The Love-Tiff | Page 8

these riddles.
ASC. I shall explain if you will but hear me. Valère who admired my
sister, seemed to me a lover worthy of being listened to; I could not
bear to see his addresses slighted without feeling a certain interest in
him. I wished that Lucile should take pleasure in his conversation, I
blamed her severity, and blamed it so effectually, that I myself, without
being able to help it, became affected with that passion which she could
not entertain. He was talking to her, and persuaded me; I suffered
myself to be overcome by the very sighs he breathed; and the love,
rejected by the object of his flame, entered, like a conqueror, into my
heart, which was wounded by an arrow, not aimed at it, and paid
another's debt with heavy interest. At last, my dear, the love I felt for
him forced me to declare myself, but under a borrowed name. One
night I spoke to him, disguising my voice as if it were Lucile's, and this
too amiable lover thought she returned his love; I managed the
conversation so well that he never found out the deception. Under that
disguise which pleased so much his deluded imagination, I told him
that I was enamoured of him, but that, finding my father opposed to my
wishes, I ought at least to pretend to obey him; that therefore it
behooved us to keep our love secret, with which the night alone should
be acquainted; that all private conversation should be avoided during
the day, for fear of betraying everything; that he should behold me with
the same indifference as he did before we had come to an
understanding; and that on his part, as well as mine, no communication
should take place either by gesture, word, or writing. In short, without
dwelling any longer upon all the pains I have taken to bring this
deception to a safe termination, I went on with my bold project as far as
it was possible to go, and secured the husband I mentioned to you.
FROS. Upon my word, you possess great talents. Would any one think
so, on seeing her passionless countenance? However, you have been
pretty hasty, and though I grant that the affair has succeeded until now,
what do you think will be the end of it, for it cannot be long concealed?
ASC. When love is strong it overcomes all obstacles, until it is satisfied;
provided it reaches the wished-for goal, it looks upon everything else as
a mere trifle. I have told you all to-day, so that your advice... But here

comes my husband.

SCENE II.--VALÈRE, ASCANIO, FROSINE.
VAL. If you are conversing, and if my presence is any interruption, I
shall withdraw.
ASC. No; you may well interrupt it, since we were talking about you.
VAL. About me?
ASC. About yourself.
VAL. How so?
ASC. I was saying, that if I had been a woman, Valère would have been
able to please me but too well, and that if I had been beloved by him, I
should not have delayed long to make him happy.
VAL. This declaration does not cost you much, as there is such an if in
the way; but you would be finely caught if some miraculous event
should put to the proof the truth of so obliging a declaration.
ASC. Not in the least; I tell you that if I reigned in your heart, I would
very willingly crown your passion.
VAL. And what, if you might contribute to my happiness, by assisting
me to further my love?
ASC. I should then, certainly, disappoint you.
VAL. This admission is not very polite.
ASC. What, Valère? Supposing I were a woman and loved you tenderly,
would you be so cruel as to make me promise to aid you in your love
for another lady? I could not perform such a painful task.
VAL. But you are not a woman.
ASC. What I said to you I said in the character of a woman, and you
ought to take it so.
VAL. Thus I ought not to imagine you like me, Ascanio, unless Heaven
works a miracle in you. Therefore, as you are not a woman, I bid
farewell to your affection; you do not care in the least for me.
ASC. My feelings are far more nice than people imagine, and the
smallest misgiving shocks me when love is in the case. But I am
sincere; I will not promise to aid you, Valère, unless you assure me that
you entertain precisely the same sentiments for me; that you feel the
same warmth of friendship for me as I feel for you; and that if I were a
woman you would love no one better than me.
VAL. I never