AR’GAN, the malade imaginaire and father of Angelique.  He is introduced taxing his apothecary’s bills, under the conviction that he cannot afford to be sick at the prices charged, but then he notices that he has already reduced his bills during the current month, and is not so well.  He first hits upon the plan of marrying Angelique to a young doctor, but to this the lady objects.  His brother suggests that Argan himself should be his own doctor, and when the invalid replies he has not studied either diseases, drugs, or Latin, the objection is overruled by investing the “malade” in a doctor’s cap and robe.  The piece concludes with the ceremonial in macaronic Latin.

[Illustration] When Argan asks his doctor how many grains of salt he ought to eat with an egg, the doctor answers, “Six, huit, dix, etc., par les nombres pairs, comme dans les medicaments par les nombres impairs.”—­Moliere, Le Malade Imaginaire, ii. 9 (1673).

ARGAN’TE (3 syl.), a giantess called “the very monster and miracle of lust.”  She and her twin-brother Ollyphant or Oliphant were the children of Typhoe’us and Earth.  Argante used to carry off young men as her captives, and seized “the Squire of Dames” as one of her victims.  The squire, who was in fact Britomart (the heroine of chastity), was delivered by sir Sat’yrane (3 syl.).—­Spenser, Faery Queen, iii. 7 (1590).

Argante’ (2 syl.), father of Octave (2 syl.) and Zerbinette (3 syl.).  He promises to give his daughter Zerbinette to Leandre (2 syl.), the son of his friend Geronte (2 syl.); but during his absence abroad the young people fall in love unknown to their respective fathers.  Both fathers storm, and threaten to break off the engagement, but are delighted beyond measure when they discover that the choice of the young people has unknowingly coincided with their own.—­Moliere, Les Fourteries de Scapin (1671).

(Thomas Otway has adapted this play to the English stage, and called it The Cheats of Scapin.  “Argante” he calls Thrifty; “Geronte” is Gripe; “Zerbinette” he calls Lucia; and “Leandre” he Anglicizes into Leander.)

ARGAN’TES (3 syl.), a Circassian of high rank and undoubted courage, but fierce and a great detester of the Nazarenes.  Argantes and Solyman were undoubtedly the bravest heroes of the infidel host.  Argantes was slain by Rinaldo, and Solyman by Tancred.—­Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Bonaparte stood before the deputies like the Argantes of Italy’s heroic poet.—­Sir Walter Scott.

AR’GENIS, a political romance by Barclay (1621).

AR’GENTILE (3 syl.), daughter of king Adelbright, and ward of Edel.  Curan, a Danish prince, in order to woo her, became a drudge in her house, but being obliged to quit her service, became a shepherd.  Edel, the guardian, forcing his suit on Argentile, compelled her to flight, and she became a neatherd’s maid.  In this capacity Curan wooed and won her.  Edel was forced to restore the possessions of his ward, and Curan became king of Northumberland.  As for Edel, he was put to death.—­William Warner, Albion’s England (1586).