The Miser and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) by Moliere Jean-Baptiste

Author:Moliere, Jean-Baptiste [Moliere, Jean-Baptiste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2004-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

Scene iv:

DON LOUIS, DON JUAN, LA VIOLETTE, SGANARELLE

LA VIOLETTE: Your father is here sir.

DON JUAN: Oh splendid! A visit from him was all I needed to make me completely furious!

DON LOUIS: I see I embarrass you. No doubt you could well do without my coming here. The truth is that we are the bane of each other’s lives. If you are tired of the sight of me, I am equally weary of your behaviour. Oh, how little we know what we are doing when, instead of leaving it to God to decide what is good for us, we try to be cleverer than he is and start pestering him with our blind wishes and inconsiderate demands! No man ever wanted a son more than I did. No man ever prayed for one more insistently and ardently than I. And now the son whom I got by wearying Heaven with my prayers, and thought would be the joy and consolation of my life, turns out to be a trial and a torment. Tell me, what am I to think of your roll-call of actions so dishonourable that it would be extremely difficult to put a tolerable face on their villainy for the world at large? How should I regard this never-ending succession of infamous affairs which has reduced me to wearying the king’s indulgence day and night until I have exhausted the credit earned by my services to the Crown and the goodwill of my friends? What depths have you sunk to! Are you not ashamed to be so unworthy of your birth? Tell me, what right do you think you have to take pride in it? What have you ever done that entitles you to be considered a gentleman? Or do you think it is enough to have a name and bear arms to be one? that we can still deem it an honour to be born of noble blood, when we live ignoble lives? No, birth is nothing when it is not accompanied by virtue. Which is why we have no claim to share the glory of our ancestors unless we strive to be like them. The distinction which their glorious actions confers on us imposes a commitment to return the honour, to follow in the footsteps they left to guide us and, if we wish to be considered their true descendants, never to fall short of their virtues. You are no true descendant of the forefathers who gave you life – they disown you as not of their blood, and all their glorious deeds reflect no credit on you. On the contrary, their illustriousness merely serves to throw your dishonour into greater relief. Their fame is a torch which lights your shameful actions for all to see. Be advised of this: a gentleman who lives a wicked life is an offence against nature, that virtue is the essential qualification for nobility, that I have more regard for a man’s deeds than for the name he signs himself with,

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