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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LA BONNE COMEDIE, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: True comedy circum praecordia ludit Last Line: And it treads in the steps of its master, moliere! Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin Subject(s): Comedy; Moliere (jean Poquelin) (1622-1673) | |||
'Les "Precieuses Ridicules" allerent aux nues des le premier jour. Un vieillard s'ecria du milieu du parterre: "Courage, Moliere! voila de la bonne comedie!"' (Notice sur Moliere.) TRUE Comedy circum praecordia ludit -- It warms the heart's cockles. 'Twas thus that he viewed it, That simple old Critic, who smote on his knee, And named it no more than he knew it to be. 'True Comedy!' Yes! there is this thing about it, If it makes the House merry, you never need doubt it: It lashes the vicious; it laughs at the fool; And it brings all the prigs and pretenders to school. To the poor it is kind; to the plain it is gentle; It is neither too tragic nor too sentimental; Its thrust, like a rapier's, though cutting, is clean, And it pricks Affectation all over the scene. Its rules are the rules ARISTOTLE has taught us; Its ways have not altered since TERENCE and PLAUTUS; Its mission is neither to praise nor to blame; Its weapon is Ridicule; Folly, its game. 'True Comedy!' -- such as our POQUELIN made it! 'True Comedy!' -- such as our COQUELIN played it! It clears out the cobwebs; it freshens the air; And it treads in the steps of its Master, MOLIERE! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MOLIERE by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX A FANCY FROM FONTENELLE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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