Letter from Marco to Cesar 28 March 1860 - Archive number 829
Paris 28th March 1860
Before I forget , my dear boy, I must tell you that in Italian, when the vocative is used, the possessive always comes after the noun; thus one cannot say “carissimo mio padre” but “carissimo padre mio”; that having been said, “parliamo d’altro” (let us speak of other things).
Do you know that your dear and good Lady has written me a marvellous letter, not only from the point of view of language and style, but also of the sentiments expressed in it? And that for me is a hundred times more important. I am only sorry that this letter having been opened, you will no doubt have been aware of it and will have read descriptions of a young gentleman known to you which will have made you blush…… with pleasure, of course: and there permit me a little return of vanity – I recognised that you were indeed my son for I remembered my own young days when similar things were said and written to me in more than one language. Happy times! And since, for a quarter of an hour, I have been forced to adopt the famous motto of the Bruces of Scotland “Fuimus” “We were” this is always very pleasant; for after all , each age has its preoccupation, or rather its occupation; that of youth is desire and that of old age memories. In fact I am, sorry for those who, in their old age, have no other memory than of the money they have amassed; that must only make them think of their dirty hands and even of something dirtier than that. This is not to say that one should totally despise the article known as money: on the contrary I advise you “per quanto so e posso” (as strongly as possible) to concern yourself with it: that will be a doubly worthwhile task, for you will concern yourself with it on your own behalf and also on mine, who have never understood it at all; I shall be grateful to you as if you were doing a penance for one of my sins. I congratulate you with all of my heart on that aspect of your trade which you call a mess of pottage and I earnestly desire that it should obtain for you, as for Jacob, the right of primogeniture; in other words that it should place you at the head of all photographers past, present and future, in a word possible and impossible. And it will be so; on that subject I have exactly the same ideas as your dear Julie; I believe you destined for a great brilliant success. I beg you forgive me such a desultory letter. I don’t really know what I am writing or how to write it. Do you know that my Swiss friend, who is a fine and good looking Italian, overwhelms me, attacks me, kills me with commissions for which I must go all over Paris and the suburbs and then there is my own departure and my bags to pack!. That is the trouble, that is why “caro figlio mio” (my dear little son) I hastily send my love (and ask you to pass some of it on to your dear and good Julie).
Ever your affectionate father
Marc-Aurele
PS
If you have something important to tell me or something I could do for you here, I must tell you that my departure is fixed for the night of Saturday 2nd June
All the best
Before I forget , my dear boy, I must tell you that in Italian, when the vocative is used, the possessive always comes after the noun; thus one cannot say “carissimo mio padre” but “carissimo padre mio”; that having been said, “parliamo d’altro” (let us speak of other things).
Do you know that your dear and good Lady has written me a marvellous letter, not only from the point of view of language and style, but also of the sentiments expressed in it? And that for me is a hundred times more important. I am only sorry that this letter having been opened, you will no doubt have been aware of it and will have read descriptions of a young gentleman known to you which will have made you blush…… with pleasure, of course: and there permit me a little return of vanity – I recognised that you were indeed my son for I remembered my own young days when similar things were said and written to me in more than one language. Happy times! And since, for a quarter of an hour, I have been forced to adopt the famous motto of the Bruces of Scotland “Fuimus” “We were” this is always very pleasant; for after all , each age has its preoccupation, or rather its occupation; that of youth is desire and that of old age memories. In fact I am, sorry for those who, in their old age, have no other memory than of the money they have amassed; that must only make them think of their dirty hands and even of something dirtier than that. This is not to say that one should totally despise the article known as money: on the contrary I advise you “per quanto so e posso” (as strongly as possible) to concern yourself with it: that will be a doubly worthwhile task, for you will concern yourself with it on your own behalf and also on mine, who have never understood it at all; I shall be grateful to you as if you were doing a penance for one of my sins. I congratulate you with all of my heart on that aspect of your trade which you call a mess of pottage and I earnestly desire that it should obtain for you, as for Jacob, the right of primogeniture; in other words that it should place you at the head of all photographers past, present and future, in a word possible and impossible. And it will be so; on that subject I have exactly the same ideas as your dear Julie; I believe you destined for a great brilliant success. I beg you forgive me such a desultory letter. I don’t really know what I am writing or how to write it. Do you know that my Swiss friend, who is a fine and good looking Italian, overwhelms me, attacks me, kills me with commissions for which I must go all over Paris and the suburbs and then there is my own departure and my bags to pack!. That is the trouble, that is why “caro figlio mio” (my dear little son) I hastily send my love (and ask you to pass some of it on to your dear and good Julie).
Ever your affectionate father
Marc-Aurele
PS
If you have something important to tell me or something I could do for you here, I must tell you that my departure is fixed for the night of Saturday 2nd June
All the best