I HAVE begun on a work which is without precedent, whose accomplishment will have no imitator.I propose to set before my fellow-mortals a man in all the truth of nature; and this man shall be myself.
I have studied mankind and know my heart; I am not made like any one I have been acquainted with, perhaps like no one in existence; if not better, I at least claim originality, and whether Nature has acted rightly or wrongly in destroying the mold in which she cast me, can only be decided after I have been read.
I will present myself, whenever the last trumpet shall sound, before the Sovereign Judge with this book in my hand, and loudly proclaim, "Thus have I acted; these were my thoughts; such was I.With equal ******* and veracity have I related what was laudable or wicked, Ihave concealed no crimes, added no virtues; and if I have sometimes introduced superfluous ornament, it was merely to occupy a void occasioned by defect of memory: I may have supposed that certain, which I only knew to be probable, but have never asserted as truth, a conscious falsehood.Such as I was, I have declared myself;sometimes vile and despicable, at others, virtuous, generous, and sublime; even as Thou hast read my inmost soul: Power Eternal!
assemble round Thy throne an innumerable throng of my fellow-mortals, let them listen to my confessions, let them blush at my depravity, let them tremble at my sufferings; let each in his turn expose with equal sincerity the failings, the wanderings of his heart, and if he dare, aver, I was better than that man."I was born at Geneva, in 1712, son of Isaac Rousseau and Susannah Bernard, citizens.My father's share of a moderate competency, which was divided among fifteen children, being very trivial, his business of a watchmaker (in which he had the reputation of great ingenuity)was his only dependence.My mother's circumstances were more affluent;she was daughter of a Mons.Bernard, minister, and possessed a considerable share of modesty and beauty; indeed, my father found some difficulty in obtaining her hand.
The affection they entertained for each other was almost as early as their existence; at eight or nine years old they walked together every evening on the banks of the Treille, and before they were ten, could not support the idea of separation.A natural sympathy of soul confined those sentiments of predilection which habit at first produced; born with minds susceptible of the most exquisite sensibility and tenderness, it was only necessary to encounter similar dispositions; that moment fortunately presented itself, and each surrendered a willing heart.
The obstacles that opposed served only to give a degree of vivacity to their affection, and the young lover, not being able to obtain his mistress, was overwhelmed with sorrow and despair.She advised him to travel- to forget her.He consented- he traveled but returned more passionate than ever, and had the happiness to find her equally constant, equally tender.After this proof of mutual affection, what could they resolve?- to dedicate their future lives to love! the resolution was ratified with a vow, on which Heaven shed its benediction.
Fortunately, my mother's brother, Gabriel Bernard, fell in love with one of my father's sisters: she had no objection to the match, but made the marriage of his sister with her brother an indispensable preliminary.Love soon removed every obstacle, and the two weddings were celebrated the same day: thus my uncle became the husband of my aunt, and their children were doubly cousins german.Before a year was expired, both had the happiness to become fathers, but were soon after obliged to submit to a separation.
My uncle Bernard, who was an engineer, went to serve in the empire and Hungary, under Prince Eugene, and distinguished himself both at the siege and battle of Belgrade.My father, after the birth of my only brother, set off, on recommendation, for Constantinople, and was appointed watchmaker to the Seraglio.During his absence, the beauty, wit, and accomplishments* of my mother attracted a number of admirers, among whom Mons.de la Closure, Resident of France, was the most assiduous in his attentions.His passion must have been extremely violent, since after a period of thirty years I have seen him affected at the very mention of her name.My mother had a defense more powerful even than her virtue; she tenderly loved my father, and conjured him to return; his inclination seconding his request, he gave up every prospect of emolument, and hastened to Geneva.
* They were too brilliant for her situation, the minister, her father, having bestowed great pains on her education.She was taught drawing, singing, and to play on the theorbo; had learning, and wrote very agreeable verses.The following is an extempore piece which she composed in the absence of her husband and brother, in a conversation with some person relative to them, while walking with her sister-in-law, and their two children:
Ces deux messieurs, qui sont absens, Nous sont chers de bien des manieres;Ce sont nos amis, nos amans, Ce sont nos maris et nos freres, Et les peres de ces enfans.
These absent ones, who justly claim Our hearts, by every tender name, To whom each wish extends:
Our husbands and our brothers are, The fathers of this blooming pair, Our lovers and our friends.