Racine imagined that he was doomed to another failure like that of _Phedre,_ which he preferred before all his other pieces.

"I am a pretty good judge," Boileau kept repeating to him: "it is about the best you have done; the public will come round to it." Racine died before success was achieved by the only perfect piece which the French stage possesses,--worthy both of the subject and of the sources whence Racine drew his inspiration.

He had, with an excess of scrupulousness, abandoned the display of all the fire that burned within him; but beauty never ceased to rouse him to irresistible enthusiasm.

Whilst reading the Psalms to M.de Seignelay, when lying ill, he could not refrain from paraphrasing them aloud.

He admired Sophocles so much that he never dared touch the subjects of his tragedies.