The Phoenix of Madrid

Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Laurence Boswell

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9781849431347
• eBook ISBN: 9781849436946
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Mezzi di comunicazione e arti performative
• Subtopic: Teatro britannico

Don Pedro has it all – high position, wealth, a beautiful family – and enjoys the good life in the heart of the Spanish capital. But now he faces a challenge that would test the patience of a saint. It is time to marry off his daughters. It's bad enough that his eldest Beatriz is both obsessed by the latest fashions and talks like a university professor, but his youngest Leonor is already enjoying illicit midnight trysts with her lover and is in no mood to accept an arranged marriage. Throw into this explosive mix the extravagant young man about town, Don Alonso, who thinks all women, like all plays, are excellent on the first night and boring on the second, and you have the recipe for an hilarious comedy that reaches out effortlessly across the centuries.

ACT THREE

SCENE ONE

The house of DON PEDRO. Enter INES and BEATRIZ.

INES:	They jumped off that balcony Like a pair of Lucifers, falling…
BEATRIZ:	Oh, no, Ines! What happened next?
INES:	Two men appeared out of nowhere Drew their swords and started a fight Suffice to say, master and man Rebuffed the attack, one used his head, While the other took to his heals.
BEATRIZ:	What are you saying?
INES:	What happened!
BEATRIZ:	But who told you all this, Ines?
INES:	Every word I am telling you Was told me by the servant of The gallant with the broken leg, That heroic man who jumped off The balcony to save your skin.
BEATRIZ:	Who imparted the laceration? Who caused the wounds?
INES:	Strangers!
BEATRIZ:	Then he reclines somewhere in pain?
INES:	With a sore head and a broken leg.
BEATRIZ:	Must he be always claudicante?
INES:	Claudi-who? What do you mean? I thought you’d given up big words!
BEATRIZ:	Was there ever a more ignorant Or illiterate woman! It may be said that a person Unable to ambulate In smooth and even fashion Is claudicante, now, do you see?
INES:	I’ve no idea what you’re saying! All I know is a gentleman, Is laid up somewhere and he’s hurt.
BEATRIZ:	And I, oh heaven, feel his pain. What poison has my soul imbibed What insanity, what passion What outrage, what torment, Has breached the portals of my ears Conceiving in me something That these feelings may yet abort? What is passing through me? Were I able to comprehend I could, perhaps, describe, explain. The god of love, god of fools Hearing me insult his power Has cursed me and the more I deny his deity the more He punishes me with stirring I fail as yet to comprehend.
	A man entered my private room With boldness and resolution Taking responsibility for his deeds But his generous actions leave me With a deep sense of obligation Though his words of love left me With a serious sense of offence. Strange that one might feel both Offended and obliged together. My father came into the room And tragic might have been the result Had the gallant gentleman not Followed to the letter all the Instructions I imparted: For my sake, he concealed himself For my sake, jumped from a height For my sake he was injured by
	An unknown hand, thus I remain, With grievance and gratitude, Not knowing which to preference. Empathy for his suffering Is improper yet to ignore one’s Obligations would be impolite, I’m offended he came to woo, yet Regret he suffered in my cause: If one begins feeling gratitude May one ultimately fall in love?
INES:	Madam, what pain do you endure? Why do you weep so bitterly?
BEATRIZ:	Would you have me other than I am?
INES:	Don’t throw away the dawn’s white pearls You might be needing them anon.
BEATRIZ:	Oh, Ines, my dearest, Ines. If you could keep my secret safe I could share my torment with you.
INES:	My heart is a strong box in which Your...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Characters
• ACT ONE
• ACT TWO
• ACT THREE