登陆注册
4132100000043

第43章 CHAPTER VII.(3)

His brother George was scarcely less handsome in appearance or less agreeable in manner. Another brother, Anthony, best remembered as the writer of Grammont's memoirs, was likewise liberally endowed by nature. Elizabeth, commonly called "la belle Hamilton," shared in the largest degree the hereditary gifts of grace and beauty pertaining to this distinguished family. At her introduction to the court of Charles II. she was in the bloom of youth and zenith of loveliness. The portrait of her which her brother Anthony has set before the world for its admiration is delicate in its colours, and finished in its details. "Her forehead," he writes, "was open, white, and smooth; her hair was well set, and fell with ease into that natural order which it is so difficult to imitate. Her complexion was possessed of a certain freshness, not to be equalled by borrowed colours; her eyes were not large, but they were lovely, and capable of expressing whatever she pleased; her mouth was full of graces, and her contour uncommonly perfect; nor was her nose, which was small, delicate, and turned up, the least ornament of so lovely a face. She had the finest shape, the loveliest neck, and most beautiful arms in the world; she was majestic and graceful in all her movements; and she was the original after which all the ladies copied in their taste and air of dress."Now, about the same time the Hamiltons arrived at court, there likewise appeared at Whitehall one whose fame as a wit, and whose reputation as a gallant, had preceded him. This was the celebrated Chevalier de Grammont, whose father was supposed to be son of Henry the Great of France. The chevalier had been destined by his mother for the church, the good soul being anxious he should lead the life of a saint; but the youth was desirous of joining the army, and following the career of a soldier. Being remarkable for ingenuity, he conceived a plan by which he might gratify his mother's wishes and satisfy his own desires at the same time. He therefore accepted the abbacy his brother procured for him; but on appearing at court to return thanks for his preferment, comported himself with a military air.

Furthermore, his dress was combined of the habit and bands pertaining to an ecclesiastic, and the buskins and spurs belonging to a soldier. Such an amalgamation had never before been witnessed, and caused general attention; the court was amazed at his daring, but Richelieu was amused by his boldness.

His brother regarded his appearance in the dual character of priest and soldier as a freak, and on his return home asked him gravely to which profession he meant to attach himself. The youth answered he was resolved "to renounce the church for the salvation of his soul," upon condition that he retained his beneficed abbacy. It may be added, he kept this resolution.

A soldier he therefore became, and subsequently a courtier. His valour in war and luck in gambling won him the admiration of the camp; whilst his ardour in love and genius for intrigue gained him the esteem of the court, but finally lost him the favour of his king. For attaching himself to one of the maids of honour, Mademoiselle La Motte Houdancourt, whom his most Christian Majesty Louis XIV. had already honoured with his regard, Grammont was banished from the French court.

Accordingly, in the second year of the merry monarch's reign he presented himself at Whitehall, and was received by Charles with a graciousness that served to obliterate the memory of his late misfortune. Nor were the courtiers less warm in their greetings than his majesty. The men hailed him as an agreeable companion;the ladies intimated he need not wholly abandon those tender diversions for which he had shown such natural talent and received such high reputation at the court of Louis XIV. He therefore promptly attached himself to the king, whose parties he invariably attended, and whose pleasures he continually devised;made friends with the most distinguished nobles, whom he charmed by the grace of his manner and extravagance of his entertainments; and took early opportunities of proving to the satisfaction of many of the fairer sex that his character as a gallant had by no means been exaggerated by report.

Amongst those to whom he paid especial attention were Mrs.

Middleton, a woman of fashion, and Miss Kirk, a maid of honour, to whom Hamilton, in his memoirs of Grammont, gives the fictitious name of Warmestre. The former was at this time in her seventeenth summer, and had been two years a wife. Her exquisitely fair complexion, light auburn hair, and dark hazel eyes constituted her a remarkably beautiful woman. Miss Kirk was of a different type of loveliness, inasmuch as her skin was brown, her eyes dark, and her complexion brilliant. As Mrs.

Middleton was at this time but little known at court, Grammont found some difficulty in obtaining an introduction to her as promptly as he desired; but feeling anxious to make her acquaintance, and being no laggard in love, he without hesitation applied to her porter for admittance, and took one of her lovers into his confidence. This latter gallant rejoiced in the name of Jones, and subsequently became Earl of Ranelagh. In the fulness of his heart towards one who experienced a fellow feeling, he resolved to aid Grammont in gaining the lady's favours. This generosity being prompted by the fact that the chevalier would rid him of a rival whom he feared, and at the same time relieve him of an expense he could ill afford, the lady having certain notions of magnificence which her husband's income was unable to sustain.

同类推荐
  • Off on a Comet

    Off on a Comet

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四教仪备释

    四教仪备释

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝内经素问补注释文

    黄帝内经素问补注释文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南华真经章句音义余事杂录

    南华真经章句音义余事杂录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 拟太平策序

    拟太平策序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 中国近代体育变迁的文化解读

    中国近代体育变迁的文化解读

    本书从洋务救亡到维新图存、西洋体操到西方体育、生物体育道文化体育、放眼欧美到接受东洋等诸方面,对中国近代体育变迁的文化进行了解读。
  • 我做僵尸一百天

    我做僵尸一百天

    天生尸命,生人勿进。只是结个婚,就把自己给结死了,这种倒霉法,也是空前绝后,没谁了。我死了,一个神秘男人出现,说是我的命中人,给我了一百天的寿命,让我替他办事。随之而来的诡异事件,扰乱了我对这个世界的认知。之后,那个命中人纠缠着说,他是我的守护者老公,他想要娶我入门,这是什么鬼?他的口味实在太重了,我可是一个死人啊。
  • 天际的地下之王

    天际的地下之王

    奥杜因的归来,吸血鬼的阴谋,千年前的龙裔,卫极表示我就看看不说话。这是一个在天际依靠捡垃圾致富的励志故事。(无限修改与停更中)
  • 琴堂谕俗编

    琴堂谕俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 生命日记:勇战晚期肺癌

    生命日记:勇战晚期肺癌

    《生命日记:勇战晚期肺癌》内容简介:勇敢的心态,去面对病魔并取得胜利,她以知识女性的智慧和豁达,反思自已的性格、生活、饮食习惯等癌症的内在联。他在与癌魔的殊死较量中绽放出一个女人别样的美丽。
  • 安琪拉的另一半脸

    安琪拉的另一半脸

    这个多变的女孩,究竟是要当公主?还是要当灰姑娘?井明月对着镜子左照右照,很臭屁地说道:“魔镜魔镜我郑重地告诉你,全世界只有井明月才是最美丽的公主!那个叫白雪的根本不算什么,哈哈哈……”啧啧,听听这个恐怖女人的笑吧,就这种笑声,也敢说自己是公主。
  • 谭曲杂札

    谭曲杂札

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 农业狂潮

    农业狂潮

    毕业就创业,创业就失业,借不到钱、贷款到期、员工走光。这是章南北苦逼人生的前半段。系统自己攒,科技自己槁,人才自己造,钱要自己赚。这是章南北苦逼人生的后半段。智能温室、育种实验室、植物工厂、园林办公区、万人水煮鱼大赛,做农业也能高大上。故事,就从一个电话开始。“喂,章先生你好,我们是外星人啊,准备要入侵地球了,想请您做我们的代理人,不知道您有没有兴趣呢!”“好的呀!”
  • 霸道将军苦追妻:不好,顽妻要逃

    霸道将军苦追妻:不好,顽妻要逃

    因姐姐生病不能奉旨完婚,仗义的她坐上花轿嫁入将军府。然好事岂能做到底,跷府逃走为上策,谁知错与将军之弟同行,浑然不觉中竟一步步踏进将军的囚笼……不行,她誓死也要摆脱霸道的将军!逃!
  • 医嫁老公太抢手

    医嫁老公太抢手

    高秀甜从昏迷中甦醒过来,她迷迷糊糊间看到霍羽哲一眼,数秒间,她又再昏迷了。晚上,高秀甜的病历终于传送来了。她在十一岁时得了脑癌,经过化疗及药物治疗,已令情况好转了。由于他是医院内有名的脑科医生,现在他就接手了高秀甜的病情。