reflection that has ever been wrought, songs of incomparable grace, comedies that must make men laugh as long as they are laughing animals, and above all such a body of narrative fiction, old and new, prose and verse, as no other nation can show for art and for originality, for grace of workmanship in him who fashions, and for certainty of delight to him who reads. BIBLIOGRAPHY.--The most elaborate book on French literature as a whole is that edited by Petit de Julleville, and composed of chapters by different authors, _Histoire de la langue et de la litterature francaises_ (8 vols., Paris, 1896-1899). Unfortunately these chapters, some of which are of the highest excellence, are of very unequal value: they require connexions which are not supplied, and there is throughout a neglect of minor authors. The bibliographical indications are, however, most valuable. For a survey in a single volume Lanson's _Histoire_ has superseded the older but admirable manuals of Demogeot and Geruzez, which, however, are still worth consulting. Brunetiere's _Manuel_ (translated into English) is very valuable with the cautions above given; and the large _Histoire de la langue francaise depuis le seizieme siecle_ of Godefroy supplies copious and well-chosen extracts with much biographical information. In English there is an extensive _History_ by H. van Laun (3 vols., 1874, &c.); a _Short History_ by Saintsbury (1882; 6th ed. continued to the end of the century, 1901); and a _History_ by Professor Dowden (1895).