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！
ecteur the Abby de Fenelon （afterward Archbishop of Cambray） did； when he wrote her the 185th letter； and I know him the better too for that letter。 The Abby； though brimful of the divine love； had a great mind to be first minister； and cardinal； in order； NO DOUBT； to have an opportunity of doing the more good。 His being 'directeur' at that time to Madame Maintenon； seemed to be a good step toward those views。 She put herself upon him for a saint； and he was weak enough to believe it； he； on the other hand； would have put himself upon her for a saint too； which； I dare say； she did not believe； but both of them knew that it was necessary for them to appear saints to Lewis the Fourteenth； who they were very sure was a bigot。 It is to be presumed； nay； indeed； it is plain by that 185th letter that Madame Maintenon had hinted to her directeur some scruples of conscience； with relation to her commerce with the King； and which I humbly apprehend to have been only some scruples of prudence； at once to flatter the bigot character； and increase the desires of the King。 The pious Abbe； frightened out of his wits； lest the King should impute to the 'directeur' any scruples or difficulties which he might meet with on the part of the lady； writes her the above… mentioned letter； in which he not only bids her not tease the King by advice and exhortations； but to have the utmost submission to his will； and； that she may not mistake the nature of that submission； he tells her it is the same that Sarah had for Abraham； to which submission Isaac perhaps was owing。 No bawd could have written a more seducing letter to an innocent country girl； than the 'directeur' did to his 'penitente'； who I dare say had no occasion for his good advice。 Those who would justify the good 'directeur'； alias the pimp； in this affair； must not attempt to do it by saying that the King and Madame Maintenon were at that time privately married； that the directeur knew it； and that this was the meaning of his 'enigme'。 That is absolutely impossible； for that private marriage must have removed all scruples between the parties； nay； could not have been contracted upon any other principle； since it was kept private； and consequently prevented no public scandal。 It is therefore extremely evident that Madame Maintenon could not be married to the King at the time when she scrupled granting； and when the 'directeur' advised her to grant； those favors which Sarah with so much submission granted to Abraham： and what the 'directeur' is pleased to call 'le mystere de Dieu'； was most evidently a state of concubinage。 The letters are very well worth your reading； they throw light upon many things of those times。
I have just received a letter from Sir William Stanhope； from Lyons； in which he tells me that he saw you at Paris； that he thinks you a little grown； but that you do not make the most of it； for that you stoop still： 'd'ailleurs' his letter was a panegyric of you。
The young Comte de Schullemburg； the Chambellan whom you knew at Hanover； is come over with the King； 'et fait aussi vos eloges'。
Though； as I told you in my last； I have done buying pictures； by way of 'virtu'； yet there are some portraits of remarkable people that would tempt me。 For instance； if you could by chance pick up at Paris； at a reasonable price； and undoubted originals （whether heads； half lengths； or whole lengths； no matter） of Cardinals Richelieu； Mazarin； and Retz； Monsieur de Turenne； le grand Prince de Condo ； Mesdames de Montespan； de Fontanges； de Montbazon； de Sevigne； de Maintenon； de Chevreuse； de Longueville； d'Olonne； etc。； I should be tempted to purchase them。 I am sensible that they can only be met with； by great accident； at family sales and auctions； so I only mention the affair to you eventually。
I do not understand； or else I do not remember； what affair you mean in your last letter； which you think will come to nothing； and for which； you say； I had once a mind that you should take the road again。 Explain it to me。
I shall go to town in four or five days； and carry back with me a little more hearing than I brought； but yet； not half enough for common wants。 One wants ready pocket…money much oftener than one wants great sums； and to use a very odd expression； I want to hear at sight。 I love every…day senses； every…day wit and entertainment； a man who is only good on holydays is good for very little。 Adieu。
LETTER CLXXXIV
Christmas Day； 1752
MY DEAR FRIEND： A tyrant with legions at his com mand may say； Oderint modo timeant； though he is a fool if he says it； and a greater fool if he thinks it。 But a private man who can hurt but few； though he can please many； must endeavor to be loved； for he cannot be feared in general。 Popularity is his only rational and sure foundation。 The good…will； the affections； the love of the public； can alone raise him to any considerable height。 Should you ask me how he is to acquire them； I will answer； By desiring them。 No man ever deserved； who did not desire them； and no man both deserved and desired them who had them not； though many have enjoyed them merely by desiring； and without deserving them。 You do not imagine； I believe； that I mean by this public love the sentimental love of either lovers or intimate friends； no； that is of another nature； and confined to a very narrow circle； but I mean that general good…will which a man may acquire in the world； by the arts of pleasing respectively exerted according to the rank； the situation； and the turn of mind of those whom he hath to do with。 The pleasing impressions which he makes upon them will engage their affections and their good wishes； and even their good offices as far （that is） as they are not inconsistent with their own interests； for further than that you are not to expect from three people in the course of your life； even were it extended to the patriarchal term。 Could I revert to the age of twenty； and carry back with me all the experience that forty years more have taught me； I can assure you； that I would employ much the greatest part of my time in engaging the good…will； and in insinuating myself into the predilection of people in general； instead of directing my endeavors to please （as I was too apt to do） to the man whom I immediately wanted； or the woman I wished for； exclusively of all others。 For if one happens （and it will sometimes happen to the ablest man） to fail in his views with that man or that woman； one is at a loss to know whom to address one's self to next； having offended in general； by that exclusive and distinguished particular application。 I would secure a general refuge in the good…will of the multitude； which is a great strength to any man； for both ministers and mistresses choose popular and fashionable favorites。 A man who solicits a minister； backed by the general good…will and good wishes of mankind； solicits with great weight and great probability of success； and a woman is strangely biassed in favor of a man whom she sees in fashion； and hears everybody speak well of。 This useful art of insinuation consists merely of various little things。 A graceful motion； a significant look； a trifling attention； an obli