The Imaginary Invalid
MOLIÈRE
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE.
WITH SHORT INTRODUCTIONS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
CHARLES HERON WALL
This is the last comedy written by Molière. He was very ill, nearly dying, at the time he wrote it. It was first acted at the Palais Royal Theatre, on February 10, 1673.
Molière acted the part of Argan.
Argan, an imaginary invalid . Béline, second wife to Argan. Angélique, daughter to Argan, in love with Cléante. Louison, Argan’s young daughter, sister to Angélique. Béralde, brother to Argan. Cléante, lover to Angélique. Mr. Diafoirus, a physician . Thomas Diafoirus, his son, in love with Angélique. Mr. Purgon, physician to Argan. Mr. Fleurant, an apothecary . Mr. de Bonnefoi, a notary . Toinette, maid-servant to Argan.
THE IMAGINARY INVALID.
Toi. Coming, coming.
Arg. Ah! you jade, you wretch!
Toi. ( pretending to have knocked her head ). Bother your impatience! You hurry me so much that I have knocked my head against the window-shutter.
Arg. ( angry ). You vixen!
Molière
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PERSONS REPRESENTED.
ACT I.
SCENE II.—ARGAN, TOINETTE.
SCENE III.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE.
SCENE IV.—ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE.
SCENE V.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE.
SCENE VI.—BÉLINE, ARGAN.
SCENE VII.—ARGAN, BÉLINE, TOINETTE.
SCENE VIII.—ARGAN, BÉLINE.
SCENE IX.—MR. DE BONNEFOI, BÉLINE, ARGAN.
SCENE X.—ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE.
FIRST INTERLUDE.
ACT II.
SCENE I.—CLÉANTE, TOINETTE.
SCENE II.—ARGAN, TOINETTE.
SCENE III.—ARGAN, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE.
SCENE IV.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE.
SCENE V.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE.
SCENE VI.—MR. DIAFOIRUS, THOMAS DIAFOIRUS, ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE, SERVANTS.
SCENE VII.—BÉLINE, ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, MR. DIAFOIRUS, T. DIAFOIRUS, TOINETTE.
SCENE VIII.—ARGAN, BÉLINE, MR. DIAFOIRUS, T. DIAFOIRUS, TOINETTE.
SCENE IX.—ARGAN, MR. DIAFOIRUS, T. DIAFOIRUS, TOINETTE.
SCENE X.—BÉLINE, ARGAN.
SCENE XI.—ARGAN, LOUISON.
SCENE XII.—BÉRALDE, ARGAN.
SECOND INTERLUDE.
ACT III.
SCENE I.—BÉRALDE, ARGAN, TOINETTE.
SCENE II.—BÉRALDE, TOINETTE.
SCENE III.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE IV.—MR. FLEURANT, ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE V.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE VI.—MR. PURGON, ARGAN, BÉRALDE, TOINETTE.
SCENE VII.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE VIII.—ARGAN, TOINETTE, BÉRALDE.
SCENE IX.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE XI.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE XII.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE, TOINETTE.
SCENE XIII.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE XV.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE.
SCENE XVI.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE, TOINETTE.
SCENE XVII.—ARGAN, TOINETTE.
SCENE XX.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE.
SCENE XXI.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE.
SCENE XXII.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE.
SCENE XXIII.—BÉRALDE, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE.
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