the women of the french salons-第33章

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rn　tender　and　sensible；　constant　and　no　coquette。　　I　love　retirement；　a　life　simple　and　private；　nevertheless　I　have　almost　always　led　one　contrary　to　my　taste。　　Bad　health；　and　sorrows　sharp　and　repeated；　have　given　a　serious　cast　to　my　character；　which　is　naturally　very　gay。〃

Her　first　entrance　into　the　world　in　which　wit　reigned　supreme　was　in　the　free　but　elegant　salon　of　Mlle。　Quinault；　an　actress　of　the　Comedie　Francaise；　who　had　left　the　stage；　and　taking　the　role　of　a　femme　d'esprit；　had　gathered　around　her　a　distinguished　and　fashionable　coterie。　　This　woman；　who　had　received　a　decoration　for　a　fine　motet　she　had　composed　for　the　queen's　chapel；　who　was　loved　and　consulted　by　Voltaire；　and　who　was　the　best　friend　of　d'Alembert　after　the　death　of　Mlle。　de　Lespinasse；　represented　the　genius　of　esprit　and　finesse。　　She　was　the　companion　of　princes；　the　adoration　of　princesses；　the　oracle　of　artists　and　litterateurs；　the　model　of　elegance；　and　the　embodiment　of　social　success。　　It　did　not　matter　much　that　the　tone　of　her　salon　was　lax；　it　was　fashionable。　　〃It　distilled　dignity；　la　convenance；　and　formality；〃　says　the　Marquise　de　Crequi；　who　relates　an　anecdote　that　aptly　illustrates　the　glamour　which　surrounded　talent　at　that　time。　　She　was　taken　by　her　grandmother　to　see　Mlle。　Quinault；　and　by　some　chance　mistook　her　for　Mlle。　de　Vertus；　who　was　so　much　flattered　by　her　innocent　error　that　she　left　her　forty　thousand　francs；　when　she　died　a　few　months　later。

Mme。　d'Epinay　was　delighted　to　find　herself　in　so　brilliant　a　world；　and　was　greatly　fascinated　by　its　wit；　though　she　was　not　sure　that　those　who　met　there　did　not　〃feel　too　much　the　obligation　of　having　it。〃　　But　she　caught　the　spirit；　and　transferred　it；　in　some　degree；　to　her　own　salon；　which　was　more　literary　than　fashionable。　　Here　Francueil　presents　〃a　sorry　devil　of　an　author　who　is　as　poor　as　Job；　but　has　wit　and　vanity　enough　for　four。〃　　This　is　Rousseau；　the　most　conspicuous　figure　in　the　famous　coterie。　　〃He　is　a　man　to　whom　one　should　raise　altars；〃　wrote　Mme。　d'Epinay。　　〃And　the　simplicity　with　which　he　relates　his　misfortunes！　　I　have　still　a　pitying　soul。　　It　is　frightful　to　imagine　such　a　man　in　misery。〃　　She　fitted　up　for　him　the　Hermitage；　and　did　a　thousand　kind　things　which　entitled　her　to　a　better　return　than　he　gave。　　There　is　a　pleasant　moment　when　we　find　him　the　center　of　an　admiring　circle　at　La　Chevrette；　falling　madly　in　love　with　her　clever　and　beautiful　sister…in…law　the　Comtesse　d'Houdetot；　writing　〃La　Nouvelle　Heloise〃　under　the　inspiration　of　this　passion；　and　dreaming　in　the　lovely　promenades　at　Montmorency；　quite　at　peace　with　the　world。　　But　the　weeping　philosopher；　who　said　such　fine　things　and　did　such　base　ones；　turned　against　his　benefactress　and　friend　for　some　imaginary　offense；　and　revenged　himself　by　false　and　malicious　attacks　upon　her　character。　　The　final　result　was　a　violent　quarrel　with　the　whole　circle　of　philosophers；　who　espoused　the　cause　of　Mme。　d'Epinay。　　This　little　history　is　interesting；　as　it　throws　so　much　light　upon　the　intimate　relations　of　some　of　the　greatest　men　of　the　century。　　Behind　the　perpetual　round　of　comedies；　readings；　dinners；　music；　and　conversation；　there　is　a　real　comedy　of　passion；　intrigue；　jealousy；　and　hidden　misery　that　destroys　many　illusions。

Mme。　d'Epinay　has　been　made　familiar　to　us　by　Grimm；　Galiani；　Diderot；　Rousseau；　and　Voltaire。　　Perhaps；　on　the　whole；　Voltaire　has　given　us　the　most　agreeable　impression。　　She　was　ill　of　grief　and　trouble；　and　had　gone　to　Geneva　to　consult　the　famous　Tronchin　when　she　was　thrown　into　more　or　less　intimacy　with　the　Sage　of　Ferney。　　He　invited　her　to　dinner　immediately　upon　her　arrival。　　〃I　was　much　fatigued；　besides　having　confessed　and　received　communion　the　evening　before。　　I　did　not　find　it　fitting　to　dine　with　Voltaire　two　days　afterward；〃　writes　this　curiously　sensitive　friend　of　the　free…thinkers。　　He　addresses　her　as　ma　belle　philosophe；　speaks　of　her　as　〃an　eagle　in　a　cage　of　gauze；〃　and　praises　in　verse　her　philosophy；　her　esprit；　her　heart；　and　her　〃two　great　black　eyes。〃　　He　weeps　at　her　departure；　tells　her　she　is　〃adored　at　Delices；　adored　at　Paris；　adored　present　and　absent。〃　　But　〃the　tears　of　a　poet　do　not　always　signify　grief；〃　says　Mme。　d'Epinay。

There　is　a　second　period　in　her　life；　when　she　introduces　us　again　to　the　old　friends　who　always　sustained　her；　and　to　many　new　ones。　　The　world　that　meets　in　her　salon　later　is　much　the　same　as　that　which　dines　with　Baron　d'Holbach。　　To　measure　its　attractions　one　must　recall　the　brilliancy　and　eloquence　of　Diderot；　the　wit；　the　taste；　the　learning；　the　courtly　accomplishments　of　Grimm；　the　gaiety　and　originality　of　d'Holbach；　who　had　〃read　everything　and　forgotten　nothing　interesting；〃　the　sparkling　conversation　of　the　most　finished　and　scholarly　diplomats　in　Europe；　many　of　whom　we　have　already　met　at　the　dinners　of　Mme。　Geoffrin。　　They　discuss　economic　questions；　politics；　religion；　art；　literature；　with　equal　freedom　and　ardor。　　They　are　as　much　divided　on　the　merits　of　Gluck's　〃Armida〃　and　Piccini's　〃Roland〃　as　upon　taxes；　grains；　and　the　policy　of　the　government。　　The　gay　little　Abbe　Galiani　brings　perennial　sunshine　with　the　inexhaustible　wit　and　vivacity　that　lights　his　clear　and　subtle　intellect。　　〃He　is　a　treasure　on　rainy　days；〃　says　Diderot。　　〃If　they　made　him　at　the　toy　shops　everybody　would　want　one　for　the　country。〃　　〃He　was　the　nicest　little　harlequin　that　Italy　has　produced；〃　says　Marmontel；　〃but　upon　the　shoulders　of　this　harlequin　was　the　head　of　a　Machiavelli。　　Epicurean　in　his　philosophy　and　with　a　melancholy　soul；　seeing　everything　on　the　ridiculous　side；　there　was　nothing　either　in　politics　or　morals　apropos　of　which　he　had　not　a　good　story　to　tell；　and　these　stories　were　always　apt　and　had　the　salt　of　an　unexpected　and　ingenious　allusion。〃　He　did　not　accept　the　theories　of　his　friends；　which　he　believed　would　〃cause　the　bankruptcy　of　knowledge；　of　pleasure；　and　of　the　human　intellect。〃　　〃Messieurs　les　philosophes；　you　go　too　fast；〃　he　said。　　〃I　begin　by　saying　that　if　I　were　pope　I　would　put　you　in　the　Inquisition；　and　if　I　were　king　of　France；　into　the　Bastille。〃　　He　saw　the　drift　of　events；　but　if　he　reasoned　like　a　philosopher　he　laughed　like　a　Neapolitan。　　What　matters　tomorrow　if　we　are　happy　today！

The　familiar　notes　and　letters　of　these　clever　people　picture　for　us　a　little　world　with　its　small　interests；　its　piques；　its　loves；　its　friendships；　its　quarrels；　and　its　hatreds。　　Diderot；　who　refused　for　a　long　time　to　meet　Mme。　d'Epinay；　but　finally　became　an　intimate　and　lasting　friend；　touches　often；　in　his　letters　to　Sophie；　upon　the　pleasant　informality　of　La　Chevrette；　with　its　curious　social　episodes　and　its　emotional　undercurrents。　　He　does　not　forget　even　the　pigeons；　the　geese；　the　ducks；　and　the　chickens；　which　he　calls　his　own。　　Pouf；　the　dog；　has　his　place　here　too；　and　flits　often　across　the　scene；　a　tiny　bit　of　reflected　immortality。　　These　letters　represent　the　bold　iconoclast　on　his　best　side；　kind；　simple　in　his　tastes；　and　loyal　to　his　friends。　　He　was　never　at　home　in　the　great　world。　　He　was　seen　sometimes　in　the　salons　of　Mme。　Geoffrin；　Mme。　Necker；　and　others；　but　he　made　his　stay　as　brief　as　possible。　　Mme。　d'Epinay　succeeded　better　in　attaching　him　to　her　coterie。　　There　was　more　freedom；　and　he　probably　had　a　more　sympathetic　audience。　　〃Four　lines　of　this　man　make　me　dram　more　and　occupy　me　more；〃　she　said；　〃than　a　complete　work　of　our　pretended　beaux　esprits。〃　　Grimm；　too；　was　a　central　figure　here；　and　Grimm　was　his　friend。　　But　over　his　genius；　as　over　that　of　Rousseau；　there　was　the　trail　of　the　serpent。　　The　breadth　of　his　thought；　the　brilliancy　of　his　criticisms；　the　eloquence　of　his　style　were　clouded　with　sensualism。　　〃When　you　see　on　his　forehead　the　reflection　of　a　ray　from　Plato；〃　says　Sainte…Beuve；　〃do　not　trust　it；　look　well；　there　is　always　the　foot　of　a　satyr。〃

It　was　to　the　clear　and　penetrating　intellect　of　Grimm；　with　its　vein　of　German　romanticism；　that　Mme。　d'Epinay　was　indebted　for　the　finest　appreciation　and　the　most　genuine　sympathy。　　〃Bon　Dieu；〃　he　writes　to　Diderot；　〃how　this　woman　is　to　be　pitied！　　I　should　not　be　troubled　about　her　if　she　were　as　strong　as　she　is　courageous。　　She　is　sweet　and　trusting；　she　is　peaceful；　and　loves　repose　above　all；　but　her　situation　exacts　unceasingly　a　conduct　forced　and　out　of　her　character；　nothing　so　wears　and　destroys　a　machine　naturally　frail。〃　　She　aided　him　in　his　correspondance　litteraire；　wrote　a　treatise　on　education；　which　had　the　honor　of　being　crowned　by　the　Academy；　and；　among　other　things　of　more　or　less　value；　a　novel；　which　was　not　published　until　long　after　her　death。　　With　many　gifts　and　attractions；　kind；　amiable；　forgiving；　and　essentially　emotional；　Mme。　d'Epinay　seems　to　have　been　a　woman　of　weak　and　undecided　character；　without　sufficient　strength　of　moral　fiber　to　sustain　herself　with　dignity　under　the　unfortunate　circumstances　which　surrounded　her。　　〃It　depends　only　upon　yourself；〃　said　Grimm；　〃to　be　the　happiest　and　most　adorable　creature　in　the　world；　provided　that　you　do　not　put　the　opinions　of　others　before　your　own；　and　that　you　know　how　to　suffice　for　yourself。〃　　Her　education　had　not　given　her　the　worldly　tact　and　address　of　Mme。　Geoffrin；　and　　her　salon　never　had　a　wide　celebrity；　but　it　was　a　meeting　place　of　brilliant　and　radical　thinkers；　of　the　men　who　have　perhaps　done　the　most　to　change　the　face　of　the　modern　world。　　In　a　quiet　and　intimate　way；　it　was　one　among　the　numberless　forces　which　were　gathering　and　gaining　momentum　to　culminate　in　the　great　tragedy　of　the　century。　　Mme。　d'Epinay　did　not　live　to　see　the　catastrophe。　　Worn　out　by　a　life　of　suffering　and　ill　health；　she　died　in　1783。

Whatever　her　faults　and　weaknesses　may　have　been；　the　woman　who　could　retain　the　devoted　affection　of　so　brilliant　and　versatile　a　man　as　Grimm　for　twenty…seven　years；　who　was　the　lifelong　friend　and　correspondent　of　Galiani　and　Voltaire；　and　the　valued　confidante　of　Diderot；　must　have　had　some　rare　attractions　of　mind；　heart；　or　character。


CHAPTER　XIV。　SALONS　OF　THE　NOBLESSEMADAME　DU　DEFFAND　La　Marechale　de　LuxembourgThe　TempleComtesse　de　Boufflers　　Mme。　du　DeffandHer　Convent　SalonRupture　with　Mlle。　de　LespinasseHer　Friendship　with　Horace　WalpoleHer　brilliancy　and　Her　Ennui

While　the　group　of　iconoclasts　who　formed　the　nucleus　of　the　philosophical　salons　was　airing　its　theories　and　enjoying　its　increasing　vogue；　there　was　another　circle　which　played　with　the　new　ideas　more　or　less　as　a　sort　of　intellectual　pastime；　but　was　aristocratic　au　fond；　and　carefully　preserved　all　the　traditions　of　the　old　noblesse。　　One　met　here　the　philosophers　and　men　of　letters；　but　they　did　not　dominate；　they　simply　flavored　these　coteries　of　rank　and　fashion。　　In　this　age　of　esprit　no　salon　was　complete　without　its　sprinkling　of　literary　men。　　We　meet　the　shy　and　awkward　Rousseau　even　in　the　exclusive　drawing　room　of　the　clever　and　witty　but　critical　Marechale　de　Luxembourg；　who　presides　over　a　world　in　which　the　graces　rulea　world　of　elegant　manners；　of　etiquette；　and　of　forms。　　This　model　of　the　amenities；　whose　gay　and　faulty　youth　ripened　into　a　piou