Act 1 — NOTES

ACTO PRIMERO

7-8. #que … el pie = que te ve colocar el pie orillas (a la orilla) de un precipicio.#

17. #al ser#, on becoming, when he became.

33-34. #para vivir … los tres = para que vivamos los tres con opulencia.#

48. #costara#, an example of the frequent use of the imperfect subjunctive for the conditional in this play.

57. #¿Qué habrá escrito…?# Note use of future to express conjecture. What can he have written…?

87. #Mira … dice#, see whether it says.

90. #en el encierro aquel = en aquel encierro.#

106-107. #ve a buscarme#; literally, go to find me; translate: come to me.

113. #volvió = volvió en sí#, he has come to himself, has regained consciousness.

115-116. #De aquella … hecho = está hecho (acostumbrado) a las tinieblas de aquella horrible mansión.#

135-136. #desde hoy … aflija = desde hoy no permitiré que te aflija ningún afán.#

140. #azorado#. Note that in poetry predicate adjectives or past participles are frequently used instead of adverbs.

147. #Haz … vea = haz que yo vea a mi bienhechora.#

155. #Defienda#, may Heaven protect, etc.

162. #más = es más hermoso.#

179-180. #No es … mora = lo más (importante) no es que la noble princesa mora me redima.#

191 et seq. In the first edition of the play Marsilla begins the account of his adventures thus:

Mi nombre es Diego Marsilla, y cuna Teruel me dió, ciudad que ayer se fundó del Turia en la fresca orilla.

In the interest of accuracy of detail the author changed this to the reading of the present text. The river flowing past Teruel changes its name from Guadalaviar to Turia only after it has left Teruel behind. Moreover, Teruel was, strictly speaking, villa at the time of the supposed action of the play, and not ciudad: the title ciudad was not granted to it by the King of Aragon until the year 1347.

193. #Ayer se fundó.# Destroyed by the Moors, Teruel was rebuilt in 1171, forty-six years earlier. In the life of a city, a generation seems but a day.

195-197. #cuyos muros … pobladores = cuyos muros, levantados entre horrores de lid atroz, fueron amasados con la sangre de sus fuertes pobladores.#

199-226. In these lines the idea of "predestined love" is exemplified.

204. #sus#, their (#del hombre y de la mujer#).

213-214. #antes … vernos = antes de vernos, nos amábamos.#

219-222. A similar idea was expressed in the corresponding four lines of the first edition thus:

Y parecía un querer tan firme en alma de niño, recuerdo de otro cariño tenido antes de nacer.

223-226. These four lines may be translated thus: the love that united Isabel and me (#nuestro querer#) when we came into this sad world was merely the continuance (#seguir#) in the physical world of the love that already existed in the spiritual. Compare idea expressed by "marriages are made in heaven."

246. #aun vivo#; if the time were up, either I should have succeeded or should now be dead.

254. #Navas de Tolosa#, village in the Province of Jaén, in the south of Spain, famous in history because of the decisive victory gained there, July 16, 1212, by the allied kings of Christian Spain over the Moslems. In the first edition, at the mention of this disastrous defeat of the Moors, Zulima interrupts Marsilla's narrative with an outburst of feeling quite appropriate in a Mohammedan:

¡Lugar maldito del cielo, donde la negra fortuna postró de la media luna la pujanza por el suelo!

258 et seq. In the early years of the 13th century a religious sect in the south of France, the Albigenses, rebelled against the authority of the Church of Rome. Pope Innocent III proclaimed a crusade against them in 1208, and a bloody war began in which the crusaders were led by the ruthless Simon de Montfort until his death at the siege of Toulouse (1218). During this Albigensian War (1208-1229) Beziers and other important cities in the south of France were almost destroyed.

267-270. #Y en pena … sepultó = y en pena de que mi mano rompió el hierro de mis cadenas, profundo encierro me sepultó en vida.#

281. #haz por escuchar atento#, try to listen attentively to …

293. #aquí#, in the land of the Moors.

303. #Respuesta … dé = es bien que se le dé a ella respuesta.#

311-312. #Medita … reclama#, consider it well and you will grant to time what it demands as its due. If you take into consideration the length of time that has passed since you have seen Isabel, you will realize that she has probably forgotten you, and will become reconciled to changed conditions because of the lapse of time.

321. #dada … recibida#, having given my love and having received hers; or, having given my heart in exchange for hers.

330. #le = su corazón.#

335-336. #la nueva de ser Isabel esposa#, the news of Isabel's marriage.

340. #cuanto fabrico derrumba = derrumba cuanto (todo lo que) yo fabrico.#

345. #han de traer = traerán.# Note that Isabel is direct object of traer.

346. #para tanto = para hacer tanto.#

356. #Sálvete su diligencia#, let his efforts save you from danger.

361. #perecéis = pereceréis.# Present instead of future for greater vividness.

364-366. #estallo = hubiera estallado; calla = habría callado; llega = habría llegado.#

392. #que venga.# Subject of venga is la rebelión, line 394.

395-396. Note that quien is subject of both lema and dé.

425. #el un capitán = uno de los capitanes.#

444. #Ya no hay perdón que le alcance#, she is beyond the reach of pardon.

445-446. #después de correr … vencido# = after the struggle is over, disposition will be made of the conquered.

ACTO SEGUNDO

17. #don Jaime#, James the Conqueror, King of Aragon from 1213 to 1276, son and successor of Pedro II. He gained the title, El Conquistador, by his conquest of the Balearic Islands (1228-1232) and Valencia (1258) from the Moors.

21. #Sancho VII#, King of Navarre (1194-1234), known as El Fuerte. He played an important part in the defeat of the Moors at Navas de Tolosa in 1212.

21. #Fernando III#, King of Castile (1217-1252), known as El Santo. He reconquered Cordova, Seville, Jaén, etc,. from the Moors.

87-88. #sobre como … allanar#, as to how it should be smoothed, overcome.

102. #¡Virgen del Pilar!# Our Lady of the Sacred Pillar protect us! In the church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Saragossa, is the sacred pillar on which the Holy Virgin is believed to have appeared to Saint James during his missionary journey through Spain. This pillar, with its wooden image of the Virgin and Child, is the magnet that has drawn countless pilgrims to Saragossa.

131-132. #de estarse … pestañear#, from standing so long with staring, unblinking, eyes.

137-139. #le fué … al infeliz = la punta le fué a parar al corazón del infeliz.#

144. #pisaba = pisaría.#

162. #¿Si sabrá?# … I wonder if he knows…

174. #querrá.# Future to denote probability.

186. #Pues … partido#, well, even in throwing the bar I can win the game from him. Barra, was a game in which the contestants strove to outdo each other in throwing a heavy iron bar. It was therefore a test of strength.

197. #Jamás … cara#, never from danger do I turn my face.

204. #la mano que todo lo guía#, the hand that directs the universe, the hand of God.

208-209. #benéfica, airada#. Note that adjectives are frequently used instead of adverbs, especially in poetry.

212. #de amante inquietud#, inspired by loving solicitude, that of his own family.

213. #no cobre#…, may I never recover…

215. #Mayor mi tesón a más padecer#, my obstinacy increasing with my suffering. Compare mi tesón crecía con mi padecer, of the first edition.

239-240. #decid … vida#, tell her to whom this father (Martin himself) owes the privilege of seeing himself alive.

247-248. Compare with these the two corresponding lines of the first edition:

Con tal compañera, ¿quién no ha de temblar de perder la vida que lleva dichosa?

255-256. #dirige = hubiese dirigido; ahorran = habrían ahorrado; cuánto de llanto = ¡cuántas lágrimas!#

259. #la de Maurel#, the battle of Muret in southern France, 1213, in which the Albigenses and their allies, the Aragonese, were defeated by the Crusaders under Simon de Montfort. King Pedro of Aragon lost his life in the battle and many Aragonese were killed or taken prisoners.

275-276. #Diligencia escasa … cupo = parece que diligencia escasa, fortuna severa, cupo en suerte a# (fell to the lot of) #mi sangre (familia).#

278. #se muestre#, let him show himself. Freely translated: one who has been unable to overcome adverse fortune should at least be patient when it wounds him.

279. #de aquesa manera#, in that condition, that is, without a sword.

296. #le acatan propios y ajenos#, all respect him, those of his own family (#propios#) and those of others (#ajenos#).

341. #logré … mal#, I succeeded in convincing my ears that they (#los acentos desabridos#) did not have a disagreeable sound for me.

347. #al recordar mi memoria#, when memory would bring to mind.

371 et seq. Note that vos, piedra, bóveda, suelo are all direct objects of invoco, line 379. Not you, but rather the inanimate stone … that vaulted ceiling … that pavement … do I call upon as witnesses….

377. #a no ser … huella#, if it were not as hard and cold as the one that walks upon it.

381. #que# = for; #le = al afán.#

384. #oyera = pudiera, podría, oírla.#

413. #ofrecí dar#, I would gladly have given.

423-426. Compare corresponding lines in first edition:

Cuanto padezco mirad pues ya como dicha cuento que mis penas un momento suspendan su intensidad.

447-450. #Vuestras razones … crimen#, your words of intercession carry conviction to his heart; any hesitation or reluctance on my part would be (considered) disrespect, sinful.

455. #que … mortaja = que él se limite a tenerme una cruz y una mortaja#, he need do no more than provide me a cross and a shroud.

559. #de infeliz … más#, from an unhappy state I have passed to one still more wretched.

564-565. #por señas que … judío.# Teresa's meaning is clear; he must be either a Jew or a Moor, she thinks, since he refused to partake of the slices of pork and wine that she had offered him. She might have expressed herself more logically thus: por señas que (as proof that) debe ser moro o judío, nada de ello (magras y vino) ha probado.

572. #¡Que haya … oí!# If it were only a dream what I believe that I heard!

600. #Ya que padecí, padezca (ella).#

603-605. #al fin … miserable#, after all, compared with her, Manilla was of little account.

616-617. See buena in Vocabulary.

664. #en que reina#, where he now dwells.

673-674. #sin que … ofensa#, without any one's being able to take offense at my tears.

734. #que lea#, that he may read.

735. #encontrármelas.# Me, dative of interest or concern, may be translated: for all I care.

764. #se ofrezca … morir#, consent to worse than death.

ACTO TERCERO

7. #Si esto … difunto = esto es como si yo amortajase a un difunto.#

34. #No tardarán … San Pedro#, the call to vespers will not be long in sounding over there in Saint Peter's. San Pedro is the name of the old parochial church in Teruel connected with the legend of Los Amantes.

73-74. #Yo no creía que dudarais de mi rendimiento fiel.#

84-86. #y al fin hallaréis otro que no podéis figuraros en vuestro rigor esquivo.#

89. #aun no le visteis#, him you have not yet seen.

107-109. #una lengua venenosa no pudo jamás echarme maldición más espantosa que decir#….

142-144. #Para romper … indagaciones#, in order to break my bondage (free myself from love of you), in order to find defects in you, my investigations were undertaken.

156. #lo que yo vivirá = lo que# (as long as) #yo viva, vivirá#.

167-168. #concluyo de desear y pedir#, I desire and ask for no more.

180-181. #mudaréis en suma de casa y de vecindad#, you will move into another house and neighborhood, nothing more.

210-211. #lo demás … notorio#, otherwise it would give cause for notorious scandal.

217. #resucitara = hubiera resucitado.#

219. #matara = habría matado.#

221. #corriera = habría corrido.#

346. #saliéndole al camino = saliéndole al encuentro.#

354. #más … marido = yo, prófuga, he podido (hacer) más que mi real marido.#

364. #monstruo … abismo#, inhuman creature, in whose voice is heard the wrath of hell.

386-387. #a quien … frente#, whose forehead evil fate branded at birth with burning iron.

388. #que por verte vive#, who receives new life on seeing you.

434. #merézcate … lazo#, respect as you should that marriage bond.

437. #Con mi presencia queda destruído.# "Sublime respuesta de la pasión, tan sublime por lo menos como el famoso Qu'il mourût de Corneille, porque para la pasión no hay obstáculo, no hay mundo, no hay hombres, no hay más Dios, en fin, que ella misma. Sacrilegio sublime como el de Ayax en Homero." (José de Larra, Colección de artículos, page 194.)

ACTO CUATRO

7. #prenden = habrían prendido.#

8. #acuden = hubiesen acudido.#

41. #sois quien sois#, you are true to yourself; or, one can always count upon you.

48. #entre vos y yo#, we two, you and I.

119. #¿No ha de ser?# Why not?

122. #por si es#, lest it be; in case it may be.

139. #Esto es antes.# Teresa thought that the spirit of Marsilla was conducting Rodrigo to the cemetery. Pedro, after giving the real explanation, adds Esto es antes, meaning, rather is this it, i.e., the true explanation.

165-166. #mira si te engañas#, you are surely mistaken.

166. #mal pudiera = mal podría (engañarme).#

201-202. #Pasa más#, more has happened; there is still more to tell. Note that yo is the subject understood of aperciba in line 202.

220. #al = al tálamo.#

222-224. #salga … hospedaje#, let her leave here at once, let not the law of hospitality serve her (as protection).

230-231. #fuera rayar en loca#, would be little removed from folly; would border on madness.

233-234. #sean … pierdo = sean jueces de mi furia todas las mujeres que pierdan lo que yo pierdo.#

250-251. #que … veía#, who had not seen him for such a long time….

263-264. #que … son#, that rightly belong to a true believer. In this case creyente means Moslem, a follower of Mohammed. Isabel's magnanimity arouses Adel's admiration.

Escena VI. Read #que entra# after #Marsilla#.

286. #dos#, his own sword and that of Rodrigo. The explanation will be found in lines 401-413.

317. #si tú vivías#, seeing that you were still alive.

319-320. #la que … separara? = ¿Cómo podría separarse de ti sin ti la (vida) que me alienta?#

321. #desterró#, banished, exiled (from Heaven); = #Juntos aquí nos desterró (del cielo) la mano (de Dios) que distribuye sabia-(mente) gozos y penas.#

327-328. #debiera prometerme = habría debido prometerme#, you ought to have offered me…; or, I should have expected….

342-344. #no se casa … humana#, one that loved as I did does not marry, unless compelled to do so by the strongest force within the power of mankind.

348. #sujetaras = habrías sujetado.#

352. #la suya = su mano.#

355. #me ves ajena#, you see me the wife of another.

367. #va mi vida en oírtelo#, to hear you say it is a matter of life or death to me.

391. #en recuerdo si no#, in memory at least.

408. #si lo llego … librara?# Should I ever believe that, who could protect him?

440. #las entrañas = el corazón. Una por una# in the preceding line might be translated little by little.

473-474. #en pos de … lanza#, my lovelorn spirit hastens away in pursuit of thine.

A comparison of the closing lines of the play with those of the first version shows a decided gain in dramatic effectiveness.

ISABEL. ¿Conque ya es muerto?

TODOS. ¡Muerto!

ISABEL. Yo le maté; quise alejarle … que le odiaba le dije … el sentimiento, el espanto … ¡Y mentí!… Pero también de mí se apiada el cielo. Ya de la eternidad me abre la puerta y de mis ojos huye el mundo entero, y una tumba diviso solamente con un cadáver, y a su lado un hueco. Marsilla, yo te amé, siempre te amaba … tú me lloraste ajena … tuya muero.

Cotarelo y Mori, in his scholarly study of the origin and development of the legend, uses as an argument against its historical authenticity the improbable ending; skeptically, he asks the question: "¿No es verdaderamente pasmoso que en el siglo XIII hubiese ni en Teruel ni en parte alguna dos personas de sensibilidad tan exquisita a quienes simultáneamente pudiera causar la muerte el verse privadas una de otra?" This rhetorical question was answered many years before it was thus formulated. José de Larra in his review of the play a few days after its first performance and only a few days before his own tragic death, speaking for those who believe that death may be caused by grief alone, urged the author to pay no heed to critics who scoffed at the dénouement of his play: "Si óyese repetir a sus oídos un cargo vulgar que a los nuestros ha llegado, y que ni mentar hemos querido en este artículo; si óyese decir que el final de su obra es inverosímil, que el amor no mata a nadie, puede responder que es un hecho consignado en la historia; que los cadáveres se conservan en Teruel, y la posibilidad en los corazones sensibles; que las penas y las pasiones han llenado más cementerios que los médicos y los necios; que el amor mata (aunque no mate a lodo el mundo) como matan la ambición y la envidia; que más de una mala nueva al ser recibida ha matado a personas robustas, instantáneamente y como un rayo; y aun será en nuestro entender mejor que a ese cargo no responda, porque el que no lleve en su corazón la respuesta, no comprenderá ninguna. Las teorías, las doctrinas, los sistemas se explican; los sentimientos se sienten." (Colección de artículos, page 197.)