The Magnificent Lovers

The Magnificent Lovers (tr
Charles Heron Wall) [with
accents]

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Magnificent Lovers, by Moliere
(Poquelin) Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to
check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or
redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of
Volunteers!*****
Title: The Magnificent Lovers
Author: Moliere (Poquelin)
Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7067] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 5,
2003]

Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: Latin-1
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
MAGNIFICENT LOVERS ***

This eBook was produced by Delphine Lettau, Lee Chew Hung and the
people at Distributed Proofreaders

THE MAGNIFICENT LOVERS (LES AMANTS MAGNIFIQUES)
BY
MOLIÈRE
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE.
WITH SHORT INTRODUCTIONS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
BY
CHARLES HERON WALL

The subject of this play was given by Louis XIV. It was acted before
him at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, on February 4, 1670, but was never
represented in Paris, and was only printed after Molière's death. It is
one of the weakest plays of Molière, upon whom unfortunately now
rested the whole responsibility of the court entertainments. His attack
upon astrology is the most interesting part.
Molière acted the part of Clitidas.

PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR.
The King, who will have nothing but what is magnificent in all he
undertakes, wished to give his court an entertainment which should
comprise all that the stage can furnish. To facilitate the execution of so
vast an idea, and to link together so many different things, his Majesty

chose for the subject two rival princes, who, in the lovely vale of
Tempe, where the Pythian Games were to be celebrated, vie with each
other in fêting a young princess and her mother with all imaginable
gallantries.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.
IPHICRATES & TIMOCLES, princes in love with ERIPHYLE.
SOSTRATUS, _a general, also in love with_ ERIPHYLE.
ANAXARCHUS, an astrologer.
CLEON, his son.
CHOROEBUS, in the suit of ARISTIONE.
CLITIDAS, _a court jester, one of the attendants of_ ERIPHYLE.
ARISTIONE, _a princess, mother to_ ERIPHYLE.
ERIPHYLE, _a princess, daughter to_ ARISTIONE.
CLEONICE, confidante to ERIPHYLE.
A sham VENUS, acting in concert with ANAXARCHUS.

THE MAGNIFICENT LOVERS.

FIRST INTERLUDE.
_The scene opens with the pleasant sound of a great many instruments,
and represents a vast sea, bordered on each side by four large rocks. On
the summit of each is a river god, leaning on the insignia usual to those
deities. At the foot of these rocks are twelve Tritons on each side, and
in the middle of the sea four Cupids on dolphins; behind them the god
AEOLUS floating on a small cloud above the waves. AEOLUS
commands the winds to withdraw; and whilst four Cupids, twelve
Tritons, and eight river gods answer him, the sea becomes calm, and an
island rises from the waves. Eight fishermen come out of the sea with
mother-of-pearl and branches of coral in their hands, and after a
charming dance seat themselves each on a rock above one of the river
gods. The music announces the advent of NEPTUNE, and while this
god is dancing with his suite, the fishermen, Tritons, and river gods
accompany his steps with various movements and the clattering of the
pearl shells. The spectacle is a magnificent compliment paid by one of

the princes to the princesses during their maritime excursion._
AEOLUS. Ye winds that cloud the fairest skies, Retire within your
darkest caves, And leave the realm of waves To Zephyr, Love, and
sighs.
A TRITON. What lovely eyes these moist abodes have pierced? Ye
mighty Tritons, come; ye Nereids, hide.
ALL THE TRITONS. Then rise we all these deities fair to meet; With
softest strains and homage let us greet Their beauty rare.
A CUPID. How dazzling are these ladies' charms!
ANOTHER CUPID. What heart but seeing them must yield?
ANOTHER CUPID. The fairest of th' Immortals--arms So keen hath
none to wield.
CHORUS. Then rise we all these deities fair to meet; With softest
strains and homage let us greet Their beauty rare.
A TRITON. What would