Page:Biographical catalogue of the portraits at Weston, the seat of the Earl of Bradford (IA gri 33125003402027).pdf/231

 refined manners surprised the court of the Louvre. The only drawback to the bride's popularity was her love of quiet and retirement; and after the festivities attending the celebration of the marriage were concluded, the Dauphine evinced her predilection for a small and intimate coterie, and the propensity to yield too implicitly to the influence of one of her Bavarian ladies, which caused some jealousy. Her time was fully occupied by reading and devotional exercises. The King strove in vain to wean her from pursuits which tended to seclusion from the world; but, finding his attempts useless, he no longer thwarted her inclinations. The Dauphine was very ill at the time of the birth of her third son, the Duc de Berry, and never recovered her health. When she felt her end approaching, she sent for the child, whom she embraced tenderly and blessed, concluding with these touching words: 'C'est de bon cœur quoique tu me coutes bien cher.' She also took a tender leave of her eldest son, the Duc de Bourgogne (father of Louis ). Louis the Fourteenth sat by the deathbed of his daughter-in-law, and when advised to withdraw, he said, 'No; it is better I should see how my equals die;' and he spoke some admonitory words in the same strain to the Dauphin, who was also present, on the transitory nature of earthly grandeur. The Dauphine's funeral oration was preached by Fléchier, and considered a chef-d'œuvre.