CP 05409/en: Difference between revisions

From Corr-Proust Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "<languages />")
 
No edit summary
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
<languages />
<languages />


=[http://www.corr-proust.org/letter/05409 Marcel Proust à Samuel Pozzi Dimanche<nowiki>[4 octobre 1914]</nowiki>]=
=[http://www.corr-proust.org/letter/05409 Marcel Proust to Samuel Pozzi Sunday<nowiki>[4 October 1914]</nowiki>]=  
<small>(Cliquez le lien ci-dessus pour consulter cette lettre et ses notes dans l’édition numérique ''Corr-Proust'', avec tous les hyperliens pertinents.)</small>
<small>(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the ''Corr-Proust'' digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)</small>


102 boulevard Haussmann, Dimanche<ref name="n1" />  
102 boulevard Haussmann, Sunday<ref name="n1" />  


Cher Monsieur
Dear Sir


J'aurai un conseil et peut-être un service (le conseil sera déjà un bien précieux service) à vous demander, au sujet du conseil de contre-réforme que comme officier rayé des cadres, je puis être appelé à passer<ref name="n2" />. Mais je viens d'avoir des crises d'asthme cardiaque tellement terribles que je ne sais encore quel jour je serai en état d'aller vous trouver<ref name="n3" />. Cette lettre n'a donc qu'un seul but : vous demander de ne pas me trouver mal élevé si le jour où je me sentirai en état de me lever, je me permets de faire téléphoner chez vous, vous demandant si vous pouvez par hasard me recevoir. Il est infiniment probable, — avec tant de travaux, portés avec l'aisance d'Hercule (qui lui aussi avait éprouvé selon un beau mythe la Jeunesse Éternelle<ref name="n4" />), mais enfin qui vous prennent tout votre temps<ref name="n5" /> — que vous ne pourrez pas me recevoir ce jour-là. Mais alors un autre jour je prendrai la liberté de retéléphoner. Et comme la classe déjà fort ancienne à laquelle j'appartiens ne sera appelée que dans les dernières, si même plusieurs fois de suite vous ne pouvez pas me recevoir il n'y aura aucun inconvénient à cela. D'ailleurs je viens d'être malade si violemment, qu'une période d'accalmie va peut-être succéder et qu'il me sera peut-être possible de me lever assez souvent, surtout pour un temps aussi court qu'aller chez vous. Ne prenez pas la peine de me répondre, ma lettre n'a qu'un seul but, vous annoncer mon téléphonage, l'expliquer, l'excuser, pour que vous ne le trouviez pas « cavalier ».
I would like to ask you for advice and perhaps a service (the advice will already be a very precious service), concerning the fact that I, as a discharged officer, may be called upon to appear before the review board<ref name="n2" />. But I have recently had such terrible asthma attacks that I do not know yet what day I will be able to see you<ref name="n3" />. This letter has only one purpose: to ask you not to think me ill-mannered if, on the day I feel fit to get up, I take the liberty of telephoning you to ask if you could possibly see me. It is infinitely probable - with so much work, carried out with the ease of Hercules (who also had, according to a beautiful myth, Eternal Youth<ref name="n4" />), but which finally takes up all your time<ref name="n5" /> - that you will not be able to receive me on that day. But then another day I will take the liberty of telephoning again. And as the already very old classification to which I belong will only be called last, it will be no inconvenience, even if you cannot receive me several times in a row. Besides, I have just been so violently ill that a period of calm will perhaps follow and it will be possible for me to get up quite often, especially for such a short time as required to go to your house. Don't bother to answer me, my letter has only one purpose, to announce my phone call, to explain it, to excuse it, so that you won't find it "cavalier".


Veuillez agréer cher Monsieur l'expression de mon attachement respectueux et reconnaissant.
Please accept, dear Sir, the expression of my respectful and grateful attachment.


Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Line 21: Line 21:
<references>
<references>


<ref name="n1"> Le cachet postal de l'enveloppe portant la date du 7 octobre 1914, Proust a dû écrire cette lettre le dimanche 4 octobre 1914. [FL] </ref>
<ref name="n1">The postmark on the envelope bears the date 7 October, 1914, so Proust must have written this letter on Sunday, 4 October, 1914.[FL]</ref>


<ref name="n2"> Après avoir fait un an de service militaire à Orléans comme engagé volontaire, du 15 novembre 1889 jusqu’au 14 novembre 1890, Proust avait été nommé officier de réserve dans l’administration avec affectation au Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, puis était passé dans la réserve de l'armée territoriale le 1er octobre 1908. Mais grâce à l’influence de son ami Gaston Calmette, directeur du Figaro, frère du docteur Émile Calmette, Médecin-Inspecteur, Directeur du Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, il avait été rayé des cadres des officiers de réserve le 30 août 1911 « sur décision présidentielle » sans passer devant une commission de réforme : voir son dossier militaire et la lettre du Médecin-Inspecteur Émile Calmette du 6 septembre 1911 à Proust (CP 02225 ; Kolb, X, n° 168). Voir aussi la lettre à Léon Bailby du [9 décembre 1914] où il résume sa situation militaire (CP 05405 et ses notes 5, 6, 9 et 10.). Le 16 septembre 1914, il a pu lire dans Le Journal des Débats daté du 17, p. 2, à l'article « Les réformés et exemptés », qu'en vertu d'un arrêté pris le 15 par le Ministère de la Guerre, les hommes réformés ou exemptés des classes encore soumises aux obligations militaires devaient se déclarer à la mairie de leur domicile et seraient convoqués à partir du 7 octobre pour être examinés par un Conseil de Révision. (Information également fournie par Le Figaro du 17 septembre, p. 1.) Proust semble être revenu de Cabourg dès le début d'octobre dans la crainte de cette convocation : voir la lettre à Mme Catusse située vers le [15 septembre 1914] (CP 02824 ; Kolb, XIII, n° 173). [LJ, FP, FL] </ref>
<ref name="n2">After serving a year of military service in Orleans as a volunteer enlisted man from 15 November 1889, until 14 November 1890, Proust had been appointed a reserve officer in the administration with an posting to the Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, and then he was transferred to the armée territoriale on 1 October 1908. But thanks to the influence of his friend Gaston Calmette, director of Le Figaro, brother of Dr. Émile Calmette, Medical Inspector, Director of the Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, he had been crossed off from the reserve officers' ranks on 30 August 1911 "by presidential decision" without appearing before a medical board: see his military file and the letter of the Medical Inspector Émile Calmette of 6 September 1911 to Proust (CP 02225; Kolb, X, no. 168). See also the letter to Léon Bailby of [9 December 9 1914] in which he summarizes his military situation (CP 05405 and the notes 5, 6, 9 and 10). On 16 September 1914, he could have read in Le Journal des Débats dated the 17th, p. 2, in the article "Les réformés et exemptés" (The discharged and exempted), that by virtue of a decree taken on the 15th by the Ministère de la Guerre, that the discharged or exempted men of the classifications that were still under military obligations had to report to the town hall of their place of residence and would be summoned from 7 October to be examined by a Review Board. (Information also provided by Le Figaro of 17 September 17, p. 1). Proust seems to have returned from Cabourg at the beginning of October in fear of this summons: see the letter to Mme Catusse of around [15 September 1914] (CP 02824; Kolb, XIII, no. 173). [LJ, FP, FL] </ref>


<ref name="n3"> Il s'agit vraisemblablement des violentes crises d'asthme subies lors de son retour de Cabourg, début octobre 1914 : dans la lettre à Mme Catusse située vers la mi-octobre 1914, il relate une « crise d'étouffement infiment plus violente que [s]es crises quotidiennes » survenue dans le train en quittant Cabourg, d'une gravité telle que ses domestiques ont cru qu'il allait mourir, et il déclare être « resté quelques jours bien incapable d'écrire » après son retour (CP 02827 ; Kolb, XIII, n° 176). [FL] </ref>
<ref name="n3">Presumably, this refers to the violent asthma attacks he suffered on his return from Cabourg in early October 1914. In the letter to Mme Catusse of mid-October 1914, he recounts an "attack of breathlessness infinitely more violent than [his] daily attacks" that occurred on the train as he left Cabourg, an attack of such severity that his servants thought he was going to die, and he states that he "remained for a few days quite unable to write" after his return (CP 02827; Kolb, XIII, no. 176).[FL]</ref>


<ref name="n4"> Héraclès (Hercule, en latin), fils de Zeus et d'une mortelle (Alcmène), est surtout célèbre pour ses « Douze Travaux » et un nombre variable d'autres aventures et exploits. Quant à sa « Jeunesse Éternelle », certaines versions du mythe lui donnent pour épouse dans l'Olympe Hébé, la déesse de la jeunesse (voir notamment Hésiode, Théogonie, v. 950-955 : « Le généreux fils de la belle Alcmène, Héraclès […], s’unit sur la cime neigeuse de l’Olympe à une pudique épouse, Hébé, fille du grand Zeus et d’Héra à la chaussure d’or ; fortuné mortel qui, après avoir accompli sur la terre de grands travaux, habite éternellement parmi les dieux, sans connaître jamais ni la douleur ni la vieillesse. »). [FL, AE, FP] </ref>
<ref name="n4">Heracles (Hercules, in Latin), son of Zeus and a mortal woman (Alcmene), is most famous for his "Twelve Labors" and a varying number of other adventures and exploits. As for his "Eternal Youth", in some versions of the myth he is married to the Olympian Hebe, the goddess of youth (see notably Hesiod, Theogony, v. 950-955: "The noble son of the beautiful Alcmene, Heracles [...], is united on the snowy summit of Olympus with a modest wife, Hebe, daughter of the great Zeus and of Hera of the golden sandals; a fortunate mortal who, after having accomplished great works on earth, dwells eternally among the gods, without ever knowing pain or old age.").[FL, AE, FP]</ref>


<ref name="n5"> L'activité déployée par le Docteur Pozzi était en effet impressionnante. Engagé volontaire à l’âge de 68 ans, Samuel Pozzi était médecin principal avec le grade de lieutenant-colonel, affecté à la Direction du Gouvernement Militaire de Paris. En dehors de son service à l’hôpital Broca, il travaillait dans plusieurs hôpitaux militaires, dont l'hôpital Saint-Martin, celui du Val de Grâce et son annexe du Panthéon au 18 de la rue Lhomond où il dirigeait la première division de blessés, d’une centaine de lits. Il recevait ses clients privés chez lui, au 47, avenue d’Iéna. [LJ] </ref>
<ref name="n5">The activity displayed by Doctor Pozzi was indeed impressive. Volunteering at the age of 68, Samuel Pozzi was a senior physician with the rank of lieutenant colonel, assigned to the Direction du Gouvernement Militaire in Paris. In addition to his service at the Broca Hospital, he worked in several military hospitals, including the Saint-Martin Hospital, the Val de Grâce Hospital and its annex at the Pantheon at 18 rue Lhomond, where he was in charge of the first division for the wounded, with about 100 beds. He received his private clients at his home at 47, avenue d'Iéna.[LJ]</ref>


<ref name="n6"> (Notes de traduction) </ref>  
<ref name="n6"> Translation notes: </ref>  


<ref name="n7"> (Contributeurs) </ref>
<ref name="n7"> Contributors: LVerstraten</ref>


</references>
</references>

Latest revision as of 09:31, 11 April 2021


Other languages:

Marcel Proust to Samuel Pozzi Sunday[4 October 1914]

(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the Corr-Proust digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)

102 boulevard Haussmann, Sunday[1]

Dear Sir

I would like to ask you for advice and perhaps a service (the advice will already be a very precious service), concerning the fact that I, as a discharged officer, may be called upon to appear before the review board[2]. But I have recently had such terrible asthma attacks that I do not know yet what day I will be able to see you[3]. This letter has only one purpose: to ask you not to think me ill-mannered if, on the day I feel fit to get up, I take the liberty of telephoning you to ask if you could possibly see me. It is infinitely probable - with so much work, carried out with the ease of Hercules (who also had, according to a beautiful myth, Eternal Youth[4]), but which finally takes up all your time[5] - that you will not be able to receive me on that day. But then another day I will take the liberty of telephoning again. And as the already very old classification to which I belong will only be called last, it will be no inconvenience, even if you cannot receive me several times in a row. Besides, I have just been so violently ill that a period of calm will perhaps follow and it will be possible for me to get up quite often, especially for such a short time as required to go to your house. Don't bother to answer me, my letter has only one purpose, to announce my phone call, to explain it, to excuse it, so that you won't find it "cavalier".

Please accept, dear Sir, the expression of my respectful and grateful attachment.

Marcel Proust

[6] [7]

Notes

  1. ↑ The postmark on the envelope bears the date 7 October, 1914, so Proust must have written this letter on Sunday, 4 October, 1914.[FL]
  2. ↑ After serving a year of military service in Orleans as a volunteer enlisted man from 15 November 1889, until 14 November 1890, Proust had been appointed a reserve officer in the administration with an posting to the Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, and then he was transferred to the armée territoriale on 1 October 1908. But thanks to the influence of his friend Gaston Calmette, director of Le Figaro, brother of Dr. Émile Calmette, Medical Inspector, Director of the Service de Santé du Gouvernement militaire de Paris, he had been crossed off from the reserve officers' ranks on 30 August 1911 "by presidential decision" without appearing before a medical board: see his military file and the letter of the Medical Inspector Émile Calmette of 6 September 1911 to Proust (CP 02225; Kolb, X, no. 168). See also the letter to Léon Bailby of [9 December 9 1914] in which he summarizes his military situation (CP 05405 and the notes 5, 6, 9 and 10). On 16 September 1914, he could have read in Le Journal des Débats dated the 17th, p. 2, in the article "Les réformés et exemptés" (The discharged and exempted), that by virtue of a decree taken on the 15th by the Ministère de la Guerre, that the discharged or exempted men of the classifications that were still under military obligations had to report to the town hall of their place of residence and would be summoned from 7 October to be examined by a Review Board. (Information also provided by Le Figaro of 17 September 17, p. 1). Proust seems to have returned from Cabourg at the beginning of October in fear of this summons: see the letter to Mme Catusse of around [15 September 1914] (CP 02824; Kolb, XIII, no. 173). [LJ, FP, FL]
  3. ↑ Presumably, this refers to the violent asthma attacks he suffered on his return from Cabourg in early October 1914. In the letter to Mme Catusse of mid-October 1914, he recounts an "attack of breathlessness infinitely more violent than [his] daily attacks" that occurred on the train as he left Cabourg, an attack of such severity that his servants thought he was going to die, and he states that he "remained for a few days quite unable to write" after his return (CP 02827; Kolb, XIII, no. 176).[FL]
  4. ↑ Heracles (Hercules, in Latin), son of Zeus and a mortal woman (Alcmene), is most famous for his "Twelve Labors" and a varying number of other adventures and exploits. As for his "Eternal Youth", in some versions of the myth he is married to the Olympian Hebe, the goddess of youth (see notably Hesiod, Theogony, v. 950-955: "The noble son of the beautiful Alcmene, Heracles [...], is united on the snowy summit of Olympus with a modest wife, Hebe, daughter of the great Zeus and of Hera of the golden sandals; a fortunate mortal who, after having accomplished great works on earth, dwells eternally among the gods, without ever knowing pain or old age.").[FL, AE, FP]
  5. ↑ The activity displayed by Doctor Pozzi was indeed impressive. Volunteering at the age of 68, Samuel Pozzi was a senior physician with the rank of lieutenant colonel, assigned to the Direction du Gouvernement Militaire in Paris. In addition to his service at the Broca Hospital, he worked in several military hospitals, including the Saint-Martin Hospital, the Val de Grâce Hospital and its annex at the Pantheon at 18 rue Lhomond, where he was in charge of the first division for the wounded, with about 100 beds. He received his private clients at his home at 47, avenue d'Iéna.[LJ]
  6. ↑ Translation notes:
  7. ↑ Contributors: LVerstraten
Retrieved from "https://corrproust.web.illinois.edu/wiki/index.php?title=CP_05409/en&oldid=7133"