There is also a close imitation of the incidents of the _Pseudolus_ in Moliere’s _Etourdi_, which turns on the stratagems of a valet to place a girl in possession of his master Lelie. His first device, as already mentioned, was suggested by the Epidicus(262); but this having failed, he afterwards contrives to get into the service of his master’s rival, Leander, who, having purchased the girl from the proprietor, had agreed to send a ring as a token, at sight of which she was to be delivered up. The valet receives the ring for this very purpose, carries it to the owner, and by such means is just on the point of obtaining possession of the girl, when his stratagem, as usual, is defeated by the _etourderie_ of his master. This notion of the valet’s best-laid plans being always counteracted, was probably suggested by the _Bacchides_ of Plautus, where Mnesilochus repeatedly frustrates the well-contrived schemes of his slave Chrysalus; though, perhaps through the medium of the _Inavertito_ of the Italian dramatist, Nicolo Barbieri, printed in 1629, or Quinault’s _Amant Indiscret_, which was acted four years before Moliere’s _Etourdi_, and is founded on the same plan with that drama. In the particular incidents the _Etourdi_ is compounded of the tricks of Plautus’ slaves; but Moliere has shown little judgment in thus heaping them on each other in one piece. Such events might occur once, but not six or seven times, to the same person. In fact, the valet is more of an _Etourdi_ than his master, as he never forewarns him of his plans; and we feel as we advance, that the play could not be carried on without a previous concert among the characters to connive at impossibilities, and to act in defiance of all common sense or discretion.