Chapter iii.
_Oswald's Letter to Corinne_.
_January 24, 1795._
"You refuse to see me; you are offended at our conversation of the nightbefore last; and you have doubtless formed an intention to open yourdoors in future only to your own countrymen, meaning probably by thismeans, to expiate the fault you have committed in admitting to yoursociety a man of another nation. However, far from repenting mysincerity with respect to the Italians, far from regretting theobservations which I made to you, whom, deluded by phantoms, I wished toconsider as an Englishwoman, I will venture to predict more stronglystill, that you will find neither happiness nor dignity should you makechoice of a husband from that society by which you are surrounded. Iknow not the Italian worthy of you; there is not one by whose allianceyou could be honoured, let him be invested with whatever title he may.Men in Italy are much less estimable than women; for they possess thedefects of the women, in addition to their own. Will you persuade me,that these inhabitants of the South, who so pusillanimously shrink frompain, and pursue the phantom of pleasure with so much avidity, can besusceptible of love? Have you not seen (I have the fact from you) thevery last month, an Italian husband at the play, who but eight daysbefore had lost his wife, and a wife whom he pretended to love? They arehere not more eager to remove the dead from their sight than to effacethe remembrance of them from their mind. The funeral ceremonies areattended to by the priests, as the rites of love are performed by theattendant Cavaliers: ceremonial and custom supply the place of regretand enthusiasm. Lastly, and it is this that principally destroys love,the men of Italy are incapable of inspiring the women with any kind ofrespect: the latter do not feel obliged by the submission of the former,because their character is not dignified with firmness, nor their lifewith serious occupation. In order that nature and social order mayappear in all their beauty, man must be the protector, and woman theprotected; but the protector must adore that weakness which he defends,and reverence the helpless deity, who, like the household gods of theancients, brings happiness to his home. So it might almost be said, thatevery woman is a Sultan, having at her command a seraglio of men.
The men are here distinguished by that softness and pliability ofcharacter, which properly belongs to women. An Italian proverb says:'_who knows not how to feign, knows not how to live_.' Is not that awoman's proverb? In truth, how can the manly character be formed upontrue principles of dignity and strength, in a country which affords nomilitary career of glory, which contains no free institutions? Hence itis, that they direct their minds to all the little arts of cunning; theytreat life like a game of chess, in which success is everything. Allthat remains to them from antiquity, is something gigantic in theirexpressions and in their external magnificence; but this baselessgrandeur is frequently accompanied by all that is vulgar in taste, andmiserably negligent in domestic life. Is this, Corinne, the nation whichyou would be expected to prefer to every other? Is this the nation whoseroaring applauses are so necessary to you, that every other destinywould appear dull and congenial compared with their noisy '_bravos_?'Who could flatter himself with being able to render you happy away fromthese dear scenes of tumult? What an inconceivable character is that ofCorinne! profound in sentiment, but frivolous in taste; independent frominnate pride, yet servile from the need of distraction! She is asorceress whose spells alternately alarm and then allay the fears whichthey have created; who dazzles our view in native sublimity, and then,all of a sudden disappears from that region where she is without herlike, to lose herself in an indiscriminate crowd. Corinne, Corinne, hewho is your adorer cannot help feeling his love disturbed by fear!
"OSWALD."
Corinne, on reading this letter, was much incensed at the inveterateprejudices which Oswald appeared to entertain of her country. But shewas happy enough in her conjectures, to discover that she owed this tothe dissatisfaction he experienced at the _fete_, and to her refusing tosee him ever since after his final conversation on that evening; andthis reflection softened a little the painful impression which theletter produced upon her. She hesitated for some time, or at least,fancied she hesitated, as to the conduct which she should observetowards him. The tenderness she cherished for this eccentric lover,induced a wish to see him; but it was extremely painful to her that heshould imagine her to be desirous of marrying him, although theirfortunes were at least equal, and although in revealing her name, itwould be easy to show that it was by no means inferior to that of LordNelville. Nevertheless, the independence and singularity of that mode oflife which she had adopted, ought to have inspired her with adisinclination for marriage; and most assuredly she would have repulsedthe idea, had not her passion blinded her to the sufferings she wouldhave to undergo in espousing an Englishman and renouncing Italy.
We willingly make an offering of pride upon the altar of the heart; butwhen social prosperity and worldly interests oppose obstacles in anyshape, when we can suppose that the object of our love makes any sort ofsacrifice in uniting himself to us, it is no longer possible to show himany alteration of sentiment. Corinne not being equal to a determinationto break off with Oswald, wished to persuade herself of the possibilityof seeing him in future, and yet concealing the passion which she feltfor him. It was in this intention that she came to a determination toconfine herself, in the answer she should send to his letter, merely tohis unjust accusations against the Italian nation, and to reason withhim upon this subject as if it were the only one that interested her.Perhaps the best way in which a woman of intellect can resume hercoldness and dignity, is by seeking an asylum in her own mind.
_Corinne to Lord Nelville_.
_Jan. 15, 1795._
"Did your letter, my lord, concern only me, I should not have attemptedthe task of self-justification: my character is so easy to know, that hewho might not be able to comprehend it by himself, would derive littleaid in his scrutiny by any explanation that I could give him on thesubject. The virtuous reserve of the English women, and the graceful artof the French, take my word for it, often serve to conceal one half ofwhat is passing in their souls: that which you are pleased todistinguish in me by the name of magic, is nothing but a sort oftransparency of mind, which allows its different sentiments and opposingthoughts to be seen without labouring to harmonize them; for thatharmony, when it exists, is almost always assumed--most genuinecharacters being by nature inconsequent--but it is not of myself I wishto speak, it is of that unfortunate nation you so cruelly attack. Can itbe my affection for my friends which has inspired you with this bittermalevolence? You know me too well to be jealous of me; indeed I have notthe vanity to believe that a sentiment of this description could havesufficient power to transport you to such a degree of injustice. Yourepeat the opinion of every other foreigner upon the Italian character,when drawn from first impressions; but it requires deeper penetration,and a more patient scrutiny, to be able to form a correct judgment uponthis country, which at different epochs has been so great. Whence comesit that this nation, under the Romans, has attained the highest militarycharacter in the world? that it has been the most jealous of itsliberties, in the republics of the middle ages, and in the sixteenthcentury, the most illustrious in literature, and the arts and sciences?Has she not pursued glory under every form? And if now, alas! she canboast of none, why do you not rather accuse her political situation,since in other circumstances she has shown herself different?
"I know not whether I deceive myself; but the wrongs of the Italiansinspire me with no other sentiment than pity for their lot. Foreignershave in every age conquered and torn asunder this beautiful country, theperpetual object of their ambition; and yet foreigners bitterly reproachthis nation, with the wrongs of a conquered and dismembered country?Europe is indebted to the Italians for the arts and sciences, and shallEurope, turning their own benefits against them, dispute wit
h herbenefactors the only species of renown which can distinguish a nationwithout either military strength or political liberty?
"It is so true that nations derive their character from the nature oftheir government, that in this same Italy, we behold a remarkabledifference of manners in the different states that compose it. ThePiedmontese, who formed a little national body, have a more martialspirit than all the rest of Italy; the Florentines, who have had thegood fortune either to enjoy their liberty, or to be governed by liberalprinces, are mild and enlightened; the Venetians and the Genoese,discover a genius for politics, because their government is a republicanAristocracy; the Milanese are remarkable for their sincerity, whichcharacter they have long since derived from the nations of the north;the Neapolitans might easily become a warlike people, because duringseveral centuries they have been united under a government, veryimperfect it is true, but yet a government of their own. The Romannobility being totally unoccupied with either military or politicalpursuits, must in consequence become indolent and uninformed; but theecclesiastics, having a career of emulation open before them, are muchmore enlightened and cultivated than the nobles, and as the papalgovernment admits of no distinction of birth, and is purely elective inthe clerical body, it begets a sort of liberality, not in ideas, but inhabits, which renders Rome a most agreeable abode for those who haveneither the prospect, nor the ambition of worldly eminence.
"The nations of the south more easily receive the impression of theirpolitical establishment than those of the north; they possess anindolence which soon softens into resignation, and nature offers them somany enjoyments, that they are easily consoled for the loss of thosewhich society refuses them. There is certainly much depravity in Italy,and nevertheless civilisation is here in a much lower stage ofdevelopment than that of other countries. There is something almostsavage in the character of the Italians, notwithstanding theirintellectual acuteness, which too much resembles that of the hunter inthe art of surprising his prey. And indolent people easily acquire acunning character; they possess a habit of gentleness which serves them,upon occasion, to dissimulate even their wrath: it is always by ourusual manners that we succeed in concealing an unexpected situation.
"The Italians are sincere and faithful in the private intercourse oflife. Interest and ambition exercise considerable sway among them; butpride and vanity none: the distinctions of rank produce littleimpression. They have no society, no salons, no fashions, no littledaily methods of giving effect to minute circumstances. These habitualsources of dissimulation and envy exist not among them. When theydeceive their enemies and their rivals, it is because they considerthemselves in a state of warfare with them; but in other circumstancesthey are frank and ingenuous. It is this ingenuousness alone that hasscandalised you respecting our women, who, hearing love constantlyspoken of, and surrounded by its seductions and examples, conceal nottheir sentiments, and if it may be so expressed, give even, to gallantrya character of innocence; besides, they have no ridicule to dread fromthat society in which they live. Some of them are so ignorant that theycannot write; this they publicly avow, and answer a billet by means oftheir agent (_il paglietto_) in a formal style on official paper. But tomake amends for this, among those who are well educated, you will findacademy professors who give public lessons in a black scarf; and shouldthis excite a smile, you would be answered, 'Is there any harm inknowing Greek? Is there any harm in earning one's living by one's ownexertions? Why should so simple a matter provoke your mirth?'
"But now my lord, allow me to touch upon a more delicate subject; allowme to enquire the cause why our men display so little military ardour.They expose their lives freely when impelled by love and hatred; and astab from a stiletto given or received in such a cause, excites neitherastonishment nor dread. They fear not death when natural passions bidthem brave its terrors; but often, it must be owned, they prefer life topolitical interests, which seldom affect them because they possess nonational independence. Often too, that notion of honour which descendsto us from the age of chivalry, has little power in a nation whereopinion, and society by which opinion is formed, do not exist; it is anatural consequence of this disorganisation of every public authority,that women should attain that ascendancy which they here possess overthe men, perhaps in too high a degree to respect and admire them.Nevertheless, the conduct of men towards women is full of delicacy andattention. The domestic virtues in England constitute female glory andhappiness; but if there are countries where love exists outside thesacred ties of marriage; that one among these countries where femalehappiness excites the greatest attention and care, is Italy. Here menhave invented moral duties for relations outside the bounds of moralityitself; but at least in the division of these duties, they have beenboth just and generous: they considered themselves more guilty thanwomen, when they broke the ties of love; because the latter had made thegreater sacrifice and lost more. They conceive that before the tribunalof the heart, he is the most guilty who does the most injury. Men dowrong for want of feeling; but women through weakness of character.Society, which is at once rigorous and depraved--that is to say, withoutpity for errors when they entail misfortunes,--must be very severe uponwomen; but in a country which has no society, natural goodness of hearthas freer exercise.
"Ideas of consideration and dignity are, I agree, less powerful and evenless known in Italy than any where else: the want of society and ofpublic opinion is the cause of it: but notwithstanding all that may besaid of the perfidy of the Italians, I maintain that there is not acountry in the world where more sincerity is to be found. So far is thissincerity from being checked by vanity, that although that country beone of which foreigners speak most ill, there is no country where theymeet with a more kindly reception. The Italians are reproached withbeing too much inclined to flattery; but it must be allowed in theirfavour, that generally, they lavish their soft expressions, not fromdesign, but a real desire to please; nor can it be alleged that theseexpressions are ever falsified by their conduct. But it may be asked,would they be faithful to their friends in extraordinary circumstances,in which it might be necessary to brave for them the perils ofadversity? A very small number, I must own, would be capable of suchfriendship; but this observation will not apply to Italy alone.
"The Italians are remarkable for that lassitude which distinguishes theeastern nations; but there are no men more active and persevering whenonce their passions are excited. These very women, too, whom you beholdas indolent as the odalisks of a seraglio, upon some occasions give moststriking proofs of attachment. There is something mysterious in thecharacter and the imagination of the Italians, in whom you will find byturns, either unexpected traits of generosity and friendship, or gloomyand formidable proofs of hatred and revenge. They have no emulation,because life to them is only a pleasant summer's dream; but give thosemen a purpose, and you will see them in six months, develop anunrivalled power of will and intelligence. It is the same with women:what ambition can they feel, to excel in education when the ignorance ofthe men renders them insensible to its value? By cultivating their mindstheir hearts would become isolated; but these very women would soonbecome worthy a man of superior mind, if such a man were the object oftheir tender affection[21].
"Everything here sleeps: but in a country where great interests aredead, repose and carelessness are more noble than a busy anxiety abouttrifling concerns.
"Even literature languishes in a country where thought is not renewed bythe strong and varied action of life.--But what nation has testifiedmore admiration for literature and the fine arts than Italy? We areinformed by history, that the popes, the princes, and the people, haveat all times paid to painters, poets, and distinguished writers, themost public homage. This enthusiastic veneration of talent is I confess,my lord, one of the first motives of my attachment to this country.--Wedo not find here that _blasee_ imagination, that discouraging temper ofmind, that despotic mediocrity, which in other countries so effectuallytorment and stifle natural genius.--A happy idea, sentiment, orexpress
ion, sets an audience on fire, if I may say so. By the same rulethat talent holds the first rank amongst us, it excites considerableenvy; Pergolese was assassinated for his _Stabat Mater_; Giorgione armedhimself with a cuirass when he was obliged to paint in public; but theviolent jealousy which talent inspires amongst us, is that which, inother nations, gives birth to power. This jealousy does not degrade itsobject; it may hate, proscribe, and kill, but it is nevertheless mingledwith the fanaticism of admiration, and encourages genius, even inpersecuting it. To conclude; when we see so much life in so confined acircle, in the midst of so many obstacles and so much subjection ofevery kind, we cannot avoid in my opinion taking the deepest interest ina people who inhale, with so much avidity, the little air which theloopholes of imagination allow to enter through the walls that confinethem.
"That this confinement is such, I will not deny: nor that men rarelyacquire in Italy that dignity, that boldness, which distinguishes freeand military nations.--I will even admit my lord, if you choose, thatthe character of such nations is capable of inspiring women with morelove and enthusiasm. But might it not also be possible, that a noble andinterested man, cherishing the most rigid virtues, might unite in hischaracter every quality that can excite love, without possessing thosewhich promise happiness.
"CORINNE."
FOOTNOTE:
[21] Mr Roscoe, author of the History of the Medici, has recentlypublished an History of Leo X., which is truly a masterpiece in itskind, in which he relates all those marks of esteem and admiration,which the princes and the people of Italy have conferred ondistinguished men of letters; he also shows, with impartiality, that theconduct of many of the Popes has been, in this respect, very liberal.