I lived with my Theresa as agreeably as with the finest genius in the world.  Her mother, proud of having been brought up under the Marchioness of Monpipeau, attempted to be witty, wished to direct the judgment of her daughter, and by her knavish cunning destroyed the simplicity of our intercourse.

The fatigue of this opportunity made me in some degree surmount the foolish shame which prevented me from appearing with Theresa in public; and we took short country walks, tete-a-tete, and partook of little collations, which, to me, were delicious.  I perceived she loved me sincerely, and this increased my tenderness.  This charming intimacy left me nothing to wish; futurity no longer gave me the least concern, or at most appeared only as the present moment prolonged:  I had no other desire than that of insuring its duration.

This attachment rendered all other dissipation superfluous and insipid to me.  As I only went out for the purpose of going to the apartment of Theresa, her place of residence almost became my own.  My retirement was so favorable to the work I had undertaken, that, in less than three months, my opera was entirely finished, both words and music, except a few accompaniments, and fillings up which still remained to be added.  This maneuvering business was very fatiguing to me.  I proposed it to Philidor, offering him at the same time a part of the profits.  He came twice, and did something to the middle parts in the act of Ovid; but he could not confine himself to an assiduous application by the allurement of advantages which were distant and uncertain.  He did not come a third time, and I finished the work myself.

My opera completed, the next thing was to make something of it:  this was by much the more difficult task of the two.  A man living in solitude in Paris will never succeed in anything.  I was on the point of making my way by means of M. de la Popliniere, to whom Gauffecourt, at my return to Geneva had introduced me.  M. de la Popliniere was the Mecaenas of Rameau; Madam de la Popliniere his very humble scholar.  Rameau was said to govern in that house.  Judging that he would with pleasure protect the work of one of his disciples, I wished to show him what I had done.  He refused to examine it; saying he could not read score, it was too fatiguing to him.  M. de la Popliniere, to obviate this difficulty, said he might hear it; and offered me to send for musicians to execute certain detached pieces.  I wished for nothing better.  Rameau consented with an ill grace, incessantly repeating that the composition of a man not regularly bred to the science, and who had learned music without a master, must certainly be very fine!  I hastened to copy into parts five or six select passages.  Ten symphonies were procured, and Albert, Berard, and Mademoiselle Bourbonois undertook the vocal part.  Remeau, the moment he heard the overture, was purposely extravagant in his eulogium, by which