28

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

she says, “ all that does not belong to the lady orVoltaire is in a most disgusting state of discomfort.”

However, talent spread its charm over the place,although madame du Chatelet , from the first, was nofavourite with her guest, yet she allows that she talkedwell, sang divinely; was witty, eloquent, and, whenshe chose, pleasing; but, devoted to the study ofabstruse mathematics, she gave up nearly her wholetime, night and day, to these labours. Their way oflife was regulated by their excessive industry. Noone appeared till twelve o’clock, when coffee was an-nounced in Voltaire ’s gallery for the chosen guests,while the marquis and others dined. At the end ofhalf an hour Voltaire bowed his friends out; eachretired to their room, and did not assemble again tillnine for supper. This was the chosen season for con-versation and enjoyment. He read to them passagesfrom his works, he showed a magic lantern, and exertedall his wit, his buffoonery, and knowledge in the ex-planations. Froward as a child, amiable as a woman,always full of vivacity, his conversation was an ex-haustless source of laughter and delight. When anyguests were there whom they were peculiarly desirousof pleasing, everything was done for their amusement:plays were acted — no moment of repose allowed — allwas gaiety and pleasure. “ Voltaire, " she writes, “ isalways charming, always occupied with amusing me;he is never weary of paying attention; he is uneasy ifI seem the least ennuied. In short, I find, from ex-perience, that agreeable occupation is the charm ol' life.The lady, at first a little cold, grows kinder, and weare become familiar." — “ Voltaire read us two cantosof his Joan, and we had a delightful supper. Madamedu Chatelet sang with her divine voice; we laughed,we knew not why — we sang canons — it was a supperduring which gaiety made us say and do we knew notwhat; and we laughed at nothing.”—“ The Marionetteshave greatly diverted me; they are delightful: thepiece was played in which Punch’s wife hopes to kill her