Chapter L

La Beaumelle, his attack on Voltaire in Prussia, II. 66.

La Bruyère, his critique on Rabelais, I. 34. Describes Corneille's conversation and manner, 55. His portrait of La Fontaine, 181.

La Fare, anacreontic poet, I. 171.

La Fontaine, Jean de, versifier of Rabelais' Tales, I. 34. His life peaceful, 150. Born in 1621 at Château Thierry, 150. His father, 151. He enters the community of the Pères de l'Oratoire, 151. Renounces the cloister, and espouses Mlle. Marie d'Héricart, 151. Becomes master of the royal domains in his district, 151. Hears Malherbe's ode on the assassination of Henri IV., and commences poet, 152. Studies the Roman poets, 153. Verses by, 112. His "Adonis" in heroic verse, 155. His character indolent and _insouciant_, 155. Resides long at Château Thierry, 155. Fights M. Poignan, on account of madame de la Fontaine, 156. That officer disarms the poet both of sword and jealousy, 156. Divers reports as to the placid temper of his wife, 157. Visits Paris, but neglects business, 157. Becomes domiciled with the duke and duchess of Bouillon, 159. His intimacy with Racine, Molière, and Boileau, 160. Comfortable amid Parisian society, he forgets his wife and his home, 161. Fouquet grants him a pension, 162. He solicits that finance minister's pardon from Louis XIV., 162. 222. His "Contes et Merveilles en vers," 163. 173. Tale of "Pysche and Cupid," 163. 177. Noticed by Henrietta duchess of Orléans. 164. His tale of "Joconde," 165. His "Fables," 164. 178. 180. Is elected of the French Academy, 167. Anecdote on that subject, 167. He has the ill luck to displease the abbé Furetière by an inadvertence, 168. La Fontaine incorrigibly forgetful, 169. Forgets that he has a son, and admires him as a stranger, 169. Anecdotes exhibiting him, 170, &c. Resides in the house of madame d'Hervart, 172. 170. Decline of his health, 173. The priests constrain him to destroy some of his works, 173. And to make public reparation for the evil influence of his "Fables," 175. He recovers and writes more tales, 176. Dies, aged seventy-four, 176. Criticism on his works, 177. His dramatic pieces, 178. His tables and tales, 178. 180. English fables compared with, 179. Opinions by his contemporaries of, 181. Epitaph by himself, 182.

La Harpe, M., criticisms of, I. 178. 258. II. 102.

Lally-Tolendal, M. de, saved by madame de Staël, II. 315. 316.

Lamb, Miss, pretty song by, I. 108.

La Metrie, physician at Potzdam, II. 62.

Lamoignon, M. de, premier président, I. 267. 271.

Langeron, the abbé de, I. 366. "Langey, Chevalier de, Military Stratagems and Prowess of," by Rabelais, I. 37.

La Noue, tragedian, II. 43.

Leibnitz, letter of the celebrated, II. 65.

Le Kain, tragedian, II. 54. He resides with Voltaire, and performs on his stage, 54.

Le Nôtre, architect, &c., I. 112.

Lettres Provinciales of Pascal, I. 198. Object of this work explained, 201. Condemnation of the book, 207. Misfortunes resulting therefrom at Port Royal, 207.

L'Huilier, M., engages Gassendi to educate Chapelle the poet, I. 99.

Ligne, prince de, visits Rousseau incognito, II. 165. Declares himself by letter, and kindly offers a home to J. J. Rousseau, 166.

Locke, John, works of, II. 18. 24. His "Treatise on Education," 151.

Longueville, duke of, I. 69.

Longueville, duchess of, I. 68. Her beauty, 70. Various allusions to this princess, 72. 74. 77. Her character and religious sentiments, 83, n.

Louis XIII., accession of, I. 64. Death of, 66. M. Poquelin and his son Molière his deputy, valet-de-chambre to, 100. The king causes M. de Cinq-Mars and De Thou to be beheaded, 100. Allusions to this monarch, 215.

Louis XIV., grants a pension to Pierre Corneille, I. 55. His attachment to Henrietta duchess of Orléans, 58. Splendour of his court begins to be remarkable, 111. Takes a part in the ballets at court, 118. 119. Discontinues to do so, from a passage in "Britannicus" alluding to Nero, 118, n. His journeys, 120. Flattery of by the poets and savants, 163. Did not comprehend La Fontaine, 164. And delays his ratification of his being received in the French Academy, 167. Trial of Fouquet, finance minister, 112. 113. 222. 223. The king refuses to pardon him, 224. The fêtes at Versailles, 225. 256. Tournament at, Louis representing count Roger, 225. His affection for the beautiful La Vallière, 112. 119. 162. 225. 236. His court described, 244, n. His queen, 236. Secret marriage with madame de Maintenon, 87. 236. 237. 248. His reign, animadversions on, 257. 323. Age of Louis XIV. described, 269. Louis XIV. conceives a dislike for Fénélon, 333. 346. Perceives his injustice, but burns his papers, 366. Anecdotes of the king, 319. 323. Preceptors to his son and grand-sons, 334. 336, n. The Gallican church, its state in the reign of Louis XIV., 339-362. References to Louis XIV., in the life of Voltaire, II. 6. 10.

Louis XV., I. 368. II. 44. 46. 47. 55. 57. 60. His inglorious old age, 101.

Louis XVI., II. 86. 100. 104. _For the historical events of his reign and fall, see the Lives of Condorcet, Mirabeau, &c._ in Vol. II.

Love and gallantry, novels breathing of, I. 107. 108. Ill taste of language relating to, 108. Purity of sentiment aimed at nevertheless, 108.

Lucian, by whom imitated, I. 35.

Lucretius, II. 144.

Lulli, musical composer, solicits La Fontaine to write the opera of "Daphne," I. 166. His death described, 176.

Luxembourg, maréchal duc de, II. 149. His kind attentions to his neighbour Jean Jacques Rousseau, 150.

Luxembourg, duchess of, II. 150. 152. Her conduct with regard to Rousseau, when he was danger of arrest, 153.

Lyons, almanacs calculated under the meridian of, I. 37.