Comedy plays; France -- Social life and customs -- 17th century -- Drama; French drama; Middle class -- France -- Drama
DORANTE: Monsieur Jourdain, let us remain silent for these
gentlemen and ladies; what they have for us to hear is of more
value than anything we could say. (The male singers and the woman
singer take the glasses, sing two drinking songs, and are
accompanied by all the instrumental ensemble.)
FIRST DRINKING SONG Drink a little, Phyllis, to start the glass
round. Ah! A glass in your hands is charmingly agreeable! You and
the wine arm each other, And I redouble my love for you both Let us
three--wine, you, and me--Swear, my beauty, to an eternal
passion. Your lips are made yet more attractive by wetting with
wine! Ah! The one and the other inspire me with desire And both
you and it intoxicate me Let us three--wine, you, and me--
Swear, my beauty, to an eternal passion.
SECOND DRINKING SONG Let us drink, dear friends, let us drink; Time
that flies beckons us to it! Let us profit from life as much as we
can. Once we pass under the black shadow, Goodbye to wine, our
loves; Let us drink while we can, One cannot drink forever. Let
fools speculate On the true happiness of life. Our philosophy Puts
it among the wine-pots. Possessions, knowledge and glory Hardly
make us forget troubling cares, And it is only with good drink That
one can be happy. Come on then, wine for all, pour, boys, pour,
Pour, keep on pouring, until they say, "Enough."
DORIMENE: I don't believe it's possible to sing better, and that is
positively beautiful.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I see something here, Madame, yet more
beautiful.
DORIMENE: Aha! Monsieur Jourdain is more gallant than I thought.
DORANTE: What! Madame, what did you take Monsieur Jourdain for?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I would like for her to take me at my word.
DORIMENE: Again!
DORANTE: You don't know him.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: She may know me whenever it pleases her.
DORIMENE: Oh! I am overwhelmed.
DORANTE: He is a man who is always ready with a repartee. But don't
you see that Monsieur Jourdain, Madame, eats all the pieces of food
you have touched?
DORIMENE: I am captivated by Monsieur Jourdain...
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: If I could captivate your heart, I would be...
ACT FOUR
SCENE II (Madame Jourdain, Monsieur Jourdain, Dorimene, Dorante,
Musicians, Lackeys)
MADAME JOURDAIN: Aha! I find good company here, and I see that I
was not expected. Was it for this pretty affair, Monsieur Husband,
that you were so eager to send me to dinner at my sister's? I just
saw stage decorations downstairs, and here I see a banquet fit for
a wedding. That is how you spend your money, and this is how you
entertain the ladies in my absence, and you give them music and
entertainment while sending me on my way.
DORANTE: What are you saying, Madame Jourdain? And what fantasies
are you getting into your head that your husband spends his money,
and that it is he who is giving this entertainment to Madame?
Please know that it is I; that he only lends me his house, and that
you ought to think more about the things you say.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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