Louis Fourteenth, and the Writers of His Age Volume 1; Being a Course of Lectures Delivered (in French) to a Select Audience in New York (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 Excerpt: ... LECTURE VII RACINE. The question of superiority between Racine and Corneille, though constantly discussed, still remains unanswered; nor shall I attempt to settle it, but shall merely state the peculiar qualities of each, that you may form a judgment for yourselves. We are already acquainted with Corneille. Those of you who remember the beautiful scenes of the Cid; and above all, the Horatii, will know how this great man excels in painting character; and especially in exhibiting its magnanimous, great, and(generous qualities. Corneille was the poet of the heroic epoch; for his infancy bordered upon the period of the civil wars. Racine, who appeared later, was the poet of a court, the most elegant and refined of its time. They were, both, the poets of their age; but their poems were necessarily different; Corneille treating principally of virtue, honor, and glory; while Racine made love most prominent at the theatre. Boileau says: --"From stage and novel soon the strains of love All other sentiments and themes remove. Who can the magic lore of love impart, Obtains the surest access to the heart." 25 (289) We can agree with Boileau, that in the drama--"Love gives the surest passport to the heart." But it is very certain, that treating exclusively of this passion is not the only means of producing dramatic effect. It is to be regretted, that Racine has so little varietv; his pieces moving the audience by appealing always to the same sentiments. And however vivid these impressions may be, yet by their frequent recurrence it wall be extremely difficult to prevent the sensibilities from becoming blunted. Even in his own time, his motive in constantly choosing the same subjects was a matter of speculation; and a contemporary wrote that "we are indebted to his conj...