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_ ACT IV - SCENE I
Interior of a Posada frequented by BRAVOs, in an obscure quarter of
Burgos. FLIX at the fire, frying eggs. Men seated at small tables
drinking; others lying on benches. At the side, but in the front of the
Scene, some Beggars squatted on the ground, thrumming a Mandolin; a
Gipsy Girl dancing.
A BRAVO.
Come, mother, dost take us for Saracens? I say we are true
Christians, and so must drink wine.
ANOTHER BRAVO.
Mother Flix is sour to-night. Keep the evil eye from the olla!
3RD BRAVO.
[advancing to her]
Thou beauty of Burgos, what are dimples unless seen? Smile! wench.
FLIX.
A frying egg will not wait for the King of Cordova.
1ST BRAVO.
Will have her way. Graus knows a pretty wife's worth. A handsome
hostess is bad for the guest's purse.
1ST BRAVO.
[rising]
Good companions make good company. Graus, Graus! another flagon.
2ND BRAVO.
Of the right Catalan.
3RD BRAVO.
Nay, for my omelette.
FLIX.
Hungry men think the cook lazy.
[Enter GRAUS with a Flagon of wine.]
1ST BRAVO.
'Tis mine.
2ND BRAVO.
No, mine.
1ST BRAVO.
We'll share.
2ND BRAVO.
No, each man his own beaker; he who shares has the worst half.
3RD BRAVO.
[to FLIX, who brings the omelette]
An egg and to bed.
GRAUS.
Who drinks, first chinks.
1ST BRAVO.
The debtor is stoned every day. There will be water-work to-morrow,
and that will wash it out. You know me?
GRAUS.
In a long journey and a small inn, one knows one's company.
2ND BRAVO.
Come, I'll give, but I won't share. Fill up.
GRAUS.
That's liberal; my way; full measure but prompt pezos;
I loathe your niggards.
1ST BRAVO.
As the little tailor of Campillo said, who worked for nothing,
and found thread.
[To the other BRAVO.]
Nay, I'll not refuse; we know each other.
2ND BRAVO.
We've seen the stars together.
AN OLD MAN.
Burgos is not what it was.
5TH BRAVO.
[waking]
Sleep ends and supper begins. The olla, the olla, Mother Flix;
[shaking a purse]
there's the dinner bell.
2ND BRAVO.
That will bring courses.
1ST BRAVO.
An ass covered with gold has more respect than a horse with a
pack-saddle.
5TH BRAVO.
How for that ass?
2ND BRAVO.
Nay, the sheep should have his belly full who quarrels with his mate.
5TH BRAVO.
But how for that ass?
A FRIAR.
[advancing]
Peace be with ye, brethren! A meal in God's name.
5TH BRAVO.
Who asks in God's name, asks for two. But how for that ass?
FLIX.
[bringing the olla]
Nay, an ye must brawl, go fight the Moors. 'Tis a peaceable house,
and we sleep quiet o' nights.
5TH BRAVO.
Am I an ass?
FLIX.
He is an ass who talks when he might eat.
5TH BRAVO.
A Secadon sausage! Come, mother, I'm all peace; thou'rt a rare hand.
As in thy teeth, comrade, and no more on't
1ST BRAVO.
When I will not, two cannot quarrel.
OLD MAN.
Everything is changed for the worse.
FRIAR.
For the love of St. Jago, senors; for the love of St. Jago!
5TH BRAVO.
When it pleases not God, the saint can do little.
2ND BRAVO.
Nay, supper for all, and drink's the best meat. Some have sung
for it, some danced. There is no fishing for trout in dry breeches.
You shall preach.
FRIAR.
Benedicite, brethren--
1ST BRAVO.
Nay, no Latin, for the devil's not here.
2ND BRAVO.
And prithee let it be as full of meat as an egg; for we do many
deeds, love not many words.
FRIAR.
Thou shalt not steal.
1ST BRAVO.
He blasphemes.
FRIAR.
But what is theft?
2ND BRAVO.
Ay! there it is.
FRIAR.
The tailor he steals the cloth, and the miller he steals the meal;
is either a thief? 'tis the way of trade. But what if our trade
be to steal? Why then our work is to cut purses; to cut purses is
to follow our business; and to follow our business is to obey the
King; and so thieving is no theft. And that's probatum, and so, amen.
5TH BRAVO.
Shall put thy spoon in the olla for that.
2ND BRAVO.
And drink this health to our honest fraternity.
OLD MAN.
I have heard sermons by the hour; this is brief; every thing falls off.
[Enter a PERSONAGE masked and cloaked.]
1ST BRAVO.
[to his Companions]
See'st yon mask?
2ND BRAVO.
'Tis strange.
GRAUS.
[to FLIX]
Who is this?
FLIX.
The fool wonders, the wise man asks. Must have no masks here.
GRAUS.
An obedient wife commands her husband. Business with a stranger,
title enough.
[Advancing and addressing the Mask.]
Most noble Senor Mask.
THE UNKNOWN.
Well, fellow!
GRAUS.
Hem; as it may be. D'ye see, most noble Senor Mask, that 'tis an
orderly house this, frequented by certain honest gentlemen, that
take their siesta, and eat a fried egg after their day's work,
and so are not ashamed to show their faces. Ahem!
THE UNKNOWN.
As in truth I am in such villanous company.
GRAUS.
Wheugh! but 'tis not the first ill word that brings a blow.
Would'st sup indifferently well here at a moderate rate, we are
thy servants. My Flix hath reputation at the frying-pan, and my
wine hath made lips smack; but here, senor, faces must be uncovered.
THE UNKNOWN.
Poh! poh!
GRAUS.
Nay, then, I will send some to you shall gain softer words.
1ST BRAVO.
Why, what's this?
2ND BRAVO.
Our host is an honest man, and has friends.
5TH BRAVO.
Let me finish my olla, and I will discourse with him.
THE UNKNOWN.
Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke. I come here on business,
and with you all.
1ST BRAVO.
Carraho! and who's this?
THE UNKNOWN.
One who knows you, though you know not him. One whom you have never
seen, yet all fear. And who walks at night, and where he likes.
2ND BRAVO.
The devil himself!
THE UNKNOWN.
It may be so.
2ND BRAVO.
Sit by me, Friar, and speak Latin.
THE UNKNOWN.
There is a man missing in Burgos, and I will know where he is.
OLD MAN.
There were many men missing in my time.
THE UNKNOWN.
Dead or alive, I care not; but land or water, river or turf, I will
know where the body is stowed. See
[shaking a purse]
here is eno' to point all the poniards of the city. You shall
have it to drink his health.
A BRAVO.
How call you him?
THE UNKNOWN.
Oran, the Moor.
1ST BRAVO.
[Jumping from his seat and approaching the Stranger.]
My name is Guzman Jaca; my hand was in that business.
THE UNKNOWN.
With the Moor and three of your comrades?
1ST BRAVO.
The same.
THE UNKNOWN.
And how came your quarry to fly next day?
1ST BRAVO.
Very true; 'twas a bad business for all of us. I fought like
a lion; see, my arm is still bound up; but he had advice of
our visit; and no sooner had we saluted him, than there
suddenly appeared a goodly company of twelve serving-men,
or say twelve to fifteen--
THE UNKNOWN.
You lie; he walked alone.
1ST BRAVO.
Very true; and if I am forced to speak the whole truth, it was thus.
I fought like a lion; see, my arm is still bound up; but I was not
quite his match alone, for I had let blood the day before, and my
comrades were taken with a panic, and so left me in the lurch.
And now you have it all.
THE UNKNOWN.
And Oran?
1ST BRAVO.
He fled at once.
THE UNKNOWN.
Come, come, Oran did not fly.
1ST BRAVO.
Very true. We left him alone with the Count.
And now you have it all.
THE UNKNOWN.
Had he slain him, the body would have been found.
1ST BRAVO.
Very true. That's the difference between us professional
performers, and you mere amateurs; we never leave the bodies.
THE UNKNOWN.
And you can tell me nothing of him?
1ST BRAVO.
No, but I engage to finish the Count, any night you like now,
for I have found out his lure.
THE UNKNOWN.
How's that?
1ST BRAVO.
Every evening, about an hour after sunset, he enters by a private
way the citadel.
THE UNKNOWN.
Hah! what more?
1ST BRAVO.
He is stagged; there is a game playing, but what I know not.
THE UNKNOWN.
Your name is Guzman Jaca?
1ST BRAVO.
The same.
THE UNKNOWN.
Honest fellow! there's gold for you. You know nothing of Oran?
1ST BRAVO.
Maybe he has crawled to some place wounded.
THE UNKNOWN.
To die like a bird. Look after him. If I wish more, I know
where to find you. What ho, Master Host! I cannot wait to
try your mistress's art to-night; but here's my scot for our
next supper.
[Exit THE UNKNOWN.] _
Read next: Act 4 - Scene 2
Read previous: Act 3 - Scene 3
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