that Person is guilty of no Crime if he keep his whole Intreague secret to avoid worse Here is also another Remark of their Doctor Escobar If you cannot prevent your Loving of Women it is not so much as the least Venial Sin to give your self up to Love for I know that it acts upon People with great Violence and sometimes puts them out of an Estate of Salvation St. Francis Xavier one of their most famous Religious Persons hath fully inform'd us of it during his Life by all the Torments which he suffer'd and therefore he says very Judiciously That every man who sins after having reason'd a little his Faults are pardon'd though with some more difficulty Behold the Divinity of the Holy Fathers of the Society and the secret Doctrine which they teach their Disciples Scarron having signify'd to Madam de Maintenon by bowing his Head that he was not allow'd to say any more being press'd by Rancune and Rapiniere to return to their shady Palace left the Heroess in a profound Trance reflecting continually upon the Conversation which she had had with him and the sensible Reproaches wherewith he had upbraided her Ha! says she if all the Ladies of Pleasure which I know and who have lost their Husbands had such Visions as these they would not take so much care to conceal their Intriegues and if the King knew the Vexation that I am in at present I am sure he would be touch'd with it but he does not expect such an Extraordinary piece of News In this manner Madam de Maintenon pass'd the Night without being able to sleep next Morning La Caverne her Maid entred her Chamber as usual and ask'd her Lady what she would have her to do The Marchioness answerd in a discompos'd manner That as soon as she was dress'd she would go to St. Cyr. Some hours after she took Coach to go to the Abbey where St. Lewis's Ladies receiv'd her with incredible Joy because they had been depriv'd of her presence for eight days time that she had been taken up with the King's Affairs and particularly the Ball which the Duke of Orleance gave in the Royal Palace Our Heroess having consider'd a little of what she had to do took a general Review of that sine House and was saluted by all the Damsels with a Charming Modesty who accompany'd her four and four a-breast to the Church to hear Mass The King who is always impatient where he loves bethinking himself that he had not seen his Mistress in a long time slew to give her a Visit without any Consideration of St. Cyr. Into her Closet he went and having saluted her after his usual manner that is to say very tenderly he recounted to her all the Pleasure he had taken at the Ball imperfect only in this that he could not enjoy her Company till the end of it and then ask'd her why she went away so soon telling her withal That had she stay'd but a little longer she might have seen the pleasantest and most delightful Disguizes in the World for that the twelve English young Lords who were sent by King James in the Dress of Quakers escap'd a most terrible Danger for that in making their way through all the Flambeaux that lighted that numerous Assembly they miss'd but very narrowly of being every one of 'em sacrific'd to the Sport of the Night You may have probably observ'd Madam continu'd the King in the History of France what befell Charles VI. upon the like Occasion at the Nuptials of one of the Queen's Maids of Honour At what time some of the Noblemen dancing masqueraded in the Shape of Bears the Duke of Orleance holding down a Flambeau to look upon their Noses set fire to the Linnen that was joyn'd together with Pitch Presently the Room was all in Flame and Affright the People crouded one upon another to get out some cry'd God save the King but the Dutchess of Berry cover'd the King with the Skirt of her Gown and preserv'd him from the fiery Torrent You see said the King siniling how useful Women are in this Life for that by their Assistance we many times escape great Dangers Oh Sir answer'd Madam de Maintenon if all Men had the same savourable Sentiments of us we should not be so much slighted as we are at this day But we find that there are many Persons no way inconsiderable for their merit who strongly oppose your Kind Opinon of us while they assert That Women are the cause of all the Mischiefs and Misfortunes that happen in the World Perhaps said the King those Persons have not been able to pay Fortune a sufficient Sallary to procure 'em the Favours of the Female Sex For my part I can assure ye Madam that were it not for Women my Life would be but very burthensome to me 'T is the sweetest of all those other Pleasures that slatter our Sences Which therefore seems to me to be the reason why Nature foreseeing that we would make 'em the Objects of our Adoration form'd 'em so amiable as they are The King would have continu'd this Discourse but he was interrupted by one of his Gentlemen who brought him Letters from the Duke of Luxembâ—rgh and Mashall de Bouâ—â—lers So that his Majesty immediately took Coach and return'd to Versailles where after he had spent some time in reading his Letters and returning Answers He began again to reflect upon the Melancholly Humour wherein he found his Mistress For in truth she had appear'd to him to be incredibly cast down so that the mighty Monarch not being able to penetrate the real Causes of such an Extraordinary Pensiveness wrote her the following Lines The King's Letter to Madam de Maintenon DId I not Love ye so well as I do Madam I should never busie my self to study with so much attention what could afflict ye to that degree of Discomposure which I last beheld in your Countenance But whatsoever pains I take to find it out I cannot possibly divine the Reaâ— Cause You know how well I love ye and that there is nothing I will spare to satisfie your Revenge upon your Enemies Adieu Madam speedily let me know whatever it is that grieves ye for I am Impatient till I understand what it may be The King gave this Letter to one of his Pages with Orders to carry it to Madam de Maintenon who joyfully receiv'd it and return'd this Answer to it Madam de Maintenon's Letter to the King OH my dear Prince in what an Extasie am I to find that you concern your self so deeply in my Grief 'T is true that I conceal the Real Motives of my Disquiet but there are some Secrets in this Life which we cannot unfold but with some kind of Torture and this of which you seek so earnestly to be inform'd is that of Nature I can say nothing farther in This but I shall reserve all my Eloquence till I happen to be alone in your Presence Our Marchioness
without Ceremony that I compos'd the Letter and she copied it From that moment I tell you freely His Majesty hath always evidenc'd a great Passion for me Here is also the Copy of the first Letter which His Majesty wrote to me The King's Letter to Madame de Maintenon I Did not believe most Incomparable Lady that after I had seen all the Charming Objeâ—â—s of the Court there had been any thing in the World that could have touch'd me so sensibly The strong Impressions which your rare Qualities have made upon me convince me and accordingly I speak it sincerely That a King would be advanc'd to the highest pitch of Happiness were he as much beloved by you as 〈◊〉 desires Do not then oppose your self my Fairest to that which may render me happy and be firmly perswaded that never any Man was so passionately in Love as I. The Pledges which I design to give you my most An table Lady of a Love so sincere and tender are of a very high Value and merit your most tender Affections The Crown and Scepter which I lay at your Feet my Aderable Lady are sensible Proofs of the high Passion which I entertain for you Farewell my dearest Dear And to engage me further continues Madam Maintenon his Majesty advanc'd me to the Quality of Lady-Governess to the Duke de Maine his Brother the Count de Vexin and the Mademoiselles de Tours and Nantes You cannot imagine what trouble I had to resist all these obliging Methods which his Majesty made use of to bring me to be what I am To say the truth An Ambition to reâ—â—â—â— my self Glorious and Fam'd in the World cancell'd all the Impressions which my Duty or Marriage-Covenant had laid upon me but I love you still in spite of Death which hath made a Separation betwixt us And the greatest part of my Conversation with the King is upon the Loss I have sustain'd of such an Husband who was the Glory of all the Wits of his Age. All those Arguments which you bring Madam replies Scarron to make your Innocence appear don't justifie you in the least for you are still a faithless Woman and I am unhappy to hear you continually talk'd of The Publick takes no notice of your private Treaty of Marriage of which look you here is a True Copy Scarron calls upon Rapiuicre and taking the Contract of Marriage reads it before Madam de Maintenon The Contract of the Private Marriage betwixt Lewis XIV King of France and Navarr sirnam'd The Gift of God and Frances d'Aubigne Marchioness of Maintenon THE Council of Conscience belonging to Lewis XIV sirnamed The Gift of God having most wisely consider'd that the said Prince together with the Dauphine hath sufficiently provided the Crown of France with Heirs so that there 's no reason to fear that it may fall to a Daughter or that the Family of Bourbon should be extinguish'd for want of Heirs Males And moreover there being no Princess in Europe upon whom his Majesty casts his Eyes in order to a second Marriage and his Majesty besides thinking himself of such an Age as it is not convenient for him to meddle any more with the Affairs of the World because of the particular Care which he designs to take for the Quiet of his Conscience and the Salvation of his Soul by sacrificing unto God from his Heart all the criminal Passions which have turmoil'd him from his Youth till now These weighty Considerations prevail'd upon his Majesty with the Approbation of his Confessor to cast his Eyes upon Frances d'Aubigné the Honestest most Vertuous and most Pious Woman of the Age that he might contract a Secret Marriage with her by virtue whereof those Parties are inseparably united together before God and Holy Mother Church And thereupon Lewis XIV promises henceforth to renounce all Commerce which he hath had or might have with other Mistresses in time to come and to acknowledge Frances de Anbigné during the rest of his Life for his true and lawful Spouse to love her tenderly and treat her with the same Respect as he did the late Queen Mary Therese of happy Memory On the other side Frances d'Aubigné promises before God and Holy Mother Church to be Faithful to his Majesty even to her Death to Love and Obey him as a Faithful Spouse ought to do her Husband His Majesty declares further That on the Day of his Marriage he presents Frances d'Aubigné his future Spouse with the Marquisate of Maintenon that she may carry the Title thereof during her Life and doth also promise to found a Nunnery under the Title of The Ladies of St. Cyr whereof she shall be Directress The said Frances d'Abvigné doth further engage in consideration of the Honour which the King hath conferr'd upon her by advancing her to the Dignity of the Queens of France to endeavour with all imaginable Zeal by the Assistance of the Reverend Father La Chaise to extirpate the Hugonot-Heresie whereby she may bring the Blessing of God upon his Majesty's glorious Reign so that all France may have cause to rejoyce in the happy Choice which his Majesty hath made of such a vertuous Spouse Amen You see Madam says Scarron that your Honour is not preserv'd by this Method All the World look upon you for all this as a Harlot and speak of your Amours with the King as they do of those of his other Mistresses Father La Chaise formerly my Friend hath persuaded you that by this secret Treaty of Marriage your Converse with the King would make less Noise but his Design was to destroy Madam de Montespan's Interest who was his Enemy and by this means he surmounts those Difficulties which stand in the way of his Designs and at the same time secures himself of the King's Favour And besides those specious Titles of being Lady Abbess of St. Cyr and Marchioness of Maintenon both Eminent Qualities make a great Noise in the World and draw upon you insensibly all that People say of you Ha! cry'd Madam de Maintenon in anger who could reveal to you this Secret You told me Sir that you hear News every day from this World by those who arrive in yours It could be none but the Marquis de Louvois He acquainted you with this Contract of Marriage Treacherous Villaian This is but a sorry Acknowledgment of his Master 's Royal Bounties who spar'd nothing to raise his Fortune to the heighth first Minister and Secretary of State Commander and Chancellor of the Royal Order Are not these very Honourable Titles besides a thousand other Advantages which he receiv'd from his Majesty who honours him still every day by a continual Regret for the Loss of him It is true the King has great need of his Assistance in this present Juncture to bear a part of the Fatigue which he endures by this present War This War Madam answer'd Scarron which the King maintains with so much heat appears very unjust before our
de Maintenon settl'd all his Majesties Suspitions by a thousand charming Protestations The Reverend Father La Chaise who by good luck Arriv'd just in the nick of time bestow'd au infinite Number of Benedictions upon her to encourage her in her Noble design Assuring her that he would not cease to offer up his Prayers to God and all the Male and Female Saints that they would be pleas'd to depute a good Angel to be her Companion and Conductor and that he hop'd the Success of her Pilgrimage would be greatly to her Glory Adding withal that it was a good Office of a high Nature which she was going to do for her Husband Thus it was that Pyramus and Thisbe separated with mutual assurances never to be forgetful of each other The Father who was an Ear Witness of all these Protestations stay'd behind with the King discoursing for some time about the Marriage of Boufflers with Mademoiselle de Gramont the Daughter of Antony Charles Duke of the same Name and whose Dowry was no less then 40000 Livres besides a Magnificent Present from the King in Jewels and some talk of several other considerable Emoluments But let us return to our Monarch who was extreamly turmoyl'd and uneasie to be so long a Widower as one that was never Idle in his Amours Therefore to pass time away he went every day to St. Germains to Visit the Queen of England He found that Princess well Built and very Charming and that she had a Heart not altogether insensible of his Caresses And indeed her deplorable Condition after her Husband had lost his Crown cans'd her to entertain the Caresses of our Monarch with a more then ordinary tenderness as being the most probable future support of a King 's unjoyntur'd Widow so that his Majesty succeeded perfectly to his Content For one day that King Jame was at Paris his Majesty had the Opportunity to be all alone a whole afternoon with the Queen and to make her a Formal and Ample Declaration of his Love Lewis the Great 's Declaration of his Love to the Banish'd Queen of England Madam WERE it for that Reason that I must be accounted one of your most Cruel Enemies I could not forbear to Caress the misfortune that brought you so happily into this Kingdom and which has by that means procur'd me the Charming pleasure of your Company I must needs declare to you Madam that ever since that Fortunate day I have always preserv'd a most profound Esteem for your Person which has bred up and cherish'd in my heart something that I can hardly tell what it is I fancy to my self the most pleasing Idea that ever was in the World of all your Sparkling Qualities and I take delight to recall 'em to my mind every Minute of the day and to Dream of you in the Night I have habituated my self to that which appears to me the only thing that asswages the Disturbances of my Love that is to say an unfeigned Vow which is made to your self by the most passionate of Men and who burns with an Ardent desire to let you see how far it is possible for that Passion which he has for you to extend it self The Queen was not a little at a Non-plus to hear such inforcing and passionate Expressions which was the Reason why she could not return a suddain Answer for it behov'd her to look well about her on every side She was afraid least her Husband should take notice of the King's Tenderness and least Madam de Maintenon should turn her mortal Enemy to whom she had been infinitely beholding during her abode in France foreseeing also that her Succor might be very necessary still and for that in her Afflicted Condition it became her to make use of all her Policy and Precaution to preserve her friends On the other side it was not in her Power to look upon the King with an indifferent Eye She felt within her self an Inclination strong enough to love him besides the Offers of his Service and the continual Assurances of his Royal Word never to forsake her and to use his utmost endeavours for the Restoration of her Husband all these Considerations stagger'd the Resolutions of her Chastity and turmoyl'd her with a thousand various thoughts In the mean time the King to whom the Queen had not as yet open'd her Lips since the Vow that he had made her first breaking silence Madam said he I know not to what cause to attribute the disturbance which I behold in your Looks or whither I may be able to make a favourable Construction of it To which the Queen not able to reject the Courtly Addresses of our Monarch and no less willing to keep him in hopes that one day he might see himself Gainer of the Conquest to which he aspir'd Sir said she after a most Amiable and engaging manner The expressions you have made use of to let me understand the Condition of your Heart have plung'd me into a deep Meditation and I can hardly believe that a Prince like you who are the Terror of all Europe should be in want of better Objects to Sigh for a Person whom Fortune has so severely handl'd My Misfortunes are daily before my Eyes and the Fatal remembrance of 'em will never leave me till Death Madam reply'd the King it would be in vain for me to reiterate what I have so often repeated over and over again that I am deeply sensible of your Misfortunes and that they never yet could make me loose the least respect which is due to your Birth I look upon you still as a Queen and what is more absolute over the Empire of my Will and the secret Charms which I have discover'd in your Perfections the force of which is inevitable have constrain'd me to acknowledge the Torments which I suffer Among a thousand Beauties that appear at Court I do not meet with those subduing Allurements which I find in you and by which I perceive my self so mortally Wounded The Queen was about to have return'd an Answer and to have let his Majesty know how infinitely she was beholding to him for his kind Sentiments and Favours bestow'd upon her when King James who had been at Paris to Visit Father La Chaise came in and spoyl'd a good Complement The Reverend Father it seems had carry'd him to his House in the Fauxburg St. Antony where they had spent the whole day together and where among other things they fell into Discourse about the Affairs of England and so by degrees into a deep debate which was the most probable way for the King to regain the three Kingdoms he had lost The Reverend Father whose Brains are Fertile in Counsel and Intrigues had display'd upon that Subject the whole extent of his Eloquence promising the distressed King all the Assistance that he was capable to afford him Those Assurances so sincere and profitable had warm'd the Unfortunate King's Heart and brought into his Countenance an
Air of Gayety which accompanied all his Actions In this humour entring the Room Brother said he you 've a Blessed time on 't to be always courting the Ladies 'T is very true reply'd his Majesty they have a powerful Ascendant over me The Scene of the Discourse being thus Chang'd King James fell into a long Story of the Fathers kind Entertainment the various Subjects upon which they had been conferring Notes together and the wholesome Consolations he had receiv'd from that same Conscience-Director He extoll'd his Wit and his Merit and applauded his Majesties Choice of such an Excellent Father Confessor But our Monarch who had other Things to trouble his Brains withal then the Encomiums of Father La Chaise look'd upon K. James's Chat as impertinent as being altogether uneasie in his Mind and not knowing how his Affairs stood in the Heart of his New Mistriss who was no less displeas'd with the Interruption on her Side And in this humour the King took his leave with only a Farewel Brother till I see you again King James waited upon him to his Coach where he pay'd him a thousand Complements and pray'd him to continue his wonted Goodness toward him and the King assur'd him he should be always the same Being come to Versailles he abandon'd himself wholly to his Amorous Passion revolving in his mind all his Mistresses Charms and the Obliging Ways by which she had engag'd his Heart were the Subject of his Ruminations all that Night The next Morning he return'd with an Unconceivable Impatience to revisit the Object of his Love But foreseeing that perhaps he might not have a favourable Opportunity to find the Queen alone she being Visited by the Dutchess of Portsmouth and Madam de Noailles her Intimate Friends he wrote her the following Lines The Kings Letter to the Banish'd Queen Madam SInce I was born I never lov'd so much as now I do my Love for you is of another Nature then what I was wont to feel upon the like Occasions This Violent Passion can proceed from no other cause then from your Merit which distinguishes you from other Women Never say then Madam that this is the usual Discourse that Men make use of to inveagle the Fair and Beautiful since the Troubles of my Heart and the restless Disquiet of my Mind continually prove the contrary Answer my Love more kindly then hitherto you have done assuring you that if you afford me the least Hope I shall quickly find Repose Adieu Madam The Queen receiv'd this Letter with an extraordinary Joy but she did not think it proper to return an Answer which very much disturb'd the King and made him resolve to return that day to St. Germains He found the Queen in her Closet reading an Amorous History sent her out of England to whom Madam said he I draw ye from a more pleasing Divertisment To which the Queen made answer that not having else to do she took a Book in her Hand but that now she would make a better use of the happy Hour that presented it self to enjoy his Majesties Company The King whose Passion was Violent ask'd her in a kind of Disorder that frequently befalls true Lovers why she had not written to him and told her withal that she had reduc'd him almost to utter Despair to find his Love so ill repay'd by a Person so Amiable and that he had great reason to bewail his Destiny not having ever Sigh'd in vain before The Queen who is Witty and ready at Replys told him that her Husband never parted from her all that Day and that his Majesty having a Love for Madam de Maintenon she was unwilling to draw upon her self the Hatred of a Rival who might trouble that little repose that was left her The King who is an utter Enemy to Arguments and Reasons where he Loves told her that he had power sufficient to preserve her from all her Fears that he had a high Esteem for that Lady but that he still preserv'd a Tenderness for an Object of Adoration and that the Marchioness of Maintenon had too much Discretion to contradict him in his Pleasures An Answer of that Nature split the Queen's Heart and inspir'd her with several thoughts that might have carry'd her a great Way but the Dutchess of Portsmouth's Arrival deliver'd her out of her Perplexity and the King who is very Complaisant in Ladies Society tack'd the Conversation together for a long time so that the Day pass'd merrily away They fell into Discourse of the French and English Customs and of other things very diverting But the Evening drawing on as jealous of their Happiness brake off these pleasing entertainments and separated the Illustrious Company Madam de Maintenon who was by this time got safe to our Lady of Deliverance upon All Saints Eve and tyr'd with her Journey having travel'd half the way a foot in the Habit of a Penitent went to a House of one that was her Acquaintance with her Damsel La Caverne who was no less weary then her Mistriss The Lady of the House was very much surpriz'd to see that such a Person as she was should undertake such painful Mortifications but the Marchioness up and told her the Important occasion of her Pilgrimage That her Husband Scarron had appear'd to her and upbraided her and that she was to say so many Masses for him For this Reason said she my Dear Friend I am come hither to Pray to the Patroness of your Parish the Mother of Deliverance to aid me in my present Affliction To which the Lady answered that she was the best Saint in the World and that she wrought several Miracles every Day and that of all those that besought her with an Ardent Zeal she never sent any one away without some effect of her Goodness The next Day our Heroess lay all Day long i' th Church which was a great Testimony of her Piety and Zeal continually and most Ardently imploring the favour of the Saint in the following form of Prayer The Marchioness of Maintenon's Prayer to our Lady of Deliverance QVeen of Heaven Guide to Salvation Refuge of Afficted Souls take Pity of Me and of Him whom I recommend to thy favour and who has lain languishing for these thirty Years in Purgatory and who perhaps without thy Succour must be for'd to stay there till Doomsday Send me not back dear Mother of Mercy without Affording me some Sign of thy Protection I recommend the Soul of Monsieur Scarron into thy Hands and beseech thee to admit him into Paradise This is the only favour which a Miserable Penitent Devoted only to thy Service begs at thy Hands Pardon â—ne my past Transgressions and all those Sins which I shall commit for the future Safely direct all the Designs of St. Lewis â—ur Good King and so order it that he may obtain Victory over his Fnemies and particularly over the Huguenots that Prophane thy Holy Name Thou knowest how much I love the Light
that carries a thousand Charms about him as you do never sighs long as being assur'd of his Conquest You are like Caesar you do but see and vanquish I 'le swear it upon all the Evangelists in Christendom that you are passionately belov'd when er'e you please In good sooth said the King to the Marshal if all Womens Hearts were as tender as yours We might affirm our selves happy But I know some that are not so easily subdu'd A man must take an incredible deal of Pain about 'em and yet they continue cruel to the end I know very well reply'd the Marshall that a Woman's Merit is extreamly serviceable to her toward the support of her haughty Humour but so soon as they begin to love us that Cruelty ceases by degrees and then a Man may easily perceive that Love which they take so much care to conceal upon the score of Modesty and generally 't is that same Modesty that charms me most the more Reserv'dness I find in Virgin or marry'd Women 't is all one to me the more eager am I in my pursuit All Men answer'd the King are of the same Opinion no body loves an easie Victory the Pleasure consists in the Pains and Resistance increases it if it be not carry'd on too far Painters therefore are in the Right to shew us Enjoyment attended by a Tomb to let us understand by that Emblem the Death of our Passions But Sir reply'd the Marshal 't is seen that we continually aspire to what we have not and when we have it our Joy deceases in the Possession Therefore 't is better to enjoy the Felicities of Life in Imagination then lose 'em in the Taste of Pleasures That which causes this unequal Conduct in us answer'd our Monarch proceeds not from our selves Nature is the Occasion of all these Changeable Motions with a design to inform us that the Creatour is only constant and unvariable But then Madam de Maintenon whose Entrance alter'd the Scene of the Marshal's discourse appearing said the Marshal to her with a Smile I thank my good Fortune that has afforded me the Honour of your good Company which I never could yet enjoy since I return'd from the Army To tell you the Truth Sir answer'd the Marchioness I have been for some time taken up with a world of Business beside that I was forc'd to undertake a long Journey of above twenty Leagues from Paris greatly to my sorrow for I do not love to be absent from the Court besides that I am continually slav'd and turmoil'd with looking after my Young Fry at Saint Cyr.'s 'T is very true Madam that your Eminent Piety and Vertues are very rare in our Age for methinks Devotion is at a very low Ebb. Any other Person but You would endeavour to make the best of so fair an Opportunity being the Darling of so Great a Prince as you are 't is a wonder to see you place your Felicity in such Noble and Sublime Employments But the King who was desirous to improve that little time the Marshal had to spend in Winter-Quarters fell into a long Conference with him concerning the Strength of the Enemy and other Important Affairs of the War Which being at an End the King told him That he intended to treat him with a Splendid Banquet and a Ball. The next day his Majesty gave Order to Madam de Maintenon to take Order for a Magnificent Banquet and a Jolly Ball to which several Princes and Princesses were invited and where all the Ladies of the Court appear'd in the most pleasant disguizes in the World and the Queen of England was the Goddess of that Charming Assembly The King whose thoughts were all entangl'd in his new Chains carry'd himself with an Extraordinary Gaity toward that Princess he never stirr'd from her all the while the Ball lasted making a thousand Courtly Addresses to her to which the Queen gave all along most engaging Answers So that a man would then have thought she had forgot all those Fears which the Jealousie of her Rival had infus'd into her On the other side our Heroess who was at her Wits end to hear all those Expressions that past between our Monarch and the Queen durst not for her Ears display her resentment but rather condescended to several Complacencies which the King took mighty obligingly at her hands 'T is the usual Humour of the Marchioness to favour and forward all the King's Amours On the Other side she procures all the Lovely Morsels she can meet with to feed his Pleasures by the By a sort of Afternoons Luncheons in Love as being assur'd that 't is the Only way to keep Possession of his Heart but she cannot endure that his Majesty should make the Choice himself And this is that which has lain heavy so long upon her Stomach to see the King have such an Inclination for the banish'd Queen The King also who wants no Wit observing her Jealousie takes great delight in his turn to fret and discompose our Heroess by caressing the Queen some times with a greater Passion then ever he shew'd to his Mistress The Day was spent in the usual Employment of Eating and Drinking and now the Night being come they fell to Dancing helter-skelter But as for Madam de Maintenon she was always reserv'd in all her Divertisements and it may be said of her That she made good the godly Character which she had acquir'd You shall never see her blither nor more jocund at one time then another and this Equality of Temper gains her the Esteem of all that see her and for these Eminent Qualities it was that the King deem'd her worthy of his Affections But Marshal de Luxemburgh who had taken notice of the Tenderness which the King had for the Queen of England being desirous to assist him in his Inclinations took her out to dance several times and in regard she carries her self with a most charming Air in Dancing our Monarch signify'd his Acknowledgment to the Marshal by telling him That there was no Sight so amiable as to see two handsom Persons dance together To whom the Marshal reply'd That if there were any thing of Extraordinary and Eminent in him he was beholding first to the Queen 's more Orient Lustre the Rays of which reflected only upon Him and that it was a usual thing for the Sun to shed down his Beams upon every Thing in this World and conferr Ornament upon Things the most deformed This was look'd upon as a notable Complement for a Soldier who has not time to study soft Addresses to Ladies The next day the King remain'd all day long with the fair Queen of the Seraglio where he display'd the Excess of that Passion which he felt for her assuring her a thousand times of his Constancy and the Continuation of his Love and that he would never so much as seek after another change as having never met so lovely a Person and one so worthy of Royal Affection