the women of the french salons-第15章
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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 for some time in the country； where she had leisure for the reading and reflection which fitted her for her later life。 But after the death of her husband she was obliged to sell her estates； and we find her established in the Place Royale with her devoted friend； the Comtesse de Maure； and continuing the traditions of the Hotel de Rambouillet。 Her tastes had been formed in this circle； and she had also been under the instruction of the Chevalier de Mere； a litterateur and courtier who had great vogue； was something of an oracle； and molded the character and manners of divers women of this period； among others the future Mme。 de Maintenon。 His confidence in his own power of bringing talent out of mediocrity was certainly refreshing。 Among his pupils was the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres； who said to him one day； 〃I wish to have esprit。〃〃Eh bien； Madame；〃 replied the complaisant chevalier； 〃you shall have it。〃
How much Mme。 de Sable may have been indebted to this modest bel esprit we do not know； but her finished manner； fine taste； exquisite tact； cultivated intellect； and great experience of the world made her an authority in social matters。 To be received in her salon was to be received everywhere。 Cardinal Mazarin watched her influence with a jealous eye。 〃Mme。 de Longueville is very intimate with the Marquise de Sable；〃 he writes in his private note book。 〃She is visited constantly by D'Andilly； the Princesse de Guemene； d'Enghien and his sister； Nemours； and many others。 They speak freely of all the world。 It is necessary to have some one who will advise us of all that passes there。〃
But the death of her favorite sona young man distinguished for graces of person； mind； heart； and character； who lost his life in one of the battles of his friend and comrade； the Prince de Condetogether with the loss of her fortune and the fading of her beauty； turned the thoughts of the Marquise to spiritual things。 We find many traces of the state of mind which led her first into a mild form of devotion； serious but not too ascetic； and later into pronounced Jansenism。 In a note to a friend who had neglected her； she dwells upon 〃the misery and nothingness of the world；〃 recalls the strength of their long friendship； the depth of her own affection； and tries to account for the disloyalty to herself； by the inherent weakness and emptiness of human nature； which renders it impossible for even the most perfect to do anything that is not defective。 All this is very charitable； to say the least； as well as a little abstract。 Time has given a strange humility and forgivingness to the woman who broke with her dearest friend； the unfortunate Duc de Montmorency； because he presumed to lift his eyes to the Queen； saying that she 〃could not receive pleasantly the regards which she had to share with the greatest princess in the world。〃
The fashion of the period furnished a peaceful and dignified refuge for women； when their beauty waned and the 〃terrible forties〃 ended their il
