Could you, with gaiety of heart,
wound a female who never did you harm, and who admires your
splendid genius? In fact, could those you call your friends have
stooped so low as not to have feared to compromise you, by making
you play a part unworthy of your elevated reputation? All these
suppositions were unreasonable: I could not for a moment admit them,
and your two letters have entirely justified you. I can now give
myself up without regret to my enthusiasm for you and your works.
It would have been too cruel for me to have learnt with certainty
that he whom I regarded as the first writer of the age had become
my detractor without motive, without provocation. That it is not so
I give thanks to Providence.
"M. the duc d'Aiguillon did not deceive you when he told you
that I fed on your sublime poetry. I am in literature a perfect
novice, and yet am sensible of the true beauties which abound
in your works. I am to be included amongst the stones which
were animated by Amphion: this is one of your triumphs; but to
this you must be accustomed.
"Believe also that all your friends are not in the enemy's camp.
There are those about me who love you sincerely, M. de Chauvelin,
for instance, MM. de Richelieu and d'Aiguillon: this latter eulogizes
you incessantly; and if all the world thought as he does, you would
be here in your place.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228