I now learned from Venture that he had spoken of me to the Judge
Major, and would take me next day to dine with him; that he was a
man who by means of his friends might render me essential service.
In other respects he was a desirable acquaintance, being a man of
wit and letters, of agreeable conversation, one who possessed
talents and loved them in others. After this discourse (mingling the
most serious concerns with the most trifling frivolity) he showed me a
pretty couplet, which came from Paris, on an air in one of Mouret's
operas, which was then playing. Monsieur Simon (the judge major) was
so pleased with this couplet, that he determined to make another in
answer to it, on the same air. He had desired Venture to write one,
and he wished me to make a third, that, as he expressed it, they might
see couplets start up next day like incidents in a comic romance.
In the night (not being able to sleep) I composed a couplet, as my
first essay in poetry. It was passable; better, or at least composed
with more taste, than it would have been the preceding night, the
subject being tenderness, to which my heart was now entirely disposed.
In the morning I showed my performance to Venture, who, being
pleased with the couplet, put it in his pocket, without informing me
whether he had made his. We dined with M. Simon, who treated us very
politely. The conversation was agreeable; indeed it could not be
otherwise between two men of natural good sense, improved by
reading.
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