MAR. If I should tell her you are weak-minded enough to be jealous, she would immediately disown such a letter as this.
ERAS. I beseech you, conceal from her a momentary fear, for which I thought I had some slight foundation; or, if you do tell it her, say to her at the same time that I am ready to atone for my fit of madness with my life, and would die at her feet, if I have been capable of displeasing her.
MAR. Let us not talk of dying; this is no time for it.
ERAS. However, you have laid me under a great obligation; I intend shortly to acknowledge in a handsome manner the trouble so gentle and so lovely a messenger has taken.
MAR. That reminds me. Do you know where I looked for you just now?
ERAS. Well?
MAR. Quite near the market-place; you know where that is.
ERAS. Where did you say?
MAR. There in that shop where last month you generously and freely promised me a ring.
ERAS. Um! I understand you.
GR. RE. What a cunning jade!
ERAS. It is true; I have delayed too long to make good my promise to you, but
MAR. What I said, sir, was not because I wished you to make haste.
GR. RE. Oh, no!
ERAS. (Giving her his ring). Perhaps this ring may please you; accept it instead of the one I owe.
MAR. You are only jesting, sir; I should be ashamed to take it.
GR. RE. Poor shame-faced creature! Take it without more ado; only fools refuse what is offered them.
MAR. I will only accept it so that I may have something to remember you by.
ERAS. When may I return thanks to that lovely angel?
MAR. Endeavour to gain over her father.
ERAS. But if he rejects me, should I?
MAR. We will think about that when he does so! We will do our utmost for you: one way or another she must be yours; do your best, and we will do ours.
ERAS. Farewell! we shall know our fate to-day. (Éraste reads the letter again to himself).
MAR. (To Gros-René). Well, what shall we say of our love? You do not speak to me of it.
GR. RE. If such people as we wish to be married, the thing is soon done.
I will have you. Will you have me?
MAR. Gladly.
GR. RE. Shake hands, that is enough.
MAR. Farewell, Gros-René, my heart's delight.
GR. RE. Farewell, my star.
MAR. Farewell, fair fire-brand of my flame.
GR. RE. Farewell, dear comet, rainbow of my soul. (Exit Marinette). Heaven be praised, our affairs go on swimmingly. Albert is not a man to refuse you anything.
ERAS. Valère is coming here.
GR. RE. I pity the poor wretch, knowing what I do know.
SCENE III. ÉRASTE, VALÈRE, GROS-RENÉ
ERAS. Well, Valère?
VAL. Well, Éraste?
ERAS. How does your love prosper?
VAL. And how does yours?
ERAS. It grows stronger and stronger every day.
VAL. So does mine.
ERAS. For Lucile?
VAL. For her.
ERAS. Certainly, I must own, you are a pattern of uncommon constancy.
VAL. And your perseverance will be a rare example to posterity.
ERAS. As for me, I am not very fond of that austere kind of love which is satisfied with looks only; nor do I possess feelings lofty enough to endure ill-treatment with constancy. In one word, when I really love, I wish to be beloved again.
VAL. It is very natural, and I am of the same opinion. I would never do homage to the most perfect object by whom I could be smitten, if she did not return my passion.
ERAS. However, Lucile
VAL. Lucile does willingly everything my passion can desire.
ERAS. You are easily satisfied then.
VAL. Not so easily as you may think.
ERAS. I, however, may, without vanity, believe that I am in her favour.
VAL. And I know that I have a very good share of it.
ERAS. Do not deceive yourself; believe me.
VAL. Believe me, do not be too credulous, and take too much for granted.
ERAS. If I might show you a certain proof that her heartbut no, it would too much distress you.
VAL. If I might discover a secret to youbut it might grieve you, and so I will be discreet.
ERAS. You really urge me too far, and though much against my will, I see I must lower your presumption. Read that.
VAL. (After having read the letter). These are tender words.
ERAS. You know the handwriting?
VAL. Yes, it is Lucile's.
ERAS. Well! where is now your boasted certainty?
VAL. (Smiling and going away). Farewell, Éraste.
GR. RE. He is mad, surely. What reason has he to laugh?
ERAS. He certainly surprises me, and between ourselves I cannot imagine what the deuce of a mystery is hidden under this.
GR. RE. Here comes his servant, I think.
ERAS. Yes, it is he; let us play the hypocrite, to set him talking about his master's love.
SCENE IV. ÉRASTE, MASCARILLE, GROS-RENÉ
MASC. (Aside). No, I do not know a more wretched situation, than to have a young master, very much in love.
GR. RE. Good morning.
MASC. Good morning.
GR. RE. Where is Mascarille going just now? What is he doing? Is he coming back? Is he going away? Or does he intend to stay where he is?
MASC. No, I am not coming back, because I have not yet been where I am going; nor am I going, for I am stopped; nor do I design to stay, for this very moment I intend to be gone.
ERAS. You are very abrupt, Mascarille; gently.
MASC. Ha! Your servant, sir.
ERAS. You are in great haste to run away from us: what! do I frighten you?
MASC. You are too courteous to do that.
ERAS. Shake hands; all jealousy is now at an end between us; we will be friends; I have relinquished my love; henceforth you can have your own way to further your happiness.
MASC. Would to Heaven it were true!
ERAS. Gros-René knows that I have already another flame elsewhere.
GR. RE. Certainly; and I also give up Marinette to you.
MASC. Do not let us touch on that point; our rivalry is not likely to go to such a length. But is it certain, sir, that you are no longer in love, or do you jest?
ERAS. I have been informed that your master is but too fortunate in his amours; I should be a fool to pretend any longer to gain the same favours which that lady grants to him alone.
MASC. Certainly, you please me with this news. Though I was rather afraid of you, with regard to our plans, yet you do wisely to slip your neck out of the collar. You have done well to leave a house where you were only caressed for form's sake; I, knowing all that was going on, have many times pitied you, because you were allured by expectations, which could never be realized. It is a sin and a shame to deceive a gentleman! But how the deuce, after all, did you find out the trick? For when they plighted their faith to each other there were no witnesses but night, myself, and two others; and the tying of the knot, which satisfies the passion of our lovers, is thought to have been kept a secret till now.
ERAS. Ha! What do you say?
MASC. I say that I am amazed, sir, and cannot guess who told you, that under this mask, which deceives you and everybody else, a secret marriage unites their matchless love.
ERAS. You lie.
MASC. Sir, with all my heart.
ERAS. You are a rascal.
MASC. I acknowledge I am.
ERAS. And this impudence deserves a sound beating on the spot.
MASC. I am completely in your power,
ERAS. Ha! Gros-René.
GR. RE. Sir?
ERAS, I contradict a story, which I much fear is but too true. (ToMascarille). You wanted to run away.