Is this monologue in verse or prose?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>This is the monologue ‘The Mayor of Zalamea’ by Pedro Calderon.
I can’t really tell if it’s in verse or prose.</p>

<p>ISABEL: Listen for the last time. You know how, sitting last night under the shelter of those white hairs in which my maiden youth had grown, those wretches, whose only law is force, stole upon us. He who had feigned that quarrel in our house, seizing and tearing me from your bosom as a lamb from the fold, carried me off; my own cries stifled, yours dying away behind me, and yet ringing in my ears like the sound of a trumpet that has ceased!–till here, where out of reach of pursuit,–all dark–the very moon lost from heaven–the wretch began with passionate lies to excuse his violence by his love–his love!–I implored, wept, threatened, all in vain–the villain–But my tongue will not utter what I must weep in silence and ashes for ever! Yet let these quivering hands and heaving bosom, yea, the very tongue that cannot speak, speak loudest! Amid my shrieks, entreaties, imprecations, the night began to wear away and dawn to creep into the forest. I heard a rustling in the leaves; it was my brother–who in the twilight understood all without a word–drew the sword you had but just given him–they fought–and I, blind with terror, shame, and anguish, fled till–till at last I fell before your feet, my father, to tell you my story before I die! And now I undo the cords that keep your hands from my wretched life. So–it is done! And I kneel before you–your daughter–your disgrace and my own. Avenge us both; and revive your dead honour in the blood of her you gave life to!</p>

2

<p>Well, here’s the problem. This monologue is in English. Pedro Calderon, however, wrote in Spanish. So this is not the monologue that Calderon wrote. At best, you could call it a translation of Calderon’s monologue. It may however not be a “translation”, but an “adaptation”. You should know the name of the translator/adapter in addition to the name of Calderon.</p>

<p>This monologue appears to be in prose, but I don’t know if the Calderon original in Spanish would have been in prose or verse.</p>

<p>One of the issues is that although the original Spanish monologue is very old–and therefore “classical”–some schools may feel that by translating it or adapting it it to what is basically contemporary English it ceases to be “classical”. Some schools prefer that for your “classical” monologue you use monologues that were originally written in English in order to avoid this problem.</p>

<p>Have you read the entire play?</p>

<p>KEVP</p>