CP 03065/en
Marcel Proust to Antoine Bibesco [Tuesday, 4 January 1916]
(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the Corr-Proust digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)
My dear Antoine,
Forgive me for not having responded to your letter earlier[2]. I have been in a lot of physical and mental pain. You are much in my thoughts, and, in these days, however sad, we remember that the years return laden with the same natural beauties, but without bringing people back with them. Alas, in 1916, there will be violets, apple blossoms; before them, the flowers of frost, but Bertrand will no longer be there [3].
I am not writing to you at length because I am very tired, and I send you all of my best regards, which I also beg you to share with Emmanuel, if he is with you.
Marcel Proust
Is M. Carp [4] of bad stock like Marghiloman[5] and Take Jonesco[6], or of good stock like Filipesco[7] (I mean in terms of family, as a matter of opinion, I know that he is the most hardened of Germanophiles). — And in terms of intelligence, where do you place him?
I have more faith in our victory than ever. But I find that some arguments demand revision and refinement. The fortification argument [8], for example, is true, but in inverse proportion to the fortress' size. Like while infinitely multiplying the sides of a polygon, we see it merge with its circumference. Suppose (horresco referens – “horresco” is very Romanian) the Germans, god forbid, conquer the entire world, they would be in a fortress, but would be comfortable there. At the moment I find their fortress too vast for my liking. I think the earlier we can cut off Poland etc. etc., the more pertinent the argument will become and the better it will be. Tibi.
MP.