LIVRI, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1676.
Nothing can be more true than the proverb which says, that liberty
is destroyed by uncertainty. Were you under any sort of restraint,
you would have determined what to do long ago, and not have been like
Mohammed’s coffin, suspended between heaven and earth; one of the
loadstones would certainly, by this time, have got the better of the
other. You would no longer be _dragooned_, which is a very unpleasant
state. The voice you heard, in passing the Durance, exclaim, _Ah,
mother! mother!_ would pierce to Grignan: or at least, that which
counseled you to leave it, would not haunt you at Briare; for which
reason, I maintain that nothing can be more opposite in its nature to
liberty than indifference and indecision. Can it be possible that the
sage La Garde, who has, it seems, resumed all his wonted wisdom, has
likewise lost his free will? is he incapable of advising you? can he
be at a loss to decide in this important point? you have seen that I
decide like one of the councils. But how is it that La Garde, who is
coming to Paris himself, can not contrive that his journey may take
place at the same time with yours? If you do come, it would be no bad
thought to take the way of Sully; the little duchess would certainly
convey you as far as Nemours; at least, you would find some friend or
other, from day to day, so that you would have a relay of friends, till
you found yourself in your own apartment. You would have met with a
better reception last time, but your letter came so late that you took
every body by surprise, and had nearly missed me, which would have been
a fine circumstance indeed; but we will contrive to keep clear of this
inconvenience in future. I can not help praising the chevalier,[141]
who arrived in Paris on Friday evening, and dined here on Saturday; was
it not very good of him? I was delighted to see him, and I assure you
we spoke with great freedom of your scruples. I am now going to take
a trip to Paris. I must see M. de Louvois on your brother’s account,
who is still here without leave, which vexes me not a little. I want
to talk to M. Colbert likewise, about your pension: these two visits
are all I have to make. I have some thoughts of going to Versailles,
but will acquaint you whether I do so or not. In the mean time, we have
the finest weather imaginable; the country has yet put on none of its
horrors, and St. Hubert has favored the hunter extremely.
[141] De Grignan.
We are still reading Saint Augustine with pleasure: there is something
so great and noble in his ideas, that all the mischief that weak minds
can possibly receive from his doctrine, falls infinitely short of the
good which others may derive from the perusal. You will imagine I give
myself airs of a learned lady; but when you see in what a familiar
style this is written, you will cease to wonder at my capacity. You
tell me that if you did not love me a great deal more than you say,
you should love me very little: I am strangely tempted to scold you
for this, even though I should risk the saying an unkind or an uncivil
thing: but no; I am fully persuaded you love me; and God knows much
better than it is possible for you to do, what a strong affection I
entertain for you. I am glad to hear Pauline is like me, she will serve
to put you in mind of me. “_Ah! mother, there is no need of that._”