EXHORTATION TO WAR
A monologue from the play by Gil Vicente
| NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Four Plays of Gil Vicente. Trans. Aubrey F.G. Bell. Cambridge: University Press, 1920. |
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- NECROMANCER: Princes of most noble worth,
- To whom high renown is given,
- Who, victorious on earth,
- Are beloved of God in Heaven,
- I a priest am and my home
- Is Portugal,
- From the Sibyl's cave I come
- Where fumes diabolical
- Are distilled and brought to birth.
- In magic and necromancy
- I'm a skilled practitioner,
- A most accomplished sorcerer,
- Well versed in astrology.
- In so many a devil's art
- Would I have part
- That o'er the strongest I'll prevail
- And just seize him by the tail
- And hand him to prince Luis there.
- Sorcerers of past time ne'er
- Knew the enchantments that I know,
- Ways of making love to grow
- And of freeing from love's care.
- For of hearts I will take one
- Harder than stone
- And will it soft as syrup make,
- And so change others, to changes prone,
- That nothing shall their firmness shake.
- Truly a great wizard I
- And great marvels can I work,
- All the powers of Hell that lurk
- Favour me exceedingly,
- As deeds impossible shall attest
- Of awful shape,
- Miracles most manifest
- Such that all shall see and gape,
- Visibly and invisibly.
- For I'll make a lady coy,
- Through love's guerdon she defer,
- If her lover look on her,
- The very breath of life enjoy;
- And two lovers, love's curse under
- Kept asunder,
- Will I leave to grieve apart,
- And achieve by this my art
- Things at which you'll gaze in wonder.
- For a lady most ungainly
- For a halfpenny at night
- Will I cause without a light
- To look nor ill nor well too plainly.
- To another loveliest,
- As star in heaven
- Shall this destiny be given
- That of noblest men and best
- None against her love protest.
- And the better to display
- The perfection of my spell
- I'll cause you all to marry well,
- That is, I mean, as best you may;
- And I'll turn night into day
- All by this good art of mine,
- If the sun should chance to shine,
- And, too, light as air shall be
- Every foolish fantasy.
- I will cause you all to sleep
- While sleep has you in its keeping,
- And I'll cause you to awake
- Without therefore the earth quaking;
- And a lover by the thorn
- Of love forlorn
- If most real be his love
- I will make his fancy prove
- Steadfast till it be forsworn.
- I will make you wish to see
- Things which scarcely can be parried,
- And when each of you is married
- Then truly shall his wedding be.
- And I'll make this city stand
- Stone o'er stone on either hand,
- And that those who do not flourish
- No prosperity shall nourish.
- For my magic art's more proof
- I'll bring mighty rains whereat
- All the tiles shall lie down flat
- Above the houses, on the roof.
- And the great Cathedral tower
- For all its size will I uproot
- And despite its special power
- Its battlements on high will put,
- Its foundation at its foot.
- In my praise no more be said.
- In St. Cyprian's name most holy,
- Satan, I conjure thee.
- (Gentlemen, be not afraid.)
MORE MONOLOGUES BY GIL VICENTE
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