Part 39 (1/2)

_G._ What reason canst thou give me now To refuse to marry me?

365 I shall have of wheat enow And thy life with me shall be As a goldfinch's free from toil.

I will not have thee hoe the soil, I will not have thee work in the sun, 370 But thou shalt sit and take thy ease And by me all the work be done.

Art thou willing, Madanela?

_M._ Goncalo, go back, go back to thy plough, With none will I marry, I avow, 375 In the whole Serra da Estrella, In vain wilt thou persist and tease.

Catalina is a very good girl And fair enough, though not a pearl, Comes of good stock and loves thee well, 380 And she is very sensible.

Then take what's offered thee and so Shalt balm of thy desire know.

_G._ Nay, but I pray thee do not seek To teach my heart what way to go.

385 _M._ Go hence, if nonsense thou must speak.

_G._ I say I will not marry her.

_M._ And I will not marry thee.

But yonder comes Rodrigo, see, After Felipa, and I aver 390 That not a fig for him cares she.

_Enter Rodrigo, singing:_

My love, let's be going, be going together, Be going together.

Rodrigo and Felipa were crossing the river, My love, let's be going.

395 How is it, Felipa, with thee?

_F._ And what business is that of thine?

Days past I've bidden thee thy chatter To thy father to confine.

_R._ But that, my dear, does not suit me.

400 _F._ And why drag me into the matter?

_R._ Felipa, turn thy eyes this way And give me that fair hand of thine.

_F._ Away, away with thee, I say, What art thou to me, in the name of evil?

405 _R._ So, Felipa, thou art here, I see.

_F._ Rodrigo, wouldst thou begin again?

If ever there was feather-brain, But I would not be uncivil.

_R._ Would then that thou mightest be 410 Now less shrewish and unkind.

Yet even that is to my mind, So charming art thou unto me So graceful and so fair to see.

_F._ Everyone should regulate 415 At reason's bidding his request, Thou my heart requirest But I cannot give thee that Nor listen to thee save in jest.

And as to my marrying I wis, 420 Although I keep the sheep, withal An honoured judge my father is And by his side the rest are small, He's best related of them all.

At Court too he's been many a day 425 And the king once spoke to him, to say: 'In the district of Monsarraz And Fronteira, Affonso Vaz, What is the price of wheat, I pray?'

So that here to marry would be for me, 430 Rodrigo, to act unreasonably.