Molière dedicated _The School for Husbands_ to the Duke of Orleans, the King's only brother, in the following words:-- MY LORD, I here shew France things that are but little consistent. Nothing can be so great and superb as the name I place in front of this book; and nothing more mean than what it contains. Every one will think this a strange mixture; and some, to express its inequality, may say that it is like setting a crown of pearls and diamonds on an earthen statue, and making magnificent porticos and lofty triumphal arches to a mean cottage. But, my Lord, my excuse is, that in this case I had no choice to make, and that the honour I have of belonging to your Royal Highness, [Footnote: Molière was the chief of the troupe of actors belonging to the Duke of Orleans, who had only lately married, and was not yet twenty-one years old.] absolutely obliged me to dedicate to you the first work that I myself published. [Footnote: _Sganarelle_ had been borrowed by Neufvillenaine; _The Pretentious Ladies_ was only printed by Molière, because the copy of the play was stolen from him; _Don Garcia of Navarre_ was not published till after his death, in 1682.] It is not a present I make you, it is a duty I discharge; and homages are never looked upon by the things they bring. I presumed, therefore, to dedicate a trifle to your Royal Highness, because I could not help it; but if I omit enlarging upon the glorious truths I might tell of you, it is through a just fear that those great ideas would make my offering the more inconsiderable. I have imposed silence on myself, meaning to wait for an opportunity better suited for introducing such fine things; all I intended in this epistle was to justify my action to France, and to have the glory of telling you yourself, my Lord, with all possible submission, that I am your Royal Highness' very humble, very obedient, and very faithful servant, MOLIÈRE. In the fourth volume of the "Select Comedies of M. de Molière, London, 1732," the translation of _The School for Husbands_ is dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Harriot Campbell, in the following words:-- MADAM, A _Comedy_ which came abroad in its Native Language, under the Patronage of the _Duke_ of ORLEANS, Brother to the _King_ of FRANCE, attempts now to speak English, and begs the Honour of Your LADYSHIP'S Favour and Acceptance. That distinguishing good Sense, that nice Discernment, that refined Taste of Reading and Politeness for which Your LADYSHIP is so deservedly admir'd, must, I'm persuaded, make You esteem _Molière_; whose way of expression is easy and elegant, his Sentiments just and delicate, and his morals untainted: who constantly combats Vice and Folly with strong Reason and well turn'd Ridicule; in short, whose _Plays_ are all instructive, and tend to some useful Purpose:--An Excellence sufficient to recommend them to your LADYSHIP.