UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES Troiitifpiece. Ycl.2, THE PRINCESS or PuM/hut fy G.Kear/lyir?46.Flee Street Atyf 7.7777. COLLECTION N O V F E L S, SELECTED AND REVISED BY MRS. GRIFFITH. V O L. II. S P A R SA C E G L LONDON: Priuied forG. KEARSLY, at N. 46, in Flee>Streett and the other Proprietors* MDCCLXXVU. / PR THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES, CHARACTER O F T H PRINCESS OF CLEVESj BY THE EDITOR. JH E fto'ry of the Princefs of Cleves *, which we now prefent to our readers, has been long aniverfally allowed to ftand foremoft in that peculiar fpecies of writing, where hiftorical fata are intermixed with the anecdotes and adventures of private perfonages. The (cene is laid in the court of France, at an era when galantry had rifen to its greateft height in that polite nation ; though th& romantic notions of ancient chivalry had begun to grow obfolete, but were not yet intirely exploded ; : for we here meet with a tournament, appointed in honour of the princefs Elizabeth's marriage with * The original of this Novel is in French. The author has not put any name to the piece, and gives this modefl reafon for it ; " That he would wait 'till he found how it \vas received by the public, before he \vuuldventure to de- clare himfelf." The fecret has never fincetranfpired. In this uncertainty, every one is left at liberty to frame a co njedture about the Author ; and, in my opinion, this work feems to have been written by fome ingenious woman of the age in which it appeared; as the delicacy of fenti- ment, and peculiar nicety of manners, with which the princefs of Cleves conducted hedelf in the moft difficult lituations, could only have ariien in the female breaft. Men are not apt to imagine fuch refinements j and even, per- !iaps,l els Co tg impute them tc the Acs. 4 the CHARACTER, &V. the king of Spain ; which, however, was the laft fhat ever was exhibited in France. From this particular circumftance, the reader may form an idea, that the manners and fentiments of thofe times difrofed widely from thofe of the prefent ; and of courfe, the delicacy with which, the princefs of Cleves and the duke of Nemours conducted trjemfelyes, though under the influence of an unjuftifiable paflion, ought not to be deemed unnatural, though, perhaps, in thefe more licentious days it may be fuppofed improbable, There are ibme fituations in the following Novel, Hiore refined and elegant than any we ever re- member to have met with before ; particularly, lhat of our heroine's flying for fan&uary, as it were, from herfelf, into the bofom of her huf- band, by revealing to him her paflion for another. What a confidant for a modern dame ! The line which the princefs of Cleves purfues through the whole ftory, is doubtlefs worthy of emulation to thofe who may be fo unhappy as to ftand in the fame predicament j but her conduct, after the death of her hufband, will, we fear, rather be confidered as a iubjecl for admiration, than imitation. THE PRINCESS OF C L EVE S. PART I. GRANDEUR and gallantry never appeared with mere lufire in France, than in the laft years of Henry the Second's reign. This prince was amorous and handfome, and though his paffion for Diana of Poicliers, duchefs of Valeutinois, was of above twenty years {landing, it was not the lefs violent, nor did he give leis diflinguifhing proofs of it. As he was happily turned to excel in bodily exercifes, he took a particular delight in them, fuch as hunting, tennis, running at the ring, and the like diversions. Madam de Valendncis gave fpirit to all entertainments of this fort, and appeared at them with grace and beauty equal to that of her grand -daughter, madam de la Marke, who was then unmarried ; the queen's prefence feemed to authorife her's. The queen was handfome, though not young j (he loved grandeur, magnificence and pleafure; ihs was VOL. II. B married fi THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. married to the king while he was duke of Orleans, dur- ing the life of his elder brother, the dauphin, a prince \vhofe great qualities promifed in him a worthy fucceffor of his father Francis the firft. The queen's ambitious temper made her tafte the fweets cf reigning, and (he feemed to bear with perfect eafe the king's pafiion for the duchefs of Valentionis, nor did fhe exprefs the leaft jeahmfy of it ; but me was fo fkilful a diflembler, that it was hard to judge of her real fentiments, and policy obliged her to keep the duchefs about her perfcn, that me might draw the king to her at the fame time. This prince took great delight in the converfadon of women, even of fuch as he had no paffion for ; for he was every day at the queen's court, when me held her afiembly, which was a concourfe of all that was beautiful and excellent in either fex. Never were finer women or more accomplimed men feen in any court ; and nature feemed to have taken pleafure in lavifhing her greateft graces on the greateft perfons. The princefs Elizabeth, fince queen of Spain, began now to manifeft an uncommon wit, and to dif- play thofe beauties which proved afterwards fo fatal to her. Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland, who had juft married the dauphin, and was called the queen-dau- phin, had all the perfections of mind and body ; flic had fceen educated in the court of France, and had imbibed all the politenefs of it j fhe was by nature fo well formed to fhine in every thing that was polite, that notwith- flanding her youth, none furpafied her in the moft re- fned accotnplimments. The queen, her mother-in- 'law, and the king's filter, were alfo extreme lovers of mufic, plays, and poetry ; for the tafte which Francis the Firit had for the Belles Lettres was not yet ex- tin guifhed in France; and as his fon was addicted to exercnes, no kind of pkafure was wanting at court. But what rendered this court fo fplendid, was the pre- tence of fo many great princes, and perfons of the higheit ouality and merit: thofs I fliall name, in their different chara&eri, PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 3 characters, were the admiration and ornament of their age. The king of Navarre drew to himfelf the refpecl; of all the world, both by the greatnefs of his birth, and by the dignity that appeared in his perfon ; he was re- markable for his flcill and courage in war. The duke of Guife had alfo given proofs of extraordinary valour, and had been fo fuccefsful, that there was not a general who did not look upon him with envy j to his valour ke added a moil exquifite genius and underftanding, grandeur of mind, and a capacity equally turned for military or civil affairs. His brother, the cardinal of Loraine, was a man of boundlefs ambition, and of ex- traordinary wit and eloquence, and had bendes ac- quired a vaft variety of learning, which enabled him to make himfelf very confiderable by defending the Catholic religion, which began to be attacked at that time. The chevalier de Guife, afterwards called Grand Prior, was a prince beloved by all the wcrld, of a. comely perfon, full of wit and addrefs, and dif- tinguimed through all Europe for his valour. The prince of Conde, though little indebted to nature in his perfon, had a noble foul, and the livelinefs of his wit made him amiable even in the eyes of the fineft women. The duke of Nevers, diftinguiihed by the high employ- ments he had poflefled, and by the glory he had gained in war, though in an advanced age, was yet the delight of the court : he had three fons very accomplifhed j the fecond, called the prince of Cleves, was worthy to fup- port the honour of his houfe ; he was brave and gene- rous, and (hewed a prudence above his years. The vifcount de Chartres, defcended of the illuftrious family of Vendome, whofe name the princes of the blood have thought it no dishonour to wear, was equally dif- tinguiihed for gallantry; he was genteel, of a fine mien, valiant, generous, and all thefe qualities he pof- feiTed in a very uncommon degree ; in fcort, if any one cowld be compared to the duke de Nemours, it was he. B a Th 4 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. The duke de Nemours was a mailer-piece of nature ; the beauty of his pcrfon, inimitable as it was, was his leaft perfection ; what placed him above other men, was a certain agreeablenefs in his difcourfe, his aclion<, his looks, which was obfervable in none befidehimfelf : He had in his behaviour a gaiety that was equally plea- fing to men and women'; in his exercifes he was very expert; and in drefs he had a peculiar manner, which -was followed by all the world, but could never be imi- tated : in fine, fuch was the air of his whole perfon, that it was impoflible to fix one's eye on any thing elle, wherever he was. There WES not a Ir.dy at court whole vanity would not have been grati5ed by his ad- dreffes ; few of thofe whom he addrefled, could boail of having refifted him ; and even thofe for whom he ex- prefledno paffion, could not forbear expreffing one for him : his natural gaiety and difpofition to gallantry was fo great, that he could not refufe fome part of his cares and vtention to thofe who made it their endeavour to pleale him ; and accordingly he had fever.il mifireftes, but it was hard to gucfs which of them was in pofTellion of his heart. He made frequent vifits to the queen- dauphin; the beaut)- of this princefs, the fweetnefsof her temper, the care me took to oblige every bod;, , and the particular efteem fi;e exprefled for the duke de Nemours, gave ground to believe, that he had raifed his \ ie\v even to her. Meffieurs de Guife, whofe niece me was, had fo far encreafed their authority and reputation by this match, that their ambition prompted them to afpire at an equality with the princes of the blood, and to mnre in power with the conllable Montmorency. The king entrufted the conflable with the chief fhare in the admi- niilration of the government, and treated the duke of Guife and the marefchal de St. Andre as his favourites; but whether favour or bufinefs admitted men to his prefence, they could not preferve that privilege without the good-liking of the duchefs of Valentinois ; for though fbe was no longer in pofieffion either of youth or beaury . fee PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 5 fhe yet reigned fo abfolutely in his heart, that his perfon and ftate feemed entirely at her difpoui!. The king had fuch an affedtioa for the conftable, that he-was no {boner poflefied of the government, bat he recalled him from the banifnmeat he had been fent into by Francis the t irlt : Uus was the court divided be- tween mefiieurs de Guife, and the cor.loibie, whi was fupported by the princes of the blood ; and both parties made it their care to gain the duchefs of Vaientinois. The duke d' Aumale, the duke of Guife's brother, had married one of her daughters, and the conftable afpired to the fame alliance ; he was not contented with having married his el deft fon with madam Diana, the king's daughter by a Picmontefe lady, who tvirned nun as foon as fhe was brought to bed. This marriage had met with a great many obstacles from the promifes which rnonfieur Montmorency had made to madam de Piennes, one of the maids of honour to the queen ; and though the king had furmounted them with extreme patience and goca- nefs, the conftable did not think himfelf fufficiently eftablifhed, unlefs he fecured madam de Vaientinois in his intereft, and feparated her from meffieurs de G uife, whofe greatnefs began to give her uneafinefs. The duchefs had obftructed as much as fhe could the marriage of the dauphin with the queen of Scotland ; the beauty and forward wit of that young queen, and the credit which her marriage gave to meffieurs de Guife, were in- fupportable to her ; fhe in particular hatad the cardinal of Loraine, who had fpoke to her with feverity, and even with contempt ; fhe was fenfible he took the party of the queen, fo that the conftable found her very well dif- pofed to unite her interefis with his, and to enter into alliance with him, by marrying her grand-daughter, madam de la Marke, with monfieurd'Anville, his fecond fon, who fucceeded him in his employment undeivthe reign of Charles the Ninth. The conftable did not ex- peft to find the fame difinciin.ition to marriage in his fecond fon, which he had found in his eldeft ; but he B 3 6 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. proved uiiftaken. The duke d'Anville was defperately in love with the dauphin-queen, and how little hope foever he might have of fucceeding in his paffion, ho could not prevail with himfelf to enter into an engage- ment that would divide his cares. The marefchal de St. Andre was the only perfon in the court, that had not lilted in either party : he was a particular favourite, and the king had a perfonal affection for him ; he had taken, a liking to him ever fince he was dauphin, and created him a marefchal of France at an age in which others rarely obtain the leal!: dignities : his favour with the king gave him a luftre which he fupported by his merit and the agreeablenefs of his perfon, by a fplendor in his table and furniture, and by the moft profufe magnifi- cence that ever was known in a private perfon, the king's liberality enabling him to bear fuch an expence. This prince was bounteous even to prodigality to thofe he favoured, and though he had not all the great qualities, he had very many ; particularly he took delight, and had great {kill in military affairs ; he was alfo fuccefsful, and excepting the battle of St. Quintin, his reign had been a continued feries of vidlory ; he won in perfon the battle of Rend, Piemont was conquer'd, the Englilh were driven out of France, and the emperor Charles V. found his good fortune decline before the walls of Metz, which he befieged in vain, with all the forces of the empire znd of Spain : but the difgrace received at St. Quintin lefTened the hopes we had of extending our conquefts; and as Fortune feemed to divide herfelf between two kings, they both found themfelves infenfibly difpoied to peace. At this time, the king received the news of the death of queen Mary of England ; his majefty difpatched forthwith the count de Randan to queen Elizabeth, to congratulate heron her acceffion to the crown, and they received. him with great diftinclion ; for her affairs were fo precarious at that time, that nothing could be more advantageous to her, than to fee her title acknowledged PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 7 by the king. The count found fhe had a thorough knowledge of the interefts of the French const, and of the characters of thofe who compofed it ; but in parti- cular, Ihe had a great idea of the duke of Nemours : fhe fpoke to him fo often, and with fo much earneft- nefs concerning him, that the embaflador upon his re- turn declared to the king, that there was nothing which the duke of Nemours might not expect from that prin- cefs, and that he made no queftion fhe might even bs brought to marry him. The king communicated it to the duke the fame evening, and caufed the count de Randan to relate to him all the converfations he had had with queen Elizabeth, and in conclufion advis'd him to pufh his fortune : the duke of Nemours imagined at firft that the king was not in earnelt; but when he found to the contrary, If, by your advice, Sir, faid he, I engage in this chimerical undertaking for your majelly's fervice, I muft entreat your majeity to keep the affair fecret, till the fuccefs of it mall juftify me to the public; I would not be thought guilty of the intolerable vanity, to think that a queen, who has never feen me, would marry mo for love. The king promifed to let nobody into the de- fign but the conftable, fecrecy being necefiary, he knew, to the fuccefs of it. The count de Randan advifed the duke to go to England under pretence of travelling ; but the duke, difapproving this propofal, fent Mr. Lig- nerol, a fprightly young gentleman his favourite, to found the queen's inclinations, and to endeavour to make fome fteps towards advancing that affair: In the mean time, he paid a vifit to the duke of Savoy, who was then at Bruffels with the king of Spain. There appeared at this time a lady at court, who drew the eyes of the whole world ; and one may imagine fhe was a perfect beauty, to gain admiration in a place where there were fo many fine women ; fhe was of the fame family with the vifcount of Chartres, and one of the greateft heirefles of France ; her father died young, and left her to the guardianfhip of madam de Chartres, his B 4 wife, f. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART II. wife, whofe wealth, virtue, and merit were uncommon. After the lofs of her hufband fhe retired from court, and live 1 many years in the country ; during this retreat, her chief care was beftowed on the education of her daugh- ter ; but Ihe did net make it her bufmefs to cultivate her wit ;r id beauty only, (he took care alfo to inculcate vir- tue into her tender mind, and to make it amiable to her. The generality of mothers imagine, that it is ft indent to forbear talking t>f gallantries before young people, to prevent their engaging in them ; b;rt madam de Chartres was of a different opinion : ffte often enter- tained her daughter with defcriptions of love ; me mewed her what there was agreeuble in it, that fhe might the more eafily perfuade her wherein it was dangerous ; fh* related to her theinfinceriry, the faithleflhefs, and want of candour in men, r.nd the domeltic misfortunes that flow from engagements with them ; on the other hand, flie made her fenfible, what tranquillity attends the lif* of a virtuous woman, and what luirre modefty gives to a perfon who pofTefies birth and beauty ; at the fame time ihe informed her, how difficult it was to preferv* this virtue, except by an extreme difbruil of one's felf, and by a conftant attachment to the only thing which conftitutes a woman's happinefs, to love and to be love.ob:>d/' like her he defcriocd, and that if there were, fhe would be known by the whole world. MaSa.m de Dainpierr, one of the princcVs todies of Lor. our, and a friend .of B c madam. 10 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. madam de Chartres, overhearing the converfation, came up to her highnefs, and whifpered her in the ear, that it was certainly Mademoifelle de Chartres whom the prince had feen. Madame, returning to her dif- courfe with the prince, told him, if he would give her his company again the next morning, he mould fee the beauty he was fo much touched with. Accordingly Mademcifelle de Chartres came the next day to court, and was received by both queens in the moil obliging manner that can be imagined, and with fuch admiration by every body elfe, that nothing was to be heard at court but her praifes ; which me received with fo agreeable a modefty, that (he feemed not to have heard them, or at leaft not to be moved with them. She afterwards went to wait upon Madame ; that princefs, after having com- mended her beauty, informed her of the furprize fhehad given the prince of Cleves ; the prince came in imme- diately after : Come hither, faid Ihe to him, fee, if I have not kept my word with you ; and if, at the fame time that I mew you Mademoifelle de Chartres, 1 do not Jfhaw you the lady you are in fearch of. You ought to thank me, at leaft, for having acquainted her how much, you are her admirer. The prince of Cleves was overjoyed to find, that the lady he admired was of quality equal to her beauty ; he addrefled her, and entreated her to remember that he was her firft lover, and had conceived the higheft honour and refpect for her, before he knew her. The chevalier de Guife, and the prince, who were two bofom friends, took their leave of Madame together. They were no fooner gone, but they began to launch out into the praifes of Mademoifelle de Chartres without bounds; they were fenfible at length that they had run into excefs in her commendation, and fo both gave over for that time ; but they were obliged the next day to renew the iubjeft, fcr this new-rifen beauty long con- tinued to fupply ftifcourfe to the whole court; the queen herielf was laviih in her p raife, and ihewed her particu- lar PART!. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. u lar marks of favour; the queen-dauphin made her one of her favourites, and begged her mother to bring her often to her court ; the princeffes, the king's daughters, made her a party in all their diverfions ; in fhort, me had the love and admiration of the whole court, except that of the duchefs ofValentinois : not that this young beauty gave her umbrage ; long experience convinced her fhe had nothing to fear on the part of the king, but fhe had fo great a hatred for the vifcount of Chartres,. whom me had endeavoured to bring into her intereft by marrying him with one of her daughters, and who had joined himfelf to the queen's party, that me could not have the leafl favourable thought of a perfbn who bore his name, and was a great object of his friendfhip. The prince of Cleves became paffionately in love with Mademoifelle de Chartres, and ardently vvifhed to> marry her ; but he was afraid the haughtinefs of her mo~ ther would not ftoop to match her with one who was not the head of his family : neverthelefs, his birth was illuf- trious, and his elder brother, the covmt d'En, had jufl married a lady fo nearly related to the royal family, that this appreheniion was rather the effeft of his love, than grounded on any fubltantial reafon. He had a great number of rivals ; the molt formidable among them, for his birth, his merit, and the luftre which royal favour caft upon his houfe, was the chevalier de Guife ; this gentleman fell in love with Mademoifelle de Chartres the firft day he faw her, and he difcovered the prince of Cleves's paflion, as the prince of Cleves difcovered his. Though they were intimate friends, their having the fame pretenfions gradually created a coolneis between them, and their friend fhip grew into an indifference, without their being able to come to an explanation on the matter. The prince pf Cleves's good fortune in having feen Mademoifelle de Chartres firft- feemed to be a happy prefage, and gave him fome advantage over his rivals ; but he forefaw great obilruclions on the parr of the duke of Nevers, his father : the duke was ibiftly at- B 6 ta'ehed 2 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. tachcd to the duchefs of Valentinois, and the vifcount de Chartres was her enemy, which was a fufficient rea- fon to hinder the duke from conferring to the marriage of his foil with a niece of the vifcount's. Madam de Chartres, who had taken fo much care to infpire virtue into her daughter, did not fail to continue the fame care in a place where it was fo necefTary, and where there were fo many dangerous examples. Am- bition and gallantry were the foul of the court, and em- ployed both fexes equally; there were fo many different interefts and fo many cabals, and the ladies had fo great a mare in them, that love was always mixed with buii- nefs, and bufmefs with love. The chevalier de Guife was fo open and unguarded, with refpeftto his paffion for Mademcifclle de Chartres, that nobody was ignorant of it ; ' neverthelefs he faw nothing but impoffibilities in what he defired: he was fenfible that he was not a proper match for her, by rea- fon of the narrownefs of his fortune, which was not fuf- ficient to fupport his dignity ; and he was fenfible be/- fides, that his brothers would not approve of his marry- ing, the marriages of younger brothers being looked upon as what tends to the leffening great families. The prince of Cleves had not given lefs public proofs of his love, than the* chevalier de Guife had done, which made the duke of Nevers very uneafy ; however, he thought that he needed only to fpeak to his fon to make him change his conduct; but he was very much furprifed to find in him a fettled defign of marrying Mademoifelle de Chartres, and flc\v out into fuch ex- cefles of paffion on that fubjeft, that the occafion of it was foon known to the whole court, and among others to madam de Chartres : fhe never imagined that the duke of Nevers would not think her daughter a very ad- vantageous match for his fon, nor was fhe a little afto- nilhed to find, that the houfcs both of Cleves and Guife avoided her alliance, inftead of courting it. Her re- fcntrnent on this account put her upon finding out a match PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 13 match for Tier daughter, which would. raife her abovij thofe that imagined themfelves above her : after having looked about, me fixed upon the prince dauphin, fon of the duke de Montpenfier, one of the moll confider- able perfons then at court. As madam de Chartres abounded in wit, and was affifted by the vifcount, who was in great consideration, and as her daughter hcrfelf was a very conliderable. match, Gie managed the mat- ter \vhh To much dexterity and fuccefs, that Monfieur de Montpenfier appeared to defixe the marriage, aiui there was no appearance of any difficulties in it. But the duchefs of Valentinois being warned of the defign in view, had traverfed it with fo much care, and prepofiefTed the king fo much againit it, that when Monfieur d'Anville came to fpeak to his majefty about it, he plainly fhewed he did not approve of it, and commanded him to fignify as much to the prince de Montpeniier. One may eafily judge what the fenti- men-ts of madam de Chartres we re, upon 'the breaking off of an affair which me had fet her mind fo much upon, and the ill fuccefs of which gave fuch an advan- tage to her enemies, and was fo great a prejudice to her daughter. No one now entertained any further thoughts of Mademoifelle de Chartres, either fearing to incur the king's difpleafure, or defpairir.g to fucceed with a lady, who afpired to an alliance with a prince of the blood. The prince of Cleves alone was not difheartened at either of thefe confederations ; the death of the duke of Nevers his father, which happened at that time, fet him at entire liberty to follow his inclination; and no fooner was the time of mourning expired, but he wholly applied himfelf to the gaining of Mademoifelle de Chartres. It was lucky for him that he addrefled her at a time when what had happened had difcouragcd the approaches of others. What allayed his joy, was his fear of not being the moft agreeable to her ; and he would 14 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. would have preferred the happinefs of pleafmg, to the certainty of marrying her without being beloved. The chevalier de Guife had given him fome jealoufy j but as it was rather grounded on the merit of that prince, than on any aftion of Mademoifelle de Chartres, h. made it his whole endeavour to difcover, if he was fo happy as to have his addreiTes admitted and approved : he had no opportunity of feeing her but at court or public aflemblies, fo that it was very difficult for him to get a private converfation with her ; at lafl he found means to do it, and informed her of his intention and of his love, with all the refpel imaginable. As Mademoifelle de Chartres had a noble and generous heart, flie was fincerely touched with gratitude for the prince of Cleves's behaviour ; this gratitude gave a certain fweetnefs to her wcrds and anfwers, fufficient to furnifh hopes to a man fo defperately enamoured as the pruice was ; fo that he flattered himfelf, in fome meafure, that he IhouW fucceed in what he fo much wifhed for. She gave her mother an account of this converfation ; and madam de Chartres told her, that the prince of Cleves had fo many good qualities, and difcovered a discretion fo much above his years, that if her inclina- tion led her to marry him, me would con fen t to it with plcafure. Mademoifelle de Chartres made anfwer, that flie obferyed in him the fame good qualities ; that me Ihould have lefs reluctance in marrying him than any other man, but that me had no particular affeftion to his perfon. The next day the prince caufed his thoughts to be communicated to madam de- Chartres, who gave her confent to what was propofed to her ; nor had me the leaft diflruit but that, in the prince of Cleves, flie pro- vided her daughter a huiband capable of fecuring her afTcftions. The articles were concluded ; the king was acquaiuted with it, and the marriage made public. The PART 1. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. ij The prince of Cleves found himfelf happy, but yet not entirely contented : he faw with a great deal of regret, that the fentiments of Mademoifelle de Chartres did not exceed thofe of efteem and refpeft ; and he could not flatter himfelf that me concealed more obliging thqughts of him, fince the fituation they were in per- mitted her to difcover them without the lead violence done to modefty. It was not long before he expoftu- lated with her on this fubject : Is it poffible, fays he, that I fliould not be happy in marrying you ? and yet it is certain, I am not. You only {hew me a fort of civility which is far from giving me fatisfaftion ; you exprefs none of thofe pretty inquietudes, the concern, and impatience, which are the foul of love ; you are no further affected with my paffion, than you would be with one v.'hich fiowed only from the advantage of your fortune, and not from the beauty of your perfon. It is anjuft in you to complain, replied the princefs, I do not know what you can defire of me more ; I think decency will not allow me to go further than I do. It is rnae, replied he, you mew fome appearances I mould be fatisfted with, were there any thing beyond ; but inftead of being reftmined by decency, it is that only which makes you act as you do ; I am not in your heart and inclinations, and my prefence neither gives you pain nor pleafure. -You cinnot doubt, replied me, but it -is a fenfible pleafure to me to fee you; and when I do fee you, I blufh fo often, that you cannot doubt, but the feeing you gives me pain alfo. Your blufhes, madam, repliejd he, cannot deceive me ; they are fign of mtidelty, but do not prove the heart to be affected, and I Ihall conclude nothing more from hence than what I -ought. - MaJemoifellede Chartres did not know what to anfwer; thefe diitinftions were above her comprehenfion. The prince of Cleves plainly faw me was far from having that tendeniefs of affection for him, which was requifite to 15 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. to his happinefs ; it was manifelt fhe could not feel a paffion which (he did not underftand. The chevalier de Guife returned from a journey a few days before the marriage. He was extremely affiifted to fee her become the wife of another : his grief, however, did not extinguifli his paffion ; and his love was as great as ever. Mademoifelle de Chartres \\YIS not ignorant of it ; and he made her fenfible at his return, that fhe was the caufe of that deep melan- choly which appeared in his countenance. He had fo much merit, and fo much agreeablenefs, that it was al- moft impoflible to make him unhappy without pitying him, nor could fhe forbear pitying him ; but her pity did not lead to love. She acquainted her mother with the uneafmefs which the chevalier's paffion gave her. Madam de Chartres admired the honour of her daughter, and flic admired it with reafon, for never was any ore more naturally fincere ; but (he was furprifed, at % the fame time, at the infenfibility of her heart, and the more fo, when me found that the prince of Clevts had not been able to affed her any more than others : for this reafon, {he took great p.iins to endear her hufbar.d to- her, and to make her fenfible how much fhe o-.ved to the affeftion he had for her, and to the tender- ncib he exprefled for her, by preferring her to ail other matches, at a time when no one elfe dui ft entertain the ieaft thoughts of her. The marriage was-fotemnized at the Louvre ; and in the evening the king and the two queens, with the whole court, flipped at madam de Chartres 's houfe, where they were entertained with the utmoft magnificence. The chevalier de Guife durft not diftinguifh himfelf by being abfent from the ceremony ; but he was fo little mafler of himfelf, that it was eafy to obferve his con- cern. The prince of Cleves did not find that Mademoifelle de Chartres had changed her mind by changing her name ; his quality of a hufband entitled him to the Isigdl PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 17 largeft privileges, but gave him no greater mare in the affections of his wife : hence it was, that though he was her hufband, he did not ceafe to be her lover, becaufe he had always fomething to \viih beyon d v- hat he poileffed ; and though me lived perfectly eafy with him, yet he was not perfcftly happy. He preferved for her a paflion full of violence and inquietude, but without jealoufy, which had no ihare in his grief;.. Never was hufband lefs in- clined to it, and never was wife farther from giving the leaf! occrfion for it. She was neverthelefs conilantly in view of the court ; {he frequented the courts of the two queens, and of Madame : all the people of galantry faw her bcth there and at her brother-in-law the cuke of Ne- vers's, whofe houfe was open to the whole world ; but fhe had an air which infpired fo gr-^at refpet, and had in it fomething fo diftant from galantry, that the" marefchal de St. Andre, a bold man, and fupported by the king's favour, became her lover, without daring to let her know it any otherwife than by his cares and affiduities. A great many others were in the fame con- dition : and madam de Chartres had added to her daughter's difcretion fo exaft a conduct with regard to decorum, that every body was fatisfied fhe was not to be come at. A marriage was now agreed upon, between the duke of Loraine and Madam Claude of France, the king's fecond daughter ; and the month of February was ap- pointed for the nuptials. In the mean time the duke of Nemours continued at BrufTels, his thoughts being whollyemployed on his de- fign in England ; he was continually fending or re- ceiving couriers from thence ; his hopes encreafed every day, and at laft Lignerol fent him word, that it was time to fmifh by his prefence what was fo well begun. He received this news with all the joy a young, ambitious man is capable of, who fees himfelf advanced to a throne merely by the force of his perfonal merit ; his mind infenribly accuflomed itfelf to the grandeur of a royal ,8 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART L royal ftate ; and whereas he had at firfl rejefled this un- dertaking as an impracticable thing, the difficulties of it were now worn out of his imagination, and he no longer faw any thing to obftrudl his way. He fent away in hafte to Paris to give the neceffary orders for providing a magnificent equipage, that he might make his appearance in England with a fplendor fuitable to the defign he was to condudt ; and foon after he followed himfelf, to affift at the marriage of the duke of Loraine. He arrived the evening before the efpoufals, and that very evening waited on the king to give him an account of his affair, and to receive his orders and advice how to govern himfelf in it. Afterwards he waited on the queens ; but the princefs of Cleves was not there ; fo that fhe did not fee him, nor fo much as know of his arrival. She had heard every body fpeak of this cele- brated prince, as of the handfomeft and moft agreeable man at court ; and the queen-dauphin had defcribed him in fuch a manner, and {poke of him to her fo often, that fhe had raifed in her a curiofity and even impatience to fee him. The princefs of Cleves employed the day of wedding in dreffing herfelf, that fhe might appear with the greater advantage at the ball and royal banquet that were to be at the Louvre. When fhe came, every one admired' both her beauty and her drefs. The ball began, and while fhe was dancing with the duke of Guife, a noife was heard at the dcor of the hall, as if way was making for fome perfon of uncommon diflinc~ tion. She had finifhed her dance, and as fhe was catting her eyes round to fingle out fome other perfon, the king defired her to take him who came in laft ; fhe turned about, and viewing him as he was patting over the feats to come to the place where they danced, fhe imme- diately concluded he was the duke of Nemours. The duke's perfon was turned in fo delicate a manner, that it was unpoiBblc not to exprefs furprize at the full fight of PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 19 of him, particularly that evening, when the care h* had taken to adorn himfelf added much to the fine air of his carriage. It was as impoffible to behold the princefs of Cleves without equal admiration. The duke de Nemours was {truck with fuch furprize at her beauty, that when they approached and paid their refpefts to each other, he could not forbear fhewing fome tokens of his admiration. When they begun to dance, a foft murmur of piaife ran through the whole company. The king and the two queens remembering, that the duke and princefs had never feen one another before, found fomething very parti- cular in feeing them dance together without knowing each other ; they called them, as foon as they had ended their dance, without giving them time to fpeak to any body ; aflced them if they had not a defire to know each other, and if they were not at fome lofs about it. As for me, madam, faid the duke to the queen, I am un- der no uncertainty in this matter ; but as the princefs of Cleves has not the fame reafons to lead her to guefs who I am, as I have to direft me to know her, I mould be glad if your majefty would be pleafed to let her know my name. I believe, faid the queen-dauphin, that (he knows your name as well as you know her's. I afTure you, madam, replied the princefs a little em- barrafied, that I am not fo good a gueffer as you ima- gine. Yes, you guefs very well, anfwered the queen- dauphin ; and your unwillingnefs to acknowledge that you know the duke of Nemours, without having feen him before, carries in it fomething very obliging to him. The queen interrupted them, that the ball might go on ; and the dyke de Nemours took out the queen* dauphin. This princefs was a perfedl beauty, and fuch fhe appeared in the eyes of the duke de Nemours be- fore he went to Flanders ; but all this evening he could admire nothing but madam de Cleves. The chevalier de Guife, whofe idol me ftill was, fat at her feet, and what had parted filled him with the utmoft 20 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. utmoft grief; he looked upon it as ominous for him, that Fortune had deftined the duke of Nemours to be in love with the princefs of Cleves. And whether there appeared in reality any concern in the princefs's face, or whether the chevalier's jealoufy only led him to fufpeft itj he believed that me was touched with the fight of the duke ; and could not forbear telling her, that monfieur de Nemours was very happy to commence an acquaintance with her, by an incident which had fcmething very galant and extraordinary in it. Pvladam de Cleves returned home with her thoughts full of what had paffed at the ball ; and though it was. very late, (he went into her mother's room to give her a relation of it ; in doing which ihe praifed the duke of Nemours with a certain air, that gave madam de Chartres the fame fufpicion the chevalier dc Guife had entertained before. The day following, the ceremony of the duke of Loraine's marriage was performed ; and there the prin- cefs of Cleves obferved fo inimitable a grace, and fo fine a mien in the duke of Nemours, that ine was yet jnore furprifed. She afterwards faw him at the court of the queen- dauphin ; me faw him play at tennis with the king ; {he faw him run the ring ; fhe heard him clifccurfe ; Hill fhe found he far excelled every body elfc, and drew the attention of the compar.v to him where-ever lie was ; in fhort, the gracefulnefs of his perfon, and die agr- ablenefs of his wit loon made a confmerable imprefiio en her heart. The duke de Nemours had an inclination no left violent for her ; and hence flowed all that gaiety and fvveetnefs of behaviour, which the firft defires of plea- fmg ordinarily infpire a man with : henc he btcame mere amiable than ever he was before ; fo that by often feeing one another, and by feeing in each other what- ever was moil accomplished at court, it could not be, but PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 21 but that they muft mutually receive the greateft plea- fure from fach a commerce. The duchefs of Valentinois made one in all par- ties of pleafure ; and the king was (till as paffionatelv fond of her as in the beginning of his love. The princefs of Cleves being at thofe years, wherein people think a woman is incapable of inciting love after the age of twenty-five, beheld with the utmoft aftonifhment the king's paffion for the duchefs, who was a grandmother, and had lately married her grand- daughter : fhe often fpoke on this fubjecl to madam de C'hartres. Is it poffible, madam, faid me, that the king fhould ftill continue to love r How could he take a fancy to one, who was fo much older than himfelf, who had been his father's miilrefs, and who, as I have heard, is ftill fuch to many others ? 'Tis certain, an- fwcred madam de Chartres, it was neither the merit nor the fidelity of the duchefs of Valentinois which gave birth to the king's paffion, or preferred it ; and this is what he cannot be juftified in ; for if this lady had had beauty and youth fuitable to her birth, an-J the merit of having had no other lover ; if (he had been exactly true and faithful to the king; if fhe had loved him with refpeft only to his perfon, without the interefted views of greatnefs and fortune, and without ufing her power but for honourable purpofes and for his m^jeity's intereft ; in this cafe, it muft be confeffed, one could have hardly forbore praifing his paffion for Her. If I was not afraid, continued madam de Chartres, that you would fay of me what is faid of moft women of my years, that they love to recount the hiftory of their own times, I -would inform you how the king's pcffion for this lady began, r.nd of fevcrai particulars of the court of the late king, which have a great relation to tilings that are afted at prefent. -Far f r om blaming VOM, re- plied the princefs of Cleves, for repeating the hiitories of part times, 1 lament, madam, that you have not inftruded me in thofe of the preient, nor informed me as zi THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. as to the different interefts and parties of the court. I am fo entirely ignorant of them, that I thought a few days ago, the conftable was very well with the queen. You was extremely miftaken, anfwered madam de Chartres ; the queen hates the conftable, and if ever fhe has power, he will be but too fenfible of it ; me knows he has often told the king, that of all his children none refembled him but his natural ones. I fliould never have fufpefted this hatred, faid the princefs of Cleves, after having feen her affiduity in writing to the conftable during his imprifonment, the joy fhe ex- preffed at his return, and how me always calls him Compere, as well as the king If you judge from ap- pearances in a court, replied madam de Chartres, you will often be deceived ; truth and appearances feldom go together. But to return to the duchefs of Valentinois ; you know her name is Diana de Poitiers, her family is very illuftrious, fhe is defcended from the ancient dukes of Aquitaine, her grandmother was a natural daughter of Lewis the Xlth, and in fhort fhe pofTefTes every thing that is great in refpedl to birth. St. Valier, her fa- ' ther, had the unhappinefs to be involved in the affair of the conftable of Bourbon, which you have heard of; he was condemned to lofe his head, and accordingly was conducted to the fcaffold : his daughter, who was ex- tremely beautiful, and who had already charmed die late king, .managed fo well, I do not know by what means, that fhe obtained her father's life. The pardon was brought him at the moment he was expe&ing the fatal blow ; but the pardon availed little, for fear had feized him fo deeply, that it bereft him of his fenfes, and he died a few days after. His daughter appeared at court as the king's miftrefs ; but the Italian expedition, and the imprifonment of the prefent prince, were inter- ruptions to his love-affair. When the late king returned from Spain, and Madame the regent went to meet him at ttayonne, fhe broup-ht all her maids of honour with her, PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 2j her, among whom was Mademoifelle de Piflelen, who was fince duchefs d'Etampes; the king fell in love with her, though me was inferior in birth, wit and beauty to the duchefs of Valentinois, and had no ad- vantage above her but that of being very young. I have heard her fay feveral times, that fhe was born the fame day Diana de Poitiers was married; but fhe fpoke this in the malice of her heart, and not as what fhe knew to be true ; for I am much miftaken, if the duchefs of Valentinois did not marry monfieur de Breze, at the fame time that the king fell in love with madam d'Etampes. Never was a greater hatred than that between thefe two ladies ; the duchefs could not pardon madam d'Etampes for having taken from her the title of the king's miftrefs ; and madam d'Etampes was violently jealous of the duchefs, becaufe the king flill kept a correfpondence with her. That prince was by no means conftant to his miftrefles ; there was always one among them that had the title and honours of miftrefs, but the ladies of the fmall band, as they were ftiled, fhared his favour by turns. The lofs of the dauphin, his fon, who died at Tournon, and was thought to be poifoned, ex- tremely afflicled him ; he had not the fame affection and tendernefs for his fecond fon, the prefent king ; he ima- gined he did not fee in him fpirit and vivacity enough, and complained of it one day to the duchefs of Valenti- nois, who told him, fhe would endeavour to raife a paffion in him for her, in order to make him more fprightly and agreeable. She fucceeded in it, as you fee, and this paffion is now of above twenty years duration, without being changed either by time or incidents. The late king at firft oppofed it ; and whether he had ftill love enough left for the duchefs of Valentinois to be jealous, or whether he was urged on by the duchefs d'Etampes, who was in defpair upon feeing the dau- phin fo much attached to her enemy ; 'tis certain he beheld this paffion with an indignation and refentment, that fhewed itfelf every day by fomething or other. The dauphin neither valued his anger or his hatred, 24. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. nor could any thing oblige him either to abate or con- ceal his flame ; fo that the king was forced to accuftom himfelf to bear it with patience. This oppcfition of his to his father's will, withdrew his affections from him more and more, and transferred them to his third fon, the duke of Orleans, who was a prince of a fine perfon, full of fire and ambition, and of a youthful heat which wanted to be moderated ; however, he would have made a very great prince, had he arrived to a more ripened age. * The rank of eldeft, which the dauphin heli, and the king's favour which the duke of Orleans was pofielTed of, created between them a fort of emulation, that grew by degrees to hatred. This emulation began from their infancy, and was ftill kept up in its height. The c'ifcord between the two brothers put madam d'Etampes upon the thought of ftrengthening herfelf with the duke of Oriels, in order to fupport her power with the king againft the duchefs of Valentinois ; accordingly (he fucceeded in it; and that young prince, though he felt no emotions of love for her, entered no lefs into her intereft, than the dauphin into that of madam de Valentinois. Hence rofe two faftions at court, of fuch a nature as you may imagine ; but the intrigues of them were not confined to the quarrels of women. Some, time after, the duke of Orleans died at Far- mcntiers of a kind of contagious diftemper : he was in love with one of the fincft women of the court, and was beloved by her. I will not mention her name, becaufe fiie has fmce lived with fo much difcretion, and has fo carefully concealed the pafiion me had for that prince, that one ought to be tender of her reputa- tion. Tt happenra Jhe received the news of her huf- tand's death, at the fame time as me heard of the duke's, fo that me had :.iut pretext to enable her to conceal her real forrow, without being at the trouble of putting any conftraint upon herfelf. Tke PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 25 The king did not long furvive the prince his fon ; he died two years after ; he recommended to the dauphin to make ufe of the cardinal de Tournon and the admiral de Annebault, but faid nothing at all of the conftable, who was then in banishment at Chantilli. Neverthe- lefs, the firft thing the king his fon did was to recal him, and make him his prime minifter. Madam d'Eiampes was difcarded, and received all the ill treatment {he could poflibly expeft from an enem'y fo very powerful; the duchefs of Valentinois amply revenged herfelf both of that lady, and all thofe who Had difobliged her ; fhe feemed to reign more abfolute in the king's heart, than (he did even when he was dauphin. During the twelve years reign of this prince flie has been abfolute in every thing ; me difpofes of all governments and oiEces of truft and power ; me has difgraced the cardinal de Tournon, the chancellor, and Villeroy ; thofe who have endeavoured to open th king's mind with refpeft to her conduft, have been un- done in the attempt ; the count de Taix, great maflct of the ordnance, who had no kindnefs for her, could, not forbear fpcaking of her galantries, and particularly of that with the count de BriiTac, of whom the king was already very jealous. Neverthelefs flie contrived things fo well, that the count de Taix was difgraced, and his employment taken from him ; and what is al- moft incredible, me procured it to be given to the count de BrifFac, and afterwards made him a marefchal of France. Notwithftanding, the king's jealoufy enreafed to fuch a height, that he could no longer fuffer him to continue at court : this paffion of jealoufy, which is fierce and violent in other men, is gentle and moderate in him through the great refpeft he has for his mif- trefs, and therefore lie did not go about to remove his rival, but under the pretext of giving him the govern- ment of Piemont. He has lived there feveral years ; !aft winter he returned to Paris, under pretence of de- manding troops and other neceffaries for the army he commands ; the defue of feeing the duchefs of Valen- VOL. IJ, C tinois 26 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. tinois again, and the fear of being forgotten by her, was perhaps the principal motive of this journey. The king received him very coldly ; meflieurs de Guife, who have no kindnefs for him, but dare not fhevv it on account of the duchefs, made ufe of monfieur the vif- count, her decl?red enemy, to prevent his obtaining \vhat he came to demand. It was no difficult matter to do him hurt. The king-hated him, and was uneafy at his prefence ; fo that he was obliged to return to Piemont without any benefit from his journey, except, perhaps, that of rekindling in the heart -of the duchef* the flame which abfence began to extinguish. The king has had a great many other fubjei.s of jealoufy, but either he has not been informed of them, or has not dared to complain of them, I do not know, daughter, added madam deChartres, af I have not already told you more of thefe things than you defired to know. I am far, madam, from complaining of that, replied the princefs of Cleves, and if it was not for fear of being importunate, I fhould yet deiire to be informed of feveral circumftances I am ignorant of. The duke de Nemours's pafilon for madam de Cleves was at firft fo violent, that he had no relifh left for any cf the ladies he paid his addrefles to before, and with whom he kept a correfpondence during his abfence ; fie even loft all remembrance of his engagements with them, and not only made it his bufmefs to find excufes to break with them, but had not the patience to hear their complaints, or make any anfwer to the reproaches they laid upon him. The queen-dauphin herfelf, for whom his regards had been very tender, could no longer preferve a place in that heart which was now n this account for feveral days ; that there is no wo- man, whom her anxiety for drefs- dees not divert from thinking on her lover ; that they are entirely taken up with that one circumftance ; that this care to adorn ttoemfelves is for the whole world, as well as for the man they favour ; that when they are at a ball, they are defirous to pleafe all who look at them j and that when they triumph in their beauty, they experience a PART I. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 29 joy to which their lovers very little contribute. , He argues further, that if one is not beloved, 'tis a yet greater torment to fee one's miilrefs at an aflembly ; that the more me is admired by the public, the more unhappy one is not to be beloved ; and that the lover is in continual fear left her beauty mould raife a morefuc- cefsful paffion than his own ; laitly, he finds, there is no torment equal to that of feeing one's miftrefs at a ball, unlefs it be to know that fhe is there, and not to be there one's felf. Madam de Cleves pretended not to hear what the prince of Conde faid, though fhe Hftened very atten- tively ; fhe eafily faw what part fhe had in the duke of Nemours 's opinion, and particularly as to what he faid of the uneafinefs of ^ot being at a ball where his miilrefs was, becaufe he was not to be at that of the marefchal de St. Andre, the king having fent him to meet the duke of Ferrara. The queen-c!auphin and the prince of Conde not going into the duke's opinion, were very merry upon the fubjedl. There is but one occafion, madam, faid the prince to her, in which the duke will conferit his rniftrefs fhould go to a ball, and that is when he himfelf gives it. He fays, that when he gave your rcajefty one lafl year, his miftrefs was fo kind as to come to it, though feerningly only to attend you; that it is always a favour done to a lover, to partake of an entertainment which he gives ; that it is an agreeable circumftance for him to have his -miflrefs fee him prefide in a place where the whole court is, and fee him acquit himfelf well in doing the honours of it. The duke de Nemours was in the right, faid the queen-dauphin fmiling, to ap- prove of his miitrefs's being at his own ball ; there was then fo great :i number of ladies, whom he honoured with the diiHn&ion of that name, that if they had not come, the afiembly would have been very thin. The prince of Conde had no fooner begun to relate the duke de Nemour's fentiments concerning afTemblies, but madam de Cleves felt in herfelf a ftrong averfion C a to 30 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART!. to go to that of the marefchal de St. Andre; : fhe eafily came into the opinion, that a woman ought not to be at an entertainment given by one that prefeffed love to her, and (he was very glad to find out a reafon of refervednefs, for doing a thing which would, oblige the duke of Nemours. However, fhe carried away with her the ornaments which the queen-dauphin had given her; but when fhe mewed them her mother, fhe told her that (he did not defign to make ufe of them ; that the mare- ichal de St. Andre took a great deal of pains to mew his attachment to her, and fhe did not doubt he would -be glad to have it believed that a compliment was de- figned her in the entertainment he gave the king ; and that under the pretence of doing the honours of his houfe, he would Ihew her civilities which would be uneafy to her. Madam de Chartres for forhe time oppofed her daughter's opinion, as thinking it very fingular; but when fhe favv fhe was obftinate in it, fhe gave way, and told her, that in that cafe fhe ought to pretend an indifpofition as an excufe for not going to the ball, be- caufe the real reafons which hindred her would not be approved of j and care ought to be taken that they (hould not be fufpefted. Madam de Cleves voluntarily confented to pafs fome days at her mother's, in order not to go to any place where the duke of Nemours was not to be. However, the duke fet out, without the pleafure of knowing fhe would not be at the ball. The day after the ball he returned, and was inform- ed that fhe was not there ; but as he did not know the converfation he had at the dauphin's court had been repeated to her, he was far from thinking himfelf happy enough to have been the reafon of her not going. The day after, while he was at the queen's apart- ments, and talking to the queen-dauphin, madam de Chartres and madam de Cleves came in. Madam de Cleves %vas drelTed a little negligently, as a perfbr. \vh;> had been indifpofed, but her countenance did not at all correfpond with her drefs. You look fo pretty, fays She PART I. TH PRINCESS OF CLEVES. ?r the queen-dauphin to her, that I can't believe you have been ill ; I think the prince of Conde, when he told us the duke de Nemours's opinion of the ball, perfuaded you, that to go there would be doing a favour to the marefchal de St. Andre, and that is the reafon which hindered you from going, Madam de Cleves blufhed, both becaufe the queen-dauphin had conjectured right, and becaufe fhe fpoke her conjedlure in the prefence of the duke de Nemours. Madam de Chartres immediately perceived the true reafon why her daughter refufed to go to the ball ; and to prevent the duke de Nemours's difcovering it, as well as herfelf,- me took up the difcourfe after a manner that gave what (he faid an air of truth. I affure you, madam, faid fhe to the queen-dauphin, that your majefty has done my daughter more honour than fhe de- ferves; fhe was really indifpofed, but I believe, if I had not hindred her, fhe would net have failed to wait on you, and to fhew herfelf under any difadvant/ige:-., fcr the pleafure of feeing whr.t there was extraordinary at yeilerday's e itertainment. The queen-dauphin g.iv credit to what madam de Chartres faid ; but the dukt de Nemours was forry to find fo much probability in it : neverth-lefs, the blufhes of the princefs of Cleves made him fufpecl:, that what the queen-dauphin had faid was not altogether falfe. The princefs of Cleves at firlt was concerned the duke had any rcom to believe it was ha who had hindred her from going to the marefchal de St. Andre ; but afterwards, fhe was a little chagrined that her mother had entirely taken off the fafpicion of it. Madam de Chartres was not willing to let her daughter fee that fhe know her fentiments for the duke, for fear of making herfelf fufpected in fome things which fhe was very deJirous to tell her. One day fhe fet herfelf to talk about him, and a great deal of good fhe faid of him ; but mixed with it abundance of fham. praifes, as the prudence he fhewed in never falling in love, and how wife he was to make the affair of womep and love an amufemeat, inftead of a ferious C 4 bufuiefc. $2 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART I. bufmefs. It is not, added fhe, that he is not fufpefled to have a very ancommon paffion for the queen-dau- phin; I obferve he viiits her very often; and I advife you to avoid, as much as poffible, fpeaking to him, and efpecially in private" ; becaufe, fince the queen-dauphin treats you as me does, it would be faid, that you are their confidante ; and you know how difagreeable that fort of reputation is: I am of opinion, if this report continues, that you mould not vifit the queen-dauphin fo often, in order to avoid involving yourfelf in ad- ventures of gallantry. The princefs of Cleves had never heard before of th amour between the duke de Nemours and the -queen- dauphin ; me was fo much furprifed at what her mother had told her, and feemed to fee fo plainly how fhe had been rniftaken in her thoughts about the duke, that fhe changed countenance. Madam de Chartres perceived it. Visitors came in that moment ; and the princefs of C'ltves retired to her ov/n apartment, and fhut herfelf up in her clofet. One can't exprefs the grief fhe felt, to difcover r by what her mother had been juft faying, the interefl her Jieart had in the duke de Nemour3 ; fhe had not dared as yet to acknowledge it to her fecret thoughts ; me then found, that the fentiments fhe had for him were fuch as the prince of Cleves had required of her; (hz perceived how fhameful it was to entertain them for another, and not for a hufband that deferred them ; Ihe found herfelf under the utmoft embarrafTment, ?r.cl was dref.dfully afraid left the duke fhculd make ufe c r" her only as a means to come at the queen-dauphin ; :.:',(! it was this thought determined her to impart to her mother Something fhe had not yet told her. The ne;d, mau.un, a* to let me believe you are B 6 igncraiij 60 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART II. ignorant of it ; I dare aflc no more. Having faid this he withdrew, without waiting for her anfwer. The queen-dauphin went to take a walk, attended with the reft of the ladies ; and the duke de Nemour* went home to fhut Limfelf up in his clofet, not being able to fupport in public the ecflafy he was in on having a pifture cf madam de Cleves ; he tailed every thing that was fweet in love ; he was in love with the hneit woman of the court ; he found {he loved him againft her will ; and faw in ail her adtions, that fort of care and erabarraflment which love produces in young and inno- cent hearts. At night great fearch was made for the pifture ; and having found the cafe it ufed to be kept in, they never fufpedled it had been ftolen, but thought it might have fallen out by chance. The prince of Cleves was very much concerned for the lofs cf it ; and after having fearched for it a great while to no purpofe, he told his wife, but with an air that fhewed he did not think fo, that without doubt me had fome fecret lover, to whom me had given the pifture, or who had ftole it ; and that none but a lover would have bsen contented with the pilure without the cafe. Thefe words, though fpoke in jeft, made a lively im- p-efllon in the mind of madam de Cleves ; they gave her yemorfe, and me reflected on the violence of her incli- nation, which hurried her on to love the duke cf Ne- mowrs ; me found ihe was no longer miftrefs of her words or ccuntenance ; (he imagined that Lignerolles was returned ; that fiie hnd. nothing to fear from the affair of England, nor any caufe to fufpeft the queen- dauphin ; in a word, that Ihe had no refuge or defence sgainft the duke de Nemours but byretiring ; but as Ihe was not at her liberty to retire, me found herfelf in a Very great extremity, and ready to fall into the laft mif- fortune, that of difcovering to the duke the inclination ftie had for him. She remembered all that her mother had faid to her on her deathbed, and the advice which flic gave her, to enter on any resolution?, however difficult PART II. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 61 difficult they might be, rather than engage in ga- lantry : fhe remembred alfo what monfieur de Cleves had told her, when he gave an account of madam de Tournon. She thought fhe ought to acknowledge to him the inclination fhe had for the duke de Nemours, and in that thought fhe continued a long time ; afterwards, flie was altonifhed to have entertained fo ridiculous a defign, and fell back again into her former perplexity of not knowing what to chufe. The peace was figned ; and the lady Elizabeth, after a great deal of reluctance, refolved to obey the king her father. The duke of Alva was appointed to marry her in the name of the Catholic king, and was very foon expe&ed. The duke of Savoy too, who was to marry the king's fifter, and whofe nuptials were to be folemnized at the fame time, was expefted every day. The king thought of nothing but how to grace thefe marriages with fuch diverfions as might difplay the politenefs and magnificence of his court. Interludes and comedies of the beft kind were propofed ; but the king thought thofe entertainments too private, and de- fired to have fomewhat of a more fplendid nature : he re- folved to make a folemn tournament, to which flrangers might be invited, and of which the people might be fpeftators. Theprincefs and young lords very much approved the king's defign, efpecially the duke of Ferrara, monfieur de Guife, and the duke de Ne- mours, who furpafTed the reft in thefe forts of exercifes. The king made choice of them to be, together with himfelf, the four champions of the tournament. Proclamation was made throughout the kingdom, that on the i5th of June, in the city of Paris, his moft Chriftian majefty, and the princes Alphonfo d'Ete duke of Ferrara, Francis of Loraine duke of Guife, and James of Savoy duke of Nemours, would hold an open tournament againft all comers. The firft combat to be on horfe-back in the lifts, with double armour, to break four lances, and one for the ladies ; the fecond combat with fwords, one to one, or two l two, as the fudges 62 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART II. j-ndges of the field mould direct ; the third combat on foot, three puihes of pikes, and fix hits with the fvvord. The champions to furnim lances, fwords, and pikes, at the choice of the combatants. , Whoever did not manage his horfe in the career to be put out of the lifts ; four judges of the field to give orders. The com- batants, who mould break moil lances and perform belt, to carry the prize, the value whereof to be at the dif- cretion of the judges : all the combatants, as well French as ftrangers, to be obliged to touch one or more, at their choice, of the Ihields that mould hang on the pillar at the end of the lifts, where a herald at arms fliould be ready to receive them, ami enrol them according to their quality, and the fhields they had touched : the combatants to be obliged to caufe their mields and arms to be brought by a gentleman, and hung up at the pillar three days before the tournament, otherwife not to be admitted without leave of the champions. A fpacicus lift was made near the Baftille, which be- gun from the Chateau dcs Tournelles, and croffed the ilrect of St. Anthony, and extended as far as the king's ftables ; on both fides were builr \fcaffolds and amphi- theatres, which formed a fort of galleries that made a very fine fight, and were capable of containing an in- finite number of people. The princes and lords were wholly taken up in providing what was neceffar-y for a fplendid appearance, and in mingling in their cyphers and devices fomewhat of galantry, that had relation to the ladies they were in love with. A few days before the duke of Alva's arrival, the- king made a matth at tennis with Uie duk-e de Nemours, the chevalier de Guife, and the vifcount de Chartros, Th; queens came to fee them play, attended with the ladies of the court, and among others madam de Cleves. After the game was er.deJ, as they went out of the tennis-court, Chatelart carnc up to the queen-dauphin,, and told her, Fortune had put into his hands a letter of galantiy, that, dropped out of the 'duke de Ncmours's pocket,. PART II. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 63 pocket. This queen, who was always very curious in what related to the duke, bid Chatelart give her the letter ; he did fo, and fhe followed the queen her mother-in-law, who was going with the king to fee them work at the lifts. After they had been there fome time, the king caufed fome horfes to be brought that had been lately taken in ; and though they were not as yet thoroughly managed, he was for mounting one of them, and ordered his attendants to mount others. The king and the duke de Nemours hit upon the moft fiery and high-mettled of them. The horfes were ready to fall foul on one another, when the duke of Nemours, for fear of hurting the king, retreated abruptly, and ran back his horfe againft a pillar with fo much violence, that the mock of it made him fhgger. The company ran up to him, and he was thought considerably hurt ; but the princefs of Cleves thought the hurt much greater than any one elfe. The intereil fhe had in it gave her an apprehenfion and concern which fhe took no care to conceal ; fhe came up to him with the queens, and with a countenance fo changed, that one lefr, concerned than the chevalier de Guile might have perceived it. Perceive it he immediately diJ, and was much more intent upon the condition madam de Cleves was in, than upon that of the duke de Nemours. The blow the duke had given himfelf had fo ftunned him, that he continued fome time leaning his head on thcfe who fupported him ; when he raifed himfelf up, he imme- diately viewed madam de Cleves, and fa\v in her face the concern fhe was in for him, and he locked upon her in a manner which made her fenfible how much he v/as touched w'.th it : afterwards he thanked the queens for the goodnefs they had e.xprefTed to him, and made apologies for the condition he had been ia before them 5 and then the king ordered him to go to reft. Madam de Cleves, after fhe was recovered from the fright fhe had been in, prefently reflected on the tokens %e had given of it. The chevalier de Guife did not fufier 64 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART II. fuffer her to continue long in the hope that nobody had perceived it, but giving her his hand to lead her out of the lifts, I have more caufe to complain, madam, faid he, than the duke de Nemours ; pardon me, if I forget for a moment that profound refpeft I have always had for you, and fhew you how much my heart is griev- ed for what my eyes have juft feen ; this is the firft time I have ever been fo bold as to fpeak to you, and it will be the laft. Death, cr at leaft eternal abfence, will re- move me from a place where I can live no longer, fmce I have now loft the melancholy comfort I had of be- lieving that all who behold you with love are as un- happy as myfelf. Madam de Cleves made only a confufed anfwer, as if me had not underftood what the chevaliers words meant : at another time fhe would have been offended, if he had mentioned the paflion he had for her ; but at this moment fhe felt nothing but the affli&ion to know, that he had obferved the paffion fhe had for the duke de Nemours. Madam de Cleves, when fhe came oat of the lifts, went to the queen's apartment, with her thoughts wholly taken up with what had pafTed. The duke de Nemours came there foon after, richly drefied, and like one wholly infenfible of the accident that had befallen him ; he appeared even more gay than ufual ; and the joy he was in for what he had difcovered, gave him an air that very much encreafed his natural agree.iblenefs. The whole court was furprifed when he came in; and there was nobody but afked him how he did, except madam de Cleves, who ftaid near the chimney, pretend- ing not to fee him. The king coming out of his clofet, and feeing him among others, called him to talk to him. about his late accident. The duke parted by madam de Cleves, and faid foftly to her, Madam, I hare re- ceived this day fome marks of your pity, bat they were not fuch as I am moft worthy of. Madam de Cleves fufpe&ed that he had taken notice of the concern fhe bad PART II. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 65 had been in for him, and what he now faid convinced her fhe was not miftaken ; it gave her a great deal of concern, to find file was fo little miftrefs of herfelf, as not to have been able to conceal her inclinations from the chevalier de Guife ; nor was fhe lefs concerned to fee that the duke de Nemours was acquainted with them ; yet this lail grief was not fo entire, but there was a cer- tain mixture of pleafure in it. The queen-dauphin, who was extremely impatient to know what there was in the letter which Chatelart had given her, came up to madam de Cleves. Go read this letter, fays fhe ; it is addreffed to the duke of Ne- mours, and was probably fcnt him by the miftrefs for whom he has forfaken all others : if you cannot read it now, keep it, and bring it me about bed-time, and in- form me if you know the hand. Having faid this, the queen-dauphin went away from madam de Cleves, and left her in fuch aftonimment, that (he was not able for fome time to ftir out of the place. The impatience and grief fhe was in not permitting her to ftay at court, fhe went home before her ufual hour of retirement; fhe trembled with the letter in her hand, her thoughts were full of confufion, and fhe experienced I know not what of infupportable grief that fhe had never felt before. No fooner was fhe in her clofet, but fhe opened the let- ter, and found it as follows : ' I Have loved you too well, to leave you in a belief that the change you obferve in me is an effect of light- nefs; I maft inform you, that your falfhood is the caufe of it. You will be furprifed to hear me fpeak of your falfhood ; you have difTembled it with fo much fkill, and I have taken fo much care to conceal my knowledge of it from you, that you have reafon to be furprifed at the difcovery ; I am myfelf in wonder, that I have difcovered nothing of it to you before ; never was grief equal to mine ; I thought you bad the molt violent paflion for me ; I did not conceal that which I had for you, and at the time that I acknow- ' ledged 66 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART II, * ledged it to you without referve, I found that you de- ' ceived me, that you loved another, and that, in all ' probability, I was made a facrifice to this new miftrefs. ' I knew it the day you run at the ring, and this was * the reafon I \vas not there. At firft I pretended an in- ' difpofition in order to conceal my forrow; but after- ' Wards I really fell into one, nor could a conftitution, ' delicate like mine, fupport fo violent a fliock. When ' I began to be better, I Hill counterfeited ficknefs, ' that I might have an excufe for not feeing and for not * writing to you ; betides, I was willing to have time to ' come to a refolution in what manner to deal with yout; ' I took and quitted the fame refolution twenty times ; ' but at laft I concluded you deferved not to fee my * grief, and I refolved not to mew you the leaft mark of ' it. I had a delire to bring down your pride, by letting ' you fee, that my paffion for you declined of itfelf : I ' thought I mould by this leflen the value of the facrifice * you had made of me, and was loth you mould 1 have the pleafure- of appearing more amiable in the * eyes of another, by mewing her how much I loved ' you ; I refolved to write to you in a cold and lan- ' gui (hing manner, that me, to whom you gave my * letters, might perceive my love was at an end: I waj ' unwilling ftie mould have the fatisfaftion of knowing ' I was fenfible that fne triumphed over me, or that me fhould encreafe her triumph by my defpair and com- plaints. I thought I mould puniili you too little by merely breaking with you, and that my*ceaimg to love you would give you but a flight concern, after you had firft forfaken me ; I found it was necefTary you fhould love me, to feel the fmart of not being loved, which I fo feverely experienced myfelf ; I ^'as of opi- nion, that if any thing could rekindle that flame, it would be to let you fee that mine was extinguished ; but to let you fee it through an endeavour to conceal it from you, as if I wanted the power to acknowledge it to you. This refolution I adhered to, I found it * difficult P.iRT II. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 67 It to take ; and when I faw you again I thought ' i: impoHIbie to execute. I was ready a hundred time > ' to break out into tears and complaints ; my ill ftatc of * health, which iiill continued, ferved as a dtfguife to ' hide from you the affliction and trouble I was in ; after- * ward I was 1'upported by th pleafure of difTemb!i.':> ' wirh you, as you had done wuh me ; however, it v/:is ' (Icing & apparent a violence toinyfelf to tell you, or :Q ' write to you that I loved you, that you immediately ' perceived I had. no mind to let yoa fee my affection ' was altered. You was touched with this, you com- * plained of it. I endeavoured to remove your fears ; ' but it was done in fo forced a manner, that you was ' ftill more convinced by it I no longer loved you : in ' fhcrt, I did all I intended to do. The factaflicalGefs * of your heart was fuch, that you advanced towards * me in proportion as you faw I retreated from you. I ' have enjoyed all the pleafure which can arife from r- * verge. I plainly faw, that you loved me mere than * you had ever done ; and I mewed you I had no longer ' any love for yon. I had even reafon to believe that ' you had entirely abandoned her, for whom you had * fcrfaken me; I had ground too to be farisfied you had ' never fpoken to her concerning me : but neither your ' difcreiicn in that particular, nor the return of yonr ' affection, can make amends for your inconftancy; your ' heart has been divided between me and another, and ' you have deceived inej this is fuiacierit wholly to take 4 from me the pleafure I found in being Joved by you, ' as I thought I deferved to be ; and to confirm me iu ' the refolution I have taken, never to fee you rcore, * which you are fo much furprifed at.' Madam de Cleves read this letter, and read it over again fcveral time;-, without knowing, at the fame time, what me had read ; flie faw only that the duke de Ne- mours did not love her as {he imagined, and that he loved others who were no lefs deceived by him than fhe. difcovery was this for a perion in her condition, who 68 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART If. who had a violent paffion, who had juft given marks of it to a man whom me judged unworthy of it, and to another whom me ufed ill for his fake ! Never was af- fliftion fo cutting as hers ; fhe imputed the piercingnefs efit to what had happened that day; and believed, that if the duke de Nemours had not had ground to believe fhe loved him, fhe mould not have cared whether he loved 'another or not : but fhe deceived herfelf ; and this evil which fhe found fo infupportable was jealoufy, with all the horrors it can be accompanied with. This letter difcovered to her a piece of galantry the duke de Ne- mours had been long engaged in. She? faw the lady who writ it was a perfon of wit and merit, and deferved to be loved. She found fhe had more courage than herfelf, and envied her the power fhe had had of concealing her fentiments from the duke de Nemours. By the clofe of the letter, fhe faw this lady thought herfelf beloved, and prefently fufpefted, that the difcretion the duke had fhewed in his addreiles to her, and which fhe had been fo much taken with, was only an efFeft of his paffion for this other miftrefs, whom he was afraid of difobliging. In fhort, flie thought of every thing that could add to her grief and delpair. What reflections did me not make on herfelf, and on the advices her mother had given her ! How did ihe repent, that ihe had not per- fifted in her refolurion of retiring, though againit the will of monfieur de Cleves; or that (lie had not purfued her intentions of- acknowledging to him the inclination fhe had for the duke of Nemours ! She was convinced, fhe would have done better to difcover it to a hufband, whofe goodnefs fhe was fenfible of, and whofe intereft it would have been to conceal it, than to let it appear to a man who was unworthy of it, who deceived her, who perhaps made afacrifice of her, and who had no view in being loved by her but to gratify his pride and vanity : in a word, fhe found, that all the calamities that could befal her, and all the extremities fhe could be reduced to, were lefs than that fmgle one of having difcovered to the duke de TART II. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 69 de Nemours that fhe loved him, and of knowing that h e loved another : all her comfort was to think, that after the knowledge of this Ihe had nothing more to fear f/om herfelf, and that fhe mould be entirely eafed of the in- clination fhe had for the duke. She never thought of the orders the queen-dauphin had given her, to come to her when fhe went to reih fhe went to bed herfelf, and pretended to be ill ; fo that when monfieur de Cleves came home from the king, they told him fhe was afleep. But fhe was far from that tranquility which inclines to fleep ; all the night fhe did nothing but torment herfelf, and read over and over the letter in her hand. Madam de Cleves was not the only perfon whom this letter difturbed. The vifcount de Chartres, who had loft it, and not the duke de Nemours, was in the utmofl inquietude about it. He had been that evening with the duke of Guife, who had given a great entertainment to the duke of Ferrara his brother-in-law, and to all the young people of the court : it happened that the dif- courfe turned upon ingenious letters ; and the vifcount n your fcrvauts and mine went together to fetch them ; then jt was the letter fell out of the pocket ; thofe gentlemen took it up, and read it aloud ; fome believed ii: belonged to you, and others to me ; Chatelart, who took it, and to whom I have juft lent for it, fays, he gave it to the queen-dauphin as a letter of yours ; and thofe who have fpoken of it to the queen, have un- fortunately told her it was mine ; fo that you may eafily do what I defire of you, and free me from this perplexity. The duke de Nemours had alwr.ys had a great friend- ihip for the vifcount de Chartres, r.-id the relation he E 4. bore *o THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. bore to madam de Cleves ftill made him more dear to him ; neverthelei?, he could not prevail with himfelf to run the rifle of her having heard of this letter, as of a thing in which he \vas concerned ; he fell into a deep uiufing, and the vifcount gueffed pretty near what was the fubjeft of his meditations, I plainly fee, faid he, that you are afraid of embroiling yourfelf with your miftrefs ; and I fhould almoft fancy the queen-dauphin was me, if the little jealoufy you feem to have cf mon- fieur d'Anville did not take me off from thart thought ; but be that as it will, it is not rcafonable you mould facrificc your repofe to mine ; and I will put you in a way of convincing her you love, that this letter is direfted to me, and not to you : here is a billet from madam d'Atnboife, who is a friend of madam de The- mines, and was her confidante in the amour between her and me ; in this me deiires me to fend her madam de Themincs's letter, which I have toft ; my name is en the fuperfcription, and the contents of the billet prove, without queftion, that the letter me deiires is the fame with that which has been found ; I will leave this billet in your hands, and agree that you may ihew it to your miftrefs in your j unification ; I conjure you not to lofe a moment, but to go this morning to the quern -dauphin. The duke de Nemours premifed the vifcount he would, and took madam d' A mboife's billet ; neverlhe- lefs, his defign was not to fee the queen-dauphin ; he thought more preffing bufmefs requiied his care ; lie made ho queftion, but me had already fpoke of the letter to madam de Cleves, and could not bear that a perfon he loved fo defperately, mould have ground to believe he had engagements with any other. ' He went to the princefs of Cleves as foon as he thought fhe might be awake ; and ordered her to be told, that, if he had not oufinefs of the laitconfequc-nce, he would not have defired the honour to fee her at fo extraordinary an hour. Madam de Cleves \va? in bod, and PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CIVES. 81 snd her mind was toft to and fro by a thoufand melan- choly thoughts that fhe had had during the night; me was extremely furprifed to hear the duke de Nemours afked for her ; the anxiety me was in made- her prefentiy an- fwer, that fhe was ill, and could not fpeak with him. The duke was not at all mocked at this rcfufal ; he thought it prefaged him no ill, that fhe exprcfied a little coldnefs at a time when fhe might be touched with jealoufy. He went to the prince of Clcves's apart- ment, and told him he came from that of his lady, and that he was veryforryhe could not fee her, becaufe he had an affair to communicate to her of gree.t con- fequence to the vifcount de Chartres ; he explained in few words to ihe prince the importance of this buiinci?, and the prince immediately introduced him into his lady's chamber. Had fhe not been in the dark, fh(r would have found it hard to have concealed the trouble and aftoniihment fhe was in to fee the duke 3e Ncnsours introdaced by her huiband. Monfieur de Cleves told her the bufinefs was about a letter, wherein her afnitance was wanting for the i-ntereft of the vifcount ; that ihe was to confult with monfieur de Nemours what was to be done ; and that as for him r he was going to the king,, who had juft fent for him. The duke de Nemours had his heart's defire, in be- ing alone with madam de Cleves. I am come to a tit you, madam, faid he, if the queen-dauphin- hr.s nut fpoke to you of a letter which Chatelart gave-hc;- day. ---She faid fomething to me of it, replied madam de Cleves ; but I do not fee what relation this letter ha.; to the interefts of my uncle, and I can aiTure you that lie is not named in it. It is true, mada:r>, replied the duke de Nemours, he is not named in it ; .but yet it is addreffed to him, and it very much imports him th~t you fnould get it out of the ruees-dauphin's hands. -I cannot comprehend, replied the princefc, how i^ fhould be of any confequeiKe to him if this letter fhould be feen, nor what reafon there is to rc-denar.:u: i: E 5 ia Sz THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. in his name. If you plcafe to be at leifure to hear me, madam, faid monfieur de Nemours, I will prefently make you acquainted with the true ftate of the thing ; and inform you of matters of fo great importance to the vifcount, that I would not even have trofted the -prince of Cleves with them, had I not flood in need of his affiftance to have the honour to fee you 1 believe, faid madam de CL'ves in a very unconcerned manner,- that any thing you may give ycurfelf the trouble of telling me, will be to little purpofe ; you had better go to the queen-dauphin, and plainly tell her, without ufing thefe round-about ways, the intereft you have in that letter, fmce fhe has been told, as well as I, that it belongs to you. The uneafmefs of mind which monfieur de Nemours obferved in madam de Cleves gave him the moft fenfi- . ble pleafure he ever knew, and leflened his impatience tojuflify himfelf : I do not know, madam, replied he, what the queen-dauphin may have been told ; but I am not at all concerned in that letter ; it is addrefTcd to the vifcount. I believe fo, replied madam de Cleves ; but the queen-dauphin has heard to the contrary, and (he would not think it very probable that the vifcount's letter fhou'd fall out of your pocket ; you muft there- fore have fome reafon, that I do not know of, for con- cealing the truth of this matter from the queen- dauphin ; I advife you to confefs it to her. I have nothing to ccnfefs to her ; fays he, the letter is not directed to me ; and if there be any one that I would have fatisfied of it, it is not the queen-dauphin ; but, madam, fin-ce tke vifcount's intereit is nearly concerned in this, be pleafed to let me acquaint you with fome matters that are worthy of your curiofity. Madam de Cleves by her filence fliewed her readinefs to hear him, and he as fuccin favourably to him; when fhe conficfered, (he was the caufe of monfieur de Cleves's fending for him, and that fhe had juit pafTed an after- noon in private with him ; when fhe confidered all this,, fiie found there was fomething within her that held in- telligence with the duke de Nemours, and that fhe de- ceived a hufband who leaft deferved it; and ihe was afliamed to appear fo Kttle worthy of efteem, even in the eyes of her lover ; but what (he was able to fupportr lefs than all the reft was, the remembrance of the con- dition in which fhe fpent the laft night, and the griefs fhe felt from a fufpicion that the duke dc Nemours was in love with another, and that fhe was deceived by him. Never till then was fhe acquainted with the dreadful inquietudes that flow from jealoufy and diftruft; fhe had: applied all her cares to prevent herfelf from falling in love with the duke de Nemours, and had not before had any fear of his being in love with another. Though the fufpicicns which this letter had given her were effaced, yet they left her feniible of the hazard there was of being deceived > PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 89 deceived, and gave her impreffions of diftruft and jea- loufy which fhe had never felt till that time ; me was furprifed, that fhe had never yet refle&ed, how impro- bable it was, that a man of the duke de Nemours's turn, who had (hewed fb much inconftancy towards women, fhould be capable of a lafting and fmcere paffion; me thought it next to irftpoffible for her to be convinced of the truth of his love : But though I could be convinced of it, fays fhe, mall I permit it? Shall I make a re- turn? Shall I engage in galantry, be falfe to mon- fieur de Cleves, and be falfe to myfelf? In a word, mall I go to expofe myfelf to the cruel remorfes and deadly griefs that rife from love ? I am fubdued and vanquished by a pasfion, which hurries me away in fpite of myfelf; all my refolutions are vain ; I had the fame thoughts yefterday that I have to-day, and I afl to-day contrary to what I relblved yefterday ; I muft convey myfelf out of the fight of the duke de Nemours ; I muft go into the country, however fantaftical my jour- ney appear ; and if monfieur de Cleves is obstinately bent to hinder me, or to know my reafons for it, per- haps I mall do him and myfelf the injury to acquaint him with them She continued in this refolution, and fpent the whole evening at home, without going to the queen-dauphin to enquire what had happened with re- fpel to the counterfeited letter. Wken the prince of Cleves returned home, me told him fhe was refolved to go into the country; that fhe was not very well, and had occafion to take the air. Monfieur de Cleves, to whom fhe appeared fo beautiful that he could not think her indifpofition very confi- tlerable, at firfl: made a jefl of her deftgn, and anfwered, that fhe had forgot that the nuptials of the princefles and the tournament were very near, and-that fhe had not too much time to prepare matters fo as to appear there as magnificently as other ladies. What her huf- band faid did not make her change her refolution ; and fhe begged he would agree, that while he was at Com- piegne 90 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVKS. FAKT II/. piegne with the kin?, (lie might go to Colomiers, a pretty houfe then building, within a day's journey of Paris. Monfieur de Cleves confented to it ; fhe \vent thither with a de/ign cf not returning fo Toon, and the king fct out for Conipiegae, where he was to Hay but .a few days. The duke de Nemours was mightily concerned he had ,not feen madam de Cleves fince that afternoon, which .he had fpent fo agreeably with her, and which had en- creafed his hopes ; he was fo impatient to fee her again, that he could not reft ;. fo that when the king returned to Paris, the duke refolved to go to fee his filler the duchefs de Mercosur, who was at a country-feat of her'?, very near Colomiers ; he afked the vifcount to go with him, who readily confented to it. The duke de Ne- mours did this in hopes of vifiting Madam de Cleves, in company of the vifcount. Madam de Mercosur received them with a great deal .of joy, and thought of nothing but giving them all the pleafures and diverfions of the country. One day, as .they were hunting a flag, the duke de Nemours loft himfelf in the foreft, and upon enquiring his way was told he was near Colomiers; at that word, without further reflection, or fo much as knowing what deiign ,he was upon, he galloped on full fpeed the way that had been ihewed him; as he rode along became by chance to the made-ways and walks, which he judged led to the caftle : at the end of thefe he found an arbcur, behind which was a pavilion with two clofets, the one opening into a flower-garden, and the other .looking into a fpacious walk in the park. He entered the pavilion, and would have flopped to ob- ferve the beauty of it, if he had not feen in the walk the prince and princefs of Cleves, attended with a nu- merous train of their domeliics. As he did net cxpcft to meet monfieur de Cleves there, whom he had left with the king, he thought at firfl of hiding himfelf; he en- tered the clofet which looked into the flower-garden, with FART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 91 with uefign to go out that way by a door which opened to the foreft ; but obferving madam de Cleves and her hufband were fat down in the arbour, and that their attendants ft.iid in the park, and could not come to him without pafiing by the place where monlieur and madam de Cleves were, he could not deny himfelf the pleafure of feeing this princefs, nor refiit the curiofity he had to hear her converfation with a hufband, who gave htm more jealoufy than any of his rivals. He heard ir.onfieur de Cleves fay to his wife, But why will you not return to Paris? \Vhatcan keep you here in the country? You have of late talcen a fancy for folitude, at which I am both furprifed and concerned, becaufe it deprives me of your company : I find, too, you are more melancholy than uiual, and I am afraid you have foine caufe of grief. I have nothing to trouble my mind, .anf.vered fhj with an air of confufion ; but there is fuch a buftle at court, and fuch a multitude of people always at your houfe, that it is impoflible but both body and mindfhould be fatigued, an-i one cannot but dcfire repofe. Repofo, anfwered he, is not very proper for one of your age ; you are at home, and at court, in fuch a manner as cannot occafion wearinefs, and I am rather afraid you delire to live apart from me. You would do me great wrong to think fo, replied fhe with yet more confufion, but I beg you to leave me here ; if you could ftay here, and without company, I fhouldbe very glad of it ; nothing would be more agreeable to me than your converfation in this retirement, provided you would approve not to have about you that infinite num- ber of people, who in a manner never leave you. Ah I madam, cries monfieur de Cleves, both your looks and words convince me, that you have reafons to defire to be alone which I do not know; I conjure you to tdl them me. He urged her a great while to inform him, without being able to bring her to it ; and after fhe had excufed herieif in a manner which {till encreafed her hulband's curioilty, (he continued in a deep iilence, with her 92 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. her eyes caft down ; then, taking up the difcourfe on a fudden, and looking upon him, Force me not, faid flie, to confefs a thing to you which I have not the power to- own, though I have often defigned it; remember onl\v that it is not prudent a woman of my years, and miftrefs of her own conduct, mould remain e.xpoied in the midil of a court. What is it, madam, cried mon- fieur de Cleves, that you lead me to imagine ? I dare not fpeak it, for fear of offending you. Madam de Cleves making no anfwer, her ftlence conftrmed her hulband in what he thought: You. fay nothing to me, fays he, and that tells me clearly, that I am not mif- taken. Alas ! fir, anfwered me, falling on her knees, I am going to make aconfeflion to you, fuch as no wo- man ever yet made to her hulband; but the innocence of my intentions, and of my conduct, gives me power to- do it; it is true, I have realbns to abfent myfelf from the court, and I would avoid the dangers perfons of my age are fometimes liable to ; I have never mewn any mark of weaknefs, and I cannot apprehend I ever ihall^ if you will permit me to retire from court, fmce. now 1 have not madam de Chartres to affift me in my conduct ; however dangerous a ftep I am taking, I take it with pleafure, to preferve myfelf worthy of you; I a& you a thoufand pardons, if I have fenuments which difplcafe you, at leail, I will never do fo by my actions; confider, that to do what I do, requires more friendfhip and elteem for a hufcand than ever wife had; direct my conduct, have pity on me, and, if you can, fiill love inc. Mcnfieur de Cleves, all the while me fpoke, conti- nued leaning his head on his hand, almoil befide Jiim- feh, and never thought o/ railing her up. When Ihe had done ipeaking, r.nd he caft his eyes upon her, and faw her on her kr.ees with her face drowned in tears, in- imitably beautiiu!, It? was reauy to clie for grief, and taking her up in : arms, Have you pity on me, ma- dam, fays he, for I deferve it, and pardon me, if in the rii: moments oi'au dr.icuon fo violent as mine, I do PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 93 not anfwer as I ought to fo generous a proceeding as yours ; I think you more worthy of efteem and admira- tion than any woman that ever was, but I find myfeif alfo the moil unfortunate of men: you infpired me withpaflion the firft moment I faw you, and that paf- /io.n has never decayed ; not your coldnefs, nor even en- joyment itfelf, has been able to extinguifli it ; it ftill continues in its firft force ; ahdyet it has not been in my power to kindle in your breaft any fpark of love for me, and now I find you fear you have an inclination for ano- ther ; and who is he, madam, this happy man that gives you fuch apprehenfions ? How long has he charmed you ? What has he done to charm you ? What method has he taken to get into your heart ? When I could not gain your affeftions myfeif, it was fome comfort to me to think, that no other could ; in the mean time, ano- ther has effefted what I could not ; and I have, at once, the jealoufy of a hulband and a lover. But it is impof- fible for me to retain that of a hulband after fuch a pro- ceeding on your part, which is too noble and ingenuous not to give me an entire fecurity; it even comforts me as a lover ; the fincerity you have exprefled, and the confidence you have placed in me, are of infinite value : you have efteem enough for me to believe I mall not abufe the confeffion you have made to me : you are in the right, madam, I will not abufe it, or love you the lefs for it ; you make me uivhappy by the greatell mark of fidelity ever woman gave her hufbandj but go on, madam, and inform me who he is whom you would avoid. I beg you not to aflc me, replied me; I am rc- folved not to tell you, nor do I think it prudent to name him. -Fear not, madam, replied monfieur de Cleves? I know the world too well to be ignorant that a woman's having a hufoand does not hinder people from being in love with her; fuch lovers may be the objects of one's hatred, but we are not to complain of it ; once again, madam, I conjure you to teli me what I fo much defire to know. It is in vain to preft me, replied fhe ; I have the 94 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. the power to be filent in what I think I ought not to tell ; the confefiion I made to you, was not owing to any weaknefs, and it required more courage to declare fuch a truth, than it would have done to conceal it. The duke de Nemours did not lofe a word of this con- verfation, and what madam de Cleves had faid gave him no lefs jealoufy than her hufband; he was fo def- perately in love with her, that he believed all the world was fo too; it is true, he had many rivals, yet he fan- cied them ftill more, and his thoughts wandered to find out who it was madam de Cleves meant : he had often thought he was not difagreeable to her ; but the grounds of his judgment on this occafton appeared fo flight, that he could not imagine he had raifed in her heart a paifion violent enough to oblige her to have re- courfe to fo extraordinary a remedy ; he was fo tranf- ported, that he fcarce knew what he faw, and he could not pardon monfienr de Cleves for not having prefled his wife enough to tell him the name of the perfon (he concealed from him. Monfieur de Cleves, neverthelefs, ufed his utmoft en- deavours to know it ; and having urged her very much on the fubjeft I think, anfwered (he, that you ought to be fatisfied with my finceriry ; alk me no more about it, and do not give me caufe to repent of what I have done ; content yourfelf with the afiurance which I once more give you, that my fentiments have never appeared by any of my aftions, and that no addrefs hath been made to me that could give me offence. -Ah ! madam, replied monfieur de Cieves on a fudden, I cannot be- lieve it ; I remember the confufion you was in when your pi&nre was loft ; you have given away, madam, you have given away that picture, which was fo dear to me, and which I had fo juft a right to; you have not been able to conceal your inclinations ; you are in love ; it is known ; your virtue has hitherto faved you from the reih Is it poffible, cried madam de Cleves, you can imagine there was any refervc or difguife in a con- fefiioH PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 95 feflion like mine, which I was no way obliged to ? Take my word, I purchafe dearly the confidence I defire of you ; I conjure you to believe I have not given away my pifture ; it is true, I faw it taken ; but I would not feern to fee it, for fear of fubje&ing myfelf to hear fuch things as no one has yet dared to mention to me.- How do you know then that you are loved ? faid monfieur de Cleves. What mark, what proof of it has been given you ? Spare me the pain, replied (he, of repeating to you circumftances which I am afhamed to have obferved, and which have convinced me but too much of my own weaknefs.- You are in the right, madam, anfwered he, I am unjuft ; always refufe me when I afk you firch things, and yet do cot be angry with me for afking them. Juft then feveral of the fervants, who had ftaid in the walks, came to acquaint monfieur de Cfeves, that a gentleman was arrived from the king, with orders for him to be at Paris that evening. Monfieur de Cleves was obliged to go, and had only time to tell his wife, that he defired her to come to Paris the next day ; and that he conjured her to believe, that however afflifted he was, he had a tendernefs and efteem for her with, which me ought to be fatisfied. When he was gone, and madam de Cleves being alone, confidered what me had done, fhe was fo frightened at the thought of it, fhe could hardly believe it to be true. She found fhe had deprived herfelf of the heart and efteem of her hufband, and was involved in a labyrinth fhe mould never get out of; fhe afked herfelf, why fhe had ventured on fo dangerous a ftep, and perceived fhe was engaged in it almoit without having defigned it ; the fingularity of fuch a confeffion, for which fhe faw no precedent, made her fully fenfible of her danger. But, on the other hand, when fhe came to think that this remedy, however violent it was, was the only effe&ual one fhe could make ufe of againft monfieur de Nemours, fhe found the had no caufe to repent, or to believe 96 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. believe me had ventured too far ; me pa/Ted the whole night full of doubts, anxiety and fear ; but at laft her fpirits grew calm again ; {he even felt a pleafure arife in her mind, from a fenfe of having given fuch a proof of fidelity to a hulband who deferved it fo well, who had fo great a friendmip and eiteem for her, and had fo lately manifefted it by the manner in which he received the confeffion fhe had made him. In the mean time monfieur de Nemours was gone away from the place in which he had overheard a con- verfation which fo fenfibly affected him, and was got deep into the foreft ; what madam de Ckves faid of her piclure had revived him, flnce it was certain from thence that he was the perfen me had an inclination for : at firft he gave a loofe to joy; but his raptures were at an end as foon as he began to reflect, that the fame thing that convinced him he had touched the heart of madam de Cleves, ought to convince him alfo that he mould never receive any marks of it, and that it would be impoflible to engage a lady who had recourfe to fo extraordinary a remedy ; and yet he could not but be fenlibly pleated, to have reduced her to that extremity; he thought it glorious for him to have gained the affections of a woman fo different from the reft of her fex ; in a word, he thought himfelf very happy, and very unhappy at the fame time. He was benighted in the foreft, and was very much put to it to find his way again to his filler's, the duchefs of Mercceur ; he arrived there at break of day, and was extremely at a lofs what account to give of his abfence ; but he made out the matter as well as he could, and returned that very day to Paris with the vifcount. The duke was fo taken up with his paffion, and fo furprized at the converfation he had heard, that he fell into an indifcretion very common, which is, to fpeak one's own particular fentiments in general terms, and to relate one's proper adventures under borrowed names. As they were travelling, he began to talk of love, and exag- PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES, 97 exaggerated the pleafure of being in love with a perfon that deferred, it ; he fpoke of the fantallical efredts of this paffion ; and at laft, not being able to contain within, himfelf the admiration he was in at the aftion of madam de Cieves, he related it to the vifcount without naming the perfon, or owning he had any mare in it ; but he told it with fo much warmth and furprife, that the vifcount eafiV fufpecled the ftory concerned himfelf. Thevifconnt urg^d him very much to confefs it, and told him he had kncwn a great while that he was vi- olently in love, and that it was unjuft in him to mew a dulrultof a man, who had committed to him a fecret on which hi* life depended. The duke de Nemours was too much in love to own it, and had always con- cealed it from the vifcount, though he valued him the moil of any man at court ; he anfv/ered, That one of his friends had told him this adventure, and made him promife net to fpcakofit; and he alfo conjured the vifcount to keep the fecret : the vifcount affured him hz would fay nothing of it ; but notwithstanding, mcnfieur de Ncn ours ier.e-Ued. that he had told him fo much. In the mean time monfieur de Cieves was gone to ihe king, with a heart full of affliction. Never had huf- band fo violent a paffion for his wife, or fo great an effrem ; what fhe had told him did net take away his efteemof her, but made it of a different nature from that he had had before ; what chitfiy employ'd his thoughts, was a defire to guefs who it was that had found out the fecret to win her heart. The duke de Nemours was the firft perfon he thought of on this occajion, as being the handfomeit man at court ; and the chevalier de Guife and the marefchal de St. Andre occurred next, as two perfons who had made it their endeavour to get her love,, and who were ftill very afH iucus in courting her ; fo that he was fully perfuaded it mufl be one of the three. He arrived at tne Louvre ; and the ki'ng carried him into his clofrt to inform him, he had made choice f him to condud Madame into Spain j ana thut he be- VOL. 11. F lieved , 9 g THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. lieved nobody could acquit himfelf better of that charge, nor that any lady would do France greater honour than madam de Cleves. Monfieur de Clevcs received the honour the king had done him by this choice with the refpeft he ought, and he confidcred it alfo as what would take his wife from court, without leaving room to fufpecl any change in her conducl ; but the cmbar- lafTment he was under required a fpeedier remedy than that journey, which was to be deferred a great v. l.ile, could afford ; he immediately writ to madam de Cleves to acquaint her with what the king had told him ; and gave her to underftand, he abfolutely expeled me fhould return to Paris. She returned according to his orders, and when they met, they found one another over- whelmed with melancholy. Monfieur de Cleves fpoke to her, as a man of the ^reatefl honour in the world, and the bell deferving the confidence Pae had repofed in him : I am not alarmed as to your conduct, faid he, you have more ftrength and virtue than you imagine j I am not alarmed with fears of what may happen hereafter ; what troubles me is, that I fee you have thofe fentiments for another which you want for me. I do not know what to anfwer you, faid the, I die with lhame when I fpeak of thrs fubjeft; fpare me, I conjure you, fuch cruel conver- Jfations j regulate my conduft, and never let me fee any body ; this is all I defire of you ; but take it not ill of me, if I fpeak no more of a thing which makes me ap- pear fo little worthy of you, and which I think fo un- becoming me. ---You are in the right, madam, replied he, I abufe your goodnefs and your confidence in me ; tut have fome compaffion alfo on the condition you have brought me to ; and think, that whatever you have told me, you conceal from me a name, which creates in me a curiofity I cannot live without fatisfying ; and yet I alk you not to fatisfy it ; I cannot, however, for- bear telling you, that I believe the man I am to envy is the jnarefchal de St. Andre, the duke de Nemours, l, THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 99 or the chevalier de Guife. I (hall make you no anfwer, fays {he blufhing, nor give you any ground, from wha,t I fay, either to leflen or ftrengthen your fufpicions ; but if you endeavour to inform yourfelf by obferving me, you will throw me info a confufion all the world will take notice of; for God's f tke, continued me, allow me, under pretence of an ir.tlfpofition, to fee no- body. No, madam, fiid he, it will quickly be dif- covered to be a -feigned bufmefs ; and beiides, I am unwilling to truft you to .n/ thing out yourfelf j my heart tells me this is the ee.t \v?.y I can take, and my reafon tells me fo alio; considering the temper of mind you are in, I cannot, put a greater reftraint upon you, than by leaving you to your liberty. Monfieur de Cleves was not miftaken ; the confidence lie Ihewed he had in his wife, fortified her the more againfl monfieur de Nemours, and made her take more fevere refclution. than any reitraint could have brought her to. She went to wait on the queeii-dauphm at the Louvre, as ih" ufed to do ; but avoided the prefence and eyes of moaiieur de Nemours with fo much care, that fhe deprived him of alrholl all the joy he had in think- ing {he loved him ; he faw nothing in her actions but what feemed to mew the contrary ; he fcarctly knew if what he had heard was not a dream, fo very impro- bable it feemed to him. The only thing which affured him that he was not miftaken, was madam de Cleves's extreme melancholy, which appeared, whatever pains fhe took to hide it j and perhaps kind words and looks >/ould not have increafed the duke of Nemours's love fo much as this fevere conduit did. One evening, as rnonfieur and madam de Cleves were at the queen's apartment, it \va.- f.ii;l there was a report that the king would name anolher great lord to wait on Madame into Spain. Monfieur de Cleves had his eye fixed on his wife, when it w-s further faid, the chevalier de Guife, or the marefchal de St. Andre, was the perfon j he obferved me was not at all moved f 2 at ico THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IK, at either of thofe names, nor the difcourfe of their go- ing alcng with her ; this made him believe, it was net either of them whcfe prefence fhe feared : in order to clear up his fufpicions, he went into the queen's clofet> where the king then was, and after having ftaid there feme time, came back to his wife, and whifpered her, that he had jnft heard the duke de Nemours was the per- fon defigned to go along with them to Spain. The name of the duke de Nemours, and the thought of being expofed to fee him every dr.y, during; a very long journey, in her hufband's prefence, fo affecled ma- dam de Cleves, that fhe could not conceal her trouble : and being willing to give other reafons for it, No choice, fays fhe, could have been made more difagree- able fcr ycu ; he will (hare all honours with you, and I thirk you ought to endeavour to get fome other chofen. It is not honour, madam, reply'drr.onfieur de Cleves, that makes you apprehenfive of the duke de Nemours's going with me, the uncafincfs you are in proceeds from another caufe j and fiom this uneafinefs of yours I learn, that which I fhould have difcovered in another woman by the joy fhe would have exprefied on fuch an occafion ; but be not afraid ; what I have told you is not true, it was an invention of mine to affure myfelf cf a thing which I a^eady believed but too much. Having faid this, he went out, being unwilling to incfeafe, by his prefence, the concern he faw his wife in. The duke de Nemours came in thatinflant, and pre- fently obferved madam de Clevcs's condition ; Ke came up to her, and told her fcftly, he hsd that refped for her, he durfl not afk whet it was made her more pe.nfive than ufual. The voice cf the duke de Nemourr, brought her to herfelf tgain, and looking at him, without hav- ing heard what he had {aid to her, full of her own thoughts, and afraid left her hufbrnd fhould fee him with her, Fcr God's fake, fays {he, leave me to myfelf in quiet. Alas! madam, aniwered he, l^iflurb you too little ; what is it you can complain of? I dare not fpeuk PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 101 to you, I dare not look upon you, I tremble whenever I approach you. How have I drawn upon myfelf what you have faid to me ? and why do you (hew me, that I am in part the caufc of the trouble I lee you in ? M,' lam de Cleves was very forry to have given the duke an op- portunity of explaining himfelf more clearly than ever he had done before ; ihe left him without making any anfwer, and went home with her mind moie -agitated than ever. Her hufband perceived her COP. :ern was increafed, and that me was afraid he would fpeak to her of what had part, and followed her into her clofet : Do not fhun me, madam, fays he, I will fay nothing to you that {hall difpleafe you ; I afk pardon for the fur- prize I gave you a while ago; I am fufficientlv puni (li- ed by what I have learnt from it ; the duke de Nemours was of all men he whom I mod feared ; I fee the danger you are in; command yourfelf for your ownf ike, and, if it is poffible, for mine ; I do not aik this of you as a hufband, but as a nun whole happinefs wholly depends on yon, and who loves you more violently and more tenderly than he whom your heart prefers to me. Monfieur de Cleves was melted upon ipeaking thefe words, and could fcarce make an end of them ; his wife was fo moved, {he burft into tears, and embraced him with a tendernefs and forrow that put him into a condition not very different from her own. They continued filent a while, and parted without having the power to fpeak to one another. All things were ready for the marriage of Madame, and the duke of Alva was arrived to efpoufe her ; he was received with all the ceremony and magnificence that could be difplay'd on fuch an occalion ; the king fent to meet him the prince of Conde, the cardinals of Lorain and Guife, the dukes of Lorain and Ferrara, d'Aumale, de Bouillon, de Guife, and de Nemours; they had a great number of gentlemen, and a great many pages in livery ; the king himfelf, attended with F 3 two 102 . THE PRINCESS OF C'LEVES. PART III. two hundred gentlemen, and the conSable at their head, received 'the duke of Alva at the firft gate of the Louvre ; the duke would have kneeled down, but the king refufed it, and made him walk by his fide to the queen's apartment, and to Madame's, to whom the duke cf Alva had brought a magnificent prefent from his mailer ; he went thence to the apartment of madam Margaret, the king's fifter, to compliment her on the part-of the duke of Savoy, and to afTure her he- would arrive in a few days. There were great affemblies at the Louvre, to mew the duke of Alva, and the prince of Orange who accompanied him, the beauties of the court. IvIaJam de Cleves could not difpenfe with going to thefe affemblies, however defirous me was to be abfent, for fear of difobliging her hulband, who abfolutely commanded her to be there ; and, what yet more in- ut the treachery of the vifccunt dc Chartres, in relating F 5 an io6 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. an adventure of a friend of mine, \vhich I had in con- fidence imparted to him. I know how to be revenged of him, continued he, fmiHng with a calm air ; which removed the fufpicions the queen-dauphin had enter- tained of him : he has entrusted me with things of no very fnlall importance; but I do not know, madam, why you do me: the honour to make me a party in this affair. The vifcount cannot fay I am concerned in it, for I told him the contrary ; I may very weJI be taken to be a man in love, but 1 1 cannot believe, madam,' you will think me of the number of thofe who are loved again. The duke was glad to fay any thing to the queen- dauphin, which alluded to the inclination he had exprefied for her formerly," in order to divert her thoughts from the fubjedt in que^ion. She imagined {he underllood well enough the drift of what he faid ; but without making any anfwer to it, fhe continued to rally him upon the embarrafl'ment he was in. I was concerned, madam, faid he, for the intereft of my friend, and on account of the juft reproaches he might make me for having told a fecret which is dearer to him than life. He has, neverthelefs, entruiled me but with one half of it, and has net told me the name of the perfon he loves ; all I know i?, that he is the moll deeply in love of any man in the world, and has the moil reafon to complain. -Do you thinkjie has reafon. to complain, replied the queen-dauphin^ when he is loved again ?- Do you believe he is, madam, replied he, and that a perfon who had a real paffion could dif- cover it to her hufband ? That lady, doubtlefs, is not acquainted with love, and lias miftaken for it a flight acknowledgment of the fondrefs her lover had for her. My friend cannot flatter himfelf with the leaft hopes ; but, unfortunate as he is, he thinks himfelf happy, at leafl, in having made her afraid of failing in love with him, and he would not change his condition for that of the happieft lover in the world. ---Your friend hr-s a paffioa very eafy to be fatisfied, fold the queen-dauphin*. and PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 107- and I begin to believe it is not yourfelf you are fpeaking of; I am almoft., continued fhe, of the opinion of madam de Cleves, who maintains that this ftory can- not be true.- I do not really believe it can be true, anfwered madam de Cleves, who had been filent ; hitherto ; and though it were poflible to be true, how mould it have been known ? It is very unlikely that a woman, capable of fo extraordinary a refolution, would have the weaknefs to publifh it j and furely her hufband would 'not have told it neither, or he mufl be a hufband very unworthy to have been dealt with in fo - generous a manner. The duke de Nemours, who per- ceived . the fufpicicns madam de Cleves had of her hufband, was glad to confirm her in them, knowing he was the moll formidable rival he had to overcome. Jealoufy, faid he, and a curiofity perhaps of knowing more than a wife has thought fit to difcover, may make a hufband do a great many imprudent things. Madam de Cleves was put to the laft proof of h?r power and courage ; and not being able to endure the converfation any longer, fhe was going to fay fhe was not well, when, by good fortune for her, the duchefs of Valentinois came in, and told the. queen-dauphin thai; the king \vas juft coming ; the queen-dauphin went into the clofet to c!refs herfelf, and the duke de Nemours came up to madarn de Clever as fhe was following her. I- would give my life, madam, faid he, to have a mo- ment's converfation with you ; but though I have a world of important things to fay to you, I think no- - thing s more fo, than to, entreat you to believe, that if I have faid any thing in which the queen-dauphin may feem concerned, I did it for reafons which do not re- late to her. Madam de Cleves pretended not to hear 1dm, and left him without a look, and went towards the king, \vho was juft come in. As there were abundance cf people there, flic trod upon her gown, and made a falfe ftep, which ferved her as an excuie to go out cf a place fhe had uot the. power to llay in ; .and F.6 fa- io8 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. fo pretending to have received feme hurt, fhe went home. Monfieur de Cleves came to the Louvre, and was fur- prifed not to find his wife there ; they told him of the accident that had befallen her, and he went immedi- ately home to enquire after her ; he found her in bed, and perceived her hurt was not confiderable. When he had been fome time with her, he found her fo ex- ceffive melancholy that he was furpriied at it : What ails you, madara ? fays he , you feem to have fome other grief than that which you complain of. I feel the molt fennble grief I can ever experience, anfwered fhe ; what ufe have you made of that extraordinary, cr rather foolifh confidence which I placed in you ? Did not I deferve to have my fecret kept ? and though I had not deferved it, did net your own interelt engage you to it ? Should your curio/ity to know a name it was not reafonable for me to tell you, have obliged you to make a confidante to aflifc you in the difcovery, nothing but that curiofity could have made you guilty of fo cruel an indifcretion ; the confequences of it are as bad as they poflibly can be. This adventure is known, and I have been told it by thofe who are not aware that I am principally concerned in it, What do you fay, ma- dam ? anfwered he ; you accufe me of having told what paused between you and me, and you inform me that the thing is known ; I do not go about to clear myfelf from this charge, you cannot think me guilty of it ; without doubt you have applied to yourfelf what was told you of fome other. Ah ! fir, replied ihe, the world has not an adventure like mine, there is not another woman capable of fuch a thing : the ilory I have heard could not have been invented by chance ; nobody could imagine any like it ; an aftion of this nature never entered any thoughts hut mine. The queen-dauphin has juit told me the ftcry ; ihe had it from the vifcount de Chartres, and the vifcount from the duke de Nemours. The duke de Nemours ! crre.d monfieui; PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 109 monfieur de Cleves, like a man tranfported and defpe- rate : How ! does the duke de Nemours know that you are in love with him, and that I am acquainted with it } -You are always for ilngling out the duke de Nemours rather than any other, replied (he ; I have told you I will never anfwer you concerning your fufpicions : I am ignorant whether the duke de Nemours knows the part I have in this adventure, and that which you have afcribed to him ; but he told it to the vifcount de Chartres, and faid he had it from one of his friends, who did not name the lady : this friend of the duke de Nemours muft needs be one of yours, whom you en- trufted the fecret to, in order to clear up your fufpicions. Can one have a friend in the world, in whom one would repofe fuch a confidence, replied monfieur de Cleves ; and would a man clear his fupicions at the price of informing another with what one would wifa to conceal from one's fe If ? Think rather, madam, to whom you have fpoken ; it is more probable this fecret fhould have efcaped you than me ; you was not able alone to fupport the trouble you found yourfelf in, and you endeavoured to comfort yourfelf by complaining to fome confidante, who has betrayed you. Do not wholly deilroy me, cried me, and be not fo hard- hearted as to accufe me of a fault you have committed yourfelf: can you fufped me of it ? and do you think, becaufe I was capable of informing you of this matter, I was therefore capable of informing another ? The confeffion which madam de Cleves had made to her hufband was fo great a mark or her Sincerity, and me fo firongly denied that me had intrufted it to any other, that monfieur de Cleves did not know what to think. On the other hand, he was fure he had never faid any thing of it ; it was a thing that could not have been gueffed, and yet ir was known ; it muft therefore come from one of them two ; but what grieved him moft was, to know that this fecret was in the hands of fomebody no THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. fbmebody elfe, and that, in all probability, it would be foon divuleed. Madam de Cfeves thought much after the fnme man- ner ; ihe found it equally impoflible that her hufband ihould, or mould not have fpoken of it. What the duke de Nemours had faid to her, that curiofity might make a hufband do indifcreet things, feemed fo juftly applicable to monfiear de Cleves's condition, t: cculd not think he faid it ty chance ; and they're ba- bility of this made her conclude, that monfieur de Clevcs had abufed the confidence fne had placed in him. They were fo taken up, the on? and the other, with their refpective thoughts, that they continued fjlent a great while ; and- when they broke from this f.lencc, they only repeated the fame things they had already faid very often ; their hearts and affections grew mtfre and more eftranged from each other. . eaiy to imagine how they patted the night ; . mcnf;e*ilr de Cleves could no longer fufiain the misfor- 'tur.e of feeing a woman, whom he adored, in love with another: he grew quite heartlefs, and thought he hadreafon to be fo in an affair where his honour arid reputation were fo deeply wounded : he knew not what to think of his wife, and was at a lofs \vhr.t conduit he mould prefcribe to her, or what he mould follow himfelf ; he faw nothing on all fides but preci- pices and rocks : at laft, after having been long toiTed to and fro in fufpenfe, he confidered he was foon tofet out for Spain, and refolved to do nothing which might encreafe the iufpicion or knowledge of his un- fortunate condition. He went to his v-ifc, and told her, that what they hsd to do was not to debate between, themfelvea who had difcovered the fecret ; but to make it appec.v, that the ivory which was got abroad, was a bufinefs in which ihe had no concern ; that it depended upon her to convince the duke of Nemours and others of it ; that me had nothing to do but to behave herfelf to him with that coldnefs and referve which fhe ought to haver PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. m have for a man who profeffed" love to her; tnat by this proceeding fhe would e'afily remove the opinion he en~ tcrtained of her being in love with him ; and therefore fhc needed not to trouble herfelf as to what he might hitherto have thought, nnce, if for the future (he dif- ccvered no wenknefs, his former thoughts would vanifh. of themfelves ; and that efpecially fhe ought to frequent the Louvre and the affemblies as ufual. Having faid this, monfieur de Cleves left his wife without waiting her ar.fwer; .me thought what he faid very reafonable, and the refentment fhe had againft the duke de Nemours, made her believe fhe mould be able to ccuiplv with it with a great deal of eafe ; but it feemed a hard tafk to her to appear at the marriage with that free- dom and tranquillity of ipirit which the occafion required. Nevertheiefs, as fhe was to carry the queen-dauphin's train, and had been diftinguifhed with that honour in preference to a great many other princeffes, it w^s im- poffible to excufe herfelf from it, without making a. great deal of noife, and putting people upon enquiring into the resfons of it. She refolved therefore to do her ut- moft, and employed the reft of the day in preparing herfelf for it, and in endeavouring to forget the thoughts that gave her fo much uneafmefs ; and to this parpcfe fhe locked herfelf up in her clcfet : of all her griefs the moft violent was, that flie had reafon to complain of the duke de Nemours, and could find no excufe to urge in his favour ; fhe could not doubt but he had related this adventure to the vifcount de Chartres ; he had owned it himfelf; nor could fhe ary mere doubt, from his manner of fpeaking of it, but that he knew the adventure re- lated to her ; how could fhe excafe fo great an impru- dence ? and what was become of that extreme difcre- tion which fhe had fo much admired in this prince? He was diforeet, faid fhe, while he was unhappy ; but the thought of being happy, though on uncertaia grounds, has put an end to his difcretion ; he could not confider that he was belovedj without defiring to have it known ; H2 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. he faid every thing he could fay ; I never acknowledged it was he I was in love with ; he fufpedled it, and has declared his fufpicions ; if he had been fure of it, he might have acted as he has ; I was to blame for thinking him a man capable of concealing what flattered his va- ^ity ; and yet it is for this man, whom I thought fo dif- ferent from other men, that I am become like other women, who was fo unlike them before. I have loft the heart and eileem of a hufband \vho ought^b have been my happinefs ; I (hall foon be looked upon by all the world as a perfon led away by an idle and violent paflion. Hefjrwhom I entertain thispaffion is no longer ignorant of it; and it wi:s to avoid thefe misfortunes rKat I hazarded my quiet, and even^my life. Thefe fcd reflections were folio* ed by a torrent of tears ; but however great her grief was, fhe plainly perceived fhe mocld be able to fupport it, were me but fatisfied in the duke de Nemours. The duke was no lefs uneafy than me; the indifcre- tion he had been guilty of in te'ling what he did to the vifcount de Chmres, and duuai/chievooi confequences cf it, vexed him to the heart ; he could not reprefent to himfelf the asHiftion and forrow he had feen madam de Cleves in, without being pierced with^anguifh; he was inconfolable for having laid things to her about this ad- venture, which, though galant enough in themfelves, fecmed on this occaficn toe grois and unpolite, fmce they gave madam de .Clcvcs to underitand, he was not igno- rant that fhe was the woni.in a ho hnd that violent paf- fion, and that he was the OBJ etc of it. It was before the- utmoit of his wimes to have a converfation with her ; but now he found he ought rather to fear than deiire it. What (hould I fav to her ? fays he ; mould I go to dil- cover further to her what I have made her too fenfible or already ? Shall I tell her I know fhe loves me ? I, who have never dared to fay I loved her ? Shall I begin with {peaking openly of my prulion, that fhe may fee my ho^es have infpired me with boldnefs? Can I even think PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 113 think of approaching her, and of giving her the trouble to endure my fight ? Which way could I juflify myfelf ? I have no excufe; I am unworthy of the leaft regard from madam de Cleves, and I even defpair of her ever looking upon me: I have given her, by my own fault, better means of defending herfelf againft me than any (he was fearching for, and perhaps fearching for to no pur^-ofe. I lofe by my imprudence the glory and happinefi of being loved by the moft beautiful and deferving ladv in the world; bat if I had loft this happinefs, without in- volving her in the mbfl extrem? grief and fuiFerings at the fame time, I mould have had fome comfort ; for at this moment 1 am more fenfible of the harm I have done her, than of that I have done myfelf in forfeiting her favour. The duke de Nemours continued turning the fam3 thoughts over and over, and tormenting himfelf a great while: the defire he had to fpeak to madam de Clrves came conilantly into his mind; he thought of the means to do it; he thought of writing to her; but at lail he found, confidering the fault he had committed, and the temper me was in, his beft way was to mew her a pro- found refpeft by his affiiclion and his filence, to let her fee he dunl not prefent himfelf before her, and to wait fcr what time, chance, and the inclination me had for him, might produce to his advantage: he refolved alfo not to reproach thevifcount de Chartres for his unfaith- fulnefs. for fear of confirming his fufpicions. The preparations for the efpoufals and marriage of Madame on the next day, fo entirely took up the thoughts of the court, that madam de Cleves and the duke of Nemours eafily concealed from the public their grief and nneafmefs. The queen-dauphin ipoke but {lightly to madr.m de Cleves of the converfation they had had with the duke de Nemours ; and monfieur de Cleve? in- duftrioufly fhunned fpeaking to his wife of what was paft ; fo that ihe did not find herfelf under fo much embarraff- ment as ilie had imagined. The ii 4 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. The efpoufals were folemnized at the Louvre ; and after the feaft and ball all the royal family went to lie at the bifhcp's palace, according to cuftcm. In the morn- ing, the duke of Alva, who always had appeared very plainly dreit, put on a habit of cloth of gold, in;.-:d with flame-colour, yellow and -black, all covered o\er with jewels, and wore a clofe crown on his head. The prince of Orange very richly drefied alfo, with his li- veries, and all the Spaniards with theirs, csrac to attend the duke of Alva from the Hotel ce Viileroy wheiv h? lodged, and fet out, marching four by four, till they came to the bifhop's palace. As foon as he was arrived, they went in order to the church ; the king led Madame, who wore alfo a clofe crown, her train being borne by jaademcifelles de Montpenfier and Longuevillc ; the queen came next, but without a crown ; after her fol- lowed the queen-dauphin, Madame, the king's fifter, the duchcfs of Loraine, and the queen of Navarre, .their trains being borne by the princeffes ; the queens and the princefles were all of them attended with their maids of honour, who were richly dreft in the fame colour which they were themfelves; fo that it was known by the colour of their habits whpfe maids they were : they mounted the place that was prepared in the church , : ; a there the marriage-ceremonies were performed; iLcy returned afterwards to dine at the biihop's, and went from thence about five a-clock to the palace where the feaft was, and where the pnrliament, the foverekn courts, and the corporation of the city were ceiu ed to affift. The king, the queens, the princes and prin- cefTes fat at the marble table in the great hall of the pa- lace ; the duke of Alva fat near the new queen of Spain, below the fteps of the marble table ; and at the king's right hand was a table for the ambaffadors, the archbiihops, and the knights of the order, and on the other fide one for the parliament. The duke of Guife, dreil in a robe of cloth of gold friezed, ferved the king as great chamberlain ; the PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. M5 prince of Conde as fteward of -the houfhold, and the duke de Nemours as cup-bearer. After the tables were removed the ball began, and was interrupted by interludes and a great deal of cx'raordinary machi- nery; then the ball was relumed, and after midnight the king and the whole court returned to the Louvre. However full of griff madam de Cleves was, me ap- peared in the eyes of aii beholders, and particularly in thofe of the duke de Nemours, incomparably beautiful. He dur.l not fpeak to her, though the hurry of the cere- mony gave him frequent opportunities; but he ex- p re fled fo much forrow, and fo refpeclful a fear of ap- proaching her, that me no longer thought him to blame, though he had faid nothing in his juftification; his con- duct was the fame the following days, and wrought the fame effect on the heart of madam de Cleves. At lafl, the day of the tournament came; the queens xvere placed in the galleries that were prepared for them ; the four champions appeared at the end of the lifts with a number of horfes and liveries, the moil magnificent fight that ever was feen in France. The king's colours were white and black, which he always wore in honour of the duchefs of Valentinois, who was a widow. The duke of Ferrara and his re- tinue ha.d yellow and red ; monfieur de Guife's carna- tion and white. It was not known at firll for what rea- fon he v/cre thofe colours; but it was foon remembered that they were the colours of a beautiful young lady whom he had been in love with while me was a maid, and whcm he yet loved, though he durft not fhewit. The duke de Nemours had yellow and black; why he had them could not be found out: madam de Cleves only knew the reafon of it; me remembered to have faid before him me loved yellow, and that me was ferry her complexion did not fuit that colour. As for-the duke, he thought he might take that colour without any in- difcretion, fmce, not being worn by madam de Cleves, it could not be fufpedted to be her's. The h6 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART III. The four champions fhewed the greateft addrefs that can be imagined ; though the king was the beft horfe- man in his kingdom, it w^s hard to fay which of them moft excelled. The duke de Nemours had a grace in ail his aftions which might have inclined to his favour p?r- fous lefs intereited than madam de Cleves. She n fooner faw him appear at the end of the lilts, but her heart felt uncommon emotions, and every courfe he made flie could fcarce hide her joy, when he had fuc- cefsfully finifhed his career. In the evening, when all was almoft over, and the company ready to break up, fo it was for the misfortune of the ftate, that the king would needs break another lance; he fent orders to the count de Montgomery, who was a very dexterous combatant, to appear in the lifts. The count begged the king to excufe him, and alledged a 1 ! the reafons for it he could think cf; but the king, slmoft angry, fent him word he abfolutely commanded him to do it. The queen conjured the king not to run any more, told him he had performed fo well that he ought to be fatisfied, and defired him to go with her to her apartments. He made anfvver, It was for her fake that he would run again ; and entered the barrier. She fent the duke of Savoy to him to entreat him a fecond time to return, but to no purpofe. He ran; the lances were broke, and a fplinter of the count de Montgo- mery's lance^hit the king's eye, and ituck there. The king fell ; his gentlemen and monfieur de Montmorency, who was one of the marefchals of the field, ran to him ; they wera aftonifhed to fee him wounded ; but the king was not at all cliiheartened; he faid, that it was but a flight hurt, and that he forgave the count de Montgo- mery. One may imagine what forrow and affli&ion fo fatal an accident occaiioned on a day fet apart to mirth and joy. The king was carried to bed, and the fur- geons having examined his wound found it very ccnil- derab'e. The comlable immediately called to mind the prediction which had been told the king, that he mould be PART III. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 1 1? be killed in fingle fight ; and he made no doubt but the predi&ion would be now accompli fhed. The king of Spain, who was then at BrufTeb, being advertifed of this accident, fent his phyfician, who was a man of great reputation; but that phyfician judged the king paft hope. A court fo divided, and filled with fo many oppofite interefts, could not but be in great agitation on ths breaking out of fo grand an event; neverthelefs, all things were kept quiet, and nothing was feen but a ge- neral anxiety for the king's health:, the queens, the princes and princeffes hardly ever went out of his anti- chamber. Madam de Cloves knowing that (he was obliged to be there, that me fhould fee there the duke de Nemours, and that me could not conceal from her hufband the uif order fhe mould be in upon feeing him ; and being fen- fihle alfo, that the mere prefence of that prince would juitify him in her eyes, and deilroy all her refciutions, thought proper to feign herfeif ill. The court was too uafy to give attention to her conduct, or to enquire whe- ther her illnefs was real or counterfeit ; her hufband alone was able to come at the truth of the matter ; but me was not at all averfe to his knowing it. Thus fhe continued at home, altogether heedlefs of the great change that was foon expected, and full of her own thoughts, which {he was at full liberty to give herfeif up to. Every one went to court to enquire after the king's health, and inonfieur d^e Cleves came home at certain times to give lier an account of it; he behaved himfelf to her in the fame manner he uied to do, except when they were alone; and then there appeared fomething of coldnefs and referve: he had not fpoke to her again concerning what had part, nor had (he power, ncr did fhe think it convenient, to refume the oifcourfe. , The duke de Nemours, who had waited for an oppor- tunity of fpeaking to nsa./.ym de Cleves, was furpn?^d and affiitted not to have had fo much as the pleufure to fee lig THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. fee her. The king's iilnefs encreafed fo much, that the feventh day he was given over by the phyficians ; he received the news of the certainty of his death with an uncommon firmnefs of mii:J ; which was the more to be admired, confidcring that he loft his life by fo unfor- tunate an accident, that he died in the flower of his age, happy, adored by his people, and beloved by a miftrefs fce was defperately in love with. The evening before his death he caufed Madame, his fifter, to be married to the duke of Savoy without ceremony : one may judge what condition the duchefs of Valentinois was in; the queen would not permit her to fee the king, but fent to demand of her the king's fignefcs, and the jewels of the crown which fhe had in her cuftody. The durhefs en- quired if the king was dead ; and being anfwered, No ; 1 have then as yet no other matter, faid fhe, and no- body can oblige me to reitore what he has milled in my hands. As foon as the king expired at Chateau de Tournelles, the duke of Ferrara, the dake of Guife, and the duke de Nemours conduced the queen -mother, the new king and the queen-con fort to the Louvre. The dukede Nemours led the queen-mother. As they be- gan to march, ih'e ftepped back a little, and told the queen, her daughter-in-law, it washer place to go firft ; but it was eafy to fee, that there was more of fpleen than decorum in this Compliment. PAR T IV. ^PHE Queen-mother was now wholly governed by the * cardinal of Loraine; the vifcount de Chartres had no interell with her, and the pafiiyn he had for madam de Martigues and for liberfy, -hindered him from feeling this lofs as it deferved 10 be felt. The cardinal, during the PART IV. THE PRINCFS3 OF CLEVIS. 119 the ten days illnefs of the ki".g, was at leifure to form his defigns, and lead th? queen into refutations agree- able to what he had projedtd; fo that the king was no ft. 'icr dead, but the queen ordered the conftable to itay .. Tourne!!:s, with the corpfe of the deceafcd king, in order to perform the ufual c remonies. This com- mi {Son kept him at a diftance, and out of the fcene of action : for this reafon the cor.ft<:ble difpatched a cou- rier to the king cf Navarre, to haften him to court, that they might join thc-ir intereft to oppofe the great rife of the houfe of Guile. The command of the army was given to the duke of Guife, and the care of the finances to the cardinal of Loraine. The duchefs ofVa- lentinois was driven from court; the cardinal de Tour- non, the conftable's declared enemy, and the chan- cellor Olivier, the declared enemy of the duchefs of Valentino;?, were both recalled. In a word, the com- plexion of the court was entirely changed; the duke of Guife took the fame rank as the princes of the blood, in carrying the king's mantle at the funeral ceremo- nies: he and his brothers carried all before them at court, not cnly by reafon of the cardinal's power with the queen-mother, but becsufe me thought it in her power to remove them, mould they give her umbrage ; whereas ihe could not fo eafily remove the conftable, who was fupported by the princes of the blood. Whe/i the ceremonial of the mourning was over, the conftable came to the Louvre, and vvas very coldly re- ceived by the kiiig. He defired to fpeak with him in private; but the king called for mefiieurs ^e Guiie, ai.d told him before them, that he adviled him to live at cafe; that the finances and the command of the army were difpofed of, and that when he had occafion for his advice, he would fend { i r him to court. The queen received him in a yet colder manner than the king, and fhe even reproached him frr having told the late kmr?, that his children by her did not refemble him. The king of Navarre arrived, aud was no better received; the 120 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. the prince of Conde, more impatient than his brother, complained aloud, but to no purpofe : he was removed from court, under pretence of being fent to Flar.ders to fign the ratification of the peace. They (hewed the king of Navarre a forged letter from the king cf Spain, v/hich charged him wirh a defign of feizing that king's fortreffes ; they put him in fear for his dominions, and made him take a refolution to go to Beam ; the queen furnilhed him with an opportunity, by appointing him to conduct madam Elizabeth, and obliged him to fet out before her ; fo that there remained no body at court that could balance the power of the houfe of G uife. Though it was a mortifying circumftance for mon- fieur de Cleves not to conduct madam Elizabeth ; yet he cculd net complain of it, by reafon of the greatnefs of the perfon preferred before him ; he regretted the lofs of his employment not fo much on account of the honour he mould have received from it, as becaufe it would have given him an opportunity of removing his wife frcm court, without the appearance of defign in it. - A few days after the king's death, it was refolved the new king mould go to Rheim- to be crowned. As foon s.t this journey was talked of, madam de Cleves, who had lie id at home all this while under pretence of illnefs, led her hufband to difpenfe with her following the court, and to give her leave to go to take the air at Colrir.-ers for her health : he anfwered, That whether her health was the reafon cr not of her defire, however, he con fen ted to it : nor was it very difficult for him to confent to a thing he had rcfolved upon before : as good an opinion as he had of his life's virtue, he thought it imprudent to expofe her any longer to the fight of a man ihe was in love with. The duke de Nemours was fccn ir. formed, that ma- dam de Cleves was not to go along with tue court ; he could not find in his heart to fet out without feeir; JKT, and ihcrcfoi-e, the iJght before his journey, he \\ei.t -o her PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 121 her houfe as late as decency would allow him, in to find her alone. Fortune favoured his intention ; and madam de Nevers and madam de Martigucs, whom h* met in the court as they were coming out, informed him they had -left her alone. He went up in a concern and ferment of mind to be paralleled only by that which madam de Cleves was under, when (he was told the duke de Nemours was come to fee her. The fear left he fhould fpeak to her of his pafiion, and left fhe fhould anf.vcr him too favourably; the uneafmefs this vifit might give her hufband ; the difficulty of giving him an account of it, or of concealing it from him ; all thefe things prefented themfelves to her imagination at once, and threw her into fo great an embarrafljnent, that -he refolved to avoid the thing of the world which perhaps me wifhed for the moil. She fent one of her women to the duke de Nemours, who was in her anti- chamber, to tell him that fhe had lately been very ill, and that ihe was forry me could not receive the honour which he defigned her. What an affli&ion was it to the duke not to fee madam de Cleves, and therefore -not to fee her, becaufe ihe had no mind he mould I He was to go away the next morning, and had nothing further to hope from Fortune. He had faid nothing to her fince that converfation at the queen-dauphin's apartments, and he had reafon to believe that this im- prudence in tei'ing the vifcount his adventure had de- ftroyed all his expectations ; in a word, he went away with every thing that could exafperate his grief. No fooner was madam de Cleves recovered from tKe confufion which the thought of receiving a vifit from the duke had given her, but all the reafons which had made her refufe it vanifhed ; fhe was even fatisfied fhe had been to blame ; and had fhe dared, or had it not been too late, fhe would have had him called back. Madam de Nevers and madam de Martigues went from the princefs of Cleves to the queen-dauphin's, where they found monneur de Cleves. The queen- VOL. II. G dauphi* 122 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. FART IV. dauphin afked them frora whence they came ; they ihid they came from madam de Cleves, where they had fpent part of the afternoon with a great deal of com- pany, and that they had left nobody there but the duke de Nemours. Thefe words, which they thought fo indifferent, were not fuch with monfieur de Cleves : though he might well imagine the duke de Nemours had frequent opportunities of fpcaking to his wife, yet the thought that he was now with her, that he was there alone, and that he might fpeak to her of his love, appeared to him at this time a thing fo new and infupportable, that jealoufy kindled in his heart with greater violence than ever. . It was impoffible for him to ftay at the queen's ; he returned frorm thence, with- out knowing why he returned, or if he defigned to go end interrupt the duke de Nemours. He was no fooner come home, but he looked about him to fee if there was anything by which he could judge if the duke was ftill there ; it was fome comfort to him to find he was gone, and it was a pleafure to refledt that he could net have been long there : he fancied, that, perhaps, it was not the duke de Nemours of whom he had reafon to be jealous j and though he did not doubt of it, yet he endeavoured to doubt of it ; but he was convinced of it by fo many circumftances, that he continued not long in that pl'ea- fmg uncertainty. He immediately went into his wife's room, and after having talked to her for fome time about indifferent matters, he could not forbear afldng her what fhe had done ? and who (he had feen ? And accordingly me gave him an account. When he found ftie did not name the duke de Nemours, he afked her trembling, if thofe were all me had feen, in order to give her an occafion to name the duke-, and that he might not have the grief to fee me made ufe of any cvafion. As me had not feen -him, me did not name him ; when monfieur de Cleves with accents of forrow faid, And have you not feen the duke de Nemours ? or, Have you forgot him ?~r-l have not feen him, indeed, anfwVred PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 123 anfwered flie. I was ill, and fent one of my women t make- my excufes. You was ill then only for him, replied moniieur de Cleves, fince you admitted the vifits of others : Why this diflinftion with refpecl to the duke de Nemours ? Why is not he to you as another man ? Why Pr.oukt you be afraid of feeing him ? Why do you let him perceive that you are fo ? Why do you mew him, that you make ufe of the power which his . paflion gives you over him ? V/ould yon dare refufe to fee him, lout that you know he diliinguithes your rigour from incivility? But \vhy mould you exercife that rigour towards him ? From a perfon like you, all things are favours, except indifference. I did not think, replied madam de Cleves,, whatever fufpicions you have of the duke de Nemours, that you could reproach me for not admitting a vifit from him. ---But I do reproach you, madam, replied he, and I have good ground for fo doing ; why mould you not fee him, if he has faid nothing to you ? But, madam, he has fpoke to you; if his paflion had been expreued only by filence, it would not have made fo great an impreffion upon you ; you have not thought fit to tell me the whole truth ; you have concealed the greateft part from me; you have repented even of the little you have acknowledged; and you have not the refolution to go on ; I am more unhappy than I imagined, more . unhappy than any other man in the world. You are my wife ; I love you as my miftrefs, and fee you at the fame time in love with another, with the moil amiable man of the court ; and he fees you every day, and knows you are in love with him : Alas ! I believed that you would conquer your paffion for him ; but fure I had loft my reafon when I believed it v/as polfible. I do not know, re- plied madam de Cleves very forrowfully, whether you was to blame in judging favourably of fo extraordinary a proceeding as mine ; nor do I know if I was net miltaken, when I thought you would do me juftice. ---Doubt it not, madam, replied monfieur de Cleves, G a you 124 .THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. you was miftaken ; you expe&ed from me things as impoffible as thofe I expected from you : How could you hope I mould continue mailer of my reafon ? Had you forgot that I was defperately in love with you, and ' that I was your hufband? Either of thefe two circum- ftances is enough to hurry a man into extremities. What may they not do both together ? Alas ! What do they not do? My thoughts are violent and uncertain, and I am not able to controul them ; I no longer think my- felf worthy' of you, nor do I think you are worthy of me ; I adore you, I hate you ; I offend you, I afk your pardon; I admire you, I blufli for my admiration : in a word, I have nothing of tranquillity or reafon left about me. I wonder how I have been able to live fmce you fpoke to me at Colomiers, and lince you learned, from what the queen-dauphin told you, that your ad- venture was known ; I canr.ot discover how it came to be known, nor what paffed between the duke de Ne- rnours and you upon that fubjecl ; you will never explain it to me, nor do I defire you to do it ; I only defire you to remember, that you have made me the moft unfortunate, the moft wretched of men. Having fpoke thefe words, monfieur de Cleves left his v/ife, and fet out the next day without feeing her ; but he writ her a letter full of fojrow, and at the fame time very kind and obliging. She gave an anfwer to it fo moving, and fo full of affurances both as to her part and future conduct, that as thofe affurances were grounded In truth, and were the real effect of her' foitiments, the letter made great imprefllons on monfieur de Cleves, and gave hira fome tranquillity ; add to this, that the duke de Nemours, going to the king as well as hirnfelf, he had the fatisfadtion to know that he would not be-in the fame place with madam de Cleves. Every time that lady fpoke to her hufband, the paffion he expreffed for her, the handfomenefs of his behaviour, the friendfhip . Ihe had for him, and the thought of what me owed hijn> made imprcflions in her heart that weakened the idea PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 125 .idea of the duke de Nemours : but it did not continue long j that idea foon returned more lively than before. For a few days after the duke was gone, file was hardly fenfible of his abfence; afterwards it tortured her : ever fince (he had been in love with him, there did not pafs a day, but (he either feared or wifiied. to meet him ; and it was a wounding thought to her to conuder, t-uit k was no more in the pov/er of Fortune to coairive their meeting. She went to Colomiers, and ordered to be carried thither the large pictures me had caufed to be copied from the originals which the duchefs of Valentinois had procured to be drawn for her fine houfe of Annet. All the remarkable adlions that had part in the late king's reign were reprefented in thefe pieces, and among the reft was the fiege of Metz ; and all thefe who had dif- tinguifhed themfeives at that fiege were painted much to the life. The duke de Nemours was of this number ; and it was that, perhaps, which had made madam de Cleves defirous of having the pictures. Madam de Martigues not being able to go along with the court, promifed her to come and pafs fome days at Colorniers. Though they divided the queen's favour, they lived together without envy or coldnefs ; they were friends, but not confidantes: Madam de Cleves knew that madam de Martigues was in love with the vifcount; but madam de Martigues did not know that madam de Cleves was in love with the duke de Nemours, nor that (he was beloved by him. The relation madam de Cleves had to the vifcount, made her more dear to madam de Martigues ; and madam de Cleves was alfo fond of her as a perfon who was in love as well as herfelf, and with an intimate friend of her own lover. Madam de Martigues came to Colomiers according to her promife, and found madam de Cleves living in a. very folitary manner : that princefs afFefted a perfect fofitude, and pafied the evenings in her garden, without being accompanied even by her domefticks ; (he fre- G 3 quently 125 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. quently came into the pavilion where the duke de Nemc urs had overheard her converfation with her hufband ; ihe delighted- to be in the bovver that was open to the garden, while her women and attendants waited in the other bovver under the pavillion, and never came to her but when me called them. Madam tie Martigues having never feen Colomiers, was fur- prized at the extraordinary beauty of it, and particular- ly with the pleafantnefs of the pavilion. Madam de Cleves and Ihe ufually pafled the evenings there. The liberty of being alone in the night in fo agreeable a place, would not permit the converfation to end foon beuvern two young ladies, whofe hearts were en flamed with violent pafHons; and they took great pleafure in converging together, though they were not confidantes. Madam de Martigues would have left Colonaiers with great reluctance, had {he not quitted it to go to a place where the viiccmit was : me fet out for Chambort, the court being there. * The king had been anointed at Rhcims by the cardi- nal of Loraine, and the defign was to pafs the reft of the fummer at the caflle of Chambort, which was newly built. The queen expreffed a great deal of joy upon feeing madam de Martigues again at court ; and after having given her fev eral proofs cf it, me afked her hew ii^.dam de Cleves did, arid in what manner me patted her time in the country. The duke de Nemours and the prince cf Cleves were with the queen at that time. Madam de Martigues, who had been charmed with Colomiers, related all the beauties of it, and enlarged extremely on the defcription of the pavilion in the foreft, and on the pleafure madam de Cleves took in walking there alone part of the night. The duke de Nemours^ who knew the place we!l enough to under- ftandwhat madam de Martigues faid of it, thought it wa% not impofTible to fee madam de Cleves there, with- out being feen by any body but her. He afked madam de Martigues f&me queftions to get further lights; and the PAR-rlV. THE PRIrTCI-SS OF CLEVES. 127 the prince of Cleves, who had ey'd him very ftrlclly while madam de Martigues was fpeaking, thought he knew what his defign was. The quelUons the duke a.'ked Hill more confirmed him in that thought, fo thru lie made no doubt but his intention was to go and fee his wife; he was not miitaken in his fufpicions. This de- figu entered fo deeply into the duke de Nemours's mind, that after having fpcnt the night in confidering the proper methods to execute it, he went betimes the next morning to afit the king's leave to go to Paris, on fome pretended occafion. . Monfieur de Cleves was in no doubt concerning the occafion of his journey ; and he refolved to inform him- felf as to his wife's conduct, and to continue no longer in ^fo cruel an uncertainty ; he had a defire to fet out the fame time as the duke de Nemours did, and to hide himfelf where he might difcover the fuccefs of the' journey; but fearing his departure might appear extra- ordinary, and left the duke, being advertifed of it, might take other meafures, he refolved to truft this baiinefo to a. gentleman of his, whofe fidelity and wit he was allured of: he related to him the embarraffrnent he was under, and what the virtue of his wife had been till that time ; and ordered him to follow the duke de Nemours, to watch him narrowly, to fee if he did not go to Colomiers, and if he did not enter the garden in the night. The gentleman, who was very capable of this com- miifion, acquitted himfelf of it with all the exadtnefs imaginable. He followed the duke to a village within half a league of Coiomiers, where the duke ftopped ; and the gentleman eafily guelTed his meaning was to flay there till night. He did not think it convenient to wait there, but patted on, and placed himfelf in that part of the foreft where he thought the duke would pafs He took his meafures very right ; for it was no fooner night, but he heard fomebody coming that way ; and though it was dark, he eafily knew the duke de Ne- G 4 mours;, izS THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. FART IV. jnours ; he faw him walk round the garden, as with a defign to liften if he could hear any body, and to chufe the moll convenient place to enter : the palifades were very high and double, in order to prevent people from coming in, fo that it was very difficult for the duke to get ever; however, he made a fhift to do it. He was r.o fooner in the garden, but he difcovered where madam de Cleves was ; he faw a great light in the fcower, all the windows of it were open ; upon this, flipping along by the fide of the palifade, he came up clofe to it, and one may eafily judge what were the emotions of his heart at that inftant : he took his ftation behind one of the windows, which ferved "him con- veniently to fee what madam de Cleves was doing. .He faw (he was alone ; he faw her fo inimitably beau- tiful, that he could fcarce govern the tranfports which that fight gave him. The weather was hot, her head and neck were uncovered, and her hair hung carelefly nbout her. She lay on a couch with a table before her, on which were feveral baskets full of ribbands, out of v. hich fiie chofe feme ; and he obferved fne chofe thofc colours which he were at the tournament. He faw her make them up into knots for an Indian cane, which had teen his, and which he had given to his filter ; madam de Cleves took it from her, without feeming to know it had belonged to the duke. After (he had finifhed her work with the fweeteft grace imaginable, the fenti- mentsofher heart mewing themfelves in her counte- nance, fhe took a wax candle, and came to a great table over againft the piclure of the fiege of Metz, in which was the. portrait of the duke de Nemours ; fhe fat down and fet herfelf to look upon that pourtrait, with an at- tention and thoughtfulnefs which love only can give. It is impomble to exprefs what monfieur de Nemours felt at this moment ; to fee, at midnight, in the finefl place in the. world, a lady he adored ; to fee her with- out her knowing that he faw her, and to find her wholly taken up with things that related to him, and to the pailion, PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 129 paffion which fhe concealed from him ; this is what was never tafted nor imagined by any other lover. The duke was fo tranfported and befide himfelf, that he continued motionlefs, with his eyes fixed on madam de Cleves, without thinking how precious his time was : when he was a little recovered, he thought it beft not to fpeak to her till fhe came into the garden ; and he imagined he might do it there with more fafety, becaufe fhe would be at a greater diftance from hei* women ; but finding fhe flaid in the bower, he rc- folved to go in : when he was upon the point of doing it, what. was his confafion ! How fearful was he of dif- pleafmg her, and of changing that countenance, where fbmuch fweetnefs dwelt, into looks of anger and re- fen tment ! To come to fee madam de Cleves, without 1-eing feen by her, had no impudence in it ; but to think of (hew- ing himfelf appeared very unwife ; a thoufand things now came into his mind which he had not thought of before; it carried in it fomewhat extremely bold and extravagant, to furprize in the middle of the night a perfon to whom he had never yet fpoke of his paffion : he thought he had no reafon to expect (he would hear him, but that fhe would juftly refent the danger tq which he expo-fed her by accidents which might rife from this attempt : all his courage left him, nnd he war* fev~riil times upon the point of refolving to go back again without mewing himfelf ; yet urged by the defire cf fpeaking to her, and heartened by die hopes which' every thing he had feen gave him, he advanced fome Heps ; but in fuch drfcrder, that a fcarf he had on en- tangled in the windoWj and made a noife, . Madam de-- Cleves turned about ; 'and whether her fancy was full of him, cr that file flood in a place fo directly to the lio-ht that fhe might know him, ihe thought it was he ; and without the leait hesitation, or turning to.vards the place where he 'was, fhe entered the bower where her women "were. On her eiitsrin:; iae v/:is in fuch diibrdt'i, thV G c 130 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. to conceal it, fhe was forced to fay {he was ill : fhe faid it too in order to employ her people about -her, and to. give the duke time to retire. When fhe had made fome reflection, fhe thought fhe had been deceived, and that her fancying fhe faw monfieur de Nemours was only the effecl of imagination. She knew he was at Cham- bort ; fhe faw no probability of his engaging in fo hazardous an enterprife ; fhe had a deiire feveral times to re-enter the bower, and to fee if there was any body in the garden. She wifhed, perhaps, as much as fhe feared, to find the duke de Nemours there ; but at laft, reafon and prudence prevailed over her other thoughts, and fhe found it better to continue in the doubt fhe was in, than to run the hazard of fatisfying herfelf about it. She was a long time ere fhe could refolve to leave a place to which fhe thought the duke was fo near ; and it- was almoft day-break when fhe returned to the caflle. The duke de Nemours ftaid in the garden, as long as there was any light ; he was not without hopes of fee- ing madam de Cleves again, though he was convinced' that ihe knew him, and that fhe went away only to avoid him ; but -when he found the doors were fhut, he knew he had nothing more to hope ; he went to take horfe near the place where monfieur de Cleves's gentleman was watching him. This gentleman followed him to the- fame vijlage where he had left him in the evening.. The duke refclvcd to flay there all the day, in order lo return at night to Colomiers, to fee if madam de Cleves would yet have the cruelty to fhunJhi/n, or not expcfe herfelf to view : though he was very much pleafed to find himfelf fo much in her thoughts, yet v/as he- extremely grieved, at the fame time, to fee her fo na- turally bent to avoid him. Never was paiii^n fo tender and fo violent as that of nionficur cle Nemours ; he walked under the willows, along a little brook which ran behind the houfe, where- he lay concealed ; he kept himfelf as much out of the- way as pefEble, that he might not be feen. by any body ; PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 131 he abandoned himfelf to the transports of his love j and his heart was fo full of tendernefs, that he was forced to let fall fome tears : but thofc tears were fuch as grief alone could not fhed ; they had a mixture of fweetnefs and pleafure in them, which is to be found only in love. He fet himfelf to recal to mind all the actions of .madam de Cieves ever fmce he had been in love with her ; her cruelty and rigour, and that modefty and de- cency of behaviour fhe had always obferved towards him, though ihe loved him : For, after all, fhe loves me, faid he; me loves me ; I cannot doubt of it ; the deepelt engagements and the greateii favours are not more certain proofs than thofe I have had. In the mean time, I am treated with the fame rigour as if I were hated ; I hoped fomething from, time, but I have no reafon to cxpe<5! it any longer ; I fee her always equally on her guard againil me and againfl herfelf j. if I were not loved, I ih o m d make it my bufmefs to pleafe ; but I do pleafe ; fhe loves me, ?.nd tries to hide it from me. What have I then to hope, and what change am I to expeft in my fortune ? Though I am loved by the ir.oil amiable pcrfon in the world, I am under that excefs of paflion which proceeds from the firfl certainty of being loved by. her, only to make me more fenuble of being ill ufed. Let me fee that you love me, fair princefs, cried he, make me acquainted with your fentiments ; provided I know, them once in my life from you, I am content that you refume for ever the cruelties with which you opprefs me ; lock upon me, at Icait, with the fame eyes with which -1 faw you look that night upon .ray picture ; could you behold that with fuch fweet complacency, and yet avoid me with fo much cruelty r What are you afraid of ? Why does my love appear fo terrible to you ? Ycu .love me, and you endeavour in vain to conceal it ; you have even given me involuntary proofs of it ; I know my happi- nefs ; permit me to enjoy it, and ceafe to 1:1 uke me un- happy. Is it pebble I mould be lc\ . rinccfs G 6 ,,f I 3 2 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. of Cleves, and yet be unhappy ? How beautiful was fhe lait night ! How could I forbear throwing myfelf at her feet? If I had done it, I might perhaps have hindered her from fhunning me ; my refpeftful be- haviour would have removed her fears ; but, perhaps, after all, (he did not know it was I ; I afflid myfelf more than I need ; me was only frighted to fee a man at fo unfeafonable an hour. Thefe thoughts employ'cfthe duke de Nemours all the day ; he wifhed impatiently for the night ; and as foon as it came, he returned to Colomiers. Monfieur de Cleves's gentleman, who was difguifed that he might be lefs obferved, followed him to the place to which he had followed him the evening before, and faw him enter the garden again. The duke foon perceiv- ed that madam de Cleves had not run the rifque of Ms making another effort to fee her, the doors being .ill (hut ; he looked about on all fides to fee if he could difcover any light, but he faw none. Madam de Cleves, fufpefting he might return, con- tinued in her chamber ; fhe had reafon to apprehend ftie mould not always have the power to avoid him, and {he would not fubmit herfelf to the hazard of fpeaking to him in a manner that would have been unfuitable to the conduft fhe had hitherto obferved. Monfieur de Nemours, though he had no hopes of feeing her, could not find in his heart foon to leave a place where fhe fo often was ; he pafTed the whole night in the garden, and found feme pleafure, at leail, in lee- ing the fame objefts which fhe faw every day ; it was near fun-rife before he thought of retiring ; but at laft, the fear of being difcovered obliged him to go away. It was impollible for him to return to court without- feeing madam de Cieves ; he made a vifit to his fitter th ; duchefs of Mercceur, at her houfe near Colomiers. She was extremely furprized at her brother's arrival; but he invented fo probable a pretence for his journey, and conducted his plot fofldlfully, that he drew her to make PART VI. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 133 make the firft propofal herfelf of vifiting madam de Cleves. This propofal was executed that very day, and monfieur de Nemours told his filter, that he would leave her at Coiomiers, in order to go diredlly to the king ; he formed this pretence of leaving her at Coiomiers, in hopes Hie would take her leave before him- and he thought he had found out by that means an Infallible way of fpeaking to madam de Cleves. The princefs of Cleves, when they arrived, was walking in her garden ; the .fight of monfieur de Ne- mours gave her no fmall unealinefs, and put her out of doubt that it was he Ihe had feen the foregoing night. The certainty of his having done fo bold and impru- dent a thing, gave her fome little refentment ag;'ir.li him ; and the duke obferved an air of coldnefs in her face, which fennbly grieved him. The converfation turned upon indifferent matters ; and yet he had the fkill all the while to (hew fo much wit, complaifance,. and admiration for, madam de Cleves, that part of the coldnefs me exprefTed towards him at firft, left her in fpite of herfelf. When his fears were over, and he began to take heart, he mewed an extreme curiofity to fee the pavilion in the forett ; he fpoke of it as of the moft agreeable place in the world, and gave fo exacl: a defcription of it, that madam de Mercceur faid, he muft needs have been there fcveral times to know all the particular beauties of it fo well. And yet I do not believe, replied madam de Cleves, that the duke de Nemours was ever there ; it has been finimed but a little while. It is not long fince I was there, replied the duke, looking upon her, and I do not know if I ought not to be glad you have forgot you faw me there. Madam de Mercceur, being taken up in obferving the beauties of the gardens, did not attend to what, her brother faid ; madam de Cleves blufhed, and with her eyes call down, without looking on 'monfieur de Nemours, I do not remember, faid file, to have feen you there j and if you have bceri there, % it rj4 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES* PART IVv it was without my knowledge'.-~It is true, madam, replied he, I was there without your orders, and I pailed there the moil fweet and cruel moments of my life. Madam de Cleves underftood very well what he faid, but made him no anfwer i her care was to prevent ma- dam de Mercoeur from going into the bower, becaufe the duke dc Nemours's picture was there, and flie had no mind me fliould fee it; me managed the matter ib well, that the time pafled away infenfibly, and madam de Mercceur began to talk of going home : but when madam de Cleves found that the duke and his filler did not go together, me plainly favv to what (he was going to be expofed 5 me found hcrfelf under the fame em- barraflment me was in at Paris, and took alfo the fame refolimon ; her fear, left this vifit mould be a further confirmation of her hufband's fufpicions, did not a little contribute to determine her; and to-the end monfieur de Nemours might not remain alone with her, ihe told madam de Mercoeur Ihe wculd wait upon her to the borders of the foreft, and ordered her chariot to be got ready. The duke was ftruck with fuch a violent grief, to f:nd that madam de Cleves ftill continued to exercife the fame rigour towards him, that he turned pale that ' moment. Madam de Mercoeur aflced him if he was ill ; but he looked upon madam de Cleves without being peixeived by any body elfe, and made her fenfible by his looks, that he had no other illnefs b'cfi.ies defpair. However, there was no remedy, but he mult let them go together, without daring to follow them ; after what he had told his fitter, that he was to go direftly to court, . he could not return with-her, but went to Paris, and fet out from thence the next day. Monfieur de Cleves's gentleman had obferved him all the while ; he returned alfo to Paris ; and when he found monfieur de Nemours was fet out for Chambort, he took poft to get thither b_efore him, and to give an ac- count of his. journey. His matter expe&ed his return with,; IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES, i~f with impatience, as if the happinefs or unhappinefs of his life depended upon it. As foon as he faw him, he judged from his counte- nance and iilence, that the ne\vs he brought was very difagreeable ; he was ftruck with fcrrow, and continu- ed fome time without being able to fpeak ; at laft he made figns with his hand to him to withdraw : Go, fays he, I fee what you have to fay to me, but I have not the power to hear it. I can acquaint you with no- thing, faid the gentleman, upon which one can form any certain judgment ; it is true, the duke de Nemours went two nights fucceflively into the garden in the foreft ; and the day after, he was at Colomiers with the ducht: li- ef Mercceur. It is enough, replied monfieurde Cieves, /till making figns to him to withdraw ; it is enough, I want no farther information. The gentleman, was. forced to leave his matter, abandoned to defpair ; nor ever was defpair more violent. Few men of fo high a fpirit, and fo paffionately in love as the prince of Cieves, have experienced at the fame time the grief arifing from the fallhood of a raiftrefs, and the mame. of being deceived by a wife. Monfieur de Cieves could fet no bounds tp his afflic- tion ; he fell ill of a fever that very night, and his dif- temper was accompanied with fuch fymptoms, that it was thought very dangerous. Madam de Cieves was* informed of it, and came in all hafte to him : when me arrived, he was fcill worfe ; befides, me obferved fome- thing in him fo cold and chilling with refpect to her,, that me was equally furprized and grieved at it ; he, even feemed to receive with pain the fervices me did him in his ficknefs ; but at laft, me imagined it was,.. perhaps, only the effeft of his diflemper. When me was come to Blois, where the court then, was, the duke de Nemours was overjoy'd to think ilie was at the fame place where he was ; he endeavoured to ies her, and went every day to the prince of Cleves's ander pretence of enquiring how he did} but it v/as to r 3 6 THE- PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV, no purpofe ; fhe did not itir out of her hufband's room, and was grieved at heart for the condition he was in. It vexed monfieur de Nemours to fee her under fuch s^Riftion, an affiiftion which he plainly faw revived the friendship fhe had for monfieur de Cleves, and diverted the paflion that lay kindling in her heart. The thought of this {hocked him feverely for fome time ; but the extremity to which monfieur de Cleves's iick- nefs was grown, opened to him a fcene of new hopes ; he faw it was probable that madam de Cleves would be at liberty to follow her own inclination?, and that he might expeft for the future a feries of happiaefs and lafting pleafures ; he could not fupport the ecftafy of that thought, a thought fo full of tranfport ! he ba- nilhed it out of his mind for fear cf becoming doubly wretched, if he happened to be difappoinjed in hia; hopes. In the mean time mcnfieurde Cleves was given over by his phyficians. One of the laft days of his illnefs,. after having had a very bad night, he faid in the morn- ing, he had a'defire to fleep ; but madam de Cleves, who remained alone in his chamber, found that inftead of taking repofe he was extremely reftlcfs j fhe came to him, and fell on her knees by his bed -fide, her face all covered with tear;; and though monfieur de Cleves had taken a refolution not to mew her the violent dif- pleafure he had conceived again ft her, yet the care fhe tock of him, and the forrovv fhe expreffed, which fome- times he thought fmcere, and at other times the effeft. of her diffimulation and perHdioufnefs, diflradlcd him fo violently with oppofite fentiments full of woe, that he could not forbear giving them vent. You fhed plenty of tears, madam, faid he, for a death which you are the caufe of, and which cannot give you the trouble you pretend to be in ; I am no. longer in a condition to reproach, you, added he with, a voice weakened by ficknefs and grief; I die through the dreadful grief and diicontent you have given me ; ought PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 137 ought fo extraordinary an aftion, as that of your fpeaking to me at Colorniers, to have had fo little con- fequences ? Why did you inform me of your paffion for the duke de Nemours, if your virtue was no longer able to oppofe it ? I loved you to that extremity, I would have been glad to have been deceived, I confefs it to my fhame ; I have regretted that pleafmg, falie fecurity out of which you drew ine : Why did not you leave me in that blind tranquillity which fo many huf- bands enjoy ? I ihould, perhaps, have been ignorant all my life that you was in love with rnonfieur de Ne- mours. I fhalldie, added he; but know, that you make death pleaiing to me, and that, after you have taken from me the efteem and affedion I had for you, life would be odious to me. What ihould I live for ? To fpend my days with a perfon whom I have loved fo much, and by whom I have been fo cruelly deceived ; cr to live apart from her, and break out openly into violences fo oppofite to my temper, and the love I had for you ? That love, madam, was far greater than it appeared to you ; I concealed the greateft part of it from you, for fear of being importunate, or of lofing fomewhat in your efleem by a behaviour not becoming n "hufband : in a word, I deferred your affeftion; and .1 die without regret, fince I have not been able to obtain it, and fince I can no longer defire it. Adieu, madam-] you will one day regret a man who loved you with a fmccre and virtuous paffion ; you will feel the anxiety which reafonable perfons meet with in intrigue and ga- lantry ; and you will know the difference between fucli a love as I had for you, and the love of people who only profefs admiration for you to gratify their vanity in deducing you ; but my death will leave you at liberty, and you may make the duke de Nemours happy without guilt : What flgnifies any thing that can happen when I am no more ; and why mould I have the weaknefs tQ trouble myfelf about it ? Madam i-3 8 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. Madam de Cleves was fo far from imagining that her huiband fufpecled her virtue, that ihe heard all this dif- courfe without comprehending the meaning of it, and without having any other notion about it, except that he reproached her for her inclination for the duke de Ne- mours ; at laft, ftartinq- all cf a fudden out of her blindnefs, I guilty ! cried fhe, I am a ftrangcr to the very thought of guilt ; the fevereft virtue could not have infpired any other conduct than that which I have followed, and I never acled any thing but what I could have wifhed you to have been witnefs to. Could you have wiftied, replied monfieur de Cleves, looking on her with difdain, I had been a witnefs of thofe nights you pa fled with monfieur de Nemours ? Ah ! madam, is it you I fpeak of, when I (peak of a lady that has pafi'ed nights with a man not her hufband ? -No, fir, replied Die, it is not me you fpeak of; I never fpent a night ncr a moment with the duke de Nemours ; he never faw me in private, I never fuffered him to do it, nor would give him a hearing. -Speak no mere of it, iuid he, interrupting her; falfe oaths or a ccnfefllon would perhaps give me equal pain. Madam de Cleves could not anfwer him ; her tears and her grief took civ, ay her fpeech ; at lail, ftruggling for utterance, Look on me at leaft, hear me, faid fhe ; if my intcreft only were concerned I would fuffcr thefe reproaches, but ycur life is at flake ; hear me for your own fake ; I am fo innocent, Truth pleads fo ftrongiy for me, it is impoflible but I mufi convince you.- -Would to God you could ! cried he ; but what can you fay ? The duke de Nemours, has not he been at Colomiers with his filter ? And did not he pafs the two foregoing nights with you in the garden in the forelt ? If that be my crime, re- plied fhe> it is eafy to juftify myfelf; I do not defire you to believe me, believe your fervants and dornefticks ; afk them if I went into the garden the evening he- fore monfieur de Nemours came to Colomiers, and if J did not go out of it the night before two hours fooner than PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 139 than I ufecl to do ? After this, fhe told him,, liow me imagined me had feea fomebody in the garden, and acknowledged that (he believed it to be the duke d Nemours ; fhe fpoke to him with fo much confidence, and truth fo naturally perfuades, even where it is not probable, that iccnficur de Cleves was almofc convinced of her innocence. I do not know, fiid he, whether I ought to believe you ; I am fo near death, that I would not knew any thing that might make me die with reluflance ; you have cleared your innocence too late ; however it will be a comfort to me to depart with the thought that you are worthy of the efteem I have had for you ; I beg you I may be afTured of this fur- ther comfort, that my memory will be dear to you, r.nd that if it had been in your power, you would have had for me the fame pafilon winch you had for another. He would have gone on, but was fo weak that his fpeech failed him. Madam de Cleves fent for the phyficians, who found him almort lifelefs ; yet he languifhed fome days, and died at lafl with admirable conftancy. Madrm de Cleves was afHifted to fo violent a degree, ' loil in a manner the ufe of her reafon. The queen was fo kind as to come to fee her, and carried her to a convent without her being fenfible whither ihe was conducted ; her futers-in-law brought her back to Paris, before fhe was in a condition to feel diftinctly even her griefs : when fhe was reilored to her faculty of thinking, and reflected what a hafband fhe had loft, and confidered that me had caufed his death by the paffion which fhe had for another, the horror me had for herfelf and the duke de Nemours was not to be ex- preffed. The duke, in the beginning of her mourning, durft pay her no other refpedls but fuch as decency required ; he knew madam de Cleves enough to be fenfible that great importunities and eagernefs would be difagreeable to her ; but what he learned afterwards plainly con-. 140 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. vinced him that he ought to cbferve the fame conduct a great while longer. A fervant of the duke's informed him, that monfieur de Cleves's gentleman, who was his intimate friend, liad told him, in the cxcefs of his grief for the lofs of lus mafter, that monileur de Nemours's journey to Colo- fliers was the occafion of his death. The duke was extremely furprifed to hear this ; but after having re- i.pon it, he gue/fed the truth in part, and rightly judged what madam de Cleves's fentiments would be at firil, and what a diftance it would throw him from her, if me thought her hufcanu's illnefs was occafioned by his jealoufy ; he \vas of opinion that lie ought not fo much as to put her in mind of his name very foon ; and he abided by that ccnduft, however fcvere it ap- peared to him. He took a journey to Paris, nor could he forbear calling at her houfe^to enquire how me did. He was told, that (he faw nobody, and that fhe had even given ilridl orders that they ihould not trouble her with an account of any that might come to fee her. Tho very firicl orders, perhaps, were given with a view to the duke, and to prevent her hearing him fpoken of; but he was tpo much in love to be able to live fo abfolutely deprived of the iight of madam de Cleves ; he refolved to find the means, let the difficulty be what it would, to get out of a condition which was fo insupportable to him. The grief of that princefs exceeded the bounds of resfon ; a hufband dying, and dying on her account, and with fo much tendernefs for her, never went out of her mind : fhe continually revolved in her-thoughts what fi\e owed him, and fhe condemned herfelf for not having had a paffion for him, as if that had been a thing which depended on herfelf j fhe found no confo- lation but in the thought, that fhe lamented him as he de.ferved to be lamented, and that fhe would do nothing during ?ART IV. THE P&INCESS OF CLEVES. 141' during the remainder of her life, but what he would have been glad {he fhould have done, had he lived. She had often been thinking how he came to knew, that the duke de Nemours had been at Colomiers ; fhe could not fufpeft that the duke himfelf had told it ; though it was indifferent to her whether he had or no, fhe thought herfelf fo perfe&ly cured of the paffion fhe had had for him ; and yet fhe was grieved at the heart to think that he was the caufe of her hufband's death ; and ihe remembered with pain the fear monfieur de Cleves exprefTed, when dying, left fhe fhould marry the duke: but all thefe griefs were fwal'owed up in that for the lofs of her hufband, and fhe thought fhe had no ether but that one. After feveral months the violence of her grief abated, and fhs fell into a languifhing kind of melancholy. Madam de Martigues made a journey to Paris, and conftantly viuted her during the time fhe flaid there : fhe entertained her with an account of the court, and what pafTed there ; and though madam de Cleves ap- peared unconcerned, yet ilill fhe continued talking on tha* fubjecl in hopes to divert her. She talked to her of the vifcount, of monfieur de Guife, and of all others that were diftinguifhed either in perfon or merit. As for the duke de Nemours, fays fhe, I do not know if ftate-affairs have hot taken pof- feffion of his heart in the room of galantry ; he is abundantly lefs gay than he ufed to be, and feems wholly to decline the company of women ; he often takes journies to Paris, and I believe he is there now. The duke de Nemcurs's name furprifed madam de Cleves, and made her blufh ; fhe changed the difcourfe, nor did 'rn.i-.lam, de Martigues take notice of her con- cern. The next day madam de Cleves, who employed her- felf in things fuitable to the condition fhe was in, went to a man's houfe in her neighbourhood, that was famous .for working filk after a particular manner, and fhe de/igned 1 4 2 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. designed to befpeak fome pieces for herfelf. Having feen feveral kinds of his work, fhe fpied a chamber- dcor, where (he thought there were more, and defired. it might be opened : the mailer anfwered, he had not the key, and that the room was t;.ken by a man, who came there fometimes in the day-time to draw the plans and profpefts of the fine houfes and gardens that were to be feen from his windows ; he is one of the hand- fomeit men I ever fa\v, added he, and dees not look much like one hat works for his living ; whenever he comes here, I obferve he always looks towards the gar- dens and houfcs, but I never fee him work. Madam de Cleves liilened to this fiery very atten- tive iyj and what madam de Mariigues had told her of rnoniieur de Nemcurs': coming ncv. and then to Paris, (he d in her fancy to that hanclfome man, who cam? to a place fo near her hcufe ; and this gave her an idea of moniieur de Nemours endeavouring to fee her ; which raifed a diforder in her, of which fhe did not kr.ow the caufe : fhe went towards the windows to fee where they locked into, and fhe found they overlooked all her gardens, and directly faced her apartment : .and v/hen me was in her own room, fhe could eafily fee that very window where fhe was told the man came to take his profpecb.- The thought that it was the duke de Nemours, entirely changed the fituation of her mind ; fhe no longer found herfelf in that psnfive tran- quillity which fhe had begun to enjoy, her fpirits were ruffid again as with a tempeil : at lait, not being able to flay at home, fhe went abroad to take the air in a garden without the fuburbs, where fhe hoped to be alone; fhe walked about a great while, and found no likelihood of any one's being there. Having crolTed a little wildernefs, fhe perceived ?.t fke end of the walk, in the moll remote part of the garden, a kind cf .a bower open on all fides, and went towards it ; when fhe v. r.s near, fhe faw a man lying en the bjeuches, who feemed funk into a deep contemplation, PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 143 contemplation, and fhe difcovered it was the duke de Nemours : upon this fhe flopped ihort; but her attend- ants made fbme noife, which routed the duke cut of his muring : he took no notice who the perfons were that difturbed him, but got up in order to avoid the company that was coming towards him ; and making a low bow, which hindered him from feeing thofe he falu'ted, he turned into another walk. If he had known whom he avoided, with what eager- nefs would he have returned !- But he walked dc\vn the alley, and madam de Cieves faw him go out at a back- door, where his coach waited for him. What an efFecl did this tranfient view produce in the heart of madam de Cieves ! What a flame rekindled out of the embers of her love, and with what violence did it burn ! She went and fat down in the fame place from which mon- fieur de Nemours was newly rifen, and feemed per- fectly overwhelmed :, his image immediately pofTerTed her fancy, and fhe coniklered him as the moil amiable perfon in the world, as one who had long loved her with a paflion full of veneration and fincerity, flighting all for her, paying refpefl even to her grief, to his own torture, labouring to fee her without a thought of be- ing feen by her, quitting the court (though the court's delight) to come and look on the walls where fhe was mut up, and to pafs his melancholy hours in places where he could not hope to meet her ; in a word, a man whofe attachment to he_r alone merited returns of love ; and for whom fhe had fo flrong an inclination, that fhe mould have loved him, though fhe had not been beloved by him ; and befides, one whofe quality was fuitable to her's : all the obftacles that could rife from duty and virtue were now removed, and all the trace that remained on her mind of their former condi- tion, was the pafTion the duk? de Nemours had for her, and that which fhe had for him. All thefe ideas were new to her ; her affliction for .the death of her hufbar.d had left her no room for thoughts !44. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PA*T JV, thoughts of this kind ; but the fight of monfieur de Ne- niours revived them, and they crowded again into her mind ; but when (he had taken her fill of them, and remembered that this very man, whom me confidered as a proper match for her, was the fame me had loved in her huflmnd's life-time, and was the caufe of his death, and that on his death-bed he had expreffed a fear of her marrying him ; her fevere virtue was fo fhocked at the imagination, that fhe thought it wo^ld be as cri- minal in her to marry monfieur de Nemours now, as it was to love Jiim before : in fhort, me abandoned herfelf to thefe refieftions fo pernicious to her happiaefs, and fortified herfelf in them by the inconveniency which fhe forefaw \vouii attend fuch a marriage. After two hours ftay in this place fhe returned home, convinced that it \vr.s indifjpenfably her duty to avoid the light of the mar fhe loved. But this convi&ion, which was the effeft of reafon and virtue, did not carry her heart along with it; her heart was fo violently fixed on the dukede Nemours, that fhe became even an objecl of ccmpaffion, and was wholly -deprived of reft. Never did fhe pafs a night in fo uneafy a manner; in the morning, the firft thing fhe did was to fee if there was any body at the window which looked towards her apartment ; fhe faw there monfieur tie Nemours, and was fo furprifed upon it, and with- drew fo haftily, as made him judge ihe knew him ; he h'.id often v/ifaed to be feen by her ; ever fince he had found cut that method of feeing her, and when he had no hopes of obtaining that fatisfaclion, his way was to go to mule in the garden where fhe found him. Tired at laft with fo unfortunate and uncertain a con- dition, he refclved to attempt fomething to determine his fate: What mould I wait for ? faid he. I have long known fhe loves me; fhe is free; fhe has no duty now to plead againft me ; why fliould I fubmit myfelf to the hardfhip of feeing her, without being feen by her or fpeaking to her? Is it pofTible for love fo absolutely t have PART 1Y. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 145 have deprived me of reafon and courage, and to have rendered me fo different front what I have been in all my other amours ? It was fit I mould pay a regard to madam de Cleves's grief; but I do it too long, and I give her leifure to extinguilh the inclination Ihe had for me. After thefe reflections, he confidered what meafure* he ought to take to fee her ; he found he had no longer any reafon to conceal his paffion from the vifcount de Chartres ; he refolved to fpeak to him of it, and to com- municate to him his defign with regard to his niece. The vifcount was then at Paris, the town being ex- tremely full, and every body bufy in preparing equi- pages and drefles to attend the king of Navarre, who was to conduft the queen of Spain : moniieur de Ne- mours went to the vifcount, and made an ingenuous confeffion to him of all he had concealed hitherto, ex- cept madam de Cleves's fentiments, which he would cot feem to know. The vifcount received what he told him with a great deal of pleafure, and affured him, that though he wa not acquainted with his fentiments on that fubjeil, h had often thought, fmce madam de Cleves had been a widow, that (he was the only lady that deferved him, Monfieur de Nemours in treated him to give him an op- portunity of fpeaking to her, and learning what difpo* lition Ihe was in. The vifcount propofed to carry him to her houfe ; but the duke was of opinion me would be fhocked at it, be*- caufe as yet me faw nobody ; fo that they agreed, it would be better for the vifcount to afk her to come to him, under fome pretence, and for the duke to como to them by a private Hair-cafe, that he might not be ob- ferved. Accordingly this was executed; madam d Cieves came, the vifcount went to receive her, and led her into a great clofet at the end of his apartment: fome time after monfieur de Nemours came in, as by chance. Madam de Cleves was in great furprize to fee him ; QIC VOL. II. H 146 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. blufhed, and endeavoured to hide it. The vifcount at firlt fpoke of indifferent matters, and then went out, as if he had fome orders to give, telling madam de Cleves he muft defire her to entertain the duke in his ftead, and that he would return immediately. It is impoffible to exprefs the fentiments of monfieur de Nemours and madam de Cleves, when they faw themfelves alone, and at liberty to fpeak to one another, as they had never leen before : they continued filent a while; at length, faid monfieur de Nemours, Can you, madam, pardon the vifcount for giving me an oppor- tunity of feeing you, and fpeaking to you, an oppor- tunity which you have always fo cruelly denied me? I ought not to pardon him, replied me, for having forgot the condition I am in, and to what he expofes my repu- tation. Having fpoke thefe -words, me would have gone away; but monfieur de Nemours Hopping her, Fear not, madam, faid he ; you have nothing to appre- hend; nobody knows I am here; hear me, madam,, hear me, if not out of goodnefs, yet, at leaft, for your own fake^, and to free yourfelf from the extravagancies which a paffion I am no longer mailer of will infallibly hurry me into. Madam de Cleves now firrt. yielded to the inclination me had for the duke de Nemours, and beholding him with eyes full of foftnefs and charms, But what can you hope for, fays fhe, from the complai- fance you defire of me ? You will, perhaps, repent that you have obtained it, and I mall certainly repent that J have granted it. You deferve a happier fortune than you have hitherto had, or than you can have for the fu- ture, unlefs you feek it elfewhere. I, madam, faid he,, feek happinefs any where clfc ! Or, is there any happi- nefs for me, but in your love ? Though I never fpoke of it before, I cannot believe, madam, that you are not acquainted with my paffion, or that you do not (know it to be the greateft and molt fincere that ever was : What trials has it fuffered in things you are a flranger $o ! What trials have you put it to by your rigour ! ?ART IY. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVIS. 147 Since you are defines I mould open myfelf to you, anfwered madam de Cleves, I will comply with your delire, and I will do it with a lincerity that is rarely to be met with in perfons of my fex : I mail not tell you that I have not obferved yourpaffion for me; perhaps you would not believe me if I mould tell you fo; I con- fefs, therefore, to you, not only that I have obferved it, but that I have obferved it in fuch lights as you yourfelf could wifh it might appear to me in.- And if you have feen my paffion, madam, faid he, is it poffible for you not to have been moved by it ? And may I venture to afk, if it has made no imprefiion on your heart? You mould have judged of that from my conduct, replied fhe j but I mould be glad to know what you thought of it. I ought to be in a happier condition, replied he, to ven- ture to inform you ; my fortune would contradict what I mould fay ; all I can tell you, madam, is, that I heartily wifhed you had not acknowledged to moniieur de Cleves what you concealed from me, and that you had concealed from him what you made appear to me. How came you todifcover, replied me, blufhing, that! acknowledged any thing to monfieur de Cleves? I learned it from yourfelf, madam, replied he; but that you may the better pardon the boldnefs I mewed in iiftening to what you 'faid, remember if I have made art ill ufe of what I heard, if my hopes rofe upon it, or if I was the more encouraged to fpeak to you. Here he began to rdate how he had overheard her converfation with monfieur de Cleves; but fhe inter- rupted him before he had nn.imed. Say no more of it, faid ilie, I fee how you came to be fo well informed ; I fufpefted you knew the bufmefs but too well at the queen-dauphin's, who learned this adventure from thofe you had imrufted with it. Upon this monfieur de Nemours informed her in what manner the thing came to pals. No excufes, fays me ; 1 have long forgiven you, without being informed how it was brought about; but fince you have learned from "Hz nay I 4 8 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. my own felf what I defigned to conceal from you all my life, I will acknowledge to you, that you have infpired me with fentiments I was unacqupjnted with before I faw you, and of which I had fo (lender an idea, that they gave me at firft a furprize which (till added to the pain that conftantly attends them : I am the lefs afliamed to make you this confeffion, becaufe I do it at a time when I may do it without a crime, and becaufe you have feen that my conduft has not been governed by my affeftions. Can you believe, madam, faid monfieur de Nemours, falling on his knees, but I (hall expire at your feet with joy and tranfpcrt? I have told you nothing, faid (he, fmiling, but what you knew too well before. Ah! madam, faid he, what a difference is there between learning it by chance, and knowing it from yourfelf, and feeing that you are pleafed I know it! It is true, anfwered me, I would have you know it, and I find a pleafure in telling it you; I do not even know if I do not tell it you more for my own fake, than for yours; for, after all, this confeffion will have no confequences, and I (hall follow the auftere rules which my duty impofes upon me. How, ma- dam! you are not of that opinion, replied monfieur de Nemours ; you are no longer under any obligation of duty; you are at liberty; and if I durft, I mould even tell you, that it is in your power to aft fo, that your duty (hall one day oblige you to preferve the fentiments you have for me. ---My duty, replied (he, forbids me to think of any man, but of you the laft in the world, and for reafons which are unknown to you. Thofereafons, perhaps, are not unknown to me, anfwered he; but they are far from being good ones. I believe that mcn- fieur de Cleves thought me happier than I was, and imagined that you approved of thofe extravagancies which my pafiion led me into without your approbation. Let us talk no more of that adventure, faid (he ; I annot bear the thought of it, and the confequences of it PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. . 14* it have been fuch, that it is too melancholy a fubjeS to be fpoken of; it is but too true, that you were the caufe of monfieur de Cleves's death ; the fufpicions which your inconfiderate conduct gave him coil him his life, as much as if you had taken it away with your own hands : judge what I ought to h?.ve done, had you two fought a duel, and he been killed; I know very well, it is not the fame thing in the eye of the world ; but wirh me there is no difference, fince I know that his death was owing to you, and that it was on my account. Ah ! madam, faid monfieur de Nemours, what phantom of duty do you oppofe to my happinefs? What, madam! lhall a vain and groundlefs fancy hinder you from making a man happy, for whom you have an inclina- tion? What! have I had fome ground to hope I might pafs my life with you ? Has my fate led me to love tha mod deferving lady in the world ? Have lobferved in her all that can make a miftrefs adorable? Has me had no diflike to me? Have I found in h?r conduft every thing which I could wilh for in a wife? For, in fhort, madam, you are perhaps the only perfon in whom thofe two chara&ers have ever concurred to the degree they are in you; thofe who marry miftrefies by whom they are loved, tremble when they marry them, and cannot but fear left they fnould obferve the fame conduft towards others, which they obferved towards them ; but in you, madam, I can fear nothing ; I fee nothing in you but matter of admiration : have I had a profpedl of fo much felicity, for no other end but to fee it obftru&ed by you ? Ah! madam, you forget, that you have diitinguimed me above other men ; or rather, you have not diftin- guiflied me; you have deceived yourfelf, and I have flattered myfelf. You have not flattered ycurfelf, replied me; the rea- fons of my duty would not perhaps appear fo ftrong to me, without that dillin&ion of which you doubt; and it is that which makes me apprehend unfortunate confe- quences from your alliance. -I have nothing to anfvver, H 3 madam, 150 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PA&T IV. madam, replied he, when you tell me you apprehend un- fortunate confequences ; but I own, that after all you have been pleafed' to fay to me, I did not expeft from you fo cruel a reafon. The reafon you fpeak cf, replied madam de Cleves, is fo little difobliging as to you, that I do not know how to tell it you. Alas! madam, faid he, how can you fear I fhould flatter myfelf too much, after what you have been faying to me ? I mail continue to fpeak to you, fays fhe, with the fame fincerity with which I begun, and I will lay afide that delicacy and rcferve that modelry obliges one to in a nrftconverfation ; but I conjure you to hear me without interruption. I think I owe the affeftion you have for me, the poor recompence not to hide from you any of my thoughts, and to let you fee them fuch as they really are; this, in all probability, will be the only time I mail allow my- felf the freedom to difcover them to you ; and I cannot confefs without a blufh, that the certainty of not being loved by you, as I am, appears to me fo d/eadful a mis- fortune, that if I had not invincible reafons grounded on my dirty, I could not refolve to fubjecl; myfelf to it ; I know that you are free, that I am fo too, and that circumftances are fuch, that the public, perhaps, would have no reafon to blame either you or me, mould we unite ourfelves for ever ; H)ut do men continue to love, when under engagements Tor life? Ought I to expecl a miracle in my favour? And mail I place myfelf in a condition of feeing that paffion come to an end, in which I fhould place all my felicity ? Monfieur de Cleves was, perhaps, the only man in the world capable of continuing to love after marriage ; it was my ill fate that I was not able to enjoy that happinefs ; and, perhaps, his paf- fion had not lafled, but that he found none in me; but I fliould not have the fame way of preferving yours; |J even think your conftancy is owing to the obftacles you have met with ; you have met with enough to animate you to conquer them ; and my unguarded aftions, or what you learned by chance, gave you hopes enough KOt ?ART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 151 not to be difcouraged. Ah ! Madam, replied monfieur de Nemours, I cannot keep the filence you enjoined me ; you do me too much injuftice, and make it appear too clearly that you are far from being prepofTefled in my favour.-! confefs, anfwered me, that my paffionsmay lead me, but they cannot blind me ; nothing can hinder me from knowing that you are born with a difpofition for*~galantry, and have all the qualities proper to give fuccefs ; 'you have already had a great many amours, and you will have more ; I mould no longer be fae you placed your happinefs in ; I mould fee you as warm for another as you had been for me ; this would afHift me, and I am not fure I mould not have the torment of jealoufy : J have faid too much to conceal from you, that you have already made me know what jealoufy is ; and that I fuffered fuch cruel inquietudes the evening the queen gave me madam de Themines's letter, which, it was faid, was addreffed to you, that to this moment I retain an idea of it, which makes me believe it is th worft of all ills. There is fcarce a woman but out of vanity or incli- nation deiires to engage you ; there are very few whom you do not pleafe, and my own experience would make me believe, that there are none whom it is not in your power to pleafe : I mould think you always in love and beloved, nor mould I be often miftaken ; and yet in this cafe, I fhould have no remedy but patience j nay, I queftion if I mould dare to complain. A lover may be reproached ; but can a hufband be fo, when one has nothing to urge, but that he loves one no longer } But admit I could accuftom myfelf to bear a misfortune of this nature, yet how could I bear that of imagining I conltantly faw monfieur de Cleves accufkig you of hit death, reproaching me with having loved you, with having married you, and mewing me the difference be- twixt his affe&ion and yours ? It is impoffible to over- rule fuch itrong reafons as thefe ; I muft continue in the condition I am in, and in the refolution I have taker* H 4 never j 5 z THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. never to alter it. Do you believe you have the power to do it, madam ? cried the duke de Nemours : Do you think your refolution can hold out againft a man who adores, and who has the happinefs to pleafe you ? It is more difficult than you imagine, madam, to refill aper- fon who pleafes and loves one at the fame time ; you have done it by aufterity of virtue, which is almoft without example; but that virtue no longer oppofes your inclinations, and I hope you will follow them in fpite of yourfelf. I know nothing can be more diffi- cult than what I undertake, replied madam de Cleves ; I diftruftmy ftrength in the midft of my reafons ; what I think I owe to the memory of monfieur de Cleves, would be a weak confideration, if not fupported by the intereil of my eafe and repofe ; and the reafons of my repofe have need to be fupported by thofe of my duty; but though I diftruft myfelF, I believe I fhall never overcome my fcruples, nor do I fo much as hope to overcome the in- clination I have for you ; that inclination will make me unhappy, and I will deny myfelf the fight of you, whatever violence it is to me. I conjure you, by all the power I have over you, to feek no occafion of feeing me ; I am in a condition which makes that criminal which might be lawful at another time ; decency for- bids all commerce between us. Monfieur de Nemours threw himfelf at her feet, and gave a loofe to all the violent emotions with which he was agitated ; he ex- prefled both by his words and tears the livelielt and moft tender paffion that ever heart was touched with : nor was the heart of madam de Cleves infenfible ; me look- ed upon him with eyes fwelled with tears. Why was it, cries me, that I can charge you with monfieur de Cleves's death ? Why did not my firft acquaintance with you begin fmce I have been at liberty ? or why did not I know you before I was engaged ? Why does Fate fepa- rate us by fuch invincible obftacles ? There arc no obftacles, madam, replied monfieur de Nemours ; it is you alone oppofe my happinefs ; you impofe on your- felf PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 153 - felf a b.w which virtue and reafon do not require you to obey. It is true, fays fhe, I facrifice a great deal to a duty which does not fubfift but in my imagination ; have patience, and expeft what time may produce ; monfieur de Cleves is but juft expired, and that mourn- ful objefl is too near to leave me clear and diftindl views ; in the mean time, enjoy the fatisfaftion to know you have gained the heart of a perfon, who would never have loved any one,, had me not feen you. Believe the inclination I have for you will laft for ever, and that it will be uniform and the fame, whatever becomes of me. Adieu ! faid me ; this is a converfation I ought to blufh for; however, give an account of it to the vifcount ; I agree to it, and defire you to do it. With thefe words fhe went away, nor could monfieur de Nemours detain her. In the next room fhe met with the vifcount, who feeing her under fo much concern would not fpeak to her, but led her to her coach without faying a word. He returned to monfieur de Nemours, who was fo full of joy, grief, admiration, and of all thofe affeftions that attend a paffion full of hope and fear, that he had not the ufe of his reafon. It was a long time ere the vifcount could get from him an ac- count of the converfation ; at laft the duke related it ta him ; and monfieur de Chartres, without being in love, no lefs admired the virtue, wit, and merit of madam de Cleves, than did monfieur de Nemours himfelf. They began to examine what ifTue could reafonably be hoped for in this affair ; and, however fearful the duke de Nemours was from his love, he agreed with the vifcount, that it was impoflible madam de Cleves mould con- tinue in the refoludon fhe was in ; they were of opinion, neverthelefs, that it was neceffary to follow her orders, for fear, upon the public's perceiving the inclination lie had for her, fhe mould make declarations, and enter into engagements, with refpeft to the world, that fhe would afterwards abide by, left it mould be thought me loved him in her hufband's life-time. H 5 Moiifieijr 154 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. Monfieur de Nemours determined to follow the king ; It was a journey he could not well excufe himfelf from, and fo he refolved to go, without endeavouring to fee madam de Cleves again from the window out of which he had fometimes feen her ; he begged the vifcount to fpeak to her : and what did he not defire him to fay in Jus behalf ? What an infinite number of reafons did he furnifh him with, to perfuade her to conquer her Scru- ples ! In fhort, great part of the night was fpent before Jie thought of going away. As for madam de Cleves, fhe was in no condition to reft : it was a thing fo new to her to have broke loofe from the reftraints (he had laid on herfelf ; to have en- dured the firft declarations of love that ever were made to her ; and to have confefTed that fhe herfelf was in love with him that made them ; all this was fo new to her, that flie feemed quite another perfon. She was furprized at what fhe had done ; fhe repented of it ; fhe was glad of it ; all her thoughts were full of anxiety and paffion : ihe examined again the reafons of her duty which ob- jlrudted her happinefs ; fhe was grieved to find them fo tfrong, and was forry that fhe had made them out fa clear to monfieur de Nemours. Though fhe had enter- tained thoughts of marrying him, as foon as fhe beheld him in the garden of the fuburbs, yet her late conver- fation with him made a much greater impreffion on her mind; at fome moments fhe could not comprehend how fhe could be unhappy by marrying him, and fhe was ready to fay in her heart, that her fcruples as to what was paft, and her fears for the future, were equally groundlefs : at other times, reafcn and her duty pre- vailed in her thoughts, and violently hurried her into a refolution not to marry again, and never to fee monfieur tie Nemours ; but this was a refolution hard to be efta- blifhed in a heart fo foftened as hers, and fo lately aban- doned to the charms of love. At .'aft, to give herfelf a Jittle eafe, fhe concluded that it was not yet neceffary tc do herfelf the violence of coming to any refolution ; and PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 155 and decency allowed her a confiderable time to de- termine what to do : however, fhe refolved to continue firm in having no commerce with monfieur de Nemours. The vifcount came to fee her, and pleaded his friend's caufe with all the wit and application imaginable ; but could not make her alter her conduft, or recal the fevere orders fhe had given to monfieur de Nemours : fhe told him, her defign was not to change her condi- tion ; that fhe knew how difficult it was to Hand to "that defign, but that fhe hoped fhe mould be able to do it. She made him fo fenfible kow far fhe was affefted with the opinion that monfieur de Nemours was the caufe of her hufband's death, and how much fhe was convinced that it would be contrary to her duty to marry him, that the vifcount was afraid it would be very difficult to take away thofe impreffions ; he did not, however, tell the duke what he thought, when he gave him an ac- count of his converfation with her j but left him as much hope as a man who is loved may reafonably have. They fet out the next day, and went after the king ; the vifcount wrote to madam de Cleves at monfieur de Nemours's requeft, and in a fecond letter, which foon. followed the firft, the duke writ a line or two in his own hand ; but madam de Cleves determined not to depart from the rules fhe had prefcribed herfelf ; and fearing the accidents that might happen from letters, informed the vifcount that fhe would receive his letters no more, if he continued to fpeak of monfieur de Ne- mours ; and did it in fo peremptory a manner, that the duke defired him not to mention him. During the abfence of the court, which was gone to conduft the queen of Spain as far as Poitou, madam de Cleves continued at home ; and the more diftant fhe was from monfieur de Nemours, and from every thing, that could put her in mind of him, the more fhe re- called the memory of the prince of Cleves, which fhe made it her glory to preferve ; the reafons jhe had not to marry the duke de Nemours appeared ftrong with refpeft to her duty, but invincible with refpeft to her H6 quiet; 156 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. quiet ; the opinion (he had, that marriage would put an end to his love, and the torments of jealoufy, which ftie thought the infallible confequences of marriage, gave her the profpecl of a certain unhappinefs if fhe confented to his defires ; on the other hand, fhe thought it Jmpoflible, if he were prefent, to refufe the moft amiable man in the world, the man who loved her, and whom fhe loved, and to oppofe him in a thing that was neither inconfiftent with virtue nor decency. She thought that nothing but abfence and diflance could give her the power to do.it ; and fhe found fhe flood in need of them, not only to fupport her refolution not to marry, but even to keep her from feeing monfieur de Nemours ; fhe refolved, therefore, to take a long journey, in order to pafs away the time which decency obliged her to fpehd in retirement j the fine eftate fhe had near the Pyrenees feemed the moft proper place fhe could make choice of; fhe fet out a few days before the court returned, and writ at parting to the vifcount, to con- jure him not to think of once enquiring after her, or of writing to her. Monfieur de Nemours was as much troubled at this journey, as another would have been for the death of his miftrefs. The thought of being deprived fo long a time of the fight of madam de Cleves grieved him to the foul, efpecially as it happened at a time when he had lately enjoyed the pleafure of feeing her, and of feeing her moved by his paffion ; however, he could do nothing but afflict himfclf, and his affliction increafed every day. Madam de Cleves, whofe fpirits had been fo much agitated, was no fooner arrived at her country-feat, but Ihe fell deiperately ill ; the news of it was brought to court ; monfieur de Nemours was inconfolable ; his grief proceeded even to defpair and extravagance ; the vifcount had much ado to hinder him from difcover- ing his paflion in public, and as much ado to keep him from going in perfon to know how fhe did ; the relation and friendfhip between her and the vifcount ferved as an excufe for fending frequent meffengers ; at laft they heard PART IV. THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. 157 heard fhe was out of the extremity of danger fhe had been in ; but continued in a languifliing malady, that left but little hopes of life. The nature of her difeafe gave her a profpeft of death, both near and at a diftance, and fhewed her the things of this life in a very different view from that in which they are feen by people in health : the neceffity of dying, to which fhe faw herfelf fo near, taught her to wean herfelf from the world, and the lingeringnefs of her dif- temper brought her to a habit in it ; yet, when me was a little recovered, fhe found that monfieur de Nemours was not effaced from her heart ; but to defend herfelf againft him, ma called to her aid all the reafons which fhe thought fhe had never to marry him ; after a long conflict in herfelf, fhe fubdued the relics of that paffion which had been weakened by the fentiments her illnefai had given her ; the thoughts of death had reproached her with the memory of monfieur de Cleves, and this remembrance was fo agreeable to her duty, that it made deep impreffions in her heart ; the paffions and engage- ments of the world appeared to her in the light, in which they appear to perfons who have more great and more diftant views. The weaknefs of her body, which was brought very low, aided her in preferving thefe fentiments ; but as fhe knew what power opportunities have over the wifeft refolutions, fhe would not hazard the breach of thofe fhe had taken, by returning into any place where fhe might fee him fhe loved ; fhe re- tired, under pretence of change of air, into a convent,- but without declaring a fettled refolution of quitting the court. Upon the firft news of it, monfieur de Nemours felt the weight of this retreat, and faw the importance of it ; he prefently thought he had ncihing more to hope, but omitted not any thing that might oblige her to re- turn ; he prevailed with the queen to write ; he made the vifcount not only write, but go to her ; but all to no purpofe. The vifcount faw her, but fhe did not tell him fhe had fixed her refolution j and yet he judged flw 15 8 THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. PART IV. fhe would never return to court. At laft monfieur de Nemours himfelf went to her, under pretence of ufmg the waters. She was extremely grieved and furprized to hear he was come, and fent him word by a perfon of merit about her, that me defired him not to take it ill, if fhe did not expofe herfelf to the danger of feeing him, and of destroying, by his prefence, thofe fentiments fhe was obliged to preferve ; that fhe defired he mould know, that having found it both againft her duty and peace of mind to yield to the inclination fhe had to be his, all things elfe were become fo indifferent to her, that Jhe had renounced them for ever ; that fhe thought only of another life, and had no fentiment remaining as to this, but the defire of feeing him in the fame difpofitions Ihe was in. Monfieur de Nemours was like to have expired in the prefence of the lady who told him this ; he begged her a thoufand times to return to madam de Cleves, and to get leave for him to fee her ; but fhe told him, the princefs had no^ only forbidden her to come back with any mefl'age from him, but even to report the conver- fation that mould pafs between them. At length, monfieur de Nemours was obliged to go back, oppreffed with the heavieft grief a man is capable of, who has loft all hopes of ever feeing again a perfon whom he loved not only with the moft violent, but moft natural and . fincere paffion that ever was ; yet ftill he was not utterly difcouraged, but ufed all imaginable methods to make her alter her refolution ; at laft, after feveral years, time and abfence abated his grief, and extinguifhed his paflion. Madam de Cleves lived in a manner that left no probability of her ever returning to court ; fhe fpent one part of the year in that religious houfe, and the other at her own, but ftill continued the aufterity of retirement, and conftantly employ 'd herfelf in ex- ercifes more holy than the fevereft convents can pre- tend to ; and her life, though it was fhort, left ex- amples of inimitable virtues. . THE END. THE FRUITLESS ENQUIRY: WRITTEN BY MRS. H A Y W O O D. CHARACTER OF THE FRUITLESS ENQJJIPYj AND ANECDOTES OF ITS AUTHOR, . BY THE EDITOR. E following pages are felec~led from a Novel* ider the fame title, and from which I have only made extracts j as fome of the ftories it con- tains are inconfiftent with the plan of this work, as being either grofs in the fubj eels, or indelicate in the exprcfiion. * By Mrs. Eliza Haywood, a voluminous novelift, born in 1696. In the early part of her life flie wrote a number of loofe tales, and dealt a good deal in perfonal (lander. Mrs. Manley's Atalanth gave her a hint, upon which fhe framed The Court of Carimania, and the new Utopia, with other pieces of the fame nature. She attempted dramatic writing,, and acting alfo ; but met with little fuccefs in either. However, fne fhewed herfelf a writer of great ingenuity in the manner of treating her fubjects ; but her latter works, among which this is one, have made proper atonement for the indelicacy and immorality of her former writings, as fhe appears to- be a ftrorjg advocate on the fide of Decency and Virtue. The FfmaleSpeEtator, The Hijlory ofBetfy Thought- lefs, Jemmy mid '"jenny Jeflamy, The In-vlfible Spy, and A Prefentfor a Servant-maid, are among this latter ciafs of her comnofitions. She died in 1759. THE CHARACTER, &c. The idea on which this piece is founded, has a, good deal of merit in it; as tending to abate envy, and conciliate content; by fhewing, in a variety of inftances, that appearances are frequently fallacious; that perfect or permanent happinefs is not the lot of mortal life ; and that peace of mind and rational enjoyment are only to be found in bofoms free from guilt, and from intimate connection with the guilty.. THE FRUITLESS ENQJJIRY, A Certain nobleman of Venice, dying in the prime of his years, left behind him a widow called Miramillia, juftly efteemed one of the moft lovely women of the age, and a little fon not exceed- ing fix years dU ; fo dear to his mother, that though her beauty, wealth, and accomplifhments, attracted the lo/e and admiration of almoit as many as beheld her, and the nobieil youth in the republic defired her in marriage; yet did Ihe decline all the advantages offered her for" this darling of her foul, and refolded to continue the remainder of her days in a {ingle ftate ; fearing, that in bellowing herfelf, me mould aifo be obliged to relinquifti the power fte had of managing the eftate for him, to one who would lefs confult his interelh Never was mother more anxious for the wel- fare of a child, nor never did any child feem more to deferve the affeftions of a parent ; fo greatly did he improve on the education fhe allowed him, that his behaviour was her pride, as well as pleafure : as he encreafed in years, he encreafed alfo in every manly grace. There was no art, no fcience, no exercife, be- fitting 164 THE FRUITLESS fitting his quality, of which he was not a perfect matter ; and in many of them he excelled thofe whofe profeflion it was to inftrudl. Till he arrived at the age of twenty, did his happy mother glory in maternal fondnefs ; and was fo far from believing (he ever mould have reafon to do other- wife, that me fcarce knew how to pity the misfortunes of thofe who lamented the undutifulnefs or ill manage- ment of their children :. hut, alas ! on how weak a foundation do all human joys depend, and how little ought we to triumph in the tranfient bleffings of fate, which in a moment may vanim, and in their room as poignant ills arife ! In the height of her fatisfaftion-, juft when fhe had feen the promifing bloom of this young man arrive at maturity, and every wifh was to its height completed, then all at once did mifery fall on her, and me became more wretched than ever fh had been bleft. Early one morning did this beloved fon go out, as was frequently his cuftom, to indulge meditation in a fine wildernefs adjacent to the caftle ; but night not bringing him home, nor the enfuing day, nor many others affording any tidings of him, the fears and per- plexities of a mother fo tenderly fond as was his, are not to be conceived. Through every part of the city fhe fent in fearch of him, but all her meffengers re- turned without fuccefs ; he could not be heard of, nor could any perfon be found that had feen him : days, weeks, and months paft on in this manner, and quite raving with her griefs, fhe fell into a fort of fuperfti- tious credulity, which before fhe had defpifed ; it was that of applying to fortune-tellers, in a vain expecta- tion of knowing that from man, which Heaven permits not the difcovery of even to the angels themfelves. But her good fenfe not fuffering her to place any great dependance on what they faid, fhe no fooner heard the predictions of one, than fhe went to another, comparing them together, believing that if they agreed,,- they E N QJJ I R Y. 165 they might be worthy of belief; but being different, one telling her he would fpeedily return, another that he was dead, a third that he was married to a woman unworthy of him ; but a fourth, wifer than the reft, would not pretend to give her any direct account, but only told her, that to engage his return, fhe mould procure a fhirt made for him by the hands of a perfon fo completely contented in mind, that there was no wifh but that fhe enjoyed. If you can prevail on fuch a woman to undertake this little piece of work, faid he, before it be finifhed, you will infallibly hear news of your fon ; but you muft be certain, continued he, that the perfon you employ be perfectly at eafe ; if the leaft anxious thought, the moft minute perplexity, difcontent, or care, ruffles her mind, or ever throws a heavinefs upon her fpirits, the work will be of no effeft. Though this afflicled mother had too much good fenfe to imagine fuch a thing could be of any confequence to the obtaining her defires, yet the in- chantment being of fb innocent a nature, Ihe refolved to make the experiment; and to that end, fet herfelf to think which of her acquaintance was the moft qua- lified for this important piece of fempftry. One fhe knew had vaft poiTeffions, all the grandeur which the world idolizes, beauty, wit, health, and a fweetnefs -of difpofition, which rendered her capable of enjoying thofe bleffings ; but then fhe was married to a man of fo perverfe a nature, that it took up her whole ftudy to pleafe him ; and the little fuccefs fhe had in that en- deavour, frequently gave her many bitter perturbations. Another, in all appearance, was poffeft of every thing that can be wifhed, a wealthy and good hufband, many fine children, and the general efteem and good cha- racter of the world ; but fhe had made this lady the confidante of her paflion for a young gentleman ; and in that criminal inclination were all the pleafures of her life overwhelmed and loft. One had an undutiful fon, another an unfortunate daughter, a third an extrava- gant 166 THE FRUITLESS gant hufband, a fourth an unloving one, a fifth was diflrafted with a flep-dame's overlooking eye, a fixth had married a man, whofe children by a former ven- ture were an eternal plague upon her fpirits ; one had fo much ready caih, that me was always in care how to bellow it with the leafl hazard, and moft advantage ; another was perplexed for want of it, and the exigencies to which perfons in that misfortune are reduced. Few there were to whom me could apply with any hope of iaccefs, if it were really truth what the prediftor had endeavoured to make her believe : but among the num- ber of thofe was a lady whofe name was Anziana ; me was married to one of the chief of the nobility, a man fcarce to be equalled for his perfonal charms, or the improvements of education ; and one who, both before ajid after his marriage, had given a thoufand teflimo- nies of the moft tender regard for her : never did any .pair appear to live together in a more perfect harmony ; three fine fons and two beautiful daughters were the product of their loves, all lovely, all hopeful, and pro- tmifing a. future age of happinefs to their glad parents. Where could contentment dwell, if not in fuch a family ? Who can be completely bleft, if Anziana was not ? To her therefore it was that me refolved to have recourfe., and doubted not but to receive from her friendfhip that favour which fhe imagined was in her power to grant. In purfuance of this defign, me again fet herfelf at her long neglected toilet, and refumed thofe ornaments which till now fhe had not worn fmce the lofs of her dear fon ; and when dreft with all her former exaftnefs, went to the houfe of Anziana, where fhe was received by that lady with all the demon ftrations imaginable of a fincere friendfhip; but when fhe related to her the errand on which fhe came, fhe looked extremely fur- prized, ajtid would fain have perfuaded her from giving any adherence to advice which feemed fo perfeftly chi- merical ; but the other continuing to infill on it, and appearing 4 E N QJJ I R V. 167 Appearing fomevvhat refentful that fhe mould refufe fo fmall a trouble, when it would do her fo great a piece of fervice ; at laft (he confented to make the trial, on condition flie would remain in her houfe for the fpace of eight days : at the end of which time, faid {he, if you perceive nothing which may render me incapable of ferving you in the way you mention, I mall willingly undertake it. The forrowful mother could not but comply with fo reafonable a requeft, and in doing fo, .found every thing agreeable to that character of perfect tranquillity, to which the prognofticator had directed. her. She now no longer doubted but me mould be able to make the experiment, if there were any dependance io be placed in the words of thefe foothfayers. Never had me beheld a family better managed ; every thing was done with that eafe, that regularity, and concord, that bufinefs was a pleafure : the fervants feemed to .obey more through love than fear, the miftrefs had not the trouble of commanding; fo ready were they to obferve her very looks and motions, that what me would have done, was fo before her deiire could form itfelf into words : the children obferved the fame deco- rum ; but thefe were petty felicities compared with that which flowed from a conjugal affeftion, fo tender, fo obliging, fo ardent, and unchangeable, as that appeared to be between Anziana and her hufband count Caprera : .never were endearments carried to a higher pitch., nor had more the look of fincerity. In fine, all that can Jae conceived of felicity was theirs, and was thought an exception to that general rule, that perfect happinefs is not to be found on earth. The time prefixed by Anziana being elapfed, herdif- treffed vifitor entreated the performance of her promife ; to which the other, in a melancholy accent, thus replied: Alas ! faid fhe, how liable are we to be deceived by appearances ! How little does the outward mow de- monftrate, fometimes, the real difpofition of the heart ! I, who feem the moft fortunate of my fex, am indeed the i6S THE FRUITLESS the moft wretched ; nor is it in the power of fate t load me with fuperior ills. But to eafe the amaze- ment in which my words have involved you, follow me, and you (hall be informed in full of the whole difmal caufe. As me fpoke this, fhe turned haftily towards the door of the chamber, and the other going after her as me had deiired, they patted through feveral rooms, till they came to a long gallery, at the end of \vhich was a clofet. There Anziana flopped, and taking a key out of her pocket, opened it, and went in, defiring'the other to do the fame : but with what horror and affright was her foul invaded, when, as foon as fhe entered, the firft objeft that prefented itfelf to her, was the fkeleton of a man, with arms extended wide, as if in aft to feize the adventurous gazer, and on the breait was fixed a label ; which, as foon as fhe was enough recovered from that terror which fo unex- pected and fo fltockiiig a fight had plunged her in, to be able to look upon, Anziana took her by the hand, and bringing her nearer, fhewed it her, containing thefe words, which to make them yet more dreadful, were writ in blood. " Remember, Anziana, it is for your crime that I " am thus ; and let a juft contrition take up your en- " fuing days, and peace be ever a flranger to your tf foul, till you become as I am !" Let the reader imagine himfelf in this lady's place, and he will then be able to conceive fome part of that aftonifhment fhe was i-n at beholding an object of this dire nature, in a houfe where nothing but mirth and chearfulnefs appeared to reign : to defcribe it, is not in the power of language ; therefore, I mail only fay, that it took from her the power of fpeech ; and though ilie paffionately longed for the explanation of fo ftrange an adventure, yet her tongue refufed to obey the dic- tates of her heart ; and by the wild confuiion of her looks, and eyes half ftarting from their fpheres, alone it was that fhe could m^ke known her wonder, or her curiofity : 4 E N Q_U I I\ Y. 169 curiofity ; but Anziana perfectly underfl.indmg what it was llie deiired, made her turn 'from that ungrateful object, and lit down by her on a couch feme cliftance from it, where flie began thus : Had I not been con- vinced of your c'lfcre ion, laid fiie, I fhould not have taken this method to fhew how improper a perfon I am to undertake the talk you came hither to employ me in : I will therefore exacl: no promifes from you of pre? ferving my fecret, nor defire any other fecurity for it than your own honour ; but as I have begun with bringing you into this clofet, which, fince thus fur- nished, has never been entered by any but myfelf, I will proceed to reveal by what ftrange means this dread- ful gueft was harboured here : but becaufe I cannot do it clearly, without going back to fome pailages of the former part of my life, you mult excufe the length of my narration ; which will at leaft be of this ferviee to you, that your own woes will iit more lightly on you, when you mall know how infinitely m:re heavy thoie are under which I labour. Thefe words drew a flood of tears from her to whom they were addrefled, as thinking it impoffible for any misfortune to exceed that which (lie fuftained ; but compofmg herfelf as well as (he could, me prepared to give attention to what the other was about to fay, who immediately began the relation fhe had promifed in thefe terms. THE HISTORY OF ANZIANA, SIGNIOR LORENZO, AND COUNT CAPRERA. T T is not unknown to you, faid ilie, that I am de- * fcended from one of the belt families in this repub- lic, and that I had a fortune equal to my birth ; I mall therefore pafs over in fiience the years of my VOL. II. I childhood,, 170 THE FRUITLESS childhood, nothing happening to me worthy of remark, till my fourteenth year : at which time, many there were who folicited me for marriage ; among the number of whom was Signior Lorenzo, a young gentleman whofe equal yet I never faw, nor can believe the whole world can produce. At firft, the deference I paid him I thought only was ov.'ing to his merit, and that all who knew him treated him with the fame. But, alas ! too foon I found my admiration proceeded from a fofter motive, and that it was love that made me fo quick- fighted to his perfections ; and had fenfe enough to diitinguifh, that though he was infinitely deferring, I faw all his graces through a magnifying glafs, and adored what ethers but approved : the infancy of love, however, affords too much pleafure to a youth- fdl heart for the efforts of reafon to be able to repel it. I fufFcred the fweet inchantnient to grow upon me, till it overwhelmed and funk all other confi der- ations ; arjd never reflecting on the difficulties which might arife to feparate us, indulged the dear delight his fociety afforded j and while I liiteried to his vows, knew neither fear nor grief: yet had I been capable of thought, how eafy had i een to me, to have fere- feen my father would not look en Lorenzo with my eyes, and that ail his accomplishments \voulJ. not hr.ve been fufficient to make up for the disparity of his birih and fortuoe ! All at once, therefore, did my misfortune come upon me ; and when I was arrived at the utmofl extreme of paffion, did I receive a command to check it, from his mouth whence there was no appcd : in fine, jufl as Lorenzo had cbtdned my pcnniOicn to de- mand me of my father, did he order me to fee him no inore ; and feverely reprimanded me for having given any encouragement to his addre/Tcs. I ciurft not but promife to obey, though Heaven knows how liule my heart v/as capable of making good my words : now did 1 begin to find there were bitters enough in love lp empoifon all the fvveets of iv ; but the difeafe had fpread E JN Q^U I R Y. 171 fpread too far to hope a cure ; nor indeed did I endea- vour at it. I apprized Lorenzo, by letter, of what had happened, and appointed to meet him the next day at the hcmfe of a p:rfon whom I made the confidant of this affair. He failed not to come ; and infc-.id of fulfilling the dictates of my duty in taking an eternal leave of him, I fuffered myfelf to be fwayed wholly by thofe of my love, and entered into the moft folemn obli- gation that vows could form, never to be but his. 1' vit ceremony which is called Marriage, is infinitely lefs binding than the repeated oaths I kneeling mode, and the curfes I imprecated on myfelf if ever I fwervcd f.'om them : death ilfelf was not to diflblve the con- tract ; but the furvivor fwore to pay the- fame regard to the memory of the deceafed as Avhen living, and in a condition to know and to return thofe proofs of fidelity. Not long after this, my father unhappily incurred the difpleafure of the fenate to fo high a degree, that' he flood in need of all the intercft he had, to preferve his eflate from being forfeited, and himfelf fent into banifhment: of all the friends that appeared fof him, count Caprera was the moft ferviceable ; and indeed it was wholly owing to his great power, and Heady adhe- rence to the caufe he had efpoufed, that my father was acquitted. So important a iervice required the moll grateful retributions ; nor was my father deficient in paying them : he offered him the half of th;;t eftate he had preferred ; "but he would accept no other recorn- pence than Anziana : he declared himfelf pcfTett of the moil violent paiTion for me, and that he had been pre- vented from difcovcring it but by the apprehenfions of his unworthinefs, till the lucky opportunity offered of conferring an obligation on my family, which, as he {aid, might give fome presence to hope he fhould net be refufed. Had my fr.ther never experienced his friendfhip, it is highly improbable there would have been any occafion for Arch a fear; the count, I mutl acknowledge, notwithflandingthe little efieft his charms I 2 have J7 2 THE FRUITLESS have been able to work on ir.c, being pofleft of every advantage thai can make marriage piecing. But there is an awe which accompanies true affeclion, and indeed is often fatal to it. It was fo, at leaft, to that the count had fcr, me, fince, had he fooner made an offering of his, heart, perhaps I never mould have difpofed of mine to Lorenzo. Then might we have all been happy, nor would this dreadful fpe&acle have diftrafted ray fight, which brings the fatal paft for ever prefent to my tor- mented mind: butfuch was the decree of all-difpofing Heaven, nor muft I dare to murmur.---With thefe words, the fwelling tears, in fpite of her efforts to the contrary, burft their paflage through her eyes, and me was fome time before fhe could recover herfelf to profecute her ftory; but when fhe did, it was in this manner : My father, refumed Ihe, was perfectly tranfported at this offer cf the count's, and without confulting my in- clination in the affair, readily prornifed I fhould be his wife, and that the marriage mould be folemnized in a few days. How terrible a furprize, therefore, was it to me, when fitting one day in my chamber alone, con- templating on the perfections of my dear Lorenzo, my father entered, and informed me what I have been jufl now relating ! I knew him pofitivein all his refoluticns, and he expreffed this on the account of the obligations he had to the count, and the honour our family would receive in an alliance with him, with an unufual warmth, and arbitrary air : I durft not utter the leaft fyllable in oppoiition to what he faid, but he favv enough in my countenance to make him know I was extremely diflatisfied at it. What ! cried he, is it with frowns and .downcaft eyes that you receive the news of fuch a blef- ling? Throw off fo perverfe a fullennefs, and prepare to treat the count, who will be here this night, with that refpeft and gratitude which his fervices demand from my family ; or refolve to be no more a part of it, but an alien for ever from my name and favour. Nothing can b ore certain, had I confeiTed the impoflibiiity there I K Y. 173- there was for me' to return the count's affection, and the obligaiionsl had laid myfeif under to Lorenzo, than that the friendihip he had for the former of them would have raifed his indignation to the utrnoic violence ;;g,ii-.iit me ; and fear at that time getting the better of my love, I fell at his feet, entreating his forglvenefs, and afiliriag him of a perfeil obedience; at \vh:ca lie appeared >.- tisfiv-d. But ean'iy perceiving I was far from b.'hig {V, ia reality, he left ir.e to :r;yiHf, believing that die belt way to calm the diforders of my foul, and make it fit to receive the imprefiion hedefired. But Oh ! when at liberty to give a loofe to thought and to reflection, Heaven only knows the agonies I fuftained ; the idea of my dear Lo- renzo, his paffionate afTcftion, the folemn contraclt we had made, the reiterated vows by which it was con- firmed, came frefh into my mind, and made me for fome moments refolve to endure all things, rather than make this double frcrifice of my love and faith: but then my father's po-.vcr, the fear of being turned out a 'beggar, and the poffibility that, ii\ fuch a difgraced and diftrefsfal ftate, Lorenzo, for whofe fake I mould be- come fo, might alfo abandon me ; the miferies of po- verty, and the unnitying world's contempt and cenfure, 'glared on my terrified imagination, and worked fo far on the timoroufnefs of my nature, as to counterbalance all that the fofter paflion could fuggeft, and even ab- folve my breach of vow. Long did I ftruggle in this painful conflict, and, wholly unable to determine to which of the prevailing dictates I ilioald yield, at la ft a medium prefented itielf, which flattered me with forne hope of evading the wretchednefs I feared, in fuiTerin^ myfeif to be overcome by either ; it was to difi'ernble a contentment in the count's addrefi'e^ ; and, by ieeming not to oppofe my father's will, gain time and opportu- nity to difappoint it totally. When the count came, I treated him with that refpeft which was due to his qua- lity, and the obligations we had received from him; nor did he expect more at his firfl vifit iVom a maid of 13 my 174 THE FRUITLESS my years; in thofe he afterwards made me, I difcovered him to be mailer of fo many perfections, that though my vcw and inclinatior.s hound me to Lorenzo, I cou'd not hc.'p thinking, that I might have been infinitely hnppy in fiich a hulband. In a word, I had all the euccm and friendfhip for him that one can have for th.e inert nmiable and defervirg brother : but this was not that fort of aiFeftion he uilhed to infpire rne with, and Jie could not forbear complaining of my coldnefs, in terms the moft moving that love and wit could form. A thcufand times have I been abcut to let him into, the fccrct of my foul, and generoufiy confefs, that I had un.wr.rily beilowed my he;.rt and faith before I knew the horour he intended me; had I dene ib, I might have fuved that dreadful fcene which too fcon enfued. But fhr.rnp , and the fear of being cxpofed to the indignation of my father, or rather my ill genius, would not fufFer rr.e to make this declaration, which alone could have been of fervice. For often fince has count Caprera pro- tefVd to ir.e in the moft folemn manner, that had he known the true ftate of my heart, he would have de- filed hip fu't, and chcfe rather to have been unhappy h'mfclf, th;.n have made me fo by an enforced mar- rbg?. But :.e, alas! was fir from gueffing at the tru:h, nor had I power to irfcrm him. But it was not fc \vi h my father. He had intelligence of the private meetings I I'.ill had with Lorenzo, and doubted not but it was the violence of my afFeftion for him, that made m,e receive the adurefles of the count with fo little plea- fure. I had till now prevailed on him to defer our mar- riage, under the pretence that time might make me en- ter into it with lefs reluctance. But he was no longer to be jut off by thefe excuf s; he bitw too well my fecret, and was reiblved to difappoiut whatever intentions I n.ight have in favour of my paluo". Coming one morn.- i ig into my chamber with a flernnefs in his air and countenance, which, before he fpoke, gave me to un- deritand feme part of my mhfor.ane : Anzkna, faid E N CLU I R Y. 175 he, ycur tears, and pretended averfibn for marriage, . have hitherto perfuaded me to delay .the performance erf that promife I long fince made to count Caprera ; but I am now too well informed of the reafons which have made you blind to that happinefs Heaven offers you in a hufband of his quality and merit, and am determined that this day fhall be the laft of your continuing in a virgin ftate; or if you refufe to obey me, of being called my daughter. Chufe, therefore, either to be the molt fortunate and envied woman ia Venice by marrying with this nobleman, or quit my houfe, my name, and fight for ever, and become the molt accurll, abandoned, defpifed, and v/retched of your fex. It was to no pur- pofe that I threw myfelf at his feet, entreated, wept, almoit died before him. No rocks were more im move - able than his relentlcfs brcalt ; nor could all my pray- ers, my tears, my fwoonings, obtain even one dr.y more : as foon as he was goac out of the room, I fent my woman, who was privy to my moil fecret thought , in fearch of Lorenzo, to whom I ordered her to relate the whole truth of what had paffed ; refolving, if he gave any encouragement to my elopement, to leave my father's houf?, and dare all the miferies lie had threa- tened me with, rather than become falfe to my love and vows; but, unfortunately for both, he was gone that imrn'nT; to the houfe of a relation, who lived at a good diftance from Venice, and had fent for him on fome extra- ordinary bufinefs. What could I now do? Towhom could I have recourfc ? or what fecurity for protection from the infults of a barbarous world ? Much had I heard of th incouflancy and thanklefsnefs of faithlefs men, and how could I be fure Lorenzo was not one of theft? That peace of mind which I muft forfeit in marrying with the count, I looked on as a trifle, when compared with th* lofs of my reputation, and the want of the neceiTaries of life : and as for the faith I had vowed to Lorenzo, I doubted not but the neceflity I was under would e.v- cufe me from a breach of it. I loved the one indeed I 4 witk 176 THE FRUITLESS with nn unquenchable atTecYion, and had but 'a bare c^ceem for the other ; it was therefore the utmoft vio- lence t;o my inclinations, even but to think of comply- ing v/ith my father's commands; but as I could forc- iee nothing but rnifery in refufmg, I was at laft deter- mine^ to do as he would have me ; and to that end fent my woman to him, hearing he was in his clofet, to let him know I was ready to obey him. But, alas ! fhe was no fooner departed with the mefTage, than the idea cf that dear loved youth rofc with its charms in my tormented foul, upbraiding me with perjury and ingra- titude, levity and cowardice of nature ; methought I fr.w him dying with defpair, and crying out to Heaven to revenge his wrongs. Fully ..pofleft with this imagi- nation, 1 was about to call mv woman back, and, true ta Jove, defj.ife all ether ills: as I was riiing from my chair with this intention, n book fell from the fhelf ; fome t hr-pp cure! to {mike it juil upon my head ; which opening, I fav/liud the title of L'l'nconftance d'Amour^ a little French novel, which I remembered to have read fome time before, and that it contained feveral little iiiilories of the ingratitude of mankind, and the little they thought themfelves obliged, even/rom the greateit conclefceniions our fex could make : I looked on this ac- cident as r, kind of warning to me, not to trail too much to their honour, and inflcad of pur'fuing my defign, be- gan to read in it; where the rlrftftory I happened to cafi my eyes on, WAS a kind of parallel with my own ; u being of a young lady who had forfook her father, friends and country, for the .dear fake of love ; yet had no focner reduced herfelf to that extremity which the want of them mull infallibly draw on, than the ungrate- ful wretch, for whom Ine was become thus rnifcruble, told her, he was ferry for what had befallen her, that he would be her friend as far as a few pieces, or rdve her a character to get a fervice if fhe were difpofed to accept cf one; but fhe could not expedl he,would marry a we man. in tier circ.umiUuces,. Jkcivc-us ! cried I, as J E N Ct U I R Y. 177 was- reading, fhould Lorenzo be of this humour, what an extravagance of wretchednefs would be rny portion, (and why faould I hope a better fate?) who pretends to love, but favs and Avears as much as heh^s done ? But put the cafe, continued I, after a little reflection, that he fhould excel his f?x as much in honour, as he does in all perfonal perfections; what happinefs could there be in fuch a Mate of obligation and dependance? Would not his friends and kindred be perpetually upbraiding him, that he had married a woman without any other dowry than her. love ? Would not 'my clothes, nay my very meat, be cavilled at, as too extravagant ? lean- net Lear the thf.'.crht, cried I again, and will purfue my refolution. It is roafon bids me, and all the foft- ening follies of my inclinations fly before his force. I v.-.'cS ;!u-.i debating \vitHn myfelf, when my woman re- turned, and told me, my father was infinitely pleafed with iny return to duty, and had fent me, t& grace^the ceremoi.y he was preparing :o folernnize that night, a . firing of diamonds for my neck, of a vaft largencft, and the rcoft glorious luftre I had ever feen. I was all my life a great odrnirer of fine things; and as it was merely the fear of being obliged to live without them, - that had made me yield to marry the count; fo this addition to thofe jny father's indulgence had before bellowed on me, greatly lengthened me in that refo- . IritiCn. To rn::ke it yet more firm, the count fent me ' by hi'; gentleman a bracelet of pearl, which an ancestor of h 13 had t.'.ken from the Turk?,, and was the mcil: orient acd ridv.'.l of any in the republic. To add to all thefc b;ats, fcvcral relatiort, v/hom my father had in- vited to be prei'cnt at the marriage, feemecl, the whole day, each to endeavour to outvie .the other in praifmg coin!: Cape.ra. '.'~'.s rf b"!v.ivlour, 'racc- fl:!ncfi pf* h:. - . . -e;-- rol'ty, i is i fufllS- Of EttOnC til::...: '...'' I 1 , (if. i 7 8 THE FRUITLESS were the only topicks of converfation ; and all agreed, that I could not but be extremely bleil in fuch a hufband. Betwixt the variety of company and difcourfe, my fpirhs were fo much hurried, that I had no leifure for reflec- tion ; and Lorenzo was either not remembered, or in fuch a manner as to be no hindrance to the complet- ing the wifhes of his rival. We were married about eigLt at night by my father's chaplain, and after a magnificent eolation put to bed. But here, what the noife and bufile of the day repelled, the filence of the night called ba : k; not Cap-era, bur Lorenzo, was now the fubjecl: of my meditations, and it was in vain that that obliging hufband repeated the vow he had given before the prieft in a more foft and endearing manner, thi.n thofe who had the ordering of the ceremony had ever tendernefs enough to form; the abfent lover took up all my thoughts ; and that reluctance with which I fuffered his embraces, was not, as he then imagined, c wing *o a virgin bafhfulnefs, but to the ardency of my wifhes for another. I now found that love had not loft the leaft ground in my heart, and having but by the extremity of my fear, been compelled a while to fcreen its influence, thofe fears removed, blazed out again; wi-.h the fame violence as ever. Never was there a mor? unhafpv bride. The night I paft in tears, and early in, the mcrning I forfook my bed, in fpite of the count's en.'eav, urs to detain mr ; and going into my clcf~iwi.Ji r..y ;..vcttir!te woman, ch.'burtnened fome part of the heavy ^nguiih of my foul in complaints : fain would I have \v itien to Lorenzo, to acquaint him with what, I had be en compelled to do, and entreat his parcon for n y b;e:.ch of vow; but could not venture to do it while he remained nt fo great a tliftance, not thinking it f-ife- to truft a letter of that confequence to the poft. With the litmolj impatience I longed for his return, flattering rr.yfelf that I fhculd be more at eafe, when he fhould let me knew he hrid fore iven rry h voluntary crime. In unbecoming the character of a \vif>, though. N QJJ i R Y. 179 though then I thought them innocent, did I linger out the days of his abfence; the count and my father omit- ting nothing which they thought might bring me into a better humour; though the latter of them, whenever he was alone, did not, fail to tell me, that he was not unacquainted with the motive of my difgult, and that if balfams failed to work, corrofives hereafter fhouid be applied. But neither threats nor perfuafions were of any eiTeft to make me alter my manner of behaviour ; and it is moft certain, that had not the count loved me to a very great degree of tendernefs, he muft have hated and defpifed me for my ingratitude, and forge tfuln~s of the itati'on to which he had raifed me. At length my fatal wifhes had fucccfs, Lorenzo re- turned to Venice ; which I no fooner was informed of, then I fent my coniidante to him with a letter whicfs contained thefe lines. " IT is needlefs to tell yon, that I have put count " Caprera in pofTeffion of that title which ought only to " be yours. 1 doubt not but you are already fulEi- tf ciently infomedof my feeming guilt ; but of my real " innocence you are not, you cannot yet be fenfible. " You know not with what feverities I was threatened " by a barbarous and inexorable father, nor can you " guefs how terrible was the conilifll endured betwixt " love and duty; be allured, you never were dearer ' than at that moment when- 1 gave myfdf for ever " from you, nor can the name of Caprera make any " change in my fentimeuts ; I am Anziana IH'l. Fate, " cruel fate, has difpoied my perfon t& another, but " the better part of me, my foul, is ever yours. Oh! " then forgive what it was impoluble to avoid, with- " out being driven to extremities, fuch as would have " made me defpair of retaining your affections, the *' only thing I ever hoped, the oniy thing I ever feared ; " yes, you mult pardon me, mult pity, and muft love " me too ; no* can 1 think that vvifh a crime again ft; 16 " him iSo THE FRUITLESS " him to whom compulsion, not inclination, gave my " hand ; but were it fo, it is here excufed by the ne- " ceflity. I have been fo much accuftomed to proofs of " your affeclion, that they make a part of my life, and " when they ceafe, the other muft infallibly be at an " end: I believe it nutimpoJible to contrive a.meeting " with you ; if fo, I charge you, do not fail to come. ".I am uiitracted till I fee you, and receive that con- " folation in my misfortunes, which it is in your power " to afford to the unhappy, but not inconftant " ANZIANA. " P. S. Write to "me by the bearer, coniiderop- " portunines of this kind arc now become fcarce ; and " if you can think of any means to fee me, more eafy " to be accomplifhed than I have yet been able to hit " upon, communicate them to this faithful girl, who " knows, as well as I, the reftraint I labour under, not " by the x obfervance of a hufband, but a jealous father.'* I ought to blufti, continued Anziana, in repeating to you the contents of this letter, which are indeed of fuch a nature, as might make the lealt cenibrious be- lieve, I had a meaning in them very different from that virtue I profefs ; but I proteil to you, with the fame finccrity as I mall anfwer Heaven, that I was wholly free from any thought of ill ; I longed indeed to fee him ; I paffionately defiredthat he would continue to love me ; and how far I might have been prevailed on by that defire and his entreaty, had I been permitted to in- dulge it in frequent converfations with him, I cannot, dare not to anfwer ; but fate thought it fufficient to make me miferable without rendering me vicious alfo, and contente,! with the facrifice I had made of my peace, fufTcred me not to refign my virtue. He received my letter net with the tranfports of rage which lexpecled ; and whatever difcontents the news of my marriage had occafioncdj they were more than balanced E N U I R Y. balanced by the pleafure he took in the willingnefs I exprell of continuing a correfpondence with him. The perfon whom I fent to him was a womau of an exceller.r penetration ; and fhe affured me, in terms as plain as the ftation fhe was in would permit her to do to a miflre ; , that Lorenzo was not that diiinterefted lover we had beiieved him to be : fhe forbore, however, to exprcfs what it was {he thought of him, till I had read his letter, the contents whereof are written in my heart, and never can be forgot ; they were in this manner : " THOUGH I might juftly enough complain of '* your want of faith in my repeated afiurances, that no " change of circumftances ihould have the power to " alter that indelible affeftion I had vowed ; yet to " prove how much beyond my own I prize your in- " tereft, I wilh you all the happinefs the marriage-bed " can yield : nor do I envy Caprora the pofTelTion of your " perfon, fince^you fo tranfpbrtingly affure me, that " your heart is mine. You have been accuitorned to " utter nothing but facred truth ; if this is fo, I fliould " be the moil unreafonable and ungrateful of my fex, " not to be highly fatisfied with my condition; for " what may not the happy he, who rules the heart, " command ! I have been talking to your obliging " meflenger, and me thinks it not impoffible that I " might be admitted into your own houfe late at '* night, when all the family are in bed; you pre- " tending an indifpoiition, to avoid lying with the " count - . I mention this method as ! he moil " fafe one for your reputation ; for though, doubtltffs, " either of us would be welcome alone at our ufcal " rendezvous; yet as you know they are people of a " fcrupulous virtue, and we ufed to meet on othe/ terms " than now we can bs fuppofed to do, they might think *' the liberty they allowed me with Anziana aTault, if " indulged v/ith the wife cf count Caprera : it will be " juit the fame, if feen together in any other place. I " fee i8z THE FRUITLESS " fee no hazard of difcovery at your own houfe ; but " if by any unexpected means fuch a misfortune mould " arrive, be uflunfd of my inviolable integrity, and that " I would fooncr lofe my life than confefs I came thither " with ycur knowledge ; or had any entertainment from " you, but fuch as drove me to defpair. I would have " you confider of it, however ; and if you approve of " this proceeding, let me know the time and hour " when I may hope to feize my Own, and triumph over *' him, who has but by force made himfelf mailer of '* the right of " The ever faithful, and " pafiionately devoted " LORENZO. " P. S. Yon mufl extremely wrong the pafiion you " have infpired, if you believe not I ihall attend a " fecond mandate with the extreme!! impatience. Re- " member that it is your part, not mine, to pity ; and " I expesfl you to mow a bright example, hew much " you dare for love and gratitude." It is irapofiible to exprefs what it was I felt at read- ing this letter ; never had 1 before experienced fuch an artonifhment ; fuch a ihock. ---What means he, cried I out, as foon as J came to the conclufion, by integrity, feizing his own, and triumphing over him who by force is become mailer of his right ? He talks as if I had invited him to wrong the count, and had no other notion of continuing a converfation with him, than to carry on a fhameful intrigue. Heaven ! how have I been deceived in the difpofition of this man ! 1 thought he loved me with fo pure a flame, that fenfual enjoy- ment never was thought on by him ; but now I find his wimes had no other aim ; and flattered by , the miilaken kindnefs of my letter, he imagines there wants only aa opportunity to gratify them ; and believes I am a praf- titute in my nature, and that the vileit pniiion has dominion E N QJLJ I R r. ifj dominion over my foul. I could not, for fome time, enough compofe myfclf, to hear what my woman had to fay ; but when me fpoke, it was as I before informed you ; and intimating, that he expe&ed nothing lefs than to poflefs me with the fame freedom, as he would have been allowed to do, were he in count Caprera's place, I was in the utmoft rageNvith myfelf, for having written in a manner to give room for fuch a thought : but as my defigns- were wholly innocent, and meant no more than to convert the love we had bore e?.ch other into as ardent a friendfliip, 1 was aihamed to think I had fo mujh tenclernefs for a man of fo low aad groveling a foul, and who now appeared to know no more of love than the meanefl part of it, that which the difference of fex excites. I defpifed him fo heartily, that I know not if what I felt for him, for fome moments, might not be called loathing :. my woman, ever faithful to my in- tereit and fame, failed not to fay every thing in her- power to heighten this dilguft ; fain would flic have per- fuaded me to fend to himno more ; or if I did, to write in fuch a manner as mould convince him of the error he had been in, and make him amamedever to fee me more- Bat this advice did not relifh with me, I Hill perfifted in my intention of feeing him ; whatever hazard I ran j 1 fancied I could make a profely te of him ; and was pleafed to think, how great a glcry it would be to con- vert this grofs and foocy flane into one all pure and elemental. The love of fouls I aimed io infpire, that fo we might enjoy a noble, diunterefted, and platonrc friendfhip. This, as far as I can be judge of my own heart, was my defign ; how far it would nave fucceed- ed, Heaven only knows, for I was, in a fatal manner, prevented from m.iking the experiment. But to pro- ceed gradually with' my flory, after the confideration of about a week, I writ to him in thcfe terms: " That I anf.vered yours no fooner, was owing to the ie uncertainty 1 was ia a . in what manner I fhould do it; 11 and. 134 THE FRUITLESS *' and I know not, if Virtue will not be offended, that " I hold any correfpondence with a man, v/hofe defigns " appear to be fo much the reverfe of thofe infpired by " her. For Heaven's fake, what has emboldened you " to hope, from the wife of count Caprera, what you " never dared to afk from Anziana ? If judging of your " innocence by my own, I defired the continuance of " your friendlhip ; which of my part actions have given " you caufe to make fo vile a contraction of my mean- " ing? How could you dare fufpect me guilty of a " diihonourable thought? I told you, indeed, that I *' wa* ftill your lover, but it was with fuch a kind of '' love that I regarded you, as angels pay to each other " in the realms of blifs ; all pure and intellectual, free " from all grofs defires or earthly appetite. If I look " on the breach of my vow to you as a crime, which, " though enforced, requires my whole life's penitence " to atone ; ho\v can you think I would voluntarily *' violate that I have made to. count Caprera before the " hclyprieit? Such love as a chafte brother may to a " filler give, I (hall rejoice to find from you ; and fuch, " and no other, can I pay to you. If you think this " worthy your acceptance, and that we can converfe to- " gether in fuch a manner as to have nothing to ap- " prehend from bur own confciences, \ve fhall be the " better enabled to contemn what the \vu/ld may fay " of us, mould cur convcrfation be difcovcred; though " not to give occasion for cenfure, I will contrive " to keep it as private as poilible. Send me word, " after you have well examined the nature of your de- " fires, if you can reftrain them within the limits I- " prefcribe, and you fhall fee with v/hat /peed I will " meet the lover of my foul. But endeavour not to d impatience which was not ufual with me ; and might, therefore, have ferved as an omen of its fatality, had J been capable of reflecting on it. She difcharged her truft with her ordinary fidelity, and was returning to me with an anfwer, when 'my father and the count, having met with fome company in the ftreet, which had delayed their taking horfe, were juft paffing by the houfe of Lorenzo, that ill-ftarred moment /is me c^me out of it. The former of them knowing well who it was that d \velt there, and fired with a jealoufy of the honour i88 THE FRUITLESS hcncur of his family, catched hold of her, and bid her make no difturbance, but go along with him. The terror and fhrprize (he was in would not fulTer her to have prefence enough of mind to form any excufe, if there had been a pofiibility of making one for fuch a vint ; and a. houfe being near, over the m :; v/hich my father had an influence, he thruii her in : my hufband follov/ed, but \vas too much overwhelmed with wonder to afk the-meaning of what he faw, 'till iny father eafed him of it, by calling the poor trem- bling wench all the opprobrious names his fury could invent; fuch as the bawd of her miilrefs's fhame, and witnefs of her difhonour ; and not doubting but me had fome letter about her, fearching for it, he im- mediately found one in her bofom, which contained enough to make him imagine himfelf confirmed in the truth of what he feared. 1 have had it too often re- peated to be capable of forgetting it j the words were thefe : *' TO go about to inform you of the raptures with " which I received yours, would be as vain anendeavour " as it is to reprefent my impatience for that dear hour, " which is to put me in poffeffion of a blcfung I have fo " long languifned for. To think that I ihall i " ziana again, and be permitted to converfe with her " as I have done when no curit ties made lir ano- " ther's right, is fuch a profufion, fuch an .extrava- " gance of delight, as is alrnoft fatal to rne ; and I " have fcarce breath to fpeak my thank;. But cur kind " confidante, who fees my tranfports, will be el . " able to rmke a defcription of them, than all I cau " fay. Depend on every thing, thou fovereign of my " foul ! that you would wiih to hnd in " The moil faithful, and moft " obfequious of mankind, " LORENZO." Thii E N C^U I R Y. i8 g This did my fisher read aloud to the count ; and by what I have told you of his paffion for me, it is cafy for you to guefs into what an excefs of jealous rage it . mult tranfpqrt him. There was all the room in the world fer him 10 believe I was carrying on an intrigue, the moft dimonourable that could he ; he knew not the conditions on which I had confented to admit him ; and 1 cannot, without being guilty of partiality, but confcfs that there was a warmth in this letter, which - had no affinity with platonic love. It is difficult to fay, whether my father or huflband were now moft in-, cenfed againfl me, or which formed the moil cruel flratagems of revenge on him by whom they imagined the.mfelves injured and affronted ; but between them, there v.as one contrived, which I know not if any age can parallel, and I am fure none can exceed : They ordered my woman to be fail bound, and locked in an upper room ; having firft, with their drawn daggers at her throat, compelled her to write a billet to me, con- taining thefe lines : " AN accident, fuch as will take up more time " than I can now afford to relate, takes me from the " honour of your fervice. It may be long before I " enjoy the happinefs of returning. I fend this, there - " fore, to let you know, I delivered the letter you " entrufted me with, fafe into the hands of Signior " Lorenzo, who cannot enjoy the bleffing you would " beflow on him ; this night being, as he fays, obliged " to attend the iffue of an affair on which his life de- " pends. I wifh you could be able to forget him " entirely, or think on him but as a man unworthy of " your favour. I am, with all refped and duty, " Your Ladyfhip's ff moft devoted and faithful fervant, " LAWH.ANA." It >9 o T H E F R U'l T L E S S It was to no purpofe that this poor creature attefted my innocence, by all the aflevemtions Ihe was capable of m.iking ; it appeared evident to them, that if I had not already been guilty in faft, I intended to be fo that night; and therefore leaving her in the houfe where they h-ines, which they ordered to be clean fcraped, and difrobed of all their item, and then fet up in the manner you fee. For that, oh Miramillia! continued flie, point- ing to the anatomy, that dreadful fpeftacle was the once gay, admired Lorenzo. Here the burfting grief broke in a fecond time on her difcourfe, and (he was compelled to give fome time to it before fhc could proceed ; which at laft Ihe did in thefc words : Little was. I capable of guefiing what had happened, yet was 1 feized with a ftrange diforder at the receipt of Lawrana'* billet; and when afterward I was told by fbir.e, E N Q_U I R Y. 191 foms, who little imagined how nearly I was interefted in the news, that Lorenzo was abfconded none kne\r where, I was not without feeling feme jealous p:mgs : it entered into my head, that my woman had fubverted me in his eftecm ; and the remonl^rances me had daily given me, not to indulge too far the tendrrnefs I had for him, confirmed me in that opinion. The girl was young, well bred, had a great deal of wit, and a more than ordinary ihare of beauty ; and to have them both miffing at the fame time, gave a kind of reafcn for this conje&ure. The letter fhe had wrote to me, took from me all fufpicion of the truth ; and it never once came into my thoughts, that what had pafTed be- tween us, had reached either my father or my hufband ; but if it had, the letters which 1 received from them every poft, would have difpelled fuch an imagination ; both writing to me with a tenderncfs which I could not have expected from them, had I believed they had been fenf:ble of my conduft. It was, it feenis, the advice of count Caprcra, that they mould diiTemble with me in this manner, till the time of my delivery, which now drew near, was arrived. At their return to Venice, nothing could I read in either of their coun- tenances, which could give me caufe to think they were difpleafed with me ; and the indulgence they mewed me, with the fuppofed infidelity of Lorenzo, by degrees abating the paffion I had for him, I grew perfectly tran- quil and eafy in my mind. Oh ! had I never been undeceived, I had been happy; but the hour which was to make me a mother being come, how prodigi- oufly was J alarmed, when I faw my hufband and my father enter the chamber, leading between them a prieft, who had formerly been my confeflbr, but had of late been abfent on a foreign vifitation : the women being defired to withdraw into another room, he began to talk to me of the duties of confeilion, and the little hope there was of finding mercy at the eternal judg- ment-feat, for any perfon who left this world without having i 9 2 THE FRUITLESS having firft received abfolution from thcfe whofe bufmefi it was to give it ; which, as iie faid, could not be done without revealing all the remembered tranfgrefTions of our lives. You are now in a condition, continued he, which brings death fo near you, that the eternal dart hangs over your head, waiting -but the Almighty's word to ftrike you to the center. Beware, then, that you have not yet fome undifcovered fin which hangs upon your confcience, nor let fhame, or fear of what any mortal power can do, prevail on you to hide it. Speak, and be forgiven ; or dying in filence, expccl no mercy. He faid much more to the fame purpofe, I being too much difortlered, between pain and wonder, to reply ; but when by repeated abjurations urged to fpeak, I affured him, that I had nothing to reveal, but what 1 had already confeffed to him, who was my fpiri- tual director. But that is not fufficient, cried my father fternly ; a vaft eftate depends on the heir you are about to bring into the world, and muft not be the portion of a fpurious race ; anfwer with the fame truth, as you muft do at that dread Tribunal, where, perhaps, you may in a few moments appear, if it be to your hufccnd, count Caprera, that the production- of this yet unborn ft owing ; and if no other man has ever prevailed on the weakness of your fex, rn prejudice cf your honour and your vow. The furprize I had been in to what this vifit tended, now gave way to an adequate rage, when I found it was occafioned by jealoufy. What ! cried I, am I fufpefted and taxed, in this cruel manner, of a crime my foul abhors r Ungrateful man ! purfued I, turning to the count, fince thoucouldft think mefalfe, believe me ftili fo ; nor can I do lefs than inflift the punifhment of doubt for fuch a wrong. So great was my fury at that time, that I believe, though my father protefted the women mould not come in to myaffiftance till I had made a more pofitive anfwer to the queftion propofed tome, I mould rather have chofen death, than have given the fatisfadion they required, if the interelt of E N QJJ TRY, 195 F my child, who they both Avore mould be an outcaft as foon as born, had" not prevailed on me ; and I at length gave my oath, that never had I yielded to the rites of love but with the count my hulband. This done, they left me, and the women were permitted to come in ; but I was fo difordered with the late treatment I had received, that it very much increafed the danger of my condition, and my life was defpaired of by every body in the room. I was, however, at lait delivered of the cldeft of thofe fons you fee here : but never mother kfs rejoiced in being fo. Inileadof the congratulations I expected from a father and a hulband, and thofe obliging tenderneffes for which women chearfully go through that dreadful moment, mine regarded me but with frowns, and fullen difcontent, civil to me but when other company was prefent. It is certain, that what- ever people may pretend, grief, without the affiftance of fome other difeafe, will never kill; it may by degrees cor- fume the fpirits, and decay the body, but not de- ilroy it immediately, elfe had not I furvived the treat- ment I then endured ; much lefs that which foon after was my lot. The count, who to that fpirit of revenge, which is natural to the Italians in general, had a more than ordinary (hare of it in his compofition ; and though he was now pretty well convinced I had not wronged him in fact, was certain in his own mind, that I had done fo in intention, and that the other alfo had not been wanting, had it not been prevented by the death of Lorenzo ; it was not in his power to inflift more on him. I muft be the next, therefore, that felt the force of his indignation ; and though the condition I had been in, had till now prevented him from letting it loofe upon me, now was the time to vent the long pent-up paffion of his ftruggling foul, and fhewme, that all the love he had borne me, was not fufficient to combat with the -dictates of his more prevailing refentment. I was fcarce able to go out of my chamber, when he told me, he had a fpeclacle to prefent me with, which had formerly" VOL. JL K afforded 194 THE FRUITLESS afforded me much fatisfaftion : and taking me by the hand, led me to this clofet, where he had ordered the bones of the unfortunate Lorenzo to be placed as they ftill remain. Though I had no more than an indiftincl' guefs at the dreadful truth ; yet an objeft fo aflonifhing, ib fhocking, had almoft deprived me of my fenfes, before I knew the caufes I had for grief. But when he related the llory, and with a barbarous pleafure dwelt on the cruel triumph be had gained, my fpirits, weakened with pain and imvarddifcontent, were grown too weak to fultain a difcevcry fo alarming ; and 1 fell motionlefs at the feet of this vindictive hufband. He made ufe of his utmoft endeavours, indeed, to recover me ; but when he had, What exclamations did I not utter ? What did I not fay of upbraiding and reproachful ? How did now all my former tendernefs for Lorenzo re- turn, and with what an extremity of deteftation look upon his murderers ! The names of father and huiband were too little to awe the prefent fury of my foul. A thoufand times I cried out to them to compleat their cruelty, and fend me to my dear Lorenzo ; nay, was but with the greatert care ?.ad diligence prevented from giving myfelf that death which they denied me. The violence of my paiiion, I think, abated that of the count's, and he began to treat- me with more mildnefs ; and at laft to endeavour, by all the ways he could in- vent, to alleviate my difcon tents ; but I refufed to liftcn to any thing he fnid : and one time, when he was more than ordinarily afliduous about me, I flung from him, and throwing myfelf on the floor, made a folemn vow, that fince he had brought Lorenzo to me, though not in a condition to Icno-.v, or reward my conftancy, no day of i'nv cnfaing life mould pafs, %vithout feme part of it being {pent with him. For many months did I re f ufe tirher to ilecp cr eat with the count, whom I never called other title, than that of murderer, ruffian, and 1: fc i.iira-Tr.1 ; but paflior?, which rage with that violence fcii.v. did, are feldom of long continuance. The ten- dtrnefs E N QJJ I R Y. 195 iernefs he now refumed for me, the penitence he now cxpreft for what the impatience of his jealoufy had made him aft, at length won me to forgive him, and endeavour to compofe myfelf. It is now ten years fince this affair happened, and time, as it decays all things, has deprived my griefs cf their former poignancy. In compliance with my vow, however, I devote an hour every day to the memory of Lorenzo, in this recefs, which is the repolitory of all that now remains of him. Lawrapa was, fome time after the difcovery, releafed of her confinement, and permitted to attend me as formerly : me is very often my companion in this fad employment, and we join the mournful accents of our fi^hs for poor Lorenzo's fate. The decorum of the world, the love I bear my children, whofe intereft it is I mould live well with their father, oblige me to feign a forgetfulnefs, as much as poffible, of what is paft ; end the real tendernefs which I believe he now again feels for me, makes him omit nothing which may in- duce me to return it. Thus is the fecret of our mis- fortune concealed from all who know us ; you are the only perfon intruded with it, and I depend wholly oa your honour for the preferving it. Here Ihe ceaied : and the other, after afluring her that ihe never would reveal one fyllableof what me had faid, told her, fhe was amazed how Ihe could wear a look of fo much ferenity, when it could not be but that her heart mult be all confufion and diforder. Cuitom, replied fne, renders all things ezfy ; even, difiimulation, to which my nature was ever moii averfe, by a long habitude 1 am now grown perfe& in ; befides, it is no inccniidcrable lightening to the weight of my afflictions, that I give a loofe to them in this clofet. My mind, difburthened of the prefling anguifh by tha vent I give it in tears, and in complainings here, hr-.s fomething of an unafreclcd chearfulnefs when 1 I this fcene of horror. You fee, therefore, Mir. that there are woes in the world, of a nature in . K a jg6 THE FRUITLESS iuperior to thofe you labour under, and yet are undif- covered even by the moft prying eyes. They had forac farther confidcrations on this head, .after which the forrowful mother took her leave, being well convinced it was not from Anziana that fhe could hope to retrieve her dear fon. At her return to her o.vn habitation, fhe fet herfelf to think whom flie Ihould aiext addrefs : and in a moment, running throogh the .v/hole clafs of her aquaintance, fhe bethought her of a lady, who had been married very young to a gentle- 3fnan fhe paflionately loved, and was as much beloved by him ; but his relations being incenfed at the match, had contrived by a ftratagem to fend him beyond feu, Co a place where he could neither write to her, nor re- ceive any letters from her. They were feparated for many years ; but the perfon who occafioned it being called to anfwer in another world for the cruelty and anjuftice he had been guilty of in this, the bridegroom was at lait returned to the longing arms of his faithful wife. The joy of fuch a meeting, joined to an afflu- ence of fortune, feemed to promife Miramillia what me had been difappointed of in Anziana ; and as fhe had been extremely intimate with her, and had com- forted her in her afflictions, fhe doubted not but fhe would be as ready to receive her now in this happy re- rerfe of her fate : fhe, therefore, made all imaginable "halle to her houfe to wifh her joy, and to kt her know the fervicc fhe believed v/as in her power to render her. She was not deceived in one part of her conjecture ; Iferia, for that was the name of the lady fhe went to i ifit, embraced her, and feemed infinitely obliged to 'her, that fhe added to the number of thofe who came io congratulate her on this fortunate turn in her affairs. ome time was taken up in difccurfes on ordinary mat- ters ; but Miramillia, being full of the buiinefs which hud brought her thither, entreated to fpeak to her in kuvnte, On which, the other taking her by the hand, led E N Q^U I R V. 197. led her into a fine garden, at the upper end of which was a grotto; which entering, as foon as they were feated, the forrowful mother began her ftory, and re- peating the words of the fortune-teller, begged me would make a trial of his truth, by undertaking this little piece of work ; for which, fte told her, me could not doubt of her being qualified, fince (lie had, in her dear hufband, all that me had ever wifhed to be pofleired of. She had no fooner concluded thefe words, than rhe other gave fo deep afigh, that thegrieved MiramiSlia, before {he fpoke, was more than half convinced her fearch was not here to end. It is a fault, anfwered lf?ria, to wifh with too much ardency, which Heaven feme- times punifhes with the utmoft feverity. I cannot fay, but that I have found more mercy, and that I cannot call myfelf unhappy, while I enjoy the fociety of my dear Montrano, my ever loved, and ever loving huf- band ; yet is there not a perfon in the world lefs fit to be employed in the talk you mention, than myfelf. Bat left you fhould fufpecl my friendlhip, I will give you a proof of it, which I intended none ever ilioulcl receive from me, that of revealing to you the truth cf my affairs. After which, I mall leave yourfelf to judge., if by my hands the enchantment you defire can pofiibly be wrought. The other, making no other reply to thefe words than a low bow, in token that die would take it as a favour, {he began the narration fne had promifed in this manner. THE HISTORY OF MONTRANO AK ISERIA. "V" O U know, faid me, that the paffion with which Montrano and myfelf were mutually infpired, hurried us to a private marriage, without obtaining the K 3 coniViU 198 THE FRUITLESS confent of Polufino, the uncle of Monrrano, and from whom alone he had any dependance ; his father having wafted the beft part of the eftate which was to defcend to him on a courtezan, of whom he \vas fo fond, that he quitted one of the beft of wives in the world, and lived wholly with her. Polufino, ho\vever, had a very plentiful fortune, and having no children of his own, he declared to everybody, that the young Montrano mould be his heir: I, on the other hand, had but a fmall dowry, and that too in hands whence I could not eafily call it out ; nothing, therefore, could be mere unadvifed, than for two. people in fuch circumftances to join in marriage : but love is deaf to reafon ; the fum of our defires being the enjoyment of each other, we locked on all the misfortunes which might arife from fuch an union, as nothing worthy our regard : we took all imaginable care* however,, to conceal what we had done from the knowledge of Polufino ; but our caution v. as ineffectual, he was informed of it immediately ; and fcarce two hours had we been in bed, before he broke into the houfe where we lay, with a great number of armed men ; who forcing Montrano to rife, tore him from my trembling arms, and bearing him z;vz--, left me in a fwoon, which had like to have been fatal to me ; for the people of the houie, furprifed at what had happened, came not into the chamber for a confider- able time; but when they did, they found ir.e on tht floor, naked, cold, and in all appearance dead : they applied things proper for my recovery, however, in cafe there were any remains of life left in me, which, to- gether with the natural ftrength of my conftitution, at laft brought me to myfelf, contrary to the expectation of all about me. I will not prolong the time by a tedious repetition of the exclamations I made ; you may believe they were exceffive, and proportioned to the greatnefs of my misfortune. But how infinitely more wretched, even than what I feared, did I find myfelf, when the next morning, by break of dav, I fent in fcr.rch of E N QJJ 1 R Y. ipj iuni, and heard, that the next moment to that in which he was raviihed from my embraces, he was fent on board a veflel, which then lay ready to fet (ail, and was bound to fome part of the Indies ; but which, I could not by any perfon be refulvea ! The years of fruitkTs expectation, which I wafted in hope of hit return, or hearing fome news of him, are well known to you, who" fo generouily vifited me in that diftrefs, and omitted no tender, office, of frit'ncLhip to alleviate my forrcw.<:. Seven times had the incrcafing fun chea;vd the <;L huibandtnan and bleft the fields, while ail was ivhiu '. the gloom of night in my fad mind. Polufino in this ' time died, bequeathing his whole fortune to Montrano, if ever he could be heard of; which claufe gave a vait: addition to my griefs, fmce till that time I had believed he had not been ignorant where it was he remained : i now dcubted not but that he was dead; men are in- conftant, variable in their inclinations- as the ever- changing wind, faid I tomyfelf; but though, another object taking pofleilion of his heart, he might forgef his fuffering wife, the coniideratton of his intereft would not permit him to be remifs in his duty to his uncle. No, no, would I cry out, he is not falfe ! eternal truth and ever-grateful foiyjnefs have on earth no being _ but in his mind. But !*'.> is dead, he is dead ! and if is a prophanation of his memory, to harbour even a thought to the difadvantage of his honour or his love. I now looked on myfelf as a widow, wore the habit of one, and enclurecj, perhaps, more real anguiih in my heart, than the moft truly difconfolate one ever had th capacity of feeling or than the moft artful one had diifimulation enough to afiecl. Even time relieved not my afiiiclion, my griefs feemcd ratKbr ftrengthened by age ; and the more I reflected on the merits of Mon- trano, the more I became inconfolable for his lofs. I believe you are not infenfible, that every body believing, as I did, that he was dead, I had many who adclreffed me for marriage : fome of their offers appeared too K 4 advantageowi 200 THE FRUITLESS advantsgeous to berefufed, and I was daily preffed by my friends to pitch on one of them ; but all my notions of love were dead, when I thought Montrano fo ; and refolving to devote my future days entirely to his me- mory, as a grief I thought moft juft, I made a folemn vow to continue as I was : but that not being ctfeftual to eafe me of their importunities, it was my defign to retire to a monaftery, and was fettling my little affairs that I might do fo, without having any incumbrance from the world upon me, when Montrano returned. I had a maid, who had lived with me from the time that dear youth had firft made his addreiTes to me ; and as I was fitting one day reading in my clofet, fhe came running to me, with all the marks of the moil ftrong amazement written on her countenance. Two gen- tlemen, faid fhe, with an accent which feemed to hefi- tate with terror, entreat to fpeak with you ; one mull ^ be my Lord Montrano, or his ghoft : he has his eyes, his mouth, his very lhape and air, only more thin and dejected. It is certain, that this poor girl verily be- lieved fhe had feen a fpirit, for never did I behold a creature in fuch difcrder ; but I had no leifure to think on the occaiion of it, when he entered the clofet ; guefiing at the furprize I fhould be in, and having not patience to wait till it fhould permit me to come down Iferia ! my dear Iferia ! cried he, am I again fo bleft to fee you ? And with thefe words fnatching me to his bread, prevented my falling on the floor, as I was ready to do, overcome with an excefs of joy and won- der. This abfence of mind lafled, however, but for a moment, and I again awoke to fenfe, to thought, and rapture. Impoflible would it be, as well as im- pertinent, to repeat to you the welcomes 1 gave him, or the foftnefs of his reiterated endearments ; there are a thoufand little incoherencies in the talk of lovers which delight beyond the expreffion, yet will be ridi- culous when - reported afterwards. The accent, the manner, is infinitely more eloquent than the words ; and E N Q_U I R Y. joi and though love is frequently obliged to wit to make himfelf be known ; yet wit more often is glad to have recourfe to the foft follies of love, to make himfelf i' - warded. Our mutual tranfports would not permit ine immediately to pfrceive there was a ftrange gentleman in the room ; but when I did, the confufion I was in for having fo long negle&ed him, made me blufh ex- tremely ; and the more I aimed to apologize for ir, tiie more I found myfelf at a lofs how to do it : but Mon- trano guefling at my thoughts, relieved me ; and with an admirable addrefs excufed rne to his friend, who I foon perceived was a man of excellent good fcnfe and breeding ; he made me, in his turn, a great many fine compliments, with which he artfully mingled fome praiies of Montrano. When Heaven, faicl lie, formed a pair ccmpleat like Montrano and the beautiful Ifcria, it certainly intended them as happy as they are deferring to be fo. It is, therefore, enough to make us call Om- nipotence in queilion, and afcribe too great a power to . the infernal potentate, if any misfortune mould arrive which might deftroy their peace. I mould have taken thefe words as mere galantry, and regarded them no farther, if 1 had not feeii the face of Montrano covered, with a fcarlet blufh, which, wat. in a moment fucceeded by a deadly palci.efi. : and foon a riling tide over- whelmed his down -ca ft eyes, with difficulty reftrained from forcing a paffage hence, and gufhing out in tears, You may believe fo ftrange a change from all the fymptoms of the cxcefs of joy to thofe of grief, which now I obferved in him, filled me v ith the -molt (hocking furprize ; yet refolvir.g to conceal it as much as poffible, The misfortunes which threatened us with lalting woe, replied I, are new, I hope, blown over, and all our days to come are harmony and peace. At leaft, con- tinued I, they muft be fo, if Montrano feels as fincere a fatisfaclion in our re-union as Iferia does. I fixed my eyes on his face intently, as I fpoke thefe words, and found fo much, confufion there, as made me certain K 5 . ia aoz THE FRUITLESS in my mind, fomething extraordinary had happened, which I fhould know too foon ; but what, I could not be allured. A thoufand apprehenfions, all at once, came crofs my thoughts, which, though I was impatient to a great fea came in, and drove us on a little iiland belonging to the Maldives, called Ekber, fhort of Ceyion about feven leagues ; it was with great difficulty wegoton more, all thofe little fpots of earth being encompafTed with huge craggy rocks, and the favage inhabitants fo unfkilful in every thing that can be called an art, that their harbours are little better than fo many whir 1 .- pools. With an infinite deal cf toil and care, however, we at laft got our long-boat in, which landing a few men at a time, returned for the reft; but the captain, chief mate, 6 autl ao4 THE FRUITLESS and five mariner*; flaying till the laft, a fudden hurrr- cane riling in a moment, were all loft by the veffel's fplitting, as was great part of the cargo ; the reft lodged on the rocks, whence they were afterwards brought away by the inhabitants of this barbarous place. We foon found, that though we had efcaped the fea, we were not free from dangers as formidable as that could threaten. We had no fooner gained the more, than we were defcried by two or three of the natives, who fending forth a loud cry, ran up farther into the coun- try ; and before we could well refolve in what manner we mould behave among a people whom we eafily perceived to be wholly uncivilized, we faw near a hundred of them coming towards us ; fome armed with great branches torn off the trees, fome with axes, and a few with bows and arrows : we now repented that we had takerr no care to bring our guns from on board, but on fecond thoughts Jiad reafon to rejoice ; for though we could have made a pretty good defence againft this little troop, they would certainly have fallen on us in greater numbers, and, over-powered by them, at laft been provoked to have given us worfe treatment; we therefore opened our arms, and prcfcnted to them our naked breads, in token of fubmiffion; on which they feemed to receive us kindly ; but drawing round us in a circle, conducted us, hallooing and moating all the way they went, till we came to a place, which, as we found afterwards, was a kind of market, where flaves, fuch as we were now become, were difpofed of to the belt bidder. In this ifland, and it feems in moft of the others be- longing to the Maldives, there is a fort of Incas, or king, but ail tributary, affd acknowledging an obedience to one fovereign of air, who refides in Male, the chief of the iflands, and ftiles himfelf the emperor of thirteen provinces, and of a thoufand iflands. He has a great number of flaves, and when he comes abroad, is wor- fhipped as a god. There was at this time a perfon in Ekber employed by him to buy flaves, and the market- day E N QJ3 I R Y. 2oj day happening to be the next day after we came, we were expofed to fale ; myfelf, with two of our mari- ners, were chofen for this mighty fovereign, but Mon- trano was the purchafe of the Incas of Alfoore, who had fent a meflenger thither alfo on the fame errand. The reafon that the great market was generally kept at Ek- ber, was not only becaufe it was the largeft of all the iflands, but likewife that, 1 lying at a more confider- able diftance from any of the others, than they did from one another, and more in the main fea, there was a greater probability of unhappy perfons, diftrefled by weather, taking refuge there than in the others. I thought it a very great addition to my misfortunes, that I was to be feparated from Montrano ; and I believe he fpoke no more than the truth, when he afterwards af- iured me it was fo to him. I will not trouble you with what befel myfelf in a five-years fervitude among thefe barbarous wretches. The charms of Montrano gained him, for fome time, a milder fate. He had been em- ployed in the vile offices, for which he was bought not many days before, as he was working in the gar- den of the Incas, a piece of paper, folded like a letter, fell at his feet; he took it up, and found it diredled, in the Italian language, ' To the accomplifhedflave;' and feeing, no perfon near him, he concluded it muft be thrown from fome of the palace-windows. Theoddnefs of the adventure at firit gave him an infinite furprize ; but curiofity, at length, getting the better of it, he unfolded the letter, in which he found a great jewel ; rich, but ill fet, according to the manner of fo unpo- lite a country. But the value of this prefent was no ways considerable, when compared with the knowledge, that there was a perfon among thefe Pagans, with whom, there was a probability he might converfc; cafting his eyes, therefore, haftily over the letter, he found it con- tained thefe lines : '< SOME exclamations which I overheard youmake the *' Other day, informed me that you are my country-man ; *' your 2c6 THE. FRUITLESS " your air and mien demonftrate you net to be of the " inferior rank of men ; I mould be glad to entertain " you in a manner becoming your rank, but dare not " make a public mow of the regard I have for you, left ft it mould be fatal to us both, but will foon contrive a " 'way to lefltn the hardfhips you endure; in the mean " time, defire you will not fail to be in the grove of " oranges, behind the banquetting-houfe, this night " at twelve o'clock. Burn this billet, and take care to *' conceal the diamond which I inclofed in it, more to " give it weight, than that I thought fuch a trifle *' worthy the notice of a man I am refolved to favour.'* There was no name at the bottom ; nor was it in his power to form any conjecture, to whom it was he was fo much obliged: it is needlefs, therefore, to fay he longed, with the utmoft impatience, for the hour ia which he hoped to have this riddle folved ; you muft believe, that in the circumftance of being a flave among the moft barbarous people in the world, condemned to offices with which he was no way acquainted, and for want of undcrftand' r 'ig the language in which he was commanded, little able to comprehend his mailer's meaning, was but by ftripes made to difcover their otherwife unintelligible directions j languifning hii nights, painful his days; and vshr.t doubled the mifery of both, was the belief, that his iervice was eternal; that tl winder of his life muft be parTed amo-.g thoie wretched favages, for ever debarred from all fbcial converfation, his friends, his country, and his more dear Iferia. You muft, I fay, believe, madam, that in fuch a ftate, it was no inconiiderable confolatioa to think there was a perlon of his own country who pi- tied him, and feemed to have power to afford fome mi- tigation of his misfortunes. At laft the expected -moment came, he attended at the appointed place, and had not waited long before he faw, by the light of the moon, which at that time (hone E N Q_U I R Y. 207 exceeding bright, an old woman, whom he had often beheld at a diilance in the palace, and knew to be an attendant on the wife of the Incas : he told me that he was 10 much furprized at the fight of her, that he knew not how to receive her with that ceremony, which the ftation me was in feemed to require, as being the chief favourite of the greateit woman in the ifland. Slip perceived the diforder he was in ; and approaching him with a fmile, I am afraid, faid fhe, in Italian, that the appearance of an old woman may have put a damp to thofe glorious hopes the letter you received muft certainly have infpired you with ; but I dare fwear, you have too much underftanding not to know, that our good genius does not always appear to us in the mofl pleafing ihape. However difagreeable my form may feem, I bring you tidings which may excufe my age and wrinkles. The wife of the Incas of Alfoore, as well as myfelf, is of your country, both born and bred up in Venice ; but her in- clinations being fomewhat more gay than was confident with the cuftoms of that republic, fhe was fent to Bruf- fels, where fhe had fome relations, in order to be made a reclufe; I was ordered to attend her to that place ; but in our way we happened to meet with a Dutch officer, who being captivated with the charms of Elphania, (for fo was then my miflrefs called) prevailed ou her to ac- company him to Holland : we lived with him fome time ; but theinconftancy, natural to mankind, rendering her unhappy in the lofs of him, we were reduced to very great hardfhips, which compelled us to do fomething contrary to the laws ; we were fent to Ceylon, to ex- piate, by an eternal flavery, a fin, which nothing but neceffity could have made us guilty of. Being expofed to fale in the market-place, fome perfons belonging to this Incas bought us for his fervice; but we had no fooner arrived here, and were brought into his prefence, than he fell fo paffionately in love with Elphania, that from a Have he raifed her to his bed and throne : with this condition only, that fhe fliould renounce the chrif- to? THE FRUITLESS tian faith ; which (he did, and is now the moft favoured and beft-beloved of any of his queens ; though he has fome of a birth equal to his own. This, continued (he, is the fum of our hiftory before your arrival; but fince you appeared, my royal miflrefs has been no more her- felf, all her days and nights have been taken up with contemplating in her mind the perfections of her lovely flave; but that paflion, which the fight of you infpired, was extremely heightened, when happening to be in a clofe bower in the garden the other day, unfeen by you, ihe heard you lament your ill fortune, and cry out for death, in terms, me faid, the moft tender and moving that tongue ever uttered. She was, however, extremely pleafed to find you were an Italian ; and her thoughts,, which had till then been divided, if fhe mould make you acquainted with the tendernefs fhe had for you or not, were now wholly determined to do it the firft op- portunity. It is charity, faid fhe to me ; it is that na- tural inftinft which prompts us to have a pity for thofe of our own country, as well as love, which now obliges me to eafe the furFerings of this lovely Have ; nor can I, will I, ought I to lee him languilh under miferies to which I am certain he is a ftranger, and cannot long fupport. She had no fooner formed this refolution, than file wrote the billet, and plucking a diamond off her breaft, and folding it in it, that fhe might be able to hurl it at a greater diflance than the paper of itfelf might have fallen, we faw it light direftly at your feet ; at which we fhut the window immediately, left, in the hurry of furprize and joy, you might have approached more near than was convenient, where there are fo many fpies and guards perpetually attending. This is the intelligence I bring you, fir, purfued fhe, which if you receive not with the extremeft pleafure, you are not only ungrateful, but alfo perverfe ; blind to your own inte- reft, and deferving of the misfortunes you have already fallen under, and thofe which may enf'ue from flighted love, and tendernefs abufed. Montrano allured me, -Jn relating E N CLU I R Y. 209 relating this part of his ftory, that he never in his whole life had been capable of feeling fo much fcorn and de- teftation as at that minute ; the name of wife to the In- cas could not infpire him with fuch refpeft, as to take off his contempt for that of a tranfported felon, in which circumftance he found this queen had been brought to Ceylon ; he had his heart already too much devoted to his beloved Iferia, for any other charms to work the leaft effect. Thofe of this queen, though (he had been the greateft beauty nature ever formed, would not have been able to have compenfated for the deformities of her mind. Scarce could he regard the old beldame, who came from her, with patience; he had, however, pre- fence enough of mind to reflefl on the danger of dif- obliging her ; but never, faid he, did I go through a greater or more difficult talk, than that of affecting a fatisfaftion at the news me brought; he did it, not- withftanding his reludlance, in fuch a manner as paffed for truth ; and the amorous Elphania, not doubting, by what her confederate informed her, but that he was as fufccptible of her favours as me wilhed him, prevailed on her doating hufband to give her leave to retire to a little palace they had farther in the heart of the coun- try : fhe pretended that the air had been prejudicial to her health; and for the recovery of it, he willingly con- fen ted me mould be for a little time removed. She had the liberty of chufmg what flaves me pleafed to attend her, and Montrano, for whole fake all this was done, was the firft fingled out; as for the reft, they were either fuch whufe fidelity me could depend on, or fuch who had not capacities to fathom the meaning of an/ thing which was not directly told them. With this equipage me took leave of the Incas, and being arrived at the place to which fne intended to go, the flaves were appointed each to their feveral employments; that of Montrano's was to overlook thcfe that kept the rooms in order, and fee that they did their duty; an eafy tafk as to the bodily exercife of it, but his mind was in agita- tions 210 THE FRUITLESS tions more violent than ever ; the humour of the mi.lrefs he now ferved , was more perplexing to him than the ty- ranny of hisjformer mafters; nor had he lefs to expel from her revenge/ when ihe ihoiild find how little he was difpofed to comply with her intentions, than from the moil inhuman of his own fex. She preferred herfelf to him, her 'natural beauties illuftrated with all the aids and embellifhments of art ; fhe talked to him in fo fr.ee a manner, that had he not been apprized of her dcllres by the difcourfe cf her confidante, yet he could not have been ignorant what they were by her behaviour ; but think- ing the fafeft, as well as molt galant manner of denying, was, not to feem to know that any thing .more was ex- pedled from him than fubmiflion andrefpect, he never approached her but with the fame awe is that ve enter the facred temples ^ but as this was net .that fort of ado- ration which, fhe expe&ed from him, me grew extremely peeviih, and after fhe had difmifled him from her pre- fence, complained to her confidante of the little compli- ance Ihe found in him, on which the fliamslefs procurer of her pleafureg took upon her to chide him feverely ; but, while ihe was doing fo, a fudden thought came in- to his head, which might gain him fome time : he told her, that no man could be more fenfible of the beauties of her mifbrefs, but that he was under a iolenin vow not to know the joys of love for two whole years. More than one of them, faid he, is already elapfed ; and as I have kept my promife inviolable till now, have caufe to fear, that if I break it, fome fudden and unheard-of judgment will fall upon me. This monfter of her frx endeavoured, partly by railing at his fuperftitious regard of oaths, as me termed it, and partly by hinting, that no puniinment could enfue the breach of it, equal to that which threatened him in lofing the favour of the queen to alter his determination ; but neither perfuafions nor menaces being of any ufe, (he was obliged to leave him as fhe found him, and return to her miftrei: v.nh an account little pleafing to her. What difcourie pafied between E N Q_U I R Y, 211 between them was unknown as to the fubjeft of it ; but he doubted not, by the gloom which fat next day upon both their brows, that it had not been .in his favour, and that he ihould fhortly experience all that a cruel and revengeful woman, reftrained by no principles of honour, religion, or generofky, could inflict; but, contrary to thefe fuggeftions, the intelligencer of the other's meaning told him, that in fpite of the coldnefs with which he had received her queen's affections, and the difregard he paid her, in preferring a foolilh vow to her embraces, {he fiill retained a tenderncfs for him, which would not fuffer her to caft him off, and hud pre- vailed on her to wait the expiration of the time he men- tioned, for a proof how worthy he was of the paffion. fhe had entertained for him. Montrano, faid he, an- fwered this rnefTage in terms as obliging as he could ; and from that time forward was put to no further trouble till the expiration of the year. They foon removed to the great palace, where the deceived Incas received this perjured woman with fuch demonftrations of kindnefs, that the knowledge of her ingratitude to fuch n. hufband, ivhofe love had raifed her from the loweft ebb of for- tune, and ftill continued to fupport her in all the pomp that that part of the world could afford, made her yet more hateful in his mind; he often told me, that he abhorred even to look upon her. But not to ipin out my narration to a tedious length, the whole year of his freedom from her felicitations, he paft in contrivances to get from that detefted place; but found that im- poffible, fince, had he made his efcape to any of the other iflands, as perhaps he might have done in a ca- noe, the Maldives have fo good an intelligence with each other, that he mufl infallibly have been difcovered, and fent back to endure the moil 'cruel punifhments imaginable. You may think it ftrange, perhaps, that neither he nor I could have any opportunity offending to Ceylon, where we both were known, and might early have been ranibmed ; but the temper of thofe wretches 212 THE FRUITLESS wretches is fo barbarous, that, befides the ufe a chriftian Have is to them, they take delight in triumphing over and detaining them ; and having no correfpondence with any other nation in the world, they know not the value of their own commodities ; and having every thing within themfelves, which they are capable of having any relifh for, regard nothing which may be of- fered in exchange for their flaves : gold nor iilver is of any eftimation with them, their current coin being a white fhell which is found upon the mountains, and which the Incas keeps a guard about, it being death by the law for any perfon, but thofe appointed by him, to pick up any of it. For thefe reafons they have, on th frontiers of the ifland next to Ceylon, a conftant number of troops always maintained, who fuffer no boat nor per- fon to pafs either to or from that place, without a token from the Incas ; for that being a place of trade, and having a factory in it of chriftians, without this caution it would be impoffihle to keep thofe people, who are fo miferable as to fall into their hands, from regaining their liberty. Montrano, therefore, having no way to fly from folicitations fb difpleafmg to him, to evade them, pretended ficknefs: a few days before the expiration of the year, he counterfeited fo well the moft violent pains, that none who faw him but verily believed he languimed under them. One thing, indeed, was a great advantage to his feigning, which was, that there were no phyficians in that place, their way of curing difeafes being to moot arrows into many parts of the patient's body, believing phlebo- tomy a remedy for all diforders. Montrano fuffered this experiment to be tried on him, but afterward pre- tended to be much worfe than before. In fine, he car- ried on this deception for the fpace of feven months, at the end of which time he had an unexpected relief; El- phania fell in reality as fick as he pretended to be ; her life was defpaired of; and having before made an ex- cufe that the fea air did not agree with her conftitution, the Incas would needs have it, that her prefent diforder fprung E N QU I R Y, fprung from the fame occafion, and ordered her to be removed on a litter borne on fix men's moulders, think- ing that the eafieit way of carriage. Montrano feeming not yet perfectly recovered, was difpenfed with for not officiating in his employment, but obliged foon after to pretend a reb.pfe^ for being, on the queen's being fomevvhat better, fent for to come to the place where me was, and thinking this would not be a Jailing pre- tence, he feigned madnefs, and committed a thoufand irregularities, though none hurtful or mifchievous to anybody: Elphania, as well as others, was deceived for a long time ; but at length difcovered the im- pofition, by the fame means flie had done he was am Italian : his misfortunes growing, by their continuance and little appearance or hope of relief, more heavy to be borne, he could not forbear giving them vent in tears and exclamations whenever he was alone : he was one day overheard by the confidante of Elphania's de- fires, and the report that he was but feemingly mad im- mediately conveyed to her miftrefs ; on which me re- folved no longer to be difappointed in her love, or fail- ing in that of her revenge, for the contempt thrown on her beauty. She again defired leave of the Incas to retire into the country; which being eafily obtained, among the number of flaves me took with her, was Montrano- The antick poftures of that poor lunatick, faid me, may divert in the abfence of my dear lord, Nobody in the leaft fufpeting her intentions, whatever ihe did in thofe affairs was unqueftioned. It was now three full years Montrano had carried on his difguife of madnefs, without any perfon in the world believing him otherwife ; nor had he any thought that Elphania had difcovered the deceit, till they arrived at the little palace which me had made choice of for the fcene of her pleafures or revenge ; but me was no fooner fettled there, than fending for him into her own apartment, where nobody but the old Venetian woman was prefent, ihe began to queftion him, for what reafon he had im- pofed ti4 THE FRUITLESS pofed on a queen who loved him. The knowledge that he was fufpefted did not furprize him fo far, but that he had prefence of mind enough to endeavour to wave it off, by replying in the fame \yild and incoherent man- ner, as he had done fince he fir'fl afiefled to be frantick ; but me would not fufFer him to go on for any long time ; but telling him, fhe was convinced of the impcfition he had fo unworthily put on her, and that if he did not im- mediately confefs the true motive which obliged him to it, he fhculd fufFer the moil cruel death me could- poffibly invent. He paufed a little on thefe words ; not, as he faid, that he feared to die, but thought, that to die in this remote corner of the world, without the power of acquainting any perfon with his fate, was fomc thing too terrible to be borne ; raid thinking, that as Ihc was fo pofltive, no worfe could befal him in a declaration of the truth, than in a fruitlefs endeavour to conceal it ; he threw himfelf upon his knees, acknowledged her beauties to be infinite, returned his moft humble thanks for the condefcenfions me had made him ; but withal confeiTed, that he was rendered wholly unable to return her affections, by having, before he faw her, devoted his whole foul to another objeft ; and then proceeded to relate to her the hiftory of his love for you, his marriage, and the cruelty of his uncle ; who, feparating him from you, had occalioned his falling into the condition of a. flave. He told her, he relied entirely on her generofity ; and entreated, me would look on him with the eyes of pity and forgivenefs. When Montrano related this part of his hiftory to me, faid his friend, he told me, Imuftmake ufe of my own imagination to conceive, what kind of fury it was that feized the foul of this moft vile woman, and fpaikied in her eyes. You, madam, purfued he to me, if your foft foul can form r.n idea fo horrible, mult tel! yourfelf what was not in his power, who faw it, to c]efcribe, much lefs in mine. What, cried fhe, is it for another that I am defpifed ? Is it for the id;a of an abfent wo- nt a E N Q_U I R Y. 215 man the beauties of the prefent are contemned ? The burfting rage prevented her from fpeaking .any farther to him at that time ; but turning to the advifing fiend, who flood near her, they had fome difcourfe together; after which, in a loud voice, It mail be fo, faid me ; fmce he is no man for me, he fhall not for another. With thefe words me flew out of the room, leaving only the old wretch with him ; who bidding him folio -v her, conduced him to a room at the farther end of the palace, v/here having locked him in, me left him for fome hours to meditate on what had happened ; but towards evening, coming in again, Well, faid fhe, have you considered of your late folly, in the manner you ought to do ? Have you repented ? And are you nowrefolved to accept that happinefs the queen defigns you ? I have already told her, anfwered he, that it is not in my power. But have you reflected, refumed me, that your life iiwholly in hcr's? ar.d that with a breath me can dif- pofe your fate r -I have, faid he ; and whatever miferies Heaven may make her the inilrumcnt of inflicting on me, I muft endure. It is well, ungrateful wretch, cried fhe, but fhe has more of mercy than thou meritefl from her: your life (he will not take; but as you flight the joys of love, when proffered you by her, fhe will take effectual care you never mall tafte them with another. Montrano protefted to me, that he could not guefs what it was fhe meant, till giving a ftamp with her foot, fix lufry flaves ruflied in, and, in fpite of his ftruggling, bound his hands and feet with great cords : the beldame favv it done ; and afking him, once more, if he re- pented, to which he anfwered in the negative, fhe went out of the" room, and bade the fellows do their office : on \vhich one of them plucked out a fharp indrument, drew nearer to him, and by fome a&ions difcovered to the amazed prifoner his inhuman intent. For, madam, Continued he, comes on the dreaclfal part of your I's fate. Hufbr.nd, diilfay? Alas! lie, from that cruel moment, had no more the power of being 216 THE FRUITLESS being fo ; deprived for ever of the dear names of father and of hufband ; robbed of his fex, and doomed to an eternal fterility. In fome time after this fatal event, Elphania, either repenting what Ihe had done, or that it were true, as flje faid, that ihe had given orders only to threaten, not really to inflift fuch a misfortune ; to make what re- paration was in her power, gave him his liberty, and a large fum of money, that he might tranfport himfelf to Ceylon. In fpite of the juft hatred Montrano had conceived r.gainft her, the circumftanccs he was in made him accept of her favours; and hiring a canoe, embarked in it for Candea, the chief city of Ceylon ; but the weather changing, they were obliged to land him among the mountains, fifty miles fhort of the port he defired : the neceflity, however, being unavoidable, he was forced to comply. He found feme poor Dutch on the fea-coaft, one of whom he took with him as a guide ; but they had not travelled many miles before they were met by a gang of robbers, with whom mak- ing fome refiitance, he was dangeroufly wounded, after being deprived of all that had been given him by Elpha- nia. The poor guide continued by him till fome paf- fengers coming by, he was taken up and carried to a houfe ; where being taken fome care of, and his wounds drefied, though after a very indifferent manner, the ftrength of his conftitution at lalt brought him to him- felf; but the only ChriiHans in that place being Dutch, a people who never were greatly famed for holpitality or charity, fo little was contributed towards his fupport, that the want of neceflaries kept him weak much longer than the hurts he got by the thieves would elfe have done. In fine, he recovered, but had not ftrength enough, for a long time, even to walk about his chamber, 'till that fmall pittance, which had been allowed him, being taken away, and the appetites of nature craving fupport, he crawled out into the flreet ; an objeft, he faid, of fo much pity, that he appeared I R Y. 217 more like a ghofr than a living man. Having been fo long kept from air, coming into it all at once, made him faint away, and he fell down at the door of a rich native of the ifle ; as it happened, he had lefs of the favage in him than molt of them, and could not fee a creature of his own fpecies in fo lamentable a condition, without affording him fome relief; he took him in, had him laid on a bed, applied proper things for his re- covery, and gave him the bell refrefhment he had in the houfe. Neither of them knew the language of the other ; but the Ceylonefe made him underftand by figns, that if he would ferve him, he would be kind to him ; but Montrano, as well as he could, let him know he was a paflenger, who had been deprived of all he had of value by the robbers; and that he was travelling to Candea, where he had friends who would fupport him, but that he mull beg his way thither. The other ihaked his head at this information, in token' that his country- men had little charity to ilrangers ; but Montrano be- ing determined, he gave him fome fmall matter toward his fiipport in the journey ; with which, after having flayed three or four days to recover his ftrength, he de- parted. But, alas ! his long indifpofition and want had enfeebled his limbs in fuch a manner, that he ra- ther crept than walked ; he moved on, however, in this ilow pace for a whole week, half a mile a day being the moft he could boaft to have travelled ; at the end of -which time he unfortunately miilook his way, and happened into a wild place, which they call the c'efarts of Cayamas ; there did he wander up and dovvr, un- able to extricate himfelf from that labyrinth of rocks, which lie thick fcattered in that dreadful wafte ; and mufl certainly have perifhed, had not Providence fent him a relief by the moft unexpe&e'd means. A gang of robbers having taken a rich booty, for which, in all probability, they were purfued, had taken lhelt:r in. this place, where it was almofl impoflible for any to overtake or find them. Thinking themfelves fecure, VOL. II. L they 218 THE FRUITLESS they had fat down to reft and divide the prize at the foot of a great heap of ftones, which feemed as if they had been thrown up by feme earthquake. When Mon- trano came on the other fide, he heard their voices ; and faid, he thought he never had heard a found fo pleafing as this was ; which gave him intelligence, he fhould once more fee the faces of human creatures, and Jie hoped be guided from that uninhabited wild. The pile which parted them was vaftly long, but not very high, and they happened to lie fo on the fide he was, that he might eafily climb to the top of it ; in fpite of his weaknefs, therefore, he attempted it, and with fuch fuccefs, that in a few minutes he gained the fummit ; whence looking down, he faw five men fitting pretty clofe together, counting money, which lay in a heap en the ground before them ; he was confidering in what manner he mould get down the ridge of ftones, being much more perpendicular on this fide than the other, when one of the robbers, happening to caft up his eyes, faw him ; the wildnefs of the place, his pale and ghaftly looks, the guilt of the gazer, every thing confpired to terrify ; and concluding him to be the ghoft of fome perfon he had murdered, gave a great fhriek, and pre- fently fell down in a fwoon ; his companions believing him ftruck with fudden death, ftarted from their feats, and had all of them, at the fame time, a fight of this affrighted object ; every one took immediately to his heels, without any regard either of the booty for which they had ventured their lives, nor what became of him they left behind ; and the natives of this country being extreme fwift runners, they were out of fight in a mo- ment. Montrano gueffed what occafioned their terror, and cried out to them to ftay ; but fear had either made them deaf, or not underflanding what he faid, they took it for fomething contrary to what it was. In fpite of the numberlefs miferies of his prefent condition, he has often told me, he could not forbear fmiling at their .flight, and falling into fome reflections : how infepa- rable, E N QJJ I R V. .219 , thought he, are cowardice and villainy 1 The place and circumftance he was in, however, giving him little opportunity for indulging them, he deferred it until another time, and made what hafle he could to defcend ; which when he had done, he was in fome debate within himfelf, if he mould take the money, fo convenient for him in his neceffity, and leave the wretch, who had aflifted in the unlawful gaining it, to recover as he could ; or if he mould endeavour to bring him to himfelf, and by that aft of charity engage him to be his guide out of the defart ; the latter of thefe fuggeftions took place, not only becaufe he had already experienced how difficult it was for him to find his way of himfelf, but alfo that it was agreeable to the fweetnefs of his dif- pofition. Determined to do this, he kneeled down by him, rubbed his breaft and temples, bent him forward, and did every thing in his power to reftore him to his fenfes ; which when he had done, by figns and fom few words which he had learned from the Ceylonef* language, he made him at lail convinced, that he was no more than a man, and had no defign to hurt him. 1 Fhe fellow, thus re-aflured, looked about for his com- panions, and finding they were gone, began to fcrambl* up what they had left behind. Montrano affifled him in gathering it, and by befeeching poflures, and fuch expreffions as he could make intelligible, entreated h would conduct him from that defart, which the other promifed to do j but by going round about, for fear his companions, when they had confidered on the matter, fhould return and claim their ihare of the treafure, they were two days before .they gained the road, but re- joiced was Montrano once more to fee it. At parting, the thief feeing the miferable condition he was in, gave him fomewhat to help him on his journey, and on he travelled till he came to a little town, called Javira ; there I had the good fortune to renew my acquaintance with him, I having procured my liberty, by having ferved the fovereign of the Maldives in an exigence, L 2 which, 220 THE FRUITLESS which, but for me, had coil him his life. I was tak- ing fome refrefhment at a houfe of entertainment, fuch a wretched one as that place affords, when I faw a per- fon featured like Montrano, but in fuch an abject and deplorable condition, and fo altered in every thing from what he was, that I could not believe the firit dictates of my mind, which told me, it was no other; yet refolving to be convinced, I drew nearer to him, as he was afking charity of the landlord of the houfe. Ke faw me not 'till then ; but as foon as he did, Alceftus ! faid he. I will not go about, madam, continued this obliging friend, to reprefent the fatisfaftion I conceiv- ed at meeting with him ; which would, indeed, have been as great a grief, had I not, at that time, been mailer of fufficient courage to eafe thofe calamities which were vifible to me : the others which were not, and which, as foon as we were alone, he inform- ed me of, gave me a concern equal to my furprize, that any thing, which had the (hape of a woman, could aft in fo abhorred and fhamelefs a manner as Elphania and her confidante had done ; but as there was no relief for a misfortune fuch r.s that, but patiently ensuring it, I omitted nothing in my power which might confole him. We made the belt of our way toward Ceylon, which at lall we reached ; I had the good fortune to ex- ecute my father's commands on the villain who had endeavoured to impofe upon him ; and Montrano found the merchant to whom he had been fent by his uncle, and received from him this pleafing intelligence, that the old gentleman, repentingwhat he had done, had writ letters to recal him ; and when the anfwers had let him know he had not yet arrived on that coaft, had fent others full of grief, and entreating he would make all imaginable fearch for him. Neither of us, therefore, having any longer bufmefs at Ceylon, we refolved to leave it the firfl opportunity, but were obliged to wait oear two years before any mip fet fail for Europe ; and when E X U I R when after that time we embarked, it was in a Dutch merchant-man, bound for Rotterdam ; there were we alfo compelled to ft ay a conaderable time before any flu 3 offered for Venice j but at length meeting with one, we ciane together without any farther difficulties, and landed laft nigh: ; he-has not yet paid his duty to his uncle, nor would fuffer me to fee my father, the tender- nefs he had for you calling him firft here, where, he faid, I mult alfo accompany him ; not being able, he faid, to relate to you hlinfeif the misfortune which you now are acquainted with from my mouth. Thus, faid Iferia, did the generous Alceftus end his rr:!ancholy narration ; which having thanked him for, we went together to the garden, to fee what was become of Montrano, whom we found lying in this very grove, in fo fad and melancholy a poflure as muft have moved anyone to pity, much more a wife, who loved him more than all things on this fide Heaven ; and whofe affecHon was not in the leaft abated by the knowledge of the injury that had been done him. I entreated him to rife ; but he refufing to do fo, faying, the earth, darknefs, and folifude, were fit for fuch a wretch as he v/as ; I threw myfelf down by him, protefting that I would never leave him ; and that if he did not wilh to fee me the moft unhappy woman in the world, he muft throw off all thoughts, and, forgetful of paft misfortunes, join me in thanks to the Almighty Difpofer of all blef- fnigs, that he was at laft paft over them, and fafe in his Iferia's arms, as he mould ever be in her heart. As I was fpeaking in this manner, Oh thou moil excellent of all thy fex ! interrupted he, think not I come to claim thee as a wife, to curfe thy youth and beauty with the fhadow of a hulbancl : No ; it would be a fin Heaven could never pardon, ihould 1 condemn thy charms to cold fterility : thou, who may'lt blefs the world with a race of angels like thyfelf. No, my L*ria ! I came but to fee thee once, then take my everlafting leave, and in fo;ne diilant cloyfter hide me for ever from thy fight. L 3 Unkind 222 THE FRUITLESS Unkind Montrano, anfwered I, think you my love was fenfual ? Are you not as dear as ever ? And would you leave me, leave me by your own choice ? Have I not endured enough, when torn from me by an inhuman uncle ? I wafted feven whole years in grief j but you muft now inflift a fecond wretchednefs more dreadful than the firft : that was unavoidable, but this free-will, and want of love to me, or want of mine to you. But do not think that I will fuffer it ; no, continued I, em- bracing him, thus will I cling about you ever, nor fhall you throw me off; through lands and feas will I ac- company you, and wherefcever you go, Iferia will be there ; I am your wife, your lawful wedded wife, and will maintain my claim againft the united force of th* whole world. Many more expreffions, of the fame na- ture with thefe, did I make ufe of, to convince him, that I regarded him with the fame tendernefs as ever, tnd thought no misfortune equal to that of being fe- parated from him j but could not prevail en him to alleviate his forrows for a considerable time. Never was there a fcene more moving, more truly touching to the foul, nor never conflict more equally carried on by both ; fondnefs with fondnefs warred, and love was cppofed againft love ; mine at laft, however, gained the victory, and he con fen ted to live with me in th>* manner you fee ; we pafs our days in a mutual endea- vour to oblige each other, and our nights in fuch encenr- ments as a chafte brother might allow himfelf with a filler he tenderly loved. Our misfortune is entirely concealed frcm all the world but Alceilus and yourfelf, on whofe difcretion I dare rely, elfe had not made you partaker of the fecret. I believe no woman could Le more tranquil, in fuch a circumfbnce, than myfclf; yet, Miramillia, loving as 1 do, r.nd beloved with the fame ardour, judge, if I can bring my wifhes to that pitch of resignation and content that is necefiluy to qualify me for the tak you would have me undertake. The E N QU I R Y. The affiicled mother fished at the little fuccefs (he had hitherto met with, and having thanked Iferia for the good opinion fhe had of her fecrecy, took her leave, and departed with a aeavy heart. The next it came ia her head to ad Jrefs, on this fcore, was a lady in whofe fortune there was indeed the utmoft appearance of fe- renity. She was married to a man fhe long had loved, but had been prevented from being his wife by her pa.- rents, who looked on him as her inferior in point of wealth. She now feemed to be poflefled of all me had to wifh, and was univerfally believed to be among the happy few. The manner in which me received Mira* millia, and the influence of every thing about her, with the tender affection me obferved between her and her hufband, made this airlifted, mother conceive great hopes that her fearch was here to end. For which reafun letting her know fhc had fomething to communicate, fhe engaged her to retire with her into a room apart from the company, and there related to her the occalion of her coming ; at which the other- ap- peared not lefs furprized than thofe to whom fhe had before addreffed this fait ; fain fhe would have diiluaded her from fuffering herfelf to be impofed on by the arts of thofe fellows, who have no other livelihood than what they extraft from the ignorant and credulous ; but Miramillia, who ftill continued refolute on making the experiment, would not fuffer her to proceed for any time on. this theme ; and Stenoclea, for fo fhe was called, had too much complaifance to enter with her into an argument which fhe perceived her friend determined to defend; with an air of pleafantry therefore, which had in it, however, fomewhat of diiTatisfaftion, fhe told her, that whatever reafons fhe might have to think herfelf unqualified for this employment, flic would undertake it ; becaufe, faid fhe, how little foever you may benefit by it, I am certain of receiving one very great ad- vantage by it, which is the happinefs I fhall enjoy in your focicty, which of neceffity you muft afford me for L 4 the 224 THE FRUITLESS the time in which I am at work for you. Miramillia, extremely pleafcd at e grant of her requeft, anfwered this compliment only with a fmile and bow, and re- turned with her to the company, having obtained her promife of beginning the work the next day. Three days had MiramiKla paft in this hcufe, in \vhich time both Stencclea, and Armuthi her hulband, itemed to f.udy nothing fo much as to divert her me- lancholy ; but all the feats and fports their kindncfs in- \ented, afforded but a .fmall portion of fatisfa&ion, when compared with that ihe conceived, at feeing this lady bufily employed in that tafk, which fo many had refufed to undertake, and from which (he had a greater hope than me would make fhow of, of obtaining her de- f.res, and once more embracing her beloved fen. It was r.ow mere than half accompiiihed, when Armuthi be- ing abroad, and the two ladies fitting together con- verfing en ordinary affairs, a fervant, with grief and ccnfuficn vifible in his face, entreated to fpeak in pri- vate to Stenoclea, who trembling, as if fearing fome expefted ill, bade him follow her into another room. Stenoclea returned not to Miramillia, till fl-.e had heard a great r.oife below flairs, and a ftrange confullon of voices, which now gave this unfatisfied mother fuftl- cient caufe to apprehend, that fomething had fallen out which would render this lady alfo incapable of doing her the fervice flie required. As fne was thus reflecting and Jamenting the misfortunes of others as well as herfelf, Stenoclea, with ilreamir.g eyes, and all the fymptoms of grief, appeared : Oh ! Miramillia, cried Ihe, it is now no longer in my power to impofe on you : thofe fears which made me ever incapable of doing you the iervice you required, though I concealed them, in hopes to put an end to fo fruitless an enquiry, are new come to pafs, and I muft now be known to be the wretch I am ; fain would I have deceived you into an opinion of my happinefs, by ihewing you how ineffectual the per- formance of what you afked would prove, to prevent you from E N Q_U I R Y. 225 from being any longer deceived by the fubtilty of that vain predictor, who advifed you to this fearch but I am prevented in my defign, and fo far from that hap- pinefs you wifh to find, muft own my breaft a perfeft chaos of wild confufion, grief, defpair, and Ihame. It is hard to fay, whether Miramillia was. more fur- prized or troubled at fo fudden an alteration ; but hav- ing made ufe of her vtmoft eloquence to perfuade her to a patient enduring of her fate, entreated fhe would re- late by what means flie was become unhappy ; on which the other endeavouring to fubdue her pailicns, replied, that fhe had not thus long made a fecret to her of her moil private affairs, but with an intention to put her off giving credit to the fortune-teller, and perplexing her- felf with a vain enquiry after what it was fcarce pro- bable ihe would ever find, or if (he did, would be of no confequence to her defires in the end. Loner, faid fhe, have T been wretched, through the fears of that misfortune which is now arrived ; and when you addreffed to me as to a happy perfcn, my full eyes were ready in a flood of tears to convince you of your miiifake, and proclaim the ntuation of my heart ; but friend flap interpofed, and told me, that by deceiving you this once, I mould preferve you from continuing to be deceived, fince in finding no effedt from that piece of fempfhy which you believed performed by hands pro- per to undertake it, you would no more have relied on that fabulous prediction, which I perceive has already given you fo much fruitlefs toil. But my defigns are now difappointed, the cruel certainty of rny fate leaves me no room for hope, or for concealment; you and the whole world muft now be fenfible, the fun in his cx- tenfne progrefs fees not a wretch fo loll, fo dead to cornfcrt, as the undone Stenoclea. The diflraftion of her thoughts here brcke in, and for a confiderable fpace of time would not permit her to utter one coherent fentenze ; but fummoning h^ whole force of that refolution flic was miflrefs of, f;.e ..t length rz- L 5 covered 226 THE FRUITLESS covered her felf enough to fatisfy the high-rsifed curiofity of Miramillia ; and being again deiired by her, prepar- ed to give her the account flie was fo impatient of, and feating herfelf by her, began in thefe or the like terms. THE HISTORY OF STENOCLEA, AND THE SlGNIORS A R M U T H I AND BARNIBAR. nPO make you acquainted, faid ftie, with the means *. which has brought the fad cataftrophe of my fate about, as alfo to let you a little into the nature and dif- pofitions of the perfons concerned in it, I muft enlarge my ftcry, by going back into thofe years which may properly enough be called my childifh ones ; many things happening at that time, though long fince paft > which have drawn on the mifery of the prefent. Know then, dear Miramillia, that I was bred the darling of my doating parents, my only brother being many years elder, and then abroad on his travels ; I was looked on as the comfort of their age, their marriage having never produced any other offspring than us two. I need not tell you how careful they were of my educa- tion ; the little undcrftanding I ftill retain in poetry, mathematics, mufic, dancing, and thofe other accom* plifliments proper for a perfon of my fex, will fuffici- ently inform you ; they defired I mould be miftrefs, in as high a degree as my capacity would permit, of every thing defirable in a woman. The reputation of im- provement, however, which thofe who had the care of inflrutting me favoured me with, joined to a tolerable ihare of beauty, gained me, before I reached the age of fourteen, a great number of vifitcrs, who pretended themfelves devoted to my charms j how much the gene- rality. E N QJJ I R Y. 227 rality of them were fo in reality, I gave myfelf not the trouble to examine, my whole wifhes and defires being centred in the agreeable Armuthi, a gentleman, whole maturity may inform you, was all that was love-infpiring in his bloom ; his age did not at that time exceed mine above five years, yet was there fornething of a manly majefty, which, mingled with the native fweetnefs and innocence of his unexperienced youth, gave fuch charms to his air, which I am unable to exprefs : but he was inferior in point of fortune ; and that deficiency, in the eyes of my parents, (who partially imagined the merits of their daughter might entitle her to the greateft expectations) over-balanced all his perfections. They could have given me a dowry which might have ferved as a competence for both, and made his wants unfelt i not all the tendernefs I regarded him with, though net unknown to them, could prevail, on them to confent, that I mould match with one whofe only jointure was his love. In fine, they were now pait all remembrance of what once they were, had loft in age the fcftening defires of youth, and looked on grandeur as the only felicity in marriage. They were continually preaching to me the pleafures of title and precedence ; reprefent- ing to me the inftabilityof thofe defires which perfonal perfections excite, and the numberlefs ills to which a woman is expofed, who gives herfelf away merely for the fake of love ; they bid me reflect on the mutability cf all pafiions, and efpecially oh that by which I was at prefent influenced ; how wretched I mould be if Armu- thi, after becoming my hufband,' fho'uld fwerve from his love, or I repent that which had made me his ; reminded me that the tie of marriage was irrevocable, and that if either of us deviated from our firft flame, with what anxiety the chain would be dragged by both. But this was a doftrine in which I had no faith ; I could not believe there was a pofiibility for love, like ours, ever to di minim ; and r,s to any other mifchiefs, I fet thenv *t naught. A thoajar.d times [good Heaven ! pardon L 6 ihe 3*8 THE FRUITLESS the wild exclamation] I have cried out, O let Armuthi be but mine, and I will defy the woric that fate can do! . But I will not detain you with any particulars of the extravagance of my paffion, which are not altogether material to my ftory ; it mall fuffice to tell you, that I loved too well to liften to the pretences of any other, though there were many who follicited my father on my account, and fonie of them very advantageous ; but I was not to be moved by their defpair, by the en- treaties and commands of my parents, nor by any con- fiderations of my own intereil ; and made no fcruple of yefolutely declaring, that fince 1 could not be the wife of Armuthi, I would be fo of no man. This equally paflionate lover would fain have perfuaded me to make my efcape, and wholly negledling all future contingen- cies fly with him to feme place, where unknown we might obtain the means of being made one, and con- fummate our loves ; nay> once had he, for a handfomc bribe, prevailed on a prieft to join our hands without the knowledge of my obdurate parents ; but neither to the one nor the other would I give confent ; not that I denied through any fears of wh?.t might happen to my- felf for fuch an act cf difcbedience, but that I could not bear the thoughts cf involving him in the misfor- tunes which muft inevitably fall on me. I loved him with too much real tendernefs to ccnfent he mould be unhappy with me; and even vvimed he loved me lefs, fince I found he ccu'd not be fo without me. In fpite of the diligence with which I was obferved, I made ufe of ilratagems which frequently gave us the blefiing of meeting, if that can be called fo, which was indeed no other than an opportunity of condoling each other, and lamenting our mutual woes. My mother's death, which happened in this time, rid me of one very watchful fpy ; and though I regarded her .with a dutiful refpeft and love, yet it was fo inferior to that I bore Armuthi, that the joy I took in finding myfclf more at liberty to fee him, tcok away great part of that E N QJJ I R Y. 229 that forrow I fhould elfe have felt for the lofs of fo near and dear a relation. My father, who had, perhaps, more tendernefs for her than he was fenfible of himfelf, furvived her not more than half a year, but died with the fame refolution that he had lived, to prevent my marriage with Armuthi; and that he might the more certainly do fo, he left my fortune dependent on my brother, and to be forfeited to him if ever I became the wife of that prefent gentleman ; and left my tears fliould work on his yielding nature to confent to it, the eftate was to defcend to him, to be the portion of ano- ther ; both of us to be cut off from his name and title, and as we obeyed this injunction to be blefled or curfed. Severe decree of a dying parent ! yet fuch was the aver- fion he had conceived for this match, that he would omit nothing which he thought might be a means to hinder it. All the hopes I had on the known fweetnefs of my brother's difpofition were new vanifned, fmce he could not confent I fhould be the bride of Armuthi, without in- curring the curfe of our father ; nor had the power to preferve me from beggary, without being made a beg- gar himfelf. I thought my condition now more defpe- rate than ever ; I hnd indeed no longer obfcacles to keep me from converging with this idol of my foul, as often or as freely as 1 pleafed ; but to what end did I fee orconverfe with him, but to become more unhappy by the daily difcovery of fome new charm, and the re- flection that I muu never be more his than now I was ? I had but one faint fhadow of comfort, and that was, that at my brother's return, which was now expelled every hour, I fhould perfaads him to mitigate the feri- tence of my father's teftament ; and though he could not fuffer me to receive my dowry, mrjht evade the penalty of paying it, by allowing me the intereft of it per annum, under the denomination of charity. This I fometimes flattered myfelf I mould perfuade him to do, and it was this alone which the unhappy Armuthi and myfelf had to preferve us from defpair ; for he, alas ! 230 THE FRUITLESS alas ! had no probable view of maintaining the chnrges of a family, his whole dependance being on the favour of an uncle, who, though he very much encouraged his addrciies to me, while there was the leaft hope of prevailing on my father to conf^nt to the marriage, was now as much avcrfe, fince he had heard the cruel con- ditions of his will; and oft^n chid Armuthi for con- tinuing his vifits to n ; f. I hr-cl not leen him for two days, when, to ray ii;ey..". fGble furprize and grief, I received this letter ,ro^i Here Stenoclea opened her cabinet, and taking out a paper, read to Miramillia the following lines : " MY tongue has for fome time been endeavouring " in vain to tell you, oh my for ever loved Stenoclea ! " what now I force my pen to do. Oh ! with what " words mall I exprefs what it is I mean ? Can I live, " and fay that I no more mult fee you ; no more mull " liften to the enchanting harmony of your heavenly "" voice ; no more muft hear you own a tendernefs, " which to be bleffedwilh, there is not a faint but might " forego his heaven, and ftand excufed for change of " rapture? To what a hell am I accurfed that mult " endure all this ? nay, like Belierophon, mull my " own fentence bear. Yet will I not complain, nor " utter one fyllable to exprefs the anguilh of my foul, " or excite an unavailing pity in yours. Fate, who '' ordains me to this mifery, will foon, I hope, b *' kindly cruel, and make it too violent to be lairing, " and ftrike me dead at once. For oh, Stenoclea 1 I " have refolved to go for ever from you ; to carry from " your fight a wretch, whofe contagious woes drive " peace and happinefs from their loved manfion---youi' " gentle breaft. Never, never will I renew thofe vain " defires of unaccompliflied loye, nor perfecute you " with a fruitlefs fuit. Far from your fight v/ill I con- " ceal for ever this ill-fated form, too much beloved, " fince too little worthy of being loved ; and leave yc-u E N QJJ I R Y. 2 3 t to regain that peace which I have toolongdeftroyed. Guilty, as miferable, mould I be tovviih, much lefs to attempt, the obfcuring of fo bright a ftar ; and in- volving in the gloom of mine, a life which has fo many opportunities of mining with the utmoft fplendor. Oh ! may no thought of me overcloud your future joys, but an eternal round of bleffings crown each enfuing day ! Farewell ! believe, that in forfaking you, I now do more to prove my love, than had I fpent the beft part of my blood in fighting v/ith fome happier rival ; nay, even in dying for you : that had been a glorious end ; but this I now go to feek a mean, lingering, and painful one. Pity me ; oh ! to the lait moment of my life, adored and loved Stonoclea ! for I would ftill be pitied, though not loved. Hea- ven ! that I mould wifh Stenoclea not to love me 1 What is there but that dear comfort to withhold me from running madly into fome defperate action, and breaking through all laws both human and divine ? Yet, till you ceafe to afford it, peace muft be a ftranger to your breaft. Forget me then, banifh me your thoughts ; but wim me not to live : in mercy pray for the fpeedy death of " The defpairing, " The diftraded, " Yet adoring; " ARMUTHI. " P. S. What I have refolved, not even your " commands mall prevent me from executing ; this t( therefore comes expecting no reply, and before you " can have formed one, I fliall be pafl the reach of it. " Adieu, once more, too lovely, and too good for my * l repofe or your own I" I cannot exprefs the grief I was in at the receipt of this letter ; I was nearly touched with the generofity of his behaviour, and joined with him in the opinion, that fince 252 THE FRUITLESS fince there was fcarce a poffibility of our being at peace, and indeed the reputation of both demanded our fepa- ration, yet could I not confent to it ; I found my foul too weak to refolve againft what gave me fo much plea- fure as his fociety, even though it were only a prirtner- fhip in misfortunes. I fent immediately to his lodgings, charging the meflenger to tell him, I muft fpeak with him before he went. But my commands arrived too late, and I was foon after informed, by one who was in- timate with his uncle, that he was gone to travel, but to what part of the world was kept a fecret. His only defign, as he has fince told me, being to feek a cure for his hopelefs paffion, he thought it would be an ill recipe to feed the diftemper by letters or meffages from the beloved object. This relation of his alone knew where he went ; and having fo great a defire to prevent his nephew's throwing himfelf away, as he called it, en a woman, who if me married him muft have no fortune, there was little probability he would reveal it. InccV.folable was I for his departure, feme- times believing his proceeding had been occaiioned by an excefs of love, and regard for my repofe ; at others that it v/as owing to the want of it ; and whenever this laft reflection came acrofs my thoughts, it gave me pains too terrible for dcfcription. Soon after this I received letters from Barnibar, fo my brother was called, dated from Padua, wh'ch brought me word, he was on his return, and woi Id fpeedily be in Venice : never was there a more ter.< e affccucn than that with which we had regarded c. ch. other before he went to travel ; and as I had not ab;-. ed any part of that which I had felt for him, fo I fuf- peifted not that abfence had diminilhed his for me, and promifed myfelf in his fociety a real confolation for the Jofs of Armuthi : but, O God ! when I expected to embrace him, and every moment thought the next would bring him to my arms, I received an account of his death, that he was killed by a gentleman on the road with whom he unfortunately happened to cu:;r- 3 reJ E N Q^U I R Y. 233- rel ; and a fervant he had with him endeavouring to revenge his mailer's death, was alfo left for dead ; th-it the perfon by whom this misfortune had happened was unknown, and had made his efcape, fo that all hope of doing jmlice to hi"s manes was extinguifhed. Judge what a furprize this muft be to a filler that fo tenderly loved him ; I found no comfort in the vail for- tune which by his death I became miilrefs of, and looked on myfelf as the moft forlorn creature in the world. O, Armuthi ! would I cry, them haft aban- doned me, and Heaven knows where thy defpsir will carry thee And Barnibar ! thouwho alone, by thy ad- vice and tender friendfhip, couldft have brought peace to my amifted foul, art torn from me by fome inhuman hand O ! bring the murderer to light, good Heaven ! purfued I, that I may profecute him with the fevereft vengeance let him be taken, let him be detected when he leaft fears the danger, and fudden ruin over- whelm him, as that he brought on Barnibar, my ua- happy brother ! But I will not, continued me, weeping afrefh at this part of her ilory, prolong the fad cataftrophe of my fate, by repeating to you the exclamations J made, or the thoufand vows I offered up to Heaven, and every faint, for bringing forth this unknown deilroyer of my brother's life. I had fcarce celebrated the folemnity of his funeral, before I heard Armuthi was brought back to Venice, being feized on the road with fo violent an inyifpofition, that he was unable to purfue his journey, and had taken the firil opportunity of a litter for his return. It was reported he was at the point of death, and entreated to fee me. Sure never any heart was fub-' jefled to fuch viciffitudes of anguifh, as was mine, to have him reflcred ; but reftored in fuch a manner as mull deprive me of him for ever, was infinitely more dreadful than all I had before endured. I now per- ceived that he was flill more dear than Barnibar had been, and that all the ties of blood are far inferior to thofe of love: -In fpte of the difguft I had conceived againit 234 THE FRUITLESS sgainfthis uncle, I flew to bis houfe, and regardlefs of the eenfure of the world, omitted nothing which I thought might contribute to the recovery of this foul-nek lover, for well I faw grief was his only diftemper. My kindnefs was fo great a cordial, 'chat, contrary to the judgment of the phyficians, v ho feme hours before I came had faid he could not live, I left him very much reltored, and ia fo fair a way of recovery, that it amazed all about him, His uncle, now as obliging to me as he had formerly been the reverfe, gave my generofity and conlhmcy fuel* praifes, as whoever had heard might have believed ; he alfo was my lover : but I took little notice of them, well knowing that to have a great fortune, independent by the death of my brother, was the greateii charm I had for him. Early the next morning did I vint my dear patient again, and found him in a condition, fuchas gave me great hopes I mould complete the cure I had -fo fortunately begun ; in fine, I left him not till it was fulfilled, and having now no obfcacle to prevent his being my hufband, was married to him in a fhort time after, to the great fatisfadlion of his now obliging uncle. Nothing ever was more ardent, or more tender than the alFeclions of Armuthi ; all his aftions, all his words, were fo many demonflrations of his iincerity ; and as I had given- him the utmoft proofs of mine, he could not but think his lot extremely fortunate; yet in the midit of all the joy he cxpreiTed at my being his, I every now and then obferved fome flarts of anguith breaking out, and giving a check to rapture ; deep groans, and fighs too heavy for reilraint, would ever and anon buril from his troubled breafc, even when furrounded with his mofi gay companions ; nor could the cheer- ful glafs, when fvvifcly pafllng round in jocund healths, repel their force, though oft I have feen, and wondering feen him, flruggle with the innate dilturbance ; but in unguarded fleep, with what dire furies feemed his brain poffefTed ! It is falfe, he would cry, wildly rtarting up, I killed him not j and then, again, throwing himfdf E N QJJ I R Y. 235 on the floor in 'ftrange convulfions, Hide, hide me, roared he out, from the offended ghoft ! Stop, flop tha,t ftream of blood ! it will fwallow me ! See ! I am en- compafTed with a liquid fire ! all hell'is on me ! Awaked and frighted with fuch dreadful founds, I have perforce broken the chain of deep, and taken him to iny arms ; but, oh ! what tremblings had the dire viilons left on all his frame ! in vain, with every art of fond, endearing love, did I endeavour to bring him back to peace ; too well I faw tranquillity was banifhed from his breafl, and he but wore a ihow of foft contentment. As nothing ought to be a fecret between perfons whom love and law had united in the facred tie of marriage, I prefied ..him, with all the tendernefs I v/as capable of exprefling, to reveal to me the cauie ol" his affliction ; but never could I obtain from him this proof of what he had fo often fworn, to deny me nothing I could afk, and in his power to grant ; but, on the contrary, he told m that he had in reality no caufe for grief, that tbofc troubled vifions were a diforder hereditary to his family, and that it was madnefs to impute the wild ideas of fancy, in which reafon had no part, to any real difor- der in the waking mind, which he affured me was en- tirely free from remorfe, or guilt of any fecret fin, which fhould occafion fuch confuiion, as he was fenf> ble fometimes appeared in him. I cannot fay I was perfeily fatisfied with this reply ; but having frequently fpoke to him on this head, and finding him ftill the fame, and at laft to grow a little uneafy, that I expreffed a uii;idciv;e in what he faid, I was obliged to give over any farther interrogatories concerning the affair : his disorders, however, encreafing, efpecially in fleep, gave me alfo perturbations which were very terrible to fuftain : he fb frequently crying out on blood, made me in- deed think fome had been fhed by unwarrantable means ; and more than once it flruck into my mind, how dread- ful a. ruin we mull: be involved in, if by any accident he and my brother fhould have met, and it fhould be the 236 THE' FRUITLESS the ghoft of that unhappy youth, whom he fo often named; and the bare apprehenfions that fuch a thing was pciiible, gave me horrors which I am not able to exprefs ; but I endeavoured to banifh fuch thoughts as much as poflible, and whenever any thing happened to renew them, ftrove with all my might to overcome them by arguments of a contrary nature ; yet would they not wholly forfake me, and the condition I was in was far from happy. '" About five months fince our marriage, did I live with- out any certainty, that there was fomething in the bot- tom of all this, more than what I have told you. Oh ! would to God I never had been convinced! Sufpence, tormenting as it was, was yet inferior to what eniued the dreadful detection of Armuthi's crime, and my ir- remediable misfortune ; but murder though for a time concealed, will, fometime or other, break forth, and blood will call for blood. I was fitting this morning in a low parlour, when I obferved a man who feemed to be en- quiring for fome perfon in the neighbourhood ; I ima- gined I had feen the face, and looked more earneftly, when prefently I faw him come to our gate, and on his near approach knew him to be Stilicon, an old fervant in our family, who had attended my brother in his travels, and the fame who was reported to have been murdered with him at Padua : I was infinitely pleafed to find him alive, hoping by him I might dilcovef who was the deftroyer of my dear brother, and take that vengeance which his death required : I ordered lie mould be admitted immediately, and as foon as he was, began to queilion him concerning the manner of that unhappy accident ; to which he replied in thefe terms : We had not, madam, faid he, left Padua more than, half an hour, before we met a gentleman well mounted, but unattended ; either through defign or chance, he rode fo near my mafter, that their horfes jofrled, and the Granger's horfe being fomewhat fierv, gave a fuu- den fpring, which was very near throwing his rider ; he E N QJJ I R Y. 237 fie taxed Signior Barnibar with incivility, imputing the caufe to him, as not having taken care to guide his beaft, or turn him out of the way. My mafter not thinking he owed that refpecl to a perfon unknown to him, and whofe appearance feemed not to command fuch a deference, anfwered him in terms befitting the arrogance of the demand ; on which the other, who, I believe, was heated with wine, challenged him to the proof, which of them merited to be efteemed the braveft man : my mafter, unwilling to decline the combat, leaped in a moment from his horfe, commanding me to take care of him, and, drawing his fword, ran to meet his antagonift, who was already prepared, and, at the firft pufh, received a wound under his left breaft of which he immediately expired ; I, diftracled at what I faw, flew to the fword of my dear dead mafter, re- folute to revenge him, or perim with him : I confefs myfelf too weak to do the former, but was pretty near obtaining my defire in the other ; for the murderous weapon which had deprived him of life was buried in my body, and but with difficulty drawn thence by its remorfelefs mafter, who, leaving me weltering in my blood, to all appearance dead, made the belt of his way toward the city. Some pafTengers foon after com- ing that way, the body of Signior Barnibar was con- veyed back, to Padua, whence you know it was after- wards conveyed to Venice, to be interred with his noble anceftors : I was put under the care of an able furgeon, who, contrary to all expectations, worked a cure on me ; but I continued fo weak, that I was un- able to begin my journey till three days fince. Hea- ven has, however, enabled me to return at a feafon to revenge the untimely death of my dear mafter. Early this morning, as I was coming to enquire where I might pay my dutiful ref^cfts to you, I faw the barbarous affaffin, the idea of whofe face, fince that curfed mo- ment in which I firft beheld him, has never been abfent from my mind. I followed, unnoticed, and no doubt forgotten 238 THE FRUITLESS forgotten by him, till I faw him enter a magnificent houfe a few ftreets off; whence running immediately to ft magiftrate, I made oath of what I knew, and had proper officers, and a warrant granted to apprehend him. He is now under a ftrong guard, and I can falute you, madam, continued he, with the joyful news that your brother's ghoft will mortly have the vengeance it requires. So ftrongly, faid Stenoclea, did the fears I have already acquainted you with work in me, that for fomc moments I was incapable of afking Stilicon the name of him whom he had apprehended ; but when I did, It* anfwered me, that he was ignorant either of the name or quality of the perfon, but that having caufed him to - be feized, he presently enquired where he might find me, being willing to be the firft who mould acquaint me with the pleafmg tidings. Never was fuch a mixture of hope and terror as that I endured all the time he was fpeaking ; I cculd not think it Armuthi, yet would have given almoft my life to have been certain it was not. About this time I heard you coming down flairs, I ordered the fellow to be en- tertained by the fervants, and came into the room to you ; I concealed my diforder as well as I was able, and indeed the more I confidered the matter, the more I found comfort ; I could not think, if it were really my huiband who was in cuftody, but that I mould have heard of his misfortune from himfelf ; I refolved, how- ever, to be informed of the truth, by fending^a perfon to the prifon ; but before I had well determined in \\hn.t manner to proceed, I was called to one who brought me a letter, the character of which, on the fuperfcrip- tion, I knew to be that of Armuthi, and gueffed the fatal purport before I read it in thefe lines. As me fpoke thefe words, me tt)ok out of her pocket a letter, which fhe put into the hands of Miramillia to read, while fhe indulged the greatnefs of her forrows in 3 tears, E N CLU I R Y. 239 ears, now again pail the power of utterance by fpeech : her fympathizing friend confidering, ' to repeat the contents of that paper would ferve but 19 encreafe her griefs, read to herfelf as follows : " I Need not now be demanded the reafons of " that defpair you have fo often obfcrved, and which " were indeed toe juftly viable for you not to perceive, " yet Heaven will, I hope, forgive a crime which was " involuiur.ry. Oh ! that you would as readily be *' brought not to hate the "man, whofe death will foon *' atone the murder of Barnibar ! But that were too " vrvin a hope : by one raih aft I have deprived you of *' a brother, who was extremely dear to you, and of a *' hufband who valued nothing in competition with you " What can I fay in vindication of what I have done, (< which will not feem rather to add to the heinoufnefs fs of it ? Yet had I loved you to a lefs violent degree, I " had not thus been criminal ; the grief I conceived for " having taken the life of an innocent gentleman, and THE FRUITLESS for the advice me had given me ! But fhe was now dead, and pail the reach of my reproaches. The thoughts that he muft be the inheritor of the eftate of my dear fon, drove me almoft to madnefs, and filled me by de- grees with a kind of hatred to that poor innocent, who was but guilty of offending me through my own fault ; for I mult acknowledge, that from his earlieft infancy till this time, he has difcovered fuch a fweetnefs of dif- pofition, as would have made me happy in being the mother of fucu a fon, had I in reality been fo. He is now eileemed the finefl gentleman in this part of th country; and, in fpite of the prejudice of nature, I cannot but confefs, that in many things he very much excells his fuppofed brother ; yet, deferving as he is, oh Miramillia ! he is a ftranger to my blood, and is it iiot hard that he fliould deprive him, who is net, of his inheritance ? Yet, by what means mail I avoid it ? A thoufand times, in the fondnefs of foul for the other, I l:uve opened my mouth to tell the chevalier the whole f:ory ; but fear and fhame as often prevented me from {peaking. I cannot difcover the fraud I have beea guilt}- of, without expofing myfelf at once to the in- tiignation, and, perhaps, eternal hatred of a hufband \vho is very dear to me, and the juft cenfure and re- proaches of the whole world ; for it cannot be fuppofed, but that Herranius, fo is my pretended fon called, would inveigh loudly againit the injuitice of my pro- ceedings. But if 1 were fo difpc'1-d, I know not by what means I mould make out the truth of what I fay ; Eftharia is dead, as I have before obferved ; there was but one perfon befide her let into the fecret, who alfo is no more. I know not from whom that fubtle creature procured him ; nor can I, by any other proof but my own oath, make out that he is not mine : I fliould in- cur the "hate and fcorn of all who know me; and, per- haps, leave hings in the fame pofition they were in be- fore. Was ever affliction equal to mine ? Have you, in all your inquisition after happinefsj found a perfon more truly E N Q_ U I R Y. 247 truly diftant from it, than the unfortunate Tellifinda ? It is eafy, madam, replied Miramillia, for any one, who is a mother, to guefs a mother's grief in fo per- plexing a circumflance ; yet cannot I advife you to throw Herranius off: he is your fon by adoption, though not by birth ; and you know the old Romans made no dif- ference between the one and the other, but according to the virtues they obferved in them. Herranius, you fay, has merit ; let that endear him to you ; you have robbed him of parents, to whom, perhaps, he might have been dear; though misfortunes prevailed on them , to part with him for the hope of a better provifion : not that, methinks, I would have him, who is really your fon, be deprived of his birth-right; there may be ways and means found put to make them at leaft equal in their fortunes ; and it will be of much better confe- quence to fludy that, than, by betraying the fecret to the chevalier, ran the hazard of forfeiting his affec- tions ; and, at the fame time, be guilty of a cruelty to an unhappy youth, who thinks himfelf your own. Tellifinda could not but approve her reafons ; {he afTared her ihe would take the advice flie had fo kindly given, but could not bring herfelf to that Hate of tran- quillity which was neceffary to oblige her in the affair which had brought her thither; nor did the other, fince made acquainted with her Aory, expect it from her ; and therefore took her leave in a ihort time. Having made fo many vain efTays among the married ladies, me began to imagine that there was nopoffibility of finding one in that ftate entirely-free from care, and therefore refolved, if fhe profecuted her fearch, it mould be only to thofe who had not yet given up their freedom me would apply. She bethought herfelf of a young lady, who by the death of her parents was left miftrefs of a very confiderable fortune ; me was very beautiful, and had accompliftiments enough to make her a fit wife for the firft nobleman in Venice; but her gaiety, and the unaffected eafe of her converfation, made it evident M 4 Jhe * 4 8 THE FRUITLESS fhe was yet wholly free from any infetion from that dangerous pafiion, which is generally the original of all the misfortunes of the fair. Miramillia had no fooner recovered the fatigues of her journey, than {he went to vifit Amalia, for by that name was this lady diflinguifhed ; fhe found a vaft deal of com- pany with her, and her good humour alone it was which gave life to the converfation. Our affli&ed mother did not doubt but that contentment dwelt here, and longed till fhe had feen the other ladies depart, that Ihe might communicate to her the requeft fhe had to make. At length this part of her wifh was fulfilled ; and fhe was beginning to endeavour for the other, when a woman in an ordinary habit came into the room ; on the fight of whom Amalia rofe from her feat, and begging par- don of Miramillia for a moment's abfence, ran with her into a clofet, with all the appearance of a moft eager impatience in her looks and air. She returned not in a confiderable time; and when fhe did, the alteration, which was vifible in her countenance, mr.de Miramillia believe fome very extraordinary accident had happened ; and in that opinion, Madam, faid fhe, I hope you have heard nothing uliich fhould rob you of any part of that che?.rfulnefs whi_h lately was fo entertaining to your friends? -Oh, madam! replied fhe, the fadciefc acci- dent ! I never was fo much perplexed in rny whole life; I would rather have given half my fortune, than ha\e mtt with fuch a diiappointment. It is not to be borne. Good God ! continued fhe, fretting more and more, to be debarred of one's will in fuch a thing as this ; fare I have the hardcft fortune of any one in the wcrld. I hope, faid Mirarr.illia, you are not entering into a law- fuit ? No, no, 21 fwered the other, I have enough to trouble me without that, of a mere vexatious natuie ; never any body was" fo difappointed, fo mortified. Thefa words filled Miramillia with a kind of curicfity to know what had worked fo great a change in her ; fhe continued lo aik her feveral queitions concerning the caufe cf her difordcr, E N QJJ I R Y. 249 diforder, as if it proceeded from the news of the death of forae one (he had a friendfhip for, and fcveral other fuch demands ; to all which me anfwered in the nega- tive, but joined to it ftill, that her misfortune was far worfe: which \vords railing to a greater height Mira- miifia*s defire of knowing, me entreated to be made the coniidante of this fecret; but it was net in the power of the other prefently to comply with her requeft, the dif- t urban ce of her mind not permitting her to bring fortli any mrre than broken fentences : tears at length af- forded her fome relief; and after giving a loofe to them for about two or three minutes, me regained the power of fpcech, and related her calamity in thefe wwds-: you know, faid me, that there is a great ball at co..ift next week; all the Beau monde will be there, "and every endeavouring to be as fine as they can : Sab ; na, who is, without exception, the vaineft creature in the world, mowed me a piece of the richeft brocade I ever faw in my life, that is to be m=u!c up for her agrunft the time ; and you never heard a"ny thing boaft with fo much infolence as me did, that fne fliould be the beft'dre/I'ed of ..mv bodv : filly creature ! me forgot me was talking to n peril 1 n who could as well afford' to purchafe a haud- foirie tiling as herfclf. I was refolved to be even with her, and had formed a defign, which, if not prevented by the lazinefs or treachery of the perfon I employed in it; would have been an excellent piece of revenge. With, r. vr.it deal of indaflry, and fi.n-.e artifice, I procured a pattern of Sabina's brocade, and finding it was not ta .be matched, fent it to my mercer, whom I ordered to f::ow it to the weaver, that he might make a certain number of yards for me exaftly of the fame figure, but '. aft deal more Clver in the ground : there are alfd fome hrge green leaves in it, on which I intended ta have hud here and there feveral fmall diamonds and ru- bies, and other precious Hones tacked on. Oh ! it would have been the mofl beautiful fancy, and the richeft, that ever was feen ; but, oh MiramilJia ! the M 5 . baf* 250 THE FRUITLESS bafe wretch, that I depended on, that promifed me fo faithfully, has difappointed me ; he fent word juft now, that he begged my pardon, but could not poflibly get it done in the time. Was ever fuch a neglect, fuch an im- pudence, when I had told the fellow he muft work night and day to do it ? I could tear him in pieces, and myfelf too, that I muft be triumphed over by fuch a creature as Sabina, who, though me is neither handfome nor" very young, will have all vhe world flaring at, and admir- ing, her clothes, while nobody takes any notice of me, though, without any varaty, there is no comparifon between us. Miramillia could fcarce contain her laughter at the fecital of fo ridiculous a misfortune ; and, willing to con- fole her as well as Ihe could But, dear Amalia! faid fhe, why mould you afflict yourfelf fo deeply? Me- thinks this vexation might eafiiy be removed; there are without doubt other very handfome filks in town ; buy the richeft the mops will afford, and purfue your defign of embroidering it with diamonds; I am confident you may make it appear equally glorious with her's, what- ever .it be. That is true, replied Amalia; but, my dear, you miftake the thing : the mortification I pro- pofed to give her pride was this, to have of the very fame pattern a filk fo infinitely to outlhine her's. I would not give a ryal to be finer th^.n me in any other drefs ; but it would have been the moft elegant fatif- faftion to have observed the baulk it would have been to her, to have beheld her own pattern fq much outdone. But why do I talk of it ? contifi ued flie ; my hope is pafl ; all my defigns are fruftrated ; and I muft content myfelf either to feign an indifpolition and ftay at home, or, by going there, refolve to endure all the fine compliments that will be made heron the delicacy of her fancy. All that Mirsmillia could fay to her was of little fer- vice to make her in a better humour, and Ihe was obliged to leave her to indulge it, not imparting any thing of the reafons which, had induced her to this vifit ; rightly judging, E N CLU I R Y. 251 judging, that when people fet their hearts on trifles, a difappointment, even in them, is as hard to be endur- ed, as things of the greateft confequence are to others. Not being willing yet to give over her fearch, the next whofe character promifed her fuccefs was Cloriila, a young lady of great birth, beauty, and education; but (he was inconfolable, becaufe her father, being of a different turn of mind, had refufed a port of honour offered him by the Senate, and another had accepted it, who had daughters, that by virtue of their father's office were now entitled to fit above her in all public aflem* lies. She bore this vexation with much the fame degree" of moderation, as Amalia had done the difappointment of her filk : Miramillia concluding nothing was to be ex- pefted here to forward the experiment me was fo much defirous to make trial of, ordered her coach to drive to the houfe of Claribella, a young lady whofeemedto have every thing that can complete happinefs excepting a huf- band, and that was every day in her power to be pof- feffed of, being follicited in marriage by the richeft and mod accompli fiied noblemen in Venice; but me ap- peared no friend to love, and declared to all her ac- quaintance, that me had yet .never feen the man who had any temptations for her to quit her liberty. She had the reputation of being of the moil eafy, as well as gay temper imaginable; and Miramillia accufed herfelf of want of thought, that me had not made the firft appli- cation to her, which *might probably have favedhcr the trouble of the reft : but, alas ! flie had not time to com- municate to her the intent of her viiit, before ihe had reafon to fufpeft it would be of little purpofe : me re- ceived her indeed with. ?J1 the civilities due to a lady of her quality and charadler, but yet there might be feen a fort of peevifhnefs in all her air, which denoted Hie was far from being perfectly at eafe ; which Miramillia per- ceiving, afked if ihe was well ; and that queftion pre- fently informed her how much fame had deceived Kfr in reporting this lady for a woman of fo much good hu- M 6. rcour. 252 THE FRUITLESS mour. I am not at all furprized, madam, anfwered fhff, that you mould take me to be indifpofed ; not that I think I am at all altered lince you faw me laft, but the prodigious charms of Ifmenia make too great an eclat to fufTer any other woman to be thought tolerable. It would be impoffible to reprefent the furprize in which thefe words involved the perfon to whom they were addreffed; ihe knew, indeed, there was a lady called Ifmenia ; that file was the daughter of a fenator, and efteemed a very lovely maid ; but what concern this mould be of C! Ara- bella's, or why me mould name her to a perfon who had not the leait acquaintance with her, me could not ima- gine : to eafe herfelf, therefore, of this perplexity, As I r.m ignorant, faid ie, of any of the affairs of that lady, I cannot guefs of what confequencc her beauty can be to y-ou. Pardon me, m dam, re fumed the other, your late griefs have, perhaps, made you regardlefs of the news of the town, elfe it is impoffible but you rnuit have heard the vaft reputation Ifmenia has acquired by the death of Charino. Ycu would oblige me with the relation of it, faid Miramillia ; for I allure you I never heard it mentioned, though I had formerly fome ac- quaintance with Charino, and locked on him as a moft accomplifhed gen 'le man. ---He was fo, replied .Clari- bclla; and no doubt, but if he had made his applica- tion, might have been thought well of by women of great- r diiHnftion than Ifmenia: but what he faw in her, Heaven knows ! to infpire him with fo prodigious a pr.iTicn ; the mere he adored, the mere me infulted. I never faw any thing in my life arrive at that mon- ftrous height of vanity ihe did; nor a man, efpecially one who had fenfe too, degenerate to fo low and mean a fubmiffion as did Charino : he was like her fhadow, followed her wherever me went, talked of her in all company as of the moft lovely creature in the world. Thus it went on between them for about three months, at the end of which, fhe continuing to ufe him ill, he fiiot himfeJf through the head, leaving a letter behind him, E N CLU I R Y. 253 'him, to acquaint the world for what caufe he did it. Since this demonstration of her power, there is no en- during Ifmenia; the is grown fo aifuming, that it is impoffible to converfe with her ; and yet you cannot imagine hc\v much {he is admired by the men. I fup- pofe they think, becaufe one has been fool enough to die for her, that me really deferves to be cried up in the manner fhe is; in fine, there is nothing now talked of in town but her beauty; fhe is the general toaft; and it is looked on as folly or envy not to join in the ridicu- lous praifes which are given her. This is the firft time I ever heard of this adventure, faid Miramiiiia, and am extremely forry that Charino mould have fo fmall a fenfe of the duties of religion, and fo poignant a one of a ^oolifn paffica. But 1 cannot fee why you mould be difcontcnted at it, any farther than common corapaf- fion for the untimely death of fo agreeable a chevalier. If Ifmenia has ftupidity enough to be pleafed with fo fa- tal an effect of her charms, and is induced by her vanity to behave in the manner you defcribe, it is eafy to break off all acquaintance with her; for my p oVfoi. He made no other reply to thefe words than bowing his head, for he had not yet recovered ftrength enough to move his body in the leaft ; after this we began to talk of the villainy of Ferronefe, and the little fecurity a young woman can have out of the prefence of ihofe whom duty and nature oblige to be tender of her honour. Felicia excufed her going into the field with him, by faying he told her, there was that mo- ment a great mountain raifed at the end of it in that night, which he imagined had been done by an earth- quake ; me added, that not having the leail fufpicion that he had any dcfign on her, nor could apprehend a danger of any kind fo near the houfe, fhe had yin out to fee this wonder, at the garden-gate which led. to the Held, and happened to be then open ; but that fhe was no fooner out of hearing, than me perceived a horfe tied by the bridle to a tree, on which he mounted, taking her by force in his arms, and making no flop till he came to that wood, where Adario found him ready to facrifice her honour to a paffion fhe would not confent to gratify by marriage witli him. I obferved, while Felicia was relating to Adario the means by which me was carried away, fhe took a more than ordinary pains in excufing her inadvertency ; and this ferved to convince me more, that fhe was in reality as fenfiWe of the tender paffion as it is pofiible for a young heart to be. We continued in the chamber till a certain faintnefs, which his countenance, in fpite of him, betrayed, re- minded me that we had put him on the neceffity of fpeaking more than his ftrength would bear j and in- deed the furgeon found him fo difordered at his next vifit, that he defired we would forbear any further con- verfaticn with him for a good while. It was near ano- ther month before we were fuffered to go into his cham- ber, any farther than the door, to enquire after his health, which I conflantly did every day. But I took notice, that after this, Felicia grew extremely melan- choly, and at laft fo pale, and her whole air fo de- jeded, ^4 THE FRUITLESS je&ed, that me was fcarcely to be known : I guefled, that this change in her proceeded from the endeavours ite made to conquer the paffion me had entertained for a perfon who was refolved to continue a ftranger to her ; and to forward her cure, fent her to the houfe of a fifter of mine, who had many children of much the fame age with herfelf, in whofe fociety I hoped her melan- choly might abate : I perceived an unwillingnefs in her to go, but not fo much as offered any thing in oppofi- tion to it. But flie had not been there many days be- fore my fifter fent her back, fearing fome fad effecT: of her diflemper, which, from the moment me left home, had increafed by fuch fwift degrees, that at her return fhe feemed but like the fpeclre of the once gay Felicia. Adario too, on hearing me was gone, fell into convul- fions, which were near being fatal to him ; this new diforder, however, retarded his recovery fo much, that it was near four months before he was able to walk about his chamber. I was fo greatly affedled with their mutual diftrefs, that I refolved to relieve it, if by any means I could : but neither of them having declared their fenti- ments to me, I was at a lofs how to break the know- , ledge I had of them, either to the one or the other. My concern for my child, whom I faw almoft at the point cf death, made me at laft caft afide all fcruples. I revealed to her the difcovery I had made, and per- ceiving fhe was in a confufion fcarce fupportable, I endeavoured to comfort her, and told her it was no breach of modefty for a young maid to be charmed with merit fuch as our gueft appeared to be mafter of. I aifured her alfo, that I faw the fame paffion working as powerfully in his foul as in her's, and that if there was no greater impediment than I could yet forefee, mar- riage mould, in a fmall time, complete their mutual willies. The anfwers me made were but fhort, and confifled only in thanks for the tendernefs I exprefled for her repofe ; yet could I plainly difcern the greateft indulgence fe N CLU I R V. 2% indulgence on any other fcore would hive* availed but little to the recovery of her peace. From her I went to the chamber of Adario, whom I found extremely penfive ; I would not, as yet, take :iny notice to him of my defign, being defirous cf feeing if he would reveal to Felicia more than he was willing to do to me : to accomplish which intent, I ordered dinner to be ferved in his chamber, feeing he was now in a condition to endure company. This was done every day ; and fometimes pretending fudden bufmefs, I would retire, on purpofe to give him the liberty of explaining himfelf, if he had courage to do fo. I queilioned. ihy daughter concerning his behaviour, and ihe with blufhes at laft confeffed, that he had declared himfelf 1 her lover ; that having told him me could not, without breach of modefiy, accept of any prcpofals of that kind from a perfon, who, while he made an offer of his heart, concealed his name ; ke affurcd her, that his quality. U-as not inferior to -hers; but that, when me prefied him to make it known, he only fighed, and turned his head away. I need not repeat the trouble I was in at this latter part of the account. You may believe^ on the one fide, I was infinitely concerned at the deipair of* a child fo dear to me; and, on the other, could not think of giving her to a man, from whom nothing could draw the fecret of his birth. After a long confidera- tion, I commanded Felicia to inform him, fhe would liften no farther to the declarations he ceafed net to make her, nor on any terms believe his pretenfioni were fuch as were confident with honour, unlefs he made them known to me, and alfo from what parents Jie derived his being. She obeyed, and hd appeared in all the confufion imaginable ; he told her, that he had not the leaft hope of fucceeding ; that ail the reafon he hr.d fo long concealed himfelf was, that he was certain of lofmg all that good-will the fervice he had done me had acquired, when once that fatal fecret fiiould be difcovered : There is, faid he, an enmity Vet, .II.. N bctv/seo 266 betw THE FRUITLESS between our parent?, which, on the fide of yours, I fear \vui never ceafe. But why fliould I delay your atten- tion ? He, at length, was prevailed on to difcover himfelf your fon ; which I was no fconer made acquainted with, than I felt a tranfport which no tongue is able to c ,-pref:.. -The merits of Adario feemed now to fhine with uoubleluftre, when I knew they were derived from Miraraillia. Miramillia ! whom I have never ceafed to admire, even when myrafli defpair made me attempt the life of the man moll dear to her: I flew immedi- ately to Adario, I embraced him with all the demon- ilraticn of a paternal affeftion, affuring him, J ihould think myfelf biefied in making him my fon. There remains, faid 1, but one impediment to our common fatisfafticn, the confent of your excellent mother, her for- givenefs of a crime, which I have fince feverely repented of, and vouchsafing to join your hands. Adario re- turned my endearments as became his affedlion to my daughter, and gave me hopes you would not be lefs bounteous to his wifhes than I had been. Thus, madam, continued he, have you heard the kiftory of apafTicn, which, as violent as it is, has not tranfported the perfons influenced by it to aft any thing; contrary to dvi'y, or to honour; all the tendernefs Fe- licia has been fo fortunate to infpire in the foul of Adar rio, has never made him once intreat the gratification of his delii es, till authorized by your permiflion. If then the mutual love of thefe darlings of the hearts of us both, can be of any power to move you ; or the fincenj penitence of Clotario mitigate the guilt of his former raihncfs, behold I join in their fubmiffions, and intreat you \viil not be refraftory to their willies. Here ceafed Clotario to fpeak ; and taking Adario in one hand, and Felicia in the other, they all three fell on their knees before Mir.-rnillia ; who expreffing fome ccnfufion to fee Clotario in that pofturc, firft raifed him in the mo:'l obliging manner, then embraced Felicia and Adario with a tendernefs, which denoted (he would be far E N CLU I R Y. a6 7 far from oppofing their defires ; which me foon after ra tified by her words. Thus was this houfe of mourning now converted to a proportionable joy : not only Felicia, but Clotario, fhe obliged to have apartments with her, till preparation were made for the marriage, which was foon after com- pleted, to the unfpeakable fatisfadlion of all who were Concerned in it, ND of the SECOND VOLUME, s UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. ! I 315 A 000007991 3 R^ITY of CALIFORNIA AT LOS r ANGELES LIBRARY