En ses chants les plus doux d'en reciter la conte) Il en vint en la paix mesme de grans combats, Comme une Raine aprez voulant par ces appas Tirer (pour se vanger) une Souri, fort promte De luy promettre assez, luy dict qu'elle se conte, Mais la Raine noia la Souri miserable, La ravit, et son hoste, à ses jambes lié. (Die tant qu'il voudra, qu'on luy avoit faict guerre) En la fin perira, sans aụcune pitié, The French are extremely fond of turning narratives into sonnets. But there is a curious book, executed by command of Louis XỊv., in which the whole of Ovid's Metamosphoses is converted into Rondeaux. Of this truly French. ified performance a friend of mine has a magnificent copy in quarto, which has all the appearance of being a presentation book, haying the arms and crown of France splendidly stamped on the covers, and on the back, IMP. ROYALE, for Imprimerie Royale. The author was no less a personage than the famous Benserade, and the title announces the Royal order, for its splendid publication, at least, if not for the composition, Metamorphoses d'Ovide en Rondeaux, imprimez, et enrichis de figures, par Ordre de są Majesté, et dediez à Monseigneur le Dauphin. Below, Below, on a vignette plate, are the Royal Crown, Arms, and Orders. The date 1676. As the French Rondeau is of all absurd devices the most absurd, exceeding in strictness, as well as in quaintness, the sonnet itself, it will be curious to some readers, without doubt, to see how this strange task was executed. I should not omit to say, that for the designs, the Royal painter Le Brun was employed; a letter from whom, to Benserade, on the design of the Frontispiece, stands first in the book. After that, everything is Rondeau. There is a double Rondeau to the King, ia Dedication to the Dauphin in a Rondeau, a Rondeau for a Preface; the Royal Privilege, and even the Errata are announced in Rondeaux. The latter, as containing a witticism of the author, on the subject of his own very singular work, may serve, perhaps, as a good specimen. ERRATA "EN RONDEAU, Dans ce volume, où sont toutes les Fables, D'autres peut-estre, et bien moins suportables, Dans ce volume. Pour moi, parmy des fautes innombrables Dans ce volume. The “ Extrait du Privilege du Roi" is a witticism of a similar kind, and deserves also, perhaps, to be selected from a number of attempts in which the Poet had less scope for his wit. EXTRAIT DU PRIVILEGE DU ROI. EN RONDEAU. Il est permis à quelqu'un du Parnasse que l'on les contre fasse. Le Roy plus loin étend la mesme grace, Il est permis. S'aban S'abandonner au public quelle audace! Il est permis. Here the origin of the Rondeau is referred to Marot, to whom the French doubtless think it does honour. Though it is easy to conceive with how little advantage Ovid's tales must appear thus travestied, I will give one specimen of them. Among so many it is not easy to choose, but that on the Metamorphosis of Argus makes as good an Epigram, perhaps, as any among them. ARGUS EN PAON. Avec cent yeux bien ouverts sur sa tasche Ses pieds sont laids, il n'a point d'autre tache, Avec cent yeux. Gens clair voyans, pensez-vouz qu'on vous sçache Veillez,' Veillez, grondez, cherchez par tous les coins, Avec cent yeur. The plates accompanying these Rondeaux are neatly engraved, and not ill designed: but so many fantastical epigrams are very fatiguing. At the end are some Rondeaux which are Acrostics also. The whole extends to 463 pages. A singular monument of idle labour ! SHIP |