304 [=306]

304 Letters Historical and Galant Vol. 5

" Grand Prior of France: " and My Name then said the other is Masner, and I arrest you because my son is detained
" in France, and the Ambassador has not got him released, tho he promised it me positively." After that he had the
" Grand Prior carryed away to Balhes, a Castle belonging to the Emperor, and Consigned him to one of his imperial
" Majesty's Officers. He immediately dispatched his Captain of Guards to our Ambassador at Soleure, who has
" sent a Courier here to inform the Court of that affair, and ask their Orders upon it. We ought to hope that the
" Prince's Captivity will not be long. Tis very certain, he bears it was less Impatience than he would have
" done when he was in love with Fanchon Morcau, for I never heard that the place that fine Singer had in his
" heart, has been filled since her marriage, so as he is not in Love he has less to complain of by half.

" Prince Charles Theodore Otton de Salm dyed the tenth of November at Aix la Chapelle, where
" he had retired five months ago for his health, thinking to find some Relief in the Waters. He was 66 years old
" and possessed the first Employments in the Emperor's Court, to whom he had the honour to be Governor; and Education
" he had room to be proud of as every one sees. He was Privy Counsellor to that Prince, and Grand Master of his
" house. His death has been edifying in this Country, where examples of Piety are ^seldomer to be found than amorous
" adventures. The Number of People from all parts and all sexes, whom the Waters draw there, form an agreea-
" able Variety; and under pretence of Mirth being Necessary to health, they breath nothing there but pleasure;
" and Health is frequently but a pretence to those, that go there only for Opportunites of Diversion. The Gamesten
" there find some, to bubble a great number of Strangers, and almost every one finds somewhat to gratify all his
" Passions. As we have at Paris People that go there every year, we are told every thing that passes, and I heard
" some time ago a Comical adventure enough, that befel the Prince de ** Commander of a Body of Allies.

" He had taken a little trip to Aix la Chapelle after the taking of Douay, and the Charms of Madam
" de ** struck him at first sight. As great Men are not in the humour of carrying on the round of addresses, and
" have not even time for it, His Highness had a mind to brush away the adventure hastily; and after a Declaration
" in martial Terms, that had more the air of a Summons to surrender than of Amorous Submission, he thought he
" ought to oblige her to beat the Chamade, thinking that a Woman, and a Woman of Paris could not resist this first
" Attack. She notwithstanding made more resistance than he expected, and the Prince was forced to come to a Parly
" with her, and to try to capitulate. He gave her Balls and Entertainments, and Begg'd a Certain Abbot who
" had introduced himself to him, and was a true Redresseur, to assist him in finishing his Affairs. The Abbot
" promised Mountains and Marvels, Eat and drank Constantly upon a good account, and proposed new Parties of plea-
" sure and taking the Air. In short, the Prince thought he was indebted to his Cares and Eloquence for the favours
" he received from the Lady, whom some Presents had entirely gained: they had nothing now to do, but to make use
" of a Good fortune he could not enjoy long: so the Prince did what he could to be happy by sticking close to his
" Lady: He hardly ever left her; and his Ardencie redoubled when they were to be separated. He had all the
" Pain in the World to part, and could never have determined upon it, if his Duty and the Love of Glory had not
" called him off to the Army. In spite of all this, a Return of tenderness forced him to return back again to
" give her a new Adieu, and he was satisfied to lose some hours in his way to procure some Moments of pleasure:
" but he found every thing quite contrary to what he expected; for as they did not dream of him, and thought
" him far enough off, they were diverting themselves at his Expence and Mr. Abbot was at Madam de **'s
" where he led the finest Life in the World, and Shared the Prince's Presents, and as they had taken no precautions
" against Surprise, He found he shared favours too, and that Mr. Abbot received some very tender ones from
" the Lady. The Prince lost patience at the Sight: he had a mind to set fire to the house, and sacrifice all to
" his Revenge, which the Abbot thought proper to avoid by flight. The Lady stayed, without being disconcerted,
" and when this Outrageous Lover, was reproaching her for her Infidelity and ill conduct, she said to him
" very cooly. "Why, Sir, would you be such a fool as to think, one should do for you what they were not ca
" pable of doing for others. Upon what, pray, do you found such an Opinion as this? Upon your Quality?
" That is not always what pleases most in Love, where Caprice ordinarily decides. Do you think you have more
" merit than the rest of Mankind? That would be flattering your self too much. Do your self therefore more
" justice, and be persuaded that had I been truly virtuous, you had never obtained any thing from me, and
" since I am not so, 'tis not astonishing that I should do for another what I have done for you." The Prince