226 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

numerous tables; a theatre arose, as if by magic, behindthe tables; the arcades that surrounded the wholecircuit were ornamented with 500 girandoles of greenand silver, and a gilt balustrade shut in the whole.Moliere ’s play of the “ Princesse d’Elide,” agreeable atthe time from the allusions it contained, his comedy ofthe “ Mariage Forcee,” and three acts of the “ Tar-tuffe,” added the enduring stamp of genius to mere out-ward show and splendour. Mademoiselle de Sevigneappeared in these fetes. In 1 66 S she represented ashepherdess in a ballet; and the verses which Benserade wrote for her to repeat show that she was held inconsideration as one of the most charming beauties ofthe court, and as the daughter of one of its loveliestand most respected ornaments. In 1664 she appearedas Cupid disguised, as a Nereid*; and as Omphale in1665. We must not forget that at this very time,while enjoying her daughter’s success, madame de Se-vigne was interesting herself warmly for Fouquet. Thefavour of a court could not make her forget herfriends. Her chief object of interest, as personallyregarded herself at this time, was the marriage of herdaughter. Her son was in the army. When onlynineteen he joined the expedition undertaken by thedukes of Noailles and Beaufort for the succour of Can-dia. On this, madame de Sevigne writes to the comtede Bussy, — “ I suppose you know that my son isgone to Candia with M. de Roannes and the comte deSaint Paul. He mentioned it to M. de Turenne, tocardinal de Retz , and to M. de la Rochefoucauld. Thesegentlemen so approved his design that it was resolved onand made public before I knew any thing of it. He is

* In the verses made on this occasion the poet alludes also to the beautyof her mother : —

“ Vous travestir ainsi, c’est bien ing^nu,

Amour, c’est comme si, pour n’etre pas connu,

Avec une innocence extremeVous vous deguisez en vous-memeElle a vos traits, vos yeux, votre air engageant,

Et de merae que vous, sourit en egorg£ant;

Enfin qui fit i’un a fait 1’autre,

Et jusque 3 sa mere, elle est comme la votre."