A to Z Classics - Complete Works Of Oscar Wilde (Best Navigation) (A to Z Classics)

chasuble

Your guardian has a very emotional nature.

lady bracknell

This noise is extremely unpleasant. It sounds as if he was having an argument. I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.

·146· chasuble

[ Looking up .] It has stopped now. [ The noise is redoubled .]

lady bracknell

I wish he would arrive at some conclusion.

gwendolen

This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.

[ Enter Jack with a hand-bag of black leather in his hand .]

jack

[ Rushing over to Miss Prism .] Is this the hand-bag, Miss Prism? Examine it carefully before you speak. The happiness of more than one life depends on your answer.

miss prism

[ Calmly .] It seems to be mine. Yes, here is the injury it received through the upsetting of a Gower Street omnibus in younger and happier days. Here is the stain on the lining caused by the explosion of a temperance beverage, an incident that occurred at Leamington. And here, on the lock, are my initials. I had forgotten that in an extravagant mood I had had them placed there. The bag is undoubtedly mine. I am delighted to have it so unexpectedly restored to me. It has been a great inconvenience being without it all these years.

·147· jack

[ In a pathetic voice .] Miss Prism, more is restored to you than this hand-bag. I was the baby you placed in it.

miss prism

[ Amazed .] You?

jack

[ Embracing her .] Yes … mother!

miss prism

[ Recoiling in indignant astonishment .] Mr. Worthing! I am unmarried!

jack

Unmarried! I do not deny that is a serious blow. But after all, who has the right to cast a stone against one who has suffered? Cannot repentance wipe out an act of folly? Why should there be one law for men, and another for women? Mother, I forgive you. [ Tries to embrace her again .]

miss prism

[ Still more indignant .] Mr. Worthing, there is some error. [ Pointing to Lady Bracknell .] There is the lady who can tell you who you really are.

jack

[ After a pause .] Lady Bracknell, I hate to seem ·148· inquisitive, but would you kindly inform me who I am?

lady bracknell

I am afraid that the news I have to give you will not altogether please you. You are the son of my poor sister, Mrs. Moncrieff, and consequently Algernon’s elder brother.

jack

Algy’s elder brother! Then I have a brother after all. I knew I had a brother! I always said I had a brother! Cecily,—how could you have ever doubted that I had a brother. [ Seizes hold of Algernon .] Dr. Chasuble, my unfortunate brother. Miss Prism, my unfortunate brother. Gwendolen, my unfortunate brother. Algy, you young scoundrel, you will have to treat me with more respect in the future. You have never behaved to me like a brother in all your life.

algernon

Well, not till to-day, old boy, I admit. I did my best, however, though I was out of practice. [ Shakes hands .]

gwendolen

[ To Jack .] My own! But what own are you? What is your Christian name, now that you have become someone else?

·149· jack

Good heavens! … I had quite forgotten that point. Your decision on the subject of my name is irrevocable, I suppose?

gwendolen

I never change, except in my affections.

cecily

What a noble nature you have, Gwendolen!

jack

Then the question had better be cleared up at once. Aunt Augusta, a moment. At the time when Miss Prism left me in the hand-bag, had I been christened already?

lady bracknell

Every luxury that money could buy, including christening, had been lavished on you by your fond and doting parents.

jack

Then I was christened! That is settled. Now, what name was I given? Let me know the worst.

lady bracknell

Being the eldest son you were naturally christened after your father.

·150· jack

[ Irritably .] Yes, but what was my father’s Christian name?

lady bracknell

[ Meditatively .] I cannot at the present moment recall what the General’s Christian name was. But I have no doubt he had one. He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and indigestion, and other things of that kind.

jack

Algy! Can’t you recollect what our father’s Christian name was?

algernon

My dear boy, we were never even on speaking terms. He died before I was a year old.

jack

His name would appear in the Army Lists of the period, I suppose, Aunt Augusta?

lady bracknell

The General was essentially a man of peace, except in his domestic life. But I have no doubt his name would appear in any military directory.

jack

The Army Lists of the last forty years are here. ·151· These delightful records should have been my constant study. [ Rushes to bookcase and tears the books out .] M. Generals …. Mallam, Maxbohm, Magley, what ghastly names they have—Markby, Migsby, Mobbs, Moncrieff! Lieutenant 1840, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, General 1869, Christian names, Ernest John. [ Puts book very quietly down and speaks quite calmly .] I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.

lady bracknell

Yes, I remember now that the General was called Ernest. I knew I had some particular reason for disliking the name.

gwendolen

Ernest! My own Ernest! I felt from the first that you could have no other name!

jack

Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?

gwendolen

I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.

jack

My own one!

·152· chasuble

[ To Miss Prism .] Lætitia! [ Embraces her .]

miss prism

[ Enthusiastically .] Frederick! At last!

algernon

Cecily! [ Embraces her .] At last!

jack

Gwendolen! [ Embraces her .] At last!

lady bracknell

My nephew, you seem to be displaying signs of triviality.

jack

On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.

Tableau.

Curtain.



Drame en Un Acte

Oscar Wilde



Paris: Librairie de l’Art Indépendant

11, rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, 11

Londres: Elkin Mathews et John Lane

The Bodley-Head. Vigo-Street. 1893

[premiered February 11, 1896

at the Comédie-Parisienne, Paris]

[The text follows the

first edition.]

·5· a mon ami PIERRE LOUŸS

·7· personnes

hérode antipas, Tétrarque de Judée .

iokanaan, le prophète .

le jeune syrien, capitaine de la garde .

tigellin, un jeune Romain .

un cappadocien.

un nubien.

premier soldat.

second soldat.

le page d’hérodias.

des juifs, des nazaréens, etc.

un esclave.

naaman, le bourreau .

hérodias, femme du Tétrarque .

salomé, fille d’Hérodias .

les esclaves de salomé.

·9· SCÈNE—(Une grande terrasse dans le palais d’Hérode donnant sur la salle de festin. Des soldats sont accoudés sur le balcon. A droite il y a un énorme escalier. A gauche, au fond, une ancienne citerne entourée d’un mur de bronze vert. Clair de lune.)

le jeune syrien

Comme la princesse Salomé est belle ce soir!

le page d’hérodias

Regardez la lune. La lune a l’air très étrange. On dirait une femme qui sort d’un tombeau. Elle ressemble à une femme morte. On dirait qu’elle cherche des morts.