v-t

TINAYRE

MARCELLE

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

zA

Study

Temperament

in

TRANSLATED

FROM

THE

FRENCH
BY

COLBURN

ETHEL

G.

LONDON

P.

MAYNE

PUTNAM

"

NEW

SONS

YORK

Sir

for

the

desire

Publishers

The

Reginald
kind

Drawing

Brade,

H.

permission

by

G.

C.

reproduce

to

J.

thank

to

B.

Greuze.

B.,

TO

Dear

READER

THE

Reader,

not

am

ing
bring-

historian,

an

"

Marquise

de

fondly

documents

unpublished

you

Pompadour.

am

in

interested

illustrious

after

In

this

for

is

the

the

beheld,

King

in

not

her

live

to

the

woman

friend

and

mistress

is

of

Parisian

you

middle-class,

of

figure

what

sketch

pastel

for

depict

to

manner,

woman.

again

following

the

woman's

you,

tried

has

predecessors,

portraitist

who,

model,

my

the

on

political

of

the

but

capacity,

"

in

her

privacy

in

Pompadour
in

artist-nature

had

she
as

sad

lived,
her

smile

upon

fragile

beloved

and

like

something
pretty

died

loving

woman

as

undress,

an

she

body

who

"

in
a

Court

with
a

gown,

lips.
M.

T.

MADAME

DE
POMPADOUR

CHAPTER

the

ON

when

days

in

the

Forest

of

the

manor

of

and

chase.
others

from

the

the

appointed
of

of

the

their

with

the

of

pictures
leaping

riders,
of

barking

hounds

we

the

would

come

where

the

arrows

of

see

the

filled

coaches,

rolling

the

the

blue
sun.

along
haze
The

was

King
9

and

In

ferocious,

and

and

The

royal

gentlemen,

woodland

drive,

riddled
and

red

Oudry's

boar.

ladies

these,

whinnying

white

Kennels.

fine

the
rounded
sur-

and

their

supple

the

huntsmen.

horses,

great

them,

all

seen,

and

vanquished
with

soft

the

in

be

to

mingled

royal

may

on

of

charge

ground
back-

tapestry,

was

by

spectacle.

arrayed

whippers-in

in

throng

sumptuous

the

enjoined

autumnal

Hounds

were

awaiting

on

local

carriages,

motley

distance

oaks,

their

his

by
Grooms

and

of

in

dazzling

spot,

beeches

hues

burning
Master

the

more

follow

to

some

excited

an

respectful

admired

etiquette,
At

arrive,

horseback,

on

which,

permission

would

They

lords

of

members

accorded

were

"

deer

the

but

they,

only

not

the

neighbouring

middle-class

unpretending
society

the

Senart,

"

hunted

XV

Louis

by
his

the

guests,
in

MADAME

the

in

blue

DE

POMPADOUR

hunting-dress,
hats

three-cornered

knives

XV,

in the

erect

very

dignified, would
pass
riders, fondly
carriages and

who,

the

with

legal

of Mme.

eyes

financial

and

allowed

hung

all,looked

and

one

were

the

on

de

favourite

was

whom

all

mask,

unmoved

an

scornful

graceful
other

the

saluted

ladies

by

King

of France

Chateauroux.

These

the

the

with

and

before

would

be

never

huntresses,

titled

detested.

face, scarce
King's handsome
of
and
by the tedium
power
expressive of no
pleasure,was
It

steeds.

taneously
King's least glance, and simulwatching with jealous curiosity

the

upon

their
withdraw

ladies, who

mingle

to

their

saddle, very

and

belts,

upon

jauntily

set

mount
powdered heads, would
would
The
royal coaches

Louis

their

at

marked

yet

as

fatigues of
of feeling.

the
sort

features,

noble

large, black,

and

mouth,

with

the

But

lustreless

eyes.
about
were
light carriageswhich
in the
hunt
wheels
to
on
royal chase, it was
noticeable
that a good place was
always found
by a pretty little sky-blue phaeton. In this
the

Among

was

seated

young

woman,

colour, herself holding the reins, like

the

opera

in her

passed before
sustain

this

without

boat.

nautilus

lady
any

in

When

rose

of

Venus
the

rose-colour, she

affected
i o

in

dressed

confusion

King
would
the

occasionally

occasionallyarrested
when,

and

glance

strident

of

the

sovereign
of the

summons

fled onward

hounds

and

riders

the

at

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

like

horns,

whirlwind,

mingle with
sky-blue phaeton would
Often
the other
at
gondolas."
carriages and
the turning of a path it would
alone,
reappear
of the crowd, just at
the
from
thick
detached
the King might be likelyto
the moment
when
the fanfares
when
it ; and
notice
were
echoing
the royal
from
another
one
sky to sky, when
the

little

"

despatch of the deer, was

returning to Choisy, the fragilephaeton would
turn
the heavy coach
sometimes
where, tacigraze
and
listeningto the
pensive, the King was
de
and
Mme.
de Chiteauroux
dialogue^ofMme.
after

huntsman,

the

Chevreuse.
Now
chanced

lady
as

hunting evenings it
de Chevreuse
that Mme.
spoke of the
the blue
disguised
phaeton, that Oread

in

of

one

on

Parisian

woman

these

of

Louis

fashion.

XV,

his subjects'private
always inquisitiveabout
lives and
by
remarkably welltposted in them
this charming
know
his police, happened
to
the
that she was
He
aware
was
person's name.
wife

of

Treasurer

country-house
marriage,

Very

that

and

Normant,

the

of

the

she

Mint,

lived

at

one

M.

Etiolles,

her
uncle
belonging to
jermier-gineral Tournehem.

ill-born

and

very
1

well

Le
a

by

educated, gifted
with

MADAME

all the

with

the

on

occasional

real

the

beauty

pet

name

of

"

her

Reinette."

"

was

quite one-and-twenty,

had

The

and

lover,
herself

for

of

King

it

the

France

loved,

capable of loving, the

of

youngest

roux,

who

had

caused

de

Mailly

Mme.

if he

even

he

would

to

desire

had

him

such

Poisson.

Nevertheless,

it

phaeton
to

endure

apology
alluding
who

was

had
for

de

Mme.

without
made
"

to

looking

Furtively, in

the

king,

pretty

glanced

Mme.

de

little

twilight
1 2

as

Le

have

woman.

blue

be

to

for

Chevreuse

the

able

impertinent

d'Etiolles

of

to

the

at

prettier than

even

far

Mme.

as

protest the

that

And

so

Chateauroux

some

by

be

very

often

too

elders,

haughty favourite,

he

though
voluptuary, even
caught the fancy of a
a

XV

her

Jeanne Antoinette
is not
disagreeable to

born

d'Etiolles,

Louis

sisters, she

bourgeoise

Normant

he

as

Chateau-

de

condescended

little

was

Vintimille.

de

his

scarcelyhave

she

much

as

forget

Mme.

never

France.

Nesle

to

loved

not

had

that

Duchesse

three

the

and

she

of

King

had

Although

said

was

called

was

intimates

her

and

Paris,"

for

reserving

was

She

grandees.

errant

"

yet

lived

posed
society,in a circle comenriched
revenue-officials, newly
writers, artists, philosophers, and

of

margin

merchants,

she

talents, she

all the

and

graces

of

POMPADOUR

DE

woman,

usual."

carriage, the
irritated

MADAME

duchess

irritated

other

duchess,

Mme.

de

there
the

short

was

lady

no

in

her

foot

cried

upon
it

out

so

and

of

the

savagely

that

fainted.

Her

that

dangerous conversation,

further
the

POMPADOUR

crushed

and

Chevreuse

cut

swoon

set

DE

blue

and

question, that evening,

phaeton.

x3

of

CHAPTER

IT

was

no

accident

mere

hunting-day,
d'Etiolles

fact,

in

The

Tournehem,

uncle

and

that

her

She

formula
"

shall

Which

came
be-

them

repulse
her

with

recognised

blind

had

friend
of

he

his

those

was

heart,
who

Poissons.
with

one,
any-

much

amused

enced,
inexperi-

young,

himself.

Tournehem,
the

and

Antoinette,

Jeanne

obeyed

de

of

joke

Love

as

with

King."

for

husband,

marrying

M.

for

passed

husband

my

the

perhaps

happy

In

not

dainty

admirers

become

deceive

not

and

of

had

was

when

to

fond

were
"

Antoinette

wont

tiful
beau-

very

Poisson

her

unless

the

the
"

was

which

phrase

d'Etiolles,

mother

herself,

and

considered

Mme.

Mme.

Jeanne

pressing,
a

appearance

"

King."

of

of

shady

very

saying

for

friends

the

single aim,

outcome

of

eyes

all the

to

every

Normant

the

had

the

on

Le

before

directed

long

thus,

Mme.

encounters

purpose

scheme.

of

brought

These

were,

which

prominently

King.
of

II

The

which

an

14

and

M.

the

also
was

Le

an

mant
Nor-

wishes

intimate

girl's family
honourable

was

man

anxious

is

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

The
father, a peasant's
allyhimself.
and
and
ignoble in appearance
manners,
son,
of morals
or
scruples,had made
quite devoid
anxious

to

fortune

his

in

Paris-Duverney,

of

the

service

food

contractors

Brothers

the

the

to

Army.
during

provisioningof Paris
he speculated so successthe scarcityof 1725,
fully
render
that
he was
to
quite unable
any
the Surveyor-General, Fagon, and
to
accounts
be
sentenced
to
was
hanged for contumacy.
fled
He
to
Germany,
lay low, intrigued
reconsidered, and was
managed to get his case
reappointed after having paid the Treasury
with

Entrusted

four

the

thousand

hundred

obtain

honourable

means

of

Such
better

valides,"

and

daughter

the

in

Mme.

but

Prince

her

during

of

her

de

all M.

her

directed

"

youth

as

she

title,by

services."

as

the

mother

butcher

to

any

the

In-

as

her

handsome
had

useful

made

Tencin,

"

as

Antoinette,

de

Tournehem,

husband's
the

little

two

"

to

was

impoverished and
to
unchangeably addicted
intrigue ;
de
Grinsberg, P"ris-Montmartel,

above

was

even

Was

pretty,

was

and

The

father.

the

Daughter

aging,

and

mention,

malpracticesdescribed
was

friends

Later, he

livres.

the

absence,

education

Poissons

handsome

of

were

the

as

god-daughter
1

who

consoled

and

her

ally
personchildren.

adorable.

day
of

Abel

"

Jeanne

Mme.

de

Tencin

Tencin,

enchanting

in face

both

loved

Tournehem

de

M.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

and

them

disposition.
that

well

so

certain
that
jealous persons talked, but it seems
their
calumnious
wasted
the
jealous persons
Poisson
was
breath, for the contemptible M.
of
and
the natural
truth
in
legal author
very

these

of

dint

little

Paris, and
laid

Poisson

almost

Queen."
into

beauty

Cardinal,1

she

lilies of

royal

When

her

"

her

knew

of clients.
that
but

Queen,

not

dear

little

was

of

with

"

Madame

and

her

to

heart
Then

Reinette.

dazzled

by a
powdered

future

which
the

with

she

golden

mantle.

young

able
fashion-

"

all blue

beheld

her

declared

sort
a
bargain
pressed her daughter

home,

went

with

the

Poisson, who

Mme.

the

her

called

and

at

souls

and

be

would

Mile.

arrived

soothsayer

cards

the

out

by

went,

secret

and

own,

Lebon,

the

read

could

she

So

The

card-reader.

daughter

future

Mme.

consult

her

the

it.

divine

to

girl,to

She

of

dreaming

wanting

than

husband

brilliant

her

for

desired

Poisson

Mme.
more

masterpieces.

little

two

brought

is

lady

for

up

the

in quite other
royal pleasure she is instructed
things than knitting and her catechism, and it

is

not

"

in
Une

Halevy's La

sorie

de

Famille

she

that

convent

Mme.

Cardinal

goes
"

to

this

school.
probably

refers

to

Note.]
[Translator's

Cardinal.
1

Reinette,

MADAME

of

Ursulines

aunts

were

Poisson's

were

very

of

fond

been

her

at

the

her

we

She

should

was,

"Heinette
old

years

education

from

that

century
Rousseau

her

in

Had

she

have

left

there

would

to

have

lent
developing her excelunder
a
steady religious
come
probably have bevery
whose

have
been

heard

she

had

and

it

began,
conceived

the

F^nelon

would

But

pretty
mother.

that

at

her

nine

"y'

real

different
very
for eighteenth-

from

also

as

career

she

convent

education

an

by

maidens,

one.

then

was

and

ambitious

an

from

obscure

of,

happier

removed

sensitive, very

might

she

and

woman,

and
was

was_i"fiaed

her."

mother

would

never

possiblyhave
she

beheld

heart

virtuous

'

education,

qualitiesof
direction.

\/

sisters

good

child, who

who

convent,

completed

during

1730,

The

her

"

pretty,

so

of

(said the Mother-Superior

attractive
so
Poisson)
as

everyone

not

with

year
two

in

was

exile.

the

character, very

and

Mme.

to

charm

where

voluntary

in looks

letter

Poissy,
This

intelligent,and
a

spent

nuns.

M.

both

had

indeed,

Reinette,
the

POMPADOUR

DE

that

which

day to prescribe for Emile's

ideal fiancee, the imaginary Sophie.
It was
the education
of a superior courtesan,
should
designed to produce an
Aspasia who
be

modern

education
b

was

one

and

which

Frenchwoman
"

aims

\l7/

at

the

enhancing

of

sort

all

the

seductiveness

J^

MADAME

of

seductiveness

music,

and

of

strategy.
the

draws

to

Mme.

Poisson

uses

knew

does

man,

there

of

ornament

knew
that

too

suffice

not

the

value
if it

beauty,
hold

to

him

of

hours

are

claim, native

to

the

her

(make

faithful

most

Poisson

so_th^astuteyMme.
daughter

feminine
\

both

turned

she

but

ture,
sciences, litera-

The

woman.

melancholy or fatigue
is powerless, if not
the
fairest face
in which
irradiated
light ; in a word, that
by an inward
that
that
demands
woman
man
variety and
who
will keep him
satisfythis unconscious
can

that

are

beauty,

POMPADOUR

DE

an

and

graces

all

of his

spared
epitome

the

And

sex.

pains

no

of

the

all

feminine

to

accom-

learnt
singing
plishments. Jeanne Antoinette
and
the
harpsichord with
Jelyotte, dancing

with

She

Lanoue.
gems

and

could

this

from

with

elocution

Guibaudet,

sketch,

and

engrave

which
exercise,/in

she

class-Work

the

good

to

and

Crebillon

upon

never

progressed
display of

genuine talent, did at any ratejdevelopvery

Hne.
In all this
and
of colour
greatlyher sense
there
was
nothing of pedantry, but a perfect
of proportion,and that exquisitetact which
sense
Poisson
Mile.
is the chastityof the mind.
was
in no
still less a Henriette.
degree an Armande,
a

She

Greek
her

would
;

never

but

desires

have

she

extended

did

kissed
like

far

Vadius

intellectual

beyond

the

for love
men,

horizon

of
and
of

'

8/

the

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

did

"sensibility,"they
panoply of virtue on

not

yet

the

assume

possibleoccasion.
the
where
Those
Parisian
drawing-rooms
hostess had no
desire, and perhaps no right,to be
the quality of her guests,
about
fastidious
very
were

agreeable, and
was

lia3 taken

\ /Reinette
"

them

daughter.

she

because

Tenciny

de

(Mme.

was

that
andjit^wajyitjieijiou^

up,

made

she

because

Poisson

Mile.

to

mother's

her

Poisson

Mme.

to

open

every

acquaintance

the

with

intellec-

of the
(jtuals

Montesquieu,
period : Marivaux,
had not
Poissons
ceeded
sucQuclos, Fonteneil^D The
Geoffrin's
in forcing Mme.
door, nor that
de la Fert^-Imbault,
of her
daughter, Mme.
the
On
whom
aching to know.
they were
received
other
hand,
by Mme.
they were
there
one
evening
d'Angervilliers. They were
asked Jeanne
someone
at a large gathering,when
Antoinette

to

She

Armide.

patheticthat
very

beautiful

flung

herself

Antoinette,

sing

the

sang

it in

lady

could
into

the

astonished

aria

voice

longer

no

"

"

great

not

so

from

Lulli's

fresh

and

very

restrain

her

singer'sarms.
and

young
tears,

so
nor

and

Jeanne

flattered, inquired

They told her that it was

might be.
de Mailly, the King's mistress.
Mme.
have reflected
Reinette, on hearing this, must
She
that the
King had not very good taste.
sooththe
have
must
sighed, remembering
I20/
sayer's
\T

who

this

and

sayer'sprediction ;
March

1741

9,

graceful,but
in

months

some

married

rich,

Le

M.

neither

was

later

on

"

Normant

handsome
and

amorous,

nor

disbeliever

cartomancy.
For

she

"

who

d'Etiolles,

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

the

could

hope

mother

to

her

at

penetrate

had

personally ambitious
efface

to

accompany

She

friends

her

given
this

in

took

visit

within
woman

with

her

the

mother,

was

not

inclined

enough

Mme.

to

de

"

gaiety,has
account

of

married

his

amusing

an

la

whom

Carillon

restless

Tournehem

d'Etiolles,

Poisson

with

de

her

But

Marquise
and

Souvenirs

M.

house

the

Now

with

witty Marquise,

brilliant

undesired

nephew,
the

her

her

When

"

was

would

imprudent

was

The
called

of

because

which,

d'Etiolles

Mme.

FerteVImbault's.

in

well,

as

herself.

to

Poisson

place.

passed.

circle which

but

it

Poisson

was

Mile.

side

she

husband,

stage

admitted

have

never

Francois

One

match.

brilliant

she

of

daughter

the

to

four
was

mother,

whose

and

own.

had

little Poisson
of my

doors

very

anxious

salon

girl, he

father's, and

to

friends

make

beginning to be
She
made
renowned.
a
daughter,
pretext of her
for whom
it was
desirable
to
so
frequent good
houses
and
to
;
great surprise and
my
annoyance
I one
the
at
day beheld
pair arriving both
my
my

mother's
about

that

my
it

was

The

was

mother

impossible
21

to

was

so

cultivate

talked
her

acquaintance,

MADAME

DE

acquaintance, but
daughter. I was
I

should

rude

often

come

good talk,"
said, composed of
was

"

her

to

for

quite worthy

mission
per-

"

house

so

uncle's

her

The

permission was
d'Etiolles
saw
opening

hear

to

as

circle

was,

people,

but

accorded,
before

her

she
their

which

salon

philosophic

fai

grim

Mme.

and

"

the

the

Saint-Honore,"

Rue

benevolent

mother's

my

inferior."

very

the

to

asked

had

who

some

of

be

polite to the
a
good deal perplexed as to how
keep them
being actually
apart without
but
call only on
I managed
in the end
to
to

tone

wanted

one

d'Etiolles,

Mme.

POMPADOUR

kingdom

artistic

ruled

was

Mme-.
ry j

fiepffri

and

by

that

illus-

in

itrious

and_jall

_Baris

"

Europejt

Pretty,
exquisite

/graceful,extremely kind-hearted, an
and
/singer,
gifted with every attractive
/ she greatly charmed

/ Wednesday
So

here

further

was

the

young

of

the

great

in

circles.

Paris,

to

old

Jtlenault,
Leczinska,
rivalled

wife

aristocratic
Le

Mme.

year

one

the

and

Abbe-

another

and

within

the

at

it

houses

tance
dis-

and

had

Etiolles, and
was

her

turn

their
house

forty
now

Fontenelle^ President

faithful- "friend
Bernis
in

which

one

measurable

Normant

Montesquieu,

receive

philosophers of

stage,

country-house
livres

thousand

old

gatherings."

brought
exalted

the

talent,

and

Marie

Voltaire, who

composing

22/

of

little

verses

about

her

about
who

there

then

later

was

of 174

summers

and

spent

her

where

that

of

part

and

1742,

ful,
Beauti-

I gave

Pamela

Rocher,
"

write, recallingher

to

Etiolles, where

at

du

President

was

pale, gentle, my
name

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

the
read

we

English novel Pamela, at the house of

And
."
de Blagny,
relative
Bertin
M.
my
of
this early taste
to
to
put the finishingtouch
for acting. She
her talent
triumph, there was
her

to

the

shone

where

country-house,
of

Dukes
de

Richelieu

Etiolles

little

Opera House,
machinery."
titled people,
Sassenage, wife
Household,
Due

de

rungs

of

the

with

real

the
of

the

de

in the

last

of the

were

ladder

visit

to

de

Mme.

"

Saissac,

these

and

scene

at

had
the

as

of

circle

gentleman

dizzying

Cloudland,

handsome

as

Court

And

Due

jermier-giniral

began

Mme.

the

the

Tournehem's,

de

changes
she

Soon

and

upon

M.

at

theatre,

Luynes.

in
.

and

itself, where

"

built

Duras, before

and

with

performed

she

Nivernois

Villemer's

de

Mme.

Chantemerle,

at

Dauphin's
of

aunt

all

so

inaccessible

many
ended

which

the

Olympus

Versailles.
For

Le

Mme.

renounced

the

the

husband

was

perceive
King

in

Normant

d' Etiolles

of

dream

anything

nor

uneasy,

Reinette's
more

Mile.
did

alleged
than
23

had

Poisson,
their
love

harmless

not
nor

friends
for

the

piece

of

coquetry

\f

Mme.

coquetry.
hem

the

realityin
authors

the

her

shared

and

marvels

the

"

of

heart

into

bitten

but

smile

hair

the

lifted

in

line

that

"

spread
gold.
arches
1

soft

Dejeuner

by

"

the

hair

the

were

eyes,

de soleil is said of

lymphatic
time
earlyspring-

fairest, frailest
shell, the

lips,a

little

rosy
were

too

pale,

pretty teeth, could

brow

made

was

straight back,
to

head's

the

which

the

powerless

to

to

then
pure

powder
the

hide

fair, unbroken

two

whose

material

which

hence, by extension, of anything ephemeral.

24

features

on

was

were

blonde,

The

obedient

waves

in

of

the

drawn

eyebrows

and

in its

all the

the

silver, but

The
;

thus

chestnut

its

but

The

colour

enchantingly

have

offer

pure

betrayed

woodbine.

delicate.

and

regular

they

craze,

shadows

the

of

opalescence

the

her

they were

should

even

of

think

one

but

royal vision.
the
youthful beauty of
in its full perfection. Life
finger on the fragilebloom

made

of

was

the

to

complexion where
pearly, the complexion
dejeuner de sokil1 which
and passivetemperament,

of

there

by no means
phaeton, dashing

of S^nart,
"

Tourne-

de

M.

were

blue

the

was

yet laid

not

what

moment

d'Etiolles

had

knew

views,

secret

that

Mme.

and

accepted badinage
and
accomplices of

displeased that
through the Forest
lady in rose-colour
At

Poisson

alone

these

"

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

hue

was

ever

quickly fade ;
Note.]
[Translator's
will

changing

MADAME

?
they blue or green or brown
light of the intelligencegleamed radiant.
the form, and
the
was
ravishing were

changing
the

"

Lissom

"

were

"

and

arms

fill

hands

the

in

its

rounded
"

hand

manly

personality

shoulder

or

bodices

"

draw

to

degree
In

her

of

elegance

August
little

this

line

the

and

she

skirts
afroth

with

of flowers

between

at

lace,

(said a

first of

was

to

charming
of puffed

seemed

the

1744

sufficed

its little knot

bosom,

on

all

spreading

with
dainty slippers,

on

neck

and

"

its ribboned

brocade,
its

POMPADOUR

DE

temporary)
con-

the

last

aristocracy."

Etiolles, where

daughter, Alexandrine,

had

just been
born.
The
influence
of Mme.
Poisson, though
it
have
in perverting Reinette's
succeeded
may
sweet
simple nature, had not entirelydestroyed
its deeper qualities. She, who
was
through all
her life to be the tenderest
of daughters and
of
sisters,was
birth

of

also

Alexandrine

of

the

loss

this

bliss,which

her

await,
which

knows
not

too

to

was

She

phaeton.
at

home,

coming

since
to

was

no

wise

and

consolation

some

first-born
in

mother

son.

She

the

for

savoured

disturbed

her

ceptions
per-

upset her

nor

instinct

tender

most

the

projects,for the maternal

nothing of morality ; she could
impatiently, the hunting-season
those

renew
was

the

drives

in

the

blue

missing nothing by staying

not
King would
as
yet be

Forest

of

Senart.

For
.

25

Louis

MADAME

XV

Louis
the

DE

with

was

illustrious

had

taken

his armies

example

of his

his favourite

Suddenly
thunder.

POMPADOUR

news

comes

The

with

King

great-grandfather,
him.
like

comes

"

fallen

has

and, following

ill

at

clap

Metz,

the

of

and

"

physiciansdespair of his life. The

pious
is in full activity
around
the dying man
party
;
before
the
who
and, humbled
King of Terrors
the
of the
down
earth
and
casts
kingdoms
exalted
subjugatesthe most
princesto the merest
"

human

wretchedness,

Louis

the

XV

is

solely possessed
Eternity. He loses

thought of
ground in a relapse,his fever increases, nearer
the
he
Father
summons
abyss ; and
yawns
The
P^russeau, a Jesuit, his confessor.
tence
senby

of
the

and

invalid

the

Church

viaticum

shall

he

dismisses

unless

his spouse.
de

Mme.

King,
the
in
are

La

of the

anger

contents

his concubine
berline

and

her

is

and

calls
re-

smuggling

off

sister Mme.

de

hooted

Bareges

are

while

all

France

for the

Bien-Aimi,

the

Court

at

And

driving

weeping

rigorous. Absolution
be
not
given to the

by the
run
dered
great risks of being murblind
Fert^-sous-Jouarre. The
as
people, which
yet will spare the
itself with
this outburst
against

mistresses.

prayer

Soon

Chateauroux

Lauraguais, who
populace, and
at

is

through Champagne
her
children.
Queen and
26

is knelt

carriages
with
France

the
is

overjoyed

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

Leczinska, who
happiness for Marie
and
respected. But the
was
infinitelyloved
Queen's friends spoke sadly of her distress and
invalid
the King's inexcusable
frigidity. The
believed

in

of Metz,

too

restored

soon

Queen

from

The

he

returned

On
to

to

November
the

not

forgivenesshe had had

warded
off,
bugbear of Death
old
sin quite shamelessly.
the

forgive the
her.

health, could

to

the

Mme.

27

"

Boufflers

de

Duchesse

Chateauroux

de

wrote

The

has

King

by M. de Maurepas that
he
much
happened at
was
annoyed by what
I had
Metz
and
by the indecency with which
been
he begged
treated
to
me
forget it, and,
;
oblivion, he hoped that we would
as
a sign of my

just announced

consent

he

to

would

to

resume

our

never

fail

"

in

be

made

cannot,"

One

his

Journal,
of the

people

was
as

wiser

in

any

held

all

not

Mme.

of

the

what

as

silent

on

rule

this

event

their

could

make

tongues."
28

our

effect

ladies

two

happened

upon

the

to
at

their
Metz.
ment,
com-

However,

matter.

But

Luynes

is little

there

no

his

Chateauroux,

de

can

of

expenses

de

Due

the

expressionsof opinion

such

and

where

after

of

Versailles

proofs

me

the

describe

recall

appointments,
Versailles,

give

to

wrote

restitution

the

and

"

at

apartments

friendship,and
good to us."

protection and
should

me

only displease,
difference, the
those

who

were

not

MADAME

not

the

of the

Court

incident.

had

the

fishwives

for

the

King's

who

back
the

declared

his harlot, he

pavements

visitors
had

of

style the
that
would

"

now
not

all Paris."

29

to

about

say

indignant ;
so
fervently prayed
expressing in their

recovery,

blunt, unvarnished

deal

great

Foreign

and

Parisians,

POMPADOUR

DE

were

of

sentiments

he
find

had
a

Pater

the

taken
on

CHAPTER

THE

de

where

she

("

the

the

change

on

the

she

10th

of

because

no

for
he

was

buried

"

the

only

for

others

sister,
out

go

5th,

pressed."
de-

8th

"

and

be

to

read

Mme.

de
of

morning

early hour,

of

his

refuge

his

He

grief.

Mme.

de

SeVan
was

Kings
be
30

who

themselves

tears

loved,"
for

but

merely
have

made

shed

ever

La

at

intimates,

had

not

the

taken

bereavement

will

not

very

he

intrigue.

did

the

mistress
to

his

had

indignation.

five

of

confessed

at

had
or

her

clearly

on

the

strangely

the

and

popular

concealment

courtiers

for

dead,

who

is
On

was

four

On

to

and
on

better

face."

the

with

altered

the

She

King

renewed

the

King,

Muette

"

was

King's

Chateauroux

The

The

On

Luynes)

anyone.

reconciled

looked

for

de

M.

bed,

and

bad,

was

to

Flavacourt.
and

her

in

fever.

unconscious.

been

and

of

says

was

Hope

the

of

25.

it

received
touch

word

Duchess

de

day,

by

serious,"

very

confessed,
Mme.

had

news

spoke

scarcely
4th

the

November

dated

was

kept

was

December

King

recall

CMteauroux

Mme.

all

of

letter

III

an

little

much

as

the

sion
occa-

feeling
felt

for.

MADAME

for.

Louis

deprived of love,
friends, relapsed into

XV,

genuine

any

POMPADOUR

DE

and

lacking

vacuous

ennui.
An

from

orphan

childhood,

unacquainted
with
bored.
any tenderness, he had always been
In vain had
Nature
given him an upright mind,
heart
sane
a
judgment, a clear memory,
tially
potenillhe was
like a fine garden so
good
"

that

cultivated

the

soil

flowers

scantily survive
would
perhaps have

He
had

troubled

to

been

make

curiosity about
geography, but he was

limited
his

brambles.

studious

if anyone

him

study

the

sciences, especially

he

showed

entirelyignorant of the
of letters,and
his personal ideas were
his private life."
to
Singularly clever
his grandson, Louis
hands, as was
XVI,

it amused

him

snuff-boxes.
New

the

"

and

with

and

the

among

some

arts

fallow,

turns

to

cook,

He

made

to

do
one

to

turnery,
of

these

fashion
for

the

Year

giftsof 1739, and the pattern was

It was
of fircopied by professionalcraftsmen.
wood, unpeeled and hollowed
Considerate
out.
in private life and
with
his servants,
indifferent
affairs

and
through indolence
tempt
confor humanity, exacting with
those whom
he loved, pitiless
when
he loved
them
no
longer,
his dominating trait, despite the
egotism was
sudden
of
attacks
nervous
sensibilitywhich
to

great

would

sometimes

end

in

31

tears.

For

this

son

of

the

MADAME

the

Due

another

de

DE

POMPADOUR

there

Bourgogne

Fen"on

he

have

been

had

only the Cardinal

old
had
no
prelate, who
in
Tel^maque, had observed

de

Fleury. That
notion
of forming
his royal charge a

had

should

fundamental

timidityand

trust
dis-

he

which

astutelyfostered so as the better

him.
He
to
taught the young
King
govern
the
most
profound distrust for all humanity,
and
a
systematic scepticism with
regard to
virtue
and
third
in the
probity. The
person
and
royal household,
jealous of the Queen's
persing
discredit, he contributed
powerfully towards
the
husband

felt

ever

adultery. His
a tutelage which
but

the

bad
a

one

prey
to

was

;
to

hands

thought
novelty, he
Queen, who
the

husband,

winked
XV

Louis

would

and

he
of

fancied
adored

heart

no

the

had

at

from
him

to

delivered

himself
him.
and

riper age.

first been

then,
in

character
to

a
as

ignorance,

of

of

over

against

Plain

deserved
32

and

been

shield

vices
at

marriage

she

thus

itself

have

not

indolence,

within

superiorin

he

distasteful

which, when

seventeen

the

later

Fleury's method
nature
irreparably damaged
a

passionsof youth
At

all her

was

done.

arrogance,

find

become

was

other
but

her

which

liberated

had

had
in

which

for

death

mischief

education

affection

careless

scared

amused

love

by
with

the

by
its

the

but

charming,
of her youthful
be
happy and
could

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

have

given happiness
The
ill-assorted.
King

could
were

but

the

cared

for

"

He

deeply on these occasions.

frequent the public balls with
friends,
disguised as Spaniards
drank

liked

his

the

of

time

reading, the

loved

Henri

or

The
of

conversation

men
French-

as

IV."

to

favourite

"

of

couple

nothing
supper-parties he

little

hunting, gaming,

but

Queen

quiet people,

simple, tranquil, leisurely,retired existence.

In her
the King was
always out of
apartments
of boredom,
his face one
jaundiced mask
;
temper
a

he

would

diversion

in

utter

killing

Nevertheless,

panes.

flies
the

find

and

word,

no

the

upon

his

only

window-

royal children, the

regularly one
every

enjantsde France, arrived

though neither their birth nor their death
year
could
joyfully or sadly bring their parents'
hearts
the Queen's
together. Then
any nearer
The
health
this
began to suffer.
King made
the
for emancipating
himself
from
a
pretext
joylessduty ; and it was then that at a supperde
Toulouse,
given by the Comtesse
party
"

"

he

drank

about

to

the

to

Unknown

her

who

arrived

and

she

was

Mme.

de

"

tall as
house,"
as
a
scarcely pretty,
and
capable of truly loving
in the

then

King
Mme.

de

then

she

was

Mme.

de

Ch"teauroux.
.

was

arrive.
.

She

to

"

33

Mailly,
but
the

intereste
disman

Vintimille,

IV

CHAPTER

AND

the

now

first

the
for

of

from

cunningly
she

but

was

the

legend

of

their
not

was

her

This

Cardinal.

of

Due

Mme.

honour

in

desirous

to

be

Brionne,

de

Roche-

of

ness
tenderknew

these
pose
dis-

mistresses

for

in

honours.
with

himself
her

and

haunted

demands

for

herself

and

his

heart

that
"

there

contradictions

and

of

children

entangle

within

men,

favourites,

exchange

insatiate

XV,

Louis

He

titled

pensions

Richelieu

de

false

years,

that

and

egotism
de

great

legitimate

Possibly

family.

Flavacourt

success.

fourteen

places, benefices,

abyss
1

the
of

would

who

woman

for

for

aristocrats,

proud

"

vice-reine

He

of

manoeuvres

ladies, whose
to

can

"

dissimulative

means

mother

Montespan,
"

which

brazenly.
and

ambitious

these

that

themselves

distrustful

most

seek, with

will

Mme.

Popeliniere,

offer

chouart,

but

alert

are

de

Mme.

refuses

la

succeeds

women

Richelieu

on

be

may

which

intoxication

grief.

prevail

he

he

when

sole

his

to

de

Mme.

feared

the

hour

indignantly

the

despair,

the

them,

him

wean

ennui

inevitable

the

one

of

days

alone

heavy

the

In

anyone's.

all

is

King

"

was

grand-nephew

of

the

great

[Translator'sNote.]
34

lingered

MADAME

"

colour

of the

of

Forest

"

who

had

Before

young
who

passed a graceful
the
phaeton under

blue

"

That

vexed

she had

rooms
.

little

d'Etiolles

Chateauroux,

poor

That

was

known

would

reserving herself,
husband's

be

hope of
A
the
King.
negligiblealmost
herself

flower

be

one's

but

The

as

Might
a

Who

it with

the

was

Binet

"

should

were

she

to

at

whom

that

Luynes alludes, recording a

?
People
given by Mesdames
the King, some
at a
days ago, was

ball

in

ball

that

de

there

that

dancing

made

were

suggestions of
think

of

town

it

with

was

the

on

gallant
he
same

It is

Versailles.

whom

that

lady of
36

the

declare
masked

even

occasion

said
some

and

nature,

they

sailles
Ver-

masked

"

the

fair

introduced
"

as

she

caprice?
ing.
whisper-

apartments

same

loved

amused

short-lived

persons

inner

it the

Was

her

"

not,

one

was

woman

mysterious lady

"

the

to

idea

solicitant, pluck the

well-informed

Soon,

she

d'Etiolles

little

honour

and

she

return.

"

present

that

no

She

say.

King's, whom

the

without

to

declared

would

unless

"

much

too

have

to

Virtuous,

lovers, as yet.

no

then

Due

the

protegee of the intriguing Tencin, that

beauty so ill-born but so well-educated,
was
enchanting the financial drawing-

that

by

Senart

there

King's pensive eyes

figure,driving in her
golden-bronze trees.
woman

POMPADOUR

DE

saw

whom

people
yesterday

there

then
was

it is the

However,

mention.

was

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

merest

picion,
sus-

The
King
unlikelyto be true.
desirous
of
seemed
yesterday to be particularly
not
being recognised."
the compensation
These
costume-balls
were
of Court
claimed
by fantasy for the tedium
life ; the laying aside of rank
and
etiquette;
his
the illusion
for the
King of being under
mask
a
mere
privategentleman. He could go
he could
have
shown
never
disguised where
himself
unveiled
in all his sovereign majesty :
the
to
to
private and public balls, and even
Opera ball, paying for his ticket like everybody
be
else.
in
Only a few friends would
the King,
At these entertainments
attendance.
defended, would
scarce
guarded, in no
way
and

have
it

been

very

an

easy

occurred

never

to

distrustful,trusted
the old
the

to

were

during

But
.

him.
the

He,

ordinarilyso
the people, in

of

love

still bound

the

there

been

France

festivities of

the

thrown

the

Escalier

few

officials
were

open
Louis
de

to

standing
no

the

tickets.

37

Castle

an

It

oaken

sufficed

gates
files of

alighted

controlled

behind

the

Maria-Rafaela.

guests

Marbre,

when

1745,

interminable

two

XV's

unrestraint

more

espoused the Infanta

night of February 27

carriages.

There

Damiens

which
fidelity

had

never

Dauphin
On

in

Bourbons.

And

than

pact of

for

prey

before

only by

barrier.
for
member

one

MADAME

of

member
his

him.

accompanied
overflowed

the

officials.

Paris

been
the

as

there

wont

and

the

give

those

who

beneath

and

towering

the

between

which

mirrors

statelyceremonies
of the

pageants

surged to-night the

all kinds

Palace

reflect such

to

ballets

of

chandeliers,
the

and

gilded panels
had

in the

the

and

midnight the throng

the
and
submerged

At

was

mask

names

barriers

glitter of

the

the

and

his

raise

to

party

name

own

POMPADOUR

DE

Soleil,

Roi

of

mob

amazing

most

and

descriptions.
which
Examine
that engraving by Cochin,
and
has immobilised
for posterity the tumult
has
artist
the
crushing of that night. The
treated
his subjectin a style of gracefuldignity.
True,
the

he

displaysa

vulgarians,
of

the

ness

floor

parquet

so

masked

those

lower

but

he

seated

supper,

has

the

members

boisterous-

classes, whose
Princesse

on

those

eliminated

entirelyimpossible

middle

affronted

at

group

de Conti.

Dancers

Harlequins, Pierrots,
Persians
in
Scaramouches,
flowing garments,
in
Turks
turbans,
wondrously woven
great
Indians, necromancers,
shepherdesses,nymphs,
l
and all Olympus, all
goddesses, all the Lignon
1

the

The
Loire.

unmasked,

and

is

Lignon
Its

novel, L'Jstr/e

pastoralcountry

little river in the

banks
;

the

are

hence

of France.

"

le

of

scene

Lignon

Forez

"

region, an

d'Urfd's
has

become

famous
the

affluent of

pastoral
symbolic

Note.]
[Translator's

38

the

MADAME

all

and

Indies

East

the

excited

forms,

extravagant

movements,

all the

glances

seductive

their

mingle

languishing

gestures,

of

cross-fires

China,

their

resplendent colours,
their

POMPADOUR

DE

"

gaiety

incessantly, like the

their glassesby the royal
clusters
chandeliers
are
crystalline

that

sparkles, mounts
champagne poured in
The

pages.
of

the

light ;

with

walls, ablaze

the

upon

the

In

emblems.

and

the

coloured

espalierfruit-trees.

quiverings

seem

flutes, the
the

crowd

solemn

of

door

whirling
powdered
who

cannot

spectators.

all the

and

wax

with

is alive

strings, with

violins, in fevered
their

on

pale

statues,

their

many-

over-heated

ball-room,

the

amid

bear

that

swarms

vibrations.

colours, contemplate the

with

The

the

dronings of wind
of
bees
Thousands
humming
take
to
flightfrom the harps, the

of

instruments.

might

of

odours

countless

fumes

the

with

air, heavy

like

look

estrades

royal
of

embrasure

windows,

fire

of

trophies and

deep

settees

flowers

like

candelabra

And

orgy

madness

the

tall

of

lightsand

of

this

night

passionlesseyes.
There

opens.
mass,

and

is

then

see

What

press

is it ?

more

Who
.

the
The

bent.

are

the

on

in

stoppage.

glittering heads

eddy

an

Those

fortunate
makes

this

of Fantasy ?
triumphal entry into the Land
The
King ? Yes, yes, the King beyond a
39

doubt?

MADAME

doubt

The

resolute

to

said

not

give

to

DE

POMPADOUR

make

women

him

see

and

be

that

he

the

golden apple

is

heart

looking

rush.

him.

by

seen

for

They

Venus

Many

Is it

to
an

are

whom
modating
accom-

is

its domino.
beating under
The
silken flood of billowy skirts, the nervous
clatteringof little heels, encircles the advancing
procession. Here is Queen Marie, sweet
though
time
her
a
plain, and long before
charming
the
of her
arm
leaning upon
elderly woman,
is the
here
little princely pair, the
;
equerry
adolescent
and
bride
of
bridegroom, heroes
the evening, the Dauphin
and
his
Dauphine
he travestied
as a gardener, she
as
a flower-girl.

"

here

And
.

de

Chartres.

But
.

in

the

are

Due

and

the

the

King

Duchesse

the

procession.
slowly ebb
.

advance
But

"

she

does

forms

have

gardens

had

marched

Palace.

Eight

sombre

before

away

interest

by

the

to

tall trees,

at

is

assault

not

appointed
dis-

Queen's

door,
It

entered.

the

them

another

is

women,

not

meanwhile,

the

And
.

He

as

all.

strange
if
of

the

the

like

well-pruned yews,
globular heads, are

huge
quite round, with
the
Are
dancers.
stalking solemnly among
have
they looking for their hamadryads, who
deserted
the
?
quincunxes for the ball-room
Are
thralled
they gods in metamorphosis, or heroes enIn their sable greenness
?
by a wizard
40

can

be

can

distinguishedsome

of features
"

the

and

the

"

Portail, the

her

licentious

able

to

"

loses

closelyto him,

him,

incites

him,

to

which

follow
bows

d'Etiolles

Is

Not

she

for

in the

"I

be

to

know

She

sticks

retrieves

throng,

brief

sents
colloquy congreen-headed thing

comically. Poor
is to
replace Mme.

so

wife, famous

dearly love

immense

her

."

?
.

after

he, the

d'Etiolles

Yew-tree.

"

under

that

not

assurance

him

and

the
to

"

would

Royal

you

is hidden

King

confident

the

to

know

shepherdesses.

President's

daring,

with

say

mouths.

and

eyes

tree,

vegetable disguise.
talking with little Mme.

Mme.

you

like

look

nymphs

circulates

rumour

semblance

grotesque

handsome

you,

murmur

one

slits that

"

I know

this

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

Mme.

de

Chateauroux.
The

Yew-tree

and

secretly gained
The

apartments.
and

pushes

room

the

the

which

They

masked

not

be

of her

kisses, she
of the

other

man

of the

First

defend

herself

vanquished,
leafylover and

reflects
women

into

the

the

upon
in

and

the
41

have

King's

the

door,

little dark

Royal

the

by

the

opens

safe, alone

emboldened

lady does
happy to

of

ante-room

are

wife

President's

agitated beauty

is that

Chambre.

the

Valet-de-

and

melled,
untram-

The

darkness.
;

she
among
murmur

is

only
the

too

lings
rust-

of their

spitefulcomments
She
morning.

asks

only

MADAME

in

only promises
she
gives. The
likes.

she
dress

Yew-tree
hair

crushed,

chamber,
ball-room.
With

of

The

bursts

arm,

The

Versailles

which

has

lady

and

King

of Mme.

This

domino,

the

has

guessed

she

affects.

has

he

in

the

the

has

indiscreet

of
"

the

hero,

its

handsome

and

King

of this

hear

will

name

been

de

intimate

an

of

has

it is
He

the

contrive
the

in
her

retained

better

did

France

King

Louis

has
but
same

urged
like

her

the
42

to

unmask

another

moment.

caught sight beneath

of

No

fallen

the
silk
He

XV.

she, by the voice, by the

its
cover
dis-

to

rose-coloured

intrigue

to

ball from

the

at

who

and

consented,

escaped

as

as

d'Etiolles.

King

Yew-trees,

vanishes.

and

the

"

moment,

the

her

of

Briges

lady, who

earliest

(Eil-

drops

Yew-trees

it the

to

XV,

the

the

all Paris

with

Briges," equerry
friend

Louis

her

are

de

M.

is

this ?

gained nothing by
as

Midas,

and

adventure,

the

is

Yew-tree

laughter,

ball-room

of

reeds

friends, King

his

loud

dishonour

brief

what

little

re-enters

detestable

into

poor

victor

heavens

and

gloomy

crossing the galleryof

is

de-Bceuf.

the

leaves

her

disordered,

group

masked,

not

actualities

trifle exhausted

her

O
.

little

with

and

the

promises anything

uplifted,she

deal

great

for

exchange

Her

little

POMPADOUR

DE

scent

she

Galatea

has

sooner

has

hood

of the

forest-lady's

MADAME

friends

POMPADOUR

DE

the

philosophers will seek to deter her

from
No
accepting her extraordinary fortune.
will take
the part of M.
d'Etiolles
one
against
the King.
And
the
happy, breathing in beneath
lace of her hood
the fragrance of the handkerchief
crushed
by that royal hand, "Reinette"
exults
in the emotion
in her by King
wakened
and
lover ; but as her senses
are
refractoryand
her

head

is

forget to
is

cool, she

be

charmed,

the

She

but

enslaved.

not

will

that

another

as

de

to

be

to

The

the

XV

had

knew

noticed

had
turn,

which

was

received

rendezvous

Outside, the mob

by

the

the

distributions

Paris
the

received

turned

the
into

illuminations,

Place

the

at

the
was

Parisian

de

munal
com-

Ville,

ball-room.
excited

open-air orchestras,
and

custom,

Louis-le-Grand,
44

Palace.

buzzed,

the

Loungers, trailing their

after

"

in her

vast

and

meat

his

Hotel

one

the

in

King

old

swarmed

of

the

to

others
many
City of Paris, which

mansion-house,

the

if she

mand.
de-

festivities ?

marriage

King

King

will

and

the

given by

Paris, in her

them

she

say

her

given

d'Etiolles

calculates

girl, related

young

and

She

"

close

wine.

she
Louis

night
a

Bernis,

Mme.

to

ball

very

woman,

Abbe

would

this

on

the

those

and

to

as

that

divines

give

What
.

intoxicated

so

clever.

she

pledges

is not

fountains
children

wandered
ornamented

of
with
from
with

trellised

MADAME

trellised

DE

POMPADOUR

the

galleries,to

paintings which
from

the

Rue

de

scape
gallery with the landbridged the Carrousel

Sevres,

with

decorated

vine-

triumphal arch of the Place

in
strict
The
be
to
Dauphine.
King was
incognito, and thus yield to the Dauphin the
honour
official
of the
admire
reception. To
the
heir
the
throne, the
to
City Marshal's
the gauntlet of a terrible
crushing.
guests ran
of the
The
disorder, the invasion
building by
of people
all sorts
and
invited
uninvited
that
such
the
were
Dauphin's twenty-four
with
guards were
difficultyable to extricate
the
and
make
Prince
his
to
a
path for him
Mac-Nab
has left
carriage. A contemporary
comical
us
a
picture of this City ball, which
branches,

the

to

"

observed
"

"

have

to

seems

to

There

could

created

our

not

get

People were
fainting.

There

but

caused
"

voice

one

by

After

difficulties

this

ugly
down

or

up

the

hours

lawyer,

rushes.
the

after

Paris

the

staircases.

the

under-

refreshments

midnight.

about

One

suffocating,

rooms,

understaffed

in

piously

six buffets, either

were

There

is

dissatisfaction

ball.

having
of

Barbier,

some

into

carried

three

out

and

either

provisioned or
gave

this

relates

crowd

tradition

day.

own

was,"

terrible

"

made

such

tactful
45

selection

fuss
of

the

over

guests,
seems

it

MADAME

that

seems

DE

only

not

the

limit

to

must

have

been

sorts

and

kinds

and

tradesmen

there

there

must

number

"

POMPADOUR

of

have

been

tickets, but

that

no

these

given recklesslyto people of all

probably to all the artisans
connected

with

the

place, for

quantities of disgusting messes."

from
this bear-garden,
Dauphin, rescued

were

The

driving along

was

he

Sevres,
Louis

with

met

in

XV,

towards

black

Versailles
the

when,

at

King's carriage.
was
coming

domino,

from

the

gone

to

public ball
kill time

him

cost

have

straight to

in
to

years
the

he

common

to

come

did

in

Ville.

Abbehad

de

in

like

"

black

It had

Majesty went
he
paid for his

quadrilles.

King

Marie

and

Louis
Bernis'

wisely kept
Mme.

meet
was

the

"

His

where

two

cab

de

the

family

King,

Opera,

Hotel

discover

her

the

had

must
Dauphin
horrific descriptionof

Ville, for

danced

The

de

and

later, in

an

he

intimates.

some

his father

Hotel

entrance

with

gold-piece.

given

the

Versailles,where

at

XV

did

pretty
her

little

Antoinette

his party

d'Etiolles.
domino

not

there

relative

home

at

drove

She, like
and

was

"

but

the

much

having been hustled

peatedly
reby the throng. There was not another
thought of the absent
girl. If the King felt
himself
any regrets for her, he quickly consoled
with
Mme.
d'Etiolles.
the
to
They retired
upset

every

way,

46

Marshal's

MADAME

Marshal's

there
private room,
the hustling. After

from

of interviews, and
which

favours, the

fair

was

show

defence.

of

under

the

of

act

d'Etiolles, who
she

"

Where
To

to

clever

aspect.

feelingthat

Certain

Louis

took
but

his

Mme.

take

the

and

meant

you

"

of

act

head,
she

sensual

very

the

not

cool

mother's

my

different

the

it is

whither
I

am

Supremely
a

either

had

and

wanted
"

Ville.

de

the

by

to

woman

ingenuous

very

still further

some
yield without
To
tionally
give herself uncondiglamour of the first kiss

the
a

tender

most

of

Versailles

to

shrewd

too

what
some-

slightliberties

that

maintained

d'Etiolles

the

some

Hotel

straight off

one

recover

pair, escorted

left the

have

to

desirous

King

enamoured

d'Ayen,

writers

doubtless

the

made

Due

POMPADOUR

DE

asked

or

Mme.

knew
to

is

what

go.
Louis

XV.

house."
!

The

The
"

adventure

King

no

little d'Etiolles

assumed

longer

had
"

woman

plucked with a careless gesture.

She
thus
of dignity ;
preserved an appearance
herself
she
invested
with
a
propriety which
rendered
desirable.
her
the
Very well
take
her
her
mother's
!
And
to
King would
bored
was
no
instantlythe Ever-Bored
longer.
He
and
the
forgot Versailles
Dauphin, then
savouring the chaste delights of love legitimate.
He
the Hotel
de
at
forgot the mob
Ville, and
was

rose

to

be

"

47

the

MADAME

the

DE

Marshal,

functions.

and
In

of

the

the

the

POMPADOUR

his

royal
despite the

where

cab,

Due

of

drudgery
he

d'Ayen,

clasped the
youthful beauty to his side, it was
amusing to
He
felt
play the part of a lover in a comedy.
The
cab drove
again felt gay.
slowly
young
It was
on.
stopped by officials at a parting of
the
The
astounded.
What
?
King was
ways.
Were
Then
let the
to
they not
pass ?
driver
driver
whip up his horses ! The
tested.
propresence

"

He

did

with

the

Due

d'Ayen.

induce
"

not

want

authorities.
"

Give

to

Louis
him

into

get
XV

spoke

louis.

trouble
to

That

the
will

him."
louis

took

back

Believe

Your

Majesty, you
had
better not.
To-morrow
the police will hear
of it ; they'llmake
inquiries; they'llfind out
A smaller
where
coin will be enough."
went.
we
It was
The
horses
were
enough.
whipped
under
the official noses,
and
the
King of
up
France

brought-up
Then

he

his future

the

retrieved

morning,

mistress, like
her

lady, to

young

Versailles, where
in

me,

he

his
arrived

changed

obligatory Mass,

and

five o'clock

evening

in the

mother's

house.

carriage, regained
at
half-pasteight

his clothes, heard

went

well-

to

bed.

the
At

...

48

he

was

still

asleep.

CHAPTER

THEY
have

and

again,

met

the

succeeded

of

the

we

first

relative

Others
visited

her

de

Due

Queen,

observes

afforded
the
in

King's

with

connection
and

young
she

"

country
the

was

who

of
is
and

"

favourite,

true,

it

would

certainly
d

been
adds

not

have
about

principally
who

declared
that

and

is

that
of

the

that

she

part
"

choice."

M.

tranquilly

de

the

at

uneasy

signify
a

in

the

"

definite

have

talk

and

Versailles

meaning

to

d'Etiolles,

"

the

balls

Rumour

always

King's

would

Mme.

pretty."

almost

was

Rue
10

further

love-affairs,

new

cognito,
in-

the

friend

masked

the

XV,

March

the

Little

with

in

loyal

for

"

the

house

opportunity

an

of

On

"

his

smuggled

Louis

Luynes,
that

If

that

Croix-des-Petits-Champs.
worthy

uncertain.

alone

the

at

place

supped

stated

the

and

Binet

private
she

have

mediately
imat

date

exact

remain

where

Apartments,"
King.

the

most

must

which

days

Richelieu,

the

into

This

entertainment

rendezvous

credit

to

are

but

Ville,

de

the

during

happened

Hotel

lovers.

were

"

merely

Luynes,

installation
If
an

the

story

intrigue,

mistress."
49

But

MADAME

But

the

in

be

to

was

close

the

because

was

who

King,

suspects

of

is

his mistress

to

anticipation

M.

Le
"

of

intrigue
At

turn.

of the
forced

"

Two
Due

which
and

King

relations,

announcement.

protested, and

had

take

to

dramatic

said.

d'Etiolles

Mme.

so

whom

scandal

of their

threatened

least,

those

the

official

d'Etiolles

Normant

with

passion."
Journal of the

the

the

Court

at

in love

all

of avowal

sort

Cardinal

to

his

condemning

in

the

26

madly

on

days later, on the 28th,

mention
de Luynes makes
and
had
out
just broken

pretty,"
box, quite
the Papal

flutter

great

d'Etiolles, frowns

Mme.

d'Etiolles,

railed-in

little

there

that

ance
perform-

very

King's. On April
Monseigneur Durini, wrote

Valenti

he

looking

the

to

Nuncio,
"

and

in

seen

April,at

Francaise, Mme.

well-dressed

very

of

first week

of the Com^die
"

POMPADOUR

DE

...

In

days

of her

step, like

liaison

lived

with

No

fall

upon

symptoms
:

within

in

his mistress

day, quite resolute

shown

much

very

sort

his

tortuous

ground

him

away

and

future.

satiety

already

But

for the

when

which

the

much

love, very

cunning

50

every

that

knew

withdrawal.

nature.

early

at

pledge his
by the day and

break

of defensive

these

to

to

of

the
She

cat.

sensually,refused

attracted

should

tried

she

cautious

King, though
He

agitation of

uncertainty and

the

he

had

rupture
was

if Louis

well
XV

could

speak, then

would

not

terror

she
he

True,

felt

of

she

avowed

Le

Normant

Paris.

in

not

was

M.

Savalette, had

de

M.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

the

extreme

d'Etiolles.

obliging friend,

An

invited

for

him

Easter

to

country-house at Magnanville ; but before

have suspected something,
departure he must

his
his

he

when

and

game
order

She

who

of

women

to

lead

him

depicted

the

second

Bluebeard

willing

or

who

admitted

obtained
which

the
was

to

farther

who

M.

the

lash

promise
her

kill

passionof

functionary of love,

"

of

that

the

equal

"

go.
a

as

back,
No

her.
the

King

d'Etiolles

Mme.

Vintimille, the Chateauroux,

the

to

her

get

and

classic

d'Etiolles

would

rivals

make

wishes

doubtless

to
no

he

than

the

do

jealousy in

man's

excellent

and

not,

wanted

was

more

excite

he

would

played admirably

Antoinette

Jeanne

what

back,

came

"

declaration

of the
a

sort

Mailly,
of royal

great woman-official

of

Crown."

the

peaceable M.
d'Etiolles
was
taking a holiday at Magnanville
his
and
to
to
a
speedy return
looking forward
find
his dear
he
would
where
Jeanne
home,
and
his little Alexandrine.
Antoinette
Just as
During

he

was

these

discussions

leaving, his

uncle

the

Tournehem

arrived.

have
presented a
gentleman's face must
of pride, compassion, worry,
singular mixture
artificial melancholy ; for though he
and
an

This

52

loved

MADAME

loved

his

toinette,
nephew, he preferred Jeanne Anand
the
though he had married
pair
been
of interest
out
more
lately, it had

but
in

her

choice

niece,

made.

Ties

nothing

M.

to

if
for

"

King

Treasurer
M.

de

reckon

could

possessed by
not

for

been

able

the

third

amicable

wife

resist

to

party

and

mere

head.

So

so

husband

to

for

she

was

violent

that

she

had

There

it.
to

the
more,

no

passion

and
...

advised

the

"

The

the

the

prepared,
dainty

"

King's,

bow

only

Tournehem
with

Reinette

the

now

was

were

before

himself.

predicted, by

not

blood, honour

of

the

choose,

to

Tournehem

de

the

Between

had

of

future

extraordinary

him.

if he

the

and
was

for

affection

than

nephew
as

POMPADOUR

DE

do

but

was

nothing
an

arrange

definitive

Le
separation. M.
Normant
have
not
to
seems
appreciated the
honour
which
the
He
King was
doing him.
had
attained
that
not
to
perfection of
yet
in the charming
philosophy proper to husbands
of genuine
eighteenth century ; he was
not
courtier
stuff, complaisant in all things to the
absurd
sovereign'swill ; in short, he was
enough
to

be

in love

elegance
with

he

grief.

sympathy
have

with

seemed

his wife.

wept,
This

for

behaved

vociferated, and

weakness,

the

very

He

which

unfortunate

shocking
53

in

without
swooned

awakens
spouse,

the

uncle's

our

must

eyes.
M-

de

MADAME

M.

Tournehem

de

Then

M.

and

of

talked

going

of Louis

arms

of

he

write

to

was,

The

XV.

The

letter

off and

written, M.

to

She, quite unmoved

in

page

her

letter, and

to

been

in

woman

ill-assured
if it
the
does

love,

It is

annihilate

not

d'Etiolles
fault

believed

perhaps

Clever,

reply.
bore

it

d'Etiolles.
a

ugly

very

tear-stained

poor

of

first intoxication

the

not

of those
the

great,
who

desire
and

an

past, and,

for

of

was

her.

outraged

an

King

and

it would

the

heighten
so
distractedly
first proprietor.

ultra-clever, having this

54

that

formed

the

mistress

regretted by

and

had

style

vastly amuse
imagined that

she

of

remove
path, will pitilessly
only in great souls that love
of
soul
compassion. The

was

that

tiresome

would

lover's

cherished

in

her

obstacle.

husband

her

on

largely the
She

her

await

it is

bliss,forgets the

recurs

Mme.

refinement

out
with-

stay where

to

Mme.

the

read

"

the

not

Tournehem

and

"

ing
reclaim-

indelicacywhich
it to the
forgive her, handed
King
It is explicableenough that she should
insensible
her husband's
to
despair.

read.

have
A

in

cannot

we

story

and

de

it himself

gave

him

his wife

to

uncle,

He

from

her

tearing

induced
difficulty,

some

himself.

against

Jeanne Antoinette,
very

weapons,

Versailles, of loudly

to

round.

nephew

suicidal

sought

defended

be

to

his

brought

d'Etiolles

had

POMPADOUR

DE

much

of
courtesan

the

courtesan

her

to

"

have

in his

remembered

he

sorrows

had

the

Queen,

Did

he

than

caused

the

"

Mailly.
prehensible
barely comthey offend
de

the

know
to

is

which

and

women,

kindred

suffering of

silent

despair of Mme.
that feelingwhich

cruel, may
the

heart

secret

this

mark

the

overshot

selfish rather

XV,

Louis

time.

circumstances

smallest

had

she

profit

her

calculated

always

the

turned

and

actions

she

that

"

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

blindly that mysterious instinct of male

between
exists even
which
rivals,and
solidarity
of Adam
their
on
guard against
puts the sons
of laughing
the
daughters of Eve ? Instead
so

"

after

he

it back
"

had

read

M.

Madame,

have

you

honest

very

gave

coldly said

and

Antoinette

Jeanne

to

letter, he

d'Etiolles'

for

man

:
a

husband."
the

But

honest

man

exiled

was

the

none

less.

inspection of the Provencal

jermiers-generaux,he stayed a year at Avignon,
he fell seriouslyill.
On
where
June 15, 1745,
Ordered

an

of

order

d'Etiolles
of

her

end.
was

time

His
dead

husband

awarded

dowry,

and

Alexandrine.
to

console

wife
to

decreed

Chatelet

the

was

daughter
long

the

of

separation
out

make

to

had

him.

and

d'Etiolles

himself, but

changed
55

wife

thirty thousand
the
custody
M.

But

formal

there

her
were

he

did

name.

Mme.
livres

of

her

took
in

the
She

sometimes

disagreeable

MADAME

of

reminders

disagreeable

his life and

from

vanished

POMPADOUR

DE

the

had

who

spouse

heart.

day being publicly entertained

he
had
been
in a provincial town
where
most
in
sort
some
a
politely received, for he was
and
moreover
remarkably agreeable.
personage,
He

was

one

of

One

the

party,

blockhead,

noted

all about
everything
professed to know
and
in realityknew
nothing outside his own
the
asked
who
little town,
was
gentleman to
whom
was
being so polite."
everyone

who

"

is
That
?
possible you don't know
of the Marquise de Pompadour."
the husband
At dessert this gentleman, further
enlightened
requested
by his neighbours at table, rose,
le
Monsieur
silence
and,
:
glass in hand
will you
said he,
Marquis de Pompadour,"
of drinking to
the honour
have
to
permit me
There
a general
was
good health ?
very
your
of the
the hero
of sharp frost, and
sensation
evening pretended he had not heard.
"

Is

it

"

"

"

M.

Henceforth,
to

further
we

from

blissful

question

are
a

to

great

see

Le

d'Etiolles

Normant

obscurity.
of

him

for

him
but

for

many

once

distance, when

apprehensive, shall
up religion.

There

56

his

will

long

turns
re-

be

no

years

again, and that

wife, ailing and

short-lived

whim

take

CHAPTER

ON

6,

May

left
the

Court

the

blue

and

d'Etiolles

King's

fond

retreat

at

and

M.

M.

solitude

affect

Bernis

sun.

counsellors,

greater
;

could
bore

from

faithful."

and

store

but
not

the

on

she

the
was

her

at

the

cousin,
did

Mme.

well

than

her

middle-class

name

57

"

the

that
so

of

creet
Dis-

much
tion
discre-

the

long
Le

she

set

on

and

with

legend

aware

acknowledge

the

And

sealed

d'Etiolles

fidelity

not

adored

side.

the

of

confidants

King,

bore

cessive.
ex-

those
her

and

view

her

not

sister-in-law,

Voltaire,

which

device

gallant

and

ever

letters

daily

returned,

seen.

relatives,

and

were

be

country

where

was

of

delicacy

The

Etiolles

on

her

mistress,

to

d'Estrades,

Mme.

any

rising

had

her

saw

Baschi,

de

her

her

imposed

d'Etiolles.

Mme.

dead

She

to

de

Mme.

Versailles.

that

to

again

never

She

the

Tournehem's.

de

was

The

of
from

triumphant,

husband

of

consigned

tyranny

while

re-decorating

apartments

removed

Dauphin
and

were

still redolent

Chateauroux,

free

Flanders

in

army

the

and

King

upholsterers

white

Mme.

the

1745,
the

join

to

VI

King
as

she

Normant

d'Etiolles.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

By the beginning of July she

and
Louis
XV,
eighty letters from
the
showed
recent
most
superscription:
de
la Marquise
Madame
Pompadour."
the following :
immediately wrote

d'Etiolles.

II sait

aimer, il sait combattre

II envoie
Un

brevet

Signe
did

Thus

fair

his

by
had

he

the

Mars

Louis,

To

taire
Vol-

him

et

his

now

the

adroit

and

him

rendered

patroness

office
and

Queen

Amour.

service

the

repay

Bedchamber

both

"

beau

ce

Voltaire,

King.

flattered

the

sejour
Quatre,
digne d'Henri

friend,

procured
of the

en

sessed
pos-

of

for

"

First

she

man
Gentle-

Historiographer to
and

business-like,

Favourite,

offering

of
the
Battle
on
successivelyhis poem
of
insipid imitation
Fontenoy, a somewhat
this
Let
Boileau.
spoiled
us
regard him
child of humanity," this slightlysimian
sopher
philo-

them

"

"

with

by

his frail person

desiccated

consuming intellect,seated

his

Etiolles, sipping the

at

room

in the

Tokay

by the King ; while in the

opposite is amply lounging he whom
the
the
Babet
calls
flower-girl
been

it

as

sent

drawingthat

Voltaire

kindly
delight

"

Bernis,
of

all

mannered

round
the

and

rosy,

drawing-rooms,
than

the

ladies'

man,

better

philosopher, more
58

has

armchair

"

"

were

born,

better

intimate

than

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

and
easilyflattered as well as wounded,
of
distrust
which
excess
was
general an
he accustomed
astranquillised,"
quickly aroused

in

too

hear

her

to

the

truth.

beside

in

This

fine

summer,

verses

were

less
occasionallyruthmingled with the

were

of

summer

with

Te

Deums,

golden

of

Ghent,

of

de

her

bouquets.

sonorous

Mme.

"

of the

which

Babet's

Voltaire's

all

of

version

rendered

have

not

one

candours

undiluted

an

could

He

valueless

roses

him

service, and

greater

"

from

as

with

glorious

"

joyous carillons and

the gloriesof Fontenoy,

of

Bruges,

1745

Pompadour

Oudenarde

of

period

for

was

"

cloudless

she
never.,
was
happiness, the like of which
In
era
again to know.
September a new
and
the
began for her with the King's return
She was
inauguration of her official existence.
a
Marquise ; the native
plebeian stain was
washed
out
by the decree of the sovereign who,
the pretty
his nobility; she bore
alone, creates
of Pompadour,
name
purchased from the head
of an
extinct
family, together with the patronymic
in

estate

the

of

freedom

serve

The

great
as

the

Court

would

to

d'Aydie,

she

much

was

lady

sponsor

Abbe"

Limousin

There

presented.
which

the

the

be

had

60

to

obtain
be

still to

speculation as
base
enough

ex-demoiselle
intimate

an

but

to
to

Poisson.

friend

of

the

Princesse

de

Princesse
before
"

the

can
.

to

such

said

the

laughter,
myself."
did

She

present

Abbey

no

double

odious

days

"

for

she

that

it is

going

playing

was

for she

game,

with

convulsed

Princess,

more,

add

not

few

possiblybe going to bring

?
to the Queen
a woman

"

say

her

to

ceremony
.

"

said

Conti,

What

herself

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

had

to

be

rather

from

solicited

de
of supporting Mme.
King the favour
Pompadour, while assuring the Queen that she
was
yielding to the King's express desire.
of
This
presentation implied a
ceremony
complicated ritual,which had to be studied like
a
appearing
part in a comedy or ballet before
Mme.
of Versailles.
the precarious boards
on
and
de
actress,
Pompadour, a skilful dancer
embarrassed
not
was
by the curtsies, and knew
in a Court
and
by instinct how to move
gown

the

how

to

kick

has

the

called

anxiety
event

the

she

that

high
and

of

talk

of

or

She

that

the

the

already
the

minds

own

with

that

knew

Paris, and
their

different

was

train

Queen

versation
con-

she

slightestgestures, intonations,her
her

commented

Queen

detachable

It

her.

have

would

her

colour

the

robe.

de

in
settling

people were
knew

immense

beset

which

was

the

back

For

on.

and

be

pallor,would
the

the

devoted

Dauphin,
6

scrutinised

for her

friends
ousted

rivals,

MADAME

rivals, for

the

betray
"

she

because

herself

had

the

rehearsed

when

part
she

the

in

followed

by

Lachau-Montauban
latter

had

been

in the

heroine

and

adorned.

the

enormous

added

to

her

gown;

gems

pearly

when
and
some

she
more

of

sure

There

was

14

digious
prothe

and
de

Princesse

Conti,
de

Mme.

by

Estrades

(the
presented the day before), led
of the day, magnificently dressed
Mme.

and

with
statelywalk consorted
paniers, the heavy train which
Court
the
weight of the brocade
head
little powdered
was
glittering
beautiful
her
neck, her
lovely
;
in

dress," defied

centre

had

Her

arms,

one

lost

September

on

of Honour,

Maid

her

be

was

ante-room

The

Presence-Chamber.

she

that

well

so

some

she

But

ridiculous.

been

crowd

the

way

Very assuredly
the
still hope that

appeared
King's Apartments.

the

made

some

"

slip,or

with

in

if

joy

Poisson

Mile.

these, what

should

Marquise

many

little

in

all of

and

uneasy

people did
would
bourgeoise
perpetrate
even
some
glaring blunder, and

great

made

newly

the

jealous intimates,

the

Ministers, for each

the

POMPADOUR

DE

the

curtsey
of

the

drew

near

confused
embarrassed

"

semi-nudity of
of jealousy.
criticisms

the

at

the

entrance,

Louis
his

than

XV,

in

who,

third

flushed

mistress, murmured

syllables.
62

She

second

Presence-Chamber,
to

full

But

now

came

the

MADAME

the

trying

most

Queen

Mme.

the

Running

homage.

After

moment.

receive

to

was

POMPADOUR

DE

the

kindly audience,

the

reached

the

de

of

far from

her

and

Marquise
of

the

Pompadour's

gauntlet

domain

King,

Marie

porters
sup-

Leczin-

de
accomplished, Mme.
the
glove from
having removed
Pompadour,
of raising
the gesture
her
right hand and made
of the
her
to
Queen's skirt, the
lips the hem

ska.

three

The

curtsies

the
established
the
at
(as was
usage
her
of France) gently withdrew
skirt ;
the Marquise, liftingher head, for the first

Queen
Court
and

beheld

time
Louis

close

at

There

XV.

melancholy,
had

its

irregularnose,
mouth

frequent tears.
had

all the

lady.

She

her

head

was

not

the

noblest

she

was

manner

rival

soul

the

with

its

Leczinska

and

of

appearance

wore

all the

Queen.

by

now

and

rouge,

Court

Mme.

covered

This
but

hers,

was

de

old

an

drapery of black lace.

this was
hardly a woman
in

little

its mischievous

faded

was

ness
happi-

forty-two Marie

longer

with
a

which
At

no

which

penetrating eyes,

but

of

consort

scarcely even

anger,

patient face
charming,

made

once

no

was

the

on

the

quarters

and

Pompadour,

moved

the
first
by profound respect, awaited
words.
be few !
A
to
sure
They were
mere
the sort of thing that
compliment on her gown,
women

who

have

nothing
63

to

say

do

say.

But

MADAME

the

But
desire

Queen

this

those

inquiring about
in

she
de

Mme.

Paris.

the

who

and

conversation,

known

intelligent.

was

frustrate

to

POMPADOUR

DE

Mme.

she

reception,she
ardent

settled

"

her

of

bethought

de

have

been
"

murmured

she had

Pompadour

ciated
appre-

and

intention,

would

desire

"

had

by

more

freezing

it is

Madame,

her

was

Saissac, whom

benevolent

agitated than

It

my

pleaseyou."
de
witnessed
The
the
Due
Luynes, who
be fairly
scene,
says that the Queen appeared to
de
well
Mme.
satisfied by the interview
with
the
The
attentive
to
Pompadour.
public,
circumstances
of
this
smallest
proceeding,"
been
declared
that the conversation
had
a
long
most

to

"

"

that

one,

In

this

chosen
but

there

there

also

was

pleasure
Mailly

Leczinska

had

the

only

not

been
for

of

the
able

on

been
detested

King's
to

was

resignation ;
the

upon
the

the

earlier

first,that
for

rival

rival,she who
The

heart.

Mme.
Marie
had

others

anything from the

Queen had lost everything.

wrest

already the
The
neglected wife had
their
insolent
triumph, but it
dealt
had
the blow
Mailly who
Queen,

there

perhaps, obscurely,
all

had

"

Queen's

retaliation

who

her

robbed

of

above

mistresses, and

the

of Christian

submissiveness

secret

de

of

attitude

sentences."

twelve

were

64

suffered
was

that

from

Mme.

de

wounded
her

MADAME

her

of her

moment

relate

for

of

mystery

almost

the

distance

and

the

the

to

thus

between

revealed

this

Queen,

he

her,

the

Court

ball.

The

King,

who

to

Prince,

young

plumb

the

for the

sinful

was

insult

an

endangering
e

to

son

creature

to

the

his
soul

and

whose

mother,

65

they

had

not

showed

cheek,

the

he

as

quette
eti-

he
had

Chdteauroux

at

heard
in

of

this

disgrace.

exile, had

of his contempt

of

were

debutante

to

Meudon

in his brief

depths

the

while,
de

The

unknown

cheek

Mme.

his

other.

Obliged by

with

sent

any

herself,

encounter

done

affront,

"

woman

the

Queen,

received

tongue

was

precluded

the

formerly
a

vast

so

and

countenance.

his

out

all the

to

Oh,

King's
nobility

Dauphin
He
indulgence.

embrace

to

thrust

when

marble

The

for

reasons

first

The

one

first

the

possibly to

the

at

plainly

with

and

"

It

of

his

profound
wonderful

little Etiolles

the

unaltered.

same

"

the

sentiments

remained
the

the

from

most

enemy.

consort.

courtiers

and

heart

reassure

between

comparison

from

scandalous

"

crowned

These

her

feminine

choice

could

King

Queen

not

the

scandalous

the

who,

the

was

"

detach

made

had

woman

favour, displayed the

respect
to

new

woman

to

appearance,

memories

"

Now

incurably.

her

POMPADOUR

DE

leisure
hatred

and

Court

presence

at

and

mortally

was

King.

Thus
.

was

was

fulfilled

the

who

received

as

from
The
truth

"

Reinette

the

prediction
recompense

reinette

of

"

of Mme.
of France.

66

Mme.

Lebon,

five hundred

Pompadour's

de

Mme.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

private

Poisson

was

livres

purse.
in

very

made

broad

so

of the

hands

slender
There

woke

she

did

wont

of

the

close

in

the

for

time

Mass,

and

soup

long

day,

the

of their

of

to

two

and

hearts

stay

would

her

keep

vast

her

till it

was

dine

on

retire

not

the

the

was

to

come

afterwards,

exhaust

to

earlydays

wonder

King
of the

tedium

often

ments
Apart-

evening. This
through the length of

ingenious fancy
the

the

would

back

in

and

had

favourite

indiscreet

Little

would
;

come

o'clock

six

the

cutlet, and

until

In

from

early mornings

"

where

XV

Louis

state-rooms.

the

beneath

from

those

to

mezzanine

refuge

take

to

pretty

Marquise.

live, sheltered

curiosity,quite
"

life

to

paniers,
the

lustres, pictures,and

which

clavichord

feminine

the

take

to

candelabra,

the

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

was

it

the

of

resources

an

amused.

lover

novelty of love-making,

the

at

creatures

senses,

had

the

revelations

sufficed

to

fill the

intimacy ; but the first blaze of

course,
desire
once
allayed by this quotidian interthe mistress
perceived that the greatest,
is not
the attracting
rarest
triumph for a woman
The
better
of a lover, but the keeping of him.
the King's character, the more
she understood
secret

hours

difficult

she

For, before
be
the

amused.
boredom

of

felt her

role

amorous

to

everything else, Louis

Love
from

to

was

which
68

he

him

suffered

be.
XV

must

remedy
as

for

from
chronic

MADAME

chronic

and

in

so

his

the

incurable

effort

to

somewhat

after

POMPADOUR

disease.

nine

belated

of

years

had

from

escape

he

Probably
but

innately voluptuous,

not

was

DE

become

himself

addiction

to

and

women

"

conjugal fidelity

morose

"

of

curiositythan of
This
is often
curiosity,which
temperament.
allied to a certain
of imagination, and
poverty
manifests
a
perpetual need of revival by means
of change, can
find its satisfaction in no
type of
was

perhaps

matter

mistress, and

the

would

Juan
other

to

Nature

but

by

had

XV

stuff.

was

succeeding
as

attendant
attached

It

was

of

out
a

handsome

de

quisite
ex-

pallidblood

the

such

was

Apartments
of her

and

lifted

"

sensual

familiar
the

regarded
corner

loyally

has

left

some

du

Hausset

figure in

the

Upstairs

lovers
"

of the

69

An

man.
was

who

his

Mme.

two

her

who

and

that

find

It wounded

and

Marquise

that

disappointed to

confidante,

and
to

little

Poland.

to

interesting memoirs

has

her

moulded

ethereal

Louis

vanity

"

Mme.

through that fair flesh,defended

frigidityfrom the fatiguesof pleasure ;

Russia

who

Don

coursed

its

and

athirst.

still

of

three

adequately equipped than

the prodigious libertine
content
infested
the King's melancholy

curiositywhich

which

it

and

less

was

women

soul.

thousand

leave

Pompadour

more

like

took
a

curtain

dog

heed

no

"

or

in the

cat

royal

alcove.

MADAME

We

alcove.

tried

she

that

"

from

learn

cold

exceedingly

was

POMPADOUR

DE

her

in

"

that
of

matters

chocolate

and

love,"
Nature

somnolent
stir up
flavoured
with

to

Madame

by

tripleessence
This
of
vanilla," truffles, and
celery soup.
A
heating diet seriouslyderanged her health.
de
lady-of-honour to the Dauphine, Mme.
taking

Brancas, who

friends

made

had

de

Mme.

with

Pompadour, pointed out to her the real risk

of her regime.
she was
running and the futility
Mme.
to
My dear friend," said Madame
tormented
I am
de
Brancas,
by the fear of
losing the King's heart and ceasing to please
him.
Men,
as
probably know, set great
you
fortune
misthe
certain
store
on
things, and I have
be of extremely cold temperament."
to
"

"

she

And
what

happened
the

on

sofa

to

You

Brancas,

the

regime

not
"

and

more

The

your

gentleness ;
and

moments,

chains

of

habit

hot,

went

turn

to

you.

know

King,
to

He

night there.

my

will get
else."

someone

that," replied Mme.

by following
kill

The

ago.

very

prevent

will

more

other

was

and

me,

will

de

by

it

don't

You

week

spent half the

disgusted with
"

me

that

pretext

and

"

added, weeping

your

regime,

Make

and

pany
com-

your

delightful to the King

do
at
not
repulse him
leave

the

will

attach

rest

him

time.

to
to

you

permanently."
70

The

MADAME

The

advice

experience.
by it. She
the

to

than

his

It

Mme.

de

realised

that

for

of

an

he

besides-*"

great

young

in

ladies

of

the

mysterious

Arctic

so

wide

Une

and

well,

be

the

what

incessantly
the
King

hundred

of

trousers

many
macreuse.

regions

"

her

made

others
hat

straw

brocaded

to

all that

her, she

elements

people,
"

different

so

from

Court,

destructive

so

know

not
to

more

in

ones

does
has

are

silk,

and
neck
vest
closelybuttoned
open
;
lady, almost majestic ; an animated
gay
able
tell witty stories
to
wittily.
person,
all that

seen

nocturnal

hours

gardening-enthusiastin

From

been

the

was

possessing

at

new

knew

sultana

with

daytime
who

lover

objects. When
the
to
Upstairs Apartments,
him
who
seemed
received
always new
She
the same
was
ever-smiling face.

woman

whom

the
hold

surer

royal

The

man

by

ascended

with

irritated

his time, and

with

diverted

'

than

existence
do

her

the

that

little

mattered

important
to

that

and

sensuality.

sea-bird."

habit,

is

secretlydisappointed and
"

was

afforded

XV

dictated

by
profited
Pompadour
the only counterpoise

change

Louis

of

and

good,

was

desire

apathy

POMPADOUR

DE

Macreuse

had

of

her

so

many
"

is

"

the

have

might
fashioned

power.

from

She

things,of
species of

the
had
which

sea-bird

in

the

(Larousse).
71

Louis

MADAME

XV

Louis

DE

had

scarcely

encumbered

idea

an

from

detached

charmingly

POMPADOUR

the

duchesses

she

was

so

prejudices which

With

her

musical

artistic talents, her

exquisiteelegance, her
of conversation
(trained by Voltaire
powers
and
Fontenelle) this upstart of genius had every

and

trait of the

be

may

Parisian

nurtured

steps of

hostess,

born

woman

in

the

and

the

ascend

tions,
adaptable to all situapliant to all circumstances, capable, if so
required,of being a mistress, an artist,a political

With

and

secretive,
he

had

desires
the

her

egoism

who

but

who

woman

yielded
done

never

to

him

"

as

the

neither

impenetrable,
violent

an

is,before

honest

all and

please,and

to

free

gave
his

to

exercises

Due

before

with
and

above

all,

rein

indolence.

to

his

He,

so

himself

as

though he had
The
Marquise learned
de
Luynes has depicted

animated
"

wife

pleases.

distrustful, surrendered

so

fits of reticence.

him

even

King

sullen
see

is

and

courtesan

mother

and
a

throne, who

gutter

bred, who

and

nor
an

"

gay,
excessive

dissipation,and

atrabilious,
of

need
moments

He
liked
but
melancholy."
women,
often harsh,
for gallantry. He
had no
turn
was
and
had
an
extraordinary tendency to long
silences, as if speech were
positivelypainful
The
him.
to
these,
to
Marquise submitted
the
detested
as
they are, because
by all women

of

black

72

man,

his

in

wrapt

man,

the

rites

detail

of

calendar,

the

the

Church,
Louis

XV

those

who

which

liked

fear

usually about

were

and

illnesses

the

of

ceremonies

and

patience
im-

without

listened

She

remarks

to

them

taciturnity,escapes

disquiets them.

and

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

operations.

as
talking of death
He
it.
thought every

all

do

"

invalid

where
to ask them
dying, and was wont
One
day, driving
they proposed to be buried.
and
the Marechale
de Pompadour
Mme.
with
the carriage to stop,
de Mirepoix, he ordered
be

must

called

an

be

There

hill ?

little

and

equerry

cemetery.

are

Go

"

said

Do

there

crosses

and

see

it

if there

that

see

you

is

must

newly

dug grave."
The

King.

equerry
"
There

of them

obeyed
are

and

three

back

came

graves,

Sire,

to

the

and

all

newly dug."

are

"

de
the little Marechale
Really," murmured
it makes
one's mouth
"...
water
Mirepoix,
Mme.
de
her
head
while
averted
Pompadour
"

in horror.

predilectionfor the macabre, and also

his unfailingpessimism about
ministerial
every
the
flavour
of dust
as
project,together with
ashes
taken
and
by the fairest fruits of life
the lipsof the bored
sovereign what are
upon
these
of such
inward
things but the marks
an
This

"

lack

of

balance

as

to-day
73

would

be

too

lightly

characterised

MADAME

DE

characterised
and

the

POMPADOUR

neurasthenia,

hypochondria,

as

like ?

Such

the

was

the

statelybearing and
intellectual
being without
insensible

the

to

who

creatures

others.

"

moral

or

arts, uncultured

are

And

private life, despite

the
charming face
a

in

man

burden

it

this

was

of those

one

themselves

to

whom

man

and

the

frail

abyss of ennui, and

until
she well-nigh sank
beneath
his
support
in her task by a miracle
weight. She succeeded
of will which
and
killed
her.
slowly consumed
irradiated
She
the chequered existence
of the
Little Apartments ; she dissipatedgloom
by a
ill-temper by an
improvised anecdote.
song,
She
instead
posing
of imaccepted the King's tastes
her
those
and
resembled
graceful
own,
virtuosi
acrobats
who,
hanging above
among
Marquise

their

lift from

resources,

must

with

death,

an

displaced,their temples damp

yet

never

cease

In

the

there

was

The

guests

eighteen,
supper
"

the

Not

described

Wardrobe

four

or

in

party

perspiration,

times

week

Little

the

"

ments
Apart-

Marquise's pretty dining-room.

few

were

much

more

three

"

supper

in the

or

from

bones

smile.

to

evening

and

strained

muscles

sometimes

"

crowded

by
than
waited

at

the
two

74

table,
de

Prince
or

on

the

as

three
us,

and

many
at

as

as

the

Croy.

Gentlemen

they

of
retired

after

MADAME

he

his

made

ourselves.
Mme.

de

and

Brancas,
stakes

the

the

Pompadour

to

get

two

de

to

it and

sit down,

to

to

who

de
low

"

but

The

those

even

with

Mme.

of

rest

on

comete

game,

stakes.

low

"

waited

Noailles

seemed

The

stop.

games

the

for

it out,

poured

Comte

hated

him

everyone

and

King enjoyed

de

played

coffee

own

appeared there and we

He
of
played a game
Pompadour,
Coigny,

servants

no

POMPADOUR

DE

Mme.

be

trying

the

party

King

told

were

not

playing ; I stood leaning against the fire-screen,

de
On
Mme.
watching his game.
Pompadour
urging him to leave off and getting sleepy he
rose

at

o'clock,

one

said

and

whispering (or such was

laughing : Well, let us

impression)

my

ladies

away

curtsied
and
;

and

secluded
and

the

withdrew

rest

of

in
us

bed

to

go

himself

her, half-

to

the

all

he

'

and

The

bowed

us

Little

Apartments
down
by

went

there
Pompadour's little staircase,where
is a
door
we
leading that way ; afterwards
returned
his usual
to
by the state-rooms
public
took
coucher, which
place at once."
of the
which
King
During these suppers
the crapulous orgies now
at
no
point resemble
becoming legendary throughout all Europe
Marie
with
would
be
at
too
Queen
supper
and
de Luynes,
the Due
Duchesse
her good
friends.
There
she
would
people," her true
Mme.

"

"

"

76

find

MADAME

find

POMPADOUR

DE

H^nault

President

the

Moncrif,

and

dinal
Car-

Luynes, Nangis (the old courtier

remembered
who
having respectfullyloved the
de
Duchesse
de
Bourgogne), and the Comte
Tressan
who, in this quiet circle, represented
the
Everyone
spiritof gallantry and licence.
of etiquette; the
would
be seated, in defiance
cushion
be snoring on
Queen's dog would
a
;
talk of old Court
days, of dear King
they would
de

Stanislaus, of

the
of

Fontevrault,
dear
But
"

the

to

little Mesdames

the

Queen's
there

sometimes

of

Dauphin,
filial and

at

everything
heart.

maternal

fall

would

school

at

long

silences

in the

English manner," and all the company

would
from
their
doze, to be abruptly wakened
de Luynes,
dreamings by the worthy Cardinal
who, on one
at church,
occasion, thinking he was
started

of

out

imperatively :
It

was

much
in

to

be

amused
closer

"

his

slumbers

Let

the

Chapter

exclaimed
assemble

oft-recounted

an

the

and

Queen's

intimacy,

must

we

little
not

"

tale, which
circle.

suppose

But,
that

be mention
of her
cautiouslythere would
the
statue-crowned
who, high beneath
eaves,
?
was
Oh,
presiding at the King's supper-party
would
dare
blame
voice
the
to
assuredly no
and
the Marquise, she is regarded
master
to
as
;
in no
favourably : she is courteous,
unkind,
way

very

not

backbiter

and

quite
77

modest

"

relatively
speaking.

the

for

tion
deepest considerathe
gently constrains

the

shows

She

speaking.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

and

Queen,

which

conjugal deference
long forgotten.
Verily, times had changed
King

to

de

Mailly, nor
haughty Duchesse
of

any

to

woman

which

the

little consoled

her

woman,

which

and

solicitudes

shown
from

as

divined

Queen
for

the

nor

had

Chateauroux

de

delicate

those

Vintimille,

de

Mme.

Mme.

Neither

has

he

her

forlorn-

have
could
imagined
Formerly, no one
beside
for an
instant
the
King sitting down
she played
while
the Queen
cavagnole" or
a
to
kindly word
occasionallyspeaking an almost
of mornings
visit him
she went
her when
to
in his own
inviting her to Choisy
room
; even
ness.

"

where,

as

of which
That

months
at

the

"

"

"

became

Court,

The

flowered

and

himself

Queen

should

her

received

transformed

In

pleasantly;
palace

the

smaller

78

room

in

drawing-room

the

that

the

standing, suggested
sit down

"

satin, embroidered

white

in

for the

memory

chenille, the

velvet."

King,

tender

of the

furnished

gold

King

honours

the

room

with
"

be

would

all
Benediction
Vespers and
her.
dear
to
things were
visit to Choisy in November
1745, two
de
after Mme.
Pompadour's presentation

Queen.

did

he

her, there

informed

dinner,

good

poor

he

and

at

the

dinner

en

malgre

MADAME

he

maigre
much

so

in

seemed
so

POMPADOUR

DE

that

the

quite
Queen

humour

good

a
"

showed

"

desire

no

depart, but spoke with a very good grace to

de
Mme.
was
respectfuland
Pompadour, who
all
On
her
at
not
a
return,
presuming."
Marie
in her apartLeczinska
surpriseawaited
ments
and
at Versailles
they had been cleaned
embellished
during her stay at Fontainebleau.
The
and
gildings had been renewed
glittered
bright ; the walls had been hung with tapestries
from
Holy Writ, and the
representing scenes
into a duchess-bed,
four-post bed had turned
to

"

flame-coloured

with

These

attentions

wounded

heart

humiliated
dearer

the

King

fallen

title of

favours
whom

being

And

favours

which,
she

France,

forty thousand

"

of

more.

protdgd, M.
of

Queen's

sure

other

those

Marshal

was

no

some

old

the

la

the

from

through

loved
de

still

the

Mothe,

payment

tcus, the

deficit

charity.

After
showed

on

of her

of all his debts

of his

were

unhoped-for

"

promotion
the

she

now

affronted

her

to

touched

for

and

her, had

to

curtains.

that,

can

we

wonder

that

the

Queen

perhaps excessive indulgence to Mme.

de Pompadour
Did
?
de Pompadour
Mme.
not
de Luynes that if the Queen
had
say to Mme.
treated
her
been
have
harshly, she would
but
would
have
genuinely distressed
never
a

79

complained

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

it was
not
complained ; that in consequence
extraordinary that she should lose no opportunity
which
favour
for speaking of the marked
show
condescended
the
to
her, and
Queen
of pleasing
should
seek every
possibleoccasion
these
de Luynes adds
that
The
Due
her.
much
sentiments
are
approved by the public,
it is observed
with
and
polite,
pleasure how
de
and
attentive, gay
even-tempered Mme.
that
she
is
always is. It seems
Pompadour
well
not
content,
only with the Queen but even
"

with
the
that
M.
her
and

ill-pleased,either, with
behaves
Mme.
la Dauphine
her, but
to
way
and
the silence, embarrassment
severityof
he
whenever
le Dauphin,
her, cause
sees
she never
distress
much
complains,
; though
that anything
it is only through her friends
Mesdames

the

knew
to

was

be

Rafaela

shared

and

the

both

by

Princesse

based

was

affection,

the

mentor,

him
afraid

and

this

in
to

act

which
hostility,

his
de

when

which

for

reasons

His

replace Maria-Rafaela

to
"

the

understood.

and

his

unappeased, deplored

Dauphin,

condescension,

mother's
he

not

of it."

is known

For

wives,
Saxe

she

"

died

Maria-

who
in

was
1

746

royal pride, his filial

his rigid Christian
piety. His
Bishop of Mirepoix, encouraged
The
attitude.
pious party,"
openly, sought by underhand
upon

his

"

80

means

the

ruin

to

means

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

of

mistress

the

the

King,

the

pupil of the philosophers,a sinner

worse
a
sceptic,infecting the Court with
detestable
spiritof the age, bringing with

her

the

friend
and

and

"

the

in

Church,

Paris

d'Alembert

Diderot,

Voltaire,
the

of the

reverberations

attacking

were

of

name

where

salons

philosophic

liberty!
the

But

the

bigots were
Marquise. She

the

women,

the

not

had

favourite

the

reckon

to

foes

only

also

of

with

and

courtiers,

the

Ministers.
The
fortune.
those

did

women

Those

who

who

owed

had

her

to

went

less, who

forgive her

not

her

dazzling

her

joined

those,

and

suppers,

party,
no

her

everything (likeher cousin,

Mme.
d'Estrades), if they did not
precisely
desire
her
have
been
fall,would
not
displeased
if she had
vexations.
paid for her joys by some
Mme.
d'Estrades, who
was
ugly, shameless,
in
venal, nasty (says Marmontel)
sense,
every
"

both

in

stooped

very

low

to

Marquise. Once
the
appointment
Mesdames

to

Pompadour
the

holder

was

the
f

and

countenance

old

gain

character,"

the

presented,
of
and

had

by

confidence
she

had

of

had

the

solicited

Lady of the Bedchamber

to
oblige her, Mme.
stratagem

of the

office

and

venerable

to

constrained

relinquish
Mme.

de

de

it.

la

This

Lande,

formerly

MADAME

second

formerly
Baron
in

de

the

As

future

become
favourite's

she

mortal

enemy,

might

overhear

She

the

to

boast,

King,

one

day

Countess

had

was

to

the

her

of the

contrary

to
"

against

"

that
is the

all ; here

is

Marquise's
Every day,

her

with

the
was

situation

to

d'Argenson, the
and
to
betray any
in the King's private
better

do

which
And

truth.

still

the

was

she

du

Mme.

exact

Hausset

write, with

indignation, that

done

than

more

he

advances"

make

tipsy and

was

intimate

defenceless

foe,

most

and

present

of

dangerous

caressing hypocrisy, installed

table

the

d'Estrades."

brazen

Here

part

M.

person,

when

King,

taken

Choisy, after a promenade with

having repulsed an
attempted

at

of

of

violation

of

to

was

had

d'Estrades, she

use

of

The

King.

rewarded

Mme.

to

mistress

apartments.
was

been

make

to

the

secrets

who

Montmorency,

ribbon.

the

to

governess

this transaction, had

blue
in

POMPADOUR

DE

her

at

at

the

toilet.

the
when
charming hour
streamed
into the Upstairs Apartment
courtiers
her
the
wherein
Marquise, smiling before
mirror, received
hopes,
petitionsand distributed
move
d'Estrades, with ears
well-pricked,would
intent
about
the room
on
espionage feigning
the
fondest
friendship with a soul envenomed
by jealousy,inventing the evil that she had not
able to discover, so as to injure the friend
been
at

that

"

82

whose

MADAME

not

His

even

Majesty ; and
satirical
pamphlets

Royal

of

precursors

the

which,

lampoons
befoul

to

were

Queen

POMPADOUR

DE

not

under

and

another

famous
in-

King,

favourite, but

mere

the

were

of France.

in
grandees, nurtured
respect for
that
secular
hierarchies, rigid precisians of
settles precedence and
permits
etiquette which
of no
encroachment
personal claims, the
upon
her origin.
in the Marquise was
defect
supreme
middle-class
Middle-class
lower
by
nay,

To

these

"

"

blood,
which
in

as

her

not

the
their

even

old

the

parliamentary
of

charter

She

extraction.

cultivated,
very

inheritor

witty,

and

families

nobility,she
be
might
gracious,

there

courteousness

of those

lacked

traditions
took

pride
did
betray
intelligent,
but

the

in

her

well-nigh

of difference
which
stitutes
conimperceptible shade
and
good style."
good form
Good
de Genlis,
style,"as defined by Mme.
of lofty and
is
the choice
delicate expressions,
is due
of what
the knowledge
individual,
to each
it is a
according to age, merit, and rank
;
full experience in
those
natural
a
courtesy,
lent a grace to social life in a period
usages which
when
virtue was
easilydispensed with, but fine
Well-bred
manners
never.
people do not
certain
in
current
use
are
expressions which
middle-class
and
vulgar circles.
They do not
84
say
"

"

"

"

"

"

MADAME

"

say

Je

the

do

Francaise

Comedie

champagne, but vin

not
give louis d'or, but
locution

and

tedium

Now

louts

en

they do
Every proverbial
their speech,
;

from
of

shade

Pompadour,
she

though

drink

not

removed
a

but

the

languor

conversation.

de

Mme.

or.

from

things cast
the

over

cultivated

de

word

unnecessary
language, for such

Francais,

they do
champagne

as

upon

is banished

every

the

to

go

but

cadeaux
looked

being

not

parting.

or

another

one

cadeau

They

ignoble.
to

word

meeting

on

make

not

presents^ the

"

salue

vous

do

They

POMPADOUR

DE

did

was,

refined

and

not,

yet,

as

this

ultra-delicacyof expression. She

had
been
known
to
speak as they did at Francois
Poisson's
like her friend
Duclos, the cynical
or
philosopher,at Mme.
d'Epinay's suppers when
he took
a
fancy to shock his fellow-guests. The
Due
de
Luynes notes, not
unkindly, if not
de
padour,
PomMme.
wholly un maliciously,that
far from
so
being arrogant, continually
possess

"

"

of

talks

her

Possibly

presence.
this

topic.

well-versed
circles
to

move,

in

relatives,

Moreover,
in

the

which
she

she
as

forms

she

had

she

could

not

been

extraordinary.

in her
Some

present

days
85

ago

use

be

not

very
habitual
to

speech

frequently makes

expressions which

King's
brings up

often

too

of

the

in

even

accustomed

of

terms

latitudes
she

was

and

appear

speaking
of

of

of

one

her

been

who

his

Order

M.

Poisson, who

had

had
for

been

of

be

she

said
'

to

That

to

time.

this

see

him,

had

found

of

cousin

is

(plaisant outil).What
believe

the

that

'

her

on

instrument

queer

make

one

There

is often

King

to

been

not

call

to

can

that

like

machinery

order

in

unintelligent,and

went

mine

of

houses

had

she

him

who

someone

monk,

and

to

monk,

companionship with
living in the neighbourhood
de Pompadour
Mme.

been

to

is

of the

one

of

has

some

service
"

sent

purposes

curious

pleased

who

cousins-german

and

for

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

is

of

out

to

reason

embarrassed

by

phrases and these family details."

These
suggestive expressions, this gossipy
grist to the Lauraguais mill, and
style, were
rather
XV
caused
Louis
to
uneasily to
say
in that
learn
his confidants
to
:
Something
these

"

It will

quarter

cabal

which

echo

of

spread

whose

ears

of the

had

been

made

time

refused

Robin

de

is

lawyer

Pompadour

had

allusion

the

was

"

the

reached

the

hairdresser,

by Mme.
Dauphine's ladies,
dress

familiarly contemptuous
the

robine

who
de

fashion

the

to

time

Gascon

vulgar.
and

in

la

circles, and

Parisian

mockeries

Chateauroux

long

against

to

teacher."

turn

to

me

formed

was

cabal

amuse

to

the

for

term

the class of

formerly frequented.

86

of

head

un

homme

society which

for

Mme.

de robe
Mme.

Note.]
[Translator's
Le

MADAME

Le

POMPADOUR

DE

Normant

d'EtiolIes

and

when

he

was

yield and repair to the Marquise's

for
the
him
reasons
dressing-room, she asked
He
his extraordinary vogue.
repliedheroically,

obliged

to

before

all the

I used

to

And

dress

retailing those

some

one's

Paris

of

"

ditties, those

truth,

grands seigneurs s'avilissent,

Les

financiers

En

le

L'Etat

tombe

roi

Le

"

rien

"

rien.

"

decadence,

en

ordre

met

ne

s'enrichissent,

r"gne des vauriens

dpuise la finance
batiments, en ddpense,

On

Pois-

Maurepas

to

by

without

not

Les

C'est

itself

amusing

attributed,

were

appearance

hair

was

anonymous

which

Madame,

company

other

the
all

soon

sonades,

"

assembled

rien

rien

"

rien.

"

Une

petitebourgeoise,
Elev6"e
la grivoise,
a
Mesurant
Fait

de

la

tout

cour

un

Louis, malgre'
Froidement
Et
A

son

Cette

catin

taudis

Paris

tout

dis

"

"

dis.

scrupule,

elle
pour
ridicule

amour

fait rire

son

toise,

sa

brule,

"

ris

ris.

"

subalterne

Insolemment
Et

c'est elle

Les

honneurs

le

gouverne

qui d^cerne
a prix d'argent

87

"

gent

"

gent.
Devant

MADAME

Devant
Le

courtisan

s'humilie,
infamie

cette

Et

n'est que

La

contenance

Et

chaque dent
jaune
peau

Les

vile

Si dans

Elle

et

bas

est

des

truitee

et

le

et

long

cou

long

"

"

long.

caractere,

mercenaire,
commere,

la Poisson

chez

les beaut

"tait

gent.

"

tachetee,

d'une

propos

Tout

gent

"

eVent^e,

esprit,sans

L'ame
Le

plus indigent

froids

yeux

Sans

plie,

l'idole,tout

II subit

La

POMPADOUR

DE

es

son

"

"

son.

choisies,

plus jolies,

pardonne des folies,

Quand l'objetest un bijou
Mais
si plate figure,
pour
On

Pour

si

sotte

Exciter

tant

Chacun

juge

"

jou

"

creature

de

murmure,

le roi fou

88

"

fou

"

fou.

jou.

CHAPTER

MME.
for

He

the

was

he

diplomats
his
There

he

clung

facile

mind

fundamental

Louis
his

own."

In

she

though
she

When

the

give
such

plans

because
and

Louis
New

she
it

was

XV

Year

her

trip

to

as

for

she,
the

to

be

in

perhaps,
singular

present

the

idea

Marie

to

89

was

all

was

as

luck.

good

1745,

grief,
refused

offered
to

whole

deep

who

to

upset

Court,

mourning

suggested
of

of

period

It

the

concerned

back

get

December

she

Marly,

in

"

to

her

her

by

happened

infatuation,

Marquise

in

with

recreation.

discretion.

mother

the

contradiction

years,
the

all

touched

King,

up

early

man
noble-

who

his

of

apologised

lost

all

Comte

that

impulse

an

patience,

all

of

work

love

those

the

scandalised

for

were

pleasures

style

made

Apartments,

Upstairs

grace,

and

it

as

his

Maurepas,

to

secret

XV,

the

bad

moreover,

was,

Richelieu,

of

filthy language
;

supple

the

inadequate

with
of

services

despite

whose

the

herself,

an

weak

was

accomplice

appreciated

d'Argenson,

been

have

would

King's

championship.
who

defended

POMPADOUR

DE
the

VIII

giving,

Leczinska,

;
to

as

the

magnificent

MADAME

DE

and

magnificent gold
ordered

and

Mesdames
her

coarsely
the

which

If the

Poisson.

still execrated

hear

to

snuff-box

enamel

for Mme.

had

called

POMPADOUR

Dauphin

favourite

the

"

.,"

maman

he

she

clined
de-

of that

reverberations

and

insult.

lightning-moments of
malice, the Marquise was
relapse into feminine
sole
ever
unchangingly respectful. She could conherself
at
by listening,at a supper-party
Choisy, to the King's voice singing a couplet
of
the
Father
of her
own
composition about

If the

had

gentle Queen

Mankind

II n'eut

c'6tait

Encor,

femme

qu'une

avec

la sienne

lui,

Ici,je vois celles d'autrui,

Et

n'y

vois

point

la mienne.

her
guerdon,
gaiety that was
and
the
that
care
was
Marquise's fondest
;
handsome
the
when
black-eyed face deigned
de
the
knew
to
Pompadour
light up, Mme.
The

King's

of

sensations
worth

well

Richelieu

"

on

the

to

the
He

him.

feign
day

organiser
than

almost

as

of

they.
far

spring-time of

as

her

was

to

rancour,

when
deviser

she
of

to

could
ments,
amuse-

supper-parties, and
She

he in

herself

was

later

complaisance.

favour, she showed

90

it

deference

some

the

was

that,

her

aside

set

and

things
go

to

until

the

For

conqueror.

hour

annihilate

worse

while

her

await

"

In

such

genius

MADAME

that

perceived
theatre

DE

disciplineis

in

as

POMPADOUR

the

as

people of
quickly
actors,
that

and

army,

the

in

necessary

dressed
as
quality, when
up
outlook
and
its demerits.
acquire the professional
She
in
King's collaboration
requested the
drawing up a code of regulations to be obeyed
by all the performers. This pleasant document
blue
reins
has
been
preserved the pink and
bridle
which
vanities
and
to
were
jealousiesso
gently :
admission
For
to
i.
membership, it will be
"

"

necessary

to

candidate

has

novices

any

wish

to

In

the

it is

not

desired

the

select

have

to

of part

type

shall
that

undertake

which

has

of absence,

the

to

of

consent

understudy

reserved

5.

not

company.

the

case

own

upon

first time

it is

they

fill.

part from
4.

as

will

member

his

the

in

Without

3.
no

acted,

Members

2.

that

prove

been

question.

On

the

this

different

agreed
is

select

expressly

shall

he

of

upon.

take

will

return,

type

may

right

who

member's

members,

member

no

company,

the

all the

vote

resume

his part.
6.

No

chosen
his

member

type,

style, or

articles

apply

the

on

refuse

may

that

pretext

is

too

to

actresses

92

it does

well

as

of

his
suit

not

first six

These

arduous.
as

part

to

actors.

7.

The

MADAME

The

7.
of

the

shall

alone

actresses

choosing

POMPADOUR

DE

be

pieces to

have

the

right

performed by

the

company.
8.

have
the
They shall likewise
right of
of
appointing the day of performance, and
and
the
of rehearsals
deciding on the number
days and hours for these.
Each

9.

precise hour
of

penalty
decide

decided

by

Never

fine

spiritof

XV

half

of

by

Here
feminine

quite

them

shall

grace,
shall

theatre
the

is

recreation.
took

hour's

an

regulationsof

age

of social
Louis

alone

actresses

under

be

alone.

actresses

the

that

rehearsal,

incurred

gallantly!

more

matters

the

given

are

the

were

the

the

at

present

themselves.

the

which

be

to

for

fine which

Actresses

after

that

arranged

between

1 o.

up

is bound

actor

authentic

in
supremacy
There
is no
doubt
much

as

drawn

pleasure

in

the

his
performances at the Little Theatre
as
great-grandfather had in those at Saint-Cyr ;
but
It was
Maintenon.
not
was
Pompadour
the godly senility
not
now
a question of amusing
of a sovereign who
converted
from
sin and
was
innocent
doves
paternally touched
by the
of Racine.
Instead
of great tragic verse,
here
instead
of sacred
was
light playful verse
;
"

choruses
and

were

lengthy

ariettas

skirts

;
were

93

instead

"

of

brilliant

modest

caps

garments,

billowing

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

inordinately,

billowing

loaded

with

blonde

of
festoons
instead
garlands, and
;
scripturaldrama, light opera or comedy and
for the inaugurative
sometimes
high comedy
and
acted
de Pompadour
play, chosen by Mme.
before
fourteen
on
January 17, 1747,
persons,
was
Tartujje.
This
choice
proclaims the Voltairian, the
friend
of
the
Encyclopaedists. PompadourDorine, proud to displayher dazzling neck and
the
shoulders, refuses
deceptive handkerchief
offered
her
by the hypocrite ; and, mocking
the
Impostor," hopes to enfeeble, in the
those
mind,
King's own
religious scruples

laces,

"

"

which

often

too

recur

to

haunt

him.

But

Moliere

too

was

serious,

or

it

else

too

was

underlay the sparkle

melancholy a gaiety which
of his burlesque, to do full justiceto the fragile
of the favourite.
She
eventually came
graces
to
prefer a slightertype of comedy, an airier
of
satiric touch
more
pieces that savoured
such
as
Dangeau's
things as they actually were,
Trots
Cousines, de la Chaussee's
Prejugi a la
And
Mode, Dufresny's Manage
fait et rompu.
she proposed to neglect no
as
opportunity of
herself as a cantatrice
as
pleasing,she revealed
"

well

as

an

actress.

of her
as

herself

"

Her

voice,

the

personality,delicate

little real

power
94

but

much

fine
and
art

pression
ex-

subtle
"

was

not

unequal

not

Acts

her

at

The

of the
of

success

far
Palace

became

Apartments,
for

King
value

set

like

not

exalted

by

of

means

to

access

ask

to

Urged

with

interview

an

laid
a

subaltern

request

my

memorandum.

said

nothing

had

Court

There

is

circles.

difficulties

M.

He

received

which
95

over,

my

command

try what

would

do.

handed

him
and

coldly

me

M.

room.

there

was

after
certain

has

in

to

and

I left the

conceive

not

get

who

did

d'Argenson.

d'Argenson
him

trivial

Madame

minor

before

one

At

Little

the

most

officer, I decided

definite.

vacant

to

obtain

to

de

the

on

persons

'

are

"

Voyer, his son,

heard
everything, came
asking,' said he, for

Marquis

Hausset,

in

anything from M.
could
family, who

by my
of
having any
my
position,if I wanted
for

my

which

circumstance,

du

pected
unsus-

Lieutenancy to the
relatives
by a singular
is a striking proof of the

procured
of

one

hitherto

acting

was

the

about

anecdote.

curious

there

Those

Mme.

sounded
re-

All

Room.

of

talents.

when

time

tender

Village.
performances

all Paris.

the

du

conscious

subject,has

this

she

and

in

Medal

and

excited,

was

Court

the

Armide

first

the

arias of

and

recitatives

Devin

the

beyond

dramatic
on

great

delightfulease

most

melodies

artless

the

the

to

Galathe'e, Phae'ton,

et

was

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

been

le
and

'

me.

You

command.

promised
me

for

me

make

be

let

and

get

have

'

Get

appointment
the

I told

business

M.

and
had

de

had

him
the

Around

is

not

is what

it

book

for

post

imagine
said.

appointment
Voyer thanked

for

made

Madame

the

and

of

Les

tive,
rela-

my

if

as

Duke."

Queen

the

did

That

Madame.

to

the

musical

to

act

author

the

is,'he

Dauphin

muttering ; but the

pious party was
did
not
greatly
Queen herself, who
the
woman's
the theatre, did yield to
faithful
Her
spirit of curiosity.
Moncrif,

like

ments.
Tartujfe in the Apartthat part, and
to
give me
no
promises,
yours.' I made

story

I got

This

to

Madame

I could

to

something

obtain

can

you

like

you

I should

it.

that

him

joke was.
are
going

They

she

of favours

the

what

but

if

you

I told

me.'

the

But

and
police-officer,

for

I will

me,

friends.

my

exchange

an

for

of

one

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

the

virtuous
care

for

familiar

reader,

Chats, had

play

and

written

the

little intoxicated

by puerile vanity, he brought the text of

his masterpiece, after the
performance, to the
Marie
Leczinska
glanced at it,
Queen's rooms.
the author
sobered
and
ment
by a single brief comMoncrif, this is very good, but let this
:
"

suffice !

"

We

suppose
may
of the theatre
that

talk

more

But

with

there

was

no

evening.

Pompadour, who laid her plans

tenacity, secrecy, and patience of the
feminine
96

Mme.

the

that

de

MADAME

feminine

the

should

managed
the

of M.

promotion

her

the

at

news

in

de

joy

and

Mothe,

la

embraced
He

heart

her

she

as

told

was

her

the

"

made

was

and

her

told

with

upon

who

kiss

to

the

She
Dauphine.
King a favour

Leczinska

King's lever,
emotion

boon

her

Marie

XV

Louis

hand,

the

set

of France.

Marshal
the

from
had

Queen

theatre, and

and

Dauphin

obtain

to

her

that

mind

her

up

to

come

the

Queen,

which

made

will, had

Queen

POMPADOUR

DE

bent

husband's

that

frequent
in-

most

"

he

had

not

performance at his
Petits
little
the piece was
Cabinets, because
a
broad
but
they were
shortly to do another
;
which
her, and she would
gratify
might amuse
him
by coming to see it.
The
de
Queen, says M.
Luynes, thought
the
and
had
been
on
King
charming
;
the
following Saturday she appeared at the
Seated
theatre.
beside
the King, she listened
the comedy
"which
her," as
to
might amuse
cared

her

invite

to

the

to

last

"

"

Louis

had

XV

herself

what

had

mind,

in

Mode,

la

into

her

for this
where

comedy
conjugal

operetta,

An

at

her

rival, dressed
G

she

the
was

love

leisure, could
a

asked

King
the

bodice

97

of

had

Prejugi
turned

was

Erigone, by
performance.

the

in

have

must

amusement

terminated

Leczinska,

and

of

sort

ridicule

donville,

said

MonMarie

contemplate
white

taffeta
covered

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

traceries, the

draperies and
silver-patterned
cuff-trimmings of the same
with
taffeta, adorned
appliques of flowers.
the
hovered
chus,
her
Due
Around
d'Ayen as Bacof
de la Salle as Sylvain,with
M.
coat
a
the
dead-leaf
taffeta from
costumes
provided
singing Fauns, a
by the Privy Purse," eleven
Piffet
called
as
gentleman
Cupid, two
young
called
and
Camille
ladies
Puvign^e
young
toons
dressed
statues," with
as
appliquis of feswith

covered

silver

"

"

"

flowers, their

and
and

of

collars

chenille,

white
their

and

"

dresses

plumes

of white

Privy Purse,
veiled

taffeta

cial
artifi-

of

ladies

young

the

white

with

edged
composed

other

provided by

fit them,

to

ribbon,

Four

flowers."

bracelets, sleeve-knots

with

wore

altered
Italian

gauze."
The

Queen's

presence

the

at

theatre

of

the

Apartments stopped the bigots' tongues,

had
been
which
too
openly denouncing the
the
King ; but
public also was
grumbling.
of a new
The
construction
play-house in the
Little

of

the

cost,

it

cage
had
de

great

said, two

was

that

much

livres

on

his

on

had

XV

Louis

ecus

the

new

Ambassadeurs

des

million
"

No

livres.

Mme.

only twenty
the
not
Might
King spend
In reality
own
pleasure ?
seventy-five thousand
spent

protested :

Pompadour

thousand

Escalier

"

"

theatre.

98

The

MADAME

DE

POMPADOUR

in

January 1 749 the performance of Acis et

Galathee, by Campistron and
Lully. Cochin's
engraving has preserved for posteritya picture
of the pretty new
house, with the royal family
seated
rocks and
where, amid
facing the stage
was

"

Acis

verdure,
The

Vicomte

singular

basqued

coat

skirt, the

watered-silk

sleeves

the

wears

every

that

movement

and

and

he

glitterof spangles

of

silver

a
crusted
en-

as

blue

wallet

made

must

the

folds

in

little collar

trailingcloak

and

fate.

operatic shepherds
of cherry-coloured material
as
gold, the trunks
puffy

silver, a cherry-coloured

up

Acis,

as

and

set

their

of

costume

ballet-dancer's
silver

bewail

Rohan,

de

with

in

Galatea

and

have
of

the

silks.

gorgeous

Standing
stretches

her

out

head

bent

with

before

him, Galatea

pathetically. Her

arms

head, her semi-naked

arms,

appear

dered
powated
attenu-

with
the
width
enormous
by contrast
skirt of white
of her
spreading paniers. The
taffeta, painted with reeds, foam, and shells
for
the
Galatea
was
a
goddess of
nymph
"

"

"

the

sea

which
a

billows

"

completely
The

woman.

taffeta,
and

white

the

green

bodice

taffeta

"

of

d'eau, the
the

whole
100

invisible
the

concealed

drapery
gaze

the

upon

of

framework

actual

pale

form

rose-coloured

narrowly striped
green
array

cloak
of

of

lined

textures,

silver

with
em-

broideries

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

broideries, spangled tissues, in the

white,

of
"

and

and

rose,

"

is

no

from

visitor

tassels

thus
actress,
pearls. The
Unreal
as
a
longer a woman.
lates,
of faery, she startles,stimulands

of

fascination

cence
irides-

of

her

revives

the
with

seashell, is decorated

bars

attired,

suggesting

green,

of

tricolour

lover's

the

which

actress

That

desires.

amorous

so

powerfully

imagination of the
He
the King.
works
male, now
yields,
upon
he glances at his
if by chance
and
enchanted
;
he glance
right-hand neighbour, quickly must

works

the

upon

lest

away,

the

mingled

everlasting black
But

the

in

Paris

salons

Marquise
of the

"

like
lace

the

and

the

had

she

ideas

new

Alzire

"

the

vision

depressing sight

muffled

zinska,

brilliant

the

with

and

senses

and

an

old

head-dress

of

should
Marie

woman

be

Lecin

her

offended.
If
public was
the
philosophers defended
her appreciation
shown
not
talents
by acting Voltaire's

pamphleteers

denounced

the

and
the
bad
example
public money
of
shown
Lindor," wrote
one
by the King.
them,
precluded by his greatness from taking
does
A
a
a theatre-girl,
as
proud Prince
may.
large house is built for him, a theatre erected on
there
for his mistress
to
figure as his
purpose
than
titular
and
official ballet-girl. O
men
whom
the
is
of these
vainest
dancing-women
waste

of

"

"

101

not

MADAME

vainer

not

the

POMPADOUR

DE

blind

ye

Candaules,

think
"

Gyges perished in Lydia !

hear
the Marquis d'Argenson, personal
And
of the Marquise :
There
has just been
enemy
ridiculous
collection
of
the
printed a most
entertainments
His
at
or
Majesty's Cabinets
Little
Apartments
lyrical pieces, wretched
the
one
toadying things. There
may
peruse
and
list of dancers
singers,of officials and clowns,
Court
ladies
and
of great
theatre-girls. In
fact, the King spends his time
nowadays in
watching the Marquise and the rest of them
being trained by all the professionalactors, who

that

last

not

"

"

hail-fellow-well-met

are

which

extent

an

The

of
at

There

the

Castle

Mme.

de

in

the

of

scheme

Zeleika,
de

L'Ecole
de

ballets

Venus

l'Ecriture

with

its
she

Amour

home.

intimate

most

There
:

at

Chinese

produced
Architected

de
la
Ulmpromptu
charming fantasyby Favart
to close her theatrical
finally,

and

I'homme

was

Adonis,

et

Marbre,

de

theatre

decoration.

Lagarde

tableaux

thing
some-

of Bellevue.

little

and

comedies

ungodly."

concede

must

Pompadour
only the King's

received

friends

and

he

to

"

it

Cour

monarch

public opinion. He
suppressed the
the Little Apartments
tated
resusciand

to

She

the

sacrilegiousand

felt that

King

theatre

is

with

ou

ParallUe

Sainte,

par
1 02

des

portraitsdu siiclt

et

des

Dupuis (?).
career,

Devin

Le

Fel

the

King,

useful

being

of

an

them
as

desired
this

nowadays
of their
as

she

she

had

"

attached

was,

gained

she

would

not

these
relinquished,she wanted
advantageous to her family,to
she

had

had

Maintenon

daughter
her

and

"

little
she

them

her

to

reign
the

"

to

"

friends, talk

to

them

nor

Poisson's

royal lover's glory

bring

She

enchanting

porcelain ;
and

of

to

was

forth, by

Sevres

museums

imagination

of

friends

Francois

fingers, the
the

whom

Montespan

populates
over

the

to

mistress's.

royal

slender

that

as

for her

the

world

stimulate

do

manufactures
of

was

she

to

was

own,

establish

gesture

done,

ambitious

friends

the

neither

What

friends.

those

was

grandeurs
at any
price have
grandeurs to be

and

disowned,

never

She

the

to

was

*an

who

those

and

ably)
admir-

before

of

dignity
world

of

pronounced

intellectuals."

as

and

had

her

ennui

the

enhance,

to

of their

and

race

from

people
"

called

are

of

sincerely(and

aristocracy,the

arrogant

had

remembrance

she

middle-class

be

to

She

relief

certain

"

1753

pleased
opportunity of
liked
literary

an

saw

in

Moreover

Court.

which

Rousseau.

to

"

the

in

revived

was

opera

Marquise

people liked
girlhood, and

by Rousseau,

Colette.

as

this revival

In

the

du

Mile.

with

work

exquisitelittle
Village,which

that

career,

ADOU"

POMP

DE

MADAME

studios,

artists, receive

of their

art

as

can

the

the

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

genuine

has

who

amateur

handled

the

draw
to
graving-tool ; she was
the
with
the
plans of Cr^cy and Bellevue
up
the
decorators, permit La
architects, direct

pencil

Tour

"

for

better

freedom

his

wig,

his garters

his cap,
at

before

ease

the

the

and

her

pleasure, what

fatiguesof
the

had

King

still less

of

been
his

had

the

XV

artistic

not

was

one

the

and

noble

he

the

him

"

grace

trinkets,
whom

in

the

the
and
in

which

he

of

moved

He

people,
possessed

pervious
contemporaries. Imsublime, he was
keenly sensible

everywhere around
gardens, in drawing-rooms, in

grace

women's
dress

taste

from

not

the

all his

with
to

of

he

of Versailles.

things, and

cultivation

common

grace

frame

marvellous

of
child

and

had

nothing

love
was

man,

he

as

had

he

natural

but

"

bookish

deprived

great-grandfather's

that subtle

of

ject
sub-

woman

dangerous if
illusion of sharing

instruction,

real

any

acquired from

had

even

charming eighteenth century,

within

in

and

Louis

an

beautiful
the

futile

not

Now

them.

of

been

have

would

what

Quesnay

rigid disciplineof etiquetteand the

dear
delights
joyless love ! These

the

to

converse

the

relaxation, for

to

was

doff

to

"

kindly Bernis,
youthful Marmontel,

the

Doctor

excellent

she

with

mirror

good gruff Duclos,

the

his work

in

was

dress

embellished.
1

04

and

in

Was

the
it

women

not

the

grace

MADAME

of the

grace

Marquise

than

rather

her

the

in the

delicate

sensuousness

certain

musical

them

He

arts.

to

find

the

peasant,
fitted

upon
awaken

was

as

if he

Voltaire,

of his

man

artisan,
that

anything

for

of

men

good

though they were

was
proud that
he

covetous,

his

talent.
reason

feared

and

compeers,

exceeding

"

nor

it

time

the

even

not

was

Louis
dreaded

destructive

his

reign

him

moreover

XV

"

great

elements;

had

produced
esteeming the

without

philosopher,perceiving
of

forced

nor

artist's eye.

an

without

not

minds

was

tion
interpreta-

was

handled

enchant

admiration

and

his

which
to
was
common
sensibility,
Frenchman
of his epoch, stopped short
prettinessof things. It had no influence
ideas
it did
in the
supine King,
not,
;
curiosity,nor any
any loftyintellectual

the

and

technical

whose

this

every
at

paintings,

incomplete though

citizen, the

never

to

But

it

humble

most

could

well-nigh impossible
single absolutely ugly object, when

time
a

when

voluptuous
take
delight

some

false

neither

was

fluences
in-

these

of certain

vulgar, superficialand
In that, he
might be.
of that

to

him,

charmed

Under

compositions,of
knew
nothing ; and

qualitieshe

"

had

sensitive

expressionsof

of

which

beauty

became

he

POMPADOUR

DE

to

be

as

vain

as

he

suspiciousjealous

full of
all

tions,
disquieting contradicin flattery
bounds
well
as

105

as

in

MADAME

in

and

disparagement
him,"

treated

Louis

XIV
him

gave
and

said

treated

ingratitude.
the

King,

Racine

Is it

pensions.

as

fault

my

"

"

have

well

as

and

appointment

an

of himself,

POMPADOUR

DE

as

Boileau.

First

Gentleman,

if he

made

fool

pretensionsto be Chamberlain,
wanted
be given a cross
and
sit at
to
my
supper
table ?
in France."
Such
things are not done
keen
Louis
XV, who
was
no
psychologist,
de
saw
Pompadour's
rightly here ; and Mme.
de
Abel
brother,
Poisson,
now
Marquis
the
Vaudieres
et
King's
Marigny, confirmed
Voltaire's
fancy was
judgment.
always to be
and
he did everything he could
Ambassador,
an
think
of to make
people imagine him entrusted
he
first went
with
to
politicalaffairs when
To
Prussia."
Louis
such
XV,
a
pretension
could
seem
nothing but the height of indecency
and
absurdity.
.

set

up

"

if Louis

Moreover,
the
better

of

grasp

sometimes

de

people
Pompadour

la

are

the

at

his

the
feet

character

King's

too

as

do.

to

produced

under

not

hend
comprehad

Voltaire, Voltaire

prone

which

for

watching

could

mistakes,

in

Gloire,

designated
himself

the

made

clever
de

of

genius

XV

the

and

he

self-confident
When

Mme.

ballet, L,e Temple

XV

Louis

no

was

plainly

of

Trajan, Voltaire,
King's departure, threw
and
:
loudly exclaimed
name

06

"Well,

MADAME

did

that

countenance

her."

And
dear

my

vile

that

good-natured

so

POMPADOUR

DE

work

still could

Damilaville

to

good

to

reason

am

of

upon

it,

and

real

Mme.

mourn

right ; for philosophers

and
the Marquise,
of letters owed
much
to
men
and
had
caused
her
various
unpleasantnesses,
is never
since
which
they belong to a race
is done
what
satisfied,no matter
to oblige them.
de Pompadour
Mme.
experienced this again
with
Le
the

du

fashion

to

him.

and

He

aroused

and

at

Mme.

was

very

her

than

his odd

done

was

made

had

Jean

interest

in

with
the

appearance.

last

rehearsal,

"

liking

Genevese

which

manners

the favourite,

When

bashful

bear
odder

were

Mme.

du
Pompadour
produced Le Devin
Fontainebleau,Jean Jacques consented
the

musical

d'Epinay's, took
intimate

with.

Jacques

the

meeting

Duclos,

by depicting those
even

Voltaire

Village

philosopher

was

when

Rousseau,
Devin

He

of letters

men

fond

be

"Depend

colleague, real

philosophers have
de Pompadour."

Catilina,

de

Village at
to

intend
super-

school

as

"

from
the
brilliant
the
actresses
boy
among
timid, incapable of social
Opera. Sulky because
he affected
to
despise good manners
graces,
since he could
them
which
learn
not
to practise
is the case
with
cynics. The day of permany
formance
He
arrived.
appeared in his customary
and
negligent attire,with his bushy beard
wig
"

08

unbrushed

MADAME

unbrushed
M.

and

he

assigned

was

Cury's box, facing the

de

the

POMPADOUR

DE

with

in

place

little box

in which

de

Mme.

Pompadour.
When
the candles
lit,Jean Jacques, a prey
were
of neuropaths,
self-consciousness
the morbid
to
persuaded himself that he had been given this
make
of
show
a
prominent positiononly to
King

sat

"

"

him

before

ashamed

the

of

his

beard

he

and

Court,
and

his

began

to

"

wig.

"

in his Confessions, if
myself," he wrote
in my
rightfulplace, and rightlydressed
after

of

minutes

some

myself by a Yes, and

which
probably derived
of

said

be

has

this

acted,

talents.
better

am

than

to

dressed

as

if

force

all is

enjoy
I

were

of

the

usually

in

my
invited

am

I wrote

because, when

right

more

because

and

answered

myself : I am
am
watching

place, because

and

the

asked

intrepidity
the impossibility

an

from

from

with

more

to

rightfulplace because
work
being acted,
occupy

that

than

leaving

reasoning.

discomfort

feel

my

my
my
own

to

piece to

said,

no

one

fruit of
am,

my
neither

begin to
enslave
myself to opinion in anything, I shall
quickly be obliged,as before, to enslave myself
it in everything
outward
be
to
man
; my
may
plainly and carelesslyarrayed, but it is neither
slovenly nor
dirty ; a beard is not so in itself,
since
it is Nature
which
if
provides it, and
nor

worse

once

109

again

climate

MADAME

climate

fashion

or

POMPADOUR

DE

it

ordains,

may

rank

as

an

."

ornament.
.

he

While

these

making

was

reflections, which

from
of
either
no
excess
assuredly derived
simplicityor modesty, the King, the Marquise,
the Court
and
were
applauding the charming
with
observing the author
an
pastoral, and
Here
of malice.
entirelydevoid
was
a
new
problem for Jean Jacques. He was
armed
but not
ing
against caressagainst raillery,
manners."
The
had
success
developed
into
all round
author
heard
a
triumph. The
seemed
who
him
him
to
whisperings of women
fair as angels, and
were
saying in low voices :
is charming ; that
is ravishing ; there
That
but
is not
The
note
one
speaks to the heart."
charming
pleasure of giving pleasure to so many
him
such
to
a
degree that he
people moved
began to cry into his big beard, and
yielded
himself
wholly to the joy of savouring his glory.
The
spell of sex, he acknowledged, had

astonishment

"

"

much

more

vanity

fewer

him

same

word

eleven

Jean
if

tears

That

the

and

to

be

at

agreeable

and

M.

message,

it

than

had
the

the

been
Due

Palace

an

author's

have

would

Jacques

only men
evening

o'clock, when

King

with

do

to

shed

present.
d'Aumont

sent

day about
he would
be presented to
de Cury, charged with
this
added
no

that

next

there

was

talk
of

MADAME

of

pension, and

inform
the

the

POMPADOUR

DE

that

the

of

father

and

Colette

himself

would

King

Colin

upon

the

philosopher'spatrons had
with
his hypochondria.
reckoned
not
Jean
reminded
Jacques spent a terrible night. He
himself
of his disabilities,the
frequent need
retire
tormented
which
had
him
to
during
the
would
spectacle, and
certainly torment
him
when
he
should
be awaiting the
King's
through the great gallery. The
passage
very
his
thought of the state he could get into when
need
him
him
was
on
was
enough to make
experience it to the point of fainting,or else
of making
awful
such
exhibition
that
he
an
But

matter.

"

"

would

far

sooner

imagined

himself

have
in

died.

His

Majesty's

being graciously addressed.

to

look, how

"

the

beard,

Again,

were

what

would

his

rivals

say

of

pension

which,

the
with

philosophic livery?

contemner

accept

he

was

dropping

manner,"

part of his

Swiss,
fortune, should

How

air and

uncompromising

he

presence,

without

answer,

then

And

if the

honours
?

And

intereste
disand

would

that

Before
culties,
these diffipension be paid ?
offspringof a fevered brain, Jean Jacques
took
flight, giving the go-by to honours,
the
pensions, King, King's Mistress, and
courtiers
all and
himself
sundry. He consoled
for the loss of the pension by cursing society,
.

i i i

and

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

by reflectingthat all day long

about
ariettas
the
humming

and

the

also

went

Devin

with

"

the

untuneful

most

King

from

voice

he

his

in

Kingdom.
de

Mme.

him

she

whom

"

called

this

forgave

Pompadour

the

and

owl,"

of

prank

him

sent

them
fiftylouis. Jean Jacques acknowledged
La
Nouve/k
later, when
ungraciously ; and
Helo'ise
meaning no harm,
appeared, he wrote,
"

that

than

respected
Malesherbes

thus

and

"

"

word

the

the

the
the

then

King

"

de

friend

d'Alembert,

and

of

were

of

sensible

made

Diderot,

others

many

me

was

at

conversation

one
a

small

day

gunpowder.

One

that

112

first
'

de

Mme.
She

himself

It

who

of

Louis

when

his

supper-party

turned

on

fended
de-

brilliantlyand

most

"

anecdote

told

upon

"

Prince

intimate

It is Voltaire

charming

servants

than

more

Encyclopaedia

courageously.
this

"

word

intelligentfriendliness.

Pompadour's
the

tion
asser-

his benefactress, Mme.

Piron,

occasions

various

the

by

Buffon,

Montesquieu,
Marmontel,

this

that

Conti.

de

Prince

de

M.

Then
Pompadour.
all right by replacing

set

offended

Luxembourg,

be

to

more

de

to
"

him

to

Mme.

wound

thought
King

Rousseau

out

was

mistress."

King's

pointed

might
the

wife

charcoal-burner's

upon
is

at

tells

XV's
master

Trianon,

hunting,
odd,'

said
the

MADAME

the

de

Due

POMPADOUR

DE

'

Nivernois,

that

should

we

amuse

day by shooting partridges in

ing
sometimes
the Park
at
Versailles, and
by killthe
and
on
men
getting killed ourselves
frontiers,without
knowing preciselywhat all the
Alas
in
with.'
! we
are
killingis being done
that state
of ignorance about
everything in this
de Pompadour
I don't
world,' replied Mme.
;
ourselves

every

'

'

the

know

what

made

of, and

asked

am

pity,'then

wearing

His
which

cost

be

has

much

very
the

Due

each

we

should

find

'

Valliere,

It is

'

that

Encyclopedias,
pistoles.

our

hundred

The

King

questions.'
He

had

folio

one

been

the

warned

all

to

answers

defended

which

volumes

to

stockings

There

is

put

silk

La

de

confiscated

us

cheeks

my

manufactured.'

were

the

on

how

me

now

said

Majesty

put

should

it if anyone

rouge

the

our

twentyfound

be

to

were

tion.
confisca-

his

that

the
most
lady's dressing-table were
for the Kingdom
dangerous things in the world
on

every

of France,
if this
to

be

each

heavy

to

referred
so

to

was
h

The

carry.

on

for

and
and

so

of

end

copy

were

article
we

forth
113

supper

they

which

there

for himself

out

permitting the

the

volumes,

seven

to,
so

look

find

to

before

Towards

pages
with

wished

true

were

read.

three

had

and

on

read
;

sent

back,

came

extremely
Powder
that

and

he

book

was

so-and-

Mme.

de

Pompadour

MADAME

used
of

rouge

'

'

what

valuables

so

stockings

for

that

you,

only

learned

Louis

XV

would

feared

intervention

was

alone
in

man

have

the

she

of

ladies

the

and

She

learnt

woven,

and

her.

cried.
.

this

of

storehouse

possessingit, may
kingdom ?
your

cared

scientists.

unavailing.

114

the

fairly astounded

confiscated

you

the

not

this

were

splendid book,'

Sire, have

had

her

how

mechanism

Ah,

be

Paris.
.

likewise
the

the

cheeks,

their

of

ladies

between

which

with

redden

to

the

difference

the

learnt
Pompadour
old
Spanish rouge

Madrid

POMPADOUR

DE

'

for science
The

if he

Marquise's

MADAME

the

with

them

their

Then

glasses.
for

save

of

mirror
"

the

midnight face,"
face

the

infinite
flesh

du

which

love

is

bruised

wrinkles

dissemble,

which

the

but

which

paint. The
deeply, darkly

the

delicate
wilt

upon

texture

and

the

source

fair

will

the

veined
faintest

easily
through

so

slightly prominent eyes are

circled ; the lips are
pale ; the
of the neck and
throat begins to
beauty, with its thirtyyears
of a lurking
the stealthyprogress
is
that hidden
organism which

within
and

of

essence

woman's
!

energy.

has

was

and
not

that

the

not

she

was

herself

Choisy, she excused

the drawing-room.
presence,

Mme.

Shuddering,

she
reflects that
Pompadour
One
day
right to be ill.
than
usual, during
feeling worse

she

and

show

de

that

of

still

soon

Illness,passion'sbugbear

her

fruit

those

can

its

in

all this

it,shows

malady

paint

alone,

unaltered

with

lined

her

love

by

marked

already,

oval

examines

beheld

! this

alone,

the

In

find

Alas

tiny blemishes,

by

face
must

diversity.

is

Hausset.

toilet-table, she

the

with

afroth

Madame

they depart.
faithful

her

alcove

extinguishes the candles, and

in the
reflections
long pier-

yet another

laces

the

bed,

luxurious

the

warms

of

curtains

great

sumptuous

another

POMPADOUR

DE

from
XV

Louis
when
in

1 1

they
fit
6

state

sojourn
going down
a

twice
told
to

at
to

demanded
him

again

appear,

he

sharply

sharply inquired
"

Sire."

"

feverish

Is she

let her

Then

"

No,

"

down

come

"

conscious
spoke there, in that ungreat-grandfather had
egoism. The
be ill,and
in his carriage he
to
anyone
drive
long miles with ladies in full dress

XV's

Louis

disliked

would

blood

feverish

who"

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

convalescent,

or

pregnant

or

endure
had
the sun,
to
recently confined
the
the
wind,
ever
jolting without
making
de
Mme.
the
moan.
sees
Pompadour
she will no
hour
approaching when
longer be
able
She
to
not
feels, aghast, the
complain.
irregular pulsation of her heart, the instability
of her
order
the profound disoverwrought nerves,
left in
all her
by maternities
organs
miscarried
and unavowed.
She is wasting
away
but

"

in

this

existence

Christian

the

now

to

her

downward

her

swiftlyshe

very
the

and

Queen

crest

what

the

off

"

now

they
;

the

are

reduced

the

stain

of

her

father

mounted,
sur-

! The
not

courtiers

is

very

she has

Ministers

117

how

overthrown
"

she

path which
farther slope.

obstacles

Dauphine

obedience

bilityis wiped

What

reached,

climbed,

enemies

they are neutral

beguiled ; the
of

has

the

the

the

on

of

that
and

fortunes

lead

and

sort

of

like

"

combat

confronting her,

surely,to

been

calls

perpetual

"

she

surveys,

How

but

which

summit

dazzling
is

Poisson

to

won,

have
some

igno-

rehabilitated,
her

MADAME

her

DE

brother

young

"

familiarlycalls
the
Marquis de
soon

will

be

POMPADOUR

whom

Abel,

"

little brother

Vaudieres

de

the

King

(jrerot),is
Marigny,
of Edifices

Director-General

now

and

her

is being brought
like a
darling Alexandrine
up
of the Assumption
princess at the Convent
what
she
has
since
the
travelled
a
long road
those
hunting-days at Senart !
meetings on
.

The

Marquise is prodigiously wealthy ; she

all within
makes
them
purchases domains,
but
a
passing visit
lovely, and will pay them
After
then.
and
now
stately Crecy comes
the exquisite little house
at
Celle, comes
royal
the
Bellevue, come
Hermitages at Versailles
and

In

Fontainebleau.
she

these

enchanted

tions
habita-

the

proudest gentlemen of
France
for
adopt her colours
Crecy,
green
The
red for Bellevue.
King arrives for supper,
views
the
illuminated
issue
gardens, whence
shepherds and fauns addressing him in eulogistic
and
he comes
the acting,
to
see
verses
;
yawns,
without
often goes away
thanking his ingenious
is queen

"

hostess.
His

He

goes

harshness,

of

thought
these

have

habit.
does

death,
availed

Does
not

his

silent

fits of

his

know.

he

but

away,

to

on

sever

still love

She

when

only
1

his

back.

comes

his

moods,

remorse

gets

he

weak

the

death,

nerves

"

all

not

the

strong

his

mistress

that

he

knows

loyalties,
dis-

chain

of
She

fears

scenes,

MADAME

and

scenes,

chale

de

who

said

that

the

going
a

hates

and

up

down

he

his other

Mme.
does

that

end

de

with

staircase

is accustomed
if he

be

to

find

to

were

about

hunting

all the

and
to

same

days."
will

it that

to

see

If

confidante.

that

Mar6-

Marechale

It is your

would

of three

the

"

He

to

Pompadour

find

not

"

but

talk

could

himself
she

it

interests, it

the

at

The

intriguing women.

Mirepoix sees
to the Marquise
King is fond of.

woman

him

POMPADOUR

DE

he

he

has

dulged
in-

passing fancy or two,

ignore or pardon these, but

is

ready to
into such
diversions.
not
enter
friendship must
will
She
harmless
are
permit the rivals who
other
kind
through their nothingness. The
those
she
will
before
she
fight to the death
"

suffers

them.

Friendship yes.
the friendship born
"

bond

That
of

only
and

trust

she

desires

"

habit, slacker

than

lasting,irking not
passion,but more
the
flesh nor
male
weighing on
egoism and
able
sensuality,yet containing in its slight inextricknot
in

all

thought

old,

that

and

will

challenge even
Sublimest
flower

of the

that

the

lovers

once

exchanged

feeling,all that will not

grow
persist in malady's despite, and
time's dishonouring hand.
bond

of

plant that

pleasure, friendshipnone
119

noble
has

natures,

its

the

in

roots

less

can

fairest
sensual

be

but
what

MADAME

what

the

DE

lovers

are

it is

imagination

POMPADOUR

and

in

the

invested

not

Marquise's
the

with

purest

is it an
attachment
spiritualquality. Rather
wherein
prudence and self-interest have their
it is, and
play. But an attachment
parts to
sincere
devotedness
a
one
implying a certain
in the
certain
a
fidelityin the man,
woman,
which
evil
would
most
nature
assuredly no
conceive
but
be seen
of, which
by such would
vile complaisance and
weak
as
yielding.
To
retain
her
possessions,titles,credit, and
if possibleincrease
retain
well
them, and
to
as
"

the
a

heart

heart

of Louis
!

of it, to
as

fortifyher

would

this is the
the

distracted

play

to

all is lost
his

by
likely to

for

mistress's

the

destroy

mind.

will

It is
does

it
.

play it,

not

to

inferiorityqua

mistress,

and

resistance

recalls

other

of

terrible

beginning

secret

occupy

is

King

merit

abrogations

times

at

if she

but

make

such

for

him

serves

and

power

conception which

favourite's

game

all else

most

seem

what

or

"

sacrifice

to

"

XV

feel
the

sensual
body to which
submits
and
pleasure is no
pleasure, which
knows
but
tress's
to
scantly how
give. In his misfatigued embraces, Louis XV, unsatisfied,

with

And

these.
.

"

sad

that

she

room,

is sad

and

endearments,
.

and

unto

waits

the

is

compares

why,
hour

in

of

them
the

lightful
de-

pleasure

death.
1 20

This

This

bewildered
a

chilling

for five

long

What

thus

as

de

of the

night is

the

make-up

aid

of

of

that

With

possessed
last

to

was

mistresses

their

box

She

the

and

restored

an

artificial

brilliance

Marquise

toilet-table

of

which

ing
morn-

summoned

loveliness.

appearance

whose

every

the

day,

weapons.

exhausted

her

those

conquest

her

refurbished

he

sea-bird,"

lot

away.

sweeps

that

the

lost
in
the
Pompadour
she regained by daylight,

alcove

reversing the

every

"

when

embraces,

realised

the

in

begun

years.

Mme.

shadows

had

earliest

had

King

woman

which

drama,

secret

ecstasy of the

very

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

The

paint

health,

good

well

the

to

accorded

an

with

powdered hair, the laces, the shimmering

all the
silks, and
splendour of the flowered
environment.
She
recovered
richly decorated
little subtle
soft glance, her
her
smile, her
musical
voice, her giftsof song and speech, her
the

Parisian

keen

peculiar

little

Versailles.

to

the

wit,

combat.

for dominion

she

different

Thus
To

armed,

all who

instant

gave

from

vied

battle

she

that
sumed
re-

with

her

and

that

might be the victory, she practised an

unresting vigilance, a keen-eyed calculation,

hers

watchful

ever

the

vulnerable
The

King's

for

favourable

the

moment

and

point.
mistress
1 2

could
1

be

ignorant of
politics;

MADAME

the

politics;
it

DE

King's

was

hers

that

influence

friend

with

vie

to

POMPADOUR

could

for

Ministers

which

Thus

not.

they guard

influence

jealously.
in the first encounters.
She had won
Orry the
and
the Marquis d'Argenson
Controller-General
rid
had
of, she
replaced them
by her
got
and
Machault
d'Arnouville
creatures,
Puysieux;
but
de
still to confront
Mme.
had
Pompadour
Richelieu, Maurepas, the Comte
d'Argenson,
who
lover
the false Estrades.
For long,
to
was
from
of plaguing
indolence, scruple, or love
refused
XV
had
to
people, Louis
give the
He
be
seemed
to
even
casting vote.
cruelly
of the
But
amused
the murmur
by the sport.
"

Poissonades

his

exalted

cleverlyprepared by

the

Marquise

the

he

hour

reached

when

struck

Genoa,
"

prick.
he

abusing

his

On

had

return

from
his

to
Pompadour
almost
a
theatre-hussy ; and
flaunting his authority as First
"

Bedchamber,

La

Valliere, Manager

he

had

of

and

the

"

that
with

first

to

of

Siege

intention
face

of
like

immediately,
of

Gentleman

refused
the

act

the

her

the

and

with

"

was

announced

the

ears

act,

Richelieu

sovereign rigour.
feel

must

so

the

Theatre

Due

of

de

the

Little

and
accessories
Apartments, the costumes
The
provided by the King's Privy Purse.
ineffective
to
move
Marquise's complaints were
Louis
XV
him.
casual
was
a
obliged to make
122

reference

terrible

Versailles, all Paris,

all

day

Next

quatrain

Par

Sous

vos

Mais

ce

allusion

offended

the

She

be

Mme.

the

anonymous
chastised.
and

discovered
Mme.

herself, with

went

keenly

Marquise.

that

insisted

should

author

the

and

King

Pompadour

infirmities

feminine

to

blanches.

fleurs

des

que

fleurs,

des

semez

sont

ne

franches,

et

les cceurs,

vous

pas,

The

de

nobles

enchantez

Iris,vous

retailing

were

facons

vos

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

d'Estrades,

to

Maurepas.
"

It

shall

Ministers

"

"

know

of these

songs

them,

shall

when

And

the

for

send

them.

to

authors

that

said

come

When

inform

I
the

know

you

be

not

"

shall

Madame,

the

King."
make
light,Monsieur,

You

of

the

King's

mistresses."
"

no

always respected them, Madame,

of what sort they were."
the quick, took
to
Marquise, wounded

have

I
matter

The
leave

Maurepas
with

the

shaft

this

with

went

off

in

laugh

to

de

Marechale

breast

her
over

Villars,

and

the

incident

friend

of

the

Queen's.
"

You

have

had

charming

visitor

"

it

was

remarked.
124

"Yes

"

Yes

the

"

luck.
to

came

see

me

for Mme.

that

all bad

luck."
boasted

from

she
men,

fear

it's well

bring

assured

was

de

them

Pompadour

the

the

The

the

and

de

dismissal, of which

brutal

years

Montespan's
on
April 25,

"

had

but

"

the

de

Chevalier

to

d'une

exile

Poissonades

Reneguier

temerity to publish this epigram

Fille

Poisson,
Etale

ce

La

This

passed

chateau,

substance

date

1740.

in

du

the

text

honte

sans

peuple

must

et

be

et

la honte

erroneous.

had

et sangsue
elle-m"me,
sangsue
d'une
insolence
extreme,

en

the

bear

Minister's

disgraced

twenty-five
on,

Mme.

to

self
him-

XIV

Louis

guilelessQueen,

consequences.

went

Maurepas

given

Queen,

lasted

in

violence.

was

"

"scenes"

give

to

740

ruin

Mme.

of feminine

displaysof

the

His

soon.

missed.
dis-

was

her contemporaries
poison which
suspected everywhere. She refused to
table ;
the
and
at
drink, even
King's own
All
herself.
incessantlywept and bewailed
have
and
them,
a
holy
Kings among

used

the

poisoned.

moment.

to

horror

her

too

that

affected

eat

I had

she

Chateauroux,

de

also

Mailly

before

days

two

"

de

bad

her

bring

Mme.

that

remember

known

It will

Marquise.

As

He

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

sans

effroi,

du

Roi.

We

have

long

Note.]
[Translator's

125

This

DE

MADAME

This

him

cost

French

Guards,

rank

his
and

went

on

that

the wheel."

which,

of detention.

of

Paris, papers
"

Tear
picked up :
break
Pompadour,
The
popular clamour
her

and

creatures

sometimes

unjust,is yet
sincere, and which
a
sovereign may
ignore but
his risk ; the
in days
clamour
which
at
same
the Austrian,"
to
to
come
was
go
up against
and
be no
better
understood
than
by Louis XVI
it had
been
by Louis XV.
Comte
The
his
d'Argenson still confronted

"

clamour

of

Regiment

years

favourite

against the

up

the

streets

bearing this inscriptionwere

down
the
King, hang
Machault

in

twenty

the

in

Meanwhile,

POMPADOUR

"

detested
of his

Marquise ; but he
adversary'shand, and

her.

He

so

felt the
made

at

seen

terms

Mme.

de

power
with
padour's
Pom-

dinner-parties. He accompanied her

the
exhibition
of pictures at
Louvre.

the

to

be

to

was

had

There

all the

were

whereas

appearances

d'Argenson

of

tion,
reconcilia-

actually, with

was

complicity of his worthless

d'Estrades, laying plans for the
Marquise and the favour of Mme.

the

mistress

Mme.

dismissal

de

of the

Choiseul-

Romanet.
In

this

way,

year

destroyed
stubborn
attacked

her

patience
them

in

and

by

year,

Mme.

de

padour
Pom-

with
foes, surreptitiously,

infinite

order,

open
126

as

cunning.

She

Horatius

did

the

MADAME

the

This

Curiatii.

career

as

take

to

the

was

her

increasingly

was

and

affairs,to appoint Ministers

in

part

of

beginning

who

woman
political

Generals,

POMPADOUR

DE

Soubise,

and

uphold Belle-Isle
flatteringletters from
to

the

Empress
herself
the
Maria
and
declare
Theresa,
King
of
Prussia's
Strong in the
personal enemy.
knowledge, of her intimate
possessionof secret
receive

the

with

acquaintance

character, of Louis

inaugurate
and

do

these
eyes

not

to

amities

national

in

two

shall

confine

character

the

We

King.

see

her,

native

intoxicated

by vainglory,vindicate

judgment

of

of

the

Bernis

great

"

vices
127

matters

ward
in-

of her
with

space
we

of

two

shall

see

atmosphere, that gentle

her

was

Militaire.

relations

the

woman's

in the

transformed

lose, in the Versailles

were

evolution

of her

manner

shall

which

the

the

in

those

to

the

clear

completely

kindliness

Ecole

light upon

make

and

the

and

ourselves

throw

may

life,and

years,

through

achievements

great

Manufactory,

which

the

her

"

Sevres
We

follow

to

propose

politicalintrigues unredeemed,
which
ideas
of posterity,by two

embodied

none

and

alliances.
We

her

war

wage

Parliament,
of

the

Court,
to

was

the

system

new

she

XV,

Jesuits and

the

against

the

men,

of

The

temper

and,

the saddened

Marquise

ambitious

had

women

but

MADAME

but

she

had

levity, of
brains

all

vanity. She
good because
was

and

as

the

those

have

POMPADOUR

DE

little

whose

filled

them

did

evil

the

pettinesses,and the
superior
beauty and
with
an
overweening

without

fancy

took

jealousas love,
precarious."
as

128

as

ill-intent,
her

her

and

ship
friend-

light,as inconstant,

CHAPTER

IN

the

December

which

abode

the

the

gave

fine

of

wherein

love

happiest

the

given

the

and

the

What

the

of

those
secret

the

on

visit

the

Due

have

to

was

together

with

those

Toulouse

the

go

XV

is

that

from

used

and
1

29

the

on

It

was

and

apartments

Toulouse,

there

from

preceding

the
Louis
de

it

to

Infanta,

Parma

the

parterre.

change

Mme.

to

the

Madame

northern

staircase

down

of

vault

Palace,

King's

dating

had

the

the

de

this

the

of

for

reason

staircase

to

daughter,

being

was

to

She

the

Comtesse

been

Louis

concerts,

de

angle

between

By

and

little

Pompadour

towards

the

century.
wont

King,

between

space
the

was

that

true

the

Comtesse

looking

terrace

with

apartments,

and

Chapelle

spent

"

all

say,

had

d'Ayen.

the

to

tion.
reflec-

Marquise

this

de

Penthievres'

to

Mme.

for

that

their

news

Apartments,

liaison

of

Duchesse

assigned

her

suppers

by

up

the

scene

intimate

food

much

of

piece

Upstairs

of

years

charming

their

of

courtiers

Those

well-informed

1749,

whispering

were

persons

of

was

had

XIV

Montespan

visit
when

occupied

his

eldest

she
the

came

unin-

habited

DE

MADAME

Toulouse

habited
had

Mme.
herself

of

longer

no

her

between

Pompadour,

than

more

The

gives

Due

the

he

he

de

he

that
reasons

not

and

makes

him

more

is

remorse

he

her

entire

Court

proximity,

for

love

of

does

his

in

Luynes,

this

was

henceforth,
be

to

was

no

the
and

his

guarded fashion,
which

event
"

not

the

Mme.

say

King

irreligiousand

genuinely
prevailover
because

lishing
estab-

liberty which

King,

understands
that

the

mutual

thus

by

immediate

to

use

lovers'

memory.

account

that

all

an

of

amorous

any
and

the

full view

case
stair-

de

sacrificingan

was

with

do

Adelaide's

in Madame

and

to

in

the

But

quarters.

nothing

decision.

POMPADOUR

that
he

sermons

uneasiness

she
the

is

can

cause

that

stronger

too

serious
all the

than

his

happen to find
within
the circle of his family a companionship
tended
which
to keep him
quietlyand pleasantly
it might be
violent
that, having no
amused,
prefer the path
passion to get over, he would
has
of duty to his present preoccupation. She
the King's fancy for Mesdames.
observed
Madame
As
it is probable that
Sophie and
be
Louise
will
Madame
ere
long leaving
an
Fontevrault, and that this will bring about
temperament,

and

if he

are

aware

knows

everything else, and

habits

padour
Pom-

reflections

she

for her, but

cares

de

hears
;

implies

should

130

extension

MADAME

DE

And

Friendship."
her

be

of

without

its

The

75

anxieties.

own

the

and

feminine

skill

the

"

in

that

being,

complete.

was

succeeded

achievement,

arduous

transformation
had

Marquise

of

have
felt the
may
would
retaliation, which
not
.

By

bottom

Leczinska

secret

the

possibly,at

heart, Marie

thrill

POMPADOUR

that

delicate

appearing

or

of

masterpiece

the

first

the

friendshipwhile remaining,
keeping
ship,
relationintimate
passionlessbut still most

in

give

to

his mistress
A

in the

true

sense

sacrifice, this, which

exhausted

senses

favourite's
none

lover

up
of his

pride

never

which

cost

sacrifice

and

has

and

her

longer greatly

values

wearied

of the

interests

word.
the
the
but

"

A
painful one.
without
sufferingthat
even
though she no

renounces

been

has

nothing to
which
spared

her

served

less, a sacrifice

the

woman

who

be,

to

own,

that

it
.

is,unless

she

immediately replace it. Only for love is

known
has ever
the inner
love forgotten. None
de
history of the long good-bye that Mme.
bade
Pompadour
slowly, sadly, to the royal
detaching
passion,while little by little she was
from
herself
him
who
was
detaching himself
can

from

her.

She
...

was

often
bed

absent-minded,
left without
he

still would

plainly Louis XV
he
impatient, taciturn
;
parting kiss the frustrate
it

saw

visit
1

now

"

and

then.

Soon

these

MADAME

these

occasions

physicallywith
could
no
longer

but

he

eyes
other
the

looked

there

cloud

to

was

who

stood

still

him.

With

amuse
new

of

forms

hidden

Marquise and
figure insubstantial
the

the

"

ing
break-

was

could

the

between

dawn

who

Unknown

new

Coislin

or

Madame,"

had

never

often

her

seen

"went

Hausset,
the

in

got

of

threats

were

du

Mme.

tribulations
She

Forcalquier,

name

writes

through many
her glories.
There

her

be

would

Choiseul,

He

come.

What

"

rarer.

upon

ever

at

yet

intoxicate

and

POMPADOUR

her

now

women

King

as

grew

DE

of

midst

letters.

anonymous

assassination

in greater

all

poison.

or

than

distress

one

she
Marly. When
her
cloak
in, she angrily flung down
came
and
muff
and
was
extremely impatient to get
undressed.
Then, dismissingher other women,
she
I do
said to me
when
:
they were
gone

evening

her

on

from

return

'

believe

not

de

Mme.
brelan
what
both
upon

at

I
"

there

the

most

should

table.

endured.

take

at

me

"

tout

And
when

133

and

said
Va

playing
imagine

was

to

she

women

keep
two

or

that

as

can't

turns

manner.

fainted

men

"

Coislin

insulting
have

it in

de

insolent

You

People

Mme.

times, looking
the

To-night

same

to

so

anyone

Coislin.

seemed
us.

is

"
"

an

eye
three

oh, in

thought

said, in

triumphant

MADAME

triumphant
wish

tone

have

the

her

seen

'

"

him

You

If

he

when

curtsey

for

what

do

That

to

we

'Was

he

he

and

is the

himself

he

her

way
is

into

would
with

me

he

my
her

treat

the

greatest

brought

was

kind

of

know

you

put

night,

very

people

in

asked.

going

this

friendliness.

and

open-

"

hearted.'

the

But

Marquise de Coislin missed her mark.

alarmed
the King by exactions
which
set
de Pompadour,
some
thinking ; and Mme.

She
him

months

later,

able

was

to

tell her

The

proud Marquise has

Deschamps, the fashionable
been
Soon

shown
there

behaved

confidante
like

She

courtesan
.

out."
was

fresh

cause

of

come

One

anxiety.

at

those

among

known

said that

invited
as

from
she

Mme.

noticed
a
Compiegne, there was
beautiful
the
later seen
at
was
girl,who
theatre, at the King's public supper-party,

day,

was

'

creature,

was

before

coldly

her

to

good

apartments

has

rots."

de

King?'

attentive

very

"

brelan

good-night.'

"'And

up

POMPADOUR

I hold

"

could

you

said

DE

Mile.
No

?
was

one

the

to

follow

the

Where

knew

precisely.

134

of

local
and
She

Hunt.

Dorothee.

daughter

very

did

It

she
was

water-carrier
at

Strasbourg

at

called

Gascon

and

had

Du

Barry,

This

France."

in

of the

the

bed

on

DorotheVs

introduced

been

man

"

the

who

"

aging King

built

to

appear
re-

into

toss

all his

hopes
the

Lebel,

But

success.

rascal

later

girl to

"

by

greatest
was

beautiful

another

with

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

Mme.
to
wholly devoted
royal valet, who was
XV
that the
de
Pompadour, persuaded Louis
lover
unsafe, her Gascon
was
lovely Dorothde
being eaten
unpleasant disease which
up by an
could
he
the
His
not
as
cure
Majesty could
scrofula.
Then

came

handsome,
married
to

Mme.

Comte

the

Marquise, a very
and
sillyperson
very
young,
de Pompadour's past efforts)

very

(by

of the

relative

de

Choiseul-Romanet

and

the
proceeded to storm
royal heart.
her
to
Marquise, unsuspecting, asked
this
little viper
warmed
parties and
breast
one
more
venomous
along with

trouble

no

The

d'Estrades.

Mme.

she,

he

"

the

was

she
The

all

the

in

her

than

husband

gave
beast

coarsest

at

Court."
d'Estrades

Mme.

the

favoured
this

young
!

money
so

well

that

she

and

her
"

Countess's

lover

candidature."

lady took good care

She played the very

served
was

Mme.

d'Etiolles

incapable
135

d'Argenson

of

not

game
;

And
to

ask

which
she

for
had

declared

dishonouring
husband

her
;

MADAME

husband
she

that

she

would

she

Court

at

met

POMPADOUR

DE

that

and

yield.

ever

all the

detested

the

to

The

demanded

she
The

without

"

Choiseuls
of

relatives

the

all that

demand

to

it.

because

of

of the

Princess

as

long-

very
blood

and

was
promised an appointment
beauty's husband
ducted
conas
Major-General. This affair was
in nocturnal
assignations,in the course
dark
the King nearly broke
which
a leg on
a

the

of
and

staircase.

tortuous

the

that

the

scene

who

Quesnay,
friend

good
at

the
at

intrigue had

The

The

hand.

young
the

wait

the

and

one

Mme.

as

by

the

same

de

far.

gone

assignation

lady

very

was

on

Doctor

time

Pompadour's

Mme.

disorder

the

Quesnay
study.

spot

de

which

M.

and
.

The

issue

she

136

there

was

d'Argenson,

myself assembled
After
a
longish

Choiseul, dishevelled
was

was

made

been

had

when

moment

Ministers'

arrived
the

and

well

as

crucial

"

Mme.d'Estrades,
in

at

was

the

about

by him,

d'Estrades'

Mme.

"

confidence

in
witnessed

"

decided

come.
capitulationhad
d'Argenson's secretary, told

Comte

Marmontel

advisers

for

moment

Dubois,

Choiseul's

de

last, Mme.

At

in

lady

by

acknowledged

soon

King,

with

alliance

ago

were

touched

the

seeming

alone

King

King,

this fine disinterestedness, gave

men

young

the

mark

of

and
her

triumph.

with
'

happened,'
is happy ;
he
;
his
has given me

beloved

am

he

;
"

these

At

glee in

the

'

is

nothing
hope you

Doctor,'

said

changed

for

Monsieur

coldly, getting up,

de Pompadour
Mme.
I

that,
no

said

left the

he

felt

one

be

to

propose

any

Mme.

betray
And,
secret

us.'

fact, it

in

of

him,

to

greatly

we

replied Quesnay
attached

been

to

prosperity ; and
her disgrace.' With
stood
but
petrified,

We

'

of him.
'

quite

her

in

distrust

seemed

of

us.'

in

room.

shout

great

and

us,

have

same

that.'

he

is

I know

him,'

the

not

to

man

"

and

that deliverance

cousin,

M.

de
of

the

from

delivered

him

that

the

Marquise

de

through

not

was

discovered,

Pompadour
own

d'Estrades,

was

author

the

'

for

word

missed
dis-

be

to

Argenson

Comte,'

le

is

alone

with

will remain

'

she

her

meet

happened.
replied.

she

was

Quesnay

study.

'

there

words

unmoved.

"

has

it

Yes,

to

ran

if it had

asked

and

arms

open

"

d'Estrades

Mme.

triumph.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

her

was

the

The

rival.
new

mistress's

Choiseul-Stainville,

the

Pompadour, who
for making
it
cleverly seized this occasion
up
He
her.
with
her proofs of the betrayal,
gave
too
adding that his cousin
was
giddy to be
declared

enemy

suffered
would

to

be

obtain

wrongly

de

Mme.

which,

credit
used

137

and

if she

that

had

it,

he, having

judged

MADAME

DE

POMPADOUR

judged

her

husband's

happiness and
Some
days later,

State.
Romanet

thus, was

banished

was

Stainville

Mme.

Court,

of

the

together

de

M.

her

Choiseul-

de

the

to

with

interests

and

invited

was

the

from

d'Estrades

Mme.

with

solelyconcerned

Choiseul-

King's

supper

table.

quicksands of the
the
Court
Marquise everywhere encountered
perfidy and ingratitude. Her only real friends
the
de
Mar^chale
Mme.
were
Mirepoix and
Thus

we

that

see

d'Amblemont

(two

prettily called

her

Hausset
others

looked

those

who

trampled

only

her

sorrows

she

had

had

had

There

pretty

beauty
The

his

from
down
sister

her

in

convent

Marquise

for

parents, whom

had

the

her

her

whose

brother,
character
consciousness

upon,

little
in

and

of

refused

and

suggested

the

the

tender

consoled

dearly loved
Alexandrine,
growing

remained

salute

to

and

warm

Her
who

made,

being secretlylooked
marriages

lost

du

have

would

first

have

loved.

fondly

intelligence,suffered
the

the

might
She

her

the

were

which

she

be

she

interests, and

own

flattered
to

whom

"), the good

All
Quesnay.

their

to

down

kittens

Doctor

Where

her

fortune

"

most

successor.

affections

featherheads

honest

and

the

on

to

him.

daughter,

grace

and

school.
adored

138

this

child, who

was

like

MADAME

Mme.

Vintimille, the

de

aged eleven,

and

like

as

rival

manners

to

The

and

de

Mme.

accident.
and

took

face,
to

was

XV,

Louis
did

not

slightlyembarrassed
him.

to

make

not

little

and

took

in

Pompadour

look

What

"

Nothing.
I

that

mental
senti-

"They would
The
King pretended
:

with

played

notice

of

the

boy

and

Mme.

gesture.
"

exclaimed

Ah

his

Sire

"

do

"

"

at

sented
pre-

brioches, betrayed

feature

every

the

was

waxed

He
no

devouring figsand

filiation

said

couple."

girl and

child

the

understand.

to

porter

them

Marquise

two

handsome

who,

when
The

the

over

his

by

strolling in

upon

with

who

the

with

dead

quite by
the little boy's beauty ;
to
Alexandrine,
a
fig
XV
to
was
join her.
recognise his son, was

come

admired

him,

of

Bellevue

lunched

to

where

Louis

child

Pompadour,

She

orchard

"

Luc,

in

Alexandrine

as

two

seemed

grounds,

"

"

XV

Pompadour.
this
Marquise caused
be brought one
day to

governess.

de

Louis

du

de

The

the

little Comte

"

and

gestures,
Mme.

POMPADOUR

DE

is it ?
.

"

said
.

Louis

Only

XV.

might

one

be

ing
look-

his father."
was

you

not

knew

aware,"
the

said
Comte

the
du

King, smiling,
Luc
so
cularly
parti-

well."
140

"You

MADAME

"

You

"

ought

Then

In

is

pretty."
lady,"
young

so

begin with the

King rather stiffly.
remarked
du Hausset
evening, Mme.
been
King had not
vigorous
very

the

that

he

kiss him,

to

I will

the

said

POMPADOUR

DE

the

in

his embraces.
"

He

is like
"

if

as

that

the

other

little

grandfather

share

and

hope to see,
happiness in days to
tears

were

and,

despite
something in
the

education

would

that

had

she

for
was

be

in her

small

boy

is his

My

all

to

children
grand-

with

their

that

and

an

very

creature,

the

blend,
of

source

and

little

she

said

vanity,

there

eyes

as

of the

moment

this

old

my

but

and

politely refused.
141

was

less
god-

wholly

not

darling project,

Richelieu's

Alexandrine

this ;

Reinette,

whom

creature

corrupted,

perverted.
Obliged to renounce
she
next
thought of
too

this

du

come."

ambition

tender, kind

Fronsac,

is

likenesses

grandmother

If he

much

Court.

at

look

Due

a
so

son

good

my

Dukes

There

ask

it is because

prefer him,
would

which

make

not

padour.
Pom-

another

one

for his

And

matter.
son

I do

boy.

de

children

two

would

Dukedom

for

he

XIV,

of the

office and

those

made

were

Louis

Maine

don't

But

they

were

that," replied Mme.

son,

in

that

The

young

quarter
Due

Chaulnes

de

MADAME

Chaulnes

DE

proved

consented

to

Picquigny,

to

betroth

tutor

the

to

Due

she

de

should

promise of being made

Bourgogne, and the Duchess

Enfants

the

to

governess

the

son,

the
de

Due

his

d'Etiolles, when

Mile.

He

accommodating.

more

thirteen, upon

be

POMPADOUR

France.

de

this

Mme.
to
was
joy, which
compensate
de
for all her troubles, never
Pompadour
got
Alexandrine
beyond a hope. In June 1754
fell ill
In
high fever, vomitings,,convulsions.
dead.
one
day she was
The
mother's
terrible, and long
despair was
Some
deranged her health.
days later, in the
de
lost
Mme.
same
June of 1754,
Pompadour
But

"

her

father,

death

had

Francois

Poisson

him.

killed

Alexandrine's

"

Abel

de

Vaudieres

de

in
And
estranged from her.
Marigny became
the anguish of her heart, so sensitive to family
indeed.
affections, the Marquise tasted loneliness
The
King had been compassionate enough, but
he had
She dried her own,
no
liking for tears.

controlled

her

before

said

of
of

and

received

nerves,

of her

word

no

professionalheroism
the

some,

lies,

of

derision

all that

buried
And

which

toilet

her

sorrows

the

moved

the
extreme

in Alexandrine's
life

went

on

fatigue

of

142

as

sort

pity
But

others.

of

survived

"

Reinette,
ever

at

Reinette,

was

for

grave.
"

intrigues, flatteries,

body

and

soul, and
henceforth

MADAME

henceforth

fightfor

If it is

them

and

which

love

supreme

to

the

not

souls

eager

shall
the

look

age,

to

lighttheir

eternal

seen

of
Mme.

daughter's death,

de

last

at

much
God

exercised
It

which

it is

with

for

ing
darken-

of love

need

deeply
youth.

more

years

to

altar-stepsagain,

of life, life

that
her

the

suffered

and

loved

they begin

as

perception
the

have

who

years.

eyes

but

interest

domination.

will often,

brings

other

no

Women

the

POMPADOUR

DE

new

clearer

than

in

is

prehensible
easily comafter
Pompadour,

should

have

turned

to

Her

no
position with the King was
knew
equivocal. All the world
longer even
in the fine room
that friendship ruled
with
its
red
at
lacquer cabinet, as it had in the Bosket
Bellevue
and
that
did
friend
a
only as
;
XV
Louis
down
the
to
now
Marquise's
go

religion.

apartments
entrance,
Mme.

"

and,

for the

moreover,

little staircase

used

the

had

been

official
walled

de

was
Pompadour
regular in
attendance
at
worship ; she fasted on Fridays
and
was
already talking about a confessor, who
be
de
Father
to
was
Sacy, a Jesuit. She had
been
the
in
at
seen
Paris,
Capucin convent
with
like
hood
going, her head covered
a
any
her daughter's body
nun's, to the chapel where
lay and making a long prayer beside the tomb.
desire
for
In realityshe had
a
religion
vague

up.

143

rather

MADAME

than

religion itself

she

acknowledged

rather

obtain

by

her

the

touch

and, being

that

the

prayers

from

far

was

POMPADOUR

DE

her.

piety which

true

The

intention

heart.

Queen's

she

hypocrite,
hoped to
no

still

sufficed
showed

She

to

real

have
Marquise, and she may
that in trying to
reckoned
her own
soul,
save
de
would
Mme.
help, indirectly,
Pompadour
For
if she
towards
the saving of the King's.
felt a real desire for penitence,would
she not
be
her presence
obliged to quit the Court, where
friend
even
as
a
perpetuated the scandal ?
To
quise's
no
was
quit the Court
part of the Marscheme, and she saw
at all why
no
reason
and
chastened
devoutness
friendship should
That
Louis
XV's
not
was
ion
opingo together.
After
also.
accorded
to
having in 1752
kindness

the

to

"

"

his

friend

her,
to

the

shocked

The

of

Church,

of

he

Duchess,

pointed
ap-

February 1756, lady-in-waiting

Marie

this
that

understood

the

in

Queen.

by

services

honours

the

nomination,
she

could

lady who,
did

objection
consulted

had

not

somewhat

Leczinska,

not

with

weight.
Father

de

her

Mme.

Sacy.

be

to

the

accept

before

married

being
live

it

gave

husband.
de

padour
Pom-

told

He

tion
Marquise that he should refuse her absoluthe
returned
to
not
so
long as she had
In this extreme
conjugal domicile.
perplexity
the

144

M.

de

Machault

de

M.
and

her

Le

life with

that

and

he

for

the

have
"

been

in

de

Mme.

Le

M.

my
the

head

of

the

the

remove

ardently to
to

the

by

of

do

shall

the

to

frankness

find

when

time

religious?
k

it.

of

this
one

duct,
con-

Take

edify society

to

by
of

was

past.

my

to

desire

future

with

it

is

you
my

my

as

separation
days."
with

manoeuvre

of

much

Mme.

de

she
could
qualities. How
by such an ugly lie at the very
was
making an effort to be

good

herself

demean

husband

acknowledge

which

"

that

reconcile

which

Pompadour's

the

by

remains

it

errors

scandalised
have
I may
is the sole concern
from
you,
is hard

resolved, by my

am

as

It

her

now

life I shall lead

united

her

Already
offending is a thing

of

for the

you

would

efface

to

that

all

fair

which

wrote

my

appearance

atone

back

me

I wish

and

past,

the

do

bility
responsi-

on

remorse.

front

and

to

the

bear

"

letter

Rem,

Normant.

Pompadour

repletewith
wrong-doing.

very

The

won.

imposed

desire

htm

situation

sort

that

Mile.

Let

longer

no

some
"

knew

smallest

was

game

scandalous

implacable
So

the

rescue

leading

was

spouse.

then

He

course.

not

faithless

refusing, and
penitent would

Marquise's

opera-dancer,

an

had

his

recover

best

d'Etiolles

Normant

festive

the

to

came

suggested

M.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

she
The

truth
145

is

that

to

resume

certain

MADAME

certain
to

of

sort

piety presents

the

retrieve

POMPADOUR

DE

moral

This

emotion,

an

with

bringing
conscience

it

and

has

one

never

may

be

may

the

merely
the

heart,
of

impose

never

tention,
in-

an

renovation

true

it will

lost it.

move

trickery of

no

than
difficulty

when

sense

superficialpiety
depths of the soul ; it

less

the
a

upon

clear-sighted confessor.
Father
with
and
that

de

good

de

Normant
make

he

that

him

to

he

would

he

when
to

gone

and, imparting

reconciliation

The

had

Soubise

known

contrivance

indignant

was

himself

lend

long

not

Machault's

to

grace

doubtless

M.

did

Sacy

heard
M.

see

from

Christian

the

entire

the

Pope, by

which

made

Marquise's plan,
by consenting to a
disoblige the King.

is

it

Order.

which

rancour,

very

She

secret

curious

Le

the

plain that he was

lead
his
accustomed
to
penitents along
de
Pompadour
primrose path. Mme.
him
and
cherished
a
against him
Jesuit

she

went

agent,

so
a

the
missed
dis-

far

extended

far

as

to

confidential
in

document

not

to

send
note

feminine

is
history of the conversion
psychology. The
romanticised,"
given in full,but all arranged,
padour
Pomde
to
safeguard the interests of Mme.
and
her vanity as a once-loved
woman.
about
She
explains that the separation came
alone, and
against the King's
by her resolve
"

146

desire,

MADAME

DE

confessors,

two

of

the

to

POMPADOUR

astonishment

great

de

who
Pompadour
sought a
the
than
accommodating
priest more
pair of
him
ere
Jesuits. She found
long ; he was
cured
profor her
of police !
by the lieutenant
And
lady-in-waiting. The
so, at last,she was
that she was
rumour
ran
going to give up rouge
all
that is to say, renounce
definitively
tensions
preto
youth and
beauty ; but for the
anger

Mme.

and

"

"

"

it sufficed

moment

She

appeared

very

handsome

have

to

renounced

love.

before

the

Queen,

dressed

gown

and

covered

with

in

done

The

performed her duties as if she had

anything else.
de Luynes persistedin
good Due

that
about
"She

Divine

he

he

piety
make

and

touched,

ex-mistress

of

suffers

and

guilelesslysays.
often

God

And

health

is in bad

means

the

touch,

to

had

Grace

hopes

uses
"

that

continue

may
a

real

to

these
with

"

King.
forts,"
discomthe

are

beginnings
fervour,

same
on

was

conversions."

happy

impression

ing
believ-

the

These

the

never

or

many

effect

jewels

she

and

of

her

the

King's

mind."
"

time
The
is
sadly,he adds :
come.
Transitory mistresses continue.
already spoken of one named
Morphise.

Then,

148

not

yet

I have
."
.

XI

CHAPTER

ALTHOUGH

he

all

Such

women.

showed

succeeds

the

to

habit

that

for

and

woman,

Already
young

fruit,

man's

which
for

passion
the

is

the

and

for

craving

This

morbid

King

the

at

as

would

Court

intriguers

the

like

their

she

be

it

titled

her

find

not

fed,

place

"

tolerated

and

from

food

its

or

tract
dis-

to

these

ladies
"

nobodies

girls

"

seduced

or

own

detractors

procured
devotee

bought

That

man.

have

was

assiduous
does

her

whilom

doubled
149

not

Lebel,
mean,

that

maintained,
for

them

the

by

by

as

she

lover

the

Choiseuls

rivals,

attention

King's

let

Mme.

"

it did

for

now

fed.

be

demur

no

suffer

not

Coislins,

the

the

precursor

debauchery

needs

must

made

Pompadour
long

for

hunger

the

in

stirring

King's

rather

forty,

unripe

matured

him

vice.

senile

and

in

allayed.

was

of

was

over

senses

appetite

developed

more

She

his

something

that

flesh,

so

of

ardour

now

was

mistress

renounced

not

and

passion,

He

need.

primal

de

had

intercourse

than

rather

than

of

XV

Louis
"

need

he

friend

his

now

"

his

renounced

had

the

her

herself
and

that

go-between.
The

The

which

legend

Cerfs

is, like

of very
and

of

and

complex

the

crude

legends, a

all

de

Mme.

represents

official sultana

the

as

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

padour
Pom-

Pare

aux

simplification

-analysed sentiments

scarce

actions.
It

but

Hausset

du

Mme.

faithful

knew

of

one,

The

well.

so

in the

the

Memoires

she

whom

mistress
is worth

passage

her

portraitist,

artless

an

"

of

inwardness

is revealed

complaisant attitude
of

the

that

clear

seems

quoting

full.

in
"

Madame
I found

where
and

days

to

for

Saint-Cloud

at

house

which

to

taken.
about

me,

to

"

The

"

be

will

in the

go

arrange

find

there

and

stay

some

there,

for
a

down

necessary,'

Avenue

shall

study,

and

up
is

It

her

to

to

you

in

be

woman

young

confined.'

King
will

You

'

to

you

"

You

one

me

serious.

very
'

said

day
King walking

the

looking

she

for

sent

said

be

nothing.

mistress

in the

house

and

will

the
preside,like a mythological goddess, over
that
there
needed
to
see
are
delivery. You
the
with
accordance
in
everything is done
be
will
secretly. You
King's wishes, and
father's
present at the baptism and will give the
mother's

and
"

The

father

is

names.'

laugh and
respectableman.'

King began
a

very

to

150

said

'

"Madame

The

MADAME

"

"

those

by

Madame
a

she

drew

should
It

went

to

be

it

From
opened.
aigrette, saying to

best, of

it

the
it

that

course,

handsome.'

too

than

handsomer

is

took

and

cabinet

she

diamond

thought

not

'

"

and

everyone

him.'

know

who

of

Beloved

box, which

a
'

King

then

little

out

'

added

Madame

adored

POMPADOUR

DE

have

need

it

been.'
"

And

good
"

She

and

then
'

to

Guimard

moment^

advise

to

of

remember,
be

known

that

letter

a
come.

and

Then

the

the

first

one

of the

we

they

women

you

him

said,

tears

He

about

are

will

will

appear
"

say

get

and

servants

We

of."

hold

the

at

that
do

we

to

that

he

may

talk,

will

let

it

arrive, and
have

to

they

to
must

You
some

to

great

not

You

pretend
you

day

every

word

But

informing
will

can

her

why.

knowing

godparents.

you

Guimard

filled with

And,

once.

afterwards,

moment

she

That,'

were

with

be

send

at

you

putting

'

you.

will

you

How

will

and

help

without

cry

me

'

heart

grudge them
King's eyes too

said

and

tears

to

King's

to

'

'

moved

began

saying

Madame,

The

come

the

is what

"

are
was

on

"

kissed

you

hand
'

he

be

a
ceived
re-

cannot

worried

only

take

will

take

poor

man,

such

MADAME

such

as

than

twelve

attention.

of

"

he

will

them

which

had

kissed

his hand

won't

in

from

in

be

to

be

in the
It

presents.

his

he

and

purse

gracious

all his

will

take

She

great

manner

chose,

and
I

Kingdom.

is

very

brains,

of

care

and

the

patient,

good girl,not

burdened
over-

to

discreet.

will
My Chancellor
said, turning to Madame.

went

will

yours.'

when

equal

the

you

tearfully.

with

he

is

the

that

attract

He

have

assume

its

not

you

should

me

could

You

tell

which

fiftyhuh

to

he

to

mother.

distribute

you

took

which

and

him

give

not
not

as

will

ceremony,

and

And

handed

/ivres, so

father

fair that

only

will

the

evening,
is

the

at

present

You

Guimard
.

names

POMPADOUR

chair-porter.

more

DE

rely on

you
tell
you the
And

be

rest,'

then

he

away.

Well,
character
"

'

It

excellent
"

'

will

not

the
"

that

said

she.

that

of

friend,' I
'

me.

so

is

do

It is his

told

it

'

what

Court
I asked
the

the

or

that

saw

town

Madame

King

was

and

grudge

them,'

little uneducated

of that.

me

new

my

an

answered.

all these

deprive
quietly if

of

woman

superior

heart

And

think

you

pretty

some

laying siege to
if the

the

I should

young

she

girls
take

not

of

woman

him.'

person

knew

father.
152

"'I

MADAME

""

"

don't

appeared
that

he

it is

who

has

Polish

which

also

King

often

he

would

have

the
The

King's

But

is
too

to

Palace.
of

the

no

time

fear
to

eager

and

others,
told

the

that

Queen,

That
blue

story

ribbon,
take

to

change his coat

for his having rooms

to

off,

and
so

"

Palace.'

The

their

he

as

some

been

consummate.

within

well

has

the

in

"

related

the

reason

is

scene

have

"

account

on

provide

to

near

shrug
gentleman,

up

only

that, she

the

because

been

in

'

said.

her, there

from

apartments

made

was

of

have

with

says,

so,' she

fond

be

people may
her.
Apart

tell
as

think

to

POMPADOUR

DE

characters

and

speak by
the
All
three
would
light of nature.
readily
concede
that there was
immorality in the proceeding,
but none
find
would
indelicacy.
any
XV
Louis
was
persuaded that he was
harming
since he was
wont
to provide handsomely
no
one,
are

for

his

little sultanas

married

besides

very

modest

Mme.

de

flame

and

no

was

it

of
of

was

future

that

prejudices.

Louis

XV's

kind

was

involved.

She

affairs

153

had,

As

kind
She

on

to

of

that
of

were

be
that

had

heart

Marquise could
without
feeling

and

if

"

bastards.

fanned

Transient
The

them

get

moreover,

his

she

mock

tenacious.

importance.

dignity

for

"

Pompadour,

spoken truly :
she

and,

guaranteeing

future

made

parts,

dulgent
inher

these
matters,

MADAME

the

matters,

whimsy
She
in
all

but

was

of

unseen

little

and

sometimes

the

foolish

clerk

memoir-writers
"

have

been
"

this
.

Lacretelle,

in

doubtfully
seraglio
the

looked

Office,
This

those

awaited

Pare

aux

to

tain
con-

which
Richelieu

to

which,

State

one

after

Memoires

attributed

"

Cerfs,

in

eighteen hundred,

"

edited

that

historians,

"

girls

went

topic of so many
the imagination of

certain

of

cost

quarters

aware

War

the

was,

Soulavie, who

says

be

and

herd

her

King

aux

pleasure.

which

pens,

was

persons,

in the

to

was

those
the

Pare

young

good

which

she

the

called

for

and

of

where

and

two

King's

Cerfs

existence

men

of

time,

Versailles

house

the wife

her

whimsy.

the

attics of

POMPADOUR

of

of

the

by

ideas

knew

the

DE

according
than

more

to

hundred

millions

and
(a hundred
fifty millions, says
sinister mansion,
another), this so-called
rounded
surwalls,
by thick
a
lugubrious as
the
slaughter-house," where
padded doors
"

would
what

smother

Turn

down

Versailles.
is numbered

4,

wing forming

summer-house
testified

by

Rue

for

sort

house
little

Deed

the
of

154

to-day

place with

Pare
Sale

at

which

of summer-house.

behold
the

Saint-Mederic

the

pretty

reality?

the

Look

cries
.

it,in sober

was

of victims'

sound

any

In
aux

which

side

that

Cerfs,
was

as

re-

covered

MADAME

than

more

the

DE

one

two

or

housekeeper

Mme.
first

at

says

time, together with

a
"

the

"

Hausset

du

POMPADOUR

mother

and

"

abbess,"

the

as

The

servants.

that

the Due
de Luynes
Murphy whom
calls Morphise, a ravishing
who
creature
young
unlearned
had
her
modesty while
posing for
studio.
She was
fourteen
nymphs in Boucher's
or

was

fifteen

feminine
with

old, with

years

body,

blue

and

light played

lissom

and

flushed

little

infantine-

well-covered, veined

with

whereon

rose,

opalescent,

it

as

in

were

the
soft

babyish face, fresh as a dew-tipped

of Paris, and
flower, the laugh and accent
that
is so
restful to
sweet
wanton
gaiety which
a
This
little thing became
tired, satiated
man.
mother
and
her maternity, which
made
her
a
;
still more
the King's caprice
blooming, made
He
correspondingly ardent.
brought her to
caresses

Versailles, he
Soon

she
of

daughter
she

was

was

her, wrung
that

she

no

an

Mile.

family (?)

showed

her

old -clothes

get

intimates.

Murphy,"

and

(?) of

"

cobbler,

noble

d'Estrees

from

herself

his

little

woman

Mar^chale

confidences
should

"

longer

O'Morphy

The

to

her,

Irish

flattered

suggested

declared."

And

little

who
had
not
Murphy,
one
spark of
prudence or malice, presumed on her intimacy
Where
to
inquire of the King one
are
day :
with your
?
The
now
precious old woman
you
astounded
156
"

"

MADAME

astounded

King put

the

child

she

told

him

all.

DE

POMPADOUR

her

to

she

The

story

from

married

who

to

of the

received

little

Beauvoisis

livres

50,000

de

her

to

d'Estrdes

and

and

Mme.
from

word

Mar^chale

Court

Major

reached

One

"

banished

question.
began to cry

was,

Pompadour's ears.
the
and
the
King

Like

the

the

as

was

Murphy
Regiment,

price of

his

livres
complaisance, together with the 200,000
for
As
of her dowry and
a
superb trousseau.
of the royal passion,
the little daughter, born
she was
with
an
eventually put in a convent,
annuity of 3,000 livres.
Other
Miles.
inmates,
Fouquet, Hdnault,
succeeded
little
Robert,
Nicquet, Tresson,
in
the
Murphy
mysterious summer-house.

Which
whom

Mme.

who

du

she
in

Hausset

had

this

du

girl

to

the

in

not

the

was

look
Pare

one

after, and
Cerfs,

aux

provisionallyremoved,

house

Mme.

persons
was

been

another

sequel of
that

young

confined,

was

whence
but

these

among

Saint-Cloud

at

Hausset's

story tells

us

The

only

exceedingly pretty, very

light-hearted, and
elegantly dressed, very
the diamond
singularlyguileless. She received
aigrette with the most
lively pleasure. After

supper

she

is Monsieur
called

the

was

asked
le

Mme.
Comte

King).

"

Hausset

du
?

"

He

157

(that was
will

be

very

"

How

what

she

sorry

not
to

MADAME

able

be

to

obliged
a

DE

be

to

take

to

with

he

has

and

loves

He

has

him

and
quite disinterestedly
;
I would
be ready to follow

wanted

me,

He

with

me

heart.
love

been

long journey.

man

but

me,

rather

handsome

very

POMPADOUR

promised

me

all his

income,

an

is

but
if he

him

to

his Poland."
She

then

whom
she

she

knew

added

in

of

way

She

said
"

had
that

he

francs
"

in

Six

it

was

and

her

existence
space
to

They

was

and

Twice

is.

he

mother

widowed

bankruptcies," but
rescued
the family

had
livres

later

she

and

year

accordance

confined.

was

with

6,000

child

the

should

be

so

mother.

The

King

inherited

reallya

was

year
from

to
one

158

was

that

it

for

each

his

another,

of its

restored
or

seven

of

certain

be

to

was

gave

trace

no

son

tell her

to

were

forthcoming
that

livres

it

orders

dead,

was

She

instructions, that

my

After

thousand

father

alderman."

her

of time.

the

druggist

Six-Corps,

an

some

1,500

afterwards

soon

that

be

that

and

that

daughter, although

mother,"

Lebel,

cash.

days

in

told,

My
my

the

good

le Comte

them

of

grocer

in

through

Monsieur

might

besides

been

by giving

was

how

reallythought

and

"

was

knows

everyone

"

business, and

He

nobody.

no

parents

Durand.

as

proudly,

large

of her

spoke

eight

children.
as

deaths

occurred.

occurred.

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

time

this

By

had

eight

or

seven

died."

received

Hausset

du

Mme.

snuff-box,

containing fiftylouts

whom

King

in

the
the

her

had
with

country,

dowry
Not

all

some

the

inmates

whom

the

very

tender

passages,

when

she

"

mother

her

of

the

"

evinced

Mme.

girl,

married
for

ecus

Cerfs

aux

One

of

had

had

them,
some

peculiardespair

of Damiens.

Bertrand,
the

confess

her

made

was

Pare

Count

of the attempt

abbess,"

and

of,

the

thousand

forty

Polish

with

heard

and

credulity.

pure
"

diamonds.

and

such

displayed

tired

got

large gold

very

The

questioned

truth.

Urged

by curiosity,and possiblyby jealousy,she had

found
the King's pockets and
searched
a couple
of letters
from
the
King of Spain, the
one
from
Abbe*
de
other
the
Broglie ; and these
The
had told her all.
King arriving,that same
visit to the other
inmate,
day, to pay a secret
the
deserted
rushed, overturning everyone
thing
"

before

couple
feet.
"

Yes,

the

be

my

King
nothing
heart.

Majesty,
mad

She

were.
"

when

into

her,

you

herself

the

King

are

if

me

Do

beg
that

Kingdom

of
man

you

tried

159

"

she
that

the

not

abandon

not

kill

you

XV's

cried,
would

of

King
beloved

me,

thought
to

the

Louis

at

but

"

were

you

where

room

flung

of all the
to

the

I should
!

go

"

"Why,

MADAME

"

the

Why,

some

had

her

her

the

gave
what

exclaimed

do

with

then,

her

he
...

taken

to

well, from
instinct

to

kiss and

girl a

poor

else

days. She
been
nothing

very
the

"

abbess.

King
knowing

had

POMPADOUR

this minute

you're mad

The
not

DE

told

was

but

the

of her

where

mad-house,

that

her

dream

of

stayed

adventure
she

but

testimony

she

her

knew
and

eyes

heart, that the King

had

been

lover.

The

of the
cruelty attaching to this conduct
du
Hausset
not
King was
perceived by Mme.
and
de
still less by Mme.
Far
Pompadour.
from
it.
the
It is clearly to
be
from
seen
that
the
quoted
Marquise admired
passages
the King's
the King
that of
kindness," and
the Marquise.
The
latter's kindness
was
put to the proof in
life of the sovereign was
the secret
1762, when
invaded
redoubtable,
more
by a young
woman,
of the Pare
her single self, than
all the harem
"

"

"

aux

Cerfs.

This

"

no

was

little

uneducated

bouquet of
basket
of velvety peaches. After
the
roses
or
a
frolics,the lascivious
ingenuities
pretty wanton
girl,"offered

and
been

prey

to

submissions

dove-like

cloyed,
of

majesty

the

beauty
of

XV

Louis

form

in

King
the

like

with

160

which

suddenly

great,

united

to

the
force

had

became

classic

of

he

the

styleof

character

of

MADAME

of

young

royal in
beside
the

aspect than

whom

he

half

taller

by

whose

hair, when

raven

and

"

schoolboy,

other

in

man

animated

all the

than

more

queens,

handsomest

This

king."

head

many

like

looked

"

are

he, the

"

Kingdom

well-bred,

well-born,

person

her

only

POMPADOUR

DE

statue

and

women,

fell

loosened,

"

right

to

de
Mile.
Anne
was
Couplers de
ground
of Grenoble.
Romans,
daughter of an advocate
She
was
presented to the King in the gardens
smitten
much
XV
at
as
was
Marly. Louis

the

"

with

her, says

he

as

was

this
being." For
beauty, there
Cerfs.
be no
question of the Pare aux
established
at
pressly
exwas
Passy, in a house
her
lover, ever
bought for her, where
and
infatuated, visited her regularly.
more

capable
could

She

more

She

"

Hausset,

du

Mme.

of

became

refused

she

whom

nursed

the

living image

the

name

of

Anne

In

of the

Romans

child

this

de

whom

Bourbon,

boy

"

baptised under

"

Captain

beheld

and

handsome

King

from

born

was

separated

Aime

Bourbon,

de

de

Louis

be

to

herself.

she

Charles

and

pregnant,

of

future

"

son

of

Cavalry,"
Due

du

frequently go to sit in the

de
Tuileries
the Bois
or
Boulogne, taking her
with
and
the people
her in a basket
before
son
;
who
would
stop admiringly to gaze at both, she
would
her lace fichu to suckle
the King's
open
161
l
offspring.
Maine.

She

would

MADAME

POMPADOUR

DE

de Pompadour,
devoured
offspring. Mme.
make
to
curiosity and
anxiety, resolved
rival.
One
acquaintance of her
day,

Mme.

du

Bois

de

she

Hausset,

walked

We

relates

her

du

Mme.

which

infant.

looked

at

the

young

back

drawn

was

with

studded

to

path from
lady suckling

on

She

diamonds.

fixedlyand Madame
elbow, she
nudging my

Then,

the

to

minutes,"

some

"

jet-blackhair

comb

for

down

see

Her

with

beneath

concealed

Hausset,

could

we

under

and

up

the

holding a handkerchief
suffering from toothache.

drooping hood, and

her lipslike a
person
"

face

her

Boulogne,

herself

betook

by

bowed

us

to
'

said

her.

Speak

her.'

to

"

beautiful
"

'

child

am

I
asked

Romans

neighbourhood
"

'

'

What

very

that,

admit

may

holding

was

felt

rather
'

me

Do

Mile,

nervous.

de

to

this

with

this

belong

you

began

arm,

my

'

I live

Yes, Madame,

lady, who

'

said

mother.'

who

tremble.

to

replied,

his

Madame,

and

'

she

Yes,'

though
"

forward

went

is

just now

at

Auteuil

sufferingfrom

bad

very

toothache.'
"

I have
"

pity her,
often

been

for
in

kept looking

I know
torture

in

every
162

what
from

the

pain

is

"

it.'

direction, for

was

afraid

his
to

there

tastes,

fear

for your

to

and

room

fashioned

his

to

with

Do

root

all

up

another

spectacleof

this

habit

same

his

afraid

not

would

and

by

of

adventure

so

She

the
to

make

great

are

is

boring

day

one

feels

he

have

ever

from

of

the

"

you

interests

you

he

as

surroundings

himself
the

of

people

establishment,

end

The

is

for

something

is the

ways,

he

be

you

your

he

you,
suppose

you

form

for

fondness

King's

ease

might
princes are

but

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

you.

courage

another,
a

public

change

terrible

was

at

"

for

had

beauty, youth,
all
brilliant
a
maternity, the love of the King
de Pompadour
but
that was
lacking to Mme.
;
her
lacked
in her
she
turn
something which
rival possessed: the arts of pliancy and
patience.
XV
Louis
She wearied
by her pretensions. As
beheld
as
conquered, he soon
easily detached
than
in her
an
no
more
imprudent, indiscreet
effronteries
whose
woman
annoyed him.
young
from
the child
removed
her
he had
Pitilessly,
After
and
an
care
brought up at a distance.
the Abbe
unhappy boyhood, the youth became
de

Mile,

Romans.

"

de

and

Bourbon

the

was

protege

of Louis

XVI

Mesdames.

and

de

Anne

force, to
clear
which

Romans

M.

before
was

de
Mme.

not

now

was

Cavanhac

and

the

road

the
Pompadour
be much
longer.
164

de
to

almost

married,

"

by
was

road

CHAPTER

that

IN

of

other
at

and

inferiority

was

perpetual

obligation

all

eventualities,

her

paid

the

King

to

in

of

the

unflinchingly

of

woman

There

bridled,

order

the

affairs, she

she

and

the

last,

son,

had

been

evil

But

in

at

the

of

that

him

paired,
unim-

which,

as

maintained

equally

herself,

like

who,

point.

victorious.

Richelieu

was

in

Maurepas

exile

indefatigable adversary, Argenbeaten

already

better-half

the

in

the

her

luck

d'Estrades

165

appeared

of

person

his

woman.

"

1757

on

campaign,

friendship

every

defeated,

debauchery

enemies

was

Choiseul

ugly,

replica

watch

leaving

this

keep

to

was

enveloping

while
And

it

everywhere,

countenanced

incessantly
too

keep

turn,

net

her

anxieties

agents

every

liberty.

powerful

armed

were

in

but

the

at

Marquise

was

her

invisible

an

illusion

against

have

padour
Pom-

but

her

divine,

state

de

exhausting

foresee,

confederates

wherein

the

of

to

to

victorious
For

keep

to

Mme.

decisive.

recurrence

an

reduced

dependence,

never

women

designs

or

invariably

was

victory

distance

by

waged

which

women,

either

the

warfare

subterranean

against
them

XII

to

turn.

fanatic

MADAME

fanatic,
struck

wretched

the

at

wound

was

sit

usual

as

the
a

of

the

absurd

did

affairs.

the

But

the

"

I have

surgeon

been

put

Court
to

to

in
on

us,

quite

not

proportio
dis-

what
some-

say
The

King,

incessantly
assassinated."
Vainly
room,

His

him.

reassure

work

scratch

appears

his

the
next

days

its manifestations.
to

The

could

in three

occasion,

carried

had

nerves

disintegratingshock, the effects

which
were
long perceptible. He summoned
confession, Holy Unction.
priest,demanded

undergone
of

in

being
the

and

documents,
to

repeated

XV

Louis

family, and the whole

anxiety and despair which

of

while

Damiens,

one

his

King,

study

his room,

State

at

state

madman,

Martiniere,

in

up

POMPADOUR

a
King with
penknife.
slight that, according to

so

La

surgeon,

day

DE

His

confessor, Father

The

AbW

three

in

was

Paris.

Soldini, Chaplain-in-Ordinary, spent

hours

bed.

Desmarets,

And

behind
he

had

the
to

curtains

stay

in

of

the

the

room

royal
all

night, perpetually recalled by the patient ; and

then it all began again with
of Father
the return
Desmarets
while
the Queen
bewailed
herself,
;
the Dauphine and
with
Mesdames
choked
were
and
the Dauphin
sobs, the Ministers
solemnly
assembled
de

"

and,

Pompadour,

swoons,

and

back

in

her

rooms

beneath,

forgotten,passed
again to tears.
1

66

from

Mme.
tears

to

Forgotten

OE

MADAME

"

Louis

XV

all these

recovery.

The

of

the

not

Metz

be

feigning to
get

of

filed

look

an

there
the

at

Bernis,
Marechalc

de

Machault

his

on

of

word
out,

did

and

this

Mme.

An

entered

And

hour
the

the
would

He

later, Machault,

to

He

had
crowd
to

friend

little
was

less,
Doubt-

come

exclaimed
is

where

King.

benefactress

that

the

by a
Pompadour, cut

"

were

Florentin,

But
.

followed

that

the

friends, faithful

Brancas,

visit her.

not

de

his

to

Hausset

Saint

"

de

cowardly desertion,
"

tears

came

he

out,

solace

few

with

was

way

beneath

du

Mme.

He

the

at

favourite, whom

Mme.

Mirepoix.

returning home,
And

also

RouHle,

^ttttitiI

if the

Ouesnay and
tending.
affectionately
misfortune,

heads

menaced

Doctor

in

the

King forgot her,

both
sexes.
Through her
incessant
string of people,
for business, but in reality

rivals

there

rooms

by In die
unhappy

trembled

priesdy
But

her

so

the

all

of Ins
stroke

one

the

and

name

days

otmcs

and

Chateauroux,

bees

for

say;

her

at

friendship. And

and

thought of
royal tester.

death

had

v.n;;r-

to

all the

and

of

remembered

woman

to

hours,
fear

domm

of love

years

King, that is
pronounced

once

never

through
levered

the

by

Forgotten

POMPADOCX

been

say

came

seen

of

people,
the heart
by
through her
!

"

and

frigid,
Marquise's sitting-room. Every167
one
stem

MADAME

he

They
brought hope and

last

at

friend's

de

The

ring.
Hausset

with

red

to

lacquer
Her

sobs.
go,

orange-flower
then

door

her

But

to

Mme.

du
the

In

"

made

her

from

drink
silver

for

orders

with

Bernis

little

goblet.

departure;
refused

and

everyone.

would

who

water

! for

no

to

"

Abbe

herself

closeted

heard

received
they were
chattering.

were

calmer, she gave

Somewhat

was

summons.

room

Hausset

du

by.

and

At

went

bell

the

teeth

dear

my

Mme.

hour

Bernis

eagerly obeyed

and

consolation,

an

de

Had

alone.

were

Pompadour's

Abb^

beautiful

am

Half

support

Mme.

last

POMPADOUR

withdrew.

else

one

DE

now

be

not

another

came

denied

Mme.

"

loyal friend
de

Mire-

poix.
she

And
Madame

"

exclaimed

What

this

"

packing-up
leaving ?

does
Your

this mean,

people

tell

"

me

are

you
"

Machault

M.

so

dear

Alas,

"

And

"

To

what
go

friend,

it is the

Master's

will

tells me."
is his advice

without

"

delay."
spoke,

du
Hausset
Mme.
they thus
was
undressing her mistress, and settlingher in
de Mirepoix
Marechale
a chaise-longue. The
of a woman
the
considered
a
tiny little atom
conduct, the
Marquise's situation, Machault's
1 68
King's

While

"

"

MADAME

DE

King's physical and

in

up

He

the

no

so

du

Hausset

They
keep her
has

Mar^chale
of the
Then

arrived

enemies

pay

it

all

for this

so

Mme.

to

as

Machault

being

the

little

"

"

the

animals,

when

alive, kept up

gone,

Keeper

of

enemies

he

stayed,

The

went.

staying,

The

fable

other

his

later,

has

she

"

one

the

Pompadour

who
still

that

get his share

de

is

day !
Quesnay and

Doctor

of them

She

but

"

game
hour

quiet.

monkey airs, recited

who, having to feed with
him,

the

pretend

to

are

Keeper of
playing you

An
"

his

one

loses

room.

settled

will

Seals

is

withdrew.

to

He

table

her

to

came

motus
as

the

leaves

advice

your

"

"

summing

all the

her

master

she.

said

Who

Marigny
but

and

state,

asked

be

to

Seals,"

Mme.

had

one

wants

false.

moral

illuminating sentence

one

for which
"

POMPADOUR

with
fox
suaded
perafter

were

fled."
and

it

was

King, surprised at

melancholy mood
for a few
days.
My body is all right," said
this isn't
this will
he, but (touching his head)
be
He
never
right again."
thought perhaps
that he was
marked
down
for the dagger of a
Ravaillac
and
perhaps he suffered, too, from
;
of the
consciousness
latent
a
hostilityof his
and
subjects. The
all,
royal family, one
a

"

"

"

believed
virtuous

in

his

ways.

repentance
He

returned
1

69

and
to

return

nothing

to

but

his

MADAME

his habits.
old

The

She

day, he went
de Pompadour.
day the Marquise

next

carriage

and

twisted

in

the

The

"

like

She

trembled,
"

bad

very

her

reflective.
look

to

Abbe

her

into

got

of

as

d'Argenson's.
humour.
Leaning

she

hands,

down

M.

her

mantelpiece,

round

You

driven

was

back

came

against

fine

One

Mme.

to

POMPADOUR

DE

handkerchief
silent

stood

observed

Bernis

de

and
:

dreaming sheep."

her

threw

muff

on

chair,

and

The

sheep is dreaming of a wolf."

left
the
in, and
was
King came
alone
du
Mme.
the Marquise and
with
Bernis.
Hausset
heard
the door, and
sobbing behind
of Hoffman's
presentlythe Abbe" asked for some
Drops. The lady's-maid brought the medicine
then
much
in
a
as
remedy for the
vogue
XV
himself
sugared the
vapours." Louis

replied :
Just then

"

"

graciously to the
tearful fair.
The
by smiling
Marquise ended
and
kissingthe King's hands.
Next
exiled.
day, M. de Argenson was
and

dose,

"

du

It

all his

was

Hausset

much

war

by

the
what

"and

it

attached
land

dismissal

and

the

was

by
to

sea

of these

everybody

very

fault,"

own

achieved

victory ever
was

it

presented

said

M.

ought

have

Ministers.

two
at

Louis

'Argenson
to

the
70

personal

greatest

Madame.
d

Mme.

concludes

and

XV
the

precluded
That

was

time."
Bernis

MADAME

and

to

had

Prussia
must

her.

derided

vanity. The
The
King

be

conquered, to avenge
de
1764 the Cardinal

In

d'Argenson again
"

he

him,

as

and

schemes,

creeping
two

of

motives

petty

POMPADOUR

DE

says,

all

desires

"

for

with

while

over

to

his

the

Bernis

live, and

rigour

172

to

He
be

saw

and

full of

his mind

body.

of Prussia

her.

last time

the

of

King

in

M.
found

intrigues

of

death

died

with

power."

was

only

XIII

CHAPTER

IN

de

Mme.

1764

of

was

at

ill that

she

fail

not

able

was

of

her

illness

spread
her

the

and

which

Au

etes

des

dieu

Tous

les

Tous

etaient
volant
ont

health

news

widely

was

been

always
the

ignored

threefold
of

economical

and

"

convalescence

in

of

being

by

were

chere

trop

redouter

lis

and

way

Pour

En

and

affairs.

The

had

her

celebrated

verses

Vous

they

political,

position,

prophetic

to

who

poets,

because

moral,

"

little

restoration

her,

recovery

Versailles.

to

The

bed.

public

good

vated
aggra-

critically

on

of

moved

and

friends

aspect
her

be

to

her

flammatio
in-

suffered.

so

attentions

make

to

of

she

to

informed

her

keep

to

attack

seriously

take

to

health

became

she

when

whose

which

affectionate

seemed

She

from

obliged

was

an

which

lungs

Choisy,

lavished

King
did

the

heart-disease

the
She

had

declining,

rapidly

was

Pompadour,

du

du

animes
votre

raffermi

la

France,

amours,

la

sort

veillaient

dieux

des

et

arts

fatale
sur

puissance

jours,

vos

qui m'inspire,

zele

secours

leur

empire

!
.

73

Thus

Thus

Palissot

alluding to

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

an

eclipse:

Le

soleil

Favart

And

rejoiced.

sang,

malade,

est

Pompadour aussi.
Ce n'est qu'une passade,
L'un
et l'autre est
gueri.
Le
Dieu
bon
qui seconde

Et

Nos
Pour

notre

et

voeux

du

le bonheur

Nous

rendu
Et

amour

le

monde

jour,

Pompadour.

terrible
had
a
Pompadour
cessantl
inKing, deeply affected, was
relapse. The
but
instinct
her
at
side, and
by an
ill-comprehended by his courtiers, forbade
the
himself
his anxiety. She, on
to
express
condition,
clearly perceiving her
contrary,
showed
a
was
resignationwhich
unquestionably
Mme.

But

stoical than

more

Christian.

bergere,with
cheeks, as though

Seated
on

de

in

her

for

consideration

alarmed,

she

was

friends

the

of

dash

from
who

supreme
not

must

from

courageous

rouge

her

be
very

already from all things, all

and
herself.
They spoke to her of her
She told them
ask the King what
to
duct
con-

lassitude, detached
persons,
soul.

should

impenitent
wished

be
or

either

hers

"

whether

penitent,as
to

save

or
i

74

she

if she
lose

should

would

her

soul

not

die

have

without
the

MADAME

the
to

POMPADOUR

DE

herself

prepared

for

sent

even

much

her

inclined

that

word

sent

The

long

the

14

advised

her

and

she

15,

did

obituary interview.

he

was

ill.

of

Extreme

He

Unction

de

Mme.

feel

not

for this

to

and

sacraments,

who

husband,

ceremony

very

April

receive

to

XV

Louis

royal permission.
see
a
priest.
the night between
On

seemed
She

Pompadour.

make
then
to
haste, but
begged the Cure1
apologised for her impatience.
the verdure
The
of
wan
day dawned
upon
the park.
It was
the fifteenth
of April, and
Palm
Slowly the life of the Palace
Sunday.
the

round

awoke,

flickered.

gilded

closed

the

On

XV

his

between

reposed,

curtains

sleep,thought sorrowfully of

the

endure

while

the

of

sat

the
the

painted

with

dying

see

no

little

green

"

the

Ball, the

theatre
and

175

and
silver

pose,
re-

not

woman

more.

reflections

King's, evoking,
Tree

Senart, the Yew

the

the

shutters, her

of past love

memories

did

suffocating, unable
upright in her chair ;
thread
hung a slender

morning

between

alongside
the

bed,

to

was

feigned

if he

and

great

and

breathless

She,

grey

he

in this world

whom

or

candles

the

storey, in

upper

Louis

room,

where

room

it

may

to

and

of
ran

be,

blue

phaeton at
Upstairs Apartments,
Galatea's

dress,

reeds, and

sea-

weeds,

MADAME

and

weeds,
she

DE

POMPADOUR

sea-shells.

It

the

measuring

was

bought

vanity
complaisances,

such

by

be,

may

that

too,

of

honours

such

hidden

wounds.
that

All

had

been

she

existence

could

the

of

with

what

it

religion

was

her

differen
in-

an

friends

her

for

know

of

concern

upon

amazed

outcome

Christian

great

looked

now

which
none

the

which

whether

"

philosophy,

or

for

well
the fareor
earthly pomps,
of a weary
epicurean to a world whose joys
and
had
been
tasted
to
sorrows
satiety.
It seems
that the Marquise's faith was
to
me
uncertain
thus to have
too
upheld her courage
;
I incline to think
and
that Mme.
de Pompadour
de
of Maurice
regarded life after the manner
scorn

"

Saxe

as

"

She

had

the

were

this last
it

she

she

Black

it

with
of

in

the
he

her

the

her
visit

who
is

to

A
...

toilette, rapid but

still

appears,

hold

to

Post

day

render

examined

little later

pen,

the

every
to

read
re-

After

from

say,

of

course

steward.

correspondences

Cabinet.

it

her, and

to

came

that

customary

In the

longer

to

usual

the

which,

brought

any

codicil

"

account

the

had

Janelle
"

will

fled.

all but

was

notary.

then, unable

had

Master,
work

of the
she

day

her

that

pious formulas

work

dictated

this

"

made

with

manner,

"

fair dream

came

to
an

by
the

circumstantial, powder

176

on

MADAME

the

on

hair

and

sufferings,insisted

all the

Colin,

for

the
"

she

drawing

confessor,

near

and

of

cure"

dying
few

words

At

and

not

that

grand

le

with

o'clock

room

about

was

strength
she

and

to

retire,

to

smile.

said,

"

and

couvert,

had

the
that

or

"

went

she

away
had

forty-one, a
who

woman,

she

"

she

unknown

had

could
XV

not

satisfied

wrested

desired, but

thing that all

evening, Louis

gone,

soul,

my

the
stayed with
able to exchange a

CureY'

died, aged

that

to

me

left the

found

dread

happy

Meanwhile

having

dismissed

remained

together."

the

She

poor
On

gently

he

As

M.

away

into

destiny all
how

who

still

Pompadour
go

feared.

friends

These,

they

was

half-pastseven

alone,

her

women."

him.

moment,

shall

ing
receiv-

Madeleine

who
with

de

One

funeral, and

leave

my

the

woman,

Mme.

executor

of business,

occasions

then

Profoundly moved,
the

the

7/ is

my

all

Gontaut.

evening,

words

of

last

and

till the

of her

details

this

Choiseul

the

on

keys to M. de Soubise,
will ; arranging with her man

of her

cheeks.

Marquise, despite
personally handing

her

over

we

sunken

death, the

her

"

the

on

rouge
for

Adorned
.

POMPADOUR

DE

had

from
learnt

be.
countermanded

public dinner.

Comte
same

177

Dufort

Sunday

de

Cheverny
evening, to
see

MADAME

see

Mme.

the

Palace) had
"

if

de

had

you

ago

"

me

half

shared

hour

an

emotion.

my

of the death

I heard

She

in
(who had apartments
in tears.
surprised the Duchess
still upset," she said
and
;

come

have

would

Praslin

find

You

POMPADOUR

DE

of Mme.

earlier, you

Only an hour
de Pompadour.

particularfriend of mine, but I

had
Well, I saw
never
anything against her.
As
two
men
going by with a stretcher.
they
came
near
(they passed under
windows)
my
I could
that they were
see
carrying a woman's
sheet
a
so
only with
body, covered
tightly
drawn
that the shape of the head, of the breasts,
and
of the stomach
legs,could be very distinctly
for particulars. It
ask
to
perceived. I sent
the
in
which
was
body of that poor woman,
accordance
with
the
strict prohibition against
being
remaining in the Palace, was
any
corpse
no

was

carried

to

The
that

her

her

she

should

be

Versailles

at

looked

the

six

Church

her

will

daughter
on

the

procession left
o'clock

in

the

storm.

XV

Louis

valet-de-chambre

had

at

violent

o'clock

study, which
The
King

funeral

in

her

near

Capucin

The

evening, during
six

requested

buried

the

in

Vendome.
house

At

had

Marquise

Alexandrine,
Place

house."

own

was

Champlost
straightout
door

178

locked

alone
in
on

his
the

with

his

private
Avenue.

then, taking

Champlost's

CHAPTER

the

IN

vault

"

the

"

when

of

fish-bones

des

(aretes
embarrassed

funeral

haute

tres

"

oration.
et

the

Queen.

the

school

pattern

of
of

all

to

the
la

Mme.

the

to

study

to

bearance.
for-

and
did

subtly,

at

is

Queen

modesty,

rather

Thus,

."

of

body

been

for

piety,

kindness,

the

delivered

y-in -Waiting

it had

virtues,

preacher,

dame,

Lad

then
the

the

receive

Pompadour,

were

neighbouring

text,

puissante

Hers

Capucin

tres

de

Marquise

the

Poisson)."
his

her,

contemporary)

of

by

would

Tremoilles

la

aware

she

de

deserted

cruel

became

XV

the

Mme.

declare

to

Louis

ever

(says

they

much

wont

bones

noble

confounded
"

if

alive

where

Capucines,

been

had

herself

bury

the

at

Pompadour

XIV

the

take

of

advantage

lengthy

pronounce

this

occasion

singular

panegyric

Marie

on

Leczinska.
But

the

by
satirical

who

Parisians,
death,

epitaphs
Ci-git
Sept

ans

not

were

already

were

armed
dis-

be

to

fabricating

qui

fut

catin,

vingt
et

huit

80

pucelle,

ans

ans

maq

And

this, which

And

the

reproduced

Maurepas'

in

allusion

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

abominable

quatrain :

notorious

Poisson
epitaphium,
Joann.
Piscis regina jacet, quae lilia succit

D.

D.
Hie

Per

nimis

albis.

occubat

si floribus

mirum

an

Versailles,the third day after the obsequies,

At

there
The

further

no

was

of

mechanism

of the

mention
the

Marquise.

had

Court

been

not

interrupted in its daily functioning. The

indifference
was
already
King's
apparent
of fair ladies who
aspired
stirringthe ambitions
of
the now
inherit
vacant
to
appointment
"

"

favourite.
Had

before

days
he

"

Philip :
abated,
but

so

the

his

to

wrote

quickly forgotten ? Some

Marquise's death, on April 9,

XV

Louis

anxieties

My

and

to

may

hope,
be only too
intimacy and

and
near.

Infante

by

are

I will

you

little

the

son-in-law,

confess

greatly fear
Twenty

Don
means

no

that
that

the
all

years,

have
end

but,

Well,
loyal friendship!
God
is our
Master, we
must
yield to His will
in all things.
de
will have
M.
Rochechouart
after long sufferings
of his wife's
death
heard

of

how

"

on

yours

him, if

I feel for

April

given

16

you
until

an

"

My

idea

of

to-day.

he

loved

letter

preceding

why
All

181

I have
my

her

not

"

will

And

have

answered

anxiety

is

over,

in

the

in

saddest

divine

the

truth.

"

beheld

alone

of Louis

from

his

XV

will

easily

discreet

tation
lamen-

hidden

a
sensibility,
perceived beneath
of which
Champmoving expression
the tears
streaming
Marquise's funeral

few
and

King's glacial mask,

lost

You

This

."

which

sorrow,

all.

reveal

to

seems

the

of

way
.

heartfelt

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

the

most

bare-headed,

watchingthe
train
his sight.
go from
if he was
But
not
incapable of suffering,he
and
the rosy
was
incapable of suffering long
eyes,

"

dawn

upon

of

Mme.

the

du

Barry

little sombre

courts

and

break

to

soon

was

little modest

of Versailles.

entresols

Thenceforth

Jeanne

Antoinette

longed
be-

Poisson

to
not
posterity; and posteritywas
of
be
The
memoir-writers
indulgent to her.
the
eighteenth century revenged, in pen and
ink, their many
private spites; and from their
must
we
judgments
carefully disentangle any
truth
which
there
lies mingled with
the gossip
of the Court.
Neither
Maurepas nor Richelieu
the Comte
nor
d'Argenson could possiblyhave
painted a faithful
portrait of the favourite.
of divination.
Love, though blindfold, has a kind
to

Hate
held

from

is born

blind.

understanding.
182

To
That

hate

is

this

to

be

hate,

fruitful

fruitful
that

serious

legends, had its very

Marquise often erred

in

the

ambition

or

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

"

and

money

policy

enemies

be

should

be

censors

causes

"

through vanity
the Treasury much
that she cost
the
royal
disastrouslyinfluenced
these
demnatory
conare
points whereon
her
be passed, and
must
sentence
But
it
granted their advantage.
also

remembered

disinterested,

not

were

the

that

sternest

therefore

and

is it not
equitable. And
Richelieu
farcical to behold
a
posing as a moral
?
outraged by Mile. Poisson
avenger,.
historians
Following these, certain modern

chiefest

and

"

Michelet

"

her

of them

have

"

in
in

be

likely to

not

were

the

all

the

painted

darkest

nothing

our

colours.

blood-sucker."

"

the

trait
porseen

and

courtesan

Between

noble

our

Marquise's
They have

"

the

but

loved,

the
of

testimony

de
so
Luynes, so measured,
upright Due
of a
frantic
accusations
the
convincing, and
The
hesitate.
does
not
d'Argenson, Michelet
absurd
the
secret
orgies of
legends about

the

Versailles

and

Cerfs,

aux

balladists

"

the

he

the

obscene

for

even

her

these

he

the

of

debauches

imaginings

accepts

beauty,
taste,

sadic

and

of the

utilises

kind-heartedness

delicate

charm

the

which

extraordinary and enduring

denies
to the Marquise.
183

Pare

gutter-

telligenc
In-

these.
and

even

accounts

fortune

"

The

The

truth

he

is that
that

and

crowd,

all that

fervent

the

good

that

Ecole

Militaire

the

of

grace
she

achieved

of

renovation

protection given
free-thinking, even
"

Pare
at

aux

Crecy
The

the

writers,

Cerfs

and

and

old

this

of

justice,
in-

aristocratic
He

no

more

Pompadour
The

canvas.

of

creation

the

and

the

more

constant

the

of the

millions

ten

too,

even

nothing

as

the

Bellevue

Goncourts

authors

the

reckoned

point

artists, the

to

to

of the

Manufactory of Sevres,
the
Gobelin
tapestries,

the

is

all

the

"

shown

encouragement

of

Boucher

and

the

last.

to

eyes

Rousseau,

the

character

the

comprehends
than

first

the

of

to

represents
from

is evil

with

sees

for this child

plebeian of genius,
France

POMPADOUR

DE

MADAME

most

paedia
Encyclobeside

the

consumed

Elysee.
sensitive

to

the

Pompadour, have
of the pamphleteers.
hard
heart ""they
the
evil nature,"
The
of Argenson, who
the Memoirs
take
these from
de
M.
for being malevolent.
had
good reasons
padour
Pomde
Nolhac's
brilliant
study, Madame
ful
XV, has given us at last a truthet Louts
doubtless
portrait of the Marquise ; and
it will do
something to rectifythe falsities or
of the conventional
distortions
presentation.
had
shamefully eulogised,and
Voltaire, who
de Pompadour,
then shamefully insulted, Mme.
paid
1 84
de

qualitiesof Mme.
yielded to the influence

artistic

"

"

MADAME

her

paid
Diderot
"

DE

What

will survive

be

the

of
all

to

perplex
pictureby Vanloo

looked
Much

at

have

would

have

many
There

than

been

marvels

remain

the

marbles

which

"

and

the

gems

be

will

good

ally
occasion-

of ashes."

pinch

survive

masterpieces

"

which

and

museums,

if the

numerous

volutiona
Re-

respected Bellevue,
all

of

vanished

the

Ecole

like

older

so

France.

Militaire, Sevres,

marked

and

originality
"

the

Parisian

the

first time

in

in her

as

annals,

self
seating her"

soft paste,

bronzes,"

of the

woman

history and
though the seat

statuette

will

graven

of serious

left-handed

throne.

as

some

which

"

domain

and

Treaty of
such
things

antiquaries;

stupidity had
Hermitage

style of
charming picture of
people, entering, for

"

the

more

decorative

the

our

other

The

Bouchardon,

these

enriched

the

Crecy,

and

more

which

dead

was

long

as

time

will

little

of her

will last

Amour

admired

which

she

Versailles, which
may

when

homage
wrote

POMPADOUR

beside

the

among

the

contemporary

de
with
her
phrases it. Mme.
Pompadour,
her
of the
defects, is one
most
qualities and
interestingexpressions of the eighteenth century.

She

still

will

always have
prevail."

shall

has

her

fanatical
her

lovers.

185

detractors,
..."

Her

but

she
grace

Printed

in

England

Spottiswoodk,

Colchester,

at

The

"

Ballantyne
London

Press

Ballantyne

"

Co.

Eton

Ltd.