woot
Lucien: you can't have been over it al; you don't know it all. I know. I know it all! I’ve completed my education. it cost me somewhat dearly, my dear little education, and I’m still paying. I had to do it on the never-never; lifelong installments…but now at least I can talk. I’m fully qualified in love. Ive got my doctorate in cuckoldry. That makes me an authority. Don’t do it dear boy. The game’s up in advance
Frederic: but why?
Lucien: for no reason at all. Because she’s a woman. Because we’re alone in the world. Because one night in a month, or a year or ten years from now, when you think you’re holding your little mate in your arms, you’ll suddenly realize you’re like everybody else; that its only a woman you’ve got in your arms, there’s nothing there.
Frederic: that’s enough. You shut up now, too
Lucien: marry Julia. Have children. Become a man. A man with a profession, with money, with a girlfriend later on-nobody’ll mind that-a real man. Don’t try to be clever. It’s so easy to be happy! There’s a formula; men have spent centuries perfecting it. Cheat, old man. Cheat at everything. Above ll, cheat yourself. It’s the only wayof getting That One up there to leave you alone. He’s got a weakness for tricksters, or else He’s shortsighted. Or maybe He’s asleep. Like him, with his mouth open. And if you don’t make to much noise, he won’t interfere…but He’s got a nose, a terribly keen sense of smell, and the whiff-just the merest whiff-of love, and He’s on to it. So He wakes up and starts taking an interest in you. He pounces on you like a sergeant major. About turn! No good trying to be smart with me, my fine friend. Don’t care for refractory types. Brought plenty like you to heel. You’ll be a cuckold. What’s that? What? Not satisfied? You can die of it, then, that’ll teach you! Death! death! death! death! You’ve read that little page at the back of you service certificate, where they promise you it served up in all sorts of different ways when you’re a new recruit? That’s love.
Frederic: but why?
Lucien: for no reason at all. Because she’s a woman. Because we’re alone in the world. Because one night in a month, or a year or ten years from now, when you think you’re holding your little mate in your arms, you’ll suddenly realize you’re like everybody else; that its only a woman you’ve got in your arms, there’s nothing there.
Frederic: that’s enough. You shut up now, too
Lucien: marry Julia. Have children. Become a man. A man with a profession, with money, with a girlfriend later on-nobody’ll mind that-a real man. Don’t try to be clever. It’s so easy to be happy! There’s a formula; men have spent centuries perfecting it. Cheat, old man. Cheat at everything. Above ll, cheat yourself. It’s the only wayof getting That One up there to leave you alone. He’s got a weakness for tricksters, or else He’s shortsighted. Or maybe He’s asleep. Like him, with his mouth open. And if you don’t make to much noise, he won’t interfere…but He’s got a nose, a terribly keen sense of smell, and the whiff-just the merest whiff-of love, and He’s on to it. So He wakes up and starts taking an interest in you. He pounces on you like a sergeant major. About turn! No good trying to be smart with me, my fine friend. Don’t care for refractory types. Brought plenty like you to heel. You’ll be a cuckold. What’s that? What? Not satisfied? You can die of it, then, that’ll teach you! Death! death! death! death! You’ve read that little page at the back of you service certificate, where they promise you it served up in all sorts of different ways when you’re a new recruit? That’s love.