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flattering； caressing； insinuating； moderate； wishing to please for
pleasing's sake； with charms irresistible when she strove to persuade and
win over； accompanying all this； she had a grandeur that encouraged
instead of frightening； a delicious conversation； inexhaustible and very
amusing； for she had seen many countries and persons； a voice and way of
speaking extremely agreeable； and full of sweetness。 She had read much；
and reflected much。 She knew how to choose the best society； how to
receive them； and could even have held a court； was polite；
distinguished； and above all was careful never to take a step in advance
without dignity and discretion。 She was eminently fitted for intrigue；
in which； from taste； she had passed her time at Rome； with much
ambition； but of that vast kind； far above her sex； and the common run of
mena desire to occupy a great position and to govern。 A love for
gallantry and personal vanity were her foibles； and these clung to her
until her latest day； consequently； she dressed in a way that no longer
became her； and as she advanced in life； removed further from propriety
in this particular。 She was an ardent and excellent friendof a
friendship that time and absence never enfeebled； and； consequently； an
implacable enemy； pursuing her hatred to the infernal regions。 While
caring little for the means by which she gained her ends； she tried as
much as possible to reach them by honest means。 Secret； not only for
herself； but for her friends； she was yet； of a decorous gaiety； and so
governed her humours； that at all times and in everything she was
mistress of herself。 Such was the Princesse des Ursins。
From the first moment on which she entered the service of the Queen of
Spain； it became her desire to govern not only the Queen； but the King；
and by this means the realm itself。 Such a grand project had need of
support from our King； who； at the commencement； ruled the Court of Spain
as much as his own Court； with entire influence over all matters。
The young Queen of Spain had been not less carefully educated than her
sister； the Duchesse de Bourgogne。 She had even when so young much
intelligence and firmness； without being incapable of restraint； and as
time went on； improved still further； and displayed a constancy and
courage which were admirably set off by her meekness and natural graces。
According to everything I have heard said in France and in Spain； she
possessed all qualities that were necessary to make her adored。 Indeed
she became a divinity among the Spaniards； and to their affection for
her； Philip V。 was more than once indebted for his crown。 Lords； ladies；
soldiers； and the people still remember her with tears in their eyes； and
even after the lapse of so many years； are not yet consoled for her loss。
Madame des Ursins soon managed to obtain the entire confidence of this
Queen； and during the absence of Philip V。 in Italy； assisted her in the
administration of all public offices。 She even accompanied her to the
junta； it not being thought proper that the Queen should be alone amid
such an assemblage of men。 In this way she became acquainted with
everything that was passing； and knew all the affairs of the Government。
This step gained； it will be imagined that the Princesse des Ursins did
not forget to pay her court most assiduously to our King and to Madame de
Maintenon。 She continually sent them an exact account of everything
relating to the Queenmaking her appear in the most favourable light
possible。 Little by little she introduced into her letters details
respecting public events； without； however； conveying a suspicion of her
own ambition； or that she wished to meddle in these matters。 Anchored in
this way； she next began to flatter Madame de Maintenon； and by degrees
to hint that she might rule over Spain； even more firmly than she ruled
over France； if she would entrust her commands to Madame des Ursins。
Madame des Ursins offered； in fact； to be the instrument of Madame de
Maintenon； representing how much better it would be to rule affairs in
this manner； than through the instrumentality of the ministers of either
country。
Madame de Maintenon； whose passion it was to know everything； to mix
herself in everything； and to govern everything； was； enchanted by the
siren。 This method of governing Spain without ministers appeared to her
an admirable idea。 She embraced it with avidity； without reflecting that
she would govern only in appearance； since she would know nothing except
through the Princesse des Ursins； see nothing except in the light in
which she presented it。 From that time dates the intimate union which
existed between these two important women； the unbounded authority of
Madame des Ursins； the fall of all those who had placed Philip V。 upon
the throne； and of all our ministers in Spain who stood in the way of the
new power。
Such an alliance being made between the two women； it was necessary to
draw the King of Spain into the same net。 This was not a very arduous
task。 Nature and art indeed had combined to make it easy。
Younger brother of an excitable； violent； and robust Prince； Philip V；
had been bred up in a submission and dependence that were necessary for
the repose of the Royal family。 Until the testament of Charles II。； the
Duc d'Anjou was necessarily regarded as destined to be a subject all his
life； and therefore could not be too much abased by education； and
trained to patience and obedience： That supreme law； the reason of state；
demanded this preference； for the safety and happiness of the kingdom；
of the elder over the younger brother。 His mind for this reason was
purposely narrowed and beaten down； and his natural docility and
gentleness greatly assisted in the process； He was quite formed to be
led； although he had enough judgment left to choose the better of two
courses proposed to him； and even to express himself in good phrase； when
the slowness； not to say the laziness； of his mind did not prevent him
from speaking at all。 His great piety contributed to weaken his mind；
and； being joined to very lively passions； made it disagreeable and even
dangerous for him to be separated from his Queen。 It may easily be
conceived； therefore； how he loved her； and that he allowed himself to be
guided by her in all things。 As the Queen herself was guided in all
things by Madame des Ursins； the influence of this latter was all…
powerful。
Soon； indeed； the junta became a mere show。 Everything was brought
before the King in private； and he gave no decision until the Queen and
Madame des Ursins had passed theirs。 This conduct met with no opposition
from our Court； but our ministers at the Court of Spain and the Spanish
ministers here soon began to complain of it。 The first to do so were
Cardinals d'Estrees and Portocarrero。 Madame de Maintenon laughed at
them； and Madame des Ursins； of whom they were old friends； soon showed
them that she did not mean to abate one jot of her power。 She first
endeavoured to bring about a coldness between the two； and this succeeded
so well； that in consequence of the quarrels that resulted； the S