was struck by it, and did not think it a breach of his dignity or taste to utter shouts of laughter so loud that the courtiers were astounded." The delighted comedians, on leaving Versailles, returned straight to Paris, and went to awaken Racine.
"Three carriages during the night, in a street where it was unusual to see a single one during the day, woke up the neighborhood.

There was a rush to the windows, and, as it was known that a councillor of requests (law-officer) had made a great uproar against the comedy of the _Plaideurs,_ nobody had a doubt of punishment befalling the poet who had dared to take off the judges in the open theatre.

Next day all Paris believed that he was in prison." He had a triumph, on the contrary, with _Britannicus,_ after which the, king gave up dancing in the court ballets, for fear of resembling Nero.

_Berenice_ was a duel between Corneille and Racine for the amusement of Madame Henriette.

Racine bore away the bell from his illustrious rival, without much glory.