Despreaux," wrote Racine to his son, "has not only received from heaven a marvellous genius for satire, but he has also, together with that, an excellent judgment, which makes him discern what needs praise and what needs blame." This marvellous genius for satire did not spoil Boileau's natural good feeling.

"He is cruel in verse only," Madame de Sevigne used to say.

Racine was tart, bitter in discussion; Boileau always preserved his coolness: his judgments frequently anticipated those of posterity.

The king asked him one day who was the greatest poet of his reign.

"Moliere, sir," answered Boileau, without hesitation.