Louis 14th, born 1638—died 1715




Corneille            Louis 13th

Racine toward the last of            Louis 14th

—Tragedies rigidly after the antique models—characters Greek or Roman—every thing on stilts— all the talk in heroics.—

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I fancy the classical tragedies of Corneille, Racine, Voltaire, &c. must illustrate the vital difference between a native and normal growth (as the Greek tragedies themselves,) and all that comes from the mere study of that growth.—

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DecNovember 1855. I saw Rachel in "Athalie," at the Academy of Music

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Myrrha, by Alfieri, the Italian—lurid passions
—with long‑winded dialogues between Myrrha and daughter mother about nothing.—