testimony of the whole world.

GARC. The less we deserve a happiness which has been promised us, the
greater is the difficulty we feel in believing in it. A destiny too full
of glory seems unstable, and renders us suspicious. As for me, who think
myself so little deserving of your favours, I doubted the success of my
rashness.

[Footnote: Molière has with a few alterations placed this phrase
beginning with "the less," and ending with "my rashness," in the mouth
of _Tartuffe_ in the play of the same name, Act iv., Sc. 5, (see Vol.
II).]

I thought that, finding yourself in a place under my command, you forced
yourself to be somewhat kind to me; that, disguising to me your
severity...

ELV. Do you think that I could stoop to so cowardly an action? Am I
capable of feigning so disgracefully; of acting from motives of servile
fear; of betraying my sentiments; and, because I am in your power, of
concealing my contempt for you under a pretence of kindness? Could any
consideration for my own reputation so little influence me? Can you
think so, and dare to tell it me? Know that this heart cannot debase
itself; that nothing under Heaven can compel it to act thus: if it has
committed the great error of showing you some kindness, of which you
were not worthy, know that in spite of your power, it will be able now
to show the hatred it feels for you, to defy your rage, and convince you
that it is not mean, nor ever will be so.

[Footnote: This scene beginning from "Well," until the end, has, with