The Avenged Women or The Feigned Infidelities (1775) - Page 11

Turn by turn stay alone with him,
You will feign by degrees that you have conquered him,
And you will give them the sorrow they deserve,
By appearing to be unfaithful to them:
That is the true way.

Madame LEK.

Yes, let us be guided.

THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE.

Yes, you are right, it is much better to laugh about it.

Madame RISS.

The day is ending, go, I will come to find you:
And, Mesdames, above all, fear getting angry.

TRIO.

THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE	Madame RISS	Madame LEK
Who would have said it of the President,	Console yourselves,	Who would have said it of my husband?
Always preaching,	All husbands	I want, I want in my wrath,
Always saying,	Are unfaithful;	I want him to fall at my knees;
That faith in marriage	They all treat	He blessed his marriage,
Is the only token of true happiness?	These trysts	He called himself faithful and wise,
	Like trifles.	And swore to me he would be constant;
	Our wrath	It is pleasant
	Seems sweet to them:	To be constant,
	And in their souls,
	Without choice, without taste,	When one cannot do otherwise.
	They love all women.
Who would have said it of the President,	But the day is falling,
		He seemed so content to me,
This upright and prudent judge?	Go away;	He swore to me he would be constant;
Who would have said it of the President?	Let us go, let us go,
Ah! I await him, ah! I await him.	They are coming, go away,	Ah! I await him, ah! I await him.
	I await them, I await them.