MAR. Sir, my mistresses will come immediately.
MASC. Let them not hurry themselves; I am very comfortable here, and can wait.
MAR. Here they come.
SCENE X.—MADELON, CATHOS, MASCARILLE, ALMANZOR.
MASC. (After having bowed to them). Ladies, no doubt you will be surprised at the boldness of my visit, but your reputation has drawn this disagreeable affair upon you; merit has for me such potent charms, that I run everywhere after it.
MAD. If you pursue merit you should not come to us.
CAT. If you find merit amongst us, you must have brought it hither yourself.
MASC. Ah! I protest against these words. When fame mentioned your deserts it spoke the truth, and you are going to make pic, repic, and capot. all the gallants from Paris.
[Footnote: Dryden, in his Sir Martin Mar-all (Act i. sc. i), makes Sir
Martin say: "If I go to picquet…he will picque and repicque, and capot
me twenty times together" I believe that these terms in Molière's and
Dryden's times had a different meaning from what they have now.]
MAD. Your complaisance goes a little too far in the liberality of its praises, and my cousin and I must take care not to give too much credit to your sweet adulation.