Monsieur de Pourceaugnac | Page 6

prevent him from being seen by too many people.
1ST PHY. Yes, Sir, I have got everything ready; and I will take the utmost care of him.
ERA. Here he is.
1ST PHY. That is most fortunate; for I have with me just now an old physician, a friend of mine, with whom I should be glad to consult concerning this disorder.

SCENE X.--MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, ��RASTE, 1ST PHYSICIAN, APOTHECARY.
ERA. (to MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). I am obliged to leave you a moment for a little affair which requires my presence; (showing the PHYSICIAN) but this person, in whose hands I leave you, will do for you all he possibly can.
1ST PHY. I am bound by my profession to do so; and it is enough that you should lay this duty upon me.
MR. POUR. (_aside_). It is his steward, no doubt; he must be a man of quality.
1ST PHY. (to ��RASTE). Yes, Sir; I assure you that I shall treat this gentleman methodically, and in strict accordance with the rules of our art.
MR. POUR. Indeed, I do not ask for so much ceremony; and I have not come here to trouble you so.
1ST PHY. Such a duty is a pleasure to me.
ERA. (to 1ST PHYSICIAN). Nevertheless, here are ten pistoles beforehand, as an earnest of what I have promised you.
MR. POUR. No, if you please; I won't hear of your spending anything on my account, nor do I wish you to send for anything particular for me.
ERA. Ah, pray, do not trouble yourself; it is not for that you imagine.
MR. POUR. I beg of you to treat me only as a friend.
ERA. It is exactly what I mean to do. (Aside to the PHYSICIAN) I particularly recommend you not to let him slip out of your hands, for at times he tries to escape.
1ST PHY. You need not fear.
ERA. (to MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC). Pray excuse the incivility I commit.
MR. POUR. Don't mention it. You are really too kind.

SCENE XI.--MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, 1ST PHYSICIAN, 2ND PHYSICIAN, APOTHECARY.
1ST PHY. It is a great honour to me to be chosen to do you a service.
MR. POUR. I am your servant.
1ST PHY. Here is a clever man, one of my brethren, with whom I will consult concerning the manner of our treating you.
MR. POUR. There is no need of so much ceremony, I tell you; I am easily satisfied.
1ST PHY. Bring some seats. (_Servants come in and place chairs._)
MR. POUR. (_aside_). These servants are rather dismal for a young man.
1ST PHY. Now, Sir; take a seat, Sir. (The two PHYSICIANS make MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC sit between them.)
MR. POUR. (_seated_). Your very humble servant. (Each PHYSICIAN _takes one of his hands, and feels his pulse._) What are you about?
1ST PHY. Do you eat well, Sir?
MR. POUR. Yes; and drink still better.
1ST PHY. So much the worse! That great craving for cold and wet is a sign of the heat and aridity that is within. Do you sleep well?
MR. POUR. Yes; when I have made a hearty supper.
1ST PHY. Do you dream much?
MR. POUR. Now and then.
1ST PHY. Of what nature are your dreams?
MR. POUR. Of the nature of dreams. What the deuce is the meaning of this conversation?
1ST PHY. Have a little patience. We will reason upon your affair in your presence; and we will do it in the vulgar tongue, so that you may understand better.
MR. POUR. What great reasoning is there wanted to eat a mouthful?
1ST PHY. Since it is a fact that we cannot cure any disease without first knowing it perfectly, and that we cannot know it perfectly without first establishing its exact nature and its true species by its diagnosis and prognosis, you will give me leave, you, my senior, to enter upon the consideration of the disease that is in question, before we think of the therapeutics and the remedies that we must decide upon in order to effect a perfect cure. I say then, Sir, if you will allow me, that our patient here present is unhappily attacked, affected, possessed, and disordered by that kind of madness which we properly name hypochondriac melancholy; a very trying kind of madness, and which requires no less than an Aesculapius deeply versed in our art like you; you, I say, who have become grey in harness, as the saying hath it; and through whose hands so much business of all sorts has passed. I call it hypochondriac melancholy, to distinguish it from the other two; for the celebrated Galen establishes and decides in a most learned manner, as is usual with him, that there are three species of the disease which we call melancholy, so called, not only by the Latins, but also by the Greeks; which in this case is worthy of remark: the first, which arises from a direct disease of the brain; the