Louis XIV. was a great patron of science. Large pensions bestowed on Cassini, the were ian astronomer, and also on Huyghens, the Dutch mathematician. glory was at the height. She had vanquished mighty coalitions. She had dictated treaties. She had subjugated great cities and provinces. She had forced the Castilian pride to yield her the precedence. celebrated Ital- She had summoned Italian princes to prostrate themselves at her footstool. Her authority was supreme in all matters of good-breeding, from a duel to a minuet. She determined how a gentleman's coat must be cut, how long his peruke must be, whether his heels must be high or low, and whether the lace on his hat must be broad or narrow. literature she gave law to the world. The fame of her great writers filled Europe. No other country Vauban (1633 1707), the most eminent mili- of the time. In could produce a tragic poet equal to Racine, a comic poet equal to Molière, a trifler so agreeable as La Fontaine, a rhetorician so skilful as Bossuet. The literary glory of Italy and of Spain had set; that of Germany had not yet dawned. The genius, therefore, of the eminent men who adorned Paris shone forth with a splendor which was set off to full advantage by contrast. France, indeed, had at that time an empire over mankind such as even the Roman Republic never attained. For when Rome was been present in politically dominant, she was in arts and letters the humble pupil of Greece. France had over the surrounding countries at once the ascendency which Rome had over Greece, and the ascendency which Greece had over Rome. French was fast becoming the universal language, the language of fashionable society, the language of diplomacy." one hundred and forty battles. II. Germany.—LEOPOLD I. Among the works of fiction of the age one is noteworthy, 66 Simplicissimus" (1669), No revival in literature occurred during this age. Songs and ballads, sermons and satires, didactic prose writings and romances-valuable only for their by Hans Grim- references to contemporary historical events-were produced as in the two preceding ages. melshausen, on account of its historical value. It is a romance of the Thirty Awakening of German Thought under Leibnitz.— A great stimulus to metaphysical thought and stud and contains many interesting allusions to the customs of the people at that period. Foundation of the modern system of Olden- Pantheism by who resided al ies was furnished by Leibnitz (1646–1716)—one of | Years' War, the most distinguished of modern philosophers, and founder of the eclectic system of German philosophy. His literary career began at the early age of eighteen, and his entire life was marked by great industry in writing. In 1672 he visited Paris and London, and thus became acquainted with the leading scientists of the age-Sir Isaac Newton, Boyle, Henry burg, Huyghens, Malebranche, and Cassini. nitz was a courtier and man of the world. He passed much of his time at the court of Prussia; Bossuet, the eminent French divine, corresponded with him on religious matters; Peter the Great consulted with him respecting the best means of advancing his empire, and bestowed on him a pension and the title of State councillor; while the German emperor loaded him with honors. His most illustrious disciple was Wolf, who, in the succeeding age, systematized his master's doctrine. Leibnitz was the originator of the philosophic spirit in Germany. Spinoza (1632brated Jewish philosopher, ternately at Amsterdam, Leyden, and the Hague. His writings are said to have exercised a great influence of Goethe. over the mind Foundation of the Academy of Sciences at Berlin by Leibnitz, 1700. CLEMENT IX., 1667-1670. III. Italy. - ALEXANDER VII., -1667. CLEMENT X., 1670-1676. INNOCENT XI., 1676-1689. ALEXANDER VIII., 1689-1691. INNOCENT XII., 1691-1700. Manzoni's historical novel, "I Promessi Sposi" (The Betrothed Lovers), pub lished in 1827, furnishes a vivid picture of Italian society of the seventeenth century -the dreaded lords surround Cultivation of Patriotic Poetry by Filicaja.-Filicaja | (1642-1707), the "Patriotic Poet of the seventeenth century," produced poetry which was in strong contrast with that of the followers of Marini. His verses were not only free from the general extravagances of the age, but were characterized by freedom and naturalness of expression-qualities not often met with in Italian poetry. Filicaja was by birth a Florentine. His popularity as a poet was very great. Christina of Sweden once wrote to him: "Were Alexander the Great now living, he might with better reason envy modern princes for your sake, than he formerly envied Achilles for his Homer." Filicaja's most admired verses are the sonnets on Slavery and Time, toms, and and a canzoni addressed to Emperor Leopold I. ed by their bravos, the ceremonies at tending the consecration of a nun, the plague of Mil an, national and local cus modes of life. IV. Spain.-PHILIP IV., -1665. CHARLES II., 1665–1700. Decline in power and influence of the Kingdom of Spain. Decline in Literature.-Spanish literature began to decline during the reign of the imbecile king, Charles II. Calderon continued to write till his death, in 1681; but no such royal favor was bestowed upon him as in the preceding reign, and Solis says "he died without a Mæcenas." Literary genius seems to have been entirely wanting in Spain after the disappearance of Calderon and his school, and a long period of intellectual darkness followed, in which scarcely a respectable writer appeared. BOOKS OF REFERENCE. "Memoirs of Count de Grammont" | Miss Pardoe's "Louis XIV.” (Court of Charles II.). Pepys's "Diary and Correspondence." Bungemer's "The Preacher and the "Molière," edited by Mrs. Oliphant A. T. Ritchie's "Madame de Sé- Bayard Taylor's "Studies in German Mrs. Foster's "History of Italian Lit- Manzoni's "I Promessi Sposi" (The H. M. Trollope's "Corneille and Ticknor's "History of Spanish Lit Racine." erature." |