Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 5 | Page 4

wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE
REGENCY
BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON
VOLUME 5.
CHAPTER XXXIII
A Hunting Adventure.--Story and Catastrophe of Fargues.--Death and
Character of Ninon de l'Enclos.--Odd Adventure of
Courtenvaux.--Spies at Court.--New Enlistment.--Wretched State of the
Country.--Balls at Marly.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Arrival of Vendome at Court.--Character of That Disgusting
Personage.-- Rise of Cardinal Alberoni.--Vendome's Reception at
Marly.--His Unheard-of Triumph.--His High Flight.--Returns to
Italy.--Battle of Calcinato.-- Condition of the Army.--Pique of the
Marechal de Villeroy.--Battle of Ramillies.--Its Consequences.
CHAPTER XXXV
Abandonment of the Siege of Barcelona.--Affairs of Italy.-- La

Feuillade.--Disastrous Rivalries.--Conduct of M. d'Orleans.--The Siege
of Turin.--Battle.--Victory of Prince Eugene.--Insubordination in the
Army.--Retreat.--M. d'Orleans Returns to Court.--Disgrace of La
Feuillade
CHAPTER XXXVI
Measures of Economy.--Financial Embarrassments.--The King and
Chamillart.--Tax on Baptisms and Marriages.--Vauban's Patriotism.--
Its Punishment.--My Action with M. de Brissac.--I Appeal to the
King.-- The Result.--I Gain My Action.
CHAPTER XXXVII
My Appointment as Ambassador to Rome.--How It Fell
Through.--Anecdotes of the Bishop of Orleans.--A Droll Song.--A
Saint in Spite of Himself.-- Fashionable Crimes.--A Forged
Genealogy.--Abduction of Beringhen.-- The 'Parvulos' of Meudon and
Mademoiselle Choin.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Death and Last Days of Madame de Montespan.--Selfishness of the
King.-- Death and Character of Madame de Nemours.--Neufchatel and
Prussia.-- Campaign of Villars.--Naval Successes.--Inundations of the
Loire.--Siege of Toulon.--A Quarrel about News.--Quixotic Despatches
of Tesse.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Two very different persons died towards the latter part of this year. The
first was Lamoignon, Chief President; the second, Ninon, known by the
name of Mademoiselle de l'Enclos. Of Lamoignon I will relate a single
anecdote, curious and instructive, which will show the corruption of
which he was capable.
One day--I am speaking of a time many years previous to the date of

the occurrences just related--one day there was a great hunting party at
Saint Germain. The chase was pursued so long, that the King gave up,
and returned to Saint Germain. A number of courtiers, among whom
was M. de Lauzun, who related this story to me, continued their sport;
and just as darkness was coming on, discovered that they had lost their
way. After a time, they espied a light, by which they guided their steps,
and at length reached the door of a kind of castle. They knocked, they
called aloud, they named themselves, and asked for hospitality. It was
then between ten and eleven at night, and towards the end of autumn.
The door was opened to them. The master of the house came forth. He
made them take their boots off, and warm themselves; he put their
horses into his stables; and at the same time had a supper prepared for
his guests, who stood much in need of it. They did not wait long for the
meal; yet when served it proved excellent; the wines served with it, too,
were of several kinds, and excellent likewise: as for the master of the
house, he was so polite and respectful, yet without being ceremonious
or eager, that it was evident he had frequented the best company. The
courtiers soon learnt that his name vitas Fargues, that the place was
called Courson, and that he had lived there in retirement several years.
After having supped, Fargues showed each of them into a separate
bedroom, where they were waited upon by his valets with every proper
attention. In the morning, as soon as the courtiers had dressed
themselves, they found an excellent breakfast awaiting them; and upon
leaving the table they saw their horses ready for them, and as
thoroughly attended to as they had been themselves. Charmed with the
politeness and with the manners of Fargues, and touched by his
hospitable reception of them, they made him many offers of service,
and made their way back to Saint Germain. Their non-appearance on
the previous night had been the common talk, their return and the
adventure they had met with was no less so.
These gentlemen were then the very flower of the Court, and all of
them very intimate with the King. They related to him, therefore, their
story, the manner of their reception, and highly praised the master of
the house and his good cheer. The King asked his name, and, as soon as
he heard it, exclaimed, "What, Fargues! is he so near here, then?" The
courtiers redoubled their praises, and the King said no more; but soon

after, went to the Queen-mother, and told her what had happened.
Fargues, indeed, was no stranger, either to her or to the King. He had
taken a prominent part in the movements of Paris against the Court and
Cardinal Mazarin. If he had not been hanged, it was because he was
well supported by his party, who had him included in the