DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45257#0135
BOILEAU A GUEST AT CHANTILLY 75
where Anne de Gonzague reigned supreme, fes-
tivity followed festivity, and it was she who received
the crowds of guests who thronged to visit that
delectable resort.
The visits to Fontainebleau, where, after the
death of the Regent, the King so often shut himself
up for hours together, are described as being very
tame compared with those to Chantilly, where the
time passed far more agreeably. Turenne and the
Marechai de Grammont were frequently invited.
Also such celebrated men of letters as Boileau,
Racine, Corneille, La Fontaine, and MolRre found
their way thither ; for Conde took a great personal
interest in their works, and helped and encouraged
them considerably. Boileau was a specially welcome
guest at Chantilly. Once, however, during an
animated conversation with the Prince, he contra-
dicted him in some statement; but noticing an
angry look upon His Highness’s countenance, he
became alarmed, and, making a profound bow, said :
“ Je serais toujours de I'avis de M. le Prince, surtout
quand il aura tort ”—a piece of tact which was
much appreciated by his host, and disarmed his
anger. Cond£ was also the first to recognise the
greatness of MolRre, and to protect him from his
rivals. The Precieuses Ridicules were first acted
at Chantilly, and the players were lodged there
for over a week. When Louis XIV fell so passion-
ately in love with Madame de Montespan, Moli&re
wrote his poem Amphitryon, wherein he advises
where Anne de Gonzague reigned supreme, fes-
tivity followed festivity, and it was she who received
the crowds of guests who thronged to visit that
delectable resort.
The visits to Fontainebleau, where, after the
death of the Regent, the King so often shut himself
up for hours together, are described as being very
tame compared with those to Chantilly, where the
time passed far more agreeably. Turenne and the
Marechai de Grammont were frequently invited.
Also such celebrated men of letters as Boileau,
Racine, Corneille, La Fontaine, and MolRre found
their way thither ; for Conde took a great personal
interest in their works, and helped and encouraged
them considerably. Boileau was a specially welcome
guest at Chantilly. Once, however, during an
animated conversation with the Prince, he contra-
dicted him in some statement; but noticing an
angry look upon His Highness’s countenance, he
became alarmed, and, making a profound bow, said :
“ Je serais toujours de I'avis de M. le Prince, surtout
quand il aura tort ”—a piece of tact which was
much appreciated by his host, and disarmed his
anger. Cond£ was also the first to recognise the
greatness of MolRre, and to protect him from his
rivals. The Precieuses Ridicules were first acted
at Chantilly, and the players were lodged there
for over a week. When Louis XIV fell so passion-
ately in love with Madame de Montespan, Moli&re
wrote his poem Amphitryon, wherein he advises