to
be hung up in the sick-room, and received from the same Mere Agnes, whose
grave admonition we have quoted above, a charming note, describing the
pleasure which the picture had given in the infirmary of "Notre bonne
Mere." She was interesting herself deeply in the translation of the New
Testament, which was the work of Sacy, Arnauld, Nicole, Le Maitre, and
the Duc de Luynes conjointly, Sacy having the principal share. We have
mentioned that Arnauld asked her opinion on the "Discourse" prefixed to
his "Logic," and we may conclude from this that he had found her judgment
valuable in many other cases. Moreover, the persecution of the Port
Royalists had commenced, and she was uniting with Madame de Longueville
in aiding and protecting her pious friends. Moderate in her Jansenism,
as in everything else, she held that the famous formulary denouncing the
Augustinian doctrine, and declaring it to have been originated by
Jansenius, should be signed without reserve, and, as usual, she had faith
in conciliatory measures; but her moderation was no excuse for inaction.
She was at one time herself threatened with the necessity of abandoning
her residence at Port Royal, and had thought of retiring to a religions
house at Auteuil, a village near Paris. She did, in fact, pass some
summers there, and she sometimes took refuge with her brother, the
Commandeur de Souvre, with Madame de Montausier, or Madame de
Longueville. The last was much bolder in her partisanship than her
friend, and her superior wealth and position enabled her to give the Port
Royalists more efficient aid. Arnauld and Nicole resided five years in
her house; it was under her protection that the translation of the New
Testament was carried on and completed, and it was chiefly through her
efforts that, in 1669, the persecution was brought to an end. Madame de
Sable co-operated with all her talent and interest in the same direction;
but here, as elsewhere, her influence was chiefly valuable in what she
stimulated others to do, rather than in what she did herself. It was by
her that Madame de Longueville was first won to the cause of Port Royal;
and we find this ardent brave woman constantly seeking the advice and
sympathy of her more timid and self-indulgent, but sincere and judicious
friend.

In 1669, when Madame de Sable had at length rest from these anxieties,
she was at the good old age of seventy, but she lived nine years
longer--years, we may suppose, chi