Standard Selections Part 82

And happier still Pygmalion, who can gaze, At will, upon so beautiful a face.

PYG. Hus.h.!.+ Galatea--in thine innocence Thou sayest things that others would reprove.

GAL. Indeed, Pygmalion; then it is wrong To think that one is exquisitely fair?

PYG. Well, Galatea, it's a sentiment That every woman shares with thee; They think it--but they keep it to themselves.

GAL. And is thy wife as beautiful as I?

PYG. No, Galatea, for in forming thee I took her features--lovely in themselves-- And in the marble made them lovelier still.

GAL. Oh! then I'm not original?

PYG. Well--no-- That is--thou hast indeed a prototype, But though in stone thou didst resemble her, In life, the difference is manifest.

GAL. I'm very glad that I am lovelier than she.

And am I better?

PYG. That I do not know.

GAL. Then she has faults.

PYG. Very few indeed; Mere trivial blemishes, that serve to show That she and I are of one common kin.

I love her all the better for such faults.

GAL. Tell me some faults and I'll commit them now.

PYG. There is no hurry; they will come in time; Though for that matter, it's a grievous sin To sit as lovingly as we sit now.

GAL. Is sin so pleasant? If to sit and talk As we are sitting, be indeed a sin, Why I could sin all day. But tell me, love, Is this great fault that I'm committing now The kind of fault that only serves to show That thou and I are of one common kin?

PYG. Indeed, I'm very much afraid it is.

GAL. And dost thou love me better for such fault?

PYG. Where is the mortal that could answer "no"?

GAL. Why, then I'm satisfied, Pygmalion; Thy wife and I can start on equal terms.

She loves thee?

PYG. Very much.

GAL. I'm glad of that.

I like thy wife.

PYG. And why?

GAL. Our tastes agree.

We love Pygmalion well, and what is more, Pygmalion loves us both. I like thy wife; I'm sure we shall agree.

PYG. [_aside._] I doubt it much.

GAL. Is she within?

PYG. No, she is not within.

GAL. But she'll come back?

PYG. Oh, yes, she will come back.

GAL. How pleased she'll be to know when she returns, That there was some one here to fill her place.

PYG. Yes, I should say she'd be extremely pleased.

GAL. Why, there is something in thy voice which says That thou art jesting. Is it possible To say one thing and mean another?

PYG. Yes, It's sometimes done.

GAL. How very wonderful!

So clever!

PYG. And so very useful.

GAL. Yes.

Teach me the art.

PYG. The art will come in time.

My wife will not be pleased; there--that's the truth.

GAL. I do not think that I shall like thy wife.

Tell me more of her.

PYG. Well--

GAL. What did she say When last she left thee?

PYG. Humph! Well, let me see; Oh! true, she gave thee to me as my wife,-- Her solitary representative; She feared I should be lonely till she came.

And counseled me, if thoughts of love should come, To speak those thoughts to thee, as I am wont To speak to her.

GAL. That's right.

PYG. But when she spoke Thou wast a stone, now thou art flesh and blood, Which makes a difference.

GAL. It's a strange world; A woman loves her husband very much, And cannot brook that I should love him too; She fears he will be lonely till she comes, And will not let me cheer his loneliness; She bids him breathe his love to senseless stone, And when that stone is brought to life--be dumb!

It's a strange world, I cannot fathom it.

PYG. [_aside_]. Let me be brave and put an end to this.

Come Galatea--till my wife returns, My sister shall provide thee with a home; Her house is close at hand.