montagnarde1793

I finally finished the paper I just spent the past eight hours writing.
And thus, I bring you randomness, courtesy of Saint-Just:

Okay, so I was flipping through Saint-Just's Oeuvres completes (yes, I managed to insert a quote by Saint-Just into a paper on modern Africa) and found this very short and random "letter to one of his sisters":

Lille, 20 Pluviose [8 February 1794]

My dear sister,

What you ask of me is contrary to you; it is impossible for me to accord it to you. I embrace you with all my heart.

Okay, now I'm curious. Anybody have any theories as to what Saint-Just's sister could have been asking him at that date? Naturally, we're not going to find out the answer, but there's no harm in speculating, is there?

Oh, and a dialogue also written by Saint-Just concerning Organt (which I am too tired to translate at the moment):

M. D. : Monsieur est l'auteur du poème d'Organt ?
L'Auteur : Oui.
M. D. : Vous êtes bien corrompu pour votre âge.
L'Auteur : Et bien sage, peut-être.
M. D. : Que vous ont déjà fait les hommes pour allumer chez vous ce fiel satirique ?
L'Auteur : Je voulais leur plaire.
M. D. : Pourquoi ces malignes allusions ?
L'Auteur : J'ai travaillé d'après des hommes, tant mieux si j'ai attrapé la ressemblance.
M. D.: Vous sapez les rois !
L'Auteur : J'aime les rois, je hais les tyrans.
M. D. : Vous foulez aux pieds les établissements les plus sacrés !
L'Auteur : Ces établissements sont déchus, ils ne sont plus sacrés mais vils.
M. D. : Votre Charlemagne est le roi; votre Cunégonde est la reine.
L'Auteur : C'est vous qui l'avez dit.
M. D. : Votre singe Étienne Péronne est le chevalier Dubois.
L'Auteur : Respectez mon singe.
M. D. : Votre Pépin est le comte d'A... Il acheta, il y a quelques années, un cheval 1 700 louis. Ce cheval s'appelait Pépin et...
L'Auteur : Que Pépin s'appelle cheval !
M. D. : Vous avez honni les états généraux. Ne craignez-vous pas ?...
L'Auteur : Je ne crains rien de rien.
M. D. : Quelle horrible impiété règne dans votre livre !
L'Auteur : Priez pour moi.
M. D. : Quel portrait d'une reine !
L'Auteur : Quel original !
M. D. : Quelle diatribe contre le Parlement, le théâtre, et l'Académie !
L'Auteur : Quelle diatribe contre le bon sens que ces trois corps !
M. D. : Quelle peinture horrible de ?... et de la Trinité.
L'Auteur : Vous riez !
M. D. : Ne craignez-vous pas maître Antoine, dont vous avez honni le cochon et le cochon n'est-il point maître Antoine ?
L'Auteur : Apparemment.
M. D. : On vous rôtira.
L'Auteur : Je m'en fous.

It always cracks me up for some reason.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's great....I wish I could write humor. Seriously though... *cracks up*

This of course results in a VERY peeved Antoine. In fact, there is a direct correlation between Rousseau, Antoine getting laid, and the number of guillotinings in a single day. But I believe I'm explained this before.

Yes. And the humidity, remember?

Of course. Imagine if it all happened at once! He might bust a vein, or something.

That would be ~~amusing~~ terrible, just terrible.

He hits the breaking point when Maxime starts wearing a "W.W.R.D." bracelet.

*dies, just dies* That would make for a good one of those cartoons--like the ones at saint-just.net...?

Yeeeeeees..those are SO cute!

If only I knew how to draw like that... (You have to admit, though; the poor translation is one of the best part and it would be somewhat difficult to replicate on purpose, even if I could draw it.)

I can't draw like that either. I'd just draw my own, with proper grammar!

~~...And that particular cartoon...?~~

*grins* We'll see.

~~That really would be awesome.~~ Are you working on anything at the moment?

In my head, plenty. On paper, I'm TRYING to draw the ghetto!Wellard characters...and possibly some more Camille/Maxime. And I'm trying DESPERATELY to replicate Prudhon's Saint-Just.

I really don't blame you if you don't succeed at that last one... I'm not sure it's possible.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE SAID! *dies* I think it's too beautiful to be replicated. I mean, WOAH.

Seriously. And if he really looked like that, perhaps its futile to try to draw him at all...

*nods* It's the one I picture, simply because it IS my favourite. I almost wish it wasn't.

I love that one, but I find the Hamel one better for actual draw-ability purposes.

Ahh...describe that one.

It looks kind of like my drawing, but with a better cravat and a different kind of jacket.

I THINK I know which one you're talking about. Yes. If I'm right, I actually don't like that one. Though I DO like your drawing. You have improved it, darling!

Yay! I'm such at talented artist! ~~What, modesty? Me?~~
It would be nice if we actually knew what he looked like... what all of them looked like, now that I think of it...

No, really! You don't need to be modest!
I think we're pretty good with Maxime. Camille less so, and Saint-Just is just...NO. The only thing we know for sure about him is that he had small, feminine lips. And curly hair. Everything else conflicts.

I could be arrogant instead, if you'd prefer...
Yes; it's not that accounts of Maxime's appearance don't conflict, it's just that some people were obviously making things up for propaganda purposes. We have a pretty good idea what Camille looked like, don't we? As to Saint-Just, I don't get how people don't seem to agree on his looks at all; they had all met him, hadn't they?