Tags
Alix de France, art, Belaud, crises, Fantin-Latour, Joachim du Bellay, larkspur, lilacs, peonies, the United States
Lilacs, by Fantin-Latour, 1872
Larkspur, 1888
Vase of Peonies, 1902
I am Belaud (pronounced ‘below’), the little fur person who shares Micheline’s life. She has asked me to write a note on her behalf. She somehow got interested in “The Fox and the Crow” and started writing a post she could not finish.
She is lucky to be able to count on me when such “accidents” occur. The best remedy, I told her, is to slash and slash. She explained that there were times when one could not slash and slash. Since the Syrian crisis and the debt-ceiling crisis, one nearly overlapping the other, she has not been her usual self. What would she do without me?
Micheline is now returning to her post. The arrangement is that she will discuss the moral in one post and will provide additional information in a separate post. I explained that she may run out of pictures, but this does not appear to be the case.
About me, Belaud
I am a pure-bred chartreux and, as we will see, a celebrated cat, but Micheline does not take me to shows. The two of us stick to a humble lifestyle. She says class is irrelevant. After all, she is, on her maternal grandmother’s side, a descendant of Alix de France, one of Eleanor of Aquitaine‘s (1122 or 1124 – 1 April 1204) two daughters by King Louis VII.
During the years she spent in Nova Scotia, she didn’t know this and knowing has not improved her life. She cannot play a musical instrument in this apartment and selling it, the apartment that is, would not buy her a little house or a townhouse however humble.
Joachim du Bellay (c. 1522 – 1 January 1560; aged 37) was the first French author who felt French could be a literary language. He was a member of the Pléiade, an informal academy. He wrote their manifesto: Défense et illustration de la langue française (La Deffence, et Illustration de la Langue Francoyse, 1549.)
There is one poem Micheline loves: Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage,… (Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has gone on a beautiful trip,…). Du Bellay was in Rome, but missed la doulceur angevine, gentle Anjou.
Despite lineage, no great author has made Micheline into a celebrity. But Joachim du Bellay eulogized his cat Belaud, one of my ancestors: Sur la mort de Belaud. I don’t think anyone will eulogize Micheline, not even me, except modestly, if I’m still alive. Public speaking scares me.
RELATED ARTICLES
La Pléiade: Du Bellay (michelinewalker.com) Belaud the Cat (michelinewalker.com) Belaud the Cat’s Suite (michelinewalker.com)Henri Fantin-Latour (14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904)
Belaud
Micheline's Blog 
Lovely.
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That Belaud might become a great writer. We’ll have to watch him. Thank you Barbara and best regards. Micheline
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Very fun post, and very interesting connections! Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Louis!
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Naomi, sometimes one has to delegate. So Belaud wrote a post. I didn’t know about the connections until recently. Louis XVI was a descendant of Louis VII. Louis XVI was guillotined, but he had a brother who has living descendants. I think this discovery is rather amusing, but it hasn’t changed anything in my life and never will. It’s information.
I hope you are well Naomi. Take good care of yourself.
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Dear Micheline,
It might not change anything, but it must make reading French history more fascinating and immediate for you!
P.S. Tell Belaud ‘good job’!
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Dear Naomi,
You are absolutely right. I have always loved studying history, but it has made me more curious and I remember what I learn. I also know I have interesting relatives in France. There was a time when aristocrats could no longer provide a dowry for more than one daughter and sent the other(s) to a convent. I believe there may have been genuine “filles du roy” among the “filles du roy” who were sent to New France so settlers would have wives. These girls did not want to be locked up in a convent for the rest of their lives.
Yes, I read history differently.
I’ll tell Belaud he did a “good job.”
My best Naomi.
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And to you, dear Micheline!
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Love to you Naomi!
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Great post… Great writer… Beautiful cat!
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Those beautiful grey cats. They are definitely gifted writers. Belaud is a lovely cat. Very gentle and loving. These animals are a blessing.
Thank you Herman
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Belaud knows how to write a good post 🙂
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Dear Gallivanta,
Belaud is a gifted cat. He knows how to write and he gives me practical advice. He has his own space on my desk so he can participate. He follows me around.
He’s a very quiet cat and very calm, except for about fifteen minutes a day when he runs around at an unbelievable speed. I suppose this is his exercise.
I thank you for writing Gallivanta and wish you a lovely day. Micheline 🙂
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A special pat (if he will allow it) from me to Belaud.
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Belaud is a very loving cat who truly loves people. He will be thankful for a little pat. He is a very fine presence in my life, a constant companion.
Thank you Gallivanta. You’re very kind.
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Perhaps you and Belaud would enjoy my post about another cat who comes with beautiful music too. http://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/3004/
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Belaud, it was such a treat to read your post on Micheline’s behalf. Your post was very interesting – I’m going to check out some of the links you have offered us. 🐱
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She will finally let me use the computer. I told her that I knew what to say in a post, but she wasn’t listening. I will now be a guest author, from time to time. Yours was the first comment I got. Thank you Teri.
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You are welcome, Belaud. I’m happy for your promotion! I look forward to reading your future posts. =^.^=
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OOps, Belaud the Cat’s Suite’s link doesn’t work … 😦
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Thank you for letting me know. I have refreshed the links. They should work. Please let me know if one has gone berserk. As Belaud would say, technologies are not as reliable as they should be. But he might also say that I am not as competent as he is.
I hope you’re well.
Micheline 🙂
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Belaud is such a great writer… !!!
A very interesting & creative post here Micheline… Thanks for sharing;
Cheers, Aquilleana 🙂
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Belaud is so happy to have written a post. He is such a good cat.
Sharing was fun.
Thank you for writing.
Cheers, 🙂
Micheline
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