PHILIP QUINAULT, born in 1636, commenced his poetical career under the tuition of Tristan l'Hermite, a veteran dramatist. His first comedy was bargained for with the players by Tristan in his own name; and when, on being told the real author, they refused to give the sum agreed upon, a compromise was made by assigning him a ninth of the receipts during the run of the play, which circumstance is observable as the origin of the author's share allotted at every representation of a French theatrical [p. 276] theatrical piece, and which renders that kind of writing more profitable in France than any other. Quinault's juvenile pieces, however, both tragedies and comedies, though well received, were written in a bad taste, which exposed them to the lash of the severe Boileau ; and few names are treated more contemptuously in his works than that of this author. This contempt was continued when Quinault had discovered his real talent, which was that of lyric poetry properly so called, or that which is coupled with music. By associating himself with the celebrated musical composer Lulli, in writing operas, he gave to those productions a perfection never before attained, and equal, in the estimation of the French, to that of their tragic theatre under Corneille and Racine. The varied tenderness of the sentiments, and the harmony of the versification, have rendered his operas objects of admiration to the most refined judges, even since the strains of Lulli have been regarded as antiquated. Quinault did not rely solely upon his poetical success for making his fortune. Having a knowledge of business, he employed himself in settling the embroiled affairs of a rich tradesman, whose widow he [p. 277] afterwards married. He then purchased the place of an auditor in the chamber of accounts ; and enjoying, besides, a royal pension, (which he had indeed purchased by an excess of adulation) he was in very comfortable circumstances, notwithstanding he had five daughters to portion, which, in some sprightly verses, he called "le plus facheux Opera à faire." Falling into a declining state of health, he felt that compunction which the rigour of the Roman catholic principles is calculated to inspire, for having consecrated his talents to theatrical amusements, especially of a kind peculiarly tending to excite voluptuous emotions ; and he resolved thenceforth to employ his muse on sacred topics alone. He began a poem on the extirpation of protestantism in France, which he doubtless thought a holy work ; but a premature death in his fifty-fourth year cut short his exertions. Quinault was an amiable man in society, mild, polite, and obliging. A reconciliation between him and Boileau had taken place, in which he appeared the sincerest of the two.
Traduction par John Aiken des Mémoires de Pierre-Daniel Huet.
Londres, 1810, t. II, p. 275-277