第30章

Venussprangfromthefoamoftheoceanwave。

Allthegodspaytheirhomageatherbeauteousshrine，

Andadoreheraspotent，resistless，divine！

ToherParis，theshepherd，awardedtheprize，

SoughtbyJunotheregal，andPallasthewise。

Whoruleso’erherlordintheTurkish，

Reignsqueenofhisheart，ande’erbasksinhissmile？

’Tisshe，whoresplendent，shinesloveliestofall，

Andbeautyholdspowerinhermagicthrall。

ThenheednottheclamorsthatGrammontmayraise，

Hownaturalheranger！

howvainherdispraise！

’Tisnotameremortalourmonarchcancharm，

Freefromprideisthebeautythatbearsoffthepalm。

ThissongwastobefoundinalmosteverypartofFrance。

Altho’

thelastcoupletwasgenerallysuppressed，soevidentwasits

partialtonetowardsme，inthemidstofitallIcouldnothelp

beinghighlyamusedwiththesimplicityevincedbythegood

peopleofFrance，who，incensuringtheking’sconduct，found

nothingreprehensiblebuthishavingomittedtoselecthismistress

fromelevatedrank。

Thecitizensresentedthisfallingoffinroyaltywithasmuch

warmthandindignationasthegrandeesofthecourt；andIcould

enjoyalaughonthesubjectoftheirangrydispleasureassoon

asmypresentationwasdecidedupon。

Theintriguescarriedonbythoseabouttheprincesses，andthe

necessityofawaitingtheperfectrecoveryofmadamedeBearn，

delayedthis(tome)importantdaytilltheendofthemonthof

April，1770。

Ontheeveningofthe21sttheking，accordingto

custom，announcedapresentationforthefollowingday；buthe

durstnotexplainhimselfmorefrankly；hehesitated，appeared

embarrassed，andonlypronouncedmynameinalowanduncertain

voice；itseemedastho’hefearedhisownauthoritywasinsufficient

tosupporthiminsuchameasure。

ThisIdidnotlearntillsome

timeafterwards；andwhenIdidhearit，Itookthelibertyof

speakingmyopinionuponitfreelytohismajesty。

Onthenextday，the22d，Iwassolelyengrossedwithmydress:

itwasthemostimportanteraofmylife，andIwouldnothave

appearedonittoanydisadvantage。

Afewdayspreviously，the

kinghadsentme，bythecrownjeweller，Boemer，asetofdiamonds，

valuedat150，000livres，ofwhichhebeggedmyacceptance。

DelightedwithsomunificentapresentIsetaboutthedutiesof

thetoilettewithazealanddesireofpleasingwhichtheimportance

oftheoccasionwellexcused。

Iwillspareyouthedescriptionof

mydress；wereIwritingtoawomanIwouldgointoallthese

details；butasIknowtheywouldnotbetoyourtaste，Iwill

passalltheseuninterestingparticularsoverinsilence，and

proceedtomoreimportantmatter。

ParisandVersailleswerefilledwithvariousreports。

Thro’out

thecity，within，withoutthecastle，allmannerofquestions

wereasked，astho’themonarchyitselfwasindanger。

Couriers

weredispatchedeveryinstantwithfreshtidingsofthegreat

eventwhichwasgoingon。

Astrangerwhohadobservedthegeneral

agitationwouldeasilyhaveremarkedthecontrastbetweentherage

andconsternationofmyene