1639-1699.
1639. Birth of Jean Racine 297
His Education at Beauvais 297
1655. Ætat. 16. Received as a Pupil at Port Royal 298
Rivalry of the Jesuits and Jansenists 298
His Enthusiasm for the Tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides 299
1660. Marriage of Louis XIV. 300
Racine on this Occasion writes the Ode "Nymphes de la
Seine" 301
Chapelain recommends him to the Minister Colbert 301
Racine resides with his Uncle le Père Sconin at Uzès, in
Provence 302
His Poem, "The Bath of Venus" 304
Returned to Paris, and employed by Molière in Dramatic
Composition 304
1664. Ætat. 25. His "Alexandre" 305, 306
He teaches the celebrated Champmélé to recite 307
He replies to M. Nicole 307
His Tragedies of "Andromach" and "Britannicus" 308
He writes "Bérénice" in rivalry of Corneille on the same
Subject 309
Henrietta of England, Duchess of Orléans 309
Partisans of Corneille 309
Racine's Comedy of "Les Plaideurs" 310
1673. He is admitted of the French Academy 312
Duke of Montauzier 312
Racine's "Iphigénie," "Bajazet," and "Mithridate" 312
"Phèdre," and Madame des Houlières' Sonnet on that Tragedy 312
Racine and Boileau, supposed to have written a Reply to Madame
des Houlières, are threatened by the Duke of Nevers 313
Racine resolves on renouncing the Tragic Muse 313
1677. Ætat. 38. He meditates becoming Chartreux, but is counselled
by his Confessor to marry 313
Character of Madame Racine 314
Their Sons, intended for monastic Life, are thrown into more
active Pursuits 314
Their Daughters take the Veil 314
Racine reconciles himself with M. Nicole and the Abbé Arnauld
of Port Royal 315
He is named Historiographer conjointly with Boileau 316
His Devotion 316
His Fondnesss for Home, and Paternal Benevolence 317
He attends Louis XIV. in his Campaigns 317
1684. Ætat. 45. His Eloge of Corneille before the French Academy 317
His "Idyl on Peace" 318
His Attendance at Court 319
His excellent Recitation 319
"Esther" 320
"Athalie," his best Tragedy 320
Madame de Maintenon and Racine 321-325
1699. Death of Racine 326
Criticism on the Tragedies of Jean Racine 327