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
I have experienced two kinds of love, equally real, which have scarce
any affinity, yet each differing materially from tender friendship.
My whole life has been divided between these affections, and I have
frequently felt the power of both at the same instant. For example, at
the very time I so publically and tyrannically claimed Miss Vulson, that
I could not suffer any other of my sex to approach her, I had short, but
passionate, assignations with a Miss Goton, who thought proper to act
the schoolmistress with me. Our meetings, though absolutely childish,
afforded me the height of happiness. I felt the whole charm of mystery,
and repaid Miss Vulson in kind, when she least expected it, the use she
made of me in concealing her amours. To my great mortification,
this secret was soon discovered, and I presently lost my young
schoolmistress.
Miss Goton was, in fact, a singular personage. She was not handsome, yet
there was a certain something in her figure which could not easily be
forgotten, and this for an old fool, I am too often convinced of. Her
eyes, in particular, neither corresponded with her age, her height, nor
her manner; she had a lofty imposing air, which agreed extremely well
with the character she assumed, but the most extraordinary part of her
composition was a mixture of forwardness and reserve difficult to be
conceived; and while she took the greatest liberties with me, would
never permit any to be taken with her in return, treating me precisely
like a child. This makes me suppose she had either ceased herself to be
one, or was yet sufficiently so to behold as play the danger to which
this folly exposed her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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