Perhaps his pupils have estimated him at his true worth, but they were grateful for his excellent teaching, and may be rightly suspected of partiality.
Others have spoken slightingly of his works and they have applied to him by transposing the words of the celebrated dictum: _Saltavit et placuit_.

He sang and wept, so they sought to deprecate him as if there were something reprehensible in an artist's pleasing the public.

This notion might seem to have some basis in view of the taste that is affected to-day--a predilection for all that is shocking and displeasing in all the arts, including poetry.

Sorcieres's epigram--the ugly is beautiful and the beautiful ugly--has become a programme.

People are no longer content with merely admiring atrocities, they even speak with contempt of beauties hallowed by time and the admiration of centuries.
The fact remains that Massenet is one of the most brilliant diamonds in our musical crown.