Pierre Patrix
Encyclopedia
Pierre Patrix, seigneur de Sainte-Marie, Norman gentleman (1583–6 October 1671), was a French poet
.
Patrix was born in 1583 at Caen
(Normandy
) from Claude Patrix, councilor to the bailiwick of the city and Margaret Bourgueville. His grandfather was a native of Beaucaire (Provence
), who, having been in Caen in 1521, when the Parliament of Rouen sent some of its members to reform the University, was chosen by them, although he only was a Bachelor of Laws
at the time, to be appointed as a professor of civil law. Some time later, he became Counselor in Parliament and University regent.
Patrix's father had envisioned a career in law for his son. However, after defending his thesis before the Law School at Caen, on 19 August 1608, Patrix soon found out this line of duty to be utterly unattractive to him. To Patrix's lively, playful and independent frame of mind, the pleasures of his native Caen, then a haven of sociability and jollity, were far more attractive than practicing law, so he vowed to retain his independence. He contentedly kept this lifestyle until the age of forty, when, seeing himself left with very little in way of income, he sought to improve his prosperity for joining Gaston, Duke of Orléans
, the brother of Louis XIV
, as first marshal-master.
The prince's bright and cheerful court in residence at Blois
surpassed his brother's in terms of politeness, in agreement, and good taste. There, Patrix had an opportunity to demonstrate his wits. Gaston liked and esteemed Patrix, who held the rank of Grand Vicar in a Grand Conseil de Vauriennerie which he had established. He also met the likes of Voiture
, Segrais, Chaudebonne, Rivièrere, and Belot. The talents of his mind, as well as his honesty, and loyalty, earned him everyone's esteem." He also was the one to hide Pascal
in his house around the time he published his first Provincial Letters.
Patrix always followed his employer's fortunes, and after his demise, in 1660, he attached his fate to that his widow, Marguerite of Lorraine
, becoming her first squire. All Patrix got for his long and loyal service of Gaston of Orléans was the government of the county and castle of Limours
, Montlhéry
, with an accommodation at the palace of Orleans
and some rather insignificant pension. He even had to serve a local member of the aristocracy who was trying to deprive him of his command to benefit one of hits own cronies, with the divine commandment, "You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land."
Patrix was gifted with a very natural and markedly pleasant spirit. He loved nothing more than don that air of silliness, which he had brought from his native Caen where it was very much in vogue. This, added to a Norman
accent he never could shake off, made for a brilliant conversation, and this perhaps was no little part of his reputation. Huet reported hearing Patrix boast he had taught Voiture how to be silly, something for which Voiture indeed was known.
Patrix was renowned for his witty repartees, many of which have been preserved. For instance, when people would talk about science in gatherings, he would tell those around him, he was going to taste their wine. After he suffered a severe illness at the age of eighty, his friends rejoiced at his recovery, and urged him to get back up: "Alas! gentlemen, he replied, I need not bother to get dressed."
As he was on the end of his life, and concerned about death, he wrote, a few days before his end, those famous lines:
Patrix is mentioned in one of Scarron
's poems:
Patrix left a La Miséricorde de Dieu sur la conduite d'un pécheur pénitent, avec quelques autres pieces chrestiennes, le tout composé et mis en lumiere par luy-mesme, en réparation du passé, a collection he dedicated to the Duke of Orleans. "Ce recueil", Huet wrote in his Les Origines de Caen, "mérite d'être conservé pour sa singularité; car encore que les vers soient sort négligés, languissants, sentant le terroir Normand et le déclin de l'âge, l'on y voit néanmoins briller cet esprit original d'où ils sont partis, et l'on y reconnait un cœur touché d'une piété sincère. (p. 384).. Some of Patrix's songs and other poems were collected in the Fourth volume of the Barbin's Compendium. Two pieces by him on the Maid of Orleans, in a Recueil d'inscriptions et vers on this subject, were published in Paris in 1628, in-4°.
A friend of his fellow denizen Malherbe
, Patrix had committed several gallant, even quite licentious pieces, in his youth, but at a later age, when the spirit of devotion took him over, he conducted a painstaking search, and burned the most he could, thereafter writing only on spiritual topics.
He died at Paris on 6 October 1671 at age 88, and was buried in the church of the nuns of the Calvaire.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Patrix was born in 1583 at Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
(Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
) from Claude Patrix, councilor to the bailiwick of the city and Margaret Bourgueville. His grandfather was a native of Beaucaire (Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
), who, having been in Caen in 1521, when the Parliament of Rouen sent some of its members to reform the University, was chosen by them, although he only was a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the time, to be appointed as a professor of civil law. Some time later, he became Counselor in Parliament and University regent.
Patrix's father had envisioned a career in law for his son. However, after defending his thesis before the Law School at Caen, on 19 August 1608, Patrix soon found out this line of duty to be utterly unattractive to him. To Patrix's lively, playful and independent frame of mind, the pleasures of his native Caen, then a haven of sociability and jollity, were far more attractive than practicing law, so he vowed to retain his independence. He contentedly kept this lifestyle until the age of forty, when, seeing himself left with very little in way of income, he sought to improve his prosperity for joining Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, the brother of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, as first marshal-master.
The prince's bright and cheerful court in residence at Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
surpassed his brother's in terms of politeness, in agreement, and good taste. There, Patrix had an opportunity to demonstrate his wits. Gaston liked and esteemed Patrix, who held the rank of Grand Vicar in a Grand Conseil de Vauriennerie which he had established. He also met the likes of Voiture
Vincent Voiture
Vincent Voiture , French poet, was the son of a rich merchant of Amiens. He was introduced by a schoolfellow, the count Claude d'Avaux, to Gaston, Duke of Orléans, and accompanied him to Brussels and Lorraine on diplomatic missions.Although a follower of Gaston, he won the favour of Cardinal...
, Segrais, Chaudebonne, Rivièrere, and Belot. The talents of his mind, as well as his honesty, and loyalty, earned him everyone's esteem." He also was the one to hide Pascal
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal , was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen...
in his house around the time he published his first Provincial Letters.
Patrix always followed his employer's fortunes, and after his demise, in 1660, he attached his fate to that his widow, Marguerite of Lorraine
Marguerite of Lorraine
Marguerite of Lorraine was a duchess of Orléans and Alençon. She was born in Nancy, Lorraine to Francis II, Duke of Lorraine, and Countess Christina of Salm. On 31 January 1632, she married Gaston, Duke of Orléans, son of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici...
, becoming her first squire. All Patrix got for his long and loyal service of Gaston of Orléans was the government of the county and castle of Limours
Limours
Limours is a commune the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.Inhabitants of Limours are known as Limouriens.-References:** -External links:* * *...
, Montlhéry
Montlhéry
Montlhéry is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located from Paris.Inhabitants of Montlhéry are known as Montlhériens.-History:...
, with an accommodation at the palace of Orleans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and some rather insignificant pension. He even had to serve a local member of the aristocracy who was trying to deprive him of his command to benefit one of hits own cronies, with the divine commandment, "You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land."
Patrix was gifted with a very natural and markedly pleasant spirit. He loved nothing more than don that air of silliness, which he had brought from his native Caen where it was very much in vogue. This, added to a Norman
Norman language
Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. Norman can be classified as one of the northern Oïl languages along with Picard and Walloon...
accent he never could shake off, made for a brilliant conversation, and this perhaps was no little part of his reputation. Huet reported hearing Patrix boast he had taught Voiture how to be silly, something for which Voiture indeed was known.
Patrix was renowned for his witty repartees, many of which have been preserved. For instance, when people would talk about science in gatherings, he would tell those around him, he was going to taste their wine. After he suffered a severe illness at the age of eighty, his friends rejoiced at his recovery, and urged him to get back up: "Alas! gentlemen, he replied, I need not bother to get dressed."
As he was on the end of his life, and concerned about death, he wrote, a few days before his end, those famous lines:
Patrix is mentioned in one of Scarron
Paul Scarron
Paul Scarron was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist. His precise birthdate is unknown, but he was baptized on July 4, 1610...
's poems:
Patrix left a La Miséricorde de Dieu sur la conduite d'un pécheur pénitent, avec quelques autres pieces chrestiennes, le tout composé et mis en lumiere par luy-mesme, en réparation du passé, a collection he dedicated to the Duke of Orleans. "Ce recueil", Huet wrote in his Les Origines de Caen, "mérite d'être conservé pour sa singularité; car encore que les vers soient sort négligés, languissants, sentant le terroir Normand et le déclin de l'âge, l'on y voit néanmoins briller cet esprit original d'où ils sont partis, et l'on y reconnait un cœur touché d'une piété sincère. (p. 384).. Some of Patrix's songs and other poems were collected in the Fourth volume of the Barbin's Compendium. Two pieces by him on the Maid of Orleans, in a Recueil d'inscriptions et vers on this subject, were published in Paris in 1628, in-4°.
A friend of his fellow denizen Malherbe
François de Malherbe
François de Malherbe was a French poet, critic, and translator.-Life:Born in Le-Locheur , his family was of some position, though it seems not to have been able to establish to the satisfaction of heralds the claims which it made to nobility older than the 16th century.He was the eldest son of...
, Patrix had committed several gallant, even quite licentious pieces, in his youth, but at a later age, when the spirit of devotion took him over, he conducted a painstaking search, and burned the most he could, thereafter writing only on spiritual topics.
He died at Paris on 6 October 1671 at age 88, and was buried in the church of the nuns of the Calvaire.