The Comedies of Carlo Goldoni. Goldoni Carlo

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СКАЧАТЬ only one hurt has been discovered by the surgeons.

      Phil. Oh, there are wounds which they know nothing of.

      Gian. Every wound, however slight, makes its mark.

      Phil. Eh! there are weapons that give an inward wound.

      Gian. Without breaking the skin?

      Phil. Certainly.

      Gian. How do these wounds enter?

      Phil. By the eyes, the ears, the touch.

      Gian. You must mean by the percussion of the air.

      Phil. Air! no, I mean flame.

      Gian. Indeed, sir, I do not comprehend you.

      Phil. You do not choose to comprehend me.

      Gian. Do you think I have any mischievous design in my head?

      Phil. No; I think you a good girl, wise, prudent, who knows what the officer suffers from, and who, from a sense of propriety, appears not to know it.

      Gian. [Aside.] Poor me! his manner of talking alarms me.

      Phil. Giannina, you seem to me to blush.

      Gian. What you say, sir, of necessity makes me blush. I now begin to understand something of the mysterious wound of which you speak; but, be it as it may, I know neither his disease nor the remedy.

      Phil. My daughter, let us speak plainly. Monsieur de la Cotterie was perfectly cured a month after he arrived here; he was apparently in health, ate heartily, and began to recover his strength; he had a good complexion, and was the delight of our table and our circle. By degrees he grew sad, lost his appetite, became thin, and his gaiety was changed to sighs. I am something of a philosopher, and suspect his disease is more of the mind than of the body, and, to speak still more plainly, I believe he is in love.

      Gian. It may be as you say; but I think, were he in love, he would not be leaving.

      Phil. Here again my philosophy explains everything. Suppose, by chance, the young lady of whom he is enamoured were rich, dependent on her father, and could not encourage his hopes; would it be strange if despair counselled him to leave her?

      Gian. [Aside.] He seems to know all.

      Phil. And this tremor of the limbs, occurring just as he is to set out, must, I should say, viewed philosophically, arise from the conflict of two opposing passions.

      Gian. [Aside.] I could imprecate his philosophy!

      Phil. In short, the benevolence of my character, hospitality, to which my heart is much inclined, humanity itself, which causes me to desire the good of my neighbours, all cause me to interest myself in him; but I would not wish my daughter to have any share in this disease.

      Gian. Ah, you make me laugh! Do I look thin and pale? am I melancholy? What says your philosophy to the external signs of my countenance and of my cheerfulness.

      Phil. I am suspended between two opinions: you have either the power of self-control, or are practising deception.

      Gian. Have you ever found me capable of deception?

      Phil. Never, and for that reason I cannot believe it now.

      Gian. You have determined in your own mind that the officer is in love, which is very likely; but I am not the only person he may be suspected of loving.

      Phil. As the Lieutenant leaves our house so seldom, it is fair to infer his disease had its origin here.

      Gian. There are many handsome young ladies who visit us, and one of them may be his choice.

      Phil. Very true; and, as you are with them, and do not want wit and observation, you ought to know exactly how it is, and to relieve me from all suspicion.

      Gian. But if I have promised not to speak of it?

      Phil. A father should be excepted from such a promise.

      Gian. Yes, certainly, especially if silence can cause him any pain.

      Phil. Come, then, my good girl, let us hear. – [Aside.] I am sorry I suspected her.

      Gian. [Aside.] I find myself obliged to deceive him. – Do you know, sir, that poor Monsieur de la Cotterie loves to madness Mademoiselle Costanza?

      Phil. What! the daughter of Monsieur Riccardo?

      Gian. The same.

      Phil. And does the girl return his affection?

      Gian. With the greatest possible ardour.

      Phil. And what obstacle prevents the accomplishment of their wishes?

      Gian. Why, the father of the girl will hardly consent to give her to an officer who is not in a condition to maintain her reputably.

      Phil. A curious obstacle, truly. And who is this Monsieur Riccardo, that he has such rigorous maxims? He is nothing but a broker, sprung from the mud, grown rich amid the execrations of the people. Does he think to rank himself among the merchants of Holland? A marriage with an officer would be an honour to his daughter, and he could not better dispose of his ill-got wealth.

      Gian. It seems, then, if you were a broker, you would not refuse him your daughter?

      Phil. Assuredly not.

      Gian. But, being a Dutch merchant, the match does not suit you?

      Phil. No, certainly not; not at all – you know it very well.

      Gian. So I thought.

      Phil. I must interest myself in behalf of Monsieur de la Cotterie.

      Gian. In what manner, sir?

      Phil. By persuading Monsieur Riccardo to give him his daughter.

      Gian. I would not advise you to meddle in the affair.

      Phil. Let us hear what the Lieutenant will say.

      Gian. Yes, you should hear him first. – [Aside.] I must give him warning beforehand.

      Phil. Do you think he will set out on his journey immediately?

      Gian. I know he has already ordered his horses.

      Phil. I will send directly to see.

      Gian. I will go myself, sir. – [Aside.] I must take care not to make matters worse.

[Exit.

      Phil. [Alone.] I feel I have done injustice to my daughter in distrusting her; it is a happiness to me to be again certain of her sincerity. There may be some concealed deception in her words, but I will not believe her so artful; she is the daughter of a man who loves truth, СКАЧАТЬ