The Middle Class Gentleman | Page 5

of work.
MUSIC MASTER: You must not let the name of pupil fool you, sir.
Pupils of this sort know as much as the greatest masters, and the
melody is as fine as could be made. Just listen.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: (To Lackeys) Give me my robe so I can
listen better . . . Wait, I believe I would be better without a robe. . . No,
give it back, that will be better.

MUSICIAN: (Singing) I languish night and day, my suffering is
extreme Since to your control your lovely eyes subjected me; If you
thus treat, fair Iris, those you love, Alas, how would you treat an
enemy?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: This song seems to me a little mournful, it
lulls to sleep, and I would like it if you could liven it up a little, here
and there.
MUSIC MASTER: It is necessary, Sir, that the tune be suited to the
words.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Someone taught me a perfectly pretty one
some time ago. Listen . . . Now . . . how does it go?
DANCING MASTER: By my faith, I don't know.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: There are sheep in it.
DANCING MASTER: Sheep?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Yes. Ah! (He sings) I thought my Jeanneton
As beautiful as sweet; I thought my Jeanneton Far sweeter than a sheep.
Alas! Alas! She is a hundred times, A thousand times, more cruel Than
tigers in the woods! Isn't it pretty?
MUSIC MASTER: The prettiest in the world.
DANCING MASTER: And you sing it well.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: It's without having learned music.
MUSIC MASTER: You ought to learn it, Sir, as you are learning
dancing. They are two arts which have a close connection.
DANCING MASTER: And which open the mind of a man to fine
things.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: And do people of quality learn music, too?

MUSIC MASTER: Yes sir.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I'll learn it then. But I don't know when I
can find time; for besides the Fencing Master who's teaching me, I have
also engaged a master of philosophy who is to begin this morning.
MUSIC MASTER: Philosophy is something; but music, sir, music . . .
DANCING MASTER: Music and dancing, music and dancing, that's
all that's necessary.
MUSIC MASTER: There's nothing so useful in a State as music.
DANCING MASTER: There's nothing so necessary to men as dancing.
MUSIC MASTER: Without music, a State cannot subsist.
DANCING MASTER: Without the dance, a man can do nothing.
MUSIC MASTER: All the disorders, all the wars one sees in the world
happen only from not learning music.
DANCING MASTER: All the misfortunes of mankind, all the dreadful
disasters that fill the history books, the blunders of politicians and the
faults of omission of great commanders, all this comes from not
knowing how to dance.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: How is that?
MUSIC MASTER: Does not war result from a lack of agreement
between men?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: That is true.
MUSIC MASTER: And if all men learned music, wouldn't that be a
means of bringing about harmony and of seeing universal peace in the
world?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You are right.

DANCING MASTER: When a man has committed a mistake in his
conduct, in family affairs, or in affairs of government of a state, or in
the command of an army, do we not always say, "He took a bad step in
such and such an affair?"
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Yes, that's said.
DANCING MASTER: And can taking a bad step result from anything
but not knowing how to dance?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: It's true, you are both right.
DANCING MASTER: It makes you see the excellence and usefulness
of music and the dance.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I understand that, now.
MUSIC MASTER: Do you wish to see our pieces?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Yes.
MUSIC MASTER: I have already told you that this is a little attempt I
have made to show the different passions that music can express.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Very good.
MUSIC MASTER (To musicians) Here, come forward. (To Monsieur
Jourdain) You must imagine that they are dressed as shepherds.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Why always as shepherds? You see nothing
but that everywhere.
MUSIC MASTER: When we have characters that are to speak in music,
it's necessary, for believability, to make them pastoral. Singing has
always been assigned to shepherds; and it is scarcely natural dialogue
for princes or merchants to sing their passions.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Alright, alright. Let's see.

DIALOGUE IN MUSIC: (A Woman and Two Men)
ALL THREE: A heart, under the domination of love, Is always with a
thousand cares oppressed. It is said that we gladly languish, gladly sigh;
But, despite what can be said, There is nothing so sweet as our liberty!
FIRST MAN: There is nothing so sweet as the loving fires That make
two hearts beat as one. One cannot live without amorous