The Forfeiture | Page 7

to distinguish you, to choose you for my lover. Yes, my dear Chevalier, yes, I repeat it to you, I love you, I love you too late. I regret without cease the years I have spent without knowing you.
FRONTIN: I'm only twenty five but I would have come into the world twenty years sooner to know you. Yes, time is dear to us, as it ought to be. Let us see quickly. Let's decide. Have you resolved?
ARAMINTE: I've looked, looked again, decided, determined, concluded. Ought I to be in fear of this savage sister who hates marriage for herself and for me? You will be my husband from tomorrow, from this evening.
FRONTIN: But to the essential. You must be able, before declaring our business to your sister, to get rid of those promissory notes to Valere. Reach an agreement with him. Is your money ready?
ARAMINTE: Yes, I've withdrawn everything. It is in my interest this forfeiture be taken care of, alas, before my sister learns of my marriage. I am prudent and wise.
FRONTIN: Haste! I am going to see my illustrious relatives to tell them the role I am taking.
(Exit Frontin)
ARAMINTE: Let's quickly send a lackey to Valere. But what do I see! My sister returning from the notary. She's going to be irritated about the money I've taken out. He's just informed her.
(Enter Belise. They don't speak to each other at first.)
BELISE: Yes, my sister is going to see the Notary. She's going to guess the mystery.
ARAMINTE: I see she's upset. Oh, I hear her rage. Where shall I tell her I intend to place the money?
BELISE: Ah, I see that she knows it. What it will cost me to say that this money is for my marriage?
ARAMINTE: Sooner or later my sister must confide in me.
BELISE: I tremble. Dare I make her my full confidante? Let's try. Let's talk to her.
ARAMINTE: (aloud) Sister.
BELISE: (aloud) Sister, I think-- (aside) Oh, fear seizes me!
ARAMINTE: (aside) Shame smothers my voice.
BELISE:(aloud) To put money when the law--
ARAMINTE: When one disposes of joint funds by oneself--
BELISE: One ought to warn of taking it, but one dares not--
ARAMINTE: One ought to confide in her sister.
BELISE: Yes, of course--
ARAMINTE: One ought--
BELISE: One is afraid--
ARAMINTE: It's I.--
BELISE: I admit it--
ARAMINTE: I was wrong.
BELISE: One ought to ask pardon--
ARAMINTE: A fault so huge--
BELISE: Yes, when one is promised--
ARAMINTE: Sister, I ask your pardon--
BELISE: Pardon, sister--
ARAMINTE: Pardon.
BELISE: Pardon.
ARAMINTE: What? We are asking each other for pardon?
BELISE: But truly, you ask me. What is your offense then?
ARAMINTE: I believe it was you who asked first. What have you done to me?
BELISE: But you, too, sister?
ARAMINTE: Tell me your secrets.
BELISE: Open your heart to me.
ARAMINTE: Oh, well. You will doubtless have learned from the notary that I have taken this money.
BELISE: Your business. You are right to take your wealth. For each can dispose of hers as she pleases.
ARAMINTE: To place it elsewhere, I thought I had the right to take it.
BELISE: You don't owe me any accounting. I have taken mine as well.
ARAMINTE: So much the better, sister, so much the better. On that account I calm my curiosity.
BELISE: You have good sense. You are not being irritating.
ARAMINTE: One is liberal with you because you are charming.
BELISE: Alas, I never irritated you about anything. Except about marriage and that was for your good. If boredom at being a maiden made you do it, I would be compassionate, like a tender sister--for a weakness.
ARAMINTE: You will never have such a weakness. If you come to that-- and the wisest have--far from condemning you I would be complaisant about it.
BELISE: Ah, be sure of my condescension.
ARAMINTE: Sometimes, we must be humane to each other.
BELISE: Alas, I, in getting married would authorize you to do so, without wishing you ill for it.
ARAMINTE: Yes, marry quickly, yes. I would be ravished, for then I could--
BELISE: What? Why?
ARAMINTE: But, sister--
BELISE: Could you have been capable of letting your heart be surprised?
ARAMINTE: And you?
BELISE: But you--
ARAMINTE: But you--
BELISE: Eh!
ARAMINTE: But yes.
BELISE: Me, too.
ARAMINTE: Embrace me, sis.
BELISE: Sis, how I love you. Yes, we are truly sisters today.
ARAMINTE: You know, good hearts are always made for love. You would have stayed a maid. What folly!
BELISE: Like you, I wonder how we made that imprudent vow thirty years ago.
ARAMINTE: The one you love, you have freely. Without doubt, dear sister, wise as you are, you have meditated over the choice that you've made.
BELISE: You whose taste is so fine, so exquisite, undoubtedly you made your choice with discernment.
ARAMINTE: Lively, playful, humorous. He's an amiable young man.
BELISE: The one that I love is young and yet respectable; wise, grave, self possessed.
ARAMINTE: Mine always has the air--
BELISE: A solidity--
ARAMINTE: Brilliant like a flash of lightning.
BELISE: Who rarely speaks but with weight and measure.
ARAMINTE: Mine talks ceaselessly and about everything.