- You seem intent on messing me about....

• You seem intent on messing me about.
• Well then, since you insist, I’ll spell it out:
• I’ve loved this girl for years, and she loves me --
• At least, she did -- but now, apparently,
• You’ve ousted me with music, banquets and
• Fireworks, although you clearly understand
• The situation -- since that’s obviously
• Why you returned without informing me.
• But now you’ve chosen to come out of hiding:
• Secrecy bores you -- you prefer deriding
• Your beaten rival with a full report
• On your romantic exploits. I’d have thought
• I had good reason to be shocked and wounded
• By such behaviour!

Corneille, Pierre. Two Plays: The Liar, The Illusion. trans. Ranjit Bolt. Absolute Classics, Bath, England. 1989. p. 34