(She goes and seizes him by the arm, to stop him.He makes a great show of resistance.)VALERE What do you want, Dorine? DORINE Come here.

VALERE No, no, I'm quite beside myself.Don't hinder me from doing as she wishes.

DORINE Stop!

VALERE No.You see, I'm fixed, resolved, determined.DORINE So!

MARIANE (aside) Since my presence pains him, makes him go, I'd better go myself, and leave him free.

DORINE (leaving Valere, and running after Mariane) Now t'other! Where are you going?

MARIANE Let me be.DORINE.Come back.

MARIANE No, no, it isn't any use.

VALERE (aside) 'Tis clear the sight of me is torture to her; No doubt, t'were better I should free her from it.

DORINE (leaving Mariane and running after Valere) Same thing again! Deuce take you both, I say.Now stop your fooling; come here, you; and you.

(She pulls first one, then the other, toward the middle of the stage.) VALERE (to Dorine) What's your idea?

MARIANE (to Dorine) What can you mean to do? DORINE Set you to rights, and pull you out o' the scrape.(To Valere) Are you quite mad, to quarrel with her now? VALERE Didn't you hear the things she said to me?

DORINE (to Mariane) Are you quite mad, to get in such a passion? MARIANE Didn't you see the way he treated me?

DORINE Fools, both of you.

(To Valere) She thinks of nothing else But to keep faith with you, I vouch for it.

(To Mariane) And he loves none but you, and longs for nothing But just to marry you, I stake my life on't.

MARIANE (to Valere) Why did you give me such advice then, pray? VALERE (to Mariane) Why ask for my advice on such a matter? DORINE You both are daft, I tell you.Here, your hands.

(To Valere) Come, yours.

VALERE (giving Dorine his hand) What for? DORINE (to Mariane) Now, yours.

MARIANE (giving Dorine her hand) But what's the use?

DORINE Oh, quick now, come along.There, both of you-- You love each other better than you think.

(Valere and Mariane hold each other's hands some time without looking at each other.)VALERE (at last turningtowardMariane) Come, don't beso ungracious now about it; Look at a man as if you didn't hate him.

(Mariane looks sideways toward Valere, with just a bit of a smile.) DORINE My faith and troth, what fools these lovers be!

VALERE (to Mariane) But come now, have I not a just complaint?

And truly, are you not a wicked creature To take delight in saying what would pain me?

MARIANE And are you not yourself the most ungrateful...?

DORINE Leave this discussion till another time; Now, think how you'll stave off this plaguy marriage.

MARIANE Then tell us how to go about it.DORINE Well, We'll try all sorts of ways.(To Mariane) Your father's daft;(To Valere) This plan is nonsense.

(To Mariane) You had better humour His notions by a semblance of consent, So that in case of danger, you can still Find means to block the marriage by delay.If you gain time, the rest is easy, trust me.One day you'll fool them with a sudden illness, Causing delay; another day, ill omens: You've met a funeral, or broke a mirror, Or dreamed of muddy water.Best of all, They cannot marry you to anyone Without your saying yes.But now, methinks, They mustn't find you chattering together.

(To Valere) You, go at once and set your friends at work To make him keep his word to you; while we Will bring the brother's influence to bear, And get the step-mother on our side, too.Good-bye.

VALERE (to Mariane) Whatever efforts we may make, My greatest hope, be sure, must rest on you.

MARIANE (to Valere) I cannot answer for my father's whims; But no one save Valere shall ever have me.

VALERE You thrill me through with joy! Whatever comes...DORINE Oho! These lovers! Never done with prattling! Now go.VALERE (starting to go, and coming back again) One last word...

DORINE What a gabble and pother! Be off! By this door, you.And you, by t'other.

(She pushes them off, by the shoulders, in opposite directions.)