384 NEW SCHOOL OF HISTORY IN FRANCE. 



which literature has been deluged, is the publication of numerous 

 historic abridgments or resumes, in which the events "come like 

 shadows to depart," like figures in a magic lantern, and are still 

 more easily obliterated from the memory.* Too often does the 

 reader, after passing days and nights of false enjoyment in reading 

 historical romances, hastily glance at the abridged history of a period 

 whose most trifling events have, he flatters himself, been described in 

 his favourite volumes, and conclude with the self-satisfaction of 

 being an accomplished historian. 



Every one knows that romance t had no existence in the best ages 

 of ancient literature ; its place was nobly supplied by epic poetry and 

 history, and the latter borrowed, with exquisite taste, from epic 

 poetry and the drama whatever suited its purpose : thus closely were 

 the three allied and mutually dependent on each other. It is indeed 

 this dramatic form given to history by the ancient writers which has 

 given it that lively and continued interest which is its highest re- 

 commendation. 



Perhaps, then, from this eulogy some persons may take leave to object 

 that modern history is not able to furnish the same degree of continued 

 interest, as the history of antiquity. It may be so. But still modern 

 history has a peculiar attraction, often arising from melancholy asso- 

 ciations, for those who love their country ; and it is the adoption of 

 this dramatic style of the ancient historians that will heighten the 

 charm. M. de Barante has succeeded in giving us an example of 

 this style without the servility of imitation ; for his language, which 

 is decidedly French, comme au bon temps, unites with the naive and 

 delightful originality of our long-lost friend De Froissart, all the 

 learning of more modern days, and the vivid imaginations of a vast 

 mind fully able to give being to its conceptions ; and by scattering 

 in bounteous showers the treasures of his intellect on inert matter, he 

 gives to it a vitality at once beautiful and inextinguishable. Our 

 author's style, flowing, captivating, and admirably dramatic, carries 

 us along with him, and transports us at once, by magic, into the scene 

 in which his dramatis persona are acting. In fine, his History of 

 the Dukes of Burgundy and of the House of Valois is, in every point 

 of view, a master-piece of historic composition; and its appearance 

 forms an important era] in the history of general literature. Indeed 

 this work, so beautiful and attractive that the most fascinating no- 

 vels are thrown into the shade by its splendour, may be said, without 

 the use of a metaphor, to present to our view an historical gallery of 

 animated personages (de tableaux parlants), all pourtrayed with the 

 most astonishing correctness. 



M. de Barante has chosen his subject with admirable judgment, 

 because he believed that epoch of modern history to be particularly 



* It is evident that works of this vague description oblige their compilers at every 

 moment to cut the knot which they cannot untie. We are of opinion that abridgments 

 ought not to serve instead of histories ; and, if it be objected that time would not suffice 

 for the perusal of detailed histories, we answer that it is better to know perfectly the 

 history of our own and a neighbouring country than to acquire vague and false no- 

 tions about every country on the face of the earth. 



t We do not intend to make a play of words on the word roman, nor to make a dis- 

 sertation on thesubject, after the example of the celebrated Huet, bishop of Avranches. 



