THE
CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA.
CONDUCTED BY THE
REV. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL.D. F.R.S. L. & E.
M.R.I.A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c.
ASSISTED BY
EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.
Biography.
EMINENT
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN
OF FRANCE.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR
LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS,
PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND JOHN TAYLOR,
UPPER GOWER STREET.
1838.
CONTENTS
MONTAIGNE
RABELAIS
CORNEILLE
ROCHEFOUCAULD
MOLIÈRE
LA FONTAINE
PASCAL
SÉVIGNÉ (Madame de)
BOILEAU
RACINE
FÉNÉLON
LIVES
OF
EMINENT
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.
MONTAIGNE
1533-1592
There is scarcely any man into whose character we have more insight thanthat of Montaigne. He has written four volumes of "Essays," which areprincipally taken up by narrations of what happened to himself, ordissertations on his own nature, and this in an enlightened andphilosophical, though quaint and naïve style, which renders him one ofthe most delightful authors in the world. It were easy to fabricate along biography, by drawing from this source, and placing in aconsecutive view, the various information he affords. We must abridge,however, into a few pages several volumes; while, by seizing on the maintopics, a faithful and interesting picture will be presented.
Michel de Montaigne was born at his paternal castle of that name[1], inPérigord, on the 8th of February, 1533. He was the son of PierreEyquem, esquire—seigneur of Montaigne, and at one time elected mayor ofBordeaux. This portion of France, Gascony and Guienne, gives birth to arace peculiar to itself; vivacious, warm-hearted, and vain—they are{Pg 1}sometimes boastful, but never false; often rash, but never disloyal; andMontaigne evidently inherited much of the disposition peculiar to hisprovince. He speaks of his family as honourable and virtuous:—"We area race noted as good parents, good brothers, good relations," hesays,—and his father himself seems eminently to deserve the gratitudeand praise which his son bestows. His description of him is an interestingspecimen of a French noble of those days:—"He spoke littleand well, and mixed his discourse with allusions to modern books, mostlySpanish; his demeanour was grave, tempered by gentleness, modesty, andhumility; he took peculiar care of the neatness and cleanliness of hisdress, whether on horseback or on foot; singularly true in hisconversation, and conscientious and pious, almost even to superstition.For a short