The Learned Women | Page 6

all my heart; and I consider
his alliance a great honour.
ARI. You know that he is not wealthy, that....
CHRY. That is a thing of no consequence. He is rich in virtue, and that
is better than wealth. Moreover, his father and I were but one mind in
two bodies.
ARI. Let us speak to your wife, and try to render her favourable to....
CHRY. It is enough. I accept him for my son-in-law.
ARI. Yes; but to support your consent, it will not be amiss to have her
agree to it also. Let us go....
CHRY. You are joking? There is no need of this. I answer for my wife,
and take the business upon myself.
ARI. But....
CHRY. Leave it to me, I say, and fear nothing. I will go, and prepare
her this moment.
ARI. Let it be so. I will go and see Henriette on the subject, and will
return to know....
CHRY. It is a settled thing, and I will go without delay and talk to my
wife about it.

SCENE V.-CHRYSALE, MARTINE.
MAR. Just like my luck! Alas! they be true sayings, they be--"Give a
dog a bad name and hang him," and--"One doesn't get fat in other folk's
service." [Footnote: Or, more literally, "Service is no inheritance;" but
this does not sound familiar enough in English.]

CHRY. What is it? What is the matter with you, Martine?
MAR. What is the matter?
CHRY. Yes.
MAR. The matter is that I am sent away, Sir.
CHRY. Sent away?
MAR. Yes; mistress has turned me out.
CHRY. I don't understand; why has she?
MAR. I am threatened with a sound beating if I don't go.
CHRY. No; you will stop here. I am quite satisfied with you. My wife
is a little hasty at times, and I will not, no....

SCENE VI.--PHILAMINTE, BÉLISE, CHRYSALE, MARTINE.
PHI. (seeing MARTINE). What! I see you here, you hussy! Quick,
leave this place, and never let me set my eyes upon you again.
CHRY. Gently.
PHI. No; I will have it so.
CHRY. What?
PHI. I insist upon her going.
CHRY. But what has she done wrong, that you wish her in this way
to...?
PHI. What! you take her part?
CHRY. Certainly not.

PHI. You side with her against me?
CHRY. Oh! dear me, no; I only ask what she is guilty of.
PHI. Am I one to send her away without just cause?
CHRY. I do not say that; but we must, with servants....
PHI. No; she must leave this place, I tell you.
CHRY. Let it be so; who says anything to the contrary?
PHI. I will have no opposition to my will.
CHRY. Agreed.
PHI. And like a reasonable husband, you should take my part against
her, and share my anger.
CHRY. So I do. (Turning towards MARTINE.) Yes; my wife is right
in sending you away, baggage that you are; your crime cannot be
forgiven.
MAR. What is it I have done, then?
CHRY. (_aside_). Upon my word, I don't know.
PHI. She is capable even now of looking upon it as nothing.
CHRY. Has she caused your anger by breaking some looking-glass or
some china?
PHI. Do you think that I would send her away for that? And do you
fancy that I should get angry for so little?
CHRY. (to MARTINE). What is the meaning of this? (To
PHILAMINTE) The thing is of great importance, then?
PHI. Certainly; did you ever find me unreasonable?

CHRY. Has she, through carelessness, allowed some ewer or silver
dish to be stolen from us?
PHI. That would be of little moment.
CHRY. (to MARTINE). Oh! oh! I say, Miss! (To PHILAMINTE)
What! has she shown herself dishonest?
PHI. It is worse than that.
CHRY. Worse than that?
PHI. Worse.
CHRY. (to MARTINE). How the deuce! you jade. (To PHILAMINTE)
What! has she...?
PHI. She has with unparalleled impudence, after thirty lessons, insulted
my ear by the improper use of a low and vulgar word condemned in
express terms by Vaugelas. [Footnote: The French grammarian, born
about 1585; died 1650.]
CHRY. Is that...?
PHI. What! In spite of our remonstrances to be always sapping the
foundation of all knowledge--of grammar which rules even kings, and
makes them, with a high hand, obey her laws.
CHRY. I thought her guilty of the greatest crime.
PHI. What! You do not think the crime unpardonable?
CHRY. Yes, yes.
PHI. I should like to see you excuse her.
CHRY. Heaven forbid!
BEL. It is really pitiful. All constructions are destroyed by her; yet she

has a hundred times been told the laws of the language.
MAR. All that you preach there is no doubt very fine, but I don't
understand your jargon, not I.
PHI. Did you ever see such impudence? To