Library Of The World\'s Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 6 written by Various
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Various >> Library Of The World\'s Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 6
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37 LIBRARY OF THE
WORLD'S BEST LITERATURE
ANCIENT AND MODERN
CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER
EDITOR
HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE
LUCIA GILBERT RUNKLE
GEORGE HENRY WARNER
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Connoisseur Edition
VOL. VI.
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
* * * * *
CRAWFORD H. TOY, A.M., LL.D.,
Professor of Hebrew,
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Cambridge, Mass.
THOMAS R. LOUNSBURY, LL.D., L.H.D.,
Professor of English in the Sheffield Scientific School of
YALE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, Conn.
WILLIAM M. SLOANE, PH.D., L.H.D.,
Professor of History and Political Science,
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Princeton, N.J.
BRANDER MATTHEWS, A.M., LL.B.,
Professor of Literature,
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York City.
JAMES B. ANGELL, LL.D.,
President of the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, Mich.
WILLARD FISKE, A.M., PH.D.,
Late Professor of the Germanic and Scandinavian Languages
and Literatures, CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, N.Y.
EDWARD S. HOLDEN, A.M., LL.D.,
Director of the Lick Observatory, and Astronomer,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Berkeley, Cal.
ALCEE FORTIER, LIT.D.,
Professor of the Romance Languages,
TULANE UNIVERSITY, New Orleans, La.
WILLIAM P. TRENT, M.A.,
Dean of the Department of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of
English and History, UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH, Sewanee, Tenn.
PAUL SHOREY, PH.D.,
Professor of Greek and Latin Literature,
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, Ill.
WILLIAM T. HARRIS, LL.D.,
United States Commissioner of Education,
BUREAU OF EDUCATION, Washington, D.C.
MAURICE FRANCIS EGAN, A.M., LL.D.,
Professor of Literature in the
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington, D.C.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOL. VI
LIVED PAGE
THE ABBE DE BRANTOME (Pierre de Bourdeille) 1527-1614 2319
The Dancing of Royalty ('Lives of Notable Women')
The Shadow of a Tomb ('Lives of Courtly Women')
M. le Constable Anne de Montmorency ('Lives of Distinguished Men and
Great Captains')
Two Famous Entertainments ('Lives of Courtly Women')
FREDRIKA BREMER 1801-1865 2328
A Home-Coming ('The Neighbors')
The Landed Proprietor ('The Home')
A Family Picture (same)
CLEMENS BRENTANO 1778-1842 2343
The Nurse's Watch
The Castle in Austria
ELISABETH BRENTANO (Bettina von Arnim) 1785-1859 2348
Dedication: To Goethe ('Goethe's Correspondence with a Child')
Letter to Goethe
Bettina's Last Meeting with Goethe (Letter to Her Niece)
In Goethe's Garden
JOHN BRIGHT 1811-1889 2354
From Speech on the Corn Laws (1843)
From Speech on Incendiarism in Ireland (1844)
From Speech on Non-Recognition of the Southern Confederacy (1861)
From Speech on the State of Ireland (1866)
From Speech on the Irish Established Church (1868)
BRILLAT-SAVARIN 1755-1826 2365
From 'Physiology of Taste': The Privations; On the Love of Good
Living; On People Fond of Good Living
CHARLOTTE BRONTE AND HER SISTERS 1816-1855 2381
Jane Eyre's Wedding-Day ('Jane Eyre')
Madame Beck ('Villette')
A Yorkshire Landscape ('Shirley')
The End of Heathcliff (Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights')
PHILLIPS BROOKS 1835-1893 2417
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Personal Character ('Essays and Addresses')
The Courage of Opinions (same)
Literature and Life (same)
CHARLES BROCKDEN BROWN 1771-1810 2425
Wieland's Statement ('Wieland')
JOHN BROWN 1810-1882 2437
Marjorie Fleming ('Spare Hours')
Death of Thackeray (same)
CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE (Artemus Ward) 1834-1867 2461
BY CHARLES F. JOHNSON
Edwin Forrest as Othello
High-Handed Outrage at Utica
Affairs Round the Village Green
Mr. Pepper ('Artemus Ward: His Travels')
Horace Greeley's Ride to Placerville (same)
SIR THOMAS BROWNE 1605-1682 2473
BY FRANCIS BACON
From the 'Religio Medici'
From 'Christian Morals'
From 'Hydriotaphia, or Urn-Burial'
From 'A Fragment on Mummies'
From 'A Letter to a Friend'
Some Relations Whose Truth We Fear ('Pseudoxia Epidemica')
WILLIAM BROWNE 1591-1643 2511
Circe's Charm ('Inner Temple Masque')
The Hunted Squirrel ('Britannia's Pastorals')
As Careful Merchants Do Expecting Stand (same)
Song of the Sirens ('Inner Temple Masque')
An Epistle on Parting
Sonnets to Caelia
HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL 1820-1872 2519
Annus Memorabilis
Words for the 'Hallelujah Chorus'
Coming
Psychaura
Suspiria Noctis
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING 1809-1861 2523
A Musical Instrument
My Heart and I
From 'Catarina to Camoens'
The Sleep
The Cry of the Children
Mother and Poet
A Court Lady
The Prospect
De Profundis
The Cry of the Human
Romance of the Swan's Nest
The Best Thing in the World
Sonnets from the Portuguese
A False Step
A Child's Thought of God
Cheerfulness Taught by Reason
ROBERT BROWNING 1812-1889 2557
BY E. L. BURLINGAME
Andrea del Sarto
A Toccata of Galuppi's
Confessions
Love among the Ruins
A Grammarian's Funeral
My Last Duchess
Up at a Villa--Down in the City
In Three Days
In a Year
Evelyn Hope
Prospice
The Patriot
One Word More
ORESTES AUGUSTUS BROWNSON 1803-1876 2594
Saint-Simonism ('The Convert')
FERDINAND BRUNETIERE 1849- 2603
BY ADOLPHE COHN
Taine and Prince Napoleon
The Literatures of France, England, and Germany
GIORDANO BRUNO 1548-1600 2613
A Discourse of Poets ('The Heroic Enthusiasts')
Canticle of the Shining Ones: A Tribute to English Women ('The Nolan')
Song of the Nine Singers
Of Immensity
Life Well Lost
Parnassus Within
Compensation
Life for Song
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 1794-1878 2623
BY GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP
Thanatopsis
The Crowded Street
Death of the Flowers
The Conqueror's Grave
The Battle-Field
To a Water-fowl
Robert of Lincoln
June
To the Fringed Gentian
The Future Life
To the Past
JAMES BRYCE 1838- 2643
Position of Women in the United States ('The American Commonwealth')
Ascent of Ararat ('Trans-Caucasia and Ararat')
The Work of the Roman Empire ('The Holy Roman Empire')
FRANCIS TREVELYAN BUCKLAND 1826-1880 2661
A Hunt in a Horse-Pond ('Curiosities of Natural History')
On Rats (same)
Snakes and their Poison (same)
My Monkey Jacko (same)
HENRY THOMAS BUCKLE 1821-1862 2673
Moral versus Intellectual Principles in Human Progress ('History of
Civilization in England')
Mythical Origin of History (same)
GEORGE LOUIS LE CLERC BUFFON 1707-1788 2689
BY SPENCER TROTTER
Nature ('Natural History')
The Humming-Bird (same)
EDWARD BULWER-LYTTON 1803-1873 2697
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE
The Amphitheatre ('The Last Days of Pompeii')
Kenelm and Lily ('Kenelm Chillingly')
FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME VI
PAGE
"Les Satyres" (Colored Plate) Frontispiece
Charlotte Bronte (Portrait) 2382
Phillips Brooks (Portrait) 2418
"The Holy Child of Bethlehem" (Photogravure) 2420
"Circe" (Photogravure) 2514
Robert Browning (Portrait) 2558
William Cullen Bryant (Portrait) 2624
Edward Bulwer-Lytton (Portrait) 2698
"In the Arena" (Photogravure) 2718
"Nydia" (Photogravure) 2720
VIGNETTE PORTRAITS
Abbe de Brantome
Fredrika Bremer
Elisabeth Brentano
John Bright
Brillat-Savarin
Charles Brockden Brown
John Brown
Charles Farrar Browne
Sir Thomas Browne
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Orestes Augustus Brownson
Ferdinand Brunetiere
James Bryce
George Louis le Clere Buffon
THE ABBE DE BRANTOME
(PIERRE DE BOURDEILLE)
(1527-1614)
Every historian of the Valois period is indebted to Brantome for
preserving the atmosphere and detail of the brilliant life in which he
moved as a dashing courtier, a military adventurer, and a gallant
gentleman of high degree. He was not a professional scribe, nor a
student; but he took notes unconsciously, and in the evening of his life
turned back the pages of his memory to record the scenes through which
he had passed and the characters which he had known. He has been termed
the "valet de chambre" of history; nevertheless the anecdotes scattered
through his works will ever be treasured by all students and historians
of that age of luxury and magnificence, art and beauty, beneath which
lay the fermentation of great religious and political movements,
culminating in the struggle between the Huguenots and Catholics.
[Illustration: ABBE DE BRANTOME]
Brantome was the third son of the Vicomte de Bourdeille, a Perigord
nobleman, whose family had lived long in Guienne, and whose aristocratic
lineage was lost in myth. Upon the estate stood the Abbey of Brantome,
founded by Charlemagne, and this Henry II. gave to young Pierre de
Bourdeille in recognition of the military deeds of his brother, Jean de
Bourdeille, who lost his life in service. Thereafter the lad was to sign
his name as the Reverend Father in God, Messire Pierre de Bourdeille,
Abbe de Brantome. Born in the old chateau in 1527, he was destined for
the church, but abandoned this career for arms. At an early age he was
sent to court as page to Marguerite, sister of Francis I. and Queen of
Navarre; after her death in 1549, he went to Paris to study at the
University. His title of Abbe being merely honorary, he served in the
army under Francois de Guise, Duke of Lorraine, and became Gentleman of
the Chamber to Charles IX. His career extended through the reigns of
Henry II., Francis II., Charles IX., Henry III., and Henry IV., to that
of Louis XIII. With the exception of diplomatic missions, service on
the battle-field, and voyages for pleasure, he spent his life at court.
About 1594 he retired to his estate, where until his death on July 15th,
1614, he passed his days in contentions with the monks of Brantome, in
lawsuits with his neighbors, and in writing his books: 'Lives of the
Illustrious Men and Great Captains of France'; 'Lives of Illustrious
Ladies'; 'Lives of Women of Gallantry'; 'Memoirs, containing anecdotes
connected with the Court of France'; 'Spanish Rodomontades'; a 'Life' of
his father, Francois de Bourdeille; a 'Funeral Oration' on his sister
in-law; and a dialogue in verse, entitled 'The Tomb of Madame de
Bourdeille.' These were not published until long after his death, first
appearing in Leyden about 1665, at the Hague in 1740, and in Paris in
1787. The best editions are by Fourcault (7 vols., Paris, 1822); by
Lacour and Merimee (3 vols., 1859); and Lalande (10 vols., 1865-'81).
What Brantome thought of himself may be seen by glancing at that portion
of the "testament mystique" which relates to his writings:--
"I will and expressly charge my heirs that they cause to be
printed the books which I have composed by my talent and
invention. These books will be found covered with velvet,
either black, green or blue, and one larger volume, which is
that of the Rodomontades, covered with velvet, gilt outside
and curiously bound. All have been carefully corrected. There
will be found in these books excellent things, such as
stories, histories, discourses, and witty sayings, which I
flatter myself the world will not disdain to read when once
it has had a sight of them. I direct that a sum of money be
taken from my estate sufficient to pay for the printing
thereof, which certainly cannot be much; for I have known
many printers who would have given money rather than charged
any for the right of printing them. They print many things
without charge which are not at all equal to mine. I will
also that the said impression shall be in large type, in
order to make the better appearance, and that they should
appear with the Royal Privilege, which the King will readily
grant. Also care must be taken that the printers do not put
on the title-page any supposititious name instead of mine.
Otherwise, I should be defrauded of the glory which is my
due."
The old man delighted in complimenting himself and talking about his
"grandeur d'ame." This greatness of soul may be measured from the
command he gave his heirs to annoy a man who had refused to swear homage
to him, "it not being reasonable to leave at rest this little wretch,
who descends from a low family, and whose grandfather was nothing but a
notary." He also commands his nieces and nephews to take the same
vengeance upon his enemies "as I should have done in my green and
vigorous youth, during which I may boast, and I thank God for it, that I
never received an injury without being revenged on the author of it."
Brantome writes like a "gentleman of the sword," with dash and _elan_,
and as one, to use his own words, who has been "toujours trottant,
traversant, et vagabondant le monde" (always trotting, traversing, and
tramping the world). Not in the habit of a vagabond, however, for the
balls, banquets, tournaments, masques, ballets, and wedding-feasts which
he describes so vividly were occasions for the display of sumptuous
costumes; and Messire Pierre de Bourdeille doubtless appeared as elegant
as any other gallant in silken hose, jeweled doublet, flowing cape, and
long rapier. What we value most are his paintings of these festive
scenes, and the vivid portraits which he has left of the Valois women,
who were largely responsible for the luxuries and the crimes of the
period: women who could step without a tremor from a court-masque to a
massacre; who could toy with a gallant's ribbons and direct the blow of
an assassin; and who could poison a rival with a delicately perfumed
gift. Such a court Brantome calls the "true paradise of the world,
school of all honesty and virtue, ornament of France." We like to hear
about Catherine de' Medici riding with her famous "squadron of Venus":
"You should have seen forty or fifty dames and demoiselles following
her, mounted on beautifully accoutred hackneys, their hats adorned with
feathers which increased their charm, so well did the flying plumes
represent the demand for love or war. Virgil, who undertook to describe
the fine apparel of Queen Dido when she went out hunting, has by no
means equaled that of our Queen and her ladies."
Charming, too, are such descriptions as "the most beautiful ballet that
ever was, composed of sixteen of the fairest and best-trained dames and
demoiselles, who appeared in a silvered rock where they were seated in
niches, shut in on every side. The sixteen ladies represented the
sixteen provinces of France. After having made the round of the hall for
parade as in a camp, they all descended, and ranging themselves in the
form of a little oddly contrived battalion, some thirty violins began a
very pleasant warlike air, to which they danced their ballet." After an
hour the ladies presented the King, the Queen-Mother, and others with
golden plaques, on which were engraved "the fruits and singularities of
each province," the wheat of Champagne, the vines of Burgundy, the
lemons and oranges of Provence, etc. He shows us Catherine de' Medici,
the elegant, cunning Florentine; her beautiful daughters, Elizabeth of
Spain and Marguerite de Valois; Diana of Poitiers, the woman of eternal
youth and beauty; Jeanne d'Albret, the mother of Henry IV.; Louise de
Vaudemont; the Duchesse d'Etampes; Marie Touchet; and all their
satellites,--as they enjoyed their lives.
Very valuable are the data regarding Mary Stuart's departure from France
in 1561. Brantome was one of her suite, and describes her grief when
the shores of France faded away, and her arrival in Scotland, where on
the first night she was serenaded by Psalm-tunes with a most villainous
accompaniment of Scotch music. "He! quelle musique!" he exclaims, "et
quel repos pour la nuit!"
But of all the gay ladies Brantome loves to dwell upon, his favorites
are the two Marguerites: Marguerite of Angouleme, Queen of Navarre, the
sister of Francis I., and Marguerite, daughter of Catherine de' Medici
and wife of Henry IV. Of the latter, called familiarly "La Reine
Margot," he is always writing. "To speak of the beauty of this rare
princess," he says, "I think that all that are, or will be, or have ever
been near her are ugly."
Brantome has been a puzzle to many critics, who cannot explain his
"contradictions." He had none. He extolled wicked and immoral characters
because he recognized only two merits,--aristocratic birth and hatred of
the Huguenots. He is well described by M. de Barante, who
says:--"Brantome expresses the entire character of his country and of
his profession. Careless of the difference between good and evil; a
courtier who has no idea that anything can be blameworthy in the great,
but who sees and narrates their vices and their crimes all the more
frankly in that he is not very sure whether what he tells be good or
bad; as indifferent to the honor of women as he is to the morality of
men; relating scandalous things with no consciousness that they are
such, and almost leading his reader into accepting them as the simplest
things in the world, so little importance does he attach to them;
terming Louis XI., who poisoned his brother, the _good_ King Louis,
calling women whose adventures could hardly have been written by any pen
save his own, _honnetes dames_."
Brantome must therefore not be regarded as a chronicler who revels in
scandals, although his pages reek with them; but as the true mirror of
the Valois court and the Valois period.
* * * * *
THE DANCING OF ROYALTY
From 'Lives of Notable Women'
Ah! how the times have changed since I saw them together in the
ball-room, expressing the very spirit of the dance! The King always
opened the grand ball by leading out his sister, and each equaled the
other in majesty and grace. I have often seen them dancing the Pavane
d'Espagne, which must be performed with the utmost majesty and grace.
The eyes of the entire court were riveted upon them, ravished by this
lovely scene; for the measures were so well danced, the steps so
intelligently placed, the sudden pauses timed so accurately and making
so elegant an effect, that one did not know what to admire most,--the
beautiful manner of moving, or the majesty of the halts, now expressing
excessive gayety, now a beautiful and haughty disdain. Who could dance
with such elegance and grace as the royal brother and sister? None, I
believe; and I have watched the King dancing with the Queen of Spain and
the Queen of Scotland, each of whom was an excellent dancer.
I have seen them dance the 'Pazzemezzo d'Italie,' walking gravely
through the measures, and directing their steps with so graceful and
solemn a manner that no other prince nor lady could approach them in
dignity. This Queen took great pleasure in performing these grave
dances; for she preferred to exhibit dignified grace rather than to
express the gayety of the Branle, the Volta, and the Courante. Although
she acquired them quickly, she did not think them worthy of her majesty.
I always enjoyed seeing her dance the Branle de la Torche, or du
Flambeau. Once, returning from the nuptials of the daughter of the King
of Poland, I saw her dance this kind of a Branle at Lyons before the
assembled guests from Savoy, Piedmont, Italy, and other places; and
every one said he had never seen any sight more captivating than this
lovely lady moving with grace of motion and majestic mien, all agreeing
that she had no need of the flaming torch which she held in her hand;
for the flashing light from her brilliant eyes was sufficient to
illuminate the set, and to pierce the dark veil of Night.
* * * * *
THE SHADOW OF A TOMB
From 'Lives of Courtly Women'
Once I had an elder brother who was called Captain Bourdeille, one of
the bravest and most valiant soldiers of his time. Although he was my
brother, I must praise him, for the record he made in the wars brought
him fame. He was the _gentilhomme de France_ who stood first in the
science and gallantry of arms. He was killed during the last siege of
Hesdin. My brother's parents had destined him for the career of letters,
and accordingly sent him at the age of eighteen to study in Italy, where
he settled in Ferrara because of Madame Renee de France, Duchess of
Ferrara, who ardently loved my mother. He enjoyed life at her court,
and soon fell deeply in love with a young French widow,--Mademoiselle de
La Roche,--who was in the suite of Madame de Ferrara.
They remained there in the service of love, until my father, seeing that
his son was not following literature, ordered him home. She, who loved
him, begged him to take her with him to France and to the court of
Marguerite of Navarre, whom she had served, and who had given her to
Madame Renee when she went to Italy upon her marriage. My brother, who
was young, was greatly charmed to have her companionship, and conducted
her to Pau. The Queen was glad to welcome her, for the young widow was
handsome and accomplished, and indeed considered superior in _esprit_ to
the other ladies of the court.
After remaining a few days with my mother and grandmother, who were
there, my brother visited his father. In a short time he declared that
he was disgusted with letters, and joined the army, serving in the wars
of Piedmont and Parma, where he acquired much honor in the space of five
or six months; during which time he did not revisit his home. At the end
of this period he went to see his mother at Pau. He made his reverence
to the Queen of Navarre as she returned from vespers; and she, who was
the best princess in the world, received him cordially, and taking his
hand, led him about the church for an hour or two. She demanded news
regarding the wars of Piedmont and Italy, and many other particulars, to
which my brother replied so well that she was greatly pleased with him.
He was a very handsome young man of twenty-four years. After talking
gravely and engaging him in earnest conversation, walking up and down
the church, she directed her steps toward the tomb of Mademoiselle de La
Roche, who had been dead for three months. She stopped here, and again
took his hand, saying, "My cousin" (thus addressing him because a
daughter of D'Albret was married into our family of Bourdeille; but of
this I do not boast, for it has not helped me particularly), "do you not
feel something move below your feet?"
"No, Madame," he replied.
"But reflect again, my cousin," she insisted.
My brother answered, "Madame, I feel nothing move. I stand upon a solid
stone."
"Then I will explain," said the Queen, "without keeping you longer in
suspense, that you stand upon the tomb and over the body of your poor
dearly-loved Mademoiselle de La Roche, who is interred here; and that
our friends may have sentiment for us at our death, render a pious
homage here. You cannot doubt that the gentle creature, dying so
recently, must have been affected when you approached. In remembrance I
beg you to say a paternoster and an Ave Maria and a de profundis, and
sprinkle holy water. Thus you will win the name of a very faithful lover
and a good Christian."
* * * * *
M. LE CONSTABLE ANNE DE MONTMORENCY
From 'Lives of Distinguished Men and Great Captains'
He never failed to say and keep up his paternosters every morning,
whether he remained in the house, or mounted his horse and went out to
the field to join the army. It was a common saying among the soldiers
that one must "beware the paternosters of the Constable." For as
disorders were very frequent, he would say, while mumbling and muttering
his paternosters all the time, "Go and fetch that fellow and hang me him
up to this tree;" "Out with a file of harquebusiers here before me this
instant, for the execution of this man!" "Burn me this village
instantly!" "Cut me to pieces at once all these villain peasants, who
have dared to hold this church against the king!" All this without ever
ceasing from his paternosters till he had finished them--thinking that
he would have done very wrong to put them off to another time; so
conscientious was he!
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