按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sterfield； 〃that everything suffers by translation； but a bishop！〃 Those to whom such a dilution is necessary will perhaps be contented with the skim…milk as they cannot get the cream。… TRANS。
Thy beauty； seductress； leads mortals astray； Over hearts； Lise； how vast and resistless thy sway。 Cease； duchess； to blush！ cease； princess； to rave Venus sprang from the foam of the ocean wave。 All the gods pay their homage at her beauteous shrine； And adore her as potent； resistless； divine！ To her Paris； the shepherd； awarded the prize； Sought by Juno the regal； and Pallas the wise。
Who rules o'er her lord in the Turkish ； Reigns queen of his heart； and e'er basks in his smile？ 'Tis she； who resplendent； shines loveliest of all； And beauty holds power in her magic thrall。 Then heed not the clamors that Grammont may raise； How natural her anger！ how vain her dispraise！ 'Tis not a mere mortal our monarch can charm； Free from pride is the beauty that bears off the palm。
This song was to be found in almost every part of France。 Altho' the last couplet was generally suppressed； so evident was its partial tone towards me； in the midst of it all I could not help being highly amused with the simplicity evinced by the good people of France； who； in censuring the king's conduct； found nothing reprehensible but his having omitted to select his mistress from elevated rank。
The citizens resented this falling off in royalty with as much warmth and indignation as the grandees of the court； and I could enjoy a laugh on the subject of their angry displeasure as soon as my presentation was decided upon。
The intrigues carried on by those about the princesses； and the necessity of awaiting the perfect recovery of madame de Bearn； delayed this （to me） important day till the end of the month of April； 1770。 On the evening of the 21st the king； according to custom； announced a presentation for the following day； but he durst not explain himself more frankly； he hesitated； appeared embarrassed； and only pronounced my name in a low and uncertain voice； it seemed as tho' he feared his own authority was insufficient to support him in such a measure。 This I did not learn till some time afterwards； and when I did hear it； I took the liberty of speaking my opinion upon it freely to his majesty。
On the next day； the 22d； I was solely engrossed with my dress： it was the most important era of my life； and I would not have appeared on it to any disadvantage。 A few days previously； the king had sent me； by the crown jeweller； Boemer； a set of diamonds； valued at 150；000 livres； of which he begged my acceptance。 Delighted with so munificent a present I set about the duties of the toilette with a zeal and desire of pleasing which the importance of the occasion well excused。 I will spare you the description of my dress； were I writing to a woman I would go into all these details； but as I know they would not be to your taste； I will pass all these uninteresting particulars over in silence； and proceed to more important matter。
Paris and Versailles were filled with various reports。 Thro'out the city； within； without the castle； all manner of questions were asked； as tho' the monarchy itself was in danger。 Couriers were dispatched every instant with fresh tidings of the great event which was going on。 A stranger who had observed the general agitation would easily have remarked the contrast between the rage and consternation of my enemies and the joy of my partizans； who crowded in numbers to the different avenues of the palace； in order to feast their eyes upon the pageantry of my triumphal visit to court。
Nothing could surpass the impatience with which I was expected； hundreds were counting the minutes； whilst I； under the care of my hairdresser and robemaker； was insensible to the rapid flight of time； which had already carried us beyond the hour appointed for my appearance。 The king himself was a prey to an unusual uneasiness； the day appeared to him interminable； and the eagerness with which he awaited me made my delay still more apparent。 A thousand conjectures were afloat as to the cause of it。 Some asserted that my presentation had been deferred for the present； and； in all probability； would never take place； that the princesses had opposed it in the most decided manner； and had refused upon any pretense whatever to admit me to their presence。 All these suppositions charmed my enemies； and filled them with hopes which their leaders； better informed； did not partake。
Meanwhile the king's restlessness increased； he kept continually approaching the window to observe what was going on in the court…yard of the castle； and seeing there no symptoms of my equipage being in attendance； began to lose both temper and patience。 It has been asserted； that he gave orders to have the presentation put off till a future period； and that the duc de Richelieu procured my by force； this is partly true and partly false。 Whilst in ignorance of the real cause of my being so late； the king said to the first gentleman of the chamber；
〃You will see that this poor countess has met with some accident； or else that her joy has been too much for her； and made her too ill to attend our court to…day； if that be the case； it is my pleasure that her presentation should not be delayed beyond to…morrow。〃
〃Sire；〃 replied the duke； 〃your majesty's commands are absolute。〃
These words； but half understood； were eagerly caught up； and interpreted their own way by those who were eager to seize anything that might tell to my prejudice。
At length I appeared； and never had I been more successful in appearance。 I was conducted by my godmother； who； decked like an altar； was all joy and satisfaction to see herself a sharer in such pomp and splendor。 The princesses received me most courteously； the affability； either real or feigned； which shone in their eyes as they regarded me； and the flattering words with which they welcomed my arrival； was a mortal blow to many of the spectators； especially to the ladies of honor。 The princesses would not suffer me to bend my knee before them； but at the first movement I made to perform this act of homage； they hastened to raise me； speaking to me at the same time in the most gracious manner。
But my greatest triumph was with the king。 I appeared before him in all my glory； and his eyes declared in a manner not to be misunderstood by all around him the impetuous love which he felt for me。 He had threatened the previous evening to let me fall at his feet without the least effort on his part to prevent it。 I told him that I was sure his gallantry would not allow him to act in this manner； and we had laid a bet on the matter。 As soon as I approached him； and he took my hand to prevent me； as I began to stoop before him； 〃You have lost； sire；〃 said I to him。
〃How is it possible to preserve my dignity in the presence of so many graces？〃 was his reply。
These gracious words of his majesty were heard by all around him。 My enemies were wofully chagrined； but what perfected their annihilation was the palpable lie which my appearance gave to their false assertions。 They had blazoned forth everywhere