Chapter 36

Chapter XXXVI:
The Bath.

At Vulaines, beneath the impenetrable shade of flowering osiers and
willows, which, as they bent down their green heads, dipped the
extremities of their branches in the blue waters, a long and flat-
bottomed boat, with ladders covered with long blue curtains, served as a
refuge for the bathing Dianas, who, as they left the water, were watched
by twenty plumed Acteons, who, eagerly, and full of admiration, galloped
up and down the flowery banks of the river. But Diana herself, even the
chaste Diana, clothed in her long chlamys, was less beautiful - less
impenetrable, than Madame, as young and beautiful as that goddess
herself. For, notwithstanding the fine tunic of the huntress, her round
and delicate knee can be seen; and notwithstanding the sonorous quiver,
her brown shoulders can be detected; whereas, in Madame's case, a long
white veil enveloped her, wrapping her round and round a hundred times,
as she resigned herself into the hands of her female attendants, and thus
was rendered inaccessible to the most indiscreet, as well as to the most
penetrating gaze. When she ascended the ladder, the poets were present –
and all were poets when Madame was the subject of discussion - the twenty
poets who were galloping about, stopped, and with one voice, exclaimed
that pearls, and not drops of water, were falling from her person, to be
lost again in the happy river. The king, the center of these effusions,
and of this respectful homage, imposed silence upon those expatiators,
for whom it seemed impossible to exhaust their raptures, and he rode
away, for fear of offending, even through the silken curtains, the
modesty of the woman and the dignity of the princess. A great blank
thereupon ensued in the scene, and perfect silence in the boat. From the
movements on board - from the flutterings and agitations of the curtains
- the goings to and fro of the female attendants engaged in their duties,
could be guessed.

The king smilingly listened to the conversation of the courtiers around
him, but it could easily be perceived that he gave but little, if any,
attention to their remarks. In fact, hardly had the sound of the rings
drawn along the curtain-rods announced that Madame was dressed, and that
the goddess was about to make her reappearance, than the king, returning
to his former post immediately, and running quite close to the river-
bank, gave the signal for all those to approach whose duty or pleasure
summoned them to Madame's side. The pages hurried forward, conducting
the led horses; the carriages, which had remained sheltered under the
trees, advanced towards the tent, followed by a crowd of servants,
bearers, and female attendants, who, while their masters had been