CHAPTER II.

THE CONTEMPORARIES OF VOLTAIRE.

Close connection of French seventeenth and eighteenth 501 century Criticism: Fontenelle Exceptional character of his criticism 502 His attitude to the “Ancient and Modern” Quarrel 503 The _Dialogues des Morts_ 503 Other critical work 504 La Motte 507 His “Unity of Interest” 508 Rollin 509 Brumoy 509 Rémond de Saint-Mard 510 L. Racine 511 Du Bos 511 Stimulating but desultory character of his _Réflexions_ 512 Montesquieu 514 Voltaire: disappointment of his criticism 515

Examples of it 515 Causes of his failure 518 Others: Buffon 519 “Style and the man” 520 Vauvenargues 521 Batteux 522 His adjustment of Rules and Taste 523 His incompleteness 524 Marmontel 525 Oddities and qualities of his criticism 526 Others 529 Thomas, Suard, &c. 529 La Harpe 530 His _Cours de Littérature_ 530 His critical position as _ultimus suorum_ 531 The Academic Essay 533 Rivarol 534