Life Is a Dream by Calderón de la Barca, Pedro, 1600-1681, MacCarthy, Denis Florence, 1817-1882

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Calderon's Dramas. Life Is A Dream. By Denis Florence Mac-carthy. Introduction.

* * * * * Scene Ii.

* * * * * Scene Iii. * * * * * Scene Iv.

* * * * * Scene V. A Hall In The Royal Palace.

* * * * * Scene Vi.

* * * * * Scene Vii. * * * * * Scene Viii.

* * * * * Act The Second. A Hall In The Royal Palace. * * * * * Scene I.

* * * * * Scene Ii.

* * * * * Scene Iii.

* * * * * Scene Iv. * * * * * Scene V. Estrella. - The Same.

* * * * * Scene Vi.

* * * * * Scene Vii.

* * * * * Scene Viii.

Scene Ix. * * * * * Scene X. * * * * * Scene Xi.

* * * * * Scene Xii.

Scene Xiii. * * * * * Scene Xiv.

* * * * * Scene Ii. * * * * * Scene Iii.

* * * * * Scene Iv.

* * * * * Scene V. Hall In The Royal Palace.

Scene Vi. * * * * * Scene Vii. * * * * * Scene Viii.

* * * * * Scene Xiv.

SIGISMUND. Did you manhood's right retain, I would then have nought to say, But to give and take away Gives me reason to complain; For although to give with grace Is the noblest act 'mongst men, To take back the gift again Is the basest of the base.

BASILIUS. This then is thy grateful mood For my changing thy sad lot To a prince's!

SIGISMUND. And for what Should I show my gratitude! Tyrant of my will o'erthrown, If thou hoary art and gray, Dying, what do'st give me? Say, Do'st thou give what's not mine own? Thou'rt my father and my King, Then the pomp these walls present Comes to me by due descent As a simple, natural thing. Yes, this sunshine pleaseth me, But 'tis not through thee I bask; Nay, a reckoning I might ask For the life, love, liberty That through thee I've lost so long: Thine 'tis rather to thank me, That I do not claim from thee Compensation for my wrong.

BASILIUS. Still untamed and uncontrolled;-- Heaven fulfils its word I feel, I to that same court appeal 'Gainst thy taunts, thou vain and bold, But although the truth thou'st heard, And now know'st thy name and race, And do'st see thee in this place, Where to all thou art preferred, Yet be warned, and on thee take Ways more mild and more beseeming, For perhaps thou art but dreaming, When it seems that thou'rt awake. [Exit.]

SIGISMUND. Is this, then, a phantom scene? -- Do I wake in seeming show?-- No, I dream not, since I know What I am and what I've been. And although thou should'st repent thee, Remedy is now too late. Who I am I know, and fate, Howsoe'er thou should'st lament thee, Cannot take from me my right Of being born this kingdom's heir. If I saw myself erewhile Prisoned, bound, kept out of sight, 'Twas that never on my mind Dawned the truth; but now I know Who I am -- a mingled show Of the man and beast combined.

* * * * *

SCENE VII.

ROSAURA, in female attire; SIGISMUND, CLARIN, and Servants.

ROSAURA [aside.] To wait upon Estrella I come here, And lest I meet Astolfo tremble with much fear; Clotaldo's wishes are The Duke should know me not, and from afar See me, if see he must. My honour is at stake, he says; my trust Is in Clotaldo's truth. He will protect my honour and my youth.

CLARIN [to SIGISMUND]. Of all this palace here can boast, All that you yet have seen, say which has pleased you most?

SIGISMUND. Nothing surprised me, nothing scared, Because for everything I was prepared; But if I felt for aught, or more or less Of admiration, 'twas the loveliness Of woman; I have read Somewhere in books on which my spirit fed, That which caused God the greatest care to plan, Because in him a little world he formed, was man; But this were truer said, unless I err, Of woman, for a little heaven he made in her; She who in beauty from her birth Surpasses man as heaven surpasseth earth; Nay, more, the one I see.