Racine: Phaedra

THE MISANTHROPE 291
out some injustice having been done to the important personage
he fancies himself to be.
Clitandre. But young Cleon, who is visited by the best society,
what do you say of him?
Celimene. That his cook has all the merit, and that it is to
his table that each one pays respect.
Eliante. He takes care to provide the most dainty dishes.
Celimene. Yes, but I wish he would not provide himself ; and
I consider his stupid person a most unpleasant dish, which,
to my mind, spoils the taste of all the others.
Philinte. His uncle, Damis, is greatly esteemed; what do
you say of him, madam ?
Celimene. He is one of my friends.
Philinte. He is a gentleman, and has plenty of good sense.
Celimene. Yes; only the display of cleverness he makes,
vexes me beyond measure. He is always stiff and formal,
and in all he says you can feel the effort he is making to
utter some witticism. Since he has taken it into his head
to think himself clever, he is go exacting that nothing can
please his taste. He tries to see defects in all that is
written ; thinks that to bestow praise is not worthy of a
man of intelligence ; that it is a sign of knowledge to find
fault with everything, the part of fools to admire and to
laugh; and that in never approving the writings of our
time he shows his superiority to other people. He even
finds fault with ordinary conversations, and will not condescend
to utter common things ; but, his arms crossed on
his breast, looks down with contempt from the height of
his intellect on all that is said.
Acaste. Demmit, madam, his very picture!
Clitandre. Your skill in drawing character is admirable,
madam.
Alceste. Go on, go on, my dear courtly friends; no one is
spared, and each will have his turn; yet, let any one of
those people now appear, and we shall see you rush in
haste to meet him, offer him your hand, and, with a flatter-
ing embrace, protest you are his sincere friend.
Clitandre. Why do you call us to account? If you object to
what is said, you had better address your reproaches to
this lady.