Harpagon. Have you been well received?

Cléante. Very well, indeed, but without her knowing who I was; and that is what just now caused the surprise of Mariane.

Harpagon. Have you declared your passion to her, and the design you had to marry her?

Cléante. Indeed yes; and I even made some overtures to her mother about it.

Harpagon. Has she listened to your proposal for her daughter?

Cléante. Yes, very civilly.

Harpagon. And does the girl much reciprocate your love?

Cléante. If I am to believe appearances, I flatter myself, father, that she has some affection for me.

Harpagon (softly, to himself). I am glad to have found out such a secret; that is just what I wished. (Aloud.) Hark you, my son, do you know what you will have to do. You must think, if you please, of getting rid of your love, of ceasing from all pursuits of a person whom I intend for myself, and of marrying shortly the one who has been destined for you.

Cléante. So, father; it is thus that you trick me! Well! since matters have come to this pass, I declare to you, that I will not get rid of my love for Mariane; that there is nothing from which I shall shrink to dispute with you her possession; and that, if you have the consent of a mother on your side, I have other resources, perhaps, which will combat on mine.

Harpagon. What, hang-dog, you have the audacity to poach on my preserves!

Cléante. It is you that are poaching on mine. I am the first comer.

Harpagon. Am I not your father, and do you not owe me respect?

Cléante. This is not a matter in which a child is obliged to defer to his father, and love is no respecter of persons.

Harpagon. I will make you respect me well enough with some sound cudgel-blows.

Cléante. All your threats will do nothing.

Harpagon. You shall renounce Mariane.

Cléante. I shall do nothing of the kind.

Harpagon. Give me a stick immediately.

Scene IV.—Harpagon, Cléante, Master Jacques.

Jacques. Eh, eh, eh, gentlemen, what is all this? what are you thinking about?

Cléante. I do not care a straw.

Jacques (to Cléante). Come, Sir, gently.

Harpagon. To speak to me with such impertinence!

Jacques (to Harpagon). Pray, Sir, Pray!