Explore the full ebook collection and download it now at textbookfull.

com

OWE'S TRANSPORT MANAGER'S AND OPERATOR'S HANDBOO

2021. 51st Edition David Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/lowes-transport-managers-
and-operators-handbook-2021-51st-edition-david-lowe/

OR CLICK HERE

DOWLOAD EBOOK

Browse and Get More Ebook Downloads Instantly at https://textbookfull.com

Click here to visit textbookfull.com and download textbook now
 Your digital treasures (PDF, ePub, MOBI) await
Download instantly and pick your perfect format...

Read anywhere, anytime, on any device!

Networking All in One For Dummies 7th Edition Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/networking-all-in-one-for-
dummies-7th-edition-lowe/

textbookfull.com

Networking All in one For Dummies Sixth Edition Doug Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/networking-all-in-one-for-dummies-
sixth-edition-doug-lowe/

textbookfull.com

Networking All in One For Dummies 8th Edition Doug Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/networking-all-in-one-for-
dummies-8th-edition-doug-lowe/

textbookfull.com

Java All in One For Dummies Fifth Edition Doug Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/java-all-in-one-for-dummies-fifth-
edition-doug-lowe/

textbookfull.com
Raised by unicorns stories from people with LGBTQ parents
First Edition Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/raised-by-unicorns-stories-from-
people-with-lgbtq-parents-first-edition-lowe/

textbookfull.com

Ritualized Writing Buddhist Practice and Scriptural

Cultures in Ancient Japan Bryan D Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/ritualized-writing-buddhist-practice-
and-scriptural-cultures-in-ancient-japan-bryan-d-lowe/

textbookfull.com

Ontology, Modality, and Mind: Themes from the Metaphysics

of E. J. Lowe Alexander Carruth

https://textbookfull.com/product/ontology-modality-and-mind-themes-
from-the-metaphysics-of-e-j-lowe-alexander-carruth/

textbookfull.com

Managing Media Firms and Industries: What's So Special

About Media Management? 1st Edition Gregory Ferrell Lowe

https://textbookfull.com/product/managing-media-firms-and-industries-
whats-so-special-about-media-management-1st-edition-gregory-ferrell-
lowe/
textbookfull.com

Thinking Space Promoting Thinking about Race Culture and

Diversity in Psychotherapy and Beyond 1st Edition Frank
Lowe
https://textbookfull.com/product/thinking-space-promoting-thinking-
about-race-culture-and-diversity-in-psychotherapy-and-beyond-1st-
edition-frank-lowe/
textbookfull.com
Lowe’s Transport
Manager’s and
Operator’s Handbook
2021

Please go to koganpage.com/lowes-brexit-content to gain access to your free

supplementary Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement content.
ii

THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

51st edition

Lowe’s Transport
Manager’s and
Operator’s Handbook
2021

David Lowe with Glen Davies

 Publisher’s note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate
at the time of going to press, and the publishers and authors cannot accept responsibility for any errors
or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting,
or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the editor, the
publisher or the author.

First published in Great Britain as The Transport Manager’s Handbook in 1970 by Kogan Page Limited
Nineteenth edition published as The Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook in 1989
Forty-first edition published as Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook in 2010
Fifty-first edition published in Great Britain and the United States in 2021

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted
under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or trans-
mitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of
reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning
reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned addresses:

2nd Floor, 45 Gee Street 122 W 27th St, 10th Floor 4737/23 Ansari Road
London New York, NY 10001 Daryaganj
EC1V 3RS USA New Delhi 110002
United Kingdom India
www.koganpage.com

© David Lowe, 2021

The right of David Lowe to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance
with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISBNs
Hardback 978 1 78966 830 8
Paperback 978 1 78966 828 5
Ebook 978 1 78966 829 2
ISSN 2399-5114

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.

Typeset by Hong Kong FIVE Workshop

Print production managed by Jellyfish
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
 CONTENTS

Biographical Notes xiv

Introduction by Glen Davies xv

01 Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing 1

Administration of Licensing System 3
The Vehicle Operator Licensing System (VOL) 4
‘O’ Licences Not for Sale 4
Exemptions from ‘O’ Licensing 4
The Vehicle User 8
Rental of Vehicles 9
Hire and Contract Hire 10
Leasing 11
Restricted and Standard ‘O’ Licences 12
Requirements for ‘O’ Licensing 13
Licence Application 22
Additional Vehicles 37
Licence Variation 39
Transfer of Vehicles 39
Notification of Changes 40
Subsidiary Companies 40
Temporary Derogation 40
Production of ‘O’ Licences 41
TCs’ Powers of Review 41
Penalties against ‘O’ Licences 42
The Upper Transport Tribunal 45
Northern Ireland Licensing 49
Use of Light Goods Vehicles 51
Foreign Vehicles in the UK 51
Impounding of HGVs 52

02 Professional Competence 53
Who May Become Professionally Competent? 54
Proof of Professional Competence 54
Examinations 55
vi Contents

Transfer of Qualifications 63
Driver CPC 64
Minimum Training and Qualification Requirements 67

03 Goods Vehicle Drivers’ Hours and Working Time 70

Which Rules Apply? 70
European Union and AETR Rules 71
GB Domestic Rules 83
Mixed EU/AETR and GB Domestic Rules 86
AETR Rules 86
Working Time 87
The Regulations 88
The National Minimum Wage 90
Self-Employment 91
Tax Relief on Driver Allowances 92
Enforcement and Penalties 94
Reporting of Illegal Operations 95

04 Goods Vehicle Drivers’ Records 96

Exemptions from Written Record Keeping 97
Record Books 97

05 Tachographs – Fitment and Use Requirements 102

Legal Requirements for Analogue Tachographs 102
Exemptions 103
Employers’ Responsibilities 106
Drivers’ Responsibilities 108
Tachograph Calibration, Sealing and Inspection 109
Tachograph Breakdown 112
Use of Analogue Tachographs 113
The Analogue Tachograph Instrument 118
Chart Analysis 122
Offences (All Tachographs) 122
Production of Records (All Tachographs) 124
Digital Tachographs 124
Typical Digital Equipment 135
Production of Digital Records 135
Smart Tachographs 139
Anti-Fraud Measures 140
 Contents vii

06 Driver Licensing and Licence Penalties 141

Driver Licensing 141
Driving Licences 144
Vehicle Categories/Groups for Driver Licensing 149
Application for Licences and Vocational Entitlements 155
Medical Requirements for Vocational Entitlements 158
Licence Fees and Validity 166
Production of Driving Licences 168
International Driving Permits 169
Exchange of Driving Licences 170
Driving Licence Penalty Points and Disqualification 172

07 Driver Testing and Training 186

Driving Tests 186
Large Goods Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship 204
Driver Training 205
Continuing Professional Development 207

08 Vehicle Registration, HGV Road User Levy, Excise Duty and

Trade Licences 209
Vehicle Registration 209
HGV Road User Levy 213
Vehicle Tax 213
Trade Licences 231
Recovery Vehicles 234
Rebated Heavy Oil (Red Diesel) 236
Oil Storage 238

09 Insurance (Vehicles and Goods in Transit) and Conditions of

Carriage 239
Motor Vehicle Insurance 239
Fleet Insurance 245
Additional Insurance Cover 246
Goods in Transit Insurance 248
Conditions of Carriage 250
Security 253

10 Road Traffic Law 255

Speed Limits 258
Lighting-Up Time 262
viii Contents

Stopping, Loading and Unloading 263

Tramways 264
Motorway Driving 266
Hazard Warning Flashers 270
Temporary Obstruction Actions 270
Lights During Daytime 271
Parking 271
Lorry Road User Charging 272
Lorry Routes and Controls 273
London Safer Lorry Scheme 277
Bus Lanes 279
High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes 279
Level Crossings 279
Level and Tram Crossings 280
Weight-Restricted Roads and Bridges 280
Owner Liability 281
Fixed Penalties 281
Civil Enforcement Officers 286
Pedestrian Crossings 287
Builders’ Skips 287
Abandoned Motor Vehicles 288
Retention and Disposal of Seized Vehicles 288
Wheel Clamps 288
Overloaded Vehicles 289
Road Traffic Accident Procedure 290
Road Humps – Traffic Calming 290
Sale of Unroadworthy Vehicles 291
Seat Belts 291
Stowaways 294
Smuggling 299
Use of Radios and Telephones in Vehicles 300
Traffic and Weather Reports 301

11 Goods Vehicle Dimensions and Weights 302

Definitions 303
Length 303
Width 310
Height 310
Authorized Weight Regulations 313
ISO Container Dimensions and Weights 317
Weight Offences 317
 Contents ix

12 Construction and Use of Vehicles 322

Definitions of Vehicles 322
International Vehicle Classifications 323
Constructional and Maintenance Requirements 324
Use of Vehicles 360
Trailer and Semi-Trailer Coupling and Uncoupling 363
Type Approval 363
Responsibility for Compliance 366
Responsibility for Type Approval 367
The Standards Checked 367
Arrangements for First Licensing of Vehicles 367
Alteration to Vehicles 368

13 Vehicle Lighting and Marking 370

Obligatory Lights 370
Side Marker Lamps 375
End-Outline Marker Lamps 376
Lighting Switches 376
Visibility of Lights and Reflectors 376
Direction Indicators 376
Optional Lamps 378
Warning Beacons 378
Swivelling Spotlights (Work Lamps) 379
Rear Retro-Reflectors 379
Side Retro-Reflectors 379
Front Retro-Reflectors 380
Vehicle Markings 380

14 Goods Vehicle Plating, Annual Testing and Vehicle

Inspections 392
Annual Testing 392
Plating of Goods Vehicles and Trailers 405
Enforcement Checks on Vehicles 411
Inspection Notices and Prohibitions 417
Northern Ireland Certification of Vehicles 420

15 Light Vehicle (MOT) Testing 425

Vehicle Classes 427
The Test 428
Vehicle Defect Rectification Schemes 431
x Contents

16 Vehicle Maintenance and Maintenance Records 432

The Choice: In-House or Contract Out 434
In-House Maintenance 435
Vehicle Servicing 436
Cleaning of Vehicles 437
Maintenance Records 437
Driver Defect Reports 437
Records of Repair 438
Inspection Reports 438
Service Records 439
Maintenance Planning 439

17 Safety – on the Road and at Work 441

Road Safety 441
Vehicle Safety 442
Load Safety 443
Distribution of Loads 443
Workplace Transport Safety 444
Health and Safety at Work 448
The COSHH Regulations 2002 (as Amended) 456
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) 457
Vehicle Batteries 461
Risk Management 464
Fire Safety 466
First Aid 467
Workplace Safety Signs 471
Vehicle Reversing 471
Safe Tipping 473
Sheeting of Loads 474
Safe Parking 475
Work at Height 475
Noise at Work 476
Forklift Truck Safety 476
Freight Container Safety Regulations 477
Operation of Lorry Loaders 478
Safety in Dock Premises 479
Health and Safety Enforcement 479
 Contents xi

18 Loads – General, Livestock, Food, etc 482

Length and Width of Loads 482
Carriage of Livestock 483
Food 489
Sand and Ballast Loads 491
Landfill Tax 492
Solid Fuel Loads 492
ISO Containers 493
Fly-Tipping 493

19 Loads – Abnormal and Projecting 494

Abnormal Indivisible Loads 494
Special Types Vehicles 495
ESDAL Abnormal Load Notification 502
Escorts for AILs 502
High Loads 503
Projecting Loads 503
Lighting on Projecting and Long Loads 505

20 Loads – Dangerous Goods and Waste 507

Dangerous Goods by Road – UK 507
ADR 507
Definition and Classification of Dangerous Goods 509
Responsibilities 514
Exemptions 517
Transport Information and Documentation 520
Information to be Displayed on Containers, Tanks and Vehicles 522
Emergency Procedures 528
Security Provisions 530
Enforcement 533
Carriage of Explosives 534
Class 7: Radioactive Substances 534
Driver Training 535
Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) 537
Controlled and Hazardous Waste 538
Packaging Waste 542
xii Contents

21 Light Vehicles 544

Vehicle Roadworthiness 544
Vehicle Tax 546
Insurance 546
Fuel 548
Construction and Use Regulations 548
Safe Use of Mobile Phones, etc 549
Drivers’ Hours and Records 550
Speed Limits 551
Seat Belts 551
Fuel Consumption Tests 552

22 Vehicle Fuel Efficiency 555

Fuel and Vehicle 555
Fuel and Tyres 558
Fuel and the Driver 559
Fuel and Fleet Management 560
Fuel Economy Checklist 563
Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme 564
Freight Best Practice 565
Reducing Fuel Bills 565
Gas-Powered Heavy Trucks 567
Low-Sulphur Diesel 568
Biodiesel 568
Electricity and Other Options 569

23 Digital Communications and Technology 570

Information Management Systems 570
Mobile Communications Devices 571
Tachograph Analysis 573
Online Services 574
Intelligent Transport Systems 576
Data Protection (GDPR) 576
Freedom of Information Act 2000 578
 Contents xiii

24 Transport and the Environment 579

Impact of Transport 579
Possible Solutions 581
Natural Gas Vehicles 583
Electric Vehicles 583
Dual-Fuel and Other Vehicles 584
Reverse Logistics 584
Cooperative and 3PL Initiatives 584
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) 585

25 International Operations 586

Community Licensing 586
Road Haulage Permits 587
International Carriage of Goods by Road – CMR 592
Road Haulage Cabotage 606
The TIR Convention 609
Carnets de Passage en Douane 612
ATA Carnets 612
‘De Suivi’ Document 613
Road Tolls 614
European Lorry Bans 617
Miscellaneous Requirements 617

Index 622
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

David Lowe FCILT

David Lowe is a freelance writer and lecturer who has been actively involved with
the road transport industry for many years.
He is the original author of Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s
Handbook, now in its 51st year of annual publication. His many other works
include two best-selling titles for CPC students: A Study Manual of Professional
Competence in Road Haulage (12 editions), 1001 Typical CPC Questions and
Answers (three editions), Goods Vehicle Costing and Pricing Handbook (four edi-
tions), The Tachograph Manual (two editions) and The European Road Freighting
Handbook (1994), all published by Kogan Page. Two other works, The Dictionary
of Transport and Logistics and The Pocket Guide to LGV Drivers’ Hours and
Tachograph Law, were published by Kogan Page in 2002 and 2006 (third edition)
respectively.
He has written extensively for the transport press, including Commercial Motor,
and also wrote a number of successful operator and driver handbooks for Headlight
magazine. He was the author of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
(CIPS) graduate diploma study guides Distribution and Storage and Distribution in
Supply Chains published in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Another of his works,
Intermodal Freight Transport, was published by Elsevier in 2005.
With his detailed practical knowledge of UK and European transport law, David
Lowe is well qualified to explain complex legal issues in layman’s terms. He under-
stands what the transport manager and small fleet operator need to know, and he
tells them in no uncertain terms what they must and must not do to stay on the right
side of the law.
He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a
Freeman of the City of London and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of
Carmen. He is also a past winner of the Carmen’s prestigious Herbert Crow silver
medal award for ‘consistent achievement for over thirty years as an outstanding
freelance writer specializing in transport and logistics’.

Glen Davies FCILT

Glen Davies has been employed in logistics and transport all his working life. He is
an independent consultant supporting a range of organizations on freight policy,
 Biographical Notes xv

city logistics and road transport management, specifically, improving operational

efficiency whilst minimizing the impacts of road risk and vehicle emissions. In 2020,
he was appointed Editor of Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook,
where he brings a new perspective to a well-matured publication.
His 23-year Army career provided him with first-hand operational experience in
logistics and transport at all levels: from driving trucks aged 17, to his final opera-
tional responsibility for capability, compliance and safety across a 9,000-vehicle
fleet. During this time Glen’s roles have also included trainer, driving examiner,
auditor, road safety officer and collision investigator. In 2007, he was employed
by Transport for London for his industry-leading knowledge to lead the freight
safety and environmental programmes; develop, manage and commercialize the
Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme; and work with vehicle manufacturers, opera-
tors and regulators to establish the world’s first direct vision standard for HGVs.
Now, as a consultant, Glen’s work is varied; he is active in both public and private
organizations in the UK and beyond. While happy in any industry sector, he has
carved a niche in the complexity of construction logistics planning and management.
He helps organizations lead the way, and even informs policy on road safety and
environmental standards, ensuring the operating benchmark is not just about legal
compliance. He also specializes in technology projects that generate operational
efficiency, minimize negative impacts and create new ways of working.
Glen is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport,
a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of
Carmen.
Introduction
by Glen Davies
It is a privilege for me to present the 51st edition of the Lowe’s Transport Manager’s
& Operator’s Handbook as its editor. I was only three years old when the first edi-
tion was published in 1970 and have been employed in logistics and transport con-
tinuously since the 14th edition. In transport management I know that time is pre-
cious, and I believe that a respect for the reader should be any reference document’s
bedrock. Since the withdrawal of many useful printed guides and the transferral of
material online, the repository of information is now a complex web that is patchy
and often difficult to navigate. Even the DVSA’s Moving On blog misses vital up-
dates, and information can be contradictory, dependent on which government agency
is responsible for its update. Inconsistency doesn’t help either – should we refer to
Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Authorised Mass? Is it Large Goods Vehicle or
Heavy Goods Vehicle? One thing you can be sure of is this handbook is an essential
and highly regarded book of structured references that guide the transport manager
through the legislative minefield of transport and logistics.
Our profession has seen considerable change over the life of this handbook.
Whether it is regulation, road safety, environmental standards, digitisation or the
road network itself – transport management is a profession that needs to keep up
with that pace of change. Here is a reference book that goes someway to helping
handle that change. This 51st edition is notably lighter – done in order to provide
crisp and relevant references while maintaining the technical detail required to run a
compliant, safe and efficient transport operation. It is never going to be a pocket-size
handbook, but I do hope to continue this editorial housekeeping in future editions.
Professionally, and probably personally, the past year has been the most challeng-
ing in most of our lifetimes. We thought the impact of Brexit was massive, but when
compounded with the catastrophic shock of COVID-19, we were presented with an
unprecedented crisis and a future of uncertainty, insecurity and ambiguity. The fast-
paced world slowed to a crawl, but vital supplies helped keep the country moving.
The road haulage profession moves essential medical supplies to hospitals, food to
the supermarkets, fuel to the garages and milk from the farms. There are some jobs
that simply cannot stop in a crisis; in fact they are part of the relief effort and it has
been fantastic to see the term ‘key worker’ stretch its definition to those working in
the transport profession. That said, those operators who generally support hotels,
 Introduction by Glen Davies xvii

restaurants, shops and leisure sectors have not had such a busy time. Before the
crisis, road transport operations were already facing a struggle to recruit and retain
drivers and staff. Dependent on the business sector a haulage operator supports, the
pandemic and its aftershock will either aggravate this further or provide opportunity
to capitalise.
Although the pandemic didn’t bring about any specific regulatory change to trans-
port operations, we have seen mass relaxation and derogation on many rules.
Whether it is vehicle testing and maintenance, driver training and licensing, opera-
tional auditing and enforcement, or drivers’ hours and working time, most of the
regulations that are the pillars of our profession were relaxed in some way during
2020. An added complexity to an already very complex legislative framework. Some
existing rules have had to be re-emphasised; in particular, the Workplace (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, where businesses must provide suitable toilet
and hand-washing facilities to drivers visiting their premises. If we are going to ad-
dress the deep-rooted problems of the transport profession, driver welfare and work-
ing conditions must be a top priority.
As much as I don’t like it, I really can’t avoid the term ‘at the time of writing’ when
it comes to Brexit. Trade talks between the UK and EU are still in the air and my
previous reference to uncertainty, insecurity and ambiguity are amplified. It has been
difficult to write anything of any meaning in the handbook that takes us past the
Brexit transition period and I have tried to avoid any speculation and supposition as
I am not sure it is that helpful in a book that references transport law and legal pro-
cesses. There are a few certainties to note though: 1) most EU or EC regulations are
actually enacted into UK legal statute, meaning a UK law would need to be repealed
to enact a change; 2) whilst the UK may not be a member of the European Union, it
does remain a member and signatory of many other European and international
agreements; 3) the issues of road safety, environmental impact and operational effi-
ciency will not be solved by Brexit.
Aside from the obvious, there are some other regulatory points to note. First,
Driver CPC delegates can now take up to two hours of a seven-hour course as e-
learning content. This must not be confused with the distance or remote training
relaxations used as a response to COVID-19. DVSA was very clear in stating this was
a planned change consulted on prior to the pandemic. The change allows up to two
hours of learning which can be completed by drivers ahead of a training course,
meaning face-to-face training can be reduced to five hours. It has been announced
that secondary legislation is to be introduced banning tyres aged 10 years and older
from HGVs, and PSVs on roads in England, Scotland and Wales. The legislation will
also apply to re-treaded tyres – with the date of re-treading to be marked, making the
age of the tyre clearly visible. Another point is a review and consultation on the revi-
sion of the Highway Code to improve the safety of the most vulnerable road users,
such as cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. The main proposed change that HGV
xviii Introduction by Glen Davies

operators should be concerned with is the introduction of a hierarchy of road users

to ensure that those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to
reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others. Finally, DVSA frontline enforce-
ment officers have been trialling body cameras during roadside inspections to pro-
tect against abusive drivers and record enforcement encounters.
As the government and its agencies move towards fully digitising its processes,
many of the traditional paper-based forms have now been removed from GOV.UK.
The forms that have been taken down are still available by contacting the relevant
department, but this is evidence that the digital revolution has finally hit the regula-
tion, administration and enforcement of the road transport sector. Whilst it may
have taken government agencies a while to move into the 21st century, digitisation
has played a key role in transport operations for a few decades and this handbook
should reflect that. Where a digital process exists, such as an application, alteration,
notification, verification or payment, it has been referenced as the primary way of
working – manual processes are referenced as a secondary approach.
Looking back at 2020, the constant of change continues, and I doubt very much
if the future will be any different. Complying with the law is one thing but we still
have the challenge of running sustainable transport operations alongside the repara-
tions after Brexit and COVID-19. The big issues may have dwarfed some of the other
concerns, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t gone away. Regional standards for air
quality and road safety may have been on the back burner; they will undoubtedly
resurface during 2021. Knowing the rules well enables you to play the game well.
But to win the game consistently you need good leadership, talent and a forward-
thinking strategy. There’s no such thing as an easy win, and if it was too easy, it
would be boring.
Goods Vehicle 01
Operator Licensing
Operator (‘O’) licensing is the regulatory ‘quality’ control system imposed by the UK
Government. Similar systems operate throughout the EU, all established to ensure
the safe and legal operation of most goods and passenger vehicles. The system is
available to operators online (with a PIN and password from the Central Licensing
Office). Applicants may also use the online facility when applying for a licence.
While other individual aspects of legislation in the UK also apply to road vehicles,
the ‘O’ licensing system provides the overriding control of road freight transport
operations. Failure to observe the requirements and conditions under which ‘O’
licences are granted will lead to increasingly severe penalties against the operators’
licence itself and, in some cases, nominated individuals within the transport opera-
tion. Similar licensing controls apply to goods vehicle operations in Northern Ireland
under the NI operator licensing scheme, operated by the Department of the
Environment (Northern Ireland) (see later).
Under the current UK licensing schemes, trade or business users of most goods
vehicles and vehicle combinations (vehicles with trailers) over 3,500 kg maximum
permissible weight must hold an ‘O’ licence, whether they are used for carrying
goods in connection with the operator’s main trade or business as an own-account
operator (ie a trade or business other than that of carrying goods for hire or reward)
or are used for hire or reward road haulage operations. Certain goods vehicles,
including those used exclusively for private purposes, are exempt from the licensing
requirements. Details of the exempt vehicles to which ‘O’ licensing does not apply
are given in the Exemptions from ‘O’ Licensing section below.
Note: Current exemptions are always under review and there has been pressure
from Europe for the UK to introduce ‘O’ licensing for goods vehicles from 2,400 kg
to 3,500 kg being used for international hire and reward operations. New electri-
cally powered vans are now able to operate at weights up to 4,250 kg without com-
ing into the operator licensing scheme.
The original UK system of operator licensing was established by the Transport
Act 1968, the relevant provisions of which are now consolidated into the Goods
Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 (as amended). This Act states that no
person may use a goods vehicle on a road for hire or reward or in connection with
any trade or business carried on by him except under an operator’s licence.
2 Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2021

Important EU rules concerning the conditions to be complied with to pursue

the occupation of road transport operator and accompanying UK rules giving effect
to the EU rules in the UK were introduced with effect from 4 December 2011 as
follows:

● EC Regulation 1071/2009/EC;
● The Road Transport Operator Regulations 2011 (SI 2632/2011/EC).

While much of the pre-existing operator licensing scheme described in this chapter
remains unchanged, there are certain new provisions which are noted in the follow-
ing text.

List of Relevant Legislation

Copies of the legislation are available at www.legislation.gov.uk:

● The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995

● The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/2869)
(as amended)
● The Goods Vehicle Operators (Qualifications) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2430)
(as amended)
● The Road Transport Operator Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/2632)
● The Road Transport Act 2013
● The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017
● The Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017
● The Road Vehicles (Authorised Weights) and (Construction and Use) Regulations
2017
● EU Regulation 1071/2009 establishing common rules concerning conditions to be
complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator
● EU Regulation 1072/2009 on common rules for access to the international road
haulage market
● The Goods Vehicles (Community Licences) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/2633)

There are also guides and advice available from the website above, and the
goods vehicle operator licensing guide is available at GOV.UK. In addition, there are
13 Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory documents covering all aspects of opera-
tor licensing, which are also available at the GOV.UK website.
 Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing 3

Administration of Licensing System

The aim of the ‘O’ licensing system is to ensure a legal and safe operation. It is
administered on a regional (ie Traffic Area) basis throughout Great Britain. (Northern
Ireland’s Road Freight Vehicle Operator Licensing system is dealt with separately
by the Driver and Vehicle Agency – part of the Department of the Environment in
Belfast.)
The Traffic Areas each have their own Traffic Commissioner (TC) and Traffic
Area Offices (TAOs), to form the network (see Appendix I for a list).
There is also a ‘Senior’ TC and ‘Lead’ TCs are appointed where operators hold
operating licences in more than one Traffic Area. Where this is the case, the Lead TC
will be the person that the operator in question will need to deal with and who will
make final decisions. Lead TCs also have a team to deal with operators who hold
licences in more than one Traffic Area, known as the Multiple Licence Holder (MLH)
team.
Operator licence application administration is now centralized at:

Central Licensing Office

Hillcrest House
386 Harehills Lane
Leeds LS9 6NF

The Central Licensing Office (CLO) supports the TCs, and their roles as independent
licensing authorities are not affected. Traffic Area boundaries remain unchanged and
public inquiries continue to be held in the area of each TC. TCs are appointed by the
Secretary of State for Transport and are ‘independent quasijudicial authorities’,
which have the statutory power to grant or refuse operator licences, to place road
safety and environmental conditions or restrictions on such licences where necessary,
and subsequently to impose penalties against licences in the event of the holder being
convicted for goods vehicle-related and what are deemed to be ‘other serious’
offences, including offences related to health and safety, environmental issues,
commercial law, insolvency law, people and drugs trafficking, etc. TCs are supported
by Deputy TCs.
Figures published in March 2018 showed that there were 601,468 goods vehicles
authorized on 68,983 ‘O’ licences in Great Britain, of which 35,542 were restricted
licences, 25,160 were standard national licences and 8,281 were standard inter­
national licences.

Source: Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain Annual Report to the Secretary of
State 2019–2020 (for the year ending 31 March 2020)
4 Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2021

The Vehicle Operator Licensing System (VOL)

The Vehicle Operator Licensing system is an online system to apply for and manage
‘O’ licences. Postal application forms are not available at GOV.UK but can be
applied for from the CLO. VOL provides enforcement agencies with ‘real-time’ data
to help inform enforcement activities.
VOL reduces the application process from nine weeks to seven weeks and enables
goods vehicle operators to add and remove vehicles from their licence at any time.
It also reduces the time taken to add a vehicle to a licence from 14 days to a few
minutes. Operators can:

● register online to check their own licence details held on the Driver and Vehicle
Standards Agency (DVSA)’s operator licence computer system;
● transfer vehicles between licences they hold in different areas;
● track the progress of licence applications;
● set up access for other members of their staff, allowing greater access to records
and transactions for larger companies;
● pay licence fees and renew licences.

VOL also includes a template for advertising changes to their licences in local news-
papers.

‘O’ Licences Not for Sale

Operator’s licences are issued only to applicants who meet strict criteria. As such, ‘O’
licences are not transferable between operators and may not be borrowed, used on
loan or sold, with or without the vehicles to which they relate, by any person other
than the authorized holder.

Exemptions from ‘O’ Licensing

There are a number of categories of vehicle which are exempt from ‘O’ licensing
requirements.

Light Vehicles
The principal exemption applies to ‘light’ vehicles identified as follows.
 Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing 5

Rigid vehicles are ‘light’ if:

● they are plated and the gross plated weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes;
● they are unplated and have an unladen weight of not more than 1,525 kg.

A combination of a rigid vehicle and a drawbar trailer is ‘small’ if:

● both the vehicle and the trailer are plated, and the total of the gross plated weights
is not more than 3.5 tonnes (this is increased to 4.25 tonnes for alternatively
fuelled vehicles);
● either the vehicle or the trailer is not plated, and the total of the unladen weights
is not more than 1,525 kg.

NB: The text throughout this Handbook will refer to 3.5 tonnes as the relevant total
gross plated weight, as these sized vehicles make up over 95 per cent of these types
of vehicles.

Operators engaged in ‘own-account’ work with vehicles that do not exceed

3.5 tonnes gross plated weight used in combination with trailers that have an
unladen weight that does not exceed 1,020 kg remain out of scope of the ‘O’ licence
regulations.
Articulated vehicles are ‘small’ if:

● the semi-trailer is plated, and the total of the unladen weight of the tractive unit
and the plated weight of the semi-trailer is not more than 3.5 tonnes;
● the semi-trailer is not plated, and the total of the unladen weights of the tractive
unit and the semi-trailer is not more than 1,525 kg. However, this exemption does
not apply if other people’s goods are carried for hire or reward.

Older Vehicles
Also included in the exemptions are pre-1 January 1977 vehicles which have an
unladen weight not exceeding 1,525 kg and a gross weight greater than 3.5 tonnes.

Other Exemptions
Regulations list the following further specific exemptions from ‘O’ licensing
requirements:

1 Vehicles licensed as agricultural tractors used solely for handling specified goods,
and any trailer drawn by them.
2 Dual-purpose vehicles and any trailer drawn by them.
6 Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2021

3 Vehicles used on roads only for the purpose of passing between private premises
in the immediate neighbourhood and belonging to the same person (except in
the case of a vehicle used only in connection with excavation or demolition)
provided that the distance travelled on the road in any one week does not exceed
in aggregate 9.654 km (ie 6 miles).
4 Motor vehicles constructed or adapted primarily for the carriage of passengers
and their effects and any trailer drawn by them while being so used.
5 Vehicles being used for funerals.
6 Vehicles being used for police, fire brigade and ambulance service purposes.
7 Vehicles being used for fire-fighting or rescue work at mines.
8 Vehicles on which a permanent body has not yet been built carrying goods for
trial or for use in building the body.
9 Vehicles being used under a trade licence.
10 Vehicles used in the service of a visiting force or headquarters.
11 Vehicles used by or under the control of HM Armed Forces.
12 Trailers not constructed for the carriage of goods but which are used incidentally
for that purpose in connection with the construction, maintenance or repair of
roads.
13 Road rollers or any trailer drawn by them.*
14 Vehicles used by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) or the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for the carriage of lifeboats, life-saving
appliances or crew.
15 Vehicles fitted with permanent equipment (ie machines or appliances) so that the
only goods carried are:
(a) For use in connection with the equipment;
(b) For threshing, grading, cleaning or chemically treating grain or for mixing
by the equipment with other goods not carried on the vehicle to make
animal fodder;
(c) Mud or other matter swept up from the road by the equipment.
16 Vehicles while being used by a local authority for the purpose of enactments
relating to weights and measures or the sale of food or drugs.
17 Vehicles used by a local authority under the Civil Defence Act 1948.
18 Steam-propelled vehicles.
19 Tower wagons or any trailer drawn by them provided that any goods carried on
the trailer are required for use in connection with the work on which the tower
wagon is used.
 Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing 7

20 Vehicles used on airports under the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

21 Electrically propelled vehicles.*
22 Showmen’s goods vehicles and any trailer drawn by such vehicles.
23 Vehicles first registered prior to 1 January 1977 which are not over 1,525 kg
unladen weight and are plated for more than 3,500 kg but not more than
3,556.21 kg (3.5 tonnes).
24 Vehicles used by a highway authority in connection with weigh-bridges.
25 Vehicles used for emergency operations by the water, electricity, gas and telephone
services.
26 Recovery vehicles.*
27 Incomplete vehicles (with no fixed body).
28 Vehicles used for snow clearing or the distribution of grit, salt or other materials
on frosted, ice-bound or snow-covered roads and for any other purpose
connected with such activities. NB: This exemption is not restricted solely to
local authority-owned vehicles.
29 Vehicles going to or coming from a test station and carrying a load which is
required for the test at the request of the Secretary of State for Transport (ie by
the test station).

*At the time of writing, vehicles such as road rollers, recovery vehicles and electri-
cally powered vehicles are still under review as to whether or not they should lose
their exemptions.

Exemption for Private Vehicles

Exemptions also apply to vehicles used privately (ie for carrying goods for solely
private purposes and not in any way connected with a business activity) and by
voluntary organizations.

Non-Exempt Vehicles
All other conventionally powered goods-carrying vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross
weight not specifically shown as exempt in the list above must be covered by an ‘O’
licence. This includes such vehicles that are only temporarily in the operator’s pos-
session, or are hired from another operator without a driver, or borrowed on a short-
term basis, if they are used in connection with a business (even a part-time business).

No Exemption for Fast Agricultural Tractors

Fastrac-type agricultural tractors capable of pulling substantial loads at speeds of
up to 40 mph on public roads must be specified on an ‘O’ licence if used for hire or
8 Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2021

reward haulage work. The agricultural exemption mentioned above applies only
when such machines are used by farmers in connection with their own agricultural
business.

The Vehicle User

An ‘O’ licence must be obtained by the ‘user’ of the vehicle for all the vehicles to
which the regulations apply. The ‘user’ may be the operating company or the owner
or hirer of the vehicle. If the vehicle was hired without a driver, the hirer is the ‘user’.
The term ‘user’ means:

● a company or organization that is responsible for the operation of a vehicle that

is either owned, leased or hired to it;
● an owner-driver who uses a vehicle in connection with their own business as long
as they are responsible for the success or failure of the business;
● the owner of a vehicle employing a driver and paying the driver’s wages;
● the borrower or hirer of a vehicle either without a driver and they themselves
drive it or paying the wages of a driver employed to drive it.

In general, the person or company that pays the driver’s wages is the ‘user’ of a
vehicle, and it is this person (or company) or the nominated ‘competent person’
(usually a transport manager) who is responsible for holding an ‘O’ licence and for
the safe condition of the vehicle on the road and for ensuring that it is operated in
accordance with the law. The driver, although an employee, is the user of the vehicle
in the context of certain legislation (eg the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use)
Regulations 1986, as amended) and is responsible for its safe condition on the road.

Agency Drivers
Dependence on agencies for the supply of temporary drivers can cause difficulty in
interpretation of the term ‘user’ and in deciding who should hold the ‘O’ licence: the
vehicle owner or the agency which employs the driver.
The status of the vehicle ‘user’ in these circumstances is determined by driver
agencies getting operators to sign agreements. The vehicle operator technically be-
comes the employer of the driver and consequently the operator remains the legal
‘user’ of the vehicle. Usually the agency asks the hirer to sign an agreement whereby
the agency becomes the ‘agent’ of the operator for these purposes in paying the
driver’s wages.
 Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing 9

This practice has been proved in court to be legally acceptable on the grounds
that the Transport Act 1968 section 92(2) states that ‘the person whose servant or
agent the driver is, shall be deemed to be the person using the vehicle’. The driver
is considered to be the employee of the hirer because the hirer gives instructions
and directs the activities of the driver who is temporarily in their employ. The key
issue here is who controls how the drivers do their job. This must be the ‘user’ of the
vehicle and the holder of the ‘O’ licence. However, there can be difficulties when a
court interprets it such that because the agency actually ‘pays’ the driver then the
driver is a servant of the agency and not the hirer.
Operators employing agency drivers need to take extreme care to ensure the true
‘status’ of any agency drivers used and are advised to discuss this matter with the
supplying agency in order to agree an acceptable position.
With agency drivers the operator has no sound means of establishing whether the
driver is legally qualified to drive or whether they have already exceeded the permit-
ted driving hours on previous days and whether they have had adequate rest periods,
other than to be able to download information held on the driver’s ‘digi’ tacho card.
Reputable agencies usually go to considerable lengths to ensure that drivers are
properly licensed and have complied with the driving hours rules in all respects. It is
worth also remembering that the use of casually hired or temporary drivers (whose
backgrounds and previous experiences may not be fully known) can result in
jeopardy of the contract of insurance covering the use of vehicles and there could
also be serious security risks as well as possible ‘O’ licence penalties for infringe-
ments of the law.
Operators who use agency drivers should be aware that they may be held liable
for negligence or driving offences. They are also liable for ensuring the health and
safety of hired drivers, and must inform them of the legal requirements of vehicle
operations, such as the ‘hours’ law, tachographs, safe loading and vehicle checks.
Operators also need to ensure that they obtain copies of agency drivers’ records for
duties performed whilst under their control.

Rental of Vehicles
Rental of vehicles on a short-term basis of a few days or a few weeks does not
impose onerous contractual obligations on the hirer. The mechanical condition of
the vehicle is the hirer’s responsibility whilst under their control (see below).

‘O’ Licensing Provisions

Hiring does involve other legal obligations in respect of the vehicle itself and its use.
If the vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes gross plated weight and has been rented for use in
10 Lowe’s Transport Manager’s and Operator’s Handbook 2021

connection with a trade or business, then the person or firm renting it must hold an
‘O’ licence and there must be a margin on that licence to cover the renting of one or
more additional vehicles.
There is no need to advise the TC of details of the vehicle unless it is to be retained
on hire for more than one month, after which time the TC must be notified so an
‘O’ licence disc can be issued. If the vehicle is rented for a shorter period and then
returned to the rental company to be replaced by another vehicle, the TC does not
have to be notified if the combined total of the two rental periods exceeds one month
unless both are part of the same rental agreement.
If a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes is rented for use in a Traffic Area different from the
one in which the ‘O’ licence is held, then an ‘O’ licence must be obtained in that other
Traffic Area before a vehicle is permitted to operate from a base there.
Whether or not the rented vehicle comes within the scope of ‘O’ licensing, the
person or firm renting it carries the user responsibility for its safe mechanical con­
dition when it is on the road. Consequently, if vehicle faults result in prosecution
the user (not the rental company) will have to pay any fines imposed and the
user’s ‘O’ licence will be put in jeopardy (even if the vehicle is not specified on the
‘O’ licence). Careful selection of a reputable rental company with high maintenance
standards is essential.

Hire and Contract Hire

Hiring of vehicles (or more specifically contract hire), as opposed to rental, implies a
longer-term arrangement with a more rigid agreement as to the obligations of the
parties involved. Hiring arrangements vary considerably since the vehicle provider
and the customer draw up a contract to incorporate the services required. There are
two principal forms of contract hire: vehicles supplied with drivers and vehicles
supplied without drivers.
The important difference is that in the former case the contract hire company,
as the employer of the driver, is the ‘user’ of the vehicles in law and therefore holds
the ‘O’ licence and shoulders the legal responsibilities previously described, while
the hirer merely operates the vehicles exclusively to suit requirements. However,
in the latter case the hirer is the ‘user’ and ‘O’ licence holder and, as with vehicles
purchased and leased with own employee drivers at the wheel, the hirer carries the
full legal responsibilities.

Advantages of Contract Hire

Principally, there is no capital investment for contract hire and cash flow for trans-
port services is predictable throughout the year. Usually, a regular monthly invoice
covers all capital and operating costs.
Discovering Diverse Content Through
Random Scribd Documents
Marqués. Lo tienen, y muy sobrado:
como tú quieras, Leonor.
Curra. Si como á usted, señorita,
carta blanca se me diera,
á Don Cárlos le pidiera
alguna bata bonita
de Francia. Y una cadena
con su broche de diamante
al señorito estudiante,
que en Madrid la hallará buena.
Marqués. Lo que gustes, hija mia.
Sabes que el ídolo eres
de tu padre... ¿No me quieres?
(La abraza y besa tiernamente.)
Leonor. ¡Padre!... ¡Señor!... (Afligida.)
Marqués. La alegría
vuelva á tí, prenda del alma;
piensa que tu padre soy,
y que de contínuo estoy
soñando tu bien... La calma
recobra, niña... en verdad
desde que estamos aquí
estoy contento de tí,
veo la tranquilidad
que con la campestre vida
va renaciendo en tu pecho,
y me tienes satisfecho;
sí, lo estoy mucho, querida.
Ya se me ha olvidado todo;
eres muchacha obediente,
y yo seré diligente
 en darte un buen acomodo.
Sí, mi vida... ¿quién mejor
sabrá lo que te conviene,
que un tierno padre, que tiene
por tí el delirio mayor?
Leonor. (Echándose en brazos de su padre con gran
desconsuelo.)
¡Padre amado!... ¡Padre mio!
Marqués. Basta, basta... ¿Qué te agita?
(Con gran ternura.)
Yo te adoro, Leonorcita,
no llores... ¡Qué desvarío!
Leonor. ¡Padre!... ¡Padre!
Marqués. (Acariciándola y desasiéndose de sus brazos.)
Adios, mi bien.
Á dormir, y no lloremos.
Tus cariñosos extremos
el cielo bendiga, amen.
(Váse el Marqués, y queda Leonor muy abatida y
llorosa sentada en el sillon.)

ESCENA VI.
Curra va detrás del Marqués, cierra la puerta por donde aquel se ha ido,
y vuelve cerca de Leonor.

Curra. ¡Gracias á Dios!... me temí

que todito se enredase,
y que señor se quedase
hasta la mañana aquí.
¡Qué listo, cerró el balcon!...
 que por él, del palomar
vamos las dos á volar
le dijo su corazon.
Abrirlo sea lo primero; (Ábrelo.)
ahora lo segundo es
cerrar las maletas. Pues
salgan ya de su agujero.
(Saca Curra unas maletas y ropa, y se pone á
arreglarlo todo sin que en ello repare Doña Leonor.)

Leonor. ¡Infeliz de mí!... ¡Dios mio!

¿Por qué un amoroso padre,
que por mí tanto desvelo
tiene, y cariño tan grande,
se ha de oponer tenazmente
(¡ay, el alma se me parte!...)
á que yo dichosa sea,
y pueda feliz llamarme?...
¿Cómo, quien tanto me quiere,
puede tan cruel mostrarse?
Más dulce mi suerte fuera
si aún me viviera mi madre.
Curra. ¿Si viviera la señora?...
usted está delirante.
Más vana que señor era;
señor al cabo es un ángel.
¡Pero ella!... Un genio tenia
y un copete... Dios nos guarde.
Los señores de esta tierra
son todos de un mismo talle.
Y si alguna señorita
 busca un novio que le cuadre,
como no esté en pergaminos
envuelto, levantan tales
alaridos... Mas ¿qué importa
cuando hay decision bastante?
... Pero no perdamos tiempo;
venga usted, venga á ayudarme,
porque yo no puedo sola...
Leonor. ¡Ay, Curra!... ¡Si penetrases
cómo tengo el alma! Fuerza
me falta hasta para alzarme
de esta silla... ¡Curra, amiga!
lo confieso, no lo extrañes,
no me resuelvo, imposible...
Es imposible. ¡Ah!... ¡mi padre!
sus palabras cariñosas,
sus extremos, sus afanes,
sus besos y sus abrazos,
eran agudos puñales
que el pecho me atravesaban.
Si se queda un solo instante
no hubiera más resistido...
Ya iba á sus piés á arrojarme,
y confundida, aterrada,
mi proyecto á revelarle,
y á morir, ansiando solo
que su perdon me acordase.
Curra. ¡Pues hubiéramos quedado
frescas, y echado un buen lance!
Mañana veria usted,
 revolcándose en su sangre,
con la tapa de los sesos
levantada, al arrogante,
al enamorado, al noble
Don Álvaro. Ó arrastrarle
como un malhechor, atado
por entre estos olivares
á la cárcel de Sevilla;
y allá para Navidades
acaso, acaso en la horca.
Leonor. ¡Ay Curra!... El alma me partes.
Curra. Y todo esto, señorita,
porque la desgracia grande
tuvo el infeliz de veros,
y necio de enamorarse
de quien no le corresponde,
ni resolucion bastante
tiene para...
Leonor. Basta, Curra;
no mi pecho despedaces.
¿Yo á su amor no correspondo?
Que le correspondo sabes...
Por él mi casa y familia,
mis hermanos y mi padre
voy á abandonar, y sola...
Curra. Sola no, que yo soy alguien,
y tambien Antonio va,
y nunca en ninguna parte
la dejaremos... ¡Jesus!
Leonor. ¿Y mañana?
Curra. Dia grande.
Usted la adorada esposa
será del más adorable,
rico y lindo caballero
que puede en el mundo hallarse,
y yo la mujer de Antonio:
y á ver tierras muy distantes
iremos ambas... ¡qué bueno!
Leonor. ¿Y mi anciano y tierno padre?
Curra. ¿Quién?... ¿Señor? rabiará un poco,
pateará, contará el lance
al capitan general
con sus pelos y señales;
fastidiará al Asistente,
y tambien á sus compadres
el canónigo, el jurado,
y los vejetes maestrantes;
saldrán mil requisitorias
para buscarnos en balde,
cuando nosotras estemos
ya seguritas en Flandes.
Desde allí escribirá usted,
y comenzará á templarse
señor, y á los nueve meses,
cuando sepa hay un infante,
que tiene sus mismos ojos,
empezará á consolarse
y nosotras chapurrando,
que no nos entienda nadie,
volveremos de allí á poco,
 á que con festejos grandes
nos reciban, y todito
será banquetes y bailes.
Leonor. ¿Y mis hermanos del alma?
Curra. ¡Toma! ¡Toma!... Cuando agarren
del generoso cuñado,
uno con que hacer alarde
de vistosos uniformes
y con que rendir beldades,
y el otro para libracos,
merendonas y truhanes,
reventarán de alegría.
Leonor. No corre en tus venas sangre.
¡Jesus, y qué cosas tienes!
Curra. Porque digo las verdades.
Leonor. ¡Ay desdichada de mí!
Curra. Desdicha por cierto grande
el ser adorado dueño
del mejor de los galanes.
Pero vamos, señorita,
ayúdeme usted, que es tarde.
Leonor. Sí, tarde es, y aún no parece
Don Álvaro... ¡Oh, si faltase
esta noche!... ¡Ojalá!... ¡cielos!...
Que jamás estos umbrales
hubiera pisado, fuera
mejor. No tengo bastante
resolucion... lo confieso.
Es tan duro el alejarse
así de su casa... ¡ay triste!
 (Mira el reloj y sigue en inquietud.)
Las doce han dado... ¡qué tarde
es ya, Curra!... No, no viene.
¿Habrá en esos olivares
tenido algun mal encuentro?
Hay siempre en el Aljarafe
tan mala gente... Y Antonio
¿estará alerta?
Curra. Indudable
es que está de centinela...
Leonor. ¡Curra!... ¿Qué suena?... ¿Escuchaste?
(Con gran sobresalto.)
Curra. Pisadas son de caballos.
Leonor. ¡Ay! él es... (Corre al balcon.)
Curra. Si que faltase
era imposible...
Leonor. ¡Dios mio! (Muy agitada.)
Curra. Pecho al agua, y adelante.

ESCENA VII.
Don Álvaro en cuerpo, con una jaquetilla de mangas perdidas sobre una
rica chupa de majo, redecilla, calzon de ante, etc., entra por el
balcon y se echa en brazos de Leonor.

D. Álvaro. (Con gran vehemencia.)

Ángel consolador del alma mia...
¿Van ya los santos cielos,
á dar corona eterna á mis desvelos?
Me ahoga la alegría...
 ¿Estamos abrazados
para no vernos nunca separados?
Antes, antes la muerte,
que de tí separarme y que perderte.
Leonor. ¡Don Álvaro! (Muy agitada.)
D. Álvaro. Mi bien, mi Dios, mi todo.
¿Qué te agita y te turba de tal modo?
¿Te turba el corazon ver que tu amante
se encuentra en este instante
más ufano que el sol?... ¡Prenda adorada!
Leonor. Es ya tan tarde...
D. Álvaro. ¿Estabas enojada
porque tardé en venir? De mi retardo
no soy culpado, no, dulce señora;
hace más de una hora
que despechado aguardo
por los alrededores
la ocasion de llegar, y ya temia
que de mi adversa estrella los rigores
hoy deshicieran la esperanza mia.
Mas no, mi bien, mi gloria, mi consuelo,
protege nuestro amor el santo cielo,
y una carrera eterna de ventura,
próvido á nuestras plantas asegura.
El tiempo no perdamos.
¿Está ya todo listo? Vamos, vamos.
Curra. Sí: bajo del balcon, Antonio, el guarda,
las maletas espera;
las echaré al momento. (Va hácia el balcon.)
Leonor.
 Curra, aguarda,
(Resuelta.)
detente... ¡Ay Dios!... ¿no fuera,
Don Álvaro, mejor?...
D. Álvaro. ¿Qué, encanto mio?...
¿Por qué tiempo perder?... La jaca torda,
la que, cual dices tú, los campos borda,
la que tanto te agrada
por su obediencia y brío,
para tí está, mi dueño, enjaezada,
para Curra el obero.
Para mí el alazan gallardo y fiero...
¡Oh, loco estoy de amor y de alegría!
En San Juan de Alfarache, preparado
todo, con gran secreto, lo he dejado.
El sacerdote en el altar espera;
Dios nos bendecirá desde su esfera:
y cuando el nuevo sol en el oriente,
protector de mi estirpe soberana,
númen eterno en la region indiana,
la regia pompa de su trono ostente,
monarca de la luz, padre del dia,
yo tu esposo seré, tú esposa mia.
Leonor. Es tan tarde... ¡Don Álvaro!
D. Álvaro. Muchacha, (Á
Curra.)
¿qué te detiene ya? Corre, despacha;
por el balcon esas maletas, luego...
Leonor. Curra, Curra, detente. (Fuera de sí.)
¡Don Álvaro!
D. Álvaro. ¡¡¡Leonor!!!
Leonor. ¡Dejadlo os ruego
para mañana!
D. Álvaro. ¿Qué?
Leonor. Más fácilmente...
D. Álvaro. (Demudado y confuso.)
¿Qué es esto, qué, Leonor? ¿Te falta ahora
resolucion?... ¡ay yo desventurado!
Leonor. ¡Don Álvaro! ¡¡¡Don Álvaro!!!
D. Álvaro. ¡Señora!
Leonor. ¡Ay! me partís el alma...
D. Álvaro. Destrozado
tengo yo el corazon... ¿Dónde está, dónde,
vuestro amor, vuestro firme juramento?
Mal con vuestra palabra corresponde
tanta irresolucion en tal momento.
Tan súbita mudanza...
No os conozco, Leonor. ¿Llevóse el viento
de mis delirios toda la esperanza?
Sí, he cegado en el punto
en que apuntaba el más risueño dia.
Me sacarán difunto
de aquí, cuando inmortal salir creía.
Hechicera engañosa,
¿la perspectiva hermosa
que falaz me ofreciste así deshaces?
¡Pérfida! ¿Te complaces
en levantarme al trono del eterno,
para despues hundirme en el infierno?
...¿Solo me resta ya?...
Leonor. (Echándose en sus brazos.) No, no, te adoro.
¡Don Álvaro!... ¡Mi bien!... vamos, sí, vamos.
D. Álvaro. ¡Oh mi Leonor!...
Curra. El tiempo no perdamos.
D. Álvaro. ¡Mi encanto! ¡Mi tesoro!
(Doña Leonor muy abatida se apoya en el hombro de
Don Álvaro, con muestras de desmayarse.)
Mas ¿qué es esto?... ¡ay de mí!... ¡tu mano
yerta!
Me parece la mano de una muerta...
Frio está tu semblante
como la losa de un sepulcro helado.
Leonor. ¡Don Álvaro!
D. Álvaro. ¡Leonor! (Pausa.) Fuerza bastante
hay para todo en mí... ¡Desventurado!
La conmocion conozco que te agita,
inocente Leonor. Dios no permita
que por debilidad en tal momento
sigas mis pasos, y mi esposa seas.
Renuncio á tu palabra y juramento:
hachas de muerte las nupciales teas
fueran para los dos... Si no me amas,
como te amo yo á tí... Si arrepentida...
Leonor. Mi dulce esposo, con el alma y vida
es tuya tu Leonor; mi dicha fundo
en seguirte hasta el fin del ancho mundo.
Vamos, resuelta estoy, fijé mi suerte;
separarnos podrá solo la muerte.
(Van hácia el balcon, cuando de repente se oye ruido,
ladridos, y abrir y cerrar puertas.)
 ¡Dios mio! ¿Qué ruido es este? ¡¡¡Don
Leonor.
Álvaro!!!
Curra. Parece que han abierto la puerta del patio...
y la de la escalera...
Leonor. ¿Se habrá puesto malo mi padre?...
Curra. ¡Qué!, no señora, el ruido viene de otra
parte.
Leonor. ¿Habrá llegado alguno de mis hermanos?
D. Álvaro. Vamos, vamos, Leonor, no perdamos ni un
instante.
(Vuelven hácia el balcon, y de repente se ve por él el
resplandor de hachones de viento, y se oye galopar
caballos.)

Leonor. Somos perdidos... Estamos descubiertos...

imposible es la fuga.
D. Álvaro. Serenidad es necesario en todo caso.
Curra. La Vírgen del Rosario nos valga, y las ánimas
benditas... ¿Qué será de mi pobre Antonio?
(Se asoma al balcon y grita.) Antonio, Antonio.
D. Álvaro. Calla, maldita, no llames la atencion hácia
este lado; entorna el balcon. (Se acerca el ruido
de puertas y pisadas.)
Leonor. ¡Ay desdichada de mí!... Don Álvaro,
escóndete... aquí en mi alcoba...
D. Álvaro. (Resuelto.) No, yo no me escondo... No te
abandono en tal conflicto. (Prepara una pistola.)
Defenderte y salvarte es mi obligacion.
Leonor. (Asustadísima.) ¿Qué intentas? ¡ay! retira esa
pistola que me hiela la sangre... Por Dios
suéltala... ¿La dispararás contra mi buen
 padre?... ¿contra alguno de mis hermanos?...
¿Para matar á alguno de los fieles y antiguos
criados de esta casa?
D. Álvaro. (Profundamente conmovido.) No, no, amor mio...
la emplearé en dar fin á mi desventurada
vida.
Leonor. ¡Qué horror! ¡¡¡Don Álvaro!!!

ESCENA VIII.
Ábrese la puerta con estrépito despues de varios golpes en ella, y entra
el marqués en bata y gorra con un espadin desnudo en la mano, y
detrás dos criados mayores con luces.

Marqués. (Furioso.) Vil seductor... hija infame.

Leonor. (Arrojándose á los piés de su padre.) ¡¡¡Padre!!!
¡¡¡Padre!!!
Marqués. No soy tu padre... aparta... Y tú, vil
advenedizo...
D. Álvaro. Vuestra hija es inocente... Yo soy el
culpado... Atravesadme el pecho. (Hinca una
rodilla.)
Marqués. Tu actitud suplicante manifiesta lo bajo de tu
condicion...
D. Álvaro. (Levantándose.) ¡Señor marqués!... ¡señor
marqués!...
Marqués. (Á su hija.) Quita, mujer inícua. (Á Curra, que le
sujeta el brazo.) Y tú, infeliz... ¿osas tocar á tu
señor? (Á los criados.) Ea, echaos sobre ese
infame, sujetadle, atadle...
D. Álvaro. (Con dignidad.) Desgraciado del que me pierda
el respeto. (Saca una pistola y la monta.)
Leonor. (Corriendo hácia Don Álvaro.) ¡Don Álvaro!... ¿qué
vais á hacer?
Marqués. Echaos sobre él al punto.
D. Álvaro. Ay de vuestros criados si se mueven; vos
solo teneis derecho para atravesarme el
corazon.
Marqués. ¿Tú morir á manos de un caballero? no,
morirás á las del verdugo.
D. Álvaro. ¡Señor marqués de Calatrava!... Mas ¡ah! no:
teneis derecho para todo... Vuestra hija es
inocente... más pura que el aliento de los
ángeles que rodean el trono del Altísimo. La
sospecha á que puede dar orígen mi
presencia aquí á tales horas concluya con mi
muerte; salga envolviendo mi cadáver como
si fuera mi mortaja... Sí, debo morir... pero á
vuestras manos. (Pone una rodilla en tierra.)
Espero resignado el golpe, no lo resistiré; ya
me teneis desarmado.
(Tira la pistola, que al dar en tierra se dispara y hiere
al marqués, que cae moribundo en los brazos de su
hija y de los criados, dando un alarido.)

Marqués. Muerto soy... ¡ay de mí!...

D. Álvaro. ¡Dios mio! ¡arma funesta! ¡noche terrible!
Leonor. ¡Padre! ¡¡¡padre!!!
Marqués. Aparta; ¡sacadme de aquí... donde muera sin
que esta vil me contamine con tal nombre!
Leonor. ¡Padre!...
Marqués. Yo te maldigo.
(Cae Leonor en brazos de Don Álvaro, que la arrastra
hácia el balcon.)

FIN DE LA JORNADA PRIMERA.

 JORNADA SEGUNDA.

La escena es en la villa de Hornachuelos y sus alrededores.

ESCENA PRIMERA.
Es de noche, y el teatro representa la cocina de un meson en la villa de
Hornachuelos. Al frente estará la chimenea y el hogar. Á la izquierda
la puerta de entrada: á la derecha dos puertas practicables. Á un
lado una mesa larga de pino, rodeada de asientos toscos, y
alumbrado todo por un gran candilon. el mesonero y el alcalde
aparecerán sentados gravemente al fuego, la mesonera de rodillas
guisando. Junto á la mesa, el estudiante cantando y tocando la
guitarra. el arriero, que habla, cribando cebada en el fondo del
teatro. el tio Trabuco tendido en primer término sobre sus jalmas. los
dos lugareños, las dos lugareñas, la moza y uno de los arrieros, que no
habla, estarán bailando seguidillas. El otro arriero, que no habla,
estará sentado junto al estudiante, y jaleando á las que bailan.
Encima de la mesa habrá una bota de vino, unos vasos y un frasco
de aguardiente.

Estudiante. (Cantando en voz recia al son de la guitarra, y las tres

parejas bailando con gran algazara.)

Poned en estudiantes
vuestro cariño,
que son como discretos
agradecidos.
Viva Hornachuelos,
 vivan de sus muchachas
los ojos negros.
Dejad á los soldados,
que es gente mala,
y así que dan el golpe
vuelven la espalda.
Viva Hornachuelos,
vivan de sus muchachas
los ojos negros.

Mesonera. (Poniendo una sarten sobre la mesa.) Vamos,

vamos, que se enfria... (Á la criada.) Pepa, al
avío.
Arriero. (El del cribo.) Otra coplita.
Estudiante. (Dejando la guitarra.) Abrenuncio. Antes de todo
la cena.
Mesonera. Y si despues quiere la gente seguir bailando
y alborotando, váyanse al corral ó á la calle,
que hay una luna clara como de dia. Y dejen
en silencio el meson, que si unos quieren
jaleo, otros quieren dormir. Pepa, Pepa... ¿no
digo que basta ya de zangoloteo?...
Tio Trabuco. (Acostado en sus arreos.) Tia Colasa, usted está
en lo cierto. Yo por mí, quiero dormir.
Mesonero. Sí, ya basta de ruido. Vamos á cenar. Señor
alcalde, eche su merced la bendicion, y
venga á tomar una presita.
Alcalde. Se agradece, señor Monipodio.
Mesonera. Pero acérquese su merced.
Alcalde. Que eche la bendicion el señor licenciado.
Estudiante.
 Allá voy, y no seré largo, que huele el
bacallao á gloria. In nomine Patri et Filii et
Spiritu Sancto.
Todos. Amen.
(Se van acomodando alrededor de la mesa, todos
ménos Trabuco.)

Mesonera. Tal vez el tomate no estará bastante cocido,

y el arroz estará algo duro... Pero con tanta
babilonia no se puede...
Arriero. Está diciendo comedme, comedme.
Estudiante. (Comiendo con ansia.) Está exquisito... Especial;
parece ambrosía.
Mesonera. Alto allá, señor bachiller; la tia Ambrosia no
me gana á mí á guisar, ni sirve para
descalzarme el zapato, no señor.
Arriero. La tia Ambrosia es más puerca que una
telaraña.
Mesonero. La tia Ambrosia es un guiñapo, es un paño
de aporrear moscas; se revuelven las tripas
de entrar en su meson, y compararla con mi
Colasa no es regular.
Estudiante. Ya sé yo que la señora Colasa es pulcra, y no
lo dije por tanto.
Alcalde. En toda la comarca de Hornachuelos no hay
una persona más limpia que la señora
Colasa, ni un meson como el del señor
Monipodio.
Mesonera. Como que cuantas comidas de boda se
hacen en la villa pasan por estas manos que
ha de comer la tierra. Y de las bodas de
 señores, no le parezca á usted señor
bachiller... Cuando se casó el escribano con
la hija del regidor...
Estudiante. Conque se le puede decir á la señora Colasa,
tu das mihi epulis accumbere divum.
Mesonera. Yo no sé latin, pero sé guisar... Señor alcalde,
moje siquiera una sopa.
Alcalde. Tomaré, por no despreciar, una cucharadita
de gazpacho, si es que lo hay.
Mesonero. ¿Cómo que si lo hay?
Mesonera. ¿Pues habia de faltar donde yo estoy?... Pepa
(Á la moza.) anda á traerlo. Está sobre el
brocal del pozo, desde media tarde, tomando
el fresco. (Váse la moza.)
Estudiante. (Al arriero que está acostado.) Tio Trabuco, hola,
tio Trabuco, ¿no viene usted á hacer la
razon?
Tio Trabuco. No ceno.
Estudiante. ¿Ayuna usted?
Tio Trabuco. Sí señor, que es viérnes.
Mesonero. Pero un traguito...
Tio Trabuco. Venga. (Le alarga el mesonero la bota, y bebe un
trago el tio Trabuco.) ¡¡¡Jú!!! Esto es zupia.
Alárgueme usted, tio Monipodio, el frasco del
aguardiente para enjuagarme la boca. (Bebe y
se acurruca.)

(Entra la moza con una fuente de gazpacho.)

Moza. Aquí está la gracia de Dios.
Todos. Venga, venga.
Estudiante.
 Parece, señor alcalde, que esta noche hay
mucha gente forastera en Hornachuelos.
Arriero. Las tres posadas están llenas.
Alcalde. Como es el jubileo de la Porciúncula, y el
convento de San Francisco de los Ángeles
que está aquí en el desierto, á media legua
corta, es tan famoso... viene mucha gente á
confesarse con el P. Guardian, que es un
siervo de Dios.
Mesonera. Es un santo.
Mesonero. (Toma la bota y se pone de pié.) Jesus por la
buena compañía, y que Dios nos dé salud y
pesetas en esta vida, y la gloria en la eterna.
(Bebe.)
Todos. Amen. (Pasa la bota de mano en mano.)
Estudiante. (Despues de beber.) Tio Trabuco, tio Trabuco,
¿está usted ya con los angelitos?
Tio Trabuco. Con las malditas pulgas y con sus voces de
usted, ¿quién puede estar sino con los
demonios?
Estudiante. Queríamos saber, Tio Trabuco, si esa
personilla de alfeñique que ha venido con
usted, y que se ha escondido de nosotros,
viene á ganar el jubileo.
Tio Trabuco. Yo no sé nunca á lo que van ni vienen los
que viajan conmigo.
Estudiante. Pero... ¿es gallo, ó gallina?
Tio Trabuco. Yo de los viajeros no miro más que la
moneda, que ni es hembra ni es macho.
Estudiante.
 Sí, es género epiceno, como si dijéramos
hermafrodita... Pero veo que es usted muy
taciturno, tio Trabuco.
Tio Trabuco. Nunca gasto saliva en lo que no me importa:
y buenas noches, que se me va quedando la
lengua dormida, y quiero guardarle el sueño;
sonsoniche.
Estudiante. Pues señor, con el tio Trabuco no hay
emboque. Dígame usted, nostrama, (Á la
mesonera.) ¿por qué no ha venido á cenar el
tal caballerito?
Mesonera. Yo no sé.
Estudiante. Pero, vamos, ¿es hembra ó varon?
Mesonera. Que sea lo que sea, lo cierto es que le ví el
rostro, por más que se lo recataba, cuando
se apeó del mulo, y que lo tiene como un sol;
y eso que traia los ojos de llorar y de polvo,
que daba compasion.
Estudiante. ¡Oiga!
Mesonera. Sí señor; y en cuanto se metió en ese cuarto,
volviéndome siempre la espalda, me
preguntó cuánto habia de aquí al convento
de los Ángeles, y yo se lo enseñé desde la
ventana, que como está tan cerca se ve
clarito, y...
Estudiante. ¡Hola, conque es pecador que viene al
jubileo!
Mesonera. Yo no sé. Luego se acostó; digo, se echó en
la cama vestido, y bebió antes un vaso de
agua con unas gotas de vinagre.
Estudiante. Ya, para refrescar el cuerpo.
Mesonera. Y me dijo que no queria luz, ni cena, ni nada,
y se quedó como rezando el rosario entre
dientes. Á mí me parece que es persona
muy...
Mesonero. Charla, charla... ¿Quién diablos te mete en
hablar de los huéspedes?... Maldita sea tu
lengua.
Mesonera. Como el señor licenciado queria saber...
Estudiante. Sí, señora Colasa; dígame usted...
Mesonero. (Á su mujer.) ¡Chiton!
Estudiante. Pues señor, volvamos al tio Trabuco. Tio
Trabuco, tio Trabuco. (Se acerca á él y le
despierta.)
Tio Trabuco. ¡Malo!... ¿Me quiere usted dejar en paz?
Estudiante. Vamos, dígame usted, esa persona ¿cómo
viene en el mulo, á mujeriegas ó á
horcajadas?
Tio Trabuco. ¡Ay qué sangre!... De cabeza.
Estudiante. Y dígame usted, ¿de dónde salió usted esta
mañana, de Posadas ó de Palma?
Tio Trabuco. Yo no sé sino que tarde ó temprano voy al
cielo.
Estudiante. ¿Por qué?
Tio Trabuco. Porque ya me tiene usted en el purgatorio.
Estudiante. (Se rie.) ¡Ah, ah, ah!... ¿Y va usted á
Extremadura?
Tio Trabuco. (Se levanta, recoge sus jalmas y se va con ellas muy
enfadado.) No señor; á la caballeriza, huyendo
 de usted, y á dormir con mis mulos, que no
saben latin, ni son bachilleres.
Estudiante. (Se rie.) ¡Ah, ah, ah, ah! Se afufó... Hola,
Pepa, salerosa, ¿y no has visto tú al
escondido?
Moza. Por la espalda.
Estudiante. ¿Y en qué cuarto está?
Moza. (Señala la primera puerta de la derecha.) En ese...
Estudiante. Pues ya que es lampiño, vamos á pintarle
unos bigotes con tizne... Y cuando se
despierte por la mañana reiremos un poco.
(Se tizna los dedos y va hácia el cuarto.)
Algunos. Sí... sí.
Mesonero. No, no.
Alcalde. (Con gravedad.) Señor estudiante, no lo
permitiré yo, pues debo proteger á los
forasteros que llegan á esta villa, y
administrarles justicia como á los naturales
de ella.
Estudiante. No lo dije por tanto, señor alcalde...
Alcalde. Yo sí. Y no fuera malo saber quién es el
señor licenciado, de dónde viene y adónde
va, pues parece algo alegre de cascos.
Estudiante. Si la justicia me lo pregunta de burlas ó de
veras, no hay inconveniente en decirlo, que
aquí se juega limpio. Soy el bachiller Pereda,
graduado por Salamanca, in utroque, y hace
ocho años que curso sus escuelas, aunque
pobre, con honra, y no sin fama. Salí de allí
hace más de un año, acompañando á mi
 amigo y protector el señor licenciado Vargas,
y fuimos á Sevilla, á vengar la muerte de su
padre el marqués de Calatrava, y á indagar el
paradero de su hermana, que se escapó con
el matador. Pasamos allí algunos meses,
donde tambien estuvo su hermano mayor, el
actual marqués, que es oficial de Guardias. Y
como no lograron su propósito, se separaron
jurando venganza. Y el licenciado y yo nos
vinimos á Córdoba, donde dijeron que estaba
la hermana. Pero no la hallamos tampoco, y
allí supimos que habia muerto en la refriega
que armaron los criados del marqués, la
noche de su muerte, con los del robador y
asesino, y que éste se habia vuelto á
América. Con lo que marchamos á Cádiz,
donde mi protector, el licenciado Vargas, se
ha embarcado para buscar allá al enemigo de
su familia. Y yo me vuelvo á mi universidad á
desquitar el tiempo perdido, y á continuar
mis estudios, con los que, y la ayuda de Dios,
puede ser que me vea algun dia gobernador
del Consejo ó arzobispo de Sevilla.
Alcalde. Humos tiene el señor bachiller, y ya basta;
pues se ve en su porte y buena explicacion
que es hombre de bien, y que dice verdad.
Mesonera. Dígame usted, señor estudiante, ¿y qué,
mataron á ese marqués?
Estudiante. Sí.
Mesonera.
 ¿Y lo mató el amante de su hija y luego la
robó?... ¡Ay! cuéntenos su merced esa
historia, que será muy divertida: cuéntela su
merced...
Mesonero. ¿Quién te mete á tí en saber vidas ajenas?
¡Maldita sea tu curiosidad! Pues que ya
hemos cenado, demos gracias á Dios, y á
recogerse. (Se ponen todos en pié, y se quitan el
sombrero como que rezan.) Eh, buenas noches;
cada mochuelo á su olivo.
Alcalde. Buenas noches, y que haya juicio y silencio.
Estudiante. Pues me voy á mi cuarto. (Se va á meter en el
del viajero incógnito.)
Mesonero. Hola, no es ese, el de más allá.
Estudiante. Me equivoqué.
(Vánse el alcalde y los lugareños: entra el estudiante
en su cuarto: la moza, el arriero y la mesonera retiran
la mesa y bancos, dejando la escena desembarazada.
El mesonero se acerca al hogar, y queda todo en
silencio y solos el mesonero y la mesonera.)

ESCENA II.

Mesonero. Colasa, para medrar

en nuestro oficio, es forzoso
que haya en la casa reposo,
y á ninguno incomodar.
Nunca meterse á oliscar
quiénes los huéspedes son.
No gastar conversacion
 con cuantos llegan aquí.
Servir bien, decir no ó sí,
cobrar la mosca, y ¡chiton!
Mesonera. No, por mí no lo dirás,
bien sabes que callar sé.
Al bachiller pregunté...
Mesonero. Pues eso estuvo de más.
Mesonera. Tambien ahora extrañarás
que entre en ese cuarto á ver
si el huésped há menester
alguna cosa, marido,
pues es, sí, lo he conocido,
una afligida mujer.
(Toma un candil y entra la mesonera muy
recatadamente en el cuarto.)

Mesonero. Entra, que entrar es razon,

aunque temo á la verdad
que vas por curiosidad,
más bien que por compasion.
Mesonera. (Saliendo muy asustada.)
¡Ay, Dios mio! Vengo muerta;
desapareció la dama;
nadie he encontrado en la cama,
y está la ventana abierta.
Mesonero. ¿Cómo? ¿cómo?... Ya lo sé...
La ventana al campo dá,
y como tan baja está,
sin gran trabajo se fué.
(Andando hácia el cuarto donde entró la mujer,
quedándose él á la puerta.)
 Quiera Dios no haya cargado
con la colcha nueva.
Mesonera. (Dentro) Nada,
todo está aquí... ¡desdichada!
hasta dinero ha dejado...
Sí, sobre la mesa un duro.
Mesonero. Vaya entonces en buen hora.
Mesonera. (Saliendo á la escena.)
No hay duda, es una señora,
que se encuentra en grande apuro.
Mesonero. Pues con bien la lleve Dios,
y vámonos á acostar,
y mañana no charlar,
que esto quede entre los dos.
Echa un cuarto en el cepillo
de las ánimas, mujer,
y el duro véngame á ver;
échamelo en el bolsillo.

ESCENA III.
El teatro representa una plataforma en la ladera de una áspera
montaña. Á la izquierda precipicios y derrumbaderos. Al frente un
profundo valle atravesado por un riachuelo, en cuya márgen se ve á
lo lejos la villa de Hornachuelos, terminando el fondo en altas
montañas. Á la derecha la fachada del convento de los Ángeles de
pobre y humilde arquitectura. La gran puerta de la iglesia cerrada,
pero practicable, y sobre ella una claraboya de medio punto por
donde se verá el resplandor de las luces interiores; más hácia el
proscenio la puerta de la portería, tambien practicable y cerrada; en
medio de ella una mirilla ó gatera que se abra y se cierre, y al lado el
 cordon de una campanilla. En medio de la escena habrá una gran
cruz de piedra tosca y corroida por el tiempo, puesta sobre cuatro
gradas que puedan servir de asiento. Estará todo iluminado por una
luna clarísima. Se oirá dentro de la iglesia el órgano, y cantar
maitines al coro de frailes, y saldrá como subiendo por la izquierda
Doña Leonor, muy fatigada y vestida de hombre, con un gaban de
mangas, sombrero gacho y botines.

Leonor. Sí... ya llegué... Dios mio,

gracias os doy rendida.
(Arrodíllase al ver el convento.)
En tí, Vírgen Santísima, confío;
sed el amparo de mi amarga vida.
Este refugio es solo
el que puedo tener de polo á polo. (Álzase.)
No me queda en la tierra
más asilo y resguardo
que los áridos riscos de esta sierra;
en ella estoy... Aún tiemblo y me acobardo...
(Mira hácia el sitio por donde ha venido.)
¡Ah!... nadie me ha seguido.
Ni mi fuga veloz notada ha sido.
...No me engañé, la horrenda historia mia
escuché referir en la posada...
Y ¿quién, cielos, sería
aquel que la contó? ¡Desventurada!
Amigo dijo ser de mis hermanos...
¡Oh cielos soberanos!...
¿Voy á ser descubierta?
Estoy de miedo y de cansancio muerta.
(Se sienta.)
¡Qué asperezas! ¡Qué hermosa y clara luna!
¡¡¡La misma que hace un año
vió la mudanza atroz de mi fortuna,
y abrirse los infiernos en mi daño!!!
(Pausa larga.)
No fué ilusion... aquel que de mí hablaba
dijo que navegaba
Don Álvaro, buscando nuevamente
los apartados climas de Occidente.
¡Oh Dios!... ¿Y será cierto?
Con bien arribe de su patria al puerto.
(Pausa.)
¿Y no murió la noche desastrada
en que yo, yo... manchada
con la sangre infeliz del padre mio,
le seguí... le perdí?... ¿Y huye el impío?
¿Y huye el ingrato?... ¿Y huye y me
abandona?
(Cae de rodillas.)
¡Oh Madre Santa de piedad! perdona,
perdona, le olvidé. Sí, es verdadera,
lo es mi resolucion. Dios de bondades,
con penitencia austera,
lejos del mundo en estas soledades,
el furor expiaré de mis pasiones.
Piedad, piedad, Señor, no me abandones.
(Queda en silencio y como en profunda meditacion
recostada en las gradas de la cruz, y despues de una
larga pausa continúa:)
Los sublimes acentos de ese coro
de bienaventurados,
y los ecos pausados
del órgano sonoro,
que cual de incienso vaporosa nube
al trono santo del eterno sube,
difunden en mi alma
bálsamo dulce de consuelo y calma.
(Se levanta resuelta.)
¿Qué me detengo pues?... corro al tranquilo,
corro al sagrado asilo...
(Va hácia el convento y se detiene.)
Mas ¿cómo á tales horas?... ¡Ah!... no puedo
ya dilatarlo más, hiélame el miedo
de encontrarme aquí sola. En esa aldea
hay quien mi historia sabe.
En lo posible cabe
que descubierta con la aurora sea.
Este santo prelado
de mi resolucion está informado,
y de mis infortunios... Nada temo.
Mi confesor de Córdoba hace dias
que las desgracias mias
le escribió largamente...
Sé de su caridad el noble extremo,
me acogerá indulgente.
¿Qué dudo, pues, qué dudo?...
Sed, oh Vírgen Santísima, mi escudo.
(Llega á la portería y toca á la campanilla.)
 ESCENA IV.
Se abre la mirilla que está en la puerta, y por ella sale el resplandor de
un farol que dá de pronto en el rostro de Doña Leonor, y ésta se
retira como asustada. El hermano Meliton habla toda esta escena
dentro.

Meliton. ¿Quién es?

Leonor. Una persona á quien le interesa mucho,
mucho, ver al instante al reverendo P.
Guardian.
Meliton. ¡Buena hora de ver al P. Guardian!... La
noche está clara, y no será ningun caminante
perdido. Si viene á ganar el jubileo, á las
cinco se abrirá la iglesia; vaya con Dios; él le
ayude.
Leonor. Hermano, llamad al P. Guardian. Por caridad.
Meliton. ¡Qué caridad á estas horas! El P. Guardian
está en el coro.
Leonor. Traigo para su reverencia un recado muy
urgente del P. Cleto, definidor del convento
de Córdoba, quien ya le ha escrito sobre el
asunto de que vengo á hablarle.
Meliton. ¡Hola!... ¿del P. Cleto, el definidor del
convento de Córdoba? Eso es distinto... iré,
iré á decírselo al P. Guardian. Pero dígame,
hijo, ¿el recado y la carta son sobre aquel
asunto con el P. General, que está pendiente
allá en Madrid?...
Leonor. Es una cosa muy interesante.
Meliton. Pero ¿para quién?
Welcome to our website – the ideal destination for book lovers and
knowledge seekers. With a mission to inspire endlessly, we offer a
vast collection of books, ranging from classic literary works to
specialized publications, self-development books, and children's
literature. Each book is a new journey of discovery, expanding
knowledge and enriching the soul of the reade

Our website is not just a platform for buying books, but a bridge
connecting readers to the timeless values of culture and wisdom. With
an elegant, user-friendly interface and an intelligent search system,
we are committed to providing a quick and convenient shopping
experience. Additionally, our special promotions and home delivery
services ensure that you save time and fully enjoy the joy of reading.

Let us accompany you on the journey of exploring knowledge and

personal growth!

textbookfull.com