the memoirs of louis xiv-14-第14部分

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blows　did　not　fall　lightly。　　While　the　King　was　striking　them；　the　grand
ecuyer　and　the　premier　remained　in　their　places　kneeling。　　The　sword　was
returned　as　it　had　been　presented；　and　kissed　in　the　same　manner。
Valouse　put　it　back　into　its　sheath；　after　which　the　grand　ecuyer　and　the
premier　ecuyer　returned　as　they　came。

This　sword；　handle　included；　was　more　than　four　feet　long；　the　blade　four
good　digits　wide；　thick　in　proportion；　insensibly　diminishing　in
thickness　and　width　to　the　point；　which　was　very　small。　　The　handle
appeared　to　me　of　worked　enamel；　long　and　very　large；　as　well　as　the
pommel；　the　crossed　piece　long；　and　the　two　ends　wide；　even；　worked；
without　branch。　　I　examined　it　well；　and　I　could　not　hold　it　in　the　air
with　one…hand；　still　less　handle　it　with　both　hands　except　with　much
difficulty。　　It　is　pretended　that　this　is　the　sword　the　Great　Captain
made　use　of；　and　with　which　he　obtained　so　many　victories。

I　marvelled　at　the　strength　of　the　men　in　those　days；　with　whom　I　believe
early　habits　did　much。　　I　was　touched　by　the　grand　honour　rendered　to　the
Great　Captain's　memory；　his　sword　becoming　the　sword　of　the　State；
carried　even　by　the　King　with　great　respect。　　I　repeated；　more　than　once；
that　if　I　were　the　Duc　de　Scose　（who　descends　in　a　direct　line　from　the
Great　Captain　by　the　female　branch；　the　male　being　extinct）；　I　would
leave　nothing　undone　to　obtain　the　Toison；　in　order　to　enjoy　the　honour
and　the　sensible　pleasure　of　being　struck　by　this　sword；　and　with　such
great　respect　for　my　ancestor。　　But　to　return　to　the　ceremony　from　which
this　little　digression　has　taken　me。

The　accolade　being　given　by　the　King　after　the　blows　with　the　sword；
fresh　oaths　being　taken　at　his　feet；　then　before　the　table　as　at　first；
and　on　this　occasion　at　greater　length；　my　son　returned　and　knelt　before
the　King；　but　without　saying　anything　more。　　Then　Grimaldo　rose　and；
without　reverence；　left　the　chapter　by　the　left；　went　behind　the　right…
hand　seats　of　the　chevaliers；　and　took　the　collar　of　the　Toison　which　was
extended　at　the　end　of　the　table。　　At　this　moment　the　King　told　my　son　to
rise；　and　so　remain　standing　in　the　same　place。　　The　Prince　of　the
Asturias；　and　the　Marquis　de　Villena　then　rose　also；　end　approached　my
son；　both　covered；　all　the　other　chevaliers　remaining　seated　and　covered。
Then　Grimaldo；　passing　between　the　table　and　the　empty　seat　of　the　Prince
of　the　Asturias；　presented；　standing；　the　collar　to　the　King；　who　took　it
with　both　hands；　and　meanwhile　Grimaldo；　passing　behind　the　Prince　of　the
Asturias；　went　and　placed　himself　behind　my　son。　　As　soon　as　he　was
there；　the　King　told　my　son　to　bend　very　low；　but　without　kneeling；　and
then　leaning　forward；　but　without　rising；　placed　the　collar　upon　him；　and
made　him　immediately　after　stand　upright。　　The　King　then　took　hold　of　the
collar；　simply　holding　the　end　of　it　in　his　hand。　　At　the　same　time；　the
collar　was　attached　to　the　left　shoulder　by　the　Prince　of　the　Asturias；
to　the　right　shoulder　by　the　Marquis　de　Villena；　and　behind　by　Grimaldo；
the　King　still　holding　the　end。

When　the　collar　was　attached；　the　Prince　of　the　Asturias；　the　Marquis　de
Villena；　and　Grimaldo；　without　making　a　reverence　and　no　chevalier
uncovering　himself；　went　back　to　their　places；　and　sat　down；　at；　the　same
moment　my　son　knelt　before　the　King；　and　bared；　his　head。　　Then　the　Duc
de　Liria；　without　reverence；　and　uncovered　（no　chevalier　uncovering
himself）；　placed　himself　before　the　King　at　the　left；　by　the　side　of　my；
son；　and　both　made　their　reverences　to　the　King；　turned　round　to　the
Prince　of　the　Asturias；　did　the　same　to　him；　he　rising　and　doing　my　son
the　honour　to　embrace　him；　and　as　soon　as　he　was　reseated　they　made　a
reverence　to　him；　then；　turning　to　the　King；　made　him　one；　afterwards
they　did　the　same　to　the　Marquis　de　Villena；　who　rose　and　embraced　my
son。　　Then　he　reseated　himself；　upon　which　they　made　a　reverence　to　him；
then　turning　again　towards　the　King；　made　another　to　him；　and　so　an　from
right　to　left　until　every　chevalier　had　been　bowed　to　in　a　similar
manner。　　Then　my　son　sat　down；　and　the　Duc　de　Liria　returned　to　his
place。

After　this　long　series　of　bows；　so　bewildering　for　those　who　play　the
chief　part　in　it；　the　King　remained　a　short　time　in　his　armchair；　them
rose；　uncovered　himself；　and　retired　into　his　apartment　as　he　came。　　I
had　instructed　my　son　to　hurry　forward　and　arrive　before　him　at　the　door
of　his　inner　apartment。　　He　was　in　time；　and　I　also；　to　kiss　the　hand　of
the　King；　and　to　express　our　thanks；　which　were　well　received。　　The　Queen
arrived　and　overwhelmed　us　with　compliments。　　I　must　observe　that　the
ceremony　of　the　sword　and　the　accolade　are　not　performed　at　the　reception
of　those　who；　having　already　another　order；　are　supposed　to　have　received
them；　like　the　chevaliers　of　the　Saint…Esprit　and　of　Saint…Michel；　and
the　chevaliers　of　Saint…Louis。

Their　Catholic　Majesties　being　gone；　we　withdrew　to　my　house；　where　a
very　grand　dinner　was　prepared。　　The　usage　is；　before　the　reception；　to
visit　all　the　chevaliers　of　the　Toison；　and　when　the　day　is　fixed；　to
visit　all　those　invited　to　dinner　on　the　day　of　the　ceremony；　the
godfather；　with　the　other　chevalier　by　whom　he　is　accompanied；　also
invites　them　at　the　palace　before　they　enter　the　chapter；　and　aids　the
new　chevalier　to　do　the　honours　of　the　repast。　　I　had　led　my　son　with　me
to　pay　these　visits。　　Nearly　all　the　chevaliers　came　to　dine　with　us；　and
many　other　nobles。　　The　Duc　d'Albuquerque；　whom　I　met　pretty　often；　and
who　had　excused　himself　from　attending　a　dinner　I　had　previously　given；
on　account　of　his　stomach　（ruined　as　he　said　in　the　Indies）；　said　he；
would　not　refuse　me　twice；　on　condition　that　I　permitted　him　to　take
nothing　but　soup；　because　meat　was　too　solid　for　him。　　He　came；　and
partook　of　six　sorts　of　soup；　moderately　of　all；　he　afterwards　lightly
soaked　his　bread　in　such　ragouts　as　were　near　him；　eating　only　the　end；
and　finding　everything　very　good。　　He　drank　nothing　but　wine　and　water。
The　dinner　was　gay；　in　spite　of　the　great　number　of　guests。　　The
Spaniards　eat　as　much　as；　nay　more　than；　we；　and　with　taste；　choice；　and
pleasure：　as　to　drink；　they　are　very　modest。

On　the　13th　of　March；　1722；　their　Catholic　Majesties　returned　from　their
excursion　to　the　Retiro。　　The　hurried　journey　I　had　just　made　to　the
former　place；　immediately　after　the　arrival　of　a　courier；　and　in　spite　of
most　open　prohibitions　forbidding　every　one　to　go　there；　joined　to　the
fashion；　full　of　favour　and　goodness；　with　which　I　had　been　distinguished
by　their　Majesties　ever　since　my　arrival　in　Spain；　caused　a　most
ridiculous　rumour　to　obtain　circulation；　and　which；　to　my　great　surprise；
at　once　gained　much　belief。

It　was　reported　there　that　I　was　going　to　quit　my　position　of　ambassador
from　France；　and　be　declared　prime　minister　of　Spain！　　The　people　who　had
been　pleased；　apparently；　with　the　expense　I　had　kept　up；　and　to　whom　not
one　of　my　suite　had　given　the　slightest　cause　of　complaint；　set　to　crying
after　me　in　the　streets；　announcing　my　promotion；　displaying　joy　at　it；
and　talking　of　it　even　in　the　shops。　　A　number　of　persons　even　assembled
round　my　house　to　testify　to　me　their　pleasure。　　I　dispersed　them　as
civilly　and　as　quickly　as　possible；　assuring　them　the　report　was　not
true；　and　that　I　was　forthwith　about　to　return　to　France。

This　was　nothing　more　than　the　truth。　　I　had　finished　all　my　business。
It　was　time　to　think　about　setting　out。　　As　soon；　however；　as　I　talked
about　going；　there　was　nothing　which　the　King　and　the　Queen　did　not　do　to
detain　me。　　All　the　Court；　too；　did　me　the　favour　to　express　much
friendship　for　me；　and　regret　at　my　departure。　　I　admit　even　that　I　could
not　easily　make　up　my　mind　to　quit　a　country　where　I　had　found　nothing
but　fruits　and　flowers；　and　to　which　I　was　attached；　as　I　shall　ever　be；
by　esteem　and　gratitude。　　I　made　at　once　a　number　of　farewell　visits
among　the　friends　I　had　been　once　acquainted　with；　and　on　the　21st　of
March　I　had　my　parting　state　audiences　of　the　King　and　Queen　separately。
I　was　surprised　with　the　dignity；　the　precision；　and　the　measure　of　the
King's　expressions；　as　I　had　been　surprised　at　my　first　audience。　　I
received　many　marks　of　personal　goodness；　and　of　regret　at　my　departure
from　his　Catholic　Majesty；　and　from　the　Queen　even　more；　from　the　Prince
of　the　Asturias　a　good　many　also。　　But　in　another　direction　I　met　with
very　different　treatment；　which　I　cannot　refrain　from　describing；　however
ridiculous　it　may　appear。

I　went；　of　course；　to　say　my　adieux　to　the　Princess　of　the　Asturias；　and
I　was　accompanied　by　all　my　suite。　　I　found　the　young　lady　standing　under
a　dais；　the　ladies　on　one　side；　the　grandees　on　the　other；　and　I　made　my
three　reverences；　then　uttered　my　compliments。　　I　waited　in　silence　her
reply；　but　'twas　in　vain。　　She　answered　not　one　word。

After　some　moments　of　silence；　I　thought　I　would　furnish　her　with　matter
for　an　answer；　so　I　asked　her　what　orders　she　had　for　the　King；　for　the
Infanta；　for　Madame；　and　for　M。　and　Madame　la　Duchesse　d'Orleans。　　By　way
of　reply；　she　looked　at　me　and　belched　so　loudly　in　my　face；　that　the
noise　echoed　throughout　the　chamber。　　My　surprise　was　such　that　I　was
stupefied。　　A　second　belch　followed　as　noisy　as　the　first。

I　lost　countenance　at　this；　and　all　power　of　hindering　myself　from
laughing。　　Turning　round；　therefore；　I　saw　everybody　with　their　hands
upon　their　mouths；　and　their　shoulders　in　motion。　　At　last　a　third　belch；
still　louder　than　the　two　others；　threw　all　present　into　confusion；　and
forced　me　to　take　flight；　followed　by　all　my　suite；　amid　shouts　of
laughter；　all　the　louder　because　they　had　previously　been　kept　in。　　But
all　barriers　of　restraint　were　now　thrown　down；　Spanish　gravity　was
entirely　disconcerted；　all　was　deranged；　no　reverences；　each　person；
bursting　with　laughter；　escaped　as　he　could；　the　Princess　all　the　while
maintaining　her　countenance。　　Her　belches　were　the　only　answers　she　made
me。　　In　the　adjoining　room　we　all　stopped　to　laugh　at　our　ease；　and
express　our　astonishment　afterwards　more　freely。

The　King　and　Queen　w