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one, for it is better to be silent when you have nothing to say that counts.

As for me, I love you so dearly that all priceless things are mere dross to me; I swear this to you, my dearest love. But do not think to nourish me on a stone after having given me bread. Be mindful of my age, my rank, my mind, and my affection, and you will do what you have not done. Good day, my all, and a million kisses.

[1608.]

Your beautiful words are indeed welcome to me when actions precede them, but when you only utter them to cover your mockeries they are deceitful to me.

This morning, at mass, I found a volume of Spanish prayers in our son's hands. He told me that you had given it to him. I do not want him to know even that there is a Spain, and you are most ill-advised to desire to revive his memory on that point. For some time I have not been so badly informed about you as I was once. And I believe that you are not unmindful of this. Why I desire to see you is to strike a final blow in our affairs. with one another, for I have discovered many things; but, since you are moved by other considerations, govern yourself as you please.

[1608.]

It does not appear who deprives you of news of me, but the experiences of five years have forced me into the belief that you love me not. During that time your actions have been so contrary to your words and writing and to the love you owe me, that at length your ingrati

tude has overturned a passion which resisted longer than any did before.

Remembering how much suffering I have endured by it, if you have yet a scrap of affection left, with it you should have some regret. I hold one thing with God: conversion, not death. It was for you to speak French down yonder, for I always hear that language willingly, as it is mine from choice. If you have the devil in you, wait where you are; if some good little devil possesses you, come to Marcoussis, which, being nearer, the truth will reveal itself the better.

M

SOPHIA DOROTHEA OF HANOVER AND COUNT KÖNIGSMARCK

n the seventeenth century the morals of the petty German courts were unbeautiful imitations of those at Versailles. Hanover was no exception, and so, when Prince George Louis (son of the Elector Duke Ernest Augustus, and eventually King George I of Great Britain), married his cousin, Sophia Dorothea of Celle, it was taken for granted that the bridegroom would follow the usual course. It was not taken for granted, however, that the bride would imitate his example, particularly after she had borne him two children, one of whom was to become George II and the other the Queen of Prussia. At the court of Hanover conjugal infidelity was regarded as the privilege of the male sex alone, and it was by no means considered an extenuation of her offence that the attachment of the Princess Sophia Dorothea for the noble Swedish adventurer, Count Königsmarck, had all the romance and passion of a page from the Italian middle ages. In fact, that is what made the affair particularly

hard to digest at the practical court of Hanover. They assassinated the Count, divorced the faithless wife, and then shut her up in a castle for thirty-two years.

Count Philip Christopher Königsmarck had been a playfellow of Sophia Dorothea at Celle, and it is natural that the stories of his adventures in France and England, repeated to her by the court gossips, should have interested her. He was handsome, daring, and a fascinating conversationalist. In 1688 Königsmarck went to Hanover, possibly to renew an affair with Countess Platen, whom he had met a couple of years before at Montplaisir, and who was then the favourite of the Elector. But if this was his purpose, he did not carry it out. He met again Sophia Dorothea, whose position at Hanover, on account of the brutality and infidelity of her husband and the intrigues of his family, was becoming intolerable. Whatever may be said against the character of Königsmarck, his heart, purse, and sword were always at the disposal of the afflicted, particularly when the afflicted one was a beautiful, ill-treated wife. One day, Königsmarck, who had been appointed Colonel of the Guard, saw the Princess attempting to carry her little daughter up the palace steps. Gallantly he relieved her of her burden, and laughingly hoisted the little girl to his shoulders. Thus a bond of sympathy was formed by the child, which was rapidly developed by other interviews. They did not know, however, that they had been seen by the Countess Platen, who during their entire attachment was to play the role of Fate, as in a Greek tragedy.

Countess Platen became jealous. Besides gossiping to

the court about the growing intimacy, she soon resorted to more active measures. One evening she secured one of Sophia Dorothea's gloves, and by some means lured Königsmarck into accompanying her to a bower in the garden. Just as Königsmarck was beginning to be bored by her advances, they were surprised by the appearance of Count Platen and Sophia Dorothea's husband, as had been artfully arranged by the Countess. The Countess fled from the arbour with Königsmarck, dropping the glove as she went. The glove was identified, and the Elector's son had a violent scene with his wife. Her protests were in vain. Thus she was accused of being the sweetheart of Königsmarck, while her conduct toward him was still exemplary. From that time, however, she began to think of him sentimentally and seriously, and in his absence she corresponded with him, using as her go-between Fräulein von Knesebeck, referred to in their (German) correspondence as "La Confidente," "La Gouvernante,' or "La Sentinelle."

Indeed, the lovers constantly employed nicknames for the persons whom they found it necessary to mention in their letters. The Count's sister Aurora was known as "L'Aventurière," the Princess of Hesse as "La Marionette," Sophia Dorothea's husband, Prince George Louis, as "Le Réformeur," his father, the Elector, as "Don Diègue," Countess von Löwenhaupt as "La Gazelle," Sophia Dorothea's father and mother respectively as “Le Grondeur" and "La Pédagogue," while the Countess Platen was known as "La Perspective." The Princess herself was referred to referred to as "Léonisse," "Le Cœur

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