642 Retrospect of French Literature—History and Biography. 
ences seemed to be the first step towards 
his glory, as it was destined, indeed, to 
be one day: the term, and the recom- 
ence of all his labours.” 
In 1689, the prince of Condé sent his 
son to command in Burgundy, and he 
made his first campaign under the inspec- 
tion of the Marshal de la Meilleraye. 
On his return (on the 11th of February, 
1641,) he, at his father’s express request, 
was married to Claire Clement de Maillé 
Breze, niece. to the cardinal-minister, 
whom he so muchdetested. 
After this, he performed prodigies of 
valour, at the sieges of Collioure, Perpig- 
nan, and Salces. On his way home he 
passed through Lyons, and neglected to 
visit the archbishop of that city, who was 
the brother of Richelieu. “ The impe- 
rious minister immediately complained 
to the Prince de Condé, and insisted that 
he should send his son back again, for the 
sole purpose of repairing an omission. 
which was so displeasing to him. The 
cardinal was at once powerful and impla- 
cable; the princeidolized his son: nature 
spoke on this occasion, and pride was 
forced to be silent.” 
On the demise of Richlieu, soon after, 
the house of Condé immediately reclaim- 
ed its birth right, and insisted, at the same 
time, that the princes of the blood royal 
should enjoy that precedency over car- 
dinals, which had been denied them du- 
ring the life of his eminence. Louis XIII. 
mmediately declared the Prince de 
Condé the head of his council, and at the 
same time conferred on the Duke d’Eng- 
hien the command of the army which was 
destined tocover Champagne and Picardy. 
While marching to the succour of Rocroi, 
his highness learned that the king was no 
more, ; and there were not wanting some 
who advised him to abandon the defence 
of the frontiers, in order to march to Pa- 
ris immediately with his army, that he 
might there regulate the regency accord- 
ing to his own inclinations, Rejecting 
such a perfidious advice, he hastened to 
relieve a town besieged by the enemy. 
After achieving this, he obtained the 
Marechal de ’Hopital’s consent to give 
battle, and the Spaniards were vanquished 
at Rocroi. 
“ On this occasion the Duke d’Enghien 
fell on his knees at the head of bis army, 
in order to return thanks to the God of 
Battles, for the victory which he had just 
gained. He then embraced all his gene- 
rals, paying them at the same time many 
compliments, and also promising recom- 
pences of a more substantial nature, 
During this famous action, which cost 
only 2000 men to France, the Spaniards 
lost more than 16000, twenty-one pieces 
of artillery, 300 standards, ‘and a great 
number of officers, among whom was the 
brave Count Fuentés, whose cool valour 
had nearly proved so fatal to France, and 
who expired by the side of the litter on 
which he had been carried.” 
The next exploit was the siege of Thi- 
onville, captured in 1643, and which ren- 
dered the conqueror master of the Mo- 
selle; after this, he returned to Paris, 
where he was received with an uncom 
mou degree of distinction. , 
In 1644, the duke commen a body 
of troops in the country of Luxemburg, 
and projected the siege of Treves, but this 
measure was rejected by the court, from 
which he received orders to march to the: 
banks of the Rhine, and join the army 
commanded by M. de Turenne. At Fri- 
bourg, they attacked General Merci in 
conjunction, and it was on this occasion, 
that the duke, dismounting from his horse, 
and placing himself at the head of the re- 
giment of Conti, advanced towards the 
entrenchments of the enemy, into which 
he threw his baton or staff of office, which 
proved the signal of victory. A new ac- 
tion took place the next day, and the suc- 
cess would have been still more complete, 
had it not been for the precipitation of 
d’Espénan, one of the generals under his 
cominand: Merci, however thought pro- 
per to retire, and was closely pursued 
during his retreat. 
On his return to court, the duke per- 
formed actions of another kind, less bril-. 
liant deed, but assuredly no docs meri- 
torious. The Count de Chabot leved 
Mademoiselle de Rohan, and was be- 
loved by her in return; their union, 
however, experienced some difficulties, 
which were ~entirely removed by our 
young hero, who obtained for him the 
rauk of duke and peer. The Chancellor 
Seguier was irritated because the Mar- 
chioness de Coislin, his daughter, had es- 
poused M. de Laval, without asking his 
leave: the duke took it upon himself to 
appease the offended parent, and suc- 
ceeded. The Duke de Chatillon was 
enamoured with Mademorselle de Boutte- 
ville, and wished to marry her: the young 
D’Enghicn, on this occasion, sacriliced his 
own passion in behalf of Ins friend, and 
not only brought about an allignce, but 
scrupulously respected those ties which 
he himself had formed. 
In 1646, Cardinal Mazarin conferred 
on the Duke d’ Enghien the command of 
the 
