THE PRETENTIOUS YOUNG LADIES

by: Molière

SCENE XV

DU CROISY, LA GRANGE, CATHOS, MADELON, LUCILE, CÉLIMÈNE, JODELET, MASCARILLE, MAROTTE, AND MUSICIANS.

LA GRANGE: Upon my word, rascals, you shall not laugh at us, I promise you. Come in, you there. [Three or four men enter.]

MADELON: What means this impudence to come and disturb us in our own house?

DU CROISY: What, ladies, shall we allow our footmen to be received better than ourselves? Shall they come to make love to you at our expense, and even give a ball in your honour?

MADELON: Your footmen?

LA GRANGE: Yes, our footmen; and you must give me leave to say that it is not acting either handsome or honest to spoil them for us, as you do.

MADELON: O Heaven! what insolence!

LA GRANGE: But they shall not have the advantage of our clothes to dazzle your eyes. Upon my word, if you are resolved to like them, it shall be for their handsome looks only. Quick, let them be stripped immediately.

JODELET: Farewell, a long farewell to all our fine clothes.

MASCARILLE: The marquisate and viscountship are at an end.

DU CROISY: Ah! ah! you knaves, you have the impudence to become our rivals. I assure you, you must go somewhere else to borrow finery to make yourselves agreeable to your mistresses.

LA GRANGE: It is too much to supplant us, and that with our own clothes.

MASCARILLE: O fortune, how fickle you are!

DU CROISY: Quick, pull off everything from them.

LA GRANGE: Make haste and take away all these clothes. Now, ladies, in their present condition you may continue your amours with them as long as you please; we leave you perfectly free; this gentleman and I declare solemnly that we shall not be in the least degree jealous.