A leurs yeux, in their présence

68. Louis, Louis XIV. Voltaire refers to the gênerai, irreverent joy that burst forth npon the announcement of the king's death. (Cf. Voltaire's Siède de Louis XIV, chap. 20.)

69. In the last years of his reign Louis XIV. was conf ronted by a formidable alliance: Austria, Great Britain, HoUand, and their allies.

61. Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. It is famous for its abbey where the kings of France were buried.

67. Bégent, Philippe d'Orléans, generally called <*Le flégent," because he held the regency during the minority of Louis XIV. (1715-1723). He made himself conspicuous by his reckless admin-

ÊPÎTRES 181

istration and his licentious manners. Voltaire refers to him in the Henricide as :

. . . ardent, plein de génie

Trop ami des plaisirs et trop des nouveautés.

(Canto vil, lines 443-4. )

76. Noms. Note that the qualifying adjeetive is omitted, les plus vils.

77. PhillpplqueB, satirical verses and pamphlets directed against the régent. Cf. Voltaire*s Siècle de Louis XIV, chap. 8. There is a double allusion in this word, to the famous orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedon, and to the name of the régent, Philippe.

84. De glace is contrasted with en feu in line 82. The figure is not very clear, for if truth, like the sun, pierces the clouds, the idea suggested is rather of warmth than of ice.

87. Quinault (1685-1688), a French poet ridieuled by Boileau. Cf. Boileau's Satire IX,

89. Quinault was very popular and much admired, in spite of Boileau's satirical onslaught.