Socrates | Page 5

it's not
for me to obstruct Aglaea's feelings. I serve her as her father; I am not
her master. She must dispose of her heart. I regard constraint as a crime.
Speak to her: If she listens to your propositions, I will consent to her
will.
ANITUS: I've already got the consent of Xantippe, your wife; without
doubt she is informed of Aglaea's feelings; so I regard the thing as
done.
SOCRATES: I cannot regard things as done until they are.
(Aglaea enters)
Come beautiful Aglaea, come decide your fate. Here's a gentleman,
priest of high rank, the leading priest in Athens, who offers himself to
be your spouse. I leave you complete liberty to explain things with him.
That liberty will not be constrained by my presence. Whatever choice
you make I will approve. Xantippe will prepare everything for your
wedding.
(Socrates leaves)
AGLAEA: Ah, generous Socrates it's with great regret I see you leave.
ANITUS: It seems, amiable Aglaea, that you have great confidence in
the good Socrates.
AGLAEA: I owe it to him; he's serving as my father and he forms my
soul.
ANITUS: Well! If he directs your feelings, could you tell me what you
think of Ceres, of Cybele, of Venus?
AGLAEA: Alas! I will; whatever you wish.
ANITUS: That's well said: you will also do what I wish.
AGLAEA: No. That's much different from the other.

ANITUS: You see that the wise Socrates consents to our union.
Xantippe, his wife, presses for this marriage. You know what feelings
you have inspired in me. You know my rank and my reputation. You
see that my happiness and perhaps yours depends on a word from your
mouth.
AGLAEA: I am going to respond to you with the truth which that great
man who just left here instructed me never to dissemble, and with the
liberty that he left me. I respect your dignity; I know little of your
person and I cannot give myself to you.
ANITUS: You cannot! You who are free! Ah, Aglaea, you don't wish it
then?
AGLAEA: It's true that I don't wish it.
ANITUS: Are you really aware of the affront you are giving me? I see
very clearly that Socrates has betrayed me. It's he who is dictating your
response. It's he who is giving preference to this young Sophronine, to
my unworthy rival, to that impious--
AGLAEA: Sophronine is not impious; he's been attached to him since
childhood. Socrates serves as a father to him as to me. Sophronine is
full of grace and virtue. I love him and I am loved by him. He clings
only to me to be his wife. But I will no more have him than you.
ANITUS: All that you tell me astonishes me. What! You dare to admit
to me that you love Sophronine?
AGLAEA: Yes, I dare confess to you because nothing is more true.
ANITUS: And when he demands that you be happy with him, you
refuse his hand?
AGLAEA: Again, nothing is more true.
ANITUS: Doubtless it's fear of displeasing me that delays your
engagement to him?

AGLAEA: Assuredly no. Never having sought to please you, I do not
at all fear displeasing you.
ANITUS: Then you fear to offend the gods by preferring a profane man
like this Sophronine to a minister of the altars?
AGLAEA: Not at all; I am persuaded that the Supreme Being cares
very little whether I marry you or not.
ANITUS: The Supreme Being! My dear girl, that's not the way you
must speak. You must speak of gods and goddesses. Take care: I
perceive in you dangerous sentiments and I know very well who
inspired them. Know that Ceres, whose high priest I am, can punish
you for having scorned her cult and her minister.
AGLAEA: I scorn neither the one nor the other. They tell me that Ceres
presides over wheat: I intend to believe it. But she doesn't meddle with
my marriage.
ANITUS: She meddles with everything. You know that very well; but
still I hope to convert you. Are you really determined not to marry
Sophronine?
AGLAEA: Yes, I am very determined, and I'm very annoyed about it.
ANITUS: I don't understand these contradictions at all. Listen: I love
you. I wanted to make you happy and place you in a high rank. Believe
me, don't offend me. Don't reject your fortune. Think that it is
necessary to sacrifice everything to an advantageous establishment; that
youth passes and that fortune remains. That riches and honors must be
your only goal and that I speak to you on behalf of the Gods and
Goddesses. I beg you to reflect on it. Goodbye, my dear girl. I am
going to pray to Ceres that she may inspire you. And I hope that she