ER. Plague take you. I declare you are the biggest bore in the world! SCENE IV.--ÉRASTE, _alone_. Ah, how anxious I feel; how I wish I had missed this fatal appointment! I thought I should find everything favourable; and, instead of that, my heart is tortured. SCENE V.--LISANDRE, ÉRASTE. LIS. I recognized you under these trees from a distance, dear Marquis; and I came to you at once. As one of my friends, I must sing you a certain air which I have made for a little Couranto, which pleases all the connoisseurs at court, and to which more than a score have already written words. [Footnote: See Vol. I., page 164, note 14.] I have wealth, birth, a tolerable employment, and am of some consequence in France; but I would not have failed, for all I am worth, to compose this air which I am going to let you hear. (_He tries his voice_). La, la; hum, hum; listen attentively, I beg. (_he sings an air of a Couranto_). Is it not fine? ER. Ah! LIS. This close is pretty. (_He sings the close over again four or five times successively_). How do you like it? ER. Very fine, indeed. LIS. The steps which I have arranged are no less pleasing, and the figure in particular is wonderfully graceful. (_He sings the words, talks, and dances at the same time; and makes Éraste perform the lady's steps_). Stay, the gen-man crosses thus; then the lady crosses again: together: then they separate, and the lady comes there. Do you observe that little touch of a faint? This fleuret? These coupés running after the fair one. [Footnote: A fleuret was an old step in dancing formed of two half coupées and two steps on the point of the toes.] [Footnote: A coupé is a movement in dancing, when one leg is a little bent, and raised from the ground, and with the other a motion is made forward.] Back to back: face to face, pressing up close to her. (_After finishing_). What do you think of it, Marquis? ER. All those steps are fine. LIS. For my part, I would not give a fig for your ballet-masters. ER. Evidently. LIS. And the steps then? ER. Are wonderful in every particular. LIS. Shall I teach you them, for friendship's sake? ER. To tell the truth, just now I am somewhat disturbed .... LIS. Well, then, it shall be when you please. If I had those new words about me, we would read them together, and see which were the prettiest. ER. Another time. LIS. Farewell. My dearest Baptiste has not seen my Couranto; I am going to look for him. We always agree about the tunes; I shall ask him to score it. (_Exit, still singing_.) [Footnote: Jean Baptiste Lulli had been appointed, in the month of May of 1661, the same year that _The Bores_ was first played, _Surintendant et Compositeur de la musique de la chambre du Roi_.] SCENE VI.--ÉRASTE, _alone_. Heavens! must we be compelled daily to endure a hundred fools, because they are men of rank, and must we, in our politeness, demean ourselves so often to applaud, when they annoy us? SCENE VII.--ÉRASTE, LA MONTAGNE.