No More Learning

Corneille

Le Cid



Translated by A. S. Kline (C) 2007 All Rights Reserved
This work may be freely reproduced, stored, and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose.



Contents

Characters 4
Act I Scene I (Chimene, Elvire) 5
Act I Scene II (Infanta, Leonor, Page) 7
Act I Scene III (The Count, Don Diegue) 11
Act I Scene IV (Don Diegue) 15
Act I Scene V (Don Diegue, Don Rodrigue) 16
Act I Scene VI (Don Rodrigue) 18
Act II Scene I (Don Arias, The Count) 20
Act II Scene II (The Count, Don Rodrigue) 23
Act II Scene III (The Infanta, Chimene, Leonor) 26
Act II Scene IV (The Infanta, Chimene, Leonor, Page) 29
Act II Scene V (The Infanta, Leonor) 30
Act II Scene VI (King Ferdinand, Don Arias, Don Sanche) 32
Act II Scene VII (King Ferdinand, Don Sanche, Don Alonso) 35
Act II Scene VIII (King Ferdinand, Don Diegue, Chimene, Don Sanche, Don Arias, Don Alonso) 36
Act III Scene I (Rodrigue, Elvire) 40
Act III Scene II (Don Sanche, Chimene, Elvire) 42
Act III Scene III (Chimene, Elvire) 43
Act III Scene IV (Rodrigue, Chimene, Elvire) 46
Act III Scene V (Don Diegue) 53
Act III Scene VI (Don Diegue, Don Rodrigue) 54
Act IV Scene I (Chimene, Elvire) 57
Act IV Scene II (The Infanta, Chimene, Leonor, Elvire) 59
Act IV Scene III (The King, Diegue, Arias, Rodrigue, Sanche) 62
Act IV Scene IV (The King, Diegue, Arias, Rodrigue, Alonso, Sanche) 66
Act IV Scene V (The King, Diegue, Arias, Alonso, Sanche, Chimene, Elvire) 67
Act V Scene I (Rodrigue, Chimene) 72
Act V Scene II (Infanta) 76
Act V Scene III (Infanta, Leonor) 77
Act V Scene IV (Chimene, Elvire) 79
Act V Scene V (Don Sanche, Chimene, Elvire) 81
Act V Scene VI (King, Diegue, Arias, Sanche, Alonso, Chimene, Elvire) 82
Act V Scene VII (King, Diegue, Arias, Rodrigue, Alonso, Sanche, Infanta, Chimene, Leonor, Elvire) 84

Characters

Don Ferdinand, King of Castile
Donna Urraque, his daughter, the Infanta of Castile
Don Diegue, the father of Don Rodrigue
Don Gomes, Count of Gomes, the father of Chimene
Don Rodrigue, the lover of Chimene
Done Sanche, enamoured of Chimene.
Don Arias, a Castilian gentleman
Don Alonso, a Castilian gentleman
Chimene, daughter of Don Gomes
Leonor, governess to the Infanta
Elvire, governess to Chimene
A Page, to the Infanta


Act I Scene I (Chimene, Elvire)

Chimene
Is the report you bring me now sincere?
Are you editing my father's words, Elvire?

Elvire
All my thoughts are still enchanted by them:
He esteems Rodrigue, as you love him,
Reading his soul, if I am free from error,
He'll wish you to take him as your lover.

Chimene
I beg you then, tell me a second time
Why he must approve this choice of mine;
Tell me once more what hopes I may enjoy;
Ever such sweet speech may you employ;
Promise our love's flame, that flares so bright,
The freedom to display itself outright.
What did he say regarding the intrigue,
Involving you, Don Sanche, and Don Rodrigue?
Did you reveal that inequality
Between the two lovers, that so sways me?

Elvire
No, I portrayed indifference to either
Raising or lowering the hopes of neither,
Your eyes neither too gentle nor severe,
Until your father's choice be made clear.
Your respect pleased him, his oratory,
And look, of this gave noble testimony.
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.
Elvire
No, I portrayed indifference to either
Raising or lowering the hopes of neither,
Your eyes neither too gentle nor severe,
Until your father's choice be made clear.
Your respect pleased him, his oratory,
And look, of this gave noble testimony.
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.