which love should be altogether banished.  This letter threw Racine into a great state of commotion.  He was anxious to please Madame de Maintenon, and yet it was a delicate commission for a man who had a great reputation to sustain.  Boileau was for refusing.  “That was not in the calculations of Racine,” says Madame de Caylus in her Souvenirs.  He wrote Esther.  “Madame de Maintenon was charmed with the conception and the execution,” says Madame de La Fayette; “the play represented in some sort the fall of Madame de Montespan and her own elevation; all the difference was that Esther was a little younger, and less particular in the matter of piety.  The way in which the characters were applied was the reason why Madame de Maintenon was not sorry to make public a piece which had been composed for the community only and for some of her private friends.  There was exhibited a degree of excitement about it which is incomprehensible; not one of the small or the great but would go to see it, and that which ought to have been looked upon as merely a convent-play became the most serious matter in the world.  The ministers, to pay their court by going to this play, left their most pressing business.  At the first representation at which the king was present, he took none but the principal officers of his hunt.  The second was reserved for pious personages, such as Father La Chaise, and a dozen or fifteen Jesuits, with many other devotees of both sexes; afterwards it extended to the courtiers.”  “I paid my court at St. Cyr the other day, more agreeably than I had expected writes Madame de Sevigne to her daughter:  listened, Marshal Bellefonds and I, with an attention that was remarked, and with certain discreet commendations which were not perhaps to be found beneath the head-dresses’ of all the ladies present.  I cannot tell you how exceedingly delightful this piece is; it is a unison of music, verse, songs, persons, so perfect that there is nothing left to desire.  The girls who act the kings and other characters were made expressly for it.  Everything is simple, everything innocent, everything sublime and affecting.  I was charmed, and so was the marshal, who left his place to go and tell the king how pleased he was, and that he sat beside a lady well worthy of having seen Esther.  The king came over to our seats.  ‘Madame,’ he said to me, ‘I am assured that you have been pleased.’  I, without any confusion,’ replied, ’Sir, I am charmed; what I feel is beyond expression.’  The king said to me, ‘Racine is very clever.’  I said to him, ’Very, Sir; but really these young people are very clever too; they throw themselves into the subject as if they had never done aught else.’  ‘Ah! as to that,’ he replied, ‘it is quite true.’  And then his Majesty went away and left me the object of envy.  The prince and princess came and gave me a word, Madame de Maintenon a glance; she went away with the king.  I replied to all, for I was in luck.”