The tradesman in the nobility how it ended. Retelling of the comedy “The Tradesman among the Nobility” by Moliere

COMEDY CHARACTERS

MR JOURLAIN is a tradesman.

MADAME JOURDAIN is his wife.

LUCILLE is their daughter.

CLEONTE is a young man in love with Lucille.

DORIMENA - marquise.

DORANT - in love with Dorimena.

NICOLE is a maid in Mr. Jourdain's house.

COVIEL - servant of Cleont.

MUSIC TEACHER. MUSIC TEACHER'S STUDENT. DANCE TEACHER. FENCING TEACHER. PHILOSOPHY TEACHER. MUSICIANS. TAILOR. Tailor's Apprentice. TWO LACKEYS. THREE PAGES.

BALLET CHARACTERS

In the first act

SINGER. TWO SINGERS. DANCERS.

In the second act

Tailor's Apprentices (dancing).

In the third act

COOKS (dancing).

In the fourth act

MUFTI. TURKS, MUFTI'S RITE (singing), DERVISHES (singing). TURKS (dancing).

The action takes place in Paris, in the house of Mr. Jourdain.

ACT ONE

The overture is performed by a variety of instruments; in the middle of the scene at the table, a music teacher's student is composing a melody for a serenade ordered by M. Jourdain.

SCENE ONE

A music teacher, a dance teacher, two singers, a singer, two violinists, four dancers.

Music teacher (singers and musicians). Come here, to this room, rest until he arrives.
Dance teacher (for dancers). And you too, stand on this side.
Music teacher (to student). Ready?
STUDENT: Done.
Music teacher. Let's see... Very good.
Dance teacher. Anything new?
Music teacher. Yes, I told the student to compose music for a serenade while our eccentric woke up.
Dance teacher. Can I have a look?
Music teacher. You will hear this along with the dialogue as soon as the owner appears. He'll be out soon.
Dance teacher. Now we are in over our heads with them.
Music teacher. Still would! We found exactly the person we needed. Mr. Jourdain, with his obsession with the nobility and social manners, is just a treasure for us. If everyone became like him, then your dances and my music would have nothing more to wish for.
Dance teacher. My, not really. I would like, for his own good, that he would have a better understanding of the things that we explain to him.
Music teacher. He doesn’t understand them well, but she pays well, and our arts need nothing more now than this.
Dance teacher. I'll admit, I'm a little partial to fame. Applause gives me pleasure, but wasting my art on fools, submitting my creations to the barbaric court of a fool - this, in my opinion, is an intolerable torture for any artist. Whatever you say, it’s nice to work for people who are able to feel the subtleties of this or that art, who know how to appreciate the beauty of works and reward you for your work with flattering signs of approval. Yes, the most pleasant reward is to see that your creation is recognized, that you are honored for it with applause. In my opinion, this is the best reward for all our hardships - the praise of an enlightened person gives inexplicable pleasure.
Music teacher. I agree with this, I also love praise. Indeed, there is nothing more flattering than applause, but you can’t live on incense. Praise alone is not enough for a person; give him something more significant. The best way to reward someone is to put something in your hand. Frankly speaking, our master’s knowledge is not great, he judges everything crookedly and at random and applauds where he should not, but money straightens the crookedness of his judgment, his common sense is in his wallet, his praises are minted in the form of coins, so from this ignorant The tradesman, as you see, is of much more use to us than the enlightened nobleman who brought us here.
Dance teacher. There is some truth in your words, but it seems to me that you attach too much importance to money; Meanwhile, self-interest is something so base that a decent person should not show any special inclination towards it.
Music teacher. However, you calmly take money from our eccentric.
Dance teacher. Of course, I take it, but money is not the main thing for me. If only a little good taste could be added to his wealth - that’s what I would like.
Music teacher. And also, because we both strive for this to the best of our ability. But, be that as it may, thanks to him, people began to pay attention to us in society, and what others will praise, he will pay for.
Dance teacher. And here he is.

PHENOMENA SECOND

The same, M. Jourden, in a dressing gown and nightcap, and two footmen.

Mr. Jourdain. Well, gentlemen? How are you doing there? Will you show me your trinket today?
Dance teacher. What? What trinket?
Mr. Jourdain. Well, this one... What do you call it? It's either a prologue or a dialogue with songs and dances.
Dance teacher. ABOUT! ABOUT!
Music teacher. As you can see, we are ready.
Mr. Jourdain. I hesitated a little, but the point is this: I now dress as the nobility dress, and my tailor sent me silk stockings, so tight - really, I thought that I would never get them on.
Music teacher. We are entirely at your service.
Mr. Jourden I ask you both not to leave until my new suit is brought to me; I want you to look at me.
Dance teacher. As you wish.
Mr. Jourdain. You will see that now I am dressed as I should from head to toe.
Music teacher. We have no doubt about this.
Mr. Jourdain. I made myself a robe from Indian fabric.
Dance teacher. Great robe.
Mr. Jourdain. My tailor assures me that all the nobles wear such robes in the morning.
Music teacher. It suits you amazingly.
Mr. Jourdain. Lackey! Hey, my two lackeys!
The first man. What do you order, sir?
Mr. Jourdain. I won't order anything. I just wanted to check how you obey me. (To the music teacher and dance teacher.) How do you like their liveries?
Dance teacher. Magnificent liveries.
Mr. Jourdain (opens his robe: underneath he has tight red velvet trousers and a green velvet camisole). And here is my home suit for morning exercises.
Music teacher. Abyss of taste!
Mr. Jourdain. Lackey!
First footman. Anything, sir?
Mr. Jourdain. Another lackey!
Second footman. Anything, sir?
Mr. Jourdain (takes off his robe). Hold it. (Music teacher and dance teacher). Well, am I good in this outfit?
Dance teacher. Very good. It couldn't be better.
Mr. Jourdain. Now let's get busy with you.
Music teacher. First of all, I would like you to listen to the music that he (pointing to the student) wrote for the serenade he ordered for you. This is my student, he has amazing abilities for such things.
Mr. Jourdain. It may very well be, but still you shouldn’t have entrusted this to a student. It remains to be seen whether you yourself are fit for such a task, let alone a student.
Music teacher. The word "student" should not confuse you, sir. Students of this kind understand music no less than great masters. In fact, you couldn’t imagine a more wonderful motive. Just listen.

Mr. Jourdain (to the footmen). Dante has a robe, it’s more convenient to listen... However, wait, perhaps it’s better without a robe. No, give me a robe, it will be better.

Singer.

Iris! And I languish, suffering destroys me,
Your stern gaze pierced me like a sharp sword.
When you torture someone who loves you so much,
How terrible you are to the one who dared to incur your wrath!

Mr. Jourdain. In my opinion, this is a rather mournful song, it makes you sleepy. I would ask you to make it a little more fun.
Music teacher. The motive must correspond to the words, sir.
Mr. Jourdain. I was recently taught a very nice song. Wait... now, now... How does it begin?
Dance teacher. Really, I don't know.
Mr. Jourdain. It also talks about a sheep.
Dance teacher. About the sheep?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes Yes. Oh, here it is! (Sings.)

I thought Jeanette
And kind and beautiful,
I considered Jeanette to be a sheep, but oh! -
She is cunning and dangerous.
Like a lioness in virgin forests!

Isn't it a nice song?
Music teacher. Still not nice!
Dance teacher. And you sing it well.
Mr. Jourdain. But I didn’t study music.
Music teacher. It would be good for you, sir, to enjoy not only dancing, but also music. These two types of art are inextricably linked.
Dance teacher. They develop a sense of grace in a person.
Mr. Jourdain. What, noble gentlemen also study music?
Music teacher. Of course, sir.
Mr. Jourdain. Well, I’ll start studying too. I just don’t know when: after all, in addition to a fencing teacher, I also hired a philosophy teacher - he should start studying with me this morning.
Music teacher. Philosophy is important matter, but music, sir, music...
Dance teacher. Music and dancing... Music and dancing are all a person needs.
Music teacher. There is nothing more useful for the state than music.
Dance teacher. There is nothing more necessary for a person than dancing.
Music teacher. Without music, the state cannot exist.
Dance teacher. Without dancing, a person would not be able to share anything.
Music teacher. All strife, all wars on earth arise solely from ignorance of music.
Dance teacher. All human misfortunes, all the misadventures with which history is full, the mistakes of statesmen, the mistakes of great commanders - all this stems solely from the inability to dance.
Mr. Jourdain. How so?
Music teacher. War arises from disagreement between people, doesn't it?
Mr. Jourdain. Right.
Music teacher. And if everyone studied music, wouldn’t it put people in a peaceful mood and contribute to the reign of universal peace on earth?
Mr. Jourdain. And that's true.
Dance teacher. When a person does not act as he should, be it just the father of a family, or a statesman, or a military leader, they usually say about him that he took the wrong step, isn’t it?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, that's what they say.
Dance teacher. What else could cause a wrong step if not the inability to dance?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, I agree with this too. You're both right.
Dance teacher. We say all this so that you understand the advantages and benefits of dancing and music.
Mr. Jourdain. I understand now.
Music teacher. Would you like to familiarize yourself with our writings?
Mr. Jourdain. Anything.
Music teacher. As I already told you, this is my long-standing attempt to express all the passions that music can convey.
Mr. Jourdain. Wonderful.
Music teacher (for singers). Come here. (To Mr. Jourdain.) You must imagine that they are dressed as shepherdesses.
Mr. Jourdain. And what are they always shepherdesses? Always the same.
Dance teacher. When speaking to music, for greater verisimilitude one has to resort to pastoral music. From time immemorial, shepherds have been credited with a love of singing; on the other hand, it would be very unnatural if
if princes or townspeople began to express their feelings in singing.
Mr. Jourdain. Okay, okay. Let's see.

Musical dialogue Singer and two singers.

Hearts in love
always encounter thousands of interferences.
Love brings us both happiness and longing.
No wonder there is such an opinion.
That the sweetest thing for us is not to know the pleasures of love.

The first singer.

No, what is dearest to us is that endless joy,
Which hearts
The lovers are drained.
There can be no bliss on earth without passion.
Who neglects love,
That will never know happiness.

Second singer.

Oh, who would not want love to taste power,
If only passion were not deceptive!
But - ah! - what to do with evil fate?
There is not a single faithful shepherdess here,
And the unworthy sex, disgracing the white world.
Testifies to us that there is no longer any loyalty.

The first singer.
Oh, trembling hearts!

Singer.
O passion in the eyes!

Second singer.
A complete lie!

The first singer.
That moment is dear to me!

Singer.
They are full of joy.

Second singer.
I despise everyone!

The first singer.
Oh, don’t be angry, forget your immeasurable anger!

We'll bring you in now
To a loving and faithful shepherdess.

Second singer.
Alas! There are none worthy among you!

I'm going to the test -
Here's my love.

Second singer.

Who will guarantee in advance.
Why not be deceived again?

He who is faithful, let him prove
Your heart's tender ardor.

Second singer.

Let heaven punish him.
Who shamefully cheated.

All three are in place.

Above us, flaming,
Love's crown burns.
Merging of two hearts -
What could be cuter?

Mr. Jourdain. And it's all?
Music teacher - That's it.
Mr. Jourdain. In my opinion, it was cleverly twisted. Here and there you come across some very interesting words.
Dance teacher. And now it’s my turn: I will offer you a small sample of the most graceful body movements and the most graceful poses that a dance can consist of.
Mr. Jourdain. Shepherds again?
Dance teacher. It's as you please. (To the dancers.) Begin.

BALLET

Four dancers, following the instructions of the Tav teacher, make various movements and perform all kinds of steps.

ACT TWO

SCENE FIFTH

Mr. Jourdain, footman.

Mr. Jourdain. Eh, okay, fight as long as you want? My business is the side, I won’t separate you, otherwise you’ll tear off your robe. You have to be a complete fool to get involved with them: the hour is uneven, they will give you so much heat that you won’t recognize your own people.

SCENE SIX

The same goes for the philosophy teacher.

Philosophy teacher (adjusting his collar). Let's start the lesson.
Mr. Jourdain. Oh, Mr. Teacher, how annoying it is for me that they beat you!
Teacher of philosophy. Nothing. A philosopher must treat everything calmly. I will write a satire on them in the spirit of Juvenal, and this satire will completely destroy them. But enough about that. So what do you want to learn?
Mr. Jourdain. Whatever I can do, because I’m dying to become a scientist, and my father and mother are so angry that I wasn’t taught all the sciences from an early age!
Teacher of philosophy. This is an understandable feeling, nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis imago. This should be clear to you, because you certainly know Latin.
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, but you still talk as if I don’t know her. Explain to me what this means.
Teacher of philosophy. This means: without science, life is like a semblance of death.
Mr. Jourdain. Latin says it all.
Teacher of philosophy. Do you have the basics, the beginnings of any knowledge?
Mr. Jourdain. But of course, I can read and write.
Teacher of philosophy. Where would you like to start? Do you want me to teach you logic?
Mr. Jourdain. What is this thing - logic?
Teacher of philosophy. It is a science that teaches us three processes of thinking.
Mr. Jourdain. Who are they, these three thinking processes?
Teacher of philosophy. First, second and third. The first is to form a correct idea of ​​​​things through universals, the second is to judge them correctly through categories, and, finally, the third is to make a correct inference through figures; Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Fario, Baralipton and so on.
Mr. Jourdain. The words are too tricky. No, logic doesn't suit me. Better something more enticing.
Teacher of philosophy. Do you want to talk about ethics?
Mr. Jourden Ethics?
Teacher of philosophy. Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. What is this ethics about?
Teacher of philosophy. She talks about the happiness of life, teaches people to moderate their passions and...
Mr. Jourdain. No, don't. I’m as hot-tempered as a hundred devils, and no ethics can restrain me: when I’m overcome with anger, I want to rage as much as I want.
Teacher of philosophy. Maybe physics fascinates you?
Mr. Jourdain. What is physics about?
Teacher of philosophy. Physics studies the laws of the external world and the properties of bodies, explains the nature of the elements, the characteristics of metals, minerals, stones, plants, animals and explains the causes of all kinds of atmospheric phenomena, such as: rainbows, will-o'-the-wisps, comets, lightning, thunder, lightning, rain, snow, hail, winds and whirlwinds.
Mr. Jourdain. There's too much chatter, too much fancy stuff.
Teacher of philosophy. So what do you want to do?
Mr. Jourdain. Practice spelling with me.
Teacher of philosophy. With pleasure.
Mr. Jourdain. Then teach me to find out from the calendar when there is a moon and when there is not.
Teacher of philosophy. Fine. If we consider this subject from a philosophical point of view, then, in order to fully satisfy your desire, it is necessary, as order requires, to begin with an accurate concept of the nature of letters and the various ways of pronouncing them. First of all, I must tell you that letters are divided into vowels, so named because they indicate the sounds of the voice, and consonants, so called because they are pronounced with vowels and serve only to indicate various changes in the voice. There are five vowels, or, in other words, vocal sounds: A, E, I, O, U.
Mr. Jourdain. This is all clear to me.
Teacher of philosophy. To pronounce the sound A, you need to open your mouth wide: A.
Mr. Jourdain. Ah, Ah. Yes!
Teacher of philosophy. To pronounce the sound E, you need to bring the lower jaw closer to the upper: A, E.
Messrs. Jourdain. A, E, A, E. Indeed! That's great!
Teacher of philosophy. To pronounce the sound I, you need to bring your jaws even closer together, and pull the corners of your mouth towards your ears: A, E, I.
Mr. Jourdain. A, E, I, I. I. Beep! Long live science!
Teacher of philosophy. To pronounce the sound O, you need to move your jaws apart and bring the corners of your lips closer together: O.
Mr. Jourdain. Oh, Oh. The true truth! A, E, I, O, I, O. Amazing thing! And, Oh, And, Oh.
Teacher of philosophy. The opening of the mouth takes the shape of the same circle through which the sound O is depicted.
Mr. Jourdain. Oh, Oh, Oh. You're right. A. How nice it is to know that you learned something!
Teacher of philosophy. In order to pronounce the sound U, you need to bring the upper teeth closer to the lower ones, without squeezing them, however, and stretch out your lips and also bring them closer together, but so that they are not tightly clenched: U.
Mr. Jourdain. U, U. Absolutely fair! U.
Teacher of philosophy. At the same time, your lips stretch out, as if you are grimacing. That's why, if you want to make a face at someone in mockery, you just have to say: U.
Mr. Jourdain. U, U. That's right! Oh, why didn’t I study before! I would have known all this already.
Teacher of philosophy. Tomorrow we will look at other letters, the so-called consonants.
Mr. Jourdain. Are they as interesting as these?
Teacher of philosophy. Of course. When you pronounce the sound D, for example, you want the tip of your tongue to rest on the top of your upper teeth: YES.
Mr. Jourdain. YES YES. So! Oh, how great, how great!
Teacher of philosophy. To pronounce F, you need to press your upper teeth to your lower lip: FA.
Mr. Jourdain. FA, FA. And that's true! Eh, father and mother, how can we not remember you in a bad way!
Teacher of philosophy. And in order to make the sound R, you need to put the tip of your tongue to the upper palate, however, under the pressure of air, forcefully escaping from the chest, the tongue constantly returns to its original place, which causes some trembling: R-RA.
Mr. Jourdain. R-R-R-RA, R-R-R-R-R-RA. What a young man you are! And I wasted so much time! R-R-R-RA.
Teacher of philosophy. I will explain all these curious things to you in detail.
Mr. Jourdain. Be so kind! And now I have to tell you a secret. I am in love with a high-society lady, and I would like you to help me write her a note, which I am going to drop at her feet.
Teacher of philosophy. Great.
Mr. Jourdain. Surely it would really be polite?
Teacher of philosophy. Certainly. Do you want to write her poetry?
Mr. Jourdain. No, no, not poetry.
Teacher of philosophy. Do you prefer prose?
Mr. Jourdain. No, I don’t want either prose or poetry.
Teacher of philosophy. It’s not possible: it’s either one or the other.
Mr. Jourdain. Why?
Teacher of philosophy. For the reason, sir, that we can express our thoughts only in prose or verse.
Mr. Jourdain. Not otherwise than in prose or poetry?
Teacher of philosophy. Not otherwise, sir. Everything that is not prose is poetry, and everything that is not poetry is prose.
Mr. Jourdain. And when we talk, what will happen?
Teacher of philosophy. Prose.
Mr. Jourdain. What? When I say: “Nope! Bring me shoes and a nightcap,” is this prose?
Teacher of philosophy. Yes, sir.
Mr. Jourdain. Honestly, I had no idea that I had been speaking in prose for over forty years. Thank you very much for telling me. So this is what I want to write to her: “Beautiful marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love,” but is it not possible to say the same thing, but more kindly, to express it somehow more beautifully?
Teacher of philosophy. Tell me that the flame of her eyes has incinerated your heart, that you endure such hard things day and night because of her...
Mr. Jourdain. No, no, no, all this is not necessary. I want to write to her only what I told you: “Beautiful marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.”
Teacher of philosophy. It should have been a little more authentic.
Mr. Jourdain. No, they tell you! I don’t want the note to contain anything other than these words, but they just need to be arranged properly, as is customary these days. Please give me some examples so that I know which order is best to follow.
Teacher of philosophy. The order may, firstly, be the one you established yourself: “Beautiful marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.” Or: “Love promises me death, beautiful marquise, your beautiful eyes.” Or: “Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love, beautiful marquise.” Or: “Your beautiful eyes, beautiful marquise, promise me death from love.” Or: “Your beautiful eyes, beautiful marquise, promise me death.”
Mr. Jourdain. Which of all these methods is the best?
Teacher of philosophy. The one you chose yourself: “Beautiful marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.”
Mr. Jourdain. But I didn’t study anything and yet I came up with it in an instant. I humbly thank you. Please come early tomorrow.
Teacher of philosophy. I won't fail. (Leaves.)<...>

ACT THREE

SCENE ONE

Mr. Jourdain, two footmen.

Mr. Jourdain. Follow me: I want to walk around the city in a new suit, but just make sure you don’t lag behind a single step, so that everyone can see that you are my lackeys.
Lackey. Let's listen, sir.
Mr. Jourdain. Call Nicole here - I need to give her some orders. Wait, she's coming on her own.

PHENOMENA SECOND

Same with Nicole.

Mr. Jourdain. Nicole!
Nicole. Anything?
Mr. Jourdain. Listen...
Nicole (laughs). Hee hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Why are you laughing?
Nicole. Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. What's wrong with you, shameless girl?
Nicole. Hn-hee-hee! Who do you look like? Hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. What's happened?
Nicole. Oh my god! Hee hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. What impudence! Are you laughing at me?
Nicole. No, no, sir, I didn’t even think about it. Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Dare one more time, and you'll get screwed by me!
Nicole. I can't help it, sir. Hee hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Will you get over it or not?
Nicole. Sorry, sir, but you are so hilarious that I can't stop laughing. Hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. No, just think, what impudence!
Nicole. How funny are you now! Hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. I...
Nicole. Exit, please. Hee hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Listen: if you don’t stop this very second, I swear, I will give you such a slap in the face as no one in the world has ever received.
Nicole. If so, sir, you can rest assured: I won’t laugh anymore.
Mr. Jourdain. Well look! Now you will clean it for me...
Nicole. Hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Clean it up properly...
Nicole. Hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Clean it up, I say, as it should for the audience and...
Nicole. Hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. You again?
Nicole. (rolls over laughing). No, sir, it’s better to beat me, but just let me laugh enough - it will be easier for me. Hn-hee-hee-hee-hee!
Mr. Jourdain. You'll drive me crazy!
Nicole. Have mercy, sir, let me laugh. Hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Here I am now...
Nicole. Su... hit... I'll burst... I'll burst if I don't laugh. Hee hee hee!
Mr. Jourdain. Have you seen such a dirty trick? Instead of listening to my orders, he brazenly laughs in my face!
Nicole. What do you want, sir?
Mr. Jourdain. I would like you, swindler, to take the trouble to clean the house: I will soon have guests.
Nicole (stands up). I’m not laughing anymore, honestly! Your guests always make such a mess that the mere thought of them makes me sad.
Mr. Jourdain. Well, because of you, should I keep the door locked from everyone I know?
Nicole. At least from some.

PHENOMENA THIRD

Also Madame Jourdain.

Mrs Jourdain. Ahah! What kind of news is this? What's that outfit you're wearing, hubby? Is it true that he decided to make people laugh when he dressed himself up as such a buffoon? Do you want everyone to point fingers at you?
Mr. Jourdain. Will only fools and idiots point fingers at me?
Mrs Jourdain. Yes, they show: your habits have been making everyone laugh for a long time.
Mr. Jourdain. Who is this “everyone”, let me ask you?
Mrs Jourdain. All reasonable people, all those who are smarter than you. And I’m so ashamed to see what fashion you’ve started. You can't recognize your own house. You might think that every day is a holiday for us: from the very morning they play violins, shout songs, and there is no peace for the neighbors or those around them.
Nicole. And that's true, madam. I won’t be able to keep the house clean if you, sir, bring such an abyss of people to you. Mud is applied directly from all over the city. Poor Françoise is completely exhausted: your dear teachers leave behind, and she leaves my floors every single day after them.
Mr. Jourdain. Wow! That's how maid Nicole is! A simple peasant, but she’s so tongue-in-cheek!
Mrs Jourdain. Nicole is right: she has more intelligence than you. I would like to know why you, at your age, needed a dance teacher?
Nicole. And also this big swordsman - he stomps so hard that the whole house shakes, and in the hall, just behold, the entire parquet floor will turn over.
Mr. Jourdain. Be silent, both you, servant, and you, wife!
Mrs Jourdain. So, are you planning to learn to dance? I found it when: my legs will soon be taken away.
Nicole. Maybe you have a desire to kill someone?
Mr. Jourdain. Keep quiet, they tell you! Both of you are ignorant. Don't you know what benefits this gives me?
Mrs Jourdain. It would be better to think about how to accommodate my daughter; after all, she is already of marriageable age.
Mr. Jourdain. I'll think about it when a suitable match presents itself. In the meantime, I want to think about how I can learn different good things.
Nicole. I also heard, madam, that today, to top it all off, the owner has hired a philosophy teacher.
Mr. Jourdain. Absolutely right. I want to gain some intelligence so that I can talk about anything with decent people.
Mrs Jourdain. Shouldn't you go to school one fine day, so that they can beat you with rods in your old age?
Mr. Jourdain. What's wrong with that? Let them tear me out even now, in front of everyone, just to know everything they teach at school!
Nicole. Yes, that would be good for you.
Mr. Jourdain. Without a doubt.
Mrs Jourdain. This is how all this will come in handy for you on the farm!
Mr. Jourdain. It will definitely come in handy. Both of you are talking about game, I am ashamed that you are so uneducated; (To Madame Jourdain.) For example, do you know how you speak now?
Mrs Jourdain. Certainly. I know what I mean is true and that you need to start living differently.
Mr. Jourdain. That's not what I'm talking about. I ask: what are these words that you just said?
Mrs Jourdain. My words are reasonable, but your behavior is very unreasonable.
Mr. Jourdain. They tell you that's not what I'm talking about. This is what I’m asking: what I’m telling you, what I told you now, what is it?
Mrs Jourdain. Nonsense.
Mr. Jourdain. No, you don't understand me. What we both say, all our speech with you?
Mrs Jourdain. Well?
Mr. Jourdain. How does is called?
Mrs Jourdain. It doesn't matter what you call it.
Mr. Jourdain. Ignorant, this is prose!
Mrs Jourdain. Prose?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, prose. Everything that is prose is not poetry, and everything that is not poetry is prose. Have you seen it? This is what scholarship means! (To Nicole.) Well, what about you? Do you know how to pronounce U?
Nicole. How to pronounce?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes. What do you do when you say U?
Nicole. What?
Mr. Jourdain. Try telling U.
Nicole. Well, W.
Mr. Jourdain. What are you doing?
Nicole. I say: U.
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, but when you say U, what are you doing at that time?
Nicole. I do what you told me.
Mr. Jourdain. Just talk to the fools. You stretch out your lips and bring your upper jaw closer to your lower jaw: U. See? I make a face: U.
Nicole. Yes, nothing to say, cleverly.
Mrs Jourdain. Miracles indeed!
Mr. Jourdain. You wouldn't say the same thing if you saw Oh, YES-YES and FA-FA!
Mrs Jourdain. What kind of nonsense is this?
Nicole. What is all this for?
Mr. Jourdain. These fools will piss anyone off.
Mrs Jourdain. That's it, kick your teachers in the neck and with all their gibberish,
Nicole. And most importantly, this hulk is a fencing teacher: he is nothing but dust.
Mr. Jourdain. Please tell me! You have been given a fencing teacher! Now I’ll prove to you that you don’t understand anything about this. (He orders the rapiers to be brought and hands one of them to Nicole.) Here, look: a clear example, the line of the body. When they prick you with a quart, you have to do it this way, and when you’re being stabbed with a terce, you have to do it like this. Then no one will kill you, and during a fight this is the most important thing - to know that you are safe. Well, try, stab me once!
Nicole. Well, I’ll stab you! (Stabs Mr. Jourdain several times.)
Mr. Jourdain. Quiet! Hey Hey! Be careful! Damn you, bad girl!
Nicole. You yourself ordered the injections.
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, but you shoot with a terce first instead of a quart, and you don't have the patience to wait for me to parry.
Mrs Jourdain. You're obsessed with all these fads, hubby. And this began for you from the moment you decided to associate with important gentlemen.
Mr. Jourdain. The fact that I mess around with important gentlemen shows my common sense: it’s infinitely better than messing around with your philistines.
Mrs Jourdain. Yes, there is nothing to say: the good that you made friends with the nobles, oh, how great! Take this handsome count, about whom you are crazy: what a profitable acquaintance!
Mr. Jourdain. Be silent! Think first, and then let your tongue run wild. Do you know, wife, that you don't know who you're talking about when you talk about him? You can’t imagine what a significant person this is: he is a real nobleman, he enters the palace, talks to the king himself, that’s how I talk to you. Is it not a great honor for me that such a high-ranking person constantly visits my house, calls me a dear friend and stands on an equal footing with me? It would never even occur to anyone what kind of services the Count provides me, and in front of everyone he is so affectionate with me that I really feel embarrassed.
Mrs Jourdain. Yes, he provides you with services, he is affectionate with you, but he also borrows money from you.
Mr. Jourdain. So what? Isn’t it an honor for me to lend to such a noble gentleman? Can I refuse such a trifle to a nobleman who calls me a dear friend?
Mrs Jourdain. What kind of favors does this nobleman do for you?
Mr. Jourdain. Such that no one will believe who you tell.
Mrs Jourdain. For example?
Mr. Jourdain. Well, I won’t tell you that. Be satisfied that he will pay me his debt in full, and very soon.
Mrs Jourdain. Well, just wait!
Mr. Jourdain. For sure. He told me himself!
Mrs Jourdain. Hold your pocket wider.
Mr. Jourdain. He gave me his word of honor as a nobleman.
Mrs Jourdain. Liars!
Mr. Jourdain. Wow! What a stubborn woman you are! And I’m telling you that he will keep his word, I’m sure of it.
Mrs Jourdain. But I am sure that he will not hold back and that all his pleasantries are just a deception and nothing more.
Mr. Jourdain. Shut up! That's exactly him.
Mrs Jourdain. This was just what was missing! That's right, I came again to ask you for a loan. It's sickening to look at him.
Mr. Jourdain. Keep quiet, they tell you!

SCENE FOUR

Same with Dorant.

D o ran t. Hello, Mr. Jourdain! How are you, dear friend?
Mr. Jourdain. Excellent, Your Excellency. Welcome.
D o ran t. And how is Madame Jourdain?
Mrs Jourdain. Madame Jourdain lives small.
DORANT: However, Mr. Jourdain, what a dandy you are today!
Mr. Jourdain. Here, look.
D o ran t. You look impeccable in this suit. There is not a single young man at our court who is as well built as you.
Mr. Jourdain. Hehe!
Mrs Jourdain. (to the side). Knows how to get into the soul.
D o ran t. Turn around. The height of grace.
Mrs Jourdain. (to the side). Yes, the back is just as stupid as the front.
DORANT: I ​​give you my word, Mr. Jourdain, I had an unusually strong desire to see you. I have a very special respect for you: only this morning I spoke about you in the royal bedchamber.
Mr. Jourdain. It is a great honor for me, Your Excellency. (To Madame Jourdain.) In the royal bedchamber!
D o ran t. Put on your hat.
Mr. Jourdain. I respect you too much, Your Excellency.
D o ran t. My God, put it on! No ceremony please.
Mr. Jourdain. Your Majesty...
D o ran t. They tell you, put it on, Mr. Jourdain: after all, you are my friend.
Mr. Jourdain. Your Excellency! I am your humble servant.
DORANT: If you don’t wear a hat, then I won’t wear it either.
Mr. Jourdain (putting on his hat). It is better to appear discourteous than intractable.
DORANT: As you know, I am your debtor.
Madame Jourdain (aside). Yes, we know this too well.
DORANT: You were so generous that you repeatedly lent me money and, it should be noted, showed the greatest delicacy in doing so.
Mr. Jourdain. If you would like to joke, your Excellency.
DORANT: However, I consider it my indispensable duty to pay debts and know how to appreciate the kindnesses shown to me.
Mr. Jourdain. I have no doubt about it.
DORANT: I ​​intend to get even with you. Let's calculate together how much I owe you.
Mr. Jourdain (to Mrs. Jourdain, quietly). Well, wife? Do you see what false accusations you made against him?
D o ran t. I like to pay as quickly as possible.
Mr. Jourdain (to Mrs. Jourdain, quietly). What did I tell you?
D o ran t. So, let's see how much I owe you.
Mr. Jourdain (to Mrs. Jourdain, quietly). Here they are, your ridiculous suspicions!
DORANT: Do you remember well how much you lent me?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, I think so. I wrote it down for memory. Here it is, this very recording. For the first time, two hundred louis d'or were given to you.
D o ran t. That's right.
Mr. Jourdain. You have also been given one hundred and twenty.
D o r a n t. Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. You have also been given one hundred and forty.
D o ran t. You are right.
Mr. Jourdain. The total amount is four hundred and sixty louis, or five thousand and sixty livres.
D o ran t. The calculation is quite correct. Five thousand sixty livres.
Mr. Jourdain. One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two livres to your supplier of hat feathers.
D o ran t. Absolutely.
Mr. Jourdain. Two thousand seven hundred and eighty livres to your tailor.
D o ran t. That's right.
Mr. Jourdain. Four thousand three hundred and seventy-nine livres twelve sous eight deniers to your shopkeeper.
D o ran t. Excellent. Twelve sous eight denier - the calculation is correct.
Mr. Jourdain. And another thousand seven hundred and forty-eight livres, seven sous four hundred deniers - to your saddlemaker.
D o ran t. All this is true. How much is it?
Mr. Jourdain. Total fifteen thousand eight hundred livres.
D o ran t. The result is correct. Fifteen thousand eight hundred livres. Give me another two hundred pistoles and add them to the total amount - you get exactly eighteen thousand francs, which I will return to you in the very near future.
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). Well, was I right?
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). Leave me alone!
D o ran t. Will my request bother you?
Mr. Jourdain. Have mercy!
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). You are a cash cow for him.
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). Shut up!
D o ran t. If you are uncomfortable, I will turn to someone else.
Mr. Jourdain. No, no, your Excellency.
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). He won't rest until he ruins you.
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). They tell you to be quiet!
D o r a n t. Tell me directly, don’t be shy.
Mr. Jourdain. Not at all, Your Excellency.
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). This is a real rogue.
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). Shut up!
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). He will suck every last penny out of you.
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). Will you shut up?
DORANT: Many people would be happy to lend me a loan, but you are my best friend, and I was afraid that I would offend you if I asked someone else.
Mr. Jourdain. Too much honor for me, Your Excellency. Now I'm going to get some money.
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). What? Do you still want to give him?
Mr. Jourdain. (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). But what should we do? How can I refuse such an important person who was talking about me in the royal bedchamber this morning?
Mrs Jourdain. (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). Oh, come on, you complete fool!
Monsieur Jourdain and two footmen leave.

SCENE EIGHTH

Nicole, Cleont, Koviel.

Nicole (to Cleonta). Oh, how on time you are! I am the messenger of your happiness and I want you...
KLEONT. Go away, treacherous one, don’t you dare seduce me with your deceitful speeches!
Nikol. Is this how you meet me?
CLEONTE Go away, they tell you, go now to your unfaithful mistress and declare that she will no longer be able to deceive the simple-minded Cleonte.
Nikol. What kind of nonsense is this? My dear Koviel! Just tell me: what does all this mean?
K o v e l . “My dear Koviel,” wicked girl! Well, get out of my sight, you such a piece of trash, leave me alone!
Nicole. How? And are you there too?..
K o v e l . Get out of my sight, they tell you, don’t you dare talk to me again!
Nicole (to herself). Here's your time! What fly bit them both? I’ll go tell the young lady about this sweet incident. (Leaves.)

SCENE NINE

Kleont, Koviel.

KLEONT. How! To do this to your admirer, and even to the most faithful and most passionate of admirers!
K o v e l . It’s terrible how we were both treated here!
CLEONTE I lavish on her all the ardor and all the tenderness that I am capable of. I love her alone in the whole world and I think only about her. She is the only subject of all my thoughts and all my desires, she is my only joy. I talk only about her, I think only about her, I see only her in my dreams, my heart beats only for her, I breathe only for her. And here is a worthy reward for this devotion of mine! We didn’t see each other for two days; they dragged on for me like two painful centuries; Finally, an unexpected meeting, my soul rejoiced, my face was filled with a blush of happiness, in an enthusiastic impulse I rush towards her, and what? The unfaithful one doesn’t look at me, she walks past, as if we were completely, completely strangers!
K o v e l . I'm ready to say the same thing.
CLEONTE So what can be compared, Koviel, with the cunning of the heartless Lucille?
K o v e l . And what compares, sir, with the deceit of the vile Nicole?
CLEONTE And I, after such fiery self-sacrifice, after so many sighs and vows that her charm wrested from me!
K o v e l . After such persistent courtship, after so many attentions and services that I provided her in the kitchen!
KLEONT. So many tears that I shed at her feet!
K o v e l . So many buckets of water that I carried from the well for her!
KLEONT. How ardently I loved her - I loved her to the point of complete self-forgetfulness!
K o v e l . How hot it was for me when I was busy with the spit for her - hot to the point of complete exhaustion!
KLEONT. And now she passes by, clearly neglecting me!
K o v e l . And now she disgustingly turns her back to me!
CLEONTE This treachery deserves to be punished.
K o v e l . This treachery deserves to be slapped in the face.
KLEONT: Look at me, don’t even think about interceding for her!
K o v e l . Me, sir? Intercede? God forbid!
Kleont. Don’t you dare justify the action of this traitor.
K o v e l . Do not worry.
KLEONT. Don’t try to protect her - it’s a waste of time.
K o v e l . Yes, I have no idea about this!
KLEONT. I won’t forgive her for this and will break off all relations with her.
K o v e l . You'll do well.
KLEONT. Apparently, her head was turned by this count, who visits their house; and I am convinced that she was flattered by his nobility. However, out of a sense of honor, I cannot allow her to be the first to announce her infidelity. I see that she is striving for a break, and I intend to get ahead of her; I don’t want to give up the palm to her.
K o v e l . Well said. For my part, I fully share your feelings.
CLEONTE So fuel my annoyance and support me in a decisive battle with the remnants of love for her, so that they do not raise a voice in her defense. Please tell me as many bad things as possible about her. Show her to me in the darkest light and, in order to disgust me, carefully highlight all her shortcomings.
K o v e l . Her shortcomings, sir? But this is a scrapper, a pretty, fidgety girl - they really found someone to fall in love with! I don’t see anything special in her; there are hundreds of girls much better than her. Firstly, her eyes are small.
CLEONTE It’s true that her eyes are small, but they are the only eyes in the world: there is so much fire in them, they sparkle, pierce, touch.
K o v e l . Her mouth is big.
KLEONT Yes, but he is fraught with a special charm: this mouth involuntarily excites, there is so much captivating and enchanting in it that no other can compare with it.
K o v e l . She is not tall.
KLEONT. Yes, but she is graceful and well-built.
K o v e l . She is deliberately careless in her speech and movements.
KLEONT. True, but it will give her a peculiar charm. She behaves charmingly, she has so much charm that it is impossible not to submit to her.
K o v e l . As for the mind...
KLEONT. Oh, Koviel, what a subtle, what a lively mind she has!
K o v e l . She says...
KLEONT She ​​says wonderfully.
K o v e l . She is always serious.
KLEONT: Do you need her to be funny, to be a laugher? What could be more intolerable than a woman who is always ready to laugh?
K o v e l . But she is the most capricious woman in the world.
KLEONT. Yes, she is capricious, I agree with you here, but a beauty can afford anything, a beauty can be forgiven for anything.
K o v e l . Well, then, apparently, you will never stop loving her.
KLEONT. Will I stop loving you? No, death is better. I will hate her with the same intensity with which I loved her before.
K o v e l . How can you do this if, in your opinion, she is the height of perfection?
Cleontus. This is precisely where the amazing power of my revenge will be reflected, this is precisely where the strength of my spirit will be reflected, that I will hate and leave her, despite all her beauty, despite all her attractiveness to me. , despite all her charm... But here she is.

SCENE TENTH

The same ones, Lucille and Nicole.

Nikol (to Lucille). At least I was deeply outraged.
L u s i l . All this, Nicole, because of what I just reminded you of... Oh, he's here!
Kleont (to Koviel). I don't even want to talk to her.
K o v e l . And I will follow your example.
L u s i l . What does this mean, Cleont? What happened to you?
Nikol. What's the matter with you, Koviel?
L u s i l . Why are you so sad?
Nikol. Why are you pouting?
L u s i l . Are you speechless, Cleontes?
Nikol. Is your tongue stuck out, Koviel?
KLEONT. What a villain!
K o v e l . Here is Judas.
L u s i l . I see that you were upset by our meeting today.
Kleont (to Koviel). Yeah! They realized what they had done.
Nikol. You were probably struck to the quick by the way we behaved this morning.
K o v e l . (Cleontos). Cats know whose meat they have eaten.
L u s i l . After all, this is the only reason for your annoyance, isn’t it, Cleont?
KLEONT: Yes, insidious one, if you want to know, that’s exactly it. But I only warn you that your betrayal will not bring you joy: I myself intend to break up with you, I will deprive you of the right to believe that it was you who pushed me away. Of course, it will not be easy for me to overcome my feeling, I will be overcome by melancholy, I will suffer for some time, but I will overcome myself, and it would be better for me to tear my heart out of my chest than to succumb to weakness and return to you.
K o v e l . (to Nicole). And where he goes, I go too.
L u s i l . That's a lot of ado about nothing! I’ll explain to you now, Cleont, why I avoided meeting with you this morning.
KLEONT (trying to get away from Lucille). I don't want to listen to anything.
Nikol. (Koviel). I’ll tell you now why we passed by so quickly.
K o v e l . (trying to get away from Nicole). I don't want to know anything.
Lucille (follows Cleont). So this morning...
Cleonte (without looking at Lucille, heads towards the exit). Once again: no.
Nikol (follows Koviel). If only you knew...
K o v e l . (without looking at Nicole, he heads towards the exit). Pretender, leave me alone!
L u s i l . Listen!
Kleon T. The end of everything.
Nikol. Let me tell you!
K o v e l . I'm deaf.
L u s i l . Cleont!
C l e o i t. No, no!
Nikol. Koviel.!
K o v e l . No no!
L u s i l . Wait!
KLEONT. Fables!
Nikol. Listen!
K o v e l . Nonsense!
L u s i l . Wait a minute!
KLEONT. No way!
Nikol. A little patience!
K o v e l . Nonsense.
L u s i l . Just two words!
KLEONT. It's over, no, no!
Nikol. One word!
K o v e l . We are strangers.
LUCIL (stops). Well, since you want to listen to me, then stay with your opinion and do as you please.
Nikol (also stops). If so, do as you please.
CLEONTE (turns to Lucille). It is interesting, however, to know the reason for your charming behavior.
Lucille (trying to get away from Cleont). I have lost all desire to talk about this with you.
Koviel (turns to Nicole). Let's listen, however, to what's going on here.
Nikol (wants to leave Koviel). I have lost all desire to explain this to you.
CLEONTE (follows Lucille). Tell me... Lucille (without looking at Cleontes, heads towards the exit). I won't tell you anything.
K o v e l . (follows Nicole). Explain to me...
Nikol (without looking at Koviel, heads towards the exit). I won't explain anything
KLEONT. O, have mercy!
L u s i l . Once again: no!
K o v e l . Be so kind!
Nikol. The end of everything.
KLEONT. I pray to you!
L u s i l . Go away!
K o v e l . Please!
Nikol. Get out!
C l e o n t. Lucille!
L u s i l . No no!
K o v e l . Nicole!
Nikol. No no!
KLEONT. For God's sake!
L u s i l . I don't want to!
K o v e l . So, say!
Nikol. Never.
KLEONT. Shed some light!
L u s i l . I won't even think about it.
K o v e l . Open your eyes to me!
Nikol. There was a hunt.
CLEONTE Well, if you don’t want to take the trouble to dissuade me and explain your behavior, which my love flame did not deserve, then, ungrateful, you see me for the last time: I’m leaving, and in separation from you, I will die of grief and love.
K o v e l . (to Nicole). And I follow him.
L u s i l . (To Cleont, who is about to leave). Cleont!
Nikol. (To Koviel, who follows his master). Koviel!
CLEONTE (stops). What?
Kovel (also stops). Well?
L u s i l . Where are you going?
KLEONT: I ​​told you.
L u s i l . How! Do you want to die?
Kleo and t. Oh yes, cruel one, you want it yourself.
K o v e l . We went to die.
L u s i l . I? I want you dead?
KLEONT: Yes, you want.
L u s i l . Who told you?
CLEONTE (approaches Lucille). How can you not, when you don’t want to resolve my doubts?
L u s i l . What do I have to do with it? If you had deigned to listen to me from the very beginning, I would have told you that my old aunt, with whom we walked together, was to blame for the morning incident that caused you such offense: I am firmly convinced. what if a man, God forbid, approached a girl, by doing so he has already dishonored her, he always reads sermons about this to us and tries to convince us that men are demons and that we need to run away from them without looking back.
Nikol (to Koviel). That's the whole secret.
CLEONTE: Aren't you deceiving me, Lucille?
K o v e l . (to Nicole). Aren't you fooling me?
Lucille (to Cleont). All this is the absolute truth.
Nikol (to Koviel). That's how it was.
K o v e l . (Cleontos). Well, should we believe them?
CLEONTE Ah, Lucille, you only have to say one word - and the worries of my soul immediately subside! How easily we are convinced by those we love!
K o v e l . Well, these damn dolls are so clever at cajoling our brother!

SCENE ELEVENTH

Same with Madame Jourdain.

Mrs Jourdain. I’m very glad to see you, Cleont, you’re just in time. My husband will come now; Take this opportunity and ask him for Lucille's hand in marriage.
KLEONT. Ah, madam, how gratifying it is for me to hear your words and how they coincide with my desires! What could be more pleasant for me than this order, what could be more valuable to me than this benefit?

SCENE TWELVE

The same goes for Mr. Jourdain.

Kleont. Mr. Jourdain! I decided not to resort to anyone’s mediation in order to turn to you with a request that concerns my long-standing dream. This request is too important for me, and I thought it necessary to express it to you myself. So, I will tell you without hesitation that the honor of being your son-in-law would be the highest mercy for me, and it is this mercy that I ask you to grant me.
Mr. Jourdain. Before I give you an answer, sir, I will ask you to tell me: are you a nobleman or not?
KLEONT. Sir! Most would answer this question in the affirmative without hesitation. Words are cheap these days. People without a twinge of conscience assign themselves the title of nobility - this kind of theft, apparently, has become a custom. But I admit, I am more scrupulous about this. I believe that every deception casts a shadow on a decent person. To be ashamed of those from whom heaven destined you to be born, to shine in society with a fictitious title, to pretend to be something other than what you really are - this, in my opinion, is a sign of spiritual baseness. Of course, my ancestors held honorary positions, I myself served with honor for six years in the army, and my fortune is such that I hope to take not the last place in the world, but, with all that, I do not intend to assign myself the title of nobility, despite the fact that that many in my place would consider themselves entitled to do this, and I will tell you straight; I am not a nobleman.
Mr. Jourdain. It’s over, sir: my daughter is not for you.
KLEONT. How?
Mr. Jourdain. You are not a nobleman, you will not get my daughter.
Mrs Jourdain. What does it have to do with being a nobleman or not a nobleman! Are you and I descended from the side of Saint Louis?
Mr. Jourdain. Shut up, wife, I see what you're getting at.
Mrs Jourdain. Are you and I not from honest bourgeois families?
Mr. Jourdain. Your tongue is boneless, wife!
Mrs Jourdain. Weren't our parents merchants?
Mr. Jourdain. These women! Words won't be allowed to be said. If your parent was a merchant, so much the worse for him, but only evil tongues can say that about my parent. In a word, I want my son-in-law to be a nobleman.
Mrs Jourdain. Your daughter needs a suitable husband; It is better for her to marry an honest, rich and stately man than to marry a poor and awkward nobleman.
Nikol. That's right! In our village, the master's son is such a lout and such a blockhead as I have never seen in my life.
Mr. Jourdain (to Nicole). Shut up, impudent one! Always interfering in the conversation. I have enough good things in store for my daughter, the only thing missing is honor, so I want her to be a marquise.
Mrs Jourdain. Marquise?
Mr. Jourdain. Dated by the marquise.
Mrs Jourdain. God save and have mercy!
Mr. Jourdain. It's a done deal.
Mrs Jourdain. And I don’t agree to this at all. Don't expect anything good from an unequal marriage. I don’t want my son-in-law to reproach my daughter with his parents and for their children to be ashamed to call me grandmother. One fine day she will happen to roll up to me in a carriage, and if she inadvertently forgets to show up to one of her neighbors, then why won’t they say anything about her? “Look, they will say, at Madame Marquise! See how he swaggers! This is Mr. Jourdain’s daughter; as a child, she considered it a great happiness to play with us. Before, she was not so arrogant, because both her grandfathers traded cloth near the Gate of St. Innocent. We made a fortune for the children, and now, guess what, in the next world, oh, how they are paying for it, because an honest person will never get rich like that.” I can't stand this gossip. In short, I want my son-in-law to be grateful to me for my daughter and so that I can simply tell him: “Sit down, son-in-law, have lunch with us.”
Mr. Jourdain. This is where all your petty soul came into play: you should have vegetated in insignificance all your life. Enough talk! In spite of everyone, my daughter will be a marquise, and if you anger me even more, I will make her a duchess. (Leaves.)

SCENE THIRTEEN

Cleont, Coviel, Lucille, Nicole, Madame Jourdain.

Mrs Jourdain. Don't be discouraged, Cleont. (To Lucille.) Let's go, daughter. Just tell your father that; If I don’t marry Cleontes, then I won’t marry anyone, they say.
Mrs Jourdain. Lucille and Nicole leave.

SCENE FOURTEEN

Kleont, Koviel

K o v e l . Your nobility has helped you a lot!
KLEONT. What can you do! I am unusually scrupulous on this score, and breaking myself is beyond my strength.
K o v e l . And who himself ordered to take such a person seriously? Can't you see that he's crazy? Well, why did you have to condescend to his weakness?
Cleont. Your truth, but I could not imagine that in order to become the son-in-law of Mr. Jourdain, it is necessary to present letters of nobility.
K o v e l . (laughs). Ha ha ha!
KLEONT. Why are you laughing?
K o v e l . I have decided to play a joke with our smart guy, thanks to which you will achieve your goal.
KLEONT. What is it?
K o v e l . Amazing little thing!
KLEONT. But what exactly?
K o v e l . We recently had a masquerade here, and for my idea this is exactly what I need: I’m thinking of using this to fool our simpleton. Of course, you will have to play a comedy, but with such a person you can do anything, and there is nothing special to think about here: he will play his role wonderfully and, no matter what tales they tell him, he will treat everything with complete confidence. I have both the actors and the costumes ready, just give me complete freedom.
KLEONT. But teach me...
K o v e l . Now I’ll explain everything to you... Let’s get out of here; there he is again.

Cleont and Koviel leave.

SCENE FIFTEEN

Mr. Jourdain is alone.

Mr. Jourdain. What the hell! Every now and then my acquaintance with nobles pricks my eyes, but for me there is nothing more pleasant in the world than such acquaintances. They give only honor and respect. I would allow two fingers on my hand to be cut off if only I could be born a count or a marquis.<...>

ACT FOUR

SCENE FIFTH

Mr. Jourdain, Coviel, in disguise.

K o v e l . I don’t know, sir, whether I have the honor of being your acquaintance.
Mr. Jourdain. No, sir.
K o v e l . (points with his hand a foot from the floor). And I knew you like this. Mr. Jourdain. Me?
K o v e l . Yes. You were a lovely child, and all the ladies took you in their arms and kissed you.
Mr. Jourdain. Me? Kissed?
K o v e l . Yes, I was a close friend of your late father.
Mr. Jourdain. My late father?
K o v e l . Yes. This was a real nobleman.
Mr. Jourdain. As you said?
K o v e l . I said that he was a real nobleman.
Mr. Jourdain. Who is my father?
K o v e l . Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. Did you know him well?
K o v e l . Of course!
Mr. Jourdain. And you knew him and the nobleman?
K o v e l . Of course.
Mr. Jourdain. After that, trust people?
K o v e l . And what?
Mr. Jourdain. There are such idiots who claim that he was a merchant!
K o v e l . A merchant? Yes, this is an obvious slander, he was never a merchant. You see, he was an extremely courteous person, extremely helpful, and since he had an excellent understanding of fabrics, he constantly walked around the shops, chose which ones he liked, ordered them to be taken to his house, and then gave them to friends for money.
Mr. Jourdain. I am very glad that I met you: I think you will not refuse to testify that my father was a nobleman.
K o v e l . I am ready to confirm this to everyone.
Mr. Jourdain. You will greatly oblige me. How can I serve you?
K o v e l . From the time when I was friends with your late father, as I already told you, with this real nobleman, I managed to travel all over the world.
Mr. Jourdain, The whole world?
K o v e l . Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. It must be very far away.
K o v e l . Certainly. It’s only been four days since I returned from a long journey, and since I take a close part in everything that concerns you, I considered it my duty to come and tell you extremely pleasant news for you.
Mr. Jourdain. Which one?
K o v e l . Do you know that the son of the Turkish Sultan is here?
Mr. Jourdain. No, we don't know.
K o v e l . How so? He has a brilliant retinue, everyone comes running to look at him, he is received among us as an extremely important person.
Mr. Jourdain. By God, I don’t know anything.
K o v e l . The important thing for you here is that he is in love with your daughter.
Mr. Jourdain. Son of the Turkish Sultan?
K o v e l . Yes. And he aims to be your son-in-law.
Mr. Jourdain. To be my son-in-law? Son of the Turkish Sultan?
K o v e l . The son of the Turkish Sultan is your son-in-law. I visited him, I know the Turkish language perfectly, we got to talking, and among other things he told me: “Aksyam krok soler onsh alla mustaf gidelum amanakhem varahini ussere karbulat?” - that is: “Have you seen a young and beautiful girl, the daughter of Mr. Jourdain, a Parisian nobleman?”
Mr. Jourdain. The son of the Turkish Sultan said that about me?
K o v e l . Yes. I replied that I know you well and have seen your daughter, but he told me this; “Ah, marababa syakhem!” - that is: “Oh, how I love her!”
Mr. Jourdain. “Marababa sachem” means: “Oh, how I love her!”
K o v e l . Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. It’s good that you said, I myself would never have guessed that “marababa sachem” means: “Oh, how I love her.” What an amazing language!
K o v e l . How amazing! Do you know what “kakarakamushen” means? Mr. Jourdain. "Kakarakamushen"? No.
K o v e l . It means “my darling.”
Mr. Jourdain. “Kakarakamushi” means “my darling!”
K o v e l . Yes.
Mr. Jourdain. Miracles! “Kakarakamushen” - “my darling”! Who would have thought! Simply amazing!
K o v e l . So, fulfilling his instructions, I bring to your attention that he came here to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, and so that the future father-in-law in his position would be worthy of him, he intended to make you “mamamushi” - that is their high rank.
Mr. Jourdain. In "mamamushi"?
K o v e l . Yes. “Mamamushi”, in our opinion, is the same as a paladin. For the ancients, a paladin is... in a word, a paladin. This is the most honorable rank that exists in the world - you will be on a par with the most distinguished nobles.
Mr. Jourdain. The son of the Turkish Sultan does me great honor. Please take me to him: I want to thank him.
K o v e l . For what? He will come to you himself.
Mr. Jourdain. Will he come to me?
K o v e l . Yes, and he will bring with him everything you need for your initiation ceremony.
Mr. Jourdain. He's too fast.
K o v e l . His love cannot be delayed.
Mr. Jourdain. One thing confuses me: my daughter is stubborn and has fallen head over heels in love with a certain Cleonte and swears that she will only marry him.
K o v e l . She will change her mind as soon as she sees the son of the Turkish Sultan. In addition, there is one extraordinary coincidence: the fact is that the son of the Turkish Sultan and Cleont are like two peas in a pod. I saw this Cleonte, they showed him to me... So the feeling that she has for one can easily transfer to another, and then... However, I hear the steps of the Turk. Here he is.

SCENE SIX

The same is Cleont, dressed as a Turk; three pages carry the skirts of his caftan.

Kleont. Ambusakhim oki boraf, Dzhiurdina, selam aleikum.
K o v e l . (to Mr. Jourdain). This will begin: “Mr. Jourdain! May your heart bloom all year round, like a rosebush.” They express it so elegantly.
Mr. Jourdain. I am the most humble servant of His Turkish Highness.
K o v e l . Karigar kamboto ustin moraf.
Kleont. Ustin yok katamaleki basum base alla moran.
K o v e l . He says: “May heaven send down upon you the strength of a lion and the wisdom of a serpent.”
Mr. Jourdain. His Turkish Highness honors me too much, but I, for my part, wish every possible well-being.
K o v e l . Ossa binamen sadok babally orakaf uram.
Kleont. Nibel months.
K o v e l . He says that you should immediately go with him to prepare for the ceremony, and that your son-in-law should take him to his daughter to conclude a marriage alliance.
Mr. Jourdain. Did he express so much in three words?
K o v e l . Yes. This is the Turkish language: only a few but a lot is said. Go with him quickly.

Mr. Jourdain. Cleont and the three pages leave.

SCENE SEVEN

Koviel is alone.

K o v e l . Ha ha ha! Fun, really, fun! Such a fool! Had he learned his role in advance, he still could not have played it better. Ha ha ha!

SCENE EIGHTH

Koviel, Dorant

K o v e l . Sir! Please help us with one business that we have started in this house. Dorant, Ha-ha-ha! Is that you, Koviel? You're simply unrecognizable. How did you dress up like that?
K o v e l . As you can see. Ha ha ha!
D o ran t. Why are you laughing?
K o v e l . It’s a very funny story, sir, that’s why I laugh.
D o ran t. What is this?
K o v e l . I bet, sir, that you will not guess what trap we have prepared for Monsieur Jourdain so that he agrees to the marriage of his daughter to my master.
D orant. I don’t guess what kind of trap this is, but I guess that its success is guaranteed as soon as you take up the matter.
K o v e l . Of course, sir, you know what kind of animal we are hunting.
D o ran t. Tell me what you are up to.
K o v e l . Take the trouble to step aside, otherwise they’re already coming here, you have to let them through. You will see part of the comedy, I will tell you the rest.

SCENE NINE

Turkish ceremony.

Mufti, singing dervishes, dancing Turks, mufti's retinue.

FIRST BALLET PERFORMANCE

Six Turks walk solemnly in pairs to the music. They carry three carpets and, after dancing several figures, raise the carpets above their heads. The singing Turks come under these carpets and then line up on both sides of the stage. The mufti and the dervishes bring up the rear of the procession. Next, the Turks spread carpets and kneel, the mufti and dervishes stand in the middle. The mufti, with various antics and grimaces, but without words, calls on Mohammed, and at this time the Turks who make up his retinue prostrate themselves and sing “Alla”, then raise their hands to the sky and again sing “Alla”, and so on until the end of the mufti’s prayer, after why they all rise from the floor and sing “Alla Ekber”, and two dervishes follow Mr. Jourdain.

ACT TEN

The same is Mr. Jourdain, dressed as a Turk, with a shaved head, without a turban and without a saber.

M u f t i y (to Mr. Jourdain).

When you know
Then answer.
You don't know when.
Then keep quiet.

I'm the mufti here.
Who are you?
Don't understand?
Shut up, shut up!

Two dervishes take M. Jourdain away.

SCENE ELEVENTH

Mufti, dervishes, Turks, mufti's retinue.

Mufti. Tell me, Turks, who is he? Anabaptist? Anabaptist?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Zwinglista?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Koffista?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Husita and Morista? Fronista?
Turks. Yock. Yock. Yock.
Mufti. Yock. Yock. Yock. Pagan?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Lutheran?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Puritan?
Turks. Yock.
Mufti. Brahmin? Moffina? Zurina?
Turks. Yock. Yock. Yock.
Mufti. Yock. Yock. Yock. Mohammedan? Mohammedan?
Turks. Hey wallah! Hey wallah!
Mufti. What's your nickname? What's your nickname?
Turks. Giurdina. Giurdina.
Mufti (jumping up). Giurdina. Jnurdina.
Turks. Jnurdina. Giurdnna.
Mufti.
Master Mohammed!
I ask for Giurdin
Make him a paladin,
Give him a halberdine
And send Palestine
On the galley brigantine
And with all the Saracens
Fight a Christian.
Mr. Mohammed
I ask for Dzhnurdin.

Karosh Turk Dzhnurdin?
Turks. Hey vyalla! Hey wallah!
Mufti (sings and dances). Ha-la-ba, ba-la-shu, ba-la-ba, ba-la-da.
Turks. Ha-la-ba, ba-la-shu, ba-la-ba, ba-la-da.

The mufti and dervishes leave.

SCENE TWELVE

Turks singing and dancing.

SCENE THIRTEEN

The same, Mufti, dervishes, Mr. Jourdain.

SECOND BALLET EXIT

The mufti walks ahead; on the head of the mufti is an incredibly large ceremonial turban, to which lighted candles are attached in several rows; behind him are two dervishes in pointed hats, on which there are also lit candles, carrying the Koran. Two friends of the dervishes bring Mr. Jourdain in and put him on his knees, so that his hands touch the ground, and his back serves as a stand for the Koran: the mufti puts the Koran on his back and again begins, clowning, to call on Mohammed: he shifts his eyebrows, from time to time hits his hand on Koran and quickly turns the pages, then raises his hands to the sky and exclaims: “Goo!” During this second ceremony, the Turks who make up his retinue bend down, then straighten up and also exclaim: “Gu! Gu! Gu!”
Mr. Jourdain (after the Koran was removed from his back). Wow!
Mufti (to Mr. Jourdain). Isn't yours a deception?
Turks. No no no.
Mufti. Not a charlatan?
Turks. No no no.
Mufti (to the Turks). Give him a turban!
Turks.

Is yours not a hoax?
No no no.
Not a charlatan?
No no no.
Give him a turban!

THIRD BALLET OUTPUT

Dancing Turks put a turban on Mr. Jourdain to the music.

Mufti (giving Mr. Jourdain a saber).
Yours is the nobles. I'm not lying one bit.
Here's your saber.
Turks (drawing sabers).
Yours is the nobles. I'm not lying one bit,
Here's your saber.

FOURTH BALLET OUTPUT

The dancing Turks, in time with the music, strike Mr. Jourdain with the flat of their sabers.

Stick, stick,
Bey - don't be sorry.

Stick, hoop,
Bey - don't be sorry.

FIFTH BALLET OUTPUT

The dancing Turks beat Mr. Jourdain with sticks to the beat of the music.

M u f t i y.

Do not be afraid,
Don't be ashamed
If you want
Dedicate!

Do not be afraid,
Don't be ashamed
If you want
Dedicate!

The Mufti begins to call on Mohammed for the third time, the Dervishes respectfully support him by the arms; then the Turks, both singing and dancing, begin to jump around the mufti and, finally, leave with him and take Monsieur Jourdain with them.

ACT FIVE

SCENE ONE

Madame Jourdain, Mr. Jourdain.

Mrs Jourdain. Lord have mercy! What is this? Who do you look like? What are you wearing? Do you want to dress up? So tell me, finally, what does all this mean? Who made you look like such a fool?
Mr. Jourdain. What a fool! Talk to mamamushi like that!
Mrs Jourdain. What's happened?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes, yes, now everyone must be respectful to me. I was just promoted to mamamushi.
Mrs Jourdain. How do you understand this - mamamushi?
Mr. Jourdain. They tell you - mamamushi. I am now mamamushi.
Mrs Jourdain. What kind of animal is this?
Mr. Jourdain. Mamamushi is a paladin in our opinion.
Mrs Jourdain. Baldin? You are the idiot. In my old age I decided to start dancing.
Mr. Jourdain. It's dark! This is the rank to which I have now been ordained.
Mrs Jourdain. How was it dedicated?
Mr. Jourdain. Master Mohammed! I pray for Giurdin.
Mrs Jourdain. What does it mean?
Mr. Jourdain. "Giurdina" means Jourdain.
Mrs Jourdain. Well, Jourdain, what next?
Mr. Jourdain. Make him a paladin.
Mrs Jourdain. How?
Mr. Jourdain. And send it to Palestine on a brigantine galley.
Mrs Jourdain. Why is this?
Mr. Jourdain. And the Christian will fight with all the Saracens.
Mrs Jourdain. What are you talking about?
Mr. Jourdain. Stick, stick, hit - don't mind.
Mrs Jourdain. What gibberish!
Mr. Jourdain. Don't be afraid, don't be ashamed if you want to devote yourself.
Mrs Jourdain. What is this?
Mr. Jourdain (dances and sings). Ula-la-ba, ba-la-shu, ba-la-ba, ba-la-da. (Falls.)
Mrs Jourdain. Merciful God! My husband is completely crazy!
Mr. Jourdain (gets up and heads towards the exit). Stop it, rude! Treat Mr. Mamamushi with respect. (Leaves.)
Mrs Jourdain. (one). When did he go crazy? Hurry after him, otherwise he will run away from home! (Seeing Dorimena and Dorant.) Ah, there weren’t enough of you here! It doesn't get any easier hour by hour. (Leaves.)

PHENOMENA SECOND

Dorant, Dorimena.

DORANT: Yes, Marquise, a very amusing spectacle awaits us. I can guarantee that you will not find such a madman as our Jourdain anywhere. Then it is our duty to take part in the affairs of Cleonte’s heart and support his masquerade venture. He's a nice person and worth helping.
D o r i m e n a. I think very highly of him. He is fully worthy of happiness.
D orant: Besides all this, we should not miss the ballet, which, in fact, is organized for us. Let's see how successful my plan is.
D o r i m e n a. I noticed grandiose preparations here. That's it, Dorant; I won't tolerate this anymore. Yes, yes, I want to put an end to your extravagance; So that you don’t spend any more money on me, I decided to marry you without delay. This is the only remedy - with the wedding, all this madness usually ends.
DORANT: Do you really intend to make such a gratifying decision for me?
D o r i m e n a. This is only so that you do not go broke, otherwise, I am convinced, the time is not far off when you will be left penniless.
D o ran t. Oh, how grateful I am to you for your concern for my condition! It belongs entirely to us, just like my heart; dispose of them as you see fit.
D o r i m e n a. I will be able to manage both... But here is our eccentric. He looks charming!

PHENOMENA THIRD

Same with Mr. Jourden.

D o r a n t. Dear Sir! The Marchioness and I came to congratulate you on your new title and share your joy over the upcoming marriage of your daughter to the son of the Turkish Sultan.
Mr. Jourdain (bows to them in Turkish). I wish you, Your Excellency, the strength of a snake and the wisdom of a lion.
D o r i m e n a. I have the happiness of being one of the first to greet you on the occasion that you have ascended to the highest level of glory.
Mr. Jourdain. I wish you, madam, that your rose bush blooms all year round. I am eternally grateful to you for coming to honor me, and I am very glad that you are here again and that I can offer you a sincere apology for my wife’s wild behavior.
D o r i m e n a. Empty! I willingly forgive her this involuntary impulse. You, of course, are dear to her, and it is not surprising that, possessing such a treasure, she experiences some fears.

Mr. Jourdain. All rights to own my heart belong to you.
DORANT: You see, Marquise, that Mister Jourdain is not one of those people who is blinded by prosperity: he does not forget his friends even in happiness.
D o r i m e n a. This is a sign of a truly noble soul.
DORANT: Where is His Turkish Highness? We would like to pay our respects to him as your friends.
Mr. Jourdain. Here he comes. I already sent for my daughter so that she would give him her hand and heart.

SCENE FOUR

The same is Cleont, dressed as a Turk.

D o ran t. (to Cleont). Your Highness! As friends of your venerable father-in-law, we have come to testify to you our deepest respect and most humbly bring assurances of our perfect devotion.
Mr. Jourdain. Where is this interpreter? He would introduce you to him and explain what you want to say. You'll see, he will certainly answer us: he speaks Turkish perfectly. Hey! Hey! Where did this take him? (To Cleont.) Stroof, strif, stanza, strif. This Kaspatin is balshoy velmosh, balshoy volmosh, and this kaspasha - wow, what a snatna tama, wow, what a snatna tama! (Seeing that he doesn’t understand anything.) Aha! (Pointing to Dorant.) He is a French mammushi, she is a French mammushi. I can’t express myself more clearly... Here, thank God, is the translator.

SCENE FIFTH

The same and disguised Koviel.

Mr. Jourdain. Where are you? Without us we are like without hands. (Pointing to Cleontes.) Please tell him that this gentleman and this lady are persons from high society and that they, as my friends, have come to pay him their respects and bring assurances of devotion. (To Dorimena and Dorant.) Listen to what he will answer.
K o v e l . Alabala crosyam yakshi boram alabamen.
Kleont. Kataleki tubal urin soter amalushan.
Mr. Jourdain. (To Dorant and Dorimene). Do you hear?
K o v e l . He wants the rain of prosperity to irrigate your family’s garden at all times.
Mr. Jourdain. It’s not for nothing that I told you that he speaks Turkish!
D o ran t. Amazing!

SCENE SIX

Same with Lucille.

Mr. Jourdain. Come here, my daughter, come closer and give your hand to this gentleman - he does you honor by wooing you.
L u s i l . What's wrong with you, father? What have you done to yourself? Or are you playing a comedy?
Mr. Jourdain. No, no, this is not a comedy at all, this is a very serious matter and such an honor for you that you can’t imagine anything better. (Pointing to Cleont.) This is who I give you as your husband.
L u s i l . Me, father?
Mr. Jourdain. Well yes, you. Quickly give him your hand and thank God for such happiness.
L u s i l . I don't want to get married.
Mr. Jourdain. And I, your father, wish this.
L u s i l . Never.
Mr. Jourdain. Without any talking! Live up, they tell you! Well, give me your hand!
L u s i l . No, father, I already told you that there is no force that would force me to marry anyone other than Cleontes. I would sooner decide on any extreme than... (Recognizes Cleontes.) Of course, you are my father, I must obey you unquestioningly, arrange my fate as you please.
Mr. Jourdain. Oh, how glad I am that the sense of duty returned to you so soon! It's good to have an obedient daughter!

SCENE SEVEN

Same with Madame Jourdain.

Mrs Jourdain. What is it? What kind of news is this? They say you're planning to marry your daughter to some buffoon?
Mr. Jourdain. Will you shut up, impudent one? I'm tired of your wild antics, there's nothing I can do to reason with you!
Mrs Jourdain. No amount of effort can bring you to reason, so just wait for some new extravagance. What are you planning and why is this gathering?
Mr. Jourdain. I want to marry our daughter to the son of the Turkish Sultan.
Mrs Jourdain. For the son of the Turkish Sultan?
Mr. Jourdain. Yes. (Pointing to Caviel.) Show your respects to him through this interpreter.
Mrs Jourdain. I don’t need any interpreter; I’ll tell him straight to his face that he won’t see my daughter.
Mr. Jourdain. Have you finally shut up?
DORANT: For mercy, Madame Jourdain, are you really refusing such an honor? You don't want His Turkish Highness to be your son-in-law?
Mrs Jourdain. For God's sake, sir, don't interfere in other people's affairs.
D o r i m e n a. Such great happiness should not be neglected.
Mrs Jourdain. And you, madam, I will also ask you not to interfere where you are not asked.
D orant. We take care of you - solely out of a friendly disposition towards you.
Mrs Jourdain. I don't need your friendship.
D o ran t. But your daughter also agrees to obey the will of her parent.
Mrs Jourdain. Does my daughter agree to marry a Turk?
D o ran t. Without a doubt.
Mrs Jourdain. Can she forget Cleontha?
DORANT: What they don’t sacrifice in order to be called a noble lady!
Mrs Jourdain. If she pulled such a thing, I will strangle her with my own hands.
Mr. Jourdain. Well, let's go! I'm telling you that the wedding will take place.
Mrs Jourdain. And I’m telling you that it won’t happen.
Mr. Jourdain. Enough talk!
L u s i l . Mother!
Mrs Jourdain. Oh, come on, you bad girl!
Mr. Jourdain (to his wife). What are you doing, scolding her for obeying her father?
Mrs Jourdain. Yes. She is as much my daughter as she is yours.
K o v e l . (Ms. Jourdain). Madam!
Mrs Jourdain. What are you going to tell me?
K o v e l . Just one word.
Mrs Jourdain. I really need your word!
K o v e l . (to Mr. Jourdain). Sir! If only your wife wants to talk to me in private, then I guarantee you that she will express her consent;
Mrs Jourdain. I will never agree.
K o v e l . Just listen to me!
Mrs Jourdain. I won't listen.
Mr. Jourdain (to his wife). Listen to him!
Mrs Jourdain. I don't want to listen to him.
Mr. Jourdain. He'll explain it to you...
Mrs Jourdain. I don’t want him to explain it to me.
Mr. Jourdain. How stubborn all women are! What, will this make you sick, or what?
K o v e l . You just need to listen to me, and then do as you please.
Mrs Jourdain. Well, what do you have?
K o v e l . (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). It's almost an hour, madam, we are making signs to you. Don't you see that we started all this just to imitate Mr. Jourdain with his eternal whims? We are fooling him with this masquerade: after all, the son of the Turkish Sultan is none other than Cleont.
Mrs Jourdain. (To Koviel, quietly). Ah, that's the thing!
K o v e l . (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). And I, Koviel, acted as a translator for him.
Madame Jourdain (to Coviel, quietly). Well, if that's the case, then I give up.
K o v e l . (To Madame Jourdain, quietly). Just don't show it.
Madame Jourdain (loudly). Yes, everything worked out. I agree to marriage.
Mr. Jourdain. Well, everyone has come to their senses! (To his wife.) And you still didn’t want to listen to him! I was sure that he would be able to explain to you what the son of the Turkish Sultan means.
Mrs Jourdain. He explained everything to me clearly, and now I'm happy. We need to send for a notary.
D o ran t. Commendable intention. And so that you, Madame Jourdain, can be completely calm and from now on cease to be jealous of your honorable husband, I announce to you that the marquise and I will use the services of the same notary and enter into a marriage union.
Mrs Jourdain. I agree to this too.
Mr. Jourdain (to Dorant, quietly). Are you trying to divert attention?
Dorant (to Mr. Jourdain, quietly). Let yourself enjoy this fable.
Mr. Jourdain (quietly). Great, great! (Loudly.) Send for a notary.
DORANT: In the meantime, he comes and draws up the marriage contracts, let's watch the ballet; it will serve as entertainment for His Turkish Highness.
Mr. Jourdain. Great idea. Let's go take a seat.
Mrs Jourdain. What about Nicole?
Mr. Jourdain. I give Nicole to the interpreter, and my wife to anyone.
K o v e l . Thank you, sir. (Aside.) Well, you won’t find another such madman in the whole world! The comedy ends with a ballet.

A respected and fairly wealthy bourgeois named Jourdain gravitates towards high society, he is attracted to the aristocracy, and the man decides to become like the nobles in everything, to acquire the same pleasant manners and style of conversation as theirs. This tendency irritates all of Jourdain’s household and creates a lot of problems for them, but thanks to his desire to become an aristocrat, a whole company of teachers, hairdressers and tailors make good money, promising that they will really make a true nobleman out of the bourgeois.

The dance teacher and his friend, who teaches music, appear at Jourdain’s house and try to convince the tradesman that he needs to master these arts perfectly if he wants to feel comfortable among the aristocrats. A real brawl ensues between these two teachers and the one who teaches Jourdain fencing skills, each proving that the most important thing for a nobleman is the science that he teaches. As soon as the philosophy teacher arrives, the owner of the house asks him to separate the fighting, but the scientist suffers complete failure, and he himself gets the worst of it.

After the fight ends, Jourdain begins studying with the philosopher, trying to master spelling. He reveals to the teacher the secret that he has long been partial to a lady who is a representative of high society, and now he needs to write her a note. The philosopher assures him that he will help the tradesman without any effort and create any letter, both in prose and in poetry. It was at this moment that Jourdain learned with great surprise that throughout his life he had expressed himself in prose.

The philosopher in the house of a wealthy tradesman is replaced by a tailor, who brings him a new suit, perfect for an aristocrat, as the master and his assistants try to assure the gullible bourgeois. Jourdain wants to take a walk around the city in new clothes, but his wife is categorically against this idea. According to her, all the neighbors laugh at the tradesman anyway; the woman does not understand why he needs to learn fencing if he is not going to take anyone’s life, and why does a person, most of whose life has already passed, need dance and music.

The tradesman tries to impress his wife and maid Nicole with his learning, but only makes them laugh. Madame Jourdain believes that her husband is being led astray by the aristocrats with whom he has recently begun to communicate. The dandies at the royal court only use the tradesman, wanting to get as much money from him as possible for their own expenses, and the naive man considers them real friends who treat him as an equal.

Jourdain is visited by one of these supposed friends, Count Dorant. He reminds the bourgeois that he owes him a certain amount, but asks him to borrow a little more, promising to return it all at once. At the same time, the count promises to help the tradesman in his affairs of the heart, to force the Marquise Dorimen, with whom Jourdain is in love, to pay attention to him.

The bourgeois sends his wife to visit his sister, wanting to organize a dinner for Dorimena with a performance that she will certainly like and arouse sympathy for Jourdain. The woman knows nothing about her husband’s plans; she thinks intensely about the future fate of Lucille, her daughter. The girl is not indifferent to a certain Cleonte; Mrs. Jourdain is also quite happy with this young man as a son-in-law. However, the bourgeois himself is determined to marry his daughter to at least a marquis, if not a duke; Cleont, a man of non-noble origin, is in his eyes an absolutely unsuitable husband for Lucille. After a sharp refusal from his beloved’s father, the young man is ready to retreat, but Koviel, who served in the house of Jourdain, persuades him not to give up, deciding to play a clever joke with the owner, obsessed with aristocracy.

Count Dorant and Marquise Dorimena come to dinner. In fact, Dorant himself has been courting this lady, who is a widow, for a long time, but they cannot meet at the home of either of them, which would negatively affect the woman’s reputation. The Count takes credit for Jourdain's expenses on gifts for Dorimena, and with this he manages to actually win the heart of the Marquise.

Noble guests hide their smiles when the owner of the house tries to bow to them and greet them in the way that is customary in high society, but for Jourdain it all comes out extremely clumsily and awkwardly. But suddenly the wife of a tradesman appears, who immediately starts a scandal, accusing her husband of deliberately sending her out of the house in order to spend the family money with other people’s women. The indignant marquise immediately leaves the tradesman's house, Dorant follows her.

New visitors also appear immediately. Koviel, Jourdain's servant, disguised and made up, appears to the tradesman as an old friend of his late father. He informs the owner of the house that the son of the Turkish Sultan is now in Paris, madly in love with Lucille. He wants to take Jourdain’s daughter as his wife, and give the tradesman himself the noble and proud title of mamamushi or paladin. The bourgeois enthusiastically agrees to this proposal.

The Sultan's son is Cleont, who is also in disguise and does not look like himself at all. He speaks in some kind of gibberish, which Koviel supposedly translates into ordinary French. Count Dorant, who was already initiated into Coviel's cunning plan, returns with Dorimena, the aristocrats congratulate Jourdain on his new title, trying to act as seriously as possible. The tradesman himself is eager to immediately give his daughter to the Sultan’s son. As for Lucille, the girl at first flatly refuses this marriage, but then recognizes her lover and immediately stops resisting.

Madame Jourdain is also unequivocally opposed to her husband’s idea, but Koviel explains to her in a whisper that in reality everyone is simply deceiving her husband. After this, the woman immediately changes her position.

A tradesman blesses the marriage of the Turkish Sultan's daughter and son, then one of the servants is sent to fetch a notary. The Count and the Marquise also intend to resort to the help of this official, and while they wait, everyone enjoys contemplating the ballet that the dance teacher has created for the guests.

Characters

Mister Jourdain is a tradesman

Madame Jourdain - his wife

Lucille is their daughter
Cleonte - a young man in love with Lucille
Dorimena - Marquise
Dorant - Count in love with Dorimena
Nicole is a maid in Mr. Jourdain's house
Koviel - servant of Cleont
Music teacher
Dance teacher
fencing teacher
Philosophy teacher
Tailor

Act one

Mr. Jourdain is literally obsessed with breaking out of the bourgeoisie into the noble class. With his labor, he (the hereditary merchant) earned a lot of money and now generously spends it on teachers and “noble” outfits, trying with all his might to master “noble manners.” The teachers slowly make fun of him, but since Mr. Jourdain pays them well for their services, they diligently flatter his “subtle” taste and “brilliant” abilities. Mr. Jourdain ordered the music teacher to compose a performance with a serenade and dancing. He intends to impress the Marquise Dorimena, whom he likes, and whom he invited to dine at his house. Of course, without the mediation of a real nobleman, Jourdain would never have achieved such an honor. But he has an assistant. This is Count Dorant. Borrowing money from Jourdain and extorting gifts for the marquise (which he then presents to her on his own behalf), Dorant constantly promises that he will soon return the borrowed amount to Jourdain.

Act two

The teachers vied with each other to curry favor with Jourdain, assuring him that the sciences they taught him (dance, music) are the most important subjects in the world. Teachers even claim that all wars and strife on earth stem solely from ignorance of music (which puts people in a peaceful mood) and dancing (when a person does not act as he should in family or state life, they say about him that he “did the wrong thing.” step”, and if he had mastered the art of dance, nothing like this would have ever happened to him). The teachers give Jourdain a performance. He is a little bored - all “noble” performances are always mournful and only shepherds and shepherdesses act in them. Jourdain's healthy soul requires something more vital and energetic. Jourdain also does not like the instruments chosen for the orchestra by his teachers - lute, violin, viola and harpsichord. Jourdain is a fan of the sound of the “sea trumpet” (a musical instrument with a very sharp and strong sound). The fencing teacher begins to quarrel with other teachers and assure that a person, in principle, cannot live without fencing. Jourdain respects this teacher very much, since he himself is not a brave man. Jourdain really wants to comprehend the science that will turn a coward (by memorizing various techniques) into a daredevil. The teachers begin to fight with each other, Jourdain tries to separate them, but he fails. Luckily for him, a philosophy teacher appears. Jourdain calls on him to calm the fighters with the power of words. However, the philosopher cannot withstand the attacks of competitors who claim that his science is not the main one, and also gets involved in a fight. Soon, however, he, beaten, returns to Jourdain. When he begins to feel sorry for him, the philosophy teacher promises “to compose a satire on them in the spirit of Juvenal, and this satire will completely destroy them.” The philosopher suggests that Jourdain study logic, ethics, and physics, but all this turns out to be too abstruse for Jourdain. Then the philosophy teacher suggests doing penmanship and begins to explain the difference between vowel sounds and consonants. Jourdain is shocked. Now he pronounces the sounds “a”, “u”, “f”, “d” not just like that, but “scientifically”. Towards the end of the lesson, Jourdain asks the teacher to help him write a love letter to Dorimene. It turns out that, without suspecting it, Jourdain spent his entire life expressing himself in prose. Jourdain offers the text of the note and asks the teacher to process it “more beautifully.” The teacher offers several options, simply rearranging the words in the sentence, and it doesn’t turn out very well. In the end, they converge on the original version proposed by Jourdain himself. Jourdain is surprised how he, without learning anything, independently came up with such a folding text.

A tailor comes to Jourdain and brings a “noble” suit to try on. At the same time, Jourdain notices that the tailor’s camisole is sewn from the same piece of fabric. Jourdain complains that the shoes sent by the tailor are too tight for him, that the silk stockings were too tight and torn, that the pattern on the fabric of the suit was oriented incorrectly (flowers down). However, the tailor manages to hand him a suit and get his money, since he constantly repeats that this is how everyone wears it in “high” society. At the same time, the tailor addresses Jourdain only as “your grace”, “your lordship”, “your excellency”, and the flattered Jourdain turns a blind eye to all the shortcomings of the suit.

Act three

Nicole appears. Seeing her owner in this ridiculous costume, the girl begins to laugh so much that even Jourdain’s threat to beat her does not stop the laughter. Nicole ridicules the owner's predilection for "high society guests." In her opinion, they are only too good to go to him and gorge themselves at his expense, utter meaningless phrases, and even drag dirt onto the beautiful parquet floor in Mr. Jourdain’s hall. Madame Jourdain admits that she is ashamed of her neighbors for her husband’s habits. “You might think that every day we have a holiday: from the very morning, you know, they’re playing violins, screaming songs.” His wife is perplexed why Jourdain needed a dance teacher at his age: after all, due to his age, his legs will soon be taken away. According to Mrs. Jourdain, one should think not about dancing, but about how to accommodate the daughter-bride. Jourdain shouts at his wife to be silent, that he and Nicole do not understand the benefits of enlightenment, and begins to explain to them the differences between prose and poetry, and then between vowels and consonants. Madame Jourdain, in response to this, advises to kick out all the teachers, and at the same time say goodbye to Dorant, who only takes money from Jourdain, and feeds him with nothing but promises. The husband’s objections that Dorant gave him the word of a nobleman that he would soon repay the debt evoke ridicule from Madame Jourdain.

Act four

Dorant appears, borrows money again, but at the same time mentions that he “talked about Jourdain in the royal bedchamber.” Hearing this, Jourdain ceases to be interested in his wife’s reasonable arguments and immediately pays Doran the required amount. Face to face, Dorant warns Jourdain that he should under no circumstances remind Dorimena of his expensive gifts, as this is bad form. In fact, he gave the marquise a luxurious ring with a diamond as if from himself, because he wants to marry her. Jourdain informs Dorant that he is expecting him and the marquise today for a luxurious dinner, and intends to send his wife to her sister. Nicole overhears part of the conversation and passes it on to the owner. Madame Jourdain decides not to leave home, to catch her husband and, taking advantage of his confusion, to obtain his consent to the marriage of their daughter Lucille to Cleonte. Lucille loves Cleon, and Madame Jourdain herself considers him a very decent young man. Nicole likes the servant Cleonta Koviel, so as soon as the gentlemen get married, the servants also intend to celebrate the wedding.

Cleont and Koviel are very offended by their brides, because, despite their long and sincere courtship, both girls this morning, having met their grooms, did not pay any attention to them. Lucille and Nicole, having quarreled a little with their loved ones and reproached them, say that in the presence of Aunt Lucille, an old prude, they could not behave freely. The lovers make up. Madame Jourdain advises Cleonte to immediately ask Lucille's hand from her father. Mister Jourdain wonders if Cleont is a nobleman. Cleont, who does not consider it possible to lie to the father of his bride, admits that he is not a nobleman, although his ancestors held honorary positions and he himself served honestly for six years and made his own capital. Jourdain is not interested in all this. He refuses Cleonte, because he intends to marry his daughter so that “she will be honored.” Madame Jourdain objects that it is better to marry a man “honest, rich and stately” than to enter into an unequal marriage. She doesn’t want her grandchildren to be ashamed to call her grandmother, or for her son-in-law to reproach Lucille for her parents. Madame Jourdain is proud of her father: he traded honestly, worked hard, made a fortune for himself and his children. She wants everything to be “simple” in her daughter’s family.

Koviel figures out how to deceive Jourdain by playing on his inflated pride. He persuades Cleont to change into the dress of the “son of the Turkish Sultan”, and he himself acts as a translator for him. Koviel begins to flatter Jourdain, saying that he knew his father well, who was a true nobleman. In addition, Koviel assures that the son of the Turkish Sultan is in love with Lucille and intends to immediately marry her. However, so that Jourdain would be in the same circle as him, the Sultan’s son intends to assign him the title of “mamamushi,” that is, a Turkish nobleman. Jourdain agrees.

Dorimena laments that she is introducing Dorant into large expenses. She is fascinated by his treatment, but is afraid to get married. Dorimena is a widow, her first marriage was unsuccessful. Dorant reassures Dorimena, convinces her that when marriage is based on mutual love, nothing is a hindrance. Dorant brings Dorimena to Jourdain's house. The owner, as his dance teacher taught him, begins to bow to the lady “according to science,” while moving her aside because he does not have enough room for the third bow. Over a sumptuous meal, Dorimena praises the owner. He hints that his heart belongs to the marquise. But in high society this is just a phrase, so Dorimena does not pay attention to it. But she admits that she really likes the diamond ring allegedly given by Dorant. Jourdain takes the compliment personally, but, mindful of Dorant’s instructions (about the need to avoid “bad taste”), calls the diamond “a mere trifle.” At this moment Madame Jourdain bursts in. Oka reproaches her husband for following the marquise. Dorant explains that he organized the dinner for Dorimena, and Jourdain simply provided his house for their meetings (which is true, since Dorimena refused to meet with him at her place or at his house). Jourdain is once again grateful to Dorant: it seems to him that the count so cleverly came up with everything to help him, Jourdain.

The ceremony of initiating Jourdain into mama mushi begins. Turks, dervishes and a mufti appear. They sing some kind of gibberish and dance around Jourdain, put the Koran on his back, clown around, put a turban on him and, handing him a Turkish saber, proclaim him a nobleman. Jourdain is pleased.

Act five

Madame Jourdain, seeing this whole masquerade, calls her husband crazy. Jourdain behaves proudly, begins to give orders to his wife - like a true nobleman.

Dorimena, in order not to plunge Dorant into even greater expenses, agrees to marry him immediately. Jourdain makes speeches in front of her in an oriental manner (with an abundance of verbose compliments). Jourdain calls his household and the notary, orders the wedding ceremony of Lucille and the “son of the Sultan” to begin. When Lucille and Madame Jourdain recognize Coviel and Cleontes, they willingly join in the performance. Dorant, ostensibly to calm the jealousy of Madame Jourdain, announces that he and Dorimena are also getting married immediately. Jourdain is happy: his daughter is obedient, his wife agrees with his “far-sighted” decision, and Dorant’s act, as Jourdain thinks, is “a distraction” for his wife. Nicole Jourdain decides to “give” the translator, i.e. Koviel, and his wife to anyone.

The comedy ends with a ballet.

Jean-Baptiste Moliere

"A tradesman among the nobility"

It would seem, what else does the venerable bourgeois Mr. Jourdain need? Money, family, health - he has everything you could want. But no, Jourdain decided to become an aristocrat, to become like noble gentlemen. His mania caused a lot of inconvenience and unrest for the household, but it was beneficial to a host of tailors, hairdressers and teachers, who promised to use their art to make a brilliant noble gentleman out of Jourdain. So now two teachers - dance and music - together with their students were waiting for the owner of the house to appear. Jourdain invited them to decorate the dinner he was throwing in honor of a titled person with a cheerful and elegant performance.

Presenting himself before the musician and dancer, Jourdain first of all invited them to evaluate his exotic robe - the kind, according to his tailor, all the nobility wear in the morning - and the new liveries of his lackeys. Apparently, the size of the connoisseurs' future fees directly depended on the assessment of Jourdain's taste, which is why the reviews were enthusiastic.

The robe, however, caused some hesitation, since Jourdain could not decide for a long time how it would be more convenient for him to listen to music - with or without it. Having listened to the serenade, he found it a bit bland and, in turn, performed a lively street song, for which he again received praise and an invitation, in addition to other sciences, to also study music and dancing. Jourdain was convinced to accept this invitation by the teachers’ assurances that every noble gentleman would certainly learn both music and dancing.

A pastoral dialogue was prepared for the upcoming reception by the music teacher. Jourdain, in general, liked it: since you can’t do without these eternal shepherdesses and shepherdesses, okay, let them sing to themselves. Jourdain really liked the ballet presented by the dance teacher and his students.

Inspired by the success of the employer, the teachers decided to strike while the iron was hot: the musician advised Jourdain to organize weekly home concerts, as is done, according to him, in all aristocratic houses; the dance teacher immediately began to teach him the most exquisite of dances - the minuet.

Exercises in graceful body movements were interrupted by a fencing teacher, a science teacher - the ability to deliver blows, but not receive them himself. The dance teacher and his fellow musician unanimously disagreed with the fencer's statement about the absolute priority of the ability to fight over their time-honored arts. The people got carried away, word for word - and a couple of minutes later a fight broke out between three teachers.

When the philosophy teacher arrived, Jourdain was delighted - who else but the philosopher should admonish the fighting. He willingly took up the task of reconciliation: he remembered Seneca, warned his opponents against anger that demeans human dignity, advised them to take up philosophy, this first of the sciences... Here he went too far. They began to beat him like the others.

The battered, but still uninjured philosophy teacher was finally able to begin his lesson. Since Jourdain refused to study both logic - the words there are too tricky - and ethics - why does he need the science to moderate passions, if it doesn’t matter, once he breaks up, nothing will stop him - the learned man began to initiate him into the secrets of spelling.

Practicing the pronunciation of vowel sounds, Jourdain rejoiced like a child, but when the first delight passed, he revealed a big secret to the philosophy teacher: he, Jourdain, is in love with a certain high-society lady, and he needs to write a note to this lady. For a philosopher this was a piece of cake - in prose or poetry. However, Jourdain asked him to do without this very prose and poetry. Did the respectable bourgeois know that here one of the most stunning discoveries in his life awaited him - it turns out that when he shouted to the maid: “Nicole, give me your shoes and nightcap,” the purest prose came from his lips, just think!

However, in the field of literature, Jourdain was still no stranger - no matter how hard the philosophy teacher tried, he was unable to improve the text composed by Jourdain: “Beautiful Marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.”

The philosopher had to leave when Jourdain was informed about the tailor. He brought a new suit, made, naturally, according to the latest court fashion. The tailor's apprentices, while dancing, made a new one and, without interrupting the dance, dressed Jourdain in it. At the same time, his wallet suffered greatly: the apprentices did not skimp on flattering “Your Grace,” “Your Excellency,” and even “Your Lordship,” and the extremely touched Jourdain did not skimp on tips.

In a new suit, Jourdain intended to stroll through the streets of Paris, but his wife resolutely opposed his intention - half the city was already laughing at Jourdain. In general, in her opinion, it was time for him to come to his senses and leave his stupid quirks: why, one might ask, does Jourdain fencing if he does not intend to kill anyone? Why learn to dance when your legs are about to give out anyway?

Objecting to the woman’s senseless arguments, Jourdain tried to impress her and the maid with the fruits of his learning, but without much success: Nicole calmly pronounced the sound “u”, not even suspecting that at the same time she was stretching her lips and bringing the upper jaw closer to the lower one, and with a rapier she easily struck Jourdain received several injections, which he did not deflect, since the unenlightened maid did not inject according to the rules.

For all the nonsense that her husband indulged in, Madame Jourdain blamed the noble gentlemen who had recently begun to make friends with him. For the court dandies, Jourdain was an ordinary cash cow, and he, in turn, was confident that friendship with them would give him significant—what’s their name—pre-ro-ga-tives.

One of these high-society friends of Jourdain was Count Dorant. As soon as he entered the drawing room, this aristocrat paid several exquisite compliments to the new suit, and then briefly mentioned that this morning he had spoken about Jourdain in the royal bedchamber. Having prepared the ground in this manner, the count reminded him that he owed his friend fifteen thousand eight hundred livres, so there was a direct reason for him to lend him another two thousand two hundred - for good measure. In gratitude for this and subsequent loans, Dorant took on the role of intermediary in matters of the heart between Jourdain and the object of his worship - the Marchioness Dorimena, for whose sake the dinner with the performance was started.

Madame Jourdain, so as not to be disturbed, was sent to her sister for lunch that day. She knew nothing about her husband’s plan, but she herself was concerned about the fate of her daughter: Lucille seemed to reciprocate the tender feelings of a young man named Cleont, who, as a son-in-law, was very suitable for Madame Jourdain. At her request, Nicole, interested in the young lady’s marriage, since she herself was going to marry Cleont’s servant, Koviel, brought the young man. Madame Jourdain immediately sent him to her husband to ask for her daughter's hand in marriage.

However, Cleont did not meet Jourdain’s first and, in fact, only requirement for the applicant for Lucille’s hand - he was not a nobleman, while the father wanted to make his daughter, at worst, a marquise, or even a duchess. Having received a decisive refusal, Cleont became despondent, but Koviel believed that all was not lost. The faithful servant decided to play a joke with Jourdain, since he had actor friends and the appropriate costumes were at hand.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Count Dorant and Marchioness Dorimena was reported. The count brought the lady to dinner not at all out of a desire to please the owner of the house: he himself had been courting the widow marquise for a long time, but did not have the opportunity to see her either at her place or at his place - this could compromise Dorimena. In addition, he cleverly attributed all of Jourdain’s crazy spending on gifts and various entertainments for her to himself, which ultimately won a woman’s heart.

Having greatly amused the noble guests with an elaborate, awkward bow and the same welcoming speech, Jourdain invited them to a luxurious table.

The Marquise, not without pleasure, devoured exquisite dishes to the accompaniment of the exotic compliments of the eccentric bourgeois, when all the splendor was unexpectedly disrupted by the appearance of the angry Madame Jourdain. Now she understood why they wanted to send her to dinner with her sister - so that her hubby could calmly waste money with strangers. Jourdain and Dorant began to assure her that the dinner in honor of the Marquise was being given by the count, and he was paying for everything, but their assurances in no way moderated the ardor of the offended wife. After her husband, Madame Jourdain took on the guest, who should have been ashamed to bring discord into an honest family. The embarrassed and offended marquise got up from the table and left the hosts; Dorant followed her away.

Only the noble gentlemen had left when a new visitor was reported. It turned out to be Koviel in disguise, introducing himself as a friend of Mr. Jourdain’s father. The late father of the owner of the house was, according to him, not a merchant, as everyone around him said, but a real nobleman. Coviel’s calculation was justified: after such a statement, he could say anything without fear that Jourdain would doubt the veracity of his speeches.

Koviel told Jourdain that his good friend, the son of the Turkish Sultan, had arrived in Paris, madly in love with his, Jourdain’s, daughter. The Sultan's son wants to ask for Lucille's hand in marriage, and in order for his father-in-law to be worthy of his new family, he decided to initiate him into mamamushi, in our opinion - paladins. Jourdain was delighted.

The son of the Turkish Sultan was represented by Cleont in disguise. He spoke in terrible gibberish, which Koviel allegedly translated into French. The appointed muftis and dervishes arrived with the main Turk, who had a lot of fun during the initiation ceremony: it turned out to be very colorful, with Turkish music, songs and dances, as well as with the ritual beating of the initiate with sticks.

Dorant, privy to Koviel's plan, finally managed to persuade Dorimena to return, tempting her with the opportunity to enjoy a funny spectacle, and then also an excellent ballet. The count and marquise, with the most serious air, congratulated Jourdain on conferring a high title on him, and they were also impatient to hand over their daughter to the son of the Turkish Sultan as soon as possible. At first, Lucille did not want to marry the Turkish jester, but as soon as she recognized him as Cleonte in disguise, she immediately agreed, pretending that she was dutifully fulfilling her daughter’s duty. Madame Jourdain, in turn, sternly declared that the Turkish scarecrow could not see her daughter like his own ears. But as soon as Koviel whispered a few words in her ear, the mother changed her anger to mercy.

Jourdain solemnly joined the hands of the young man and the girl, giving a parental blessing for their marriage, and then they sent for a notary. Another couple, Dorant and Dorimena, decided to use the services of the same notary. While waiting for the representative of the law, everyone present had a wonderful time enjoying the ballet choreographed by the dance teacher.

For some time now, a fairly successful bourgeois, Mr. Jourdain, decided to become an aristocrat. Teachers, hairdressers and tailors were hired for this purpose. The man believed that they would help him raise his social status. Jourdain's household did not support the aspirations of the head of the family.

The teachers vied with each other to advise the future aristocrat on their understanding of beauty, and what, in their opinion, every self-respecting connoisseur of art should know. The dispute gradually turned into a brawl. The philosophy teacher who tried to reconcile everyone was also hit.

Mr. Jourdain had a secret desire - to achieve the favor of a noble lady. That is why he tried in every possible way to give himself an external gloss. Literature lessons were also successful. Now a man could beautifully express his feelings in a love note.

Jourdain's wife did not want to appear with her husband in public places, so they mocked him because of his quirks. The only people in an advantageous position were teachers and tailors - the owner paid them extremely generously. And his newly-made friends also extracted money from the future aristocrat.

And now one came to visit Jourdain. It was Count Dorant. In addition to laudatory odes to the owner, the count promised to help arrange a date with the very lady with whom Jourdain was in love. For this purpose, a dinner was planned where the Marquise of Dormain and Jourdain would be introduced to each other.

Madame Jourdain was supposed to go to her sister at this time. She had other concerns. A worthy young man named Cleontes asked for the hand of their daughter Lucille. The girl agreed, but the guy turned out to be not noble enough for the father. Cleonte's servant suggested achieving the blessing in another way.

In the midst of dinner, during which Jourdain tried to show off his sophistication in front of the beautiful marquise, his wife appears. She is outraged by her husband’s behavior and does not mince words. The marquise leaves the inhospitable house with the count.

Soon a new guest appeared. He said that the son of the Turkish Sultan visited Paris, who was captivated by the beauty of Jourdain’s daughter. And of course, he asks for her hand. The newly-made aristocrat was speechless with happiness. He, of course, blessed the newlyweds in the presence of a notary. All this action was accompanied by oriental music and dances. And the disguised Turks were Cleont and his servant.

“A tradesman among the nobility” short summary will not convey all the interesting details of the play, so it is better to read the work in its entirety.

Moliere “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” summary

Summary of Act 1 “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”

Music and dance teachers are waiting for Mr. Jourdain. He invited them both to decorate a dinner in honor of an important person. Jourdain decided to become like the gentlemen. Teachers like both the pay and the owner's treatment, but they think he lacks taste. For some time now he has been trying to do everything the same as noble gentlemen. The household also experience a lot of inconvenience because of his desire to become a nobleman. He orders a robe for himself and livery for the servants, so that it would be like in noble houses. Jourdain also decided to study dance and music.

Summary of 2 acts “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”

The teachers quarrel: everyone wants to prove that only with his help will Jourdain achieve his goal. A shabby philosophy teacher begins his lesson. They decide to put logic and ethics aside and move on to spelling. Jourdain asks to write a love note to a lady. At the age of forty, he is surprised to learn that there are poems, and there is also prose. The tailor brings the gentleman a new suit. It is, of course, sewn according to the latest fashion. Jourdain notices that the tailor's clothes are made from his own fabric. But the apprentices “prone” to him so much that the master was even generous with tips.

Summary of Act 3 “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”

The new outfit makes the maid Nicole laugh. But Jourdain still can’t wait to walk around the city in it. The wife is not happy with her husband's whims. She considers expenses on teachers unnecessary, and does not really see his friendship with the nobles, since they perceive him only as a cash cow. But Jourdain does not listen to her. Moreover, he is secretly in love with the Marquise Dorimena, with whom Count Dorant brought him together. And the diamond, and the ballet, and the fireworks, and the dinner - all this is for her. When Madame Jourdain goes to visit her sister, he plans to take the marquise into himself. Nicole overheard a few and passed it on to the ladies. And she didn’t notice anything, since her head was busy with her daughter Lucille. The girl sends Nicole to Cleonte to say that she agrees to marry him. The maid does not hesitate, since she herself is in love with his servant and even hopes that their wedding will take place on the same day. Jourdain does not consent to his daughter’s marriage, since Cleont is not a nobleman. The wife, admonishing her husband, says that it is better to choose a rich and honest son-in-law than a poor nobleman, who will then begin to reproach Lucille for not being of noble birth. But it is almost impossible to convince Jourdain. Then Koviel offers to play a joke on him.

Summary of Act 4 “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”

Dorimena and Dorant come to Jourdain. Count Dorant himself was in love with the marquise and attributed all the gifts and luxurious receptions to himself. Therefore, he teaches his “friend” that it is indecent in society to even hint to a woman about his gifts and feelings. Suddenly Madame Jourdain returns. Now she understands where her husband's money went. She reproaches Dorant for following Jourdain's lead. The Count says that it was he who spent on everything. The offended Dorimena goes. The couple continues to argue. At this moment, Koviel, Cleonte's servant in disguise, arrives. He introduces himself as an old friend of Jourdain's father and reveals that he was a nobleman. Of course, the tradesman fell for this hook. He is delighted that he is a hereditary nobleman, and hurries to announce this news to everyone. In addition, it turned out that the son of the Turkish Sultan himself wants to become Jourdain’s son-in-law. Only for this purpose the newly minted nobleman needs to be initiated into “mamamushi”. Jourdain is not worried about the upcoming ceremony, but about his daughter’s stubbornness. Actors dressed as Turks and Cleont himself appear. They speak some kind of gibberish language, but this does not bother the tradesman at all. Dorant, at the request of Koviel, participates in the drawing.

Summary of Act 5 “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”

Dorant invites Dorimena to Jourdain’s house to watch a funny show. The Marchioness of Dorimena decides to marry the Count in order to stop his wastefulness. Cleont arrives, dressed as a Turk. Lucille recognizes him as her beloved and agrees to the marriage. Only Madame Jourdain is opposed. Everyone gives her signs, but she stubbornly doesn’t notice. Then Koviel takes her aside and directly says that everything is a setup. They sent for a notary. Jourdain gives his maid Nicole as his wife to Koviel (the interpreter). The Marquise and the Count intend to use the services of the same notary. While waiting for him, everyone watches the ballet.