Letter Marco to Cesar 30th April 1860 Archive number 830
414 Rue Saint Honore
Paris
30-4-1860
My dear old chap,
I think you know me well enough to realise that I do not use too many words to express myself and that I go fairly straight to the point; therefore I will say openly that what has just happened makes me repeat over and over again to myself with you “Perhaps the Lord has had pity upon us” You cannot imagine how happy I am: I was alone, abandoned, overpowered by a profound sadness which devoured my heart and my spirits and then suddenly I find three children instead of two whom I lost. Ah yes, dear boy, lost indeed, for, when I am happy, I want the whole world to share my happiness, but when I am unhappy I behave like sick animals do, which hide in dark corners and cause no bother to anyone: in this respect, it is worth mentioning in passing they are greatly superior to mankind who when he has the tiniest scratch is indeed the most insufferable animal in creation. Ah well, my poor children, I think I should never again have given you any sign of life if God had not put matters right by causing an event to happen which one may regard as being of small importance but which is none the less the most serious event in one’s life. I do need to tell you that our dear Georges was wonderfully good to me for you realise this, since one always understands the things which one is capable of oneself. My daughter – the word daughter-in-law appears to me hard, indeed brutal – is the most charming creature imaginable: and I am not telling you that because she is as fond of me as if she had known me all her life, but because she possesses to a most outstanding extent that rare and indeed angelic quality of my dear and so missed Euphemie: goodness. In short, I think that this delightful couple will be as happy as it is possible to be on this planet: May God grant this.
Ah well my boy, you are now a really distinguished artist according to Georges and I can well believe him: bravo, I really do admire you for it for I can tell you that I count on you absolutely, and I may add exclusively, to restore the fortunes of our family which has lost so much. Yes indeed, old chap, and in this connection perhaps I may be permitted to say to you a few words of transcendent philosophy, humanly speaking. You know the parable of the talents, don’t you? This means in vulgar parlance that whoever has received from God some gift or other should make it doubly valuable from and even increase it tenfold, if he can. Now there is no doubt that you are an extremely handsome young man, that you have charming manners, and that you have the capacity to make people like you when you take the trouble to do so. It seems to me that you carry your head high, you understand me; that is marvellous my boy; for, my goodness, either one is the son of one’s father, or one is not – please realise that what I am saying is not absurd for I am taking into consideration physical beauty, to which I have never pretended. This being so, old chap, and finding yourself in a country ad hoc, profit from all your fine and good qualities and bring me back as few million and a wife. I am saying this because that is the basic meaning of the parable I have mentioned. And then, as I have often said to you, I shall show you how you can obtain titles, not by purchase, as the first Midas who comes along can do, but claimed and possessed by right. Jokes apart, you will either believe me or not, as you like, but I regard it as an established fact (no pun intended). But let us talk about something else. Many thanks for the charming portrait which you sent me; I am referring to yours for the one of Georges I already had. The country in which you are living is perhaps not the one most suited to your art and Paris would no doubt provide a more appropriate setting for your talents; and you believe that it would be wonderful for me if we could at last live a little together in holy peace. But, on this subject, I must remind you of what your great namesake said “I prefer to be the most important person in a village than the second most important in Rome” It is true to say, and I have no doubt about this, that here in Paris you would soon be a great man among the great and perhaps would become "cock of the walk” – in short, qualche santo provvedera (whatever God wills). Providence, which has already given us an indication of its goodness, will doubtless come to our aid in this connection also. You can’t imagine how excited I am at the thought that next October we may all be together in Paris and who knows whether this journey will not be the first link in your golden chain of aspirations and desires? Anything is possible. In the meantime if you will allow me just to say one thing to you which I am concerned about, you will know that at the beginning of June I am going to Switzerland where one of my good friends who is the owner of the Saxon Baths positively insists that I spend a couple of months there. This is a good thing, for I can tell you that, despite my pretended glories I am reduced to living rather like the Apostles, but the Lord has been good enough from time to time to send me several of his faithful, who have had pity on the poor pilgrim. So that deals with June and July. As for August and September, Georges insists that I spend them in Ostend with him. You see I really have a flair for seaside towns and since George’s holidays are from the 1st to the 24th October we shall all meet in Paris there to meet and embrace (in English) our dearest English friend. Isn’t that delightful? I have learnt, not with amusement as you may imagine, but with a great deal of pleasure, of your literary efforts and I am full of approval: and if another opportunity presents itself to you: seize it. I have myself just translated into French an Italian novel in 2 vols., I give a certain number of Italian and even guitar lessons; in the winter I give my little musical evening, and at the moment I am giving lectures on Italian literature: in other words one must do everything and, in doing so, one just about keeps body and soul together. This is not the fashion anymore and you have been clever to attach yourself to a novelty which is much in demand and which will always be so, for autophilia is far from about to die. If I knew how to do…….. I would be more sure of my facts than in producing verses or notes. The offer which you make to me of my portrait is very flattering but, my dear old chap, to make a jugged hare one must have a hare, that is to say, before anything else I really must publish my work: Georges tells me this will happen one day or another: so let us wait
But I think, God forgive me, that I have written you an interminable screed and it is time to close this totally unmusical gossip (causerie).
Write to me often, as often as your duties will permit, and remember that the thought of our future meeting gives me the greatest possible pleasure and is something to which I look forward immensely. Adieu, or perhaps I should say au revoir, my dear son, I send you all my love, now and always
Your affectionate father
Marc-Aurele
Paris
30-4-1860
My dear old chap,
I think you know me well enough to realise that I do not use too many words to express myself and that I go fairly straight to the point; therefore I will say openly that what has just happened makes me repeat over and over again to myself with you “Perhaps the Lord has had pity upon us” You cannot imagine how happy I am: I was alone, abandoned, overpowered by a profound sadness which devoured my heart and my spirits and then suddenly I find three children instead of two whom I lost. Ah yes, dear boy, lost indeed, for, when I am happy, I want the whole world to share my happiness, but when I am unhappy I behave like sick animals do, which hide in dark corners and cause no bother to anyone: in this respect, it is worth mentioning in passing they are greatly superior to mankind who when he has the tiniest scratch is indeed the most insufferable animal in creation. Ah well, my poor children, I think I should never again have given you any sign of life if God had not put matters right by causing an event to happen which one may regard as being of small importance but which is none the less the most serious event in one’s life. I do need to tell you that our dear Georges was wonderfully good to me for you realise this, since one always understands the things which one is capable of oneself. My daughter – the word daughter-in-law appears to me hard, indeed brutal – is the most charming creature imaginable: and I am not telling you that because she is as fond of me as if she had known me all her life, but because she possesses to a most outstanding extent that rare and indeed angelic quality of my dear and so missed Euphemie: goodness. In short, I think that this delightful couple will be as happy as it is possible to be on this planet: May God grant this.
Ah well my boy, you are now a really distinguished artist according to Georges and I can well believe him: bravo, I really do admire you for it for I can tell you that I count on you absolutely, and I may add exclusively, to restore the fortunes of our family which has lost so much. Yes indeed, old chap, and in this connection perhaps I may be permitted to say to you a few words of transcendent philosophy, humanly speaking. You know the parable of the talents, don’t you? This means in vulgar parlance that whoever has received from God some gift or other should make it doubly valuable from and even increase it tenfold, if he can. Now there is no doubt that you are an extremely handsome young man, that you have charming manners, and that you have the capacity to make people like you when you take the trouble to do so. It seems to me that you carry your head high, you understand me; that is marvellous my boy; for, my goodness, either one is the son of one’s father, or one is not – please realise that what I am saying is not absurd for I am taking into consideration physical beauty, to which I have never pretended. This being so, old chap, and finding yourself in a country ad hoc, profit from all your fine and good qualities and bring me back as few million and a wife. I am saying this because that is the basic meaning of the parable I have mentioned. And then, as I have often said to you, I shall show you how you can obtain titles, not by purchase, as the first Midas who comes along can do, but claimed and possessed by right. Jokes apart, you will either believe me or not, as you like, but I regard it as an established fact (no pun intended). But let us talk about something else. Many thanks for the charming portrait which you sent me; I am referring to yours for the one of Georges I already had. The country in which you are living is perhaps not the one most suited to your art and Paris would no doubt provide a more appropriate setting for your talents; and you believe that it would be wonderful for me if we could at last live a little together in holy peace. But, on this subject, I must remind you of what your great namesake said “I prefer to be the most important person in a village than the second most important in Rome” It is true to say, and I have no doubt about this, that here in Paris you would soon be a great man among the great and perhaps would become "cock of the walk” – in short, qualche santo provvedera (whatever God wills). Providence, which has already given us an indication of its goodness, will doubtless come to our aid in this connection also. You can’t imagine how excited I am at the thought that next October we may all be together in Paris and who knows whether this journey will not be the first link in your golden chain of aspirations and desires? Anything is possible. In the meantime if you will allow me just to say one thing to you which I am concerned about, you will know that at the beginning of June I am going to Switzerland where one of my good friends who is the owner of the Saxon Baths positively insists that I spend a couple of months there. This is a good thing, for I can tell you that, despite my pretended glories I am reduced to living rather like the Apostles, but the Lord has been good enough from time to time to send me several of his faithful, who have had pity on the poor pilgrim. So that deals with June and July. As for August and September, Georges insists that I spend them in Ostend with him. You see I really have a flair for seaside towns and since George’s holidays are from the 1st to the 24th October we shall all meet in Paris there to meet and embrace (in English) our dearest English friend. Isn’t that delightful? I have learnt, not with amusement as you may imagine, but with a great deal of pleasure, of your literary efforts and I am full of approval: and if another opportunity presents itself to you: seize it. I have myself just translated into French an Italian novel in 2 vols., I give a certain number of Italian and even guitar lessons; in the winter I give my little musical evening, and at the moment I am giving lectures on Italian literature: in other words one must do everything and, in doing so, one just about keeps body and soul together. This is not the fashion anymore and you have been clever to attach yourself to a novelty which is much in demand and which will always be so, for autophilia is far from about to die. If I knew how to do…….. I would be more sure of my facts than in producing verses or notes. The offer which you make to me of my portrait is very flattering but, my dear old chap, to make a jugged hare one must have a hare, that is to say, before anything else I really must publish my work: Georges tells me this will happen one day or another: so let us wait
But I think, God forgive me, that I have written you an interminable screed and it is time to close this totally unmusical gossip (causerie).
Write to me often, as often as your duties will permit, and remember that the thought of our future meeting gives me the greatest possible pleasure and is something to which I look forward immensely. Adieu, or perhaps I should say au revoir, my dear son, I send you all my love, now and always
Your affectionate father
Marc-Aurele