I thought my folly was forgotten, but I was deceived.M.de Francueil, son to M.Dupin, and son-in-law to Madam Dupin, was much the same with herself and me.He had wit, a good person, and might have pretensions.This was said to be the case, and probably proceeded from his mother-in-law's having given him an ugly wife of a mild disposition, with whom, as well as with her husband, she lived upon the best of terms.M.de Francueil was fond of talents in others, and cultivated those he possessed.Music, which he understood very well, was a means of producing a connection between us.I frequently saw him, and he soon gained my friendship.He, however, suddenly gave me to understand that Madam Dupin thought my visits too frequent, and begged me to discontinue them.Such a compliment would have been proper when she returned my letter; but eight or ten days afterwards, and without any new cause, it appeared to me ill-timed.
This rendered my situation the more singular, as M.and Madam de Francueil still continued to give me the same good reception as before.
I however made the intervals between my visits longer, and Ishould entirely have ceased calling on them, had not Madam Dupin, by another unexpected caprice, sent to desire I would for a few days take care of her son, who, changing his preceptor, remained alone during that interval.I passed eight days in such torments as nothing but the pleasure of obeying Madam Dupin could render supportable: for poor Chenonceaux already displayed the evil disposition which nearly brought dishonor on his family, and caused his death in the Isle de Bourton.As long as I was with him I prevented him from doing harm to himself or others, and that was all; besides it was no easy task, and I would not have undertaken to pass eight other days like them had Madam Dupin given me herself for the recompense.
M.de Francueil conceived a friendship for me, and I studied with him.We began together a course of chemistry at Rouelles.That I might be nearer at hand, I left my Hotel St.Quentin, and went to lodge at the Tennis Court, Rue Verdelet, which leads into the Rue Platiere, where M.Dupin lived.There, in consequence of a cold neglected, Icontracted an inflammation of the lungs that had like to have carried me off.In my younger days I frequently suffered from inflammatory disorders, pleurisies, and especially quinsies, to which I was very subject, and which frequently brought me near enough to death to familiarize me to its image.The evening preceding the day on which I was taken ill, I went to an opera by Royer; the name I have forgotten.Notwithstanding my prejudice in favor of the talents of others, which has ever made me distrustful of my own, I still thought the music feeble, and devoid of animation and invention.I sometimes had the vanity to flatter myself: I think Icould do better than that.But the terrible idea I had formed of the composition of an opera, and the importance I heard men of the profession affix to such an undertaking, instantly discouraged me, and made me blush at having so much as thought of it.Besides, where was Ito find a person to write the words, and one who would give himself the trouble of turning the poetry to my liking? These ideas of music and the opera had possession of my mind during my illness, and in the delirium of my fever I composed songs, duets, and choruses.I am certain I composed two or three little pieces, di prima intenzione,*perhaps worthy of the admiration of masters, could they have heard them executed.oh, could an account be taken of the dreams of a man in a fever, what great and sublime things would sometimes proceed from his delirium!
* Off-hand.
These subjects of music and opera still engaged my attention during my convalescence, but my ideas were less energetic.Long and frequent meditations, and which were often involuntary, and made such an impression upon my mind that I resolved to attempt both words and music.This was not the first time I had undertaken so difficult a task.Whilst I was at Chambery I had composed an opera entitled Iphis and Anaxarete, which I had the good sense to throw into the fire.At Lyons I had composed another, entitled La Decouverte du Nouveau Monde,* which, after having read it to M.Bordes, the Abbe's Mably, Trublet, and others, had met the same fate, notwithstanding Ihad set the prologue and the first act to music, and although David, after examining the composition, had told me there were passages in it worthy of Buononcini.
* The Discovery of the New World.