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NICOLE: Truly; Madame; I'm the most delighted creature in the world to see that you feel this way; since; if the master appeals to you; his valet appeals to me no less; and I could wish our marriage made under the shadow of theirs。
MADAME JOURDAIN: Go speak to Cleonte about it for me; and tell him to come to me soon so we can present his request to my husband for my daughter in marriage。
NICOLE: I hasten; Madame; with joy; for I could not receive a more agreeable commission。 (Alone) I shall; I think; make them very happy。
ACT THREE
SCENE VIII (Cleonte; Covielle; Nicole)
NICOLE: Ah! I'm glad to have found you。 I'm an ambassadress of joy; and I come 。 。 。
CLEONTE: Get out; traitor; and don't come to amuse me with your treacherous words。
NICOLE: Is this how you receive me 。 。 。
CLEONTE: Get out; I tell you; and go tell your faithless mistress that she will never again in her life deceive the too trusting Cleonte。
NICOLE: What caprice is this? My dear Covielle; explain a little what you are trying to say。
COVIELLE: Your dear Covielle; little hussy? Go; quickly; out of my sight; villainess ; and leave me in peace。
NICOLE: What! You come to me too。 。 。 COVIELLE: Out of my sight; I tell you; and never speak to me again。 NICOLE: My word! What fly has bitten those two? Let's go tell this pretty story to my mistress。
ACT THREE
SCENE IX (Cleonte; Covielle)
CLEONTE: What! Treat a lover in this way? And a lover who is the most faithful and passionate of lovers?
COVIELLE: It is a frightful thing that they have done to us both。
CLEONTE: I show a woman all the ardor and tenderness that can be imagined; I love nothing in the world but her; and I have nothing but her in my thoughts; she is all I care for; all my desire; all my joy; I talk of nothing but her; I think of nothing but her; I have no dreams but of her; I breathe only because of her; my heart lives wholly in her; and see how so much love is well repaid! I have been two days without seeing her; which are for me two frightful centuries; I meet her by chance; my heart; at that sight; is completely transported; my joy shines on my face; I fly with ecstasy towards her and the faithless one averts her eyes and hurries by as if she had never seen me in her life!
COVIELLE: I say the same things as you。
CLEONTE: Covielle; can one see anything to equal this perfidy of the ungrateful Lucile?
COVIELLE: And that; Monsieur; of the treacherous Nicole?
CLEONTE: After so many ardent homages; sighs; and vows that I have made to her charms!
COVIELLE: After so many assiduous compliments; cares; and services that I rendered her in the kitchen!
CLEONTE: So many tears I have shed at her knees!
COVIELLE: So many buckets of water I have drawn for her!
CLEONTE: So much passion I have shown her in loving her more than myself!
COVIELLE: So much heat I have endured in turning the spit for her!
CLEONTE: She flies from me in disdain!
COVIELLE: She turns her back on me!
CLEONTE: It is perfidy worthy of the greatest punishments。
COVIELLE: It is treachery that merits a thousand slaps。
CLEONTE: Don't think; I beg you; of ever speaking in her favor to me。
COVIELLE: I; sir? God forbid!
CLEONTE: Never come to excuse the action of this faithless woman。
COVIELLE: Have no fear。
CLEONTE; No; you see; all your speeches in her defense will serve no purpose。
COVIELLE: Who even thinks of that?
CLEONTE: I want to conserve my resentment against her and end all contact with her。
COVIELLE: I agree。
CLEONTE: This Count who goes to her house is perhaps pleasant in her view; and her mind; I well see; allows itself to be dazzled by social standing。 But it is necessary for me; for my honor; to prevent the scandal of her inconstancy。 I want to break off with her first and not leave her all the glory of dumping me。 COVIELLE: That's very well said; and I agree; for my part; with all your feelings。
CLEONTE: Strengthen my resentment and aid my resolve against all the remains of love that could speak in her behalf。 Tell me; I order you; all the bad you can of her; make for me a painting of her that will render her despicable; and show well; in order to disgust me; all the faults that you can see in her。
COVIELLE: Her; sir? There's a pretty fool; a well made flirt for you to give so much love! I see only mediocrity in her; and you will find a hundred women who will be more worthy of you。 First of all; she has small eyes。
CLEONTE: That's true; she has small eyes; but they are full of fire; the brightest; the keenest in the world; the most touching eyes that one can see。
COVIELLE: She has a big mouth。
CLEONTE: Yes; but upon it one sees grace that one never sees on other mouths; and the sight of that mouth; which is the most attractive; the most amorous in the world; inspires desire。
COVIELLE: As for her figure; she's not tall。
CLEONTE: No; but she is graceful and well made。
COVIELLE: She affects a nonchalance in her speech and in her actions。
CLEONTE: That's true; but she may be forgiven all that; for her manners are so engaging; they have an irresistible charm。
COVIELLE: As to her wit 。 。 。
CLEONTE: Ah! She has that; Covielle; the finest; the most delicate!
COVIELLE: Her conversation 。 。 。
CLEONTE: Her conversation is charming。
COVIELLE: She is always serious 。 。 。
CLEONTE; Would you have grinning playfulness; constant open merriment? And do you see anything more impertinent than those women who laugh all the time?
COVIELLE: But finally she is as capricious as any woman in the world。
CLEONTE: Yes; she is capricious; I concede; but everything becomes beautiful ladies well; one suffers everything for beauty。
COVIELLE: I see clearly how it goes; you want to go on loving her。
CLEONTE: Me; I'd like better to die; and I am going to hate her as much as I loved her。
COVIELLE: How; if you find her so perfect?
CLEONTE: That's how my vengeance will be more striking; in that way I'll show better the strength of my heart; by hating her; by quitting her; with all her beauty; all her charms; and as lovable as I find her。 Here she is。
ACT THREE
SCENE X (Cleonte; Lucile; Covielle; Nicole)
NICOLE: For my part; I was completely shocked at it。
LUCILE: It can only be; Nicole; what I told you。 But there he is。
CLEONTE: I don't even want to speak to her。
COVIELLE: I'll imitate you。
LUCILE: What's the matter Cleonte? What's wrong with you?
NICOLE: What's the matter with you; Covielle?
LUCILE: What grief possesses you?
NICOLE: What bad humor holds you?
LUCILE: Are you mute; Cleonte?
NICOLE: Have you lost your voice; Covielle?
CLEONTE: Is this not villainous!
COVIELLE: It's a Judas!
LUCILE: I clearly see that our recent meeting has troubled you。
CLEONTE: Ah! Ah! She sees what she's done。
NICOLE: Our greeting this morning has annoyed you。 COVIELLE: She has guessed the problem。
LUCILE: Isn't it true; Cleonte; that this is the cause of your resentment?
CLEONTE: Yes; perfidious one; it is; since I must speak; and I must tell that you shall not triumph in your faithlessness as you think; I want to be the first to break with you; and y