Socrates | Page 8

who is depriving himself of the greatest share of his wealth for us. No.
We won't suffer it; we won't be rich at this price. The more grateful our
heart, the more we must imitate the nobility of his.
SOPHRONINE: Like Aglaea, I am throwing myself at your feet. I am
seized as she is. We feel your benefactions equally. We love you too
much, Socrates, to abuse it. Look at us as your children. But don't let
your children be an expense to such a degree. Your friendship is the
greatest of treasures; it's the only one that we want. What! You are not
rich and you are doing what the powerful on earth don't do! If we were
to accept your benefits we would be unworthy of them.
SOCRATES: Rise, children. You are making me too weak. Listen,
mustn't we respect the will of the dead? Aglaea, your father whom I
regarded as the better part of myself, didn't he order me to treat you as

my own daughter? I am obeying him. I would be betraying his
friendship and confidence if I did less. I accepted his testament, and I
will execute it. The little that I am giving you is useless to my old age
which is without needs. Finally, as I have a duty to obey my friend, you
must obey your father. It is I who in his sacred name order you not to
overwhelm me with sorrow by refusing me. But retire; I observe
Xantippe. I have my reasons for begging you to avoid her at this time.
AGLAEA: Ah. What cruel orders you give us.
(Aglaea and Sophronine exit)
XANTIPPE (entering) Truly, you've just made a fine masterpiece! My
word, my dear husband, it's necessary to prevent you. See, if you please,
these stupidities. I promised Aglaea to the priest Anitus who has much
credit among the great. I promised Sophronine to that big business
woman, Drixa who has great credit among the people, and you marry
the two dummies to each other to make me break my word. It's not
enough you are endowering them with the greatest share of your wealth.
Twenty thousand drachmas, just gods! Twenty thousand drachmas!
Aren't you ashamed? With what will you live at the age of seventy?
Who will pay for your doctors when you become ill; your lawyers
when you have a law suit? Finally, what will I do when this trickster,
this hypocrite, Anitus and his party that you could have won over to
yourself conspire to persecute you, as they've done so many times?
Heaven confound philosophers and philosophy, and my stupid
friendship for you! You meddle to direct others when you need to be
led about. You argue endlessly and you have no common sense. If you
weren't the best man in the world, you would be the most ridiculous
and unbearable. Listen: Only one word will work. Instantly break off
this impertinent bargain and do what your wife wishes.
SOCRATES: My dear Xantippe, it's quite well to speak and with
moderation; but listen to me in your turn. I didn't propose this marriage.
Sophronine and Aglaea love each other and are worthy of each other.
I've already given you all the wealth that I could grant you under the
laws. I am giving almost all which remains to me to the daughter of my
friend. The little I am keeping will suffice for me. I have neither

doctors to pay, because I am sober, nor lawyers, because I have no
debts. With regard to the philosophy for which you reproach me it
teaches me how to suffer the indignities of Anitus and your reproaches.
To love you despite your temper. (he leaves)
XANTIPPE: The old fool! I have to respect him despite himself, for
after all, there's I don't know what of grandeur in his folly. The calm of
his extravagances enrages me. It's useless for me to scold him; I waste
my efforts. I've been screaming at him for thirty years, and when I've
really screamed he overawes me and I am really confounded. Could he
have something in his soul superior to mine?
DRIXA: (entering) Well, Madam Xantippe! See how you are mistress
in your own house! Fie! How cowardly to allow oneself to be governed
by one's husband! This cursed Socrates has carried off this handsome
boy whose fortune I wanted to make! The traitor! He will pay me for
that!
XANTIPPE: My poor Madame Drixa, don't be angry with my husband.
I am sufficiently angry with him. He's an imbecile, I know that very
well. But at bottom, he's got the best heart in the world. There's no
malice in him. He commits every possible stupidity without intending
any trickery and with so much integrity that it's disarming.