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The principal French epic poem, is the Henriade, of Voltaire; 

 describing the events connected with the establishment of Henry IV. 

 on the French throne. It is rich in language, and correct in descrip- 

 tion ; but deficient in inspiration or fervor ; and the allegorical per- 

 sonages, introduced in it, produce an unpleasant impression. The 

 Colombiade, of Madame du Boccage, describing the introduction of 

 Christianity in America, contains some fine descriptions ; but it is 

 deficient in spirit. The Joseph, of Bitaube, is an heroic poem ; but 

 the Pucdle, of Voltaire, the Lutrin, of Boileau, and the Vert Vert, 

 of Gresset, are mock heroics, of little worth. Fenelon's Telemaque, 

 and Chateaubriand's Martyrs, are sometimes ranked as epics, though 

 both written in prose. The former is a work of superior merit. 



Of French lyric poetry, the pastourellcs and rondeaux of Frois- 

 sart the chronicler, are of some note ; though inferior to the more 

 touching chansons of Clotilde du Vallon-Chalys, (Surville by mar- 

 riage). Of the numerous poems of Marot, only a few are worth 

 preserving. Ronsard, Jodelle and Bellay, who with their associates 

 were called the French Pleiades, wrote many sonnets, in the Italian 

 style. Desportes was more natural ; but inferior to Malherbe, who 

 is regarded as the best of the French lyrists. The eclogues of Sar- 

 razan, have some originality ; those of Racan, are correct and digni- 

 fied ; the idyls of Madame Deshoulieres, are tender and spirited ; 

 and the eclogues of Segrais pure and natural. The eclogues of Fon- 

 tenelle, are delicate ; and the idyls of Chenier, and the elegies of 

 Bertin, are highly regarded. The sacred odes, or psalms, of J. B. 

 Rousseau, are full, and occasionally glowing; as are also the sacred 

 odes of Pompignan. The odes of Lebrnn, and Lamartine, have 

 poetic inspiration ; nor can we here omit Madame Dufresnoy, whose 

 Last Moments of Bayard, was crowned by the Academy, in 1815. 

 The recent chansons, or songs of Beranger, are among the most 

 popular French poems. 



Of French descriptive and didactic poems, we would mention 

 Brebeuf's Entretiens Solitaires, or Solitary Conversations, as one 

 of the earliest of note. The poems by Louis Racine, La Grace, 

 and especially La Religion, are considered works of merit. Boileau's 

 Art Poetique, is highly critical and polished; but wanting in feeling. 

 Voltaire's Desastre de Lisbonne, contains some vivid descriptions ; 

 but his Discours sur VHomme, or Essay on Man, and his La Re- 

 ligion Naturelle, are, we apprehend, works of a dangerous tendency. 

 Dulard's Grandeur de Dieu, or Greatness of God in the Wonders 

 of Nature, is a poem of merit. Legouve's poem, Le Merit e des 

 Femmes, in praise of women, is full of sensibility and delicacy ; Le 

 Genie de VHomme, by Chenedolle, is strong and correct ; and Les 

 Trois rfges, by Roux, is also a superior work. The Seasons, by 

 St. Lambert, and the Months, by Roucher, are imitations of Thom- 

 son. The poems of Delille, are highly esteemed ; and among them 

 are Les Jardins, or the Gardens ; L'Homme des Champs, or the 

 Man of the Fields ; La Malheur et La Pitie, or Misfortune and 

 Pity ; and La Conversation. His L 1 Imagination, is rich in 

 description ; and his Poeme de la Nature, is a work of great erudi- 

 tion. David, by Coetlogon, is a sublime production ; as are also 



