N° 46.
THE GUARDIAN .
265
in polite learning, as well as of good experience in matters of war.
« The ſon of this Daubigné was father to the preſent madam Maintenon. This gentleman was thrown into priſon when he was but a youth, for what reaſon I cannot learn ; but his life it
ſeems, was in queſtion, if the keeper of the pri ſon's daughter (touched with his misfortunes and his merit) had not determined with herſelf to ſet
him at liberty. Accordingly, a favourable op portunity preſenting itſelf, the ſet the priſoner at
large, and accompanied him herſelf in his flight. The lovers finding themſelves now in no danger
of being apprehended, monſieur Daubigné ac
quitted himſelf of the promiſe he had given his fair deliverer, and married her publicly. To pro vide againſt their immediate want in a ſtrange place, the had taken with her what ſhe found at home moſt valuable and eaſy to be carried off. All this was converted into money ; and while their little treaſure lafted our new-married cou
ple thought themſelves the happieſt perſons living. But their proviſion now began to fail, and mon
fieur Daubigné, who plainly ſaw the ſtraits to which they muſt be in little time reduced, not
withſtanding all his love and tenderneſs, thought he ſhould ſoon be in a far worſe condition than
that from which he had ſo lately eſcaped. But what moſt afflicted him was to ſee that his wife,
whom he loved ſo tenderly, muſt be reduced to
the utmoſt neceſſity, and that too at a time when ſhe was big with child. “ Monſieur Daubigne, preſſed with theſe diffi culties, formed to himſelf a very hazardous refo
