SCENE IX (Cléonte, Covielle)
CLÉONTE:
What! Treat a lover in this way? And a lover who is the most faithful and pa**ionate of lovers?
COVIELLE:
It is a frightful thing that they have done to us both.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
Covielle, can one see anything to equal this perfidy of the ungrateful Lucile?
COVIELLE:
And that, Monsieur, of the treacherous Nicole?
CLÉONTE:
After so many ardent homages, sighs, and vows that I have made to her charms!
COVIELLE:
After so many a**iduous compliments, cares, and services that I rendered her in the kitchen!
CLÉONTE:
So many tears I have shed at her knees!
COVIELLE:
So many buckets of water I have drawn for her!
CLÉONTE:
So much pa**ion I have shown her in loving her more than myself!
COVIELLE:
So much heat I have endured in turning the spit for her!
CLÉONTE:
She flies from me in disdain!
COVIELLE:
She turns her back on me!
CLÉONTE:
It is perfidy worthy of the greatest punishments.
COVIELLE:
It is treachery that merits a thousand slaps.
CLÉONTE:
Don't think, I beg you, of ever speaking in her favor to me.
COVIELLE:
I, sir? God forbid!
CLÉONTE:
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?
CLÉONTE:
I want to conserve my resentment against her and end all contact with her.
COVIELLE:
I agree.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
No, but she is graceful and well made.
COVIELLE:
She affects a nonchalance in her speech and in her actions.
CLÉONTE:
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 . . .
CLÉONTE:
Ah! She has that, Covielle, the finest, the most delicate!
COVIELLE:
Her conversation . . .
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
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.
CLÉONTE:
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?
CLÉONTE:
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.