Five Fair Sisters: An Italian Episode at the Court of Louis XIV

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G. P. Putnam's sons, 1906 - 422 pages
 

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Page 256 - Peut-on s'ennuyer en des lieux Honorés par les pas , éclairés par les yeux D'une aimable et vive princesse , A pied blanc et mignon , à brune et longue tresse? ::Nez troussé , c'est un charme encor selon mon sens , C'en est même un des plus puissants.
Page 395 - I can never forget the inexpressible luxury and profaneness, gaming, and all dissoluteness, and as it were total forgetfulness of God, (it being Sunday evening,) which this day se'nnight I was witness of, the King sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland...
Page 256 - C'en est même un des plus puissants. Pour moi, le temps d'aimer est passé, je l'avoue ; Et je mérite qu'on me loue De ce libre et sincère aveu Dont pourtant le public se souciera très peu. Que j'aime ou n'aime pas, c'est pour lui même chose ; Mais s'il arrive que mon cœur Retourne à l'avenir dans sa première erreur, Nez aquilins et longs n'en seront pas la cause.
Page 256 - Vous excellez en mille choses, Vous portez en tous lieux la joie et les plaisirs : Allez en des climats inconnus aux Zéphyrs, Les champs se vêtiront de roses.
Page 396 - She is one of those Roman beauties who in no way resemble your dolls of France. The colour of her eyes has no name ; it is neither blue, nor grey, nor altogether black, but a combination of all the three ; they have the sweetness of blue, the gaiety of grey, and, above all, the fire of black. There are none in the world so sweet. There are none in the world so serious and so grave when her thoughts are occupied with any serious object. They are large, well-set, full of fire and intelligence. " All...
Page 394 - WHEN through the world fair Mazarine had run, Bright as her fellow-traveller the sun, Hither at length the Roman Eagle flies, As the last triumph of her conquering eyes.
Page 395 - Mazarine, &c., a French boy singing love-songs,* in that glorious gallery, whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at Basset round a large table, a bank of at least 2000 in gold before them ; upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflections with astonishment. Six days after was all in the dust...
Page 396 - Freedom and discretion are equally to be found there. Every one is made more at home than in his own house, and treated with more respect than at court. It is true that there are frequent disputes there, but they are those of knowledge and not of anger. There is play there, but it is inconsiderable, and only practised for its amusement. You discover in no countenance the fear of losing, nor concern for what is lost. Some are so disinterested that they are reproached for expressing joy when they lose,...
Page 369 - Why, you have only to ask him if he thinks so ! He gave me his hand to this very door ! " "But why did you go so often to la Voisin's house?" " I wanted to see the Sibyls and prophetesses she promised to show me.
Page 396 - ... not of anger. There is play there, but it is inconsiderable, and only practised for its amusement. You discover in no countenance the fear of losing, nor concern for what is lost. Some are so disinterested that they are reproached for expressing joy when they lose and regret when they win. Play is followed by the most excellent repasts in the world. There you will find whatever delicacy is brought from France, and whatever is curious from the Indies. Even the commonest meats have the rarest relish...

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