Ay, sir, it is thus I do my duty, and my daughter obeys me too.
CEL. My duty compels me, father, to make good your promise to him.
GORG. Is this obeying my commands as a daughter ought to do? Just now
you were very kindly disposed towards Valere, but you change quickly...
I see his father approaching, who certainly comes to arrange about the
marriage.
SCENE XXIV.--VILLEBREQUIN, GORGIBUS, CELIA, LELIO, SGANARELLE,
SGANARELLE'S WIFE, CELIA'S MAID.
GORG. What brings you hither, M. Villebrequin?
VILL. An important secret, which I only discovered this morning, and
which completely prevents me from keeping the engagement I made with
you. My son, whom your daughter was going to espouse, has deceived
everybody, and been secretly married these four months past to Lise.
Her friends, her fortune, and her family connections, make it impossible
for me to break off this alliance; and hence I come to you....
GORG. Pray, say no more. If Valere has married some one else without
your permission, I cannot disguise from you, that I myself long ago,
promised my daughter Celia to Lelio, endowed with every virtue, and that
his return today prevents me from choosing any other husband for her.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61