CHAPTER IV.

THE CRITICISM OF THE _PLÉIADE_.

The _Rhetorics_ of the Transition 109 Sibilet 111 Du Bellay 112 The _Défense et Illustration de la Langue Française_ 113 Its positive gospel and the value thereof 114 The _Quintil Horatien_ 116 Pelletier’s _Art Poétique_ 117 Ronsard: his general importance 119 The _Abrégé de l’Art Poétique_ 120 The _Prefaces to the Franciade_ 122 His critical gospel 125 Some minors 127 Pierre de Laudun 127

Vauquelin de la Fresnaye 128 Analysis of his _Art Poétique_ 129 The First Book 130 The Second 130 The Third 132 His exposition of _Pléiade_ criticism 133 Outliers: Tory, Fauchet, &c. 134 Pasquier: The _Recherches_ 135 His knowledge of older French literature 136 And criticism of contemporary French poetry 137 Montaigne: his references to literature 138 The Essay _On Books_ 140