286 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

recommended it as a mode of cure. Racine related tothe king, while at dinner, the perplexity of his friendbetween these contradictory counsels. “ For my part,”said the princess de Conti, who was sitting nearLouis, I would rather be mute for thirty years, thanrisk my life to regain my voice.” Boileau replied, “ Iam not surprised at the princess of Conti’s sentiment.If she lost her speech, she would still retain a millionother charms to compensate to her for her loss, and shewould still be the most perfect creature that for a longtime nature has produced ; but a wretch like me needshis voice to be endured by men, and to dispute withM. Charpentier. If it were only on the latter accountone ought to risk something; and life is not of suchvalue, but that one may hazard it for the sake of beingable to interrupt such a speaker." These letters arevery entertaining; they display the style of the times,and the vivacity and amiableness of Boileau’s disposi-tion, in very pleasing colours. His vivacity was ofthe head, and of temper. He was exempt from ve-hemence of feeling; and did not suffer the internalstruggles to which those are subject whose souls areimpregnated with passion ; nor was he satirical in con-versation : as madame de Sevigne said of him, he tvascruel only in verse ; and Lord Rochester’s expressionwas applied to him —

“ The best good man, with the worst-natured muse.”

Without pride, also, and without pretension, he couldturn his own fame and labours into a jest. Going oneday to present the order for his pension, which said thatit was granted “ on account of the satisfaction whichthe king derived from his works,” the clerk asked himwhat sort of works his were. “ Masonry,” he replied :“ I am an architect.” At another time, when, passingEaster at a friend’s house in the country, and being exactin fulfilling his religious duties, he made his confessionto a country curate, to whom he was unknown, the con-fessor asked him what his usual occupations were ?“ Writing verses,” replied the penitent. “ So much