Marcel PROUST marvels at the beauty of Alfred de Musset's verses.

Marcel Proust (1871.1922)

Autograph letter signed to Baroness Aimery Harty of Pierrebourg.

Four pages in-12°. Thursday evening [June 25 or July 2, 1903]

Kolb, Volume III, pages 362-363.

“I don't have the feeling that the violence of desire can change anything around us. »

Long and beautiful letter from Proust marveling at the beauty of Musset's verses.

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“Madame, You are too kind to have taken the trouble to read this cold dissertation on the ardent life of your book. And as for the trouble of answering it, I am confused. How could you believe that my remark about Musset hid a reproach? Antoine Bibesco will be able to tell you that a few days ago, having not yet read your book and having only seen the epigraph, I praised the inimitable grace of these verses. He disagreed with me objecting to the French mistake of “entre un double chemin”. But for me the grace of “And” was the strongest.

“He experiences Voluptuousness etc.

And followed Virtue. »

We would all have said: “He saw Voluptuousness, he also saw Virtue, but followed Virtue”. This delicious shortcut: “And followed Virtue” Musset alone could find it. I see it wasn't Musset. You say that you misremembered, and modestly put the discovery down not to your taste but to your memory. Let me say that we only have the memory we deserve and only the memory of our taste. The memory which so exquisitely improves Musset is a memory, even if unconsciously, very artistic. You almost say: that it was a mistake that you made. So let me say, again like Bernard’s masters, “Felix culpa!” » I can certainly allow myself as you say this “Latin appellation” since you yourself quote the Psalmist well: Levavi oculos meos in montem.

As for the philosophy of option, I believed that it was based solely on the observation of a law which in its essence remained mysterious. On the contrary, I see from your letter that you found a psychological basis for it. But alas I do not have the feeling that the violence of desire can change anything around us , or at least the only thing that would be important, the desire of another heart that we would like to turn towards us.

“For God who made grace with harmonies

Love makes a sigh that is not mutual. »

However, I know that there are shared loves. But unfortunately I don't know their secret. However, I have the feeling which in some way compensates for the previous one, namely that everything ends up happening, even what we desire, but only when we desire it more. Yet there are things that I'm starting to believe will never happen. But maybe I'm a little too persistent in wanting them. They are undoubtedly only waiting to arrive to me until the moment when I no longer desire them, but I am trying in vain to hasten it!

Goodbye Madam, I hope your pretty precious fish are doing well and continue to make the light display case that protects them worthy of those of the most dazzling jewelers. I couldn't help but think of them when you compared the eddies of the river to silver fish jumping on its surface. Very respectfully to you Madam, Marcel Proust.

Now I forget what constituted the practical aim, the reason for being and the excuse of this letter. Yes, I would be happy to come and have dinner. But I don't know when Bertrand De Fénelon is free. I will write to him tomorrow to tell him to get along with you. For me I am of course very free when I am quite healthy. But I'm feeling really bad at the moment. »