MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798

SPANISH PASSIONS, Volume 6e--OLD AGE AND DEATH

THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDONEDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THECHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. 

OLD AGE AND DEATH OF CASANOVA

APPENDIX AND SUPPLEMENT

Whether the author died before the work was complete, whether theconcluding volumes were destroyed by himself or his literary executors, or whether the MS. Fell into bad hands, seems a matter of uncertainty, and the materials available towards a continuation of the Memoirs areextremely fragmentary. We know, however, that Casanova at last succeededin obtaining his pardon from the authorities of the Republic, and hereturned to Venice, where he exercised the honourable office of secretagent of the State Inquisitors--in plain language, he became a spy. Itseems that the Knight of the Golden Spur made a rather indifferent"agent;" not surely, as a French writer suggests, because the dirty workwas too dirty for his fingers, but probably because he was getting oldand stupid and out-of-date, and failed to keep in touch with new forms ofturpitude. He left Venice again and paid a visit to Vienna, saw belovedParis once more, and there met Count Wallenstein, or Waldstein. Theconversation turned on magic and the occult sciences, in, which Casanovawas an adept, as the reader of the Memoirs will remember, and the counttook a fancy to the charlatan. In short Casanova became librarian at thecount's Castle of Dux, near Teplitz, and there he spent the fourteenremaining years of his life. 

As the Prince de Ligne (from whose Memoirs we learn these particulars)remarks, Casanova's life had been a stormy and adventurous one, and itmight have been expected that he would have found his patron's library apleasant refuge after so many toils and travels. But the man carriedrough weather and storm in his own heart, and found daily opportunitiesof mortification and resentment. The coffee was ill made, the maccaroninot cooked in the true Italian style, the dogs had bayed during thenight, he had been made to dine at a small table, the parish priest hadtried to convert him, the soup had been served too hot on purpose toannoy him, he had not been introduced to a distinguished guest, the counthad lent a book without telling him, a groom had not taken off his hat;such were his complaints. The fact is Casanova felt his dependentposition and his utter poverty, and was all the more determined to standto his dignity as a man who had talked with all the crowned heads ofEurope, and had fought a duel with the Polish general. And he had anotherreason for finding life bitter--he had lived beyond his time. Louis XV. Was dead, and Louis XVI. Had been guillotined; the Revolution had come;and Casanova, his dress, and his manners, appeared as odd and antique assome "blood of the Regency" would appear to us of these days. Sixty yearsbefore, Marcel, the famous dancing-master, had taught young Casanova howto enter a room with a lowly and ceremonious bow; and still, though theeighteenth century is drawing to a close, old Casanova enters the roomsof Dux with the same stately bow, but now everyone laughs. Old Casanovatreads the grave measures of the minuet; they applauded his dancing once, but now everyone laughs. Young Casanova was always dressed in the heightof the fashion; but the age of powder, wigs, velvets, and silks hasdeparted, and old Casanova's attempts at elegance ("Strass" diamonds havereplaced the genuine stones with him) are likewise greeted with laughter. No wonder the old adventurer denounces the whole house of Jacobins andcanaille; the world, he feels, is permanently out of joint for him;everything is cross, and everyone is in a conspiracy to drive the ironinto his soul. 

At last these persecutions, real or imaginary, drive him away from Dux;he considers his genius bids him go, and, as before, he obeys. Casanovahas but little pleasure or profit out of this his last journey; he has todance attendance in ante-chambers; no one will give him any office, whether as tutor, librarian, or chamberlain. In one quarter only is hewell received--namely, by the famous Duke of Weimar; but in a few days hebecomes madly jealous of the duke's more famous proteges, Goethe andWieland, and goes off declaiming against them and German literaturegenerally--with which literature he was wholly unacquainted. From Weimarto Berlin; where there are Jews to whom he has introductions. Casanovathinks them ignorant, superstitious, and knavish; but they lend himmoney, and he gives bills on Count Wallenstein, which are paid. In sixweeks the wanderer returns to Dux, and is welcomed with open arms; hisjourneys are over at last. 

But not his troubles. A week after his return there are strawberries atdessert; everyone is served before himself, and when the plate comesround to him it is empty. Worse still: his portrait is missing from hisroom, and is discovered 'salement placarde a la porte des lieuxd'aisance'!

Five more years of life remained to him. They were passed in such pettymortifications as we have narrated, in grieving over his 'afreusevieillesse', and in laments over the conquest of his native land Venice, once so splendid and powerful. His appetite began to fail, and with itfailed his last source of pleasure, so death came to him somewhat as arelease. He received the sacraments with devotion, exclaimed, --

"Grand Dieu, et vous tous temoins de ma mort, j'ai vecu en philosophe, etje meurs en Chretien, " and so died. 

It was a quiet ending to a wonderfully brilliant and entirely uselesscareer. It has been suggested that if the age in which Casanova lived hadbeen less corrupt, he himself might have used his all but universaltalents to some advantage, but to our mind Casanova would always haveremained Casanova. He came of a family of adventurers, and the reader ofhis Memoirs will remark how he continually ruined his prospects by hisineradicable love for disreputable company. His "Bohemianism" was in hisblood, and in his old age he regrets--not his past follies, but hisinability to commit folly any longer. Now and again we are inclined topronounce Casanova to be an amiable man; and if to his generosity andgood nature he had added some elementary knowledge of the distinctionbetween right and wrong, he might certainly have laid some claim to thecharacter. The Prince de Ligne draws the following portrait of him underthe name of Aventuros:

"He would be a handsome man if he were not ugly; he is tall and stronglybuilt, but his dark complexion and his glittering eyes give him a fierceexpression. He is easier to annoy than amuse; he laughs little but makesothers laugh by the peculiar turn he gives to his conversation. He knowseverything except those matters on the knowledge of which he chieflyprides himself, namely, dancing, the French language, good taste, andknowledge of the world. Everything about him is comic, except hiscomedies; and all his writings are philosophical, saving those whichtreat of philosophy. He is a perfect well of knowledge, but he quotesHomer and Horace ad nauseam. "

 SUPPLEMENT TO

 THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT Containing an Outline of Casanova's career from the year 1774, when his own Memoirs abruptly end, until his death in 1798

PART THE FIRST

VENICE 1774-1782CASANOVA'S RETURN TO VENICE

Thus Casanova ended his Memoirs, concluding his narrative with hissojourn at Trieste, in January 1774, where he had remained, except for afew excursions, since the 15th November 1772. He was forty-nine years ofage. Since his unfortunate experiences in England, the loss of hisfortune and the failure of his efforts to obtain congenial andremunerative employment in Germany or Russia, he had come to concentratehis efforts on a return to his native city. 

Of his faithful friends, the nobles Bragadin, Barbaro and Dandolo, thefirst had died in 1767, having gone into debt "that I might have enough, "sending Casanova, from his death-bed, a last gift of a thousand crowns. Barbaro who had died also, in 1771, left Casanova a life-income of sixsequins a month. The survivor, Dandolo, was poor, but until his death, healso gave Casanova a monthly provision of six sequins. However, Casanovawas not without influential friends who might not only obtain a pardonfrom the State Inquisitors but also assist him to employment; and, infact, it was through such influence as that wielded by the AvogadorZaguri and the Procurator Morosini, that Casanova received his pardon, and later, a position as "Confidant, " or Secret Agent, to the Inquisitorsat Venice. 

Casanova re-entered Venice the 14th September 1774 and, presentinghimself, on the 18th, to Marc-Antoine Businello, Secretary of theTribunal of the Inquisitors of State, was advised that mercy had beenaccorded him by reason of his refutation of the History of the VenetianGovernment by Amelot de la Houssaie which he had written during hisforty-two day imprisonment at Barcelona in 1768. The three Inquisitors, Francesco Grimani, Francesco Sagredo and Paolo Bembo, invited him todinner to hear his story of his escape from The Leads. 

In 1772, Bandiera, the Republic's resident at Ancona, drew this portraitof Casanova:

"One sees everywhere this unhappy rebel against the justice of the AugustCouncil, presenting himself boldly, his head carried high, and wellequipped. He is received in many houses and announces his intention ofgoing to Trieste and, from there, of returning to Germany. He is a man offorty years or more, " [in reality, forty-seven] "of high stature andexcellent appearance, vigorous, of a very brown color, the eye bright, the wig short and chestnut-brown. He is said to be haughty anddisdainful; he speaks at length, with spirit and erudition. " [Letter ofinformation to the Very Illustrious Giovanni Zon, Secretary of the AugustCouncil of Ten at Venice. 2 October 1772. ]

Returning to Venice after an absence of eighteen years, Casanova renewedhis acquaintance with many old friends, among whom were:

The Christine of the Memoirs. Charles, who married Christine, themarriage being arranged by Casanova while in Venice in 1747, was offinancial assistance to Casanova, who "found him a true friend. " Charlesdied "a few months before my last departure from Venice, " in 1783. 

Mlle. X---- C---- V----, really Giustina de Wynne, widow of the CountRosenberg, Austrian Ambassador at Venice. "Fifteen years afterwards, Isaw her again and she was a widow, happy enough, apparently, and enjoyinga great reputation on account of her rank, wit and social qualities, butour connection was never renewed. "

Callimena, who was kind to him "for love's sake alone" at Sorrento in1770. 

Marcoline, the girl he took away from his younger brother, the AbbyCasanova, at Geneva in 1763. 

Father Balbi, the companion of his flight from The Leads. 

Doctor Gozzi, his former teacher at Padua, now become Arch-Priest of St. George of the Valley, and his sister Betting. "When I went to pay him avisit . . . She breathed her last in my arms, in 1776, twenty-four hoursafter my arrival. I will speak of her death in due time. "

Angela Toselli, his first passion. In 1758 this girl married the advocateFrancesco Barnaba Rizzotti, and in the following year she gave birth to adaughter, Maria Rizzotti (later married to a M. Kaiser) who lived atVienna and whose letters to Casanova were preserved at Dux. 

C---- C----, the young girl whose love affair with Casanova becameinvolved with that of the nun M---- M---- Casanova found her in Venice "awidow and poorly off. "

The dancing girl Binetti, who assisted Casanova in his flight fromStuttgart in 1760, whom he met again in London in 1763, and who was thecause of his duel with Count Branicki at Warsaw in 1766. She dancedfrequently at Venice between 1769 and 1780. 

The good and indulgent Mme. Manzoni, "of whom I shall have to speak veryoften. "

The patricians Andrea Memmo and his brother Bernardo who, with P. Zaguriwere personages of considerable standing in the Republic and who remainedhis constant friends. Andrea Memmo was the cause of the embarrassment inwhich Mlle. X---- C---- V---- found herself in Paris and which Casanovavainly endeavored to remove by applications of his astonishing specific, the 'aroph of Paracelsus'. 

It was at the house of these friends that Casanova became acquainted withthe poet, Lorenzo Da Ponte. "I made his acquaintance, " says the latter, in his own Memoirs, "at the house of Zaguri and the house of Memmo, whoboth sought after his always interesting conversation, accepting fromthis man all he had of good, and closing their eyes, on account of hisgenius, upon the perverse parts of his nature. "

Lorenzo Da Ponte, known above all as Mozart's librettist, and whose youthmuch resembled that of Casanova, was accused of having eaten ham onFriday and was obliged to flee from Venice in 1777, to escape thepunishment of the Tribunal of Blasphemies. In his Memoirs, he speaksunsparingly of his compatriot and yet, as M. Rava notes, in the numerousletters he wrote Casanova, and which were preserved at Dux, he proclaimshis friendship and admiration. 

Irene Rinaldi, whom he met again at Padua in 1777, with her daughter who"had become a charming girl; and our acquaintance was renewed in thetenderest manner. "

The ballet-girl Adelaide, daughter of Mme. Soavi, who was also a dancer, and of a M. De Marigny. 

Barbara, who attracted Casanova's attention at Trieste, in 1773, while hewas frequenting a family named Leo, but toward whom he had maintained anattitude of respect. This girl, on meeting him again in 1777, declaredthat "she had guessed my real feelings and had been amused by my foolishrestraint. "

At Pesaro, the Jewess Leah, with whom he had the most singularexperiences at Ancona in 1772. 

 II

 RELATIONS WITH THE INQUISITORS

Soon after reaching Venice, Casanova learned that the Landgrave of HesseCassel, following the example of other German princes, wished a Venetiancorrespondent for his private affairs. Through some influence he believedhe might obtain this small employment; but before applying for theposition he applied to the Secretary of the Tribunal for permission. Apparently nothing came of this, and Casanova obtained no definiteemployment until 1776. 

Early in 1776, Casanova entered the service of the Tribunal ofInquisitors as an "occasional Confidant, " under the fictitious name ofAntonio Pratiloni, giving his address as "at the Casino of S. E. MarcoDandolo. "

In October 1780, his appointment was more definitely established and hewas given a salary of fifteen ducats a month. This, with the six sequinsof life-income left by Barbaro and the six given by Dandolo, gave him amonthly income of three hundred and eighty-four lires--about seventy-fourU. S. Dollars--from 1780 until his break with the Tribunal at the end of1781. 

In the Archives of Venice are preserved forty-eight letters fromCasanova, including the Reports he wrote as a "Confidant, " all in thesame handwriting as the manuscript of the Memoirs. The Reports may bedivided into two classes: those referring to commercial or industrialmatters, and those referring to the public morals. 

Among those of the first class, we find:

A Report relating to Casanova's success in having a change made in theroute of the weekly diligence running from Trieste to Mestre, for whichservice, rendered during Casanova's residence at Trieste in 1773, hereceived encouragement and the sum of one hundred ducats from theTribunal. 

A Report, the 8th September 1776, with information concerning the rumoredproject of the future Emperor of Austria to invade Dalmatia after thedeath of Maria Theresa. Casanova stated he had received this informationfrom a Frenchman, M. Salz de Chalabre, whom he had known in Paris twentyyears before. This M. Chalabre [printed Calabre] was the pretended nephewof Mme. Amelin. "This young man was as like her as two drops of water, but she did not find that a sufficient reason for avowing herself hismother. " The boy was, in fact, the son of Mme. Amelin and of M. DeChalabre, who had lived together for a long time. 

A Report, the 12th of December 1776, of a secret mission to Trieste, inregard to a project of the court of Vienna for making Fiume a Frenchport; the object being to facilitate communications between this port andthe interior of Hungary. For this inquiry, Casanova received sixteenhundred lires, his expenditures amounting to seven hundred and sixty-sixlires. 

A Report, May-July 1779, of an excursion in the market of Ancona forinformation concerning the commercial relations of the Pontifical Stateswith the Republic of Venice. At Forli, in the course of this excursion, Casanova visited the dancing-girl Binetti. For this mission Casanovareceived forty-eight sequins. 

A Report, January 1780, remarking a clandestine recruiting carried out bya certain Marrazzani for the [Prussian] regiment of Zarembal. 

A Report, the 11th October 1781, regarding a so-called BaldassareRossetti, a Venetian subject living at Trieste, whose activities andprojects were of a nature to prejudice the commerce and industry of theRepublic. 

Among the Reports relating to public morals may be noted:

December 1776. A Report on the seditious character of a ballet called"Coriolanus. " The back of this report is inscribed: "The impressario ofS. Benedetto, Mickel de l'Agata, shall be summoned immediately; it hasbeen ordered that he cease, under penalty of his life, from giving theballet Coriolanus at the theater. Further, he is to collect and depositall the printed programmes of this ballet. "

December 1780. A Report calling to the attention of the Tribunal thescandalous disorders produced in the theaters when the lights wereextinguished. 

3rd May 1781. A Report remarking that the Abbe Carlo Grimani believedhimself exempt, in his position as a priest, from the interdiction laidon patricians against frequenting foreign ministers and their suites. Onthe back of this Report is written: "Ser Jean Carlo, Abbe Grimani, to begently reminded, by the Secretary, of the injunction to abstain from allcommerce with foreign ministers and their adherents. "

Venetian nobles were forbidden under penalty of death from holding anycommunication with foreign ambassadors or their households. This wasintended as a precaution to preserve the secrets of the Senate. 

26th November 1781. A Report concerning a painting academy where nudestudies were made, from models of both sexes, while scholars only twelveor thirteen years of age were admitted, and where dilettantes who wereneither painters nor designers, attended the sessions. 

22nd December 1781. By order, Casanova reported to the Tribunal a list ofthe principal licentious or antireligious books to be found in thelibraries and private collections at Venice: la Pucelle; la Philosophiede l'Histoire; L'Esprit d'Helvetius; la Sainte Chandelle d'Arras; lesBijoux indiscrets; le Portier des Chartreux; les Posies de Baffo; Ode aPriape; de Piron; etc. , etc. 

In considering this Report, which has been the subject of violentcriticism, we should bear in mind three points:

first--the Inquisitors required this information; second--no one in theiremploy could have been in a better position to give it than Casanova;third--Casanova was morally and economically bound, as an employee of theTribunal, to furnish the information ordered, whatever his personaldistaste for the undertaking may have been. We may even assume that hepermitted himself to express his feelings in some indiscreet way, and hisbreak with the Tribunal followed, for, at the end of 1781, his commissionwas withdrawn. Certainly, Casanova's almost absolute dependence on hissalary, influenced the letter he wrote the Inquisitors at this time. 

"To the Illustrious and Most Excellent Lords, the Inquisitors of State:

"Filled with confusion, overwhelmed with sorrow and repentance, recognizing myself absolutely unworthy of addressing my vile letter toYour Excellencies confessing that I have failed in my duty in theopportunities which presented themselves, I, Jacques Casanova, invoke, onmy knees, the mercy of the Prince; I beg that, in compassion and grace, there may be accorded me that which, in all justice and on reflection, may be refused me. 

"I ask the Sovereign Munificence to come to my aid, so that, with themeans of subsistence, I may apply myself vigorously, in the future, tothe service to which I have been privileged. 

"After this respectful supplication, the wisdom of Your Excellencies mayjudge the disposition of my spirit and of my intentions. "

The Inquisitors decided to award Casanova one month's pay, but specifiedthat thereafter he would receive salary only when he rendered importantservices. 

In 1782 Casanova made a few more Reports to the Tribunal, for one ofwhich, regarding the failure of an insurance and commercial house atTrieste, he received six sequins. But the part of a guardian of thepublic morals, even through necessity, was undoubtedly unpleasant to him;and, in spite of the financial loss, it may be that his release was arelief. 

 III

 FRANCESCA BUSCHINI

Intimately connected with Casanova's life at this period was a girl namedFrancesca Buschini. This name does not appear in any of the literary, artistic or theatrical records of the period, and, of the girl, nothingis known other than that which she herself tells us in her letters toCasanova. From these very human letters, however, we may obtain, not onlycertain facts, but also, a very excellent idea of her character. Thirty-two of her letters, dated between July 1779 and October 1787, written in the Venetian dialect, were preserved in the library at Dux. 

She was a seamstress, although often without work, and had a brother, ayounger sister and also a mother living with her. The probabilities arethat she was a girl of the most usual sort, but greatly attached toCasanova who, even in his poverty, must have dazzled her as a being fromanother world. She was his last Venetian love, and remained a faithfulcorrespondent until 1787; and it is chiefly from her letters, in whichshe comments on news contained in Casanova's letters to her, that lightis thrown on the Vienna-Paris period, particularly, of Casanova's life. For this, Francesca has placed us greatly in her debt. 

With this girl, at least between 1779 and 1782, Casanova rented a smallhouse at Barbaria delle Tole, near S. Giustina, from the noble Pesaro atS. Stae. Casanova, always in demand for his wit and learning, often tookdinner in the city. He knew that a place always awaited him at the houseof Memmo and at that of Zaguri and that, at the table of thesepatricians, who were distinguished by their intellectual superiority, hewould meet men notable in science and letters. Being so long and soclosely connected with theatrical circles, he was often seen at thetheater, with Francesca. Thus, the 9th August 1786, the poor girl, in anexcess of chagrin writes: "Where are all the pleasures which formerly youprocured me? Where are the theatres, the comedies which we once sawtogether?"

On the 28th July 1779, Francesca wrote:

"Dearest and best beloved, " . . . In the way of novelties, I find nothing except that S. E. PietroZaguri has arrived at Venice; his servant has been twice to ask for you, and I have said you were still at the Baths of Abano . . . "

The Casanova-Buschini establishment kept up relations, more or lessfrequent and intimate, with a few persons, most of whom are mentioned inFrancesca's letters; the Signora Anzoletta Rizzotti; the SignoraElisabeth Catrolli, an ancient comedienne; the Signora Bepa Pezzana; theSignora Zenobia de Monti, possibly the mother of that Carlo de Monti, Venetian Consul at Trieste, who was a friend to Casanova and certainlycontributed toward obtaining his pardon from the Inquisitors; a M. Lunel, master of languages, and his wife. 

 IV

 PUBLICATIONS

Casanova's principal writings during this period were:

His translation of the Iliad, the first volume of which was issued in1775, the second in 1777 and the third in 1778. 

During his stay at Abano in 1778, he wrote the Scrutinio del libro, eulogies of M. De Voltaire "by various hands. " In the dedication of thisbook, to the Doge Renier, he wrote, "This little book has recently comefrom my inexperienced pen, in the hours of leisure which are frequent atAbano for those who do not come only for the baths. "

From January until July 1780, he published, anonymously, a series ofmiscellaneous small works, seven pamphlets of about one hundred pageseach, distributed at irregular intervals to subscribers. 

From the 7th October to the end of December, 1780, on the occasions ofthe representations given by a troupe of French comedians at the SanAngelo theater, Casanova wrote a little paper called The Messenger ofThalia. In one of the numbers, he wrote:

"French is not my tongue; I make no pretentions and, wrong or astray, Iplace on the paper what heaven sends from my pen. I give birth to phrasesturned to Italian, either to see what they look like or to produce astyle, and often, also, to draw, into a purist's snare, some criticaldoctor who does not know my humor or how my offense amuses me. "

The "little romance" referred to in the following letter to "Mlle. X---- C---- V----, " appeared in 1782, with the title; 'Di anecdoti vinizanimilitari a amorosi del secolo decimo quarto sotto i dogati di GiovanniGradenigoe di Giovanni Dolfin'. Venezia, 1782. 

 V MLLE. X . . . C . . . V. . . 

In 1782, a letter written by this lady, Giustina de Wynne, referring to avisit to Venice of Paul I, Grand Duke, afterward Emperor of Russia, andhis wife, was published under the title of Du sejour des Comptes du Norda Venise en janvier mdcclxxxii. If he had not previously done so, Casanova took this occasion to recall himself to the memory of this ladyto whom he had once been of such great service. And two very politeletters were exchanged:

"Madam, "The fine epistle which V. E. Has allowed to be printed upon the sojournof C. And of the C. Du Nord in this city, exposes you, in the position ofan author, to endure the compliments of all those who trouble themselvesto write. But I flatter myself, Madam, that V. E. Will not disdain mine. 

"The little romance, Madam, a translation from my dull and rigid pen, isnot a gift but a very paltry offering which I dare make to thesuperiority of your merit. 

"I have found, Madam, in your letter, the simple, flowing style ofgentility, the one which alone a woman of condition who writes to herfriend may use with dignity. Your digressions and your thoughts areflowers which . . . (forgive an author who pilfers from you the deliciousnonchalance of an amiable writer) or . . . A will-o'-the-wisp which, fromtime to time, issues from the work, in spite of the author, and burns thepaper. 

"I aspire, Madam, to render myself favorable to the deity to which reasonadvises me to make homage. Accept then the offering and render happy hewho makes it with your indulgence. 

"I have the honor to sign myself, if you will kindly permit me, with veryprofound respect. 

"Giacomo Casanova. "

"Monsieur

"I am very sensible, Monsieur, of the distinction which comes to me fromyour approbation of my little pamphlet. The interest of the moment, itsreferences and the exaltation of spirits have gained for it the toleranceand favorable welcome of the good Venetians. It is to your politeness inparticular, Monsieur, that I believe is due the marked success which mywork has had with you. I thank you for the book which you sent me and Iwill risk thanking you in advance for the pleasure it will give me. Bepersuaded of my esteem for yourself and for your talents. And I have thehonor to be, Monsieur. 

"Your very humble servant de Wynne de Rosemberg. "

Among Casanova's papers at Dux was a page headed "Souvenir, " dated the2nd September 1791, and beginning: "While descending the staircase, thePrince de Rosemberg told me that Madame de Rosemberg was dead . . . . This Prince de Rosemberg was the nephew of Giustina. "

Giustina died, after a long illness, at Padua, the 21st August 1791, atthe age of fifty-four years and seven months. 

 VI

 LAST DAYS AT VENICE

Toward the end of 1782, doubtless convinced that he could expect nothingmore from the Tribunal, Casanova entered the service of the MarquisSpinola as a secretary. Some years before, a certain Carletti, an officerin the service of the court of Turin, had won from the Marquis a wager oftwo hundred and fifty sequins. The existence of this debt seemed to havecompletely disappeared from the memory of the loser. By means of the firmpromise of a pecuniary recompense, Casanova intervened to obtain from hispatron a written acknowledgment of the debt owing to Carletti. His effortwas successful; but instead of clinking cash, Carletti contented himselfwith remitting to the negotiator an assignment on the amount of thecredit. Casanova's anger caused a violent dispute, in the course of whichCarlo Grimani, at whose house the scene took place, placed him in thewrong and imposed silence. 

The irascible Giacomo conceived a quick resentment. To discharge hisbile, he found nothing less than to publish in the course of the month ofAugust, under the title of: 'Ne amori ne donne ovvero la Stalla d'Angiarepulita', a libel in which Jean Carlo Grimani, Carletti, and othernotable persons were outraged under transparent mythological pseudonyms. 

This writing embroiled the author with the entire body of the Venetiannobility. 

To allow the indignation against him to quiet down, Casanova went to passsome days at Trieste, then returned to Venice to put his affairs inorder. The idea of recommencing his wandering life alarmed him. "I havelived fifty-eight years, " he wrote, "I could not go on foot with winterat hand, and when I think of starting on the road to resume myadventurous life, I laugh at myself in the mirror. "

 PART THE SECOND VIENNA-PARIS

 I

 1783-1785

 TRAVELS IN 1783

Casanova left Venice in January 1783, and went to Vienna. 

On the 16th April Elisabeth Catrolli wrote to him at Vienna:

"Dearest of friends, "Your letter has given me great pleasure. Be assured, I infinitely regretyour departure. I have but two sincere friends, yourself and Camerani. Ido not hope for more. I could be happy if I could have at least one ofyou near me to whom I could confide my cruel anxieties. 

"To-day, I received from Camerani a letter informing me that, in a formerone, he had sent me a bill of exchange: I did not receive it, and I fearit has been lost. 

"Dear friend, when you reach Paris, clasp him to your heart for me . . . In regard to Chechina [Francesca Buschini] I would say that I have notseen her since the day I took her your letter. Her mother is the ruin ofthat poor girl; let that suffice; I will say no more . . . . "

After leaving Venice, Casanova apparently took an opportunity to pay hislast disrespects to the Tribunal. At least, in May 1783, M. Schlick, French Secretary at Venice, wrote to Count Vergennes: "Last week therereached the State Inquisitors an anonymous letter stating that, on the25th of this month, an earthquake, more terrible than that of Messina, would raze Venice to the ground. This letter has caused a panic here. Many patricians have left the capital and others will follow theirexample. The author of the anonymous letter . . . Is a certain Casanova, who wrote from Vienna and found means to slip it into the Ambassador'sown mails. "

In about four months, Casanova was again on the way to Italy. He pausedfor a week at Udine and arrived at Venice on the 16th June. Withoutleaving his barge, he paused at his house just long enough to saluteFrancesca. He left Mestre on Tuesday the 24th June and on the same daydined at the house of F. Zanuzzi at Bassano. On the 25th he left Bassanoby post and arrived in the evening at Borgo di Valsugano. 

On the 29th, he wrote to Francesca from the Augsbourg. He had stopped atInnsbruck to attend the theater and was in perfect health. He had reachedFrankfort in forty-eight hours, traveling eighteen posts withoutstopping. 

From Aix-la-Chapelle, on the 16th July, he wrote Francesca that he hadmet, in that city, Cattina, the wife of Pocchini. Pocchini was sick andin deep misery. Casanova, recalling all the abominable tricks this roguehad played on him refused Cattina the assistance she begged for in tears, laughed in her face, and said: "Farewell, I wish you a pleasant death. "

At Mayence, Casanova embarked on the Rhine in company with the MarquisDurazzo, former Austrian Ambassador at Venice. The voyage was excellentand in two days he arrived at Cologne, in rugged health, sleeping welland eating like a wolf. 

On the 30th July he wrote to Francesca from Spa and in this letterenclosed a good coin. Everything was dear at Spa; his room cost eightlires a day with everything else in proportion. 

On the 6th September he wrote from Antwerp to one of his good friends, the Abbe Eusebio della Lena, telling him that at Spa an English woman whohad a passion for speaking Latin wished to submit him to trials which hejudged it unnecessary to state precisely. He refused all her proposals, saying, however, that he would not reveal them to anyone; but that he didnot feel he should refuse also "an order on her banker for twenty-fiveguineas. "

On the 9th he wrote to Francesca from Brussels, and on the 12th he senther a bill of exchange on the banker Corrado for one hundred and fiftylires. He said he had been intoxicated "because his reputation hadrequired it. " "This greatly astonishes me, " Francesca responded, "for Ihave never seen you intoxicated nor even illuminated . . . . I am veryhappy that the wine drove away the inflammation in your teeth. "

Practically all information of Casanova's movements in 1783 and 1784 isobtained from Francesca's letters which were in the library at Dux. 

In her letters of the 27th June and 11th July, Francesca wrote Casanovathat she had directed the Jew Abraham to sell Casanova's satin habit andvelvet breeches, but could not hope for more than fifty lires becausethey were patched. Abraham had observed that at one time the habit hadbeen placed in pledge with him by Casanova for three sequins. 

On the 6th September, she wrote:

"With great pleasure, I reply to the three dear letters which you wroteme from Spa: the first of the 6th August, from which I learned that yourdeparture had been delayed for some days to wait for someone who was toarrive in that city. I was happy that your appetite had returned, becausegood cheer is your greatest pleasure . . . . 

"In your second letter which you wrote me from Spa on the 16th August, Inoted with sorrow that your affairs were not going as you wished. Butconsole yourself, dear friend, for happiness will come after trouble; atleast, I wish it so, also, for you yourself can imagine in what need Ifind myself, I and all my family . . . . I have no work, because I havenot the courage to ask it of anyone. My mother has not earned even enoughto pay for the gold thread with the little cross which you know I love. Necessity made me sell it. 

"I received your last letter of the 20th August from Spa with anotherletter for S. E. The Procurator Morosini. You directed me to take it tohim myself, and on Sunday the last day of August, I did not fail to gothere exactly at three o'clock. At once on my arrival, I spoke to aservant who admitted me without delay; but, my dear friend, I regrethaving to send you an unpleasant message. As soon as I handed him theletter, and before he even opened it, he said to me, 'I always knowCasanova's affairs which trouble me. ' After having read hardly more thana page, he said: 'I know not what to do!' I told him that, on the 6th ofthis month, I was to write you at Paris and that, if he would do me thehonor of giving me his reply, I would put it in my letter. Imagine whatanswer he gave me! I was much surprised! He told me that I should wishyou happiness but that he would not write to you again. He said no more. I kissed his hands and left. He did not give me even a sou. That is allhe said to me . . . . 

"S. E. Pietro Zaguri sent to me to ask if I knew where you were, becausehe had written two letters to Spa and had received no reply . . . . "

 II

 PARIS

On the night of the 18th or 19th September 1783, Casanova arrived atParis. 

On the 30th he wrote Francesca that he had been well received by hissister-in-law and by his brother, Francesco Casanova, the painter. Nearlyall his friends had departed for the other world, and he would now haveto make new ones, which would be difficult as he was no longer pleasingto the women. 

On the 14th October he wrote again, saying that he was in good health andthat Paris was a paradise which made him feel twenty years old. Fourletters followed; in the first, dated from Paris on S. Martin's Day, hetold Francesco not to reply for he did not know whether he would prolonghis visit nor where he might go. Finding no fortune in Paris, he said hewould go and search elsewhere. On the 23rd, he sent one hundred and fiftylires; "a true blessing, " to the poor girl who was always short of money. 

Between times, Casanova passed eight days at Fontainebleau, where he met"a charming young man of twenty-five, " the son of "the young and lovelyO'Morphi" who indirectly owed to him her position, in 1752, as themistress of Louis XV. "I wrote my name on his tablets and begged him topresent my compliments to his mother. "

He also met, in the same place, his own son by Mme. Dubois, his formerhousekeeper at Soleure who had married the good M. Lebel. "We shall hearof the young gentleman in twenty-one years at Fontainebleau. "

"When I paid my third visit to Paris, with the intention of ending mydays in that capital, I reckoned on the friendship of M. D'Alembert, buthe died, like, Fontenelle, a fortnight after my arrival, toward the endof 1783. "

It is interesting to know that, at this time, Casanova met his famouscontemporary, Benjamin Franklin. "A few days after the death of theillustrious d'Alembert, " Casanova assisted, at the old Louvre, in asession of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. "Seatedbeside the learned Franklin, I was a little surprised to hear Condorcetask him if he believed that one could give various directions to an airballoon. This was the response: 'The matter is still in its infancy, sowe must wait. ' I was surprised. It is not believable that the greatphilosopher could ignore the fact that it would be impossible to give themachine any other direction than that governed by the air which fills it, but these people 'nil tam verentur, quam ne dubitare aliqua de revideantur. "

On the 13th November, Casanova left Paris in company with his brother, Francesco, whose wife did not accompany him. "His new wife drove him awayfrom Paris. "

"Now [1797 or 1798] I feel that I have seen Paris and France for the lasttime. That popular effervescence [the French Revolution] has disgusted meand I am too old to hope to see the end of it. "

 III

 VIENNA

On the 29th November, Casanova wrote from Frankfort that a drunkenpostilion had upset him and in the fall he had dislocated his leftshoulder, but that a good bone-setter had restored it to place. On the1st December he wrote that he was healed, having taken medicine andhaving been blooded. He promised to send Francesca eight sequins to payher rent. He reached Vienna about the 7th of December and on the 15thsent Francesco a bill of exchange for eight sequins and two lires. 

On the last day of 1783, Francesca wrote to him at Vienna:

"I see by your good letter that you will go to Dresden and then to Berlinand that you will return to Vienna the 10th January . . . . I amastonished, my dear friend, at the great journeys you make in this coldweather, but, still, you are a great man, big-hearted, full of spirit andcourage; you travel in this terrible cold as though it werenothing . . . . "

On the 9th January, Casanova wrote from Dessau to his brother Giovanni, proposing to make peace with him, but without results. On the 27th, hewas at Prague. By the 16th February, he was again in Vienna, after a triplasting sixty-two days. His health was perfect, and he had gained fleshdue, as he wrote Francesca, to his contented mind which was no longertormented. 

In February, he entered the service of M. Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador, "to write dispatches. "

On the 10th March, Francesca wrote:

"Dearest of Friends, I reply at once to your good letter of the 28thFebruary which I received Sunday . . . . I thank you for your kindnesswhich makes you say that you love me and that when you have money youwill send me some . . . But that at the moment you are dry as asalamander. I do not know what sort of animal that is. But as for me I amcertainly dry of money and I am consumed with the hope of having some. . . . I see that you were amused at the Carnival and that you were fourtimes at the masked ball, where there were two hundred women, and thatyou danced minuets and quadrilles to the great astonishment of theambassador Foscarini who told everyone that you were sixty years old, although in reality you have not yet reached your sixtieth year. Youmight well laugh at that and say that he must be blind to have such anidea. 

"I see that you assisted, with your brother, at a grand dinner at theAmbassador's . . . . 

"You say that you have read my letters to your brother and that hesalutes me. Make him my best compliments and thank him. You ask me toadvise you whether, if he should happen to return to Venice with you, hecould lodge with you in your house. Tell him yes, because the chickensare always in the loft and make no dirt; and, as for the dogs, onewatches to see that they do not make dirt. The furniture of the apartmentis already in place; it lacks only a wardrobe and the little bed whichyou bought for your nephew and the mirror; as for the rest, everything isas you left it. . . . "

It is possible that, at the "grand dinner, " Casanova was presented toCount Waldstein, without whose kindness to Casanova the Memoirs probablywould never have been written. The Lord of Dux, Joseph Charles EmmanuelWaldstein-Wartenberg, Chamberlain to Her Imperial Majesty, descendant ofthe great Wallenstein, was the elder of the eleven children of EmmanuelPhilibert, Count Waldstein, and Maria Theresa, Princess Liechtenstein. Very egotistic and willful in his youth, careless of his affairs, and animprudent gambler, at thirty years of age he had not yet settled down. His mother was disconsolated that her son could not separate himself fromoccupations "so little suited to his spirit and his birth:"

On the 13th March 1784, Count Lamberg wrote Casanova: "I know M. Le C. DeWaldstein through having heard him praised by judges worthy ofappreciating the transcendent qualities of more than one kind peculiar tothe Count. I congratulate you on having such a Maecenas, and Icongratulate him in his turn on having chosen such a man as yourself. "Which last remark certainly foreshadows the library at Dux. 

Later, on the lath March, 1785, Zaguri wrote: "In two months at thelatest, all will be settled. I am very happy. " Referring further, it isconjectured, to Casanova's hopes of placing himself with the Count. 

 IV

 LETTERS FROM FRANCESCA

20th March 1784. "I see that you will print one of your books; you saythat you will send me two hundred copies which I can sell at thirty souseach; that you will tell Zaguri and that he will advise those who wishcopies to apply to me . . . "

This book was the Lettre historico-critique sur un fait connu dependantd'une cause peu connue, adressee au duc de * * *, 1784. 

3rd April 1784. "I see with pleasure that you have gone to amuse yourselfin company with two ladies and that you have traveled five posts to seethe Emperor [Joseph II] . . . . You say that your fortune consists of onesequin . . . . I hope that you obtained permission to print your book, that you will send me the two hundred copies, and that I may be able tosell them. . . . "

14th April 1784. "You say that a man without money is the image of death, that he is a very wretched animal. I learn with regret that I am unlikelyto see you at the approaching Festival of the Ascension . . . That youhope to see me once more before dying . . . . You make me laugh, tellingme that at Vienna a balloon was made which arose in the air with sixpersons and that it might be that you would go up also. "

28th April 1784. "I see, to my lively regret, that you have been in bedwith your usual ailment [hemorrhoids]. But I am pleased to know that youare better. You certainly should go to the baths . . . . I have beendiscouraged in seeing that you have not come to Venice because you haveno money . . . . P. S. Just at this moment I have received a good letter, enclosing a bill of exchange, which I will go and have paid . . . . "

5th May 1784. "I went to the house of M. Francesco Manenti, at S. Polo diCampo, with my bill of exchange, and he gave me at once eighteen piecesof ten lires each . . . . I figure that you made fun of me sayingseriously that you will go up in a balloon and that, if the wind isfavorable, you will go in the air to Trieste and then from Trieste toVenice. "

19th May 1784. "I see, to my great regret, that you are in poor healthand still short of money . . . . You say that you need twenty sequins andthat you have only twenty trari . . . . I hope that your book is printed. . . . "

29th May 1784. "I note with pleasure that you are going to take thebaths; but I regret that this treatment enfeebles and depresses you. Itreassures me that you do not fail in your appetite nor your sleep. . . . Ihope I will not hear you say again that you are disgusted witheverything, and no longer in love with life . . . . I see that for you, at this moment, fortune sleeps . . . . I am not surprised that everythingis so dear in the city where you are, for at Venice also one pays dearlyand everything is priced beyond reach. "

Zaguri wrote Casanova the 12th May, that he had met Francesca in theMongolfieri casino. And on the 2nd June Casanova, doubtless feeling hishelplessness in the matter of money, and the insufficiency of hisoccasional remittances, and suspicious of Francesca's loyalty, wrote hera letter of renunciation. Then came her news of the sale of his books;and eighteen months passed before he wrote to her again. 

On the 12th June 1784, Francesca replied: "I could not expect to conveyto you, nor could you figure, the sorrow that tries me in seeing that youwill not occupy yourself any more with me . . . . I hid from you that Ihad been with that woman who lived with us, with her companion, thecashier of the Academie des Mongolfceristes. Although I went to thisAcademy with prudence and dignity, I did not want to write you for fearyou would scold me. That is the only reason, and hereafter you may becertain of my sincerity and frankness. . . . I beg you to forgive me thistime, if I write you something I have never written for fear that youwould be angry with me because I had not told you. Know then that fourmonths ago, your books which were on the mezzanine were sold to a libraryfor the sum of fifty lires, when we were in urgent need. It was my motherwho did it. . . . "

26th June 1784. ". . . Mme. Zenobia [de Monti] has asked me if I wouldenjoy her company. Certain that you would consent I have allowed her tocome and live with me. She has sympathy for me and has always loved me. "

7th July 1784. "Your silence greatly disturbs me! To receive no more ofyour letters! By good post I have sent you three letters, with this one, and you have not replied to any of them. Certainly, you have reason forbeing offended at me, because I hid from you something which you learnedfrom another . . . . But you might have seen, from my last letter, that Ihave written you all the truth about my fault and that I have asked yourpardon for not writing it before. . . . Without you and your help, God knowswhat will become of us. . . . For the rent of your chamber Mme. Zenobia willgive us eight lires a month and five lires for preparing her meals. Butwhat can one do with thirteen lires! . . . I am afflicted and mortified. . . . Do not abandon me. "

 V

 LAST DAYS AT VIENNA

In 1785, at Vienna, Casanova ran across Costa, his former secretary who, in 1761, had fled from him taking "diamonds, watches, snuffbox, linen, rich suits and a hundred louis. " "In 1785, I found this runagate atVienna. He was then Count Erdich's man, and when we come to that period, the reader shall hear what I did. "

Casanova did not reach this period, in writing his Memoirs, but anaccount of this meeting is given by Da Ponte, who was present at it, inhis Memoirs. Costa had met with many misfortunes, as he told Casanova, and had himself been defrauded. Casanova threatened to have him hanged, but according to Da Ponte, was dissuaded from this by counter accusationsmade by Costa. 

Da Ponte's narration of the incident is brilliant and amusing, in spiteof our feeling that it is maliciously exaggerated: "Strolling one morningin the Graben with Casanova, I suddenly saw him knit his brows, squawk, grind his teeth, twist himself, raise his hands skyward, and, snatchinghimself away from me, throw himself on a man whom I seemed to know, shouting with a very loud voice: 'Murderer, I have caught thee. ' A crowdhaving gathered as a result of this strange act and yell, I approachedthem with some disgust; nevertheless, I caught Casanova's hand and almostby force I separated him from the fray. He then told me the story, withdesperate motions and gestures, and said that his antagonist wasGioachino Costa, by whom he had been betrayed. This Gioachino Costa, although he had been forced to become a servant by his vices and badpractices, and was at that very time servant to a Viennese gentleman, wasmore or less of a poet. He was, in fact, one of those who had honored mewith their satire, when the Emperor Joseph selected me as poet of histheater. Costa entered a cafe, and while I continued to walk withCasanova, wrote and send him by a messenger, the following verses:

 "'Casanova, make no outcry; You stole, indeed, as well as I; You were the one who first taught me; Your art I mastered thoroughly. Silence your wisest course will be. '

"These verses had the desired effect. After a brief silence, Casanovalaughed and then said softly in my ear: 'The rogue is right. ' He wentinto the cafe and motioned to Costa to come out; they began to walktogether calmly, as if nothing had happened, and they parted shakinghands repeatedly and seemingly calm and friendly. Casanova returned to mewith a cameo on his little finger, which by a strange coincidence, represented Mercury, the god-protector of thieves. This was his greatestvaluable, and it was all that was left of the immense booty, butrepresented the character of the two restored friends, perfectly. "

Da Ponte precedes this account with a libellous narrative of Casanova'srelations with the Marquise d'Urfe, even stating that Casanova stole fromher the jewels stolen in turn by Costa, but, as M. Maynial remarks, wemay attribute this perverted account "solely to the rancour and antipathyof the narrator. " It is more likely that Casanova frightened Costa almostout of his wits, was grimly amused at his misfortunes, and let him go, since there was no remedy to Casanova's benefit, for his formerrascality. Casanova's own brief, anticipatory account is given in hisMemoirs. 

In 1797, correcting and revising his Memoirs, Casanova wrote: "Twelveyears ago, if it had not been for my guardian angel, I would havefoolishly married, at Vienna, a young, thoughtless girl, with whom I hadfallen in love. " In which connection, his remark is interesting: "I haveloved women even to madness, but I have always loved liberty better; andwhenever I have been in danger of losing it, fate has come to my rescue. "

While an identification of the "young, thoughtless girl" has beenimpossible, M. Rava believes her to be "C. M. , " the subject of a poemfound at Dux, written in duplicate, in Italian and French, and headed"Giacomo Casanova, in love, to C. M. "

"When, Catton, to your sight is shown the love Which all my tenderestcaresses prove, Feeling all pleasure's sharpest joys and fears, Burningone moment, shivering the next, Caressing you while showering you withtears, Giving each charm a thousand eager kisses, Wishing to touch atonce a thousand blisses And, at the ones beyond my power, vexed, Abandoned in a furious desire, Leaving these charms for other charms thatfire, Possessing all and yet desiring Until, destroyed by excesses ofpleasure, Finding no words of love nor anything To express my firesoverflowing measure Than deepening sighs and obscure murmuring: Ah! Thenyou think to read my inmost heart To find the love that can these signsimpart . . . . Be not deceived. These transports, amorous cries, Thesekisses, tears, desires and heavy sighs, Of all the fire which devours meCould less than even the lightest tokens be. "

Evidently this same girl is the authoress of the two following letterswritten by "Caton M . . . . " to Casanova in 1786. 

12th April 1786. "You will infinitely oblige me if you will tell me towhom you wrote such pretty things about me; apparently it is the Abbe DaPonte; but I would go to his house and, either he would prove that youhad written it or I would have the honor of telling him that he is themost infamous traducer in the world. I think that the lovely picturewhich you make of my future has not as much excuse as you may think, and, in spite of your science, you deceive yourself. . . . But just now I willinform you of all my wooers and you can judge for yourself by thiswhether I deserve all the reproaches you made me in your last letter. Itis two years since I came to know the Count de K . . . ; I could haveloved him but I was too honest to be willing to satisfy his desires . . . . Some months afterward, I came to know the Count de M . . . ; he was notso handsome as K . . . , but he possessed every possible art for seducinga girl; I did everything for him, but I never loved him as much as hisfriend. In fine, to tell you all my giddinesses in a few words, I seteverything right again with K . . . . And got myself into a quarrel withM . . . . , then I left K. . . . And returned to M . . . . , but at thehouse of the latter there was always an officer who pleased me more thanboth the two others and who sometimes conducted me to the house; then wefound ourselves at the house of a friend, and it is of this same officerthat I am ill. So, my dear friend, that is all. I do not seek to justifymy past conduct; on the contrary, I know well that I have acted badly. . . . I am much afflicted at being the cause of your remaining away from Veniceduring the Carnival . . . . I hope to see you soon again and am, withmuch love, "Monsieur, your sincere

"Caton M. . . . "

16th July 1786. "I have spoken with the Abbe Da Ponte. He invited me tocome to his house because, he said, he had something to tell me for you. I went there, but was received so coldly that I am resolved not to gothere again. Also, Mlle. Nanette affected an air of reserve and took aton herself to read me lessons on what she was pleased to call mylibertinism . . . . I beg that you will write nothing more about me tothese two very dangerous personages. . . . Just now I will tell you of alittle trick which I played on you, which without doubt deserves somepunishment. The young, little Kasper, whom you formerly loved, came toask me for the address of her dear Monsieur de Casanova, so that shecould write a very tender letter full of recollections. I had too muchpoliteness to wish to refuse a pretty girl, who was once the favorite ofmy lover, so just a request, so I gave her the address she wished; but Iaddressed the letter to a city far from you. Is it not, my dear friend, that you would like well to know the name of the city, so that you couldsecure the letter by posts. But you can depend on my word that you willnot know it until you have written me a very long letter begging me veryhumbly to indicate the place where the divine letter of the adorableobject of your vows has gone. You might well make this sacrifice for agirl in whom the Emperor [Joseph II] interests himself, for it is knownthat, since your departure from Vienna, it is he who is teaching herFrench and music; and apparently he takes the trouble of instructing herhimself, for she often goes to his house to thank him for his kindnessesto her, but I know not in what way she expresses herself. 

"Farewell, my dear friend. Think sometimes of me and believe that I amyour sincere friend. "

On the 23rd April 1785, the ambassador Foscarini died, depriving Casanovaof a protector, probably leaving him without much money, and not in thebest of health. He applied for the position of secretary to Count Fabris, his former friend, whose name had been changed from Tognolo, but withoutsuccess. Casanova then determined to go to Berlin in the hope of a placein the Academy. On the 30th July he arrived at Bruen in Moravia, wherehis friend Maximilian-Joseph, Count Lamberg gave him, among other lettersof recommendation, a letter addressed to Jean-Ferdinand Opiz, Inspectorof Finances and Banks at Czaslau, in which he wrote:

"A celebrated man, M. Casanova, will deliver to you, my dear friend, thevisiting card with which he is charged for Mme. Opiz and yourself. Knowing this amiable and remarkable man, will mark an epoch in your life, be polite and friendly to him, 'quod ipsi facies in mei memoriamfaciatis'. Keep yourself well, write to me, and if you can direct him tosome honest man at Carlsbad, fail not to do so. . . . "

On the 15th August 1785, M. Opiz wrote Count Lamberg about Casanova'svisit:

"Your letter of the 30th, including your cards for my wife and myself, was delivered the first of this month by M. Casanova. He was very anxiousto meet the Princess Lubomirski again at Carlsbad. But as something abouthis carriage was broken, he was obliged to stop in Czaslau for two hourswhich he passed in my company. He has left Czaslau with the promise ofgiving me a day on his return. I am already delighted. Even in the shortspace of time in which I enjoyed his company, I found in him a man worthyof our highest consideration and of our love, a benevolent philosopherwhose homeland is the great expanse of our planet (and not Venice alone)and who values only the men in the kings . . . . I know absolutely no oneat Carlsbad, so I sincerely regret being unable to recommend him toanyone there, according to your desire. He did not wish, on account ofhis haste, to pause even at Prague and, consequently, to deliver, at thistime, your letter to Prince Furstemberg. "

 PART THE THIRD DUX 1786-1798

 I

 THE CASTLE AT DUX

It is uncertain how long Casanova remained at Carlsbad. While there, however, he met again the Polish nobleman Zawoiski, with whom he hadgambled in Venice in 1746. "As to Zawoiski, I did not tell him the storyuntil I met him in Carlsbad old and deaf, forty years later. " He did notreturn to Czaslau, but in September 1785 he was at Teplitz where he foundCount Waldstein whom he accompanied to his castle at Dux. 

From this time onward he remained almost constantly at the castle wherehe was placed in charge of the Count's library and given a pension of onethousand florins annually. 

Describing his visit to the castle in 1899, Arthur Symons writes: "I hadthe sensation of an enormous building: all Bohemian castles are big, butthis one was like a royal palace. Set there in the midst of the town, after the Bohemian fashion, it opens at the back upon great gardens, asif it were in the midst of the country. I walked through room after room, corridor after corridor; everywhere there were pictures, everywhereportraits of Wallenstein, and battle scenes in which he led on histroops. The library, which was formed, or at least arranged, by Casanova, and which remains as he left it, contains some twenty-five thousandvolumes, some of them of considerable value . . . . The library formspart of the Museum, which occupies a ground-floor wing of the castle. Thefirst room is an armoury, in which all kinds of arms are arranged, in adecorative way, covering the ceiling and the walls with strange patterns. The second room contains pottery, collected by Casanova's Waldstein onhis Eastern travels. The third room is full of curious mechanical toys, and cabinets, and carvings in ivory. Finally, we come to the library, contained in the two innermost rooms. The book shelves are painted whiteand reach to the low vaulted ceilings, which are whitewashed. At the endof a bookcase, in the corner of one of the windows, hangs a fine engravedportrait of Casanova. "

In this elaborate setting, Casanova found the refuge he so sadly neededfor his last years. The evil days of Venice and Vienna, and the problemsand makeshifts of mere existence, were left behind. And for this refugehe paid the world with his Memoirs. 

 II

 LETTERS FROM FRANCESCA

In 1786, Casanova renewed his correspondence with Francesca, who wrote:

1st July 1786. "After a silence of a year and a half, I received from youyesterday a good letter which has consoled me in informing me that youare in perfect health. But, on the other hand, I was much pained to seethat in your letter you did not call me Friend, but Madame . . . . Youhave reason to chide me and to reproach me for having rented a housewithout surety or means of paying the rent. As to the advice you give methat if some honest person would pay me my rent, or at least a part ofit, I should have no scruples about taking it because a little more, or alittle less, would be of little importance . . . . I declare to you thatI have been disconsolated at receiving from you such a reproach which isabsolutely unjustified . . . . You tell me that you have near you a younggirl who merits all your solicitations and your love, she and her familyof six persons who adore you and give you every attention; that she costsyou all you have, so that you cannot send me even a sou . . . . I ampained to hear you say that you will never return to Venice, and yet Ihope to see you again. . . . "

The "young girl" referred to in Francesca's letter was Anna-DorotheaKleer, daughter of the porter of the castle. This young girl becamepregnant in 1786 and Casanova was accused of seducing her. The guiltyone, however, was a painter named Schottner who married the unfortunategirl in January 1787. 

 9th August 1786. 

"My only true friend, "It is two days since I received your dear letter; I was very happy tosee your writing . . . . You have reason to mortify me and reproach me inrecalling all the troubles I caused you, and especially that which youcall treachery, the sale of your books, of which in part I was not guilty. . . . Forgive me, my dear friend, me and my foolish mother who, despiteall my objections, absolutely insisted on selling them. Regarding thatwhich you write me that you know that my mother, last year, told aboutthat you had been my ruin, this may unhappily be true, since you alreadyknow the evil thoughts of my mother, who even says that you are still atVenice . . . . When have I not been always sincere with you, and whenhave I not at least listened to your good advices and offers? I am in adesperate situation, abandoned by all, almost in the streets, almostabout to be homeless . . . . Where are all the pleasures which formerlyyou procured me? Where are the theatres, the comedies which we once sawtogether? . . . "

 5th January 1787. 

"The first of the year I received your dear letter with the bill ofexchange for one hundred and twenty-five lires which you sent me sogenerously . . . . You say you have forgiven me for all the troubles Ihave caused you. Forget all, then, and do not accuse me any more ofthings which are but too true and of which the remembrance alone cuts meto the heart . . . . You write me that you have been forgotten by aperson of whom you were very fond, that she is married and that you havenot seen her for more than a month. "

The "person" referred to was Anna Kleer. 

 5th October 1787. 

. . . . "Until the other day, I had been waiting for your arrival, hopingthat you would come to assist at the entry of the Procurator Memmo . . . . I see by your good letter that you were not able to get away, since yourpresence is nearly always necessary in the great castle . . . . I learnof the visit you have received from the Emperor who wished to see yourlibrary of forty-thousand volumes! . . . You say that you detest thechase and that you are unhappy when politeness obliges you to go . . . . I am pleased to know that you are in good health, that you are stout andthat you have a good appetite and sleep well . . . . I hope that theprinting of your book [Histoire de ma fuite] is going according to yourwishes. If you go to Dresden for the marriage of your niece, enjoyyourself for me . . . . Forget not to write to me; this gives me suchpleasure! Remember me. Full of confidence in your friendship, I am, andalways will be, your true and sincere friend, "Francesca Buschina. "

 III

 CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIVITIES

In 1787, a book was published under the title of 'Dreissig Brief uberGalizien by Traunpaur', which included this passage: "The most famousadventurers of two sorts (there are two, in fact: honest adventurers andadventurers of doubtful reputation) have appeared on the scene of thekingdom of Poland. The best known on the shores of the Vistula are: themiraculous Cagliostro: Boisson de Quency, grand charlatan, soldier offortune, decorated with many orders, member of numerous Academies: theVenetian Casanova of Saint-Gall, a true savant, who fought a duel withCount Branicki: the Baron de Poellnitz . . . The lucky Count Tomatis, whoknew so well how to correct fortune, and many others. "

In June 1789, Casanova received a letter from Teresa Boisson de Quency, the wife of the adventurer above referred to:

"Much honored Monsieur Giacomo:

"For a long time I have felt a very particular desire to evidence to youthe estimation due your spirit and your eminent qualities: the superbsonnet augmented my wish. But the inconveniences of childbirth and thecares required by a little girl whom I adore, made me defer thispleasure. During my husband's absence, your last and much honored lettercame to my hands. Your amiable compliments to me, engage me to take thepen to give you renewed assurance that you have in me a sincere admirerof your great talent . . . . When I wish to point out a person who writesand thinks with excellence, I name Monsieur Casanova . . . . "

In 1793, Teresa de Quency wished to return to Venice at which time Zaguriwrote Casanova: "The Bassani has received letters from her husband whichtell her nothing more than that he is alive. "

Casanova passed the months of May, June and July 1788 at Prague, supervising the printing of the Histoire de ma fuite. 

"I remember laughing very heartily at Prague, six years ago, on learningthat some thin-skinned ladies, on reading my flight from The Leads, whichwas published at that date, took great offense at the above account, which they thought I should have done well to leave out. "

In May he was troubled with an attack of the grippe. In October, he wasin Dresden, apparently with his brother. Around this time "TheMagdalene, " a painting by Correggio, was stolen from the Museum of theElector. 

On the 30th October 1788, Casanova wrote to the Prince Belozelski, Russian Minister to the Court of Dresden: "Tuesday morning, after havingembraced my dear brother, I got into a carriage to return here. At thebarrier on the outskirts of Dresden, I was obliged to descend, and sixmen carried the two chests of my carriage, my two night-bags and mycapelire into a little chamber on the ground level, demanded my keys, andexamined everything . . . . The youngest of these infamous executors ofsuch an order told me they were searching for 'The Magdalene! . . . Theoldest had the impudence to put his hands on my waistcoat . . . . At lastthey let me go. 

"This, my prince, delayed me so that I could not reach Petervalden bydaylight. I stopped at an evil tavern where, dying of famine and rage, Iate everything I saw; and, wishing to drink and not liking beer, I gulpeddown some beverage which my host told me was good and which did not seemunpleasant. He told me that it was Pilnitz Moste. This beverage aroused arebellion in my guts. I passed the night tormented by a continualdiarrhoea. I arrived here the day before yesterday (the 28th), where Ifound an unpleasant duty awaiting me. Two months ago, I brought a womanhere to cook, needing her while the Count is away; as soon as shearrived, I gave her a room and I went to Leipzig. On returning here, Ifound three servants in the hands of surgeons and all three blame my cookfor putting them in such a state. The Count's courier had already toldme, at Leipzig, that she had crippled him. Yesterday the Count arrivedand would do nothing but laugh, but I have sent her back and exhorted herto imitate the Magdalene. The amusing part is that she is old, ugly andill-smelling. "

In 1789, 1791 and 1792, Casanova received three letters from MaddalenaAllegranti, the niece of J. B. Allegranti the innkeeper with whomCasanova lodged at Florence in 1771. "This young person, still a child, was so pretty, so gracious, with such spirit and such charms, that sheincessantly distracted me. Sometimes she would come into my chamber towish me good-morning . . . . Her appearance, her grace, the sound of hervoice . . . Were more than I could resist; and, fearing the seductionwould excuse mine, I could find no other expedient than to take flight. . . . Some years later, Maddalena became a celebrated musician. "

At this period of Casanova's life, we hear again of the hussy who soupset Casanova during his visit to London that he was actually on thepoint of committing suicide through sheer desperation. On the 20thSeptember 1789, he wrote to the Princess Clari, sister of the Prince deLigne: "I am struck by a woman at first sight, she completely ravishesme, and I am perhaps lost, for she may be a Charpillon. "

There were, among the papers at Dux, two letters from MarianneCharpillon, and a manuscript outlining the story of Casanova's relationswith her and her family, as detailed in the Memoirs: With the story inmind, the letters from this girl, "the mistress, now of one, now ofanother, " are of interest:

"I know not, Monsieur, whether you forgot the engagement Saturday last;as for me, I remember that you consented to give us the pleasure ofhaving you at dinner to-day, Monday, the 12th of the month. I wouldgreatly like to know whether your ill-humor has left you; this wouldplease me. Farewell, in awaiting the honor of seeing you. 

"Marianne de Charpillon. "

"Monsieur, "As I have a part in all which concerns you, I am greatly put out to knowof the new illness which incommodes you; I hope that this will be sotrifling that we will have the pleasure of seeing you well and at ourhouse, to-day or to-morrow. 

"And, in truth, the gift which you sent me is so pretty that I know nothow to express to you the pleasure it has given me and how much I valueit; and I cannot see why you must always provoke me by telling me that itis my fault that you are filled with bile, while I am as innocent as anew-born babe and would wish you so gentle and patient that your bloodwould become a true clarified syrup; this will come to you if you followmy advice. I am, Monsieur, "Your very humble servant, "[Marianne Charpillon]

"Wednesday at six o'clock"

On the 8th April, 1790, Zaguri wrote in reference to vertigo of whichCasanova complained: "Have you tried riding horseback? Do you not thinkthat is an excellent preservative? I tried it this last summer and I findmyself very well. "

In 1790, Casanova had a conversation with the Emperor Joseph II atLuxemburg, on the subject of purchased nobility, which he reports in theMemoirs. 

This same year, attending the coronation of Leopold at Prague, Casanovamet his grandson (and, probably, as he himself believed, his own son), the son of Leonilda, who was the daughter of Casanova and Donna Lucrezia, and who was married to the Marquis C . . . . In 1792, Leonilda wrote, inviting Casanova to "spend the remainder of my days with her. "

In February 1791, Casanova wrote to Countess Lamberg: "I have in mycapitularies more than four hundred sentences which pass for aphorismsand which include all the tricks which place one word for another. Onecan read in Livy that Hannibal overcame the Alps by means of vinegar. Noelephant ever uttered such a stupidity. Livy? Not at all. Livy was not abeast; it is you who are, foolish instructor of credulous youth! Livy didnot say aceto which means vinegar, but aceta which means axe. "

In April 1791, Casanova wrote to Carlo Grimani at Venice, stating that hefelt he had committed a great fault in publishing his libel, 'Ne amori nedonne', and very humbly begging his pardon. Also that his Memoirs wouldbe composed of six volumes in octavo with a seventh supplementary volumecontaining codicils. 

In June, Casanova composed for the theater of Princess Clari, at Teplitz, a piece entitled: 'Le Polemoscope ou la Calomnie demasquee par lapresence d'esprit, tragicomedie en trois actes'. The manuscript waspreserved at Dux, together with another form of the same, having thesub-title of 'La Lorgnette Menteuse ou la Calomnie demasquee'. It may beassumed that the staging of this piece was an occasion of pleasantactivity for Casanova. 

In January 1792, during Count Waldstein's absence in London or Paris, Casanova was embroiled with M. Faulkircher, maitre d'hotel, over theunpleasant matter indicated in two of Casanova's letters to thisfunctionary:

"Your rascally Vidierol . . . Tore my portrait out of one of my books, scrawled my name on it, with the epithet which you taught him and thenstuck it on the door of the privy . . . . 

"Determined to make sure of the punishment of your infamous valet, andwishing at the same time to give proof of my respect for Count Waldstein, not forgetting that, as a last resort, I have the right to invade hisjurisdiction, I took an advocate, wrote my complaint and had ittranslated into German . . . . Having heard of this at Teplitz, andhaving known that I would not save your name, you came to my chamber tobeg me to write whatever I wished but not to name you because it wouldplace you wrong before the War Council and expose you to the loss of yourpension . . . . I have torn up my first complaint and have written asecond in Latin, which an advocate of Bilin has translated for me andwhich I have deposited at the office of the judiciary at Dux. . . . "

Following this matter, Casanova attended the Carnival at Oberleutensdorf, and left at Dux a manuscript headed 'Passe temps de Jacques Casanova deSeingalt pour le carnaval de l'an 1792 dans le bourg d'Oberleutensdorf'. While in that city, meditating on the Faulkircher incident, he wrote also'Les quinze pardons, monologue nocturne du bibliothecaire', alsopreserved in manuscript at Dux, in which we read:

"Gerron, having served twenty years as a simple soldier, acquired a greatknowledge of military discipline. This man was not yet seventy years old. He had come to believe, partly from practice, partly from theory, thattwenty blows with a baton on the rump are not dishonoring. When thehonest soldier was unfortunate enough to deserve them, he accepted themwith resignation. The pain was sharp, but not lasting; it did not deprivehim of either appetite nor honor . . . . Gerron, becoming a corporal, hadobtained no idea of any kind of sorrow other than that coming from theblows of a baton on the rump . . . . On this idea, he thought that thesoul of an honest man was no different than a soldier's breech. If Gerroncaused trouble to the spirit of a man of honor, he thought that thisspirit, like his own, had only a rump, and that any trouble he causedwould pass likewise. He deceived himself. The breech of the spirit of anhonest man is different than the breech of the spirit of a Gerron whorendered compatible the rank of a military officer with the vileemployments of a domestic and the stable-master of some particular lord. Since Gerron deceived himself, we must pardon him all his faults . . . "etc. 

Casanova complained of the Faulkircher incident to the mother of CountWaldstein, who wrote: "I pity you, Monsieur, for being obliged to liveamong such people and in such evil company, but my son will not forgetthat which he owes to himself and I am sure he will give you all thesatisfaction you wish. " Also to his friend Zaguri, who wrote, the 16thMarch: "I hope that the gout in your hand will not torment you any more. . . . You have told me the story I asked about and which begins: 'Twomonths have passed since an officer, who is at Vienna, insulted me!' Icannot understand whether he who wrote you an insulting letter is atVienna or whether he is at Dux. When will the Count return? . . . Youshould await his return because you would have, among other reasons topresent to him, that of not wishing to have recourse to otherjurisdiction than his. . . You say your letters have been intercepted?Someone has put your portrait in the privy? The devil! It is a miraclethat you have not killed someone. Positively, I am curious to know theresults and I hope that you make no mistakes in this affair which appearsto me very delicate. "

In August 1792, or thereabouts, Da Ponte on his way to Dresden, visitedCasanova at Dux, in the hope of collecting an old debt, but gave up thishope on realizing Casanova's limited resources. In the winter of 1792-3Da Ponte found himself in great distress in Holland. "Casanova was theonly man to whom I could apply, " he writes in his Memoirs. "To betterdispose him, I thought to write him in verse, depicting my troubles andbegging him to send me some money on account of that which he still owedme. Far from considering my request, he contented himself with replying, in vulgar prose, by a laconic billet which I transcribe: 'When Cicerowrote to his friends, he avoided telling them of his affairs. '"

In May 1793, Da Ponte wrote from London: "Count Waldstein has lived avery obscure life in London, badly lodged, badly dressed, badly served, always in cabarets, cafes, with porters, with rascals, with . . . We willleave out the rest. He has the heart of an angel and an excellentcharacter, but not so good a head as ours. "

Toward the end of 1792, Cssanova wrote a letter to Robespierre, which, ashe advises M. Opiz, the 13th January 1793, occupied one hundred andtwenty folio pages. This letter was not to be found at Dux and it maypossibly have been sent, or may have been destroyed by Casanova on theadvice of Abbe O'Kelly. Casanova's feelings were very bitter over thetrial of Louis XVI. , and in his letters to M. Opiz he complained bitterlyof the Jacobins and predicted the ruin of France. Certainly, to Casanova, the French Revolution represented the complete overthrow of many of hischerished illusions. 

On the 1st August 1793, Wilhelmina Rietz, Countess Lichtenau (called thePompadour of Frederic-William II. , King of Prussia) wrote to thelibrarian at Dux:

"Monsieur

"It seems impossible to know where Count Valstaine [Waldstein] isstaying, whether he is in Europe, Africa, America, or possibly theMegamiques. If he is there, you are the only one who could insure hisreceiving the enclosed letter. 

"For my part, I have not yet had time to read their history, but thefirst reading I do will assuredly be that. 

"Mademoiselle Chappuis has the honor of recalling herself to your memory, and I have that of being your very humble servant, "Wilhelmina Rietz. "

The allusions to a "history" and to the 'Megamiques' in this letter referto Casanova's romance, 'Icosameron'. 

About this time, Count Waldstein returned to Dux after having been, atParis, according to Da Ponte, concerned in planning the flight of LouisXVI. , and in attempting to save the Princess Lamballe. On the 17thAugust, Casanova replied to the above letter:

"Madame, "I handed the Count your letter two minutes after having received it, finding him easily. I told him that he should respond at once, for thepost was ready to go; but, as he begged to wait for the followingordinary, I did not insist. The day before yesterday, he begged me towait again, but he did not find me so complaisant. I respond to you, Madame, for his carelessness in replying to letters is extreme; he is soshameful that he is in despair when he is obliged to it. Although he maynot respond, be sure of seeing him at your house at Berlin after theLeipzig Fair, with a hundred bad excuses which you will laugh at andpretend to believe good ones . . . . This last month, my wish to seeBerlin again has become immeasurable, and I will do my best to have CountWaldstein take me there in the month of October or at least to permit meto go . . . . You have given me an idea of Berlin far different than thatthe city left with me when I passed four months there twenty-nine yearsago . . . . If my 'Icosameron' interests you, I offer you its Spirit. Iwrote it here two years ago and I would not have published it if I hadnot dared hope that the Theological Censor would permit it. At Berlin noone raised the least difficulty . . . . If circumstances do not permit meto pay you my respects at Berlin, I hope for the happiness of seeing youhere next year . . . . "

Sometime after this and following his quarrel with M. Opiz, Casanovaevidently passed through a period of depression, as indicated by amanuscript at Dux, headed "Short reflection of a philosopher who findshimself thinking of procuring his own death, " and dated "the 13thDecember 1793, the day dedicated to S. Lucie, remarkable in my too longlife. "

"Life is a burden to me. What is the metaphysical being who prevents mefrom slaying myself? It is Nature. What is the other being who enjoins meto lighten the burdens of that life which brings me only feeble pleasuresand heavy pains? It is Reason. Nature is a coward which, demanding onlyconservation, orders me to sacrifice all to its existence. Reason is abeing which gives me resemblance to God, which treads instinct under footand which teaches me to choose the best way after having well consideredthe reasons. It demonstrates to me that I am a man in imposing silence onthe Nature which opposes that action which alone could remedy all myills. 

"Reason convinces me that the power I have of slaying myself is aprivilege given me by God, by which I perceive that I am superior to allanimals created in the world; for there is no animal who can slay itselfnor think of slaying itself, except the scorpion, which poisons itself, but only when the fire which surrounds it convinces it that it cannotsave itself from being burned. This animal slays itself because it fearsfire more than death. Reason tells me imperiously that I have the rightto slay myself, with the divine oracle of Cen: 'Qui non potest viverebene non vivat male. ' These eight words have such power that it isimpossible that a man to whom life is a burden could do other than slayhimself on first hearing them. "

Certainly, however, Casanova did not deceive himself with these sophisms, and Nature, who for many years had unquestionably lavished her gifts onhim, had her way. 

Over the end of the year, the two mathematicians, Casanova and Opiz, atthe request of Count Waldstein, made a scientific examination of thereform of the calendar as decreed the 5th October 1793 by the NationalConvention. 

In January 1795, Casanova wrote to the Princess Lobkowitz to thank herfor her gift of a little dog. On the 16th the Princess wrote from Vienna:

"Monsieur, "I am enchanted at the charming reception you accorded the dog which Isent you when I learned of the death of your well-loved greyhound, knowing that she would nowhere be better cared for than with you, Monsieur. I hope with all my heart that she has all the qualities whichmay, in some fashion, help you to forget the deceased . . . . "

In the autumn of 1795, Casanova left Dux. The Prince de Ligne writes inhis Memoirs: "God directed him to leave Dux. Scarcely believing in morethan his death, which he no longer doubted, he pretended that each thinghe had done was by the direction of God and this was his guide. Goddirected him to ask me for letters of recommendation to the Duke ofWeimar, who was my good friend, to the Duchess of Gotha, who did not knowme, and to the Jews of Berlin. And he departed secretly, leaving forCount Waldstein a letter at once tender, proud, honest and irritating. Waldstein laughed and said he would return. Casanova waited inante-chambers; no one would place him either as governor, librarian orchamberlain. He said everywhere that the Germans were thorough beasts. The excellent and very amiable Duke of Weimer welcomed him wonderfully;but in an instant he became jealous of Goethe and Wieland, who were underthe Duke's protection. He declaimed against them and against theliterature of the country which he did not, and could not, know. AtBerlin, he declaimed against the ignorance, the superstition and theknavery of the Hebrews to whom I had addressed him, drawing meanwhile, for the money they claimed of him, bills of exchange on the Count wholaughed, paid, and embraced him when he returned. Casanova laughed, wept, and told him that God had ordered him to make this trip of six weeks, toleave without speaking of it, and to return to his chamber at Dux. Enchanted at seeing us again, he agreeably related to us all themisfortunes which had tried him and to which his susceptibility gave thename of humiliations. 'I am proud, ' he said, 'because I am nothing'. . . . Eight days after his return, what new troubles! Everyone had beenserved strawberries before him, and none remained for him. "

The Prince de Ligne, although he was Casanova's sincere friend andadmirer, gives a rather somber picture of Casanova's life at Dux: "Itmust not be imagined that he was satisfied to live quietly in the refugeprovided him through the kindness of Waldstein. That was not within hisnature. Not a day passed without trouble; something was certain to bewrong with the coffee, the milk, the dish of macaroni, which he requiredeach day. There were always quarrels in the house. The cook had ruinedhis polenta; the coachman had given him a bad driver to bring him to seeme; the dogs had barked all night; there had been more guests than usualand he had found it necessary to eat at a side table. Some hunting-hornhad tormented his ear with its blasts; the priest had been trying toconvert him; Count Waldstein had not anticipated his morning greeting;the servant had delayed with his wine; he had not been introduced to somedistinguished personage who had come to see the lance which had piercedthe side of the great Wallenstein; the Count had lent a book withouttelling him; a groom had not touched his hat to him; his German speechhad been misunderstood; he had become angry and people had laughed athim. "

Like Count Waldstein, however, the Prince de Ligne made the widestallowances, understanding the chafing of Casanova's restless spirit. "Casanova has a mind without an equal, from which each word isextraordinary and each thought a book. "

On the 16th December, he wrote Casanova: "One is never old with yourheart, your genius and your stomach. "

Casanova's own comment on his trip away from Dux will be found in theMemoirs. "Two years ago, I set out for Hamburg, but my good genius mademe return to Dux. What had I to do at Hamburg?"

On the 10th December, Casanova's brother Giovanni [Jean] died. He was theDirector of the Academy of Painting at Dresden. Apparently the twobrothers could not remain friends. 

Giovanni left two daughters, Teresa and Augusta, and two sons, Carlo andLorenzo. While he was unable to remain friendly with his brother, Casanova apparently wished to be of assistance to his nieces, who werenot in the best of circumstances, and he exchanged a number of letterswith Teresa after her father's death. 

On the occasion of Teresa Casanova's visit to Vienna in 1792, PrincessClari, oldest sister of the Prince de Ligne, wrote of her: "She ischarming in every way, pretty as love, always amiable; she has had greatsuccess. Prince Kaunitz loves her to the point of madness. "

In a letter of the 25th April 1796, Teresa assured her "very amiable andvery dear uncle" that the cautions, which occupied three-fourths of hisletter, were unnecessary; and compared him with his brother Francois, tothe injury of the latter. On the 5th May, Teresa wrote:

"Before thanking you for your charming letter, my very kind uncle, Ishould announce the issue of our pension of one hundred and sixty crownsa year, which is to say, eighty crowns apiece; I am well satisfied for Idid not hope to receive so much. " In the same letter, Teresa spoke ofseeing much of a "charming man, " Don Antonio, who was no other than therascally adventurer Don Antonio della Croce with whom Casanova had beenacquainted since 1753, who assisted Casanova in losing a thousand sequinsat Milan in 1763; who in 1767, at Spa, following financial reverses, abandoned his pregnant mistress to the charge of Casanova; and who inAugust 1795, wrote to Casanova: "Your letter gave me great pleasure asthe sweet souvenir of our old friendship, unique and faithful over aperiod of fifty years. "

It is probable that, at this time, Casanova visited Dresden and Berlinalso. In his letter "To Leonard Snetlage, " he writes: "'That which provesthat revolution should arrive, ' a profound thinker said to me in Berlin, last year, 'is that it has arrived. '"

On the 1st March, 1798, Carlo Angiolini, the son of Maria Maddalena, Casanova's sister, wrote to Casanova: "This evening, Teresa will marry M. Le Chambellan de Veisnicht [Von Wessenig] whom you know well. " Thisdesirable marriage received the approval of Francesco also. Teresa, asthe Baroness Wessenig, occupied a prominent social position at Dresden. She died in 1842. 

Between the 13th February and the 6th December 1796, Casanova engaged ina correspondence with Mlle. Henriette de Schuckmann who was visiting atBayreuth. This Henriette (unfortunately not the Henriette of the Memoirswhose "forty letters" to Casanova apparently have not been located), hadvisited the library at Dux in the summer of 1786. "I was with theChamberlain Freiberg, and I was greatly moved, as much by yourconversation as by your kindness which provided me with a beautifuledition of Metastasio, elegantly bound in red morocco. " Finding herselfat Bayreuth in an enforced idleness and wishing a stimulant, wishing alsoto borrow some books, she wrote Casanova, under the auspices of CountKoenig, a mutual friend, the 13th February 1796, recalling herself to hismemory. Casanova responded to her overtures and five of her letters werepreserved at Dux. On the 28th May Henriette wrote:

"But certainly, my good friend, your letters have given me the greatestpleasure, and it is with a rising satisfaction that I pore over all yousay to me. I love, I esteem, I cherish, your frankness . . . . Iunderstand you perfectly and I love to distraction the lively andenergetic manner with which you express yourself. "

On the 30th September, she wrote: "You will read to-day, if you please, aweary letter; for your silence, Monsieur, has given me humors. A promiseis a debt, and in your last letter you promised to write me at least adozen pages. I have every right to call you a bad debtor; I could summonyou before a court of justice; but all these acts of vengeance would notrepair the loss which I have endured through my hope and my fruitlesswaiting . . . . It is your punishment to read this trivial page; butalthough my head is empty, my heart is not so, and it holds for you avery living friendship. "

In March 1797, this Henriette went to Lausanne and in May from there toher father's home at Mecklenburg. 

 IV

 CORRESPONDENCE WITH JEAN-FERDINAND OPIZ

On the 27th July 1792, Casanova wrote M. Opiz that he had finished thetwelfth volume of his Memoirs, with his age at forty-seven years 1772. "Our late friend, the worthy Count Max Josef Lamberg, " he added, "couldnot bear the idea of my burning my Memoirs, and expecting to survive me, had persuaded me to send him the first four volumes. But now there is nolonger any questions that his good soul has left his organs. Three weeksago I wept for his death, all the more so as he would still be living ifhe had listened to me. I am, perhaps, the only one who knows the truth. He who slew him was the surgeon Feuchter at Cremsir, who appliedthirty-six mercurial plasters on a gland in his left groin which wasswollen but not by the pox, as I am sure by the description he gave me ofthe cause of the swelling. The mercury mounted to his esophagus and, being able to swallow neither solids nor fluids, he died the 23rd June ofpositive famine . . . . The interest of the bungling surgeon is to saythat he died of the pox. This is not true, I beg, you to give the lie toanyone you hear saying it. I have before my eyes four hundred and sixtyof his letters over which I weep and which I will burn. I have askedCount Leopold to burn mine, which he had saved, and I hope that he willplease me by doing it. I have survived all my true friends. 'Tempus abiremihi est' Horace says to me. 

"Returning to my Memoirs . . . I am a detestable man; but I do not careabout having it known, and I do not aspire to the honor of thedetestation of posterity. My work is full of excellent moralinstructions. But to what good, if the charming descriptions of myoffences excite the readers more to action than to repentance?Furthermore, knowing readers would divine the names of all the women andof the men which I have masked, whose transgressions are unknown to theworld, my indiscretion would injure them, they would cry out against myperfidy, even though every word of my history were true . . . . Tell meyourself whether or not I should burn my work? I am curious to have youradvice. "

On the 6th May 1793, Casanova wrote Opiz: "The letter of recommendationyou ask of me to the professor my brother for your younger son, honorsme; and there is no doubt that, having for you all the estimation yourqualities merit, I should send it to you immediately. But this cannot be. And here is the reason. My brother is my enemy; he has given me sureindications of it and it appears that his hate will not cease until I nolonger exist. I hope that he may long survive me and be happy. Thisdesire is my only apology. "

"The epigraph of the little work which I would give to the public, "Casanova wrote the 23rd August 1793, "is 'In pondere et mensura'. It isconcerned with gravity and measure. I would demonstrate not only that thecourse of the stars is irregular but also that it is susceptible only toapproximate measures and that consequently we must join physical andmoral calculations in establishing celestial movements. For I prove thatall fixed axes must have a necessarily irregular movement of oscillation, from which comes a variation in all the necessary curves of the planetswhich compose their eccentricities and their orbits. I demonstrate thatlight has neither body nor spirit; I demonstrate that it comes in aninstant from its respective star; I demonstrate the impossibility of manyparallaxes and the uselessness of many others. I criticize not onlyTiko-Brahi, but also Kepler and Newton . . . . 

"I wish to send you my manuscript and give you the trouble of publishingit with my name at Prague or elsewhere . . . . I will sell it to theprinter or to yourself for fifty florins and twenty-five copies on finepaper when it is printed. "

But Opiz replied:

"As the father of a family, I do not feel myself authorized to dispose ofmy revenues on the impulse of my fancy or as my heart suggests. . . . And nooffer of yours could make me a book-seller. "

This shows plainly enough that Opiz, for all his interest in Casanova, had not the qualities of true friendship. 

On the 6th September 1793, Casanova wrote:

"I will have my Reveries printed at Dresden, and I will be pleased tosend you a copy. I laughed a little at your fear that I would takeoffense because you did not want my manuscript by sending me theridiculous sum I named to you. This refusal, my dear friend, did notoffend me. On the contrary it was useful as an aid in knowing character. Add to this that in making the offer I thought to make you a gift. Fearnothing from the event. Your system of economy will never interfere witheither my proceedings or my doctrines; and I am in no need of beggingyou, for I think that your action followed only your inclination andconsequently your greatest pleasure. "

On the insistence of Opiz, Casanova continued his correspondence, but hepassed over nothing more, neither in exact quotations from Latin authors, nor solecisms, nor lame reasonings. He even reproached him for his poorwriting and did not cease joking at the philanthropic and amiablesentiments Opiz loved to parade while at the same time keeping hispurse-strings tight. A number of quarreling letters followed, after whichthe correspondence came to an end. One of Casanova's last letters, thatof the 2nd February 1794, concludes: "One day M. De Bragadin said to me:'Jacques, be careful never to convince a quibbler, for he will becomeyour enemy. ' After this wise advice I avoided syllogism, which tendedtoward conviction. But in spite of this you have become my enemy. . . . "

Among the Casanova manuscripts at Dux was one giving his final comment onhis relations with Opiz. Accusing Opiz of bringing about a quarrel, Casanova nevertheless admits that he himself may not be blameless, butlays this to his carelessness. "I have a bad habit, " he writes, "of notreading over my letters. If, in re-reading those I wrote to M. Opiz, Ihad found them bitter, I would have burned them. " Probably Casanovastruck the root of the matter in his remark, "Perfect accord is the firstcharm of a reciprocal friendship. " The two men were primarily of sodifferent a temperament, that they apparently could not long agree evenon subjects on which they were most in accord. 

The complete correspondence is of very considerable interest. 

 V

 PUBLICATIONS

In 1786, Casanova published 'Le soliloque d'un penseur', in which hespeaks of Saint-Germain and of Cagliostro. On the 23rd December 1792, Zaguri wrote Casanova that Cagliostro was in prison at San Leo. "Twentyyears ago, I told Cagliostro not to set his foot in Rome, and if he hadfollowed this advice he would not have died miserably in a Roman prison. "

In January 1788, appeared 'Icosameron' a romance in five volumes, dedicated to Count Waldstein, which he describes as "translated from theEnglish. " This fanciful romance, which included philosophic andtheological discussions, was the original work of Casanova and not atranslation. It was criticized in 1789 by a literary journal at Jena. Preserved at Dux were several manuscripts with variants of 'Icosameron'and also an unpublished reply to the criticism. 

In 1788 Casanova published the history of his famous flightfrom "The Leads". An article on this book appeared in the German'Litteratur-Zeitung', 29th June 1789: "As soon as the history waspublished and while it was exciting much interest among us and among ourneighbors, it was seen that other attempts at flight from prisons wouldmake their appearance. The subject in itself is captivating; allprisoners awake our compassion, particularly when they are enclosed in asevere prison and are possibly innocent . . . . The history with which weare concerned has all the appearances of truth; many Venetians havetestified to it, and the principal character, M. Casanova, brother of thecelebrated painter, actually lives at Dux in Bohemia where the CountWaldstein has established him as guardian of his important library. "

In July 1789 there was discovered, among the papers of the Bastille, theletter which Casanova wrote from Augsburg in May 1767 to Prince Charlesof Courlande on the subject of fabricating gold. Carrel published thisletter at once in the third volume of his 'Memoirs authentiques ethistoriques sur la Bastille'. Casanova kept a copy of this letter andincludes it in the Memoirs. 

In October 1789, Casanova wrote M. Opiz that he was writing to aprofessor of mathematics [M. Lagrange] at Paris, a long letter inItalian, on the duplication of the cube, which he wished to publish. InAugust 1790, Casanova published his 'Solution du Probleme Deliaquedemontree and Deux corollaires a la duplication de hexadre'. On thesubject of his pretended solution of this problem in speculativemathematics, Casanova engaged with M. Opiz in a heated technicaldiscussion between the 16th September and 1st November 1790. Casanovasought vainly to convince Opiz of the correctness of his solution. Finally, M. Opiz, tired of the polemics, announced that he was leaving ona six-weeks tour of inspection and that he would not be able to occupyhimself with the duplication of the cube for some time to come. On the1st November, Casanova wished him a pleasant journey and advised him toguard against the cold because "health is the soul of life. "

In 1797, appeared the last book published during Casanova's lifetime, asmall work entitled: 'A Leonard Snetlage, docteur en droit del'Universite de Goettingue, Jacques Casanova, docteur en droit del'Universite de Padoue'. This was a careful criticism of the neologismsintroduced into French by the Revolution. In reference to Casanova'stitle of "Doctor, " researches by M. Favoro at the University of Padua hadfailed to establish this claim, although, in the Memoirs Casanova hadwritten:

"I remained at Padua long enough to prepare myself for the Doctor'sdegree, which I intended to take the following year. " With this devil ofa man, it is always prudent to look twice before peremptorily questioningthe truth of his statement. And in fact, the record of Casanova'smatriculation was discovered by Signor Bruno Brunelli. 

 VI

 SUMMARY of MY LIFE

The 2nd November, 1797, Cecilia Roggendorff wrote to Casanova: "By theway, how do you call yourself, by your baptismal name? On what day and inwhat year were you born? You may laugh, if you wish, at my questions, butI command you to satisfy me . . . " To this request, Casanova respondedwith:

"Summary of My Life:--my mother brought me into the world at Venice onthe 2nd April, Easter day of the year 1725. She had, the night before, astrong desire for crawfish. I am very fond of them. 

"At baptism, I was named Jacques-Jerome. I was an idiot until I waseight-and-a-half years old. After having had a hemorrhage for threemonths, I was taken to Padua, where, cured of my imbecility, I appliedmyself to study and, at the age of sixteen years I was made a doctor andgiven the habit of a priest so that I might go seek my fortune at Rome. 

"At Rome, the daughter of my French instructor was the cause of my beingdismissed by my patron, Cardinal Aquaviva. 

"At the age of eighteen years, I entered the military service of mycountry, and I went to Constantinople. Two years afterward, havingreturned to Venice, I left the profession of honor and, taking the bit inmy teeth, embraced the wretched profession of a violinist. I horrified myfriends, but this did not last for very long. 

"At the age of twenty-one years, one of the highest nobles of Veniceadopted me as his son, and, having become rich, I went to see Italy, France, Germany and Vienna where I knew Count Roggendorff. I returned toVenice, where, two years later, the State Inquisitors of Venice, for justand wise reasons, imprisoned me under The Leads. 

"This was the state prison, from which no one had ever escaped, but, withthe aid of God, I took flight at the end of fifteen months and went toParis. In two years, my affairs prospered so well that I became worth amillion, but, all the same, I went bankrupt. I made money in Holland;suffered misfortune in Stuttgart; was received with honors inSwitzerland; visited M. De Voltaire; adventured in Genoa, Marseilles, Florence and in Rome where the Pope Rezzonico, a Venetian, made me aChevalier of Saint-Jean-Latran and an apostolic protonotary. This was inthe year 1760. 

"In the same year I found good fortune at Naples; at Florence I carriedoff a girl; and, the following year, I was to attend the Congress atAugsburg, charged with a commission from the King of Portugal. TheCongress did not meet there and, after the publication of peace, I passedon into England, which great misfortunes caused me to leave in thefollowing year, 1764. I avoided the gibbet which, however, should nothave dishonored me as I should only have been hung. In the same year Isearched in vain for fortune at Berlin and at Petersburg, but I found itat Warsaw in the following year. Nine months afterwards, I lost itthrough being embroiled in a pistol duel with General Branicki; I piercedhis abdomen but in eight months he was well again and I was very muchpleased. He was a brave man. Obliged to leave Poland, I returned to Parisin 1767, but a 'lettre de cachet' obliged me to leave and I went to Spainwhere I met with great misfortunes. I committed the crime of makingnocturnal visits to the mistress of the 'vice-roi', who was a greatscoundrel. 

"At the frontiers of Spain, I escaped from assassins only to suffer, atAix, in Provence, an illness which took me to the edge of the grave, after spitting blood for eighteen months. 

"In the year 1769, I published my Defense of the Government of Venice, inthree large volumes, written against Amelot de la Houssaie. 

"In the following year the English Minister at the Court of Turin sentme, well recommended, to Leghorn. I wished to go to Constantinople withthe Russian fleet, but as Admiral Orlof, would not meet my conditions, Iretraced my steps and went to Rome under the pontificate of Ganganelli. 

"A happy love affair made me leave Rome and go to Naples and, threemonths later, an unhappy love made me return to Rome. I had measuredswords for the third time with Count Medini who died four years ago atLondon, in prison for his debts. 

"Having considerable money, I went to Florence, where, during theChristmas Festival, the Archduke Leopold, the Emperor who died four orfive years ago, ordered me to leave his dominions within three days. Ihad a mistress who, by my advice, became Marquise de * * * at Bologna. 

"Weary of running about Europe, I determined to solicit mercy from theVenetian State Inquisitors. For this purpose, I established myself atTrieste where, two years later, I obtained it. This was the 14thSeptember 1774. My return to Venice after nineteen years was the mostpleasant moment of my life. 

"In 1782, I became embroiled with the entire body of the Venetiannobility. At the beginning of 1783, I voluntarily left the ungratefulcountry and went to Vienna. Six months later I went to Paris with theintention of establishing myself there, but my brother, who had livedthere for twenty-six years, made me forget my interests in favor of his. I rescued him from the hands of his wife and took him to Vienna wherePrince Kaunitz engaged him to establish himself. He is still there, olderthan I am by two years. 

"I placed myself in the service of M. Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador, towrite dispatches. Two years later, he died in my arms, killed by the goutwhich mounted into his chest. I then set out for Berlin in the hope ofsecuring a position with the Academy, but, half way there, CountWaldstein stopped me at Teplitz and led me to Dux where I still am andwhere, according to all appearances, I shall die. 

"This is the only summary of my life that I have written, and I permitany use of it which may be desired. 

"'Non erubesco evangelium'. 

"This 17th November 1797. 

"Jacques Casanova. "

In reference to Casanova's ironic remark about his escape from England, see his conversation, on the subject of "dishonor, " with Sir AugustusHervey at London in 1763, which is given in the Memoirs. 

 VII

 LAST DAYS AT DUX

Scattered through the Memoirs are many of Casanova's thoughts about hisold age. Some were possibly incorporated in the original text, otherspossibly added when he revised the text in 1797. These vary fromresignation to bitterness, doubtless depending on Casanova's state ofmind at the moment he wrote them:

"Now that I am seventy-two years old, I believe myself no longersusceptible of such follies. But alas! that is the very thing whichcauses me to be miserable. "

"I hate old age which offers only what I already know, unless I shouldtake up a gazette. "

"Age has calmed my passions by rendering them powerless, but my heart hasnot grown old and my memory has kept all the freshness of youth. "

"No, I have not forgotten her [Henriette]; for even now, when my head iscovered with white hair, the recollection of her is still a source ofhappiness for my heart. "

"A scene which, even now, excites my mirth. "

"Age, that cruel and unavoidable disease, compels me to be in goodhealth, in spite of myself. "

"Now that I am but the shadow of the once brilliant Casanova, I love tochatter. "

"Now that age has whitened my hair and deadened the ardor of my senses, my imagination does not take such a high flight and I think differently. "

"What embitters my old age is that, having a heart as warm as ever, Ihave no longer the strength necessary to secure a single day as blissfulas those which I owed to this charming girl. "

"When I recall these events, I grow young again and feel once more thedelights of youth, despite the long years which separate me from thathappy time. "

"Now that I am getting into my dotage, I look on the dark side ofeverything. I am invited to a wedding and see naught but gloom; and, witnessing the coronation of Leopold II, at Prague, I say to myself, 'Nolo coronari'. Cursed old age, thou art only worthy of dwelling inhell. "

"The longer I live, the more interest I take in my papers. They are thetreasure which attaches me to life and makes death more hateful still. "

And so on, through the Memoirs, Casanova supplies his own picture, knowing very well that the end, even of his cherished memories, is notfar distant. 

In 1797, Casanova relates an amusing, but irritating incident, whichresulted in the loss of the first three chapters of the second volume ofthe Memoirs through the carelessness of a servant girl at Dux who tookthe papers "old, written upon, covered with scribbling and erasures, " for"her own purposes, " thus necessitating a re-writing, "which I must nowabridge, " of these chapters. Thirty years before, Casanova woulddoubtless have made love to the girl and all would have been forgiven. But, alas for the "hateful old age" permitting no relief exceptirritation and impotent anger. 

On the 1st August, 1797, Cecilia Roggendorff, the daughter of the CountRoggendorff [printed Roquendorf] whom Casanova had met at Vienna in 1753, wrote: "You tell me in one of your letters that, at your death, you willleave me, by your will, your Memoirs which occupy twelve volumes. "

At this time, Casanova was revising, or had completed his revision of, the twelve volumes. In July 1792, as mentioned above, Casanova wrote Opizthat he had arrived at the twelfth volume. In the Memoirs themselves weread, ". . . The various adventures which, at the age of seventy-twoyears, impel me to write these Memoirs . . . , " written probably during arevision in 1797. 

At the beginning of one of the two chapters of the last volume, whichwere missing until discovered by Arthur Symons at Dux in 1899, we read:"When I left Venice in the year 1783, God ought to have sent me to Rome, or to Naples, or to Sicily, or to Parma, where my old age, according toall appearances, might have been happy. My genius, who is always right, led me to Paris, so that I might see my brother Francois, who had runinto debt and who was just then going to the Temple. I do not carewhether or not he owes me his regeneration, but I am glad to haveeffected it. If he had been grateful to me, I should have felt myselfpaid; it seems to me much better that he should carry the burden of hisdebt on his shoulders, which from time to time he ought to find heavy. Hedoes not deserve a worse punishment. To-day, in the seventy-third year ofmy life, my only desire is to live in peace and to be far from any personwho might imagine that he has rights over my moral liberty, for it isimpossible that any kind of tyranny should not coincide with thisimagination. "

Early in February, 1798, Casanova was taken sick with a very gravebladder trouble of which he died after suffering for three-and-a-halfmonths. On the 16th February Zaguri wrote: "I note with the greatestsorrow the blow which has afflicted you. " On the 31st March, after havingconsulted with a Prussian doctor, Zaguri sent a box of medicines and hewrote frequently until the end. 

On the 20th April Elisa von der Recke, whom Casanova had met, some yearsbefore, at the chateau of the Prince de Ligne at Teplitz, having returnedto Teplitz, wrote: "Your letter, my friend, has deeply affected me. Although myself ill, the first fair day which permits me to go out willfind me at your side. " On the 27th, Elisa, still bedridden, wrote thatthe Count de Montboisier and his wife were looking forward to visitingCasanova. On the 6th May she wrote, regretting that she was unable tosend some crawfish soup, but that the rivers were too high for thepeasants to secure the crawfish. "The Montboisier family, Milady Clark, my children and myself have all made vows for your recovery. " On the 8th, she sent bouillon and madeira. 

On the 4th June, 1798, Casanova died. His nephew, Carlo Angiolini waswith him at the time. He was buried in the churchyard of Santa Barbara atDux. The exact location of his grave is uncertain, but a tablet, placedagainst the outside wall of the church reads:

 JAKOB CASANOVA Venedig 1725 Dux 1798