Everythingwaschanging，bothwithinthemandaroundthem，andtheybelievedthattheirheartwouldknownochange。Oh，whatchildren，whatchildrenalways！"Ah，notchildren，butwhatmenrather！Weknowthesefluctuationsinouraffections。Anditisbecauseweareafraidofourownfragilitythatwecalltoouraidtheprotectionoflaws，towhichsubmissionisnoslavery，asitisvoluntarysubmission。

Naturedoesnotknowtheselaws，butitisbythemthatwedistinguishourselvesfromNatureandthatweriseaboveit。

Therockonwhichwetreadcrumblestodust，theskyaboveourheadsisneverthesameaninstant，but，inthedepthofourhearts，thereisthemorallaw——andthatneverchanges！

Inordertoreplytotheseparadoxes，whereshallwegoinsearchofourarguments？WecangotoGeorgeSandherself。Afewyearslater，duringherintercoursewithLamennals，shewroteherfamous_LettresaMarcie_for_LeMonde_。Sheaddressesherselftoanimaginarycorrespondent，toawomansupposedtobesufferingfromthatagitationandimpatiencewhichshehadexperiencedherself。

"Youaresad，"saysGeorgeSandtoher，"youaresuffering，andyouareboredtodeath。"Wewillnowtakenoteofsomeoftheadviceshegivestothiswoman。Shenolongerbelievesthatitbelongstohumandignitytohavethelibertyofchanging。

"Theonethingtowhichmanaspires，thethingwhichmakeshimgreat，ispermanenceinthemoralstate。Allwhichtendstogivestabilitytoourdesires，tostrengthenthehumanwillandaffections，tendstobringaboutthe_reignofGod_onearth，whichmeansloveandthepracticeoftruth。"Shethenspeaksofvaindreams。

"Shouldweevenhavetimetothinkabouttheimpossibleifwedidallthatisnecessary？Shouldwedespairourselvesifweweretorestorehopeinthosepeoplewhohavenothingleftthembuthope？"

Withregardtofeministclaims，shesays："Womenarecryingoutthattheyareslaves：letthemwaituntilmenarefree！……

Inthemeantimewemustnotcompromisethefuturebyourimpatiencewiththepresent……Itistobefearedthatvainattemptsofthiskindandunjustifiableclaimsmaydoharmtowhatisstyledatpresentthecauseofwomen。Thereisnodoubtthatwomenhavecertainrightsandthattheyaresufferinginjustice。

Theyoughttolayclaimtoabetterfuture，toawiseindependence，toagreaterparticipationinknowledge，andtomorerespect，interestandesteemfrommen。Thisfuture，though，isintheirownhands。"

Thisiswisdomitself。Itwouldbeimpossibletoputitmoreclearly，andtowarnwomeninabetterway，thatthegreatestdangerfortheircausewouldbethetriumphofwhatiscalledbyanironicalterm——feminism。

Theseretractions，though，haveverylittleeffect。Thereisacertainpiquancyinshowingupanauthorwhoisincontradictionwithhimself，inshowinghowherefuteshisownparadoxes。

Butthesearestrikingparadoxeswhicharenotreadilyforgotten。

WhatIwanttoshowisthatinthesefirstnovelsbyGeorgeSandwehaveaboutthewholeofthefeministprogrammeofto—day。Everythingisthere，therighttohappiness，thenecessityofreformingmarriage，theinstitution，inamoreorlessnearfuture，offreeunions。

Ourfeministsofto—day，French，English，orNorwegianauthoresses，andtheoricianslikeEllenKey，withherbookon_LoveandMarriage_，alltheserebelshaveinventednothing。Theyhavedonenothingbuttakeuponcemorethetheoriesofthegreatfeministof1832，andexposethemwithlesslyricismbutwithmorecynicism。

GeorgeSandprotestedagainsttheaccusationofhavingaimedatattackinginstitutionsinherfeministnovels。Shewaswronginprotesting，asitisjustthiswhichgiveshernovelstheirvalueandsignificance。

Itisthiswhichdatesthemandwhichexplainstheenormousforceofexpansionthattheyhavehad。TheycamejustaftertheJulyRevolution，andwemustcertainlyconsiderthemasoneoftheresultsofthat。

Athronehadjustbeenoverturned，and，bywayofpastime，churcheswerebeingpillagedandanarchbishop’spalacehadbeensack—

aged。Literaturewasalsoattemptinganinsurrection，bywayofdiversion。Foralongtimeithadbeenfeedingtherevolutionaryfermentwhichithadreceivedfromromanticism。Romanticismhaddemandedthefreedomoftheindividual，andthewritersattheheadofthismovementwereChateaubriand，VictorHugoandDumas。

TheyclaimedthisfreedomforRene，forHermannandforAntony，whoweremen。Anexamplehadbeengiven，andwomenmeanttotakeadvantageofit。Womennowbegantheirrevolution。

Underalltheseinfluences，andintheparticularatmospherenowcreated，thematrimonialmishapofBaronneDudevantappearedtoherofconsiderableimportance。Sheexaggeratedandmagnifiedituntilitbecameofsocialvalue。Takingthisprivatemishapasherbasis，sheputsintoeachofherheroinessomethingofherself。

Thisexplainsthepassionatetoneofthewholestory。Andthispassioncouldnotfailtobecontagiousforthewomenwhoreadherstories，andwhorecognizedinthenovelist’scausetheirowncauseandthecauseofallwomen。

This，then，isthenoveltyinGeorgeSand’swayofpresentingfeministgrievances。Shehadnotinventedthesegrievances。

TheywerealreadycontainedinMadamedeStael’sbooks，andIhavenotforgottenher。DelphineandCorinne，though，werewomenofgenius，andpresentedtousassuch。InordertobepitiedbyMadamedeStael，itwasabsolutelynecessarytobeawomanofgenius。

ForawomantobedefendedbyGeorgeSand，itwasonlynecessarythatsheshouldnotloveherhusband，andthiswasamuchmoregeneralthing。

GeorgeSandhadbroughtfeminismwithinthereachofallwomen。

Thisisthecharacteristicofthesenovels，theeloquenceofwhichcannotbedenied。Theyarenovelsforthevulgarizationofthefeministtheory。

THEROMANTICESCAPADE

THEVENICEADVENTURE

GeorgeSanddidnothavetowaitlongforsuccess。Shewonfamewithherfirstbook。Withhersecondoneshebecamerich，orwhatsheconsideredrich。Shetellsusthatshesolditforahundredandsixtypounds！Thatseemedtoherthewealthoftheworld，andshedidnothesitatetoleaveheratticontheQuaySt。MichelforamorecomfortableflatonQuayMalaquais，whichdeLatouchegaveuptoher。

Therewas，atthattime，apersonageinPariswhohadbeguntoexerciseasortofroyaltyrannyoverauthors。FrancoisBulozhadtakenadvantageoftheintellectualeffervescenceof1831tofoundthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_。Hewasventuresome，energetic，original，veryshrewd，thoughapparentlyrough，obliging，inspiteofhissurlymanners。

Heisstillconsideredthetypicalandtraditionalreviewmanager。

Hecertainlypossessedthefirstqualitynecessaryforthisfunction。

Hediscoveredtalentedwriters，andhealsoknewhowtodrawfromthemandsqueezeoutofthemalltheliteraturetheycontained。

Tremendouslyheadstrong，hehasbeenknowntokeepacontributorunderlockandkeyuntilhisarticlewasfinished。Authorsabusedhim，quarrelledwithhim，andthencamebacktohimagain。Areviewwhichhad，foritsfirstnumbers，GeorgeSand，Vigny，Musset，Merimee，amongmanyothers，ascontributors，maybesaidtohavestartedwell。

GeorgeSandtellsusthatafterabattlewiththe_RevuedeParis_

andthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_，bothofwhichpaperswantedherwork，sheboundherselftothe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_，whichwastopayherahundredandsixtypoundsayearforthirty—twopagesofwritingeverysixweeks。In1833the_RevuedesDeuxMondes_publishedLelia，andonJanuary1，1876，itfinishedpublishingthe_TourdePercemont_。

Thismeansanuninterruptedcollaboration，extendingoveraperiodofforty—threeyears。

Theliterarycriticofthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_atthattimewasamanwhowasverymuchrespectedandverylittleliked，or，inotherwords，hewasuniversallydetested。ThiscriticwasGustavePlanche。

Hetookhisown_role_tooseriously，andendeavouredtoputauthorsontheirguardabouttheirfaults。Authorsdidnotappreciatethis。

Heendeavoured，too，toputthepubliconguardagainstitsowninfatuations。Thepublicdidnotcareforthis。Hesowedstrifeandreapedrevenge。Thisdidnotstophim，though，forhewentcalmlyoncontinuinghisexecutions。Hisimpassibilitywasonlyfeigned，andthisisthecurioussideofthestory。

Hesufferedkeenlyfromthestormsofhostilitywhichheprovoked。

Hehadakindlydispositionatbottomandtenderplacesinhisheart。

Hewasrathergiventomelancholyandintenselypessimistic。

Torelievehissadness，hegavehimselfuptohardwork，andhewasthoroughlydevotedtoart。Inordertocomprehendthisportraitandtoseeitsresemblance，we，whoknewourgreatBrunetiere，haveonlytothinkofhim。He，too，wasnoble，ferventandcombative，andhesoughtinhisexclusivedevotiontoliteratureadiversionfromhisgloomypessimism，underneathwhichwasconcealedsuchkindliness。

Itseemedwithhim，too，asthoughhetookaprideinmakingawholecrowdofenemies，whilstinrealitythediscoveryofeveryfreshadversarycausedhimgreatsuffering。

When_Lelia_appeared，thenovelwasverybadlytreatedin_L’Europelitteraire_。Planchechallengedthewriterofthearticle，acertainCapodeFeuillide，toaduel。Somuchfortheimpassibilityofseverecritics。Thedueltookplace，andafterwardstherewasamisunderstandingbetweenGeorgeSandandPlanche。Fromthattimeforthcriticshavegivenupfightingduelsforthesakeofauthors。

Aboutthesametime，GeorgeSandmadeuseofSainte—Beuveasherconfessor。Heseemedspeciallyindicatedforthisfunction。

Inthefirstplace，helookedratherecclesiastical，andthenhehadatasteforsecrets，andmoreparticularlyforwhisperedconfessions。

GeorgeSandhadabsoluteconfidenceinhim。Sheconsideredthathehadanalmostangelicnature。Inreality，justaboutthattime，theangelicmanwasendeavouringtogetintothegoodgracesofthewifeofhisbestfriend，andwaswritinghis_Livred’Amour_，anddivulgingtotheworldaweaknessofwhichhehadtakenadvantage。

Thiscertainlywasthemostvillainousthingamancoulddo。

Butthenhe，too，wasinloveandwasstrugglingandpraying。

GeorgeSanddeclareshervenerationforhim，andsheconstitutedherselfhispenitent。

Shebeginsherconfessionbyanavowalthatmusthavebeendifficultforher。ShetellsofherintimacywithMerimee，anintimacywhichwasofshortdurationandveryunsatisfactory。

ShehadbeenfascinatedbyMerimee’sart。

"Foraboutaweek，"shesays，"Ithoughthehadthesecretofhappiness。"Attheendoftheweekshewas"weepingwithdisgust，sufferinganddiscouragement。"Shehadhopedtofindinhimthedevotionofaconsoler，butshefoundnothingbutcoldandbitterjesting。"[16]Thisexperimenthadalsoprovedafailure。

[16]Compare_LettresaSainte—Beuve_。

SuchweretheconditionsinwhichGeorgeSandfoundherselfatthisepoch。Herpositionwassatisfactory；shemighthavebeencalmandindependent。Herinnerlifewasoncemoredesolate，andshewasthoroughlydiscouraged。Shefeltthatshehadlivedcenturies，thatshehadundergonetorture，thatherhearthadagedtwentyyears，andthatnothingwasanypleasuretohernow。Addedtoallthis，publiclifesaddenedher，forthehorizonhadcloudedover。

Theboundlesshopesandtheenthusiasmof1831werethingsofthepast。"TheRepublic，asitwasdreamedofinJuly，"

shewrites，"hasendedinthemassacresofWarsawandintheholocaustoftheSaint—Merrycloister。Thecholerahasjustbeenraging。

SaintSimonismhasfallenthroughbeforeithadsettledthegreatquestionoflove。"[17]

[17]_Histoiredemavie_。

Depressionhadcomeafterover—excitement。Thisisaphenomenonfrequentlyseenimmediatelyafterpoliticalconvulsions。

Itmightbecalledtheperpetualfailureofrevolutionarypromises。

ItwasunderalltheseinfluencesthatGeorgeSandwrote_Lelia_。

ShefinisheditinJuly，anditappearedinAugust，1833。

Itisabsolutelyimpossibletogiveananalysisof_Lelia_。Therereallyisnosubject。Thepersonagesarenotbeingsoffleshandblood。

Theyareallegoriesstrollingaboutinthegardenofabstractions。

Leliaisawomanwhohashadhertrialsinlife。Shehaslovedandbeendisappointed，sothatshecannolongerloveatall。ShereducesthegentlepoetSteniotodespair。Heismuchyoungerthansheis，andhehasfaithinlifeandinlove。Hisingenuoussoulbeginstowitherandtoloseitsfreshness，thankstothescepticismofthebeautiful，disdainful，ironicalandworld—wearyLelia。ThisstrangepersonhasasisterPulcherie，acelebratedcourtesan，whoseinsolentsensualityisaset—offtotheotherone’smournfulcomplaints。

WehaveheretheoppositionofIntelligenceandoftheFlesh，ofMindandMatter。ThencomesMagnus，thepriest，whohaslosthisfaith，andforwhomLeliaisatemptation，andafterhimwehaveTrenmor，Lelia’sgreatfriend，Trenmor，thesublimeconvict。

Asayoungmanhehadbeenhandsome。Hehadlovedandbeenyoung。

Hehadknownwhatitwastobeonlytwentyyearsofage。

"Theonlythingwas，hehadknownthisattheageofsixteen"

（！！）Hehadthenbecomeagambler，andherefollowsanextraordinarypanegyriconthefatalpassionforgambling。Trenmorruinshimself，borrowswithoutpayingback，andfinallyswindles"anoldmillionairewhowashimselfadefrauderandadissipatedman"outofahundredfrancs。ApparentlythebadconductofthemanTrenmorrobs，excusestheswindling。Heiscondemnedtofiveyearsofhardlabour。

Heundergoeshispunishment，andistherebyregenerated。

"WhatifIweretotellyou，"writesGeorgeSand，"thatsuchashenowis，crushed，withatarnishedreputation，ruined，Iconsiderhimsuperiortoallofus，asregardsthemorallife。Ashehaddeservedpunishment，hewaswillingtobearit。Heboreit，livingforfiveyearsbravelyandpatientlyamonghisabjectcompanions。

Hehascomebacktousoutofthatabominablesewerholdinghisheadup，calm，purified，paleasyouseehim，buthandsomestill，likeacreaturesentbyGod。"

Weallknowhowdearconvictsaretotheheartsofromanticpeople。

Thereisnoneedformetoremindyouhowtheyhavecometousrecently，encircledwithhalosofsufferingandofpurity。WeallrememberDostoiewsky’s_CrimeandPunishment_andTolstoi’s_Resurrection_。

WhenthevirtueofexpiationandthereligionofhumansufferingcametousfromRussia，weshouldhavegreetedthemasoldacquaintances，ifcertainessentialworksinourownliterature，ofwhichthesebooksaretheissue，hadnotbeenunknowntous。

ThelastpartofthenovelisdevotedtoStenio。HurtbyLelia’sdisdain，whichhasthrownhimintothearmsofhersisterPulcherie，hegiveshimselfuptodebauch。WefindhimataveritableorgyinPulcherie’shouse。LateronheisinamonasteryatCamaldules，talkingtoTrenmorandMagnus。Insuchbookswemustneverbeastonished……ThereisalongspeechbyStenio，addressedtoDonJuan，whomheregretstohavetakenashismodel。Thepooryoungmanofcoursecommitssuicide。Hechoosesdrowningastheauthorevidentlyprefersthatmodeofsuicide。Leliaarrivesintimetokneeldownbythecorpseoftheyoungmanwhohasbeenhervictim。

Magnusthenappearsonthescene，exactlyattherightmoment，tostrangleLelia。PioushandsprepareLeliaandSteniofortheirburial。Theyareunitedandyetseparateduptotheirverydeath。

Thesummingupwehavegivenistheoriginalversionof_Lelia_。

In1836，GeorgeSandtouchedupthiswork，alteringmuchofitandspoiling，whatshealtered。Itisapitythathernewversion，whichislonger，heavierandmoreobscure，shouldhavetakentheplaceoftheformerone。Initsfirstform_Lelia_isaworkofrarebeauty，butwiththebeautyofapoemoranoratorio。

Itismadeofthestuffofwhichdreamsarecomposed。Itisaseriesofreveries，adaptedtothesoulof1830。Ateverydifferentepochthereisacertainframeofmind，andcertainideasarediffusedintheairwhichwefindalikeintheworksofthewritersofthattime，althoughtheydidnotborrowthemfromeachother。_Lelia_isasortofsummingupofthethemestheninvogueinthepersonalnovelandinlyricalpoetry。Thethemeofthatsufferingwhichisbeneficentandinspiringiscontainedinthefollowingwords：

"Comebacktome，Sorrow！Whyhaveyouleftme？Itisbygriefalonethatmanisgreat。"ThisisworthyofChateaubriand。

Thethemeofmelancholyisasfollows："Themoonappeared……

Whatisthemoon，andwhatisitsnocturnalmagictome？Onehourmoreorlessisnothingtome。"ThismightverywellbeLamartine。

WethenhavethemaledictionpronouncedinfaceofimpassibleNature：

"Yes，IdetestedthatradiantandmagnificentNature，foritwastherebeforemeinallitsstupidbeauty，silentandproud，forustogazeon，believingthatitwasenoughtomerelyshowitself。"

ThisremindsusofVignyinhis_Maisonduberger_。Thenwehavethereligionoflove："DoubtGod，doubtmen，doubtmeifyoulike，butdonotdoubtlove。"ThisisMusset。

Butthethemewhichpredominates，and，aswehavecomparedallthistomusic，wemightsaythe_leit—motiv_ofall，isthatofdesolation，ofuniversaldespair，ofthewoeoflife。Itisthesamelamentationwhich，eversinceWerther，wastobeheardthroughoutallliterature。

ItistheidenticalsufferingwhichRene，ObermannandLarahadbeenrepeatingtoalltheechoes。Theelementsofitwerethesame：

pridewhichpreventsusfromadaptingourselvestotheconditionsofuniversallife，anabuseofself—analysiswhichopensupourwoundsagainandmakesthembleed，thewildimaginationwhichpresentstooureyesthedeceptivemirageofPromisedLandsfromwhichweareeverexiles。Leliapersonifies，inherturn，the"_maldusiecle_。"Stenioreproachesherwithonlysinginggriefanddoubt。"Howmany，times，"hesays，"haveyouappearedtomeastypicaloftheindescribablesufferinginwhichmankindisplungedbythespiritofinquiry！Withyourbeautyandyoursadness，yourworld—wearinessandyourscepticism，doyounotpersonifytheexcessofgriefproducedbytheabuseofthought？"Hethenadds：

"Thereisagreatdealofprideinthisgrief，Lelia！"Itwasundoubtedlyamalady，forLeliahadnoreasontocomplainoflifeanymorethanherbrothersindespair。Itissimplythatthegeneralconditionsoflifewhichallpeoplehavetoacceptseempainfultothem。Whenwearewelltheplayofourmusclesisajoytous，butwhenweareillwefeeltheveryweightoftheatmosphere，andoureyesarehurtbythepleasantdaylight。

When_Lelia_appearedGeorgeSand’soldfriendswerestupefied。

"What，inHeaven’sname，isthis？"wroteJulesNeraud，the_Malgache。_"Wherehaveyoubeeninsearchofthis？

Whyhaveyouwrittensuchabook？Wherehasitsprungfrom，andwhatisitfor？……Thiswomanisafantasticalcreature。

Sheisnotatalllikeyou。Youarelivelyandcandanceajig；

youcanappreciatebutterfliesandyoudonotdespisepuns。

Yousewandcanmakejamverywell。"[18]

[18]_Histoiredemavie_。

Itcertainlywasnotherportrait。Shewashealthyandbelievedinlife，inthegoodnessofthingsandinthefutureofhumanity，justasVictorHugoandDumas_pere_，thoseotherforcesofNature，did，ataboutthesametime。Asoulforeigntoherownhadenteredintoher，anditwastheromanticsoul。Withthemagnificentpowerofreceptivitywhichshepossessed，GeorgeSandwelcomedallthewindswhichcametoherfromthefourquartersofromanticism。

Shesentthembackwithunheard—offulness，sonorousdepthandwealthoforchestration。Fromthattimeforthawoman’svoicecouldbeheard，addedtoallthemasculinevoiceswhichrailedagainstlife，andthewoman’svoicedominatedthemall！

InGeorgeSand’spsychologicalevolution，_Lelia_isjustthis：

thebeginningoftheinvasionofhersoulbyromanticism。Itwasaborrowedindividuality，undoubtedly，butitwasnotsomethingtobeputonandoffatwilllikeamask。Itadheredtotheskin。

ItwasallveryfineforGeorgeSandtosaytoSainte—Beuve："Donotconfusethemanhimselfwiththesuffering……Anddonotbelieveinallmysatanicalairs……ThisissimplyastylethatIhavetakenon，Iassureyou……"

Sainte—Beuvehadeveryreasontobealarmed，andtheconfessorwasquiterightinhissurmises。Thecrisisofromanticismhadcommenced。

ItwastotakeanacuteformandtoreachitsparoxysmduringtheVeniceescapade。Itisfromthispointofviewthatwewillstudythefamousepisode，whichhasalreadybeenstudiedbysomanyotherwriters。

Nosubject，perhaps，hasexcitedthecuriosityofreaderslikethisone，andalwayswithoutsatisfyingthatcuriosity。Alibrarycouldbeformedofthebooksdevotedtothissubject，writtenwithinthelasttenyears。MonsieurRocheblave，MonsieurMauriceClouard，Dr。Cabanes，MonsieurMarieton，theenthusiasticcollector，SpoelberchdeLovenjoulandMonsieurDecorihaveallgivenustheircontributionstothedebate。[19]Thankstothem，wehavethecompletecorrespondenceofGeorgeSandandMusset，thediaryofGeorgeSandandPagello’sdiary。

[19]Consult：Rocheblave，_LafinduneLegende；_MauriceClouard，_DocumentsineditssurA。deMusset；_Dr。Cabanes，_MussetetleDr。Pagello_；PaulMarieton，_Unehistoired’amour；_VicomteSpoelberchdeLovenjoul，_Lavraihistoired’ElleetLui；_Decori，_LettresdeGeorgeSandetMusset。_

WiththeaidofallthesedocumentsMonsieurCharlesMaurrashaswrittenabookentitled_LesAmantsdeVenise_。Itistheworkofapsychologistandofanartist。TheonlyfaultIhavetofindwithitisthattheauthorofitseemstoseecalculationandartificeeverywhere，andnottobelievesufficientlyinsincerity。

Wemustnotforget，either，thatasearlyastheyear1893，allthatisessentialhadbeentoldusbythatshrewdwriterandadmirablewoman，ArvedeBarine。ThechapterwhichshedevotestotheVeniceepisode，inherbiographyofAlfreddeMusset，ismoreclearandsimple，andatthesametimedeeperthananythingthathadyetbeenwritten。

Itisasubjectthathasbeengivenuptothecuriosityofpeopleandtotheirdisputes。Thestrangepartisthezealwhichatonceanimateseveryonewhotakespartinthiscontroversy。Theveryatmosphereseemstobeimpregnatedwithstrife，andthoseinterestedbecome，atonce，thepartisansofGeorgeSandorthepartisansofMusset。

Thetwopartiesonlyagreeononepoint，andthatis，tothrowalltheblameontheclientfavouredbytheiradversary。ImustconfessthatIcannottakeapassionateinterestinadiscussion，thesubjectofwhichwecannotproperlyjudge。Accordingto_Mussetistes_，itwasthankstoGeorgeSandthattheyoungpoetwasreducedtothedespairwhichdrovehimtodebauchery。Ontheotherhand，ifwearetobelievethe_Sandistes_，GeorgeSand’soneideaininterestingherselfinMussetwastorescuehimfromdebaucheryandconverthimtoabetterlife。Ilistentoallsuchpiousinterpretations，butIpreferothersformyself。Ipreferseeingthephysiognomyofeachofthetwoloversstandingout，asitdoes，inpowerfulrelief。

Itisthecustom，too，topitythesetwounfortunates，whosufferedsomuch。Attheriskofbeingtakenforaveryheartlessman，ImustownthatIdonotpitythemmuch。Thetwoloverswishedforthissuffering，theywantedtoexperiencetheincomparablesensationsofit，andtheygotenjoymentandprofitfromthis。

Theyknewthattheywereworkingforposterity。"Posteritywillrepeatournameslikethoseoftheimmortalloverswhosetwonamesareonlyoneatpresent，likeRomeoandJuliette，likeHeloiseandAbelard。Peoplewillneverspeakofoneofuswithoutspeakingoftheother。"

JuliettediedattheageoffifteenandHeloiseenteredaconvent。

TheVeniceloversdidnothavetopayfortheircelebrityasdearlyasthat。Theywantedtogiveanexample，tolightatorchontheroadofhumanity。"Peopleshallknowmystory，"writesGeorgeSand。

"Iwillwriteit……ThosewhofollowalongthepathItrodwillseewhereitleads。"_Etnuncerudimini_。Letusseeforourselves，andlearn。

Their_liaison_datesfromAugust，1833。

GeorgeSandwastwenty—nineyearsofage。Itwasthetimeofhergreatestcharm。Wemusttrytoimaginetheenchantressasshethenwas。Shewasnottallandshewasdelightfullyslender，withanextraordinary—lookingfaceofdark，warmcolouring。

Herthickhairwasverydark，andhereyes，herlargeeyes，hauntedMussetforyearsafter。

"_Ote—moi，memoireimportune_，_Ote—moicesyeuxquejevoistoujours！_"

hewrites。

Andthiswoman，whocouldhavebeenlovedpassionately，merelyforhercharmasawoman，wasacelebrity！Shewasawomanofgenius！

AlfreddeMussetwastwenty—threeyearsold。Hewaselegant，witty，aflirt，andwhenhelikedhecouldbeirresistible。Hehadwonhisreputationbythatexplosionofgaietyandimagination，_LesContesd’Espagneeld’Italle_。Hehadwrittensomefinepoetry，dreamy，disturbinganddaring。Hehadalsogiven_LesCapricesdeMarianne_，inwhichhefigurestwiceoverhimself，forhewasbothOctavethesceptic，thedisillusionedman，andCoelio，theaffectionate，candidCoelio。HeimaginedhimselfRolla。Itwashe，andhealone，whoshouldhavebeenstyledthesublimeboy。

Andsoheretheybothare。WemightcallthemLeliaandStenio，but_Lelia_waswrittenbeforetheVeniceadventure。Shewasnotthereflectionofit，butratherthepresentiment。Thisisworthyofnotice，butnotatallsurprising。Literaturesometimesimitatesreality，buthowmuchmoreoftenrealityismodelledonliterature！

ItwasasthoughGeorgeSandhadforeseenherdestiny，forshehadfearedtomeetMusset。Onthe11thofMarch，shewritesasfollowstoSainte—Beuve："Onsecondthoughts，IdonotwantyoutobringAlfreddeMusset。Heisagreatdandy。Weshouldnotsuiteachother，andIwasreallymorecurioustoseehimthaninterestedinhim。"

Alittlelateron，though，atadinneratthe_Freresprovencaux_，towhichBulozinvitedhiscollaborators，GeorgeSandfoundherselfnextAlfreddeMusset。Sheinvitedhimtocallonher，andwhen_Lelia_

waspublishedshesenthimacopy，withthefollowingdedicationwritteninthefirstvolume：_AMonsieurmongamind’Allred_；

andinthesecondvolume：_AMonsieurlevicomteAllreddeMusset，hommagerespectueuxdesondevoueserviteurGeorgeSand_。

Mussetrepliedbygivinghisopinionofthenewbook。Amongtheletterswhichfollowed，thereisonethatbeginswiththesewords：

"MydearGeorge，Ihavesomethingsillyandridiculoustotellyou。

Iamfoolishlywriting，insteadoftellingyou，asIoughttohavedone，afterourwalk。Iamheartbrokento—nightthatI

didnottellyou。Youwilllaughatme，andyouwilltakemeforamanwhosimplytalksnonsense。Youwillshowmethedoor，andfancythatIamnotspeakingthetruth……Iaminlovewithyou……"

Shedidnotlaughathim，though，andshedidnotshowhimthedoor。

Thingsdidnotdragonlong，evidently，asshewritestoherconfessor，Sainte—Beuve，onthe25thofAugust："Ihavefalleninlove，andveryseriouslythistime，withAlfreddeMusset。"Howlongwasthistolast？Shehadnoidea，butforthetimebeingshedeclaredthatshewasabsolutelyhappy。

"Ihavefoundacandour，aloyaltyandanaffectionwhichdelightme。

Itistheloveofayoungmanandthefriendshipofacomrade。"

TherewasahoneymooninthelittleflatlookingontheQuayMalaquals。

Theirfriendssharedthejoyofthehappycouple，asweseebyMusset’sfrolicsomelines_Georgeestdanssachambrette，Entredeuxpotsdefleurs，Fumiantsacigarette，Lesyeuxbaignesdepleurs。

BulozassisparterreLuifaitdedouxserments，SolangeparderriereGribouillesesromans。_

_Plantecommmeuneborne_，_Boucoirantoutcrott_，_Contempled’unoeilmorne_

_Mussettoutdebraille，etc。_

Itisevidentthat，aspoetry，thisdoesnotequalthe_Nuits。_

IntheautumntheywentforahoneymoontriptoFontainebleau。

Itwastherethatthestrangescenetookplacewhichismentionedin_ElleetLui_。Oneeveningwhentheywereintheforest，Mussethadanextraordinaryhallucination，whichhehashimselfdescribed：

_Danstinbois，surunebruyere，Aupiedd’unarbrevints’asseoirUnjeunehommevetudenoirQuimeressemnblailcommeunfrere。

leluidemandaismonchemin，Iltenaitunluthd’uemain，Del’autreunbouquetd’eglantine。

Ilmefittinsalutd’amiEt，sedetournantademu，Memontradudoigtlacolline。_

Hereallysawthis"double，"dressedinblack，whichwastovisithimagainlateron。His_Nuitdedecembre_waswrittenfromit。

TheynowwantedtoseeItalytogether。MussethadalreadywrittenonVenice；henowwantedtogothere。MadamedeMussetobjectedtothis，butGeorgeSandpromisedsosincerelythatshewouldbeamothertotheyoungmanthatfinallyhisownmothergaveherconsent。

OntheeveningofDecember12，1833，PauldeMussetaccompaniedthetwotravellerstothemail—coach。OntheboatfromLyonstoAvignontheymetwithabig，intel—

ligent—lookingman。ThiswasBeyle—Stendhal，whowasthenConsulatCivita—Vecchia。Hewasonhiswaytohispost。Theyenjoyedhislivelyconversation，althoughhemadefunoftheirillusionsaboutItalyandtheItaliancharacter。Hemadefun，though，ofeverythingandofeveryone，andtheyfeltthathewasonlybeingwittyandtryingtoappearunkind。Atdinnerhedranktoomuch，andfinishedbydancingroundthetableinhisgreatfur—

linedboots。Lateronhegavethemsomespecimensofhisobsceneconversation，sothattheyweregladtocontinuetheirjourneywithouthim。

Onthe28ththetravellersreachedFlorence。Theaspectofthiscityandhisresearchesinthe_Chroniquesflorentines_suppliedthepoetwiththesubjectfor_Lorenzaccio_。ItappearsthatGeorgeSandandMusseteachtreatedthissubject，andthata_Lorenzaccio_byGeorgeSandexists。Ihavenotreadit，butI

preferMusset’sversion。TheyreachedVeniceonJanuary19，1834，andputupattheHotelDanieli。Bythistimetheywereatloggerheads。

Thecauseoftheirquarrelanddisagreementisnotreallyknown，andtheactivityofretrospectivejournalistshasnotsucceededinfindingthisout。GeorgeSand’slettersonlygivedetailsabouttheirfinalquarrel。Onarriving，GeorgeSandwasill，andthisexasperatedMusset。Hewasannoyed，anddeclaredthatawomanoutofsortswasverytrying。Therearegoodreasonsforbelievingthathehadfoundherverytryingforsometime。

Hewasveryelegantandshealearned"whiteblackbird。"

Hewascapriciousandsheaplacid，steady_bourgeois_woman，veryhard—workingandveryregularinthemidstofherirregularity。

Heusedtocallher"personifiedboredom，thedreamer，thesillywoman，thenun，"whenhedidnotusetermswhichwecannottranscribe。

Theclimaxwaswhenhesaidtoher："Iwasmistaken，George，andIbegyourpardon，forIdonotloveyou。"

Woundedandoffended，shereplied："Wedonotloveeachotheranylonger，andweneverreallylovedeachother。"

Theythereforetookbacktheirindependence。Thisisapointtonote，asGeorgeSandconsideredthisfactofthegreatestimportance，andsheconstantlyreferstoit。Shewasfromhenceforthfree，asregardedhercompanion。

IllnesskeptthemnowatVenice。GeorgeSand’sillnessfirstandthenMusset’salarmingmalady。Hehadhighfever，accompaniedbychestaffectionandattacksofdeliriumwhichlastedsixconsecutivehours，duringwhichittookfourmentoholdhim。

GeorgeSandwasanadmirablenurse。Thismustcertainlybeacknowledged。Shesatupwithhimatnightandshenursedhimbyday，and，astonishingwomanthatshewas，shewasalsoabletoworkandtoearnenoughtopaytheircommonexpenses。

Thisiswellknown，butIamabletogiveanotherproofofit，intheletterswhichGeorgeSandwrotefromVenicetoBuloz。

TheselettershavebeencommunicatedtomebyMadamePailleron，_nee_Buloz，andbyMadameLandouzy，_veuve_Buloz，whomIthankforthepublicandformyself。Thefollowingareafewoftheessentialpassages：

"February4。

_Readthiswhenyouarealone。_

MYDEARBULOZ，——Yourreproachesreachmeatamiserablemoment。Ifyouhavereceivedmyletter，youalreadyknowthatIdonotdeservethem。

AfortnightagoIwaswellagainandworking。Alfredwasworkingtoo，althoughhewasnotverywellandhadfitsoffeverishness。

Aboutfivedaysagowewerebothtakenill，almostatthesametime。

Ihadanattackofdysentery，whichcausedmehorriblesuffering。

Ihavenotyetrecoveredfromit，butIamstrongenough，anyhow，tonursehim。Hewasseizedwithanervousandinflammatoryfever，whichhasmadesuchrapidprogressthatthedoctortellsmehedoesnotknowwhattothinkaboutit。Wemustwaitforthethirteenthorfourteenthdaybeforeknowingwhetherhislifeisindanger。

Andwhatwillthisthirteenthorfourteenthdaybe？Perhapshislastone？Iamindespair，overwhelmedwithfatigue，sufferinghorribly，andawaitingwhoknowswhatfuture？HowcanIgivemyselfuptoliteratureortoanythingintheworldatsuchatime？Ionlyknowthatourentirefortune，atpresent，consistsofsixtyfrancs，thatweshallhavetospendanenormousamountatthechemist’s，forthenurseanddoctor，andthatweareataveryexpensivehotel。

Wewerejustabouttoleaveitandgotoaprivatehouse。

Alfredcannotbemovednow，andevenifeverythingshouldgowell，heprobablycannotbemovedforamonth。Weshallhavetopayoneterm’srentfornothing，andweshallreturntoFrance，pleaseGod。

Ifmyill—luckcontinues，andifAlfredshoulddie，IcanassureyouthatIdonotcarewhathappensaftertome。IfGodallowsAlfredtorecover，IdonotknowhowweshallpaytheexpensesofhisillnessandofhisreturntoFrance。Thethousandfrancsthatyouaretosendmewillnotsuffice，andIdonotknowwhatweshalldo。

Atanyrate，donotdelaysendingthat，as，bythetimeitarrives，itwillbemorethannecessary。Iamsorryabouttheannoyanceyouarehavingwiththedelayforpublishing，butyoucannowjudgewhetheritismyfault。IfonlyAlfredhadafewquietdays，Icouldsoonfinishmywork。Butheisinafrightfulstateofdeliriumandrestlessness。Icannotleavehimaninstant。

Ihavebeenninehourswritingthisletter。Adieu，myfriend，andpityme。

"GEORGE。

"Aboveeverything，donottellanyone，notanyoneintheworld，thatAlfredisill。Ifhismotherheard（anditonlyneedstwopersonsfortellingasecrettoallParis）shewouldgomad。

Ifshehastobetold，letwhowillundertaketotellher，butifinafortnightAlfredisoutofdanger，itisuselessforhertogrievenow。Adieu。"

"February13，1834。

"Myfriend，Alfredissaved。Therehasbeennofreshattack，andwehavenearlyreachedthefourteenthdaywithouttheimprovementhavingaltered。Afterthebrainaffectioninflammationofthelungsdeclareditself，andthisratheralarmedusfortwodays……Heisextremelyweakatpresent，andhewandersoccasionally。Hehastobenursednightandday。

Donotimagine，therefore，thatIamonlymakingpretextsforthedelayinmywork。Ihavenotundressedforeightnights。Isleeponasofa，andhavetogetupatanyminute。Inspiteofthis，eversinceIhavebeenrelievedinmymindaboutthedanger，Ihavebeenabletowriteafewpagesinthemorningswhileheisresting。YoumaybesurethtIshouldliketobeabletotakeadvantageofthistimetorestmyself。Beassured，myfriend，thatIamnotshortofcourage，noryetofthewilltowork。

YouarenotmoreanxiousthanIamthatIshouldcarryoutmyengagements。Youknowthatadebtmakesmesmartlikeawound。

Butyouarefriendenoughtomakeallowancesformysituationandnottoleavemeindifficulties。Iamspendingverywretcheddayshereatthisbedside，fortheslightestsound，theslightestmovementcausesmeconstantterror。InthisdispositionofmindIshallnotwriteanylightworks。Theywillbeheavy，onthecontrary，likemyfatigueandmysadness。

"Donotleavemewithoutmoney，Ibeseechyou，orIdonotknowwhatwillhappentome。Ispendabouttwentyfrancsadayinmedicineofallsorts。Wedonotknowhowtokeephimalive……"

TheselettersgivethelietosomeofthegossipthathasbeenspreadabroadwithregardtotheepisodeoftheHotelDanieli。

AndItoo，thankstotheseletters，shallhaveputanendtoalegend！

InthesecondvolumeofWladimirKarenine’sworkonGeorgeSand，onpage61，wehavethefollowingwords——

"MonsieurPlauchuttellsusthat，accordingtoBuloz，MussethadbeenenticedintoagamblinghellduringhisstayinVenice，andhadlostaboutfourhundredpoundsthere。Theimprudentyoungmancouldnotpaythisdebtofhonour，andheneverwouldhavebeenabletodoso。Hehadtochoosebetweensuicideordishonour。

GeorgeSanddidnothesitateamoment。Shewroteatoncetothemanagerofthe_Revue_，askinghimtoadvancethemoney。"

Andthisdebtwasonhershouldersforalongtime。

Thefactsofthecaseareasfollows，accordingtoaletterfromGeorgeSandtoBuloz："Ibeseechyou，asafavour，topayAlfred’sdebtandtowritetohimthatitisallsettled。Youcannotimaginetheimpatienceandthedisturbancethatthislittlemattercausehim。

Hespeakstomeofiteveryminute，andbegsmeeverydaytowritetoyouaboutit。Heowesthesethreehundredandsixtyfrancs（L148_s_。）toayoungmanheknowsverylittleandwhomighttalkofittopeople……Youhavealreadyadvancedmuchlargersumstohim。Hehasalwayspaidyouback，andyouarenotafraidthatthiswouldmakeyoubankrupt。If，throughhisillness，heshouldnotbeabletoworkforalongtime，myworkcouldbeusedforthat，sobeatease……Dothis，Ibeseechyou，andwritehimashortlettertoeasehismindatonce。Iwillthenreadittohim，andthiswillpacifyoneofthetormentsofhispoorhead。Oh，myfriend，ifyouonlyknewwhatthisdeliriumislike！Whatsublimeandawfulthingshehassaid，andthenwhatconvulsionsandshouts！

IdonotknowhowhehashadstrengthenoughtopullthroughandhowitisthatIhavenotgonemadmyself。Adieu，adieu，myfriend。"

Therereallywasagamblingdebt，then，butwedonotknowexactlywhereitwascontracted。Itamountedtothreehundredandsixtyfrancs，whichisverydifferentfromthetenthousandfrancsandthethreatofsuicide。

Andnowwecometothepurefolly！Mussethadbeenattendedbyayoungdoctor，PietroPagello。Hewasastraightforwardsortofyoungman，ofratherslowintelligence，withoutmuchconversation，notspeakingFrench，butveryhandsome。GeorgeSandfellinlovewithhim。Onenight，afterhavingscribbledaletterofthreepages，sheputitintoanenvelopewithoutanyaddressandgaveittoPagello。

Heaskedhertowhomhewastogivetheletter。GeorgeSandtooktheenvelopebackandwroteonit："TostupidPagello。"

Wehavethisdeclaration，andamongotherthingsintheletterarethefollowinglines："Youwillnotdeceiveme，anyhow。Youwillnotmakeanyidlepromisesandfalsevows……Ishallnot，perhaps，findinyouwhatIhavesoughtforinothers，but，atanyrate，Icanalwaysbelievethatyoupossessit……Ishallbeabletointerpretyourmeditationsandmakeyoursilencespeakeloquently……"ThisshowsusclearlythekindofcharmGeorgeSandfoundinPagello。Shelovedhimbecausehewasstupid。

Thenextquestionsare，whendidtheybecomelovers，andhowdidMussetdiscovertheirintimacy？Itisquitecertainthathesuspectedit，andthathemadePagelloconfesshisloveforGeorgeSand。[20]A

mostextraordinaryscenethentookplacebetweenthethreeofthem，accordingtoGeorgeSand’sownaccount。"Adieu，then，"shewrotetoMusset，lateron，"adieutothefinepoemofoursacredfriendshipandofthatidealbondformedbetweenthethreeofus，whenyoudraggedfromhimtheconfessionofhisloveformeandwhenhevowedtoyouthathewouldmakemehappy。Oh，thatnightofenthusiasm，when，inspiteofus，youjoinedourhands，saying：

`Youloveeachotherandyetyouloveme，foryouhavesavedme，bodyandsoul。"Thus，then，MussethadsolemnlyabjuredhisloveforGeorgeSand，hehadengagedhismistressofthenightbeforetoanewlover，andwasfromhenceforthtobetheirbestfriend。

Suchwastheidealbond，suchthesacredfriendship！Thismaybeconsideredtheromanticescapade。

[20]OnoneofGeorgeSand’sunpublishedletterstoBulozthefollowinglinesarewritteninthehandwritingofBuloz：

"Inthemorningongettinguphediscovered，inanadjoiningroom，atea—tablestillset，butwithonlyonecup。

"`Didyouhaveteayesterdayevening？’

"`Yes，’answeredGeorgeSand，`Ihadteawiththedoctor。’

"`Ah，howisitthatthereisonlyonecup？’

"`Theotherhasbeentakenaway。’

"`No，nothinghasbeentakenaway。Youdrankoutofthesamecup。’

"`Evenifthatwereso，youhavenolongertherighttotroubleaboutsuchthings。’

"`Ihavetheright，asIamstillsupposedtobeyourlover。

Yououghtatleasttoshowmerespect，and，asIamleavinginthreedays，youmightwaituntilIhavegonetodoasyoulike。’

"ThenightfollowingthissceneMussetdiscoveredGeorgeSand，crouchingonherbed，writingaletter。

"`Whatareyoudoing？’heasked。

"`Iamreading，’shereplied，andsheblewoutthecandle。

"`Ifyouarereading，whydoyouputthecandleout？’

"`Itwentoutitself：lightitagain。’

"AlfreddeMussetlititagain。

"`Ah，soyouwerereading，andyouhavenobook。Infamouswoman，youmightaswellsaythatyouarewritingtoyourlover。’

GeorgeSandhadrecoursetoherusualthreatofleavingthehouse。

AlfreddeMussetreadherup：`Youarethinkingofahorribleplan。

Youwanttohurryofftoyourdoctor，pretendthatIammadandthatyourlifeisindanger。Youwillnotleavethisroom。

Iwillkeepyoufromanythingsobase。Ifyoudogo，Iwillputsuchanepitaphonyourgravethatthepeoplewhoreaditwillturnpale，’

saidAlfredwithterribleenergy。

"GeorgeSandwastremblingandcrying。

"`Inolongerloveyou，’AlfredsaidscoffinglytoGeorgeSand。

"`Itistherightmomenttotakeyourpoisonortogoanddrownyourself。’

"ConfessiontoAlfredofhersecretaboutthedoctor。Reconciliation。

Alfred’sdeparture。GeorgeSand’saffectionateandenthusiasticletters。"

Sucharethefamousepisodesofthe_tea—cup_and_theletter_

asBulozheardthemtoldatthetime。{Theendoffootnote[20]}

MussetreturnedinMarch，1834，leavingGeorgeSandwithPagelloinVenice。Thesentimentalexaggerationcontinued，asweseefromthelettersexchangedbetweenMussetandGeorgeSand。

WhencrossingtheSimplontheimmutablegrandeuroftheAlpsstruckAlussetwithadmiration，andhethoughtofhistwo"greatfriends。"

Hisheadwasevidentlyturnedbytheheightsfromwhichhelookedatthings。GeorgeSandwrotetohim："IamnotgivingyouanymessagefromPagello，exceptthatheisalmostassadasI

amatyourabsence。""Heisafinefellow，"answeredMusset。

"TellhimhowmuchIlikehim，andthatmyeyesfillwithtearswhenIthinkofhim。"Lateronhewrites："WhenIsawPagello，Irecognizedinhimthebettersideofmyownnature，butpureandfreefromtheirreparablestainswhichhaveruinedmine。"

"Alwaystreatmelikethat，"writesMussetagain。"Itmakesmefeelproud。Mydearfriend，thewomanwhotalksofhernewloverinthiswaytotheoneshehasgivenup，butwhostilllovesher，giveshimaproofofthegreatestesteemthatamancanreceivefromawoman……"Thatromanticismwhichmadeadramaofthesituationin_L’EcoledesFemmes_，andanotheroneoutofthatinthe_Precieusesridicules_，excelsintakingtragicallysituationsthatbelongtocomedyandinturningthemintothesublime。

MeanwhileGeorgeSandhadsettleddowninVenicewithPagello——

andwithallthefamily，allthePagellotribe，withthebrother，thesister，tosaynothingofthevariousrivalswhocameandmadescenes。Itwasthevulgar，ordinaryplatitudeofanItalianintimacyofthiskind。Inspiteofeverything，shecontinuedcongratulatingherselfonherchoice。

"Ihavemylove，mystayherewithme。Heneversuffers，forheisneverweakorsuspicious……Heiscalmandgood……

Helovesmeandisatpeace；heishappywithoutmyhavingtosuffer，withoutmyhavingtomakeeffortsforhishappiness……Asforme，Imustsufferforsomeone。Itisjustthissufferingwhichnurturesmymaternalsolicitude，etc……"ShefinallybeginstowearyofherdearPagello’sstupidity。ItoccurredtohertotakehimwithhertoParis，andthatwastheclimax。Therearesomethingswhichcannotbetransplantedfromonecountrytoanother。WhentheyhadoncesetfootinParis，theabsurdityoftheirsituationappearedtothem。

"FromthemomentthatPagellolandedinFrance，"saysGeorgeSand，"hecouldnotunderstandanything。"Theonethingthathewascompelledtounderstandwasthathewasnolongerwanted。

Hewassimplypushedout。GeorgeSandhadaremarkablegiftforbringingoutthecharacteristicsofthepersonswithwhomshehadanyintercourse。ThisPagello，thankstohisadventurewithher，hasbecomeintheeyesoftheworldapersonageascomicasoneofMoliere’scharacters。

MussetandGeorgeSandstillcaredforeachother。Hebeseechedhertoreturntohim。"Iamgood—for—nothing，"hesays，"forIamsimplysteepedinmyloveforyou。IdonotknowwhetherIamalive，whetherIeat，drink，orbreathe，butIknowIaminlove。"

GeorgeSandwasafraidtoreturntohim，andSainte—Beuveforbadeher。

Loveprovedstrongerthanallotherarguments，however，andsheyielded。

Assoonasshewaswithhimoncemore，theirtorturecommencedagain，withallthecustomarycomplaints，reproachesandrecriminations。

"Iwasquitesurethatallthesereproacheswouldbeginagainimmediatelyafterthehappinesswehaddreamedofandpromisedeachother。Oh，God，tothinkthatwehavealreadyarrivedatthis！"

shewrites。

Whattorturedthemwasthatthepast，whichtheyhadbelievedtobe"abeautifulpoem，"nowseemedtothemahideousnightmare。Allthis，weread，wasagamethattheywereplaying。Acruelsortofgame，ofwhichMussetgrewmoreandmoreweary，butwhichtoGeorgeSandgraduallybecameanecessity。Weseethis，asfromhenceforthitwasshewhoimploredMusset。Inherdiary，datedDecember24，1834，weread：

"AndwhatifIrushedtohimwhenmyloveistoostrongforme。

WhatifIwentandbrokethebell—pullwithringing，untilheopenedhisdoortome。OrifIlaydownacrossthethresholduntilhecameout！"Shecutoffhermagnificenthairandsentittohim。

Suchwasthewayinwhichthisproudwomanhumbledherself。

Shewasapreytolove，whichseemedtoheraholycomplaint。

ItwasacaseofVenusentirelydevotedtoherprey。Thequestionis，wasthisreallylove？"Inolongerloveyou，"shewrites，"butI

stilladoreyou。Idonotwantyouanymore，butIcannotdowithoutyou。"TheyhadthecouragetogiveeachotherupfinallyinMarch，1835。

Itnowremainsforustoexplainthesingularityofthisadventure，which，asamatteroffact，wasbeyondalllogic，eventhelogicofpassion。Itis，however，readilyunderstood，ifwetreatitasacaseofacuteromanticism，thefinestcaseofromanticism，thathasbeenactuallylived，whichthehistoryoflettersoffersus。

Theromanticismconsistsfirstinexposingone’slifetothepublic，inpublishingone’smostsecretjoysandsorrows。FromtheverybeginningGeorgeSandandMussettookthewholecircleoftheirfriendsintotheirconfidence。Thesefriendswereliterarypeople。

GeorgeSandspeciallyinformsSainte—Beuvethatshewisheshersentimentallifefromthenceforthtobeknown。Theywerequiteawarethattheywereonshow，asitwere，subjectsofanexperimentthatwouldbediscussedby"thegallery。"

Romanticismconsistsnextinthewriterputtinghislifeintohisbooks，makingliteratureoutofhisemotions。Theideaofputtingtheiradventureintoastoryoccurredtothetwoloversbeforetheadventurehadcometoanend。ItwasatVenicethatGeorgeSandwroteherfirst_Lettresd’unvoyageur_，addressedtothepoet——andtothesubscribersofthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_。Musset，toimproveonthisidea，decidestowriteanovelfromtheepisodewhichwasstillunfinished。

"Iwillnotdie，"hesays，"untilIhavewrittenmybookonyouandonmyself，moreparticularlyonyou。No，mybeautiful，holyfiancee，youshallnotreturntothiscoldearthbeforeitknowsthewomanwhohaswalkedonit。No，Iswearthisbymyyouthandgenius。"

Musset’scontributionstothisliteraturewere_Confessiond’unenfantdusiecle_，_Histoired’unmerleblanc_，_ElleetLui_，andallthatfollowed。

Inaninverseorder，romanticismconsistsinputtingliteratureintoourlife，intakingthelatestliteraryfashionforourruleofaction。Thisisnotonlyaproofofwantoftaste；

itisamostdangerousmistake。Theromanticists，whohadsomanywrongideas，hadnonemoreerroneousthantheirideaoflove，andinthecorrespondencebetweenGeorgeSandandMussetweseetheparadoxinallitsbeauty。Itconsistsinsayingthatloveleadstovirtueandthatitleadstherethroughchange。Whethertheideacameoriginallyfrom_her_orfrom_him_，thiswastheircommonfaith。

"Youhavesaiditahundredtimesover，"writesGeorgeSand，"anditisallinvainthatyouretract；nothingwillnoweffacethatsentence：`Loveistheonlythingintheworldthatcounts。’

Itmaybethatitisadivinefacultywhichweloseandthenfindagain，thatwemustcultivate，orthatwehavetobuywithcruelsuffering，withpainfulexperience。Thesufferingyouhaveenduredthroughlovingmewasperhapsdestined，inorderthatyoumightloveanotherwomanmoreeasily。PerhapsthenextwomanmayloveyoulessthanIdo，andyetshemaybemorehappyandmorebeloved。

Therearesuchmysteriesinthesethings，andGodurgesusalongnewanduntroddenpaths。Givein；donotattempttoresist。

HedoesnotdesertHisprivilegedones。Hetakesthembythehandandplacestheminthemidstofthesandbanks，wheretheyaretolearntolive，inorderthattheymaysitdownatthebanquetatwhichtheyaretorest……"Lateronshewritesasfollows："Doyouimaginethatoneloveaffair，oreventwo，cansufficeforexhaustingortakingthefreshnessfromastrongsoul？Ibelievedthis，too，foralongtime，butIknownowthatitisquitethecontrary。

Loveisafirethatendeavourstoriseandtopurifyitself。

Perhapsthemorewehavefailedinourendeavourstofindit，themoreaptwebecometodiscoverit，andthemorewehavebeenobligedtochange，themoreconservativeweshallbecome。Whoknows？

Itisperhapstheterrible，magnificentandcourageousworkofawholelifetime。Itisacrownofthornswhichwillblossomandbecoveredwithroseswhenourhairbeginstoturnwhite。

Thiswaspurefrenzy，andyetthereweretwobeingsreadytodrinkinallthispathos，twolivingbeingstoliveoutthismonstrouschimera。Sucharetheravagesthatacertainconceptionofliteraturemaymake。Bytheexamplewehaveofthesetwoillustriousvictims，wemayimaginethattherewereothers，andverymanyothers，obscureandunknownindividuals，buthumanbeingsallthesame，whowereequallyduped。Thereareunwholesomefashionsinliterature，which，translatedintolife，meanruin。

TheVeniceadventureshowsupthetruthofthisinbrightdaylight。

Thisisitsinterestanditslesson。

V

THEFRIENDOFMICHEL（DEBOURGES）

LISZTANDCOMTESSED’AGOULT。_MAUPRAT_

WehavegiventheessentialfeaturesoftheVeniceadventure。

Theloveaffair，intowhichGeorgeSandandMussethadputsomuchliterature，wastoserveliterature。Writersoftheromanticschoolaregiventomakinglittlesongswiththeirgreatsorrows。

WhenthecorrespondencebetweenGeorgeSandandMussetappeared，everyonewassurprisedtofindpassagesthatwerealreadywellknown。

Suchpassageshadalreadyappearedintheprintedworkofthepoetoroftheauthoress。Anidea，aword，oranillustrationusedbytheonewasnow，perhaps，tobefoundintheworkoftheotherone。

"ItisIwhohavelived，"writesGeorgeSand，"andnotanunrealbeingcreatedbymyprideandmy_ennui_。"WeallknowtheusetowhichMussetputthisphrase。HewrotethefamouscoupletofPerdicanwithit："Allmenareuntruthful，inconstant，false，chatterers，hypocritical，proud，cowardly，contemptibleandsensual；

allwomenareperfidious，artful，vain，inquisitiveanddepraved……Thereis，though，inthisworldonethingwhichisholyandsublime。Itistheunionofthesetwobeings，imperfectandfrightfulastheyare。Weareoftendeceivedinourlove；

weareoftenwoundedandoftenunhappy，butstillwelove，andwhenweareonthebrinkofthetombweshallturnround，lookback，andsaytoourselves：`Ihaveoftensuffered，Ihavesometimesbeendeceived，butIhaveloved。ItisIwhohavelived，andnotanunrealbeingcreatedbymyprideand_ennui_。’"

Endlessinstancesofthiskindcouldbegiven。TheyaresimplythesignofthereciprocalinfluenceexercisedovereachotherbyGeorgeSandandMusset，aninfluencetobetracedthroughalltheirwork。

Thisinfluencewasofadifferentkindandofunequaldegree。ItwasGeorgeSandwhofirstmadeliteratureoftheircommonrecollections。

Someoftheserecollectionswereveryrecentonesandwereimpregnatedwithtears。ThetwolovershadonlyjustseparatedwhenGeorgeSandmadetheexcursiondescribedinthefirst_Lettred’unvoyageur_。

ShegoesalongtheBrenta。ItisthemonthofMay，andthemeadowsareinflower。InthehorizonsheseesthesnowypeaksoftheTyroleseAlpsstandingout。Theremembranceofthelonghoursspentattheinvalid’sbedsidecomesbacktoher，withalltheanguishofthesacredpassioninwhichshethinkssheseesGod’sanger。

ShethenpaysavisittotheOlierogrottoes，andoncemoreherwoundedlovemakesherheartache。ShereturnsthroughPossagno，whosebeautifulwomenservedasmodelsforCanova。ShethengoesbacktoVenice，andthedoctorgivesheraletterfromthemanshehasgivenup，themanshehassentaway。Thesepoeticaldescriptions，alternatingwithlyricaleffusions，thiskindofdialoguewithtwovoices，oneofwhichisthatofnatureandtheotherthatoftheheart，remindusofoneofMusset’s_Nuits_。

Thesecondofthese_Lettresd’unvoyageur_isentirelydescriptive。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读