As we were obliged to walk Madam Sabran's
pace, it rather appeared an agreeable jaunt than a fatiguing
journey; there still remains the most pleasing impressions of it on my
mind, and the idea of a pedestrian excursion, particularly among the
mountains, has from this time seemed delightful.
It was only in my happiest days that I traveled on foot, and ever
with the most unbounded satisfaction; afterwards, occupied with
business and encumbered with baggage, I was forced to act the
gentleman and employ a carriage, where care, embarrassment, and
restraint, were sure to be my companions, and instead of being
delighted with the journey, I only wished to arrive at the place of
destination.
I was a long time at Paris, wishing to meet with two companions of
similar dispositions, who would each agree to appropriate fifty
guineas of his property and a year of his time to making the tour of
Italy on foot, with no other attendance than a young fellow to carry
our necessaries I have met with many who seemed enchanted with the
project, but considered it only as a visionary scheme, which served
well enough to talk of, without any design of putting it in execution.
One day, speaking with enthusiasm of this project to Diderot and
Grimm, they gave in to the proposal with such warmth that I thought
the matter concluded on; but it only turned out a journey on paper, in
which Grimm thought nothing so pleasing as making Diderot commit a
number of impieties, and shutting me up in the Inquisition for them,
instead of him.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88