Finally, if we would seek for the essential spirit of French literature, where shall we discover it? In its devotion to truth? In its love of rhetoric? In its clarity? In its generalizing power? All these qualities are peculiarly its own, but, beyond and above them, there is another which controls and animates the rest. The one high principle which, through so many generations, has guided like a star the writers of France is the principle of deliberation, of intention, of a conscious search for ordered beauty; an unwavering, an indomitable pursuit of the endless glories of art.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF AUTHORS AND THEIR PRINCIPAL WORKS
CHANSONS DE GESTE, eleventh to thirteenth centuries. _Chanson de Roland, circa_ 1080.
ROMANS BRETONS, twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
CHRÉTIEN DE TROYES, wrote _circa_ 1170-80.
FABLIAUX, twelfth and thirteenth centuries. _Roman de Renard_, thirteenth century. _Aucassin et Nicolete, circa_ thirteenth century.
VILLEHARDOUIN, _d_. 1213. _Conquête de Constantinople_, 1205-13.
GUILLAUME DE LORRIS (?). _La Roman de la Rose_ (first part), _circa_ 1237.
JEAN DE MEUNG, _d_. 1305. _La Roman de la Rose_ (second part), 1277.
JOINVILLE, 1224-1319. _Vie de Saint Louis_, 1309.
FROISSART, 1337-_circa_ 1410. _Chroniques_, 1373-1400.
VILLON, 1431-(?). _Grand Testament_, 1461.
COMMYNES, 1445-1509. _Mémoires_, 1488-98.
DU BELLAY, 1522-60. _Défense et Illustration de la Langue Française_, 1549.
HARDY, 1570-1631 (_circa_). _Tragedies_, 1593-1630.
CORNEILLE, 1606-84. _Le Cid_, 1636. _Les Horaces_, 1640. _Cinna_, 1640. _Polyeucte_, 1643.
PASCAL, 1623-62. _Lettres Provinciales_, 1656-57. _Pensées_, first edition 1670, first complete edition 1844.
MOLIÈRE, 1622-73. _Les Précieuses Ridicules_, 1659. _L'École des Femmes_, 1662. _Tartufe_, 1664. _Le Misanthrope_, 1666. _Le Malade Imaginaire_, 1673.
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, 1613-80. _Maximes_, 1665.
BOILEAU, 1636-1711. _Satires_, 1666. _Art Poétique_, 1674.
RACINE, 1639-99. _Andromaque_, 1667. _Phèdre_, 1677. _Athalie_, 1691.
BOSSUET, 1627-1704. _Oraisons Funèbres_, 1669-87. _Histoire Universelle_, 1681.
MADAME DE SÉVIGNÉ, 1626-96. _Letters_, 1671-96.
MADAME DE LAFAYETTE, 1634-93. _La Princesse de Clèves_, 1678.
LA BRUYÈRE, 1645-96. _Les Caractères_, 1688-94.