The Middle Class Gentleman: Scene VI
Scene VI
(Monsieur Jourdain, Madame Jourdain, Dorante, Nicole)
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
There are two hundred louis d'or.
DORANTE
I assure you, Monsieur Jourdain, that I am completely yours,
and that I am eager to render you a service at court.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
I'm much obliged to you.
DORANTE
If Madame Jourdain desires to see the royal entertainment,
I will have the best places in the ballroom given to her.
MADAME JOURDAIN
Madame Jourdain kisses your hands [but declines].
DORANTE
(Aside to Monsieur Jourdain) Our beautiful marchioness,
as I sent word to you, in my note, will come here soon for the ballet and
refreshments; I finally brought her to consent to the entertainment you
wish to give her.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
Let us move a little farther away, for a certain
reason.
DORANTE
It has been eight days since I saw you, and I have sent you
no news regarding the diamond you put into my hands to present to her on
your behalf; but it's because I had the greatest difficulty in conquering
her scruples, and it's only today that she resolved to accept it.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
How did she judge it?
DORANTE
Marvelous. And I am greatly deceived if the beauty of that
diamond does not produce for you an admirable effect on her spirit.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
Would to Heaven!
MADAME JOURDAIN
(To Nicole) Once he's with him he cannot leave
him.
DORANTE
I made her value as she should the richness of that present
and the grandeur of your love.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
These are, sir, favors which overwhelm me; and I
am in the very greatest confusion at seeing a person of your quality demean
himself for me as you do.
DORANTE
Are you joking? Among friends, does one stop at these sorts
of scruples? And wouldn't you do the same thing for me, if the occasion
offered?
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
Oh! Certainly, and with all my heart.
MADAME JOURDAIN
(To Nicole) His presence weighs me down!
DORANTE
As for me, I never mind anything when it is necessary to serve
a friend; and when you confided in me about the ardent passion you have
formed for that delightful marchioness with whom I have contacts, you saw
that I volunteered immediately to assist your love.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
It's true, these are favors that confound me.
MADAME JOURDAIN
(To Nicole) Will he never go?
NICOLE
They enjoy being together.
DORANTE
You took the right tack to touch her heart. Women love above
all the expenses we go to for them; and your frequent serenades, your continual
bouquets, that superb fireworks for her over the water, the diamond she
has received from you, and the entertainment you are preparing for her,
all this speaks much better in favor of your love than all the words you
might have spoken yourself.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
There are no expenditures I would not make if by
that means I might find the road to her heart. A woman of quality has ravishing
charms for me and it's an honor I would purchase at any price.
MADAME JOURDAIN
(To Nicole) What can they talk about so much?
Steal over and listen a little.
DORANTE
Soon enough you will enjoy at your ease the pleasure of seeing
her, and your eyes will have a long time to satisfy themselves.
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
To be completely free, I have arranged for my wife
to go to dinner at her sister's, where she'll spend all the after-dinner
hours.
DORANTE
You have done prudently, as your wife might have embarrassed
us. I have given the necessary orders to the cook for you, and for the
ballet. It is of my own invention; and, provided the execution corresponds
to the idea, I am sure it will be found . . .
MONSIEUR JOURDAIN
(Sees that Nicole is listening, and gives her a
slap) Say! You're very impertinent! (To Dorante) Let's
go, if you please.