The Learned Women | Page 3

kindness has captivated me, and there is nothing
which would now break my chains. Therefore I beseech you, Madam,
never to make an attempt to regain a heart which has resolved to die in
this gentle bondage.
ARM. Bless me, Sir, who told you that I had such a desire, and, in short,
that I cared so much for you? I think it tolerably ridiculous that you
should imagine such a thing, and very impertinent in you to declare it
to me.
HEN. Ah! gently, sister. Where is now that moral sense which has so
much power over that which is merely animal in us, and which can
restrain the madness of anger?
ARM. And you, who speak to me, what moral sense have you when
you respond to a love which is offered to you before you have received
leave from those who have given you birth? Know that duty subjects
you to their laws, and that you may love only in accordance with their
choice; for they have a supreme authority over your heart, and it is
criminal in you to dispose of it yourself.
HEN. I thank you for the great kindness you show me in teaching me
my duty. My heart intends to follow the line of conduct you have traced;
and to show you that I profit by your advice, pray, Clitandre, see that
your love is strengthened by the consent of those from whom I have
received birth. Acquire thus a right over my wishes, and for me the
power of loving you without a crime.
CLI. I will do so with all diligence. I only waited for this kind

permission from you.
ARM. You triumph, sister, and seem to fancy that you thereby give me
pain.
HEN. I, sister? By no means. I know that the laws of reason will
always have full power over your senses, and that, through the lessons
you derive from wisdom, you are altogether above such weakness. Far
from thinking you moved by any vexation, I believe that you will use
your influence to help me, will second his demand of my hand, and will
by your approbation hasten the happy day of our marriage. I beseech
you to do so; and in order to secure this end....
ARM. Your little mind thinks it grand to resort to raillery, and you
seem wonderfully proud of a heart which I abandon to you.
HEN. Abandoned it may be; yet this heart, sister, is not so disliked by
you but that, if you could regain it by stooping, you would even
condescend to do so.
ARM. I scorn to answer such foolish prating.
HEN. You do well; and you show us inconceivable moderation.

SCENE III.--CLITANDRE, HENRIETTE.
HEN. Your frank confession has rather taken her aback.
CLI. She deserves such freedom of speech, and all the haughtiness of
her proud folly merits my outspokenness! But since you give me leave,
I will go to your father, to....
HEN. The safest thing to do would be to gain my mother over. My
father easily consents to everything, but he places little weight on what
he himself resolves. He has received from Heaven a certain gentleness
which makes him readily submit to the will of his wife. It is she who
governs, and who in a dictatorial tone lays down the law whenever she

has made up her mind to anything. I wish I could see in you a more
pliant spirit towards her and towards my aunt. If you would but fall in
with their views, you would secure their favour and their esteem.
CLI. I am so sincere that I can never bring myself to praise, even in
your sister, that side of her character which resembles theirs. Female
doctors are not to my taste. I like a woman to have some knowledge of
everything; but I cannot admire in her the revolting passion of wishing
to be clever for the mere sake of being clever. I prefer that she should,
at times, affect ignorance of what she really knows. In short, I like her
to hide her knowledge, and to be learned without publishing her
learning abroad, quoting the authors, making use of pompous words,
and being witty under the least provocation. I greatly respect your
mother, but I cannot approve her wild fancies, nor make myself an echo
of what she says. I cannot support the praises she bestows upon that
literary hero of hers, Mr. Trissotin, who vexes and wearies me to death.
I cannot bear to see her have any esteem for such a man, and to see her
reckon among men of genius a fool whose writings are everywhere
hissed; a pedant whose liberal pen furnishes all the markets with
wastepaper.
HEN. His writings, his speeches, in