Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 4 | Page 5

when it shall happen.

SECTION XXXVII.
THE DUCHESSE DE LORRAINE, ELIZABETH-CHARLOTTE
PHILIPPINE D'ORLEANS, CONSORT OF LEOPOLD
JOSEPH-CHARLES DE LORRAINE.
My daughter is ugly; even more so than she was, for the fine
complexion which she once had has become sun-burnt. This makes a
great difference in the appearance, and causes a person to look old. She
has an ugly round nose, and her eyes are sunken; but her shape is
preserved, and, as she dances well, and her manners are easy and
polished, any one may see that she is a person of breeding. I know
many people who pique themselves upon their good manners, and who
still have not so much reason as she has. At all events I am content with
my child as she is; and I would rather see her ugly and virtuous than
pretty and profligate like the rest.
Whenever the time of her accouchement approaches, she never fails to
bid her friends adieu, in the notion that she will die. Fortunately she has
hitherto always escaped well.
When jealousy is once suffered to take root, it is impossible to extirpate
it--therefore it is better not to let it gain ground. My daughter pretends
not to be affected by hers, but she often suffers great affliction from it.
This is not astonishing, because she is very fond of her children; and
the woman with whom the Duke is infatuated, together with her
husband, do not leave him a farthing; they completely ruin his
household. Craon is an accursed cuckold and a treacherous man. The
Duc de Lorraine knows that my daughter is acquainted with everything,
and I believe he likes her the better that she does not remonstrate with
him, but endures all patiently. He is occasionally kind to her, and,
provided that he only says tender things to her, she is content and
cheerful.
I should almost believe that the Duke's mistress has given him a philtre,
as Neidschin did to the Elector of Saxony. When he does not see her, it
is said he perspires copiously at the head, and, in order that the cuckold
of a husband may say nothing about the affair, the Duke suffers him to
do whatever he pleases. He and his wife, who is gouvernante, rule
everything, although neither the one nor the other has any feeling of
honour. She is to come hither, it seems, with the Duke and Duchess.

The Duc de Lorraine is here incog.
[He came to Paris for the purpose of soliciting an arrondissement in
Champagne and the title of Royal Highness. Through the influence of
his mother-in-law he obtained both the one and the other. By virtue of a
treaty very disadvantageous for France, but which was nevertheless
registered by the Parliament, he increased his states by adding to them
a great number of villages.]
under the title of the Comte de Blamont. Formerly the chase was his
greatest passion; but now, it seems, the swain is wholly amorous. It is
in vain for him to attempt to conceal it; for the more he tries, the more
apparent it becomes. When you would suppose he is about to address
you, his head will turn round, and his eyes wander in search of Madame
Craon; it is quite diverting to see him. I cannot conceive how my
daughter can love her husband so well, and not display more jealousy.
It is impossible for a man to be more amorous than the Duke is of
Craon (19th of April, 1718).
It cannot be denied that she (Madame de Craon) is full of agreeable
qualities. Although she is not a beauty, she has a good shape, a fine
skin, and a very white complexion; but her greatest charms are her
mouth and teeth. When she laughs it is in a very pleasing and modest
manner; she behaves properly and respectfully in my daughter's
presence; if she did the same when she is not with her, one would have
nothing to complain of. It is not surprising that such a woman should be
beloved; she really deserves it. But she treats her lover with the utmost
haughtiness, as if she were the Duchesse de Lorraine and he M. de
Luneville. I never saw a man more passionately attached than he
appears to be; when she is not present, he fixes his eyes upon the door
with an expression of anxiety; when she appears, he smiles and is calm;
it is really very droll to observe him. She, on the contrary, wishes to
prevent persons from perceiving it, and seems to care nothing about
him. As the Duke was crossing a hall here with her upon his arm, some
of the people said aloud, "That is the Duc de Lorraine with his
mistress." Madame Craon wept bitterly, and insisted