n unlearned man, ignorant of all good
rules; an ass, in plain English. What! you begin a discourse without a
word of exordium! Some one else must tell me what happened; will you,
young lady, tell me the particulars of all this noise?

ANG. Do you see here my fat rascal, my wine-barrel of a husband ...

DOC. Gently, if you please, speak with respect of your husband when
you are under the nose of a doctor like me.

ANG. Ah! I should just think so, doctor! I care little for you or your
doctrine, and I am a doctor whenever I please.

DOC. You, a doctor when you please. A nice doctor you make. You seem
to me to do much as you wish.... But, I say, tell me the subject of
your uproar.

BAR. Sir, your honour ...

DOC. You begin well. "Your honour!" this word has something flattering
to the ear, something full of magniloquence; "your honour!"

BAR. According to my will.

DOC. Quite right.... "According to my will!" the will speaks of a
wish, the wish presupposes means to come to one's ends, and the end
presupposes an object. It is well said, "according to my will!"

BAR. I am bursting with rage.

DOC. Cut out this word "bursting." It is a low, vulgar expression.

BAR. But, doctor, listen to me for mercy's sake.

DOC. _Audi, quaeso_, would Caesar have said.[7]

BAR. Seize her, or don't seize her, you will listen to me or I will
break your doctoral neck! What the devil do you mean by all this?

(LE BARBOUILLE, ANGELIQUE, GORGIBUS, CATHAU, VILLEBREQUIN, _wish
to explain the cause of the quarrel; the_ DOCTOR _explains that
peace is a fine thing. They all talk together, and make a dreadful
noise. In the midst of all this_, LE BARBOUILLE _ties the_ DOCTOR
_by the legs with a rope, throws him down on his back, and drags
him away; the_ DOCTOR _goes on talking all the time, and counts
all his arguments on his fingers, as if he were not on the
ground._)

GOR. Now, my daughter, go back to your home and live in peace with
your husband.

VILL. Your servant; good night.

(_Exeunt_ VILLEBREQUIN, GORGIBUS, _and_ ANGELIQUE.)

SCENE VII.--VALERE, LA VALLEE.

VAL. I am extremely obliged to you, sir, for the trouble you have
taken, and I promise you that in about an hour's time I shall be at
the place of rendezvous you give me.

LA VAL. It cannot be put off so long, in a quarter of an hour the ball
will be over, and you will miss the pleasure of meeting there the
person you love.

VAL. Le