I am of his mind answers she and 't is very probable that no less than such a Princesse as you could make him despise the Queen of England I would confess it did I know it replys the Queen-Dauphin and I should certainly know it were it true Passions of this Nature seldom escape the discovery of those who occasion them They are the first that discern them Mounsieur de Nemours never exprest for me other than slight and superficial complaisance yet I observe so great difference between his present and former deportment towards me I dare assure you I am not the cause of that indifference he shews for the Crown of England But I am so taken with your company I forget my self and mind not the obligation I am under of seeing Madam you know the peace is in a manner concluded but 't is possible it may be News to you that the King of Spain refuses to Sign the Articles but upon condition he shall marry that Princess instead of the Prince Don Carlos his Son The King was loath to consent to it but hath done it at last and is newly gone to carry Madam the News I believe it will much trouble her what pleasure can she expect from Marrying a Man of the age and humour of the King of Spain especially she so jovial so young and so beautiful a Lady who expected to Marry a young Prince for whom unseen she had a strong inclination I question whether the King will meet with the obedience he desires in her He hath charg'd me to see her because he knows she loves me and that I have some power over her I shall from thence make another visit of a very different Nature to congratulate the Kings Sister for the conclusion of her Marriage with the Prince of Savoy who is expected in few days Never had person of the age of this Princess so great cause to rejoyce at her Marriage The Court will be more Numerous and Glorious than ever and in spight of all your affliction you must come and help us to let the Strangers see we are furnish'd with no mean Beauties Having said this the Queen-Dauphin left Madam de Cleve's and on the morrow the Marriage of Madam was in every ones Mouth The day after the King and Queens went to see Madam de Cleve Mounsieur de Nemours who had waited her return with extreme impatience and wisht passionately he might speak with her in private put off going to her till the time all company broke up and probably none would return thither that night It fell out as he had wisht and he came in as the last Visiters were taking their leaves The Princess was on her Bed the weather hot and the sight of Mounsieur de Nemours put her to a blush that made her more amiable He sat over against her with a respect and fearfulness incident only to a genuine Passion he was speechless for sometime Madam de Cleve's was as mute as he so that they were both silent a pretty while At last Mounsieur de Nemours complemented her condoleing her affliction Madam de Cleve's very glad of discourse on that subject spoke a good while of the loss she had had and told him at last though time might abate the violence of her grief she should still retain so deep an impression of it it would alter her humour 'T is true Madam replyes M. de Nemours great troubles and violent passions occasion great alterations in our tempers though I was never actually sensible of it but since my return from Flanders Many have observed in me a very great change and the Queen-Dauphin her self spoke to me of it yesterday She has indeed taken notice of it says Madam de Cleve and I think I have heard her speak of it I am not displeas'd Madam answers Mounsieur de Nemours that she hath perceiv'd it but should be very glad she were not the only Person that did so There are Persons in the World to whom we dare give no other evidences of the passion we have for them but by things that concern them not yet when we dare not make it appear we love them we are willing at least to let them see we desire not the Love of any other we are willing to let them know we look with indifference on all other Beauties though in the highest sphere and that a Crown may be too dear if to be purchas'd with no less a price than absence from her we adore Ordinarily Ladies judge of the passion had for them by the care their Servants take to attend and to please them but be they never so little amiable those are easie tasks to perform There is no great difficulty in giving our selves the pleasure to wait on them But to avoid their company for fear of discovering to the World and almost to themselves the passion we have for them that 's a difficult point the truest evidence of being really in Love is when we become quite other men than we were when we renounce our ambition and our pleasures having all our Life pursu'd the one and the other Madam de Cleve's easily understood how far she was concern'd in this discourse she thought it her duty to cut it off by an answer Presently her mind alter'd and she was of opinion it was better make as if she understood it not and give him no cause to think she took it to her self she thought she ought to speak and thought she ought to be silent this discourse did in a manner equally please and displease her It convinc'd her of the truth of all the Queen-Dauphin made her think of him she could not but look upon it as full of gallantry and respect but withall somewhat bold and a little too plain andintelligible The inclination she had for that Prince put her into a disorder it was not in her power to master the darkest expressions of a Person we love move more than the clearest declarations of a person we have no inclination for She made him no answer Mounsieur de Nemours took notice of her silence and perhaps would have taken it for no ill Omen But Mounsieur de Cleve's coming in put an end to their discourse and his visit The Prince of Cleve came in to give his Lady a further account of Sancerre but she was not very curious to know the Issue of that Adventure Her thoughts were so taken up with what she had newly heard from Mounsieur de Nemours she could scarce hide the distraction she was under Assoon as she was at liberty to Muse of what was past she saw clearly how much she had been deceiv'd when she thought her self indifferent as to Mounsieur de Nemours his discourse had made as deep Impression on her as he could wish and fully convinc'd her of the truth of his passion his actions agreeing too well with his words to leave her the least shadow of doubt She no longer flatter'd her self with hopes
The Emperour who had a great respect for the Duke of Orleans had often offer'd him the Duchy of Millan and in the Articles of the Peace that was afterwards concluded he gave him the hopes of the seventeen Provinces and his Daughter in marriage with them The Dauphin neither inclined to the Match nor it he employ'd the Constable whom he ever lov'd to make the King sensible of what importance it would be to leave his Successor a Brother so powerful as the Duke of Orleans must be with the advantage of the Imperial Allyance and these Countries The Constable yielded more easily to the Dauphins design in that it was opposite to that of Madam d' Estampes who was his declared Enemy and who so passionately desired the Dukes advancement The Dauphin at that time commanded his Majesties Army in Champagne and had reduc'd that of the Empire to those extremities he had certainly ruin'd it if the Duchess d' Estampes fearing these great advantages might retard the Peace and the honour of the Dukes Allyance with the Emperour had not advis'd the Enemy to surprise Espernay and the Castle of Rierry which was their Magazine they attempted it and succeeded by which means they preserved the Army This Duchess did not long enjoy the success of her Treason Immediately after dyed the Duke of Orleans at Farmoutiers of a contagious disease He was enamoured with one of the greatest Beauties of the Court who was pleased to entertain the flame I shall forbear to name her for she has since lived under so close a retirement and has with so much prudence disguised the passion she had for him we ought in justice to be tender of her honour The death of her Husband and the Duke bore even date together which gave her the freedom to shew those open marks of her grief and sorrow which otherwise she had been enforc'd to hide The King did not long survive the Prince his Son for he dyed within two years after He recommends to the Dauphin the Cardinal of Tournon and the Admiral d' Annebault without the least mention of the Constable whom he had confined to Chantilly notwithstanding his Fathers commands he calls him home and makes him the grand Minister of State Madam d' Estampes was discarded and received all the ill Treatment she could expect from so powerful and inveterate an Enemy The Duchess of Valentinois was not satisfied till she had glutted her self with her revenge upon this Duchess and the rest who had faln under her displeasure Her interest has been more absolute over the King since he came to the Crown than when he was the Dauphin These twelve years since he has reign'd she has been the uncontroulable Mistress of all his Actions she has had the disposal of all Governments and Affairs she has obliged him to bannish the Cardinal of Tournon the Chancellour and Villeray all that have endeavour'd to eclypse her power have perisht in the attempt The Count de Taix Grand Master of the Artillery who had no kindness for her taking the liberty to reflect upon her Gallants and particularly the Count de Brissac of whom the King had a jealousie she so subtilly plaid her Cards that he was in disgrace and divested of his emply and what renders the thing more strange she procured it for the Count de Brissac who by her means had the honour to be since created a Marshal of France The Kings jealousie began to swell to that degree in him he could no longer endure the test of it but that which in another would have appeared more sharp and violent was strangely corrected in him by the great respect he had for this Lady In so much that he durst not if we may presume to use this saucy Dialect with a Prince remove his Rival but under the pretence of preferring him to the Government of Piedmont He has lived there several years and only return'd this last Winter under a pretext of recruiting the Troops under his command and for other necessary supplies for the Army The ambition to see the Duchess of Valentinois and the fear of being forgotten had certainly the greatest share in that Journey The King was observed to receive him coldly the Family of Guise who loves her not but yet dares not declare the cause imploy'd the Viscount his mortal Enemy to obstruct the Grant of what he design'd himself by his Journey 'T was no hard matter to compass it the King hated him and his presence gave him no small disquiet insomuch that he was forc'd to return without having had the happiness to reap the fruits of his Voyage which was only to give him an opportunity to re-kindle the Flame his passion had made in the heart of the Duchess which he feared his absence might extinguish His Majesty wanted no other subjects of his jealousie but they not being known gave him no provocation to complain I know not Daughter says Madam de Chartres if you may not find that I have instructed you in some things more than you are willing to know I am so far from complaining replyes Madam de Cleve that did I not fear to be troublesom to you I would desire you to enlarge upon several Circumstances which I am ignorant of The passion that Monsieur de Nemours had for Madam de Cleve was so violent in its Original that it seem'd to have robb'd him of all his content and the very thoughts of those he had a kindness for nay even such with whom he converst during her absence 't was his care to frame excuses to disingage himself from them he could not allow himself the patience to give Ear to their Complaints nor make returns to their reproaches Madam la Dauphin for whom he had inclinations not ordinarily passionate yet he was scarce able to confine them within his Breast Madam de Cleve had made that impression there His impatience for England began to cool he seem'd not to pursue with much Zeal his necessary dispatches for that Journey He often made his visits to the Dauphin-Queen that he might have the happiness to pay his respects to Madam de Cleve who was frequently there neither was he concern'd at the liberty some took to imagin what others thought of the passion he had for that Princess Madam de Cleve was of that value with him he was resolved rather to hide from her the sentiments of his heart than expose her honour to the publick He forbore even to communicate it to the Viscount de Chartres who was his Confident and to whom his Bosome lay ever open He used a Conduct so prudent and which he managed with so much care that the Argus's of the Court could not discover the least symptome of any kindness for this Lady but in the Chevalier de Guise Madam de Cleve her self had continued a stranger to them had not the inclination she had for that Prince obliged her to keep a close Watch on all his Actions
News says Madam de Cleves I thought Madam de Tournon incapable either of Love or Deceit 'T is not possible any one replyes Mounsieur de Cleve should carry her self with greater dissimulation or cunning Observe that when Sancerre thought her alter'd as to him she really was so and began to love Estouteville telling him he was the only Man could make her forget the death of her Husband and for whose sake she quitted her Retirement when Sancerre thought the while it proceeded from no other Cause but a Resolution to appear less afflicted than formerly she made it matter of favour to Estouteville that she conceal'd their correspondence and seem'd oblig'd by her Father to marry him which she pretended proceeded purely from the care of her reputation when it was in truth a trick to put off Sancerre without leaving him just cause of complaint I must needs return continues Mounsieur de Cleve to see my unfortunate friend and I think you may do well to go with me to Paris 'T is high time for you to appear abroad and Receive those visits you cannot well dispence with Madam de Cleve's agreed to the proposal and return'd on the Morrow she found her self more at ease as to Mounsieur de Nemours than she formerly had been what Madam de Chartres said on her death-Bed and sorrow for the loss of her had so suspended her thoughts of him that she thought she should be no more troubled with them The same Evening she arriv'd the Queen Dauphin gave her a visit and having told her how much she shar'd in her afflictions she said to divert her from those sad thoughts she would inform her of all that had past at Court in her absence and accordingly gave her an account of several particulars But that I have most mind to acquaint you with adds she is that it is most certain Mounsieur de Nemours is passionately in Love and that he is so far from making any the most intimate friend he has his Confident in the case there is not one can guess who it is he is in love with Though he be so deeply in Love it makes him neglect if not quit the hopes of a Crown with that she gave her an account of what concern'd the matter of England What I have told you says she I had from Mounsieur de Anville who told me this morning the King had yesterday sent for Mounsieur de Nemours upon Letters receiv'd from Lignerolles who desires leave to return as not able any longer to excuse to the Queen of England the delays of Mounsieur de Nemours that the Queen begins to take it ill and that though she had not made a positive promise she had said enough to encourage the hazarding a Voyage The King read this Letter to Mounsieur de Nemours who instead of speaking seriously as he had done at first fell a laughing and scoffing at Lignerolles hopes saying all Europe would condemn his imprudence should he undertake a Voyage for England as pretending to Marriage with the Queen without assurance of success Besides adds he I could not time my business worse than to take my Iourney at this Iuncture when the King of Spain makes address to that Queen for Marriage In matter of Gallantry I confess his Catholick Majesty were no very considerable Rival but in a Treaty of Marriage I cannot think your Majesty would advise me to stand in competition with him I would on this occasion replys the King for I know he is otherwise inclin'd and were he not Queen Mary took so little pleasure in the Yoke of Spain I cannot believe her Sister will undergo it or suffer her self to be blinded with the Glittering of so many Crowns on one Head If she yield not to the splendor of so many Crowns says Mounsieur de Nemours 't is probable she will seek her happiness in Love She hath for some years lov'd my Lord Courteney Queen Mary too was in love with him and would have marry'd him and with publick consent of her Kingdom but that she knew him more taken with the youth and beauty of her Sister Elizabeth than ambitious of reigning Your Majesty knows her Jealousie of them made her clap them up Prisoners and afterwards banish my Lord Courteney and prevail'd with her at last to resolve to marry with the King of Spain Elizabeth who now possesses the Throne of her Sister will I believe shortly call home my Lord Courteney and will rather make choice of him for her Husband whom she hath lov'd and who is really amiable and hath been a great sufferer for her than of a Man she hath never seen Were Courteney alive says the King I should be of your mind but I have been certainly inform'd some days since that he is dead at Padua whither he was banished But I see adds the King as he left Mounsieur de Nemours your marriage must be made up just as the Dauphins was and Embassadors must be sent to espouse the Queen of England Mounsieur d' Anville and the Vidame who were with the King when he spoke to Nemours are clearly of opinion nothing could divert him from so great a design but the passion he is so deeply ingag'd in The Vidame who knows him best of any man living hath told Madam de Martignes he finds such a change in Mounsieur de Nemours he scarce knows him And which he most wonders at he cannot observe he hath any private Correspondence nor can he discover any secret haunts he hath or that he is missing at any time which makes the Vidame believe he holds not correspondence with the person he loves and this is the reason he thinks himself so much mistaken in Mounsieur de Nemours to see him in love with a Woman that does not love him again What a poysonous discourse was this for Madam de Cleves How could she choose but know her self the Person whose Name was not known How could she but be deeply affected with gratitude and tenderness at the News she received by a way not at all liable to suspition that this Prince she had so great an inclination for conceal'd his passion from all the World and slighted for love of her the hopes of a Crown it is impossible to describe her sentiments on this occasion and represent to the life the trouble it rais'd in her Had the Queen-Dauphin ey'd her more closely she would have easily discover'd she was concern'd at the discourse But as she had not the least suspition of the truth she proceeded without taking notice of her Mounsieur d' Anville adds she who as I told you acquainted me with all these particulars thinks I know the business better than he and hath so great an opinion of my Charms he believes me the sole person capable to cause so extraordinary alterations in Mounsieur de Nemours These last Words rais'd another kind of trouble in Madam de Cleve's very different from that she was formerly in
fear See now whether I have not reason to conjure you to own the Letter as yours and to beg the favour of you to get it out of the Queen-Dauphin's Hands I am very well satisfi'd answers Monsieur de Nemours you are sufficiently perplex'd and it cannot be deny'd but you very well deserve it I have been charg'd with unfaithfulness in my Amours and being engag'd at the same time in several Gallantries but you have so far out-done me I durst not have imagin'd what you have undertaken Could you pretend to hold fair with Madam de Themines and keep her firm to you being engag'd to the Queen Could you hope to engage with the Queen and deceive her She is an Italian and a Queen and consequently full of suspicions of Jealousie and of Pride When your good Fortune rather than your good Conduct had set you at liberty from the Engagements you were formerly concern'd in you enter'd into new and fancy'd that in the midst of the Court you could be in love with Madam de Martigues and the Queen not know it You could not have been too careful of taking from her the shame of having made the first motion she has for you a violent Passion you have more discretion than to tell it me and I than to ask you of it Certain it is she loves you and intrusts you and the truth is you are to be blam'd Is it your part Sir to chide me says the Vidame interupting him and are not you concern'd to be indulgent to faults within your Experience I confess I am to blame but think I conjure you how to get me out of this Abyss I think you must go see the Queen-Dauphin as soon as she awakes and ask her for the Letter as if you had lost it I have told you already replys Monsieur de Nemours the thing you propose is somewhat extraordinary and there are difficulties in it I am upon my own account very loth to engage in But if the Letter hath been seen to drop out of your Pocket how shall I perswade them it dropp'd out of mine I thought I had told you says the Vidame the Queen-Dauphin hath been inform'd you had dropp'd it How replys Monsieur de Nemours hastily apprehending the ill consequence the mistake might be of to him with Madam de Cleve Have they told the Queen-Dauphin I dropp'd the Letter Yes says the Vidame they have told her so And the reason of the mistake is there were several of the Queen's Gentlemen in a Chamber belonging to the Tennis-Court where our Clothes were put up and your Servants and mine went together to fetch them Then it was the Letter was dropp'd those Gentlemen gather'd it up and read it aloud some thought it was yours others thought it mine Chastelart who took it told me just now as I ask'd him for it that he had given it the Queen-Dauphin as a Letter of yours And those who spoke of it to the Queen have unfortunately said it was mine You may easily do what I desire and get me out of this trouble Monsieur de Nemours had ever been a great lover of the Vidame of Chartres and his near relation to Madam de Cleve made him love him the more yet he could not presently resolve to run the hazard of owning that Letter He fell into a deep study and the Vidame guessing the cause of his meditation I see well enough says he you are afraid of a Broil with you Mistress and would make me believe it is the Queen-Dauphin but you have so little jealousie of Monsieur d' Anville I cannot think it is she However 't is not reasonable you should sacrifice your Repose to mine and I will put you in a way to convince your Mistress the Letter was directed to me and not you See here a Billet from Madam d' Amboise who is a Friend of Madam de Themines and her Confident in the Amours between me and her By this Billet Madam d' Amboise desires me to send her her Friends Letter I have lost the Billet is address'd to me by Name and the Contents of it are an infallible Proof the Letter she desires is the same they have found I am content you should take the Billet and shew it your Mistress for your justification I conjure you not to lose a moments time but go presently to the Queen-Dauphin's Lodgings Monsieur de Nemours promis'd to do so and took the Billet yet he design'd not to see the Queen-Dauphin but thought he had business concern'd him more He made no doubt but she had tole Madam de Cleve of the Letter and he could not endure a Person he lov'd so desperately should have occasion to believe him engag'd with another He went to her as soon as he thought her awake and sent her word he would not have desir'd the honour to see her at so unseasonable an hour but that he had extraordinary business Madam de Cleve was a-Bed troubled with the sad thoughts she had had all that Night she was extremely surpriz'd to hear Monsieur de Nemours ask'd for her that Nights trouble had made her so froward she presently answer'd she was not well and could not speak with him Monsieur de Nemours was not sorry for the Repulse he thought it no ill Omen she express'd some coldness at a time she had occasion to be jealous He went to the Apartment of Monsieur de Cleve and told him he came from his Ladys and was much troubled he could not speak with her upon business of consequence that concern'd the Vidame of Chartres He gave Monsieur de Cleve a short account of the Affair and he took him along presently to his Lady's Chamber Had she not been in the dark she could hardly have conceal'd her trouble and astonishment to see Monsieur de Nemours led into her Chamber by her Husband Monsieur de Cleve told her the business was about a Letter wherein they wanted her help in behalf of the Vidame that she was to consider with Monsieur de Nemours what was to be done as for him he must go to the King who had newly sent for him Monsieur de Nemours had his hearts desire to be alone with Madam de Cleve I am come to ask you Madam says he if the Queen-Dauphin hath not spoken to you of a Letter Chastelart gave her yesterday She said something to me of it answers Madam de Cleve but I do not see how my Uncle can be concern'd in it being not so much as nam'd in it 'T is true Madam replys Monsieur de Nemours he is not nam'd in it but it was address'd to him and it highly concerns him you should get it out of the Queen-Dauphin's Hands I cannot conceive says Madam de Cleve how it should concern him to have this Letter seen and why it should be ask'd for as his If you please to give me the hearing Madam replys Monsieur de Nemours I will presently make you
her Monsieur de Nemours was the Man had inspir'd so violent a passion and conjur'd her to assist him in observing that Prince Madam de Martigues was glad to hear what the Vidame told her and the Curiosity she had always observ'd in the Queen-Dauphin for what concern'd Monsieur de Nemours made her the more desirous to know the bottom of the Adventure A short time before the day fix'd for the Ceremony of the Marriage the Queen-Dauphin invited the King her Father-in-Law and the Duchess of Valentinois to Supper Madam de Cleve had been so busie a dressing her self it was late e're she came to the Louvre By the way she met a Gentleman who was coming in search of her from the Queen-Dauphin As she enter'd her Chamber that Princess said aloud to her from on her Bed where she then was I have look'd for you with the greatest impatience I believe it Madam answers she yet perhaps I am not oblig'd to you for it the cause being doubtless something else and not your desire to see me You are right answers the Queen-Dauphin yet you are oblig'd to me for I will tell you an Adventure you will be very glad to know Madam de Cleve kneel'd at her Bed side and very luckily with her Face from the light You know says the Queen-Dauphin how desirous we were to find out who had caus'd the great change observ'd in Monsieur de Nemours I believe I know the Party you will be surpriz'd at the Story He is desperatrly in love with one of the handsomest Ladys of the Court and she loves him again You may easily imagine what grief Madam de Cleve felt at these words which she could not apply to her self as being of opinion no Person knew of her love for Monsieur de Nemours I see nothing in this Madam answers she that should occasion a surprize if you consider the age and the handsomness of Monsieur de Nemours True says the Queen-Dauphin but that which will surprize you is to know that the Lady in love with Monsieur de Nemours hath never given him any Evidence of it and is so afraid she shall not be able to continue Mistress of her passion that she hath confess'd it to her Husband that he may take her from Court and 't is Monsieur de Nemours hath related what I say to you Madam de Cleve was griev'd at the beginning of this discourse when she thought her self not concern'd in the Adventure but she was at her wits-end when she heard the conclusion of it which too clearly made out it related to her She could not answer a word but continued leaning her Head on the Bed while the Queen was speaking which she did with that earnestness and concern she took not any notice of the confusion Madam de Cleve was in This Story answers she seems very improbable and I would very fain know who it is hath told it you 'T is Madam Martigues says the Queen-Dauphin and she had it from the Vidame of Chartres You know he is in love with her he told it to her as a Secret and he was told it by the Duke of Nemours 'T is true the Duke of Nemours told him not the Name of the Lady nor would confess himself the other Party concern'd but the Vidame makes no doubt of it As the Queen-Dauphin had done speaking one came up to the Bed Madam de Cleve had so turn'd her self about she could not see who it was but was quickly satisfi'd of the Person when she heard the Queen-Dauphin cry out with no less joy than surprize Here he is himself and I will know of him the truth of it Madam de Cleve needed not turn about to know it was Monsieur de Nemours as really it was but went hastily to the Queen-Dauphin and told her softly she must take heed of speaking of this Adventure which Monsieur de Nemours had told the Vidame as a Secret and perhaps it might make make them fall out You are too wise says the Queen-Dauphin laughing and turn'd towards Monsieur de Nemours He was drest for the Court-meeting at Night and with a Grace natural to him I believe Madam says he I may venture to think you were speaking of me as I came in that you had a desire to ask me something and that Madam de Cleve was against it 'T is true answers the Queen-Dauphin but I shall not be so complaisant to her on this occasion as I am us'd to be I would know of you whether a Story I have been told be true and whether you are not the Person in love with and belov'd by a Lady at Court who endeavours to conceal her passion from you and hath confess'd it to her Husband You cannot imagine the trouble and perplexity Madam de Cleve was in she would have thought Death a very good exchange for it Yet Monsieur de Nemours was in greater if possible The discourse of the Queen who he had reason to believe hated him not in presence of Madam de Cleve in whom of all the Court she plac'd greatest confidence and had the greatest share of hers in return put him into so strange a confusion of extravagant thoughts it was not in his power to be Master of his Countenance The trouble he saw Madam de Cleve in by his fault and the thought of his having given her just cause to hate him surpriz'd him so that he could not answer a word Madam La Dauphin observing him mute Look upon him says she to Madam de Cleve look upon him and judge if he be not concern'd in this Adventure The mean time Monsieur de Nemours having consider'd how necessary it was to get out of so dangerous a strait and recover'd his wit and his looks I confess Madam says he no surprize or affliction could be greater than mine at the infidelity of the Vidame of Chartres in relating an Adventure I had in confidence imparted to him of one of my Friends I know how to be reveng'd of him continues he smiling very calmly which rais'd the suspicions the Queen-Dauphin had entertain'd of him he hath made me his Confident in matters of no small importance But I am to seek for the Reason Madam why you make me concern'd in this Adventure The Vidame will not say it for I have told him the contrary I may very well be taken to be a Man in love but I cannot believe Madam you will think me of the number of those who are lov'd again Monsieur de Nemours was glad to say any thing to the Queen-Dauphin that might relate to that affection he had declar'd for her formerly to divert her thoughts from the matter in hand She understood what he said but instead of answering continu'd reazing him for the change in his looks when she began to discourse him I was troubled Madam says he on my Friends account and to think how justly he would reproach me for telling a Secret more dear
to see it obstructed by you Ah Madam you forget you have distinguish'd me from the rest of men or rather you have not distinguish'd me you have deceiv'd your self I have flatter'd my self You have not flatter'd your self says she the Reasons of my duty would perhaps not appear so strong to me had I not made that distinction of which you seem to doubt and 't is it gives me a Prospect of the unfortunate Consequences of a nearer Engagement with you I have nothing to answer Madam replies he when you tell me you are afraid of unfortunate Consequences but I confess after all you have been pleas'd to say to me I did not expect from you so cruel a Reason It is so far from being intended any way offensive to you answers she I had much a do to tell it you Alas Madam says he how can you imagine me so vain to flatter my self with any thing you shall say to me having heard what you have already told me I will speak to you again answer she with the same sincerity as before and without those Reserves and Niceties I ought to have in my first discourse to you of this kind but I conjure you hear me without interruption I think my self oblig'd to give the affection you have for me the poor recompence of letting you see what my Sentiments are This probably will be the only time of my life I shall do it in yet I cannot without blushing confess to you that the certainty of being no more lov'd by you as I am appears to me so dreadful a misfortune that had I not invincible Reasons grounded on my duty I doubt very much whether it would be in my power to expose my self to that unhappiness I know you are free and that I am so and that the condition of things is such that the Publick perhaps should have no cause to blame you or me should we be ingag'd to one another for ever But are men us'd to continue their affection during those long Engagements or am I to expect a Miracle in my favour And shall I put my self in a condition to see that passion at an end in which I place all my felicity Monsieur de Cleve was perhaps the only man in the World capable to preserve and maintain a passion for his Wife it was my ill fate I was not able to reap the advantage of that happiness and perhaps his passion had not lasted but that he found I had none but I should not have the same means to preserve yours I believe you owe your constancy to the obstacles you have met with you saw enough to ingage you to encounter and overcome them and my actions against my will or what you learnt by chance gave you too great hopes to be discourag'd Ah Madam says Monsieur de Nemours I am not able to keep the silence you commande me you do me too much injustice and make it appear too clearly you are far from being prepossest in my favour I confess says she my passions may lead me but they cannot blind me nothing can hinder me to know you have a natural disposition to Gallantry and all the qualities requisite to give you success you have already been in love with several and you will be so again I should be no longer she you plac'd your happiness in I should see you as much for another as you had been for me this would mortally grieve me and I am not sure I could save my self from the torment of Jealousie I have said already too much to conceal from you that you have made me know what Jealousie is and that it tormented me so cruelly the night the Queen gave me Madam de Themines Letter which it was said was addrest to you that I have to this moment an Idea of it makes me believe it the greatest of evils There 's not a woman but out of vanity or inclination hath a mind to ingage you there are very few but you please my experience would make me believe there is not any but it is in your power to please I should think you always in love and belov'd and I should not be often mistaken yet in this case what remedy for me but patience I question much whether I should dare complain a Lover may be reproach'd but shall a Husband be so for no other cause but that he loves one no longer Could I use my self to bear a misfortune of this nature should it ever be in my power to bear that of imagining I saw Monsieur de Cleve every hour accuse you of his death and reproach me I had lov'd you I had marry'd you and make me sensible of the difference between his kindness and yours 'T is impossible for me to overcome the strength of these Reasons I must continue in the condition I am in and the resolution I have taken never to alter it Ha do you think you can do it Madam cryes Monsieur de Nemours do you believe you can hold that resolution against a man that adores you and hath the happiness to please you 'T is more difficult than you think Madam to resist that which pleases and loves us you have done it by an unparallell'd severity of vertue but that vertue no longer opposes your affections and I hope you will follow your inclination though against your will I know says she there 's nothing more difficult than what I undertake I mistrust my own strength in the midst of my Reasons the duty I owe the memory of Monsieur de Cleve would be too weak if not supported by Reasons drawn from the concern of my repose and the interest of my repose hath need of support from Reasons grounded on my duty to his memory yet though I distrust my self I believe I shall never overcome my scruples nor have I any hopes to overcome the inclination I have for you it will make me unhappy and I must deny my self the sight of you how hard soever I strain for 't I conjure you by all the power I have over you never more seek an occasion to see me I am in a condition makes that Criminal which were allowable another time Decency forbids me all Commerce with you Monsieur de Nemours threw himself at her feet and by his words and his tears exprest the tenderest and liveliest passion that ever heart was affected with Madam de Cleve was not insensible and with eyes swell'd with tears why must it be cries she that I should charge you with the death of Monsieur de Cleve why did not my first acquaintance with you begin since I have been at liberty or why did I not know you before I was ingag'd why did Fate separate us by such invincible obstacles There is no obstacle at all Madam replies he you and you only obstruct all my happiness you impose upon your self a Law which neither Vertue nor Reason require you to do 'T is true says she I sacrifice much