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The Philosophes

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Charles Palissot

Letter by Mr Palissot, Author of the Comedy The Philosophes, to Serve as a Preface to the Play

Act III

Texte intégral

Scene I

DAMIS, MARTON, CRISPIN

1DAMIS
No, I cannot recover from this shock!
Thus it is that they swindle Cydalise?

2MARTON
But reason will, I hope, soon win the day.

3DAMIS
I doubt it not, this note is far too good!
To what, then, do we owe this lucky find?

4MARTON
The simple chance, Sir, of this open door!
For many hours I spied upon his steps;
I always said that he was one of them.
I would have sworn it.

5CRISPIN
Frontin is his name:
And by it I’d have recognised the man.

6MARTON
But who will see this note finds its true home?

7DAMIS
You shall.

8MARTON
But no, she’d hate me ever more.
I’d never dare.

9DAMIS
Marton…

10MARTON
A note like this
To give it to Madame! Ah! no, I can’t,
It would cost me too much.

11DAMIS
But…

12MARTON
It’s no use;
I shan’t do it.

13DAMIS
Nor me.

14CRISPIN
And nor will I.

15MARTON
But in their presence it must be returned,
Or it will make no odds.

16DAMIS
That’s true.

17CRISPIN
Silence.
Has she yet seen my face?

18MARTON
No, she has not.

19CRISPIN
And no one knows my name in all the house?

20MARTON
No.

21CRISPIN
I’ll present myself and draw them in.
Give me the note, I’ll handle this affair.
Go forth, Sir, I’ll be sure to serve you well.

22MARTON
I have the utmost faith in his success.

23CRISPIN
And in return I only want Marton.
For such a prize, what won’t I dare to do?

24MARTON
Be gone, you two, the company’s on its way.

25DAMIS
By you I trust my hopes will be fulfilled.

26MARTON
Be gone, I said! Don’t let them see us here!

Scene II

MARTON, curtseying to the philosophers.

27I shall announce you, sirs, to Cydalise.

Scene III

THÉOPHRASTE, VALÈRE, DORTIDIUS

28THÉOPHRASTE, to Valère.
So, Valère, have the marriage plans been made?

29VALÈRE
Tonight’s the night. The notary’s on his way.

30DORTIDIUS
What splendid news!

31THÉOPHRASTE
I wish you all the best!

32DORTIDIUS
It’s all down to your merit and your skill.

33THÉOPHRASTE
Despite the rage of those who envy you.

34DORTIDIUS
And yet, you really could have hoped for more.

35VALÈRE
I say!

36DORTIDIUS
But yes! It’s no false flattery.

37VALÈRE
You mean…

38DORTIDIUS
We know the value of your mind.

39VALÈRE
Ah! You confuse me with your compliments.

40DORTIDIUS
But yet it’s true.

41VALÈRE
If I had all your gifts,
If such almighty qualities I claimed,
Perhaps then I’d be worthy of this praise.

42THÉOPHRASTE
Now does the bride-to-be agree to wed?

43VALÈRE
Reluctantly, but oh! why should I mind?

44THÉOPHRASTE
Of course, with time you’ll make her see good sense.

45DORTIDIUS
Good god, that girl is very hard to please!

46VALÈRE
I know not who at present holds her heart;
But Cydalise could not be more content.

47DORTIDIUS, laughing.
I never saw a greater fool than her.

48VALÈRE
I cannot wait to wed, and quit this house.
I should have died had this not ended soon,
We’ve worked so hard to see our goal achieved.

49DORTIDIUS
And once the knot is tied, I swear I’m done!

50THÉOPHRASTE
I quite agree, I’ve more than had enough!
(To Valère)
But you, at least, with passion as your guide,
Could suffer boredom, driven by your love…

51VALÈRE, laughing.
Ah, love! Yes, it was that which spurred me on!

52DORTIDIUS
He’ll marry now into ten thousand crowns.

53VALÈRE, to Théophraste.
What! Had you thought me some romantic fool?
Ridiculous at my advancing age.
These days this common folly we eschew;
Though pleasure may ensue, it’s gold we seek!

54THÉOPHRASTE
Of course he’s right.

55DORTIDIUS
And I, too, do concur.

56VALÈRE
Without the thought of fortune I should not
Have put up with her presence, dull and dim.
Had she been Venus, I should still have left.
Oh! Such repellant habits I abhor.

57THÉOPHRASTE
She should be warned, she must reform her ways;
She never was so tiresome in the past,
What do you think has changed her?

58VALÈRE
Why, her book!

59THÉOPHRASTE
And still she thinks to publish it?

60VALÈRE
Why yes.

61THÉOPHRASTE
If she does not change soon, she’ll be locked up.

62DORTIDIUS
Perhaps; though such a thing would help our cause,
Should one day we desire her to suppress.

63THÉOPHRASTE
You’ve read her essay on
the work of kings?

64VALÈRE
Don’t speak of it! I’ve read it many times!
A storm I have repeatedly endured.

65DORTIDIUS, earnestly.
Between us three, it’s truly her best work.
But is it by her own hand?

66VALÈRE
Why, you jest!

67DORTIDIUS, still serious.
I swear, I found it excellent!

68VALÈRE
Ha ha!

69DORTIDIUS
I tell you, it is good!

70VALÈRE
Don’t make me laugh!
It’s naught but incoherent silliness.

71DORTIDIUS
Were I as wrong as you, I’d hold my tongue.

72VALÈRE
Your heated tone disturbs me not one jot.

73DORTIDIUS, angrily.
So, you pronounce and we must all agree?

74VALÈRE
You’d think you were its author by your tone!

75DORTIDIUS
If only that were true…

76VALÈRE
Hard luck for you!

77DORTIDIUS, angrier.
But my good sir!

78VALÈRE
I’m speaking in good faith.

79DORTIDIUS
I might be forced to tell you some hard truths!

80VALÈRE
It always comes to insults when you’re wrong!

  • 73 At this point in the original, Dortidius switches from using the informal ‘tu’ to the more formal ‘ (...)

81DORTIDIUS
You overstep the mark !
73

82VALÈRE
What’s more, I laugh!

83DORTIDIUS, furious.
Ah! That’s enough!

84THÉOPHRASTE
Oh! Good sirs, please calm down.

85DORTIDIUS
Most kind of you, to mock me quite so much!

  • 74 In Les Femmes savantes, Vadius and Trissotin argue in the presence of Philaminte (III, iii). Anothe (...)

86THÉOPHRASTE, standing between them.
My friends, we’re not the pedants of Molière.74
Allow me please, to settle this dispute.

87VALÈRE
I’m right!

88THÉOPHRASTE, to Valère.
Without a doubt.

89DORTIDIUS
And I’m not wrong.

90THÉOPHRASTE, to Dortidius.
Of course you’re not. But here you might be heard,
Dear Cydalise could take us by surprise.

91DORTIDIUS
Esteem should always be our dearest guide…

  • 75 Cf. Les Qu’est-ce?, in Ferret, p. 128.

92THÉOPHRASTE
It’s not about considering ourselves;
We know each other well: but must take care,
At least, to make it seem that we are friends.
By such appearances we shall prevail,
And we are lost, unless we all unite.
75
Forget these minor quarrels, for the cause.
But hark! I hear her step. Forget this row.

Scene IV

THE PHILOSOPHES, CYDALISE

93CYDALISE, holding a book.
Excuse my lateness; my thoughts were of you
Such moments are the sweetest of the day.
Let’s sit, good sirs. Ah, Valère, is that you?
The notary’s proposal has arrived,
I’m sure you will be pleased.

94VALÈRE
My dearest wish,
Madame, you know, is by this sacred bond,
Our friendship may be strengthened all the more.

95CYDALISE
I owe to you the joy that fills my life,
And thank you for it dearly. But good sirs,
I heard you speak with rage. What could it be,
That’s caused this dreadful rift? I thought to hear
A quarrel amongst you three?

96VALÈRE, slightly embarrassed.
It’s true.

97CYDALISE
Tell me
The topic you discussed with such concern?

98VALÈRE
I must confess, it’s you of whom we talked.

99CYDALISE
Of me?

100VALÈRE
Yes, you: our fervour is the proof.

101CYDALISE
What is it then?

102VALÈRE
Alas, I cannot say.
I know not how to praise you to your face.
Oh, speak, my friends.

103THÉOPHRASTE
We may?

104VALÈRE
But yes, of course.

  • 76 Greek woman from Miletus, the lover and subsequently the wife of Pericles, famous for her beauty an (...)

105THÉOPHRASTE
In centuries gone by we searched for one
Comparable to you. I chose to cite
Aspasia,
76 but this enraged Monsieur.

106VALÈRE
I find it quite outrageous; here’s my proof:
It’s true, in Greece, Aspasia shone bright,
But in that age philosophy was young.
The people, struck by its most radiant light;
Was bound to come and worship at its source;
In those days all was new. Most common gifts
Could shine with little work, in those crude times;
But nowadays our knowledge has progressed;
And it is hard, when we’ve achieved so much,
To set ourselves beside those famous men
By whom barbarity was changed to light,
And thus I cannot bear, without a fight,
To hear Aspasia compared with you.
(
To Théophraste)
Think of the times, and see then where you stand.

107THÉOPHRASTE
Comparisons are never without fault.

108VALÈRE
Oh, you were wrong.

109THÉOPHRASTE
I know it, and I blush.

110CYDALISE
And on this subject do not ask my thoughts;
I know too much…

111VALÈRE, with feeling.
We know you are sublime.

112DORTIDIUS
These are our feelings too; but hear his tone!
He beautifies them.

113CYDALISE, enthusiastically.
Oh, indeed he does!

114VALÈRE, kissing her hand.
Oh, pardon me then, please, this gaiety.

  • 77 Palissot notes that the French here (‘je suis sous le charme’) is drawn from Le Fils naturel. In fa (...)

115CYDALISE
Though I should scold, his words disarm me so:
I can’t resist,
I fall under his spell.77

116DORTIDIUS
Of rousing interest he is truly king.

117VALÈRE
Oh, how indulgent genius can be.

118CYDALISE
Monsieur Dortidius, have you some news?

119DORTIDIUS
I care nothing for kings, nor for their strife:
Nor siege nor fight means anything to me.
To idlers I leave these state affairs.
For my own land, I have but little care:
The truly wise are citizens of the world.

120CYDALISE
Our homeland we hold dear, it’s our sole link…

121DORTIDIUS
To be mere ‘citizen’ constrains the mind.
Far from the torments that divide the world,
The wise man must reside at home in peace;
His eyes divert from objects of dismay;
As sole king, he both rules and legislates;
There’s naught at all could shake his happiness;
It’s for great men to calm the woes they cause.

122THÉOPHRASTE
His view is of a philosophe, and just.

123CYDALISE
His mind never appears to be at fault.

  • 78 Cf. Le Méchant, II, iii: ‘And the art of enjoying the world lies in mocking all who are in it. / My (...)

124VALÈRE
Madame, he’s right, the mind of such a man
Should not concern itself with politics.
These wars and treaties, trifles that they are,
Sink bit by bit into the gulf of time.
Pale into nothing, under genius’s flame.
If one may speak without false modesty
Excepting you and us, there’s not one soul
Who’s worthy of an honest tête-à-tête.
78

125CYDALISE
Yes, you are right, these things aren’t worth our time.

126THÉOPHRASTE
We’ll leave them then for much more vulgar minds.

127CYDALISE
I will not challenge your authority.
Speaking of which, talk we of something new?

128VALÈRE
There’s just one thing.

129CYDALISE
A masterpiece, no doubt?

130VALÈRE
It’s a discovery, a new approach,
That one of us has just begun to trace
A genre in which genius shines through.

131CYDALISE
A tragedy?

  • 79 Palissot notes: ‘See the Entretiens following the Fils naturel.’

132VALÈRE
Of the domestic kind.
79
That’s what we seek.

133CYDALISE
I’d fear a bad review;
With novel things, critique is always right.
The public?

134VALÈRE
Well, we know they are mere sheep;
But whatsoever their verdict, we’ll fight back.

135CYDALISE
I’m not so sure, I fear old tastes don’t change.

136VALÈRE
It’s true, the first few days will be a risk
But we shall make a noise to deafen men,
Our friends will move from
loge to loge in turn,
Their cries of praise inciting all to cheer;
Our suppers show already such success.

137CYDALISE
Why, that I had not thought, but you are right.

138VALÈRE
So many do devote themselves to us,
Low-ranking authors praise us with such pride,
I’m sure that if we work a little more,
Then quickly they’ll abandon all good sense.

139THÉOPHRASTE
Ha ha! You tell the truth just as it is.

140VALÈRE
No Sir, it’s without jest these things are said.

141CYDALISE
And will this work be debuted soon enough?

142VALÈRE
We’re occupied by more important tasks.

143CYDALISE
What tasks?

144VALÈRE
An author of a comedy,
Will put us on the stage, they say.

145CYDALISE
How bold.

146DORTIDIUS, vehemently.
Play us! But that’s a crime against the State!
Play us!

147VALÈRE
But we will block this bold attack.

148CYDALISE
The audience will protest…

149DORTIDIUS
I fear not:
We’ve misled them: perhaps they’ll make us pay?

150CYDALISE
The magistrates will rise up in dismay.

151THÉOPHRASTE
We’ve oft had muddy dealings with the law.

152CYDALISE
The Court then…?

153VALÈRE
It will never take our part,
For we have wronged it often in the past.

154DORTIDIUS
Then with the author we must reason, fast.

155THÉOPHRASTE
We’ll see if he’s afraid of us, at least.

  • 80 Allusion to the resistance of Clairon, who tried — in vain — to prevent Les Philosophes from being (...)

156VALÈRE
Our last resort is to wait out the storm,
’Til then let us defame both man and work;
Let’s take revenge by arming all those fools,
With someone else’s hand take striking blows.
Might we not buy up actors to our cause?
We’d have supporters everywhere backstage.
80
We’ll start some whisperings, cause a cabale,
Show ourselves in the
loges, before the crowd.
I’m sure our faces have but to be spied:
The public fear us.

157CYDALISE
Yes, and we’ll prevail.
But say, our good bookseller’s late indeed.
He should be here, what might retain him still?

158DORTIDIUS
Perhaps he’s waiting.

159CYDALISE
We must bring him in.

160THÉOPHRASTE
Ah, he is here.

Scene V81

  • 81 This scene may have been deliberately suppressed in the printed text, but was performed in 1760. Se (...)

A LACKEY, CYDALISE, THE PHILOSOPHES

161LACKEY
Madame?

162CYDALISE
Has no-one come
About my books?

163LACKEY
No-one.

164CYDALISE, with an agitated movement.
Then could it be
A secret order’s had them carried off?
Call Valentin!

165LACKEY
He’s ill, and close to death.

166DORTIDIUS
Our students of anatomy will fete
His loss: their gain.

167CYDALISE
He really ails?

168LACKEY
Indeed.
A desperate man, Madame, nigh in the grave.

169DORTIDIUS
Poor Valentin! A man I most respect,
And whose dissection I’d have carried out.
(
To Cydalise)
But you were just about, I think, to speak;
Begin your lesson; yet you still demur?

170CYDALISE
This project, for my part, is pure caprice…

171LACKEY
Your man is here.
(
He leaves.)

Scene VI

M. PROPICE, CYDALISE, THE PHILOSOPHES

172CYDALISE
Come in Monsieur Propice.
Have you new tomes?

173M. PROPICE
Well, I don’t seek them out.
Ma’am, have you read
Les Bijoux indiscrets?
A tale of philosophic jollity;
At least that’s what I’m told.

174CYDALISE
A farce indeed.
But it’s not new.

175M. PROPICE
Still popular, I’d say.

176CYDALISE
And next?

177M. PROPICE
Know you the
Lettre sur les sourds?

178CYDALISE
I have it from the man himself!

179DORTIDIUS
What art!

  • 82 Palissot’s note in the 1788 edition reads: ‘Diderot, author of the Bijoux indiscrets, a most obscen (...)

180M. PROPICE
You wouldn’t want, I think,
Père de famille?82
Not cut from the same cloth.

181DORTIDIUS, ironically.
And you would know.

  • 83 Probably an allusion to the Réflexions sur l’existence de l’âme et sur l’existence de Dieu, publish (...)

182M. PROPICE
It’s what the public says; I think it’s true.
And as for Toussaint’s
Mœurs, I do recall
I sold it to you.
(
He reads the titles)
Réflexions sur l’âme?83

183CYDALISE
Let’s see. I know it. Is that all?

184M PROPICE
Well, no.
L’Interprétation de la nature.

185CYDALISE
Yes!
A wondrous book!

186DORTIDIUS
Divine!

187THEOPHRASTE
A vital text!

188CYDALISE
I’ll keep it, for I passed my copy on.

  • 84 A note to the 1788 edition reads: ‘Here is what M. de Voltaire wrote to the author of this strange (...)

189M. PROPICE
Here’s the Discours sur l’inégalité.84

190CYDALISE, taking it.
I shall reread it with avidity.
And what’s this other work I see on top?

  • 85 A 1788 note reads: ‘Pamphlet, now forgotten, but famous at the time thanks to the context. In that (...)

191M. PROPICE
Why that’s the
Petit Prophète;85 nothing, Ma’am.

192CYDALISE
Ah! I recall; an entertaining read.

193M. PROPICE
A never-ending stream of pleasant wit.
Require you nothing else of me today?

194CYDALISE
I’ll keep this one. Good day, Monsieur Propice.

Scene VII

CYDALISE, THE PHILOSOPHES

195CYDALISE
And now, once more I’ll read my favourite tome!

196VALÈRE
What,
Inequality? That’s mine as well.

197THÉOPRASTE
The book’s divine; returns all men again,
To animals, as we all are at heart!
Through making laws man has enslaved himself.
He’d lead a better life amongst the trees!

198CYDALISE
Myself, I have no stronger a desire,
Than to return to our most natural state.

199THÉOPRASTE
Our minds by error shrouded now persist,
By prejudice from progress we’re held back.
Some erudites are cut from faulty cloth…!

200CYDALISE
What now Marton?

Scene VIII

MARTON, CYDALISE, THE PHILOSOPHES

201MARTON
Madame, a philosophe
Has asked to speak with you.

202CYDALISE
His name?

203MARTON
Crispin.

204CYDALISE
A most uncommon name.

205DORTIDIUS
Quite so!

206CYDALISE
And yet,
What’s in a name? Heavens! What a surprise!

Scene IX

CRISPIN, CYDALISE, THE PHILOSOPHES, MARTON

  • 86 A note from 1782 reads: ‘All the lines describing Crispin’s stance were cut for the second performa (...)

207CRISPIN, on all fours.86
Madame, there’s naught to which I take offense.
No longer do I feel I must conform,
This is the glad conclusion of my thoughts.
My ardent love for
la philosophie,
Has made me choose the state of quadruped!
On these four columns I am most at ease,
And fewer fools I see to harm my eyes.

208CYDALISE, to Valère.
His point of view is quite original.

209VALÈRE
And quite amusing.

210MARTON
I think I’m in love!

  • 87 Palissot’s note here reads: ‘He takes a lettuce from his pocket.’

211CRISPIN
In civilised society all is lost:
Our health, our happiness, our virtue too.
And thus I am again an animal;
My diet is both simple and restrained.
87
One cannot be content with less, it’s true.
But by more frugal life, my soul’s enriched.
Great fortune always seemed to me unjust;
Now I am happier and more robust,
Than those whom luxury degenerates,
The price of which their wives know all too well.
Informed of how you welcome in the wise,
Madame, I came to pay you great hommage,
And to invite these men to take my lead,
Perhaps, should they be tempted by my case.

212CYDALISE
You know, I think for all his rambling words,
I do discern some sense.

213DORTIDIUS
And I agree!

214MARTON
As great a philosophe as I have seen!

215THEOPHRASTE
He’s what we sought: a man of solid views
Who, standing up to critics, quite convinced,
Eschews mere words, and lives his system out.

216CYDALISE
A man like that seems worthy of respect;
Yet prejudice prevents my full assent.

217CRISPIN
You find my resolution quite bizarre.

218CYDALISE
I must say your example’s somewhat rare;
But your enthusiasm gives you charm;
You are a philosophe, in every sense.

219CRISPIN
I pay no mind to fashions or to fads;
I’ve always thought that clothing served a use,
And nothing more. More so in humid climes…

220THEOPHRASTE
Sir, here we judge a man by what he’s worth
And not by what he wears.

221CRISPIN
You’re truly wise.

222CYDALISE
But who is this who comes?

Scene X

M. CARONDAS, CYDALISE, THEPHILOSOPHES, CRISPIN, MARTON

223M. CARONDAS, stealing constant glances at Crispin, and looking uncomfortable.
My work is done,
Madame… and soon… the notary will come.

224CYDALISE
What’s wrong?

225M. CARONDAS, indicating Crispin, who is hiding a little behind Cydalise.
Who is that strange, amusing beast?

226CYDALISE
A worthy philosophe, who’ll join the feast.

227CRISPIN
In truth… Madame…

228M. CARONDAS, to Valère.
Oh damn and blast it all,
They’ve found us out!

229VALÈRE
But what?

230M. CARONDAS
That’s Crispin, Sir.
The valet of Damis.

231CRISPIN, standing.
Yes, yes, Frontin:
Speak up; it’s him indeed.

232CYDALISE
What’s all this fuss?

  • 88 Cf. the ending of Le Méchant, V, ix.

233CRISPIN, indicating Valère.
Your secretary is this monsieur’s valet.
I took on this, the very same disguise,
To bring to you a most important note,
88
(
indicating M. Carondas)
Found in this rascal’s house.

234CYDALISE, opening the note.
I know this hand;
(
To Valère)
It’s yours, Monsieur.

235CRISPIN
Pray, read it, Madame, do.

236VALÈRE, to the philosophes.
Ah! All is lost!

237CYDALISE, reads aloud, but in a changed voice, which becomes weaker and weaker.
‘My dear Frontin, I enclose the collection of impertinences that Cydalise calls her book. Keep flattering that madwoman, who is impressed by your wise reputation. Théophraste and Dortidius have just informed me of an excellent plan which will turn her head, and to which your involvement will be of paramount importance if it is to succeed. Her ridiculous fancies, her quirks, her… ’

238CRISPIN
Her voice is weakening,
She will not read much more, I’m sure of that.

239M. CARONDAS
Ah, traitor, Crispin!

240DORTIDIUS, to Valère.
I am sorely vexed,
But we’re found out.

241VALÈRE, quietly.
What terrible disgrace!
What can we say? Let’s go.

242CYDALISE
Read on, Monsieur;
And then give your excuses, if you dare.
So, I’m the victim of your flattering plans?
On the cusp of disgrace, now I can see!
What have I done for you to treat me so?
Go, thankless guests; don’t show yourselves again.
Your panicked state’s revenge enough for me
Though others may not treat you quite so well.
Leave; grant the wish of my affronted heart:
Be gone.

243VALÈRE, furious.
Oh, damn it all.

244M. CARONDAS
Our cue to leave.
(
They leave.)

245CYDALISE
So cruel! How they had caught me in their web!

Scene XI

DAMIS, ROSALIE, CYDALISE, MARTON, CRISPIN

246CYDALISE
Now Damis, come; I sense what you’re to say
Will show to me just how far I’ve been blind.

247DAMIS
They’re now unmasked; the time of error’s past.
And punished, they no longer need be feared,
Madame, you have no further cause for woe.

248CYDALISE
To these infernal men I sacrificed,
All my most sacred duties, and my friends,
How your revenge is sweet! Dear daughter mine,
I recognise my error; please forgive;
To right my wrongs, I give to you Damis.

249DAMIS
And I, Madame, will love you as a son.

250ROSALIE
My wishes have come true, Maman returned!

251CRISPIN
To now complete this tale, I’ll wed Marton.

252MARTON, to the audience.
The wise men of our time we’ve shown to you:
Unmasking all that’s false, we praise the true.

Notes

73 At this point in the original, Dortidius switches from using the informal ‘tu’ to the more formal ‘vous’, signaling a breaking apart of the intimacy.

74 In Les Femmes savantes, Vadius and Trissotin argue in the presence of Philaminte (III, iii). Another argument between pedants is found in L’Amour médecin (II, iv and III, i).

75 Cf. Les Qu’est-ce?, in Ferret, p. 128.

76 Greek woman from Miletus, the lover and subsequently the wife of Pericles, famous for her beauty and wit. Her private life and her influence on politics were mocked in ancient Greek comedy.

77 Palissot notes that the French here (‘je suis sous le charme’) is drawn from Le Fils naturel. In fact, the line he cites (‘Je m’écria, presque sans le vouloir, il est sous le charme.’), is drawn from the second of the Entretiens sur le fils naturel, printed following the original edition of the play. See also the Nouveau mémoire pour servir à l’histoire des Cacouacs, p. 68.

78 Cf. Le Méchant, II, iii: ‘And the art of enjoying the world lies in mocking all who are in it. / My faith, when I examine all that compose it / I find no-one but us that is worth anything.’

79 Palissot notes: ‘See the Entretiens following the Fils naturel.’

80 Allusion to the resistance of Clairon, who tried — in vain — to prevent Les Philosophes from being received by the Comédie-Française. See Introduction.

81 This scene may have been deliberately suppressed in the printed text, but was performed in 1760. See Baring, pp. xxvii–xxviii, and Introduction.

82 Palissot’s note in the 1788 edition reads: ‘Diderot, author of the Bijoux indiscrets, a most obscene book, of the Lettre sur les sourds, of L’Interpretation de la nature, and of several other works of an often unintelligible metaphysics, desired to add to his reputation as philosophe that of dramatic author. He had performed Le Fils naturel, which was unfinished, and Le Père de famille, which remained in the theatre only thanks to the talent of the actor who played Saint-Albin. These two comedies, written in a most overblown prose, served as models for all the lugubrious drames which have since afflicted our stages.’
Les Bijoux indiscrets had appeared in 1748, the Lettre sur les sourds in 1751, and Le Père de famille in 1758.

83 Probably an allusion to the Réflexions sur l’existence de l’âme et sur l’existence de Dieu, published in the collection of Nouvelles libertés de penser, and quoted in particular in the Catéchisme […] des Cacouacs.

84 A note to the 1788 edition reads: ‘Here is what M. de Voltaire wrote to the author of this strange discourse: ‘I have received, sir, your new book against the human species. Never has anyone employed so much wit in an attempt to make us stupid. The reader feels the desire to walk on all fours when he reads your text: however, since it is more than sixty years since I have done so, I believe unfortunately that it will be impossible for me to take on this attitude once more.’ N.B. that these most bizarre paradoxes, so degrading to reason, enjoyed then, and perhaps still enjoy now, the title of philosophy. It is therefore true, as Bayle himself recognized, that the abuse of reason leads to madness. The moral aim of the play was to prove this; but since comedy allows for no better argument than ridicule, the new and bold presentation of Crispin walking on all fours produced in the theatres of Paris the effect that it would have produced on the stages of Athens; and truly, French theatre has few examples of such a comic situation.’
Cf. Voltaire’s famous letter to Rousseau of August 1755 (D6451).

85 A 1788 note reads: ‘Pamphlet, now forgotten, but famous at the time thanks to the context. In that strange period when our philosophes formed an alliance with a group of buffoons against French musique, this text was one of their manifestos. This scene, the only one that demands notes, and the only one belonging to the genre of vaudeville, was applauded for its novelty; but the play only being performed for a second run more than twenty years after the first, the author thought it wise to cut this scene, which had become too incomprehensible for the majority of spectators.’
Le Petit prophète de Boehmischbroda was a pamphlet pastiching the prophecies of the Old Testament, written by Grimm in 1753 during the Querelle des Bouffons.

86 A note from 1782 reads: ‘All the lines describing Crispin’s stance were cut for the second performance [of the 1781 reprise], since at the first a number of loud and clearly important voices were raised with apparent fury at this scene, on the false and ridiculous pretext that it was insulting to the memory of the famous citizen of Geneva. The author preferred to spoil his denouement than to expose the actor performing the role of Crispin to any more slights. We know that in 1760 the same scene, in the hands of the famous Préville, had the most brilliant success; and if the author, forced to cede to circumstances, thought it necessary to sacrifice himself for a handful of performances, we might imagine that the flattering memory of such a success might have rendered such a sacrifice less painfiul. But out of respect for the public, and for this earlier support, he not only retains here but will retain in all future editions this most comic situation, to which provincial actors are accustomed, and which will certainly be demanded again one day in the capital.’

87 Palissot’s note here reads: ‘He takes a lettuce from his pocket.’

88 Cf. the ending of Le Méchant, V, ix.

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