Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/486

472 not been prevented. She had another son, who died 1723, at Rochelle, where he was commissary of Marines.

After this accident, she began to change her manner of life. She laid aside the familiar name of Ninon, and purchased a new house in the Rue des Tournelles, near the Place Royal, where her company was sought by the most respectable and brilliant of her own sex, as well as the other, amongst whom was Madame de Sévigné, La Fayette, and de Sabliere, &c. who preferred her company to the most brilliant societies. Amongst the men were Rochefoucault and St. Evremond, who said of her, that "nature had begun to shew it was possible not to grow old." Though at the common age of decrepitude, she had none of its ugliness—she had still all her teeth, and almost all the fire of her eyes; so that in her last years you might read her history in them.

She always remained the same, an Epicurean by principle, though she preserved more correct outward manners, and frequented the church. Madame de Maintenon, in her elevation, did not forget her old friend, and offered her, if she would become seriously devout, apartments at Versailles; but Ninon was satisfied with her present fortune, and said it was too late in life for her to learn to dissemble. Yet, to gratify the king, who wished to see her, she went one day to the royal chapel.

Some of her letters are in St. Evremond's collection; but others were published, which were not genuine.

She predicted the future fame of Voltaire, and left him a little legacy to buy books.

The abbé de Chateauneuf made an epitaph upon her, of which this is a translation:

There