Fuente Ovejuna

Full Text and Introduction

Lope de Vega, Laurence Boswell

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781848420236
• eBook ISBN: 9781788502429
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A masterpiece by one of the greatest writers of the Spanish Golden Age.

When the people of the town of Fuente Ovejuna revolt against their tyrannical overlord and murder him, the authorities attempt to find out who is responsible, leading to one of the most memorable acts of resistance in world drama.

First published in Madrid in 1619, Lope de Vega's play Fuente Ovejuna is believed to have been written between 1612 and 1614.

This edition in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is an English translation by Laurence Boswell.

ACT ONE

Scene One

Almagro. Spring, 1476. The residence of the GRAND MASTER, the Order of Calatrava.

COMMANDER.

Are you sure the Master knows I’m

In Almagro?

FLORES.

Sir, he knows!

ORTUÑO.

Old enough now to keep you waiting.

COMMANDER.

Does he know the man who’s waiting

Is Fernán Gómez de Guzmán?

FLORES.

He’s nineteen, sir, don’t be surprised.

COMMANDER.

He may have forgotten my name

But I’m still his Chief Commander

And that title demands respect.

ORTUÑO.

He’s surrounded by advisors

Saying, ‘Go on, keep him waiting.’

COMMANDER.

He’ll win few friends playing that game.

When you treat a man with respect

You build a bridge into his heart

When you treat a man with contempt

You make an enemy for life.

ORTUÑO.

If the discourteous man knew

How all his colleagues despise him

And dream of a thousand ways of

Making him grovel in the dirt

Wouldn’t he rather end his days

Than go on living such a life?

FLORES.

A man like that’s a total bore!

A vile, tedious waste of time!

When you treat an equal badly

You show the world you’re a fool

You treat those beneath you badly

You show the heart of a tyrant.

But in this case there’s no offence

Just a boy who has yet to learn

The importance of courtesy.

COMMANDER.

The day they pinned the sacred cross

Of our crusade on his young breast

He swore an oath compelling him

To treat all men with courtesy.

FLORES.

Well, if he’s been briefed against you

Now’s your chance to change his thinking.

ORTUÑO.

Look sharp, I can see him coming.

COMMANDER.

Time to find out what he’s made of.

Enter the GRAND MASTER, accompanied.

MASTER.

Don Fernán Gómez de Guzmán

I humbly beg your forgiveness

I have only just been informed

Of your presence in Almagro.

COMMANDER.

I have good reason to feel wronged.

I had hoped my loyalty and my

Years of service would teach you

To treat me with respect: as you’re

The Grand Master of Calatrava

And I, your High Commander,

Am your servant and your slave.

MASTER.

I was not informed of your arrival,

Accept my apology, once more:

Accept my embrace.

COMMANDER.

You honour me

As you should, how often have I

Risked my life on your behalf

In these dangerous times?

And who intervened with His Holiness

When the question of your youth

Put your succession in doubt?

MASTER.

You did and I swear, by the cross

Which graces both our breasts, I am

Grateful for your loyal service

I honour you as a father.

COMMANDER.

My humble thanks, I am content.

MASTER.

Now, what news of the war?

COMMANDER.

Let me

Show you where the path of duty lies.

MASTER.

Speak, I am ready to listen.

COMMANDER.

Don Rodrigo Téllez Girón,

Grand Master of Calatrava:

I remember the day your father

Gave up that title and proposed

That you should succeed him.

I remember an eight-year-old boy

Swearing a vow of allegiance,

His election confirmed on oath

By a host of High Commanders,

Six anointed Kings, and Pius

The Holy Father of Rome.

I remember a boy of sixteen

Weeping as he buried his uncle,

His loyal regent, Juan Pacheco,

Grand Master of Santiago.

I watched that boy take up

The heavy burden of power

And today I address the youth

Who must make a man’s decision.

Since the death of King Enrique

One question has echoed through our land:

‘Who should sit on the throne of Castile?’

Ferdinand, Great King of Aragon,

Makes his claim through his marriage

To Isabel, Enrique’s sister.

But your family support Alfonso,

King of Portugal, and his claim

Thro...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Lope de Vega: Key Dates
• Characters
• Fuente Ovejuna
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information