Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Science
Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors, French -- Biography
will lead you myself to the Temple of Virtue--such shall be the name of
your abode, though we will not call it thus; I will spare your modesty
all the triumphs you have well deserved."
The prince declares that this letter was written in the sincerity of his
heart; afterwards it was spread through Paris as a bad imitation of
Horace Walpole's fabrication, and Rousseau himself believed that it was
a trick. However, at first he took it as sincere, and called on the
prince: he described his misfortunes, his enemies, the conspiracy of all
Europe against him, with an eloquence that charmed while it inspired
pity. "His eyes were two stars," the prince writes: "his genius shone in
his face and electrified me; he was touched by the effect he produced,
and, convinced of my enthusiasm, he showed gratitude for the interest I
took in his welfare."
Madame de Genlis made acquaintance with him soon after his return to
Paris. She says she never met a literary man with less pretension, and
more amiable: he spoke of himself with simplicity, and of his enemies
without bitterness; he did entire justice to the talents of Voltaire; he
had a most agreeable smile, full of delicacy and gentleness; he was
communicative, and often very gay. He talked extremely well on music, in
which he was a real connoisseur. Rousseau dined with this lady and her
husband frequently. Their first quarrel arose from M. de Genlis sending
him two dozen bottles of a wine he had praised, instead of two, which he
had consented to accept. Nothing could be in worse taste than the
pleasure which all the rich acquaintance of Rousseau took in making him
presents, after he had declared he would not receive any. He always sent
them back; and they reaped the pleasure of at once displaying their
generosity without expense, and of railing at his misanthropy. The
quarrel which put an end to his acquaintance with madame de Genlis is
somewhat unintelligible. Rousseau took offence at something that passed
at a theatre; and, instead of supping with his friends as he had agreed,
walked sullenly away. Madame de Genlis was offended in her turn, and
their intercourse was never renewed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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