French drama -- 17th century -- Translations into English; Molière, 1622-1673 -- Translations into English
JU. Who could have believed that your ladyship had so big a child.
COUN. Alas! when he was born, I was so young that I still played with
dolls.
JU. He is your brother and not your son.
COUN. Be very careful of his education, Mr. Bobinet.
BOB. I shall never, Madam, neglect anything towards the cultivation of
the young plant which your goodness has entrusted to my care, and I
will try to inculcate in him the seeds of all the virtues.
COUN. Mr. Bobinet, just make him recite some choice piece from what
you teach him.
BOB. Will your lordship repeat your lesson of yesterday morning?
COUN.
_Omne viro soli quod convenit esto virile,
Omne viri...._
COUN. Fie! Mr. Bobinet; what silly stuff is that you teach him?
BOB. It is Latin, Madam, and the first rule of Jean Despautère.
COUN. Truly, that Jean Despautère is an impudent fellow, and I beg you
to teach my son more honest Latin than this is in future.
BOB. If you will allow him to say it all through, Madam, the gloss
will explain the meaning.
COUN. There is no need; it explains itself sufficiently.
SCENE XX.--THE COUNTESS, JULIA, THE VISCOUNT, MR THIBAUDIER,
THE COUNT, MR. BOBINET, CRIQUET.
CRI. The actors send me to tell you that they are ready.
COUN. Let us take our seats. (_Showing_ JULIA.) Mr. Thibaudier,
take this lady under your care.
CRIQUET _places all the chairs on one side of the stage. The_
COUNTESS, JULIA, _and the_ VISCOUNT _sit down, and_ MR. THIBAUDIER
_sits down at the_ COUNTESS'S _feet_.
VISC. It is important for you to observe that this comedy was made
only to unite the different pieces of music and dancing which compose
the entertainment, and that ...
COUN. Ah! never mind, let us see it; we have enough good sense to
understand things.
VISC. Begin then at once, and see that no troublesome intruder comes
to disturb our pleasure.
(_The violins begin an overture._)
SCENE XXI.--THE COUNTESS, JULIA, THE VISCOUNT, THE COUNT,
MR. HARPIN, MR. THIBAUDIER, MR. BOBINET, CRIQUET.
HAR. By George! This is fine, and I rejoice to see what I see.
COUN. How! Mr. Receiver, what do you mean by this behaviour? Is it
right to come and interrupt a comedy in that fashion?
HAR. By Jove, Madam, I am delighted at this adventure, and it shows me
what I ought to think of you, and what I ought to believe of the
assurances you gave me of the gift of your heart, and likewise of all
your oaths of fidelity.
COUN. But, really, one should not come thus in the middle of a play
and disturb an actor who is speaking.
HAR. Hah! zounds, the real comedy here is the one you are playing, and
I care little if I disturb you.
COUN. Really, you do not know what you are saying.
HAR. Yes, d---- it, I know perfectly well; and ...
MR. BOBINET, _frightened, takes up the_ COUNT, _and runs away_;
CRIQUET _follows him_.
COUN. Fie, Sir! How wrong it is to swear in that fashion!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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