You will understand, then, Marquis, that it is not necessary to acquire the habit of deifying the fancy you entertain for the Countess.  You will know, at last, that love to be worthy of the name, and to make us happy, far from being treated as a serious affair, should be fostered lightly, and above all with gayety.  Nothing can make you understand more clearly the truth of what I am telling you, than the result of your adventure, for I believe the Countess to be the last woman in the world to harbor a sorrowful passion.  You, with your high sentiments will give her the blues, mark what I tell you.

My indisposition continues, and I would feel like telling you that I never go out during the day, but would not that be giving you a rendezvous?  If, however, you should come and give me your opinion of the “Bajazet” of Racine, you would be very kind.  They say that the Champmesle has surpassed herself.

I have read over this letter, Marquis, and the lecture it contains puts me out of humor with you.  I recognize the fact that truth is a contagious disease.  Judge how much of it goes into love, since you bestow it even upon those who aim to undeceive you.  It is quite strange, that in order to prove that love should be treated with levity, it was necessary to assume a serious tone.

IX

Love is a Natural Inclination

So you have taken what I said about love in my last letter as a crime?  I have blasphemed love; I have degraded it by calling it a “necessity?” You have such noble thoughts, Marquis.  What is passing in your mind is proof of it.  You can not realize, or imagine anything less than the pure and delicate sentiments which fill your heart.  To see the Countess, hold sweet discourse with her, listen to the sound of her gentle voice, dance attendance upon her, that is the height of your desires, it is your supreme happiness.  Far from you are those vulgar sentiments which I unworthily substitute for your sublime metaphysics; sentiments created for worldly souls occupied solely with sensual pleasures.  What a mistake I made!  Could I imagine that the Countess was a woman to be captured by motives so little worthy of her?  To raise the suspicion in her mind that you possessed such views, would it not inevitably expose you to her hate, her scorn, etc.?

Are not these the inconveniences which my morality leads you to apprehend?  My poor Marquis! you are yourself deceived by your misunderstanding of the real cause of your sentiments.  Give me all your attention:  I wish to draw you away from error, but in a manner that will best accord with the importance of what I am about to say.  I mount the tribune; I feel the presence of the god who inspires me.  I rub my forehead with the air of a person who meditates on profound truths, and who is going to utter great thoughts.  I am going to reason according to rule.