Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/637

Rh secretly condemning himself for his passion for a married woman: 'Henry IV,' he often said, 'attempted the honour of a princess, whose husband might have defended her with his sword; but mine is an easy conquest over one, whom I can annihilate by a single glance.'

Madame de Montespan, being thus rid of her husband, and relying on her charms, as well as her children, for the continuance of the king's affection, began to shew her power and ascendency in public affairs. She accompanied the king to Flanders in the year 1670, when the ruin of the Dutch was consulted in the midst of pleasure. In the mean time, she endeavoured to reconcile imperious vice with humble piety; and formed a set of morals herself, too loose for a christian, too severe for a mistress. She condescended even to work for the poor; and persuaded herself, that frequent alms, and external acts of devotion, must necessarily entitle her to the pardon of all her sins. And presumed to receive the holy sacrament. One day she endeavoured to obtain absolution from a curate, in a country village, who had been recommended to her on account of his flexibility. "What!" said this man of God, "are you that marchioness of Montespan, whose crimes are an offence to the whole kingdom? Good madam, renounce your wicked habits, and then come to this awful tribunal." She instantly complained to the king of the insult she had received, and demanded justice on the confessor. The king was not sure that his power extended so far, and therefore consulted Bossuet, preceptor to the dauphin, the bishop of Condom, and the duke de Montausiar, his governor. The bishop and minister both supported the curate, and took this occasion to try if they could detach the king from this lady.