the memoirs of marie antoinette-第10章
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ADAME CAMPAN＇
Madame Victoire； good； sweet…tempered； and affable； lived with the most amiable simplicity in a society wherein she was much caressed； she was adored by her household。 Without quitting Versailles； without sacrificing her easy chair； she fulfilled the duties of religion with punctuality； gave to the poor all she possessed； and strictly observed Lent and the fasts。 The table of Mesdames acquired a reputation for dishes of abstinence； spread abroad by the assiduous parasites at that of their maitre d'hotel。 Madame Victoire was not indifferent to good living； but she had the most religious scruples respecting dishes of which it was allowable to partake at penitential times。 I saw her one day exceedingly tormented by her doubts about a water…fowl； which was often served up to her during Lent。 The question to be determined was； whether it was 'maigre' or 'gras'。 She consulted a bishop； who happened to be of the party： the prelate immediately assumed the grave attitude of a judge who is about to pronounce sentence。 He answered the Princess that； in a similar case of doubt； it had been resolved that after dressing the bird it should be pricked over a very cold silver dish； if the gravy of the animal congealed within a quarter of an hour； the creature was to be accounted flesh； but if the gravy remained in an oily state； it might be eaten without scruple。 Madame Victoire immediately made the experiment： the gravy did not congeal； and this was a source of great joy to the Princess； who was very partial to that sort of game。 The abstinence which so much occupied the attention of Madame Victoire was so disagreeable to her； that she listened with impatience for the midnight hour of Holy Saturday； and then she was immediately supplied with a good dish of fowl and rice； and sundry other succulent viands。 She confessed with such amiable candour her taste for good cheer and the comforts of life； that it would have been necessary to be as severe in principle as insensible to the excellent qualities of the Princess； to consider it a crime in her。
Madame Adelaide had more mind than Madame Victoire； but she was altogether deficient in that kindness which alone creates affection for the great； abrupt manners； a harsh voice； and a short way of speaking； rendering her more than imposing。 She carried the idea of the prerogative of rank to a high pitch。 One of her chaplains was unlucky enough to say 'Dominus vobiscum' with rather too easy an air； the Princess rated him soundly for it after mass； and told him to remember that he was not a bishop； and not again to think of officiating in the style of a prelate。
Mesdames lived quite separate from the King。 Since the death of Madame de Pompadour he had lived alone。 The enemies of the Duc de Choiseul did not know in what department； nor through what channel； they could prepare and bring about the downfall of the man who stood in their way。 The King was connected only with women of so low a class that they could not be made use of for any delicate intrigue； moreover； the Parc…aux…Cerfs was a seraglio； the beauties of which were often replaced； it was desirable to give the King a mistress who could form a circle； and in whose drawing… room the long…standing attachment of the King for the Duc de Choiseul might be overcome。 It is true that Madame du Barry was selected from a class sufficiently low。 Her origin； her education； her habits； and everything about her bore a character of vulgarity and shamelessness； but by marrying her to a man whose pedigree dated from 1400； it was thought scandal would be avoided。 The conqueror of Mahon conducted this coarse intrigue。
＇It appeared at this period as if every feeling of dignity was lost。 〃Few noblemen of the French Court；〃 says a writer of the time； 〃preserved themselves from the general corruption。 The Marechal de Brissac was one of the latter。 He was bantered on the strictness of his principles of honour and honesty； it was thought strange that he should be offended by being thought； like so many others； exposed to hymeneal disgrace。 Louis XV。； who was present； and laughed at his angry fit； said to him： 'Come； M。 de Brissac； don't be angry； 'tis but a trifling evil； take courage。''Sire；' replied M。 de Brissac； 'I possess all kinds of courage； except that which can brave shame。'〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
Such a mistress was judiciously selected for the diversion of the latter years of a man weary of grandeur； fatigued with pleasure； and cloyed with voluptuousness。 Neither the wit； the talents； the graces of the Marquise de Pompadour； her beauty； nor even her love for the King； would have had any further influence over that worn…out being。
He wanted a Roxalana of familiar gaiety； without any respect for the dignity of the sovereign。 Madame du Barry one day so far forgot propriety as to desire to be present at a Council of State。 The King was weak enough to consent to it。 There she remained ridiculously perched upon the arm of his chair； playing all sorts of childish monkey tricks； calculated to please an old sultan。
Another time she snatched a packet of sealed letters from the King's hand。 Among them she had observed one from Comte de Broglie。 She told the King that she knew that rascal Broglie spoke ill of her to him； and that for once； at least； she would make sure he should read nothing respecting her。 The King wanted to get the packet again； she resisted； and made him run two or three times round the table； which was in the middle of the council…chamber； and then； on passing the fireplace； she threw the letters into the grate； where they were consumed。 The King became furious； he seized his audacious mistress by the arm； and put her out of the door without speaking to her。 Madame du Barry thought herself utterly disgraced； she returned home； and remained two hours； alone； abandoned to the utmost distress。 The King went to her； she threw herself at his feet； in tears； and he pardoned her。
Madame la Marechale de Beauvau； the Duchesse de Choiseul； and the Duchesse de Grammont had renounced the honour of the King's intimate acquaintance rather than share it with Madame du Barry。 But a few years after the death of Louis XV。； Madame la Marechale being alone at the Val； a house belonging to M。 de Beauvau； Mademoiselle de Dillon saw the Countess's calash take shelter in the forest of St。 Germain during a violent storm。 She invited her in； and the Countess herself related these particulars； which I had from Madame de Beauvau。
The Comte du Barry； surnamed 'le roue' （the profligate）； and Mademoiselle du Barry advised； or rather prompted； Madame du Barry in furtherance of the plans of the party of the Marechal de Richelieu and the Duc d'Aiguillon。 Sometimes they even set her to act in such a way as to have a useful influence upon great political measures。 Under pretence that the page who accompanied Charles I。 in his flight was a Du Barry or Barrymore； they persuaded the Comtesse du Barry to buy in London that fine portrait which we now have in the Museum。 She had the picture placed in her drawing…room； and when she saw the King hesitating upon the violent measure of breaking up his Parliament； and forming that which was called the Maupeou Parliament； she desired him to look at the portrait of a king who had given way to his Parliament。
＇The 〃 Memoirs of General Dumouriez；〃 vol。 i。； page 142； contain some curious particulars about Madame Du Barry； and novel details respecting her will be found at page 243 of 〃Curiosites Historiques；〃 by J。 A。 Le Rol （Paris； Plon； 1864）。 His investigations lead to the result that her real name was Jean Becu； born； 19th August； 1743； at Vaucouleurs； the natural daughter of Anne Becu； otherwise known as 〃Quantiny。〃 Her mother afterwards married Nicolas Rancon。 Comte Jean du Barry met her among the demi… monde； and succeeded； about 1767； and by the help of his friend Label； the valet de chambre of Louis XV。； in introducing her to the King under the name of Mademoiselle l'Ange。 To be formally mistress； a husband had to be found。 The Comte Jean du Barry； already married himself； found no difficulty in getting his brother； Comte Guillaume； a poor officer of the marine troops； to accept the post of husband。 In the marriage…contract； signed on 23d July； 1768； she was described as the daughter of Anne Becu and of an imaginary first husband； Sieur Jean Jacques Gomard de Vaubernier；〃 and three years were taken off her age。 The marriage…contract was so drawn as to leave Madame du Barry entirely free from all control by her husband。 The marriage was solemnised on 1st September； 1768； after which the nominal husband returned to Toulouse。 Madame du Barry in later years provided for him； and in 1772； tired of his applications； she obtained an act of separation from him。 He married later Jeanne Madeleine Lemoine； and died in 1811。 Madame du Barry took care of her mother； who figured as Madame de Montrable。 In all； she received from the King； M。 Le Roi calculates； about twelve and a half millions of livres。 On the death of Louis XV。 she had to retire first to the Abbey of Pont…aux…Dames； near Meaux； then she was allowed to go to her small house at St。 Vrain； near Arpajon； and； finally； in 1775； to her chateau at Louveciennes。 Much to her credit be it said； she retained many of her friends； and was on the most intimate terms till his death with the Duc de Brissac （Louis Hercule Timoldon de Cosse…Brissac）； who was killed at Versailles in the massacre of the prisoners in September； 1792； leaving at his death a large legacy to her。 Even the Emperor Joseph visited her。 In 1791 many of her jewels were stolen and taken to England。 This caused her to make several visits to that country； where she gained her suit。 But these visits； though she took every precaution to legalise them； ruined her。 Betrayed by her servants； among them by Zamor； the negro page； she was brought before the Revolutionary tribunal； and was guillotined on 8th December； 1793； in a frenzy of terror； calling for mercy and for delay up to the moment when her head fell。
The men of ambition who were labouring to overthrow the Duc de Choiseul strengthened themselves by their concentration at the house of the favourite； and succeeded in their project。 The bigots； who never forgave that minister the suppression of the Jesuits； and who had always been hostile to a treaty of alliance with Austria； influenced the minds of Mesdames。 The Duc de La Vauguyon； the young Dauphin's governor； infected them with the same prejudices。
Such was the state of the public mind when the young Archduchess Marie Antoinette arrived at the Court of Versailles； just at the moment when the party which brought her there was about to be overthrown。
Madame Adelaide openly avowed her dislike to a princess of the House of Austria； and when M。 Campan； my father…in…law； went to receive his orders； at the moment of setting off with the household of the Dauphiness； to go and receive the Archduch
