the women of the french salons-第60章
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oix； and the witty； lovable Marechale de Beauvau。 As a rule； though devoted to her friends and kind to those who sought her aid； Mme。 de Stael did not like the society of women。 Perhaps they did not always respond to her elevated and swiftly flowing thoughts； or it may be that she wounded the vanity of those who were cast into the shade by talents so conspicuous and conversation so eloquent； and who felt the lack of sympathetic rapport。 Society is au fond republican； and is apt to resent autocracy； even the autocracy of genius； when it takes the form of monologue。 It is contrary to the social spirit。 The salon of Mme。 de Stael not only took its tone from herself； but it was a reflection of herself。 She was not beautiful； and she dressed badly； indeed； she seems to have been singularly free from that personal consciousness which leads people to give themselves the advantages of an artistic setting； even if the taste is not inborn。 She was too intent upon what she thought and felt； to give heed to minor details。 But in her conversation； which was a sort of improvisation； her eloquent face was aglow； her dark eyes flashed with inspiration； her superb form and finely poised head seemed to respond to the rhythmic flow of thoughts that were emphasized by the graceful gestures of an exquisitely molded hand； in which she usually held a sprig of laurel。 〃If I were queen；〃 said Mme。 de Tesse； 〃I would order Mme。 de Stael to talk to me always。〃
But this center in which the more thoughtful spirits of the old regime met the brilliant and active leaders of the new was broken up by the storm which swept away so many of its leaders； and Mme。 de Stael； after lingering in the face of dangers to save her friends； barely escaped with her life on the eve of the September massacres of 1792。 〃She is an excellent woman；〃 said one of her contemporaries； 〃who drowns all her friends in order to have the pleasure of angling for them。〃
Mme。 de Stael resumed her place and organized her salon anew in 1795。l But it was her fate to live always in an atmosphere surcharged with storms。 She was too republican for the aristocrats； and too aristocratic for the republicans。 Distrusted by both parties and feared by the Directoire； she found it advisable after a few months to retire to Coppet。 Less than two years later she was again in Paris。 Her friends were then in power； notably Talleyrand。 〃If I remain here another year I shall die；〃 he had written her from America； and she had generously secured the repeal of the decree that exiled him； a kindness which he promptly forgot。 Though her enthusiasm for the republic was much moderated； and though she had been so far dazzled by the genius of Napoleon as to hail him as a restorer of order； her illusions regarding him were very short…lived。 She had no sympathy with his aims at personal power。 Her drawing room soon became the rallying point for his enemies and the center of a powerful opposition。 But she had a natural love for all forms of intellectual distinction； and her genius and fame still attracted a circle more or less cosmopolitan。 Ministers of state and editors of leading journals were among her guests。 Joseph and Lucien Bonaparte were her devoted friends。 The small remnant of the noblesse that had any inclination to return to a world which had lost its charm for them found there a trace of the old politeness。 Mathieu de Montmorency； devout and charitable； his brother Adrien； delicate in spirit and gentle in manners； Narbonne； still devoted and diplomatic； and the Chevalier de Boufflers； gay； witty； and brilliant； were of those who brought into it something of the tone of the past regime。 There were also the men of the new generation； men who were saturated with the principles of the Revolution though regretting its methods。 Among these were Chebnier； Regnault； and Benjamin Constant。
The influence of Mme。 de Stael was at its height during this period。 Her talent； her liberal opinions； and her persuasive eloquence gave her great power over the constitutional leaders。 The measures of the Government were freely discussed and criticized in her salon； and men went out with positions well defined and speeches well considered。 The Duchesse d'Abrantes relates an incident which aptly illustrates this power and its reaction upon herself。 Benjamin Constant had prepared a brilliant address。 The evening before it was to be delivered； Mme。 de Stael was surrounded by a large and distinguished company。 After tea was served he said to her：
〃Your salon is filled with people who please you； if I speak tomorrow； it will be deserted。 Think of it。〃
〃One must follow one's convictions；〃 she replied； after a moment's hesitation。
She admitted afterward that she would never have refused his offer not to compromise her； if she could have foreseen all that would follow。
The next day she invited her friends to celebrate his triumph。 At four o'clock a note of excuse； in an hour； ten。 From this time her fortunes waned。 Many ceased to visit her salon。 Even Talleyrand； who owed her so much； came there no more。
In later years she confessed that the three men she had most loved were Narbonne； Talleyrand； and Mathieu de Montmorency。 Her friendship for the first of these reached a passionate exaltation； which had a profound and not altogether wholesome influence upon her life。 How completely she was disenchanted is shown in a remark she made long afterward of a loyal and distinguished man： 〃He has the manners of Narbonne and a heart。〃 It is a character in a sentence。 Mathieu de Montmorency was a man of pure motives； who proved a refuge of consolation in many storms； but her regard for him was evidently a gentler flame that never burned to extinction。 Whatever illusions she may have had as to Talleyrandand they seem to have been little more than an enthusiastic appreciation of his talentwere certainly broken by his treacherous desertion in her hour of need。 Not the least among her many sorrows was the bitter taste of ingratitude。
But Napoleon； who； like Louis XIV； sought to draw all influences and merge all power in himself； could not tolerate a woman whom he felt to be in some sense a rival。 He thought he detected her hand in the address of Benjamin Constant which lost her so many friends。 He feared the wit that flashed in her salon； the satire that wounded the criticism that measured his motives and his actions。 He recognized the power of a coterie of brilliant intellects led by a genius so inspiring。 His brothers； knowing her vulnerable point and the will with which she had to deal； gave her a word of caution。 But the advice and intercession of her friends were alike without avail。 The blow which she so much feared fell at last； and she found herself an exile and a wanderer from the scenes she most loved。
We have many pleasant glimpses of her life at Coppet； but a shadow always rests upon it。 A few friends still cling to her through the bitter and relentless persecutions that form one of the most singular chapters in history； and offer the most remarkable tribute to her genius and her power。 We find here Schlegel； Sismondi； Mathieu de Montmorency； Prince Augustus； Monti； Mme。 Recamier； and many other distinguished visitors of various nationalities。 The most prominent figure perhaps was Benjamin Constant； brilliant； gifted； eloquent； passionate； vain； and capricious； the torturing consolation and the stormy problem of her saddest years。 She revived the old literary diversions。 At eleven o'clock； we are told； the guests assembled at breakfast； and the conversations took a high literary tone。 They were resumed at dinner； and continued often until midnight。 Here； as elsewhere； Mme。 de Stael was queen； holding her guests entranced by the magic of her words。 〃Life is for me like a ball after the music has ceased；〃 said Sismondi when her voice was silent。 She was a veritable Corinne in her esprit； her sentiment； her gift of improvisation； and her underlying melancholy。 But in this choice company hers was not the only voice； though it was heard above all the others。 Thought and wit flashed and sparkled。 Dramas were playedthe 〃Zaire〃 and 〃Tancred〃 of Voltaire； and tragedies wri
