Louis XIII., of France, “infirm in health, in mind more feeble, and Richelieu’s plaything.”—Lord Lytton, Richelieu (1839).
Louis XIV. It is rather remarkable that the number 14 is obtained by adding together the figures of his age at death, the figures which make the date of his coronation, and the figures of the date of his death. For example:
Age 77, which added together = 14.
Crowned 1643, which added together = 14.
Died 1715, which added together = 14.
Louis XIV. and La Vallière. Louis XIV. fell in love with La Vallière, a young lady in the queen’s train. He overheard the ladies chatting. One said, “How handsome looks the duke de Guiche to-night?” Another said, “Well to my taste, the graceful Grammont bears the bell from all.” A third remarked, “But then that charming Lauzun has so much wit.” But La Vallière said, “I scarcely marked them. When the king is by, who can have eyes, or ears, or thought for others?” and when the others chaffed her, she replied:
Who spoke of love?
The sunflower, gazing on the lord of heaven,
Asks but its sun to shine. Who spoke of love?
And who would wish the bright and lofty Louis