The Jealousy of le Barbouillé: (La Jalousie du Barbouillé)Molière
General
The Jealousy of le Barbouillé: (La Jalousie du Barbouillé)
Molière
French drama -- 17th century -- Translations into English; Molière, 1622-1673 -- Translations into English
DOC. (_sharply, tucking up his gown behind him_). Then you take me for
a man who would do anything for money, for a man fond of money, for a
mercenary soul? Know, my friend, that if you were to give me a purse
full of gold, and that this purse were in a rich box, this box in a
precious case, this case in a superb chest, this chest in a rare
museum, this museum in a magnificent apartment, this apartment in a
gorgeous castle, this castle in a wonderful citadel, this citadel in a
celebrated town, this town in a fertile island, this island in an
opulent province, this province in a flourishing monarchy, this
monarchy in the whole world;[2] that if you gave me the world in which
this flourishing monarchy would be, in which this opulent province
would be, in which this fertile island would be, in which this
celebrated town would be, in which this wonderful citadel would be, in
which this gorgeous castle would be, in which this pleasant apartment
would be, in which this rare museum would be, in which this wonderful
chest would be, in which this precious case would be, in which this
rich box would be, in which the purse full of gold would be, I should
care no more for it than this (_snaps his fingers and exit_).
BAR. Well. I made a mistake. Seeing him dressed as a doctor, I felt
that of necessity I must speak of money to him; but since he does not
want any, nothing can be more easy than to satisfy him. I'll run after
him. (_Runs out._)
SCENE III.--ANGÉLIQUE, VALÈRE, CATHAU.
ANG. I assure you, sir, that you will oblige me very much by coming to
see me sometimes: my husband is so ugly, so ill-behaved, and such a
drunkard, that it is perfect martyrdom for me to be with him, and I
ask you what pleasure one can have with such a clown as he is?
VAL. You do me too much honour. I promise you I shall do my utmost to
amuse you, and since you are kind enough to say that my company is not
unpleasant, my care and attentions shall prove to you what pleasure
this good news gives me.
CAT. Ay! quick, talk of something else; here's our old bugbear coming.
SCENE IV.--LE BARBOUILLÉ, VALÈRE, ANGÉLIQUE, CATHAU.
VAL. Mademoiselle,[3] I am very sorry to bring you such bad news, but,
you would have heard it from some one else, and since your brother is
ill ...
ANG. Ah! say no more, sir, I am your servant, and thank you very much
for the trouble you have taken.
(_Exit_ VALÈRE.)
BAR. Well! what need is there of my having a certificate of my
cuckledom from the notary? So! so! you trollop! I find you with a man
in spite of all my remonstrances, and you want to send me from Gemini
to Capricornus.
ANG. Are you going to scold me for that? This gentleman only just came
to tell me of my brother's serious illness: why should you make that a
subject of quarrel?
CAT. Ah, directly I saw him, I wondered if we should be long in peace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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