French drama -- 17th century -- Translations into English; Molière, 1622-1673 -- Translations into English
SBRI. You look at my dress, which is not like that of other people;
but I came originally from Naples, at your service; and I always like
to keep up the way of dressing as well as the sincerity of my
country.[5]
MR. POUR. You are quite right. For my part, I was desirous of
appearing in the court dress for the country.[6]
SBRI. Truly, it becomes you better than it does all our courtiers.
MR. POUR. Exactly what my tailor told me. The coat is suitable and
rich; it will tell here among these people.
SBRI. You will go to the Louvre, no doubt?
MR. POUR. Yes; I must go and pay my court.
SBRI. The king will be charmed to see you.
MR. POUR. I believe so.
SBRI. Have you fixed upon rooms?
MR. POUR. No; I was going to look for some.
SBRI. I shall be very glad to go with you; I know all this city well.
SCENE VI.--ÉRASTE, MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, SBRIGANI.
ERA. Ah, who is this? What do I see? What a happy meeting! Mr. de
Pourceaugnac! How delighted I am to see you! What! anyone would think
that you find it difficult to remember me!
MR. POUR. Sir, I am your servant.
ERA. Is it possible that five or six years can have made you forget
me? Do you not remember the best friend of the de Pourceaugnacs?
MR. POUR. Yes, yes. (_Aside to_ SBRIGANI) Deuce take me if I know who
he is.
ERA. There is not one of the de Pourceaugnacs of Limoges that I do
not know, from the greatest to the smallest; I visited only them
during my stay there, and I had the honour of seeing you every day.
MR. POUR. The honour was mine, Sir.
ERA. You do not remember my face?
MR. POUR. Yes, yes. (_To_ SBRIGANI) I don't know him a bit.
ERA. You do not remember that I had the pleasure of drinking with you
I don't know how many times?
MR. POUR. Excuse me. (_To_ SBRIGANI) I don't know anything about it.
ERA. What is the name of that pastrycook who cooks such capital
dinners?
MR. POUR. Petit-Jean.
ERA. Just so. We used often to go there together to enjoy ourselves.
How do you call that place where people go for a walk?
MR. POUR. The cemetery of the Arènes.
ERA. Exactly. It is there I enjoyed so many happy hours of your
pleasant talk. Don't you remember it all now?
MR. POUR. Pardon me; yes, I remember. (_To_ SBRIGANI) Deuce take
me if I do.
SBRI. (_aside to_ MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). There are a hundred
things like that which one is apt to forget altogether.
ERA. Let us embrace, I pray, and renew our former friendship.
SBRI. (_to_ MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). This man seems to have a great
affection for you.
ERA. Tell me some news of all the family. How is that gentleman
your ... he who is such an honest man?
MR. POUR. My brother the sheriff?[7]
ERA. Yes.
MR. POUR. He is as well as can be.
ERA. I am delighted to hear it. And that good tempered man? You know,
your ...
MR. POUR. My cousin, the assessor?
ERA. Exactly.
MR. POUR. Always gay and hearty.
ERA. It gives me much pleasure to hear it. And your uncle, the ...
MR. POUR. I have no uncle.
ERA. But you had one in those days?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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