Fourteenth and Madame de Montespan, who was then a year old, had not yet been made public. The child had a lame foot, and the physician advised that he should be sent to the waters of Barége. This trust was committed to Madame Scarron, as a safe person; and from this time she had the charge of the Duke of Maine's education. The letters she wrote to the king on this subject charmed him, and were the origin of her fortune. Louis gave her the lands and name of Maintenon in 1679, which was the only estate she ever had, though afterwards in a position that afforded her an opportunity of acquiring an immense property.
Her elevation, however, was to her only a retreat. Shut up in her rooms, which were on the same floor with the king, she confined herself to the society of two or three ladies, whom she saw but seldom. The king came to her apartment every day, and continued there till after midnight. Here he did business with his ministers, while Madame de Maintenon employed herself with reading or, needle-work, carefully avoiding all interference in state affairs, but studying more how to please him who governed, than to govern, she made but little use of her influence over the king, either to enable her to confer benefits or do injuries.
About the end of 1685, Louis married Madame de Maintenon. She was then fifty years of age, and the king forty-eight. This union was kept a profound secret, and she enjoyed very little public distinction in consequence of her elevation. But after the king began to lead this retired life with Madame de Maintenon, the court grew every day more serious; and the monotony of her life was so great, that she once exclaimed to her brother, "I can bear this no longer; I wish I were dead!"
The convent of St. Cyr was built by her at the end of the park of Versailles, in 1686. She gave the form to this establishment, assisted in making the rules, and was herself superior of the convent, where she often went to dissipate her ennui and melancholy.
The king died, September 2nd., 1715; after which event, Madame de Maintenon retired wholly to St. Cyr, and spent the remainder of her days in acts of devotion. Louis the Fourteenth made no certain provision for her, but recommended her to the Duke of Orleans, who bestowed on her a pension of eighty thousand livres, which was all she would accept. She died, April 15th., 1719.
In 1756, the letters of Madame de Maintenon were published in nine volumes, at Amsterdam; but with many arbitrary changes. Another, and more complete edition, was published in 1812. In 1848, "A History of Madame de Maintenon, etc., by M. le Duc de Noailles," appeared in Paris. This last work gives a highly favourable portrait of the character of Madame de Maintenon. Her talents no one ever questioned; and none, save the enemies of virtue, have doubted hers.
MAKEDA,
Or, as she is called by the Arabians, Balkis, Queen of Sheba famous for her visit to Solomon, was probably Queen of Abyssinia, or of that part of Arabia Felix which was inhabited by the Sabeans, where women were admitted to govern. Josephus says that she reigned over Egypt and Ethiopia. According to the Abyssinian historians, Balkis was a pagan when she undertook the journey; but, struck by the grandeur and wisdom of Solomon,
