按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
One must also take into consideration her bad health。 People thought her selfish or indifferent when she was only sad and suffering。 For more than twenty years she was ill； consumed by a slow fever which permitted her to go out only at intervals。 La Rochefoucauld had the gout； and they consoled each other。 Mme。 de Sevigne thought it better not to have the genius of a Pascal； than to have so many ailments。 〃Mme。 De La Fayette is always languishing； M。 de La Rochefoucauld always lame；〃 she writes； 〃we have conversations so sad that it seems as if there were nothing more to do but to bury us； the garden of Mme。 de La Fayette is the prettiest spot in the world； everything blooming； everything perfumed； we pass there many evenings； for the poor woman does not dare go out in a carriage。〃 〃Her health is never good；〃 she writes again； 〃nevertheless she sends you word that she should not like death better； AU CONTRAIRE。〃 There are times when she can no longer 〃think； or speak； or answer； or listen； she is tired of saying good morning and good evening。〃 Then she goes away to Meudon for a few days； leaving La Rochefoucauld 〃incredibly sad。〃 She speaks for herself in a letter from the country house which Gourville has placed at her disposal。
〃I am at Saint Maur； I have left all my affairs and all my husbands； I have my children and the fine weather； that suffices。 I take the waters of Forges； I look after my health； I see no one。 I do not mind at all the privation； every one seems to me so attached to pleasures which depend entirely upon others； that I find my disposition a gift of the fairies。
〃I do not know but Mme de Coulanges has already sent you word of our after…dinner conversations at Gourville's about people who have taste above or below their intelligence。 Mme。 Scarron and the Abbe Tetu were there； we lost ourselves in subtleties until we no longer understood anything。 If the air of Provence； which subtilizes things still more； magnifies for you our visions； you will be in the clouds。 You have taste below your intelligence； so has M。 de La Rochefoucauld； and myself also； but not so much as you two。 VOILA an example which will guide you。〃
She disliked writing letters； and usually limited herself to a few plain facts； often in her late years to a simple bulletin of her health。 This negligence was the subject of many passages…at… arms between herself and Mme。 de Sevigne。 〃If I had a lover who wished my letters every morning； I would break with him；〃 she writes。 〃Do not measure our friendship by our letters。 I shall love you as much in writing you only a page in a month； as you me in writing ten in eight days。〃 Again she replies to some reproach： 〃Make up your mind； ma belle； to see me sustain； all my life； with the whole force of my eloquence； that I love you still more than you love me。 I will make Corbinelli agree with me in a quarter of an hour； your distrust is your sole defect； and the only thing in you that can displease me。〃
But in spite of a certain apparent indolence； and her constant ill health； there were many threads that connected with the outside world the pleasant room in which Mme。 de La Fayette spent so many days of suffering。 〃She finds herself rich in friends from all sides and all conditions；〃 writes Mme。 de Sevigne； 〃she has a hundred arms； she reaches everywhere。 Her children appreciate all this； and thank her every day for possessing a spirit so engaging。〃 She goes to Versailles； on one of her best days； to thank the king for a pension； and receives so many kind words that it 〃suggests more favors to come。〃 He orders a carriage and accompanies her with other ladies through the park； directing his conversation to her； and seeming greatly pleased with her judicious praise。 She spends a few days at Chantilly； where she is invited to all the fetes； and regrets that Mme。 de Sevigne could not be with her in that charming spot； which she is 〃fitted better than anyone else to enjoy。〃 No one understands so well the extent of her influence and her credit as this devoted friend； who often quotes her to Mme。 de Grignan as a model。 〃Never did any one accomplish so much without leaving her place；〃 she says。
But there was one phase in the life of Mme。 de La Fayette which was not fully confided even to Mme。 de Sevigne。 It concerns a chapter of obscure political history which it is needless to dwell upon here； but which throws much light upon her capacity for managing intricate affairs。 Her connection with it was long involved in mystery； and was only unveiled in a correspondence given to the world at a comparatively recent date。 It was in the salon of the Grande Mademoiselle that she was thrown into frequent relations with the two daughters of Charles Amedee de Savoie； Duc de Nemours； one of whom became Queen of Portugal； the other Duchesse de Savoie and； later； Regent during the minority of her son。 These relations resulted in one of the ardent friendships which played so important a part in her career。 Her intercourse with the beautiful but vain； intriguing； and imperious Duchesse de Savoie assumed the proportion of a delicate diplomatic mission。 〃Her salon；〃 says Lescure； 〃was； for the affairs of Savoy； a center of information much more important in the eyes of shrewd politicians than that of the ambassador。〃 She not only looked after the personal matters of Mme。 Royale； but was practically entrusted with the entire management of her interests in Paris。 From affairs of state and affairs of the heart to the daintiest articles of the toilette her versatile talent is called into requisition。 Now it is a message to Louvois or the king； now a turn to be adroitly given to public opinion； now the selection of a perfume or a pair of gloves。 〃She watches everything； thinks of everything； combines； visits； talks； writes； sends counsels； procures advice； baffles intrigues； is always in the breach； and renders more service by her single efforts than all the envoys avowed or secret whom the Duchesse keeps in France。〃 Nor is the value of these services unrecognized。 〃Have I told you；〃 wrote Mme。 de Sevigne to her daughter； 〃that Mme。 de Savoie has sent a hundred ells of the finest velvet in the world to Mme。 de La Fayette； and a hundred ells of satin to line it； and two days ago her portrait； surrounded with diamonds； which is worth three hundred louis？〃
The practical side of Mme。 de La Fayette's character was remarkable in a woman of so fine a sensibility and so rare a genius。 Her friends often sought her counsel； and it was through her familiarity with legal technicalities that La Rochefoucauld was enabled to save his fortune； which he was at one time in danger of losing。 In clear insight； profound judgment； and knowledge of affairs； she was scarcely； if at all； surpassed by Mme。 de Maintenon； the feminine diplomatist par excellence of her time； though her field of action was less broad and conspicuous。 But her love of consideration was not so dominant and her ambition not so active。 It was one of her theories that people should live without ambition as well as without passion。 〃It is sufficient to exist；〃 she said。 Her energy when occasion called for it does not quite acco