_Le Voyage de l’.sle d’.mour_, that dainty fantasy which has been so admirably translated by Mrs. Behn, is the work of Paul Tallemant, a graceful French littérateur, who was born at Paris, 18 June, 1642. He was brought up in circumstances of affluence and even prodigal luxury until the extravagances and dissipations of both grandfather and father left him whilst yet young in a state of indigence. He thereupon took orders, but, as was not unusual at the time, devoted much attention to art and literature, becoming well known in society for his songs, ballads, idylls, pastorals, and even gallant little operas in which he never ceased to burn incense to the King. He proved so successful that at twenty-four in 1666 he succeeded to the place of Gombaud in the Academy. His chief title to literary renown at that date was none other than _Le Voyage de l’.sle d’.mour_. Colbert, his patron, procured for him a pension of 500 crowns, the abbeys of Ambierle and Saint-Albin, together with various other posts affording no small emoluments. Tallemant became a popular preacher and society flocked to hear his fashionable discourses. He frequently counted the Queen and Princes of the blood amongst his auditors. He died of an apoplexy in his seventy-first year. His poems, always neat and elegant, can hardly be claimed to have any great value, although they never fail to please. Mrs. Behn has indeed greatly improved upon her original. _Le Voyage de l’.sle d’.mour_ was first printed at Paris, 12mo, 1663. It was reprinted in _Le Recueil de pièces galantes_; Cologne, 12mo, 1667; again, ‘A Leyde. Chez Abraham Gogat.’ 12mo, 1671. _Le Voyage et la Conqueste de l’.sle d’.mour, le Passe-Partout des Coeurs_ appeared at Paris ‘chez Augustin Besoigne’ 1675. With the sub-title _La Clef des Coeurs_ it was issued from van Bulderen’s press at the Hague in 1713, 12mo. So it will be seen that the little book enjoyed no small popularity. The best edition is that in volume XXVI of the collection entitled _Voyages Imaginaires, Songes, Visions, et Romans Cabalistiques_. Amsterdam, 1788. It is illustrated by an exquisitely graceful plate of C. P. Marillier at the lines Celui que tu vois si sévère, Est le Respect, fils de l’.mour. Him whom you see so awful and severe, Is call’d Respect, the Eldest Son of Love. A VOYAGE to the ISLE OF LOVE. _An Account from_ Lisander _to_ Lysidas _his Friend._