Marquis de Sade

“ How blind and hardened is the person who refuses to admit the existence of this heavenly happiness to which I feel myself already closely linked. Oh, Father, my vision is beginning to be blurred, my eyes are dazzled by the majesty of God extending his arms to me, and I can no longer see the things of this world. Have traced at the foot of the altar that cross of ashes where I want my body stretched out like that of the Son of our Lord. While I was still too much attached to the earth I wanted to share the tomb of the princess, I now give up this frivolous honor. ”

“ While Frederick was reading this fatal note, the two gondolas separated and each was soon out of sight of the other.
It took all of Mersburg's strength to prevent Frederick from throwing himself into the sea. He wanted to expire, he said, on the coffin of the only being he adored in the world.
"Let's flee, Prince," cried the count, "it is the only thing left for us to do. Think about your people and do not expose yourself to danger. Posterity would not pardon you the weakness of dying for a woman who has given you so much cause to hate her." ”

“ If your Adelaide loves you, is it not clear that by not answering this love you would make her unhappy? And by yielding to the love, you will say that you make the husband unhappy. I ask you, since it is necessary to make one person unhappy, why would you prefer the happiness of the husband rather than that of the wife? One has served you, I know; but the other adores you, perhaps, in silence. It is a question here of sacrificing either the cold feeling of gratitude or the burning sentiment of love. I wonder what heart could even hesitate in choosing? ”

“ Come now, what is the oath which you want me to repeat?"
"To love me with the most tender love."
"You know I can't say anything like that," said Adelaide as she moved away with the thought that she would never come back to this house again.
"No," cried the senator holding her, "sign your name to this oath and I will tell you everything."
"I swear never to reveal what is going to be confided in me and to perform all things which are ordered me. I swear to make the sacrifice of my life if one can ever prove that I have betrayed those to whom I am linked." ”

“ Ah, my dear count, I have never accused you of anything; it is only misfortune which I blame. Can you think of any harder luck than we have had?When are we going to release Adelaide? With whom is she now? Upon what does her fate depend? And how can Frederick make people believe that the one who has just served the state so well could be guilty of betraying it? They will imagine all sorts of things and will dishonor the purest of women. On top of all the sorrow I have, I will have the shame of seeing the glory of my beloved tarnished by vile tongues and not be able to defend her. ”

“ The pride which I have would not permit me because I would be too humiliated if any such infidelity to my husband were discovered.
"Oh, Milady, political marriages do not chain hearts as real love."
"You are right, Bathilda, I should not blush at my love because it is as pure as the one who has caused it. I have known Thuringia and I have loved him before I was the wife of Frederick, but men in their judgment do not consider the extent of the power of love which we have, and their unjust scorn falls on those who should merit only their indulgence." ”

“ It can easily be imagined how troubled Adelaide was until the reappearance of the count which was not until late in the evening.
"You are going to see Thuringia," he said to her with excitement in his voice.
"In truth, I am already sorry I said anything about seeing him. It gives me remorse."
"Such remorse is without foundation. Can one be the master of his own heart? The choice you have made of Thuringia is the work of a sensitive heart. Politics have chained you to Frederick. Should you hesitate an instant? Moreover, the ways of your husband have not attached you to him. ”

“ It was at this moment that Mersburg chose to paint to Adelaide the intoxication into which this superb act had plunged the Marquis of Thuringia.
"Your friend and relative, Milady, is very anxious to show you the gratitude he feels for the great service which you have rendered to the country. He said to me that when one knows how to reign with so much nobility, why doesn't one know whom to love? One should not make all hearts burst into flame when one does not wish to listen to any of them." ”

“ Besides, even loving Adelaide, I would never do anything to make her seem untrue in the eyes of her husband. Any weakening of her vows towards her husband would make me esteem her less and as you know, my dear count, esteem is the first element of love. One does not pardon the faults that a woman commits even when she commits them through love. Love which is not based on esteem is no more than a form of delirium of the senses which leads us astray. True happiness cannot come from such delirium. ”

“ He asked Frederick to return at once in order to take command of this army.
"My Prince," said Mersburg, "you are now in a position to choose between love and glory; but I imagine that a Prince of Saxony will always choose the latter. Do not let the wagging tongues accuse you of a weakness which would dishonor your name forever. Love is the recreation of a sovereign, but glory should be his only thought. Posterity, which will judge you, will not pardon you for having wavered." ”

“ I am guilty, without doubt, in admitting this, but wouldn't I be still more to be blamed in taking back the one I love to a jealous man who might treat her tomorrow as he treated the one whom he suspected of being her lover? I know all the laws of delicacy, but those of love are equally engraved in my heart, and I would be guilty of a serious infraction if I gave in to an arrangement which would put the sword at Adelaide's throat. Go alone, my dear Mersburg. Take my love to the one who creates for me the charm and the torments of life. ”

“ Who can assure me that the prince will not come suddenly to this chateau? If he wants to come, can Mersburg keep him from visiting his chateau? You cannot imagine how imperious Frederick is, his slightest wish is law, and if he decided to come here we are lost. I have made up my mind, Bathilda, I want to leave this chateau; I don't feel in safety. While I believe in Mersburg, I cannot stay in his chateau without terror, and I believe that the only delay we will give to our departure is that needed to make the necessary preparations. ”

“ When one knows how to win hearts as those two knights did, they should not reject the gratitude that we feel."
"That grandeur of soul is worthy of you, Milady."
"I no longer feel any pride, Bathilda. Beaten down by misfortune and injustice, I feel closer to evil than I do to good; those are the effects of tyranny and iniquity. I can see now why criminals become worse in prison. They will be abolished in my states if I ever have anything to do with ruling again. The misfortune of being a prisoner myself has made me realize that they are not a good thing. ”

“ Mersburg then told Adelaide the contents of the will. "I reign if I lose my husband by the hands of Thuringia! Or I lose my lover by the hands of my husband! I couldn't do it!"
"Reasons of state force you to do it. The prince wishes, if he dies, that you marry the man whom you judge to be the most capable to govern his people and consequently the most worthy of you. If any consideration prevents you from choosing the marquis, Milady, you are free to choose any other man you wish." ”

“ Urbain, near her, spoke to her only of the happiness which she was going to receive in leaving a life so filled with thorns. This exhortation was so tender and spiritual that the dying woman cried out trying to rise:
"My Lord, deign to receive me promptly since I will find happiness only in your presence." And she died.
"You see, Milady," said Urbain, "she died happy. You don't have to show the navigator the perils of the ocean on which he has just crossed; it is the port which interests him. Let us cease to blame the happy hermits whose example I like to follow. ”

“ Everything comes from human weakness, and this weakness comes from the lukewarmness which we have in making ourselves worthy of the graces of the eternal, and especially of asking for these graces."
"Oh, Father," said Adelaide, "anyone who could follow your advice would be sheltered from many misfortunes."
"Let that person come to our retreat," said Urbain, "and he will soon feel that calm and tranquility exist only far from men and the poisonous whirlwind of their passions. It is only in retreat that man can develop his soul and purify himself in order to be worthy of his creator. ”

“ Honor should be as sacred to you as politics. Watch over your wife as soon as you have brought her back to her position. If her conduct improves maybe she can make you forget the past. Let your indulgence speak; but it is quite rare that a woman returns to a virtuous life after having lived a life of sin. Caesar has said that his wife was above suspicion. Would this great man have spoken thus if he had not thought that the shame of a wife stains the reputation of her husband? Come, Prince, your Adelaide awaits you. ”

“ CHAPTER NINE
"Well, Bathilda," said Adelaide as soon as the baron had left, "do you understand me now?"
"Yes, Milady, I think so, but suppose this young man betrays you?"
"Bathilda," said the princess smiling, "you don't have much confidence in the power of my charms."
"I am only worried about your playing the part of a coquette."
"Now, Bathilda, I wouldn't say that. It would imply that I am being false to the Marquis of Thuringia and that is far from being true. I am not a coquette since coquetry in a woman is only a mask she dons to disguise her faults and appear more attractive. ”

“ I would have sworn not to betray the man I love, but I cannot make any such promises for a man who does not mean anything to me when this revelation might interest the fate of a city which is today my refuge. However, you may be tranquil, Anthony. You will be neither betrayed nor loved. I will remain in the most complete indifference with respect to you and the secret which cannot be mine."
Anthony wanted to hold Adelaide back, but it was in vain. ”

“ Claude might have been a great emperor if it had not been for the acts of his wife Messalina. Especially, Prince, never show that you have had any information from me about her actions, you would take away from me the means of serving you in the future."
Frederick appeared before his wife in such a state of love, uncertainty and jealousy that he couldn't say a word when he first saw her. Mersburg left them together.
"Prince, my lord and master," said Adelaide trembling, "I was eager to see you again and to justify myself."
"To justify yourself seems to me to be hard. ”

“ Ah, Frederick, I will get out of reach of your injustices. You deserve having our marriage broken up."
"Milady," said Bathilda, "the one you fear so much is traveling. He is going away from you as fast as possible. Would he do that if he were trying to get rid of you? And besides, you were entirely in his power while you were at Torgau, and he did not attempt to do you any harm."
"That so-called escape was his own work," said the princess. "He wanted to get me out in the open country where he could have me assassinated without having the blood stain the throne. ”

“ Moreover, my friend," continued the prince, "I confess that what struck me most is that tower on which one read: 'She is here!' Ah, Count, it is of Adelaide that the mirror spoke. She has, without doubt, left one prison only to enter another. Let's hasten to look for her, and may Saxony not see us again until we bring her back."
"But what road should we take?" asked Mersburg. Besides, this tower which frightens you so much no longer has her since you have seen two people leave it, supposing that she was one of the two. It would seem that she is now free." ”