Scene II A Room in Felix’s House
Anna and Elvira.
Anna. Beside the charge of my own love, Elvira,
Whose crosses, I believe, will slay me soon,
My brother has confided to me at last
His passion for the Princess Nisida;
And, for he knows that I am near her heart,
Would have me whisper it into her ears;
Which, were it such a passion as I feel,
His eyes would have reveal’d her long ago.
However, I have told her, and have got
An answer such—But look! he comes.
Enter Felix.
Fel. Oh, sister,
Might but your news be half as good as mine!
A largess for it, come. You are betroth’d,
By me, and by the Prince himself, to one
In all ways worthy of you, and who long
Has silently adored.
Anna (aside). Is it possible?
Cesar! (Aloud.) Well, ask the largess that you will.
Fel. The Princess—
Anna. Well?
Fel. What says she?
Anna. All she could
At the first blush—nothing—and that means all:
Go to her, and press out the lingering Yes
That lives, they say, in silence.
Fel. Oh, my sister!
But who comes here?
Enter Cesar and Lazaro.
Ces. (giving the letter). I, Felix. This must be
My warrant—from the Prince. Oh misery!
Fel. I thank you, Cesar. (Reads.) ‘Because happiness is the less welcome when anticipated, I have hitherto withheld from you, that he to whom I have engaged your sister’s hand, is—Don Cesar! in whom unites all that man or woman can desire. If the man lives who can deserve such glory, it is he. Farewell.’
Ces. Great Heav’n!
Fel. Nay, read the letter.
Enter Prince, Nisida, Arias, and Train.
Prince. He shall not need,
Myself am here to speak it.
Ces. (kneeling). Oh, my lord!
Prince. Rise, Cesar. If your service, as it did,
Ask’d for reward, I think you have it now;
Such as not my dominion alone,
But all the world beside, could not supply.
Madam, your hand; Don Cesar, yours. I come
To give away the bride:
And after must immediately away
To Flanders, where by Philip’s trumpet led,
I will wear Maestricht’s laurel round my brows;
Leaving meanwhile Don Felix Governor
Till my return—by this sign manual.
[Puts Nisida’s hand in Felix’s.
Fel. My lord, my lord!
Laz. Elvira!
Elv. Lazaro!
Laz. I must be off. Our betters if we ape,
And they ape marriage, how shall we escape?
Ar. And learn this moral. None commend
A secret ev’n to trustiest friend:
Which secret still in peril lies
Even in the breast of the most wise;
And at his blabbing who should groan
Who could not even keep his own?
There are three other plays by Calderon, on this subject of keeping one’s love secret; a policy, whose neglect is punisht by a policy characteristically Spanish. 1. Amigo, Amante, y Leal: which has the same Prince and Arias, only the Prince confides his love to his rival. 2. El Secreto a Voces: where it is the ladies who shuffle the secret about the men. And 3. Basta Callar, a more complicated intrigue than any.