. THE DAUPHIN'S PUBITY AND GOODNESS. 219

.give the money it would cost to the poor, and who did not care
to accept some new gilding with which it was proposed to
furnish his little room.

Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne, alarmed at so austere a
spouse, left nothing undone in order to soften him. Her charms,
with which he was smitten, the cunning and the unbridled
importunities of the young ladies of her suite, disguised in a
hundred different forms—the attraction of parties and pleasures
to which he was far from insensible,—all were displayed every
clay. But for a long time he behaved not like a prince but like
& novice. On one occasion he refused to be present at a ball
on Twelfth Night, and in various ways made himself ridiculous
at Court.

In due time, however, he comprehended that the faithful
performance of the duties proper to the state in which he had
been placed, would be the conduct most agreeable to God. The
bark of the tree, little by little, grew softer without affecting
the solidity of the trunk. He applied himself to the studies
which were necessary, in order to instruct himself in public
affairs, and at the same time he lent himself more to the world >
doing so with so much grace, with such a natural air, that
everybody soon began to grow reconciled to him.

The discernment of this prince was such, that, like the bee,
he gathered the most perfect substance from the best and most
beautiful flowers. He tried to fathom men, to draw from them
the instruction and the light that he could hope for. He con-
ferred sometimes, but rarely, with others besides his chosen few.
I was the only one, not of that number, who had complete
access to him; with me he opened his heart upon the present
and the future with confidence, with sageness, with discretion.
A volume would not describe sufficiently my private interviews
with this prince,—what love of good! what forgetfulness of
self! what researches! what fruit! what purity of purpose!—
May I say it? what reflection of the divinity in that mind,
candid, simple, strong, which as much as is possible here below
had preserved the image of its maker!

If you had business, and thought of opening it to him, say