would run out of his Wits Happy had it been for me crys he had I long since run out of my Wits and my life too Madam de Tournon was false to me and I am so unfortunate as not to have discover'd her infidelity till the morrow after her death at a time when my heart is at once full of the most passionate Love Man is capable of and pierc'd through and through with grief the smartest that ever was felt I retain at this moment in my fancy the impression of her Image as the model of perfection not in my Eyes only but in the Iudgment of all Mankind when the same instant I see my self deceiv'd and find she deserves not my sorrow Yet I am as much troubled at her death as if she had been true to me and resent her infidelity as if she were Living Had I heard of her inconstancy before she had dy'd anger jealousie and rage would have harden'd my heart against a sense of the loss of her but the misery of my condition is such I am incapable of comfort yet know not how to hate her Judge you whether I was not surpriz'd at Sancerres expressions I ask'd him how he came to know she had been false to him He answer'd I was no sooner gone out of his Chamber but Estouteville his intimate friend but altogethor a stranger to his Love for Madam de Tournon came in to see him that as soon as he sat down he fell a crying and begg'd his pardon for having conceal'd from him what he was now come to tell him that he intreated his pity that he was come to open his very heart to him and that of all the men in the World he was the most griev'd at the death of Madam de Tournon I was so surpriz'd at his nameing her that though I was just upon answering I was more griev'd at it than he yet I had not the power to say so He went on with his story and told me he had been six Months in love with her that he was still for making me acquainted with it but she had expresly forbidden it and with so strict a charge he durst not disobey her That he had had the good fortune to please her assoon almost as he had fallen in love with her that they had conceal'd their passion from all the World that he had never been publickly at her house that he had the pleasure to see himself effectually capable of making her lay aside her sorrow for the death of her Husband and that just as she dy'd he should have marry'd her and that their Marriage which really was an effect of love was to have past in the world as a pure effect of duty and obedience that in order to this she had prevail'd with her Father to command her to marry him to prevent the Censures of the World and stop the Mouths of those who would have cry'd out at the great alteration of her Conduct which had appear'd so averse from the thoughts of a second Marriage While Estouteville was speaking continues Sancerre I believ'd all he said his discourse seem'd so probable and the more for that about the time he said he first fell in Love with her I first observ'd a change in her But the next moment I thought him a Lyar or a Mad-man I was going to tell him so but was prevail'd upon by the desire I had of a fuller discovery to question him further and to throw in objections against what he said I proceeded so far towards convincing my self of my misfortune that he ask'd me if I knew Madam de Tournon's hand-writing With that he threw on my Bed four Letters of hers and her Picture At that very instant my Brother came in Estouteville was so blubber'd with crying he was forc'd to go out to avoid being seen telling me he would come again in the Evening to fetch what he left with me I sent away my Brother pretending my self ill so impatient was I to read those Letters in hopes to find something there to make me dis-believe what Estouteville had said But alas what found I there what tenderness what Oaths what assurances of marrying him Never had she Writ such Letters to me Thus adds he am I assaulted at once with grief for her death and vexation for her falsness Two evils often compar'd but seldom felt by the same person at once To my shame be it spoken the loss of her still troubles me more than her inconstancy and I cannot find in my heart to think she deserv'd death for her Treachery Were she living I should take pleasure in reproaching her and taking my Revenge of her by letting her know how unjust she was But I shall never see her more says he again I shall never see her more This is the greatest misfortune O that I could restore her to life though with the loss of my own yet what do I wish for were she alive again she would be Estouteville's How happy was I yesterday crys he how happy was I when the most sorrowful of Men Yet my sorrow appear'd reasonable and it was a pleasure to think it my duty never to be comforted To day every thing I do me thinks is unreasonable I pay a passion she only feign'd for me that tribute of grief I thought justly due to a sincere affection It is not in my power to hate or to love the memory of her I am incapable of comfort yet know not how to grieve for her However says he turning short towards me I conjure you take care Estouteville come not in sight of me I abhor the very name of him I know well enough I have no cause to complain of him it was my fault not to tell him I lov'd Madam de Tournon Had he known it perhaps he would never have made an address to her nor she have been false to me He made it his business to find me out to communicate his sorrows to me I cannot but pity him Ha cryes he has he not reason to be sorry he lov'd Madam de Tournon was beloved of her and shall never see her more yet I find by my self I cannot chuse but hate him However I conjure you once more let me not see him Sancerre after this fell a crying again he was sorry for Madam de Tournon he spoke to her and gave her the kindest expressions imaginable presently he hates her he complains of her he Reproaches and Curses her When I observed his Condition I knew I should want some help to quiet him I sent for his Brother whom I had newly left with the King I gave him the meeting in the Anti-chamber to give him an account of Sancerres condition We gave order to prevent his seeing Estouteville and spent part of the Night in endeavouring to bring him to himself This morning I found him more troubled than ever I left his Brother with him and came to you I am extremely surpriz'd at the
Queen and her Husband the Vsicount represented it to the King as criminal and incestuous So that he being already in love with Iane Seymour thought no more of Anne Bullen but to get rid of her In less than three Weeks he caus'd the Queen and her Brother to be try'd had them both beheaded and marry'd Iane Seymour He had afterwards several other Wives whom he put away or put to death and among the rest the Lady Katherine Howard whose Confident the Countess Rochfort was and shar'd in her Fate having her Head cut off with her Mistress's Thus was she punish'd for falsly accusing Anne Bullen and Henry the 8th dy'd being grown prodigiously big and fat All the Ladies present thank'd the Queen-Dauphin for the account she had given them of the Court of England and among the rest Madam de Cleve who could not forbear asking her several Questions about Queen Elizabeth The Queen-Dauphin had Pictures in little drawn for her of all the Beauties of the Court to be sent to the Queen her Mother One day as that of Madam de Cleve's was finishing the Queen-Dauphin spent the Afternoon with her Monsieur de Nemours who let slip no opportunity of seeing Madam de Cleve yet without letting it appear he sought it faild not being there She was that day so beautiful it would have made him in love with her had he not been so yet he durst not fix his Eye upon her as her Picture was a drawing being fearful notice might be taken of the pleasure he took to view her now and then as she sat The Queen-Dauphin ask'd Monsieur de Cleve for a Picture in little he had of his Wife to compare it with that which was newly drawn of her Every one pass'd their Judgment of the one and the other and Madam de Cleve order'd the Picture-drawer to mend something in the Draught of the Head-geer of that which Monsieur de Cleve had brought in The Picture-drawer to satisfie her took it out of the Case and having mended it laid it on the Table Monsieur de Nemours had long wish'd for a Picture of Madam de Cleve when he saw that of her which was Monsieur de Cleve's he could not resist the longing desire he had to steal it from a Husband he believ'd she tenderly lov'd and thought among so many Persons in the Room he might be as little suspected to have done it as another The Queen-Dauphin was set on the Bed and whisper'd to Madam de Cleve who stood before her Madam de Cleve through the Curtains which were but half drawn spy'd Monsieur de Nemours with his Back to the Table at the Beds-feet and perceiv'd him without turning his Face steal something slily that was on the Table She quickly guess'd it might be her Picture and was so troubled at it that the Queen-Dauphin perceiv'd she heard her not and ask'd her aloud what it was she look'd at At those words Monsieur de Nemours turn'd about and saw Madam de Cleve's Eye still fix'd upon him and thought it not impossible but she might have seen what he had done Madam de Cleve was not a little perplext Reason would she should ask for her Picture yet to ask for it publickly was to tell all the World the kindness that Prince had for her and to ask for it privately was to engage him to declare to her the Passion he had for her At last she resolved it the best course to let him carry it away without taking notice of it and was glad to grant him a favour without knowing whether she had done it Monsieur de Nemours having observ'd her disorder and guessing at the Cause came up and whisper'd to her If you have seen what I have ventur'd to do Madam be so good to let me believe you are ignorant of it which is all I dare beg of you With that he withdrew without expecting her Answer The Queen-Dauphin went out a walking attended with all the Ladies and Monsieur de Nemours went home to lock himself in his Closet to enjoy the pleasure he took in having a Picture of Madam de Cleve's which fill'd him with joy too great and too delicate to be express'd in publick It gave him a taste of the highest sweetness Love can afford he was in love with the most amiable Person of the Court and saw she lov'd him though against her will and easily discover'd in all her Actions that trouble and disorder which Love produces in the innocence of Youth That Evening great search was made for the Picture Having found the Case it was us'd to be kept in they never suspected it had been stollen but thought it might have been fallen out by chance Monsieur de Cleve was much troubled at the loss of it and when they had long search'd and without finding it he told his Wife but in such a manner as made it appear he did not think so That she had without doubt some private Lover to whom she had given that Picture or who had stole it and that any other but one in love would not have been content with the Picture without the Case These words though spoken in jeast made a deep impression in Madam de Cleve they troubled her extremely and made her reflect with regret on the violence of her Inclination for Monsieur de Nemours she found she was no longer Mistress of her Words or her Countenance She thought Lignerolles was return'd that there was no further fear of the Affair with England nor any cause to suspect the Queen-Dauphin that in a word there was not any thing to help her against the violence of her Passion and that there was no safety to be expected but by absenting her self from Monsieur de Nemours But leave being requested to be obtain'd for her absence from Court where her Husband resided and a pretence wanting she was in very great extremity and ready to fall into that she thought the worst of misfortunes to let Monsieur de Nemours see the inclination she had for him She thought of all Madam de Chartres on her Death-bed had said to her and the Advice she had given her to undergo any difficulty rather than engage in an Intrigue of Gallantry She remember'd what Monsieur de Cleve had said to her of an ingenuous sincerity when he spoke of Madam de Tournon and she thought it her duty to confess to him the inclination she had for Monsieur de Nemours These thoughts possess'd her a considerable time at length she was astonish'd she could entertain any that appear'd so foolish and relaps'd into her former perplexity not knowing what course to take The Peace was sign'd and the Lady Elizabeth after much resistance resolv'd to obey the King her Father The Duke of Alva had been appointed to Marry her in the Name of His Catholick Majesty and was shortly expected They look'd every day for the Duke of Savoy who had newly marry'd the King's Sister the Nuptials being appointed
my receiving Letters of that sort I pray Sir says the Vidame be serious If you have a Mistress as I question not but you have though I know her not you will easily justifie your self and I will put you in an infallible way for it If you should not justifie your self the worst you can fear is a short falling out My case is much worse by this unlucky Adventure I shall dishonour a Person who hath passionately lov'd me and is one of the most Enestimable Women of the World besides I shall procure my self her implacable hatred to the certain ruine of my Fortune and perhaps something more I understand you not answers Monsieur de Nemours but I begin methinks to discover the reports we have had of a great Princess being concern'd for you are not without ground They are not replys the Vidame but I wish they had been so I should not have been then in the trouble you see me in I will tell you all to convince you what a condition I am in Ever since I came to Court the Queen hath been pleas'd to use me with particular favour and hath given me cause to believe she hath kindness for me Yet so that I never entertain'd any thought of her but what was full of respect I was deeply in love with Madam de Themines you who have seen her may easily judge it was not strange any one should love her if she lov'd him as she did me Near two years since the Court being at Fountainbleau I was two or three times in discourse with the Queen when there was very little company I thought my sense pleas'd her and that she approv'd what-ever I said One day she fell into a Discourse of Confidence I told her there was not a Person in the World I could entirely confide in that I found many had repented of having done it and that I knew several things I had never spoken of The Queen told me she esteem'd me the better for 't that she had not found a Person in France could keep a Secret and that nothing troubl'd her more because it depriv'd her of the pleasure of having a Confident than which nothing more necessary especially for those of her Quality She fell several times after into the like discourse and made me acquainted with very particular Passages At last I thought she had a mind to learn some Secret of mine and to trust me with hers I was so sensible of this distinguishing favour it engag'd me strictly to her and I made my Court to her with more assiduity than ordinary One Evening the King and the Ladies went on Horseback into the Forrest to take the Air the Queen went not being a little indispos'd I staid to wait on her she walk'd down to the Pond side and to be at more liberty would not be handed by the Gentlemen-Ushers Having taken a turn or two she came to me and bid me follow her I would speak with you says she and by what I shall say to you you will find I am your Friend She stopp'd there and look'd earnestly on me You are in love says she and because you have made no one your Confident you think your love is not known but it is and to Persons who are concern'd at it You are observ'd the place where you see your Mistress is discover'd and there is a design to surprize you I know not your Mistress nor do I ask you who she is but would arm you against the Plots that are laid for you Observe Sir what a Snare this was from a Queen and how hard to escape She had a mind to know if I was in love and not asking whom I lov'd but letting me see her pure intentions of doing me a kindness she put it out of my thoughts to suspect her of Curiosity much less of Design But against all probability I came to a discovery of the truth I was in love with Madam de Themines but though she lov'd me I was not so happy to have particular places to see her or to fear a surprize I easily saw 't was not she the Queen spoke of I knew well enough I had some concern of Gallantry with a Woman less handsome and less severe than Madam de Themines and it was not impossible the place I us'd to meet her might have been discover'd but that was a business I so little car'd for I could easily prevent any danger by forbearing to see her Thus I resolv'd not to confess any thing to the Queen but assur'd her I had long laid aside the desire of gaining the love of Women where I might hope for success having found them almost all unworthy the Engagement of an honest Man and that I was now altogether for something above them You do not answer me truly replys the Queen I am assur'd of the contrary The manner of my speaking to you should oblige you to hide nothing from me I am willing adds she you should be one of my Friends but not willing having taken you into that Number to be ignorant how you are engag'd See whether the Place of being my Friend be too dear at the Price of making me your Confident I give you two days to think on 't but after that time I expect your answer and remember if I find you deceive me I shall never pardon you Having said this the Queen left me without expecting my answer You may believe she had said enough to employ my thoughts I did not think the two days she had allowed me too long a time to come to Resolution I saw she was willing to know if I was in love and that she did not much desire I should be so I consider'd the Consequences of the Engagement I was entring into My Vanity was tickl'd with the fancy of having a particular Intrigue with a Queen and a Queen whose Person is extremely amiable On the other side I lov'd Madam de Themines and could not find in my Heart to break with her quite though I committed a Petty-Treason against her by my Engagement with the other I formerly told you of I apprehended the danger I should expose my self to if I deceiv'd the Queen and how hard it would be to do it Yet I could not resolve to refuse what Fortune offer'd me but was willing to run the hazard of any thing my ill Conduct might bring upon me I broke with that Woman where I fear'd a discovery and was in hopes to conceal the intelligence I held with Madam de Themines At the two days end I enter'd the Chamber where the Queen was with all the Ladies about her she said aloud and with a Gravity that surpriz'd me Have you thought of the Business I gave you in Charge and found out the truth of it Yes Madam answer'd I and 't is as I told your Majesty Come in the Evening when I am a writing replys she and you shall have further order Having made a profound Reverence
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
had taken against him she pretended her self sick The Court was too busie to mind what she did or to enquire whether her indisposition were real or feign'd Only her Husband knew the truth of it That troubled her not she continu'd at home little concern'd for the great Change that was shortly expected and full of her own thoughts which she had liberty enough to give her self up to Every one ran to Court to enquire of the King Monsieur de Cleve came at certain hours to bring her news he observ'd the same method of proceeding towards her he us'd to do save only when they were alone they were a little less free and more cold towards one another than formerly He said not a word of what was past and she had not the power nor thought it convenient to resume the discourse of it Monsieur de Nemours who waited an opportunity of speaking to Madam de Cleve was surpriz'd and troubl'd he could not have a sight of her The King was so ill that the seventh day the Physicians gave him up Her receiv'd the news of the certainty of his Death with extraordinary constancy which was the more admirable in that he lost his Life by so unfortunate an Accident that he was to die in the Flower of his Age happy ador'd by his People and belov'd by a Mistress he was desperatly in love with The day before he dy'd he caus'd Madam his Sister to be marry'd to Monsieur de Savoy without Ceremony You may guess the condition the Duchess of Valentinois was in The Queen would not permit her to see the King but sent to demand of her the King's Signet and the Jewels of the Crown she had in her Custody The Duchess enquir'd if the King were dead and being told no I have no Master yet then says she and no body can oblige me to part with what he trusted in my Hands As soon as he expir'd at the Chasteau de Tournels the Dukes of Ferrara Guise and Nemours conducted the Queen-Mother the King and Queen-Consort to the Louvre Monsieur de Nemours led the Queen-Mother As they began to walk she step'd back a little and told the Queen her Daughter-in-Law it was her place to go first but it was easie to see there was more sharpness than civility in the Complement The End of the third Book THE PRINCESSE OF CLEVE BOOK IV. THE Queen-Mother was now wholly govern'd by the Cardinal of Lorrain the Vidame of Chartres was quite out of favour with her and the love he had for Madam Martigues and for liberty made him less sensible of her displeasure than a matter of that consequence might seem to deserve The Cardinal the ten days the King continued ill had leisure to form his designs and prevail with the Queen to take Resolutions suitable to his Projects so that as soon as the King was dead the Queen order'd the Constable to stay at the Tournels with the Corps to perform the usual Ceremonies This kept him at distance and out of the Scene of Action He dispatch'd a Courrier to the King of Navarr to hasten him to Court to join with him in opposing the Rise of the House of Guise The Duke of Guise was made General of the Armies and the Cardinal of Lorrain Sur-intendant of the Finances The Duchess of Valentinois was expell'd the Court. The Cardinal of Tournon the Constable's declar'd Enemy and the Chancellor Olivier declar'd Enemy to the Duchess of Valentinois were both call'd to Court In a word the Court had intirely chang'd Face The Duke of Guise rank'd himself with the Princes of the Blood to carry the King's Cloak at the Funeral He and his Brothers were absolute Masters at Court not only through the credit the Cardinal had with the Queen but because she thought it in her power to remove them if they should give her Umbrage and that she could not remove the Constable who was upheld by the Princes of the Blood The days of mourning for the deceas'd King being over the Constable came to the Louvre but had a very cold reception from the King He would have spoken with him in private but the King call'd for Messieurs de Guise and before them told him he advis'd him to take his ease that the Finances and the Command of the Armies were dispos'd of and when he should stand in need of his Counsels he would send for him to Court The Queen-Mother receiv'd him more coldly than the King had done and did not forbear to reproach him with his having said to the late King his Children were not like him The King of Navarr arriv'd and was no better receiv'd The Prince of Conde more impatient than his Brother complain'd of it aloud but all to no purpose He was remov'd from Court under pretence of being sent into Flanders to sign the Ratification of the Peace They shew'd the King of Navarr a forg'd Letter from the King of Spain wherein he was charg'd with designs to surprize some strong places belonging to that King they told him it was high time to look about him and prepare for defence and in a word perswaded him to resolve going for Bearn The Queen-Mother to furnish him with a pretence gave him in Charge the Conduct of Madam Elizabeth to Savoy and made him take his Journey before her so that there was not a Person left at Court to ballance the Power of the House of Guise Though it fell out unluckily for Monsieur de Cleve he had not the Conducting Madam Elizabeth yet the greatness of the Person preferr'd before him took from him all cause of complaint But the loss of the Employ griev'd him not so much for depriving him of the honour he should have receiv'd by it as for robbing him of so fair an opportunity to remove his Wife from Court without suspicion or the least appearance of design Soon after the decease of the late King a Resolution was taken the King should go to Rhemes to be anointed Madam de Cleve having all this while kept home on pretence of being ill no sooner heard this news but she pray'd her Husband to dispence with her following the Court and to give her leave to go take the Air at Colonniers for her health He told her he would not enquire whether she desir'd it on the account of her health but he was ready to consent to what she desir'd and it was no hard Task to consent to what he had already resolv'd As good an Opinion as he had of his Wife's Virtue he thought it imprudent to expose her longer to the view of a Man she was in love with Monsieur de Nemours quickly knew she would not go along with the Court and could not find in his heart to be gone without seeing her The Night before the Court was to remove he went to her House as late as in decency he could that he might find her alone Fortune favour'd his Intention as he enter'd the
remember you have made me the most unfortunate the most wretched of Men. Monsieur de Cleve having said this left his Wife and departed on the morrow without seeing her but he writ her a Letter full of trouble civility and kindness she sent him an answer so moving so full of assurance of her Conduct past and to come that being grounded on truth and lively expressions of the thoughts of her heart the Letter made impression on Monsieur de Cleve and restor'd in some measure the former tranquility and calm of his spirits Besides his knowing Monsieur de Nemours was to go to the King and could not be with Madam de Cleve contributed not a little to his repose when-ever this Lady spoke to her Husband the love he exprest for her the handsomness of his proceeding the kindness he had for her and what she ow'd him as her Husband had that strong operation on her capable one would think to deface the Idea's she had of Monsieur de Nemours but it was but for a time and presently after the same Idea's came fresh into her mind and made deeper impression than ever The first days after Monsieur de Nemours was gone she was scarce sensible of his absence at length it troubled her sore from the hour she fell in love with him not a day had past but she had fear'd or hop'd to meet him and it was no small grief to her to think it was not in the power of Fortune to make them now meet one another She went to Colonniers and order'd to be carri'd thither the great Pictures she had caus'd to be copied out of the Originals Madam de Valentinois had bought for her fine House at Amet. All the remarkable actions of the Kings Reign were represented in those Pieces amongst the rest was the Siege of Metz and those who had signaliz'd themselves were drawn there much to the Life Monsieur de Nemours was of the number which perhaps made her desirous of the Pictures Madam de Martigues having not been able to go with the Court promis'd to spend some days with Madam de Cleve at Colonniers Though both shar'd the Queens favour yet it was without envy or strangeness to one another they continued good friends yet neither was the others Confident of the Darling Thoughts Madam de Cleve knew Madam de Martigues lov'd the Vidame but Madam de Martigues knew nothing of Madam de Cleve's being in love with Monsieur de Nemours nor of his love for her Madam de Martigues lov'd her the better as being Neece to the Vidame and Madam de Cleve lov'd Madam de Martigues as being in love as she her self was and in love with the most intimate Friend of him who had a passion for her Madam de Martigues came to Colonniers as she promis'd and found Madam de Cleve led a very desolate life she affected solitude and to pass the Evenings in the Gardens without the company of her Domesticks she frequented the Pavillion where Monsieur de Nemours had heard her she entred the Bour that open'd to the Forrest her Women and other Servants staid in the other or under the Pavillion and came not to her unless she call'd them Madam de Martigues having never seen Colonniers before was surpriz'd at the beauties of it particularly at the pleasantness of the Pavillion Madam de Cleve and she usually past the Evenings there Two young Ladies as they both passionately in love being at liberty to pass the night in the finest place in the world knew not how to make an end of discoursing one another being extremely pleas'd with the Conversation though neither made the other her Confident Madam de Martigues could hardly have left Colonniers but that she was to go where the Vidame was she took her leave and went for Chambort where the Court then was The Cardinal of Lorrain had anointed the King at Rhemes and the design was to pass the rest of the Summer at the Castle of Chambort which was newly built The Queen express'd great joy to see Madam de Martigues at Court and after several Evidences of it she enquir'd what news of Madam de Cleve and what she did in the Country Monsieur de Nemours and Monsieur de Cleve were both with the Queen that very time Madam Martigues had been so taken with Colonniers she gave the Queen an account of the beauties of it and enlarg'd upon the Description of the Pavillion in the Forrest and the pleasure Madam de Cleve took to walk alone there some part of the Night Monsieur de Nemours who knew the place well enough to understand Madam Martigues's discourse thought it not impossible to have a sight of Madam de Cleve there without being seen by any but her self He ask'd her some questions for his better direction and Monsieur de Cleve who look'd earnestly on Monsieur de Nemours while Madam Martigues was speaking fancy'd he knew what was his design the questions he ask'd confirm'd him the more so that he made no doubt but he intended to go see his Wife Nor was he mistaken for Monsieur de Nemours was so set upon 't that having spent the Night in considering how to execute his design he went betimes on the morrow to ask the King leave to go to Paris on a pretended occasion Monsieur de Cleve question'd not the occasion of the Journey but resolv'd to satisfie himself of his Wife's Conduct and continue no longer under an uncertainty so troublesome He had a desire to go the same time Monsieur de Nemours set out and hide himself where he might discover the success of the Journey but fearing dis departure would be thought extraordinary and Monsieur de Nemours upon notice might take other measures he resolv'd to trust a Gentleman that belong'd to him whose faithfulness and wit he was fully assur'd of he acquainted him with the trouble he was in and how virtuous his Wife had been till then and order'd him to follow Monsieur de Nemours watch him narrowly and see whether he went to Colonniers and whether he enter'd the Garden by Night The Gentleman very capable of such a Commission discharg'd it with a great deal of exactness he follow'd Monsieur de Nemours to a Village within half a league of Colonniers where Monsieur de Nemours made a halt which the Gentleman easily guess'd was for no other end but to stay there till Night But he thought it best for him to pass through the Village and enter the Forrest the way he thought Monsieur de Nemours must pass He took his measures very right for it was no sooner Night but he heard some walk and though it were dark he easily knew Monsieur de Nemours He saw him go round the Garden to hearken if he could discover any Person and spy out a place convenient to pass over There were double Pales and very high on purpose to prevent entrance so that it was hard getting over yet Monsieur
de Nemours made a shift to get in and was no sooner enter'd the Garden but he quickly knew where Madam de Cleve was He saw a great light in the Bower the Windows all open and slipping along by the Pales side got close to the Bower you may imagine in what trouble and Emotion he took his station behind a Window which serv'd him conveniently to see what Madam de Cleve was doing He saw she was alone but thought her beauty so admirable he could scarce master the transport it put him in It was hot and she had nothing on her Head and her Neck but her Hair hanging carelesly down She was on a Bed of Repose with several Baskets full of Ribbands before her out of which she made choice of some and he observ'd she pick'd out the very Colours he wore at the Tourney He could see her make them up into Knots for an Indian Cane which had once been his and he had given it his Sister Madam de Cleve took it from her as if she had never known it had been his When she had ty'd on the Knots with a grace and sweetness suitable to the delicacy of the Sentiments in her Heart she took a great Wax Candle in her Hand and went to the Table over-against the Picture of the Siege of Metz wherein was the Pourtraict of Monsieur de Nemours She sat her down and fell a looking on that Pourtraict with that attention and thoughtfulness which could proceed only from a passionate love 'T is impossible to express the Sentiments of Monsieur de Nemours that moment to see by Night in the finest place of the World a Person he ador'd to see her and she not know it to see her wholly taken up with things relating to him and the passion she hid from him was a pleasure no other Lover ever tasted or imagin'd He was so transported he stood gazing at her without considering how precious his time was having bethought himself a little he believ'd it best not to speak to her till she came into the Garden where he might do it with more safety at greater distance from her Women Yet seeing she continu'd in the Bower he resolv'd to enter When about to do it what trouble was he in how fearful to displease her and make her change her Countenance so full of sweetness and love into looks full of anger and severity Presently he thought he had done very unwisely not to come see Madam de Cleve but to think of appearing to her He look'd on it as an extravagant boldness to surprize at midnight a Person to whom he never durst declare his passion for her He could not see how he could pretend to audience from her but believ'd she might justly be offended with him for the danger he expos'd her to by the Accidents might happen His courage quite fail'd him and he was several times upon the point of returning without letting her see him Yet push'd on with the desire he had to speak to her and encourag'd by the hopes given him by what he had newly seen he advanc'd a few steps but in such disorder that a Scarf he wore catch'd at the Window and made a noise Madam de Cleve turn'd about and whether her Fancy was full of him or that she stood in a place so directly to the light that she might know him she thought it was he and without the least hesitation or once looking towards him went into the place where her Women were She was so disorder'd that to conceal it from them she told them she was ill Which she did to give them employment about her and him an opportunity of escaping unseen Reflecting on what was past she thought her self deceiv'd and that she did but fancy she had seen him she knew he was at Chambort and could not perswade her self he would have undertaken so hazardous a Journey She had a mind several times to return into the Garden to see if any one were there and perhaps she no less desir'd than fear'd to find Monsieur de Nemours there At last reason prevail'd and she thought it more prudent to continue in doubt than to run the hazard of clearing the matter yet she could not of a long time resolve to quit a place she thought him so near to and it was almost day e're she return'd to the Castle Monsieur de Nemours staid in the Garden while there was any light in hopes of another sight of Madam de Cleve though he was perswaded she knew him and was gone out of purpose to shun him but hearing the Doors lock'd his hopes were at an end He went to take Horse near the place where Monsieur de Cleve's Gentleman was watching him This Gentleman follow'd him to the same Village where he left him in the Evening Monsieur de Nemours resolv'd to spend the rest of the Day there and return at Night to Colonniers to see if Madam de Cleve would have the cruelty to shun him or not expose her self to view He was very glad to find himself so much in her thoughts yet it could not but trouble him to see her so bent to avoid him Never was passion so tender and violent as that of this Prince He went under the Willows along a little Brook that ran behind the House where he hid himself that no notice might be taken of him He gave himself up to the transports of his Love which were so vehement he let fall some tears not those of pure grief but mingled with the pleasure and charms Love only is acquainted with He was now at leisure to reflect on all the Actions of Madam de Cleve since he had been in love with her What a modest rigour she had always us'd him with though she lov'd him For 't is certain says he she loves me I cannot doubt of it the deepest engagements the highest favours are not so infallible Evidences of it as those I have seen yet she uses me as if she hated me I hoped time would have produc'd in her some change in my favour but now I must not expect it I find her still upon her Guard against me and her self If she did not love me I would apply my self to please her but I please her she loves me and yet hides it from me What am I to expect what change can I hope of my Fate What shall I have the love of the most amiable Person in the World and be under that excess of passion that proceeds from the certainty of being lov'd by her only to make me more sensible of being ill us'd Let me see you love me fair Princess crys he declare to me your Sentiments let me once in my Life be assur'd of them by you I am content you should resume your rigour and use me ever after with the severity that so mortifies me Look on me at least with those Eyes you look'd last Night on my Picture in my sight Can you look with so
admire he should hide it from the Viscount de Chartres who keeps the Key of his heart Had he a Passion for a Person I bad a Power over I might be so happy as to understand this Alteration The Dauphin-Queen delivered it in a Dialect Madam de Cleve could have ill resented but that she would not cloud the Debonairness of the humour she first received it in Upon her return home to her Mothers she found her in a worse condition than when she went to Court Her Feaver was so violent that it daily increased upon her Insomuch her Physitians judged it would be of some continuance Madam de Cleve was so sensibly afflicted she quitted not her Mothers Chamber Mounsieur de Cleve paid his visits daily to Madam de Chartres not so much for the interest he had in that Lady or to divert his Wifes Grief and Sorrow as to have the happiness to injoy her company for his Passion had abated none of its primitive Heat and Vigour Mounsieur de Nemours who had a kindness for Mounsieur de Cleve took all occasions to demonstrate it to him since his return from Bruxelles during the distemper of Madam de Chartres The Prince found several opportunities of seeing Madam de Cleve under a pretence of her Husbands company to go abroad with him he came not thither but at such hours he knew him not to be there and under an excuse of waiting for his return he spent some hours in the withdrawing Room where several Persons of Quality came daily to pay their Complements of condolence to the Daughter upon her Mothers indisposition The affliction she lay under seemed to Mounsieur de Nemours to have made no alteration in her Beauty He endeavoured to make her sensible of the interest he had in her Grief but in a dialect so passionate it convin'd her that Madam la Dauphin was not the subject of his Change She could scarce forbear to discover her indignation in her countenance notwithstanding she took pleasure in his company But when he forbore to visit her and that she considered the Charms her Person carried with it had given the first Flame to his Passion she was scarce able to forbear to hate her self upon the apprehension of it Her Feaver got such footing of her daily that her Physitians began to despair of her Health she received the fatal Tidings with a Courage worthy of her Piety and Vertue After they had taken their last leaves of her and the Chamber was cleared of the Company she calls her Daughter to her We must part Daughter says Madam de Chartres taking her by the hand The danger that I leave you in and the occasion you have for me add to the regret I have to leave you I am sensible you have a Passion for Mounsieur de Nemours I ask you not to confirm me in it I am no longer able to make use of your sincerity in your future conduct I have long since discoursed your inclination but I have hitherto forborn to speak to you of it that I might give you no jealousie that I understood it You must needs be sensible that you are upon the point of the Precipice There ought to be powerful endeavours used to stop you in your carrear Reflect upon the Duty you owe your Husband and forget not also that that 's due to me Consider you are going about to Shipwrack the Reputation you have gotten and which I have so passionately wisht you Take up strength and courage to quit the Court Desire your Husband to take you thence Fear not to pursue those Paths which at first may seem hard and uneasie to you How unpleasant soever they may appear to you in the beginning you will find more sweetness in them in the end than in the Vanities of the Court. If any other Motives than those of Piety and Obedience could oblige you to embrace the thing I wish I would tell you if any thing can disturb my happiness in a better World it will be the consideration of your Fall But if this mischief be inevitable I shall welcome Death with joy that I am not the unhappy witness of it Madam de Cleve bathed her Mothers hand which she had inclosed in her own with a flood of Tears Adue says she my Child let us put a Period to the discourse that will dissolve us both into Grief and Tears Forget not I beseech you the last Legacy of your Mother Having concluded this short admonition she turns her self upon her Pillow and commanding her Daughter to call in her Women she would not allow her the liberty to reply Madam de Cleve left the Chamber and you may easily conjecture in what condition too Madam de Chartres gave up all the thoughts of the little Remnant of her life towards a preparation for a happier being She spun out two days longer in which time she would not admit her Daughter into her presence though she was the only thing of value she left behind her Poor Madam de Cleve was dissolved into trouble and tears Her Husband never left her and as soon as her Mothers eyes were closed he conducts her into the Country to remove her from a place which gave her no other objects but of grief and sorrow 'T was wonderful to observe that notwithstanding the memory of her Love and tenderness to her ought to have had the greatest share in her discontent the necessity of her Mothers Conduct to arm her against this Prince's Charms had also its part in it She begins to see her unhappiness to be thus forlorn in an Exigent wherein she was so little Mistress of her thoughts and in a season she so much wanted one in whose Breast she might deposit her complaints The respect of Monsieur de Cleve's carriage to her obliged her to wish more than ever that she might not be failing in any thing that might answer her love and duty She endeavoured to repair her former errour by greater evidences of her kindness to him than she had shewn before She could not indure he should part from her she seemed as it were forcibly to fix her self upon him that he might shelter her from the troublesome Addresses of the Duke of Nemours The Duke came to give a visit to Mounsieur de Cleve in the Country with design to pay another to his Lady which she refused And being sensible she could not avoid his Courtship she had taken a resolution to prevent the occasion and not see him Mounsieur de Cleve came to Paris to compleat his Train and promised his Lady to return the next day but he disappointed her for he came not till the day following I expected you all yesterday says Madam de Cleve And I ought to chide you for your breach of Faith You must believe if I were capable of any new affliction in the condition I am in the Death of Madam de Tournon which was brought me this very Morning had
Court as she had us'd She had a sight of Monsieur de Nemours at the Queen-Dauphins she had a sight of him at Monsieur de Cleve's where he frequently came with other Persons of Quality of his age that no notice might be taken of it but where-ever she saw him it gave her trouble and put her into some disorder which he easily perceiv'd As careful as she was to shun his looks and speak less to him than any other she could not prevent some sudden escapes of her passion that gave Monsieur de Nemours cause to believe she had more than indifferent inclination for him A Man perhaps less discerning than he could not have perceiv'd it but he had been already so often belov'd it was easie for him to know when one lov'd him He knew the Chevalier de Guise was his Rival and the Chevalier de Guise as clearly saw Monsieur de Nemours was his Not one of the whole Court but the Chevalier de Guise had made the discovery his interest render'd him more clear-sighted than the rest The knowledge they had of one anothers designs made them cross one another in all things and they could not forbear expressing their spight on every occasion though it broke not out into open enmity At the Runnings at the Ring at Combats at the Barrier and all Divertisements the King call'd them to they were always of different Parties and their emulation was so great it could not be hid Madam de Cleve could not forbear thinking frequently of the Affair with England she believ'd Monsieur de Nemours would not resist the King's Advice and the Instances of Lignerolles it troubled her to see Lignerolles was not yet return'd and she expected him every hour with the greatest impatience Her inclinations sway'd her strongly to inform her self exactly of the state of that Affair but the same thought that rais'd her Curiosity immediately suggested to her she was oblig'd to conceal it and she enquir'd only of the Beauty the Wit and Humour of Queen Elizabeth The King had one of her Pictures brought him Madam de Cleve thought it far handsomer than she hop'd to have found it and she could not forbear saying the Picture-drawer had flatter'd the Queen in drawing her so beautiful I do not think so says the Queen-Dauphin that Princess is reputed extraordinary handsome and witty and I am sure she hath been propos'd to me for an Example all my Life she must be very lovely if like Anne Bullen her Mother Never had a Lady so charming a Person or so bewitching a sweetness and lovliness in her humour I have heard say she had a singular sprightliness in her Countenance and not like the common English Beauties I think says Madam Cleve I have been told she was born in France They that fancy so are mistaken replys the Queen-Dauphin and I will tell you the Story of her in a very few words She was of a good Family in England Henry the 8th had been in love with her Mother and Sister and it was suspected she might be his Daughter She came into France with Henry the 7th's Sister who was marry'd to King Lewis the 12th This Princess being youthful and gallant was loth to leave the Court of France at the death of her Husband Anne Bullen whose love for the French Court was equal to her Mistresses resolv'd not to quit it The late King fell in love with her and she was made Maid of Honour to Queen Claudia This Queen dying the Lady Margaret the King's Sister Duchess of Alanson and since Queen of Navarr took her into her Service where she receiv'd some Tincture of the reformed Religion Afterwards she return'd into England and charm'd all that saw her she sung well and danc'd excellently They made her one of Queen Katherine's Maids of Honour and Henry the 8th fell desperately in love with her Cardinal Wolsey his Favourite and prime Minister was ill satisfi'd with the Emperour for not having favour'd his pretensions to the Papacy and to be reveng'd of him resolv'd to unite the King his Master to the French To effect this he suggested to Henry the 8th that his Marrriage with the Emperour's Aunt was Null and propos'd for a Wife to him the Duchess of Alanson whose Husband was lately dead Anne Bullen had Ambition enough to look upon the Divorce of King Henry from Katherine as a means to make way for her into the Throne She began to give the King some Impressions of the Lutheran Perswasion and engag'd the late King here to favour at Rome the Divorce of Henry in hopes of his marrying the Duchess of Alanson Cardinal wolsey to have opportunity to treat of this Affair prevailed with King Henry to send him into France on other business but he was so far from giving him power to propose that Marriage that he sent him express Order to Calais not to speak of it At his return from France Cardinal Wolsey was receiv'd with honours equal to those they would have done to the King Never did Favourite carry on Pride and Vanity to so high a Pitch He mannag'd an Enterview between the two Kings at Bulloigne Francis the 1st would have given the upper-hand to Henry the 8th but he would not take it they treated one another by turns with extraordinary Magnificence and presented each other with Habits equal to those they had caus'd to be made for themselves I have heard it said those the late King sent the King of England were of Crimson-Sattin beset all over with Pearls and Diamonds and a Robe of white Velvet embroider'd with Gold After some days stay at Bulloigne they went to Callis Anne Bullen was Lodg'd in Henry the 8th's Court with the Train of a Queen and Francis the 1st made her the same Presents and did her the same Honour as if she had been actually so At last after a Passion of nine years continuance Henry the 8th married her without staying for the dissolution of his first Marriage which he had a long time demanded at Rome The Pope hastily thunder'd Excommunications against him which provok'd the King so highly that he declar'd himself Head of the Religion and drew England after him into the Change ye now see Anne Bullen enjoy'd not her Grandeur long for when she thought it surest by the death of Queen Katherine one day as she was seeing with the whole Court a Match made by the Viscount Rochfort her Brother to run at the Ring the King was suddenly struck with so furious a jealousie that he hastily left the Show and went straight to London having left order for arresting the Queen the Viscount Rochfort and several others whom he thought Lovers or Confidents of that Princess though in appearance this jealousie of the Kings seem'd to owe its Birth to that moment the truth is it had been inspir'd into him some time before by the Viscountess Rochfort who was not able to bear with patience the great intimacy between the
Cleve read the Letter again and again yet knew not what she read she perceiv'd only Monsieur de Nemours was not so in love with her as she had thought but lov'd others who were no less deceiv'd in him than she What a Discovery was this for a Person of her humour who had a violent Passion who had newly given Evidence of it to a Man she judg'd unworthy of it and to another she us'd ill for love of him Never was grief so cutting as hers she imputed the sharpness of it to that days adventures and that if Monsieur de Nemours had not had occasion to believe she lov'd him she would not have car'd for his loving another Yet she did but deceive her self the Disease she was sick of and thought so intollerable was Jealousie with all its horrible Attendants This Letter discover'd to her a piece of Gallantry Monsieur de Nemours had long been engag'd in She saw the Lady who had written the Letter was a Person of Wit and Merit she thought her one that deserv'd his love and of more courage than her self and envy'd the power she had to conceal her Passion from Monsieur de Nemours The close of the Letter gave her cause to believe that Person thought her self lov'd she was presently of opinion the discretion that Prince had made shew of to her and she had been so taken with was perhaps but the effect of his Passion for the other whom he fear'd to displease In a word all her thoughts were so many torments to heighten her affliction and occasion despair What Reflections did she make on her self and the Counsels her Mother had given her How did she repent her not having persisted in her Resolution of quitting the World though without the leave of Monsieur de Cleve or her not having pursu'd the intention she had of confessing to him the inclination she had for Monsieur de Nemours She thought she had better have discover'd it to a Husband whose goodness she was assur'd of and who would have been concern'd to conceal it than to have let a Man know it who was altogether unworthy of it who deceiv'd her and perhaps made a Sacrifice of her and car'd no more for her love than to have matter thence to feed his Pride and Vanity In a word she thought no greater mischief could befall her nor she have done worse than to have given Monsieur de Nemours occasion to believe she lov'd him and to have since found he was in love with another All the comfort she had was to believe that having discover'd his falseness it would perfectly cure her of the inclination she had for him She never thought of the order the Queen-Dauphin had given her to be with her at her going to Bed but went to Bed her self pretending she was ill so that when Monsieur de Cleve came from the King they told him she was asleep but she was far enough from being so well at rest afflicting her self all Night and reading over the Letter she had in her Hand Madam de Cleve was not the sole Person this Letter disturb'd The Vidame de Chartres who in truth had lost it was in no small trouble for it He had pass'd that Evening at the Duke of Guise's who had treated at Supper his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Ferrara and all the young People of the Court. As Fortune would have it they discours'd at Supper of Letters the Vidame told them he had about him the finest that ever was writ They press'd him to shew it but he deny'd Monsieur de Nemours insisted he had no such Letter and that he talk'd vainly The Vidame answer'd he put him very hard to 't yet he would not shew him the Letter but would read part of it which would give them cause to judge few Men receiv'd the like Having said this he would have taken out the Letter but could not find it He search'd for it but to no purpose the Company jear'd him as if he never had any such but he was so vex'd at the loss that they forbore speaking further of it He retir'd before the rest of the Company and with great impatience went home to search for the Letter he miss'd As he was in search of it a Page of the Queens came to tell him that the Viscountess d' Usez had thought it necessary to give him speedy intelligence that at the Queens Lodgings they discours'd of a Letter of Gallantry dropp'd out of his Pocket as he was at Tennis That they had recited part of what was written in it that the Queen seem'd very desirous to see it that she had sent to one of her Gentlemen for it but he answer'd he had given it Chastelart The Page added other Particulars which heighten'd the Vidame's trouble He went presently to a Gentleman who was very intimate with Chastelart and though at a very unseasonable hour made him get up out of Bed to go ask Chastelart for the Letter without letting him know who enquir'd for it or had lost it Chastelart fully possest the Letter belong'd to Monsieur de Nemours and that he was in love with the Queen-Dauphin made no doubt but he had sent in search of it and with a malicious joy answer'd he had deliver'd it to the Queen-Dauphin The Gentleman brought the Vidame this Answer which added to his trouble After long debate what course to take he saw Monsieur de Nemours was the only Person could help him out of the trouble he was in He went to his House and enter'd his Chamber at peep of Day The Prince was fast asleep the kindness of Madam de Cleve the day before having given him such pleasing thoughts that he rested very sweetly that Night He was surpriz'd to find himself awaken'd by the Vidame of Chartres and ask'd him if it was to be reveng'd of him for what he had said at Supper that he was come thus early to break his rest The Vidame's looks gave him quickly to understand his business was very serious I am come says he to trust you with the most important Affair of my Life I know very well you are not oblig'd to me for the confidence because I do it in a time I stand in need of your help but I am satisfi'd withal I should have lost your esteem had I acquainted you with what I am going to tell you without being forc'd to it by absolute necessity I have dropp'd the Letter I spoke of yesterday it concerns me extremely no one should know it was address'd to me Several who were at the Tennis-Court yesterday where I dropp'd it have seen it You were there and I beg the favour you would own you have lost it Sure says Monsieur de Nemours smiling you think I have not such a thing as a Mistress in the World that you can make me a Proposal of this Nature as if there were not a Person living would fall out with me upon notice of
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
Cleve all the while she spoke lean'd his Head on his Hand almost besides himself and never thought of making her rise up from the posture she was in When she had done speaking and he fix'd his Eyes on her and saw her at his Feet her Face no less drown'd in tears than admirable for beauty he was ready to dye for grief and taking her up in his Arms Have you pity on me Madam says he for I need and deserve it and pardon me if in the first Assault of a grief so violent as mine is I answer not as I ought such a proceeding as yours I think you more worthy esteem and admiration than any Woman that ever was and my self the most unfortunate of Men. I have been passionately in love with you from the first moment I saw you Neither your severity nor the enjoyment of you was ever able to abate it in the least it continues still at the height It was never in my power to make you in love with me and I see now you fear you have inclination for another Who Madam is the happy Man that causes your fear How long hath he had the good fortune to please you what was it he did to please you what way did he find to gain your affection It was some comfort to me for my misfortune of failing it to think it was impossible for any one to obtain Another the while hath done what I have not been able and I have at once the jealousie both of a Husband and a Lover But 't is impossible to retain that of a Husband after a proceeding like yours it is too noble and generous not to give me an entire assurance of your Virtue it comforts me as a Lover The confidence and sincerity you have express'd for me are of infinite value You esteem me sufficiently to believe I will not abuse your Confession You may Madam I will not abuse it nor love you the less for it You render me unfortunate by the clearest Evidence of Fidelity that ever Woman gave a Husband But perfect what you begun Madam and let me know who it is you would avoid I beseech you do not ask me answers she I am resolv'd not to tell you and I think it prudent not to give you his Name Fear not Madam replys Monsieur de Cleve I am too well vers'd in the World not to know Men may be in love with a Woman though she have a Husband We are to hate those that are so but not to complain of it and once more I conjure you to tell me who it is 'T is to no purpose to press me Sir says she I have the power to be silent where I think it my duty not to speak impute not to any weakness the Confession I have made to you And I had need of more courage to declare to you that truth than to have conceal'd it Monsieur de Nemours heard every word of this discourse and what Madam de Cleve had said rais'd no less his jealousie than her Husband 's He was so desperately in love with her he thought all the World was so too True it is he had many Rivals yet he fancy'd them more and he was wild to know who it was Madam de Cleve meant He had often thought she had some kindness for him but the grounds of his judgment appear'd on this occasion so slight and inconsiderable that he could not imagine she had so violent a passion for him as to need recourse to so extraordinary a Remedy He was so transported he scarce knew what he saw but he could not pardon Monsieur de Cleve for not having press'd her home to tell him the Name of the Person she conceal'd from him Yet Monsieur de Cleve us'd his utmost endeavours to know it but finding it vain to urge her further desisted from troubling her who presently said Methinks you ought to rest satisfi'd with my sincerity pray ask me no more and give me not cause to repent what I have done Content your self with the assurance I give you once more my Sentiments have never appear'd by any Action of mine and that no address hath been made to me that could give me offence Ah Madam replys Monsieur de Cleve on the sudden I cannot believe it I remember the trouble you were in the day your Picture was lost you have given Madam you have given away that Picture that was so dear to me and so justly mine You have not been able to conceal your affection you are in love it is known your Virtue hath hitherto sav'd you from the rest Is it possible crys the Princess you can imagine any diguisement in a Confession as mine is which I was no way oblig'd to Take my word Sir I buy at a dear rate the confidence I desire of you I conjure you believe I never gave away my Picture True it is I saw it taken but would not take notice I saw it for fear of exposing my self on that occasion to be told what none ever yet durst say to me How know you then you are lov'd says he what evidences has he given you of his passion Spare me the pains and the trouble answers she of telling you particulars I am asham'd to have observ'd being such as have too much convinc'd me of my weakness You have reason Madam replys he I am unjust and press you too far refuse me when ever I ask you such Questions yet be not offended with me for asking them Just then came several of the Servants who had staid in the Walks to acquaint Monsieur de Cleve that a Gentleman was arriv'd from the King with Orders for him to be at Paris that Evening Monsieur de Cleve was forc'd to go and was not able to say anything to his Wife but that he desir'd her to come to Paris on the Morrow and conjur'd her to believe that though he was troubled he had for her a tenderness and esteem with which she had reason to be abundantly satisfi'd When the Prince was gone and Madam de Cleve left alone consider'd what she had done the thought of it so frighted her she could scarce believe the truth of it She saw she her self had put her self out of the affection and esteem of her Husband and plung'd her self into a Pit she should never get out of She ask'd her self why she had done so hazardous a thing and perceiv'd she had engag'd in it having scarce form'd the design The singularity of her Confession which she conceiv'd without President gave her a full Prospect of her danger On the other side when she consider'd this Remedy as violent as it was was the sole effectual one she could make use of against Monsieur de Nemours she thought she had no cause to repent or to believe she had ventur'd too far She pass'd that Night under a very great incertitude trouble and fear at last her Spirits were calmed she found pleasure in having
Court he met Madam Nevers and Madam Martigues coming out they told him they had left her alone He went up under an agitation and trouble parallell'd only by that Madam de Cleve was in when told Monsieur de Nemours was come to see her the fear of his speaking to her of his passion her apprehension she might give him too favourable an answer the disturbance this Visit might occasion to her Husband the difficulty of giving him an account of it or concealing it presented themselves to her imagination all in a moment and put her into a perplexity that made her resolve avoiding the thing than which peradventure she desir'd none more She sent one of her Women to Monsieur de Nemours who was in her Anti-Chamber to tell him she had lately been very ill and was extremely sorry she could not receive the honour he would have done her What a grief was this to him not to see Madam de Cleve and therefore not to see her because she had no mind he should He was to be gone on the Morrow he could not expoct from Fortune a more favourable opportunity He had not spoken to her since the discourse at the Queen-Dauphin's and had reason to believe his telling the Vidame had destroy'd all his hopes In a word he went away vex'd to the very Heart As soon as Madam de Cleve had recover'd her self a little out of the trouble she was in at the thoughts of Monsieur de Nemours being come to visit her she was so far from approving the reasons that induc'd her to excuse her self from seeing him that she condemn'd her self for having refus'd his Visit and if it had not been too late she would have had him call'd back Madam de Nevers and Madam de Martigues went directly from Madam de Cleve to the Queen-Dauphins Monsieur de Cleve was there The Queen-Dauphin ask'd them where they had been they answer'd they came from Madam de Cleve where they had spent part of the Afternoon with a great deal of company and left no body there but Monsieur de Nemours These words though harmless and indifferent in themselves pass'd not as such with Monsieur de Cleve he had reason to imagine Monsieur de Nemours might have several opportunities of speaking to Madam de Cleve but to think he was alone with her at her Lodgings where he might declare to her his passion appear'd that moment a thing so strange and intollerable he was more jealous than ever It was not in his power to stay at the Queen-Dauphin's he went thence not knowing why nor whether it were with design to interrupt Monsieur de Nemours When he drew near home he look'd about to see what signs he might discover of that Prince's being still there It was some comfort to find he was gone and it pleas'd him to find he could not have been long there He fancy'd peradventure it was not Monsieur de Nemours he had reason to be jealous of And though he could not doubt it yet he endeavour'd to perswade himself he ought to question it But he had been already so clearly convinc'd to the contrary it was not in his power to continue long in that uncertainty he so earnestly desir'd He went straight into his Wife's Chamber and after some general discourse he could not forbear asking her what she had done in his absence and who had been to see her She gave him account of both but finding she mention'd not Monsieur de Nemours he ask'd trembling if those were all she had seen that she might have occasion to name Monsieur de Nemours and he have the comfort to find she put no tricks upon him She had not seen him therefore she nam'd him not Monsieur de Cleve with a sorrowful tone replys Have you not seen Monsieur de Nemours or have you forgot him I have not seen him indeed says she I was ill and sent one of my Women to make my Excuse You were not ill but for him then replys he you admitted all other Visits why not his as the rest What reason have you to fear a sight of him Why should he know by you that you are afraid to see him Why should you make it appear to him you make use of the Power his Passion gives you over him Durst you refuse to see him but that you know him sensible it proceeded not from Incivility but Rigour And what reason have you to be rigorous to him From a Person like you Madam any thing but indifference is a favour I did not think says she you had any such suspicion of Monsieur de Nemours that you could have reproached me for not admitting a Visit from him Yet I reproach you Madam replys he and have ground enough for it Why should you not see him if he never spoke to you of his love But he hath declar'd it Madam 't is not possible it could have made so deep an impression in you had you perceiv'd it only by his silence It was not in your power to tell me the whole trugh you have conceal'd from me the greater and more considerable part you have repented that little you confess'd to me you were not able to finish your Confession I am more unhappy than I thought I was and the unhappyest of Men. You are my Wife I love you as my Mistress and the same time see you in love with another and he the most amiable in the Court He sees you every day and knows you are in love with him Ha crys he I believ'd you might overcome the Passion you had for him but sure I had lost my Reason to think it I know not replys she very sorrowfully whether you did ill to judge favourably of a proceeding so extraordinary as mine nor do I know but I might be mistaken when I thought you would do me Iustice. Never doubt it Madam says he you were mistaken you expected from me things as impossible as those I expected from you How could you think I should do you right or act according to reason You had sure forgot I was desperately in love with you and that I was your Husband Either of these were enough to run a Man into extremities what cannot both do when thus met in one Ha what do they not My sentiments my thoughts are uncertain and violent I cannot master them I no longer think my self worthy of you nor do I think you are worthy of me I adore you I hate you I offend you I beg your pardon I admire you I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I do so In a word I have lost both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and my reason I wonder I have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since you spoke to me at Colonniers and the Queen-Dauphin told you the Adventure was known I cannot discover how it came abroad nor what pass'd between Monsieur de Nemours and you on that account You will never acquaint me with it nor do I desire you should I beg only you will
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