Comedy plays; France -- Social life and customs -- 17th century -- Drama; French drama; Middle class -- France -- Drama
COV. Not at all; he is just coming here.
MR. JOUR. He is coming here?
COV. Yes, and he is bringing with him everything necessary for the
ceremony.
MR. JOUR. It is doing things rather quickly.
COV. Yes, his love will suffer no delay.
MR. JOUR. All that perplexes me in this affair is that my daughter is
a very obstinate girl, who has taken it into her head to have a
certain Cleonte for her husband, and vows she will marry no other.
COV. She is sure to change her mind when she sees the son of the Grand
Turk; besides, wonderful to relate, the son of the Grand Turk has a
strong likeness to that very Cleonte. People showed him to me, and I
have just seen him; the love she feels for the one is sure to pass to
the other, and ... I hear him coming! Lo, here he is.
SCENE VI.--CLEONTE (_dressed as a Turk_), THREE PAGES
(_carrying the vest of_ CLEONTE), MR. JOURDAIN, COVIELLE.
CLE. _Ambousahim oqui boraf, Giourdina, salamatequi_.
COV. (_to_ MR. JOURDAIN). That is to say, "Mr. Jourdain, may your
heart be all the year round a budding rose tree." It is a way of
speaking they have in that country.
MR. JOUR. I am your Turkish highness's humble servant.
COV. _Carigar camboto oustin moraf_.
CLE. _Oustin yoc catamalequi basum base alla moran_.
COV. He says, "May heaven grant you the strength of the lion and the
prudence of the serpent."
MR. JOUR. His Turkish highness does me too much honour, and I wish him
all manner of prosperity.
COV. _Ossa binamen sadoc baballi oracaf ouram_.
CLE. _Belmen_.
COV. He says you must go quickly with him to prepare for the ceremony,
in order afterwards to see your daughter and conclude the marriage.
MR. JOUR. So many things comprised in two words?
COV. Yes, The Turkish language is like that, it says a good deal in a
few words. Go quickly where he wishes you.
SCENE VII.--COVIELLE (_alone_).
Ah! ah! ah! Upon my soul, this is most absurd. What a dupe! Had he
learnt his part by heart, he would not have played it better. Ah! ah!
ah!
SCENE VIII.--DORANTE, COVIELLE.
COV. I beg of you, Sir, to help us here in a little affair we have in
hand.
DOR. Hallo! Covielle, who would have known you again? What a get up!
COV. As you see. Ah! ah! ah!
DOR. What are you laughing at?
COV. At a thing worth laughing at, I can tell you.
DOR. What is it?
COV. You would never guess the stratagem we have invented to induce
Mr. Jourdain to give my master his daughter in marriage.
DOR. I certainly can't guess what it is, but I can guess that it will
succeed since you are at the head of affairs.
COV. I know, Sir, that the animal is appreciated by you.
DOR. Tell me what you are about.
COV. Kindly go a little on one side to make room for what I see
coming. You will be able to have a view of a part of the business
whilst I explain the rest to you.
SCENE IX.--THE TURKISH CEREMONY. [Footnote: Lulli composed the music,
and acted the part of the Mufti.]
THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, TURKS (_assisting the_ MUFTI), SINGERS and
DANCERS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account