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COMPETES WITH CREBILLON.
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and energy. He had always rendered honour to his brother dramatist, whose repute, indeed, rested upon very just foundations: nor did he now condescend to any sort of detraction; but taking the subjects of three of Crebillon's tragedies, he treated them himself. "Semiramis" retained its name; "Electre" became "Oreste;" 'Catiline" was "Rome Sauvée:" and into these plays, especially the last, Voltaire infused a force and brilliancy which left no doubt of his superiority, on the ground they occupied in common, to his favoured rival.