The McNaughtens | Page 6

ravishes, carries one away, enchants --. It seems Cupid himself has adjusted your face today.
Urania This girl always has the best taste. (seeing the Captain) Ah, sir, you here! What a lucky chance--this is better than I had hoped for--what hurries your return? What god brings you back to me?
Captain Cupid.
Urania Cupid? The poor child!
Captain Your loveable presence now fully compensates me for the pain of your prior absence. You, who without art, without aid, appear younger every day.
Urania Foh! Banterer! Love sometimes recalls a person who is absent to mind. Your charming portrait which, which makes all my happiness, consoled me a little during your frightful absence. Did mine have the same effect on you?
Captain Your face preoccupied me like a ghost, and followed me everywhere. Night could not hide you from my eyes. And even this night, I recall my dream. In my first sleep, I dreamt I was in a garden at sunrise. There, Aurora shone with her rosy fingers. There on the border of a superb canal, where a hundred frothy waves fell in cascades--seemingly pushed by water nymphs. There, I tell you--reposing on a bed of roses--
Urania (agitated) What did you see?
Captain I saw you, on a chair, floating over the waves. You resembled Venus. A hundred Cupids pushed a shell, the winds jested about you--
Jenny Oh, Heaven. What a lovely dream. (aside) He does this better than I do.
Urania Finish, finish, I beg you.
Captain My soul was seized by astonishment.
Jenny (low) That's not surprising.
Urania (dreamily) And I was Venus, floating on this canal?
Captain Yes, Madame, your very self. My mind was taken with the noble spectacle. I went right up to you with no opposition--
Urania Did I have a noble air, a divine bearing? Speak sincerely.
Captain The most noble in the world. You seemed a goddess in the flesh.
Urania And what was I wearing? The goddess clothes?
Captain Madame, the goddess does not--
Urania Ah, ah--
Captain Unluckily, the goddess suddenly vanished from my sight.
Urania And were we separated?
Captain Then, I found myself in a grotto--which art had embellished more than nature. There, in full repose, crowned by flowers, I perceived you reclining on a couch of flowers. I persuaded you of my ardent feelings.
Urania And--
Captain You were touched--
Urania Ah, I was touched--
Captain By a new goddess. And taking from Venus her natural softness, languorously, you--
Urania What did I do?
Captain I don't know. By an unspeakable misfortune, my valet woke me up. (aside) Whew! I couldn't go any further.
Jenny (aside) I should take lessons from him, decidedly.
Urania I am in despair because of this. Servants are always about when we don't want them. Horrid valet.
Captain Actually, Spruce comes in handy sometimes. But my dream was incomplete. How I wanted to finish it.
Urania Oh, and I want to finish it, too. To satisfy YOU, so that YOUR happiness will not be a chimera, to quench YOUR flames--after our marriage, of course. But I'm afraid that in the times in which we live, there's a distaste for marriage. Among the men, I mean. But possession alone takes the salt and taste from love.
Captain Ah, Madame, my love for you is so extreme, I am sure it must last until death. And if, by a misfortune which I cannot prevent, your death should-- Ah, great gods, what a frightful despair I would be in. The very thought of it possesses my soul with remorse.
Urania Let's put that lugubrious idea far away from us. To better celebrate the pleasures of our reunion, I want to dine with you tonight. This morning, I invited a friend--you'll enjoy good company.
Captain Madame, this honor is very advantageous to me. A small business matter tears me away at present, but I will soon return. I'll hurry.
Urania Go, my darling. I will await you with impatience.
Captain (bowing, kissing her hand) Here--in a moment I will return.
(Exit the Captain)
Urania The love he has for me is not to be imagined.
Jenny (archly) No, m'am.
Urania In revenge, I will love him like crazy. How do you like him?
Jenny He's good looking. His valet, Spruce, isn't bad to look at, either. We are a little bit in love--but, who's coming-- It's Mr. Hastings.
(Enter Hastings)
Hastings Hello, sis.
Urania Good day, brother, dear.
Hastings This is lucky, I was going to your house to speak to you on some business.
Urania This place is as good as any. You won't annoy me.
Hastings I want to marry Flavella off.
Urania That's not a bad idea. Your daughter is getting big, you know. People ask me how I can have such a grown up niece.
Hastings And our solicitor, Mr. Torrington, whose zeal for our family, you know, has found a good match for her. A young man endowed with wit and character--who possesses more than sixty thousand pounds which he has just inherited from an uncle. Torrington is