the women of the french salons-第13节
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id light upon the woman who could play the role of a heroine of Corneille or of a sentimental shepherdess； as the caprice seized her。
A tragical bit of romance colored the mature life of the Grande Mademoiselle。 She had always professed a great aversion to love； regarding it as 〃unworthy of a well…ordered soul。〃 She even went so far as to say that it was better to marry from reason or any other thing imaginable； dislike included； than from passion that was； in any case； short…lived。 But this princess of intrepid spirit； versatile gifts； ideal fancies； and platonic theories； who had aimed at an emperor and missed a throne； this amazon； with her penchant for glory and contempt for love； forgot all her sage precepts； and at forty…two fell a victim to a violent passion for the Comte de Lauzun。 She has traced its course to the finest shades of sentiment。 Her pride； her infatuation； her scruples； her new…born humilitywe are made familiar with them all； even to the finesse of her respectful adorer； and the reluctant confession of love which his discreet silence wrings from her at last。。 Her royal cousin； after much persuasion； consented to the unequal union。 The impression this affair made upon the world is vividly shown in a letter written by Mme。 de Sevigne to her daughter：
I am going to tell you a thing the most astonishing； the most surprising； the most marvelous； the most miraculous； the most triumphant； the most astounding； the most unheard of； the most singular； the most extraordinary； the most incredible； the most unexpected； the grandest； the smallest； the rarest； the most common； the most dazzling； the most secret even until today； the most brilliant； the most worthy of envy 。 。 。 。 a thing in fine which is to be done Sunday； when those who see it will believe themselves dazed； a thing which is to be done Sunday and which will not perhaps have been done Monday 。 。 。 M。 de Lauzun marries Sunday； at the Louvreguess whom？ 。 。 。 He marries Sunday at the Louvre； with the permission of the King； Mademoiselle； Mademoiselle de； Mademoiselle； guess the name； he marries Mademoiselle； MA FOI； PAR MA FOI； MA FOI JUREE； Mademoiselle； la grande Mademoiselle； Mademoiselle； daughter of the late Monsieur； Mademoiselle； grand…daughter of Henry IV； Mademoiselle d'Eu； Mademoiselle de Dombes； Mademoiselle de Montpensier； Mademoiselle d'Orleans； Mademoiselle； cousin of the king； Mademoiselle； destined to the throne； Mademoiselle； the only parti in France worthy of Monsieur。 VOILA a fine subject for conversation。 If you cry out； if you are beside yourself； if you say that we have deceived you； that it is false； that one trifles with you； that it is a fine bit of raillery； that it is very stupid to imagine； if； in fine； you abuse us； we shall find that you are right； we have done as much ourselves。
In spite of the prudent warnings of her friends； the happy princess could not forego the eclat of a grand wedding； and before the hasty arrangements were concluded； the permission was withdrawn。 Her tears； her entreaties； her cries； her rage； and her despair； were of no avail。 Louis XIV took her in his arms； and mingled his tears with hers； even reproaching her for the two or three days of delay； but he was inexorable。 Ten years of loyal devotion to her lover； shortly afterward imprisoned at Pignerol； and of untiring efforts for his release which was at last secured at the cost of half her vast estates； ended in a brief reunion。 A secret marriage； a swift discovery that her idol was of very common clay； abuse so violent that she was obliged to forbid him forever her presence； and the disenchantment was complete。 The sad remnant of her existence was devoted to literature and to conversation； the latter she regarded as 〃the greatest pleasure in life； and almost the only one。〃 When she died； the Count de Lauzun wore the deepest mourning； had portraits of her everywhere； and adopted permanently the subdued colors that would fitly express the inconsolable nature of his grief。
Without tact or fine discrimination； the Grande Mademoiselle was a woman of generous though undisciplined impulses； loyal disposition； and pure character； but her egotism was colossal。 Under different conditions； one might readily imagine her a second Joan of Arc； or a heroine of the Revolution。 She says of herself： 〃I know not what it is to be a heroine； I am of a birth to do nothing that is not grand or elevated。 One may call that what one likes。 As for myself； I call it to follow my own inclination and to go my own way。 I am not born to take that of others。〃 She lacked the measure； the form； the delicacy of the typical precieuse； but her quick； restless intellect and ardent imagination were swift to catch the spirit of the Hotel de Rambouillet； and to apply it in an original fashion。 Though many subjects were interdicted in her salon； and many people were excluded； it gives us interesting glimpses into the life of the literary noblesse； and furnishes a complete gallery of pen… portraits of more or less noted men and women。 With all the brilliant possibilities of her life； it was through the diversion of her idle hours that this princess； author； amazon； prospective queen； and disappointed woman has left the most permanent trace upon the world。
CHAPTER V。 A LITERARY SALON AT PORT ROYAL Mme。 de SableHer Worldly LifeHer RetreatHer Friends PascalThe Maxims of La RochefoucauldLast Days of the Marquise
The transition from the restless character and stormy experiences of the Grande Mademoiselle； to the gentler nature and the convent salon of her friend and literary confidante； Mme。 de Sable； is a pleasant one。 Perhaps no one better represents the true precieuse of the seventeenth century； the happy blending of social savoir…faire with an amiable temper and a cultivated intellect。 Without the genius of Mme。 de Sevigne or Mme。 de La Fayette； without the force or the rare attractions of Mme。 de Longueville； without the well…poised character and catholic sympathies of Mme。 de Rambouillet； she played an important part in the life of her time； through her fine insight and her consummate tact in bringing together the choicest spirits； and turning their thoughts into channels that were fresh and unworn。 Born in 1599； Madeleine de Souvre passed her childhood in Touraine； of which province her father was governor。 In the brilliancy of her youth； we find her in Paris among the early favorites of the Hotel de Rambouillet； and on terms of lifelong intimacy with its hostess and her daughter Julie。 Beautiful； versatile； generous； but fastidious and exacting in her friendships； with a dash of coquetryinevitable when a woman is fascinating and Frenchshe repeated the oft…played role of a mariage de convenance at sixteen； a few brilliant years of social triumphs marred by domestic neglect and suffering； a period of enforced seclusion after the death of her unworthy husband； a brief return to the world； and an old age of mild and comfortable devotion。
〃The Marquise de Sable；〃 writes Mme。 de Motteville； 〃was one of those whose beauty made the most sensation when the Queen （Anne of Austria） came into France。 But if she was amiable； she desired still more to appear so。 Her self…love rendered her a little too sensible to that which men professed for her。 There was still in France some remnant of the politeness which Catherine de Medicis had brought from Italy； and Mme。 de Sable found so much delicacy in the new dramas； as well as in other works； in prose and verse； which came from Madrid； that she conceived a high idea of the gallantry which the Spaniards had learned from the Moors。 She was persuaded that men may without wrong have tender sentiments for women； that the desire of pleasing them leads men to the greatest and finest actions； arouses their spirit； and inspires them with liberality and all sorts of virtues； but that； on the other side； women； who are the ornaments of the world； and made to be served and adored； ought to permit only respectful attentions。 This lady； having sustained her views with much talent and great beauty； gave them authority in her time。〃
The same writer says that she has 〃much light and sincerity；〃 with 〃penetration enough to unfold all the secrets of one's heart。〃
Mlle。 de Scudery introduces her in the 〃Grand Cyrus；〃 as Parthenie； 〃a tall and graceful woman； with fine eyes； the most beautiful throat in the world； a lovely complexion； blonde hair； and a pleasant mouth； with a charming air； and a fine and eloquent smile； which expresses the sweetness or the bitterness of her soul。〃 She dwells upon her surprising and changeful beauty； upon the charm of her conversation； the variety of her knowledge； the delicacy of her tact； and the generosity of her tender and passionate heart。 One may suspect this portrait of being idealized； but it seems to have been in the main correct。
Of her husband we know very little； excepting that he belonged to the family of Montmorency； passed from violent love to heart… breaking indifference； and died about 1640； leaving her with four children and shattered fortunes。 To recruit her failing health； and to hide her chagrin and sorrow at seeing herself supplanted by unworthy rivals； she had lived fo
