It now remains but to illustrate these various classes by types—­by women who have become famous.  The Duchesse de Boufflers, Marechale de Luxembourg, was the woman who most completely typified the spirit and tone of the eighteenth-century classique in everything that belonged to the ancient regime which passed away with the society of 1789.  She was the daughter of the Duc de Villeroy, and married the Duc de Boufflers in 1721; after the death of the latter in 1747, and after having been the mistress of M. de Luxembourg for several years, she married him in 1750.  Her youth was like that of most women of the social world.  A savante in intrigues at court, present at all suppers, bouts, and pleasure trips as lady-of-the-palace to the queen, intriguing constantly, holding her own by her sharp wit, in a society of roues et elegants enerves she soon became a leader.  Mme. du Deffand left a striking portrait of her: 

“Mme. la Duchesse de Boufflers is beautiful without having the air of suspecting it.  Her physiognomy is keen and piquant, her expression reveals all the emotions of her soul—­she does not have to say what she thinks, one guesses it.  Her gestures are so natural and so perfectly in accord with what she says, that it is difficult not to be led to think and feel as she does.  She dominates wherever she is, and she always makes the impression she desires to make.  She makes use of her advantages almost like a god—­she permits us to believe that we have a free will while she determines us.  In general, she is more feared than loved.  She has much esprit and gayety.  She is constant in her engagements, faithful to her friends, truthful, discreet, generous.  If she were more clairvoyant or if men were less ridiculous, they would find her perfect.”

On one occasion M. de Tressan composed this famous couplet: 

  “Quand Boufflers parut a la cour,
  On crut voir la mere d’Amour,
  Chacun s’empressait a lui plaire,
  Et chacun l’avait a son tour.”

[When Boufflers appeared at court, The mother of love was thought to be seen, Everyone became so eager to please her, And each one had her in his turn.]

One day Mme. de Boufflers mumbled this before M. de Tressan, saying to him:  “Do you know the author?  It is so beautiful that I would not only pardon her, but I believe I would embrace her.”  Whereupon he stammered:  Eh bien! c’est moi. She quickly dealt him two vigorous slaps in the face.  All feared her; no one equalled her in skill and shrewdness, or in knowing and handling men.