On Gresset see note to p

Piron (1689-1773), a French poet, the author of many licentious odes, epigrams, &c., and of a few médiocre plays; one only ot his comédies was hailed as a masterpiece, and has kept its place in the repertory of the Comédie Française, La Met remanie (1738).

Page 46. 1. 11. Tieck (1773-1853), a German poet and dramatist, one of the first masters of the German Romantic School. He is the author of the Life of a Poet (Das Dichterleben), the hero of which is Shakespeare ; of a translation of

138 TROIS PORTRAITS l.ITTfRAlRlS

Don Quixotf, and also of thc works of Shakespeare, whicli h.id been begun by Schlegel. He also wrotc many pocins ami dramas.

Paiîe 47. I. I. Mademoiselle Poisson . . . Raymond Poisson (1635-90), his son Paul Poisson (1658-1735), and his grandsons Philippe Poisson (1682-1745) and François Poisson (1696-1755), obtaincd grcat succcss as cotnical acfors. Thc lattcr, François Poisson de Roinviilc, was the inost fanions ; he cxcellcd in thc part of INI. de Pourceaugnac and in that of M. Jourdain. His sister, Madeleine Poisson, marricd a Spanish gentleman, and her writings gave her some réputation in thc litcrary world.

Pagk 49. 1. 17. Mascarille is the typical valet in several of Molicre's piays {V IC/ourdi, Les Précieuses ridicules, &c.) ; Sganarelle, a part of low and brutal ignorance (which Molière often performed); Hc^li, a charactcr in Le Sicilien.

1. 19. Arnolphe, onc of the chief characters in V École des Femmes ; Orgon, the dupe in Tartufe ; Harpagon, the miser in V Axare.

1. 25. De Visé (164C-1710), a French writcr who began liis carccr by some criticisms of Corneille and Molière; later on he becamc a strong admirer and supporter of thc former, but pcrsisted in his attack on the lattcr. He is the foundcr of thc Mercure galant.

On Segrais sec note to p. 18, 1. 52.

I. 28. Rôles à manteau, characters in comédies, whom the manteau suits on account of their âge and condition.

1. 29. Grandmesnil {\T\'j-iii6), a French comedian, who appeared at thc Comédie Française in 1790 ; onc of the best interprcters of Molière, particularly in the characters of Arnolphe and Harpagon.

1. 38. Talma. Sec note to p. 33, 1. 2. Page 50. I. 11, M. k Prime, i.c. thc Duke of Orléans, the king's brother.

1. 12. M. de La Rcchejcucauld (1613-80), a famous philosophical writcr, who owes his celebrity to his Maximes, a collection of philosophical opinions expresscd in a concise and acute style, and to his Mtmoirs. The judgment of Voltaire on the Maximes is generally accepted : ' C'est un des ouvrages qui contribuèrent le plus à former le goût de la nation, et à lui donner un esprit de justesse et de précision ... Il accoutuma à penser et à renfermer des pensées dans un tour vif, précis et délicat.'

1. 13. Le vieux cardinal de Retz (1614-79) had played with Condc and Mazarin a prominent part in the events of thc

Fronde. Having failed in his political ambitions, hc devotcd his later years to the writing of his extiemeiy interesting, though often partial, Memoirs.

1. 27. Madame de Sévigné (1626-96I, the well - known French letter-writer.