第27章

"IwishtoaskonemorequestionconcerningawomanthenameofwhomIwouldrathernotgive。"

"SaythewomanwhomIhaveinmythoughts。"

Shethenaskedthisquestion:"Whatdiseaseisthatwomansufferingfrom？"Shemadethecalculation，andtheanswerwhichImadeherbringforthwasthis:"Shewantstodeceiveherhusband。"Thistimetheduchessfairlyscreamedwithastonishment。

Itwasgettingverylate，andIwaspreparingtotakeleave，whenM。

deMelfort，whowasspeakingtoherhighness，toldmethatwemightgotogether。Whenwewereout，hetoldmethatthecabalisticanswerconcerningthepomatumwastrulywonderful。Thiswasthehistoryofit:

"Theduchess，prettyasyouseehernow，hadherfacesofearfullycoveredwithpimplesthattheduke，thoroughlydisgusted，hadnotthecouragetocomenearhertoenjoyhisrightsasahusband，andthepoorprincesswaspiningwithuselesslongingtobecomeamother。

TheAbbedeBrossescuredherwiththatpomatum，andherbeautifulfacehavingentirelyrecovereditoriginalbloomshemadeherappearanceattheTheatreFrancais，inthequeen’sbox。TheDukedeChartres，notknowingthathiswifehadgonetothetheatre，whereshewentbutveryseldom，wasintheking’sbox。Hedidnotrecognizetheduchess，butthinkingherveryhandsomeheenquiredwhoshewas，andwhenhewastoldhewouldnotbelieveit；helefttheroyalbox，wenttohiswife，complimentedher，andannouncedhisvisitfortheverysamenight。Theresultofthatvisitwas，ninemonthsafterwards，thebirthoftheDukeofMontpensier，whoisnowfiveyearsoldandenjoysexcellenthealth。Duringthewholeofherpregnancytheduchesskeptherfacesmoothandblooming，butimmediatelyafterherdeliverythepimplesreappeared，andthepomatumremainedwithoutanyeffect。"

Asheconcludedhisexplanation，thecountofferedmeatortoise—

shellboxwithaverygoodlikenessofherroyalhighness，andsaid，"Theduchessbegsyouracceptanceofthisportrait，and，incaseyouwouldliketohaveitsetshewishesyoutomakeuseofthisforthatpurpose。"

ItwasapurseofonehundredLouis。Iacceptedboth，andentreatedthecounttooffertheexpressionsofmyprofoundgratitudetoherhighness。Ineverhadtheportraitmounted，forIwastheninwantofmoneyforsomeotherpurpose。

Afterthat，theduchessdidmethehonourofsendingformeseveraltimes；buthercureremainedaltogetheroutofthequestion；shecouldnotmakeuphermindtofollowaregulardiet。Shewouldsometimeskeepmeatworkforfiveorsixhours，nowinonecorner，nowinanother，goinginandoutherselfallthetime，andhavingeitherdinnerorsupperbroughttomebytheoldvalet，whoneverutteredaword。

Herquestionstotheoraclealludedonlytosecretaffairswhichshewascurioustoknow，andsheoftenfoundtruthswithwhichIwasnotmyselfacquainted，throughtheanswers。Shewishedmetoteachherthecabalisticscience，butsheneverpressedherwishuponme。She，however，commissionedM。deMelforttotellmethat，ifIwouldteachher，shewouldgetmeanappointmentwithanincomeoftwenty—fivethousandfrancs。Alas！itwasimpossible！Iwasmadlyinlovewithher，butIwouldnotfortheworldhaveallowedhertoguessmyfeelings。Mypridewasthecorrectiveofmylove。Iwasafraidofherhaughtinesshumiliatingme，andperhapsIwaswrong。AllIknowisthatIevennowrepentofhavinglistenedtoafoolishpride。ItistruethatIenjoyedcertainprivilegeswhichshemighthaverefusedmeifshehadknownmylove。

OnedayshewishedmyoracletotellherwhetheritwaspossibletocureacancerwhichMadamedelaPopelinierehadinthebreast；I

tookitinmyheadtoanswerthattheladyalludedtohadnocancer，andwasenjoyingexcellenthealth。

"Howisthat？"saidtheduchess；"everyoneinParisbelieveshertobesufferingfromacancer，andshehasconsultationuponconsultation。YetIhavefaithintheoracle。"

Soonafterwards，seeingtheDukedeRichelieuatthecourt，shetoldhimshewascertainthatMadamedelaPopelinierewasnotill。Themarshal，whoknewthesecret，toldherthatshewasmistaken；butsheproposedawagerofahundredthousandfrancs。Itrembledwhentheduchessrelatedtheconversationtome。

"Hasheacceptedyourwages？"Ienquired，anxiously。

"No；heseemedsurprised；youareawarethatheoughttoknowthetruth。"

Threeorfourdaysafterthatconversation，theduchesstoldmetriumphantlythatM。deRichelieuhadconfessedtoherthatthecancerwasonlyarusetoexcitethepityofherhusband，withwhomMadamedelaPopelinierewantedtoliveagainongoodterms；sheaddedthatthemarshalhadexpressedhiswillingnesstopayonethousandLouistoknowhowshehaddiscoveredthetruth。

"Ifyouwishtoearnthatsum，"saidtheduchesstome，"Iwilltellhimallaboutit。"

ButIwasafraidofasnare；Iknewthetemperofthemarshal，andthestoryoftheholeinthewallthroughwhichheintroducedhimselfintothatlady’sapartment，wasthetalkofallParis。M。delaPopelinierehimselfhadmadetheadventuremorepublicbyrefusingtolivewithhiswife，towhomhepaidanincomeoftwelvethousandfrancs。

TheDuchessdeChartreshadwrittensomecharmingpoetryonthatamusingaffair；butoutofherowncoterienooneknewitexcepttheking，whowasfondoftheprincess，althoughshewasinthehabitofscoffingathim。Oneday，forinstance，sheaskedhimwhetheritwastruethatthekingofPrussiawasexpectedinParis。LouisXV。

havingansweredthatitwasanidlerumour，"Iamverysorry，"shesaid，"forIamlongingtoseeaking。"

MybrotherhadcompletedseveralpicturesandhavingdecidedonpresentingonetoM。deMarigny，werepairedonemorningtotheapartmentofthatnobleman，wholivedintheLouvre，wherealltheartistswereinthehabitofpayingtheircourttohim。Wewereshewnintoahalladjoininghisprivateapartment，andhavingarrivedearlywewaitedforM。deMarigny。Mybrother’spicturewasexposedthere；itwasabattlepieceinthestyleofBourguignon。

Thefirstpersonwhopassedthroughtheroomstoppedbeforethepicture，examineditattentively，andmovedon，evidentlythinkingthatitwasapoorpainting；amomentafterwardstwomorepersonscamein，lookedatthepicture，smiled，andsaid，"That’stheworkofabeginner。"

Iglancedatmybrother，whowasseatednearme；hewasinafever。

Inlessthanaquarterofanhourtheroomwasfullofpeople，andtheunfortunatepicturewasthebuttofeverybody’slaughter。Mypoorbrotherfeltalmostdying，andthankedhisstarsthatnooneknewhimpersonally。

ThestateofhismindwassuchthatIheartilypitiedhim；Irosewiththeintentionofgoingtosomeotherroom，andtoconsolehimI

toldhimthatM。deMarignywouldsooncome，andthathisapprobationofthepicturewouldavengehimfortheinsultsofthecrowd。

Fortunately，thiswasnotmybrother’sopinion；welefttheroomhurriedly，tookacoach，wenthome，andsentourservanttofetchbackthepainting。Assoonasithadbeenbroughtbackmybrothermadeabattleofitinrealearnest，forhecutitupwithaswordintotwentypieces。HemadeuphismindtosettlehisaffairsinParisimmediately，andtogosomewhereelsetostudyanartwhichhelovedtoidolatry；weresolvedongoingtoDresdentogether。

TwoorthreedaysbeforeleavingthedelightfulcityofParisIdinedaloneatthehouseofthegate—keeperoftheTuileries；hisnamewasConde。Afterdinnerhiswife，aratherprettywoman，presentedmethebill，onwhicheveryitemwasreckonedatdoubleitsvalue。I

pointeditouttoher，butsheansweredverycurtlythatshecouldnotabateonesou。Ipaid，andasthebillwasreceiptedwiththewords’femmeConde’，Itookthepenandtotheword’Conde’Iadded’labre’，andIwentawayleavingthebillonthetable。

IwastakingawalkintheTuileries，notthinkinganymoreofmyfemaleextortioner，whenasmallman，withhishatcockedononesideofhisheadandalargenosegayinhisbutton—hole，andsportingalongsword，swaggereduptomeandinformedme，withoutanyfurtherexplanation，thathehadafancytocutmythroat。

"But，mysmallspecimenofhumanity，"Isaid，"youwouldrequiretojumponachairtoreachmythroat。Iwillcutyourears。"

"Sacrebleu，monsieur！"

"Novulgarpassion，mydearsir；followme；youshallsoonbesatisfied。"

IwalkedrapidlytowardsthePortede1’Etoile，where，seeingthattheplacewasdeserted，Iabruptlyaskedthefellowwhathewanted，andwhyhehadattackedme。

"IamtheChevalierdeTalvis，"heanswered。"Youhaveinsultedanhonestwomanwhoisundermyprotection；unsheath！"

Withthesewordshedrewhislongsword；Iunsheathedmine；afteraminuteortwoIlungedrapidly，andwoundedhiminthebreast。Hejumpedbackward，exclaimingthatIhadwoundedhimtreacherously。

"Youlie，yourascallymannikin！acknowledgeit，orIthrustmyswordthroughyourmiserablebody。"

"Youwillnotdoit，forIamwounded；butIinsistuponhavingmyrevenge，andwewillleavethedecisionofthistocompetentjudges。"

"Miserablewrangler，wretchedfighter，ifyouarenotsatisfied，I

willcutoffyourears""

Ilefthimthere，satisfiedthatIhadactedaccordingtothelawsoftheduello，forhehaddrawnhisswordbeforeme，andifhehadnotbeenskilfulenoughtocoverhimselfingoodtime，itwasnot，ofcourse，mybusinesstoteachhim。TowardsthemiddleofAugustI

leftPariswithmybrother。Ihadmadeastayoftwoyearsinthatcity，thebestintheworld。Ihadenjoyedmyselfgreatly，andhadmetwithnounpleasantnessexceptthatIhadbeennowandthenshortofmoney。WewentthroughMetz。，Mayence，andFrankfort，andarrivedinDresdenattheendofthesamemonth。Mymotherofferedusthemostaffectionatewelcome，andwasdelightedtoseeusagain。Mybrotherremainedfouryearsinthatpleasantcity，constantlyengagedinthestudyofhisart，andcopyingallthefinepaintingsofbattlesbythegreatmastersinthecelebratedElectoralGallery。

HewentbacktoParisonlywhenhefeltcertainthathecouldsetcriticismatdefiance；Ishallsayhereafterhowitwasthatwebothreachedthatcityaboutthesametime。Butbeforethatperiod，dear，reader，youwillseewhatgoodandadversefortunedidfororagainstme。

MylifeinDresdenuntiltheendofthecarnivalin1753doesnotofferanyextraordinaryadventure。Topleasetheactors，andespeciallymymother，Iwroteakindofmelodrama，inwhichIbroughtouttwoharlequins。Itwasaparodyofthe’FreresEnnemis’，byRacine。Thekingwashighlyamusedatthecomicfancieswhichfilledmyplay，andhemademeabeautifulpresent。Thekingwasgrandandgenerous，andthesequalitiesfoundareadyechointhebreastofthefamousCountdeBruhl。IleftDresdensoonafterthat，biddingadieutomymother，tomybrotherFrancois，andtomysister，thenthewifeofPierreAuguste，chiefplayeroftheharpsichordattheCourt，whodiedtwoyearsago，leavinghiswidowandfamilyincomfortablecircumstances。

MystayinDresdenwasmarkedbyanamoroussouvenirofwhichIgotrid，asinprevioussimilarcircumstances，byadietofsixweeks。I

haveoftenremarkedthatthegreatestpartofmylifewasspentintryingtomakemyselfill，andwhenIhadsucceeded，intryingtorecovermyhealth。Ihavemetwithequalsuccessinboththings；andnowthatIenjoyexcellenthealthinthatline，Iamverysorrytobephysicallyunabletomakemyselfillagain；butage，thatcruelandunavoidabledisease，compelsmetobeingoodhealthinspiteofmyself。TheillnessIalludeto，whichtheItalianscall’malfrancais’，althoughwemightclaimthehonourofitsfirstimportation，doesnotshortenlife，butitleavesindeliblemarksontheface。Thosescars，lesshonourableperhapsthanthosewhicharewonintheserviceofMars，beingobtainedthroughpleasure，oughtnottoleaveanyregretbehind。

InDresdenIhadfrequentopportunitiesofseeingtheking，whowasveryfondoftheCountdeBruhl，hisminister，becausethatfavouritepossessedthedoublesecretofshewinghimselfmoreextravaganteventhanhismaster，andofindulgingallhiswhims。

Neverwasamonarchagreaterenemytoeconomy；helaughedheartilywhenhewasplunderedandhespentagreatdealinordertohaveoccasiontolaughoften。Ashehadnotsufficientwittoamusehimselfwiththefolliesofotherkingsandwiththeabsurditiesofhumankind，hekeptfourbuffoons，whoarecalledfoolsinGermany，althoughthesedegradedbeingsaregenerallymorewittythantheirmasters。Theprovinceofthosejestersistomaketheirownerlaughbyallsortsofjokeswhichareusuallynothingbutdisgustingtricks，orlow，impertinentjests。

Yettheseprofessionalbuffoonssometimescaptivatethemindoftheirmastertosuchanextentthattheyobtainfromhimveryimportantfavoursinbehalfofthepersonstheyprotect，andtheconsequenceisthattheyareoftencourtedbythehighestfamilies。Whereisthemanwhowillnotdebasehimselfifhebeinwant？DoesnotAgamemnonsay，inHomer，thatinsuchacasemanmustnecessarilybeguiltyofmeanness？AndAgamemnonandHomerlivedlongbeforeourtime！Itevidentlyprovesthatmenareatalltimesmovedbythesamemotive—

namely，self—interest。

ItiswrongtosaythattheCountdeBruhlwastheruinofSaxony，forhewasonlythefaithfulministerofhisroyalmaster’sinclinations。Hischildrenarepoor，andjustifytheirfather’sconduct。

ThecourtatDresdenwasatthattimethemostbrilliantinEurope；

thefineartsflourished，buttherewasnogallantry，forKingAugustushadnoinclinationforthefairsex，andtheSaxonswerenotofanaturetobethusinclinedunlesstheexamplewassetbytheirsovereign。

AtmyarrivalinPrague，whereIdidnotintendtostop，IdeliveredaletterIhadforLocatelli，manageroftheopera，andwenttopayavisittoMadameMorelli，anoldacquaintance，forwhomIhadgreataffection，andfortwoorthreedaysshesuppliedallthewantsofmyheart。

AsIwasonthepointofleavingPrague，ImetinthestreetmyfriendFabris，whohadbecomeacolonel，andheinsisteduponmydiningwithhim。After’embracinghim，Irepresentedtohim，butinvain，thatIhadmadeallmyarrangementstogoawayimmediately。

"Youwillgothisevening，"hesaid，"withafriendofmine，andyouwillcatchthecoach。"

Ihadtogiveway，andIwasdelightedtohavedoneso，fortheremainderofthedaypassedinthemostagreeablemanner。Fabriswaslongingforwar，andhiswishesweregratifiedtwoyearsafterwards；

hecoveredhimselfwithglory。

ImustsayonewordaboutLocatelli，whowasanoriginalcharacterwellworthytobeknown。Hetookhismealseverydayatatablelaidoutforthirtypersons，andtheguestswerehisactors，actresses，dancersofbothsexes，andafewfriends。Hedidthehonoursofhiswell—suppliedboardnobly，andhisrealpassionwasgoodliving。I

shallhaveoccasiontomentionhimagainatthetimeofmyjourneytoSt。Petersburg，whereImethim，andwherehediedonlylatelyattheageofninety。

EndMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVAdeSEINGALT1725—1798

TOPARISANDPRISON，Volume2b——VENICE

THERAREUNABRIDGEDLONDONEDITIONOF1894TRANSLATEDBYARTHUR

MACHENTOWHICHHASBEENADDEDTHECHAPTERSDISCOVERED

BYARTHURSYMONS。

VENICE

CHAPTERX

MyStayinVienna——JosephII——MyDepartureforVeniceArrived，forthefirsttime，inthecapitalofAustria，attheageofeight—and—twenty，wellprovidedwithclothes，butrathershortofmoney——acircumstancewhichmadeitnecessaryformetocurtailmyexpensesuntilthearrivaloftheproceedsofaletterofexchangewhichIhaddrawnuponM。deBragadin。TheonlyletterofrecommendationIhadwasfromthepoetMigliavacca，ofDresden，addressedtotheillustriousAbbeMetastasio，whomIwishedardentlytoknow。Ideliveredtheletterthedayaftermyarrival，andinonehourofconversationIfoundhimmorelearnedthanIshouldhavesupposedfromhisworks。Besides，MetastasiowassomodestthatatfirstIdidnotthinkthatmodestynatural，butitwasnotlongbeforeIdiscoveredthatitwasgenuine，forwhenherecitedsomethingofhisowncomposition，hewasthefirsttocalltheattentionofhishearerstotheimportantpartsortothefinepassageswithasmuchsimplicityashewouldremarktheweakones。

IspoketohimofhistutorGravina，andaswewereonthatsubjectherecitedtomefiveorsixstanzaswhichhehadwrittenonhisdeath，andwhichhadnotbeenprinted。Movedbytheremembranceofhisfriend，andbythesadbeautyofhisownpoetry，hiseyeswerefilledwithtears，andwhenhehaddonerecitingthestanzashesaid，inatoneoftouchingsimplicity，’Ditemiilvero，sipuoairmeglio’？

Iansweredthathealonehadtherighttobelieveitimpossible。

Ithenaskedhimwhetherhehadtoworkagreatdealtocomposehisbeautifulpoetry；heshewedmefourorfivepageswhichhehadcoveredwitherasuresandwordscrossedandscratchedoutonlybecausehehadwishedtobringfourteenlinestoperfection，andheassuredmethathehadneverbeenabletocomposemorethanthatnumberinoneday。HeconfirmedmyknowledgeofatruthwhichIhadfoundoutbefore，namely，thattheverylineswhichmostreadersbelievetohaveflowedeasilyfromthepoet’spenaregenerallythosewhichhehashadthegreatestdifficultyincomposing。

"Whichofyouroperas，"Ienquired，"doyoulikebest？"

"’AttilioRegolo；maquestononvuolgiadirechesiailmegliore’。"

"AllyourworkshavebeentranslatedinParisintoFrenchprose，butthepublisherwasruined，foritisnotpossibletoreadthem，anditprovestheelevationandthepowerofyourpoetry。"

"Severalyearsago，anotherfoolishpublisherruinedhimselfbyatranslationintoFrenchproseofthesplendidpoetryofAriosto。

Ilaughatthosewhomaintainthatpoetrycanbetranslatedintoprose。"

"Iamofyouropinion。"

"Andyouareright。"

Hetoldmethathehadneverwrittenanariettawithoutcomposingthemusicofithimself，butthatasageneralrulehenevershewedhismusictoanyone。

"TheFrench，"headded，"entertaintheverystrangebeliefthatitispossibletoadaptpoetrytomusicalreadycomposed。"

Andhemadeonthatsubjectthisveryphilosophicalremark:

"Youmightjustaswellsaytoasculptor，’Hereisapieceofmarble，makeaVenus，andletherexpressionbeshewnbeforethefeaturesarechiselled。’"

IwenttotheImperialLibrary，andwasmuchsurprisedtomeetDelaHayeinthecompanyoftwoPoles，andayoungVenetianwhomhisfatherhadentrustedtohimtocompletehiseducation。IbelievedhimtobeinPoland，andasthemeetingrecalledinterestingrecollectionsIwaspleasedtoseehim。Iembracedhimrepeatedlywithrealpleasure。

HetoldmethathewasinViennaonbusiness，andthathewouldgotoVeniceduringthesummer。Wepaidoneanotherseveralvisits，andhearingthatIwasrathershortofmoneyhelentmefiftyducats，whichIreturnedashorttimeafter。HetoldmethatBavoiswasalreadylieutenant—colonelintheVenetianarmy，andthenewsaffordedmegreatpleasure。Hehadbeenfortunateenoughtobeappointedadjutant—generalbyM。Morosini，who，afterhisreturnfromhisembassyinFrance，hadmadehimCommissaryoftheBorders。Iwasdelightedtohearofthehappinessandsuccessoftwomenwhocertainlycouldnothelpacknowledgingmeastheoriginalcauseoftheirgoodfortune。InViennaIacquiredthecertaintyofDelaHayebeingaJesuit，buthewouldnotletanyonealludetothesubject。

Notknowingwheretogo，andlongingforsomerecreation，IwenttotherehearsaloftheoperawhichwastobeperformedafterEaster，andmetBodin，thefirstdancer，whohadmarriedthehandsomeJeoffroi，whomIhadseeninTurin。IlikewisemetinthesameplaceCampioni，thehusbandofthebeautifulAncilla。Hetoldmethathehadbeencompelledtoapplyforadivorcebecauseshedishonouredhimtoopublicly。Campioniwasatthesametimeagreatdancerandagreatgambler。Itookupmylodgingswithhim。

InViennaeverythingisbeautiful；moneywasthenveryplentiful，andluxuryverygreat；buttheseverityoftheempressmadetheworshipofVenusdifficult，particularlyforstrangers。Alegionofvilespies，whoweredecoratedwiththefinetitleofCommissariesofChastity，werethemercilesstormentorsofallthegirls。Theempressdidnotpractisethesublimevirtueoftoleranceforwhatiscalledillegitimatelove，andinherexcessivedevotionshethoughtthatherpersecutionsofthemostnaturalinclinationsinmanandwomanwereveryagreeabletoGod。Holdinginherimperialhandstheregisterofcardinalsins，shefanciedthatshecouldbeindulgentforsixofthem，andkeepallherseverityfortheseventh，lewdness，whichinherestimationcouldnotbeforgiven。

"Onecan