r, to
prevent the scandal of her inconstancy. I want to break off with
her first and not leave her all the glory of dumping me. COVIELLE:
That's very well said, and I agree, for my part, with all your
feelings.

CLEONTE: Strengthen my resentment and aid my resolve against all
the remains of love that could speak in her behalf. Tell me, I
order you, all the bad you can of her; make for me a painting of
her that will render her despicable; and show well, in order to
disgust me, all the faults that you can see in her.

COVIELLE: Her, sir? There's a pretty fool, a well made flirt for
you to give so much love! I see only mediocrity in her, and you
will find a hundred women who will be more worthy of you. First of
all, she has small eyes.

CLEONTE: That's true, she has small eyes; but they are full of
fire, the brightest, the keenest in the world, the most touching
eyes that one can see.

COVIELLE: She has a big mouth.

CLEONTE: Yes; but upon it one sees grace that one never sees on
other mouths; and the sight of that mouth, which is the most
attractive, the most amorous in the world, inspires desire.

COVIELLE: As for her figure, she's not tall.

CLEONTE: No, but she is graceful and well made.

COVIELLE: She affects a nonchalance in her speech and in her
actions.

CLEONTE: That's true; but she may be forgiven all that, for her
manners are so engaging, they have an irresistible charm.

COVIELLE: As to her wit...

CLEONTE: Ah! She has that, Covielle, the finest, the most
delicate!

COVIELLE: Her conversation...

CLEONTE: Her conversation is charming.

COVIELLE: She is always serious...

CLEONTE; Would you have grinning playfulness, constant open
merriment? And do you see anything more impertinent than those
women who laugh all the time?

COVIELLE: But finally she is as capricious as any woman in the
world.

CLEONTE: Yes, she is capricious, I concede; but everything becomes
beautiful ladies well, one suffers everything for beauty.

COVIELLE: I see clearly how it goes, you want to go on loving her.

CLEONTE: Me, I'd like better to die; and I am going to hate her as
much as I loved her.

COVIELLE: How, if you find her so perfect?

CLEONTE: That's how my vengeance will be more striking, in that way
I'll show better the strength of my heart, by hating her, by
quitting her, with all her beauty, all her charms, and as lovable
as I find her. Here she is.

ACT THREE

SCENE X (Cleonte, Lucile, Covie