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
Her large black eyes, like those of the beauties of the
East, darted fiery shafts into my heart, and although the surprise at
first stupefied my senses, voluptuousness made a rapid progress within,
and this to such a degree that the beautiful seducer herself was,
notwithstanding the spectators, obliged to restrain my ardor, for I was
intoxicated, or rather become furious. When she perceived she had made
the impression she desired, she became more moderate in her caresses,
but not in her vivacity, and when she thought proper to explain to us
the real or false cause of all her petulance, she said I resembled M. de
Bremond, director of the customs of Tuscany, to such a degree as to be
mistaken for him; that she had turned this M. de Bremond’s head, and
would do it again; that she had quitted him because he was a fool; that
she took me in his place; that she would love me because it pleased her
so to do, for which reason I must love her as long as it was agreeable
to her, and when she thought proper to send me about my business, I must
be patient as her dear Bremond had been. What was said was done. She
took possession of me as of a man that belonged to her, gave me her
gloves to keep, her fan, her ‘cinda’, and her coif, and ordered me to go
here or there, to do this or that, and I instantly obeyed her. She told
me to go and send away her gondola, because she chose to make use of
mine, and I immediately sent it away; she bid me to move from my place,
and pray Carrio to sit down in it, because she had something to say to
him; and I did as she desired. They chatted a good while together, but
spoke low, and I did not interrupt them. She called me, and I approached
her. “Hark thee, Zanetto,” said she to me, “I will not be loved in the
French manner; this indeed will not be well. In the first moment of
lassitude, get thee gone: but stay not by the way, I caution thee.”
After dinner we went to see the glass manufactory at Murano. She bought
a great number of little curiosities; for which she left me to pay
without the least ceremony. But she everywhere gave away little trinkets
to a much greater amount than of the things we had purchased. By the
indifference with which she threw away her money, I perceived she
annexed to it but little value. When she insisted upon a payment, I am
of opinion it was more from a motive of vanity than avarice. She was
flattered by the price her admirers set upon her favors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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