RACINE.
1639-1699.
Birth of Jean Racine
1639.
His Education at Beauvais
Ætat. 16. Received as a Pupil at Port Royal
1655.
Rivalry of the Jesuits and Jansenists
His Enthusiasm for the Tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides
Marriage of Louis XIV.
1660.
Racine on this Occasion writes the Ode "Nymphes de la
Seine"
Seine"
Chapelain recommends him to the Minister Colbert
Racine resides with his Uncle le Père Sconin at Uzès, in
Provence
Provence
His Poem, "The Bath of Venus"
Returned to Paris, and employed by Molière in Dramatic
Composition
Composition
Ætat. 25. His "Alexandre"
1664.
He teaches the celebrated Champmélé to recite
He replies to M. Nicole
His Tragedies of "Andromach" and "Britannicus"
He writes "Bérénice" in rivalry of Corneille on the same
Subject
Subject
Henrietta of England, Duchess of Orléans
Partisans of Corneille
Racine's Comedy of "Les Plaideurs"
He is admitted of the French Academy
1673.
Duke of Montauzier
Racine's "Iphigénie," "Bajazet," and "Mithridate"
"Phèdre," and Madame des Houlières' Sonnet on that Tragedy
Racine and Boileau, supposed to have written a Reply to Madame
des Houlières, are threatened by the Duke of Nevers
des Houlières, are threatened by the Duke of Nevers
Racine resolves on renouncing the Tragic Muse
Ætat. 38. He meditates becoming Chartreux, but is counselled
by his Confessor to marry
by his Confessor to marry
1677.
Character of Madame Racine
Their Sons, intended for monastic Life, are thrown into more
active Pursuits
active Pursuits
Their Daughters take the Veil
Racine reconciles himself with M. Nicole and the Abbé Arnauld
of Port Royal
of Port Royal
He is named Historiographer conjointly with Boileau
His Devotion
His Fondnesss for Home, and Paternal Benevolence
He attends Louis XIV. in his Campaigns
Ætat. 45. His Eloge of Corneille before the French Academy
1684.
His "Idyl on Peace"
His Attendance at Court
His excellent Recitation
"Esther"
"Athalie," his best Tragedy
Madame de Maintenon and Racine
Death of Racine
1699.
Criticism on the Tragedies of Jean Racine
FÉNÉLON.
1651-1715.
Birth of François de Salignac de la Mothe Fénélon
1651.
His charitable and devout heart
His Father the Count de Fénélon
His Mother of an illustrious Family
His early Acquaintance with Greek and Latin Literature, and
Powers of Composition
Powers of Composition
Ætat. 18. The Abbé de Fénélon takes his Degree in the
University of Cahors
University of Cahors
1669.
Visits his Uncle, the Marquis de Fénélon, at Paris
Ætat. 19. His Success in Preaching
1670.
Ætat. 24. His Zeal in Ministerial Duties
1675.
Wishes to go as Missionary to Canada
His religious fervour
Louis XIV. commissions him to preach to the Huguenots in
Poitou
Poitou
Fame of Bossuet, then Bishop of Condom
Le Père Bourdaloue surpasses in eloquent Discourses his Master
Bossuet
Bossuet
Bossuet, Governor of the Dauphin, writes his "Discours sur
l'Histoire Universelle"
l'Histoire Universelle"
Fénélon "on Female Education"
Ætat. 38. Duke de Beauvilliers appoints Fénélon a Preceptor to
the Grandsons of Louis XIV.
the Grandsons of Louis XIV.
1689.
Celebrated Men employed as Preceptors to the Princes
Fénélon appointed Archbishop of Cambrai
Controversial Spirit of the Age
Affair of Madame Guyon's Visions and Mysticism
Bossuet and other Divines commissioned to inquire into her
Doctrines
Doctrines
Bossuet, now Bishop of Meaux, writes the "Instruction sur les
États de l'Oraison," and desires Fénélon's Approval thereof
États de l'Oraison," and desires Fénélon's Approval thereof
The Archbishop of Cambrai refuses, and writes his "Explication
des Maximes des Saints sur la Vie Intérieure"
des Maximes des Saints sur la Vie Intérieure"
The Controversy of the Two celebrated Divines has an unfortunate
Result in the Division of the Gallican Church on the
Doctrines in question
Result in the Division of the Gallican Church on the
Doctrines in question
Louis XIV. prejudiced against Fénélon
Madame de Maintenon's Coldness to him
Ætat. 46. Fénélon exiled to his See
1697.
The Dispute between MM. de Meaux and Cambrai referred to
Rome
Rome
Innocent XII. appoints a Commission, and calls upon those Prelates
for a formal Statement of their Opinions
for a formal Statement of their Opinions
Louis XIV. erases the Name of Fénélon from the List of Preceptors
to the Princes
to the Princes
Calmness and Charitable Sentiments of Fénélon under the indignities
offered him
offered him
Ætat. 48. The Pope's Brief condemning the "Maximes des
Saints" of Fénélon
Saints" of Fénélon
1699.
Exemplary Obedience of Fénélon, and his Pastoral Letter on the
Occasion
Occasion
The Brief against him is registered, and Bossuet draws up a
Report
Report
Death of Bossuet, without any Reconciliation with Fénélon
1714.
"Télémaque"
Admirable Deportment of Fénélon in the See of Cambrai
His Sermons
His Seminary for the Instruction of the younger Clergy
His Doctrine
Fénélon an Opponent of Jansenism
He explains the Mistakes of Pascal in the "Provincial Letters"
The Campaigns in Flanders
The Duke of Burgundy obtains Louis's permission to visit the
Archbishop of Cambrai
Archbishop of Cambrai
Famine the Result of War
Ætat. 58. Fénélon's active Charity to the Soldiery and the
People
People
1709.
The Death of the Dauphin overwhelms Fénélon with grief as a
national Misfortune
national Misfortune
1711.
Death of Fénélon's chief Friends
Louis XIV. relents as to this admirable Prelate
1713.
Death of Fénélon
1715.
Demise of Louis XIV.
Person, Manners, and Talent of de la Mothe Fénélon
His Character given by Sir——Ramsay and other Writers
Eloge of Fénélon by d'Alembert
Criticism on "Télémaque"
TABLE,
ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,
TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF
LIVES OF
EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN
OF FRANCE.
VOLTAIRE.
1694-1778.