SCENE VI.

CELENIE, DURBIN.

D U R B I N.

He made his declaration to you?

C E L E N I E.

Here it is. Read, read; judge his sentiments for yourself.

D U R B I N.

What! It is in music!

C E L E N I E.

Yes, yes, his declaration is in music, an ariette a short operatic air at that, with a grand accompaniment of fanfares. It was brought to me, presented, and performed by an army of musicians. Sing, sing.

D U R B I N.

What! You wish, Madam? ....

C E L E N I E.

Yes, I wish for you to sing, so that I may be imbued with all the horror he inspires in me.

D U R B I N.

Musician though I may be, this requires...
(He daydreams, and Célénie walks about with fury during the ritornello, and says to herself: The insolent man, to dare... to declare to me that... Ah, heaven!)

ARIETTE.

Vivatché, King of Kings,

Sovereign of harmony,

Adorer of beautiful voices,

To the melodious Célénie

Salamalek a greeting meaning 'peace be upon you' a hundred and a hundred times.

O you, whose sonorous voice

Develops without effort,

Come reign in my seraglio,

Come, I adore you.