Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19

The substance OF this volume composed ono q
the first works of NJ Guizots youth, it having beer
published for the first time in 1913, when its au
thor was in his twenty-sixth year In the present
reprint, however, many changes have peen ln.ro
duced, and the writer, it would seem, was tempted
to change much more" but preferred, on the whole
to let the book retain those features which reeci
as he thinks, faithful image of the spirit "hien
prevailed forty wears ago in literature, among Inc
men who cultivated it and the public VINO ioeeu -
IN France At this period the empire OF Napoleon
of Napoleon l., as we suppose ne must now "
STYLED. to suit the dynastc Rretensions oi nis ne
nhew-was in the plenitude OF It's power, anu MA'
seemed to have become the normal state OF soceiy,
I'll literature was left to the cultivation OF put
Sotar;es and secured the patronage of public
which was respectable rather py the character u
;ts constituents than their numbers
NJ Cnyot nays, we think, but poor compliment
- H. ,vork when he deems it "a faithful image"
Of the spirit which breathed in the literature OF
Er,nce FORTY wears ago, for he himself elsewhere
states that such wQs the domination of the Emperor
that " in the regions of thought great minds and
lofty characters possessed neither independence
dignity" Ip fact, the entire literature of this Pc
Rod is tame and tIHd: Whatever sought to burst
the arbitrary bonds of the imperial censorship was
instantly curbed and muzzled the Journal des De-
bats the chosen organ of few free spirits, f.
nally confscated NJ. de Chateaubriand was expelled
the French Academy; and Madame de Stael spent
ten years in exile. Napoleon, said the last named
Of these, could not bear that any body any thing
should be talked about save himself He was Jealous
of even literary reputation, lest it might to sug
ges that there other gores than those of and
conquest We cannot therefore, to look at the
work before US in the light in which NJ Guzot would fan
have il regarded simply for the that hive been
unable to detect in it any earmarks by which
warranted in referring it to this period of literary serv
ude. On the contrary, find in it freedom of crt
csm, accuracy of research and gentle wisdom of
dsquston which render it well worthy the hand which,
later period ndited the History of Civilization in
France NJ. Guizot is beyond all question: the ablest
historical analyst Of this any other age In this de-
parment of literary labor and research he stands unr
vailed but is the political bearings of history which
be the oenest called to and e1hib in his
scholarly and elaborate volumes what his countryman
NJ. comte, calls the Science of Sociology" In the
work before his theme is that of Bellies Letres pro-
fessor rather than of the profound lecturer History
and the epoch which he treats ushered in the most
brilliant literary that illustrated the annals of
France, have thought it would repay readers to
follow, in rapid review, the of NJ Guizots in
yestgations relative to Pierre Cornele and his times
using the work before gudebook but not con-
hning ourselves strictly to all its conclusions La Harpe
and Fontenee, and above alp Votare, shall furnish
their contingent Of information Of the sub
sidiary topics discussed by author
1t is favorite remark Of NJ Guirot that the criticism
of modern literature is difficult task than that of
the ancient especially Of the literature Of Greece In
Greece literature have been the natural and le
climate offspring of the national mind left to develop
self according its inherent laws and constitution
whereas all modern teratures have been greatly modified
a
mixture Of natural barbarsm and acquired civilization
of antquated notions and novel ideas, which prevailed
during the middle ages renders it very difficult ernain
the course pursued by the various herures that have
issued from these times confusion Of ideas is the
cessary consequence of this confusion in the subject
matter Of modern literary criticism and the most
that NJ Guzot proposes accomplish is TO ascertain
few general results and certain anites and after
ward with these fixed and luminous points all the
facts which attached to them by any bond,
less clear and more or less remote"
Poetry, says La Harpe was the cradle Of the French
language indeed it is found have been of nearly
every tongue which has reached any degree Of perfection
During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the gaye
science it called fourishei among the idle no
bty Of France than Of any other country Of Eu-
rope. Jongleurs, troubadours and trouyeres harped
necessarily upon single chord Of the human heart-the
passion OF love- and though their las and suentes and
adI have long since passed into the rubbish Of literary
antquaries yet il requires but nomentary comparison
Of modern literature with ancentto discover that
Of its most distinctive features be eIal-
tation OF those sentiments with which proud man has
LEANED in these latter days to regard fair woman
Love- in fact has become the most fruitful OF all oul
passions in the interesting situations it affords the ira
gedy, the comedy, and the modern novel; that thu
strong poets Of the middle ages did but open mine il
which their successors have since abored
But, passing by the period in which there kind
Of literary activity but literature properly called
Jet alght at within sight Of "CorneilIe and hi
Times when French poetry destined to be nau
gurated in its fullest splendor."
Old Marot, that true type Of old French style" in al
its grace and archness must be dispatched in this single
line to his memory, and in reaching him we are about
sixty years distant from the birth Of Corneie We mus
Inger moment, however, the erudte and metaphysi
cal poetry which succeeded Maro under the ascendency
Of Ronsard, Du Bartas Jodele, Baf and others Fon.
tenele Is much richer in details this poygot verse
than is M. Guizot 1t occupies part the same rea-
ton to French literature the school Of Marn 70 that
Of Italy, the Gongoriss 10 that Of Spain or Coyley
and DR.. Dom to that Of England Affected thoughts or
pressed in the affected language composed the tye
in vogue during the reign Of Henry III. II Ronsard
writes sonnet to his "Cassaudrs" il is couched II
terms utterly incomprehensible to the fair lady unless
abe perfectly familiar with Homers catalogue OF tn,
Greek heroes and with the " tale Of Troy divine On,
Of his commentators remarks with air Of satisfied
vanity, that there some sonnets in Ronsards rs
book Of Amours which soud have been properl,
understood by any man n the author had familiar,
declared their meaning to myself somaother person
Ronsard, in his Art Poetiaue Prancais hdyses youn