The Gueguence A Comedy Ballet in the Nahuatl-Spanish Dialect of Nicaragua Part 4

The two sons of Gueguence, _Don Forcico_ and _Don Ambrosio_, are drawn in as strong contrast as possible. The former follows the paternal example faithfully, and sustains his parent in all his tricks and lies; the latter as invariably opposes and exposes the old man's dishonesty. The bitter words which pa.s.s between them, however, must not be taken in dead earnest; they, too, are only half serious, and do not lead to any separation of interests.

The _Governor Tastuanes_ appears on the scene in Spanish costume, with a staff and sabre. His name, however, seems to be from the Nahuatl, probably a corruption of _tlatoani_, chief, lord.[48] He is little more than a lay figure, designed to draw forth the ruses of Gueguence.

The _Alguacil_, the _Secretary_ and _Registrar_ appear in what is supposed to be full official dress, with their staffs of office.

The _mutae personae_ of the drama are the women and the _machos_, or mules. Of the former, only one is named, the lady _Suchi-Malinche_, daughter of the Governor. She enters clothed in a sort of tunic, fastened to her person with gay silken sashes; chains of gold and costly jewels adorn her garments, and a wreath of flowers crowns her hair. The latter may be a reference to her name. _Suchi_ is a corruption of the Nahuatl _xochitl_, flower; _Malinche_, it may be remembered, was the name of the famous Indian girl who served Cortes as interpreter in his first campaign in Mexico, and became his mistress. Some have supposed that it was a corruption of the Spanish Christian name _Marina_, but, as Senor Icazbalceta has conclusively shown, it is the name of one of the days of the Aztec month, _malinalli_, with the termination _tzin_, signifying affection. It was the custom in Mexico and Central America, and still is in many parts, for the natives to name their children after the day on which they were born, led thereto by certain ancient astrological notions.[49] In Nicaragua, _malinche_ is also the name of a tree, a species of _Poinciana_, which bears a handsome red flower.

The _Machos_, or mules, are twelve or more in number. They give the second t.i.tle to the piece,_ El Macho raton_, an appropriate translation of which I am at a loss to give. Literally it means "The Male Mouse." As used at present, it signifies a masker, or masquerading dress. An acquaintance, who has lived in Nicaragua, tells me that he has heard the children call out: "See, there goes the _Macho-raton_," which would prove to be an Indian in a fantastic costume. In the play, they wear heads of skins, imitating those of mules, surmounted with horns of goats, and a _petaca_, or wicker basket frame draped with sashes, etc. In their hands they carry bells.

Among the ancient Nahuas, and probably to this day, there were various curious superst.i.tions relating to mice. If they gnawed a hole in the dress of a wife, her husband took it as a sign that she had been unfaithful to him; and she entertained the same suspicion were his garments attacked. When food was attacked by mice, it indicated that the people of the house would be falsely accused of something.[50]

-- 6. _Epitome of the Story of The Gueguence._

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The Governor and the Alguacil meet and enter into conversation. The Governor directs that the songs and dances which are for the diversion of the Royal Council should cease, and bewails its poverty.

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He also directs that no one shall be allowed to enter his province (or presence?) without a permit from the patrol. The Alguacil complains that their poverty is so great that they have no fit clothing, and lays the blame on Gueguence. The Governor refers to Gueguence in severe terms, and orders that he be brought before him, by any means.

Gueguence, who with his two sons is within earshot, hears the Governor's orders, and pretends to think that it refers to a calf or a colt.

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The Alguacil announces himself as a servant of the Governor.

Gueguence professes to understand that it is a female servant who desires to see him. The Alguacil corrects him in this, and informs him that he is to fly to the Governor. Gueguence takes the word in its literal sense, and chaffs about an old man flying. The Alguacil suggests to him that he had better learn how to salute the Governor properly on entering his presence, and offers to teach him the customary salutation for a consideration. This proposal Gueguence accepts, but chooses to misunderstand the considerations suggested by the Alguacil, and replies in a series of quid-pro-quos and gibes.

At last, he produces some money, which, however, he will not pay over until the Alguacil gives the promised instruction. The Alguacil recites the formal salutations, which Gueguence pretends to misunderstand, and repeats, instead, some phrases of similar sound, which are discourteous to the Governor. For this the Alguacil threatens to whip him, and on Gueguence continuing in his taunts, gives him two blows, and recommences his lesson.

[Sidenote: p. 30.]

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At this juncture the Governor appears, answers Gueguence's salute, and asks him why he has entered the province without a permit. At first Gueguence answers by relating how he had traveled without a permit in other provinces. Finding this does not meet the case, he seeks to turn the inquiry by a dubious story how a girl once gave him a permit for something besides traveling. The Governor, not choosing to be put off with this, Gueguence proposes they shall be friends, and that the Governor shall have some of the immense riches and beautiful clothing which Gueguence possesses. The Governor expresses some doubt as to this wealth, and proposes to examine, apart, Gueguence's oldest son, Don Forcico.

[Sidenote: p. 34.]

He does so; and Don Forcico corroborates, in the most emphatic terms, the statements of his father: "the day and the night are too short to name all his possessions."

[Sidenote: p. 36.]

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The Governor remains, however, uncertain about the truth, and requests a similar private talk with Gueguence's younger son, Don Ambrosio. The latter tells a very different story, a.s.serting that all his father's boasts were lies, and that he is, in fact, a poor, old, thieving ragam.u.f.fin. Gueguence, who overhears him, rails at him as a disgrace to the family; and Don Forcico a.s.sures the Governor, in very clear terms, that Don Ambrosio has none of Gueguence's blood in his veins.

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To settle the question, Gueguence proposes to show the Governor the contents of his tent-shop, and has the two boys bring it forward and raise the sides. He then offers the Governor several impossible things, as a star, which is seen through the tent, and an old syringe, which he suggests might be profitably applied to the Royal Council. As the Governor replies roughly, Geuguence at once changes the subject to a laudation of the remarkable skill of Don Forcico in many vocations. The Governor is interested and proposes to inquire of Don Forcico himself as to the truth of this. The latter repeats the boasts, and on the Governor inquiring as to whether he knows some diverting dances, with his father and his brother, he dances a ballet.

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The Governor wishes to see another ballet, which the three perform, also; and this is followed by two others, in which the Governor and Alguacil also take part.

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Following these the Governor asks for the masquerade of the _macho-raton_, or the mules. They are led in by Don Forcico, and march around the stage. Gueguence avails himself of this auspicious moment to ask for the hand of the Lady Suche-Malinche, the Governor's daughter. The Governor sends the Alguacil for the Chief Secretary, who returns with Suche-Malinche and other young women.

The Secretary describes what an elegant costume is expected of the son-in-law of the Governor, and the latter suggests that Gueguence has cast his eyes too high. The old man explains that it was not for himself, but for Don Forcico, that the request was made, and pretends to feel quite badly about the marriage. He, nevertheless, brings up the young women, one by one, who are rejected by Don Forcico, with very uncomplimentary remarks, until Suche-Malinche comes forward, who pleases him, and with whom he is married. The Governor then suggests that Gueguence treat the Council with some Spanish wine. This the old man does not find it convenient to understand, and when he can no longer escape, and is at a loss where to obtain the liquor, is relieved by Don Forcico, who has secured it in a questionable manner.

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The mules, that is, the masqueraders who represent them, are then brought up, and as Gueguence examines first one and then another, they give him opportunity for a series of extremely broad jokes and vulgar allusions.