un peu à tirer ici, well, this is a little embarrassing

3. Je n'ai pu éviter la rime, I hâve not been able to avoid the rhyme. This expression of Arlequin's is very comic. He did not wish to tell his name because it rhymed too well with coquin, and now Lisette makes it rhyme with faquin, which is just as bad. We should note, however, as already said, that Marivaux's valets are not rascals as in Molière's Fourberies de Scapin and Le Sage's Turcaret. Arlequin and Lisette had been honest in telling their masters about the progress they were making in their love one for the other; and that very honesty is comic, as it displays the

3o NOTES t p - N" 60

naïve vanity of a valet and of a soubrette, who believe, the one, that Silvia loves him, and the other, that she has conquered the heart of Dorante.

4. Mais voyez ce magot, tenez! But look at that monkey, will youl Lisette does not mince her words when she hears who Arlequin is.

5. la gloire, rank, position. In tragédies of the i7th century the word means often réputation.

Page 58. — 1. Masque, . . . magote, deceitful one, imp t monkey. Arlequin returns Lisette's compliments.

2. n'apprêtons point à rire, let us not give other s cause to laugh at us.

3. votre valet. Arlequin's use of valet, instead of serviteur \ the more customary polite expression, is amusing, as he is in reality a valet.

Page 59. — 1. Cela ne laisse pas d'être gracieux, that is very

gracions.