Man of La Mancha Read Online Free Page A

I
know
. (
Singing
)
    I have dreamed thee too long,
    Never seen thee or touched thee, but known thee with all of my heart,
    Half a prayer, half a song,
    Thou hast always been with me, though we have been always apart.
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea …
I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea,
And thy name is like a prayer an angel whispers …
Dulcinea … Dulcinea!
    If I reach out to thee,
    Do not tremble and shrink from the touch of my hand on thy hair.
    Let my fingers but see
    Thou art warm and alive, and no phantom to fade in the air.
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea …
    I have sought thee, sung thee, dreamed thee, Dulcinea!
    Now I’ve found thee, and the world shall know thy glory.
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea!
    INNKEEPER    (
Entering; to
QUIXOTE ) Come along, Señor Knight! I’ll show you to your quarters.
    (
He maneuvers
QUIXOTE
offstage
)
    MARIA    (
Mocking, to
ALDONZA ) Ay, Dulcinea!
    (
The
MULETEERS
launch into an elaborate parody of the song
)
    MULETEERS    (Singing)
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea …
I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea.
    ANSELMO
    And thy name is like a prayer an angel whispers …
Dulcinea … Dulcinea …
    MULETEERS
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea …
    I have sought thee, sung thee, dreamed thee, Dulcinea!
    Now I’ve found thee, and the world shall know thy glory,
    Dulcinea … Dulcinea!
    (
By the end
ALDONZA
has driven them about the stage, belaboring them in fury—as the lighting changes back to the prison
. THE DUKE
is in the center of the arena, shouting the others down
)
    THE DUKE    Governor! Governor! If you don’t mind—this man proposed to offer a defense!
    CERVANTES    This
is
my defense.
    THE DUKE    The most curious I’ve ever heard!
    CERVANTES    But if it entertains …?
    THE DUKE    (
Waspishly
) The word is “diverts.” I think
your
purpose is to divert us from
ours
.
    CERVANTES    (
Cheerfully
) Precisely! And now if I may get on with it …?
    THE GOVERNOR    Continue your defense!
    (CERVANTES ,
again the scene-master, selects people and arranges the next sequence as he speaks
)
    CERVANTES    Imagine now the family our brave knight left behind! Not the lords and ladies and retainers of Don Quixote de La Mancha, but the simple womenfolk of a country squire known as Alonso Quijana. (
A musical underscore begins as he beckons to three of the
PRISONERS ,
handing them costumes
) Imagine their shock as news of the master’s madness reaches them! To his niece, Antonia—who is worried about its effect on her forthcoming marriage. To his housekeeper of many years—who is worried about even darker matters. To the local Padre who has known Alonso all of his life. (
To
THE DUKE ) And shortly there will enter a character whose philosophy may appeal—enormously—to you! (
He slings a costume to
THE DUKE ) Alonso’s niece and his housekeeper hurry to the neighborhood church. (
To his
MANSERVANT ) May we have a church, please? Anguished by this terrible situation—and not unaware of what the neighbors may think—they seek help and advice from the Padre. (
The
PRISONER
selected for the
PADRE ,
now costumed, giggles with delight in his role
. CERVANTES
wipes the smile from his face, adjusts his posture
) The
Padre
. (
The
PRISONER
composes himself instantly, walks into the scene. Setting and lighting have changed; we are now in a simple country church. There are confessional screens left and right. The
PADRE
is between, listening alternately to the plaints of the two women beyond their respective screens where
CERVANTES
has positioned them, puppet-like
) But in spite of the trouble which the Squire’s madness may bring down upon
their
heads, you may be sure they are only thinking of him!
    (
He snaps his fingers, and the people come to life, singing
)
    ANTONIA
    I’m only thinking of him,
    I’m only thinking of him,
    Whatever I may do or say,
    I’m only thinking of him!
    In my body, it’s well known,
    There is not one selfish bone—
    I’m only