The Magnificent Lovers Part 3

IPH. (_aside to_ c.l.i.tIDAS). I will not forget such a service.

SCENE V.--TIMOCLES, c.l.i.tIDAS.

TIM. My rival pays his court to c.l.i.tidas; but c.l.i.tidas knows that he has promised to help me in my love against him.

CLI. Certainly. How very absurd to think of carrying the day against you. A fine gentleman, indeed, to be compared with you!

TIM. There is nothing I could not do for c.l.i.tidas.

CLI. (_alone_). Plenty of fine words on all sides! But here is the princess; we will take our opportunity to speak to her.

SCENE VI.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE.

CLEON. It will be thought strange, Madam, that you should keep away from everybody.

ERI. Ah! to persons like us, always surrounded by so many indifferent people, how pleasant is solitude! How sweet to be left alone to commune with one's thoughts when one has had to bear with so much trifling conversation. Leave me alone to walk a few moments by myself.

CLEON. Would you not like for a moment to see what those wonderful people, who are desirous of serving you, can do? It seems by their steps and gestures they can express everything to the eye. They are called pantomimists. I feared to p.r.o.nounce that word before you, and there are some in your court who would not forgive me for using it.

ERI. You seem to me to propose some strange entertainment; for you never fail to introduce indifferently all that presents itself to you, and you have a kind welcome for everything. Therefore to you alone do we see all necessitous Muses have recourse. You are the great patroness of all merit in distress, and all virtuous indigents knock at your door.

CLEON. If you do not care to see them, Madam, you have only to say so.

ERI. No, no; let us see them. Bring them here.

CLEON. But, Madam, their dancing may be bad.

ERI. Bad or not, let us see it. It would only be putting off the thing with you. It is just as well to have it over.

CLEON. To-day it will only be an ordinary dance, Madam. Another time....

ERI. No more about it, Cleonice. Let them dance.

SECOND INTERLUDE.

_The confidante of the young_ PRINCESS _calls forth three dancers under the name of pantomimists; that is, men who express all sorts of things by their movements. The_ PRINCESS _sees them dance, and receives them into her service._

ACT II.

SCENE I.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE.

ERI. This is admirable! I do not think any dancing could ever be better; and I am glad to have them belonging to me.

CLEON. And I am very glad, Madam, for you to see that my taste is not so bad as you thought.

ERI. Do not be so triumphant. You won't be long before giving me my revenge. Leave me alone here.

SCENE II.--ERIPHYLE, CLEONICE, c.l.i.tIDAS.

CLEON. (_going to meet_ c.l.i.tIDAS). I warn you, c.l.i.tidas, that the princess wishes to be alone.

CLI. Leave that to me. I understand court etiquette.

SCENE III.--ERIPHYLE, c.l.i.tIDAS.

CLI. (_singing_). La, la, la, la. (_Affecting surprise on seeing_ ERIPHYLE.) Ah!

ERI. (_to_ c.l.i.tIDAS, _who affects to go away_). c.l.i.tidas!

CLI. I did not see, you, Madam.

ERI. Come near. Where have you been?

CLI. With the princess your mother, who was just going towards the temple of Apollo, accompanied by a great many people.

ERI. Do you not think this one of the most charming places in the world?

CLI. Certainly. The two princes, your lovers, were there.

ERI. The river Peneus has here the most charming windings.

CLI. Very charming. Sostratus was there also.

ERI. How is it that he was not with us to-day?

CLI. He has something on his mind which prevents him from taking any pleasure in all those beautiful entertainments. He wanted to tell me something; but you have so expressly forbidden me to intercede for any one to you that I would not hear him, and I told him flatly that I had no leisure.

ERI. You were wrong to say such a thing to him, and you ought to have heard him.

CLI. I told him at first that I was not at leisure to hear him; but afterwards I listened to what he had to say.

ERI. You did well.

CLI. In fact, he is a man after my own heart; a man with all the manners and qualities I should like to see in all men. He never a.s.sumes boisterous manners and provoking tones of voice, but is prudent and careful in everything. He never speaks but to the point, is never hasty in his decisions, is never annoying by his exaggerations. However fine may be the verses our poets repeat to him, I have never heard him say, "This is more beautiful than anything that Homer ever wrote." In short, he is a man to my taste; and if I were a princess, I would not see him unhappy.