The Village Coquette | Page 5

he's coming to the garden to
speak to me. Let's continue. I played the naïve and tender. Now to play
the dreamer.
(Enter Argon.)
Argon Yes, Lisette is going to return. (he turns to look closely at her)
How pretty she is, dreaming. How many charms I see. She sighs. Good!
I feel that she is for me. What are you dreaming of?
(Lisette, after having let Argon look her over, pretends to be astonished
to see Argon so near her.)
Lisette Oh! You've startled me so! I was dreaming--that I have so much
freedom--suddenly in the garden.
Argon That's what charmed me. You've already told me, not that I am
loved, but that you will soon love me.
Lisette I am confused by what you are thinking. I ask pardon. To love
you would be to lack respect for you.
Argon Lack respect? Yes, I intend to. A 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