h troubled at this journey as another
would have been for the death of his mistress; the thought of being
deprived so long a time of the sight of Madam de Cleves grieved him to
the soul, especially as it happened at a time when he had lately
enjoyed the pleasure of seeing her, and of seeing her moved by his
passion; however he could do nothing but afflict himself, and his
affliction increased every day. Madam de Cleves, whose spirits had been
so much agitated, was no sooner arrived at her country seat, but she
fell desperately ill; the news of it was brought to Court; Monsieur de
Nemours was inconsolable; his grief proceeded even to despair and
extravagance; the Viscount had much a-do to hinder him from discovering
his passion in public, and as much a-do to keep him from going in
person to know how she did; the relation and friendship between her and
the Viscount served as an excuse for sending frequent messengers; at
last they heard she was out of the extremity of danger she had been in,
but continued in a languishing malady that left but little hopes of
life.

The nature of her disease gave her a prospect of death both near, and
at a distance, and showed her the things of this life in a very
different view from that in which they are seen by people in health;
the necessity of dying, to which she saw herself so near, taught her to
wean herself from the world, and the lingeringness of her distemper
brought her to a habit in it; yet when she was a little recovered, she
found that Monsieur de Nemours was not effaced from her heart; but to
defend herself against him, she called to her aid all the reasons which
she thought she had never to marry him; after a long conflict in
herself, she subdued the relics of that passion which had been weakened
by the sentiments her illness had given her; the thoughts of death had
reproached her with the memory of Monsieur de Cleves, and this
remembrance was so agreeable to her duty, that it made deep impressions
in her heart; the passions and engagements of the world appeared to her
in the light, in which they appear to persons who have more great and
more distant views. The weakness of her body, which was brought very
low, aided her in preserving these sentiments; but as she knew what
power opportunities have over the wisest resolutions, she would not
hazard the breach of those she had taken, by returning into any place
where she might see him she loved; she retired, under pretence of