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...it becomes clear from one of the most touching and unaffected passages [of his memoirs Les Pas effaces], that while the Count might admire others for their artistic brilliance, noble birth, wit, elegance and so on (while still holding himself their equal or superior), Pozzi is not just someone he admires, but for whom he feels that most unfamiliar of emotions, envy: [p. 234]And then the quote, in a paragraph that Goines recognized instantly as probably going to be his favorite in the book, because he recognized himself in it, himself on his better, self-regulated, optimistic, death-avoiding days:
My dear and late-lamented Pozzi used to assure me that on waking, he could scarcely contain the exhilaration he felt at the many alluring things the day held in store for him...As the sun rose, this man of rare good sense and rare good taste...saw the prospect of operations to perform, and his hospital to decorate, so that illness might be made beautiful, and suffering almost happy; of noble poems to read, and others to write; of antiques to acquire, of suffering to alleviate and friends to delight; and as, during the day, he was filled with knowledge and purpose, so, in the evening, he was filled with grace and charm...All this, and many other things beside, added up to a daily uniqueness which is, alas, now lost to us.Barnes sums up the paragraph:
Montesquiou envied Pozzi his daily cheerfulness, his direct approach to life and his usefulness; but also the way his willpower controlled his temperament. He liked to quote Pozzi’s remark: ‘I could become old, if I wanted to.’ But Pozzi never did want to.
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These were inspiring quotes and refelctions to read as I finished my breakfast this morning and continue about my day. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell now you have certainly piqued my interest. Just those few lovely lines make me want to turn the page and read more such beautifully crafted prose.
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