MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) Marshal of France, Duc de Rivoli. A very fine L.S. ...

MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) Marshal of France, Duc de Rivoli. A very fine L.S. `Massena´, two pages, 4to, Head Quarters of Padova, Italy, 20th August 1797, to General Brune, in French. An interesting personal letter, with marriage counseling, between two friends and victorious Generals in Italy who would become important Marshals of Napoleon. On his printed stationery, bearing the printed heading of the Army of Italy and a French Revolution vignette, Massena, in his capacity as General of Division, congratulates Brune and confess that he will miss him, stating in part `Tu as bien raison, mon cher Brune, de me dire que j´apprendrai avec plaisir ta juste nomination au grade de général de division. Elle m´a fait un très grand plaisir malgré que je te perde. J´espère que tu me donneras souvent de tes nouvelles, comme je t´assure aussi d´en faire de même´ (Translation: "You are right, my dear Brune, to tell me that I will be pleased to learn of your fair appointment to the rank of general of division. It gave me great pleasure even though I will loose you. I hope that you will often give me your news, as I also assure you to do the same") Massena further refers to Brune´s wife who got married short before, saying `Je te fais mon compliment sur l´arrivée de ta femme, elle te fera aisément oublier le voyage manqué de Rome, et de plus te rendra un peu plus sage. Tu connais mes sentiments sur la constance que les hommes mariés doivent à leurs femmes, n´oublie jamais en cela mes maximes... mille choses honnêtes à la Lolotte´ (Translation: "I compliment you on the arrival of your wife, she will easily make you forget the missed trip to Rome, and what's more will make you a little wiser. You know my feelings about the constancy that married men owe to their wives, never forget my maxims on this...") Massena was notoriously unfaithful, he took Eugenie Renique, an Opera dancer, as his mistress who followed him in the military campaigns of Austria and Spain. With address leaf, to General Brune, in Verona, also bearing an attractive red wax seal. Small overall minor creasing, otherwise G

Guillaume Marie Anne Brune (1763-1815) Marshal of France. He married Angélique-Nicole Pierre short before the present letter was written.