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e from a letter written by Voiture to one of the daughters of Mme。 de Rambouillet； who was an abbess； and had sent him a present of a cat。
〃Madame； I was already so devoted to you that I supposed you knew there was no need of winning me by presents； or trying to take me like a rat； with a cat。 Nevertheless； if there was anything in my thought that was not wholly yours； the cat which you have sent me has captured it。〃 After a eulogy upon the cat； he adds： 〃I can only say that it is very difficult to keep； and for a cat religiously brought up it is very little inclined to seclusion。 It never sees a window without wishing to jump out； it would have leaped over the wall twenty times if it had not been prevented； and no secular cat could be more lawless or more self…willed。〃
The wit here is certainly rather attenuated； but the subject is an ungrateful one。 Mme。 de Sevigne finds Voiture 〃libre； badin； charmant；〃 and disposes of his critics by saying； 〃So much the worse for those who do not understand him。〃 One is often puzzled to detect this rare spirituelle quality； but it is fair to presume that it was of the volatile sort that evaporates with time。
All this sentimental masquerading and exaggerated gallantry suggests the vulnerable side of the Hotel de Rambouillet； and the side which its enemies have been disposed to make very prominent。 Among those who tried to imitate this salon； Spanish chivalry doubtless degenerated into a thousand absurdities； and it must be admitted that the salon itself was not free from reproach on this point。 It became the fashion to write and talk in the language of hyperbole。 Sighing lovers were consumed with artificial fires； and ready to die with affected languors。 Like the old poets of Provence； whose spirit they caught and whose phrases they repeated； they were dying of love they did not feel。 The eyes of Phyllis extinguished the sun。 The very nightingales expired of jealousy； after hearing the voice of Angelique。
It would be difficult； perhaps； to find anywhere a company of clever people bent upon amusing themselves and passing every day more or less together； whose sayings and doings would bear to be exactly chronicled。 The literary diversions and poetic ideals of this circle； too； gave a certain color to the charge of affectation； among people of less refined instincts； who found its esprit incomprehensible； its manners prudish； and its virtue a tacit reproach； but the dignified and serious character of many of its constant habitues should be a sufficient guarantee that it did not greatly pass the limits of good taste and good sense。 The only point upon which Mme。 de Rambouillet seems to have been open to criticism was a certain formal reserve and an over… fastidious delicacy； but in an age when the standards of both refinement and morals were so low； this implies a virtue rather than a defect。 Nor does her character appear to have been at all tinged with pretension。 〃I should fear from your example to write in a style too elevated；〃 says Voiture； in a letter to her。 But traditions are strong； and people do not readily adapt themselves to new models。 Character and manners are a growth。 That which is put on； and not ingrained； is apt to lack true balance and proportion。 Hence it is not strange that this new order of things resulted in many crudities and exaggerations。
It is not worth while to criticize too severely the plumed knights who took the heroes of Corneille as models； played the harmless lover； and paid the tribute of chivalric deference to women。 The strained politeness may have been artificial； and the forms of chivalry very likely outran the feeling； but they served at least to keep it alive； while the false platonism and ultra… refined sentiment were simply moral protests against the coarse vices of the time。 The prudery which reached a satirical climax in 〃Les Precieuses Ridicules〃 was a natural reaction from the sensuality of a Marguerite and a Gabrielle。 Mme。 de Rambouillet saw and enjoyed the first performance of this celebrated play； nor does it appear that she was at all disturbed by the keen satire which was generally supposed to have been directed toward her salon。 Moliere himself disclaims all intention of attacking the true precieuse； but the world is not given to fine discrimination； and the true suffers from the blow aimed at the false。 This brilliant comedian； whose manners were not of the choicest； was more at home in the lax and epicurean world of Ninon and Mme。 de la Sablierea world which naturally did not find the decorum of the precieuses at all to its taste； the witticism of Ninon； who defined them as the 〃Jansenists of love；〃 is well known。 It is not unlikely that Moliere shared her dislike of the powerful and fastidious coterie whose very virtues might easily have furnished salient points for his scathing wit。
But whatever affectations may have grown out of the new code of manners； it had a more lasting result in the fine and stately courtesy which pervaded the later social life of the century。 We owe； too； a profound gratitude to these women who exacted and were able to command a consideration which with many shades of variation has been left as a permanent heritage to their sex。 We may smile at some of their follies； have we not our own which some nineteenth century Moliere may serve up for the delight and possible misleading of future generations？
There is a warm human side to this daily intercourse； with its sweet and gracious courtesies。 The women who discuss grave questions and make or unmake literary reputations in the salon； are capable of rare sacrifices and friendships that seem quixotic in their devotion。 Cousin； who has studied them so carefully and so sympathetically； has saved from oblivion many private letters which give us pleasant glimpses of their everyday life。 As we listen to their quiet exchange of confidences； we catch the smile that plays over the light badinage； or the tear that lurks in the tender words。
A little son of Mme。 de Rambouillet has the small pox； and his sister Julie shares the care of him with her mother； when every one else has fled。 At his death； she devotes herself to her friend Mme。 de Longueville； who soon after her marriage is attacked with the same dreaded malady。 Mme。 de Sable is afraid of contagion； and refuses to see Mlle。 de Rambouillet； who writes her a characteristic letter。 As it gives us a vivid idea of her esprit as well as of her literary style； I copy it in full； though it has been made already familiar to the English reader by George Eliot； in her admirable review of Cousin's 〃Life of Mme。 De Sable。〃
Mlle de Chalais （Dame de compagnie to the Marquise） will please read this letter to Mme。 la Marquise； out of the wind。
Madame； I cannot begin my treaty with you too early； for I am sure that between the first proposition made for me to see you； and the conclusion； you will have so many reflections to make； so many physicians to consult； and so many fears to overcome； that I shall have full leisure to air myself。 The conditions which I offer are； not to visit you until I have been three days absent from the Hotel de Conde； to change all my clothing； to