her cunning becoming fruitless on the Mareshales part she attempted to succeed by Neufvilles who assisted but two much with his love all being fittingly disposed for the design by her contrived she sends an express to Grillon with Letters which he received at Orleans after Ligneroles death was known at Paris at which the Mareshale was very lively afflicted but had the satisfaction to know that she could not alone grieve his death whom all the world lamented Bussy received a Letter by Grillon from Madam de Bonneval which gave him notice of the infidelity of the Mareshale After he had made Grillon read it what shall I do said he this unlooked for misfortune over-whelms me and in the condition I am I know not what to resolve Grillon seemed at first as troubled as he but at length counselled him to make hast to Paris and above all things convince himself of the matter Bussy approved Grillons advice and sent back the Express empty Being come to Paris Madam de Bonneval who was content with Grillons love received him like a lover she bated not and he appeared not unworthy her reception However though she gave him a thousand testimonies of her trust and kindness yet she never let him know either her anger or design of revenge on Bussy she spoke of him with esteem she seemed earnest to serve him and it was she had advised him of his Mistress treason We are less sensible of any affront then that committed against our love That offence is most cruel and he that receives it without deserving it has strange griefs to undergo In the midst of all these perplexities his love still subsisted and the inclinations of his heart told him sufficiently that he must still love though he knew himself forsaken Then thinking of his unknown Rival who had snatched from him what had cost him so much to seek after fain would he have found out who this happy man should be but would never have guest Neufville whom he believed his friend tell he was disabused the next morning when Madam de Bonneval made Grillon tell him she desired to speak with him He came at the hour appointed and without stopping at the unnecessary circumstances of this interview I will onely tell you that she hid Bussy and that soon after Neufville entred he had a Black Satten Suit Embroidered with Silk of the same and between space and space might be seen double L L in Embroidery of Pearls Bussy at first sight guest not what those Cifers meant but he soon found out they were the Mareshales who was of the House of Lustrac She was not long ere she came and Madam de Bonneval feigning to order her head tire at the Glass Bussy over-heard the Mareshale say to Neufville I fear least you undertake to please me you must succeed in it your manners are so obliging you are so ingenuous and complaisant and have so much estimable merit that I fear I cannot resist it Change your procedure it is too winning and know that I will not be affected These words were pronounced by a delicate mouth and the fairest eyes in the World glanced favorably on Neufville and Bussy believed all this due onely to his love Have no care nor complaisance for me continued she nor prefer me before all other Ladies nor shall I be so weak to love you for it How happy was Neufville And how desperate grew Bussy He was in the mind to come forth and upbraid the perfidiousness of his Friend and Mistress but knowing that it is love always makes reproaches and complaints he withdrew without hearing out the remainder of their discourse which he believed he could not quietly listen to The Mareshale knew not of his return no more then did Neufville About twenty paces from the Mareshales Bussy met Chateauneuf who desirous to know some news from the Court and to tell him that Neufville was his Rival carried him to the Tuilleries whither he had designed to go Whilst he walked two turns with her he gave her an accompt of all she desired to know and told her so respectively that he would never love that she had not the power to complain of a Man she could not hate In vain would she have disswaded him from loving the Mareshale he remained constant though he thought himself not obliged to do so As soon as Neufville was parted from Madam de Bonnevals House the Mareshale and she came to the Tuilleries they discerned Chateauneuf at a great distance and the nigher they drew the more Madam de Bonneval obliged the Mareshale to observe that the man was with her did much resemble Bussy She granted the resemblance but could hardly believe she saw him till Bussy and Chateauneuf turned towards them the Mareshale blushed at the sight of her lover he passed by her with much respect and could not forbear looking after her but he spoke not and continued his walk with Chateauneuf Madam de Bonneval whose design was to increase the Mareshales grief put her in mind how she would not believe her when she had formerly told her Bussy loved Chateauneuf Ingrateful Man said she to her do you see in what manner he treats you after all this can you love him to be in Paris without seeing you and publickly sacrifice your love at the feet of your Rival Alass said she I feel all you can instil into me but let me suffer and complain I have no need of your Counsels and will onely follow the dictates of my own heart Bussy at his return home told Grillon all he had seen and heard at Madam de Bonnevals So great a cause of despair in so constant a Passion the Treason of the Mareshale and the death of Ligneroles infinitely perplexed him and created sufferings he could hardly undergo sometimes he was resolved to love no more but to seek in a quiet Retreat the Remedy of so many Griefs Grillon told him that was to yield the Mareshale to Neufville and that he ought to make her return either for glory or for loves sake but he was too incensed to follow this advice Some days after the Court arrived at Paris with the Queen of Navarre who joyned it at what time it was at Bloys The ties of Friendship and Interest which had formerly been between the late King of Navarre and the Mareshale de St. Andre had made her have a great esteem for his Person after his death she had preserved for the Mareshale the same thoughts she had had for her Husband she Commanded her to see her often and had no cause to blame her neglects for that she seldom was from that Queen but shared in all her divertisements and all her pleasures Queen Catherine of Medices mortally hated her she knew that Jean of Albret had remonstrated to the King of Navarre that he might be chosen Head of that Faction divided France if he knew how to make use of the occasion of taking the Authority into his
violent and scarce contained it self before suspected witnesses but we constrained it not before our best Friends I was still speaking kind and feeling things to Flora and she answered me in terms every way as touching our eyes made a continual commerce of eloquent glances and the most indifferent things were advanced to profit by our laborious Passion every thing turning into an occasion of expressing the warmth of our desires Judge into what condition we put the passionate and discreet Geminius he was brought to that extremity that the Physitians gave him over and when he felt his death approaching he declared to me the cause of it The Friendship I had for Geminius could not be balanced by any thing but my love to Flora were I to have parted with my life to save my friends I should have given it without reflexion but when I understood Flora was the concern I asked time to resolve resolve nothing Pompey said the dying Geminius I discovered not my grief to find a remedy I am too happy to die for that I love best in the World and though your generosity would contribute to my recovery I know it depends not on you your happiness is so great it dazles you and you see but a part of it I am since so Destiny pleases more clear sighted I have observed particulars in the love of Flora that destroy the confidence I could have in your friendship Live happy and let me die miserable and give not that increase to my torments to let them cost you one sorrowful reflexion This discourse pronounced by an expiring Man and one I so dearly loved touched me to the very Soul I thought I ought to my friends life at least a seeming willingness to contribute to his cure and presuming enough on Flora's constancy to believe she would preserve her self wholly to me in despite of myself I assured Geminius that if he could gain her love I would look on his happiness without a murmur I have not faith enough in the fictions of the Poets to believe this assurance restored Geminius life but his disease being come to the Christs certain it is that from that day we observed his amendment I resolved to assist it by my absence and as well to convince him of my sincerity as to avoid the reproaches of Flora I went to spend some time at the Countrey-house whether Sylla was retired after having laid down the Dictatorship I writ every day to Flora Letters full of that Love possest my Soul I had not engaged never to love her more but onely promised she should love my friend if she could Wretch that she was she could but do it too much Love is no mighty task to one of that Sex Geminius Painted my slight compliance with such lively colours that at my return to Rome I learned from Flora's own Mouth her infidelity How cryed I can it be true that you loved Pompey with so much fervency and cease to love him with so much ease Who has told you I have ceas'd to love you replied Flora Do you give the title of change to that sacrifice you constrained Is it because I have restored you a Friend whose loss had made you desperate that you accuse me with want of love Alass I expected a thousand thanks for my chearful obedience 't was a thousand tortures to me to yield to it and I made use of all the powers of my kindness to resolve upon what you reproach for a decay of Passion Ah Flora said I how cruel is your obedience to me How much more would you have obliged me had I found you less submissive Flora ask'd pardon for her error and swore to me she would stop the career of it and doubtless would have done as the said That deadly grief she expressed at our separation hath-fully perswaded me Geminius destroyed me with my own Weapon and that Flora believed she pleased me in betraying me but the remembrance of that inconstancy has given me disgusts I could never vanquish Flora forbore to see my Rival any more she felt a remorse for her credulity which almost cost her her life I loved her a long time after our rupture and her memory is yet grateful to me but Cato I was born nice and delicate and in my mind true love is incompatible of partnership Night rather then want of Matter broke off the converse of these two Ilustrious Romans I shall find out a way to renew it hereafter but it is good to make use of the leisure of contriving it and leaving these two reconciled Enemies to their quiet rest endeavor after their example to enjoy some time of repose The End of the Discourse of Cato and Pompey THE LOVES OF Great Men. D'ANDELOT DUring the Progress to Bayonne the King had given leave to the Duke D'Aumale to hunt in the Forest of Fontainbleau and to kill the Wild Boar. In one of these Chaces the Dutchess D'Aumale Natural Daughter to King Henry the Second and Diana of Poictiers coming near to the Inclosure they had made a Wild Boar broke the Toyls and frighting her Horse he ran clear away with her towards the left-hand D'Andelots Horse frighted at the same accident followed Madam D'Aumales her Husband was a good way off with Prince Patien and Madam L'Admirale de Brion two other Ladies who were near the Dutchess cryed out that weak assistance being all they could give her none daring to venture their skill in riding at her rate except Madam de Brion who pursued her on full speed The cry came soon to the Duke who hearing how his Ladies Horse was frightned had not been concerned for her had he not at the same time heard that D'Andelots with a like fright took the same way with the Dutchesses he rid then with all speed to overtake them D'Andelot who could not guide his Horse letting him run where-ever he pleased heard a noise beside him and saw Madam D'Aumale coming up very near him but in a moment she was passed him and he lost sight of her by reason of a small Coppice was before him which the way dividing in two he was forced to enter and there saw Madam D'Aumale faln That sight made him strive hard again to stop his Horse but since he could not he threw himself down to take care of her whom he feared was hurt she was almost stunded and in that disorder discovered some part of her fair body There is scarce that Love and Constancy in the World can resist against so many Beauties and though possibly this minutes sight changed not utterly the object of D'Andelots love yet so pleasing an adventure made him at least very sensible but care of the Dutchess made him soon forego the pleasure he reaped with his eyes He was come to her and had just taken her in his arms to lift her up when the Duke and Madam de Brion arrived yet he gave not over his officious employ and the asking her whether she
kept nothing from him and therefore he thought it was not to be doubted but he had discovered all the design The King who knew best the Art of dissembling of any Prince in the world cunningly interrupts him by asking whither it was true that he loved the Lady Mareshale as much as some would perswade him Ligneroles acknowledged that he did Love but was not beloved The King being in Bed caused Monsieur to be called with whom he grew so angry that he made him consent to the destruction of Ligneroles and promise that he would not speak to him of it but nothing can be kept concealed from what we love the King returns to Paris Monsieur goes to visit Chasteauneuf she perceives his sadness he suffered her Solicite a long time before he let her know the cause and knowing it she condoled and became partner in his grief without acquainting Ligneroles The King gave a Ball at the Louvre the Mareshale takes out Ligneroles to dance Bussy believed her carriage not indifferent towards him and that which doubled his grief and his jealousie was that she never so much as cast her Eies on himself He comes to Chasteauneuf who had something to say to him the Mareshale knew he had loved her she feared lest Love should be renewed between them and Chasteauneuf perhaps found an easiness in it to which Bussy agreed not His heart no longer able to bear the Mareshales disdain which he believed was caused by her kindness to Ligneroles he resolved to challenge him The friendship of Bussy with Grillon was begun some few days before for he not enduring to live without Love in so gallant a Court found Madam Bonneval the most proper to beget it in him she was a very well made person but her Manners were more engaging then her Beauty Grillon follows her in all places she perceives it but forbids him not to follow her What would you have with me Grillon said she one evening in the Queens Closet All that should be given to those love well Madam answered he the King who overheard it began to laugh Madam de Bonnevall was vexed and Grillon somewhat abashed from that day forward she was very rigorous to him he complained to Bussy who was beloved without knowing it He promises to serve him with Madam Bonneval and without any longer delaying the effects of his promise that very day he goes to her and finding her alone Who knows not says he that you are lovely and that your Eies have the infallible secret of inchanting Hearts but I was ignorant till now that to so many Excellencies and so many Beauties are joyned such strange cruelties and that the pleasure of seeing you has for its certain consequence such mighty sufferings 'T is that I come to complain of continued he looking on her with an Eye full of Love without any design but I have some counsel to give you will you receive it continue I beseech you the chains of those which adore you 't will be no great favour done them 't is so great a misery to be disdained that it becomes natural to wish for happiness Speak Madam he was about to say and give some joy to the unhappy Grillon when Madame and Chasteauneuf came in Bussy conceiving he could not now continue the entertainment he had begun went and found out Grillon and gave him an account of what he had said Madam de Bonneval believed not at all that it was on Grillons part she had heard those loving words but on his own she was resolved to have kindly answered Bussy had not Madame come in He was the Man of all the world she most desired to engage she loved him and she believed her self Beautiful enough to create Love in him This easily perswaded her not to doubt but it was the design of his heart and not being capable of a cruel thought towards him and moreover being perswaded it might produce a good effect to spare him any farther trouble She sent him this Note next Morning LOve me and tell me so what should hinder you And to let you see I am more lovely then you think look here what Chains I command you to carry This Note was without superscription and inclosed a Bracelet of Hair of admirable weaving Bussy rejoyced he had so well succeeded in his amorous Embassie as much as he would have grieved had he known the tender goodness of Madam de Bonneval was addressed to himself and not to Grillon who was much affected when Bussy gave him both the one and the other he applied to himself all the sweetness was in that Note and received the Bracelet as a favor so much more worthy because less expected Esteeming himself happy by an adventure had made him despair had he known the truth of it But how should he come to learn it if Madam de Bonneval without appearing furprised at so ill tuned an accident does put on so cunning a disguise that Grillon cannot know her thoughts yet she cannot digest the affront it is a touch too sensible for Ladies and they never pardon the slighting of their Beauty Let Bussy serve for example Madam de Bonneval stifles all the love she had for him and onely meditates revenge she alters not her behavior towards him but endeavors to discover the cause of his refusal What is often said of love is true it cannot be long kept secret Madam de Bonneval lets nothing scape may serve towards the revenge as she designs She interprets and comments upon the Actions the Looks the Words of Bussy and draws thence Suspitions which become Truths and tell her he is in love One day she was with the Lady Mareshale when Bussy comes there but his carriage seemed so unconcerned that none but Madam Bonneval could have divined his thoughts Not able long to contain he throws on the Mareshale such amorous glances that Madam Bonneval perceived them though he durst not sigh so loud as to be heard She discovered love in the eyes of Bussy and was enraged it was not all for her by all these signs she knew he was deeply intangled And the more ingenuously to advance her revenge she doubles her appearances of Friendship and under the false resemblances of a complacent sincerity which she affected successfully labors to create confidences with the Mareshale Bussy had designed to sight Ligneroles on the first occasion presented on the morrow one brake forth the King would speak with him he loved him and doubted not a good issue of any dangerous design if entrusted to him The King comes into his Closet where he was told he attended and proposed the killing of Ligneroles Can you have any esteem for me Sir answered Bussy and make choice of me to rid you of Ligneroles by unhandsome ways Ah Bussy said the King what will not any Man undertake to revenge himself of a beloved Rival and to sustain the Interest of his King when he finds in his own Courage a
security for the execution and that his Soveraign abbets the action But what ever the King could say or promise he could not make Bussy consent to his desires In this desperate affair he becomes the friend of Ligneroles and chuses rather to expose himself to the Kings anger by representing the merits of his Rival and the services he might one day render him then to oblige his revenge at the expence of his honor and reputation The King appeared ill satisfied with Bussy's generous thoughts but in his Soul approved what he seemed to condemn yet forbidding him upon pain of death once to pronounce the Proposition he had made him Bussy answers nothing and withdraws Madam de Bonneval who had grown into great confidences with the Mareshale though not such secret ones as la Hermite who was one of her attendants tells her that one of her people had seen Bussy go to Chateauneuf's but she drew false conjectures from this visit Chateauneuf had sent for Bussy to come to her Lodgings to tell him the design the King had to destroy Ligneroles believing he knew it not She loved Bussy and the love he had for the Mareshale hindred him from answering her love She believed Ligneroles was beloved and that by preserving his life Bussy might lose the hopes of ever affecting the Lady Mareshale and then she flattered her self he might return to her Directed by such prudent policy she told him the cause of Ligneroles disgrace as she had learnt it from Monsieur representing to him that it was more glorious to overcome a Rival by generous procedure and by advertising him his destruction was designed then to triumph over his evil Fortune by concealing from him that the Kings most cruel resentments were ready to fall upon him Bussy hears all Chateauneuf would say on this subject without promising any thing save onely to be secret in his having learnt it of her He perceived by her carriage that she desired an entertainment like to those they had had together in the time they loved but that time was passed love had disposed of Bussy's heart in favor of the Mareshale and though Chateauneuf were one of the fairest persons of France and employed now all her charms which had formerly seemed so alluring and let him now hear a thousand flattering and pleasant things he still remained constant and parted from her without giving the least reason to be reproached as to his love Understanding that Ligneroles was in the Garden of the Hostel of Soissons he goes thither and after having drawn him off some paces from the Mareshale who was with Queen Catherine of Medices I was resolved yesterday to kill you as a Rival whose happiness made me despair said Bussy to him to day I would endeavor to preserve you as an honest but unhappy Man who have doubtless neither deserved death by the 〈◊〉 maximes of State nor the particular hate of the King I should have received you as an enemy fit to be feared answered Ligneroles but I dread you more with the merit wherewith now you appear and if possible I would ow you nothing In vain I examine and search my self in what point I can be guilty You are not innocent replied Bussy since you have let the King perceive you were not ignorant that the marriage of Madame and the King of Navarre was onely an ingenuous pretext the more fecurely to ruine the Hugonots The silence and confusion of Ligneroles accused him and he had now no hopes but in Monsieurs Protection he could not believe himself forsaken by him but Bussy assured him of it My crime is having spoken says he at length but I had rather die then doubt of Monsieurs friendship he knows not my destruction is resolved for he who never kept secret from me would not have concealed a design against my life Whatever Bussy could alledge he would not take the advise he gave him not to go this progress nor take the ways to secure himself he offered Ligneroles spoke after this of the Lady Mareshale The esteem I have for you said he hinders me from concealing the estate wherein my love and services have put me with her I love her and she knows it I have sighed I have complained and all the fruit I have gathered from all this is the pleasure to see my self hopeless you believed there were strong ties of kindness between us and it was my interest not to disabuse you she wanted one of the family to keep up her affairs with Monsieur I was capable of serving her and you took for love that assiduity she permitted me rather to give her an accompt of my Negations then to give me marks of her goodness Ah Bussy must I tell it you continued Ligneroles for you onely is reserved the happiness to affect her Soul and she sees you not onely for fear of loving you too much That fear should be a glory and pleasure to you Proceded he sighing what would not I do to inspire the like But you would be unfortunate if such a thing were which is what I cannot desire at such a price after that you have now done Are you so generous replied Bussy to tell your Rival in good earnest that he is not hated I am unhappy enough to be pittied for not being loved said Ligneroles interrupting and that I am in danger of losing my life and need not be suspected to want sincerity towards the Man I esteem most of all the World The Mareshale who observed them feared their Discourse might end in a quarrel but her apprehensions changed subject when she beheld them embrace Her suspicions of Bussy increased she was jealous of Chateauneuf Their confidences at the Ball and the impressions of his visiting her much perplexed her mind and besides that he parted from Ligneroles more like a Friend then a Rival What then had she not reason to fear Ladies would lose nothing they believe the number of their lovers is a mark of their merit and an increase of their reputation I say not the Mareshale had these thoughts but she could not look upon the semblances of his change but as an injury in his judgment She concluded by their actions they were become Friends and that Bussy had yielded to Ligneroles all the pretentions he had on her heart she seemed to have more scorn for Bussy and more fierceness for Lignetoles when they met the Queen who soon after went to the Louvre and the Mareshale with her These Rivals went together from the Hostel de Soissons Ligneroles was assaulted by four unknown men who cryed out to Bussy they would have onely the life of Ligneroles but all the answer he gave was to let them know it was hard to take that from a man he defended Ligneroles opposed his courage to his enemies numbers and conjured Bussy to let him perish alone and not run the hazard of losing his life either by these Assasines or by the anger of the King who