What! You dare to admit to me that
you love Sophronine?
AGLAEA:
Yes, I dare confess to you because nothing is more true.
ANITUS:
And when he demands that you be happy with him, you refuse his hand?
AGLAEA:
Again, nothing is more true.
ANITUS:
Doubtless it's fear of displeasing me that delays your engagement to
him?
AGLAEA:
Assuredly no. Never having sought to please you, I do not at all fear
displeasing you.
ANITUS:
Then you fear to offend the gods by preferring a profane man like this
Sophronine to a minister of the altars?
AGLAEA:
Not at all; I am persuaded that the Supreme Being cares very little
whether I marry you or not.
ANITUS:
The Supreme Being! My dear girl, that's not the way you must speak.
You must speak of gods and goddesses. Take care: I perceive in you
dangerous sentiments and I know very well who inspired them. Know that
Ceres, whose high priest I am, can punish you for having scorned her
cult and her minister.
AGLAEA:
I scorn neither the one nor the other. They tell me that Ceres
presides over wheat: I intend to believe it. But she doesn't meddle
with my marriage.
ANITUS:
She meddles with everything.
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