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of glory, he was neither dazzled nor fettered by its in-fluence. As a courtier he maintained a free and manlybearing, while his absence of mind even caused him tofall into mistakes which shocked his more careful friendRacine. Being in conversation one day with madamede Maintenon on the subject of literature, Boileau ex-claimed against the vulgar burlesque poetry which hadformerly been in fashion, and it escaped him to say,“ Happily this vile taste has passed away, and Scarron is no longer read even in the provinces.” Racine re-proached him afterwards :—“ Why name Scarron beforeher ?” he said ; “ are you ignorant of their near con-nection.”—“ Alas! no,” replied Boileau ; “ but it is thefirst thing I forget when I am in her company.” He evenforgot himself so far, on occasions, as to mention Scarron before the king. Racine was still more scandalised onthis: — “ I will not accompany you to court,” he said,“ if you are so imprudent.” “ I am ashamed,” repliedBoileau; “ but what man is exempt from saying foolishthings ?” and he excused himself by alleging theexample of M. Arnaud, who was even more absent.Nor did he limit his want of pliancy to mere manner.He did not disguise more important differences of opi-nion. The king and court espoused the cause of thejesuits: to be a jansenist often caused the entire loss ofcourt favour; but Boileau did not conceal his adherenceto that party, and his partiality to its chief, M. Arnaud ■and as he grew older, instead of growing more servile,he emancipated himself yet more entirely from courtinfluence; and his “Epistle on Ambiguity" is a proof ofan independence of spirit that commands our warmestesteem.

His courage in thus openly espousing the opinions ofjansenism surprised Racine. “You enjoy,” he said tohim, “ a privilege I cannot obtain. You say things Idare not say. You have praised persons in your poemswhom I do not venture to mention. You are the personthat ought to be accused of jansenism; yet I am muchmore attacked. What can be the reason ? ” “ It is