FOOTNOTES:
[1]A pupil at the same convent.
[1]A pupil at the same convent.
[2]The portress of the convent.
[2]The portress of the convent.
[3]The wordsrouéandrouerie, which are now happily falling into disuse in good society, were much in vogue at the time when these Letters were written.
[3]The wordsrouéandrouerie, which are now happily falling into disuse in good society, were much in vogue at the time when these Letters were written.
[4]To understand this passage, it must be mentioned that the Comte de Gercourt had deserted the Marquise de Merteuil for the Intendante de ***, who had sacrificed for him the Vicomte de Valmont, and it was then that the Marquise and the Vicomte formed an attachment. As this adventure is long anterior to the events which are in question in these Letters, it seemed right to suppress all that correspondence.
[4]To understand this passage, it must be mentioned that the Comte de Gercourt had deserted the Marquise de Merteuil for the Intendante de ***, who had sacrificed for him the Vicomte de Valmont, and it was then that the Marquise and the Vicomte formed an attachment. As this adventure is long anterior to the events which are in question in these Letters, it seemed right to suppress all that correspondence.
[5]La Fontaine.
[5]La Fontaine.
[6]One sees here the deplorable taste for puns, which was becoming the fashion, and which has since made so much progress.
[6]One sees here the deplorable taste for puns, which was becoming the fashion, and which has since made so much progress.
[7]Not to abuse the Reader’s patience, many of the letters in this correspondence, from day to day, have been suppressed; only those have been given which have been found necessary for the elucidation of events. For the same reason all the replies of Sophie Carnay and many letters of the other actors in these adventures have been omitted.
[7]Not to abuse the Reader’s patience, many of the letters in this correspondence, from day to day, have been suppressed; only those have been given which have been found necessary for the elucidation of events. For the same reason all the replies of Sophie Carnay and many letters of the other actors in these adventures have been omitted.
[8]The error, into which Madame de Volanges falls, shows us that, like other criminals, Valmont did not betray his accomplices.
[8]The error, into which Madame de Volanges falls, shows us that, like other criminals, Valmont did not betray his accomplices.
[9]An ingenious but very gallant romance by Monsieur de Crébillonfils.Translator’s Note.
[9]An ingenious but very gallant romance by Monsieur de Crébillonfils.Translator’s Note.
[10]This is the same gentleman who is mentioned in the letters of Madame de Merteuil.
[10]This is the same gentleman who is mentioned in the letters of Madame de Merteuil.
[11]The letter in which thissoiréeis spoken of has not been found. There seems reason to believe it is that suggested in the note of Madame de Merteuil, which is also mentioned in the preceding letter of Cécile Volanges.
[11]The letter in which thissoiréeis spoken of has not been found. There seems reason to believe it is that suggested in the note of Madame de Merteuil, which is also mentioned in the preceding letter of Cécile Volanges.
[12]Madame de Tourvel then does not dare to say that it was by her order!
[12]Madame de Tourvel then does not dare to say that it was by her order!
[13]We continue to omit the letters of Cécile Volanges and of the Chevalier Danceny, these being of little interest and containing no incidents.
[13]We continue to omit the letters of Cécile Volanges and of the Chevalier Danceny, these being of little interest and containing no incidents.
[14]See Letter theThirty-Fifth.
[14]See Letter theThirty-Fifth.
[15]Piron,Métromanie.
[15]Piron,Métromanie.
[16]Those who have not had occasion sometimes to feel the value of a word, an expression, consecrated by love will find no meaning in this sentence.
[16]Those who have not had occasion sometimes to feel the value of a word, an expression, consecrated by love will find no meaning in this sentence.
[17]This letter has not been recovered.
[17]This letter has not been recovered.
[18]The reader must have guessed already, by the conduct of Madame de Merteuil, how little respect she had for religion. This passage would have been suppressed, only it was thought that, whilst showing results, one ought not to neglect to make the causes known.
[18]The reader must have guessed already, by the conduct of Madame de Merteuil, how little respect she had for religion. This passage would have been suppressed, only it was thought that, whilst showing results, one ought not to neglect to make the causes known.
[19]We believe it was Rousseau inÉmile: but the quotation is not exact, and the application which Valmont makes of it entirely false; and then, had Madame de Tourvel readÉmile?
[19]We believe it was Rousseau inÉmile: but the quotation is not exact, and the application which Valmont makes of it entirely false; and then, had Madame de Tourvel readÉmile?
[20]We have suppressed the letter of Cécile Volanges to the Marquise, as it contained merely the same facts as the preceding letter, but with less detail. That to the Chevalier Danceny has not been recovered: the reason of this will appear in letter thesixty-third, from Madame de Merteuil to the Vicomte.
[20]We have suppressed the letter of Cécile Volanges to the Marquise, as it contained merely the same facts as the preceding letter, but with less detail. That to the Chevalier Danceny has not been recovered: the reason of this will appear in letter thesixty-third, from Madame de Merteuil to the Vicomte.
[21]Gresset:Le Méchant.
[21]Gresset:Le Méchant.
[22]M. Danceny does not confess the truth. He had already given his confidence to M. de Valmont before this event. See letter thefifty-seventh.
[22]M. Danceny does not confess the truth. He had already given his confidence to M. de Valmont before this event. See letter thefifty-seventh.
[23]This expression refers to a passage in a poem by M. de Voltaire.
[23]This expression refers to a passage in a poem by M. de Voltaire.
[24]Racine:Britannicus.“In just such plain array,As beauty wears when fresh from slumber’s sway.”
[24]Racine:Britannicus.
“In just such plain array,As beauty wears when fresh from slumber’s sway.”
“In just such plain array,As beauty wears when fresh from slumber’s sway.”
“In just such plain array,As beauty wears when fresh from slumber’s sway.”
“In just such plain array,
As beauty wears when fresh from slumber’s sway.”
[25]Mademoiselle de Volanges having shortly afterwards changed her confidant, as will appear in the subsequent letters, this collection will include no more of those which she continued to write to her friend at the convent: they would teach the Reader nothing that he did not know.
[25]Mademoiselle de Volanges having shortly afterwards changed her confidant, as will appear in the subsequent letters, this collection will include no more of those which she continued to write to her friend at the convent: they would teach the Reader nothing that he did not know.
[26]This letter has not been recovered.
[26]This letter has not been recovered.
[27]We are unaware whether this line, “These tyrants dragged from off their thrones and made my slaves,” as well as that which occurs above, “Her arms are open still; her heart is shut,” are quotations from little-known works, or part of the prose of Madame de Merteuil. What would lead us to believe the latter is the number of faults of this nature which are found in all the letters of this correspondence. Those of the Chevalier Danceny form the only exception: perhaps, as he sometimes occupied himself with poetry, his more practised ear rendered it easier for him to avoid this fault.
[27]We are unaware whether this line, “These tyrants dragged from off their thrones and made my slaves,” as well as that which occurs above, “Her arms are open still; her heart is shut,” are quotations from little-known works, or part of the prose of Madame de Merteuil. What would lead us to believe the latter is the number of faults of this nature which are found in all the letters of this correspondence. Those of the Chevalier Danceny form the only exception: perhaps, as he sometimes occupied himself with poetry, his more practised ear rendered it easier for him to avoid this fault.
[28]It will appear, in letter the hundred and fifty-second, not what M. de Valmont’s secret was, but more or less of what nature it was; and the Reader will see that we have not been able to enlighten him further on the subject.
[28]It will appear, in letter the hundred and fifty-second, not what M. de Valmont’s secret was, but more or less of what nature it was; and the Reader will see that we have not been able to enlighten him further on the subject.
[29]See letter theseventieth.
[29]See letter theseventieth.
[30]Some persons may not, perhaps, be aware that a medley (macédoine) is a succession of sundry different games of chance, amongst which each player has a right to choose when it is his turn to deal. It is one of the inventions of the century.
[30]Some persons may not, perhaps, be aware that a medley (macédoine) is a succession of sundry different games of chance, amongst which each player has a right to choose when it is his turn to deal. It is one of the inventions of the century.
[31]The commanding-officer of the regiment to which Prévan belonged.
[31]The commanding-officer of the regiment to which Prévan belonged.
CorrectionsThe first line indicates the original, the second the correction.p.71At the Château of ..., 22nd August, 17**.At the Châteaude..., 22nd August, 17**.p.298interest will suceed to these violent agitations:interest willsucceedto these violent agitations:
Corrections
The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.
p.71
p.298