第 23 节
作者:淘气      更新:2021-02-19 16:57      字数:4955
  continued to receive her flock。  But being again detected; she was sent;
  without further parley; to the Bastille; well treated there; but allowed
  to see nobody; not even to write。  Before being arrested; however; she
  had been put into the hands of M。 de Meaux; who used all his endeavours
  to change her sentiments。  Tired at last of his sermons; she feigned
  conviction; signed a recantation of her opinions; and was set at liberty。
  Yet; directly after; she held her secret assemblies in the Faubourg Saint
  Antoine; and it was in consequence of this abuse of freedom that she was
  arrested。  These adventures bring me far into the year 1696; and the
  sequel extends into the following year。  Let us finish this history at
  once; and return afterwards to what happened meanwhile。
  Monsieur de Cambrai; stunned but not overpowered by the reverse he had
  sustained; and by his loss of favour with Madame de Maintenon; stood firm
  in his stirrups。  After Madame Guyon's abuse of her liberty; and the
  conferences of Issy; he bethought himself of confessing to M。 de Meaux;
  by which celebrated trick he hoped to close that prelate's mouth。  These
  circumstances induced M。 de Meaux to take pen in hand; in order to expose
  to the public the full account of his affair; and of Madame Guyon's
  doctrine; and he did so in a work under the title of 'Instruction sur les
  Etats d'Oyaison'。
  While the book was yet unpublished; M。 de Cambrai was shown a copy。  He
  saw at once the necessity of writing another to ward off the effect of
  such a blow。  He must have had a great deal of matter already prepared;
  otherwise the diligence he used would be incredible。  Before M。 de
  Meaux's book was ready; M。 de Cambrai's; entitled 'Maximes des Saints';
  was published and distributed。  M。 de Chevreuse; who corrected the
  proofs; installed himself at the printer's; so as to see every sheet as
  soon as printed。
  This book; written in the strangest manner; did M。 de Cambrai little
  service。  If people were offended to find it supported upon no authority;
  they were much more so with its confused and embarrassed style; its
  precision so restrained and so decided; its barbarous terms which seemed
  as though taken from a foreign tongue; above all; its high…flown and far…
  fetched thoughts; which took one's breath away; as in the too subtle air
  of the middle region。  Nobody; except the theologians; understood it; and
  even they not without reading it three or four times。  Connoisseurs found
  in it a pure Quietism; which; although wrapped up in fine language; was
  clearly visible。  I do not give my own judgment of things so much beyond
  me; but repeat what was said everywhere。  Nothing else was talked about;
  even by the ladies; and a propos of this; the saying of Madame de Sevigne
  was revived: 〃Make religion a little more palpable; it evaporates by dint
  of being over…refined。〃
  Not a word was heard in praise of the book; everybody was opposed to it;
  and it was the means of making Madame de Maintenon more unfavourable to
  M。 de Cambrai than ever。  He sent the King a copy; without informing her。
  This completed her annoyance against him。  M。 de Cambrai; finding his
  book so ill…received by the Court and by the prelates; determined to try
  and support it on the authority of Rome; a step quite opposed to our
  manners。  In the mean time; M。 de Meaux's book appeared in two volumes
  octavo; well written; clear; modest; and supported upon the authority of
  the Scriptures。  It was received with avidity; and absolutely devoured。
  There was not a person at the Court who did not take a pleasure in
  reading it; so that for a long time it was the common subject of
  conversation of the Court and of the town。
  These two books; so opposed in doctrine and in style; made such a stir on
  every side that the King interposed; and forced M。 de Cambrai to submit
  his work to an examination by a council of prelates; whom he named。
  M。 de Cambrai asked permission to go to Rome to defend his cause in
  person; but this the King refused。  He sent his book; therefore; to the
  Pope; and had the annoyance to receive a dry; cold reply; and to see
  M。 de Meaux's book triumph。  His good fortune was in effect at an end。
  He remained at Court some little time; but the King was soon irritated
  against him; sent him off post…haste to Paris; and from there to his
  diocese; whence he has never returned。  He left behind him a letter for
  one of his friends; M。 de Chevreuse it was generally believed; which
  immediately after became public。  It appeared like the manifesto of a man
  who disgorges his bile and restrains himself no more; because he has
  nothing more to hope。  The letter; bold and bitter in style; was besides
  so full of ability and artifice; that it was extremely pleasant to read;
  without finding approvers; so true it is that a wise and disdainful
  silence is difficult to keep under reverses。
  End