Читать книгу Madame Bovary: A Play in Three Acts - Gustave Flaubert - Страница 6
ОглавлениеACT I, SCENE 1
The Inn of the Golden Lion at Yonville L’Abbaye. An evening in March 1840.
The owner, Madame Lefrançois, comes and goes, bustling about. Mr. Homais warms his back standing before the large fireplace. Homais is all dressed in black, with green slippers and a velour bonnet with a gold tassel.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Polyte! Polyte! Bring the twigs. Stop what you are doing, and bring up the brandy. Hurry up!
HIPPOLYTE
(from a distance) It’s coming.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
If I only knew what dessert to offer the company you are expecting.
(Voices of two men singing in the adjoining room)
VOICES
So long as one can do it, toodaloo.
We will dance, falala.
So long as one can do it
We will drink,
Sing,
And love
Young wenches
So long as we can do it, toodaloooo.
We will dance, falalaaa.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Good Heavens! There they are starting their racket all over.
HOMAIS
You entertain guests who do not breed melancholy. I heard them from my laboratory.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
The wagon drivers who brought the belongings of your physician. Imagine, Mr. Homais, that since then they’ve drunk eight pots of cider and had fifteen games of billiards.
VOICE
Double or nothing.
ANOTHER VOICE
Four-ball—corner pocket!
(Noise of billiard balls hitting each other. Applause.)
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Why, they’re going to tear up my billiard table.
HOMAIS
Maybe that will get you to buy a new billiard table.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
A new billiard table!
HOMAIS
You must keep up with the times, Madame Lefrançois. Amateurs want straight pockets on the billiard table. And they have the idea, for example, of setting up a patriotic tournament for Poland, or the victims of the flood in Lyon.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
But it’s so useful for me to arrange my wash! And in the hunting season I put up as many as six travelers!
HIPPOLYTE (enters with faggots on his shoulders; he limps)
Here’s the brushwood.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Put it on the kitchen fire.
VOICE
Seven!
ANOTHER VOICE
How many did you say?
FIRST VOICE
Seven. Let’s see. Double strike and two balls.
SECOND VOICE
Seven.
HIPPOLYTE
I’m going to pull the wire.
HOMAIS
It’s idle for you to say, Madame Lefrançois, that the infirmity with which this poor lad is afflicted doesn’t trouble him in the exercise of his profession.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
It doesn’t prevent him from running after girls.
HOMAIS
Not to mention his hideous limp, accompanied by a disgraceful balance in the lumbar region, is a thing that may keep travelers who are particularly squeamish from the Golden Lion.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Do you truly think that, Mr. Homais? (six o’clock strikes on the large clock)
Six o’clock and the Swallow hasn’t arrived yet. So long as Hivert hasn’t broken a wheel, the way he did last month on the side of Bois-Guillame!
HOMAIS
Are you delaying your gentlemen’s dinner by waiting for him?
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
And what would Mr. Binet say! He has no equal for punctuality! And with that he’s squeamish over nothing and difficult with cider. He sometimes comes at 7:30 and barely looks at what he eats.
HOMAIS
There’s lots of difference between a notary clerk who received some education and an old rifleman become a tutor
(The clock chimes six times again. Binet enters: Prussian Blue coat falling straight around his body, grey pants, a leather cap on the top of his head held in place by cords.)
BINET
Servant.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Good evening, Mr. Binet. Would you like me to set your place here?
BINET
No—as usual.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
There are some salesmen installed in the billiard room.
BINET
That’s your business. Make them decamp.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Fine. I’ll go see.
BINET
Hold on! Cook that trout for me.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Where’d you catch it?
BINET
In the Rieule. Near the mills.
(Madame Lefrançois leaves.)
HOMAIS
We’re expecting the new doctor and his wife. Since our Polish refugee decamped, Yonville has been without a doctor.
BINET
And Yonville had great need of a doctor?
HOMAIS
Ah, I understand what you mean. No, question, I am here, and my great experiences in pharmacopeia renders me, indeed, as capable as another to give diagnoses and to battle illness with the weapons of science! But the law of 19 Ventose, Year 11, Article 1, forbids it, alas!—under the most severe penalties, the practice of medicine by any individual without specific diplomas, however capable they may be, besides their knowledge and their talent.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
(returning) Excuse, Mr. Binet, a short time more.
BINET
Eight minutes past six!
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Polyte!
HIPPLOYTE
Here I am!
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
The cart belonging to the furniture removers remains by the large gate. Give them a hand to get it out of the way. The Hirondelle is capable of staving it in when it gets here. Do it quickly.
HIPPOLYTE
I’m on my way.
(Hippolyte and Madame Lefrançois leave.)
HOMAIS
His name’s Charles Bovary.
BINET
Who?
HOMAIS
Our new doctor. He’d been established for the last four years in Tostes, and begun to find a niche there. But it seems the climate was pernicious to his wife, and that he must, without delay, change the air. He wrote me when he learned of the departure of this poor Yanoda. Between disciples of Aesculapius, one naturally renders these services to each other. On my side, I made inquiries as you may well imagine.
BINET (to Madame Lefrançois who crosses the room)
You’ll butter my trout, won’t you, and if you have a lemon—
HOMAIS
Between ourselves, he hasn’t passed his doctorate.
BINET
Why?
HOMAIS
Mr. Bovary. He’s a simple health officer. Still, he’s said to be very capable. He’ll bleed folks like nothing, and they say he has a fist from Hell for extracting teeth. As for his wife, she’s a young woman from Ronault, the daughter of a big farmer by way of Vassonville. She received a beautiful education. She will give us a society.
BINET
What’s that to me? I don’t want to be part of their society.
HOMAIS
We’re it only in the interest of your health, allow me to observe, Mr. Binet, that you ought not to refuse yourself all distractions.
BINET
Eh! These are not distractions that I lack. I angle fish and I twist the ends of napkins.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS (returning)
This time the place is free. Whenever you like, Mr. Binet.
HOMAIS
Bon appétit!
BINET
Servant! (he leaves)
HOMAIS
He doesn’t use his tongue for civilities!
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
He never chats much. He came here last week. Two travelers with plenty to spare, full of wit, who told a bunch of jokes all evening till I was laughing till I cried—well, he remained there like a cod-fish without saying a word.
HOMAIS
Yes. No imagination, no witticisms, nothing of that which constitutes a man of society.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Still, they say he has some means.
HOMAIS
In his profession it’s possible. Ah, when a business man has considerable relations, when a jurisconsul, a doctor, a pharmacist become so absorbed that they become fantastic and churlish, I understand it. They are described in historical tracts. But at least they think of something.. Me, for example. How many times has it happened to me that looking for my pen on my desk to write a prescription, I found I had placed it behind my ear.
(The Abbé Bournisien, a fat man with a rubicund face under graying eyes, half opens the door and remains in the doorway. Homais turns toward the fire and pretends not to see him.)
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Ah, Monsieur Le Curé. What can I do to help you? Would you like something? A finger of liquor?
BOURNISIEN
You are indeed nice, Madame Lefrançois, but I never take anything between my meals. I thought that the Hirondelle must have arrived by now.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
It always does around this time. Certainly it’s late; I don’t know why.
BOURNISIEN
Hivert should be bringing me back my umbrella that I left the other day at the convent of Ernement. Would you be nice enough to have it sent to me in the evening?
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
You can count on it. Polyte will bring it to you without fail. (Binet calls) I’m coming.
(The Curé leaves. Madame Lefrançois comes and goes to serve Binet)
HOMAIS
Well—what do you say to this inconvenience?
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
What inconvenience?
HOMAIS
That refusal to accept refreshment. As if these priests were not the first to go on a spree when no one sees them. It’s the most odious hypocrisy.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Hypocrisy? No one is less of a hypocrite than our Curé. A fine brave man! And strong for all that. Last year he helped our folks go bring in the hay, and he carried as many as six bales at a time, he is so strong.
HOMAIS
Brave! In that case send your daughters to confession to characters with a temperament like that! As for me, if I were the government, I would bleed the priests once a month. Yes, Madame Lefrançois, every month, a large phlebotomy in the interests of the police and morals.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Shut up, will you, Mr. Homais! You have no religion!
HOMAIS
I have a religion, my religion! I believe in the Supreme Being—whatever that may be doesn’t concern me much—who placed us down here to fulfill our duties as citizen and father of a family.
(Léon enters. He’s a well groomed young man with a gentle manner, unsure of himself and a bit timid. His blond curly hair brushes his face. He does all this so he can look like the portrait of a Romantic.)
HOMAIS
What do you say about it, my young friend? A good God who lodges folks in the bellies of whales! It’s not opposed to all the laws of physics? It won’t suffice to demonstrate that priests stagnate in an ignorant sloth and force populations swallow it. With them?
LÉON
You know quite well, dear sir, that I don’t meddle in politics.
A SERVING GIRL (putting her head in the door)
Have they brought the bonnets for Madame Caen?
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
There’s still hope. The Hirondelle hasn’t got here yet.
HOMAIS
And what have you done good all this day?
LÉON
No big thing good, as usual I am bored with scratching stamped paper, then I get bored strolling the length of the river listening to the snoring of the tutor.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
I’m going to set your place with the company that Mr. Homais is expecting.
LÉON
Gladly, but I won’t be indiscreet.
HIPPOLYTE (entering)
Here’s a pot of cider for the travelers.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Again!
HIPPOLYTE
They’re installed under the shed in the old carriage lit by a candle, and went to play cards. (he leaves with his jug. Lheureux pushes through the door)
LHEUREUX
Very good day, ladies and gentlemen. They say that Hivert is late. No accident, I hope? I’m expecting a dispatch from Grand Sauvage.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
What brings you to chatter of an accident? The Hirondelle will get here in a minute or two.
LHEUREUX
I’m going to watch for it on the road. Excuse me, Madame. My respects, gentlemen.
(bowing as he leaves)
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Too polite to be honest!
HOMAIS
I am merely left to say that this cloth merchant will come to obtain the adjudication of cider for the hospital at Neufchatel.
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
God, it’s quite possible. He traffics in everything at the moment. An old peddler who had some stories not too clear. That doesn’t prevent poor Cary putting his paws on this bird, and that one of these days he’ll put a yellow placard on his door.
HIPPOLYTE
(returning) Now they need a half pint to whet them. (uproar of iron and bells and glasses shaking through the misty windows. One becomes aware of the arrival of the carriage. Lights run. Hipployte and Madame Lefrançois run outside with lanterns.)
VOICES
Attention. Watch out below. Watch out fatty! Keep back, little mother. Hohoo! Polignac! No accident. Polyte! Here! Pass the luggage without being told. Did you have a good trip? What did you get? Caught. Here: foot on the wheel. Do you have the dressmaker’s box for Madame Caron? It’s nothing, Madame Lefrançois. The dog of a little lady ran off. Polyte! Toss me the roll of shoes. The hampers. Here’s another one. You are not badly loaded today. It’s for days when we are not. Heavens, it’s you, bad character! Here you are again in our country. As you see. Pay attention, will you, don’t step on my corns. Pardon, excuse me. Do you have the box for Madame Caron? Patience, my beauty, you are young, you have time to wait. You are not the one who will cause us to quarrel. No—not those. Two packages sent express from Grand Sauvage to the address of Mr. Lheureux.
(Enter Charles and Félicité loaded down with packages.)
CHARLES
Put this down anywhere, and go back quickly to my wife.
HOMAIS
Doctor Bovary, no question?
CHARLES
Yes, Charles Bovary.
HOMAIS
I am Homais and your servant. Be welcome in Yonville. Did you have a good trip?
CHARLES
Yes, yes.—That is—my wife lost a little greyhound on the way that she really loved.
(he takes off his hat which he was wearing pushed down over his eyebrows. His round face, colored with feminine features and fat lips is further enlarged by short whiskers, and faded blonde hair cut straight over the face. He’s all huddled in a large pilgrim cloak, large boots and gloves.)
VOICES
The box for Madame Caron. Yes, these two strong cadres, thanks! Polyte! Step on the ladder. Attention! Come drink a cup, one doesn’t leave like that. The gray box up front; you’ve got to see it. Hivert! Something for me? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Watch out under the ladder! Just this little package, Mr. Mayor. Thanks. There’s no more.
(At the same time, the conversation continues between Homais and Charles.)
CHARLES
She calls it Djali. He’s a huntsman of the Marquis d’Andervilliers, who gave it to me when I eased him of a fluxion of the breast.
HOMAIS
It’s truly regrettable that your arrival among us finds itself saddened by such a vexing incident.
CHARLES
It ran after the coach and suddenly could no longer be seen. The conductor stopped. He even turned back more than half a league with a great deal of complacency. But it’s truly lost.
HOMAIS
And you say that Madame Bovary was moved to tears?
CHARLES
She’s really going to miss Djali. When I wasn’t home, my wife spent many hours talking to it as a confidante. That’s what she just told me. I never suspected it.
VOICES
The box for Madame Caron. Here it is, my beauty, the box for Madame Caron. And at your service if you need anything. Polyte. There’s nothing more under the tarpaulin.
(Enter Emma and Félicité. Lheureux follows them.)
CHARLES
Emma, come by the fire. Warm up. Allow me to present you to Mr. Homais—that I have not yet thanked for his letters.
HOMAIS
Very honored, Madame, and very happy that I’ve been able to render some services to the doctor.
(Emma responds with a sad smile and goes to the fireplace. She pulls her skirt up to her knees and puts her feet to the flame. She is tall, thin and supple. Her hair is pulled in two bands to each side. Her face is pale, but she has rosy cheeks, lips a bit plump, but large, superb eyes. Her hands are long, dry, with pointed nails.)
VOICES
Polyte. Here I am. Some coffee. And you know we are not teetotalers who take tea in tiny cups. Bring two pots and let them be heavy. Minute.
(Noise of horses being unhitched.)
LHEUREUX
There’s no need for Madame to give up hope of finding her dog. My own father possessed a poodle, which, after twelve years absence suddenly leapt on his back in the street one evening when he went to dine in town.
CHARLES
You see!
HOMAIS
Mr. Lheureux is right. The Journal de Rouen, of which I have the honor to be correspondent for the area of Bucher, Neufchatel, and Yonville, recently cited a dog returned straight from Constantinople to Paris.
LHEUREUX
And to envisage everything, if Madame’s greyhound remains lost, I am at Madame’s disposition to promise her another of the same breed.
EMMA
What’s the use. One deception, more or less.
LHEUREUX
At your orders, Madame. Gentlemen, gentlemen. (he withdraws, bowing)
HOMAIS
Dinner will soon be ready. I dared to invite myself, my wife being absent, and we will have, if you like, a fourth guest, my young friend Léon Dupins, presently clerk at our notary’s.
LÉON
Madame, Doctor.
CHARLES
Enchanted, sir.
HOMAIS
I will ask you one additional permission: that of wearing my Greek bonnet for fear of a head-cold.
CHARLES
Don’t stay like this, Emma, sit down—rest.
EMMA
Yes, yes.
HOMAIS
Soon after dinner we will accompany you to your new home, and allow you to install yourselves there. Madame must indeed be weary? One is so shockingly jolted in our Hirondelle.
EMMA
It’s true. But discomfort always amuses me. I love to change places.
LÉON
It’s such a vexing thing to live nailed to the same place.
EMMA
Isn’t it?
CHARLES
If you were like me, forced to be on horseback constantly—
LÉON
Why nothing is more agreeable it seems to me, if one can do it.
HOMAIS
All the same, the practice of medicine is not very hard in our country, for the condition of our roads permits the use of a carriage, and generally, the farmers pay well enough—being well healed.
EMMA
Do you at least have some walks in the vicinity?
LÉON
Oh, very few. There’s a place called the Pasture on the height at the edge of the forest. Sometimes, on Sunday, I go there and stay there with a book, to watch the sunset.
HOMAIS
Aside from the ordinary cases of enteritis, bronchitis, and bilious diseases, we have a few fevers during the mowing season, but, in sum, nothing special to note if it’s not much out of temper.
EMMA
I find nothing as admirable as sunsets, especially on the sea-shore.
LÉON
Ah, I adore the sea!
EMMA
Yes, the mind sails most liberally on this limitless stretch whose contemplation elevates the soul.
HOMAIS
You will find many prejudices to combat, Mr. Bovary. They still have recourse to novenas, to relics, to priests rather than coming naturally to a doctor or pharmacist.
LÉON
It’s the same passing through the mountains. I have a cousin who traveled in Switzerland, who told me one cannot imagine the poetry of lakes, the charm of waterfalls, the gigantic effect of pine trees thrown across rivers or of huts suspended over precipices.
EMMA
Such spectacles must give ideas of infinity.
LÉON
Surely! And now I understand that musician who was in the habit of playing the piano before glaciers!
HOMAIS
To tell the truth, the climate isn’t bad, and we number in the commune several nonagenarians. I myself have made some observations on the thermometer. In winter it goes down to four degrees, and in the hot sun reaches twenty-nine, thirty centigrade, more or less—which gives fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit in English measurement.
CHARLES
Yes, yes, yes,
EMMA
You compose or play music?
LÉON
No, but I love it very much.
HOMAIS
Don’t listen to him, Madame Bovary, he’s pure modesty. He sings the guardian angel, believing it, but like an actor. We receive every other Sunday. Intimate little soirées. If you would honor us by being one of us, Mr. Léon would be forced to no longer hide his talent.
EMMA
Why, gladly, thanks. And what music do you prefer?
LÉON
German music—that which sets you dreaming.
EMMA
Do you know the Italians?
LÉON
Not yet, but I will see them next year when I live in Paris to finish my law degree.
EMMA
Paris!
HOMAIS
Still, Doctor, I must direct your attention the considerable presence of animals on the prairie adjoining the river. From which, exhalations of ammonia, that is to say, agote, hydrogen-oxygen—
EMMA
Paris!
HOMAIS
No, agote and hydrogen only—
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Come to dinner, ladies and gentlemen. And here’s the charivari which resumes most beautifully. Excuse it. They are carriage drivers. They’ve been stuffing themselves since this morning at the expense of the Doctor.
CHARLES
What, at my expense?
MADAME LEFRANÇOIS
Listen to me then, if it’s possible, my God.
VOICES
Life has some allures, give joy for them. Must it be spent, sadly, in regrets? Never! Never! Pleasure is French. Hey, youp, youp, youp, La, la, la, la.
C U R T A I N
