generous eloquence. Why Madame de Longueville was in
disgrace with the court party, Mademoiselle de Scudery, with a
fearless and noble constancy, dedicated a book to her, and, in
consequence, lost her pension, and had to write for her bread. For
this her aristocratic friends, instead of forsaking her, admired and
clung to her the more. Her famous work, the "Grand Cyrus," in ten
thick volumes, to which Cousin has brought to light a complete key,
is filled with disguised portraits of her friends and associates, and
with descriptions of the times.

She draws her own likeness under the name of Sappho. In this work,
the pictures, incidents, and conversations reflect a state of
society, in which "the degrees and shades of friendship, from deep
Platonic love to the slight impression one person makes on another at
first meeting, are the real pre-occupations of existence; the
smallest grace of mind or manner is observed, and of importance;
there is an intense epicurism in companionship; it is both the first
occupation and the greatest pleasure of life." The second edition of
an English translation of the whole ten volumes of the "Grand Cyrus"
was published in London in 1691. The translator, F. G., Esq.,
erroneously attributes the authorship to "that famous wit of France,
Monsieur de Scudery, Governour of Nostre-Dame." He confounds the
sister with the brother. It is dedicated to Queen Mary, wife of
William of Orange, in a style of sonorous pomp, worthy of the court
of Nadir Shah. In his preface, F. G. says, "If you ask what the
subject is; 'Tis the Height of Prowess, intermixed with Virtuous and
Heroick Love; consequently the language lofty, and becoming the
Grandeur of the Illustrious Personages that speak; so far from the
least Sully of what may be thought Vain or Fulsom, that there is not
anything to provoke a Blush from the most modest Virgin; while Love
and Honour are in a seeming Contention which shall best instruct the
willing ear with most Delight." In describing the deep and rare
friendships with which the "Grand Cyrus" abounds, Mademoiselle de
Scudery had but to look into her own heart, and make copies from her
experience. Especially might the union of Sappho and Phaon stand for
the picture of her own connection with Pelisson." The exchange of
their thoughts was so sincere that all those in Sappho's mind passed
into Phaon's, and all those in Phaon's came into Sappho's. They told
each other every particular of their liv