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A26220
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Memoires of the court of France relating to the amours of the Duke of Maine and the marriages of the other illegitimate children of the French king with the princes and princesses of the blood / written in French by Madam Daunois ; and done into English by Mr. A.B.
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Aulnoy, Madame d' (Marie-Catherine), 1650 or 51-1705.; A. B., Mr.
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1697
(1697)
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Wing A4219; ESTC R24191
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66,216
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148
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her the following Words Who er'e can calm his Passion was True An Heart that once could Love will always do This is to treat Love like a Soldier quoth the Dutchess of Maine smiling and to let us know moreover that your Passion never strays out of call of your Reason but yet there is some thing remaining in your Eyes that perswades me you still have more than ordinary kindness for your Mistress And Im ' of opinion those verses the Duke of Chartres sent a Lady who pretended she could Love no longer are very proper to be apply'd to your Case How easie is a Flame renew'd Whose Snuff retains but too much Fire So is a Lovers Heart subdu'd By the least Spark of a Desire I am of the same Opinion Madam reply'd the Count and have some times practis'd accordingly but as to this Lady I have determin'd to persist in my Resolutions because she has often repeated the like Inconstancy Love it must be granted Sir reply'd the Dutchess whether True or False is not very easy to be withstood Madam Interrupted her Friend who had not yet offer'd her Sentiments As I have said before your Highness sees that it were best to turn Philosopher and Dote only upon the Arts and Sciences for all other Love is but a Torment The Conversation run still upon this Subject when the Duke of Maine enter'd the Chamber who after having taking due notice of the Company clap'd himself down upon a Squab Couch and fell to Reading a small Novel call'd The Jealous Wives Certainly quoth the Count of Tolouse looking over his Shoulder this must be a very pretty Book Nothing pleases me so much as to see a Woman play her Part well that way And on the contrary reply'd the Duke bluntly striking his Hand upon the Table nothing to me is so a greater Torment The Dutchess hereupon cast down her Eyes and Answer'd not one Word and soon after entering her Chamber fell to her former Agony and shed abundance of Tears which the Duke yet took no care to wipe off Good God! exclaim'd the unhappy Princess How deaf is this Lord to my Griefs and how regardless of my Sighs The Duke of Maine hearing her Lament could no longer forbear going to ask her with a great deal of Concern what she ail'd Do you then my Lord ask me that Question reply'd the Princess very sorrowfully I have but too too sufficient Reason sure whilst I have learn'd that you Love me no more but have altogether bestow'd your Heart on another What a Fantastical humour quoth the Duke have you Madam got in your head your Sex are ever fond of these sort of Fancies to disturb ye I tell you Madam if you will believe me I am still and will always be yours and tho' I may not continue the same triffling Dalliance that attends Love in its Birth I have nevertheless the same kindness for you Marriage and an entire Possession of what one Loves dispises this Foolish niceness I am satisfy'd my dear Duke cry'd the Dutchess throwing her Arms about his Neck but notwithstanding you must give me leave to fear you do not Love me only 'T is but your groundless Fancy Madam quoth the Duke as I told you before Come rid your self of these unkind Suspicions which are little suiting with your Temper and Quality Alas reply'd the Dutchess sighing then I have been basely misinform'd for I have been told Dearest that you Love Mademoiselle de to Distruction who 't is reported is the greatest Beauty of all Madam Maintenon's Serraglio The World then knows more than I my Dear answer'd the Duke The Lady you speak of is indeed wonderfully Handsom but the Access to her Heart is no less difficult and besides if she were never so easy to Conquer a marry'd Man as I am sure would sigh at her Feet but with a very ill Grace There are some Coquetts in the World reply'd the Dutchess will give themselves the hearing of all a Man can say to 'em for Diversions sake but is it possible for any Woman to resist you who have the greatest Talent imaginable for such Addresses The Duke laught heartily at his Dutchess's Compliment and grasping her close to his Bosom told her she was a little Impertinent Gipsy and took Pleasure in vexing him But continu'd he be assured dearest my Heart shall be altogether thine therefore if you would oblige me let me hear no more of these Distrusts adding moreover Jealousy never becomes a Person of your Birth I know its cause is grounded on Love but having no just Foundation I hope you 'll have regard for the future both to my quiet and your own But will you then swear to be Constant Prince quoth the Dutchess for must Persons only be believ'd on their Oaths in this Case Madam reply'd the Duke I thought you had known me better than to distrust me Ah Sir quoth the Dutchess sighing but that part of a Man is always most Subject to vary therefore whilst the Dutchess was going on with her Reflections a Servant of the Dukes interupted her bringing his Lord a Letter The Dutchess at this being a little surpriz'd hastily caught it out of his Hand but not being able to maintain her Conquest she was soon forc'd to let go her hold and leave the Prince at Liberty who retiring into his Apartment shut to the door and read these following Words from an old Mistress of his the Countess Bridget YOur Silence and Indifference Prince equally injure my Love which is but too much in extream How can you have the Heart to cause her so much Torment whom you have so often Sworn to Love all your Life long The Hostages your Highness sent as a Pledge of your Faith impatiently wait their Return But Alas how long is your Promise in performing which has so often Charm'd me but with its Memory and which at present gives me the greatest Delight Alas VVhy is so small a Favour refus'd me after my frequent Protestations that I Love you more than ever and in spite of your Inconstancy that your Company will be still dear to me But Alas to how little purpose is it to write to you after this manner since you have no more pity left for your poor unfortunate Bridget This is in the Mouth of every Body which occasions me an acknowledging Blush Ah Cruel Remembrance of my Infamous Action to comply with your Request Ages to come will Condemn my Ingratitude and Infidelity to my Husband for your sake whilst I am assur'd of no better recompence than the Cruellest remorse of Conscience that ever was though I must at the same time own is is some times Alleviated by my Love however Ungratefull Prince when I think how you have rejected me as the very worst of Women I cannot but disdaine the unworthy Usage so unbecoming a Person of your Character neverthelesâ— if you should ever think fit to be sorry for your past Omission T is odds but I could
your Ladyship's Daughters who in my Opinion are both perfect Beauties Madam Montespan held her peace and look'd upon the King who said with a Smile I shall make it my business to keep the Royal Family quiet Soon after the Conversation ended and Company separated Whilst others were industrious in speaking in the Duke of Maine's Favour he was busie in improving all Opportunities to give Proofs of his Passion to Madamoiselle de Chartres who was inclined to receive them kindly when she could do it without being observed One day he had the good Fortune to find her alone in her Closet and as he entertain'd her with the Force and Extent of his Love Prince reply'd Madamoiselle with a languishing Air What would you have me do for you What I would have you do for me answer'd the Duke with a passionate Eagerness I would have you love me illustrious Princess if I can ever be so fortunate as to please you Alas cry'd she with a blush how unkind and cruel you are Why would you not tell me you had a Design upon my Heart The Prince perceiving she spoke with so much Sweetness and good Nature cast himself at her Feet and told her transported with Love Divine Creature if my Fate could ever be so happy as to here he stop'd being interupted by Mauritia one of the Princess's Maids She being a Person of an easie Temper and one that the Princess entrusted with all her Secrets the Duke pursu'd his passionate Conversation The same Day the Duke of Orleans made a splendid Ball in the Royal Palace where the Duke of Maine appear'd in a very agreeable Disguise that he might the better entertain Madamoiselle with all the sweet endearing Expressions that his Love could suggest to him He was taken notice of by the Duke of Orleans who told the King of it but he made as if he did not hear him The Ball being over the Duke of Maine withdrew to his Apartment more deeply in Love than ever and abandon'd himself to all the Torments and Pleasures of his new-born Passion His Mind was still floating and toss'd betwixt Hope and Fear and distracted by two violent Passions He debated within himself what course he had best to take to compass his grand Design of marrying Madamoiselle de Chartres in which he met with many Obstacles and Difficulties He often consulted with his Mother who assur'd him that she never miss'd any Opportunity to speak to the King about it adding with Sorrow that her Influence upon that Monarch was not so prevailing as before Nothing Dear Son cry'd she with a Sigh nothing is constant in this World and the kindest Prince that is cannot always love the same Object But yet Madam answer'd that young Prince Constancy ought to be inseparable from a great Mind since there can be no true Felicity without it That 's true Dear Child reply'd Madam Montespan but Kings have their real Failings as well as the rest of Mortals and our great Monarch tho' in all other respects accomplish'd has still the Frailty of being changeable in Love He is infinitely pleas'd with variety of which Madam la Valiere made me but too sensible before she turn'd Nun. Besides I am afraid my Enemies whisper in the King's Ear what some Court-Flatterers told formerly one of the Kings of Persia who was constant to one of his Mistresses meerly upon the score of good Manners and Conscience That it was below his Grandeur to mind whether what he did was decent or undecent just or unjust since his Pleasure ought to be the only Rule and Standard of Decency and Justice This Madam reply'd the Duke of Maine is the common way of pleasing Princes Every thing must yield to their Desires surrounded as they are by a Crowd of Flatterers they can never know themselves Their Failings are artfully painted and varnish'd their Actions heightened and advanc'd by false Lights and Glitterings and their smaller Vertues canonized I know a World of pernicious Courtiers who never approach the Throne but they poison it with their intoxâ—cating Tongues most fatal to the Mind of a well-born Monarch Flattery said Madam Montespan does not stop at the Throne but diffuses and spreads it self through all the Branches of the Court You know the Dutchess of She has daily a Crowd of Admirers at her Feet who do but play the Fool with her and persuade her that she can contend for Beauty with the Angels That her Merit is infinite and capable of enchanting the whole World and with such like Fooleries they fill her Mind with pleasing chimerical Fancies But let the good Lady have as many Admirers as she pleases all their fine Speeches and flattering Nonsence will never conceal her Homeliness and Vulgar Carriage The Duke was a going to say some pleasing thing or other upon the Picture his Mother had made of the Dutchess but was interrupted by the Abbot Morcau who came to visit Madam Montespan and to give her an Account of a Commission she had given him that did not much become the Gravity of his Character The Duke of Maine taking this opportunity to leave his Mother went to the Wood of Boulogne to entertain his enamour'd Fancy with the Charms and Graces of his Mistress Sitting on a little rising ground which he found very convenient he revolv'd in his Mind all that a great Mind can think of to carry on the Scheme of his Design Some time after he went into the thickest part of the Wood and wrote in his Table Book the Copy of a Letter which he afterwards sent to Madamoiselle which contained these Words I Find at last Incomparable Princess that of all the Torments in Nature none is so quick and violent as that of Love 'T is a Pain that gnaws and preys upon our very Souls And if you do not compassionate my Condition I must soon die at your Feet the cruellest Death imaginable My Sufferings are not to be exprest And generally great Beauties like your self do but laugh at the Pains which themselves cause But as this is a most inhumane and unnatural Cruelty so you must have a Care most lovely and beautiful Person not to provoke the Wrath of the Sovereign of all Hearts who sooner or later punishes those that are insensible I know you stick at some Considerations but alas Love excludes Consideration as Consideration excludes Love You are not unacquainted with this Philosophy since there never was a more diseerning and penetrating Princess than your self Upon the reading of this Letter Madamoiselle could not forbear Laughing at the witty insinuating way of the Duke to engage her to Love He gives himself a needless trouble cry'd she with a Sigh to perswade me to Love him Alas I find I Love him too much already But I am afraid my Inclinations must be contradicted and that I am destin'd for some greater Person than the Duke of Maine Madame who over-heard her pronounce that Name came on a sudden into Madamoiselle's