This is the last comedy written by Molière. He was very ill, nearlydying, at the time he wrote it. It was first acted at the Palais RoyalTheatre, on February 10, 1673.
Molière acted the part of Argan.
Argan, an imaginary invalid.
Béline, second wife to Argan.
Angélique, daughter to Argan, in love with Cléante.
Louison, Argan’s young daughter, sister to Angélique.
Béralde, brother to Argan.
Cléante, lover to Angélique.
Mr. Diafoirus, a physician.
Thomas Diafoirus, his son, in love with Angélique.
Mr. Purgon, physician to Argan.
Mr. Fleurant, an apothecary.
Mr. de Bonnefoi, a notary.
Toinette, maid-servant to Argan.
Arg.Three and two make five, and five make ten, and ten make twenty.“Item, on the 24th, a small, insinuative clyster, preparative andgentle, to soften, moisten, and refresh the bowels of Mr. Argan.” WhatI like about Mr. Fleurant, my apothecary, is that his bills are alwayscivil. “The bowels of Mr. Argan.” All the same, Mr. Fleurant, it isnot enough to be civil, you must also be reasonable, and not plundersick people. Thirty sous for a clyster! I have already told you, withall due respect to you, that elsewhere you have only charged me twentysous; and twenty sous, in the language of apothecaries, means only tensous. Here they are, these ten sous. “Item, on the said day, a gooddetergent clyster, compounded of double catholicon rhubarb, honey ofroses, and other ingredients, according to the prescription, to scour,work, and clear out the bowels of Mr. Argan, thirty sous.” With yourleave, ten sous. “Item, on the said day, in the evening, a julep,hepatic, soporiferous, and somniferous, intended to promote the sleepof Mr. Argan, thirty-five sous.” I do not complain of that, for itmade me sleep very well. Ten, fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen sous sixdeniers. “Item, on the 25th, a good purgative and corroborativemixture, composed of fresh cassia with Levantine senna and otheringredients, according to the prescription of Mr. Purgon, to expel Mr.Argan’s bile, four francs.” You are joking, Mr. Fleurant; you mustlearn to be reasonable with patients; Mr. Purgon never ordered you toput four francs. Tut! put three francs, if you please. Twenty; thirtysous.