the memoirs of marie antoinette-第32章

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　were　therefore　added　to　the　salary　of　the　governess　as　a　compensation　for　this　increase　of　expense。

The　Queen　was　tired　of　the　excursions　to　Marly；　and　had　no　great　difficulty　in　setting　the　King　against　them。　　He　did　not　like　the　expense　of　them；　for　everybody　was　entertained　there　gratis。　　Louis　XIV。　had　established　a　kind　of　parade　upon　these　excursions；　differing　from　that　of　Versailles；　but　still　more　annoying。　　Card　and　supper　parties　occurred　every　day；　and　required　much　dress。　　On　Sundays　and　holidays　the　fountains　played；　the　people　were　admitted　into　the　gardens；　and　there　was　as　great　a　crowd　as　at　the　fetes　of　St。　Cloud。

Every　age　has　its　peculiar　colouring；　Marly　showed　that　of　Louis　XIV。　even　more　than　Versailles。　　Everything　in　the　former　place　appeared　to　have　been　produced　by　the　magic　power　of　a　fairy's　wand。　　Not　the　slightest　trace　of　all　this　splendour　remains；　the　revolutionary　spoilers　even　tore　up　the　pipes　which　served　to　supply　the　fountains。　　Perhaps　a　brief　description　of　this　palace　and　the　usages　established　there　by　Louis　XIV。　　may　be　acceptable。

The　very　extensive　gardens　of　Marly　ascended　almost　imperceptibly　to　the　Pavilion　of　the　Sun。；　which　was　occupied　only　by　the　King　and　his　family。　The　pavilions　of　the　twelve　zodiacal　signs　bounded　the　two　sides　of　the　lawn。　　They　were　connected　by　bowers　impervious　to　the　rays　of　the　sun。　The　pavilions　nearest　to　that　of　the　sun　were　reserved　for　the　Princes　of　the　blood　and　the　ministers；　the　rest　were　occupied　by　persons　holding　superior　offices　at　Court；　or　invited　to　stay　at　Marly。　　Each　pavilion　was　named　after　fresco　paintings；　which　covered　its　walls；　and　which　had　been　executed　by　the　most　celebrated　artists　of　the　age　of　Louis　XIV。　On　a　line　with　the　upper　pavilion　there　was　on　the　left　a　chapel；　on　the　right　a　pavilion　called　La　Perspective；　which　concealed　along　suite　of　offices；　containing　a　hundred　lodging…rooms　intended　for　the　persons　belonging　to　the　service　of　the　Court；　kitchens；　and　spacious　dining…　rooms；　in　which　more　than　thirty　tables　were　splendidly　laid　out。

During　half　of　Louis　XV。's　reign　the　ladies　still　wore　the　habit　de　cour　de　Marly；　so　named　by　Louis　XIV。；　and　which　differed　little　from；　that　devised　for　Versailles。　　The　French　gown；　gathered　in　the　back；　and　with　great　hoops；　replaced　this　dress；　and　continued　to　be　worn　till　the　end　of　the　reign　of　Louis　XVI。　　The　diamonds；　feathers；　rouge；　and　embroidered　stuffs　spangled　with　gold；　effaced　all　trace　of　a　rural　residence；　but　the　people　loved　to　see　the　splendour　of　their　sovereign　and　a　brilliant　Court　glittering　in　the　shades　of　the　woods。

After　dinner；　and　before　the　hour　for　cards；　the　Queen；　the　Princesses；　and　their　ladies；　paraded　among　the　clumps　of　trees；　in　little　carriages；　beneath　canopies　richly　embroidered　with　gold；　drawn　by　men　in　the　King's　livery。　　The　trees　planted　by　Louis　XIV。　were　of　prodigious　height；　which；　however；　was　surpassed　in　several　of　the　groups　by　fountains　of　the　clearest　water；　while；　among　others；　cascades　over　white　marble；　the　waters　of　which；　met　by　the　sunbeams；　looked　like　draperies　of　silver　gauze；　formed　a　contrast　to　the　solemn　darkness　of　the　groves。

In　the　evening　nothing　more　was　necessary　for　any　well…dressed　man　to　procure　admission　to　the　Queen's　card　parties　than　to　be　named　and　presented；　by　some　officer　of　the　Court；　to　the　gentleman　usher　of　the　card…room。　　This　room；　which　was　very；　large；　and　of　octagonal　shape；　rose　to　the　top　of　the　Italian　roof；　and　terminated　in　a　cupola　furnished　with　balconies；　in　which　ladies　who　had　not　been　presented　easily　obtained　leave　to　place　themselves；　and　enjoy；　the　sight　of　the　brilliant　assemblage。

Though　not　of　the　number　of　persons　belonging　to　the　Court；　gentlemen　admitted　into　this　salon　might　request　one　of　the　ladies　seated　with　the　Queen　at　lansquenet　or　faro　to　bet　upon　her　cards　with　such　gold　or　notes　as　they　presented　to　her。　　Rich　people　and　the　gamblers　of　Paris　did　not　miss　one　of　the　evenings　at　the　Marly　salon；　and　there　were　always　considerable　sums　won　and　lost。　　Louis　XVI。　　hated　high　play；　and　very　often　showed　displeasure　when　the　loss　of　large　sums　was　mentioned。　　The　fashion　of　wearing　a　black　coat　without　being　in　mourning　had　not　then　been　introduced；　and　the　King　gave　a　few　of　his　'coups　de　boutoir'　to　certain　chevaliers　de　St。　Louis；　dressed　in　this　manner；　who　came　to　venture　two　or　three　louis；　in　the　hope　that　fortune　would　favour　the　handsome　duchesses　who　deigned　to　place　them　on　their　cards。

　　　　　＇Bachaumont　in　his　〃Memoirs；〃　（tome　xii。；　p。　189）；　which　are　often　　　　　　satirical；　and　always　somewhat　questionable；　speaks　of　the　singular　　　　　　precautions　taken　at　play　at　Court。　　〃The　bankers　at　the　Queen's　　　　　　table；〃　says　he；　〃in　order　to　prevent　the　mistakes　＇I　soften　the　　　　　　harshness　of　his　expression＇　which　daily　happen；　have　obtained　　　　　　permission　from　her　Majesty　that　before　beginning　to　play　the　table　　　　　　shall　be　bordered　by　a　ribbon　entirely　round　it；　and　that　no　other　　　　　　money　than　that　upon　the　cards　beyond　the　ribbon　shall　be　considered　　　　　　as　staked。〃NOTE　By　THE　EDITOR。＇

Singular　contrasts　are　often　seen　amidst　the　grandeur　of　courts。　　In　order　to　manage　such　high　play　at　the　Queen's　faro　table；　it　was　necessary　to　have　a　banker　provided　with　large；　sums　of　money；　and　this　necessity　placed　at　the　table；　to　which　none　but　the　highest　titled　persons　were　admitted　in　general；　not　only　M。　de　Chalabre；　who　was　its　banker；　but　also　a　retired　captain　of　foot；　who　officiated　as　his　second。　A　word；　trivial；　but　perfectly　appropriate　to　express　the　manner　in　which　the　Court　was　attended　there；　was　often　heard。　　Gentlemen　presented　at　Court；　who　had　not　been　invited　to　stay　at　Marly；　came　there　notwithstanding；　as　they　did　to　Versailles；　and　returned　again　to　Paris；　under　such　circumstances；　it　was　said　such　a　one　had　been　to　Marly　only　'en　polisson'；＇A　contemptuous　expression；　meaning　literally　〃as　a　scamp〃　or　rascal。〃＇　and　it　appeared　odd　to　hear　a　captivating　marquis；　in　answer　to　the　inquiry　whether　he　was　of　the　royal　party　at　Marly；　say；　〃No；　I　am　only　here　'en　polisson'；〃　meaning　simply　〃I　am　here　on　the　footing　of　all　those　whose　nobility　is　of　a　later　date　than　1400。〃　　The　Marly　excursions　were　exceedingly　expensive　to　the　King。　　Besides　the　superior　tables；　those　of　the　almoners；　equerries；　maitres　d'hotel；　etc。；　were　all　supplied　with　such　a　degree　of　magnificence　as　to　allow　of　inviting　strangers　to　them；　and　almost　all　the　visitors　from　Paris　were　boarded　at　the　expense　of　the　Court。

The　personal　frugality　of　the　unfortunate　Prince　who　sank　beneath　the　weight　of　the　national　debts　thus　favoured　the　Queen's　predilection　for　her　Petit　Trianon；　and　for　five　or　six　years　preceding　the　Revolution　the　Court　very　seldom　visited　Marly。

The　King；　always　attentive　to　the　comfort　of　his　family；　gave　Mesdames；　his　aunts；　the　use　of　the　Chateau　de　Bellevue；　and　afterwards　purchased　the　Princesse　de　Guemenee's　house；　at　the　entrance　to　Paris；　for　Elisabeth。　　The　Comtesse　de　Provence　bought　a　small　house　at　Montreuil；　Monsieur　already　had　Brunoy；　the　Comtesse　d'Artois　built　Bagatelle；　Versailles　became；　in　the　estimation　of　all　the　royal　family；　the　least　agreeable　of　residences。　　They　only　fancied　themselves　at　home　in　the　plainest　houses；　surrounded　by　English　gardens；　where　they　better　enjoyed　the　beauties　of　nature。　　The　taste　for　cascades　and　statues　was　entirely　past。

The　Queen　occasionally　remained　a　whole　month　at　Petit　Trianon；　and　had　established　there　all　the　ways　of　life　in　a　chateau。　　She　entered　the　sitting…room　without　driving　the　ladies　from　their　pianoforte　or　embroidery。　　The　gentlemen　continued　their　billiards　or　backgammon　without　suffering　her　presence　to　interrupt　them。　　There　was　but　little　room　in　the　small　Chateau　of　Trianon。　　Madame　Elisabeth　accompanied　the　Queen　there；　but　the　ladies　of　honour　and　ladies　of　the　palace　had　no　establishment　at　Trianon。　　When　invited　by　the　Queen；　they　came　from　Versailles　to　dinner。　　The　King　and　Princes　came　regularly　to　sup。　　A　white　gown；　a　gauze　kerchief；　and　a　straw　hat　were　the　uniform　dress　of　the　Princesses。

　　　　　＇The　extreme　simplicity　of　the　Queen's　toilet　began　to　be　strongly　　　　　　censured；　at　first　among　the　courtiers；　and　afterwards　throughout　　　　　　the　kingdom；　and　through　one　of　those　inconsistencies　more　common　in　　　　　　France　than　elsewhere；　while　the　Queen　was　blamed；　she　was　blindly　　　　　　imitated。　　There　was　not　a　woman　but　would　have　the　same　undress；　　　　　　the　same　cap；　and　the　same　feathers　as　she　had　been　seen　to　wear。　　　　　　They　crowded　to　Mademoiselle　Bertin；　her　milliner；　there　was　an　　　　　　absolute　revolution　in　the　dress　of　our　ladies；　which　gave　　　　　　importance　to　that　woman。　　Long　trains；　and　all　those　fashions　which　　　　　　confer　a　certain　nobility　on　dress；　were　discarded；　and　at　last　a　　　　　　duchess　could　not　be　distinguished　from　an　actress。　　The　men　caught　　　　　　the　mania；　the　upper　classes　had　long　before　given　up　to　their　　　　　　lackeys　feathers；　tufts　of　ribbon；　and　laced　hats。　　They　now　got　rid　　　　　　of　red　heels　and　embroidery；　and　walked　about　our　streets　in　plain　　　　　　cloth；　short　thick　shoes；　and　with　knotty　cudgels　in　their　hands。　　　　　　Many　humiliating　scrapes　were　the　consequence　of　this　metamorphosis。　　　　　　Bearing　no　mark　to　distinguish　them　from　the　common　herd；　some　of　　　　　　the　lowest　classes　got　into　quarrels　with　them；　in　which　the　nobles　　　　　　had　not　always　the　best　of　it。　MONTJOIE；　〃History　of　Marie　　　　　　Antoinette。〃＇

Examining　all　the　manufactories　of　the　hamlet；　seeing　the　cows　milked；　and　fishing　in　the　lake　delighted　the　Queen；　and　every　year　she　showed　increased　aversion　to　the　pompous　excursions　to　Marly。

The　idea　of　acting　comedies；　as　was　then　done　in　almost　all　country　houses；　followed　on　the　Queen's　wish　to　live　at　Trianon　without　ceremony。

　　　　　＇The　Queen　got　through　the　characters　she　assumed　indifferently　　　　　　enough；　she　could　hardly　be　ignorant　of　this；　as　her　performances　　　　　　evidently　excited　little　pleasure。　　Indeed；　one　day　while　she　was　　　　　　thus　exhibiting；　somebody　ventured　to　say；　by　no　means　inaudibly；　　　　　　〃well；　this　is　royally　ill　played！〃　　The　lesson　was　thrown　away　upon　　　　　　her；　for　never　did　she　sacrifice　to　the　opinion　of　another　that　　　　　　which　she　thought　permissible。　　When　she　was　told　that　her　extreme　　　　　　plainness　in　dress；　the　nature　of　her　amusements；　and　her　dislike　to　　　　　　that　splendour　which　ought　always　to　attend　a　Queen；　had　an　　　　　　appearance　of　levity；　which　was　misinterpreted　by　a　portion　of　the　　　　　　public；　she　replied　with　Madame　de　Maintenon：　〃I　am　upon　the　stage；　　　　　　and　of　course　I　shall　be　either　hissed　or　applauded。〃　　Louis　XIV。　　　　　　had　a　similar　taste；　he　danced　upon　the　stage；　but　he　had　shown　by　　　　　　brilliant　actions　that　he　knew　how　to　enforce　respect；　and　besides；　　　　　　he　unhesitatingly　gave　up　the　amusement　from　the　moment　he　heard　　　　　　those　beautiful　lines　in　which　Racine　pointed　out　how　very　unworthy　　　　　　of　him　such　pastimes　were。　MONTJOIE；　〃History　of　Marie　　　　　　Antoinette。〃＇

It　was　agreed　that　no　young　man　except　the　Comte　d'Artois　should　be　admitted　into　the　company　of　performers；　and　that　the　audience　should　consist　only　of　the　King；　Monsi