La Princesse de ClèvesParte 1 de 18
Original em francês · tradução para inglês
LA PRINCESSE DE CLÈVES
PAR
Mme de La FAYETTE
Edited with Introduction and Notes
BY
BENJAMIN F. SLEDD, M.A., Litt. D.
AND
J. HENDREN GORRELL, M.A., Ph. D.
Professors in Wake Forest College
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INTRODUCTION.
Mme. de la Fayette, whose maiden name was Marie-Magdeleine Pioche de La Vergne, was born at Paris in 1634. Her father belonged to the lesser nobility, and was for awhile governor of Pontoise, and later of Havre. Her mother was sprung from an ancient family of Provence, among whom, says Auger, literary talent had long been a heritage; but the mother herself—if we are to believe Mme. de La Fayette's biographers—possessed no talent save that of intrigue. This opinion of Mme. de La Vergne, however, rests mainly upon the testimony of Cardinal de Retz; and may it not be that Mme. de La Fayette has drawn for us the portrait of her mother in the person of Mme. de Chartres? If this be true, Mme. de La Vergne, vain and intriguing though she may have been, was not wholly unworthy of her daughter.
The early education of Mme. de La Fayette—for by this name we can best speak of her—was made the special care of her father, "un père en qui le mérite égaloit la tendresse." Later, she was put under Ménage, and possibly Rapin. Segrais, with his usual garrulousness, tells the following story:
« Three months after Mme. de La Fayette "Trois mois après que Mme. de La Fayette had begun to learn eut commencé d'apprendre commencer — to beginLatin, le latin, she elle already knew more of it en savoit déjà plus savoir — to know (archaic spelling of 'savait')than que M. Ménage M. Ménage and et que Father Rapin, le Père Rapin, her masters. ses maîtres. maître (m) — teacher, masterIn making her explain, En la faisant expliquer, they ils had a dispute together eurent dispute ensemble concerning touchant touchant — concerning, regardingthe explanation of a passage, l'explication d'un passage, and et neither one nor the other ni l'un ni l'autre wished to yield ne vouloit se rendre se rendre — to yield, to surrenderto the opinion au sentiment sentiment (m) — opinion, feelingof his companion; de son compagnon; Mme. de La Fayette Mme. de La Fayette said to them: leur dit: You understand nothing of it, Vous n'y entendez rien n'entendre rien à qch — to understand nothing about somethingneither one nor the other.—Indeed, ni l'un ni l'autre.—En effet, she elle told them leur dit the true explanation la véritable explication of this passage; de ce passage; they ils agreed tombèrent d'accord tomber d'accord — to come to an agreement, to agreethat she qu'elle was right. » avoit raison." avoir raison — to be rightAnd Segrais goes on to say: And Segrais goes on to say: « It was "C'étoit a poet un poëte whom she was explaining, qu'elle expliquoit, for car she did not like elle n'aimoit pas prose, la prose, and et she had not read elle n'a pas lu Cicero; Cicéron; but mais as comme she greatly delighted in poetry, elle se plaisoit fort à la poésie, se plaire à qch — to enjoy/delight in somethingshe read elle lisoit particularly particulièrement Virgil and Horace; Virgile et Horace; and et as comme she had elle avoit a poetic mind l'esprit poétique esprit (m) — mind, spirit, witand et knew qu'elle savoit all that was fitting tout ce qui convenoit convenir — to be suitable, to be fittingfor that art, à cet art, she elle easily penetrated pénétroit sans peine sans peine — without difficulty, easilythe meaning le sens sens (m) — meaning, senseof these authors. » de ces auteurs." Learned for a woman of her times Mme. de La Fayette indeed was; but of this learning she made no show,—"pour ne pas choquer les autres femmes," says Sainte-Beuve.
At the age of fifteen, Mme. de La Fayette lost her father; and her mother, after brief waiting, and—if Cardinal de Retz is to be believed—much intriguing, found a second husband in the Chevalier Renaud de Sévigné. This union was an important event in the life of Mme. de La Fayette, for it marks the beginning of her residence at Paris, and of her friendship with Mme. de Sévigné, who was a kinswoman of the Chevalier.
How close and lasting was this friendship is seen on almost every page of Mme. de Sévigné's correspondence. Indeed, so often does the name of Mme. de La Fayette occur in Mme. de Sévigné's letters to her daughter, that the latter may well have been jealous of her mother's friend. The companionship of Mme. de Sévigné was, The companionship of Mme. de Sévigné was, after the death of La Rochefoucauld, after the death of La Rochefoucauld, the chief comfort of Mme. de La Fayette the chief comfort of Mme. de La Fayette in her ill-health and seclusion; in her ill-health and seclusion; and it was from the sick-chamber of her friend and it was from the sick-chamber of her friend that Mme. de Sévigné's letters would seem to have been written that Mme. de Sévigné's letters would seem to have been written in those latter years. in those latter years. In 1693, In 1693, soon after the death of Mme. de La Fayette, soon after the death of Mme. de La Fayette, Mme. de Sévigné writes as follows of her dead friend: Mme. de Sévigné writes as follows of her dead friend: "I found myself too happy to be loved by her "Je me trouvois trop heureuse d'être aimée d'elle trouver — to find (Note: 'trouvois' is the archaic spelling of 'trouvais')for a very considerable time; depuis un temps très-considérable; depuis — for, since (used with the present or imperfect tense to indicate an action that started in the past and continued up to the reference point)never had we had the slightest cloud in our friendship. jamais nous n'avions eu le moindre nuage dans notre amitié. nuage (m) — cloudLong habit had not accustomed me to her La longue habitude ne m'avoit point accoutumée à son accoutumer — to accustom, to habituatemerit: mérite: mérite (m) — merit, worth, talentthis taste was always ce goût étoit toujours goût (m) — taste, inclination, likingvivid and new; vif et nouveau; vif — alive, keen, vividI rendered her much care, je lui rendois beaucoup de soins, rendre des soins à qn — to care for someone, to attend to someoneby the movement of my heart, par le mouvement de mon cœur, mouvement (m) — movement, impulsewithout propriety, sans que la bienséance, bienséance (f) — propriety, decorum, etiquetteor friendship engaging us, ou l'amitié nous engage, having any part in it; y eût aucune part; avoir part à qch — to have a part/share in somethingI was also assured j'étois assurée aussi that que I was je faisois her tenderest consolation, sa plus tendre consolation, and et for forty years depuis quarante ans it was c'étoit the same thing: la même chose: this date cette date is est violent violente but mais it also well establishes elle fonde bien aussi the truth la vérité of our bond." de notre liaison." liaison (f) — connection, bond, relationship (Note: in this context, a platonic friendship)The whole story of friendship is told in these lines,—a friendship which during forty years had been undarkened by a cloud, and had remained unstaled by custom. The whole story of friendship is told in these lines,—a friendship which during forty years had been undarkened by a cloud, and had remained unstaled by custom. The relation was equally sincere on the part of Mme. de La Fayette, The relation was equally sincere on the part of Mme. de La Fayette, though she was by nature more self-contained and reserved. though she was by nature more self-contained and reserved. But this reserve gives way to the strength of her feelings But this reserve gives way to the strength of her feelings when in 1691, when in 1691, tormented by ill-health tormented by ill-health and knowing that her end is not far off, and knowing that her end is not far off, she writes to Mme. de Sévigné: she writes to Mme. de Sévigné: "Believe, "Croyez, my dearest, ma très-chère, that que you are vous êtes the person in the world la personne du monde la personne du monde que... — the person in the world whom... (superlative construction)whom que I have j'ai most truly le plus véritablement loved." aimée."
Mme. de La Fayette was in her time a mild précieuse, précieuse — a member of the 17th-century French social and literary movement 'Préciosité', characterized by refined manners, wit, and elegant languagehaving been introduced at an early age into the society of the Hôtel de Rambouillet. Hôtel de Rambouillet — the famous Parisian salon of Catherine de Vivonne, Marquise de Rambouillet, which was the center of the 'précieuse' movementNo one could pass through such a society with impunity, says Boissier; but Mme. de La Fayette seems to have escaped very lightly. For, although in her earlier works the précieuse influence is everywhere felt, yet all traces of such influence disappear in La Princesse de Clèves.
Auger tells us gravely Auger tells us gravely that Mme. de La Fayette found the reading of the Latin poets that Mme. de La Fayette found the reading of the Latin poets a safeguard from the bad taste and extravagance a safeguard from the bad taste and extravagance of the Rambouillet coterie. of the Rambouillet coterie. But the same safeguard should have proved effectual But the same safeguard should have proved effectual in case of Ménage first of all, in case of Ménage first of all, says Sainte-Beuve, says Sainte-Beuve, who then gives the true relation of Mme de La Fayette to the Hôtel de Rambouillet: who then gives the true relation of Mme de La Fayette to the Hôtel de Rambouillet: "Mme. de La Fayette, "Mme. de La Fayette, who qui had avait a solid and keen mind, l'esprit solide et fin, esprit (m) — mind, spirit, witfin — fine, sharp, keen, subtleextricated herself s'en tira s'en tirer — to get out of it, to manage, to pull throughin the manner of à la manière de Mme. de Sévigné, Mme. de Sévigné, by taking only en n'en prenant que the best of it." le meilleur."
After the breaking-up of the Hôtel de Rambouillet, After the breaking-up of the Hôtel de Rambouillet, there were formed various smaller coteries, there were formed various smaller coteries, among which that of Mme. de La Fayette among which that of Mme. de La Fayette was by no means the least important. was by no means the least important. From her little circle of précieuses, From her little circle of précieuses, Mme. de La Fayette was drawn to the Court of Louis XIV. Mme. de La Fayette was drawn to the Court of Louis XIV. chiefly through the friendship of "Madame," chiefly through the friendship of "Madame," the Princess Henrietta of England. the Princess Henrietta of England. This unfortunate princess had passed her exiled youth This unfortunate princess had passed her exiled youth in the convent of Chaillot; in the convent of Chaillot; and Mme. de La Fayette, and Mme. de La Fayette, going thither on frequent visits to a going thither on frequent visits to a y — /French equivalent/ there, thither (implied in the context of 'going thither')kinswoman, kinswoman, parente (f) — /French equivalent/ relative, kinswomanwas drawn into intimacy with the young girl, was drawn into intimacy with the young girl, who must even then have given evidence of those charms who must even then have given evidence of those charms which later made her brief reign at Court which later made her brief reign at Court as brilliant as it was unhappy. as brilliant as it was unhappy. When the young princess had become the sister-in-law of the King When the young princess had become the sister-in-law of the King and the idol of the young Court, and the idol of the young Court, she remained steadfast in her love for the friend she remained steadfast in her love for the friend who had cheered her lonely convent life; who had cheered her lonely convent life; and thus Mme. de La Fayette came at the age of thirty and thus Mme. de La Fayette came at the age of thirty to be one of the company that gathered around Madame at Fontainebleau and Saint-Cloud,— to be one of the company that gathered around Madame at Fontainebleau and Saint-Cloud,— "a spectator rather than an actor," "spectatrice plutôt qu'agissante," spectatrice plutôt qu'agissante — a female spectator rather than an active participant (feminine forms of 'spectateur' and 'agissant')says Sainte-Beuve. says Sainte-Beuve. Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve (1804–1869) — A highly influential French literary critic of the 19th century.For Mme. de La Fayette, For Mme. de La Fayette, though belonging wholly to the young Court, though belonging wholly to the young Court, took no part in the intrigues and factions of the royal household. took no part in the intrigues and factions of the royal household. It is this Court life, It is this Court life, which, under guise of that of Henry II., which, under guise of that of Henry II., is described in La Princesse de Clèves: is described in La Princesse de Clèves: La Princesse de Clèves — Published in 1678, it is considered the first modern French psychological novel, written by Madame de La Fayette."There were so many interests and so many intrigues "There were so many interests and so many intrigues in which women took part in which women took part that love was always mingled with politics that love was always mingled with politics and politics with love. and politics with love. No one was calm or indifferent; No one was calm or indifferent; every one sought to rise, every one sought to rise, to please, to please, to serve, to serve, or to injure; or to injure; every one was taken up with pleasure or intrigue.... every one was taken up with pleasure or intrigue.... All the different cliques were separated by rivalry or envy. All the different cliques were separated by rivalry or envy. Then, too, the women who belonged to each one of them, Then, too, the women who belonged to each one of them, were jealous of one another, were jealous of one another, either about their chances of advancement, either about their chances of advancement, or about their lovers; or about their lovers; often, too, their interests were complicated by other pettier, often, too, their interests were complicated by other pettier, but no less important, questions." but no less important, questions."
It was in the arms of Mme. de La Fayette that Madame, her brief day of splendor over, fell into that strange slumber the wakening of which was to be so horrible; and it was Mme. de La Fayette who soothed the princess in those last hours, the torture of which drew tears even from the heart of Louis. M. Anatole France says that he suspects Mme. de La Fayette of having hated the King. Perhaps she did; for resentment at the fate of her friend and mistress was natural. True it is, however, that Louis showed more than once his deep respect for the woman who had seen him in his one moment of remorse at the bedside of the dying princess.
After the death of Madame, her faithful friend withdrew more and more from the Court, into the seclusion and quiet of her little band of chosen friends, urged partly by her distaste for Court life and partly by her increasing ill-health. But her society was still much sought after; for a notice of her death in the Mercure galant, tells us Mercure galant — A French gazette and literary magazine founded in 1672, which reported on court life, fashion, and literature.that when she could no longer go to the Court, the Court might be said to have come to her.
Mme. de La Fayette was some twenty-two years old,— Mme. de La Fayette was some twenty-two years old,— long past the usual marriageable age of French maidens,— long past the usual marriageable age of French maidens,— when, in 1655, when, in 1655, she was married to the Count de La Fayette. she was married to the Count de La Fayette. Little is known of her married life. Little is known of her married life. Boissier in his Vie de Mme. de Sévigné says: Boissier in his Vie de Mme. de Sévigné says: "When the correspondence of Mme. de Sévigné with her daughter begins (1671), "When the correspondence of Mme. de Sévigné with her daughter begins (1671), Mme. de La Fayette has been long a widow." Mme. de La Fayette has been long a widow." But of this early widowhood there is no positive evidence, But of this early widowhood there is no positive evidence, the weight of testimony being rather to the contrary. the weight of testimony being rather to the contrary. Those who are curious in this matter are referred to d'Haussonville's Vie de Mme. de La Fayette, Those who are curious in this matter are referred to d'Haussonville's Vie de Mme. de La Fayette, where the whole controversy is summed up in the following words: where the whole controversy is summed up in the following words: "One thing is certain: "Une chose est certaine: une chose est certaine — a common discourse marker used to introduce a definitive fact.it is that one must c'est qu'il faut il faut + inf — it is necessary to, one musthenceforth renounce considering Mme. de La Fayette as a young renoncer désormais à considérer Mme. de La Fayette comme une jeune renoncer à — to give up, to renounce; désormais — from now on, henceforthwidow." veuve." veuve (f) — widow (masculine: veuf)
Of Monsieur de La Fayette's relations to his wife, Of Monsieur de La Fayette's relations to his wife, we are almost wholly ignorant; we are almost wholly ignorant; and the sole evidence— and the sole evidence— beyond a line or two in Mme. de La Fayette's letters— beyond a line or two in Mme. de La Fayette's letters— that he existed at all, that he existed at all, was the birth to the wife of two children. was the birth to the wife of two children. "We find now and then," "We find now and then," says La Bruyère, says La Bruyère, "a woman who has so obliterated her husband "a woman who has so obliterated her husband that there is in the world no mention of him, that there is in the world no mention of him, and whether he is alive or whether he is dead and whether he is alive or whether he is dead is equally uncertain." is equally uncertain." Doubtless her husband discovered—as did many of her friends— Doubtless her husband discovered—as did many of her friends—that that Mme. de La Fayette was a woman Mme. de La Fayette was a woman whose personality overshadowed everything around her. whose personality overshadowed everything around her.
That there was little congeniality between husband and wife That there was little congeniality between husband and wife cannot be doubted, cannot be doubted, yet Mme. de La Fayette's own letters go to prove yet Mme. de La Fayette's own letters go to prove that for a time at least that for a time at least she was not unhappy. she was not unhappy. In a letter to Ménage, In a letter to Ménage, Gilles Ménage — A French scholar and grammarian who was a close friend and mentor to Mme de La Fayette.written from Auvergne soon after her marriage, written from Auvergne soon after her marriage, Auvergne — A historic province in central France where Mme de La Fayette's husband had estates.she says: she says: "The solitude that I find here "La solitude que je trouve ici is rather pleasant to me than m'est plutôt agréable qu' plutôt — ratherannoying. ennuyeuse. ennuyeux — boring or annoying (from 'ennui')The care that I take of my house, Le soin que je prends de ma maison, soin (m) — care, attentionoccupies me and diverts me greatly m'occupe et me divertit fort divertir — to entertain, to amuse, to divertand as moreover I have no et comme d'ailleurs je n'ai point de d'ailleurs — besides, moreover, for that mattersorrows, chagrins, chagrin (m) — sorrow, grief, heartachethat my husband adores me, que mon époux m'adore, époux (m) — spouse, husband (more formal than 'mari')that I love him greatly, que je l'aime fort, that I am absolute mistress, que je suis maîtresse absolue, I assure you that the life that I lead je vous assure que la vie que je mène mener — to lead, to conductis very happy.... est fort heureuse.... When one believes oneself to be happy Quand on croit être heureuse croire — to believeyou know that that suffices to be so." vous savez que cela suffit pour l'être." suffire — to suffice, to be enough
This frigid, make-believe happiness, even though supported by the satisfaction of being absolute mistress of the household, could not long suffice for a nature like Mme. de La Fayette's; and therein lies perhaps the secret of all the unwritten history that follows.
Just at what time the friendship between Mme. de La Fayette and La Rochefoucauld began, is uncertain. Boissier in his Vie de Mme. de Sévigné says Marquise de Sévigné — Famous for her letters, she was a close friend of Mme de La Fayette and a key chronicler of 17th-century French court life.that when, in 1671, the correspondence between mother and daughter begins, "Mme. de La Fayette has but recently united herself with the Duc de La Rochefoucauld in that close intimacy which gave the world so much to talk about."
However, Mme. de Sévigné's letters leave us wholly in the dark However, Mme. de Sévigné's letters leave us wholly in the dark as to when this intimacy began. as to when this intimacy began. Sainte-Beuve holds that it was about 1665, Sainte-Beuve holds that it was about 1665, Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve — A highly influential 19th-century French literary critic.and makes a strong argument for his view of the matter. and makes a strong argument for his view of the matter. D'Haussonville believes that this remarkable union D'Haussonville believes that this remarkable union was the result of long acquaintance and slowly ripening friendship, was the result of long acquaintance and slowly ripening friendship, the acquaintance having begun in the years following Mme. de La Fayette's marriage,— the acquaintance having begun in the years following Mme. de La Fayette's marriage,—that that is, between 1655 and 1665. is, between 1655 and 1665. He sums up the matter as follows: He sums up the matter as follows: "One thing "Une chose is est certain: certaine: it is that c'est que La Rochefoucauld La Rochefoucauld seized s'est emparé s'emparer de — to seize, to take possession oflittle by little peu à peu peu à peu — gradually, little by littlethe soul de l'âme âme (f) — souland et the spirit de l'esprit esprit (m) — mind, spirit, witof Mme. de La Fayette." de Mme. de La Fayette." And again: And again: "It is around the year 1670 "C'est aux environs de l'année 1670 aux environs de — around, in the vicinity of (referring to time or place)that que La Rochefoucauld La Rochefoucauld began to openly become part commença à faire ouvertement partie ouvertement — openlyof the existence de l'existence of Mme. de La Fayette." de Mme. de La Fayette." And here we leave this much-vexed problem of chronology. And here we leave this much-vexed problem of chronology.
Of the nature of this union and of the talk it gave rise to, Of the nature of this union and of the talk it gave rise to, we shall not speak. we shall not speak. Mme. de Sévigné tells all that need be known. Mme. de Sévigné tells all that need be known. "Their "Leur poor health," mauvaise santé," writes she, writes she, "made them "les as if rendoit necessary comme to one another.... nécessaires l'un à l'autre.... I believe that je crois que no passion nulle passion can surpass ne peut surpasser the strength la force of such a bond." d'une telle liaison." liaison (f) — connection, bond, relationshipThe influence of this friendship upon each The influence of this friendship upon each may best be set forth in the words of Mme. de La Fayette: may best be set forth in the words of Mme. de La Fayette: "M. de La Rochefoucauld "M. de La Rochefoucauld gave me m'a donné wit, de l'esprit, esprit (m) — /here/ wit, intelligencebut mais I reformed j'ai réformé réformer — to reform, to improvehis heart." son cœur." La Rochefoucauld had been embittered by disappointed ambition, ill health, and the loss of his favorite son; La Rochefoucauld had been embittered by disappointed ambition, ill health, and the loss of his favorite son; and his opinion of humanity in general and of woman in particular and his opinion of humanity in general and of woman in particular was none too lofty, to say the least. was none too lofty, to say the least. Perhaps Mme. de La Fayette's greatest service in this respect Perhaps Mme. de La Fayette's greatest service in this respect was in toning down the severity of the immortal Maxims. was in toning down the severity of the immortal Maxims. Maximes — The famous work of La Rochefoucauld, known for its cynical view of human nature.
We know how deep and lasting was the grief of Mme. de La Fayette We know how deep and lasting was the grief of Mme. de La Fayette for the loss of the man for the loss of the man with whose life her own had been so long and so closely united. with whose life her own had been so long and so closely united. On March 17th, 1680, Mme. de Sévigné writes: "M. de La Rochefoucauld died last night. When again will poor Mme. de La Fayette find such a friend, such kindness, such consideration for her and her son? So great a loss is not to be repaired or obliterated by time." And again: "Poor Mme. de La Fayette is now wholly at a loss what to do with herself. The death of M. de La Rochefoucauld has made so terrible a void in her life that she has come to judge better of the value of such a friendship. Every one else will be comforted in the course of time, but she, alas, has nothing to occupy her mind."
Apart from M. de La Rochefoucauld, La Fontaine was the only one of the many great men of her time with whom Mme. de La Fayette was on terms of friendship. Boileau has left his opinion of our author in a pithy sentence. "Mme. de La Fayette," "Mme. de La Fayette," said he, said he, "is "est the woman la femme femme (f) — womanwho writes qui écrit écrire — to writethe best le mieux le mieux — the best (adverb)and et who has qui a the most wit." le plus d'esprit." avoir de l'esprit — to be witty, to have witesprit (m) — wit, mind, spiritBut this is all.
Mme. de La Fayette's first published work was La Princesse de Montpensier in 1660 or 1662. This was followed by Zaïde, in 1670, which bore the name of Segrais, but which is by Mme. de La Fayette. The latter of these (for we confess not to have read the former) has indeed some merit, though written in the style of the old heroic romance, "with its abductions, its shipwrecks, its pirates, its gloomy solitudes, where flawless lovers breathe forth their sighs in palaces adorned with allegorical paintings."
La Princesse de Clèves was published in 1677 from the house of Claude Barbin. It was in four volumes, and bore no name. The little work (for it is scarcely longer than our own Vicar of Wakefield) at once took its place among the immortal productions of French literature. It is needless for us to discuss the unprofitable question of why Mme. de La Fayette withheld her name from the titlepage, and would never own to the authorship. That La Princesse de Clèves was written by her, and her alone, the world is well agreed; and this is enough for us to know. It is interesting, however, to read a letter of hers touching this point, for it shows, apart from other things, what opinion her contemporaries had of her masterpiece. This letter, bearing the date April 13th, 1678, we translate in part:
"A little book [La Princesse de Montpensier] "A little book [La Princesse de Montpensier] which had some vogue fifteen years ago, which had some vogue fifteen years ago, and which the public was pleased to ascribe to me, and which the public was pleased to ascribe to me, has earned me the title of author of La Princesse de Clèves; has earned me the title of author of La Princesse de Clèves; La Princesse de Clèves — a 1678 novel by Madame de La Fayette, considered one of the first psychological novels in French literaturebut I assure you but I assure you that I have had no part in it, that I have had no part in it, and that M. de Rochefoucauld, and that M. de Rochefoucauld, who has also been mentioned, who has also been mentioned, has had as little as I." has had as little as I. He denies it so strenuously that it is impossible not to believe him, especially in a matter which can be confessed without shame. As for me, I am flattered at being suspected, and I think I should acknowledge the book if I were sure that the author would never claim it of me. I find it very agreeable, well written, without being extremely polished, full of very delicate touches, and well worth more than a single reading; and what I especially notice is an exact representation of the persons composing the court and of their manner of life. It is without romanticism and exaggeration, It is without romanticism and exaggeration, and so it is not a romance; and so it is not a romance; it is more like a book of memoirs,—and I hear this was the first title of the book,—but it was changed. it is more like a book of memoirs,—and I hear this was the first title of the book,—but it was changed. There you have my opinion of the La Princesse de Clèves; There you have my opinion of the La Princesse de Clèves; let me ask you for yours, let me ask you for yours, for people have almost come to blows over it. for people have almost come to blows over it. Many blame what others praise, Many blame what others praise, so, whatever you say, so, whatever you say, you will not find yourself alone in your views." you will not find yourself alone in your views."
With La Princesse de Clèves, Mme. de La Fayette created a new kind of fiction,—"substituting," says Saintsbury, "for mere romance of adventure on the one hand, and stilted heroic work on the other, fiction in which the display of character is held of chief account." The very briefness of the work, its sober language and simple incident, contrasted with the appalling length, the mighty catastrophes, and grand phrases of the old romances, may have indeed contributed much to its immediate popularity, but its abiding interest rests upon the truthfulness with which character is drawn, and emotions and motives are analyzed. The old order of fiction had indeed already fallen into contempt; Boileau and others had dealt it fatal blows, but the finishing stroke was justly due to Mme. de La Fayette. And the world has ever gladly owned its debt to her.
La Princesse de Clèves is an historical romance. The historical interest is, however, the least of its charms. The scene purports to be laid in the Court of Henry II.; but the manners—and the personages, apart from their names—are all those of the Court of Louis XIV. Certain critics have endeavored to trace the character of Mme. de La Fayette in that of the Princess of Clèves, of M. de La Rochefoucauld in that of M. de Nemours; but too strict an autobiographical interpretation destroys the charm of the story. The little book should be read for its intrinsic worth,—its delightful style, its faithful delineation of character, and its earnestness of moral purpose.
Mme. de La Fayette died in 1693. During her last years ill health and sorrow had forced upon her an almost absolute seclusion, and she died forgotten by all except a few faithful friends. The place of her burial is unknown.