The Learned Women | Page 9

have spoken to her on the subject. I can
justify my conduct, and I shall be sure to know if you have spoken to
her.

SCENE IX.--ARISTE, CHRYSALE.
ARI. Well! your wife has just left, and I see that you must have had a
talk together.
CHRY. Yes.
ARI. And how did you succeed? Shall we have Henriette? Has she
given her consent? Is the affair settled?
CHRY. Not quite as yet.
ARI. Does she refuse?
CHRY. No.
ARI. Then she hesitates?
CHRY. Not in the least.
ARI. What then?
CHRY. Well! she offers me another man for a son-in-law.
ARI. Another man for a son-in-law?
CHRY. Yes.
ARI. What is his name?
CHRY. Mr. Trissotin.
ARI. What! that Mr. Trissotin....

CHRY. Yes, he who always speaks of verse and Latin.
ARI. And you have accepted him?
CHRY. I? Heaven forbid!
ARI. What did you say to it?
CHRY. Nothing. I am glad that I did not speak, and commit myself.
ARI. Your reason is excellent, and it is a great step towards the end we
have in view. Did you not propose Clitandre to her?
CHRY. No; for as she talked of another son-in-law, I thought it was
better for me to say nothing.
ARI. Your prudence is to the last degree wonderful! Are you not
ashamed of your weakness? How can a man be so poor-spirited as to let
his wife have absolute power over him, and never dare to oppose
anything she has resolved upon?
CHRY. Ah! it is easy, brother, for you to speak; you don't know what a
dislike I have to a row, and how I love rest and peace. My wife has a
terrible disposition. She makes a great show of the name of philosopher,
but she is not the less passionate on that account; and her philosophy,
which makes her despise all riches, has no power over the bitterness of
her anger. However little I oppose what she has taken into her head, I
raise a terrible storm which lasts at least a week. She makes me tremble
when she begins her outcries; I don't know where to hide myself. She is
a perfect virago; and yet, in spite of her diabolical temper, I must call
her my darling and my love.
ARI. You are talking nonsense. Between ourselves, your wife has
absolute power over you only because of your own cowardice. Her
authority is founded upon your own weakness; it is from you she takes
the name of mistress. You give way to her haughty manners, and suffer
yourself to be led by the nose like a fool. What! you call yourself a man,
and cannot for once make your wife obey you, and have courage

enough to say, "I will have it so?" You will, without shame, see your
daughter sacrificed to the mad visions with which the family is
possessed? You will confer your wealth on a man because of
half-a-dozen Latin words with which the ass talks big before them--a
pedant whom your wife compliments at every turn with the names of
wit and great philosopher whose verses were never equalled, whereas
everybody knows that he is anything but all that. Once more I tell you,
it is a shame, and you deserve that people should laugh at your
cowardice.
CHRY. Yes, you are right, and I see that I am wrong. I must pluck up a
little more courage, brother.
ARI. That's right.
CHRY. It is shameful to be so submissive under the tyranny of a
woman.
ARI. Good.
CHRY. She has abused my gentleness.
ARI. It is true.
CHRY. My easy-going ways have lasted too long.
ARI. Certainly.
CHRY. And to-day I will let her know that my daughter is my daughter,
and that I am the master, to choose a husband for her according to my
mind.
ARI. You are reasonable now, and as you should be.
CHRY. You are for Clitandre, and you know where he lives; send him
to me directly, brother.
ARI. I will go at once.

CHRY. I have borne it too long. I will be a man, and set everybody at
defiance.

ACT III.
SCENE I.--PHILAMINTE, ARMANDE, BÉLISE, TRISSOTIN,
LÉPINE.
PHI. Ah! Let us sit down here to listen comfortably to these verses;
they should be weighed word by word.
ARM. I am all anxiety to hear them.
BEL. And I am dying for them.
PHI. (to TRISSOTIN). Whatever comes from you is a delight to me.
ARM. It is to me an unparalleled pleasure.
BEL. It is a delicious repast offered to my ears.
PHI. Do not let us languish under such pressing desires.
ARM. Lose no time.
BEL. Begin quickly and hasten our pleasure.
PHI. Offer your epigram to our impatience.
TRI. (to PHILAMINTE). Alas! it is but a