Guillaume Saluste Du Bartas et The Arcadian Rhetorike d’Abraham Fraunce

Abstract

In 1588 Abraham Fraunce published in London his Arcadian Rhetorike, with illustrative examples from seven European poets. Among these is Guillaume Saluste Du Bartas, French Huguenot poet, much admired in his time, who at times came to rival Ronsard himself. He frequented the court of the King of Navarre, and his career as a poet and as a diplomat led him to travel around Europe. Several translations of his works gave him international fame, particularly in England. This article explores the European propagation of his work, as well as other causes of his influence: his religious tolerance, his love of science and his poetic talent were significant reasons for Abraham Fraunce to incorporate instances Du Bartas’s poetry in his Arcadian Rhetorike.