The Magnificent Lovers | Page 8

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 what you think you can say in answer to the
commands which bring me here.
ERI. Until now I have had no wish to explain myself, and the princess
my mother has kindly allowed me to put off the choice which is to bind
me. But I should be glad to show to everyone that I am willing to do
something for your sake; and if you insist, I may give you this long
expected verdict.
SOS. I will not importune you, Madam, and urge a princess who knows
well what she has to do.
ERI. Yet it is what the princess my mother expects from you.
SOS. I told her that I was sure to acquit myself but badly of my
message.
ERI. Well, tell me, Sostratus; you have far-seeing eyes, and I believe
that there are few things that escape you. Have you not been able to

discover what everybody is anxious to know? Have you no idea of the
inclination of my heart? You see all the attentions that are bestowed on
me, all the homage that is paid to me. Which of these two princes do
you think I look upon with a most favourable eye?
SOS. The conjectures we make upon such matters generally arise from
the greater or less interest we take.
ERI. Which would you prefer of the two, Sostratus? Tell me which one
you would have me marry?
SOS. Ah! Madam! your inclination, not my wishes, must decide the
matter.
ERI. But if I wished to consult you in this choice?
SOS. If you were to consult me, I should feel very much perplexed.
ERI. You could not tell me which of the two you think most worthy of
preference?
SOS. If I were to be judge, I should find no one worthy of that honour.
All the princes of the world would be too mean to aspire to you; the
gods alone can pretend to you, and you would have from men but
incense and sacrifice.
ERI. This is very kind, and I esteem you my friend. But I must have
you tell me for which of the two you feel the greatest inclination, and
which is the one you reckon your friend?

SCENE V.--ERIPHYLE, SOSTRATUS, CHOROEBUS.
CHO. Madam, the princess is coming to fetch you to go to the wood of
Diana.
SOS. (_aside_). Alas! how seasonably you came in.

SCENE VI.--ARISTIONE, ERIPHYLE, IPHICRATES, TIMOCLES,
SOSTRATUS, ANAXARCHUS, CLITIDAS.
ARI. You are asked for, my daughter, and there are some who are
much pained by your absence.
ERI. I Should think, Madam, that they only asked after me out of
compliment, and that no one is as pained as you say.
ARI. There are so many entertainments made for your sake that all our
time is taken up, and we have not a moment to lose if we wish to see
them all. Let us enter the wood at once, and see what awaits us there.

This is the most beautiful place in the world. Let us take our seats
quickly.

THIRD INTERLUDE.
The stage represents a forest where the PRINCESS _has been invited
to go. A Nymph does the honours, singing; and to amuse the_
PRINCESS, _a small musical comedy is played, the subject of which is
as follows:--A shepherd complains to two other shepherds, his friends,
of the coldness