"Toi donc, qui t'elevant sur la scene tragique, Suis les pas de Sophocle, et seul de tant d'Esprits, De Corneille vielli sait consoler Paris, Cesse de t'étonner, si l'envie animée, Attachant à ton nom sa rouille envenimée, La calomnie en main, quelquefois te poursuit. En cela, comme en tout, le ciel qui nous conduit, Racine, fait briller sa profonde sagesse; Le mérite en repos s'endort dans la paresse: Mais par les envieux un genie excité, Au comble de son art est mille fois monté. Plus on veut s'affloiblir, plus il croit et s'élance; Au Cid persécuté, Cinna doit sa naissance; Et peut-être ta plume aux censeurs de Pyrrhus Doit les plus nobles traits dont tu peignis Burhus."] [Footnote 102: Vide 2 Kings, chap, XI., 2 Chronicles, chap. XXIII.] FÉNÉLON 1651-1715 There is no name more respected in the modern history of the world, than that of Fénélon. In the ancient, that of Socrates competes with him. It might be curious and useful to compare Christian humility with pagan fortitude in these illustrious men. The death of Socrates crowned his life with undying fame. Fénélon suffered no martyrdom for his faith, but he was unchanged by the temptations of a court, and bore injustice with cheerful resignation. Amidst the roughness and almost rusticity of Socrates, there was something majestic and sublime, that inspired awe:[103] the gentleness and charity of Fénélon, so simple and true in all its demonstrations, excites a tender reverence. The soul of both was love. Socrates mingled wisdom with his worship of the beautiful, which to him typified the supreme Being. Fénélon, in adoring God, believed, that to love the supreme Being was the first, and, if properly accomplished, the only duty of human beings.