Enfin.

[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.

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

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

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

Ahh...describe that one.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

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

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

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!

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

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...

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

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.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

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?

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's a serious improvement! Gloat, if you like.
Well, I think we know he wasn't green, eh? And yeah, Saint-Just always confuses me. I mean, if he had, say, dirty blonde hair it would be understandable for people to say both blonde and brown, but this white blonde to almost BLACK is a bit extreme.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Nah--I get enough of that in the arias I sing. Way too much, actually.
What are you talking about! Of course he was green! It's a well-documented fact that he had chloroplasts! ...perhaps it was the lighting?

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

Oh dear.
Oooops! My bad!

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

*hates voice type, hates it*
Yes, the Robespierre is a very unusual variety of walking plant.

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

*eyes widen* Oooooh, tell me more!

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. It's from the family Francius and the genus Revolutionarius. Perhaps I ought to send a picture?

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

If you have one, it would be MUCH appreciated. ^^

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

*is drawing one* I'll just have to... umm... look it up in my plant guide. Yes. That's it.

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

So, what other species of Revolutionarius are there?

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

But what others of them have been described as being green? Um, umm....

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

...touché.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

All the same, here it is: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/30661846/. Enjoy! (And remember: don't touch the petals!)