Act 5 Scene 3 Flashcards
Cle. Now, I say, brother, since you have quarrelled with Monsieur Diafiorus and his son Thomas, won’t you
give me leave to speak of the match with Damis which is proposed for my niece?
No, brother; I will put her in a convent, since she has rebelled against me. I see plainly that there is some
love business at the bottom of it all, and I have discovered a certain secret interview which they don’t suspect me
to know anything about.
Well, brother, and suppose there were some little inclination, where could the harm be? Would it be so
criminal when it all tends to what is honourable—marriage?
Be that as it may, she will be a nun. I have made up my mind.
Cle. You intend to please somebody by so doing.
I understand what you mean. You always come back to the question of my wife’ motives.
Ah! Sir, don’t talk so of mistress. She is a person against whom there is nothing to be said; a woman
without deceit, and who loves master—ah! who loves him…as if…like… I can’t express how much.
Just ask her about all the caresses that she lavishes on me.
Toi. Yes, indeed!
And all the dreadful uneasiness my sickness causes her.
Toi. Certainly.
And the great care and trouble she takes about me.
Toi. Quite right. (To Cléante) Will you let me convince you; and to show you at once how my mistress loves
my master. (To Argan) Monsieur, allow me to undeceive him, and to show him his mistake.
How?
Toi. My mistress will soon come back. Stretch yourself full-length in this arm-chair, and pretend to be dead.
You will see what grief she will be in when I tell her the news.
Very well, I consent.
Toi. Yes; but don’t leave her too long in despair, for she might die of it.
Good point. I will take care.
Toi. (to Cléante). Hide yourself in that corner.
Are you sure that there is no medical danger in me counterfeiting death?
Come
along, Toinette, first of all, let us take all the keys.
Hang on.
O. Ah! Mon Dieu!
So, my wife, is this how you love me?
Toi. Ah! the dead man is not dead.
I am very glad to see how you love me, and to have heard the noble
panegyric you made upon me. This is a good warning, which will make me wise for the future, and prevent me
from doing many more stupid things.
Let me, father, make you this promise here, and kiss you as a proof of my repentance.
Ah! my daughter!
Ang. Ahhh!
Come; do not be afraid. I am not dead. Ah! you are my true flesh and blood and my real daughter; I am
delighted to have discovered your good heart.
