登陆注册
5164300000110

第110章

"But, madam," answered I, "I am here by the direction of your husband to fetch away the music he has been engaged in copying for me.""Ah, madam," exclaimed she, "is it you? I did not recollect you again; pray walk in. M. Rousseau will be sure to be at home for you.""So, then," thought I, "even genius has its visiting lists." We entered; Jean Jacques formally saluted us, and invited us to be seated. He then gave me my music; I inquired what it came to;he consulted a little memorandum which lay upon the table, and replied, " So many pages, so much paper, eighteen livres twelve sous;" which, of course, I instantly paid. The duc d'Aiguillon, whom I styled my uncle, was endeavoring to lead Rousseau into conversation, when the outer bell rang. Therese went to open the door, and a gentleman entered, of mature age, although still preserving his good looks. The duke regarded him in silence and immediately made signs for me to hasten our departure; I obeyed, and took leave of Rousseau, with many thanks his punctuality. He accompanied us as before to door, and there I quitted him never to see him more. As we were descending the staircase, M. d'Aiguillon told me that the person who had so hastened our departure was Duclas, and that his hurry to quit Rousseau arose from his dread of being recognised by him. Although M. Duclas was a very excellent man, I must own that I owed no small grudge for a visit which had thus abridged ours.

In the evening the duc d'Aiguillon and myself related to the king our morning's pilgrimage. I likewise recounted my former visit, which I had concealed until now. Louis XV seemed greatly interested with the recital of it; he asked me a thousand questions, and would fain hear the most trifling particulars.

"I shall never forget," said Louis XV, "the amazing success obtained by his '' There certainly were some beautiful airs", and the king began to hum over the song of"<J'ai perdu tout mon bonheur.""Yes, madam," continued his majesty, " I promise you, that had Rousseau after his success chosen to step forward as a candidate for public favour, he would soon have overthrown Voltaire.""Pardon me," replied I; " but I cannot believe that would have been possible under any circumstances.""And why not?" asked the king; "he was a man of great talent.""Doubtless, sire, but not of the kind to compete with Voltaire."The king then changed the conversation to Therese, inquiring whether she possessed any attractions?

"None whatever, sire," replied the duke; "at least none that we could perceive.""In that case," rejoined his majesty, "she must have charmed her master by some of those unseen perfections which take the deepest hold of the heart; besides I know not why we should think it strange that others see with different eyes to ourselves."I made no secret with the comte Jean of my visit, and he likewise expressed his desire to know a man so justly celebrated, and, in its proper place, you, may hear how he managed to effect this, and what befell him in consequence--but, to finish for the present with Rousseau, for I will not promise that I shall not again indulge in speaking of him. I will just say, that after the lapse of two or three days from the time of my last visit, the idea occurred to me of sending him a thousand crowns in an Indian casket. This I sent by a servant out of livery, whom I strictly enjoined not to name me but to say simply that he came from a lady. He brought back the casket to me unopened, and the following billet from Rousseau:--"MADAM,--I send back the present you would force upon my acceptance in so concealed a manner; if it be offered as a testimony of your esteem I may possibly accept it, when you permit me to know the hand from which it comes. Be assured, madam, that there is much truth in the assertion of its being more easy to give than to receive.

同类推荐
  • The Prospector

    The Prospector

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Lady of the Lake

    The Lady of the Lake

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 献帝春秋

    献帝春秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 女科证治准绳

    女科证治准绳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 览冥训

    览冥训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 红马

    红马

    甫跃辉, 1984年生,云南保山施甸县人,复旦大学首届文学写作专业小说方向研究生毕业,师从作家王安忆。在《人民文学》《大家》《花城》《中国作家》《青年文学》《上海文学》《长城》等文学期刊发表中国短篇小说。获得2009年度“中环”杯《上海文学》短篇小说新人奖。
  • 家居生活指南

    家居生活指南

    生活是人生的积累,小到柴米油盐,大到婚丧嫁娶,幸好有了书本来传递过来人的经验,不至于让我们多走些弯路。《家居生活指南》从衣物、家具保洁、食物清洁、生活小用品的废物利用、家庭药物使用、饮食烹饪等方面描绘了一幅幅多姿多彩的生活画面。
  • 唐鍾馗平鬼傳

    唐鍾馗平鬼傳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 心的舞台

    心的舞台

    本作品集主要收录作者倾注了半辈子心血的八部中短篇小说,一部戏曲剧本,三篇散文。其中小说,如《汉奸无冤》,虽然是抗日战争题材,却独具匠心地从一个心地善良的知识分子入手,在“汉奸”的身份中挖掘人性的可贵与无奈,读之无不让人拍案叹息;《玉骄凤》取裁于五代十国时的西楚王朝的宫斗故事,人物命运迭宕起伏;《龙儿》则是为纹川大地震而作,近似于奇幻,又象是新神话类的故事……
  • 江南碧血(大结局)

    江南碧血(大结局)

    聂轻尘返回楚门询问师傅吐血而亡的真相,却因陈渭城有意刺激变得浑浑噩噩。聂轻尘在意欲结盟的渔家傲众人及楚门掌门叶一念面前指出苏朝雨是凶手,却被一女子反驳。岑碧烟这个名字,楚门弟子其实是久仰的。这个当年江湖恶霸岑氏的遗孤、多番谋害楚门开山师祖的刺客,虽然姑苏山上的人不喜欢谈他,但作为本门掌故,拜入师门时听前辈讲一次,就已经足够难忘。面对眼前风诡云谲的局面,精明如孙少游也惊得没了话,楚台十公子全体进退失据,唯有将目光投注在只剩半条命的聂轻尘,和那刚刚揭开面纱的女子身上。
  • On Being and Essence

    On Being and Essence

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 异域邪门

    异域邪门

    在一次军事演习中,她意外的穿越了。在这个修仙的异世大陆,在霸者为王的世界,作为弱者的你不得生存。暗杀、背叛、作秀、虚伪,一个个狰狞的面具被揭开。而这就是所谓的人心,心中最黑暗最肮脏的私欲。是这个世界在逼迫你如何学会自私。为了寻找自己的前世记忆,为了自己的复仇计划,她。。。不得不放弃他。也是这个世界改变了她,当她向全世界发出最暴怒的声音“挡我者死”时,连天地的被震退了,而他依旧深情的望着她。天地变迁,日月星移,当全世界都在改变时,唯有他……温暖如初。也许冥冥之中,她就是属于他的。请静静的翻开这本书,打开心中那个尘封已久的记忆,一起来观看他与她的爱恨情缘。
  • 漫威中的上古卷轴

    漫威中的上古卷轴

    奇幻类新书《寒冬已至》,喜欢的读者可以去支持一下。
  • 桔梗呀

    桔梗呀

    桔梗花的花语代表着一种遗憾后来我知道了它是拥有着两种看似天地之差的花。花语的特殊的花......
  • 0~6岁敏感期,决定孩子一生的关键

    0~6岁敏感期,决定孩子一生的关键

    本书将在最大程度上向父母展示孩子在各种敏感期的表现,并为父母提供应对孩子敏感期的科学对策。本书分8章,即孩子的8大敏感期,分别为:语言敏感期、秩序敏感期、感官敏感期、关注细小事物的敏感期、动作敏感期、社会规范敏感期、书写与阅读敏感期、文化敏感期等。在孩子的这些敏感期内,父母应该尽量给孩子鼓励、爱与自由,而不要错失孩子敏感期的教育时机。有一点需要提醒父母,孩子的敏感期有很多个,每个敏感期出现的时间都不是固定的,而且在同一敏感期中的孩子的表现也不是完全相同的。