The Magnificent Lovers | Page 5

enemies, and
that, with a full submission to my daughter's feelings, you are waiting
for her choice, speak to me openly and tell me what progress you each
think you have made on her heart.
TIM. Madam, I do not mean to flatter myself; but I have done all that I
possibly could to touch the heart of the Princess Eriphyle. I have
neglected none of the tender means that a lover should adopt. I have
offered her the humble homage of my great love, I have been assiduous
near her, I have attended on her daily. I have had my love sung by the
most touching voices, and expressed in verse by the most skilful pens. I
have complained in passionate terms of my sufferings. My eyes, as
well as my words, have told her of my despair and my love. I have laid
my love at her feet; I have even had recourse to tears, but all in vain,
and I have failed to see that in her soul she was in any way touched by
my love.
ARI. And you, Prince?
IPH. For my part, Madam, knowing her indifference and the little value
she sets upon the homage that is paid to her, I did not mean to waste
either sighs or tears upon her. I know that she is entirely submissive to
your wishes, and that it is from you alone that she will accept a
husband; therefore it is to you alone that I can address my wishes for
her hand, to you rather than to her that I offer my homage and my
attentions. Would to heaven, Madam, that you could bring yourself to
take her place, enjoy the conquests which you make for her, and

receive for yourself the affections which you refer to her!
ARI. Prince, the compliment comes from a cunning lover. You have
heard that the mothers must be flattered in order to obtain the daughters
from them; but here however, this will be useless, for I have
determined to, leave my daughter entirely free in her choice, and in no
way to thwart her inclination.
IPH. However free you leave her in her choice, what I tell you is no
flattery, Madam. I court the Princess Eriphyle only because she is your
daughter, and I think her charming in that which she inherits from you;
and it is you whom I adore in her.
ARI. That is very pretty.
IPH. Yes, Madam, all the earth beholds in you charms and
attractions....
ARI. Ah! Prince, pray, let us leave those charms and attractions; you
know that these are words I banish from the compliments that are paid
to me. I can endure to be praised for my sincerity, to be called a good
princess, for it is true that I have a kind word for everybody, love for
my friends and esteem for merit and virtue; yes, I can enjoy all that; but
as for your charms and attractions, I had rather have nothing to do with
them, and whatever truth there may be in them, one should make a
scruple of wishing to be praised when one is mother to a daughter like
mine.
IPH. Ah! Madam. It is you only who will remind everyone that you are
a mother; everybody's feelings are against it, and it depends entirely on
yourself to pass for the sister of the Princess Eriphyle.
ARI. Believe me, Prince, I have no relish for all this idle nonsense, so
welcome to too many women, I wish to be a mother, because I am one,
and it would be in vain to wish to be otherwise. This title has nothing
that wounds me, since I received it by my own consent. It is a weakness
in our sex, from which, thank heaven! I am free, and I do not trouble
myself about those grand discussions concerning ages about which
there is so much folly. Let us resume what we were saying. Is it
possible that until now you have been unable to discover my daughter's
feelings?
IPH. They are a secret to me.
TIM. And to me an impenetrable mystery.
ARI. She may be prevented by modesty from explaining herself either

to you or to me. Let us make use of another to try and discover what
she feels. Sostratus, take this message upon yourself for me, and oblige
these princes by skilfully trying to discover towards which of the two
my daughter's feeling are inclined.
SOS. Madam, you have a great many people in your court who are
better qualified than I for such a delicate mission, and I feel little fit to
do what you ask of me.
ARI. Your merit, Sostratus, is not confined to the business of war only.
You have brain, tact,