The Magnificent Lovers | Page 6

and skill, and my daughter greatly esteems you.
SOS. Another better than I, Madam....
ARI. No, no, in vain you excuse yourself.
SOS. Since it is your wish, Madam, I must obey; but I assure you that
there is not one person in the whole of your court who would be less
qualified for such a commission than myself.
ARI. You are too modest, and you will always acquit yourself well in
whatever is entrusted to you. Sound my daughter gently on her feelings,
and remind her that she must be early at the wood of Diana.

SCENE III.--IPHICRATES, TIMOCLES, SOSTRATUS, CLITIDAS.
IPH. (to SOSTRATUS). I assure you that I rejoice to see you held in
such esteem by the princess.
TIM. (to SOSTRATUS). I assure you that I am delighted that the
choice should have fallen on you.
IPH. You have it now in your power to serve your friends.
TIM. You will be able to do good service to those you esteem.
IPH. I do not commend my interests to you.
TIM. I do not ask you to speak for me.
SOS. My Lords, all this is useless. I should be wrong to exceed my
orders, and you will excuse me if I speak for neither.
IPH. I leave it to you to do as you please.
TIM. Do exactly as you think best.

SCENE IV.--IPHICRATES, TIMOCLES, CLITIDAS.
IPH. (aside to CLITIDAS). Well, Clitidas, remember that he is one of
my friends. I hope he will still forward my interests with the princess
against those of my rival.

CLI. (aside to IPHICRATES). You may trust me. There is a great
difference between you and him. He is a fine prince, indeed, to dispute
it with you.
IPH. (aside to CLITIDAS). I will not forget such a service.

SCENE V.--TIMOCLES, CLITIDAS.
TIM. My rival pays his court to Clitidas; but Clitidas knows that he has
promised to help me in my love against him.
CLI. Certainly. How very absurd to think of carrying the day against
you. A fine gentleman, indeed, to be compared with you!
TIM. There is nothing I could not do for Clitidas.
CLI. (_alone_). Plenty of fine words on all sides! But here is the
princess; we will take our opportunity to speak to her.

SCENE VI.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE.
CLEON. It will be thought strange, Madam, that you should keep away
from everybody.
ERI. Ah! to persons like us, always surrounded by so many indifferent
people, how pleasant is solitude! How sweet to be left alone to
commune with one's thoughts when one has had to bear with so much
trifling conversation. Leave me alone to walk a few moments by
myself.
CLEON. Would you not like for a moment to see what those wonderful
people, who are desirous of serving you, can do? It seems by their steps
and gestures they can express everything to the eye. They are called
pantomimists. I feared to pronounce that word before you, and there are
some in your court who would not forgive me for using it.
ERI. You seem to me to propose some strange entertainment; for you
never fail to introduce indifferently all that presents itself to you, and
you have a kind welcome for everything. Therefore to you alone do we
see all necessitous Muses have recourse. You are the great patroness of
all merit in distress, and all virtuous indigents knock at your door.
CLEON. If you do not care to see them, Madam, you have only to say
so.
ERI. No, no; let us see them. Bring them here.
CLEON. But, Madam, their dancing may be bad.

ERI. Bad or not, let us see it. It would only be putting off the thing with
you. It is just as well to have it over.
CLEON. To-day it will only be an ordinary dance, Madam. Another
time....
ERI. No more about it, Cleonice. Let them dance.

SECOND INTERLUDE.
The confidante of the young PRINCESS _calls forth three dancers
under the name of pantomimists; that is, men who express all sorts of
things by their movements. The_ PRINCESS _sees them dance, and
receives them into her service._

ACT II.
SCENE I.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE.
ERI. This is admirable! I do not think any dancing could ever be better;
and I am glad to have them belonging to me.
CLEON. And I am very glad, Madam, for you to see that my taste is
not so bad as you thought.
ERI. Do not be so triumphant. You won't be long before giving me my
revenge. Leave me alone here.

SCENE II.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE, CLITIDAS.
CLEON. (going to meet CLITIDAS). I warn you, Clitidas, that the
princess wishes to be alone.
CLI. Leave that to me. I understand court etiquette.

SCENE III.--ERIPHYLE, CLITIDAS.
CLI.