The Imaginary Invalid | Page 8

he sends instead, to give you your lesson.
ANG. (recognising CLéANTE). O heavens!
ARG. What is the matter? Why this surprise?
ANG. It is....
ARG. What can disturb you in that manner?
ANG. It is such a strange coincidence.
ARG. How so?
ANG. I dreamt last night that I was in the greatest trouble imaginable, and that some one exactly like this gentleman came to me. I asked him to help me, and presently he saved me from the great trouble I was in. My surprise was very great to meet unexpectedly, on my coming here, him of whom I had been dreaming all night.
CLE. It is no small happiness to occupy your thoughts whether sleeping or waking, and my delight would be great indeed if you were in any trouble out of which you would think me worthy of delivering you. There is nothing that I would not do for....

SCENE V.--ARGAN, ANGéLIQUE, CLéANTE, TOINETTE.
TOI. (to ARGAN). Indeed, Sir, I am of your opinion now, and I unsay all that I said yesterday. Here are Mr. Diafoirus the father, and Mr. Diafoirus the son, who are coming to visit you. How well provided with a son-in-law you will be! You will see the best-made young fellow in the world, and the most intellectual. He said but two words to me, it is true, but I was struck with them, and your daughter will be delighted with him.
ARG. (to CLéANTE, _who moves as if to go_). Do not go, Sir. I am about, as you see, to marry my daughter, and they have just brought her future husband, whom she has not as yet seen.
CLE. You do me great honour, Sir, in wishing me to be witness of such a pleasant interview.
ARG. He is the son of a clever doctor, and the marriage will take place in four days.
CLE. Indeed!
ARG. Please inform her music-master of it, that he may be at the wedding.
CLE. I will not fail to do so.
ARG. And I invite you also.
CLE. You do me too much honour.
TOI. Come, make room; here they are.

SCENE VI.--MR. DIAFOIRUS, THOMAS DIAFOIRUS, ARGAN, ANGéLIQUE, CLéANTE, TOINETTE, SERVANTS.
ARG. (_putting up his hand to his night-cap without taking it off_). Mr. Purgon has forbidden me to uncover my head. You belong to the profession, and know what would be the consequence if I did so.
MR. DIA. We are bound in all our visits to bring relief to invalids, and not to injure them.
(MR. ARGAN and MR. DIAFOIRUS speak at the same time.)
ARG. I receive, Sir....
MR. DIA. We come here, Sir....
ARG. With great joy....
MR. DIA. My son Thomas and myself....
ARG. The honour you do me....
MR. DIA. To declare to you, Sir....
ARG. And I wish....
MR. DIA. The delight we are in....
ARG. I could have gone to your house....
MR. DIA. At the favour you do us....
ARG. To assure you of it....
MR. DIA. In so kindly admitting us....
ARG. But you know, Sir....
MR. DIA. To the honour, Sir....
ARG. What it is to be a poor invalid....
MR. DIA. Of your alliance....
ARG. Who can only....
MR. DIA. And assure you....
ARG. Tell you here....
MR. DIA. That in all that depends on our knowledge....
ARG. That he will seize every opportunity....
MR. DIA. As well as in any other way....
ARG. To show you, Sir....
MR. DIA: That we shall ever be ready, Sir....
ARG. That he is entirely at your service....
MR. DIA. To show you our zeal. (_To his son_) Now, Thomas, come forward, and pay your respects.
T. DIA. (to MR. DIAFOIRUS). Ought I not to begin with the father?
MR. DIA. Yes.
T. DIA. (to ARGAN). Sir, I come to salute, acknowledge, cherish, and revere in you a second father; but a second father to whom I owe more, I make bold to say, than to the first. The first gave me birth; but you have chosen me. He received me by necessity, but you have accepted me by choice. What I have from him is of the body, corporal; what I hold from you is of the will, voluntary; and in so much the more as the mental faculties are above the corporal, in so much the more do I hold precious this future affiliation, for which I come beforehand to-day to render you my most humble and most respectful homage.
TOI. Long life to the colleges which send such clever people into the world!
T. DIA. (to MR. DIAFOIRUS). Has this been said to your satisfaction, father?
MR. DIA. Optime.
ARG. (to ANGéLIQUE). Come, bow to this gentleman.
T DIA. (to MR. DIAFOIRUS). Shall I kiss?
MR. DIA. Yes, yes.
T. DIA. (to ANGéLIQUE). Madam, it is with justice that heaven has given you the name of stepmother, since we see in you steps towards the perfect beauty which....[Footnote: Thomas Diafoirus is evidently going to base some compliment on the _belle-mère_. The only way out of the difficulty in English seems to be to complete the sentence somewhat.]
ARG. (to THOMAS DIAFOIRUS).