Racine: Phaedra

286
MOLIERE
the first new-comer; you allow too many lovers to beset
you, and my heart sees it with pain.
Celimene. Do you blame me because others love me? Can I
help being thought amiable? And when people come to
see me and try 1,0 be pleasant, am I to take a stick to drive
them away?
Alceste. No, madam, it is not a stick you want, but a heart
less ready to listen to their love-tales. I know that your
but your wel-
and
beauty accompanies you wherever you go ;
come keeps near you those your eyes have attracted ;
the tender-heartedness you show to those you have conquered
completes in every case the work begun by your
charms. The too pleasant hope you give to your admir-
ers increases their assiduities towards you, whereas a lit-
tle reticence in your favors would soon drive the whole
crowd away. At least, madam, tell me by what good
fortune your Clitandre has the happiness of pleasing you
so much. Upon what fund of merit and sublime virtue
do you ground the honor of your esteem for him? Is it
by the long nail * on his little finger that he has won your
aflFectionate regard? Are you fascinated, along with the
whole fashionable world, by the dazzling merit of his fair
periwig? Is it to his large canions he owes your love for
him? His great collection of ribbons have, perhaps, the
power of charming you? Is it by the attraction of his
large rhmgrave f that he has gamed your heart while
callmg himself your slave? Perhaps it is his way of
laughmg, or his falsetto voice, which has found out the
secret of touching your heart?
Celimene. How unjustly you take umbrage at him. Do you
not know why I humor him, and that he has promised to
interest all his friends in your lawsuit?
Alceste. Eh ! madam, lose my lawsuit with good courage,
and do not encourage a rival who is hateful to me.
Celimene. But you are becoming jealous of everybody.
Alceste. Because everybody is kindly received by you.
Celimene. To see in me the same good-will for all, is the very
thing which should calm your fearful spirit. You would
• A fashion of the time,
t Large breeches tied at the knees with ribbons—a German fashion.