Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Private Anecdotes Of Illustrious French Characters.
A provincial poet entreated him to correct an Ode he had made for the king , and left it with him for that purpose—when he came again to demand it , Malherbe told him that there were but two words wanting ; the poet begged he would do him the honour to insert th ' em himself ; he took his pen and wrote under the title—
-ODE AU ROI , Pour torcher * . '
He then folded the paper , and returned it to the poet , who gave him a million of thanks , and took his leave without knowing what he had writ . One of his friends complained to him , that all rewards and pensions were for those who served the king at court , and in his armies—and that men of letters were entirel lected ; he
any neg swered , that he thought government acted very prudently , for that a . good poet was of as little use to the state as a good skittle player . His manner of correcting his servant for a fault was very pleasant . —he allowed him ten soils f a day for his diet , which in those times was a great deal , and twenty ecus § annual wages . —He remonstrated in these terms— " My friendwhen you offend your master
of-, , you fend God ; and when you offend God , an absolution for the sin is necessary , which is by fasting and giving charity ; for which reason I will deduct five sous of your allowance , and give it to the poor in your name . " Never man spoke his thoughts in a more free manner . The Archbishop of Rouen had asked him to be present at a
sermon he was to give them in the afternoon ; Malherbe fell asleep ; when the company rose from table , the Bishop waked him , and told him it was time to go to church—Malherbe begg'd he would excuse him , he could sleep as well without it . One evening as he was returning late to his bed , he met with a gentleman , who had been waiting- for him a considerable time in his apartment , to acquaint him with some news of very little consequence—he cut him short
with these words , good night , sir , "Good night , you put me to the expence of two pence for light , and all you have been saying is not worth a farthing . " Going to visit a counse'llor of the parliament , he found him in tears , and asked the cause of his affliction— " Cause enough , " answered the magistrate , " we have lost two Princes of the Blood by the miscarriage of the mother . "— "Sir" replied Malherbe
, " that ought not to afflict you in France you will never want for masters . "—Malherbe had a great contempt for men in generalreading one day in Genesis , of Cain and Abel— "A very pretty story truly , " says he , "there were but fourpeople in the world , and one of them goes and kills his brother . " There were several odd circum *"
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Private Anecdotes Of Illustrious French Characters.
A provincial poet entreated him to correct an Ode he had made for the king , and left it with him for that purpose—when he came again to demand it , Malherbe told him that there were but two words wanting ; the poet begged he would do him the honour to insert th ' em himself ; he took his pen and wrote under the title—
-ODE AU ROI , Pour torcher * . '
He then folded the paper , and returned it to the poet , who gave him a million of thanks , and took his leave without knowing what he had writ . One of his friends complained to him , that all rewards and pensions were for those who served the king at court , and in his armies—and that men of letters were entirel lected ; he
any neg swered , that he thought government acted very prudently , for that a . good poet was of as little use to the state as a good skittle player . His manner of correcting his servant for a fault was very pleasant . —he allowed him ten soils f a day for his diet , which in those times was a great deal , and twenty ecus § annual wages . —He remonstrated in these terms— " My friendwhen you offend your master
of-, , you fend God ; and when you offend God , an absolution for the sin is necessary , which is by fasting and giving charity ; for which reason I will deduct five sous of your allowance , and give it to the poor in your name . " Never man spoke his thoughts in a more free manner . The Archbishop of Rouen had asked him to be present at a
sermon he was to give them in the afternoon ; Malherbe fell asleep ; when the company rose from table , the Bishop waked him , and told him it was time to go to church—Malherbe begg'd he would excuse him , he could sleep as well without it . One evening as he was returning late to his bed , he met with a gentleman , who had been waiting- for him a considerable time in his apartment , to acquaint him with some news of very little consequence—he cut him short
with these words , good night , sir , "Good night , you put me to the expence of two pence for light , and all you have been saying is not worth a farthing . " Going to visit a counse'llor of the parliament , he found him in tears , and asked the cause of his affliction— " Cause enough , " answered the magistrate , " we have lost two Princes of the Blood by the miscarriage of the mother . "— "Sir" replied Malherbe
, " that ought not to afflict you in France you will never want for masters . "—Malherbe had a great contempt for men in generalreading one day in Genesis , of Cain and Abel— "A very pretty story truly , " says he , "there were but fourpeople in the world , and one of them goes and kills his brother . " There were several odd circum *"