Pedro the Cruel
indeed afterwards asserted, to have privately married. Under her gentle influence he consents to pardon his rebellious brothers who are living in exile, when the drama opens, soon after Pedro's accession to the crown and his secret marriage with Maria.
Nine consecutive scenes were written. We shall extract the following:
ACT I., SCENE III
Maria and Juanito her young brother
Juan. Maria! thou art very beautiful.
Maria. Oh Juanito! Thou art not the first
Sweet flatterer who has told me so to-day.
Juan. Who was the other then?
Maria.Who but my mirror?
It whispered to me in the corridor
As I passed by just now, "How fair thou art
To-day. Maria!"
Juan.Didst thou answer it?
Maria. Oh Juanito, never be so witched
By vanity as I was; for what think'st thou?
Soon as I heard that whisper I turned back
And curtseyed to the self that stood before me
Smiling and curtseying too.
Maria. Oh Juanito! Thou art not the first
Sweet flatterer who has told me so to-day.
Juan. Who was the other then?
Maria.Who but my mirror?
It whispered to me in the corridor
As I passed by just now, "How fair thou art
To-day. Maria!"
Juan.Didst thou answer it?
Maria. Oh Juanito, never be so witched
By vanity as I was; for what think'st thou?
Soon as I heard that whisper I turned back
And curtseyed to the self that stood before me
Smiling and curtseying too.
160
