按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
drawing room being filled from the anteroom。
Not that the drawing room needs all that to be filled。 Being the
source of all preferment and of every favor； it is natural that it
should overflow＇29＇。 It is the same in our leveling society （in 1875）；
where the drawing room of an insignificant deputy； a mediocre
journalist； or a fashionable woman； is full of courtiers under the
name of friends and visitors。 Moreover； here； to be present is an
obligation； it might be called a continuation of ancient feudal
homage； the staff of nobles is maintained as the retinue of its born
general。 In the language of the day； it is called 〃paying one's duty
to the king。〃 Absence； in the sovereign's eyes； would be a sign of
independence as well as of indifference； while submission as well as
regular attention is his due。 In this respect we must study the
institution from the beginning。 The eyes of Louis XIV go their rounds
at every moment； 〃on arising or retiring； on passing into his
apartments； in his gardens； 。 。 。 nobody escapes； even those who hoped
they were not seen； it was a demerit with some； and the most
distinguished； not to make the court their ordinary sojourn； to others
to come to it but seldom； and certain disgrace to those who never； or
nearly never； came。〃＇30＇ Henceforth； the main thing； for the first
personages in the kingdom； men and women； ecclesiastics and laymen；
the grand affair； the first duty in life； the true occupation； is to
be at all hours and in every place under the king's eye； within reach
of his voice and of his glance。 〃Whoever；〃 says La Bruyère； 〃considers
that the king's countenance is the courtier's supreme felicity； that
he passes his life looking on it and within sight of it； will
comprehend to some extent how to see God constitutes the glory and
happiness of the saints。〃 There were at this time prodigies of
voluntary assiduity and subjection。 The Duc de Fronsac； every morning
at seven o'clock； in winter and in summer； stationed himself； at his
father's command； at the foot of the small stairway leading to the
chapel； solely to shake hands with Mme。 de Maintenon on her leaving
for St。 Cyr。＇31＇ 〃Pardon me； Madame；〃 writes the Duc de Richelieu to
her； 〃the great liberty I take in presuming to send you the letter
which I have written to the king； begging him on my knees that he will
occasionally allow me to pay my court to him at Ruel； for I would
rather die than pass two months without seeing him。〃 The true courtier
follows the prince as a shadow follows its body； such； under Louis
XIV； was the Duc de la Rochefoucauld； the master of the hounds。 〃He
never missed the king's rising or retiring； both changes of dress
every day； the hunts and the promenades； likewise every day； for ten
years in succession； never sleeping away from the place where the king
rested； and yet on a footing to demand leave； but not to stay away all
night； for he had not slept out of Paris once in forty years； but to
go and dine away from the court； and not be present on the promenade。〃
… If； later； and under less exacting masters； and in the general
laxity of the eighteenth century； this discipline is relaxed； the
institution nevertheless subsists；＇32＇ in default of obedience；
tradition； interest and amour…propre suffice for the people of the
court。 To approach the king； to be a domestic in his household； an
usher； a cloak…bearer； a valet； is a privilege that is purchased； even
in 1789； for thirty； forty； and a hundred thousand livres； so much
greater the reason why it is a privilege to form a part of his
society； the most honorable； the most useful； and the most coveted of
all。 … In the first place； it is a proof of noble birth。 A man； to
follow the king in the chase； and a woman； to be presented to the
queen； must previously satisfy the genealogist； and by authentic
documents； that his or her nobility goes back to the year 1400。 … In
the next place； it ensures good fortune。 This drawing room is the only
place within reach of royal favors； accordingly； up to 1789； the great
families never stir away from Versailles； and day and night they lie
in ambush。 The valet of the Marshal de Noaillles says to him one night
on closing his curtains；
〃At what hour will Monseigneur be awakened？〃 〃At ten o'clock； if
no one dies during the night。〃＇33＇
Old courtiers are still found who； 〃at the age of eighty； have
passed forty…five on their feet in the antechambers of the king； of
the princes； and of the ministers。 。 。
You have only three things to do；〃 says one of them to a debutant；
〃speak well of everybody； ask for every vacancy； and sit down when you
can。〃
Hence； the king always has a crowd around him。 The Comtesse du
Barry says； on presenting her niece at court； the first of August；
1773； 〃the crowd is so great at a presentation； one can scarcely get
through the antechambers。〃＇34＇ In December； 1774； at Fontainebleau；
when the queen plays at her own table every evening； 〃the apartment；
though vast； is never empty。 。 。 。 The crowd is so great that one can
talk only to the two or three persons with whom one is playing。〃 The
fourteen apartments； at the receptions of ambassadors are full to
overflowing with seigniors and richly dressed women。 On the first of
January； 1775； the queen 〃counted over two hundred ladies presented to
her to pay their court。 〃 In 1780； at Choisy； a table for thirty
persons is spread every day for the king； another with thirty places
for the seigniors； another with forty places for the officers of the
guard and the equerries； and one with fifty for the officers of the
bedchamber。 According to my estimate； the king； on getting up and on
retiring； on his walks； on his hunts； at play； has always around him
at least forty or fifty seigniors and generally a hundred； with as
many ladies； besides his attendants on duty。 At Fontainebleau； in
1756； although 〃there were neither fêtes nor ballets this year； one
hundred and six ladies were counted。〃 When the king holds a 〃grand
apartement；〃 when play or dancing takes place in the gallery of
mirrors； four or five hundred guests； the elect of the nobles and of
the fashion； range themselves on the benches or gather around the card
and cavanole tables。＇35＇ This is a spectacle to be seen； not by the
imagination； or through imperfect records； but with our own eyes and
on the spot； to comprehend the spirit； the effect and the triumph of
monarchical culture。 In an elegantly furnished house； the drawing room
is the principal room； and never was one more dazzling than this。
Suspended from the sculptured ceiling peopled with sporting cupids；
descend； by garlands of flowers and foliage； blazing chandeliers；
whose splendor is enhanced by the tail mirrors； the light streams down
in floods on gilding； diamonds； and beaming； arch physiognomies； on
fine busts； and on the capacious； sparkling and garlanded dresses。 The
skirts of the ladies ranged i