Entre les Sentimens divers. Betwixt Opinions contrary.
Par-tout où je porte ma vue, Where-e'er my roving Eyes I turn
Je vous des Abîmes ouverts. Abysses open to my View.
Pour me garantir du naufrage, For fear of being cast away,
Je n'ose quitter le rivage; I dare not quit the Sight of Shore;
La crainte assûre mon repos. And 'tis this Fear my Peace secures.
Combien, dans cette Mer profonde, How many, in this Ocean deep,
Flottant à la merci de l'onde, Floating at Mercy of the Waves,
Se perdent au milieu des flots? Are by those Waves immerg'd
and lost!
De tant de disputes fameuses, Let us the dang'rous Tracks avoid
Où nous embarque notre orgueil, Of those Disputes but too
well known,
Fuyons les Routes dangereuse: In which our Pride engageth us:
L'Homme à Lui-même est un écueil; Man's to himself a fatal Rock;
Dans le petis Monde sensible, For in this little World of ours
Est un Dédale imperceptible, There is a Dadalus unseen,
Dont nous ignorons les Détours. Whose Windings are to us unknown.
La Foi de notre sort decide: 'Tis Faith our Fortune doth decide,
Elle tient le fil qui nous guide; She holds the Thread which
Sans elle, nous errons toujours. is our Guide;
Or else we always go astray.
Heureux le coeur simple Happy that honest docile Heart,
et docile,
Qui sans raisonner sur la Foi, Which without reas'ning about Faith
Respecte dans nos Saints Conciles Our Holy Councils venerates,
Le sacré dépôt de la Foi; The Sacred Guardians of that Faith;
Ne franchissant point la Barriere, And dares not climb o'er that
Barrier.
Que le Pere de la lumiere Fix'd by the Father of all Light
Met aux vains efforts de l'esprit. Against proud Reason's vain Efforts.
A quoi nos soins doivent-ils
tendre? To what shou'd our Endeavours tend?
Est-ce à pratiquer, ou comprendre Is it to practice, or comprise
Ce que le Ciel nous a prescrit? The Things which Heaven
has prescrib'd?
Laissons la Sagesse éternalle Let's to Eternal Wisdom leave
Disposer des coeurs à son gré: The sole Disposal of all Hearts:
Il suffit à l'Homme fidelle, The true Believer is content,
Que par lui Dieu soit adoré. That God by him shou'd be ador'd.
Qu'importe à ces Docteurs habiles, What do these cunning Doctors gain,
Que par des Raisons trop subtiles Who by too subtle Arguments
Un Système soit combattu? A System strive to overthrow?
Que produit leur haute science, What does their Knowledge
great avail,
Si Dieu ne met dans la Balance If God but in the Balance cast
Que l'Innocence & la Vertu? Virtue and Innocence to turn
the Scale?
It were to be wish'd, that every _Frenchman_ had the same Christian
Tranquillity; for then they would not worry one another as they now do,
nor would they give such a Scandal to _Europe_. But the Matter is push'd
so far, that I don't foresee how a Stop can be put to it. It will be
always a Worm preying upon the Vitals of _France_, and a Bone of
Contention between the Court and Parliament.
Some Days ago, the Court banish'd the Abbé _Pucelle_, a Counsellor of
Parliament. This Man is another _Broussel_, and I believe, he would be
overjoy'd, if he could revive the ancient Barricades which were erected
during the Minority of _Lewis_ XIV. after the Queen Mother _Anne_ of
_Austria_ had caus'd that same _Broussel_ to be put under an Arrest. But
as yet there does not appear to be so much Rout about the Abbé _Pucelle_,
notwithstanding he made a very great Noise in Parliament. There he spoke
like an Angel, and every body said he defended the Liberties of the
_Gallican_ Church so well, that nobody could do it better. Nevertheless, I
am apprehensive, that he will be at a Loss how to vindicate his own
Liberty; and I am very much mistaken, if he has not a Lodging at
_Vincennes_, or the _Bastile_, before he dies. The Parliament leaves no
Stone unturn'd, that he may be recalled; and will do no Business at all,
till that dear Brother of theirs is restored. Mean time, all Affairs are
at a Stand, by which private Persons are the Sufferers: And yet these very
Counsellors, who make a Scruple of Conscience to register an Edict from
the King, which infring'd the ancient Privileges of the Parliament, don't
care what becomes of poor Widows and Orphans, that languish for the Issue
of a Process kept in Suspense by these Domestic Quarrels! In Truth, I
cannot but admire the good Nature of the King, and the Moderation of the
Cardinal _de Fleury_. I am sure, that the Regent, and the Cardinal
_Dubois_, would not have had so much Patience: For the former sent the
Parliament to _Pontoise_, and caus'd the Members to be arrested and
banish'd for a less Offence; and at the Time too, when the Parliament
remonstrated against the Alteration of the Species, in which the Fortune
of every _Frenchman_ was concerned. Hitherto all the Representations of
the Parliament for the Return of the Abbé _Pucelle_, have been of no
Effect; and I fansy, that the first President will be forced to make
another Trip to _Compiegne_, where the King has for some Time past
resided[79].
A Couplet has lately been made upon the Abbé's Exile: I don't remember the
Beginning of it, but it ends thus;
_Que de bonnes gens vont pleurer!_ _Que de filles vont crier_,
_Rendez-nous_ Pucelle, _ô gai_, _Rendez-nous_ Pucelle!
_i. e._
How do the good Women lament! How do the Daughters cry, Give us back
_Pucelle_, Give us back _Pucelle_[80]!
You must allow the _French_ are merry Mortals. Let what will happen,
they'll find something or other in it to divert them. Every thing is to
them a Subject for a Song; and I remember to have heard of a Ballad they
made and sung upon the Plague in _Provence_, in 1720. Mean time, these
Jarrings between the Court and Parliament have absolutely effac'd the
Memory of the blessed _Paris_. 'Tis true, he began to be out of Vogue,
after the Court caus'd the Church-yard of _St. Medard_ to be stopp'd up,
where he lies interr'd. If this had been done at first, a great deal of
Scandal would have been prevented. I am very sorry I can't stay to see
what will be the End of all these Things; but my Affairs call me to
_Germany_, whither I propose to set out the first Opportunity; therefore
write to me no more at present.
Two Days ago, I saw such a Slur put upon the Charms of a young Lady, that
she was thoroughly mortified. 'Twas the Marchioness _de R----_, one of the
Ladies of the Bed-chamber. She has been us'd, for a long time, to daub her
Face very awkwardly, with a great deal of White, Red, and Patches; but on
that Day she out-did herself. She came into the Garden of the
_Thuilleries_, on Purpose to be admir'd; for she has the Reputation of a
very great Coquette: But she was hooted at by a great many smart Fellows
that follow'd her, and gather'd all the Mob about her, so that the poor
Lady was glad to retire; and being oblig'd to wait a little for her Coach,
was very much hiss'd into the Bargain by those prodigal Puppies the
Lacqueys; so that in my Life I never saw a Woman more run down.
The same Night I supped with the Marquis _de L----_, whom I had never seen
before. I was told by a certain Lady, That he ow'd his Fortune to an old
Woman: For tho' he was a Man of a good Family, yet, being a younger
Brother, he was not rich. When he was twenty Years of Age, he pleased the
Marchioness _de L----_, who was threescore and ten, to such a Degree, that
she offer'd to marry him; and the Marquis, who was then but a plain
Gentleman, did not want very much Intreaty to accept the Proposal; for
tho' he was a Man of a handsome Presence, he did not presume to think that
any young Woman would fall in Love with him, who had one hundred and fifty
thousand good Livres a Year to her Fortune, which was what the Marchioness
really had to bestow upon whom she pleased. As the two Lovers return'd
from the Church of _St. Sulpice_, where they were married, the Marchioness
carried her Spouse to her own House; and leading him into an Apartment,
_You need not be afraid, Sir_, said she; _don't imagine that I married
you to toy with. This is your Apartment; mine is on the other Side of the
House. You shall lie here, and I'll lie in my own Chamber. I was willing
to make a Man of you, because I took you for a deferring young Fellow: But
this I could not do, without taking you to be my Husband; and I had rather
it should be said, that I am an old Fool for marrying a young Fellow, than
to give any Colour for reporting, that I keep you in Pay. 'Tis more
honourable both for you and me, that we are married; for now I can do what
I please for you without the Censure of the Public. This, too, is what I
have resolv'd on; and as I have no Relations, you may depend upon it, that
all I have in the World will be one Day or other your own. All the
Acknowledgment I desire of you, is some little Share in your Respect, and
I am persuaded you are too much of a Gentleman to use me ill._ Judge you
how much the Marquis was surprised, at a Speech which he so little
expected. He was ready to fall at the Feet of his Bride, and to give her
Proofs of his Ecstasy of Love, when she push'd him from her, and said,
_None of these extraordinary Fits, I beseech you, Sir; let us live
together like Friends: All the rest is superfluous._ In short, she gave
him to understand, 'twas her absolute Determination, that he should never
think of her as his Wife. The Marquis was obliged to comply; and after
having liv'd thus in perfect Harmony for seven Years, the Lady died, and
left her Husband Heir to all her Estate.
The young Fellows undoubtedly stand the best Chance for the great
Fortunes. I had Engagements here, when I was but twenty-two Years of Age,
with an old Lady too, but she was not altogether to disinterested as the
Marchioness _de L----_; for tho' she was kind to me, she obliged me to a
great deal of Duty. This Lady of mine was forty Years older than myself;
yet what with Patches, and the Red and the White, her Charms were renewed
every Day to such a Degree, that 'twas well I was twenty-two Years of Age,
or else they would have frightened me. But fourscore thousand Livres a
Year, which I always kept in View, made me take that for natural, which
was only artificial; insomuch that if I had been put to my Oath, I know
not whether I should not have sworn that my superannuated Mistress was but
in her Teens. We lived a couple of Years together very lovingly. The Lady
happened to have two Sons living, old enough both of 'em, to be my
Fathers; yet she did not despair of having another Brood. For this End she
proposed Matrimony to me, and I freely consented. But my Sons-in-law _in
futuro_, being advertised, by whom I know not, where I had appointed a
Meeting with their Mother, came and fell at her Feet, and conjured her not
to wrong them and their Children, (for they were both married) by marrying
me. The Lady was stagger'd in her Resolution, and was just going to
promise her Sons, that she would not have me; when I came to her in the
Nick of Time, and so encouraged her by my Presence, that she got the
better of her Weakness.
Mean time, the Sons sprung a new Mine, which answered their End. Their
Mother was a Coquet, but one of the pious Sort, and devoted that Time to
God, which she did not spend with me, or at her Toilet. The Sons detached
a Priest of _St. Sulpice_ to her. The holy Man chose his Opportunity when
I was abroad. I did not foresee, that a Blow would come from such a
Quarter; or else the _Swiss_, and all her Domestics, being my Creatures, I
could easily have kept him out of the House. He discharged his Commission
so effectually, that he prevailed to have the Signing of the Marriage
Articles, which were to have been executed the very next Day, put off for
three Months longer. I was not very much chagrin'd when I heard this News;
for I confess, I flatter'd myself, that 'twas not possible for the Lady to
escape me. By the Description I have given you of my Sweetheart, you will
imagine that I was not over Head and Ears in Love. Whatever Scruple the
Priest of _St. Sulpice_ had raised in her, she carried it to me the same
as ever: We still liv'd very lovingly together, and I had considerable
Presents made to me, which I squandered away as fast as I received. At the
same Time, I did not dare to mention any Writings for my Security; and to
talk to a Mistress of threescore Years and ten, about making her Last Will
and Testament, was, I thought, a strange kind of Courtship, and the Way to
spoil all.
Nevertheless, this Misfortune fell upon me, when I least of all expected
it. As I went one Morning into my Dear's Chamber, I found her at her
Toilet, complaining of a great Pain in her Head. She told me, That she was
in a sad Quandary too, because she had invited People to Dinner, but was
not in a Condition to keep them Company; and she desired me, therefore, to
do them the Honours of her House: But I prevailed with her to send Word to
those whom she had invited, that she was ill, and that she should be glad
to see them another Time. I then left her, with a Promise to come back and
dine with her; and having taken a Walk, I returned accordingly; when I
found her dress'd more gay than usual. She told me, that a Dish or two of
Coffee had quite remov'd her Head-ach, and that she had trick'd herself up
to please me. We din'd together, but she eat very little, and began very
soon to complain again; so that I made her lie down upon the Bed, and
taking a Book in my Hand, I sat down by her to read, while she rested: But
all on a sudden, I felt her lay hold of my Hand, and as I turned about to
her, my Mistress gave my Hand a Squeeze, and that Instant expir'd. I
called for Help, and both Surgeons and Physicians came, by whose Order she
was blooded; but 'twas to no Purpose: For _there's no returning from the
Shore of the Dead_.
This Accident so surprized me, that I did not so much as think of securing
my own Effects; but went into my Room, and presently I was given to
understand, that one of the Sons of the Deceased was come with an Officer
to seal up all her Effects. I did not in the least oppose it, nor, indeed,
had I any manner of Title to dispute it. But my Good-nature only made the
Son the more insolent; for he even came into my own Apartment, to seal up
such Effects as belong'd to me. I told him, that if he did not withdraw, I
would make my Servants, and those of the Deceased, who had all a Respect
for me, turn him out. During this, the late M. _de N----_, a Counsellor of
Parliament, who was very much my Friend, came to see me, who advised me to
quit my Quarters with all Speed, and to pack up every Thing that belong'd
to me immediately. He also offer'd me Room in his House for my Furniture,
and other Effects; which Offer I accepted, and in a few Hours every Thing
of mine was clear'd off of the Premises. The Sons, after this, threaten'd
to enter an Action against me; but as they had no Proof of any Thing that
I ow'd to their Mother, they did not presume to molest me. If I had been
of the Temper then, that I am now, I should not have so soon forgot the
Loss I suffer'd; for, besides a good She-Friend, which is a rare and
precious Thing, I lost the Hopes of a splendid Fortune.
I know not how it came into my Head, to entertain you with my _quondam_
Amours. But 'tis a Vein of Prating which I am indulg'd in, more by you
than by any body. Farewel, my Dear, you will hear no more of me about this
Country, for I am preparing to quit it the very first Opportunity.
[Illustration]
LETTER XLIV.
_SIR_, _Brussels, June 4, 1732._
When I left _Paris_, I kept on the Pavement all the Way to Chantilly,
which may pass for the finest Seat in the Kingdom, since the great
Additions made to it by the Duke of _Bourbon_, who is the Lord of it. The
Forest likewise, of _Chantilly_, is as fine as any thing that ever Art and
Nature form'd. 'Tis a magnificent Palace, the Stables are stately, and the
Park is adorned with the finest Pieces of Water in the World. _Lewis_ XIV,
who was always very desirous of being the Master of this House, wanted to
purchase it of the late Prince. The latter made Answer to him, That it was
at his Service, only he begged him, he would make him the Keeper of it
from that Moment. The King perceived, that the Prince resigned it to him
with some Reluctance, and therefore spoke no more of it.
The Duke _de Bourbon_, who is certainly the richest Prince in _Europe_,
that is not a Sovereign, lives very much at CHANTILLY, since he is no
longer in the Ministry. There is always a very numerous Court, and he
lives there more like a King, than a Prince of the Blood.
After having walked sufficiently about _Chantilly_, I went and lay at
_Senlis_, and next Day arrived in good Time at CAMBRAY, a City famous upon
several Accounts; but its Beauty does not answer its Reputation.
_Cambray_, the Capital of the _Cambresis_, was formerly an Imperial City,
and its Archbishop was a Sovereign and Prince of the Empire. _France_
having seized _Cambray_, there remains nothing more to the Archbishop, of
so many fine Prerogatives, but the empty Title of a Prince of the Empire;
which he still retains, tho' he has no Vote nor Session at the Diet. Since
1712, that I came for the first Time into _France_, the Church of
_Cambray_ has had four Archbishops. I then found the See possessed by the
Illustrious _Francis de Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon_, Preceptor of the
late Duke of _Burgundy_, Father of _Lewis_ XV. He had for his Successor
_John d'Estrées_; but the latter died before he had taken Possession of
the Archbishoprick. The celebrated Cardinal _Dubois_ succeeded to him; but
he did not enjoy that Dignity long, for he died at _Versailles_ the 10th
of _August_ 1723. The Abbé _de S. Albin_, the natural Son of the Duke of
_Orleans_, the Regent, was appointed Archbishop of _Cambray_ at an Age
when he had need of Dispensations from _Rome_, to qualify himself for that
Dignity.
I think 'twill not be impertinent to make some little mention of the
Cardinal _Dubois_, and, perhaps, you will not be sorry to hear a few
Particulars of him. In the first Place, these were his Titles; William
_Cardinal_ Dubois, _Priest Archbishop and Duke of_ Cambray, _Prince of
the Holy Empire, Count of the_ Cambresis, _Abbat of_ St. Just de Nogent
_under_ Couffy, _of_ Bourgueil, Airvaux, Cercamps, St. Winoxberg, _and_
St. Bertin _of_ St. Omer; _Principal and Prime Minister, and Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs_; _Great Master and Superintendant General of
the Couriers, Posts and Relays of_ France; _one of the forty Members of
the_ French _Academy and that of the Belles Lettres_: _And chose by the
Prelates and other Deputies at the General Assembly of the Clergy of_
France, _to be their first President_.
The Cardinal _Dubois_ was not of extraordinary Extraction, but was born
with great Talents, and an uncommon Genius. He was Preceptor to the Duke
of _Orleans_, afterwards Regent of the Kingdom; which was the Reason that
the Prince and he were so well acquainted with each other's Thoughts, that
the least Sign given by the One, was understood by the other. The Abbat
_Dubois_ was employed in the Negociations of Peace in _England_, and at
_Utrecht_. When the Duke of _Orleans_ came to be Regent, he sent him to
take care of the King's Interests at the Court of King _George_ I. of
_Great Britain_; with whom he concluded the famous Treaty of the Quadruple
Alliance. When the King came of Age, the Regent being desirous to have a
first Minister that he could confide in, chose the Abbat _Dubois_, whom he
first made an Archbishop, and then obtain'd a Cardinal's Hat for him. 'Tis
said, that the Cardinal was beginning to forget his Obligations to his
Benefactor, and thinking to shake off all Submission to him, when he died
at _Versailles_, after having enjoyed his splendid Fortune but a few
Years. His Illness was of no long Continuance, but very painful. _La
Peyrome_, the King's chief Surgeon, made an Operation upon him for a
Disorder which the Cardinal's Enemies ascribe to his Incontinence, before
he was Archbishop. He dreaded the Operation very much, and was loth to
undergo it, tho' the Surgeons assured him, that nothing else could save
his Life. The Duke of _Orleans_, to whom the Minister's Life was dear,
made use of his Authority, and obliged the Cardinal to submit to the
Operation, which did not answer his Royal Highness's Hopes; for in a few
Days after it, his Favourite died. The Eagerness with which the Duke of
_Orleans_ seized the Ministry, confirmed the Public in their Opinion, that
the Cardinal had entertained a Thought of asserting his own Independency.
The Cardinal was not much lamented; for he was blunt, violent and
outrageous; which was not the Way to acquire the Good-will of a Nation,
which loves that Decency and Politeness should be kept up in every Thing.
Satire, or, if you please, Calumny, gave it out, that the Cardinal was
married at _Tours_, when he was made Archbishop, and that his Wife liv'd
in that City; that he gave it in Charge to M. _de Breteuil_, the Intendant
of _Tours_, to prevail upon her, if possible, not to discover that she was
his Wife; but that she refused to relinquish the Advantage; that thereupon
M. _de Breteuil_ sent for the Parish Register where the Marriage was
solemnized, and tore out the Leaf in which their Names were entered; and
that the Woman was going to make a great Noise, but was threatened with
Confinement, and by that Means obliged to be silent.
I will not engage for the Truth of all, or any Part of this Story; but
'tis what the scandalous Chronicle has given out, and what has reach'd
even to _Rome_; so that when it was told to the late Pope, with a great
many other Passages concerning the Cardinal, he was heartily vexed, that
he had advanced him to the Purple; and I have been assured, that it was
such a Grief to the Holy Father, that it help'd to shorten his Days.
The Duchess _de F----_ was with the Cardinal one Day, when being in one of
his sullen Moods, his Eminency, in plain Terms, bade her _go and pick
Violets_. The Lady complaining of him to the Duke of _Orleans_, the
Regent, the Prince made Answer, _You are much in the right_, Madame; _the
Cardinal_ Dubois _is a Brute, but, nevertheless, he has a good
Head-piece_.
This Cardinal made a Compliment of much the same Nature to the Cardinal
_de Noailles_, who telling him one Day as he came from an Audience of the
Duke of _Orleans_, That the said Prince would not give Ear to his
Representations, but bade him _go and ---- himself_, you understand the
rest; the Cardinal _Dubois_ made Answer, _And really, Brother, the best
Thing your Eminency can do, is to obey_.
These Stories put me in mind of another that was current all over _Paris_,
a little after the Cardinal _Dubois_ was advanced to the Purple. The
Lacqueys of these two Cardinals happening to be at a certain Place
together, they had a Dispute about their Master's Pre-eminency. _Our
Master_, said the one, _is the oldest Cardinal, Duke and Peer, and a
Commander of the Kings Orders_. The others said, _Ours is a Prince of the
Empire, Duke of_ Cambray, _and Prime Minister_. _Ours_, replied the
former, _consecrates Bishops; therefore, to be sure, he has the Preference
above the Cardinal_ Dubois---- _A very pretty Argument this!_ said one of
_Dubois's_ Lacqueys, _Why, if there's any thing in Consecration, my Master
is the greater Lord, in that respect too: For yours may consecrate
Bishops, but mine consecrates G-d every Day of his Life._ And, indeed; if
the Fellow meant his Master's Swearing by all that's Sacred, he was not
in the wrong; for the Cardinal had a very bad Habit of Swearing, like any
Grenadier.
The Cardinal left no great Estate behind him; and whether it was owing to
his Disinterestedness, or to his want of Time to amass Wealth, his Fortune
being but of a short Duration, his Heirs had not much Reason to rejoice at
his Death. The Duke of _Orleans_ soon forgot him, and nothing preserved
his Memory so long in _France_ itself, but certain Satires and Epitaphs
made upon him by the Wits; which might have been transmitted, perhaps, to
Posterity, if there had not been too much Gall in them. The Cardinal
_Dubois_ lies interr'd in the Church of _St. Honore_, where his Brother
was a Canon. This Clergyman set up a Marble Tomb for him, where the
Cardinal is represented on his Knees, inclin'd towards the Altar of the
Choir, but his Head seems to turn from it; upon which the Critics remark,
that he durst not, since his Death, look towards what he had profan'd in
his Life.