You have brought out poets as the sun brings out flowers.

How many have we not seen--Moliere, Boileau, Racine, one greater than the other?
And the others, too, the smaller ones--Scarron, so scurrilous and yet so witty--Oh, holy Virgin! what have I said ?" Madame had laid down her tapestry, and was staring in intense indignation at the poet, who writhed on his stool under the stern rebuke of those cold gray eyes.
"I think, Monsieur Corneille, that you had better go on with your reading," said the king dryly.
"Assuredly, sire.

Shall I read my play about Darius ?" "And who was Darius ?" asked the king, whose education had been so neglected by the crafty policy of Cardinal Mazarin that he was ignorant of everything save what had come under his own personal observation.
"Darius was King of Persia, sire." "And where is Persia ?" "It is a kingdom of Asia." "Is Darius still king there ?" "Nay, sire; he fought against Alexander the Great." "Ah, I have heard of Alexander.

He was a famous king and general, was he not ?" "Like your Majesty, he both ruled wisely and led his armies victoriously." "And was King of Persia, you say ?" "No, sire; of Macedonia.

It was Darius who was King of Persia." The king frowned, for the slightest correction was offensive to him.
"You do not seem very clear about the matter, and I confess that it does not interest me deeply," said he.