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116 The four champions showed the greatest address that can be imagined; though the king was the best horseman in his kingdom, it was hard to say which of them most excelled. The duke de Nemours had a grace in all his actions which might have inclined to his favour persons less interested than madam de Cleves. She no sooner saw him appear at the end of the lists, but her heart felt uncommon emotions, and every course he made she could scarce hide her joy, when he had successfully finished his career.

In the evening, when all was almost over, and the company ready to break up, so it was for the misfortune of the state, that the king would needs break another lance; he sent orders to the count de Montgomery, who was a very dexterous combatant, to appear in the lists. The count begged the king to excuse him, and alleged all the reasons for it he could think of; but the king, almost angry, sent him word he absolutely commanded him to do it. The queen conjured the king not to run any more, told him he had performed so well that he ought to be satisfied, and desired him to go with her to her apartments. He made answer, It was for her sake that he would run again; and entered the barrier. She sent the duke of Savoy to him to entreat him a second time to return, but to no purpose. He ran; the lances were broke, and a splinter of the count de Montgomery's lance hit the king's eye, and stuck there. The King fell; his gentlemen and monsieur de Montmorency, who was one of the Mareschals of the field, ran to him; they were astonished to see him wounded, but the king was not at all disheartened; he said, that it was but a slight hurt, and that he forgave the count de Montgomery. One may imagine what sorrow and affliction so fatal an accident occasioned on a day set apart to mirth and joy. The king was carried to bed, and the surgeons having examined his wound found it very considerable. The constable immediately called to mind the prediction which had been told the king, that he should