Madame Élisabeth de France, afterwards Queen of Spain. Madame Claude, afterwards Duchesse de Lorraine. Madame Marguerite, afterwards Queen of Navarre. Madame the king’s sister, afterwards Duchesse de Savoie. The Queen of Scots, afterwards dauphine and Queen of France. The Queen of Navarre, Jeanne d’Albret. Madame Catherine, her daughter, to-day called Madame the king’s [Henri IV.] sister. Madame Diane, natural daughter of the king [Henri II.], afterwards legitimatized, the Duchesse d’Angoulême. Madame d’Enghien, of the house of Estouteville. Madame la Princesse de Condé, of the house of Roye. Madame de Nevers, of the house of Vendôme. Madame de Guise, of the house of Ferrara. Madame Diane de Poitiers, Duchesse de Valentinois. Mesdames d’Aumale and de Bouillon, her daughters.[4] Need I name more? No, for my memory could not furnish them. There are so many other ladies and maids that I beg them to excuse me if I pass them by with my pen,--not that I do not greatly value and esteem them, but I should dream over them and amuse myself too much. To make an end, I must say that in all this company there was nothing to find fault with in their day; beauty abounded, all majesty, all charm, all grace; happy was he who could touch with love such ladies, and happy those who could that love _escapar_. I swear to you that I have named only those ladies and damoiselles who were beautiful, agreeable, very accomplished, and well sufficient to set fire to the whole world. Indeed, in their best days they burned up a good part of it, as much us gentlemen of the Court as others who approached the flame; to some of whom they were gentle, aimable, favourable, and courteous. I speak of none here, hoping to make good tales about them in this book before I finish it, and of others whose names are not comprised here; but the whole told so discreetly, without scandal, that nothing will be known, for the curtain of silence will cover their names; so that if by chance they should any of them read tales of themselves they will not be annoyed. Besides, though the pleasures of love cannot last forever, by reason of many inconveniences, hindrances, and changes, the memories of the past are always pleasing. [Illustration: _Ball at the Court of Henry III_] [This refers to “Les Dames Galantes,” and not to the present volume.]