The Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three Acts

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Александр Дюма

Год написания книги

2017

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John

That is all.

Lionnette

It is quite enough.

John

You have never thought of…

Lionnette

Of what?

John

Of another?

Lionnette (laughing)

You are mad. You have always been a little inclined that way. It is true that if you had not been silly you would never have married me.

John

Whether I am mad or not, answer my question.

Lionnette

No, you can be assured on that point. I have never thought of any one else.

John

And if I were to die; if I killed myself; if you, in the end, became a widow, and that man who is there – that strange man, that millionaire – made you an offer, would you marry him?

Lionnette

We have not arrived at that yet.

John

Who can tell? In the meantime that man loves you, and wishes to go so far as to make you love him without waiting for my death. You have remarked it as well as I.

Lionnette

Where is the woman who does not discover such things? Ask those who have never, by anyone, been told or allowed to see that they were loved, what they think of life. Our dream is to hear such declarations; our art is to listen to them; and our genius and power not to believe in them.

John

Has he declared himself?

Lionnette

Never.

John

Your word for it.

Lionnette

My word of honour.

John

It will come to that.

Lionnette

He will not be the last, I hope. What do you want to make of it?

John

He will declare himself, perhaps, at the moment when nothing remains for you but misery or suicide: both are equally hard for a young and beautiful woman.

Lionnette (seriously and haughtily)

You are confounding me with some other woman whom you loved before me. Do I expose myself to these suppositions by my ways of living? Ah! no, no. I have many defects but no vices, I believe; and, in spite of my anxiety for the future, I have never yet dreamed of these ways of escape. I trust never to think for a moment of them.

John

How much I love you! You have in you all that is most strange and noble in this world. You have a power over me almost superhuman. I think of no one but you; I want nothing but you; I dream only of you. If I suspect, it is because I love you. When you are not here, I do not exist: when I find you again, I tremble like a child. I implore you never to trifle with that love, – so deep, and, yet, so troubled. I do not ask you to love me beyond your power of loving; but love none other more than me. You know not – I do not know myself – what the result might be. When I think of the future, I grow giddy. (In a low, eager voice) I adore you! I adore you!

(During the last words Nourvady has come on to the stage again. He has looked at John and Lionnette. He takes his hat; Godler and Trévelé follow him.)

Lionnette

Do not speak so low; you could be heard.

John

Kiss me, then.

Lionnette

You wish me to kiss you. Here?

John