The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 1, January, 1864Various
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 1, January, 1864
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Yesterday evening, at Madame Moszynska's _soiree_, I accidentally
overheard a conversation which pained me deeply. A gentleman whom I did
not know, said to his neighbor: 'But the Starostine Krasinska is
terribly changed!' The answer was: 'That is not at all astonishing, for
the poor young girl is madly in love with the prince royal, and he is
somewhat capricious; when he sees a pretty woman, he falls in love with
her immediately, and now he is all devotion to Madame Potocka, and has
eyes for no one but her.'
I am sure the prince pretends to be occupied with other women that he
may the more readily conceal his real feelings, and yet I shuddered when
I heard this conversation. It is really frightful to be the subject of
such improper pleasantries!
If I only had a friend in whom I could confide, and whose advice I could
ask! My maid is as stupid as an owl, and suspects nothing, but
notwithstanding, she is to be sent to the interior of Lithuania, and in
a few days her place will be supplied by a middle-aged married lady of
good birth and acknowledged discretion. I have not seen her yet, and I
have no one to consult with regard to my wedding toilette. For want of a
better adviser, I consulted the prince palatine, and he replied: 'Dress
as you do every day.'
What a strange destiny! I am making the most brilliant marriage in the
whole kingdom, and yet my shoemaker's daughter will have a trousseau and
wedding festivities which I am forced to envy.
WARSAW, Wednesday, _November 4th, 1760._
My destiny is accomplished, and I am the prince royal's wife! We have
sworn before God eternal love and fidelity; he is mine, irrevocably
mine! Ah! how sweet, and yet how cruel was that moment! They were forced
to hurry the ceremony, as we feared discovery.
I saw nothing of the prince royal during the week preceding my marriage;
he feigned sickness, and did not leave his room; he has refused to-day
invitations to dinner at the prince primates, the ambassadors, and even
one to the ball given by the grand general of the crown: his supposed
illness was the pretext on which he freed himself from these
obligations.
My former waiting woman was sent away day before yesterday, and
yesterday came the new one, who has sworn upon the crucifix to be silent
upon all she may see and hear.
At five o'clock this morning, the prince palatine knocked at my door; I
had been dressed for at least two hours. We departed as noiselessly as
possible, the prince royal and Prince Martin Lubomirski met us at the
palace gate.... The night was dark, the wind blew, and the cold was
intense. We went on foot to the Carmelite church, because it is the
nearest: our good priest already stood before the altar. If the prince
royal had not supported me, I should have fallen many times during the
passage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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