Racine: Phaedra

THE MISANTHROPE 305
ACT FOURTH
Scene I.
Eliante, Philinte
Philinte. No, never was there a more unbending disposition,
nor a reconciliation more difficult to bring about. In vain
were all means tried to make Alceste alter his mind, nothing
could make him change his first opinion, and never had
so whimsical a quarrel, I believe, called forth all the dis-
cretion of those gentlemen. — " No, gentlemen," said he,
" I cannot retract what I have said, and I am ready to agree
to anything except to this. What is he so exasperated
about, and what can he want of me ? Is his glory at stake
because he cannot write well? What need has he of my
opinion which he lias taken amiss ? He may be a perfect
gentleman, and yet write bad verses. Honor is in no way
concerned in such matters ; I think him an honorable man
in every way ; a man of noble birth, of merit and of courage,
anything you please—but a very bad author notwithstand-
ing. I will praise, if you wish me, his mode of living, his
munificence, his skill in riding, fencing, and dancing; but
as to praising his verses— I am his humble servant, and I
repeat that when we cannot write better, we should avoid
writing altogether, unless, indeed, we are condemned to it
under pain of death." In short, the only conciliatory measure
to which he at last yielded with extreme difficulty, was
to say, greatly softening his tone as he thought, " Sir, I am
sorry to be so difficult to please ; and out of regard for you,
I wish with all my heart that I had been able to think your
sonnet better." Thereupon they quickly made them end the
whole proceeding with an embrace.
Eliante. He certainly behaves \tvy strangely at times, but I
own that I hold him in great esteem, and the sincerity he
glories in has in it something noble and heroic. It is a rare
virtue in our days, and I could wish to see everybody
possess it as he does.
Philinte. As for me, the more I know him the more astonished
I am at the passion to which he is a slave. With such a dis-