the memoirs of louis xiv-14-第6部分

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to　continue　my　road。

I　arrived　on　the　18th　at　Burgos；　where　I　meant　to　stay　at　least　one　day；
to　see　what　turn　would　take　a　rather　strong　fever　which　had　seized　my
eldest　son；　but　I　was　so　pressed　to　hasten　on　that　I　was　obliged　to　leave
my　son　behind　with　nearly　all　his　attendants。

I　left　Burgos　therefore　on　the　19th。　　We　found　but　few　relays；　and　those
ill…established。　　We　travelled　night　and　day　without　going　to　bed；　until
we　reached　Madrid；　using　such　vehicles　as　we　could　obtain。　　I　performed
the　last　twelve　leagues　on　a　posthorse；　which　cost　twice　as　much　as　in
France。　　In　this　manner　we　arrived　in　Madrid　on　Friday；　the　21st；　at
eleven　o'clock　at　night。

We　found　at　the　entrance　of　the　town　（which　has　neither　gates　nor　walls；
neither　barriers　nor　faubourgs；）　people　on　guard；　who　asked　us　who　we
were；　and　whence　we　came。　　They　had　been　placed　there　expressly　so　as　to
know　the　moment　of　my　arrival。　　As　I　was　much　fatigued　by　travelling
incessantly　from　Burgos　without　stopping；　I　replied　that　we　were　the
people　of　the　Ambassador　of　France；　who　would　arrive　the　next　day。

I　learnt　afterwards；　that　the　minister　had　calculated　that　I　could　not
reach　Madrid　before　the　22d。




CHAPTER　CVIII

Early　the　next　morning　I　received　a　visit　from　Grimaldo；　Minister　of
Foreign　Affairs；　who；　overjoyed　at　my　arrival；　had　announced　it　to　their
Catholic　Majesties　before　coming　to　me。　　Upon　his　example；　apparently；
the　three　other　ministers；　whom；　according　to　usage；　I　ought　to　have
visited　first；　came　also；　so　that　one　infamous　difficulty　which　Cardinal
Dubois　had　placed　in　my　path　was　happily　overcome　without　effort　on　my
part。

Grimaldo　at　once　conducted　me　to　the　palace；　and　introduced　me　to　the
King。　　I　made　a　profound　reverence　to　him；　he　testified　to　me　his　joy　at
my　arrival；　and　asked　me　for　news　of　the　King；　of　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　of
my　journey；　and　of　my　eldest　son；　whom；　as　he　knew；　I　had　left　behind　at
Burgos。　　He　then　entered　alone　into　the　Cabinet　of　the　Mirrors。　　I　was
instantly　surrounded　by　all　the　Court　with　compliments　and　indications　of
joy　at　the　marriages　and　union　of　the　crowns。　　Nearly　all　the　seigneurs
spoke　French；　and　I　had　great　difficulty　in　replying　to　their　numberless
compliments。

A　half　quarter　of　an　hour　after　the　King　had　entered　his　cabinet；　he　sent
for　me。　　I　entered　alone　into　the　Hall　of　Mirrors；　which　is　very　vast；
but　much　less　wide　than　long。　　The　King；　with　the　Queen　on　his　left；　was
nearly　at　the　bottom　of　the　salon；　both　their　Majesties　standing　and
touching　each　other。　　I　approached　with　three　profound　reverences；　and　I
will　remark；　once　for　all；　that　the　King　never　covers　himself　except　at
public　audiences；　and　when　he　goes　to　and　comes　from　his　mass。　　The
audience　lasted　half　an　hour；　and　was　principally　occupied；　on　the　part
of　the　King　and　Queen；　with　compliments　and　expressions　of　joy　at　the
marriages　that　were　to　take　place。　　At　its　close；　the　Queen　asked　me　if　I
would　like　to　see　the　children；　and　conducted　me　to　them。

I　never　saw　prettier　boys　than　Don　Carlos　and　Don　Ferdinand；　nor　a
prettier　babe　than　Don　Philip。　　The　King　and　Queen　took　pleasure　in
making　me　look　at　them；　and　in　making　them　turn　and　walk　before　me　with
very　good　grace。　　Their　Majesties　entered　afterwards　into　the　Infanta's
chamber；　where　I　tried　to　exhibit　as　much　gallantry　as　possible。　　In
fact；　the　Infanta　was　charming…like　a　little　womanand　not　at　all
embarrassed。　　The　Queen　said　to　me　that　she　already　had　begun　to　learn
French；　and　the　King　that　she　would　soon　forget　Spain。

〃Oh！〃　cried　the　Queen；　〃not　only　Spain；　but　the　King　and　me；　so　as　to
attach　herself　to　the　King；　her　husband；　alone。〃　　Upon　this　I　tried　not
to　remain　dumb；　and　to　say　what　was　appropriate。　　Their　Majesties
dismissed　me　with　much　goodness；　and　I　was　again　encircled　by　the　crowd
with　many　compliments。

A　few　moments　after　the　King　recalled　me；　in　order　to　see　the　Prince　of
the　Asturias；　who　was　with　their　Majesties　in　the　same　Hall　of　Mirrors。
I　found　him　tall；　and　really　made　to　be　painted；　fine　light…brown　hair；
light　fresh…coloured　complexion；　long　face；　but　agreeable；　good　eyes；　but
too　near　the　nose。　　I　found　in　him　also　much　grace　and　politeness。　　He
particularly　asked　after　the　King；　M。　le　Duc　d'Orleans；　and　Mademoiselle
de　Montpensier；　to　whom　he　was　to　be　betrothed。

Their　Catholic　Majesties　testified　much　satisfaction　to　me　at　the
diligence　I　had　used；　said　that　a　single　day　would　be　sufficient　for　the
ceremonies　that　had　to　be　gone　through　（demanding　the　hand　of　the
Infanta；　according　it；　and　signing　the　marriage　contract）。　　Afterwards
they　asked　me　when　all　would　be　ready。　　I　replied　it　would　be　any　day
they　pleased；　because；　as　they　wished　to　go　into　the　country；　I　thought
it　would　be　best　to　throw　no　delay　in　their　path。　　They　appeared　much
pleased　at　this　reply；　but　would　not　fix　the　day；　upon　which　I　proposed
the　following　Tuesday。　　Overjoyed　at　this　promptness；　they　fixed　the
Thursday　for　their　departure；　and　left　me　with　the　best　possible　grace。

I　had　got　over　one　difficulty；　as　I　have　shown；　that　connected　with　the
first　visits；　but　I　had　others　yet　to　grapple　with。　　And　first；　there　was
my　embarrassment　at　finding　no　letter　for　the　Infanta。　　I　confided　this
fact　to　Grimaldo；　who　burst　out　laughing；　was　to　have　my　first　audience
with　the　Infanta　the　next　day；　and　it　was　then　that　the　letter　ought　to
be　produced。　　Grimaldo　said　he　would　arrange　so　that　when　Iwent；　the
governess　should　come　into　the　antechamber；　and　say　that　the　Infanta　was
asleep；　and　upon　offering　to　awake　her；　I　should　refuse　to　allow　her；
take　my　leave；　and　wait　until　the　letter　from　the　King　arrived　before　I
visited　her　again。　　Everything　happened　just　as　it　had　been　planned；　and
thus　the　second　obstacle　which　the　crafty　and　malicious　Cardinal　had　put
in　my　path；　for　the　sake　of　overturning　me；　was　quietly　got　over。
Grimaldo's　kindness　encouraged　me　to　open　my　heart　under　its　influence。
I　found　that　the　Spanish　minister　knew；　quite　as；　well　as　I　did；　what
manner　of　person　Dubois　was。

On　Sunday；　the　23rd；　I　had　in　the　morning　my　first　private　audience　of
the　King　and　Queen；　together；　in　the　Hall　of　Mirrors；　which　is　the　place
where　they　usually　give　it。　　I　was　accompanied　by　Maulevrier；　our
ambassador。　　I　presented　to　their　Catholic　Majesties　the　Comte　de　Lorge；
the　Comte　de　Cereste；　my　second　son；　and　the　Abbe　de　Saint…Simon　and　his
bother。　　I　received　many　marks　of　goodness　from　the　Queen　in　this
audience。

On　Tuesday；　the　25th　of　November；　I　had　my　solemn　audience。　　I　went　to
the　palace　in　a　magnificent　coach；　belonging　to　the　King；　drawn　by　eight
grey　horses；　admirably　dappled。　　There　were　no　postillions；　and　the
coachman　drove　me；　his　hat　under　his　arm。　　Five　of　my　coaches　filled　with
my　suite　followed；　and　about　twenty　others　（belonging　to　noblemen　of　the
Court；　and　sent　by　them　in　order　to　do　me　honour）；　with　gentlemen　in
each。　　The　King's　coach　was　surrounded　by　my　musicians；　liveried　servants
on　foot；　and　by　officers　of　my　household。　　On　arriving　at　the　open　place
in　front　of　the　palace；　I　thought　myself　at　the　Tuileries。　　The　regiments
of　Spanish　guards；　clad；　officers　and　soldiers；　like　the　French　guards；
and　the　regiment　of　the　Walloon　guards；　clad；　officers　and；　soldiers；
like　the　Swiss　guards；　were　under　arms；　the　flags　waved；　the　drums　beat；
and　the　officers　saluted　with　the　half…pike。　　On　the　way；　the　streets
were　filled　with　people；　the　shops　with　dealers　and　artisans；　all　the
windows　were　crowded。　　Joy　showed　itself　on　every　face；　and　we　heard
nothing　but　benedictions。

The　audience　passed　off　admirably。　　I　asked　the　hand　of　the　Infanta　in
marriage　on　the　part　of　the　King；　my　request　was　graciously　complied
with；　compliments　passed　on　both　sides；　and　I　returned　to　my　house；　well
pleased　with　the　reception　I　had　met　with　from　both　their　Catholic
Majesties。

There　was　still　the　marriage　contract　to　be　signed；　and　this　was　to　take
place　in　the　afternoon。　　Here　was　to　be　my　great　trial；　for　the
majordomo…major　and　the　nuncio　of　the　Pope　were　to　be　present　at　the
ceremony；　and；　according　to　the　infamous　and　extraordinary　instructions
I　had　received　from　Dubois；　I　was　to　precede　them！　　How　was　this　to　be
done？　　I　had　to　bring　all　my　ingenuity　to　bear　upon　the　subject　in　order
to　determine。　　In　the　embarrassment　I　felt　upon　this　position；　I　was
careful　to　affect　the　most　marked　attention　to　the　nuncio　and　the
majordomo…major　every　time　I　met　them　and　visited　them；　so　as　to　take
from　them　all　idea　that　I　wished　to　precede　them；　when　I　should　in
reality　do　so。

The　place　the　majordomo…major　was　to　occupy　at　this　ceremony　was　behind
the　King's　armchair；　a　little　to　the　right；　so　as　to　allow　room　for　the
captain　of　the　guards　on　duty；　to　put　myself　there　would　be　to　take　his
place；　and　push　the　captain　of　the　guards　away；　and　those　near　him。　　The
place　of　the　nuncio　was　at　the　side　of　the　King；　his　face　to　the
armchair；　to　take　it　would　have　been　to　push　him　beyond　the　arm　of　the
chair；　which　assuredly　he　would　no　more　have　submitted　to　than　the
majordomo…major　on　the　other　side。　　I　resolved；　therefore；　to　hazard　a
middle　term；　to　try　and　introduce　myself　at　the　top　of　the　right　arm　of
the　chair；　a　little　sideways；　so　as　to　take　the　place　of　neither；
entirely；　but；　nevertheless；　to　drive　them　out；　and　to　cover　this　with　an
air　of　ignorance　and　of　simplicity；　and；　at　the　same　time；　of　eagerness；
of　joy；　of　curiosity；　of　courtier…like　desire　to　speak　to　the　King　as
much　as　possible：　and　all　this　I　exactly　executed；　in　appearance
stupidly；　and　in　reality　very　successfully！

When　the　time　for　the　audience　arrived；　I　took　up　my　position；
accordingly；　in　the　manner　I　have　indicated。　　The　majordomo…major　and　the
nuncio　entered；　and　finding　me　thus　placed；　and　speaking　to　the　King；
appeared　much　surprised。　　I　heard　Signor　and　Sefor　repeated　right　and
left　of　me；　and　addressed　to　mefor　both　expressed　themselves　with
difficulty　in　Frenchand　I　replied　with　bows　to　one　and　to　the　other
with　the　smiling　air　of　a　man　entirely　absorbed　in　joy　at　his　functions；
and　who　understands　nothing　of　what　is　meant；