Another inconvenience that arose from this manner of learning is,
that I never understood prosody, much less the rules of versification;
yet, anxious to understand the harmony of the language, both in
prose and verse, I have made many efforts to obtain it, but am
convinced, that without a master it is almost impossible. Having
learned the composition of the hexameter, which is the easiest of
all verses, I had the patience to measure out the greater part of
Virgil into feet and quantity, and whenever I was dubious whether a
syllable was long or short, immediately consulted my Virgil. It may
easily be conceived that I ran into many errors in consequence of
those licenses permitted by the rules of versification; and it is
certain, that if there is an advantage in studying alone, there are
also great inconveniences and inconceivable labor, as I have
experienced more than any one.
At twelve, I quitted my books, and if dinner was not ready, paid
my friends, the pigeons, a visit, or worked in the garden till it was,
and when I heard myself called, ran very willingly, and with a good
appetite to partake of it, for it is very remarkable, that let me be
ever so indisposed my appetite never fails. We dined very agreeably,
chatting till Madam de Warrens could eat. Two or three times a week,
when it was fine, we drank our coffee in a cool shady arbor behind the
house, that I had decorated with hops, and which was very refreshing
during the heat; we usually passed an hour in viewing our flowers
and vegetables, or in conversation relative to our manner of life,
which greatly increased the pleasure of it.
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