You are here: > > > > Web Opera
Act 1
Dialogue Following Song No. 1
Inez:
Sancho, surnamed Lion; José, surnamed Wolf: is it thus you disturb the repose of your Queen, Inez di Roxas? ( Looking at Ladrones .) I have not reviewed the band this morning. (Exit Chorus gradually and sulkily, R. and L.) Hum! (to one Ladrone with a very tall hat .) Get thee a shorter hat, man; it can be seen above the rocks. (He grumbles .) Murmur! and we will shorten you by a head.
Ladrone:
Inez di Roxas forgets she is only Queen by courtesy. We've no chief yet. (Growl from Sancho and José.)
Inez:
True. Your pardon, friend. Retain your hat till happier times.
Ladrone:
Happier times! (laugh from Sancho and José.) The band won't hold out much longer. 'Tis three weeks since we lost your husband, our Captain, and you became a widow; and we've got no one to lead us to glory and plunder. (Goes up sulkily and sits, R.)
Inez:
(C.) So, José, the band have not yet chosen you for their Captain. ( to José, L.H. )
Sancho:
(seated, R.H.) You! Humph!
José:
(observing Sancho.) The sound of "Captain" doesn't seem very pleasant to my rival's ears. However, that difficulty is settled, according to the law of the Ladrones.
Inez:
How so?
José:
Our Captain---
Inez:
My husband!
José:
Died.
Inez:
Shot.
José:
The same thing. And according to the law of the Ladrones, whoever should be chosen by the band as their Captain should be your husband.
Sancho:
Aha!
José:
The band were called upon to select.
Inez:
Well?
José:
Well! Six voted for me, "The Wolf."
Sancho:
And half-a-dozen for me, "The Lion."
Inez:
And that's what you call settling the difficulty.
José:
The same case happened before, and established a precedent. The office of Captain was held in abeyance until chance led some stranger in the way, who has to be invested with the dignity.
Inez:
Did a stranger come?
José:
Well! (Sancho advances down, R.)
Sancho:
He did. Accepted the position of honour, and became our bravest leader---your late husband, Ferdinand di Roxas.
José:
And the precedent, once established became the law of the Ladrones.
Inez:
Then, if even a foreigner appears amongst us?
José:
He must become our Captain---
Sancho:
Or--- (draws dagger.)
Inez:
And I must become his wife.
José:
Such is the law of the Ladrones. (Tenderly.) Had it fallen to my lot---
Sancho:
(savagely interrupting) But---such is the law of the Ladrones!
| | |
Page Created 15 February 2004
