Name: Ninon de l'Enclos
Birth Date: November 10, 1620 – October 17, 1705
Job Functions: French author, Courtesan and Patron of the Arts
I downloaded Superwomen by Albert Payson Terhune from Project Gutenberg last year but didn’t get around to reading it until a few days ago. Superwomen reads more like fiction than facts. There are 12 women profiled and Ninon de l'Enclos is one of the 12 women. Wikipedia claims that Ninon de l'Enclos lived for 85 years, but Albert Payson Terhune says it’s 90 years.
Ninon's father died when she was 15 years old, leaving her an orphan. In 1630, on his deathbed, Sieur de L’Enclos told his daughter whom he adored, “Ninon—little girl of mine—in dying I have but one single regret. I regret that I did not—get more fun out of life. I warn you—daughter—do not make the terrible mistake that I have made. Live—live so that at the last you will not have the same cause for sorrow.”
At fifteen years old, without a soul in the world, Ninon orchestrated a series of deals that allowed her to be compensated more than double the price of what her Touraine property was worth. With her immense riches, Ninon moved to Paris. When she was 20, after returning from a ball, in her bedroom, she noticed a shadowy figure in the mirror. When she turned around she saw a man dressed in black with the brim of his hat covering his face. Because of the courageous person she was, she stood her ground, demanding to know how he entered her room.
He tells her that life is short, but youth is shorter. He adds that without youth there isn’t love. He gives Ninon a small bottle with a potion to put in her bath which would ensure that she remains young and beautiful. He also tells her that at his next appearance, she will die three days later. She could have invented the Man in Black, but true to his word, when he appeared to her next, it was 70 years later when she was 90 and she died three days after his visit.
But back to the story, Ninon had many wealthy and handsome lovers, wanting to give her beautiful and expensive gifts, which she refused, telling them that she had more money than she could possibly spend. She was a good person, helping people in the community. In fact, in her later years, she provided the funds for François-Marie Arouet to get an education. Who is François-Marie Arouet you may ask? We know him by the name of Voltaire, who was a French author (Review of Candide by Voltaire).
Ninon was the one who broke off relationships with her lovers, until she met Comte de Fiesque. Although she had a pleasant disposition, these two were always having disputes so he broke off the relationship. This was new to her, so she wrote him several love letters, but he refused to give her the time of day. This was great fodder for the gossip mill. Finally, Ninon cut off her beautiful, red-gold hair and sent it to Comte de Fiesque, how could a man ignore her after that?
His pride disappeared and he went to her with reconciliation on his mind. Ninon listened to him telling her how devoted he was to her, and when he was finished, she pointed to the door, and that’s how she got her vindication. Interestingly enough, Ninon de l'Enclos started a new fashion trend in Paris with her short hair.
Although Ninon de l'Enclos was a courtesan, she was also an author and patron of the arts. On top of that, she assisted many people and knew that the world wasn’t just about her. Instead of shunning her, there are many lessons we can learn from her. She made use of the inheritance that her father left for her, and built on it. She never squandered the gifts that were given to her. At no time in her life did she allow her possessions to possess her.
One day, Ninon de l'Enclos was hale and hearty, the next day she was ill and in bed. She wrote a letter to a dear friend telling her that she had seen the Man in Black. Three days after she had seen him, Ninon de l'Enclos died.
Source: Superwomen by Albert Payson Terhune
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