of all the dishes of the repast,
and to make you see his expertise when it comes to good food; he
would have told you about hearth-baked bread, with its golden brown
crust, crunching tenderly between the teeth; of a smooth,
full-bodied wine, fortified with a piquancy not too strong, of a
loin of mutton improved with parsley, of a cut of specially-raised
veal as long as this, white and delicate, and which is like an
almond paste between the teeth, of partridges complimented by a
surprisingly flavorful sauce, and, for his masterpiece, a soup
accompanied by a fat young turkey surrounded by pigeons and crowned
with white onions mixed with chicory. But, as for me, I declare my
ignorance; and, as Monsieur Jourdain has said so well, I only wish
that the repast were more worthy of being offered to you.

DORIMENE: I reply to this compliment only by eating.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Ah! What beautiful hands!

DORIMENE: The hands are mediocre, Monsieur Jourdain; but you wish
to speak of the diamond, which is very beautiful.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Me, Madame? God forbid that I should wish to
speak of it; that would not be acting gallantly, and the diamond is
a very small thing.

DORIMENE: You are very particular.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You are too kind...

DORANTE: Let's have some wine for Monsieur Jourdain and for these
gentlemen and ladies who are going to favor us with a drinking
song.

DORIMENE: It is marvelous to season good food, by mixing it with
music, and I see I am being admirably entertained.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Madame, it isn't..

DORANTE: Monsieur Jourdain, let us remain silent for these
gentlemen and ladies; what they have for us to hear is of more
value than anything we could say. (The male singers and the woman
singer take the glasses, sing two drinking songs, and are
accompanied by all the instrumental ensemble.)

FIRST DRINKING SONG Drink a little, Phyllis, to start the glass
round. Ah! A glass in your hands is charmingly agreeable! You and
the wine arm each other, And I redouble my love for you both Let us
three--wine, you, and me--Swear, my beauty, to an eternal
passion. Your lips are made yet more attractive by wetting with
wine! Ah! The one and the other inspire me with desire And both
you and it intoxicate me Let us three--wine, you, and me--
Swear, my beauty, to an eternal passion.

SECOND DRINKING SONG Let us drink, dear friends, let us drink; Time
that flies beckons us to it! Let us profit fro