SCENE I (Madame Jourdaine, Monsieur Jourdain)
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Ah, My God! Mercy! What is all of this? What a spectacle! Are you dressed for a masquerade, and is this a time to go masked? Speak then, what is this? Who has bundled you up like that?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
See the impertinent woman, to speak in this way to a Mamamouchi!
MADAME JOURDAIN:
How's that?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Yes, you must show me respect now, as I've just been made a Mamamouchi.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What are you trying to say with your Mamamouchi?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Mamamouchi, I tell you. I'm a Mamamouchi.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What animal is that?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Mamamouchi, that is to say, in our language, Paladin.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Baladin! Are you of an age to dance in ballets?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
What an ignorant woman! I said Paladin. It's a dignity which has just been bestowed upon me in a ceremony.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What ceremony then?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Mahometa-per-Jordina.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What does that mean?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Jordina, that is to say, Jourdain.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Very well, what of Jourdain?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Voler far un Paladina de Jordina.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Dar turbanta con galera.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Which is to say what?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Per deffender Palestina.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What are you trying to say?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Dara, dara, bastonnara.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What jargon is this?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Non tener honta, questa star l'ultima affronta.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
What in the world is all that?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
(Dancing and singing). Hou la ba, Ba la chou, ba la ba, ba la da.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Alas! Oh Lord, my husband has gone mad.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
(Leaving) Peace, insolent woman! Show respect to the Monsieur Mamamouchi.
MADAME JOURDAIN:
Has he lost his mind? I must hurry to stop him from going out. Ah! Ah! This is the last straw! I see nothing but shame on all sides.
(She leaves.)