The play takes place under a bell jar, being based directly upon a construction by American artist Joseph Cornell called Observations of a Satellite 1 (1960). The Infanta is of course The Infanta Margarita at Age Five, by Diego Velazquez (1559-1661). The hummingbird in this play is by English bird illustrator John Gould (1804-1881) and is taken from Sacheverell Sitwell’s Fine Bird Books 1700-1900 (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1990).
When the play opens, the Infanta is conversing with an enormous hummingbird that hovers directly over her head.
Margarita: Your wings beat so quickly I can’t see them.
Hummingbird: What do you see instead?
Margarita: An airy sphere, floating in the air.
Hummingbird: That is enough to see.
Margarita: I would like to be as ethereal as you.
Hummingbird: Would you? [observing her closely] Yes, you are a bit encumbered by your own dress! It’s rather solid, isn’t it?
Margarita: It’s like wearing a building! I can scarcely move!
Hummingbird: Well, movement isn’t everything. Standing still allows you to look about you. And it gives you time to think.
Margarita: But you can stand still as well—if you want to. You can hover.
Hummingbird: Listen, hovering is a whole world in itself. Hovering is so demanding it’s all you can do. You drive yourself mad just to stay in the same place!
Margarita: Well, I can certainly understand that.
Hummingbird: But you can always step out of that dress, and leap about in the sun like a spring lamb!
Margarita: It scarcely ever happens.
Hummimgbird: Meet me here in this meadow tomorrow, early in the morning. I’m going to begin your
hovering lessons!
Margarita (overjoyed). Oh, will you??
Hummingbird: I promise. Just one more thing, though.
Margarita: Yes?
Hummingbird: Wear something light!
(curtain)
