^ur uuiriwfc
S I fflsi ijuif
O ii.
f W
^ /*">
vvlOS-ANCElfj.> ^l-UBRARY^
A\\E-UNIVERS/A
VyVV uyiirun v7\ oj' fc " '\^ y-v
IJUITI WlTi 1^
THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF MOLIERE.
THE DRAMATIC WORKS
M O L I E R E
RENDERED INTO ENGLISH
BY HENRI VAN LAUN
A NEW EDITION
With a Prefatory Memoir, Introductory Notices and Notes
ILLUSTRATED WITH
NINETEEN ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL
FROM PAINTINGS AND DESIGNS BY
Horace Vernet, Desenne, Johannot and Hersent
COMPLETE IN SIX VOLUMES
VOLUME VI
PHILADELPHIA
GEORGE BARRIE, PUBLISHER
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
VOLUME SIX.
THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN.
Les Fourberies de Scapin
THE COUNTESS OF ESCARBAGNAS.
La Comtesse D 1 Escarbagnas ............ 57
THE LEARNED LADIES.
Les Femmes Sauantes ............... "3
THE IMAGINARY INVALID.
Le Malade Imaginaire .............. *45
THE JEALOUSY OF LE BARBOUILLE.
La Jalousie du Barbouille ............. 2 35
THE FLYING DOCTOR.
Le Medecin Volante ..... ........... 255
2068915
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME SIX.
THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. Act II., Scene 9.
Les Fourberies de Scapin Frontispiece
THE LEARNED LADIES. Act III., Scene 5.
Les Femmes Savantes 118
THE IMAGINARY INVALID. Act I., Scene i.
Le Malade Imaginaire 160
StacK
LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN.
COMEDIE.
THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN,
A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS.
(THE ORIGINAL IN PROSE.}
MAY 24TH, 1671.
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
WHILST the King and the whole Court were in Flanders in 1671, Mo-
liere wished to produce a new play for the theatre of the Palais Royal,
then freshly decorated, and he wrote The Rogueries of Scapin, which was
performed on the 24th of May of the same year, and met with great suc-
cess. It has been said that Moliere wrote his farces to please the people :
but with the exception of this comedy and The Physician in Spite of Him-
self, all his farces were written for, and first performed before the Court.
This comedy, in three acts, is partly classical, partly Italian, and partly
French, and the character of Scapin enlivens the whole. Scapin is a
master rogue, who robs, steals, and perjures himself; but all this in the
most good-natured way imaginable. He cheats, not to benefit hinfcelf,
but to be of advantage to Leander and Octave ; he makes a fool of
Geronte and Argante, merely to keep his hand in, and thrashes the first
in revenge for having told a falsehood of him. Such a love for truth is
wonderful in a man like Scapin whose intense roguery, fertile imagina-
tion, and gigantic impudence can exist only on the stage, but would soon,
reap in real life their well deserved reward.
The greater part of this play is taken from Terence's Phormio ; or, the
Scheming Parasite, of which the following is the subject.
Antipho, the son of Demipho, an Athenian, sees by accident Phanium,
the unknown daughter of his uncle Chremes, and by the advice of Phor-
mio, a parasite, marries her by trickery. Shortly after, his father and
uncle return upon the same day, and are much vexed on hearing of this
marriage. Phaedria, the son of Chremes, wishes to raise some money to
purchase a music-girl with whom he is in love ; and Geta, a servant of
Demipho, and Phormio arrange that the former shall pretend to the old
man that Phormio has consented to take back the woman whom Antipho
has married, if Demipho will give her a portion of thirty minae. The
latter gives the money to Phaedria, who buys the girl. At this conjunc-
ture, it becomes known that the wife of Antipho is really the daughter of
Chremes ; and they wish to get back the money from Phormio, who re-
fuses, and finally betrays to Nauaistrata, the Athenian wife of Chremes,
the intrigue which the latter had carried on at Lemnos with the mother
of Phanium.
The details of Moliere's comedy are either from French or Italian
origin.
It is said that the idea of Scapin's confession (Act ii., Scene 5) is taken
3
4 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN.
from an Italian farce, Pantaloon, the Father of a Family, where Harle-
quin, accused of having stolen something, falls on his knees and confesses
to have committed many robberies of which he was never suspected. The
scene of the sack (Act iii., Scene 2), which offended Boileau so much, was
probably suggested to Moliere by a farce which Tabarin acted in the open
air, where an old miser, Lucas, takes the place of Captain Rodomont in a
sack, and gets well beaten for his trouble by his own servant Tabarin, and
by his daughter Isabella. The famous eleventh scene of the second act
of The Rogueries of Scapin is borrowed chiefly from the fourth scene of
the second act of The Deceived Pedant, written by Cyrano de Bergerac,
which was published about 1654, and certainly acted long before Mohere's
play. The rogue in The Deceived Pedant is called Corbineli, the old
miser, Granger a parody of Jean Grangier, professor of rhetoric, and
principal of the College of Beauvais and Sylvester is called Paquier.
The famous exclamation, ''What the devil did he want in the galley ?"
is to be found there. There is also a similarity between the second scene
of the third act of Bergerac's piece and the third scene of the third act of
Molifire's play. Moliere, who probably knew Rorgerac, when accused
of having borrowed these scenes from the latter, is said to have replied,
" These scenes were pretty good ; I have taken them. People get hold
again of their property where they find it."
There is also in The Rogueries of Scapin a reminiscence from a play of
Plautus, called Bacchides ; or, the Twin Sisters.
Ravenscroft (see Introductory Notice to The Love- Tiff, Vol. I., and
Introductory Notice to The Forced Marriage, Vol I.) has imitated part
of Moliere's comedy in his Scaramouch, a Philosopher, Hirlequin, a
School-boy, Bravo, Merchant and Magician, acted at the Theatre-Royal,
1677. Argante is called in this play Pancrace ; Scapin, Plautino, and
sometimes Harlequin ; Octave is called Cynthio, and Leander Octavio.
Thomas Otway has also translated Moliere's play under the title The
Cheats of Scapin, acted at the Duke's Theatre in 1677, and dedicated to
John, Earl of Rochester. Sylvester is called Shift ; Argante, Thrifty ;
GeYonte, Gripe ; Carlos, Sly ; Hyacinthe, Clara ; and Zerbinette, Lucia.
This appears to me the sole change which Otway has made, except that
he has abbreviated, but not improved, some of the speeches.
DRAMATIS PERSONS.
ARGANTE, father to Octave and Zerbinette.
GERONTE, father to Leander and Hyacinthe.
OCTAVE, son of Argante, and betrothed to Hyacinthe.
LEANDER, son of Geronte, and in love with Zerbinette.
ZERBINETTE, supposed a gipsy , afterwards found to be
the daughter of Argante,
HYACINTHE, daughter of Geronte.
SCAPIN, valet to Leander.
SYLVESTER, valet to Octave.
NERINE, nurse to Hyacinthe.
CARLOS, Scapin' s friend.
THE SCENE is AT NAPLES.*
1 This part was played by Moliere himself. Scapin is one of the tradi- "
tional servants of the commedia dell ' arte. The name Scapin is from the
Italian scappare, to run away, to escape, either on account of the pol-
troonery which he displays in the Italian farces, or on account of the dex-
terity with which he manages to commit all kinds of rogueries.
2 As the scene is laid in Naples, it shows at once that the poet will give
free scope to his imagination.
THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN,
(LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN.}
ACT I.
SCENE I. OCTAVE, SYLVESTER.
OCT. Ah ! this is dire news to a heart in love ! a cruel
strait to which I find myself reduced ! You have just
heard at the port, Sylvester, that my father is about to re-
turn?
SYL. Yes.
OCT. That he will arrive this very morning?
SYL. This very morning?
OCT. And that he comes back resolved to marry me ?
SYL. Yes.
OCT. To a daughter of Mr. Geronte ?
SYL. Of Mr. Geronte.
OCT. And that this young lady has been sent for from
Tarente for that purpose ?
SYL. Yes.
OCT. And you have got this news from my uncle ?
SYL. From your uncle.
OCT. To whom my father has communicated this by
letter ?
SYL. By letter.
OCT. And this uncle, you say, knows all about our
affairs ?
7
8 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. [ACT i.
SYL. All about our affairs.
OCT. Do speak, if it be all the same to you, instead of
having the words dragged out of your mouth in that
manner. 3
SYL. What more would you have me say ? You do not
forget a single particular, and you state things just as they
are.
OCT. Give me some advice, at least, and tell me what I
am to do in this cruel plight.
SYL. In truth, I find myself as much at a loss as you are,
and I have great need of advice myself.
OCT. I am bored to death by this confounded return.
SYL. I am not the less so.
OCT. When my father hears how matters stand, I shall
find myself overwhelmed with a sudden storm of vehement
scolding.
SYL. Scolding counts for nothing ; and would to Hea-
ven that I were quit at that rate ! but, for my part, I am
more likely to pay dearer for your follies ; and I see
already, gathering from afar, a cloud of cudgel-blows that
will burst on my shoulders.
OCT. Oh Heavens ! how am I to get out of this
scrape ?
SYL. You ought to have thought of that before getting
into it.
OCT. Ah ! you will be the death of me with your ill-
timed lectures.
SYL. You will be much more the death of me with your
thoughtless actions.
Ocr. What am I to do? What resolution can I take ?
What remedy can I apply ?
SCENE II. OCTAVE, SCAPIN, SYLVESTER.
SCA. What now, Mr. Octave ? What ails you ? What
is the matter ? What is amiss ? You are very much up-
set, I see.
OCT. Ah my good Scapin, I am lost ; I am desperate ;
I am the most unfortunate of men.
8 In Mclicerte, Act ii., Scene i (see Vol. II.), a nearly similar scene
takes place.
SCKNKH.J THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. 9
SCA. Why so ?
OCT. Have you learned nothing about what concerns
me?
SCA. No.
OCT. My father is coming back with Mr. Geronte, and
they wish me to marry.
SCA. Well, what is there so terrible in that ?
OCT. Alas ! do you not know the cause of my uneasi-
ness?
SCA. No ; but it lies entirely with you for me to know
it shortly ; I am of a consoling nature,* and ready to in-
terest myself in young people's affairs.
OCT. Ah ! Scapin, if you could invent something, con-
coct some plot to get me out of the difficulty in which I
am, I should think that I owed you more than my life.
SCA. Truth to tell, there are few things impossible to
me, when it pleases me to meddle with them. There is
no doubt that I have received from Heaven a genius, suf-
ficiently fine to contrive all those pretty tricks of wit,
those ingenious intrigues, to which the ignorant vulgar
give the name of rogueries ; and I can say, without boast-
ing, that there never was a man who was a cleverer mani-
pulator of springs and traps, and who has won more glory
at that noble craft than I. But, upon my word, merit is
too badly treated now-a-days ; and I have given up all
these things since a certain vexatious affair happened to
me.
OCT. How ! what affair, Scapin ?
SCAP. An adventure through which I became embroiled
with the law.
OCT. The law ?
SCA. Yes, we had a little quarrel together.
SYL. You and the law?
SCA. Yes. It treated me very badly ; and I felt so
nettled at the ingratitude of the age, that I made up my
mind to have nothing more to do with it. Basta ! Do
not let that interrupt the story of your adventure.
OCT. You are aware, Scapin, that two months ago Mr.
4 The original has je suis homme consolatif. This last adjective is no
longer in use.
10 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. _ [ACT I.
Gdronte and my father went together on a voyage about
a certain business in which their interests are connected. 5
SCA. I know that.
OCT. And that Leander and I were left by our fathers,
I under the care of Sylvester, and Leander under yours.
SCA. Yes. I have very well discharged that duty.
OCT. Some time after, Leander happened to meet with
a young gipsy, with whom he fell in love.
SCA. This also I know.
OCT. Being fast friends, he immediately made me the
confidant. of his love, and took me to see this girl, whom
I thought handsome, certainly, but not so much so as he
would have had me think her. He did nothing else but
entertain me about her each day, exalting every moment
her beauty and her grace, lauding her wit, dilating raptur-
ously upon the charms of her conversation, the most
minute details of which he reported to me, and which he
always endeavoured to make me find the most witty in the
world. Often he quarrelled with me for my not being
sensible enough to what he was telling me, and inces-
santly blamed me for my indifference to the flames of
love.
SCA. As yet I fail to see where all this is leading to.
OCT. One day when I accompanied him to go to the
people who were taking care of the object of his love, we
heard, issuing from a small house, in an out-of-the-way
street, some wailing intermixed with many sobs. We in-
quire the cause ; a woman answers us, sighing, that there
we could witness a most pitiful sight of some foreign
people, and that, unless we were most insensible, we could
not fail to be touched by it.
SCA. Where does this lead us to ?
OCT. Curiosity made me induce Leander to go and see
what it was. We entered a large room, where we saw a
dying old woman, nursed by a servant uttering lamenta-
tions, and a young girl, the most handsome and the most
interesting that ever was seen, melting into tears.
SCA. Ah! ah!
5 All that follows is taken from Terence's Phormio ; but there it is a
slave who tells the story.
SCENE ii. 1 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. 1 1
OCT. Any one else would have appeared frightful in the
state she was in ; for she had nothing to cover her but a
miserable scanty petticoat, with a night boddice of com-
mon fustian ; and her head-dress was a yellow mob-cap,
turned up on the crown, from which her hair fell in dis-
order on her shoulders ; and, notwithstanding, as she
stood there, she shone with a thousand attractions, and
there was nothing but grace and charm about her.
SCA. I can see the thing coming.
OCT. Had you seen her, Scapin, in the state in which
I have described her, you would have thought her lovely.
SCA. Oh ! I do not doubt it ; and, without having
seen her, I can fancy her altogether charming.
OCT. Her tears were none of those disagreeable tears
that disfigure a face ; even in weeping, she had a winning
grace, and her sorrow was the loveliest in the world.
SCA. I can perceive all this.
OCT. She moved everyone to tears, throwing herself
affectionately on the body of the dying woman, whom she
called her dear mother ; and there was not a soul which
was not touched to the quick at seeing such a good cha-
racter.
SCA. In fact, this is touching ; and I can easily imagine
that this good character made you fall in love with her.
OCT. A barbarian would have done the same, Scapin.
SCA. Of course. One could not help it !
OCT. After a few words, with which I tried to assuage
the sorrow of this charming afflicted girl, we went out ;
and asking Leander what he thought of her, he answered
me coldly that she was tolerably pretty. I felt nettled at
the coldness with which he spoke of her, and I did not
wish to reveal to him the effect which her beauty had pro-
duced on my heart. 6
SYL. (To Octave}. If you do not cut this story short,
we shall be in for it till to-morrow. Let me sum it up in
two words. (To Scapin). His heart is all ablaze from
that moment ; life becomes unendurable to him unless he
goes to console his amiable bereaved. His frequent visits
6 Auger, one of the commentators of Moliere, observes that Octave
does not find Leander's gipsy sufficiently pretty, but is nettled because
Leander is not smitten by the charms of Hyacinthe.
12 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. [ACT i.
are declined by the servant, whom the death of the
mother has raised to the post of governess. Behold my
master in despair ; he importunes, begs, implores ; all of
no use. He is told that the girl, though v/ithout means
and without support, is of good family, and that his ad-
dresses will not be tolerated, unless he marries her. Be-
hold his love increased by obstacles. He racks his brain,
debates, reasons, hesitates, takes a resolution : the upshot
of which is that he has been married to her these three
days.
SCA. I understand.
SYL. Now, add to this the unforeseen return of his father,
who was not expected these two months ; the discovery by
the uncle of the secret of our marriage, and the other pro-
jected union with the daughter of Mr. Geronte, by a second
wife, to whom, they say, he was married at Tarente.
OCT. And, in addition to all this, put the poverty in
which this amiable creature finds herself, and my inability
to get the means wherewith to relieve her.
SCA. And is this all ? You are both very much upset by
a trifle ! There is certainly much to be alarmed at ! Are
you not ashamed to be thus at your wits' end, for so small
a matter ? What the devil ? there you are as tall and big
as father and mother, and you cannot find in your head,
nor your wit invent some lover's ruse, some honest little
stratagem, to put your affairs straight ! Fie ! a plague upon
the booby ! I wish they had given me those greybeards
of bygone days to lead by the nose ; I would have had no
difficulty in getting the better of them all ; and I was not
bigger than this, when I had already distinguished myself
by a hundred pretty tricks.
SYL. I confess that Heaven has not given me those
talents, and that I have not the wit to entangle myself
with the law, as you have.
OCT. But here comes my dear Hyacinthe.
SCENE III. HYACINTHE, OCTAVE, SCAPIN, SYLVESTER.
HYA. Ah ! Octave, is it true what Sylvester has just told
N6rine, that your father is coming back, and that he wishes
you to marry.
OCT. Yes, fair Hyacinthe ; and those tidings have struck
SCENBIII.] THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. 13
me a cruel blow. But what do I see? you weep! Why
these tears? Do you suspect, tell me, any inconstancy
on my part ? and are you not convinced of my love for
you?
HYA. Yes, Octave, I am certain that you love me, but
I am not so sure that you will ,- Iways do so.
OCT. As if one could love you, and not love you for
life?
HVA. I have heard it said, Octave, that your sex loves
not so long as ours, and that the passions which men betray
are fires which are as easily quenched as kindled.
OCT. Ah ! my dear H yacinthe, my heart in that case is
not like that of other men; and, as regards myself, I feel
that I shall love you till death.
HYA. I believe that you feel as you say, and I doubt
not that your words are sincere ; but I dread a power which
will combat, in your heart, the tender sentiments which
you may have for me. You are dependent on a father, who
wishes to marry you to another ; and I am sure that 1 should
die should this misfortune come to pass.
OCT. No, fair Hyacinthe, there is no father who can
compel me to break my faith with you ; and, rather than
leave you, I am determined to quit my country, and life
itself if necessary. Without having even seen her, I have
already taken an unconquerable dislike to the lady whom
they intended for me, and, without being cruel, I wish that
the sea would drive her far away from here for evermore.
Do not cry, then, I beg of you, sweet Hyacinthe, for your
tears kill me, and I cannot look at them without being
grieved to the heart.
HYA. Since you wish it, I shall dry them, and I shall
steadfastly await what it shall please Heaven to do with me.
OCT. Heaven will favour us.
HYA. As long as you are true, Heaven cannot be adverse.
OCT. I assuredly shall be so.
HYA. In that case I shall be happy.
SCA. (Aside). Upon my word, she is not such a fool ;
and I find her pretty tolerable.
OCT. (Pointing to Scapiri). Here is a man who, if he
liked, could be of wonderful assistance to us in all our
needs.
14 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. [ACT ,.
SCA. I have made a solemn vow not to meddle any
more with the world ; but, if both of you urge me very
strongly, I might perhaps . . .
OCT. Ah! if it wants nothing but strong urging to
obtain your aid, I implore you with all my heart to
undertake the guidance of our bark.
SCA. ( To Hyacinths). And you, have you nothing to
say to me ?
HYA. I entreat of you, likewise, by all that is most
dear to you in this world, to assist us in our love.
SCA. One must give way sometimes, and show some
human feelings. You may be at rest, I shall interest
myself for you.
OCT. Be assured that .
SCA. (To Octave}. Hush! (To Hyacinthe). And now
go, and make yourself easy.
SCENE IV. OCTAVE, SCAPIN, SYLVESTER.
SCA. (To Octave). And you, prepare yourself with
firmnesss to meet your father.
OCT. I confess that this meeting makes me tremble
beforehand ; and I feel a natural timidity which I cannot
overcome.
SCA. You must, however, appear firm at the first shock,
for fear, that, seeing your weakness, he will lead you like
a child. There, try to study calmness. A little boldness ;
and take care to answer firmly everything which he may
tell you.
OCT. I shall do my very best.
SCA. Come, let us rehearse a little, just to get your
hand in. Let us repeat your part somewhat, and let us
see if you will do well. Come ! a firm countenance,
head erect, looks steady.
OCT. Like this !
SCA. A little more still.
OCT. In this way ?
SCA. That is it. Imagine me to be your father, who
has just arrived, and answer me unflinchingly, as if I were
he. How ! you scoundrel, you good for nothing wretch,
you son unworthy of a father like me, do you dare to
appear before me after your nice behaviour, after the vile
SCENK vi.] THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. 15
trick which you have played me during my absence ? Is
this the fruit of all my cares, you rogue ? Is this the
fruit of all my cares ? the respect which is due to me, the
esteem which you have for me? (That is it). And you
have the insolence, you knave, to engage yourself with-
out the consent of your father, to contract a clandestine
marriage ! Answer me, you rogue, answer me. Let us
hear a few of your specious arguments Ah ! what
the devil ! you have not a word to say.
OCT. It is because I fancy that it is my father whom I
hear.
SCA. Eh. He of course. For this very reason you
ought not to look like a simpleton.
OCT. I shall pluck up a little more resolution, and I
shall answer with firmness.
SCA. Are you sure?
OCT. I am sure.
SYL. There comes your father.
OCT. Oh Heaven ! I am lost. 7
SCENE V. SCAPIN, SYLVESTER.
SCA. Hullo, Octave ! stop, Octave. He has fled ! What
a poor specimen of a man ! Let us wait for the old man.
SYL. What shall I say to him ?
SCA. Leave it to me, and do as I do.
SCENE VI. ARGANTE, SCAPIN, and SYLVESTER, at the
farther end of the stage.
ARG. {Believing himself alone). Has ever the like been
heard of ?
SCA. {To Sylvester). He has already heard of the affair;
and it so runs into his head, that he speaks aloud of it
when alone.
ARG. (Believing himself alone]. This is a very great
piece of audacity !
SCA. (To Sylvester}. Let us listen awhile.
ARG. {Believing himself alone). I should much like
to know what they can tell me about this lovely marriage.
1 This scene is taken from Terence, but is much shorter in the Latin
dramatist.
1 6 THE ROGUERIES OF SCAPIN. [ACT i.
SCA. (Aside). We have already thought about that.*
ARC. (Believing himself alone). Will they try to deny
the affair ?
SCA. (Aside). No, we do not dream of such a thing.
ARC. (Believing himself alone.) Or will they endea-
vour to exonerate themselves ?
SCA. (Aside). Such a thing might be done.
ARC. (Believing himself alone). Will they pretend to
entertain me with some unlikely stories ?
SCA. (Aside). Perhaps so.
ARC. (Believing himself alone~). All their speeches will
be useless.
SCA. (Aside). We shall see about that. 8
ARC. (Believing himself alone). They shall not impose
upon me.
SCA. (Aside). We ought not to swear to anything.
ARC. (Believing himself alone). I shall know how to
put my rascal of a son under lock and key.
SCA. (Aside). We shall provide for that.
ARC. (Believing himself alone). And as for this scoun-
drel Sylvester, I shall give him a sound thrashing.
SYL. ( To Scapin). I should have been much surprised
if he had forgotten me.
ARC. (Perceiving Sylvester). Ah ! Ah ! you are there,
trustworthy family guardian, conscientious guide of young
men !
SCA. I am delighted to see you back again, sir.
ARC. Good day, Scapin. (To Sylvester}. You have
really carried out my orders in a nice manner ! and my