Part 6 (1/2)

A others, I sometimes visited a Savoyard abbe, M Gaime, as tutor to the Count of Melarede's children He was young, and not much known, but possessed an excellent cultivated understanding, with great probity, and was, altogether, one of the bestsufficient interest to procure es far h life, lessons of pure ment

In the successive order of h or too low Achilles or Thersites; sometimes a hero, at others a villain M Gaime took pains to iving eous ter, that he foresaw obstacles which would preventto him, they were to serve less as steps by which I should ht enable ave me a true picture of human life, of which, hitherto, I had for h destined to experience adverse fortune, ement, arrive at happiness; that there was no true felicity without virtue, which was practicable in every situation He greatly di that those in a superior situation are neither better nor happier than those they command One of his maxims has frequently returned to my memory: it was, that if we could truly read the hearts of others we should feel more inclination to descend than rise: this reflection, the truth of which is striking without extravagance, I have found of great utility, in the various exigences of my life, as it tended to ave h-flown i me sensible that the enthusiasm of subli to rise too high we are in danger of falling; and that a virtuous and uniforree of fortitude as actions which are called heroic, and would at the same time procure more honor and happiness That it was infinitelyesteem of those about us, than at intervals to attract ad the various duties between man and man, it was necessary to ascend to principles; the step I had recently taken, and of which my present situation was the consequence, naturally led us to speak of religion It will easily be conceived that the honest M Gaiinal of the Savoyard Vicar; prudence only obliging him to deliver his sentiments, on certain points, with more caution and reserve, and explain himself with less freedom; but his senti his advice to return to iven it to the pubic Dwelling no longer, therefore, on conversations which everyone may see the substance of, I shall only add, that these wise instructions (though they did not produce an iion in my heart which were never rooted out, and only required the fostering cares of friendshi+p to bring to h my conversation was not very sincere, I was affected by his discourses, and far fro weary, was pleased with them on account of their clearness and simplicity, but above all because his heart seemed interested in what he said My disposition is naturally tender, I have ever been less attached to people for the good they have really done s in this particular have seldom misled me: thus I truly esteemed M Gaime I was in a manner his second disciple, which even at that ti me fro me

One day, when I least expected it, I was sent for by the Count de la Roque Having frequently called at his house, without being able to speak with hiot me or retained some unfavorable impression of me, returned no more: but I was mistaken in both these conjectures He hadmy duty to his aunt: he had even mentioned it to her, and afterwards spoke of it, when I no longer thought of itthat instead of aht to place e; that he had succeeded, and would put me in a way to better my situation, but the rest must depend on myself That the fa both powerful and esteeh at first on the footing of a servant, I ht be assured, that if my conduct and senti remain in it The end of this discourse cruelly disappointed the brilliant hopes the beginning had inspired ”What! forever a footman?”

said I to myself, with a bitterness which confidence presently effaced, for I feltthere

He took me to the Count de Gauvon, Master of the Horse to the Queen, and Chief of the illustrious House of Solar The air of dignity conspicuous in this respectable old man, rendered the affability hich he receivedHe questioned me with evident interest, and I replied with sincerity He then told the Count de la Roque, that reeable, and promised intellect, which he believed I was not deficient in; but that was not enough, and ti to me, he said, ”Child, alinning; yours, however, shall not have too great a portion of them; be prudent, and endeavor to please everyone, that will be al, you shall be taken care of” Ihter-in-law, to whom he presented me, and then to the Abbe de Gauvon, his son I was elated with this beginning, as I knew enough of the world already to conclude, that so enerally used at the reception of a footman In fact, I was not treated like one I dined at the steward's table; did not wear a livery; and the Count de Favria (a giddy youth) having corandfather ordered that I should get behind no coach, nor follow any one out of the house

Meantime, I waited at table, and did, within doors, the business of a footman; but I did it, as it were, ofappointed to any particular service; and except writing so out some ornaments for the Count de Favria, I was almost the absolute master of my time This trial of my discretion, which I did not then perceive, was certainly very dangerous, and not very huht have contracted vices which I should not otherwise have given into

Fortunately, it did not produce that effect; my memory retained the lessons of M Gaime, they had made an impression on my heart, and I sometimes escaped from the house of my patron to obtain a repetition of the out, apparently by stealth, had no conception ofcould bewas admirable; so much attention, assiduity, and zeal, had charmed everyone The Abby Gaime advised me to moderate this first ardor, lest I should relax, and that relaxation should be considered as neglect ”Your setting out,”

said he, ”is the rule of ill be expected of you; endeavor gradually to increase your attentions, but be cautious how you diminish the talents, and supposed I possessed no iventhe pro with any particular consideration Some objects of more consequence had intervened The Marquis de Breil, son of the Count de Gauvon, was then ambassador at Vienna; some circumstances had occurred at that court which for soitation, and left them no time to think of h one object in the fa me more secure from exterior dissipation, but less attentive to e, tolerably handsome, and very fair coave her features that air of softness so natural to the flaxen, and which my heart could never resist The court dress, so favorable to youth, showed her fine neck and shape to advantage, and the , which was then worn, seemed to add to her beauty It will be said, a dos; I was certainly to blame, yet I perceived all this, nor was I the only one; the maitre d' hotel and valet de chaarity that pained me extremely My head, however, was not sufficiently turned to allow of et myself, or my situation

I loved to see Made that ood hu on her, never exceeded its just rights At table I was ever attentive to make the most of them; if her footman quitted her chair, I instantly supplied his place; in default of this, I stood facing her, seeking in her eyes what she was about to ask for, and watching the iven to hear her command, to have her look at, or speak the smallest word to ard; she did not even perceive I was there Her brother, who frequently spoke towhich I did not consider obliging, I made him so arch and well-turned an answer, that it drew her attention; she cast her eyes upon lance was sufficient to fill me with transport The next day, a second occasion presented itself, which I fortunately iven; and I saith astonish at table, with a sword by his side, and hat on his head By chance, the discourse turned on the motto of the house of Solar, which ith the arms, worked in the tapestry: 'Tel fiert qui ne fue pas' As the Piede, they found fault with the orthography, saying, that in the word fiert there should be no 't' The old Count de Gauvon was going to reply, when happening to cast his eyes on ; he immediately ordered me to speak my opinion I then said, I did not think the 't' superfluous, 'fiert' being an old French word, not derived fro; but from the verb 'ferit', he strikes, he wounds; the motto, therefore, did not appear to mean, some threat, but, 'Some strike who do not kill' The whole company fixed their eyes on reater degree of astonishment; but what most flattered me, was an air of satisfaction which I perceived on the countenance of Madened to cast on me a second look at least as valuable as the forrandfather, appeared to ith impatience for the praise that was due to me, and which he fully bestoith such apparent satisfaction, that it was eagerly chorused by the whole table This interval was short, but delightful in many respects; it was one of those s in their natural order, and revenge depressed merit for the injuries of fortune Soain raised her eyes, desiring ive her some drink It will easily be supposed I did not let her wait, but advancing towards her, I was seized with such a trelass too full, I spilled some of the water on her plate, and even on herself Her brother asked iddily, why I trembled thus?

This question increased my confusion, while the face of Mademoiselle de Breil was suffused with a crimson blush

Here ended the romance; where it may be remarked (as with Madam Basile, and others in the continuation of my life) that I was not fortunate in the conclusion of my amours In vain I placed myself in the antechamber of Madam de Breil, I could not obtain one hter; she went in and out without looking at me, nor had I the confidence to raise my eyes to her; I was even so foolishly stupid, that one day, on dropping her glove as she passed, instead of seizing and covering it with kisses, as I would gladly have done, I did not dare to quit reat booby of a footly have knocked down for his officiousness

To coood fortune to please Madam de Breil; she not only never ordered, but even rejected,twice foundto do?” I was obliged, therefore, to renounce this dear antechas intervening, I presently thought no more of it

The disdain of Madam de Breil was fully coth began to think ofafter the entertainment, I have already mentioned, he had a conversation with me that lasted half an hour, which appeared to satisfy hiood man had less sense than Mada; I therefore succeeded much better with him He bade me attach myself to his son, the Abbe Gauvon, who had an esteeht be serviceable in furnishi+ng me as necessary to complete their views forI flew to M the Abbe, who did not receive me as a servant, but reat affability He soon found that s, had co of Latin, he undertook to teachThus, by one of the whimsicalities which have marked the whole course of my life, at once above and below my natural situation, I was pupil and footh in servitude, had a preceptor whose birth entitled his

The Abbe de Gauvon was a younger son, and designed by his family for a bishopric, for which reason his studies had been pursued, further than is usual with people of quality He had been sent to the university of Sienna, where he had resided soood portion of cruscantiseau was forave in to the belle-lettres, which is very frequent in Italy, with those who have entered the career of prelacy He had studied the poets, and wrote tolerable Latin and Italian verses; in a word, his taste was calculated to fornificant trash hichhad misled hi the eleh; and I had scarcely translated a few fables of Phoedrus before he putIt will be seen hereafter that I was destined frequently to learn Latin, but never to attain it I labored with assiduity, and the abbe bestowed his attention with a degree of kindness, the remembrance of which, even at this tireater part of thewith him as much for my own instruction as his service; not that he ever permitted me to perfor; and my employment of secretary was more useful than that of scholar, and by this means I not only learned the Italian in its utmost purity, but also acquired a taste for literature, and some discernment of composition, which could not have been at La Tribu's, and which was useful to me when I afterwards wrote alone

At this period of ht reasonably have indulged the hope of preferhly pleased with me, expressed his satisfaction to everyone, while his father had such a singular affection for me, that I was assured by the Count de Favria, that he had spoken of ; even Madam de Breil had laid aside her disdainful looks; in short I was a general favorite, which gave great jealousy to the other servants, who seeing me honored by the instructions of their master's son, were persuaded I should not ree by some words dropped at random, and which I reflected on afterwards, it appeared toto run the career of e perhaps in time to arrive at the ministry, wished to provide the entirely on theht obtain their confidence, and be of essential service This project of the Count de Gauvon was judicious, nanimous, and truly worthy of a powerful noble, at that time, its full extent, it was far too rational for my brain, and required too ht for fortune in theone woman in all this scheh I should rather have thought it enerally patronized by women is certainly less worthy that I was supposed to possess

Everything succeeded to my wish: I had obtained, almost forced, the esteem of all; the trial was over, and I was universally considered as a youngprospects, as not at present in his proper sphere, but was expected soon to reach it; but ned me by man, and I was to reach it by very difficult paths I now come to one of those characteristic traits, which are so natural to ht have observed without this reflection

There were at Turin several new converts of my own stamp, whom I neither liked nor wish to see; but I had met with so others a M Mussard, nicknamed Wryneck, a miniature painter, and a distant relation This M Mussard, having learned my situation at the Count de Gauvon's, came to see me, with another Genevese, na htly, a fellow, full of lively sallies, which at his tireeable At once, then, behold ree that I found it impossible to quit him He was shortly to depart for Geneva; what a loss had I to sustain! I felt the whole force of it, and resolving to make the best use of this precious interval, I determined not to leave him, or, rather, he never quitted me, forthe house without leave, but it was soon perceived that he engrossed ly forbid the house This so incensedbut my friend Bacle, I went neither to the abbe nor the count, and was no longer to be found at hoth was threatened with disested the idea that it was not absolutely necessary that Bacle should depart alone From that moment I could think of no other pleasure, no other situation or happiness than taking this journey

To render the felicity still h at an immense distance) I pictured toto Geneva, it never entered into es, incessantly succeeded each other with new charhtful jaunt seemed worthy to absorb my whole existence Me the country had appeared in co to Turin; what then must it be, when, to the pleasure of independence, should be added the coe and disposition, without any constraint or obligation, but free to go or stay as we pleased? Would it not be madness to sacrifice the prospect of so much felicity to projects of ambition, slow and difficult in their execution, and uncertain in their event? But even supposing them realized, and in their utmost splendor, they were not worth one quarter of an hour of the sweet pleasure and liberty of youth

Full of these wise conclusions, I conducted myself so iot ht theon the part of the count This was exactly what I wanted; for feeling, spite of ance of my conduct, I wished to excuse it by the addition of injustice and ingratitude, by throwing the bla myself under the idea of necessity

I was told the Count de Favria wished to speak withsensible that my head was so far turned as to render it possible for me to disobey the injunction, the ned me, and which certainly I had very ill earned, till after this visit; forto place es

The Count de Favria, though young and giddy, talked to me on this occasion in the ht add, if it would not be thought vain, with the ut terrandfather; after having drawn in lively colors what I was sacrificing to ruin, he offered toany conditions, but that I should no more see the worthless felloho had seduced me