第 22 节
作者:风雅颂      更新:2021-02-21 14:23      字数:5312
  had only themselves to blame for what had happened。  Soon the new
  mistress ruled all the Court of Savoy; whose sovereign was at her feet as
  before a goddess。  She disposed of the favours of her lover; and was
  feared and courted by the ministry。  Her haughtiness made her hated; she
  was poisoned; M。 de Savoie gave her a subtle antidote; which fortunately
  cured her; and without injury to her beauty。  Her reign still lasted。
  After a while she had the small…pox。  M。 de Savoie tended her during this
  illness; as though he had been a nurse; and although her face suffered a
  little by it; he loved her not the less。  But he loved her after his own
  fashion。  He kept her shut up from view; and at last she grew so tired of
  her restraint that she determined to fly。  She conferred with her
  brother; the Chevalier de Luynes; who served with much distinction in the
  navy; and together they arranged the matter。
  They seized an opportunity when M。 de Savoie had gone on a tour to
  Chambery; and departed furtively。  Crossing our frontier; they arrived m
  Paris; where the Comtesse de Verrue; who had grown very rich; took a
  house; and by degrees succeeded in getting people to come and see her;
  though; at first; owing to the scandal of her life; this was difficult。
  In the end; her opulence gained her a large number of friends; and she
  availed herself so well of her opportunities; that she became of much
  importance; and influenced strongly the government。  But that time goes
  beyond my memoirs。  She left in Turin a son and a daughter; both
  recognised by M。 de Savoie; after the manner of our King。  He loved
  passionately these; illegitimate children; and married the daughter to
  the Prince de Carignan。
  Mademoiselle de Conde died at Paris on October 24th; after a long
  illness; from a disease in the chest; which consumed her less than the
  torments she experienced without end from M。 le Prince; her father; whose
  continual caprices were the plague of all those over whom he could
  exercise them。  Almost all the children of M。 le Prince were little
  bigger than dwarfs; which caused M。 le Prince; who was tall; to say in
  pleasantry; that if his race went on always thus diminishing it would
  come to nothing。  People attributed the cause to a dwarf that Madame la
  Princesse had had for a long time near her。
  At the funeral of Mademoiselle de Conde; a very indecorous incident
  happened。  My mother; who was invited to take part in the ceremony; went
  to the Hotel de Conde; in a coach and six horses; to join Mademoiselle
  d'Enghien。  When the procession was about to start the Duchesse de
  Chatillon tried to take precedence of my mother。  But my mother called
  upon Mademoiselle d'Enghien to prevent this; or else to allow her to
  return。  Madame de Chatillon persisted in her attempt; saying that
  relationship decided the question of precedence on these occasions; and
  that she was a nearer relative to the deceased than my mother。  My
  mother; in a cold but haughty tone; replied that she could pardon this
  mistake on account of the youth and ignorance of Madame de Chatillon; but
  that in all such cases it was rank and not relationship which decided the
  point。  The dispute was at last put to an end by Madame de Chatillon
  giving way。  But when the procession started an attempt was made by her
  coachman to drive before the coach of my mother; and one of the company
  had to descend and decide the dispute。  On the morrow M。 le Prince sent
  to apologise to my mother for the occurrence that had taken place; and
  came himself shortly afterwards full of compliments and excuses。  I never
  could understand what induced Madame de Chatillon to take this fancy into
  her head; but she was much ashamed of it afterwards; and made many
  excuses to my mother。
  I experienced; shortly after this; at Fontainebleau; one of the greatest
  afflictions I had ever endured。  I mean the loss of M。 de La Trappe;
  These Memoirs are too profane to treat slightly of a life so sublimely
  holy; and of a death so glorious and precious before God。  I will content
  myself with saying here that praises of M。 de La Trappe were so much the
  more great and prolonged because the King eulogised him in public; that
  he wished to see narrations of his death; and that he spoke more than
  once of it to his grandsons by way of instruction。  In every part of
  Europe this great loss was severely felt。  The Church wept for him; and
  the world even rendered him justice。  His death; so happy for him and so
  sad for his friends; happened on the 26th of October; towards half…past
  twelve; in the arms of his bishop; and in presence of his community; at
  the age of nearly seventy…seven years; and after nearly forty years of
  the most prodigious penance。  I cannot omit; however; the most touching
  and the most honourable mark of his friendship。  Lying upon the ground;
  on straw and ashes; in order to die like all the brethren of La Trappe;
  he deigned; of his own accord; to recollect me; and charged the Abbe La
  Trappe to send word to me; on his part; that as he was quite sure of my
  affection for him; he reckoned that I should not doubt of his tenderness
  for me。  I check myself at this point; everything I could add would be
  too much out of place here。
  End