Memoirs of Madame la Marquise de Montespan — Volume 2Front matterReading editionChapter navigation22 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterMEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPANChapter XVIIChapter XVIIIChapter XIXBook in hand, he pointed out to me numberless faults of style, incoherent and fantastic imagery, sentiment alike exaggerated and a thousand leagues removed from nature. He considered, and still considers, Pierre Corneille to be a blind enthusiast of the ancients, whom we deem great since we do not know them. In his eyes, this declamatory poet was a republican more by virtue of his head than his heart or his intention,—one of those men more capricious than morose, who cannot reconcile themselves to what exists, and prefer to fall back upon bygone generations, not knowing how to live like friendly folk among their contemporaries.Chapter XXChapter XXIChapter XXIIChapter XXIIIChapter XXIVChapter XXVChapter XXVIChapter XXVIIChapter XXVIIIChapter XXIXChapter XXXChapter XXXIChapter XXXIIChapter XXXIIIChapter XXXIVETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:Beginning of this editionNext chapter →MEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPANAll chapters and sections (22)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsMEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPANBook 2 · Chapters171819Book 2 · Other sectionsBook in hand, he pointed out to me numberless faults of style, incoherent and fantastic imagery, sentiment alike exaggerated and a thousand leagues removed from nature. He considered, and still considers, Pierre Corneille to be a blind enthusiast of the ancients, whom we deem great since we do not know them. In his eyes, this declamatory poet was a republican more by virtue of his head than his heart or his intention,—one of those men more capricious than morose, who cannot reconcile themselves to what exists, and prefer to fall back upon bygone generations, not knowing how to live like friendly folk among their contemporaries.Book 2 · Chapters202122232425262728293031323334Book 2 · Other sectionsETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:Produced by David Widger◇MEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPAN →