LA FONTAINE.1621-1695.
LA FONTAINE.
1621-1695.
Birth of Jean de la Fontaine1621.150His Father a Keeper of the Royal Domains in his District150La Fontaine enters the Oratoire, a religious Order151He throws off the fetters of a monastic Life, and marries Maried'Héricart151The Keepership of the Royal Domain is devolved on him151La Fontaine reads an Ode by Malherbe, and commences Poet152He studies the Classics153His Style simple, unaffected, and something antiquated153His Study of the great Italian Writers, of Rabelais, and of ClementMarot154Writes "Adonis" in Heroic Verse155Is jealous of M. Poignan, a military Man, and fights him156His Wife's Temper157His own Forgetfulness, and Anecdotes explanatory of itsintensity157The Duchess de Bouillon notices him158His Appointment in the Duke of Bouillon's House159The Duchess takes him to Paris159Account of the Mancinis, Duchesses of Mazarin, and ofBouillon159La Fontaine's Parisian friends, Molière, Racine, and Boileau160His Distractions, or Absences of Mind160Forgets home and his Wife161His Journeys to Château Thierry161Receives a Pension from Fouquet162Elegance of his fugitive Poetry162Fouquet disgraced162La Fontaine endeavours to soften Louis XIV. towards thisunfortunate Minister162"Contes et Merveilles, en Vers," of La Fontaine163His "Psyche and Cupid"163His Fables164"Joconde," his most popular Tale165He lives under the Roof of Madame de la Sablière165La Fontaine writes "Daphne," an Opera, for Lulli, and takesjust Offence at that Musician166He is elected of the French Academy167After some hesitation, Louis XIV. confirms his Election167The Abbé Furetière, and Academic Disputes168Anecdotes illustrative of La Fontaine's Mind and Simplicity ,ofConduct169Account of Madame de la Sablière and her Concerns171La Fontaine invited to England, declines the Journey172He resides with Madame d'Hervart, wife of a Financier172Sickness of this celebrated Poet and Fabulist173He is taxed as to his Indifference in Religion173The Clergy exact a Reparation, or Testimony of his Penitence173His Submissiveness174Recovers from Illness, and publishes a few more Tales176His Death1695.176Criticism on his Works177Beauty of his "Adonis"177Nature of his Tale of "Psyche and Cupid"177La Fontaine's Dramatic Pieces178His Fables and Tales178Comparison with Gay179His Conversation and Habits181
Birth of Jean de la Fontaine
1621.
150
His Father a Keeper of the Royal Domains in his District
150
La Fontaine enters the Oratoire, a religious Order
151
He throws off the fetters of a monastic Life, and marries Maried'Héricart
151
The Keepership of the Royal Domain is devolved on him
151
La Fontaine reads an Ode by Malherbe, and commences Poet
152
He studies the Classics
153
His Style simple, unaffected, and something antiquated
153
His Study of the great Italian Writers, of Rabelais, and of ClementMarot
154
Writes "Adonis" in Heroic Verse
155
Is jealous of M. Poignan, a military Man, and fights him
156
His Wife's Temper
157
His own Forgetfulness, and Anecdotes explanatory of itsintensity
157
The Duchess de Bouillon notices him
158
His Appointment in the Duke of Bouillon's House
159
The Duchess takes him to Paris
159
Account of the Mancinis, Duchesses of Mazarin, and ofBouillon
159
La Fontaine's Parisian friends, Molière, Racine, and Boileau
160
His Distractions, or Absences of Mind
160
Forgets home and his Wife
161
His Journeys to Château Thierry
161
Receives a Pension from Fouquet
162
Elegance of his fugitive Poetry
162
Fouquet disgraced
162
La Fontaine endeavours to soften Louis XIV. towards thisunfortunate Minister
162
"Contes et Merveilles, en Vers," of La Fontaine
163
His "Psyche and Cupid"
163
His Fables
164
"Joconde," his most popular Tale
165
He lives under the Roof of Madame de la Sablière
165
La Fontaine writes "Daphne," an Opera, for Lulli, and takesjust Offence at that Musician
166
He is elected of the French Academy
167
After some hesitation, Louis XIV. confirms his Election
167
The Abbé Furetière, and Academic Disputes
168
Anecdotes illustrative of La Fontaine's Mind and Simplicity ,ofConduct
169
Account of Madame de la Sablière and her Concerns
171
La Fontaine invited to England, declines the Journey
172
He resides with Madame d'Hervart, wife of a Financier
172
Sickness of this celebrated Poet and Fabulist
173
He is taxed as to his Indifference in Religion
173
The Clergy exact a Reparation, or Testimony of his Penitence
173
His Submissiveness
174
Recovers from Illness, and publishes a few more Tales
176
His Death
1695.
176
Criticism on his Works
177
Beauty of his "Adonis"
177
Nature of his Tale of "Psyche and Cupid"
177
La Fontaine's Dramatic Pieces
178
His Fables and Tales
178
Comparison with Gay
179
His Conversation and Habits
181
PASCAL.1623-1662.
PASCAL.
1623-1662.
Bayle's Praise of the Genius of Pascal's Works183His Family184Birth of Blaise Pascal1623.184Ætat. 9. His Father superintends his Studies1631.184Philosophy of Descartes185Ætat. 12. Pascal's Study of Physics1635.186Being restricted to the Study of Greek and Latin, he occupies hisleisure Moments with the Study of Geometry186His Father surprising him in his eager Pursuit of Mathematics,is overjoyed, and consults a Friend187Blaise Pascal comprehends Euclid without a Master'sInstructions188Ætat. 16. His "Essay on Conic Sections"188His Father Etienne, being compromised in some Political Affairs,flies from Paris to Auvergne189Jaqueline Pascal's Performance at fourteen Years of Age in theTheatre of Cardinal de Richelieu; recites Verses declaratory ofher Father's Innocence189Ætat. 16. Richelieu pardons M. Pascal, and Blaise is presented tohim as a young Mathematician1639.189Pascal studies Logic and Physics1641.190Ætat. 19. He invents an Arithmetical Computing Machine1642.190Galileo's Investigations of the Atmosphere191Torricelli pursues this Inquiry192Father Mersenne explains this matter to Blaise Pascal192Ætat. 24. Account of Pascal's Discovery of the AtmosphericPressure, and his Experiments made on the Puy de Dôme1647.193Descartes claims a Priority in this Invention194Ætat. 30. Pascal's Treatises "On the Weight of the Atmosphere,"and "On the Equilibrium of Liquids"1653.194He quits the Study of Mathematics to devote himself toReligion195His Sister Jaqueline imitates his Devotion195He falls into a State of general Debility195Death of Etienne Pascal1651.196Jaqueline takes the Veil in the Abbey of Port Royal auxChamps196Ætat. 37. Pascal meets with an alarming Accident, which injureshis already feeble Health1654.196Is delirious, and makes a Record of some supposed Vision197He renounces the World, and lives solitarily, using monasticRules of Self-denial197Description of the Abbey of Port Royal, and of the ArnauldFamily198Pascal frequents the Society of Abbé Arnauld and his Friends199Controversy between the Jansenists and Molinists200The Jesuit Molina200Cornelius Jansen, Bishop of Ypres200"Five Propositions" of Jansenius condemned by the Pope atthe Desire of the Jesuits200Antoine Arnauld's Defence of Jansenism201Ætat. 33. Pascal's "Lettres Provinciales"1656.202Jaqueline Pascal, a Nun of Port Royal, cured by Miracle of aFistula of the Eye203Pascal writes his "Pensées"203He subjects himself to Privations and Mortifications, forReligion204Ætat. 35. Entails chronical sufferings thereby on his frame1658.204Pascal solved many difficult Problems in Mathematics204Ætat. 35. He challenged scientific Men to solve the same; andwhen Huygens, Wallis, and Wren were foiled, he publishedhis Solutions1658.205New Persecution of the Jansenists207Ætat. 38. His "Lettres Provinciales" condemned to be burnt1661.207The Nuns of Port Royal expelled from their Convent207Jaqueline Pascal, the Sub-Prioress of Port Royal, dies inconsequence of it207Pascal declares the "Five Propositions" to be in accordancewith St. Paul208His dying Sentiments209Ætat. 39. His Death1662.210His admirable Character210Eloquence of his Works211His Address to Atheists211
Bayle's Praise of the Genius of Pascal's Works
183
His Family
184
Birth of Blaise Pascal
1623.
184
Ætat. 9. His Father superintends his Studies
1631.
184
Philosophy of Descartes
185
Ætat. 12. Pascal's Study of Physics
1635.
186
Being restricted to the Study of Greek and Latin, he occupies hisleisure Moments with the Study of Geometry
186
His Father surprising him in his eager Pursuit of Mathematics,is overjoyed, and consults a Friend
187
Blaise Pascal comprehends Euclid without a Master'sInstructions
188
Ætat. 16. His "Essay on Conic Sections"
188
His Father Etienne, being compromised in some Political Affairs,flies from Paris to Auvergne
189
Jaqueline Pascal's Performance at fourteen Years of Age in theTheatre of Cardinal de Richelieu; recites Verses declaratory ofher Father's Innocence
189
Ætat. 16. Richelieu pardons M. Pascal, and Blaise is presented tohim as a young Mathematician
1639.
189
Pascal studies Logic and Physics
1641.
190
Ætat. 19. He invents an Arithmetical Computing Machine
1642.
190
Galileo's Investigations of the Atmosphere
191
Torricelli pursues this Inquiry
192
Father Mersenne explains this matter to Blaise Pascal
192
Ætat. 24. Account of Pascal's Discovery of the AtmosphericPressure, and his Experiments made on the Puy de Dôme
1647.
193
Descartes claims a Priority in this Invention
194
Ætat. 30. Pascal's Treatises "On the Weight of the Atmosphere,"and "On the Equilibrium of Liquids"
1653.
194
He quits the Study of Mathematics to devote himself toReligion
195
His Sister Jaqueline imitates his Devotion
195
He falls into a State of general Debility
195
Death of Etienne Pascal
1651.
196
Jaqueline takes the Veil in the Abbey of Port Royal auxChamps
196
Ætat. 37. Pascal meets with an alarming Accident, which injureshis already feeble Health
1654.
196
Is delirious, and makes a Record of some supposed Vision
197
He renounces the World, and lives solitarily, using monasticRules of Self-denial
197
Description of the Abbey of Port Royal, and of the ArnauldFamily
198
Pascal frequents the Society of Abbé Arnauld and his Friends
199
Controversy between the Jansenists and Molinists
200
The Jesuit Molina
200
Cornelius Jansen, Bishop of Ypres
200
"Five Propositions" of Jansenius condemned by the Pope atthe Desire of the Jesuits
200
Antoine Arnauld's Defence of Jansenism
201
Ætat. 33. Pascal's "Lettres Provinciales"
1656.
202
Jaqueline Pascal, a Nun of Port Royal, cured by Miracle of aFistula of the Eye
203
Pascal writes his "Pensées"
203
He subjects himself to Privations and Mortifications, forReligion
204
Ætat. 35. Entails chronical sufferings thereby on his frame
1658.
204
Pascal solved many difficult Problems in Mathematics
204
Ætat. 35. He challenged scientific Men to solve the same; andwhen Huygens, Wallis, and Wren were foiled, he publishedhis Solutions
1658.
205
New Persecution of the Jansenists
207
Ætat. 38. His "Lettres Provinciales" condemned to be burnt
1661.
207
The Nuns of Port Royal expelled from their Convent
207
Jaqueline Pascal, the Sub-Prioress of Port Royal, dies inconsequence of it
207
Pascal declares the "Five Propositions" to be in accordancewith St. Paul
208
His dying Sentiments
209
Ætat. 39. His Death
1662.
210
His admirable Character
210
Eloquence of his Works
211
His Address to Atheists
211
MADAME DE SÉVIGNÉ.1626-1696.
MADAME DE SÉVIGNÉ.
1626-1696.
Birth of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal1626.214Account of this noble Family214Her Father, Baron de Chantal, slain at the Isle of Rhé1627.215Account of the De Coulanges Family215The Breton Race described216Ætat. 18. Mademoiselle de Rabutin-Chantal marries HenryMarquis de Sévigné1644.216Cardinal de Retz and the Fronde217Count de Bussy-Rabutin, Cousin of Madame de Sévigné217Ninon de l'Enclos217Marquis de Sévigné falls in a Duel with the Chevalier d'Albret218The Prince de Conti219Hôtel de Rambouillet220Cardinal de Retz imprisoned, and escapes220Disgrace and Trial of Fouquet, Minister of Finance222Letters of Madame de Sévigné224Fêtes at Versailles1664.225Louis XIV. takes a Part in the Tournament and Jousts225His Affection for Mademoiselle de la Vallière225Benserade, the Court Poet226Mademoiselle de Sévigné appears in the Ballets at Court226Her Marriage with the Count de Grignan1669.227Correspondence of the Marchioness de Sévigné addressed to herDaughter, Madame de Grignan227Count and Countess de Grignan repair to Provence, of which heis Lieutenant-Governor228Ninon de l'Enclos again the Cause of Affliction230Countess de la Fayette231Monsieur and Madame de Coulanges, Cousins of Madame deSévigné232Dialogue, Supposititious, of M. de Coulanges and M. deBussy-Rabutin232Celebrity for Talent of Madame de Coulanges234Poetry of that Lady's Husband235M. Corbinelli236Madame de Maintenon237D'Argenson and Corbinelli, amusing Anecdote of237Death of Turenne1675.238Madame de Sévigné attacked with Rheumatism1676.244Ætat 51. Visited by her Daughter, who falls ill also1677.245Their Residence in Paris246Account of the Chevalier de Grignan246Ætat. 54. Madame de Sévigné visits her Estate of Aux Rochers,in Britany1680.248,252Marriage of the Marquis de Sévigné, Son of Madame deSévigné249Further Letters to Madame de Grignan251James II. established at St. Germain251Duke and Duchess de Chaulnes252Ætat. 64. Marchioness of Sévigné resides with Madame deGrignan in Provence1690.254The Family of de Grignan254Pauline de Grignan married to the Marquis de Simiane1695.248,254Ætat. 70. Death of Madame de Sévigné1696.248,254Count de Bussy-Rabutin's Character of his celebratedCousin248,254Countess de la Fayette's Portrait of her255Voltaire's opinion of her Taste256Her Character253Madame de Sévigné was a Jansenist257The Dragonnades against the Protestants of France257No Posterity existent of the Family of de Sévigné258
Birth of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal
1626.
214
Account of this noble Family
214
Her Father, Baron de Chantal, slain at the Isle of Rhé
1627.
215
Account of the De Coulanges Family
215
The Breton Race described
216
Ætat. 18. Mademoiselle de Rabutin-Chantal marries HenryMarquis de Sévigné
1644.
216
Cardinal de Retz and the Fronde
217
Count de Bussy-Rabutin, Cousin of Madame de Sévigné
217
Ninon de l'Enclos
217
Marquis de Sévigné falls in a Duel with the Chevalier d'Albret
218
The Prince de Conti
219
Hôtel de Rambouillet
220
Cardinal de Retz imprisoned, and escapes
220
Disgrace and Trial of Fouquet, Minister of Finance
222
Letters of Madame de Sévigné
224
Fêtes at Versailles
1664.
225
Louis XIV. takes a Part in the Tournament and Jousts
225
His Affection for Mademoiselle de la Vallière
225
Benserade, the Court Poet
226
Mademoiselle de Sévigné appears in the Ballets at Court
226
Her Marriage with the Count de Grignan
1669.
227
Correspondence of the Marchioness de Sévigné addressed to herDaughter, Madame de Grignan
227
Count and Countess de Grignan repair to Provence, of which heis Lieutenant-Governor
228
Ninon de l'Enclos again the Cause of Affliction
230
Countess de la Fayette
231
Monsieur and Madame de Coulanges, Cousins of Madame deSévigné
232
Dialogue, Supposititious, of M. de Coulanges and M. deBussy-Rabutin
232
Celebrity for Talent of Madame de Coulanges
234
Poetry of that Lady's Husband
235
M. Corbinelli
236
Madame de Maintenon
237
D'Argenson and Corbinelli, amusing Anecdote of
237
Death of Turenne
1675.
238
Madame de Sévigné attacked with Rheumatism
1676.
244
Ætat 51. Visited by her Daughter, who falls ill also
1677.
245
Their Residence in Paris
246
Account of the Chevalier de Grignan
246
Ætat. 54. Madame de Sévigné visits her Estate of Aux Rochers,in Britany
1680.
248,252
Marriage of the Marquis de Sévigné, Son of Madame deSévigné
249
Further Letters to Madame de Grignan
251
James II. established at St. Germain
251
Duke and Duchess de Chaulnes
252
Ætat. 64. Marchioness of Sévigné resides with Madame deGrignan in Provence
1690.
254
The Family of de Grignan
254
Pauline de Grignan married to the Marquis de Simiane
1695.
248,254
Ætat. 70. Death of Madame de Sévigné
1696.
248,254
Count de Bussy-Rabutin's Character of his celebratedCousin
248,254
Countess de la Fayette's Portrait of her
255
Voltaire's opinion of her Taste
256
Her Character
253
Madame de Sévigné was a Jansenist
257
The Dragonnades against the Protestants of France
257
No Posterity existent of the Family of de Sévigné
258
BOILEAU.1636-1711.
BOILEAU.
1636-1711.
Celebrated Era of Louis Quatorze259Birth of Nicholas Boileau, known also by the Name of M.Despréaux1636.259He displays a turn for Poetry at the College of Beauvais260His first Ode261Ætat. 20. Boileau studies the Law1656.261He addicts himself to Letters261Rise of Literature in France262The Dramatic Poets262Jean Chapelain’s Poem of “La Pucelle”262Colbert, Prime Minister262Satire of Boileau263French Poets265Prince de Condé’s Society of Literary Men at Chantilly266Boileau’s Learned Friends267Ætat. 30. He publishes his Satires1666.269His Eighth Satire1667.270"L'Art Poétique"270"Le Lutrin"271-278Parallel of Boileau and Pope by Mr. Leigh Hunt271-278Ætat. 41. Is pensioned by Louis XIV.1677.279Friendship of Boileau for Racine279They are appointed Historiographers279They attend Louis XIV. to the Siege of Ghent1678.280Campaign of these Poets281Boileau, leaves the military duties to Racine281Abbé Arnauld and the Jansenists283Boileau joins the Jansenists283He is elected of the French Academy284Ætat. 51. Visits the Baths of Bourbon for Health1687.285Ætat. 56. His attack on Charles Perrault1692.287Boileau's Satire on Women288Racine's explanations of his and Boileau's Pensions289Boileau's great Regard for Jean Racine289His House at Auteuil290Ætat. 62. Is named sole Historiographer on the Death ofRacine1698.291Latter Years of the Satirist passed in Tranquillity andHappiness291Louis Racine, Son of the Dramatic Poet291Boileau sells his House at Auteuil292His Piety and strict Observances293Prepares a complete Edition of his Works293His "Dialogue on the Romances"293Ætat. 75. His Death1711.293His Character for Wit294The "Lutrin" his best Poem295
Celebrated Era of Louis Quatorze
259
Birth of Nicholas Boileau, known also by the Name of M.Despréaux
1636.
259
He displays a turn for Poetry at the College of Beauvais
260
His first Ode
261
Ætat. 20. Boileau studies the Law
1656.
261
He addicts himself to Letters
261
Rise of Literature in France
262
The Dramatic Poets
262
Jean Chapelain’s Poem of “La Pucelle”
262
Colbert, Prime Minister
262
Satire of Boileau
263
French Poets
265
Prince de Condé’s Society of Literary Men at Chantilly
266
Boileau’s Learned Friends
267
Ætat. 30. He publishes his Satires
1666.
269
His Eighth Satire
1667.
270
"L'Art Poétique"
270
"Le Lutrin"
271-278
Parallel of Boileau and Pope by Mr. Leigh Hunt
271-278
Ætat. 41. Is pensioned by Louis XIV.
1677.
279
Friendship of Boileau for Racine
279
They are appointed Historiographers
279
They attend Louis XIV. to the Siege of Ghent
1678.
280
Campaign of these Poets
281
Boileau, leaves the military duties to Racine
281
Abbé Arnauld and the Jansenists
283
Boileau joins the Jansenists
283
He is elected of the French Academy
284
Ætat. 51. Visits the Baths of Bourbon for Health
1687.
285
Ætat. 56. His attack on Charles Perrault
1692.
287
Boileau's Satire on Women
288
Racine's explanations of his and Boileau's Pensions
289
Boileau's great Regard for Jean Racine
289
His House at Auteuil
290
Ætat. 62. Is named sole Historiographer on the Death ofRacine
1698.
291
Latter Years of the Satirist passed in Tranquillity andHappiness
291
Louis Racine, Son of the Dramatic Poet
291
Boileau sells his House at Auteuil
292
His Piety and strict Observances
293
Prepares a complete Edition of his Works
293
His "Dialogue on the Romances"
293
Ætat. 75. His Death
1711.
293
His Character for Wit
294
The "Lutrin" his best Poem
295