Note 9 — XIII ACADEMIES
Emilie Jackson translation
Cf. Saint-Evremont (Les Académiciens): Godeau. Good-day, dear Colletet. Colletet (throwing himself on his knees). Say, my lord of Grasse, What I must do when I before you pass. Should I not kiss, perhaps, your hallowed shoon? Godeau. We are all equal, all Apollo's own. "Rise up, my Colletet—" Colletet. "Does your worship's grace Permit the liberty, to your very face!" Godeau. "Our intercourse is nothing changed, elsewhere You see me bishop; Godeau, simply, here."
Monsieur l'Abbé Coignard, lived under the old régime. In those days it was said that the French Academy had the merit of establishing perfect equality between its members, an equality not recognised in law. Nevertheless, it was destroyed in 1793 as "the last refuge of aristocracy."