'Quoi! parce qu'un fripon vous dupe avec audace, Sous le pompeux éclat d'une austère grimace, Vous voulez que partout on soit fait comme lui, Et qu'aucun vrai dévot ne se trouve aujourd'hui? Laissez aux libertins ces sottes conséquences: Démêlez la vertu d'avec ses apparences; Ne bazardez jamais votre estime trop tôt. Ne soyez pour cela dans le milieu qu'il faut. Gardez-vous, s'il se peut, d'honorer l'imposture, Mais au vrai zèle, aussi, n'allez pas faire injure; Et s'il vous faut tomber dans une extrémité, Péchez plutôt encor de cet autre côté.'] [Footnote 44: Molière thus describes himself in one of his pieces. A Lady says: "I remember the evening when, impelled by the reputation he has acquired, and the works he has brought out, Célimène wished to see Damon. You know the man, and his indolence in keeping up conversation. She invited him as a wit; but he never appeared so stupid as in the midst of a dozen persons she had made it a favour to invite to meet him, who looked at him with all their eyes, fancying that he would be different from every body else. They fancied that he would amuse the company with bon mots; that every word he should say would be witty, each speech an impromptu, that he must ask to drink with a point; and they could make nothing of his silence."] [Footnote 45: Chapelle's Epigram on this insult to his friend's remains deserves mention:-- "Puisqu'à Paris on dénie La terre après le trépas, À ceux qui, pendant leur vie, Ont joué la comédie, Pourquoi ne jette-t-on pas Les bigots à la voirie? Ils sont dans le même cas." Boileau also alludes to the scandalous and impious treatment of his friend's remains.] [Footnote 46: He does less justice to his personal character even than to his works. No one can read the biographies of Molière without admiring the honourable, generous, and kindly nature of the man; Schlegel slurs over these qualities, and endeavours to stamp him as a mere court buffoon.] LA FONTAINE 1621-1695