cherish, and revere in you a second father; but a second father to
whom I owe more, I make bold to say, than to the first. The first gave
me birth; but you have chosen me. He received me by necessity, but you
have accepted me by choice. What I have from him is of the body,
corporal; what I hold from you is of the will, voluntary; and in so
much the more as the mental faculties are above the corporal, in so
much the more do I hold precious this future affiliation, for which I
come beforehand to-day to render you my most humble and most
respectful homage.

TOI. Long life to the colleges which send such clever people into the
world!

T. DIA. (_to_ MR. DIAFOIRUS). Has this been said to your
satisfaction, father?

MR. DIA. _Optime_.

ARG. (_to_ ANGELIQUE). Come, bow to this gentleman.

T DIA. (_to_ MR. DIAFOIRUS). Shall I kiss?

MR. DIA. Yes, yes.

T. DIA. (_to_ ANGELIQUE). Madam, it is with justice that heaven
has given you the name of stepmother, since we see in you steps
towards the perfect beauty which....[Footnote: Thomas Diafoirus is
evidently going to base some compliment on the _belle-mere_. The
only way out of the difficulty in English seems to be to complete the
sentence somewhat.]