244 [=246]

[244.]

[Letters Historical and Galant. Vol. 4]

would I not be better for those two princes since they cannot be brought to agree to a Division, and since, as Don Saphet of
Armenia Said, two Suns in too close a place would make Heat too excessive; Would it not be better, I say, for those two Rivals
to decide this Difference with Sword in hand, as the old Heroes did formerly. Why must Christian blood flow so long, and
one be exposed to see the battle finish for want of Combatants. But I hope it will not come to that, and that heaven touch'd with
our Miseries will grant us at last that so much desired peace. Though methinks the War is broke out again more than ever on all
sides.

The Elector of Cologne is here this little time. He is incognito; but Incog like Harlequin when he wore slippers instead
of Shoes, for tho' he appears only under the Name of the Bishop of Tongres, every body knows him very well. They pretend he's come
to renew his treaty, which is almost expired, and to demand the payment of the Arrears due to him. If he does any piece of
Gallantry I shall let you know it. But they say that his humour vastly differs from that of his Brother in this point, so that
our ladies may chance to lose their Stallage! They take the misfortunes of the Publick greatly to heart here; and for some time
the Lovers harvest has not been more plentiful than that of Ceres. The Citisens are the only persons that shine, and to repair
the blood lost by their Country, endeavour to people it, but those City Intrigues, which tend to Marriage, have nothing interest
ing enough to make one impart them to you.

Notwithstanding the other day, I met with something pleasant enough. I passed the Evening with the Countess
of **, and we were just finishing a set of Ombre, when we were at once interrupted with shreiks from one of the adjoining
Chambers. We ran immediately to the place the Noise came from, and we found the Dutchesses Women all in a fright, who
shewed us, the most disagreeable bawler I ever saw. She made frightful distortions, and we did not know what to make of a
disorder so sudden and violent, when with a shreik more frightful than the rest, she let a fine fat boy drop upon the floor.
I never was more surprised than I was at this discovery! I would have swore that Damsel was a girl of Honour, and I
could not comprehend how any one could be so officious to help her to cease being so; I ask'd her naturally who was the mortal
that had Courage enough to do it. The Countess who was in despair that such a Scene should pass in her house, would
hearken to no Raillery upon it, a very little had made her scold me for making a jest of it.
She fell upon her Women for introducing such a Girl into her house, but they excused them
selves upon the Opinion they always had of her Virtue. In the mean time they ought notwithstanding to have the Charity to
take Care of her in the Condition she was in. They did so; she was put to bed, and her infant was swaddled up as well as
they could; after which we consulted about the measures proper to be taken upon such an Occasion. The Countess was incon
solable, and the Marquis of ** to appease her, said he was of Opinion, that an Oath should be administred to all the
Company, never to speak of what happened, and that she should send the Damsel home after giving her a severe reprimand
as soon as she should be able to be removed. The Countess was of this Opinion! But the Abbot de **'s advice was
quite contrary. "Take Care, says he, how you be guilty of such folly; We are ten or twelve here, and there are Ladies
among us, so that it would impossible your secret should be religiously kept, something of it will certainly escape some
one of them, and those half indiscretions may be of much more dangerous Consequence; for twill be known in Gross. that
a Woman was brought to bed at the Countesses of **, and the suspicion may fall sometimes upon one of her friends, sometimes
"upon another: so that tis much better that she that has transgressed, should singly bear the Punishment of her fault
"Nay we must, if we can, endeavour to heal it up; and my advice is to send quickly for the Commissary of the Ward,
"to expose the fact to him, that he may proceed according to Law--" Every body thought the Abbot in the right. his
advice was followed; and when the Commissary came in, we followed him into the Room to hear the Examination. The
Countess had told us before that this Girl had neither father nor Mother, and had lodged in her Neighbourhood with an
Old Aunt; and we learned from her Deposition that her lover was a younger brother of Gascon, a Musketeer in the Second
Company, and had good intentions for Matrimony. They thought proper to send to look for him. He entred with a great
Air of Assurance; acknowledged the fact; said that he was a man of honour; that a Gentleman ought never to break his
Word, and that he was ready to make good what he promised his Mistress. "Send for a Notary, said he, with a Rodomontad
"air, and let him draw up the Contract:" then, bantring the Countess upon her Chagrin; "What Madam, said
"he, "I was told you were angry at our making Soldiers for the King! believe me he wants them, and instead of giving me
"a Sour look, you ought to help me to get a pension from Court, for the trouble I have given my self in endeavouring to people
"the Nation." -- I thought the poor Devil had some reason to ask a Recompense, but I could not agree that it was the
King that ought to make him amends for his trouble, it seemed more reasonable it should be the person that he had taken it for;
And indeed she payed him in his own Coin. For when the Notary ask'd him what he would settle upon his future spouse: "I give
"her, says he, with a front worthy of the banks of the Garonne, twenty thousand Crowns in case I die before her
"on Condition that if I survive her, I may take the same sum out of her fortune ---- But tell us upon what do
"you assign those twenty thousand Crowns.' and where will she get them in case of Widowhood? -- "Let her look to
"that, replyed he, in a drolling way, My Lands and Castles are sufficient security. In short I shall Enter into
"no articles, but on these Conditions." The Countess had the Girls interest less at heart, than the repairing the