Life's a Dream (La Vida es Sueño): (La Vida es Sueño)

Act 3

Life’s a Dream, Act 3 133 Act 3 HI SCENE 1 (VV. 2188–2427). THE TOWER. Enter BUGLE amid darkness. He addresses the audience. BUGLE. In a haunted tower, because of what I know, I’m being held captive. What will they do to me because of my ignorance if they ax me because of my knowledge? To think that a fellow should be sentenced to a life of starving to death! Everyone will say I’m feeling sorry for myself. Well, they’re right, because this silence, in my opinion, doesn’t befit one named Bugle, and I can’t shut up. My only company here, if I can bring myself to say so, are spiders and mice—what lovely goldfinches! My dreams last night filled my poor head with shawms, trumpets, and tomfoolery; and with processions , crucifixes, and penitents marching up and down and fainting at the sight of one another’s blood. Whereas I, to tell the truth, am fainting from hunger, for I find myself in a prison where the board is bare and the menu mean. If silence is considered saintly, then Saint Secret must be my day in the New Calendar, for I fast in his honor and never feast! But the punishment I suffer is well deserved, for, unlike most servants, I kept my mouth shut, which is the greatest sacrilege. A sound of drums and people is heard, and a voice speaks from offstage. SOLDIER 1. This is his tower. Break down the door! Everyone in! Pedro Calderón de la Barca 134 BUGLE. By God! They must be looking for me, for they know I’m here! What can they want with me? Enter as many SOLDIERS as possible. SOLDIER 1. Inside, inside! SOLDIER 2. (Pointing to BUGLE.) There he is. BUGLE. No he’s not. SOLDIERS. (In unison.) My lord! BUGLE. (Aside.) Are these guys drunk or what? SOLDIER 2. You are our prince; we will not accept and do not want anyone but our rightful lord, not a foreign prince. Grant us all your feet, that we may bow before them. SOLDIERS. (In unison.) Long live our great prince! BUGLE. (Aside.) By God, it’s for real! Can it be a custom of this kingdom to take a new prisoner each day, make him prince, and then return him to the tower? Apparently so, for I’ve seen it happen each day I’ve been here. I’ll have to play my role. SOLDIERS. (In unison.) Grant us the soles of your feet. (They kneel to kiss his feet.) BUGLE. I can’t because I need them for myself, and I wouldn’t do you much good as a de-solate prince. SOLDIER 2. We’ve all told your father that we’ll accept only you as our prince, not the Muscovite. BUGLE. You insulted my father that way? You’ve got a lot of nerve! SOLDIER 1. It was the loyalty of our hearts speaking. BUGLE. If it was out of loyalty, then I forgive you. SOLDIER 2. Come forth and restore your rule. Long live Sigismund! ALL SOLDIERS. (In unison.) Long live Sigismund! Life’s a Dream, Act 3 135 BUGLE. (Aside.) They call me Sigismund? Why, it must be the name they reserve for all their bogus princes. Enter SIGISMUND. SIGISMUND. Who calls my name? BUGLE. (Aside.) Alas, is my time as prince already up? SOLDIER 2. Which of you is Sigismund? SIGISMUND. I am. SOLDIER 2. (To BUGLE.) You impudent fool! How dare you call yourself Sigismund? BUGLE. Me, call myself Sigismund? That’s not true. You’re the ones who Sigismunded me, so you’re the impudent fools. SOLDIER 1. Great Prince Sigismund—the sight of whom validates the faith that led us to proclaim you our lord—your father, the great King Vasily, fearful lest the heavens bear out a fate that says he will end up at your feet, vanquished by his own son, is attempting to deny you your rightful authority and give it to Aistulf, Duke of Muscovy. For this purpose he convened his court, but the masses learned of the events and, realizing that they have a Polish-born prince, refuse to be ruled by a foreigner. And thus, nobly overlooking the inclemency of fate, they search for you where you are held prisoner so that, with the aid of their weapons, you may break out...