Memoirs of the Princesse de Ligne, Vol. 2 (of 2)Massalska, Apolonia Helena
History
Memoirs of the Princesse de Ligne, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Massalska, Apolonia Helena
Ligne, Charles Joseph, prince de, 1735-1814; Massalska, Apolonia Helena, 1763-1815
“XII.--I bequeath to Madame de Woina[112] a table and a tea-service,
in order that she may remember the pleasure I had in going to take tea
with her; also two Turkish sabres for her children, Maurice and Felix.
“XIII.--I bequeath to my good friend Poniatowski, my sabre set with
Marshal Laudon’s stone, and also the shoulder belt, requesting him to
wear it should he meet the enemy, in honour of one who to save his life
would willingly have sacrificed his own. Also my fine horse Winer, so
that he may be cared for all his life.
“XIV.--I bequeath to my brother Louis the King of Poland’s sabre and
Marlborough’s pistols.
“XV.--I bequeath to my friend François, Comte de Dietrichstein, the
arms found with me if I am killed, or that belong to me should I die
a natural death, excepting those disposed of by special legacies; I
beg him to collect and distribute the above-named legacies, and I am
certain that he will not leave my body to the enemy. Should, however,
an accident intervene, such as his being wounded himself, he must
neglect nothing in having it reclaimed, with the chains and other
things I wear on my person.
“XVI.--The portraits of Mesdames de Kinsky, Lichtenstein, Jablonowska,
Linowska, and Caroline, as well as Poniatowski’s and that of Madame de
Woina, which I request may be obtained, shall be placed in my apartment
in the tower at Bel Œil, where I have already placed the coloured
prints belonging to Madame de Kinsky. My wife’s portrait is to be
previously removed and placed in the lumber-room. This chamber is to
become a Temple to Friendship, and over the door shall be inscribed the
words: _Abode of the inseparable_.
“I request that my bust shall be placed on a pedestal in the centre of
the tower, and turned in the direction of Madame de Kinsky’s portrait,
and I beg my father to compose and have engraved on this pedestal some
verses describing the happiness I have enjoyed in her society; but they
must not contain any praise of myself; under each portrait he will
write in verse a description of the person represented.
“XVII.--Arrangements for my household (not copied).
“XVIII.--I bequeath to Madame de Kinsky my good dog Tristan, that he
may be taken good care of; he has been treated by me as I was by her,
like a good and ever-faithful dog.”
_Note added by the Countess Dietrichstein._--“The body was embalmed,
and, considering the circumstances, sent to Bel Œil by mail coach.
A Mass was said at the headquarters at Boux, in the presence of all
the officers; and orders were given that the last honours should be
rendered to his memory on the passage of the coffin through Mons, where
he was well known and beloved.
“In order to carry out his wishes as much as possible, the handkerchief
will be placed in his coffin; the date he asks for is unfortunately
from the 21st of September 1787 to the 14th of September 1792.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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