My
foolish timidity, which I could not conquer, having for principle
the fear of being wanting in the common forms, I took, by way of
encouraging myself, a resolution to tread them under foot. I became
sour and a cynic from shame, and affected to despise the politeness
which I knew not how to practice. This austerity, conformable to my
new principles, I must confess, seemed to ennoble itself in my mind;
it assumed in my eyes the form of the intrepidity of virtue, and I
dare assert it to be upon this noble basis, that it supported itself
longer and better than could have been expected from anything so
contrary to my nature. Yet, notwithstanding, I had, the name of a
misanthrope, which my exterior appearance and some happy expressions
had given me in the world: it is certain I did not support the
character well in private, that my friends and acquaintance led this
untractable bear about like a lamb, and that, confining my sarcasms to
severe but general truths, I was never capable of saying an uncivil
thing to any person whatsoever.
The Devin du Village brought me completely into vogue, and presently
after there was not a man in Paris whose company was more sought after
than mine. The history of this piece, which is a kind of era in my
life, is joined with that of the connections I had at that time. I
must enter a little into particulars to make what is to follow the
better understood.
I had a numerous acquaintance, yet no more than two friends: Diderot
and Grimm.
Pages:
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531