the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第15部分

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eyes　of　the　people　and　gain　their　consent　to　oppressing　the　Parliament。

All　the　humours　of　the　State　were　so　disturbed　by　the　great　troubles　at　Paris；　the　fountainhead；　that　I　foresaw　a　fever　would　be　the　certain　consequence；　because　the　physician　had　not　the　skill　to　prevent　it。　　As　I　owed　the　coadjutorship　of　the　archbishopric　to　the　Queen；　I　thought　it　my　duty　in　every　circumstance　to　sacrifice　my　resentment；　and　even　the　probability　of　glory；　to　gratitude；　and　notwithstanding　all　the　solicitations　of　Montresor　and　Laigues；　I　made　a　firm　resolution　to　stick　close　to　my　own　business　and　not　to　engage　in　anything　that　was　either　said　or　done　against　the　Court　at　that　time。　　Montresor　had　been　brought　up　from　his　youth　in　the　faction　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans；　and；　having　more　wit　than　courage；　was　so　much　the　more　dangerous　an　adviser　in　great　affairs；　men　of　this　cast　only　suggest　measures　and　leave　them　to　be　executed　by　others。　　Laigues；　on　the　other　hand；　who　was　entirely　governed　by　Montresor；　had　not　much　brains；　but　was　all　bravery　and　feared　nothing；　men　of　this　character　dare　do　anything　they　are　set　upon　by　those　who　confide　in　them。

Finding　that　my　innocence　and　integrity　gained　me　no　friends　at　Court；　and　that　I　had　nothing　to　expect　from　the　Minister；　who　mortally　hated　me；　I　resolved　to　be　upon　my　guard；　by　acting　in　respect　to　the　Court　with　as　much　freedom　as　zeal　and　sincerity；　and　in　respect　to　the　city；　by　carefully　preserving　my　friends；　and　doing　everything　necessary　to　get；　or；　rather；　to　keep；　the　love　of　the　people。　　To　maintain　my　interest　in　the　city；　I　laid　out　36；000　crowns　in　alms　and　other　bounties；　from　the　26th　of　March　to　the　25th　of　August；　1648；　and　to　please　the　Court　I　told　the　Queen　and　Cardinal　how　the　Parisians　then　stood　affected；　which　they　never　knew　before；　through　flattery　and　prejudice。　　I　also　complained　to　the　Queen　of　the　Cardinal's　cunning　and　dissimulation；　and　made　use　of　the　same　intimations　which　I　had　given　to　the　Court　to　show　the　Parliament　that　I　had　done　all　in　my　power　to　clearly　inform　the　Ministry　of　everything　and　to　disperse　the　clouds　always　cast　over　their　understandings　by　the　interest　of　inferior　officers　and　the　flattery　of　courtiers。　　This　made　the　Cardinal　break　with　me　and　thwart　me　openly　at　every　opportunity；　insomuch　that　when　I　was　telling　the　Queen　in　his　presence　that　the　people　in　general　were　so　soured　that　nothing　but　lenitives　could　abate　their　rancour；　he　answered　me　with　the　Italian　fable　of　the　wolf　who　swore　to　a　flock　of　sheep　that　he　would　protect　them　against　all　his　comrades　provided　one　of　them　would　come　every　morning　and　lick　a　wound　he　had　received　from　a　dog。　　He　entertained　me　with　the　like　witticisms　three　or　four　months　together；　of　which　this　was　one　of　the　most　favourable；　whereupon　I　made　these　reflections　that　it　was　more　unbecoming　a　Minister　of　State　to　say　silly　things　than　to　do　them；　and　that　any　advice　given　him　was　criminal。

The　Cardinal　pretended　that　the　success　of　the　King's　arms　at　Lens　had　so　mortified　the　Court　that　the　Parliament　and　the　other　bodies；　who　expected　they　would　take　a　sharp　revenge　on　them　for　their　late　conduct；　would　have　the　great　satisfaction　of　being　disappointed。　　I　own　I　was　fool　enough　to　believe　him；　and　was　perfectly　transported　at　the　thought；　but　with　what　sincerity　the　Cardinal　spoke　will　appear　by　and　by。

On　the　26th　of　August；　1648；　the　worthy　Broussel；　councillor　of　the　Grand　Chamber；　and　Rene　Potier；　Sieur　de　Blancmenil；　President　of　the　Inquests；　were　both　arrested　by　the　Queen's　officers。　　It　is　impossible　to　express　the　sudden　consternation　of　all　men；　women；　and　children　in　Paris　at　this　proceeding。　　The　people　stared　at　one　another　for　awhile　without　saying　a　word。　　But　this　profound　silence　was　suddenly　attended　with　a　confused　noise　of　running；　crying；　and　shutting　up　of　shops；　upon　which　I　thought　it　my　duty　to　go　and　wait　upon　the　Queen；　though　I　was　sorely　vexed　to　see　how　my　credulity　had　been　abused　but　the　night　before　at　Court；　when　I　was　desired　to　tell　all　my　friends　in　Parliament　that　the　victory　of　Lens　had　only　disposed　the　Court　more　and　more　to　leniency　and　moderation。　　When　I　came　to　the　New　Market；　on　my　way　to　Court；　I　was　surrounded　with　swarms　of　people　making　a　frightful　outcry；　and　had　great　difficulty　in　getting　through　the　crowd　till　I　had　told　them　the　Queen　would　certainly　do　them　justice。　　The　very　boys　hissed　the　soldiers　of　the　Guard　and　pelted　them　with　stones。　　Their　commander；　the　Marechal　de　La　Meilleraye；　perceiving　the　clouds　began　to　thicken　on　all　sides；　was　overjoyed　to　see　me；　and　would　go　with　me　to　Court　and　tell　the　whole　truth　of　the　matter　to　the　Queen。　　The　people　followed　us　in　vast　numbers；　calling　out；　〃Broussel；　Broussel！〃

The　Queen；　whom　we　found　in　her　Cabinet　Council　with　Mazarin　and　others；　received　me　neither　well　nor　ill；　was　too　proud　and　too　much　out　of　temper　to　confess　any　shame　for　what　she　had　told　me　the　night　before；　and　the　Cardinal　had　not　modesty　enough　to　blush。　　Nevertheless　he　seemed　very　much　confused；　and　gave　some　obscure　hints　by　which　I　could　perceive　he　would　have　me　to　believe　that　there　were　very　sudden　and　extraordinary　reasons　which　had　obliged　the　Queen　to　take　such　measures。　　I　simulated　approval　of　what　he　said；　but　all　the　answer　I　returned　was　that　I　had　come　thither；　as　in　duty　bound；　to　receive　the　Queen's　orders　and　to　contribute　all　in　my　power　to　restore　the　public　peace　and　tranquillity。　The　Queen　gave　a　gracious　nod；　but　I　understood　afterwards　that　she　put　a　sinister　interpretation　upon　my　last　speech；　which　was　nevertheless　very　inoffensive　and　perfectly　consonant　to　my　character　as　Coadjutor　of　Paris；　but　it　is　a　true　saying　that　in　the　Courts　of　princes　a　capacity　of　doing　good　is　as　dangerous　and　almost　as　criminal　as　a　will　to　do　mischief。

The　Marechal　de　La　Meilleraye；　finding　that　the　Abbe　de　la　Riviere　and　others　made　mere　jest　and　banter　of　the　insurrection；　fell　into　a　great　passion；　spoke　very　sharply；　and　appealed　to　me。　　I　freely　gave　my　testimony；　confirmed　his　account　of　the　insurrection；　and　seconded　him　in　his　reflections　upon　the　future　consequences。　　We　had　no　other　return　from　the　Cardinal　than　a　malicious　sneer；　but　the　Queen　lifted　up　her　shrill　voice　to　the　highest　note　of　indignation；　and　expressed　herself　to　this　effect：　〃It　is　a　sign　of　disaffection　to　imagine　that　the　people　are　capable　of　revolting。　　These　are　ridiculous　stories　that　come　from　persons　who　talk　as　they　would　have　it；　the　King's　authority　will　set　matters　right。〃

The　Cardinal；　perceiving　that　I　was　a　little　nettled；　endeavoured　to　soothe　me　by　this　address　to　the　Queen：　〃Would　to　God；　madame；　that　all　men　did　but　talk　with　the　same　sincerity　as　the　Coadjutor　of　Paris。　　He　is　greatly　concerned　for　his　flock；　for　the　city；　and　for　your　Majesty's　authority；　and　though　I　am　persuaded　that　the　danger　is　not　so　great　as　he　imagines；　yet　his　scruples　in　this　case　are　to　be　commended　in　him　as　laudable　and　religious。〃　　The　Queen　understood　the　meaning　of　this　cant；　recovered　herself　all　of　a　sudden；　and　spoke　to　me　very　civilly；　to　which　I　answered　with　profound　respect　and　so　innocent　a　countenance　that　La　Riviere　said；　whispering　to　Beautru；　〃See　what　it　is　not　to　be　always　at　Court！　　The　Coadjutor　knows　the　world　and　is　a　man　of　sense；　yet　takes　all　the　Queen　has　said　to　be　in　earnest。〃

The　truth　is；　the　Cabinet　seemed　to　consist　of　persons　acting　the　several　parts　of　a　comedy。　　I　played　the　innocent；　but　was　not　so；　at　least　in　that　affair。　　The　Cardinal　acted　the　part　of　one　who　thought　himself　secure；　but　was　much　less　confident　than　he　appeared。　　The　Queen　affected　to　be　good…humoured；　and　yet　was　never　more　ill…tempered。　　M。　de　Longueville　put　on　the　marks　of　sorrow　and　sadness　while　his　heart　leaped　for　joy；　for　no　man　living　took　a　greater　pleasure　than　he　to　promote　all　broils。　　The　Duc　d'Orleans　personated　hurry　and；　passion　in　speaking　to　the　Queen；　yet　would　whistle　half　an　hour　together　with　the　utmost　indolence。　　The　Marechal　de　Villeroy　put　on　gaiety；　the　better　to　make　his　court　to　the　Prime　Minister；　though　he　privately　owned　to　me；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　that　he　saw　the　State　was　upon　the　brink　of　ruin。　Beautru　and　Nogent　acted　the　part　of　buffoons；　and　to　please　the　Queen；　personated　old　Broussel's　nurse　（for　he　was　eighty　years　of　age）；　stirring　up　the　people　to　sedition；　though　both　of　them　knew　well　enough　that　their　farce　might　perhaps　soon　end　in　a　real　tragedy。

The　Abby　de　la　Riviere　was　the　only　man　who　pretended　to　be　fully　persuaded　that　the　insurrection　of　the　people　was　but　vapour；　and　he　maintained　it　to　the　Queen；　who　was　willing　to　believe　him；　though　she　had　been　satisfied　to　the　contrary；　and　the　conduct　of　the　Queen；　who　had　the　courage　of　a　heroine；　and　the　temper　of　La　Riviere；　who　was　the　most　notorious　poltroon　of　his　time；　furnished　me　with　this　remark：　That　a　blind　rashness　and　an　extravagant　fear　produce　the　same　effects　while　the　danger　is　unknown。

The　Marechal　de　La　Meilleraye　assumed　the　style　and　bravado　of　a　captain　when　a　lieutenant…colonel　of　the　Guards　suddenly　came　to　tell　the　Queen　that　the　citizens　threatened　to　force　the　Guards；　and；　being　naturally　hasty　and　choleric；　was　transported　even　with　fury　and　madness。　　He　cried　out　that　he　would　perish　rather　than　suffer　such　insolence；　and　asked　leave　to　take　the　Guards；　the　officers　of　the　Household；　and　even　all　the　courtiers　he　could　find　in　the　antechambers；　with　whom　he　would　engage　to　rout　the　whole　mob。　　The　Queen　was　greatly　in　favour　of　it；　but　nobody　else；　and　events　proved　that　it　was　well　they　did　not　come　into　it。　　At　the　same　time　entered　the　Chancellor；　a　man　who　had　never　spoken　a　word　of　truth　in　his　whole　life；　but　now；　his　complaisance　yielding　to　his　fear；　he　spoke　directly　according　to　what　he　had　seen　in　the　streets。　I　observed　that　the　Cardinal　was　startled　at　the　boldness　of　a　man　in　whom　he　had　never　seen　anything　like　it　before。　　But　Senneterre；　coming　in　just　after　him；　removed　all　their　apprehensions　in　a　trice　by　assuring　them　that　the　fury　of　the　people　began　to　cool；　that　they　did　not　take　arms；　and　that　with　a　little　patience　all　would　be　well　again。

There