The Project Gutenberg eBook of Uma scena conjugal This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Uma scena conjugal Author: Luís Couceiro Release date: May 11, 2008 [eBook #25436] Most recently updated: January 3, 2021 Language: Portuguese Credits: Produced by Pedro Saborano. A partir da digitalização disponibilizada pela bibRIA *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UMA SCENA CONJUGAL *** Produced by Pedro Saborano. A partir da digitalização disponibilizada pela bibRIA. LUIZ COUCEIRO UMA SCENA CONJUGAL COMEDIA--lever de rideau AVEIRO TYP. MINERVA CENTRAL 1905 UMA SCENA CONJUGAL LUIZ COUCEIRO UMA SCENA CONJUGAL COMEDIA--lever de rideau AVEIRO TYP. MINERVA CENTRAL 1905 Reserva-se o direito de propriedade A Off.^e _O auctor._ PERSONAGENS Carlos e Bertha _Carlos está trabalhando á sua secretária._ _Bertha lendo um romance junto d'elle._ Carlos (_descansando do trabalho a que se entrega e preparando um cigarro_) Darei á penna um pouco de repouso E descanço ao trabalho a que me prendo... Bertha N'esse caso estás hoje preguiçoso? Carlos Não; mas emquanto o meu cigarro accendo, Vou desviar a tua vista immersa No romance a que prestes attenção... Bertha (_interrompendo_) Dando-me alguns instantes de conversa? Carlos Se te apraz, se te agrada? Bertha (_fechando o livro_) E porque não! Tambem fecho o meu livro por momentos Carlos (_interrompendo_) Cuja leitura acaso te aborrece Penso eu?... Bertha Errados são taes pensamentos, É bonita, e desperta algo interesse Carlos Ora adeus! Um romance trivial, Muitas vezes de pura phantazia. Mas que as mulheres acham principal Possuir como bôa companhia, Sim! romance d'amôr não é verdade? Bertha É d'amôr, com effeito; dizes bem, E tanto assim, que na realidade, «Meus Amores» é nome que elle tem Carlos «Meus Amores»!! Tem graça! Com tal titulo, Faria eu um romance original Bertha Tu?! Carlos Eu, pois; e crê que em mais d'um capitulo... Bertha (_interrompendo_) Descrevias a vida conjugal? Carlos Tolinha!... sempre tens cada lembrança! O casamento assumpto não daria E nem com isso ingenua creança, Vale a pena augmentar a livraria! Bertha (_admirada_) Então!? Carlos Então, buscava mui sómente A historia de todo o meu passado, Narrando o que a minha alma ainda sente... Bertha (_áparte_) Patife!! Todo o instante é bem azádo Para dizer-me só palavras duras! (_alto_) De fórma que passavas em revista?... Carlos Todas as minhas mil e uma aventuras, Em que nunca deixou d'haver conquista Nem falhou o mais duro coração... Bertha (_áparte_) É demais!!! Mas vingança vou jurar! (_alto_) E no livro da sua confecção Poderei eu tambem collaborar? Carlos Quem! tu? Da esposa, amôr e só constancia, Tanto é o que poderás descrever. Bertha (_altiva_) Qual! Esse amôr jámais teve importancia, Não acabaste ha pouco de o dizer! Acredita meu caro, que ha de sobra Elementos na minha mocidade, Que possam reforçar a tua obra E dar-lhe bem maior publicidade!... Carlos (_ironicamente_) Ah! eu creio. Acredito plenamente! E pódes convencer-te que não peccas, Se quizeres expôr sinceramente O muito que adoravas as bonecas... Bertha (_irritada_) Senhor! Consentir, não posso que altere A traducção das minhas expressões! Saiba que me melindra e só me fére, Suppondo que sentidas vibrações A recordar um tempo bem feliz, Se fundam em tão simples innocencia!... Carlos (_surprehendido_) Perdão se a offendi! Bertha (_continuando_) É como diz: E repito com muita consciencia, Ter os dados precizos e bastantes, Para com elles dar mais um motivo A que o seu livro tenha assignantes E seja digno do melhor archivo... Carlos (_mais surprehendido_) O que!?... pensarás tu em desvendar Um segredo, ou talvez, algum mysterio?!!... Bertha Não sei; apenas julgo acrescentar, Que só digo a verdade e fallo a sério... Carlos (_surprezo_) Devo então suppôr n'essa affirmativa Que fosses n'outro tempo aventuroza?!! Bertha Se fui!... e como tenho inda bem viva A recordação da vida amorosa, Tão cheia de prazer, de tanto gôzo!... Carlos (_irritado_) Senhora! não graceje! e se é sincera, Explique e narre tudo a seu espozo?... Bertha Ceus! Não queira avivar a primavera Das minhas aventuras; por Deus peço? Carlos (_admiradissimo_) Das suas aventuras?! Todavia, O fim de taes palavras eu não meço, E desejo saber o que existia, Que advinhal-o, não posso, nem eu sei! Bertha Que havia de existir? O que? Senhor? Digo-lhe só, que muito, muito amei E gosei as delicias do amor!... Carlos Comtudo, diga de que fórma e como?! Bertha Contar-lho, era fazer um bom romance Que ao certo não cabia n'um só tômo!... Carlos (_impaciente_) Lembro que em desespero não me lance! Exigindo me conte a sua historia! Bertha Ah! quer? pois bem; e visto que me obriga A dizer-lhe o que tenho de memoria, Vou tudo já contar Escute... Carlos Diga? Bertha Recorda-me que outr'ora, não sei quando, D'intenso amor minha alma despertava, E o coração dizia palpitando, Que d'amor, uma outra alma se aliava: E acode-me senhor ao pensamento, Que nunca tornará a reviver, Nem tão incomparavel sentimento, Nem hora que assimille esse prazer. Era bem nova ainda, era creança, Mas dentro em pouco, eu já comprehendia, Que a minha vida até ahi tão mansa, Da mais louca paixão em febre ardia E d'outros mil affectos era preza... Carlos (_interrompendo_) E não ousaes Senhora vêr-me rude?! Bertha Não. Se d'amor é feita a Natureza, Amar, não é peccado, mas virtude! Carlos Se ás vezes não reverte em sacrilegio Findae a narrativa por quem sões! Bertha Ah! sim! dar-lhe-hei esse previlegio, Eu proseguirei... Carlos (_altivo_) Vamos, e depois? Bertha Depois, senhor, se o tempo bem corria, Bem mais depressa o meu amor galgava, Até que em sorridente e lindo dia. Qual vulcão, chamma intensa o inflamava. Estavam satisfeitos os desejos Da mulher, que contente e delirante, Se deixou cahir sofrega de beijos, Nos braços d'um querido e terno amante... Carlos (_surprehendidissimo_) Nos braços d'um amante hein!... hein! Senhora?! E então, com que coragem inaudita, Faz tal revelação sómente agora, A esposa indigna, mil vezes maldicta! ..................................... Nos braços d'um amante, não é assim?!! E com que arrojo, com que atrevimento, Procura descobrir perante mim O seu infame e vil procedimento! Bertha (_interrompendo_) Chame-lhe tudo quanto bem quizer, Se pequei, se cahi, porém, no abysmo, A eito n'elle cahe muita mulher. Carlos Mas, meu Deus! É demais tanto cynismo!! ....................................... De forma, que a mulher por mim sonhada, E que eu ardentemente possui, Denuncia, confessa, exclama e brada. Que m'enganou?!... Bertha E que inda ri de si! Carlos Senhora! Que medonha crueldade!!... Bertha Que quer?! é um engano natural... Suppoz, julgou que eu era uma beldade, Conquistou-me como um grande ideal Emanado dos Ceus, ente divino, Mulher de formosura incomparavel, De olhar meigo, suave e rosto fino, Imagem linda, santa e adoravel, Nympha, que a muza canta em dôce estylo, Em poema sublime, em verso bello, O quadro mais perfeito de Murillo, E da sculptura, a estatua modello. Sonhou-me assim, porém foi sonho erróneo Hoje, eis apenas o ente que não passa D'um objecto preciso ao matrimonio, Sem que tenha sequer uma só graça D'aquellas que o Senhor imaginou. Hoje eis a mulher simples e vulgar, Sem os dons d'outro tempo que passou, E que ao vêr-me, pensára architetar. Emfim: Mulher inutil, sem valor... Carlos E que ora transforma em atroz calvario A vida do hymineu!... Bertha Oh! meu Senhôr: Isso é tão futil, é tão secundario, Que de f'rido, mostrar-se-me aparente, Creia, revela em bôa consciencia, Nem sêr constante, nem sêr coherente... Carlos (_desesperado_) Basta senhora, se é muita a prudencia Minha, maior é inda a gran cordura Com que ouço semilhante confissão, De deshonra, de vergonha e amargura!... Bertha (_áparte_) E para mim, de tanta inspiração! Carlos (_continuando_) Basta, sim! E nem mais uma palavra Que aggrave tão fataes desenganos, Nem augmente a dôr que em minha alma lavra, Sabendo que motivos bem profanos Ao meu lár desventura agora traz: Ao lár onde até aqui sómente via, Ninho feito de amôr, feito de páz, Na mais leal e santa companhia; Ninho feito de bençãos infinitas, Canto da mais risonha f'licidade Por Deus enviada em graças bemdictas, Berço de sã virtude e honestidade... .................................... E só agora, só n'este momento, De tão louca illusão tenho o alcance! Bertha (_áparte_) Graças! e parabens ao meu talento, Que já encontra assumpto p'ra um romance! Carlos (_continuando_) E só agora, apenas n'este instante, Vem dizer, revelar, esta Senhora, Que ousou cahir nos braços d'um amante!! Bertha E que a partir d'então, desde essa hora, Sem que á minha mente outra ideia assome, Eu nunca deixarei de bemdizer O seu amor, a vida e o seu nome!... Carlos (_com rancor_) Nome que eu desejara conhecer, Para em sangue vingar o atroz insulto Hoje lançado ao rosto d'um marido Cuja honra, lhe devera ser um culto! Ah! Senhora, depois de ter ouvido Revelações fataes e tão extranhas. Depois de supportar tantas surprezas, Indique-me o auctor d'essas façanhas O seu cumplice para taes proezas?! Bertha Pensa então n'uma breve desaffronta? Carlos Nem mais, senhora, e bem depressa, Que é esse o sentimento que desponta N'um peito que á loucura se arremeça! Bertha E afinal, o que lucra, não me diz? Carlos (_estupefacto_) Que lucro!? Dar da minha honra um exemplo... Bertha Mas olhe, que o que fui, gosei e fiz Em nada altera a paz do nosso templo!... Carlos Surprehende-nos a fórma audaciosa Como allude á baixeza do seu feito!!... Bertha Ouça!... A avivar a data venturoza Do que acabo d'expôr, pende ao meu peito Um retrato: Quer vêr Vossa Excellencia?... Carlos Que a tanto não avance, eu a aconselho!! Bertha (_mostrando o retrato_) Pois meu amigo, tenha paciencia, Já agora ha-de vêr-se n'este espelho... Carlos (_surprehendido_) An??!... Eu?!!... o seu marido?!! Bertha Sim, pois quem? Quem a não ser o meu real senhôr, Se eu nunca, nunca amei a mais ninguem! Se eu jámais conheci um outro amôr?!... Carlos (_sem comprehender_) Mas?!!... Bertha (_interrompendo_) Diga-me, se em vista d'esta scena, De tanta sensação e sentimento, Em verdade, lhe vale, ou não, a pena Dar apreço e valôr ao casamento?... Carlos (_com doçura_) Eu comprehendo esposa da minha alma! É dos Deuses o gosto da vingança?! Bertha Que espero e creio tenha a palma, De mais firmar o bem d'esta aliança! Carlos (_abraçando Bertha_) Oh! sim, minha querida, ente adorado! Aproveito a lição de ensino duro; E crê, que de falar-te no passado, Nunca mais: Eu prometo Bertha Juras? 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