— Είν' ένας φαρμακόψυχος, που κερδίζει τη ζωή του κακολογώντας όλα τα δράματα κι' όλα τα βιβλία· μισεί οποίον πετυχαίνει, όπως οι ευνούχοι μισούνε τους άρτιους· είν' ένα απ' αυτά τα φίδια της φιλολογίας, που τρέφονται από λάσπη και φαρμάκι· είν' ένας λιβελλογράφος.
"A very good-for-nothing sort of a man I assure you," answered the abbe, "one who gets his livelihood by abusing every new book and play that is written or performed; he dislikes much to see anyone meet with success, like eunuchs, who detest everyone that possesses those powers they are deprived of; he is one of those vipers in literature who nourish themselves with their own venom; a pamphlet-monger."