Ces deux pièces, qui parurent eii 1730 et en 1754, ne

Les cent années qui suivent la mort de Shakespeare sont donc, en somme, la période la moins brillante qui soit pour l'histoire du roman anglais. L'imitation maladroite de la France n'aboutit qu'à des productions ridicules, et elles encombrent si bien la scène littéraire qu'elles ne laissent plus de placepour les autres genres de romans. Vainement quelques gens d'esprit essayent de réagir; leur parole ne trouve pas d'écho. Le roman picaresque tel que Nash l'avait compris, ne compte d'autre spécimen que YEnglish Rogne ^ de Richard Head, une des pires compositions en ce genre qui figurent dans aucune littérature. Le roman de critique sociale et politique, inauguré par Thomas More, continué par Bacon, par l'évêque de Norwich Joseph Hall et par Godwin-, ce roman qui

sont pas, comme on le dit souvent, des caricatures de la tragédie classique. De même que le duc de Buckingham dans son Reliearsal (1671), Fielding et Carey y ridiculisent le drame héroïque, né du roman à la Scudéry, tel que Dryden et ses successeurs l'avaient compris.

1. The cnfrlish Rogne descrihcd in tlic life of Mcriton Lafroon, Londres, ibô",, 8°, continué par F. Kirkman, i66r et s., 4 vol. (réimprimés par Pearson).

2. Le Mntidus aller el iiloii de Hall lut composé vers 1600, et parut quelques années plus tard. Le Man in the

Apres Shakespeare 165

devait revivre avec Swift et Johnson, est, si l'on meta part l'éloquent manuel de dévotion de Bunyan, représenté par de froides allégories, telles que VOcéana d'Harrington, 16^6, ec le Bentivolio et Uranie^ 1660, dlngelo ; ou par des nouvelles comme VHistoire du prince embarrasse^ le Secret de coiir^^ etc., dont il est difficile, quand on en a lu

moon or adiscoiirsc oj a voyage thiilicr de F. Godwin parut en 1638 et fut traduit en français, ce qui permit à Cyrano de le connaître : U H oui me dons la Lviie ov le voyage chimériqve fait av monde de la Lvne . . . par Dominique Gonzalès, Paris 1648, 8". La traduction est de ce même Baudoin qui avait déjà mis en français VArcadic de idney.

I, The perplex'd prince, Y>arT . S. Dans ce roman Westtenia est le pays de Galles ; Otenia, l'Angleterre; liogland, l'Ecosse; les amours de Charles II et celles du duc d'York (le prince de Purdino) y sont racontées sous des noms supposes. — The court secret, 1689; Sélim I^'et Sélim II représentent Charles P"" et Charles II; Cha-abas, Louis XIV, etc. — Dans Occana, Parthénia est la reiuc Elisabeth; Morphcus, Jacques I"''; dans l'ouvrage d'Ingelo, Bentivolio représente « Good vvill * et Uranie « Ilcavenly light *. — Occana et Bentivolio sont plutôt des traités didactiques que des romans; le premier est un traité politique et le second un traité religieux, c'est une énorme moralité en prose. — Q uant au Pi/grim's progress, il faut le ranger dans la littérature religieuse proprement dite et il en est le chef-d'œuvre en Angleterre.

i66 Le Roman au temps de Shakespeare

dix pages, de parler de sang-froid et sans haine pour leurs auteurs. L'analyse persévérante, intime, des passions humaines et du sentiment de Famour telle que l'avait entrevue Sidney, disparaît du roman jusqu'au jour où une deuxième Paméla figurera sur la scène littéraire pour émouvoir Londres et Paris, et jusqu'à Crébillon fils, qui écrira à Chesterfield : « Sans Paméla, nous ne saurions ici que lire ni que dire. » Et, à cette lecture, l'auteur du Sopha sera « attendri jusqu'aux larmes >/. Une seule œuvre est publiée, vers la fin du siècle où se rencontre une pensée originale, c'est V Oroonoko de Mrs. Behn; mais la pensée qui l'anime est d'une autre époque et appartient à une catégorie toute spéciale du roman ; avec elle, c'est le roman philosophique qui commence, farci de dissertations sur le monde et l'humanité, sur l'inanité des religions, l'innocence des nègres et la pureté des sauvages; ce sont les idées de Rousseau avant Rousseau. On ne peut l'étudier qu'avec les auteurs du xviii'-' siècle dont Mrs. Behn est, avec tout l'héroïsme conventionnel dont son Oroonoko est encore remph^ le véritable précurseur.

Apres Shakespeare 167

Entre l'époque d'Elisabeth et l'âge de la reine Anne et des Georges, il y a donc, pour l'histoire du roman, un long temps d'arrêt. Le xvir siècle, qui fournit à peine quelques noms propres, ne compte aucune école de romanciers, pas même une école héroïque, puisque ce genre se développa surtout et ne présenta un peu d'originalité qu'au théâtre. Defoe, Richardson etFieldingse sont trouvés ainsi tellement séparés de leurs ancêtres littéraires que ceux-ci sont demeurés dans un complet oubli. « Non. ces jours s'en sont allés, » dit Keats, songeant aux fictions charmantes de la première époque, « et leurs heures sont vieilles et grises, et leurs minutes sont enterrées sous le linceul souvent foulé des feuilles tombées depuis tant de saisons... Évanoui le cliquetis musical accompagnant la danse ; évanoui le chant de Gamelyn; évanoui Voitfhiic à la rude ceinture, tous évanouis dans le passé. » Avec eux bien des réputations se sont évanouies ; les doigts blancs, cerclés d'or, ne tournent plus, depuis longtemps, les pages des EupJnics ni des Areadies: mais ils continuent à feuilleter les œuvres plus abondantes chaque jour des descendants de

i68 Le Roman au temps de Shakespeare

Greene, de Nash et de Sidiiey; et c'est pourquoi ces vieux auteurs méritent, plus encore que notre admiration, notre reconnaissance; car ils ont eu la plus nombreuse et la plus brillante postérité, peut-être la plus aimée que jamais initiateurs littéraires aient eue en aucun pays.

Texte original

des principales Citations

Texte original

des principales Citations

AGF 2^ (suprâ). Intentions île Caxtoii en imprimant la Mort dWrthur : «And I, accordyng to my copye, hauc doon sette it in einprynte to the entente that noble men may see and lerne noble actes of chiualrye the Jentyl and vertuous dedes that somme knyghtes vsed in tho dayes by whychc they came to honour, and how they that were vycious were punvsshed and ofte put to shame and rebuke, humbly besechyng al noble lordes and ladies and al other estâtes of what es-

172 Le Roman au temps de Shahespeare

tates or degré they been of that shal see and rede in this sayd book and werke that they take the good and honest actes in their reniembrance and to folowe the same wherin they shalle fynde many pyous and playsaunt hystoryes and noble and renomed actes of humanyte gentylnesse and chyualryes. For herein may be seen noble chyualrye, Curtosye, Humanyte, frendlynesse, hardynesse, loue, frendshyppe, Cowardyse, Murdre, hâte, vertue and synne. Doo after the good and leue the euyll and it shal brynge you to good famé and renommée. » {Original writings of Caxton, dans la Life and typographv of William Caxton, par W. Blades, Londres, 1861, 2 vol. 4', t. I.)

P. 31 (supra). L écolier de Paris, par Rolle de Hampole : « A scolere at pares had done many full synnys the whylke he hade schame to schryfe hym of. At the last gret soroweof herte ouercome his schame, and when hc was redy to schryfe till the priore of the abbay of Saynte Victor, swa mekill contricionc was in his herte, syghynge in his breste, obbynge in his throttc, that he moghte noghte

Texte des Citations 173

brynge a worde furthe. Thane the prioure said till hym, Gaa and wrytte thy synnes. He dyd swa, and come a-gayne to the prioure and gafe hym that he hade wretyn, ffor yitt he myghte noghte schryfe hym with mouthe. The prioure saghe the synnys swa grette that thurghe leue of th e scolere he schewede theyme to the abbott e to hafe conceyle. The abbotte tuke that byll that ware wrettyn in and lukede thare one. He fande na thynge wretyn andsayd to the priour : What may hère be redde thare noghte es wretyne ? That saghe the priour and wondyrd gretly and saide. Wyet ye that his synns hère warre wretyn and I redde thaym, bot now I see that God has sene hys contrycyone and forgyfes hym ail his synnes. This the abbot and the prioure tolde the scolere, and he, with gret joy thanked God ». {Bn^lisli prosr treatises of Richard Rolle de Hampole, éd, G. G. Pcrry, Londres, Early english text society, 1866, 8",

Césaire (Cesarius Heisterbacensis, mort en

1240) débute ainsi : « Erat ibi juvenis quidam

in studio, qui, suggerente humani gcneris ini-

mico, talia quaniam pcccata commiserat, qu;v

174 Le Roman au temps de Shaliespeare

obstante erubescentia niilli hominum confiteri potuit: cogitans tamen qiuT malis pneparata sunt tormenta geheniic-e, et quae bonis abscondita sunt gaudia perennis vitae, timens etiam quotidie judicium Dei super se. intus torquebatur morsu conscientiae, et foris tabescebat in cox^ove,.. y> {lllustrium mira cul oriun... libri XII. liv. IL chap. lo.)

P. 43. Dédicace d'Euphues and h/s England: « It resteth, Ladies, that you take the paines to read it. but at such times as you spend in playing with your little Dogges, and vet will I not pinch you of that pastime, for I am content that your Dogges Ive in your laps : so Euphues may be in your hands. that when you shall be wearie in reading of the one. you may be readv to sport with the other... Euphues had rather lye shut in a Ladyes casket, then open in a Schollers studie.

^^ Yet after dinner, you may ouerlooke him to keepe you from sleepe. or if you be heauie, to bring you a sleepe, for to worke vpon a full stomacke is against Phisickc, and therefore better it were to holde Euphues in your hands.

Texte des Citations i-y^

though you let him fall, when you be willing to winke, then to sowe in a clout, and pricke your fingers when you begin to nod. >> (Réimpression dWrber. 1868, p. 220.)

P. 49. Spccimoi du style cuphuistiquc : « The foule Toade hath a faire stone in his head, the fine goldeis found in the filthy earth : the sweet kernell lyeth in the hard shell : vertue is harboured in the heart of him that most men esteeme mishapen... Doe \ve not commonly see that in painted pottes is hidden the deadlyest poyson? that in the greenest grasse is ye greatest Serpent? in the cleerest water the vglyest toade? Doth not expérience teach vs that in the most curious Sepulcher are enclosed rotten bones? That the cypresse tree beareth a faire leafe but no fruité? that the Estridge carieth faire feathers, but ranke tiesh?... // {Ibid.^

P. s 3. Portrait des dauics d'Angleterre par /,i7i;<< The Ladies spend themorning in deuout prayer, not rcsembling the Gentlewoemen in Greece and Italy^ who begin their morning at

midnoone, and make their euening at midnight, vsing sonets for psalmes, and pastymes for prayers, reading ye Epistle of a Louer, when they should peruse theGospellof our Lorde, drawing wanton lynes when death is before their face, as Archimedes did triangles and circles when the enimy was at his backe...

«When I first behelde them... I could scarce restraine my voyce from crying, Thcre is no heautie but in England...

« They are in prayer deuoute, in brauery humble, in beautie chast, in feasting temperate, in affection wise, in mirth modest, in al their actions though courtlye, bicause woemen, yet Aungels, bicause virtuous...

« O fortunate England that hath suchaQueenc!... She is adourned with singuler beautie and chastitie, excelling in the one Ve?iiis, in the other Vesta. Who knoweth not how rare a thing it is (Ladies), to match virginitie with beautie, a chast minde with an amiable face, diuine cogitations with a comelye countenaunce? But suche is the grâce bestowed vppon this e arthly Goddesse, that hauing the beautie

Texte des Citations i"]"]

that myght allure ail Prynces, she hath the chastitie also to refuse ail, accounting it no lesse prayse to be called a Virgin, then to be esteemed a Vejius./y {Idid., pp. 442 et s.)

P. 72. Spécimens du style euphuistiqne de Greene : « The grcener the Alisander leaues be, the more bitter is the sappe... the salamander is most warm whcn it lyeth fruthest from the tire and then wonien are most heart hollow, when they are most lip-holy...

«Lutesio, now I see, the strongest oake hath his sap and his worms: that Rauens will breed in the fayrest Ash ..

« I haue been stung with the Scorpion, and cannot be helpt or healed by none but by the Scorpion,// etc., etc. {Philoniela, the Lady Fit{ Watcrs Jiightingale^ Londres, 161^, 4*.)

P. 74. Tableau de la vie des bergers par Greene: «1 tell thee, faire nymph,thcse plaines that thou seeststretchingsouthward, arc pastures belonging to x^lenaphon : thcr growes the cintfoyle, and the hyacinth,the cowsloppe, the primrosc and the violet, which niy llockcs shall sparo for

178 Le Roman au icnips de Shakespeare

flowers to make thee garlands, the milke of my ewes shall be meate forthy pretie wanton, the wool of the fat \veathers that seemes as fine as the fieece that lason fet from Colchos, shall serue to make Samela webbes withall; the mountaine tops shall be thy mornings walke, and the shadie valleies thy euenings arbour: as much as Menaphon owes shall be at Samelas command if she like to liuewith xMenaphon.»(iV/<:'«j^7/o«, Camillas alanini to sJiiuihcring Eiipliues. Londres, 1589, 4- ; réimprimé par Arber, Londres, 1880.)

V.'èi. Eloge d' Hubert Langiiet par si r Pliil ippe Sidney\dans la bouche de PJiilisIdes, berger qui représente V auteur lui-uiênie (sou ?ioui est une contraction des mots Philip Sidney):

I sate me downe : for see to goe ne could,

And sang unto iny sheepe lest stray they should.

The song I sang old Lanqiiet had me taught,

Lanqnet, the Shepeard best svvift Ister knew,

Forclearkly reed, and hating what is naught,

For faithfull heart, cleane hands and mouth as truc :

\Yith his sweet skill my skillesse youth he drew,

To hâve a feeling taste of him that sits

Beyond the heaven, farre more beyond our wits.

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He said, the Musicke best~tliilke povvers pleas'd Was jump concord betweene our wits and will; Where highest notes to godlinesse are rais'd, And lowest sinke not downe to jote of ill : With old true taies he wont mine eares to fill, How shepheards did of yore, how now tliey thrive, Spoyling their flocke, or while twixt them they strive.

He liked me, but pitied lustfuU youth :

His good strong staffe my slipperie yearesupbore :

He still hop'd well because I loved truth;

Till forc't to part, with heart and eyes even sore,

To worthy Corvdon he gave me ore.

{The coiintesse of Pembrokes Arcadia... now the eighth lime published^ Londres, 1633, fol., livre III.)

P. 85. Début de f Apologie de la poésie de Sidney •* « Whcn the right vertuous Edward Wotton, andi were atthe Emperors court together, wee oaue ourselues to Icariie horsemanship oijohn Pietro Pngliano... He sayd, Souldiours were the noblest estatc of nuinkinde, and horsemen, the noblest of Soldiours. Hee sayde, they were raaisters ol" warre, and oruaments of peace : speedy gocrs, aiul strong abiders, triuniphers bolhe iii C>ainps and C>ourts. Nay to such vnbeleeiied a poyiil he procedeed,

i8o Le Roman au ioiips de Shakespeare

as that 110 earthly thing bred siich wonder to a Prince, as to be a good horseman. Skill of gouernment, was but a Pedanteria in comparison : then would he adde certaine prayses, by telling what a peerlesse beast a horse was. The onely serviceable courtier without flattery, the beast of most beutie, faithfulnes, courage, and such more, that if I had not beene a peece of a Logician before I came to him, I think he would haue perswaded mee to haue wished my selfe a horse. But thus much at least with his no fewe words hee draue into me, that selfe-loue is better then any guilding to makethat seeme gorgious, wherein our selues are parties, Wherein if Piiorliauo his strong affection and weake arguments will not satisfie you, I will giue you a neerer example of my selfe, who (1 knowe not by what mischance) in thèse my not old yeres and idelest times, hauing slipt into the title of a Poet, a m prouoked to say somthing vnto you in the defence of that my vnelected vocation. » {An Apolovie for Poeirie^ Londres, 1^9"}; réimprimé par Arber, 1869.)

V ,i)(^.L amour coupable da?is f Arcaifie :plai>i-

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tes de Gynécia : « O vertue, where doest thou hide thy selfe? What hideous thing is this which doth éclipse thee? or is it true that thou wert never but a vaine name, and no essentiall thing; which hast thus left thy professed servant, when she had most neede of thy lovelv présence? O imperfect proportion of reason. which can too much foresee, and too little prevent : Alas, alas (said she) if there were but one hope for ail my paines, or but one excuse for ail my faultinesse. But wretch that I am, niv torment is beyond ail succour, and my evill deserving doth exceed mv evil fortune. For nothingelse did my husband take that strange resolution to live so solitarily : fornothing else hâve the winds delivered this strange guest to my countrev : for nothing else hâve the destinies reserved mv lifeto this time,but that onel\' I (most wretched I) should become a plague to myselfe and a shamc to woman-kind. Yet if m\ desire(how unjust soever itbe)might take effect, though a thousand deaths followed it, and every death werc followed vvith a thousand shames, yet should notmysepulchre receive me without

sonie contentment. But, alas, so sure 1 am,

i82 Le Roman au temps de Shakespeare

that Zelmane is such as can answer my love; yet as sure I am,that this disguising must needs corne for some foretaken conceit : and then, wretched Gynecia, where canst thou fînd any small ground plot for hope to dwell upon? No no, it is PhilocJea his heart is set upon, it is my daughter I hâve borne to supplant me : but if it be so, the life 1 hâve given thee, (ungratefull Philoclea) I wil sooner with thèse hands bereave thee of, than my birth shall glory she hath bereaven me of my desires. » (Arcadia: ut supra^ livre II.)

P. loo. Prière de Paméla : « Kneeling dow^n, even v^here she stood, she thus said : O Ail seing Light, and eternall Life of ail things, to whom nothing is either so great, that it may resist ; or so small that it is contemned : looke upon my misery with thine eye of mercy, and let thine infinité pov^'er vouchsafe to limit out some proportion of deliverance unto mee, as to thee shall seemc most convenient. Let not injurie, O Lord, triumph over mec, and let my faults by thy hand bee corrected, and make not mine unjust enemy the minister of thy

Texte des Citations 183

Justice. But yet my God, if, in thy wisedome, this be the aptest chastisement for my unexcusable foUy ; if this low bondage be fittest for my over-high desires ; if the pride of my not enough humble heart, be thus to be broken, O Lord, I yeeld uiito thy will, and joyfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt hâve me suf-

fer. Onely thus much let me crave of thee

let calamity be the exercise, but not the overthrow of my vertue : let their power prevaile, but not prevaile to destruction : let my greatnesse be their prey : let my paine be the sweetnesse of their revenge : let them (if so it seem good unto thee) vexe me with more and more punishment. i3ut, O Lord, let never their wickednesse hâve such a hand, but that 1 may carry a pure mindc in a pure body. (And pausing a while) And O most gracions Lord, said shee, what ever bccoine of me, préserve the vertuous Mi/sidon(s. » (Uf siipra^ liv. lll.)

P. 1 2 ^.Scciirs du roui a II de Xjs// . — Jacli 1 V il ton et Ir tirocrnicr du ejuip : « Thisgreat Lorde, this worthie Lord, this noble Lord, thought noscorne (Lord, haue mercy vpon vs) to haue his great

veluet breeches larded with the droppings of this dainty liquor, and yet he was an old seruitor, a cauelier of an ancient house,asit might appeare by the armes of his ancestrie, drawen very amiably in chalke on the in side of his tant doore...

« Corning to him on a daie as he was counting his barrels and setting the price in chalke on the head of euerie one of them, I did my duty verie deuoutly, and told his alie honor I had matters of some secrecie to impart vnto him, if it pleased him to grant me priuate audience. With me, young Wilton, quoth he, marie and shalt. Bring vs a pint of syder of a fresh tap into the three cups hère, wash the pot; so in a backe roome he lead mee, where after hee had spit on his finger, and picked off two or three moats of his olde moth eaten veluet cap, and spunged and wrong ail the rumatike driuell from his illfauored goatesbeard, he badde me déclare my minde, and there vpon he dranke to me on the same. ï vp with a long circumstance, alias a cunning shift of the seuenteenes, and discourst vnto him what entire affection I had borne him time out of mind, partly for

Texte des Cita fions i8s

the high discent and linage froin whence he sprung, and partly for the tender care and prouident respect he had of poore soldiers, that whereas the vastitie of that place (which afforded them no indiffèrent supplie of drinke or of victuals) might humble them to some extremity, and so weaken their hands, he vouchsafed in his own person to be a victualer to the campe (a rare example of magnificence and courtesiei and diligently prouided, that without farre trauel, euery man might for his money haue syder and cheese his bellvfull, nor did he sell his cheese by the wav onlv, or his syder by the great, but abast himselfe with hisowne hands to take a slioomakers knife (a homelv instrument for such a high personage to touch) and eut it out equallv like a true iusticiarie, in little pennyworthes, that it would doo a man good for to looke vpon. So likewise of his svder. the porc man might haue his moderate draught of it (as there is moderation in ail things) as wcll for his doit or is dandiprat as the rich man for his halfc souse or his dernier...

'<AVhv, vou are eucrie childs felow :anvman

i86 Le Roman an temps de Shakespeare

that cornes vnder the name of a souldier and a good fellowe, you will sitte and beare companic to the last pot,yea, andyoutake in as good part the homely phrase of mine host heeres to you, as if one saluted you by ail the titles of your baronie. Thèse considérations, I saie, which the worldsuffers to slip by in the channell ot carelesnes, haue mooved me in ardent zeale ot your welfare, to forewarne you ot some dangers that haue beset you and your barrels. At the name of dangers hee start vp and bounst with his fist on the boord so hard that his Tapster ouerhearing him, cried anone, anone, sir, by and by, and came and made a low leg and askt him what he lackt. Hee was readie to haue stricken his tapster for interrupting him in attention of this his so much desired relation, but for feare of displeasing me he moderated his furie, and onely sending him for the other fresh pint wild him looke to the barre, and corne whcn he is cald with a deuills name. Well at his earnest importunitie, after I had moistned my lips to make mv lie runne glib to his iourneis end, forward I went as rfolloweth. h {The vnfortvnatc traveller

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or tlie life of lacke Wiltoii, Londres, 1^94, 4" 5 The complète ivorks of Thomas Nashe^ éd. Grosart, Londres, 1883-4, 6 voL 4", t. V.)

p. i^'è.La Vengeance de Cutzoolfe : « Though I knewe God would neuer haue mercie onmee except I had mercie on thee, yet of thee no mercie would I haue... I tell thee, I would not haue vndertooke so much toyle to gaine heauen as I haue done in pursuing thee for reuenge. Divine revenge of which (as one of the ioies aboue) there is no fulnes or satietie Looke how my feete are blistered with following thee from place to place, I haue riven my throat with ouerstraining it to curse thee. l hâve ground my teeth to pouder with grating and grinding them together for anger, when anie hath nam'd thee my tongue with vaine threates is bolne and waxen too big for my mouth... Entreate not, a miracle maye not repriue thee...

«My ioints tremblcd and quaktwithattending them (les bhisphèmes de son ennemi), my haire stood vpright, and my hart was turncd wliolly to lire... The vcync in his Ictt hand that is

i88 Le Roman au temps de Shakespeare

deriiied from his heart with no faint blow he pierst an dwith the blood that flowd from it, wnt a fui obligation of his soûle to the diuell * yea more earnestly he praied vnto God neuer to fojgiue his soûle, than manie christians doo to saue theyr soûles. Thèse fearfuU ceremo nies brought to an end, I bad him ope his mouth and gape wide. He did so (as what wil not slaues doo for feare). Therwith made I no more adoo, but shot him fui into the throat with my pistol : nomorespake he after, I shoote him that hee might neuer speak after, or repent him. His body being dead looked as blacke as a toad. // {IbiiL)

P. 144. Préface de la traduction anglaise du Grand Cy rus \ «I shall waste notimeto tell y ou howthisbook bath sold in France where itwas born:since nothingfalls from Monsieur de Scudery's hand, but is receiv'd there as an unquestionable pièce, by ail that hâve a tast of wit or honour. The translator hath inserted no false stitches of his own, having only turn'd the wrong sidc of the Arras towards us, for ail translations (you know) are no other. // (.4/--

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tamenes or the Grand Cyrus^ an excellent new romance icritten by tJiat fanions voit of France^ Monsieur de Scvdery. . . and now englished by F. G., Londres 16S3-4,') vol. fol,)

P. 1 ^']. Extrait des Adventnres ofCovent Garden : '< He took a secret pride in rivalling so great a man, and it confirmed his great opinion of Emilia's beauty to see her admir'd by so accomplish't a person and absolute courtier as my lord C — Thèse considérations augmenting his Love increased hisjealousy also, and every little familiarity that my Lord us'd, heightened his love to her, and hatred to his Lordship ; he lov'd her for being admir'd by my Lord, vet hated my Lord for loving her.>/ {^The Adventnres of Covent Gardez/^ in imitation of Scarrotf s city romance^Londrcs, 161)9, i6'.)

P. 1^9. Préface de Zelinda : « Book-scUers too are grown such saucey masterley comparions, thcy do even what they please ; my friend Mr. Bentley calls this pièce an excellent ï'omance ; there I conless his justice and ingenuity. But then he stiles it a translation, when

(as'Sancho Panca said in another case) 'tis no more so then the mother that bore me.--Ingrateful to envy his friend's famé... But I write not for glory, nor self-interest, nor to gratife kindness nor Revenge. Now the impertinent critical reader will be ready to ask, for what then ? For that and ail other questions to my préjudice,! will borrow Mr.Bays's answer and say, Because — I gad sir, I will not tell you. — I désire to please but one person in the world, and (as one Dedicates his labours and heroes to Calista, another to Urania,etc.)at the feet of her my adored Celia, I lay ail my giants and monsters. » [Zelinda^ an excellent new romance translated jroni the frencli of Monsieur de Scudéry^ by T. D. Gent., Londres (Bentley),

P. i()i et s. Extraits de Zelinda i^Ks we are never so fond of flowcrs, as in the beginning ofspring, or towards the end of Autumne ; the first for their novelty, and the others because we think we shall see them no more : so the pleasures of love are at no time so dear to us as in the beginning of our \ outli and the approa-

Texte des Citations 191

ches of our âge. It is so great and unexpected happiness for an old man to be loved, that there is no folly they are not capable of in that condition, but the knowledge they hâve of themselves, scarce suft'ers them ever to be firmly perswaded of it...

« Ye gods ! do I again beheld the fair Zelinda ? (a very pertinent question, for it is to be remembred there was no light)...

« O woman ! woman ! thou dark abysse of subtility ; 'tis easier to trace a wandring swallow through the pathless air, then to explicate the crafty wyndings of thy love or malice...

«Iwillwithoutfurtherdisturbance leave them to their private banquet ; and if no other pen raises them, they shall lye there lill Doonisday. // [Ibid.)

Index

Acolashis, 134. Amérique Vespuce, 30.

Adam, 123. ^;w/5 et Afjitle, 20.

Addison, 9, 1 63. Anatomy of ahsurdity^

Adventiires of Covent 121, 122.

Garden^ 121, 122. Anne (la reine), 16^,

Ajax, 78. 166.

Alexandre le Grand, A)i Apologie for poc-