Journal des sçavans... (1698-...)

Les Oeuvres de M. Bensserade... (1698)

La Vie de Scaramouche... (1699)

An Essay Towards An History of Dancing... (1712)

Histoire générale de la danse... (1724)

La danse ancienne... (1754)

Encyclopédie... (1751-1772)

Critical Observations on the Art of Dancing... (1770)

Lettres et entretiens sur la danse... (1824)

Isaac de Benserade (1613-1691) was one of the most important poets at the court of Louis XIV. He was a member of l’Académie Française and was under the protection of Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin. He associated with Corneille, La Fontaine, Molière, and Lully. In fact, Benserade and Lully were famous collaborators for such legendary court spectacles as the Triomphe de l’amour.In addition to his ballets and poetry, he also wrote several tragedies and a comedy.

This two-volume work by Charles de Sercy, Les Oeuvres de Monsieur de Bensserade, is a posthumous collection of Isaac de Benserade’s writing, containing a short biography, and several sonnets, odes, epitaphs (called “Cy gist,” here lies) as well as the texts for many of his court ballets. In a dedicatory letter (“epistre”) that opens the first volume, de Sercy presents Benserade’s works to his patron, the Comte d’Armagnac. Not only does de Sercy praise Benserade’s writing ability, but he also explains that the collection contains many poems not discovered until after Benserade’s death.

The “epistre” is followed by a “Discours sommaire,” which resembles a witty eulogy of Benserade’s personality and sense of humor. In the biography, Monsieur L.T. (one of Benserade’s contemporaries) shares short stories about Benserade and his dealings with the people of the court. He tells us of one occasion when Benserade commented jokingly on the lines of one of Molière’s ballets. Molière sought revenge by writing verses in a style similar to that of Benserade. Cardinal Mazarin recognized the verses as Benserade’s hand and praised Benserade instead of Molière.

Full Text           By Melisa Lindholm (MA 2006)