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the origins of contemporary france-1-第45章

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refined wife refuses such excessive display。'60' He had just completed

his domestic arrangements; and was anxious that his wife should take a

second maid; but she resisted; nevertheless; in this curtailed

household;



〃the officers; women and valets; amounted to sixteen。  。  。  。  When M。

d'Epinay gets up his valet enters on his duties。  Two lackeys stand by

awaiting his orders。  The first secretary enters for the purpose of

giving an account of the letters received by him and which he has to

open; but he is interrupted two hundred times in this business by all

sorts of people imaginable。  Now it is a horse…jockey with the finest

horses to sell。  。  。  。  Again some saucy girl who calls to bawl out a

piece of music; and on whose behalf some influence has been exerted to

get her into the opera; after giving her a few lessons in good taste

and teaching her what is proper in French music。  This young lady has

been made to wait to ascertain if I am still at home。  。  。  。  I get up

and go out。  Two lackeys open the folding doors to let me make it

through this eye of a needle; while two servants bawl out in the ante…

chamber; 'Madame; gentlemen; Madame!' All form a line; the gentlemen

consisting of dealers in fabrics; in instruments; jewellers; hawkers;

lackeys; shoeblacks; creditors; in short everything imaginable that is

most ridiculous and annoying。  The clock strikes twelve or one before

this toilet matter is over; and the secretary; who; doubtless; knows

by experience the impossibility of rendering a detailed statement of

his business; hands to his master a small memorandum informing him

what he must say in the assembly of fermiers。〃



Indolence; disorder; debts; ceremony; the tone and ways of the

patron; all seems a parody of the real thing。  We are beholding the

last stages of aristocracy。  And yet the court of M。 d'Epinay is a

miniature resemblance of that of the king。



So much more essential is it that the ambassadors; ministers and

general officers who represent the king should display themselves in a

grandiose manner。  No circumstance rendered the ancient régime so

brilliant and more oppressive; in this; as in all the rest; Louis XIV

is the principal originator of evil as of good。  The policy which

fashioned the court prescribed ostentation。



〃A display of dress; table; equipages; buildings and play was made

purposely to please; these afforded opportunities for entering into

conversation with him。  The contagion had spread from the court into

the provinces and to the armies; where people of any position were

esteemed only in proportion to their table and magnificence。〃'61'



During the year passed by the Marshal de Belle…Isle at Frankfort;

on account of the election of Charles VI; he expended 750;000 livres

in journeys; transportations; festivals and dinners; in constructing a

kitchen and dining…hall; and besides all this; 150;000 livres in

snuff…boxes; watches and other presents; by order of Cardinal Fleury;

so economical; he had in his kitchens one hundred and one

officials。'62' At Vienna; in 1772; the ambassador; the Prince de

Rohan; had two carriages costing together 40;000 livres; forty horses;

seven noble pages; six gentlemen; five secretaries; ten musicians;

twelve footmen; and four grooms whose gorgeous liveries each cost

4;000 livres; and the rest in proportion。'63' We are familiar with the

profusion; the good taste; the exquisite dinners; and the admirable

ceremonial display of the Cardinal de Bernis in Rome。  〃He was called

the king of Rome; and indeed he was such through his magnificence and

in the consideration he enjoyed。  。  。  。  His table afforded an idea of

what is possible。  。  。  In festivities; ceremonies and illuminations he

was always beyond comparison。〃 He himself remarked; smiling; 〃I keep a

French inn on the cross…roads of Europe。〃'64' Accordingly their

salaries and indemnities are two or three times more ample than at the

present day。  〃The king gives 50;000 crowns to the great embassies。  The

Duc de Duras received even 200;000 livres per annum for that of

Madrid; also; besides this; 100;000 crowns gratuity; 50;000 livres for

secret service; and he had the loan of furniture and effects valued at

400;000 and 500;000 livres; of which he kept one…half。〃'65' The

outlays and salaries of the ministers are similar。  In 1789; the

Chancellor gets 120;080 livres salary and the Keeper of the Seals

135;000。  〃 M。 de Villedeuil; as Secretary of State; was to have had

180;670 livres; but as he represented that this sum would not cover

his expenses; his salary was raised to 226;000 livres; everything

included。〃'66' Moreover; the rule is; that on retiring from office the

king awards them a pension of 20;000 livres and gives a dowry of

200;000 livres to their daughters。  This is not excessive considering

the way they live。  〃They are obliged to maintain such state in their

households; for they cannot enrich themselves by their places。  All

keep open table at Paris three days in the week; and at Fontainebleau

every day。〃'67' M。 de Lamoignon being appointed Chancellor with a

salary of 100;000 livres; people at once declare that he will be

ruined;'68' 〃for he has taken all the officials of M。 d'Aguesseau's

kitchen; whose table alone cost 80;000 livres。  The banquet he gave at

Versailles to the first council held by him cost 6;000 livres; and he

must always have seats at table; at Versailles and at Paris; for

twenty persons。〃 At Chambord;'69' Marshal de Saxe always has two

tables; one for sixty; and the other for eighty persons; also four

hundred horses in his stables; a civil list of more than 100;000

crowns; a regiment of Uhlans for his guard; and a theater costing over

600;000 livres; while the life he leads; or which is maintained around

him; resembles one of Rubens's bacchanalian scenes。  As to the special

and general provincial governors we have seen that; when they reside

on the spot; they fulfill no other duty than to entertain; alongside

of them the intendant; who alone attends to business; likewise

receives; and magnificently; especially for the country of a States…

General。  Commandants; lieutenants…general; the envoys of the central

government throughout; are equally induced by habit and propriety; as

well as by their own lack of occupation; to maintain a drawing…room;

they bring along with them the elegance and hospitality of Versailles。

If the wife follows them she becomes weary and 〃vegetates in the midst

of about fifty companions; talking nothing but commonplace; knitting

or playing lotto; and sitting three hours at the dinner table。〃 But

〃all the military men; all the neighboring gentry and all the ladies

in the town;〃 eagerly crowd to her balls and delight in commending

〃her grace; her politeness; her equality。〃'70' These sumptuous habits

prevail even among people of secondary position。  By virtue of

established usage colonels and captains entertain their subordinates

and thus expend
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