The Middle Class Gentleman | Page 6

desires; Take
love from life, you take away the pleasures.
SECOND MAN: It would be sweet to submit to love's rule, If one
could find faithful love, But, alas! oh cruel rule! No faithful
shepherdess is to be seen, And that inconstant sex, much too unworthy,
Must renounce love eternally.
FIRST MAN: Pleasing ardor!
WOMAN: Happy liberty!
SECOND MAN: Deceitful woman!
FIRST MAN: How precious you are to me!
WOMAN: How you please my heart!
SECOND MAN: How horrible you are to me!
FIRST MAN: Ah, leave, for love, that mortal hate!
WOMAN: We can, we can show you a faithful shepherdess!
SECOND MAN: Alas! Where to find her?
WOMAN: In order to defend our reputation, I want to offer you my
heart!
FIRST MAN: But, shepherdess, can I believe That it will not be
deceitful?

WOMAN: We'll see through experience, Who of the two loves best.
SECOND MAN: Who lacks constancy, May the gods destroy!
ALL THREE: With ardors so beautiful Let us be inflamed! Ah, how
sweet it is to love, When two hearts are faithful!
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Is that all?
MUSIC MASTER: Yes.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I find it well-done, and there are some
pretty enough sayings in it.
DANCING MASTER: Here, for my presentation, is a little display of
the loveliest movements and the most beautiful attitudes with which a
dance can possibly be varied.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Are these shepherds too?
DANCING MASTER: They're whatever you please. Let's go! (Four
dancers execute all the different movements and all the kinds of steps
that the Dancing Master commands; and this dance makes the First
Interlude.)
ACT TWO
SCENE I (Monsieur Jourdain, Music Master, Dancing Master,
Lackeys)
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: That's not all that bad, and those people
there hop around well.
MUSIC MASTER: When the dance is combined with the music, it will
have even better effect, and you will see something quite good in the
little ballet we have prepared for you.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: That's for later, when the person I ordered
all this for is to do me the honor of coming here to dine.

DANCING MASTER: Everything is ready.
MUSIC MASTER: However, sir, this is not enough. A person like you,
who lives magnificently, and who are inclined towards fine things,
should have a concert of music here every Wednesday or every
Thursday.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Is that what people of quality do?
MUSIC MASTER: Yes, Sir.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Then I'll have them. Will it be fine?
MUSIC MASTER: Without doubt. You must have three voices-- a
tenor, a soprano, and a bass, who will be accompanied by a bass-viol, a
theorbo, and a clavecin for the chords, with two violins to play the
ritournelles.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You must also add a trumpet marine. The
trumpet marine is an instrument that pleases me and it's harmonious.
MUSIC MASTER: Leave it to us to manage things.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: At least, don't forget to send the musicians
to sing at table.
MUSIC MASTER: You will have everything you should have.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: But above all, let the ballet be fine.
MUSIC MASTER: You will be pleased with it, and, among other
things, with certain minuets you will find in it.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Ah! Minuets are my dance, and I would like
you to see me dance them. Come, my Dancing Master.
DANCING MASTER: A hat, sir, if you please. La, la, la, la. La, la, la,
la. In cadence please. La, la, la, la. Your right leg. La, la, la, la. Don't
move your shoulders so. La, la, la, la. Your arms are wrong. La, la, la,

la. Raise your head. Turn the toe out. La, la, la, la. Straighten your body
up.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: How was that? (Breathlessly)
MUSIC MASTER: The best.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: By the way, teach me how to bow to salute
a marchioness; I shall need to know soon.
DANCING MASTER: How you must bow to salute a marchioness?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Yes, a marchioness named Dorimene.
DANCING MASTER: Give me your hand.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: No. You only have to do it, I'll remember it
well.
DANCING MASTER: If you want to salute her with a great deal of
respect, you must first bow and step back, then bow three times as you
walk towards her, and at the last one bow down to her knees.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: (After the Dancing Master has illustrated)
Do it some. Good!
LACKEY: Sir, your Fencing Master is here. MONSIEUR JOURDAIN:
Tell him to come in here for my lesson. I want you to see me perform.
SCENE II (Fencing Master, Music Master, Dancing Master, Monsier
Jourdain, a Lackey)
FENCING MASTER: (After giving a foil to Monsieur Jourdain) Come,
sir, the salute. Your body straight. A little inclined upon the left thigh.
Your legs not so wide apart. Your feet both in a