Viscount de Valmont _to the_ Marchioness de Merteuil.
I reply to your letter on the instant, and will endeavour to be
explicit; which is not an easy matter with you, when you have once
determined not to understand.
Many words are not necessary to convince us, each has the power of
ruining the other; we have an equal interest to keep fair with one
another: that is not the business at present. But between the violent
determination of destruction, and doubtless the more eligible one of
being still united as hitherto, or of even being more so, by renewing
our first attachment; between those two parties, I say, there are a
thousand more to be taken. It was not, then, ridiculous to tell you,
neither is it to repeat, that from this day I will either be your lover
or your enemy.
I am very sensible the choice will give you some uneasiness; that it
would be more convenient for you to shuffle. I am also satisfied, you
never liked to be confined to yes or no: but you must be sensible, I
cannot let you from this small circle, without risking being deceived;
and you ought to have foreseen, I would not bear it. You are now to
decide. I may leave you the choice, but will not remain in uncertainty.
I only inform you beforehand, I will not be imposed on by your
arguments, good or bad; that I will no longer be seduced by any
ornamental wheedling with which you might embellish a refusal; and that
the hour of frankness is arrived. I wish for nothing more than to set
you the example; and I declare with pleasure, I prefer peace and union.
If it is necessary to break one or the other, I think I have the right
and the means.
Therefore I will add, the least obstacle you make, I shall consider as
a declaration of war. You will observe, the answer I demand does not
require either long or studied sentences: two words will be sufficient.
_Paris, Dec._ 4, 17—.
_The answer of the Marchioness de Merteuil, wrote at the bottom of this
same letter._
War, then.