Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
been placed, declared to the queen that he would not depart `
` without seeing her. The queen had at first positively refused; `
` but at length became afraid that the duke, if exasperated, would `
` commit some folly. She had already decided upon seeing him and `
` urging his immediate departure, when, on the very evening of `
` coming to this decision, Mme. Bonacieux, who was charged with `
` going to fetch the duke and conducting him to the Louvre, was `
` abducted. For two days no one knew what had become of her, and `
` everything remained in suspense; but once free, and placed in `
` communication with Laporte, matters resumed their course, and she `
` accomplished the perilous enterprise which, but for her arrest, `
` would have been executed three days earlier. `
` `
` Buckingham, left alone, walked toward a mirror. His Musketeer's `
` uniform became him marvelously. `
` `
` At thirty-five, which was then his age, he passed, with just `
` title, for the handsomest gentleman and the most elegant cavalier `
` of France or England. `
` `
` The favorite of two kings, immensely rich, all-powerful in a `
` kingdom which he disordered at his fancy and calmed again at his `
` caprice, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, had lived one of `
` those fabulous existences which survive, in the course of `
` centuries, to astonish posterity. `
` `
` Sure of himself, convinced of his own power, certain that the `
` laws which rule other men could not reach him, he went straight `
` to the object he aimed at, even were this object were so elevated `
` and so dazzling that it would have been madness for any other `
` even to have contemplated it. It was thus he had succeeded in `
` approaching several times the beautiful and proud Anne of `
` Austria, and in making himself loved by dazzling her. `
` `
` George Villiers placed himself before the glass, as we have said, `
` restored the undulations to his beautiful hair, which the weight `
` of his hat had disordered, twisted his mustache, and, his heart `
` swelling with joy, happy and proud at being near the moment he `
` had so long sighed for, he smiled upon himself with pride and `
` hope. `
` `
` At this moment a door concealed in the tapestry opened, and a `
` woman appeared. Buckingham saw this apparition in the glass; he `
` uttered a cry. It was the queen! `
` `
` Anne of Austria was then twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age; `
` that is to say, she was in the full splendor of her beauty. `
` `
` Her carriage was that of a queen or a goddess; her eyes, which `
` cast the brilliancy of emeralds, were perfectly beautiful, and `
` yet were at the same time full of sweetness and majesty. `
` `
` Her mouth was small and rosy; and although her underlip, like `
` that of all princes of the House of Austria, protruded slightly `
` beyond the other, it was eminently lovely in its smile, but as `
` profoundly disdainful in its contempt. `
` `
` Her skin was admired for its velvety softness; her hands and arms `
` were of surpassing beauty, all the poets of the time singing them `
` as incomparable. `
` `
` Lastly, her hair, which, from being light in her youth, had `
` become chestnut, and which she wore curled very plainly, and with `
` much powder, admirably set off her face, in which the most rigid `
` critic could only have desired a little less rouge, and the most `
` fastidious sculptor a little more fineness in the nose. `
` `
` Buckingham remained for a moment dazzled. Never had Anna of `
` Austria appeared to him so beautiful, amid balls, fetes, or `
` carousals, as she appeared to him at this moment, dressed in a `
` simple robe of white satin, and accompanied by Donna Estafania-- `
` the only one of her Spanish women who had not been driven from `
` her by the jealousy of the king or by the persecutions of `
` Richelieu. `
` `
` Anne of Austria took two steps forward. Buckingham threw himself `
` at her feet, and before the queen could prevent him, kissed the `
` hem of her robe. `
` `
` "Duke, you already know that it is not I who caused you to be `
` written to." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, madame! Yes, your Majesty!" cried the duke. "I know `
` that I must have been mad, senseless, to believe that snow would `
` become animated or marble warm; but what then! They who love `
` believe easily in love. Besides, I have lost nothing by this `
` journey because I see you." `
` `
` "Yes," replied Anne, "but you know why and how I see you; `
` because, insensible to all my sufferings, you persist in `
` remaining in a city where, by remaining, you run the risk of your `
` life, and make me run the risk of my honor. I see you to tell `
` you that everything separates us--the depths of the sea, the `
` enmity of kingdoms, the sanctity of vows. It is sacrilege to `
` struggle against so many things, my Lord. In short, I see you to `
` tell you that we must never see each other again." `
` `
` "Speak on, madame, speak on, Queen," said Buckingham; "the `
` sweetness of your voice covers the harshness of your words. You `
` talk of sacrilege! Why, the sacrilege is the separation of two `
` hearts formed by God for each other." `
` `
` "My Lord," cried the queen, "you forget that I have never said `
` that I love you." `
` `
` "But you have never told me that you did not love me; and truly, `
` to speak such words to me would be, on the part of your Majesty, `
` too great an ingratitude. For tell me, where can you find a love `
` like mine--a love which neither time, nor absence, nor despair `
` can extinguish, a love which contents itself with a lost ribbon, `
` a stray look, or a chance word? It is now three years, madame, `
` since I saw you for the first time, and during those three years `
` I have loved you thus. Shall I tell you each ornament of your `
` toilet? Mark! I see you now. You were seated upon cushions in `
` the Spanish fashion; you wore a robe of green satin embroidered `
` with gold and silver, hanging sleeves knotted upon your beautiful `
` arms--those lovely arms--with large diamonds. You wore a close `
` ruff, a small cap upon your head of the same color as your robe, `
` and in that cap a heron's feather. Hold! Hold! I shut my eyes, `
` and I can see you as you then were; I open them again, and I see `
` what you are now--a hundred time more beautiful!" `
` `
` "What folly," murmured Anne of Austria, who had not the courage `
` to find fault with the duke for having so well preserved her `
` portrait in his heart, "what folly to feed a useless passion with `
` such remembrances!" `
` `
` "And upon what then must I live? I have nothing but memory. It `
` is my happiness, my treasure, my hope. Every time I see you is a `
` fresh diamond which I enclose in the casket of my heart. This `
` is the fourth which you have let fall and I have picked up; for `
` in three years, madame, I have only seen you four times--the `
` first, which I have described to you; the second, at the mansion `
` of Madame de Chevreuse; the third, in the gardens of Amiens." `
` `
` "Duke," said the queen, blushing, "never speak of that evening." `
` `
` "Oh, let us speak of it; on the contrary, let us speak of it! `
` That is the most happy and brilliant evening of my life! You `
` remember what a beautiful night it was? How soft and perfumed `
` was the air; how lovely the blue heavens and star-enameled sky! `
` Ah, then, madame, I was able for one instant to be alone with `
` you. Then you were about to tell me all--the isolation of your `
` life, the griefs of your heart. You leaned upon my arm--upon `
` this, madame! I felt, in bending my head toward you, your `
` beautiful hair touch my cheek; and every time that it touched me `
` I trembled from head to foot. Oh, Queen! Queen! You do not `
` know what felicity from heaven, what joys from paradise, are `
` comprised in a moment like that. Take my wealth, my fortune, my `
` glory, all the days I have to live, for such an instant, for a `
` night like that. For that night, madame, that night you loved `
` me, I will swear it." `
` `
` "My Lord, yes; it is possible that the influence of the place, `
` the charm of the beautiful evening, the fascination of your `
` look--the thousand circumstances, in short, which sometimes unite `
` to destroy a woman--were grouped around me on that fatal evening; `
` but, my Lord, you saw the queen come to the aid of the woman who `
` faltered. At the first word you dared to utter, at the first `
` freedom to which I had to reply, I called for help." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, that is true. And any other love but mine would have `
` sunk beneath this ordeal; but my love came out from it more `
` ardent and more eternal. You believed that you would fly from me `
` by returning to Paris; you believed that I would not dare to quit `
` the treasure over which my master had charged me to watch. What `
` to me were all the treasures in the world, or all the kings of `
` the earth! Eight days after, I was back again, madame. That `
` time you had nothing to say to me; I had risked my life and favor `
` to see you but for a second. I did not even touch your hand, and `
` you pardoned me on seeing me so submissive and so repentant." `
` `
` "Yes, but calumny seized upon all those follies in which I took `
` no part, as you well know, my Lord. The king, excited by the `
` cardinal, made a terrible clamor. Madame de Vernet was driven `
` from me, Putange was exiled, Madame de Chevreuse fell into `
` disgrace, and when you wished to come back as ambassador to `
` France, the king himself--remember, my lord--the king himself `
` opposed to it." `
` `
` "Yes, and France is about to pay for her king's refusal with a `
` war. I am not allowed to see you, madame, but you shall every `
` day hear of me. What object, think you, have this expedition to `
` Re and this league with the Protestants of La Rochelle which I am `
` projecting? The pleasure of seeing you. I have no hope of `
` penetrating, sword in hand, to Paris, I know that well. But this `
` war may bring round a peace; this peace will require a `
` negotiator; that negotiator will be me. They will not dare to `
` refuse me then; and I will return to Paris, and will see you `
` again, and will be happy for an instant. Thousands of men, it is `
` true, will have to pay for my happiness with their lives; but `
` what is that to me, provided I see you again! All this is `
` perhaps folly--perhaps insanity; but tell me what woman has a `
` lover more truly in love; what queen a servant more ardent?" `
` `
` "My Lord, my Lord, you invoke in your defense things which accuse `
` you more strongly. All these proofs of love which you would give `
` me are almost crimes." `
` `
` "Because you do not love me, madame! If you loved me, you would `
` view all this otherwise. If you loved me, oh, if you loved me, `
`
` without seeing her. The queen had at first positively refused; `
` but at length became afraid that the duke, if exasperated, would `
` commit some folly. She had already decided upon seeing him and `
` urging his immediate departure, when, on the very evening of `
` coming to this decision, Mme. Bonacieux, who was charged with `
` going to fetch the duke and conducting him to the Louvre, was `
` abducted. For two days no one knew what had become of her, and `
` everything remained in suspense; but once free, and placed in `
` communication with Laporte, matters resumed their course, and she `
` accomplished the perilous enterprise which, but for her arrest, `
` would have been executed three days earlier. `
` `
` Buckingham, left alone, walked toward a mirror. His Musketeer's `
` uniform became him marvelously. `
` `
` At thirty-five, which was then his age, he passed, with just `
` title, for the handsomest gentleman and the most elegant cavalier `
` of France or England. `
` `
` The favorite of two kings, immensely rich, all-powerful in a `
` kingdom which he disordered at his fancy and calmed again at his `
` caprice, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, had lived one of `
` those fabulous existences which survive, in the course of `
` centuries, to astonish posterity. `
` `
` Sure of himself, convinced of his own power, certain that the `
` laws which rule other men could not reach him, he went straight `
` to the object he aimed at, even were this object were so elevated `
` and so dazzling that it would have been madness for any other `
` even to have contemplated it. It was thus he had succeeded in `
` approaching several times the beautiful and proud Anne of `
` Austria, and in making himself loved by dazzling her. `
` `
` George Villiers placed himself before the glass, as we have said, `
` restored the undulations to his beautiful hair, which the weight `
` of his hat had disordered, twisted his mustache, and, his heart `
` swelling with joy, happy and proud at being near the moment he `
` had so long sighed for, he smiled upon himself with pride and `
` hope. `
` `
` At this moment a door concealed in the tapestry opened, and a `
` woman appeared. Buckingham saw this apparition in the glass; he `
` uttered a cry. It was the queen! `
` `
` Anne of Austria was then twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age; `
` that is to say, she was in the full splendor of her beauty. `
` `
` Her carriage was that of a queen or a goddess; her eyes, which `
` cast the brilliancy of emeralds, were perfectly beautiful, and `
` yet were at the same time full of sweetness and majesty. `
` `
` Her mouth was small and rosy; and although her underlip, like `
` that of all princes of the House of Austria, protruded slightly `
` beyond the other, it was eminently lovely in its smile, but as `
` profoundly disdainful in its contempt. `
` `
` Her skin was admired for its velvety softness; her hands and arms `
` were of surpassing beauty, all the poets of the time singing them `
` as incomparable. `
` `
` Lastly, her hair, which, from being light in her youth, had `
` become chestnut, and which she wore curled very plainly, and with `
` much powder, admirably set off her face, in which the most rigid `
` critic could only have desired a little less rouge, and the most `
` fastidious sculptor a little more fineness in the nose. `
` `
` Buckingham remained for a moment dazzled. Never had Anna of `
` Austria appeared to him so beautiful, amid balls, fetes, or `
` carousals, as she appeared to him at this moment, dressed in a `
` simple robe of white satin, and accompanied by Donna Estafania-- `
` the only one of her Spanish women who had not been driven from `
` her by the jealousy of the king or by the persecutions of `
` Richelieu. `
` `
` Anne of Austria took two steps forward. Buckingham threw himself `
` at her feet, and before the queen could prevent him, kissed the `
` hem of her robe. `
` `
` "Duke, you already know that it is not I who caused you to be `
` written to." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, madame! Yes, your Majesty!" cried the duke. "I know `
` that I must have been mad, senseless, to believe that snow would `
` become animated or marble warm; but what then! They who love `
` believe easily in love. Besides, I have lost nothing by this `
` journey because I see you." `
` `
` "Yes," replied Anne, "but you know why and how I see you; `
` because, insensible to all my sufferings, you persist in `
` remaining in a city where, by remaining, you run the risk of your `
` life, and make me run the risk of my honor. I see you to tell `
` you that everything separates us--the depths of the sea, the `
` enmity of kingdoms, the sanctity of vows. It is sacrilege to `
` struggle against so many things, my Lord. In short, I see you to `
` tell you that we must never see each other again." `
` `
` "Speak on, madame, speak on, Queen," said Buckingham; "the `
` sweetness of your voice covers the harshness of your words. You `
` talk of sacrilege! Why, the sacrilege is the separation of two `
` hearts formed by God for each other." `
` `
` "My Lord," cried the queen, "you forget that I have never said `
` that I love you." `
` `
` "But you have never told me that you did not love me; and truly, `
` to speak such words to me would be, on the part of your Majesty, `
` too great an ingratitude. For tell me, where can you find a love `
` like mine--a love which neither time, nor absence, nor despair `
` can extinguish, a love which contents itself with a lost ribbon, `
` a stray look, or a chance word? It is now three years, madame, `
` since I saw you for the first time, and during those three years `
` I have loved you thus. Shall I tell you each ornament of your `
` toilet? Mark! I see you now. You were seated upon cushions in `
` the Spanish fashion; you wore a robe of green satin embroidered `
` with gold and silver, hanging sleeves knotted upon your beautiful `
` arms--those lovely arms--with large diamonds. You wore a close `
` ruff, a small cap upon your head of the same color as your robe, `
` and in that cap a heron's feather. Hold! Hold! I shut my eyes, `
` and I can see you as you then were; I open them again, and I see `
` what you are now--a hundred time more beautiful!" `
` `
` "What folly," murmured Anne of Austria, who had not the courage `
` to find fault with the duke for having so well preserved her `
` portrait in his heart, "what folly to feed a useless passion with `
` such remembrances!" `
` `
` "And upon what then must I live? I have nothing but memory. It `
` is my happiness, my treasure, my hope. Every time I see you is a `
` fresh diamond which I enclose in the casket of my heart. This `
` is the fourth which you have let fall and I have picked up; for `
` in three years, madame, I have only seen you four times--the `
` first, which I have described to you; the second, at the mansion `
` of Madame de Chevreuse; the third, in the gardens of Amiens." `
` `
` "Duke," said the queen, blushing, "never speak of that evening." `
` `
` "Oh, let us speak of it; on the contrary, let us speak of it! `
` That is the most happy and brilliant evening of my life! You `
` remember what a beautiful night it was? How soft and perfumed `
` was the air; how lovely the blue heavens and star-enameled sky! `
` Ah, then, madame, I was able for one instant to be alone with `
` you. Then you were about to tell me all--the isolation of your `
` life, the griefs of your heart. You leaned upon my arm--upon `
` this, madame! I felt, in bending my head toward you, your `
` beautiful hair touch my cheek; and every time that it touched me `
` I trembled from head to foot. Oh, Queen! Queen! You do not `
` know what felicity from heaven, what joys from paradise, are `
` comprised in a moment like that. Take my wealth, my fortune, my `
` glory, all the days I have to live, for such an instant, for a `
` night like that. For that night, madame, that night you loved `
` me, I will swear it." `
` `
` "My Lord, yes; it is possible that the influence of the place, `
` the charm of the beautiful evening, the fascination of your `
` look--the thousand circumstances, in short, which sometimes unite `
` to destroy a woman--were grouped around me on that fatal evening; `
` but, my Lord, you saw the queen come to the aid of the woman who `
` faltered. At the first word you dared to utter, at the first `
` freedom to which I had to reply, I called for help." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, that is true. And any other love but mine would have `
` sunk beneath this ordeal; but my love came out from it more `
` ardent and more eternal. You believed that you would fly from me `
` by returning to Paris; you believed that I would not dare to quit `
` the treasure over which my master had charged me to watch. What `
` to me were all the treasures in the world, or all the kings of `
` the earth! Eight days after, I was back again, madame. That `
` time you had nothing to say to me; I had risked my life and favor `
` to see you but for a second. I did not even touch your hand, and `
` you pardoned me on seeing me so submissive and so repentant." `
` `
` "Yes, but calumny seized upon all those follies in which I took `
` no part, as you well know, my Lord. The king, excited by the `
` cardinal, made a terrible clamor. Madame de Vernet was driven `
` from me, Putange was exiled, Madame de Chevreuse fell into `
` disgrace, and when you wished to come back as ambassador to `
` France, the king himself--remember, my lord--the king himself `
` opposed to it." `
` `
` "Yes, and France is about to pay for her king's refusal with a `
` war. I am not allowed to see you, madame, but you shall every `
` day hear of me. What object, think you, have this expedition to `
` Re and this league with the Protestants of La Rochelle which I am `
` projecting? The pleasure of seeing you. I have no hope of `
` penetrating, sword in hand, to Paris, I know that well. But this `
` war may bring round a peace; this peace will require a `
` negotiator; that negotiator will be me. They will not dare to `
` refuse me then; and I will return to Paris, and will see you `
` again, and will be happy for an instant. Thousands of men, it is `
` true, will have to pay for my happiness with their lives; but `
` what is that to me, provided I see you again! All this is `
` perhaps folly--perhaps insanity; but tell me what woman has a `
` lover more truly in love; what queen a servant more ardent?" `
` `
` "My Lord, my Lord, you invoke in your defense things which accuse `
` you more strongly. All these proofs of love which you would give `
` me are almost crimes." `
` `
` "Because you do not love me, madame! If you loved me, you would `
` view all this otherwise. If you loved me, oh, if you loved me, `
`