Chapter 2

           Wewerebroughtuptogether;therewasnotquiteayeardifferenceinourages.Ineednotsaythatwewerestrangerstoanyspeciesofdisunionordispute.Harmonywasthesoulofourcompanionship,andthediversityandcontrastthatsubsistedinourcharactersdrewusnearertogether.Elizabethwasofacalmerandmoreconcentrateddisposition;but,withallmyardour,Iwascapableofamoreintenseapplicationandwasmoredeeplysmittenwiththethirstforknowledge.Shebusiedherselfwithfollowingtheaerialcreationsofthepoets;andinthemajesticandwondroussceneswhichsurroundedourSwisshome—thesublimeshapesofthemountains,thechangesoftheseasons,tempestandcalm,thesilenceofwinter,andthelifeandturbulenceofourAlpinesummers—shefoundamplescopeforadmirationanddelight.Whilemycompanioncontemplatedwithaseriousandsatisfiedspiritthemagnificentappearancesofthings,Idelightedininvestigatingtheircauses.TheworldwastomeasecretwhichIdesiredtodivine.Curiosity,earnestresearchtolearnthehiddenlawsofnature,gladnessakintorapture,astheywereunfoldedtome,areamongtheearliestsensationsIcanremember.

           Onthebirthofasecondson,myjuniorbysevenyears,myparentsgaveupentirelytheirwanderinglifeandfixedthemselvesintheirnativecountry.WepossessedahouseinGeneva,andacampagneonBelrive,theeasternshoreofthelake,atthedistanceofrathermorethanaleaguefromthecity.Weresidedprincipallyinthelatter,andthelivesofmyparentswerepassedinconsiderableseclusion.Itwasmytempertoavoidacrowdandtoattachmyselfferventlytoafew.Iwasindifferent,therefore,tomyschool-fellowsingeneral;butIunitedmyselfinthebondsoftheclosestfriendshiptooneamongthem.HenryClervalwasthesonofamerchantofGeneva.Hewasaboyofsingulartalentandfancy.Helovedenterprise,hardship,andevendangerforitsownsake.