Nicolas Rapin : étude biographique et littéraire : la carrière, les milieux, l'œuvre
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Abstract EN:
Nicolas rapin (1539-1608) was successively a barrister at fontenay-le-comte, his native town (1562), a vice-seneschal in lower poitou (1576), a short-gowned lieutenant in paris (1585), and a provost general of the constablery of france (1588). His career may be explained by his military activity (firstly from 1568 to 1570), by his eagerness to dispense justice, by the protections and friendships which were bestowed upon him (the tiraqueaus and the brissons, his compatriots, scevole de sainte-marthe, then the president de harlay and j. -a. De thou), and by the skill which he displayed in his use of literary modes (translations of ariosto in 1572, "rural" poetry from 1575 to 1583). An "engaged" writer, representing the politiques' opinions, he undertook to serve henry 3 (by translating the seven penitential psalms), then henry 4 (by contributing to the satyre menippee). Rapin's works and the remains of his library reveal firstly a humanist, interested in history, medicine, grammar and literature. Apart from his translations, his personal works are manifold : occasional verse (numerous epitaphs), political pamphlets, moral satire, love peotry (from the straightforward sexuality of la douche to the platonism of l'amour philosophe), rustic verse : his plaisirs du gentilhomme champestre were very popular. His greatest ambition was to ensure the recognition of "poesie mesuree a l'antique", by conciliating baif's system with traditional versification. But it is in the translations of his dear
Abstract FR:
Nicolas rapin (1539-1608) fut successivement avocat a fontenay-le-comte, sa ville natale (1562), vice-senechal en bas-poitou (1576), lieutenant de robe courte a paris (1585) et prevot general de la connetablie de france (1588). Cette carriere s'explique par l'activite militaire du personnage (d'abord en 1568-1570), par son ardeur a poursuivre les criminels, par les protections et les amities dont il a beneficie (les tiraqueau et les brisson, ses compatriotes, scevole de sainte-marthe, puis le president de harlay et j. -a. De thou), et par son habilete a exploiter les modes litteraires (traductions de l'arioste en 1572, poesie "champetre" en 1575-1583). Ecrivain "engage", representant les opinions des "politiques", il mit sa plume au service de henri 3 (pour qui il traduisit les sept pseaumes penitentiels) puis de henri 4 (collaboration a la satyre menippee). L'oeuvre de rapin et les restes de sa bibliotheque revelent en lui d'abord un humaniste, qui s'interesse a l'histoire, a la medecine, a la grammaire, a la litterature. En dehors de ses traductions, son oeuvre personnelle est variee : poesie de circonstance (nombreux tombeaux), pamphlets politiques, satire morale, vers amoureux (de la franche sexualite de la douche au platonisme de l'amour philosophe), poesie rustique : ses plaisirs du gentilhomme champestre ont ete tres populaires. Sa grande ambition fut de faire admettre la poesie mesuree a l'antique, en attenuant les exces de baif et en conciliant son systeme avec la versification traditionnelle. Mais c'est finalement dans les traductions de son cher horace, adaptees aux circonstances de l'epoque et de sa propre vie, qu'il se revele le plus pleinement lui-meme.