*

could attach to the court, and by some ladies, who had cultivated letters. This was called the King's Academy, and admission to it was reckoned a particular mark of favour. It is remarkable that this institutution took place at the very time when, according to Perefixe, the morals of the court were most depraved, and it may be suspected that the discussions were not always strictly philosophical.

From this Royal Academy, Bouchet seems to have taken the plan of his Sereès, and it is not improbable that the fashion extended itself among the courtiers. In the succeeding century, it seemed to be revived in the celebrated conversations at the Hotel de Rambouillet, in recording which, Scuderi has so completely succeeded in preserving

* Le Roi l'aiant fait de son Academie (1575), c'étoit une assemblee qu'il faisoit deux fois la Semaine en son cabinet, pour öuir les plus doctes hommes qu'il pouvoit, et mesmes quelques dames qui avoient estudié sur un probleme toujours proprosé par celui qui avoit le mieux fait à la derpiere dispute.

D' Aubigné, Histoire Universelle.

the verbose politeness of the time, and in tiring the reader to death. Beroalde and D'Aubigné published their most distinguished satirical pieces, in the colloquial form: they cannot be termed dialogues, when we think of Lucian, and when we consider, that the diffidence of Erasmus prevented him from assuming that title for his charming Conversations.

The minds of men, just bursting from the severe oppression of theological and philosophical abuses, were peculiarly impressed with the ludicrous aspect which the objects of their former terror then presented. They had seen absurdity in its full vigour, and even in its tyranny; and they enjoyed the opportunities of derision, which the violence of parties afforded them.

Above all, the personal character of some of their princes, especially some females of the race of Valois, cherished this species of writing. Margaret Queen of Navarre, the accomplished sister of Francis 1. was not only the patroness of literary men, but a writer of great merit. The original edition

of her novels is unfortunately lost, and the oldest which remains, was rendered into "beau langage," by some meddler, whose attempt proves his want of taste and feeling. But even through this kind of translation, we discern a mind of exquisite sensibility, highly ornamented both by reading and conversation.

Her poetical correspondence with Marot does great honour to her wit and elegance, while it shews her sincere respect for genius, unalloyed by the jealousy too common among authors of her pretensions.

Marot had concluded some verses, which he sent to a lady, as the forfeit of a wager, with a wish, that his creditors would accept the same kind of payment.

plied in the following lines:

Margaret re

Si ceux à qui devez, comme vous dites,
Vous cognoyssoient comme je vous cognois,
Quitte seriez des debtes que vous fites,
Le temps passé, tant grandes que petites,
En leur payant un dizain, toutefois

Tel
que le votre, qui vaut mieux mille fois,
Que l'argent deu par vous, en conscience:
Car estimer ou peut l'argent au poids,

Mais on ne peut (et j'en donne ma voix)
Assez priser vostre belle science.

If those, Marot, by whom you 're held in thrall,
Esteem'd, like me, your rich, excelling vein,
Full soon their harsh demands they would recal,
And quit you of your debts, both great & small,
One polish'd stanza thankful to obtain;
For verse like your's I hold more precious gain
Than commerce knows, or avarice can devise:
Gold may
be rated to its utmost grain,
But well I deem (nor think my judgment vain),
That none your noble art can over-prize.

If Marot is to be believed, in his answer, he made good use of this elegant compli

ment:

Mes creanciers, qui de dizains n'ont cure,
Ont leu le vostre: et sur ce leur ay dit,
Sire Michel, Sire Bonaventure,

La sœur du roi à pour moi fait ce dit:
Lors eux cuidans que fusse en grand credit,
M'ont appellé Monsieur à cry et cor,
Et m'a valu vostre escrit autant qu'or;
Car promis ont, non seulement d'attendre,
Mais d'en prester, foi de marchand, encore :
Et j'ay promis, foi de Clement, d'en prendre.

My cits, who nor for ode nor stanza care,
Have read your lines, & op'd their rugged hearts;
I said, Sir Balaam, and Sir Plum, look there,
Thus our king's sister values my good parts:
They, deeming me advanc'd by courtly arts,
Honour'd and worshipp'd me, with bows pro-
found,

And by your golden verses I abound;

Like ready coin, my credit they restore;
To lend again my worthy friends are bound,
I pledg'd my honest word to borrow more.

A collection of the poems of this celebrated lady was published, under the title of Les Marguerites de la Marguerite des Princesses; the Pearls of the Pearl of Princesses; a conceit worthy of the compiler, who was her valet de chambre.

Margaret was suspected of an attachment to the reformed religion, in common with several of the wits whom she patronized, but her brother's affection sheltered her from persecution. Francis condemned the opinions of the reformed, as tending more to the destruction of monarchies, than to the edification of souls. Brantome adds, in his manner, that the great Sultan Soliman was of the