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annot refuse to accept a china figure。〃
I extolled the king's idea as being a most happy one； and he immediately fitted the ring upon the little finger of the mandarin； which I caused to be carried to the duc de la Vauguyon with the following billet：
〃MONSIEUR LE DUC；You have been my best friend； 'tis to your kind offices that I owe the confirmation of my happiness； but I would secure the continuance of your valuable friendship； and for that purpose I send you a little magical figure； which； placed in your cabinet； will compel your thoughts to occupy themselves with me in spite of yourself。 I am superstitious enough to rely greatly upon the talismanic virtue of the charmed porcelain； and further； I must tell you； that I was not its purchaser in the first instance； neither did I adorn it for your acceptance。 I should not have ventured to offer more than the assurance of my everlasting esteem and regard for your acceptance。 The trifle sent comes from a higher source； and the august hand so dear to both of us； deigned to preside over the arrangement。 Should there be in it anything at all repugnant to your feelings； I beseech you bear me no ill will for it； for truly； I may say； I should never have summoned courage to do that which has just been done by him whom all unite in loving and esteeming。〃
The duke replied；…
〃Your talisman is welcome； yet its magic power； far from augmenting the warmth of my feelings towards you； would have diminished it on account of a certain accessory with which my friendship could have well dispensed： however； what you say on the subject closes my lips。 I gratefully acknowledge the daily favors bestowed upon me from the august hand of whom you speak； and I receive with the deepest respect （mingled with regret） the gracious present he deigns to convey to me by you。 I own that I should have preferred； to the splendid jewel which bedecked the finger of your deity； a Chinese counterpart； which might indeed have enabled all admiring gazers to say； 'these two are truly a pair。' As for yourself； who would fain pass for nobody in the munificent gift； I thank you at least for the flattering place you assign me in your recollection。 Be assured I feel its full value； and you may confidently reckon upon the disposal of my poor credit as well as command the little influence I may be said to possess in the castle。 Adieu； madame； I entreat your acceptance of the expression of my most sincere and respectful devotion。〃
The king； having read M。 de la Vauguyon's letter； sent immediately to the china manufactory to purchase the fellow mandarin so much coveted by the duke； and caused it to be conveyed to him with the following words：
〃MY DEAR GOVERNORYou are a kind…hearted creature I know； and a great promoter of domestic harmony； to fain unite the wife with the husband。 Heaven grant that such a measure may indeed bring about your proposed felicity！ However； by way of furthering your schemes； I send the Chinese lady； whose beauty I trust will not disturb your repose； for in spite of your sanctity； I know you can be as gallant as the rest of us； and possibly this beautiful mandarin may prove to be more lovely in your eyes； than in those of the husband for whom she is destined； but； in sober earnestness； I would wish you to be convinced that my intention is not to attempt payment for the services rendered me； but simply to evince my sense of their value。 There is one beside me at this moment who has given me a kiss to transmit to youYou will easily guess who has had the audacity to enlist me into her service upon such an occasion。〃
This was one of the recompenses offered to the duc de la Vauguyon； as a compensation for the public clamor and dislike which sprung up against him in consequence of his zeal for my service。 At Versailles； the general ferment was at its height； when it became generally known that I had triumphed over all obstacles； and that my presentation was certainly to take place。 In the midst of all this the desperate odium fell upon the duc de la Vauguyon； and a general attack was made upon him： his virtues； reputation； talents； qualities； were made the subject of blame and scandal in a word； he was run down by public opinion。 But the leaders of the cabal were not the less struck by the news of my success； which sounded in their ears like the falling of a thunder…bolt。
The silly princess de Guemenee； who； with her husband； has since become a bankrupt to so enormous and scandalous an amount； flew without delay to convey the tidings of my victory to the duchesse de Grammont； to whom it was a death…blow。 All her courage forsook her； she shed bitter tears； and displayed a weakness so much the more ridiculous； as it seemed to arise from the utmost despair。 She repaired to madame Adelaide； before whom she conducted herself in the most absurd and extravagant manner。 The poor princess； intimidated by the weakness she herself evinced； in drawing back after she had in a manner espoused the opposite party； durst not irritate her； but； on the contrary； strove to justify her own change of conduct towards me； by urging the impossibility of refusing obedience to the express command of the king。
The other princesses did not evince greater firmness when overwhelmed by the complaints of the cabal； and in a manner bent their knee before the wives of the French nobility； asking their pardon for their father's error in selecting a mistress from any rank but theirs。 About this period a song； which I admired greatly； was circulated abroad。 My enemies interpreted it to my disadvantage； but I was far from being of the same opinion。 It was successively attributed to the most clever men in Paris； and I have myself met with four who each asserted himself to be the author； in justice it should be ascribed to him who appeared the most calculated to have written it； and who indeed claimed it for his ownthe chevalier de Boufflers。 I do not know whether you recollect the lines in question。 I will transcribe them from memory； adding another couplet； which was only known amongst our own particular circle； but which proves most incontestably the spirit of kindness with which the stanzas were composed。
Lise； ta beaute seduit； Et charme tout le monde。 En vain la duchesse en rougit； Et la princesse en gronde； Chacun sait que Venus naquit De l'ecume de l'onde。
En rit…elle moins tous les dieux。 Lui rendre un juste hommage！ Et Paris； le berger fameux； Lui donner l'avantage Meme sur la reine des cieux Et Minerve la sage？
Dans le serail du grand seigneur。 Quelle est la favorite？ C'est la plus belle au gre de coeur Du maitre qui l'habite。 C'est le seul titre en sa faveur Et c'est le vrai merite。
Que Grammont tonne contre toi； La chose est naturelle。 Elle voudrait donner la loi Et n'est qu' une mortelle； Il faut； pour plaire au plus grand roi； Sans orgueil etre belle。*
*From those readers who may understand this chanson in the original； and look somewhat contemptuously on the following version； the translator begs to shelter himself under the well…known observation of Lord Chesterfield； 〃that everything suffers by translation； but a bishop！〃 Those to whom such a dilution is