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A WAVE OF DREAMS - Louis Aragon

translated by Adam Cornford

I a!!en" suddenly" to lose t e # ole t read of my life$ I as% myself" sitting in some&orner of t e uni'erse" by a smo%y dar% &af(" in front of !olis ed bits of metal" amid t e&omings and goings of large s#eet-tem!ered #omen" by # at road of madness I end u!stranded under t is ar& " # i& is a&tually t e bridge t ey &all t e s%y) * at moment# en e'eryt ing gets a#ay from me" # en uge &ra&%s for&e t eir #ay to lig t in t e !ala&e of t e #orld-I #ould sa&rifi&e my # ole life for it" if it #ould +ust &onsent to !ersist at su& a laug able !ri&e) * en" t e mind deta& es itself a bit from t e umanme& anism, t en" I am no longer t e bi&y&le of my senses" t e grindstone for s ar!eningmemories and meetings) * en" I gras! t e o&&asional in myself" I gras! all at on&e o# Isur!ass myself$ t e o&&asional" & est moi, and a'ing formed t is !ro!osition I laug at

t e memory of all uman a&ti'ity) At t is !oint" no doubt" t ere #ould be some grandeurin dying, at t is !oint no doubt t ey %ill t emsel'es" t e !eo!le # o one day de!art #it&lear eyes) At t is !oint" any#ay" begins t oug t" # i& is not at all t at loo%ing-glassgame # ere .uite a fe# e/&el" #it out danger) If one as tried t is 'ertigo" be it onlyon&e" it seems im!ossible to go on a&&e!ting t e me& ani&al ideas t at today sum u!nearly all Man s endea'ors" and all is !ea&e of mind) At t e bottom of t e seemingly !urest s!e&ulation" one &at& es sig t of an une/amined a/iom t at es&a!ed &riti&ism" t#as atta& ed to some ot er" forgotten system$ one # i& is no longer on trial but # i&lea'es t is rut in t e mind" t is formula t at is not dis&ussed) * us t e ! iloso! ers tal%in !ro'erbs and demonstrations) * ey & ain u! t eir imaginations in t ese foreign lin%s"stolen from famous tombs) * ey t in% trut as sides" t ey belie'e in !artial trut s)

I li'ed in t e s ado# of a great # ite edifi&e adorned #it flags and out&ries) I #as notallo#ed to #it dra# from t is mansion So&iety" and t ose # o &limbed its front ste!smade a frig tful &loud of dust on t e doormat) 0atriotism" onor" religion" goodness-it#as ard to re&ogni1e oneself amidst t ese &ountless #ords t at t ey tossed out atrandom to t e e& oes) Still" I slo#ly disentangled t eir firmest beliefs) * ese amounted to'ery little) 2* e tenden&y of all being to !ersist in its being2 is one of t eir fa'oriteformulas" # ile edonism seems .uite dis&redited in t eir eyes) For t em" t e !e+orati'ee/!ression 2tainted #it finalist2 suffi&es to &ondemn absolutely anyt ing) Lastly" t eyo!en t e !aragra! s of t eir intelle&tual life #it a ! rase t at !leases t em$ 2Let us !artt e 'eil of #ords for a moment)2 * at su& met ods dra# t em into ta%ing y!ot esesfor realities" and a !osteriori y!ot eses at t at" t ey ne'er so mu& as sus!e&t) * eirminds are monstrous ybrids" offs!ring of t e !e&uliar amours of t e oyster and t e bu11ard) 3ut t ese un& ba&%s of t oug t a'e not t e least fear t at !assers-by #illsu!erstitiously brus a and o'er t eir deformity for good lu&%) * ey are %ings of t e#orld and gaolers of t e dungeon from # i& I &an ear t eir & eerful singing and t enoise of t e %eys t ey brandis )



4o# and t en" if some 'isitor in.uired in !assing about o# I !assed t e time in t ese&lusion in # i& " it #as said #it out irony" I &onfined myself-if someone" not too sure# et er to doubt me or imself" ad a&&ess for a moment to my un#onted e/isten&e" myres!onses #ould .ui&%ly bring to is eyes t e C ina-'ase gleam of disbelief) 5o# &ould

e a&&e!t t at I don t !ursue a!!iness at all6 * at t ere is no t oug t but in #ords6 And

yet sometimes" t is 'isitor" &arried along by fas ion and belief in t e strengt of ado&trine" #ould in'o%e idealism) * en I #ould begin to understand t at on&e again I ad before me a s amefa&ed realist" one of today s men of good #ill # o li'e on a&om!romise bet#een 7ant and Comte" # o t in% t ey a'e ta%en a big ste! by re+e&tingt e 'ulgar idea of reality in fa'or of reality-in-itself" t e noumenon8" t at s abby" !aint- !eeled !laster figurine) 4ot ing #ill ma%e su& !eo!le understand t e true nature of t ereal$ t at it is a relation li%e any ot er" t at t e essen&e of t ings is in no #ay tied to t eirreality" t at t ere are relations ot er t an t e real t at t e mind is &a!able of gras!ing" andt at are also !rimary" li%e & an&e" illusion" t e fantasti&" t e dream) * ese 'arious s!e&are broug t toget er and re&on&iled in a genus$ surreality)

3y # at route a &on&e!t may a!!ear" by # at detour" is rig tly a sub+e&t to be mar'eledat) * e idea of surreality s ould a'e fit flus #it uman &ons&iousness of e/traordinarys& ools and t e e'ents of t e ea!ed-u! &enturies) 3ut # ere #as it !leased to a!!ear6 It#as amid .uite s!e&ifi& &onsiderations" in t e &ourse of t e resolution of a !oeti& !roblem9at t e moment" to be sure" # en t e moral t read of t is !roblem re'ealed itself:t atAndr( 3reton in ;<;<" setting imself to gras! t e me& anism of t e dream" regained att e t res old of dream t e t res old and nature of ins!iration) From t e beginning" t isdis&o'ery" # i& in t at alone #as already 'ery great" #as e/a&tly t at for im" and for0 ili!!e Sou!ault # o #it 3reton ga'e imself o'er to t e first surrealist e/!erien&es)W at stru&% t em #as a !o#er t ey did not %no# t ey ad-a mat& less fa&ility" aliberation of t e mind" an un!re&edented !rodu&tion of images-and t e su!ernatural toneof t eir #ritings) * ey re&ogni1ed in e'eryt ing t at issued from t em in t is fas ion"#it out feeling t at t ey #ere res!onsible for it" all t at #as un!aralleled in t e fe# boo%s" t e fe# #ords t at still mo'ed t em) * ey suddenly reali1ed a great !oeti& unityt at !ro&eeds from t e !ro! eti& boo%s of all !eo!les to t e Illuminations and t e C antsde Maldoror) 3et#een t e lines" t ey read t e in&om!lete &onfessions of t ose # o on&eu! eld t e System$ in t e lig t of t e dis&o'ery =ne Saison en Enfer s ed its enigmas"along #it t e 3ible and se'eral ot er &onfessions of Man under t eir mas%s of images)3ut t is #as on t e e'e of Dada" and t e moral 3reton and Sou!ault dre# from t ise/!loration #as t at 2genius2 is a bluff, t ey #ere gri!!ed by indignation at t is sleig tof and" t is s#indle t at !uts for#ard a met od s literary results # ile &on&ealing t emet od-and &on&ealing t e fa&t t at t e met od is #it in e'eryone s rea& ) If t e firste/!erimenters of Surrealism" # ose number is restri&ted from t e start" ga'e #ay in t eirturn to su& literary e/!loitation" it is be&ause t ey %ne# t emsel'es &a!able of one dayt ro#ing do#n t eir &ards" and t at t ey #ere tasting t e first fruits of t at great & armissued from t e de!t s) And at first t ey a&ted .uite &almly" for t e #orld laug ed

eartily at t eir songs)



W at #ould ma%e t em abru!tly imagine t e abyss on # ose edge t ey #ere &am!ed"# at #ould o!en t eir eyes to t at field of &omets t ey ad been tilling una#ares" #ast e unforeseen effe&t Surrealism #ould a'e on t eir li'es) * ey t re# t emsel'es into itas into a sea, and li%e a trea& erous sea" be old o# Surrealism t reatens to s#ee! t emout into o!en #ater # ere t e s ar%s of madness &ruise) I a'e often t oug t of t e man

# o assembled t e first little sensiti'e !late from &arbon and &o!!er #ire" belie'ing e#ould su&&eed in re&ording t e 'ibrations of t e 'oi&e, and # o" on&e t e ma& ine #as !ut toget er" eard t e uman 'oi&e sound unmista%ably) * us t e first surrealists"

a'ing rea& ed an e/treme of fatigue by t e abuse of # at still seemed to t em a meregame" sa# rise u! before t em t e #onders" t e great allu&inations t at a&&om!any t edrun%enness of religions and ! ysi&al nar&oti&s) At t at time" meeting ea& e'ening li%

unters" #e made u! t e day s tally" t e list of t e beasts #e ad in'ented" t e fantasti& !lants" t e images bagged) Falling !rey to a&&eleration" #e s!ent a gro#ing number of

ours at t is e/er&ise" # i& deli'ered us to strange regions of oursel'es) We #ere !leased to obser'e t e &ur'e of our fatigues" t e aberrations t at follo#ed t em) * en t e#onders a!!eared) At first ea& one of us t oug t imself t e ob+e&t of a s!e&ial turmoil"

and struggled against t at turmoil) Soon its nature #as re'ealed) E'eryt ing a!!ened asif t e mind" a'ing rea& ed t is &onfluen&e of t e un&ons&ious" ad lost tra&% of # e#as !ouring out) In it subsisted images t at too% form" t at be&ame t e substan&e ofreality) * ey e/!ressed t emsel'es a&&ording to t is relation" in a !er&e!tible form) * eyt us too% on t e & ara&ter of 'isual" auditory" and ta&tile allu&inations) We e/!erien&et e full for&e of t ese images) We ad lost t e !o#er to andle t em) We ad be&omet eir domain" t eir steed) In bed at t e moment of falling aslee!" in t e street #it eyes#ide o!en" #it all t e !ara! ernalia of terror" #e eld out our and to ! antoms) * e !ause" t e abstention" of Surrealism made t ese ! enomena disa!!ear" allo#ing us tounderstand o# t ey #ere &onne&ted to ad+a&ent ! enomena t at follo# t e ingestion ofa & emi&al agent, and fear at first made us sus!end t e in'estigations t at" after a time"&om!letely re&o'ered t eir &laim on our &uriosity) * e identi&al nature of t edisturban&es !ro'o%ed by Surrealism" by ! ysi&al fatigue" and by nar&oti&s" t eirresemblan&e to dreams" mysti&al 'isions" and t e semiology of mental illness" led us tot e only y!ot esis t at &ould res!ond to t is mass of fa&ts and bind t em toget er$ t ee/isten&e of a mental substan&e" t at t e resemblan&e bet#een allu&inations andsensations for&ed us to en'isage as different from t oug t-a substan&e of # i& t oug t&ould only be" e'en in its !er&e!tible manifestations" a !arti&ular &ase) We e/!erien&edt is mental substan&e in its &on&rete !o#er" its !o#er of &on&retion) We sa# it !ass fromone state to anot er" and it #as by t ese transmutations t at re'ealed its e/isten&e to ust at #e #ere also informed of its nature) We sa#" for e/am!le" a #ritten image t at atfirst !resented itself as fortuitous" arbitrary" rea& our senses" and t ro# off its 'erbalas!e&t to don t e .ualities of a real ! enomenon t at #e ad al#ays" outside of ourfantasies" belie'ed it im!ossible to !ro'o%e) We no longer ad any assuran&e t ate'eryt ing !rodu&ed in t e field of our &ons&iousness and our bodies ad not arisen as aneffe&t of t is !arado/i&al a&ti'ity in # i& #e suddenly s ared) * us" imagining t e&on'erse of our e/!erien&e" #e redu&ed e'ery sensation" e'ery t oug t to be &riti&i1ed" toa #ord) Absolute nominalism8 found in Surrealism a stunning demonstration, and finally"it a!!eared to us t at t is mental substan&e of # i& I #as s!ea%ing #as not ing ot ert an t e 'o&abulary$ t ere is no t oug t outside #ords t e # ole of Surrealism su!!orts



t is !ro!osition>" # i& today en&ounters" alt oug it is not ne#" more in&redulity t ant e 'ague o!inions" &onstantly gi'en t e lie by t e fa&ts" of t e realists # om one s#ee!sa#ay to t e 0ant eon one fine rainy e'ening)

One sees" t en" # at t e surreal is) 3ut its notion &an only be gras!ed by e/tension, or

rat er" it is a notion t at retreats li%e t e ori1on before t e tra'eler" for" li%e t e ori1onit is a relation bet#een t e mind and # at it #ill ne'er rea& ) As t e mind as en'isagedt e relation of t e real in # i& it indistin&tly lum!s toget er # at e/ists" it naturallyo!!oses to t is relation t e relation of t e unreal) And it is # en it as su!erseded t ese&on&e!ts t at t e mind imagines a more general relation" # ere t ese t#o relations !ayneig borly &alls on ea& ot er-t e surreal) Surreality" t e relation in # i& t e mind brings notions toget er" is t e s ared ori1on of religions" magi&" !oetry" dreams"madness" drun%enness-and of !altry life" t at trembling oneysu&%le t at you belie'e isenoug to !o!ulate ea'en for us)

8

A mere not ing dissi!ates t e &louds and t e same #ind brings t em ba&%) Anidea alsoas its gold fringes) * e sun !lays a bit #it t e ! antoms) ?ood dan&ers #it out !um!s"

and # at sets t e !ri&e of t eir ste!s is t is bro%en & ain at t eir an%les) O ! antoms #it& angeable eyes" & ildren of s ado#" #ait for me" I m &oming and already you turn a#aDon t !ass u! t e a&a&ia flo#ers" t e guard of onor" t e grandstand" I ll be rig t t ere,and ne'ert eless you turn do#n along ot er a#t orn alleys #it your s&ar'es ofrefle&tions and t e dominos of !er!etual distra&tion) 5o# to follo# an idea6 Its #ays arefull of farandoles) Mas%s a!!ear at t e bal&onies) * e # ole of life soli&its us as #e !ass#it our #i'es on our arms" and offers us 'iolets$ all t e !roblems in bou.uets) My dear"yet anot er !eddler-#oman" and do#n t at #ay" yet anot er %iss) Dada #as a moral trial"and in its o#n #ay a ! antom) We a'e li'ed t is aunted e/isten&e" # i& did not at allallo# t e a!!li&ation of t e mind to &on&e!ts) At bottom" a 'ague sentimental in&linationto t e surreal go'erned our !ro!ositions" a sort of ad'an&e taste of t e abyss" stillnameless" fa&eless) One fine day t e s!e&ter tore imself free of is bony ands" in t edire&tion of t e eig ts) A long !eriod of stu!or follo#ed t is !arting of t e &louds)

* e number of surrealists ad gro#n) @oung !eo!le # o #ere suited to into/i&ation" to&onfusing t emsel'es" to bafflement" #it out loo%ing ba&% at t e e'er-glo#ing bla1e ofs outs and demonstrations-# i& as its o#n & arm nonet eless) From t e 'ery first t eyde'oted t emsel'es to a 'i&e" t ey rus ed into it) * ere s ould a'e been a &ir&umstan&eli%e a ring on t e finger of a #oman one meets" li%e a dra#ing on t e #all of a #aitingroom # ere one #aited for t e surrealist idea to ta%e an una#aited turn) * is #ould a'e

a!!ened by t e sea" # ere Ren( Cre'el met a lady # o taug t im to enter a s!e&ialy!noti& slee! t at some# at resembled t e somnambulisti& state) In t is #ay e

managed to !rodu&e utteran&es of great beauty) An e!idemi& of tran&es bro%e out amongt e surrealists) Many of t em" follo#ing t is ingenious !ro&edure #it 'arying degrees ofe/a&titude" found t emsel'es !ossessed of a similar ability" and by t e end of ;< - a'eyou noti&ed o# t is time of year fa'ors great glimmers6-t ere #ere some se'en or eig t# o no# li'ed only for t ose moments of obli'ion # en" #it t e lig ts out" t ey s!o%e



un&ons&iously" li%e men dro#ned in t e o!en air) * ese moments be&ame morenumerous e'ery day) E'ery day t ey #anted to slee! more) * ey #ere into/i&ated byt eir #ords if t ese #ere re!orted to t em) * ey #ent to slee! any# ere) All t ey ad todo no# #as follo# t e initial ritual) In t e &af(" amid t e sound of 'oi&es" t e brig t lig t"t e +ostling" Robert Desnos ad only to &lose is eyes and e s!o%e, and among t e

steins" t e sau&ers" t e # ole O&ean &olla!sed #it its !ro! eti& din and its 'a!orsde&orated #it long oriflammes) 5o#e'er little t ose # o interrogate t is formidableslee!er in&ite im" t e tones of magi&" of re'elation" of Re'olution" t e tone of t e fanati&and t e a!ostle" immediately a!!ear) under ot er &ir&umstan&es" Desnos" #ere e to &linto t is delirium" #ould be&ome t e leader of a religion" t e founder of a &ity" t e tribuneof a !eo!le in re'olt) 5e tal%ed" e #rote" e dre#) Soon" &oin&iden&es &ame along #itt e re&itations of t e slee!ers) We soon #itnessed t e era of &olle&ti'e illusions-and #eret ese illusions after all6 * ese re!eated e/!eriments %e!t t e men # o under#ent t emin a state of gro#ing and terrible irritation" of &ra1y ner'ousness) * ey lost #eig t) * eirtran&es gre# longer and longer) * ey no longer #anted to #a%e u!) * ey #ent to slee!#at& ing someone else slee!" and t en &on'ersed li%e !eo!le from a blind and fara#ay

#orld, t ey .uarreled" and sometimes #e ad to #ren& t e %ni'es from t eir ands) Real ! ysi&al ra'ages" and t e diffi&ulty" after re!eated attem!ts" of !ulling t em out of a&atale!ti& state t at seemed to !ass o'er t em li%e a # is!er of deat " #ould soon for&et e sub+e&ts of t ese e/traordinary e/!eriments" at t e !leading of t ose # o #at& edt em leaning out from t e !ara!et of #a%efulness" to brea% off t e e/er&ises t at neit erlaug ter nor doubts ad been able to disturb) At t at !oint t e &riti&al s!irit re&laimed itsrig ts) We as%ed oursel'es # et er t ey #ere really slee!ing) Some" in t eir earts" began to deny t is ad'enture) * e idea of feigning &ame ba&% into &ir&ulation) As formyself" I a'e ne'er been able to get a &lear idea of t is idea Bsi& ) Is feigning somet ingany different from t in%ing it6 And # at one t in%s" e/ists) @ou #ill not get me to& ange my tune on t is) 3esides" try and e/!lain o# simulation &an a&&ount for t eins!ired & ara&ter of t e s!o%en dreams t at s!read out before me * e great s o&% ofsu& a !erforman&e ne&essarily &alled for delirious e/!lanations$ t e beyond" t etransmigration of souls" t e mar'elous) * e !ri&e of su& inter!retations #as in&redulityand sneers) In trut " su& inter!retations #ere less false t an #as su!!osed) For #it outdoubt" t e ! enomena to # i& a &on&urren&e of a&&idents made us im!assioned#itnesses are in no #ay different from all t e su!ernatural fa&ts t at modest umanreason tosses along #it too-diffi&ult e.uations into t e obli'ion-bas%et of !osterity) 4odoubt about it" t is is a modality of Surrealism" in # i& t e belief in tran&e !lays t esame role in s!ea%ing aloud t at s!eed !lays in #ritten Surrealism) * is belief" and t e !re!arations Bmise en s& ne t at go along #it it" brea%s u! li%e s!eed t e bundle ofrestri&tions t at fetter t e mind) * ere you see t e !oint at # i& freedom" t atmagnifi&ent #ord" for t e first time ta%es on meaning$ freedom begins # ere t emar'elous is born) At t at !oint one also imagines t at t ere are &olle&ti'e surrealisms" as# en Surrealism indu&es an entire !eo!le to belie'e in mira&les" in military 'i&tories-t is&olle&ti'e Surrealism" finally" is # at #as !rodu&ed at t e marriage at Cana and at t e battle of Valmy) And at t e foot of t is magi& mill it is true" t is alone is true" t atordinary #ater #as & anged to #ine and blood # ile t e ills sang) So" denyingunbelie'ers" you too-you a'e bo#ed your eads to t e armed #ords t at old u! su& alarge stret& of t e s%y)



8

An idea on&e formed does not limit itself to being" it refle&ts itself$ it e/ists) * us t e&on&e!t of surrreality o'er t#o years turned ba&% on itself" bringing #it it a uni'erse of

determinations) And in t is falling ba&% it first of all redis&o'ered t e images t at !resided o'er its birt " as a son redis&o'ers is !arents at t e moment # en is # ole body is assembled and ordered into its !arts" ready for great mysteries and alreadyforgetful of t ose old fogies) At its !oint of de!arture it found dream" # en&e it adissued) 3ut no#" in t e lig t of Surrealism" dream #as &larified and assumed its truesignifi&an&e) A&&ordingly" # en Andr( 3reton #rote do#n is dreams" t ese no#" for t efirst time sin&e time began" retained t eir dreamli%e .uality in t e telling ) * is #as be&ause t e man # o gat ered t em ad a&&ustomed is memory to ot er relations t ant e meager realities of #a%ing life) * us" too" Robert Desnos learns to dream #it outslee!ing) 5e su&&eeds in s!ea%ing is dreams" at #ill) Dreams" dreams" dreams" t edomain of dreams e/tends furt er at ea& ste!) Dreams" dreams" dreams" t e blue sun of

dreams at last dri'es t e steel-eyed beasts ba&% to t eir lairs) Dreams" dreams" dreams ont e li!s of lo'e" on t e figures of a!!iness" on t e sobs of attention" on t e signals ofo!e" in t e yards # ere a !eo!le resign t emsel'es to ser'ing !i&%a/es) Dreams"

dreams" dreams" not ing but dreams # ere t e #ind #anders and t e bar%ing dogs go outinto t e road) O great Dream" in t e !ale morning of buildings" don t be led off again byt e first so! isms of da#n" t ose & al% &orni&es # ere" leaning o'er" you mingle your !ure" #ea% stro%es #it t e mira&ulous immobility of t e Statues S&atter t eseintolerable &larities" t ese bleedings of ea'en t at for too long a'e bes!attered my eyes)@our bedroom sli!!er is in my air" genie #it t e smo%y fa&e" stunning s ado# &oiledu! in my breat ) *a%e o'er t e rest of my life" ta%e o'er all li'es" tide rising #it a foamof flo#ers) Omens abo'e t e ouses" 'isions at t e bottom of !ools of in% and in t e&offee-grounds" migrations of birds on t e laterality of soot sayers" earts &onsulted by bloody fingers" announ&e-t e times un#ra! t emsel'es from t eir dra!eries-your reignand your &y&lone" adorable siren" in&om!arable &lo#n of t e &a'erns" o 'ision leaning ba&% on t e &oral" &olor of falls" odor of t e #ind ;< $ under t is number t at as adredge and drags be ind it a aul of moonfis " under t is number adorned #it disasters"strange stars in its air" t e &ontagion of dream s!reads t oug t e neig bor oods and t e&ountryside) ?reat e/am!les rise from t e !ure fields) W o is t at man by t e s ore ofmyt s and t e sea" all in sno# and silen&e6 Anot er" s ut a#ay from e'eryone" li'es in

is gy!sy &ara'an #it an army of ser'ants) Still anot er" # o s&ar&ely o!ened is eyeson t is #orld" died in front of t e !oli&e and is fat er" as t e &ar !assed before t e #allsof a !rison, and t at #oman" t at #oman # o ad #ritten on a &af( #all$ 2It s better to#i!e off glasses t an guns ot #ounds)2 Anot er" # at #as e doing in C ina all t attime" bet#een t#o dreams t at sound li%e salt6 Anot er" anot er$ you !ainted 4ig t and it#as 4ig t erself, and you !ainted t e s%y" and it #as t e # ole emerald of destiny)Anot er dream" yet anot er dream$ t e desert o'er t e &ities" t e s utters all ali%e and tfootste!s !added #it life" one #ould %ill for mu& less) It s for mu& less t at t e dreamis %illed$ a !i!e in bad romanti& style" interiors done t e #ay #e li%e t em" and a

andsome gold &lo&% on t e table) And t at full-gro#n man" isn t e as amed of isim!ossible songs6 5e ne'er imagined t at a life is at last being organi1ed) W at



ad'antage #ould e deri'e from it in is little &ardboard &lini&" t is ot er # o as laid a&old and on man s feelings and t e !urity of family relations i!s6 Saint-0ol-Rou/"Raymond Roussel" 0 ili!!e Daudet" ?ermaine 3erton" Saint-Go n 0erse" 0ablo 0i&asso"?iorgio di C iri&o" 0ierre Re'erdy" Ga&.ues Va& " Leon-0aul Fargue" Sigmund Freud"your !ortraits ang on dream s bedroom #alls" you are t e !residents of t e Re!ubli& of

Dream)And no#" meet t e dreamers)

8

* ere is a surrealist lig t$ t e one t at" at t e our # en &ities bla1e u!" falls on t esalmon-!in% dis!lay of sil% sto&%ings, t e one t at flames in t e 3en di&tine de!artmentstores" and its !ale sister in t e !earl of mineral-#ater #are ouses, t e one t at se&retlyillumines t e blue tra'el agen&y in t e 0la&e Vendome t at arranges tri!s to battlefields,t e one t at stays around late at 3ar&lays in t e A'enue de l O! ra" # en t e ties molt

into ! antoms, t e lig t of flas lig ts on murder 'i&tims and t e a&t of lo'e) * ere is asurrealist lig t in t e eyes of all #omen) A uge !ie&e of realism as +ust been %no&%eddo#n in t e 3oule'ard de la Madeleine" and t roug t is ga! you &an glim!se a little oft e lands&a!e t at e/tends also to t e #or%ings at t e Moulin-Rouge in t e &it V ron" tot e sites # ere t e old 0aris fortifi&ations are being demolis ed" in t e fields of statues att e *uileries" to t e ?obelins setting fire to t e nig t #it t e #ord 0ARDO4 in ! os! orus letters" to t e 'aults of t e M tro # ere t e golden orses of 0oulain& o&olate !ran&e in &a'al&ade" in t e diamond mines # ere smugglers ris% being greedila!arotomi1ed8" t e fuming sulfur-&ones # ere little dogs die) 3etter t an t e brig tsuns ine e loat es" ?eorges Limbour !uts u! #it t is day of t e 3eyond) 4o-one as been able to e/!el im from t e to! of t e stair&ase from # i& t e &ro#d t re# im intot e nig ts of Mayen&e" be&ause e ad a orror of &rosses and flags" of #ar s trium! antra!!ings) Andr( Masson attends releases of !igeons at all t e &rossroads$ t e beautiful%ni'es e #ill a'e seen e'ery# ere are finally ready to be gras!ed) If t e ouses of0aris are mountains" it s be&ause t ey are refle&ted t e mono&le of Ma/ Morise$ at Arge9C er:"didn t e !ollute t e great &ru&ifi/ in t e railroad station6 0aul Eluard I a'e seenstom!ed by &o!s and me& ani&s on a !iano and among bro%en bulbs" t irty to one against is somersault of t e stars) A little later" I sa# im at t e feet of & am!agne in a &ountryof ser!entine stones) * en e entered t e eart s s ado#" # ere moral e&li!ses are t e& andeliers of a ball unlimited by t e o&ean" t en e &ame ba&%" e s loo%ing at you)Delteil6 5e s t e young man t at Fran&is Gammes besee& ed in t e name of is # ite

air" t e young &arni'ore # o s!ends is days in t e Meudon forest #it bloody images)Man Ray" # o as tamed t e #orld s largest eyes" dreams in is o#n #ay #it %nife-ra&%s and salt-&ellars$ e gi'e a meaning to lig t" and ere s # at it %no#s o# to say)2Su1anne" are you dar% or blonde6 S e & anges #it t e #ind" and you &an belie'e int is$ #ater is t e e.ual of man)2 W at is t is !risoner in a great tra!6 * e signs t atAntonin Artaud ma%es far a#ay ans#er strangely in my eart) Mat ias Lube&%" you &an be serious" you re not going to re-enlist in t e &olonial army6 5e says e s as amed of no being tattooed) Ga&.ues 3aron" on is boat" as +ust met some beautiful # ite #omen$ doyou remember" my dear friend" one e'ening # en I ad left you near 3arb s" t ere #ere



so many 'agabonds" you #eren t t in%ing t en about oriental seas" you ad a&ted&om!letely on im!ulse to#ard t e summer) Andr( 3reton" t ere s someone I &an saynot ing about$ # en I &lose my eyes" I see im again at Moret" on t e Loing" in all t edust-&louds of t e to#!at ) 3y is &urly air #e a'e long re&ogni1ed 0 ili!!e Sou!ault"# o used to tal% to & air-menders" # o #ould laug astoundingly around noon) Denise"

Denise$ in t e little street # ere !eo!le sto!" doesn t t e &af( of &olors al#ays singmar'elously # en you !ass" and don t t ey al#ays %ill t emsel'es in t e &anal" in t e RueLongue" e'ery# ere you ta%e your !ure s ado# and your &lear eyes6 Ga&.ues-Andr(3oiffard refuses to &ut is fa'orite bla&% suit" gently) 5e #ears a 'el'et &a!) 5e isloo%ing for a !osition but does not #ant #or%$ !ubli& announ&ement) Magi& as nose&rets at all from Roger Vitra&" # o is !re!aring a * eater of Arson" # ere !eo!le die asin a forest) 5e is also !re!aring to reestablis t e &ult of Absint e" # ose strainer-s!oons

a'e been o'erturned) Gean Carri'e" t e youngest %no#n surrealist" is abo'e allremar%able for a magnifi&ent sense of re'olt$ e stands u! to t e ereafter #it a store of blas! emies) 0ierre 0i&on e/tends is !rote&torate o'er S!ain) Fran&is ? rard" fool ardyli%e no-one else" as +ust t ro#n imself into t e #aters of e/isten&e$ #ould you a!!en

to %no# of a #oman for im" e/tremely beautiful" # o #ould ma%e im at t#enty a manlost fore'er6 Simone &omes from t e land of ummingbirds" t ose little flas es of musi&"s e resembles t e time of t e lindens) O'er!o#ered by t e s!e&tators at t e 0etit Casino"and in 'arious &af(s of t e &a!ital" Robert Desnos as se'eral times !ut deat to t e testfor a #ord$ Words" e says" are you myt s li%e t e myrtles of t e dead68 Eart .ua%es-t at s # ere Ma/ Ernst" # o !aints &ata&lysms t e #ay ot ers !aint battles" feels t egreatest rela/ation and !leasure$ it s odd t at t e eart isn t .ua%ing &onstantly) Ren(Cre'el as ne'er noti&ed t at t e #orld is solidly fi/ed #it t e el! of meridians and !arallels$ e is more of a slee!#al%er t an anyone else) *remendous rages" fero&iousresol'e" ma%e 0ierre 4a'ille an odd & ara&ter$ I #ould t in% t at e s #illingly fated to asort of assassination attem!t against life, I #ould li%e to %no# !almistry to find out# et er e ll be 'ery un a!!y) Mar&el 4oll" my old friend 4oll$ you #on t try to desert" but # ose sla'e are you if not t e ! antoms in t e de!t s of your eyes6 0eo!le" you see"t ey re +ust so mu& dust) Imagine" C arles 3aron as & e&%ed out of t e otel # ere#ere neig bors) 5e gi'es me ne#s of is brot er) 5e as not at all lost t e fa'or of t atadmirable #oman to # om I on&e again offer my omage) 3ut t e one # o s &a!able ofanyt ing" t e one # o is .uite sim!ly on t e eroi& le'el" t e one # o as ne'er se&ured

imself against life" t e one #e meet at t e Soleil Le'ant" t e one # o defies &ommonsense #it e'ery breat -t at s 3en+amin 0 ret" # o as a little # ale on a leas " or !er a!s a little s!arro#) W at a s ame t at ?eorges Mal%ine is in 4i&e today From no#on I no longer a'e t e slig test idea of elegan&e" and mu& of t e mystery of t is ill-lit&ity as left #it im for t e Cote d A1ur) Ma/ime Ale/andre6 5e t in%s I 'e forgotten

im) One doesn t forget des!air) * e latest ne#s I a'e of Ren e ?aut ier is bad) It&onstrains me from tal%ing about t is young #oman &om!letely s!lit bet#een a sort of !assion and t e ingenuity t at not ing &ould ma%e er lose) My dear Sa'inio" lea'e Rome be ind and &ome ere" !us ing in front of you t e &art !iled #it t e bodies of 4iobe s& ildren) E'eryone I a'e mentioned ere a#aits you) ?reat t ings are definitely going to

a!!en) We 'e ung a #oman from t e &eiling of an em!ty room" # ere e'ery day#orried men" bearers of ea'y se&rets" a!!en by8)* at s o# #e met ?eorges 3essi re"li%e a blo# of t e fist) We are at #or% on a tas% t at is enigmati& e'en for us" in front of a



'olume of Fantomas !inned to t e #all #it a for%) * e 'isitors" # et er born in fara#ay&limes or on our doorste!" &ontribute to t e elaboration of t is formidable ma& ine for%illing # at is in order to a& ie'e # at is not) At ;H Rue de ?renelle" #e a'e o!ened aromanti& inn for un&lassifiable ideas and unted re'olts) W ate'er o!e li'es on in t atdes!erate uni'erse is going to turn its last delirious ga1e to#ard our derisi'e little boot $

2We must arri'e at a ne# de&laration of t e Rig ts of Man )28

In one of Mar&el Allain s no'els" # en t e mysterious Red-5eart" after a t ousand#anderings and t irst and dra#n-out dangers" t eir mirages" arri'es in t e de!t s of t e&elestial Em!ire at t e legendary tomb # ere e o!es to find t e ring t at gi'es !o#er"# at does e see" as t e nig t-birds ta%e #ing from t e dusty slab of t e dese&rated&ry!t6 * e #ell-mar%ed !rint of a Wood-Milne eel) And no doubt" my friends" t is timetoo #e are letting go of t e !rey to & ase a s ado#" no doubt #e are .uestioning t eabyss in 'ain) 3ut it s t e s ado#" it s t e silen&e" t at #e !ursue for all eternity, it s t e

great defeat t at endures) 3y # at a&&ident do #e not read on &ity monuments$ *o0 aeton" from a ?rateful 5umanity6 W at differen&e does it ma%e6 5e ad a taste for'ertigo" and e fell

If I suddenly &onsider t e &ourse of my life" if I forget t at sedu&tion of t e mind-and iteasy to do-if I get some gras! on t e sense of t at life t at !asses me" t at es&a!es me"suddenly))) W at does all t at mean6 Suddenly) I e/!e&t not ing from t e #orld" I e/!e&tnot ing from not ing) * e meaning of t at life" a " t at" but$ # at does a dis&o'erysignify to me" and # at is rele'ant in its notion6 *o be a#are * e stone falling into t egulf is a#are only its a&&eleration" and isn t really e'en a#are of t at) Man must be seenas a !rey to is mirrors" &rying out in t e !at eti& tones of is t eater$ W at to be&ome6As if e ad any & oi&e) ?reat uselessness" foaming sea" I am your eroded &liff) Rise"rise" & ild of t e moons" o tide$ I m t e one # o s getting #orn do#n" # om t e #ind blo#s a#ay) It s +ust a abit" # en t e nig t is too t i&%" #it its s!e&ters" its frig ts" if

old out my ands to t e beams of t e lig t ouses turning far-off) If I add" from t atmental trait t at delineates t em" t e famous &onstellations" it s +ust a abit) If I singsoftly) If I &ome" if I go) If I t in%) If I o!en only t e eyes t at a'e seen not ing)

3ut among all t e tunes I um from time to time" t ere is still one t at gi'es me today anillusion of S!ring and meado#s" an illusion of true freedom) I 'e lost t e tune" and t en Iget it ba&%) Free" free$ it s t e time # en t e #ind s & ain of brig t lin%s flies a#ayt roug t e moir of t e s%y" it s t e time # en t e bullet be&omes t e sla'e of an%les"# en mana&les are +e#elry) It so a!!ens t at on t e #alls of is dungeon t e re&luse&ar'es an ins&ri!tion t at ma%es t e sound of #ings on t e stone) It so a!!ens t at es&ul!ts abo'e t e +oin t e feat ered symbol of t e #orld s lo'es) It s be&ause e dreams"and I dream" &arried a#ay" I dream) I dream of a long dream # ere e'eryone #oulddream) I don t %no# # at #ill be&ome of t is ne# 'enture of dreams) I dream on t es ore of t e #orld and of nig t) W at #as it you #anted to say to me" men far remo'ed"yelling t roug &u!!ed ands" ma%ing fun t e slee!er s gestures6 On t e s ore of nig tand &rime" on t e s ore of &rime and lo'e) O Ri'ieras of t e unreal" your &asinos" #it no



age restri&tion" o!en t eir gaming rooms to t ose # o #ant to lose It s time" belie'e me"not to #in any more)

W o s t ere6 A " 'ery good$ s o# in t e Infinite)

8 8 8*ranslator s 4ote$ * is essay #as first !ublis ed in ;< " in t e a'ant-garde +ournalCommer&e) It is t e only sustained a&&ount by an original !arti&i!ant of t e 2!eriod oftran&es2 t at !re&eded t e formal &onstitution of t e Surrealist grou!) It also &onstitutesone of t e 'ery first e/!ressions of Surrealist t eory" es!e&ially t e t eory of t eMar'elous)

4O*ES

8In 7ant s ! iloso! y" t e un%no#able reality of t e ! enomenon or ob+e&t of !er&e!tion 9*r):) 85ere Aragon uses t e #ord to mean a belief t at ob+e&ts of !er&e!tion a'e noe/isten&e inde!endently of t e #ords t at name t em9*r):) 80un&tuation 9or la&% t ereof: as in original 9*r):) 824otion2 is ere used in its 5egelian sense as a ig er form of &on&e!t" beyond t e !re'ious stages of 3eing and Essen&e" leading to t e fusion of t eoreti&al and !ra&ti&al"sub+e&t and ob+e&t" in t e Absolute Idea) Aragon is t us !ro!osing in surreality a still

ig er form of t oug t" one t at subsumes 4otion) For furt er de'elo!ment of Aragon s5egelian t emes" see 2Le re'e du !aysan2 in is 0aysan de 0aris" ;< 9*r):83reton" Andre" Clair de terre" 90aris" ?allimard" ;< $ &ited by aut or #it out

!ubli&ation data: 8La!arotomy$ an o!eration in'ol'ing t e &utting o!en of t e abdominal#all9*r):) 8* ere is an untranslatable !lay on #ords ere$ Mots" Jtes-'ous des myt es et !areilsau/ myrt es des morts69*r): 8* e 3ureau of Surrealist In.uiry" ;H Rue de ?renelle" o!ened in ;< 9*r):) 8La Re'olution surrealiste ;";< 9*r):

aragon.doc

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