The Village Coquette | Page 5

too respectful love obtains nothing.
Lisette But, I don't love. Speak more. Encourage me, then.
Argon To give you courage, I make a contract. But, complete my wishes.
(The Widow enters and listens.)
Argon Add a word to your looks, your sighs. This word is a great word. Tell me--"I love you."
Lisette I've told you a hundred times--and to myself, a thousand.
Argon To yourself?
Lisette Alas, yes.
Argon What naivete!
Lisette Why hide it from you if it is the truth?
Argon Behold love. Behold pure sincerity. This calls me to love, like nature. There, Lisette, here's the role I have taken. I intend to take you, in secret, to Paris, for I will, at first, marry you secretly. Let's hide all from the Widow. She would be jealous of it. I will marry you without her knowing anything of it. In her place, in a word, you will have all my wealth.
Lisette I want nothing from you, but your person. Give her all your wealth.
Argon But, if I give it to her, what will the two of us and our children live on?
Lisette I don't want it for myself, but you'll need it.
Argon (taking her hand) There, let us separate. No, stay here.
Lisette I am staying.
Argon Go--and be in the nearby woods in an hour. (he kisses her hand) Go quickly. Wait! The marriage is made.
Lisette (perceiving the Widow) Ah! All is discovered.
Argon I am an indiscreet fool!
(Exit Lisette.)
Widow What have I heard? I am struck mute with shock!
Argon And I! I am mute with shame. From frankness, I am going to admit to you that what you have seen--I am wrong. The marriage I contracted with you ought to prevent me from making another. But, as friendship alone made ours, it would seem love is stronger. Still, I was wrong to betray you thus. But, if you know how Lisette loves me, from friendship for me, you yourself would say--marry her, sir, I freely consent. What pleasure, at my age of fifty-four years, to be loved for myself. Yes, only for my person. For she refused my wealth which I would give, only wanting me. But, I am doubly wrong to betray you, to anger you. From prudence, I ought never to speak of Lisette. Yes, Madame, I am wrong, a hundred times wrong. But she will be my wife.
Widow I cannot recover. This blow is overwhelming. I excuse Argon. At bottom, he loves blindly. As for me, I really deserve for Lisette to deceive me. But, for this marriage--it is necessary that I break it. Were the good Argon never to marry me, let us try to disabuse him-- from friendship.
CURTAIN

ACT II
The Widow is overwhelmed with chagrin. Girard is holding in his hand a packet of letters for the Baron. He separates one letter and substitutes another.
Girard Without breaking the seal, and without compromising myself, I half open the Baron's letter and replace the false with the true. My hand trembles for this is my first attempt in falseness.
Widow (dreaming, not listening) Argon will marry Lisette?
Girard He will never marry my charming coquette. This will see to him--as I told you.
Widow Very good! But, let me digest my spite. The one who married me, marries my coquette. Was this what I raised Lisette for? With impunity, Lisette has played me this trick, when I instructed her to pretend love. I was the plaything of her apprenticeship. I thought she would absorb no malice from the instruction I gave her. Just a little grain of it for perfection. I ought to have realized from my own example, that malice, once seeded in a woman's heart, profits, multiplies and grows like weeds.
Girard In malice, Lisette is fertile, yet I love her, I adore her, and I will make her my wife. But, what am I saying? I ought to remember, Madame-- (ironically) that you don't give Lisettes to Girards. As I am only a tax collector, I ought through respect for you, her, and myself, to let her marry your lover.
Widow At her age, to manage, under my eyes, three lovers at the same time! Coquettes of Paris and coquettes of the country--some ready language, some trickery. My word, all is equal for coquetry.
Girard (ironically) You intended to give her to some great lord.
Widow Ah, I will give her to the devil, with all my heart.
Girard I beg you for preference over him at least.
Widow So be it but at least provide me some confidence that you will succeed.
Girard You know all. We must lure our credulous, stupid, avaricious, and amorous Baron with this false lottery into offering Lisette marriage, and if she accepts, for Argon to see she's engaged.
Widow Lisette ought to give up Argon for the Baron. The Baron is rich and the trick is so good.
Girard Yes, but I mustn't lose Lisette.
Widow If Argon