OF MY FINDING THE NEW FRANCE IN THE INDIES.
Now concerning the length of that time which passed while I was in
the water, and all that happened to me therein, I know little on’t,
for after but a short buffeting with the waves, I lost my senses, and
knew no more until I found myself floating, upheld by that spar
whereunto I was still tied, on a tranquil enough sea, in broad
daylight. And the sun now shining very brightly, I was much incommoded
with the heat, and sought to shelter myself beneath a projecting shelf
or flap of wood that belonged to the spar, so that I might see where I
was. Then shading my eyes with my hand, I saw that all around me was
there naught but sea, save that on one side I could discern afar off
that which might be the sail of some small boat. This seemed to me a
prodigious piece of good fortune, so that I did unfasten myself from
the rope, and clambered up, as well as I might, for I found myself
prodigious weak and bruised all over, to the highest part of the spar,
and there waved my handkercher and shouted.
Then while I watched and prayed in a frenzy, the boat came on its way
and approached closer to me; but when it was come near, and they on
board catched sight of me, they halted for awhile, and sailed round
me, as though to make sure of my conditions, and then came on slowly,
making a prodigious display of such weapons as they had, and all for
fear lest I might be disposed to fight with ’em. But I holding up my
hands empty, for to make it evident to them that I was unarmed, they
came up close, and dragged me from my spar into their vessel, that was
but a poor skiff or fishing-boat, with three men aboard on’t. But when
they saw me clearly, they drew back from me and talked in whispers,
then seized their arms, and made as though they would kill me. And
upon this I cried out to them in Persian and Guzeratty and also in
Portuguese that I was an Englishman and a shipwrecked traveller, and
that they should show me pity and bring me to some one of our
factories, where they should be suitably rewarded for their care. But
’twas all in vain, for the tongues of these parts of the Indies are
altogether different from those of Surat, and the men came against me
threatening me, and I thought that among their words I could make out
that they spake of Hollanders. Now I was much exercised to know
whether these men served the Dutch, and believed that I was their
enemy, or whether they were hostile to ’em, and considered me a
Dutchman. The utmost that I could do was to assure them by signs that
I desired peace, and cast myself on their mercy, and at the last they
bid me in gestures place myself in the stern of the boat and abide
there quiet. Then, towing the spar behind, they made sail for the
land, which I could now see, though at some miles’ distance.
Sailing then towards the coast, we come presently in sight of a great
city that stood upon the shore, with a fair harbour wherein lay two or
three ships. I could see that this place was well defended with great
walls fitted for the working of cannons, and there was also a high
fort that commanded the harbour. There was several spires, as of
churches, to be seen above the walls, and some distance away from the
town behind stood a great hill, with a church or temple upon the
summit thereof. The walls and houses of the city, such parts at least
as I could see of them, glistered and shone in the sunlight as though
they had been built of marble, so that the whole place had an air of
great elegance and dignity.
Passing then the mouth of the harbour, where was posted as watchman on
a high stage an Indian that cried something to the men in whose boat I
was, and was answered by them in return, we approached the city as the
sun began to sink behind the hill. Then I saw that there was a ship’s
barge coming towards us, very handsomely appointed, and rowed by
Indians bearing a livery of white. In the stern on’t was fixed an
ancient,[83] wherein were golden lilies on a field of white, and
there was also a state[84] set up, under the which three persons sat.
Now when the barge was come near to us, I saw that these was two
ladies, very richly dressed, and a gentleman of a grave and haughty
presence. And the men of the fishing-boat bowing themselves very
humbly, after the manner of the Indians, I perceived that here must be
some very great persons, and standing up where I was I bowed low. The
gentleman then returned my salute mighty civilly, and spake unto the
boatmen in their own tongue. And they answering him with great
submission and respect, he stood up in his barge (so that I could see
him to be of a high stature and of good proportions, and dressed very
stately in black, after the Spanish fashion), and spake to me in
French, asking me whether it were true that I was an Hollander. To
which I replied No, but an English gentleman in the service of the
India Company, that was shipwrecked and rendered desolate by sad
misfortune. Then this gentleman testified great concern, saying that
the English was good friends of theirs, and having asked me divers
questions, invited me into his own boat with him, and bade one of his
train see that the fishermen were rewarded for the saving me. And I
sitting down among the gentlemen of his following, he asked of me
certain questions concerning my life and my adventures hitherto, the
ladies also listening with great kindness. But for all I was so
occupied in answering in my best French to his honour’s inquiries, I
could not help observing that one of these ladies was young and one
old, and that she that was the younger was of a most beautiful
countenance and a very majestic presence, and likewise that though
both of them was habited like unto our own dames, yet upon their heads
they did bear veils or mantles of lace, after the manner of the women
of Spain. Now as we drew near to the marble steps at the end of the
harbour, his honour said to me in the most affable manner--
“Sir, we will trouble you no further to-night. You are weary and need
repose, but to-morrow we shall be enchanted if you will honour us with
your company at supper, and relate your adventures in full. Mons. de
Marigny” (addressing himself to one of his gentlemen), “to your care I
commend this unfortunate gentleman. You will confer upon me a favour
in allowing him to share your lodging, and I entreat you to see that
he has every alleviation of his distresses that our poor town and
fleet may be able to furnish. Sir, I have the honour to wish you a
very good night, with agreeable dreams and sweet rest from your
sorrows.”
Now in very truth I wan’t sorry to accept these kind offers of rest
and lodging, for I was so dog-tired that I could scarce keep open my
eyes; but I am glad that I was still sufficiently awake to thank his
honour most humbly for all his kindness before I retired with that
gentleman to whom he had commended me. This Mr Marigny (his Christian
name Claudius) was a very gay and pleasant young gentleman, and did
discourse most agreeably the while he led me to his lodging, not
showing himself in the least angered to have so scurvy-looking a
fellow thus suddenly thrust upon him, but spake to me of many matters
whereof I knew naught, so that at the last I was constrained to ask
his pardon and request that he would be so good as unfold to me
everything on the morrow. And this, laughing mightily, he did promise
to do, and so brought me to his lodging, where he called for food. And
so tired was I, that while this was a-preparing, I fell asleep, with
my head on my arms on the table, and Mr Marigny had much ado to wake
me and advise me to take some broth. Then he brought me into his own
chamber, and bade me repose myself upon his bed, which was made very
elegant, after the Indian manner, and this command once given, I
lacked no forcing to make me obey it.
Now the next day I did not awake until noon, and found myself then
still so weary that I had gladly gone to sleep again, but a Gentue
servant that was in the chamber came and invited me by signs to rise,
offering me a very fine brocado nightgown[85] of Mr Marigny’s for to
put on, since my own coat and doublet were nowhere to be seen. And
wearing this gown, together with the night-cap that had been lent to
me the night before, I went into the parlour, where was Mr Marigny
drinking _jacolet_. He seeing me, came and bid me welcome with much
kindness, and commanded the servant to bring in the portion of
victuals that had been set aside for me, and so sat down for to talk
with me the while I did eat.
“I see,” says he, “that you have questions without number for to ask
me, though where you have spent the last few years, so as not to be
aware of all that has happened in ’em, I can’t tell.”
“Alas, sir!” says I, “they were passed in the dungeons of the
Inquisition, whereto little news penetrates. But pray tell me who is
the noble gentleman that entreated me so civilly yesterday?”
“That,” says he, “is my lord Marquis of Tourvel, his most Christian
majesty’s viceroy in the Indies.”[86]
“The King of France’s viceroy?” said I, in great astonishment.
“Even so,” says he.
“And the gentlewomen with him are his lady and his daughter, as I
suppose?” said I, trying to digest that which he told me.
“Nay,” said he, “Mad. de Tourvel is dead these many years. The younger
lady is my lord’s daughter, Mademoiselle de Tourvel, and the other is
Mad. de Chesnac, her cousin, who is her governess,
waiting-gentlewoman, what you will.”
“And hath his lordship any other children here?” asked I.
“Nay, he han’t none else at all. Mademoiselle Heliodore is the only
one, and she hath abode so long unmarried that ’tis said she intends
to devote herself altogether to my lord her father. But that----”
Here the Gentue servant entered the chamber, and brought in with him a
young black page-boy, bearing a packet in his hand, the which he did
deliver to me. In the packet was there a purse of cut velvet, very
handsome, with twenty _louis d’or_ therein, and with it a billet wrote
in French very elegantly, saying that I had doubtless found myself
incommoded by the loss of all my clothes and other necessaries, and
that ’twould afford an infinite pleasure to Mademoiselle de Tourvel if
I would permit her to supply my most pressing needs. Mr Marigny,
seeing the purse and knowing the lad that brought it, made a sign to
me to accept that which was sent me, and was good enough to furnish me
with paper and ink, wherewith I writ that I did most gratefully accept
the kindness of Mademoiselle de Tourvel, and looked forward with
impatience to doing myself the honour of signifying my thanks in
person to her ladyship that evening. And this letter wrote, and the
servant and the page departed, Mr Marigny looked jestingly at me.
“O happy youth!” says he, “have you already won the favour of the
peerless Heliodore, when no other can gain from her anything but
coldness?”
“Methinks, sir,” says I, “you are unjust to the lady that has just
dealt so kindly by me, to suspect her of such designs.”
“Sir,” says Mr Marigny, quickly, “I spake but in jest. I pray you to
believe that I an’t altogether a fool. I honour and esteem
Mademoiselle de Tourvel as if she were my own sister, and so do all
here, but we know better than to expect her to look kindly on any of
us.”
He seemed as if he might have said more, but stayed himself suddenly,
and asked me whether I would choose to see the town. This set me
a-laughing.
“’Tis prodigious strange,” says I, “but here have I been for a night
and a day in this place without so much as knowing the name on’t.”
“This is the city of St Thomas, in the country of Gulconda,”[87] says
he, “and hath its name from the blessed martyr St Thomas the apostle,
who was murdered in this place by the pagans. There are here divers
memorials of his life and death, and notably his sepulchre, that
standeth on that great hill behind the town, where you may discern a
fair chapel builded in his honour. And if we have good luck to-day, I
will show you likewise a sign of the divine judgment upon the
murderers of the blessed saint. For the Indians here, being descended
from those that with their feet did stamp St Thomas to death, are all
born with the right leg prodigiously swollen, and this deformity
continues, and even increases, throughout their lives. Finding
’emselves thus marked with the token of heaven’s displeasure, these
persons resolved long since to amend their lives, and becoming
converted to the faith, are called by the name of him they slew--viz.,
the Christians of St Thomas--but do still bear about with ’em the mark
of their fathers’ crime.”
“I thank you, sir, for this curious tale,” said I. “And what (if I may
ask) do you and your fellows in this place?”
“Why,” says he, “my lord marquis holds it for his majesty against all
the forces of the King of Gulconda by land and the fleet of the
insolent Hollanders by sea.”
“Pray,” says I, “tell me how you come hither, sir. Three years ago I
had looked for a viceroy from Muscovy in these seas as soon as for one
from France.”
“That will I tell you when I carry you to see the walls,” says he.
“But first, if you will give me leave, I will seek some clothes for
you, and what is still lacking we will get when we go abroad. Your own
clothes have been looked to by my servant, but I fear they will scarce
be fit for you to wear to-day.”
And this I found to be true, for the plain suit of dark blue that
Captain Freeman had lent me (and which was always something small, I
being taller than he) was all shrunk up with the sea-water and so
spoiled as I could never wear it again, wherefore Mr Marigny did lend
me a coat of light cloth, laced with gold at all the seams very neat,
and a beaver with a great plume. Thus bravely attired, I walked abroad
with him, and he showed to me this great city, which was built first
by the Portugals, but taken from them by the Moors, and has seven
churches and seven great gates, and all its walls built of marble. We
saw many shops, like unto those of Surat for the meanness of their
appearance, and there laid out a part of Madam Heliodora’s gift on
such things as I stood most in need of. Divers other matters in the
way of clothes we ordered to be made (for these Indians are extreme
skilful in copying any pattern you may give ’em), and desired the
tailors to make all speed in sending them home. And after this we went
and sat upon the walls, looking out to sea, and there, Mr Marigny’s
servant holding a great _umbrello_ over us the while, we discoursed
touching this adventure of the Frenchmen that had brought them to St
Thomas and kept them defending it.
“I pray you tell me first, sir,” says I, “whether this fleet of yours
be despatched by the King of France, or by some private persons?”
“Truly,” says he, “the ships belong to our India Company, but they are
sent forth with the approval and encouragement of the king and of the
Lord Colbert, his minister.”
“And how long is’t since they were sent forth?” said I.
“Seven years ago they started,” says he, “in 1666. The first intention
was to colonise the isle called Madegascar, where we have had
settlements during many years, but finding this inexpedient, they that
had the ruling of the business judged it well to proceed to the true
Indies, and factories was set up at Surat and Mechlapatan.”[88]
“I had not looked,” says I, “to find a French factory at Surat on my
return thither. And pray, sir, an’t you greatly troubled there, as we,
by Seva Gi and the Morattys?”
“Nay,” says he, “we are well agreed with ’em, having been enabled to
win their favour through one or two happy accidents. And with the
emperor at Dhilly likewise do we stand very well, having obtained from
him a _pharmaund_[89] (which is to say a charter), granting us divers
immunities of traffic.”
“But sure,” says I, “with so peaceful and happy a beginning, you han’t
needed your cannons and munitions of war?”
“Ah,” says Mr Marigny, “though we have found no trouble arise with the
Indosthans[90] ’emselves, yet we have had much from the Dutch, that
are as great haters of our adventures in these seas as they are of
those of your own English Company. For we attempting to make a
settlement upon the island of Ceilon, they did drive us off from Galle
Point, yet we went on to Trincomalai, where we effected a landing, and
did grievously discomfit the Hollanders. But they coming upon us with
a great fleet before we had time for to victual the place, we were
forced to forsake it for want of food, and so sailed up the coast of
Coromandel, until we came to this city of St Thomas. And here
demanding provisions from the Moors, they refused us with many ill
words, whereupon our captain, filled with a noble rage, gave battle to
’em, and took the place, losing only five men.”
“His lordship must be both brave and discreet, sir,” said I.
“Both these he is, sir, indeed,” says Mr Marigny, “but so hurt and
hampered in all his doings by the jealousy of those appointed to the
command with him as no man ever yet was. As you have seen, he is a
person of a very majestic carriage, and very high in his ways, and by
this has done much to offend the other leaders. One of these, that was
named Director-General of our trade in the Indies, hath been summoned
to France to answer for himself, his majesty having doubtless heard
tell of his injurious deeds.”
“And pray, sir,” said I, “tell me how his lordship and all of your
company have fared since you took this place.”
“Why,” says he, “after driving out the Moors, we brake up the most of
our ships, reserving only two or three of those that were soundest,
and brought on shore their ordnance, wherewith we have armed these
walls, as you see. Then there come against us the armies of the King
of Gulconda, whose captain we had dispossessed, and for some time
pressed us very close, so that we had little rest, either by day or by
night. But at length, finding that we were not to be took unawares,
they withdrew ’emselves a little, and do now keep up a continual watch
and blockade upon us, with sometimes an open attempt, and this to our
great weariness. Nevertheless, my lord appointed an ambassage unto
’em, that had near succeeded in coming to an accommodation with their
king, but was baulked by the evil offices of the Dutch, that had sent
ambassadors likewise, and gained his ear, so preventing him from
acceding to us. Nor was these Hollanders contented with this, but must
needs come with their great fleet and besiege us in our harbour here,
though as yet they have gained little reward for their trouble, for we
have been well able to make ’em keep their distance.”
“But how can you maintain the place without victuals,” asked I, “since
these were come to an end even at Trincomalai?”
“We have been greatly helped,” says he, “by the chief of the English
Factory at Maderas,[91] who has been so good as to bestow upon us aid
of that sort more than once.”
“Why,” says I, “are you near to Maderas at this place?”
“Not far off,” said he. “’Tis some few miles to the north, that is
all.”
“Then I shan’t be forced to trespass on your kindness so long as I had
feared, sir,” said I. “Methought I must needs stay here until an
English ship should chance to enter the harbour, or maybe a _caphalay_
start for one of the Company’s posts.”
“You are mighty eager to leave us, sir,” says he. “At the least, I am
assured that his lordship will never let you depart under fifteen
days, and methinks he will desire you to tarry with us longer. It an’t
so often that we see here one from Europe that we need hasten his
departure when he comes.”
“You are very good, sir,” says I, “and sure I’m most grateful to his
lordship,” and indeed I could not but admire the hospitableness
wherewith these French gentlemen shared their scanty stores.
“We ourselves, sir,” says Mr Marigny, “are too much indebted to the
English factories to be able to treat any Englishman ill. But it is
now growing late, and we will, if you please, return to my lodging,
that we may prepare for his lordship’s supper-party.”
To this I agreed without any ado, and the more as I was all eagerness
to behold again the beautiful countenance of that lady who had carried
herself so kindly towards me, and leaving the walls, we returned to Mr
Marigny’s lodging. This I now perceived to be situate in one of the
great houses of the place, its outward aspect mean enough, but its
furnishings genteel and handsome after the Indian fashion, since it
had belonged to a chief man among the Moors, and was now appointed to
the use of some three or four of the younger gentlemen among my lord
marquis his officers. Here we found set out a cold collation, to
which, when we were sat down, we did excellent justice, and then made
shift to dress ourselves fitly for appearing in my lord’s presence.
And because I had no clothes meet for such an entertainment, and the
suit which I had ordered of a Gentue tailor of the town not being
likely to be finished for some days, Mr Marigny did lend me a tunic of
his own, that was of a light blue damask, guarded with silver lace,
very pretty, and had in a soldier of his troop, that was also a
barber, for to trim my hair. And being now ready, we were carried in
_palenkeens_ to the palace, which is a great piece of building, used
formerly by the Moorish governor of the King of Gulconda, and so large
as all the six hundred Frenchmen in St Thomas might have found lodging
therein easily. But my lord, for his punctilio’s sake, whereof he was
prodigious jealous, had reserved it altogether for himself, his family
and his guard, and everything was arranged very orderly, and with as
great pomp and ceremony as at any court of Europe.
And this you may perceive, on my telling you that at the great gate we
were met by the steward of my lord’s household, called the _maistre
d’hostel_, and our names and dignities being noted by him, passed on
through many courts and galleries, where were many servants, all
habited very seemly in my lord’s livery, and all bowing, and so came
at last to the great saloon, where his lordship received his guests.
And in this chamber, that was hung with silk and tapestry, and the
floor and pillars garnished with rich marbles, and all lighted with
great candles of white wax, was there at one end a daïs or raised
part, whereon was set an honourable seat, like unto a throne, with a
state above it, for my lord marquis, likewise an armed chair for Madam
Heliodora his daughter, and another chair, as stately, but without
arms, for the gentlewoman that bare her company. And behind these
chairs was there a crowd of servants waving their great fans for to
keep the air cool, and on either side of the daïs the officers and
merchant venturers that were come with my lord upon this business. And
his lordship, standing before his throne (whereon was broidered very
cunningly in needlework the arms of France), did receive me most
graciously, and give me his hand, which I shook with great respect,
but since then I have entertained misgivings thereabout, so that I
can’t satisfy myself that his lordship did not intend me to kiss it.
And having paid our duty to my lord marquis, we passed on beyond the
throne, and here sat Madam Heliodora, wearing a gown of flowered China
silk, made in the French fashion (then new), called a sacque, and a
collar of great pearls about her neck. Her hair was worn low, as the
mode then was, and dressed in curls over the forehead and at the
sides. Next to her was Mad. de Chesnac, in a gown of very rich
brocado, the colour black with silver threads, and her hair powdered
under a high cap. Likewise both these gentlewomen carried fans of
wrought ivory, the carving so rich and delicate as I had never seen,
and the lace in their ruffles, tuckers, and handkerchers was the
finest imaginable. Now when Mr Marigny had presented me with all due
form to Madam Heliodora, she showed herself very gracious to me,
giving me her hand to kiss, and inquired of me extreme kindly whether
I were refreshed from the fatigues of my shipwreck. And I replying in
the best French I might frame, ventured also to thank her ladyship for
her great kindness in anticipating my necessities, but which she bid
me not mention, saying that she took shame to herself that she had
need to be put in mind of my situation by some chance word of my lord
her father, before she thought upon my wants. And this she said so
humbly, but yet with so noble an air and tone, that I could but listen
to her stupidly, and wonder at her beauty and the excellence of her
good breeding. Mad. de Chesnac also, to whom my lady did me the honour
to present me, carried herself very civilly towards me, and made me
many pretty compliments, the which I was at much pains to return,
though I can’t but fear that I stumbled sadly in my French.
And all the guests being now arrived, my lord marquis asked of me to
be good enough to divert them with the relation of my adventures, but
Madam Heliodora, observing that I still seemed weary, bade a servant
bring a tabouret and set it for me before the daïs. And upon this my
lord sat down upon his throne, and desired of all the company to be
seated likewise, which was done according to their degrees, and indeed
it was pretty to see the art with which each person took his own
place, the better sort upon chairs, and the rest upon the long seat
that ran round the saloon. And I being set in the midst upon my
folding-stool, my lord requested of me to begin, and thereupon I told
them in little that which I have already told you, saving that of
course I made no mention of my private matters. And when I had done,
all present testified much sympathy with me, for the French love the
Inquisition no more than we do, nor hath it ever been allowed in their
country of late years, and there was more than one there that could
tell sad tales of that which had happened to friends or kin that had
brought themselves under the power thereof in Portingale, Spain, or
the Indies.
Now after my history was done went we to supper, that was set out in
another chamber with great magnificence, and such ceremony was in the
going thither as I never saw, my lord going first, leading Madam
Heliodora his daughter, and after him his next in command with Mad. de
Chesnac, and after them the rest of us according to our degrees. And
at the supper, being the newest arrived of those there, it was granted
me to sit beside Madam Heliodora, to my no small contentment, for I
found my eyes and thoughts fixed continually upon this lady, so
prodigiously was I constrained to admire both her countenance and her
wit. And at different times she was so obliging as to honour me with
her special attention, asking me concerning my home, and my father and
Dorothy, with so much kindness, and yet with so great gravity withal,
that I could no more have answered her falsely (even if I had had any
mind thereto), nor sought evasion in my replies, than if an angel from
heaven had been speaking with me. And she, receiving my answers, did
speak with me concerning those my friends in England as gently and as
wisely as if she had been a queen and I her subject, or she my sister
and I her young brother. It seems likely to me now, that my three
years in prison had made me look to be much younger than in reality I
was, imparting to my complexion a certain delicacy and youthfulness,
and this, though my face, when I saw it in the glass, had to me the
appearance of that of an old man. Likewise my hair helped to this
effect, not being yet grown again, but hanging in my neck like a
schoolboy’s, so that I heard the Frenchmen all speak of me as _Ce
jeune Anglois_, and sometimes (though I was bigger than any of ’em,
saving his lordship and one other), _Ce petit Anglois_. But to-night I
cared for none of their contempts, being altogether wrapped up in the
talk of Madam Heliodora.
Now after supper, the guests being in the course of departing, his
lordship carried me apart for a moment to speak with him in his
private closet, and I observed how tall and seemly a person he was,
and how stately in his velvet coat, with a great gold chain about his
neck, and a medal hanging therefrom. He addressed himself to me mighty
civilly, saying that my relation had entertained him prodigiously, and
desiring that I would prolong my stay at St Thomas so long as it
suited with my occasions. He promised me, moreover, to ask the chief
of our English Factory at Maderas to send him sure word whenever an
English ship bound for Surat or Bombaim should arrive there, that so I
might take passage in her, and that thus I need be under no fear of
missing any chance of returning to my place. This being so, I did
accept of his lordship’s offer with many thanks, and so bid him good
night, and returned home with Mr Marigny. This gentleman was full of
pleasant wit touching the events of the evening, and talked on thus
until bedtime, I answering him scarce a word, for I could think only
of Madam Heliodora, and repeat in my mind those things that she had
said to me.
And now that I am come to speak of a part of my life that displays the
most intolerable presumption and foolishness in me, I desire (while
humbly affirming that no man perceives clearer than I the folly of my
doings) to disarm your censure in some degree by putting you in
remembrance that I was extreme unused to ladies’ company, never having
so much as seen a woman’s face for over three years. Even in the days
of my favour at Goa, I saw but little of the ladies, as I have before
said, they being kept so recluse, and at Surat there was only some few
Dutchwomen and those unhappy English of whom Mr Martin had spoken to
me, with whom I had consorted as little as might be. And so you must
needs go back to Ellswether, and to the days when my cousin Dorothy
and I played together in the fields, to find a time when I was in
daily intercourse with any person not of my own sex. And although this
plea can’t pardon my folly, yet it may be it can mitigate it.
Now it seems to me that before I proceed further I ought to set down
in writing a character of Madam Heliodora as she appeared at this
time, for the sake of those that don’t enjoy the felicity of her
acquaintance, or that have known her only in the time of change and
adversity. This lady, Madam Frances Mary Louise (I don’t know how to
render this last name in English, for it an’t used among us, though
very common in France) Anne Amanda Heliodora, daughter and only child
to his lordship the most noble Gasper Deodatus, Marquis of Tourvel,
and Madam Mary Margaret of Cheverenches, his wife, was born in the
early part of the year 1645-46, and though thus no longer in the first
bloom of her youth, preserved such an admirable beauty as might well
make envious many younger dames. In stature, she was above the common
height of women, but so just and excellent a proportion was observable
in every several part of her frame as made her figure to seem
absolutely perfect. Her eyes were brown, large and melting, her hair
of a most lovely brown, tending to black, her skin of a marble
whiteness not often seen by us in England. I might go on to write down
every feature and describe its beauties, for all were beautiful; but
when all is said, ’twas not so much the beauty of the several parts as
the sweet and beautiful spirit of the lady herself that shone through
and illuminated them with a double loveliness. There was in all her
motions so exquisite a grace as drew your eyes to her irresistibly, so
that did she but lift a glass from the table you were forced to look
at her and admire, yet not so much for the beauty of her hand and arm
(though these were the finest imaginable) as for the elegance of the
action itself. Her constitution[92] was extreme devout, and a little
inclined to sadness, yet in time of need she could display so
indomitable a courage as I have never seen equalled. Of her kindness
and goodness it would ill become me, who have profited so much by ’em,
to say naught, and yet to describe them fitly were equally difficult,
so that I can only say that both were excessive. At this time she was
something wont, as Mad. de Chesnac complained, to affect a certain
singularity and strangeness in her dress and carriage, choosing to
dress herself in sad colours when she so could, and to resign herself
to overmuch musing. But this, as it seems to me, is fully accounted
for when all is known touching her, which won’t be yet for you, even
as it wan’t for me.
Now in conclusion of this piece of description and vindication (being
a description of Madam Heliodora, and a vindication, in so far as may
be, of myself), I will add only this, that whereas those enemies that
have left nothing undone to blacken even the most innocent actions of
my life, have made foul charges against me, I do most solemnly declare
that I never erred against that dear lady otherwise than by folly and
presumption, and that those who speak to the contrary wrong not me
only, but her also, whose virtues and misfortunes alone should protect
her against calumny, let alone that desire for truth which should
refrain from assailing her spotless name.