Memoirs of Henri IV . edit were at present almostboundless. He was doubtless necessitated to act with a marvel-lous prudence in the conduct of himself with all thesepeople, that he might not create in them the leastjealousy, but rather beget a great esteem of himself,make submission and gravity accord, and preserve hisdignity and life. Ho, however, disengaged himselffrom all these difficulties and from all these dangerswith an unparalleled address. He contracted a great familiarity with the Due deGuise, who was of about his own age, and they oftenmade secret parties of pleasure together; but h
Memoirs of Henri IV . edit were at present almostboundless. He was doubtless necessitated to act with a marvel-lous prudence in the conduct of himself with all thesepeople, that he might not create in them the leastjealousy, but rather beget a great esteem of himself,make submission and gravity accord, and preserve hisdignity and life. Ho, however, disengaged himselffrom all these difficulties and from all these dangerswith an unparalleled address. He contracted a great familiarity with the Due deGuise, who was of about his own age, and they oftenmade secret parties of pleasure together; but he agreednot so well with the Due dAlen9on, who had a capri-cious spirit; nor was he overmuch troubled at his illaccord with him, because neither the King nor Queen-mother had any affection for this Duke. However, hegave no credit to the bad counsel of that Queens emis-sary, who endeavoured to engage his contending ina duel against him; so much the rather because, con-sidering him as the brother of his King, to whom he. HENRI IV. 43 owed respect, he knew well it would have proved hisloss, and that she would not have been wanting to takeso fair a pretest to ruin him. He shunned, likewise, other snares laid for him ; butyet not all, for he suffered himself to be overtakenwith the allurements of some ladies of the Court,whom it is said that the Queen engaged expresslyto amuse the Princes and nobles and to discover alltheir thoughts. From that time (for vices contracted in the blossomof youth generally accompany men to their tomb) apassion for women proved to be the greatest weaknessof our Henri, and possibly was the cause of his last mis-fortune ; for God punishes sooner or later those whowickedly abandon themselves to this criminal passion. Besides this, he contracted no other crimes in thisCourt; and it ought to be attributed to a particulargrace of Heaven that he was not infected with all,for there never was a Court more vicious or more cor-rupted. Impiety, atheism, witchcraft,
Size: 1314px × 1901px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjecthenryivkingoffrance1
