第55章

"Yes，butIdon’tbelieveit。"

"Doyouthinkitpossible？"

"Ihavebeenworkingforthelastthirtyyearstoconvincemyselfofitsimpossibility；Ihavenotyetdoneso，butIamsurethatnoonewhodoesnotbelieveinthepossibilityofthegreatworkcanbeagoodchemist。"

WhenIlefthimhebeggedmetowriteandtellhimwhatIthoughtofthegreatVoltaire，andin，thiswayourFrenchcorrespondencebegan。

Ipossesstwenty—twolettersfromthisjustlycelebratedman；andthelastwordwrittensixmonthsbefore，histoo，earlydeath。ThelongerIlivethemoreinterestItakeinmypapers。Theyarethetreasurewhichattachesmetolifeandmakesdeathmorehatefulstill。

IhadbeenreadingatBerneRousseau’s"Heloise，"andIaskedM。

Haller’sopinionofit。Hetoldmethathehadoncereadpartofittoobligeafriend，andfromthisparthecouldjudgeofthewhole。

"Itistheworstofallromances，becauseitisthemosteloquentlyexpressed。YouwillseethecountryofVaud，butdon’texpecttoseetheoriginalsofthebrilliantportraitswhichJeanJacquespainted。

Heseemstohavethoughtthatlyingwasallowableinaromance，buthehasabusedtheprivilege。Petrarch，wasalearnedman，andtoldnoliesinspeakingofhisloveforLaura，whomhelovedaseverymanlovesthewomanwithwhomheistaken；andifLaurahadnotcontentedherillustriouslover，hewouldnothavecelebratedher。"

ThusHallerspoketomeofPetrarch，mentioningRousseauwithaversion。Hedislikedhisveryeloquence，ashesaiditowedallitsmeritstoantithesisandparadox。Hallerwasalearnedmanofthefirstclass，buthisknowledgewasnotemployedforthepurposeofostentation，norinprivatelife，norwhenhewasinthecompanyofpeoplewhodidnotcareforscience。Nooneknewbetterthanhehowtoaccommodatehimselftohiscompanyhewasfriendlywitheveryone，andnevergaveoffence。Butwhatwerehisqualifications？Itwouldbemucheasiertosaywhathehadnotthanwhathehad。Hehadnopride，self—sufficiency，nortoneofsuperiority——infact，noneofthosedefectswhichareoftenthereproachofthelearnedandthewitty。

Hewasamanofausterevirtue，buthetookcaretohidetheausterityunderaveilofarealanduniversalkindness。Undoubtedlyhethoughtlittleoftheignorant，whotalkabouteverythingrightorwrong，insteadofremainingsilent，andhaveatbottomonlycontemptforthelearned；butheonlyshewedhiscontemptbysayingnothing。

Heknewthatadespisedignoramusbecomesanenemy，andHallerwishedtobeloved。Heneitherboastedofnorconcealedhisknowledge，butletitrunlikealimpidstreamflowingthroughthemeadows。Hetalkedwell，butneverabsorbedtheconversation。Heneverspokeofhisworks；whensomeonementionedthemhewouldturntheconversationassoonasheconvenientlycould。Hewassorrytobeobligedtocontradictanyonewhoconversedwithhim。

WhenIreachedLausanneIfoundmyselfenabledtoretainmyincognitoforadayatanyrate。Inaturallygavethefirstplacetomyaffections。Iwentstraighttomysweetheartwithoutneedingtoaskmyway，sowellhadsheindicatedthestreetsthroughwhichIhadtopass。Ifoundherwithhermother，butIwasnotalittleastonishedtoseeLebeltherealso。However，mysurprisemusthavepassedunnoticed，formyhousekeeper，risingfromherseatwithacryofjoy，threwherarmsaboutmyneck，andafterhavingkissedmeaffectionatelypresentedmetoherworthymother，whowelcomedmeinthefriendliestmanner。IaskedLebelaftertheambassador，andhowlonghehadbeenatLausanne。

Hereplied，withapoliteandrespectfulair，thathismasterwasquitewell，andthathehadcometoLausanneonbusiness，andhadonlybeenthereafewhours；andthat，wishingtopayhisregardstoMadameDubois’smother，hehadbeenpleasantlysurprisedtoseethedaughterthereaswell。

"Youknow，"headded，"whatmyintentionsare。Ihavetogobackto—

morrow，andwhenyouhavemadeupyourminds，writetomeandIwillcomeandtakehertoSoleure，whereIwillmarryher。"

Hecouldnothavespokenmoreplainlyorhonourably。IsaidthatI

wouldneveropposethewillofmysweetheart，andmyDubois，interruptingme，saidinherturnthatshewouldneverleavemeuntilIsentheraway。

Lebelfoundtheserepliestoovague，andtoldmewithnoblefreedomthatwemustgivehimadefinitereply，sinceinsuchcasesuncertaintyspoilsall。AtthatmomentIfeltasifIcouldneveragreetohiswishes，andItoldhimthatintendaysIwouldlethimknowofourresolution，whateveritwas。Atthathewassatisfied，andleftus。

Afterhisdeparturemysweetheart’smother，whosegoodsensestoodherinsteadofwit，talkedtousinamannerthatansweredourinclinations，for，amorousaswewere，wecouldnotbeartheideaofparting。Iagreedthatmyhousekeepershouldwaitupformetillmidnight，andthatwecouldtalkoverourreplywithourheadsonthepillow。

MyDuboishadaseparateroomwithagoodbedandexcellentfurniture。Shegavemeaverygoodsupper，andwespentadeliciousnight。Inthemorningwefeltmoreinlovethanever，andwerenotatalldisposedtocomplywithLebel’swishes。Nevertheless，wehadaseriousconversation。

Thereaderwillrememberthatmymistresshadpromisedtopardonmyinfidelities，providedthatIconfessedthem。Ihadnonetoconfess，butinthecourseofconversationItoldheraboutRaton。

"Weoughttothinkourselvesveryfortunate，"saidshe，"forifithadnotbeenforchance，weshouldhavebeeninafinestatenow。"

"Yes，andIshouldbeindespair。"

"Idon’tdoubtit，andyouwouldbeallthemorewretchedasIshouldnevercomplaintoyou。"

"Ionlyseeonewayofprovidingagainstsuchamisfortune。WhenI

havebeenunfaithfultoyouIwillpunishmyselfbydeprivingmyselfofthepleasureofgivingyouproofsofmyaffectiontillIamcertainthatIcandosowithoutdanger。"

"Ah！youwouldpunishmeforyourfaults，wouldyou？IfyoulovemeasIloveyou，believemeyouwouldfindabetterremedythanthat。"

"Whatisthat？"

"Youwouldneverbeunfaithfultome。"

"Youareright。IamsorryIwasnotthefirsttothinkofthisplan，whichIpromisetofollowforthefuture。"

"Don’tmakeanypromises，"saidshe，withasigh，"itmightprovetoodifficulttokeepthem。"

Itisonlylovewhichcaninspiresuchconversations，butunfortunatelyitgainsnothingbythem。

Nextmorning，justasIwasgoingouttotakemyletters，theBarondeBercei，uncleofmyfriendBavois，entered。

"Iknow，"saidhe，"thatmynephewoweshisfortunetoyou；heisjustgoingtobemadegeneral，andIandallthefamilywillbeenchantedtomakeyouracquaintance。Ihavecometooffermyservices，andtobegthatyouwilldinewithmeto—day，andonanyotherdayyoupleasewhenyouhavenothingbettertodo，andIhopeyouwillalwaysconsideryourselfofthefamily。

"AtthesametimeIbegofyounottotellanybodythatmynephewhasbecomeaCatholic，asaccordingtotheprejudicesofthecountryitwouldbeadishonourwhichwouldreflectonthewholefamily。"

Iacceptedhisinvitation，andpromisedtosaynothingaboutthecircumstancehehadmentioned。

Ileftmylettersofintroduction，andIreceivedeverywhereawelcomeofthemostdistinguishedkind。MadamedeGentil—LangalerieappearedthemostamiableofalltheladiesIcalledon，butIhadnottimetopaymycourttoonemorethananother。Everydaypolitenesscalledmetosomedinner，supper，ball，orassembly。I

wasboredbeyondmeasure，andIfeltinclinedtosayhowtroublesomeitistohavesuchawelcome。Ispentafortnightinthelittletown，whereeveryoneprideshimselfonhisliberty，andinallmylifeIhaveneverexperiencedsuchaslavery，forIhadnotamomenttomyself。Iwasonlyabletopassonenightwithmysweetheart，andIlongedtosetoffwithherforGeneva。EverybodywouldgivemelettersofintroductionforM。deVoltaire，andbytheireagernessonewouldhavethoughtthegreatmanbeloved，whereasalldetestedhimonaccountofhissarcastichumour。

"What，ladies！"saidI，"isnotM。deVoltairegood—natured，polite，andaffabletoyouwhohavebeenkindenoughtoactinhisplayswithhim？"

"Notintheleast。Whenhehearsusrehearsehegrumblesallthetime。Weneversayathingtopleasehim:hereitisabadpronunciation，thereatonenotsufficientlypassionate，sometimesonespeakstoosoftly，sometimestooloudly；andit’sworsewhenweareacting。Whatahubbubthereisifoneaddasyllable，orifsomecarelessnessspoiloneofhisverses。Hefrightensus。Soandsolaughedbadly；soandsoinAlzirehadonlypretendedtoweep。"

"Doeshewantyoutoweepreally？"

"Certainly。Hewillhaverealtears。Hesaysthatifanactorwantstodrawtearshemustshedthemhimself。"

"Ithinkheisrightthere；butheshouldnotbesoseverewithamateurs，aboveallwithcharmingactresseslikeyou。Suchperfectionisonlytobelookedforfromprofessionals，butallauthorsarethesame。Theyneverthinkthattheactorhaspronouncedthewordswiththeforcewhichthesense，astheyseeit，requires。"

"Itoldhim，oneday，thatitwasnotmyfaultifhislineshadnottheproperforce。"

"Iamsurehelaughed。"

"Laughed？No，sneered，forheisarudeandimpertinentman。"

"ButIsupposeyouoverlookallthesefailings？"

"Notatall；wehavesenthimabouthisbusiness。"

"Senthimabouthisbusiness？"

"Yes。Heleftthehousehehadrentedhere，atshortnotice，andretiredtowhereyouwillfindhimnow。Henevercomestoseeusnow，evenifweaskhim。"

"Oh，youdoaskhim，thoughyousenthimabouthisbusiness？"

"Wecannotdepriveourselvesofthepleasureofadmiringhistalents，andifwehaveteasedhim，thatwasonlyfromrevenge，andtoteachhimsomethingofthemannersofgoodsociety。"

"Youhavegivenalessontoagreatmaster。"

"Yes；butwhenyouseehimmentionLausanne，andseewhathewillsayofus。Buthewillsayitlaughingly，that’shisway。"

DuringmystayIoftensawLordRosebury，whohadvainlycourtedmycharmingDubois。Ihaveneverknownayoungmanmoredisposedtosilence。Ihavebeentoldthathehadwit，thathewaswelleducated，andeveninhighspiritsattimes，buthecouldnotgetoverhisshyness，whichgavehimanalmostindefinableairofstupidity。Atballs，assemblies——infact，everywhere，hismannersconsistedofinnumerablebows。Whenonespoketohim，herepliedingoodFrenchbutwiththefewestpossiblewords，andhisshymannershewedthateveryquestionwasatroubletohim。OnedaywhenIwasdiningwithhim，Iaskedhimsomequestionabouthiscountry，whichrequiredfiveorsixsmallphrasesbywayofanswer。Hegavemeanexcellentreply，butblushedallthetimelikeayounggirlwhenshecomesout。ThecelebratedFoxwhowasthentwenty，andwasatthesamedinner，succeededinmakinghimlaugh，butitwasbysayingsomethinginEnglish，whichIdidnotunderstandintheleast。EightmonthsafterIsawhimagainatTurin，hewasthenamorousofabanker’swife，whowasabletountiehistongue。

AtLausanneIsawayounggirlofelevenortwelvebywhosebeautyI

wasexceedinglystruck。ShewasthedaughterofMadamedeSaconai，whomIhadknownatBerne。Idonotknowherafterhistory，buttheimpressionshemadeonmehasneverbeeneffaced。Nothinginnaturehaseverexercisedsuchapowerfulinfluenceovermeasaprettyface，evenifitbeachild’s。

TheBeautiful，asIhavebeentold，isendowedwiththispowerofattraction；andIwouldfainbelieveit，sincethatwhichattractsmeisnecessarilybeautifulinmyeyes，butisitsoinreality？I

doubtit，asthatwhichhasinfluencedmehasnotinfluencedothers。

Theuniversalorperfectbeautydoesnotexist，oritdoesnotpossessthispower。Allwhohavediscussedthesubjecthavehesitatedtopronounceuponit，whichtheywouldnothavedoneiftheyhadkepttotheideaofform。Accordingtomyideas，beautyisonlyform，forthatwhichisnotbeautifulisthatwhichhasnoform，andthedeformedistheoppositeofthe’pulchrum’and’formosum’。

Wearerighttoseekforthedefinitionsofthings，butwhenwehavethemtohandinthewords；whyshouldwegofarther？Iftheword’forma’isLatin，weshouldseekfortheLatinmeaningandnottheFrench，which，however，oftenuses’deforme’or’difforme’insteadof’laid’，ugly，withoutpeople’snoticingthatitsoppositeshouldbeawordwhichimpliestheexistenceofform；andthiscanonlybebeauty。Weshouldnotethat’informe’inFrenchaswellasinLatinmeansshapeless，abodywithoutanydefiniteappearance。

Wewillconclude，then，thatitisthebeautyofwomanwhichhasalwaysexercisedanirresistibleswayoverme，andmoreespeciallythatbeautywhichresidesintheface。Itistherethepowerlies，andsotrueisthat，thatthesphinxesofRomeandVersaillesalmostmakemefallinlovewiththem。though，thefaceexcepted，theyaredeformedineverysenseoftheword。Inlookingatthefineproportionsoftheirfacesoneforgetstheirdeformedbodies。What，then，isbeauty？Weknownot；andwhenweattempttodefineitortoenumerateitsqualitieswebecomelikeSocrates，wehesitate。Theonlythingthatourmindscanseizeistheeffectproducedbyit，andthatwhichcharms，ravishes，andmakesmeinlove，Icallbeauty。Itissomethingthatcanbeseenwiththeeyes，andformyeyesIspeak。

IftheyhadavoicetheywouldspeakbetterthanI，butprobablyinthesamesense。

NopainterhassurpassedRaphaelinthebeautyofthefigureswhichhisdivinepencilproduced；butifthisgreatpainterhadbeenaskedwhatbeautywas，hewouldprobablyhaverepliedthathecouldnotsay，thatheknewitbyheart，andthathethoughthehadreproduceditwheneverhehadseenit，butthathedidnotknowinwhatitconsisted。

"Thatfacepleasesme，"hewouldsay，"itisthereforebeautiful！"

HeoughttohavethankedGodforhavinggivenhimsuchanexquisiteeyeforthebeautiful；but’omnepulchrumdifficile’。

Thepaintersofhighrenown，allthosewhoseworksproclaimgenius，haveexcelledinthedelineationofthebeautiful；buthowsmallistheirnumbercomparedtothevastcravedwhohavestrainedeverynervetodepictbeautyandhaveonlyleftusmediocrity！

Ifapaintercouldbedispensedfrommakinghisworksbeautiful，everymanmightbeanartist；fornothingiseasierthantofashionugliness，andbrushandcanvaswouldbeaseasytohandleasmortarandtrowel。

Althoughportrait—paintingisthemostimportantbranchoftheart，itistobenotedthatthosewhohavesucceededinthislineareveryfew。Therearethreekindsofportraits:uglylikenesses，perfectlikenesses，andthosewhichtoaperfectlikenessaddanalmostimperceptiblecharacterofbeauty。Thefirstclassisworthyonlyofcontemptandtheirauthorsofstoning，fortowantoftasteandtalenttheyaddimpertinence，andyetneverseemtoseetheirfailings。Thesecondclasscannotbedeniedtopossessrealmerit；

butthepalmbelongstothethird，which，unfortunately，areseldomfound，andwhoseauthorsdeservethelargefortunestheyamass。SuchwasthefamousNotier，whomIknewinParisintheyear1750。Thisgreatartistwastheneighty，andinspiteofhisgreatagehistalentsseemedinalltheirfreshness。Hepaintedaplainwoman；itwasaspeakinglikeness，andinspiteofthatthosewhoonlysawtheportraitpronouncedhertobeahandsomewoman。Nevertheless，themostminuteexaminationwouldnothaverevealedanyfaithlessnesstotheoriginal，butsomeimperceptibletouchesgavearealbutindefiniteairofbeautytothewhole。Whencedoesthatmagicarttakeitssource？Oneday，whenhehadbeenpaintingtheplain—

looking"MesdamesdeFrance，"whoonthecanvaslookedliketwoAspasias，Iaskedhimtheabovequestion。Heanswered:——

"Itisamagicwhichthegodoftastedistilsfrommybrainsthroughmybrushes。ItisthedivinityofBeautywhomalltheworldadores，andwhichnoonecandefine，sincenooneknowsofwhatitconsists。

Thatcanvasshewsyouwhatadelicateshadethereisbetweenbeautyandugliness；andneverthelessthisshadeseemsanenormousdifferencetothoseunacquaintedwithart。"

TheGreekpaintersmadeVenus，thegoddessofbeauty，squint—eyed，andthisoddideahasbeenpraisedbysome；butthesepainterswerecertainlyinthewrong。

Twosquintingeyesmightbebeautiful，butcertainlynotsobeautifulasiftheydidnotsquint，forwhateverbeautytheyhadcouldnotproceedfromtheirdeformity。

Afterthislongdigression，withwhichthereadermaynotbeverywellpleased，itistimeformetoreturntomysweetheart。ThetenthdayofmyvisittoLausanne，Iwenttosupandsleepwithmymistress，andthatnightwasthehappiestIremember。Inthemorning，whileweweretakingcoffeewithhermother，Iobservedthatweseemedinnohurrytopart。Atthis，themother，awomanoffewwords，tookupthediscourseinapoliteanddignifiedmanner，andtoldmeitwasmydutytoundeceiveLebelbeforeIleft；andatthesametimeshegavemealettershehadhadfromhimtheeveningbefore。TheworthymanbeggedhertoremindmethatifIcouldnotmakeupmymindtoseparatefromherdaughterbeforeIleftLausanne，itwouldbemuchmoredifficultformetodosowhenIwasfartheroff；aboveall，if，aswouldprobablybethecase，shegavemealivingpledgeofherlove。Hesaidthathehadnothoughtsofdrawingbackfromhisword，butheshouldwishtobeabletosaythathehadtakenhiswifefromhermother’shands。

WhenIhadreadtheletteraloud，theworthymotherwept，andleftusalone。Amoment’ssilenceensued，andwithasighthatshewedwhatitcosther，mydearDuboishadthecouragetotellmethatImustinstantlywritetoLebeltogiveupallpretensionstoher，ortocomeandtakeheratonce。

"IfIwriteandtellhimtothinknomoreofyou，Imustmarryyoumyself。"

"No。"

Withthisnoshearoseandleftme。Ithoughtitoverforaquarterofanhour，Iweighedtheprosandconsandstillmyloveshrankfromthesacrifice。Atlast，onconsiderationthatmyhousekeeperwouldneverhavesuchachanceagain，thatIwasnotsurethatIcouldalwaysmakeherhappy，Iresolvedtobegenerous，anddeterminedtowritetoLebelthatMadameDuboishaddecidedofherownfreewilltobecomehiswife，thatIhadnorighttoopposeherresolution，andthatIwouldgosofarastocongratulatehimonahappinessIenviedhim。IbeggedhimtoleaveSoleureatonceandcomeandreceiveherinmypresencefromthehandsofherworthymother。

Isignedtheletterandtookittomyhousekeeper，whowasinhermother’sroom。"Takethisletter，dearest，andreadit，andifyouapproveitscontentsputyoursignaturebesidemine。"Shereaditseveraltimes，whileh