File:Versailles and the court under Louis XIV (1905) (14579564688).jpg

Identifier: versaillescourtu00farm (find matches)
Title: Versailles and the court under Louis XIV
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Farmer, James Eugene, 1867-1915
Subjects: Versailles (France) -- Description France -- Court and courtiers
Publisher: New York, The Century co.
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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of splendor. On the second day the amusement was comedy. A theaterhad been erected in a salle of verdure in the park, and hungwith tapestries which prevented the breeze from reaching theflames of the torches and candles. The troupe of Moliereplayed the Princesse dElide, Moliere himself taking the roleof Moron. The actors were in fancy costumes, and theactresses were attended by pages, who carried their longtrains. At the conclusion of the comedy there were songsand dances. For the third day another theater had been constructed,this time at the end of the Royal Allee, including the basinof Apollo. Behind the basin a palace of Alcina had beenconstructed as a background: the basin formed the enchantedlake. The king and the two queens sat on a dais facingthe basin, with the lords and ladies of the court at either side.The spectacle began with a concert, conducted by Lulli, andrendered by the kings musicians. Alcina then appeared inher barge on the enchanted lake, and addressed the two 122
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Louise Franchise de la Baume-le-Blanc, Duchesse de la Valhere The Fetes of Versailles queens in verse. When she waved her wand her enchantedpalace, thanks to the skill of Vigarani, stood glittering inlines of light. Alcinas subjects, demons, dwarfs, and giants,danced a brilliant ballet, after which Roger (who on thisoccasion was not the king) appeared with other knights, andprepared to storm the castle. Alcina rallied her subjects,but since Roger had the ring which destroyed enchantments,the palace vanished in a whirlwind of fire. This display offireworks, planned by Vigarani, was the conclusion of thefete. On the following day, the ioth, there was another runningat the ring, this time in the moats surrounding the chateau,1and the court watched it from the balconies. His Majestywon the prize, but left it to be gained by others. Finally theDue de Coislin won it, and received the diamond from thequeens hand. In the afternoon of the nth, Louis took thecourt to promenade in the Menagerie,

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