THE KING'S AMOUKS. 373

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Amours of the King—La Valliere—Montespan—Scandalous Publicity—
Temper of Madame de Montespan—Her unbearable Haughtiness—Other
Mistresses—Madame de Maintenon—Her Fortunes—Her Marriage with
Scarron—His Character and Society—How she lived after his Death—
Gets into better Company—Acquaintance with Madame de Montespan—
The King's Children—His Dislike of "Widow Scarron—Purchase of the
Maintenon Estate—Further Demands—M. du Maine on his Travels—
Montespan's Ill-humour—Madame de Maintenon supplants her—Her
bitter Annoyance—Progress of the new Intrigue—Marriage of the King
and Madame de Maintenon.

LET me now speak of the amours of the King which were even
more fatal to the state than his building mania. Their scandal
filled all Europe, stupefied France, shook the state, and without
doubt drew upon the King those maledictions under the weight
of which he was pushed so near the very edge of the precipice,
and had the misfortune of seeing his legitimate posterity
within an ace of extinction in France. These are evils which
became veritable catastrophes and which will be long felt.

Louis XIV. in his youth more made for love than any of his
subjects—being tired of gathering passing sweets, fixed himself
at last upon La Valliere. The progress and the result of Iris
love are well kriown,

Madame de Montespan was she whose rare beauty touched
him next, even during the reign of Madame de La Valliere.
She soon perceived it, and vainly pressed her husband to carry
her away into Guienne. With foolish confidence he refused
to listen to her. She spoke to him more in earnest. In vain.
At last the King was listened to, and carried her off from her
husband, with that frightful hubbub which resounded with