"in tormenting me."

523 Que. See App. IV, ii. A.

527 The imperfect for the conditional past, for greater vividness. Cf.
"One moment more and he was a dead man" = he would have been . . .

529 veux bien. See l. 232, N. It is condescension on the king's part
to make a confession at all.

530. Note that the king views himself as the father of his people: a
piece of flattery on Racine's part towards Louis XIV.

533 succès, conformably with its derivation, is here without the usual
favorable connotation. Cf. "luck" = "good luck."--_Fureur_ expresses
aggressive madness (cf. _ira furor brevis est_), which the king assumes
could alone prompt such an attempt.

538 More indirect flattery for Louis XIV.

539 Foi. See l. 266, N.

541 trop = "passing." For superlative use of _si_, cf. 1021.

545 frappe = "impresses."

546 nous = "us" [kings]. See App. I, Hiatus.

547 de = "out of," "among."