The Magnificent Lovers | Page 7

(_singing_). La, la, la, la. (Affecting surprise on seeing
ERIPHYLE.) Ah!
ERI. (to CLITIDAS, _who affects to go away_). Clitidas!
CLI. I did not see, you, Madam.
ERI. Come near. Where have you been?
CLI. With the princess your mother, who was just going towards the
temple of Apollo, accompanied by a great many people.
ERI. Do you not think this one of the most charming places in the

world?
CLI. Certainly. The two princes, your lovers, were there.
ERI. The river Peneus has here the most charming windings.
CLI. Very charming. Sostratus was there also.
ERI. How is it that he was not with us to-day?
CLI. He has something on his mind which prevents him from taking
any pleasure in all those beautiful entertainments. He wanted to tell me
something; but you have so expressly forbidden me to intercede for any
one to you that I would not hear him, and I told him flatly that I had no
leisure.
ERI. You were wrong to say such a thing to him, and you ought to have
heard him.
CLI. I told him at first that I was not at leisure to hear him; but
afterwards I listened to what be had 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 Arsinoë.
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