we know not how many editions, and which has given their author the name of the first poet in France. He writes pretty morality, not so deep perhaps or so systematic as that of the Essay on Man, but with more feeling. He adds the melancholy of Byron, to the morality of Young."-Blackwood's Edinburgh Mag. vol. 13, p. 511. Le dernier Chant de Childe Harold. Paris, 1825, I vol. 8vo. "This poem of M. de Lamartine, is in continuation of the Childe Harold of Lord Byron. It is a highly poetical production. It was a hazardons task, and if Lamartine cannot be placed on a level with Lord Byron, he may be said at least, to approach him; more could not be done by any man of the age.” -Revue Ency. vol. 26, p. 553. LA FAYETTE (Madame de). La Princesse de Clèves. Paris, 1818, 18mo. Zayde, histoire espagnol. Paris, 1826, 2 vols. 24mo. "Madame de la Fayette has supplied a model of novel writing, in Zayde, and the Princess of Clèves, These productions are esteemed for the delicacy of the sentiments, the happy turns of expression, and for the agreeable mixture of fact and fiction, which characterize them."-Barbier's Bibl. vol. 5, p. 38. "Voltaire observed that the novels of Madame La Fayette were the first in which are described the manners of respectable people, and adventures consistent with nature and good taste. Fontenelle said that though he was by no means fond of novels 1 yet he had read the Princess of Clèves a number of times.". Craufurd's Essais, &c. vol. 2, p. 323. LEBRUN (P. D. E.) Ses Euvres, contenant Odes, Elégies, Epitres, &c. par Ginguené. Paris, 1811, 4 vols. 8vo. "Le Brun is author of four vols. of Odes, Epigrams, Epistles and Elegies. His Odes rank in France with those of J. B. Rousseau and Malesherbes. He is, however, always spoken of by French Critics as aimable, spirituel, mais méchant;' of his claims to the latter epithet, his little impromptu on the celebrated Fanni Beauharnois (grandmother to the Ex-Queen of Holland) is a proof Eglé, belle et poëte, a deux petits travers, Elle fait son visage-et ne fait pas ses vers." Lady Morgan's France, vol. 2, p. 340. LEBRUN DE CHARMETTES (M.) Ode à la Grande Armée. Paris, 8vo. "Le Brun's Ode A la grande Armée, is written throughout with a vigourous hand. This Ode was put into the hands of the Emperor, almost immediately after its publication, while he' stood on the battle-field of Friedland, and saw his vanquished enemies flying before him. How far poetry might have been a seasonable relief after such a scene, or what may be the justice of Napoleon's criticism, it is not our purpose to enquire; but we believe that he glanced over the verses, exclaiming' Le Brun has here surpassed himself." for he attributed the Ode to the celebrated poet of that name; and we know that he ordered on the spot, a pension of 6000 francs a year to the supposed author. A few days afterwards the mistake was discovered. The old Poet had not his annuity confirmed on the occasion, (although he subsequently got one to the same amount) and the youthful student was placed on the pension list for 1200 francs, a sum more suitable to his station, though not equivalent to his merit, if the Imperial valuation was correct.”—New Monthly Magazine, vol. 13, p. 401. LECLERCQ (Théodore). Proverbes dramatiques, troisième édition. Paris, 1826, 5 vols. 8vo. "M. Leclercq is one of the ablest satirists of the day. He exhibits a faithful picture of the manners and foibles of the age. No one possesses in a higher degree the tone of high life. His dialect is purely aristocratic. The fifth volume contains a piquant satire on the Jesuits."-Le Globe, vol. 4, p. 413. LEGOUVÉ (G.) Le Mérite des Femmes, et autres poésies. Paris, 1814, 12mo. This is a charming poem, superior to any other by the same author, and combining the double advantage of a subject happily chosen, and elegantly treated. Etéocle et Polynice, tragédie. Paris, an VIII. [1800]. "The Tragedy of Eteocle and Polynice, by M. Legouvé was first performed in the year eight (of the Republic.) It has some good dramatic situations; and is distinguished by the chaste style peculiar to its author: but the subject, in the employment of which Racine failed, and which Boileau reproved, appears to be one not very favourable for the Drama; and though the plot of M. Legouvé is not without merit, it is possessed of but feeble interest, and the denouement is more shocking than heroic."- Rapports de l'Institut, p. 10,(Classe de la Langue et de la Littérature, &c.). "It was bold to choose for the subject of a tragedy, the only one in treating which Racine has been unsuccessful. The success of the piece has been great on the stage, it remains for the reader to decide whether it is equally calculated to please in the closet."-Pougens' Bibl. No. 9, p. 77, LESAGE, See Euvres Complètes, Observations critiques sur le roman de Gil There exists an interesting controversy, as to whether Lesage invented the celebrated novel of Gilblas, or borrowed the idea (and the Spanish controvertists assert almost the whole of it) from a Spanish work of Vincent Espinel, entitled, La vida de lo Escudero don Marco d'Obrego. M. le comte François de Neufchâteau, has written an Essay on the subject, which was read in the French Academy, and has since been printed at the head of the edition of Gilblas, forming a part of the Collection des meilleurs ouvrages de la langue Française, published by M. Didot. The above mentioned work of M. Llorente, forms a part of the controversy, in which M. Audifré has taken a part, in his Biographie de Lesage. By perusing these different Essays, the reader will be enabled to form a tolerable opi nion of the question which it would be improper and impossible to treat in this work, LORRIS (Guillaume de). Le Romant de la Rose, commencé par Guillaume de Lorris, et achevé par Jean de Meun, Verard, Paris. Another edition, Gailliot du Pré. Paris, 1526, fol. "The Edition of 1526 (says Brunet) and all those of the 16th. Century are from the revisions of Clement Marot: some of his corrections are carried so far as to disguise the original; the best Edition is the one revised by M. Méon, and printed by P. Didot."-4 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1814. "The first 4000 lines of this celebrated production were written by Guillaume de Lorris who died in 1260. It was finished by Jean de Meun, who died in 1364, nick-named Clopinel, because he limped. Clopinel was the delight of the court of Philip le Bel. The Roman de la Rose is an allegorical poem, comprising the theory and practice of the Art of Love, A young man is described sleeping on a sunny bank, who dreams that he is in the midst of a most beautiful garden; he descries a rose-bud, the beauty of which enchants him he proceeds to gather it, and meets with innumerable obstacles; he succeeds, however, at length, and the dream thus closes Ains eus la rose vermeille; A tant fut jour, et je m'éveille, Jean de Meun was the first who gave to the world, the loves and misfortunes of Abelard and Heloise."- Craufurd's Essais, &c. vol. 2, p. 290. MARIVAUX (P. Carlet de) Le Paysan parvenu, ou les Mémoires de M*** Paris, 1765, 3 vols, in 1, 12mo. |
