Du Barry

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

ba-re', Countess Jeanne Becu, zhan ba'ku (1746-1793), mistress of Louis XV, after 1768. She was a handsome, witty, and utterly unprincipled woman. To secure a title, she married the Count du Barry. She obtained great influence at court and, together with her confidants, ruled the king. Courtiers abased themselves, since certain offices and privileges were in her gift. On the death of Louis XV she was banished from court, but was given a pension. After the outbreak of the Revolution she went to England to sell her jewels. On her return she was arrested as a Royalist. She was tried and convicted of "having wasted the treasures of the state, of conspiracy against the republic, and of having worn mourning in London for the late king." She was sentenced to death and was beheaded December 7, 1793. It is said that, of all the women who met death on the guillotine during the Revolution, Du Barry showed the least courage. She implored the people to deliver her and begged the executioner for even one moment of life. It is estimated that Du Barry cost France 35,000,000 francs, about $7,000,000. Nay already, in the afternoon, behold is not this your sorceress Du Barry with the handkerchief at her eyes, mounting D'Aiguillon's chariot; rolling off in his duchess' consolatory arms? She is gone: and her place knows her no more. Vanish, false sorceress, into space! Needless to hover at neighboring Ruel; for thy day is done. Shut are the royal palace-gates for evermore; hardly in coming years shalt thou, under cloud of night, descend once, in black domino, like a black night-bird, and disturb the fair Antoinette's music party in the park; all birds of paradise flying from thee, and musical windpipes growing mute. Thou unclean, yet unmalignant, not unpitiable thing, what a course was thine; from that first trucklebed (in Joan of Arc's country) where thy mother bore thee, with tears, to an unnamed father; forward, through lowest subterranean depths, and over highest sunlit heights, of harlotdom and rascaldom--to the guillotine-axe, which shears away thy vainly whimpering head! Rest there uncursed; only buried and abolished: what else befitted thee?--Carlyle, French Revolution .