Huet: a French scholar

Page 44. — 1. 3. Montesquieu : one of the great prose writers of the 1 8th century, who is best known by his book Esprit des Lois. (1689-

1. 3. Buifon: a celebrated naturalist, especially noted for his literary style. (1 707-1 788.)

1. 5. Jean-Jacques Rousseau : a philosopher whose writings contributed much to the revolution in ideas which occurred during the i8th century. His best known books are La Nouvelle Héloisey Le Contrat Social, and Emile ( 1 7 1 2- 1 778) .

1. 12. P Académie : the French Academy founded by Richelieu in 1635. The last causerie in this volume gives an account of it.

NOTES. Ill

Page 46. — I. i. Rémnsat : comte de, a writer and politician, (i 797- 1875.)

1. 10. Marie-Joseph Chénier: a dramatic poet, and brother of the more celebrated poet Andre Chénier, ( 1 764-1 81 1 .)

1.23. Scaliger : a French philologist who wrote in Latin, (i 540-1609.)

1. 8. Tttrenne : the greatest French general of the 1 7th century. ( 1 61 1- 1675.)

Page 47. — 1. 31. Bossuet: bishop of Meaux, was famous for his wonderful oratorical power. In addition to the book mentioned, his Oraisons Funèbres are well known. He had a wonderful influence over Louis XIV., and is supposed to have had something to do with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, (i 627-1 704.)

Page 48. — 1. 17. Niebelungen : the great German epic poem of the middle ages.

Page 50. — 1. 6. Anne: the wife of Louis XIII. and mother of Louis XIV., was the daughter of Philip III. of Spain. During the minority of her son she was regent, (i 602-1 666.)

Page 51. — 1. 5. Régnier : a satiric poet and an opponent of Malherbe. (1573-1613.)

1. 6. Rabelais : the greatest man of the Renaissance in France and author of the greatest books of this period, Gargantua and Pantagruel» In these books he sharply criticises the errors of his times and gives much good advice for the improvement of affairs. (1495-1 553*)

1. 7. Montaigne : the philosopher and moralist, celebrated for his Essais, He was the originator of this literary form. He represents the scepticism which was the natural after-effect of the enthusiasm of the Renaissance. (1533-1592.)