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第16章

modeste mignon-第16章

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citizens; fathers; and private life。 This; however true; is not

absolutely so; nothing is absolutely true of man。 It is certain that a

debauched man will dissipate his talent; that a drunkard will waste it

in libations; while; on the other hand; no man can give himself talent

by wholesome living: nevertheless; it is all but proved that Virgil;

the painter of love; never loved a Dido; and that Rousseau; the model

citizen; had enough pride to had furnished forth an aristocracy。 On

the other hand Raphael and Michael Angelo do present the glorious

conjunction of genius with the lines of character。 Talent in men is

therefore; in all moral points; very much what beauty is in women;

simply a promise。 Let us; therefore; doubly admire the man in whom

both heart and character equal the perfection of his genius。



When Ernest discovered within his poet an ambitious egoist; the worst

species of egoist (for there are some amiable forms of the vice); he

felt a delicacy in leaving him。 Honest natures cannot easily break the

ties that bind them; especially if they have tied them voluntarily。

The secretary was therefore still living in domestic relations with

the poet when Modeste's letter arrived;in such relations; be it

said; as involved a perpetual sacrifice of his feelings。 La Briere

admitted the frankness with which Canalis had laid himself bare before

him。 Moreover; the defects of the man; who will always be considered a

great poet during his lifetime and flattered as Martmontel was

flattered; were only the wrong side of his brilliant qualities。

Without his vanity and his magniloquence it is possible that he might

never have acquired the sonorous elocution which is so useful and even

necessary an instrument in political life。 His cold…bloodedness

touched at certain points on rectitude and loyalty; his ostentation

had a lining of generosity。 Results; we must remember; are to the

profit of society; motives concern God。



But after the arrival of Modeste's letter Ernest deceived himself no

longer as to Canalis。 The pair had just finished breakfast and were

talking together in the poet's study; which was on the ground…floor of

a house standing back in a court…yard; and looked into a garden。



〃There!〃 exclaimed Canalis; 〃I was telling Madame de Chaulieu the

other day that I ought to bring out another poem; I knew admiration

was running short; for I have had no anonymous letters for a long

time。〃



〃Is it from an unknown woman?〃



〃Unknown? yes!a D'Este; in Havre; evidently a feigned name。〃



Canalis passed the letter to La Briere。 The little poem; with all its

hidden enthusiasms; in short; poor Modeste's heart; was disdainfully

handed over; with the gesture of a spoiled dandy。



〃It is a fine thing;〃 said the lawyer; 〃to have the power to attract

such feelings; to force a poor woman to step out of the habits which

nature; education; and the world dictate to her; to break through

conventions。 What privileges genius wins! A letter such as this;

written by a young girla genuine young girlwithout hidden

meanings; with real enthusiasm〃



〃Well; what?〃 said Canalis。



〃Why; a man might suffer as much as Tasso and yet feel recompensed;〃

cried La Briere。



〃So he might; my dear fellow; by a first letter of that kind; and even

a second; but how about the thirtieth? And suppose you find out that

these young enthusiasts are little jades? Or imagine a poet rushing

along the brilliant path in search of her; and finding at the end of

it an old Englishwoman sitting on a mile…stone and offering you her

hand! Or suppose this post…office angel should really be a rather ugly

girl in quest of a husband? Ah; my boy! the effervescence then goes

down。〃



〃I begin to perceive;〃 said La Briere; smiling; 〃that there is

something poisonous in glory; as there is in certain dazzling

flowers。〃



〃And then;〃 resumed Canalis; 〃all these women; even when they are

simple…minded; have ideals; and you can't satisfy them。 They never say

to themselves that a poet is a vain man; as I am accused of being;

they can't conceive what it is for an author to be at the mercy of a

feverish excitement; which makes him disagreeable and capricious; they

want him always grand; noble; it never occurs to them that genius is a

disease; or that Nathan lives with Florine; that D'Arthez is too fat;

and Joseph Bridau is too thin; that Beranger limps; and that their own

particular deity may have the snuffles! A Lucien de Rubempre; poet and

cupid; is a phoenix。 And why should I go in search of compliments only

to pull the string of a shower…bath of horrid looks from some

disillusioned female?〃



〃Then the true poet;〃 said La Briere; 〃ought to remain hidden; like

God; in the centre of his worlds; and be only seen in his own

creations。〃



〃Glory would cost too dear in that case;〃 answered Canalis。 〃There is

some good in life。 As for that letter;〃 he added; taking a cup of tea;

〃I assure you that when a noble and beautiful woman loves a poet she

does not hide in the corner boxes; like a duchess in love with an

actor; she feels that her beauty; her fortune; her name are protection

enough; and she dares to say openly; like an epic poem: 'I am the

nymph Calypso; enamored of Telemachus。' Mystery and feigned names are

the resources of little minds。 For my part I no longer answer masks〃



〃I should love a woman who came to seek me;〃 cried La Briere。 〃To all

you say I reply; my dear Canalis; that it cannot be an ordinary girl

who aspires to a distinguished man; such a girl has too little trust;

too much vanity; she is too faint…hearted。 Only a star; a〃



〃princess!〃 cried Canalis; bursting into a shout of laughter; 〃only

a princess can descend to him。 My dear fellow; that doesn't happen

once in a hundred years。 Such a love is like that flower that blossoms

every century。 Princesses; let me tell you; if they are young; rich;

and beautiful; have something else to think of; they are surrounded

like rare plants by a hedge of fools; well…bred idiots as hollow as

elder…bushes! My dream; alas! the crystal of my dream; garlanded from

hence to the Correze with rosesah! I cannot speak of itit is in

fragments at my feet; and has long been so。 No; no; all anonymous

letters are begging letters; and what sort of begging? Write yourself

to that young woman; if you suppose her young and pretty; and you'll

find out。 There is nothing like experience。 As for me; I can't

reasonably be expected to love every woman; Apollo; at any rate he of

Belvedere; is a delicate consumptive who must take care of his

health。〃



〃But when a woman writes to you in this way her excuse must certainly

be in her consciousness that she is able to eclipse in tenderness and

beauty every other woman;〃 said Ernest; 〃and I should think you might

feel some curiosity〃



〃Ah;〃 said Canalis; 〃permit me; my juvenile friend; to abide by the

beautiful duchess who is all my joy。〃



〃You are right; you are right!〃 cried Ernest。 However; the young

secretary read and re…read Modeste's letter; striving to guess the

mind of its hidden writer。



〃There is not the least fine…writing here;〃 he said; 〃she does not

even talk of your genius; she speaks to your heart。 In your place I

should feel tempted by this fragrance of modesty;this proposed

agreement〃



〃Then; sign it!〃 cried Canalis; laughing; 〃answer the letter and go to

the end of the adventure yourself。 You shall tell me the results three

months henceif the affair lasts so long。〃



Four days later Modeste received the following letter; written on

extremely fine paper; protected by two envelopes; and sealed with the

arms of Canalis。



  Mademoiselle;The admiration for fine works (allowing that my

  books are such) implies something so lofty and sincere as to

  protect you from all light jesting; and to justify before the

  sternest judge the step you have taken in writing to me。



  But first I must thank

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