Voltaire to Olympe Dunover
Written in 1713 while in prison in the Hague.
Voltaire (1694-1778), the French philosopher and author is one of my hero Sinclair's favourite authors. He takes Candide to India with him and loses it when the ship goes down but once he's established himself in Tooley Street he's quick to buy himself another copy.
Aged just 17, Voltaire was incarcerated because Olympe's mother and the French ambassador disapproved of their relationship. Such was the power of French aristocrats before the Revolution.
Shortly after he wrote this letter, he managed to escape by climbing out of the window.
"I am a prisoner here in the name of the King; they can take
my life, but not the love that I feel for you. Yes, my adorable mistress,
to-night I shall see you, and if I had to put my head on the block to do it.
For heaven’s sake, do not speak to me in such disastrous
terms as you write; you must live and be cautious; beware of madame your mother
as of your worst enemy. What do I say? Beware of everybody; trust no one; keep
yourself in readiness, as soon as the moon is visible; I shall leave the hotel
incognito, take a carriage or a chaise, we shall drive like the wind to
Sheveningen; I shall take paper and ink with me; we shall write our letters.
If you love me, reassure yourself; and call all your
strength and presence of mind to your aid; do not let your mother notice
anything, try to have your pictures, and be assured that the menace of the
greatest tortures will not prevent me to serve you. No, nothing has the power
to part me from you; our love is based upon virtue, and will last as long as
our lives. Adieu, there is nothing that I will not brave for your sake; you
deserve much more than that. Adieu, my dear heart!"
Arout
(Voltaire)
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