The fatigue of this importunity made me in some degree surmount the foolish shame which prevented me from appearing with Theresa in public; and we took short country walks, tete-a-tete, and partook of little collations, which, to me, were delicious.I perceived she loved me sincerely, and this increased my tenderness.This charming intimacy left me nothing to wish; futurity no longer gave me the least concern, or at most appeared only as the present moment prolonged: I had no other desire than that of insuring its duration.
This attachment rendered all other dissipation superfluous and insipid to me.I never went but for the purpose of going to the apartment of Theresa, her place of residence almost became my own.
My retirement was so favorable to the work I had undertaken, that, in less than three months, my opera was entirely finished, both words and music, except a few accompaniments, and fillings up which still remained to be added.This maneuvring business was very fatiguing to me.I proposed it to Philidor, offering him at the same time a part of the profits.He came twice, and did something to the middle parts in the act of Ovid; but he could not confine himself to an assiduous application by the allurement of advantages which were distant and uncertain.He did not come a third time, and I finished the work myself.
My opera completed, the next thing was to make something of it: this was by much the more difficult task of the two.A man living in solitude in Paris will never succeed in anything.I was on the point of making my way by means of M.de la Popliniere, to whom Gauffecourt, at my return to Geneva, had introduced me.M.de la Popliniere was the Mecaenas of Rameau.Madam de la Popliniere his very humble scholar.
Rameau was said to govern in that house.Judging that he would with pleasure protect the work of one of his disciples, I wished to show him what I had done.He refused to examine it; saying he could not read score, it was too fatiguing to him.M.de la Popliniere, to obviate this difficulty, said he might hear it; and offered me to send for musicians to execute certain detached pieces.I wished for nothing better.Rameau consented with an ill grace, incessantly repeating that the composition of a man not regularly bred to the science, and who had learned music without a master, must certainly be very fine! Ihastened to copy into parts five or six select passages.Ten symphonies were procured, and Albert, Berard, and Mademoiselle Bourdonnais undertook the vocal part.Rameau, the moment he heard the overture, was purposely extravagant in his eulogium, by which he intended it should be understood it could not be my composition.He showed signs of impatience at every passage: but after a counter tenor song, the air of which was noble and harmonious, with a brilliant accompaniment, he could no longer contain himself; he apostrophized me with a brutality at which everybody was shocked, maintaining that a part of what he had heard was by a man experienced in the art, and the rest by some ignorant person who did not so much as understand music.It is true my composition, unequal and without rule, was sometimes sublime, and at others insipid, as that of a person who forms himself in an art by the soarings of his own genius, unsupported by science, must necessarily be.Rameau pretended to see nothing in me but a contemptible pilferer, without talents or taste.The rest of the company, among whom I must distinguish the master of the house, were of a different opinion.M.de Richelieu, who at that time frequently visited M.and Madam de la Popliniere, heard them speak of my work, and wished to hear the whole of it, with an intention, if it pleased him, to have it performed at court.The opera was executed with full choruses, and by a great orchestra, at the expense of the king, at M.de Bonneval's, Intendant of the Menus; Francoeur directed the band.
The effect was surprising: the duke never ceased to exclaim and applaud; and, at the end of one of the choruses, in the act of Tasso, he arose and came to me, and pressing my hand, said: "M.
Rousseau, this is transporting harmony.I never heard anything finer.I will get this performed at Versailles."Madam de la Popliniere, who was present, said not a word.Rameau, although invited, refused to come.The next day, Madam de la Popliniere received me at her toilette very ungraciously, affected to undervalue my piece, and told me, that although a little false glitter had at first dazzled M.de Richelieu, he had recovered from his error, and she advised me not to place the least dependence upon my opera.The duke arrived soon after, and spoke to me in quite a different language.He said very flattering things my talents, and seemed as much disposed as ever to have my composition performed before the king."There is nothing," said he, "but the act of Tasso which cannot pass at court: you must write another." Upon this single word I shut myself up in my apartment; and in three weeks produced, in the place of Tasso, another act, the subject of which was Hesiod inspired by the muses.In this I found the secret of introducing a part of the history of my talents, and of the jealousy with which Rameau had been pleased to honor me.There was in the new act an elevation less gigantic and better supported than in the act of Tasso.The music was as noble and the composition better; and had the other two acts been equal to this, the whole piece would have supported a representation to advantage.But whilst I was endeavoring to give it the last finishing, another undertaking suspended the completion of that I had in my hand.In the winter which succeeded the battle of Fontenoi, there were many galas at Versailles, and several operas performed at the theater of the little stables.
