THE
PRINCESS
OF
AN
HISTORICAL NOVEL.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
L’amour ne vient qu’une
fois; s’il n’a pas êté
encore prouvé, il doit être
attendu.
ANON.
PRINTED
FOR J. WILKIE, No. 71,
CHURCH-YARD.
M.DCC.LXXVII.
TO
THE
READER.
THE following Novel will, I hope, be found
interesting; for the story is simple, although the actors are supposed to be
persons of the first rank in life. There are certain parts of the original,
which is in French, that appear to be lengthened out, rather more than is
necessary, as dwelling upon adventitious or trivial circumstances, generally
draws off the attention from the principal action, and, of consequence, in a
certain degree, throws a heaviness over the whole relation—on which account the
story, as it now appears, is something shorter than the original.
It
may possibly be objected to this little piece, that it contains no moral.—I
must here beg leave to offer a few words in favour of a performance, which I
own has employed several of my leisure hours most agreeably.
The story at least serves to prove,
that the most rigid virtue, the most distinguished rank, united to the best
character, will scarcely be found powerful enough to prevent that woman from
feeling the deepest sorrow and distress, who gives her hand without her
heart.—There is nothing romantic in this assertion, the deduction is plain, and
the lesson may be useful.
Let
me add, that whatever awakens our sensibility for suffering
virtue, will always be productive of salutary effects, to an
innocent mind.
If
this be true, the story of the Princess of Cleves, cannot be pronounced
devoid of moral.
THE
PRINCESS OF
DURING the reign of Henry the second of
Ambition
and galantry were the springs that here actuated
every one; the ladies had near an equal share in the interests, the business,
and intrigues, that employed this court; and love seemed here united with the
most important concerns of state, while each followed with warmth and eagerness
their several pursuits. Languor was utterly unknown. The Queen, the Dauphiness,
Madame de Valentinois (the King’s mistress) and the
Princess, had each their several suitors and favourites of both sexes. The
extreme beauty of the Dauphiness, the sweetness of her disposition, and a
partiality she was thought to shew towards the Duke
de Nemours, gave rise to a suspicion that he loved and admired that Princess.
He
had been when in
About
this time there appeared at the court of France, a lady, who in the midst of
acknowledged beauties, attracted all eyes: she was of the family of the
Viscount de Chartres, and one of the richest
heiresses in the kingdom. Her father had died during her infancy, and left her
to the guardianship of Madame de Chartres, her
mother, who was a woman of great merit and accomplishments. After her husband’s
death, she had retired from court, and devoted her attention solely to the
educating of her daughter, in a manner suited to her birth and fortune. The
person of Mademoiselle de Chartres, which was
naturally beautiful, had every advantage that a polite education could bestow;
but her mind had been the principal object of her mother’s care; and it was
replete with every merit. Madame de Chartres thought
differently from the generality of prudent mothers, who seem to found the
security of their daughter’s virtue, on their ignorance of that passion which
alone can endanger it. She talked of love, and described it, as it really is,
the source of our most exalted joys, and our most poignant sorrows. She
informed her of the insincerity of men; of their want of candour, of their
deceit and infidelity, and pointed out the causes from whence springs domestic
unhappiness; while, on the other side, she beautifully represented in the strongest lights, the felicity
attending a virtuous wife and mother; she remarked to her, that virtues as well
as vices were most conspicuous in women of rank and beauty, and anxiously
inculcated to her what could alone constitute her future happiness,—To merit a
sincere passion, and to be capable of returning it. Mademoiselle de Chartres was, in point of fortune, one of the greatest
matches in
The
Chevalier de Guise, who was the Prince’s first friend, became, as well as many
others, deeply enamoured with the fair de Chartres.
She was now present at all the public entertainments of the court, and a most
particular and distinguished favourite of the
beautiful Dauphiness. The Prince of Cleves was her
declared and avowed admirer; he pursued his suit with the utmost ardour, but
feared the haughtiness of Madame de Chartres. This
fear was alone the timidity of love; for he had then a very near relation
married to a lady of the Royal Blood. He had many rivals to contend with; the
Chevalier de Guise was one of the most formidable; their former friendship
diminished daily, and they had scarcely the power to conceal their mutual
resentments.
Madame
de Valentinois was a professed enemy to the Viscount
de Chartres, uncle to Mademoiselle; she was therefore
determined, if possible to prevent the marriage of the Prince of Cleves with his niece: she employed all her interest with
the Duke de Nevers, father to that Prince, who
absolutely refused his consent to their union. Madame de Chartres
was thoroughly sensible of the dangers her daughter was exposed to in a court, where
galantry was universally pursued; she conjured her,
not as a mother, but as a friend, to acquaint her with every sentiment of her
heart, and to make her the confidante of every particular address she should
meet with, promising by her advice and experience to guide her safely through
the dangers that awaited her.
The
Cardinal of Lorrain forbad his nephew, the Chevalier
de Guise, to think of an alliance with Mademoiselle de Chartres,
for the hatred he likewise bore to the Viscount her uncle. The indignation
Madame de Chartres conceived at the affront she
thought she received from the houses of
Madame
de Valentinois, having by some means discovered this
matter, imparted it to the King, and so prejudiced him against the marriage, as
rendered the friendship of the Dauphiness vain. He told her, he altogether
disapproved of the alliance she spoke of, and desired her to acquaint the Duke
de Montpensier with his pleasure. No person dared
further to pursue Mademoiselle de Chartres, fearing
to incur the King’s displeasure, or despairing she would accept any thing
beneath the match that had been proposed for her.
The death of the Duke de Nevers soon left the Prince of Cleves
at liberty to pursue his inclinations; the first use he made of that liberty,
was to offer his hand and fortune to the lady he had so long loved. But though
having the power to convince her of his attachment by so strong a proof, he was
not, however, altogether happy; he loved her to excess, but feared he had not
been sufficiently fortunate, to inspire her heart with an equal degree of
passion; and was not without some jealousy that the Chevalier de Guise
possessed her favour more than himself. But reflexion
having soon convinced him that these ideas proceeded more from his own
apprehensions than her behaviour; he entreated her to make him acquainted with
her real sentiments for him; assuring her, that though her refusal would render
him for ever miserable, he was capable, even in this instance, of preferring
her happiness to his own.
Mademoiselle
had a heart full of tenderness and generosity: she pitied the passion which she
had inspired, though she was not capable of returning it. She was sensible of
the constancy of the Prince’s attachment to her, and grateful for his kindness;
these sentiments gave a softness to her speech and manner,
that flattered the Prince of Cleves so far as
to make him hope, he was not indifferent to her. Madame de Chartres
was consulted, who approved of their union, but wished her daughter to assure
her that she loved the Prince of Cleves. Mademoiselle
could only answer that she highly esteemed his good qualities, that she could
marry him without reluctance, and preferred no other person to him. Madame de Chartres unfortunately thought this cold assent sufficient,
and ventured to bestow her daughter on a man whom at that time she did not
love. His proposals were formally accepted; the articles were concluded, and
the intended match made public.
The
Prince of Cleves was sensible of the highest
transport at the idea of his approaching nuptials, yet his reason did not
assent to his joy. He could not deceive himself into an opinion, that
Mademoiselle de Chartres felt any other sentiments
than those of gratitude and esteem for him, as the circumstances of their
situation would have warranted her shewing some
degree of tenderness to her husband elect, without the least offence to her
maiden modesty. Her manners remained totally unaltered, though scarce a day
passed in which the Prince did not pour forth his complaints of her coldness.
Is
it possible (said he to her one day) that I can be unhappy even on the eve of
my marriage with the woman I adore? Yet it is certain that my heart is not at
peace. The condescending softness with which you treat me, does not satisfy my
ardour; you do not express the least inquietude at my
absence, or emotion at my presence, and seem to be no more affected by my
passion, than you would be if my attachment arose from the advantages of your
fortune, and not from the united charms of your mind and person.
You
injure me by your complaints, replied she, I have already granted every thing
within the bounds of decorum to your wishes. Ah, charming maid! cried he, I should be too happy if I could persuade myself
that you had any sentiments for me, which prudence forbade you to reveal. But
on the contrary, I fear that your heart has no share even in the slight
appearance of kindness with which you sometimes honour me. Ought not (said she,
with inimitable sweetness) those blushes which you now call forth, and which I
cannot hide from you, be a sufficient proof you are not indifferent to me? Ah!
Madam (replied the Prince) it is impossible you can ever return a love like
mine.
The
fair de Chartres was but too sensible of the calmness
of her own attachment; and wished that the ardour of her lover might be able to
kindle an equal flame in her bosom. Madame de Chartres,
knowing the sensibility of her daughter, was astonished that the passion of the
Prince of Cleves should make no greater impression on
such a heart; and took every occasion to extol his virtues, and place his
attachment in the strongest and most forcible light.
The
marriage was at length solemnized at the Louvre, and
the Royal Family were present; the entertainment was extremely magnificent: the
Chevalier de Guise assisted at the ceremony, but it was easy to perceive the
distress it gave him. The prince of Cleves was
unfortunate enough to be sensible that Mademoiselle de Chartres
had not added to her affection by her change of situation; he was conscious he
had a right to her heart, but did not feel that he had obtained it: her person
was not the utmost of his wish; he still sued as a lover for that return of
passion he could not be happy without.
The conduct of the Prince was such as
to leave no room for jealousy, even in the midst of a court where galantry was openly professed; and where, though she was
surrounded with admirers, she admitted not of any particular address: every one
approached her with respect. The Marshal de St André, who had been long her
lover, and who possessed many advantages, could only prove his partiality by
assiduously rendering every little attention in his power. Many others wished
to be regarded with favour by this charming woman. But Madame de Chartres’s excellent counsels were so interwoven with her
own purity and delicacy of mind, that she convinced the court of France she had
a soul so virtuous as to resist every tint of the folly that surrounded her.
The
Duke de Nemours was yet at
The
Princess of Cleves had heard the highest praises of this
nobleman; the Dauphiness had often spoken to her of him, as so superior to the
generality of mankind, that she felt a degree of impatience to behold so
extraordinary a person. She was that evening by far the most brilliant figure
at the Louvre. Her dress was prepared for the
occasion: that, as well as her beauty, outshone all others. She was dancing
when she perceived by some noise and bustle at the entrance of the room, that
some considerable person had just then appeared: She had finished a minuet with
the Duke of P——, when the King himself brought the stranger up to her; and she
instantly knew him to be the Duke de Nemours.—He was dressed with the utmost
elegance, and a murmur of applause attended their performance. As soon as it
was over, the Queen asked if they did not wish to be known to each other. “It
is impossible I can be mistaken (said the Duke) this lady can be no other than
the Princess of Cleves; but I entreat your Majesty do
me the honour to inform her who it is that admires her.” I believe (whispered
the Dauphiness to her) you can divine as well as the Duke.” “I am not so good a
prophet, as you imagine, Madam,” (answered she). “You
are a hypocrite,” replied the Dauphiness. Nemours had thought the Dauphiness a
perfect Beauty: such indeed she was allowed to be: he now thought the Princess
of Cleves had some advantages.
The
Princess was so pleased with the entertainment of the evening, that
notwithstanding it was very late before she retired, she called to give Madame
de Chartres (who she knew went out early to rest)
some account of it; and spoke of Nemours with a warmth of expression, unusual
to her.—This penetrating mother perceived it even then with uneasiness.
The day following was that of the marriage of the Duke of Lorrain. The Duke de Nemours was there, still more
conspicuous than he had been the night before: his conversation was easy, chearful, pleasant, directed to all, admired by all: every
one attended to what he said; and his praises were the only theme where he was
not himself engaged.—Madame de Cleves also joined in
the common subject; she had many opportunities of conversing with the Duke, and
he involuntarily endeavoured to render himself amiable in her eyes. As he was
the most accomplished man, so was she the most accomplished woman, of the
court. It was not surprising that they should be infinitely agreeable to each
other.
Nemours,
without being conscious of his danger, conceived a violent passion for this
lady: it seemed in a short time to have robbed him of all other thoughts; he
took care to be constantly of her party, and to refuse all those, where she was
not to be one. He now scarcely listened to any conversation in which she did
not bear a part. He went oftenest to the court of the Dauphiness, because
Madame de Cleves was most frequently there; yet he
was resolved rather to bury in his heart the sentiments he felt, than to suffer
her name to be mentioned by the public in a way it had never yet been; his
conduct in this matter was so circumspect that no one guessed at the person who
had occasioned the change that was so observable in him.
Madame de Cleves herself would have been
equally ignorant, had not the looks and actions of Nemours been more
interesting to her than they were to any one else. She could not prevail
upon herself to declare to her mother with the ingenuousness she had hitherto
done, the situation of her mind; she was resolved this secret should be
confined to her own breast. Madame de Chartres wanted
not to be told, she was already but too sensible of the danger of her daughter,
and it gave her the utmost disquiet. Her good-sense and experience taught her
to observe that both the fame and peace of Madame de Cleves
were concerned.
The
Marshal de St. André, who was fond of shew and expence, gave a sumptuous entertainment, at which were
present the King and Queen; but Madame de Cleves was
the person to whom he particularly meant the compliment. The Dauphiness had
presented her with some jewels which she was to wear on the occasion. That
Princess had been indisposed; and was with a very small company in her own
chamber, attended by no other lady than Madame de Cleves,
when the Prince of Conde was admitted. “I am come”
(said he, after some other conversation) “from supporting a warm argument
against the Duke de Nemours, who has been bitterly inveighing against the
vanity of the fair sex: it is this, he says, that causes all the distress of
ours: and nothing can be so strong a support to this dangerous turn of mind, so
painful in its consequences, as the public diversions of the court, where the
ladies absolutely appear for no other purpose than to gain general admiration:
While the lover there sees his mistress as much pleased with the empty
adulations of others, as with those attentions which proceed really from his
heart, she has not a look to bestow on him who truly loves her, and must have
so great a consciousness of the power of her beauty as must for the time efface
every other idea. “I believe,” concluded the Prince, “there is a little
selfishness in the opinions of Nemours, as his Majesty sends him particular
dispatches to-morrow to the Duke of F——, and it will not be possible that he
can be present at St. André’s entertainment in the evening.” Madame de Cleves attended to this conversation; it occurred to her
then, though it had never done so before, that there was an impropriety in her
going to St. André’s ball, when she knew he professed himself her lover.—She
gave this reason to her mother, who reminded her, that, in accepting an
invitation where such numbers were concerned, there could be no particularity,
whatever there might appear in a refusal. Madame de Cleves
was so obstinately bent on being absent, that an apology of indisposition was
sent. Nemours returned the day after the entertainment, and was informed that
the Princess of Cleves had not been present at it;
and a flattering hope arose, that his conversation had been repeated to her.
She that day made her appearance at the court of the Dauphiness in an undress, as if not yet perfectly recovered. “You look so
well (said the Princess, who was engaged in conversation with Nemours when
Madame de Cleves entered) that I really think you
might have been with us last night. I have a strong suspicion, that the
arguments of this gentleman which were repeated to us,
had more influence over you than any indisposition.” Madame de Chartres now knew the reason of her daughter’s absence from
the ball. She could not easily prevail upon herself, nor did she think it right
to tell her, that she knew the situation of her heart; but she took frequent
opportunities of mentioning the Duke to her in a way that she hoped would cause
her to think of him with that indifference it was necessary she should. In
these conversations she denied him not the worth and merit he so apparently
possessed; she even extolled them, but assured Madame de Cleves,
that he was professedly a man of galantry; that women
were his amusement; that, at present, he was attached to the Dauphiness, from
whose court he was hardly ever absent. “I advise you, my dear daughter,” said
Madame de Chartres, “avoid this dangerous character:
the world sees your great intimacy with the Dauphiness, they will at least
imagine you are her confidante, and it will be better you should even resign
her friendship, than engage yourself in the intrigues that are here practised.”
Madame
de Cleves was so astonished at her mother’s
intelligence, that she lost all power to conceal the distress it gave her: when
alone, she gave way to the utmost anguish. “Wretch that I am!
(exclaimed she) the Prince of Cleves deserves my
utmost tenderness: his wish, his study, is to oblige and make me happy; while
I, ungrateful and unworthy of his love, bestow that affection which is his due
on one who is ungenerous enough to feign an attachment to me, in order to hide
that which he really feels for another. My situation is such, that I dare not
impart it to my mother. She will despise even her daughter when capable of such
weakness. Yet I will tell her, and she will help me to conquer what I really
despise in myself.”—She went with this resolution to the house of Madame de Chartres; but finding her very much indisposed, was obliged
for that time to defer her intention.
She then proceeded on her usual visit
to the Dauphiness, who had not yet quitted her own apartment, where there were
only a few ladies attending her. “You are welcome, my dear Madame de Cleves (said she) we were just speaking of Nemours and the
surprising change there is in him since his return from
When
she returned to the house of her mother, she found her much worse: a fever had
attacked her, and in a few days she was pronounced by her physicians to be in
great danger. Her daughter scarcely ever quitted her chamber; and the Prince of
Cleves remained constantly at her house, that he
might omit no opportunity of softening and sharing the griefs
of a wife he loved with the most tender and ardent affection. Nemours, who had
been long well acquainted with him, took every opportunity of cultivating his
friendship. He called frequently at the house of Madame de Chartres
to visit him, and enquire after the health of both the ladies; for that of Madame
de Cleves was sensibly impaired by her attendance on
her mother. He had sometimes an opportunity of seeing for a few minutes her
laudable affection and deep distress for the danger of a valuable parent
rendered still more charming, as her affliction still added to her beauty, and
at the same time evinced the goodness of her heart.
He
sincerely sympathized in her grief. He could not help sometimes telling her so,
and in terms so pathetic, and with looks so expressive of the share he took in
her sufferings, as often whispered to her heart, that she alone was the object
nearest to his. Her soul more than usually softened found a pleasure (she then
examined not the cause of) in his soothings, thinking
that any one who had talked as he did of her sorrows, would have been equally
pleasing to her.
Madame
de Chartres’s dissolution now approached: she
received the fatal intelligence with far more composure than her daughter; with
a fortitude suitable to her piety and virtue. She told
Madame de Cleves she had something very particular to
say to her; and, having ordered her attendants to quit the chamber, eagerly
grasped the hand of her darling child, and thus addressed herself to her.
“Heaven has thought fit to part us, my dearest child; and to leave you, is my only
sorrow. But where shall I find words to tell you the grief I experience for the
danger in which I leave you? You love the Duke de Nemours, I ask you not to
confess it to me; I am no longer in a situation to avail myself of your
sincerity in guiding your future conduct. I have long since discovered this
fatal truth, though I forbore mentioning it to you. Your heart, my child, is
yet virtuous: you must be sensible you stand on the brink of a fatal precipice;
no endeavours, however painful, must be spared to prevent your proceeding one
single step further. Reflect upon the duty you owe a husband who merits your
utmost affection; forget not that which should be ever due to the memory of a
tender mother. Your fame is yet unsullied, spotless as Purity itself. This has
been my pride and pleasure. Make use of your resolution, my dearest child: fear
not a transient pain. Desire your husband to remove you from this court.
Ardently pursue those paths which, though unpleasant at the beginning, will
lead you to lasting happiness. If any other motives than honour and virtue were
necessary to induce you to persist in that character you have hitherto worthily
sustained; I would tell you, that a reverse of conduct will disturb my
happiness in a better world. But should (which Heaven forbid!) this heavy
misfortune be inevitable, I shall welcome death with joy, since it prevents my
being witness to your disgrace.”
Madame
de Cleves bathed her mother’s hands (which still held
her’s) with tears, while grief denied all utterance
to her words. “Farewel, my dearest child (continued
the expiring monitor) let us put a period to this conversation, which is far
more grievous to me than my approaching fate: I see
how it distresses you: may these be the only tears you will ever shed on the
occasion! Adieu, my dear daughter. Forget not, I beseech you, the last words of
your mother.” Having exerted herself to the utmost, she experienced a short
repose: but a few hours terminated her life, and left Madame de Cleves overwhelmed with sorrow.
Her
husband used every tender argument to console her, and he conducted her into
the country from a scene where every object reminded her of a loss her heart
most severely felt.—“Ah! my mother,” would she often
say to herself, “why did I lose you at a time when my fate made your presence
so necessary to me? What will become of me, deprived of your counsel, of your
example? To whom shall I now open my heart? Who will pity and listen to my
weakness; or who, alas! will now kindly endeavour to
support my sinking soul?”
The
behaviour of her husband touched her heart most sensibly. She was ever with
him, and became so well satisfied with the situation of her affection towards
him, that she imagined Nemours for ever banished from her mind. “I love (said
she) only this affectionate and best of men, and I shall yet be every thing my
dearest mother wished me.”
A
few weeks brought the Duke a visitant to their house in the country. Madame de Cleves felt more alarmed at his arrival than she thought
she should have been, and the recent death of her mother gave her an
opportunity of refusing to see him, without any apparent rudeness.—She chose
not to return to Paris for some time; but the Prince of Cleves
having business at court, he and the Duke returned together the next day.
The
former being detained in town entreated the presence of his wife, whose grief
he feared would be augmented by solitude; she obeyed his summons with some
reluctance, as she knew she could not avoid their receiving the visits of her
acquaintance, a task she by no means felt her spirits then equal to: she
examined her heart, and yet persuaded herself she had nothing to dread from the
presence of Nemours. Her mother’s last conversation, and the sincere regret she
felt for her loss, had damped every other idea, and she judged they would never
more return with any degree of strength to her mind.
The
Dauphiness visited her, on her arrival in town, and having told her with great
kindness, how much she had been a sharer in her afflictions, “I must now (said
she) entertain you with some anecdotes of a very different nature, that have
occurred since your absence from court. I must begin with Nemours’s history. Do
you know that his conduct is a mystery not to be discovered? It is certain he
loves some woman in this kingdom sufficiently to make him neglect the prospect
of being wedded to a powerful Princess. No one is his confidant, not even, I am
assured, your uncle de
The
ambassador can no longer excuse his delay to the Queen, he tells him so in the
strongest terms; he entreats him to attend more warmly to his interest. The
King himself has urged him on the subject. He excuses himself with the
improbability of success; but it is very plain his wishes to succeed are
totally at an end. Your uncle believes and fears that he is engaged in some
very unfortunate passion, as he is almost certain he holds no sort of
intercourse with the object of his love, as he is thoroughly acquainted with
the manner of spending his time; all places seem alike to him and none are
pleasing: de Chartres is miserable that his friend,
so worthy to be beloved, should have placed his affections where, according to
all appearance, they are so ungratefully received.”
What
a conversation was this to Madame de Cleves,
believing (as she could not avoid doing) herself to be the person so fatal to
Nemours! Her heart, naturally tender, what did it not feel at the idea of the
distress she gave to his? At the idea that she alone was the unfortunate
bar between him and that glorious fortune and elevation that awaited him?
His careful concealment of his sentiments for her raised him still higher in
her esteem. “The world will have it, continued the Dauphiness,
that I am the person who has caused this change in the Duke de Nemours,
and I am continually flattered with so extraordinary a conquest.”
These
last words brought an unwilling blush into the countenance of Madame de Cleves. “No one (answer’d she,
coolly) could make him renounce his present prospects, but yourself.” “I should
certainly confess it, replied the Princess, did I know it to be so: real
passion seldom escapes the discovery of those who inspire it; I am convinced
Nemours feels for me no more than that complaisance and attention his address
and politeness oblige him to pay to every woman of rank he approaches: I have
been a pretty strict observer of his change of character, and am positively
certain I have no share in whatever may have occasioned it.” After some other
conversation the Dauphiness left Madame de Cleves to
the most uneasy reflexions.
The
next day she was obliged to receive a number of visits. Nemours, who had waited
her return with extreme impatience, took that opportunity of paying her his compliments: he happened to find her alone: she could not be
perfectly at ease on receiving him. He approached her with a respect and
fearfulness attendant only on a genuine passion. Her mourning, and the
melancholy cast of her features, rather added to her beauty. He condoled with
her on the loss of Madame de Chartres: the subject
still indulged her:—she dwelt upon it.
She
told him, that though time might possibly abate the violence of her present
grief, this heavy misfortune would impress every hour of her future life with a
degree of sorrow. “It is true, Madam, (replied Nemours) that great afflictions,
as well as violent passions, occasion alterations in our dispositions. I have
often heard this advanced, but was not actually convinced of it, till since my
return from Flanders; I can now from experience pronounce it to be a truth, as
I am told by my friends, that I am no longer the same person they formerly knew
me.”
“The
Dauphiness, (said Madame de Cleves, wishing to
interrupt him) yesterday made some such observation.” “I am no way displeased,
Madam, said he, that the Dauphiness has made this remark; I should be very glad
she were not the only lady I respect, that did so.
Mine is a situation the most painful: I appeal to yourself, Madam, if what I
shall now describe is not so;—To feel the most sincere, the most pure, yet the
most ardent passion, for one to whom we dare give no evidence of love, except
by circumstances that are not immediately addressed to themselves: yet, though
forbid to utter those sentiments which torture the heart by restraint, we are
yet willing they should be sensible that we regard every other object but
themselves with indifference: Even a crown would be too dearly purchased if
only to be attained by absence from her we love. In general women estimate the
merit of their lovers by their assiduity. Alas! Madam, in attending to your sex
there is a pleasure that never costs a difficulty to perform; but, to avoid
meeting the person we adore, for fear of discovering to the world, or even to themselves, that passion which is at once our happiness and
misery! this, Madam, is surely the most severe task
that Fate can inflict. The truest proof of a love without hope of cure is, when
it has power sufficient to alter our nature and render us indifferent to every
thing which formerly attached our regard. When we renounce our ambition and our
pleasures, surely the object for which we do so, must
be dearer than them all. Is not this, Madam, a certain
evidence that one only passion engrosses the whole soul?”
Madame
de Cleves was in the utmost confusion during this
speech: too well did she understand whose situation he thus described, as well
as the object to which it referred. She debated in her mind whether she should
answer as one who had a right to be offended at such a declaration, or should
let it pass seemingly unobserved. A silent advocate within her own breast
pleaded excuse for what was uttered with so much delicacy and respect. She
therefore only agreed with the Duke on the difficulty of such circumstances, and
their further conversation was happily for her interrupted by other visitors.
When
Madame de Cleves had leisure to reflect, she found
she had too soon flattered herself with indifference for Nemours. She was
convinced he loved her, and could only hope, that those sentiments she was
likewise possessed of towards him, might remain a secret to all
the world, but more particularly so to him, for whom she felt them. To
effect this, and to endeavour entirely to banish what she blamed to the highest
degree in herself, she determined to go seldom to court, to spend her time at
home, and to be as little as possible in his company. These thoughts, so
painful to her delicate mind, were attended with a deep melancholy that preyed
upon her health and spirits. Her late loss was a sufficient cause to the public
for her retirement and aversion to all amusements. She even flattered herself, it was the principal source of every distress she
felt.
Nemours
was no longer seen in public. Where Madame de Cleves
was not, there could be no charm for him. The Prince, her husband, was attacked
with a slight indisposition, which confined him to his house, but did not
prevent him from seeing his friends. The Duke de Nemours was of that number: he
spent the greatest part of the day with him. Madame de Cleves
was under the utmost embarrassment on this account: The more agreeable she
found the conversation of her concealed lover, the stronger charm she found in
his society, the more did she become determined not to
indulge herself in either. —These resolutions, though they cost her heart some
struggles, she put in practice; and she began by constantly quitting the room,
soon after he made his appearance there. The Duke was too much interested, not
to perceive she intended to avoid him. To see her, to speak to her, were now
the only pleasures he was capable of enjoying: in depriving him of these, she
made him the most wretched of mankind.
Her husband grew displeased at her aversion to company. He saw that she frequently left his friends to sit alone in her chamber; tears and sighs were there her only companions. He remonstrated at this conduct with more vehemence and severity than he had ever spoken to her with before. He beseeched her not to allow grief for her departed mother to overcome her regard for those that survived, and loved her tenderly. He insisted that this cause should no longer be alledged against the society of him and of her friends.
Upon
which she eagerly entreated him to take her from
The
Prince of Cleves, though affected by her tears, was
not to be prevailed on by her entreaties. He believed the only way to remove
the dejection that preyed upon her, and to restore her to her former self, was
to insist on her again partaking those amusements of which she had often been
considered as the brightest ornament. He consented to her passing a few weeks
in the country; but determined that, after that period, she should again mix in
all the entertainments and gaiety of the court.
Madame
de Cleves then hastened to her wished retirement.
There she no longer feared to see the Duke de Nemours; but though she saw him
not, her thoughts were incessantly employed on him alone. By continually
considering how she should banish his idea, it became the more firmly rooted in
her mind. The more time she had for reflexion, the
more certainly did she find herself convinced, that one only subject engrossed
her every thought.
Angry
and dissatisfied with herself, she now became more impatient to return to
Among
many thoughts of which Nemours was the subject, his connections and reputations
from
That
friend whom Nemours had placed in
The
Dauphiness had about this time miniature pictures of all the beauties of the
French court drawn, as a present for the Queen of Scotland, her mother. Her
favourite’s was one of the first done, and Nemours was sometimes present when
Madame de Cleves sat to the painter. The Dauphiness
asked the Prince of Cleves for a miniature he already
had of his Princess, to compare the likeness with the one which was then doing:
after it had been examined, it was laid upon a table in Madame de Cleves’s apartment.
Nemours
had long ardently wished for her picture. He saw now an opportunity of getting
this treasure into his possession: and as there were many persons at that time
present, he knew that Madame de Cleves only would
suspect him particularly for having taken it. The scheme was no sooner formed
in his mind, then it was determined upon: It was too delightful not to be pursued;
no difficulties were allowed to interfere; that very instant was most
favourable; the Prince of Cleves was not then in the
room: His lady and the Dauphiness were deeply engaged in conversation. He
approached the table and stood with his back to them; looking round, he saw the
rest of the company variously engaged, and hesitated not a moment to deposit in
his bosom his precious theft. Turning hastily to Madame de Cleves,
he soon perceived by the crimson in her cheeks, that he had not been unnoticed
by her.
The
Dauphiness observing her confusion and inattention,
asked her aloud what had occasioned the disorder that was visible in her
countenance. Nemours was not less embarrassed by the question, than the person
to whom it was addressed. When she had a little recovered herself, she
determined to ask for her picture: but to do it so publickly,
was to discover to the world that Nemours loved her; to ask it privately, was
to engage him, at least to give him an opportunity of making further
declarations on a subject which she of all others wished to avoid. She was for
some time irresolute; but the idea that she made him happy without being at all
blameable in doing so, turned the scale in his favour, and she determined that
the picture should remain in his possession.
Nemours,
though he had succeeded in a matter to him far from being of small importance,
was thoroughly vexed at the disquiet that clouded the countenance of her he
truly loved; and in a low voice, as he leaned on the back of the chair in which
she sat, he ventured to say; “If, Madame, you have really been a witness of my
presumption, yet have the kindness to let me believe you are ignorant of it;
this is all I dare ask of you.” He waited not her reply, but impatiently
retired to contemplate at leisure what he was content to purchase, even at the expence of her displeasure.
The
picture was missed and searched for, the next day. The Prince of Cleves greatly regretted the loss; and nothing could hurt
the ingenuous mind of his Princess more than being obliged to hear the
enquiries made after it, and the necessity she felt herself under to conceal
the truth on this occasion. Her husband told her with a smile, that some
favoured lover had certainly received the picture at her hands, or else had
stolen it: for no one but your lover, said he, would have been content with the
picture only. It had indeed been taken even from the little gold frame that
enclosed it, to have some alteration made in the dress. This remark, though
spoken in jest, was very sensibly felt by Madame de Cleves.
“To what am I reduced?” (said she, when alone) “What
is become of that laudable sincerity in which I prided myself? My actions and
my sentiments no longer agree. Oh, my mother,” (continued she, with a flood of
tears) “behold not the conduct of your daughter, without you have the power to
sustain her weakness, and save her from herself! She is no longer that daughter
who was worthy of your love.—Yet witness, most
respected shade! your last words are engraven on my heart; and I will dare to be unhappy, but
not guilty! Oh! be thou still my guardian angel;
support me in this conflict, and point out to me what I ought to do. Sincerity
was your favourite virtue: I will obey its dictates; I will open my heart to my
husband. Shall I plant sorrows in his worthy breast? Shall I tell him I have
given away that affection which he merits, and which is his due? Ungenerous
resolve! No, let me still stifle in my own bosom distresses which I have
brought upon myself. Let me be wretched alone, but let him be ever happy.”
A
match at tennis had long been fixed to be played by the King with Nemours, de
Guise, and de Chartres. The Queen and the ladies of
the court were present. As they were retiring after it was over, one of the Dauphiness’s ladies presented her with a letter, which she
told her, had a few minutes before fallen from the pocket of the Duke de
Nemours.—“Give it me,” (said the Dauphiness eagerly) “I will take care of it.”
The
company then attended the King to see some famous horses which he had lately
purchased. Nemours and de Guise mounted two of them, that they might be seen to
greater advantage. That on which the Duke de Nemours rode, was so extremely
mettlesome, that in pulling him in rather too much, he started against a post
with great violence, and his rider received such a shock as for a while
deprived him of sense. Every one ran to his assistance. Madame de Cleves forgot the part she was to sustain; her countenance
changed, and she fainted before they could procure any thing for her relief.
Nemours,
after a little while, was supported to the place where she and the rest of the
ladies were. He instantly perceived the emotion this
accident had occasioned her to feel, nor could she be insensible, from his
looks, of the extreme gratitude this mark of her kindness had excited. No
sooner was she convinced of his safety, than her face glowed at the
recollection of the evidence she had involuntarily given of her anxiety for
him; she yet hoped it might be attributed to the delicacy of her health and
spirits, at that time; but the Chevalier de Guise, who led her to her carriage,
destroyed this flattering idea. “Pardon me, Madam,” said he, “if for a moment I
forget the profound respect I have ever paid you. I am too much grieved at what
I have but now discovered, to remain silent; absence shall effectually prevent
my presuming again to disoblige. Forgive me, Madam, when I say, that till this
hour I believed all who loved you were as unfortunate as myself.” Madame de Cleves was too much hurt at this observation to answer it.
The Chevalier, who had indeed tenderly loved her, really quitted the court, and
went abroad soon after.
Madame
de Cleves made a point of appearing at court the
evening of that day which had so much distressed her: to the surprise of every
one Nemours was likewise at the Louvre, more
magnificently dressed than usual; so far from being affected by the accident
that had happened but a few hours before, an uncommon joy lighted up his
countenance, liveliness and good humour animated his features; he not only
seemed, but really was, the happiest person there. That proof, so little to be
doubted, which Madame de Cleves had so lately given
of the interest she took in his safety, could not but influence his behaviour.
He
was universally congratulated on his fortunate escape. A thousand enquiries were made after his health, nor were they omitted by any one
but her, who was of all others most sincerely interested in the enquiry. She
was overwhelmed with confusion at his entrance. She seemed not to observe him
as he approached her. “For Heaven’s sake, Madam,” (said he, stung with
indifference) “repent not of the pity you have this day shewn
me. I beseech you to believe that I am not unworthy of it. At least, Madam, I
merit your compassion.” He then passed on to speak to the lady that was next
her.
“Alas!”
(said Madame de Cleves to
herself) “all that I wished to conceal is discovered,
and Nemours now believes that I love him. Yet, is he not beloved by many? See I not this night how much respect and attention are paid
him? Who can refuse esteem to worth like his? To Honour, Truth, and Delicacy,
is not love and esteem due? Virtue of every kind should command its reward.”
Such reflexions were balm to her doubting mind; she
passed the evening more tolerably than she expected, by being able to assure
herself there was no peculiar partiality in thinking well of Nemours.
The
Dauphiness whispered Madame de Cleves, that she had
something very particular to communicate to her, and having withdrawn to another
apartment, she took the letter Madame de N—— had given her from her pocket. “I
have here,” said she, “a treasure: it is a letter to Nemours written to him by
that mistress who has sole possession of his heart: you must assist me in
finding out this lady; you must carefully peruse the paper, and try, if by the
character or expression you can discover the writer. Come to me early in the
morning, for I shall be impatient to know what you can make of it.” Madame de Cleves took the letter with a trembling hand: She was
unable to make any comments on the matter, at that time, but promised to obey
the Princess. They returned to the company, and she took her leave immediately
after.
Having
shut herself up in her chamber, with no small agitation she opened the letter,
and read the following lines.
“I
have loved you too well to let you believe the change you observe in me is the
effect of an unsteady temper. Your infidelity is alone the cause of my
coldness. You have used many arts to hide your perfidy, and will therefore
wonder at the discovery I have made. Never was affliction equal to mine. I
believed you loved me with a sincere affection. I imprudently scrupled not to
tell you my heart felt an equal passion.¾You have deceived me; you love another, and sacrifice
me to your caprice and inconstancy.—You are unworthy to know that I have felt
any grief on your account, yet I allow you to complete your triumph, and
recommend yourself to your new mistress, by convincing her that you have
already been sincerely beloved. To tell you I no longer regard you, will give
you but little sorrow; yet you seemed distressed at the change in my behaviour,
and I beheld your apparent uneasiness with pleasure. It will be in vain for you
to protest that you do not love her, for whose sake you have forfeited my
affection: all explanations are of none effect. Your repentance can now make no
atonement to me; you have once deceived me, your heart has been divided.¾There requires no more to render your love no longer of any consequence
to me: I utterly disclaim it. Believe that my resolution is unalterable, and
that I will never see you more.”
“Unworthy
man!” exclaimed Madame de Cleves, “more deceitful,
because more apparently good, than the rest of your sex. There wanted but this
proof to convince me of my dearest mother’s observations, and to make me fully
attend to them as I ought. Yes, the Duke de Nemours is just what she painted
him; capable of sporting with the tenderness of our whole sex. This letter is
the picture of a virtuous, a sensible, and generous mind. Such are his
amusements, and such the sacrifice his vanity requires. That he should think I
regard him in any favourable light is now the only uneasiness I feel; but he
shall be convinced of the contrary. I have been also the dupe of his galantry¾mortifying reflection! Treacherous,
and almost hateful man! I ought to look upon this discovery as fortunate; it
has restored me to myself. I shall henceforward be at peace.”
Madame
de Cleves passed a most restless night. She found
herself much indisposed in the morning, and rose not at her usual hour; she was
astonished at the situation of her mind, having persuaded herself she was no
longer any way interested in the actions of Nemours. She totally forgot her
promise to attend the Dauphiness very early, though the letter was yet in her
hand which had occasioned that promise, and though she had read it over an
hundred times.
She
was not the only person who lost their repose by it. The Viscount de Chartres, to whom the letter really belonged, was miserable
from its loss: he had searched in vain for it; at length he was informed, a
paper had been found by one of the Pages and given to Madame de N——, who seeing
him take it up had asked for it, and said she herself would take care to return
it.
De
Chartres was more alarmed at this intelligence than
before. The Queen had long distinguished him by her peculiar favour and
confidence; so high a distinction was supposed to preclude all other serious
attachments. Her friendship was of the utmost
consequence to him; he was bound to her by the warmest
gratitude, the highest respect and zeal to her interests. But Madame de Themines, a young widow of rank and beauty possessed all
his tenderest affections. She was indeed the writer of this letter, which he so
much dreaded being handed about the court, and reaching the hands of the Queen.
After
debating some time what method was best to pursue, he recollected, that, as
there were no names inserted, Nemours might be of singular service to him,
through the letter’s being supposed to have been his. He went to his house
before he was risen, and, as they were on the most
intimate footing, desired to be admitted to his chamber on urgent business.
Nemours,
whose mind had enjoyed a most delightful tranquillity from the idea that Madame
de Cleves was not insensible to his passion, was
extremely unwilling to be disturbed; but, on hearing the message, instantly
attended the summons of his friend.
“I am come” (said de Chartres) “to acquaint you with a matter to me of the utmost moment. You are but little obliged to me for my confidence; nothing but the most urgent necessity could induce me to impart to any one what I must now tell you. I hardly know where to begin, or in what terms to relate my story: but first, by our friendship I conjure you, promise me that you will own a letter which was written to me by a lady, and which I was so unfortunate as to drop from my pocket, yesterday. I am undone if you deny me
this request.”
“This
is a very strange proposal;” (said Nemours, smiling) “do you imagine there is
no one existing who would be uneasy at my receiving such letters?” “Be serious,
my dear Nemours,” (interrupted the Viscount) “this is really no matter of
pleasantry. I doubt not of your having attachments; but you shall be enabled to
acquit yourself, indeed you shall, to any particular person: At the same time
be assured I speak truly, when I say, if you refuse what I now ask of you, I
must by this unlucky adventure entirely break with a woman I love beyond measure,
and certainly procure myself the implacable hatred of another who has it in her
power to hurt my interest most materially.”
“I
understand you,” said Nemours, “you are afraid of the Queen.” “You know,” said
de Chartres, “that I am honoured with her friendship
and confidence in a particular degree; on these terms only were they granted to
me.” “I am willing,” said she, “and desirous that you should be my friend, but
I must not be a stranger to your engagements;
you must ingenuously tell me, if your heart is
attached to any woman whatever.” I assured her it was not. “I will believe
you,” said she, “because I wish it to be so. It would be impossible I should be
satisfied with your attachments to me, if you confessed yourself a lover. There
is no trusting those who are so, no reliance on their secrecy; their mistress
certainly thinks herself entitled to their confidence: Of course such a
situation would be incompatible with the friendship I expect from you; as I
have many matters of the highest importance to communicate and advise with you upon.”
“I
dealt not ingenuously with the Queen,” added he, “I loved, and still love
Madame de Themines, from whom the letter I have
mentioned came; judge then, on either side how
distressed I shall be if this paper is handed about as mine. My conduct has
been blameable, I confess; yet I entreat you to assist in extricating me from
this difficulty. Go to the Dauphiness, who by this time has the letter from
Madame de N——, and get it for me on any terms before it goes further.”
“Your
situation,” said Nemours, “I allow, my friend, is an unpleasant one: You cannot
doubt of my readiness to serve you; but I assure you, in this matter there are
some
difficulties on my own account that I would very gladly
avoid: And if the paper, as you say, fell from your pocket, how am I to
persuade any one that it dropped from mine?” “I thought I had before informed
you,” said de Chartres,
“that the Dauphiness has been told the letter is yours.” “How” (replied Nemours
hastily; apprehending the consequence of the mistake) “do they believe it mine
already?” “Assuredly,” said the Viscount; “and the reason is, that you and I
were really speaking to each other, at the instant it was dropped; therefore,
if you do not avow it to be yours, it must inevitably be pronounced mine, and I
have already told you the fatal consequences of such an event to me; it is in
your power to get it instantly returned, as yours, and to save me a world of inquietude.”
Nemours
really loved de Chartres: he wished to oblige him,
yet could not help hesitating to give this proof of his friendship.¾He paused: he knew not what to determine upon.¾“I see very plainly,” said the Viscount, “that you fear making some one
you love unhappy by this mistake. This difficulty will I obviate. Most likely
it is the Dauphiness herself, whom you would not suffer to imagine the letter
yours. It is by no means reasonable you should sacrifice your happiness to
mine. I consent to your revealing to the woman you love, whoever she be, the
reasons of your conduct; and for your further justification, I give you this
billet from Madame d’Amboise,
the friend of Madame de Themines, who demands from me
the very letter I have lost. Their names are here inserted. It is addressed to
me, and will leave no doubt with the person to whom you shew
it. Hasten, then, my friend, I beseech you, and set my mind at peace as soon as
possible.”
Nemours
gladly took the billet, as he was impatient to clear himself to Madame de Cleves, who he was certain by this time was fully acquainted
with the matter. He went immediately to her house, and was a good deal
disappointed to be told she was not yet
risen, though it was then very late. He begged she
might be asked at what hour she would see him, as he had something very
particular to communicate to her. Madame de Cleves
was a good deal surprised at his message but so totally out of humour at the
very name of Nemours, that she answered she was indisposed, and should see no
company that day.
Nemours, when he recollected the cause why he was treated thus severely, could not be altogether displeased. Any thing was preferable to her indifference; but in
what manner he should be able to convince her, that
he deserved not the censure he now laboured under, was a task by no means easy
to accomplish. He enquired for the Prince of Cleves,
and being conducted to his apartment, told him he was come to Madame de Cleves on a matter that very nearly concerned the Viscount
de Chartres her uncle; that it was really an affair
of some importance, and though he heard she was not well, entreated he would
prevail on her to see him but for a few minutes.
He
explained part of the subject of his visit, and the Prince readily conducted
him to her dressing-room; where she was sitting quite in dishabille
and alone, having desired that no visitors whatever should be admitted. She was
struck with astonishment when she saw who her husband had introduced into her
apartment. “You must not refuse to see Nemours (said he) he comes to you on
business relative to your uncle, and you must consult together what can be done
for him. I would willingly assist you, but am under a necessity of attending
the King immediately. I doubt not but you will be able to relieve the Viscount
from his anxiety.” Saying this he left them.
“Have
you, Madam (said Nemours) seen or heard of a letter found yesterday and given
to the Dauphiness by one of her ladies?”¾“I have, Sir,” she replied, “but cannot see how my uncle can be at all
concerned in this matter: His name, I am certain, is not even mentioned in the
paper you speak of.”—“Notwithstanding what you say, Madam, (answered Nemours)
the letter is the Viscount’s, and written to him by a lady he very much
regards. If you will favour me with your attention, I will relate to you, how
much your uncle is interested in this affair: And if you, Madam, do not kindly
lend your assistance to recover this letter from the Dauphiness, before it is
rendered more public, he will think himself extremely unhappy.”
“Excuse
me, Sir,” (said Madame de Cleves, a little angrily) I
have not leisure at present to attend to your relation. I see not why the paper
should be requested in my uncle’s name. What you could take the trouble to say
to me would be of no sort of consequence; you had much better see the Dauphiness
yourself. I can inform you, that she really has the letter, and likewise that
she is already informed it is yours.” Nemours could not but be secretly
flattered by the uneasiness visible in her countenance, when she pronounced
these words. “You must at least hear me, Madam (said he) what I say is strictly
true. I am really no other ways interested about this letter, than as it
concerns the peace and interest of Monsieur de Chartres,
to whom it really was written.”
“Very
possibly, Sir, (said Madame de Cleves) but the
Dauphiness has been told otherwise, and perhaps it will not be very easy to
persuade her, or any one else, that my uncle’s letter should drop from your
pocket. As you can have no cause, I should imagine, to conceal the truth, you
had better at once confess it to be yours, and it will certainly be returned to
you.”
“I
have nothing to confess, Madame (said Nemours) the paper I speak of concerns my
friend, and him only, and if you will deign to hear me, I will convince you of
the truth of what I assert.”—He then briefly acquainted her with the
circumstances that de Chartres had before told him.¾The coldness and indifference with which she attended to his
conversation, plainly shewed that she believed not what he said, till at length
he produced the billet of Madame de Amboise; this he
would willingly have suppressed; but there was no other way of convincing
Madame de Cleves.
She
had no sooner perused this paper (with the writer of which she was acquainted)
than she entered warmly into the interests of her uncle, and confessing that
the letter was then in her own possession, scrupled not to return it by
Nemours. She then entreated he would assist her in framing some excuses to the
Dauphiness for not returning the paper. Having agreed this matter, she was
preparing to attend the Princess, when she received a message that she was
impatiently expected.
“Why
were you not here sooner,” (said the Dauphiness, when she saw Madame de Cleves) your delay has extremely perplexed me. The Queen
has heard of our letter, she suspects it to be your uncle’s; she has made great
enquiry about it, and sent to me some time ago desiring she might see it; I
would not say it was with you, fearing to strengthen her in her opinion of its
belonging to de Chartres, and that I had given it to
you on his account. Give it me then quickly (said she) that I may send it to
the Queen.”
“I
know not what to say to you (answered Madame de Cleves)
you will with great reason be displeased with me, when I confess to you that I
gave the letter to the Prince of Cleves to whom
Nemours had this morning told the story of his losing it. He at first only
asked my interest with you for its return; but finding it was in the possession
of my husband, prevailed upon him by the strongest entreaties to restore it. He
would not indeed be refused, after the Prince of Cleves
had imprudently confessed he had the paper. He painted it as a matter of the
utmost importance, and assured himself, and us, that you would pardon his not
waiting on you himself to request it.”
“You
have acted very improperly (said the Dauphiness) to give up any thing I
entrusted to you, without my consent; the consequences are, that I shall
disoblige the Queen, by refusing what she will certainly believe is in my
possession; and your uncle will be a sufferer, as she will never be convinced
there are not reasons for concealing it. I am extremely angry with you
(continued she) and could not have believed you would have abused my confidence
so much.”
“Believe
me, Madam (said the Princess of Cleves) I would not
forfeit your friendship for the world; and be assured, I have been extremely
uneasy at this
circumstance, which I have not been able to avoid. I
entreat that you will forgive me, and impute to the Prince my husband, that
imprudence which I would not myself have been guilty of.”
“It
was to you only I gave it (said the Dauphiness) and no one else but you should
have seen it; however something must be done immediately, to prevent the
suspicions I know the Queen entertains. She has long thought de Chartres too attentive to me. She will probably believe it
is I that have written him this letter. I shall not
easily forgive you for the disagreeable situation you have put me into. If you
recollect the contents of the paper, instantly get it written for me, by some
female hand not known, and I will send it directly to the Queen.”
“I
will do any thing you command (said Madame de Cleves)
happy if by any means in my power, I may be able to atone for my indiscretion.”
She then hastened home and acquainted the Prince of Cleves
with what had passed between herself and the Dauphiness, at which both were
extremely uneasy. Nemours was immediately sent for, who informed them that the
letter was absolutely returned to Madame Themines.¾“What shall I do (said Madame de Cleves) I have for ever disobliged the Dauphiness; were it
possible to recollect the contents of the letter, I would indeed obey her
commands let the event be what it would.”
“If
you choose, Madam (said Nemours) to pursue this measure, by having recourse to
both our memories, I am pretty sure it may be effected,
though a word or even sentence were misplaced or omitted, it would certainly
answer to any description the Queen may have had of it. It never could be
repeated so exactly to her, as we shall be able to write it.”
The
expedient being approved on all sides, they immediately prepared to put it
in execution. Such an appearance of confidence in
each other had a charm to both, not easily to be described. Orders were given
that no company should be admitted as an interruption to their task, and the
day was passed in producing a letter as like the original as possible.
Madame
de Cleves had never experienced a joy so pure and
sincere as this day afforded her; the presence and conversation of the man she
really preferred to all others without the check of impropriety. Nay her
confidence in Nemours, at this time, seemed a sort of duty, as she had been led
into it on her uncle’s account. The approbation and presence of her husband
also combined to make her thoroughly satisfied with herself, and truly happy.
Nemours
could never have seen Madame de Cleves half so pleasing as at that interview. She had entirely laid
aside that restraint, which his being in her company had hitherto thrown over
her behaviour, and she this day appeared a thousand times more amiable in his
eyes than she had ever done before.
Several
messages were sent from the Dauphiness before the letter was finished; at
length it was dispatched, but so unlike that which the Queen had heard
described, and partly repeated, that she was altogether so dissatisfied about
the matter, and so suspicious of the delay, that it actually caused an
irreparable breach between the Dauphiness and her; and the Viscount de Chartres from thenceforward entirely lost her confidence
and favour.
Madame
de Cleves was no sooner left alone than she began to
reflect on the transactions of the day. The absence of her husband and of
Nemours destroyed those pleasing illusions of happiness that had charmed her,
and she felt herself the most wretched of women. “Good Heaven! (said she) is it really possible I could have been happy this
day, the most culpable of my life? Have I not convinced Nemours that I love
him; have I not shewn that I was jealous to the
greatest degree, and have I not been
visibly transported from misery to happiness, by the
explanation of his conduct? Will he not think, that I
approve his passion, even in the presence of a husband the most deserving of my
affections? Him I deceive, and Nemours himself must despise me. This day has
left me no room to doubt that my heart is guilty. Nemours only has the power to
raise or depress it. While I thought he loved another, what misery did I
endure! And yet, can I suppose (as I have heard him represented) that he is
capable of a lasting attachment? Alas! how wildly do I
talk; what is it to me if his heart were full of tenderness and truth? His
virtues and his vices ought to be indifferent to me. I have suffered myself to
be sway’d by an inclination most unworthy of me; but
I am yet able to perceive my error, and will avail myself of that power while
it is mine. I will no longer remain where this man can be seen. On this I am
determined; should my husband insist on knowing my reasons for quitting
These
thoughts occupied the mind of Madame de Cleves the
whole night, and she with great seriousness made the request the following day
to her husband; assuring him, that her health required a residence in the
country for some time, and that she wished not to see
“You
must not, indeed (said she) oppose me in this particular; I will leave orders
for what is necessary to be prepared for me. You will go to Compeigne
with the King; I entreat you leave me not at
Nemours
likewise attended the King to Compeigne, where they
remained some time. On their return he found Madame de Cleves
was still absent: He could not learn that she was expected to town. He grew
uneasy and dissatisfied with every thing around him.
Since
that day (so delightful, that it had never been a moment from his memory) he
had not seen Madame de Cleves. His sister, the
Duchess of M—¾, lived in the neighbourhood of Coloniers. He proposed to de Chartres,
that they should spend some time at her house; to which the Viscount readily
consented.
The
Duchess received her visitors with much pleasure; and every amusement that the
country could afford, was prepared for them. Being one day hunting, Nemours
loitered behind the rest of the company: After riding some time alone, he was
informed upon enquiry, that he was very near Coloniers;
at the sound of that word, without further consideration, he took the direct
road, and galloped towards the house of the Prince of Cleves.
As he approached very near, he saw, at the end of a long walk, an elegant
summer-house, with an arbour on each side, one of which opened into the garden,
and the other into the park, which he had now entered.
Without
reflecting what he was about, he fastened his horse to a tree, and going into
the arbour, proceeded to the summer-house, the inside
of which was beautifully ornamented and excited his utmost admiration. “It is
here (said he) that the most amiable woman on earth passes many of her hours.
Casting his eye towards one of the windows, he perceived at a good distance Madame
de Cleves and her husband, who seemed coming to the
place where he was. He was too much engrossed by his own ideas to be alarmed at
their finding him there, and he returned to the arbour he had just quitted,
only that he might see her as she approached, more plainly than he could have
done, had he remained where he was; he seated himself with his arms folded and
sat unmoved, though the Prince and Princess of Cleves,
were now very near him. Having entered the summer-house without any of their
attendants, a conversation ensued which most powerfully attracted the attention
of Nemours.
“Your
aversion to return to Paris (said the Prince) gives me the greatest uneasiness,
as it must necessarily separate us too often, for I must be frequently there
attending on the court. Your inclination for solitude, and the melancholy that
oppresses you, is more afflictive to me than you can conceive. Tell me, my
dearest wife, I conjure you, have you any particular cause of grief?”
“I
have not, indeed (answered Madame de Cleves). Your
kindness and affection awaken the warmest gratitude in my heart; you leave me
nothing to wish or desire: But I know not how it is, my spirits and my health
are of late very much weakened; the first is, I believe, only the consequence
of the letter. I am not able to sustain the bustle and crowd our town residence
subjects me to. Only let me stay here; I wish, I ask no more, except your
presence, as often as you can possibly be absent from the court.”
“Alas!
(said the Prince) your tears which now involuntarily flow, your countenance,
your expressions, confirm me more and more that you have particular reasons for
this retirement, which I am yet unacquainted with. Recompense my strong
affection by telling me how I can make you happy, at least how I can dispel the
cloud that now hangs over a temper by nature calm and serene: Tell me, then, my
dearest life! I will not be refused; whence comes this change, so fatal to my
peace?”
“Force
me not, my dear Sir, I beseech you (said she) to confess to you what indeed my
heart wishes to reveal, because it would not have a thought concealed from you;
but alas! what I can never find words to tell you:
Believe only that it is right I should absent myself from a court full of
dissipation and intrigue; full of scenes which I abhor. Love me not less, I
entreat you, for my choice. I would be virtuous and would be only yours.”
“Good
Heaven! (said the Prince) how do you rend my heart?
The anxieties you give are not to be expressed by words. What you now say is a
thousand times more tormenting, than even your silence and your tears.”
“Ah,
my dearest husband, my only friend (said she) sinking down on her knees at his
feet, I will then make you a confession the most extraordinary, that ever yet
escaped the lips of woman. The integrity of my intentions, and of my conduct,
hitherto, will give me courage to proceed. You are, I am convinced, too
generous to hate me for laying open to you the weakness of my heart: Be
assured, your honour, or my own, can never suffer from my behaviour. This I
think you will believe; but my heart is weaker than my judgment; I know what is
right, and am ashamed to acknowledge I find any difficulty in pursuing it. Strengthen, I beseech you, my virtue by yours. I desire to
live only in your presence. Dispose of me. Direct me. Pity me, and, if it be
possible, still continue to love me.”
Had
she continued still longer to speak, the Prince of Cleves
would have been silent. His eyes were fixed on hers, which were rendered still
more beautiful from her extreme agitation, and the tears which now stopped her
further utterance. He raised her in his arms, and tenderly embracing her, “It
is I, my dearest love (said he) that ought to sue for pity, much do I stand in
need of it; pardon me, if my astonishment, if my grief, prevents me from
receiving as I ought a proceeding so generous as
yours. I think you more worthy of esteem and admiration than any other of your
sex: But alas, I cannot help thinking myself the most unfortunate of men. I
have ever loved you.¾Your coldness could not abate my affection,
though you have never returned my love.¾You love another, and I have at once the
jealousy of a husband and a lover, to endure. Your behaviour is too noble, too
generous, not to give me the fullest assurance of your virtue.¾The confidence you repose in me is of the utmost value. You esteem me
and would love me if you could, I shall not abuse your trust. I cannot love you
less. You render me miserable by the clearest demonstration of fidelity that
ever woman gave a husband. Stop not here then, but tell me, I beseech you, who
it is you would avoid.”
“That
(answered Madame de Cleves) I never shall reveal.
Impute not to weakness the confession I have already made, it required less
strength of mind to conceal, than to acknowledge what I have now done; ask me
no further; what you would know can be of no consequence to either of us. I
desire to be yours alone.”
Nemours
heard this conversation with an anxiety not to be described; still more than
her husband did he wish her to discover the name of that person who had
occasioned a confession so extraordinary. He knew she was admired and beloved
by many, and though he had sometimes flattered himself he was not indifferent
to her, he could by no means be assured, that he was the person referred to in
her present confession.
“I
earnestly entreat (said Madame de Cleves to her
husband, after having been some time silent) that you will not, by a curiosity,
which must be injurious to us both, afflict yourself and me. I have this instant
given you a most painful proof of my sincerity; spare me then the confusion of
reciting those particulars that have made it necessary I should act in the
manner I do. Be assured you will never have cause to feel that regret for me which I now feel for myself. If you believe me true, believe
what I now utter from my heart. It is your affection only that can make me
happy, and it is you only that I wish to love.”
“I
am unjust (replied the Prince) to press you further.¾Virtue has hitherto, and ever will continue, I am persuaded, to govern
your actions. Would to Heaven I had no doubts more painful, and that I were as
well assured of that affection I wish you to feel for me.”
One
of their servants now interrupted them, to say there was a person just arrived who
must see the Prince immediately. The King desired by this messenger his
presence at
Nemours
who had quitted the garden very soon after the conversation, so interesting to
him, was ended, had not for a single moment thought of any thing else. A
thousand times did he pronounce himself the most fortunate of men. Many circumstances offered themselves to convince him
on one side, that were as quickly balanced by an equal number of equal weight on the other.¾He was no longer easy in the country.¾He entreated de Chartres to return to
On
his journey to town with his friend, no other thought could find a place in his
mind, but the extraordinary conduct of Madame de Cleves.
Love was the only subject on which he could express an idea. He expatiated on
the extravagant effects of that passion, and at last wrought up his
conversation so far, as to relate the matter which wholly possessed his heart,
without mentioning the person who had acted in so uncommon a manner, or
allowing that himself had been particularly concerned. He spoke however of the
lady and her character altogether, with so much ardour and admiration, that a
less discerning man than de Chartres might have
discovered he certainly was the lover, who had caused the conflict, and the
conduct, he described.
His
friend pressed him so much to confess the truth, and seemed so assured from
former parts of his behaviour, the story was his own, that Nemours heartily
repented of his indiscretion in having said so much; he declared it was related
to him in confidence, and that its peculiarity only had induced him to repeat
it.
The
Prince of Cleves attended the King with a heart by no
means at ease. The confession his Princess had made him, had raised her in his
esteem, nor could it abate his affection; but the thoughts that she loved
another planted tortures in his breast; for assured of her worth, of her
uncommon strength and delicacy of mind, he more ardently wished to possess her
heart.
On
his arrival at the Louvre, the King told him he had
made choice of him to conduct the Princess to
She
obeyed her husband’s summons, but they could not meet without emotions
extremely painful to them both. “Your looks, my dearest life (said he) afflict
me beyond measure. It is I only that have reason to be unhappy; you ought to be
satisfied with possessing more virtue, truth, and honour, than any woman on
earth.”¾ “I am here, my dear Sir (said she) by your
desire; spare me, I beseech you, on this subject. I am
oppressed with shame when I speak to you.¾Mention no more what but too strongly reminds
me how little worthy I am of your goodness.”
“Alas!
(said her husband) it is not in my power to be silent,
I love you still more for that confidence which has undone me. You have filled
my mind with a curiosity that preys upon my peace, and may possibly bring me to
the grave. You will here behold the object of an affection that I have sought
in vain; an object I cannot doubt that returns your love with ardour. With
these ideas I shall ever attend you in public, and you will yet
suffer me to remain in a suspence
more painful than death itself.”¾ “Ah, my dear Sir (said Madame de Cleves) let me pretend indisposition. I will go no where. I
will see no body.¾This is what I wish and request.”¾ “It is I that am wrong (replied the Prince) it must not be so. You are
and ought to be mistress of your own conduct, in every respect; but a heart
like yours requires no constraint, even from itself.¾My greatest security lies in your liberty. I am
thoroughly convinced that you are incapable of acting wrong in any degree.”
The
generous behaviour of her husband made Madame de Cleves
a thousand times more attached to him than she had yet been: She felt for him
every sentiment, but that which had been involuntarily given to Nemours, which
she had nourished while she thought it innocent, and which she now found it
impossible to banish from her heart. To avoid giving pain to him whom she
really wished to please beyond any other; to prevent his thinking she feared
the presence of any one, she mixed in the parties and amusements of the court,
as usual. Her heart was fortified against Nemours, by the noble and delicate
treatment of her husband; to add to whose happiness was indeed the study of her
life.
She
frequently met Nemours abroad. Her great reserve and anxiety to avoid every
attention and civility he offered, afflicted him to the soul, and convinced him
he had been totally wrong in the favourable conclusion he had drawn to himself
from her conversation at Coloniers; however that
might be he still found it was impossible he could ever extinguish in his
breast, a passion the most pure and disinterested for her.¾A passion which afforded all the joys and all the sorrows he
experienced.
Another
nobleman of the first rank yet remained to be chosen to attend the Princess to
One
evening at the Louvre after he had been some minutes
in conversation with the King, he hastily came up to Madame de Cleves, and whispered her, that the Duke de Nemours was at
last the person appointed to go with them to
“Ah,
Madam (said her husband) in a very different tone of voice from what he had
before spoken in) forgive a stratagem I made use of to discover the secret of
your heart.¾You are in every thing a most extraordinary
woman.¾What would have lighted up the countenance of
any other of your sex with joy, clouds yours with sorrow.¾Every part of your behaviour excites my admiration and my love.”
He
had not time to add any thing further. But it was not easy for Madame de Cleves to recover the confusion this unexpected accident
had thrown her into.¾She remained pensive and absent amidst all the
gaiety that surrounded her, for the rest of the evening.
Nemours,
who was over attentive to her looks, though at a distance, observed her
distress. He could not help approaching her:¾ “Pardon me, Madam (said he) if I am too
obtrusive: something has disconcerted you; I fear you are indisposed: every
body who beholds you as well as myself will claim the privilege of being
interested in your happiness.”
The
sound of Nemours’s voice threw her into new distress; and scarcely recollecting
herself, she said almost angrily, “For Heaven’s sake,
Sir, do not persecute me.” “Who, I, Madam? (answered Nemours) Is it of me you complain, who hardly dare to address a single word to you; who am obliged to
restrain my very looks; even now while I speak to you my agitation is not to be
told.¾Alas, Madam, I deserve not this unkindness! Is
it possible, I should be accused of giving you uneasiness, who would suffer any
thing to add but for a moment to your felicity.”
She
now repented most heartily of the words that had escaped her; but it was too
late to recall them: to extenuate or explain them would be still worse; she
therefore hastily arose from her seat and very soon after retired. Her husband
immediately followed, and fearing she had suffered from what he had said to
her, hastened to her chamber.
“You
must not shun me, my dearest love (said he) or I shall have reason to think you
cannot forgive a discovery that brought a sufficient punishment along with it.
I ask not your presence as a husband, but as one whose happiness depends
entirely upon you; and who has for you a passion far more sincere and tender,
than any other person existing.”
Madame
de Cleves whose thoughts had been for some time
wholly employed on the generosity of his conduct, in a situation so extremely
difficult, burst into tears, and embracing him with the utmost tenderness;¾ “Accept (said she) best of men, this faithful tribute of my grateful
heart; a heart no way insensible to your matchless goodness; were I all I wish
to be, I should still be unequal to you, my kindest, dearest husband.”
De
Chartres was now publicly the lover of Madame
Themines, with whom he was perfectly reconciled, as to the subject of the
letter, could not forbear acquainting her with the extraordinary story that
Nemours had related to him: In confidence he added that he certainly believed
the Duke himself was the person who had inspired an affection which had caused
a conduct so extraordinary. Madame Themines had the utmost curiosity to find
out who the lady was that was so extremely partial to Nemours, and had so much
attracted him.
To
obtain this desirable end the story was told to several of her intimates, and
at last reached the Dauphiness; to whom all matters of galantry were repeated.
Madame de Cleves was not a little surprised when that Princess thus addressed
her: “I have something (said she) very extraordinary to tell you.—You know we have all taken some trouble to discover
Nemours’s passion. I have now the whole history of this matter. He loves a lady
of this court, and she returns his affection; but what will certainly surprize
you, is, the conduct of the Fair-one, who is so afraid of the power Nemours has
over her heart, that she has actually made her husband the confidante of her
passion, that he may save her from the effects of it.
If
Madame de Cleves found herself somewhat uneasy at the first part of this
intelligence, she was infinitely more so at the conclusion; her own conduct was
too uncommon to leave her any hope, she was unconcerned in what she
heard.—“This story, indeed, is a very improbable one (said she) from whence,
Madam, did it come?”—“Of that too I can inform you (said the Dauphiness) and
you will allow my authority to be excellent.—Madame Themines had it from her
lover de Chartres, to whom Nemours himself told it: Not indeed absolutely
confessing himself the person most interested, but his denials to the
Viscount’s suspicions were such, as only the more convinced him of their
justness.—But here in good time (added she) comes Nemours himself, and I will
actually ask him, if he related any such extraordinary tale to your uncle.”
“For Heaven’s sake! (said Madame de
Cleves, extremely agitated) postpone your enquiry. Consider, Madam, if it was
imparted to my uncle in confidence, it will certainly occasion a quarrel
between him and Nemours.”—“You are always too wise” (said the Dauphiness.)
Nemours,
who had now joined them, asked if he was not so happy as to be the subject of
Madame de Cleves’s conversation. “She will not believe (answered the
Dauphiness) a story, of which you are said to be the author.” Having repeated
what she had heard, very circumstantially, Nemours and Madame de Cleves were almost equally incapable of making any sort of
return to her conversation: they were in a situation the most distressing.
Nemours hated himself for his indiscretion, when he read the effects of it in
the countenance of Madame de Cleves, who could hardly
support herself while the Dauphiness was speaking.
A
painful pause ensued, when the Dauphiness was again obliged to resume the
conversation. “Your looks (said she) sufficiently declare, that you not only
told this story, but that you are very materially concerned in it.”—“I confess,
Madam, (answered Nemours) that I am extremely astonished at the infidelity of
my friend. There is only one person who could have repeated this matter from
me. I am only concerned, that his imprudence has betrayed one whose interests
are very dear to me. The story, Madam, relates no way to me, but by being
really an occurrence of moment to one I much regard, I deserve justly to be
loaded with reproaches for being the means of publishing a secret dearer to
that person than his life. I am unacquainted with the name of the lady: Her
lover I know thinks himself the most unfortunate of men. He loves with truth,
tenderness, and unabating constancy, yet without
hope; and though his situation is painful to the greatest degree, he often
tells me he would not change it with those who are thought the happiest and
most favoured lovers, with an appearance of the greatest sincerity. He declares
that he is far more gratified by reflecting on the uncommon merits and
perfections of her he loves, than he could be by the choicest favours fortune
could bestow on him; and he is by no means an unambitious
man.”—“Methinks you describe him very minutely” (said the Dauphiness).—“’Tis very strange, Sir, (said Madame de Cleves,
a little recovering herself) how your friend should be made acquainted with
this part of the lady’s behaviour. It is (said she) confided in her husband;
surely he could not be base enough to betray her! And a woman capable of acting
in such a manner, could never be so weak as to make a
conduct so remarkable, the subject of her own conversation.”
To
this Nemours made no answer. He could not summon generosity enough to clear her
husband at his own expence. As Madame de Cleves followed the Dauphiness, he ventured to say, in a
low voice; “I would give the world, Madam, to be allowed half an hour’s conversation
with you. It is not to the Dauphiness, but to you, Madam,
that I fear appearing, even in the smallest instance, culpable.”
She
answered not, but turning too hastily aside, her gown caught her foot, and with
her confusion brought her almost to the ground. She hurt herself so much as to
make it a pretence for leaving the Louvre
immediately. Her mind was too much agitated to suffer her to remain there with
any appearance of composure.
The
Prince of Cleves alarmed at the accident followed her
home, and finding her in her chamber drowned in tears, eagerly enquired their
cause.¾“I never till now (said she) had reason to be
afflicted. You have unkindly abused that confidence I reposed in you. You have
exposed me to the censure of an ill-natured and harsh-judging world; and this
from a little curiosity to which I believed your mind superior. We are both
sufferers by your conduct; but I, Sir, am far the greatest. What I told you in
the sincerity and anguish of my heart, and thought I communicated to a faithful
and generous breast, has this night been the subject of public conversation,
and was repeated to myself at the place from whence I now came. I think I
deserved not this treatment, at least I merited your secrecy.”
It
was in vain the Prince of Cleves persisted, that he
had too much respected her confidence to make so ill an
use of it; and reminded her, that such a publication from him, would have
reflected infinitely more disgrace on his character than it could do on hers.
“I
had (said she) no other confidante, and I am certain there is no story similar
to mine; I can therefore have no doubt by whom I am betrayed.” “You now, Madam,
forfeit (replied the Prince) all that character for ingenuousness for which I
thought you so remarkable; some other confidante has betrayed you, and has
perhaps told more than you put in my power to relate.”
Conviction
on either side could not possibly take place, and this incident rendered this
unfortunate pair still more unhappy than they had yet
been.¾The generous treatment which each had
experienced from the other, had hitherto kept up at least a mutual esteem;
doubts now arose on both sides, and both were equally unanswerable.
The
Prince of Cleves knew not what measures it were best
he should pursue; conscious that virtue really possessed the heart of the
Princess, he dreaded her name should be sported with by the public, for a
conduct which he believed had the truest virtue for its basis.¾Astonished, and sometimes doubtful, as to the extraordinary circumstance
of their secrets being blazed abroad, he yet continued to assure Madame de Cleves of his own fidelity, and continually importuned her
to dissipate by every means that uneasiness which a contrary belief occasioned.
“I
still love you, Madam, (said he) Heaven knows how tenderly. I am well assured
in my own mind, the Duke de Nemours is the person on
whose account your heart reproaches you. I only ask you to be circumspect, and
this, more for your own sake than mine. Guilt can never find a place in your
heart; and it should be as little suspected by the rest of the world, as it
will ever be by me. I need not dictate a behaviour,
the propriety of which you can yourself so amply judge of.”
It
was in vain Madame de Cleves requested she might be
excused from attending the marriage of the Princess; her husband absolutely
insisted upon it. And as the Princess had particularly distinguished her on the
occasion, it was impossible her wishes could be complied with.
The
conduct of Nemours, as it now appeared to her, gave her more real anguish than
she durst own, even to her own heart. “Is this the man (said she) whom my very
soul approved? Discretion, delicacy and honour, marked his character. How
inconsistent is his present behaviour with these!—However he gained the
intelligence of what I should have wished the whole world to have known rather
than himself, should he have acted as he has done? He told it to my uncle. This
he confessed; to how many more I know not. Perhaps from him Madam Themines heard it, and a thousand others.—While he thought himself unhappy, he was discreet; no sooner
does his vanity cause him to believe it was him I preferred, than he published
it to all the world. I have lost the love of a husband which should have been
my greatest happiness. I have thought much too well of a most unworthy man, and
I now am justly punished by him for whom I have been wrong. I now no longer
regard him; that were impossible; but I hate myself for my weakness, for my
guilt. Had he been what I once thought him, what the world believed him to be,
I had then indeed been less culpable.”
The
reflexions of Nemours were not at all more pleasing.
“I have forfeited (said he) even the good opinion of the most amiable of women.
I can have no hope of justifying myself; but must continue to appear in her
eyes an empty and vain babler. All this I owe to my
own indiscretion, and deservedly suffer the most bitter punishment; her
indifference, perhaps her contempt¾Were she no way a sufferer by my fault, I could
much better bear what I now feel: But that I, of all mankind, should wound a
delicacy I idolize, is by far the severest part of my affliction. Had I lost
what alone can afford me any happiness, without distressing her, it would be
some consolation. I am far more sensible of the offence I have given her than
of my own misfortune. Fain would I tell her so, but that would only offend her
more; the sensibility of her own soul will instruct her that silence is the
severest infliction I can endure. No, continued he, I will no more distress
her; however hard the task, I will avoid speaking to her. Time only and my
future behaviour shall convince her how much I love and respect her.”
The
court were now so busied in preparations for the nuptials, that none had
leisure to read that distress which various griefs
had imprinted on the countenances of Madame de Cleves,
her husband, and Nemours.¾The Royal Marriage was at length solemnized.
The Duke of Alva wedded by proxy the Princess Elizabeth of
Among
other entertainments of great expence, a very superb
tournament was held in honour of these nuptials. The Duke de Nemours had long
been fixed on as one of the principal performers. The King himself assisted;
only the first noblemen of the kingdom were engaged in it; but the Duke de
Nemours outshone all others, in brilliancy and elegance; his dress was fancied
with the utmost taste and richness. The graces of his person did it ample
justice, and his figure altogether attracted every one’s attention.
The
tournament was admirably performed. Nemours so particularly distinguished
himself as to win the favour of many far less interested persons than Madame de
Cleves, who could not be (as she wished) an
indifferent spectator, nor could she with all the endeavours possible avoid
being sensible, that the praises of Nemours, which on all sides surrounded her,
were grateful to her heart.
Notwithstanding
the dejected countenance of this lady, Nemours was not the only person who
thought she never appeared more beautiful. At the ball in the evening of this
day he had many opportunities of speaking to her, but forbore to do so; and
indeed no conduct could have had so favourable an effect. She read in his
looks, an attention, respect, and a forbearance, that made him appear to her
imagination much less blamable, than she had for a
long while thought him.
In
the midst of all these amusements the King was wounded at a tournament, and in
a few hours pronounced to be in great danger. Every kind of gaiety was
postponed, and Madame de
Madame
de Cleves obtained her husband’s permission to go to
her house at Coloniers, till the court returned to
The
long intended absence of Madame de Cleves no sooner
reached Nemours, than it overcame all his boasted resolutions, and he was
determined once more to see and speak to her before her departure. The court
were to set out the next day for
The
ladies who had left Madame de Cleves immediately
attended the Dauphiness, where they found the Prince of Cleves.
The Dauphiness enquired very particularly of the health of her favourite. They
said they had passed some time very agreeably with her; that she had many
visitors, but they had left only the Duke de Nemours behind them.
These
words, though harmless, and spoken with indifference, had no trifling effect on
the Prince of Cleves. However satisfied with the
propriety of his wife’s conduct, however conscious that this nobleman had many
opportunities of seeing and speaking to her, the idea of his being alone with
her at his own house, at that late hour, filled his mind with tormenting
sensations.
He
went immediately home, scarcely knowing why; he was surprized
to find Madame de Cleves alone and in her chamber.
After some other conversation, he asked what visitors she had. She naturally
omitted Nemours, because she really had not seen him; and wished not to repeat
even his name to her husband.—“The Duke de Nemours (said the Prince) he too was
here.”—“He was so (answered she) but as it was late and I found myself much
indisposed, I did not see him.”
“You
were wrong, Madam, (said her husband, peevishly) from you every thing but
indifference is a favour; why should you particularize Nemours, but because you
feared to see him? Does not this behaviour plainly explain to himself that it is so? You certainly must have some cause
for so carefully avoiding his conversation; in this you have not been so candid
with me, as you gave me cause to believe. He has told you that he loves you,
and your conduct points out to him that he is of consequence to you. I
foolishly believed that your virtue would have conquered a passion you blamed
in yourself, but I did not reason justly when I thought so.
“I
am very unfortunate (said Madame de Cleves, with a
heavy sigh) I have made myself very miserable by a strict adherence to what I
thought right. I flattered myself you would be just and generous to a heart whose every thought has been laid open to you. I vainly
hoped I had convinced you, that no suspicions should be urged against me, since
I really concealed nothing from you. Every thing you are pleased to say or do,
I ought to submit to. I am very undeserving of your present reproaches; my only
study, my only desire, is to render my actions pleasing to you.” “You expect
from me things that are impossible,” replied the Prince: “You forget that I
love you, and am your husband; either were enough, circumstanced as I am, to
deprive me of happiness. What then must both do? Good Heaven! what do they not do? Yes, I am truly miserable! Madness were felicity to what my calmer thoughts inflict upon me. I
am wretched beyond all hope. I cannot check emotions too powerful to be
restrained. I love and hate you. In a word, I have for ever lost my peace.¾The discovery of your conversation to me in the garden at Coloniers, still adds to my distraction. How should it be
known, but by¾yet answer me not.¾It is in vain.¾Nothing you can say can give ease to a mind
tortured as mine is.”
He
then left her, without waiting for a reply; and after giving some necessary
orders for his journey the next day, he retired, but not to rest, and departed
early the next morning, without seeing her.
A
few hours absence occasioned a thousand tender recollections, a thousand proofs
so strong in her favour, that he dispatched a messenger with a letter full of
tenderness, full of sorrow for every reproach he had uttered, and full of
wishes for her health and ease. Madame de Cleves
sensible that his affection was the only cause of any apparent unkindness she
received from him, and far more ready to blame herself than any one else could
be, welcomed his letter with tears of gratitude and joy.—The messenger waited
her answer: it was such as a heart filled with virtue and delicacy alone could
dictate. It contained the strongest assurances, with regard to her future
conduct, and the most affecting reflexions on her
past one. Truth and candour were so visible in every line,
that it restored a perfect calm to her husband’s heart, and he knew no pleasure
equal to that which her letters afforded him, during their absence from each
other.
Indeed,
whenever she spoke or wrote to him, her duty, her love of virtue, and his
kindness, wrought so powerfully on her imagination, that at those times she
really believed no other being had an equal share in her affections. Yet there
were moments when these delightful illusions vanished, and sunk her spirits to
the deepest gloom.
She
was now alone at Coloniers. Since she had first seen
Nemours, she had feared or hoped to meet him almost every day of that time. It
was now impossible that such an event could happen, for many weeks, and this
idea was attended with a pain that she in vain endeavoured to rid herself of.
Madame de Themines, who had been somewhat indisposed,
came to pass some days in the country with Madame de Cleves.
These ladies were become extremely intimate, since de Chartres
had avowed a passion for the former; but Madame de Cleves
had no confidantes; she scarcely indeed allowed her own heart to believe those
sentiments existed in it, which in fact, though insensibly, gave the bias and
complexion to all her thoughts and actions.
Madame
de Themines found her extremely melancholy; but this
was by no means unpleasant to her own turn of mind. They passed their time
without any other company. The house, the garden, the
situation, were all delightful. They were pleased with each others
conversation; and Madame de Themines would not have
wished to leave Coloniers on any other terms than
those of meeting de Chartres.
After
some days passed very agreeably she left Madame de Cleves
to set out for Chambort where the court then was. The
Dauphiness with whom both de Cleves
and Nemours were, when Madam Themines arrived,
enquired most particularly after the lady she had left. She answered with the
most extravagant praises of the situation of Madame de Cleves,
and minutely described the beautiful summer-house, in which she generally
passed her evenings, and a great part of the day.
Nemours,
who well remembered the place she spoke of, instantly formed a scheme of seeing
Madame de Cleves there, without her knowledge. He
made so many enquiries, and discovered so much emotion in his countenance, that
the Prince of Cleves, who was very attentive to him
during the whole conversation, suspected in some measure his design, and
determined that this occasion should satisfy every scruple that yet remained in
his breast, relative to the conduct of her, whom, though he tenderly loved,
confided in, and esteemed, he could not (from a chain of unfortunate
circumstances joined to his love and jealousy) at some times help suspecting.
He
pitched upon one of the attendants, who had been constantly near his person for
many years, who was attached to him from gratitude and affection, of a good
understanding and liberal mind; him he entrusted with his secret, and ordered
him strictly to watch the motions of the Duke de Nemours, and faithfully report
to him all he should observe. This person was equal to the task assigned.
Nemours
having passed the night in meditating on his scheme,
obtained the King’s leave in the morning, to go to
Nemours
walked out, unattended, as it grew dark, and the Prince’s friend followed at a
distance; and being pretty certain of the route he now intended to take, he
shortened his own journey by a cross path, and placed himself where he knew the
Duke must pass, if he went to the house.¾It being now dark he heard somebody step softly
that way, and was near enough to perceive that it was no other than Nemours,
and that he took the direct road to the house, through the park.
Nemours,
who had with some difficulty so far accomplished his task, as he approached
nearer saw a light in the summer-house, and going along by the bushes came to
the arbour he had once before occupied, and stopt
there on the outside. The windows of the summer-house were opened. He placed
himself so as to be hid by one of the shutters, and could fully observe in this
situation, her, whose presence amply recompensed all the inconvenience and
difficulty he had encountered.
She
was alone, and the weather being warm, her head and neck were uncovered, and
her hair and whole dress were charmingly negligent. She was seated on a couch,
and had a basket of ribbons before her, out of which she seemed choosing some
particular colours. The little building in which she sat, was adorned with some
paintings of the most remarkable actions in the
late King’s reign. In many of these Nemours had been concerned; but
particularly in that of the siege of Merzs. His
portrait was conspicuous, and reckoned an admirable likeness.
As
he was perfectly concealed, he ventured to advance a little nearer, and
perceived with no small emotion, that the colours of the ribbons she chose,
were exactly those he had worn at the tournament, and that she employed herself
in tying them in knots on an Indian cane, that had once been his, and which he
had left at his sister’s house. After she had been some time thus engaged, she
arose, and moving the lights to a table exactly opposite to his picture, she
seated herself in that situation; then folding her arms and fixing her eyes on
the portrait, she remained buried in the most profound attention.
Nemours,
who was perfectly fascinated by what he saw, could scarcely persuade himself
that there was reality in the flattering proofs of her regard he now beheld. He
was tempted more than once, to thank her in the overflowings
of his heart, for a kindness more valuable to him than any thing the world
could bestow. But to displease her, to change that countenance so full of
sweetness and of love, into anger and severity, was too much to hazard; yet to
be so near her, to be at that instant convinced that she loved him, and not
dare to speak to her, how cruelly did he think himself
circumstanced!
The
night was now far advanced, he must think of returning; of quitting her whom he
now loved more than ever. This last consideration determined him to avail
himself of so favourable an opportunity of speaking to her. In moving but a few
steps forward, confused and disordered, a part of his dress caught at the
window, and the attempt he made to disengage himself occasioned some noise.
Madame
de Cleves started from her seat, and turning towards
the place where he was; whether it was that her imagination was full of his
idea, or that she really saw him, she, with the greatest perturbation of mind,
called her women, who were in the adjacent arbour next to the garden. They
attended her instantly. She told them she was suddenly indisposed, and would
retire to rest.
She
reflected as she went to the house, that the weakness of her own mind alone
could have alarmed her. The Duke de Nemours, she was certain, was with the
court at Chambort, and she felt herself ashamed of having given way to so
ridiculous an imagination.
Nemours
returned by the way he came. As soon as he quitted the garden, the Prince’s
confidante watched his going back, and followed him to the village they had
both left in the evening.
The
idea that had long possessed the mind of Nemours, that to be convinced of the
regard of Madame de Cleves would constitute his happiness, appeared now to be
fallacious, his anxieties were only increased, and he gave himself but the more
ardently to a passion which the doubt of a mutual return had hitherto in some
measure restrained. Even tears (those only who have truly loved can excuse or
account for such a weakness) evidenced his tenderness, while he thus reasoned
with himself.—“That I am beloved (said he) by the most amiable and deserving
woman on earth, I can have no doubts. The strongest protestations, the highest
favours, that passion can bestow, are not such infallible proofs as those I
have received.—Yet how is my happiness augmented? I
possess a blessing, which loads me with anguish, by seeing her I love combat
every idea in my favour, and continue to treat me as one that she detests.
Declare to me but once, best beloved of women, that you regard him who adores
you.—Let me from your own lips be once assured of your real sentiments, and I
am content you should resume your former severity and reserve.—Am I not most
unfortunate? The utmost of my wishes await me, yet I am not permitted to taste
aught but bitterness and disappointment from them.” These thoughts employed the
mind of Nemours till the next evening, when he hastened to his former situation
at Coloniers. The Prince of Cleves’s friend was
punctual in observing him, and saw him return at the same hour as before;
though he knew not the distressing disappointment he had experienced; for Madame
de Cleves, still prepossessed with the idea of having seen him, and unable to
pronounce whether she had reason for its foundation or not, determined to
forbear visiting her favourite retreat, that evening, and Nemours after many
hours expectation was obliged to depart without even the fond consolation of
gazing at her at a distance, and unseen.
He
now feared, from her sudden manner of quitting the summer-house on the
preceding night, and her absence on this, that she had been alarmed by the
noise he made, though trifling; it was needless therefore he concluded to
attempt seeing her again in this way. His sister's house being at a small
distance, he bent his course thither the next morning, and managed his
conversation so artfully, that he led her into the proposing a visit to Madame
de Cleves, that very evening. This was what he
wished, as it was necessary he should join the court in a day or two, at
farthest.
They
found Madame de Cleves in her garden. The sight of
Nemours removed every doubt of her having seen him at the time she feared; it
made her receive him with a much worse grace than was usual to her. Nemours was
more at ease; he praised the beauties of her situation, and above all things
extolled the elegance and pleasantness of the summer-house, and its adjoining
arbours.
The
Duchess observing that he appeared to be well acquainted with them,¾ “I know not (said Madame de Cleves) that the
Duke de Nemours has ever seen them; for they have not indeed been long
finished.”—“Yet it is true, Madam (replied the Duke) that I have seen them, and
I cannot tell whether I ought to rejoice or regret that you do not remember I
have.”
Madame
de Cleves was at once confused and displeased, at
such a declaration. She did not answer it; and he continued, in a very low
voice; “I confess, Madam, that I was there, without
your permission, and that I there passed moments equally painful and
delightful.”—Madame de Cleves still continued silent,
and insensibly prevented their entering the building, though they had proposed it;
but it was a circumstance she was determined to avoid.
The
Dutchess soon after talked of taking leave: but
Nemours said he should not return with her; for as he was so far on his way to
The
person whom the Prince of Cleves had employed was
well apprized of every motion. He soon followed the Duke, and arrived before
him at the palace, where his master received him with the utmost impatience,
and almost a surety of intelligence, that he hoped with
confidence would have dissipated every uneasy idea he had suffered during his
absence.
But
no sooner had he observed his countenance and hesitation, than a sudden tremor
overpowered him.—“Leave me (said he) I know what you have to say; distract me
not by utterance; I read already in your looks what you would declare.” “It is
true, Sir, (said the confidante) that the Duke de Nemours passed two nights
successively in your house, or garden, at Coloniers,
and that I saw him each morning return at the same hour before it was light.”
“It is enough (said the Prince) be silent; I am
satisfied with your diligence. ¾Leave me to myself.”
Never
was despair and grief equal to this unhappy husband’s; so highly had he thought
of the worth and delicacy of his wife; so full of truth and honour had she
seemed to him; her apparent ingenuousness now appeared an artifice so
extraordinary, as rendered her still more guilty to his imagination; and the
distress and anguish of his mind soon brought on a fever, with symptoms extremely
alarming.
Madame
de Cleves waited not to be sent for. No sooner did
the intelligence of her husband’s indisposition reach her, than she made all
possible haste to attend him:¾He was much worse when she arrived, and received her with such coldness,
and almost disgust, as equally surprised and afflicted her.¾She imputed it to the anguish of his disorder, and omitted no tenderness
or attention to soften the distress she fondly imputed to that cause alone.
Nemours
durst make scarcely any enquiries about the Prince of Cleves,
after her arrival; a little reserve, at such a crisis, was but prudent and
decent, he could not be insensible to the prospect that opened to his view. It
was highly probable Madame de Cleves would shortly be
at liberty to make a second choice: her sentiments with regard to him he could
not doubt; yet when he recollected her peculiar delicacy, and her extraordinary
conduct hitherto, his mind was full of anxiety and perplexity.
The
Prince was now pronounced to be in the utmost danger,—having been extremely hot
and restless for many hours, he thought himself somewhat easier for a moment, and endeavoured if possible to procure some
sleep.—Madame de Cleves dismissed every one from the
chamber, and remained there alone. After some time, thinking he had really
dozed, she kneeled softly down by his bed, and shocked by his pale countenance
which she attentively considered, and his uneasy breathing, she gave way to the
strongest emotions of sorrow.
Her
husband who slept not, was sensible of her sighs and
tears, while his error about her dissimulation and perfidiousness still
possessed his mind.¾ “You weep, Madam, (said he) for sufferings
which you have yourself caused. But fate will spare you the just reproaches of
an injured husband. I die of the torments your conduct has occasioned. I loved
you to that extreme, I could have wished you had
thoroughly deceived me. I should never have suspected your passion for another,
had not you fully determined to rob me of repose, and with uncommon cruelty acquainted
me with it yourself. You have deprived me of the felicity I found in loving
you: Life is become a burthen to me, and I wish to resign it. I deserved your
affection, and you may, perhaps, one day be sorry for the manner in which you
have repayed mine. My death will set you at liberty,
and you may then, without a crime, indulge your inclinations.”
Madame
de Cleves had not the least idea,
that more than she herself knew was even suspected by her husband, till
the conclusion of his speech awakened her fears. “A crime!
(repeated she) what mean you, my dearest husband? I
call Heaven to witness, the most rigid virtue could not have prescribed a
conduct more strict than that I have pursued towards you; every part of it have
I ever wished you to have been a witness of; nay my very thoughts have I never
hid from you; and for that am I now reproached.”
“Ah!
Madam, (he replied) you have the art of speaking; but to save you further
protestations, be assured, I have been acquainted, from evidence not to be doubted,
of those nights your lover passed with you at Coloniers.”¾He sighed, and turned from her.
What
a severe wound was this speech to the heart of Madame de Cleves!
Her pride as well as her peace were hurt beyond the power of words to describe;
a thousand horrours broke upon her mind; conflicting
passions choaked her utterance; but after repeated
efforts, with difficulty she articulated:¾“To what new afflictions am I reserved? Good Heaven! what
a fate is mine? Look on me, Sir, I entreat you; for your own sake alone, I ask
you to hear me: were I only concerned I would be silent; but your peace,
perhaps your life, is at stake. Attend to me, I conjure you, and for the sake
of Truth and Virtue, be assured, that I am so perfectly innocent of what you
suppose, that it is impossible you should not be convinced.”
She
then repeated to him every circumstance relative to that matter which had
occasioned his suspicions.¾She spoke with that confidence which truth
naturally inspires; her grief, her looks, her expressions, were
so persuasive, so forcible, that they could not but carry conviction along with
them.
“I
feel (said the Prince) when she had concluded her relation, “that I ought to
believe you; and that unfortunate events have combined to give that fatal wound
to my heart, which only the idea of your unworthiness could give. What you have
now said has restored peace and serenity to my last moments; to think you still
deserving of that tender affection I have ever had for you, is a balm to my
weak and worn out spirit. I am convinced too late for my earthly felicity, but
I die happy. Give me then, thou dearest and best of women, this further
assurance; tell me that you will ever remember this extraordinary effect of the
sincerest passion that ever possessed a human breast; and say that you will
ever love and respect the memory of him who dies for you.”
Madame
de Cleves was too much
afflicted to be capable of answering, nor could he add more. Every hour encreased his weakness and his distemper: He languished but
a few days, during which she scarcely for an instant quitted him; and though
the time was spent in affliction hardly to be equalled, the moment that
deprived her for ever of her husband, brought with it an encrease
of grief; and for many days she was reduced to a state of insensibility.
The
Dauphiness, who really loved her, paid the greatest attention to her sorrows.
She went herself and had her removed from the scene of her distresses, to a neighboring convent, as the fittest place for her then
melancholy situation.¾She gave the strictest charge that no care or
kindness that could mitigate her affliction should be omitted, and continued
very frequently to visit her, while she remained there.
The
return of her reason was attended with very little comfort to herself. The
reflection of what a husband she had lost, and how
lost him, occasioned frequent relapses, and she fell into an exceeding bad
state of health. After some time her presence was become necessary at
Change
of place made little difference in her sorrows.¾The Prince of Cleves
was ever present to her mind.¾His generosity¾His tenderness¾His virtues; but above all his last words¾REMEMBER HIM WHO DIES FOR YOU.” She condemned
herself incessantly as the cause of his untimely fate; and the only idea that
could afford her comfort, was, to feel that her heart was truly sensible of his
loss and of his worth. She indulged her grief to the greatest extreme, so as to
alarm her friends for her safety; but to their kind remonstrance, her only
answer was—“You ought no longer to regard me, than while I continue to grieve
for him who deserves from me the tribute of eternal sorrow.”
Nemours
yet paid her no other attention than that of sending to enquire her health. He
knew her too well to think more would have been permitted; and though he had
not a wish so ardent as to see her, he willingly suppressed it from the fear of
offending. It was whispered to him, and traced from that person whom the Prince
of Cleves had sent to Coloniers,
that his visit there had been discovered; and that this circumstance had
occasioned the illness, of which death was the
consequence.
Nemours
felt a very sincere affliction at this intelligence. That he should, though
innocently, have been the cause of so unfortunate an event was sufficiently
distressing, but a more selfish grief took possession of his soul; lest Madame
de Cleves imagining that he had been in any degree
accessory to those misfortunes which so deeply touched her heart, her regard
might be changed into horrour or disgust.
He
took frequent journeys to
Amongst
a thousand painful and perplexing thoughts that yet filled the mind of Madame
de Cleves, relative to her husband; her greatest
astonishment was, how he should be made acquainted with the circumstance of
Nemours’s being at night in the garden at Coloniers.
She believed, if it were possible, that he himself was the person who had
indiscreetly repeated a transaction that had proved so very fatal to her: But
it could now no way afflict her, as she persuaded herself that every thing on
earth, but the memory of the Prince of Cleves, was
now become a matter of indifference to her; and therefore, whether Nemours was
unworthy or otherwise, could be no longer of any consequence to her.¾That he had been the cause of all her sorrows, she was but too well
convinced; and though it might be possible he was innocently so, she was
certain she felt the greatest repugnance at the very idea of ever beholding him
again.
Many
months were now elapsed since the death of her husband; the violence of her
grief was abated, but a settled melancholy had seized upon her spirits, and her
health continued to decline.¾Madame Themines came
to
Madame
de Cleves did not find herself
as insensible to this conversation, as she thought she ought to have been.¾She only replied, “that she saw no company but
her relations and very intimate acquaintances, of which number the Duke de
Nemours happened not to be one.”
Some
days after Madame Themines had left her, she went
abroad to look for a particular kind of mourning silk; and having gone through
several apartments at the merchant’s house, and seen a variety of pieces
without meeting with what she wanted; she perceived a room shut up, and asked
if it contained any more. The merchant told her “that apartment was very
whimsically occupied. A person who had the appearance of a gentleman, though
very plain, had, he said, offered any terms for the key and possession of that
room, for an hour or two at any time he himself chose in the day.¾All the use that I perceive he makes of it, continued the Merchant, is
to look out at the windows, which I have observed he constantly does, though
there really is not any beautiful prospect, or any thing particular to be seen
from them.”
As
Madame de Cleves recollected that these windows were
directly opposite to her house, though at a great distance; she could not help,
at the same time, remembering what Madame de Themines
had said of Nemours’s being in town, and an idea immediately occurred, that
this extraordinary person was no other than himself.
This
thought interested her too much to allow her to seek further for the purchases
she intended to make.¾She hastened home, and failed not to observe
the windows, which really looked to those apartments she chiefly used. A thousand
uneasy sensations, that had long been forbidden to exist in her heart, now
asked not permission to resume their place.¾She became less dejected, but more unhappy than she had been for many weeks; but was
unwilling even to question herself upon this change.
It
was her usual custom to take an airing every evening in her carriage, and she
generally drove to a retired garden, a very little way out of town, where she
sometimes alighted and walked half an hour before she returned. She happened
one evening to choose a different path from any she had done before, and saw at
the end of it a little arbour, that was entirely new to her. As she came nearer
she perceived a person seated in a melancholy attitude, so lost in meditation,
that she was at one of the entrances, before he turned towards her, and she saw
the countenance of Nemours. She stopt, with no small
surprise, and would have retired; but the steps of herself and the women that
attended her, had so interrupted the reverie of Nemours, that he started from
his seat, and waited not to see who they were that had disturbed him; without
so much as lifting his eyes from the ground, he bowed and withdrew at the
opposite side.
Madame
de Cleves stood fixed till he was out of sight. What
an effect did this incident produce in her heart? She seated herself in the
same place where she had just seen him: His dejected features, his absent air,
the constancy and delicacy of his love, rushed upon her mind, in their
strongest colours. It was many months since she had seen him. She had thought
she could have beheld him with total indifference; but she found that she had
judged most ignorantly of herself.
She
now allowed him for a time entirely to occupy her thoughts; no other idea
interfered. “Is he not worthy,” said she? “Is he not amiable? Did not our
hearts involuntarily unite? Does he not forsake the whole world, and every
pleasure that once allured him, on my account? Can I be insensible to such a
passion? Does duty or virtue now forbid me to love him? Surely
no.”
Such
sentiments, so favourable for Nemours, had never before warmed her breast: How
delightful did they now seem! she dwelt on them with so much pleasure, that had
not her women reminded her it was late, she would not have been sensible how
much longer than usual she had been abroad.
On
her return home a very different turn of thinking succeeded to that which had
for a while restored something like peace to her bosom.¾“Good Heaven! exclaimed she, what delusive
phantoms of happiness did my mistaken heart create, only to make me on reflexion still more poignantly miserable? Is it possible I
could, even for a moment, so far forget myself, as to suffer that error which
has caused all my misfortunes, and has ever been the source of perpetual
sorrow, again to find a place in my heart?¾Weak and unworthy woman! Whom didst thou plead
for? Him, who in a great measure occasioned the death of the worthiest and best
of men? What man! Thy husband.¾No (continued she) never! Never, Nemours, without being criminal in the
highest degree, could I unite myself to thee. Farewel
then for ever to the thought! I have only one path to pursue; carefully to
avoid thy presence, and as much as I can, to banish thee from my mind. This I
will certainly perform, as a duty I think myself bound to, let the execution of
it be attended with what difficulty it may.”
She
had seen Nemours more than once at the windows of the merchant which looked to
that apartment she most generally occupied; she therefore changed it for
another. The severity of this conduct made him extremely unhappy; tired of an
uncertainty that kept his mind in perpetual agitation, he determined by some
means or other to see her, and be assured of her sentiments from herself.¾ “It was proper (said he) that I should respect her situation and her
grief. I have done so, but I will not allow that tenderness to be erased, which
I am convinced she once felt for me.”
He
then acquainted the Viscount de Chartres, her uncle,
with his passion and intentions; and the intelligence was most favourably
received by his friend, who approved of the alliance, and promised that Nemours
should certainly see and speak to her some evening at his house.
Though
she had now been long a widow, she lived so extremely retired, and still gave
way to so melancholy a turn of mind, that it was with the utmost difficulty,
and a promise that she should not be encumbered with much company, she complied
with the pressing invitation of de Chartres.
Soon
after she came to his house he acquainted her with his design, and immediately
introduced Nemours, who impatiently waited her arrival in the adjoining room.
She would have withdrawn, had not Nemours held her hand at the time her uncle
quitted it. It is not easy to express the sensations of each at such an interview.
“Will you, Madam (said he) pardon the method I
have taken to procure a moment’s conversation with you, a favour you have so
cruelly and obstinately hitherto avoided to grant me?” ”I ought not to pardon
you, Sir (answered she) you forget my melancholy situation. An address, such as
my uncle has acquainted me with, can by no means be agreeable to me, at this
time.” “Hear me, Madam, I beseech you (said Nemours) accept this address
whenever you may judge it more proper; I submit to whatever conditions you
please, with transport; only condescend to let me see and speak to you. This,
Madam, I entreat for your own sake; and to prevent extravagancies I cannot
avoid, although they should offend you. It is impossible you can be insensible
of a regard which, though till now unuttered, has influenced every hour of my
life since I first knew you: For Heaven’s sake, Madam, let not that virtue
which adorns you, be mixt with a rigour that
disgraces it. Your heart and soul are full of tenderness,
appear not then to be inexorable. If sufferings can recommend my love, already
have I had such, as passion less ardent, less true than mine, must have
perished from.”
Madame
de Cleves was most sincerely affected by this speech
of Nemours, delivered with every advantage it could possibly receive. Willing
to declare to him her heart, yet overpowered by a thousand fears, after some
pause she determined; and turning upon him eyes full of timid tenderness, ¾ “Alas! Sir (said she) what can you hope from me? I never can reward your
love; you deserve a happier fate than it is in my power to bestow. Yet, as I
think you merit the utmost sincerity, I will tell you, with a
frankness not usual, perhaps not allowable, in a woman, that I am truly
sensible of your regard. More, Sir, will I say: My heart returns it: to any
other man but yourself it were unsafe to speak thus; but the delicacy of your
mind I am well acquainted with: You will judge for me as you ought, and be
convinced how very highly I regard you, when I treat you with such ingenuousness.
My heart is not insensible to merit, or to tenderness; but however powerfully
it may feel them, it is impossible they should ever draw it from its duty. I
acknowledge your worth: I love and admire it. But you are not, my dear Sir,
ignorant of the many unfortunate circumstances I have lately experienced: You
cannot then wonder at or blame me, when I say I return, but never can reward,
your love.”
“Long
since (said Nemours) have I flattered myself that you did not hate me. Shall I
confess to you, Madam, that I heard, and at times
interpreted in my favour, your confession at Coloniers?
a confession so extraordinary, so uncommon, that did
so much honour to your own heart, and now gives so much transport to mine. I
appeal to you, Madam, did I presume on this circumstance? did
I not make you the greatest sacrifice I could do, that of avoiding to speak to
you, because I knew you wished it to be so?”
“Recall not to my mind, Sir (said she, interrupting him) scenes
that must renew a grief never to be effaced. I did indeed fear you were
too well acquainted with the matter you have spoken of. I acknowledge the
delicacy of your conduct. I can now, without a crime, confess it won my warmest
esteem. It deserves from me this tribute, and I freely give it to you from my
heart, however otherwise weak, yet incapable of deceit. You have merited and
possessed its affection, an affection that it was not in my power to suppress;
that on my own account I wished not to suppress, since it never caused me to
deviate in the smallest degree from that conduct which my situation
prescribed.”
“This
acknowledgement, Madam, from your own mouth (replied Nemours, with transport)
is the greatest of all earthly blessings.” ¾ “Stop, Sir (said Madame de Cleves)
do not let me in the smallest degree mislead you. I
wish you indeed still to think so; and I find the utmost pleasure in repeating
to you the sentiments of which you are worthy. But be assured, Sir, I never
shall proceed one step beyond this confession. Rest content with my affection;
it is and ever will be yours, but will never influence me to depart from those
rules my duty and my conscience dictate.”
“What
duty, Madam! (interrupted Nemours) Good Heaven! by what fallacious arguments do you impose on yourself! You
never can regard me: it is impossible, if you are thus ruled by prejudices so
pernicious to your own peace and my happiness. Do not drive me to despair by
continuing these tormenting and groundless opinions. No, Madam, while you speak
thus, I can never suppose myself otherwise than indifferent to you. It is in
your power to make that duty and virtue you revere, consistent with every kind
and gracious wish in his favour who adores you. Are you not, Madam, in every
sense at liberty?”
“Your
arguments (said Madame de Cleves) bring not
conviction. Alas! my dear Sir, the thoughts I have
declared to you are not the offspring of a moment; they are serious—repeatedly
considered¾fixed¾unalterable. ¾Most true it is, that I sacrifice an affection equally tender with your own, but in which I
could taste no felicity, while inconsistent with the higher duties of my life.
I cannot enumerate to you all the reasons I have for this conduct; they are yet
too distressing to me, and never more shall we converse on a subject which has
already been attended with consequences so fatal, as not to be remembered
without horror. Had the Prince of Cleves fallen by
your hand, it might have made some difference in the eye of the world, but
scarcely any to the peace of my own bosom; since I am well convinced your
behaviour and our affection put a period to his life.” Her tears flowed
plenteously at this expression.
“Ah,
Madam (said Nemours) what a dangerous phantom of duty have you raised to
prevent our happiness! Will you permit a vain caprice to prevent you from
rendering only justice to him you say you love? ¾Why was I by an accident made to hope I had a share in your affection?
Or why did this last prospect of felicity appear to my delighted view? Is it
only to make me doubly wretched by its disappointment? Do I love the most
estimable of woman? Have I found in her every thing that can make a mistress
adorable; every thing that can endear the tender and valuable name of wife? Is
our affection mutual? Is all this offered to my hopes; and is it the only
person on earth who can make me happy? Is it you, Madam, that dash from me with
unpitying hand, every blessing that awaits me? Is it you, Madam, and you alone,
by whom my felicity is obstructed? ¾You seem to have forgot,
that you have distinguished me¾or rather you have never done so, you have but
deceived yourself and only flattered me?”
“Alas,
Sir (said Madame de Cleves) it is the reality of that
fatal distinction you doubt, that opposes so powerfully our happiness, and
paints to my imagination the severe reproaches I should ever make to myself
were I to be united to you. ¾You will allow I could not make you happy, when
I tell you my own reflections would render myself continually miserable.” ¾ “You never loved, Madam: (said Nemours) Your
scruples are not dictated by reason; they will serve only one purpose, which is
to distract me.”
“You
do me the utmost injustice (replied she) nothing is further from my inclination
than to give you a moment’s pain; I meant the contrary when I declared to you
the real sentiments I feel for you, which I little thought any chance could
have occasioned me to repeat to yourself. ¾I never more shall do so: Judge more candidly
of me then for once, and suffer me further to disclose to you my whole heart. A
thousand, thousand obstacles oppose our union; they are such as ought to
reconcile you to my determination: those hardest to be surmounted you have
already heard, attend now to others. With blushes I confess, that the idea of
being no longer loved by you, appears to me so dreadful a misfortune, that had
I not invincible reasons founded on my eternal peace, it would not be in my
power to expose myself to an evil I should so sensibly feel. I know that I am
free, and that you are so. ¾It is not the censures of the world I fear; but
I have not vanity enough to expect a miracle in my favour. ¾The Duke de Nemours was said to be professedly a man of galantry, before I knew him. Your heart, Sir, has
experienced many passions, mine never knew but one; what anguish then would the
smallest appearance of indifference cost me? The Prince of Cleves
was perhaps the only person capable of preserving the attention and passion of
a lover, for a wife. It was my ill fate not to reap the felicity I should have
done from such a circumstance. My regards for you may make me unhappy, as I am;
but they cannot blind me so far as to make me run a hazard of making both you
and myself miserable.¾You possess all those qualities that can
attract. ¾You will be loved as often as you seek to be
so.—I have said too much to conceal from you, that I have felt the pangs of
jealousy.—Madame Themines's letter convinced me my
mind was capable of suffering in the severest degree that tormenting passion;
this worst of evils would inevitably poison the peace of both. A lover may be
reproached, but shall a husband be so, for an error so common, and so little
thought blamable in the gay world, as an attachment
to another?—Your heart is susceptible, and it is always in your power to render
yourself pleasing. I might perhaps fancy you loved another, though you did not,
and a thousand circumstances of my past life would upbraid me with my own
weakness, and make me doubt your affection, from my own unworthiness.—I should
find no consolation in my own bosom to support me under such afflictions; they
appear so terrible to my imagination, it is impossible I should ever think of
encountering them: They very much strengthen other reasons of still greater
consequence, and make my resolution unchangeable.”
“If
you really loved, Madam (said Nemours) it would be utterly impossible you
should dictate such resolutions to yourself; it will be still more so, that you
should follow them.—On this I yet build my hopes.—It is more difficult, madam,
than you suppose, to resist the power you have to bestow happiness on him who
loves you, and whom you say you love.—Did virtue, duty, or propriety of any
sort, forbid your choice, I should believe you would persevere in your present
determination; but not one of these oppose our union, and you can never persist
in a resolve so fatal to us both—A resolve that is inconsistent both with your
reason and your heart.”
“I
am aware (said Madame de Cleves) of the task I have
undertaken, and mistrust my own strength in the midst of my firmest
resolutions.—The respect I feel for the memory of my
husband, would not perhaps be sufficient to determine me, were I not assured
that it is out of my power to render your life happy. Powerful motives would
oppose my own happiness; judge, then, Sir, if, in such a situation, I could add
to yours.”
Every
argument that love and reason could suggest, assisted by all the warmth and
tenderness of an ardent affection, were offered by Nemours; to all which Madame
de Cleves was by no means insensible.—Her tears and visible agitation bore testimony to the
conflicts of her mind.
“Alas,
Sir (said she) why did such uncommon and fatal circumstances mark our regard
for each other?―Why
was you of all others made the cause of my still recent misfortunes? Is it not
too visible, that Fate, by such invincible obstacles, meant for ever to
separate us?” “There is no obstacle, Madam (said Nemours) not
one. You alone obstruct our happiness, by imposing upon yourself laws
that neither reason nor virtue command.”—“It may be possible, Sir (replied she)
that these laws exist only in my own imagination; but to my misfortune they
there appear indispensable. You cannot yourself more ardently wish that time
may erase them, than I do. The Prince of Cleves’s
death cannot yet have lost its melancholy influence on my mind. It is not very
long since I experienced this severe affliction. Were I even more at ease under
such a circumstance than I really am, I should certainly not think of listening
to any address, till so gloomy a remembrance were, by a greater length of time,
effaced. I entreat you, then, Sir, by that power you say I have over you, seek
not to visit me, or mention to me by any means this subject till that change I
earnestly wish (for both our sakes) may possibly be effected. I must now quit
you. You will not be displeased when I tell you I leave you in possession of my
heart; it has been only yours; it will remain so, however my fate may dispose
of me: and now farewel, (said she) I am almost
ashamed of this conversation.”
She
hastily withdrew her hand, which he had long held; nor
was it in his power to prolong her stay. Tears streamed down her face, as she
passed through the rooms, in one of which de Chartres
waited for her; distress was so visible in her countenance,
that he ventured not to say a single word; but taking the hand she
offered, led her to her coach in silence.
Nemours
was almost as little able to speak to him on his return. After some time he
made him acquainted with the result of their interview, and the extraordinary
sentiments of Madame de Cleves. Notwithstanding the
natural timidity of love, he agreed with de Chartres,
that it was impossible but time must accomplish his wishes.
His
friend persuaded him it would be necessary to acquiesce with her desire of neither writing to, or visiting her for a time, lest her too
rigid notions might occasion her to make her resolutions public and
irrevocable.—Nemours therefore determined to attend the court, without seeing
Madame de Cleves. He entreated de Chartres
often to visit her, whilst he remained at
Madame
de Cleves was astonished when composed enough to
reflect calmly on the scene she had quitted. Alternately she blamed and
applauded herself for the sincerity with which she had spoken to Nemours. She
examined with grief those reasons which the remembrance of her husband’s death,
and strict propriety, alledged in opposition to her
happiness. With sorrow she found them too powerful to be conquered. On the contrary,
when she considered the softer feelings of her heart, she wondered how an union
with Nemours could be compatible with regret of any kind; but ever afraid to
indulge in the smallest degree the latter ideas, the former were rendered so
habitual to her mind, that they became a part of it, and though they could not
destroy or conquer that tenderness that was a native of her soul, they always
kept it in subjection. De Chartres often came to see
her; he urged with the utmost warmth the cause of his friend; but her
determinations were not to be shaken. “You, my dear uncle, (said she) know my history, it is a melancholy and unfortunate one. Heaven
marked me out a path of sorrow only. I will without murmuring obey its decrees,
in following what is no doubt for wise purposes ordained me; my fault has been,
and will continue to be my punishment. I can accuse myself of no other crime,
but that affection for your friend which I have been unable to subdue. It never
was so painful to me, as it now is. I am conscious that it is in my power to
accept the hand of Nemours. This, at one time of my life, I should have thought
the highest felicity: Yet I dare not, either for his sake,
or my own, avail myself of what appears a circumstance so greatly in my favour.
Ah, Sir, could I possibly know peace, even in the bosom of your friend, when I
reflected, which I certainly should do, that the affection I indulged caused
his death who fondly loved me; whose behaviour to me was too generous, not to
leave the most lasting impressions upon my gratitude and remembrance, who
deserves from me at least a conduct less blameable than to affront his memory,
by rewarding that passion which deprived him of his life?—Alas, my dear friend,
these are insurmountable obstacles.—Fate has allotted me a duty more severe
than others, but I will never depart from it.—My happiness (if I have a right
to use a word so foreign from any thing I have yet experienced) is connected
with it; and I am fully convinced, that of the two miseries I am reduced to the
hard necessity of choosing from—that of refusing the Duke de Nemours is the
least.—My mind would continually reproach me, did I accept him; this I am sure
of. Possibly it may applaud me for difficulties I sustain in adhering to that
virtue it reveres.”
These
arguments were too deeply rooted in her breast to be altered by any thing de Chartres could offer against them.—He was obliged to leave
Madame
de Cleves found herself so tenderly affected by the
warmest protestations, and the kindest sentiments, from the hand and heart of
him she loved, that she immediately forbid her uncle to write to her any more;
and added the strongest asseverations that she would no longer answer him on
the subject which had occasioned their correspondence.—De Chartres
knew it was needless to persevere; and Nemours himself made it his request,
that she should be left to herself, till time and her own inclinations should
determine in his favour.
A
thousand tormenting anxieties still disturbed the mind of the unfortunate
Madame de Cleves.—The Court was expected to return
soon to Paris.—Could she then, however retired, avoid
seeing Nemours? The constant idea that it was possible, would subject her to
continual inquietude. The memory of her husband,
which was the strongest support of her resolutions, was in danger, she
considered, to be obliterated by the presence of him she was thoroughly
convinced she truly loved. She began to fear lest she might be induced to act
contrary to those rules, which she still persuaded herself ought to guide her
conduct; she determined, therefore, if possible, to put it out of her own power
to recede from that duty she had prescribed to herself.
Having
a large estate near the Pyrenées, she resolved to
retire thither, and pass the remainder of her life in solitude. It was not long
before she put her design in execution. Having settled some business necessary
to her departure, she set out on her journey a few days before the Court was
expected to return.
She
wrote to the Viscount de Chartres, acquainting him
with her determination, and beseeching him not to suffer her to be disturbed in
her retreat; assuring him, that such a proceeding from himself or his friend
would be extremely cruel; as it would render that task, which was now
inevitably to be performed, a thousand times more painful and difficult,
without answering any other purpose. Nemours was half distracted at this
intelligence.—Had she avoided him from hatred, it
would, he thought, have been more supportable.
The
fatigue of mind and body that Madame de Cleves
sustained during her journey, threw her into a violent and dangerous
illness.—De Chartres was informed by her attendants
of her situation.—Nemours’s grief proceeded to the utmost extravagance; he
dispatched frequent messengers, in her uncle’s name, to enquire into every
circumstance of her danger or recovery; at length he was informed that the
violence of her disorder had yielded to the goodness of her constitution; but
that a languishing weakness still preyed upon her body and her mind.
The
near approach of death which she had experienced, had indeed painted to her
imagination every worldly prospect in a more faint light, than she thought they
could possibly have appeared in. The fatal stroke she had now escaped, she
reflected would certainly return; and from her languid state, she persuaded
herself it was not likely to be far distant. Every engagement of life seemed
weaker, from these reflections; her late situation convinced her how necessary
those resolutions, which had cost her so much pain, were to her eternal peace;
she found that Nemours would sometimes obtain a place in her thoughts, but it
was such a one as was scarcely inconvenient to her, and she congratulated
herself on having conquered entirely that passion which had occasioned all the
misfortunes of her life.
As
soon as she was able to leave her chamber, she retired to a nunnery, under
pretence of changing the air, without declaring her intention of trying a kind
of life which she believed would be more agreeable to her than any other.
Though her mind was really now much more at ease than it had ever been since
she had seen Nemours, yet she determined never to subject herself to the
dangerous presence of him who might possibly again overthrow that degree of
tranquillity she had with so much difficulty attained.
Nemours,
who had constant intelligence of Madame de Cleves,
without her knowledge, felt the weight of her last
retreat, and clearly saw the importance of it; he prevailed upon the Dauphiness
to write to her; and remonstrate against this last step she had taken. He
prevailed upon De Chartres to go to her; but both
their entreaties proved equally vain. She saw her uncle, but told him she no
longer found any difficulty in adhering to resolutions that all along appeared
to her to be those alone she could with propriety pursue; that she should not,
she believed, pass her time entirely in the convent, but should certainly never
quit that part of France she was then in.
Nemours
waited the return of De Chartres with extreme
impatience¾ he was not yet to be repulsed; but contrary to
every advice of his friend, undertook himself the journey from which the other
had so unsuccessfully returned. Madame de Cleves was
equally surprized and afflicted when she heard of his
arrival, and received a message from him. ¾She obstinately refused to see him, but was at
length prevailed upon to read one of his letters, which she thus answered.
“It
is most unkind of you to disturb that peace which I have so dearly purchased,
or seek to draw me from that path which, however difficult, is yet by Heaven
allotted for me.¾My resolutions, you know, have never been weak;
blame me not when I say, I never more will expose myself to the danger of
seeing you.¾I have for ever renounced the world; every
thing, but yourself, that it contains, is become perfectly indifferent to me.¾ My duty and my peace, I am convinced, would have been equally injured,
had I listened to the suggestions of my affection for you.¾They both strongly opposed our union; besides which, there is nothing
beneath Heaven that now appears worthy of my consideration.¾My late dangerous illness has brought me much nearer the grave, than you
imagine; I rejoice in the prospect; no other thoughts now employ my mind, but
those which this promised release may occasion, except my sincerest wishes for
your happiness.¾I have now no worldly hope, but to be assured
that your heart is equally reconciled to that hard fate which separates us, as
is hers who writes to you, and who bids you with affection, and the most
fervent prayers for your peace, eternal in this world¾farewel.”
Nemours,
grieved to the soul at her perseverance, yet answered the letter; but Madame de
Cleves would not see his messenger, nor allow any
thing relative to this faithful and unfortunate lover again to be mentioned to
her.
He
returned to Paris, with a heart opprest with grief,
without the most distant hope of ever again beholding a woman he loved with the
most constant, delicate, and ardent affection; yet that woman still living and
returning his love.¾Time and absence abated his affliction, but
never totally extinguished his passion. Madame de Cleves
lived some years afterwards.¾She passed six months of every year in the
convent, and the other six at her own house.¾She was a pattern of virtue and piety.¾Beloved, respected, and admired, by all who knew her, throughout her
whole life; which though short, has left us innumerable examples of almost
inimitable fortitude and virtue.
F
I N I S.