the memoirs of louis xiv-03-第6部分

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be　more　sure　of　the　news。　　The　other　principal　officers　were　advanced　in
proportion　to　their　grades；　and　many　received　pensions。

As　for　the　Marechal　de　Villeroy　he　was　treated　as　those　who　excite　envy
and　then　become　unfortunate　are　always　treated。　　The　King；　however；
openly　took　his　part；　and　in　truth　it　was　no　fault　of　the　Marechal；　who
had　arrived　at　Cremona　the　day　before　the　surprise；　that　he　was　taken
prisoner　directly　he　set　his　foot　in　the　street。How　could　he　know　of
the　aqueduct；　the　barred…up　gate；　and　the　concealed　soldiers？
Nevertheless；　his　friends　were　plunged　into　the　greatest　grief；　and　his
wife；　who　had　not　been　duped　by　the　eclat　which　accompanied　her　husband
upon　his　departure　for　Italy；　but　who　feared　for　the　result；　was
completely　overwhelmed；　and　for　a　long　time　could　not　be　prevailed　upon
to　see　anybody。

M。　de　Vendome　was　appointed　successor　to　M。　de　Villeroy；　in　command　of
the　army　in　Italy。





CHAPTER　XX

But　it　is　time　now　for　me　to　go　back　to　other　matters；　and　to　start　again
from　the　commencement　of　1701；　from　which　I　have　been　led　by　reciting；　in
a　continuous　story；　the　particulars　of　our　first　campaign　in　Italy。

Barbezieux　had　viewed　with　discontent　the　elevation　of　Chamillart。　　His
pride　and　presumption　rose　in　arms　against　it；　but　as　there　was　no　remedy
he　gave　himself　up　to　debauch；　to　dissipate　his　annoyance。　　He　had　built
between　Versailles　and　Vaucresson；　at　the　end　of　the　park　of　Saint　Cloud；
a　house　in　the　open　fields；　called　l'Etang；　which　though　in　the　dismalest
position　in　the　world　had　cost　him　millions。　　He　went　there　to　feast　and
riot　with　his　friends；　and　committing　excesses　above　his　strength；　was
seized　with　a　fever；　and　died　in　a　few　days；　looking　death　steadily　in
the　face。　　He　was　told　of　his　approaching　end　by　the　Archbishop　of
Rheims；　for　he　would　not　believe　Fagon。

He　was　thirty…three　years　of　age；　with　a　striking　and　expressive
countenance；　and　much　wit　and　aptitude　for　labour。　　He　was　remarkable　for
grace；　fine　manners；　and　winning　ways；　but　his　pride　and　ambition　were
excessive；　and　when　his　fits　of　ill…temper　came；　nothing　could　repress
them。　　Resistance　always　excited　and　irritated　him。　　He　had　accustomed
the　Kingwhenever　he　had　drunk　too　much；　or　when　a　party　of　pleasure　was
towardto　put　off　work　to　another　time。　　It　was　a　great　question；
whether　the　State　gained　or　lost　most　by　his　death？

As　soon　as　he　was　dead；　Saint…Pouange　went　to　Marly　to　tell　the　news　to
the　King；　who　was　so　prepared　for　it　that　two　hours　before；　starting　from
Versailles；　he　had　left　La　Vrilliere　behind　to　put　the　seals　everywhere。
Fagon；　who　had　condemned　him　at　once；　had　never　loved　him　or　his　father；
and　was　accused　of　over…bleeding　him　on　purpose。　　At　any　rate　he　allowed；
at　one　of　his　last　visits；　expressions　of　joy　to　escape　him　because
recovery　was　impossible。　　Barbezieux　used　to　annoy　people　very　much　by
answering　aloud　when　they　spoke　to　him　in　whispers；　and　by　keeping
visitors　waiting　whilst　he　was　playing　with　his　dogs　or　some　base
parasite。

Many　people；　especially　divers　beautiful　ladies；　lost　much　by　his　death。
Some　of　the　latter　looked　very　disconsolate　in　the　salon　at　Marly；　but
when　they　had　gone　to　table；　and　the　cake　had　been　cut　（it　was　Twelfth
Night）；　the　King　manifested　a　joy　which　seemed　to　command　imitation。
He　was　not　content　with　exclaiming　〃The　Queen　drinks；〃　but　as　in　a　common
wine…shop；　he　clattered　his　spoon　and　fork　on　his　plate；　and　made　others
do　so　likewise；　which　caused　a　strange　din；　that　lasted　at　intervals　all
through　the　supper。　　The　snivellers　made　more　noise　than　the　others；　and
uttered　louder　screams　of　laughter；　and　the　nearest　relatives　and　best
friends　were　still　more　riotous。　　On　the　morrow　all　signs　of　grief　had
disappeared。

Chamillart　was　appointed　in　the　place　of　Barbezieux；　as　Secretary　of
State；　and　wanted　to　give　up　the　Finance；　but　the　King；　remembering　the
disputes　of　Louvois　and　Colbert；　insisted　on　his　occupying　both　posts。
Chamillart　was　a　very　worthy　man；　with　clean　hands　and　the　best
intentions；　polite；　patient；　obliging；　a　good　friend；　and　a　moderate
enemy；　loving　his　country；　but　his　King　better；　and　on　very　good　terms
with　him　and　Madame　de　Maintenon。　　His　mind　was　limited　and；　like　all
persons　of　little　wit　and　knowledge；　he　was　obstinate　and　pig…headed
smiling　affectedly　with　a　gentle　compassion　on　whoever　opposed　reasons　to
his；　but　utterly　incapable　of　understanding　themconsequently　a　dupe　in
friendship；　in　business；　in　everything；　governed　by　all　who　could　manage
to　win　his　admiration；　or　on　very　slight　grounds　could　claim　his
affection。　　His　capacity　was　small；　and　yet　he　believed　he　knew
everything；　which　was　the　more　pitiable；　as　all　this　came　to　him　with　his
places；　and　arose　more　from　stupidity　than　presumptionnot　at　all　from
vanity；　of　which　he　was　divested。　　The　most　remarkable　thing　is　that　the
chief　origin　of　the　King's　tender　regard　for　him　was　this　very
incapacity。　　He　used　to　confess　it　to　the　King　at　every　opportunity；　and
the　King　took　pleasure　in　directing　and　instructing　him；　so　that　he　was
interested　in　his　successes　as　if　they　had　been　his　own；　and　always
excused　him。　　The　world　and　the　Court　excused　him　also；　charmed　by　the
facility　with　which　he　received　people；　the　pleasure　he　felt　in　granting
requests　and　rendering　services；　the　gentleness　and　regretfulness　of　his
refusals；　and　his　indefatigable　patience　as　a　listener。　　His　memory　was
so　great　that　he　remembered　all　matters　submitted　to　him；　which　gave
pleasure　to　people　who　were　afraid　of　being　forgotten。　　He　wrote
excellently；　and　his　clear；　flowing；　and　precise　style　was　extremely
pleasing　to　the　King　and　Madame　de　Maintenon；　who　were　never　weary　of
praising　him；　encouraging　him；　and　congratulating　themselves　for　having
placed　upon　such　weak　shoulders　two　burdens；　each　of　which　was　sufficient
to　overwhelm　the　most　sturdy。

Rose；　secretary　in　the　King's　cabinet；　died；　aged　about　eighty…six；　at
the　commencement　of　the　year　1701。　　For　nearly　fifty　years　he　had　held
the　office　of　the　〃pen；〃　as　it　is　called。　　To　have　the　〃pen；〃　is　to　be　a
public　forger；　and　to　do　what　would　cost　anybody　else　his　life。　　This
office　consists　in　imitating　so　exactly　the　handwriting　of　the　King；　that
the　real　cannot　be　distinguished　from　the　counterfeit。　　In　this　manner
are　written　all　the　letters　that　the　King　ought　or　wishes　to　write　with
his　own　hand；　but　which；　nevertheless；　he　will　not　take　the　trouble　to
write。　　Sovereigns　and　people　of　high　rank；　even　generals　and　others　of
importance；　employ　a　secretary　of　this　kind。　　It　is　not　possible　to　make
a　great　King　speak　with　more　dignity　than　did　Rose；　nor　with　more　fitness
to　each　person；　and　upon　every　subject。　　The　King　signed　all　the　letters
Rose　wrote；　and　the　characters　were　so　alike　it　was　impossible　to　find
the　smallest　difference。　　Many　important　things　had　passed　through　the
hands　of　Rose：　He　was　extremely　faithful　and　secret；　and　the　King　put
entire　trust　in　him。

Rose　was　artful；　scheming；　adroit；　and　dangerous。　　There　are　stories
without　number　of　him；　and　I　will　relate　one　or　two　solely　because　they
characterise　him；　and　those　to　whom　they　also　relate。

He　had；　near　Chantilly；　a　nice　house　and　grounds　that　he　much　liked；　and
that　he　often　visited。　　This　little　property　bordered　the　estate　of　M。　le
Prince；　who；　not　liking　so　close　a　neighbour；　wished　to　get　rid　of　him。
M。　le　Prince　endeavoured　to　induce　Rose　to　give　up　his　house　and　grounds；
but　all　to　no　effect；　and　at　last　tried　to　annoy　him　in　various　ways　into
acquiescence。　　Among　other　of　his　tricks；　he　put　about　four　hundred
foxes；　old　and　young；　into　Rose's　park。　　It　may　be　imagined　what　disorder
this　company　made　there；　and　the　surprise　of　Rose　and　his　servants　at　an
inexhaustible　ant…hill　of　foxes　come　to　one　night！

The　worthy　fellow；　who　was　anger　and　vehemence　itself；　knew　only　too　well
who　had　treated　him　thus　scurvily；　and　straightway　went　to　the　King；
requesting　to　be　allowed　to　ask　him　rather　a　rough　question。　　The　King；
quite　accustomed　to　him　and　to　his　jokes；for　he　was　pleasant　and　very
witty；　demanded　what　was　the　matter。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Sire？〃　replied　Rose；　with　a　face　all　flushed。
〃Why；　I　beg　you　will　tell　me　if　we　have　two　Kings　in　France？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　the　King；　surprised；　and　flushing　in　his　turn。

〃What　I　mean；　Sire；　is；　that　if　M。　le　Prince　is　King　like　you；　folks　must
weep　and　lower　their　heads　before　that　tyrant。　　If　he　is　only　Prince　of
the　blood；　I　ask　justice　from　you；　Sire；　for　you　owe　it　to　all　your
subjects；　and　you　ought　not　to　suffer　them　to　be　the　prey　of　M。　le
Prince；〃　said　Rose；　and　he　related　everything　that　had　taken　place；
concluding　with　the　adventure　of　the　foxes。

The　King　promised　that　he　would　speak　to　M。　le　Prince　in　a　manner　to
insure　the　future　repose　of　Rose；　and；　indeed；　he　ordered　all　the　foxes
to　be　removed　from　the　worthy　man's　park；　all　the　damages　they　had　made
to　be　repaired；　and　all　the　expenses　incurred　to　be　paid　by　M。　le　Prince。
M。　le　Prince　was　too　good　a　courtier　to　fail　in　obeying　this　order；　and
never　afterwards　troubled　Rose　in　the　least　thing；　but；　on　the　contrary；
made　all　the　advances　towards　a　reconciliation。　　Rose　was　obliged　to
receive　them；　but　held　himself　aloof；　nevertheless；　and　continually　let
slip　some　raillery　against　M。　le　Prince。　　I　and　fifty　others　were　one　day
witnesses　of　this。

M。　le　Prince　was　accustomed　to　pay　his　court　to　the　ministers　as　they
stood　waiting　to　attend　the　council　in　the　King's　chamber；　and　although
he　had　nothing　to　say；　spoke　to　them　with　the　mien　of　a　client　obliged　to
fawn。　　One　morning；　when　there　was　a　large　assembly　of　the　Court　in　this
chamber；　and　M。　le　Prince　had　been　cajoling　the　ministers　with　much
suppleness　and　flattery；　Secretary　Rose；　who　saw　what　had　been　going　on；
went　up　to　him　on　a　sudden；　and　said　aloud；　putting　one　finger　under　his
closed　eye；　as　was　sometimes　his　habit；　〃Sir；　I　have　seen　your　scheming
here　with　all　these　gentlemen；　and　for　several　days；　it　is　not　for
nothing。　　I　have　known　the　Court　and　mankind　many　years；　and　am　not　to　be
imposed　upon：　I　see　cl