Madame de Montespan (Part One) Magical Enchantments

Lisa Hilton has written a book "Athenais, The Real Queen of France"

which I found helpful and full of information regarding Athenais de

Montespan.  For many years Madame de Montespan  was the delight of the court.  This was

also a sad situation for Queen Marie Therese, who was ever a virtuous

queen.  In an earlier post I described the early years of the court of France,

which may perhaps help a little in understanding the king. 

picture of a rose from wikipedia

Madame de Montespan in the Light,

Courtiers were entranced by your sight;

Mistress-a-Plenty of the Land

Pixies danced at your command

Little elfin shadows in a fairy band;

The king did raise a pavilion for you,

And a castle too:

Trianon de Porcelaine,

Tiled in white and blue

reflecting colours in all the hues

apricot, rose, white, gold and blue

of tulips, lilies and feverfew;

A “Chambre of des Amours”

Imagined as a flower arbour

Thoughts of love forever more;

Traced in silver, white and blue;

Louis's love seemed ever true:

Love domain

named

“Abode of Spring”

Enchanting,

with the flowers of spring;

Entrancing,

with the colours to bring;

Resembling a palace of Nanking

Scent strewn gardens of the King:

Madame de Montespan and the King

At the palace of “Abode of Spring”

in Season's Splendour of the Fall,

Enchanting wonder to enthrall;

Oh, how fancy you would be,

Sparkling in your finery;

Madame de Montespan in the Sun

Shone her light on everyone;

Dancing lady of the Night,

You who were ever so bright;

Beautiful enchantress of the Night

Who could hold a candle light

to your charms and beauty alike?

You who were the King's delight:

The king not knowing of his plight

In the Evening or Morning's Light

Of Love potions in all their might;

Mystical potions his health must fight,

whimsical notions, your fancy's flight;

You need only wave your wand

Cast your spell and raise a hand

Administer a contraband

from a nefarious Paris band

casting shadows over the Land

of a suspected neighbourhood witch;

Soon the King would make a switch

Unknown he had been bewitched:

But for the king was a terrible fright!

Madame La Voisin of the Night-

endured the rigours of her plight;

with great dignity and affright;

You who stood so proud and tall

would sparkle at a glittering ball

reflected in a mirrored Hall

hold the courtiers all in thrall;

gave La Maintenon a worthy call

and with the children did install;

You who were so bountiful

airs and graces wonderful;

Charmed the king in everything;

And as the Clouds do form in Spring

A Queen Bee also with a Sting;

led the king a merry dance

amidst the traditions of Old France;

Fairy-tale carriage and horses pranced

and you did maintain your stance

queen of the court you did enhance;

Midas gave you a golden touch,

Your name was “quanto,” as how much;

the king and his pawn

on a chess piece lawn,

Madame de Montespan was forewarned;

Chateau of Clagny,

ever so fancy,

A Magical enchantment

throughout the years-

Entrancing enhancement,

of blossom and pears,

Symmetries and geometries

Delightful with the orange trees

Swaying gently in a breeze

of allees, parterres in a frieze;

Inspired by poetry of the scene,

jonquil, rose, tulip, and jasmine,

“It is the palace of Armide...

a most enchanting novelty”

wrote Madame de Sevigny,

who amidst the scents of lavender

would in the woods meander;

“Singing in palaces I ought to be

Ringing in years that I'd like to see

Thinking in terms of my Destiny”

Fairest lady of the Land;-

Madame de Montespan!

And the clerics would reprimand:

“The king, his duty and the Land!”

Fancy free,

Within the Realms

of Fantasy be;

Madame de Montespan

dressed decorously

in her Splendour and Majesty

at the Court and at Clagny,

amidst the roses and topiary;

Fans and scarves

and paper parasol,

Colours to match your vibrant soul

Seemly in your queenly role;

In the grounds you would take a stroll,

Fashions which the king would extol;

beauty in the ever leaves

and remarked upon your sleeves

as amongst the foliage you would weave;

Fashions of the every day

Seen now in an ever play;

Beautiful greens and velvets too,

In all their matching splendour new;

Madame de Montespan

and the King,

visited meadows in the spring

and the king along,

would bring

his favourite dogs

Nonne, Pomme and Bonne,

adorned in a Marly hallway wing

gilded in a picture portrait frame

fashioned in everlasting fame

and in style they all came

In a Show which they all became;

Not to confuse the names the same,

Diane, Blonde,

Rougeade and Tane,

Pictured in their window frame

Picturesque enchantments in a pane;

Whistled and echoed the dogs by name,

Would enjoy their hunting game;

All the Court would come to see

Madame de Montespan in her Majesty;

Queen of the Night and Revelry;

A wonder for ballet and décor,

Enchantments from the wall to floor;

had a gift of coquetry;

gracious in vivacity;

dabbled in arts and chicanerie,

Amused with wit and frivolity;

Splendour and Water

La Salle de Bain,

Games and Laughter

at a fountain charm,

frolicking adventures,

a spirit of fun
daily in the ever sun;

picture of roses from wikipedia