history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第7章
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een to Anet;though the record otherwise is express。' This Duchess; grand…daughter of the great Conde; now a dowager for ten years; and herself turned of seventy; has been a notable figure in French History this great while: a living fragment of Louis le Grand; as it were。 Was wedded to Louis's 〃Legitimated〃 Illegitimate; the Duc du Maine; was in trouble with the Regent d'Orleans about Alberoni…Cellamare conspiracies (1718); Regent having stript her lmsband of his high legitimatures and dignities; with little ceremony; which led her to conspire a good deal; at one time。 'DUC DU MAINE with COMTE DE TOULOUSE were products of Louis XIV。 and Madame de Montespan:〃legitimated〃 by Papa's fiat in 1673; while still only young children; DISlegitimated again by Regent d'Orleans; autumn; 1718; grand scene; 〃guards drawn out〃 and the like; on this occasion (BARBIER; i。 8…11; ii。 181); futile Conspiracies with Alberoni thereupon; arrest of Duchess and Duke (29th December; 1718); and closure of that poor business。 Duc du Maine died 1736; Toulouse next year; ages; each about sixty…five。 〃Duc de Penthievre;〃 Egalite's father…in…law; was Toulouse's son; Maine has left a famous Dowager; whom we see。 Nothing more of notable about the one or the other。' She was never very beautiful; but had a world of grace and witty intelligence; and knew a Voltaire when she saw him。 Was the soul of courtesy and benignity; though proud enough; and carrying her head at its due height; and was always very charming; in her lofty gracious way; to mankind。 Interesting to all; were it only as a living fragment of the Grand Epoch;kind of French Fulness of Time; when the world was at length blessed with a Louis Quatorze; and Ne…plus…ultra of a Gentleman determined to do the handsome thing in this world。 She is much frequented by high people; especially if of a Literary or Historical turn。 President Henault (of the ABREGE CHRONOLOGIQUE; the well…frilled; accurately powdered; most correct old legal gentleman) is one of her adherents; Voltaire is another; that may stand for many: there is an old Marquis de St。 Aulaire; whom she calls 〃MON VIEUX BERGER (my old shepherd;〃 that is to say; sweetheart or flame of love); 'BARBIER; ii。 87; see ib。 (i。 8…11; ii。 181; 436; &c。) for many notices of her affairs and her。' there is a most learned President de Mesmes; and others we have heard of; but do not wish to know。 Little De Staal was at one time this fine Duchess's maid; but has far outgrown all that; a favorite guest of the Duchess's instead; holds now mainly by Madame du Deffand (not yet fallen blind);and is well turned of fifty; and known for one of the shrewdest little souls in the world; at the time she writes。 Her Letter is addressed 〃TO MADAME DU DEFFAND; at Paris;〃 most free…flowing female Letter; of many pages; runs on; day after day; for a fortnight or so;only Excerpts of it introducible here:
〃SCEAUX; TUESDAY; 15th AUGUST; 1747。 。。。 Madame du Chatelet and Voltaire; who had announced themselves as for to…day; and whom nobody had heard of otherwise; made their appearance yesternight; near midnight; like two Spectres; with an odor of embalmment about them; as if just out of their tombs。 We were rising from table; the Spectres; however; were hungry ones: they needed supper; and what is more; beds; which were not ready。 The Housekeeper (CONCIERGE); who had gone to bed; rose in great haste。 Gaya 'amiable gentleman; conceivable; not known'; who had offered his apartment for pressing cases; was obliged to yield it in this emergency: he flitted with as much precipitation and displeasure as an army surprised in its camp; leaving a part of his baggage in the enemy's hands。 Voltaire thought the lodging excellent; but that did not at all console Gaya。
〃As to the Lady; her bed turns out not to have been well made; they have had to put her in a new place to…day。 Observe; she made that bed herself; no servants being up; and had found a blemish or DEFAUT of〃word wanting: who knows what?〃in the mattresses; which I believe hurt her exact mind; more than her not very delicate body。 She has got; in the interim; an apartment promised to somebody else; and she will have to leave it again on Friday or Saturday; and go into that of Marechal de Maillebois; who leaves at that time。〃
Yes; Maillebois in the body; O reader。 This is he; with the old ape…face renewed by paint; whom we once saw marching with an 〃Army of Redemption;〃 haggling in the Passes about Eger; unable to redeem Belleisle; marching and haggling; more lately; with a 〃Middle…Rhine Army;〃 and the like non…effect; since which; fighting his best in Italy;pushed home last winter; with Browne's bayonets in his back; Belleisle succeeding him in dealing with Browne。 Belleisle; and the 〃Revolt of Genoa〃 (fatal to Browne's Invasion of us); and the Defence of Genoa and the mutual worryings thereabout; are going on at a great rate;and there is terrible news out of those Savoy Passes; while Maillebois is here。 Concerning which by and by。 He is grandson of the renowned Colbert; this Maillebois。 A Field…Marshal evidently extant; you perceive; in those vanished times: is to make room for Madame on Friday; says our little De Staal; and take leave of us;if for good; so much the better!
〃He came at the time we did; with his daughter and grand…daughter: the one is pretty; the other ugly and dreary 'l'UNE; L'AUTRE; no saying which; in such important case! Madame la Marechale; the mother and grandmother; I think must be dead。 Not beautiful she; nor very benignant; 〃UNE TRES…MECHANTE FEMME; very cat…witted woman;〃 says Barbier; 〃shrieked like a devil; at Court; upon the Cardinal;〃 about that old ARMY…OF…REDEMPTION business; but all her noise did nothing'。 'Barbier; ii; 332 (〃November; 1742〃)。' M。 le Marechal has hunted here with his dogs; in these fine autumn woods and glades; chased a bit of a stag; and caught a poor doe's fawn: that was all that could be got there。
〃Our new Guests will make better sport: they are going to have their Comedy acted again 'Comedy of THE EXCHANGE; much an entertainment with them': Vanture 'conceivable; not known' is to do the Count de Boursoufle (DE BLISTER or DE WINDBAG); you will not say this is a hit; any more than Madame du Chatelet's doing the Hon。 Miss Piggery (LA COCHONNIERE); who ought to be fat and short。〃 'L'ECHANGE; The Exchange; or WHEN SHALL I GET NARRIED? Farce in three acts: OEuvres; x。 167…222; used to be played at Cirey and elsewhere (see plenty of details upon it; exact or not quite so; IB。 7…9)。'Little De Staal then abruptly breaks off; to ask about her Correspondent's health; and her Correspondent's friend old President Henault's health; touches on those 〃grumblings and discords in the Army (TRACASSERIES DE L'ARMEE);〃 which are making such astir; how M。 d'Argenson; our fine War…Minister; man of talent amid blockheads; will manage them; and suddenly exclaims: 〃O my queen; what curious animals men and women are! I laugh at their manoeuvres; the days when I have slept well; if I have missed sleep; I could kill them。 These changes of temper prove that I do not break off kind。 Let us mock other people; and let other people mock us; it is well done on both sides。'Poor little De Staal: to what a posture have things come with you; in that fast…rotting Epoch; of Hypocrisies becoming all insolvent!'
〃WEDNESDAY; 16th。 Our Ghosts do not show themselves by daylight。 They appeared yesterday at ten in the evening; I do not think we shall see them sooner to…day: the one is engaged in writing high feats 'SIECLE DE LOUIS XV。; or what at last became such'; the other in commenting Newton。 They will neither play nor walk: they are; in fact; equivalent to ZEROS in a society where their learned writings are of no significance。'Pauses; without notice given: for some hours; perhaps days; then resuming:' Nay; worse still: their apparition to…night has produced a vehement declamation on one of our little social diversions here; the game of CAVAGNOLE: '〃Kind of BIRIBI;〃 it would appear; in the height of fashion then。' it was continued and maintained;〃 on the part of Madame du Chatelet; you guess; 〃in a tone which is altogether unheard of in this place; and was endured;〃 on the part of Serene Highness; 〃with a mode