SADE MARQUIS DE: (1740-1814)

SADE MARQUIS DE: (1740-1814)

From prison `In that case, let me be given a servant;
I am made to be served and I want to be…´

 

SADE MARQUIS DE: (1740-1814) Donatien Alphonse François de Sade. French Writer, Nobleman and Revolutionary Politician. Best-known for his erotic works and sexual fantasies with violence and lack of morality. Author of The 120 Days of Sodom. Sade spent thirty-two years of his life imprisoned and most of his works were written while incarcerated. The word sadism was coined from his name. Rare and lengthy A.L., two pages, 4to, written in prison, Prison of Vincennes, [March-April 1779], to his wife Renée-Pélagie de Montreuil, in French. Sade sends a very interesting content letter, furious and vindictive, comparing his conditions of detention to those of La Bastille, and proclaiming his hatred for his jailers, and stating in part `Je demandais par mon mémoire un couteau. Je dis qu´il est ridicule d´ôter à un homme la faculté de manger quand il a faim; on m´en prêe un à l´instant de dîner, voila qui va fort bien, mais si j´ai faim le soir plus de couteau; je renouvelle donc ma demande et te prie de l´appuyer; qu´on emprunte mon couteau tant qu´on voudra, mais qu´on me donneau moins la facilité de manger un morceau de ce que tu m´envoies aux heures où la famtaisie m´en prend. Je demande en outre qu´on me rende la troisième promenade que j´avais autrefois par semaine; il est inoui que plus on avance ici plus l´on soit resserré; crois-tu que j´ai moins besoin de prendre l´air à présent que je n´avais dans ce temps-là, et non vraiment…´ (Translation: "I asked with my memories for a knife. I say it is ridiculous to deprive a man of the ability to eat when he is hungry; they lend me one at dinner time, that's fine, but if I'm hungry in the evening, no more knives; I therefore renew my request and ask you to support it; let them borrow my knife as much as they want, but let me at least have the facility of eating a piece of what you send me at times when the fancy takes hold of me. I also ask to be given back the third walk I once had per week; it is incredible that the more one advances here the more we are tightened; do you think that I need to get less fresh air now than I did then, no really...") Sade further refers to La Bastille prison, and strongly complains about the jailers, saying `Ce n´est pas le prisonnier qui intéresse, ce n´est pas leur bien-être, leur aisance que l´on envisage, c´est la commodité des geôliers, c´est là ce qui règle tout… On se modèle dit-on sur la Bastille - C´est faux! Car à la Bastille ce ne sont pas ces gens-là qui escortent aux promenades, ce sont les soldats. Aussi sont-elles bien plus fréquentes, et n´a t-on pas comme ici de considération pour des drôles de cette espèce…´ (Translation: "It is not the prisoner who is of interest, it is not their well-being, their ease that we are considering, it is the convenience of the jailers, that is what regulates everything... They say that they model themselves on the Bastille - This is false! Because at the Bastille it's not these people who escort the walks, it's the soldiers. Also, they are much more frequent, and we do not have as here such consideration for comical people of this species…") Further, Sade referring to the jailers behaviour, makes an amusing comment `A peine ai-je exactement le temps de demander ce qui m´est necessaire dans la journée, et on se sauve comme si j´avais la peste, en me répétant toujours qu´on est préssés. En ce cas-là qu´on me donne un domestique; je suis fait pour être servi et je veux l´être, mais quand on se plaint ici on ne vous écoute pas…Pourquoi faut-il que des êtres raisonnables et sensibles aient le malheur de tomber en tells mains?...´ (Translation: "I hardly have the exact time to ask what I need during the day, and they run away as if I had the plague, always telling me that they are in a hurry. In that case, let me be given a servant; I am made to be served and I want to be, but when we complain here, we do not listen to you… Why must reasonable and sensitive persons have the misfortune to fall into such hands?") Further again, Sade refers to this second unfair imprisonment he is suffering and states `Non, jamais je ne pardonnerai l´infamie de m´avoir fait reprendre; c´est une horreur qui n´a pas d´exemple; sacrifier un homme, sa reputation, son honneur, ses enfants, à la rage, à la vengeance et à l´avarice de ceux qui désiraient mon retour… es tune execration don't on ne trouverait pas d´exemple chez la plus féroce nation; et quand j´ai le malheur de retomber dans cet affreux piège, m´y rendre plus malheureux qu´avant, m´y tenir plus servi, m´y persécuter d´avantage, m´y mentir avec plus d´impudence… Dis bien à ceux qui croient corriger des hommes ainsi, qu´ils se trompent bien grossièrement, ils les aigrissent et voilà tout…´ (Translation: "No, I will never forgive the infamy of having made me return to prison; it is a horror that has no example; to sacrifice a man, his reputation, his honour, his children, to the rage, revenge and avarice of those who desired my return here… it is an execration of which one would find no example in the most ferocious nation; and when I have the misfortune to fall back into this dreadful trap, to make myself more unhappy there than before, to hold me more tightened, to persecute me more, to lie to me with more impudence… Say well to those who believe that they correct men in this way, that they are very grossly mistaken, they embitter them and that's all…") Further Sade changes his mood and tone and thanks his wife for the information forwarded about his son, expressing his infinite satisfaction, and thanks also his mother-in-law for her care and teaching, and before concluding sends an interesting statement about books and writing, stating `Que veux-tu qu´on fasse sans livres, il faut en être entouré pour travailler, sinon on ne peut faire que des contes de fees, et je n´ai pas cet esprit-là. Réponds-moi donc sur ce livre que je demande à ton père et envoie-moi les petites bougies demandées depuis un siècle et dont je manque depuis huit jours. Je t´embrasse´ (Translation: "What do you want us to do without books, you have to be surrounded by them to work, otherwise you can only write fairy tales, and I don´t have that spirit. So answer me about this book that I'm asking your father for and send me the little candles that I've been asking for a century and which I have none since eight days ago. I kiss you") Upper part of the letter cleanly clipped, only affecting few words to the upper line, otherwise G