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French Page · Branch 30 of 94
René · p. 145
French
p. 145famille, patrie, et le berceau et la tombe, et le passé et l’avenir.
» Il est vrai qu’Amélie et moi nous jouissions plus que personne de ces idées graves et tendres, car nous avions tous les deux un peu de tristesse au fond du cœur : nous tenions cela de Dieu ou de notre mère.
» Cependant mon père fut atteint d’une maladie qui le conduisit en peu de jours au tombeau. Il expira dans mes bras. J’appris à connoître la mort sur les lèvres de celui qui m’avoit donné la vie. Cette impression fut grande ; elle dure encore. C’est la première fois que l’immortalité de l’âme s’est présentée clairement à mes yeux. Je ne pus croire que ce corps inanimé étoit en moi l’auteur de la pensée ; je sentis qu’elle me devoit venir d’une autre source ; et, dans une sainte douleur qui approchoit de la joie, j’espérai me rejoindre un jour à l’esprit de mon père.
» Un autre phénomène me confirma dans cette haute idée. Les traits paternels avoient pris au cercueil quelque chose de sublime. Pourquoi cet étonnant mystère ne seroit-il pas l’indice de notre immortalité ? Pourquoi la mort, qui sait tout, n’auroit-elle pas gravé sur le front de sa
René
Source p. 145family, homeland, and the cradle and the tomb, and the past and the future.
“It is true that Amélie and I delighted more than anyone in these grave and tender thoughts, for we both had a little sadness at the bottom of our hearts: we had that from God, or from our mother.
“Meanwhile my father was struck by an illness that brought him in a few days to the grave. He died in my arms. I learned to know death on the lips of him who had given me life. The impression was great; it lasts still. That was the first time the immortality of the soul appeared clearly before my eyes. I could not believe that this lifeless body was the author of thought in me; I felt that thought must come to me from another source; and, in a holy grief that bordered on joy, I hoped one day to be joined again to my father’s spirit.
“Another phenomenon confirmed me in this lofty idea. My father’s features had taken on something sublime in the coffin. Why should this astonishing mystery not be the sign of our immortality? Why should death, which knows all things, not have engraved on the brow of its
Socrates
Reading René · René · René · p. 145
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Chateaubriand’s tale of René and Amélie, with the Preface of 1805, two contemporary reviews, and the longer readings of 1802. This French–English edition preserves the 1826 printed pages, with a new English translation, author’s notes, variant readings, introduction and glossary.
Historical Text and Translation
François-René de Chateaubriand, Œuvres complètes, tome XVI (Paris: Ladvocat, 1826), pp. 1–16, 137–192 and 351–358, University of Toronto Library copy. Earlier witness: Génie du Christianisme, tome II (Paris: Migneret, 1802), pp. 158–216, Bibliothèque nationale de France copy.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical French source is in the public domain in the United States. New English translation and editorial matter © 2026 Diotimos Editions. Chateaubriand’s author notes and historical variants remain separately attributed.