[107.] Muchas se casan aprisa, etc. Compare the English proverb of similar purport, "Marry in haste and repent at leisure."
[121.] dél=de él. A contraction no longer approved by the Spanish Academy.
[124.] Pedro el Cruel (1334-1369) was proclaimed king of Castile at Seville in 1350 after the death of his father, Alphonso XI. He early became infatuated with María de Padilla, but was made to marry against his will Blanche de Bourbon whom he immediately put aside. Pedro then plunged into a career of crime seldom equaled in Spanish history. Several times he was dethroned but always succeeded in regaining the scepter. He was finally killed by his own brother, Henry of Trastamare, at Montiel. Pedro's meritorious works were his successful efforts to break down the feudal aristocracy and his encouragement of arts, commerce and industry.
[133.] Don Diego de noche y coche. The implication is that don Diego is one who would woo his lady love at night and under the cover of a carriage rather than in the more open and approved manner of a gentleman of his rank. In spite of the brilliant example of the king, horsemanship was becoming a lost art and in a complaint of a member of the Cortes, addressed to the king, the subject is treated as follows: "The art of horsemanship is dying out, and those who ought to be mounted crowd, six or eight of them together, in a coach, talking to wenches rather than learning how to ride. Very different gentlemen, indeed, will they grow up who have all their youth been lolling about in coaches instead of riding." (Martin Hume, The Court of Philip IV, p. 130.) There is also a flower called dondiego de noche, and the author may have intended to make also a subtle play on words between this and the more suggestive meaning.
[138.] De noche visiones. "Thoughts of him at night give me the nightmare!"
Stage directions: hábito de Santiago: The order of Santiago is one of the oldest and most distinguished of all the Spanish military orders. It is said to have been approved by the Pope in 1175 and had during the middle ages great military power. The right to confer it is now vested in the crown of Spain. The badge is a red enamel cross, in the form of a sword with a scallop-shell at the junction of the arms.
[174.] agora, archaic and poetic word, synonym of ahora which is of similar origin. Hac hora > agora and ad horam > ahora.
[180.] primer licencia. The apocapation of the feminine of the adjective primero is not admissible in modern Spanish.
[181.] Duque, that is, the Duque de Medina. See v. 12 and note.
[188.] Lugar... deba, A place which is certainly its due.