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Part IV. not to be discouraged.—Ah! Madam, replied Monsieur de Nemours, I cannot keep the silence you enjoined me; you do me too much injustice, and make it appear too clearly that you are far from being prepossessed in my favour.—I confess, answered she, that my passions may lead me, but they cannot blind me; nothing can hinder me from knowing that you are born with a disposition for gallantry, and have all the qualities proper to give success; you have already had a great many amours, and you will have more; I should no longer be she you placed your happiness in; I should see you as warm for another as you had been for me; this would afflict me, and I am not sure I should not have the torment of jealousy: I have said too much to conceal from you that you have already made me know what jealousy is; and that I suffered such cruel inquietudes the evening the queen gave me madam de Themines's letter, which it was said, was addressed to you, that to this moment I retain an idea of it, which makes me believe it is the worst of all ills.

There is scarce a woman but out of vanity or inclination desires to engage you; there are very few whom you do not please, and my own experience would make me believe, that there are none whom it is not in your power to please: I should think you always in love and beloved, nor should I be often mistaken; and yet in this case, I should have no remedy but patience; nay, I question if I should dare to complain. A lover may be reproached; but can a husband be so, when one has nothing to urge, but that he loves one no longer? But admit I could accustom myself to bear a misfortune of this nature, yet how could I bear that of imagining I constantly saw monsieur de Cleves, accusing you of his death, reproaching me with having loved you, with having married you, and shewing me the difference betwixt his affection and yours? It is impossible to over-rule such strong reasons as these; I must continue in the condition I am in, and in the resolution I have taken