The Middle Class Gentleman | Page 4

he understands them poorly, but he
pays well, and that's what our art needs now more than anything else.
DANCING MASTER: As for me, I admit, I feed a little on glory.
Applause touches me; and I hold that, in all the fine arts, it is painful to
produce for dolts, to endure the barbarous opinions of a fool about my
choreography. It is a pleasure, don't tell me otherwise, to work for
people who can appreciate the fine points of an art, who know how to
give a sweet reception to the beauties of a work and, by pleasurable
approbations, gratify us for our labor. Yes, the most agreeable
recompense we can receive for the things we do is to see them
recognized and flattered by an applause that honors us. There is nothing,
in my opinion, that pays us better for all our fatigue; and it is an
exquisite delight to receive the praises of the well-informed.

MUSIC MASTER: I agree, and I enjoy them as you do. There is surely
nothing more agreeable than the applause you speak of; but that incense
does not provide a living. Pure praises do not provide a comfortable
existence; it is necessary to add something solid, and the best way to
praise is to praise with cash-in-hand. He's a man, it's true, whose insight
is very slight, who talks nonsense about everything and applauds only
for the wrong reasons but his money makes up for his judgments. He
has discernment in his purse. His praises are in cash, and this ignorant
bourgeois is worth more to us, as you see, than the educated nobleman
who introduced us here.
DANCING MASTER: There is some truth in what you say; but I find
that you lean a little too heavily on money; and material interest is
something so base that a man of good taste should never show an
attachment to it.
MUSIC MASTER: You are ready enough to receive the money our
man gives you.
DANCING MASTER: Assuredly; but I don't place all my happiness in
it, and I could wish that together with his fortune he had some good
taste in things.
MUSIC MASTER: I could wish it too, that's what both of us are
working for as much as we can. But, in any case, he gives us the means
to make ourselves known in the world; and he will pay others if they
will praise him.
DANCING MASTER: Here he comes.
SCENE II (Monsieur Jourdain, Two Lackeys, Music Master, Dancing
Master, Pupil, Musicians, and Dancers)
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Well gentlemen? What's this? Are you
going to show me your little skit?
DANCING MASTER: How? What little skit?

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Well, the. . . What-do-you-call it? Your
prologue or dialogue of songs and dances.
DANCING MASTER: Ha, ha!
MUSIC MASTER: You find us ready for you.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I kept you waiting a little, but it's because
I'm having myself dressed today like the people of quality, and my
tailor sent me some silk stockings that I thought I would never get on.
MUSIC MASTER: We are here only to wait upon your leisure.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I want you both to stay until they have
brought me my suit, so that you may see me.
DANCING MASTER: Whatever you would like.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You will see me fitted out properly, from
head to foot.
MUSIC MASTER: We have no doubt of it.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I had this robe made for me.
DANCING MASTER: It's very attractive.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: My tailor told me the people of quality
dress like this in the mornings.
MUSIC MASTER: It's marvelously becoming.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Hey lackeys! My two lackeys!
FIRST LACKEY: What do you wish, Sir?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Nothing. I just wanted to see if you were
paying attention. (To the two masters) What say you of my liveries?

DANCING MASTER: They're magnificent.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: (Half opening his gown, showing a pair of
tight red velvet breeches, and a green velvet vest, that he is wearing)
Here again is a sort of lounging dress to perform my morning exercises
in.
MUSIC MASTER: It is elegant.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Lackey!
FIRST LACKEY: Sir?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: The other lackey!
SECOND LACKEY: Sir?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Hold my robe. (To the Masters) Do you
think I look good?
DANCING MASTER: Very well. No one could look better.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Now let's have a look at your little show.
MUSIC MASTER: I would like very much for you to listen to a
melody he (indicating his student)has just composed for the serenade
that you ordered from me. He's one of my pupils who has an admirable
talent for these kinds of things.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Yes, but you should not have had that done
by a pupil; you yourself were none too good for that piece