Port-Royal. Racine, moreover, showed tact in humoring the
susceptibilities of Louis XIV. and his counsellors. "Father Bonhours and
Father Rapin (Jesuits) were in my study when I received your letter," he
writes to Boileau. "I read it to them, on breaking the seal, and I gave
them very great pleasure. I kept looking ahead, however, as I was
reading, in case there was anything too Jansenistical in it. I saw,
towards the end, the name of M. Nicole, and I skipped boldly, or, rather,
mean-spiritedly, over it. I dared not expose myself to the chance of
interfering with the great delight, and even shouts of laughter, caused
them by many very amusing things you sent me. They are both of them, I
assure you, very friendly towards you, and indeed very good fellows."

All this caution did not prevent Racine, however, from dis pleasing the
king. After a conversation he had held with Madame de Maintenon about
the miseries of the people, she asked him for a memorandum on the
subject. The king demanded the name of the author, and flew out at him.
"Because he is a perfect master of verse," said he, "does he think he
knows everything? And because he is a great poet, does he want to be
minister?"---Madame de Maintenon was more discreet in her relations with
the king than bold in the defence of her friends; she sent Racine word
not to come and see her 'until further orders.' "Let this cloud pass,"
she said; "I will bring the fine weather back." Racine was ill; his
naturally melancholly disposition had become sombre. "I know, Madame,"
he wrote to Madame de Maintenon, "what influence you have; but in the
house of Port-Royal I have an aunt who shows her affection for me in
quite a different way. This holy woman is always praying God to send me
disgraces, humiliations, and subjects for penitence; she will have more
success than you." At bottom his soul was not sturdy enough to endure
the rough doctrines of Port-Royal; his health got worse and worse; he
returned to court; he was re-admitted by the king, who received him
graciously. Racine continued uneasy; he had an abscess of the liver, and
was a long while ill. "When he was convinced that he was going to die,
he ordered a letter to be written to the superintendent of finances,
asking for payment, which was due, of his pension. His son brought him
the letter. 'Why,' said he, 'did not you ask for payment of Boileau's
pension too? We must not be made distinct. Write the lett