Truls Ljungström’s Reviews > Life, Letters, and Epicurean Philosophy of Ninon De L'enclos > Status Update

Frågan om vad som finns kvar.

timiditet

(brev 8)

St Evremond till L'Enclos: Your life, my well beloved, has been too illustrious not to be lived in the same manner until the end. Do not permit M. de la Rochefoucauld’s “hell” to frighten you; it was a devised hell he desired to construct into a maxim. Pronounce the word “love” boldly, and that of “old age” will never pass your lips.

Sévigné 35: I am beginning to understand, Marquis, that the only way to live with the most reasonable woman, is never to meddle with her heart affairs. I have, therefore, made up my mind. Henceforward I shall never mention your name to the Countess, unless she insists upon my doing so; I do not like bickerings.

Well, Marquis, in love as in war, the pleasure of obtaining a victory is measured according to the obstacles in the way of it.

Brev 28, Sévigné: Antag att kärlek finner oss. Vad kan vi göra med en person som bara är vacker? Vad kan vi tillbringa tid med, med en person som inte charmerar oss, bortom skönhet? Kärleken kräver liv, den brinner och äter sitt bränsle, och den bränner bara det som är nyttigt för den. När inte hjärnan är aktiv med en person, kommer den söka andra nöjen.

Sévigné 27: Is love not a passion? Do not very strict minded people pretend that the passions and vices mean the same things? Is vice ever more seductive than when it wears the cloak of virtue? Wherefore in order to corrupt virtuous souls it is sufficient for it to appear in a potential form.

Brev 20, Sévigné: Moderate, therefore, your imprudent vivacity; manifest less passion and you will excite more in her heart. We do not appreciate the worth of a prize more than when we are on the point of losing it. Some regulation in matters of love is indispensable for the happiness of both parties.

Sévigné brev 15: Vi skulle förlora mycket, om folk var ärliga med sina begär. Världen har valt att leka sin kärlek, som en komemdi, och det kräver att vi låtsas. Låt oss vara charmerade, utan att försöka förstå varför. Den som analyserar kärleken är nära att bota den. "Psyche lost it for having been too curious, and I am tempted to believe that this fable is a lesson for those who wish to analyze pleasure."