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！
angry lover。 He held aloof from the Duc d'Orleans； insulted the late Prince； and； in order to support himself against the Queen…regent； the chief minister； and all the Princes of the blood； formed a cabal of men who all died mad； and whom I never took for conjurers from the first time I knew them。 Such were Beaupre； Fontrailles； Fiesque； Montresor； who had the austerity of Cato； but not his sagacity； and M。 de Bethune； who obliged M。 de Beaufort to make me great overtures； which I received very respectfully； but entered into none。 I told Montresor that I was indebted to the Queen for the coadjutorship of Paris； and that that was enough to keep me from entering into any engagement that might be disagreeable to her Majesty。 Montresor said I was not obliged for it to the Queen； it having been ordered before by the late King； and given me at a crisis when she was not in a condition to refuse it。 I replied； 〃Permit me； monsieur； to forget everything that may diminish my gratitude； and to remember that only which may increase it。〃 These words were afterwards repeated to Cardinal Mazarin； who was so pleased with me that he repeated them to the Queen。
The families of Orleans and Conde； being united by interest； made a jest of that surly look from which Beaufort's cabal were termed 〃The Importants；〃 and at the same time artfully made use of the grand appearance which Beaufort （like those who carry more sail than ballast） never failed to assume upon the most trifling occasions。 His counsels were unseasonable； his meetings to no purpose； and even his hunting matches became mysterious。 In short； Beaufort was arrested at the Louvre by a captain of the Queen's Guards； and carried on the 2d of September； 1643； to Vincennes。 The cabal of 〃The Importants〃 was put to flight and dispersed； and it was reported over all the kingdom that they had made an attempt against the Cardinal's life； which I do not believe； because I never saw anything in confirmation of it； though many of the domestics of the family of Vendome were a long time in prison upon this account。
The Marquis de Nangis； who was enraged both against the Queen and Cardinal； for reasons which I shall tell you afterwards； was strongly tempted to come into this cabal a few days before Beaufort was arrested； but I dissuaded him by telling him that fashion is powerful in all the affairs of life； but more remarkably so as to a man's being in favour or disgrace at Court。 There are certain junctures when disgrace； like fire； purifies all the bad qualities； and sets a lustre on all the good ones； and also there are times when it does not become an honest man to be out of favour at Court。 I applied this to the gentlemen of the aforesaid cabal。
I must confess； to the praise of Cardinal de Richelieu； that he had formed two vast designs worthy of a Caesar or an Alexander： that of suppressing the Protestants had been projected before by Cardinal de Retz； my uncle； but that of attacking the formidable house of Austria was never thought of by any before the Cardinal。 He completed the first design； and had made great progress in the latter。
That the King's death made no alteration in affairs was owing to the bravery of the Prince de Conde and the famous battle of Rocroi； in 1643； which contributed both to the peace and glory of the kingdom； and covered the cradle of the present King with laurels。 Louis XIV。's father； who neither loved nor esteemed his Queen； provided him a Council； upon his death…bed； for limiting the authority of the Regency； and named the Cardinal Mazarin； M。 Seguier； M。 Bouthillier； and M。 de Chavigni； but being all Richelieu's creatures； they were so hated by the public that when the King was dead they were hissed at by all the footmen at Saint Germain； and if De Beaufort had had a grain of sense； or if De Beauvais had not been a disgraceful bishop； or if my father had but entered into the administration； these collateral Regents would have been undoubtedly expelled with ignominy； and the memory of Cardinal de Richelieu been branded by the Parliament with shouts of joy。
The Queen was adored much more for her troubles than for her merit。 Her admirers had never seen her but under persecution； and in persons of her rank； suffering is one of the greatest virtues。 People were apt to fancy that she was patient to a degree of indolence。 In a word； they expected wonders from her； and Bautru used to say she had already worked a miracle because the most devout had forgotten her coquetry。 The Duc d'Orleans； who made a show as if he would have disputed the Regency with the Queen； was contented to be Lieutenant…General of the Kingdom。 The Prince de Conde was declared President of the Council； and the Parliament confirmed the Regency to the Queen without limitation。 The exiles were called home； prisoners set at liberty； and criminals pardoned。 They who had been turned out were replaced in their respective employments； and nothing that was asked was refused。 The happiness of private families seemed to be fully secured in the prosperity of the State。 The perfect union of the royal family settled the peace within doors； and the battle of Rocroi was such a blow to the Spanish infantry that they could not recover in an age。 They saw at the foot of the throne； where the fierce and terrible Richelieu used to thunder rather than govern； a mild and gentle successor；＇Cardinal Julius Mazarin； Minister of State； who died at Vincennes in 1661。＇ who was perfectly complacent and extremely troubled that his dignity of Cardinal did not permit him to be as humble to all men as he desired； and who； when he went abroad； had no other attendants than two footmen behind his coach。 Had not I； then； reason for saying that it did not become an honest man to be on bad terms with the Court at that time of day？
You will wonder； no doubt； that nobody was then aware of the consequence of imprisoning M。 de Beaufort； when the prison doors were set open to all others。 This bold strokeat a time when the Government was so mild that its authority was hardly felthad a very great effect。 Though nothing was more easy； as you have seen； yet it looked grand； and all acts of this nature are very successful because they are attended with dignity without any odium。 That which generally draws an unaccountable odium upon even the most necessary actions of statesmen； is that； in order to compass them； they are commonly obliged to struggle with very great difficulties； which； when they are surmounted； are certain to render them objects both of envy and hatred。 When a considerable occasion offers； where there is no victory to be gained because there is no difficulty to encounter； which is very rare； it gives a lustre to the authority of ministers which is pure； innocent； and without a shadow； and not only establishes it； but casts upon their administration the merit of actions which they have no hand in； as well as those of which they have。
When the world saw that the Cardinal had apprehended the man who had lately brought the King back to Paris with inconceivable pride； men's imaginations were seized with an astonishing veneration。 People thought themselves much obliged to the Minister that some