The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Philinte : Good Heavens! Let us worry ourselves a little less about the morals of the age, and let us make allowances for human nature. Let us not examine it with great rigour, but let us look with some mildness on

3

its shortcomings. In this world we need a virtue that is pliable; by being too wise we may commit mistakes. True reason shuns all extremes, and would have us soberly wise. This great stiffness, this copying of the virtues of ancient times, clashes too much with the common usages of our age; it requires too great perfection from mortals. I take people quite quietly as they are, I accustom my mind to endure what they do, and I believe that at court, as in the city, my phlegm is as philosophical as your bile.

Alceste: But this phlegm, monsieur—you who reason so well—this phlegm, can it not be stirred by anything? If, by chance, it happened that a friend betrayed you, or laid a plot to get hold of your property, would you watch all this without getting into a passion?

Philinte: Yes. I regard all these feelings at which your soul murmurs as vices inseparable from human nature. In short, my mind is no more shocked at seeing a man a knave, unjust, or selfish, than at seeing vultures greedy for carnage, apes mischievous, or wolves mad with fury.

Alceste: Then I am to see myself deceived, torn to pieces, robbed without being— Heaven, I will say no more!

Philinte: Yes, you would do well to keep silent. Shout a little less loudly against your adversary, and give some of your care to your lawsuit.

Alceste : That I will not do. That matter is settled.

Philinte: To whom are you looking to plead for you?

Alceste: Whom? Reason, my just right, equity.

Philinte: Will you pay a visit to any of the judges?

Alceste: No; is my cause unjust or doubtful?

Philinte: No, your cause is just; but, on the other hand, intrigue is an awkward thing to tackle.

Alceste : No ; I am resolved not to move a step in the matter. I am either right or wrong.

4

Philinte : Don't trust to that.

Alceste: I shall not stir.

Philinte: Your adversary is strong, and, by his secret practices, he may draw

Alceste: Be it so. I shall see what comes of it. I shall see by this trial whether men have sufficient effrontery—whether they are wicked, villainous, and perverse enough to do me this injustice in the face of the whole world.

Philinte then asks Alceste if he finds this scrupulous integrity in Celimene, the lady of his affections, pointing out that either the sincere Eliante or the prude Arsinoe—both of whom look with favour on Alceste—would seem a more suitable choice, whereas Celimene's coquettish humour and malicious cleverness would appear to be too much akin to the manners of the time. Alceste, in reply, confesses his inconsistency in the matter, but pleads that Celimene makes him love her despite himself, and that his love for her will doubtless purify her heart. Then— as if to redress the balance—he nearly quarrels with another of Celimene's lovers, Ononte, because he cannot honestly praise the latter's verses, and has a stormy scene with Celimene herself, in which he reproaches her for encouraging the attentions of other admirers.

Act II

[Enter Eliante, Celimene, Alceste, Clitandre, Philinte, and Acaste.

Eliante : Here are the two marquises coming up with us. Did any one tell you ?

Celimene: Yes. (To Alceste) You have not gone?

Alceste : No; I am resolved, madame, that your heart shall declare either for them or for me.

Celimene: You are losing your senses!

Alceste : You must take one side or the other,

Clitandre: I have just come from the Louvre, madame, where Cleonte made himself appear absolutely ridiculous. Has he not got some friend who would be kind enough to enlighten him upon his manners ?

Celimene: He certainly appears to poor advantage

5

in society. He carries himself everywhere with an air that leaps to the eye at once, and when you see him again after a short absence you find him more extraordinary than ever.

Acaste: Talking of extraordinary people, I have just had to endure one of the most wearisome of them. That arguer, Damon, kept me, if you please, a full hour in the broiling sun out of my chair.

Celimene: He is a strange prattler. He has always got the knack of telling you nothing in a flood of words. There is not a grain of sense in what he says. You listen to nothing but noise.

Eliante : This beginning is not bad; the conversation takes a sufficiently kindly turn against our neighbours.

Clitandre: Timarte, too, madame, is a type worth noticing.

Celimene: From head to foot he is a complete mystery. When passing you, he casts a bewildered glance at you, and, without having anything to do, is always busy. Whatever he retails to you abounds in affectation; he overpowers everybody by his ceremonies. He is never tired of whispering a secret to you in order to interrupt a conversation, and that secret is nothing. Of the least trifle he makes a marvel, and whispers everything in your ear, even his " good-morning."

Acaste: And Geralde, madame?

Celimene: Oh, that tedious story-teller! You never see him get off the subject of his nobleman. He always mixes with brilliant society, and never mentions anyone of lower rank than a duke, a prince, or a princess. Title turns his head; all his conversation is full of nothing but carriages, horses, and dogs. He speaks familiarly to people of the highest degree, and the word sir is never used by him.