On their first night Louis XV said reproachfully to his mistress Countess d’Esparbes,”you have slept with every one of my subjects!”
Bashfully she said,”Oh Sire!” “You have had the Duc de Choiseul.” “He is so powerful.”
“The Marechal de Richelieu.” “He is so witty.” “Monville.” “He has such beautiful legs.” “Very well, but what about the Duc d’Aumont, who has none of these?”
“Ah sire,” replied she, “he, he is so devoted to your
Majesty!”
2.
Madame duBarry (1741-1793)
Illegitimate daughter of a cook she became the favorite mistress of Louis XV, who declared that she was the only woman who made him forget he was 70-something.
As a young girl she was put in a high-class brothel where she was bewildered by exaggerated affections and mannerisms of her colleagues. She felt out of place and lost, which her mother tried to comfort thus, ”Don’t worry, men tire of always eating capons and delicate fruit; a good cabbage now and then delights them.”
benny
i haven’t heard of the first anecdote so thank you for sharing it! well, one thing about du barry is certain: she clearly knew how to please her king
Obviously in addition to her other charms Countess d’Esparbes was also quick-witted.