bers of high life, the marquis added of spleen or ill nature, wrote, that a facility of character, and a Proven- if he wanted to punish a province, çal vivacity, which made his conver- he would send philosophers to gosation very piquant and amusing. vern it. His writings, known throughout all During the Seven Years' War, that Europe, which were both agreeable is, from 1756 to 1763, when Fredeand instructive, were a strong title rick beheld his dominions invaded to Frederick's favour. The origina- and taken from him by the Russians, lity and eccentricity of his conduct, the Austrians, and the French, and of which we shall give more than that no hopes of safety remained, it one instance, never lessened the was to the marquis D'Argens that esteem the king conceived for him, he imparted the design he had form- . although he was more than once the ed of putting an end to his existence. object of his pleasantry and sarcasm. It was on this occasion that he ad.

It was chiefly at the supper parties dressed a long epistle in verse to the of Frederick, that he assembled these marquis D'Argens on this subject, literary characters, and where those the misfortunes of his life, and the scenes of gayety and wit passed, principles of stoicism. However triwhich, for near thirty years were fling this resolution may appear, and the objects of the attention, and however singular the manner which sometimes the satire, of the rest of Frederick made use of, to disclose it Europe. They bore no resemblance to one of his courtiers, it results, howto the orgies of the regent of France. ever, from it, that the marquis D'Ar. There was more real wit, a varied gens

held a most distinguished place conversation, and obscenity and im- in the esteem of the prince; since it piety were particularly banished; but was to him that he addressed himself, the freedom of discourse was some- in the agony of his soul. times carried too far, as at the supe The happy events, which so quicke pers of the duke of Orleans, so ly succeeded, drew Frederick out of much so as to become displeasing to his embarrassment, and the necessity the master.

of putting his resolution into practice, In one of these supper parties, said by compelling his enemies to enter M. Thiebault, which even till the into conditions of peace, which secum Seven Years' War were often pro- red to him his dominions. longed to a very late hour, Frederick But whatever opinion the marquis asked each of his companions, how D’Argens had upon the strange conhe would govern if he were a king. fidence the monarch placed in him, There was a lively argument between he was really alarmed. He delayed them, in order for each to establish not a minute in answering him, and his different maxims. The marquis, made use of every thing, which men however, listened, and said nothing. who neither believe in God, in the The king at last observed his si. immortality of the soul, nor in any lence, and asked him, what would species of revelation, could make he do were he in his place ? “ Sire,” use of, under similar circumstances, answered the marquis, “ I would im- to induce him to alter his determie mediately sell my kingdom, and pur- nation. chase a good estate in France.” This There was a company of dancers pleasantry, by means of which he at Berlin, whom the king had always escaped the ridicule of advancing and engaged for the opera. The family supporting any misplaced doctrine, of Cochois was among the number. obtained the king's approbation, and The father and mother died, and the put an end to the discussion. Il two daughters remained at that theawas after some disputes of a similar tre. The marquis, whose fate seema nature, that Frederick, in a momented to be to attach bimself to females.

dil

VOL, II:

of this description, when he was My lord Mareschal answered, in a almost sixty years old, became in love careless, negligent way, that she was with the eldest of these two sisters. the marchioness D'Argens. “What!" She was rather plain than handsome, replied the king, in a severe tone,“ is about five and iwenty, of an excel- the marquis married ?” “ Yes, sire.” lent understanding, and endowed with “ How long ?” “ Some years, my considerable talents. She drew very liege." “ Eh! what? without ac. well, and was an excellent musician. quainting me?” “ It was during the Besides French, she knew the Ger- war, and he would not venture to man, Italian, and Latin languages, trouble you on such a trifling matas well as a woman had occasion to ter." sé And whom did he marry ?" do, and even a little Greek, which “ Mademoiselle Cochois !” “ 'Tis a she learned out of complaisance to folly I shall not suffer.” the marquis. Her character was The king after some time grew mild, and of a thinking turn. She calm ; but the marquis was a consi. had the art of uniting, under the derable time without seeing him ; appearance of the greatest simplicity, and, even afterwards, when their inall those attentions wliich please so timacy was resumed as before, Fre. well, and conciliate esteem. M. derick never spoke to him of his Thiebault has furnished this account wife. of her.

Not but that the king knew well The marquis, after having paid that he lived with Mademoiselle his addresses to her for some time, Cochois. The marquis had taken married her. The marriage took her with him in the journey he made place during the course of the Seven to France in 1747. And it appears Years' War, and without the king's by his correspondence, that he freknowledge. That was one of the cau- quently mentioned her to the king, ses that lessened the friendship of who was afraid she would not return Frederick for him. They knew it in time to perform in the opera at would displease the king; consequent. Berlin, as he wished her. ly were much embarrassed in making D'Argens possessed that lively the declaration. They waited till wit, and the vivacity so natural to his peace was concluded, and then held countrymen, the Provençals, which a meeting of all those who belonged always raised a laugh. He often utto the philosophical society of Sans tered his jests in such a style of Souci. After a long consultation upon naïveté, as afforded the king ample the best mode of acquainting the matter; for he was fond of relating king with what had happened, it was the adventures of his youth, and the agreed that the marchioness D’Ar- anecdotes of his life, with which he gens should walk in the gardens of instructed Europe, though he did not Sans Souci, at the hour when the edify it, in the memoirs which he monarch was accustomed to take the air; that her dress should be such as He had frequently some little might attract attention, but plain and whims, which, added to the assielegant ; and that lord Mareschal duity which detained him near Madeshould settle the rest. This plan moiselle Cochois, made him absent was followed. This lord, who gene- himself from the king, who wished rally accompanied Frederick in his to see the men of genius at his supwalks, in passing by one of the alleys, per table, as exact, and with the same a short distance from the marchio regularity, as the secretaries of the ness, saluted her, as a lady of his different departments came to their acquaintance, with much respect. offices in the morning. This salute gave occasion the

Having once asked the marquis, hing to inquire who ilie lady was? why lie had not scen him for some.

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wrote.

to

days, he excused himself by saying, but that it was the sacrament going he had been unwell. The king knew to a person dangerously ill. La to the contrary, and resolved to be Pierre, the marquis's servant, went revenged of him.

to see the procession, and soon saw Mademoiselle Cochois had made a what it was. In order not to be present to the marquis of a very fine found out, and consequently pass morning loose dressing-gown, or for a liar, the pretended sick man wrapper. This was before their mar- hastened to get into bed without unriage. Delighted with this present, dressing, or even taking off his fine he put it on immediately, and found dressing gown with gold flowers. it so much to his taste, that he did The procession immediately after not put it off the whole evening. The entered the chamber in a slow and king, however, sent to let him know solemn manner, and ranged them. he expected him to supper. The selves in order before the bed. The same answer was returned, that he king, who closed the procession, was ill.

placed himself in the middle of the The monarch, in order to disturb circle; and addressing the marquis, the felicity of the marquis's little par- telling him, that the church, always ty, took it into his head to send him a tender mother, and full of anxiety word, that having heard of his ill for her children, had sent him that state of health, fearful of the fatal assistance the most proper to fortify consequences of so dangerous a dis. him the critical situation in which order as that with which he was at- he was placed. He exhorted him tacked, and anxious he should die strenuously to resign himself; and like a good Christian, he had com- then raising the counterpane of the manded two catholick priests to ad- bed, he poured a whole flask of sweet minister the sacrament of extreme oil over the fine dressing-gown, tellunction to him, and that they would ing his dying brother, that this emvisit him that very evening to fulfil blem of grace would infallibly give this pious duty. The marquis knew him faith and courage, necessary to not what to think of this intimation. pass in a proper manner from this He well knew the king was capable world to the next. After which the of giving similar orders to the catho- procession retired in the same grave lick priests; but he doubted much and solemn manner as it entered. whether he would dare to be guilty It is by no means difficult to conof such a scandal within the walls of ceive what amusement this scene afhis own palace. The most essential forded to the whole court, and at the thing for him was, to make it appear marquis's expense ; but what afflicted as if he were really ill. He, there- him the most was the loss of the fore, wrapped up his head, and coun- dressing gown, which, by this farce, terfeited the appearance of a man was so completely soiled as not to quite unwell.

be fit to wear again. The marchioThe king covered himself with a ness had no idea of such a complete surplice and a stole, put two or three and holy mystery ; but Frederick persons who were in his confidence, had already played several such into black cloaks, and the whole par- pranks, in which the marquis himty descended in a solemn procession, self had born no inconsiderable part, as if they were bearing extreme unc- and which made him fully acquainted tion to the marquis, whose apart- with what he had to expect from him ments were below the king's. The on similar occasions. person who went first carried a small D'Argens passed much of his time bell, which was heard in all the apart- in reading ancient books and authors, ments, as soon as they got upon the particularly the holy fathers, from staircase. No one had any doubt, which he made several extracts;