Life, Letters, and Epicurean Philosophy of Ninon de L'Enclos - The Celebrated Beauty of the Seventeenth Century by Ninon de Lenclos
page 103 of 315 (32%)
page 103 of 315 (32%)
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assembled around her chair:
"Clusine qui dans tous les temps Eut de tous les honnêtes gens L'amour et l'estime en partage: Qui toujours pleine de bon sens Sut de chaque saison de l'âge Faire à propos un juste usage: Qui dans son entretien, dont on fut enchanté Sut faire un aimable alliage De l'agreable badinage, Avec la politesse et la solidité, Et que le ciel doua d'un esprit droit et sage, Toujours d'intelligence avec la verité, Clusine est, grâce au ciel, en parfaite santé." Such a poem would not be accorded much praise nowadays, but the hearts of her friends regarded the sentiments more than the polish, as a substantial translation into English will serve to show appeared in the lines: Clusine who from our earliest ken Had from all good and honest men Love and esteem a generous share: Who knew so well the season when Her heritage of sense so rare To use with justice and with care: Who in her discourse, friends enchanted all-around, Could fashion out of playful ware An alloy of enduring wear, |
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