[67]At the age of seventy-six, madame de Sévigné's grandson, the young marquis de Grignan, sought lier friendship; thus, in some sort, she reigned over three generations of the same family. The one fault of Ninon so unsexes her that we must regard her character rather as belonging to a man than a woman. "I saw the disadvantages women labour under," she said, "and I chose to assume the position of a man (et je me fis homme)." She regulated her conduct by what was considered honourable in a man—honourable, not moral. Her talents and generous qualities caused her to be respected and loved by a large circle of distinguished friends. Madame de Maintenon was her early and intimate friend: even when she became devout she continued to prize Ninon's friendship, and wrote to her to give good lessons to her incorrigible brother.
[68]His song, excusing his idleness, is very good: it is in dialogue between himself and the chief among those who blamed him, the count de Bussy-Rabutin.
"AIR.—'Or nous dites, Marie.'
BUSSY.
"Or nous dites, Coulanges,
Magistrat sans pareil,
Par quel destin étrange
Quittez-vous le conseil?
COULANGES.
"Lisez, lisez l'histoire:
Vous verrez qu'avant nous
Les héros, las de gloire.
Allaient planter des choux.
BUSSY.
"Le bel exemple à suivre
Que Dioclétien!
Est-ce ainsi qu'il faut vivre?
Il n'étoit pas chrétien.
COULANGES.