登陆注册
5240200000002

第2章 CHAPTER I.

The Reason for Writing These Memoirs.--Gabrielle d'Estrees.

The reign of the King who now so happily and so gloriously rules over France will one day exercise the talent of the most skilful historians.

But these men of genius, deprived of the advantage of seeing the great monarch whose portrait they fain would draw, will search everywhere among the souvenirs of contemporaries and base their judgments upon our testimony. It is this great consideration which has made me determined to devote some of my hours of leisure to narrating, in these accurate and truthful Memoirs, the events of which I myself am witness.

Naturally enough, the position which I fill at the great theatre of the Court has made me the object of much false admiration, and much real satire. Many men who owed to me their elevation or their success have defamed me; many women have belittled my position after vain efforts to secure the King's regard. In what I now write, scant notice will be taken of all such ingratitude. Before my establishment at Court I had met with hypocrisy of this sort in the world; and a man must, indeed, be reckless of expense who daily entertains at his board a score of insolent detractors.

I have too much wit to be blind to the fact that I am not precisely in my proper place. But, all things considered, I flatter myself that posterity will let certain weighty circumstances tell in my favour.

An accomplished monarch, to greet whom the Queen of Sheba would have come from the uttermost ends of the earth, has deemed me worthy of his entertainment, and has found amusement in my society. He has told me of the esteem which the French have for Gabrielle d'Estrees, and, like that of Gabrielle, my heart has let itself be captured, not by a great king, but by the most honest man of his realm.

To France, Gabrielle gave the Vendome, to-day our support. The princes, my sons, give promise of virtues as excellent, and will be worthy to aspire to destinies as noble. It is my desire and my duty to give no thought to my private griefs begotten of an ill-assorted marriage. May the King ever be adored by his people; may my children ever be beloved and cherished by the King; I am happy, and I desire to be so.

同类推荐
  • A Face Illumined

    A Face Illumined

    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。
  • 读画闲评

    读画闲评

    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。
  • 日本国承和五年入唐求法目录

    日本国承和五年入唐求法目录

    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。
  • 桐花阁词钞

    桐花阁词钞

    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。
  • 发觉净心经

    发觉净心经

    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
  • 怎么沟通,领导才放心;怎么做事,领导才信任

    怎么沟通,领导才放心;怎么做事,领导才信任

    一个聪明的员工,不会让自己的情绪被上司的斥责所扰乱,受批评时只要理性对待,巧妙处理,反而能在某些方面促进自己的进步。要记住:没前途的人是可有可无的人,是被领导忽视的人。下属只有真正认识到这一点,才可能在领导的责骂声中产生前进的信念和动力,努力上进,做出更大的成绩,从而也才能真正获得领导的重视和信任。
  • 综合格斗之王

    综合格斗之王

    热血激荡,笑傲赛场!从拳、腿、肘、膝到抱摔、缠拿,从站立式搏击到无限制格斗,拳台上永远不会缺乏铮铮铁骨,也永远不会缺乏光芒四射的搏杀场面!这是一个桀骜拳手的悲欢故事……笔者已有作品《重生之拳台杀手》完本,敬请诸位书友放心收藏推荐。
  • 诡闻事件溥

    诡闻事件溥

    以第一人称,记录一系列诡异匪夷所思的事件
  • 内心修炼气质女人

    内心修炼气质女人

    英国作家毛姆说:“世界上没有丑女人,只有些不懂得如何使自己看起来美丽的女人。”现代女性早已抛弃了旧观念,学会了在忙碌与优雅中积极地生活。女人的真正魅力不是时髦,而是内在修养。通过修养打造一个气质不凡的自我,通过读书学习培养一种远离庸俗的品位,因为气质修养才是女人永恒的化妆品。内涵是现代女性最应该具有的品质。在如今这个高科技时代,美容健身和着装打扮很容易改变一个人的外貌,外表美丽已不再是梦想。现代社会中,人们欣赏女人的角度也已经从外表的美丽转向知性美和内在美。这告诉女性:想拥有丰富的内涵就必须读书学习,让自己的内心世界充实起来。
  • 毒女难为

    毒女难为

    侯门嫡女、中宫元后含冤而亡,怨冲天地,浴火重生!欠了我的,统统都要还回来。喜财的钱财尽失,惜命的命丧九泉,爱名的身败名裂,权势至上的那就夺了你一切权柄,让你猪狗不如!复仇路上,人挡杀人,佛挡弑佛,神挡屠神!
  • 生活的艺术:让内心获得幸福、快乐与宁静

    生活的艺术:让内心获得幸福、快乐与宁静

    《生活的艺术:让内心获得幸福、快乐与宁静》以格言汇集了爱比克泰德一生的思想精华,以精辟而又通俗的语言,向人们传授生活的真谛和幸福的真义。书中处处闪烁着作者独到的智慧,相信这本小册子能让读者在当今这个混沌的环境中找到正确的生活秩序。读者将从中分享一位伟大的哲学家对人生、幸福、待人处世的感悟与教诲。
  • 奇联妙对(开启青少年智慧故事)

    奇联妙对(开启青少年智慧故事)

    对联,又称楹联或对子,是写在纸、布上或刻在竹子、木头、柱子上的对偶语句言,对仗工整,平仄协调,是一字一音的中文语言独特的艺术形式。它是中华民族的文化瑰宝。本书选取了历史上经典的奇联妙对,并介绍了它们的背景故事,从中反应了人们的才能智慧,也体现了我们语言的魅力。
  • 愿有时光收藏爱

    愿有时光收藏爱

    12个爱情故事,12种寂寞柔软人生。张爱玲、戴望舒、胡适、顾城、林徽因、冰心、三毛、沈从文......有的爱情伤痛的令人崩溃,有的爱情坚定若磐石般令人感动,有的爱情许你岁月静好,有的爱情给你一世寂寞。品味不同的爱情,体会不同的辛酸苦楚、哀怨情愁。看他们的爱情故事,悟自己的人生哲学。愿他们的眼泪,成为你爱的力量。
  • 般若波罗蜜多心经还源述

    般若波罗蜜多心经还源述

    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。
  • 斫琴术

    斫琴术

    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。