[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-143880-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":85,"doc-detail-143880-en":135},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":78,"head_meta":80,"extra_data":82,"updated_unix":84},105,"en","the-princesse-of-cleves-grand-ducal-court-intrigue-at-henry-ii","The Princesse of Cleves - Grand Ducal Court Intrigue at Henry II","","A vivid opening to Madame de Lafayette’s The Princesse of Cleves depicts the brilliance of France in the last years of Henry II’s reign, where courtly ambition, refined entertainments, and competing passions shape political and personal life. The narrative follows the prince’s long-standing, intense love for Diana of Poitiers, the queen’s calculated restraint, and the spectacular assembly of elite rulers, diplomats, and courtiers. Music, plays, poetry, and public display mingle with rivalry, persuasion, and social strategy.",{"@graph":14,"@context":77},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/story-novel/","Story & 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describe in France during Henry II’s reign?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It emphasizes grandeur and gallantry at court, filled with refined amusements such as hunting, music, plays, and poetry, alongside prominent noble figures.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How is the prince’s passion portrayed?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"It is presented as both violent and persistent, with strong signs of affection directed toward Diana of Poitiers, despite her long-standing relationship context.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Why does the queen keep the duchess close despite appearing unjealous?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Her ambition and policy require managing the duchess’s presence so she can influence the king while maintaining control over court dynamics.",{"name":74,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":75},"Which kinds of people and talents are highlighted as making the court so splendid?",{"text":76,"@type":64},"The text spotlights major rulers and princes known for wit, military skill, eloquence, learning, beauty, and social graces, creating an admired and highly accomplished 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PRINCESS OF CLEVES  \nGrandeur and gallantry never appeared with more lustre in France, than in the last years of Henry the Second's reign. This Prince was amorous and handsome, and though his passion for Diana of Poitiers Duchess of Valentinois, was of above twenty years standing, it was not the less violent, nor did he give less distinguishing proofs of it.  \nAs he was happily turned to excel in bodily exercises, he took a particular delight in them, such as hunting, tennis, running at the ring, and the like diversions. Madam de Valentinois gave spirit to all entertainments ofthis sort, and appeared at them with grace and beauty equal to that of her grand-daughter, Madam de la Marke, who was then unmarried; the Queen's presence seemed to authorise hers.  \nThe Queen was handsome, though not young; she loved grandeur, magnificence and pleasure; she was married to the King while he was Duke of Orleans, during the life of his elder brother the Dauphin, a prince whose great qualities promised in him a worthy successor of his father Francis the First.  \nThe Queen's ambitious temper made her taste the sweets of reigning, and she seemed to bear with perfect ease the King's passion for the Duchess of Valentinois, nor did she express the least jealousy of it; but she was so skilful a dissembler, that it was hard to judge of her real sentiments, and policy obliged her to keep the duchess about her person, that she might draw the King to her at the same time. This Prince took great delight in the conversation of women, even of such as he had no passion for; for he was every day at the Queen's court, when she held her assembly, which was a concourse of all that was beautiful and excellent in either sex.  \nNever were finer women or more accomplished men seen in any Court, and Nature seemed to have taken pleasure in lavishing her greatest graces on the greatest persons. The Princess Elizabeth, since Queen of Spain, began now to manifest an uncommon wit, and to display those beauties, which proved afterwards so fatal to her. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, who had just married the Dauphin, and was called the QueenDauphin, had all the perfections of mind and body; she had been educated in the Court of France, and had imbibed all the politeness of it; she was by nature so well formed to shine in everything that was polite, that notwithstanding her youth, none surpassed her in the most refined accomplishments. The Queen, her mother-in-law, and the King's  \nsister, were also extreme lovers of music, plays and poetry; for the taste which Francis the First had for the Belles Lettres was not yet extinguished in France; and as his son was addicted to exercises, no kind of pleasure was wanting at Court. But what rendered this Court so splendid, was the presence of so many great Princes, and persons of the highest quality and merit: those I shall name, in their different characters, were the admiration and ornament of their age.  \nThe King of Navarre drew to himself the respect of all the world both by the greatness of his birth, and by the dignity that appeared in his person; he was remarkable for his skill and courage in war. The Duke of Guise had also given proofs of extraordinary valour, and had, been so successful, that there was not a general who did not look upon him with envy; to his valour he added a most exquisite genius and understanding, grandeur of mind, and a capacity equally turned for military or civil affairs. His brother, the Cardinal of Loraine, was a man of boundless ambition, and of extraordinary wit and eloquence, and had besides acquired a vast variety of learning, which enabled him to make himself very considerable by defending the Catholic religion, which began to be attacked at that time. The Chevalier de Guise, afterwards called Grand Prior, was a prince beloved by all the world, of a comely person, full of wit and address, and distinguished through all Europe for his v","cbCaienDuiOlPSgi","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaienDuiOlPSgi","pdf",677015,113,"English","# Court Splendor and Entertainments\n## Henry II’s Reign and Political Prominence\n## Power, Passion, and Court Strategy","[{\"question\":\"What atmosphere does the opening describe in France during Henry II’s reign?\",\"answer\":\"It emphasizes grandeur and gallantry at court, filled with refined amusements such as hunting, music, plays, and poetry, alongside prominent noble figures.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the prince’s passion portrayed?\",\"answer\":\"It is presented as both violent and persistent, with strong signs of affection directed toward Diana of Poitiers, despite her long-standing relationship context.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does the queen keep the duchess close despite appearing unjealous?\",\"answer\":\"Her ambition and policy require managing the duchess’s presence so she can influence the king while maintaining control over court dynamics.\"},{\"question\":\"Which kinds of people and talents are highlighted as making the court so splendid?\",\"answer\":\"The text spotlights major rulers and princes known for wit, military skill, eloquence, learning, beauty, and social graces, creating an admired and highly accomplished environment.\"}]","The Princesse of Cleves - Grand Ducal Court Intrigue at Henry II | PDF",174]