession of Valencia for five years and reigned like an independent +sovereign over one of the richest territories in the Peninsula, but died +suddenly in 1099 of anger and grief on hearing that his relative, Alvar +Fañez, had been vanquished and the army which he had sent to his +assistance had been defeated. + +After the Cid's death his wife held Valencia till 1102, when she was +obliged to yield to the Almoravides and fly to Castile, where she died +in 1104. Her remains were placed by those of her lord in the monastery +of San Pedro de Cardeña. + + + + +THE CID. + + + + +ACT THE FIRST. + + +Scene I.--CHIMÈNE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimène._ Elvira, have you given me a really true report? Do you +conceal nothing that my father has said? + +_Elvira._ All my feelings within me are still delighted with it. He +esteems Rodrigo as much as you love him; and if I do not misread his +mind, he will command you to respond to his passion. + +_Chimène._ Tell me then, I beseech you, a second time, what makes you +believe that he approves of my choice; tell me anew what hope I ought to +entertain from it. A discourse so charming cannot be too often heard; +you cannot too forcibly promise to the fervor of our love the sweet +liberty of manifesting itself to the light of day. What answer has he +given regarding the secret suit which Don Sancho and Don Rodrigo are +paying to you? Have you not too clearly shown the disparity between the +two lovers which inclines me to the one side? + +_Elvira._ No; I have depicted your heart as filled with an +indifference which elates not either of them nor destroys hope, and, +without regarding them with too stern or too gentle an aspect, awaits the +commands of a father to choose a spouse. This respect has delighted +him--his lips and his countenance gave me at once a worthy testimony of +it; and, since I must again tell you the tale, this is what he hastened +to say to me of them and of you: 'She is in the right. Both are worthy +of her; both are sprung from a noble, valiant, and faithful lineage; +young but yet who show by their mien [_lit._ cause to easily be read +in their eyes] the brilliant valor of their brave ancestors. Don Rodrigo, +above all, has no feature in his face which is not the noble [_lit._ +high] representative of a man of courage [_lit._ heart], and descends +from a house so prolific in warriors, that they enter into life [_lit._ +take birth there] in the midst of laurels. The valor of his father, in +his time without an equal, as long as his strength endured, was +considered a marvel; the furrows on his brow bear witness to [_lit._ +have engraved his] exploits, and tell us still what he formerly was. I +predict of the son what I have seen of the father, and my daughter, in +one word, may love him and please me.' He was going to the council, the +hour for which approaching, cut short this discourse, which he had +scarcely commenced; but from these few words, I believe that his mind +[_lit._ thoughts] is not quite decided between your two lovers. The king +is going to appoint an instructor for his son, and it is he for whom an +honor so great is designed. This choice is not doubtful, and his +unexampled valor cannot tolerate that we should fear any competition. As +his high exploits render him without an equal, in a hope so justifiable +he will be without a rival; and since Don Rodrigo has persuaded his +father, when going out from the council, to propose the affair. I leave +you to judge whether he will seize this opportunity [_lit._ whether he +will take his time well], and whether all your desires will soon be +gratified. + +_Chimène._ It seems, however, that my agitated soul refuses this joy, +and finds itself overwhelmed by it. One moment gives to fate different +aspects, and in this great happiness I fear a great reverse. + +_Elvira._ You see this fear happily deceived. + +_Chimène._ Let us go, whatever it may be, to await the issue. + + +Scene II.--The INFANTA, LEONORA, and a PAGE. + + +_Infanta (to Page_). Page, go, tell Chimène from me, that to-day she is +rather long in coming to see me, and that my friendship complains of her +tardiness. [_Exit Page._] + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, each day the same desire urges you, and at your +interview with her, I see you every day ask her how her love proceeds. + +_Infanta._ It is not without reason. I have almost compelled her to +receive the arrows with which her soul is wounded. She loves Rodrigo, +and she holds him from my hand; and by means of me Don Rodrigo has +conquered her disdain. Thus, having forged the chains of these lovers, I +ought to take an interest in seeing their troubles at an end. + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, however, amidst their good fortune you exhibit a +grief which proceeds to excess. Does this love, which fills them both +with gladness, produce in this noble heart [of yours] profound sadness? +And does this great interest which you take in them render you unhappy, +whilst they are happy? But I proceed too far, and become indiscreet. + +_Infanta._ My sadness redoubles in keeping the secret. Listen, listen +at length, how I have struggled; listen what assaults my constancy +[_lit._ virtue or valor] yet braves. Love is a tyrant which spares no +one. This young cavalier, this lover which I give [her]--I love him. + +_Leonora._ You love him! + +_Infanta._ Place your hand upon my heart, and feel [_lit._ see] how it +throbs at the name of its conqueror! how it recognizes him! + +_Leonora._ Pardon me, dear lady, if I am wanting in respect in blaming +this passion; a noble princess to so far forget herself as to admit in +her heart a simple [_or_, humble] cavalier! And what would the King +say?--what would Castile say? Do you still remember of whom you are the +daughter? + +_Infanta._ I remember it so well, that I would shed my blood rather than +degrade my rank. I might assuredly answer to thee, that, in noble souls, +worth alone ought to arouse passions; and, if my love sought to excuse +itself, a thousand famous examples might sanction it. But I will not +follow these--where my honor is concerned, the captivation of my +feelings does not abate my courage, and I say to myself always, that, +being the daughter of a king, all other than a monarch is unworthy of +me. When I saw that my heart could not protect itself, I myself gave +away that which I did not dare to take; and I put, in place of my self, +Chimène in its fetters, and I kindled their passions [_lit._ fires] in +order to extinguish my own. Be then no longer surprised if my troubled +soul with impatience awaits their bridal; thou seest that my happiness +[_lit._ repose] this day depends upon it. If love lives by hope, it +perishes with it; it is a fire which becomes extinguished for want of +fuel; and, in spite of the severity of my sad lot, if Chimène ever has +Rodrigo for a husband, my hope is dead and my spirit, is healed. +Meanwhile, I endure an incredible torture; even up to this bridal. +Rodrigo is dear to me; I strive to lose him, and I lose him with regret, +and hence my secret anxiety derives its origin. I see with sorrow that +love compels me to utter sighs for that [object] which [as a princess] I +must disdain. I feel my spirit divided into two portions; if my courage +is high, my heart is inflamed [with love]. This bridal is fatal to me, I +fear it, and [yet] I desire it; I dare to hope from it only an +incomplete joy; my honor and my love have for me such attractions, that +I [shall] die whether it be accomplished, or whether it be not +accomplished. + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, after that I have nothing more to say, except +that, with you, I sigh for your misfortunes; I blamed you a short time +since, now I pity you. But since in a misfortune [i.e. an ill-timed +love] so sweet and so painful, your noble spirit [_lit._ virtue] +contends against both its charm and its strength, and repulses its +assault and regrets its allurements, it will restore calmness to your +agitated feelings. Hope then every [good result] from it, and from the +assistance of time; hope everything from heaven; it is too just [_lit._ +it has too much justice] to leave virtue in such a long continued +torture. + +_Infanta._ My sweetest hope is to lose hope. + +(_The Page re-enters._) + +_Page._ By your commands, Chimène comes to see you. + +_Infanta_ (to _Leonora_). Go and converse with her in that gallery +[yonder]. + +_Leonora._ Do you wish to continue in dreamland? + +_Infanta._ No, I wish, only, in spite of my grief, to compose myself +[_lit._ to put my features a little more at leisure]. I follow you. + +[_Leonora goes out along with the Page._] + + +Scene III.--The INFANTA (alone). + + +Just heaven, from which I await my relief, put, at last, some limit to +the misfortune which is overcoming [_lit._ possesses] me; secure my +repose, secure my honor. In the happiness of others I seek my own. This +bridal is equally important to three [parties]; render its completion +more prompt, or my soul more enduring. To unite these two lovers with a +marriage-tie is to break all my chains and to end all my sorrows. But I +tarry a little too long; let us go to meet Chimène, and, by +conversation, to relieve our grief. + + +Scene IV.--COUNT DE GORMAS and DON DIEGO (meeting). + + +_Count._ At last you have gained it [_or_, prevailed], and the favor of +a King raises you to a rank which was due only to myself; he makes you +Governor of the Prince of Castile. + +_Don Diego._ This mark of distinction with which he distinguishes +[_lit._ which he puts into] my family shows to all that he is just, and +causes it to be sufficiently understood, that he knows how to recompense +bygone services. + +_Count._ However great kings may be, they are only men [_lit._ they are +that which we are]; they can make mistakes like other men, and this +choice serves as a proof to all courtiers that they know how to [_or_, +can] badly recompense present services. + +_Don Diego._ Let us speak no more of a choice at which your mind +becomes exasperated. Favor may have been able to do as much as merit; +but we owe this respect to absolute power, to question nothing when a +king has wished it. To the honor which he has done me add another--let +us join by a sacred tie my house to yours. You have an only daughter, +and I have an only son; their marriage may render us for ever more than +friends. Grant us this favor, and accept, him as a son-in-law. + +_Count._ To higher alliances this precious son ought [_or_, is likely] +to aspire; and the new splendor of your dignity ought to inflate his +heart with another [higher] vanity. Exercise that [dignity], sir, and +instruct the prince. Show him how it is necessary to rule a province: to +make the people tremble everywhere under his law; to fill the good with +love, and the wicked with terror. Add to these virtues those of a +commander: show him how it is necessary to inure himself to fatigue; in +the profession of a warrior [_lit._ of Mars] to render himself without +an equal; to pass entire days and nights on horseback; to sleep +all-armed: to storm a rampart, and to owe to himself alone the winning +of a battle. Instruct him by example, and render him perfect, bringing +your lessons to his notice by carrying them into effect. + +_Don Diego._ To instruct himself by example, in spite of your jealous +feelings, he shall read only the history of my life. There, in a long +succession of glorious deeds, he shall see how nations ought to be +subdued; to attack a fortress, to marshal an army, and on great exploits +to build his renown. + +_Count._ Living examples have a greater [_lit._ another] power. A +prince, in a book, learns his duty but badly [_or_, imperfectly]; and +what, after all, has this great number of years done which one of my +days cannot equal? If you have been valiant, I am so to-day, and this +arm is the strongest support of the kingdom. Granada and Arragon tremble +when this sword flashes; my name serves as a rampart to all Castile; +without me you would soon pass under other laws, and you would soon have +your enemies as [_lit._ for] kings. Each day, each moment, to increase +my glory, adds laurels to laurels, victory to victory. The prince, by my +side, would make the trial of his courage in the wars under the shadow +of my arm; he would learn to conquer by seeing me do so; and, to prove +speedily worthy of his high character, he would see---- + +_Don Diego._ I know it; you serve the king well. I have seen you fight +and command under me, when [old] age has caused its freezing currents to +flow within my nerves [i.e. "when the frosts of old age had numbed my +nerves"--_Jules Bue_], your unexampled [_lit._ rare] valor has worthily +[_lit._ well] supplied my place; in fine, to spare unnecessary words, +you are to-day what I used to be. You see, nevertheless, that in this +rivalry a monarch places some distinction between us. + +_Count._ That prize which I deserved you have carried off. + +_Don Diego._ He who has gained that [advantage] over you has deserved it +best. + +_Count._ He who can use it to the best advantage is the most worthy of +it. + +_Don Diego._ To be refused that prize [_lit._ it] is not a good sign. + +_Count._ You have gained it by intrigue, being an old courtier. + +_Don Diego._ The brilliancy of my noble deeds was my only recommendation +[_lit._ support]. + +_Count._ Let us speak better of it [i.e. more plainly]: the king does +honor to your age. + +_Don Diego._ The king, when he does it [i.e. that honor], gives it +[_lit._ measures it] to courage. + +_Count._ And for that reason this honor was due only to me [_lit._ my +arm]. + +_Don Diego._ He who has not been able to obtain it did not deserve it. + +_Count._ Did not deserve it? I! + +_Don Diego._ You. + +_Count._ Thy impudence, rash old man, shall have its recompense. [_He +gives him a slap on the face._] _Don Diego (drawing his sword [_lit._ +putting the sword in his hand_]). Finish [this outrage], and take my +life after such an insult, the first for which my race has ever had +cause to blush [_lit._ has seen its brow grow red]. + +_Count._ And what do you think you can do, weak us you are [_lit._ with +such feebleness]? + +_Don Diego._ Oh, heaven! my exhausted strength fails me in this +necessity! + +_Count._ Thy sword is mine; but thou wouldst be too vain if this +discreditable trophy had laden my hand [i.e. if I had carried away a +trophy so discreditable]. Farewell--adieu! Cause the prince to read, in +spite of jealous feelings, for his instruction, the history of thy life. +This just punishment of impertinent language will serve as no small +embellishment for it. + + +Scene V.--DON DIEGO. + + +O rage! O despair! O inimical old age! Have I then lived so long only +for this disgrace? And have I grown grey in warlike toils, only to see +in one day so many of my laurels wither? Does my arm [i.e. my valor], +which all Spain admires and looks up to [_lit._ with respect]--[does] my +arm, which has so often saved this empire, and so often strengthened +anew the throne of its king, now [_lit._ then] betray my cause, and do +nothing for me? O cruel remembrance of my bygone glory! O work of a +lifetime [_lit._ so many days] effaced in a day! new dignity fatal to my +happiness! lofty precipice from which mine honor falls! must I see the +count triumph over your splendor, and die without vengeance, or live in +shame? Count, be now the instructor of my prince! This high rank becomes +[_lit._ admits] no man without honor, and thy jealous pride, by this +foul [_lit._ remarkable] insult, in spite of the choice of the king, has +contrived [_lit._ has known how] to render me unworthy of it. And thou, +glorious instrument of my exploits, but yet a useless ornament of an +enfeebled body numbed by age [_lit._ all of ice], thou sword, hitherto +to be feared, and which in this insult has served me for show, and not +for defence, go, abandon henceforth the most dishonored [_lit._ the +last] of his race; pass, to avenge me, into better hands! + + +Scene VI.--DON DIEGO and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo, hast thou courage [_lit._ a heart]? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Any other than my father would have found that out +instantly. + +_Don Diego._ Welcome wrath! worthy resentment, most pleasing to my +grief! I recognize my blood in this noble rage; my youth revives in this +ardor so prompt. Come, my son, come, my blood, come to retrieve my +shame--come to avenge me! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Of what? + +_Don Diego._ Of an insult so cruel that it deals a deadly stroke +against the honor of us both--of a blow! The insolent [man] would have +lost his life for it, but my age deceived my noble ambition; and this +sword, which my arm can no longer wield, I give up to thine, to avenge +and punish. Go against this presumptuous man, and prove thy valor: it is +only in blood that one can wash away such an insult; die or slay. +Moreover, not to deceive thee, I give thee to fight a formidable +antagonist [_lit._ a man to be feared], I have seen him entirely covered +with blood and dust, carrying everywhere dismay through an entire army. +I have seen by his valor a hundred squadrons broken; and, to tell thee +still something more--more than brave soldier, more than great leader, +he is---- + +_Don Rodrigo._ Pray, finish. + +_Don Diego._ The father of Chimène. + +_Don Rodrigo._ The---- + +_Don Diego._ Do not reply; I know thy love. But he who lives dishonored +is unworthy of life; the dearer the offender the greater the offence. In +short, thou knowest the insult, and thou holdest [in thy grasp the means +of] vengeance. I say no more to thee. Avenge me, avenge thyself! Show +thyself a son worthy of a father such as I [am]. Overwhelmed by +misfortunes to which destiny reduces me, I go to deplore them. Go, run, +fly, and avenge us! + + +Scene VII.--DON RODRIGO. + + +Pierced even to the depth [_or,_ bottom of the heart] by a blow +unexpected as well as deadly, pitiable avenger of a just quarrel and +unfortunate object of an unjust severity, I remain motionless, and my +dejected soul yields to the blow which is slaying me. So near seeing my +love requited! O heaven, the strange pang [_or,_ difficulty]! In this +insult my father is the person aggrieved, and the aggressor is the +father of Chimène! + +What fierce conflicts [of feelings] I experience! My love is engaged +[_lit._ interests itself] against my own honor. I must avenge a father +and lose a mistress. The one stimulates my courage, the other restrains +my arm. Reduced to the sad choice of either betraying my love or of +living as a degraded [man], on both sides my situation is wretched +[_lit._ evil is infinite]. O heaven, the strange pang [_or,_ +difficulty]! Must I leave an insult unavenged? Must I punish the father +of Chimène? + +Father, mistress, honor, love--noble and severe restraint--a bondage +still to be beloved [_lit._ beloved tyranny], all my pleasures are dead, +or my glory is sullied. The one renders me unhappy; the other unworthy +of life. Dear and cruel hope of a soul noble but still enamored, worthy +enemy of my greatest happiness, thou sword which causest my painful +anxiety, hast thou been given to me to avenge my honor? Hast thou been +given to me to lose Chimène? + +It is better to rush [_lit._ run] to death. I owe [a duty] to my +mistress as well as to my father. I draw, in avenging myself, her hatred +and her rage; I draw upon myself his [i.e. my father's] contempt by +not avenging myself. To my sweetest hope the one [alternative] renders +me unfaithful, and the other [alternative] renders me unworthy of her. +My misfortune increases by seeking a remedy [_lit._ by wishing to cure +it]. All [supposed reliefs] redoubles my woes. Come then, my soul [or, +beloved sword], and, since I must die, let us die, at least, without +offending Chimène! + +To die without obtaining satisfaction! To seek a death so fatal to my +fame! To endure that Spain should impute to my memory [the fact] of +having badly maintained the honor of my house! To respect a love of +which my distracted soul already sees the certain loss. Let us no more +listen to this insidious thought, which serves only to pain me [_or,_ +contributes only to my painful position]. Come, mine arm [_or,_ sword], +let us save honor, at least, since, after all, we must lose Chimène. + +Yes, my spirit was deceived. I owe all to my father before my mistress. + +Whether I die in the combat or die of sadness, I shall yield up my blood +pure as I have received it. I already accuse myself of too much +negligence; let us haste to vengeance; and quite ashamed of having +wavered so much, let us no more be in painful suspense, since to-day my +father has been insulted, even though the offender is the father of +Chimène. + + + + +ACT THE SECOND. + + +Scene I.--COUNT DE GORMAS and DON ARIAS. + + +_Count._ I acknowledge, between ourselves, [that] my blood, a little too +warm, became too excited at an expression, and has carried the matter +too far [_lit._ too high], but, since it is done, the deed is without +remedy. + +_Don Arias._ To the wishes of the King let this proud spirit yield; he +takes this much to heart, and his exasperated feelings [_lit._ heart] +will act against you with full authority. And, indeed, you have no +available defence. The [high] rank of the person offended, the greatness +of the offence, demand duties and submissions which require more than +ordinary reparation. + +_Count._ The King can, at his pleasure, dispose of my life. + +_Don Arias._ Your fault is followed by too much excitement. The King +still loves you; appease his wrath. He has said, "I desire it!"--will +you disobey? + +_Count._ Sir, to preserve all that esteem which I retain [_or,_ (other +reading), to preserve my glory and my esteem] to disobey in a slight +degree is not so great a crime, and, however great that [offence] may +be, my immediate services are more than sufficient to cancel it. + +_Don Arias._ Although one perform glorious and important deeds, a King +is never beholden to his subject. You flatter yourself much, and you +ought to know that he who serves his King well only does his duty. You +will ruin yourself, sir, by this confidence. + +_Count._ I shall not believe you until I have experience of it [_lit._ +until after experience of it]. + +_Don Arias._ You ought to dread the power of a King. + +_Count._ One day alone does not destroy a man such as I. Let all his +greatness arm itself for my punishment; all the state shall perish, if I +must perish. + +_Don Arias._ What! do you fear so little sovereign power----? + +_Count._ [The sovereign power] of a sceptre which, without me, would +fall from his hand. He himself has too much interest in my person, and +my head in falling would cause his crown to fall. + +_Don Arias._ Permit reason to bring back your senses. Take good advice. + +_Count_. The advice [_or,_ counsel] with regard to it is [already] +taken. + +_Don Arias._ What shall I say, after all? I am obliged to give him an +account [of this interview]. + +_Count._ [Say] that I can never consent to my own dishonor. + +_Don Arias._ But think that kings will be absolute. + +_Count._ The die is cast, sir. Let us speak of the matter no more. + +_Don Arias._ Adieu, then, sir, since in vain I try to persuade you. +Notwithstanding [_lit._ with] all your laurels, still dread the +thunderbolt. + +_Count._ I shall await it without fear. + +_Don Arias._ But not without effect. + +_Count._ We shall see by that Don Diego satisfied. [_Exit Don Arias.] +[Alone]_ He who fears not death fears not threats. I have a heart +superior to the greatest misfortunes [_lit._ above the proudest +misfortunes]; and men may reduce me to live without happiness, but they +cannot compel me to live without honor. + + +Scene II.--The COUNT and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Rodrigo._ Here, count, a word or two. + +_Count._ Speak. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Relieve me from a doubt. Dost thou know Don Diego well? + +_Count._ Yes. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let us speak [in] low [tones]; listen. Dost thou know +that this old man was the very [essence of] virtue, valor, and honor in +his time? Dost thou know it? + +_Count._ Perhaps so. + +_Don Rodrigo._ This fire which I carry in mine eyes, knowest thou that +this is his blood? Dost thou know it? + +_Count._ What matters it to me? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Four paces hence I shall cause thee to know it. + +_Count._ Presumptuous youth! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Speak without exciting thyself. I am young, it is true; +but in souls nobly born valor does not depend upon age [_lit._ wait for +the number of years]. + +_Count._ To measure thyself with me! Who [_or_, what] has rendered thee +so presumptuous--thou, whom men have never seen with a sword [_lit._ +arms] in thine hand? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Men like me do not cause themselves to be known at a +second trial, and they wish [to perform] masterly strokes for their +first attempt. + +_Count._ Dost thou know well who I am? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Yes! Any other man except myself, at the mere mention of +thy name, might tremble with terror. The laurels with which I see thine +head so covered seem to bear written [upon them] the prediction of my +fall. I attack, like a rash man, an arm always victorious; but by +courage I shall overcome you [_lit._ I shall have too much strength in +possessing sufficient courage]. To him who avenges his father nothing is +impossible. Thine arm is unconquered, but not invincible. + +_Count._ This noble courage which appears in the language you hold has +shown itself each day by your eyes; and, believing that I saw in you the +honor of Castile, my soul with pleasure was destining for you my +daughter. I know thy passion, and I am delighted to see that all its +impulses yield to thy duty; that they have not weakened this magnanimous +ardor; that thy proud manliness merits my esteem; and that, desiring as +a son-in-law an accomplished cavalier, I was not deceived in the choice +which I had made. But I feel that for thee my compassion is touched. I +admire thy courage, and I pity thy youth. Seek not to make thy first +attempt [_or_, maiden-stroke] fatal. Release my valor from an unequal +conflict; too little honor for me would attend this victory. In +conquering without danger we triumph without glory. Men would always +believe that thou wert overpowered without an effort, and I should have +only regret for thy death. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Thy presumption is followed by a despicable [_lit._ +unworthy] pity! The man who dares to deprive me of honor, fears to +deprive me of life! + +_Count._ Withdraw from this place. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let us proceed without further parley. + +_Count._ Art thou so tired of life? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Hast thou such a dread of death? + +_Count._ Come, thou art doing thy duty, and the son becomes degenerate +who survives for one instant the honor of his father. + + +Scene III.--The INFANTA, CHIMÈNE and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Soothe, my Chimène, soothe thy grief; summon up thy firmness +in this sudden misfortune. Thou shalt see a calm again after this +short-lived [_lit._ feeble] storm. Thy happiness is overcast [_lit._ +covered] only by a slight cloud, and thou hast lost nothing in seeing it +[i.e. thine happiness] delayed. + +_Chimène._ My heart, overwhelmed with sorrows, dares to hope for +nothing; a storm so sudden, which agitates a calm at sea, conveys to us +a threat of an inevitable [_lit._ certain] shipwreck. I cannot doubt it: +I am being shipwrecked [_lit._ I am perishing], even in harbor. I was +loving, I was beloved, and our fathers were consenting [_lit._ in +harmony], and I was recounting to you the delightful intelligence of +this at the fatal moment when this quarrel originated, the fatal recital +of which, as soon as it has been given to you, has ruined the effect of +such a dear [_lit._ sweet] expectation. Accursed ambition! hateful +madness! whose tyranny the most generous souls are suffering. O [sense +of] honor!-merciless to my dearest desires, how many tears and sighs art +thou going to cost me? + +_Infanta._ Thou hast, in their quarrel, no reason to be alarmed; one +moment has created it, one moment will extinguish it. It has made too +much noise not to be settled amicably, since already the king wishes to +reconcile them; and thou knowest that my zeal [_lit._ soul], keenly +alive to thy sorrows, will do its utmost [_lit._ impossibilities] to dry +up their source. + +_Chimène._ Reconciliations are not effected in such a feud [_or_, in +this manner]; such deadly insults are not [easily] repaired; in vain one +uses [_lit._ causes to act] force or prudence. If the evil be cured, it +is [cured] only in appearance; the hatred which hearts preserve within +feeds fires hidden, but so much the more ardent. + +_Infanta._ The sacred tie which will unite Don Rodrigo and Chimène will +dispel the hatred of their hostile sires, and we shall soon see the +stronger [feeling], love, by a happy bridal, extinguish this discord. + +_Chimène._ I desire it may be so, more than I expect it. Don Diego is +too proud, and I know my father. I feel tears flow, which I wish to +restrain; the past afflicts me, and I fear the future. + +_Infanta._ What dost thou fear? Is it the impotent weakness of an old +man? + +_Chimène._ Rodrigo has courage. + +_Infanta._ He is too young. + +_Chimène._ Courageous men become so [i.e. courageous] at once. + +_Infanta._ You ought not, however, to dread him much. He is too much +enamored to wish to displease you, and two words from thy lips would +arrest his rage. + +_Chimène._ If he does not obey me, what a consummation of my sorrow! +And, if he can obey me, what will men say of him? being of such noble +birth, to endure such an insult! Whether he yields to, or resists the +passion which binds him to me, my mind can not be otherwise than either +ashamed of his too great deference, or shocked at a just refusal. + +_Infanta._ Chimène has a proud soul, and, though deeply interested, she +cannot endure one base [_lit._ low] thought. But, if up to the day of +reconciliation I make this model lover my prisoner, and I thus prevent +the effect of his courage, will thine enamored soul take no umbrage at +it? + +_Chimène._ Ah! dear lady, in that case I have no more anxiety. + + +Scene IV.--The INFANTA, CHIMÈNE, LEONORA, and a PAGE. + + +_Infanta._ Page, seek Rodrigo, and bring him hither. + +_Page._ The Count de Gormas and he---- + +_Chimène._ Good heavens! I tremble! + +_Infanta._ Speak. + +_Page._ From this palace have gone out together. + +_Chimène._ Alone? + +_Page._ Alone, and they seemed in low tones to be wrangling with each +other. + +_Chimène._ Without doubt they are fighting; there is no further need of +speaking. Madame, forgive my haste [in thus departing]. [_Exeunt Chimène +and Page._] + + +Scene V.--The INFANTA and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Alas! what uneasiness I feel in my mind! I weep for her +sorrows, [yet still] her lover enthralls me; my calmness forsakes me, +and my passion revives. That which is going to separate Rodrigo from +Chimène rekindles at once my hope and my pain; and their separation, +which I see with regret, infuses a secret pleasure in mine enamored +soul. + +_Leonora._ This noble pride which reigns in your soul, does it so soon +surrender to this unworthy passion? + +_Infanta._ Call it not unworthy, since, seated in my heart, proud and +triumphant, it asserts its sway [_lit._ law] over me. Treat it with +respect, since it is so dear to me. My pride struggles against it, but, +in spite of myself--I hope; and my heart, imperfectly shielded against +such a vain expectation, flies after a lover whom Chimène has lost. + +_Leonora._ Do you thus let this noble resolution give way [_lit._ fall]? +And does reason in your mind thus lose its influence? + +_Infanta._ Ah! with how little effect do we listen to reason when the +heart is assailed by a poison so delicious, and when the sick man loves +his malady! We can hardly endure that any remedy should be applied to +it. + +_Leonora._ Your hope beguiles you, your malady is pleasant to you; but, +in fact, this Rodrigo is unworthy of you. + +_Infanta._ I know it only too well; but if my pride yields, learn how +love flatters a heart which it possesses. If Rodrigo once [_or_, only] +comes forth from the combat as a conqueror, if this great warrior falls +beneath his valor, I may consider him worthy of me, and I may love him +without shame. What may he not do, if he can conquer the Count? I dare +to imagine that, as the least of his exploits, entire kingdoms will fall +beneath his laws; and my fond love is already persuaded that I behold +him seated on the throne of Granada, the vanquished Moors trembling +while paying him homage; Arragon receiving this new conqueror, Portugal +surrendering, and his victorious battles [_lit._ noble days] advancing +his proud destinies beyond the seas, laving his laurels with the blood +of Africans! In fine, all that is told of the most distinguished +warriors I expect from Rodrigo after this victory, and I make my love +for him the theme of my glory. + +_Leonora._ But, madam, see how far you carry his exploits [_lit._ arm] +in consequence of a combat which, perhaps, has no reality! + +_Infanta._ Rodrigo has been insulted; the Count has committed the +outrage; they have gone out together. Is there need of more? + +_Leonora._ Ah, well! they will fight, since you will have it so; but +will Rodrigo go so far as you are going? + +_Infanta._ Bear with me [_lit._ what do you mean]? I am mad, and my mind +wanders; thou seest by that what evils this love prepares for me. Come +into my private apartment to console my anxieties, and do not desert me +in the trouble I am in [at present]. + + +Scene VI.--DON FERNANDO (the King), DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, and DON +ALONZO. + + +_Don Fernando._ The Count is, then, so presumptuous and so little +accessible to reason? Does he still dare to believe his offence +pardonable? + +_Don Arias._ Sire, in your name I have long conversed with him. I have +done my utmost, and I have obtained nothing. + +_Don Fernando._ Just heavens! Thus, then, a rash subject has so little +respect and anxiety to please me! He insults Don Diego, and despises his +King! He gives laws to me in the midst of my court! Brave warrior +though he be, great general though he be, I am well able [_lit._ I shall +know well how] to tame such a haughty spirit! Were he incarnate valor +[_lit._ valor itself], and the god of combats, he shall see what it is +not to obey! Whatever punishment such insolence may have deserved, I +wished at first to treat it [_or,_ him] without violence; but, since he +abuses my leniency, go instantly [_lit._ this very day], and, whether he +resists or not, secure his person. [_Exit Don Alonzo._] + +_Don Sancho._ Perhaps a little time will render him less rebellious; +they came upon him still boiling with rage, on account of his quarrel. +Sire, in the heat of a first impulse, so noble a heart yields with +difficulty. He sees that he has done wrong, but a soul so lofty is not +so soon induced to acknowledge its fault. + +_Don Fernando._ Don Sancho, be silent; and be warned that he who takes +his part renders himself criminal. + +_Don Sancho._ I obey, and am silent; but in pity, sire, [permit] two +words in his defence. + +_Don Fernando._ And what can you say? + +_Don Sancho._ That a soul accustomed to noble actions cannot lower +itself to apologies. It does not imagine any which can be expressed +without _shame;_ and it is that word alone that the Count resists. He +finds in his duty a little too much severity, and he would obey you if +he had less heart. Command that his arm, trained in war's dangers, +repair this injury at the point of the sword: he will give satisfaction, +sire; and, come what may, until he has been made aware of your decision, +here am I to answer for him. + +_Don Fernando._ You fail [_lit._ you are losing] in respect; but I +pardon youth, and I excuse enthusiasm in a young, courageous heart. A +king, whose prudence has better objects in view [than such quarrels], +is more sparing of the blood of his subjects. I watch over mine; my +[watchful] care protects them, as the head takes care of the limbs which +serve it. Thus your reasoning is not reasoning for me. You speak as a +soldier--I must act as a king; and whatever others may wish to say, or +he may presume to think, the Count will not part with [_lit._ cannot +lose] his glory by obeying me. Besides, the insult affects myself: he +has dishonored him whom I have made the instructor of my son. To impugn +my choice is to challenge me, and to make an attempt upon the supreme +power. Let us speak of it no more. And now, ten vessels of our old +enemies have been seen to hoist their flags; near the mouth of the river +they have dared to appear. + +_Don Arias._ The Moors have by force [of arms] learned to know you, and, +so often vanquished, they have lost heart to risk their lives [_lit._ +themselves] any more against so great a conqueror. + +_Don Fernando._ They will never, without a certain amount of jealousy, +behold my sceptre, in spite of them, ruling over Andalusia; and this +country, so beautiful, which they too long enjoyed, is always regarded +by them with an envious eye. This is the sole reason which has caused +us, for the last ten years, to place the Castilian throne in Seville, in +order to watch them more closely, and, by more prompt action, +immediately to overthrow whatever [design] they might undertake. + +_Don Arias._ They know, at the cost of their noblest leaders [_lit._ +most worthy heads], how much your presence secures your conquests; you +have nothing to fear. + +_Don Fernando._ And nothing to neglect--too much confidence brings on +danger; and you are not ignorant that, with very little difficulty, the +rising tide brings them hither. However, I should be wrong to cause a +panic in the hearts [of the citizens], the news being uncertain. The +dismay which this useless alarm might produce in the night, which is +approaching, might agitate the town too much. Cause the guards to be +doubled on the walls and at the fort; for this evening that is +sufficient. + + +Scene VII.--DON FERNANDO, DON ALONZO, DON SANCHO, and DON ARIAS. + + +_Don Alonzo._ Sire, the Count is dead. Don Diego, by his son, has +avenged his wrong. + +_Don Fernando._ As soon as I knew of the insult I foresaw the vengeance, +and from that moment I wished to avert this misfortune. + +_Don Alonzo._ Chimène approaches to lay her grief at your feet [_lit._ +brings to your knees her grief]; she comes all in tears to sue for +justice from you. + +_Don Fernando._ Much though my soul compassionates her sorrows, what the +Count has done seems to have deserved this just punishment of his +rashness. Yet, however just his penalty may be, I cannot lose such a +warrior without regret. After long service rendered to my state, after +his blood has been shed for me a thousand times, to whatever thoughts +his [stubborn] pride compels me, his loss enfeebles me, and his death +afflicts me. + + +Scene VIII.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, CHIMÈNE, DON SANCHO, DON ARIAS, +and DON ALONZO. + + +_Chimène._ Sire, sire, justice! + +_Don Diego._ Ah, sire, hear us! + +_Chimène._ I cast myself at your feet! + +_Don Diego._ I embrace your knees! + +_Chimène._ I demand justice. + +_Don Diego._ Hear my defence. + +_Chimène._ Punish the presumption of an audacious youth: he has struck +down the support of your sceptre--he has slain my father! + +_Don Diego._ He has avenged his own. + +_Chimène._ To the blood of his subjects a king owes justice. + +_Don Diego._ For just vengeance there is no punishment. + +_Don Fernando._ Rise, both of you, and speak at leisure. Chimène, I +sympathize with your sorrow; with an equal grief I feel my own soul +afflicted. (_To Don Diego._) You shall speak afterwards; do not +interrupt her complaint. + +_Chimène._ Sire, my father is dead! My eyes have seen his blood gush +forth from his noble breast--that blood which has so often secured your +walls--that blood which has so often won your battles--that blood which, +though all outpoured, still fumes with rage at seeing itself shed for +any other than for you! Rodrigo, before your very palace, has just dyed +[_lit._ covered] the earth with that [blood] which in the midst of +dangers war did not dare to shed! Faint and pallid, I ran to the spot, +and I found him bereft of life. Pardon my grief, sire, but my voice +fails me at this terrible recital; my tears and my sighs will better +tell you the rest! + +_Don Fernando._ Take courage, my daughter, and know that from to-day thy +king will serve thee as a father instead of him. + +_Chimène._ Sire, my anguish is attended with too much [unavailing] +horror! I found him, I have already said, bereft of life; his breast was +pierced [_lit._ open], and his blood upon the [surrounding] dust +dictated [_lit._ wrote] my duty; or rather his valor, reduced to this +condition, spoke to me through his wound, and urged me to claim redress; +and to make itself heard by the most just of kings, by these sad lips, +it borrowed my voice. Sire, do not permit that, under your sway, such +license should reign before your [very] eyes; that the most valiant with +impunity should be exposed to the thrusts of rashness; that a +presumptuous youth should triumph over their glory, should imbrue +himself with their blood, and scoff at their memory! If the valiant +warrior who has just been torn from you be not avenged, the ardor for +serving you becomes extinguished. In fine, my father is dead, and I +demand vengeance more for your interest than for my consolation. You are +a loser in the death of a man of his position. Avenge it by another's, +and [have] blood for blood! Sacrifice [the victim] not to me, but to +your crown, to your greatness, to yourself! Sacrifice, I say, sire, to +the good of the state, all those whom such a daring deed would inflate +with pride. + +_Don Fernando._ Don Diego, reply. + +_Don Diego._ How worthy of envy is he who, in losing [life's] vigor, +loses life also! And how a long life brings to nobly minded men, at the +close of their career, an unhappy destiny! I, whose long labors have +gained such great renown--I, whom hitherto everywhere victory has +followed--I see myself to-day, in consequence of having lived too long, +receiving an insult, and living vanquished. That which never battle, +siege, or ambuscade could [do]--that which Arragon or Granada never +could [effect], nor all your enemies, nor all my jealous [rivals], the +Count has done in your palace, almost before your eyes, [being] jealous +of your choice, and proud of the advantage which the impotence of age +gave him over me. Sire, thus these hairs, grown grey in harness [i.e. +toils of war]--this blood, so often shed to serve you--this arm, +formerly the terror of a hostile army, would have sunk into the grave, +burdened with disgrace, if I had not begotten a son worthy of me, worthy +of his country, and worthy of his king! He has lent me his hand--he has +slain the Count--he has restored my honor--he has washed away my shame! +If the displaying of courage and resentment, if the avenging of a blow +deserves chastisement, upon me alone should fall the fury of the storm. +When the arm has failed, the head is punished for it. Whether men call +this a crime or not requires no discussion. Sire, I am the head, he is +the arm only. If Chimène complains that he has slain her father, he +never would have done that [deed] if I could have done it [myself]. +Sacrifice, then, this head, which years will soon remove, and preserve +for yourself the arm which can serve you. At the cost of my blood +satisfy Chimène. I do not resist--I consent to my penalty, and, far from +murmuring at a rigorous decree, dying without dishonor, I shall die +without regret. + +_Don Fernando._ The matter is of importance, and, calmly considered, it +deserves to be debated in full council. Don Sancho, re-conduct Chimène +to her abode. Don Diego shall have my palace and his word of honor as a +prison. Bring his son here to me. I will do you justice. + +_Chimène._ It is just, great king, that a murderer should die. + +_Don Fernando._ Take rest, my daughter, and calm thy sorrows. + +_Chimène._ To order me rest is to increase my misfortunes. + + + + +ACT THE THIRD. + + +Scene I.--DON RODRIGO and ELVIRA. + + +_Elvira._ Rodrigo, what hast them done? Whence comest thou, unhappy man? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Here [i.e. to the house of Chimène], to follow out the +sad course of my miserable destiny. + +_Elvira._ Whence obtainest thou this audacity, and this new pride, of +appearing in places which thou hast filled with mourning? What! dost +thou come even here to defy the shade of the Count? Hast thou not slain +him? + +_Don Rodrigo._ His existence was my shame; my honor required this deed +from my [reluctant] hand. + +_Elvira._ But to seek thy asylum in the house of the dead! Has ever a +murderer made such his refuge? + +_Don Rodrigo._ And I come here only to yield myself to my judge. Look no +more on me with astonishment [_lit._ an eye amazed]; I seek death after +having inflicted it. My love is my judge; my judge is my Chimène. I +deserve death for deserving her hatred, and I am come to receive, as a +supreme blessing, its decree from her lips, and its stroke from her +hand. + +_Elvira._ Fly rather from her sight, fly from her impetuosity; conceal +your presence from her first excitement. Go! do not expose yourself to +the first impulses which the fiery indignation of her resentment may +give vent to. + +_Don Rodrigo._ No, no. This beloved one, whom I [could] so displease, +cannot have too wrathful a desire for my punishment; and I avoid a +hundred deaths which are going to crush me if, by dying sooner, I can +redouble it [i.e. that wrath]. + +_Elvira._ Chimène is at the palace, bathed in tears, and will return but +too well accompanied. Rodrigo, fly! for mercy's sake relieve me from my +uneasiness! What might not people say if they saw you here? Do you wish +that some slanderer, to crown her misery, should accuse her of +tolerating here the slayer of her father? She will return; she is +coming--I see her; at least, for the sake of _her_ honor, Rodrigo, +conceal thyself! [_Rodrigo conceals himself._] + + +Scene II.--DON SANCHO, CHIMÈNE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Sancho._ Yes, lady, you require a victim [or revenge] steeped in +blood [_lit._ for you there is need of bleeding victims]; your wrath is +just and your tears legitimate, and I do not attempt, by dint of +speaking, either to soothe you or to console you. But, if I may be +capable of serving you, employ my sword to punish the guilty [one], +employ my love to revenge this death; under your commands my arm will be +[only] too strong. + +_Chimène._ Unhappy that I am! + +_Don Sancho._ I implore you, accept my services. + +_Chimène._ I should offend the King, who has promised me justice. + +_Don Sancho._ You know that justice [_lit._ it] proceeds with such +slowness, that very often crime escapes in consequence of its delay, its +slow and doubtful course causes us to lose too many tears. Permit that a +cavalier may avenge you by [force of] arms; that method is more certain +and more prompt in punishing. + +_Chimène._ It is the last remedy; and if it is necessary to have +recourse to it, and your pity for my misfortunes still continues, you +shall then be free to avenge my injury. + +_Don Sancho._ It is the sole happiness to which my soul aspires; and, +being able to hope for it, I depart too well contented. + + +Scene III.--CHIMÈNE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimène._ At last I see myself free, and I can, without constraint, +show thee the extent of my keen sorrows; I can give vent to my sad +sighs; I can unbosom to thee my soul and all my griefs. My father is +dead, Elvira; and the first sword with which Rodrigo armed himself has +cut his thread of life. Weep, weep, mine eyes, and dissolve yourselves +into tears! The one half of my life [i.e. Rodrigo] has laid the other +[half, i.e. my father] in the grave, and compels me to revenge, after +this fatal blow, that which I have no more [i.e. my father] on that +which still remains to me [i.e. Rodrigo]. + +_Elvira._ Calm yourself, dear lady. + +_Chimène._ Ah! how unsuitably, in a misfortune so great, thou speakest +of calmness. By what means can my sorrow ever be appeased, if I cannot +hate the hand which has caused it? And what ought I to hope for but a +never-ending anguish if I follow up a crime, still loving the criminal. + +_Elvira._ He deprives you of a father, and you still love him? + +_Chimène._ It is too little to say love, Elvira; I adore him! My passion +opposes itself to my resentment; in mine enemy I find my lover, and I +feel that in spite of all my rage Rodrigo is still contending against my +sire in my heart. He attacks it, he besieges it; it yields, it defends +itself; at one time strong, at one time weak, at another triumphant. But +in this severe struggle between wrath and love, he rends my heart +without shaking my resolution, and although my love may have power over +me, I do not consult it [_or_, hesitate] to follow my duty. I speed on +[_lit._ run] without halting [_or_, weighing the consequences] where my +honor compels me. Rodrigo is very dear to me; the interest I feel in him +grieves me; my heart takes his part, but, in spite of its struggles, I +know what I am [i.e. a daughter], and that my father is dead. + +_Elvira._ Do you think of pursuing [_or_, persecuting] him? + +_Chimène._ Ah! cruel thought! and cruel pursuit to which I see myself +compelled. I demand his head [_or_, life] and I dread to obtain it; my +death will follow his, and [yet] I wish to punish him! + +_Elvira._ Abandon, abandon, dear lady, a design so tragic, and do not +impose on yourself such a tyrannical law. + +_Chimène._ What! my father being dead and almost in my arms--shall his +blood cry for revenge and I not obtain it? My heart, shamefully led away +by other spells, would believe that it owed him only ineffectual tears. +And can I endure that an insidious love, beneath a dastardly apathy, +should extinguish my resolution [_lit._ beneath a cowardly silence +extinguish my honor]? + +_Elvira._ Dear lady, believe me, you would be excusable in having less +wrath against an object so beloved, against a lover so dear; you have +done enough, you have seen the King; do not urge on the result [of that +interview]. Do not persist in this morbid [_lit._ strange] humor. + +_Chimène._ My honor is at stake; I must avenge myself; and, however the +desires of love may beguile us, all excuse [for not doing one's duty] is +disgraceful to [i.e. in the estimation of] noble-minded souls. + +_Elvira._ But you love Rodrigo--he cannot offend you. + +_Chimène._ I confess it. + +_Elvira._ After all, what then do you intend to do? + +_Chimène._ To preserve my honor and to end my sorrow; to pursue him, to +destroy him, and to die after him. + + +Scene IV.--DON RODRIGO, CHIMÈNE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Rodrigo._ Well then, without giving you the trouble of pursuing me, +secure for yourself the honor of preventing me from living. + +_Chimène._ Elvira, where are we, and what do I see? Rodrigo in my house! +Rodrigo before me! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Spare not my blood; enjoy [_lit._ taste], without +resistance, the pleasure of my destruction and of your vengeance. + +_Chimène._ Alas! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Listen to me. + +_Chimène._ I am dying. + +_Don Rodrigo._ One moment. + +_Chimène._ Go, let me die! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Four words only; afterwards reply to me only with this +sword! + +_Chimène._ What! still imbrued with the blood of my father! + +_Don Rodrigo._ My Chimène. + +_Chimène._ Remove from my sight this hateful object, which brings as a +reproach before mine eyes thy crime and thy existence. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Look on it rather to excite thy hatred, to increase thy +wrath and to hasten my doom. + +_Chimène._ It is dyed with my [father's] blood! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Plunge it in mine, and cause it thus to lose the +death-stain of thine own. + +_Chimène._ Ah! what cruelty, which all in one day slays the father by +the sword [itself], and the daughter by the sight of it! Remove this +object, I cannot endure it; thou wished me to listen to thee, and thou +causest me to die! + +_Don Rodrigo._ I do what thou wishest, but without abandoning the desire +of ending by thy hands my lamentable life; for, in fine, do not expect +[even] from my affection a dastardly repentance of a justifiable [_lit._ +good] action. The irreparable effect of a too hasty excitement +dishonored my father and covered me with shame. Thou knowest how a blow +affects a man of courage. I shared in the insult, I sought out its +author, I saw him, I avenged my honor and my father; I would do it again +if I had it to do. Not that, indeed, my passion did not long struggle +for thee against my father and myself; judge of its power--under such an +insult, I was able to deliberate whether I should take vengeance for it! +Compelled to displease thee or to endure an affront, I thought that in +its turn my arm was too prompt [to strike]; I accused myself of too much +impetuosity, and thy loveliness, without doubt, would have turned the +scale [_or_, prevailed overall] had I not opposed to thy strongest +attractions the [thought] that a man without honor would not merit thee; +that, in spite of this share which I had in thy affections, she who +loved me noble would hate me shamed; that to listen to thy love, to obey +its voice, would be to render myself unworthy of it and to condemn thy +choice. I tell thee still, and although I sigh at it, even to my last +sigh I will assuredly repeat it, I have committed an offence against +thee, and I was driven to [_or_, bound to commit] it to efface my shame +and to merit thee; but discharged [from my duty] as regards honor, and +discharged [from duty] towards my father, it is now to thee that I come +to give satisfaction--it is to offer to thee my blood that thou seest +me in this place. I did my duty [_lit._ that which I ought to have done] +then, I still do it now. I know that a slain [_lit._ dead] father arms +thee against my offence; I have not wished to rob thee of thy victim; +sacrifice with courage to the blood he has lost he who constitutes his +glory in having shed it. + +_Chimène._ Ah, Rodrigo, it is true, although thine enemy, I cannot blame +thee for having shunned disgrace; and in whatever manner my griefs burst +forth I do not accuse [thee], I [only] lament my misfortunes. I know +what honor after such an insult demanded with ardor of a generous +courage; thou hast only done the duty of a man of honor, but also in +doing that [duty] thou hast taught me mine. Thy fatal valor has +instructed me by thy victory--it has avenged thy father and maintained +thy glory. The same care concerns me, and I have to add to my infliction +[_lit._ to afflict me] my fame to sustain and my father to avenge. Alas! +thy fate [_or_, your share] in this drives me to despair! If any other +misfortune had taken from me my father, my soul would have found in the +happiness of seeing thee the only relief which it could have received, +and in opposition to my grief I should have felt a fond delight [_lit._ +charm or a magic soothing] when a hand so dear would have wiped away my +tears. But I must lose thee after having lost him. This struggle over my +passion is due to my honor, and this terrible duty, whose [imperious] +command is slaying me, compels me to exert myself [_lit._ labor or work] +for thy destruction. For, in fine, do not expect from my affection any +morbid [_lit._ cowardly] feelings as to thy punishment. However strongly +my love may plead in thy favor, my steadfast courage must respond to +thine. Even in offending me, thou hast proved thyself worthy of me; I +must, by thy death, prove myself worthy of thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Defer, then, no longer that which honor commands. It +demands my head [_or_, life], and I yield it to thee; make a sacrifice +of it to this noble duty; the [death] stroke will be welcome [_lit._ +sweet], as well as the doom. To await, after my crime, a tardy justice, +is to defer thine honor as well as my punishment. I should die too happy +in dying by so delightful a [death] blow! + +_Chimène._ Go [i.e. no]; I am thy prosecutor, and not thy executioner. +If thou offerest me thine head, is it for me to take it; I ought to +attack it, but thou oughtest to defend it. It is from another than thee +that I must obtain it, and it is my duty [_lit._ I ought] to pursue +thee, but not to punish thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ However in my favor our love may plead, thy steadfast +courage ought to correspond to mine; and to borrow other arms to avenge +a father is, believe me, my Chimène, not the [method of] responding to +it. My hand alone was fit [_lit._ has understood how] to avenge the +insult offered to _my_ father; thy hand alone ought to take vengeance +for thine. + +_Chimène._ O cruel! for what reason shouldst thou persevere on this +point? Thou hast avenged thyself without aid, and dost thou wish to give +me thine [aid]? I shall follow thy example; and I have too much courage +to endure that my glory shall be divided with thee. My father and mine +honor shall owe nothing to the dictates of thy love and of thy despair. + +_Don Rodrigo._ O cruel resolution [_lit._ point of honor]! Alas! +whatever I may do, can I by no means obtain this concession [_or_, +favor]? In the name of a slain [_lit._ dead] father, or of our +friendship, punish me through revenge, or at least through compassion. +Thy unhappy lover will have far less pain in dying by thy hand than in +living with thy hatred. + +_Chimène._ Go; I do not hate thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Thou oughtest to do so. + +_Chimène._ I cannot. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Dost thou so little fear calumny, and so little [fear] +false reports? When people shall know my crime, and that thy passion +[for me] still continues, what will not envy and deception spread +abroad? Compel them to silence, and, without debating more, save thy +fair fame by causing me to die. + +_Chimène._ That [fair fame] shines far more gloriously [_lit._ better] +by leaving thee life; and I wish that the voice of the blackest slander +should raise to heaven my honor, and lament my griefs, knowing that I +worship thee, and that [still] I pursue thee [as a criminal]. Go, then; +present no more to my unbounded grief that which I [must] lose, although +I love it [him]! In the shades of night carefully conceal thy departure; +if they see thee going forth, my honor runs a risk. The only opportunity +which slander can have is to know that I have tolerated thy presence +here. Give it no opportunity to assail my honor. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let me die. + +_Chimène._ Nay, leave me. + +_Don Rodrigo._ On what art thou resolved? + +_Chimène._ In spite of the glorious love-fires which impede [_lit._ +trouble] my wrath, I will do my utmost to avenge my father; but, in +spite of the sternness of such a cruel duty, my sole desire is to be +able to accomplish nothing [against thee]. + +_Don Rodrigo._ O wondrous love [_lit._ miracle of love]! + +_Chimène._ O accumulation of sorrows! + +_Don Rodrigo._ What misfortunes and tears will our fathers cost us! + +_Chimène._ Rodrigo, who would have believed----? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Chimène, who would have said----? + +_Chimène._ That our happiness was so near, and would so soon be ruined? + +_Don Rodrigo._ And that so near the haven, contrary to all appearances +[_or_, expectation], a storm so sudden should shatter our hopes? + +_Chimène._ O deadly griefs! + +_Don Rodrigo._ O vain regrets! + +_Chimène._ Go, then, again [I beseech thee]; I can listen to thee no +more. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Adieu! I go to drag along a lingering life, until it be +torn from me by thy pursuit. + +_Chimène._ If I obtain my purpose, I pledge to thee my faith to exist +not a moment after thee. Adieu! Go hence, and, above all, take good care +that you are not observed. [_Exit Don Rodrigo._] + +_Elvira._ Dear lady, whatever sorrows heaven sends us---- + +_Chimène._ Trouble me no more; let me sigh. I seek for silence and the +night in order to weep. + + +Scene V.--DON DIEGO. + + +Never do we experience [_lit._ taste] perfect joy. Our most fortunate +successes are mingled with sadness; always some cares, [even] in the +[successful] events, mar the serenity of our satisfaction. In the midst +of happiness my soul feels their pang: I float in joy, and I tremble +with fear. I have seen [lying] dead the enemy who had insulted me, yet I +am unable to find [_lit._ see] the hand which has avenged me. I exert +myself in vain, and with a useless anxiety. Feeble [_lit._ broken down; +_or_, shattered] though I am, I traverse all the city; this slight +degree of vigor, that my advanced years have left me, expends itself +fruitlessly in seeking this conqueror. At every moment, at all places, +in a night so dark, I think that I embrace him, and I embrace only a +shadow; and my love, beguiled by this deceitful object, forms for itself +suspicions which redouble my fear. I do not discover any traces of his +flight. I fear the dead Count's friends and retinue; their number +terrifies me, and confounds my reason. Rodrigo lives no more, or +breathes in prison! Just heavens! do I still deceive myself with a +shadow only [_lit._ an appearance], or do I see, at last, my only hope? +It is he; I doubt it no more. My prayers are heard, my fear is +dispelled, and my trouble ended. + + +Scene VI.--DON DIEGO and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo at last heaven permits that I should behold thee! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Alas! + +_Don Diego._ Mingle not sighs with my joy; let me take breath in order +to praise thee. My valor has no reason to disown thee; thou hast well +imitated it, and thy brilliant prowess causes the heroes of my race to +live again in thee! It is from them that thou descendest, it is from me +that thou art sprung. Thy first combat [_lit._ sword-stroke] equals all +of mine, and thy youth, fired with a splendid enthusiasm, by this great +proof equals [_or_, reaches to] my renown. Prop of mine age, and sum of +my happiness, touch these white hairs, to which thou restorest honor! +Come, kiss this cheek, and recognize the place on which was branded the +insult which thy courage effaces! + +_Don Rodrigo._ The honor of it belongs to you. I could not do less, +being sprung from you, and trained under your careful instruction +[_lit._ cares]. I consider myself too happy [at the result], and my soul +is delighted that my first combat [_or_, maiden-stroke] pleases him to +whom I owe existence. But, amidst your gladness, be not jealous if, in +my turn, I dare to satisfy myself after you. Permit that in freedom my +despair may burst forth; enough and for too long your discourse has +soothed it. I do not repent having served you; but give me back the +blessing which that [death] blow has deprived me of. My arms, in order +to serve you, battling against my passion, by this [otherwise] glorious +deed have deprived me of my love. Say no more to me: for you I have lost +all; what I owed you I have well repaid. + +_Don Diego._ Carry, carry still higher the effect [_lit._ fruit] of thy +victory. I have given thee life, and thou restorest to me my honor; and +as much as honor is dearer to me than life, so much now I owe thee in +return. But spurn this weakness from a noble heart; we have but one +honor--there are many mistresses. Love is but a pleasure; honor is a +duty. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Ah! what do you say to me? + +_Don Diego._ That which you ought to know. + +_Don Rodrigo._ My outraged honor takes vengeance on myself, and you dare +to urge me to the shame of inconstancy! Disgrace is the same, and +follows equally the soldier without courage and the faithless lover. Do +no wrong, then, to my fidelity; allow me [to be] brave without rendering +myself perfidious [perjured]. My bonds are too strong to be thus +broken--my faith still binds me, though I [may] hope no more; and, not +being able to leave nor to win Chimène, the death which I seek is my +most welcome [_lit._ sweeter] penalty. + +_Don Diego._ It is not yet time to seek death; thy prince and thy +country have need of thine arm. The fleet, as was feared, having entered +this great river, hopes to surprise the city and to ravage the country. +The Moors are going to make a descent, and the tide and the night may, +within an hour, bring them noiselessly to our walls. The court is in +disorder, the people in dismay; we hear only cries, we see only tears. +In this public calamity, my good fortune has so willed it that I have +found [thronging] to my house five hundred of my friends, who, knowing +the insult offered to me, impelled by a similar zeal, came all to offer +themselves to avenge my quarrel. Thou hast anticipated them; but their +valiant hands will be more nobly steeped in the blood of Africans. Go, +march at their head where honor calls thee; it is thou whom their noble +band would have as a leader. Go, resist the advance of these ancient +enemies; there, if thou wishest to die, find a glorious death. Seize the +opportunity, since it is presented to thee; cause your King to owe his +safety to your loss; but rather return from that battle-field [_lit._ +from it] with the laurels on thy brow. Limit not thy glory to the +avenging of an insult; advance that glory still further; urge by thy +valor this monarch to pardon, and Chimène to peace. If thou lovest her, +learn that to return as a conqueror is the sole means of regaining her +heart. But time is too precious to waste in words; I stop thee in thine +attempted answer, and desire that thou fly [to the rescue]. Come, follow +me; go to the combat, and show the King that what he loses in the Count +he regains in thee. + + + + +ACT THE FOURTH. + + +Scene I.--CHIMÈNE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimène._ Is it not a false report? Do you know for certain, Elvira? + +_Elvira._ You could never believe how every one admires him, and extols +to heaven, with one common voice, the glorious achievements of this +young hero. The Moors appeared before him only to their shame; their +approach was very rapid, their flight more rapid still. A three hours' +battle left to our warriors a complete victory, and two kings as +prisoners. The valor of their leader overcame every obstacle [_lit._ +found no obstacles]. + +_Chimène._ And the hand of Rodrigo has wrought all these wonders! + +_Elvira._ Of his gallant deeds these two kings are the reward; by his +hand they were conquered, and his hand captured them. + +_Chimène._ From whom couldst thou ascertain these strange tidings? + +_Elvira._ From the people, who everywhere sing his praises, [who] call +him the object and the author of their rejoicing, their guardian angel +and their deliverer. + +_Chimène._ And the King--with what an aspect does he look upon such +valor? + +_Elvira._ Rodrigo dares not yet appear in his presence, but Don Diego, +delighted, presents to him in chains, in the name of this conqueror, +these crowned captives, and asks as a favor from this generous prince +that he condescend to look upon the hand which has saved the kingdom +[_lit._ province]. + +_Chimène._ But is he not wounded? + +_Elvira._ I have learned nothing of it. You change color! Recover your +spirits. + +_Chimène._ Let me recover then also my enfeebled resentment; caring for +him, must I forget my own feelings [_lit._ myself]? They boast of him, +they praise him, and my heart consents to it; my honor is mute, my duty +impotent. Down [_lit._ silence], O [treacherous] love! let my resentment +exert itself [_lit._ act]; although he has conquered two kings, he has +slain my father! These mourning robes in which I read my misfortune are +the first-fruits which his valor has produced; and although others may +tell of a heart so magnanimous, here all objects speak to me of his +crime. Ye who give strength to my feelings of resentment, veil, crape, +robes, dismal ornaments, funeral garb in which his first victory +enshrouds me, do you sustain effectually my honor in opposition to my +passion, and when my love shall gain too much power, remind my spirit of +my sad duty; attack, without fearing anything, a triumphant hand! + +_Elvira._ Calm this excitement; see--here comes the Infanta. + + +Scene II.--The INFANTA, CHIMÈNE, LEONORA, and ELVIRA. + + +_Infanta._ I do not come here [vainly] to console thy sorrows; I come +rather to mingle my sighs with thy tears. + +_Chimène._ Far rather take part in the universal rejoicings, and taste +the happiness which heaven sends you, dear lady; no one but myself has a +right to sigh. The danger from which Rodrigo has been able to rescue +you, and the public safety which his arms restore to you, to me alone +to-day still permit tears; he has saved the city, he has served his +King, and his valiant arm is destructive only to myself. + +_Infanta._ My Chimène, it is true that he has wrought wonders. + +_Chimène._ Already this vexatious exclamation of joy [_lit._ noise] has +reached [_lit._ struck] my ears, and I hear him everywhere proclaimed +aloud as brave a warrior as he is an unfortunate lover. + +_Infanta._ What annoyance can the approving shouts of the people cause +thee? This youthful Mars whom they praise has hitherto been able to +please thee; he possessed thy heart; he lived under thy law; and to +praise his valor is to honor thy choice. + +_Chimène._ Every one [else] can praise it with some justice; but for me +his praise is a new punishment. They aggravate my grief by raising him +so high. I see what I lose, when I see what he is worth. Ah! cruel +tortures to the mind of a lover! The more I understand his worth, the +more my passion increases; yet my duty is always the stronger [passion], +and, in spite of my love, endeavors to accomplish his destruction +[_lit._ to pursue his death]. + +_Infanta._ Yesterday, this duty placed thee in high estimation; the +struggle which thou didst make appeared so magnanimous, so worthy of a +noble heart, that everyone at the court admired thy resolution and +pitied thy love. But wilt thou believe in the advice of a faithful +friendship? + +_Chimène._ Not to obey you would render me disloyal. + +_Infanta._ What was justifiable then is not so to-day. Rodrigo now is +our sole support, the hope and the idol [_lit._ love] of a people that +worships him! The prop of Castile and the terror of the Moor! The King +himself recognizes [_lit._ is in agreement with] this truth, that thy +father in him alone sees himself recalled to life: and if, in fine, thou +wishest that I should explain myself briefly [_lit._ in two words], +thou art seeking in his destruction the public ruin. What! to avenge a +father, is it ever lawful to surrender one's country into the hands of +enemies? Against us is thy revenge lawful? And must we be punished who +had no share in the crime? After all, it is only that thou shouldest +espouse the man whom a dead father compelled thee to accuse; I myself +would wish to relieve thee of that desire [_lit._ take the desire of +that from thee]; take from him thy love, but leave us his life. + +_Chimène._ Ah! it is not in me to have so much kindness; the duty which +excites me has no limit. Although my love pleads [_lit._ interests +itself] for this conqueror, although a nation worships him, and a King +praises him, although he be surrounded with the most valiant warriors, I +shall endeavor to crush his laurels beneath my [funereal] cypress. + +_Infanta._ It is a noble feeling when, to avenge a father, our duty +assails a head so dear; but it is duty of a still nobler order when ties +of blood are sacrificed to the public [advantage]. No, believe me, it is +enough to quench thy love; he will be too severely punished if he exists +no more in thy affections. Let the welfare of thy country impose upon +thee this law; and, besides, what dost thou think that the King will +grant thee? + +_Chimène._ He can refuse me, but I cannot keep silent. + +_Infanta._ Reflect well, my [dear] Chimène, on what thou wishest to do. +Adieu; [when] alone thou cans't think over this at thy leisure. [_Exit +the Infanta._] + +_Chimène._ Since my father is slain [_lit._ after my dead father], I +have no [alternative] to choose. + + +Scene III.--DON FERNANDO (the King), DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON +RODRIGO, and DON SANCHO. + + +_Don Fernando._ Worthy scion of a distinguished race, which has always +been the glory and the support of Castile! Thou descendant of so many +ancestors signalized by valor, whom the first attempt of thine own +[prowess] has so soon equalled; my ability to recompense thee is too +limited [_lit._ small], and I have less power than thou hast merit. The +country delivered from such a fierce enemy, my sceptre firmly placed in +my hand by thine own [hand], and the Moors defeated before, amid these +terrors, I could give orders for repulsing their arms; these are +brilliant services which leave not to thy King the means or the hope of +discharging his debt of gratitude [_lit._ acquitting himself] towards +thee. But the two kings, thy captives, shall be thy reward. Both of them +in my presence have named thee their Cid--since Cid, in their language, +is equivalent to lord, I shall not envy thee this glorious title of +distinction; be thou, henceforth, the Cid; to that great name let +everything yield; let it overwhelm with terror both Granada and Toledo, +and let it indicate to all those who live under my laws both how +valuable thou art to me [_lit._ that which thou art worth to me], and +that [deep obligation] which I owe thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let your majesty, sire, spare my modesty. On such an +humble service your majesty [_lit._ it, referring to majesty] sets too +high a value, and compels me to blush [for shame] before so great a +King, at so little deserving the honor which I have received from him. I +know too well [the gifts] that I owe to the welfare of your empire, both +the blood which flows in my veins [_lit._ animates me] and the air which +I breathe, and even though I should lose them in such a glorious cause +[_lit._ for an object so worthy], I should only be doing the duty of a +subject. + +_Don Fernando._ All those whom that duty enlists in my service do not +discharge it with the same courage, and when [i.e. unless] valor +attains a high degree, it never produces such rare successes; allow us +then to praise thee, and tell me more at length the true history of this +victory. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Sire, you are aware that in this urgent danger, which +created in the city such a powerful alarm, a band of friends assembled +at the house of my father prevailed on my spirit, still much agitated. +But, sire, pardon my rashness if I dared to employ it without your +authority; the danger was approaching; their [valiant] band was ready; +by showing myself at the court I should have risked my life [_lit._ +head], and, if I must lose it, it would have been far more delightful +for me to depart from life while fighting for you. + +_Don Fernando._ I pardon thy warmth in avenging the insult offered to +thee, and the kingdom shielded [from danger] pleads [_lit._ speaks to +me] in thy defence. Be assured that henceforth Chimène will speak in +vain, and I shall listen to her no more except to comfort her; but +continue. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Under me, then, this band advances, and bears in its +aspect a manly confidence. At setting out we were five hundred, but, by +a speedy reinforcement, we saw ourselves [augmented to] three thousand +on arriving at the port; so surely, on beholding us advance with such a +[determined] aspect, did the most dismayed recover their courage. Of +that brave host [_lit._ of it], as soon as we had arrived, I conceal +two-thirds in the holds of the ships which were found there; the rest, +whose numbers were increasing every hour, burning with impatience, +remain around me; they lie down on the ground, and, without making any +noise, they pass a considerable portion of so auspicious [_lit._ +beautiful] a night. By my command the guard does the same, and keeping +themselves, concealed aid my stratagem, and I boldly pretended to have +received from you the order which they see me follow out, and which I +issue to all. This dim light which falls from the stars, at last with +the tide causes us to see thirty vessels [_lit._ sails]; the wave +[i.e. the water] swells beneath them, and, with a mutual effort, the +Moors and the sea advance even to the port. We let them pass; all seems +to them lulled in repose [_lit._ tranquil]. No soldiers at the port, +none on the walls of the city. Our deep silence deceiving their minds, +they no longer dare to doubt that they had taken us by surprise. They +land without fear, they cast anchor, they disembark and rush forward to +deliver themselves into the hands which are awaiting them. Then we +arise, and all at the same time utter towards heaven countless ringing +cheers [of defiance]. At these shouts our men from our ships answer [to +the signal]; they appear armed, the Moors are dismayed, terror seizes +those who had scarcely disembarked, before fighting they consider +themselves lost--they hastened to plunder and they meet with war. We +press them hard on the water, we press them hard on the land, and we +cause rivulets of their blood to run before any [of them] can resist or +regain his position. But soon, in spite of us, their princes rally them, +their courage revives, and their fears are forgotten. The disgrace of +dying without having fought rallies their disordered ranks [_lit._ stops +their disorder], and restores to them their valor. With firmly planted +feet they draw their scimitars against us, and cause a fearful +intermingling of our blood with theirs; and the land, and the wave, and +the fleet, and the port are fields of carnage where death is +triumphant. Oh! how many noble deeds, how many brilliant achievements, +were performed unnoticed [_lit._ have remained without renown] in the +midst of the gloom, in which each [warrior], sole witness of the +brilliant strokes which he gave, could not discern to which side fortune +inclined. I went in all directions to encourage our soldiers, to cause +some to advance, and to support others, to marshal those who were coming +up, to urge them forward in their turn, and I could not ascertain the +result [of the conflict] until the break of day. But at last the bright +dawn shows us our advantage. The Moor sees his loss and loses courage +suddenly, and, seeing a reinforcement which had come to assist us, the +ardor for conquest yields to the dread of death. They gain their ships, +they cut their cables, they utter even to heaven terrific cries, they +make their retreat in confusion and without reflecting whether their +kings can escape with them. Their fright is too strong to admit of this +duty. The incoming tide brought them here, the outgoing tide carries +them away. Meanwhile their kings, combating amongst us, and a few of +their [warriors] severely wounded by our blows, still fight valiantly +and sell their lives dearly. I myself in vain urge them to surrender; +scimitar in hand, they listen not to my entreaties, but seeing all their +soldiers falling at their feet, and that henceforward alone they defend +themselves in vain, they ask for the commander; I entitle myself as +such, and they surrender. I sent you them both at the same time, and the +combat ceased for want of combatants. It is in this manner that for your +service---- + + +Scene IV.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON RODRIGO, DON ARIAS, DON ALONZO, +and DON SANCHO. + + +_Don Alonzo._ Sire, Chimène comes to demand justice from you. + +_Don Fernando._ Vexatious news and unwelcome duty! Go [Rodrigo]; I do +not wish her to see thee. Instead of thanks I must drive thee away; but, +before departing, come, let thy King embrace thee! + +[_Exit Don Rodrigo._] + +_Don Diego._ Chimène pursues him, [yet] she wishes to save him. + +_Don Fernando._ They say that she loves him, and I am going to prove it. +Exhibit a more sorrowful countenance [_lit._ eye]. + + +Scene V.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, DON ALONZO, +CHIMÈNE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Fernando._ At last, be content, Chimène, success responds to your +wishes. Although Rodrigo has gained the advantage over our enemies, he +has died before our eyes of the wounds he has received; return thanks to +that heaven which has avenged you. (_To Don Diego._) See, how already +her color is changed! + +_Don Diego._ But see! she swoons, and in this swoon, sire, observe the +effect of an overpowering [_lit._ perfect] love. Her grief has betrayed +the secrets of her soul, and no longer permits you to doubt her passion. + +_Chimène._ What, then! Is Rodrigo dead? + +_Don Fernando._ No, no, he still lives [_lit._ he sees the day]; and he +still preserves for you an unalterable affection; calm this sorrow which +takes such an interest in his favor. + +_Chimène._ Sire, we swoon from joy, as well as from grief; an excess of +pleasure renders us completely exhausted, and when it takes the mind by +surprise, it overpowers the senses. + +_Don Fernando._ Dost thou wish that in thy favor we should believe in +impossibilities? Chimène, thy grief appeared too clearly visible. + +_Chimène._ Well, sire! add this crown to my misfortune--call my swoon +the effect of my grief; a justifiable dissatisfaction reduced me to that +extremity; his death would have saved his head from my pursuit. If he +had died of wounds received for the benefit of his country, my revenge +would have been lost, and my designs betrayed; such a brilliant end [of +his existence] would have been too injurious to me. I demand his death, +but not a glorious one, not with a glory which raises him so high, not +on an honorable death-bed, but upon a scaffold. Let him die for my +father and not for his country; let his name be attainted and his memory +blighted. To die for one's country is not a sorrowful doom; it is to +immortalize one's self by a glorious death! I love then his victory, and +I can do so without criminality; it [the victory] secures the kingdom +and yields to me my victim. But ennobled, but illustrious amongst all +warriors, the chief crowned with laurels instead of flowers--and to say +in a word what I think--worthy of being sacrificed to the shade of my +father. Alas! by what [vain] hope do I allow myself to be carried away? +Rodrigo has nothing to dread from me; what can tears which are despised +avail against him? For him your whole empire is a sanctuary [_lit._ a +place of freedom]; there, under your power, everything is lawful for +him; he triumphs over me as [well as] over his enemies; justice stifled +in their blood that has been shed, serves as a new trophy for the crime +of the conqueror. We increase its pomp, and contempt of the law causes +us to follow his [triumphal] chariot between two kings. + +_Don Fernando._ My daughter, these transports are too violent [_lit._ +have too much violence]. When justice is rendered, all is put in the +scale. Thy father has been slain, he was the aggressor; and justice +itself commands me [to have] mercy. Before accusing that [degree of +clemency] which I show, consult well thine heart; Rodrigo is master of +it; and thy love in secret returns thanks to thy King, whose favor +preserves such a lover for thee. + +_Chimène._ For me! my enemy! the object of my wrath! the author of my +misfortunes? the slayer of my father! To my just pursuit [of vengeance] +they pay so little attention, that they believe that they are conferring +a favor on me by not listening to it. Since you refuse justice to my +tears, sire, permit me to have recourse to arms; it is by that alone +that he has been able to injure me, and it is by that (means) also that +I ought to avenge myself. From all your knights I demand his head; yes, +let one of them bring it to me, and I will be his prize; let them fight +him, sire, and, the combat being finished, I [will] espouse the +conqueror, if Rodrigo is slain [_lit._ punished]. Under your authority, +permit this to be made public. + +_Don Fernando._ This ancient custom established in these places, under +the guise of punishing an unjust affront, weakens a kingdom [by +depriving it] of its best warriors; the deplorable success of this abuse +[of power] often crushes the innocent and shields the guilty. From this +[ordeal] I release Rodrigo; he is too precious to me to expose him to +the [death] blows of capricious fate; and whatever (offence) a heart so +magnanimous could commit, the Moors, in retreating, have carried away +his crime. + +_Chimène._ What, sire, for him alone you reverse the laws, which all the +court has so often seen observed! What will your people think, and what +will envy say, if he screens his life beneath your shield and he makes +it a pretext not to appear [on a scene] where all men of honor seek a +noble death? Such favors would too deeply tarnish his glory; let him +enjoy [_lit._ taste] without shame [_lit._ blushing] the fruits of his +victory. The count had audacity, he was able to punish him for it; he +[i.e. Rodrigo] acted like a man of courage, and ought to maintain it +[that character]. + +_Don Fernando._ Since you wish it, I grant that he shall do so; but a +thousand others would take the place of a vanquished warrior, and the +reward which Chimène has promised to the conqueror would render all my +cavaliers his enemies; to oppose him alone to all would be too great an +injustice; it is enough, he shall enter the lists once only. Choose who +[what champion] you will, Chimène, and choose well; but after this +combat ask nothing more. + +_Don Diego._ Release not by that those whom his valor [_lit._ arm] +terrifies; leave an open field which none will [dare to] enter. After +what Rodrigo has shown us to-day, what courage sufficiently presumptuous +would dare to contend with him? Who would risk his life against such an +opponent? Who will be this valiant, or rather this rash individual? + +_Don Sancho._ Open the lists, you see this assailant; I am this rash or +rather this valiant [champion]. Grant this favor to the zeal which urges +me on; dear lady, you know what your promise is. + +_Don Fernando._ Chimène, do you confide your quarrel to his hand? + +_Chimène._ Sire, I have promised it. + +_Don Fernando._ Be ready to-morrow. + +_Don Diego._ No, sire, there is no need to defer the contest; a man is +always ready when he possesses courage. + +_Don Fernando._ [What!] To come forth from one battle and to (instantly) +enter the lists [_lit._ to fight]? + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo has regained breath in relating to you this [i.e. +the history of that battle]. + +_Don Fernando._ I desire that he should rest at least an hour or two; +but, for fear that such a combat may be considered as a precedent, to +testify to all that I permit, with regret, a sanguinary ordeal which has +never pleased me, it shall not have the presence either of myself or of +my court. [_To Don Arias._] You alone shall judge of the valor of the +combatants. Take care that both act like men of honor [_lit._ courage], +and, the combat ended, bring the victor to me. Whoever he may be, the +same reward is gained by his exertions; I desire with my own hand to +present him to Chimène, and that, as a recompense, he may receive her +plighted faith. + +_Chimène._ What, sire! [would you] impose on me so stern a law? + +_Don Fernando._ Thou complainest of it; but thy love, far from +acknowledging thy complaint, if Rodrigo be the conqueror, without +restraint accepts [the conditions]. Cease to murmur against such a +gentle decree; whichever of the two be the victor, I shall make him thy +spouse. + + + + +ACT THE FIFTH. + + +Scene I.--DON RODRIGO and CHIMÈNE. + + +_Chimène._ What! Rodrigo! In broad daylight! Whence comes this audacity? +Go, thou art ruining my honor; retire, I beseech thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ I go to die, dear lady, and I come to bid you in this +place, before the mortal blow, a last adieu. This unchangeable love, +which binds me beneath your laws, dares not to accept my death without +paying to you homage for it. + +_Chimène._ Thou art going to death! + +_Don Rodrigo._ I speed to those happy moments which will deliver my life +from your (feelings of) resentment. + +_Chimène._ Thou art going to death! Is Don Sancho, then, so formidable, +that he can inspire terror in this invincible heart? What has rendered +thee so weak? or what renders him so strong? Does Rodrigo go to fight, +and believe himself already slain [_lit._ dead]? He who has not feared +the Moors nor my father, goes to fight Don Sancho, and already despairs? +Thus, then, thy courage lowers itself in the [hour of] need. + +_Don Rodrigo._ I speed [_lit._ I run] to my punishment, and not to the +combat; and, since you seek my death, my faithful ardor will readily +deprive me of the desire of defending my life. I have always the same +courage, but I have not the [strong] arm, when it is needed, to preserve +that which does not please you; and already this night would have been +fatal to me, if I had fought for my own private wrong; but, defending my +king, his people, and my country, by carelessly defending myself, I +should have betrayed _them_. My high-born spirit does not hate life so +much as to wish to depart from it by perfidy, now that it regards my +interests only. You demand my death--I accept its decree. Your +resentment chose the hand of another; I was unworthy [_lit._ I did not +deserve] to die by yours. They shall not see me repel its blows; I owe +more respect to him [the champion] who fights for you; and delighted to +think that it is from you these [blows] proceed--since it is your honor +that his arms sustain--I shall present to him my unprotected [_or_, +defenceless] breast, worshipping through his hand thine that destroys +me. + +_Chimène._ If the just vehemence of a sad [sense of] duty, which causes +me, in spite of myself, to follow after thy valiant life, prescribes to +thy love a law so severe, that it surrenders thee without defence to him +who combats for me, in this infatuation [_lit._ blindness], lose not the +recollection, that, with thy life, thine honor is tarnished, and that, +in whatever renown Rodrigo may have lived, when men shall know him to be +dead, they will believe him conquered. Thine honor is dearer to thee +than I am dear, since it steeps thine hands in the blood of my father, +and causes thee to renounce, in spite of thy love, the sweet hope of +gaining me. I see thee, however, pay such little regard to it [honor], +that, without fighting, thou wishest to be overcome. What inconsistency +[_lit._ unequality] mars thy valor! Why hast thou it [that valor] no +more? or why didst thou possess it [formerly]? What! art thou valiant +only to do me an injury? Unless it be to offend [_or_, injure] me, hast +thou no courage at all? And dost thou treat my father with such rigor +[i.e. so far disparage the memory of my father], that, after having +conquered him, thou wilt endure a conqueror? Go! without wishing to die, +leave me to pursue thee, and defend thine honor, if thou wilt no longer +live. + +_Don Rodrigo._ After the death of the count and the defeat of the +Moors, will my renown still require other achievements? That [glory] may +scorn the care of defending myself; it is known that my courage dares to +attempt all, that my valor can accomplish all, and that, here below +[_lit._ under the heavens], in comparison with mine honor, nothing is +precious to me. No! no! in this combat, whatever thou may'st please to +think, Rodrigo may die without risking his renown: without men daring to +accuse him of having wanted spirit: without being considered as +conquered, without enduring a conqueror. They will say only: "He adored +Chimène; he would not live and merit her hatred; he yielded himself to +the severity of his fate, which compelled his mistress to seek his +death; she wished for his life [_lit._ head], and his magnanimous heart, +had that been refused to her, would have considered it a crime. To +avenge his honor, he lost his love; to avenge his mistress, he forsook +life, preferring (whatever hope may have enslaved his soul) his honor to +Chimène, and Chimène to his existence." Thus, then, you will see that my +death in this conflict, far from obscuring my glory, will increase its +value; and this honor will follow my voluntary death, that no other than +myself could have satisfied you [for the death of your father]. + +_Chimène._ Since, to prevent thee from rushing to destruction, thy life +and thine honor are [but] feeble inducements, if ever I loved thee, dear +Rodrigo, in return [for that love], defend thyself now, to rescue me +from Don Sancho. Fight, to release me from a compact which delivers me +to the object of my aversion. Shall I say more to thee? Go, think of thy +defence, to overcome my sense of duty, to impose on me silence; and if +thou feelest thine heart still enamored for me, come forth, as a +conqueror, from a combat of which Chimène is the reward. Adieu; this +thoughtlessly uttered [_lit._ let slip] word causes me to blush for +shame! + +[_Exit Chimène._] + +_Don Rodrigo._ Where is the foe I could not now subdue? Come forth, +[warriors] of Navarre, Morocco, and Castile! and all the heroes that +Spain has produced; unite together and form an army, to contend against +one hand thus nerved [to action]. Unite all your efforts against a hope +so sweet--you have too little power to succeed in destroying it! + + +Scene II.--THE INFANTA. + + +Shall I listen to thee still, pride of my birth, that makest a crime out +of my passions? Shall I listen to thee, love, whose delicious power +causes my desires to rebel against this proud tyrant? Poor princess! to +which of the two oughtest thou to yield obedience? Rodrigo, thy valor +renders thee worthy of me; but although thou art valiant, thou art not +the son of a king. + +Pitiless fate, whose severity separates my glory and my desires! Is it +decreed [_lit._ said], that the choice of [a warrior of] such rare merit +should cost my passion such great anguish? O heaven! for how many +sorrows [_lit._ sighs] must my heart prepare itself, if, after such a +long, painful struggle, it never succeeds in either extinguishing the +love, or accepting the lover! + +But there are too many scruples, and my reason is alarmed at the +contempt of a choice so worthy; although to monarchs only my [proud] +birth may assign me, Rodrigo, with honor I shall live under thy laws. +After having conquered two kings, couldst thou fail in obtaining a +crown? And this great name of Cid, which thou hast just now won--does it +not show too clearly over whom thou art destined to reign? + +He is worthy of me, but he belongs to Chimène; the present which I made +of him [to her], injures me. Between them, the death of a father has +interposed so little hatred, that the duty of blood with regret pursues +him. Thus let us hope for no advantage, either from his transgression or +from my grief, since, to punish me, destiny has allowed that love should +continue even between two enemies. + + +Scene III.--THE INFANTA and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Whence [i.e. for what purpose] comest thou, Leonora? + +_Leonora._ To congratulate you, dear lady, on the tranquillity which at +last your soul has recovered. + +_Infanta._ From what quarter can tranquillity come [_lit._ whence should +this tranquillity come], in an accumulation of sorrow? + +_Leonora._ If love lives on hope, and if it dies with it, Rodrigo can no +more charm your heart; you know of the combat in which Chimène involves +him; since he must die in it, or become her husband, your hope is dead +and your spirit is healed. + +_Infanta._ Ah! how far from it! + +_Leonora._ What more can you expect? + +_Infanta._ Nay, rather, what hope canst thou forbid me [to entertain]? +If Rodrigo fights under these conditions, to counteract the effect of it +[that conflict], I have too many resources. Love, this sweet author of +my cruel punishments, puts into [_lit._ teaches] the minds of lovers too +many stratagems. + +_Leonora._ Can _you_ [accomplish] anything, since a dead father has not +been able to kindle discord in their minds? For Chimène clearly shows by +her behavior that hatred to-day does not cause her pursuit. She obtains +the [privilege of a] combat, and for her champion, she accepts on the +moment the first that offers. She has not recourse to those renowned +knights [_lit._ noble hands] whom so many famous exploits render so +glorious; Don Sancho suffices her, and merits her choice, because he is +going to arm himself for the first time; she loves in this duel his want +of experience; as he is without renown, [so] is she without +apprehension; and her readiness [to accept him], ought to make you +clearly see that she seeks for a combat which her duty demands, but +which yields her Rodrigo an easy victory, and authorizes her at length +to seem appeased. + +_Infanta._ I observe it clearly; and nevertheless my heart, in rivalry +with Chimène, adores this conqueror. On what shall I resolve, hopeless +lover that I am? + +_Leonora._ To remember better from whom you are sprung. Heaven owes you +a king; you love a subject! + +_Infanta._ The object of my attachment has completely changed: I no +longer love Rodrigo as a mere nobleman. No; it is not thus that my love +entitles him. If I love him, it is [as] the author of so many brilliant +deeds; it is [as] the valiant Cid, the master of two kings. I shall +conquer myself, however; not from dread of any censure, but in order +that I may not disturb so glorious a love; and even though, to favor me, +they should crown him, I will not accept again [_lit._ take back] a gift +which I have given. Since in such a combat his triumph is certain, let +us go once more to give him [_or_, that gift] to Chimène. And thou, who +seest the love-arrows with which my heart is pierced; come see me finish +as I have begun. + + +Scene IV.--CHIMÈNE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimène._ Elvira, how greatly I suffer; and how much I am to be pitied! +I know not what to hope, and I see everything to be dreaded. No wish +escapes me to which I dare consent. I desire nothing without quickly +repenting of it [_lit._ a quick repentance]. I have caused two rivals to +take up arms for me: the most happy result will cause me tears; and +though fate may decree in my favor, my father is without revenge, or my +lover is dead. + +_Elvira._ On the one side and the other I see you consoled; either you +have Rodrigo, or you are avenged. And however fate may ordain for you, +it maintains your honor and gives you a spouse. + +_Chimène._ What! the object of my hatred or of such resentment!--the +slayer of Rodrigo, or that of my father! In either case [_lit._ on all +sides] they give me a husband, still [all] stained with the blood that I +cherished most; in either case my soul revolts, and I fear more than +death the ending of my quarrel. Away! vengeance, love--which agitate my +feelings. Ye have no gratifications for me at such a price; and Thou, +Powerful Controller of the destiny which afflicts me, terminate this +combat without any advantage, without rendering either of the two +conquered or conqueror. + +_Elvira._ This would be treating you with too much severity. This combat +is a new punishment for your feelings, if it leaves you [still] +compelled to demand justice, to exhibit always this proud resentment, +and continually to seek after the death of your lover. Dear lady, it is +far better that his unequalled valor, crowning his brow, should impose +silence upon you; that the conditions of the combat should extinguish +your sighs; and that the King should compel you to follow your +inclinations. + +_Chimène._ If he be conqueror, dost thou believe that I shall +surrender? My strong [sense of] duty is too strong and my loss too +great; and this [law of] combat and the will of the King are not strong +enough to dictate conditions to them [i.e. to my duty and sorrow for +my loss]. He may conquer Don Sancho with very little difficulty, but he +shall not with him [conquer] the sense of duty of Chimène; and whatever +[reward] a monarch may have promised to his victory, my self-respect +will raise against him a thousand other enemies. + +_Elvira._ Beware lest, to punish this strange pride, heaven may at last +permit you to revenge yourself. What!--you will still reject the +happiness of being able now to be reconciled [_lit._ to be silent] with +honor? What means this duty, and what does it hope for? Will the death +of your lover restore to you a father? Is one [fatal] stroke of +misfortune insufficient for you? Is there need of loss upon loss, and +sorrow upon sorrow? Come, in the caprice in which your humor persists, +you do not deserve the lover that is destined for you, and we may +[_lit._ shall] see the just wrath of heaven, by his death, leaving you +Don Sancho as a spouse. + +_Chimène._ Elvira, the griefs which I endure are sufficient: do not +redouble them by this fatal augury. I wish, if I can, to avoid both; but +if not, in this conflict Rodrigo has all my prayers; not because a weak +[_lit._ foolish] affection inclines me to his side, but because, if he +were conquered, I should become [the bride] of Don Sancho. This fear +creates [_lit._ causes to be born] my desire---- + + [_Enter Don Sancho._] + +What do I see, unhappy [woman that I am]! Elvira, all is lost! + + +Scene V.--DON SANCHO, CHIMÈNE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Sancho._ Compelled to bring this sword to thy feet---- + +_Chimène._ What! still [all] reeking with the blood of Rodrigo! Traitor, +dost thou dare to show thyself before mine eyes, after having taken from +me that [being] whom I love the best? Declare thyself my love, and thou +hast no more to fear. My father is satisfied; cease to restrain thyself. +The same [death] stroke has placed my honor in safety, my soul in +despair, and my passion at liberty! + +_Don Sancho._ With a mind more calmly collected---- + +_Chimène._ Dost thou still speak to me, detestable assassin of a hero +whom I adore? Go; you fell upon him treacherously. A warrior so valiant +would never have sunk beneath such an assailant! Hope nothing from me. +Thou hast not served me; and believing that thou wert avenging me, thou +hast deprived me of life. + +_Don Sancho._ Strange delusion, which, far from listening to me---- + +_Chimène._ Wilt thou that I should listen to thee while boasting of his +death?--that I should patiently hear with what haughty pride thou wilt +describe his misfortune, my own crime, and thy prowess? + + +Scene VI.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, DON ALONZO, +CHIMÈNE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimène._ Sire, there is no further need to dissemble that which all my +struggles have not been able to conceal from you. I loved, you knew it; +but, to avenge my father, I even wished to sacrifice so dear a being [as +Rodrigo]. Sire, your majesty may have seen how I have made love yield to +duty. At last, Rodrigo is dead; and his death has converted me from an +unrelenting foe into an afflicted lover. I owed this revenge to him who +gave me existence; and to my love I now owe these tears. Don Sancho has +destroyed me in undertaking my defence; and I am the reward of the arm +which destroys me. Sire, if compassion can influence a king, for mercy's +sake revoke a law so severe. As the reward of a victory by which I lose +that which I love, I leave him my possessions; let him leave me to +myself, that in a sacred cloister I may weep continually, even to my +last sigh, for my father and my lover. + +_Don Diego._ In brief, she loves, sire, and no longer believes it a +crime to acknowledge with her own lips a lawful affection. + +_Don Fernando._ Chimène, be undeceived [_lit._ come out from thine +error]; thy lover is not dead, and the vanquished Don Sancho has given +thee a false report. + +_Don Sancho._ Sire, a little too much eagerness, in spite of me, has +misled her; I came from the combat to tell her the result. This noble +warrior of whom her heart is enamored, when he had disarmed me, spoke to +me thus: "Fear nothing--I would rather leave the victory uncertain, than +shed blood risked in defence of Chimène; but, since my duty calls me to +the King, go, tell her of our combat [on my behalf]; on the part of the +conqueror, carry her thy sword." Sire, I came; this weapon deceived her; +seeing me return, she believed me to be conqueror, and her resentment +suddenly betrayed her love, with such excitement and so much impatience, +that I could not obtain a moment's hearing. As for me, although +conquered, I consider myself fortunate; and in spite of the interests of +my enamored heart, [though] losing infinitely, I still love my defeat, +which causes the triumph of a love so perfect. + +_Don Fernando._ My daughter, there is no need to blush for a passion so +glorious, nor to seek means of making a disavowal of it; a laudable +[sense of] shame in vain solicits thee; thy honor is redeemed, and thy +duty performed; thy father is satisfied, and it was to avenge him that +thou didst so often place thy Rodrigo in danger. Thou seest how heaven +otherwise ordains. Having done so much for him [i.e. thy father], do +something for thyself; and be not rebellious against my command, which +gives thee a spouse beloved so dearly. + + +Scene VII.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON RODRIGO, DON +ALONZO, DON SANCHO, THE INFANTA, CHIMÈNE, LEONORA, and ELVIRA. + + +_Infanta._ Dry thy tears, Chimène, and receive without sadness this +noble conqueror from the hands of thy princess. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Be not offended, sire, if in your presence an impassioned +homage causes me to kneel before her [_lit._ casts me before her knees]. +I come not here to ask for [the reward of] my victory; I come once more +[_or_, anew] to offer you my head, dear lady. My love shall not employ +in my own favor either the law of the combat or the will of the King. If +all that has been done is too little for a father, say by what means you +must be satisfied. Must I still contend against a thousand and a +thousand rivals, and to the two ends of the earth extend my labors, +myself alone storm a camp, put to flight an army, surpass the renown of +fabulous heroes? If my deep offence can be by that means washed away, I +dare undertake all, and can accomplish all. But if this proud honor, +always inexorable, cannot be appeased without the death of the guilty +[offender], arm no more against me the power of mortals; mine head is at +thy feet, avenge thyself by thine own hands; thine hands alone have the +right to vanquish the invincible. Take thou a vengeance to all others +impossible. But at least let my death suffice to punish me; banish me +not from thy remembrance, and, since my doom preserves your honor, to +recompense yourself for this, preserve my memory, and say sometimes, +when deploring my fate: "Had he not loved me, he would not have died." + +_Chimène._ Rise, Rodrigo. I must confess it, sire, I have said too much +to be able to unsay it. Rodrigo has noble qualities which I cannot hate; +and, when a king commands, he ought to be obeyed. But to whatever [fate] +you may have already doomed me, can you, before your eyes, tolerate this +union? And when you desire this effort from my feeling of duty, is it +entirely in accord with your sense of justice? If Rodrigo becomes so +indispensable to the state, of that which he has done for you ought I to +be the reward, and surrender myself to the everlasting reproach of +having imbrued my hands in the blood of a father? + +_Don Fernando._ Time has often rendered lawful that which at first +seemed impossible, without being a crime. Rodrigo has won thee, and thou +art justly his. But, although his valor has by conquest obtained thee +to-day, it would need that I should become the enemy of thy +self-respect, to give him so soon the reward of his victory. This bridal +deferred does not break a law, which, without specifying the time, +devotes thy faith to him. Take a year, if thou wilt, to dry thy tears; +Rodrigo, in the mean time, must take up arms. After having vanquished +the Moors on our borders, overthrown their plans, and repulsed their +attacks, go, carry the war even into their country, command my army, +and ravage their territory. At the mere name of Cid they will tremble +with dismay. They have named thee lord! they will desire thee as their +king! But, amidst thy brilliant [_lit._ high] achievements, be thou to +her always faithful; return, if it be possible, still more worthy of +her, and by thy great exploits acquire such renown, that it may be +glorious for her to espouse thee then. + +_Don Rodrigo._ To gain Chimène, and for your service, what command can +be issued to me that mine arm cannot accomplish? Yet, though absent from +her [dear] eyes, I must suffer grief, sire, I have too much happiness in +being able--to hope! + +_Don Fernando._ Hope in thy manly resolution; hope in my promise, and +already possessing the heart of thy mistress, let time, thy valor, and +thy king exert themselves [_lit._ do, or act], to overcome a scrupulous +feeling of honor which is contending against thee. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + +***** This file should be named 14954-8.txt or 14954-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/9/5/14954/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/14954-8.zip b/14954-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e44a4c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/14954-8.zip diff --git a/14954-h.zip b/14954-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b79c12e --- /dev/null +++ b/14954-h.zip diff --git a/14954-h/14954-h.htm b/14954-h/14954-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..309d203 --- /dev/null +++ b/14954-h/14954-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2883 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Cid, by Corneille. A Project Gutenberg eBook.</title> +<style type="text/css" title="Main"> +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + margin-top: 3em; + } + h3 { + font-size: 1em; + font-weight: normal; + margin-top: 2em; + } + hr { + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body { + margin-left: 6em; + max-width: 30em; + } + .pagenum { + float: left; + margin-left: -5em; + font-size: smaller; + } + .smallcaps { + font-variant: small-caps; + } + h1, h2, .allcaps { + text-transform: uppercase; + } + a.pagenum:after { + content: " [" attr(name) "] "; + } + --> +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cid + +Author: Pierre Corneille + +Release Date: February 7, 2005 [EBook #14954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div>Transcriber's notes: +<ul> +<li>Added a table of contents</li> +<li>This text is no longer copyrighted; original copyright note preserved +for accuracy</li> +</ul></div> + +<div> +<h2>Table of contents</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<ul> +<li><a href='#PREFACE'>Preface.</a></li> +<li><a href='#ACT_THE_FIRST'>Act the First.</a></li> +<li><a href='#ACT_THE_SECOND'>Act the Second.</a></li> +<li><a href='#ACT_THE_THIRD'>Act the Third.</a></li> +<li><a href='#ACT_THE_FOURTH'>Act the Fourth.</a></li> +<li><a href='#ACT_THE_FIFTH'>Act the Fifth.</a></li> +<li><a href='#THE_END'>The End.</a></li> +</ul> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_iv'></a> + +<p style="margin-top: 4em; border-bottom: 2px solid +#000;"><b>Handy Literal Translations</b></p> + +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: larger;">CORNEILLE'S</p> + +<h1>The Cid</h1> + +<p>A Literal Translation, by</p> + +<p class="allcaps">Roscoe Mongan</p> + +<p class="smallcaps">Copyright, 1896, by Hinds & Noble</p> + +<p><span class="allcaps">Hinds, Noble & Eldredge</span>, Publishers,</p> + +<p>31-33-35 West Fifteenth Street, New York City</p> + +<hr> + +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_v'></a> + +<a name='PREFACE'></a> + +<h2>Preface.</h2> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Cid Campeador</span> is the name given in +histories, traditions and songs to the most celebrated of Spain's +national heroes.</p> + +<p>His real name was Rodrigo or Ruy Diaz (<i>i.e.</i> "son of Diego"), a +Castilian noble by birth. He was born at Burgos about the year 1040.</p> + +<p>There is so much of the mythical in the history of this personage that +hypercritical writers, such as Masdeu, have doubted his existence; but +recent researches have succeeded in separating the historical from the +romantic.</p> + +<p>Under Sancho II, son of Ferdinand, he served as commander of the royal +troops. In a war between the two brothers, Sancho II. and Alfonso VI. of +Leon, due to some dishonorable stratagem on the part of Rodrigo, Sancho +was victorious and his brother was forced to seek refuge with the +Moorish King of Toledo.</p> + +<p>In 1072 Sancho was assassinated at the siege of Zamora, and as he left +no heir the Castilians had to acknowledge Alfonso as King. Although +Alfonso never forgave the Cid for having, as leader of the Castilians, +compelled him to swear that he (the Cid) had no hand in the murder of +his brother Sancho, as a conciliatory measure, he gave his cousin +Ximena, daughter of the Count of Oviedo, to the Cid in marriage, but +afterwards, in 1081, when he found himself firmly seated on the throne, +<a class='pagenum' name='page_vi'></a> +yielding to his own feelings of resentment and incited by the Leonese +nobles, he banished him from the kingdom.</p> + +<p>At the head of a large body of followers, the Cid joined the Moorish +King of Saragossa, in whose service he fought against both Moslems and +Christians. It was probably during this exile that he was first called +the Cid, an Arabic title, which means the <i>lord</i>. He was very +successful in all his battles.</p> + +<p>In conjunction with Mostain, grandson of Moctadir, he invaded Valencia +in 1088, but afterwards carried on operations alone, and finally, after +a long siege, made himself master of the city in June, 1094. He retained +possession of Valencia for five years and reigned like an independent +sovereign over one of the richest territories in the Peninsula, but died +suddenly in 1099 of anger and grief on hearing that his relative, Alvar +Fañez, had been vanquished and the army which he had sent to his +assistance had been defeated.</p> + +<p>After the Cid's death his wife held Valencia till 1102, when she was +obliged to yield to the Almoravides and fly to Castile, where she died +in 1104. Her remains were placed by those of her lord in the monastery +of San Pedro de Cardeña.</p> + +<hr> + +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_1'></a> +<a name='THE_CID'></a> +<h2>The Cid.</h2> + + + +<a name='ACT_THE_FIRST'></a> + +<h2>Act the First.</h2> + +<h3><i>Scene I.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Elvira, have you given me a really true report? Do you +conceal nothing that my father has said?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> All my feelings within me are still delighted with it. He +esteems Rodrigo as much as you love him; and if I do not misread his +mind, he will command you to respond to his passion.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Tell me then, I beseech you, a second time, what makes you +believe that he approves of my choice; tell me anew what hope I ought to +entertain from it. A discourse so charming cannot be too often heard; +you cannot too forcibly promise to the fervor of our love the sweet +liberty of manifesting itself to the light of day. What answer has he +given regarding the secret suit which Don Sancho and Don Rodrigo are +paying to you? Have you not too clearly shown the disparity between the +two lovers which inclines me to the one side?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> No; I have depicted your heart as filled with an +indifference which elates not either of them <a class='pagenum' name='page_2'></a>nor destroys hope, and, +without regarding them with too stern or too gentle an aspect, awaits the +commands of a father to choose a spouse. This respect has delighted +him—his lips and his countenance gave me at once a worthy testimony of +it; and, since I must again tell you the tale, this is what he hastened +to say to me of them and of you: 'She is in the right. Both are worthy +of her; both are sprung from a noble, valiant, and faithful lineage; +young but yet who show by their mien [<i>lit.</i> cause to easily be read +in their eyes] the brilliant valor of their brave ancestors. Don Rodrigo, +above all, has no feature in his face which is not the noble [<i>lit.</i> +high] representative of a man of courage [<i>lit.</i> heart], and descends +from a house so prolific in warriors, that they enter into life [<i>lit.</i> +take birth there] in the midst of laurels. The valor of his father, in +his time without an equal, as long as his strength endured, was +considered a marvel; the furrows on his brow bear witness to [<i>lit.</i> +have engraved his] exploits, and tell us still what he formerly was. I +predict of the son what I have seen of the father, and my daughter, in +one word, may love him and please me.' He was going to the council, the +hour for which approaching, cut short this discourse, which he had +scarcely commenced; but from these few words, I believe that his mind +[<i>lit.</i> thoughts] is not quite decided between your two lovers. The king +is going to appoint an instructor for his son, and it is he for whom an +honor so great is designed. This choice is not doubtful, and his +unexampled valor cannot tolerate that we should fear any competition. As +his high exploits render him without an equal, in a hope so justifiable +he will be without a rival; and since Don Rodrigo has persuaded his +father, when going out from the council, to propose the affair. I leave +you to <a class='pagenum' name='page_3'></a>judge whether he will seize this opportunity [<i>lit.</i> whether he +will take his time well], and whether all your desires will soon be +gratified.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> It seems, however, that my agitated soul refuses this joy, +and finds itself overwhelmed by it. One moment gives to fate different +aspects, and in this great happiness I fear a great reverse.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> You see this fear happily deceived.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Let us go, whatever it may be, to await the issue.</p> + +<h3><i>Scene II.</i>—<i>The</i> <span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>, <i>and a</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Page</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta (to Page</i>). Page, go, tell Chimène from me, that to-day she is +rather long in coming to see me, and that my friendship complains of her +tardiness. [<i>Exit Page.</i>]</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Dear lady, each day the same desire urges you, and at your +interview with her, I see you every day ask her how her love proceeds.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> It is not without reason. I have almost compelled her to +receive the arrows with which her soul is wounded. She loves Rodrigo, +and she holds him from my hand; and by means of me Don Rodrigo has +conquered her disdain. Thus, having forged the chains of these lovers, I +ought to take an interest in seeing their troubles at an end.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Dear lady, however, amidst their good fortune you exhibit a +grief which proceeds to excess. Does this love, which fills them both +with gladness, produce in this noble heart [of yours] profound sadness? +And does this great interest which you take in them render you unhappy, +whilst they are happy? But I proceed too far, and become indiscreet.</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_4'></a> +<p><i>Infanta.</i> My sadness redoubles in keeping the secret. Listen, listen +at length, how I have struggled; listen what assaults my constancy +[<i>lit.</i> virtue or valor] yet braves. Love is a tyrant which spares no +one. This young cavalier, this lover which I give [her]—I love him.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> You love him!</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Place your hand upon my heart, and feel [<i>lit.</i> see] how it +throbs at the name of its conqueror! how it recognizes him!</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Pardon me, dear lady, if I am wanting in respect in blaming +this passion; a noble princess to so far forget herself as to admit in +her heart a simple [<i>or</i>, humble] cavalier! And what would the King +say?—what would Castile say? Do you still remember of whom you are the +daughter?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> I remember it so well, that I would shed my blood rather than +degrade my rank. I might assuredly answer to thee, that, in noble souls, +worth alone ought to arouse passions; and, if my love sought to excuse +itself, a thousand famous examples might sanction it. But I will not +follow these—where my honor is concerned, the captivation of my +feelings does not abate my courage, and I say to myself always, that, +being the daughter of a king, all other than a monarch is unworthy of +me. When I saw that my heart could not protect itself, I myself gave +away that which I did not dare to take; and I put, in place of my self, +Chimène in its fetters, and I kindled their passions [<i>lit.</i> fires] in +order to extinguish my own. Be then no longer surprised if my troubled +soul with impatience awaits their bridal; thou seest that my happiness +[<i>lit.</i> repose] this day depends upon it. If love lives by hope, it +perishes with it; it is a fire which becomes extinguished for want of +fuel; and, in spite of the <a class='pagenum' name='page_5'></a>severity of my sad lot, if Chimène ever has +Rodrigo for a husband, my hope is dead and my spirit, is healed. +Meanwhile, I endure an incredible torture; even up to this bridal. +Rodrigo is dear to me; I strive to lose him, and I lose him with regret, +and hence my secret anxiety derives its origin. I see with sorrow that +love compels me to utter sighs for that [object] which [as a princess] I +must disdain. I feel my spirit divided into two portions; if my courage +is high, my heart is inflamed [with love]. This bridal is fatal to me, I +fear it, and [yet] I desire it; I dare to hope from it only an +incomplete joy; my honor and my love have for me such attractions, that +I [shall] die whether it be accomplished, or whether it be not +accomplished.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Dear lady, after that I have nothing more to say, except +that, with you, I sigh for your misfortunes; I blamed you a short time +since, now I pity you. But since in a misfortune [<i>i.e.</i> an ill-timed +love] so sweet and so painful, your noble spirit [<i>lit.</i> virtue] +contends against both its charm and its strength, and repulses its +assault and regrets its allurements, it will restore calmness to your +agitated feelings. Hope then every [good result] from it, and from the +assistance of time; hope everything from heaven; it is too just [<i>lit.</i> +it has too much justice] to leave virtue in such a long continued +torture.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> My sweetest hope is to lose hope.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center;">(<i>The Page re-enters.</i>)</p> + +<p><i>Page.</i> By your commands, Chimène comes to see you.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta</i> (to <i>Leonora</i>). Go and converse with her in that gallery +[yonder].</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Do you wish to continue in dreamland?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> No, I wish, only, in spite of my grief, to <a class='pagenum' name='page_6'></a>compose myself +[<i>lit.</i> to put my features a little more at leisure]. I follow you.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center;">[<i>Leonora goes out along with the Page.</i>]</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene III.</i>—<i>The</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span> (<i>alone</i>).</h3> + + +<p>Just heaven, from which I await my relief, put, at last, some limit to +the misfortune which is overcoming [<i>lit.</i> possesses] me; secure my +repose, secure my honor. In the happiness of others I seek my own. This +bridal is equally important to three [parties]; render its completion +more prompt, or my soul more enduring. To unite these two lovers with a +marriage-tie is to break all my chains and to end all my sorrows. But I +tarry a little too long; let us go to meet Chimène, and, by +conversation, to relieve our grief.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene IV.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Count de Gormas</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span> (<i>meeting</i>).</h3> + + +<p><i>Count.</i> At last you have gained it [<i>or</i>, prevailed], and the favor of +a King raises you to a rank which was due only to myself; he makes you +Governor of the Prince of Castile.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> This mark of distinction with which he distinguishes +[<i>lit.</i> which he puts into] my family shows to all that he is just, and +causes it to be sufficiently understood, that he knows how to recompense +bygone services.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> However great kings may be, they are only men [<i>lit.</i> they are +that which we are]; they can make mistakes like other men, and this +choice serves as a proof to all courtiers that they know how to [<i>or</i>, +can] badly recompense present services.</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_7'></a> +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Let us speak no more of a choice at which your mind +becomes exasperated. Favor may have been able to do as much as merit; +but we owe this respect to absolute power, to question nothing when a +king has wished it. To the honor which he has done me add another—let +us join by a sacred tie my house to yours. You have an only daughter, +and I have an only son; their marriage may render us for ever more than +friends. Grant us this favor, and accept, him as a son-in-law.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> To higher alliances this precious son ought [<i>or</i>, is likely] +to aspire; and the new splendor of your dignity ought to inflate his +heart with another [higher] vanity. Exercise that [dignity], sir, and +instruct the prince. Show him how it is necessary to rule a province: to +make the people tremble everywhere under his law; to fill the good with +love, and the wicked with terror. Add to these virtues those of a +commander: show him how it is necessary to inure himself to fatigue; in +the profession of a warrior [<i>lit.</i> of Mars] to render himself without +an equal; to pass entire days and nights on horseback; to sleep +all-armed: to storm a rampart, and to owe to himself alone the winning +of a battle. Instruct him by example, and render him perfect, bringing +your lessons to his notice by carrying them into effect.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> To instruct himself by example, in spite of your jealous +feelings, he shall read only the history of my life. There, in a long +succession of glorious deeds, he shall see how nations ought to be +subdued; to attack a fortress, to marshal an army, and on great exploits +to build his renown.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Living examples have a greater [<i>lit.</i> another] power. A +prince, in a book, learns his duty but badly [<i>or</i>, imperfectly]; and +what, after all, has this great <a class='pagenum' name='page_8'></a>number of years done which one of my +days cannot equal? If you have been valiant, I am so to-day, and this +arm is the strongest support of the kingdom. Granada and Arragon tremble +when this sword flashes; my name serves as a rampart to all Castile; +without me you would soon pass under other laws, and you would soon have +your enemies as [<i>lit.</i> for] kings. Each day, each moment, to increase +my glory, adds laurels to laurels, victory to victory. The prince, by my +side, would make the trial of his courage in the wars under the shadow +of my arm; he would learn to conquer by seeing me do so; and, to prove +speedily worthy of his high character, he would see——</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> I know it; you serve the king well. I have seen you fight +and command under me, when [old] age has caused its freezing currents to +flow within my nerves [<i>i.e.</i> "when the frosts of old age had numbed my +nerves"—<i>Jules Bue</i>], your unexampled [<i>lit.</i> rare] valor has worthily +[<i>lit.</i> well] supplied my place; in fine, to spare unnecessary words, +you are to-day what I used to be. You see, nevertheless, that in this +rivalry a monarch places some distinction between us.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> That prize which I deserved you have carried off.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> He who has gained that [advantage] over you has deserved it +best.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> He who can use it to the best advantage is the most worthy of +it.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> To be refused that prize [<i>lit.</i> it] is not a good sign.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> You have gained it by intrigue, being an old courtier.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> The brilliancy of my noble deeds was my only recommendation +[<i>lit.</i> support].</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_9'></a> +<p><i>Count.</i> Let us speak better of it [<i>i.e.</i> more plainly]: the king does +honor to your age.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> The king, when he does it [<i>i.e.</i> that honor], gives it +[<i>lit.</i> measures it] to courage.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> And for that reason this honor was due only to me [<i>lit.</i> my +arm].</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> He who has not been able to obtain it did not deserve it.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Did not deserve it? I!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> You.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Thy impudence, rash old man, shall have its recompense. +<span style="text-align: right;">[<i>He gives him a slap on the +face.</i>]</span></p> + +<p><i>Don Diego</i> (<i>drawing his sword</i> [<i>lit.</i> +<i>putting the sword in his hand</i>]). Finish [this outrage], and take my +life after such an insult, the first for which my race has ever had +cause to blush [<i>lit.</i> has seen its brow grow red].</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> And what do you think you can do, weak as you are [<i>lit.</i> with +such feebleness]?</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Oh, heaven! my exhausted strength fails me in this +necessity!</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Thy sword is mine; but thou wouldst be too vain if this +discreditable trophy had laden my hand [<i>i.e.</i> if I had carried away a +trophy so discreditable]. Farewell—adieu! Cause the prince to read, in +spite of jealous feelings, for his instruction, the history of thy life. +This just punishment of impertinent language will serve as no small +embellishment for it.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene V.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>.</h3> + + +<p>O rage! O despair! O inimical old age! Have I then lived so long only +for this disgrace? And have I grown grey in warlike toils, only to see +in one day so many <a class='pagenum' name='page_10'></a>of my laurels wither? Does my arm [<i>i.e.</i> my valor], +which all Spain admires and looks up to [<i>lit.</i> with respect]—[does] my +arm, which has so often saved this empire, and so often strengthened +anew the throne of its king, now [<i>lit.</i> then] betray my cause, and do +nothing for me? O cruel remembrance of my bygone glory! O work of a +lifetime [<i>lit.</i> so many days] effaced in a day! new dignity fatal to my +happiness! lofty precipice from which mine honor falls! must I see the +count triumph over your splendor, and die without vengeance, or live in +shame? Count, be now the instructor of my prince! This high rank becomes +[<i>lit.</i> admits] no man without honor, and thy jealous pride, by this +foul [<i>lit.</i> remarkable] insult, in spite of the choice of the king, has +contrived [<i>lit.</i> has known how] to render me unworthy of it. And thou, +glorious instrument of my exploits, but yet a useless ornament of an +enfeebled body numbed by age [<i>lit.</i> all of ice], thou sword, hitherto +to be feared, and which in this insult has served me for show, and not +for defence, go, abandon henceforth the most dishonored [<i>lit.</i> the +last] of his race; pass, to avenge me, into better hands!</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VI.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Rodrigo, hast thou courage [<i>lit.</i> a heart]?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Any other than my father would have found that out +instantly.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Welcome wrath! worthy resentment, most pleasing to my +grief! I recognize my blood in this noble rage; my youth revives in this +ardor so prompt. Come, my son, come, my blood, come to retrieve my +shame—come to avenge me!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Of what?</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Of an insult so cruel that it deals a <a class='pagenum' name='page_11'></a>deadly stroke +against the honor of us both—of a blow! The insolent [man] would have +lost his life for it, but my age deceived my noble ambition; and this +sword, which my arm can no longer wield, I give up to thine, to avenge +and punish. Go against this presumptuous man, and prove thy valor: it is +only in blood that one can wash away such an insult; die or slay. +Moreover, not to deceive thee, I give thee to fight a formidable +antagonist [<i>lit.</i> a man to be feared], I have seen him entirely covered +with blood and dust, carrying everywhere dismay through an entire army. +I have seen by his valor a hundred squadrons broken; and, to tell thee +still something more—more than brave soldier, more than great leader, +he is——</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Pray, finish.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> The father of Chimène.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> The——</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Do not reply; I know thy love. But he who lives dishonored +is unworthy of life; the dearer the offender the greater the offence. In +short, thou knowest the insult, and thou holdest [in thy grasp the means +of] vengeance. I say no more to thee. Avenge me, avenge thyself! Show +thyself a son worthy of a father such as I [am]. Overwhelmed by +misfortunes to which destiny reduces me, I go to deplore them. Go, run, +fly, and avenge us!</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VII.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>.</h3> + + +<p>Pierced even to the depth [<i>or,</i> bottom of the heart] by a blow +unexpected as well as deadly, pitiable avenger of a just quarrel and +unfortunate object of an unjust severity, I remain motionless, and my +dejected soul yields to the blow which is slaying me. So near <a class='pagenum' name='page_12'></a>seeing my +love requited! O heaven, the strange pang [<i>or,</i> difficulty]! In this +insult my father is the person aggrieved, and the aggressor is the +father of Chimène!</p> + +<p>What fierce conflicts [of feelings] I experience! My love is engaged +[<i>lit.</i> interests itself] against my own honor. I must avenge a father +and lose a mistress. The one stimulates my courage, the other restrains +my arm. Reduced to the sad choice of either betraying my love or of +living as a degraded [man], on both sides my situation is wretched +[<i>lit.</i> evil is infinite]. O heaven, the strange pang [<i>or,</i> +difficulty]! Must I leave an insult unavenged? Must I punish the father +of Chimène?</p> + +<p>Father, mistress, honor, love—noble and severe restraint—a bondage +still to be beloved [<i>lit.</i> beloved tyranny], all my pleasures are dead, +or my glory is sullied. The one renders me unhappy; the other unworthy +of life. Dear and cruel hope of a soul noble but still enamored, worthy +enemy of my greatest happiness, thou sword which causest my painful +anxiety, hast thou been given to me to avenge my honor? Hast thou been +given to me to lose Chimène?</p> + +<p>It is better to rush [<i>lit.</i> run] to death. I owe [a duty] to my +mistress as well as to my father. I draw, in avenging myself, her hatred +and her rage; I draw upon myself his [<i>i.e.</i> my father's] contempt by +not avenging myself. To my sweetest hope the one [alternative] renders +me unfaithful, and the other [alternative] renders me unworthy of her. +My misfortune increases by seeking a remedy [<i>lit.</i> by wishing to cure +it]. All [supposed reliefs] redoubles my woes. Come then, my soul [or, +beloved sword], and, since I must die, let us die, at least, without +offending Chimène!</p> + +<p>To die without obtaining satisfaction! To seek a death so fatal to my +fame! To endure that Spain should impute to my memory [the fact] of +having badly maintained <a class='pagenum' name='page_13'></a>the honor of my house! To respect a love of +which my distracted soul already sees the certain loss. Let us no more +listen to this insidious thought, which serves only to pain me [<i>or,</i> +contributes only to my painful position]. Come, mine arm [<i>or,</i> sword], +let us save honor, at least, since, after all, we must lose Chimène.</p> + +<p>Yes, my spirit was deceived. I owe all to my father before my mistress.</p> + +<p>Whether I die in the combat or die of sadness, I shall yield up my blood +pure as I have received it. I already accuse myself of too much +negligence; let us haste to vengeance; and quite ashamed of having +wavered so much, let us no more be in painful suspense, since to-day my +father has been insulted, even though the offender is the father of +Chimène.</p> + + + +</div> + +<div> +<a name='ACT_THE_SECOND'></a> + +<h2>Act the Second.</h2> + + +<h3><i>Scene I.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Count de Gormas</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Arias</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Count.</i> I acknowledge, between ourselves, [that] my blood, a little too +warm, became too excited at an expression, and has carried the matter +too far [<i>lit.</i> too high], but, since it is done, the deed is without +remedy.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> To the wishes of the King let this proud spirit yield; he +takes this much to heart, and his exasperated feelings [<i>lit.</i> heart] +will act against you with full authority. And, indeed, you have no +available defence. The [high] rank of the person offended, the greatness +of the offence, demand duties and submissions <a class='pagenum' name='page_14'></a>which require more than +ordinary reparation.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> The King can, at his pleasure, dispose of my life.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> Your fault is followed by too much excitement. The King +still loves you; appease his wrath. He has said, "I desire it!"—will +you disobey?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Sir, to preserve all that esteem which I retain [<i>or,</i> (other +reading), to preserve my glory and my esteem] to disobey in a slight +degree is not so great a crime, and, however great that [offence] may +be, my immediate services are more than sufficient to cancel it.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> Although one perform glorious and important deeds, a King +is never beholden to his subject. You flatter yourself much, and you +ought to know that he who serves his King well only does his duty. You +will ruin yourself, sir, by this confidence.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> I shall not believe you until I have experience of it [<i>lit.</i> +until after experience of it].</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> You ought to dread the power of a King.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> One day alone does not destroy a man such as I. Let all his +greatness arm itself for my punishment; all the state shall perish, if I +must perish.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> What! do you fear so little sovereign power——?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> [The sovereign power] of a sceptre which, without me, would +fall from his hand. He himself has too much interest in my person, and +my head in falling would cause his crown to fall.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> Permit reason to bring back your senses. Take good advice.</p> + +<p><i>Count</i>. The advice [<i>or,</i> counsel] with regard to it is [already] +taken.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> What shall I say, after all? I am obliged to give him an +account [of this interview].</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> [Say] that I can never consent to my own <a class='pagenum' name='page_15'></a>dishonor.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> But think that kings will be absolute.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> The die is cast, sir. Let us speak of the matter no more.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> Adieu, then, sir, since in vain I try to persuade you. +Notwithstanding [<i>lit.</i> with] all your laurels, still dread the +thunderbolt.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> I shall await it without fear.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> But not without effect.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> We shall see by that Don Diego satisfied. [<i>Exit Don Arias.] +[Alone]</i> He who fears not death fears not threats. I have a heart +superior to the greatest misfortunes [<i>lit.</i> above the proudest +misfortunes]; and men may reduce me to live without happiness, but they +cannot compel me to live without honor.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene II.</i>—<i>The</i> <span class="smallcaps">Count</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Here, count, a word or two.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Speak.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Relieve me from a doubt. Dost thou know Don Diego well?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Yes.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Let us speak [in] low [tones]; listen. Dost thou know +that this old man was the very [essence of] virtue, valor, and honor in +his time? Dost thou know it?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Perhaps so.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> This fire which I carry in mine eyes, knowest thou that +this is his blood? Dost thou know it?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> What matters it to me?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Four paces hence I shall cause thee to know it.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Presumptuous youth! </p><a class='pagenum' name='page_16'></a> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Speak without exciting thyself. I am young, it is true; +but in souls nobly born valor does not depend upon age [<i>lit.</i> wait for +the number of years].</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> To measure thyself with me! Who [<i>or</i>, what] has rendered thee +so presumptuous—thou, whom men have never seen with a sword [<i>lit.</i> +arms] in thine hand?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Men like me do not cause themselves to be known at a +second trial, and they wish [to perform] masterly strokes for their +first attempt.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Dost thou know well who I am?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Yes! Any other man except myself, at the mere mention of +thy name, might tremble with terror. The laurels with which I see thine +head so covered seem to bear written [upon them] the prediction of my +fall. I attack, like a rash man, an arm always victorious; but by +courage I shall overcome you [<i>lit.</i> I shall have too much strength in +possessing sufficient courage]. To him who avenges his father nothing is +impossible. Thine arm is unconquered, but not invincible.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> This noble courage which appears in the language you hold has +shown itself each day by your eyes; and, believing that I saw in you the +honor of Castile, my soul with pleasure was destining for you my +daughter. I know thy passion, and I am delighted to see that all its +impulses yield to thy duty; that they have not weakened this magnanimous +ardor; that thy proud manliness merits my esteem; and that, desiring as +a son-in-law an accomplished cavalier, I was not deceived in the choice +which I had made. But I feel that for thee my compassion is touched. I +admire thy courage, and I pity thy youth. Seek not to make thy first +attempt [<i>or</i>, maiden-stroke] fatal. Release my <a class='pagenum' name='page_17'></a>valor from an unequal +conflict; too little honor for me would attend this victory. In +conquering without danger we triumph without glory. Men would always +believe that thou wert overpowered without an effort, and I should have +only regret for thy death.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Thy presumption is followed by a despicable [<i>lit.</i> +unworthy] pity! The man who dares to deprive me of honor, fears to +deprive me of life!</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Withdraw from this place.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Let us proceed without further parley.</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Art thou so tired of life?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Hast thou such a dread of death?</p> + +<p><i>Count.</i> Come, thou art doing thy duty, and the son becomes degenerate +who survives for one instant the honor of his father.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene III.—The</i> <span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span> <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Soothe, my Chimène, soothe thy grief; summon up thy firmness +in this sudden misfortune. Thou shalt see a calm again after this +short-lived [<i>lit.</i> feeble] storm. Thy happiness is overcast [<i>lit.</i> +covered] only by a slight cloud, and thou hast lost nothing in seeing it +[<i>i.e.</i> thine happiness] delayed.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> My heart, overwhelmed with sorrows, dares to hope for +nothing; a storm so sudden, which agitates a calm at sea, conveys to us +a threat of an inevitable [<i>lit.</i> certain] shipwreck. I cannot doubt it: +I am being shipwrecked [<i>lit.</i> I am perishing], even in harbor. I was +loving, I was beloved, and our fathers were consenting [<i>lit.</i> in +harmony], and I was recounting to you the delightful intelligence of +this at the fatal moment when this quarrel originated, the fatal recital +of which, as soon as it has been given to you, has ruined the effect <a class='pagenum' name='page_18'></a>of +such a dear [<i>lit.</i> sweet] expectation. Accursed ambition! hateful +madness! whose tyranny the most generous souls are suffering. O [sense +of] honor!-merciless to my dearest desires, how many tears and sighs art +thou going to cost me?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Thou hast, in their quarrel, no reason to be alarmed; one +moment has created it, one moment will extinguish it. It has made too +much noise not to be settled amicably, since already the king wishes to +reconcile them; and thou knowest that my zeal [<i>lit.</i> soul], keenly +alive to thy sorrows, will do its utmost [<i>lit.</i> impossibilities] to dry +up their source.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Reconciliations are not effected in such a feud [<i>or</i>, in +this manner]; such deadly insults are not [easily] repaired; in vain one +uses [<i>lit.</i> causes to act] force or prudence. If the evil be cured, it +is [cured] only in appearance; the hatred which hearts preserve within +feeds fires hidden, but so much the more ardent.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> The sacred tie which will unite Don Rodrigo and Chimène will +dispel the hatred of their hostile sires, and we shall soon see the +stronger [feeling], love, by a happy bridal, extinguish this discord.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I desire it may be so, more than I expect it. Don Diego is +too proud, and I know my father. I feel tears flow, which I wish to +restrain; the past afflicts me, and I fear the future.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> What dost thou fear? Is it the impotent weakness of an old +man?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Rodrigo has courage.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> He is too young.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Courageous men become so [<i>i.e.</i> courageous] at once.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> You ought not, however, to dread him much. He is too much +enamored to wish to displease you, and two words from thy lips would +arrest his <a class='pagenum' name='page_19'></a>rage.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> If he does not obey me, what a consummation of my sorrow! +And, if he can obey me, what will men say of him? being of such noble +birth, to endure such an insult! Whether he yields to, or resists the +passion which binds him to me, my mind can not be otherwise than either +ashamed of his too great deference, or shocked at a just refusal.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Chimène has a proud soul, and, though deeply interested, she +cannot endure one base [<i>lit.</i> low] thought. But, if up to the day of +reconciliation I make this model lover my prisoner, and I thus prevent +the effect of his courage, will thine enamored soul take no umbrage at +it?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah! dear lady, in that case I have no more anxiety.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene IV.</i>—<i>The</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>, <i>and a</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Page</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Page, seek Rodrigo, and bring him hither.</p> + +<p><i>Page.</i> The Count de Gormas and he——</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Good heavens! I tremble!</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Speak.</p> + +<p><i>Page.</i> From this palace have gone out together.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Alone?</p> + +<p><i>Page.</i> Alone, and they seemed in low tones to be wrangling with each +other.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Without doubt they are fighting; there is no further need of +speaking. Madame, forgive my haste [in thus departing]. [<i>Exeunt Chimène +and Page.</i>]</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene V.</i>—<i>The</i> <span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Alas! what uneasiness I feel in my mind! I weep for her +sorrows, [yet still] her lover enthralls <a class='pagenum' name='page_20'></a>me; my calmness forsakes me, +and my passion revives. That which is going to separate Rodrigo from +Chimène rekindles at once my hope and my pain; and their separation, +which I see with regret, infuses a secret pleasure in mine enamored +soul.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> This noble pride which reigns in your soul, does it so soon +surrender to this unworthy passion?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Call it not unworthy, since, seated in my heart, proud and +triumphant, it asserts its sway [<i>lit.</i> law] over me. Treat it with +respect, since it is so dear to me. My pride struggles against it, but, +in spite of myself—I hope; and my heart, imperfectly shielded against +such a vain expectation, flies after a lover whom Chimène has lost.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Do you thus let this noble resolution give way [<i>lit.</i> fall]? +And does reason in your mind thus lose its influence?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Ah! with how little effect do we listen to reason when the +heart is assailed by a poison so delicious, and when the sick man loves +his malady! We can hardly endure that any remedy should be applied to +it.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Your hope beguiles you, your malady is pleasant to you; but, +in fact, this Rodrigo is unworthy of you.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> I know it only too well; but if my pride yields, learn how +love flatters a heart which it possesses. If Rodrigo once [<i>or</i>, only] +comes forth from the combat as a conqueror, if this great warrior falls +beneath his valor, I may consider him worthy of me, and I may love him +without shame. What may he not do, if he can conquer the Count? I dare +to imagine that, as the least of his exploits, entire kingdoms will fall +beneath his laws; and my fond love is already persuaded that I behold +him seated on the throne of Granada, <a class='pagenum' name='page_21'></a>the vanquished Moors trembling +while paying him homage; Arragon receiving this new conqueror, Portugal +surrendering, and his victorious battles [<i>lit.</i> noble days] advancing +his proud destinies beyond the seas, laving his laurels with the blood +of Africans! In fine, all that is told of the most distinguished +warriors I expect from Rodrigo after this victory, and I make my love +for him the theme of my glory.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> But, madam, see how far you carry his exploits [<i>lit.</i> arm] +in consequence of a combat which, perhaps, has no reality!</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Rodrigo has been insulted; the Count has committed the +outrage; they have gone out together. Is there need of more?</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Ah, well! they will fight, since you will have it so; but +will Rodrigo go so far as you are going?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Bear with me [<i>lit.</i> what do you mean]? I am mad, and my mind +wanders; thou seest by that what evils this love prepares for me. Come +into my private apartment to console my anxieties, and do not desert me +in the trouble I am in [at present].</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VI.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span> +(<i>the King</i>), <span class="smallcaps">Don Arias</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> The Count is, then, so presumptuous and so little +accessible to reason? Does he still dare to believe his offence +pardonable?</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> Sire, in your name I have long conversed with him. I have +done my utmost, and I have obtained nothing.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Just heavens! Thus, then, a rash subject has so little +respect and anxiety to please me! He insults Don Diego, and despises his +King! He <a class='pagenum' name='page_22'></a>gives laws to me in the midst of my court! Brave warrior +though he be, great general though he be, I am well able [<i>lit.</i> I shall +know well how] to tame such a haughty spirit! Were he incarnate valor +[<i>lit.</i> valor itself], and the god of combats, he shall see what it is +not to obey! Whatever punishment such insolence may have deserved, I +wished at first to treat it [<i>or,</i> him] without violence; but, since he +abuses my leniency, go instantly [<i>lit.</i> this very day], and, whether he +resists or not, secure his person. [<i>Exit Don Alonzo.</i>]</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Perhaps a little time will render him less rebellious; +they came upon him still boiling with rage, on account of his quarrel. +Sire, in the heat of a first impulse, so noble a heart yields with +difficulty. He sees that he has done wrong, but a soul so lofty is not +so soon induced to acknowledge its fault.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Don Sancho, be silent; and be warned that he who takes +his part renders himself criminal.</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> I obey, and am silent; but in pity, sire, [permit] two +words in his defence.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> And what can you say?</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> That a soul accustomed to noble actions cannot lower +itself to apologies. It does not imagine any which can be expressed +without <i>shame;</i> and it is that word alone that the Count resists. He +finds in his duty a little too much severity, and he would obey you if +he had less heart. Command that his arm, trained in war's dangers, +repair this injury at the point of the sword: he will give satisfaction, +sire; and, come what may, until he has been made aware of your decision, +here am I to answer for him.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> You fail [<i>lit.</i> you are losing] in respect; but I +pardon youth, and I excuse enthusiasm in a young, courageous heart. A +king, whose prudence <a class='pagenum' name='page_23'></a>has better objects in view [than such quarrels], +is more sparing of the blood of his subjects. I watch over mine; my +[watchful] care protects them, as the head takes care of the limbs which +serve it. Thus your reasoning is not reasoning for me. You speak as a +soldier—I must act as a king; and whatever others may wish to say, or +he may presume to think, the Count will not part with [<i>lit.</i> cannot +lose] his glory by obeying me. Besides, the insult affects myself: he +has dishonored him whom I have made the instructor of my son. To impugn +my choice is to challenge me, and to make an attempt upon the supreme +power. Let us speak of it no more. And now, ten vessels of our old +enemies have been seen to hoist their flags; near the mouth of the river +they have dared to appear.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> The Moors have by force [of arms] learned to know you, and, +so often vanquished, they have lost heart to risk their lives [<i>lit.</i> +themselves] any more against so great a conqueror.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> They will never, without a certain amount of jealousy, +behold my sceptre, in spite of them, ruling over Andalusia; and this +country, so beautiful, which they too long enjoyed, is always regarded +by them with an envious eye. This is the sole reason which has caused +us, for the last ten years, to place the Castilian throne in Seville, in +order to watch them more closely, and, by more prompt action, +immediately to overthrow whatever [design] they might undertake.</p> + +<p><i>Don Arias.</i> They know, at the cost of their noblest leaders [<i>lit.</i> +most worthy heads], how much your presence secures your conquests; you +have nothing to fear.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> And nothing to neglect—too much confidence brings on +danger; and you are not ignorant that, with very little difficulty, the +rising tide brings <a class='pagenum' name='page_24'></a>them hither. However, I should be wrong to cause a +panic in the hearts [of the citizens], the news being uncertain. The +dismay which this useless alarm might produce in the night, which is +approaching, might agitate the town too much. Cause the guards to be +doubled on the walls and at the fort; for this evening that is +sufficient.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VII.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Sancho</span>, <i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Arias</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Alonzo.</i> Sire, the Count is dead. Don Diego, by his son, has +avenged his wrong.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> As soon as I knew of the insult I foresaw the vengeance, +and from that moment I wished to avert this misfortune.</p> + +<p><i>Don Alonzo.</i> Chimène approaches to lay her grief at your feet [<i>lit.</i> +brings to your knees her grief]; she comes all in tears to sue for +justice from you.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Much though my soul compassionates her sorrows, what the +Count has done seems to have deserved this just punishment of his +rashness. Yet, however just his penalty may be, I cannot lose such a +warrior without regret. After long service rendered to my state, after +his blood has been shed for me a thousand times, to whatever thoughts +his [stubborn] pride compels me, his loss enfeebles me, and his death +afflicts me.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VIII.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, <span class="smallcaps">DON +ARIAS</span>, <i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, sire, justice!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Ah, sire, hear us!</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_25'></a> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I cast myself at your feet!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> I embrace your knees!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I demand justice.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Hear my defence.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Punish the presumption of an audacious youth: he has struck +down the support of your sceptre—he has slain my father!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> He has avenged his own.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> To the blood of his subjects a king owes justice.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> For just vengeance there is no punishment.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Rise, both of you, and speak at leisure. Chimène, I +sympathize with your sorrow; with an equal grief I feel my own soul +afflicted. (<i>To Don Diego.</i>) You shall speak afterwards; do not +interrupt her complaint.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, my father is dead! My eyes have seen his blood gush +forth from his noble breast—that blood which has so often secured your +walls—that blood which has so often won your battles—that blood which, +though all outpoured, still fumes with rage at seeing itself shed for +any other than for you! Rodrigo, before your very palace, has just dyed +[<i>lit.</i> covered] the earth with that [blood] which in the midst of +dangers war did not dare to shed! Faint and pallid, I ran to the spot, +and I found him bereft of life. Pardon my grief, sire, but my voice +fails me at this terrible recital; my tears and my sighs will better +tell you the rest!</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Take courage, my daughter, and know that from to-day thy +king will serve thee as a father instead of him.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, my anguish is attended with too much [unavailing] +horror! I found him, I have already said, bereft of life; his breast was +pierced [<i>lit.</i> open], and <a class='pagenum' name='page_26'></a>his blood upon the [surrounding] dust +dictated [<i>lit.</i> wrote] my duty; or rather his valor, reduced to this +condition, spoke to me through his wound, and urged me to claim redress; +and to make itself heard by the most just of kings, by these sad lips, +it borrowed my voice. Sire, do not permit that, under your sway, such +license should reign before your [very] eyes; that the most valiant with +impunity should be exposed to the thrusts of rashness; that a +presumptuous youth should triumph over their glory, should imbrue +himself with their blood, and scoff at their memory! If the valiant +warrior who has just been torn from you be not avenged, the ardor for +serving you becomes extinguished. In fine, my father is dead, and I +demand vengeance more for your interest than for my consolation. You are +a loser in the death of a man of his position. Avenge it by another's, +and [have] blood for blood! Sacrifice [the victim] not to me, but to +your crown, to your greatness, to yourself! Sacrifice, I say, sire, to +the good of the state, all those whom such a daring deed would inflate +with pride.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Don Diego, reply.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> How worthy of envy is he who, in losing [life's] vigor, +loses life also! And how a long life brings to nobly minded men, at the +close of their career, an unhappy destiny! I, whose long labors have +gained such great renown—I, whom hitherto everywhere victory has +followed—I see myself to-day, in consequence of having lived too long, +receiving an insult, and living vanquished. That which never battle, +siege, or ambuscade could [do]—that which Arragon or Granada never +could [effect], nor all your enemies, nor all my jealous [rivals], the +Count has done in your palace, almost before your eyes, [being] jealous +of your choice, and proud of the advantage which the impotence of <a class='pagenum' name='page_27'></a>age +gave him over me. Sire, thus these hairs, grown grey in harness [<i>i.e.</i> +toils of war]—this blood, so often shed to serve you—this arm, +formerly the terror of a hostile army, would have sunk into the grave, +burdened with disgrace, if I had not begotten a son worthy of me, worthy +of his country, and worthy of his king! He has lent me his hand—he has +slain the Count—he has restored my honor—he has washed away my shame! +If the displaying of courage and resentment, if the avenging of a blow +deserves chastisement, upon me alone should fall the fury of the storm. +When the arm has failed, the head is punished for it. Whether men call +this a crime or not requires no discussion. Sire, I am the head, he is +the arm only. If Chimène complains that he has slain her father, he +never would have done that [deed] if I could have done it [myself]. +Sacrifice, then, this head, which years will soon remove, and preserve +for yourself the arm which can serve you. At the cost of my blood +satisfy Chimène. I do not resist—I consent to my penalty, and, far from +murmuring at a rigorous decree, dying without dishonor, I shall die +without regret.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> The matter is of importance, and, calmly considered, it +deserves to be debated in full council. Don Sancho, re-conduct Chimène +to her abode. Don Diego shall have my palace and his word of honor as a +prison. Bring his son here to me. I will do you justice.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> It is just, great king, that a murderer should die.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Take rest, my daughter, and calm thy sorrows.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> To order me rest is to increase my misfortunes.</p> + + + + +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_28'></a> +<a name='ACT_THE_THIRD'></a> +<h2>Act the Third.</h2> + + +<h3><i>Scene I.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Rodrigo, what hast them done? Whence comest thou, unhappy man?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Here [<i>i.e.</i> to the house of Chimène], to follow out the +sad course of my miserable destiny.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Whence obtainest thou this audacity, and this new pride, of +appearing in places which thou hast filled with mourning? What! dost +thou come even here to defy the shade of the Count? Hast thou not slain +him?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> His existence was my shame; my honor required this deed +from my [reluctant] hand.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> But to seek thy asylum in the house of the dead! Has ever a +murderer made such his refuge?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> And I come here only to yield myself to my judge. Look no +more on me with astonishment [<i>lit.</i> an eye amazed]; I seek death after +having inflicted it. My love is my judge; my judge is my Chimène. I +deserve death for deserving her hatred, and I am come to receive, as a +supreme blessing, its decree from her lips, and its stroke from her +hand.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Fly rather from her sight, fly from her impetuosity; conceal +your presence from her first excitement. Go! do not expose yourself to +the first impulses which the fiery indignation of her resentment may +give vent to.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> No, no. This beloved one, whom I [could] so displease, +cannot have too wrathful a desire for my punishment; and I avoid a +hundred deaths which are going to crush me if, by dying sooner, I can +redouble it [<i>i.e.</i> that wrath].</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Chimène is at the palace, bathed in tears, and will return but +too well accompanied. Rodrigo, <a class='pagenum' name='page_29'></a>fly! for mercy's sake relieve me from my +uneasiness! What might not people say if they saw you here? Do you wish +that some slanderer, to crown her misery, should accuse her of +tolerating here the slayer of her father? She will return; she is +coming—I see her; at least, for the sake of <i>her</i> honor, Rodrigo, +conceal thyself! <span style="text-align: right;">[<i>Rodrigo conceals himself.</i>]</span></p> + + +<h3><i>Scene II.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Yes, lady, you require a victim [or revenge] steeped in +blood [<i>lit.</i> for you there is need of bleeding victims]; your wrath is +just and your tears legitimate, and I do not attempt, by dint of +speaking, either to soothe you or to console you. But, if I may be +capable of serving you, employ my sword to punish the guilty [one], +employ my love to revenge this death; under your commands my arm will be +[only] too strong.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Unhappy that I am!</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> I implore you, accept my services.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I should offend the King, who has promised me justice.</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> You know that justice [<i>lit.</i> it] proceeds with such +slowness, that very often crime escapes in consequence of its delay, its +slow and doubtful course causes us to lose too many tears. Permit that a +cavalier may avenge you by [force of] arms; that method is more certain +and more prompt in punishing.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> It is the last remedy; and if it is necessary to have +recourse to it, and your pity for my misfortunes still continues, you +shall then be free to avenge my injury.</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> It is the sole happiness to which my soul aspires; and, +being able to hope for it, I depart <a class='pagenum' name='page_30'></a>too well contented.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene III.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> At last I see myself free, and I can, without constraint, +show thee the extent of my keen sorrows; I can give vent to my sad +sighs; I can unbosom to thee my soul and all my griefs. My father is +dead, Elvira; and the first sword with which Rodrigo armed himself has +cut his thread of life. Weep, weep, mine eyes, and dissolve yourselves +into tears! The one half of my life [<i>i.e.</i> Rodrigo] has laid the other +[half, <i>i.e.</i> my father] in the grave, and compels me to revenge, after +this fatal blow, that which I have no more [<i>i.e.</i> my father] on that +which still remains to me [<i>i.e.</i> Rodrigo].</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Calm yourself, dear lady.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah! how unsuitably, in a misfortune so great, thou speakest +of calmness. By what means can my sorrow ever be appeased, if I cannot +hate the hand which has caused it? And what ought I to hope for but a +never-ending anguish if I follow up a crime, still loving the criminal.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> He deprives you of a father, and you still love him?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> It is too little to say love, Elvira; I adore him! My passion +opposes itself to my resentment; in mine enemy I find my lover, and I +feel that in spite of all my rage Rodrigo is still contending against my +sire in my heart. He attacks it, he besieges it; it yields, it defends +itself; at one time strong, at one time weak, at another triumphant. But +in this severe struggle between wrath and love, he rends my heart +without shaking my resolution, and although my love may have power over +me, I do not consult it [<i>or</i>, hesitate] <a class='pagenum' name='page_31'></a>to follow my duty. I speed on +[<i>lit.</i> run] without halting [<i>or</i>, weighing the consequences] where my +honor compels me. Rodrigo is very dear to me; the interest I feel in him +grieves me; my heart takes his part, but, in spite of its struggles, I +know what I am [<i>i.e.</i> a daughter], and that my father is dead.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Do you think of pursuing [<i>or</i>, persecuting] him?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah! cruel thought! and cruel pursuit to which I see myself +compelled. I demand his head [<i>or</i>, life] and I dread to obtain it; my +death will follow his, and [yet] I wish to punish him!</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Abandon, abandon, dear lady, a design so tragic, and do not +impose on yourself such a tyrannical law.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What! my father being dead and almost in my arms—shall his +blood cry for revenge and I not obtain it? My heart, shamefully led away +by other spells, would believe that it owed him only ineffectual tears. +And can I endure that an insidious love, beneath a dastardly apathy, +should extinguish my resolution [<i>lit.</i> beneath a cowardly silence +extinguish my honor]?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Dear lady, believe me, you would be excusable in having less +wrath against an object so beloved, against a lover so dear; you have +done enough, you have seen the King; do not urge on the result [of that +interview]. Do not persist in this morbid [<i>lit.</i> strange] humor.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> My honor is at stake; I must avenge myself; and, however the +desires of love may beguile us, all excuse [for not doing one's duty] is +disgraceful to [<i>i.e.</i> in the estimation of] noble-minded souls.</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_32'></a> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> But you love Rodrigo—he cannot offend you. </p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I confess it.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> After all, what then do you intend to do?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> To preserve my honor and to end my sorrow; to pursue him, to +destroy him, and to die after him.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene IV.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Well then, without giving you the trouble of pursuing me, +secure for yourself the honor of preventing me from living.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Elvira, where are we, and what do I see? Rodrigo in my house! +Rodrigo before me!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Spare not my blood; enjoy [<i>lit.</i> taste], without +resistance, the pleasure of my destruction and of your vengeance.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Alas!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Listen to me.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I am dying.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> One moment.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Go, let me die!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Four words only; afterwards reply to me only with this +sword!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What! still imbrued with the blood of my father!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> My Chimène.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Remove from my sight this hateful object, which brings as a +reproach before mine eyes thy crime and thy existence.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Look on it rather to excite thy hatred, to increase thy +wrath and to hasten my doom.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> It is dyed with my [father's] blood!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Plunge it in mine, and cause it thus to lose the +death-stain of thine own.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah! what cruelty, which all in one day <a class='pagenum' name='page_33'></a>slays the father by +the sword [itself], and the daughter by the sight of it! Remove this +object, I cannot endure it; thou wished me to listen to thee, and thou +causest me to die!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> I do what thou wishest, but without abandoning the desire +of ending by thy hands my lamentable life; for, in fine, do not expect +[even] from my affection a dastardly repentance of a justifiable [<i>lit.</i> +good] action. The irreparable effect of a too hasty excitement +dishonored my father and covered me with shame. Thou knowest how a blow +affects a man of courage. I shared in the insult, I sought out its +author, I saw him, I avenged my honor and my father; I would do it again +if I had it to do. Not that, indeed, my passion did not long struggle +for thee against my father and myself; judge of its power—under such an +insult, I was able to deliberate whether I should take vengeance for it! +Compelled to displease thee or to endure an affront, I thought that in +its turn my arm was too prompt [to strike]; I accused myself of too much +impetuosity, and thy loveliness, without doubt, would have turned the +scale [<i>or</i>, prevailed overall] had I not opposed to thy strongest +attractions the [thought] that a man without honor would not merit thee; +that, in spite of this share which I had in thy affections, she who +loved me noble would hate me shamed; that to listen to thy love, to obey +its voice, would be to render myself unworthy of it and to condemn thy +choice. I tell thee still, and although I sigh at it, even to my last +sigh I will assuredly repeat it, I have committed an offence against +thee, and I was driven to [<i>or</i>, bound to commit] it to efface my shame +and to merit thee; but discharged [from my duty] as regards honor, and +discharged [from duty] towards my father, it is now to thee that I come +to give satisfaction—it is to offer <a class='pagenum' name='page_34'></a>to thee my blood that thou seest +me in this place. I did my duty [<i>lit.</i> that which I ought to have done] +then, I still do it now. I know that a slain [<i>lit.</i> dead] father arms +thee against my offence; I have not wished to rob thee of thy victim; +sacrifice with courage to the blood he has lost he who constitutes his +glory in having shed it.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah, Rodrigo, it is true, although thine enemy, I cannot blame +thee for having shunned disgrace; and in whatever manner my griefs burst +forth I do not accuse [thee], I [only] lament my misfortunes. I know +what honor after such an insult demanded with ardor of a generous +courage; thou hast only done the duty of a man of honor, but also in +doing that [duty] thou hast taught me mine. Thy fatal valor has +instructed me by thy victory—it has avenged thy father and maintained +thy glory. The same care concerns me, and I have to add to my infliction +[<i>lit.</i> to afflict me] my fame to sustain and my father to avenge. Alas! +thy fate [<i>or</i>, your share] in this drives me to despair! If any other +misfortune had taken from me my father, my soul would have found in the +happiness of seeing thee the only relief which it could have received, +and in opposition to my grief I should have felt a fond delight [<i>lit.</i> +charm or a magic soothing] when a hand so dear would have wiped away my +tears. But I must lose thee after having lost him. This struggle over my +passion is due to my honor, and this terrible duty, whose [imperious] +command is slaying me, compels me to exert myself [<i>lit.</i> labor or work] +for thy destruction. For, in fine, do not expect from my affection any +morbid [<i>lit.</i> cowardly] feelings as to thy punishment. However strongly +my love may plead in thy favor, my steadfast courage must respond to +thine. Even in offending me, thou hast proved thyself worthy <a class='pagenum' name='page_35'></a>of me; I +must, by thy death, prove myself worthy of thee.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Defer, then, no longer that which honor commands. It +demands my head [<i>or</i>, life], and I yield it to thee; make a sacrifice +of it to this noble duty; the [death] stroke will be welcome [<i>lit.</i> +sweet], as well as the doom. To await, after my crime, a tardy justice, +is to defer thine honor as well as my punishment. I should die too happy +in dying by so delightful a [death] blow!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Go [<i>i.e.</i> no]; I am thy prosecutor, and not thy executioner. +If thou offerest me thine head, is it for me to take it; I ought to +attack it, but thou oughtest to defend it. It is from another than thee +that I must obtain it, and it is my duty [<i>lit.</i> I ought] to pursue +thee, but not to punish thee.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> However in my favor our love may plead, thy steadfast +courage ought to correspond to mine; and to borrow other arms to avenge +a father is, believe me, my Chimène, not the [method of] responding to +it. My hand alone was fit [<i>lit.</i> has understood how] to avenge the +insult offered to <i>my</i> father; thy hand alone ought to take vengeance +for thine.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> O cruel! for what reason shouldst thou persevere on this +point? Thou hast avenged thyself without aid, and dost thou wish to give +me thine [aid]? I shall follow thy example; and I have too much courage +to endure that my glory shall be divided with thee. My father and mine +honor shall owe nothing to the dictates of thy love and of thy despair.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> O cruel resolution [<i>lit.</i> point of honor]! Alas! +whatever I may do, can I by no means obtain this concession [<i>or</i>, +favor]? In the name of a slain [<i>lit.</i> dead] father, or of our +friendship, punish me through revenge, or at least through compassion. +Thy <a class='pagenum' name='page_36'></a>unhappy lover will have far less pain in dying by thy hand than in +living with thy hatred.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Go; I do not hate thee.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Thou oughtest to do so.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> I cannot.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Dost thou so little fear calumny, and so little [fear] +false reports? When people shall know my crime, and that thy passion +[for me] still continues, what will not envy and deception spread +abroad? Compel them to silence, and, without debating more, save thy +fair fame by causing me to die.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> That [fair fame] shines far more gloriously [<i>lit.</i> better] +by leaving thee life; and I wish that the voice of the blackest slander +should raise to heaven my honor, and lament my griefs, knowing that I +worship thee, and that [still] I pursue thee [as a criminal]. Go, then; +present no more to my unbounded grief that which I [must] lose, although +I love it [him]! In the shades of night carefully conceal thy departure; +if they see thee going forth, my honor runs a risk. The only opportunity +which slander can have is to know that I have tolerated thy presence +here. Give it no opportunity to assail my honor.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Let me die.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Nay, leave me.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> On what art thou resolved?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> In spite of the glorious love-fires which impede [<i>lit.</i> +trouble] my wrath, I will do my utmost to avenge my father; but, in +spite of the sternness of such a cruel duty, my sole desire is to be +able to accomplish nothing [against thee].</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> O wondrous love [<i>lit.</i> miracle of love]!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> O accumulation of sorrows!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> What misfortunes and tears will our <a class='pagenum' name='page_37'></a>fathers cost us!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Rodrigo, who would have believed——?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Chimène, who would have said——?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> That our happiness was so near, and would so soon be ruined?</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> And that so near the haven, contrary to all appearances +[<i>or</i>, expectation], a storm so sudden should shatter our hopes?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> O deadly griefs!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> O vain regrets!</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Go, then, again [I beseech thee]; I can listen to thee no +more.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Adieu! I go to drag along a lingering life, until it be +torn from me by thy pursuit.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> If I obtain my purpose, I pledge to thee my faith to exist +not a moment after thee. Adieu! Go hence, and, above all, take good care +that you are not observed. <span style="text-align: right;">[<i>Exit Don Rodrigo.</i>]</span></p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Dear lady, whatever sorrows heaven sends us——</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Trouble me no more; let me sigh. I seek for silence and the +night in order to weep.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene V.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>.</h3> + + +<p>Never do we experience [<i>lit.</i> taste] perfect joy. Our most fortunate +successes are mingled with sadness; always some cares, [even] in the +[successful] events, mar the serenity of our satisfaction. In the midst +of happiness my soul feels their pang: I float in joy, and I tremble +with fear. I have seen [lying] dead the enemy who had insulted me, yet I +am unable to find [<i>lit.</i> see] the hand which has avenged me. I exert +myself in vain, and with a useless anxiety. Feeble [<i>lit.</i> broken down; +<i>or</i>, shattered] though I am, I <a class='pagenum' name='page_38'></a> traverse all the city; this slight +degree of vigor, that my advanced years have left me, expends itself +fruitlessly in seeking this conqueror. At every moment, at all places, +in a night so dark, I think that I embrace him, and I embrace only a +shadow; and my love, beguiled by this deceitful object, forms for itself +suspicions which redouble my fear. I do not discover any traces of his +flight. I fear the dead Count's friends and retinue; their number +terrifies me, and confounds my reason. Rodrigo lives no more, or +breathes in prison! Just heavens! do I still deceive myself with a +shadow only [<i>lit.</i> an appearance], or do I see, at last, my only hope? +It is he; I doubt it no more. My prayers are heard, my fear is +dispelled, and my trouble ended.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VI.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Rodrigo at last heaven permits that I should behold thee!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Alas!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Mingle not sighs with my joy; let me take breath in order +to praise thee. My valor has no reason to disown thee; thou hast well +imitated it, and thy brilliant prowess causes the heroes of my race to +live again in thee! It is from them that thou descendest, it is from me +that thou art sprung. Thy first combat [<i>lit.</i> sword-stroke] equals all +of mine, and thy youth, fired with a splendid enthusiasm, by this great +proof equals [<i>or</i>, reaches to] my renown. Prop of mine age, and sum of +my happiness, touch these white hairs, to which thou restorest honor! +Come, kiss this cheek, and recognize the place on which was branded the +insult which thy courage effaces!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> The honor of it belongs to you. I <a class='pagenum' name='page_39'></a>could not do less, +being sprung from you, and trained under your careful instruction +[<i>lit.</i> cares]. I consider myself too happy [at the result], and my soul +is delighted that my first combat [<i>or</i>, maiden-stroke] pleases him to +whom I owe existence. But, amidst your gladness, be not jealous if, in +my turn, I dare to satisfy myself after you. Permit that in freedom my +despair may burst forth; enough and for too long your discourse has +soothed it. I do not repent having served you; but give me back the +blessing which that [death] blow has deprived me of. My arms, in order +to serve you, battling against my passion, by this [otherwise] glorious +deed have deprived me of my love. Say no more to me: for you I have lost +all; what I owed you I have well repaid.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Carry, carry still higher the effect [<i>lit.</i> fruit] of thy +victory. I have given thee life, and thou restorest to me my honor; and +as much as honor is dearer to me than life, so much now I owe thee in +return. But spurn this weakness from a noble heart; we have but one +honor—there are many mistresses. Love is but a pleasure; honor is a +duty.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Ah! what do you say to me?</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> That which you ought to know.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> My outraged honor takes vengeance on myself, and you dare +to urge me to the shame of inconstancy! Disgrace is the same, and +follows equally the soldier without courage and the faithless lover. Do +no wrong, then, to my fidelity; allow me [to be] brave without rendering +myself perfidious [perjured]. My bonds are too strong to be thus +broken—my faith still binds me, though I [may] hope no more; and, not +being able to leave nor to win Chimène, the death which I seek is my +most welcome [<i>lit.</i> sweeter] penalty.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> It is not yet time to seek death; thy <a class='pagenum' name='page_40'></a>prince and thy +country have need of thine arm. The fleet, as was feared, having entered +this great river, hopes to surprise the city and to ravage the country. +The Moors are going to make a descent, and the tide and the night may, +within an hour, bring them noiselessly to our walls. The court is in +disorder, the people in dismay; we hear only cries, we see only tears. +In this public calamity, my good fortune has so willed it that I have +found [thronging] to my house five hundred of my friends, who, knowing +the insult offered to me, impelled by a similar zeal, came all to offer +themselves to avenge my quarrel. Thou hast anticipated them; but their +valiant hands will be more nobly steeped in the blood of Africans. Go, +march at their head where honor calls thee; it is thou whom their noble +band would have as a leader. Go, resist the advance of these ancient +enemies; there, if thou wishest to die, find a glorious death. Seize the +opportunity, since it is presented to thee; cause your King to owe his +safety to your loss; but rather return from that battle-field [<i>lit.</i> +from it] with the laurels on thy brow. Limit not thy glory to the +avenging of an insult; advance that glory still further; urge by thy +valor this monarch to pardon, and Chimène to peace. If thou lovest her, +learn that to return as a conqueror is the sole means of regaining her +heart. But time is too precious to waste in words; I stop thee in thine +attempted answer, and desire that thou fly [to the rescue]. Come, follow +me; go to the combat, and show the King that what he loses in the Count +he regains in thee.</p> + + + +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_41'></a> +<a name='ACT_THE_FOURTH'></a> +<h2>Act the Fourth.</h2> + + +<h3><i>Scene I.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Is it not a false report? Do you know for certain, Elvira?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> You could never believe how every one admires him, and extols +to heaven, with one common voice, the glorious achievements of this +young hero. The Moors appeared before him only to their shame; their +approach was very rapid, their flight more rapid still. A three hours' +battle left to our warriors a complete victory, and two kings as +prisoners. The valor of their leader overcame every obstacle [<i>lit.</i> +found no obstacles].</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> And the hand of Rodrigo has wrought all these wonders!</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Of his gallant deeds these two kings are the reward; by his +hand they were conquered, and his hand captured them.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> From whom couldst thou ascertain these strange tidings?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> From the people, who everywhere sing his praises, [who] call +him the object and the author of their rejoicing, their guardian angel +and their deliverer.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> And the King—with what an aspect does he look upon such +valor?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Rodrigo dares not yet appear in his presence, but Don Diego, +delighted, presents to him in chains, in the name of this conqueror, +these crowned captives, and asks as a favor from this generous prince +that he condescend to look upon the hand which has saved the kingdom +[<i>lit.</i> province].</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> But is he not wounded?</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> I have learned nothing of it. You change <a class='pagenum' name='page_42'></a>color! Recover your +spirits.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Let me recover then also my enfeebled resentment; caring for +him, must I forget my own feelings [<i>lit.</i> myself]? They boast of him, +they praise him, and my heart consents to it; my honor is mute, my duty +impotent. Down [<i>lit.</i> silence], O [treacherous] love! let my resentment +exert itself [<i>lit.</i> act]; although he has conquered two kings, he has +slain my father! These mourning robes in which I read my misfortune are +the first-fruits which his valor has produced; and +although others may tell of a heart so magnanimous, here all objects +speak to me of his crime. Ye who give strength to my feelings of +resentment, veil, crape, robes, dismal ornaments, funeral garb in which +his first victory enshrouds me, do you sustain effectually my honor in +opposition to my passion, and when my love shall gain too much power, +remind my spirit of my sad duty; attack, without fearing anything, a +triumphant hand!</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Calm this excitement; see—here comes the Infanta.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene II.</i>—<i>The</i> <span class="smallcaps">Infanta</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> I do not come here [vainly] to console thy sorrows; I come +rather to mingle my sighs with thy tears.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Far rather take part in the universal rejoicings, and taste +the happiness which heaven sends you, dear lady; no one but myself has a +right to sigh. The danger from which Rodrigo has been able to rescue +you, and the public safety which his arms restore to you, to me alone +to-day still permit tears; he has saved the city, he has served his +King, and his valiant <a class='pagenum' name='page_43'></a>arm is destructive only to myself.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> My Chimène, it is true that he has wrought wonders.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Already this vexatious exclamation of joy [<i>lit.</i> noise] has +reached [<i>lit.</i> struck] my ears, and I hear him everywhere proclaimed +aloud as brave a warrior as he is an unfortunate lover.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> What annoyance can the approving shouts of the people cause +thee? This youthful Mars whom they praise has hitherto been able to +please thee; he possessed thy heart; he lived under thy law; and to +praise his valor is to honor thy choice.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Every one [else] can praise it with some justice; but for me +his praise is a new punishment. They aggravate my grief by raising him +so high. I see what I lose, when I see what he is worth. Ah! cruel +tortures to the mind of a lover! The more I understand his worth, the +more my passion increases; yet my duty is always the stronger [passion], +and, in spite of my love, endeavors to accomplish his destruction +[<i>lit.</i> to pursue his death].</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Yesterday, this duty placed thee in high estimation; the +struggle which thou didst make appeared so magnanimous, so worthy of a +noble heart, that everyone at the court admired thy resolution and +pitied thy love. But wilt thou believe in the advice of a faithful +friendship?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Not to obey you would render me disloyal.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> What was justifiable then is not so to-day. Rodrigo now is +our sole support, the hope and the idol [<i>lit.</i> love] of a people that +worships him! The prop of Castile and the terror of the Moor! The King +himself recognizes [<i>lit.</i> is in agreement with] this truth, that thy +father in him alone sees himself recalled to life: and if, in fine, thou +wishest that I should explain myself <a class='pagenum' name='page_44'></a>briefly [<i>lit.</i> in two words], +thou art seeking in his destruction the public ruin. What! to avenge a +father, is it ever lawful to surrender one's country into the hands of +enemies? Against us is thy revenge lawful? And must we be punished who +had no share in the crime? After all, it is only that thou shouldest +espouse the man whom a dead father compelled thee to accuse; I myself +would wish to relieve thee of that desire [<i>lit.</i> take the desire of +that from thee]; take from him thy love, but leave us his life.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Ah! it is not in me to have so much kindness; the duty which +excites me has no limit. Although my love pleads [<i>lit.</i> interests +itself] for this conqueror, although a nation worships him, and a King +praises him, although he be surrounded with the most valiant warriors, I +shall endeavor to crush his laurels beneath my [funereal] cypress.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> It is a noble feeling when, to avenge a father, our duty +assails a head so dear; but it is duty of a still nobler order when ties +of blood are sacrificed to the public [advantage]. No, believe me, it is +enough to quench thy love; he will be too severely punished if he exists +no more in thy affections. Let the welfare of thy country impose upon +thee this law; and, besides, what dost thou think that the King will +grant thee?</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> He can refuse me, but I cannot keep silent.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Reflect well, my [dear] Chimène, on what thou wishest to do. +Adieu; [when] alone thou cans't think over this at thy leisure. <span style="text-align: right;">[<i>Exit +the Infanta.</i>]</span></p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Since my father is slain [<i>lit.</i> after my dead father], I +have no [alternative] to choose.</p> + + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_45'></a> +<h3><i>Scene III.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span> +(<i>the King</i>), <span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Arias</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Rodrigo</span>, <i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Worthy scion of a distinguished race, which has always +been the glory and the support of Castile! Thou descendant of so many +ancestors signalized by valor, whom the first attempt of thine own +[prowess] has so soon equalled; my ability to recompense thee is too +limited [<i>lit.</i> small], and I have less power than thou hast merit. The +country delivered from such a fierce enemy, my sceptre firmly placed in +my hand by thine own [hand], and the Moors defeated before, amid these +terrors, I could give orders for repulsing their arms; these are +brilliant services which leave not to thy King the means or the hope of +discharging his debt of gratitude [<i>lit.</i> acquitting himself] towards +thee. But the two kings, thy captives, shall be thy reward. Both of them +in my presence have named thee their Cid—since Cid, in their language, +is equivalent to lord, I shall not envy thee this glorious title of +distinction; be thou, henceforth, the Cid; to that great name let +everything yield; let it overwhelm with terror both Granada and Toledo, +and let it indicate to all those who live under my laws both how +valuable thou art to me [<i>lit.</i> that which thou art worth to me], and +that [deep obligation] which I owe thee.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Let your majesty, sire, spare my modesty. On such an +humble service your majesty [<i>lit.</i> it, referring to majesty] sets too +high a value, and compels me to blush [for shame] before so great a +King, at so little deserving the honor which I have received from him. I +know too well [the gifts] that I owe to the welfare of your empire, both +the blood which flows in my veins [<i>lit.</i> animates me] and the air which +I breathe, and even though I should lose them in such a glorious <a class='pagenum' name='page_46'></a>cause +[<i>lit.</i> for an object so worthy], I should only be doing the duty of a +subject.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> All those whom that duty enlists in my service do not +discharge it with the same courage, and when [<i>i.e.</i> unless] valor +attains a high degree, it never produces such rare successes; allow us +then to praise thee, and tell me more at length the true history of this +victory.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Sire, you are aware that in this urgent danger, which +created in the city such a powerful alarm, a band of friends assembled +at the house of my father prevailed on my spirit, still much agitated. +But, sire, pardon my rashness if I dared to employ it without your +authority; the danger was approaching; their [valiant] band was ready; +by showing myself at the court I should have risked my life [<i>lit.</i> +head], and, if I must lose it, it would have been far more delightful +for me to depart from life while fighting for you.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> I pardon thy warmth in avenging the insult offered to +thee, and the kingdom shielded [from danger] pleads [<i>lit.</i> speaks to +me] in thy defence. Be assured that henceforth Chimène will speak in +vain, and I shall listen to her no more except to comfort her; but +continue.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Under me, then, this band advances, and bears in its +aspect a manly confidence. At setting out we were five hundred, but, by +a speedy reinforcement, we saw ourselves [augmented to] three thousand +on arriving at the port; so surely, on beholding us advance with such a +[determined] aspect, did the most dismayed recover their courage. Of +that brave host [<i>lit.</i> of it], as soon as we had arrived, I conceal +two-thirds in the holds of the ships which were found there; the rest, +whose numbers were increasing every hour, burning with impatience, +remain around me; they lie <a class='pagenum' name='page_47'></a>down on the ground, and, without making any +noise, they pass a considerable portion of so auspicious [<i>lit.</i> +beautiful] a night. By my command the guard does the same, and keeping +themselves, concealed aid my stratagem, and I boldly pretended to have +received from you the order which they see me follow out, and which I +issue to all. This dim light which falls from the stars, at last with +the tide causes us to see thirty vessels [<i>lit.</i> sails]; the wave +[<i>i.e.</i> the water] swells beneath them, and, with a mutual effort, the +Moors and the sea advance even to the port. We let them pass; all seems +to them lulled in repose [<i>lit.</i> tranquil]. No soldiers at the port, +none on the walls of the city. Our deep silence deceiving their minds, +they no longer dare to doubt that they had taken us by surprise. They +land without fear, they cast anchor, they disembark and rush forward to +deliver themselves into the hands which are awaiting them. Then we +arise, and all at the same time utter towards heaven countless ringing +cheers [of defiance]. At these shouts our men from our ships answer [to +the signal]; they appear armed, the Moors are dismayed, terror seizes +those who had scarcely disembarked, before fighting they consider +themselves lost—they hastened to plunder and they meet with war. We +press them hard on the water, we press them hard on the land, and we +cause rivulets of their blood to run before any [of them] can resist or +regain his position. But soon, in spite of us, their princes rally them, +their courage revives, and their fears are forgotten. The disgrace of +dying without having fought rallies their disordered ranks [<i>lit.</i> stops +their disorder], and restores to them their valor. With firmly planted +feet they draw their scimitars against us, and cause a fearful +intermingling of our blood with theirs; and the land, and the wave, and +the fleet, and <a class='pagenum' name='page_48'></a>the port are fields of carnage where death is +triumphant. Oh! how many noble deeds, how many brilliant achievements, +were performed unnoticed [<i>lit.</i> have remained without renown] in the +midst of the gloom, in which each [warrior], sole witness of the +brilliant strokes which he gave, could not discern to which side fortune +inclined. I went in all directions to encourage our soldiers, to cause +some to advance, and to support others, to marshal those who were coming +up, to urge them forward in their turn, and I could not ascertain the +result [of the conflict] until the break of day. But at last the bright +dawn shows us our advantage. The Moor sees his loss and loses courage +suddenly, and, seeing a reinforcement which had come to assist us, the +ardor for conquest yields to the dread of death. They gain their ships, +they cut their cables, they utter even to heaven terrific cries, they +make their retreat in confusion and without reflecting whether their +kings can escape with them. Their fright is too strong to admit of this +duty. The incoming tide brought them here, the outgoing tide carries +them away. Meanwhile their kings, combating amongst us, and a few of +their [warriors] severely wounded by our blows, still fight valiantly +and sell their lives dearly. I myself in vain urge them to surrender; +scimitar in hand, they listen not to my entreaties, but seeing all their +soldiers falling at their feet, and that henceforward alone they defend +themselves in vain, they ask for the commander; I entitle myself as +such, and they surrender. I sent you them both at the same time, and the +combat ceased for want of combatants. It is in this manner that for your +service—— </p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_49'></a> + + +<h3><i>Scene IV.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Arias</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>, +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Alonzo.</i> Sire, Chimène comes to demand justice from you.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Vexatious news and unwelcome duty! Go [Rodrigo]; I do +not wish her to see thee. Instead of thanks I must drive thee away; but, +before departing, come, let thy King embrace thee!</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;">[<i>Exit Don Rodrigo.</i>]</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Chimène pursues him, [yet] she wishes to save him.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> They say that she loves him, and I am going to prove it. +Exhibit a more sorrowful countenance [<i>lit.</i> eye].</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene V.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Arias</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> At last, be content, Chimène, success responds to your +wishes. Although Rodrigo has gained the advantage over our enemies, he +has died before our eyes of the wounds he has received; return thanks to +that heaven which has avenged you. (<i>To Don Diego.</i>) See, how already +her color is changed!</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> But see! she swoons, and in this swoon, sire, observe the +effect of an overpowering [<i>lit.</i> perfect] love. Her grief has betrayed +the secrets of her soul, and no longer permits you to doubt her passion.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What, then! Is Rodrigo dead?</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> No, no, he still lives [<i>lit.</i> he sees the day]; and he +still preserves for you an unalterable affection; calm this sorrow which +takes such an interest in his favor.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, we swoon from joy, as well as from <a class='pagenum' name='page_50'></a>grief; an excess of +pleasure renders us completely exhausted, and when it takes the mind by +surprise, it overpowers the senses.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Dost thou wish that in thy favor we should believe in +impossibilities? Chimène, thy grief appeared too clearly visible.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Well, sire! add this crown to my misfortune—call my swoon +the effect of my grief; a justifiable dissatisfaction reduced me to that +extremity; his death would have saved his head from my pursuit. If he +had died of wounds received for the benefit of his country, my revenge +would have been lost, and my designs betrayed; such a brilliant end [of +his existence] would have been too injurious to me. I demand his death, +but not a glorious one, not with a glory which raises him so high, not +on an honorable death-bed, but upon a scaffold. Let him die for my +father and not for his country; let his name be attainted and his memory +blighted. To die for one's country is not a sorrowful doom; it is to +immortalize one's self by a glorious death! I love then his victory, and +I can do so without criminality; it [the victory] secures the kingdom +and yields to me my victim. But ennobled, but illustrious amongst all +warriors, the chief crowned with laurels instead of flowers—and to say +in a word what I think—worthy of being sacrificed to the shade of my +father. Alas! by what [vain] hope do I allow myself to be carried away? +Rodrigo has nothing to dread from me; what can tears which are despised +avail against him? For him your whole empire is a sanctuary [<i>lit.</i> a +place of freedom]; there, under your power, everything is lawful for +him; he triumphs over me as [well as] over his enemies; justice stifled +in their blood that has been shed, serves as a new trophy for the crime +of the conqueror. We increase its pomp, and contempt of the <a class='pagenum' name='page_51'></a>law causes +us to follow his [triumphal] chariot between two kings.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> My daughter, these transports are too violent [<i>lit.</i> +have too much violence]. When justice is rendered, all is put in the +scale. Thy father has been slain, he was the aggressor; and justice +itself commands me [to have] mercy. Before accusing that [degree of +clemency] which I show, consult well thine heart; Rodrigo is master of +it; and thy love in secret returns thanks to thy King, whose favor +preserves such a lover for thee.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> For me! my enemy! the object of my wrath! the author of my +misfortunes? the slayer of my father! +To my just pursuit [of vengeance] they pay so little attention, that +they believe that they are conferring a favor on me by not listening to +it. Since you refuse justice to my tears, sire, permit me to have +recourse to arms; it is by that alone that he has been able to injure +me, and it is by that (means) also that I ought to avenge myself. From +all your knights I demand his head; yes, let one of them bring it to me, +and I will be his prize; let them fight him, sire, and, the combat being +finished, I [will] espouse the conqueror, if Rodrigo is slain [<i>lit.</i> +punished]. Under your authority, permit this to be made public.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> This ancient custom established in these places, under +the guise of punishing an unjust affront, weakens a kingdom [by +depriving it] of its best warriors; the deplorable success of this abuse +[of power] often crushes the innocent and shields the guilty. From this +[ordeal] I release Rodrigo; he is too precious to me to expose him to +the [death] blows of capricious fate; and whatever (offence) a heart so +magnanimous could commit, the Moors, in retreating, <a class='pagenum' name='page_52'></a>have carried away +his crime.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What, sire, for him alone you reverse the laws, which all the +court has so often seen observed! What will your people think, and what +will envy say, if he screens his life beneath your shield and he makes +it a pretext not to appear [on a scene] where all men of honor seek a +noble death? Such favors would too deeply tarnish his glory; let him +enjoy [<i>lit.</i> taste] without shame [<i>lit.</i> blushing] the fruits of his +victory. The count had audacity, he was able to punish him for it; he +[<i>i.e.</i> Rodrigo] acted like a man of courage, and ought to maintain it +[that character].</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Since you wish it, I grant that he shall do so; but a +thousand others would take the place of a vanquished warrior, and the +reward which Chimène has promised to the conqueror would render all my +cavaliers his enemies; to oppose him alone to all would be too great an +injustice; it is enough, he shall enter the lists once only. Choose who +[what champion] you will, Chimène, and choose well; but after this +combat ask nothing more.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Release not by that those whom his valor [<i>lit.</i> arm] +terrifies; leave an open field which none will [dare to] enter. After +what Rodrigo has shown us to-day, what courage sufficiently presumptuous +would dare to contend with him? Who would risk his life against such an +opponent? Who will be this valiant, or rather this rash individual?</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Open the lists, you see this assailant; I am this rash or +rather this valiant [champion]. Grant this favor to the zeal which urges +me on; dear lady, you know what your promise is.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Chimène, do you confide your quarrel to his hand?</p> + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_53'></a> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, I have promised it. </p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Be ready to-morrow.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> No, sire, there is no need to defer the contest; a man is +always ready when he possesses courage.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> [What!] To come forth from one battle and to (instantly) +enter the lists [<i>lit.</i> to fight]?</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> Rodrigo has regained breath in relating to you this [<i>i.e.</i> +the history of that battle].</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> I desire that he should rest at least an hour or two; +but, for fear that such a combat may be considered as a precedent, to +testify to all that I permit, with regret, a sanguinary ordeal which has +never pleased me, it shall not have the presence either of myself or of +my court. [<i>To Don Arias.</i>] You alone shall judge of the valor of the +combatants. Take care that both act like men of honor [<i>lit.</i> courage], +and, the combat ended, bring the victor to me. Whoever he may be, the +same reward is gained by his exertions; I desire with my own hand to +present him to Chimène, and that, as a recompense, he may receive her +plighted faith.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What, sire! [would you] impose on me so stern a law?</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Thou complainest of it; but thy love, far from +acknowledging thy complaint, if Rodrigo be the conqueror, without +restraint accepts [the conditions]. Cease to murmur against such a +gentle decree; whichever of the two be the victor, I shall make him thy +spouse.</p> + + + +</div> + +<div> +<a class='pagenum' name='page_54'></a> +<a name='ACT_THE_FIFTH'></a> +<h2>Act the Fifth.</h2> + + +<h3><i>Scene I.</i>—Don Rodrigo <i>and</i> Chimène.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What! Rodrigo! In broad daylight! Whence comes this audacity? +Go, thou art ruining my honor; retire, I beseech thee.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> I go to die, dear lady, and I come to bid you in this +place, before the mortal blow, a last adieu. This unchangeable love, +which binds me beneath your laws, dares not to accept my death without +paying to you homage for it.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Thou art going to death!</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> I speed to those happy moments which will deliver my life +from your (feelings of) resentment.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Thou art going to death! Is Don Sancho, then, so formidable, +that he can inspire terror in this invincible heart? What has rendered +thee so weak? or what renders him so strong? Does Rodrigo go to fight, +and believe himself already slain [<i>lit.</i> dead]? He who has not feared +the Moors nor my father, goes to fight Don Sancho, and already despairs? +Thus, then, thy courage lowers itself in the [hour of] need.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> I speed [<i>lit.</i> I run] to my punishment, and not to the +combat; and, since you seek my death, my faithful ardor will readily +deprive me of the desire of defending my life. I have always the same +courage, but I have not the [strong] arm, when it is needed, to preserve +that which does not please you; and already this night would have been +fatal to me, if I had fought for my own private wrong; but, defending my +king, his people, and my country, by carelessly defending myself, I +should have betrayed <i>them</i>. My high-born spirit does not hate life so +much as to wish to depart <a class='pagenum' name='page_55'></a>from it by perfidy, now that it regards my +interests only. You demand my death—I accept its decree. Your +resentment chose the hand of another; I was unworthy [<i>lit.</i> I did not +deserve] to die by yours. They shall not see me repel its blows; I owe +more respect to him [the champion] who fights for you; and delighted to +think that it is from you these [blows] proceed—since it is your honor +that his arms sustain—I shall present to him my unprotected [<i>or</i>, +defenceless] breast, worshipping through his hand thine that destroys +me.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> If the just vehemence of a sad [sense of] duty, which causes +me, in spite of myself, to follow after thy valiant life, prescribes to +thy love a law so severe, that it surrenders thee without defence to him +who combats for me, in this infatuation [<i>lit.</i> blindness], lose not the +recollection, that, with thy life, thine honor is tarnished, and that, +in whatever renown Rodrigo may have lived, when men shall know him to be +dead, they will believe him conquered. Thine honor is dearer to thee +than I am dear, since it steeps thine hands in the blood of my father, +and causes thee to renounce, in spite of thy love, the sweet hope of +gaining me. I see thee, however, pay such little regard to it [honor], +that, without fighting, thou wishest to be overcome. What inconsistency +[<i>lit.</i> unequality] mars thy valor! Why hast thou it [that valor] no +more? or why didst thou possess it [formerly]? What! art thou valiant +only to do me an injury? Unless it be to offend [<i>or</i>, injure] me, hast +thou no courage at all? And dost thou treat my father with such rigor +[<i>i.e.</i> so far disparage the memory of my father], that, after having +conquered him, thou wilt endure a conqueror? Go! without wishing to die, +leave me to pursue thee, and defend thine honor, if thou wilt no longer +live.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> After the death of the count and the <a class='pagenum' name='page_56'></a>defeat of the +Moors, will my renown still require other achievements? That [glory] may +scorn the care of defending myself; it is known that my courage dares to +attempt all, that my valor can accomplish all, and that, here below +[<i>lit.</i> under the heavens], in comparison with mine honor, nothing is +precious to me. No! no! in this combat, whatever thou may'st please to +think, Rodrigo may die without risking his renown: without men daring to +accuse him of having wanted spirit: without being considered as +conquered, without enduring a conqueror. They will say only: "He adored +Chimène; he would not live and merit her hatred; he yielded himself to +the severity of his fate, which compelled his mistress to seek his +death; she wished for his life [<i>lit.</i> head], and his magnanimous heart, +had that been refused to her, would have considered it a crime. To +avenge his honor, he lost his love; to avenge his mistress, he forsook +life, preferring (whatever hope may have enslaved his soul) his honor to +Chimène, and Chimène to his existence." Thus, then, you will see that my +death in this conflict, far from obscuring my glory, will increase its +value; and this honor will follow my voluntary death, that no other than +myself could have satisfied you [for the death of your father].</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Since, to prevent thee from rushing to destruction, thy life +and thine honor are [but] feeble inducements, if ever I loved thee, dear +Rodrigo, in return [for that love], defend thyself now, to rescue me +from Don Sancho. Fight, to release me from a compact which delivers me +to the object of my aversion. Shall I say more to thee? Go, think of thy +defence, to overcome my sense of duty, to impose on me silence; and if +thou feelest thine heart still enamored for me, come forth, as a +conqueror, from a combat of which Chimène is the reward. Adieu; this +thoughtlessly uttered <a class='pagenum' name='page_57'></a>[<i>lit.</i> let slip] word causes me to blush for +shame!</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;">[<i>Exit Chimène.</i>]</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Where is the foe I could not now subdue? Come forth, +[warriors] of Navarre, Morocco, and Castile! and all the heroes that +Spain has produced; unite together and form an army, to contend against +one hand thus nerved [to action]. Unite all your efforts against a hope +so sweet—you have too little power to succeed in destroying it!</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene II.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">The Infanta</span>.</h3> + + +<p>Shall I listen to thee still, pride of my birth, that makest a crime out +of my passions? Shall I listen to thee, love, whose delicious power +causes my desires to rebel against this proud tyrant? Poor princess! to +which of the two oughtest thou to yield obedience? Rodrigo, thy valor +renders thee worthy of me; but although thou art valiant, thou art not +the son of a king.</p> + +<p>Pitiless fate, whose severity separates my glory and my desires! Is it +decreed [<i>lit.</i> said], that the choice of [a warrior of] such rare merit +should cost my passion such great anguish? O heaven! for how many +sorrows [<i>lit.</i> sighs] must my heart prepare itself, if, after such a +long, painful struggle, it never succeeds in either extinguishing the +love, or accepting the lover!</p> + +<p>But there are too many scruples, and my reason is alarmed at the +contempt of a choice so worthy; although to monarchs only my [proud] +birth may assign me, Rodrigo, with honor I shall live under thy laws. +After having conquered two kings, couldst thou fail in obtaining a +crown? And this great name of Cid, which thou hast just now won—does it +not show too clearly <a class='pagenum' name='page_58'></a>over whom thou art destined to reign?</p> + +<p>He is worthy of me, but he belongs to Chimène; the present which I made +of him [to her], injures me. Between them, the death of a father has +interposed so little hatred, that the duty of blood with regret pursues +him. Thus let us hope for no advantage, either from his transgression or +from my grief, since, to punish me, destiny has allowed that love should +continue even between two enemies.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene III.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">The Infanta</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Whence [<i>i.e.</i> for what purpose] comest thou, Leonora?</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> To congratulate you, dear lady, on the tranquillity which at +last your soul has recovered.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> From what quarter can tranquillity come [<i>lit.</i> whence should +this tranquillity come], in an accumulation of sorrow?</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> If love lives on hope, and if it dies with it, Rodrigo can no +more charm your heart; you know of the combat in which Chimène involves +him; since he must die in it, or become her husband, your hope is dead +and your spirit is healed.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Ah! how far from it!</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> What more can you expect?</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Nay, rather, what hope canst thou forbid me [to entertain]? +If Rodrigo fights under these conditions, to counteract the effect of it +[that conflict], I have too many resources. Love, this sweet author of +my cruel punishments, puts into [<i>lit.</i> teaches] the minds of lovers too +many stratagems.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> Can <i>you</i> [accomplish] anything, since a dead father has not +been able to kindle discord in their minds? For Chimène clearly shows by +her behavior <a class='pagenum' name='page_59'></a>that hatred to-day does not cause her pursuit. She obtains +the [privilege of a] combat, and for her champion, she accepts on the +moment the first that offers. She has not recourse to those renowned +knights [<i>lit.</i> noble hands] whom so many famous exploits render so +glorious; Don Sancho suffices her, and merits her choice, because he is +going to arm himself for the first time; she loves in this duel his want +of experience; as he is without renown, [so] is she without +apprehension; and her readiness [to accept him], ought to make you +clearly see that she seeks for a combat which her duty demands, but +which yields her Rodrigo an easy victory, and authorizes her at length +to seem appeased.</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> I observe it clearly; and nevertheless my heart, in rivalry +with Chimène, adores this conqueror. On what shall I resolve, hopeless +lover that I am?</p> + +<p><i>Leonora.</i> To remember better from whom you are sprung. Heaven owes you +a king; you love a subject!</p> + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> The object of my attachment has completely changed: I no +longer love Rodrigo as a mere nobleman. No; it is not thus that my love +entitles him. If I love him, it is [as] the author of so many brilliant +deeds; it is [as] the valiant Cid, the master of two kings. I shall +conquer myself, however; not from dread of any censure, but in order +that I may not disturb so glorious a love; and even though, to favor me, +they should crown him, I will not accept again [<i>lit.</i> take back] a gift +which I have given. Since in such a combat his triumph is certain, let +us go once more to give him [<i>or</i>, that gift] to Chimène. And thou, who +seest the love-arrows with which my heart is pierced; come see me finish +as I have begun.</p> + + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_60'></a> +<h3><i>Scene IV.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Elvira, how greatly I suffer; and how much I am to be pitied! +I know not what to hope, and I see everything to be dreaded. No wish +escapes me to which I dare consent. I desire nothing without quickly +repenting of it [<i>lit.</i> a quick repentance]. I have caused two rivals to +take up arms for me: the most happy result will cause me tears; and +though fate may decree in my favor, my father is without revenge, or my +lover is dead.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> On the one side and the other I see you consoled; either you +have Rodrigo, or you are avenged. And however fate may ordain for you, +it maintains your honor and gives you a spouse.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What! the object of my hatred or of such resentment!—the +slayer of Rodrigo, or that of my father! In either case [<i>lit.</i> on all +sides] they give me a husband, still [all] stained with the blood that I +cherished most; in either case my soul revolts, and I fear more than +death the ending of my quarrel. Away! vengeance, love—which agitate my +feelings. Ye have no gratifications for me at such a price; and Thou, +Powerful Controller of the destiny which afflicts me, terminate this +combat without any advantage, without rendering either of the two +conquered or conqueror.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> This would be treating you with too much severity. This combat +is a new punishment for your feelings, if it leaves you [still] +compelled to demand justice, to exhibit always this proud resentment, +and continually to seek after the death of your lover. Dear lady, it is +far better that his unequalled valor, crowning his brow, should impose +silence upon you; that the conditions of the combat should extinguish +your sighs; and that the King should compel you to follow your +inclinations.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> If he be conqueror, dost thou believe that <a class='pagenum' name='page_61'></a>I shall +surrender? My strong [sense of] duty is too strong and my loss too +great; and this [law of] combat and the will of the King are not strong +enough to dictate conditions to them [<i>i.e.</i> to my duty and sorrow for +my loss]. He may conquer Don Sancho with very little difficulty, but he +shall not with him [conquer] the sense of duty of Chimène; and whatever +[reward] a monarch may have promised to his victory, my self-respect +will raise against him a thousand other enemies.</p> + +<p><i>Elvira.</i> Beware lest, to punish this strange pride, heaven may at last +permit you to revenge yourself. What!—you will still reject the +happiness of being able now to be reconciled [<i>lit.</i> to be silent] with +honor? What means this duty, and what does it hope for? Will the death +of your lover restore to you a father? Is one [fatal] stroke of +misfortune insufficient for you? Is there need of loss upon loss, and +sorrow upon sorrow? Come, in the caprice in which your humor persists, +you do not deserve the lover that is destined for you, and we may +[<i>lit.</i> shall] see the just wrath of heaven, by his death, leaving you +Don Sancho as a spouse.</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Elvira, the griefs which I endure are sufficient: do not +redouble them by this fatal augury. I wish, if I can, to avoid both; but +if not, in this conflict Rodrigo has all my prayers; not because a weak +[<i>lit.</i> foolish] affection inclines me to his side, but because, if he +were conquered, I should become [the bride] of Don Sancho. This fear +creates [<i>lit.</i> causes to be born] my desire——</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;">[<i>Enter Don Sancho.</i>]</p> + +<p>What do I see, unhappy [woman that I am]! Elvira, all is lost!</p> + + +<a class='pagenum' name='page_62'></a> +<h3><i>Scene V.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Compelled to bring this sword to thy feet——</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> What! still [all] reeking with the blood of Rodrigo! Traitor, +dost thou dare to show thyself before mine eyes, after having taken from +me that [being] whom I love the best? Declare thyself my love, and thou +hast no more to fear. My father is satisfied; cease to restrain thyself. +The same [death] stroke has placed my honor in safety, my soul in +despair, and my passion at liberty!</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> With a mind more calmly collected——</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Dost thou still speak to me, detestable assassin of a hero +whom I adore? Go; you fell upon him treacherously. A warrior so valiant +would never have sunk beneath such an assailant! Hope nothing from me. +Thou hast not served me; and believing that thou wert avenging me, thou +hast deprived me of life.</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Strange delusion, which, far from listening to me——</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Wilt thou that I should listen to thee while boasting of his +death?—that I should patiently hear with what haughty pride thou wilt +describe his misfortune, my own crime, and thy prowess?</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VI.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Arias</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don Sancho</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Sire, there is no further need to dissemble that which all my +struggles have not been able to conceal from you. I loved, you knew it; +but, to avenge my father, I even wished to sacrifice so dear a being [as +Rodrigo]. Sire, your majesty may have seen how I have made love yield to +duty. At last, Rodrigo is dead; and his death has converted me from an +unrelenting <a class='pagenum' name='page_63'></a>foe into an afflicted lover. I owed this revenge to him who +gave me existence; and to my love I now owe these tears. Don Sancho has +destroyed me in undertaking my defence; and I am the reward of the arm +which destroys me. Sire, if compassion can influence a king, for mercy's +sake revoke a law so severe. As the reward of a victory by which I lose +that which I love, I leave him my possessions; let him leave me to +myself, that in a sacred cloister I may weep continually, even to my +last sigh, for my father and my lover.</p> + +<p><i>Don Diego.</i> In brief, she loves, sire, and no longer believes it a +crime to acknowledge with her own lips a lawful affection.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Chimène, be undeceived [<i>lit.</i> come out from thine +error]; thy lover is not dead, and the vanquished Don Sancho has given +thee a false report.</p> + +<p><i>Don Sancho.</i> Sire, a little too much eagerness, in spite of me, has +misled her; I came from the combat to tell her the result. This noble +warrior of whom her heart is enamored, when he had disarmed me, spoke to +me thus: "Fear nothing—I would rather leave the victory uncertain, than +shed blood risked in defence of Chimène; but, since my duty calls me to +the King, go, tell her of our combat [on my behalf]; on the part of the +conqueror, carry her thy sword." Sire, I came; this weapon deceived her; +seeing me return, she believed me to be conqueror, and her resentment +suddenly betrayed her love, with such excitement and so much impatience, +that I could not obtain a moment's hearing. As for me, although +conquered, I consider myself fortunate; and in spite of the interests of +my enamored heart, [though] losing infinitely, I still love my defeat, +which causes the triumph of a love so <a class='pagenum' name='page_64'></a>perfect.</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> My daughter, there is no need to blush for a passion so +glorious, nor to seek means of making a disavowal of it; a laudable +[sense of] shame in vain solicits thee; thy honor is redeemed, and thy +duty performed; thy father is satisfied, and it was to avenge him that +thou didst so often place thy Rodrigo in danger. Thou seest how heaven +otherwise ordains. Having done so much for him [<i>i.e.</i> thy father], do +something for thyself; and be not rebellious against my command, which +gives thee a spouse beloved so dearly.</p> + + +<h3><i>Scene VII.</i>—<span class="smallcaps">Don Fernando</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Diego</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Arias</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don Rodrigo</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Don Alonzo</span>, <span class="smallcaps">Don +Sancho</span>, <span class="smallcaps">The Infanta</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Chimène</span>, +<span class="smallcaps">Leonora</span>, <i>and</i> +<span class="smallcaps">Elvira</span>.</h3> + + +<p><i>Infanta.</i> Dry thy tears, Chimène, and receive without sadness this +noble conqueror from the hands of thy princess.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> Be not offended, sire, if in your presence an impassioned +homage causes me to kneel before her [<i>lit.</i> casts me before her knees]. +I come not here to ask for [the reward of] my victory; I come once more +[<i>or</i>, anew] to offer you my head, dear lady. My love shall not employ +in my own favor either the law of the combat or the will of the King. If +all that has been done is too little for a father, say by what means you +must be satisfied. Must I still contend against a thousand and a +thousand rivals, and to the two ends of the earth extend my labors, +myself alone storm a camp, put to flight an army, surpass the renown of +fabulous heroes? If my deep offence can be by that means washed away, I +dare undertake all, and can accomplish all. But if this proud honor, +always <a class='pagenum' name='page_65'></a>inexorable, cannot be appeased without the death of the guilty +[offender], arm no more against me the power of mortals; mine head is at +thy feet, avenge thyself by thine own hands; thine hands alone have the +right to vanquish the invincible. Take thou a vengeance to all others +impossible. But at least let my death suffice to punish me; banish me +not from thy remembrance, and, since my doom preserves your honor, to +recompense yourself for this, preserve my memory, and say sometimes, +when deploring my fate: "Had he not loved me, he would not have died."</p> + +<p><i>Chimène.</i> Rise, Rodrigo. I must confess it, sire, I have said too much +to be able to unsay it. Rodrigo has noble qualities which I cannot hate; +and, when a king commands, he ought to be obeyed. But to whatever [fate] +you may have already doomed me, can you, before your eyes, tolerate this +union? And when you desire this effort from my feeling of duty, is it +entirely in accord with your sense of justice? If Rodrigo becomes so +indispensable to the state, of that which he has done for you ought I to +be the reward, and surrender myself to the everlasting reproach of +having imbrued my hands in the blood of a father?</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Time has often rendered lawful that which at first +seemed impossible, without being a crime. Rodrigo has won thee, and thou +art justly his. But, although his valor has by conquest obtained thee +to-day, it would need that I should become the enemy of thy +self-respect, to give him so soon the reward of his victory. This bridal +deferred does not break a law, which, without specifying the time, +devotes thy faith to him. Take a year, if thou wilt, to dry thy tears; +Rodrigo, in the mean time, must take up arms. After having vanquished +the Moors on our borders, overthrown their plans, and repulsed their +attacks, go, <a class='pagenum' name='page_66'></a>carry the war even into their country, command my army, +and ravage their territory. At the mere name of Cid they will tremble +with dismay. They have named thee lord! they will desire thee as their +king! But, amidst thy brilliant [<i>lit.</i> high] achievements, be thou to +her always faithful; return, if it be possible, still more worthy of +her, and by thy great exploits acquire such renown, that it may be +glorious for her to espouse thee then.</p> + +<p><i>Don Rodrigo.</i> To gain Chimène, and for your service, what command can +be issued to me that mine arm cannot accomplish? Yet, though absent from +her [dear] eyes, I must suffer grief, sire, I have too much happiness in +being able—to hope!</p> + +<p><i>Don Fernando.</i> Hope in thy manly resolution; hope in my promise, and +already possessing the heart of thy mistress, let time, thy valor, and +thy king exert themselves [<i>lit.</i> do, or act], to overcome a scrupulous +feeling of honor which is contending against thee.</p> + + + +<a name='THE_END'></a> +<h2>The End.</h2> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + +***** This file should be named 14954-h.htm or 14954-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/9/5/14954/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14954.txt b/14954.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79b4592 --- /dev/null +++ b/14954.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2699 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cid + +Author: Pierre Corneille + +Release Date: February 7, 2005 [EBook #14954] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: This text is no longer copyrighted; original +copyright note preserved for accuracy.] + + +Handy Literal Translations + + +CORNEILLE'S + +THE CID + + +A Literal Translation, by + +ROSCOE MONGAN + + + +1896, BY HINDS & NOBLE + + + +HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE, Publishers, + +31-33-35 West Fifteenth Street, New York City + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Cid Campeador is the name given in histories, traditions and songs to +the most celebrated of Spain's national heroes. + +His real name was Rodrigo or Ruy Diaz (i.e. "son of Diego"), a +Castilian noble by birth. He was born at Burgos about the year 1040. + +There is so much of the mythical in the history of this personage that +hypercritical writers, such as Masdeu, have doubted his existence; but +recent researches have succeeded in separating the historical from the +romantic. + +Under Sancho II, son of Ferdinand, he served as commander of the royal +troops. In a war between the two brothers, Sancho II. and Alfonso VI. of +Leon, due to some dishonorable stratagem on the part of Rodrigo, Sancho +was victorious and his brother was forced to seek refuge with the +Moorish King of Toledo. + +In 1072 Sancho was assassinated at the siege of Zamora, and as he left +no heir the Castilians had to acknowledge Alfonso as King. Although +Alfonso never forgave the Cid for having, as leader of the Castilians, +compelled him to swear that he (the Cid) had no hand in the murder of +his brother Sancho, as a conciliatory measure, he gave his cousin +Ximena, daughter of the Count of Oviedo, to the Cid in marriage, but +afterwards, in 1081, when he found himself firmly seated on the throne, +yielding to his own feelings of resentment and incited by the Leonese +nobles, he banished him from the kingdom. + +At the head of a large body of followers, the Cid joined the Moorish +King of Saragossa, in whose service he fought against both Moslems and +Christians. It was probably during this exile that he was first called +the Cid, an Arabic title, which means the _lord_. He was very +successful in all his battles. + +In conjunction with Mostain, grandson of Moctadir, he invaded Valencia +in 1088, but afterwards carried on operations alone, and finally, after +a long siege, made himself master of the city in June, 1094. He retained +possession of Valencia for five years and reigned like an independent +sovereign over one of the richest territories in the Peninsula, but died +suddenly in 1099 of anger and grief on hearing that his relative, Alvar +Fanez, had been vanquished and the army which he had sent to his +assistance had been defeated. + +After the Cid's death his wife held Valencia till 1102, when she was +obliged to yield to the Almoravides and fly to Castile, where she died +in 1104. Her remains were placed by those of her lord in the monastery +of San Pedro de Cardena. + + + + +THE CID. + + + + +ACT THE FIRST. + + +Scene I.--CHIMENE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimene._ Elvira, have you given me a really true report? Do you +conceal nothing that my father has said? + +_Elvira._ All my feelings within me are still delighted with it. He +esteems Rodrigo as much as you love him; and if I do not misread his +mind, he will command you to respond to his passion. + +_Chimene._ Tell me then, I beseech you, a second time, what makes you +believe that he approves of my choice; tell me anew what hope I ought to +entertain from it. A discourse so charming cannot be too often heard; +you cannot too forcibly promise to the fervor of our love the sweet +liberty of manifesting itself to the light of day. What answer has he +given regarding the secret suit which Don Sancho and Don Rodrigo are +paying to you? Have you not too clearly shown the disparity between the +two lovers which inclines me to the one side? + +_Elvira._ No; I have depicted your heart as filled with an +indifference which elates not either of them nor destroys hope, and, +without regarding them with too stern or too gentle an aspect, awaits the +commands of a father to choose a spouse. This respect has delighted +him--his lips and his countenance gave me at once a worthy testimony of +it; and, since I must again tell you the tale, this is what he hastened +to say to me of them and of you: 'She is in the right. Both are worthy +of her; both are sprung from a noble, valiant, and faithful lineage; +young but yet who show by their mien [_lit._ cause to easily be read +in their eyes] the brilliant valor of their brave ancestors. Don Rodrigo, +above all, has no feature in his face which is not the noble [_lit._ +high] representative of a man of courage [_lit._ heart], and descends +from a house so prolific in warriors, that they enter into life [_lit._ +take birth there] in the midst of laurels. The valor of his father, in +his time without an equal, as long as his strength endured, was +considered a marvel; the furrows on his brow bear witness to [_lit._ +have engraved his] exploits, and tell us still what he formerly was. I +predict of the son what I have seen of the father, and my daughter, in +one word, may love him and please me.' He was going to the council, the +hour for which approaching, cut short this discourse, which he had +scarcely commenced; but from these few words, I believe that his mind +[_lit._ thoughts] is not quite decided between your two lovers. The king +is going to appoint an instructor for his son, and it is he for whom an +honor so great is designed. This choice is not doubtful, and his +unexampled valor cannot tolerate that we should fear any competition. As +his high exploits render him without an equal, in a hope so justifiable +he will be without a rival; and since Don Rodrigo has persuaded his +father, when going out from the council, to propose the affair. I leave +you to judge whether he will seize this opportunity [_lit._ whether he +will take his time well], and whether all your desires will soon be +gratified. + +_Chimene._ It seems, however, that my agitated soul refuses this joy, +and finds itself overwhelmed by it. One moment gives to fate different +aspects, and in this great happiness I fear a great reverse. + +_Elvira._ You see this fear happily deceived. + +_Chimene._ Let us go, whatever it may be, to await the issue. + + +Scene II.--The INFANTA, LEONORA, and a PAGE. + + +_Infanta (to Page_). Page, go, tell Chimene from me, that to-day she is +rather long in coming to see me, and that my friendship complains of her +tardiness. [_Exit Page._] + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, each day the same desire urges you, and at your +interview with her, I see you every day ask her how her love proceeds. + +_Infanta._ It is not without reason. I have almost compelled her to +receive the arrows with which her soul is wounded. She loves Rodrigo, +and she holds him from my hand; and by means of me Don Rodrigo has +conquered her disdain. Thus, having forged the chains of these lovers, I +ought to take an interest in seeing their troubles at an end. + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, however, amidst their good fortune you exhibit a +grief which proceeds to excess. Does this love, which fills them both +with gladness, produce in this noble heart [of yours] profound sadness? +And does this great interest which you take in them render you unhappy, +whilst they are happy? But I proceed too far, and become indiscreet. + +_Infanta._ My sadness redoubles in keeping the secret. Listen, listen +at length, how I have struggled; listen what assaults my constancy +[_lit._ virtue or valor] yet braves. Love is a tyrant which spares no +one. This young cavalier, this lover which I give [her]--I love him. + +_Leonora._ You love him! + +_Infanta._ Place your hand upon my heart, and feel [_lit._ see] how it +throbs at the name of its conqueror! how it recognizes him! + +_Leonora._ Pardon me, dear lady, if I am wanting in respect in blaming +this passion; a noble princess to so far forget herself as to admit in +her heart a simple [_or_, humble] cavalier! And what would the King +say?--what would Castile say? Do you still remember of whom you are the +daughter? + +_Infanta._ I remember it so well, that I would shed my blood rather than +degrade my rank. I might assuredly answer to thee, that, in noble souls, +worth alone ought to arouse passions; and, if my love sought to excuse +itself, a thousand famous examples might sanction it. But I will not +follow these--where my honor is concerned, the captivation of my +feelings does not abate my courage, and I say to myself always, that, +being the daughter of a king, all other than a monarch is unworthy of +me. When I saw that my heart could not protect itself, I myself gave +away that which I did not dare to take; and I put, in place of my self, +Chimene in its fetters, and I kindled their passions [_lit._ fires] in +order to extinguish my own. Be then no longer surprised if my troubled +soul with impatience awaits their bridal; thou seest that my happiness +[_lit._ repose] this day depends upon it. If love lives by hope, it +perishes with it; it is a fire which becomes extinguished for want of +fuel; and, in spite of the severity of my sad lot, if Chimene ever has +Rodrigo for a husband, my hope is dead and my spirit, is healed. +Meanwhile, I endure an incredible torture; even up to this bridal. +Rodrigo is dear to me; I strive to lose him, and I lose him with regret, +and hence my secret anxiety derives its origin. I see with sorrow that +love compels me to utter sighs for that [object] which [as a princess] I +must disdain. I feel my spirit divided into two portions; if my courage +is high, my heart is inflamed [with love]. This bridal is fatal to me, I +fear it, and [yet] I desire it; I dare to hope from it only an +incomplete joy; my honor and my love have for me such attractions, that +I [shall] die whether it be accomplished, or whether it be not +accomplished. + +_Leonora._ Dear lady, after that I have nothing more to say, except +that, with you, I sigh for your misfortunes; I blamed you a short time +since, now I pity you. But since in a misfortune [i.e. an ill-timed +love] so sweet and so painful, your noble spirit [_lit._ virtue] +contends against both its charm and its strength, and repulses its +assault and regrets its allurements, it will restore calmness to your +agitated feelings. Hope then every [good result] from it, and from the +assistance of time; hope everything from heaven; it is too just [_lit._ +it has too much justice] to leave virtue in such a long continued +torture. + +_Infanta._ My sweetest hope is to lose hope. + +(_The Page re-enters._) + +_Page._ By your commands, Chimene comes to see you. + +_Infanta_ (to _Leonora_). Go and converse with her in that gallery +[yonder]. + +_Leonora._ Do you wish to continue in dreamland? + +_Infanta._ No, I wish, only, in spite of my grief, to compose myself +[_lit._ to put my features a little more at leisure]. I follow you. + +[_Leonora goes out along with the Page._] + + +Scene III.--The INFANTA (alone). + + +Just heaven, from which I await my relief, put, at last, some limit to +the misfortune which is overcoming [_lit._ possesses] me; secure my +repose, secure my honor. In the happiness of others I seek my own. This +bridal is equally important to three [parties]; render its completion +more prompt, or my soul more enduring. To unite these two lovers with a +marriage-tie is to break all my chains and to end all my sorrows. But I +tarry a little too long; let us go to meet Chimene, and, by +conversation, to relieve our grief. + + +Scene IV.--COUNT DE GORMAS and DON DIEGO (meeting). + + +_Count._ At last you have gained it [_or_, prevailed], and the favor of +a King raises you to a rank which was due only to myself; he makes you +Governor of the Prince of Castile. + +_Don Diego._ This mark of distinction with which he distinguishes +[_lit._ which he puts into] my family shows to all that he is just, and +causes it to be sufficiently understood, that he knows how to recompense +bygone services. + +_Count._ However great kings may be, they are only men [_lit._ they are +that which we are]; they can make mistakes like other men, and this +choice serves as a proof to all courtiers that they know how to [_or_, +can] badly recompense present services. + +_Don Diego._ Let us speak no more of a choice at which your mind +becomes exasperated. Favor may have been able to do as much as merit; +but we owe this respect to absolute power, to question nothing when a +king has wished it. To the honor which he has done me add another--let +us join by a sacred tie my house to yours. You have an only daughter, +and I have an only son; their marriage may render us for ever more than +friends. Grant us this favor, and accept, him as a son-in-law. + +_Count._ To higher alliances this precious son ought [_or_, is likely] +to aspire; and the new splendor of your dignity ought to inflate his +heart with another [higher] vanity. Exercise that [dignity], sir, and +instruct the prince. Show him how it is necessary to rule a province: to +make the people tremble everywhere under his law; to fill the good with +love, and the wicked with terror. Add to these virtues those of a +commander: show him how it is necessary to inure himself to fatigue; in +the profession of a warrior [_lit._ of Mars] to render himself without +an equal; to pass entire days and nights on horseback; to sleep +all-armed: to storm a rampart, and to owe to himself alone the winning +of a battle. Instruct him by example, and render him perfect, bringing +your lessons to his notice by carrying them into effect. + +_Don Diego._ To instruct himself by example, in spite of your jealous +feelings, he shall read only the history of my life. There, in a long +succession of glorious deeds, he shall see how nations ought to be +subdued; to attack a fortress, to marshal an army, and on great exploits +to build his renown. + +_Count._ Living examples have a greater [_lit._ another] power. A +prince, in a book, learns his duty but badly [_or_, imperfectly]; and +what, after all, has this great number of years done which one of my +days cannot equal? If you have been valiant, I am so to-day, and this +arm is the strongest support of the kingdom. Granada and Arragon tremble +when this sword flashes; my name serves as a rampart to all Castile; +without me you would soon pass under other laws, and you would soon have +your enemies as [_lit._ for] kings. Each day, each moment, to increase +my glory, adds laurels to laurels, victory to victory. The prince, by my +side, would make the trial of his courage in the wars under the shadow +of my arm; he would learn to conquer by seeing me do so; and, to prove +speedily worthy of his high character, he would see---- + +_Don Diego._ I know it; you serve the king well. I have seen you fight +and command under me, when [old] age has caused its freezing currents to +flow within my nerves [i.e. "when the frosts of old age had numbed my +nerves"--_Jules Bue_], your unexampled [_lit._ rare] valor has worthily +[_lit._ well] supplied my place; in fine, to spare unnecessary words, +you are to-day what I used to be. You see, nevertheless, that in this +rivalry a monarch places some distinction between us. + +_Count._ That prize which I deserved you have carried off. + +_Don Diego._ He who has gained that [advantage] over you has deserved it +best. + +_Count._ He who can use it to the best advantage is the most worthy of +it. + +_Don Diego._ To be refused that prize [_lit._ it] is not a good sign. + +_Count._ You have gained it by intrigue, being an old courtier. + +_Don Diego._ The brilliancy of my noble deeds was my only recommendation +[_lit._ support]. + +_Count._ Let us speak better of it [i.e. more plainly]: the king does +honor to your age. + +_Don Diego._ The king, when he does it [i.e. that honor], gives it +[_lit._ measures it] to courage. + +_Count._ And for that reason this honor was due only to me [_lit._ my +arm]. + +_Don Diego._ He who has not been able to obtain it did not deserve it. + +_Count._ Did not deserve it? I! + +_Don Diego._ You. + +_Count._ Thy impudence, rash old man, shall have its recompense. [_He +gives him a slap on the face._] _Don Diego (drawing his sword [_lit._ +putting the sword in his hand_]). Finish [this outrage], and take my +life after such an insult, the first for which my race has ever had +cause to blush [_lit._ has seen its brow grow red]. + +_Count._ And what do you think you can do, weak us you are [_lit._ with +such feebleness]? + +_Don Diego._ Oh, heaven! my exhausted strength fails me in this +necessity! + +_Count._ Thy sword is mine; but thou wouldst be too vain if this +discreditable trophy had laden my hand [i.e. if I had carried away a +trophy so discreditable]. Farewell--adieu! Cause the prince to read, in +spite of jealous feelings, for his instruction, the history of thy life. +This just punishment of impertinent language will serve as no small +embellishment for it. + + +Scene V.--DON DIEGO. + + +O rage! O despair! O inimical old age! Have I then lived so long only +for this disgrace? And have I grown grey in warlike toils, only to see +in one day so many of my laurels wither? Does my arm [i.e. my valor], +which all Spain admires and looks up to [_lit._ with respect]--[does] my +arm, which has so often saved this empire, and so often strengthened +anew the throne of its king, now [_lit._ then] betray my cause, and do +nothing for me? O cruel remembrance of my bygone glory! O work of a +lifetime [_lit._ so many days] effaced in a day! new dignity fatal to my +happiness! lofty precipice from which mine honor falls! must I see the +count triumph over your splendor, and die without vengeance, or live in +shame? Count, be now the instructor of my prince! This high rank becomes +[_lit._ admits] no man without honor, and thy jealous pride, by this +foul [_lit._ remarkable] insult, in spite of the choice of the king, has +contrived [_lit._ has known how] to render me unworthy of it. And thou, +glorious instrument of my exploits, but yet a useless ornament of an +enfeebled body numbed by age [_lit._ all of ice], thou sword, hitherto +to be feared, and which in this insult has served me for show, and not +for defence, go, abandon henceforth the most dishonored [_lit._ the +last] of his race; pass, to avenge me, into better hands! + + +Scene VI.--DON DIEGO and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo, hast thou courage [_lit._ a heart]? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Any other than my father would have found that out +instantly. + +_Don Diego._ Welcome wrath! worthy resentment, most pleasing to my +grief! I recognize my blood in this noble rage; my youth revives in this +ardor so prompt. Come, my son, come, my blood, come to retrieve my +shame--come to avenge me! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Of what? + +_Don Diego._ Of an insult so cruel that it deals a deadly stroke +against the honor of us both--of a blow! The insolent [man] would have +lost his life for it, but my age deceived my noble ambition; and this +sword, which my arm can no longer wield, I give up to thine, to avenge +and punish. Go against this presumptuous man, and prove thy valor: it is +only in blood that one can wash away such an insult; die or slay. +Moreover, not to deceive thee, I give thee to fight a formidable +antagonist [_lit._ a man to be feared], I have seen him entirely covered +with blood and dust, carrying everywhere dismay through an entire army. +I have seen by his valor a hundred squadrons broken; and, to tell thee +still something more--more than brave soldier, more than great leader, +he is---- + +_Don Rodrigo._ Pray, finish. + +_Don Diego._ The father of Chimene. + +_Don Rodrigo._ The---- + +_Don Diego._ Do not reply; I know thy love. But he who lives dishonored +is unworthy of life; the dearer the offender the greater the offence. In +short, thou knowest the insult, and thou holdest [in thy grasp the means +of] vengeance. I say no more to thee. Avenge me, avenge thyself! Show +thyself a son worthy of a father such as I [am]. Overwhelmed by +misfortunes to which destiny reduces me, I go to deplore them. Go, run, +fly, and avenge us! + + +Scene VII.--DON RODRIGO. + + +Pierced even to the depth [_or,_ bottom of the heart] by a blow +unexpected as well as deadly, pitiable avenger of a just quarrel and +unfortunate object of an unjust severity, I remain motionless, and my +dejected soul yields to the blow which is slaying me. So near seeing my +love requited! O heaven, the strange pang [_or,_ difficulty]! In this +insult my father is the person aggrieved, and the aggressor is the +father of Chimene! + +What fierce conflicts [of feelings] I experience! My love is engaged +[_lit._ interests itself] against my own honor. I must avenge a father +and lose a mistress. The one stimulates my courage, the other restrains +my arm. Reduced to the sad choice of either betraying my love or of +living as a degraded [man], on both sides my situation is wretched +[_lit._ evil is infinite]. O heaven, the strange pang [_or,_ +difficulty]! Must I leave an insult unavenged? Must I punish the father +of Chimene? + +Father, mistress, honor, love--noble and severe restraint--a bondage +still to be beloved [_lit._ beloved tyranny], all my pleasures are dead, +or my glory is sullied. The one renders me unhappy; the other unworthy +of life. Dear and cruel hope of a soul noble but still enamored, worthy +enemy of my greatest happiness, thou sword which causest my painful +anxiety, hast thou been given to me to avenge my honor? Hast thou been +given to me to lose Chimene? + +It is better to rush [_lit._ run] to death. I owe [a duty] to my +mistress as well as to my father. I draw, in avenging myself, her hatred +and her rage; I draw upon myself his [i.e. my father's] contempt by +not avenging myself. To my sweetest hope the one [alternative] renders +me unfaithful, and the other [alternative] renders me unworthy of her. +My misfortune increases by seeking a remedy [_lit._ by wishing to cure +it]. All [supposed reliefs] redoubles my woes. Come then, my soul [or, +beloved sword], and, since I must die, let us die, at least, without +offending Chimene! + +To die without obtaining satisfaction! To seek a death so fatal to my +fame! To endure that Spain should impute to my memory [the fact] of +having badly maintained the honor of my house! To respect a love of +which my distracted soul already sees the certain loss. Let us no more +listen to this insidious thought, which serves only to pain me [_or,_ +contributes only to my painful position]. Come, mine arm [_or,_ sword], +let us save honor, at least, since, after all, we must lose Chimene. + +Yes, my spirit was deceived. I owe all to my father before my mistress. + +Whether I die in the combat or die of sadness, I shall yield up my blood +pure as I have received it. I already accuse myself of too much +negligence; let us haste to vengeance; and quite ashamed of having +wavered so much, let us no more be in painful suspense, since to-day my +father has been insulted, even though the offender is the father of +Chimene. + + + + +ACT THE SECOND. + + +Scene I.--COUNT DE GORMAS and DON ARIAS. + + +_Count._ I acknowledge, between ourselves, [that] my blood, a little too +warm, became too excited at an expression, and has carried the matter +too far [_lit._ too high], but, since it is done, the deed is without +remedy. + +_Don Arias._ To the wishes of the King let this proud spirit yield; he +takes this much to heart, and his exasperated feelings [_lit._ heart] +will act against you with full authority. And, indeed, you have no +available defence. The [high] rank of the person offended, the greatness +of the offence, demand duties and submissions which require more than +ordinary reparation. + +_Count._ The King can, at his pleasure, dispose of my life. + +_Don Arias._ Your fault is followed by too much excitement. The King +still loves you; appease his wrath. He has said, "I desire it!"--will +you disobey? + +_Count._ Sir, to preserve all that esteem which I retain [_or,_ (other +reading), to preserve my glory and my esteem] to disobey in a slight +degree is not so great a crime, and, however great that [offence] may +be, my immediate services are more than sufficient to cancel it. + +_Don Arias._ Although one perform glorious and important deeds, a King +is never beholden to his subject. You flatter yourself much, and you +ought to know that he who serves his King well only does his duty. You +will ruin yourself, sir, by this confidence. + +_Count._ I shall not believe you until I have experience of it [_lit._ +until after experience of it]. + +_Don Arias._ You ought to dread the power of a King. + +_Count._ One day alone does not destroy a man such as I. Let all his +greatness arm itself for my punishment; all the state shall perish, if I +must perish. + +_Don Arias._ What! do you fear so little sovereign power----? + +_Count._ [The sovereign power] of a sceptre which, without me, would +fall from his hand. He himself has too much interest in my person, and +my head in falling would cause his crown to fall. + +_Don Arias._ Permit reason to bring back your senses. Take good advice. + +_Count_. The advice [_or,_ counsel] with regard to it is [already] +taken. + +_Don Arias._ What shall I say, after all? I am obliged to give him an +account [of this interview]. + +_Count._ [Say] that I can never consent to my own dishonor. + +_Don Arias._ But think that kings will be absolute. + +_Count._ The die is cast, sir. Let us speak of the matter no more. + +_Don Arias._ Adieu, then, sir, since in vain I try to persuade you. +Notwithstanding [_lit._ with] all your laurels, still dread the +thunderbolt. + +_Count._ I shall await it without fear. + +_Don Arias._ But not without effect. + +_Count._ We shall see by that Don Diego satisfied. [_Exit Don Arias.] +[Alone]_ He who fears not death fears not threats. I have a heart +superior to the greatest misfortunes [_lit._ above the proudest +misfortunes]; and men may reduce me to live without happiness, but they +cannot compel me to live without honor. + + +Scene II.--The COUNT and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Rodrigo._ Here, count, a word or two. + +_Count._ Speak. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Relieve me from a doubt. Dost thou know Don Diego well? + +_Count._ Yes. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let us speak [in] low [tones]; listen. Dost thou know +that this old man was the very [essence of] virtue, valor, and honor in +his time? Dost thou know it? + +_Count._ Perhaps so. + +_Don Rodrigo._ This fire which I carry in mine eyes, knowest thou that +this is his blood? Dost thou know it? + +_Count._ What matters it to me? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Four paces hence I shall cause thee to know it. + +_Count._ Presumptuous youth! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Speak without exciting thyself. I am young, it is true; +but in souls nobly born valor does not depend upon age [_lit._ wait for +the number of years]. + +_Count._ To measure thyself with me! Who [_or_, what] has rendered thee +so presumptuous--thou, whom men have never seen with a sword [_lit._ +arms] in thine hand? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Men like me do not cause themselves to be known at a +second trial, and they wish [to perform] masterly strokes for their +first attempt. + +_Count._ Dost thou know well who I am? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Yes! Any other man except myself, at the mere mention of +thy name, might tremble with terror. The laurels with which I see thine +head so covered seem to bear written [upon them] the prediction of my +fall. I attack, like a rash man, an arm always victorious; but by +courage I shall overcome you [_lit._ I shall have too much strength in +possessing sufficient courage]. To him who avenges his father nothing is +impossible. Thine arm is unconquered, but not invincible. + +_Count._ This noble courage which appears in the language you hold has +shown itself each day by your eyes; and, believing that I saw in you the +honor of Castile, my soul with pleasure was destining for you my +daughter. I know thy passion, and I am delighted to see that all its +impulses yield to thy duty; that they have not weakened this magnanimous +ardor; that thy proud manliness merits my esteem; and that, desiring as +a son-in-law an accomplished cavalier, I was not deceived in the choice +which I had made. But I feel that for thee my compassion is touched. I +admire thy courage, and I pity thy youth. Seek not to make thy first +attempt [_or_, maiden-stroke] fatal. Release my valor from an unequal +conflict; too little honor for me would attend this victory. In +conquering without danger we triumph without glory. Men would always +believe that thou wert overpowered without an effort, and I should have +only regret for thy death. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Thy presumption is followed by a despicable [_lit._ +unworthy] pity! The man who dares to deprive me of honor, fears to +deprive me of life! + +_Count._ Withdraw from this place. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let us proceed without further parley. + +_Count._ Art thou so tired of life? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Hast thou such a dread of death? + +_Count._ Come, thou art doing thy duty, and the son becomes degenerate +who survives for one instant the honor of his father. + + +Scene III.--The INFANTA, CHIMENE and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Soothe, my Chimene, soothe thy grief; summon up thy firmness +in this sudden misfortune. Thou shalt see a calm again after this +short-lived [_lit._ feeble] storm. Thy happiness is overcast [_lit._ +covered] only by a slight cloud, and thou hast lost nothing in seeing it +[i.e. thine happiness] delayed. + +_Chimene._ My heart, overwhelmed with sorrows, dares to hope for +nothing; a storm so sudden, which agitates a calm at sea, conveys to us +a threat of an inevitable [_lit._ certain] shipwreck. I cannot doubt it: +I am being shipwrecked [_lit._ I am perishing], even in harbor. I was +loving, I was beloved, and our fathers were consenting [_lit._ in +harmony], and I was recounting to you the delightful intelligence of +this at the fatal moment when this quarrel originated, the fatal recital +of which, as soon as it has been given to you, has ruined the effect of +such a dear [_lit._ sweet] expectation. Accursed ambition! hateful +madness! whose tyranny the most generous souls are suffering. O [sense +of] honor!-merciless to my dearest desires, how many tears and sighs art +thou going to cost me? + +_Infanta._ Thou hast, in their quarrel, no reason to be alarmed; one +moment has created it, one moment will extinguish it. It has made too +much noise not to be settled amicably, since already the king wishes to +reconcile them; and thou knowest that my zeal [_lit._ soul], keenly +alive to thy sorrows, will do its utmost [_lit._ impossibilities] to dry +up their source. + +_Chimene._ Reconciliations are not effected in such a feud [_or_, in +this manner]; such deadly insults are not [easily] repaired; in vain one +uses [_lit._ causes to act] force or prudence. If the evil be cured, it +is [cured] only in appearance; the hatred which hearts preserve within +feeds fires hidden, but so much the more ardent. + +_Infanta._ The sacred tie which will unite Don Rodrigo and Chimene will +dispel the hatred of their hostile sires, and we shall soon see the +stronger [feeling], love, by a happy bridal, extinguish this discord. + +_Chimene._ I desire it may be so, more than I expect it. Don Diego is +too proud, and I know my father. I feel tears flow, which I wish to +restrain; the past afflicts me, and I fear the future. + +_Infanta._ What dost thou fear? Is it the impotent weakness of an old +man? + +_Chimene._ Rodrigo has courage. + +_Infanta._ He is too young. + +_Chimene._ Courageous men become so [i.e. courageous] at once. + +_Infanta._ You ought not, however, to dread him much. He is too much +enamored to wish to displease you, and two words from thy lips would +arrest his rage. + +_Chimene._ If he does not obey me, what a consummation of my sorrow! +And, if he can obey me, what will men say of him? being of such noble +birth, to endure such an insult! Whether he yields to, or resists the +passion which binds him to me, my mind can not be otherwise than either +ashamed of his too great deference, or shocked at a just refusal. + +_Infanta._ Chimene has a proud soul, and, though deeply interested, she +cannot endure one base [_lit._ low] thought. But, if up to the day of +reconciliation I make this model lover my prisoner, and I thus prevent +the effect of his courage, will thine enamored soul take no umbrage at +it? + +_Chimene._ Ah! dear lady, in that case I have no more anxiety. + + +Scene IV.--The INFANTA, CHIMENE, LEONORA, and a PAGE. + + +_Infanta._ Page, seek Rodrigo, and bring him hither. + +_Page._ The Count de Gormas and he---- + +_Chimene._ Good heavens! I tremble! + +_Infanta._ Speak. + +_Page._ From this palace have gone out together. + +_Chimene._ Alone? + +_Page._ Alone, and they seemed in low tones to be wrangling with each +other. + +_Chimene._ Without doubt they are fighting; there is no further need of +speaking. Madame, forgive my haste [in thus departing]. [_Exeunt Chimene +and Page._] + + +Scene V.--The INFANTA and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Alas! what uneasiness I feel in my mind! I weep for her +sorrows, [yet still] her lover enthralls me; my calmness forsakes me, +and my passion revives. That which is going to separate Rodrigo from +Chimene rekindles at once my hope and my pain; and their separation, +which I see with regret, infuses a secret pleasure in mine enamored +soul. + +_Leonora._ This noble pride which reigns in your soul, does it so soon +surrender to this unworthy passion? + +_Infanta._ Call it not unworthy, since, seated in my heart, proud and +triumphant, it asserts its sway [_lit._ law] over me. Treat it with +respect, since it is so dear to me. My pride struggles against it, but, +in spite of myself--I hope; and my heart, imperfectly shielded against +such a vain expectation, flies after a lover whom Chimene has lost. + +_Leonora._ Do you thus let this noble resolution give way [_lit._ fall]? +And does reason in your mind thus lose its influence? + +_Infanta._ Ah! with how little effect do we listen to reason when the +heart is assailed by a poison so delicious, and when the sick man loves +his malady! We can hardly endure that any remedy should be applied to +it. + +_Leonora._ Your hope beguiles you, your malady is pleasant to you; but, +in fact, this Rodrigo is unworthy of you. + +_Infanta._ I know it only too well; but if my pride yields, learn how +love flatters a heart which it possesses. If Rodrigo once [_or_, only] +comes forth from the combat as a conqueror, if this great warrior falls +beneath his valor, I may consider him worthy of me, and I may love him +without shame. What may he not do, if he can conquer the Count? I dare +to imagine that, as the least of his exploits, entire kingdoms will fall +beneath his laws; and my fond love is already persuaded that I behold +him seated on the throne of Granada, the vanquished Moors trembling +while paying him homage; Arragon receiving this new conqueror, Portugal +surrendering, and his victorious battles [_lit._ noble days] advancing +his proud destinies beyond the seas, laving his laurels with the blood +of Africans! In fine, all that is told of the most distinguished +warriors I expect from Rodrigo after this victory, and I make my love +for him the theme of my glory. + +_Leonora._ But, madam, see how far you carry his exploits [_lit._ arm] +in consequence of a combat which, perhaps, has no reality! + +_Infanta._ Rodrigo has been insulted; the Count has committed the +outrage; they have gone out together. Is there need of more? + +_Leonora._ Ah, well! they will fight, since you will have it so; but +will Rodrigo go so far as you are going? + +_Infanta._ Bear with me [_lit._ what do you mean]? I am mad, and my mind +wanders; thou seest by that what evils this love prepares for me. Come +into my private apartment to console my anxieties, and do not desert me +in the trouble I am in [at present]. + + +Scene VI.--DON FERNANDO (the King), DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, and DON +ALONZO. + + +_Don Fernando._ The Count is, then, so presumptuous and so little +accessible to reason? Does he still dare to believe his offence +pardonable? + +_Don Arias._ Sire, in your name I have long conversed with him. I have +done my utmost, and I have obtained nothing. + +_Don Fernando._ Just heavens! Thus, then, a rash subject has so little +respect and anxiety to please me! He insults Don Diego, and despises his +King! He gives laws to me in the midst of my court! Brave warrior +though he be, great general though he be, I am well able [_lit._ I shall +know well how] to tame such a haughty spirit! Were he incarnate valor +[_lit._ valor itself], and the god of combats, he shall see what it is +not to obey! Whatever punishment such insolence may have deserved, I +wished at first to treat it [_or,_ him] without violence; but, since he +abuses my leniency, go instantly [_lit._ this very day], and, whether he +resists or not, secure his person. [_Exit Don Alonzo._] + +_Don Sancho._ Perhaps a little time will render him less rebellious; +they came upon him still boiling with rage, on account of his quarrel. +Sire, in the heat of a first impulse, so noble a heart yields with +difficulty. He sees that he has done wrong, but a soul so lofty is not +so soon induced to acknowledge its fault. + +_Don Fernando._ Don Sancho, be silent; and be warned that he who takes +his part renders himself criminal. + +_Don Sancho._ I obey, and am silent; but in pity, sire, [permit] two +words in his defence. + +_Don Fernando._ And what can you say? + +_Don Sancho._ That a soul accustomed to noble actions cannot lower +itself to apologies. It does not imagine any which can be expressed +without _shame;_ and it is that word alone that the Count resists. He +finds in his duty a little too much severity, and he would obey you if +he had less heart. Command that his arm, trained in war's dangers, +repair this injury at the point of the sword: he will give satisfaction, +sire; and, come what may, until he has been made aware of your decision, +here am I to answer for him. + +_Don Fernando._ You fail [_lit._ you are losing] in respect; but I +pardon youth, and I excuse enthusiasm in a young, courageous heart. A +king, whose prudence has better objects in view [than such quarrels], +is more sparing of the blood of his subjects. I watch over mine; my +[watchful] care protects them, as the head takes care of the limbs which +serve it. Thus your reasoning is not reasoning for me. You speak as a +soldier--I must act as a king; and whatever others may wish to say, or +he may presume to think, the Count will not part with [_lit._ cannot +lose] his glory by obeying me. Besides, the insult affects myself: he +has dishonored him whom I have made the instructor of my son. To impugn +my choice is to challenge me, and to make an attempt upon the supreme +power. Let us speak of it no more. And now, ten vessels of our old +enemies have been seen to hoist their flags; near the mouth of the river +they have dared to appear. + +_Don Arias._ The Moors have by force [of arms] learned to know you, and, +so often vanquished, they have lost heart to risk their lives [_lit._ +themselves] any more against so great a conqueror. + +_Don Fernando._ They will never, without a certain amount of jealousy, +behold my sceptre, in spite of them, ruling over Andalusia; and this +country, so beautiful, which they too long enjoyed, is always regarded +by them with an envious eye. This is the sole reason which has caused +us, for the last ten years, to place the Castilian throne in Seville, in +order to watch them more closely, and, by more prompt action, +immediately to overthrow whatever [design] they might undertake. + +_Don Arias._ They know, at the cost of their noblest leaders [_lit._ +most worthy heads], how much your presence secures your conquests; you +have nothing to fear. + +_Don Fernando._ And nothing to neglect--too much confidence brings on +danger; and you are not ignorant that, with very little difficulty, the +rising tide brings them hither. However, I should be wrong to cause a +panic in the hearts [of the citizens], the news being uncertain. The +dismay which this useless alarm might produce in the night, which is +approaching, might agitate the town too much. Cause the guards to be +doubled on the walls and at the fort; for this evening that is +sufficient. + + +Scene VII.--DON FERNANDO, DON ALONZO, DON SANCHO, and DON ARIAS. + + +_Don Alonzo._ Sire, the Count is dead. Don Diego, by his son, has +avenged his wrong. + +_Don Fernando._ As soon as I knew of the insult I foresaw the vengeance, +and from that moment I wished to avert this misfortune. + +_Don Alonzo._ Chimene approaches to lay her grief at your feet [_lit._ +brings to your knees her grief]; she comes all in tears to sue for +justice from you. + +_Don Fernando._ Much though my soul compassionates her sorrows, what the +Count has done seems to have deserved this just punishment of his +rashness. Yet, however just his penalty may be, I cannot lose such a +warrior without regret. After long service rendered to my state, after +his blood has been shed for me a thousand times, to whatever thoughts +his [stubborn] pride compels me, his loss enfeebles me, and his death +afflicts me. + + +Scene VIII.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, CHIMENE, DON SANCHO, DON ARIAS, +and DON ALONZO. + + +_Chimene._ Sire, sire, justice! + +_Don Diego._ Ah, sire, hear us! + +_Chimene._ I cast myself at your feet! + +_Don Diego._ I embrace your knees! + +_Chimene._ I demand justice. + +_Don Diego._ Hear my defence. + +_Chimene._ Punish the presumption of an audacious youth: he has struck +down the support of your sceptre--he has slain my father! + +_Don Diego._ He has avenged his own. + +_Chimene._ To the blood of his subjects a king owes justice. + +_Don Diego._ For just vengeance there is no punishment. + +_Don Fernando._ Rise, both of you, and speak at leisure. Chimene, I +sympathize with your sorrow; with an equal grief I feel my own soul +afflicted. (_To Don Diego._) You shall speak afterwards; do not +interrupt her complaint. + +_Chimene._ Sire, my father is dead! My eyes have seen his blood gush +forth from his noble breast--that blood which has so often secured your +walls--that blood which has so often won your battles--that blood which, +though all outpoured, still fumes with rage at seeing itself shed for +any other than for you! Rodrigo, before your very palace, has just dyed +[_lit._ covered] the earth with that [blood] which in the midst of +dangers war did not dare to shed! Faint and pallid, I ran to the spot, +and I found him bereft of life. Pardon my grief, sire, but my voice +fails me at this terrible recital; my tears and my sighs will better +tell you the rest! + +_Don Fernando._ Take courage, my daughter, and know that from to-day thy +king will serve thee as a father instead of him. + +_Chimene._ Sire, my anguish is attended with too much [unavailing] +horror! I found him, I have already said, bereft of life; his breast was +pierced [_lit._ open], and his blood upon the [surrounding] dust +dictated [_lit._ wrote] my duty; or rather his valor, reduced to this +condition, spoke to me through his wound, and urged me to claim redress; +and to make itself heard by the most just of kings, by these sad lips, +it borrowed my voice. Sire, do not permit that, under your sway, such +license should reign before your [very] eyes; that the most valiant with +impunity should be exposed to the thrusts of rashness; that a +presumptuous youth should triumph over their glory, should imbrue +himself with their blood, and scoff at their memory! If the valiant +warrior who has just been torn from you be not avenged, the ardor for +serving you becomes extinguished. In fine, my father is dead, and I +demand vengeance more for your interest than for my consolation. You are +a loser in the death of a man of his position. Avenge it by another's, +and [have] blood for blood! Sacrifice [the victim] not to me, but to +your crown, to your greatness, to yourself! Sacrifice, I say, sire, to +the good of the state, all those whom such a daring deed would inflate +with pride. + +_Don Fernando._ Don Diego, reply. + +_Don Diego._ How worthy of envy is he who, in losing [life's] vigor, +loses life also! And how a long life brings to nobly minded men, at the +close of their career, an unhappy destiny! I, whose long labors have +gained such great renown--I, whom hitherto everywhere victory has +followed--I see myself to-day, in consequence of having lived too long, +receiving an insult, and living vanquished. That which never battle, +siege, or ambuscade could [do]--that which Arragon or Granada never +could [effect], nor all your enemies, nor all my jealous [rivals], the +Count has done in your palace, almost before your eyes, [being] jealous +of your choice, and proud of the advantage which the impotence of age +gave him over me. Sire, thus these hairs, grown grey in harness [i.e. +toils of war]--this blood, so often shed to serve you--this arm, +formerly the terror of a hostile army, would have sunk into the grave, +burdened with disgrace, if I had not begotten a son worthy of me, worthy +of his country, and worthy of his king! He has lent me his hand--he has +slain the Count--he has restored my honor--he has washed away my shame! +If the displaying of courage and resentment, if the avenging of a blow +deserves chastisement, upon me alone should fall the fury of the storm. +When the arm has failed, the head is punished for it. Whether men call +this a crime or not requires no discussion. Sire, I am the head, he is +the arm only. If Chimene complains that he has slain her father, he +never would have done that [deed] if I could have done it [myself]. +Sacrifice, then, this head, which years will soon remove, and preserve +for yourself the arm which can serve you. At the cost of my blood +satisfy Chimene. I do not resist--I consent to my penalty, and, far from +murmuring at a rigorous decree, dying without dishonor, I shall die +without regret. + +_Don Fernando._ The matter is of importance, and, calmly considered, it +deserves to be debated in full council. Don Sancho, re-conduct Chimene +to her abode. Don Diego shall have my palace and his word of honor as a +prison. Bring his son here to me. I will do you justice. + +_Chimene._ It is just, great king, that a murderer should die. + +_Don Fernando._ Take rest, my daughter, and calm thy sorrows. + +_Chimene._ To order me rest is to increase my misfortunes. + + + + +ACT THE THIRD. + + +Scene I.--DON RODRIGO and ELVIRA. + + +_Elvira._ Rodrigo, what hast them done? Whence comest thou, unhappy man? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Here [i.e. to the house of Chimene], to follow out the +sad course of my miserable destiny. + +_Elvira._ Whence obtainest thou this audacity, and this new pride, of +appearing in places which thou hast filled with mourning? What! dost +thou come even here to defy the shade of the Count? Hast thou not slain +him? + +_Don Rodrigo._ His existence was my shame; my honor required this deed +from my [reluctant] hand. + +_Elvira._ But to seek thy asylum in the house of the dead! Has ever a +murderer made such his refuge? + +_Don Rodrigo._ And I come here only to yield myself to my judge. Look no +more on me with astonishment [_lit._ an eye amazed]; I seek death after +having inflicted it. My love is my judge; my judge is my Chimene. I +deserve death for deserving her hatred, and I am come to receive, as a +supreme blessing, its decree from her lips, and its stroke from her +hand. + +_Elvira._ Fly rather from her sight, fly from her impetuosity; conceal +your presence from her first excitement. Go! do not expose yourself to +the first impulses which the fiery indignation of her resentment may +give vent to. + +_Don Rodrigo._ No, no. This beloved one, whom I [could] so displease, +cannot have too wrathful a desire for my punishment; and I avoid a +hundred deaths which are going to crush me if, by dying sooner, I can +redouble it [i.e. that wrath]. + +_Elvira._ Chimene is at the palace, bathed in tears, and will return but +too well accompanied. Rodrigo, fly! for mercy's sake relieve me from my +uneasiness! What might not people say if they saw you here? Do you wish +that some slanderer, to crown her misery, should accuse her of +tolerating here the slayer of her father? She will return; she is +coming--I see her; at least, for the sake of _her_ honor, Rodrigo, +conceal thyself! [_Rodrigo conceals himself._] + + +Scene II.--DON SANCHO, CHIMENE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Sancho._ Yes, lady, you require a victim [or revenge] steeped in +blood [_lit._ for you there is need of bleeding victims]; your wrath is +just and your tears legitimate, and I do not attempt, by dint of +speaking, either to soothe you or to console you. But, if I may be +capable of serving you, employ my sword to punish the guilty [one], +employ my love to revenge this death; under your commands my arm will be +[only] too strong. + +_Chimene._ Unhappy that I am! + +_Don Sancho._ I implore you, accept my services. + +_Chimene._ I should offend the King, who has promised me justice. + +_Don Sancho._ You know that justice [_lit._ it] proceeds with such +slowness, that very often crime escapes in consequence of its delay, its +slow and doubtful course causes us to lose too many tears. Permit that a +cavalier may avenge you by [force of] arms; that method is more certain +and more prompt in punishing. + +_Chimene._ It is the last remedy; and if it is necessary to have +recourse to it, and your pity for my misfortunes still continues, you +shall then be free to avenge my injury. + +_Don Sancho._ It is the sole happiness to which my soul aspires; and, +being able to hope for it, I depart too well contented. + + +Scene III.--CHIMENE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimene._ At last I see myself free, and I can, without constraint, +show thee the extent of my keen sorrows; I can give vent to my sad +sighs; I can unbosom to thee my soul and all my griefs. My father is +dead, Elvira; and the first sword with which Rodrigo armed himself has +cut his thread of life. Weep, weep, mine eyes, and dissolve yourselves +into tears! The one half of my life [i.e. Rodrigo] has laid the other +[half, i.e. my father] in the grave, and compels me to revenge, after +this fatal blow, that which I have no more [i.e. my father] on that +which still remains to me [i.e. Rodrigo]. + +_Elvira._ Calm yourself, dear lady. + +_Chimene._ Ah! how unsuitably, in a misfortune so great, thou speakest +of calmness. By what means can my sorrow ever be appeased, if I cannot +hate the hand which has caused it? And what ought I to hope for but a +never-ending anguish if I follow up a crime, still loving the criminal. + +_Elvira._ He deprives you of a father, and you still love him? + +_Chimene._ It is too little to say love, Elvira; I adore him! My passion +opposes itself to my resentment; in mine enemy I find my lover, and I +feel that in spite of all my rage Rodrigo is still contending against my +sire in my heart. He attacks it, he besieges it; it yields, it defends +itself; at one time strong, at one time weak, at another triumphant. But +in this severe struggle between wrath and love, he rends my heart +without shaking my resolution, and although my love may have power over +me, I do not consult it [_or_, hesitate] to follow my duty. I speed on +[_lit._ run] without halting [_or_, weighing the consequences] where my +honor compels me. Rodrigo is very dear to me; the interest I feel in him +grieves me; my heart takes his part, but, in spite of its struggles, I +know what I am [i.e. a daughter], and that my father is dead. + +_Elvira._ Do you think of pursuing [_or_, persecuting] him? + +_Chimene._ Ah! cruel thought! and cruel pursuit to which I see myself +compelled. I demand his head [_or_, life] and I dread to obtain it; my +death will follow his, and [yet] I wish to punish him! + +_Elvira._ Abandon, abandon, dear lady, a design so tragic, and do not +impose on yourself such a tyrannical law. + +_Chimene._ What! my father being dead and almost in my arms--shall his +blood cry for revenge and I not obtain it? My heart, shamefully led away +by other spells, would believe that it owed him only ineffectual tears. +And can I endure that an insidious love, beneath a dastardly apathy, +should extinguish my resolution [_lit._ beneath a cowardly silence +extinguish my honor]? + +_Elvira._ Dear lady, believe me, you would be excusable in having less +wrath against an object so beloved, against a lover so dear; you have +done enough, you have seen the King; do not urge on the result [of that +interview]. Do not persist in this morbid [_lit._ strange] humor. + +_Chimene._ My honor is at stake; I must avenge myself; and, however the +desires of love may beguile us, all excuse [for not doing one's duty] is +disgraceful to [i.e. in the estimation of] noble-minded souls. + +_Elvira._ But you love Rodrigo--he cannot offend you. + +_Chimene._ I confess it. + +_Elvira._ After all, what then do you intend to do? + +_Chimene._ To preserve my honor and to end my sorrow; to pursue him, to +destroy him, and to die after him. + + +Scene IV.--DON RODRIGO, CHIMENE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Rodrigo._ Well then, without giving you the trouble of pursuing me, +secure for yourself the honor of preventing me from living. + +_Chimene._ Elvira, where are we, and what do I see? Rodrigo in my house! +Rodrigo before me! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Spare not my blood; enjoy [_lit._ taste], without +resistance, the pleasure of my destruction and of your vengeance. + +_Chimene._ Alas! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Listen to me. + +_Chimene._ I am dying. + +_Don Rodrigo._ One moment. + +_Chimene._ Go, let me die! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Four words only; afterwards reply to me only with this +sword! + +_Chimene._ What! still imbrued with the blood of my father! + +_Don Rodrigo._ My Chimene. + +_Chimene._ Remove from my sight this hateful object, which brings as a +reproach before mine eyes thy crime and thy existence. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Look on it rather to excite thy hatred, to increase thy +wrath and to hasten my doom. + +_Chimene._ It is dyed with my [father's] blood! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Plunge it in mine, and cause it thus to lose the +death-stain of thine own. + +_Chimene._ Ah! what cruelty, which all in one day slays the father by +the sword [itself], and the daughter by the sight of it! Remove this +object, I cannot endure it; thou wished me to listen to thee, and thou +causest me to die! + +_Don Rodrigo._ I do what thou wishest, but without abandoning the desire +of ending by thy hands my lamentable life; for, in fine, do not expect +[even] from my affection a dastardly repentance of a justifiable [_lit._ +good] action. The irreparable effect of a too hasty excitement +dishonored my father and covered me with shame. Thou knowest how a blow +affects a man of courage. I shared in the insult, I sought out its +author, I saw him, I avenged my honor and my father; I would do it again +if I had it to do. Not that, indeed, my passion did not long struggle +for thee against my father and myself; judge of its power--under such an +insult, I was able to deliberate whether I should take vengeance for it! +Compelled to displease thee or to endure an affront, I thought that in +its turn my arm was too prompt [to strike]; I accused myself of too much +impetuosity, and thy loveliness, without doubt, would have turned the +scale [_or_, prevailed overall] had I not opposed to thy strongest +attractions the [thought] that a man without honor would not merit thee; +that, in spite of this share which I had in thy affections, she who +loved me noble would hate me shamed; that to listen to thy love, to obey +its voice, would be to render myself unworthy of it and to condemn thy +choice. I tell thee still, and although I sigh at it, even to my last +sigh I will assuredly repeat it, I have committed an offence against +thee, and I was driven to [_or_, bound to commit] it to efface my shame +and to merit thee; but discharged [from my duty] as regards honor, and +discharged [from duty] towards my father, it is now to thee that I come +to give satisfaction--it is to offer to thee my blood that thou seest +me in this place. I did my duty [_lit._ that which I ought to have done] +then, I still do it now. I know that a slain [_lit._ dead] father arms +thee against my offence; I have not wished to rob thee of thy victim; +sacrifice with courage to the blood he has lost he who constitutes his +glory in having shed it. + +_Chimene._ Ah, Rodrigo, it is true, although thine enemy, I cannot blame +thee for having shunned disgrace; and in whatever manner my griefs burst +forth I do not accuse [thee], I [only] lament my misfortunes. I know +what honor after such an insult demanded with ardor of a generous +courage; thou hast only done the duty of a man of honor, but also in +doing that [duty] thou hast taught me mine. Thy fatal valor has +instructed me by thy victory--it has avenged thy father and maintained +thy glory. The same care concerns me, and I have to add to my infliction +[_lit._ to afflict me] my fame to sustain and my father to avenge. Alas! +thy fate [_or_, your share] in this drives me to despair! If any other +misfortune had taken from me my father, my soul would have found in the +happiness of seeing thee the only relief which it could have received, +and in opposition to my grief I should have felt a fond delight [_lit._ +charm or a magic soothing] when a hand so dear would have wiped away my +tears. But I must lose thee after having lost him. This struggle over my +passion is due to my honor, and this terrible duty, whose [imperious] +command is slaying me, compels me to exert myself [_lit._ labor or work] +for thy destruction. For, in fine, do not expect from my affection any +morbid [_lit._ cowardly] feelings as to thy punishment. However strongly +my love may plead in thy favor, my steadfast courage must respond to +thine. Even in offending me, thou hast proved thyself worthy of me; I +must, by thy death, prove myself worthy of thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Defer, then, no longer that which honor commands. It +demands my head [_or_, life], and I yield it to thee; make a sacrifice +of it to this noble duty; the [death] stroke will be welcome [_lit._ +sweet], as well as the doom. To await, after my crime, a tardy justice, +is to defer thine honor as well as my punishment. I should die too happy +in dying by so delightful a [death] blow! + +_Chimene._ Go [i.e. no]; I am thy prosecutor, and not thy executioner. +If thou offerest me thine head, is it for me to take it; I ought to +attack it, but thou oughtest to defend it. It is from another than thee +that I must obtain it, and it is my duty [_lit._ I ought] to pursue +thee, but not to punish thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ However in my favor our love may plead, thy steadfast +courage ought to correspond to mine; and to borrow other arms to avenge +a father is, believe me, my Chimene, not the [method of] responding to +it. My hand alone was fit [_lit._ has understood how] to avenge the +insult offered to _my_ father; thy hand alone ought to take vengeance +for thine. + +_Chimene._ O cruel! for what reason shouldst thou persevere on this +point? Thou hast avenged thyself without aid, and dost thou wish to give +me thine [aid]? I shall follow thy example; and I have too much courage +to endure that my glory shall be divided with thee. My father and mine +honor shall owe nothing to the dictates of thy love and of thy despair. + +_Don Rodrigo._ O cruel resolution [_lit._ point of honor]! Alas! +whatever I may do, can I by no means obtain this concession [_or_, +favor]? In the name of a slain [_lit._ dead] father, or of our +friendship, punish me through revenge, or at least through compassion. +Thy unhappy lover will have far less pain in dying by thy hand than in +living with thy hatred. + +_Chimene._ Go; I do not hate thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Thou oughtest to do so. + +_Chimene._ I cannot. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Dost thou so little fear calumny, and so little [fear] +false reports? When people shall know my crime, and that thy passion +[for me] still continues, what will not envy and deception spread +abroad? Compel them to silence, and, without debating more, save thy +fair fame by causing me to die. + +_Chimene._ That [fair fame] shines far more gloriously [_lit._ better] +by leaving thee life; and I wish that the voice of the blackest slander +should raise to heaven my honor, and lament my griefs, knowing that I +worship thee, and that [still] I pursue thee [as a criminal]. Go, then; +present no more to my unbounded grief that which I [must] lose, although +I love it [him]! In the shades of night carefully conceal thy departure; +if they see thee going forth, my honor runs a risk. The only opportunity +which slander can have is to know that I have tolerated thy presence +here. Give it no opportunity to assail my honor. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let me die. + +_Chimene._ Nay, leave me. + +_Don Rodrigo._ On what art thou resolved? + +_Chimene._ In spite of the glorious love-fires which impede [_lit._ +trouble] my wrath, I will do my utmost to avenge my father; but, in +spite of the sternness of such a cruel duty, my sole desire is to be +able to accomplish nothing [against thee]. + +_Don Rodrigo._ O wondrous love [_lit._ miracle of love]! + +_Chimene._ O accumulation of sorrows! + +_Don Rodrigo._ What misfortunes and tears will our fathers cost us! + +_Chimene._ Rodrigo, who would have believed----? + +_Don Rodrigo._ Chimene, who would have said----? + +_Chimene._ That our happiness was so near, and would so soon be ruined? + +_Don Rodrigo._ And that so near the haven, contrary to all appearances +[_or_, expectation], a storm so sudden should shatter our hopes? + +_Chimene._ O deadly griefs! + +_Don Rodrigo._ O vain regrets! + +_Chimene._ Go, then, again [I beseech thee]; I can listen to thee no +more. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Adieu! I go to drag along a lingering life, until it be +torn from me by thy pursuit. + +_Chimene._ If I obtain my purpose, I pledge to thee my faith to exist +not a moment after thee. Adieu! Go hence, and, above all, take good care +that you are not observed. [_Exit Don Rodrigo._] + +_Elvira._ Dear lady, whatever sorrows heaven sends us---- + +_Chimene._ Trouble me no more; let me sigh. I seek for silence and the +night in order to weep. + + +Scene V.--DON DIEGO. + + +Never do we experience [_lit._ taste] perfect joy. Our most fortunate +successes are mingled with sadness; always some cares, [even] in the +[successful] events, mar the serenity of our satisfaction. In the midst +of happiness my soul feels their pang: I float in joy, and I tremble +with fear. I have seen [lying] dead the enemy who had insulted me, yet I +am unable to find [_lit._ see] the hand which has avenged me. I exert +myself in vain, and with a useless anxiety. Feeble [_lit._ broken down; +_or_, shattered] though I am, I traverse all the city; this slight +degree of vigor, that my advanced years have left me, expends itself +fruitlessly in seeking this conqueror. At every moment, at all places, +in a night so dark, I think that I embrace him, and I embrace only a +shadow; and my love, beguiled by this deceitful object, forms for itself +suspicions which redouble my fear. I do not discover any traces of his +flight. I fear the dead Count's friends and retinue; their number +terrifies me, and confounds my reason. Rodrigo lives no more, or +breathes in prison! Just heavens! do I still deceive myself with a +shadow only [_lit._ an appearance], or do I see, at last, my only hope? +It is he; I doubt it no more. My prayers are heard, my fear is +dispelled, and my trouble ended. + + +Scene VI.--DON DIEGO and DON RODRIGO. + + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo at last heaven permits that I should behold thee! + +_Don Rodrigo._ Alas! + +_Don Diego._ Mingle not sighs with my joy; let me take breath in order +to praise thee. My valor has no reason to disown thee; thou hast well +imitated it, and thy brilliant prowess causes the heroes of my race to +live again in thee! It is from them that thou descendest, it is from me +that thou art sprung. Thy first combat [_lit._ sword-stroke] equals all +of mine, and thy youth, fired with a splendid enthusiasm, by this great +proof equals [_or_, reaches to] my renown. Prop of mine age, and sum of +my happiness, touch these white hairs, to which thou restorest honor! +Come, kiss this cheek, and recognize the place on which was branded the +insult which thy courage effaces! + +_Don Rodrigo._ The honor of it belongs to you. I could not do less, +being sprung from you, and trained under your careful instruction +[_lit._ cares]. I consider myself too happy [at the result], and my soul +is delighted that my first combat [_or_, maiden-stroke] pleases him to +whom I owe existence. But, amidst your gladness, be not jealous if, in +my turn, I dare to satisfy myself after you. Permit that in freedom my +despair may burst forth; enough and for too long your discourse has +soothed it. I do not repent having served you; but give me back the +blessing which that [death] blow has deprived me of. My arms, in order +to serve you, battling against my passion, by this [otherwise] glorious +deed have deprived me of my love. Say no more to me: for you I have lost +all; what I owed you I have well repaid. + +_Don Diego._ Carry, carry still higher the effect [_lit._ fruit] of thy +victory. I have given thee life, and thou restorest to me my honor; and +as much as honor is dearer to me than life, so much now I owe thee in +return. But spurn this weakness from a noble heart; we have but one +honor--there are many mistresses. Love is but a pleasure; honor is a +duty. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Ah! what do you say to me? + +_Don Diego._ That which you ought to know. + +_Don Rodrigo._ My outraged honor takes vengeance on myself, and you dare +to urge me to the shame of inconstancy! Disgrace is the same, and +follows equally the soldier without courage and the faithless lover. Do +no wrong, then, to my fidelity; allow me [to be] brave without rendering +myself perfidious [perjured]. My bonds are too strong to be thus +broken--my faith still binds me, though I [may] hope no more; and, not +being able to leave nor to win Chimene, the death which I seek is my +most welcome [_lit._ sweeter] penalty. + +_Don Diego._ It is not yet time to seek death; thy prince and thy +country have need of thine arm. The fleet, as was feared, having entered +this great river, hopes to surprise the city and to ravage the country. +The Moors are going to make a descent, and the tide and the night may, +within an hour, bring them noiselessly to our walls. The court is in +disorder, the people in dismay; we hear only cries, we see only tears. +In this public calamity, my good fortune has so willed it that I have +found [thronging] to my house five hundred of my friends, who, knowing +the insult offered to me, impelled by a similar zeal, came all to offer +themselves to avenge my quarrel. Thou hast anticipated them; but their +valiant hands will be more nobly steeped in the blood of Africans. Go, +march at their head where honor calls thee; it is thou whom their noble +band would have as a leader. Go, resist the advance of these ancient +enemies; there, if thou wishest to die, find a glorious death. Seize the +opportunity, since it is presented to thee; cause your King to owe his +safety to your loss; but rather return from that battle-field [_lit._ +from it] with the laurels on thy brow. Limit not thy glory to the +avenging of an insult; advance that glory still further; urge by thy +valor this monarch to pardon, and Chimene to peace. If thou lovest her, +learn that to return as a conqueror is the sole means of regaining her +heart. But time is too precious to waste in words; I stop thee in thine +attempted answer, and desire that thou fly [to the rescue]. Come, follow +me; go to the combat, and show the King that what he loses in the Count +he regains in thee. + + + + +ACT THE FOURTH. + + +Scene I.--CHIMENE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimene._ Is it not a false report? Do you know for certain, Elvira? + +_Elvira._ You could never believe how every one admires him, and extols +to heaven, with one common voice, the glorious achievements of this +young hero. The Moors appeared before him only to their shame; their +approach was very rapid, their flight more rapid still. A three hours' +battle left to our warriors a complete victory, and two kings as +prisoners. The valor of their leader overcame every obstacle [_lit._ +found no obstacles]. + +_Chimene._ And the hand of Rodrigo has wrought all these wonders! + +_Elvira._ Of his gallant deeds these two kings are the reward; by his +hand they were conquered, and his hand captured them. + +_Chimene._ From whom couldst thou ascertain these strange tidings? + +_Elvira._ From the people, who everywhere sing his praises, [who] call +him the object and the author of their rejoicing, their guardian angel +and their deliverer. + +_Chimene._ And the King--with what an aspect does he look upon such +valor? + +_Elvira._ Rodrigo dares not yet appear in his presence, but Don Diego, +delighted, presents to him in chains, in the name of this conqueror, +these crowned captives, and asks as a favor from this generous prince +that he condescend to look upon the hand which has saved the kingdom +[_lit._ province]. + +_Chimene._ But is he not wounded? + +_Elvira._ I have learned nothing of it. You change color! Recover your +spirits. + +_Chimene._ Let me recover then also my enfeebled resentment; caring for +him, must I forget my own feelings [_lit._ myself]? They boast of him, +they praise him, and my heart consents to it; my honor is mute, my duty +impotent. Down [_lit._ silence], O [treacherous] love! let my resentment +exert itself [_lit._ act]; although he has conquered two kings, he has +slain my father! These mourning robes in which I read my misfortune are +the first-fruits which his valor has produced; and although others may +tell of a heart so magnanimous, here all objects speak to me of his +crime. Ye who give strength to my feelings of resentment, veil, crape, +robes, dismal ornaments, funeral garb in which his first victory +enshrouds me, do you sustain effectually my honor in opposition to my +passion, and when my love shall gain too much power, remind my spirit of +my sad duty; attack, without fearing anything, a triumphant hand! + +_Elvira._ Calm this excitement; see--here comes the Infanta. + + +Scene II.--The INFANTA, CHIMENE, LEONORA, and ELVIRA. + + +_Infanta._ I do not come here [vainly] to console thy sorrows; I come +rather to mingle my sighs with thy tears. + +_Chimene._ Far rather take part in the universal rejoicings, and taste +the happiness which heaven sends you, dear lady; no one but myself has a +right to sigh. The danger from which Rodrigo has been able to rescue +you, and the public safety which his arms restore to you, to me alone +to-day still permit tears; he has saved the city, he has served his +King, and his valiant arm is destructive only to myself. + +_Infanta._ My Chimene, it is true that he has wrought wonders. + +_Chimene._ Already this vexatious exclamation of joy [_lit._ noise] has +reached [_lit._ struck] my ears, and I hear him everywhere proclaimed +aloud as brave a warrior as he is an unfortunate lover. + +_Infanta._ What annoyance can the approving shouts of the people cause +thee? This youthful Mars whom they praise has hitherto been able to +please thee; he possessed thy heart; he lived under thy law; and to +praise his valor is to honor thy choice. + +_Chimene._ Every one [else] can praise it with some justice; but for me +his praise is a new punishment. They aggravate my grief by raising him +so high. I see what I lose, when I see what he is worth. Ah! cruel +tortures to the mind of a lover! The more I understand his worth, the +more my passion increases; yet my duty is always the stronger [passion], +and, in spite of my love, endeavors to accomplish his destruction +[_lit._ to pursue his death]. + +_Infanta._ Yesterday, this duty placed thee in high estimation; the +struggle which thou didst make appeared so magnanimous, so worthy of a +noble heart, that everyone at the court admired thy resolution and +pitied thy love. But wilt thou believe in the advice of a faithful +friendship? + +_Chimene._ Not to obey you would render me disloyal. + +_Infanta._ What was justifiable then is not so to-day. Rodrigo now is +our sole support, the hope and the idol [_lit._ love] of a people that +worships him! The prop of Castile and the terror of the Moor! The King +himself recognizes [_lit._ is in agreement with] this truth, that thy +father in him alone sees himself recalled to life: and if, in fine, thou +wishest that I should explain myself briefly [_lit._ in two words], +thou art seeking in his destruction the public ruin. What! to avenge a +father, is it ever lawful to surrender one's country into the hands of +enemies? Against us is thy revenge lawful? And must we be punished who +had no share in the crime? After all, it is only that thou shouldest +espouse the man whom a dead father compelled thee to accuse; I myself +would wish to relieve thee of that desire [_lit._ take the desire of +that from thee]; take from him thy love, but leave us his life. + +_Chimene._ Ah! it is not in me to have so much kindness; the duty which +excites me has no limit. Although my love pleads [_lit._ interests +itself] for this conqueror, although a nation worships him, and a King +praises him, although he be surrounded with the most valiant warriors, I +shall endeavor to crush his laurels beneath my [funereal] cypress. + +_Infanta._ It is a noble feeling when, to avenge a father, our duty +assails a head so dear; but it is duty of a still nobler order when ties +of blood are sacrificed to the public [advantage]. No, believe me, it is +enough to quench thy love; he will be too severely punished if he exists +no more in thy affections. Let the welfare of thy country impose upon +thee this law; and, besides, what dost thou think that the King will +grant thee? + +_Chimene._ He can refuse me, but I cannot keep silent. + +_Infanta._ Reflect well, my [dear] Chimene, on what thou wishest to do. +Adieu; [when] alone thou cans't think over this at thy leisure. [_Exit +the Infanta._] + +_Chimene._ Since my father is slain [_lit._ after my dead father], I +have no [alternative] to choose. + + +Scene III.--DON FERNANDO (the King), DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON +RODRIGO, and DON SANCHO. + + +_Don Fernando._ Worthy scion of a distinguished race, which has always +been the glory and the support of Castile! Thou descendant of so many +ancestors signalized by valor, whom the first attempt of thine own +[prowess] has so soon equalled; my ability to recompense thee is too +limited [_lit._ small], and I have less power than thou hast merit. The +country delivered from such a fierce enemy, my sceptre firmly placed in +my hand by thine own [hand], and the Moors defeated before, amid these +terrors, I could give orders for repulsing their arms; these are +brilliant services which leave not to thy King the means or the hope of +discharging his debt of gratitude [_lit._ acquitting himself] towards +thee. But the two kings, thy captives, shall be thy reward. Both of them +in my presence have named thee their Cid--since Cid, in their language, +is equivalent to lord, I shall not envy thee this glorious title of +distinction; be thou, henceforth, the Cid; to that great name let +everything yield; let it overwhelm with terror both Granada and Toledo, +and let it indicate to all those who live under my laws both how +valuable thou art to me [_lit._ that which thou art worth to me], and +that [deep obligation] which I owe thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Let your majesty, sire, spare my modesty. On such an +humble service your majesty [_lit._ it, referring to majesty] sets too +high a value, and compels me to blush [for shame] before so great a +King, at so little deserving the honor which I have received from him. I +know too well [the gifts] that I owe to the welfare of your empire, both +the blood which flows in my veins [_lit._ animates me] and the air which +I breathe, and even though I should lose them in such a glorious cause +[_lit._ for an object so worthy], I should only be doing the duty of a +subject. + +_Don Fernando._ All those whom that duty enlists in my service do not +discharge it with the same courage, and when [i.e. unless] valor +attains a high degree, it never produces such rare successes; allow us +then to praise thee, and tell me more at length the true history of this +victory. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Sire, you are aware that in this urgent danger, which +created in the city such a powerful alarm, a band of friends assembled +at the house of my father prevailed on my spirit, still much agitated. +But, sire, pardon my rashness if I dared to employ it without your +authority; the danger was approaching; their [valiant] band was ready; +by showing myself at the court I should have risked my life [_lit._ +head], and, if I must lose it, it would have been far more delightful +for me to depart from life while fighting for you. + +_Don Fernando._ I pardon thy warmth in avenging the insult offered to +thee, and the kingdom shielded [from danger] pleads [_lit._ speaks to +me] in thy defence. Be assured that henceforth Chimene will speak in +vain, and I shall listen to her no more except to comfort her; but +continue. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Under me, then, this band advances, and bears in its +aspect a manly confidence. At setting out we were five hundred, but, by +a speedy reinforcement, we saw ourselves [augmented to] three thousand +on arriving at the port; so surely, on beholding us advance with such a +[determined] aspect, did the most dismayed recover their courage. Of +that brave host [_lit._ of it], as soon as we had arrived, I conceal +two-thirds in the holds of the ships which were found there; the rest, +whose numbers were increasing every hour, burning with impatience, +remain around me; they lie down on the ground, and, without making any +noise, they pass a considerable portion of so auspicious [_lit._ +beautiful] a night. By my command the guard does the same, and keeping +themselves, concealed aid my stratagem, and I boldly pretended to have +received from you the order which they see me follow out, and which I +issue to all. This dim light which falls from the stars, at last with +the tide causes us to see thirty vessels [_lit._ sails]; the wave +[i.e. the water] swells beneath them, and, with a mutual effort, the +Moors and the sea advance even to the port. We let them pass; all seems +to them lulled in repose [_lit._ tranquil]. No soldiers at the port, +none on the walls of the city. Our deep silence deceiving their minds, +they no longer dare to doubt that they had taken us by surprise. They +land without fear, they cast anchor, they disembark and rush forward to +deliver themselves into the hands which are awaiting them. Then we +arise, and all at the same time utter towards heaven countless ringing +cheers [of defiance]. At these shouts our men from our ships answer [to +the signal]; they appear armed, the Moors are dismayed, terror seizes +those who had scarcely disembarked, before fighting they consider +themselves lost--they hastened to plunder and they meet with war. We +press them hard on the water, we press them hard on the land, and we +cause rivulets of their blood to run before any [of them] can resist or +regain his position. But soon, in spite of us, their princes rally them, +their courage revives, and their fears are forgotten. The disgrace of +dying without having fought rallies their disordered ranks [_lit._ stops +their disorder], and restores to them their valor. With firmly planted +feet they draw their scimitars against us, and cause a fearful +intermingling of our blood with theirs; and the land, and the wave, and +the fleet, and the port are fields of carnage where death is +triumphant. Oh! how many noble deeds, how many brilliant achievements, +were performed unnoticed [_lit._ have remained without renown] in the +midst of the gloom, in which each [warrior], sole witness of the +brilliant strokes which he gave, could not discern to which side fortune +inclined. I went in all directions to encourage our soldiers, to cause +some to advance, and to support others, to marshal those who were coming +up, to urge them forward in their turn, and I could not ascertain the +result [of the conflict] until the break of day. But at last the bright +dawn shows us our advantage. The Moor sees his loss and loses courage +suddenly, and, seeing a reinforcement which had come to assist us, the +ardor for conquest yields to the dread of death. They gain their ships, +they cut their cables, they utter even to heaven terrific cries, they +make their retreat in confusion and without reflecting whether their +kings can escape with them. Their fright is too strong to admit of this +duty. The incoming tide brought them here, the outgoing tide carries +them away. Meanwhile their kings, combating amongst us, and a few of +their [warriors] severely wounded by our blows, still fight valiantly +and sell their lives dearly. I myself in vain urge them to surrender; +scimitar in hand, they listen not to my entreaties, but seeing all their +soldiers falling at their feet, and that henceforward alone they defend +themselves in vain, they ask for the commander; I entitle myself as +such, and they surrender. I sent you them both at the same time, and the +combat ceased for want of combatants. It is in this manner that for your +service---- + + +Scene IV.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON RODRIGO, DON ARIAS, DON ALONZO, +and DON SANCHO. + + +_Don Alonzo._ Sire, Chimene comes to demand justice from you. + +_Don Fernando._ Vexatious news and unwelcome duty! Go [Rodrigo]; I do +not wish her to see thee. Instead of thanks I must drive thee away; but, +before departing, come, let thy King embrace thee! + +[_Exit Don Rodrigo._] + +_Don Diego._ Chimene pursues him, [yet] she wishes to save him. + +_Don Fernando._ They say that she loves him, and I am going to prove it. +Exhibit a more sorrowful countenance [_lit._ eye]. + + +Scene V.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, DON ALONZO, +CHIMENE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Fernando._ At last, be content, Chimene, success responds to your +wishes. Although Rodrigo has gained the advantage over our enemies, he +has died before our eyes of the wounds he has received; return thanks to +that heaven which has avenged you. (_To Don Diego._) See, how already +her color is changed! + +_Don Diego._ But see! she swoons, and in this swoon, sire, observe the +effect of an overpowering [_lit._ perfect] love. Her grief has betrayed +the secrets of her soul, and no longer permits you to doubt her passion. + +_Chimene._ What, then! Is Rodrigo dead? + +_Don Fernando._ No, no, he still lives [_lit._ he sees the day]; and he +still preserves for you an unalterable affection; calm this sorrow which +takes such an interest in his favor. + +_Chimene._ Sire, we swoon from joy, as well as from grief; an excess of +pleasure renders us completely exhausted, and when it takes the mind by +surprise, it overpowers the senses. + +_Don Fernando._ Dost thou wish that in thy favor we should believe in +impossibilities? Chimene, thy grief appeared too clearly visible. + +_Chimene._ Well, sire! add this crown to my misfortune--call my swoon +the effect of my grief; a justifiable dissatisfaction reduced me to that +extremity; his death would have saved his head from my pursuit. If he +had died of wounds received for the benefit of his country, my revenge +would have been lost, and my designs betrayed; such a brilliant end [of +his existence] would have been too injurious to me. I demand his death, +but not a glorious one, not with a glory which raises him so high, not +on an honorable death-bed, but upon a scaffold. Let him die for my +father and not for his country; let his name be attainted and his memory +blighted. To die for one's country is not a sorrowful doom; it is to +immortalize one's self by a glorious death! I love then his victory, and +I can do so without criminality; it [the victory] secures the kingdom +and yields to me my victim. But ennobled, but illustrious amongst all +warriors, the chief crowned with laurels instead of flowers--and to say +in a word what I think--worthy of being sacrificed to the shade of my +father. Alas! by what [vain] hope do I allow myself to be carried away? +Rodrigo has nothing to dread from me; what can tears which are despised +avail against him? For him your whole empire is a sanctuary [_lit._ a +place of freedom]; there, under your power, everything is lawful for +him; he triumphs over me as [well as] over his enemies; justice stifled +in their blood that has been shed, serves as a new trophy for the crime +of the conqueror. We increase its pomp, and contempt of the law causes +us to follow his [triumphal] chariot between two kings. + +_Don Fernando._ My daughter, these transports are too violent [_lit._ +have too much violence]. When justice is rendered, all is put in the +scale. Thy father has been slain, he was the aggressor; and justice +itself commands me [to have] mercy. Before accusing that [degree of +clemency] which I show, consult well thine heart; Rodrigo is master of +it; and thy love in secret returns thanks to thy King, whose favor +preserves such a lover for thee. + +_Chimene._ For me! my enemy! the object of my wrath! the author of my +misfortunes? the slayer of my father! To my just pursuit [of vengeance] +they pay so little attention, that they believe that they are conferring +a favor on me by not listening to it. Since you refuse justice to my +tears, sire, permit me to have recourse to arms; it is by that alone +that he has been able to injure me, and it is by that (means) also that +I ought to avenge myself. From all your knights I demand his head; yes, +let one of them bring it to me, and I will be his prize; let them fight +him, sire, and, the combat being finished, I [will] espouse the +conqueror, if Rodrigo is slain [_lit._ punished]. Under your authority, +permit this to be made public. + +_Don Fernando._ This ancient custom established in these places, under +the guise of punishing an unjust affront, weakens a kingdom [by +depriving it] of its best warriors; the deplorable success of this abuse +[of power] often crushes the innocent and shields the guilty. From this +[ordeal] I release Rodrigo; he is too precious to me to expose him to +the [death] blows of capricious fate; and whatever (offence) a heart so +magnanimous could commit, the Moors, in retreating, have carried away +his crime. + +_Chimene._ What, sire, for him alone you reverse the laws, which all the +court has so often seen observed! What will your people think, and what +will envy say, if he screens his life beneath your shield and he makes +it a pretext not to appear [on a scene] where all men of honor seek a +noble death? Such favors would too deeply tarnish his glory; let him +enjoy [_lit._ taste] without shame [_lit._ blushing] the fruits of his +victory. The count had audacity, he was able to punish him for it; he +[i.e. Rodrigo] acted like a man of courage, and ought to maintain it +[that character]. + +_Don Fernando._ Since you wish it, I grant that he shall do so; but a +thousand others would take the place of a vanquished warrior, and the +reward which Chimene has promised to the conqueror would render all my +cavaliers his enemies; to oppose him alone to all would be too great an +injustice; it is enough, he shall enter the lists once only. Choose who +[what champion] you will, Chimene, and choose well; but after this +combat ask nothing more. + +_Don Diego._ Release not by that those whom his valor [_lit._ arm] +terrifies; leave an open field which none will [dare to] enter. After +what Rodrigo has shown us to-day, what courage sufficiently presumptuous +would dare to contend with him? Who would risk his life against such an +opponent? Who will be this valiant, or rather this rash individual? + +_Don Sancho._ Open the lists, you see this assailant; I am this rash or +rather this valiant [champion]. Grant this favor to the zeal which urges +me on; dear lady, you know what your promise is. + +_Don Fernando._ Chimene, do you confide your quarrel to his hand? + +_Chimene._ Sire, I have promised it. + +_Don Fernando._ Be ready to-morrow. + +_Don Diego._ No, sire, there is no need to defer the contest; a man is +always ready when he possesses courage. + +_Don Fernando._ [What!] To come forth from one battle and to (instantly) +enter the lists [_lit._ to fight]? + +_Don Diego._ Rodrigo has regained breath in relating to you this [i.e. +the history of that battle]. + +_Don Fernando._ I desire that he should rest at least an hour or two; +but, for fear that such a combat may be considered as a precedent, to +testify to all that I permit, with regret, a sanguinary ordeal which has +never pleased me, it shall not have the presence either of myself or of +my court. [_To Don Arias._] You alone shall judge of the valor of the +combatants. Take care that both act like men of honor [_lit._ courage], +and, the combat ended, bring the victor to me. Whoever he may be, the +same reward is gained by his exertions; I desire with my own hand to +present him to Chimene, and that, as a recompense, he may receive her +plighted faith. + +_Chimene._ What, sire! [would you] impose on me so stern a law? + +_Don Fernando._ Thou complainest of it; but thy love, far from +acknowledging thy complaint, if Rodrigo be the conqueror, without +restraint accepts [the conditions]. Cease to murmur against such a +gentle decree; whichever of the two be the victor, I shall make him thy +spouse. + + + + +ACT THE FIFTH. + + +Scene I.--DON RODRIGO and CHIMENE. + + +_Chimene._ What! Rodrigo! In broad daylight! Whence comes this audacity? +Go, thou art ruining my honor; retire, I beseech thee. + +_Don Rodrigo._ I go to die, dear lady, and I come to bid you in this +place, before the mortal blow, a last adieu. This unchangeable love, +which binds me beneath your laws, dares not to accept my death without +paying to you homage for it. + +_Chimene._ Thou art going to death! + +_Don Rodrigo._ I speed to those happy moments which will deliver my life +from your (feelings of) resentment. + +_Chimene._ Thou art going to death! Is Don Sancho, then, so formidable, +that he can inspire terror in this invincible heart? What has rendered +thee so weak? or what renders him so strong? Does Rodrigo go to fight, +and believe himself already slain [_lit._ dead]? He who has not feared +the Moors nor my father, goes to fight Don Sancho, and already despairs? +Thus, then, thy courage lowers itself in the [hour of] need. + +_Don Rodrigo._ I speed [_lit._ I run] to my punishment, and not to the +combat; and, since you seek my death, my faithful ardor will readily +deprive me of the desire of defending my life. I have always the same +courage, but I have not the [strong] arm, when it is needed, to preserve +that which does not please you; and already this night would have been +fatal to me, if I had fought for my own private wrong; but, defending my +king, his people, and my country, by carelessly defending myself, I +should have betrayed _them_. My high-born spirit does not hate life so +much as to wish to depart from it by perfidy, now that it regards my +interests only. You demand my death--I accept its decree. Your +resentment chose the hand of another; I was unworthy [_lit._ I did not +deserve] to die by yours. They shall not see me repel its blows; I owe +more respect to him [the champion] who fights for you; and delighted to +think that it is from you these [blows] proceed--since it is your honor +that his arms sustain--I shall present to him my unprotected [_or_, +defenceless] breast, worshipping through his hand thine that destroys +me. + +_Chimene._ If the just vehemence of a sad [sense of] duty, which causes +me, in spite of myself, to follow after thy valiant life, prescribes to +thy love a law so severe, that it surrenders thee without defence to him +who combats for me, in this infatuation [_lit._ blindness], lose not the +recollection, that, with thy life, thine honor is tarnished, and that, +in whatever renown Rodrigo may have lived, when men shall know him to be +dead, they will believe him conquered. Thine honor is dearer to thee +than I am dear, since it steeps thine hands in the blood of my father, +and causes thee to renounce, in spite of thy love, the sweet hope of +gaining me. I see thee, however, pay such little regard to it [honor], +that, without fighting, thou wishest to be overcome. What inconsistency +[_lit._ unequality] mars thy valor! Why hast thou it [that valor] no +more? or why didst thou possess it [formerly]? What! art thou valiant +only to do me an injury? Unless it be to offend [_or_, injure] me, hast +thou no courage at all? And dost thou treat my father with such rigor +[i.e. so far disparage the memory of my father], that, after having +conquered him, thou wilt endure a conqueror? Go! without wishing to die, +leave me to pursue thee, and defend thine honor, if thou wilt no longer +live. + +_Don Rodrigo._ After the death of the count and the defeat of the +Moors, will my renown still require other achievements? That [glory] may +scorn the care of defending myself; it is known that my courage dares to +attempt all, that my valor can accomplish all, and that, here below +[_lit._ under the heavens], in comparison with mine honor, nothing is +precious to me. No! no! in this combat, whatever thou may'st please to +think, Rodrigo may die without risking his renown: without men daring to +accuse him of having wanted spirit: without being considered as +conquered, without enduring a conqueror. They will say only: "He adored +Chimene; he would not live and merit her hatred; he yielded himself to +the severity of his fate, which compelled his mistress to seek his +death; she wished for his life [_lit._ head], and his magnanimous heart, +had that been refused to her, would have considered it a crime. To +avenge his honor, he lost his love; to avenge his mistress, he forsook +life, preferring (whatever hope may have enslaved his soul) his honor to +Chimene, and Chimene to his existence." Thus, then, you will see that my +death in this conflict, far from obscuring my glory, will increase its +value; and this honor will follow my voluntary death, that no other than +myself could have satisfied you [for the death of your father]. + +_Chimene._ Since, to prevent thee from rushing to destruction, thy life +and thine honor are [but] feeble inducements, if ever I loved thee, dear +Rodrigo, in return [for that love], defend thyself now, to rescue me +from Don Sancho. Fight, to release me from a compact which delivers me +to the object of my aversion. Shall I say more to thee? Go, think of thy +defence, to overcome my sense of duty, to impose on me silence; and if +thou feelest thine heart still enamored for me, come forth, as a +conqueror, from a combat of which Chimene is the reward. Adieu; this +thoughtlessly uttered [_lit._ let slip] word causes me to blush for +shame! + +[_Exit Chimene._] + +_Don Rodrigo._ Where is the foe I could not now subdue? Come forth, +[warriors] of Navarre, Morocco, and Castile! and all the heroes that +Spain has produced; unite together and form an army, to contend against +one hand thus nerved [to action]. Unite all your efforts against a hope +so sweet--you have too little power to succeed in destroying it! + + +Scene II.--THE INFANTA. + + +Shall I listen to thee still, pride of my birth, that makest a crime out +of my passions? Shall I listen to thee, love, whose delicious power +causes my desires to rebel against this proud tyrant? Poor princess! to +which of the two oughtest thou to yield obedience? Rodrigo, thy valor +renders thee worthy of me; but although thou art valiant, thou art not +the son of a king. + +Pitiless fate, whose severity separates my glory and my desires! Is it +decreed [_lit._ said], that the choice of [a warrior of] such rare merit +should cost my passion such great anguish? O heaven! for how many +sorrows [_lit._ sighs] must my heart prepare itself, if, after such a +long, painful struggle, it never succeeds in either extinguishing the +love, or accepting the lover! + +But there are too many scruples, and my reason is alarmed at the +contempt of a choice so worthy; although to monarchs only my [proud] +birth may assign me, Rodrigo, with honor I shall live under thy laws. +After having conquered two kings, couldst thou fail in obtaining a +crown? And this great name of Cid, which thou hast just now won--does it +not show too clearly over whom thou art destined to reign? + +He is worthy of me, but he belongs to Chimene; the present which I made +of him [to her], injures me. Between them, the death of a father has +interposed so little hatred, that the duty of blood with regret pursues +him. Thus let us hope for no advantage, either from his transgression or +from my grief, since, to punish me, destiny has allowed that love should +continue even between two enemies. + + +Scene III.--THE INFANTA and LEONORA. + + +_Infanta._ Whence [i.e. for what purpose] comest thou, Leonora? + +_Leonora._ To congratulate you, dear lady, on the tranquillity which at +last your soul has recovered. + +_Infanta._ From what quarter can tranquillity come [_lit._ whence should +this tranquillity come], in an accumulation of sorrow? + +_Leonora._ If love lives on hope, and if it dies with it, Rodrigo can no +more charm your heart; you know of the combat in which Chimene involves +him; since he must die in it, or become her husband, your hope is dead +and your spirit is healed. + +_Infanta._ Ah! how far from it! + +_Leonora._ What more can you expect? + +_Infanta._ Nay, rather, what hope canst thou forbid me [to entertain]? +If Rodrigo fights under these conditions, to counteract the effect of it +[that conflict], I have too many resources. Love, this sweet author of +my cruel punishments, puts into [_lit._ teaches] the minds of lovers too +many stratagems. + +_Leonora._ Can _you_ [accomplish] anything, since a dead father has not +been able to kindle discord in their minds? For Chimene clearly shows by +her behavior that hatred to-day does not cause her pursuit. She obtains +the [privilege of a] combat, and for her champion, she accepts on the +moment the first that offers. She has not recourse to those renowned +knights [_lit._ noble hands] whom so many famous exploits render so +glorious; Don Sancho suffices her, and merits her choice, because he is +going to arm himself for the first time; she loves in this duel his want +of experience; as he is without renown, [so] is she without +apprehension; and her readiness [to accept him], ought to make you +clearly see that she seeks for a combat which her duty demands, but +which yields her Rodrigo an easy victory, and authorizes her at length +to seem appeased. + +_Infanta._ I observe it clearly; and nevertheless my heart, in rivalry +with Chimene, adores this conqueror. On what shall I resolve, hopeless +lover that I am? + +_Leonora._ To remember better from whom you are sprung. Heaven owes you +a king; you love a subject! + +_Infanta._ The object of my attachment has completely changed: I no +longer love Rodrigo as a mere nobleman. No; it is not thus that my love +entitles him. If I love him, it is [as] the author of so many brilliant +deeds; it is [as] the valiant Cid, the master of two kings. I shall +conquer myself, however; not from dread of any censure, but in order +that I may not disturb so glorious a love; and even though, to favor me, +they should crown him, I will not accept again [_lit._ take back] a gift +which I have given. Since in such a combat his triumph is certain, let +us go once more to give him [_or_, that gift] to Chimene. And thou, who +seest the love-arrows with which my heart is pierced; come see me finish +as I have begun. + + +Scene IV.--CHIMENE and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimene._ Elvira, how greatly I suffer; and how much I am to be pitied! +I know not what to hope, and I see everything to be dreaded. No wish +escapes me to which I dare consent. I desire nothing without quickly +repenting of it [_lit._ a quick repentance]. I have caused two rivals to +take up arms for me: the most happy result will cause me tears; and +though fate may decree in my favor, my father is without revenge, or my +lover is dead. + +_Elvira._ On the one side and the other I see you consoled; either you +have Rodrigo, or you are avenged. And however fate may ordain for you, +it maintains your honor and gives you a spouse. + +_Chimene._ What! the object of my hatred or of such resentment!--the +slayer of Rodrigo, or that of my father! In either case [_lit._ on all +sides] they give me a husband, still [all] stained with the blood that I +cherished most; in either case my soul revolts, and I fear more than +death the ending of my quarrel. Away! vengeance, love--which agitate my +feelings. Ye have no gratifications for me at such a price; and Thou, +Powerful Controller of the destiny which afflicts me, terminate this +combat without any advantage, without rendering either of the two +conquered or conqueror. + +_Elvira._ This would be treating you with too much severity. This combat +is a new punishment for your feelings, if it leaves you [still] +compelled to demand justice, to exhibit always this proud resentment, +and continually to seek after the death of your lover. Dear lady, it is +far better that his unequalled valor, crowning his brow, should impose +silence upon you; that the conditions of the combat should extinguish +your sighs; and that the King should compel you to follow your +inclinations. + +_Chimene._ If he be conqueror, dost thou believe that I shall +surrender? My strong [sense of] duty is too strong and my loss too +great; and this [law of] combat and the will of the King are not strong +enough to dictate conditions to them [i.e. to my duty and sorrow for +my loss]. He may conquer Don Sancho with very little difficulty, but he +shall not with him [conquer] the sense of duty of Chimene; and whatever +[reward] a monarch may have promised to his victory, my self-respect +will raise against him a thousand other enemies. + +_Elvira._ Beware lest, to punish this strange pride, heaven may at last +permit you to revenge yourself. What!--you will still reject the +happiness of being able now to be reconciled [_lit._ to be silent] with +honor? What means this duty, and what does it hope for? Will the death +of your lover restore to you a father? Is one [fatal] stroke of +misfortune insufficient for you? Is there need of loss upon loss, and +sorrow upon sorrow? Come, in the caprice in which your humor persists, +you do not deserve the lover that is destined for you, and we may +[_lit._ shall] see the just wrath of heaven, by his death, leaving you +Don Sancho as a spouse. + +_Chimene._ Elvira, the griefs which I endure are sufficient: do not +redouble them by this fatal augury. I wish, if I can, to avoid both; but +if not, in this conflict Rodrigo has all my prayers; not because a weak +[_lit._ foolish] affection inclines me to his side, but because, if he +were conquered, I should become [the bride] of Don Sancho. This fear +creates [_lit._ causes to be born] my desire---- + + [_Enter Don Sancho._] + +What do I see, unhappy [woman that I am]! Elvira, all is lost! + + +Scene V.--DON SANCHO, CHIMENE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Don Sancho._ Compelled to bring this sword to thy feet---- + +_Chimene._ What! still [all] reeking with the blood of Rodrigo! Traitor, +dost thou dare to show thyself before mine eyes, after having taken from +me that [being] whom I love the best? Declare thyself my love, and thou +hast no more to fear. My father is satisfied; cease to restrain thyself. +The same [death] stroke has placed my honor in safety, my soul in +despair, and my passion at liberty! + +_Don Sancho._ With a mind more calmly collected---- + +_Chimene._ Dost thou still speak to me, detestable assassin of a hero +whom I adore? Go; you fell upon him treacherously. A warrior so valiant +would never have sunk beneath such an assailant! Hope nothing from me. +Thou hast not served me; and believing that thou wert avenging me, thou +hast deprived me of life. + +_Don Sancho._ Strange delusion, which, far from listening to me---- + +_Chimene._ Wilt thou that I should listen to thee while boasting of his +death?--that I should patiently hear with what haughty pride thou wilt +describe his misfortune, my own crime, and thy prowess? + + +Scene VI.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON SANCHO, DON ALONZO, +CHIMENE, and ELVIRA. + + +_Chimene._ Sire, there is no further need to dissemble that which all my +struggles have not been able to conceal from you. I loved, you knew it; +but, to avenge my father, I even wished to sacrifice so dear a being [as +Rodrigo]. Sire, your majesty may have seen how I have made love yield to +duty. At last, Rodrigo is dead; and his death has converted me from an +unrelenting foe into an afflicted lover. I owed this revenge to him who +gave me existence; and to my love I now owe these tears. Don Sancho has +destroyed me in undertaking my defence; and I am the reward of the arm +which destroys me. Sire, if compassion can influence a king, for mercy's +sake revoke a law so severe. As the reward of a victory by which I lose +that which I love, I leave him my possessions; let him leave me to +myself, that in a sacred cloister I may weep continually, even to my +last sigh, for my father and my lover. + +_Don Diego._ In brief, she loves, sire, and no longer believes it a +crime to acknowledge with her own lips a lawful affection. + +_Don Fernando._ Chimene, be undeceived [_lit._ come out from thine +error]; thy lover is not dead, and the vanquished Don Sancho has given +thee a false report. + +_Don Sancho._ Sire, a little too much eagerness, in spite of me, has +misled her; I came from the combat to tell her the result. This noble +warrior of whom her heart is enamored, when he had disarmed me, spoke to +me thus: "Fear nothing--I would rather leave the victory uncertain, than +shed blood risked in defence of Chimene; but, since my duty calls me to +the King, go, tell her of our combat [on my behalf]; on the part of the +conqueror, carry her thy sword." Sire, I came; this weapon deceived her; +seeing me return, she believed me to be conqueror, and her resentment +suddenly betrayed her love, with such excitement and so much impatience, +that I could not obtain a moment's hearing. As for me, although +conquered, I consider myself fortunate; and in spite of the interests of +my enamored heart, [though] losing infinitely, I still love my defeat, +which causes the triumph of a love so perfect. + +_Don Fernando._ My daughter, there is no need to blush for a passion so +glorious, nor to seek means of making a disavowal of it; a laudable +[sense of] shame in vain solicits thee; thy honor is redeemed, and thy +duty performed; thy father is satisfied, and it was to avenge him that +thou didst so often place thy Rodrigo in danger. Thou seest how heaven +otherwise ordains. Having done so much for him [i.e. thy father], do +something for thyself; and be not rebellious against my command, which +gives thee a spouse beloved so dearly. + + +Scene VII.--DON FERNANDO, DON DIEGO, DON ARIAS, DON RODRIGO, DON +ALONZO, DON SANCHO, THE INFANTA, CHIMENE, LEONORA, and ELVIRA. + + +_Infanta._ Dry thy tears, Chimene, and receive without sadness this +noble conqueror from the hands of thy princess. + +_Don Rodrigo._ Be not offended, sire, if in your presence an impassioned +homage causes me to kneel before her [_lit._ casts me before her knees]. +I come not here to ask for [the reward of] my victory; I come once more +[_or_, anew] to offer you my head, dear lady. My love shall not employ +in my own favor either the law of the combat or the will of the King. If +all that has been done is too little for a father, say by what means you +must be satisfied. Must I still contend against a thousand and a +thousand rivals, and to the two ends of the earth extend my labors, +myself alone storm a camp, put to flight an army, surpass the renown of +fabulous heroes? If my deep offence can be by that means washed away, I +dare undertake all, and can accomplish all. But if this proud honor, +always inexorable, cannot be appeased without the death of the guilty +[offender], arm no more against me the power of mortals; mine head is at +thy feet, avenge thyself by thine own hands; thine hands alone have the +right to vanquish the invincible. Take thou a vengeance to all others +impossible. But at least let my death suffice to punish me; banish me +not from thy remembrance, and, since my doom preserves your honor, to +recompense yourself for this, preserve my memory, and say sometimes, +when deploring my fate: "Had he not loved me, he would not have died." + +_Chimene._ Rise, Rodrigo. I must confess it, sire, I have said too much +to be able to unsay it. Rodrigo has noble qualities which I cannot hate; +and, when a king commands, he ought to be obeyed. But to whatever [fate] +you may have already doomed me, can you, before your eyes, tolerate this +union? And when you desire this effort from my feeling of duty, is it +entirely in accord with your sense of justice? If Rodrigo becomes so +indispensable to the state, of that which he has done for you ought I to +be the reward, and surrender myself to the everlasting reproach of +having imbrued my hands in the blood of a father? + +_Don Fernando._ Time has often rendered lawful that which at first +seemed impossible, without being a crime. Rodrigo has won thee, and thou +art justly his. But, although his valor has by conquest obtained thee +to-day, it would need that I should become the enemy of thy +self-respect, to give him so soon the reward of his victory. This bridal +deferred does not break a law, which, without specifying the time, +devotes thy faith to him. Take a year, if thou wilt, to dry thy tears; +Rodrigo, in the mean time, must take up arms. After having vanquished +the Moors on our borders, overthrown their plans, and repulsed their +attacks, go, carry the war even into their country, command my army, +and ravage their territory. At the mere name of Cid they will tremble +with dismay. They have named thee lord! they will desire thee as their +king! But, amidst thy brilliant [_lit._ high] achievements, be thou to +her always faithful; return, if it be possible, still more worthy of +her, and by thy great exploits acquire such renown, that it may be +glorious for her to espouse thee then. + +_Don Rodrigo._ To gain Chimene, and for your service, what command can +be issued to me that mine arm cannot accomplish? Yet, though absent from +her [dear] eyes, I must suffer grief, sire, I have too much happiness in +being able--to hope! + +_Don Fernando._ Hope in thy manly resolution; hope in my promise, and +already possessing the heart of thy mistress, let time, thy valor, and +thy king exert themselves [_lit._ do, or act], to overcome a scrupulous +feeling of honor which is contending against thee. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cid, by Pierre Corneille + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CID *** + +***** This file should be named 14954.txt or 14954.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/9/5/14954/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Branko Collin and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/14954.zip b/14954.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed4c35c --- /dev/null +++ b/14954.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..72856de --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14954 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14954) |