Hyppolite Clairon

“ If there is a God—and all nature attests there is one—the attribute of his divinity is justice and goodness: he will never send into this abode of misery and sorrow those whom he has deigned to release from it.—What am I, that I should suppose he concerns himself with so humble an individual? ”

“ How can I suppose that, on my account, he would derange the order of nature to manifest his anger or his goodness, or to point out to me the means of avoiding misery or guilt? Such cares may be worthy the Sovereign of the World, when the whole human race are the objects of them: but an individual is, perhaps, less in his eyes than a grain of sand is in ours. ”

“ The public had never seen me out of the theatre: they wished to behold me divested of a crown, and unsupported by the characters of Corneille, Racine, and Voltaire, reduced to the simple rank of a Bourgeoise.—I flattered myself the alteration would not appear to my prejudice, as I still retained the same sentiments and habits; but you know I am rather short, and that I was supposed by those who had never seen me off the stage to be six feet high. At home I appeared in my natural form: I never had recourse to art except at the theatre. ”

“ It is the wish of many that I should write my sentiments relative to an art which I have long professed. It is supposed that the reflections I have made, in order to render myself supportable in the eyes of the public, may be of some use to those who are destined to pursue the same career. ”

“ We have both reckoned the days and hours while speaking of you: sometimes making you an angel, sometimes a devil;—I, continually persuading him to forget you,—he, constantly professing he should adore you to the grave. ”

“ I was fearful that when surveyed off the stage the public would diminish twice as much from my stature as it had been accustomed to add to it. I was sensible that those who avoided imposing on the world had nothing to fear from its censure. Happily my nation was not much given to reflection ”

“ Your talents have a degree of celebrity which leaves no room to doubt the superior endowments of your mind. I perceive that I have not been deceived as to your figure; I desire to know if the description I have received of your dwelling is as faithful: and I trust you will allow me to pursue my unhappy friend through all the scenes of his hope and despair. ”

“ I entered a coach at eleven o’clock with my waiting-woman. The moon shone bright, and we proceeded along the Boulevards or Suburbs, which were then just beginning to be built upon. We were examining those houses which had been lately erected, when my waiting-maid said, “Is it not here M. de S. died?”—“From the information he gave me, that should be the place,” said I, pointing with my finger to a house which was before us. The explosion of a gun was immediately heard—the coachman urged his horses, conceiving himself attacked by robbers, and arrived at the place of rendezvous scarce sensible. ”

“ I read in your journal of the 25th instant, an article which announces an edition of my Memoirs, published in Germany, and in the German language. I did entrust the manuscript of my Reflections upon the Dramatic Art, and my own Memoirs, to a foreigner, and a man of letters, whom I greatly love and esteem. ”

“ Every one in the house, my friends, my neighbours, the police even, have heard the same sort of cry repeated under my windows at the same hour, and appearing to proceed from the air. There was no doubt of its being intended for my hearing in particular; for though I rarely supped in town, yet when I did, the cry was never heard; but often, when I was conversing with my mother and my servants upon the subject, it would burst forth in the midst of us. Upon one evening, the president de B., at whose house I had supped, conducted me to my own house. ”

“ The walls of the house, said I, will be alone sufficient to make me feel the sublimity of the author, and acquire the talents necessary for an actress; it is in this sanctuary I will live and die. I took it, and put a bill upon the apartments I had before occupied. Among the number who applied for them were several persons attracted solely by curiosity. ”