Part 49 (1/2)
On the report and conclusions of M de Louvois, his Majesty commanded the senators of Genoa to hand over to his Minister of War the sue and four of the 's pardon in his palace at Versailles
The senate having replied that, by a fundae could not leave the city without instantly losing his power and dignity, the King answered this e would obey as an extraordinary circuate fro's will being explicit and unalterable, the Doge would none the less , his Majesty sent a fleet into Italian waters, and the city of Genoa immediately sustained theof distress and sub been flown froe set out for Versailles, accompanied by the four oldest senators
At the news of their approach, all Paris echoed the songs of triumph that M de Louvois had had composed A spacious hotel was prepared to receive these representatives of a noble, aristocratic republic; and, to withdraw theuards and archers
Although the chateau of Versailles was in all the lustre of its novelty, since it had been inhabited for only two years, I perceived that they had even been adding to its nificence, and that everywhere were new curtains, new candelabra, new carpets The throne on which the monarch was to sit surpassed all that we had ever seen
On the eve of the solenito before the minister, who dictated to them their costumes, their reverences, and all the substance of their address The influx of strangers and Parisians to Versailles, to be witnesses of such a spectacle, was so extraordinary and prodigious that the hostels and other public inns were insufficient, and they were obliged to light fires of yew in all the gardens
In the great apartht perht be all there and prepared on the following day On the two sides of the great gallery they had raised tribunes in steps, draped in 'Cramoisi' velvet It was on these steps, which were entirely new, that all the ladies were placed
The lords stood upright below thee on each side
When his Majesty appeared on his throne, the fire of the diamonds hich he was covered for aseemed to me less animated than was his wont; but his fine appearance, which never quits him, rendered him sufficiently fit for such a representation and his part in it
The Doge of the humiliated Republic exhibited neither obsequiousness nor pride We found his demeanour that of a philosopher prepared for all huues walked after hie Lescaro had asked for pardon, as he had sub, who noticed the general emotion, descended froes, and, srace, he once more drew all hearts to him
I was placed at two paces froe,--as never left by a master of cere before me, made a profound reverence He then drew near Madame de Maintenon, who heard all his compliments, said to him, in Italian, all that could be said, and did hi fro's
On the next day the Doge and senators caet me in their visits of ceremony
CHAPTER XLV
The Comte de Vermandois--His Entrance into the World--Quarrels with the Dauphin--Duel--Siege of Courtrai--The Cathedral of Arras
When Madah) left the Court and the world to shut herself up in a cloister, she coreat imprudence; I should not kno to repeat it: The Carmelites in the Rue Saint Jacques could easily do without her; her two poor little children could not The King confided theovernesses ere prudent, attentive, and capable; but all the governors and preceptors in the world will never replace a mother,--above all, in a place of dissipation, tumult, and carelessness like the Court
M le Coerated scruples and bad advice deprived him of his mother This amiable child, who loved her, at first suffered much from her absence and departure He had to be taken to the Carmelites, where the sad metamorphosis of his , ht
He loved her always as much as he was loved by her, and in virtue of the periven by the Pope, he went every week to pass an hour or tith her in the parlour He regularly took there his singing and flute lessons; these were two amiable talents in which he excelled
About his twelfth year he was taken with the h them fairly well The s brown face A severe shower of rain, which caught him in some forest, made him take rheu with health and grace
The King loved him tenderly, and everybody at Court shared this predilection of the monarch M de Vermandois, of a stature less than his father, was none the less one of the handsoraces of his amiable mother he joined an ease of manner, a mixture of nobility and modesty, which made him noticeable in the midst of the most handsome and well made I loved hiallant caresses, it was easy to see that he made me a sincere return
This poor Comte de Verreat and famous dispute with Monsieur le Dauphin, a jealous prince, which brought him his first troubles, and deprived hi favour of the Infanta-queen
At a ball, at the duchesse de Villeroi's, all the Princes of the Blood appeared Monseigneur, who froitie with M le Prince de Conti Monseigneur is lacking in tact At this ball he thought he could parade his senti husband and to the Princess herself He danced, nevertheless, for soned to be seized with a sharp pain in the spleen, and was conducted to a sofa The young Comte de Ver signs of gaiety; their chatter areat freedoh Monsieur le Dauphin was assuredly not in their thoughts, he thought they were ht of the Princess and said to her: