The Final Scene by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux Lyrics
THE FINAL SCENE
MESROU, CARISE, EGLÉ, MESRIN, THE PRINCE, HERMIANE, ADINE, MESLIS, DINA, AZOR
HERMIANE (Entering at a pace.): No, let me go, your Highness; I can't watch any more of this; I find this Adine and this Eglé intolerable; your random selection has chanced upon two specimens exemplifying everything that has ever been contemptible in my sex.
EGLÉ: Who are all these people, coming on roaring?
Run for it.
(They all try to run.)
CARISE: Stay where you are, all of you, there’s nothing to be afraid of; here are some new friends, just arrived; don't scare them; see what they think.
MESLIS (Stopping in the middle of the theatre.): Ah! Dina -- so many people.
DINA: Yes, but they've got nothing to do with us.
MESLIS: That’s right, there isn't one that looks like you. Ah! It's you, Carise and Mesrou; are these all men or women?
CARISE: Same number of women as men; there's the one, and here's the other; have a look through them, Meslis; see if there's one of the women you like the look of more than Dina; they'll give her to you.
EGLÉ: I'd like to be his friend.
MESLIS: No point in liking what you can’t have.
CARISE: Choose another one.
MESLIS: Thank you very much, it’s not that I don't like them, but I just don’t care for them, there's only one Dina in the world.
DINA (Putting her arm through his.): That's right.
CARISE: What about you, Dina, take a look.
DINA (Taking him by the arm.): I've seen everything I want to see, let’s go now.
HERMIANE: What a charming girl! I'll see to her education.
THE PRINCE: And I'll see to the boy.
DINA: We're alright just the two of us.
THE PRINCE: You won't be separated; thank you, Carise -- have them put to one side, and have the others taken care of as per my instructions. (And to HERMIANE.) So, Madam, it seems neither sex has anything with which to reproach the other; vices, virtues, both have both.
HERMIANE: Ah! Please, allow some distinction; your sex's treachery is disgusting; you change partners without reason, without even bothering with an excuse.
THE PRINCE: I admit, the way yours does it is at least more hypocritical, and consequently more acceptable; you make more of a fuss about your conscience than we do.
HERMIANE: Believe me, we've got nothing to laugh about.
Shall we?
THE END
MESROU, CARISE, EGLÉ, MESRIN, THE PRINCE, HERMIANE, ADINE, MESLIS, DINA, AZOR
HERMIANE (Entering at a pace.): No, let me go, your Highness; I can't watch any more of this; I find this Adine and this Eglé intolerable; your random selection has chanced upon two specimens exemplifying everything that has ever been contemptible in my sex.
EGLÉ: Who are all these people, coming on roaring?
Run for it.
(They all try to run.)
CARISE: Stay where you are, all of you, there’s nothing to be afraid of; here are some new friends, just arrived; don't scare them; see what they think.
MESLIS (Stopping in the middle of the theatre.): Ah! Dina -- so many people.
DINA: Yes, but they've got nothing to do with us.
MESLIS: That’s right, there isn't one that looks like you. Ah! It's you, Carise and Mesrou; are these all men or women?
CARISE: Same number of women as men; there's the one, and here's the other; have a look through them, Meslis; see if there's one of the women you like the look of more than Dina; they'll give her to you.
EGLÉ: I'd like to be his friend.
MESLIS: No point in liking what you can’t have.
CARISE: Choose another one.
MESLIS: Thank you very much, it’s not that I don't like them, but I just don’t care for them, there's only one Dina in the world.
DINA (Putting her arm through his.): That's right.
CARISE: What about you, Dina, take a look.
DINA (Taking him by the arm.): I've seen everything I want to see, let’s go now.
HERMIANE: What a charming girl! I'll see to her education.
THE PRINCE: And I'll see to the boy.
DINA: We're alright just the two of us.
THE PRINCE: You won't be separated; thank you, Carise -- have them put to one side, and have the others taken care of as per my instructions. (And to HERMIANE.) So, Madam, it seems neither sex has anything with which to reproach the other; vices, virtues, both have both.
HERMIANE: Ah! Please, allow some distinction; your sex's treachery is disgusting; you change partners without reason, without even bothering with an excuse.
THE PRINCE: I admit, the way yours does it is at least more hypocritical, and consequently more acceptable; you make more of a fuss about your conscience than we do.
HERMIANE: Believe me, we've got nothing to laugh about.
Shall we?
THE END