ine,"
says Madame de Caylus in her Souvenirs. He wrote _Esther_. "Madame de
Maintenon was charmed with the conception and the execution," says Madame
de La Fayette; "the play represented in some sort the fall of Madame de
Montespan and her own elevation; all the difference was that Esther was a
little younger, and less particular in the matter of piety. The way in
which the characters were applied was the reason why Madame de Maintenon
was not sorry to make public a piece which had been composed for the
community only and for some of her private friends. There was exhibited
a degree of excitement about it which is incomprehensible; not one of the
small or the great but would go to see it, and that which ought to have
been looked upon as merely a convent-play became the most serious matter
in the world. The ministers, to pay their court by going to this play,
left their most pressing business. At the first representation at which
the king was present, he took none but the principal officers of his
hunt. The second was reserved for pious personages, such as Father
La Chaise, and a dozen or fifteen Jesuits, with many other devotees of
both sexes; afterwards it extended to the courtiers." "I paid my court
at St. Cyr the other day, more agreeably than I had expected writes
Madame de Sevigne to her daughter: listened, Marshal Bellefonds and I,
with an attention that was remarked, and with certain discreet
commendations which were not perhaps to be found beneath the
head-dresses' of all the ladies present. I cannot tell you how
exceedingly delightful this piece is; it is a unison of music, verse,
songs, persons, so perfect that there is nothing left to desire. The
girls who act the kings and other characters were made expressly for it.
Everything is simple, everything innocent, everything sublime and
affecting. I was charmed, and so was the marshal, who left his place to
go and tell the king how pleased he was, and that he sat beside a lady
well worthy of having seen Esther. The king came over to our seats.
'Madame,' he said to me, 'I am assured that you have been pleased.'
I, without any confusion,' replied, 'Sir, I am charmed; what I feel is
beyond expression.' The king said to me, 'Racine is very clever.'
I said to him, 'Very, Sir; but really these young people are very clever
too; they throw themselves into the subject as if they had never done
aught else.' 'Ah! as to that,' he replied, 'it is quite true.' And