[48] The dialogue thus far closely follows _Le Menteur,_ I. iv. [49] This passage, down to the end of Young Bookwit's description of the feast--"twelve dishes to a course"--is a literal translation from _Le Menteur_, I. v. The whole scene appears again in slightly varied form in Foote's _Liar_. [50] The rest of the scene with Lovemore and Frederick is from _Le Menteur_, I. v. [51] The ensuing dialogue is an adaptation from _Le Menteur_, i, vi., down to Latine's mention of lying. The rest is Steele's. [52] Pontack's was a French eating-house in Abchurch Lane, where the Royal Society held its annual dinners until 1746. Pontack was son of the President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, and gave the name to a famous French claret. Evelyn refers to him in his diary, 13 July, 1683, and 30 Nov., 1694, and Swift, in his Journal, 16 Aug., 1711: "Pontack told us, although his wine was so good, he sold it cheaper than others; he took but seven shillings a flask. Are not these pretty rates?" See, too, the prologue to _Love's Contrivances_, 1703, by Mrs. Centlivre:-- "At Locket's, Brown's, and at Pontack's enquire, What modish kickshaws the nice beaus desire, What famed ragouts, what new-invented salad, Has best pretensions to regale the palate. If we present you with a medley here, A hodge-podge dish served up in china-ware, We hope 'twill please, 'cause like your bills of fare." Pontack put up a picture of his father's head as a sign (Burn's _Descriptive Catalogue of the London Traders' Tavern, and Coffee-House Tokens_, 1855, p. 13). From a tract called _The Metamorphoses of the Town_, dated 1730, we learn that Pontack's was then the resort of extravagant epicures; in the bill of fare of a "guinea ordinary" are "a ragout of fatted snails," and "chickens not two hours from the shell." [53] _Geronte._ Il vint hier de Poitiers, mais il sent peu l'école; Et, si l'on pouvait croire un père à sa parole, Quelque écolier qu'il soit, je dirais qu'aujourd'hui Peu de nos gens de cour sont mieux taillés que lui. (_Le Menteur_, II. ii.) [54] Presents to servants. [55] _Clarice._ Ah! bon Dieu! si Dorante avait autant d'appas, Que d'Alcippe aisément il obtiendrait la place! (_Le Menteur_, II. ii.) [56] _Alcippe._ Ah, Clarice! ah, Clarice! inconstante, volage! (_Le Menteur_, II. iii.) The idea of the servant remaining in the room is Steele's. [57] Most of this scene, down to Lovemore's exit, is adapted from _Le Menteur_, II. iii., iv. [58] Want of merit. See the _Tatler_, No. 69. [59] There is a similar speech in _Le Menteur_, II. ii.