SGAN. (_To Ergaste, who has come out hastily_). A plague on the
lubberly ox! Do you mean to knock me down--coming and sticking yourself
in front of me like a post?
VAL. Sir, I regret...
SGAN. Ah! you are the man I want.
VAL. I, sir?
SGAN. You. Your name is Valère, is it not?
VAL. Yes.
SGAN. I am come to speak to you if you will allow me.
VAL. Can I have the happiness of rendering you any service?
SGAN. No; but I propose to do you a good turn. That is what brings me to
your house.
VAL. To my house, sir!
SGAN. To your house. Need you be so much astonished?
VAL. I have good reason for it; I am delighted with the honour...
SGAN. Do not mention the honour, I beseech you.
VAL. Will you not come in?
SGAN. There is no need.
VAL. I pray you, enter.
SGAN. No, I will go no further.
VAL. As long as you stay there I cannot listen to you.
SGAN. I will not budge.
VAL. Well, I must yield. Quick, since this gentleman is resolved upon
it, bring a chair.
SGAN. I am going to talk standing.
VAL. As if I could permit such a thing!
SGAN. What an intolerable delay!
VAL. Such incivility would be quite unpardonable.
SGAN. Nothing can be so rude as not to listen to people who wish to
speak to us.
VAL. I obey you, then.
SGAN. You cannot do better. (_They make many compliments about putting
on their hats_). So much ceremony is hardly necessary. Will you
listen to me?
VAL. Undoubtedly, and most willingly.
SGAN. Tell me: do you know that I am guardian to a tolerably young and
passably handsome girl who lives in this neighbourhood, and whose name
is Isabella?
VAL. Yes.
SGAN. As you know it, I need not tell it to you. But do you know,
likewise, that as I find her charming, I care for her otherwise than as
a guardian, and that she is destined for the honour of being my wife?
VAL. No!
SGAN. I tell it you, then; and also that it is as well that your
passion, if you please, should leave her in peace.
VAL. Who?--I, sir?
SGAN. Yes, you. Let us have no dissembling.
VAL. Who has told you that my heart is smitten by her?
SGAN. Those who are worthy of belief.
VAL. Be more explicit.
SGAN. She herself.
VAL. She!
SGAN. She. Is not that enough? Like a virtuous young girl, who has loved
me from childhood, she told me all just now; moreover, she charged me to
tell you, that, since she has everywhere been followed by you, her
heart, which your pursuit greatly offends, has only too well understood
the language of your eyes; that your secret desires are well known to
her; and that to try more fully to explain a passion which is contrary
to the affection she entertains for me, is to give yourself needless
trouble.
VAL. She, you say, of her own accord, makes you...
SGAN. Yes, makes me come to you and give you this frank and plain
message; also, that, having observed the violent love wherewith your
soul is smitten, she would earlier have let you know what she thinks
about you if, perplexed as she was, she could have found anyone to send
this message by; but that at length she was painfully compelled to make
use of me, in order to assure you, as I have told you, that her
affection is denied to all save me; that you have been ogling her long
enough; and that, if you have ever so little brains, you will carry your
passion somewhere else. Farewell, till our next meeting. That is what I
had to tell you.
VAL. (_Aside_). Ergaste, what say you to such an adventure?
SGAN. (_Aside, retiring_). See how he is taken aback!
ERG. (_In a low tone to Valère_). For my part, I think that there
is nothing in it to displease you; that a rather subtle mystery is
concealed under it; in short, that this message is not sent by one who
desires to see the love end which she inspires in you.
SGAN. (_Aside_). He takes it as he ought.
VAL. (_In a low tone to Ergaste_). You think it a mystery...
ERG. Yes.... But he is looking at us; let us get out of his sight.