Mr. Dia. As well as in any other way....
Arg. To show you, Sir....
Mr. Dia. That we shall ever be ready, Sir....
Arg. That he is entirely at your service....
Mr. Dia. To show you our zeal. (To his son) Now, Thomas, come forward, and pay your respects.
T. Dia. (to Mr. Diafoirus). Ought I not to begin with the father?
Mr. Dia. Yes.
T. Dia. (to Argan). Sir, I come to salute, acknowledge, cherish, and revere in you a second father; but a second father to whom I owe more, I make bold to say, than to the first. The first gave me birth; but you have chosen me. He received me by necessity, but you have accepted me by choice. What I have from him is of the body, corporal; what I hold from you is of the will, voluntary; and in so much the more as the mental faculties are above the corporal, in so much the more do I hold precious this future affiliation, for which I come beforehand to-day to render you my most humble and most respectful homage.
Toi. Long life to the colleges which send such clever people into the world!
T. Dia. (to Mr. Diafoirus). Has this been said to your satisfaction, father?