Part 1

THE

CABINET OF BIOGRAPHY.

CONDUCTED BY THE

REV. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL.D. F.R.S. L.& E.

M.R.I. A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c.

ASSISTED BY

EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

BIOGRAPHY

EMINENT

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN

OF FRANCE.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER-ROW;

AND JOHN TAYLOR,

UPPER GOWER STREET.

1839.

CONTENTS TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF LIVES OF EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF FRANCE. TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF LIVES OF EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF FRANCE. VOLTAIRE ROUSSEAU CONDORCET MIRABEAU MADAME ROLAND MADAME DE STAËL INDEX TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF LIVES OF EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL. TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF LIVES OF EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL. TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, TO THE THIRD VOLUME OF LIVES OF EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL. INDEX

_The Analytical and Chronological Tables and Index to the Series of Lives of Eminent Literary and Scientific Men of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, are given at the end of this volume._

TABLE,

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,

TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF

LIVES OF

EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF FRANCE.

MONTAIGNE.

1533-1592

A.D.

1533. Birth of Michel de Montaigne 1 Pierre Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne 1 Education of Montaigne and his five Brothers 2 The Public School of Guienne 5 1559. Ætat 26. Friendship with Etienne de la Boétie 7 1563. Death of É. de la Boétie 9 1566. Ætat 33. Marriage of Montaigne 9 Death of his father Pierre 10, 11 Troubles of France 10 Duke of Guise 11 Henry King of Navarre, afterwards Henri Quatre 11 Anecdotes of the Civil War 13, 14 1580. Ætat. 47. Montaigne's Journey through Switzerland to Munich, Venice, and Rome 17 1581. Ætat. 48. Citizenship of Rome granted to Montaigne by a Bull of the Pope 18 Description of Rome 18 Devotion of Montaigne, and Offering at the Shrine of Loretto 19 Montaigne elected Mayor by the Citizens of Bordeaux. His return home to fill that Office 19 1585. Ætat 52. Friendship of Montaigne for Mlle. Marie de Gournay le Jars 20 1592. Ætat. 60. Decease of this celebrated Author 21 His Character 21 Montaigne's Essays edited by Mlle. de Gournay, with a Preface by that Lady 21

RABELAIS.

1483-1553.

Lord Bacon's Opinion of Rabelais 23 Style of his Romance in Writings 23 1483. Presumed Date of Birth of Rabelais 23 His Education in a Monastery 24 Rabelais assumes the Franciscan Habit, and preaches Envy of Monks 24 His Condemnation to Bread and Water 25 On his Release he turns to the Rule of Benedict 25 Rabelais quits the Monks, and studies Medicine 26 His Edition of Hippocrates 26 His Visit to Cardinal du Bellay 27 His scarlet Gown 27 Established as Physician at Lyons 28 Rabelais' Journey to Rome 28 His Correspondence 28, 30 Interview with Pope Paul III. 29 His Journey to Lyons and Paris 29 Rabelais, Abbot of St. Maur-des-Fosses, and Curé de Meudon 30 His celebrated Work, or Romance 31 Controversy resulting therefrom 31 Rome, attack on, by Rabelais 31 Francis I. protects him from the Sorbonne 31, 32 Opinions of French Authors on Francis Rabelais 34 His Imitators enumerated 36 His various Works 37 His Acquirements in Languages and Science 38 Exemplary Conduct as a Minister of Religion 39 1553. Ætat. 70. His Decease 39 Epitaphs for Rabelais 39

CORNEILLE.

1606-1684.

State of French Poetry and Literature 40 1606. Birth of Corneille 40 1590-1600. Consequences of the Civil War in France 41 Rise of the French Drama 42 1629. Ætat. 23. Corneille writes "Mélite," a Comedy 42 1634. Ætat. 28. His early Tragedies, &c. 42 Cardinal de Richelieu employs Corneille, Rotrou, Colletet, Bois-Robert, and L'Étoile on his own Dramatic Works 43 Theatre of the Cardinal 43 1635. Corneille retires to Rouen 43 His Amatory Poems 43 Ætat 29. His "Medea" acted 44 Corneille's Genius excited by the Study of Guillen do Castro 45 Unity, dramatic, considered as a Fetter on modern Talent 45 He composed the "Cid" 45 Unparalleled Success of this Drama 46 1637. Critique of the "Cid" by the French Academy 47 1639. Ætat. 33. Writes "Horace," a Tragedy 48 1616. Ætat. 40. Corneille's Tragedy of "Rodogune" 52 Success of his "Œdipus" 54 1642. Is elected of the French Academy 55 His Manners and Conversation 55 Thomas Corneille's Tragedies 56 1662. Ætat. 62. Pierre Corneille and his Family established in Paris 56 Rivality of Corneille and Racine 57, 58 Louis XIV.'s Court 58 Henrietta of England, Duchess of Orléans 58 1684. Ætat. 79. Death of Pierre Corneille 59 Veneration for his Memory 60 Eloge by Racine 61 Account of his Sons and Daughter 61

ROCHEFOUCAULD.

1613-1680.

The Duke de la Rochefoucauld's Maxims 63 High Station of his House, and its ancient Power 63 Reign of Henry IV. 64 Reign of Louis XIII. 64 Cardinal de Richelieu represses the Ambition of the French Nobles 64 1643. Anne of Austria, Regent of France 64 Five Years of Peace and Tranquillity 67 1642. Ætat. 29. The Prince de Marsillac (afterwards Duc de la Rochefoucauld) returns to Paris 63 1644. Battle of Rocroi gained by Condé over the Spaniards 67 Civil War in France 68 The Fronde 68 Barricades of Paris 68 De Retz, Cardinal, Coadjutor of the Archbishopric of Paris 68 Account of the Princes de Condé, de Conti, and their Sister the Duchess de Longueville 68 1650. Condé and his Brother imprisoned at Vincennes 72 Liberated by the Frondeurs 73 His Actions with Turenne 80 Is defeated by Turenne near Paris 81 Raises the Standard of Rebellion in Holland 82 Peace concluded between the Court and the Fronde 83 Louis XIV. assumes the Government of his Kingdom 83 1653. War of the Fronde terminated, and the Party dissolved 83 1653. Ætat. 40. Duke de la Rochefoucauld retires with his Family to Danvilliers to recover from his Wounds 83 Recalled by Mazarin to Court 84 Literati in Paris in the Reign of Louis XIV. 85 1680. Ætat. 67. Death of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld 89, 90 Critique on his "Maxims" 91 Memoirs of the Regency of Anne of Austria, Widow of Louis XIII. 96

MOLIÈRE.

1622-1673.

Distinguished Writers of the Age of Louis XIV. 97 Family of Poquelin 97 1622. Birth of Jean Baptiste Poquelin, who assumed the Name of Molière 98 His Studies at College 99 His Fellow-Students under Gassendi 99 1641. Ætat. 19. Attends on Louis XIII. as Royal Valet-de-Chambre 100 Execution of Cinq-Mars 100 Cardinal de Richelieu's Plays, and Encouragement of Actors 101 1643. Ætat. 21. Molière studies the Law 101 Molière's taking the Stage for his Profession offensive to his Relatives 101 His Theatrical Company 102 The Fronde and Civil War injurious to the Theatre 102 Molière's Company perform at Bordeaux, where he produces an unsuccessful Tragedy 103 His early Comedies 103 His excellent Farcical Interludes performed at the Prince de Conti's Mansion of Pezenas 105 Molière and his Comedians established in Paris 106 They perform at Court 106 "Les Précieuses Ridicules," a Satire on the Hôtel Rambouillet 107 The Poet Voiture 108 1659. Ætat. 37. Molière's Satire of the Affectation then in Fashion 109 Fête given by the Finance Minister Fouquet to Louis XIV. 111 Le grand Condé patronises Molière 113 Molière decried for being an Actor, is protected in his duties as Royal Valet-de-Chambre by Louis XIV. 114 Molière's Marriage 115 He writes "l'Ecole des Femmes" 117 The Court Ballets 118 "Tartuffe" 119 The Soldiers of the King's Body Guard, deprived of their free Admission to the Theatre, create a Riot 121 1666. Ætat. 44. "Le Misanthrope" 122 Scene from the "Amphitryon" 124 Molière writes "l'Avare" 127 Scene from the Comedy of "George Dandin" 127 Unprecedented Success of "Tartuffe" 126 Friendship of Molière with Boileau, Racine, and the Wits of his Time 131 A Supper Party described 131 "Monsieur de Pourceaugnac" 132 Molière's Comedy of "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" 133 Scene from "Les Femmes Savantes" 135 1673. Molière writes "Le Malade Imaginaire" 138 Ætat. 51. Is carried from the Stage in a dying State 139 Funeral Rites denied him 140 Character of Molière 141 His Charity 143 His Style 146 His Troop of Comedians dispersed 148

LA FONTAINE.

1621-1695.

1621. Birth of Jean de la Fontaine 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 Marie d'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 Clement Marot 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 its intensity 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 of Bouillon 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 this unfortunate 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 takes just 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, of Conduct 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 1695. His Death 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.

Bayle's Praise of the Genius of Pascal's Works 183 His Family 184 1623. Birth of Blaise Pascal 184 1631. Ætat. 9. His Father superintends his Studies 184 Philosophy of Descartes 185 1635. Ætat. 12. Pascal's Study of Physics 186 Being restricted to the Study of Greek and Latin, he occupies his leisure 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's Instructions 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 the Theatre of Cardinal de Richelieu; recites Verses declaratory of her Father's Innocence 189 1639. Ætat. 16. Richelieu pardons M. Pascal, and Blaise is presented to him as a young Mathematician 189 1641. Pascal studies Logic and Physics 190 1642. Ætat. 19. He invents an Arithmetical Computing Machine 190 Galileo's Investigations of the Atmosphere 191 Torricelli pursues this Inquiry 192 Father Mersenne explains this matter to Blaise Pascal 192 1647. Ætat. 24. Account of Pascal's Discovery of the Atmospheric Pressure, and his Experiments made on the Puy de Dôme 193 Descartes claims a Priority in this Invention 194 1653. Ætat. 30. Pascal's Treatises "On the Weight of the Atmosphere," and "On the Equilibrium of Liquids" 194 He quits the Study of Mathematics to devote himself to Religion 195 His Sister Jaqueline imitates his Devotion 195 He falls into a State of general Debility 195 1651. Death of Etienne Pascal 196 Jaqueline takes the Veil in the Abbey of Port Royal aux Champs 196 1654. Ætat. 37. Pascal meets with an alarming Accident, which injures his already feeble Health 196 Is delirious, and makes a Record of some supposed Vision 197 He renounces the World, and lives solitarily, using monastic Rules of Self-denial 197 Description of the Abbey of Port Royal, and of the Arnauld Family 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 at the Desire of the Jesuits 200 Antoine Arnauld's Defence of Jansenism 201 1656. Ætat. 33. Pascal's "Lettres Provinciales" 202 Jaqueline Pascal, a Nun of Port Royal, cured by Miracle of a Fistula of the Eye 203 Pascal writes his "Pensées" 203 He subjects himself to Privations and Mortifications, for Religion 204 1658. Ætat. 35. Entails chronical sufferings thereby on his frame 204 Pascal solved many difficult Problems in Mathematics 204 1658. Ætat. 35. He challenged scientific Men to solve the same; and when Huygens, Wallis, and Wren were foiled, he published his Solutions 205 New Persecution of the Jansenists 207 1661. Ætat. 38. His "Lettres Provinciales" condemned to be burnt 207 The Nuns of Port Royal expelled from their Convent 207 Jaqueline Pascal, the Sub-Prioress of Port Royal, dies in consequence of it 207 Pascal declares the "Five Propositions" to be in accordance with St. Paul 208 His dying Sentiments 209 1662. Ætat. 39. His Death 210 His admirable Character 210 Eloquence of his Works 211 His Address to Atheists 211

MADAME DE SÉVIGNÉ.

1626-1696.