Part 35 (1/2)
At the hour fixed upon I set out, conducted by the ducs d'Aiguillon and de Cosse, and now I remember I have introduced this latter to you for the first time, however I will promise that it will not be for the last; he possessed, and still possesses all the virtues of his noble house, he was i heart, and proud fro, handso, he was pre-eminently calculated both to inspire love, and to feel it; it was quite i the affections of any female he exerted himself to please, and even at the present tiraces, he is still irresistible as ever; his naturally gay disposition was but ill suited to nourishi+ng grave or philosophic reasoning, but then he was the soul of company, and possessed a fine and delicate hich ever vented itself in the hts of old, holly devoted to his king and his mistress, and would, I am sure, had the occasion required it, have nobly died in defence of either; I only pray he inning of our acquaintance, but as his many amiable qualities became better known, I found myself al to confess in the business, I could hardly choose a better opportunity than the present, did I not recollect that the good duc d'Aiguillon is waiting all this while for me to announce the entree of our party into the ante-room of Madame de Valentinois
My entrance was a co on the bed of sickness, yet there I stood in all the fulness of health and freshness of beauty I could very easily read upon each countenance the vexation and rage my appearance of entire freedom from all ailment excited; however, I proceeded without any delay to theher visitors, and playing the amiable to the dauphiness This princess seemed equally astonished at uard, she could not prevent herself fro the profound salutation I uyon, when she saw me, she turned alternately froive public vent to her fury The comte de Provence, who had been told that I was not expected, began to laugh when he perceivedme, he said, ”Ah, madame! so you too can ht of charms like yours is sufficient to strike terror into any adversaries, without having recourse to any expedient to heighten their effect” Saying this he passed on without giving , as I could have wished to have done
The marechale de Mirepoix, to whom I had confided my secret, and of whose fidelity I was assured, was present at the fete I availed myself of the offer of a seat near her and directly ere seated, ”You are a clever creature,” said she, ”for you have co's society, and by way of a finishi+ng stroke will run aith the hearts of all the flutterers here, before the fair ladies they were previously hovering around, have recovered their first astonish, ”I do not wonder at the kind looks hich the ladies favourso much mischief”
”Pray, my dear,” answered the ht be as 's affections; the consequence is, that every woman with even a passable face looks upon you as the usurper of her right, and as the fickle gentleentle ladies are all ready to transfer their hoe to you directly you appear, you must admit that your presence is calculated to produce no inconsiderable degree of confusion”
The co's entertained us to cease further conversation The first piece represented was ”Rose et Colas,” a charave a fresh char the best of the Co mademoiselle Caroline I was coot both my cabals and recent triumph, and for a while believed myself actually transported to the rural scenes it represented, surrounded by the honest villagers so well depicted; but this delightful vision soon passed away, and soon, too soon I awoke from it to find myself surrounded by my excellent friends at court
”Rose et Colas” was followed by a species of cos This piece holly in honour of the dauphiness, with the exception of soross compliments to my cousin the chancellor, who, in new silk robe and a fine powdered as also present at this fete
The performers in this little piece, ere Favart, the actor, and Voisenon, the priest, must have been fully satisfied with the reception they obtained, for the coh it had been one of the chefs d'oeuvre of Voltaire In general a private audience is very indulgent so long as the representation lasts, but no sooner has the curtain fallen than they indulge in a greater severity of criticism than a public audience would do And so it happened on the evening in question; one couplet had particularly excited the discontent of the spectators, male and female; I know not what prophetic spirit inspired the lines
The unfortunate couplet was productive of ainst the husband and lover of reater part of the persons present perfectly detested s of chicanery” Favart ed to escape just in tih favour with his judges, was coht of their coainst hi froence upon such rossness of his flattery; the poor abbe atte of the hateful couplet, and that Favart alone was the guilty person upon whoer
”I am always,” cried he, ”doomed to suffer for the offences of others; every kind of folly is made a present to me”
”Have a care, uests, ”have a care! ifts but upon those who are rich enough to return the original present in a tenfold degree” This somewhat sarcastic remark was most favourably received by all who heard it, it quickly circulated through the room, while the poor, oppressed abbe protested, with vehement action
The fete itself was ht have sent the different visitors horee, had not spite and ill-nature suggested to uyon, that as the chancellor and iven with a view of coht to irritate the dauphiness by insinuating the same mean and contemptible observations, and so far did she succeed, that when madame de Valentinois approached to express her hopes that the entertainment which she had honoured with her presence had been to her royal highness's satisfaction, the dauphiness coolly replied, ”Do not, 's fete one bestowed in honour of myself, or any part of my family; 'tis true we have been the ostensible causes, and have, by our presence, given it all the effect you desired, but you will pardon our o to thank you for an attention, which was in reality, directed to the comtesse du Barry and M de Maupeou”
FACSIMILE OF LETTER FROM MME DU BARRY TO THE DUC DE BRISSAC
(photograph of original handwritten note omitted) TRANSLATION
Heavens! my dear friend, how sad are the days when I a the time with you, and hat joy do I watch for the o to Paris to-day, because the person I was going to see is co away, I shall visit the barracks instead, for I believe you approve of the object Adieu I await you with impatience, with a heart wholly yours, which, in spite of your injustice, could never belong to any other, even if I had the wish I think of you and that word of yours which you will surely regret; and still another regret is that I am deprived of you That is the ord of each instant
THE COUNTESS Du Barry
At Louvecienne, Noon
Madame de Valentinois came to me with tears in her eyes to repeat the cruel remark of the princess; the ht to console her by assurances, that it would in no degree affect her interest at court ”Never ood friend,” said she; ”the pretty bird uyon, and will as quickly forget as learn the owes you recompense for the vexation it has occasioned you”
Immediately that I found myself alone with the marechale, I inquired of her as the nature of the reparation she considered madame de Valentinois entitled to expect from the hands of his majesty She replied, ”'Tis on your account alone that the poor countess has received her lateis therefore bound to atone for it in the forn cure at court; calreed with the good-natured marechale; and, when I bade the sorrowful ht, I assured her I would implore his majesty to repair theday, when the king questioned iven byto state race into which she had fallen, and to pray his majesty to bestow upon her a pension of 15,000 livres
”Uponthe chamber, ”this fete seems likely to prove a costly one to htful evening; and you will not, I hope, refuse me such a trifle for those who lavished so much for my amusement”