he can hardly master. He looks despairingly at her whom he adores, but the respect he has for her and the presence of her father prevent him from speaking except with his eyes. At last he breaks through all restraint, and the greatness of his love forces him to speak as follows. (_He sings_.) Phyllis, too sharp a pain you bid me bear; Break this stern silence, tell me what to fear; Disclose your thoughts, and bid them open lie To tell me if I live or die. ANG. The marriage preparations sadden me. O’erwhelmed with sorrow, My eyes I lift to heaven; I strive to pray, Then gaze on you and sigh. No more I say. CLE. Tircis, who fain would woo, Tell him, Phyllis, is it true, Is he so blest by your sweet grace As in your heart to find a place? ANG. I may not hide it, in this dire extreme, Tircis, I own for you my love.... CLE. O blessed words! am I indeed so blest? Repeat them, Phyllis; set my doubts at rest. ANG. I love you, Tircis! CLE. Ah! Phyllis, once again. ANG. I love you, Tircis! CLE. Alas! I fain A hundred times would hearken to that strain. ANG. I love you! I love you! Tircis, I love you! CLE. Ye kings and gods who, from your eternal seat, Behold the world of men beneath your feet, Can you possess a happiness more sweet? My Phyllis! one dark haunting fear Our peaceful joy disturbs unsought; A rival may my homage share. ANG. Ah! worse than death is such a thought! Its presence equal torment is To both, and mars my bliss. CLE. Your father to his vow would subject you. ANG. Ah! welcome death before I prove untrue. ARG. And what does the father say to all that? CLE. Nothing. ARG. Then that father is a fool to put up with those silly things, without saying a word! CLE. (_trying to go on singing_). Ah! my love.... ARG. No; no; that will do. An opera like that is in very bad taste. The shepherd Tircis is an impertinent fellow, and the shepherdess Phyllis an impudent girl to speak in that way in the presence of her father. (_To_ ANGÉLIQUE) Show me that paper. Ah! ah! and where are the words that you have just sung? This is only the music. CLE. Are you not aware, Sir, that the way of writing the words with the notes themselves has been lately discovered? ARG. Has it? Good-bye for the present. We could have done very well without your impertinent opera. CLE. I thought I should amuse you. ARG. Foolish things do not amuse, Sir. Ah! here is my wife. SCENE VII.—BÉLINE, ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, MR. DIAFOIRUS, T. DIAFOIRUS, TOINETTE. ARG. My love, here is the son of Mr. Diafoirus. T. DIA. Madam, it is with justice that heaven has given you the title of stepmother, since we see in you steps.... BEL. Sir, I am delighted to have come here just in time to see you. T. DIA. Since we see in you ... since we see in you.... Madam, you have interrupted me in the middle of my period, and have troubled my memory.