It is not a mere tale that the King of Morocco has asked in marriage
the Princesse de Conti [daughter of Louis XIV. and Louise de la
Vallière], but the king repulsed the proposal sharply. That princess
was extremely beautiful before she had the small-pox, but her illness
has greatly changed her. She still has a perfect figure and charming
carriage, and dances admirably; I never saw any engraved portrait that
was like her.
I can understand why people go to Rome, like my cousin the Landgrave
of Cassel, to see the antiquities, but I cannot imagine that they
should go to be present at all those priests' ceremonies, for nothing
is more tiresome. Perhaps some people go for the thirty thousand
_dames galantes_ who are said to be there; but those who like such
merchandise have only to come to France, where they will find them in
abundance. Those who want to repent of their sins need not go to Rome;
to repent sincerely in their own homes is quite as profitable. Here no
one cares about Rome or the pope; they are quite convinced they can
get to heaven without him.
I seldom see Monsieur here [Marly]; we do not dine together; he plays
cards all day, and at night we are each in our own room. Monsieur
has the weakness to think that when he is overlooked at cards he has
ill-luck; so I never assist at his games. He has frightened us very
much by having a quartan fever; this is the day it is due to return,
but, thanks to God, he feels nothing of it yet, and he is in the
salon, playing cards.
All letters entering or leaving France are opened; I know that very
well, but it does not trouble me; I continue to write what comes into
my head.
_To Madame de Maintenon._