Louis 14th, born 1638

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Louis 14th, born 1638—died 1715

Corneille [no handwritten text supplied here] Louis 13th Racine toward the last of [no handwritten text supplied here] Louis 14th

—Tragedies rigidly after the antique models—characters Greek or Roman—every thing on stilts— all the talk in heroics.—

I fancy the classical tragedies of Corneille, Racine, Voltaire, &c. must illustrate the vital difference between a native and normal growth (as the Greek tragedies themselves,) and all that comes from the mere study of that growth.—

DecNovember 1855. I saw Rachel in "Athalie," at the Academy of Music

Myrrha, by Alfieri, the Italian—lurid passions 
  —with long‑winded dialogues between Myrrha and daughter ^mother about nothing.—

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