The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-28
CHAPTER NJ.
MARGUERITE DE vALoIS.

CHAPTER NJ.
MARGUERITE DE vALoIs.
Marguerite de Valois, consort Of Henri of Ma
varre, afterwards Henry ". was now in the full
eclat of her almost unrivalled beauty. Smltten
by her nascent charms, ionsard proclaimed
her, IN her fifteenth spring, La belle oharit9
Pasithee. Nor was tn appellation unmerlted.
Chisseled by the Apollonian sculptor. Aelaia
never rose upon the view more surpa?s-
ers distinguished her by the title of We
nus Urania and we might follow in their
steps. had we not been forewarned that such
description high-fown as 1t appGars-was
wholly inadequate to her matchless attractions.
No doubt can exist to Marguerites eminent
personal attractions; and that she ranked as
beautiful amongst the beautiful, even Iii the age
that produced Mary stuart
blarguerite's eyes wera large and dark. liquid.
impassioned. voluptuous, with the fire OF France
and the tenderness of Italy in their beams. An
anchorte could scarce have resisted their witch
cry. And then her features How shall we d.
scribe their fascinationf IL was not th'1f
majesty, vet they were majestic as those OF her
mpthet-(grace. in TACT. il moro malest1cal than
maJesty'5 self. and Marguerite was emlne ntly
gracetu)-it as not their regularity. yet they
were regular as the SevrreSt judgment mtght
eNactit was not heir tint, though Marguerite s
skin was dazzlingly iair-but it was that eAires-
sion which resides not in form. but which, en-
anating fr m the soul imparts like the sun TO
to the landscape light. life anl lovelinesS. ms
twas that roLstii uted the charm of Marsuerite's
features.
The Queen of Navarre's figure was full and
fautless or. if it had a fault It might be deemed
by those who think embonpoint incompatlble
with beauty. little too re lun ant- But then II
you compla ned of the Htbe-likt proportions Of
her swelling shoulders surely the slender waist
from which those shoulders sprang would con
tent you. Her throat WIS rounded and winter
than drifted snow. Her hands-the true Me-
dicl's hand Ronsard did we'll to liken them to
the fingers Of the young Aurora-rose-dyed,
dew -steepedl were the snowiest and smallest
ever beh iid-her feet were those of a fairy, and
the ankles that sustained them. fine and fairy
like as the feet.
beauty, we dare scarcely haza description
We shrink beneath the nerious weight ot It's
magnficence. Brillians tanned like stars thick
set amidst her dusky trebses. BeSprent with
pearls her stOma her resembled a silyery coat
Of mail. Cloth Of gold constituted her dress.
the fashion of which was peculiar to herself f9r
it was remarked of her that she never app AIRED
in the same garb twice. and that the costume IN
which she WAS seen last was that which became
her most. Be this as it may, upon the present
occasion she had studied TO please-and she who
pleased without study, could scarce fal to cHarm
when it was her aim to do so Around her fair
throat hung a necklace of canoes, while in one
hand, nignonnrment engantele, as kab. lals
hath it. she held kerchef fringed with golden
lace. and in the other a fan Of 10 ineonsldera L.
In ACCOMPLISHMENTS Marguerite might vie
with any queen on record. Gifted with the nat
ara eloquence of her grand sire Francis the
First, her own Memoirs amply testify her lit
erary attainmentS-while her unpremedtated
reply, in elegant latinty, to the Bishop OF Ora
cova, may be broughtin evidence OF the extent
Of her asslcal information, proving her no un-
worthy descendant, as she was the inheritress OF
the kingdom and OF the name. OF the aInlabie and
virtuous Marguerite de Valois. spouse Of Henri
d'Albert. King of Navarro. and authoress OF the
Heptameron, and of the Miroir d une ame Peche-
ress., and surnamed la Marguerite des Mar
gueritcs-or pearl of pearls. Marguerite was
the friend of the arts and cutivator of poesy
and if her predecessor could boast of friend
ship of Melancthon and Clement Marot, she was
not less fortunate in the devotion OF Ronsard
ries. But il she had many friends and paine
gyriets she had likewise numerous enemies and
detractors; and to discover how busy scandal
was with her reputation we have only to turn to
the pages Of the divorce, Satirique published
undor the name aud with the sanction Of her
husband Henri ~
Her life. a mixture of devotion and levity, pre-
sents one of those singular anomalies Of which
her sex have occasionally furnished examples.
She was no hypocrite-hcr undiSguised eX-
cesses attest the very reverse: With her. re-
lgion was passion One-half OF her existence
was abandoned to round of ndulgences-the
other to exercises of devotion, or to what would
bear the name of devotion. She would hear
three masses a day-Woud communicate thrice
week and perform sundry acts OF self-iniIct,
cd pennance; but this inordinate zeal offered
no interruption to her Irregularities: on the
contrary. it appeared to lend pqGancy to them.
Satiatcd with amusement. she retired TO pray
with re- oyated fervOr; and she issued from her
oratory with a new appetite Tor sin.
With her after sorrows we have no concern
nor tn the darker period of her existence,
when, in the touching words OF the poetical
Jesuit, Lemoine, she became
Epouse sans epoux ct refine sans royaume;
Vaine ombre du paSSe, grand ct noble tantome.
Our business is with the brighter portion of
her career-ere care had stricken her. or sorrow
had robbed her of a charm.
OF the grace and elegance OF Marguerite de
Valois in the dance. Brantome 1. has left US the
6 das ndn her Mn
riaEe. and indescribabe fascinatlobs: and the
vivid portrait he has taken OF the lovely
queen sketched at some such scene as
that we are now attempting to describe) blooms,
breathes and stands before us in all its original
beauty and freshness-a splendid phantom OF
delight" sparkling within that gallery of high
born danes and gallant cavaliers which he has
preserved from the gaze OF the world.
Crchton was accounted the most proficient in
the dance at a court, each member of which
would probably have been considered in the
same important light in any other in Europe
He ri LII was passionately. fond of the amuse-
and "a aey ba IN n II ess ss1st AYE f.
the dance, and Marguerite de Valois, as we know
held it in high esteem. All the courtiers. there
fore, emulous of distinction in their soveregn's
eyes bestowed unremitting attention upon this
accomplishment. and 1t was no slight merit to
eclipse in skill performers of such consummate
ability As in the hall of arms, the arena Of
learning, the tourney. the chase. or other exer-
else. i'll which strength or dexterity is con
cerned-so in the ballroom Crichton outstrippcd
all competitors.
which accompanied his demcanor on :he parade,
followed him in the vote, the bransle. or the
paZzameno.
Whether upon the present occasion Crichton
felt inspired by the presence and acclamations
of the vast tassemblage-the gaze of which he felt
was fixed upon him-or hetner he was resolved
to show how inexhaustible were his energies,
we know not; but he appeared to surpaSs him
self. Such was the springy llghtnesS with which
he bounded through the rapid Navarroise "a
species of waltz peculiar to the pleasant land
from which it derived its name), that his foot
scarcely seemed to touch the floor. or. if it did
alght upon it. it was only. as AntBus acquired
fresh vigor from his mother earth. to gain elias
ticity from the momentary contact movement
50 rapid and whiring as to have turned the
heads of any less practised than the admirable
Scot and his royal partner. brought the dance to
spirited and striking conclusion.
All etiquette was forgotten. An irrepressible
excitement took possession OF the SPECTATORS
WHAT'S and bravos resounded on all sides-the
FURNISHED roof of the grand saloon re- echoed
with the plaudts. and the effect produced upon
the courtly throng by the brilliant achievements
of the distinguished couple, seemed to be pre-
cisely similar to that which results from the most
eectrifying effects of the dvinites Of the ballet.
While Marguerite de Valois r. mained painting
within Crichtons arms with one hand retained
within his own. and her waist still encircled by