_La Fontaine._ Seriously now: all my lifetime I have been the plaything of dreams. Sometimes they have taken such possession of me, that nobody could persuade me afterward they were other than real events. Some are very oppressive, very painful, M. de la Rochefoucault! I have never been able, altogether, to disembarrass my head of the most wonderful vision that ever took possession of any man's. There are some truly important differences, but in many respects this laughable adventure of my innocent, honest friend Moliere seemed to have befallen myself. I can only account for it by having heard the tale when I was half asleep. _Rochefoucault._ Nothing more probable. _La Fontaine._ You absolutely have relieved me from an incubus. _Rochefoucault._ I do not yet see how. _La Fontaine._ No longer ago than when you entered this chamber, I would have sworn that I myself had gone to the Louvre, that I myself had been commanded to attend the dauphin, that I myself had come into his presence, had fallen on my knee, and cried, 'Peste! ou est donc le livre?' Ah, M. de la Rochefoucault, permit me to embrace you: this is really to find a friend at court. _Rochefoucault._ My visit is even more auspicious than I could have ventured to expect: it was chiefly for the purpose of asking your permission to make another at my return to Paris.... I am forced to go into the country on some family affairs: but hearing that you have spoken favourably of my _Maxims_, I presume to express my satisfaction and delight at your good opinion. _La Fontaine._ Pray, M. de la Rochefoucault, do me the favour to continue here a few minutes. I would gladly reason with you on some of your doctrines. _Rochefoucault._ For the pleasure of hearing your sentiments on the topics I have treated, I will, although it is late, steal a few minutes from the court, of which I must take my leave on parting for the province. _La Fontaine._ Are you quite certain that all your _Maxims_ are true, or, what is of greater consequence, that they are all original? I have lately read a treatise written by an Englishman, Mr. Hobbes; so loyal a man that, while others tell you kings are appointed by God, he tells you God is appointed by kings. _Rochefoucault._ Ah! such are precisely the men we want. If he establishes this verity, the rest will follow. _La Fontaine._ He does not seem to care so much about the rest. In his treatise I find the ground-plan of your chief positions. _Rochefoucault._ I have indeed looked over his publication; and we agree on the natural depravity of man. _La Fontaine._ Reconsider your expression. It appears to me that what is natural is not depraved: that depravity is deflection from nature. Let it pass: I cannot, however, concede to you that the generality of men are bad. Badness is accidental, like disease. We find more tempers good than bad, where proper care is taken in proper time. _Rochefoucault._ Care is not nature.