I must, it's true, make her the sacrifice of
my love, to find for her, an advantageous role for myself. But I
confess, I don't have the strength, and in that respect I am unworthy
of her. But if she could be content with my conditions, if she could
lower herself to me! No, I don't dare ask it; I don't dare wish it and
I won't succumb to a misfortune that she suffers.
SOCRATES:
My children, Xantippe was really indiscreet to have shown you that
will. But believe me, beautiful Aglaea, that she deceived you.
AGLAEA:
She didn't deceive me. I saw my misery with my own eyes. My father's
handwriting is well known to me. Be sure, Socrates, that I know how to
bear poverty; I know how to work with my hands. It's enough to live.
That's all I need. But it's not enough for Sophronine.
SOPHRONINE:
It's a thousand times too much for me, tender, sublime soul, worthy of
having been raised by Socrates. A noble and laborious poverty is the
natural state of man. I would have wanted to offer you a throne. But
if you deign to live with me, our respectable poverty is higher than
the throne of Croesus,
SOCRATES:
Your feelings please me more than they soften me.
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