the women of the french salons-第14章
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and carefully avoid having any。 It is a passion that is wholly worthless in a well…regulated mind； that only serves to weaken the heart； and should be left to people； who； never doing anything from reason； have need of passion to stimulate their actions。 I love my friends； and I love them to such an extent that I would not for a moment weigh my interest against theirs。 I condescend to them； I patiently endure their bad temper。 But I do not make much of their caresses； and I do not feel great uneasiness at their absence。〃
It would be interesting to quote in full this sample of the close and not always flattering self…analysis so much in fashion； but its length forbids。 Its revelation of the hidden springs of character is at least unique。
The poet Segrais； who was attached to Mademoiselle's household； collected these graphic pictures for private circulation； but they were so much in demand that they were soon printed for the public under the title of 〃Divers Portraits。〃 They served the double purpose of furnishing to the world faithful delineations of many more or less distinguished people and of setting a literary fashion。 The taste for pen…portraits； which originated in the romances of Mlle。 de Scudery； and received a fresh impulse from this novel and personal application； spread rapidly among all classes。 It was taken up by men of letters and men of the world； the nobility； and the bourgeoisie。 There were portraits of every grade of excellence and every variety of people； until they culminated； some years later in 〃Les Caracteres〃 of La Bruyere； who dropped personalities and gave them the form of permanent types。 It is a literature peculiarly adapted to the flexibility and fine perception of the French mind； and one in which it has been preeminent； from the analytic but diffuse Mlle。 de Scudery； and the clear； terse； spirited Cardinal de Retz； to the fine； penetrating； and exquisitely finished Sainte…Beuve； the prince of modern critics and literary artists。 It was this skill in vivid delineation that gave such point and piquancy to the memoirs of the period； which are little more than a series of brilliant and vigorous sketches of people outlined upon a shifting background of events。 In this rapid characterization the French have no rivals。 It is the charm of their fiction as well as of their memoirs。 Balzac； Victor Hugo； and Daudet； are the natural successors of La Bruyere and Saint…Simon。
The marriage of Louis XIV shattered one of the most brilliant illusions of the Grande Mademoiselle； and it was about this time that she wrote a characteristic letter to Mme。 de Motteville； picturing an Arcadia in some beautiful forest； where people are free to do as they like。 The most ardent apostle of socialism could hardly dream of an existence more democratic or more Utopian。 These favored men and women lead a simple； pastoral life。 They take care of the house and the garden； milk the cows； make cheese and cakes； and tend sheep on pleasant days。 But this rustic community must have its civilized amusements。 They visit； drive； ride on horseback； paint； design； play on the lute or clavecin； and have all the new books sent to them。 After reading the lives of heroes and philosophers； the princess is convinced that no one is perfectly happy； and that Christianity is desirable； as it gives hope for the future。 Her platonic and Christian republic is composed of 〃amiable and perfect people；〃 but it is quite free from the entanglements of love and the 〃vulgar institution of marriage。〃 Mme。 de Motteville replies very gracefully； accepting many of these ideas； but as it is difficult to repress love altogether； she thinks 〃one will be obliged to permit that error which an old custom has rendered legitimate； and which is called marriage。〃 This curious correspondence takes its color from the Spanish pastorals which tinged the romantic literature of the time as well as its social life。 The long letters； carefully written on large and heavy sheets yellow with age； have a peculiarly old…time flavor； and throw a vivid 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 cha
