SER. (_to_ MR. JOURDAIN). Everything is ready, Sir. DOR. Come, then, let us go and sit down. Tell the musicians to come. SCENE XXI.--_Entry of the_ BALLET. _The_ COOKS, _who have prepared the banquet, dance together, and make the third interlude; after which they bring in a table covered with various dishes_. ACT IV. SCENE I.--DORIMENE, MR. JOURDAIN, DORANTE, THREE SINGERS, A SERVANT. DORI. Really, Dorante, this is a magnificent dinner. MR. JOUR. You are pleased to say So, Madam, but I only wish it were more worthy of your acceptance. (DORIMENE, MR. JOURDAIN, DORANTE, _and the_ THREE SINGERS _sit down_.) DOR. Mr. Jourdain is right, Madam, in what he says; and he obliges me by doing so well the honours of his house to you. I agree with him that the dinner is not worthy of you. As it was I who ordered it, and as I have not for this kind of thing the knowledge of some of our friends, you will not find here a well studied repast, but will meet with many incongruities of good eating and some barbarisms against good taste. If our good friend Damis had ordered it, all would be according to rule; there would be elegance and erudition everywhere; and he would not fail to exaggerate to you the excellence of every dish, and to make you acknowledge his high capacity in the science of good eating. He would speak to you of a loaf with golden sides, crusty all over, and yielding tenderly under the teeth; of wine full-bodied and of not too perceptible an acidity; of a saddle of mutton stewed with parsley; of a loin of Normandy veal, long, white, tender, and which is, as it were, an almond paste between the teeth; of partridges wonderful in flavour; and as his masterpiece, a pearl broth reinforced with a large turkey flanked with young pigeons, and crowned with white onions blended with endive. For my part I confess my ignorance; and as Mr. Jourdain has very well said, I wish the repast were more worthy of your acceptance. DORI. Well, I can only answer to this compliment by eating as I am doing. MR. JOUR. Ah! what beautiful hands! DORI. The hands have not much to boast of, Mr. Jourdain; it is the diamond which you wish to speak of; it is indeed very beautiful. MR. JOUR. I, Madam? Heaven forbid that I should speak of it. It would be ungentlemanly to do so, and the diamond is but a trifle. DOR. You are difficult to please. MR. JOUR. You are too kind, and.... DOR. (_after having made signs to_ MR. JOURDAIN). Come, come, give a little wine to Mr. Jourdain and to these gentlemen, who will do us the pleasure of singing us a drinking song. DORI. It is a most charming thought to make good music accompany good food, and I find myself most kindly entertained here. MR. JOUR. Madam, it is not.... DOR. Mr. Jourdain, let us listen to the music; what these gentlemen will tell us is better than all you and I could say. 1ST _and_ 2ND SINGERS _together, each with a glass in his hand_.