Queen-Dauphin so often, in order to avoid involving yourself in

adventures of gallantry."
The Princess of Cleves had never heard before of the amour

between the Duke de Nemours and the Queen-Dauphin; she was so
much surprised at what her mother had told her, and seemed to see

so plainly how she had been mistaken in her thoughts about the
Duke, that she changed countenance. Madam de Chartres perceived

it. Visitors came in that moment; and the Princess of Cleves
retired to her own apartment, and shut herself up in her closet.

One can't express the grief she felt to discover, by what her
mother had been just saying, the interest her heart had in the

Duke de Nemours; she had not dared as yet to acknowledge it to
her secret thoughts; she then found, that the sentiments she had

for him were such as the Prince of Cleves had required of her;
she perceived how shameful it was to entertain them for another,

and not for a husband that deserved them; she found herself under
the utmostembarrassment, and was dreadfully afraid lest the Duke

should make use of her only as a means to come at the
Queen-Dauphin, and it was this thought determined her to impart

to her mother something she had not yet told her.
The next morning she went into her mother's chamber to put her

resolves in execution, but she found Madam de Chartres had some
touches of a fever, and therefore did not think proper to speak

to her: this indisposition however appeared to insignificant,
that Madam de Cleves made no scruple after dinner to visit the

Queen-Dauphin; she was in her closet with two or three ladies of
her most familiar acquaintance. "We were speaking," said she

to her, as soon as she saw her, "of the Duke de Nemours, and
were admiring how much he's changed since his return from

Brussels; before he went there, he had an infinite number of
mistresses, and it was his own fault, for he showed an equal

regard to those who had merit, and to those who had none; since
his return he neither knows the one nor the other; there never

was so great a change; I find his humour is changed too, and that
he is less gay than he used to be."

The Princess of Cleves made no answer; and it shocked her to
think she should have taken all that they said of the change in

the Duke for proofs of his passion for her, had she not been
undeceived; she felt in herself some little resentment against

the Queen-Dauphin, for endeavouring to find out reasons, and
seeming surprised at a thing, which she probably knew more of

than anyone else; she could not forbear showing something of it;
and when the other ladies withdrew, she came up and told her in a

low voice, "And is it I, Madam, you have been pointing at, and
have you a mind to conceal, that you are she who has made such an

alteration in the conduct of the Duke of Nemours?" "You do me
injustice," answered the Queen-Dauphin, "you know I conceal

nothing from you; it is true the Duke of Nemours, before he went
to Brussels, had, I believe, an intention to let me know he did

not hate me; but since his return, it has not so much as appeared
that he remembers anything of what he has done; and I acknowledge

I have a curiosity to know what it is has changed him so: it
would not be very difficult for me to unravel this affair,"

added she; "the Viscount de Chartres, his intimate friend, is in
love with a lady with whom I have some power, and I'll know by

that means the occasion of this alteration." The Queen-Dauphin
spoke with an air of sincerity which convinced the Princess of

Cleves, and in spite of herself she found her mind in a more calm
and pleasing situation than it had been in before.

When she returned to her mother, she heard she was a great deal
worse than she had left her; her fever was redoubled, and the

days following it increased to so great a degree, that she was
thought to be in danger. Madam de Cleves was in extreme grief on

this occasion, and never stirred out of her mother's chamber.
The Prince of Cleves was there too almost every day and all day

long, partly out of affection to Madam de Chartres, and partly to
hinder his lady from abandoning herself to sorrow, but chiefly

that he might have the pleasure of seeing her, his passion not
being at all diminished.

The Duke de Nemours, who had always had a great friendship for
the Prince of Cleves, had not failed to show it since his return

from Brussels; during the illness of Madam de Chartres he
frequently found means to see the Princess of Cleves, pretending

to want her husband, or to come to take him out to walk; he
enquired for him at such hours as he knew very well he was not at

home, and under pretence of waiting for him stayed in Madam de
Cleves's anti-chamber, where there were always a great many

people of quality; Madam de Cleves often came there, and her
grief did not make her seem less handsome in the eyes of the Duke

de Nemours; he made her sensible what interest he had in her
affliction, and spoke to her with so submissive an air, that he

easily convinced her, that the Queen-Dauphin was not the person
he was in love with.

The seeing him at once gave her grief and pleasure; but when she
no longer saw him, and reflected that the charm he carried about

him when present, was an introduction to love, she was very near
imagining she hated him, out of the excessive grief which that

thought gave her.
Madam de Chartres still grew worse and worse, so that they began

to despair of her life; she heard what the physicians told her
concerning the danger she was in with a courage worthy her

virtue, and her piety. After they were gone, she caused
everybody to retire, and sent for Madam de Cleves.

"We must part, my dear daughter," said she, stretching out her
hand to her; "the danger I leave you in, and the occasion you

have for me, adds to the regret I have to leave you: you have a
passion for the Duke de Nemours; I do not desire you to confess

it; I am no longer in a condition to make use of that sincerity
for your good; I have perceived this inclination a great while,

but was not willing to speak to you of it at first, for fear of
making you discover it yourself; you know it at present but too

well; you are upon the brink of a precipice; great efforts must
be used, and you must do great violence to your heart to save

yourself: reflect what you owe to your husband; reflect what you
owe to yourself, and think that you are going to lose that

reputation which you have gained, and which I have so much at
heart; call up, my dear daughter, all your courage and constancy;

retire from Court; oblige your husband to carry you away; do not
be afraid of taking such resolutions, as being too harsh and

difficult; however frightful they may appear at first, they will
become more pleasant in time, than the misfortunes that follow

gallantry: if any other motives than those of duty and virtue
could have weight with you, I should tell you that if anything

were capable of disturbing the happiness I hope for in the next
world, it would be to see you fall like other women; but if this

calamity must necessarily happen, I shall meet death with joy, as
it will hinder me from being a witness of it."

Madam de Cleves bathed with tears her mother's hand, which she
held fast locked in her own; nor was Madam de Chartres less

moved. "Adieu, dear daughter," said she, "let us put an end
to a conversation which melts us both; and remember, if you are

able, all that I have been saying to you."
When she had spoke this, she turned herself on the other side,

and ordered her daughter to call her women, being unwilling
either to hear her reply, or to speak any more. Madam de Cleves

went out of her presence in a condition one need not describe;
and Madam de Chartres thought of nothing but preparing herself

for death: she lived two days longer, during which she would not