Overview
- Female: 1
- Male: 2
Context
The romance between Marcela and Teodoro has been complicated and nearly broken by their mistress Diana’s jealousy. Tristan, another servant and Teodoro’s best friend, is doing everything he can to reconcile the two lovers; he knows how much they really do love each other, and he is eager to check Teodoro’s ambition of rising about his social station. Comically, he maneuvers back and forth between Teodoro and Marcela until the two finally fall into each other’s arms. During this scene, Diana and
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MARCELA: Leave me, for goodness' sake.
TRISTAN: That silly woman who so dotes on him dazzled his eyes and ears with empty beauty no longer than a flash of summer lightning. He scorns her riches now, and finds in you, your elegance, your grace, far richer treasure. That love flew like a comet, and was gone. Come here, Teodoro.
TEODORO: If Marcela says it's Fabio she loves now, why bother me?
TRISTAN: Now he's annoyed!
TEODORO: No doubt they're better suited.
TRISTAN: You too? You're acting up? Come on now, stop it.
TEODORO: Why try to talk me round, you fool?
TRISTAN: For my sake, give me your hand this once, sir.
TEODORO: Have I ever told her I loved somebody else? But she says....
TRISTAN: That's just a trick, she wants to turn the tables.
MARCELA: It's not a trick, it's true!
TRISTAN: Shut up, you silly. Come on now, both of you, you're being stupid.
TEODORO: I tried to make it up before; by God, though, I won't be friendly now.
MARCELA: I'm damned if I will.
TRISTAN: Don't swear.
MARCELA: I'm trying hard to still seem angry, but very nearly wilting.
TRISTAN: Keep it up!
MARCELA: I've things to do, Tristan, please let me go!
TEODORO: Yes, let her go.
TRISTAN: All right by me!
TEODORO: No, stop her!
MARCELA: I'm coming, darling!
TRISTAN: Well, why don't you go, then, since I'm not stopping either one of you?
MARCELA: Alas, my love, I can't.
TEODORO: No, nor can I. I'm rooted, like a rock amid the ocean!
MARCELA: Come to my arms, my dearest!
TEODORO: Come to mine!
TRISTAN: Why let me labour, if you didn't need, me?
TEODORO: How could you say such cruel things, my darling?
TRISTAN: I must say, now you're happily united, I reckon it's a bad lookout for brokers when both the parties come to terms without 'em.
MARCELA: If I should ever leave you, love, for Fabio, or for the world, may you prove false and slay me!
TEODORO: I reaffirm my love for you forever and if I prove untrue, may Heaven reward me by seeing you, my sweet, in Fabio's arms.
MARCELA: And will you right, my love, the wrong you did me?
TEODORO: What would I not do, love, for you and with you?
MARCELA: Tell me that every other woman's ugly.
TEODORO: Compared to you, of course. What else, my precious?
MARCELA: There is one other thing, now you're so loving, one little jealousy. It doesn't matter Tristan being here....
TRISTAN: Oh, don't mind me, go on; say what you want to, why not slander me?
MARCELA: Tell me Diana's ugly. ,
TEODORO: As the devil!
MARCELA: And stupid.
TEODORO: Utterly.
MARCELA: And vain?
TEODORO: Insipid.
Lope de Vega. The Dog in the Manger. Trans. Victor Dixon. Carleton Renaissance Plays in Translation. Ottawa, Dovehouse Editions, 1990. pp. 78-79.
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