Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ballade of Old Plays" by Andrew Lang provides a vivid glimpse into the atmosphere of French theater during the 17th century, the age of Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin. Using the traditional ballade form, the poet presents a nostalgia-steeped vision of the past, involving illustrious playwrights, intriguing characters, and historical contexts.

The first stanza, "La Cour," sets the scene at the royal court, where King Louis XIV, the "Sun King," would have applauded the verses of Moli?re, a titan of French theater. The presence of "Point-lace," a high-fashion item of the era, and Corneille, another French dramatist, helps situate us firmly in the Golden Age of French literature.

"La Com?die," the second stanza, transports us from the polished court to the raucous theater, with its "butcher's cat-calls" and "lackeys" swearing. The imagery of pipe-bowls thrown on stage and a porter being stabbed underlines the rowdiness of the audience, indicating that theater was a popular form of entertainment enjoyed by all societal classes.

In the third stanza, "La Ville," the reminiscence of old jests, jibes, and familiar faces brings a sense of nostalgia. Lang introduces M?nage, a French scholar and critic, and de Vis?, a French dramatist and journalist, evoking the intellectual milieu of the time. He also refers to Jean Ribou, perhaps insinuating the controversy over plagiarism that often surrounded playwrights.

The final stanza, the "Envoy," serves as a farewell and summons ghosts of the past, beckoning them to break free from death's confines and return to the "golden air" of their era. This poetic invocation reminds us of the immortality of art, as the plays of Moli?re and others continue to 'live' and inspire, despite the passage of centuries.

Through "Ballade of Old Plays," Lang celebrates the enduring power of theater, paying tribute to the luminaries of French drama and offering readers a nostalgic journey into the vibrant world of 17th-century French theater.

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