the women of the french salons-第35章
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Of her influence we need no better evidence than the fact that her salon was called the antechamber to the Academie Francaise。
The precise effect of this influence of women over the most powerful critical body ot eh century； or of any century； perhaps； we can hardly measure。 In the fact that the Academy became for a time philosophical rather than critical； and dealt with theories rather than with pure literature； we trace the finger of the more radical thinkers who made themselves so strongly felt in the salons。 Sainte=Beuve tells us that Fontenelle； with other friends of Mme。 de Lambert； first gave it this tendency； but his mission was apparently an unconscious one； and strikingly illustrates the accidental character of the sources of the intellectual currents which sometimes change the face of the world。 〃If I had a handful of truths； I should take good care not to open it；〃 said this sybarite； who would do nothing that was likely to cause him trouble。 But the truths escaped in spite of him； and these first words of the new philosophy were perhaps the more dangerous because veiled and insidious。 〃You have written the 'Histoire des Oracles；'〃 said a philosopher to him； after he had been appointed the royal censor； 〃and you refuse me your approbation。〃 〃Monsieur；〃 replied Fontenelle； 〃if I had been censor when I wrote the 'Histoire des Oracles；' I should have carefully avoided giving it my approbation。〃 But if the philosophers finally determined the drift of this learned body； it was undoubtedly the tact and diplomacy of women which constituted the most potent factor in the elections which placed them there。 The mantle of authority； so gracefully worn by Mme。 de Lambert； fell upon her successors； Mme。 Geoffrin and Mlle。 de Lespinasse； losing none of its prestige。 As a rule； the best men in France were sooner or later enrolled among the Academicians。 If a few missed the honor through failure to enlist the favor of women； as has been said； and a few better courtiers of less merit attained it； the modern press has not proved a more judicious tribunal。
CHAPTER X。 THE DUCHESSE DU MAINE Her Capricious CharacterHer EspritMlle。 de LaunayClever Portrait of Her MistressPerpetual Fetes at SceauxVoltaire and the 〃Divine Emilie〃Dilettante Character of this Salon。
The life of the eighteenth century； with its restlessness； its love of amusements； its ferment of activities； and its essential frivolity； finds a more fitting representative in the Duchesse du Maine； granddaughter of the Grand Conde； and wife of the favorite son of Louis XIV； and Mme。 de Montespan。 The transition from the serene and thoughtful atmosphere which surrounded Mme。 de Lambert； to the tumultuous whirl of existence at Sceaux； was like passing from the soft light and tranquillity of a summer evening to the glare and confusion of perpetual fireworks。 Of all the unique figures of a masquerading age this small and ambitious princess was perhaps the most striking； the most pervading。 It was by no means her aim to take her place in the world as queen of a salon。 Louise…Benedicte de Bourbon belonged to the royal race； and this was by far the most vivid fact in her life。 She was but a few steps from the throne； and political intrigues played a conspicuous part in her singular career。 But while she waited for the supreme power to which she aspired； and later； when the feverish dream of her life was ended； she must be amused； and her diversions must have an intellectual and imaginative flavor。 Wits； artists； literary men； and savants were alike welcome at Sceaux； if they amused her and entertained her guests。 〃One lived there by esprit； and esprit is my God；〃 said Mme。 du Deffand； who was among the brightest ornaments of this circle。
Born in 1676； the Duchesse du Maine lived through the first half of the next century； of which her little court was one of the most notable features。 Scarcely above the stature of a child of ten years； slightly deformed； with a fair face lighted by fine eyes； classically though superficially educated； gifted in conversation； witty； brilliant； adoring talent； but cherishing all the prejudices of the old noblesseshe represented in a superlative degree the passion for esprit which lent such exceptional brilliancy to the social life of the time。
In character the duchess was capricious and passionate。 〃If she were as good as she is wicked；〃 said the sharp…tongued Palatine； 〃there would be nothing to say against her。 She is tranquil during the day and passes it playing at cards； but at its close the extravagances and fits of passion begin； she torments her husband； her children； her servants； to such a point that they do not know which way to turn。〃 Her will brooked no opposition。 When forced to leave the Tuileries after the collapse of her little bubble of political power； she deliberately broke every article of value in her apartments； consigning mirrors； vases； statues； porcelains alike to a common ruin； that no one else might enjoy them after her。 This fiery scion of a powerful family； who had inherited its pride； its ambition； its uncontrollable passions； and its colossal will； had little patience with the serene temperament and dilettante tastes of her amiable husband； and it is said she did not scruple to make him feel the force of her small hands。 〃You will waken some morning to find yourself in the Academie Francaise； and the Duc d'Orleans regent；〃 she said to him one day when he showed her a song he had translated。 Her device was a bee； with this motto： 〃I am small； but I make deep wounds。〃 Doubtless its fitness was fully realized by those who belonged to the Ordre de la Mouche…a…miel which she had instituted； and whose members were obliged to swear； by Mount Hymettus； fidelity and obedience to their perpetual dictator。 But what pains and chagrins were not compensated by the bit of lemon…colored ribbon and its small meed of distinction！
The little princess worked valiantly for political power； but she worked in vain。 The conspiracy against the regent； which seemed to threaten another Fronde； came to nothing； and this ardent instrigante； who had the disposition to 〃set the four corners of the kingdom on fire〃 to attain her ends； found her party dispersed and herself in prison。 But this was only an episode； and though it gave a death blow to her dreams of power； it did not quench her irrepressible ardor。 If she could not rule in one way； she would in another。 As soon as she regained her freedom； her little court was again her kingdom； and no sovereign ever reigned more imperiously。 〃I am fond of company；〃 she said； 〃for I listen to no one； and every one listens to me。〃 It was an incessant thirst for power； a perpetual need of the sweet incense of flattery； that was at the bottom of this 〃passion for a multitude。〃 〃She believed in herself；〃 writes Mlle。 de Launay； afterward Baronne de Staal； 〃as she believed in God or Descartes； without examination and without discussion。〃
This lady's maid； who loved mathematics and anatomy； was familiar with Malebranche and Descartes； and left some literary reputation as a writer of gossipy memoirs； was a prominent figure in the lively court at Sceaux for more than forty years； and has given us some vivid pictures of her capricious mistress。 A young girl of clear intellect and good education； but without rank； friends； or fortune； she was forced to accept the humiliating position of femme de chambre with the Duchesse du Maine； who had been attracted by her talents。 She was brought into notice through a letter to Fontenelle； which was thought witty enough to be copied and circulated。 If she had taken this cool dissector of human motives as a model； she certainly did credit to his teaching。 Her curiously analytical mind is aptly illustrated by her novel method of measuring her lover's passion。 He was in the habit of accompanying her home from the house of a friend。 When he began to cross the square； instead of going round it； she concluded that his love had diminished in the exact proportion of two sides of a square to the diagonal。 Promoted to the position of a companion； she devoted herself to the interests of her restless mistress； read to her； talked with her
