Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 36.djvu/83

Rh men were employed in correcting those faulty passages of their works, which would have been beauties in those of inferior geniuses.

The amiable author of "Telemachus," retrenched the repetitions and useless details of his moral romance, and blotted out the title of epic poem, which the indiscreet zeal of some of his admirers had given it; for he frankly owns that there is no such thing as a poem in prose.

The eloquent Bossuet was ready to strike out some familiar expressions, which had escaped his vast, impetuous, and free genius, and which, in some measure disgrace the sublimity of his funeral orations; and it is worthy of remark, that he by no means vouches for the truth of all he has said concerning the pretended wisdom of the ancient Egyptians.  Corneille the great, and the sublime Who pleased not by the charms of rhyme; But waked the soul by strokes of art, Which filled with wonder every heart; Who with a pencil ever true Both Cinna and Augustus drew; Cornelia, Pompey brave and great, Who fell by too severe a fate; Into the flames Pulcheria threw Agesilaus, Surena too, And sacrificed with no remorse, The fruits of genius without force: Productions of declining age, And quite unworthy of the stage. Vol. 36—5