Note 61 — I. OF WORKS OF THE MIND.
Henri Van Laun translation
The Cid, the dramatic masterpiece of Pierre Corneille, was first performed in 1636. Cardinal Richelieu tried to get up a cabal to crush it, but was unsuccessful; he also persuaded the Academy to publish a severe criticism on it, which is too favourably spoken of by La Bruyère. Boileau says in his ninth satire:—
“En vain contre le Cid un ministre se ligue, Tout Paris pour Chimère a les yeux de Rodrigue. LʼAcadémie en corps a beau le censurer, Le public révolté sʼobstine à lʼadmirer.”