Letter 006 — VI

Cherasco, 3 Floréal (April 24, 1796).

My brother will give you this letter; I have the warmest affection for him. I hope he will win yours; he deserves it. Nature has given him a gentle and unalterably good character; he is full of fine qualities. I am writing to Barras to have him appointed consul in some Italian port. He wishes to live with his little wife away from the great whirl and great affairs; I commend him to you. I have received your letters of the 16th and 21st. You went many days without writing to me. What are you doing? Yes, my dear friend, I am not jealous, but sometimes anxious. Come quickly; I warn you, if you delay, you will find me ill. Fatigue and your absence are too much at once. Your letters are the pleasure of my days, and my happy days are not frequent. Junot is taking twenty-two flags to Paris.

You must return with him, do you hear? … Irremediable misery, inconsolable sorrow, continual suffering would be mine if I had the misfortune to see him return alone, my adorable friend. He will see you, he will breathe in your temple; perhaps you will even grant him the unique and priceless favor of kissing your cheek, while I shall be alone and very, very far away. But you will come back, won't you? You will be here beside me, against my heart, in my arms? Take wing, come, come! But travel gently. The road is long, bad, exhausting. If your carriage were to overturn or you were to fall ill; if the fatigue… Come quickly, my adorable friend, but slowly.

Cherasco, 3 Floréal (April 24, 1796).

My brother will give you this letter. I am very fond of him, and I hope he will win your affection too; he deserves it. Nature endowed him with a gentle, invariably good disposition and a wealth of good qualities. I am asking Barras by letter to appoint him consul at an Italian port. He wants to retire with his little wife, away from the bustle of society and high affairs; I commend him to your care. Your letters of the 16th and 21st have arrived. You went many days without writing. What are you doing? Yes, my dear, I am not jealous, but sometimes worried. Come quickly; I warn you, if you delay you will find me ill. Exhaustion and your absence are too much together. Your letters are the pleasure of my days, and happy days are not frequent for me. Junot is taking twenty-two flags to Paris.

You are to return with him, do you hear?… Should I have the misfortune of seeing him come back alone, my adored friend, my unhappiness would have no remedy, my grief no consolation, and my sorrows no end. He will see you and breathe within your temple; perhaps you will even grant him that singular, inestimable privilege of kissing your cheek, while I remain alone, very, very far away. But you are going to return, aren't you? You will be here at my side, upon my heart, in my arms? Take wings, come, come! Yet travel gently. The road is long, bad and tiring. What if your carriage overturned, or you were hurt; what if the fatigue… Come quickly, my adored friend, but slowly.