Agnès, etc. Agnes is the heroine of a notable

comedy of Molière*s, ** l'École des Femmes," of which the thème is the mistaken security to be had in a woman's fidelity through bringing her up in extrême ignorance and seclusion. In the play, Agnes, young and densely ignorant, is the victim whom Amolphe, a conceited suitor of mature years and without marked attractiveness of mind or person, has desîgned for himself.

Of course he fails in his designs, Agnes being finally won by a suitor more in harmony with her âge and tastes. Hoping to guard against this very resuit and to make sure against the possibility of any aberration of sentiments on her part, Arnolphe déclares, Act. I, Se. I :

Dans un petit couvent, loin de toute pratique, Je la fis élever selon ma politique :

C'est-à-dire ordonnant quels soins on emplotrait Pour la rendre idiote autant quUl se pouvait. The expression "croire que les enfants," etc. (verse 163-164) has become current, to indicate a type of extrême simple-mindedness.

280 LE MABIAGE DE GÉBABD

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