"You have not flattered yourself," replied she; "the reasons of my duty

would not perhaps appear so strong to me without that distinction of

which you doubt, and it is that which makes me apprehend unfortunate

consequences from your alliance." "I have nothing to answer, Madam,"

replied he, "when you tell me you apprehend unfortunate consequences;

but I own, that after all you have been pleased to say to me, I did not

expect from you so cruel a reason." "The reason you speak of," replied

Madam de Cleves, "is so little disobliging as to you, that I don't know

how to tell it you." "Alas! Madam," said he, "how can you fear I

should flatter myself too much after what you have been saying to me?"

"I shall continue to speak to you," says she, "with the same sincerity

with which I begun, and I'll lay aside that delicacy and reserve that

modesty obliges one to in a first conversation, but I conjure you to

hear me without interruption.

"I think I owe the affection you have for me, the poor recompsense not

to hide from you any of my thoughts, and to let you see them such as

they really are; this in all probability will be the only time I shall

allow myself the freedom to discover them to you; and I cannot confess

without a blush, that the certainty of not being loved by you, as I am,

appears to me so dreadful a misfortune, that if I had not invincible

reasons grounded on my duty, I could not resolve to subject myself to

it; I know that you are free, that I am so too, and that circumstances

are such, that the public perhaps would have no reason to blame either

you or me, should we unite ourselves forever; but do men continue to

love, when under engagements for life? Ought I to expect a miracle in

my favour?

And shall I place myself in a condition of seeing certainly

that passion come to an end, in which I should place all my felicity?

Monsieur 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 happiness, and perhaps his passion had not lasted

but that he found none, in me; but I should not have the same way of

preserving yours; I even think your constancy is owing to the obstacles

you have met with; you have met with enough to animate you to conquer

them; and my unguarded actions, or what you learned by chance, gave you

hopes enough 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 grievously vex 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.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024