Note 21 — PREFACE.
Reading edition
A biographer thus speaks of the Prince de Ligne: "Quand les rois se reunirent a Vienne en 1814, ils se firent tous un devoir de l'accuellier avec distinction, et furent enchanté de la vivacité de son esprit, et de son intarissable gaieté, qui malgré ses infirmités et son grand âge, ne l'avoit pasencore abandonné. Ses saillies, et ses bon mots etoiént comme autrefois répétés pour tous." His generous heart thus speaks of the abused and unfortunate Marie Antoinette:—"The breath of calumny has not even respected the memory of the loveliest and best of women, of whose spotless heart and irreproachable conduct, no one can bear stronger evidence than I. Her soul was as pure as her face was fair; yet neither virtue nor beauty could save the victim of sanguinary liberty." In relating this (says his biographer), his voice faultered, and his eyes were suffused with tears. He thus briefly states, with his usual humour and vivacity, his conversation with Voltaire as to the garden at Ferney:
P. de L.—Monsieur, Monsieur, cela doit vous coupé beaucoup, quel charmant jardin!
Volt.—Oh! mon jardinier est un bête: c'est moi meme qui ait fait tout.
P. de L.—Je le croi.