LE MENTEUR, N mOn'ter Liar,' 1642), by Pierre Corneille, is the first good French comedy, the first to emancipate this form of drama from mediaeval or misunder stood classical tradition. The liberation came, with the comedy itself, from Spain. This is in part translated from (La Verdad Sospe chosa,' by Juan de l'Alarcon, though some times attributed to Lope de Vega. In part, and especially in the conclusion, it is adapted from it, altered to suit the more refined taste of the France of the aging Richelieu. The hardly less amusing and clever sequel, Suite du Menteur> (1643), is taken similarly from Lope. (The Liar' inaugurates in French comedy a class of plays of which Moliere's (Misanthrope> is the most notable member, in which interest is centred on the exhibition of some particular social type. The action passes at Paris, opening in the Tuileries and soon passing to the Place Royale, where it closes. The time is contemporary. Dorante, the Liar, having played with the study of law at Poic tiers, has just returned to Paris, ((abandoning the gown for the sword,' and relying on his tongue and ready fancy to make himself Icing of hearts. Cliton, his valet, with no greater
scruples, has the alert shrewdness and caution of his experience and station and is a worthy predecessor of Moliere's Scapin, as Sabine is of the whole tribe of soubrettes. Geronte, the Liar's father, is his easy dupe. Clarice, whom he would have liked to beguile, as well as her friend, Lucrice, with lying tales of adventures, extravagances and devotion, but whose heart is already given to Alcippe, so turns the tables upon him that he finds himself at last, after a series of scenes hilarious for the auditors, con strained to accept the betrothal with Lucrice which his father has arranged, as he supposes, at his son's behest. (La Suite du Menteur) tells how Dorante *leaves the lady and takes the money,'" but ((exchanging fetters of the law for those of marriage) finds his mate and match in Milisse, while Lucrece is united, briefly, with the rich and moribund Geronte. (Le Menteur) is edited with English notes by J. B. Segall (New York 1902).