HORACE from “The School for Wives”

Age: 20s

A handsome, young man who falls in love with Agnès, Horace brings Arnolphe in on his plans to steal Agnès away, completely ignorant of Arnolphe’s relationship with and plans for her. He is also the son of Arnolphe’s long-time friend, Oronte.

HORACE

Seigneur Arnolphe, I’m overwhelmed with grief,

And Heaven’s cruelty is beyond belief;

It seems now that a brutal stroke of fate

May force my love and me to separate.

My father, just this minute, chanced to appear,

Alighting from his coach not far from here,

And what has brought him into town this morning

Is a dire errand of which I had no warning:

He’s made a match for me, and, ready or not,

I am to marry someone on the spot.

Imagine my despair!  What blacker curse

Could fall one me, what setback could be worse?

I told you, yesterday of Enrique.  It’s he

Who’s brought about my present misery;

He’s come with Father, to lead me to the slaughter,

And I am doomed to wed his only daughter.

When they told me that, it almost made me swoon;

And since my father spoke of coming soon

To see you, I excused myself, in fright,

And hastened to forewarn you of my plight.

Take care, Sir, I entreat you, not to let him

Know of Agnes and me; ‘twould much upset him.

And try, since he so trusts your judgement, to

Dissuade him from the match he has in view.