434 DEATH OF FRONTEXAC. [1698. 



The Critic. " True ; but it was for his creatures and for 

 nobody else." 



The Orator. " I pass in silence that reading of 

 spiritual books which he practised as an indispen- 

 sable duty more than forty years ; that holy avidity 

 with which he listened to the word of God, — 



The Critic. " Only if the preacher addressed the sermon to 

 him, and called him Monseigneur. As for his reading, it was 

 often Jansenist books, of which he had a great many, and which 

 he greatly praised and lent freely to others." 



The Orator. " He prepared for the sacraments 

 by meditation and retreat, — 



The Critic. " And generally came out of his retreat more 

 excited than ever against the Church." 



The Orator. " Let us not recall his ancient and 

 noble descent, his family connected with all that is 

 greatest in the army, the magistracy, and the 

 government ; Knights, Marshals of France, Gov- 

 ernors of Provinces, Judges, Councillors, and Min- 

 isters of State : let us not, I say, recall all these 

 without remembering that their examples roused 

 this generous heart to noble emulation ; and, as an 

 expiring flame grows brighter as it dies, so did all 

 the virtues of his race unite at last in him to end 

 with glory a long line of great men, that shall be 

 no more except in history." 



The Critic. " Well laid on, and too well for his hearers to 

 believe him. Far from agreeing that all these virtues were col- 

 lected in the person of his pretended hero, they would find it 

 very hard to admit that he had even one of them." x 



1 Oraison Funebre du tres-hant et t res-puissant Seigneur Louis de Bnade, 

 Comte de Frontenuc et de Palluau, etc., avec des remarques critiques, 1698. 



