The Magnificent Lovers | Page 7

to say.
ERI. You did well.
CLI. In fact, he is a man after my own heart; a man with all the manners and qualities I should like to see in all men. He never assumes boisterous manners and provoking tones of voice, but is prudent and careful in everything. He never speaks but to the point, is never hasty in his decisions, is never annoying by his exaggerations. However fine may be the verses our poets repeat to him, I have never heard him say, "This is more beautiful than anything that Homer ever wrote." In short, he is a man to my taste; and if I were a princess, I would not see him unhappy.
ERI. He is evidently a man of great merit; but what had he to say to you?
CLI. He asked me if you were very pleased with the royal entertainments that are offered to you. He spoke of your person with the greatest transports of delight, extolled you to the sky, and gave you all the praises that could be given to the most accomplished princess in the world, and with all this uttering many sighs which told me more than he thought. At last, by dint of questioning him in all kinds of ways, and pressing him to tell me the cause of his melancholy, which is noticed by everyone at court, he was forced to acknowledge that he is in love.
ERI. How, in love? What boldness is this? I will never see him again.
CLI. What are you offended at, Madam?
ERI. To be audacious enough to love me, and, moreover, to dare to say it!
CLI. It is not with you he is in love, Madam.
ERI. Not with me?
CLI. No; he has too much respect for you, and he is too wise to do such a thing.
ERI. With whom, then, Clitidas?
CLI. With one of your maids-of-honour, the young Arsino?.
ERI. Is she so very beautiful that he can think none but her worthy of his love?
CLI. He loves her to distraction, and entreats you to honour his love with your protection.
ERI. Me!
CLI. No, no, Madam; I see that this offends you. Your anger forced me to make use of this subterfuge; and, to tell you the truth, it is you he loves to distraction.
ERI. You are an insolent knave to come thus to sound my feelings. Out of my sight this moment! Do you pretend to read people's thoughts and penetrate into the secrets of a princess's heart? Away with you; let me never see your face again.... Clitidas!
CLI. Madam.
ERI. Come here. I forgive you this affair.
CLI. You are too kind, Madam.
ERI. But on condition--mind what I say--that you will never mention it to anybody, at the peril of your life.
CLI. Enough.
ERI. Then Sostratus told you that he loved me?
CLI. No, Madam; I must now tell you the whole truth. I got from him by surprise a secret he intended to conceal from all the world, and which he said he would wish to die with him. He was in despair when I wrenched it with subtlety from him; and, far from asking me to tell you of it, he entreated me with the most earnest prayers never to reveal anything to you; and I have committed a piece of treachery against him by telling you what I have said.
ERI. I am glad of it. It is by his respect only that he can please me; and if he were bold enough to tell me of his love, he would forfeit for ever both my presence and my esteem.
CLI. Do not fear, Madam....
ERI. Here he is. Remember, if you are wise, what I have forbidden you.
CLI. Certainly, Madam; I have no wish to be an indiscreet courtier.

SCENE IV.--ERIPHYLE, SOSTRATUS.
SOS. I have an excuse, Madam, for daring to disturb your solitude. I have received from the princess your mother a mission which authorises the bold step I now take.
ERI. What mission is it, Sostratus?
SOS. To try, to learn from you, Madam, towards which of the two princes your heart inclines?
ERI. The princess my mother shows a judicious spirit in choosing you for such a message. This mission is very pleasant to you, no doubt, Sostratus, and you must have accepted it with great joy?
SOS. I have accepted it, Madam, because my duty obliges me to obey; and if the princess had kindly listened to my excuses, she would have appointed another for the task.
ERI. What reason could you have had, Sostratus, for refusing it?
SOS. The fear of not acquitting myself well.
ERI. Do you think that I have not enough esteem for you to open my heart to you, and say all you wish to know from me about the two princes?
SOS. As far as I am concerned, Madam, I have no desire to know anything; I only ask you