La Princesse de ClèvesPart 18 of 18

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THIRD PART.

Page 43.—1. Le duc d'Albe (1508-1582). Ferdinand Alvarez of Toledo, Duke of Alva, was a descendant of one of the most illustrious families of Spain. He early showed a genius for war and politics, and in the service of Charles V. was a violent opponent of the Protestants of Germany. He commanded the imperial forces at Metz opposed to the Duke of Guise, and not long after he was sent into Italy, where he reduced the power of the Pope. In 1559 he espoused Elisabeth of France in behalf of Philip II. In 1566 he was sent into Flanders to take charge of the Spanish forces sent against the Netherlanders; on account of his cruelties he was superseded in 1575. On his return to Spain he was treated with great distinction, but was subsequently banished from the court and exiled on account of some act of disobedience. He was, however, soon recalled and put in command of the army sent against Portugal, and succeeded in bringing back that country in allegiance to Spain.

2. Tenants du tournoi, "champions of the tournament." The tenants are those who begin the tournament and proclaim the first challenges by means of notices which are published by the heralds with the number of courses and the names of the combatants. The name is derived from tenir, because these champions undertook to hold (tenir) their places against every assailant. (See Le Père Ménestrier, Des Tournois, p. 194.)

3. Château des Tournelles, a palace built at the end of the present Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. On account of its connection with the death of Henry II., Catherine de Medici ordered the edifice to be demolished. Henry IV. began the erection on its site of the Place Royale, which was completed a year or two after his death. The revolutionists of 1789 deprived the square of its name and took away the statue of Louis XIII. erected by Richelieu. It is now known as the Place des Vosges.

Page 44.—1. Chastelart. Pierre de Bascosel de Chastelart was grandson of the celebrated Bayard, whom he resembled in personal appearance. On being presented to Mary Stuart, he conceived a violent passion for her and celebrated her charms in verse. He followed her to Scotland, but was soon compelled to return to Paris; there he mourned for her a year, and at last contrived to pass over again to Scotland. On account of his rashness and imprudence he was condemned to death; his affection for the princess, however, lasted till the end. Brantôme says of him: "Chastelard had as great talent and wrote as sweet and refined poetry as any nobleman in France."

2. This episode is probably based upon an event that took place shortly after the death of Louis XIII. Madame de Montbazon was the rival at court of the Duchess of Longueville, daughter of the Prince of Condé. One day, two unsigned love-letters were found in the salon of the former, who alleged that they were written in Madame de Longueville's hand and were the property of Maurice de Coligny. They were, however, written by Madame de Fouquerelles, and their real owner was the Marquis of Maulevrier. At the suggestion of the latter, La Rochefoucauld proved the falsity of Madame de Montbazon's accusations, recovered the letters, and burnt them in the presence of the Queen. The affair did not end here, but led to a duel, in which Coligny received a mortal wound at the hands of Henry of Guise, the champion of Madame de Montbazon. (See "The Last Duel in the Place Royale," Macmillan's Magazine, October, 1895.)

Page 50.—1. On lui en fit la guerre, "They taunted him about it" (see page 83, line 9).

3. Qui avoit l'esprit prévenu, "who felt assured."

Page 52.—1. See note on Vidame de Chartres, page 3, note 1.

2. Madame de Thémines, Anne de Puymisson, wife of Jean, Seigneur de Lousière, de Thémines, and Chevalier de l'Ordre du Roi, Governor of Beziers.

3. Fontainebleau, a residence of the kings of France since Louis VII. It is situated about 38 miles southeast of Paris in the beautiful forest of Fontainebleau. The palace is composed of numerous buildings and galleries erected at different epochs; among the most magnificent are the Gallery of Henry II., and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, built in 1529. Fontainebleau was greatly enriched by St. Louis, Francis I., Henry II., Henry IV., Louis XIV., and Napoleon. Here in 1685 Louis XIV. signed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and here also, on April 4, 1814, Napoleon abdicated in favor of his son. Fontainebleau is the birthplace of Henry III. and Louis XIII.

Page 54.—1. Madame de Martigues, Marie de Beaucaire, daughter of Jean de Puyguillon, Seneschal of Poitou. She was familiarly known as Mademoiselle de Villemontays. She married Sébastien de Luxembourg, Viscomte de Martigues, called "le chevalier sans peur," by reason of his bravery while serving under Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX.; he was killed during the siege of Saint-Jean d'Angely, November 20, 1569. Madame de Martigues died in 1613.

Page 58.—1. Sans chercher de détours, "openly." Compare such phrases as: user de détour, "to use evasions"; agir sans détour, "to act uprightly."

Page 61.—1. Chez la Reine, i.e. la Reine Dauphine.

Page 62.—1. Il n'y a que vous de femme au monde, "there is no other woman in the world except you."

Page 63.—1. Dire des choses plaisantes, "to jest."

Page 64.—1. The student must not be misled by Madame de La Fayette's ingenious explanation of Catherine de Medici's persecution of Mary Stuart and the subsequent expulsion of the widowed Queen from France. The real causes were Catherine's jealousy of the rising power of the Guises and her desire to avenge her private wrongs. The young Queen had availed herself of every opportunity to show her dislike for Catherine, and took special delight in humbling her pride by applying to her the contemptuous epithet of "fille de marchand." The bad feeling between the two rose to such a pitch that when, upon the death of Francis II., Mary's power was at an end, "the queen-mother," in the words of Michel de Castlenau, "found it very good and expedient to rid herself of the princess." (See Chéruel, Marie Stuart et Catherine de Médici, p. 19.)

2. La conjuration d'Amboise. In 1560 those who were opposed to the Guises and the Court, including a large number of Huguenots, made an effort to get Francis II. into their hands. Their design was to surprise the Court, which was then at the castle of Amboise (a town on the Loire, near Tours), and seize the King and Queen. The conspiracy was discovered by the Guises, and numbers of those implicated were executed. Although the Prince of Condé was really the instigator of the conspiracy, he could not be convicted, and was therefore released.

Page 65.—1. Qu'elle étoit d'intelligence avec Monsieur de Nemours, "that there was an understanding between her and Monsieur de Nemours."

Page 66.—1. Compiègne, a city on the left bank of the Oise, about fifty-two miles northeast of Paris. It was built by the Gauls and enlarged in 876 by Charles the Bald. In 833 the council was here held, by which Louis the Pious was deposed. Joan of Arc was taken prisoner in this city in 1430.

2. Journée, "day's journey."

Page 67.—1. La Duchesse de Mercoeur, Jeanne de Savoie, second wife of Nicholas, Count of Vaudemont, Duke of Mercoeur. Her son was the celebrated Philippe-Emmanuel of Lorraine, Duke of Mercoeur.

2. À toute bride, "at full speed." A similar phrase is à bride abattue.

Page 70.—1. Que tout ce qu'il y a jamais eu de femmes au monde, "than any woman who has ever lived." The neuter relative in a personal sense is not infrequently used by Madame de la Fayette (see page 16, line 29).

Page 72.—1. Je ne vous saurois croire, "I cannot believe you." ("In the conditional and pluperfect savoir is employed for pouvoir."—Littré.)

Page 79.—1. Le Connétable, Anne, Duke of Montmorency (1492-1567). He distinguished himself during the wars of Francis I. and was made Constable in 1538. Some time after he was banished from the Court and retired to his estates till the accession of Henry II., when he was again invested with his former dignities. During the wars of religion he commanded the royal army against the Huguenots, and was fatally wounded at Saint-Denis.

2. Le Prince d'Orange (1533-1584). William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, founder of the Republic of Holland, was the son of William the Old, Count of Nassau. In 1544 he received the title of Prince of Orange. He was brought up at the Court of Charles V., and in 1554 was placed in command of the army in Flanders. He won the confidence of the Emperor, and was sent into France to hasten the Treaty of Câteau-Cambrésis, Philip II., however, was not favorably disposed toward the Prince, and appointed the Duke of Alva as governor in the Netherlands; the cruelties of the latter drew upon him the opposition of the people, and the Prince of Orange made himself their leader. The removal of Alva was accompanied by a temporary withdrawal of the Spanish forces; upon their return, the Prince again took the people's part, and, on January 29, 1579, induced them to adopt the famous treaty called the Union of Utrecht, which forms the foundation of the liberties of Holland. After various attempts had been made against the life of the Prince, he was at length assassinated at Delft.

Page 80.—1. Elle n'avoit pas le jour au visage, "her face was in the dark."

Page 85.—1. Cette seule curiosité, "that curiosity alone." (See also page 126, line 15: la seule bienséance.)

Page 90.—1. L'Évêché, the Episcopal Palace.

2. L'Hôtel de Villeroy, a palace on the Rue des Poulies. It was built in the middle of the thirteenth century by Alphonse, brother of St. Louis. From 1421 it was called l'Hôtel d'Alençon. At the beginning of the sixteenth century it passed into the hands of Nicholas de Neufville, Seigneur de Villeroy, and took the name of l'Hôtel de Villeroy. It was sold in 1568 to the Duke of Anjou (afterwards Henry III.), and for some time was called after him. Later on it was greatly improved and partly rebuilt by the Duchess of Longueville, and since then has been known as l'Hôtel de Longueville.

Page 91.—1. Grand-maître, "major-domo."

2. panetier, "head butler," from an old verb paneter, "to make bread," from Latin panis.

3. Échanson, "cup-bearer," from Low Latin scancio = "I pour out to drink." These ancient menial offices were revived and bestowed upon the highest courtiers at the time of the establishment of the Court.

4. Machines, "devices"; they were spectacular representations of all kinds.

5. incarnat, "incarnadine," a color about midway between cherry and rose.

6. Brantôme writes: "Monsieur de Nemours wore yellow and black, two colors which were very suitable to him, signifying as they do, joy and steadfastness; for he was at that time (so it was rumored) enjoying the favor of one of the most beautiful ladies in the world, and therefore he ought to be steadfast and faithful to her by good reason."

Page 92.—1. "These four princes were the best men-at-arms to be found anywhere... and it could not be told to whom special glory was to be given; yet the king was one of the best and most skilful horsemen in the realm" (Brantôme, iv., 104).

2. Avoit fourni sa carrière, "had run over the course," an expression of the tournament. Similar phrases are: franchir la carrière, "to run the distance"; arriver au bout de la carrière, "to reach the goal"; parcourir la carrière, etc.; these expressions are now used in a figurative sense. The carrière is a piece of ground enclosed by barriers and arranged for races.

3. Le comte de Montgomery. Gabriel de Montgomery was the eldest son of Jacques de Montgomery, Seigneur de Lorges. He took a prominent part in political affairs under Francis I., and in 1545 was sent to Scotland with some troops to render aid to Mary of Lorraine. After the unfortunate encounter with Henry II., he retired to his estates in Normandy. At the outbreak of the wars of religion, he took the part of the Protestants against the Crown, was present at the taking of Rouen, and narrowly avoided being captured. He was in Paris at the time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and saved himself by flight. Shortly after, he made his way to England, and in 1573 appeared before La Rochelle, in command of an English fleet. A few months later he was again in France, and fought bravely on the Huguenot side, but having been driven to extremities, he surrendered at Domfront; he was immediately tried, condemned, and executed on May 27, 1574.

4. Qu'il se mît sur la lice, "that he enter the lists." A similar expression is: entrer dans la lice. La lice = "a level space marked off by a rope or railing, and surrounded with galleries for spectators."

5. La barrière, the enclosure where knightly encounters took place.

Page 94.—1. Compare this description with that of Brantôme (iv., p. 103): "La mal fortune fut que sur le soir il voulut encore rompre une lance; et pour ce manda au comte de Montgomery qu'il comparût et se mît en lice. Lui refusa tout à plat... mais le roi, fâché de ses réponses, lui manda résolument qu'il le vouloit. La reine lui manda et pria par deux fois qu'il ne courût plus pour l'amour d'elle. Rien pour cela, mais lui manda qu'il ne couroit que cette lance pour l'amour d'elle. Et pour ce, l'autre ayant comparu en lice, le roi courut. Ou fut que le malheur le voulût ainsi, ou son destin l'y poussât, il fut atteint du contre coup par la tête dans l'œil où lui demeura un grand éclat de la lance, dont aussi tôt fut relevé de ses écuyers, et Monsieur de Montgomery vint à lui qui le trouva fort blessé. Toutefois il ne perdit cœur et n'étonna point, et dit que ce n'étoit rien, et soudain pardonna audict comte de Montgomery.... Il mourut au bout de quelques jours en très bon Chrétien et ainsi ce grand roi qui avoit été en tant de guerres et les avoit tant aimées, n'y a pu mourir et est mort là."

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FOURTH PART.

Page 96.—1. Reims, a celebrated city in the Department of Marne, 107 miles northeast of Paris. Clovis was baptized here in 496. In the eighth century it was made an archbishopric, and from 1179 till the time of Charles X. it was the coronation place of the kings of France.

2. "On the fifteenth day of the month of September (1559), King Francis II. made his entry into the city of Reims, where he was received with all devotion and honor by the inhabitants of this city. And on the following Monday, his Majesty was anointed and consecrated in the great church by the Cardinal of Lorraine, in the presence of the princes of the blood and many other great lords, and all the ceremonies required and preserved by immemorial custom were there observed. Immediately afterwards he departed from that place and abode for some time in the city of Blois" (Nicole Gilles and Belle-Forest in their Annales de France, quoted by Godefroy: Le Cérémonial François, i., p. 311).

The consecration of the King of France was attended with many elaborate ceremonies. The new monarch made a journey to Reims, and was escorted into the city by the high secular authorities; masses were then offered, in which the King took part. On the coronation day he was conducted to the Church of Notre Dame; the sacred vessel containing the anointing oil was brought in and delivered into the hands of the archbishop. This was followed by the administration of the oath, by which the King promised to preserve the faith of the Church, to suppress evil-doers, to rule with justice and mercy, and to endeavor to exterminate all heresy within the realm. He was then anointed on the head, on the breast, between the two shoulders, on the right and on the left shoulder, and on the right and left arms; at each application the Monsieur de Reims exclaimed: "Ungo te in Regem de oleo sanctificato, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti." The King was then clothed in his royal garments, the sceptre placed in his hand and the crown upon his head. After the celebration of a mass, he was led back to the palace amid the shouts of the people: "Vivat Rex in æternum!"

Page 98.—1. Qu'elle lui en fît une finesse, "that she was deceiving him." ("La finesse dans ce sens est la finesse d'esprit conduite jusqu'à un mauvais usage."—Littré.)

Page 101.—1. Anet, a chateau built in 1552 by Philibert Delorme, by order of Henry II., for Diana of Poitiers. It was embellished by the best artists of France,—Goujon, Pilon, Cousin, etc. The building was partly destroyed during the Revolution.

2. Chambort, a magnificent palace about ten miles west of Paris, constructed by Pierre Napren for Francis I., and decorated by Cousin, Pilon, and others. It was afterwards owned by King Stanislaus, then by the family of Polignac, afterwards by Marshal Berthier. In 1821 it was granted to the Duke of Bordeaux, and is now in the possession of his descendants.

Page 110.—1. Blois, chief city of the Department of Loir-et-Cher, on the right bank of the Loire, about 110 miles south-southwest of Paris. Its Counts were of the family of Hugh Capet. During the reign of Charles the Simple, it was in the possession of Thibaut, Count of Chartres. It remained to his descendants till 1491, when it came into the hands of the Duke of Orleans, afterwards Louis XII., who united it to the possessions of the Crown. Blois then became a favorite resort of the House of Valois; Francis I. and Charles IX. resided there. A fine description of the palace is given in Balzac's Catherine de Medici.

Page 111.—1. Que in the sense of pourquoi. (See also page 126, line 23.)

Page 112.—1. Est-ce de vous dont je parle? such is the reading of the edition edited by E. Flammarion, which text has been mostly followed in this edition. A preferable reading is that of the edition of P.A. Moutardier, edited by Étienne and Jay: est-ce vous dont je parle? Compare ce n'est pas moi dont vous parlez (line 24), and ce n'est pas vous dont vous parlez (page 83, line 28). The reading of the edition of Garnier Frères is: est-ce de vous que je parle?

Page 113.—1. S'il n'y alloit que de mon intérêt, "if my interests alone were at stake."

Page 115.—1. This tender and praiseworthy resolution of Madame de Clèves furnishes the true explanation of her actions toward the Duke of Nemours after the death of her husband,—a course of conduct which some of Madame de La Fayette's critics find so inexplicable. (See d'Haussonville's Vie de Mme. de La Fayette, p. 190.)

Page 116.—1. Plus de devoir, plus de vertu, "no more requirements of duty or virtue."

Page 119.—1. Supposant, "under the pretext."

Page 122.—1. Notice the use of the future and the conditional in interjectional expression in the sense of the present and past tenses. Translate: "Can it be that a mere fancy prevents you from giving happiness to a man," etc.

Page 126.—1. Monsieur de Clèves ne fait encore que d'expirer, "M. de Clèves has just died."

Page 127.—1. Elle ne fît de déclarations et ne prît engagement, "lest she should make certain promises and bind herself," referring possibly to her withdrawal from the world into a religious house, or perhaps to a simple vow never to marry again.

Page 131.—1. Dont, an incorrect use of the relative, noticed by Valincour. Dont is not used as a compound relative; the correct expression would be de celui dont.