Note 301 — Chapter I · FROM MALHERBE TO BOILEAU.
Reading edition
I have sometimes wondered whether the fact that, according to the Racan-Tallemant anecdote, Malherbe only “struck through” his copy of Ronsard without annotating it, is not an involuntary testimony to the Prince of Poets. Malherbe, for all his rancour and narrowness, was no fool; and he must in his mind have anticipated a famous later sentence about the eagle floating
“Beyond the arrows, shouts, and views of men.”
Desportes is not exactly an eagle, and Malherbe has better game with him, but still not the best of the game.