cognised at once that it was he who Then Tuzani, no longer able to was the assassin of the beautiful Ma- restrain himself, cried out—"Tell me, leca. Every expression that issued O soldier! destitute of honour or of from his mouth in praise of her beau- courage, why did you kill one so ty, went like a dagger to his heart, beautiful ? Know that this Moorish and he suffered so much from listening maiden was my only delight; that to the mournful tragedy, that his pale- she was my betrothed, and that your ness became so excessive as to be no- cruelty has deprived me of all my ticed by the soldiers. Making some hopes of happiness. It is to revenge excuse, he asked the soldier whether her that I have come hither; so draw he still retained any of the jewels which your sword, and defend yourself. We the Moor had worn. “Nothing re- shall soon see whether you will kill mains,” said he, “but a pair of ear- me as you killed her, thus triumphing rings, and another of gold, which I over two lives." took from her finger ; I sold all the Having said these words, Tuzani rest in Baza for want of money, and I commenced a furious attack upon the will sell them now to any one who de- soldier, who, though somewhat sursires them very willingly, in order to prised, did not lose his courage, but try, my fortune at the gaming-table opposed Tuzani with all the daring of with the price." "I will purchase a lion, and thus the combat continued them," said Tuzani, “if we can come for some time. But Tuzani, who, to an agreement, and I will bring besides being very valiant, was parthem to Velezel Blanco, and show ticularly well skilled in the managethem to a sister of the deceased who ment of the sword, grievously wounded is there in the service of the marquis.” his adversary, saying, at the same “Come with me, then, to the mess- time, “ Take, wretch, the just reward room," said the other, “and you can of thy barbarity. It is Maleca that see them, and buy them, if you are so sends it to you—she whom you slew disposed." Saying this, the soldier without any cause. and Tuzani withdrew, and on coming The soldier fell, mortally wounded, to the mess-room, the former drew and the revengeful Moor plunged his from a bag the ear-rings and the finger- sword a second time into his body, ring, which Tuzani at once recognised saying, “With two wounds you slew as having often seen in the possession my adored mistress, and with two of Maleca, at which he could not re- wounds you yourself must die.” Then strain his most bitter sighs and tears. replacing his sword in its scabbard, Checking them, however, he pur- he withdrew into the mountains, and chased the rings from the soldier, did not return into Andarax until and having placed them in his bosom, night. he proposed to him to pass a little out Tuzani being at length betrayed, of Andarax. Having reached some and delivered to Don John, asked this distance from the village, Tuzani, see- prince why he was arrested. But ing that the hour of his revenge had seeing that all was discovered, he come, said to the soldier, “If I show wished to deny nothing. you the portrait of that Moor whom “I am,” said he, " a native of Finis, you slew, will you recognise her?” a village between Cantoria and Pur"I have no doubt that I will,” said chena. I am a Moorish cavalier, and the soldier, “for so firmly are her my name is Tuzani. I have assumed features impressed upon my memory, this disguise in order to kill a wretch, that it does not appear an hour since who, in the assault of Galera, slew I killed her.” Tuzani then putting my mistress, who was the most beau. his hand into his breast, drew from tiful being on earth, when he could the lining of his doubtlet a piece of have made her his prisoner. I swore parchment, rolled carefully up, which that I would seek him, and that I contained the picture. Presenting it would kill him; and I did seek him, to the soldier, he said, “ Is this, per- and did kill him, two days ago. Such chance, the face of the beautiful Ma- is the truth ; let your highness do leca ?"' The soldier throwing his eyes with me as you please. If I die, I upon it, and being astonished at its will die content, because I have re. wonderful resemblance, exclaimed, “It venged my mistress, which was my is she, without doubt, and I tremble only desire. I hope in the goodness at beholding her." of God that I will see her after my death, and that she will not have to “ This soldier is very well justified complain that I left her unavenged. in what he has done ; he has done I will die a Christian, and I know nothing for which he should suffer that she was a Christian also; for it death. And if your highness will was agreed that I should take her liberate and restore him his arms, I away, and marry her in Murcia, when will be happy to take him into my we would wait the termination of the own company; for I vow to God, if war. It was for this reason that she any one killed my mistress, I would asked leave from her father to visit not only kill the villain himself, but Galera, under the pretence of seeing his whole lineage.” her relatives. Fate, however, ordered The prince, to satisfy Don Lope it otherwise. Galera was taken-my and the other officers, ordered the mistress was slain. I found her dead. Moor to be liberated, and his arms to With pious tears I laid her in the be restored. ground. Upon her tomb I wrote the “Come, my friend,” said Don Lope, short tale of her love and my sorrow. “ enrol yourself under my standard. I came to revenge her, and I have I love to see such soldiers as you are, kept my vow. Now that you have there; and in order that you may arrested me, I will die content, since serve me more willingly, I will take I die by the orders of so illustrious care of this picture of your mistress, a prince. I have only to implore one and get it framed, in order that it favour of you. Preserve the portrait may be saved from any danger of of my mistress, lest it should fall into being injured." hands that would be unworthy to “I know well,” replied Tuzani, touch it. Take, also, these jewels ; “O hero of your age! that you will they have little intrinsic value, but be henceforward the master of my forthey belonged to her, and they are tune, good or bad ; but it seems that therefore priceless." Having thus I lose my mistress a second time. I spoken, without his countenance will serve you faithfully as a good changing in the slightest degree, he and loyal soldier, if the loss of this bent his knee respectfully before the picture will not precipitate my death." prince, and presented him with the Don Lope, how knew how impos. portrait, and the jewels of Maleca. sible it was to combat a notion of that His highness, wondering at the kind, and fearing that the loss of the calmness with which Tuzani had re- portrait would cause the soldier a lated his history, and pitying his evil fatal melancholy-"Here," said he, fortune, approached him, and received “preserve your consolation, and rethe portrait and the jewels from his main near me, I am sure of having in hands. In delivering them up, Tuzani you a valiant friend." heaved a profound sigh, as if, in sur- Then Tuzani assumed the name of rendering these memorials of his mis- Ferdinand de Figueroa, and attached tress, he surrendered herself and his himself altogether to the service of heart along with her. Don John Don Lope, and was with him at the examined the portrait, and was as- battle of Lepanto, and in all his other tonished at the beauty of Maleca, as engagements." well as the other cavaliers who sur. Such is the story on which the rounded him, who all said that Tuzani principal interest of this play of Cal. had acted like a brave soldier and a deron's (Amar despues de la Muerte) true cavalier, in revenging the death depends. There is an under plot of so beautiful a lady: which is less interesting, as well as Don Lope, considering the valour some comic scenes, both of which we of Tuzani, raised him up, and after have avoided in our specimens, as intwo or three oaths, said to the prince, terfering with the effect of Maleca In the “Guerras Civiles de Granada," the adventures of Tuzani are scattered over a great many pages, in the twenty-second and twenty-fourth chapters of that work. We have availed ourselves principally of the abridgment given by M. Damas Hinard, in his “ Theatre Espagnol," Calderon, Second Série, but always with a constant reference to the original, introducing from it whatever appeared to add to the picturesqueness of the narrative. Of those additions, the Romance which we have translated, and the Epitaph, are the principal. and Tuzani's history. It would be unjust to Calderon not to mention the sympathy and toleration which he expresses throughout the play for the persecuted Moors. This generosity (says his French translator) is not confined to him ; it is common to the Spanish dramatists generally, and is not only creditable to the character of these poets, but to the national character of their country itself. THE BETROTHMENT OF TUZANI AND MALECA. [The scene represents a beautiful mountain district. On the side of a gentle hill are seated Don FERNANDO VALOR (ABENHUMEYA) and Donna ISABEL TUZANI (LIDORA). A crowd of Moors and musicians are seen at a little distance.] ABENI UMEYA_LIDORA. Lid.-Ah! my valiant lord, no narrow Aben.-If such a cause as this control thee, But sing, sing, in notes of gladness, The musicians sing. ABENHUEYMA. TUZANI (Don AlvaRO) and MALECA (DONNA CLARA) appear in the Moorish costume at opposite sides of the stage, and remain there without advancing. Maleca.—" There is little need to say Whose thou art, sweet joy divine— [aside. Tuz.—"Since 'tis plain thou must be mine By the shortness of thy stay." [The instruments continue to play during the remainder of this scene. Maleca.- What a strange and mournful feeling Has this song awakened now ! Tuz.–At this voice, I know not how, Terror through my breast is stealing! Maleca.—When to treat about my mar riage, Hither came my lord and father Tuz.— When I hoped Love's fruits to gather, After many a sore miscarriage. Maleca.-Ah! my joy-the sweet notes sayTuz.-Ah! my hope, this fate is thine- [Both sing with the musicians. Yes, 'tis plain thou must be mine By the shortness of thy stay. Malec.—Since, my lord, the light of Love Shineth through the smoke of MarsAs the light of evening stars Through the passing clouds aboveI have come to tell to thee, That to-day I wed my daughter. Aben.-Of the many that have sought her, Who is then the favoured he? Malec.—Tuzani, Lidora's brother. Aben.—Ah! thou hast selected duly [TUZANI and MALECA approach. Maleca. Behold me here, And I am thus near; And since the sacred Alcoran (Beneath whose law we all unite) Prescribes alone this marriage rite, That to the woman, by the man, berish or broken Spanish, that principally constitutes the humour of his character, announces the advance of the Spanish forces. ABEXHUEYMA orders the Moorish captains to their several posts—MALEC to Galera, Tuzani to Gabia ; he himself remaining at Berja. By degrees all leare the stage, except MALECA and Tczani.] Maleca.—Ah, there's little need to say Whose thou art, sweet joy divine ! Tuz.-Since 'tis plain thou must be mine, By the shortness of thy stay! Maleca. Joys, alas ! too early doomed, Dying ere their birth was known. Tuz.-Roses plucked ere they were blown, Sweet flowers wither'd ere they bloomed. Maleca.—So enfeebled, so prostratel, What thou art my heart doth know; Vain my lips aloud should state it. Some bridal gifts presented be, Tuz.-Ah! they are all too poor for thee; Maleca.–Tuzani, these gifts I take, Lid. And I congratulate you both united- Tuz.-Ah! dearest, at thy feet I lie- be Tuz.-And I am blest! And so am I ! sound of drums is heard, at which there is an universal exclamation of surprise.] Malec.—No Moorish tabours give the sound, The startling sound that hither comes; No! 'tis the beat of Spanish drums That thunders through the mountains round. Tuz.--Alas! this sound forebodeth woe. Aben.-Stop the bridal till we see What this novelty may be. Tuz.--My lord, and hast thou yet to know That there can be nothing newer, Nothing stranger now than this That my heart can feel a bliss Ever fated to endure ? Scarcely on my heart and lips Hope's bright sun outbeams again, When the dusky arms of Spain Ilides its light in dark eclipse ! [Alcuzcuz (the Gracioso of the play) here enters, and in the peculiar gib After some more passionate exclamations of this kind, and lamentations on the fate that divided them at the very moment of their betrothment, the lovers are obliged to separate. Tuzani promising, as the distance was only two leagues, to come every night from Gabia, where he was stationed, to Galera, where Maleca remained, on a visit to his affianced bride. THE DEATH OF MALECA. [Scene, Galera. TUZANI enters.] Tuz.-Through these flames that rise like mountains, Maleca (within).--Alas! alas! These mournful [He enters, and returns with MALECA in his arms. Her hair hangs loosely about her, the blood flows from her wound, and she is but half dressed.] Tuz.–Fair but most unhappy being ! Maleca.—By these accents I discover given me, It is needless that I carry To your husband; for, alas! End of all his dreams and rapture ! He himself is here to take it. Maleca.--Ah! this voice so well remem bered Voice of one so dearly lovedSends new breath into my bosom, Makes my death supremely happy. Let me once again embrace theeLet me die within thy arms. [Dies. Tuz.-Oh, how much that man betrayed That the fairest flową has perished, [Enter ABENHUEYMA, LIDORA, and Moors. Galera In ashes Tuz.-Do not wonder—do not tremble boding. It is the greatest bis Ignorance of human nature ; |