CLE. What is it yon intend to do, and what do you mean by this body of
physicians?
TOI. What is it you are going to do?
BER. To amuse ourselves a little to-night. The players have made a
doctor’s admission the subject of an interlude, with dances and music.
I want everyone to enjoy it, and my brother to act the principal part
in it.
ANG. But, uncle, it seems to me that you are making fun of my father.
BER. But, niece, it is not making too much fun of him to fall in with
his fancies. We may each of us take part in it ourselves, and thus
perform the comedy for each other’s amusement. Carnival time
authorises it. Let us go quickly and get everything ready.
CLE. (_to_ ANGÉLIQUE). Do you consent to it?
ANG. Yes; since my uncle takes the lead.
THIRD INTERLUDE.[6][TN]
BURLESQUE CEREMONY _representing the Admission of_ MR. GERONTE _to the
Degree of Doctor of Medicine_.
_First Entry of the_ BALLET.
PRAESES.
Savantissimi doctores,
Medicinae professores,
Qui hic assemblati estis;
Et vos, altri messiores,
Sententiarum Facultatis
Fideles executores,
Chirurgiani et apothicari
Atque tota compagnia aussi,
Salus, honor et argentum,
Atque bonum appetitum.
Non possum, docti confreri,
En moi satis admirari
Qualis bona inventio
Est medici professio;
Quam bella chosa est et bene trovata.
Medicina illa benedicta,
Quae, suo nomine solo,
Surprenanti miraculo,
Depuis si longo tempore,
Facit à gogo vivere
Tant de gens omni genere.
Per totam terram videmus
Grandam vogam ubi sumus;
Et quod grandes et petiti
Sunt de nobis infatuti.
Totus mundus, currens ad nostros remedios,
Nos regardat sicut deos;
Et nostris ordonnanciis
Principes et reges soumissos videtis.
Doncque il est nostrae sapientiae,
Boni sensus atque prudentiae,
De fortement travaillare
A nos bene conservare
In tali credito, voga, et honore;
Et prendere gardam a non recevere
In nostro docto corpore,
Quam personas capabiles,
Et totas dignas remplire
Has plaças honorabiles.
C’est pour cela que nunc convocati estis:
Et credo quod trovabitis
Dignam matieram medici
In savanti homine que voici;
Lequel, in chosis omnibus,
Dono ad interrogandum,
Et à fond examinandum
Vostris capacitatibus.
PRIMUS DOCTOR.
Si mihi licentiam dat dominus praeses,
Et tanti docti doctores,
Et assistantes illustres,
Très savanti bacheliero,
Quem estimo et honoro,
Domandabo causam et rationom quare
Opium facit dormire.
BACHELIERUS.
Mihi a docto doctore
Domandatur causam et rationem quare
Opium facit dormire.
A quoi respondeo,
Quia est in eo
Vertus dormitiva,
Cujus eat natura
Sensus assoupire.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
Bene, bene respondere.
SECUNDUS DOCTOR.
Proviso quod non displiceat,
Domino praesidi, lequel n’est pas fat,
Me benigne annuat,
Cum totis doctoribus savantibus,
Et assistantibus bienveillantibus,
Dicat mihi un peu dominus praetendens,
Raison a priori et evidens
Cur rhubarba et le séné
Per nos semper est ordonné
Ad purgandum l’utramque bile?
Si dicit hoc, erit valde habile.
BACHELIERUS.
A docto doctore mihi, qui sum praetendens,
Domandatur raison a priori et evidens
Cur rhubarba et le séné
Per nos semper est ordonné
Ad purgandum l’utramque bile?
Respondeo vobis,
Quia est in illis
Vertus purgativa,
Cujus est natura
Istas duas biles evacuare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bone, bene respondere,
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
TERTIUS DOCTOR.
Ex responsis, il paraît jam sole clarius
Quod lepidum iste caput bachelierus
Non passavit suam vitam ludendo au trictrac,
Nec in prenando du tabac;
Sed explicit pourquoi furfur macrum et parvum lac,
Cum phlebotomia et purgatione humorum,
Appellantur a medisantibus idolae medicorum,
Nec non pontus asinorum?
Si premièrement grata sit domino praesidi
Nostra libertas quaestionandi,
Pariter dominis doctribus
Atque de tous ordres benignis auditoribus.
BACHELIERUS.
Quaerit a me dominus doctor
Chrysologos, id est, qui dit d’or,
Quare parvum lac et furfur macrum,
Phlebotomia et purgatio humorum
Appellantur a medisantibus idolae medicorum,
Atque pontus asinorum.
Respondeo quia:
Ista ordonnando non requiritur magna scientia,
Et ex illis quatuor rebus
Medici faciunt ludovicos, pistolas, et des quarts d’écus.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
QUARTUS DOCTOR.
Cum permissione domini praesidis,
Doctissimae Facultatis,
Et totius his nostris actis
Companiae assistantis,
Domandabo tibi, docte bacheliere,
Quae sunt remedia
Tam in homine quam in muliere
Quae, in maladia
Ditta hydropisia,
In malo caduco, apoplexia, convulsione et paralysia,
Convenit facere.
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
QUINTUS DOCTOR.
Si bonum semblatur domino praesidi.
Doctissimae Facultati,
Et companiae ecoutanti,
Domandabo tibi, erudite bacheliere,
Ut revenir un jour à la maison gravis aegre
Quae remedia colicosis, fievrosis,
Maniacis, nefreticis, freneticis,
Melancolicis, demoniacis,
Asthmaticis atque pulmonicis,
Catharrosis, tussicolisis,
Guttosis, ladris atque gallosis,
In apostemasis plagis et ulcéré,
In omni membro démis aut fracturé
Convenit facere.
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
SEXTUS DOCTOR.
Cum bona venia reverendi praesidis,
Filiorum Hippocratis,
Et totius coronae nos admirantis,
Petam tibi, resolute bacheliere,
Non indignus alumnus di Monspeliere,
Quae remedia caecis, surdis, mutis,
Manchotis, claudis, atque omnibus estropiatis,
Pro coris pedum, malum de dentibus, pesta, rabie,
Et nimis magna commotione in omni novo marié
Convenit facere.
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
SEPTIMUS DOCTOR.
Super illas maladias,
Dominus bachelierus dixit maravillas;
Mais, si non ennuyo doctissimam facultatem
Et totam honorabilem companiam
Tam corporaliter quam mentaliter hic praesentem,
Faciam illi unam quaestionem;
De hiero maladus unus
Tombavit in meas manus,
Homo qualitatis et dives comme un Crésus.
Habet grandam fievram cum redoublamentis,
Grandam dolorem capitis,
Cum troublatione spirii et laxamento ventris.
Grandum insuper malum au côté,
Cum granda difficultate
Et pena a respirare;
Veuillas mihi dire,
Docte bacheliere,
Quid illi facere.
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
IDEM DOCTOR.
Mais, si maladia
Opiniatria
Ponendo modicum a quia
Non vult se guarire,
Quid illi facere?
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare,
Reseignare, repurgare, et reclysterizare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondere.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
OCTAVUS DOCTOR.
Impetro favorabile congé
A domino praeside,
Ab electa trouppa doctorum,
Tam practicantium quam practica avidorum,
Et a curiosa turba badodorum.
Ingeniose bacheliere
Qui non potuit esse jusqu’ici déferré,
Faciam tibi unam questionem de importantia.
Messiores, detur nobis audiencia.
Isto die bene mane,
Paulo ante mon déjeuné,
Venit ad me una domicella
Italiana jadis bella,
Et ut penso encore un peu pucella,
Quae habebat pallidos colores,
Fievram blancam dicunt magis fini doctores,
Quia plaigniebat se de migraina,
De curta halena,
De granda oppressione,
Jambarum enflatura, et effroyebili lassitudine;
De batimento cordis,
De strangulamento matris,
Alio nomine vapor hystérique,
Quae, sicut omnes maladiae terminatae en ique,
Facit a Galien la nique.
Visagium apparebat bouffietum, et coloris
Tantum vertae quantum merda anseris.
Ex pulsu petito valde frequens, et urina mala
Quam apportaverat in fiola
Non videbatur exempta de febricules;
Au reste, tam debilis quod venerat
De son grabat
In cavallo sur une mule,
Non habuerat menses suos
Ab illa die qui dicitur des grosses eaux;
Sed contabat mihi à l’oreille
Che si non era morta, c’était grand merveille,
Perchè in suo negotio
Era un poco d’amore, et troppo di cordoglio;
Che suo galanto sen era andato in Allemagna,
Servire al signor Brandeburg una campagna.
Usque ad maintenant multi charlatani,
Medici, apothicari, et chirurgiani
Pro sua maladia in veno travaillaverunt,
Juxta même las novas gripas istius bouru Van Helmont,
Amploiantes ab oculis cancri, ad Alcahest;
Veuillas mihi dire quid superest,
Juxta orthodoxos, illi facere.
BACHELIERUS.
Clysterium donare,
Postea seignare,
Ensuita purgare.
CHORUS.
Bene, bene, bene, bene respondero.
Dignus, dignus est intrare
In nostro docto corpore.
IDEM DOCTOR.
Mais si tam grandum couchamentum
Partium naturalium,
Mortaliter obstinatum,
Per clysterium donare,
Seignare
Et reiterando cent fois purgare,
Non potest se guarire,
Finaliter quid trovaris à propos illi facere?
BACHELIERUS.
In nomine Hippocratis benedictam cum bono
Garçone conjunctionem imperare.
PRAESES.
Juras gardare statuta
Per Facultatem praescripta,
Cum sensu et jugeamento?
BACHELIERUS.
Juro.[7]
PRAESES.
Essere in Omnibus
Consultationibus
Ancieni aviso,
Aut bono,
Aut mauvaiso!
BACHELIERUS.
Juro.
PRAESES.
De non jamais te servire
De remediis aucunis,
Quam de ceuz seulement almae Facultatis,
Maladus dût-il crevare,
Et mori de suo malo?
BACHELIERUS.
Juro.
PRAESES.
Ego, cum isto boneto
Venerabili et docto,
Dono tibi et concedo
Puissanciam, vertutem atque licentiam
Medicinam cum methodo faciendi
Id est,
Clysterizandi,
Seignandi,
Purgandi,
Sangsuandi,
Ventousandi,
Sacrificandi,
Perçandi,
Taillandi,
Coupandi,
Trepanandi,
Brulandi,
Uno verbo, selon les formes, atque impune occidendi
Parisiis et per totem terram;
Rendes, Domine, his messioribus gratiam.
_Second Entry of the_ BALLET.
_All the_ DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _come and do him reverence_.
BACHELIERUS.
Grandes doctres doctrinae
De la rhubarbe et du séné
Ce seroit sans douta à moi chosa folla,
Inepta et ridicula,
Si j’alloibam m’engageare
Vobis louangeas donare,
Et entreprenoibam ajoutare
Des lumieras au soleillo,
Des etoilas au cielo,
Des flammas à l’inferno
Des ondas à l’oceano,
Et des rosas au printano.
Agreate qu’avec uno moto,
Pro toto remercimento,
Rendam gratias corpori tam docto.
Vobis, vobis debeo
Bien plus qu’à nature et qu’à patri meo:
Natura et pater meus
Hominem me habent factum;
Mais vos me (ce qui est bien plus)
Avetis factum medicum
Honor, favor et gratia,
Qui, in hoc corde que voilà,
Imprimant ressentimenta
Qui dureront in secula.
CHORUS.
Vivat, vivat, vivat, vivat, cent fois vivat,
Novus doctor, qui tam bene parlat!
Mille, mille annis, et manget et bibat,
Et seignet et tuat!
_Third Entry of the_ BALLET.
_All the_ DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _dance to the sound of
instruments and voices, the clapping of hands, and the beating of_
APOTHECARIES’ _mortars._
CHIRURGUS.
Puisse-t-il voir doctas
Suas ordonnancias,
Omnium chirurgorum,
Et apothicarum
Remplire boutiquas!
CHORUS.
Vivat, vivat, vivat, vivat, cent fois vivat,
Novus doctor, qui tam bene parlat!
Mille, mille annis, et manget et bibat,
Et seignet et tuat!
APOTHICARIUS.
Puissent toti anni
Lui essere boni
Et favorabiles
Et n’habere jamais
Entre ses mains, pestas, epidemias
Quae sunt malas bestias;
Mais semper pluresias, pulmonias
In renibus et vessia pierras,
Rhumatismos d’un anno, et omnis generis fievras,
Fluxus de sanguine, gouttas diabolicas,
Mala de sancto Joanne, Poitevinorum colicas
Scorbutum de Hollandia, verolas parvas et grossas
Bonos chancros atque longas callidopissas.
BACHELIERUS.
Amen.
CHORUS.
Vivat, vivat, vivat, vivat, cent fois vivat,
Novus doctor, qui tam bene parlat!
Mille, mille annis, et manget et bibat,
Et seignet et tuat!
_Fourth Entry of the_ BALLET.
_All the_ DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _go out according to their rank,
as they came in._
THE END.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] As usual, Argan only counts half; even after he has reduced the
charge.
[2] Thomas Diafoirus is evidently going to base some compliment on the
_belle-mère_. The only way out of the difficulty in English seems to
be to complete the sentence somewhat.
[3] Harvey’s treatise on the circulation of the blood was published in
1628. His discovery was violently opposed for a long time afterwards.
[4] Molière seems to refer to Dr. Guenaut, who was said to have killed
with antimony (his favourite remedy) his wife, his daughter, his
nephew, and two of his sons-in-law.—AIMÉ MARTIN.
[5] _Oubliés_; now called _plaisirs_. “Wafers” would perhaps have been
the right rendering in Molière’s time.
[6] This piece is composed of a mixture of dog-Latin, French, &c. and
is utterly untranslateable.
[7] It is said that it was when uttering this word that Molière gave
way to the illness from which he had long suffered.
[TN] TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE (from a reader):
The above was a litteral rendition of the text. After this eBook was
published in PG we received the following:
Dear sir or madam:
The original translator of the Moliere’s play “The Imaginary Invalid”
did not translate the third interlude into English, simply declaring
that it was “utterly untranslateable”(sic).
My father (Duane Larrieu, retired linguist) has translated this third
Interlude and requested that I submit it to Project Gutenberg on his
behalf. His translation of the Third Interlude follows:
THIRD INTERLUDE. [6]
BURLESQUE CEREMONY _representing the Admission of_ MR. GERONTE _to the
Degree of Doctor of Medicine_.
_First Entry of the_ BALLET
GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE.
Most learned doctors,
professors of medicine,
who are assembled here;
and you other gentlemen,
dependable executors
of the faculty’s decisions,
surgeons and apothecaries
and the entire company as well,
health, honor and wealth
and a good appetite.
Learned confreres, I am unable
personally to have sufficient admiration for what a fine invention
the medical profession is;
what a fine thing it is and a good discovery.
such is that blessed medicine,
which, by its name alone,
a surprising miracle,
for so long a time
has made so many different sorts
of people live a long life.
Throughout the entire world we see
the great interest present where we are;
and that well-to-do and insignificant
people are infatuated with us.
The whole world, rushing for our remedies,
considers us deities,
and you see the princes and kings submitting to our orders.
So it is our wisdom,
good sense and prudence
to work hard
to keep us well
credited, wanted, and honored;
and to be careful not to admit
into our learned group
anybody except qualified individuals
who are fully deserving of occupying
such honorable positions.
That is why you are now summoned here
and I do believe you will find deserving qualities
in the learned man who is present here;
and whom I am giving to you
to question about whatever you want,
and to use your capabilities to
examine him in depth.
FIRST DOCTOR
Sir, you are in charge. If you and so many doctors
and illustrious assistants
who are learned and have a baccalaureate,
and whom I honor and esteem,
grant me permission,
I will ask the cause and reason why
opium induces sleep.
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
An educated doctor is asking me
the cause and reason why
opium induces sleep.
My answer to that
is because there is in it
a sleep-inducing power
which by its very nature
relaxes the senses.
CHORUS
A really, really, really good answer.
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group.
A really good answer.
SECOND DOCTOR
Sir, you are in charge. Provided it isn’t displeasing
which it actually isbn’t
kindly allow, along with all the learned doctors,
and well-intended assistants,
that he explain to me a little, the
a priori and evident reason why rhubarb
and senna are prescribed to purge both biles from us.
If he answers this, he will be very capable.
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
I, who am here providing explanations,
have been asked by an educated doctor
for an a priori and evident reason
why rhubarb and senna are always
prescribed for us to purge both biles.
My answer to you is that
it is because there is in them
a purgative power
which naturally empties out those two biles.
CHORUS
A really, really, really good answer.
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group.
THIRD DOCTOR
From the answers, it seems
clearer than sunlight
that this brainy
baccalaureate holder didn’t spend his life
playing hippity-hop nor smoking
cigarettes; but let him explain why a heap
of bran and a little milk
with phlebotomy and purging of the humors
are called doctor’s idols by those who are naysayers
and also an asses’ bridge.
If, first off, our freedom to
question is acceptable to the gentleman in charge
as well as to the gentlemanly doctors and
all the ranks of kind listeners.
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Mister Chrysologos, that is, he who talks of gold, the doctor, asks me
why a little milk and a heap of bran, phlebotomy and purging of humors
are called doctor’s idols and asses’ bridge by naysayers. My answer is
that prescribing such things doesn’t require a lot of knowledge and
out of those four things doctors make louis, pistoles, and fourths of
ecus.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well.
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group.
FOURTH DOCTOR
With the permission of you, sir, who are in charge, and of the entire
faculty, and of the company attending these activities of ours, I
will ask you learned baccalaureate holder, what are the remedies to
be given both to a man and to a woman suffering from the illness
called hydropsy, from bodily issues such as apoplexy, convulsion, and
paralysis?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well.
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group.
FIFTH DOCTOR
If it seems okay to you sir, who are in charge,
to the very learned faculty, and to the company that is listening to
us,
I will ask you, learned baccalaureate holder, to return one day to a
house full of illnesses. What are the remedies to come up with for
colicosis, febrosis, for maniacs, nephritics, frenetics, melancholics,
demoniacs, asthmatics and pulmonics, for catharrosics, tussicolisics,
guttosics, lepers and gallosics, for apostemasis, plague and ulcers,
for every broken or fractured member?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well,
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group
SIXTH DOCTOR
With the kind allowance of the respected gentleman in charge, of the
successors of Hippocrates, and of the whole circle of those with their
eyes fixed on us, I ask you, oh determined baccalaureate holder, a
college graduate not unworthy of Montpelier, what are the remedies to
be given to the blind, the deaf, the mute, to manchotics, claudics,
and all the estropiatics, for problem feet, toothaches, afflictions,
rabies, and the overwhelmingly great commotion in every newlywed?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well,
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group
SEVENTH DOCTOR
The baccalaureate gentleman has marvelously addressed all those
illnesses; but if I do not bore the most learned faculty and the
entire honorable company present here in body and in mind, I will
put one question to him; yesterday a sick person fell into my hands,
a person of rank and rich as Croesus. He has a severe fever that is
ongoing, a serious headache, with trouble breathing and diarrhea
of the stomach, along with a serious problem in his side and real
difficulty and pain breathing. Please tell me, learned baccalaureate
holder, what to do for him.
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well,
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group
THE SAME DOCTOR
But if, holding off from asking why, the illness about which an
opinion has been furnished, doesn’t want to get well, then what’s to
be done for it?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
Purify, purge, and clysterize repeatedly.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well,
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group
EIGHTH DOCTOR
I beg leave of you, sir, who are in charge, of the select assembly of
doctors, both practicing and eager to practice, and of the curious
flock of onlookers.
Oh so smart Baccalaureate holder, who so far could not be outflanked,
I shall ask you one important question. Sirs, give us your attention.
Quite early to-day, slightly before I had breakfast, a once lovely
young Italian lady came to me. In fact, I still think of her as being
somewhat a young girl. She was all pale-fleshed. The best doctors call
it a white fever. She came complaining of a migraine, of shortness
of breath, of feeling overburdened, of swollen legs and terrible
weariness; of a pounding heart, and of a choked feeling, also called
hysterical inhalation, which, like all illnesses ending in –ic,
casts a snub on Galen. She appeared worn out and looked as green as
goose droppings. Judging from her small racing heartbeat and the
foul urine she brought in a container, she appeared not to be free
of feverish bouts. Lastly, she was so weak that she came from her
bed on horseback, actually, it was a mule. She hadn’t had her menses
since that day that is called the day of lots of water. But she told
me in my ear that it was a real marvel that she wasn’t dead. Because
in her line of work there wasn’t much love, just too much heartiness.
Her gallant guy had gone to Germany to serve on a campaign for mister
Brandenburg. So far a bunch of charlatans, doctors, apothecaries, and
surgeons have been working in vain to cure her illness, going so far
as the new influenzas of that dopey Van Helmont, using everything from
crab eyes to alchemy.
Kindly tell me what’s left, in keeping with orthodoxy, to do for her.
Baccalaureate Holder
Give a clyster,
Afterwards purify,
Then purge.
CHORUS
You answered really, really well,
You really deserve to enter
into our learned group
SAME DOCTOR
But if such an enormous and mortally obstinate withering of the
natural organs cannot be cured by giving a clyster, purifying, and
purging, over and over again for a hundred times, what would you
finally come up with to do for her?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Order her, in the name of blessed Hippocrates, to couple with a good
young lad.
GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE
Do you swear to observe the statutes
prescribed by the faculty
with sense and judgment?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
I do swear
GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE
To have in all consultations
the age-old advice,
whether good or bad?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
I do swear.
GENTLEWOMAN IN CHARGE
Never to resort
to any remedies
besides those only of the resourceful faculty
lest the sick person should wear out
and die of his illness?
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
I do swear.
GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE
With this venerable and learned doctor’s cap, I give and grant you the
power, might and medical license, plus the approach to take, namely,
Clysterizing,
Purifying,
Purging,
Bleeding,
Ventilating,
Sacrificing,
Piercing,
Slicing,
Cutting,
Drenching,
Burning,
in a word, in keeping with the procedures and of killing without
penalty, not just for Parisians but anyone in the world; sir, express
gratitude to these gentlemen.
_Second Entry of the_ BALLET.
_All the_ DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _come and do him reverence_.
BACCALAUREATE HOLDER
Great teachers in regard to instruction concerning rhubarb and senna,
it would undoubtedly be a foolish, inappropriate and ridiculous thing
for me if I allowed myself to engage in providing you with praises and
undertake to add light to the sun, stars to the sky, flames to hell,
waves to the ocean, and roses to the spring.
Allow me, with just a single word of all my gratitude to say thank
you to such a learned group. To you, to you, I owe much more than to
nature and to my father; nature and my father made me a human being.
But you have made me a doctor (which is much more). Honor, favor, and
gratitude that will definitely remain as feeling in this heart forever.
CHORUS
Live a long life, live a long life, live a long life, live a long
life, a hundred times let the new doctor who speaks so well live a
long life! For a thousand, thousand years let him eat and drink, and
cure and kill.
_Third Entry of the_ BALLET.
_All the _DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _dance to the sound of
instruments and voices, the clapping of hands, and the beating of
_APOTHECARIES’ _mortars._
SURGEON
May he just see his learned stipulations and fill the offices of
surgeons and apothecaries.
CHORUS
Live a long life, live a long life, live a long life, live a long
life, a hundred times let the new doctor who speaks so well live a
long life! For a thousand, thousand years let him eat and drink, and
cure and kill.
APOTHECARY
May all his years be good and favorable for him and may he never
grapple with plagues or epidemics that are evil beasts.
But always pleurisies, pulmonias in the kidneys and vesical lumps,
one-year rheumatisms, and all kinds of fevers, bloodflows, diabolic
gouts, St. Joan’s problems, Poitou colics, Dutch scurvy, small and
large poxes, good cankers and long brain problems.
CHORUS
Live a long life, live a long life, live a long life, live a long
life, a hundred times let the new doctor who speaks so well live a
long life! For a thousand, thousand years let him eat and drink, and
cure and kill.
_Fourth Entry of the _BALLET.
_ All the_ DOCTORS _and_ APOTHECARIES _go out according to their rank,
as they came in._
THE END