This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ...may know those of the brilliant era of France by the energy of their thoughts, the unaffected plainness of their expressions, and yet a certain Greek and Latin construction of phrase, which, without injuring the genius of the Freich language, denotes the excellent models which those authors had studied. Writers are, moreover, divided into groups, if we may be allowed the expression, who follow this or that master--this or the other school. Thus the writers of Port Royal may be distinguished from the writers of the Society. Thus Fenelon, Massillon, and Flechier, correspond in certain points; and Pascal, Bossuet, and La Bruyere, in others. The latter are particularly remarkable for a kind of abruptness of thought and style which is peculiar to them; but it must be admitted that La Bruyere, who is fond of imitating Pascal,1 sometimes weakens the proofs and the original manner of that great genius. When the author of the Caractires, with a view to demonstrate the insignificance of man, Bays, You are placed, 0 Lucia, somewhere on this atom, &c., he remains far behind that famous passage of the author of the Pennies: --What is a man in the midst of infinity? Who can form a conception of this? La Bruyere further observes: --There are but three events for man--to be born, to live, and to die. lie. has no perception of his birth, he suffers at his death, and he forgets to live. Pascal impresses us much more deeply with our nothingness. The last act, says he, is always painful, however pleasing all the rest of the comedy may have been. A little earth is thrown upon our heads, and 'tis over with us forever. How terrible are the concluding words You first see the comedy, and then the grave, and then the earth, and then eternity. The carelessness with which the expre.