Arnauld d'Andilly - Les confessions de S. Augustin - 1686

In his Port-Royal, Sainte-Beuve writes that Robert Arnauld d'Andilly made truly valuable literary contributions to the language. He recalls that La Rochefoucauld, the author of the Memoirs, sent copies to him to obtain the necessary corrections, especially regarding the purity of style (Sainte-Beuve, Port-Royal, Volume 2, pp. 275 and following). However, this translation is classified among the 'beautiful infidels' of the Grand Siècle, as are the translations by Perrot d'Ablancourt of ancient authors. 'Mr. Arnaud d'Andilly, having published his translation of Saint Augustine's Confessions in 1649, was so highly regarded by the French Academy that they decided to accept him into their ranks. The deputies offered him a place, which he gratefully declined. These gentlemen, annoyed, decided to establish a statute stating that henceforth, no one would be admitted into the body unless they had formally applied for membership.'