ng himself of the general judgment in this way, he took a
novel method of forestalling crtiticism before committing himself
to publication. Mme. de Sable sent a collection of the maxims to her
friends, asking for a written opinion. One is tempted to make long
extracts from their replies. The men usually indorse the worldly
sentiments, the women rarely. The Princesse de Guemene, who, in the
decline of her beauty, was growing devout, and also had apartments for
penitential retreat at Port Royal, responds: "I was just going to write
to beg you to send me your carriage as soon as you had dined. I have yet
seen only the first maxims, as I had a headache yesterday; but those I
have read appear to me to be founded more upon the disposition of
the author than upon the truth, for he believes neither in generosity
without interest, nor in pity; that is, he judges every one by himself.
For the greater number of people, he is right; but surely there are
those who desire only to do good." The Countesse de Maure, who does not
believe in the absolute depravity of human nature, and is inclined to an
elevated Christian philosophy quite opposed to Jansenism, writes with
so much severity that she begs her friend not to show her letter to the
author. Mme. de Hautefort expresses her disapproval of a theory which
drives honor and goodness out of the world. After many clever and
well-turned criticisms, she says: "But the maxim which is quite new to
me, and which I admire, is that idleness, languid as it is, destroys all
the passions. It is true, and he had searched his heart well to find a
sentiment so hidden, but so just... I think one ought, at present, to
esteem idleness as the only virtue in the world, since it is that which
uproots all the vices. As I have always had much respect for it, I
am glad it has so much merit." But she adds wisely: "If I were of the
opinion of the author, I would not bring to the light those mysteries
which will forever deprive him of all the confidence one might have in
him."

There is one letter, written by the clever and beautiful Eleonore de
Rohan, Abbess de Malnoue, and addressed to the author, which deserves to
be read for its fine and just sentiments. In closing she says:

The maxim upon humility appears to me perfectly beautiful; but I have
been so surprised to find it there, that I had the greatest difficulty
in recognizing it in the midst of all that precedes and follows it. It
is assuredly to make th