In sending
me to Turin, I thought they engaged to find me an agreeable
subsistence there; thus eased of every care I passed lightly on, while
young desires, enchanting hopes, and brilliant prospects employed my
mind; each object that presented itself seemed to insure my
approaching felicity. I imagined that every house was filled with
joyous festivity, the meadows resounded with sports and revelry, the
rivers offered refreshing baths, delicious fish wantoned in their
streams, and how delightful was it to ramble along the flowery
banks! The trees were loaded with the choicest fruits, while their
shade afforded the most charming and voluptuous retreats to happy
lovers; the mountains abounded with milk and cream, peace and leisure,
simplicity and joy, mingled with the charm of going I knew not
whither, and everything I saw carried to my heart some new cause for
rapture. The grandeur, variety, and real beauty of the scene, in
some measure rendered the charm reasonable, in which vanity came in
for its share; to go so young to Italy, view such an extent of
country, and pursue the route of Hannibal over the Alps, appeared a
glory beyond my age; add to all this our frequent and agreeable halts,
with a good appetite and plenty to satisfy it; for in truth it was not
worth while to be sparing; at M. Sabran's table what I eat could
scarce be missed.
In the whole course of my life I cannot recollect an interval more
perfectly exempt from care, than the seven or eight days I was passing
from Annecy to Turin.
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