June

3. Mélite was performed for the first time in 1630. See M. Taschereau's Histoire de Corneille, pp. 5 and 7.

4. Alexander Hardy (1560?- 163 2) composed more than 600 plays, tragédies, comédies or tragi-comédies, most of which are now entirely forgotten ; on him see M. Demogeot's excellent Tableau de la Littérature Française au XVII « siècle avant Descartes et Corneille, ch. 11 ; published by Hachette.

5. Armand Jean Duplessis, cardinal de Richelieu (l 585-1642).

6. Lowndes (Bibliogr.) mentions an imitation of Le Cid, by Rutter, London, 1637-40, 2 vols. l2mo, and a translation by John Ozell, London, 1714, l3mo. A German version by G. Greflinger was published at Hamburg, 1679, ^^^'

7. Paul Pellisson-Fontanier (1624-1693), a distinguished writer. SuÂfered an imprisonment of five years on account of his attachment to the celebrated Fouquet. His abjuration of Protestantism procured him . the favour of Louis XIV. The Histoire de l'Académie, which he wrote, was continued by the Abbé d'Olivet.

8. Georges de Scudéri (1601-1667) a prolific and ridiculous author. Boileau has said of him : —

" Bienheureux Scudéri, dont la fertile plume Peut tous les mois sans peine enfanter un volume." See M. Demogeot's Tableau de la Littérature, ch. 5.

The Académie Française was founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634. Published a dictionary, the first édition of which bears date 1694, and the last, 1835.