Part 50 (2/2)
At first the education of Saint Cyr had been entrusted to canonesses; but a canoness only takes annual vows; that term expired, she is at liberty to retire andproved thus irresolute as to their estate, and the house being afraid that a greater number would follow, the Abbe de Fenelon, who cannot endure liht fit to introduce fixed and perpetual vows into Saint Cyr, and that willynilly
This elegant abbe says all that he means, and resolutely means all that he can say By means of his lectures, a lory, he easily proved to these poor canonesses that streaan, and never think of suspending their current or abandoning their direction He reminded them that the sun, which is always in its place and always active, never drea its functions, either fros are never seized with the idea or te their crown, and that God, who serves them as a model and example, is ceaselessly occupied, with relation to the world, in preserving, reanienious ht to remain at their post and bind themselves to it by a perpetual vow
The first effect of this fine oration having been a little dissipated, objections broke out One young and lovely canoness dared to hts of her freedom, even in the face of her most amiable enemy
Madame de Maintenon rushed to the succour of the Abbe of Saint Sulpice, and half by wheedling, half by tyranny, obtained the cloister and perpetual vows
I ; he never would pronounce or intervene in this pathetic struggle His royal hand profited, no doubt, by a submission which the Abbe de Fenelon imposed upon timidity, credulity, and obedience The House of Saint Cyr profited thereby; but the King only regretted a new religious convent, for, as a rule, he liked them not How many times has he unburdened himself before me on the subject
CHAPTER XLVII
Final Rupture--Terrible Scene--Madame de Maintenon in the Brocaded Chair
To-day, when time and reflection, and, perhaps, that fund of contempt which is so useful, have finally revealed to me the insurmountable necessities of life, I can look with a certain a did me I had at first resolved to conclude, with the chapter which you have just read, s which have passed or been unfolded before h to approach a narrative which ain; but I finished by considering that our n will be necessarily the subject of a multitude of commentaries, journals, and s will speak of enerations to be; some will paint me as one paints an object whom one loves; others, as the object one detests The latter, to render me more odious, will probably revile my character, and, perhaps, representmistress, who has descended even to supplications!! It is orous hand this important epoch of my life, where reatest of all Kings both as my equal and as an inconstant friend, as a treacherous enemy, and as my inferior or subject He had, at first, the intention of putting entleness got the better of his pride
He grasped the wounds in my heart from the deplorable couilty in her speech, he was far e he pardoned neither of us; he did not forgive himself and he dared not condemn me
Since this sad tis had brought lad to avoid me They found my humour altered, and I admit that a woman who sulks, scolds, or complains is not very attractive company
One day the poor Marechal de Vivonne came to see me; he opened my shutters to callto hiested to o and dine at Clagny I had no will left that day, so I accony, the Marshal, having shut himself up with me in his closet, said to me the words which follow:
”You know, rief which is wearing you out does me almost as ood; and get you away fros are not to be opposed as we oppose our equals; our King, whom you know by heart, has never suffered contradiction He has had you asked, two or three tio and live on your estates Why do you delay to satisfy him, and to withdraw fro, I am very sure, would like to see me away,” I replied to the Marshal, ”but he has never formally expressed himself, and it is untrue that any such wish has been intimated or insinuated to me”
”What! you did not receive two letters last year, which invited you to make up your mind and retire!”
”I received two anony is more true Could those two letters have been sent tohimself?”
”The Marquis de Chamarante wrote them to you, but beneath the eyes, and at the dictation, of his Majesty”
”All, God! What is it you tell ht one of my friends, has lent hiood man, a man of honour; and his essential duty is to please his sovereign, his master Moreover, at the time when the letters were sent you, time remained to you for deliberation To-day, all tio away of your own free will, or receive the affront of a command, and a 'lettre de cachet' in form”
”A 'lettre de cachet' for me! for the mother of the Duc du Maine and the Comte de Toulouse! We shall see that,to see or do but to summon here all your people, and leave to-morrow, either for ; things are pressing, and the day after to-morroill explain all without any secrecy”