NOEL ETIENNE, a Jesuit, was born at Rouen in 1676, and was a distinguished professor of humanity at Caen. He there became acquainted with Huet bishop of Avranches, whose taste for literature and poetry was similar to his own. Sanadon afterwards taught rhetoric at the university of Paris, and was entrusted with the education of the prince of Conti, after the death of Du Morceau. In 1728 he was made librarian to Louis XIV, an office which he retained to his death. He died on the 21st September 1733, in the 58th year of his age.

His works are, 1. Latin Poems, in 12mo, 1715, and reprinted by Barbou, in 8vo, 1754. His style possesses the graces of the Augustan age. His language is pure and nervous; his versification harmonious, and his thoughts are delicate and well chosen; but sometimes his imagination flags. His Latin poems consist of Odes, Elegies, Epigrams, and others, on various subjects. 2. A translation of Horace, with Remarks, in 2 vols. 4to, printed at Paris in 1727; but the best edition of this work was printed at Amsterdam in 1735, in 8 vols. 12mo, in which are also inserted the versions and notes of M. Dacier. Sanadon translated with elegance and taste; but he has not preserved the sublimity of the original in the odes, nor the energy and precision in the epistles and satires. In general, his version is rather a paraphrase than a faithful translation. Learned men have justly censured him for the liberty which he has taken in making considerable changes in the order and structure of the odes. He has also given offence by his uncouth orthography. 3. A Collection of Discourses delivered at different times, which afford strong proofs of his knowledge of oratory and poetry. 4. A book entitled Prières et Instructions Chrétiennes.