"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 showing 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 never to

alter it." "Do you believe you have the power to do it, Madam?" cried

the Duke de Nemours. "Do you think your resolution can hold out

against a man who adores, and who has the happiness to please you? It

is more difficult than you imagine, Madam, to resist a person who

pleases and loves one at the same time; you have done it by an

austerity of virtue, which is almost without example; but that virtue

no longer opposes your inclinations, and I hope you will follow them in

spite of yourself."

"I know nothing can be more difficult than what I

undertake," replied Madam de Cleves; "I distrust my strength in the

midst of my reasons; what I think I owe to the memory of Monsieur de

Cleves would be a weak consideration, if not supported by the interest

of my ease and repose; and the reasons of my repose have need to be

supported by those of my duty; but though I distrust myself, I believe

I shall never overcome my scruples, nor do I so much as hope to

overcome the inclination I have for you; that inclination will make me

unhappy, and I will deny myself the sight of you, whatever violence it

is to me: I conjure you, by all the power I have over you, to seek no

occasion of seeing me; I am in a condition which makes that criminal

which might be lawful at another time; decency forbids all commerce

between us." Monsieur de Nemours threw himself at her feet, and gave a

loose to all the violent motions with which he was agitated; he

expressed both by his words and tears the liveliest and most tender

passion that ever heart was touched with; nor was the heart of Madam de

Cleves insensible; she looked upon him with eyes swelled with tears:




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