THE
AMOURS
OF
THE
DAUPHIN
WITH
THE
Countess
du
Rourre
.
MOst
Men
give
a
different
account
of
the
Dauphin's
Amours
,
and
Intrigues
with
the
Ladies
;
but
it
is
most
certain
that
the
Countess
de
Rourre
is
the
Person
who
has
the
ascendant
over
all
the
rest
;
and
were
Romances
as
much
in
Vogue
at
this
time
,
as
they
have
been
,
we
should
have
wherewith
to
satisfie
those
who
love
the
Amorous
and
witty
Intrigues
that
Prince
has
hitherto
been
ingag'd
in
;
and
prosecuted
by
the
most
secret
and
most
conceal'd
means
,
of
which
we
will
nevertheless
relate
some
Fragments
:
For
let
Princes
of
his
Rank
be
never
so
cautious
,
it
is
impossible
to
keep
them
from
the
knowledge
of
those
who
are
acquainted
with
those
about
them
.
The
Dauphin
has
a
Noble
Air
,
tho'
he
is
none
of
the
Tallest
,
he
grows
very
bulky
,
his
Breast
is
very
high
,
and
his
Shoulders
very
broad
;
he
is
very
Fair
;
his
Eyes
are
blue
,
and
he
has
a
pretty
long
Face
,
a
great
Roman
Nose
,
and
in
all
liklyhood
he
will
grow
very
Fat
.
It
is
very
well
known
that
he
lov'd
the
Countess
du
Rourre
before
she
was
Married
,
when
she
was
Maid
of
Honour
to
the
late
Dauphine
,
and
that
his
Flame
reviv'd
after
her
Husband
was
kill'd
at
the
Battel
of
Fleurus
.
The
Countess
is
of
a
middle
size
,
but
very
well
shap'd
,
her
Eyes
are
blue
,
large
and
lively
,
her
Mouth
small
and
Red
,
her
complexion
is
admirable
,
her
Arms
and
Hands
incomparable
,
but
her
Nose
is
somewhat
short
,
and
turn'd
up
before
,
which
nevertheless
becomes
her
very
well
.
She
is
Daughter
to
the
Duke
de
la
Force
,
her
Mother
was
Daughter
to
the
Marquess
de
Courtaumer
,
whose
first
Husband
was
the
Marquess
de
Langet
:
But
after
having
been
Marry'd
Five
or
Six
Years
to
him
,
being
dissatisfy'd
,
she
desir'd
to
be
parted
,
and
in
order
thereunto
,
she
accus'd
him
of
Impotence
.
A
solemn
Assembly
was
summon'd
for
his
Tryal
,
by
the
Chancery
of
the
Arch-bishoprick
of
Paris
;
in
which
Physicians
,
Chyrurgeons
,
and
Matrons
did
assist
;
But
the
Marquess
de
Langet
,
being
injur'd
and
abus'd
by
his
Wife
,
who
scratch'd
his
Eyes
,
and
several
other
parts
of
his
Face
,
could
not
know
her
,
whereupon
the
Judges
gave
a
Decree
of
separation
,
annull'd
the
Marriage
,
and
declar'd
the
Marquess
Impotent
,
allowing
her
to
Marry
another
.
In
consequence
whereof
she
Marry'd
the
Duke
de
la
Force
,
Brother
to
the
late
Marshal
,
by
whom
she
had
but
one
Daughter
,
who
is
the
Beauty
we
are
now
describing
,
who
Marry'd
the
Count
du
Rourre
,
whose
Widow
she
is
at
present
.
Monsieur
de
Langet
likewise
Marry'd
again
to
the
Duke
de
Nouailles
Sister
,
and
has
had
several
Children
by
her
;
which
shews
that
those
sorts
of
Tryals
often
prove
useless
,
neither
indeed
are
they
any
longer
in
Vogue
.
At
the
time
of
the
last
Jubilee
of
this
present
Year
,
1694.
which
the
Pope
sent
for
the
Peace
,
the
King
order'd
the
Archbishop
of
Paris
and
the
Bishop
of
Meaux
to
go
to
the
Dauphin
,
to
intreat
him
to
forsake
the
Countess
du
Rourre
.
Those
Prelates
accordingly
repair'd
to
the
Prince
,
and
remonstrated
to
him
,
that
being
the
first
Man
in
the
Kingdom
,
next
to
the
King's
Person
,
he
ought
to
shew
by
his
Example
that
he
was
above
all
other
Men
.
That
the
Love
of
Women
was
but
a
Terrestrial
Pleasure
,
which
was
not
to
be
compar'd
to
the
delights
of
Heaven
,
which
could
not
be
gain'd
without
quitting
the
Creatures
,
to
devote
our selves
absolutely
to
the
Creator
:
That
this
great
Jubilee
was
a
very
favourable
occasion
;
and
that
in
forbearing
to
visit
Madam
du
Rourre
,
he
would
do
a
very
acceptable
thing
towards
God
and
towards
the
King
his
Father
,
who
had
order'd
them
to
speak
to
him
about
it
.
The
Dauphin
,
who
is
a
very
witty
Prince
,
and
who
out
of
Policy
does
not
say
all
he
thinks
,
receiv'd
this
Complement
with
a
great
deal
of
Mildness
,
and
after
having
given
them
a
very
patient
hearing
,
thank'd
them
for
their
good
Advice
,
and
addressing
himself
to
the
Archbishop
of
Paris
,
told
him
very
gravely
,
that
he
was
glad
the
King
had
pitch'd
upon
him
to
make
those
Remonstrances
to
him
,
because
he
had
ever
heard
that
he
was
very
well
skill'd
in
those
Matters
.
That
the
Respect
he
had
for
,
and
owed
the
King
his
Father
,
would
make
him
do
what
ever
he
desir'd
:
That
he
had
an
absolute
Power
over
him
;
but
yet
that
he
was
of
Age
,
and
that
in
matters
relating
to
his
Conscience
,
he
thought
he
might
have
his
liberty
:
And
that
tho'
he
was
sensible
that
none
but
the
King
his
Father
could
presume
to
find
fault
with
it
,
yet
he
had
much
ado
to
believe
that
it
came
directly
from
him
,
since
he
was
sensible
himself
;
but
that
he
rather
thought
it
proceeded
from
Madam
de
Maintenon's
Advice
,
who
might
assure
her self
he
would
never
consent
to
her
promotion
to
the
heighth
she
aspir'd
to
.
After
this
the
Prince
,
raising
his
Voice
a
little
higher
;
said
,
Since
the
King
my
Father
,
Gentlemen
,
takes
so
much
care
of
my
Conscience
,
I
wonder
he
has
not
hitherto
taken
some
to
employ
me
;
Do
you
think
I
am
not
weary
of
Hunting
?
His
Majesty
indeed
has
sent
me
on
the
Rhine
,
where
there
was
nothing
considerable
to
be
done
;
I
have
seen
nothing
there
but
tyr'd
Forces
,
and
Misery
,
which
has
kill'd
more
of
our
Men
than
the
Sword
,
or
Fire
:
against
the
Prince
of
Baden
,
his
Majesties
Godson
,
who
indeed
is
a
great
General
;
but
who
was
so
well
Retrench'd
,
that
four
Armies
of
a
Hundred
Thousand
Men
a
piece
would
have
Perish'd
sooner
than
have
forc'd
his
Retrenchments
,
as
the
Marshal
de
L'Orge
told
me
,
while
I
daily
heard
the
Glorious
Actions
that
pass'd
in
Flanders
;
and
when
I
had
a
mind
to
force
him
,
all
the
Officers
being
of
my
mind
,
and
very
eager
to
signalize
themselves
,
Marshal
de
L'Orge
broke
all
the
measures
of
the
Voices
which
were
of
my
side
in
the
Council
,
saying
,
that
it
could
not
be
done
without
Orders
from
the
Court
.
Consider
whether
this
is
reasonable
,
when
a
Dauphin
of
France
is
at
the
Head
of
an
Army
,
and
whether
he
ought
not
to
have
an
absolute
Power
to
Fight
,
or
to
make
the
Army
retire
,
according
as
he
thinks
fit
,
without
the
General's
being
answerable
for
it
,
since
he
should
obey
him
?
But
since
things
have
been
order'd
thus
,
I
can
assure
you
,
that
I
will
make
no
more
Campaigns
without
an
absolute
Power
.
Moreover
,
continued
he
,
the
King
my
Father's
Natural
Children
have
all
been
provided
for
before
their
being
born
;
the
one
has
been
made
High-Admiral
,
the
other
Colonel
of
the
Switzers
.
The
Count
de
Tolose
has
been
all
along
between
the
Kings
Legs
,
and
still
follows
him
wherever
he
goes
,
which
several
Officers
complain
of
,
by
reason
that
whenever
they
have
any
Favours
to
beg
of
his
Majesty
,
that
young
Prince
hinders
him
from
answering
them
,
●●ill
starting
one
thing
or
another
which
hinders
the
King
from
hearing
their
Suits
;
and
the
rest
have
had
considerable
Imployments
;
The
Duke
du
Maine
has
been
almost
the
sole
possessor
of
all
the
great
Places
,
notwithstanding
the
Infirmity
of
his
Body
,
and
his
hardly
being
able
to
stand
.
The
Daughters
have
been
provided
for
,
and
Marry'd
very
advantagiously
to
Princes
.
The
late
Prince
of
Conti
Marry'd
one
of
them
;
the
Duke
de
Chartres
,
Son
to
his
Royal
Highness
the
Duke
of
Orleans
my
Uncle
,
has
Marry'd
another
,
and
you
know
the
rest
.
And
the
Duke
of
Burgundy
my
Son
,
who
is
very
lawfully
begotten
has
nothing
yet
,
no
more
than
the
Princes
his
Brothers
;
and
I
,
who
am
Dauphin
of
France
have
so
much
Authority
,
that
the
King's
Officers
resuse
to
pay
Madam
du
Rourre's
Pensions
,
because
't
is
known
that
I
have
a
respect
for
her
;
there
is
almost
Three
Years
due
to
her
,
and
when
I
poke
to
Pontchartrain
about
it
,
she
told
me
there
was
no
Fund
;
he
who
gets
upwards
of
Six
Millions
a
Month
profit
up
on
the
Sale
of
the
Corn
of
the
Kingdom
,
which
makes
so
many
Wretches
starve
,
and
makes
the
whole
Kingdom
fall
into
decay
,
insomuch
that
,
if
it
continues
,
there
will
not
remain
two
thirds
of
the
People
alive
.
You
will
also
shortly
see
the
Duke
Du
Maine
Duke
and
Peer
of
France
;
the
King
has
already
given
him
a
dispensation
,
so
that
no
body
is
to
examin
his
Life
and
Conversation
,
and
express
Letters
to
hold
a
rank
above
all
the
other
Dukes
and
Peers
and
Foreign
Princes
,
immediately
after
the
Princes
of
the
Blood
.
This
actually
came
to
pass
as
the
Dauphin
had
said
it
,
for
on
Thursday
being
the
sixth
of
May
,
of
the
present
year
1694.
The
King
sent
for
the
Parliament
to
Versailles
,
and
the
only
thing
he
said
to
them
,
when
they
came
on
the
Friday
,
was
,
Gentlemen
,
the
Duke
Du
Maine
will
carry
you
a
Letter
from
me
to
morrow
,
the
Orders
whereof
you
must
Execute
.
The
first
President
,
who
was
prepar'd
to
harangue
his
Majesty
upon
the
Subject
of
the
Misery
of
the
Times
,
and
about
the
dearth
of
Corn
,
had
no
sooner
open'd
his
mouth
to
begin
his
Speech
,
but
the
King
retir'd
without
giving
any
ear
to
it
.
And
on
Saturday
being
the
eighth
of
May
,
the
Duke
Du
Maine
was
receiv'd
in
the
Parliament
,
being
accompany'd
with
the
Count
of
Tolose
his
Brother
,
to
whom
it
is
reported
,
the
King
will
give
a
considerable
Dutchy
,
in
order
to
his
obtaining
the
same
advantage
,
and
Orders
are
also
given
to
provide
a
Magnificent
Equipage
for
him
to
make
his
first
Campaign
.
The
Archbishop
of
Paris
and
the
Bishop
of
Meaux
having
heard
all
the
Dauphin's
Complaints
,
durst
press
him
no
farther
,
but
took
their
leave
of
him
very
respectfully
,
and
then
went
back
to
the
King
to
give
him
an
account
thereof
;
whereupon
his
Majesty
thought
sit
to
send
for
the
Dauphin
into
his
Closet
,
and
at
the
same
time
sent
for
two
Lords
,
who
are
the
most
belov'd
by
that
Prince
,
to
speak
to
him
in
their
Presence
,
who
were
the
Duke
of
Vendome
,
and
the
Count
De
Sainte-Maure
his
Favourites
.
When
the
Dauphin
came
into
the
Closet
,
his
Majesty
was
seated
in
a
great
Chair
,
leaning
upon
a
Table
,
he
mov'd
his
Hat
a
little
,
which
he
had
on
contrary
to
his
wonted
custom
,
and
without
moving
from
his
Seat
,
he
desir'd
Monsieur
de
Sainte-Maure
to
lock
the
Door
,
and
then
began
thus
:
I
am
sorry
,
my
Son
,
at
your
discontents
,
and
yet
I
do
not
find
our
affairs
to
be
in
a
posture
for
us
to
fall
out
,
you
receive
Councils
which
you
ought
not
to
follow
;
you
may
be
sensible
that
whatever
I
have
done
hitherto
,
has
only
been
for
the
Repose
,
and
for
the
Grandeur
of
the
Kingdom
,
as
well
as
for
the
good
of
the
Crown
,
which
you
may
hope
for
one
day
,
and
thus
all
my
Toyls
and
Victories
are
more
for
you
than
for
my self
;
you
may
go
to
Command
where
ever
you
please
,
in
Germany
,
in
Flanders
,
in
Catalonia
,
and
in
Piemont
,
and
you
shall
have
an
absolute
Power
when
it
will
be
fit
:
You
shall
always
dispose
of
such
Employments
as
you
please
in
favour
of
the
Princes
your
Children
,
as
well
as
of
such
Friends
as
you
shall
be
minded
to
gratifie
,
to
which
you
will
ever
find
me
ready
to
comply
.
There
is
no
man
in
the
Kingdom
in
whom
I
repose
a
greater
confidence
than
I
do
in
you
;
and
if
hitherto
you
have
not
had
as
much
Money
as
you
could
desire
,
I
have
only
done
it
to
shew
you
the
scarcity
of
it
,
and
the
reason
of
my
sending
you
into
Germany
,
was
because
I
was
unwilling
to
expose
you
against
a
Prince
who
is
the
Usurper
of
a
Crown
.
His
Majesty
having
said
many
other
obliging
things
to
him
,
rose
from
his
Seat
,
and
imbrac'd
him
so
tenderly
,
that
the
Dauphin
could
not
forbear
some
Tears
,
which
produc'd
the
same
effect
on
Messieurs
de
Vendome
,
and
de
Sainte
Maure
:
After
which
his
Majesty
having
madeseveral
other
Remonstrances
to
him
,
which
it
would
be
needless
to
repeat
,
as
being
perhaps
of
very
little
moment
,
he
open'd
the
.
Door
himself
,
and
order'd
the
Usher
to
call
in
Father
La
Chaise
,
Confessor
to
that
Prince
,
as
well
as
to
his
Majesty
,
who
had
been
order'd
to
wait
without
,
and
related
to
him
,
in
the
Dauphin's
presence
,
the
Conversation
he
had
had
with
him
:
The
Father
answer'd
,
Sir
,
I
do
no
ways
concern
my self
with
affairs
of
State
,
in
relation
to
his
Royal
Highness
,
I
only
meddle
with
what
relates
to
his
Conscience
,
a
method
I
have
ever
observ'd
with
your
Majesty
.
The
King
smil'd
,
and
was
very
well
pleas'd
with
his
Reply
.
His
Majesty
,
who
has
the
most
penetrating
Wit
of
any
Man
in
his
Kingdom
,
and
has
an
Extraordinary
Policy
,
did
not
think
fit
to
press
the
Dauphin
any
farther
about
the
Jubilee
,
which
pass'd
without
being
gain'd
by
that
Prince
.
Immediately
after
Low
Sunday
,
the
King
being
at
Table
,
told
the
Dauphin
that
he
was
desirous
to
go
to
Choisi
,
and
ask'd
him
whether
he
would
let
him
be
his
Guest
for
some
time
,
because
he
lik'd
the
place
,
and
desir'd
him
to
give
him
an
Appartment
there
.
The
Dauphin
express'd
a
great
deal
of
seeming
joy
at
it
,
and
told
the
King
he
might
dispose
of
all
things
,
and
do
whatever
he
thought
fit
;
however
he
acquainted
the
Countess
du
Rourre
immediately
with
it
,
who
us'd
often
to
go
there
,
and
actually
was
there
at
that
time
,
who
withdrew
forthwith
.
Orders
were
given
at
the
same
time
to
Furnish
an
Apartment
for
his
Majesty
,
which
was
done
with
all
the
Magnificence
imaginable
,
with
the
richest
Furnitures
that
were
at
Marli
.
Another
Apartment
was
also
furnish'd
a-new
for
the
Dauphin
,
with
certain
Moveables
that
had
been
made
on
purpose
for
Pleasures
,
which
did
remain
there
.
The
whole
Court
went
to
Choisi
,
and
the
Dauphin
receiv'd
the
King
there
with
great
Magnificence
,
and
gave
him
the
Divertisement
of
Hunting
,
as
well
as
to
the
Ladies
.
His
Majesty
,
after
two
days
stay
there
,
resolv'd
to
return
to
Versailles
,
at
a
time
when
all
the
young
Princes
and
Princesses
were
ingag'd
in
the
midst
of
Pleasures
and
Delights
,
and
while
many
others
were
preparing
for
the
following
days
;
which
the
Princesses
de
Conti
and
du
Maine
being
unwilling
to
quit
so
soon
,
desir'd
the
Dauphin
to
joyn
with
them
to
Petition
the
King
,
that
they
might
tarry
two
days
longer
,
which
were
Saturday
and
Sunday
;
which
his
Majesty
granted
,
on
condition
that
the
Princesses
de
Lillebone
and
d'
Epinoy
should
remain
with
the
Princess
of
Conti
to
answer
for
her
Conduct
towards
the
Dauphin
;
his
Majesty
not
being
displeas'd
with
th'inclination
he
has
for
that
Princess
,
because
his
Majesty
by
that
means
has
been
acquainted
with
many
particulars
relating
to
him
,
which
he
could
never
have
known
without
the
Princess
of
Conti
;
but
those
who
are
about
that
Princess
,
as
well
as
those
who
are
about
the
Dauphin
,
observe
them
so
narrowly
that
it
is
impossible
for
them
to
do
any
thing
that
is
unlawful
together
,
as
some
ill
Tongues
have
endeavour'd
to
perswade
the
World
;
and
it
is
most
certain
that
all
the
Love
which
this
Prince
and
that
Princess
express
towards
one
another
,
is
nothing
but
Fraternal
Love
,
and
if
they
are
so
narrowly
watch'd
,
't
is
only
because
that
the
King
having
at
present
laid
aside
all
thoughts
of
Gallantry
with
the
Ladies
,
as
well
as
many
other
things
,
to
apply
himself
wholly
to
the
Devotion
which
Madam
de
Maintenon
inspires
in
him
,
and
to
the
affairs
of
his
Kingdom
;
he
is
very
curious
to
know
all
that
passes
among
the
young
People
of
his
Court
,
as
well
as
in
the
Houses
of
the
Grandees
,
to
which
end
he
employs
several
persons
,
who
give
him
a
particular
account
of
all
Transactions
there
,
as
well
as
among
the
Gentlemen
of
the
Gown
.
And
he
seems
to
be
inclinable
to
the
humor
of
Lewis
the
11th
.
who
towards
the
latter
end
of
his
days
lock'd
himself
up
in
a
Castle
,
which
he
caus'd
to
be
Barr'd
on
all
sides
,
and
sent
for
St.
Francis
de
Paulo
out
of
Calabria
in
Italy
,
who
was
Sirnam'd
the
Good
Man
,
and
was
highly
reputed
for
his
Godliness
,
to
secure
him
against
all
the
Visions
and
Fears
he
had
of
Death
and
the
Devil
;
and
in
recompence
,
his
Majesty
allow'd
him
to
Found
two
Convents
of
Minims
,
which
to
this
day
are
call'd
Les
Bons
hommes
.
The
Fears
his
Majesty
is
also
lyable
to
from
time
to
time
,
oblige
Madam
de
Maintenon
to
be
imploy'd
for
the
most
time
,
and
particularly
in
the
Night
,
in
throwing
holy
water
up
and
down
,
and
especially
in
all
the
Apartments
and
Chambers
,
in
which
his
Majesty
most
commonly
resorts
.
The
King
being
gone
for
Versailles
,
all
those
young
Princesses
renew'd
their
Divertisements
with
the
young
Princes
and
Lords
who
tarry'd
behind
with
them
.
The
Dauphin
Treated
them
with
the
sport
of
Hawking
and
walking
.
After
which
,
that
Troop
of
Demy-gods
repair'd
to
Paris
,
to
see
the
New
Opera
which
was
represented
for
the
second
time
at
the
Palace-Royal
,
the
Story
of
which
was
that
of
Cephalus
and
Procris
,
the
Musick
of
which
was
compos'd
by
Mademoiselle
de
la
Guerre
.
During
these
Transactions
,
the
Countess
du
Rourre
confin'd
her self
into
a
fine
House
which
the
Dauphin
has
given
her
,
built
by
the
late
Baptiste
Lully
,
near
the
Gate
of
St.
Honore
,
where
she
would
receive
no
Visits
,
whether
it
were
because
she
was
not
as
yet
publickly
acknowledg'd
Mistress
to
his
Royal
Highness
,
or
because
she
found
her self
indispos'd
by
a
great
Belly
of
six
or
seven
Months
growth
.
And
whereas
an
absence
of
ten
or
twelve
days
was
too
long
a
Penance
for
a
Lady
who
had
the
happiness
to
find
her self
engag'd
to
love
a
Man
of
the
Dauphin's
Quality
,
with
more
tenderness
than
ever
she
had
lov'd
any
other
,
it
oblig'd
her
to
write
the
following
Letter
to
him
.
LETTER
.
DId
I
know
you
to
be
engag'd
at
the
head
of
your
Armies
,
my
dear
Prince
,
or
on
a
Progress
with
his
Majesty
,
I
would
comfort
my self
with
the
hopes
of
your
return
;
but
knowing
that
you
are
at
home
,
surrounded
by
a
Court
,
in
which
I
have
a
world
of
Enemies
,
and
Persons
who
envy
my
happiness
,
I
cannot
bear
so
long
an
absence
with
patience
.
The
Travels
of
Joyeux
and
of
Dumont
,
which
you
have
sent
me
can
no
wise
divert
my
Affliction
;
since
nothing
but
your self
can
ease
my
pains
and
s●fferings
.
Therefore
do
not
leave
me
long
in
the
Dread
I
am
in
,
that
a
new
Engagement
should
make
you
forget
my
Passion
for
you
.
It
will
be
your
fault
,
my
Dear
Prince
,
if
it
does
not
last
for
ever
:
Let
that
convince
you
of
my
Despair
,
in
case
I
should
lose
the
affection
of
a
Prince
whom
I
will
love
to
the
very
last
moment
of
my
life
.
The
Dauphin
who
had
put
this
Letter
into
his
Pocket
,
could
not
forbear
pulling
of
it
out
from
time
to
time
to
read
it
over
again
,
for
fear
of
not
having
understood
the
sense
of
it
right
at
first
,
or
of
Madam
du
Rourre's
being
worse
than
she
said
;
which
being
observ'd
by
the
Princess
of
Conti
,
she
follow'd
him
softly
,
and
at
last
snatch'd
it
dexterously
out
of
his
hands
,
without
his
being
able
to
prevent
it
;
after
which
she
run
away
laughing
to
the
Princesses
of
Lillebone
and
d'Epinoy
,
who
surrounded
her
with
other
Ladies
.
The
Dauphin
endeavour'd
to
retake
it
from
her
,
but
in
vain
,
and
whatever
instances
he
could
make
,
the
Princess
refus'd
to
return
it
to
him
,
saying
she
was
sure
it
was
a
Letter
from
a
Lady
.
Pray
,
said
she
,
let
me
see
the
stile
of
it
,
and
how
she
describes
her
Passion
;
She
pronounc'd
these
Words
with
an
Air
so
charming
,
and
so
full
of
Gallantry
,
that
it
would
have
oblig'd
any
Man
,
besides
the
Dauphin
,
to
yield
,
tho
he
had
not
been
a
Votary
to
the
fair
Sex
;
besides
all
the
other
Ladies
who
were
present
did
second
her
with
so
much
Grace
,
saying
,
Sir
,
you
cannot
,
without
unkindness
,
refuse
the
reading
of
it
to
the
Princess
,
since
she
never
conceal'd
any
of
her
Concerns
from
you
,
and
that
we
daily
hear
her
say
,
that
nothing
in
the
World
will
ever
make
her
depart
from
your
interest
;
that
at
last
he
was
forc'd
to
consent
that
she
should
read
it
,
provided
none
besides
her self
did
see
it
.
The
Princess
of
Lillebone
told
him
,
Sir
,
I
give
the
Princess
leave
to
read
it
alone
,
and
we
will
withdraw
as
long
as
you
please
,
on
condition
that
you
shall
not
enter
into
the
Wood
,
for
I
will
not
suffer
the
King's
Charge
to
be
out
of
my
sight
.
The
Princess
of
Conti
,
stroking
her
Cheek
gently
,
answer'd
,
no
my
Dear
,
we
will
not
move
out
of
your
sight
.
After
which
the
Dauphin
,
taking
her
by
the
Arm
,
led
her
to
a
Seat
of
Green
Turf
,
where
none
but
the
Birds
could
hear
them
,
and
even
they
,
would
have
been
interrupted
by
the
noise
of
the
Ducks
of
the
adjoining
Cascades
,
and
by
the
great
number
of
Fountains
,
which
,
spouting
their
beautiful
Crystal
into
the
Air
,
fall
with
an
agreeable
noise
into
the
Basons
again
.
It
was
in
this
Place
the
Princess
told
the
Dauphin
,
after
she
had
open'd
and
read
his
Letter
,
Ah!
I
thought
this
Letter
came
from
the
Countess
du
Rourre
,
I
did
suspect
no
other
,
the
poor
Lady
is
sick
,
she
dies
unless
she
sees
you
;
nothing
but
a
Dauphin
can
cure
her
:
her
Expressions
are
very
common
;
certainly
she
is
the
most
impudent
Woman
I
know
at
Court
.
She
and
Polignac
are
alike
;
they
debauch'd
each
other
out
of
Emulation
to
have
Lovers
;
while
they
belong'd
to
the
Dauphin
,
and
while
that
Princess
was
busie
with
acquainting
the
Elector
of
Bavaria
her
Brother
with
all
the
Transactions
of
the
Court
,
they
stole
away
cunningly
to
divert
themselves
with
certain
Courtiers
and
your self
:
I
am
sensible
that
you
had
an
Engagement
with
her
at
that
very
time
,
and
I
have
heard
the
poor
late
Count
du
Rourre
say
with
my
own
Ears
that
he
curs'd
the
day
he
was
marry'd
with
that
wretch
.
That
poor
Gentleman
,
taking
his
leave
of
the
King
to
go
to
the
Army
,
coming
out
of
his
Majesties
Chamber
,
told
a
Friend
of
his
who
came
to
embrace
him
,
that
he
was
in
hopes
never
to
return
,
upon
the
account
of
the
discontents
he
did
receive
from
his
Wife
;
and
I
do
verily
believe
it
was
despair
made
him
expose
his
Life
at
Fleurus
,
as
much
as
his
Duty
to
the
King
;
and
I
am
mistaken
,
if
I
have
not
heard
that
it
was
a
Friend
of
the
said
Lady
who
kill'd
the
poor
Count
behind
,
that
his
Wife
might
have
no
body
to
controul
her
.
Is
it
not
very
honourable
to
have
such
a
Mistress
!
sure
it
is
a
shame
for
a
Prince
of
your
Rank
to
think
on
such
Wretches
,
who
have
already
been
prostituted
,
and
to
whom
the
first
comer
is
welcome
.
I
will
moreover
acquaint
you
with
the
weakness
the
Prince
of
Turenne
had
for
her
,
for
when
her
Huband
dy'd
,
he
resolv'd
to
profit
by
it
,
and
to
apply
himself
to
her
,
which
he
did
,
and
fell
so
desperately
in
Love
with
her
,
that
it
had
like
to
have
broke
off
his
Match
with
Mademoiselle
de
Ventadour
,
the
richest
Heiress
of
the
Kingdom
,
and
even
after
he
was
marry'd
to
her
,
the
Engagement
he
renew'd
with
Madam
du
Rourre
,
made
him
despise
his
Wife
;
and
the
thing
went
so
far
,
that
he
design'd
to
part
with
her
;
but
the
Combat
of
Steenkerque
,
in
which
he
was
kill'd
,
broke
all
the
Measures
he
had
taken
for
the
said
Separation
,
in
order
to
give
himself
wholly
up
to
her
,
and
he
has
given
sufficient
proofs
of
the
reality
of
his
Passion
for
her
,
and
that
he
lov'd
none
but
her self
;
for
finding
himself
mortally
Wounded
,
and
given
over
by
the
Chirurgeons
,
he
neglected
the
care
of
his
Affairs
,
and
made
no
other
use
of
half
an
hours
life
which
he
had
left
,
but
to
write
a
very
moving
Letter
to
that
Lady
,
which
he
had
no
sooner
ended
,
but
he
gave
it
to
a
Gentleman
,
and
order'd
him
to
deliver
it
into
her
own
hands
,
together
with
a
little
Casket
,
and
then
expir'd
in
the
Marshal
of
Luxemburg's
Tent
,
where
that
General
had
order'd
him
to
be
brought
,
in
order
to
his
being
the
more
carefully
look'd
after
:
The
said
Letter
was
partly
written
in
these
words
.
LETTER
.
I
Die
,
Madam
,
and
nothing
but
the
grief
of
quitting
,
and
of
losing
you
,
raises
any
trouble
in
me
,
the
Glory
of
my
Death
,
and
the
undauntedness
with
which
I
have
ever
look'd
on
Perils
,
can
comfort
me
when
I
think
that
I
shall
never
see
you
more
.
My
life
was
only
agreeable
to
me
,
in
hopes
of
passing
it
with
you
.
I
return
you
all
the
tokens
I
have
receiv'd
of
your
Love
,
together
with
your
Picture
,
which
I
have
ever
cherish'd
to
my
death
.
Pray
honour
my
Memory
with
some
moments
of
your
remembrance
:
And
tho
I
dare
not
hope
that
my
unhappy
Fate
will
draw
any
tears
from
you
,
the
Passion
I
have
preserv'd
for
you
to
my
latest
breath
,
flatters
me
that
you
will
be
concern'd
at
the
death
of
a
Prince
who
only
desir'd
to
live
for
you
.
This
Gentleman
,
who
was
the
most
faithful
of
all
the
Prince's
Followers
,
and
who
had
been
Page
to
his
Father
,
promis'd
to
perform
his
Master's
Orders
punctually
,
and
to
deliver
the
Letter
and
Casket
into
Madam
du
Rourre's
own
hands
.
And
this
poor
Prince
causing
the
said
Casket
to
be
open'd
,
put
a
Bloody
Cravat
into
it
,
which
had
serv'd
to
bind
up
his
first
Wound
,
and
then
deliver'd
the
Key
to
the
said
Gentleman
,
who
immediately
took
Post
for
Paris
,
to
do
his
Master
this
last
piece
of
service
,
with
a
positive
Command
from
him
to
acquaint
the
said
Lady
with
his
Death
,
before
he
went
to
the
Hotel
d'
Auvergne
,
which
he
perform'd
punctually
;
but
whereas
he
could
not
reach
Paris
until
Three
in
the
Afternoon
the
following
day
,
he
did
not
meet
with
Madam
du
Rourre
,
but
being
inform'd
she
was
gone
to
divert
her self
with
the
Princesses
of
Soissons
,
who
were
retir'd
into
the
Convent
of
Mercy
,
in
the
Faubourg
St.
Germain
,
after
the
death
of
the
Princess
of
Carignan
their
Grand-mother
;
he
repair'd
thither
without
pulling
off
his
Boots
,
all
over
cover'd
with
dust
.
At
his
coming
in
,
Madam
du
Rourre
,
seeing
the
Casket
which
he
held
in
his
hands
,
made
a
great
shriek
,
and
fell
in
a
swoon
,
in
which
she
remain'd
until
the
Princesses
drew
near
her
,
to
assist
her
;
and
the
first
word
she
spoke
was
,
Alas
!
the
poor
Prince
of
Turrenne
is
dead
;
the
Princesses
telling
her
that
she
frighted
her self
without
a
cause
;
she
reply'd
,
Alas
!
that
Casket
convinces
me
but
too
much
of
it
;
for
the
Prince
of
Turrenne
has
but
too
often
sworn
to
me
that
I
should
never
see
it
again
until
while
he
was
alive
.
The
Gentleman
having
confirm'd
this
ill
news
,
the
Princesses
expressed
all
the
concern
at
it
,
which
good
natur'd
Ladies
use
to
do
on
such
occasions
,
and
comforting
Madam
du
Rourre
upon
her
loss
,
desir'd
her
to
open
the
Letter
,
which
she
did
,
shedding
some
Tears
:
Alas
!
said
she
,
I
lose
a
Prince
who
lov'd
no
body
but
my self
in
the
World
.
This
Death
being
indifferent
to
the
Princesses
of
Soissons
,
who
fancy'd
that
in
opening
the
Casket
they
would
find
some
of
the
Favours
which
Lovers
commonly
keep
for
the
sake
of
their
Mistresses
,
as
we
read
in
Romances
,
press'd
her
earnestly
to
open
it
,
having
a
mind
to
divert
themselves
at
her
Cost
,
which
she
did
not
mind
;
and
having
open'd
it
,
the
first
thing
that
offer'd
it self
to
their
sight
,
was
the
Bloody
Crevat
which
the
Gentleman
assur'd
them
was
his
Master's
;
and
that
after
having
apply'd
it
to
his
first
Wound
,
he
had
still
done
several
Actions
which
were
almost
incredible
,
the
bravery
of
which
the
Princesses
admir'd
;
and
Madam
du
Rourre
seem'd
all
the
while
to
weep
bitterly
;
the
next
thing
they
found
was
her
Picture
,
the
Case
of
which
the
Prince
had
caus'd
to
be
set
with
Diamonds
;
the
Princesses
having
observ'd
the
Workmanship
of
it
,
which
was
incomparable
,
admir'd
the
Picture
,
and
the
true
Resemblance
of
it
,
and
smiling
,
told
Madam
du
Rourre
,
some
other
Man
will
be
overjoy'd
to
have
this
fine
Picture
;
which
made
her
smile
also
.
The
Gentleman
preceiving
the
inconstancy
of
the
Lady
could
no
longer
endure
the
sight
of
her
,
but
went
out
holding
his
Handkerchif
before
his
Eyes
.
They
also
found
some
Bracelets
,
and
Lockets
,
and
several
of
the
Countess
du
Rourre's
Letters
,
which
she
would
not
suffer
them
to
read
:
The
Princesses
kept
her
to
Supper
,
and
made
her
lie
there
,
where
they
pass'd
the
Evening
at
Play
.
The
next
Day
they
all
went
to
divert
themselves
in
the
Country
,
and
the
Prince
de
Turenne's
Death
was
soon
forgotten
by
Madam
du
Rourre
.
This
Story
has
been
talk'd
of
sufficiently
in
the
World
,
as
well
at
Court
,
as
among
the
Citizens
of
Paris
,
where
the
said
Lady
is
known
for
what
she
is
.
The
Dauphin
having
heard
this
long
Discourse
,
and
the
Story
of
Madam
du
Rourre
,
with
the
Prince
de
Turenne
,
was
going
to
reply
to
the
Princess
of
Conti
,
in
favour
of
the
aforesaid
Lady
:
But
the
Princess
arose
as
it
were
in
anger
,
but
yet
without
saying
any
thing
of
it
to
the
Princesses
de
Lillebonne
,
and
d'Epinoy
,
the
whole
Assembly
walk'd
into
the
Hall
where
the
Play
was
represented
,
and
where
the
Musick
had
already
play'd
several
times
.
During
all
the
Play
,
the
Dauphin
kept
close
to
the
Princess's
Ear
,
who
harken'd
but
indifferently
to
what
he
said
;
and
the
Play
being
ended
,
he
Conducted
her
to
her
Apartment
,
where
he
own'd
the
Engagement
he
had
had
with
Madam
du
Rourre
,
acquainting
her
with
the
least
Circumstances
of
it
,
all
the
Rendezvous
he
had
had
with
her
,
and
finally
the
present
state
of
his
affairs
with
her
,
how
she
had
told
him
that
she
was
with
Child
,
and
how
by
her
Flatteries
,
and
Amorous
behaviour
,
she
had
ingag'd
him
to
acknowledge
the
Child
to
be
his
.
The
Princess
who
remembred
every
Syllable
of
all
this
,
made
an
exact
relation
of
it
to
the
King
,
to
which
she
added
many
other
Circumstances
.
The
King
sent
for
Joyeux
,
Valet
de
Chambre
to
the
said
Prince
,
who
confirm'd
what
ever
he
knew
of
it
,
and
laying
all
the
Intrigue
at
Du
Mont's
Door
,
who
was
Master
of
the
Horse
to
the
said
Prince
,
and
his
chief
Favourite
,
the
King
sent
an
Order
to
the
Dauphin
to
dismiss
him
,
the
Dauphin
being
surpriz'd
thereat
,
and
not
daring
to
disobey
the
King's
Orders
,
answer'd
,
that
since
Du
Mont
was
not
agreeable
to
his
Majesty
,
he
hop'd
he
would
not
take
it
amiss
if
he
dislik'd
those
he
had
plac'd
near
him
,
and
so
dismist
them
also
.
The
King
finding
that
this
occasion'd
Disorders
,
sent
a
Signet
Letter
to
the
Countess
du
Rourre
to
confine
her
into
Normandy
,
at
her
Uncles
House
the
Marquess
de
Courtaumer
.
But
the
Lady
excusing
her self
upon
her
Indisposition
,
and
the
Dauphin
having
made
a
noise
about
it
,
that
affair
has
been
prosecuted
no
farther
:
The
Countess
has
receiv'd
the
Money
of
the
Pensions
which
were
due
to
her
,
and
the
Prince
seems
at
present
to
be
very
well
reconcil'd
with
the
King
his
Father
;
but
the
Countess
du
Rourre
goes
no
longer
to
Court
as
she
us'd
to
do
.
FINIS
.