Lamothe-Langon, Etienne Leon, baron de, 1786-1864
"Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry, with minute details of her entire career as favorite of Louis XV. Written by herself"
The king was
to death, and became daily more dull and
heavy. I saw his gloom without knowing how to disperse it, but
it did not make me particularly uncomfortable. Occupied with my
dear duc de Brissac I almost forgot his majesty for him: the
marechale de Mirepoix, who had more experience than I had in the
affairs at Versailles, and who knew the king well, was alarmed
at my negligence, and spoke to me of it.
"Do you not see," she said, one day, "what a crisis is at hand?"
"What crisis?" I asked.
"The king is dying of ennui."
"True."
"Does it not alarm you?" said the marechale.
"Why should it?"
"What makes him so? Think well when I tell you that your mortal
enemy has seized Louis XV; your most redoubtable enemy, !"
"Very well; but what would you have me do?"
"You must amuse him."
'That is easier said than done."
"You are right, but it is compulsory. Believe me, kings are not
moulded like other men: early disgusted with all things, they
only exist in a variety of pleasures; what pleases them this evening
will displease them tomorrow; they wish to be happy in a different
way. Louis XV is more kingly in this respect than any other.
You must devise amusements for him."
"Alas," I replied, "how? Shall I give him a new tragedy of la
Harpe's,--he will yawn; an opera of Marmontel,--he will go to
sleep. Heavens! how unfortunate I am!"
"Really, my dear," replied the marechale, "I cannot advise you;
but I can quote a powerful example.
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