Los Bandos de Verona/Act 1
LOS BANDOS DE VERONA.
LOS Bandos de Verona" opens with a confidential
interview between Julia Capelete and Elena,
Romeo's sister, the unhappy wife of the Count
Paris, who dislikes and neglects her.
Elena.
Why shed such bitter tears, sweet Julia?
Trust all your idle girlish griefs to me.
My sorrows fester at my aching heart,
And yet I weep not.
Julia.
Alas! I hourly weep, and weep for love.
Elena.
And I weep not.
A slighted woman is too proud to weep.
Julia.
I love, am lov'd, and yet, alas! I weep;
And weep because I love.
Elena.
I love, alas! lacking that guerdon, which
Love ever claims as faithful lovers' due.
Julia.
Thou knowest my lover and my lord, who loves
Me as none other loves?
Elena.
I love my lord as loving lover loves;
While he, alas! chills love with cold neglect.
Julia here relates at considerable length the causes and effects of
the bitter feud then raging between the Capeletes and Montescos,
the "Bandos de Verona." This feud arose thus:—At a friendly
jousting, or passage of arms, Otavio Romeo, the head of the
Montesco faction, and father of Elena Romeo, slew accidentally
Luis Capelete, the brother of Julia, his lance-point entering
between the bars of his opponent's helmet. The Capeletes are
furious, and Otavio Romeo is ultimately slain.
Julia.
Verona three long years this strife hath seen,
This rivalry of two most ancient houses,
Both in the lustre of nobility;
Montesco one, the other Capelete.
Amid the stored-up ashes of this fatal feud
A deadly hatred ever smouldering lies.
This mutual loathing flickers oft, nor lacks
Fuel to fan the embers into flame;
The Capeletes in their conflicts shout,
"Long live the Capeletes!" Each Montesco
Affrights the air with, "Down with Capeletes!"
A Capelete cursing here his doom,
There a Montesco wounded, struggling shrinks
I' the icy grasp of death.
Julia then relates how on one occasion Romeo, bent on revenge, forced his way into her father's house, breaking in upon
her privacy like a maniac; and, sword in hand, seeking her
father's life, he suddenly stabs a servant who attempts to bar his
way,
Not sparing even our noble falcon, which,
Fettered and shackled, dozed upon his perch.
Rushing into Julia's presence, bent upon her immediate destruction, he roughly seizes her arm, while she, affrighted, kerchief
in hand, seeks to veil her face.
Each eyelid moist with stringed pearls of tears,
Mine utterance choked, in vain I veil my face;
The dripping lawn he snatcheth from my hand,
And face to face we for an instant gaze,
Mine eyes wide open and red-rimm'd with grief,
He looks abashed, and stands irresolute,
Then, bowing lowly, starts like stricken deer,
And leaves me trembling and in tears.
Julia then relates the result of another interview, and how they
met often, when—
His courtship was so gentle and refined,
So tender, so respectful and restrained,
I could not choose but listen; and anon
He whispered in my ear sweet falsities,
Which we poor women, knowing but too well
What truth they lack, yet cannot, will not doubt.
Nightly he sought my latticed window bars,
Entreats, complains, and almost feigns offence,
While I, alas! gave willing ear to all.
Like to a spoiled child he coaxeth me,
And craves discourse within the bars, while I,
Still doubting, as a maiden should, his vows,
His truth, his honesty, at last consent.
Other interviews are arranged by Julia's attendant until,—
We greet each other daily though by stealth.
The dream of maddening love doth hourly wake.
Until I fear myself—a sad moment that
Wherein a trusting woman doth suspect herself.
Julia's father (Old Capelete) proposes a marriage between Julia and her cousin Andrés.
Oh! aching heart!
This day my father doth desire that I
Should wed Andrés.
To wed brave Romeo is beyond my hope.
He is my father's foe, and I, his child,
Forgive him not the slaughter of our kin;
And yet I wish, although I dare not hope,
To wed where I do love so madly true.
Oblivion, hopeless hope! to wed Andrés
Can never be; to obey my father
Is to be faithless to mine auguries;
To feign death is impossible; to despair,
The action of a coward; to forget, alas!
A potent poison, but no cure.
Romeo having despatched his servant (Julia's father being from
home) to announce an intended visit, the servant is detained on the
way, so that Romeo and his cousin Carlos surprise Julia and
Elena by entering unexpectedly and unannounced. Julia, with
maidenly reserve, remarks—
Surely, Sir, it is not honest love that prompts
Thy sudden presence, an unbidden guest.
Romeo.
Incredulous sceptic, doubting, lovely queen,
Mine errand shall at once be named to thee,
Art thou alone?
Julia.
Your sister, Sir, doth bear me company;
I pray you, Sir, to leave me now.
Release my hand.
Romeo.
My lovely queen, my tongue lacks confidence,
And yet how dare I longer silence keep.
Sweet angel, 'tis thy father that I seek.
Julia.
My father! wherefore? And for what, I pray?
Romeo.
To say I love thee, spite his bitter hate;
To claim you as Montesco's own sweet wife.
To die of hope deferr'd is keen and deadly
As your proud kindred's hate;
The hatred that divides our noble houses
Sleeps in its embers and ere long may die.
Let not my faith to thee be set as naught
E'en should I die for love of thee.
Julia.
Is Romeo blind
To all the ills such rashness would ensure?
Romeo.
Seek not, sweet love, to change my fixed resolve.
A knocking is now heard; Julia becomes alarmed lest it should
prove to be her father; Romeo's servant, the comic man, or
"Gracioso," enters in a wretched plight, covered with mud and
mortar; he proceeds to give a very full and circumstantial account
of his misfortunes and the cause of the delay. Having been
pelted with mortar by some bricklayers, one of whom discovers
that he is a Capelete, he then escapes, and so disfigured, appears
upon the stage. After this interruption the interview continues,
Romeo agreeing, however, to do Julia's bidding.
Julia.
To-night we'll meet, and then we may agree
How his consent by gentleness to gain,
And not to force his now unwilling ear.
Romeo.
My venturous bark has never found a safe
And welcome anchorage. Still———
Julia.
My love's as steadfast as my will is firm,
Though all the Capeletes say me nay.
Romeo.
Sweet Julia! loving, trusting heart! No sire,
No fate shall ever change my soul's desire.
Julia.
Should time e'er make you changeling, Romeo,
I'd rather———
Romeo.
What?
Julia.
That you had hated than forgotten me.
Romeo.
Is then the fiercest hate of those we fondly love
Better than dark oblivion's shade?
Julia.
Your poor opinion lacketh wit, methinks,
And wisdom, too; for he who fiercely hates
Despises, but forgets not.
Romeo.
Nay, but, sweet Love, oblivion may find
Some balm, but hate no remedy of love.
Hate ofttimes waits on jealousy, 'tis true,
But love will ne'er be servitor to hate.
Julia.
He who doth hate, and hotly hateth too,
E'en in his hating doth remember love;
While he who basely doth forget his love
Is hateful in his own forgetfulness.
I'd rather know the hatred of my love,
Than feel oblivion's shameful slight.
Romeo.
And yet all women have maintained that hate
Is but revenge disguised.
Here follows a somewhat tedious dissertation upon hatred
and revenge, in which Elena and the Gracioso take part. The
traditional three doors, one centre, one right, and one left centre,
are now brought into play. Romeo, Carlos his friend, Elena
and the Gracioso, are all compelled suddenly to hide, Old Capelete
and his nephew Andrés appearing upon the scene. Andrés
remarks that, if not much mistaken, he heard a man's voice as
he ascended the stairs. Julia tells a downright falsehood, sarcastically observing—
My cousin, sir, is hard of credence; and
Aping a brother's privilege, doubts
A simple wayward woman's nay.
Andrés offers to retire, but Old Capelete, whose suspicions are
aroused, insists upon an immediate search being made. Julia
naturally becomes alarmed, and the Gracioso is discovered; being
closely interrogated, but aided by Esperanza, Julia's maid, he rescues
Julia by assuring Old Capelete that he has been sent by a builder to
replace some loose tiles upon the roof, and so escapes. Andrés,
supported by Old Capelete, presses his suit, which Julia respectfully declines, 'spite her father's frowns, and begs Andrés, with
dignity, to quit her presence. He does so, when Count Paris
enters, craving the aid of Old Capelete for some discreet yet
prompt act of vengeance against Romeo, his (Count Paris's) wife,
and the Montescos generally. Romeo and Elena of course overhear the whole conversation, Count Paris delivering a somewhat
tedious and elaborate speech, opening thus—
Most noble and illustrious Capelete,
To whose grey hairs and well-approved steel
Our legions owe their triumphs, and our council
Its strength and its experience.
The Count proceeds to declare how much, hating his wife, he
loves sweet Julia; Old Capelete naturally presses for the reason
of this hatred towards his wife, to which the Count replies—
Is hated Romeo not her brother? Sir,
Is she not of vile Montesco's kin, and I
A Capelete? When I did wed Elena
This deadly hatred was unborn.
The Count proceeds to state his determination to sue for a
divorce, but to which he admits he can hardly expect Elena to
agree. He gives full vent to his passion thus—
Let not a vile Montesco live to breathe
The balmy air we breathe each sunny morn!
Be their cursed ashes scattered to the winds!
Old Capelete replies—
Come, let us go kill this Romeo; thus
The head removed, the other members die.
Old Capelete promises that in the event of the Count obtaining
a divorce, he will treat with him for the hand of Julia. The
Count takes his leave, and Romeo discovers himself. Old Capelete
is furious, and draws his sword upon him; Romeo remains on the
defensive, and, in reply to his taunts, remarks—
Just anger is the offspring of true courage, sir,
But treachery of fear.
Andrés now re-enters, accompanied by Count Paris, and on discovering Romeo they shout—
Let Romeo and all Montescos die!
Romeo.
For such a deed, so many are too few.
Julia (addresses her father).
Father and lord, if I deserve in aught
The true affection which a daughter claims,
Pray moderate your causeless anger. Know
This Romeo is my master and my lord,
And who kills Romeo, love and honour kills.
The Count replies—
Mine arm is nerved to giant strength to strike
The man that I and all Verona hate.
They one and all draw upon Romeo, when his friend Carlos rushes to his rescue, sword in hand; Julia steps between the combatants, exclaiming—
Hold back your swords! No steel, whose e'er it be,
Elena.
Hold! Romeo, hold! How did this fray begin?