the memoirs of marie antoinette-第13章
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ation； though she said she felt so keenly that she could scarcely regain her chair。 She added that moralists were right when they said that happiness does not dwell in palaces； that she had proved it； and that； if I desired to be happy； she advised me to come and enjoy a retreat in which the liveliest imagination might find full exercise in the contemplation of a better world。 I had no palace； no earthly grandeur to sacrifice to God； nothing but the bosom of a united family； and it is precisely there that the moralists whom she cited have placed true happiness。 I replied that； in private life； the absence of a beloved and cherished daughter would be too cruelly felt by her family。 The Princess said no more on the subject。
The seclusion of Madame Louise was attributed to various motives； some were unkind enough to suppose it to have been occasioned by her mortification at being； in point of rank； the last of the Princesses。 I think I penetrated the true cause。 Her aspirations were lofty； she loved everything sublime； often while I was reading she would interrupt me to exclaim； 〃That is beautiful！ that is noble！〃 There was but one brilliant action that she could perform；to quit a palace for a cell； and rich garments for a stuff gown。 She achieved it！
I saw Madame Louise two or three times more at the grating。 I was informed of her death by Louis XVI。 〃My Aunt Louise； 〃 said he to me； 〃your old mistress； is just dead at St。 Denis。 I have this moment received intelligence of it。 Her piety and resignation were admirable； and yet the delirium of my good aunt recalled to her recollection that she was a princess； for her last words were； 'To paradise； haste； haste； full speed。' No doubt she thought she was again giving orders to her equerry。〃
＇The retirement of Madame Louise； and her removal from Court； had only served to give her up entirely to the intrigues of the clergy。 She received incessant visits from bishops； archbishops； and ambitious priests of every rank； she prevailed on the King； her father； to grant many ecclesiastical preferments； and probably looked forward to playing an important part when the King； weary of his licentious course of life； should begin to think of religion。 This； perhaps； might have been the case had not a sudden and unexpected death put an end to his career。 The project of Madame Louise fell to the ground in consequence of this event。 She remained in her convent； whence she continued to solicit favours； as I knew from the complaints of the Queen； who often said to me； 〃Here is another letter from my Aunt Louise。 She is certainly the most intriguing little Carmelite in the kingdom。〃 The Court went to visit her about three times a year； and I recollect that the Queen； intending to take her daughter there； ordered me to get a doll dressed like a Carmelite for her； that the young Princess might be accustomed； before she went into the convent； to the habit of her aunt； the nun。MADAME CAMPAN＇
Madame Victoire； good； sweet…tempered； and affable； lived with the most amiable simplicity in a society wherein she was much caressed； she was adored by her household。 Without quitting Versailles； without sacrificing her easy chair； she fulfilled the duties of religion with punctuality； gave to the poor all she possessed； and strictly observed Lent and the fasts。 The table of Mesdames acquired a reputation for dishes of abstinence； spread abroad by the assiduous parasites at that of their maitre d'hotel。 Madame Victoire was not indifferent to good living； but she had the most religious scruples respecting dishes of which it was allowable to partake at penitential times。 I saw her one day exceedingly tormented by her doubts about a water…fowl； which was often served up to her during Lent。 The question to be determined was； whether it was 'maigre' or 'gras'。 She consulted a bishop； who happened to be of the party： the prelate immediately assumed the grave attitude of a judge who is about to pronounce sentence。 He answered the Princess that； in a similar case of doubt； it had been resolved that after dressing the bird it should be pricked over a very cold silver dish； if the gravy of the animal congealed within a quarter of an hour； the creature was to be accounted flesh； but if the gravy remained in an oily state； it might be eaten without scruple。 Madame Victoire immediately made the experiment： the gravy did not congeal； and this was a source of great joy to the Princess； who was very partial to that sort of game。 The abstinence which so much occupied the attention of Madame Victoire was so disagreeable to her； that she listened with impatience for the midnight hour of Holy Saturday； and then she was immediately supplied with a good dish of fowl and rice； and sundry other succulent viands。 She confessed with such amiable candour her taste for good cheer and the comforts of life； that it would have been necessary to be as severe in principle as insensible to the excellent qualities of the Princess； to consider it a crime in her。
Madame Adelaide had more mind than Madame Victoire； but she was altogether deficient in that kindness which alone creates affection for the great； abrupt manners； a harsh voice； and a short way of speaking； rendering her more than imposing。 She carried the idea of the prerogative of rank to a high pitch。 One of her chaplains was unlucky enough to say 'Dominus vobiscum' with rather too easy an air； the Princess rated him soundly for it after mass； and told him to remember that he was not a bishop； and not again to think of officiating in the style of a prelate。
Mesdames lived quite separate from the King。 Since the death of Madame de Pompadour he had lived alone。 The enemies of the Duc de Choiseul did not know in what department； nor through what channel； they could prepare and bring about the downfall of the man who stood in their way。 The King was connected only with women of so low a class that they could not be made use of for any delicate intrigue； moreover； the Parc…aux…Cerfs was a seraglio； the beauties of which were often replaced； it was desirable to give the King a mistress who could form a circle； and in whose drawing… room the long…standing attachment of the King for the Duc de Choiseul might be overcome。 It is true that Madame du Barry was selected from a class sufficiently low。 Her origin； her education； her habits； and everything about her bore a character of vulgarity and shamelessness； but by marrying her to a man whose pedigree dated from 1400； it was thought scandal would be avoided。 The conqueror of Mahon conducted this coarse intrigue。
＇It appeared at this period as if every feeling of dignity was lost。 〃Few noblemen of the French Court；〃 says a writer of the time； 〃preserved themselves from the general corruption。 The Marechal de Brissac was one of the latter。 He was bantered on the strictness of his principles of honour and honesty； it was thought strange that he should be offended by being thought； like so many others； exposed to hymeneal disgrace。 Louis XV。； who was present； and laughed at his angry fit； said to him： 'Come； M。 de Brissac； don't be angry； 'tis but a trifling evil； take courage。''Sire；' replied M。 de Brissac； 'I possess all kinds of courage； except that which can brave shame。'〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
Such a mistress was judiciously selected for the diversion of the latter years of a man weary of grandeur； fatigued with pleasure； and cloyed with voluptuousness。 Neither the wit； the talents； the graces of the Marquise de Pompadour； her beauty； nor even her love for the King； would have had any further influence over that worn…out being。
He wanted a Roxalana of familiar gaiety； without any respect for the dignity of the sovereign。 Madame du Barry one day so far forgot propriety as to desire to be present at a Council of State。 The King was weak enough to consent to it。 There she remained ridiculously perched upon the arm of his chair； playing all sorts of childish monkey tricks； calculated to please an old sultan。
Another time she snatched a packet of seal
