Federico García Lorca
Blood Wedding (Bodas de sangre): Act II
A tragedy in three acts and seven scenes - 1933
Translated by A. S. Kline © Copyright, All Rights Reserved. Made available as an individual, open-access work in the United Kingdom, 2007, via the Poetry in Translation website. Published as part of the collection ‘Four Final Plays’, ISBN-10: 1986116565, March 2018.
This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Conditions and Exceptions apply. Permission to perform this version of the play, on stage or film, by amateur or professional companies, and for commercial purposes, should be requested from the translator.
Please note that Federico García Lorca's original, Spanish works may not be in the public domain in all jurisdictions, notably the United States of America. Where the original works are not in the public domain, permissions should be sought from the representatives of the Lorca estate, Casanovas & Lynch Agencia Literaria.
Contents
Act II Scene 1
(The hallway of the Bride’s house. The doorway is at the back. It is night. The Bride appears wearing a white petticoat heavy with lace and embroidery, and a white bodice. Her arms are bare. The Maid is similarly dressed.)
Maid I’ll finish doing your hair here.
Bride I can’t stand it inside, it’s so hot.
Maid In this place it’s not even cool at dawn.
(The Bride sits on a low chair and gazes at herself in a hand mirror. The Maid combs the Bride’s hair.)
Bride My mother came from a place where there were many trees. Rich land.
Maid She was so full of life!
Bride But she wasted away here.
Maid Her fate.
Bride As we all waste away. Even the walls are on fire. Ay! Don’t tug so hard.
Maid It’s so I can get this wave right. I want it to fall over your brow. (The Bride gazes at herself in the mirror.) You’re so beautiful! Ay! (She kisses her passionately.)
Bride (Gravely) Finish my hair.
Maid (Combing her hair) You’re fortunate. You’re going to embrace a man, and kiss him, and feel his weight!
Bride Hush.
Maid And the best is when you wake and feel him beside you, and his breath brushes your shoulders, like a nightingale’s feather.
Bride (Sharply) Will you hush?
Maid But, child! A marriage. What else is it? A marriage is such and nothing more. Is it sweetmeats? Is it sprays of flowers? No. It’s a shining bed and a man and a woman.
Bride You shouldn’t say it.
Maid Perhaps not. But that’s the true joy of it.
Bride Or the true bitterness.
Maid I’m going to place the orange-blossom here, so that the garland sets off your hair. (She tries out a spray of orange-blossom.)
Bride (Gazing at herself in the mirror.) Give it me. (She takes the orange-blossom and looks at it and lowers her head disconsolately.)
Maid What’s this?
Bride Leave me alone.
Maid This is no time for sadness. (Animatedly) Give me the blossom. (The Bride throws it to the floor.) Child! That’s tempting fate, throwing your garland on the ground. Raise your head! Don’t you want to be married? Speak. You can still say no. (She rises.)
Bride It’s clouded. An ill wind at the heart of it: who does not feel it?
Maid You love your man.
Bride I love him.
Maid Yes, yes, it’s true.
Bride But it’s such a huge step.
Maid You have to take it.
Bride I’ve promised I would.
Maid I’ll fix your garland for you.
Bride (Sitting down) Make haste, because they’ll soon be here.
Maid They’ve been on the road two hours already.
Bride How far from here to the church?
Maid Two miles by the river bank, double that if you go by the road.
(The Bride rises and the Maid gazes at her admiringly.)
Maid Let the bride wake
on her wedding day.
Let the world’s rivers
carry her garland!
Bride (Smiling) Let us go.
Maid (Kissing her warmly and dancing round her.)
Let her awake
beneath the green branch
of flowering laurel.
Let her wake
to the branch and spray
of the laurel flowers!
(A loud knocking is heard.)
Bride Open the door! It must be the first guests.
(She goes inside. The Maid opens the door and expresses surprise.)
Maid You?
Leonardo Yes. Good morning.
Maid The first!
Leonardo Was I not invited?
Maid Yes.
Leonardo So I came.
Maid And your wife?
Leonardo I am on horseback. She’s coming by road.
Maid And you didn’t meet up with anyone?
Leonardo I overtook them.
Maid You’ll kill that beast, over-riding it.
Leonardo When it’s dead, it’s dead! (Pause)
Maid Sit down. Nobody’s about yet.
Leonardo And the bride?
Maid I’m going to dress her myself, now.
Leonardo The bride! She must be happy!
Maid (Changing the subject) And the child?
Leonardo What child?
Maid Your son.
Leonardo (Recalling himself as if from a trance) Ah!
Maid Are they bringing him?
Leonardo No.
(A pause. The sound of singing far off.)
Maid Let the bride wake
on her wedding day.
Leonardo Let the bride wake
on her wedding day.
Maid There they are. But they’ve still a way to come.
Leonardo (Rising) The bride will wear a large garland, no? It shouldn’t be too large. A little one would suit her much better. And has the bridegroom brought orange-blossom yet, for her corsage?
Bride (Appearing in her petticoat and wearing the garland of orange-blossom) He has brought it.
Maid (Sharply) You mustn’t show yourself like that.
Bride Why not? (Gravely) Why did you ask if he’d brought the orange-blossom? Have you a reason?
Leonardo None. What reason should I have? (Approaching her) You, who know me, know I’ve no reason. Tell me, then. What did I mean to you? Try exercising your memory. Oh, a pair of oxen and a miserable shack weren’t enough for you. That’s the trouble.
Bride Why are you here?
Leonardo To witness your marriage?
Bride Just as I witnessed yours!
Leonardo Forced to it by you, tied by both hands. They may kill me, but now they daren’t show me contempt. Though with their silver, that shines so bright, they show contempt for everyone.
Bride That’s a lie!
Leonardo I don’t want to discuss it, because I’m a hot-blooded man, and I don’t want the whole place to hear my voice.
Bride I can shout louder.
Leonardo It’s pointless. You can’t have what’s gone. (The bride looks at the door, full of anxiety.)
Bride You’re right. I shouldn’t even be speaking to you. But my spirit’s angered that you’ve come to spy on me at my wedding and deliberately ask about the orange-blossom. Go and wait for your wife, outside.
Leonardo Can’t you and I even speak to one another?
Maid (Angrily) No you can’t.
Leonardo After my marriage I thought, day and night, about who was to blame, and every time I thought about it the guilty one altered; for there’s always a guilty party!
Bride A man on horseback can go anywhere, and knows how to put pressure on a woman lost in a wasteland. But I have my pride. This is my wedding. And I’ll lock myself away with my husband, whom I must love above all other things.
Leonardo Pride won’t serve you. (He draws nearer.)
Bride Don’t come near me!
Leonardo To be silent and consumed by fire is the worst punishment on earth, of those we inflict on ourselves. What use was pride to me, not seeing you, and you alone, lying there night after night? None at all! It served to stoke the flames higher! Because one thinks time is a cure, and the walls will shut things out, and it’s not true, it’s not true. When flames reach the heart, they can’t be quenched!
Bride (Trembling) I must not listen to you. I must not hear your voice. It’s as though I drank a bottle of something sweet and lay on a carpet of roses. And I’m dragged down, and know I’m drowning, but I slip backwards.
Maid (Seizing Leonardo by the lapels) You must leave, right now!
Leonardo This is the last time I’ll speak to her. Don’t you worry.
Bride I know it’s madness, and I know it causes me pain deep in my heart, and here I am listening meekly, watching him throw his arms about.
Leonardo No peace until I’ve said the words. I married. Now you marry.
Maid (To Leonardo) And she will be married!
Voices (Singing, drawing closer)
Let the bride wake
on her wedding day.
Bride Let the bride wake! (She runs off to her room)
Maid There they are now. (To Leonardo) Don’t you come near her again.
Leonardo Don’t worry. (He exits stage left.)
(It is daybreak.)
A girl Let the bride wake
on her wedding day;
let the wheel turn,
our garlands display.
Voices Let the bride wake!
Maid (Animated) Let her awake
beneath the green branch
of love in flower.
Let her wake to the branch and the spray
of the laurel!
Second girl (Entering)
Let her awake
with floating hair,
a singlet of snow,
shoes gleaming with silver,
and on her brow jasmine.
Maid Ay, the sweet girl
while the moon shines!
First girl Ay, now her lover
comes to the olive-grove!
A boy (Entering, with his sombrero held high)
Let the bride wake,
let her wedding spill
out over the fields,
with dishes of flowers,
and loaves of delight.
Voices Let the bride wake!
Second girl The bride
has put on her white garland,
the bridegroom
ties on her ribbons of gold.
Maid For a lemon grove
the bride shall not sleep.
Third girl (Entering)
For an orange grove
the bridegroom brings silver and cloth.
(Three guests enter)
First boy Let the dove wake!
Dawn clears
the fields of shadow.
First guest The bride, the white bride,
a maiden today,
tomorrow a wife.
First girl Come, dark-haired girl
with your silken train.
Second guest Come little dark one,
let the chill dawn rain dew.
First boy Awake, bride, awake
blossom fills the air.
Maid A tree I’d embroider
with gems and ribbons
and love in each gem
with joy all around.
Voices Let the bride wake!
First boy The wedding is come!
Third guest The wedding is come,
when you will love,
come, flower of the mountains
the captain’s daughter.
Father (Entering)
The captain’s daughter
I give to the bridegroom.
Here he comes with oxen as dowry!
Third girl The bridegroom seems
a flower of the sun.
Under his feet
carnations are springing.
Maid Oh, my fortunate child!
Second boy Let the bride awake.
Maid Oh, and her lover!
First girl The wedding bells ring
on the morning breeze.
Second girl Let the bride come forth.
First girl Let her come, let her come!
Maid Let the bells peal
Let the bells ring!
First boy Forth she comes! Now she is here!
Maid Like a bull
the marriage is risen!
(The bride appears. She is wearing a black dress, of around 1900, tight at the hips, with a long train with gauzy pleats and stiff lace. On top of her hair rests a garland of orange-blossom. Guitars sound. The girls kiss the bride.)
Third girl What have you perfumed your hair with?
Bride (Laughing) Nothing at all.
Second girl (Gazing at the dress) That material is something special.
First boy Here is the groom!
Bridegoom Good health to all!
First girl (Placing a flower behind his ear.)
The bridegroom seems
a flower of the sun.
Second girl Calm breezes
flow from his eyes.
(The groom goes to stand beside the bride.)
Bride Why are you wearing those shoes?
Bridegoom They’re shinier than the black ones.
Leonardo’s wife (Entering and kissing the bride.)
Bless you both. (They talk together animatedly.)
Leonardo (Entering like someone performing a chore.)
This day of the wedding,
we garland your brow.
Wife So the country is bright
with your river of hair.
Mother (To the father.) Why are those two here?
Father They’re family. Today is a day of forgiveness!
Mother I’ll tolerate it, but I don’t forgive.
Bridegoom How the garland brings a glow to you!
Bride Let’s go quickly to the church!
Bridegoom You’re in a hurry?
Bride Yes. I want to be your wife, and be alone with you, and hear no voice but yours.
Bridegoom I want that too!
Bride And I only want to see your eyes. And for you to hold me so tight that even if my mother, my dead mother, called me, I could not break free of you.
Bridegoom My arms are strong. I’m going to hold you for the next forty years.
Bride (Dramatically, taking his arm.) Forever!
Father Quickly now! Bring the horses, and the carts! The sun’s already risen.
Mother Take care! Let’s not bring ill on the day.
(The large door at the back opens. They begin to leave.)
Maid Leaving your house,
young girl so white
you seem to sail
like a star through the air.
First girl Pure in body and soul,
leaving your house, to be wed.
(They prepare to leave.)
Second girl Now you leave your house
to pass to the church!
Maid The breeze strews
flowers on the sand.
Third girl Ay! The white bride!
Maid A dark breeze
the lace of her veil.
(They leave. The sound of guitars, wooden triangles and tambourines. Leonardo and his wife remain, alone.)
Wife Let’s go.
Leonardo Where?
Wife To the church. But don’t ride there. Come with me.
Leonardo In the cart?
Wife How else?
Leonardo I’m not the man to go by cart.
Wife And I’m not the woman to go to a wedding without my husband. I can’t take much more!
Leonardo Me neither!
Wife Why do you look at me like that? With daggers in your eyes.
Leonardo Let’s go!
Wife I don’t know what’s happening. But I think, and don’t wish to think. I know one thing. It’s over already. And I have a child. And another on the way. Let’s go you say. The same fate overtook my mother. But I’m not moving from here.
(There are voices.)
Voices Leaving your house,
to go to the church
you seem to sail
like a star through the air!
Wife (Weeping) You seem to sail
like a star through the air!
I flew from my house too, just like that. With the whole world before me.
Leonardo (Rising.) Let’s go.
Wife But together!
Leonardo Yes. (Pause.) Come on! (They leave.)
Voices Leaving your house,
young girl so white
you seem to sail
like a star through the air.
The Curtain falls slowly
Act II Scene 2
(Exterior of the Bride’s house. An atmosphere of grey-whites and cold blues. Large cacti. Everything sombre and silvery. A panorama of brownish plateaux, hardened, as though they formed a country moulded in ceramics.)
Maid (Arranging glasses and trays on a table)
Turning,
the wheel, turning
and the water passing by,
as the wedding day arrives,
parting the branches,
and the moon gleaming
on the white verandah.
(In a loud voice) Lay out those tablecloths!
(In a voice full of pathos)
Singing,
the lovers, singing
and the water passing by,
as the wedding day arrives,
glowing with the frost
and coated with the honey
of the bitter almond-trees.
(In a loud voice) Get the wine ready!
(In a voice full of pathos)
Lover,
lover of the earth.
Watch the water passing
as your wedding-day arrives.
Gather up your skirts
beneath your husband’s wing,
and go from your house.
For the bridegroom is a dove
with his breast on fire
and the fields wait the news
of blood being shed.
Turning,
the wheel, turning
and the water passing by.
Now the wedding day arrives,
let the water glow!
Mother (Entering) At last!
Father Are we the first to return?
Mother No. Leonardo arrived, a few minutes ago, with his wife. He drove like a demon. His wife nearly died of fright. He travelled the road as though he was galloping it on horseback.
Father He’s looking for trouble. Only bad blood there.
Mother What kind of blood do you expect? His whole family has it. It’s from his great-grandfather, who began their murderous ways, and the rest of the evil race inherited it, with their knives and their false smiles.
Father Forget about all that!
Maid How can she forget about it?
Mother I grieve to the depths of my being. When I’m confronted with them, I only see the hand that murdered my loved ones. Do you see me? Am I mad? Well, it is madness not to have screamed out all that my heart should utter. There’s a cry in my heart every moment, against the ones who should be punished, and wrapped in their shrouds. But they leave me with my dead and I have to be silent. Then people criticise. (She takes off her shawl.)
Father This isn’t the day to raise such things.
Mother When the conversation runs that way, I have to speak out. And today above all. Because now there’ll be no one left in the house but me.
Father Hoping for fresh company.
Mother That’s my dream. Grandchildren. (They sit down.)
Father I hope they have plenty. This land needs unpaid labour. They must wage war on the weeds, the thistles, the stones that emerge from nowhere. And that labour must come from the owners, to punish and tame it, and sow the seed. They need a host of sons.
Mother And daughters! Men are creatures who pass on the wind! They’re forced always to deal with weapons. Girls need never set foot in the street.
Father (Cheerfully) I’m sure they’ll have both.
Mother My son will do well by her. He’s from good stock. My father could have had many sons with me.
Father What I wish is that the thing could be done in a day. That they could produce two or three full-grown men straight away.
Mother But it’s not like that. It’s so slow. That’s why it’s so terrible to see the blood of a single one spilt on the ground. A fountain that spurts for a moment and has cost years of our life. When I reached my son, he was lying in the middle of the street. I moistened my hand with blood, and tasted it with my tongue. Because it was mine. You don’t know what that means. In a monstrance, of crystal and topaz, I would place that earth soaked with blood.
Father Well, we must wait. My daughter is broad-hipped and your son is strong.
Mother I trust so. (They rise.)
Father Prepare the trays of food.
Maid It’s done.
Leonardo’s wife (Entering) I hope all will go well!
Mother Thank you.
Leonardo Are you having a feast?
Father Not much of one. People can’t stay long.
Maid Here they come, now!
(Guests enter in cheerful groups. The newly-weds enter arm in arm. Leonardo leaves.)
Bridegroom I’ve never seen so many people at a wedding.
Bride (Sombrely) Never.
Father It’s splendid.
Mother Entire families have come.
Bridegroom People who never leave their homes.
Mother Your father sowed, and you are reaping the harvest.
Bridegroom There are cousins of mine I’ve never met before.
Mother All the ones from the coast.
Bridegroom (Smiling) They were nervous at handling the horses. (They talk.)
Mother (To the bride) What are you thinking about?
Bride I’m not thinking of anything.
Mother So many blessings can weigh heavy. (Guitars are heard)
Bride As lead.
Mother (Forcefully) Ignore their weight. You should be light as a dove.
Bride Will you stay here tonight?
Mother No. My house is empty.
Bride You should stay.
Father (To the mother) Look at the dance they’re performing. A dance from the shores of the sea.
(Leonardo appears and sits down. His wife stands behind him, looking tense.)
Mother They’re my husband’s cousins. Good for ever when there’s dancing.
Father It’s good to see them. Something new for this house! (He goes out)
Bridegroom (To the bride) You liked the orange-blossoms?
Bride (Gazing at him) Yes.
Bridegroom They’re real wax. They’ll last forever. I’d have liked to cover your whole dress with them.
Bride There was no need.
(Leonardo exits silently stage right.)
First girl Let’s go and unpin your veil.
Bride (To the bridegroom) I’ll be back soon.
Wife May you be happy with my cousin!
Bridegroom I’m sure I will.
Wife Just the two of you, here, not going far, creating a home. If only I too lived out here.
Bridegroom Why not buy some fields? Hill land is cheap, and it’s healthier for raising children.
Wife We’ve no money. And the way we’re going!
Bridegroom Your husband is a good worker.
Wife Yes, but he likes to chop and change too much. Flitting from one thing to another. He’s not steady.
Maid You’re not eating? I’ll go and wrap some wine-cakes for your mother, she loves them.
Bridegroom Give her three dozen.
Wife No, no. A few will be enough.
Bridegroom It’s a special day.
Wife (To the maid) And Leonardo?
Maid I’ve not seen him.
Bridegroom He must be with the rest, outside.
Wife I’ll go and see. (She leaves)
Maid It’s all beautiful.
Bridegroom You’re not dancing?
Maid No one has asked me.
(Two girls pass by behind them, during the whole scene there is a constant movement to and fro of characters.)
Bridegroom (Cheerfully) They don’t know any better. Lively elders dance better than the young.
Maid So, you’re full of compliments, young man? What a family yours is! Men amongst men! When I was a little girl I was at your grandfather’s wedding. What a presence! It was as if a mountain was getting married!
Bridegroom I haven’t quite the same stature.
Maid But you’ve the same gleam in your eye. Where’s the little one?
Bridegroom Taking off her veil.
Maid Oh! Look. Since you won’t be asleep by midnight, I’ve prepared some ham and a couple of glasses of good wine. On the lower shelf of the larder. If you need them.
Bridegroom (Smiling) I never eat late at night.
Maid (Maliciously) If not you, then the bride. (She leaves)
First boy (Entering) Come and drink with us!
Bridegroom I’m waiting for the bride.
Second boy She’ll still be here at dawn.
First boy Which is when it’s nicest.
Second boy Just one, now.
Bridegroom Let’s go.
(They leave. Sounds of merriment. The bride enters. Two girls run from the opposite side to greet her.)
First girl Who did you give the first pin to, me or her?
Bride I’m not sure.
First girl You gave it to me, right here.
Second girl No, to me in front of the altar.
Bride (Troubled by some internal struggle) I don’t know.
First girl It’s just that I’d like you to…
Bride It doesn’t concern me. I’ve too much to think of.
Second girl Forgive us.
(Leonardo crosses the scene in the background)
Bride (Seeing Leonardo) And I’m preoccupied right now.
First girl We didn’t know!
Bride You will when your turn arrives. These things are serious.
First girl You’re unhappy?
Bride No. Forgive me.
Second girl For what? But either pin means one will be married doesn’t it?
Bride Either.
First girl It’s just that one of us will marry before the other.
Bride Do you wish to so much?
Second girl (Shyly) Yes.
Bride But why?
First girl Because… (Hugging her friend)
(Both run off. The bridegroom appears and slowly embraces the bride from behind.)
Bride (Startled) Don’t do that!
Bridegroom Are you frightened of me?
Bride Ay! It’s you.
Bridegroom Who else would it be? (Pause) Your father, or me.
Bride That’s true!
Bridegroom Except that your father would have embraced you more gently.
Bride (Gravely) That’s for certain!
Bridegroom Because he’s old. (He embraces her firmly and a little roughly)
Bride (Curtly) Don’t!
Bridegroom Why not? (He releases her.)
Bride Because…of all the guests. Someone might come in.
(The Maid crosses in the background without looking at them.)
Bridegroom Why not? It’s sanctioned.
Bride Yes. But wait…later.
Bridegroom What’s wrong? You seem troubled!
Bride It’s nothing. Don’t leave me.
(Leonardo’s wife appears)
Wife I didn’t mean to interrupt…
Bridegroom Yes?
Wife Has my husband been here?
Bridegroom No.
Wife It’s just that I can’t find him and his horse is not in the stable.
Bridegroom (Cheerfully) He’ll have taken it for a gallop.
(The Wife leaves, looking anxious. The Maid enters.)
Maid Are you happy with it all?
Bridegroom I wish it was over. The Bride is a little tired.
Maid What is it, child?
Bride It’s like a throbbing in my head.
Maid A bride from these hills needs to be tougher than that. (To the Bridegroom) You’re the one to cure it, now she’s yours. (She hurries out.)
Bridegroom (Embracing the Bride) Let’s go and dance. (He kisses her.)
Bride (Distressed) No. I want to lie down for a while.
Bridegroom I’ll keep you company.
Bride What! With all the guests still here? What would they say? Let me just be quiet for a while.
Bridegroom Whatever you wish! But don’t let it take all night!
Bride (From the doorway) I’ll be fine later.
Bridegroom I hope so!
(The Mother enters)
Mother My son.
Bridegroom Where have you been?
Mother Wandering about here and there? Are you pleased?
Bridegroom Yes.
Mother And your wife?
Bridegroom A bit upset. It’s a difficult day for brides!
Mother A difficult day? It’s the best one of all. For me it was like coming into an inheritance. (The Maid enters and goes towards the bride’s room) It’s like ploughing the fresh earth, and planting new crops.
Bridegroom You are leaving?
Mother Yes. I need to be home.
Bridegroom Alone?
Mother Alone. No. My head is full of thoughts: of men and conflict.
Bridegroom Conflict that is no longer conflict, though.
(The Maid enters swiftly and disappears hastily in the background.)
Mother That’s what life is, conflict.
Bridegroom Whatever you say!
Mother Try to be affectionate towards your wife. But if she gets a bit above herself, or turns awkward, give her a caress that hurts a little, a bite, and then follow it with a gentle kiss. She won’t be upset, because she’ll know you’re a man, her master, who gives the orders. I learnt that from your father. And as he’s no longer here, I must teach you how to be firm with her.
Bridegroom I’ll do just as you say.
Father (Entering) My daughter?
Bridegroom She went in.
First girl We want the newly-weds. We’re having a round dance!
First boy (To the Bridegroom) You’re to lead off.
Father (Re-appearing) She’s not there!
Bridegroom No?
Father She must have gone up to the verandah.
Bridegroom I’ll go and see. (He exits.)
(The sound of guitars and merriment.)
First girl They’re off! (She leaves.)
Bridegroom (Returning) She’s not there.
Mother (Anxiously) No?
Father Where can she have gone?
Mother (Anxiously) No?
Maid (Entering) And the little one. Where is she?
Mother (Gravely) We don’t know.
(The Bridegroom exits. Three guests enter.)
Father (Dramatically) She’s not dancing?
Maid There’s no sign of her, there.
Father (Excitedly) There’s a crowd in there. Go and look hard!
Maid I have looked hard!
Father (Tragically) Where can she be?
Bridegroom (Returning) Nothing. She’s nowhere to be found.
Mother (To the Father) What is all this? Where is your daughter?
(Leonardo’s wife enters.)
Wife They’ve fled! They’ve fled, she and and Leonardo. On his horse. She was holding him tight: they went past like the wind.
Father That’s not true! No! Not my daughter!
Mother Yes, your daughter! Child of a suspect mother, and he, he’s the same. Yet she’s my son’s wife!
Bridegroom We’ll hunt them down! Find me a horse!
Mother A horse, quick, bring me a horse! I’d give what I have for one, my eyes my tongue even…
A voice Here!
Mother (To the Bridegroom) Go, go! (He starts to leave with two of the guests.) No. Wait. That family are so swift to kill, so certain…and yet…hurry, and I must follow!
Father It can’t have been her. She’d rather drown herself in the well.
Mother Someone honest, and pure, would run to drown themselves; but, no! Yet she’s my son’s wife now. There are two lots of kinfolk here. (Everyone enters.) My family, and yours. All of you…hunt them down! Shake the dust from your shoes. Go, help my son! (The crowd splits in two) For he has family, here; his cousins from the coast, and you who’ve come from miles around. Hunt them! Take every road. The hour of blood is here once more. Both lots of kinfolk. You and yours, I and mine. Go! Go!
Curtain