Monsieur De Pourceaugnac Part 15

JUL. No!

ORO. Ah! What, rebellion! Your hand, I tell you, at once. Ah!

ERA. Do not think that it is because of my love for you that I agree to marry you; it is your father only I am in love with, and it is him whom I marry.

ORO. I am truly obliged to you, and I add ten thousand crowns to my daughter's portion. Quick; a notary to draw up the contract.

ERA. In the meanwhile, let us enjoy the pleasures of the season, and fetch in those masks whom the report of Mr. de Pourceaugnac's wedding has attracted hither.

SCENE X.--A BALLET

FOOTNOTES:

1. Pourceaugnac equals _pourceau_, "a young pig," plus the local ending _-gnac_.

2. Compare the "royal cautery" in 'The Flying Doctor'.

3. Sbrigani and Nerine are merely the conventional rogues of the stage. Compare Mascarille, Scapin.

4. Compare act ii. scene xii.

5. The Neapolitans had no great reputation for sincerity.

6. _Mode de la cour pour la campagne._

7. _Consul_ in the south equalled _chevin_ in the north. Both words are obsolete in this sense.

8_Ma croix de par Dieu_, "my Christ-cross-row," or "Criss-cross-row," in old and provincial English.

9. _Translation_

THE TWO PHYSICIANS.

Good day, good day, good day!

Yield not yourself a prey To melancholy sway.

We'll make you laugh, I trow, With songs harmonious, gay.

Unto us your cure is dear, For that alone we're here.

Good day, good day, good day!

1ST PHYSICIAN.

Nought else is madness true Save melancholy blue.

Not lost is he, Though sick he be, Who sips of mirth the dew.

Nought else is madness true Save melancholy blue.

2ND PHYSICIAN.

Up then! sing loud, and dance and play, "Better still I'd do!" you say.

Delirium's nigh--if you must pine, Take first some wine; And sometimes, too, take your tabac Right joyfully, Monsu Pourceaugnac.

10. Take it, take it. Sir; it will do you no harm, &c.

11. See act i, scene iii.

12. Somerset dialect is employed here.

13. Lowland Scotch is employed here.

14. Compare act i. scene v.

15. The French forms have been retained for the sake of the rhyme.

16. Bigamists were really put to death.

17. Moliere seems to have had a grudge against Limoges. Compare act i.

scene i.

18. Footnote: n.o.blemen were beheaded.