‘As dangerous an incendiarist as ever,’ he answered. ‘A hundred Troys burn with her flame.’
‘What a splendid movement her jealousy used to have; it was a superb passion to watch at play!’
‘Ah! but it is killing her, if another poet’s poems are praised, it means the vapours for a week.’
‘She must sorely resent, then, the present fecundity of Mnemosyne.’
‘Yes, for the most part, a galant homme must needs speak of the Muses to a poetess as ten, but to her we must speak as if there were but one!’
Godeau laughed.
‘But what ravishingly languishing eyes!’ the Chevalier went on rapturously.
‘And what a mouth! there is something in its curves at once voluptuous and chaste; oh, it is indescribable; it is like the mouth of a Nymph!’ cried the little prelate with very unecclesiastical fervour.
‘You think it chaste? Hum,’ said the Chevalier dryly. ‘Her chastity, I should say, belongs to the band of Chapelain’s “vertus errantes.”’ Godeau gave a noncommittal, ecclesiastical smile. ‘I was speaking of her mouth,’ he answered.