STENDHAL (1783-1842).

  2. Result
  3. STENDHAL (1783-1842).
  4. Lot n° 226 
Lot n° 226
Go to lot
Estimation :
4000 - 5000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 4 340EUR
STENDHAL (1783-1842).
L.A., B[runswick], April 30, 1807, to his sister Pauline BEYLE in Grenoble; 7 1/2 pages in-4, addressed with red wax seal with imperial eagle and postmark of the Grande Armée. Long and beautiful letter to his sister, about the search for happiness, and telling about his love with Minette (Wilhelmine von Griesheim). "I had promised myself to write to you on the 15th of this month to paint you the storms which, in spite of the wisdom I try to impose on myself, have agitated my soul this month. I didn't do it the name of 30 is like the crowing of the rooster that wakes me up. But, as in the monarchies of the Middle Ages, the troubles only served to strengthen the authority of the despot, and the despot is here the science of happiness. [...] It is necessary to make a solitary happiness independent of others, once you are sure in the world that you can be happy without it, the natural coquetry of the human race puts them at your feet. Accustom your body to obey your brain and you will be all surprised to find happiness. It is the Rock where was this palace of Armide, horrible from below, delicious as soon as one had reached the higher plateaus. The honor fighting with Love and the Interest of ambition put me seven or eight times at the height of the unhappy agitation, and of the ardent happiness during this month of April. On March 5, Honor quarreled with Mal [Martial DARU] on April 5, reconciled. I had to leave for Thorn, I conquered love with infinite pains and since it must be said in tears; I was so agitated at 7 o'clock in the evening when I was going to decide on my departure that I ran through the streets of Brunswick like a madman, I passed in front of the windows of a little girl for whom I have a liking, I felt torn, however, honor was the strongest, I went to tell M[arti]al that I wanted to leave, he did not want to, he counted on love to hold me back, he told me everything I needed to make me stay. I stay, I think I'm happy, I don't know why Minette starts to hold me in high esteem, politics, vanity, pique order me to stop caring about her. In a famous ball I make the court to another, astonishment, misfortune, disapointement of Minette. This other offers to my retreat an easy Victory. I make a superb maneuver to bring me closer to Mina ". He approaches a man on a walk to be invited to a party at his place; but Minette had not wanted to come; he finds his rival Mlle de T[reuensfels] from whom he obtains an appointment... "Finally yesterday I made up with Minette. [...] Yesterday Minette shook my hand no more, you'll laugh at me, but after the life I've been leading for six years, that's why I've been so restless this month. [...] In the midst of so many agitations caused by such small means, wisdom was constantly rumbling, strengthening itself by the misfortune that happily followed step by step all the faults, and finally emerging victorious by killing love. I have nothing but taste for Minette, for this blonde and charming Minette, this soul of the North, such as I have never seen in France nor in Italy, the proof is that I am going to try to go to Falkenstein", to the headquarters of the army... "A strong soul that would manage to do everything that reason would dictate to it would be master of everything around it. I have had a striking experience of this for the past two months. Add to the little I have told you about my agitation 8 or 10 trips of 15 or 20 leagues and 10 hours of work dispatched in 2. And what is very painful, but very good for strengthening the soul no confidant, always alone. Tonight there is a big battle at the ball where I will be between the two rivals, perhaps tomorrow I will be as agitated as the day before yesterday, but the plan is made, I will go to the Army if I can. What attracts me there is the desire to see at close quarters the great games of these barnyard dogs called men. He has read the History of Poland by Rulhière, and the History of the Reformation by Charles de Villers, which he asks Pauline to read. "The great father is very happy with you, I see at last that you are making progress in wisdom, the only way to happiness, when you want it you will be happy, for that it is necessary first to acquire tranquility, the beauty and the goodness of your soul will provide you enough pleasures. A lens falling in the agitated sea does not cause any movement, in a calm sea it causes millions of circles to be born. Once no being will be able to agitate your soul, you will make your happiness with an ease that will enchant you. For that it is necessary to overcome vanity completely internally"... As for her marriage, she must be "reasonable. Think of a husband as a Thing and not as a being. A dragon needs a horse to live and a husband for a young girl". And he reviews the different parties... Finally, he lists the four books she should read, including Volney and Chamfort. Correspondance générale, t. I, p. 592 (n° 270).
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue