Tuesday, 27 March 1883

Villevieille writes to congratulate me and explain his silence — it seems Julian had told him he was vexed to know nothing about the painting, that he knew only of the admission of Irma. And so, even though I had received a positive note after that, I am seized again with anxiety. Yet Julian's card is clear.

Villevieille ecrit pour me feliciter et expliquer son silence, il parait que Julian lui avait dit qu'il etait ennuye de ne rien savoir du tableau, il ne savait que l'admission d'irma. Et alors bien que j'eusse recu un mot positif apres cela, je suis reprise d'inquietudes. Pourtant la carte de Julian est claire.

Yes but... in short I write to him again.

Oui mais... enfin je lui recris.

And also — how tactful of Julian to go and say that in the middle of the studio, to Villevieille who is not my sister, in front of everyone — that he knows nothing and is anxious. Suppose I had been rejected... He makes one suppose it in advance... Well, what can one say. It was I who attributed good feelings towards me to him... No matter... I would have said nothing in his place even for an indifferent person... I would only have said such a thing like that in front of everyone about an enemy — and even then...

Et aussi comme c'est delicat de la part de Julian d'aller dire cela en plein atelier, a Villevieille qui n'est pas ma soeur, devant tout le monde, qu'il ne sait rien et qu'il est inquiet. Supposez que je sois refusee... Il le fait supposer d'avance... Enfin que voulez-vous. C'est moi qui lui ai prete des bons sentiments a mon egard... C'est egal... Je n'aurais rien dit a sa place meme pour une indifferente... je n'aurais dit cela comme ca devant tout le monde que d'une ennemie et encore...

It is sad...

C'est triste...

But I have just been searching the Odyssey — Homer does not give the scene I imagined. True, it must come as the logical and inevitable conclusion of what precedes — but he does not give it. However, Ulysses' speech, full of praise and admiration, when approaching Nausicaa, must inevitably have gone to her head; she explains as much to her companions...

Mais je viens de chercher dans l'Odyssee, Homere ne donne pas la scene que j'ai imaginee. Il est vrai qu'elle doit venir comme la conclusion logique et inevitable des faits precedents, mais enfin il ne la donne pas. Mais le discours plein de louange et d'admiration d'Ulysse en abordant Nausicaa a du inevitablement monter a la tete de celle-ci, elle s'en explique du reste a ses compagnes...

She takes him for a god — and he returns her the same compliment...

Elle prend pour un dieu, et il lui fait la meme politesse...

In short, it is so.

Enfin c'est comme ca.

I shall read Ulysses' words again.

Je relirai encore les paroles d'Ulysse.

When he appears naked and begrimed to the young Phaeacian women, they all flee — Nausicaa remains alone. "It is Minerva who gives her this courage."

Lorsqu'il apparait nu et souille aux jeunes pheaciennes elles s'enfuient toutes, Nausicaa reste seule. "C'est Minerve qui donne ce courage".

The old rake — this old schemer, very handsome at that — needs clothing and protection, and he compares Nausicaa to Diana.

Le vieux viveur, ce vieil intrigant fort beau du reste a besoin de vetements et de protection et il compare Nausicaa a Diane.

So she must be tall, elegant, and slender.

Donc elle doit etre grande, elegante et svelte.

His eyes, he says, have never seen a mortal like her.

Ses yeux, dit-il n'ont jamais vu une mortelle semblable.

He then compares her to a palm shoot that struck him dumb with wonder at Delos, near the altar of Apollo, during a voyage he made there followed by a great company — and that voyage was for him the source of the greatest misfortunes.

Il la compare ensuite a une tige fe palmier qu'il l'a rendu muet de surprise a Delos pres de l'autel d'Apollon dans un voyage qu'il y fit suivi d'un peuple nombreux et ce voyage a ete pour lui la source des plus grands malheurs.

Thus in a few words he lavishes upon her the finest flatteries and presents himself in a poetic, majestic light — worthy of the keenest interest on account of his misfortunes, seeming persecuted by the gods.

Ainsi en quelques mots il lui prodigue les plus belles flatteries et se presente lui-meme sous un jour poetique, majestueux et digne du plus vif interet par ses malheurs, il semble persecute par les dieux.

For me it is impossible that this young girl — whose spirit and beauty render her the equal of immortals — should not be seized by an extraordinary feeling, above all given the disposition in which the prophetic dream had placed her...

Pour moi il est impossible que cette jeune fille, son esprit et sa beaute rendent l'egale des immortelles ne soit pas saisie d'un sentimento extraordinaire, surtout dans les dispositions ou l'avait mise le reve precurseur...

In short it seems that Villevieille had misunderstood. Julian had spoken only of the head of Irma because he did not even think it useful to mention that the painting was accepted — there could be no doubt about Irma and so on. I am entirely, definitively accepted.

Enfin il parait que Villevieille avait mal compris. Julian n'avait parle que de la tete d'irma parce qu'il ne croyait meme pas utile de dire que le tableau est recu, il ne pouvait y avoir de doute pour Irma et encore. Je suis archi-recue.

Breslau has no number, as they say.

Breslau n'a pas de numero a ce qu'on dit.

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