.

with Things fo Profane) there are a great many of these abrupt Meanings, which fometimes ferve even to convey to us the Divinity of them. It is very likely, continues be this Critic is not thoroughly convinc'd of the Precepts I laid down in my Art of Poetry, with respect to the Ode.

Her generous Style, will oft at random start,
And by a brave Disorder show ber Art,

And indeed, this Precept, which gives 'for a Rule, Not to obferve any Rule at all, upon some Occasions, is a Mystery of the Art, adds be, not easily made intelligible to a Man without any Tafte, who efteems Clelia and the Operas, as Models of the Sublime; who 'thinks Terence flat, Virgil cold, Homer non

fenfical; and who, by an odd Turn of Mind, " is become infenfible to every Thing that the 'generality of Mankind is mov'd with. But, continues be, this is no Place to fhew him his Errors; and therefore we fhall defer it to 'fome proper Opportunity, which may hapC pen e'er it be long.

Monfieur Defpreaux fays afterwards, That it would be no difficult Matter to make those fenfible of Pindar's Beauties who are ever fo little acquainted with the Greek: But this Tongue being now-a-days pretty much unknown to moft Men, and it being impoffible to fhew 'em Pindar in Pindar himself, he was

of Opinion he could not better juftifie that great Poet, than by endeavouring to make C an Ode in French after his manner: That is to fay, full of Movements and Transports, wherein

wherein the Mind feems rather hurry'd away by the Fury of Poetry, than guided by Reason. Monfieur Defpreaux adds, That he chofe the Taking of Namur for his Subject, as the greatest warlike Action perform'd in our Time, and as the fitteft Matter to warm a Poet's Fancy; and he concludes this little Difcourfe, by faying, That tho' he has omitted nothing that cou'd imitate the Loftiness and Magnificence of Pindar; yet he does not know, whether the Publick, who are accuftom'd to the regular Excurfions of Malherbe, will approve of these Sallies and Pindarick Extravagancies; but that if he fhou'd Mifcarry, he comforts himself with the Difficulties which Horace reprefents in an Enterprife of that Nature.

As foon as this Ode appear'd, feveral Cirticisms were made upon it: But Monfieur Defpreaux did not think himself oblig'd to Answer them; he rather chofe to employ his Time in defending the Ancient Poets; and thereupon writ a fmall Piece, Intituled, Reflections upon Longinus; wherein Anfwer is occafionally made to fome Objections of Monfieur Pagainst against Homer and Pindar. There is confpicuous, throughout this Piece, a great Stock of Learning, fupported by an exact and judicious Criticism. It were only to be wish'd, That Monfieur Defpreaux had contented himfelf with being in the Right, and not made ufe of any harsh or outragious Terms against his Adverfary, who, in other Refpects, was a Perfon of excellent Qualities. Monfieur Defpreaux, it is true, pretended that he had been injur'd by Monfieur Perrault, in Relation to what

T 4.

His Satyr

against Women.

what he had faid in his Satyrs against some French Authors. And 'tis what he likewife gives to understand in the Advertisement of the New Edition of his Works, which he publifh'd in 1694, with the Addition of the two Pieces I just mention'd, and fome others.

The Satyr against Women had made a great deal of Noife even before it was publish'd; Monfieur Defpreaux had read it to his Friends, and they had spoken fo advantageously of it that every Body paffionately wish'd to fee it. He did not, however, make overmuch haft to publish it, because he was willing to in fert it in the New Edition of his Works that was Printing, as he himself tells us in the fhort Advertisment which he prefixes to that Piece.

Monfieur de la Bruyere, in Answer to the Criticism that had been made upon his Speech to the French Academy June 15th 1693, mentions this Satyr with great Commendations, and even defends it against those who had cenfur'd it. There is publish'd, fays he, a new Satire againg Vice in general, which in a ner vous Strain of Poetry, and with a Pen of Steel inforces its Strokes against Avarice, Excess of Gaming, Chicanry, Effeminacy, Sordidness and Hypocrifie, wherein no Body is either nam'd or delineated, where no Woman of Virtue either can ar ought to think her self struck at: A Bourdaloue in the Pulpit never drew more lively or Innocent Pictures of Guilt, no Matter for that, 'tis all Slander, 'tis all Calumny. This has been for fome time their only Cry, and all they have to say against Books of Morality that are in any Vogue: They

1

They take every Thing literally, they read them as they do a Hiftory, they make no Allowance for Poetry, no Allowance for Figure; and fo they condemn them; there are fome fuch in Homer, in Pindar, in Virgil, in Horace, indeed where are there not? Except, perhaps in their own Writings. Monfieur Bayle, has likewise given very great Praises to this Satire, which he calls Monfieur Difpreaux's Mafter-Piece. But tho' there are indeed many Things in it which difcover it to be the Product of an excellent Pen, yet it is very short of that Energy and Fire, which is to be found in the other Satires of Monfieur Defpreaux. Neither is the Verfification either so pure or fo eafie, and we ought not to wonder at it.

However Monfieur Perrault, might be mortify'd by the Critical Remarks upon Longinus, he did not fail to Anfwer it by fome Reflections, wherein he endeavours to repel the Cenfure of his Adverfary. He likewise compos'd a small Poem, Intituled, Apolgie des Femmes, in Oppofition to the Satire against Women and in the Preface to that Piece, he harply criticis'd that Satyr, which contain'd fome very nipping Strokes against him. He even accus'd him of making ufe of indecent Terms in that Statire, and Expreffions, which gave Offence to modeft Ears. Monfieur Perrault having fent this Work to Monfieur Arnauld, the latter writ him a long Letter, wherein he justifies Monfiear Defpreaux with great Force and Eloquence. Monfieur Defpreaux was fo proud of fuch an Advocate, that he caus'd that Letter to be printed at the End of his Works in the last Edition he gave of them.

The

The Criticisms that were publish'd 1695, upon Satire against Women gave Occafion to Monfieur Defpreaux to write an Epistle addrefs'd to his Book, wherein he Accounts for hls Life and Works. It is an Imitation of

one of the most Beautiful Pieces in Horace.

The Inclination he had to Poetry from his very Youth, and the Progrefs he made therein; he fets forth the Steps of his Fortune, how he had been produc'd at Court, and how, he quitted it, the Infirmities that grew upon him, &c.

Some fhort time afterwards, Monfieur Defpreaux compos'd a new Epiftle, directed to bis Gardener. Tho' there be a great deal of Gayety and Jocularity in this Piece, yet it contains fome very beautiful Moral Strokes upon the Neceffity and Advantage of Pains-taking, and the Inconveniences of Idlenefs and Sloth, and the Difficulties of Poetry,

For the right Understanding of the Subject of the Satire upon The Love of God, which Monfieur Defpreaux publish'd afterwards, we are to remember, That the Divines of the Romish Church are much divided upon the Tenet of Attrition; Thus they call a Sense of Grief conceiv'd from the bare Apprehenfion of Hell Torments, and without any Love for God; and 'tis made a Question, Whether fuch Gref be a fufficient Preparative for receiving Remission of Sins, and the Benefit of fuftification at the Sacrament of Penance. Many Divines of the Romish Church, among whom are reckon'd the most Learned Jefuits, declare themselves for the Affirmative; but others maintain, That Confeffion, and the Prieft's Abfolution, avail no