(Alceste, Célimène, Eliante, Acaste, Philinge, Clitan-
dre, Basque.)
Bas. (To Alceste.) Sir, there's a man who wants to
speak to you
On business that, he says, can't be put off.
Alces. Tell him I know of no such urgent business.
Bas. He 's got a jacket on with plaited coat-tails
And gold all over.
Cel. (To Alceste.) Go see what it is,
Or rather, have him up.
(Alceste, Célimène, Eliante, Acaste, Philinte, Clitandre, An Officer from the Marshals' Court.)
Alces. (Stepping forward to meet the officer.) What do you want? Come in, sir.
Off. Sir, I want a word with you.
Alces. Speak out then, sir, and let me know what 't is.
Off. The honourable Marshals, whom I serve,
Bid you appear before them, sir, at once.
Alces. Who? I, sir?
Off. You.
Alces. And what for, may I ask?
Phil. (To Alceste.) 'T is your ridiculous quarrel with Oronte.
Cel. (To Philinte.) What quarrel?
Phil. They had words this morning here
About some trifling lines he did n't like.
The Marshals want to hush things up at once.
Alces. I 'll never stoop to any base compliance.
Phil. You must obey their summons. Come, get ready . . .
Alces. What sort of terms can they arrange between
us?
Will they condemn me by a vote to think
The verses good that we disputed over?
I won't take back a single word about them,
I think them wretched.
Phil. But a gentler tone . . .
Alces. I shall not budge an inch; they 're villainous.
Phil. You ought to be the least bit tractable.
Come, come along with me.
Alces. I 'll go, but nothing
Can make me take it back.
Phil. Come show yourself . . .
Alces. Short of a special order from the king
Commanding me to think their plaguy verses
Are good, I shall maintain, by heaven, they 're
wretched,
And any man that made them merits hanging.
(To Clitandre and Acaste, who laugh.)
By God's blood, gentlemen, I did n't know
I was so entertaining.
Cel. Go, go quickly
Where you are summoned.
Alces. Yes, I'll go; and straight
Be back again to settle our debate.
(Clitandre, Acaste.)
Clit. Dear Marquis, you seem quite self-satisfied;
You're pleased with everything, annoyed at nothing.
Now tell me truly, are you sure--don't flatter
Yourself--you 've such great reason to be joyous?
Acas. Egad now! When I look myself well over,
I can't find any cause for discontent;
I'm rich, I'm young, I'm of a family
That well may give itself the style of noble;
And by the rank which my extraction gives me,
I can lay claim to almost any office.
In courage, which we all must value most,
The world knows (not to boast) that I'm not lacking;
They 've seen me carry an affair of honour
Quite dashingly and cavalierly through.
With wit, of course, I 'm furnished; and good taste
To judge off-hand, and talk on any subject,
And, when new plays come out (which I adore),
On the stage-seats to act the knowing critic,
Decide the drama's fate, and lead the applause
Whenever a fine passage merits bravos.
I 'm dexterous, handsome, have a good complexion,
Especially fine teeth, a slender figure;
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