the lily of the valley(幽谷百合)-第28部分

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　　do；　they　will　become　your　most　implacable　enemies；　obligations
　　sometimes　lead　to　despair；　like　the　despair　of　ruin　itself；　which
　　is　capable　of　very　desperate　efforts。　As　for　yourself；　accept　as
　　little　as　you　can　from　others。　Be　no　man's　vassal；　and　bring
　　yourself　out　of　your　own　difficulties。

　　You　see；　dear　friend；　I　am　advising　you　only　on　the　lesser　points
　　of　life。　In　the　world　of　politics　things　wear　a　different　aspect；
　　the　rules　which　are　to　guide　your　individual　steps　give　way　before
　　the　national　interests。　If　you　reach　that　sphere　where　great　men
　　revolve　you　will　be；　like　God　himself；　the　sole　arbiter　of　your
　　determinations。　You　will　no　longer　be　a　man；　but　law；　the　living
　　law；　no　longer　an　individual；　you　are　then　the　Nation　incarnate。
　　But　remember　this；　though　you　judge；　you　will　yourself　be　judged；
　　hereafter　you　will　be　summoned　before　the　ages；　and　you　know
　　history　well　enough　to　be　fully　informed　as　to　what　deeds　and　what
　　sentiments　have　led　to　true　grandeur。

　　I　now　come　to　a　serious　matter；　your　conduct　towards　women。
　　Wherever　you　visit　make　it　a　principle　not　to　fritter　yourself
　　away　in　a　petty　round　of　gallantry。　A　man　of　the　last　century　who
　　had　great　social　success　never　paid　attention　to　more　than　one
　　woman　of　an　evening；　choosing　the　one　who　seemed　the　most
　　neglected。　That　man；　my　dear　child；　controlled　his　epoch。　He
　　wisely　reckoned　that　by　a　given　time　all　women　would　speak　well　of
　　him。　Many　young　men　waste　their　most　precious　possession；　namely；
　　the　time　necessary　to　create　connections　which　contribute　more
　　than　all　else　to　social　success。　Your　springtime　is　short；
　　endeavor　to　make　the　most　of　it。　Cultivate　influential　women。
　　Influential　women　are　old　women；　they　will　teach　you　the
　　intermarriages　and　the　secrets　of　all　the　families　of　the　great
　　world；　they　will　show　you　the　cross…roads　which　will　bring　you
　　soonest　to　your　goal。　They　will　be　fond　of　you。　The　bestowal　of
　　protection　is　their　last　form　of　lovewhen　they　are　not　devout。
　　They　will　do　you　innumerable　good　services；　sing　your　praises　and
　　make　you　desirable　to　society。　Avoid　young　women。　Do　not　think　I
　　say　this　from　personal　self…interest。　The　woman　of　fifty　will　do
　　all　for　you；　the　woman　of　twenty　will　do　nothing；　she　wants　your
　　whole　life　while　the　other　asks　only　a　few　attentions。　Laugh　with
　　the　young　women；　meet　them　for　pastime　merely；　they　are　incapable
　　of　serious　thought。　Young　women；　dear　friend；　are　selfish；　vain；
　　petty；　ignorant　of　true　friendship；　they　love　no　one　but
　　themselves；　they　would　sacrifice　you　to　an　evening's　success。
　　Besides；　they　all　want　absolute　devotion；　and　your　present
　　situation　requires　that　devotion　be　shown　to　you；　two
　　irreconcilable　needs！　None　of　these　young　women　would　enter　into
　　your　interests；　they　would　think　of　themselves　and　not　of　you；
　　they　would　injure　you　more　by　their　emptiness　and　frivolity　than
　　they　could　serve　you　by　their　love；　they　will　waste　your　time
　　unscrupulously；　hinder　your　advance　to　fortune；　and　end　by
　　destroying　your　future　with　the　best　grace　possible。　If　you
　　complain；　the　silliest　of　them　will　make　you　think　that　her　glove
　　is　more　precious　than　fortune；　and　that　nothing　is　so　glorious　as
　　to　be　her　slave。　They　will　all　tell　you　that　they　bestow
　　happiness；　and　thus　lull　you　to　forget　your　nobler　destiny。
　　Believe　me；　the　happiness　they　give　is　transitory；　your　great
　　career　will　endure。　You　know　not　with　what　perfidious　cleverness
　　they　contrive　to　satisfy　their　caprices；　nor　the　art　with　which
　　they　will　convert　your　passing　fancy　into　a　love　which　ought　to　be
　　eternal。　The　day　when　they　abandon　you　they　will　tell　you　that　the
　　words；　〃I　no　longer　love　you；〃　are　a　full　justification　of　their
　　conduct；　just　as　the　words；　〃I　love；〃　justified　their　winning　you；
　　they　will　declare　that　love　is　involuntary　and　not　to　be　coerced。
　　Absurd！　Believe　me；　dear；　true　love　is　eternal；　infinite；　always
　　like　unto　itself；　it　is　equable；　pure；　without　violent
　　demonstration；　white　hair　often　covers　the　head　but　the　heart　that
　　holds　it　is　ever　young。　No　such　love　is　found　among　the　women　of
　　the　world；　all　are　playing　comedy；　this　one　will　interest　you　by
　　her　misfortunes；　she　seems　the　gentlest　and　least　exacting　of　her
　　sex；　but　when　once　she　is　necessary　to　you；　you　will　feel　the
　　tyranny　of　weakness　and　will　do　her　will；　you　may　wish　to　be　a
　　diplomat；　to　go　and　come；　and　study　men　and　interests；no；　you
　　must　stay　in　Paris；　or　at　her　country…place；　sewn　to　her
　　petticoat；　and　the　more　devotion　you　show　the　more　ungrateful　and
　　exacting　she　will　be。　Another　will　attract　you　by　her
　　submissiveness；　she　will　be　your　attendant；　follow　you
　　romantically　about；　compromise　herself　to　keep　you；　and　be　the
　　millstone　about　your　neck。　You　will　drown　yourself　some　day；　but
　　the　woman　will　come　to　the　surface。

　　The　least　manoeuvring　of　these　women　of　the　world　have　many　nets。
　　The　silliest　triumph　because　too　foolish　to　excite　distrust。　The
　　one　to　be　feared　least　may　be　the　woman　of　gallantry　whom　you　love
　　without　exactly　knowing　why；　she　will　leave　you　for　no　motive　and
　　go　back　to　you　out　of　vanity。　All　these　women　will　injure　you；
　　either　in　the　present　or　the　future。　Every　young　woman　who　enters
　　society　and　lives　a　life　of　pleasure　and　of　gratified　vanity　is
　　semi…corrupt　and　will　corrupt　you。　Among　them　you　will　not　find
　　the　chaste　and　tranquil　being　in　whom　you　may　forever　reign。　Ah！
　　she　who　loves　you　will　love　solitude；　the　festivals　of　her　heart
　　will　be　your　glances；　she　will　live　upon　your　words。　May　she　be
　　all　the　world　to　you；　for　you　will　be　all　in　all　to　her。　Love　her
　　well；　give　her　neither　griefs　nor　rivals；　do　not　rouse　her
　　jealousy。　To　be　loved；　dear；　to　be　comprehended；　is　the　greatest
　　of　all　joys；　I　pray　that　you　may　taste　it！　But　run　no　risk　of
　　injuring　the　flower　of　your　soul；　be　sure；　be　very　sure　of　the
　　heart　in　which　you　place　your　affections。　That　woman　will　never　be
　　her　own　self；　she　will　never　think　of　herself；　but　of　you。　She
　　will　never　oppose　you；　she　will　have　no　interests　of　her　own；　for
　　you　she　will　see　a　danger　where　you　can　see　none　and　where　she
　　would　be　oblivious　of　her　own。　If　she　suffers　it　will　be　in
　　silence；　she　will　have　no　personal　vanity；　but　deep　reverence　for
　　whatever　in　her　has　won　your　love。　Respond　to　such　a　love　by
　　surpassing　it。　If　you　are　fortunate　enough　to　find　that　which　I；
　　your　poor　friend；　must　ever　be　without；　I　mean　a　love　mutually
　　inspired；　mutually　felt；　remember　that　in　a　valley　lives　a　mother
　　whose　heart　is　so　filled　with　the　feelings　you　have　put　there　that
　　you　can　never　sound　its　depths。　Yes；　I　bear　you　an　affection　which
　　you　will　never　know　to　its　full　extent；　before　it　could　show
　　itself　for　what　it　is　you　would　have　to　lose　your　mind　and
　　intellect；　and　then　you　would　be　unable　to　comprehend　the　length
　　and　breadth　of　my　devotion。

　　Shall　I　be　misunderstood　in　bidding　you　avoid　young　women　（all
　　more　or　less　artful；　satirical；　vain；　frivolous；　and　extravagant）
　　and　attach　yourself　to　influential　women；　to　those　imposing
　　dowagers　full　of　excellent　good…sense；　like　my　aunt；　who　will　help
　　your　career；　defend　you　from　attacks；　and　say　for　you　the　things
　　that　you　cannot　say　for　yourself？　Am　I　not；　on　the　contrary；
　　generous　in　bidding　you　reserve　your　love　for　the　coming　angel
　　with　the　guileless　heart？　If　the　motto　Noblesse　oblige　sums　up　the
　　advice　I　gave　you　just　now；　my　further　advice　on　your　relations　to
　　women　is　based　upon　that　other　motto　of　chivalry；　〃Serve　all；　love
　　one！〃

　　Your　educational　knowledge　is　immense；　your　heart；　saved　by　early
　　suffering；　is　without　a　stain；　all　is　noble；　all　is　well　with　you。
　　Now；　Felix；　WILL！　Your　future　lies　in　that　one　word；　that　word　of
　　great　men。　My　child；　you　will　obey　your　Henriette；　will　you　not？
　　You　will　permit　her　to　tell　you　from　time　to　time　the　thoughts
　　that　are　in　her　mind　of　you　and　of　your　relations　to　the　world？　I
　　have　an　eye　in　my　soul　which　sees　the　future　for　you　as　for　my
　　children；　suffer　me　to　use　that　faculty　for　your　benefit；　it　is　a
　　faculty；　a　mysterious　gift　bestowed　by　my　lonely　life；　far　from
　　its　growing　weaker；　I　find　it　strengthened　and　exalted　by　solitude
　　and　silence。

　　I　ask　you　in　return　to　bestow　a　happiness　on　me；　I　desire　to　see
　　you　becoming　more　and　more　important　among　men；　without　one　single
　　success　that　shall　bring　a　line　of　shame　upon　my　brow；　I　desire
　　that　you　may　quickly　bring　your　fortunes　to　the　level　of　your
　　noble　name；　and　be　able　to　tell　me　I　have　contributed　to　your
　　advancement　by　something　better　than　a　wish。　This　secret
　　co…operation　in　your　future　is　the　only　pleasure　I　can　allow
　　myself。　For　it；　I　will　wait　and　hope。

　　I　do　not　say　farewell。　We　are　separated；　you　cannot　put　my　hand　to
　　your　lips；　but　you　must　surely　know　the　place　you　hold　in　the
　　heart　of　your

Henriette。


As　I　read　this　letter　I　felt　the　maternal　heart　beating　beneath　my
fingers　which　held　the　paper　while　I　was　still　cold　from　the　harsh
greeting　of　my　own　mother。　I　understood　why　the　countess　had　forbidden
me　to　open　it　in　Touraine；　no　doubt　she　feared　that　I　would　fall　at
her　feet　and　wet　them　with　my　tears。

I　now　made　the　acquaintance　of　my　brother　Charles；　who　up　to　this　time
had　been　a　stranger　to　me。　But　in　all　our　intercourse　he　showed　a
haughtiness　which　kept　us　apart　and　prevented　brotherly　affection。
Kindly　feelings　depend　on　similarity　of　soul；　and　there　was　no　point
of　touch　between　us。　He　preached　to　me　dogmatically　those　social
trifles　which　head　or　heart　can　see　without　instruction；　he　seemed　to
mistrust　me。　If　I　had　not　had　the　inward　support　of　my　great　love　he
would　have　made　me　awkward　and　stupid　by　affecting　to　believe　that　I
knew　nothing　of　life。　He　presented　me　in　society　under　the　expectation
that　my　dulness　would　be　a　foil　to　his　qualities。　Had　I　not　remembered
the　sorrows　of　my　childhood　I　might　have　taken　his　protecting　vanity
for　brotherly　affection；　but　inward　solitude　produces　the