Nicolas Boileau

Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711), an emulator of the ancients, was the author of satires, verse epistles, and a mock epic (Le Lutrin), in all of which genres he was a model for the English poet Alexander Pope. His Art poétique is, even today (particularly today?), considered the supreme condensation of the principles of French classical literature.

Art poétique: Chant Ier

A summary, in modern French prose, of the principal ideas contained in the first part of Nicolas Boileau’s Art poétique (1674).

French Fully Translated

French texts of great interest made accessible to those with little or no knowledge of French by a complete translation into English.
Interpretations

Files devoted in part or in full to the illumination of a literary text.
Old French

Files containing or referring to French texts written prior to AD1300.
Reading French: 1st Level

Not for absolute beginners: to be able to read these selections you should have gone through at least the first ten chapters of the French for Reading Knowledge course (or be at the equivalent level).
Reading French: 2nd Level

Somewhat more difficult texts, with less elaborate glossing. You should have gone through most of the French for Reading Knowledge course before starting on these.
Reading French: 3rd Level

Practice texts for perfecting your ability to read difficult French with a fair amount of ease.
The Classical Project

Modern English texts from a variety of sources transmogrified and made to appear in the form of classical French verse.