Signora Fantastici (A Dramatic Proverb)

by Madame de Staël

MR. DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
What are you thinking of, Madame, me?

SIGNORA FANTASTICI:
There will be a siege of a town in it.

MR. DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL: A siege! And do you think my gout will prevent me from rising to the assault?

SIGNORA FANTASTICI:
We will take care that the ramparts will be easy to approach.

MR. DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
And I will take the town?

SIGNORA FANTASTICI:
Without a doubt.

MR. DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
Ah, what a pleasure for me; I've always been beaten.

SIGNORA FANTASTICI:
You see plainly that acting repairs the faults of destiny. And you,
Madame de Kriegschenmahl, we pray you to accept in our play the role
of a respectable woman.

MADAME DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
And why so respectable?

SIGNORA FANTASTICI:
Excuse me, I thought—