the memoirs of marie antoinette-第24章
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ingenuously about the honour； and at the same time the danger； she saw in the kindness of which she was the object。 The Queen sought for the sweets of friendship； but can this gratification； so rare in any rank； exist between a Queen and a subject； when they are surrounded； moreover； by snares laid by the artifice of courtiers？ This pardonable error was fatal to the happiness of Marie Antoinette。
The retiring character of the Comtesse Jules； afterwards Duchesse de Polignac； cannot be spoken of too favourably； but if her heart was incapable of forming ambitious projects； her family and friends in her fortune beheld their own； and endeavoured to secure the favour of the Queen。
＇The Comtesse； afterwards Duchesse de Polignac； nee Polastron； Married the Comte （in 1780 the Duc） Jules de Polignac； the father of the Prince de Polignac of Napoleon's and of Charles X。's time。 She emigrated in 1789； and died in Vienna in 1793。＇
The Comtesse de Diane； sister of M。 de Polignac； and the Baron de Besenval and M。 de Vaudreuil； particular friends of the Polignac family； made use of means； the success of which was infallible。 One of my friends （Comte de Moustier）； who was in their secret； came to tell me that Madame de Polignac was about to quit Versailles suddenly； that she would take leave of the Queen only in writing； that the Comtesse Diane and M。 de Vaudreuil had dictated her letter； and the whole affair was arranged for the purpose of stimulating the attachment of Marie Antoinette。 The next day； when I went up to the palace； I found the Queen with a letter in her hand； which she was reading with much emotion； it was the letter from the Comtesse Jules； the Queen showed it to me。 The Countess expressed in it her grief at leaving a princess who had loaded her with kindness。 The narrowness of her fortune compelled her to do so； but she was much more strongly impelled by the fear that the Queen's friendship； after having raised up dangerous enemies against her； might abandon her to their hatred； and to the regret of having lost the august favour of which she was the object。
This step produced the full effect that had been expected from it。 A young and sensitive queen cannot long bear the idea of contradiction。 She busied herself in settling the Comtesse Jules near her； by making such a provision for her as should place her beyond anxiety。 Her character suited the Queen； she had merely natural talents； no pedantry； no affectation of knowledge。 She was of middle size； her complexion very fair； her eyebrows and hair dark brown； her teeth superb； her smile enchanting； and her whole person graceful。 She was seen almost always in a demi…toilet； remarkable only for neatness and good taste。 I do not think I ever once saw diamonds about her； even at the climax of her fortune； when she had the rank of Duchess at Court。
I have always believed that her sincere attachment for the Queen； as much as her love of simplicity； induced her to avoid everything that might cause her to be thought a wealthy favourite。 She had not one of the failings which usually accompany that position。 She loved the persons who shared the Queen's affections； and was entirely free from jealousy。 Marie Antoinette flattered herself that the Comtesse Jules and the Princesse de Lamballe would be her especial friends； and that she should possess a society formed according to her own taste。 〃I will receive them in my closet； or at Trianon；〃 said she； 〃I will enjoy the comforts of private life； which exist not for us； unless we have the good sense to secure them for ourselves。〃 The happiness the Queen thought to secure was destined to turn to vexation。 All those courtiers who were not admitted to this intimacy became so many jealous and vindictive enemies。
It was necessary to make a suitable provision for the Countess。 The place of first equerry； in reversion after the Comte de Tesse； given to Comte Jules unknown to the titular holder； displeased the family of Noailles。 This family had just sustained another mortification； the appointment of the Princesse de Lamballe having in some degree rendered necessary the resignation of the Comtesse de Noailles； whose husband was thereupon made a marshal of France。 The Princesse de Lamballe； although she did not quarrel with the Queen； was alarmed at the establishment of the Comtesse Jules at Court； and did not form； as her Majesty had hoped； a part of that intimate society； which was in turn composed of Mesdames Jules and Diane de Polignac； d'Andlau and de Chalon； and Messieurs de Guignes； de Coigny； d'Adhemar； de Besenval； lieutenant…colonel of the Swiss； de Polignac； de Vaudreuil； and de Guiche； the Prince de Ligne and the Duke of Dorset； the English ambassador； were also admitted。
It was a long time before the Comtesse Jules maintained any great state at Court。 The Queen contented herself with giving her very fine apartments at the top of the marble staircase。 The salary of first equerry； the trifling emoluments derived from M。 de Polignac's regiment； added to their slender patrimony； and perhaps some small pension； at that time formed the whole fortune of the favourite。 I never saw the Queen make her a present of value； I was even astonished one day at hearing her Majesty mention； with pleasure； that the Countess had gained ten thousand francs in the lottery。 〃She was in great want of it；〃 added the Queen。
Thus the Polignacs were not settled at Court in any degree of splendour which could justify complaints from others； and the substantial favours bestowed upon that family were less envied than the intimacy between them and their proteges and the Queen。 Those who had no hope of entering the circle of the Comtesse Jules were made jealous by the opportunities of advancement it afforded。
However； at the time I speak of； the society around the Comtesse Jules was fully engaged in gratifying the young Queen。 Of this the Marquis de Vaudreuil was a conspicuous member； he was a brilliant man； the friend and protector of men of letters and celebrated artists。
The Baron de Besenval added to the bluntness of the Swiss all the adroitness of a French courtier。 His fifty years and gray hairs made him enjoy among women the confidence inspired by mature age； although he had not given up the thought of love affairs。 He talked of his native mountains with enthusiasm。 He would at any time sing the 〃Ranz des Vaches〃 with tears in his eyes； and was the best story…teller in the Comtesse Jules's circle。 The last new song or 'bon mot' and the gossip of the day were the sole topics of conversation in the Queen's parties。 Wit was banished from them。 The Comtesse Diane； more inclined to literary pursuits than her sister…in…law； one day； recommended her to read the 〃Iliad〃 and 〃Odyssey。〃 The latter replied； laughing； that she was perfectly acquainted with the Greek poet； and said to prove it：
〃Homere etait aveugle et jouait du hautbois。〃
（Homer was blind and played on the hautboy。）
＇This lively repartee of the Duchesse de Polignac is a droll imitation of a line in the 〃Mercure Galant。〃 In the quarrel scene one of the lawyers says to his brother quill： 'Ton pere etait aveugle et jouait du hautbois。〃＇
The Queen found this sort of humour very much to her taste； and said that no pedant should ever be her friend。
Before the Queen fixed her assemblies at Madame de Polignac's； she occasionally passed the evening at the house of the Duc and Duchesse de Duras； where a brilliant party of young persons met together。 They introduced a taste for trifling games； such as question and answer； 'guerre panpan'； blind man's buff； and especially a game called 'descampativos'。 The people of Paris； always criticising； but always imitating the customs of the Court； were infected with the mania for these childish sports。 Madame de Genlis； sketching the follies of the day in one of her plays； speaks of these famous 'descampativos'； and also of the rage for making a friend； called the 'inseparable'； until a whim or the slightest difference might occasion a total rupture。
CHAPTER VIII。
The Duc de Choiseul had reappeared at Court on the ceremony of the King's coronation for the first time after his disgrace under Louis XV。 in 1770。 The state of public feeling on the subject gave his friends hope of seeing him again in administration； or in the Council of State； but the opposite party was too firmly seated at Versailles； and the young Queen's influence was outweighed； in the mind of the King； by long…standing prejudices； she therefore gave up for ever her attempt to reinstate the Duke。 Thus this Princess； who has been described as so ambitious； and so strenuously supporting the interest of the House of Austria； failed twice in the only scheme which could forward the views constantly attributed to her； and spent the whole of her reign surrounded by enemies of herself and her house。
Marie Antoinette took little pains to promote literature and the fine arts。 She had been annoyed in consequence of having ordered a performance of the 〃Connstable de Bourbon；〃 on the celebration of the marriage of Madame Clotilde with the Prince of Piedmont。 The Court and the people of Paris censured as indecorous the naming characters in the piece after the reigning family； and that with which the new alliance was formed。 The reading of this piece by the Comte de Guibert in the Queen's closet had produced in her Majesty's circle that sort of enthusiasm which obscures the judgment。 She promised herself she would have no more readings。 Yet； at the request of M。 de Cubieres； the King's equerry； the Queen agreed to hear the reading of a comedy written by his brother。 She collected her intimate circle； Messieurs de Coigny； de Vaudreuil； de Besenval； Mesdames de Polignac； de Chalon； etc。； and to increase the number of judges； she admitted the two Parnys； the Chevalier de Bertin； my father…in…law； and myself。
Mold read for the author。 I never could satisfy myself by what magic the skilful reader gained our unanimous approbation of a ridiculous work。 Surely the delightful voice of Mold； by awakening our recollection of the dramatic beauties of the French stage； prevented the wretched lines of Dorat Cubieres from striking on our ears。 I can assert that the exclamation Charming！ charming！ repeatedly interrupted the reader。 The piece was admitted for performance at Fontainebleau； and for the first time the King had the curtain dropped before the end of the play。 It was called the 〃Dramomane〃 or 〃Dramaturge。〃 All the characters died of eating poison in a pie。 The Queen； highly disconcerted at having recommended this absurd production； announced that she would never hear another reading； and this time she kept her word。
The tragedy of 〃Mustapha and Mangir；〃 by M。 de Chamfort； was highly successful at the Court theatre at Fontainebleau。 The Queen procured the author a pension of 1；200 francs； but his play failed on being performed at Paris。
The spirit of opposition which prevailed in that city delighted in reversing the verdicts of the Court。 The Queen determined never again to give any marked countenance to new dramatic works。 She reserved her patronage for musical composers； and
