RACINE, JOHN, a celebrated French poet, was born at Ferre Anion, in 1639. Racine received his education at the convent of Port-Royal, in the neigh bourhood of Paris ; and after studying philosophy at the college of Harcourt, he began his career as a t au thor by publishing an Ode on the King's Marriage, which, more successful than the first efforts of poets generally are, procured him, through the interest of Colbert, a small pension. Although his uncle, who was a prior, offered to resign to him his benefice, on condi tiot, that he would take holy orders, yet he declined this act of liberality ; and, elated with the success of his first poetical efforts, he resolved to take up his residence in Paris as au author.
In 1664, he brought upon the stage his first tragedy, entitled, La Thebaide, ou les Freres written injudiciously after the manner of Corneille. He next published his ?lexandre, and then his ..4ndroniague, which established his reputation as a writer of tragedy.
About this time Racine was presented to the priory of Epinay ; but as he had not taken orders, his right to hold the living was contested ; and, after a law-suit, he was obliged to abandon it.
Racine's success in tragedy induced him to try his powers as a comedian ; and he accordingly produced his comedy of Les Plaideurs, which, though it met with the approbation of Moliere, and was well received by those about court, was the only one which he published. His Britannicus, Berenice, Bajazet, Mithridates, and Pluedre. appeared in succession between the years 1670 and 1678, and gained for the author a high degree of popularity and fame.
Having reached this high elevation, he became the object of the malignity and envy of the dull crowd whom he had outstripped by his talents. A mind like his ought to have learned from the history of letters that the hostility of inferior rivals is the first and most sincere tribute that is paid to living genius; but his sensibility was too great to allow himself to be influ enced by such views ; and he is said to have confessed to a friend, that the worst critique upon his works gave him more pain than the greatest plaudits had given him pleasure.
In this frame of mind, and under the influence of the religious principles which he had early imbibed, he resolved, when he was scarcely thirty-eight years of age, to renounce poetry and plays, and become a Carthusian. His religious adviser, however, advised him to act with more moderation, and his resolution to become Carthusian was converted into the more ration al one of taking a wife, and settling quietly in the world.
He accordingly married the daughter of a gentleman who was treasurer of Amiens, by whom he had seven children.
In 1673, Racine was admitted a member of the French Academy, in the room of La Motte he Vayer ; but he is said to have destroyed the effect of his admission speech by pronouncing it with too much humility. About this time Racine obtained the situation of gentleman in ordinary to the king, to whom he made himself very useful.
In 1677, he was nominated along with Boileau to the office of historiographer royal, with the view of writing the history of Louis XIV. The public expectations were raised by that appointment ; but the two poets la boured in vain at their task till they found that it was unsuitable to their genius.
Madam Maintenon, with whom lie lived in great in timacy, prevailed upon our author to compose a scrip tural dramatic piece, entitled Esther, for the ladies of her foundation at St. Cyr, which they performed before the whole court with great applause in 1689. This was folldwed by his ilthalie, which the same ladies perform ed in 1691.
At the request of Madam Maintenon, Racine was or tiered to draw up a memorial on the miseries of the peo plc, and the means of relieving them. The king hap pening to obtain a reading of this memoir from a lady to whom it had been lent, took offence at the manner in which the author had treated the subject. " Because he knows how to write good verses," said the king, "does he suppose that he knows every thing ; and would he he a minister of state because lie is a great poet ?" These expressions, complimentary though they be, are said to have produced a deep effect upon the mind of Racine, and to have brought on a fever, of which he died, on the 22d April, 1699, in the 60th year of his age. The king, who entertained a real affection for the poet, sent often to inquire after him during his illness, and after his death he settled a handsome pension upon his family.
As a dramatic writer, Racine is placed next to Cor neille ; and he is supposed to have possessed the art of versification to a degree superior to any French author. His plays are characterized by correctness, tenderness, elegance, good taste, and refined and elevated sentiments. Besides his dramatic works, he wrote the Cantigues, a work full of devotion ; L'Histoire de Port-Royal, Idylle sur la Paix, _Epigrams, Letters, &c. As Director of the French Academy, he pronounced the eulogy of Cor neille. The best edition of his works is that in 6 vols. 8vo. published in 1761.