Notwithstanding the character of Lully’s compositions, when unrestricted by the royal command and the bad taste of the court, he was one day reproached with having set nothing to music but languid verses. He flew to his harpsichord, and wildly running over the keys, sung, with great violence of gesture, the following terrific lines from Racine’s tragedy of “Iphigenie:”
“Un prêtre environne d’une foule cruelle
Portera sur ma fille, une maine criminelle
Dechirera son sein, et d’un œil curieux
Dans son cœur palpitant consultera les Dieux.”
When cardinal d’Estrees was at Rome, he highly praised Corelli’s sonatas to that eminent composer. “Sir,” replied Corelli, “if they have any merit it is because I have studied Lully.” Handel has imitated Lully in many of his overtures.[89]
NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.
Mean Temperature 42·79.
[87] Doblado’s Letters from Spain.