I know Marinette too well to think
marriage will be any bar to my courting her.
MAR. And do you think I will make my gallant of you? A husband does not
matter; anything will do for that. We do not stand, then, upon so much
ceremony; but a gallant should be well made enough to make one's mouth
water.
GR.-RE. Listen! When we are united by marriage, I insist that you should
turn a deaf ear to all sparks.
MASC. Do you think, brother, to marry her for yourself alone?
GR.-RE. Of course; I will have a virtuous wife, or else I shall kick up
a fine row.
MASC. Ah! lack-a-day, you shall do as others, and become more gentle.
Those people who are so severe and critical before marriage, often
degenerate into pacific husbands.
MAR. Make yourself easy, my dear husband, and do not have the least fear
about my fidelity; flattery will produce no impression on me, and I
shall tell you everything.
MASC. Oh! what a cunning wench to make of a husband a confidant.
MAR. Hold your tongue, you knave of clubs.
[Footnote: The original has _as de pique_, and different
commentators have of course given various explanations. But why, says M.
Despois, should Marinette, who appears to be fond of cards, not call
people by names derived from her favourite game? She calls Gros-Rene in
another place _beau valet de carreau_.
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