THE EMPEROR.
But pray inform me whether your Christian princes in Europe pay your Italian friend or patron in proportion to the assessment laid on me.
FATHER BOUVET.
No, they do not! One-half of Europe has separated from him and pays him nothing; and the other pays him no more than it is obliged to pay.
THE EMPEROR.
You told me some time since that he was sovereign of a very fine and fertile territory.
FATHER BOUVET.
Yes; but it produces very little to him; it lies mostly uncultivated.
THE EMPEROR.
Poor man! he does not know how to cultivate his own territory, and yet pretends to govern mine.