The summary of "The Imaginary Sick" allows you to get a full impression of the plot of this classic comedy by the French playwright Jean-Baptiste Molière. He wrote it in collaboration with Marc Antoine Charpentier back in 1673. But until now, the play remains relevant, it is not only read with pleasure, but also regularly staged on the stage. It is noteworthy that this turned out to be latest work French classic, who played one of the roles. After the fourth performance, Molière, who played Argan, died.
In the summary of the "Imaginary Sick" we are introduced to the main character named Argan. At the very beginning, he carefully calculates and calculates everything in order to understand why it has deteriorated so much in recent times his health.
It turns out for last month he took eight kinds of different medicines, and also made as many as 12 injections. And this is much less than last month. Argan sees his doctor Purgon as the culprit of all this.
In a summary of the "Imaginary patient" J.-B. Molière describes that Argan's relatives reacted differently to his unhealthy obsession with his own health. For example, Belin's second wife agreed with the doctors in everything, as she was convinced that medicines would bring her husband to the grave faster than all diseases. Argan's daughter Angelica did not approve of her father's hobby, but because of modesty and respect for her elders, she did not express her opinion.
Only the maid Toinette is described as an ardent opponent of doctors in the brief summary of Moliere's "Imaginary Sick". She ridicules and vilifies doctors in every possible way.
Affairs of the Heart
The characters of this play are not only concerned with health issues, there is a place and love line. Angelique confesses to one Toinette that she has feelings for a young man named Cleante. True, she saw him only once. It was in the theatre. But even in such a short time, the young man managed to charm the young girl.
Cleanthe was not only handsome, but also noble. While not yet familiar with Angelica, he warned her against the importunate courtship of a rude gentleman.
Here the father begins to talk with Angelica about the upcoming marriage. In the summary of the “Imaginary Sick”, the girl decides from the first words that Cleante has wooed her. Imagine her disappointment when she finds out that in reality Purgon's nephew Tom Diafuarus asked for her hand. He is about to become a doctor himself.
Argan sees a lot of positive qualities in Diafuarus. In the summary of the "Imaginary Sick" it is mentioned that this is his own doctor among his relatives, as well as the only heir to his father. So Argan's condition can get better.
Angelica is upset by this news, but modesty does not allow her to utter a single word.
Belina also opposes this marriage. The fact is that she did not expect to share the inheritance of Argan with her stepdaughter and expected to give her to a monastery.
Toinette, seeing how the situation is developing, wants to help the girl. In the summary of the "Imaginary Sick" it is described that the maid decides to tell Cleante that Angelica is being married to someone else. She sends the pawnbroker Polichinel to the young man. He has long and hopelessly been in love with Angelica, so he agrees to everything.
On the way, the young man gets into a funny situation with a policeman. It all ends with dancing and the first interlude, which entertains the guests in between acts.
Cleanthe comes to Argan
In the summary of Moliere's "Imaginary Sick" it is described that Cleante comes to Argan. But he appears not as a groom, but as a temporary singing teacher. Angelica's real mentor is forced to leave for the country for a while. Argan agrees to such a replacement, but insists that classes take place only in his presence.
However, at the very beginning of the first lesson, the protagonist is informed about the visit of the Diafuarus. The future son-in-law makes a brilliant impression on Argan with his abstruse and verbose speech.
True, then awkwardness arises. He takes Angelica for Argan's wife and begins to talk to her like a mother-in-law. When everything falls into place, Tom proposes to her in the most sublime terms. As a gift to the bride, he presents a treatise of his own composition, dedicated to the denial of the theory of blood circulation. He immediately invites the girl to attend the autopsy of a female corpse with him.
love song
Even in the very brief content of the "Imaginary Sick" it is described how Argan wished his daughter to show herself in full glory. He asks her to sing a song. No wonder the girl regularly engages in music and vocals.
Cleante hands Angélique the notes, saying that he had just at hand a sketch of a new opera. In the song text, he seems to be addressing everyone, but in fact only to his beloved. He replaces himself as a shepherdess, and the girl as a shepherdess. And then, in a bucolic vein, he retells the story of their relationship. At the end of this story, Cleanthe notes that the shepherd, being in the shepherd's house, found in him an unworthy rival for him, who, however, was favored by the girl's father. Therefore, now, even in the presence of the father, the lovers must necessarily explain themselves, putting everything in its place.
Angelica, together with Cleante, sing touching impromptu verses in which they confess their love to each other. They also swear allegiance to the grave itself.
At the end of the composition, the lovers sing a duet. Argan feels that something indecent is going on around him, but he is not able to understand what exactly. At one point, he orders them to stop in order to immediately get down to business.
In the summary of the "Imaginary Sick" by Jean-Baptiste Molière main character orders his daughter to give Tom her hand and call him her husband. Suddenly, Angelica, who until then could not say a word to her father, flatly refuses to obey. Frustrated, the Diafuaruses leave with nothing, trying to maintain at least dignity in such a delicate and unpleasant situation.
New groom
In a summary of the chapters of The Imaginary Sick, it is said that Argan was beside himself with his daughter's behavior. In addition, he learns that Belina found Angelica and Cleante alone in the room. When the young man saw Argan's wife, he immediately fled.
The new guest in Argan's house is his brother Berald. He claims that he has in mind a wonderful groom for Angelica. Argan doesn't want to hear anything more about the wedding. But Berald had a trick in store. He prepared an excellent entertainment for his brother - a performance by a gypsy troupe. Usually, this affects Argan no worse than Purgon's clysters.
Gypsies rush into the dance, they sing about fun, youth and love. Thus ends the second act of the comedy.
Health talk
Trying to prove to Argan that he does not need a doctor as a son-in-law, Berald appeals to his health. He tries to convince the main character that he has iron health, so you should not devote your whole life to pharmacists and doctors.
Berald says that he is convinced of his brother's excellent condition, if only because the sea of drugs that he takes has not yet brought him to the grave.
In the brief summary of Moliere's "Imaginary Sick" by actions, the conversation gradually turns to the topic of medicine. In general, her right to exist in this world. Berald is convinced that all doctors are either charlatans who only know how to empty the wallets of their patients, or artisans who blindly believe in the recipes of charlatans, but at the same time also benefit for themselves. He cannot be convinced even by the fact that doctors, as a rule, are highly educated people who speak at least two languages - Latin and Greek.
Brother Argan argues that the structure of the human body is so complex that it is simply impossible to penetrate into its essence. It is full of secrets that nature sacredly guards. And only nature itself is able to defeat any disease, if doctors do not interfere with it.
Argan stands his ground
In the summary of "The Imaginary Sick" for reader's diary it is noted that it is not so easy to argue with Argan. He stands his ground. Berald even invites him to go to one of Molière's comedies, in which representatives of medical pseudoscience regularly get it. But Argan does not even want to hear about this playwright, predicting a terrible death for him, abandoned by all doctors to the mercy of fate. Interestingly, in the first productions, the role of Argan was played by Molière himself. This is such self-irony.
This dispute is interrupted only with the appearance of the pharmacist Fleurand. He brings the clyster prepared by Dr. Purgon with his own hands, following all the rules of medical science. Berald kicks the pharmacist out the door, even though Argan tries to resist it. The pharmacist threatens to complain about such treatment to Purgon. And so it happens. Soon the offended doctor himself appears. He is offended to the core. The Doctor announces that he does not wish to have any more dealings with Argan. Moreover, Purgon is convinced that without his medicines and consultations, he will become terminally ill in a few days and no one will be able to help him. So the imminent death of Argan is inevitable.
Wandering healer
But Argan did not need to worry for long because he lost his attending physician. Soon a wandering doctor appears on his doorstep. At the same time suspiciously similar to his maid Toinette. From the first words he declares that he has unsurpassed skill. In addition, he is not interested in banal cases. He treats only serious illnesses - pleurisy, dropsy, or "at worst, the plague."
Argan is such a famous patient that he simply could not help but attract his attention. The doctor immediately declares Purgon a charlatan, leaves directly opposite recommendations and leaves.
Talk about marriage
Having finally finished talking about medicine, the brothers return to the topic of Angelica's marriage. Molière's "Imaginary Sick", summarized briefly in this article, tells us that Argan is adamant. Either marry a doctor or go to a monastery. The idea of sending his daughter to a monastery has long been prompted by his spouse. Berald tells him about this, but the main character refuses to believe that his wife may have some kind of malicious intent.
To prove him otherwise, Toinette offers to arrange a small prank, which should show the true face of Belina. Argan agrees to play dead.
The alleged death of Argan
As soon as she learned about the death of her husband, Belina was immediately delighted. After all, now she alone will be able to manage all his money. But Angelica and Cleante, seeing Argan dead, worry and sincerely cry. They even want to give up the idea of the upcoming marriage.
Having seen enough of all this, Argan is resurrected - to the horror of Belina and the joy of Cleanthe and Angelica. Argan agrees to the marriage of his daughter with Cleante, but only on one condition: the young man must learn to be a doctor.
End of the play
Berald manages to resolve this difficult situation. He suggests that Argan himself learn to be a doctor. Indeed, in his opinion, to become a doctor, it is enough to put on a robe and a cap, learn to speak Latin and talk at length about diseases.
The play ends with a buffoonish interlude.
After long calculations and checks of records, Argan finally understood why his health had deteriorated so much lately: as it turned out, this month he had taken eight kinds of medicines and made twelve flushing injections, while last month there were as many as twelve kinds of medicines and twenty enemas. He decided to put this circumstance to the attention of Dr. Purgon, who used it. So it won't take long to die.
Argan's household had different attitudes to his obsession with his own health: his second wife, Belina, indulged the doctors in everything, convinced that their drugs would bring her husband to the grave sooner than any illness; the daughter, Angelica, perhaps did not approve of her father's mania, but, as he prescribed her a daughter's duty and respect for her parent, she modestly kept quiet; on the other hand, the maid Toineta completely unbelted - she scolded the doctors and impudently refused to examine the contents of the master's chamber pot for bile that had gone under the influence of drugs.
The same Toineta was the only one to whom Angelica revealed herself in the feeling that gripped her for the young Cleanthe. She saw him only once - in the theater, but even for this brief meeting, the young man managed to charm the girl. Not only was Cleanthe very good-looking, he also protected Angelica, not being familiar with her then, from the rudeness of an irreverent gentleman.
Imagine Angelica's astonishment when her father spoke to her about marriage - from his first words, she decided that Cleante had wooed her. But Argan soon disappointed his daughter: he meant by no means Cleanthe, but a much more suitable, from his point of view, groom - the nephew of Dr. Purgon and the son of his brother-in-law, Dr. Diafuarus, Tom Diafuarus, who himself was a doctor without five minutes. In Diafuarus Jr., as in a son-in-law, he saw a bunch of virtues: firstly, the family would have its own doctor, which would save money on doctors; secondly, Tom is the only heir to both his father and Uncle Purgon.
Angelique, although she was terrified, out of modesty did not utter a word, but everything that followed, Argan heard from Toineta. But the maid shook the air in vain - Argan firmly stood his ground.
Belina was also displeased with Angelica’s marriage, but she had her own reasons for that: she did not want to share Argan’s inheritance with her stepdaughter and therefore tried with all her might to send her to the monastery. So Angelica completely entrusted her fate to Tuaneta, who readily agreed to help the girl. The first thing she had to do was to notify Cleante that Angelica was getting married to someone else. She chose the old pawnbroker Polichinel, who had long since been hopelessly in love with her, as her messenger.
The procession of an intoxicated Polichinelle down the street, which led to a funny incident with the police, formed the content of the first interlude with songs and dances.
Cleanthe did not keep himself waiting and soon appeared at Argan's house, but not as a young man in love who wants to ask for Angelica's hand, but in the role of a temporary singing teacher - Angelica's real teacher, friend of Cleanthe, as if he was forced to urgently leave for the village. Argan agreed to a replacement, but insisted that the classes take place only in his presence.
No sooner had the lesson begun, however, than Argan was informed of the arrival of Diafuarus the father and Diafuarus the son. The future son-in-law made a great impression on the owner of the house with a learned welcoming speech. Then, however, he mistook Angelica for Argan's wife and spoke to her as a future mother-in-law, but when the misunderstanding cleared up, Thomas Diafuarus proposed to her in terms that delighted grateful listeners - there was a statue of Memnon with her harmonic sounds, and heliotropes, and an altar of charms... As a gift to the bride, Toma presented his treatise against the followers of the harmful theory of blood circulation, and as the first joint entertainment he invited Angelica the other day to attend the autopsy of a female corpse.
Fully satisfied with the merits of the groom, Argan wished that his daughter also showed herself. The presence of a singing teacher came in handy here, and her father ordered Angelica to sing something for the entertainment of society. Cleante handed her the notes and said that he just had a draft of a new opera - so, a trifling improvisation. Addressing, as it were, to everyone, but in fact only to his beloved, he retold a brief history their love with Angelica, which allegedly served as the plot of the composition. This story ended with the appearance of a shepherdess in the shepherdess' house, where he caught an unworthy rival, who was favored by her father; now or never, despite the presence of the father, the lovers had to explain themselves. Cleante and Angelica sang and in touching impromptu couplets confessed their love to each other and swore fidelity to the grave.
The lovers sang in a duet until Argan felt that something indecent was happening, although what exactly, he did not understand. Ordering them to stop, he immediately got down to business - he invited Angelica to give a hand to Tom Diafuarus and call him her husband, but Angelica, who had not dared to argue with her father before, flatly refused. The venerable Diafuaruses retired with nothing, trying to maintain a good professional face even in a bad game.
Argan was already beside himself, and then Belina found Angelica Cleante in the room, who, at the sight of her, fled. So when his brother Berald came to him and started talking about the fact that he had in mind a good groom for his daughter, Argan did not want to hear about anything like that. But Berald saved for his brother a cure for excessive gloominess - a performance by a troupe of gypsies, which should have acted no worse than Purgon klisters.
The dances of the gypsies and their songs about love, youth, spring and the joy of life were the second interlude, entertaining the audience in between acts.
In a conversation with Argan, Berald tried to appeal to his brother's mind, but to no avail: he was firm in the belief that only a doctor should become his son-in-law, and no one else, and who Angelica wants to marry is the tenth thing. But is it really, Berald wondered, that Argan, with his iron health, is going to mess around with doctors and pharmacists all his life? According to Berald, there could be no doubts about the excellent health of Argan, if only because the whole sea of drugs he had taken had not yet killed him.
The conversation gradually turned to the topic of medicine, as such, and its very right to exist. Berald argued that all doctors - although they are for the most part well-educated in the humanities, who speak Latin and Greek - are either charlatans, deftly emptying the wallets of gullible patients, or artisans who naively believe in charlatans' spells, but also benefit from it. The structure of the human body is so subtle, complex and full of secrets sacredly guarded by nature that it is impossible to penetrate into it. Only nature itself can overcome the disease, provided, of course, that doctors do not interfere with it.
No matter how hard Berald fought, his brother stood his ground to the death. The last way Berald knew of to overcome his blind faith in doctors was to somehow take Argan to one of Molière's comedies, in which the representatives of medical pseudoscience get so well. But Argan did not want to hear about Molière and predicted a terrible death for him, abandoned by the doctors to the mercy of fate.
This highly scientific controversy was interrupted by the appearance of the pharmacist Flerand with a clyster, personally and lovingly prepared by Doctor Purgon according to all the rules of science. Despite Argand's protests, the apothecary was driven away by Berald. leaving, he promised to complain to Purgon himself and kept his promise - a little time after his departure, Dr. Purgon, offended to the depths of his soul, burst in. He had seen a lot in this life, but in order for his klistir to be so cynically rejected ... Purgon announced that he no longer wanted to have anything to do with Argan, who, without his care, would undoubtedly come to a state of complete incurability in a few days, and in a few more he would give up ends from bradypepsia, apepsia, dyspepsia, lienteria, etc.
However, as soon as one doctor said goodbye to Argan forever, another appeared at his doorstep, although he looked suspiciously like the servant Tuaneta. He immediately introduced himself as an unsurpassed wandering doctor, who is by no means interested in banal cases - give him good dropsy, pleurisy with pneumonia, at worst, the plague. Such a famous patient as Argan simply could not help but attract his attention. The new doctor instantly recognized Purgon as a charlatan, made prescriptions directly opposite to Purgonov's, and with that left.
With this, the medical topic was exhausted, and the conversation between the brothers resumed about Angelica's marriage. For a doctor or a monastery - there is no middle ground, Argan insisted. The idea of placing his daughter in a monastery, quite obviously with bad intent, imposed on Belin's husband, but Argan refused to believe that she, the person closest to him, might have some kind of bad intention. Then Tuaneta offered to arrange a small prank, which was supposed to reveal the true face of Belina. Argan agreed and pretended to be dead.
Belina was indecently happy about the death of her husband - now, finally, she could manage all his money! Angelica, and after her Cleante, seeing Argan dead, were sincerely killed and even wanted to give up the idea of marriage. Having resurrected - to Belina's horror and Angelica's joy with Cleante, - Argan agreed to marry his daughter ... but on the condition that Cleante learn to be a doctor.
Berald, however, expressed a more sensible idea: why not learn to be a doctor Argan himself. And as for the fact that at his age knowledge is unlikely to get into his head - this is nothing, no knowledge is required. As soon as you put on a doctor's robe and cap, you can easily begin to talk about illnesses, and, moreover, in Latin.
By a lucky chance, there were actors familiar to Berald nearby, who performed the last interlude - a clownish, flavored with dances and music, the ceremony of initiation into a doctor.
Molière Jean-Baptiste
Imaginary sick
Jean-Baptiste Molière
Imaginary sick
Comedy in three acts
Translated by T. L. Shchepkina-Kupernik
CHARACTERS
Argan, imaginary patient.
Belina, Argan's second wife.
Angelique, Argan's daughter, in love with Cleanthe.
Louison, little daughter of Argan, sister of Angelica.
Berald, Argan's brother.
Cleante, a young man in love with Angélique.
Mr. Diafuarus, doctor.
Thomas Diafuarus, his son, in love with Angélique.
Mr. Purgon, doctor treating Argan.
M. Fleurant, apothecary.
M. de Bonfoy, notary.
Toinette, maid.
CHARACTERS IN INTERMEDIA
In the first act
Openly.
Violinists.
Police officers singing and dancing.
In the second act
Gypsies and gypsies singing and dancing.
In the third act
Upholsterers dancing.
President of the Medical Assembly.
Argan, bachelor.
Apothecaries with mortars and pestles.
Clyster-bearers.
The action takes place in Paris.
Act one
PHENOMENON I
Argan alone.
ARGAN (sitting at the table, checking his apothecary's account with tokens). Three and two are five, and five are ten, and ten are twenty; three and two are five. "In addition, on the twenty-fourth - a light klistirik, preparatory and emollient, to soften, moisten and refresh the womb of your grace ..." What I like about my pharmacist, M. Fleurant, is that his accounts are always drawn up with unusual courtesy: ... the womb of your grace - thirty sous." Yes, Monsieur Fleurand, but it is not enough to be courteous, one must also be prudent and not skin the sick. Thirty sous for the flush! Obedient servant, I have already spoken to you about this, in other accounts you put only twenty sous, and twenty sous in the language of pharmacists means ten sous; here's ten sous. "Furthermore, on the said day, a good cleansing clyster of the most salubrious remedy rhubarb, rose honey, and other things, according to the recipe, to relieve, wash and cleanse your lordship's intestines - thirty sous." With your permission, ten, su. "In addition, in the evening of the said day, a soothing and hypnotic cool drink from the infusion of liver grass to make your grace fall asleep - thirty-five sous." Well, I'm not complaining about that, I slept well thanks to this drink. Ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen sous and six deniers. "In addition, on the twenty-fifth, taking an excellent medicine, laxative and strengthening, composed of cassia, Alexandrine leaf and other things, according to the prescription of Mr. Purgen, for cleaning and expelling bile from your grace - four livres." Are you joking, Monsieur Fleurant? Treat patients like human beings. Mr. Purgon did not order you to put four francs on the bill. Put down three livres, do me a favor! Twenty and thirty sous. "In addition, on the said day, an astringent pain drink to calm your grace - thirty sous." So, ten and fifteen sous. "In addition, the twenty-sixth carminative clyster, to remove the winds of your grace, - thirty sous." Ten sous, Monsieur Fleurant! "In the evening, the repetition of the aforementioned klister is thirty sous." Ten sous, Monsieur Fleurant! "Besides, on the twenty-seventh, an excellent diuretic to expel the bad juices of your grace - three livres." So, twenty and thirty sous; I am very glad that you have become reasonable. "In addition, the twenty-eighth serving of purified and sweetened whey, to soothe and refresh the blood of your grace, - twenty sous." Yes, ten sous! "In addition, a protective and heart-strengthening drink, composed of twelve grains of bezoar, lemon and pomegranate syrup, and other things, according to the prescription - five livres." Easier, easier, do me a favour, Monsieur Fleurant: if you act like this, no one will want to get sick, four francs is enough for you; twenty and forty sous. Three and two is five, and five is ten, and ten is twenty. Sixty-three livres four sous six deniers. So in this month I took one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight medicines and did one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve washes. . And last month there were twelve medicines and twenty washes. No wonder I feel worse than last month. I must say to Mr. Purgen: let him take action. Hey, take it all away! (Seeing that no one comes and that there are no servants in the room.) No one! No matter how much you say, they always leave me alone, you can’t keep them here by any means. (Rings the bell.) No one hears, the bell is no good! (Rings again.) No use! (Rings again.) Deaf... Toinette! (Rings again.) As if I hadn't called. Daughter of a bitch! Bastard! (Rings again.) You can go crazy! (Stops ringing and screams.) Ding, ding, ding! Damn doll! Is it possible to leave a poor patient alone? Ding ding ding! What a misfortune! Ding-ding-ding! My God! After all, it won't take long to die. Ding-ding-ding.
PHENOMENON II
Argan, Toinette.
TOINETTE (entering). I'm coming!
Argan. Oh, you son of a bitch! Oh you bitch!
TOINETTE (pretends to hit her head). And yes, you, how impatient! You rush people so hard that I hit my head on the corner with all my might.
Argan (in a rage). Ah, villain!
TOINETTE (interrupting Argan). Oh oh oh!
Argan. Already...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. A whole hour...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. I can't call you...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. Shut up, you bastard, don't stop me scolding you!
Toinette. Here's another, only this was lacking - for the fact that I was so hurt!
Argan. I broke my throat because of you, bitch!
Toinette. And I broke my head because of you: one is worth the other. As you wish, we are even.
Argan. What, rascal?
Toinette. If you swear, I will roar.
Argan. Leave me alone, villain! ..
TOINETTE (interrupting Argan again). Oh oh oh!
Argan. Do you want, you son of a bitch...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. So I can't even take the pleasure of swearing properly?
Toinette. Swear freely, do me a favor.
Argan. But you don’t give it to me, you bastard, you interrupt every minute.
Toinette. If it gives you pleasure to swear, then do not deprive me of the pleasure of roaring: who cares. Oh oh oh!
Argan. Apparently, nothing can be done about you. Take it all away, you bastard, take it away! (Vstget.) How did my flush today work?
Toinette. Your washer?
Argan. Yes. How much bile came out?
Toinette. Well, these things don't concern me! Let Monsieur Fleurand poke his nose into them, he profits from it.
Question summary imaginary patient given by the author ability the best answer is Now
After long calculations and checks of records, Argan finally understood why his health had recently deteriorated so much: as it turned out, this month he had taken eight kinds of medicines and made twelve flushing injections, while last month there were as many as twelve kinds of medicines and twenty enemas. He decided to put this circumstance to the attention of Dr. Purgon, who used it. So it won't take long to die.
Argan's household had different attitudes to his obsession with his own health: his second wife, Belina, indulged the doctors in everything, convinced that their drugs would bring her husband to the grave sooner than any illness; the daughter, Angelica, perhaps did not approve of her father's mania, but, as he prescribed her a daughter's duty and respect for her parent, she modestly kept quiet; on the other hand, the maid Toineta completely unbelted - she scolded the doctors and impudently refused to examine the contents of the master's chamber pot for bile that had gone under the influence of drugs.
The same Toineta was the only one to whom Angelica revealed herself in the feeling that gripped her for the young Cleanthe. She saw him only once - in the theater, but even for this brief meeting, the young man managed to charm the girl. Not only was Cleanthe very handsome, he also protected Angelica, not being familiar with her then, from the rudeness of an irreverent gentleman.
Imagine Angelica's astonishment when her father spoke to her about marriage - from his first words, she decided that Cleante had wooed her. But Argan soon disappointed his daughter: he meant by no means Cleanthe, but a much more suitable, from his point of view, groom - the nephew of Dr. Purgon and the son of his brother-in-law, Dr. Diafuarus, Tom Diafuarus, who himself was a doctor without five minutes. In Diafuarus Jr., as in a son-in-law, he saw a bunch of virtues: firstly, the family would have its own doctor, which would save money on doctors; secondly, Tom is the only heir to both his father and Uncle Purgon.
Angelique, although she was terrified, out of modesty did not utter a word, but everything that followed, Argan heard from Toineta. But the maid shook the air in vain - Argan firmly stood his ground.
Belina was also unhappy with Angelica’s marriage, but she had her own reasons for that: she did not want to share Argan’s inheritance with her stepdaughter and therefore tried with all her might to send her to the monastery. So Angelica completely entrusted her fate to Tuaneta, who readily agreed to help the girl. The first thing she had to do was to notify Cleante that Angelica was getting married to someone else. She chose the old pawnbroker Polichinel, who had long been hopelessly in love with her, as her messenger.
The procession of the love-drunk Polichinel down the street, which led to a funny incident with the police, formed the content of the first interlude with songs and dances.
Cleanthe did not keep himself waiting and soon appeared at Argan's house, but not as a young man in love who wants to ask for Angelica's hand, but in the role of a temporary singing teacher - Angelica's real teacher, friend of Cleanthe, as if he was forced to urgently leave for the village. Argan agreed to a replacement, but insisted that the classes take place only in his presence.
No sooner had the lesson started, however, than Argan was informed of the arrival of Diafuarus the father and Diafuarus the son. The future son-in-law made a great impression on the owner of the house with a learned welcoming speech. Then, however, he mistook Angelica for the wife of Argan and spoke to her as a future mother-in-law, but when the misunderstanding cleared up, Thomas Diafuarus proposed to her in terms that delighted grateful listeners - there was a statue of Memnon with her harmonic sounds, and heliotropes, and an altar of charms ... As a gift to the bride, Toma presented his treatise against the followers of the harmful theory of blood circulation, and as the first joint entertainment he invited Angelica the other day to attend the autopsy of a female corpse
Olya Kazakova
(155)
My pleasure!
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Molière Jean-Baptiste
Imaginary sick
Jean-Baptiste Molière
Imaginary sick
Comedy in three acts
Translated by T. L. Shchepkina-Kupernik
CHARACTERS
Argan, imaginary patient.
Belina, Argan's second wife.
Angelique, Argan's daughter, in love with Cleanthe.
Louison, little daughter of Argan, sister of Angelica.
Berald, Argan's brother.
Cleante, a young man in love with Angélique.
Mr. Diafuarus, doctor.
Thomas Diafuarus, his son, in love with Angélique.
Mr. Purgon, doctor treating Argan.
M. Fleurant, apothecary.
M. de Bonfoy, notary.
Toinette, maid.
CHARACTERS IN INTERMEDIA
In the first act
Openly.
Violinists.
Police officers singing and dancing.
In the second act
Gypsies and gypsies singing and dancing.
In the third act
Upholsterers dancing.
President of the Medical Assembly.
Argan, bachelor.
Apothecaries with mortars and pestles.
Clyster-bearers.
The action takes place in Paris.
Act one
PHENOMENON I
Argan alone.
ARGAN (sitting at the table, checking his apothecary's account with tokens). Three and two are five, and five are ten, and ten are twenty; three and two is five. "In addition, on the twenty-fourth, a light klister, preparatory and emollient, to soften, moisten and refresh your grace's womb..." ... your grace's womb - thirty sous." Yes, Monsieur Fleurand, but it is not enough to be courteous, one must also be prudent and not skin the sick. Thirty sous for the flush! Obedient servant, I have already spoken to you about this, in other accounts you put only twenty sous, and twenty sous in the language of pharmacists means ten sous; here's ten sous. "Moreover, on the said day, a good cleansing clyster of the most salubrious remedy rhubarb, rose honey, and other things, according to the recipe, to relieve, wash and cleanse the intestines of your grace, - thirty sous." With your permission, ten, su. "In addition, in the evening of the said day, a soothing and hypnotic cooling drink from the infusion of liver grass to make your grace fall asleep - thirty-five sous." Well, I'm not complaining about that, I slept well thanks to this drink. Ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen sous and six deniers. "In addition, on the twenty-fifth, taking an excellent medicine, laxative and strengthening, composed of cassia, Alexandrine leaf and other things, according to the prescription of Mr. Purgen, for cleaning and expelling bile from your grace - four livres." Are you joking, Monsieur Fleurant? Treat patients like human beings. Mr. Purgon did not order you to put four francs on the bill. Put down three livres, do me a favor! Twenty and thirty sous. "Moreover, on the said day, a pain-relieving astringent drink to calm your grace - thirty sous." So, ten and fifteen sous. "In addition, the twenty-sixth carminative clyster, to remove the winds of your grace, - thirty sous." Ten sous, Monsieur Fleurant! "In the evening, the repetition of the aforementioned klister is thirty sous." Ten sous, Monsieur Fleurant! "In addition, on the twenty-seventh, an excellent diuretic to expel the bad juices of your grace - three livres." So, twenty and thirty sous; I am very glad that you have become reasonable. "In addition, the twenty-eighth serving of purified and sweetened whey, to soothe and refresh the blood of your grace, - twenty sous." Yes, ten sous! "In addition, a protective and heart-strengthening drink, composed of twelve grains of bezoar, lemon and pomegranate syrup, and other things, according to the prescription - five livres." Easier, easier, do me a favour, Monsieur Fleurant: if you act like this, no one will want to get sick, four francs is enough for you; twenty and forty sous. Three and two is five, and five is ten, and ten is twenty. Sixty-three livres four sous six deniers. So in this month I took one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight medicines and did one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve washes. . And last month there were twelve medicines and twenty washes. No wonder I feel worse than last month. I must say to Mr. Purgen: let him take action. Hey, take it all away! (Seeing that no one comes and that there are no servants in the room.) No one! No matter how much you say, they always leave me alone, you can’t keep them here by any means. (Rings the bell.) No one hears, the bell is no good! (Rings again.) No use! (Rings again.) Deaf... Toinette! (Rings again.) As if I hadn't called. Daughter of a bitch! Bastard! (Rings again.) You can go crazy! (Stops ringing and screams.) Ding, ding, ding! Damn doll! Is it possible to leave a poor patient alone? Ding ding ding! What a misfortune! Ding-ding-ding! My God! After all, it won't take long to die. Ding-ding-ding.
PHENOMENON II
Argan, Toinette.
TOINETTE (entering). I'm coming!
Argan. Oh, you son of a bitch! Oh you bitch!
TOINETTE (pretends to hit her head). And yes, you, how impatient! You rush people so hard that I hit my head on the corner with all my might.
Argan (in a rage). Ah, villain!
TOINETTE (interrupting Argan). Oh oh oh!
Argan. Already...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. A whole hour...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. I can't call you...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. Shut up, you bastard, don't stop me scolding you!
Toinette. Here's another, only this was lacking - for the fact that I hurt myself so much!
Argan. I broke my throat because of you, bitch!
Toinette. And I broke my head because of you: one is worth the other. As you wish, we are even.
Argan. What, rascal?
Toinette. If you swear, I will roar.
Argan. Leave me alone, villain! ..
TOINETTE (interrupting Argan again). Oh oh oh!
Argan. Do you want, you son of a bitch...
Toinette. Oh oh oh!..
Argan. So I can't even take the pleasure of swearing properly?
Toinette. Swear freely, do me a favor.
Argan. But you don’t give it to me, you bastard, you interrupt every minute.
Toinette. If it gives you pleasure to swear, then do not deprive me of the pleasure of roaring: who cares. Oh oh oh!
Argan. Apparently, nothing can be done about you. Take it all away, you bastard, take it away! (Vstget.) How did my flush today work?
Toinette. Your washer?
Argan. Yes. How much bile came out?
Toinette. Well, these things don't concern me! Let Monsieur Fleurand poke his nose into them, he profits from it.
Argan. See that the decoction is ready, otherwise I will soon do the washing again.
Toinette. These Monsieur Fleurand and Monsieur Purgon are simply mocking you. You are a good cash co
ditch. I would like to ask them what kind of disease you have, for which you are given so many medicines.
Argan. Shut up, ignoramus! It is not your business to meddle with medical prescriptions. Call my daughter Angelica, I have something to tell her.
Toinette. Here she goes. As if I guessed your desire.
PHENOMENON III
Argan, Angelique, Toinette.
Argan. Come to me, Angelica. You came by the way - I wanted to talk to you.
Angelica. I listen to you.
Argan. Wait a minute. (To Toinette) Give me a stick. I will come now.
Toinette. Hurry, hurry, sir! M. Fleurant makes you work!
EVENT IV
Angelica, Toinette.
Angelica. Toinette!
Toinette. What?
Angelica. Look at me.
Toinette. Look.
Angelica. Toinette!
Toinette. Well, what about Toinette?
Angelica. Do you have any idea what I want to talk to you about?
Toinette. I suspect: probably about our young lover. For six days now, we have been talking only about him. You just feel uncomfortable when the conversation turns to another subject.
Angelica. Since you know this, why don't you speak first? And why don't you spare me the trouble of leading you into this conversation?
Toinette. Yes, I don’t have time: you show such zeal that you can’t keep up with you.
Angelica. I confess that I will never get tired of talking to you about him, my heart uses every moment to open up to you. But tell me, Toinette, do you condemn my inclination towards him?
Toinette. Not at all.
Angelica. Do I act badly, giving myself up to these sweet feelings?
Toinette. I don't say that.
Angelica. Would you really want me to remain insensitive to the gentle outpourings of his ardent passion?
Toinette. God save me!
Angelica. Tell me, please, don't you agree with me that in our casual and unexpected meeting there was some indication from above, there was something fatal?
Toinette. Agree.
Angelica. Don't you think that standing up for me without knowing me at all is the act of a truly noble person?
Toinette. Seems.
Angelica. What could not have been more generous?
Toinette. Right.
Angelica. And that all this turned out charmingly for him?
Toinette. Oh yeah!
Angelica. Don't you think, Toinette, that he is well built?
Toinette. Without a doubt.
Angelica. What is he unusually good-looking?
Toinette. Of course.
Angelica. That there is something noble in all his words, in all his actions?
Toinette. Quite right.
Angelica. That when he speaks to me, all his speeches breathe passion?
Tu anetta. True truth.
Angelica. And that there is nothing more unbearable than the supervision under which I am kept, and which hinders all tender manifestations of mutual inclination inspired by heaven itself?
Toinette. You're right.
Angelica. But, dear Toinette, do you think he really loves me, as he says?
Toinette. Hm! Hm! This still needs to be verified. In love, pretense is very similar to the truth, I happened to see excellent actors.
Angelica. Oh, what are you, Toinette! Is it really possible for him to -V and suddenly tell a lie?
Toinette. In any case, you will soon find out: after all, he wrote to you yesterday that he was going to ask for your hand - well, this is the shortest way to find out whether he is telling you the truth or not. This will be the best proof.
Angelica. Ah, Toinette, if he deceives me, I will no longer trust any man!
Toinette. Here is your father.
EVENT V
Argan, Angelique, Toinette.
Argan. Well, my daughter, I will tell you some news that you probably do not expect. They ask for your hand. What does it mean? You're laughing? Yes, it's true, marriage is a funny word. There is nothing more fun for girls. Oh nature, nature! I see, my daughter, that there is really nothing for me to ask you if you want to get married.
Angelica. I, father, must obey in everything that you want to order me.
Argan. It is gratifying to have such an obedient daughter. So, the issue is resolved: I agreed.
Angelica. It behooves me, father, unquestioningly to fulfill all your desires.
Argan. My wife, your stepmother, wanted me to send you and your sister Louison to a convent, she told me about it all the time.
Toinette (aside). The dove has its own reasons for this.
Argan. She did not want to agree to this marriage for anything, but I insisted on my own and gave my word.
Angelica. Oh, father, how grateful I am to you for your kindness!
Toinette (to Argan). Honestly, I approve of you very much for this: you have never done anything smarter than this in your whole life.
Argan. I haven't seen your fiancé yet, but I was told that I would be pleased, and so would you.
Angelica. Of course, father.
Argan. How? Have you seen him?
Angelica. Your consent allows me to open up to you, I will not pretend: six days ago we met by chance, and the proposal that you made is the result of mutual attraction that arose between us at first sight.
Argan. I was not told anything about it, but I am very glad - all the better if this is the case. They say that this is a stately young man, well built.
Angelica. Yes, father.
Argan. Good growth.
Angelica. Undoubtedly.
Argan. Pleasant appearance.
Angelica. Of course.
Argan. He has a nice face.
Angelica. Very glorious.
Argan. He is a well-mannered man of noble birth.
Angelica. Quite.
Argan. Very decent.
Angelica. You won't find another like it in the whole world.
Argan. Fluent in Greek and Latin.
Angelica. This is what I don't know.
Argan, And in a few days he will receive his doctoral degree.
Angelica. He, father?
Argan. Yes. Didn't he tell you?
Angelica. Right, no. And who told you?
Argan. Purgon Mr.
Angelica. Does Mr. Purgon know him?
Argan. Here's more news! How could he not know him, since the young man was his nephew?
Angelica. Is Cleanthe the nephew of Mr. Purgon?
Argan. Which Cleant? We're talking about who you're getting married to.
Angelica. Well, yes!
Argan. So, this is the nephew of Mr. Purgon, the son of his brother-in-law Doctor Diafuarus, and his name is Thomas Diafuarus, and not Cleante at all. We decided on this marriage this morning: Monsieur Purgon, Monsieur Fleurand and myself, and tomorrow my father will bring my future son-in-law to me. What? Do you seem surprised?
Angelica. Yes, father. I thought you were talking about one person, but it turned out it was a completely different person.
Toinette. How, sir! Can you imagine such an absurdity? Really with your wealth you will give your daughter for some doctor?
Argan. I'll give it. Why are you meddling in your own business, you shameless bastard?
Toinette. Be quiet, be quiet! First of all, you start to swear. Can't you speak calmly? Let's discuss everything in cold blood. Please tell me, why are you leaning towards this marriage?
Argan. Because I, feeling sick and weak, want my son-in-law and his relatives to be doctors, to help me, so that the sources of medicines that I need, the consultations and prescriptions of doctors that I need, are in the bosom of my family.
Toinette. That's the reason! And how nice it is when people exchange opinions so calmly! But, sir, hand on heart, are you really ill?
Argan. How, rascal! Are you still asking if I'm sick, shameless?
Toinette. Well, all right, sir, you are sick - let's not argue about it. Yes, you are sick, I agree, and even more seriously than you think: it's true. But your daughter must marry not for you, but for herself, and she is not sick, after all, so why does she need a doctor?
Argan. I need a doctor, and every good daughter should be happy that she marries a man who can be useful to her father.
Toinette. To be honest, sir, would you like me to give you some friendly advice?
Argan. What kind of advice?
Toinette. Forget about this marriage.
Argan. Why?
Toinette. Because your daughter would never agree to it.
Argan. Wouldn't agree to anything?
Toinette. Yes.
Argan. My daughter?
Toinette. Your daughter. She will tell you that she does not care about Mr. Diafuarus, or his son Tom Diafuarus, or all the Diafuarus in the world.
Argan. But I care about them, not to mention the fact that this marriage is very profitable. Mr. Diafuarus has only one son - his only heir. In addition, Mr. Purgon, who has neither wife nor children, gives him all his fortune on the occasion of this marriage, and Mr. Purgon has a good eight thousand livres of income.
Toinette. It's true, he killed a lot of people if he got so rich.
Argan. Eight thousand livres of income is already something, apart from his father's fortune.
Toinette. Sir, this is all very well, but let us return to our conversation. Speaking between us, I advise you to look for the daughter of another husband: she is not a match for Mr. Diafuarus.
Argan. And I want her to marry him!
Toinette. Hey, stop saying things like that!
Argan. How? For me to stop talking?
Toinette. Well, yes!
Argan. Why can't I say it?
Toinette. They will say that you do not think about what you say.
Argan. Let them say what they want, and I will say that I want her to do as I promised.
Toinette. And I'm sure she won't.
Argan. I'll make her.
Toinette. And I'm telling you that she won't.
Argan. She will, otherwise I will give her to a monastery.
Toinette. Will you give?
Toinette. Okay!
Argan. What is ok?
Toinette. You will not give her to a convent.
Argan. I won't give her to a convent?
Toinette. No.
Argan. Not?
Toinette. No.
Argan. Now that's funny! I won't give my daughter to a convent if I want to?
Toinette. No, I'm telling you.
Argan. Who will stop me?
Toinette. You yourself.
Argan. I myself?
Toinette. Yes. You don't have the heart.
Argan. Enough.
Toinette. Are you joking.
Argan. I'm not kidding at all.
Toinette. Your father's love will speak to you.
Argan. And he doesn't think to speak.
Toinette. A tear or two, a gentle hug, "daddy, sweet daddy," spoken gentle voice, - this will be enough to move you.
Argan. It won't work for me.
Toinette. Will work!
Argan. I'm telling you that I won't give up on mine.
Toinette. Trivia!
Argan. Don't you dare say "nonsense"!
Toinette. After all, I know you: you are a kind person by nature.
Argan (in hearts). I'm not kind at all and I can be very evil if I want to.
Toinette. Hush, sir! Don't forget that you are sick.
Argan. I order her to marry the one I appointed her.
Toinette. And I order her not to marry him.
Argan. What is it? A worthless maid dares to speak to her master like that!
Toinette. When the master does not think about what he is doing, a sane servant has the right to reason with him.
ARGAN (running after Toinette). Ah, cheeky! I will kill you!
TOINETTE (runs away from Argan and puts a chair between him and herself). It is my duty to prevent that which may dishonor you.
ARGAN (with a stick in his hand runs after Toinette around the table). Wait, wait, I'll teach you how to talk to me!
TOINETTE (running away from him). My duty is not to let you do stupid things.
ARGAN (running after her). Dog!
TOINETTE (escaping him). No, I will never agree to this marriage!
ARGAN (running after her). Bum!
TOINETTE (escaping him). I don't want her to marry your Tom Diafuarus.
ARGAN (running after her). Bastard!
TOINETTE (escaping him). And she will listen to me rather than you.
Argan (stops). Angelica, can't you appease this canal?
Angelica. Oh, father, look, no matter how you fall ill!
Argan (to Angelica). If you don't kill her, I'll curse you!
Toinette (leaving). And I will disinherit her if she listens to you.
ARGAN (throwing himself on a chair). Oh! Oh! I can not do it anymore! I'll die now!
EVENT VI
Belina, Argan.
Argan. Ah, my wife, come to me!
Belin. What is the matter with you, my poor husband?
Argan. Come here, help me.
Belin. What's wrong with you, dove?
Argan. My angel!
Belin. My friend!
Argan. I'm so angry right now!
Belin. Ah, poor hubby! How did this happen, my friend?
Argan. Your worthless Toinette has become so impudent!
Belin. Don't worry!
Argan. She pissed me off, angel.
Belin. Calm down, my dear.
Argan. She spoke to me in defiance of an hour.
Belin. Calm down, calm down!
Argan. She had the audacity to tell me that I was perfectly healthy!
Belin. What audacity!
Argan. After all, you know, my dear, how things are.
Belin. Yes, my precious, she is wrong.
Argan. My joy, this bastard will drive me to the grave!
Belin. Oh well! Oh well!
Argan. She's the one that gives me bile.
Belin. And don't be so angry.
Argan. I've been asking you to drive her away for a long time!
Belin. However, my dear, all servants and maids have their faults. Often you have to endure their bad properties for the sake of good ones. Toinette is smart, helpful, agile, and most importantly, she is devoted to us, and you know how careful you must be now with the people you hire. Hey Toinette!
PHENOMENON VII
Argan, Belina, Toinette.
Toinette. What do you want, ma'am?
Belin. Why are you angry with my husband?
Argan. Ah, the villain!
Toinette. He said that he wanted to give his daughter to the son of Mr. Diafuarus. I replied that this was a wonderful match for her, but that it would be better, in my opinion, to give her to a monastery.
Belin. There is nothing wrong with that, I find that she is absolutely right.
Argan. Oh, darling, do you believe her? She is such a scoundrel: she told me a lot of impudence!
Belin. I trust you, my friend. Take it easy. Listen, Toinette, if you annoy my husband, I'll kick you out. Give me Monsieur Argan's fur cloak and pillows, and I will make him sit comfortably in the armchair. You don't take care of yourself. Put a cap on your ears well: it is easiest to catch a cold when your ears are open.
Argan. Ah, my dear, I am so grateful to you for all your cares!
BELINA (placing pillows around Argan). Get up, I'll give you a pillow. We will put this one so that you can lean on one side, and this one on the other. This one is under the back, and this one is under the head.
TOINETTE (covering his face with a pillow). And let this one protect you from dampness! (Runs away.)
ARGAN (jumping up in anger and throwing a pillow after Toinette). Ah, you scoundrel, you want to strangle me!
SCENE VIII
Argan, Belina
Belin. Oh well! What?
Argan (falling into an armchair). Oh oh oh! I can't anymore!
Belin. Why get so angry? She wanted to serve.
Argan. Darling, you can't imagine all the meanness of this loafer! She completely pissed me off. Now it will take at least ten medicines and twenty washes to calm me down.
Belin. Well, well, my friend, calm down!
Argan. My dear, you are my only consolation!
Belin. My poor boy!
Argan. My dear, in order to reward you for your love for me, I want, as I have already told you, to make a will.
Belin. Ah, my friend, let's not talk about it! Just thinking about it makes me feel bad. From one word "testament" I shudder painfully.
Argan. I asked you to invite a notary.
Belin. I invited him, he is waiting.
Argan. Call him, my dear.
Belin. Ah, my friend, when you love your husband so much, it is unbearable to think about such things!
PHENOMENON IX
M. de Bonfoy, Belina, Argan.
Argan. Come closer, Monsieur de Bonfoy, come closer. Please swear. My wife told me that you are a very respectable person and quite devoted to her. So I've commissioned her to talk to you about the will I want to make.
Belin. I'm not in a position to talk about such things!
Mr. de Bonfoy. Your wife has told me, sir, what you intend to do for her. However, I must tell you that you cannot leave anything in your will to your wife.
Argan. But why?
Mr. de Bonfoy. Custom does not allow. If you lived in a country of written laws, this would be possible, but in Paris and in regions where custom is omnipotent, at least in most of them, this cannot be done, and such a will would be declared invalid. The most that a man and a woman, bound by marriage, can do is a mutual gift during their lifetime, and even this only if both spouses or one of them does not have children at the time of the death of the one who first will die.
Argan. What a ridiculous custom! So that the husband could not leave anything to his wife, who tenderly loves him and put so many worries on him! I would like to consult with my lawyer to find out what can be done here.
Mr. de Bonfoy. You should not go to lawyers, as they are usually very strict about this and believe that it is a terrible crime to circumvent the law. They love to create all sorts of difficulties and do not understand what deals with conscience are. It is better to consult with other people who are more accommodating, knowing the ways imperceptibly circumvent existing regulations and give a legal appearance to what is not allowed, who are able to eliminate all sorts of difficulties and invent ingenious ways to violate customs. Without it, what would we do? It is always necessary to make things easier, otherwise we would not be able to work and I would have given up my profession a long time ago.
Argan. My wife told me, sir, that you are a very skillful and respectable man. Kindly tell me what can I do to give her my property and disinherit my children?
Mr. de Bonfoy. What can you do? You can choose some close friend of your wife and leave him formally by will everything that you have, and then he will pass it on to her. Or you can issue unequivocal receipts to front creditors, who in turn will issue all these amounts to her monetary obligations. Finally, while still alive, you can give her cash or bank bills to bearer. in
Belin. My God, don't bother about it! If anything happens to you, my angel, I still won't survive you.
Argan. My darling!
Belin. Yes, my friend, if there is such a misfortune that I lose you...
Argan. Oh my dear wife!
Belin. Life will lose all value for me...
Argan. My love!
Belin. And I will follow you so that you know how dearly I love you.
Argan. My precious one, you break my heart! I beg you, take comfort!
M. de Bonfoy (Beline). Your tears are untimely: it has not yet come to that.
Belin. Ah, sir, you do not know what it means to have a dearly beloved husband!
Argan. The only thing I will regret when I die, my friend, is that I do not have a child from you. Mr. Purgon assured me that he could make sure that we had a child.
Mr. de Bonfoy. It can still happen.
Argan. In a word, my dear, I must draw up a will as the notary advises, but as a precaution I want to put into your hands twenty thousand francs in gold, which are hidden in the secret locker of my alcove, and two bearer bills, which I received from Mr. Damon and Mister Gerante.
Belin. No, no, I don't need anything! Ah!.. How much do you say you have in your locker?
Argan. Twenty thousand francs, my dear.
Belin. Don't talk to me about money, please. Ah!.. And what is the sum of these two bills?
Argan. One, my angel, for four thousand francs, and the other for six.
Belin. All the treasures of the world, my friend, are nothing to me if you are gone.
M. de Bonfoy (to Argan). Would you like to start making a will?
Argan. Yes, sir, but we'll be more comfortable in my little office. Take me there, my dear, please.
Belin. Come on, my poor little one!
EVENT X
Angelica, Toinette.
Toinette. There's a notary here - I heard people talking about a will. Your stepmother is not asleep, and this, of course, is some kind of conspiracy against your interests, into which she draws your father.
Angelica. Let him dispose of his goods as he pleases, so long as he does not dispose of my heart! Do you see, Toinette, what danger threatens me? Please don't leave me in this extreme!
Toinette. For me to leave you? Yes, I'd rather die! No matter how hard your stepmother tries to make me her confidante and accomplice, I have no affection for her, and I have always been on your side. Let me just act, I'll do everything to serve you. But in order to serve you truly, I will pretend to be a defector: I will hide my affection for you and pretend that I sympathize with your father and your stepmother in everything.
Angelica. I beg you, try to inform Cleanthe that I am being asked to marry someone else.
Toinette. I can entrust this to only one person - the old usurer Openchinel, who is in love with me. It will cost me a few tender words - for your sake I will do it willingly. It's too late today, but I'll send for him early tomorrow morning, and he'll be delighted that...
Belina (offstage). Toinette!
Toinette (Angelique). My name is. Farewell. Rely on me.
FIRST INTERMEDIA
The stage turns into a city.
PHENOMENON I
Polichinelle comes at night to serenade his beloved. First he is disturbed by violinists, with whom he is angry, then the night watch, consisting
from musicians and dancers.
Openly. Oh love, love, love, love! Poor Polichinelle, what a foolish fantasy you have driven into your head! What are you doing, you poor fool? You have abandoned your craft, and your affairs are going from bad to worse. You do not eat, hardly drink, you have lost sleep and peace, and all because of whom? Because of a snake, a real snake, because of a devil who leads you by the nose and mocks everything you say to her. But there is no need to argue here. You want it, love - and I have to go crazy like so many others! Of course, this is not very easy for a man of my age, but what can you do? You can't be prudent on orders. And old brains unwind just like young ones. Let's see if my tigress softens up at the serenade. Sometimes nothing is more touching than a lover's serenade in front of the locked door of his beloved. (Takes up the lute.) This is what I will accompany myself on. O night! Oh sweet night! Bring my love lamentations to my inexorable bed! (Sings.)
Night and day I adore you;
I will die in the bloom of years.
Hope and torment
The heart is tormented
In the throes of separation
The hours are creeping by.
But if, by dreaming
About happiness teasing
My expectations
Deceive me
I will die, I will die of anguish and suffering!
Night and day I adore you;
"Yes" I dream of hearing from you.
If, cruel, you say "no",
I will die in the bloom of years.
Oh, if you don't sleep
Think how much it hurts
You hurt my heart
Willful game!
But prayers are in vain
I am doomed to death!
Your crime
You must admit
And your regret will soften the torment for me.
Night and day I adore you;
"Yes" I dream of hearing from you.
If, cruel, you say "no",
I will die in the bloom of years.
PHENOMENON II
Open, the old woman appears at the window and, to laugh at Open,
answers him.
Cunning lovers, with deceitful eyes,
persistent prayers,
False speeches
Weaving deceit,
You will never catch me in a trap!
The man will deceive
In love without shame...
But bottomless eyes
I'm not captivated
But the sighs of lovers
They don't burn me
I will take an oath to that!
Unfortunate lover,
Lei tears fruitlessly;
Passionate fervor ridicules me,
I'm free in my heart
Believe these words.
I know from experience that loyalty is alien to you:
The man will deceive
In love without shame...
The poor thing is crazy to believe you.
PHENOMENON III
open; violinists (offstage). Violins are heard behind the stage.
Openly. What is this cheeky music interrupting my singing?
The violins are playing.
Hey there, violins! Shut up! Do not prevent me from pouring out complaints about the cruelty of my adamant!
The violins are playing.
Shut up, they tell you! I want to sing!
The violins are playing.
Enough!
The violins are playing.
Yes, what is it!
The violins are playing.
The violins are playing.
You are laughing at me!
The violins are playing.
Ringing in my ears!
The violins are playing.
Damn you!
The violins are playing.
I'm furious!
The violins are playing.
Will you shut up or not? Thank God, finally!