Woman in France During the Eighteenth Century

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Smith, Elder & Company, 1864 - France - 491 pages
 

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Page 275 - A variety of others have been made since of different eix.es ; some to be set in the lids of snuff-boxes, and some so small as to be worn in rings; and the numbers sold are incredible. These, with the pictures, busts and prints (of which copies upon copies are spread everywhere), have made your father's face as well known as that of the moon, so that he durst not do anything that would oblige him to run away, as his phiz would discover him wherever he should venture to show it.
Page 171 - Versailles; gives suppers twice a week; has everything new read to her; makes new songs and epigrams, ay, admirably, and remembers every one that has been made these fourscore years. She corresponds with Voltaire, dictates charming letters to him, contradicts him, is no bigot to him or anybody, and laughs both at the clergy and the philosophers.
Page 376 - M. de Franquelin, a young volunteer in the cause of the Girondists, died of grief on learning her fate ; his last request was, that her portrait, and a few letters he had formerly received from her, might be buried with him in his grave. For several days after her last interview with Barbaroux, Charlotte brooded silently over her great thought ; often meditating on the history of Judith. Her aunt subsequently remembered that, on entering her room one morning, she found an old Bible open on her bed...
Page 373 - Armont reared his family. As soon as they were of age, his sons entered the army ; one of his daughters died young; and he became a widower when the other two were emerging from childhood into youth. They remained for some time with their father, but at length entered the Abbaye aux Dames, in the neighbouring town of Caen. The greatest portion of the youth of Charlotte Corday — to give her the name by which she is generally known— was spent in the calm obscurity of her convent solitude. When...
Page 384 - Pontecoulant — who had not received her letter — but Chauveau de la Garde, chosen by the president. Charlotte gave him an anxious look, as though she feared he might seek to save her at the expense of honor.
Page 274 - ... is totally without foundation. But one is not to expect being always in fashion. I hope, however, to preserve, while I stay, the regard you mention of the French ladies ; for their society and conversation, when I have time to enjoy them, are extremely agreeable.
Page 381 - ... falling around her ; but so calm, so serenely lovely, that those who most abhorred her crime gazed on her with involuntary admiration. " Was she then so beautiful ?" was the question addressed, many years afterwards, to an old man, one of the few remaining witnesses of this scene.
Page 250 - This dejection has softened her into being rather agreeable, for she has wit and good breeding ; but you would swear, by the restlessness of her person, and the horrors she cannot conceal, that she had signed the compact, and expected to be called upon in a week for the performance.
Page 376 - May, first suggested to Charlotte Corday the possibility of giving an active shape to her hitherto passive feelings. She watched with intense, though still silent, interest the progress of events, concealing her secret indignation and thoughts of vengeance under her habitually calm aspect. Those feelings were heightened in her soul by the presence of the fugitive Girondists, who had found a refuge in Caen, and were urging the Normans to raise an army to march on Paris. She found a pretence to call...
Page 383 - I had enough of my own," she energetically replied; "besides, we do not execute well that which we have not ourselves conceived." " What, then, did you hate in Marat ? "

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