Harlan: Moreto’s “El desden” 
93 
dem Autograph des Dichters (in der ehemals Duran’schen Bibliotek) 
erst am 25, April 1652 vollendet wurde, wahrend El desden con el desden 
auch schon in der ersten, unter Moreto’s Auspizien veranstalteten Aus- 
gabe von 1654 und zwar, der Reihenfolge nach, vor El peder de la 
amistad abgedruckt ist, so scheinen die aussern Indicien obiger Annahme 
wenig giinstig. Im iibrigen ist dem Gegenstand keine weitere Bedeutung 
beizumessen, denn bei den altspanischen Dramatikern ist die grossere 
Vollkommenheit eines Stiickes keineswegs ein Grund, dessen Abfassung 
nach einem minder vollkommenen zu vermuten oder gar mit Sicherheit 
zu bestimmen. 
The first act of El poder de la amistad 182 finds Alejandro 
representing the Senate of Scitia in Crete, where he has fallen 
in love with Margarita, the daughter of the king, who has 
given him permission to court her as the reward for having 
saved her life from a wild boar. Her gratitude, however, has 
changed into scorn and then hatred simply because she knows 
that he loves her and there is no novelty in it. She says to 
her cousin, Matilde, who reproves her for her ingratitude: 
“El querer quiere algo que esperar.” She explains that “saber 
que me quiere bien y no tener que buscalle” has turned her 
against him, and she asks, “^Como he de desear lo que yo 
tengo por mio?” These words give her entire attitude. Ale- 
jandro’s two friends, Captain Tebandro and Luciano, come to 
Crete and, hearing his story, promise to help him. Other 
suitors at the court are the Prince of Thebes and the Duke of 
Athens, the former relying on his fortune, the latter on his 
valor, in being successful in winning Margarita’s hand, while 
Alejandro has nothing to offer but what he deems greater 
riches, two good friends. This idea is scoffed at, and when 
Luciano and Tebandro learn this, they declare that el poder de 
la amistad shall be made something to be told in ages to come. 
Moclin, the gracioso, scorns the idea and feels that Alejandro 
is wasting his time having anything to do with Margarita. 
When the king expresses regret to Luciano that he has not 
been given a great welcome on coming to Crete because 
Tebandro has come at the same time, bringing war when 
Alejandro had almost attained peace, the Prince of Thebes 
suggests that the festivity about to begin in honor of Mar- 
garita be to bring Tebandro a prisoner to Margarita. This 
plan is seconded by the king and Atenas. Luciano’s first move 
182 Based on the text of the Biblioteca de autores espcmoles, Vol. XXXIX, Madrid, 
1856, pp. 21-38. 
