OBSERVATIONS AND CRITIQUES

ON

Throughout the Précieuses ridicules it is évident how admirable Molière is when he undertakes to paint those wlio affect the language and manners of the Court. Mascarille and Jodelet, Magdelon and Cathos, are unequalled in their affectation, and we know of nothing more delicious than Magdelon's answer to her father, Gorgibus, when he represents to her that nothing can be more honourable or more flattering than for a suitor to make an oflfer of marriage at his first visit. ' Ah ! mon père ! ' cries the Précieuse, ' ce que vous dites là est du dernier bourgeois. Cela me fait honte de vous ouïr parler de la sorte, et vous devriez un peu vous faire apprendre le hel air des choses.'' There is in this respect a very délicate nuance that has perhaps not been sufficiently noticed. Madame de Rambouillet and her society are satirised, but not by people of their owu rank.

Molière's Précieuses are bourgeoises, and therefore add to the affectations inhérent to the sect the still woi'se affectations of vulgar people who are labouring to ape their betters. The jargon of the day, thus distorted and misapplied, becomes more absurd from its being employed by those who are accustomed to hear it used. While reading this witty little pièce we must never forget that Magdelon and Cathos are des Précieuses de mauvaise com2iagnie, which does not render them less diverting, or the models they copied less ridiculous. How nicely observed is the false

onthusiasm affectert by Magdelon at Mascarille's impromptu ! She believes that she is enchantecl at those lines : —

' Oh ! oh ! je n'y prenois pas garde : Tandis que, sans songci* à mal, je vous regarde, Votre œil en tapinois me dérobe mon cœur. Au voleur, au voleur, au voleur, au voleur! '

She is conviiiced that they must be perfect, that she knows not how suflBciently to admire them, ' " Oh ! oh ! " ' remarks she, commenting on the verses, 'this " Oh ! oh !" is perfect !' Cathos will not be behindhand : ' Thèse are things above price!' adds she. ' Cei'tainly,' rejoins her cousin; 'and I would rather hâve written that " Oh, oh ! " than an epic poem.' Molière has been attacked for having overcharged his portrait of the Précieuses ridicules, made the caricature too glaring, and imputed to the Précieuses ridiculous expressions they never employed. This was not the case. It was not in the matter of the pièce that he could exaggerate but in the manner. It was not the expressions themselves that could be made more absurd,but the way of saying them, This is pi'ecisely the délicate nuance of which we hâve spokén. "We think that Molière never in his copy approached the absurdity of the original. The Précieuses ridicules hâve the advantage of introducing us to a new personage entirely of Molière's own invention— we mean Mascarille-Mai-quis — and we are left to regret that this is the only occasion afforded us of judging of the famous valet in his new metamorphosis.

Madame Blaize Bury.