DON JUAN: I can’t, in short, deny my heart to anything that strikes me as lovable, and the sight of a beautiful face so masters me that, if I had a thousand hearts, I’d give them all. There is, besides, an inexpressible charm in the first stirrings of a new passion, and the whole pleasure of love lies in change.
[DOM JUAN: Quoi qu’il en soit, je ne puis refuser mon cœur à tout ce que je vois d’aimable; et, dès qu’un beau visage me le demande, si j’en avais dix mille, je les donnerais tous. Les inclinations naissantes, après tout, ont des charmes inexplicables, et tout le plaisir de l’amour est dans le changement.]
Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Don Juan [Dom Juan], Act 1, sc. 2 (1665) [tr. Wilbur (2001)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Other translations:However it is, I can't refuse my Heart to any lovely Creature I see, and from the Moment a handsome Face demands it, had I thousand Hearts I'd give 'em all. The rising Inclinations, after all, have inexplicable Charmes in 'em, and all the Pleasure of Love consists in the Variety.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]However it may be, I cannot refuse my heart to any lovely creature I behold; and as soon as a handsome face asks it of me, if I had ten thousand hearts, I would give them all. Budding inclinations, after all, have a charm which is indescribable, and all the pleasure of love is in variety.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]Whatever may have taken place before, I cannot refuse my love to any of the lovely women I behold; and, as soon as a handsome face asks it of me, if I had ten thousand hearts I would give them all away. The first beginnings of love have, besides, indescribable charms, and the true pleasure of love consists in its variety.
[tr. Wall (1879)]However it may be, I cannot refuse my heart to any lovely creature I see; and, as soon as a pretty face asks me, had I ten thousand hearts I would give them all. First beginnings, besides, have indescribable charms, and ll the pleasure of love consists in variety.
[tr. Waller (1904)]I cannot refuse my heart to any lovely creature I behold, and as soon as a fair face asks it, had I ten thousand hearts I'd give them all. Love at its birth hath unexpressible charms, and all the pleasure of it lies in change.
[tr. Page (1908)]Whatever my situation, I cannot refuse my heart to anyone I see to be lovable; and as soon as a fair face asks me for it, if I had ten thousand hearts I'd give them all. After all, budding inclinations have unaccountable charms, and the whole pleasure of love lies in change.
[tr. Frame (1967)]I can't withhold my love from everything I find lovable. What happens later -- happens. A beautiful face has only to ask for my heart. If I had ten thousand hearts, I'd give them all. There is something indescribable and thrilling in a fresh affair. The entire pleasure of love lies in how it changes.
[tr. Bermel (1987)]
