POL. They just now frightened me with his threats, but since then things have changed greatly; you will be attacked by a more powerful enemy, without being able to flee from him. MASC. Is there no way of making it up? VAL! I flee!--Heaven forbid! And who can this be? POL. Ascanio. VAL. Ascanio? POL. Yes; you shall see him appear presently. VAL. He, who has pledged his word to serve me! POL. Yes, it is he who says he has a quarrel with you; he, who is determined to decide the quarrel by single combat, to which he challenges you. MASC. He is a good fellow: he knows that generous minds do not endanger other people's lives by their quarrels. POL. He accuses you of deceit. His anger appears to me to have so just a cause, that Albert and I have agreed you should give Ascanio satisfaction for this affront, but publicly, and without any delay, according to the formalities requisite in such a case. VAL. What! father; and did Lucile obstinately...? POL. Lucile is to marry Éraste, and blames you too; and the better to prove your story to be false, is resolved to give her hand to Éraste before your very face. VAL. Ha! this impudence is enough to drive me mad. Has she lost, then, all sense, faith, conscience, and honour? SCENE VIII.--ALBERT, POLYDORE, LUCILE, ÉRASTE, VALÈRE, MASCARILLE. ALB. Well! where are the combatants? They are bringing ours. Have you prepared yours for the encounter? VAL. Yes, yes; I am ready, since you compel me to it; if I at all hesitated, it was because I still felt a little respect, and not on account of the valour of the champion who is to oppose me. But I have been urged too far. This respect is at an end; I am prepared for any catastrophe! I have been treated so strangely and treacherously, that my love must and shall be revenged. (_To Lucile_). Not that I still pretend to your hand: my former love is now swallowed up in wrath; and when I have made your shame public, your guilty marriage will not in the least disturb me. Lucile, your behaviour is infamous: scarcely can I believe my own eyes. You show yourself so opposed to all modesty, that you ought to die for shame. LUC. Such reproaches might affect me, if I had not one at hand to avenge my cause. Here comes Ascanio; he shall soon have the pleasure, and without giving himself much trouble, of making you change your language. SCENE IX.--ALBERT, POLYDORE, ASCANIO, LUCILE, ÉRASTE, VALÈRE, FROSINE, MARINETTE, GROS-RENÉ, MASCARILLE. VAL. He shall not make me change my language, though he had twenty arms besides his own. I am sorry he defends a guilty sister; but since he is foolish enough to pick a quarrel with me, I shall give him satisfaction, and you also, my valiant gentleman. ERAS. A short time ago I took an interest in this, but as Ascanio has taken the affair upon himself, I will have nothing more to do with it, but leave it to him. VAL. You do well; prudence is always timely, but... ERAS. He shall give you satisfaction for us all. VAL. He?