THE FLYING DOCTOR.
(LE MÉDECIN VOLANT.)
BY
MOLIÈRE
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE.
WITH SHORT INTRODUCTIONS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
BY
CHARLES HERON WALL
'Le Médecin Volant' seems to have been acted for the first time inParis, on the 18th of April, 1659. Parts of it were reproduced in'L'Amour Médecin,' and 'Le Médecin malgré lui.'
Molière acted the part of Sganarelle.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
Gorgibus,father to Lucile.
Valère,in love with Lucile.
Sganarelle,servant to Valère.
Gros-René,valet to Gorgibus.
A Lawyer.
Lucile.
Sabine,cousin to Lucile.
THE FLYING DOCTOR.
SCENE I.——VALÈRE, SABINE.
Val.Well, Sabine, what do you advise me to do?
Sab.I have really much to tell you. My uncle is bent upon marrying mycousin to Villebrequin, and things have gone so far, that I believethe wedding would have taken place to-day if you were not loved byher. However, as my cousin told me the secret of all the love shefeels for you, and as we were almost driven to desperation through theavarice of our niggardly uncle, we thought of a capital device toprevent the marriage: at the present moment my cousin affects to beill, and the foolish old man, who is easily deceived, has just sent meto fetch a doctor. Could you not find one, some friend of yours, whowould be on our side, and order the invalid to go into the country fora change of air? The old man will be sure to send my cousin to live inthe pavilion, which is at the bottom of our garden. In that way youwill be able to see her, unknown to our uncle, and marry her; then lethim and Villebrequin curse as much as they please.
Val.But what means have I of finding so suddenly the doctor I want,and who would risk so much to serve me? I tell you frankly I know ofnone.
Sab.Now I think of it, why don't you have your servant dressed up asa doctor? There is no one more easy to dupe than the old fellow.
Val.But Sganarelle is a blockhead who will spoil everything. However,as we have nobody else, we must make use of him. But where shall wefind him?——Ah! here he is in the very nick of time.(Exit Sabine.)
SCENE II——VALÈRE, SGANARELLE.
Val.Ah! my poor Sganarelle, how glad I am to see you! I want yourhelp in a most important business, but as I do not know what you cando …
Sgan.What I can do, sir? Only make use of me in your more importantbusiness, in things of consequence: for instance, send me to see whattime it is by the clock; send me to the market to ask the price ofbutter; send me to water a horse; it is then that you will be able tojudge of my talents.
Val.I ask for none of these things, I want you to play the part of adoctor.
Sgan.I, a doctor, sir! I am ready to do all you please, but as forbeing a doctor, I say no; I am your servant, I will be nothing of the