Afterwards he waited on the Queens; but the Princess of Cleves
was not there, so that she did not see him, nor so much as know
of his arrival. She had heard everybody speak of this celebrated
Prince, as of the handsomest and most agreeable man at Court; and
the Queen-Dauphin had described him in such a manner, and spoke
of him to her so often, that she had raised in her a curiosity
and even impatience to see him.

The Princess employed the day of the wedding in dressing herself,
that she might appear with the greater advantage at the ball and
royal banquet that were to be at the Louvre. When she came,
everyone admired both her beauty and her dress. The ball began,
and while she was dancing with the Duke of Guise, a noise was
heard at the door of the hall, as if way was making for some
person of uncommon distinction. She had finished her dance, and
as she was casting her eyes round to single out some other
person, the King desired her to take him who came in last; she
turned about, and viewing him as he was passing over the seats to
come to the place where they danced, she immediately concluded he
was the Duke of Nemours. The Duke's person was turned in so
delicate a manner, that it was impossible not to express surprise
at the first sight of him, particularly that evening, when the
care he had taken to adorn himself added much to the fine air of
his carriage. It was as impossible to behold the Princess of
Cleves without equal admiration.

The Duke de Nemours was struck with such surprise at her beauty,
that when they approached and paid their respects to each other,
he could not forbear showing some tokens of his admiration. When
they begun to dance, a soft murmur of praises ran through the