Hesiod and the Greek poets, thou would’st run mad,
And hang thyself for joy thou ’dst such a gentleman
To be thy son. O, he has read such things
To me!”
“And do you understand ’em, brother?”
“I tell thee no; that ’s not material; the sound ’s
Sufficient to confirm an honest man.”
The speech of Lucio in the “Woman-hater” has a smack of Molière in it:—
“Secretary, fetch the gown I used to read petitions in, and the standish I answer French letters with.”
Many of the comedies are impersonations of what were then called humors, like the “Little French Lawyer;” and some, like the “Knight of the Burning Pestle,” mere farces. Nearly all have the merit of being lively and amusing, which, to one who has read many comedies, is saying a great deal.