The Princess of Cleves | Page 9

consented to any other alliance for his brother than to that of the
Viscount; and he declared his aversion to it in so public a manner, that
Madam de Chartres was sensibly disgusted at it. She took a world of
pains to show that the Cardinal of Loraine had nothing to fear, and that
she herself had no thoughts of this marriage; the Viscount observed the
same conduct, and resented that of the Cardinal more than Madam de
Chartres did, being better apprised of the cause of it.
The Prince of Cleves had not given less public proofs of his love, than
the Chevalier de Guise had done, which made the Duke of Nevers very
uneasy; however he thought that he needed only to speak to his son, to

make him change his conduct; but he was very much surprised to find
him in a settled design of marrying Mademoiselle de Chartres, and flew
out into such excesses of passion on that subject, that the occasion of it
was soon known to the whole Court, and among others to Madam de
Chartres: she never imagined that the Duke of Nevers would not think
her daughter a very advantageous match for his son, nor was she a little
astonished to find that the houses both of Cleves and Guise avoided her
alliance, instead of courting it. Her resentment on this account put her
upon finding out a match for her daughter, which would raise her above
those that imagined themselves above her; after having looked about,
she fixed upon the Prince Dauphin, son of the Duke de Montpensier,
one of the most considerable persons then at Court. As Madam de
Chartres abounded in wit, and was assisted by the Viscount, who was
in great consideration, and as her daughter herself was a very
considerable match, she managed the matter with so much dexterity
and success, that Monsieur de Montpensier appeared to desire the
marriage, and there was no appearance of any difficulties in it.
The Viscount, knowing the power the Dauphin-Queen had over
Monsieur d'Anville, thought it not amiss to employ the interest of that
Princess to engage him to serve Mademoiselle de Chartres, both with
the King and the Prince de Montpensier, whose intimate friend he was:
he spoke to the Dauphin-Queen about it, and she entered with joy into
an affair which concerned the promotion of a lady for whom she had a
great affection; she expressed as much to the Viscount, and assured him,
that though she knew she should do what was disagreeable to the
Cardinal of Loraine her uncle, she would pass over that consideration
with pleasure, because she had reasons of complaint against him, since
he every day more and more espoused the interest of the Queen against
hers.
Persons of gallantry are always glad of an opportunity of speaking to
those who love them. No sooner was the Viscount gone, but the
Queen-Dauphin sent Chatelart to Monsieur d'Anville, to desire him
from her to be at Court that evening. Chatelart was his favourite, and
acquainted with his passion for this Princess, and therefore received her
commands with great pleasure and respect. He was a gentleman of a

good family in Dauphiny; but his wit and merit distinguished him more
than his birth: he was well received at Court. He was graceful in his
person, perfect at all sorts of exercises; he sung agreeably, he wrote
verses, and was of so amorous and gallant a temper, as endeared him to
Monsieur d'Anville in such a degree, that he made him the confidant of
his amours between the Queen-Dauphin and him; this confidence gave
him access to that Princess, and it was owing to the frequent
opportunities he had of seeing her, that he commenced that unhappy
passion which deprived him of his reason, and at last cost him his life.
Monsieur d'Anville did not fail to be at Court in the evening; he
thought himself very happy, that the Queen-Dauphin had made choice
of him to manage an affair she had at heart, and he promised to obey
her commands with the greatest exactness. But the Duchess of
Valentinois being warned of the design in view, had traversed it with so
much care, and prepossessed the King so much against it, that when
Monsieur d'Anville came to speak to his Majesty about it, he plainly
showed he did not approve of it, and commanded him to signify as
much to the Prince de Montpensier. One may easily judge what the
sentiments of Madam de Chartres were, upon the breaking off of an
affair which she had set her mind so much upon, and the ill success of
which gave such an advantage to her enemies, and was so great a
prejudice to her daughter.
The Queen-Dauphin declared