Aldonza

DON QUIXOTE

My lady...

ALDONZA

I am not your lady!...

I am not any kind of a lady!

I was spawned in a ditch

By a mother who left me there,

Naked and cold and too hungry to cry;

I never blamed her.

I'm sure she left hoping

That I'd have the good sense to die!

Then, of course, there's my father...

I'm told that young ladies

Can point to their fathers

With maidenly pride;

Mine was some regiment

Here for an hour,

I can't even tell you which side!

So of course I became,

As befitted my delicate birth,

The most casual bride

Of the murdering scum of the earth!

DON QUIXOTE

And still thou art my lady.

ALDONZA

And still he torments me!

How should I be a lady?

For a lady has modest and maidenly airs,

And a virtue I somehow suspect that I lack;

It's hard to remember these maidenly airs

In a stable laid flat on your back!

Won't you look at me, look at me,

God, won't you look at me!

Look at the kitchen slut reeking with sweat!

Born on a dung heap to die on a dung heap,

A strumpet men use and forget!

If you feel that you see me

Not quite at my virginal best,

Cross my palm with a coin,

And I'll willingly show you the rest!

DON QUIXOTE

Never deny thou art Dulcinea.

ALDONZA

Take the clouds from your eyes

and see me as I really am!

You have shown me the sky,

But what good is the sky

To a creature who'll never

Do better than crawl?

Of all the cruel bastards

Who've badgered and battered me,

You are the cruelest of all!

Can't you see what your gentle

Insanities do to me?

Rob me of anger and give me despair! Blows and abuse

I can take and give back again,

Tenderness I cannot bear!

So please torture me now

With your "Sweet Dulcineas" no more!

I am no one! I'm nothing!

I'm only Aldonza the whore!

DON QUIXOTE

Now and forever thou art my lady Dulcinea!