Jean de La Taille

He studied the humanities in Paris under Muretus, and law at Orléans under Anne de Bourg.

He was wounded at the Battle of Arnay-le Duc in 1570, and retired to his estate at Bondaroy, where he wrote a political pamphlet entitled Histoire abrégée des singeries de la ligue.

His chief poem is a satire on the follies of court life, Le Courtisan retiré; he also wrote a political poem, Le Prince Nécessaire.

In 1572 appeared the tragedy of Saül le furieux, with a preface on L'Art de la tragédie.

He wrote, not for the general public to which the mysteries and farces had addressed themselves, but for the limited audience of a lettered aristocracy.