the memoirs of louis xiv-01-第21部分

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they　were　much　more　so　with　its　confused　and　embarrassed　style；　its
precision　so　restrained　and　so　decided；　its　barbarous　terms　which　seemed
as　though　taken　from　a　foreign　tongue；　above　all；　its　high…flown　and　far…
fetched　thoughts；　which　took　one's　breath　away；　as　in　the　too　subtle　air
of　the　middle　region。　　Nobody；　except　the　theologians；　understood　it；　and
even　they　not　without　reading　it　three　or　four　times。　　Connoisseurs　found
in　it　a　pure　Quietism；　which；　although　wrapped　up　in　fine　language；　was
clearly　visible。　　I　do　not　give　my　own　judgment　of　things　so　much　beyond
me；　but　repeat　what　was　said　everywhere。　　Nothing　else　was　talked　about；
even　by　the　ladies；　and　a　propos　of　this；　the　saying　of　Madame　de　Sevigne
was　revived：　〃Make　religion　a　little　more　palpable；　it　evaporates　by　dint
of　being　over…refined。〃

Not　a　word　was　heard　in　praise　of　the　book；　everybody　was　opposed　to　it；
and　it　was　the　means　of　making　Madame　de　Maintenon　more　unfavourable　to
M。　de　Cambrai　than　ever。　　He　sent　the　King　a　copy；　without　informing　her。
This　completed　her　annoyance　against　him。　　M。　de　Cambrai；　finding　his
book　so　ill…received　by　the　Court　and　by　the　prelates；　determined　to　try
and　support　it　on　the　authority　of　Rome；　a　step　quite　opposed　to　our
manners。　　In　the　mean　time；　M。　de　Meaux's　book　appeared　in　two　volumes
octavo；　well　written；　clear；　modest；　and　supported　upon　the　authority　of
the　Scriptures。　　It　was　received　with　avidity；　and　absolutely　devoured。
There　was　not　a　person　at　the　Court　who　did　not　take　a　pleasure　in
reading　it；　so　that　for　a　long　time　it　was　the　common　subject　of
conversation　of　the　Court　and　of　the　town。

These　two　books；　so　opposed　in　doctrine　and　in　style；　made　such　a　stir　on
every　side　that　the　King　interposed；　and　forced　M。　de　Cambrai　to　submit
his　work　to　an　examination　by　a　council　of　prelates；　whom　he　named。
M。　de　Cambrai　asked　permission　to　go　to　Rome　to　defend　his　cause　in
person；　but　this　the　King　refused。　　He　sent　his　book；　therefore；　to　the
Pope；　and　had　the　annoyance　to　receive　a　dry；　cold　reply；　and　to　see
M。　de　Meaux's　book　triumph。　　His　good　fortune　was　in　effect　at　an　end。
He　remained　at　Court　some　little　time；　but　the　King　was　soon　irritated
against　him；　sent　him　off　post…haste　to　Paris；　and　from　there　to　his
diocese；　whence　he　has　never　returned。　　He　left　behind　him　a　letter　for
one　of　his　friends；　M。　de　Chevreuse　it　was　generally　believed；　which
immediately　after　became　public。　　It　appeared　like　the　manifesto　of　a　man
who　disgorges　his　bile　and　restrains　himself　no　more；　because　he　has
nothing　more　to　hope。　　The　letter；　bold　and　bitter　in　style；　was　besides
so　full　of　ability　and　artifice；　that　it　was　extremely　pleasant　to　read；
without　finding　approvers；　so　true　it　is　that　a　wise　and　disdainful
silence　is　difficult　to　keep　under　reverses。









End