| FarÇa dos Almocreves. | The Carriers. |
| Esta seguinte farsa foy feyta & representada ao muyto poderoso & excelente Rey dom Ioam o terceyro em Portugal deste nome na sua cidade de Coimbra na era do Se?hor de MDXXVI. Seu fundamento he que hum fidalgo de muyto pouca renda vsaua muyto estado, tinha capelam seu & ouriuez seu, & outros officiaes, aos quaes nunca pagaua. E vendose o seu capelam esfarrapado & sem nada de seu entra dizendo: | The following farce was played before the very powerful and excellent King Dom JoÃo III of Portugal in his city of Coimbra in the year of the Lord 1526. Its argument is that a nobleman with a very small income lived in great state and had his own chaplain, goldsmith and other officials, whom he never paid. His chaplain seeing himself penniless and in tatters enters, saying: |
CapelÃ. ¶ Pois que nam posso rezar
por me ver tÃo esquipado
por aqui por este Arnado[n]
quero hum pouco passear
por espaÇar meu cuydado,
e grosarey o romance
de Yo me estaba en Coimbra[n]
pois Coimbra assim nos cimbra[n]
que nam ha quem preto alcance.
¶ Yo me estaba en Coimbra
cidade bem assentada,
pelos campos de Mondego[n]
nam vi palha nem ceuada.[n]
Quando aquilo vi mezquinho
entendi que era cilada
contra os cauallos da corte
& minha mula pelada.
Logo tiue a mao sinal
tanta milham[v][n] apanhada
e a peso de dinheiro:
Ó mula desemparada![v]
Vi vir ao longo do rio
hu?a batalha ordenada,
nam de gentes[v] mas de mus,
com muita raya[v] pisada.
A carne estaa em Bretanha
& as couves em Biscaya.
Sam capelam dum fidalgo
que nam tem renda nem nada;
quer ter muytos aparatos
& a casa anda esfaymada,
toma ratinhos[n] por page?s
anda ja a cousa danada.
Querolhe pedir licenÇa,
pagueme minha soldada. | Chaplain. In such straits I cannot pray,
So to lessen my distress
And to win lightheartedness
I'll walk along this Sandy Way
And, the cares that on me press
To soothe, the old romance I'll gloss
"I was in Coimbra city"
Since Coimbra without pity
Brings us to such dearth and loss.
I was in Coimbra city 10
That is built so gracefully,
In the plains of the Mondego
Straw nor barley could I see.
Thereupon, ah me! I reckoned
'Twas a trap set artfully
For the horses of the Court
And the mule that carried me
Ill I augured when I saw
The young maize cut so lavishly
And selling for its weight in gold: 20
O my mule, I grieve for thee!
In the plain along the river
I saw a host in battle free
Not of men, of mice the host was,
They were fighting furiously.
There are cabbages—in Biscay
And there's meat—in Brittany.
I'm chaplain to a nobleman,
Poor as a church-mouse is he;
On great show his heart is set 30
Although his household famished be,
Rustic louts he has for pages
And all goes disastrously.
Now will I ask leave of him
And demand my salary. |
| ¶ Chega o capelam a casa do fidalgo, & falando com elle diz: | The chaplain arrives at the nobleman's room and converses with him thus: |
| Cap. ¶ Senhor, ja seraa rezam. | C. Sir, it is high time, I ween.... |
| Fid. Auante, padre, falay. | N. Say on, good padre, say on. |
C. Digo que em tres annos vay
que sam vosso capelam. | C. I say three years are wellnigh gone
Since your chaplain I have been. |
| F. He grande verdade, auante. | N. Say on, for such a truth convinces. 40 |
C. Eu fora ja do ifante,
e podera ser del Rey. | C. And I might have been the Prince's
Yes, and might have been the King's. |
| F. A bofÉ[v], padre, nÃo sey. | N. In good sooth that's not so clear. |
C. Si, senhor, que eu sou destante
Aindaque ca mempreguei.
¶ Ora pois veja, senhor,
que he o que me ha de dar,
porque alem do altar
seruia de comprador. | C. For I'm meant for higher things
Though I stayed to serve you here.
So then, sir, please to consider
What I am to gain thereby,
For besides priest's service I
Served as buyer and as bidder. |
F. Nam volo ey de negar.
Fazeyme hu?a petiÇam
de tudo o que[v] requereis. | N. That I surely won't deny. 50
Come now, make out a petition
Of all you would have me pay. |
C. Senhor, nam me perlongueis, [v]
que isso nam traz concrusam
nem vejo que a quereis.
¶ Porque me fiz polo vosso
clericus & negoceatores.[v] | C. Sir, put me not off, I pray,
For indeed your one condition
Seems delay and still delay.
In your service I became
Priest and man of business too. |
F. Assi vos dey eu fauores
& disso pouco que eu posso
vos fiz mais que outros seÑores.
Ora um clerigo que mais quer
de renda nem outro[v] bem
que darlhe homem de comer,
que he cada dia hum vintem,
& mais muyto a seu prazer?
¶ Ora a honrra que se monta:
he capelam de foam! | N. Yes, and I bestowed on you
Many a favour for the same,
More than most are wont to do. 60
What more should a priest require
Of money or emolument
Than his meals beside the
so I'll not believe in it.
But I'll be even with them yet:
Henceforth, proof against each device,
I'll countermine them by my wit. |
| ¶ Vem o pagem com recado e diz: | The page comes with a message and says: |
| P. ¶ Senhor, in Rey see[v][n] no paÇo. | P. The King be in the palace, Sir. |
| F. Em q? casa? | N. In what room? 270 |
| P. Isto abasta. | P. No more I know. |
F. O recado que elle da![v] [n]
ratinho es de maa casta. | N. Low-born villain, is it so
That a message you deliver? |
| P. AbÕda, bem sey eu o q? eu faÇo. | P. Arrah, I know what I'm about. |
F. Abonda! olhay o vilam.
Damas parecem per hi? | N. Arrah! just listen to the lout!
Are any ladies present there? |
P. Si, senhor, damas vi,
andauam pelo balcam. | P. Yes, I saw ladies, I aver,
For they upon the terrace were. |
| F. ¶ E que? erÃ? | N. Who were they? |
| P. Damas mesmas. | P. They were ladies, Sir. |
| F. Como as chamÃ? | N. How called? |
| P. Nam as chamaua ni?gue?. | P. My lord, no one was calling. |
F. Ratinhos sà abÃtesmas
& quem por page?s os tem.
Eu ey de fazer por auer
hum pagem de boa casta. | N. These rustic churls are too appalling. 280
And serve me right for keeping such.
Henceforth I really must contrive
To have a page of better stuff. |
P. Ainda eu ey de crecer,
castiÇo sam eu que basta
se me Deos deyxar[v] viuer.
¶ Pois o mais[v] deprenderey
como outros[v] como eu peri. | P. Sir, I'll grow speedily enough
To please you, yes and will do much
Provided God leaves me alive:
And the rest I'll quickly learn
As others who good wages earn. |
F. Pois fazeo tu assi,
porque has de ser del Rey,
moÇo da camara ainda. | N. Well do so, and then I will see
How you may come to serve the King 290
And even page of the Chamber be. |
P. Boa foy logo ca vinda.[v]
Assi que atee os pastores[n]
ham de ser del Rey samica!
Por isso esta terra he rica
de pÃo, porque os lauradores
fazem os filhos paÇÃos:
¶ Cedo nÃo ha dauer vilÃos,
todos del Rey, todos del Rey. | P. So I did well to leave my home.
Since even shepherds may become
Attendants on the King, the King!
So thrives with corn the land, bereft
Of labourers, whom their fathers send
To Court their fortunes for to mend,
And soon there'll be no peasants left,
For all will on the King attend. |
| F. E tu zÕbas? | N. What mockery's this? 300 |
P. Nam mas antes sey
que tambem alguns ChristÃos
hà de deyxar a costura.[n] | P. Nay, Sir, I know
That some poor Christians even so
From toil shall have deliverance. |
| ¶ Torna o capelam. | Re-enter the Chaplain. |
C. ¶ Vossa merce per ventura
falou ja a el Rey em mi? | C. Have you, my lord, by any chance
Yet spoken to the King of me? |
| F. Ainda geyto nam vi. | N. I've had no opportunity. |
C. Nam seja tam longa a cura
como o tempo que serui. | C. The remedy may be delayed
Another three years, I'm afraid. |
F. Anda el Rey tam acupado [v]
co este Turco, co este Papa,
co esta FranÇa, co esta trapa[n]
que nam acho vao aazado
porque tudo anda solapa.
Eu entro sempre ao vestir,
porÉm para arrecadar
ha mister grande vagar.
Podeis me em tanto seruir
atee que eu veja lugar. | N. The King's so busy, now with France,
Now with the Turk, and now the Pope,
And other matters of high scope, 310
And with such careful secrecy
That I can see but little hope.
I'm always there at the levÉe,
But get no long talk with the King
In which to settle anything.
Meanwhile you may still serve with me
Until I find an opening. |
C. Senhor queria concrusam.
F. Concrusam quereis? Bem, bem,
concrusam ha em alguem. | C. Sir, I would have the matter brought
To a conclusion. N. To conclusion?
Yes, and perhaps better than you thought. 320 |
C. Concrusam quer concrusam,
& nam ha concrusam em nada.
Senhor, eu tenho gastada
hu?a capa & hum mantam:
pagayme minha[v] soldada. | C. Conclusion here I see in nought,
In everything only confusion.
Sir, a cope and a chasuble too
Have I in your service quite worn out:
Pay me the wages that are due. |
F. Se vos podesseis achar
a altura de Leste a Oeste,[n]
pois nam tendes voz que preste,
perequi era o medrar. | N. Could you now but from East to West
Discover us the latitude
So, since your voice's not of the best,
You might win the King's gratitude. |
C. & vos pagaisme co ar?
MÃo caminho vejo eu este. | C. Sir, I perceive you do but jest: 330
Would you pay me with a platitude? |
| ¶ Vayse. | (He goes out.) |
P. Deueo el Rey de tomar
que luta como danado:
elle É do nosso lugar,
de moÇo guardaua gado
agora veo a bispar.
¶ Mas nam sinto capelam
que lhe
> In great heat and weariness. |
| Pa. E minha mÃy? | P. And my mother? |
Pe. Leuaua o gado
la pera val de cubelo,[v][n]
mal roupada que ella ia.
Huxtix, que mao lambaz.
& vossa merce que faz? | Pe. She was up the dale
Driving the herd—all in tatters her dress—
Out towards Cobelo's Vale.
[To the mule] Be quiet there. The greedy brute.
And yourself how do these times suit? |
| Pa. Estou louÇam coma que. | P. I'm flourishing like anything. 510 |
Pe. E abofee creceis aÇaz,
saude que vos Deos dee. | Pe. In faith you're growing fine and tall,
And may God give you health withal. |
Pa. ¶ Eu sou pagem de meu senhor,[v]
se Deos quiser pagem da lanÇa. | P. I'm my lord's page and may advance
To be the page who bears the lance. |
Pe. E hum fidalgo tanto alcanÇa?
Isso he Demperador
ora prenda el Rey de FranÇa. | Pe. What, is a nobleman so great?
That's for an Emperor, and the King
Of France, I see, must mind his state. |
Pa. Ainda eu ey de perchegar [v]
a caualeyro fidalgo. | P. And more, I may go on to be
A knight of the nobility. |
Pe. Pardeos, JoÃo crespo penaluo,
que isso seria esperar
de mao rafeyro ser galgo.
¶ Mais fermoso estaa ao vilam
mao burel que mao frisado[v]
& romper matos maninhos,
& ao fidalgo de naÇam
ter quatro homes de recado
e leyxar laurar ratinhos;
que em Frandes & Alemanha
em toda FranÇa & Veneza,[n]
que vivem por siso e manha
por nam viver em tristeza;
¶ nam he como nesta terra.
Porque o filho do laurador
casa la[v] com lauradora
& nunca sobem[v] mais nada;
& o filho do broslador[n]
casa com a brosladora,
isto por ley ordenada.
E os fidalgos de casta
seruem os Reis & altos senhores
de tudo sem presunÇam,
tam chÃos q? pouco lhes basta;
& os filhos dos lauradores
pera todos lauram pam. | Pe. Nay, by the Lord, John, listen to me: 520
That were t'expect without good ground
A watch-dog to become a hound.
To the peasant far more honour doth
Coarse sacking than your flimsy cloth.
And to set his hand to till the soil
And for the nobleman by birth
To have men on his ways to toil
And let the rustic plough the earth.
For in Flanders and in Germany,
In Venice and the whole of France, 530
They live well and reasonably
And thus win deliverance
From the woes that are here to hand.
For there the peasant on the land
Doth the peasant's daughter wed,
Nor further seeks to raise his head,
And even so the skilled workmen too
Those only of their own class woo,
By law is it so orderÈd.
And there the nobility 540
Serve kings and lords of high degree
And do so with a lowly heart
And simple, for their needs are small,
And the sons of the peasants for their part
Sow and reap the crops for all. |
| Pa. ¶ Quero hir dizer de vos. | P. I'll go and announce you now. |
Pe. Ora yde dizer de mi;
que se grave he Deos dos ceos
mais graves deoses ha qui.[v] | Pe. Go and announce to your heart's fill:
By the solemn God of Heaven I vow
There are gods here more solemn still. |
Pa. Senhor ali vem o fato
& estaa ha porta o almocreue,
vede quem lha a[v] de pagar
isso tal que se lhe deue. | P. Sir, they've brought the clothes for you, 550
And the carrier's at the door;
Please to tell me, Sir, therefore,
Who is to pay him what is due. |
F. ¶ Isto he com que meu mato.
quem te manda procurar?
Atenta tu polo meu
& arrecado muyto bem
& nam cures de ninguem. | N. That's what I should like to know.
What business is it of yours? You go
And look to what they've brought for me:
Stow it away in safety
And trouble about nothing more. |
Pa. Elle he dapar[v] de Viseu[n]
& homem que me pertem,[n]
pois a porta lhabri eu. | P. From over against Viseu is he
And properly belongs to me 560
Since I it was answered the door. |
| ¶ Entra dentro o almocreue & diz: | The carrier comes in and says: |
¶ Pe. Senhor, trouxe a frascaria[v]
do vossa merce aqui.
Hi estam os mus albardados. | Pe. Sir, I've brought the goods, you see,
For your worship, they're not small,
Here they are, pack-mules and all. |
Fid. Essa he a mais nova arauia [n]
d'almocreue que eu vi:
dou-te vinte mil cruzados. | N. This is the strangest carrier's jargon
That has ever come my way.
A thousand crowns for you, a bargain. |
Pe. Mas pagueme vossa merce
o meu aluguer, no mais,
que me quero logo hir. | Pe. Nay, Sir, I would have you pay
Simply what you owe to me,
For I must straightway be gone. 570 |
| F. O aluguer quanto he? | N. And what may the carriage be? |
Pe. Mil & seis centos reaes,
& isto por vos seruir. | Pe. Sixteen hundred reis: you alone
Would I charge so little, Sir. |
F. ¶ Falay co meu azemel,
porque he doFINIS[v] TEXTUAL VARIANT NOTES: 19. milhaam B milhan C. 21. desamparada B 24. gentes A, B gente C, D, E. 25. raya A, B raiva C, D, E. 43. Habofee B 52. o que A, B quanto C, D, E. 53. perlongueis A, B prolongueis C, D, E. 57. et negociatores C. 62. d'outro C. 103. Pedreneyra B 115. coma A. como B 128. o gaiteyro A. Ó gaiteiro C, D, E. 135. Uos trazeis A. Trazeis C, D, E. 142. da raÇa A. de raÇa C. 153. dizey ora B 157. Penonia A. Per omnia C. 167. perhi B 174. direyis A. 180. honde B 183. oriuez and infra our. A; oriuz B see A; seee B s'he C. 191. de occupar C. 198. ja o sabeis A. ja sabeis C. 205. B omits 205 and prints 206 twice. 236. desfeyto B 239. B omits mais. 240. que em C. 249. ver o que faz C. 255. com o A. c'o C. 257. anno B 263-4. capelam, ourives? 268. que m'abruquele C. B omits 268. 269. s'he C. 271. O recado qu'elle dÁ! MadraÇo, ? 286. deixa C. 287. o amais B o mais o C. 288. com os outros B 292. ca a vinda C. 308. acupado A, B occupado C. 325. minha A, B a minha C. 346. melancholia C. chocallada B 369. uxtix, uxte C. 372. Aa corpo A. ao corpo C, D, E. 375. vareja C. 377. pa B 383. que nos A, B que vos C. 389. a candeia morta, gaita C. 395. cilha C. 397. senhora B 406. e o seu C. 419. as B 422. leixaste C. 425. fretaste C. 443. fogio B 449. t'ha C. 465. Afonso B 466. Affonso B 467. Iam diz B Jan Diz C. 470. gram noo A. gran dÓ C. 471. razam B 484. aa menhaa B 488. seÑora A, B 491. chocallos B 495. s'ha C. 503. Cauaua andando o bacelo A, B Cavando andava bacelo C. 506. Cobelo C. 513. sou A; sam C [cf.591]. seÑor B 518. ey de perchegar A, B hei de chegar C. 524. bom frisado B 535. casalo B 536. sobem A, B sabem C. 549. haqui B ha aqui C. 552. lha a A. lha B lhe ha C. 559. da par B 562. frescaria B 576. astrologo C. 591. sam A; sou C [cf.513]. da SertÃy A, B do sertÃo C. 604. maa A. me a C. & gran saber maa B 617.B omits 617-626. 634. nem migalha C. 644. enfindos A. B omits 644. 666. enteyro B 671. que so Los tus cabellos niÑa C. 675. e se o disserem digÃo—Alma minha C. 681. auangelhos A, B evangelhos C. 689. onde eu vou C. 692. subtil C. 703. vender essa essa gente A. a essa B C. 704. bom A, B boa C. 707. vale A. 712. enÇosso A. ensoÇo C. FINIS.B omits Finis and has: Vanse estas figuras & acabouse esta farsa. Laus Deo
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