"I have formerly been very curious and inquisitive as to futurity,"
said the King, "but I have seen so many false and improbable things,
that I am satisfied there is no truth in that pretended art. Not many
years since there came hither a man of great reputation in astrology;
everybody went to see him; I went among others, but without saying who
I was, and I carried with me the Duke of Guise and Descars, and made
them go in first; nevertheless the astrologer addressed himself first
to me, as if he had concluded me to be their master; perhaps he knew
me, and yet he told me one thing that was very unsuitable to my
character, if he had known me; his prediction was that I should be
killed in a duel; he told the Duke of Guise, that he should die of a
wound received behind; and he told Descars he should be knocked of the
head by the kick of a horse; the Duke of Guise was a little angry at
the prediction, as if it imported he should run away; nor was Descars
better pleased to find he was to make his exit by so unfortunate an
accident; in a word, we went away all three of us very much out of
humour with the astrologer; I don't know what will happen to the Duke
of Guise and Descars, but there is not much probability of my being
killed in a duel; the King of Spain and I have just made peace, and if
we had not, I question whether we should have fought, or if I should
have challenged him, as the King my father did Charles the Fifth."
After the King had related the misfortune that was foretold him, those
who had defended astrology abandoned the argument, and agreed there was
no credit to be given to it: "For my part," said the Duke de Nemours
aloud, "I have the least reason of any man in the world to credit it";
and then turning himself to Madam de Cleves, near whom he stood, "it
has been foretold me," says he very softly, "that I should be happy in
a person for whom I should have the most violent and respectful
passion; you may judge, Madam, if I ought to believe in predictions."
The Queen-Dauphin, who believed, from what the Duke had spoke aloud,
that what he whispered was some false prediction that had been told
him, asked him what it was he said to Madam de Cleves; had he had a
less ready wit, he would have been surprised at this question; but
without any hesitation, "What I said to her, Madam," answered he, "was,
that it had been predicted to me, that I should be raised to a higher
fortune than my most sanguine hopes could lead me to expect." "If
nothing have been foretold you but this," replied the Queen-Dauphin,
smiling, and thinking of the affair of England, "I would not advise you
to decry astrology; you may have reasons hereafter to offer in defence
of it." Madam de Cleves apprehended the Queen-Dauphin's meaning, but
knew withal, that the fortune the Duke of Nemours spoke of was not that
of being King of England.