the women of the french salons-第9节
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g； that he is said to have locked her in her room； and refused her to her friends until a certain amount of writing was done。 But； in spite of this surveillance； her life was so largely in the world that it was a mystery when she did her voluminous work。
Of winning temper and pleasing address； with this full equipment of knowledge and imagination； versatility and ambition； she was at an early period domesticated in the family of Mme。 de Rambouillet as the friend and companion of Julie d'Angennes。 Her graces of mind and her amiability made her a favorite with those who frequented the house； and she was thus brought into close contact with the best society of her time。 She has painted it carefully and minutely in the 〃Grand Cyrus；〃 a romantic allegory in which she transfers the French aristocracy and French manners of the seventeenth century to an oriental court。 The Hotel de Rambouillet plays an important part as the Hotel Cleomire。 When we consider that the central figures were the Prince de Conde and his lovely sister the Duchesse de Longueville； also that the most distinguished men and women of the age saw their own portraits； somewhat idealized but quite recognizable through the thin disguise of Persians； Greeks； Armenians； or Egyptians； it is easy to imagine that the ten volumes of rather exalted sentiment were eagerly sought and read。 She lacked incident and constructive power； but excelled in vivid portraits； subtle analysis； and fine conversations。 She made no attempt at local color； her plots were strained and unnatural； her style heavy and involved。 But her penetrating intellect was thoroughly tinged with the romantic spirit； and she had the art of throwing a certain glamour over everything she touched。 Cousin； who has rescued the memory of Mlle。 de Scudery from many unjust aspersions； says that she was the 〃creator of the psychological romance。〃 Unquestionably her skill in character painting set the fashion for the pen portraits which became a mania a few years later。
She depicts herself as Sapppho； whose opinions may be supposed to reflect her own。 In these days； when the position of women is discussed from every possible point of view； it may be interesting to know how it was regarded by one who represented the thoughtful side of the age in which their social power was first distinctly asserted。 She classes her critics and enemies under several heads。 Among them are the 〃light and coquettish women whose only occupation is to adorn their persons and pass their lives in fetes and amusementswomen who think that scrupulous virtue requires them to know nothing but to be the wife of a husband； the mother of children； and the mistress of a family； and men who regard women as upper servants； and forbid their daughters to read anything but their prayer books。〃
〃One does not wish women to be coquettes；〃 she writes again； 〃but permits them to learn carefully all that fits them for gallantry； without teaching them anything which can fortify their virtue or occupy their minds。 They devote ten or a dozen years to learning to appear well； to dress in good style； to dance and sing； for five or six； but this same person； who requires judgment all her life and must talk until her last sigh； learns nothing which can make her converse more agreeably； or act with more wisdom。〃
But she does not like a femme savante； and ridicules； under the name of Damophile； a character which might have been the model for Moliere's Philaminte。 This woman has five or six masters； of whom the least learned teaches astrology。 She poses as a Muse； and is always surrounded with books； pencils； and mathematical instruments； while she uses large words in a grave and imperious tone； although she speaks only of little things。 After many long conversations about her； Sappho concludes thus： 〃I wish it to be said of a woman that she knows a hundred things of which she does not boast； that she has a well…informed mind； is familiar with fine works； speaks well； writes correctly； and knows the world； but I do not wish it to be said of her that she is a femme savante。 The two characters have no resemblance。〃 She evidently recognized the fact that when knowledge has penetrated the soul； it does not need to be worn on the outside； as it shines through the entire personality。
After some further discussion； to the effect that the wise woman will conceal superfluous learning and especially avoid pedantry； she defines the limit to which a woman may safely go in knowledge without losing her right to be regarded as the 〃ornament of the world； made to be served and adored。〃
One may know some foreign languages and confess to reading Homer； Hesiod； and the works of the illustrious Aristee （Chapelain）； without being too learned。 One may express an opinion so modestly that； without offending the propriety of her sex； she may permit it to be seen that she has wit； knowledge； and judgment。 That which I wish principally to teach women is not to speak too much of that which they know well； never to speak of that which they do not know at all； and to speak reasonably。
We note always a half…apologetic tone； a spirit of compromise between her conscious intelligence and the traditional prejudice which had in no wise diminished since Martial included； in his picture of a domestic menage； a wife not too learned。。。〃 She is not willing to lose a woman's birthright of love and devotion； but is not quite sure how far it might be affected by her ability to detect a solecism。 Hence； she offers a great deal of subtle flattery to masculine self…love。 With curious naivete she says：
Whoever should write all that was said by fifteen or twenty women together would make the worst book in the world； even if some of them were women of intelligence。 But if a man should enter； a single one； and not even a man of distinction； the same conversation would suddenly become more spirituelle and more agreeable。 The conversation of men is doubtless less sprightly when there are no women present； but ordinarily； although it may be more serious； it is still rational； and they can do without us more easily than we can do without them。
She attaches great importance to conversation as 〃the bond of society； the greatest pleasure of well…bred people； and the best means of introducing； not only politeness into the world； but a purer morality。〃 She dwells always upon the necessity of 〃a spirit of urbanity； which banishes all bitter railleries； as well as everything that can offend the taste； 〃 also of a certain 〃esprit de joie。〃
We find here the code which ruled the Hotel de Rambouillet； and the very well…defined character of the precieuse。 But it may be noted that Mlle。 de Scudery； who was among the avant…coureurs of the modern movement for the advancement of women； always preserved the forms of the old traditions； while violating their spirit。 True to her Gallic instincts； she presented her innovations sugar…coated。 She had the fine sense of fitness which is the conscience of her race； and which gave so much power to the women who really revolutionized society without antagonizing it。
Her conversations； which were full of wise suggestions and showed a remarkable insight into human character； were afterwards published in detached form and had a great success。 Mme。 de Sevigne writes to her daughter： 〃Mlle。 De Scudery has just sent me two little volumes of conversations； it is impossible that they should not be good； when they are not drowned in a great romance。〃
When the Hotel de Rambouillet was closed； Mlle。 de Scudery tried to replace its pleasant reunions by receiving her friends on Saturdays。 These informal receptions were frequented by a few men and women of rank； but the prevailing tone was literary and slightly bourgeois。 We find there； from time to time； Mme。 de Sable； the Duc and Duchesse de Montausier； and others of the old circle who were her lifelong friends。 La Rochefoucauld is there occasionally； also Mme。 de。 La Fayette； Mme。 de Sevigne； and the young Mme。 Scarron whose brilliant future is hardly yet in her dreams。 Among those less known today； but of note in their age； were the Comtesse de la Suze； a favorite writer of elegies； who changed her faith and became a Catholic； as she said； that she 〃might not meet her husband in this world or the next；〃 the versatile Mlle。 Cheron who had some celebrity as a poet； musician； and painter； Mlle。 de la Vigne and Mme。 Deshoulieres； also poets； Mlle。 Descartes； niece of the great philosopher； and； at rare intervals； the clever Abbess de Rohan who tempered her piety with a little sage worldliness。 One of the most brilliant lights in this galaxy of talent was Mme。 Cornuel； whose bons mots sparkle from so many pages in the chronicles of the period。 A woman of high bourgeois birth and of the best associations； she had a swift vision； a penetrating sense； and a clear intellect prompt to seize the heart of a situation。 Mlle。 De Scudery said that she could paint a grand satire in four words。 Mme。 de Sevigne found her admirable； and even the grave Pomponne begged his friend not to forget to send him all her witticisms。 Of the agreeable but rather light Comtesse de Fiesque； she said： 〃What preserves her beauty is t
