and their vividly green clipped yews. Turn to the west and survey the
Royal Allée, the Basin of Apollo, and the Grand Canal, or look to the
north to the Allée of Ceres, or to the south to that of Bacchus, and you
realize the harmony that existed between Mansard and Le Nôtre in the
decoration of the chateau and in the plan of the gardens." Beyond the
palace and the surrounding gardens lay the park in which the Grand
Trianon was built, of marble, near the bank of the Grand Canal. Madame
de Maintenon, who became the King's second wife, was housed within these
sumptuous walls, which were completed in 1688.

And so the construction of this miracle work of the Great Monarch went
on. In Versailles, Louis was bent on realizing himself, and nothing but
himself. The Pharaoh of Egypt built his pyramids with as little
consideration of what it meant in tribute from his subjects. Each year
took its toll in money and men to make this home of Louis the
Magnificent. "The King," wrote Madame de Sévigné on the twelfth of
October, 1678, "wishes to go on Saturday to Versailles, but it seems that
God does not wish it, by the impossibility of putting the buildings in a
state to receive him, and by the great mortality among the workmen." But
the work had continued, as the King commanded, and when he finally
entered into possession of his new palace in 1682 with all his Court,
thirty-six thousand men and six thousand horses were still engaged in
making matters comfortable and satisfactory for His Glorious Majesty.
"The State," exclaimed the Sun King, "it is I!" and in the same mood he
might have added, "Versailles--it is the State!"




CHAPTER III