INDEX,

madame de Sevigne , i. 217. SeeBussy Rabutin .

Racine , Jean, a rival of the greatCorneille , i. 57. His comedy of“ Les Plaideurs, ”58. Pathos ofhis tragedy of “ Berenice, ” 58.His “ Britannicus, ” 118. Hisdaughter describes the demea-nour of La Fontaine, 181. Is re-ceived at the court of Louis XIV. ,279. Historiographer togetherwith Boileau, 279. 316. They ac.company the king to the siege ofGand, 280. Racine makes severalcampaigns, 281. 289. 317. Theyread their history to the king,282. Affair of his and Boileau’spensions, 289. His parents re-spectable ; left Racine and hissister, orphans, 297- His edu-cation at Beauvais, 297. His pre-dilection for the Greek tragedy,299. His studies at Port Royal,299. Removes to the universityof Paris, 300. His ode entitled“ Nymphes de la Seine,” 301.Colbert rewards his early genius.301. His ambition excited, 301.Visits his uncle, Je Pere Sconin,at Uzes in Provence , 302. Hisletters at that time, 302. His dis-like of the patois of Provence ,303. Ilis study of Virgil and St.Thomas Aquinas , 303. His “Bathof Venus,” a poem, 304. Beginsa play of “ Theagines and Cha-ricles,” 304. He returns to Paris ,occupied with poetry and thedrama, 304. He writes for Mo-lifere, 304. His "Alexandre,” 305.It occasions a quarrel betwixtMoliere and the aspirant for fame,306. Racine teaches la Champ-mele to recite, 307. Critics attackhim keenly, 307. His reply to M.Nicole of Port Royal, 307,308.Writes his great tragedies, “ Bri-tannicus,” “ Bajazet,” “ Iphi-genie,” “ Mithridates, ” “ Ph£-dre,” &c., 308—312. Writes “ Be-renice” in rivalry with Corneille ’stragedy of, 308. His comedy of“ Les Plaideurs” the result of alawsuit in which he had beentired out and foiled, 310. Hu-mour of this comedy, 311.Takes his seat in the French Aca-demy, 312. His “Phedre ” bringshim into disputes, which producedesire to lay down his pen, 312,313. His religious principles,313. His marriage, 314. MadameRacine ’s ignorance of poetry, 314.His daughters take the veil, 314.His new mode of life induces him

359

to seek reconciliation with theabb6 Arnaud, 315. Succeedstherein, 315. Writes “ Athalie, ”320. His “ Esther,” 251. 320. Hisconversations with Louis XIV. and madame de Maintenon , 320.323. 325. Dies of an abscess, 526.Displayed the force of friendshipin his last parting with Boileau,326. Critique, 327. “Phedre ”and “ Athalie, ” his best trage-dies : “ Berenice ” and “ Bri-tannicus ” the most pleasing,328.

Racine, Louis , son of the tragicpoet, i. 291. 307.

Rambonet, Prussian councillor ofstate, ii. 39.

Rambouillet, Hotel de, literary so-ciety of the, i. 84. Celebratedauthors who frequented it, 85.

220. Molidre’s “ Precieuses Ri-dicules ” designed as a satire on,85. 107.

Rameau, musical composer , ii. 128.166.

Ramus, Peter, engaged in the con-troversy on Aristotle , i. 31.

Rennes , in Britany, political affairsat, i. 243. Severe example made,243.

Retz, cardinal de, ambition of, i. 68.His projects and partisans, 69.Temporary success of the Fronde,73. His affray with Rochefou-cauld in the ]>alace of justice, 75.In danger of violence from themob of Paris , 76. Ilis intriguesand artifices, 80, 82. A relationof the marquis de Sevigne , 217.His disgrace and imprisonment,

221. He escapes from the citadelof Nantes , 221. He repairs toSpain, 222. Esteem of madamede Sevigne for, 241. His death,247. His “ Memoirs ’’quoted, i. 77.

Richelieu , cardinal de, Montaigne’sEssays dedicated to, i. 21. Policyof, 41. His dramas, 41. 43. 101.The “ Comedie des Tuileries,”43. His theatre, 43. He invitesthe French Academy to criticisethe “ Cid” of Corneille , 47. Herepresses the powerful nobles ofFrance , 64. His great autho-rity, 64. His death, 65. His ex-pedition into Rousiilon when hisdeath was approaching, withLouis XIII. in the same condi-tion, 100. Execution of Cinq-Mars, and of de Thou , 100. Herevived the arts in France , 101.

Richelieu, duke of, ii. 53. 107.

Rochefoucauld, de la, Franqois,duke, his experience at court, i.A A 4