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the memoirs of louis xiv-03-第4部分
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embarrassment were great indeed when it was found that all was of no
avail。 The King had undressed; and was awaiting her。 Madame des Ursins
was at length obliged to go and tell him the resolution the Queen had
taken。 He was piqued and annoyed。 He had until that time lived with the
completest regularity; which had contributed to make him find the
Princess more to his taste than he might otherwise have done。 He was
therefore affected by her 'fantaisie'; and by the same reason easily
persuaded that she would not keep to it beyond the first night。 They did
not see each other therefore until the morrow; and after they were
dressed。 It was lucky that by the Spanish custom no one was permitted to
be present when the newly…married pair went to bed; or this affair; which
went no further than the young couple; Madame des Ursins; and one or two
domestics; might have made a very unpleasant noise。
Madame des Ursins consulted with two of the courtiers; as to the best
measures to be adopted with a child who showed so much force and
resolution。 The night was passed in exhortations and in promises upon
what had occurred at the supper; and the Queen consented at last to
remain Queen。 The Duke of Medina…Sidonia and Count San Estevan were
consulted on the morrow。 They were of opinion that in his turn the King;
in order to mortify her and reduce her to terms; should not visit the
Queen on the following night。 This opinion was acted upon。 The King and
Queen did not see each other in private that day。 In the evening the
Queen was very sorry。 Her pride and her little vanity were wounded;
perhaps also she had found the King to her taste。
The ladies and the grand seigneurs who had attended at the supper were
lectured for what had occurred there。 Excuses; promises; demands for
pardon; followed; all was put right; the third day was tranquil; and the
third night still more agreeable to the young people。 On the fourth day
they went to Barcelona; where only fetes and pleasures awaited them。
Soon after they set out for Madrid。
At the commencement of the following year (1702); it was resolved; after
much debate; at our court; that Philip V。 should make a journey to Italy;
and on Easter…day he set out。 He went to Naples; Leghorn; Milan; and
Alessandria。 While at the first…named place a conspiracy which had been
hatching against his life was discovered; and put down。 But other things
which previously occurred in Italy ought to have been related before。 I
must therefore return to them now。
From the moment that Philip V。 ascended the Spanish throne it was seen
that a war was certain。 England maintained for some time an obstinate
silence; refusing to acknowledge the new King; the Dutch secretly
murmured against him; and the Emperor openly prepared for battle。 Italy;
it was evident at once; would be the spot on which hostilities would
commence; and our King lost no time in taking measures to be ready for
events。 By land and by sea every preparation was made for the struggle
about to take place。
After some time the war; waited for and expected by all Europe; at last
broke out; by some Imperialist troops firing upon a handful of men near
Albaredo。 One Spaniard was killed; and all the rest of the men were
taken prisoners。 The Imperialists would not give them up until a cartel
was arranged。 The King; upon hearing this; at once despatched the
general officers to Italy。 Our troops were to be commanded by Catinat;
under M。 de Savoie; and the Spanish troops by Vaudemont; who was
Governor…General of the Milanese; and to whom; and his dislike to our
King; I have before alluded。
Vaudemont at once began to plot to overthrow Catinat; in conjunction with
Tesse; who had expected the command; and who was irritated because it had
not been given to him。 They were in communication with Chamillart;
Minister of War; who aided them; as did other friends at Court; to be
hereafter named; in carrying out their object。 It was all the more easy
because they had to do with a man who depended for support solely upon
his own talent; and whose virtue and simplicity raised him above all
intrigue and scheming; and who; with much ability and intelligence; was
severe in command; very laconic; disinterested; and of exceeding pure
life。
Prince Eugene commanded the army of the Emperor in Italy。 The first two
generals under him; in order of rank; were allied with Vaudemont: one; in
fact; was his only son; the other was the son of a friend of his。 The
least reflection ought to have opened all eyes to the conduct of
Vaudemont; and to have discerned it to be more than suspicious。 Catinat
soon found it out。 He could plan nothing against the enemy that they did
not learn immediately; and he never attempted any movement without
finding himself opposed by a force more than double his own; so gross was
this treachery。
Catinat often complained of this: he sent word of it to the Court; but
without daring to draw any conclusion from what happened。 Nobody
sustained him at Court; for Vaudemont had everybody in his favour。 He
captured our general officers by his politeness; his magnificence; and;
above all; by presenting them with abundant supplies。 All the useful;
and the agreeable; came from his side; all the dryness; all the
exactitude; came from Catinat。 It need not be asked which of the two had
all hearts。 In fine; Tesse and Vaudemont carried out their schemes so
well that Catinat could do nothing。
While these schemes were going on; the Imperialists were enabled to gain
time; to strengthen themselves; to cross the rivers without obstacle; to;
approach us; and; acquainted with everything as they were; to attack a
portion of our army on the 9th July; at Capri; with five regiments of
cavalry and dragoons。 Prince Eugene led this attack without his coming
being in the least degree suspected; and fell suddenly upon our troops。
Tesse; who was in the immediate neighbourhood with some dragoons;
advanced rapidly upon hearing this; but only with a few dragoons。 A long
resistance was made; but at last retreat became necessary。 It was
accomplished in excellent order; and without disturbance from the enemy;
but our loss was very great; many officers of rank being among the dead。
Such was our first exploit in Italy; all the fault of which was
attributed to Catinat。 Tesse and Vaudemont did everything in their power
to secure his disgrace。 The King; indeed; thus prejudiced against
Catinat; determined to take from him the command; and appointed the
Marechal de Villeroy as his successor。 The surprise of everybody at this
was very great; for no one expected that the Marechal de Villeroy would
repair the fault of Catinat。 On the evening of his appointment; this
general was exposed in a very straightforward and public manner by M。 de
Duras。 He did not like the Marechal de Villeroy; and; while everybody
else was applauding; took the Marechal by the arm; and said; 〃Monsieur le
Marechal; everybody is paying you compliments upon your departure to
Italy; I keep mine until you return;〃 and then; bursting out laughing; he
looked round upon the company。 Villeroy remained confounded; without
offering a word。 Everybody smiled and looked down。 The King took no
notice。
Catinat; when the command was taken out of his hands by the Marechal de
Villeroy; made himself admired on every side by the moderation and
tranquillity with which he conducted himself。 If Vaudemont was satisfied
with the success of his schemes; it was far otherwise with Tesse; who had
merely intrigued against Catinat for the purpose of obtaining the command
of the army。 He did all in his power to ingratiate himself into the
favour of the Marechal de Villeroy; but the Marechal received these
advances very coldly。 Tesse's schemes against Catinat were beginning to
be scented out; he was accused of having wished the Imperialists to
succeed at Capri; and of indirectly aiding them by keeping back his
troops; his tirades against Catinat; too; made him suspected。 The
Marechal de Villeroy would have nothing to do with him。 His conduct was
contrasted with that of Catinat; who; free after his fall to retire from
the army; continued to remain there; with rare modesty; interfering in
nothing。
The first campaign passed without notable incident; except an
unsuccessful attack upon Chiari; by our troops on the 1st of September。
M。 de Savoie led the attack; but was so firmly met by Prince Eugene; who
was in an excellent position for defence; that he could do nothing; and
in the end was compelled to retire disgracefully。 We lost five or six
colonels and many men; and had a large number wounded。 This action much
astonished our army; and encouraged that of the enemy; who did almost as
they wished during the rest of the campaign。
Towards the end of this campaign; the grand airs of familiarity which the
Marechal de Villeroy gave himself with M。 de Savoie drew upon him a cruel
rebuke; not to say an affront。 M。 de Savoie being in the midst of all
the generals and of the flower of the army; opened; while talking; his
snuff…box; and was about to take a pinch of snuff; when M。 de Villeroy;
who was standing near; stretched out his hand and put it into the box
without saying a word。 M。 de Savoie flushed up; and instantly threw all
the snuff upon the ground; gave the box to one of his attendants; and
told him to fill it again。 The Marechal; not knowing what to do with
himself; swallowed his shame without daring to say a word; M。 de Savoie
continuing the conversation that he had not interrupted; except to ask
for the fresh snuff。
The campaign passed away; our troops always retreating; the Imperialists
always gaining ground; they continually increasing in numbers; we
diminishing little by little every day。 The Marechal de Villeroy and
Prince Eugene each took up his winter quarters and crossed the frontier:
M。 de Savoie returned to Turin; and Catinat went to Paris。 The King
received him well; but spoke of nothing but unimportant matters; and gave
him no private audience; nor did he ask for one。
Prince Eugene; who was more knowing than the Marechal de Villeroy; had
obliged him to winter in the
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