Tea at Trianon: Off to the Mountains

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Off to the Mountains

I am off to visit some friends who have a house in the mountains for a few days. It is close to a lovely shrine. I do not know how much I will be online but am going to try to spend a lot of time reading on the porch and working on my novel. One of my godsons is being confirmed and so there will be festivities and lots of visiting. But overall, it will be a bit like a retreat. Please keep me in your prayers. Share

5 comments:

Anonymous said...: Is the wind going to carry you there, as it is the girl in the painting? (I love these paintings you've been having on here the past few days!)

Have a wonderful trip--may your spirit be renewed and strengthened and may you get much work done on your novel!

love and prayers,
Georgette; May 9, 2007 at 3:58:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: Elena

Have a wonderful time you will be missed!

Yours in Christ,

Marie; May 9, 2007 at 8:18:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: Have a refreshing and fun time! :); May 9, 2007 at 8:54:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: Have a wonderful time. I am leaving for the mountains of eastern France (Savoie–Franche Comté) on Saturday to give conferences in two Benedictine monasteries. I will catch up with you upon my return.; May 10, 2007 at 1:30:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Thanks, everybody! I am having a blessed time!; May 10, 2007 at 9:53:00 AM EDT