Note 34 — PART I THE ABBAYE-AUX BOIS
Laura Ensor translation
The Duchesse de la Vallière was the daughter of the Maréchal de Noailles. At fifty years of age she was still marvellously beautiful. On seeing her Madame d’Houdetot improvised the following stanza:
“La nature prudente et sage, Force le temps à respecter, Les charmes de ce beau visage, Qu’elle ne saurait répéter.”
Nature prudent and wise, Forces time to respect, The charms of that lovely face, Which she is powerless to repeat.
Madame de la Vallière’s sister was the Comtesse de Toulouse.