Molière

Philinte.
Qu'est-ce donc ? Qu'avez-vous ?
Alceste.
Laissez-moi, je vous prie.
Philinte.
Mais encor dites-moi quelle bizarrerie...
Alceste.
Laissez-moi là, vous dis-je, et courez vous cacher.
Philinte.
Mais on entend les gens, au moins, sans se fâcher.
Alceste.
Moi, je veux me fâcher, et ne veux point entendre.
Philinte.
Dans vos brusques chagrins je ne puis vous comprendre,

...

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known popularly by his stage name Molière, is regarded as one of the masters of French comedic drama. When Molière began acting in Paris there were two well-established theatrical companies, those of the Hôtel de Bourgogne and the Marais. Joining these theatrical companies would have been impossible for a new member of the acting profession like Molière and thus he performed with traveling troupes of actors in the French...

"The religious fraud Tartuffe has wormed his way into the affections and household of rich merchant Orgon, with pantomime piety and counterfeit zeal. So comprehensively has he hoodwinked his host that he looks set to succeed in driving away the son, marrying the daughter, seducing the wife and imprisoning Orgon. Moliere's classic satire was denounced on its first performance as a sacreligious outrage and banned from further public view. Only after...

After his wedding night with beautiful Alcmene, Amphitryon leaves to participate in a war. Jupiter, who is fascinated by Alcmene's beauty, come to earth under the appearance of Amphitryon, accompanied by Mercury who has taken the appearance of Amphitryon's servant Sosie. Amphitryon is successful in war and sends Sosie back home to report this. Sosie is greeted by his look-alike Mercury, who beats him and convinces him that he Mercury is the real Sosie....

This unique volume brings together four of Moliere's greatest verse comedies covering the best years of his prolific writing career. Actor, director, and playwright, Moliere (1622-73) was one of the finest and most influential French dramatists, adept at portraying human foibles and puncturing pomposity. The School for Wives was his first great success; Tartuffe, condemned and banned for five years, his most controversial play. The Misanthrope is...

"The story takes place in the home of the wealthy Orgon, where Tartuffe--a fraud and a pious imposter--has insinuated himself. He succeeds magnifi-cently in winning the respect and devotion of the head of the house and then tries to marry his daughter and seduce his wife and scrounge the deed to the property. He nearly gets away with it, but an emissary from King Louis XIV arrives in time to recover the property, free Monsieur Orgon and haul Tartuffe...

For contents, see Author Catalog.

"Molière's THE BUNGLER (1655) takes place in the Sicilian city of Messina and is a fresh, zestful verse treatment of the familiar elements of Italian popular comedy. A beautiful young woman named Célie has been traveling with a gypsy band and, shortly before the play begins, has been left by the gypsies with a rich old man named Trufaldin as security for a loan. Two young men of Messina, Lélie and Léandre, have lately been rivals for the hand...