No More Learning

And since I must repeat the whole story,
Here now is what he hastened to tell me:
'She's dutiful, and both deserve her hand,
Both are of noble blood, loyal, valiant,
Young, yet it's clear to see in their eyes
The shining virtue of their ancient ties:
Don Rodrigue above all: in his visage,
Every trait reveals the heroic image,
His house so rich in soldiers of renown,
They seem born to wear the laurel crown.
His father's valour, unequalled in his age,
As long as his strength lasted, held the stage;
On his brow his exploits are engraved,
Its wrinkles speak to us of former days.
What the father was I look for in the son;
My daughter may love him, pleasing me for one. '
He was on his way to Council, and was pressed,
So cut short what speech he had expressed;
But those last few words show his mind
Is not in doubt between them, you'll find.
For his son, the king must choose a tutor,
Your father deserves that high honour;
The choice is not in doubt, and his valour
Beyond all competition with another.
Since his lofty exploits have no equal
In such a matter he will have no rival.
Don Rodrigue has convinced his father
To propose him when the council's over,
Judge then the chance that he'll be denied.
Rather your wishes shall be satisfied.

Chimene
Nonetheless, it seems, my soul is troubled,
Rejects this joy, all its confusion doubled:
Fate may show different faces, all diverse,
And in my bliss I fear some cruel reverse.

Elvire
Happily this fear shall disappoint you.

Chimene
Come what may, let us await the issue.


Act I Scene II (Infanta, Leonor, Page)

Infanta
Page, go now, tell Chimene anew
Her daily visit is long overdue
My love for her bewails her tardiness.

(Exit Page)

Leonor
Madame, each day this same wish you express;
And when she's here, I hear you ask, each day,
How far her love has travelled on its way.

Infanta
Not without purpose: almost now I force her
To welcome the pangs that make her suffer.
She loves Rodrigue, I gave her him again,
Through me Rodrigue conquered his disdain;
Having thus forged these lovers' heavy chains,
I wish to see an end to all their pains.
Leonor
Yet, Madame, considering your success
Your show of sadness runs now to excess.
Should love, that's full for them of happiness,
Cause your noble heart this deep distress?
Why should the interest in them, I see,
Cause you unhappiness if they are happy?
But I presume: forgive my indiscretion.

Infanta
My sorrow has increased by being hidden.
Hear, hear how I have struggled, all is true,
Hear of the assaults against my virtue.
Love is a tyrant who spares none, I fear:
This young knight, this lover, aided here,
I love.

Leonor
You love him!

Infanta
Feel my beating heart,
See how it quivers at the conqueror's dart,
When it hears his name.

Leonor
Madame, pardon me,
If I'm at fault for censuring this folly,
A great princess so strangely to forget
Herself, and love a simple knight as yet!
What will the king, what will Castile say?
Do you forget the role that you must play?

Infanta
So little that my blood would drench the earth
Before I'd stoop thus to betray my birth.
I might well answer that among great names,
Worth alone deserves to stir the flames;
Or, if my passion sought for some excuse,
A thousand precedents have lit the fuse:
But I'll not follow where my thoughts engage;
My depth of feeling will not quench my courage.
I remind myself as a royal daughter
None but royalty is worthy of her.
My heart unable to defend itself,
I gave away what I dared not take myself;
In my stead, let Chimene drink the wine,
And fire their passion to extinguish mine.