T. DIA. (_to_ ARGAN). Sir, I come to salute, acknowledge, cherish, and revere in you a second father; but a second father to whom I owe more, I make bold to say, than to the first. The first gave me birth; but you have chosen me. He received me by necessity, but you have accepted me by choice. What I have from him is of the body, corporal; what I hold from you is of the will, voluntary; and in so much the more as the mental faculties are above the corporal, in so much the more do I hold precious this future affiliation, for which I come beforehand to-day to render you my most humble and most respectful homage. TOI. Long life to the colleges which send such clever people into the world! T. DIA. (_to_ MR. DIAFOIRUS). Has this been said to your satisfaction, father? MR. DIA. _Optime_. ARG. (_to_ ANGÉLIQUE). Come, bow to this gentleman. T. DIA. (_to_ MR. DIAFOIRUS). Shall I kiss? MR. DIA. Yes, yes. T. DIA. (_to_ ANGÉLIQUE). Madam, it is with justice that heaven has given you the name of stepmother, since we see in you steps towards the perfect beauty which....[2] ARG. (_to_ THOMAS DIAFOIRUS). It is not to my wife, but to my daughter, that you are speaking. T. DIA. Where is she? ARG. She will soon come. T. DIA. Shall I wait, father, till she comes? MR. DIA. No; go through your compliments to the young lady in the meantime. T. DIA. Madam, as the statue of Memnon gave forth a harmonious sound when it was struck by the first rays of the sun, in like manner do I experience a sweet rapture at the apparition of this sun of your beauty. As the naturalists remark that the flower styled heliotrope always turns towards the star of day, so will my heart for ever turn towards the resplendent stars of your adorable eyes as to its only pole. Suffer me, then, Madam, to make to-day on the altar of your charms the offering of a heart which longs for and is ambitious of no greater glory than to be till death, Madam, your most humble, most obedient, most faithful servant and husband. TOI. Ah! See what it is to study, and how one learns to say fine things! ARG. (_to_ CLÉANTE). Well! what do you say to that? CLE. The gentleman does wonders, and if he is as good a doctor as he is an orator, it will be most pleasant to be one of his patients. TOI. Certainly, it will be something admirable if his cures are as wonderful as his speeches. ARG. Now, quick, my chair; and seats for everybody. (_Servants bring chairs._) Sit down here, my daughter. (_To_ MR. DIAFOIRUS) You see, Sir, that everybody admires your son; and I think you very fortunate in being the father of such a fine young man.