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    MADAME RECAMIER. 231

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    «¦ The Father Of Madame Recamier Was Jea...

    chanted with tlie book . I expressed what I was feeling * by my looks rather than by my words : she both terrified and attracted me

    at the same moment . One felt immediately that hers was a perfectly natural character united to a superior nature . For her part , she

    fixed her large eyes upon me , but with mingied curiosity and kindnessand spoke of my countenance with a profusion of compliments

    which , would have appeared too pointed and exaggerated if they had not seemed to escape her involuntarily , which gave to her

    praises an irresistible seduction . My agitation did me no harm ; she understood itand expressed her wish to see ine often when she

    returned to Paris , for she was leaving for Coppet . At that time it was but a vision , in my lifebut the impression left was very deep .

    , I thought of nothing but Madame de Stael , so profoundly had I felt the attraction of this strong and ardent nature . "

    In 1799 Madame Kecamier first encountered Lucien Bonaparte , who conceived for her a most violent and romantic admiration .

    This , perhaps the least worthy of all those she inspired , passed quickly to _absiird demonstrations and tiresome importunity .

    He adopted the name of Romeo , and addressed to Juliet incessant declarationswhich were not only absurd in themselvesbut led to

    a degree of , scandal and gossip which could not fail , to annoy Madame Recamier . She consulted her husband as to whether she

    might follow her natural inclination , which was to close her doors against Lueien , and avoid meeting him in society . But so pointed

    a reproof , addressed to one nearly related to the First Consul , would have been seriously damaging to M . Recaniier ' s positionand

    , at his wish , she therefore continued to receive her tiresome admirer , although making every effort to show him how distasteful his

    importunities were . When at last she succeeded in convincing himhe was so far annoyed by the recollection of his conduct that

    , he made every effort to get back the letters which he had addressed to Madame Kecamier ; but as a testimony to the rectitude and

    discretion of her own conduct throughout their intercourse , she thought it more prudent to retain them .

    Previous however to their rupture , Madame Kecamier was _j _^ osent at a banquet given by Lucien , at which she , for the second time , saw '

    the First Consul himself . She made some impression upon him , for besides looking at her fixedly , and addressing some

    compliments to her , he intended her to be seated next him at dinner , and she , not understanding what honor was destined her , and therefore

    placing herself at some distance , he reproached her with an appearance of pique and resentment , which conveyed to all present the

    interest she had excited in him . It would be vain to attempt any enumeration of the

    distinguished persons who sought her society ; we can but notice those who were to be linked with her future , and whose namos are

    inextricably associated with hers . Three generations of Montmorencys

    did homage to her , Matthieu Due de Montmorency , Adrien Due

    Madame Recamier. 231

    MADAME RECAMIER . 231

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Dec. 1, 1860, page 231, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01121860/page/15/