Lot n° 364
Estimation :
3000 - 4000
EUR
Henri Beyle, called STENDHAL (1783-1842). L.A.S. "Thine", Pa - Lot 364
Henri Beyle, called STENDHAL (1783-1842). L.A.S. "Thine", Paris May 24, 1810, [to François PERIER-LAGRANGE]; 4 pages in-4.
Very beautiful letter to his brother-in-law, about his love for Victorine Mounier who is about to be married.
"My friend, your letter moves me to tears. [...] But the sacrifice is made, I had a few days of violent grief, it was even so strong that I found no other resource than to travel a hundred leagues. Fortunately I had a service to render in doing so. I spent a night in the public square of Orleans from 1 to 4 o'clock, which I will remember for a long time. The result is that you should never enter a family where you are not adopted with pleasure. Pride has unfortunately become such a strong habit with me, that I could not answer for not sending all relatives, even the most powerful one, to be f., if they pretended to leave the perfect equality. This would put this kind girl in a very embarrassing position. Besides, I have no money and there is some difference between being the wife of a Receiver General or of a poor devil of an audr at 500 fr. a year. Another comparison that would make me unhappy if I suspected my wife of making it. I will tell you between us that two years ago I refused a very considerable fortune, and a woman so amiable that I have been courting her ever since, all to avoid this comparison. I have been loved by her, she is an excellent heart and yet if the refusal was to be made, and she could have never been married, I would not ask for her more than before. Here, my dear friend, is my whole soul. Do not say anything to ... that could make him suspect a project that I have torn from him forever ".
Stendhal encourages his brother-in-law to start a business: "It is because I believe you to be an excellent calculator that I think that the plough has not made you do bad business. In any case the remedy is simple. We have often calculated that the Voiron cloth trade yields 15%. You can have funds at 6. Believe that this is the first trade in the world. If all these data are not changed, I would brave very hard in your place the small reproach of inconstancy that the badauts never fail to make because it is
never fail to make because it is the easiest of all. The great fortunes come surely and conveniently only by the Trade, you know it, you have a gold reputation, I thus believe that you will never miss some "...
He hopes to come to Grenoble... "You are right to pity the restlessness of my life, you don't know the hundredth part of it in Grenoble, and in the middle of all this hardly 2 or 3 hearts that love me a little".
He does not want to return to the main subject of the letter (marriage): "I am neither mature enough nor rich enough to get married. So have children that I can love as much as I love you"...
Correspondance (Bibl. de la Pléiade), t. I, p. 572.
Old collection Daniel SICKLES (IV, 1373).
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