152 [=154]

[152]

[Letters Historical and Galant. Vol. 3.]

"two Rowes of Teeth whiter than pearls, he makes little Dimples in his Cheeks, which give him new charms. His Complexion
"is a little brown, but so lively, that it seems to act in consort with his Eyes, to animate all his Actions ---- a fine Picture indeed,
"says the Countess; but have not you flattered him a little to excuse your unhappy passion; for I freely own, that with such a figure
"as this, a Cavalier that attacks a heart has great advantages ---- Ah, Madam, cryed my Lady, You Rally, Yet what you say
"is very true, I have experienced it to the quick, and I could never have believed that such a thing would ever have befell me --
"However, you were in love before, answered the Countess, and your Attachment with the Earl of D.** made great Noise
"in London: People admired your Constancy, the Delicacy of your Sentiments, and the fine Letters you wrote for five Years,
"which would be an honour to Bufsi and Madam Sevigni; So that methinks after such a Noviciate, you should be no Novice
"in affairs of Tenderness, nor should a Relapse into it surprize you ----- The Case is different, says My Lady, Wit had a grea
"ter share than the heart in the Attachment you mention: The Earl of D** lov'd me, or at least pretended he did. He was
"a pretty man, I received his Sentiments with gratitude; and was better pleased with him than another; I called that Love, because
"I did not know it; but the Chevalier Chelos has taught me better what Love is. The other never gave me any room to complain: I knew
"no fears nor jealous suspicions with him; yet I quitted him as soon as I thought my duty called me elsewhere: The[?]ses me basely; and
"in spite of his bad proceedings, in spite of all that Reason and Indignation suggest to me upon it, I could never resolve to forsake
"him, whatever Efforts I made to that purpose. I vow ingenuously, that whatever Comfort I find in being with you, it seems an Age to
"me since I have been at St. Germain's ------ The Compliment is not very obliging, says the Countess, however I know your Sincerity
"let us return to the Picture ---- You have not talk'd of his Sense; I fancy his Physiognomy promises as much of it at least as
"I can comprehend from the Idea you have given me of him ---- He has a large share of it, says my Lady, he thinks finely, he
"understands half a word, and knows how to express himself better than any one in the world: he says more in two words than
"another would in an hundred, I remember we were both one Day at Madam Daunois, where there was much Company; the Con
"versation turned on several things, at last they were speaking of the Advantages France had over other Nations, and they were
"very near following the Example of the old Grecians, in calling all the rest of the world Barbarians, we did not indeed entirely
"agree with them, but it would not be prudent to insult people on their own ground. These French so strongly wedded to their Country
"pretended to prove what they advanced, by the Care all other Nations take to learn the French Language, as they formerly did that of Rome,
"when that City was mistress of the world. "Go, said they, into foreign Courts, you'll find as good French spoke there as at Versailles.
"True, says the Chevalier Chelos, who began to be weary of the Conversation, I know, that speak French all over the world, as they did
"Spanish in Philip's time, but I see no reason why the French Nation should now be puffed up at that, than that the Spanish should be there
"and nobody dreamt that after the death of Philip this Language would ever have beben nso much the more. In truth, cryed the Countess
"Daunoi, this is what we may call making that King's Panegyrick in a very fine manner, never was a prettier Encomium.
"I wish with all my heart I had been the Author of what Mr. the Chevalier has said, and if as the English would express themselves
"with as much Sense and Delicacy, we should set Pavilions before them ------ In Effect, says the Countess, this way of saying
"a great deal in few words pleases me extremely, and if your Chevalier be as you paint him he is an accompished Chevalier ---- Ah,
"Madam, interrupted My Lady, he is more so than I can tell you, too much so for my Repose; far from giving you a flattering Picture
"of him, I have made no more than a light first draught; You would find a more lively description of him in my heart, could you
"but penetrate into it ---- Oh, as to that, says the Countess, I don't doubt it, but your heart is a little suspicioius, and I would be
"glad to Judge by my own of what you tell me."

Whilst the Countess was talking, they heard a Noise behind the trees, and a moment after they saw coming up, Mr. the Duke
of Burgogne, Messieurs the Dukes of Anjou and Berry his brothers, and the Prince of Wales. These Princes did no more than pop by
the little wood where our ladies were; they were followed by a number of young French and English Gentlemen; the Countess discovered
among the latter, a young man very plainly dress'd, but whose good air easily distinguished him; and without hesitation, taking the Coun-
tess by the Arm ask'd her, whether that was not the Chevalier Chelos? "Tis he himself, says my Lady." She spoke so loud that
the Chevalier overheard her, and knowing My Lady's Voice, came up to her and said with a good deal of Politeness: "You have
"then Abandoned St. Germains; I assure you your absence gives uneasiness to all your friends, and tis remark'd you are gone
"this long time." My Lady answered this Compliment in a little Confusion, and the Chevalier left her to join his Company. When
he was gone, my lady ask'd the Countess how she lik'd him -- "I find him, says the Countess, to answer your Description, you see I
knew him at once; I know you know how to paint perfectly well; but I could have wished you had brought me acquainted with him, you
"needed to have done no more than tell him my name -- I had not time replyed my Lady, and I was in such trouble that I did
"not know what I did, you surely could not but perceive my Confusion -- Tis true, says the Countess, methought you were a little
"disconcerted, but now I fancy the Chevalier shew'd great kindness to you, and that should give you content -- Ah, Madam, says
"my Lady, he is always polite in Company, but had I been alone, he would have been blunt enough perhaps to me -- Has he always
"been so, added the Countess, and did not he use better manners to you at first? -- You may well believe, Madam, replyed My
"Lady, I should not be so great a fool as to fall in love with him, if he had used me then as he does now: I assure you he is
"quite different from what he was then, unless he was different from what he appeared to be. In short, he must have disguised
"himself strangely at first, or be greatly changed since -- At what time, and in what place did you first make this fatal
"acquaintance; Let me know a little of this adventure.