[95] PLAISANT. One must understand here a double meaning, Silvia uses it evidently in the sense of 'amusing,' 'ridiculous' (see note 37), while Harlequin fails to catch the point, and, as his reply shows, takes it in its earlier sense of 'agreeable.' It is scarcely used to-day in this latter sense.
[96] M'EN ÊTRE FIÉ À TOI. The en here is difficult to construe. It refers to the whole of the preceding clauses. In modern construction it would be omitted.
[97] DANS LES SUITES. 'After this,' 'henceforth.' For dans la suite.
[98] DONNERAI DU MÉLANCOLIQUE. The more ordinary form is donnerai dans le mélancolique.
[99] PLAISANTE, 'Agreeable.' See note 95.
[100] QUE DE CET INSTANT. The modern form would be qu'à l'instant.
[101] SI MAL BÂTI, 'In such a bad state.' Colloquial.
[102] RAGOÛTANT, 'Tempting,' 'pleasing.' Its earlier and more common meaning is, 'tempting to the palate.' As used here it is familiar, and corresponds with the rest of Harlequin's expressions, though it is by no means an expression confined by Marivaux to servants. Compare: "Ne voilà-t-il pas un amant bien ragoûtant!" (Marianne, 3e partie). "Cependant comme cette personne était fraîche et ragoûtante…" (Le Paysan parvenu, 1re partie). "Et à quel âge est-on meilleure et plus ragoûtante, s'il vous plaît?" (id., 5e partie).
[103] TRINQUER, 'To drink a toast.' From the German trinken, Italian trincare. This verb shows a much more jovial spirit than would the verb boire, and, in this case, is more familiar and inelegant.
[104] SI VOUS NE METTEZ ORDRE. After the conjunctions à moins que (unless), and si, in the same sense, the second part of the negation (pas) is omitted. The idiom mettre ordre à means 'to look after.'