What fly
has bitten those two? Let's go tell this pretty story to my
mistress.

ACT THREE

SCENE IX (Cleonte, Covielle)

CLEONTE: What! Treat a lover in this way? And a lover who is the
most faithful and passionate of lovers?

COVIELLE: It is a frightful thing that they have done to us both.

CLEONTE: I show a woman all the ardor and tenderness that can be
imagined; I love nothing in the world but her, and I have nothing
but her in my thoughts; she is all I care for, all my desire, all
my joy; I talk of nothing but her, I think of nothing but her, I
have no dreams but of her, I breathe only because of her, my heart
lives wholly in her; and see how so much love is well repaid! I
have been two days without seeing her, which are for me two
frightful centuries; I meet her by chance; my heart, at that sight,
is completely transported, my joy shines on my face; I fly with
ecstasy towards her--and the faithless one averts her eyes and
hurries by as if she had never seen me in her life!

COVIELLE: I say the same things as you.

CLEONTE: Covielle, can one see anything to equal this perfidy of
the ungrateful Lucile?

COVIELLE: And that, Monsieur, of the treacherous Nicole?

CLEONTE: After so many ardent homages, sighs, and vows that I have
made to her charms!

COVIELLE: After so many assiduous compliments, cares, and services
that I rendered her in the kitchen!

CLEONTE: So many tears I have shed at her knees!

COVIELLE: So many buckets of water I have drawn for her!

CLEONTE: So much passion I have shown her in loving her more than
myself!

COVIELLE: So much heat I have endured in turning the spit for her!

CLEONTE: She flies from me in disdain!

COVIELLE: She turns her back on me!

CLEONTE: It is perfidy worthy of the greatest punishments.

COVIELLE: It is treachery that merits a thousand slaps.

CLEONTE: Don't think, I beg you, of ever speaking in her favor to
me.

COVIELLE: I, sir? God forbid!

CLEONTE: Never come to excuse the action of this faithless woman.

COVIELLE: Have no fear.

CLEONTE; No, you see, all your speeches in her defense will serve
no purpose.

COVIELLE: Who even thinks of that?

CLEONTE: I want to conserve my resentment against her and end all
contact with her.

COVIELLE: I agree.

CLEONTE: This Count who goes to her house is perhaps pleasant in
her view; and her mind, I well see, allows itself to be dazzled by
social standing. But it is necessary for me, for my hono