Abraham. See Luke xvi

3. de si terribles lemons. The Oration returns to the opening lines in this final expression. See page 9, line 6.

Oraison funebre de Henriette-Anne d’Angleterre.

Much of the plan and some of the principal ideas of this oration can be traced back to Bossuet’s “ Sermon on Death,” preached before the court at the Louvre, probably on March 22, 1662. Certain of the passages also in the two discourses show strong resemblances. Compare the Oration with the last part of Mme de La Fayette’s Histoire de Madame Henriette.

Page 131 . — 1. Henriette-Anne (1644-1670), youngest child of Charles I of England and Henrietta of France; married in 1661 to her cousin, the Duke of Orleans, called Monsieur, younger brother of Louis XIV. Her sudden death in 1670 was laid at her husband’s door by some, though the physicians decided that it was due to natural causes. Bossuet had been hastily summoned the night of her illness, and was present during her last hours. She had been a great favorite with every one, and had exercised considerable influence over the literature of her day.

2. Saint-Denis. Town just outside the walls of Paris. Its cathedral contains the tombs of the kings of France.

NOTES

3. Vanit&8, etc. The Scripture quoted by Bossuet is always the Vulgate version of St. Jerome (346-420).

4. Monseigneur. Here, the Prince of Conde, the representative of the royal family, in his capacity as the first prince of the blood.

5. k trfcs haute, etc. Notice the omission of the definite article before the titles, as though unnecessary. The enumeration of titles was obligatory in such eulogies, but it generally came at the end of the division. See the Funeral Oration of the Prince of Conde, page 162, lines 26-27.

6. k la reine sa mere. Henrietta of France (1609-1669), widow of Charles I. The oration referred to was prepared at the request of Henrietta of England, and was pronounced in the Chaillot convent at Paris on November 16, 1669. Notice this personal beginning.

7. il y a dix mois ? At the funeral service of Henrietta of France.

8. Messieurs. Notice that the formal recognition applies only to the male portion of the audience, partly because it was more ceremonious.

9. en ce lieu. Francis Faure (1612-1687), bishop of Amiens, had also pronounced a funeral oration on the English queen, at St Denis, on November 20 of the preceding year.

10. voyage fameux. In June, 1670, Henrietta had gone to England on a diplomatic mission, which resulted in a secret treaty between her brother, Charles II, and Louis XIV.

11. Vanitd des vanitls, etc. Notice how constantly Bossuet brings together in sharp contrast worldly pomp and earthly vanity.

12. permet. The indicative after a superlative to emphasize the positiveness of this conviction.

Page 132 . — 1. Je veux, etc. Bossuet states clearly the plan of his discourse.