Spanish

affect: afectar, afecte, afectas, afecten,

perdono, perdonen, perdonas,

scepticism: escepticismo.

afectan, afectáis, afecta, afectad,

perdonan, perdonamos, perdonáis,

sincerity: sinceridad.

afectamos, afecto, conmover.

perdone.

stake: poste, estaca, apostar, puesta.

cannot: presente de no poder.

grave: tumba, grave, crítico, sepulcro. stamp: sello, timbrar, sellar, cuño, content: contenido, contento,

inspires: inspira.

estampilla, sello de correos, marca,

satisfecho.

intend: querer decir, tener el

estampillar, estampa, estampar, el

credulity: credulidad.

propósito.

sello.

crush: compresión, aplastar.

pleasant: agradable, simpático,

style: estilo.

don't: no.

placentero, grato.

surrender: capitular, rendirse,

doubts: duda.

pretending: fingiendo, pretendiendo.

rendición, renuncia, entregar,

excellent: excelente.

principles: principios.

entrega, cesión.

forgive: perdonar, perdona, perdonad, satisfactory: satisfactorio.

vital: esencial.

84

The Importance of Being Earnest

CECILY.

Certainly. [GWENDOLEN beats time with uplifted finger.]

GWENDOLEN and CECILY [Speaking together.] Your Christian names are still

an insuperable barrier. That is all!

JACK and ALGERNON [Speaking together.] Our Christian names! Is that all?

But we are going to be christened this afternoon.%

GWENDOLEN.

[To JACK.] For my sake you are prepared to do this terrible thing?

JACK.

I am.

CECILY.

[To ALGERNON.] To please me you are ready to face this fearful ordeal?

ALGERNON.

I am!

GWENDOLEN.

How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes! Where questions of self-sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us.

JACK.

We are. [Clasps hands with ALGERNON.]

CECILY.

They have moments of physical courage of which we women know

absolutely nothing.

GWENDOLEN.

[To JACK.] Darling!

ALGERNON.

[To CECILY.] Darling! [They fall into each other's arms.]

[Enter MERRIMAN.

When he enters he coughs loudly, seeing the situation.]

Spanish

absolutely: absolutamente,

equality: igualdad.

cambia una rueda.

verdaderamente, en efecto, en

fall: caer, os caéis, cáedos, se caen, se loudly: en alta voz, ruidosamente.

realidad, de veras.

cae, te caes, caígase, cáete, caíganse, names: nombres, Michael.

absurd: absurdo.

me caigo, nos caemos.

ordeal: ordalías.

barrier: barrera, reja, obstrucción.

fearful: temeroso, medroso,

other's: otro.

beyond: más allá de, a través de,

angustioso.

physical: físico.

luego, después, allende, más allá.

infinitely: infinitamente.

prepared: preparado.

christened: bautizado.

insuperable: infranqueable, sin

questions: preguntas.

concerned: interesado, en cuestión,

superable.

sake: motivo, fin, bien, causa.

dicho.

jack: gato, jota, sota, para conectar

seeing: viendo, serrando.

courage: valor, coraje, ánimo, virtud.

algún aparto electrotécnico, clavija,

terrible: terrible.

enters: entra, inscribe, monta.

para sujetar el coche cuando se

uplifted: inspiró.

Oscar Wilde

85

MERRIMAN.

Ahem! Ahem! Lady Bracknell!

JACK.

Good heavens!

[Enter LADY BRACKNELL.

The couples separate in alarm. Exit MERRIMAN.]

LADY BRACKNELL.

Gwendolen! What does this mean?

GWENDOLEN.

Merely that I am engaged to be married to Mr. Worthing, mamma.%

LADY BRACKNELL.

Come here. Sit down. Sit down immediately. Hesitation of any kind is a sign

of mental decay in the young, of physical weakness in the old. [Turns to JACK.] Apprised, sir, of my daughter's sudden flight by her trusty maid, whose confidence I purchased by means of a small coin, I followed her at once by a luggage train. Her unhappy father is, I am glad to say, under the

impression that she is attending a more than usually lengthy lecture by the University Extension Scheme on the Influence of a permanent income on

Thought. I do not propose to undeceive him. Indeed I have never

undeceived him on any question. I would consider it wrong. But of course,

you will clearly understand that all communication between yourself and my

daughter must cease immediately from this moment. On this point, as indeed

on all points, I am firm.

JACK.

I am engaged to be married to Gwendolen Lady Bracknell!

LADY BRACKNELL.

You are nothing of the kind, sir. And now, as regards Algernon!... Algernon!

ALGERNON.

Yes, Aunt Augusta.