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• The Magic Cave of Salamanca : Extract from pp.116-9 of Dawn Smith’s translation

The Magic Cave of Salamanca (1996), translated by Dawn Smith

Extract from pp.116-9 of Dawn Smith’s translation

Edition

Cervantes, Miguel de. 1996. ‘The Magic Cave of Salamanca’. In Eight Interludes, trans. Dawn Smith, pp. 111-25. London, Everyman

pp.116-9

Context:

Leonarda’s husband Pancracio is getting ready to leave home for four days to attend his sister’s wedding. Leonarda puts on a show of grief at his departure, but as soon as he’s gone she begins scheming about how to sneak men into the house for a little get-together. She begins this speech the minute he is out of the house.

Further information:

Used by permission of Dawn Smith and JM Dent, a division of the Orion Publishing Group, London.

Sample text

LEONARDA:

A pox on you! Begone and good riddance! This time your swaggering and your suspicions will get you nowhere!

CRISTINA:

I was terrified your protestations would delay his departure and our pleasure.

LEONARDA:

The guests we invited – are they coming tonight?

CRISTINA:

But of course! I've already sent them word. They're so excited they sent round a hamper this afternoon with the laundress who's in on our secret. Instead of linen, they filled it full of gifts and good things to eat – just like the treats the king hands out to the poor on Holy Thursday – only this is more like an Easter hamper, with pies, chicken breasts and cold cuts, as well as puddings, two capons not yet plucked, and all kinds of fruit. Best of all, there's a gallon of excellent wine that really tickles your nose.

LEONARDA:

He's always thoughtful, my Reponce. My own sexton, who warms the cockles of my heart!

CRISTINA:

What about my Master Nicholas, the barber? I love him to distraction. Every time I see him, he shears away my cares as if they had never existed.

LEONARDA:

Did you put the basket in a safe place?

CRISTINA:

I've put it in the kitchen, hidden under a cloth.

(The student, CARRAOLANO, knocks at the door, then enters without waiting for an answer.)

LEONARDA:

Cristina, see who that is at the door.

STUDENT:

I'm just a poor student, ladies.

CRISTINA:

I can tell by your clothes that you're a student and by your boldness that you're poor. It's a strange thing: the poor never wait at the door for alms. They march right in and walk all over the house. They'll even wake up the household.

STUDENT:

I expected a kinder reply from a lady such as you. After all, I'm not asking for alms. I'm just looking for a stable or a hayloft where I can shelter tonight from the foul weather.

LEONARDA:

Where are you from, my friend?

STUDENT:

I'm a Salamantine, my lady – that’s to say, I'm from Salamanca. I was on my way to Rome with an uncle of mine, who died on the road in France. I found myself on my own and decided to return home. In Catalonia I was robbed by the servants, or henchmen, of the bandit Roque Guinart ... though if Roque had been there himself he would never have let them harm me: he's so polite and considerate – not to say charitable. Nightfall overtook me just as I was passing your hospitable doors – for such I take them to be – and I hereby throw myself on your mercy.

LEONARDA:

Indeed, Cristina, he has already moved me to pity.

CRISTINA:

He breaks my heart. Let's keep him here tonight, for there's enough food to feed the king's army. I mean, he'll think the scraps alone are manna from Heaven. What's more, he can help me pluck those birds.

LEONARDA:

But Cristina, do we really want a witness to our peccadilloes?

CRISTINA:

This one looks as though he can keep his mouth shut. Come here, my friend. What do you know about plucking?

STUDENT:

What do I know about plucking? I don't know what you mean, good madam, unless you're referring to the state of my purse, in which case I freely admit that no one is more plucked than I am.

CRISTINA:

No, that's not what I mean at all. I simply want to know if you are capable of plucking a couple of capons.

STUDENT:

Ladies, all I can say is that, by God's grace, I have my Bachelor's degree from Salamanca, and I won't say …

LEONARDA:

In that case, no doubt you are capable of plucking not just capons, but all manner of birds. Are you any good at keeping secrets, or are you, perhaps, given to revealing everything you see, feel or imagine?

STUDENT:

I could be a witness to a massacre and never open my mouth.

CRISTINA:

Well then, put a seal on your lips, sew up your tongue and sharpen your appetite. Come inside with us. You'll see something extraordinary and eat a magnificent dinner. Then you can take your pick of places to sleep in the hayloft.

STUDENT:

That will suit me to perfection, for I'm neither greedy nor hard to please.

(Enter the SEXTON and the BARBER.)

SEXTON:

Ah, at last, here are the celestial drivers who guide the chariots of our desires! They are the light of our darkness, the obliging foundations and pillars of our palace of pleasure!

LEONARDA:

That's the only thing that irks me about him. Reponce, my love, for God's sake do use plainer language so that I can understand you. Don't climb to such dizzy heights where I can't follow you.

BARBER:

One good thing can be said for me: my speech is as plain as the nose on my face. I call a shovel a spade and a spade a shovel, as the saying goes.

SEXTON:

Yes, there has to be some difference between a sexton who knows his Latin and a barber brought up in the vulgar tongue.

CRISTINA:

For my purposes the barber knows as much Latin as the famous grammarian Antonio Nebrija – perhaps even more! But that's enough talk about knowledge and fancy talk. We all speak as well as we can, even if it's not always correct. Now let's go in and get to work, for we have plenty to do.

STUDENT:

And plenty of plucking ...

SEXTON:

Who is that fellow?

LEONARDA:

A poor student from Salamanca who needs shelter for the night.

SEXTON:

I'll give him a couple of coins for his dinner and lodging, and may God go with him.

STUDENT:

Master Reponce, I'm grateful for your kind charity, but my lips are sealed; besides, I'm to do the plucking – to satisfy this good lady (for she's the one who asked me). I swear by ... that I shan't leave this house tonight, no matter who gives the order. You have no choice, sir, but to trust a man of my quality who is willing to sleep in the hayloft ... and if you're afraid for your capons, may the Devil pluck them and you can choke on them after you've eaten them.

BARBER:

This fellow isn't just poor, he's a scoundrel as well! I'll wager he'll make off with everything, lock, stock and barrel!

CRISTINA:

Upon my life, what fine sport this is! Let's all go in and see to what has to be done. The student can pluck and keep his mouth shut just as if he were at Mass.

STUDENT:

Or better still, at Vespers.

SEXTON:

I don't trust this poor student. I swear he knows more Latin than I do.

LEONARDA:

That must be why he has such sharp wits! But don't be ashamed of a charitable act, my friend, for, as the Bible says, ‘charity never faileth’.

Copyright

The above sample taken from the translation The Magic Cave of Salamanca (1996) by Dawn Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Entry written by Kathleen Jeffs. Last updated on 25 February 2011.

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