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Sevigne；〃 said the Bishop of Laon； 〃is in the works of Menage what Bassan's dog is in his portraits。 He cannot help putting it there。〃 She treated him in a sisterly fashion that put to flight all sentimental illusions； but she had often to pacify his wounded vanity。 One day； in the presence of several friends； she gave him a greeting rather more cordial than dignified。 Noticing the looks of surprise； she turned away laughing and said； 〃So they kissed in the primitive church。〃 But the wide knowledge and scholarly criticism of Menage were of great value to the versatile woman； who speedily surpassed her master in style if not in learning。 Evidently she appreciated him； since she addressed him in one of her letters as 〃friend of all friends； the best。〃
At eighteen the gay and unconventional Marie de Rabutin…Chantal was married to the Marquis de Sevigne； but her period of happiness was a short one。 The husband； who was rich； handsome； and agreeable； proved weak and faithless。 He was one of the temporary caprices of the dangerous Ninon； led a dashing； irresponsible life； spent his fortune recklessly； and left his pretty young wife to weep alone at a convenient distance； under the somber skies of Brittany。 Fortunately for her and for posterity； his career was rapid and brief。 For some trifling affair of so…called honora quality of which； from our point of view； he does not seem to have possessed enough to be worth the trouble of defendinghe had the kindness to get himself killed in a duel； after seven years of marriage。 His spirited wife had loved him sincerely； and first illusions die slowly。 She shed many bitter and natural tears； but she never showed any disposition to repeat the experiment。 Perhaps she was of the opinion of another young widow who thought it 〃a fine thing to bear the name of a man who can commit no more follies。〃 But it is useless to speculate upon the reasons why a woman does or does not marry。 It is certain that the love of her two children filled the heart of Mme。 de Sevigne； her future life was devoted to their training； and to repairing a fortune upon which her husband's extravagance had made heavy inroads。
But the fascinating widow of twenty…five had a dangerous path to tread。 That she lived in a society so lax and corrupt； unprotected and surrounded by distinguished admirers； without a shadow of suspicion having fallen upon her fair reputation is a strong proof of her good judgment and her discretion。 She was not a great beauty； though the flattering verses of her poet friends might lead one to think so。 A complexion fresh and fair； eyes of remarkable brilliancy； an abundance of blond hair； a face mobile and animated； and a fine figurethese were her visible attractions。 She danced well； sang well； talked well； and had abounding health。 Mme。 de La Fayette made a pen…portrait of her； which was thought to be strikingly true。 It was in the form of a letter from an unknown man。 A few extracts will serve to bring her more vividly before us。
〃Your mind so adorns and embellishes your person； that there is no one in the world so fascinating when you are animated by a conversation from which constraint is banished。 All that you say has such a charm； and becomes you so well； that the words attract the Smiles and the Graces around you； the brilliancy of your intellect gives such luster to your complexion and your eyes； that although it seems that wit should touch only the ears； yours dazzles the sight。
〃Your soul is great and elevated。 You are sensitive to glory and to ambition； and not less so to pleasures； you were born for them and they seem to have been made for you 。 。 。 In a word； joy is the true state of your soul； and grief is as contrary to it as possible。 You are naturally tender and impassioned； there was never a heart so generous； so noble； so faithful 。 。 。 You are the most courteous and amiable person that ever lived； and the sweet； frank air which is seen in all your actions makes the simplest compliments of politeness seem from your lips protestations of friendship。〃
Mlle。 de Scudery sketches her as the Princesse Clarinte in 〃Clelie；〃 concluding with these words： 〃I have never seen together so many attractions； so much gaiety； so much coquetry； so much light； so much innocence and virtue。 No one ever understood better the art of having grace without affectation； raillery without malice； gaiety without folly； propriety without constraint； and virtue without severity。〃
Her malicious cousin； Bussy…Rabutin； who was piqued by her indifference； and basely wished to avenge himself； said that her 〃warmth was in her intellect；〃 that for a woman of quality she was too badine； too economical； too keenly alive to her own interests； that she made too much account of a few trifling words from the queen； and was too evidently flattered when the king danced with her。 This opinion of a vain and jealous man is not entitled to great consideration； especially when we recall that he had already spoken of her as 〃the delight of mankind；：〃 and said that antiquity would have dressed altars for her and she would 〃surely have been goddess of something。〃 The most incomprehensible page in her history is her complaisance towards the persistent impertinences of this perfidious friend。 The only solution of it seems to lie in the strength of family ties； and in her unwillingness to be on bad terms with one of her very few near relatives。 Bussy…Rabutin was handsome； witty； brilliant； a bel esprit； a member of the Academie Francaise； and very much in love with his charming cousin； who clearly appreciated his talents； if not his character。 〃You are the fagot of my intellect；〃 she says to him； but she forbids him to talk of love。 Unfortunately for himself； his vanity got the better of his discretion。 He wrote the 〃Histoire Amoureuse des Gauls；〃 and raised such a storm about his head by his attack upon many fair reputations； that； after a few months of lonely meditation in the Bastille； he was exiled from Paris for seventeen years。 Long afterwards he repented the unkind blow he had given to Mme。 de Sevigne； confessed its injustice； apologized； and made his peace。 But the world is less forgiving； and wastes little sympathy upon the base but clever and ambitious man who was doomed to wear his restless life away in the uncongenial solitude of his chateau。
Among the numerous adorers of Mme。 de Sevigne were the Prince de Conti； the witty Comte de Lude； the poet Segrais； Fouquet； and Turenne。 Her friendship for the last two seems to have been the most lively and permanent。 We owe to her sympathetic pen the best account of the death of Turenne。 Her devotion to the interests of Fouquet and his family lasted though the many years of imprisonment that ended only with his life。 There was nothing of the spirit of the courtier in her generous affection for the friends who were out of favor。 The loyalty of her character was notably displayed in her unwavering attachment to Cardinal de Retz； during his long period of exile and misfortune； after the Fronde。
But one must go outside the ordinary channels to find the veritable romance of Mme。 de Sevigne's life。 Her sensibility lent itself with