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sons。 Spain will promise all； but perform nothing after we have once promised to enter into no treaty； with the Court but for a general peace。 This being the only thing the Spaniards have in view； they will abandon us as soon as they； can obtain it； and if we urge on this great scheme at once； as you would have us； they would undoubtedly obtain it in a fortnight's time； for France would certainly make it with precipitation； and I know the Spaniards would be glad to purchase it on any terms。 This being the case； in what a condition shall we be the next day after we have made and procured this general peace？ We should indeed have the honour of it； but would this honour screen us against the hatred and curses of the Court？ Would the house of Austria take up arms again to rescue you and me from a prison？ You will say； perhaps； we may stipulate some conditions with Spain which may secure us from all insults of this kind； but I think I shall have answered this objection when I assure you that Spain is so pressed with home troubles that she would not hesitate； for the sake of peace； to break the most solemn promises made to us； and this is an inconvenience for which I see no remedy。
〃If Spain should be worse than her word with respect to the expulsion of Mazarin； what will become of us？ And will the honour of our contributing to the general peace atone for the preservation of a minister to get rid of whom they took up arms？ You know how they abhor the Cardinal； and； suppose the Cardinal be excluded from the Ministry； according to promise； shall we not still be exposed to the hatred of the Queen； to the resentment of the Prince de Conde； and to all the evil consequences that may be expected from an enraged Court for such an action？ There is no true glory but what is durable； transitory honour is mere smoke。 Of this sort is that which we shall acquire by this peace； if we do not support it by such alliances as will gain us the reputation of wisdom as well as of honesty。 I admire your disinterestedness above all； and esteem it； but I am very well assured that if mine went the length of yours you would not； approve of it。 Your family is settled； consider mine； and cast your eyes on the condition of this lady and on that of both the father and children。〃
I answered： 〃The Spaniards must needs have great regard for us； seeing us absolute masters of Paris； with eight thousand foot and three thousand horse at its gates； and the best disciplined troops in the world marching to our assistance。〃 I did all I could to bring him over to my opinion； and he strove as much to persuade me to enter into his measures； namely； to pretend to the envoys that we were absolutely resolved to act in concert with them for a general peace； but to tell them at the same time that we thought it more proper that the Parliament should likewise be consulted； and； as that would require some time； we might in the meanwhile occupy the envoys by signing a treaty with them； previous to coming to terms with。 The Parliament； which by its tenor would not tie us up to conclude anything positively in relation to the general peace； 〃yet this；〃 said he； 〃would be a sufficient motive to cause them to advance with their army； and that of my brother will come up at the same time； which will astonish the Court and incline them to an arrangement。 And forasmuch as in our treaty with Spain we leave a back door open by the clause which relates to the Parliament； we shall be sure to make good use of it for the advantage of the public and of ourselves in case of the Court's noncompliance。〃
These considerations； though profoundly wise； did not convince me； because I thought his inference was not well…grounded。 I saw he might well enough engage the attention of the envoys； but I could not imagine how he could beguile the Parliament； who were actually treating with the Court by their deputies sent to Ruel； and who would certainly run madly into a peace； notwithstanding all their late performances。 I foresaw that without a public declaration to restrain the Parliament from going their own lengths we should fall again； if one of our strings chanced to break； into the necessity of courting the assistance of the people； which I looked upon as the most dangerous proceeding of all。
M。 de Bouillon asked me what I meant by saying； 〃if one of our strings chanced to break。〃 I replied； 〃For example； if M。 de Turenne should be dead at this juncture； or if his army has revolted； as it was likely to do under the influence of M。 d'Erlach； pray what would become of us if we should not engage the Parliament？ We should be tribunes of the people one day； and the next valets de chambre to Count Fuensaldagne。 Everything with the Parliament and nothing without them is the burden of my song。〃
After several hours' dispute neither of us was convinced； and I went away very much perplexed； the rather because M。 de Bouillon； being the great confidant of the Spaniards； I doubted not but he could make their envoys believe what he pleased。
I was still more puzzled when I came home and found a letter from Madame de Lesdiguieres； offering me extraordinary advantages in the Queen's name the payment of my debts； the grant of certain abbeys； and a nomination to the dignity of cardinal。 Another note I found with these words： 〃The declaration of the army of Germany has put us all into consternation。〃 I concluded they would not fail to try experiments with others as well as myself； and since M。 de Bouillon began to think of a back door when all things smiled upon us； I guessed the rest of our party would not neglect to enter the great door now flung open to receive them by the declaration of M。 de Turenne。 That which afflicted me most of all was to see that M。 de Bouillon was not a man of that judgment and penetration I took him for in this critical and decisive juncture； when the question was the engaging or not engaging the Parliament。 He had urged me more than twenty times to do what I now offered； and the reason why I now urged what I before rejected was the declaration of M。 de Turenne； his own brother； which should have made him bolder than I； but； instead of this； it slackened his courage； and he flattered himself that Cardinal Mazarin would let him have Sedan。 This was the centre of all his views； and he preferred these petty advantages to what he might have gained by procuring peace to Europe。 This false step made me pass this judgment upon the Duke： that； though he was a person of very great parts； yet I questioned his capacity for the mighty things which he has not done； and of which some men thought him very capable。 It is the greatest remissness on the part of a great man to neglect the moment that is to make his reputation； and this negligence； indeed； scarcely ever happens but when a man expects another moment as favourable to make his fortune； and so people are commonly deceived both ways。
The Duke was more nice than wise at this juncture； which is very often the case。 I found afterwards that the Prince de Conti was of his opinion； and I guessed； by some circumstances； that he was engaged in some private negotiation。 M。 d'Elbeuf was as meek as a lamb； and seemed； as far as h