OF THE FOREST. 85

with truth than the present? Neither were
the gentlemen, nor even the ladies, then
present, slow in availing themselves of these
opportunities; every comparison or simile
in which flowers have any concern was called
forth on the occasion, and the exhilaration
of the moment enabled even the most dull
to do this with effect. But did I say dull?
What Frenchwoman was ever dull in a scene
such as the lawn then presented ?

“Your Feast of the Flowers, Madame la
Baronne,” said the viscomtesse de T. , “is
splendid, is superb: it surpasses all I could
have conceived of a thing of the kind. Yet
I cannot say that these elegant garlands add
beauty to these charming young ladies; I
would rather say that these flowers derive new
splendour from the beauty of those who wear
them.” And she appealed for the confirmation
of her assertion to the comte de § , one
of the few specimens then remaining of the
court of Louis xv.

Being thus called upon, the old courtier
endeavoured to produce some compliment of
a superior nature to that of the lady, and
asserted, that the roses were grown pale, and

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