COVIELLE: Her, sir? There's a pretty fool, a well made flirt for you to give so much love! I see only mediocrity in her, and you will find a hundred women who will be more worthy of you. First of all, she has small eyes. CLEONTE: That's true, she has small eyes; but they are full of fire, the brightest, the keenest in the world, the most touching eyes that one can see. COVIELLE: She has a big mouth. CLEONTE: Yes; but upon it one sees grace that one never sees on other mouths; and the sight of that mouth, which is the most attractive, the most amorous in the world, inspires desire. COVIELLE: As for her figure, she's not tall. CLEONTE: No, but she is graceful and well made. COVIELLE: She affects a nonchalance in her speech and in her actions. CLEONTE: That's true; but she may be forgiven all that, for her manners are so engaging, they have an irresistible charm. COVIELLE: As to her wit... CLEONTE: Ah! She has that, Covielle, the finest, the most delicate! COVIELLE: Her conversation... CLEONTE: Her conversation is charming. COVIELLE: She is always serious... CLEONTE; Would you have grinning playfulness, constant open merriment? And do you see anything more impertinent than those women who laugh all the time? COVIELLE: But finally she is as capricious as any woman in the world. CLEONTE: Yes, she is capricious, I concede; but everything becomes beautiful ladies well, one suffers everything for beauty. COVIELLE: I see clearly how it goes, you want to go on loving her. CLEONTE: Me, I'd like better to die; and I am going to hate her as much as I loved her. COVIELLE: How, if you find her so perfect? CLEONTE: That's how my vengeance will be more striking, in that way I'll show better the strength of my heart, by hating her, by quitting her, with all her beauty, all her charms, and as lovable as I find her. Here she is. ACT THREE SCENE X (Cleonte, Lucile, Covielle, Nicole) NICOLE: For my part, I was completely shocked at it. LUCILE: It can only be, Nicole, what I told you. But there he is. CLEONTE: I don't even want to speak to her. COVIELLE: I'll imitate you. LUCILE: What's the matter Cleonte? What's wrong with you? NICOLE: What's the matter with you, Covielle? LUCILE: What grief possesses you? NICOLE: What bad humor holds you? LUCILE: Are you mute, Cleonte? NICOLE: Have you lost your voice, Covielle? CLEONTE: Is this not villainous! COVIELLE: It's a Judas! LUCILE: I clearly see that our recent meeting has troubled you. CLEONTE: Ah! Ah! She sees what she's done. NICOLE: Our greeting this morning has annoyed you. COVIELLE: She has guessed the problem. LUCILE: Isn't it true, Cleonte, that this is the cause of your resentment?