友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

memoirs of the comtesse du barry-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




〃Is it possible?〃  exclaimed I; with a warmth I could  not repress。

〃The duchess;〃 resumed madame de Mirepoix; 〃says he is an ill…bred and ungrateful man; and the countess insists upon it he is a downright pedant。〃

'Shameful; indeed;〃 cried I; 〃but can you; my dear friend; account for the ill…nature with which these ladies speak of poor Rousseau?〃

〃Oh!  Yes;〃 replied the marechale; 〃their motives are easily explained; and I will tell you a little secret; for the truth of which I can vouch。  Madame de Luxembourg had at one time conceived the most lively passion for Jean Jacques。〃

〃Indeed!〃  cried I; 〃and he〃

〃Did not return it。  As for madame de Bouffiers; the case was exactly reversed; and Rousseau has excited her resentment by daring long to nurse a hopeless flame; of which she was the object: this presumption on the part of the poet our dignified countess could never pardon。  However; I entreat of you not to repeat this; remember; I tell you in strictest secrecy。〃

〃Oh; be assured of my discretion;〃 said I; 〃I promise you not to publish your secret〃 (which; by the way; I was very certain was not communicated for the first time when told to me)。

This confidence on the part of the marechale had; in some unaccountable  manner; only increased the ardent desire I felt to see the author  of the 〃〃; and I observed to madame de Mirepoix; that I had a great curiosity to be introduced to Rousseau。

〃I fear;〃 said she; 〃you will never be able to persuade him to visit at the chateau。〃

〃How then can I accomplish my desire of seeing this celebrated man?〃

〃By one simple method; if he will not come to you; you must go to him。  I would willingly accompany you; but he knows me; and my presence would spoil all。  The best thing you can do is to dress yourself quite plainly; as a lady from the country; taking with you one of your female attendants。  You may take as a pretext for your visit some music you would wish to have copied。 Be sure to treat M。 de Rousseau as a mere copyist; and appear never to have heard of his superior merit: do this; and you will receive the best possible reception。〃

I greatly approved of the marechale 's advice; which I assured her I would delay no longer than till the following day to put into practice; and; after some further conversation upon J。  J。  Rousseau; we parted。

Early the next day I set out for Paris accompanied by Henriette; there; in pursuance of the suggestion of madame de Mirepoix; I dressed myself as a person recently arrived from the country; and Henriette; who was to accompany me; disguised herself as a villager。 I assure you; our personal attractions lost nothing by the change of our attire。  From the rue de la Jussienne to the rue Platriere is only a few steps; nevertheless; in the fear of being recognised; I took a hired carriage。  Having reached our place of destination; we entered; by a shabby door; the habitation of Jean Jacques Rousseau: his apartments were on the fifth floor。  I can scarcely describe to you; my friend; the emotions I experienced as I drew nearer and nearer to the author of 〃Heloise。〃  At each flight of stairs I was compelled to pause to collect my ideas; and my poor heart beat as though I had been keeping an assignation。  At length; however; we reached the fifth story; thereafter having rested a few minutes to recover myself; I was about to knock at a door which was opposite to me; when; as I approached; I heard a sweet but tremulous voice singing a melancholy air; which I have never since heard anywhere; the same voice repeated the romance to which I was listening several times。  When it had entirely ceased I profited by the silence to tap with my knuckles against the door; but so feeble was the signal; that even Henriette; who was close behind me; could not hear it。  She begged I would permit her to ring a bell which hung near us; and; having done so; a step was heard approaching the door; and; in a minute or two; it was opened by a man of about sixty years of age; who; seeing two females; took off his cap with a sort of clumsy gallantry; at which I affected to be much flattered。

〃Pray; sir;〃 said I; endeavouring to repress my emotion; 〃does a person named Rousseau; a copier of music; live here?〃

〃Yes; madam; I am he。  What is your pleasure?〃

〃I have been told; sir; that you are particularly skilful in copying music cheaply; I should be glad if you would undertake to copy these airs I have brought with me。〃

〃Have the goodness to walk in; madam。〃

We crossed a small obscure closet; which served as a species of antechamber; and entered the sitting…room of M。 de Rousseau; who seated me in an arm…chair; and motioning to Henriette to sit down; once more inquired my wishes respecting the music。

〃Sir;〃 said I; 〃as I live in the country; and but very rarely visit Paris; I should be obliged to you to get it done as early as possible。〃

〃Willingly; madam; I have not much upon my hands just now。〃

I then gave to Jean Jacques Rousseau the roll of music I had brought。  He begged I would continue seated; requested permission to keep on his cap; and went to a little table to examine the music I had brought。

Upon my first entrance I had perceived a close and confined smell in these miserable apartments; but; by degrees; I became accustomed to it; and began to examine the chamber in which I sat with as strict a scrutiny as though I had intended making an inventory of its contents。  Three old elbow…chairs; some rickety stools; a writing…table; on which were two or three volumes of music; some dried plants laid on white…brown paper; beside the table stood an old spinet; and; close to the latter article of furniture; sat a fat and well…looking cat。  Over the chimney hung an old silver watch; the walls of the room were adorned with about half a dozen views of Switzerland and some inferior engravings; two only; which occupied the most honourable situations; struck me; one represented Frederick II; and under the picture were written some lines (which I cannot now recollect) by Rousseau himself; the other engraving; which hung opposite; was the likeness of a very tall; thin; old man; whose dress was nearly concealed by the dirt which had been allowed to accumulate upon it; I could only distinguish that it was ornamented with a broad riband。  When I had sufficiently surveyed this chamber; the simplicity of which; so closely bordering on want and misery; pained me to the heart; I directed my attention to the extraordinary man who was the occasion of my visit。  He was of middle height; slightly bent by age; with a large and expansive chest; his features were common in their cast; but possessed of the most perfect regularity。  His eyes; which he from time to time raised from the music he was considering; were round and sparkling but small; and the heavy brows which hung over them; conveyed an idea of gloom and severity; but his mouth; which was certainly the most beautiful and fascinating in its expression I ever saw; soon removed this unfavourable impression。  Altogether there belonged to his countenance a smile of mixed sweetness and sadness; which bestowed on it an indescribable charm。

To complete my description; I must not forget to add his dress; which consisted of a dirty cotton cap; to which were fixed strings of a riband that had once been scarlet; a pelisse with arm…holes; a flannel waistcoat; snuff…coloured breeches; gray stockings; and shoes slipped down at the heel; after the fashion of slippers。 Such was the portrait; and such the abode of the man who believed himself to be one of the potentates of the earth and who; in fact; had once owned his little court and train of courtiers; for; in the century in which he lived; talent had become as arbitrary as sovereign powerthanks to the stupidity of some of our grandees and the caprice of Frederick of Prussia。

Meanwhile my host; undisturbed by my reflections; had quietly gone over his packet of music。  He found amongst it an air from 〃 ;〃 which I had purposely placed there; he half turned towards me and looking steadfastly at me; as if he would force the truth from my lips。

〃Madam;〃 said he; 〃do you know the author of this little composition?〃

〃Yes;〃 replied I; with an air of as great simplicity as I could assume; 〃it is written by a person of the same name as yourself; who writes books and composes operas。  Is he any relation to you?〃

My answer and question disarmed the suspicions of Jean Jacques; who was about to reply; but stopped himself; as if afraid of uttering a falsehood; and contented himself with smiling and casting down his eyes。  Taking courage from his silence; I ventured to add;〃The M。 de Rousseau who composed this pretty air has written much beautiful music and many very clever works。  Should I ever know the happiness of becoming a mother I shall owe to him the proper care and education of my child。〃  Rousseau made no reply; but he turned his eyes towards me; and at this moment the expression of his countenance was perfectly celestial; and I could readily imagine how easily he might have inspired a warmer sentiment than that of admiration。

Whilst we were conversing in this manner; a female; between the age of forty and fifty; 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!