Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/46

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SCENE THIRD
A Hut.
The Old Woman enters with the Prince.


Old Woman. Come in, my fine young man. I wish I could offer you better lodging; but I am poor. I have lived here miserably these fifty years.

Prince. Can enchantment last so long?

Old Woman. What enchantment are you talking about? Do you think it is enchantment to live like this?

Prince. Bah! Do you think that you can laugh at me? Then know that my fate and yours have brought me here to disenchant you. What is it necessary to do? Slay giants and dragons? Or to give you a kiss? There!… Take one.

Old Woman. Thanks. You are very kind.

Prince. Ah! It was not that? Then what is it necessary to do?

Old Woman. Poor young man! He is out of his head.

Prince. Do you suffer under the spell of some fairy more powerful than yourself? Of some witch, some mage, or spirit of evil?

Old Woman. No, I suffer under nothing more than my age and my poverty. Do you want something to eat? I can give you figs and nuts.

Prince. What nice fat ones!

Old Woman. Help yourself. This is all the food I have.

Prince. But, really, can't you tell me how you may be disenchanted? You must not laugh at me; I am the Blue Prince.

Old Woman. Poor young man! It is too bad. You are

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