STENDHAL (1783-1842). - Lot 225

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  3. STENDHAL (1783-1842). - Lot 225
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Lot n° 225
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Result : 4 340EUR
STENDHAL (1783-1842). - Lot 225
STENDHAL (1783-1842). L.A., [end of September-beginning of October 1804], to his sister Pauline BEYLE in Grenoble; 5 pages and a half in-4, address. Very beautiful and nostalgic letter about the happy times spent with his sister in the family house in Claix. "Answer me very quickly a big letter with details about Claix, about your position, about what you do there. Although these things would not always be of great value to me, they would be infinitely more important at this time, when I am satiated with the pleasures of the city and long for the country. I would be there with you, as you know, if I thought I could return whenever I wanted. This is how freedom, following on from fairness, would increase happiness, but often we have the good heart to want the happiness of others without having the good head necessary to ensure the means. You see that I think out loud with you, and that I seize the opportunity when it presents itself to tell you in two words what serious authors have said in the middle of two volumes of pedantry, but remember once and for all that this is the worst tone one can have in a letter, which should always be gracious, flowing and cheerful. When you write to others than to me always put these rules into practice, and remember that you must always try not to displease before you try to please. Otherwise it is like trying to run before you can walk, and you know what happens then. I was saying that I have a charming image of Claix and that I will have a lot of pleasure to be there with you in the spring, but this pleasure will be spoiled by the idea that it will last too long. The doctors all advise me to go to the country, to try to enjoy myself there and to ride horses especially. They told me clearly this morning that the habit of thinking had thrown me into a natural indolence which would be very fatal with my obstructions, in a word that if I did not have recourse to the Cavalry I would fall into Bradipepsia, from Bradipepsia into Catalepsy, from Catalepsy into Russia, and from Russia into the deprivation of life. I believe this to be very true so that I must arrange to have a horse in Grenoble because this state of obstruction would end up making me usually unhappy, and it is too early at 22. But to have a horse is the devil, because how to make my father consent to it, to this frightful luxury, there is a way which is right, it is that I buy it of my money, that is to say of the one he promised. I must therefore try to consolidate this promise of 100 ll per year. So when I get to Gr[enoble] I buy a 25 L. lighter and trot it out until it has taken away my evil or I have killed it. Thus you see that he has a great interest in my getting well, Masterpiece of skill says Beaumarchais"... He is seriously ill "since 15 days, since 3 I have taken in so great disgust not all the things of the life, but all the edible things of the life that I take the sad Ipécacuana mixed with emetic the day after tomorrow. [...] This disease which is an intestinal embarrassment, and which only bothers me by the embarrassment of my purse, is nothing at the bottom, but it always makes me incapable of happiness 7 to 8 days and such weeks end up composing a life. I am therefore firmly resolved to cure myself. This morning the learned doctors had so persuaded me that without the coronation [of Napoleon] I would have gone to see you at once, but it would be foolish to leave Paris at this moment..., He will only go in five months... "This letter is very serious but, my poor little one, I am so tired of doing mind with the body and the suffering heart that I am too happy to find a comprehensive soul. Sorry for these 3 English words, it is a distraction, I like them very much because they contain a beautiful thing, almost untranslatable. Driden [Dryden] uses them to express that Shakespeare has a comprehensive soul, a soul that understands all sorrows and joys, that has the highest degree of simpathy. This is the true balm of a man who is sick with sensibility, it is ridiculous to say, but very painful to feel, to see that there is no happiness except in the meeting of an understanding soul, and to say to oneself that this soul does not exist. I read the poets that distracts me. In the last analysis, it is the most lively pleasure. Yesterday, wanting to read 4 verses during my nausea, I went through the whole Pompey of our Corneille and I was delighted. The others seem very cold to me. You feel that all this chatter is only for you, you should only communicate to the Indians the jokes and the news, when there are some "... Correspondance générale, t. I, p. 210-213.
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