BEL. Can there be a more gross assemblage of corpuscles, [Footnote: A reference to the corpuscular philosophy] a mind composed of more vulgar atoms? Is it possible that I can come from the same blood? I hate myself for being of your race, and out of pure shame I abandon the spot. SCENE VIII.--PHILAMINTE, CHRYSALE. PHI. Have you any other shaft ready? CHRY. I? No. Don't let us dispute any longer. I've done. Let's speak of something else. Your eldest daughter shows a dislike to marriage; in short, she is a philosopher, and I've nothing to say. She is under good management, and you do well by her. But her younger sister is of a different disposition, and I think it would be right to give Henriette a proper husband, who.... PHI. It is what I have been thinking about, and I wish to speak to you of what I intend to do. This Mr. Trissotin on whose account we are blamed, and who has not the honour of being esteemed by you; is the man whom I have chosen to be her husband; and I can judge of his merit better than you can. All discussion is superfluous here, for I have duly resolved that it should be so. I will ask you also not to say a word of it to your daughter before I have spoken to her on the subject. I can justify my conduct, and I shall be sure to know if you have spoken to her. SCENE IX.--ARISTE, CHRYSALE. ARI. Well! your wife has just left, and I see that you must have had a talk together. CHRY. Yes. ARI. And how did you succeed? Shall we have Henriette? Has she given her consent? Is the affair settled? CHRY. Not quite as yet. ARI. Does she refuse? CHRY. No. ARI. Then she hesitates? CHRY. Not in the least. ARI. What then? CHRY. Well! she offers me another man for a son-in-law. ARI. Another man for a son-in-law? CHRY. Yes. ARI. What is his name? CHRY. Mr. Trissotin. ARI. What! that Mr. Trissotin.... CHRY. Yes, he who always speaks of verse and Latin. ARI. And you have accepted him? CHRY. I? Heaven forbid! ARI. What did you say to it? CHRY. Nothing. I am glad that I did not speak, and commit myself. ARI. Your reason is excellent, and it is a great step towards the end we have in view. Did you not propose Clitandre to her? CHRY. No; for as she talked of another son-in-law, I thought it was better for me to say nothing. ARI. Your prudence is to the last degree wonderful! Are you not ashamed of your weakness? How can a man be so poor-spirited as to let his wife have absolute power over him, and never dare to oppose anything she has resolved upon?