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！
minds。〃 Reformers and moralists introduce theatrical art into the
education of children； Mme。 de Genlis composes comedies for them；
considering these excellent for the securing of a good pronunciation；
proper self…confidence and the graces of deportment。 The theater；
indeed； then prepares man for society as society prepares him for the
theater； in either case he is on display； composing his attitude and
tone of voice； and playing a part； the stage and the drawing room are
on an equal footing。 Towards the end of the century everybody becomes
an actor； everybody having been one before。＇71＇ 〃We hear of nothing
but little theaters set up in the country around Paris。〃 For a long
time those of highest rank set the example。 Under Louis XV。 the Ducs
d'Orléans； de Nivernais； d'Ayen； de Coigny； the Marquises de
Courtenvaux； and d'Entraigues； the Comte de Maillebois； the Duchesse
de Brancas； the Comtesse d'Estrades form； with Madame de Pompadour；
the company of the 〃small cabinets；〃 the Due de la Vallière is the
director of them； when the piece contains a ballet the Marquis de
Courtenvaux； the Duc de Beuvron； the Comtes de Melfort and de Langeron
are the titular dancers。＇72＇ 〃Those who are accustomed to such
spectacles；〃 writes the sedate and pious Duc de Luynes； 〃agree in the
opinion that it would be difficult for professional comedians to play
better and more intelligently。〃 The passion reaches at last still
higher； even to the royal family。 At Trianon； the queen； at first
before forty persons and then before a more numerous audience；
performs Colette in 〃Le Devin de Village；〃 Gotte； in 〃La Gageure
imprévue；〃 Rosine in 〃Le Barbier de Seville；〃 Pierette in 〃Le Chasseur
et la Laitière；〃＇73＇ while the other comedians consist of the
principal men of the court； the Comte d'Artois； the Comtes d'Adhémar
and de Vaudreuil； the Comtesse de Guiche； and the Canoness de
Polignac。 A theater is formed in Monsieur's domicile； there are two in
the Comte d'Artois's house； two in that of the Duc d'Orléans； two in
the Comte de Clermont's； and one in the Prince de Condé's。 The Comte
de Clermont performs serious characters； the Duc d'Orléans represents；
with completeness and naturalness； peasants and financiers； M。 de
Miromesnil； keeper of the seals； is the smartest and most finished of
Scapins； M。 de Vaudreuil seems to rival Molé； the Comte de Pons plays
the 〃Misanthrope〃 with rare perfection。＇74＇ 〃More than ten of our
ladies of high rank；〃 writes the Prince de Ligne； 〃play and sing
better than the best of those I have seen in our theaters。〃 By their
talent judge of their study； assiduity and zeal。 It is evident that
for many of them it is the principal occupation。 In a certain chateau；
that of Saint…Aubin； the lady of the house； to secure a large enough
troupe； enrolls her four chambermaids in it； making her little
daughter； ten years old； play the part of Zaire； and for over twenty
months she has no vacation。 After her bankruptcy； and in her exile；
the first thing done by the Princess de Guéménée was to send for
upholsterers to arrange a theater。 In short； as nobody went out in
Venice without a mask so here nobody comprehended life without the
masqueradings； metamorphoses； representations and triumphs of the
player。
The last trait I have to mention； yet more significant； is the
afterpiece。 Really； in this fashionable circle； life is a carnival as
free and almost as rakish as that of Venice。 The play commonly
terminates with a parade borrowed from La Fontaine's tales or from the
farces of the Italian drama； which are not only pointed but more than
free； and sometimes so broad that they cant be played only before
princes and courtesans；〃＇75＇ a morbid palate； indeed； having no taste
for orgeat； instead demanding a dram。 The Duc d'Orléans sings on the
stage the most spicy songs； playing Bartholin in 〃Nicaise；〃 and Blaise
in 〃Joconde。〃 〃Le Marriage sans Curé；〃 〃Leandre grosse；〃 〃L'amant
poussif；〃 〃Leandre Etalon；〃 are the showy titles of the pieces
composed by Collé 〃for the amusement of His Highness and the Court。〃
For one which contains salt there are ten stuffed with strong pepper。
At Brunoy； at the residence of Monsieur； so gross are they＇76＇ the
king regrets having attended； 〃nobody had any idea of such license；
two women in the auditorium had to go out； and； what is most
extraordinary； they had dared to invite the queen。〃 … Gaiety is a
sort of intoxication which draws the cask down to the dregs； and when
the wine is gone it draws on the lees。 Not only at their little
suppers； and with courtesans； but in the best society and with ladies；
they commit the follies of a bagnio。 Let us use the right word； they
are blackguards； and the word is no more offensive to them than the
action。 〃For five or six months；〃 writes a lady in 1782；〃＇77＇ 〃the
suppers are followed by a blind man's buff or by a draw…dance； and
they end in general mischievousness； （une polissonnerie générale）。〃
Guests are invited a fortnight in advance。 〃On this occasion they
upset the tables and the furniture； they scattered twenty caraffes of
water about the room； I finally got away at half…past one； wearied
out； pelted with handkerchiefs； and leaving Madame de Clarence hoarse；
with her dress torn to shreds； a scratch on her arm； and a bruise on
her forehead； but delighted that she had given such a gay supper and
flattered with the idea of its being the talk the next day。〃 … This
is the result of a craving for amusement。 Under its pressure； as under
the sculptor's thumb； the face of the century becomes transformed and
insensibly loses its seriousness； the formal expression of the
courtier at first becomes the cheerful physiognomy of the worldling；
and then； on these smiling lips； their contours changed； we see the
bold； unbridled grin of the scamp。＇78＇
___________________________________________________________________
Notes：
＇1＇。 〃LA VIE DE SALON〃 is Taine's title。 In Le Robert & Collins'
Dictionary salon is translated as 〃lounge〃 （Brit。） sitting room；
living room； or （cercle littéraire） salon。
＇2＇。 De Loménie； 〃Beaumarchais et son temps；〃 I。 403。 Letter of
Beaumarchais； （Dec。 24； 1764。） … The travels of Mme。 d'Aulnoy and
the letters of Mme。 de Villars。 … As to Italy see Stendhal； 〃Rome；
Naples et Florence。〃 … For Germany see the 〃Mémoires〃 of the Margrave
of Bareith； also of the Chevalier Lang。 … For England see my
〃Histoire de la litérature Anglaise；〃 vols。 III。 IV。
＇3＇。 Volney； 〃Tableau du climat et du sol des Etats…Unis
d'Amérique。〃 The leading trait of the French Colonist when compared
with the colonists of other nations； is； according to this writer； the
craving for neighbors and conversation
＇4＇。 Mme。 de Caylus； 〃Souvenirs；〃 p。 108。
＇5＇。 St。 Simon； 461。
＇6＇。 Duc de Lévis； p。 321。
＇7＇。 Mme。 de Genlis； 〃Souvenirs de Félicie；〃 p。 160。 … It is
important； however； to cal