The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-25
Curiosities of Great Men,
THEIR MOMENTS OF COMPOSITION.


perusing the biographies of great men, are the
circumstances connected with the composition
of the works which have made them immortal.
For instance. Bossuet composed his grand
sermons on his knees Bulwer wrote his first
novel in full dress, scented; Milton, before
commencing his great work, invoked the influ-
ences of the Holy Spirit and prayed that his lips
might be touched with live coal from off the
altar; Chrysostom meditated and studied while
contemplating painting of St. Paul
Bacon knelt down before composing his great
work, and prayed for light from heaven. Pope
never could compose well without first declaim-
ing for some time at the top of his voice, and
thus rousing his nervous system to its fullestac-
tivity.
Bentham composed after playing prelude on
the organ, or whilst taking his 'ante jentacular"
and "post prandial" walks in his garden-the
same, by the way, that Milton occupied. Saint
Bernard composed his Meditations amidst the
woods; he delighted in nothing so much as in
the solitude of the dense forest finding there, he
said, something more profound and suggestive
than any thing he could find in books The
storm would sometimes fall upon him there,
without for moment interruptng his medita-
tions.
Camoens composed his verses with the roar
of battle in his ears for the Portuguese poet
was also soldier and brave one, though a
poet He composed others Of his most beauti-
r Al, b,. In
begging a subsistence for him in the streets
Tasso wrote his finest pieces in the lucid inter-
walls of madness.
Rosscau wrote his works early in the morn
ing; lie Sage at midday; Byron at midnight; /;
Hardouin rose at folr in the morning, and wrote
till late at night
Aristotle was tremendous worker; he took
little sleep, and was constantly rctrenching it.
He had contriyance by which he awokc early,
and to awake was with him to commence work.
Demosthenes passed three months in cavern
by the seaside, in laboring to overcome the de-
fects Of his voice There he read, studied, and
dcclaimcd.
Rabelais composed his Life of Gargdntua at
Bellay, in the company of Roman Cardinals, and
under the eyes of the Bishop of Paris. La
Fontaine wrote his fables chiefly under the shade
of a tree, and sometimes by the side of Racine
and Boileau. Pascal wrote most ofhis Thoughts,
on little scraps of paper, at his bye-moments.
Fenelcn wrote his TeiamachUs in the palace of
Versailles, at the court of the Grand Monarque,
when discharging the duties of tutor to the
Dauphin. That book so thoroughly demo
cratic should have issued from such a source,
and been written by priest, may seem surpris-
ing De Qucnsay first promulgated his notion
of universal freedom of person and trade, and
Of throwing all taxes on the land-the germ,
perhaps, of the French Revoluton-in the Jou-
doH of Madam de Pompaidour.
Luther, when studying, always had his dog
lying at his feet-a dog which he had brought
from Wartzburg and of which he was very
fond An ivory cruciix stood on the table be-
fore him, and the walls Of his study were stuck
around with caricaturcs Of the Pope. He worked
at his desk for days together without going OUT
but when htigued, and the ideas began TO stag
guitar with him into the porch, and there exc
cute some musical fantasy (for he was skillful
musician when the ideas would flow upon him
as fresh as flowers after summers rain. Music
Luther did not hesitate to say, that after the
ology, music was the first of arts. Music"
said he, ais the art Of the prophets; it is the
only other art, which, like theology, can calm
the agitation of the soul, and put the devil to
fight" Next to music, if not before it, Luther
loved children and flowers That great gnarled
man had heart as tender as a woman's
Calvin studied in his bed Every morning,
at five or six o'clock, he had books manuscripts,
and papers carried to him there, and he worked
on for hours together If he had occasion to 60
out, on his return he undressed and went to bed
again to continue his studies. In his later years
he dictated his writings to secretaries. He rarely
corrected anything. The sentences issued com |
plcte from his mouth If he felt his facility Of
leaving him, he forthwith quilted
MS bed, gave up writing und composing, and went /
lbout his outdoor duties for days, weeks and |
months together. But as soon as he felt the in
spiration fail upon him again, he went back to .
MS bed, and his Secretary set to work forthwith.
Cujas, another learned man, used to study
when laid all his length upon the carpet, his face
owards the door, and there he reveled amidst
,iles of books, which accumulated about him.
The learned Amyot never studied without the
beside him; and he only quilted the
zen to play it. Benthem also, was extremely
ond Of the piano forte, and had one in nearly
very room in his house.
Richeleu amused himself in the intervals Of
lis labor, wi h squadron Of cats, of whom he
vas very fond He used to 60 to bed at eleven
t night; and after sleeping three hours, rise and
rite, dictate, or work, till from six to eight
'clock in the morning. when his daily levee was
eld This worthy student displayed an extrav-
gance equaling that of Woolsey. His annual
expenditure was some four millions Of francs, or
bout s750OO0.
How different the fastidious temperance Of
Iiltonl He drank water and lived on the very
umblest Of fare. In his youth, he studied du-
ing the greatest part Of the night; but in his
lore advanced years he went carly to bed-by
inc ocloek-Iisingto to his studies at four in sum-