The Actor's Moliere Volume 1 THE MISER and GEORGE DANDIN in new translations by Albert Bermel CONTENTS George Dandin, p. 2 The Miser, p. 45 Lyrics for The Miser, p. 110 Postscript, p. 125 In memory of my brother Gerald, who lived to the same age as Moliere and loved laughter GEORGE DANDIN or The Confounded Husband (George Dandin, ou Le Man confondu) George Dandin, a wealthy farmer of peasant stock Angelique, his wife Monsieur de Sotenville, a country gentleman, Angelique's father Madame de Sorenville, his wife Clitandre, a courtier from Paris, in love with Angelique Claudine, Angelique's maidservant Lubin, a peasant, Clitandre's emissary Colin, George Dandin's servant ACT ONE George Dandin, alone. GEORGE DANDIN Ah! It's so mortifying to have an upper-class wife. My marriage is a powerful lesson to any peasant who wants to rise above his rank by tying himself, as I've done, to the family of a gentleman. Gentility, as such, is fine, desirable, something you admire, no question about that. But it has too many drawbacks. Stay well out of it! I've learned plenty and it cost me dear. I know what these gentry are after when they recruit the rest of us into their families. They're not interested in us as people. They want to marry our money. I'd have done a lot better, being reasonably well off, to marry into decent, ordinary country folk than to take a wife who thinks she's too good for me, and doesn't like having my name, and acts as if my money isn't enough to pay for the privilege of being her husband. George Dandin, George Dandin, you did the most stupid thing in the world. I've come to hate my house. Every time I enter it I walk into trouble. (He notices Lubin coming out of his house - aside) A funny-looking character ... What the devil's he been up to in my house? LUBIN (Aside) There's a man staring at me. GEORGE DANDIN (Aside) He doesn't know who I am. LUBIN (Aside) He knows something's going on. GEORGE DANDIN (Aside) So! He can hardly bring himself to bow. LUBIN (Aside) I'm afraid hell tell someone he saw me come out of there. GEORGE DANDIN Good morning. LUBIN And to you. GEORGE DANDIN You're not from these parts, are you? LUBIN No, I'm here to see the celebrations tomorrow. GEORGE DANDIN Excuse me, didn't you just come out of that house? LUBIN Shush! GEORGE DANDIN What? LUBIN Keep it quiet! GEORGE DANDIN How come? LUBIN Don't ever say you saw me here. GEORGE DANDIN Why not? LUBIN Because. GEORGE DANDIN No, but why not? LUBIN Shush now. Someone might be listening. GEORGE DANDIN Not a soul. LUBIN I just spoke to the lady of the house - a message from a certain gentleman who's sweet on her. Nobody must know about it, you follow? GEORGE DANDIN So far. LUBIN That's why not. I was told to take care nobody sees me, so I'm asking you not to say a word. GEORGE DANDIN I don't need to. LUBIN I'm going to keep it secret, like I was told to. GEORGE DANDIN That makes sense. LUBIN They say the husband's jealous. He doesn't want anybody making love to his wife. He'd kick up a hell of a fuss if he heard about it. Get me? GEORGE DANDIN Only too well. LUBIN He mustn't know a thing. GEORGE DANDIN Why should he? LUBIN We'd like to put one over on him, but quietly. You follow? GEORGE DANDIN All the way. LUBIN If you say you saw me coming out of his house you'll wreck the whole plan, get it? GEORGE DANDIN You bet. Ah, what's his name, the one who sent you? LUBIN He's our local, you know, big man. Monsieur le Vicomte of something ... Damn me, I can never remember how the hell they say that name. Monsieur
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