O54 
asthe frame, and truth as the picture 
_ within it. The result of this plan, and 
this combination, is an historical drama, 
so that an addition is thus made on the 
score of interest, while nothing is lost in 
point of exactness.” 
The character given of Louis XIV. is 
rather just than flattering. His life is di- 
vided into three grand epochs. His 
youth is represented as having been spent 
in follies of every kind, which, in general, 
were no less culpable than ridiculous, 
During the period of maturity, he is de- 
picted as surrounded with all the splen- 
dour of power and of glory; while tow- 
ards the end of his career, he is consi- 
dered as having fallen into a degrading 
state of dotage and hypocrisy. At length, 
1€ Is made to expire overwhelmed with 
misfortunes, bereaved of fame, a prey to 
sorrow, and subjected to the most terri- 
ble reverses of fortune. 
__ Christina, who is the first personage 
introduced upon the scene, immediately 
after her abdication, arrives in France, at 
@ momentous period, that of the civil 
wars. She has an interview with Condé 
in the lines of Arras; there also she 
meets with the principal partisans of that 
prince during the troubles of the Fronde, 
and by means of them becomes acquaint- 
ed with the most mteresting events of so 
singular an epoch. ‘This naturally pro- 
duces the portraits of several of the 
most remarkable personages, as well as a 
variety of details relative to the manners 
and the opinions of that day. 
Christina does not appear to occupy a 
very modest part in these annals, for she 
seems to throw open her arms to every 
handsome man she meets with. She, 
however, to do her justice, does not con- 
fine herself solely to the orgies of gallan- 
try, but enters into the spirit of all the 
sroubles that occurred during the regency, 
or, as it is here termed, the vergn of BMa- 
zarine. On hearmg the recital of those 
events, her ex-majesty exclaims, “* What 
a court! what a mixture of frivolity and 
crime! It appears as if, during those 
unhappy times, every species of wicked- 
ness had been practised: it seems to me 
as if the poniard of Machiavel had been 
wreathed with garlands. It is a well 
known fact, and every one must own it, 
that the Prince, the Minister, the Coadju- 
tor, conspired their reciprocal assassina- 
tions in succession. Blood has flowed 
more than once in the streets, amidst 
_songs and music, and it has sometimes 
happened, that those who have unchain- 
ed the populace, have themselves been in 
“agitated the whole of Europe. 
Retrospect of French Literature—History. 
danger of becoming their victims: this 
was the case in respect both to the Co-ad- 
jutor, and even Condé himself. The last_ 
was on the point of being twice carried 
off, particularly during an affair of gal- 
lantry; and he was indebted solely to the 
pity of Rochefoucault for his life on ano- 
ther occasion, as, but for him, he would 
have been assassinated in parliament.” 
Her majesty, after this, addresses her 
audience relative to the memorable revo- 
lutions which, nearly at the same time, 
She is 
also at some pains to reveal the powerful, 
but hitherto secret, motives, that had in- 
duced her to quit the throne. 
“‘ Gentlemen (says she), during an in- 
terview with Boutteville and Coligny, 
when my own had the honour to be reck- 
oned among the crowned heads, and 
‘particularly some time after having sent 
the Count de la Gardie in quality of am- 
bassador into France,.I began to enter- 
tain not a few serious reflections. I con- 
sidered, that like the volcanoes, the erup- 
tions of which are felt in so many places 
at the same time, the states of Europe 
were then agitated by a revolutionary fe- 
ver, that exhibited all the symptoms of 
contagion. In fact, ie was nearly du- 
rine the same period that the san- 
cuinary Massaniello, seconded by your 
Duke de Guise, reigned at Naples by 
means of the most execrable terror; that 
the English cut off the head of Charles 
I. and that the French were not only 
eager in their endeavours to drive away 
their king, but actually burnt the ef- 
fiey of his minister, for whose murder 
they had already offered a sum of mo- 
ney. 
Coligny.— The flame, in short, was 
universal; for at that very period the 
Turks massacred their Sultan Ibrahiin ; 
the Algerines their Dey; the Moguls 
overwhelmed Hindostan by means of ci- 
vil wars; the Chinese were conquered by 
the Tartars; and, to complete the whole, 
returning to Europe, a conspiracy was en- 
tered into against the life of the King of 
Spain.” ; 
Chrisiina.—“ This proceeded entirely 
from the spirit of independence that had 
discovered itself during the preceding 
age. I myself recollect the moment 
when the-train was set, the match was 
lighted, and the North was on the point 
of being devoured by similar flames, It 
was then ” i 
Coligny.—< That you preferred a pri- 
vate condition to the perils of sove- 
reignty.” sper 
Christina, 
