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and multiply extracts to the amusement of ourselvesand the reader; but we restrain ourselves, and, re-turning to the subject that caused this quotation,we must say, that we differ entirely from Rousseau and other critics who adopt his opinions; and evenSchlegel, who accuses the author of being guilty of cur-rying favour with rank in this comedy, and makinghonest mediocrity ridiculous. If genius was to adaptits works to the rules of philosophers, instead of fol-lowing the realities of life, we should never read inbooks of honesty duped, and vice triumphant: whetherwe should be the gainers by this change is a question.It may be added, also, that Moliere did not represent, in“ George Dandin,” honesty ill-used, so much as follypunished; and, at any rate, where vice is on one sideand ridicule on the other, we must think that class worseused to whom the former is apportioned as properlybelonging. In spite of philosophers, truth, such as itexists, is the butt at which all writers ought to aim. Itis different, indeed, when a servile spirit paints great-ness, virtue, and dignity on one side — poverty, igno-rance, and folly, on the other.

At length the time came when Moliere was allowedto bring out the “Tartuffe ” in its original shape, with itsoriginal name. Its success was unequalled: it wentthrough forty-four consecutive representations. At aperiod when religious disputes between molinist andjansenist ran high in France —when it was the fashionto be devout, and each family had a confessor anddirector of their consciences, to whom they looked upwith reverence, and whose behests they obeyed—a playwhich showed up the hypocrisy of those who cloakedthe worst designs, and brought discord and hatred intofamilies, under the guise of piety, was doubtless a usefulproduction; yet the “Tartuffe ” is not an agreeable play.Borne away by his notion of the magnitude of the evilhe attacked, and by his idea of the usefulness of thelesson, Moliere attached himself greatly to it. The plotis admirably managed, the characters excellently con-vol. iv. k