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     Adieu, my son, I love you and I die
     All philosophy is akin to atheism
     And when love is sure of itself and knows response
     Can any one prevent a gossip
     Each one knows what the other is about to say
     Good and bad days succeeded each other almost regularly
     Great sorrows neither accuse nor blaspheme—­they listen
     Happiness of being pursued
     He who is loved by a beautiful woman is sheltered from every blow
     I neither love nor esteem sadness
     It is a pity that you must seek pastimes
     Man who suffers wishes to make her whom he loves suffer
     No longer esteemed her highly enough to be jealous of her
     Pure caprice that I myself mistook for a flash of reason
     Quarrel had been, so to speak, less sad than our reconciliation
     She pretended to hope for the best
     Terrible words; I deserve them, but they will kill me
     There are two different men in you
     We have had a mass celebrated, and it cost us a large sum
     What human word will ever express thy slightest caress
     What you take for love is nothing more than desire

CONFESSION OF A CHILD OF THE CENTURY

(Confession d’un Enfant du Siecle)

By Alfred de musset

BOOK 3.

PART V

CHAPTER I

SWEET ANTICIPATIONS

Having decided on a long tour, we went first to Paris; the necessary preparations required time, and we took a furnished apartment for one month.  The decision to leave France had changed everything:  joy, hope, confidence, all returned; no more sorrow, no more grief over approaching separation.  We had now nothing but dreams of happiness and vows of eternal love; I wished, once for all, to make my dear mistress forget all the suffering I had caused her.  How had I been able to resist such proof of tender affection and courageous resignation?  Not only did Brigitte pardon me, but she was willing to make a still greater sacrifice and leave everything for me.  As I felt myself unworthy of the devotion she exhibited, I wished to requite her by my love; at last my good angel had triumphed, and admiration and love resumed their sway in my heart.  Brigitte and I examined a map to determine where we should go and bury ourselves from the world.  We had not yet decided, and we found pleasure in that very uncertainty; while glancing over the map we said “Where shall we go?  What shall we do?  Where shall we begin life anew?” How shall I tell how deeply I repented my cruelty when I looked upon her smiling face, a face that laughed at the future, although still pale from the sorrows of the past!  Blissful projects of future joy,