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THE MAGNIFICENT LOVERS

(LES AMANTS MAGNIFIQUES)

BY

MOLIÈRE

TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE.

WITH A SHORT INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.

BY

CHARLES HERON WALL

The subject of this play was given by Louis XIV. It was acted beforehim at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, on February 4, 1670, but was neverrepresented in Paris, and was only printed after Molière's death. Itis one of the weakest plays of Molière, upon whom unfortunately nowrested the whole responsibility of the court entertainments. Hisattack upon astrology is the most interesting part.

Molière acted the part of Clitidas.

PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR.

The King, who will have nothing but what is magnificent in all heundertakes, wished to give his court an entertainment which shouldcomprise all that the stage can furnish. To facilitate the executionof so vast an idea, and to link together so many different things, hisMajesty chose for the subject two rival princes, who, in the lovelyvale of Tempe, where the Pythian Games were to be celebrated, vie witheach other in fêting a young princess and her mother with allimaginable gallantries.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

THE MAGNIFICENT LOVERS.

FIRST INTERLUDE.

The scene opens with the pleasant sound of a great many instruments,and represents a vast sea, bordered on each side by four large rocks.On the summit of each is a river god, leaning on the insignia usual tothose deities. At the foot of these rocks are twelve Tritons on eachside, and in the middle of the sea four Cupids on dolphins; behindthem the god Æolusfloating on a small cloud above the waves. Æoluscommands the winds to withdraw; and whilst four Cupids, twelveTritons, and eight river gods answer him, the sea becomes calm, and anisland rises from the waves. Eight fishermen come out of the sea withmother-of-pearl and branches of coral in their hands, and after acharming dance seat themselves each on a rock above one of the rivergods. The music announces the advent ofNeptune, and while this god isdancing with his suite, the fishermen, Tritons, and river godsaccompany his steps with various movements and the clattering of thepearl shells. The spectacle is a magnific