[195] This paragraph was not very clear in the original. We have followed M. Destailleurʼs explanation. [196] In the original _déterminément_, an adverb employed by the best authors of the seventeenth century, but now antiquated. [197] This is called _la légitime_ in French. [198] All commentators are agreed that by Drance the Count de Clermont-Tonnerre, first gentleman-in-waiting of the Duke of Orléans, brother of Louis XIV., is meant. [199] Montesquieu has developed this idea of the influence of climate on the mind and race in his _Esprit des Lois_, as well as H. A. Taine in his “History of English Literature.” [200] Arontius is said to be Perrault (See page 14, note 2.) Who Melinda was has never been discovered. [201] _Phébus_ is nonsensical and exaggerated language, so called after Phœbus, the sun-god, on account of his brilliancy. The poet M. Regnier (1573-1613) had already made use of this word; it was something like the language employed by the Englishman, John Lily, in his “Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit,” etc., published 1578-1580. [202] La Bruyère says in a note, “They would call them ‘Sir.’” He also, and on purpose, leads the reader astray by using the names of three courtiers who died some time ago: Zamet, a favourite of Catherine de Medici and Henri IV., who died in 1614; Ruccellaï, one of Conciniʼs partisans, who lived till 1627; and Concini, Maréchal dʼAncre, assassinated in 1617. [203] Some traits of this character apply to Saumery, a gentleman-in-waiting of the Duke of Burgundy, a grandson of Louis XIV. [204] Such an adventure is said to have happened to a certain _conseiller au châtelet_, Robert de Châtillon. Montesquieu, in his _Lettres Persanes_, describes a similar character. [205] Theodectes is the Count dʼAubigné. See page 65, note 4. [206] It was the custom in La Bruyèreʼs time, even among the upper classes, to throw on the floor what was left on the plates or in the glasses. See also the character of Menalcas, chapter xi., “Of Men,” §7. [207] _Il est au-dessus de vouloir se soutenir_, literally, he is above wishing to keep himself up. This expression seems to be peculiar to La Bruyère. [208] No suggestion has ever been made as to what person is portrayed as Troïlus; still it seems to have been intended by our author for one of his contemporaries. [209] A certain boasting Abbé de Vassé is meant, who refused the bishopric of Mans, and died in 1716 at the age of sixty-five. [210] The authorʼs note says, “A kind of people who pretend to be very nice in their language.” [211] _Proprement_, in the original, was in La Bruyèreʼs time generally used for “elegantly,” “correctly.” [212] Oaths were more commonly used by the upper classes in the seventeenth century than they are now. [213] Cléon is supposed to have been a certain financier Monnerot, who died in prison rather than pay a fine of two million francs, to which he had been condemned by a court of justice.