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Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts

Год написания книги
2017
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Arthur

What good would that do? No. I've done nothing to prevent their meeting. I've left them absolute liberty.

Anne

Do you think it's fair to Violet? You know, women act so much on impulse. The surroundings and the circumstances have so much influence on them. Think of the excitement of dancing, the magic of this wonderful night, and the solitude under these stars. You complain the dice are loaded against you, but now you're double-loading them against yourself.

Arthur

It tortures me, but I must give them the opportunity to fight the matter out for themselves.

Anne

Poor child, she's so young.

Arthur

Too young.

Anne

Don't say that; it sounds as though you regretted having married her.

Arthur

Don't you imagine that regret has been tormenting her ever since she found out what love really was? Even though I love her with all my heart I know now that I made a mistake. Do you think you can make anyone love you by constant tenderness, devotion, and kindness?

Anne

Not a man perhaps. But a woman yes, yes, yes!

Arthur

Whoever loved that loved not at first sight? I want so tremendously to make her happy, and I've only made her utterly miserable. And there's no way out. It's a pity that a convenient attack of brain fever can't carry me off, but I'm as strong as a horse.

Anne

You know, Arthur, there's one compensation about the pains of love. While one's suffering from them one feels one will never get over them, but one does, and when they're gone they don't even leave a scar. One looks back and remembers one's torment and marvels that it was possible to suffer like that.

Arthur

You talk as though you'd had experience.

Anne

I have.

Arthur

I always look upon you as so calm and self-controlled.

Anne

I was desperately in love for years with a man. I should have made him an excellent wife, although it's I as says it. But it never occurred to him for an instant that my feelings were more than friendly. And eventually he married somebody else.

Arthur

My dear friend, I hate to think of your being unhappy.

Anne

I'm not. That's why I told you the tragic story. I've got over it so completely that now I have an equal affection both for him and his wife.

Arthur

D'you know, Anne, at one time I very nearly asked you to marry me?

Anne

[Gaily.] Oh, what nonsense!

Arthur

I daresay it's as well I didn't. I should have lost the best friend I've ever had.

Anne

On the other hand, I've lost the satisfaction of refusing the most distinguished man of our day. Why didn't you ask me?

Arthur

You were such an awfully good friend. I thought we were very well as we were.

Anne

That isn't the reason, Arthur. You didn't ask me because you didn't love me. If you had you'd have let friendship go hang. [Seeing that he is not paying any attention to her.] What's the matter?

Arthur

The music has stopped.

Anne

[With a slight tightening of the lips.] I'm afraid my concerns don't interest you very much. I was only talking about them to distract you.

Arthur

Forgive me, but I've got this anguish gnawing at my heart. Anne, when they come back here I want you to come with me for a stroll in the garden.
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