第 20 节
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风雅颂 更新:2021-02-21 14:23 字数:9322
doyenship; even although absent from Rome when it became vacant。 He knew
he should not obtain this permission; but he asked for it in order to
gain time; hoping that in the meanwhile Cardinal Cibo might die; or even
the Pope himself; whose health had been threatened with ruin for some
time。 This request of the Cardinal de Bouillon was refused。 There
seemed nothing for him but to comply with the orders he had received。
But he had evaded them so long that he thought he might continue to do
so。 He wrote to Pere la Chaise; begging him to ask the King for
permission to remain at Rome until the death of Cardinal Cibo; adding
that he would wait for a reply at Caprarole; a magnificent house of the
Duke of Parma; at eight leagues from Rome。 He addressed himself to Pere
la Chaise; because M。 de Torcy; to whom he had previously written; had
been forbidden to open his letters; and had sent him word to that effect。
Having; too; been always on the best of terms with the Jesuits; he hoped
for good assistance from Pere la Chaise。 But he found this door closed
like that of M。 de Torcy。 Pere la Chaise wrote to Cardinal de Bouillon
that he too was prohibited from opening his letters。 At the same time a
new order was sent to the Cardinal to set out immediately。 Just after he
had read it Cardinal Cibo died; and the Cardinal de Bouillon hastened at
once to Rome to secure the doyenship; writing to the King to say that he
had done so; that he would depart in twenty…four hours; and expressing a
hope that this delay would not be refused him。 This was laughing at the
King and his orders; and becoming doyen in spite of him。 The King;
therefore; displayed his anger immediately he learnt this last act of
disobedience。 He sent word immediately to M。 de Monaco to command the
Cardinal de Bouillon to surrender his charge of grand chaplain; to give
up his cordon bleu; and to take down the arms of France from the door of
his palace; M。 de Monaco was also ordered to prohibit all French people
in Rome from seeing Cardinal de Bouillon; or from having any
communication with him。 M。 de Monaco; who hated the Cardinal; hastened
willingly to obey these instructions。 The Cardinal appeared overwhelmed;
but he did not even then give in。 He pretended that his charge of grand
chaplain was a crown office; of which he could not be dispossessed;
without resigning。 The King; out of all patience with a disobedience so
stubborn and so marked; ordered; by a decree in council; on the 12th
September; the seizure of all the Cardinal's estates; laical and
ecclesiastical; the latter to be confiscated to the state; the former to
be divided into three portions; and applied to various uses。 The same
day the charge of grand chaplain was given to Cardinal Coislin; and that
of chief chaplain to the Bishop of Metz。 The despair of the Cardinal
de Bouillon; on hearing of this decree; was extreme。 Pride had hitherto
hindered him from believing that matters would be pushed so far against
him。 He sent in his resignation only when it was no longer needed of
him。 His order he would not give up。 M。 de Monaco warned him that;
in case of refusal; he had orders to snatch it from his neck。 Upon this
the Cardinal saw the folly of holding out against the orders of the King。
He quitted then the marks of the order; but he was pitiful enough to wear
a narrow blue ribbon; with a cross of gold attached; under his cassock;
and tried from time to time to show a little of the blue。 A short time
afterwards; to make the best of a bad bargain; he tried to persuade
himself and others; that no cardinal was at liberty to wear the orders of
any prince。 But it was rather late in the day to think of this; after
having worn the order of the King for thirty years; as grand chaplain;
and everybody thought so; and laughed at the idea。
CHAPTER XVII
Chateauneuf; Secretary of State; died about this time。 He had asked that
his son; La Vrilliere; might be allowed to succeed him; and was much
vexed that the King refused this favour。 The news of Chateauneuf's death
was brought to La Vrilliere by a courier; at five o'clock in the morning。
He did not lose his wits at the news; but at once sent and woke up the
Princesse d'Harcourt; and begged her to come and see him instantly。
Opening his purse; he prayed her to go and see Madame de Maintenon as
soon as she got up; and propose his marriage with Mademoiselle de Mailly;
whom he would take without dowry; if the King gave him his father's
appointments。 The Princesse d'Harcourt; whose habit it was to accept any
sum; from a crown upwards; willingly undertook this strange business。
She went upon her errand immediately; and then repaired to Madame de
Mailly; who without property; and burdened with a troop of childrensons
and daughters; was in no way averse to the marriage。
The King; upon getting up; was duly made acquainted with La Vrilliere's
proposal; and at once agreed to it。 There was only one person opposed to
the marriage; and that was Mademoiselle de Mailly。 She was not quite
twelve years of age。 She burst out a…crying; and declared she was very
unhappy; that she would not mind marrying a poor man; if necessary;
provided he was a gentleman; but that to marry a paltry bourgeois; in
order to make his fortune; was odious to her。 She was furious against
her mother and against Madame de Maintenon。 She could not be kept quiet
or appeased; or hindered from making grimaces at La Vrilliere and all his
family; who came to see her and her mother。
They felt it; but the bargain was made; and was too good to be broken。
They thought Mademoiselle de Mailly's annoyance would pass with her
youthbut they were mistaken。 Mademoiselle de Mailly always was sore at
having been made Madame de la Vrilliere; and people often observed it。
At the marriage of Monseigneur the Duc de Bourgogne; the King had offered
to augment considerably his monthly income。 The young Prince; who found
it sufficient; replied with thanks; and said that if money failed him at
any time he would take the liberty; of asking the King for more。 Finding
himself short just now; he was as good as his word。 The King praised him
highly; and told him to ask whenever he wanted money; not through a third
person; but direct; as he had done in this instance。 The King; moreover;
told the Duc de Bourgogne to play without fear; for it was of no
consequence how much such persons as he might lose。 The King was pleased
with confidence; but liked not less to see himself feared; and when timid
people who spoke to him discovered themselves; and grew embarrassed in
their discourse; nothing better made their court; or advanced their
interests。
The Archbishop of Rheims presided this year over the assembly of the
clergy; which was held every five years。 It took place on this occasion
at Saint Germains; although the King of England occupied the chateau。 M。
de Rheims kept open table there; and had some champagne that was much
vaunted。 The King of England; who drank scarcely any other wine; heard
of this and asked for some。 The Archbishop sent him six bottles。 Some
time after; the King of England; who had much relished the wine; sent and
asked for more。 The Archbishop; more sparing of his wine than of his
money; bluntly sent word that his wine was not mad; and did not run
through the streets; and sent none。 However accustomed people might be
to the rudeness of the Archbishop; this appeared so strange that it was
much spoken of: but that was all。
M。 de Vendome took another public leave of the King; the Princes; and the
Princesses; in order to place himself again under the doctor's hands。
He perceived at last that he was not cured; and that it would be long
before he was; so went to Anet to try and recover his health; but without
success better than before。 He brought back a face upon which his state
was still more plainly printed than at first。 Madame d'Uzes; only
daughter of the Prince de Monaco; died of this disease。 She was a woman
of meritvery virtuous and unhappywho merited a better fate。
M。 d'Uzes was an obscure man; who frequented the lowest society; and
suffered less from its effects than his wife; who was much pitied and
regretted。 Her children perished of the same disease; and she left none
behind her。 'Syphilis。 D。W。'
Soon after this the King ordered the Comtes d'Uzes and d'Albert to go to
the Conciergerie for having fought a duel against the Comtes de Rontzau;
a Dane; and Schwartzenberg; an Austrian。 Uzes gave himself up; but the
Comte d'Albert did not do so for a long Time; and was broken for his
disobedience。 He had been on more than good terms with Madame de
Luxembourgthe Comte de Rontzau also: hence the quarrel; the cause of
which was known by everybody; and made a great stir。 Everybody knew it;
at least; except M。 de Luxembourg; and said nothing; but was glad of it;
and yet in every direction he asked the reason; but; as may be imagined;
could find nobody to tell him; so that he went over and over again to M。
le Prince de Conti; his most intimate friend; praying him for information
upon the subject。 M。 de Conti related to me that on one occasion; coming
from M