--ERASTE, LA MONTAGNE.
LA M. Sir, Orphise is alone, and is coming this way.
ER. Ah, I feel myself greatly disturbed! I still love the cruel fair
one, and my reason bids me hate her.
LA M. Sir, your reason knows not what it would be at, nor yet what power
a mistress has over a man's heart. Whatever just cause we may have to be
angry with a fair lady, she can set many things to rights by a single
word.
ER. Alas, I must confess it; the sight of her inspires me with respect
instead of with anger.
SCENE VIII.--ORPHISE, ERASTE, LA MONTAGNE.
ORPH. Your countenance seems to me anything but cheerful. Can it be my
presence, Eraste, which annoys you? What is the matter? What is amiss?
What makes you heave those sighs at my appearance?
ER. Alas! can you ask me, cruel one, what makes me so sad, and what will
kill me? Is it not malicious to feign ignorance of what you have done to
me? The gentleman whose conversation made you pass me just now...
ORPH. (_Laughing_). Does that disturb you?
ER. Do, cruel one, anew insult my misfortune. Certainly, it ill becomes
you to jeer at my grief, and, by outraging my feelings, ungrateful
woman, to take advantage of my weakness for you.
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