to be of another opinion. M. Paul Stapfer, in his _les Artistes juges
et parties_ (2nd Causerie, the Grammarian of Hauteville House, p. 55),
states:--"the opinion of Victor Hugo about Moliere is very peculiar.
According to him, the best written of all the plays of our great comic
author is his first work, _l'Etourdi_. It possesses a brilliancy
and freshness of style which still shine in _le Depit amoureux_,
but which gradually fade, because Moliere, yielding unfortunately to
other inspirations than his own, enters more and more upon a new way."]
but these defects are partly covered by a variety and vivacity which are
only fully displayed when heard on the stage.

In the third volume of the "Select Comedies of M. de Moliere, London,
1732." _The Blunderer_ is dedicated to the Right Honorable Philip,
Earl of Chesterfield, in the following words:--

"MY LORD,--The translation of _L'Etourdi_, which, in company with
the original, throws itself at your lordship's feet, is a part of a
design form'd by some gentlemen, of exhibiting to the public a _Select
Collection of Moliere's Plays_, in _French_ and _English_.
This author, my lord, was truly a genius, caress'd by the greatest men
of his own time, and honoured with the patronage of princes. When the
translator, therefore, of this piece was to introduce him in an
_English_ dress in justice he owed him an _English_ patron,
and was readily determined to your lordship, whom all the world allows
to be a genius of the first rank. But he is too sensible of the beauties
of his author, and the refined taste your lordship is universally known
to have in polite literature, to plead anything but your candour and
goodness, for your acceptance of this performance. He persuades himself
that your lordship, who best knows how difficult it is to speak like
_Moliere_, even when we have his sentiments to inspire us, will be