hat
is, _alce_, vigor. Well, Epicurus, that is mild watchfulness, that
is protection; now who watches better over the state, or who protects
individuals better than M. Fouquet does?"

"You talk etymology and not morality; I say that we modern Epicureans
are indifferent citizens."

"Oh!" cried La Fontaine, "if we become bad citizens, it is not through
following the maxims of our master. Listen to one of his principal
aphorisms."

"I--will."

"Pray for good leaders."

"Well?"

"Well! what does M. Fouquet say to us every day? 'When shall we be
governed?' Does he say so? Come, Conrart, be frank."

"He says so, that is true."

"Well, that is a doctrine of Epicurus."

"Yes; but that is a little seditious, observe."

"What! seditious to wish to be governed by good heads or leaders?"

"Certainly, when those who govern are bad."

"Patience, I have a reply for all."

"Even for what I have just said to you?"

"Listen! would you submit to those who govern ill? Oh! it is written:
_Cacos politeuousi_. You grant me the text?"

"_Pardieu!_ I think so. Do you know, you speak Greek as well as Aesop
did, my dear La Fontaine."

"Is there any wickedness in that, my dear Conrart?"

"God forbid I should say so."

"Then let us return to M. Fouquet. What did he repeat to us all the day?
Was it not this? 'What a _cuistre_ is that Mazarin! what an ass! what
a leech! We must, however, submit to that fellow.' Now, Conrart, did he
say so, or did he not?"

"I confess that he said it, and even perhaps too often."

"Like Epicurus, my friend, still like Epicurus; I repeat, we are
Epicureans, and that is very amusing."

"Yes; but I am afraid there will rise up, by the side of us, a sect like
that of Epictetus; you know him well; the philosopher of Hierapolis,
he who called bread luxury, vegetables prodigality, and clear water
drunkenness; he who, being beaten by his master, said to him, grumbling
a little it is true, but without being angry, 'I will lay a wager you
have broken my leg!'--and who won his wager."

"He was a goose, that fellow Epictetus."

"Granted, but he might easily become the fashion by only changing his
name into that of Colbert."

"Bah!" replied La Fontaine, "that is impossible. Never will you find
Colbert in Epictetus."

"You are right, I shall find--_Coluber_ there, at the most."

"Ah! you are beaten, Conrart; you are reduced to a play upon words. M.
Arnaud pretends that I have no logic; I have mor