ng equalled his incapacity for business but his aversion:
the slightest troubles of this kind occasioned him alarm and terror. He
was never satiated with praise, although he was continually receiving
it; but if he was sensible to fame, he was far removed from vanity.

What Fontenelle observes of Corneille's love of fame is strongly proved
by our great poet himself, in an epistle to a friend, in which we find
the following remarkable description of himself; an instance that what
the world calls vanity, at least interests in a great genius.

Nous nous aimons un peu, c'est notre foible a tous;
Le prix que nous valons que le scait mieux que nous?
Et puis la mode en est, et la cour l'autorise,
Nous parlons de nous-memes avec toute franchise,
La fausse humilite ne met plus en credit.
Je scais ce que je vaux, et crois ce qu'on m'en dit,
Pour me faire admirer je ne fais point de ligue;
J'ai peu de voix pour moi, mais je les ai sans brigue;
Et mon ambition, pour faire plus de bruit
Ne les va point queter de reduit en reduit.
Mon travail sans appui monte sur le theatre,
Chacun en liberte l'y blame ou idolatre;
La, sans que mes amis prechent leurs sentimens,
J'arrache quelquefois leurs applaudissemens;
La, content da succes que le merite donne,
Par d'illustres avis je n'eblouis personne;
Je satisfais ensemble et peuple et courtisans;
Et mes vers en tous lieux sent mes seuls partisans;
Par leur seule beaute ma plume est estimee;
Je ne dois qu'a moi seul toute ma renommee;
Et pense toutefois n'avoir point de rival,
A qui je fasse tort, en le traitant d'egal.

I give his sentiments in English verse.

Self-love prevails too much in every state;
Who, like ourselves, our secret worth can rate?
Since 'tis a fashion authorised at court,
Frankly our merits we ourselves report.
A proud humility will not deceive;
I know my worth; what others say, believe.
To be admired I form no petty league;
Few are my friends, but gain'd without intrigue.
My bold ambition, destitute of grace,
Scorns still to beg their votes from place to place.
On the fair stage my scenic toils I raise,
While each is free to censure or to praise;
And there, unaided by inferior arts,
I snatch the applause that rushes from their hearts.
Content by Merit still