登陆注册
20024600000037

第37章 MME.DE L'ESTORADE TO LOUISE DE CHAULIEU April(1)

My angel--or ought I not rather to say my imp of evil?--you have,without meaning it,grieved me sorely.I would say wounded were we not one soul.And yet it is possible to wound oneself.

How plain it is that you have never realized the force of the word /indissoluble/as applied to the contract binding man and woman!Ihave no wish to controvert what has been laid down by philosophers or legislators--they are quite capable of doing this for themselves--but,dear one,in making marriage irrevocable and imposing on it a relentless formula,which admits of no exceptions,they have rendered each union a thing as distinct as one individual is from another.Each has its own inner laws which differ from those of others.The laws regulating married life in the country,for instance,cannot be the same as those regulating a household in town,where frequent distractions give variety to life.Or conversely,married life in Paris,where existence is one perpetual whirl,must demand different treatment from the more peaceful home in the provinces.

But if place alters the conditions of marriage,much more does character.The wife of a man born to be a leader need only resign herself to his guidance;whereas the wife of a fool,conscious of superior power,is bound to take the reins in her own hand if she would avert calamity.

You speak of vice;and it is possible that,after all,reason and reflection produce a result not dissimilar from what we call by that name.For what does a woman mean by it but perversion of feeling through calculation?Passion is vicious when it reasons,admirable only when it springs from the heart and spends itself in sublime impulses that set at naught all selfish considerations.Sooner or later,dear one,you too will say,"Yes!dissimulation is the necessary armor of a woman,if by dissimulation be meant courage to bear in silence,prudence to foresee the future."Every married woman learns to her cost the existence of certain social laws,which,in many respects,conflict with the laws of nature.

Marrying at our age,it would be possible to have a dozen children.

What is this but another name for a dozen crimes,a dozen misfortunes?

It would be handing over to poverty and despair twelve innocent darlings;whereas two children would mean the happiness of both,a double blessing,two lives capable of developing in harmony with the customs and laws of our time.The natural law and the code are in hostility,and we are the battle ground.Would you give the name of vice to the prudence of the wife who guards her family from destruction through its own acts?One calculation or a thousand,what matter,if the decision no longer rests with the heart?

And of this terrible calculation you will be guilty some day,my noble Baronne de Macumer,when you are the proud and happy wife of the man who adores you;or rather,being a man of sense,he will spare you by making it himself.(You see,dear dreamer,that I have studied the code in its bearings on conjugal relations.)And when at last that day comes,you will understand that we are answerable only to God and to ourselves for the means we employ to keep happiness alight in the heart of our homes.Far better is the calculation which succeeds in this than the reckless passion which introduces trouble,heart-burnings,and dissension.

同类推荐
  • 东山梅溪度禅师语录

    东山梅溪度禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金刚经受持感应录

    金刚经受持感应录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青玄救苦宝忏

    青玄救苦宝忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 为霖道霈禅师餐香录

    为霖道霈禅师餐香录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三塔主峰禅师语录

    三塔主峰禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 冰山男的淘气女友

    冰山男的淘气女友

    来自桃花村的甄唯恩和林瑞以刚好过线的成绩考入A市的普通高中晋培,而晋培对面则是贵族学院龙樱学院。阴差阳错,唯恩认识了龙樱F3之首冰山男岑子风,少男少女的恋曲由此展开!
  • 无限的最强从者

    无限的最强从者

    这只是一个老不死从棺材里爬出来玩养成的故事。……新人新书求推荐收藏。
  • 三国笑谈

    三国笑谈

    黄巾起义是怎么回事?讨伐董卓是怎么回事?给你一个不一样的三国……
  • 邪王追妻:毒妃不好惹

    邪王追妻:毒妃不好惹

    上一世,她在一次意外爆炸中死去一朝穿越到废材四小姐身上,看她怎么风起云涌在所有人眼中,他冷酷无情,狂傲不羁,皇上见了他都要礼让三分,他就是名副其实的鬼王可她就看不惯了冷酷鬼王vs嚣张四小姐‘‘做我正妃’’‘‘你有什么优点吗’’‘’我,眉清目秀相貌堂堂风度翩翩衣冠楚楚玉树临风年少多金,这优点难道不多吗‘’‘’·······‘’
  • 李敖自传(节选)

    李敖自传(节选)

    中国大陆首次出版,李敖最后一部自传。他独坐书斋、独步文坛、独立抗争;他狂放不羁、锋芒毕露、风流多情;他博闻强识、皓首穷经、纵横捭阖;他以玩世来醒世,用骂世而救世;他用一支笔震撼海峡两岸, 用一张嘴影响无数华人。他是李敖,他阅尽人情世事,豪显文采风流。
  • 花戏

    花戏

    传说,她一舞倾城,众生痴迷。戏台上的她犹如墨竹渗青宣,白袖霰雪,摇影染碧涟。若在台下独赏她的戏,听她吟曲,来者便可回到那段封锁遗忘的记忆中去,重经往事,再遇前缘,了一夙愿。但是她身份成谜,居无定所,踪迹难寻。虽然传言她有可迷惑众生的容颜,却皆不知她的真实模样。三界均称她为,花戏。
  • 遇见转角时光

    遇见转角时光

    遇见你,需要缘分和运气但爱上你,要耗尽一生的缘分和运气只希望,在最美好的时光遇见最美好的你
  • 列异传

    列异传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 缘起缘灭:回眸生

    缘起缘灭:回眸生

    陛下,愿您百年安生不离笑,即使身边的人不是我。陛下,您一定没有注意过我满脸微笑说不介意时,眼里的绝望。陛下,好想见您一面,哪怕很远很远。陛下,您从不拒绝我,也不让我离开,又不叫我留下来。陛下,不爱了,就是不爱了,何必那么多借口。夜千殇,我恨,恨我自己,为何非要痴痴的爱着你,明明知道是替身,却舍不得离去……浮生叹,轮回散,有情人,终会散?【结局需要,你的守候】
  • 风雷天帝

    风雷天帝

    一枚偶然得来的玉佩,让萧铭脱胎换骨。虽然资质低下、出身贫寒,但玉佩在手,有如天助!修炼法诀、炼制宝物、养育灵宠、结交天神……天威地怒何足惧,风起雷动我为皇!