The romantic life [1]
The museum of the romantic life [2], situated on 16 rue [3] Chaptal in the 9th arrondissement [4] in Paris, was once the home of the painter Ary Sheffer [5], a home of inspiration and a cenacle of romance. The writer George Sand [6] (pseudonym of Amandine-Aurore-Lucille Dupin) lived there for several years with her lover Frédéric Chopin [7].
Today, the museum houses the memories of George Sand, many objects belong to this extraordinary woman. Here is one of many letters exchanged between George Sand (1804-1876) and the poet Alfred de Musset [8] (1810-1857).
Paris, early January, 1835
Six o’clock
Why did we leave so sadly? will [9] we see each other this evening? can [9] we be happy? can [9] we love each other? you [9] said yes, and I try to believe you. But it seems that it does not immediately appear in your idea, and it seems that it is at the slightest suffering, you are indignant at me, as if at a yoke. Alas, my child! We love each other, that is the only thing for sure between us. Time and absence have not prevented us from loving each other and also will not prevent us from loving each other. But is it possible for our life to be together? Is it possible that mine is with someone else? That is my fear. I’m sad and that makes me upset at times, you make me hope and despair every moment. What will I do? Do you want me to leave? Do you try to forget me once more?...
[1]. La vie romantique. translated by me from p. 13. Better Reading French. Annie Heminway. McGraw Hill. New York … Toronto. 2003.
[2]. La Musée de la vie romantique. https://museevieromantique.paris.fr/fr
[3]. rue. Street.
[4]. Arrondissement. A municipal subdivision of some large French cities.
[5]. Ary Sheffer. 2/10/1795-6/15/1858. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ary_Scheffer
[6]. George Sand. 7/1/1804-6/8/1876. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sand
[7]. Frédéric Chopin. 3/1/1810-10/17/1849. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chopin
[8]. Alfred de Musset. 12/11/1810-5/2/1857. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_de_Musset
[10]. Not capitalized.
