the women of the french salons-第48章
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quickly wearied of him again； grew dull； silent； lost her vivacity； and fell into a profound melancholy。 Her friend Mme。 de Parabere took it upon herself to explain to him the facts； and he kindly relieved her forever of his presence； leaving a touching and pathetic letter which gave her a moment of remorse in spite of her lightened heart。 This sin against good taste the Parisian world could not forgive； and even her friends turned against her for a time。 But the Duchesse due Maine came to her aid with an all…powerful influence； and restored her finally to her old position。 For some years she passed the greater part of her time at Sceaux； and was a favorite at this lively little court。
It is needless to trace here the details of a career which gives us little to admire and much to condemn。 It was about 1740 when her salon became noted as a center for the fashionable and literary world of Paris。 Montesquieu and d'Alembert were then among her intimate friends。 Of the latter she says： 〃The simplicity of his manners； the purity of his morals； the air of youth； the frankness of character； joined to all his talents； astonished at first those who saw him。〃 It is said to have been through her zeal that he was admitted to the Academy so young。 Among others who formed her familiar circle were her devoted friend Pont de Veyle； the Chevalier d'Aydie； Formont； the 〃spirituel idler and amiable egotist；〃 who was one of the three whom she confesses really to have loved； and President Henault； who brought always a fund of lively anecdote and agreeable conversation。 This world of fashion and letters； slightly seasoned with philosophy； is also the world of Mme。 de Luxembourg； of the brilliant Mme。 de Mirepoix； of the Prince and Princesse de Beauvau； and of the lovely Duchesse de Choiseul； a femme d'esprit and 〃mistress of all the elegances；〃 whose gentle virtues fall like a ray of sunlight across the dark pages of this period。 It is the world of elegant forms； the world in which a sin against taste is worse than a sin against morals； the world which hedges itself in by a thousand unwritten laws that save it from boredom。
After the death of the Duchesse du Maine； Mme。 du Deffand retired to the little convent of St。 Joseph； where； after the manner of many women of rank with small fortunes； she had her menage and received her friends。 〃I have a very pretty apartment；〃 she writes to Voltaire； 〃very convenient； I only go out for supper。 I do not sleep elsewhere； and I make no visits。 My society is not numerous； but I am sure it will please you； and if you were here you would make it yours。 I have seen for some time many savants and men of letters； I have not found their society delightful。〃 The good nuns objected a little to Voltaire at first； but seem to have been finally reconciled to the visits of the arch…heretic。 At this time Mme。 du Deffand had supposably reformed her conduct； if not her belief。
She continued to entertain the flower of the nobility and the stars of the literary and scientific world。 But while the most famous of the men of letters were welcome in her salon； the tone was far from pedantic or even earnest。 It was a society of conventional people； the elite of fashion and intelligence； who amused themselves in an intellectual but not too serious way。 Montesquieu； who liked those houses in which he could pass with his every…day wit； said； 〃I love this woman with all my heart； she pleases and amuses me； it is impossible to feel a moment's ennui in her company。〃 Mme。 de Genlis； who did not love her expressed her surprise at finding her so natural and so kindly。 Her conversation was simple and without pretension。 When she was pleased； her manners were even affectionate。 She never entered into a discussion； confessing that she was not sufficiently attached to any opinion to defend it。 She disliked the enthusiasm of the philosophers unless it was hidden behind the arts of the courtier； as in Voltaire； whose delicate satire charmed her。 Diderot came once； 〃eyed her epicurean friends；〃 and came no more。 The air was not free enough。 When at home she had three or four at supper every day； often a dozen； and； once a week； a grand supper。 All the intellectual fashions of the time are found here。 La Harpe reads a translation from Sophocles and his own tragedy。 Clairon； the actress in vogue； recites the roles of Phedre and Agrippine； Lekain reads Voltaire； and Goldoni a comedy of his own； which the hostess finds tiresome。 New books； new plays； the last song； the latest word of the philosophersall are talked about； eulogized； or dismissed with a sarcasm。 The wit of Mme。 du Deffand is feared； but it fascinates。 She delights in clever repartees and sparkling epigrams。 A shaft of wit silences the most complacent of monologues。 〃What tiresome book are you reading？〃 she said one day to a friend who talked too earnestly and too longsaving herself from the charge of rudeness by an easy refuge in her blindness。
Her criticisms are always severe。 〃There are only two pleasures for me in the worldsociety and reading；〃 she writes。 〃What society does one find？ Imbeciles； who utter only commonplaces； who know nothing； feel nothing； think nothing； a few people of talent； full of themselves； jealous； envious； wicked； whom one must hate or scorn。〃 To some one who was eulogizing a mediocre man； adding that all the world was of the same opinion； she replied； 〃I make small account of the world； Monsieur； since I perceive that one can divide it into three parts； les trompeurs； les trompes； et les trompettes。〃 Still it is life alone that interests her。 Though she is not satisfied with people； she has always the hope that she will be。 In literature she likes only letters and memoirs； because they are purely human； but the age has nothing that pleases her。 〃It is cynical or pedantic；〃 she writes to Voltaire； 〃there is no grace； no facility； no imagination。 Everything is a la glace； hardness without force； license without gaiety； no talent； much presumption。〃
As age came on； and she felt the approach of blindness； she found a companion in Mlle。 de Lespinasse； a young girl of remarkable gifts； who had an obscure and unacknowledged connection with her family。 For ten years the young woman was a slave to the caprices of her exacting mistress； reading to her through long nights of wakeful restlessness； and assisting to entertain her guests。 The one thing upon which Mme。 du Deffand most prided herself was frankness。 She hated finesse； and had stipulated that she would not tolerate artifice in any form。 It was her habit to lie awake all night and sleep all day； and as she did not receive her guests until six o'clock； Mlle。 de Lespinasse； whose amiable character and conversational charm had endeared her at once to the circle of her patroness； arranged to see her personal friendsamong whom were d'Alembert； Turgot； Chastellux； and Marmontelin her own apartments for an hour before the marquise appeared。 When this came to the knowledge of the latter； she fell into a violent rage at what she chose to regard as a treachery to herself； and dismissed her companion at once。 The result was the opening of a rival salon which carried off many of her favorite guests； notably d'Alembert； to whom she was much attached。 〃If she had died fifteen years earlier； I should not have lost d'Alembert；〃 was her sympathetic remark when she heard of the death of Mlle。 de Lespinasse。
But the most striking point in the career of this worldly woman was her friendship for Horace Walpole。 When they first met she was nearly seventy； blind； ill…tempered； bitter； and hopelessly ennuyee。 He was not yet fifty； a brilliant； versatile man of the world； and saw her only at long intervals。 Their curious correspondence extends over a period of fifteen years； ending only with her death。
In a letter to Grayson； after meeting her； he writes： 〃Mme。 du Deffand is now very old and stone blind； but retains all her vivacity； wit； memory； judgment； passion； and agreeableness。 She goes to operas； plays； suppers； Versailles； gives supper twice a week； has everything new read to her； makes new songs and epigramsaye； admirablyand remembers every one that has been
