the memoirs of louis xiv-02-第5部分

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should　so　repay　him。　　The　Comte　de　Roye　was　unable　to　stand　up　against
the　storm；　and　withdrew　to　England；　where　he　died　a　few　years　after。

The　King　at　this　time　drove　away　the　company　of　Italian　actors；　and　would
not　permit　another　in　its　place。　　So　long　as　the　Italians　had　simply
allowed　their　stage　to　overflow　with　filth　or　impiety　they　only　caused
laughter；　but　they　set　about　playing　a　piece　called　〃The　False　Prude；〃　in
which　Madame　de　Maintenon　was　easily　recognised。　　Everybody　ran　to　see
the　piece；　but　after　three　or　four　representations；　given　consecutively
on　account　of　the　gain　it　brought；　the　Italians　received　orders　to　close
their　theatre　and　to　quit　the　realm　in　a　month。　　This　affair　made　a　great
noise；　and　if　the　comedians　lost　an　establishment　by　their　boldness　and
folly；　they　who　drove　them　away　gained　nothingsuch　was　the　licence　with
which　this　ridiculous　event　was　spoken　of！




CHAPTER　XI

The　disposition　of　the　armies　was　the　same　this　year　as　last；　except　that
the　Princes　did　not　serve。　　Towards　the　end　of　May　I　joined　the　army　of
the　Rhine；　under　the　Marechal　de　Choiseul；　as　before。　　We　made　some
skilful　manoeuvres；　but　did　little　in　the　way　of　fighting。　　For　sixteen
days　we　encamped　at　Nieder…buhl；　where　we　obtained　a　good　supply　of
forage。　　At　the　end　of　that　time　the　Marechal　de　Choiseul　determined　to
change　his　position。　　Our　army　was　so　placed；　that　the　enemy　could　see
almost　all　of　it　quite　distinctly；　yet；　nevertheless；　we　succeeded　in
decamping　so　quickly；　that　we　disappeared　from　under　their　very　eyes　in
open　daylight；　and　in　a　moment　as　it　were。　　Such　of　the　Imperial　Generals
as　were　out　riding　ran　from　all　parts　to　the　banks　of　the　Murg；　to　see
our　retreat；　but　it　was　so　promptly　executed　that　there　was　no　time　for
them；　to　attempt　to　hinder　us。　　When　the　Prince　of　Baden　was　told　of　our
departure　he　could　not　credit　it。　He　had　seen　us　so　lately；　quietly
resting　in　our　position；　that　it　seemed　impossible　to　him　we　had　left　it
in　such　a　short　space　of　time。　　When　his　own　eyes　assured　him　of　the
fact；　he　was　filled　with　such　astonishment　and　admiration；　that　he　asked
those　around　him　if　they　had　ever　seen　such　a　retreat；　adding；　that　he
could　not　have　believed；　until　then；　that　an　army　so　numerous　and　so
considerable　should　have　been　able　to　disappear　thus　in　an　instant。
This　honourable　and　bold　retreat　was　attended　by　a　sad　accident。　　One　of
our　officers；　named　Blansac；　while　leading　a　column　of　infantry　through
the　wood；　was　overtaken　by　night。　　A　small　party　of　his　men　heard　some
cavalry　near　them。　　The　cavalry　belonged　to　the　enemy；　and　had　lost　their
way。　　Instead　of　replying　when　challenged；　they　said　to　each　other　in
German；　〃Let　us　run　for　it。〃　　Nothing　more　was　wanting　to　draw　upon　them
a　discharge　from　the　small　body　of　our　men；　by　whom　they　had　been　heard。
To　this　they　replied　with　their　pistols。　　Immediately；　and　without
orders；　the　whole　column　of　infantry　fired　in　that　direction；　and；　before
Blansac　could　inquire　the　cause；　fired　again。　　Fortunately　he　was　not
wounded；　but　five　unhappy　captains　were　killed；　and　some　subalterns
wounded。

Our　campaign　was　brought　to　an　end　by　the　peace　of　Ryswick。　　The　first
news　of　that　event　arrived　at　Fontainebleau　on　the　22nd　of　September。
Celi；　son　of　Harlay；　had　been　despatched　with　the　intelligence；　but　he
did　not　arrive　until　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　the　26th　of
September。　　He　had　amused　himself　by　the　way　with　a　young　girl　who　had
struck　his　fancy；　and　with　some　wine　that　he　equally　relished。　　He　had
committed　all　the　absurdities　and　impertinences　which　might　be　expected
of　a　debauched；　hare…brained　young　fellow；　completely　spoiled　by　his
father；　and　he　crowned　all　by　this　fine　delay。

A　little　time　before　the　signing　of　peace；　the　Prince　de　Conti；　having
been　elected　King　of　Poland；　set　out　to　take　possession　of　his　throne。
The　King；　ravished　with　joy　to　see　himself　delivered　from　a　Prince　whom
he　disliked；　could　not　hide　his　satisfactionhis　eagernessto　get　rid
of　a　Prince　whose　only　faults　were　that　he　had　no　bastard　blood　in　his
veins；　and　that　he　was　so　much　liked　by　all　the　nation　that　they　wished
him　at　the　head　of　the　army；　and　murmured　at　the　little　favour　he
received；　as　compared　with　that　showered　down　upon　the　illegitimate
children。

The　King　made　all　haste　to　treat　the　Prince　to　royal　honours。　　After　an
interview　in　the　cabinet　of　Madame　de　Maintenon；　he　presented　him　to　a
number　of　ladies；　saying；　〃I　bring　you　a　king。〃　　The　Prince　was　all　along
doubtful　of　the　validity　of　his　election；　and　begged　that　the　Princess
might　not　be　treated　as　a　queen；　until　he　should　have　been　crowned。
He　received　two　millions　in　cash　from　the　King；　and　other　assistances。
Samuel　Bernard　undertook　to　make　the　necessary　payments　in　Poland。　　The
Prince　started　by　way　of　Dunkerque；　and　went　to　that　place　at　such　speed；
that　an　ill…closed　chest　opened；　and　two　thousand　Louis　were　scattered　on
the　road；　a　portion　only　of　which　was　brought　back　to　the　Hotel　Conti。
The　celebrated　Jean　Bart　pledged　himself　to　take　him　safely；　despite　the
enemy's　fleet；　and　kept　his　word。　　The　convoy　was　of　five　frigates。　　The
Chevalier　de　Sillery；　before　starting；　married　Mademoiselle　Bigot；　rich
and　witty；　with　whom　he　had　been　living　for　some　time。　　Meanwhile　the
best　news　arrived　from　our　ambassador；　the　Abbe　de　Polignac；　to　the　King；
but　all　answers　were　intercepted　at　Dantzic　by　the　retired　Queen　of
Poland；　who　sent　on　only　the　envelopes！　　However；　the　Prince　de　Conti
passed　up　the　Sound；　and　the　King　and　Queen　of　Denmark　watched　them　from
the　windows　of　the　Chateau　de　Cronenbourg。　　Jean　Bart；　against　custom；
ordered　a　salute　to　be　fired。　　It　was　returned；　and　as　some　light　vessels
passing　near　the　frigates　said　that　the　King　and　Queen　were　looking　on；
the　Prince　ordered　another　salvo。

There　was；　however；　another　claimant　to　the　throne　of　Poland；　I　mean　the
Elector　of　Saxony；　who　had　also　been　elected；　and　who　had　many　partisans；
so　many；　indeed；　that　when　the　Prince　de　Conti　arrived　at　Dantzic；　he
found　himself　almost　entirely　unsupported。　　The　people　even　refused
provision　to　his　frigates。　　However；　the　Prince's　partisans　at　length
arrived　to　salute　him。　　The　Bishop　of　Plosko　gave　him　a　grand　repast；
near　the　Abbey　of　Oliva。　　Marege；　a　Gascon　gentleman　of　the　Prince's
suite；　was　present；　but　had　been　ill。　　There　was　drinking　in　the　Polish
fashion；　and　he　tried　to　be　let　off。　　The　Prince　pleaded　for　him；　but
these　Poles；　who；　in　order　to　make　themselves　understood；　spoke　Latin
and　very　bad　Latin　indeedwould　not　accept　such　an　excuse；　and　forcing
him　to　drink；　howled　furiously　'Bibat　et　Moriatur！　　Marege；　who　was　very
jocular　and　yet　very　choleric；　used　to　tell　this　story　in　the　same
spirit；　and　made　everyone　who　heard　it　laugh。

However；　the　party　of　the　Prince　de　Conti　made　no　way；　and　at　length　he
was　fain　to　make　his　way　back　to　France　with　all　speed。　　The　King
received　him　very　graciously；　although　at　heart　exceeding　sorry　to　see
him　again。　　A　short　time　after；　the　Elector　of　Saxony　mounted　the　throne
of　Poland　without　opposition；　and　was　publicly　recognised　by　the　King；
towards　the　commencement　of　August。

By　the　above…mentioned　peace　of　Ryswick；　the　King　acknowledged　the　Prince
of　Orange　as　King　of　England。　　It　was；　however；　a　bitter　draught　for　him
to　swallow；　and　for　these　reasons：　Some　years　before；　the　King　had
offered　his　illegitimate　daughter；　the　Princesse　de　Conti；　in　marriage　to
the　Prince　of　Orange；　believing　he　did　that　Prince　great　honour　by　the
proposal。　　The　Prince　did　not　think　in　the　same　manner；　and　flatly
refused；　saying；　that　the　House　of　Orange　was　accustomed　to　marry　the
legitimate　daughters　of　great　kings；　and　not　their　bastards。　　These　words
sank　so　deeply　into　the　heart　of　the　King；　that　he　never　forgot　them；　and
often；　against　even　his　most　palpable　interest；　showed　how　firmly　the
indignation　he　felt　at　them　had　taken　possession　of　his　mind：　Since　then；
the　Prince　of　Orange　had　done　all　in　his　power　to　efface　the　effect　his
words　had　made；　but　every　attempt　was　rejected　with　disdain。　　The　King's
ministers　in　Holland　had　orders　to　do　all　they　could　to　thwart　the
projects　of　the　Prince　of　Orange；　to　excite　people　against　him；　to
protect　openly　those　opposed　to　him；　and　to　be　in　no　way　niggard　of　money
in　order　to　secure　the　election　of　magistrates　unfavourable　to　him。　　The
Prince　never　ceased；　until　the　breaking…out　of　this　war；　to　use　every
effort　to　appease　the　anger　of　the　King。　　At　last；　growing　tired；　and
hoping　soon　to　make　his　invasion　into　England；　he　said　publicly；　that　he
had　uselessly　laboured　all　his　life　to　gain　the　favours　of　the　King；　but
that　he　hoped　to　be　more　fortunate　in　meriting　his　esteem。　　It　may　be
imagined；　therefore；　what　a　triumph　it　was　for　him　when　he　forced　the
King　to　recognise　him　as　monarch　of　England；　and　what　that　recognition
cost　the　King。

M。　le　Duc　presided　this　year　over　the　Assembly　of　the　States　of　Burgundy；
in　place　of　his　father　M。　le　Prince；　who　did　not　wish　to　go　there。　　The
Duke　gave　on　that　occasion　a　striking　example　of　the　friendship　of
princes；　and　a　fine　lesson　to　those　who　seek　it。　　Santeuil；　Canon　of
Saint　Victor；　and　the　greatest　Latin　poet　who　has　appeared　for　many
centuries；　accompanied　him。　　Santeuil　was　an　excellent　fellow；　full　of
wit　and　of　life；　and　of　pleasantries；　which　rendered　him　an　admirable
boon…companion。　　Fond　of　wine　and　of　good　cheer；　he　was　not　debauched；
and　with　a　disposition　and　talents　so　little　fitted　for　the　cloister；
was　nevertheless；　at　bottom；　as　good　a　churchman　as　with　such　a　character
he　could　be。　　He　was　a　great　favourite　with　all　the　house　of　Conde；　and
was　invited　to　their　parties；　where　his　witticisms；　his　verses；　and　his
pleasantries　had　afforded　infinite　amusement　for　many　years。

M。　le　Duc　wished　to　take　him　to　Dijon。　　Santeuil　tried　to　excuse　himself；
but　without　effect；　he　was　obliged　to　go；　and　was　established　at　the
house　of　the　Duke　while　the　States　were　held。　　Every　evening　there　was　a
supper；　and　Santeuil　was　always　the　life　of　the　company。　　One　evening　M。
le　Duc　diverted　himself　by　forcing　Sante