FLAUBERT Gustave (1821-1880). L.A.S. "your", Friday evening [February 3, 1854], to Louise COLET; 2 and a half pages in-8. On the difficult writing of Madame Bovary. "You will see me on Tuesday. - I could even leave tomorrow morning if I had ironed shirts. But, as I only made up my mind earlier, there was no time. I thought I could finish my piece. I leave it, because I am vomiting with fatigue. I wrote this month 3 pages, and working well, I assure you, without distraction. These three pages represent about thirty pages, if not more. It's because all this was probably not well conceived? I fumbled and got lost. - I wish to God that Buffon's unholy words were true! For I believe that no one has more patience than I do! Until now I had to paint sad states, bitter thoughts. I am now at a joyful passage. I fail. The lamentable strings are easy for me. But I cannot imagine happiness - and I stand there in front of it, cold as marble and dumb as a log. It is, in fact, always so. The so-called beautiful places (in plan) are the ones we miss. Let us beware of solemnities! Although I am deeply convinced of my weakness at this moment, I do not cry. - But I grind my teeth. If I did not have the desire, rather foolish, to be finished, I would take my evil more in patience. But it is all the lost time that saddens me. I will use these three days to calm myself in order to appear kind. - And I will be. Then I will make a little plan, to work immediately on my return. .... Correspondence (Pléiade), t. II, p. 521.