e-chambre
to the king, he was called on to attend Louis XIII. in a tour to
Narbonne, which lasted nearly a year. Doubtless, the opportunities
which this journey afforded him, of comparing the manners and follies
of the royal court and of the city of Paris, with those which he
found still existing in the provincial towns and among the rural
noblesse, were not lost upon the poet by whose satirical power they
were destined to be immortalized.

On his return to Paris, young Poquelin commenced the study of the law;
nay, it appears probable that he was actually admitted an advocate.
But the name of Moliere must be added to the long list of those who
have become conspicuous for success in the fine arts, having first
adopted the pursuit of them in contradiction to the will of their
parents; and in whom, according to Voltaire, nature has proved
stronger than education.

Instead of frequenting the courts, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was an
assiduous attendant upon such companies of players as then amused the
metropolis, and at length placed himself at the head of a society of
young men, who began by acting plays for amusement, and ended by
performing with a view to emolument. His parents were greatly
distressed by the step he had taken. He had plunged himself into a
profession which the law pronounced infamous, and nothing short of
rising to the very top of it could restore his estimation in society.
Whatever internal confidence of success the young Poquelin might
himself feel, his chance of being extricated from the degradation to
which he had subjected himself must have seemed very precarious to
others; and we cannot be surprised that his relations were mortified
and displeased with his conduct. To conciliate their prejudices as
much as possible, he dropped the appellation of Poquelin and assumed
that of Moliere, that he might not tarnish the family name. But with
what indifference should we now read the name of Poquelin, had it
never been conjoined with that of Moliere, devised to supersede and
conceal it! It appears that the liberal sentiments of the royal court
left Moliere in possession of his office, notwithstanding his change
of profession.

From the year 1646 to 1653, it is only known that Moliere travelled
through France as the manager of a company of strolling players. It is
said that with the natural turn of young authors, who are more
desirous to combine scenes of strong emotion than of comic situation,
he attempted