1698.] . HIS EULOGIST AND HIS CKITIC. 431 



The Orator. " This wise man, to whom the 

 Senate of Venice listened with respectful atten- 

 tion, because he spoke before them with all the 

 force of that eloquence which you, Messieurs, have 

 so often admired, — 1 



The Critic. u It was not his eloquence that they admired, 

 but his extravagant pretensions, his bursts of rage, and his un- 

 worthy treatment of those who did not agree with him." 



The Orator. u This disinterested man, more 

 busied with duty than with gain, — 

 The Critic. " The less said about that the better." 



The Orator. " Who made the fortune of others, 

 but did not increase his own, — 



The Critic. " Not for want of trying, and that very often 

 in spite of his conscience and the king's orders." 



The Orator. "Devoted to tfce service of his 

 king, whose majesty he represented, and whose 

 person he loved, — • 



The Critic. "Not at all. How often has he opposed his 

 orders, even with force and violence, to the great scandal of 

 everybody ! " 



The Orator. " Great in the midst of difficulties, 

 by that consummate prudence, that solid judgment, 

 that presence of mind, that breadth and elevation 

 of thought, which he retained to the last moment 

 of his life 



The Critic. " He had in fact a great capacity for political 

 manoeuvres and tricks ; but as for the solid judgment ascribed to 



1 Alluding to an incident that occurred when Frontenac commanded 

 a Venetian force for the defence of Candia against the Turks. 



