The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — CompleteRousseau, Jean-Jacques
Philosophy
The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — Complete
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
Authors, French -- 18th century -- Biography; Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 1712-1778
Father Cato became acquainted with Madam de Warens at the Marquis of
Antremont’s; he had heard of her concerts, wished to assist at them,
and by his company rendered our meetings truly agreeable. We were soon
attached to each other by our mutual taste for music, which in both
was a most lively passion, with this difference, that he was really a
musician, and myself a bungler. Sometimes assisted by Canavas and the
Abbe Palais, we had music in his apartment; or on holidays at his organ,
and frequently dined with him; for, what was very astonishing in a
monk, he was generous, profuse, and loved good cheer, without the least
tincture of greediness. After our concerts, he always used to stay
to supper, and these evenings passed with the greatest gayety and
good-humor; we conversed with the utmost freedom, and sang duets; I was
perfectly at my ease, had sallies of wit and merriment; Father Cato was
charming, Madam de Warens adorable, and the Abbe Palais, with his rough
voice, was the butt of the company. Pleasing moments of sportive youth,
how long since have ye fled!
As I shall have no more occasion to speak of poor Father Cato, I will
here conclude in a few words his melancholy history. His brother monks,
jealous, or rather exasperated to discover in him a merit and elegance
of manners which favored nothing of monastic stupidity, conceived
the most violent hatred to him, because he was not as despicable as
themselves; the chiefs, therefore, combined against this worthy man, and
set on the envious rabble of monks, who otherwise would not have dared
to hazard the attack. He received a thousand indignities; they degraded
him from his office, took away the apartment which he had furnished with
elegant simplicity, and, at length, banished him, I know not whither:
in short, these wretches overwhelmed him with so many evils, that his
honest and proud soul sank under the pressure, and, after having been
the delight of the most amiable societies, he died of grief, on a
wretched bed, hid in some cell or dungeon, lamented by all worthy people
of his acquaintance, who could find no fault in him, except his being a
monk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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