KEEP YOUR OWN SECRET

A monologue from the play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca


  • NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Eight Dramas of Calderon. Trans. Edward Fitzgerald. London: Macmillan & Co., 1906.
  • LAZARO: Why, my lord, once upon a time
    I fell in love with one who would not have me
    Either for love or money: so at last
    I go to a certain witch--tell him my story:
    Whereon he bids me do this; cut a lock
    From my love's head and bring it to him. Well,
    I watch'd my opportunity, and one day,
    When she was fast asleep, adroitly lopp'd
    A lovely forlock from what seem'd her hair,
    But was an hair-loom rather from her wig
    Descended from a head that once was young
    As I thought her. For, giving it the witch,
    To work his charm with, in the dead of night,
    When I was waiting for my love to come,
    Into my bed-room the dead woman stalk'd
    To whom the lock of hair had once belong'd,
    And claim'd me for her own. O Lord, how soon
    "Sweetheart" and "Deary" chang'd to "Ghoul!"
    And flesh and blood to ice!

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