the memoirs of marie antoinette-第39节
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is palace and the usages established there by Louis XIV。 may be acceptable。
The very extensive gardens of Marly ascended almost imperceptibly to the Pavilion of the Sun。； which was occupied only by the King and his family。 The pavilions of the twelve zodiacal signs bounded the two sides of the lawn。 They were connected by bowers impervious to the rays of the sun。 The pavilions nearest to that of the sun were reserved for the Princes of the blood and the ministers； the rest were occupied by persons holding superior offices at Court； or invited to stay at Marly。 Each pavilion was named after fresco paintings； which covered its walls； and which had been executed by the most celebrated artists of the age of Louis XIV。 On a line with the upper pavilion there was on the left a chapel； on the right a pavilion called La Perspective； which concealed along suite of offices； containing a hundred lodging…rooms intended for the persons belonging to the service of the Court； kitchens； and spacious dining… rooms； in which more than thirty tables were splendidly laid out。
During half of Louis XV。's reign the ladies still wore the habit de cour de Marly； so named by Louis XIV。； and which differed little from； that devised for Versailles。 The French gown； gathered in the back； and with great hoops； replaced this dress； and continued to be worn till the end of the reign of Louis XVI。 The diamonds； feathers； rouge； and embroidered stuffs spangled with gold； effaced all trace of a rural residence； but the people loved to see the splendour of their sovereign and a brilliant Court glittering in the shades of the woods。
After dinner； and before the hour for cards； the Queen； the Princesses； and their ladies； paraded among the clumps of trees； in little carriages； beneath canopies richly embroidered with gold； drawn by men in the King's livery。 The trees planted by Louis XIV。 were of prodigious height； which； however； was surpassed in several of the groups by fountains of the clearest water； while； among others； cascades over white marble； the waters of which； met by the sunbeams； looked like draperies of silver gauze； formed a contrast to the solemn darkness of the groves。
In the evening nothing more was necessary for any well…dressed man to procure admission to the Queen's card parties than to be named and presented； by some officer of the Court； to the gentleman usher of the card…room。 This room； which was very； large； and of octagonal shape； rose to the top of the Italian roof； and terminated in a cupola furnished with balconies； in which ladies who had not been presented easily obtained leave to place themselves； and enjoy； the sight of the brilliant assemblage。
Though not of the number of persons belonging to the Court； gentlemen admitted into this salon might request one of the ladies seated with the Queen at lansquenet or faro to bet upon her cards with such gold or notes as they presented to her。 Rich people and the gamblers of Paris did not miss one of the evenings at the Marly salon； and there were always considerable sums won and lost。 Louis XVI。 hated high play； and very often showed displeasure when the loss of large sums was mentioned。 The fashion of wearing a black coat without being in mourning had not then been introduced； and the King gave a few of his 'coups de boutoir' to certain chevaliers de St。 Louis； dressed in this manner； who came to venture two or three louis； in the hope that fortune would favour the handsome duchesses who deigned to place them on their cards。
＇Bachaumont in his 〃Memoirs；〃 （tome xii。； p。 189）； which are often satirical； and always somewhat questionable； speaks of the singular precautions taken at play at Court。 〃The bankers at the Queen's table；〃 says he； 〃in order to prevent the mistakes ＇I soften the harshness of his expression＇ which daily happen； have obtained permission from her Majesty that before beginning to play the table shall be bordered by a ribbon entirely round it； and that no other money than that upon the cards beyond the ribbon shall be considered as staked。〃NOTE By THE EDITOR。＇
Singular contrasts are often seen amidst the grandeur of courts。 In order to manage such high play at the Queen's faro table； it was necessary to have a banker provided with large； sums of money； and this necessity placed at the table； to which none but the highest titled persons were admitted in general； not only M。 de Chalabre； who was its banker； but also a retired captain of foot； who officiated as his second。 A word； trivial； but perfectly appropriate to express the manner in which the Court was attended there； was often heard。 Gentlemen presented at Court； who had not been invited to stay at Marly； came there notwithstanding； as they did to Versailles； and returned again to Paris； under such circumstances； it was said such a one had been to Marly only 'en polisson'；＇A contemptuous expression； meaning literally 〃as a scamp〃 or rascal。〃＇ and it appeared odd to hear a captivating marquis； in answer to the inquiry whether he was of the royal party at Marly； say； 〃No； I am only here 'en polisson'；〃 meaning simply 〃I am here on the footing of all those whose nobility is of a later date than 1400。〃 The Marly excursions were exceedingly expensive to the King。 Besides the superior tables； those of the almoners； equerries； maitres d'hotel； etc。； were all supplied with such a degree of magnificence as to allow of inviting strangers to them； and almost all the visitors from Paris were boarded at the expense of the Court。
The personal frugality of the unfortunate Prince who sank beneath the weight of the national debts thus favoured the Queen's predilection for her Petit Trianon； and for five or six years preceding the Revolution the Court very seldom visited Marly。
The King； always attentive to the comfort of his family； gave Mesdames； his aunts； the use of the Chateau de Bellevue； and afterwards purchased the Princesse de Guemenee's house； at the entrance to Paris； for Elisabeth。 The Comtesse de Provence bought a small house at Montreuil； Monsieur already had Brunoy； the Comtesse d'Artois built Bagatelle； Versailles became； in the estimation of all the royal family； the least agreeable of residences。 They only fancied themselves at home in the plainest houses； surrounded by English gardens； where they better enjoyed the beauties of nature。 The taste for cascades and statues was entirely past。
The Queen occasionally remained a whole month at Petit Trianon； and had established there all the ways of life in a chateau。 She entered the sitting…room without driving the ladies from their pianoforte or embroidery。 The gentlemen continued their billiards or backgammon without suffering her presence to interrupt them。 There was but little room in the small Chateau of Trianon。 Madame Elisabeth accompanied the Queen there； but the ladies of honour and ladies of the palace had no establishment at Trianon。 When invited by the Queen； they came from Versailles to dinner。 The King and Princes came regularly to sup。 A white gown； a gauze kerchief； and a straw hat were the uniform dress of the Princesses。
＇The extreme simplicity of the Queen's toilet began to be strongly censured； at first among the courtiers； and afterwards throughout the kingdom； and through one of those inconsistencies more common in France than elsewhere； while the Queen was blamed； she was blindly imitated。 There was not a woman but would have the same undress； the same cap； and the same feathers as she had been seen to wear。 They crowded to Mademoiselle Bertin； her milliner； there was an absolute revolution in the dress of our ladies； which gave importance to that woman。 Long trains； and all those fashions which confer a certain nobility on dress； were discarded； and at last a duchess could not be distinguished from an actress。 The men caught the mania； the upper classes had long before given up to their lackeys feathers； tufts of ribbon； and laced hats。 They now got rid of red heels and embroidery； and walked about our streets in plain cloth； short thick shoes； and with knotty cudgels in their hands。 Many humiliating scrapes were the consequence of this metamorphosis。 Bearing no mark to distinguish them from the common herd； some of the lowest classes got into quarrels with them； in which the nobles had not always the best of it。 MONTJOIE； 〃History of Marie Antoinette。〃＇
Examining all the manufactories of the hamlet； seeing the cows milked； and fishing in the lake delighted the Queen； and every year she showed increased aversion to the pompous excursions to Marly。
The idea of acting comedies； as was then done in almost all country houses； followed on the Queen's wish to live at Trianon without ceremony。
＇The Queen got through the characters she assumed indifferently enough； she could hardly be ignorant of this； as her performances evidently excited little pleasure。 Indeed； one day while she was thus exhibiting； somebody ventured to say； by no means inaudibly； 〃well； this is royally ill played！〃 The lesson was thrown away upon her； f
