She possessed a
simple and natural eloquence, saying always what she chose, and as
she chose, and nothing more. Secret with regard to herself;
faithful to the confidence of others; gifted with an exterior, nay,
an interior, of gayety, good humor, and evenness of temper, which
rendered her perfectly mistress of herself at all times and in all
circumstances. Never did any woman possess more art without the
appearance of art; never was a more fertile head, or superior
knowledge of the human heart, and the means of ruling it. She was,
however, proud and haughty; hurrying forward directly to her ends,
without regard to the means; but still, if possible, clothing them
with a mild and plausible exterior. She was nothing by halves;
jealous and imperious in her attachments; a zealous friend,
unchangeable by time or absence, and a most implacable and
inveterate enemy. Finally, her love of existence was not greater
than her love of power; but her ambition was of that towering kind
which women seldom feel, and superior even to the ordinary spirit
of man."

Such was the woman who was to give tone to the new administration and to
aid the young king and queen in the difficult tasks which were before
them. Philip was not a decided success, except as a soldier; he yielded
much to his wilful wife, and the Princess Orsini was soon accepted by
them both as a trustworthy guide. The following extract from a letter
written by the French ambassador to his court soon after her
installation is significant in her praise: "I see the queen will
infallibly govern her husband, and therefore we must be careful that she
governs him well. For this object the intervention of the princess is
absolutely necessary; her progress is considerable; and we have no other
means to influence her royal mistress, who begins to show that she will
not be treated as a child." During the fourteen warlike years which
followed, and which resulted in the complete submission of all the
Spanish provinces to the will of Philip V., Marie Louise was devoted to
her husband's cause, and developed a strong character as she grew older;
but in 1714, just as quiet had come and the country under the new
administrative scheme had begun to win back some of its former thrift
and prosperity, death came to her suddenly, and Philip was left alone
with the resourceful Orsini, who rarely failed in her underta