The Village Coquette; Or, The Supposed LotteryDufresny, Charles Rivière
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The Village Coquette; Or, The Supposed Lottery
Dufresny, Charles Rivière
Comedy plays; French drama -- 18th century -- Translations into English
Lucas
She must have gone crazy and what she said astonishes me. You say she
doesn't love you and refuses to be a Baroness?
Baron (to Lisette)
You have just revived my wrath. Ah, how I ought to kill my love for
you. How can you, at your age, have the audacity to give me the lie--
me, and look in my face, and tell me that you don't love me?
Lisette (pretending to have a grudge against him)
Yes, I have maintained it to your face, for it is true.
Baron
Without doubt, it happened unexpectedly to you, some vapor which
disturbed your senses and memory. For how else could I believe that,
after the ardent love you've shown me?
Lisette (adding to her simulated scorn)
I never loved you.
Baron
Still? I am outraged. You have told me a hundred times, and before
your father.
Lisette
I never said it to you.
Baron
She makes me despair.
Lisette (softening)
No, never, or at least--
Baron
At least?
Lisette
If I said it, I repent it so much. I have so much scorn, that if I
said it, I will say the contrary, always to the whole wide world, to
yourself, to my father. (pretending tenderness) What the world will
know, that I loved you, and that, when I cried from love, you didn't
want to marry me. No, no, and against you, my courage has returned.
Me! I love you? I would indeed have little heart. My love was honest
and yours was deceitful.
Lucas (who has softened, taken in and almost crying)
I've seen--she's right.
Baron
Then it's from rage, suspecting my love is not sincere, that you
have told me you don't love me?
Lisette
Yes, exactly. Am I wrong?
Baron
You love me then?
Lisette
Alas!
Baron
Let's forget all this, Lisette, let's go quickly to a notary. May a
contract be the prize of your sincere love. Let's hurry.
(Exit Baron.)
Lucas (transported with joy)
Quickly, quickly!
Lisette (low to her father, holding him by the arm)
Let's go softly.
Lucas
I'm going to be papa to a Baroness.
Lisette
Oh, I doubt it.
Lucas
Why? He's making you his wife and says so.
Lisette
No, I can see some trick.
Lucas
He marries, and that's that.
Lisette
I don't believe a word of it, father.
Lucas
To not believe the wedding, when it's come?
Lisette
I believe he's deceiving me. First, I saw the Widow when Argon spoke of
the business in a fret with Girard. Raging, despairing--and now she's
just embraced me, knowing that I deceived her, she comes to caress me.
Lucas
Yes, it's treason.
Lisette
The Baron refused me. Then, suddenly, he changes and wants me.
Lucas
It's a trick.
Lisette (after having dreamed)
If the Widow and Girard, who know how to trick, said to the Baron:
pretend to marry her and as soon as she agrees, won't Argon be
disgusted?
Lucas
Oh--that's it! I see clearly.
Lisette (dreaming again)
For me, I don't see. For, on the other side, perhaps the Baron really
wanted to marry me. That would embarrass, no, yes, the more I think
about it-- May I have enough wit and not be too clever by half.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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