A great deal has been said about love at first sight; I am perfectly aware of love's retrospective tendency to make a legend of itself, turn its beginnings into myth; so I don't want to assert that it was love; but I have no doubt there was a kind of clairvoyance at work: I immediately felt, sensed, grasped the essence of Lucie's being or, to be more precise, the essence of what she was later to become for me; Lucie had revealed herself to me the way religious truth reveals itself.
The speaker reflects on the concept of love at first sight, acknowledging the tendency of love to embellish its origins into myths over time. While he hesitates to label his feelings as love, he describes an immediate and profound understanding of Lucie's character and her potential future impact on his life. This connection felt almost like a revelation, akin to experiencing a deep spiritual truth.
The comparison of Lucie's essence to religious truth emphasizes the depth of this connection. The speaker perceives a certain clarity about Lucie that transcends mere attraction, suggesting a kind of insight or foresight that transcends typical romantic feelings. This insight reveals a significant bond formed at that first encounter, hinting at a deeper narrative between the two characters that unfolds throughout the story.
