Summary Letters to Ms. Calandrini


Charlotte Aissé
Letters to Mrs. Calandrini
Letters to Aissa – a recognized “little masterpiece” of French prose. The fate of their author is amazing. In the spring of 1698, the French diplomat, Count Charles de Ferriol, bought for a thousand and five hundred livres at the Istanbul slave market a four-year-old Cherkeshenka girl, taken prisoner during one of the Turkish raids. It was said that she was from a noble family. In France, a small Haide was baptized and was called Charlotte-Elizabeth, but continued to be called Haide or Aida, which later became Aissa. For several years the girl was brought up in the home of the wife of the younger brother of a diplomat – the smart, active, domineering Maria Angelica de Ferriol, nee Geren de Tansen. But then a diplomat returned to France, referring to the young Circassian girl with fatherly tenderness and the ardor of a lover, and Aissa was forced to remain with Ferriol until his death (1722), revolving, however,

in a brilliant circle of notable and talented people. Having found freedom, until the end of her life, Aissa never left her mistress, Monsieur de Ferriol, who had become almost her own.
In a wicked, immoral Paris, Aissa in 1720 meets the vow of celibacy of the knight of the Order of Malta, Blaise-Marie, Edie (circa 1692-1761). They are for life linked by a strong and lasting feeling, which they keep in deep secrecy. The secret is surrounded and the birth in 1721 of their daughter Selini, who later became the Viscountess de Nantes. In 1726, Aisa acquainted with the 58-year-old wife of the famous and wealthy Geneva citizen Julie Calandrini (ca. 1668-1754); the firm moral principles of this lady produce the deepest impression on the “beautiful Circassian” and for the last seven years of her life Aissa has been with Mrs. Calandrini in correspondence, believing her eldest girlfriend all her thoughts and feelings. Aisse died in 1733 from consumption. Shocked Chevalier d? Eddie remained faithful to his love until the end of his life, having raised a daughter in the corresponding spirit.
In the most
exquisite terms, Aissa describes her feelings for Mrs. Calandrini: “I love you with the most tender love – I love my mother like a sister, a daughter, in a word, as you love everyone you need love.” In my feeling, respect, admiration and gratitude. ” Ayssa is happy that others like her older friend for the wonderful qualities of the soul. After all, usually “valor and merit… are valued only when the person is still rich, but before the true virtues, everyone bows his head.” And yet – “money, money! How much do you suppress ambition! What do not humble the proud! How many good intentions are drawn into the smoke!”
Aisse complains about her financial difficulties, her debts and the full uncertainty of her financial situation in the future, complains about all the deteriorating health, describing her sufferings very naturalistically (“… health is our main asset, it helps us endure the hardships of life. it does not make us richer… However, in poverty there is nothing shameful when it is the result of virtuous life and the vicissitudes of fate. Every day it becomes clearer to me that there is nothing beyond virtue as on this earth, and in the world of another “),
Ayssa talks irritably about home turmoil, about Madame de Ferriol’s stupidity and stinginess, and about the rudeness of her slutty and cynical sister, the brilliant Madame de Tansen. However, “I feel ashamed of my complaints when I see so many people around me who are worth more than me and are much less unhappy.” The woman mentions with warmth the woman of her friends – the sons of Madame de Ferriol to the Count de Pont de Velet and the Count d’? Arjantale, and also about the lovely daughter of Mrs. Calandrini herself, tenderly responds to her servant – the faithful Sophie, who is trying hard to provide all the resources.
Describes Aissa and Parisian life, creating a vivid picture of the way of life and mores of the French aristocracy. Gossips, scandals, intrigues, marriages of convenience (“Ah, in which fertile country you live – in a country where people marry, when they are able to love each other again!”), Constant adultery, serious illnesses and untimely deaths; the complete fall of morals (for example, the story of a nobleman’s son who was cast into robbers), quarrels and conspiracies at court, the wild antics of the depraved nobility (“Madame Bouillon is whimsical, cruel, unbridled and extremely disingenuous, her tastes extend from all princes to princes comedians, “characterizes Aissa, the lady suspected of poisoning Adrianna Lecouvreur), an unlimited sanctimony (” Our beautiful ladies indulge in piety, or rather, show it diligently… “
And “everything that happens in this state, heralds him to perish.” As reasonable as all of you are, that you do not depart from rules and laws, but strictly observe them! Hence the purity of morals. “And I am every day more and more amazed at the multitude bad deeds, and it’s hard to believe that the human heart was capable of this. “
Aisse also writes a lot about the art that people of her circle are keenly interested in – about interior decoration, about literature (several times she mentions, for example, the novelty “Gulliver’s Travels” by J. Swift, cites Rousseau’s epigram, encloses the verse correspondence with Marquis de la Riviera and Mademoiselle dezoulier), but mainly talks about the theater: new plays and plays, scenery, skill of actors (“The actress playing the role of a lover, it is necessary to show modesty and restraint,” says Aissa.– Passion should be expressed in inton and the sounds of the voice. “Excessively sharp gestures should be left to men and sorcerers”). But in the theater reign bad habits: behind-the-scenes intrigues, rivalry of actresses, their scandalous novels with nobles, slander and spittle… Several times, Aissa concerns politics. The woman is shocked by the lighthearted attitude of the nobility towards the maturing war; “Circassian” sends a friend a copy of the letter of the Marquis de Saint-Ouler to Cardinal de Fleury. “The glory of the conqueror is nothing before the glory of the peacemaker… through justice, honesty, confidence, loyalty to his word, you can achieve more than by using the tricks and intrigues of the old policy,” claims the marquis. And Ayssa dreams that France will finally find the king and the first minister, who really care about the welfare of their people.
Real life, however, plunges Aissa, a whole and pure nature, into deep sadness. “Circassian” is never intruded into any intrigue; she is “just as little disposed to preach virtue as she is to maintain vices,” she admires people who have “the most important spiritual qualities” – mind and self-esteem, cares about her friends much more than herself, does not want anyone To depend and above all else puts on the fulfillment of one’s own duty. “Nothing will make me forget everything that I” owe Madame de Ferriol, “and my duty to her, I will repay her a hundredfold for all her cares for me at the cost of her own life, but… what a big difference is to do something, either only out of a sense of duty or at the behest of the heart! ” “There is nothing more difficult,
Aisse does not want to deal with “evil and false people – let them swarm themselves in their mud.” I firmly adhere to my rule – to honor my duty honestly and not to slander anyone. ” “I have many shortcomings, but I am committed to virtue, I honor it.” It is not surprising that the libertines and intriguers are afraid of Aissa; most of the acquaintances treat her with respect and love. “My doctor is amazing how he is attentive to me, he is my friend… everyone is so affectionate with me and so helpful…” “All the time that I was in danger… all my friends, all servants were crying sobbingly; and when the danger has already passed… everyone ran to my bed to congratulate me. “
Correcting health in the countryside and leading an idyllic life in the bosom of nature (“… I live here as if on the edge of the world – working in a vineyard, yarn from which I will sew shirts, hunt birds”), Ayssa dreams of getting to her friend – Mrs. Calandrini to Switzerland. “How unlike your city to Paris! There you have a reign of sanity and good morals, here they have no idea.” As for the inhabitants of Paris, “there is nothing in them – either your adamant honesty, no wisdom, no kindness, no justice.” All this has the same visibility in people – the person is constantly falling from them. Honesty is nothing more than a word, they decorate themselves, they talk about justice, but only then, to condemn their neighbors, under their sweet speeches there are taunts, generosity turns into wastefulness, kind-heartedness – a lack of will. “Still,” whom I met in Geneva, corresponded to my initial ideas of life experience. I was almost the same when I entered the light without knowing bitterness, sorrow and sadness. “Now,” I would like to learn to be a philosopher, treat everything with care, and not be upset and try to behave rationally only for the sake of satisfying yourself and you. “Ayssa sadly admits the corrupting influence of the morals that reign in society.” She belongs to those people tainted with light and bad examples, who were not fortunate enough to escape the networks of debauchery, “writes the woman about her friend Mrs. de Parabur. “She is cordial, generous, she has a kind heart, but she was soon plunged into the world of passions, and she had bad teachers.” And yet, the root of the evil of Aissa sees in the weakness of human nature: “… one can behave with dignity after all and remaining in the light, and this is even better – the more difficult the task, the greater the merit of fulfilling it.” With admiration, says “Circassian” about a certain impoverished nobleman who, having settled in a modest room, passes the morning reading his favorite books, after a simple, hearty dinner he walks along the embankment, does not depend on anyone and is completely happy.
The standard of moral qualities is for Mrs. Calenderini. “You, with your tolerance, with your knowledge of the light, to which, however, do not harbor hatred, with your ability to forgive, in accordance with circumstances, having learned about my sins, did not despise me.” I seemed to you worthy of compassion and, though guilty, not fully understanding his guilt. Fortunately, my love passion itself gave birth to a desire for virtue in me. ” “Do not be the object of my love is full of the same virtues as you, my love would be impossible.” “My love would have died, if it were not based on respect.”
It is the theme of deep mutual love between Aissa and Chevalier d? Eli runs a red thread through the letters “beautiful Circassian”. Aisse tormented by thoughts about the sinfulness of this extramarital affair, a woman with all her might tries to wrest from her heart a vicious passion. “I will not write about the remorse of conscience that torment me, they are born of my mind, the Chevalier and the passion for him are drowned out.” But “if the mind was not able to overcome my passion, it is because only a virtuous man could seduce my heart.” Chevalier, however, loves Aissa in such a way that she is asked what kind of spell she has put on him. But – “my only charm is my irresistible love for him and the desire to make his life as sweet as possible.” “I do not abuse his feelings.” People tend to turn to themselves for the benefit of another’s weakness. I do not know this art. I know one thing: to please my loved one so that he will not be separated from me by his only wish. “Edie begs Aissa to marry him, but” no matter how great it would be to be called his wife, I must to love the Chevalier not for himself, but for him… How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to let him commit this stupidity. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” I know one thing: to please my loved one so that he will not be separated from me by his only wish. “Edie begs Aissa to marry him, but” no matter how great it would be to be called his wife, I must to love the Chevalier not for himself, but for him… How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to let him commit this stupidity. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” I know one thing: to please my loved one so that he will not be separated from me by his only wish. “Edie begs Aissa to marry him, but” no matter how great it would be to be called his wife, I must to love the Chevalier not for himself, but for him… How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to let him commit this stupidity. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” to keep him beside me with only one desire – not to part with me. “Edie begs Aissa to marry him, but” no matter how great it would be for happiness to be called his wife, I should love the Chevalier not for myself, but for his sake.. How would they react in the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to let him commit this stupidity. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” to keep him beside me with only one desire – not to part with me. “Edie begs Aissa to marry him, but” no matter how great it would be for happiness to be called his wife, I should love the Chevalier not for myself, but for his sake.. How would they react in the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to let him commit this stupidity. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” D? Edd pleads with Aissa to marry him. But “no matter how great it would be for happiness to be called his wife, I should love Chevalier not for myself, but for him… How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to allow him to do this stupid. What a shame would be to me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me “He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, with knowing that my fault is that he is unhappy and that he has stopped loving me. ” D? Edd pleads with Aissa to marry him. But “no matter how great it would be for happiness to be called his wife, I should love Chevalier not for myself, but for him… How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to allow him to do this stupid. What a shame would be to me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me “He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, with knowing that my fault is that he is unhappy and that he has stopped loving me. ” How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to allow him to do this stupid thing. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. ” How would the light of his marriage to a girl without a clan without a tribe… No, his reputation is too dear to me, and at the same time I’m too proud to allow him to do this stupid thing. What a shame would be for me all the talk that would go about this! And how can I flatter myself with the hope that he will remain unchanged in his feelings towards me? He can ever regret that he succumbed to reckless passion, and I can not live, knowing that because of my fault he is unhappy and that he has ceased to love me. “
However, “to cut through such a hot passion and such tender affection, and so deserved it, add to it my feeling of gratitude towards him – no, it’s terrible! It’s worse than death! But you demand that I overcome myself – I I will try, only I’m not sure that I will get out of it with honor and that I will stay alive… Why is my love unacceptable? Why is it sinful? ” “How I wish that the struggle between my mind and heart ceased, and I could freely give myself to the joy that only contemplation of it gives to me, but, alas, it will never happen!” “But my love is irresistible, it justifies it, it seems to me that it is born of a feeling of gratitude, and I must support the Chevalier’s affection for the dear baby.” She is the link between us;
With great affection, Ayssa writes about her daughter, who is brought up in a monastery. The girl is “reasonable, kind, patient” and, not knowing who her mother is, considers “cherkeshenka” her adored patroness. Chevalier loves her daughter to madness. And yet Aissa constantly worries about the future of the baby. All these experiences and a brutal inner struggle soon finally undermine the fragile health of the unhappy woman. She quickly melts, plunging her beloved into despair. “Never before has my love for him been so fiery, and I can say that he is no less on his side.” He treats me with such anxiety, his excitement is so sincere and so touching that anyone who happens to be that witnesses, tears come to my eyes. “
And yet before his death, Aissa breaks with her beloved. “I can not tell you what the sacrifice that I have decided is worth to me, but it kills me, but I trust in the Lord – he must give me strength!” Chevalier humbly agrees with the decision of his beloved. “Be happy, my dear Aissa, I do not care how you reach it – I will reconcile with any of them, if only you do not expel me from your heart… As long as you allow to see you, While I can flatter myself with hope, that you consider me the most outstanding person in the world for you, I do not need anything more for happiness, “he writes in a letter that Aissa also sends to Mrs. Calandrini. The very “Circassian” is touchingly thankful to the older girlfriend, who has put in so much effort to guide her on the true path. “The thought of a quick death saddens me less, than you think, – confesses Aysse. – What is our life? I like no one should be happy, but I was not happy. My bad behavior made me unhappy: I was a plaything of passions, which I controlled at my own whim. The eternal torment of conscience, the sorrows of friends, their remoteness, almost constant ill-health… The life I lived for was so pitiful – did I even know a moment of genuine joy? I could not remain alone with myself: I was afraid of my own thoughts. The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” – What is our life? I like no one should be happy, but I was not happy. My bad behavior made me unhappy: I was a plaything of passions, which I controlled at my own whim. The eternal torment of conscience, the sorrows of friends, their remoteness, almost constant ill-health… The life I lived for was so pitiful – did I even know a moment of genuine joy? I could not remain alone with myself: I was afraid of my own thoughts. The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” – What is our life? I like no one should be happy, but I was not happy. My bad behavior made me unhappy: I was a plaything of passions, which I controlled at my own whim. The eternal torment of conscience, the sorrows of friends, their remoteness, almost constant ill-health… The life I lived for was so pitiful – did I even know a moment of genuine joy? I could not remain alone with myself: I was afraid of my own thoughts. The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” I was governed by my own whims. The eternal torment of conscience, the sorrows of friends, their remoteness, almost constant ill-health… The life I lived for was so pitiful – did I even know a moment of genuine joy? I could not remain alone with myself: I was afraid of my own thoughts. The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” I was governed by my own whims. The eternal torment of conscience, the sorrows of friends, their remoteness, almost constant ill-health… The life I lived for was so pitiful – did I even know a moment of genuine joy? I could not remain alone with myself: I was afraid of my own thoughts. The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? ” The remorse did not leave me from the moment when my eyes opened, and I began to understand my mistakes. Why should I fear separation from my soul if I am sure that the Lord is merciful to me and that from the moment I leave this miserable flesh, happiness will open to me? “


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Summary Letters to Ms. Calandrini