Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . we wax in yearsand in wisdom. There are books that we once liked, and that nowremain behind us as milestones marking the road traveled. Thoughwe came up to them with pleasure, yet without regret we leave them IOI64 MOLIERE in the distance. We have not tarried with them long, and unless weturn back we never pass them again. Moliere is not one of these: heis for all ages of man. In youth we may enjoy him unthinkingly,amused by his comic invention, his drollery, his frank fun. As wegrow older his charm over us grows also; and we see the
Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . we wax in yearsand in wisdom. There are books that we once liked, and that nowremain behind us as milestones marking the road traveled. Thoughwe came up to them with pleasure, yet without regret we leave them IOI64 MOLIERE in the distance. We have not tarried with them long, and unless weturn back we never pass them again. Moliere is not one of these: heis for all ages of man. In youth we may enjoy him unthinkingly,amused by his comic invention, his drollery, his frank fun. As wegrow older his charm over us grows also; and we see the finer qual-ities of his work,—his insight into human motives, and his marvel-ous skill in exhibiting these on the stage. And in old age we mayrefresh ourselves once again with his unfailing and unfading humor,and with the true wisdom which underlies it. At one time the^ Bourgeois Gentilhomme * may please us, and at another *? Le Misan-thrope ^; but at all times a man who takes interest in the comedy ofhuman endeavor may find in Moliere what he PEACE-MAKING, RECONCILIATION, AND ROBBERY From [The scene is the house of Harpagon, the miser of the play; Master Jacquesis undertaking to reconcile Harpagon to his son Cleante, who has greatlyoffended his father by obstinacy as a rival for the hand of Marianne. Theson and father are on opposite sides of the stage, paying no attention to eachother.] HARPAGON — Is it not an abominable thing to see a son whodoes not shrink from becoming the rival of his father ?And is it not his bounden duty to refrain from interferingwith my love ? Jacques — You are quite right: stop here, and let me go andspeak to him. CUante [to Master Jacques^ who comes near him] — Very well:if he wants to make you a judge between us, I have no objec-tion. I care little who it is, and I dont mind referring our quar-rel to you. Jacques—You do me great honor. CUante — I am in love with a young girl who* returns myaffection, and who receives kindly the
Size: 3406px × 734px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectliterat, bookyear1902
