Everythingwaschanging，bothwithinthemandaroundthem，andtheybelievedthattheirheartwouldknownochange。Oh，whatchildren，whatchildrenalways！"Ah，notchildren，butwhatmenrather！Weknowthesefluctuationsinouraffections。Anditisbecauseweareafraidofourownfragilitythatwecalltoouraidtheprotectionoflaws，towhichsubmissionisnoslavery，asitisvoluntarysubmission。
Naturedoesnotknowtheselaws，butitisbythemthatwedistinguishourselvesfromNatureandthatweriseaboveit。
Therockonwhichwetreadcrumblestodust，theskyaboveourheadsisneverthesameaninstant，but，inthedepthofourhearts，thereisthemorallaw——andthatneverchanges！
Inordertoreplytotheseparadoxes，whereshallwegoinsearchofourarguments？WecangotoGeorgeSandherself。Afewyearslater，duringherintercoursewithLamennals，shewroteherfamous_LettresaMarcie_for_LeMonde_。Sheaddressesherselftoanimaginarycorrespondent，toawomansupposedtobesufferingfromthatagitationandimpatiencewhichshehadexperiencedherself。
"Youaresad，"saysGeorgeSandtoher，"youaresuffering，andyouareboredtodeath。"Wewillnowtakenoteofsomeoftheadviceshegivestothiswoman。Shenolongerbelievesthatitbelongstohumandignitytohavethelibertyofchanging。
"Theonethingtowhichmanaspires，thethingwhichmakeshimgreat，ispermanenceinthemoralstate。Allwhichtendstogivestabilitytoourdesires，tostrengthenthehumanwillandaffections，tendstobringaboutthe_reignofGod_onearth，whichmeansloveandthepracticeoftruth。"Shethenspeaksofvaindreams。
"Shouldweevenhavetimetothinkabouttheimpossibleifwedidallthatisnecessary？Shouldwedespairourselvesifweweretorestorehopeinthosepeoplewhohavenothingleftthembuthope？"
Withregardtofeministclaims，shesays："Womenarecryingoutthattheyareslaves：letthemwaituntilmenarefree！……
Inthemeantimewemustnotcompromisethefuturebyourimpatiencewiththepresent……Itistobefearedthatvainattemptsofthiskindandunjustifiableclaimsmaydoharmtowhatisstyledatpresentthecauseofwomen。Thereisnodoubtthatwomenhavecertainrightsandthattheyaresufferinginjustice。
Theyoughttolayclaimtoabetterfuture，toawiseindependence，toagreaterparticipationinknowledge，andtomorerespect，interestandesteemfrommen。Thisfuture，though，isintheirownhands。"
Thisiswisdomitself。Itwouldbeimpossibletoputitmoreclearly，andtowarnwomeninabetterway，thatthegreatestdangerfortheircausewouldbethetriumphofwhatiscalledbyanironicalterm——feminism。
Theseretractions，though，haveverylittleeffect。Thereisacertainpiquancyinshowingupanauthorwhoisincontradictionwithhimself，inshowinghowherefuteshisownparadoxes。
Butthesearestrikingparadoxeswhicharenotreadilyforgotten。
WhatIwanttoshowisthatinthesefirstnovelsbyGeorgeSandwehaveaboutthewholeofthefeministprogrammeofto—day。Everythingisthere，therighttohappiness，thenecessityofreformingmarriage，theinstitution，inamoreorlessnearfuture，offreeunions。
Ourfeministsofto—day，French，English，orNorwegianauthoresses，andtheoricianslikeEllenKey，withherbookon_LoveandMarriage_，alltheserebelshaveinventednothing。Theyhavedonenothingbuttakeuponcemorethetheoriesofthegreatfeministof1832，andexposethemwithlesslyricismbutwithmorecynicism。
GeorgeSandprotestedagainsttheaccusationofhavingaimedatattackinginstitutionsinherfeministnovels。Shewaswronginprotesting，asitisjustthiswhichgiveshernovelstheirvalueandsignificance。
Itisthiswhichdatesthemandwhichexplainstheenormousforceofexpansionthattheyhavehad。TheycamejustaftertheJulyRevolution，andwemustcertainlyconsiderthemasoneoftheresultsofthat。
Athronehadjustbeenoverturned，and，bywayofpastime，churcheswerebeingpillagedandanarchbishop’spalacehadbeensack—
aged。Literaturewasalsoattemptinganinsurrection，bywayofdiversion。Foralongtimeithadbeenfeedingtherevolutionaryfermentwhichithadreceivedfromromanticism。Romanticismhaddemandedthefreedomoftheindividual，andthewritersattheheadofthismovementwereChateaubriand，VictorHugoandDumas。
TheyclaimedthisfreedomforRene，forHermannandforAntony，whoweremen。Anexamplehadbeengiven，andwomenmeanttotakeadvantageofit。Womennowbegantheirrevolution。
Underalltheseinfluences，andintheparticularatmospherenowcreated，thematrimonialmishapofBaronneDudevantappearedtoherofconsiderableimportance。Sheexaggeratedandmagnifiedituntilitbecameofsocialvalue。Takingthisprivatemishapasherbasis，sheputsintoeachofherheroinessomethingofherself。
Thisexplainsthepassionatetoneofthewholestory。Andthispassioncouldnotfailtobecontagiousforthewomenwhoreadherstories，andwhorecognizedinthenovelist’scausetheirowncauseandthecauseofallwomen。
This，then，isthenoveltyinGeorgeSand’swayofpresentingfeministgrievances。Shehadnotinventedthesegrievances。
TheywerealreadycontainedinMadamedeStael’sbooks，andIhavenotforgottenher。DelphineandCorinne，though，werewomenofgenius，andpresentedtousassuch。InordertobepitiedbyMadamedeStael，itwasabsolutelynecessarytobeawomanofgenius。
ForawomantobedefendedbyGeorgeSand，itwasonlynecessarythatsheshouldnotloveherhusband，andthiswasamuchmoregeneralthing。
GeorgeSandhadbroughtfeminismwithinthereachofallwomen。
Thisisthecharacteristicofthesenovels，theeloquenceofwhichcannotbedenied。Theyarenovelsforthevulgarizationofthefeministtheory。
THEROMANTICESCAPADE
THEVENICEADVENTURE
GeorgeSanddidnothavetowaitlongforsuccess。Shewonfamewithherfirstbook。Withhersecondoneshebecamerich，orwhatsheconsideredrich。Shetellsusthatshesolditforahundredandsixtypounds！Thatseemedtoherthewealthoftheworld，andshedidnothesitatetoleaveheratticontheQuaySt。MichelforamorecomfortableflatonQuayMalaquais，whichdeLatouchegaveuptoher。
Therewas，atthattime，apersonageinPariswhohadbeguntoexerciseasortofroyaltyrannyoverauthors。FrancoisBulozhadtakenadvantageoftheintellectualeffervescenceof1831tofoundthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_。Hewasventuresome，energetic，original，veryshrewd，thoughapparentlyrough，obliging，inspiteofhissurlymanners。
Heisstillconsideredthetypicalandtraditionalreviewmanager。
Hecertainlypossessedthefirstqualitynecessaryforthisfunction。
Hediscoveredtalentedwriters，andhealsoknewhowtodrawfromthemandsqueezeoutofthemalltheliteraturetheycontained。
Tremendouslyheadstrong，hehasbeenknowntokeepacontributorunderlockandkeyuntilhisarticlewasfinished。Authorsabusedhim，quarrelledwithhim，andthencamebacktohimagain。Areviewwhichhad，foritsfirstnumbers，GeorgeSand，Vigny，Musset，Merimee，amongmanyothers，ascontributors，maybesaidtohavestartedwell。
GeorgeSandtellsusthatafterabattlewiththe_RevuedeParis_
andthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_，bothofwhichpaperswantedherwork，sheboundherselftothe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_，whichwastopayherahundredandsixtypoundsayearforthirty—twopagesofwritingeverysixweeks。In1833the_RevuedesDeuxMondes_publishedLelia，andonJanuary1，1876，itfinishedpublishingthe_TourdePercemont_。
Thismeansanuninterruptedcollaboration，extendingoveraperiodofforty—threeyears。
Theliterarycriticofthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_atthattimewasamanwhowasverymuchrespectedandverylittleliked，or，inotherwords，hewasuniversallydetested。ThiscriticwasGustavePlanche。
Hetookhisown_role_tooseriously，andendeavouredtoputauthorsontheirguardabouttheirfaults。Authorsdidnotappreciatethis。
Heendeavoured，too，toputthepubliconguardagainstitsowninfatuations。Thepublicdidnotcareforthis。Hesowedstrifeandreapedrevenge。Thisdidnotstophim，though，forhewentcalmlyoncontinuinghisexecutions。Hisimpassibilitywasonlyfeigned，andthisisthecurioussideofthestory。
Hesufferedkeenlyfromthestormsofhostilitywhichheprovoked。
Hehadakindlydispositionatbottomandtenderplacesinhisheart。
Hewasrathergiventomelancholyandintenselypessimistic。
Torelievehissadness，hegavehimselfuptohardwork，andhewasthoroughlydevotedtoart。Inordertocomprehendthisportraitandtoseeitsresemblance，we，whoknewourgreatBrunetiere，haveonlytothinkofhim。He，too，wasnoble，ferventandcombative，andhesoughtinhisexclusivedevotiontoliteratureadiversionfromhisgloomypessimism，underneathwhichwasconcealedsuchkindliness。
Itseemedwithhim，too，asthoughhetookaprideinmakingawholecrowdofenemies，whilstinrealitythediscoveryofeveryfreshadversarycausedhimgreatsuffering。
When_Lelia_appeared，thenovelwasverybadlytreatedin_L’Europelitteraire_。Planchechallengedthewriterofthearticle，acertainCapodeFeuillide，toaduel。Somuchfortheimpassibilityofseverecritics。Thedueltookplace，andafterwardstherewasamisunderstandingbetweenGeorgeSandandPlanche。Fromthattimeforthcriticshavegivenupfightingduelsforthesakeofauthors。
Aboutthesametime，GeorgeSandmadeuseofSainte—Beuveasherconfessor。Heseemedspeciallyindicatedforthisfunction。
Inthefirstplace，helookedratherecclesiastical，andthenhehadatasteforsecrets，andmoreparticularlyforwhisperedconfessions。
GeorgeSandhadabsoluteconfidenceinhim。Sheconsideredthathehadanalmostangelicnature。Inreality，justaboutthattime，theangelicmanwasendeavouringtogetintothegoodgracesofthewifeofhisbestfriend，andwaswritinghis_Livred’Amour_，anddivulgingtotheworldaweaknessofwhichhehadtakenadvantage。
Thiscertainlywasthemostvillainousthingamancoulddo。
Butthenhe，too，wasinloveandwasstrugglingandpraying。
GeorgeSanddeclareshervenerationforhim，andsheconstitutedherselfhispenitent。
Shebeginsherconfessionbyanavowalthatmusthavebeendifficultforher。ShetellsofherintimacywithMerimee，anintimacywhichwasofshortdurationandveryunsatisfactory。
ShehadbeenfascinatedbyMerimee’sart。
"Foraboutaweek，"shesays，"Ithoughthehadthesecretofhappiness。"Attheendoftheweekshewas"weepingwithdisgust，sufferinganddiscouragement。"Shehadhopedtofindinhimthedevotionofaconsoler，butshefoundnothingbutcoldandbitterjesting。"[16]Thisexperimenthadalsoprovedafailure。
[16]Compare_LettresaSainte—Beuve_。
SuchweretheconditionsinwhichGeorgeSandfoundherselfatthisepoch。Herpositionwassatisfactory；shemighthavebeencalmandindependent。Herinnerlifewasoncemoredesolate，andshewasthoroughlydiscouraged。Shefeltthatshehadlivedcenturies，thatshehadundergonetorture，thatherhearthadagedtwentyyears，andthatnothingwasanypleasuretohernow。Addedtoallthis，publiclifesaddenedher，forthehorizonhadcloudedover。
Theboundlesshopesandtheenthusiasmof1831werethingsofthepast。"TheRepublic，asitwasdreamedofinJuly，"
shewrites，"hasendedinthemassacresofWarsawandintheholocaustoftheSaint—Merrycloister。Thecholerahasjustbeenraging。
SaintSimonismhasfallenthroughbeforeithadsettledthegreatquestionoflove。"[17]
[17]_Histoiredemavie_。
Depressionhadcomeafterover—excitement。Thisisaphenomenonfrequentlyseenimmediatelyafterpoliticalconvulsions。
Itmightbecalledtheperpetualfailureofrevolutionarypromises。
ItwasunderalltheseinfluencesthatGeorgeSandwrote_Lelia_。
ShefinisheditinJuly，anditappearedinAugust，1833。
Itisabsolutelyimpossibletogiveananalysisof_Lelia_。Therereallyisnosubject。Thepersonagesarenotbeingsoffleshandblood。
Theyareallegoriesstrollingaboutinthegardenofabstractions。
Leliaisawomanwhohashadhertrialsinlife。Shehaslovedandbeendisappointed，sothatshecannolongerloveatall。ShereducesthegentlepoetSteniotodespair。Heismuchyoungerthansheis，andhehasfaithinlifeandinlove。Hisingenuoussoulbeginstowitherandtoloseitsfreshness，thankstothescepticismofthebeautiful，disdainful，ironicalandworld—wearyLelia。ThisstrangepersonhasasisterPulcherie，acelebratedcourtesan，whoseinsolentsensualityisaset—offtotheotherone’smournfulcomplaints。
WehaveheretheoppositionofIntelligenceandoftheFlesh，ofMindandMatter。ThencomesMagnus，thepriest，whohaslosthisfaith，andforwhomLeliaisatemptation，andafterhimwehaveTrenmor，Lelia’sgreatfriend，Trenmor，thesublimeconvict。
Asayoungmanhehadbeenhandsome。Hehadlovedandbeenyoung。
Hehadknownwhatitwastobeonlytwentyyearsofage。
"Theonlythingwas，hehadknownthisattheageofsixteen"
（！！）Hehadthenbecomeagambler，andherefollowsanextraordinarypanegyriconthefatalpassionforgambling。Trenmorruinshimself，borrowswithoutpayingback，andfinallyswindles"anoldmillionairewhowashimselfadefrauderandadissipatedman"outofahundredfrancs。ApparentlythebadconductofthemanTrenmorrobs，excusestheswindling。Heiscondemnedtofiveyearsofhardlabour。
Heundergoeshispunishment，andistherebyregenerated。
"WhatifIweretotellyou，"writesGeorgeSand，"thatsuchashenowis，crushed，withatarnishedreputation，ruined，Iconsiderhimsuperiortoallofus，asregardsthemorallife。Ashehaddeservedpunishment，hewaswillingtobearit。Heboreit，livingforfiveyearsbravelyandpatientlyamonghisabjectcompanions。
Hehascomebacktousoutofthatabominablesewerholdinghisheadup，calm，purified，paleasyouseehim，buthandsomestill，likeacreaturesentbyGod。"
Weallknowhowdearconvictsaretotheheartsofromanticpeople。
Thereisnoneedformetoremindyouhowtheyhavecometousrecently，encircledwithhalosofsufferingandofpurity。WeallrememberDostoiewsky’s_CrimeandPunishment_andTolstoi’s_Resurrection_。
WhenthevirtueofexpiationandthereligionofhumansufferingcametousfromRussia，weshouldhavegreetedthemasoldacquaintances，ifcertainessentialworksinourownliterature，ofwhichthesebooksaretheissue，hadnotbeenunknowntous。
ThelastpartofthenovelisdevotedtoStenio。HurtbyLelia’sdisdain，whichhasthrownhimintothearmsofhersisterPulcherie，hegiveshimselfuptodebauch。WefindhimataveritableorgyinPulcherie’shouse。LateronheisinamonasteryatCamaldules，talkingtoTrenmorandMagnus。Insuchbookswemustneverbeastonished……ThereisalongspeechbyStenio，addressedtoDonJuan，whomheregretstohavetakenashismodel。Thepooryoungmanofcoursecommitssuicide。Hechoosesdrowningastheauthorevidentlyprefersthatmodeofsuicide。Leliaarrivesintimetokneeldownbythecorpseoftheyoungmanwhohasbeenhervictim。
Magnusthenappearsonthescene，exactlyattherightmoment，tostrangleLelia。PioushandsprepareLeliaandSteniofortheirburial。Theyareunitedandyetseparateduptotheirverydeath。
Thesummingupwehavegivenistheoriginalversionof_Lelia_。
In1836，GeorgeSandtouchedupthiswork，alteringmuchofitandspoiling，whatshealtered。Itisapitythathernewversion，whichislonger，heavierandmoreobscure，shouldhavetakentheplaceoftheformerone。Initsfirstform_Lelia_isaworkofrarebeauty，butwiththebeautyofapoemoranoratorio。
Itismadeofthestuffofwhichdreamsarecomposed。Itisaseriesofreveries，adaptedtothesoulof1830。Ateverydifferentepochthereisacertainframeofmind，andcertainideasarediffusedintheairwhichwefindalikeintheworksofthewritersofthattime，althoughtheydidnotborrowthemfromeachother。_Lelia_isasortofsummingupofthethemestheninvogueinthepersonalnovelandinlyricalpoetry。Thethemeofthatsufferingwhichisbeneficentandinspiringiscontainedinthefollowingwords：
"Comebacktome，Sorrow！Whyhaveyouleftme？Itisbygriefalonethatmanisgreat。"ThisisworthyofChateaubriand。
Thethemeofmelancholyisasfollows："Themoonappeared……
Whatisthemoon，andwhatisitsnocturnalmagictome？Onehourmoreorlessisnothingtome。"ThismightverywellbeLamartine。
WethenhavethemaledictionpronouncedinfaceofimpassibleNature：
"Yes，IdetestedthatradiantandmagnificentNature，foritwastherebeforemeinallitsstupidbeauty，silentandproud，forustogazeon，believingthatitwasenoughtomerelyshowitself。"
ThisremindsusofVignyinhis_Maisonduberger_。Thenwehavethereligionoflove："DoubtGod，doubtmen，doubtmeifyoulike，butdonotdoubtlove。"ThisisMusset。
Butthethemewhichpredominates，and，aswehavecomparedallthistomusic，wemightsaythe_leit—motiv_ofall，isthatofdesolation，ofuniversaldespair，ofthewoeoflife。Itisthesamelamentationwhich，eversinceWerther，wastobeheardthroughoutallliterature。
ItistheidenticalsufferingwhichRene，ObermannandLarahadbeenrepeatingtoalltheechoes。Theelementsofitwerethesame：
pridewhichpreventsusfromadaptingourselvestotheconditionsofuniversallife，anabuseofself—analysiswhichopensupourwoundsagainandmakesthembleed，thewildimaginationwhichpresentstooureyesthedeceptivemirageofPromisedLandsfromwhichweareeverexiles。Leliapersonifies，inherturn，the"_maldusiecle_。"Stenioreproachesherwithonlysinginggriefanddoubt。"Howmany，times，"hesays，"haveyouappearedtomeastypicaloftheindescribablesufferinginwhichmankindisplungedbythespiritofinquiry！Withyourbeautyandyoursadness，yourworld—wearinessandyourscepticism，doyounotpersonifytheexcessofgriefproducedbytheabuseofthought？"Hethenadds：
"Thereisagreatdealofprideinthisgrief，Lelia！"Itwasundoubtedlyamalady，forLeliahadnoreasontocomplainoflifeanymorethanherbrothersindespair。Itissimplythatthegeneralconditionsoflifewhichallpeoplehavetoacceptseempainfultothem。Whenwearewelltheplayofourmusclesisajoytous，butwhenweareillwefeeltheveryweightoftheatmosphere，andoureyesarehurtbythepleasantdaylight。
When_Lelia_appearedGeorgeSand’soldfriendswerestupefied。
"What，inHeaven’sname，isthis？"wroteJulesNeraud，the_Malgache。_"Wherehaveyoubeeninsearchofthis？
Whyhaveyouwrittensuchabook？Wherehasitsprungfrom，andwhatisitfor？……Thiswomanisafantasticalcreature。
Sheisnotatalllikeyou。Youarelivelyandcandanceajig；
youcanappreciatebutterfliesandyoudonotdespisepuns。
Yousewandcanmakejamverywell。"[18]
[18]_Histoiredemavie_。
Itcertainlywasnotherportrait。Shewashealthyandbelievedinlife，inthegoodnessofthingsandinthefutureofhumanity，justasVictorHugoandDumas_pere_，thoseotherforcesofNature，did，ataboutthesametime。Asoulforeigntoherownhadenteredintoher，anditwastheromanticsoul。Withthemagnificentpowerofreceptivitywhichshepossessed，GeorgeSandwelcomedallthewindswhichcametoherfromthefourquartersofromanticism。
Shesentthembackwithunheard—offulness，sonorousdepthandwealthoforchestration。Fromthattimeforthawoman’svoicecouldbeheard，addedtoallthemasculinevoiceswhichrailedagainstlife，andthewoman’svoicedominatedthemall！
InGeorgeSand’spsychologicalevolution，_Lelia_isjustthis：
thebeginningoftheinvasionofhersoulbyromanticism。Itwasaborrowedindividuality，undoubtedly，butitwasnotsomethingtobeputonandoffatwilllikeamask。Itadheredtotheskin。
ItwasallveryfineforGeorgeSandtosaytoSainte—Beuve："Donotconfusethemanhimselfwiththesuffering……Anddonotbelieveinallmysatanicalairs……ThisissimplyastylethatIhavetakenon，Iassureyou……"
Sainte—Beuvehadeveryreasontobealarmed，andtheconfessorwasquiterightinhissurmises。Thecrisisofromanticismhadcommenced。
ItwastotakeanacuteformandtoreachitsparoxysmduringtheVeniceescapade。Itisfromthispointofviewthatwewillstudythefamousepisode，whichhasalreadybeenstudiedbysomanyotherwriters。
Nosubject，perhaps，hasexcitedthecuriosityofreaderslikethisone，andalwayswithoutsatisfyingthatcuriosity。Alibrarycouldbeformedofthebooksdevotedtothissubject，writtenwithinthelasttenyears。MonsieurRocheblave，MonsieurMauriceClouard，Dr。Cabanes，MonsieurMarieton，theenthusiasticcollector，SpoelberchdeLovenjoulandMonsieurDecorihaveallgivenustheircontributionstothedebate。[19]Thankstothem，wehavethecompletecorrespondenceofGeorgeSandandMusset，thediaryofGeorgeSandandPagello’sdiary。
[19]Consult：Rocheblave，_LafinduneLegende；_MauriceClouard，_DocumentsineditssurA。deMusset；_Dr。Cabanes，_MussetetleDr。Pagello_；PaulMarieton，_Unehistoired’amour；_VicomteSpoelberchdeLovenjoul，_Lavraihistoired’ElleetLui；_Decori，_LettresdeGeorgeSandetMusset。_
WiththeaidofallthesedocumentsMonsieurCharlesMaurrashaswrittenabookentitled_LesAmantsdeVenise_。Itistheworkofapsychologistandofanartist。TheonlyfaultIhavetofindwithitisthattheauthorofitseemstoseecalculationandartificeeverywhere，andnottobelievesufficientlyinsincerity。
Wemustnotforget，either，thatasearlyastheyear1893，allthatisessentialhadbeentoldusbythatshrewdwriterandadmirablewoman，ArvedeBarine。ThechapterwhichshedevotestotheVeniceepisode，inherbiographyofAlfreddeMusset，ismoreclearandsimple，andatthesametimedeeperthananythingthathadyetbeenwritten。
Itisasubjectthathasbeengivenuptothecuriosityofpeopleandtotheirdisputes。Thestrangepartisthezealwhichatonceanimateseveryonewhotakespartinthiscontroversy。Theveryatmosphereseemstobeimpregnatedwithstrife，andthoseinterestedbecome，atonce，thepartisansofGeorgeSandorthepartisansofMusset。
Thetwopartiesonlyagreeononepoint，andthatis，tothrowalltheblameontheclientfavouredbytheiradversary。ImustconfessthatIcannottakeapassionateinterestinadiscussion，thesubjectofwhichwecannotproperlyjudge。Accordingto_Mussetistes_，itwasthankstoGeorgeSandthattheyoungpoetwasreducedtothedespairwhichdrovehimtodebauchery。Ontheotherhand，ifwearetobelievethe_Sandistes_，GeorgeSand’soneideaininterestingherselfinMussetwastorescuehimfromdebaucheryandconverthimtoabetterlife。Ilistentoallsuchpiousinterpretations，butIpreferothersformyself。Ipreferseeingthephysiognomyofeachofthetwoloversstandingout，asitdoes，inpowerfulrelief。
Itisthecustom，too，topitythesetwounfortunates，whosufferedsomuch。Attheriskofbeingtakenforaveryheartlessman，ImustownthatIdonotpitythemmuch。Thetwoloverswishedforthissuffering，theywantedtoexperiencetheincomparablesensationsofit，andtheygotenjoymentandprofitfromthis。
Theyknewthattheywereworkingforposterity。"Posteritywillrepeatournameslikethoseoftheimmortalloverswhosetwonamesareonlyoneatpresent，likeRomeoandJuliette，likeHeloiseandAbelard。Peoplewillneverspeakofoneofuswithoutspeakingoftheother。"
JuliettediedattheageoffifteenandHeloiseenteredaconvent。
TheVeniceloversdidnothavetopayfortheircelebrityasdearlyasthat。Theywantedtogiveanexample，tolightatorchontheroadofhumanity。"Peopleshallknowmystory，"writesGeorgeSand。
"Iwillwriteit……ThosewhofollowalongthepathItrodwillseewhereitleads。"_Etnuncerudimini_。Letusseeforourselves，andlearn。
Their_liaison_datesfromAugust，1833。
GeorgeSandwastwenty—nineyearsofage。Itwasthetimeofhergreatestcharm。Wemusttrytoimaginetheenchantressasshethenwas。Shewasnottallandshewasdelightfullyslender，withanextraordinary—lookingfaceofdark，warmcolouring。
Herthickhairwasverydark，andhereyes，herlargeeyes，hauntedMussetforyearsafter。
"_Ote—moi，memoireimportune_，_Ote—moicesyeuxquejevoistoujours！_"
hewrites。
Andthiswoman，whocouldhavebeenlovedpassionately，merelyforhercharmasawoman，wasacelebrity！Shewasawomanofgenius！
AlfreddeMussetwastwenty—threeyearsold。Hewaselegant，witty，aflirt，andwhenhelikedhecouldbeirresistible。Hehadwonhisreputationbythatexplosionofgaietyandimagination，_LesContesd’Espagneeld’Italle_。Hehadwrittensomefinepoetry，dreamy，disturbinganddaring。Hehadalsogiven_LesCapricesdeMarianne_，inwhichhefigurestwiceoverhimself，forhewasbothOctavethesceptic，thedisillusionedman，andCoelio，theaffectionate，candidCoelio。HeimaginedhimselfRolla。Itwashe，andhealone，whoshouldhavebeenstyledthesublimeboy。
Andsoheretheybothare。WemightcallthemLeliaandStenio，but_Lelia_waswrittenbeforetheVeniceadventure。Shewasnotthereflectionofit，butratherthepresentiment。Thisisworthyofnotice，butnotatallsurprising。Literaturesometimesimitatesreality，buthowmuchmoreoftenrealityismodelledonliterature！
ItwasasthoughGeorgeSandhadforeseenherdestiny，forshehadfearedtomeetMusset。Onthe11thofMarch，shewritesasfollowstoSainte—Beuve："Onsecondthoughts，IdonotwantyoutobringAlfreddeMusset。Heisagreatdandy。Weshouldnotsuiteachother，andIwasreallymorecurioustoseehimthaninterestedinhim。"
Alittlelateron，though，atadinneratthe_Freresprovencaux_，towhichBulozinvitedhiscollaborators，GeorgeSandfoundherselfnextAlfreddeMusset。Sheinvitedhimtocallonher，andwhen_Lelia_
waspublishedshesenthimacopy，withthefollowingdedicationwritteninthefirstvolume：_AMonsieurmongamind’Allred_；
andinthesecondvolume：_AMonsieurlevicomteAllreddeMusset，hommagerespectueuxdesondevoueserviteurGeorgeSand_。
Mussetrepliedbygivinghisopinionofthenewbook。Amongtheletterswhichfollowed，thereisonethatbeginswiththesewords：
"MydearGeorge，Ihavesomethingsillyandridiculoustotellyou。
Iamfoolishlywriting，insteadoftellingyou，asIoughttohavedone，afterourwalk。Iamheartbrokento—nightthatI
didnottellyou。Youwilllaughatme，andyouwilltakemeforamanwhosimplytalksnonsense。Youwillshowmethedoor，andfancythatIamnotspeakingthetruth……Iaminlovewithyou……"
Shedidnotlaughathim，though，andshedidnotshowhimthedoor。
Thingsdidnotdragonlong，evidently，asshewritestoherconfessor，Sainte—Beuve，onthe25thofAugust："Ihavefalleninlove，andveryseriouslythistime，withAlfreddeMusset。"Howlongwasthistolast？Shehadnoidea，butforthetimebeingshedeclaredthatshewasabsolutelyhappy。
"Ihavefoundacandour，aloyaltyandanaffectionwhichdelightme。
Itistheloveofayoungmanandthefriendshipofacomrade。"
TherewasahoneymooninthelittleflatlookingontheQuayMalaquals。
Theirfriendssharedthejoyofthehappycouple，asweseebyMusset’sfrolicsomelines_Georgeestdanssachambrette，Entredeuxpotsdefleurs，Fumiantsacigarette，Lesyeuxbaignesdepleurs。
BulozassisparterreLuifaitdedouxserments，SolangeparderriereGribouillesesromans。_
_Plantecommmeuneborne_，_Boucoirantoutcrott_，_Contempled’unoeilmorne_
_Mussettoutdebraille，etc。_
Itisevidentthat，aspoetry，thisdoesnotequalthe_Nuits。_
IntheautumntheywentforahoneymoontriptoFontainebleau。
Itwastherethatthestrangescenetookplacewhichismentionedin_ElleetLui_。Oneeveningwhentheywereintheforest，Mussethadanextraordinaryhallucination，whichhehashimselfdescribed：
_Danstinbois，surunebruyere，Aupiedd’unarbrevints’asseoirUnjeunehommevetudenoirQuimeressemnblailcommeunfrere。
leluidemandaismonchemin，Iltenaitunluthd’uemain，Del’autreunbouquetd’eglantine。
Ilmefittinsalutd’amiEt，sedetournantademu，Memontradudoigtlacolline。_
Hereallysawthis"double，"dressedinblack，whichwastovisithimagainlateron。His_Nuitdedecembre_waswrittenfromit。
TheynowwantedtoseeItalytogether。MussethadalreadywrittenonVenice；henowwantedtogothere。MadamedeMussetobjectedtothis，butGeorgeSandpromisedsosincerelythatshewouldbeamothertotheyoungmanthatfinallyhisownmothergaveherconsent。
OntheeveningofDecember12，1833，PauldeMussetaccompaniedthetwotravellerstothemail—coach。OntheboatfromLyonstoAvignontheymetwithabig，intel—
ligent—lookingman。ThiswasBeyle—Stendhal，whowasthenConsulatCivita—Vecchia。Hewasonhiswaytohispost。Theyenjoyedhislivelyconversation，althoughhemadefunoftheirillusionsaboutItalyandtheItaliancharacter。Hemadefun，though，ofeverythingandofeveryone，andtheyfeltthathewasonlybeingwittyandtryingtoappearunkind。Atdinnerhedranktoomuch，andfinishedbydancingroundthetableinhisgreatfur—
linedboots。Lateronhegavethemsomespecimensofhisobsceneconversation，sothattheyweregladtocontinuetheirjourneywithouthim。
Onthe28ththetravellersreachedFlorence。Theaspectofthiscityandhisresearchesinthe_Chroniquesflorentines_suppliedthepoetwiththesubjectfor_Lorenzaccio_。ItappearsthatGeorgeSandandMusseteachtreatedthissubject，andthata_Lorenzaccio_byGeorgeSandexists。Ihavenotreadit，butI
preferMusset’sversion。TheyreachedVeniceonJanuary19，1834，andputupattheHotelDanieli。Bythistimetheywereatloggerheads。
Thecauseoftheirquarrelanddisagreementisnotreallyknown，andtheactivityofretrospectivejournalistshasnotsucceededinfindingthisout。GeorgeSand’slettersonlygivedetailsabouttheirfinalquarrel。Onarriving，GeorgeSandwasill，andthisexasperatedMusset。Hewasannoyed，anddeclaredthatawomanoutofsortswasverytrying。Therearegoodreasonsforbelievingthathehadfoundherverytryingforsometime。
Hewasveryelegantandshealearned"whiteblackbird。"
Hewascapriciousandsheaplacid，steady_bourgeois_woman，veryhard—workingandveryregularinthemidstofherirregularity。
Heusedtocallher"personifiedboredom，thedreamer，thesillywoman，thenun，"whenhedidnotusetermswhichwecannottranscribe。
Theclimaxwaswhenhesaidtoher："Iwasmistaken，George，andIbegyourpardon，forIdonotloveyou。"
Woundedandoffended，shereplied："Wedonotloveeachotheranylonger，andweneverreallylovedeachother。"
Theythereforetookbacktheirindependence。Thisisapointtonote，asGeorgeSandconsideredthisfactofthegreatestimportance，andsheconstantlyreferstoit。Shewasfromhenceforthfree，asregardedhercompanion。
IllnesskeptthemnowatVenice。GeorgeSand’sillnessfirstandthenMusset’salarmingmalady。Hehadhighfever，accompaniedbychestaffectionandattacksofdeliriumwhichlastedsixconsecutivehours，duringwhichittookfourmentoholdhim。
GeorgeSandwasanadmirablenurse。Thismustcertainlybeacknowledged。Shesatupwithhimatnightandshenursedhimbyday，and，astonishingwomanthatshewas，shewasalsoabletoworkandtoearnenoughtopaytheircommonexpenses。
Thisiswellknown，butIamabletogiveanotherproofofit，intheletterswhichGeorgeSandwrotefromVenicetoBuloz。
TheselettershavebeencommunicatedtomebyMadamePailleron，_nee_Buloz，andbyMadameLandouzy，_veuve_Buloz，whomIthankforthepublicandformyself。Thefollowingareafewoftheessentialpassages：
"February4。
_Readthiswhenyouarealone。_
MYDEARBULOZ，——Yourreproachesreachmeatamiserablemoment。Ifyouhavereceivedmyletter，youalreadyknowthatIdonotdeservethem。
AfortnightagoIwaswellagainandworking。Alfredwasworkingtoo，althoughhewasnotverywellandhadfitsoffeverishness。
Aboutfivedaysagowewerebothtakenill，almostatthesametime。
Ihadanattackofdysentery，whichcausedmehorriblesuffering。
Ihavenotyetrecoveredfromit，butIamstrongenough，anyhow，tonursehim。Hewasseizedwithanervousandinflammatoryfever，whichhasmadesuchrapidprogressthatthedoctortellsmehedoesnotknowwhattothinkaboutit。Wemustwaitforthethirteenthorfourteenthdaybeforeknowingwhetherhislifeisindanger。
Andwhatwillthisthirteenthorfourteenthdaybe？Perhapshislastone？Iamindespair，overwhelmedwithfatigue，sufferinghorribly，andawaitingwhoknowswhatfuture？HowcanIgivemyselfuptoliteratureortoanythingintheworldatsuchatime？Ionlyknowthatourentirefortune，atpresent，consistsofsixtyfrancs，thatweshallhavetospendanenormousamountatthechemist’s，forthenurseanddoctor，andthatweareataveryexpensivehotel。
Wewerejustabouttoleaveitandgotoaprivatehouse。
Alfredcannotbemovednow，andevenifeverythingshouldgowell，heprobablycannotbemovedforamonth。Weshallhavetopayoneterm’srentfornothing，andweshallreturntoFrance，pleaseGod。
Ifmyill—luckcontinues，andifAlfredshoulddie，IcanassureyouthatIdonotcarewhathappensaftertome。IfGodallowsAlfredtorecover，IdonotknowhowweshallpaytheexpensesofhisillnessandofhisreturntoFrance。Thethousandfrancsthatyouaretosendmewillnotsuffice，andIdonotknowwhatweshalldo。
Atanyrate，donotdelaysendingthat，as，bythetimeitarrives，itwillbemorethannecessary。Iamsorryabouttheannoyanceyouarehavingwiththedelayforpublishing，butyoucannowjudgewhetheritismyfault。IfonlyAlfredhadafewquietdays，Icouldsoonfinishmywork。Butheisinafrightfulstateofdeliriumandrestlessness。Icannotleavehimaninstant。
Ihavebeenninehourswritingthisletter。Adieu，myfriend，andpityme。
"GEORGE。
"Aboveeverything，donottellanyone，notanyoneintheworld，thatAlfredisill。Ifhismotherheard（anditonlyneedstwopersonsfortellingasecrettoallParis）shewouldgomad。
Ifshehastobetold，letwhowillundertaketotellher，butifinafortnightAlfredisoutofdanger，itisuselessforhertogrievenow。Adieu。"
"February13，1834。
"Myfriend，Alfredissaved。Therehasbeennofreshattack，andwehavenearlyreachedthefourteenthdaywithouttheimprovementhavingaltered。Afterthebrainaffectioninflammationofthelungsdeclareditself，andthisratheralarmedusfortwodays……Heisextremelyweakatpresent，andhewandersoccasionally。Hehastobenursednightandday。
Donotimagine，therefore，thatIamonlymakingpretextsforthedelayinmywork。Ihavenotundressedforeightnights。Isleeponasofa，andhavetogetupatanyminute。Inspiteofthis，eversinceIhavebeenrelievedinmymindaboutthedanger，Ihavebeenabletowriteafewpagesinthemorningswhileheisresting。YoumaybesurethtIshouldliketobeabletotakeadvantageofthistimetorestmyself。Beassured，myfriend，thatIamnotshortofcourage，noryetofthewilltowork。
YouarenotmoreanxiousthanIamthatIshouldcarryoutmyengagements。Youknowthatadebtmakesmesmartlikeawound。
Butyouarefriendenoughtomakeallowancesformysituationandnottoleavemeindifficulties。Iamspendingverywretcheddayshereatthisbedside，fortheslightestsound，theslightestmovementcausesmeconstantterror。InthisdispositionofmindIshallnotwriteanylightworks。Theywillbeheavy，onthecontrary，likemyfatigueandmysadness。
"Donotleavemewithoutmoney，Ibeseechyou，orIdonotknowwhatwillhappentome。Ispendabouttwentyfrancsadayinmedicineofallsorts。Wedonotknowhowtokeephimalive……"
TheselettersgivethelietosomeofthegossipthathasbeenspreadabroadwithregardtotheepisodeoftheHotelDanieli。
AndItoo，thankstotheseletters，shallhaveputanendtoalegend！
InthesecondvolumeofWladimirKarenine’sworkonGeorgeSand，onpage61，wehavethefollowingwords——
"MonsieurPlauchuttellsusthat，accordingtoBuloz，MussethadbeenenticedintoagamblinghellduringhisstayinVenice，andhadlostaboutfourhundredpoundsthere。Theimprudentyoungmancouldnotpaythisdebtofhonour，andheneverwouldhavebeenabletodoso。Hehadtochoosebetweensuicideordishonour。
GeorgeSanddidnothesitateamoment。Shewroteatoncetothemanagerofthe_Revue_，askinghimtoadvancethemoney。"
Andthisdebtwasonhershouldersforalongtime。
Thefactsofthecaseareasfollows，accordingtoaletterfromGeorgeSandtoBuloz："Ibeseechyou，asafavour，topayAlfred’sdebtandtowritetohimthatitisallsettled。Youcannotimaginetheimpatienceandthedisturbancethatthislittlemattercausehim。
Hespeakstomeofiteveryminute，andbegsmeeverydaytowritetoyouaboutit。Heowesthesethreehundredandsixtyfrancs（L148_s_。）toayoungmanheknowsverylittleandwhomighttalkofittopeople……Youhavealreadyadvancedmuchlargersumstohim。Hehasalwayspaidyouback，andyouarenotafraidthatthiswouldmakeyoubankrupt。If，throughhisillness，heshouldnotbeabletoworkforalongtime，myworkcouldbeusedforthat，sobeatease……Dothis，Ibeseechyou，andwritehimashortlettertoeasehismindatonce。Iwillthenreadittohim，andthiswillpacifyoneofthetormentsofhispoorhead。Oh，myfriend，ifyouonlyknewwhatthisdeliriumislike！Whatsublimeandawfulthingshehassaid，andthenwhatconvulsionsandshouts！
IdonotknowhowhehashadstrengthenoughtopullthroughandhowitisthatIhavenotgonemadmyself。Adieu，adieu，myfriend。"
Therereallywasagamblingdebt，then，butwedonotknowexactlywhereitwascontracted。Itamountedtothreehundredandsixtyfrancs，whichisverydifferentfromthetenthousandfrancsandthethreatofsuicide。
Andnowwecometothepurefolly！Mussethadbeenattendedbyayoungdoctor，PietroPagello。Hewasastraightforwardsortofyoungman，ofratherslowintelligence，withoutmuchconversation，notspeakingFrench，butveryhandsome。GeorgeSandfellinlovewithhim。Onenight，afterhavingscribbledaletterofthreepages，sheputitintoanenvelopewithoutanyaddressandgaveittoPagello。
Heaskedhertowhomhewastogivetheletter。GeorgeSandtooktheenvelopebackandwroteonit："TostupidPagello。"
Wehavethisdeclaration，andamongotherthingsintheletterarethefollowinglines："Youwillnotdeceiveme，anyhow。Youwillnotmakeanyidlepromisesandfalsevows……Ishallnot，perhaps，findinyouwhatIhavesoughtforinothers，but，atanyrate，Icanalwaysbelievethatyoupossessit……Ishallbeabletointerpretyourmeditationsandmakeyoursilencespeakeloquently……"ThisshowsusclearlythekindofcharmGeorgeSandfoundinPagello。Shelovedhimbecausehewasstupid。
Thenextquestionsare，whendidtheybecomelovers，andhowdidMussetdiscovertheirintimacy？Itisquitecertainthathesuspectedit，andthathemadePagelloconfesshisloveforGeorgeSand。[20]A
mostextraordinaryscenethentookplacebetweenthethreeofthem，accordingtoGeorgeSand’sownaccount。"Adieu，then，"shewrotetoMusset，lateron，"adieutothefinepoemofoursacredfriendshipandofthatidealbondformedbetweenthethreeofus，whenyoudraggedfromhimtheconfessionofhisloveformeandwhenhevowedtoyouthathewouldmakemehappy。Oh，thatnightofenthusiasm，when，inspiteofus，youjoinedourhands，saying：
`Youloveeachotherandyetyouloveme，foryouhavesavedme，bodyandsoul。"Thus，then，MussethadsolemnlyabjuredhisloveforGeorgeSand，hehadengagedhismistressofthenightbeforetoanewlover，andwasfromhenceforthtobetheirbestfriend。
Suchwastheidealbond，suchthesacredfriendship！Thismaybeconsideredtheromanticescapade。
[20]OnoneofGeorgeSand’sunpublishedletterstoBulozthefollowinglinesarewritteninthehandwritingofBuloz：
"Inthemorningongettinguphediscovered，inanadjoiningroom，atea—tablestillset，butwithonlyonecup。
"`Didyouhaveteayesterdayevening？’
"`Yes，’answeredGeorgeSand，`Ihadteawiththedoctor。’
"`Ah，howisitthatthereisonlyonecup？’
"`Theotherhasbeentakenaway。’
"`No，nothinghasbeentakenaway。Youdrankoutofthesamecup。’
"`Evenifthatwereso，youhavenolongertherighttotroubleaboutsuchthings。’
"`Ihavetheright，asIamstillsupposedtobeyourlover。
Yououghtatleasttoshowmerespect，and，asIamleavinginthreedays，youmightwaituntilIhavegonetodoasyoulike。’
"ThenightfollowingthissceneMussetdiscoveredGeorgeSand，crouchingonherbed，writingaletter。
"`Whatareyoudoing？’heasked。
"`Iamreading，’shereplied，andsheblewoutthecandle。
"`Ifyouarereading，whydoyouputthecandleout？’
"`Itwentoutitself：lightitagain。’
"AlfreddeMussetlititagain。
"`Ah，soyouwerereading，andyouhavenobook。Infamouswoman，youmightaswellsaythatyouarewritingtoyourlover。’
GeorgeSandhadrecoursetoherusualthreatofleavingthehouse。
AlfreddeMussetreadherup：`Youarethinkingofahorribleplan。
Youwanttohurryofftoyourdoctor，pretendthatIammadandthatyourlifeisindanger。Youwillnotleavethisroom。
Iwillkeepyoufromanythingsobase。Ifyoudogo，Iwillputsuchanepitaphonyourgravethatthepeoplewhoreaditwillturnpale，’
saidAlfredwithterribleenergy。
"GeorgeSandwastremblingandcrying。
"`Inolongerloveyou，’AlfredsaidscoffinglytoGeorgeSand。
"`Itistherightmomenttotakeyourpoisonortogoanddrownyourself。’
"ConfessiontoAlfredofhersecretaboutthedoctor。Reconciliation。
Alfred’sdeparture。GeorgeSand’saffectionateandenthusiasticletters。"
Sucharethefamousepisodesofthe_tea—cup_and_theletter_
asBulozheardthemtoldatthetime。{Theendoffootnote[20]}
MussetreturnedinMarch，1834，leavingGeorgeSandwithPagelloinVenice。Thesentimentalexaggerationcontinued，asweseefromthelettersexchangedbetweenMussetandGeorgeSand。
WhencrossingtheSimplontheimmutablegrandeuroftheAlpsstruckAlussetwithadmiration，andhethoughtofhistwo"greatfriends。"
Hisheadwasevidentlyturnedbytheheightsfromwhichhelookedatthings。GeorgeSandwrotetohim："IamnotgivingyouanymessagefromPagello，exceptthatheisalmostassadasI
amatyourabsence。""Heisafinefellow，"answeredMusset。
"TellhimhowmuchIlikehim，andthatmyeyesfillwithtearswhenIthinkofhim。"Lateronhewrites："WhenIsawPagello，Irecognizedinhimthebettersideofmyownnature，butpureandfreefromtheirreparablestainswhichhaveruinedmine。"
"Alwaystreatmelikethat，"writesMussetagain。"Itmakesmefeelproud。Mydearfriend，thewomanwhotalksofhernewloverinthiswaytotheoneshehasgivenup，butwhostilllovesher，giveshimaproofofthegreatestesteemthatamancanreceivefromawoman……"Thatromanticismwhichmadeadramaofthesituationin_L’EcoledesFemmes_，andanotheroneoutofthatinthe_Precieusesridicules_，excelsintakingtragicallysituationsthatbelongtocomedyandinturningthemintothesublime。
MeanwhileGeorgeSandhadsettleddowninVenicewithPagello——
andwithallthefamily，allthePagellotribe，withthebrother，thesister，tosaynothingofthevariousrivalswhocameandmadescenes。Itwasthevulgar，ordinaryplatitudeofanItalianintimacyofthiskind。Inspiteofeverything，shecontinuedcongratulatingherselfonherchoice。
"Ihavemylove，mystayherewithme。Heneversuffers，forheisneverweakorsuspicious……Heiscalmandgood……
Helovesmeandisatpeace；heishappywithoutmyhavingtosuffer，withoutmyhavingtomakeeffortsforhishappiness……Asforme，Imustsufferforsomeone。Itisjustthissufferingwhichnurturesmymaternalsolicitude，etc……"ShefinallybeginstowearyofherdearPagello’sstupidity。ItoccurredtohertotakehimwithhertoParis，andthatwastheclimax。Therearesomethingswhichcannotbetransplantedfromonecountrytoanother。WhentheyhadoncesetfootinParis，theabsurdityoftheirsituationappearedtothem。
"FromthemomentthatPagellolandedinFrance，"saysGeorgeSand，"hecouldnotunderstandanything。"Theonethingthathewascompelledtounderstandwasthathewasnolongerwanted。
Hewassimplypushedout。GeorgeSandhadaremarkablegiftforbringingoutthecharacteristicsofthepersonswithwhomshehadanyintercourse。ThisPagello，thankstohisadventurewithher，hasbecomeintheeyesoftheworldapersonageascomicasoneofMoliere’scharacters。
MussetandGeorgeSandstillcaredforeachother。Hebeseechedhertoreturntohim。"Iamgood—for—nothing，"hesays，"forIamsimplysteepedinmyloveforyou。IdonotknowwhetherIamalive，whetherIeat，drink，orbreathe，butIknowIaminlove。"
GeorgeSandwasafraidtoreturntohim，andSainte—Beuveforbadeher。
Loveprovedstrongerthanallotherarguments，however，andsheyielded。
Assoonasshewaswithhimoncemore，theirtorturecommencedagain，withallthecustomarycomplaints，reproachesandrecriminations。
"Iwasquitesurethatallthesereproacheswouldbeginagainimmediatelyafterthehappinesswehaddreamedofandpromisedeachother。Oh，God，tothinkthatwehavealreadyarrivedatthis！"
shewrites。
Whattorturedthemwasthatthepast，whichtheyhadbelievedtobe"abeautifulpoem，"nowseemedtothemahideousnightmare。Allthis，weread，wasagamethattheywereplaying。Acruelsortofgame，ofwhichMussetgrewmoreandmoreweary，butwhichtoGeorgeSandgraduallybecameanecessity。Weseethis，asfromhenceforthitwasshewhoimploredMusset。Inherdiary，datedDecember24，1834，weread：
"AndwhatifIrushedtohimwhenmyloveistoostrongforme。
WhatifIwentandbrokethebell—pullwithringing，untilheopenedhisdoortome。OrifIlaydownacrossthethresholduntilhecameout！"Shecutoffhermagnificenthairandsentittohim。
Suchwasthewayinwhichthisproudwomanhumbledherself。
Shewasapreytolove，whichseemedtoheraholycomplaint。
ItwasacaseofVenusentirelydevotedtoherprey。Thequestionis，wasthisreallylove？"Inolongerloveyou，"shewrites，"butI
stilladoreyou。Idonotwantyouanymore，butIcannotdowithoutyou。"TheyhadthecouragetogiveeachotherupfinallyinMarch，1835。
Itnowremainsforustoexplainthesingularityofthisadventure，which，asamatteroffact，wasbeyondalllogic，eventhelogicofpassion。Itis，however，readilyunderstood，ifwetreatitasacaseofacuteromanticism，thefinestcaseofromanticism，thathasbeenactuallylived，whichthehistoryoflettersoffersus。
Theromanticismconsistsfirstinexposingone’slifetothepublic，inpublishingone’smostsecretjoysandsorrows。FromtheverybeginningGeorgeSandandMussettookthewholecircleoftheirfriendsintotheirconfidence。Thesefriendswereliterarypeople。
GeorgeSandspeciallyinformsSainte—Beuvethatshewisheshersentimentallifefromthenceforthtobeknown。Theywerequiteawarethattheywereonshow，asitwere，subjectsofanexperimentthatwouldbediscussedby"thegallery。"
Romanticismconsistsnextinthewriterputtinghislifeintohisbooks，makingliteratureoutofhisemotions。Theideaofputtingtheiradventureintoastoryoccurredtothetwoloversbeforetheadventurehadcometoanend。ItwasatVenicethatGeorgeSandwroteherfirst_Lettresd’unvoyageur_，addressedtothepoet——andtothesubscribersofthe_RevuedesDeuxMondes_。Musset，toimproveonthisidea，decidestowriteanovelfromtheepisodewhichwasstillunfinished。
"Iwillnotdie，"hesays，"untilIhavewrittenmybookonyouandonmyself，moreparticularlyonyou。No，mybeautiful，holyfiancee，youshallnotreturntothiscoldearthbeforeitknowsthewomanwhohaswalkedonit。No，Iswearthisbymyyouthandgenius。"
Musset’scontributionstothisliteraturewere_Confessiond’unenfantdusiecle_，_Histoired’unmerleblanc_，_ElleetLui_，andallthatfollowed。
Inaninverseorder，romanticismconsistsinputtingliteratureintoourlife，intakingthelatestliteraryfashionforourruleofaction。Thisisnotonlyaproofofwantoftaste；
itisamostdangerousmistake。Theromanticists，whohadsomanywrongideas，hadnonemoreerroneousthantheirideaoflove，andinthecorrespondencebetweenGeorgeSandandMussetweseetheparadoxinallitsbeauty。Itconsistsinsayingthatloveleadstovirtueandthatitleadstherethroughchange。Whethertheideacameoriginallyfrom_her_orfrom_him_，thiswastheircommonfaith。
"Youhavesaiditahundredtimesover，"writesGeorgeSand，"anditisallinvainthatyouretract；nothingwillnoweffacethatsentence：`Loveistheonlythingintheworldthatcounts。’
Itmaybethatitisadivinefacultywhichweloseandthenfindagain，thatwemustcultivate，orthatwehavetobuywithcruelsuffering，withpainfulexperience。Thesufferingyouhaveenduredthroughlovingmewasperhapsdestined，inorderthatyoumightloveanotherwomanmoreeasily。PerhapsthenextwomanmayloveyoulessthanIdo，andyetshemaybemorehappyandmorebeloved。
Therearesuchmysteriesinthesethings，andGodurgesusalongnewanduntroddenpaths。Givein；donotattempttoresist。
HedoesnotdesertHisprivilegedones。Hetakesthembythehandandplacestheminthemidstofthesandbanks，wheretheyaretolearntolive，inorderthattheymaysitdownatthebanquetatwhichtheyaretorest……"Lateronshewritesasfollows："Doyouimaginethatoneloveaffair，oreventwo，cansufficeforexhaustingortakingthefreshnessfromastrongsoul？Ibelievedthis，too，foralongtime，butIknownowthatitisquitethecontrary。
Loveisafirethatendeavourstoriseandtopurifyitself。
Perhapsthemorewehavefailedinourendeavourstofindit，themoreaptwebecometodiscoverit，andthemorewehavebeenobligedtochange，themoreconservativeweshallbecome。Whoknows？
Itisperhapstheterrible，magnificentandcourageousworkofawholelifetime。Itisacrownofthornswhichwillblossomandbecoveredwithroseswhenourhairbeginstoturnwhite。
Thiswaspurefrenzy，andyetthereweretwobeingsreadytodrinkinallthispathos，twolivingbeingstoliveoutthismonstrouschimera。Sucharetheravagesthatacertainconceptionofliteraturemaymake。Bytheexamplewehaveofthesetwoillustriousvictims，wemayimaginethattherewereothers，andverymanyothers，obscureandunknownindividuals，buthumanbeingsallthesame，whowereequallyduped。Thereareunwholesomefashionsinliterature，which，translatedintolife，meanruin。
TheVeniceadventureshowsupthetruthofthisinbrightdaylight。
Thisisitsinterestanditslesson。
V
THEFRIENDOFMICHEL（DEBOURGES）
LISZTANDCOMTESSED’AGOULT。_MAUPRAT_
WehavegiventheessentialfeaturesoftheVeniceadventure。
Theloveaffair，intowhichGeorgeSandandMussethadputsomuchliterature，wastoserveliterature。Writersoftheromanticschoolaregiventomakinglittlesongswiththeirgreatsorrows。
WhenthecorrespondencebetweenGeorgeSandandMussetappeared，everyonewassurprisedtofindpassagesthatwerealreadywellknown。
Suchpassageshadalreadyappearedintheprintedworkofthepoetoroftheauthoress。Anidea，aword，oranillustrationusedbytheonewasnow，perhaps，tobefoundintheworkoftheotherone。
"ItisIwhohavelived，"writesGeorgeSand，"andnotanunrealbeingcreatedbymyprideandmy_ennui_。"WeallknowtheusetowhichMussetputthisphrase。HewrotethefamouscoupletofPerdicanwithit："Allmenareuntruthful，inconstant，false，chatterers，hypocritical，proud，cowardly，contemptibleandsensual；
allwomenareperfidious，artful，vain，inquisitiveanddepraved……Thereis，though，inthisworldonethingwhichisholyandsublime。Itistheunionofthesetwobeings，imperfectandfrightfulastheyare。Weareoftendeceivedinourlove；
weareoftenwoundedandoftenunhappy，butstillwelove，andwhenweareonthebrinkofthetombweshallturnround，lookback，andsaytoourselves：`Ihaveoftensuffered，Ihavesometimesbeendeceived，butIhaveloved。ItisIwhohavelived，andnotanunrealbeingcreatedbymyprideand_ennui_。’"
Endlessinstancesofthiskindcouldbegiven。TheyaresimplythesignofthereciprocalinfluenceexercisedovereachotherbyGeorgeSandandMusset，aninfluencetobetracedthroughalltheirwork。
Thisinfluencewasofadifferentkindandofunequaldegree。ItwasGeorgeSandwhofirstmadeliteratureoftheircommonrecollections。
Someoftheserecollectionswereveryrecentonesandwereimpregnatedwithtears。ThetwolovershadonlyjustseparatedwhenGeorgeSandmadetheexcursiondescribedinthefirst_Lettred’unvoyageur_。
ShegoesalongtheBrenta。ItisthemonthofMay，andthemeadowsareinflower。InthehorizonsheseesthesnowypeaksoftheTyroleseAlpsstandingout。Theremembranceofthelonghoursspentattheinvalid’sbedsidecomesbacktoher，withalltheanguishofthesacredpassioninwhichshethinkssheseesGod’sanger。
ShethenpaysavisittotheOlierogrottoes，andoncemoreherwoundedlovemakesherheartache。ShereturnsthroughPossagno，whosebeautifulwomenservedasmodelsforCanova。ShethengoesbacktoVenice，andthedoctorgivesheraletterfromthemanshehasgivenup，themanshehassentaway。Thesepoeticaldescriptions，alternatingwithlyricaleffusions，thiskindofdialoguewithtwovoices，oneofwhichisthatofnatureandtheotherthatoftheheart，remindusofoneofMusset’s_Nuits_。
Thesecondofthese_Lettresd’unvoyageur_isentirelydescriptive。
第3章