Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux — Scene 14

14 AZOR, MESRIN, EGLÉ EGLÉ (Approaching.): What is that that's making you so happy? MESRIN (Seeing her.): Ah! there's a beautiful thing listening to us! AZOR: That's my white one -- that's EGLÉ. MESRIN (Aside.): EGLÉ -- that's Angry-face? AZOR: Ah! I am so happy! EGLÉ (Approaching.): Some sort of new friend who's appeared amongst us all of a sudden? AZOR: Yes, it's a friend I've made, he's called Man, and he's come from a world near here. MESRIN: What a nice time one has in this one! EGLÉ: Nicer than in yours? MESRIN: Oh absolutely. EGLÉ: Well, Man, you'll just have to stay here. AZOR: That's what we were saying, because he's altogether decent and a good thing; I love him -- not like I love my lovely Eglé who I love, whereas with him I'm really not bothered, it's just he's the only one I want to spend time with, talking about you, your mouth, your eyes, your hands, that I've been aching for. (He kisses one of her hands.) MESRIN (Taking her other hand.): I'll just take the other one then. (He kisses that hand, EGLÉ laughs, and doesn't say a word.) AZOR (Taking that hand back off him.): Oi! -- steady; this isn't your white one here, it's my one, these hands are both mine, there's none for you. EGLÉ: Oh! no harm done; but, on that topic, off you go, Azor; you know how necessary separation is, well, ours hasn't been long enough. AZOR: What! It's been -- I don't know how many -- hours, hours I haven't seen you. EGLÉ: You're wrong; it hasn't been long enough, actually; I do know how to count, and what I've decided, I like to stick to. AZOR: But you'll be here on your own. EGLÉ: I'm sure I'll be alright. MESRIN: Don't upset her, friend. AZOR: I think you're angry with me. EGLÉ: Why are you being so pigheaded with me? Did you or did you not say there was nothing as dangerous as us seeing each other? AZOR: That may not be true. EGLÉ: Personally I suspect it's not a lie. (CARISE appears here, at a distance, and listens.) AZOR: Alright I'll go, to make you happy, but I'll be back, soon; let's go, friend, friend who said he'd got something to get on with, you can come with me and help me pass the time. MESRIN: Yes, but... EGLÉ (Smiling.): What? MESRIN: Well I've been walking around for ages. EGLÉ: He really ought to rest. MESRIN: And I could see that the lady doesn't get bored. EGLÉ: Yes, he could see to that. AZOR: Didn't she say she wanted to be on her own? Otherwise I'd unbore her much better than you. Let's go! EGLÉ (Aside, and vexed.): Yes, right, go.