ERI. You are an insolent knave to come thus to sound my feelings. Out of my sight this moment! Do you pretend to read people's thoughts and penetrate into the secrets of a princess's heart? Away with you; let me never see your face again.... Clitidas! CLI. Madam. ERI. Come here. I forgive you this affair. CLI. You are too kind, Madam. ERI. But on condition--mind what I say--that you will never mention it to anybody, at the peril of your life. CLI. Enough. ERI. Then Sostratus told you that he loved me? CLI. No, Madam; I must now tell you the whole truth. I got from him by surprise a secret he intended to conceal from all the world, and which he said he would wish to die with him. He was in despair when I wrenched it with subtlety from him; and, far from asking me to tell you of it, he entreated me with the most earnest prayers never to reveal anything to you; and I have committed a piece of treachery against him by telling you what I have said. ERI. I am glad of it. It is by his respect only that he can please me; and if he were bold enough to tell me of his love, he would forfeit for ever both my presence and my esteem. CLI. Do not fear, Madam.... ERI. Here he is. Remember, if you are wise, what I have forbidden you. CLI. Certainly, Madam; I have no wish to be an indiscreet courtier. SCENE IV.--ERIPHYLE, SOSTRATUS. SOS. I have an excuse, Madam, for daring to disturb your solitude. I have received from the princess your mother a mission which authorises the bold step I now take. ERI. What mission is it, Sostratus? SOS. To try, to learn from you, Madam, towards which of the two princes your heart inclines? ERI. The princess my mother shows a judicious spirit in choosing you for such a message. This mission is very pleasant to you, no doubt, Sostratus, and you must have accepted it with great joy? SOS. I have accepted it, Madam, because my duty obliges me to obey; and if the princess had kindly listened to my excuses, she would have appointed another for the task. ERI. What reason could you have had, Sostratus, for refusing it? SOS. The fear of not acquitting myself well. ERI. Do you think that I have not enough esteem for you to open my heart to you, and say all you wish to know from me about the two princes? SOS. As far as I am concerned, Madam, I have no desire to know anything; I only ask you what you think you can say in answer to the commands which bring me here. ERI. Until now I have had no wish to explain myself, and the princess my mother has kindly allowed me to put off the choice which is to bind me. But I should be glad to show to everyone that I am willing to do something for your sake; and if you insist, I may give you this long expected verdict. SOS. I will not importune you, Madam, and urge a princess who knows well what she has to do. ERI. Yet it is what the princess my mother expects from you. SOS. I told her that I was sure to acquit myself but badly of my message.