PHI. You will soon be enlightened on the subject. SCENE V.--TRISSOTIN, VADIUS, PHILAMINTE, BÉLISE, ARMANDE, HENRIETTE. TRI. (_introducing_ VADIUS). [Footnote: It is probably Ménage who is here laughed at.] Here is the gentleman who is dying to see you. In presenting him I am not afraid, Madam, of being accused of introducing a profane person to you; he can hold his place among the wits. PHI. The hand which introduces him sufficiently proves his value. TRI. He has a perfect knowledge of the ancient authors, and knows Greek, Madam, as well as any man in France. PHI. (_to_ BÉLISE). Greek! O heaven! Greek! He understands Greek, sister! BEL. (_to_ ARMANDE). Ah, niece! Greek! ARM. Greek! ah! how delightful! PHI. What, Sir, you understand Greek? Allow me, I beg, for the love of Greek, to embrace you. (VADIUS _embraces also_ BÉLISE _and_ ARMANDE.) HEN. (_to_ VADIUS, _who comes forward to embrace her_) Excuse me, Sir, I do not understand Greek. (_They sit down_.) PHI. I have a wonderful respect for Greek books. VAD. I fear that the anxiety which calls me to render my homage to you to-day, Madam, may render me importunate. I may have disturbed some learned discourse. PHI. Sir, with Greek in possession, you can spoil nothing. TRI. Moreover, he does wonders in prose as well as in verse, and he could, if he chose, show you something. VAD. The fault of authors is to burden conversation with their productions; to be at the Palais, in the walks, in the drawing-rooms, or at table, the indefatigable readers of their tedious verses. As for me, I think nothing more ridiculous than an author who goes about begging for praise, who, preying on the ears of the first comers, often makes them the martyrs of his night watches. I have never been guilty of such foolish conceit, and I am in that respect of the opinion of a Greek, who by an express law forbade all his wise men any unbecoming anxiety to read their works.--Here are some little verses for young lovers upon which I should like to have your opinion. TRI. Your verses have beauties unequalled by any others. VAD. Venus and the Graces reign in all yours. TRI. You have an easy style, and a fine choice of words. VAD. In all your writings one finds _ithos_ and _pathos_. TRI. We have seen some eclogues of your composition which surpass in sweetness those of Theocritus and Virgil. VAD. Your odes have a noble, gallant, and tender manner, which leaves Horace far behind. TRI. Is there anything more lovely than your canzonets? VAD. Is there anything equal to the sonnets you write? TRI. Is there anything more charming than your little rondeaus? VAD. Anything so full of wit as your madrigals? TRI. You are particularly admirable in the ballad. VAD. And in _bouts-rimés_ I think you adorable. TRI. If France could appreciate your value-- VAD. If the age could render justice to a lofty genius-- TRI. You would ride in the streets in a gilt coach.