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MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC.

by

MOLIERE

Translated into English Prose.

With Short Introductions and Explanatory Notes.

by

CHARLES HERON WALL







'Monsieur de Pourceaugnac', acted on October 6, 1669, is nothing but a
farce. But Moliere excels in farce as well as in higher comedy, and
'Monsieur de Pourceaugnac' is one of the best of its kind. The attacks
upon the doctors of the time are not exaggerated. Moliere acted the part
of Mr. de Pourceaugnac.




PERSONS REPRESENTED.

 MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC.
 ORONTE, _father to_ JULIA.
 ERASTE, _lover to_ JULIA.
 SBRIGANI, _a Neapolitan adventurer_.
 FIRST PHYSICIAN.
 SECOND PHYSICIAN.
 AN APOTHECARY.
 A PEASANT.
 A FEMALE PEASANT.
 FIRST SWISS.
 SECOND SWISS.
 A POLICE OFFICER.
 TWO INFERIOR POLICE OFFICERS.
 JULIA, _daughter to_ ORONTE.
 NERINE, _an intriguing woman, supposed to come from Picardy._
 LUCETTE, _supposed to come from Gascony._

The scene is in Paris.




MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC.



ACT I.

SCENE I.--ERASTE, A LADY SINGER, TWO MEN SINGERS, _several others
performing on instruments_, DANCERS.


ERA. (_to the_ MUSICIANS _and_ DANCERS). Carry out the orders I have
given you for the serenade. As for myself, I will withdraw, for