245 [=247]

[245]

[Lett. lxv. Letters Historical and Galant]

honour of her house, so they insisted no more upon it. The Damsel Consented to the Donation. The Countesses ill humour
was dispersed by the pleasantries of the Musqueteer. They sent for the priest of the parish, who armed with a dispensation who
there was no refusing in a case so pressing as this, put the last hand to the work; so the Adventure ended more agreeably than
was imagined, and this was owing to the prudence of the Abbot of ** who made it take so good a turn. I don't know whether
the new married Couple will live happily together; that is beyond my Sphere, let them take care of that; all that I can conclude
is, that Fortune has great Charms in the Eyes of the Garcons, since for it the most frightful Objects pass very well among them
and puts me in mind of the Proverb, Money does all.

I am very glad to hear that your health runs no Risque where you are; for I vow the Plague is a scourge I am more
afraid of than War, it makes much more terrible ravages, since there is no sure Asylum against it's fury, and the most delicate
Sex and tender Age cannot keep themselves from it; I have heard some stories about it from old people that frighten'd me terrible
and a Lady of Provence, who has been here some time carrying on a Lawsuit, and was at my house when I read your letter to
Mr. Noble, who by way of Parenthesis sends you his Compliments; that Lady I say, insisted that let any one be ever so unhappy
he may find somebody more so than himself. In proof of it, she said, addressing her self to that unfortunate Author, You need
do no more than hearken to me, to know that all your troubles do not come up to those I have gone through; and you will own it
"continued she, when I tell you I had a Mother I loved better than my Life, and that one day as this dear mother was return
"ing from her Country house, she had the most frightfull Storm all the road, that ever was felt. She came home in the Even-
"ing After the Candles were light. She got off her horse in the saddest Condition in the world: but tho the Rain had
"pierced as far as her very bones, she would not change her cloaths, nor even go near the fire, tell she first returned God
"Thanks, for preserving her from the Claps of thunder she heard rattle over her head. "Throw your self upon your knees,
"said she to me, and give God thanks for preserving me. I obeyd her, but scarce had she begun her thanksgiving, when
"a clap of thunder laid her dead at my side. I was as sensible of my loss as one can imagine, but a little after I had
"many other Occasions of shedding tears: The Plague invaded our Country; All my family were seized with it, and
"it carried off four of my Children; after which my husband had his turn too. To Compleat the misfortune I was ready to
"lye in, and in so sad a Condition had not of all my Domesticks but one Nurse near me, who far from being able to give
"me help, fell into a Phrenzy; thought her self dead, sowed her self up in one of the Sheets of her bed, and presented her
"self like a Ghost always before me during the pains of my Lying in. If I ask'd for a drop of water, she answered me grave
"ly that dead people could not help the living: that she was come from the other world; with a hundred extravagances of
"this Nature. During this time I lay in of a dead Child, which I could hardly hinder the Dogs from devouring, and I escaped
"so many misfortunes and troubles, only to be sensible of the Losses I had just met with." As soon as the Lady had ended
her relation, we gave her up the prize in point of Affliction; and really I cannot think there ever could be greater; unless, with
some Misers, one looked upon the Loss of his Money as the greatest of Misfortunes. Sentiments unworthy of a good heart
and which I am far from entertaining. Mr. Noble and I agreed, that all the troubles that one may complain of were
nothing to those the lady had just then related to us, and our Astonishment was, that she could survive them. After
this you may conclude I never shall die of Grief! I believe notwithstanding, that some tempers are more capable to
resist it than others, and am very sensible, I should not want so many to finish me, but that your Indifference allone
would be sufficient to send to the Grave the tendrest of your friends, and Madam, Your most humble and most
obedient Servant.

[Letter lxv. From Aix_la_Chapelle.]

I don't know, Madam, why they should make such rejoicings at Paris, for the Late Action in Spain; I think
it belongs to the Allies to be at the Charge of a Te Deum, and Bonefires, and that the laugh is not at all on our side.
The Archduke is still in Catalonia with his Army, which swells by the Succours sent to it from all parts. He
may well reduce Castille. All the Advantages of this last action belong to him, and France must play the Gascon great
ly, to admire themselves for it. Peace, the only object of our Vows, can allone give us a just Subject of Thanksgiving, and
stanch the blood which frightfull discord has let run so many years; I cannot no more than you, rejoice at the most complete
Victories, when we must purchase them so dear, and they cost us so many tears and so much blood. And I sometimes think
we are arrived at the last times, when Wars and Rumours of wars shall proclaim the End of the World and they indeed are broke out in all parts. They say,
the King of Sweden has defeated the Moscovites and Poles, and that Mr. D'Alleurs our Embassador at the
Port, is working to arm prince Ragoski anew against the Emperor, I dont know whether this news will turn out
altogether true, but tis Certain the Cards are greatly embroiled everywhere, and that the Christians, not satisfied