Note 28 — MADAME DE LONGUEVILLE. INTRODUCTION.

Boileau, in his letter to Perrault, places the Count de Tréville among the nicest judges of wit. Saint-Simon undertakes to paint him, vol. iv., p. 184, and thus finishes his portrait, vol. vi., p. 372: He had belonged “to the great world, at one time a courtier, then a devotee and recluse, again, by degrees, an active member of the best society, always gallant, full of wit, and of the most refined taste.” He had loved Madame, the amiable Henriette, and the beautiful de Ludre. See the Memoirs of Lafare and Madame de Sévigné, letter of the 13th March, 1671. It is said that the observation, he talks like a book, was first made concerning him. He is the Arsène of the charactères of La Bruyère. I have seen some of his unpublished letters; the language is the best, but for any thing else they are not remarkable.