Descent to the Rousillon Lowlands and Arles
The travelers descend the lower alps that bind Rousillon, forming a majestic barrier open only on the east to the Mediterranean. The landscape transforms to gay cultivation—groves of orange and lemon perfume the air with ripe fruit glowing among foliage, and extensive vineyards slope toward the plains. Beyond these, woods and pastures stretch toward the sea, on whose bright surface gleam distant sails, all diffused with the purple glow of evening. This landscape presents a perfect picture of the lovely and the sublime, of beauty sleeping in the lap of horror. The travelers proceed between flowering myrtle and pomegranate hedges to the town of Arles, where they propose to rest for the night.
Melancholy Evening Before Valancourt’s Departure
Though they find simple but neat accommodation and might have passed a happy evening after the day’s toils and delights, the approaching separation casts a gloom over their spirits. St. Aubert plans to proceed the next morning to the Mediterranean borders and travel along its shores into Languedoc, while Valancourt, nearly recovered, resolves to leave them and explore new scenes among the mountains on his return home. During this evening, Valancourt is often silent and thoughtful, St. Aubert’s manner is affectionate though grave, and Emily is serious despite frequent efforts to appear cheerful. After one of their most melancholy evenings yet, they separate for the night.
CHAPITRE VI.
Chapter VI opens with a verse from Thomson celebrating the enduring gifts of nature and closes with the travelers’ uncertain approach to a mysterious château in the woods. In between, St. Aubert and Emily bid farewell to Valancourt, journey along the Mediterranean coast through Colioure and Perpignan to Leucate and into Languedoc, and receive devastating news of financial ruin that prompts Emily to offer a consoling philosophy of poverty. Throughout, the Pyrenees and sea form a sublime backdrop to the travelers’ mounting distress.
Thomson’s Verses
The chapter opens with a nine-line verse attributed to Thomson, declaring indifference to Fortune’s denial. The poet claims that no one can rob him of nature’s grace, shut the windows through which Aurora shows her brightening face, or bar his feet from the woods and lawns at evening. If health endures, he leaves their toys to “the great children” and affirms that fancy, reason, and virtue remain beyond Fortune’s reach.
The Morning Farewell
In the morning Valancourt breakfasts with St. Aubert and Emily, though neither seems refreshed by sleep and the languor of illness still hangs over St. Aubert. The sound of the carriage wheels interrupts their musing, and after St. Aubert invites Valancourt to visit La Vallée, the moment of parting arrives. They linger at the door, none able to speak until St. Aubert at last says “Farewell,” which Emily passes to Valancourt, who returns it with a dejected smile as the carriage drives on. As the travelers pass the inn, Valancourt waves and Emily returns the adieu until a bend in the road hides him from sight.
Valancourt’s Background
When Valancourt’s acquaintance began, he made known his name and family, which were not unknown to St. Aubert. The family estates, now in the possession of an elder brother, lay little more than twenty miles from La Vallée, and St. Aubert had met the elder Valancourt in the neighborhood. Though Valancourt’s countenance and manners would have won St. Aubert’s acquaintance, that trust in the intelligence of his own eyes was not enough to introduce him to Emily.
Reflections on Youth
In the carriage St. Aubert tells Emily that Valancourt is the most promising young man he has met in years and that the young man brings back the days of his own youth. He sighs, “The world was opening upon me then, now—it is closing,” prompting Emily to plead with him to think less gloomily. St. Aubert confesses he hopes it is for her sake, then likens the ardour and ingenuousness of youth to the view of spring for a sick person, lighting his eyes with transient sunshine. Emily, who has never before listened with so much pleasure to her father’s praise of another, presses his hand affectionately.
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