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"The Queen of Spain's Beard" is the fourth episode of the BBC historical sitcom ''The Black Adder'', the first serial in the ''Blackadder'' series. Set in late 15th-century England, the episode parodies the ruthless practice of political marriages between the royal houses of Europe which characterised European politics during the Middle Ages.〔Roberts, p.118〕 Its bawdy humour also deals with taboos surrounding premarital sex, gay stereotypes and the practice of child marriage. The title of the episode is a play on the words attributed to Sir Francis Drake who "singed the beard of the King of Spain" when he attacked the country in 1587.〔Lewis, p. 123〕 As with other episodes in this series, the end credits include an acknowledgement of "additional dialogue by William Shakespeare". One scene includes a parody of ''Richard III'' in which the third messenger announces in deadpan style the death of Lord Wessex. The fictitious King Richard IV retorts, "I like not this news! Bring me some other news!" echoing Richard III's rebuke to a messenger, "There, take thou that till thou bring better news." (Act 4, scene 4) The episode introduces a recurring guest star to the ''Blackadder'' series, Miriam Margolyes, who plays the part of the Spanish Infanta betrothed to Prince Edmund. Margolyes would later return to play Edmund's Puritan aunt, Lady Whiteadder, in the 1986 episode "Beer" and the part of Queen Victoria in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'' (1988).〔 Margolyes's Infanta is accompanied in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" by an interpreter, played by Jim Broadbent, who would go on to play Albert, Prince Consort opposite her in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''. Broadbent was also intended to play Lord Whiteadder in "Beer", but was unavailable for recording.〔Roberts, p.201〕 Although "The Queen of Spain's Beard" was originally broadcast as episode 4 of the series, on later broadcasts and DVD releases it has been switched with episode 2, "Born to Be King".〔Lewis, p. 124〕 == Plot == The year is 1492 and Europe is in disarray as nations go to war and kingdoms rise and fall. In England, Richard IV's court throbs with activity as he and his noblemen plan for war. The King must secure Spain's allegiance in a war with France, and commands his son, Harry, Prince of Wales, to marry the Spanish Infanta.〔 Harry reveals that he is already engaged to a long list of European princesses (and, it is revealed, Jeremey of Estonia and Bernard of Saxe-Coburg), and so the duty falls to Richard's forgotten son, Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh. Edmund, meanwhile, has been trying unsuccessfully to woo the ladies of the court. After a woman pushes him off the castle ramparts in revulsion because she was expecting Harry, Edmund renounces women. His resolve is weakened when he learns that his father has arranged his marriage to the Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain and he grows excited when he imagines her as a beautiful princess. The Infanta arrives at court and Edmund is horrified to discover that she is ugly and overweight. Facilitated by her ever-present interpreter, Don Speekingleesh, she declares undying love for Edmund. Terrified by her sexually voracious advances, Edmund retreats to work out a way of getting out of the marriage, which is to take place the following day. Baldrick hatches a plan: if Edmund can convince the Infanta that he "prefers the intimate company of men", she will not be willing to marry him. Following the example of the Earl of Doncaster, Edmund puts on flamboyant clothes and makeup, adopts stereotypically camp mannerisms and minces into court. Unfortunately, the Infanta misunderstands Edmund's appearance as an attempt to wear traditional Spanish dress to delight her, and her passion is kindled further. Edmund's next strategy is to get out of the marriage by marrying someone else. He sends Percy to find a suitable fiancée while Baldrick to abducts a priest to perform the ceremony. Edmund – still wearing his flamboyant outfit – attempts to marry a giggling peasant girl, Tally Applebottom, in a clandestine wedding. The ceremony is abruptly halted by Tally's enraged husband, who ejects Edmund by threatening him with a scythe, assuming him to be the Earl of Doncaster. One the eve of the wedding, Edmund's last hope is to make the Infanta lose her virginity, thus making her ineligible for marriage. He sends Baldrick into the Infanta's bedchamber to "deflower" her. In total darkness, Baldrick is heard struggling desperately, while the Infanta's amorous exclamations are helpfully translated by her interpreter, also present in the tryst. Edmund, feigning sorrow, informs the King Richard that the Infanta is not a virgin. The King brushes the revelation aside – only ''one'' of them has to be a virgin (that one, of course, being Edmund). The following day, the marriage ceremony begins and the Infanta is impatient. A traumatised Baldrick is seen covered in bruises from the previous night's failed mission. Unexpectedly, and to Edmund's great relief, the wedding is suddenly halted when news arrives that Spain and France have joined forces. Realising the only country in Europe England can ally with now is Hungary, the King ejects the Infanta from the court, and declares that Edmund must now marry a Hungarian princess. Edmund is disappointed once again — Princess Leia of Hungary turns out to be an eight-year-old girl. The wedding goes ahead, and Edmund spends his entire wedding night wearily reading fairy tales to his child bride. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Queen of Spain's Beard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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