Scene IX Oronte, Éraste, Julia, Sbrigani
Era. (to Julia). Come along; you shall come in spite of yourself. I will put you in your father’s hands. Sir, here is your daughter, whom I had to take by force from the man with whom she was running away; it is not for her sake that I did it, but entirely for yours. For, after such conduct, I ought to despise her, and it is enough to cure me altogether of my love.
Oro. Ah! infamous girl that you are!
Era. (to Julia). How could you treat me in that way, after all the proofs of affection I have given you? I do not blame you for being obedient to your father’s will; he is wise and judicious in all he does; and I do not complain of him for having preferred another to me. They told him that that other man was richer than I by four or five thousand crowns, and four or five thousand crowns are a good round sum, and are enough to make a gentleman break his word; but that you should forget in a moment all the love I had for you, suffer yourself to fall madly in love with the first new-comer, and shamefully follow him; without the consent of your father, after all the crimes that were charged upon him! It is what all the world will condemn, and what my heart can never cease to reproach you with.
Jul. Well, yes; I fell in love with him, and I wanted to follow him, since my father had chosen him to be my husband. Whatever you may say, he is a very honest man, and all the crimes they accuse him of are so many detestable falsehoods.
Oro. Be silent; you are an impertinent hussy, and I know better than you.
Jul. They are some tricks they have played him, and (showing Éraste) it is he himself, no doubt, who managed it all, to disgust you with him.
Era. What! I should be capable of such a thing?
Jul. Yes, you.
Oro. Be silent, I tell you. You are a silly girl.
Era. You need not think that I have any wish to prevent the match, and that it is because I love you that I hastened to rescue you. I have already told you that it is only because of the regard I have for your father. I could not bear to see an honourable man exposed to the shame of all the gossip that would be occasioned by such an action.
Oro. I am truly and sincerely obliged to you, Sir.
Era. Farewell, Sir! I had the greatest desire to enter into your family; I did everything to deserve such an honour; but I have been unfortunate, and you did not judge me worthy of that honour. It will not prevent me from retaining towards you all those feelings of esteem and regard which your person demands; and although I cannot be your son-in-law, I shall always be at your service.
Oro. Stay. Your behaviour touches my heart, and I give you my daughter in marriage.
Jul. I won’t have any other husband than Mr. de Pourceaugnac.
Oro. And I will have you marry Éraste at once.
Jul. No; I will not.
Oro. I shall give it you about the ears.
Era. No, no, Sir; don’t use violence towards her, I pray you.
Oro. I will have her obey me, and I will show her that I am the master.
Era. Do you not see how fast in love she is with that man; and would you have me possess the body while another has the heart?
Oro. He has thrown some charm upon her. You may be sure that she will change before long. Give me your hand. Come.
Jul. No!
Oro. Ah! What, rebellion! Your hand, I tell you, at once. Ah!
Era. Do not think that it is because of my love for you that I agree to marry you; it is your father only I am in love with, and it is him whom I marry.
Oro. I am truly obliged to you, and I add ten thousand crowns to my daughter’s portion. Quick; a notary to draw up the contract.
Era. In the meanwhile, let us enjoy the pleasures of the season, and fetch in those masks whom the report of Mr. de Pourceaugnac’s wedding has attracted hither.
Footnotes
1. Pourceaugnac equals pourceau, “a young pig,” plus the local ending -gnac.
2. Compare the “royal cautery” in ‘The Flying Doctor’.
3. Sbrigani and Nérine are merely the conventional rogues of the stage. Compare Mascarille, Scapin.
4. Compare act ii. scene xii.
5. The Neapolitans had no great reputation for sincerity.
6. Mode de la cour pour la campagne.
7. Consul in the south equalled échevin in the north. Both words are obsolete in this sense.
8. Ma croix de par Dieu, “my Christ-cross-row,” or “Criss-cross-row,” in old and provincial English.
9. Translation:
The Two Physicians.
Good day, good day, good day!
Yield not yourself a prey
To melancholy sway.
We’ll make you laugh, I trow,
With songs harmonious, gay.
Unto us your cure is dear,
For that alone we’re here.
Good day, good day, good day!
1st Physician.
Nought else is madness true
Save melancholy blue.
Not lost is he,
Though sick he be,
Who sips of mirth the dew.
Nought else is madness true
Save melancholy blue.
2nd Physician.
Up then! sing loud, and dance and play,
“Better still I’d do!” you say.
Delirium’s nigh—if you must pine,
Take first some wine;
And sometimes, too, take your tabàc
Right joyfully, Monsu Pourceaugnac.
10. Take it, take it. Sir; it will do you no harm, &c.
11. See act i, scene iii.
12. Somerset dialect is employed here.
13. Lowland Scotch is employed here.
14. Compare act i. scene v.
15. The French forms have been retained for the sake of the rhyme.
16. Bigamists were really put to death.
17. Molière seems to have had a grudge against Limoges. Compare act i. scene i.
18. Noblemen were beheaded.