Voltaire III

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8/20/2019 Voltaire III http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-iii 1/471 EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION THE WORKS OF  VOLTAIRE  A CONTEMPORARY VERSION  W ITH NOTES BY  TOBIAS SMOLLETT, EVISED  AND MODERNIZED NEW TRANSLATIONS BY  W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN I NTRODUCTION BY O LIVER H . G . L EIGH  A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY BY THE RT. HON. JOHN MORLEY FORTY-THREE VOLUMES ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,  AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES  VOLUME III  AKRON, OHIO THE WERNER COMPANY 1!"

Transcript of Voltaire III

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E D I T I O N D E L A P A C I F I C A T I O N

T H E W O R K S O F

 VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION

 W ITH NOTES BY  TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED  AND MODERNIZED

NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN

INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH

 A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY 

BY 

T H E R T . H O N . J O H N M O R L E Y  

F O R T Y - T H R E E V O L U M E S

ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS

OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,

 AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES

 VOLUME III

 AKRON, OHIO

THE WERNER COMPANY

1!"

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 The WORKS of VOLTAIRE

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EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION

Limited to one thousand sets

for America and reat !ritain"

#!et$een t$o ser%ants of &umanit'( $ho a))eared

ei*hteen hundred 'ears a)art( the rf ++ a m'sterious re,ation"

- - - - Let us sa' it $ith a sentiment of

)rofound res)ect. /ES0S WEPT. VOLTAIRE S1ILED"

Of that di%ine tear and of that human smi,e is com)osed the

s$eetness of the )resent ci%i,i2ation#

VICTOR &0O"

+3O0 &AVE A!ANDONED 1E(# SAID CO4

565N7 #!0T T&O0& VO0 ARE A

8REAT 1AN I WILL L"OVE

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VO0 POREVER#

EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION

 T&E WORKS OF

A CONTE1PORAR3 VERSION

WIT& NOTES !3 TO!IAS S1OLLETT( REVISED AND 1ODERNI9ED

NEW TRANSLATIONS !3 WILLIA1 F" FLE1IN( AND AN

INTROD0CTION !3 OLIVER &" " LEI&

A CRITI80E AND !IORAP&3

!3

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 T&E RT" &ON" /O&N 1ORLE3

FORT34T&REE VOL01ES

ONE &0NDRED AND SI:T34EI&T DESINS( CO1PRISIN REPROD0CTIONS

OF KAR! OLD ENRAVINS( STEEL PLAT!S( P&OTORAV0RES(

A1D C0RIO0S FAC4SI1IL!S

VOL01E III

AKRON( O&IO

 T&E WERNER CO1PAN3

;<=>

COP3RI&T ;<=;

!3 E" R" D01ONT

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OWNED !3

 T&E WERNER CO1PAN3

AKRON( O&IO

1ini er

 T&C WERNER CO1PAN3

AK&ON( O&

StacK

Anne?

P8

@OB

EBS>

;<=>

-(

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VOLTAIRE

RO1ANCES

IN T&REE VOL01ES

VOL" II"

CONTENTS

I" /EANNOT AND COLIN """" B

II" 1,CRO1EAS @=

A %o'a*e to Saturn ' an inhaitant of

Sirius7 $hat efe, him on our *,oe7 he ca)4

tures a %esse,7 $hat ha))ened in his inter4

course $ith men"

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III" T&E TRAVELS OF SCAR1ENTADO " " B;

IV" T&E &0RON7 OR( P0PIL OF NAT0RE " >

&e is con%erted7 fa,,s in ,o%e7 re)u,ses the

En*,ish 7 *oes to the court 7 is im)risoned in

the !asti,,e $ith a /ansenist 7 his sentiments

on the drama7 1iss St" 3%es consu,ts a

 /esuit 7 her death and its conseuences"

V" T&E PRINCESS OF !A!3LON " " ";>

Ro'a, contest for the hand of Formosanta 7

the Gin*+s counci,7 the ird+s e,ouent

con%ersation7 A,dea e,o)es $ith the Gin*7

Formosanta %isits China7 Ama2an %isits

A,ion( and Saturn( and Rome 7 an unfor4

tunate ad%enture in au,7 reconci,iation"

VI" T&E WORLD AS IT OES " " " @>>

VII" T&E !LACK AND T&E W&ITE " " " @<=

VIII" T&E OOD !RA&1IN " " " ";@

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LIST OF PLATES

VOL" I,,

PAE

COLIN AND /EANNOT " " " Frontis)iece

 T&E PRIOR RECONI9ES T&E PICT0RES "

 T&E 0NKNOWN 3O0T& SLA3S T&E LION " ;

 T&E PRINCESS WEEPS OVER R0STAN " " =

 /EANNOT AND COLIN"

1an' )ersons( $orth' of credit( ha%e seen /ean4

not and Co,in at schoo, in the to$n of Issoire( in

Au%er*ne( France a to$n famous a,, o%er the

$or,d for its co,,e*e and its ca,drons"

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 /eannot $as the son of a dea,er in mu,es( of

*reat re)utation( and Co,in o$ed his irth to a

*ood sustantia, farmer in the nei*horhood( $ho

cu,ti%ated the ,and $ith four mu,es( and $ho(

after he had )aid a,, ta?es and duties at the rate

of a so, )er )ound( $as not %er' rich at the 'ear+s

end"

 /eannot and Co,in $ere %er' handsome( consid4

erin* the' $ere nati%es of Au%er*ne" The' dear,'

,o%ed each other" The' had man' enHo'ments in

common( and certain ,itt,e ad%entures of such a na4

ture as men a,$a's reco,,ect $ith ),easure $hen

the' after$ards meet in the $or,d"

 Their studies $ere near,' nished( $hen a tai,or

rou*ht /eannot a %e,%et suit of three co,ors( $ith

a $aistcoat from L'ons( $hich $as e?treme,' $e,,

fancied" With these came a ,etter addressed to

1onsieur de ,a /eannotiere"

Co,in admired the coat( and $as not at a,, Hea,4

ous7 ut /eannot assumed an air of su)eriorit'

B

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> /eannot and Co,in"

$hich *a%e Co,in some uneasiness" From that mo4

ment /eannot aandoned his studies7 he contem4

),ated himse,f in a *,ass( and des)ised a,, manGind"

Soon after a %a,et de chamre arri%ed )ost4

haste( and rou*ht a second ,etter to the 1aruis

de ,a /eannotiere" It $as an order from his father(

$ho desired the 'oun* maruis to re)air imme4

diate,' to Paris" /eannot *ot into his chaise( *i%4

in* his hand to Co,in $ith a smi,e( $hich denoted

the su)eriorit' of a )atron" Co,in fe,t his ,itt,eness(

and $e)t" /eannot de)arted in a,, the )om) of his

*,or'"

Such readers as taGe a ),easure in ein* in4

structed shou,d e informed that 1onsieur /eannot(

the father( had( $ith *reat ra)idit'( acuired an

immense fortune ' usiness" 3ou $i,, asG ho$

such *reat fortunes are made" 1' ans$er is( '

,ucG" 1onsieur /eannot had a *ood )erson( so

had his $ife7 and she had sti,, some freshness re4

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mainin*" The' $ent to Paris on account of a ,a$4

suit( $hich ruined them7 $hen fortune( $hich

raises and de)resses men at her ),easure( )resented

them to the $ife of an undertaGer e,on*in* to one

of the hos)ita,s for the arm'" This undertaGer( a

man of *reat ta,ents( mi*ht maGe it his oast that

he had uried more so,diers in a 'ear than cannons

destro' in ten" /eannot ),eased the $ife7 the $ife

of /eannot interested the undertaGer" /eannot $as

em),o'ed in the undertaGer+s usiness7 this intro4

 /eannot and Co,in"

duced him to other usiness" When our oat runs

$ith $ind and stream $e ha%e nothin* to do ut

,et it sai, on" We then maGe an immense fortune

$ith ease" The )oor creatures $ho from the shore

see 'ou )ursue 'our %o'a*e $ith fu,, sai,( stare $ith

astonishment7 the' cannot concei%e to $hat 'ou

o$e 'our success7 the' en%' 'ou instincti%e,'(

and $rite )am)h,ets a*ainst 'ou $hich 'ou ne%er

read"

 That is Hust $hat ha))ened to /eannot( the

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father( $ho soon ecame 1onsieur de ,a /eannot4

iere7 and $ho( ha%in* )urchased a maruisate in

si? months+ time( tooG the 'oun* maruis( his son(

from schoo, in order to introduce him to the )o,ite

$or,d at Paris( JsS

Co,in( $hose heart $as re),ete $ith tenderness(

$rote a ,etter of com),iments to his o,d com)anion(

and con*ratu,ated him on his *ood fortune" The

,itt,e maruis did not re),'" Co,in $as so much

aected at this ne*,ect that he $as taGen i,,"

 The father and mother immediate,' consi*ned

the 'oun* maruis to the care of a *o%ernor" This

*o%ernor( $ho $as a man of fashion( and $ho Gne$

nothin*( $as not a,e to teach his )u)i, an'thin*"

 The maruis $ou,d ha%e had his son ,earn Latin"

 This his ,ad' o))osed" The' then referred the mat4

ter to the Hud*ment of an author( $ho had at that

time acuired *reat re)utation ' his entertainin*

$ritin*s" This author $as in%ited to dinner" The

master of the house immediate,' addressed him thus .

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M /eannot and Co,in"

#Sir( as 'ou understand Latin( and are a man

acuainted $ith the court #

#I understand Latin I don+t Gno$ one $ord of

it(# ans$ered the $it( #and I thinG m'se,f the etter

for ein* unacuainted $ith it" It is %er' e%ident

that a man s)eaGs his o$n ,an*ua*e in *reater )er4

fection $hen he does not di%ide his a)),ication e4

t$een it and forei*n ,an*ua*es" On,' consider our

,adies 7 the' ha%e a much more a*reea,e turn of $it

than the men7 their ,etters are $ritten $ith a hun4

dred times the *race of ours" This su)eriorit' the'

o$e to nothin* e,se ut their not understandin*

Latin"#

#We,,( $as I not in the ri*ht# said the ,ad'" #I

$ou,d ha%e m' son )ro%e a nota,e man( I $ou,d ha%e

him succeed in the $or,d 7 and 'ou see that if he $ere

to understand Latin he $ou,d e ruined" Pra'( are

),a's and o)eras )erformed in Latin Do ,a$'ers

),ead in Latin Do men court a mistress in Latin #

 The maruis( da22,ed ' these reasons( *a%e u)

the )oint( and it $as reso,%ed that the 'oun* maruis

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shou,d not miss)end his time in endea%orin* to e4

come acuainted $ith Cicero( &orace( and Vir*i,"

#Then(# said the father( #$hat sha,, he ,earn

For he must Gno$ somethin*" 1i*ht not one teach

him a ,itt,e *eo*ra)h'#

#Of $hat use $i,, that e# ans$ered the *o%er4

nor" When the maruis *oes to his estate $on+t the

)osti,ion Gno$ the roads The' certain,' $i,, not

carr' him out of his $a'" There is no occasion for a

 /eannot and Co,in" <

uadrant to tra%e, there 7 and one can *o %er' com4

modious,' from Paris to Au%er*ne $ithout Gno$in*

$hat ,atitude one is in"#

#3ou are in the ri*ht(# re),ied the father 7 #ut ;

ha%e heard of a science ca,,ed astronom'( if I am not

mistaGen"#

#!,ess me # said the *o%ernor( #do )eo),e re*u,ate

their conduct ' the inQuence of the stars in this

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$or,d And must the 'oun* *ent,eman )er),e?

himse,f $ith the ca,cu,ation of an ec,i)se $hen he

nds it read' ca,cu,ated to his hand in an a,manac

$hich( at the same time( sho$s him the mo%a,e

feasts( the a*e of the moon( and a,so that of a,, the

)rincesses in Euro)e#

 The ,ad' a*reed )erfect,' $ith the *o%ernor 7 the

,itt,e maruis $as trans)orted $ith Ho'7 the father

remained undetermined" #What then is m' son to

,earn# said he"

#To ecome amia,e(# ans$ered the friend $ho

$as consu,ted( #and if he Gno$s ho$ to ),ease he

$i,, Gno$ a,, that need e Gno$n" This art he $i,,

,earn in the com)an' of his mother $ithout either he

or she ein* at an' trou,e"#

 The ,ad' u)on hearin* this emraced the i*norant

Qatterer and said. #It is eas' to see( sir( that 'ou

are the $isest man in the $or,d" 1' son $i,, e en4

tire,' indeted to 'ou for his education" I thinG(

ho$e%er( it $ou,d not e amiss if he $ere to Gno$

somethin* of histor'"#

#A,as madam( $hat is that *ood for# ans$ered

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io /eannot and Co,in"

he 7 #there certain,' is no usefu, or entertainin* his4

tor' ut the histor' of the da' 7 a,, ancient histories(

as one of our $its has oser%ed( are on,' fa,es that

men ha%e a*reed to admit as true With re*ard to

modern histor' it is a mere chaos( a confusion of

$hich it is im)ossi,e to maGe an'thin*" Of $hat

conseuence is it to the 'oun* maruis( 'our son( to

Gno$ that Char,ema*ne instituted the t$e,%e )eers

of France and that his successor stammered#

#Admira,' said(# cried the *o%ernor 7 #the *enius

of 'oun* )ersons is smothered under a hea) of use4

,ess Gno$,ed*e7 ut of a,, sciences( the most a4

surd( and that $hich( in m' o)inion( is most ca,cu,ated

to stiQe *enius of e%er' Gind( is *eometr'" The o4

 Hects aout $hich this ridicu,ous science is con%ersant

are surfaces( ,ines( and )oints that ha%e no e?istence

in nature" !' the force of ima*ination the *eometri4

cian maGes a hundred thousand cur%ed ,ines )ass e4

t$een a circ,e and a ri*ht ,ine that touches it( $hen(

in rea,it'( there is not room for a stra$ to )ass there"

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eometr'( if $e consider it in its true ,i*ht( is a mere

 Hest( and nothin* more"#

 The maruis and his ,ad' did not $e,, understand

the *o%ernor+s meanin*( 'et the' $ere entire,' of his

o)inion"

#A man of ua,it'( ,iGe the 'oun* maruis(# con4

tinued he( #shou,d not racG his rains $ith use,ess

sciences" If he shou,d e%er ha%e occasion for a ),an

of the ,ands of his estate he ma' ha%e them correct,'

sur%e'ed $ithout stud'in* *eometr'" If he has a

 /eannot and Co,in" ; ;

mind to trace the antiuit' of his no,e fami,'( $hich

,eads the inuirer acG to the most remote a*es( he

$i,, send for a !enedictine" It $i,, e the same thin*

$ith re*ard to a,, other $ants" A 'oun* man of

ua,it' endo$ed $ith a ha))' *enius is neither a

)ainter( a musician( an architect( nor a *ra%er 7 ut

he maGes a,, these arts Qourish ' *enerous,' encour4

a*in* them" It is( dout,ess( etter to )atroni2e than

to )ractise them" It is enou*h for the 'oun* mar4

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uis to ha%e a taste 7 it is the usiness of artists to

e?ert themse,%es for him 7 and it is in this sense that

it is said %er' Hust,' of )eo),e of ua,it' I mean

those $ho are %er' rich( that the' Gno$ a,, thin*s

$ithout ha%in* ,earned an'thin*7 for the'( in fact(

come at ,ast to Gno$ ho$ to Hud*e concernin* $hat4

e%er the' order or )a' for"#

 The i*norant man of fashion then s)oGe to this

)ur)ose .

#3ou ha%e %er' Hust,' oser%ed( madam( that the

*rand end $hich a man shou,d ha%e in %ie$ is to

succeed in the $or,d" Can it )ossi,' e said that

this success is to e otained ' cu,ti%atin* the sci4

ences Did an'od' e%er so much as thinG of ta,G4

in* of *eometr' in *ood com)an' Does an' one

e%er inuire of a man of the $or,d $hat star rises

$ith the sun Who inuires at su))er $hether the

,on*4haired C,odion )assed the Rhine#

#No( dout,ess(# cried the marchioness( $hom her

charms had in some measure initiated into the cus4

toms of the )o,ite $or,d 7 #and m' son shou,d not

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;@ /eaniiot and Co,in"

e?tin*uish his *enius ' the stud' of a,, this stu"

!ut $hat is he( after a,,( to ,earn for it is )ro)er that

a 'oun* )erson of ua,it' shou,d Gno$ ho$ to shine

u)on an occasion( as m' husand oser%es" I re4

memer to ha%e heard an ae sa' that the most de4

,i*htfuLof a,, sciences is somethin* that e*ins $ith

a !"#

#With a !( madam Is it not otan' 'ou mean #

#No( it $as not otan' he s)oGe of 7 the name of

the science he mentioned e*an $ith a !( and ended

$ith on#

#Oh( I com)rehend 'ou( madam(# said the man of

fashion 7 #it is !,ason 'ou mean" It is( indeed( a )ro4

found science 7 ut it is no ,on*er in fashion since the

)eo),e of ua,it' ha%e ceased to cause their arms to

e )ainted u)on the doors of their coaches" It $as

once the most usefu, thin* in the $or,d( in a $e,,

re*u,ated state" !esides( this stud' $ou,d e end4

,ess" No$ada's there is hard,' a arer that has not

his coat of arms 7 and 'ou Gno$ that $hate%er e4

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comes common is ut ,itt,e esteemed"#

In ne( after the' had e?amined the e?ce,,encies

and defects of a,, the sciences it $as determined that

the 'oun* maruis shou,d ,earn to dance"

Nature( $hich does a,,( had *i%en him a ta,ent

that uicG,' dis),a'ed itse,f sur)risin*,' 7 it $as that

of sin*in* a,,ads a*reea,'" The *races of 'outh(

 Hoined to this su)erior *ift( caused him to e ,ooGed

u)on as a 'oun* man of the ri*htest ho)es" &e $as

admired ' the $omen 7 and ha%in* his head fu,, of

 /eannot and Co,in" ;

son*s he com)osed some for his mistress" &e sto,e

from the son*( #!acchus and Lo%e(# in one a,,ad7

from that of #Ni*ht and Da'(# in another 7 from that

of #Charms and A,arms(# in a third" !ut as there

$ere a,$a's in his %erses some su)erQuous feet( or

not enou*h( he had them corrected for t$ent' ,ouis

d+or a son*7 and in the anna,s of ,iterature he $as

)ut u)on a ,e%e, $ith the La Fares( Chau,ieus( &am4

i,tons( Sarra2ins( and Voitures"

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 The marchioness then ,ooGed u)on herse,f as the

mother of a $it( and *a%e a su))er to the $its of

Paris" The 'oun* man+s rain $as soon turned 7 he

acuired the art of s)eaGin* $ithout Gno$in* his o$n

meanin*( and he ecame )erfect in the hait of e4

in* *ood for nothin*" When his father found that he

$as so e,ouent he %er' much re*retted that his son

had not ,earned Latin7 for he $ou,d ha%e ou*ht

him a ,ucrati%e ),ace amon* the *entr' of the ,on*

roe" The mother( $ho had more e,e%ated senti4

ments( undertooG to )rocure a re*iment for her son 7

and( in the meantime( courtshi) $as his occu)ation"

Lo%e is sometimes more e?)ensi%e than a re*iment"

&e $as %er' im)ro%ident( $hi,st his )arents e?4

hausted their nances sti,, more ' e?)ensi%e ,i%in*"

A 'oun* $ido$ of fashion( their nei*hor( $ho

had ut a moderate fortune( had an inc,ination to se4

cure the *reat $ea,th of 1onsieur and 1adame de

,a /eannotiere and a))ro)riatin* it to herse,f ' a

marria*e $ith the 'oun* maruis" She a,,ured him

to %isit her 7 she admitted his addresses 7 she sho$ed

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; /eannot and Co,in"

that she $as not indierent to him 7 she ,ed him on

' de*rees 7 she enchanted and ca)ti%ated him $ith4

out much dicu,t'" Sometimes she ,a%ished )raises

u)on him( sometimes she *a%e him ad%ice" She e4

came the most intimate friend of oth the father

and mother"

An e,der,' ,ad'( $ho $as their nei*hor( )ro)osed

the match" The )arents( da22,ed ' the *,or' of such

an a,,iance( acce)ted the )ro)osa, $ith Ho'" The'

*a%e their on,' son to their intimate friend"

 The 'oun* maruis $as no$ on the )oint of mar4

r'in* a $oman $hom he adored( and ' $hom he

$as e,o%ed 7 the friends of the fami,' con*ratu,ated

them7 the marria*e artic,es $ere Hust *oin* to e

dra$n u)( $hi,st $eddin* c,othes $ere ein* made

for the 'oun* cou),e( and their e)itha,amium com4

)osed"

 The 'oun* maruis $as one da' u)on his Gnees

efore his charmin* mistress $hom ,o%e( esteem( and

friendshi) $ere *oin* to maGe a,, his o$n" In a

tender and s)irited con%ersation the' enHo'ed a fore4

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taste of their comin* ha))iness7 the' concerted

measures to ,ead a ha))' ,ife" When( a,, on a sud4

den( a %a,et de chamre e,on*in* to the o,d mar4

chioness( arri%ed in a *reat fri*ht"

#&ere is sad ne$s(# said he" #Ocers ha%e re4

mo%ed the eects of m' master and mistress 7 the

creditors ha%e sei2ed u)o$ a,, ' %irtue of an e?ecu4

tion7 and I am o,i*ed to maGe the est shift I can

to ha%e m' $a*es )aid"#

 /eannot and Co,in" ;B

#Let+s see(# said the maruis( #$hat is this What

can this ad%enture mean #

#o(# said the $ido$( #*o uicG,'( and )unish

those %i,,ains"#

&e runs( he arri%es at the house7 his father is

a,read' in )rison7 a,, the ser%ants ha%e Qed in dif4

ferent $a's( each carr'in* o $hate%er he cou,d ,a'

his hands u)on" &is mother is a,one( $ithout as4

sistance( $ithout comfort( dro$ned in tears" She

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has nothin* ,eft ut the rememrance of her for4

tune( of her eaut'( her fau,ts( and her e?tra%a*ant

,i%in*"

After the son had $e)t a ,on* time $ith his mother

he at ,en*th said to her .

#Let us not *i%e ourse,%es u) to des)air" This

'oun* $ido$ ,o%es me to e?cess 7 she is more *en4

erous than rich( I can ans$er for her 7 I $i,, *o and

rin* her to 'ou"#

&e returns to his mistress and nds her in com4

)an' $ith a %er' amia,e 'oun* ocer"

#What( is it 'ou( 1" de ,a /eannotiere(# said she 7

#$hat rin*s 'ou here Is it )ro)er to forsaGe 'our

unha))' mother in such a crisis o to that )oor(

unfortunate $oman and te,, her that I sti,, $ish her

$e,," I ha%e occasion for a chamermaid and $i,,

*i%e her the )reference"#

#1' ,ad(# said the ocer( #'ou are $e,, sha)ed"

En,ist in m' com)an'7 'ou ma' de)end on *ood

usa*e"#

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 The maruis( thunderstrucG( and $ith a heart en4

; > /eannot and Co,in"

ra*ed( $ent in uest of his o,d *o%ernor( made him

acuainted $ith his misfortune and asGed his ad%ice"

 The *o%ernor )ro)osed that he shou,d ecome a tu4

tor( ,iGe himse,f"

#A,as# said the maruis( #I Gno$ nothin*7 'ou

ha%e tau*ht me nothin*( and 'ou are the rst cause

of m' misfortunes"# &e soed $hen he s)oGe thus"

#Write romances(# said a $it $ho $as )resent7

#it is an admira,e resource at Paris"#

 The 'oun* man in *reater des)air than e%er ran

to his mother+s confessor" This confessor $as a

 Theatin of *reat re)utation $ho directed the con4

sciences on,' of $omen of the rst ranG" As soon

as he sa$ /eannot he ran u) to him .

#1' od( 1r" 1aruis(# said he( #$here is 'our

coach &o$ is the *ood ,ad' 'our mother #

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 The maruis $as a,most read' to faint" &e met

$ith much the same treatment from a,, 7 and acuired

more Gno$,ed*e of the $or,d in ha,f a da' than he

had )re%ious,' ,earned in a,, the rest of his ,ife"

!ein* uite o%er$he,med $ith des)air( he sa$ an

o,d4fashioned chaise ad%ance $hich resem,ed an

o)en $a*on $ith ,eather curtains 7 it $as fo,,o$ed

' four enormous carts $hich $ere ,oaded" In the

chaise there $as a 'oun* man dressed in the rustic

manner( $hose fresh countenance $as re),ete $ith

s$eetness and *a'et'" &is $ife( a ,itt,e $oman of

a ro$n com),e?ion and an a*reea,e *ure( thou*h

some$hat stout( sat c,ose ' him" As the carria*e

did not mo%e on ,iGe the chaise of a )etit4maitre( the

tra%e,,er had sucient time to contem),ate the mar4

uis( $ho $as motion,ess and immersed in sorro$"

#ood od # cried he( #I thinG that is /eannot"#

0)on hearin* this name the maruis ,ifts u) his e'es(

the carria*e sto)s( and Co,in cries out( # Tis /eannot(

+tis /eannot himse,f"#

 The ,itt,e fat um)Gin *a%e ut one s)rin* from

the chaise and ran to emrace his o,d com)anion"

 /eannot reco,,ected his friend Co,in( $hi,e his e'es

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$ere ,inded $ith tears of shame"

#3ou ha%e aandoned me(# said Co,in7 #ut

thou*h 'ou are a *reat man I $i,, ,o%e 'ou fore%er"#

 /eannot( confused and aected( re,ated to him(

$ith emotion( a *reat )art of his histor'"

Vo," @

; M /eannot and Co,in"

#Come to the inn $here I ,od*e and te,, me the

rest of it(# said Co,in 7 #emrace m' $ife here and

,et us *o and dine to*ether"# The' then $ent on

foot( fo,,o$ed ' their a**a*e"

#What is a,, this train(# said /eannot7 #is it

'ours #

#3es(# ans$ered Co,in( #it a,, e,on*s to me and

to m' $ife" We ha%e Hust come in from the countr'"

I am no$ at the head of a ,ar*e manufactor' of tin

and co))er" I ha%e married the dau*hter of a mer4

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chant $e,, )ro%ided $ith a,, thin*s necessar' for the

*reat as $e,, as the ,itt,e" We $orG a *reat dea, 7

od ,esses us 7 $e ha%e not chan*ed our condition 7

$e are ha))' 7 $e $i,, assist our friend /eannot" !e

no ,on*er a maruis 7 a,, the *randeur in the $or,d is

not to e com)ared to a *ood friend" 3ou sha,, re4

turn $ith me to the countr'" I $i,, teach 'ou the

trade 7 it is not %er' dicu,t 7 I $i,, maGe 'ou m'

)artner( and $e $i,, ,i%e merri,' in the remote cor4

ner $here $e $ere orn"#

 /eannot( uite trans)orted( fe,t emotions of *rief

and Ho'( tenderness and shame 7 and he said $ithin

himse,f. #1' fashiona,e friends ha%e etra'ed

me( and Co,in( $hom I des)ised( is the on,' one $ho

comes to re,ie%e me"# What instruction does not

this narrati%e aord

Co,in+s *oodness of heart caused the seeds of a

%irtuous dis)osition( $hich the $or,d had not uite

stiQed in /eannot( to re%i%e" &e $as sensi,e that he

cou,d not forsaGe his father and mother"

 /eannot and Co,in" ;<

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#We $i,, taGe care of 'our mother(# said Co,in 7

#and as to the *ood man 'our father( $ho is no$ in

 Hai,( his creditors seein* he has nothin* $i,, com4

)romise matters for a triQe" I Gno$ somethin* of

usiness and $i,, taGe the $ho,e aair u)on m'se,f"#

Co,in found means to )rocure the father+s re,ease"

 /eannot returned to the countr' $ith his re,ati%es(

$ho resumed their former $a' of ,ife" &e married a

sister of Co,in( and she ein* of the same tem)er

$ith her rother( made him com),ete,' ha))'"

 /eannot the father( /eannotte the mother( and

 /eannot the son( $ere thus con%inced that ha))iness

is not the resu,t of %anit'"

1ICRO1EAS"

C&APTER I"

A VOBTAE TO T&E PLANET SAT0RN !3 A NATIVE OF

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1icrome*as" @ ;

times *reater than that of this( our tin' a,," Noth4

in* in nature is more sim),e and common" The do4

minions of some so%erei*ns of erman' or Ita,'(

$hich ma' e com)assed in ha,f an hour( $hen com4

)ared $ith the Ottoman( Russian( or Chinese em4

)ires( are no other than faint instances of the )ro4

di*ious dierence that nature has made in the sca,e

of ein*s" The stature of his e?ce,,enc' ein* of

these e?traordinar' dimensions( a,, our artists $i,,

a*ree that the measure around his od' mi*ht

amount to ft' thousand ro'a, feet( a %er' a*reea,e

and Hust )ro)ortion"

+ &is nose ein* eua, in ,en*th to one4third of his

face( and his Ho,,' countenance en*rossin* one4

se%enth )art of his hei*ht( it must e o$ned that the

nose of this same Sirian $as si? thousand three hun4

dred and thirt'4three ro'a, feet( to a hair( $hich $as

to e demonstrated" With re*ard to his understand4

in*( it is one of the est cu,ti%ated I ha%e Gno$n"

&e is )erfect,' $e,, acuainted $ith aundance of

thin*s( some of $hich are of his o$n in%ention 7 for(

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$hen his a*e did not e?ceed t$o hundred and ft'

'ears( he studied accordin* to the custom of the

countr'( at the most ce,erated uni%ersit' of the

$ho,e ),anet( and ' the force of his *enius disco%4

ered u)$ards of ft' )ro)ositions of Euc,id( ha%in*

the ad%anta*e ' more than ei*hteen of !,aise Pas4

ca,( $ho as $e are to,d ' his o$n sister( demon4

strated t$o and thirt' for his amusement and then

@@ 1icrome*as(

,eft o( choosin* rather to e an indierent )hi,os4

o)her than a *reat mathematician"

Aout the four hundred and ftieth 'ear of his a*e(

or ,atter end of his chi,dhood( he dissected a *reat

numer of sma,, insects not more than one hundred

feet in diameter( $hich are not )ercei%a,e ' ordi4

nar' microsco)es( on $hich he com)osed a %er' cu4

rious treatise( $hich in%o,%ed him in some trou,e"

 The mufti of the nation( thou*h %er' o,d and %er'

i*norant( made shift to disco%er in his ooG certain

,emmas that $ere sus)icious( unseem,'( rash( heretic(

and unsound( and )rosecuted him $ith *reat animos4

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it'7 for the suHect of the author+s inuir' $as

$hether( in the $or,d of Sirius( there $as an' dier4

ence et$een the sustantia, forms of a Qea and a

snai,"

1icrome*as defended his )hi,oso)h' $ith such

s)irit as made a,, the fema,e se? his )rose,'tes 7 and

the )rocess ,asted t$o hundred and t$ent' 'ears 7

at the end of $hich time( in conseuence of the

mufti+s interest( the ooG $as condemned ' Hud*es

$ho had ne%er read it( and the author e?)e,,ed from

court for the term of ei*ht hundred 'ears"

Not much aected at his anishment from a court

that teemed $ith nothin* ut turmoi,s and triQes(

he made a %er' humorous son* u)on the mufti( $ho

*a%e himse,f no trou,e aout the matter( and set out

on his tra%e,s from ),anet to ),anet in order as the

sa'in* is to im)ro%e his mind and nish his educa4

tion" Those $ho ne%er tra%e, ut in a )ost4chaise or

1icrome*as" @

er,in( $i,, dout,ess e astonished at the eui)a*es

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used ao%e( for $e that strut u)on this ,itt,e mo,e4

hi,, are at a ,oss to concei%e an'thin* that sur)asses

our o$n customs" !ut our tra%e,,er $as a $onder4

fu, ade)t in the ,a$s of *ra%itation( to*ether $ith

the $ho,e force of attraction and re)u,sion( and

made such seasona,e use of his Gno$,ed*e that

sometimes ' the he,) of a suneam( and sometimes

' the con%enience of a comet( he and his retinue

*,ided from s)here to s)here( as the ird ho)s from

one ou*h to another" &e in a %er' ,itt,e time

)osted throu*h the mi,G' $a'( and I am o,i*ed to

o$n he sa$ not a t$inG,e of those stars su))osed

to adorn that fair em)'rean $hich the i,,ustrious

Dr" Derham ra*s to ha%e oser%ed throu*h his

te,esco)e" Not that I )retend to sa' the doctor $as

mistaGen" od forid !ut 1icrome*as $as u)on

the s)ot( an e?ceedin* *ood oser%er( and I ha%e

no mind to contradict an' man" !e that as it ma'(

after man' $indin*s and turnin*s( he arri%ed at the

),anet Saturn( and( accustomed as he $as to the si*ht

of no%e,ties( he cou,d not for his ,ife re)ress a su)er4

ci,ious and conceited smi,e( $hich often esca)es the

$isest )hi,oso)her( $hen he )ercei%ed the sma,,4

ness of that *,oe and the diminuti%e si2e of its

inhaitants7 for rea,,' Saturn is ut aout nine hun4

dred times ,ar*er than this our earth( and the )eo),e

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of that countr' mere d$arfs( aout a thousand

fathoms hi*h" In short( he at rst derided those

)oor )'*mies( Hust as an Indian dd,er ,au*hs at the

@ 1icrome*as"

music of Lu,,'( at his rst arri%a, in Paris7 ut as

this Sirian $as a )erson of *ood sense( he soon )er4

cei%ed that a thinGin* ein* ma' not e a,to*ether

ridicu,ous( e%en thou*h he is not uite si? thousand

feet hi*h7 and therefore he ecame fami,iar $ith

them( after the' had ceased to $onder at his e?traor4

dinar' a))earance" In )articu,ar( he contracted

an intimate friendshi) $ith the secretar' of the

Academ' of Saturn( a man of *ood understandin*(

$ho( thou*h in truth he had in%ented nothin* of his

o$n( *a%e a %er' *ood account of the in%entions

of others( and enHo'ed in )eace the re)utation of a

,itt,e )oet and *reat ca,cu,ator" And here( for the

edication of the reader( I $i,, re)eat a %er' sin*u4

,ar con%ersation that one da' )assed et$een 1r"

Secretar' and 1icrome*as"

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nettes # said our tra%e,,er"

#Then it is ,iGe a *a,,er' of )ictures( the stroGes

of $hich #

#Not at a,,(# ans$ered 1icrome*as( #I te,, 'ou(

once for a,,( nature is ,iGe nature( and com)arisons

are odious"#

#We,,( to ),ease 'ou(# said the secretar'

#I $on+t e ),eased(# re),ied the Sirian( #I $ant

to e instructed7 e*in( therefore( $ithout further

)ream,e( and te,, me ho$ man' senses the )eo),e

of this $or,d enHo'"#

#We ha%e se%ent' and t$o(# said the academi4

cian( #ut $e are dai,' com),ainin* of the sma,,

numer( as our ima*ination transcends our $ants(

for( $ith the se%ent'4t$o senses( our %e moons and

rin*( $e nd ourse,%es %er' much restricted7 and

not$ithstandin* our curiosit'( and the no sma,,

numer of those )assions that resu,t from these fe$

senses( $e ha%e sti,, time enou*h to e tired of

id,eness"#

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#I sincere,' e,ie%e $hat 'ou sa'(# cried 1icro4

me*as( for( thou*h $e Sirians ha%e near a thousand

dierent senses( there sti,, remains a certain %a*ue

desire( an unaccounta,e inuietude incessant,' ad4

monishin* us of our o$n unim)ortance( and *i%in*

us to understand that there are other ein*s $ho

are much our su)eriors in )oint of )erfection" I

;> 1icrome*as"

ha%e tra%e,,ed a ,itt,e( and seen morta,s oth ao%e

and e,o$ m'se,f in the sca,e of ein*( ut I ha%e

met $ith none $ho had not more desire than neces4

sit'( and more $ant than *ratication" Perha)s I

sha,, one da' arri%e in some countr' $here nau*ht

is $antin*( ut hitherto I ha%e had no certain in4

formation of such a ha))' ,and"#

 The Saturnian and his *uest e?hausted them4

se,%es in conHectures u)on this suHect( and after

aundance of ar*umentation eua,,' in*enious and

uncertain( $ere fain to return to matter of fact"

#To $hat a*e do 'ou common,' ,i%e# said the

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Sirian"

#LacGada' a mere triQe(# re),ied the ,itt,e

*ent,eman"

#It is the %er' same case $ith us(# resumed the

other( the shortness of ,ife is our dai,' com),aint(

so that this must e a uni%ersa, ,a$ in nature"#

#A,as# cried the Saturnian( #fe$( %er' fe$ on

this *,oe out,i%e %e hundred *reat re%o,utions of

the sun these( accordin* to our $a' of recGonin*(

amount to aout fteen thousand 'ears" So( 'ou

see( $e in a manner e*in to die the %er' moment

$e are orn 7 our e?istence is no more than a )oint(

our duration an instant( and our *,oe an atom"

Scarce do $e e*in to ,earn a ,itt,e( $hen death in4

ter%enes efore $e can )rot ' e?)erience" For m'

o$n )art( I am deterred from ,a'in* schemes $hen I

consider m'se,f as a sin*,e dro) in the midst of an

immense ocean" I am )articu,ar,' ashamed( in

1icrome*as" @

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'our )resence( of the ridicu,ous *ure I maGe

amon* m' fe,,o$4creatures"#

 To this dec,aration 1icrome*as re),ied .

#If 'ou $ere not a )hi,oso)her( I shou,d e

afraid of mortif'in* 'our )ride ' te,,in* 'ou that

the term of our ,i%es is se%en hundred times ,on*er

than the ,en*th of 'our e?istence 7 ut 'ou are %er'

sensi,e that $hen the te?ture of the od' is re4

so,%ed( in order to reanimate nature in another form(

$hich is the conseuence of $hat $e ca,, death

$hen that moment of chan*e arri%es( there is not

the ,east dierence et$i?t ha%in* ,i%ed a $ho,e

eternit' or a sin*,e da'" I ha%e een in some coun4

tries $here the )eo),e ,i%e a thousand times ,on*er

than $ith us( and 'et the' murmured at the short4

ness of their time" !ut one $i,, nd e%er'$here

some fe$ )ersons of *ood sense( $ho Gno$ ho$ to

maGe the est of their )ortion and thanG the

author of nature for his ount'" There is a )ro4

fusion of %ariet' scattered throu*h the uni%erse(

and 'et there is an admira,e %ein of uniformit'

that runs throu*h the $ho,e 7 for e?am),e( a,, thinG4

in* ein*s are dierent amon* themse,%es( thou*h

at ottom the' resem,e one another in the )o$ers

and )assions of the sou," 1atter( thou*h intermin4

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a,e( hath dierent )ro)erties in e%er' s)here"

&o$ man' )rinci)a, attriutes do 'ou recGon in

the matter of this $or,d#

#If 'ou mean those )ro)erties(# said the Satur4

nian( #$ithout $hich $e e,ie%e this our *,oe

@M 1icrome*as"

cou,d not susist( $e recGon in a,, three hundred(

such as e?tent( im)enetrai,it'( motion( *ra%itation(

di%isii,it'( et caetera"#

#That sma,, numer(# re),ied the tra%e,,er(

#)roa,' ans$ers the %ie$s of the Creator on this

'our narro$ s)here" I adore &is $isdom in a,,

&is $orGs" I see innite %ariet'( ut e%er'$here

)ro)ortion" 3our *,oe is sma,,( so are the inhai4

tants" 3ou ha%e fe$ sensations( ecause 'our

matter is endued $ith fe$ )ro)erties" These are

the $orGs of unerrin* )ro%idence" Of $hat co,or

does 'our sun a))ear $hen accurate,' e?amined#

#Of a 'e,,o$ish $hite(# ans$ered the Saturnian(

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#and in se)aratin* one of his ra's $e nd it con4

tains se%en co,ors"#

#Our sun(# said the Sirian( #is of a reddish hue(

and $e ha%e no ,ess than thirt'4nine ori*ina, co,ors"

Amon* a,, the suns I ha%e seen there is no sort of

resem,ance( and in this s)here of 'ours there is

not one face ,iGe another"#

After di%ers uestions of this nature he asGed

ho$ man' sustances( essentia,,' dierent( the'

counted in the $or,d of Saturn( and understood

that the' numered ut thirt'( such as od( s)ace(

matter( ein*s endo$ed $ith sense and e?tension(

ein*s that ha%e e?tension( sense( and reQection7

thinGin* ein*s $ho ha%e no e?tension7 those that

are )enetra,e 7 those that are im)enetra,e( and a,so

a,, others" !ut this Saturnian )hi,oso)her $as )ro4

di*ious,' astonished $hen the Sirian to,d him the'

1icrome*as" @<

had no ,ess than three hundred( and that he himse,f

had disco%ered three thousand more in the course

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of his tra%e,s" In short( after ha%in* communi4

cated to each other $hat the' Gne$( and e%en $hat

the' did not Gno$( and ar*ued durin* a com),ete

re%o,ution of the sun( the' reso,%ed to set out to4

*ether on a sma,, )hi,oso)hica, tour"

C&APTER III"

 T&E VO3AE OF T&ESE IN&A!ITANTS OF OT&ER

WORLDS"

Our t$o )hi,oso)hers $ere Hust read' to emarG

for the atmos)here of Saturn( $ith a ,ar*e )ro%ision

of mathematica, instruments( $hen the Saturnian+s

mistress( ha%in* *ot an inG,in* of their desi*n(

came a,, in tears to maGe her )rotests" She $as a

handsome runette( thou*h not ao%e si? hundred

and threescore fathoms hi*h 7 ut her a*reea,e at4

tractions made amends for the sma,,ness of her

stature"

#Ah crue, man(# cried she( #after a courtshi) of

fteen hundred 'ears( $hen at ,en*th I surrendered

and ecame 'our $ife( and scarce ha%e )assed t$o

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hundred more in th' emraces( to ,ea%e me thus(

efore the hone'moon is o%er( and *o a4ram,in*

$ith a *iant of another $or,d o( *o( thou art a

mere %irtuoso( de%oid of tenderness and ,o%e If

thou $ert a true Saturnian( thou $ou,dst e faithfu,

= 1icrome*as"

and in%aria,e" Ah $hither art thou *oin* $hat

is th' desi*n Our %e moons are not so incon4

stant( nor our rin* so chan*ea,e as thee !ut taGe

this a,on* $ith thee( henceforth I ne+er sha,, ,o%e

another man"#

 The ,itt,e *ent,eman emraced and $e)t o%er

her( not$ithstandin* his )hi,oso)h'7 and the ,ad'(

after ha%in* s$ooned $ith *reat decenc'( $ent to

conso,e herse,f $ith more a*reea,e com)an'"

1ean$hi,e our t$o %irtuosi set out( and at one

 Hum) ,ea)ed u)on the rin*( $hich the' found )rett'

Qat( accordin* to the in*enious *uess of an i,,us4

trious inhaitant of this our ,itt,e earth" From

thence the' easi,' s,i))ed from moon to moon 7 and

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a comet chancin* to )ass( the' s)ran* u)on it $ith

a,, their ser%ants and a))aratus" Thus carried

aout one hundred and ft' mi,,ions of ,ea*ues(

the' met $ith the sate,,ites of /u)iter( and arri%ed

u)on the od' of the ),anet itse,f( $here the' con4

tinued a $ho,e 'ear7 durin* $hich the' ,earned

some %er' curious secrets( $hich $ou,d actua,,' e

sent to the )ress( $ere it not for fear of the *ent,e4

men inuisitors( $ho ha%e found amon* them some

coro,,aries %er' hard of di*estion" Ne%erthe,ess( I

ha%e read the manuscri)t in the ,irar' of the i,,us4

trious archisho) of ( $ho( $ith that *enerosit'

and *oodness $hich shou,d e%er e commended(

has *ranted me )ermission to )eruse his ooGs 7

$herefore I )romise he sha,, ha%e a ,on* artic,e in

the ne?t edition of 1oreri( and I sha,, not for*et

1icrome*as" ;

the 'oun* *ent,emen( his sons( $ho *i%e us such

),easin* ho)es of seein* )er)etuated the race of

their i,,ustrious father" !ut to return to our tra%e,4

,ers" When the' tooG ,ea%e of /u)iter( the' tra%4

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ersed a s)ace of aout one hundred mi,,ions of

,ea*ues( and coastin* a,on* the ),anet 1ars( $hich

is $e,, Gno$n to e %e times sma,,er than our ,itt,e

earth( the' descried t$o moons suser%ient to that

or $hich ha%e esca)ed the oser%ation of a,,

our astronomers" I Gno$ Father Caste, $i,, $rite(

and that ),easant,' enou*h( a*ainst the e?istence

of these t$o moons7 ut I entire,' refer m'se,f to

those $ho reason ' ana,o*'" Those $orth' )hi4

,oso)hers are %er' sensi,e that 1ars( $hich is at

such a distance from the sun( must e in a %er' un4

comforta,e situation( $ithout the enet of a

cou),e of moons"- !e that as it ma'( our *ent,emen

found the ),anet so sma,, that the' $ere afraid the'

shou,d not nd room to taGe a ,itt,e re)ose( so that

the' )ursued their Hourne' ,iGe t$o tra%e,,ers $ho

des)ise the )a,tr' accommodation of a %i,,a*e and

)ush for$ard to the ne?t marGet to$n" !ut the

Sirian and his com)anion soon re)ented of their

de,icac'( for the' Hourne'ed a ,on* time $ithout

ndin* a restin*4),ace( ti,, at ,en*th the' discerned

a sma,, s)ecG( $hich $as the Earth" Comin* from

 /u)iter( the' cou,d not ut e mo%ed $ith com)as4

sion at the si*ht of this misera,e s)ot( u)on $hich(

-This fanc' of Vo,taire for it $as not a conHecture

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comin* throu*h oth hemis)heres( the' did a,, that

,a' in their )o$er to disco%er $hether or not the

*,oe $as inhaited" The' stoo)ed( the' ,a' do$n(

the' *ro)ed in e%er' corner7 ut their e'es and

hands $ere not at a,, )ro)ortioned to the sma,,

ein*s that cra$, u)on this earth( and( therefore(

the' cou,d not nd the sma,,est reason to sus)ect

that $e and our fe,,o$4citi2ens of this *,oe had the

honor to e?ist"

 The d$arf( $ho sometimes Hud*ed too hasti,'(

conc,uded at once that there $ere no ,i%in* creatures

u)on earth( and his chief reason $as that he had

seen nood'" !ut 1icrome*as( in a )o,ite manner(

made him sensi,e of the unHust conc,usion.

#For(# said he( #$ith 'our diminuti%e e'es 'ou

cannot see certain stars of the ftieth ma*nitude(

$hich I easi,' )ercei%e7 and #do 'ou taGe it for

*ranted that no such stars e?ist#

#!ut I ha%e *ro)ed $ith *reat care(# re),ied the

d$arf"

#Then 'our sense of fee,in* must e ad(# said

the other"

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#!ut this *,oe(# said the d$arf( #is i,, contri%ed(

Vo," 4

1icrome*as"

and so irre*u,ar in its form as to e uite ridicu,ous"

 The $ho,e to*ether ,ooGs ,iGe a chaos" Do ut

oser%e these ,itt,e ri%u,ets7 not one of them runs

in a strai*ht ,ine 7 and these )onds $hich are neither

round( suare( nor o%a,( nor indeed of an' re*u,ar

*ure 7 to*ether $ith these ,itt,e shar) )e,es

meanin* the mountains that rou*hen the $ho,e

surface of the *,oe( and ha%e torn a,, the sGin from

m' feet" !esides( )ra' taGe notice of the sha)e of

the $ho,e( ho$ it Qattens at the )o,es( and turns

round the sun in an a$G$ard o,iue manner( so

that the )o,ar circ,es cannot )ossi,' e cu,ti%ated"

 Tru,'( $hat maGes me e,ie%e there is no inhaitant

on this s)here is a fu,, )ersuasion that no sensi,e

ein* $ou,d ,i%e in such a disa*reea,e ),ace"#

#What then # said 1icrome*as 7 #)erha)s the e4

in*s that inhait it come not under that denomina4

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tion7 ut( to a,, a))earance( it $as not made for

nothin*" E%er'thin* here seems to 'ou irre*u,ar(

ecause 'ou fetch a,, 'our com)arisons from /u)iter

or Saturn" Perha)s this is the %er' reason of the

seemin* confusion $hich 'ou condemn 7 ha%e I not

to,d 'ou that in the course of m' tra%e,s I ha%e a,4

$a's met $ith %ariet'#

 The Saturnian re),ied to a,, these ar*uments( and

)erha)s the dis)ute $ou,d ha%e Gno$n no end( if

1icrome*as( in the heat of the contest( had not

,ucGi,' roGen the strin* of his diamond necG,ace(

so that the He$e,s fe,, to the *round7 the' consisted

of )rett' sma,, uneua, stones( the ,ar*est of $hich

1icrome*as" B

$ei*hed four hundred )ounds( and the sma,,est

ft'" The d$arf( in he,)in* to )icG them u)( )er4

cei%ed( as the' a))roached his e'e( that e%er' sin*,e

diamond $as cut in such a manner as to ans$er the

)ur)ose of an e?ce,,ent microsco)e" &e therefore

tooG u) a sma,, one( aout one hundred and si?t' feet

in diameter( and a)),ied it to his e'e( $hi,e 1icro4

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me*as chose another of t$o thousand %e hundred

feet" Thou*h the' $ere of e?ce,,ent )o$ers( the

oser%ers cou,d )ercei%e nothin* ' their assist4

ance( so the' $ere a,tered and adHusted" At ,en*th(

the inhaitant of Saturn discerned somethin* a,4

most im)erce)ti,e mo%in* et$een t$o $a%es in

the !a,tic" This $as no other than a $ha,e( $hich(

in a de?trous manner( he cau*ht $ith his ,itt,e

n*er( and( ),acin* it on the nai, of his thum(

sho$ed it to the Sirian( $ho ,au*hed hearti,' at the

e?cessi%e sma,,ness )ecu,iar to the inhaitants of

this our *,oe" The Saturnian( ' this time con4

%inced that our $or,d $as inhaited( e*an to

ima*ine $e had no other anima,s than $ha,es7 and

ein* a mi*ht' deater( he forth$ith set aout in4

%esti*atin* the ori*in and motion of this sma,, atom(

curious to Gno$ $hether or not it $as furnished

$ith ideas( Hud*ment( and free $i,," 1icrome*as

$as %er' much )er),e?ed u)on this suHect" &e

e?amined the anima, $ith the most )atient atten4

tion( and the resu,t of his inuir' $as that he cou,d

see no reason to e,ie%e a sou, $as ,od*ed in such

a od'" The t$o tra%e,,ers $ere actua,,' inc,ined

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> 1icrome*as"

to thinG there $as no such thin* as mind in this

our haitation( $hen( ' the he,) of their micro4

sco)e( the' )ercei%ed somethin* as ,ar*e as a $ha,e

Qoatin* u)on the surface of the sea" It is $e,,

Gno$n that at this )eriod a QocG of )hi,oso)hers

$ere u)on their return from the )o,ar circ,e( $here

the' had een maGin* oser%ations( for $hich no4

od' has hitherto een the $iser" The *a2ettes re4

cord that their %esse, ran ashore on the coast of

!othnia and that the' $ith *reat dicu,t' sa%ed

their ,i%es7 ut in this $or,d one can ne%er di%e to

the ottom of thin*s" For m' o$n )art( I $i,, in4

*enious,' recount the transaction Hust as it ha)4

)ened( $ithout an' addition of m' o$n7 and this

is no sma,, eort in a modern historian"

C&APTER V"

 T&E TRAVELLERS CAPT0RE A VESSEL"

1icrome*as stretched out his hand *ent,' to4

$ard the ),ace $here the oHect a))eared( and ad4

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%anced t$o n*ers( $hich he instant,' )u,,ed acG(

for fear of ein* disa))ointed 7 then o)enin* soft,'

and shuttin* them a,, at once( he %er' de?trous,'

sei2ed the shi) that contained those *ent,emen( and

),aced it on his nai,( a%oidin* too much )ressure(

$hich mi*ht ha%e crushed the $ho,e in )ieces"

#This(# said the Saturnian d$arf( #is a creature

%er' dierent from the former"#

1icrome*as"

0)on $hich the Sirian( ),acin* the su))osed

anima, in the ho,,o$ of his hand( the )assen*ers

and cre$( $ho e,ie%ed themse,%es thro$n ' a

hurricane u)on some rocG( e*an to )ut themse,%es

in motion" The sai,ors ha%in* hoisted out some

casGs of $ine( Hum)ed after them into the hand of

1icrome*as 7 the mathematicians ha%in* secured

their uadrants( sectors( and La),and ser%ants( $ent

o%eroard at a dierent ),ace( and made such a ust,e

in their descent that the Sirian at ,en*th fe,t his

n*ers ticG,ed ' somethin* that seemed to mo%e"

An iron ar chanced to )enetrate aout a foot dee)

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into his foren*er 7 and from this )ricG he conc,uded

that somethin* had issued from the ,itt,e anima, he

he,d in his hand 7 ut at rst he sus)ected nothin*

more( for the microsco)e( that scarce rendered a

$ha,e and a shi) %isi,e( had no eect u)on an oHect

so im)erce)ti,e as man"

I do not intend to shocG the %anit' of an' )er4

son $hate%er 7 ut here I am o,i*ed to reuest

)eo),e of im)ortance to consider that( su))osin*

the stature of a man to e aout %e feet( $e morta,s

maGe Hust such a *ure u)on the earth as an anima,

the si?t' thousandth )art of a foot in hei*ht $ou,d

e?hiit u)on a o$, ten feet in circumference"

When 'ou reQect u)on a ein* $ho cou,d ho,d this

$ho,e earth in the )a,m of his hand( and is )ro%ided

$ith or*ans )ro)ortioned to those $e )ossess( 'ou

$i,, easi,' concei%e that there must e a *reat %ar4

iet' of created sustances and )ra'( $hat must

M 1icrome*as"

such ein*s thinG of those att,es ' $hich a con4

ueror *ains a sma,, %i,,a*e( to ,ose it a*ain in the

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seue,

I do not at a,, dout ut if some ca)tain of

*renadiers shou,d chance to read this $orG( he

$ou,d add t$o ,ar*e feet at ,east to the ca)s of his

com)an'7 ut I assure him his ,aor $i,, e in

%ain( for( do $hat he $i,,( he and his so,diers $i,,

ne%er e other than innite,' diminuti%e and in4

considera,e"

What $onderfu, address must ha%e een inher4

ent in our Sirian )hi,oso)her that ena,ed him to

)ercei%e these atoms of $hich $e ha%e een s)eaG4

in*" When Leu$enhoeG and &artsoeGer oser%ed

the rst rudiments of $hich $e are formed(

the' did not maGe such an astonishin* disco%er'"

What ),easure( therefore( $as the )ortion of 1icro4

me*as in oser%in* the motion of those ,itt,e ma4

chines( in e?aminin* a,, their )ranGs( and fo,,o$in*

them in a,, their o)erations With $hat Ho' did he

)ut his microsco)e into his com)anion+s hand 7 and

$ith $hat trans)ort did the' oth at once e?c,aim .

#I see them distinct,' don+t 'ou see them car4

r'in* urdens( ,'in* do$n and risin* u) a*ain #

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So sa'in*( their hands shooG $ith ea*erness to

see and a))rehension to ,ose such uncommon o4

 Hects" The Saturnian( maGin* a sudden transition

from the most cautious distrust to the most e?ces4

si%e credu,it'( ima*ined he sa$ them en*a*ed in

their de%otions( and cried a,oud in astonishment"

1icrome*as" <

Ne%erthe,ess( he $as decei%ed ' a))earances7

a case too common( $hether $e do or do not maGe

use of microsco)es"

C&APTER VI"

W&AT &APPENED IN T&EIR INTERCO0RSE WIT& 1EN"

1icrome*as ein* a much etter oser%er than

the d$arf( )ercei%ed distinct,' that those atoms

s)oGe7 and made the remarG to his com)anion(

$ho $as so much ashamed of ein* mistaGen in his

rst su**estion that he $ou,d not e,ie%e such a

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)un' s)ecies cou,d )ossi,' communicate their

ideas( for( thou*h he had the *ift of ton*ues( as

$e,, as his com)anion( he cou,d not hear those

)artic,es s)eaG( and( therefore( su))osed the' had

no ,an*ua*e"

#!esides( ho$ shou,d such im)erce)ti,e ein*s

ha%e the or*ans of s)eech and $hat in the name

of /o%e can the' sa' to one another In order to

s)eaG( the' must ha%e somethin* ,iGe thou*ht( and

if the' thinG( the' must sure,' ha%e somethin*

eui%a,ent to a sou," No$( to attriute an'thin*

,iGe a sou, to such an insect s)ecies a))ears a mere

asurdit'"#

#!ut Hust no$(# re),ied the Sirian( #'ou e,ie%ed

the' $ere en*a*ed in de%otiona, e?ercises7 and do

'ou thinG this cou,d e done $ithout thinGin*(

$ithout usin* some sort of ,an*ua*e( or at ,east

= 1icrome*as"

some $a' of maGin* themse,%es understood Or

do 'ou su))ose it is more dicu,t to ad%ance an

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ar*ument than to en*a*e in )h'sica, e?ercise For

m' o$n )art( I ,ooG u)on a,, facu,ties as a,iGe

m'sterious"#

#I $i,, no ,on*er %enture to e,ie%e or den'(#

ans$ered the d$arf( #in short( I ha%e no o)inion at

a,," Let us endea%or to e?amine these insects( and

$e $i,, reason u)on them after$ard"#

#With a,, m' heart(# said 1icrome*as( $ho(

taGin* out a )air of scissors $hich he Ge)t for

)arin* his nai,s( cut o a )arin* from his thum

nai,( of $hich he immediate,' formed a ,ar*e Gind

of s)eaGin* trum)et( ,iGe a %ast tunne,( and c,a))ed

the )i)e to his ear7 as the circumference of this

machine inc,uded the shi) and a,, the cre$( the most

fee,e %oice $as con%e'ed a,on* the circu,ar res

of the nai,7 so that( thanGs to his industr'( the

)hi,oso)her cou,d distinct,' hear the u22in* of our

insects that $ere e,o$" In a fe$ hours he dis4

tin*uished articu,ate sounds( and at ,ast ),ain,'

understood the French ,an*ua*e" The d$arf heard

the same( thou*h $ith more dicu,t'"

 The astonishment of our tra%e,,ers increased

e%er' instant" The' heard a nest of mites ta,G in a

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%er' sensi,e strain . and that ,usu s nature seemed

to them ine?),ica,e" 3ou need not dout ut the

Sirian and his d$arf *,o$ed $ith im)atience to

enter into con%ersation $ith such atoms" 1icro4

me*as ein* afraid that his %oice( ,iGe thunder(

1icrome*as" ;

$ou,d deafen and confound the mites( $ithout e4

in* understood ' them( sa$ the necessit' of dimin4

ishin* the sound7 each( therefore( )ut into his

mouth a sort of sma,, tooth)icG( the s,ender end of

$hich reached to the %esse," The Sirian settin* the

d$arf u)on his Gnees( and the shi) and cre$

u)on his nai,( he,d do$n his head and s)oGe soft,'"

In ne( ha%in* taGen these and a *reat man' more

)recautions( he addressed himse,f to them in these

$ords .

#O 'e in%isi,e insects( $hom the hand of the

Creator hath dei*ned to )roduce in the a'ss of

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innite ,itt,eness I *i%e )raise to &is *oodness( in

that &e hath een ),eased to disc,ose unto me those

secrets that seemed to e im)enetra,e"#

If e%er there $as such a thin* as astonishment(

it sei2ed u)on the )eo),e $ho heard this address(

and $ho cou,d not concei%e from $hence it )ro4

ceeded" The cha),ain of the shi) re)eated e?or4

cisms( the sai,ors s$ore( and the )hi,oso)hers

formed a s'stem 7 ut( not$ithstandin* a,, their s's4

tems( the' cou,d not di%ine $ho the )erson $as that

s)oGe to them" Then the d$arf of Saturn( $hose

%oice $as softer than that of 1icrome*as( *a%e

them rieQ' to understand $hat s)ecies of ein*s

the' had to do $ith" &e re,ated the )articu,ars of

their %o'a*e from Saturn( made them acuainted

$ith the ranG and ua,it' of 1onsieur 1icrome*as(

and( after ha%in* )itied their sma,,ness( asGed if

the' had a,$a's een in that misera,e state so near

@ 1icrome*as"

aGin to annihi,ation7 and $hat their usiness $as

u)on that *,oe $hich seemed to e the )ro)ert' of

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$ha,es" &e a,so desired to Gno$ if the' $ere

ha))' in their situation if the' $ere ins)ired $ith

sou,s and )ut a hundred uestions of the ,iGe

nature"

A certain mathematician on oard( ra%er than

the rest( and shocGed to hear his sou, ca,,ed in

uestion( ),anted his uadrant( and ha%in* taGen

t$o oser%ations of this inter,ocutor( said. #3ou

e,ie%e then( 1r" $hat+s 'our name( that ecause

'ou measure from head to foot a thousand

fathoms #

#A thousand fathoms# cried the d$arf( #*ood

hea%ens &o$ shou,d he Gno$ the hei*ht of m'

stature A thousand fathoms 1' %er' dimen4

sions to a hair" What( measured ' a mite This

atom( forsooth( is a *eometrician( and Gno$s

e?act,' ho$ ta,, I am7 $hi,e I( $ho can scarce )er4

cei%e him throu*h a microsco)e( am utter,' i*no4

rant of his e?tent#

#3es( I ha%e taGen 'our measure(# ans$ered

the )hi,oso)her( #and I $i,, no$ do the same '

'our ta,, com)anion"#

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 The )ro)osa, $as emraced7 his e?ce,,enc' re4

c,ined u)on his side( for( had he stood u)ri*ht( his

head $ou,d ha%e reached too far ao%e the c,ouds"

Our mathematicians ),anted a ta,, tree near him(

and then( ' a series of trian*,es Hoined to*ether(

the' disco%ered that the oHect of their oser%ation

1icrome*as"

$as a stra))in* 'outh( e?act,' one hundred and

t$ent' thousand ro'a, feet in ,en*th" In conse4

uence of this ca,cu,ation( 1icrome*as uttered

these $ords.

#I am no$ more than e%er con%inced that $e

ou*ht to Hud*e of nothin* ' its e?terna, ma*ni4

tude" O od $ho hast esto$ed understandin*

u)on such seemin*,' contem)ti,e sustances(

 Thou canst $ith eua, ease )roduce that $hich is

innite,' sma,,( as that $hich is incredi,' *reat7

and if it e )ossi,e that amon* th' $orGs there

are ein*s sti,, more diminuti%e than these( the'

ma'( ne%erthe,ess( e endued $ith understandin*

su)erior to the inte,,i*ence of those stu)endous

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unincumered $ith matter( and( to a,, a))earance(

,itt,e e,se than sou,( 'ou must s)end 'our ,i%es in

the de,i*hts of ),easure and reQection( $hich are

the true enHo'ments of a )erfect s)irit" True ha)4

)iness I ha%e no$here found7 ut certain,' here it

d$e,,s"#

At this haran*ue a,, the )hi,oso)hers shooG their

heads( and one amon* them( more candid than his

rethren( franG,' o$ned that( e?ce)tin* a %er'

sma,, numer of inhaitants $ho $ere %er' ,itt,e

esteemed ' their fe,,o$s( a,, the rest $ere a )arce,

of Gna%es( foo,s( and misera,e $retches"

#We ha%e matter enou*h(# said he( #to do aun4

dance of mischief( if mischief comes from matter7

and too much understandin*( if e%i, Qo$s from

understandin*" 3ou must Gno$( for e?am),e( that

at this %er' moment( $hi,e I am s)eaGin*( there

are one hundred thousand anima,s of our o$n

s)ecies( co%ered $ith hats( s,a'in* an eua, num4

er of their fe,,o$4creatures $ho $ear turans7

at ,east the' are either s,a'in* or ein* s,ain7 and

this hath usua,,' een the case a,, o%er the earth

from time immemoria,"#

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 The Sirian( shudderin* at this information(

e**ed to Gno$ the cause of those horri,e uarre,s

amon* such a )un' race( and $as *i%en to under4

1icrome*as" B

stand that the suHect of the dis)ute $as a )itifu,

mo,e4hi,, ca,,ed Pa,estine( no ,ar*er than his hee,"

Not that an' one of those mi,,ions $ho cut one

another+s throats )retends to ha%e the ,east c,aim

to the sma,,est )artic,e of that c,od" The uestion

is( $hether it sha,, e,on* to a certain )erson $ho

is Gno$n ' the name of Su,tan( or to another

$hom for $hat reason I Gno$ not the' di*nif'

$ith the a))e,,ation of Po)e" Neither the one nor

the other has seen or e%er $i,, see the )itifu, corner

in uestion7 and )roa,' none of these $retches(

$ho so mad,' destro' each other( e%er ehe,d the

ru,er on $hose account the' are so merci,ess,' sacri4

ced

#Ah( miscreants# cried the indi*nant Sirian(

#such e?cess of des)erate ra*e is e'ond conce)4

tion" I ha%e a *ood mind to taGe t$o or three

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ste)s( and tram),e the $ho,e nest of such ridicu,ous

assassins under m' feet"#

#Don+t *i%e 'ourse,f the trou,e(# re),ied the

)hi,oso)her 7 #the' are industrious enou*h in )rocur4

in* their o$n destruction" At the end of ten 'ears

the hundredth )art of those $retches $i,, not sur4

%i%e7 for 'ou must Gno$ that( thou*h the' shou,d

not dra$ a s$ord in the cause the' ha%e es)oused(

famine( fati*ue( and intem)erance $ou,d s$ee)

a,most a,, of them from the face of the earth" !e4

sides( the )unishment shou,d not e inQicted u)on

them( ut u)on those sedentar' and s,othfu, ar4

arians( $ho( from their )a,aces( *i%e orders for

> 1icrome*as"

murderin* a mi,,ion of men and then so,emn,'

thanG od for their success"#

Our tra%e,,er $as mo%ed $ith com)assion for

the entire human race( in $hich he disco%ered such

astonishin* contrasts" #Since 'ou are of the sma,,

numer of the $ise(# said he( #and in a,, ,iGe,ihood

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do not en*a*e 'ourse,%es in the trade of murder

for hire( e so *ood as to te,, me 'our occu)ation"#

#We anatomi2e Qies(# re),ied the )hi,oso)her(

#$e measure ,ines( $e maGe ca,cu,ations( $e a*ree

u)on t$o or three )oints $hich $e understand( and

dis)ute u)on t$o or three thousand that are e'ond

our com)rehension"#

#&o$ far(# said the Sirian( #do 'ou recGon the

distance et$een the *reat star of the conste,,ation

emini and that ca,,ed Canicu,a#

 To this uestion a,, of them ans$ered $ith one

%oice. #Thirt'4t$o de*rees and a ha,f"#

#And $hat is the distance from thence to the

moon#

#Si?t' semi4diameters of the earth"#

&e then thou*ht to )u22,e them ' asGin* the

$ei*ht of the air 7 ut the' ans$ered distinct,' that

common air is aout nine hundred times s)ecica,,'

,i*hter than an eua, co,umn of the ,i*htest $ater(

and nineteen hundred times ,i*hter than current

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,ea*ues( #that th' sou, shou,d e ,earned efore

irth( in order to e so i*norant $hen thou hast *ot

a eard u)on th' chin" !ut $hat dost thou under4

stand ' s)irit#

#I ha%e no idea of it(# said the )hi,oso)her 7 #in4

deed( it is su))osed to e immateria,"#

#At ,east( thou Gno$est $hat matter is# re4

sumed the Sirian"

#Perfect,' $e,,(# ans$ered the other" #For

e?am),e. that stone is *ra'( is of a certain *ure(

has three dimensions( s)ecic $ei*ht( and di%is4

ii,it'"#

#I $ant to Gno$(# said the *iant( #$hat that

oHect is( $hich( accordin* to th' oser%ation( hath

a *ra' co,or( $ei*ht and di%isii,it'" Thou seest

a fe$ ua,ities( ut dost thou Gno$ the nature of

the thin* itse,f#

#Not I( tru,'(# ans$ered the Cartesian"

0)on $hich the Sirian admitted that he a,so $as

i*norant in re*ard to this suHect" Then addressin*

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uncontro%erti,e"#

A ,itt,e )artisan of LocGe( $ho chanced to e

)resent( ein* asGed his o)inion on the same su4

 Hect( said. #I do not Gno$ ' $hat )o$er I thinG7

ut $e,, I Gno$ that I shou,d ne%er ha%e thou*ht

$ithout the assistance of m' senses" That there

are immateria, and inte,,i*ent sustances I do not

at a,, dout7 ut that it is im)ossi,e for od to

communicate the facu,t' of thinGin* to matter( I

dout %er' much" I re%ere the Eterna, Po$er( to

$hich it $ou,d i,, ecome me to )rescrie ounds"

I arm nothin*( and am contented to e,ie%e that

man' more thin*s are )ossi,e than are usua,,'

thou*ht so"#

 The Sirian smi,ed at this dec,aration( and did not

,ooG u)on the author as the ,east sa*acious of the

com)an'7 and as for the d$arf of Saturn( he $ou,d

ha%e emraced this adherent of LocGe( had it not

een for the e?treme dis)ro)ortion in their res)ec4

ti%e si2es" !ut un,ucGi,' there $as another anima,4

cu,e in a suare ca)( $ho( taGin* the $ord from a,,

his )hi,oso)hica, rethren( armed that he Gne$ the

Vo," 4

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B= 1icrome*as"

$ho,e secret( $hich $as contained in the arid*4

ment of St" Thomas" &e sur%e'ed the t$o ce,estia,

stran*ers from to) to toe( and maintained to their

faces that their )ersons( their fashions( their suns(

and their stars $ere created so,e,' for the use of

man" At this $i,d assertion our t$o tra%e,,ers $ere

sei2ed $ith a t of that uncontro,,a,e ,au*hter(

$hich accordin* to &omer is the )ortion of the

immorta, *ods 7 their e,,ies ui%ered( their shou,4

ders rose and fe,,( and( durin* these con%u,sions( the

%esse, fe,, from the Sirian+s nai, into the Saturnian+s

)ocGet( $here these $orth' )eo),e searched for it a

,on* time $ith *reat di,i*ence" At ,en*th( ha%in*

found the shi) and set e%er'thin* to ri*hts a*ain(

the Sirian resumed the discourse $ith those diminu4

ti%e mites( and )romised to com)ose for them a

choice ooG of )hi,oso)h' $hich $ou,d demon4

strate the %er' essence of thin*s" Accordin*,'( e4

fore his de)arture( he made them a )resent of the

ooG( $hich $as rou*ht to the Academ' of

Sciences at Paris( ut $hen the o,d secretar' came

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to o)en it he sa$ nothin* ut ,anG )a)er( u)on

$hich

#A'( a'(# said he( # this is Hust $hat I sus)ected"#

 T&E &ISTOR3 OF T&E TRAVELS

OF SCAR1ENTADO"

I $as orn in Candid( in the 'ear ;>==" 1'

father $as *o%ernor of the cit'7 and I rememer

that a )oet of midd,in* )arts( and of a most un4

musica, ear( $hose name $as Iro( com)osed some

%erses in m' )raise( in $hich he made me to descend

from 1inos in a direct ,ine7 ut m' father ein*

after$ards dis*raced( he $rote some other %erses(

in $hich he deri%ed m' )edi*ree from no no,er an

ori*in than the amours of Pasi)hae and her *a,,ant"

 This Iro $as a most mischie%ous ro*ue( and one of

the most trou,esome fe,,o$s in the is,and"

1' father sent me at fteen 'ears of a*e to )ros4

ecute m' studies at Rome" There I arri%ed in fu,,

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ho)es of ,earnin* a,, Ginds of truth( for I had hith4

erto een tau*ht uite the re%erse( accordin* to the

custom of this ,o$er $or,d from China to the A,)s"

1onsi*nor Profondo( to $hom I $as recommended(

$as a man of a %er' sin*u,ar character( and one of

the most terri,e scho,ars in the $or,d" &e $as for

teachin* me te cate*ories of Aristot,e7 and $as

 Hust on the )oint of ),acin* me in the cate*or' of

his minions 7 a fate $hich I narro$,' esca)ed" I

sa$ )rocessions( e?orcisms( and some roeries"

B@ Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"

It $as common,' said( ut $ithout an' ""founda4

tion( that ,a Si*nora O,'m)ia( a ,ad' of *reat )ru4

dence( had decei%ed man' ,o%ers( she ein* oth

inconstant and mercenar'" I $as then of an a*e

to re,ish such comica, anecdotes"

A 'oun* ,ad' of *reat s$eetness of tem)er(

ca,,ed ,a Si*nora Fate,o( thou*ht )ro)er to fa,, in

,o%e $ith me" She $as courted ' the re%erend

father Pio*nardini and ' the re%erend father

Aconiti(- 'oun* monGs of an order no$ e?tinct7

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and she reconci,ed the t$o ri%a,s ' dec,arin* her

)reference for me7 ut at the same time I ran the

risG of ein* e?communicated and )oisoned" I

,eft Rome hi*h,' ),eased $ith the architecture of

St" Peter+s"

I tra%e,,ed to France" It $as durin* the rei*n

of Louis the /ust" The rst uestion )ut to me

$as( $hether I chose to reaGfast on a s,ice of the

1arsha, d+Ancre(f $hose Qesh the )eo),e had

roasted and distriuted $ith *reat ,iera,it' to such

as chose to taste it"

 This Gin*dom $as continua,,' in%o,%ed in ci%i,

$ars 7 sometimes for a ),ace at court( sometimes for

- A,,udin* to the infamous )ractice of )oisonin* and

assassination at that time )re%a,ent in Rome" Trans"

fThis $as the famous Concini"$ho $as murdered on the

dra$rid*e of the Lou%re( ' the intri*ues of De Luines(

not $ithout the Gno$,ed*e of the Gin*( Louis :III" &is

od'( $hich had een secret,' interred in the church of

St" ermain ;+Au?errois( $as ne?t da' du* u) ' the

)o)u,ace( $ho dra**ed it throu*h the streets( then urned

the Qesh( and thre$ the ones into the ri%er" The marsha,+s

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*reatest crime $as his ein* a forei*ner" "

 Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" B

t$o )a*es of theo,o*ica, contro%ers'" This re(

$hich at one time ,a' concea,ed under the ashes( and

at another urst forth $ith *reat %io,ence( had deso4

,ated these eautifu, )ro%inces for u)$ards of si?t'

'ears" The )rete?t $as( defendin* the ,ierties of

the a,,ican church" #A,as # said I( #these )eo),e

are ne%erthe,ess orn $ith a *ent,e dis)osition"

What can ha%e dra$n them so far from their nat4

ura, character The' HoGe and Gee) ho,' da's"-

&a))' the time $hen the' sha,, do nothin* ut

 HoGe#

I $ent o%er to En*,and( $here the same dis4

)utes occasioned the same ararities" Some )ious

Catho,ics had reso,%ed( for the *ood of the church(

to ,o$ u) into the air $ith *un)o$der the Gin*(

the ro'a, fami,'( and the $ho,e )ar,iament( and

thus to de,i%er En*,and from a,, these heretics at

once" The' sho$ed me the ),ace $here 8ueen

1ar' of ,essed memor'( the dau*hter of &enr'

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the state"

#&e has done much $orse(# re),ied a )reacher

in a ,acG c,oaG7 #he e,ie%ed that men ma' e

sa%ed ' *ood $orGs as $e,, as ' faith" 3ou must

)ercei%e(# adds he( #that if such o)inions $ere to

*ain *round( a re)u,ic cou,d not susist( and that

there must e se%ere ,a$s to su))ress such scanda4

,ous and horrid ,as)hemies"#

A )rofound )o,itician said to me $ith a si*h .

#A,as sir( this ha))' time $i,, not ,ast ,on*7 it

is on,' ' chance that the )eo),e are so 2ea,ous"

 The' are natura,,' inc,ined to the aomina,e doc4

trine of to,eration( and the' $i,, certain,' at ,ast

*rant it"# This reQection set him a4*roanin*"

For m' o$n )art( in e?)ectation of that fata,

)eriod $hen moderation and indu,*ence shou,d

taGe ),ace( I instant,' uitted a countr' $here se4

%erit' $as not softened ' an' ,eniti%e( and em4

arGed for S)ain"

 The court $as then at Se%i,,e" The *a,,eons had

 Hust arri%ed( and e%er'thin* reathed ),ent' and

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 Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" BB

*,adness( in the most eautifu, season of the 'ear"

I oser%ed( at the end of an a,,e' of oran*e and

citron trees( a Gind of ,ar*e rin*( surrounded $ith

ste)s co%ered $ith rich and cost,' c,oth" The Gin*(

the ueen( the infantes( and the infantas $ere seated

under a su)er cano)'" O))osite to the ro'a,

fami,' $as another throne( raised hi*her than that

on $hich his maHest' sat" I said to a fe,,o$4tra%4

e,,er. #0n,ess this throne e reser%ed for od(

I don+t see $hat )ur)ose it can ser%e"#

 This un*uarded e?)ression $as o%erheard ' a

*ra%e S)aniard( and cost me dear" 1ean$hi,e( I

ima*ined $e $ere *oin* to a carousa,( or a match of

u,,4aitin*( $hen the *rand inuisitor a))eared

on that e,e%ated throne( from $hence he ,essed the

Gin* and the )eo),e"

 Then came an arm' of monGs( $ho ,ed o in

)airs( $hite( ,acG( *ra'( shod( unshod( earded(

eard,ess( $ith )ointed co$,s( and $ithout co$,s"

Ne?t fo,,o$ed the han*man( and ,ast of a,, $ere

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seen( in the midst of the *uards and *randees( aout

fort' )ersons c,ad in sacGc,oth( on $hich $ere

)ainted the *ures of Qames and de%i,s" Some of

these $ere /e$s( $ho cou,d not e )re%ai,ed u)on

to renounce 1oses entire,'7 others $ere Christians

$ho had married $omen $ith $hom the' had stood

s)onsors to a chi,d7 $ho had not adored our Lad'

of Atocha7 or $ho had refused to )art $ith their

read' mone' in fa%or of the &ieron'mite rothers"

Some )rett' )ra'ers $ere sun* $ith much de%otion

B> Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"

and then the crimina,s $ere urnt at a s,o$ re

a ceremon' $ith $hich the ro'a, fami,' seemed to

e *reat,' edied"

As I $as *oin* to ed in the e%enin*( t$o mem4

ers of the Inuisition came to m' ,od*in* $ith the

Santa &ermandad" The' emraced me $ith *reat

tenderness( and conducted me in so,emn si,ence to

a $e,,4aired )rison( furnished $ith a ed of mat(

and a eautifu, cruci?" There I remained for si?

$eeGs( at the end of $hich time the re%erend father(

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 Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" B

and then $ent to )ress m' com)anions to uit the

countr'( eautifu, as it $as"

 The' had( durin* m' im)risonment( found time

to inform themse,%es of a,, the *reat thin*s $hich

the S)aniards had done for the interest of re,i*ion"

 The' had read the memoirs of the famous isho) of

Chia)a( ' $hich it a))ears that the' had massa4

cred( or urnt( or dro$ned( aout ten mi,,ions of

inde,s in America( in order to con%ert them" I

e,ie%e the accounts of the isho) are a ,itt,e e?a*4

*erated7 ut su))ose $e reduce the numer of

%ictims to %e mi,,ions( it $i,, sti,, e a most *,o4

rious achie%ement"

 The im)u,se for tra%e,,in* sti,, )ossessed me"

I had )ro)osed to nish the tour of Euro)e $ith

 TurGe'( and thither $e no$ directed our course" I

made a rm reso,ution not to *i%e m' o)inion of

an' )u,ic feasts I mi*ht see in the future" #These

 TurGs(# said I to m' com)anions( #are a set of mis4

creants that ha%e not een a)ti2ed( and therefore

$i,, e more crue, than the re%erend fathers( the

inuisitors" Let us oser%e a )rofound si,ence

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$hi,e $e are amon* the 1ahometans"# When $e

arri%ed there I $as *reat,' sur)rised to see more

Christian churches in TurGe' than in Candia" I

sa$ a,so numerous troo)s of monGs( $ho $ere

a,,o$ed to )ra' to the Vir*in 1ar' $ith *reat

freedom( and to curse 1ahomet some in reeG(

some in Latin( and others in Armenian" #What

*ood4natured )eo),e are these TurGs(# cried I"

BM Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"

 The reeG Christians and the Latin Christians

in Constantino),e $ere morta, enemies" These sec4

tarians )ersecuted each other in much the same

manner as do*s *ht in the streets( ti,, their mas4

ters )art them $ith a cud*e,"

 The *rand %i2ier $as at that time the )rotector

of the reeGs" The reeG )atriarch accused me of

ha%in* su))ed $ith the Latin )atriarch( and I $as

condemned in fu,, di%an to recei%e a hundred

,o$s on the so,es of m' feet( redeema,e for %e

hundred seuins" The ne?t da' the *rand %i2ier

$as stran*,ed" The da' fo,,o$in* his successor(

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I to,d her that I $as ,essin* od for ha%in*

*i%en me so much enHo'ment( and that I thou*ht

m'se,f e?treme,' ha))'"

In the mornin* the imaum came to enro,, me

amon* the circumcised( and as I made some o4

 Hection to the initiation( the cadi of that district

a man of *reat ,o'a,t' )ro)osed to ha%e me em4

)a,ed" I )reser%ed m' freedom ' )a'in* a thou4

sand seuins( and then Qed direct,' into Persia(

reso,%ed for the future ne%er to hear reeG or Latin

mass( nor to cr' #A,,ah( I,,ah( A,,ah# in a ,o%e

encounter"

On m' arri%a, at Is)ahan the )eo),e asGed me

$hether I $as for $hite or ,acG mutton I to,d

them that it $as a matter of indierence to me(

)ro%ided it $as tender" It must e oser%ed that

the Persian em)ire $as at that time s),it into t$o

factions( that of the $hite mutton and that of the

,acG" The t$o )arties ima*ined that I had made

a Hest of them oth( so that I found m'se,f en*a*ed

in a %er' trou,esome aair at the *ates of the

cit'( and it cost me a *reat numer of seuins to

*et rid of the $hite and the ,acG mutton"

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I )roceeded as far as China( in com)an' $ith

an inter)reter( $ho assured me that this countr'

$as the seat of *a'et' and freedom" The Tartars

had made themse,%es masters of it( after ha%in*

destro'ed e%er'thin* $ith re and s$ord"

 The re%erend fathers( the /esuits( on the one

hand( and the re%erend fathers( the Dominicans(

>= Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"

on the other( a,,e*ed that the' had *ained man'

sou,s to od in that countr'( $ithout an' one

Gno$in* au*ht of the matter" Ne%er $ere seen

such 2ea,ous con%erters" The' a,ternate,' )erse4

cuted one another7 the' transmitted to Rome

$ho,e %o,umes of s,ander( and treated each other

as inde,s and )re%aricators for the saGe of one

sou," !ut the most %io,ent dis)ute et$een them

$as $ith re*ard to the manner of maGin* a o$"

 The /esuits $ou,d ha%e the Chinese to sa,ute their

)arents after the fashion of China( and the Domin4

icans $ou,d ha%e them to do it after the fashion of

Rome"

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I ha))ened un,ucGi,' to e taGen ' the /esuits

for a Dominican" The' re)resented me to his Tar4

tarian maHest' as a s)' of the )o)e" The su)reme

counci, char*ed a )rime mandarin( $ho ordered a

ser*eant( $ho commanded four shires of the coun4

tr'( to sei2e me and ind me $ith *reat ceremon'"

In this manner I $as conducted efore his maHest'(

after ha%in* made aout a hundred and fort' *en4

uQections" &e asGed me if I $as a s)' of the

)o)e+s( and if it $as true that that )rince $as to

come in )erson to dethrone him" I to,d him that

the )o)e $as a )riest of se%ent' 'ears of a*e7 that

he ,i%ed at the distance of four thousand ,ea*ues

from his sacred Tartaro4Chinese maHest'7 that he

had aout t$o thousand so,diers( $ho mounted

*uard $ith umre,,as 7 that he ne%er dethroned an'4

 Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" >;

od'7 and that his maHest' mi*ht s,ee) in )erfect

securit'"

Of a,, the ad%entures of m' ,ife this $as the

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,east fata," I $as sent to 1acao( and there I tooG

shi))in* for Euro)e"

1' shi) reuired to e retted on the coast of

o,conda" I emraced this o))ortunit' to %isit

the court of the *reat Aurun*49e( of $hom such

$onderfu, thin*s ha%e een to,d( and $hich $as

then in De,)hi" I had the ),easure to see him on

the da' of that )om)ous ceremon' in $hich he

recei%es the ce,estia, )resent sent him ' the Sherif

of 1ecca" This $as the esom $ith $hich the' had

s$e)t the ho,' house( the Kaaa( and the !eth

A,ia" It is a s'mo, that s$ee)s a$a' a,, the )o,4

,utions of the sou,"

Aurun*49e seemed to ha%e no need of it" &e

$as the most )ious man in a,, Indostan" It is true(

he had cut the throat of one of his rothers( and

)oisoned his father" T$ent' ra'as( and as man'

omras( had een )ut to death7 ut that $as a

triQe" Nothin* $as ta,Ged of ut his de%otion"

No Gin* $as thou*ht com)ara,e to him( e?ce)t

his sacred maHest'( 1u,e' Ismae,( the most serene

em)eror of 1orocco( $ho a,$a's cut o some

heads e%er' Frida' after )ra'ers"

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I had no$ on,' Africa to %isit in order to enHo'

a,, the ),easures of our continent( and thither I $ent

to com),ete m' %o'a*e" The shi) in $hich I em4

arGed $as taGen ' the ne*ro corsairs" The mas4

ter of the %esse, com),ained ,oud,'( and asGed $h'

the' thus %io,ated the ,a$s of nations" The ca)4

tain of the ne*roes thus re),ied .

#3ou ha%e a ,on* nose( and $e ha%e a short one"

 3our hair is strai*ht( and ours is cur,ed 7 'our sGin

is ash4co,ored( and ours is of the co,or of eon7

and therefore $e ou*ht( ' the sacred ,a$s of na4

ture( to e a,$a's at enmit'" 3ou u' us in the

)u,ic marGets on the coast of uinea ,iGe easts of

 Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" >

urden( to maGe us ,aor in I don+t Gno$ $hat Gind

of drud*er'( eua,,' hard and ridicu,ous" With the

$hi) he,d o%er our heads( 'ou maGe us di* in mines

for a Gind of 'e,,o$ earth( $hich in itse,f is *ood for

nothin*( and is not so %a,ua,e as an E*')tian onion"

In ,iGe manner( $here%er $e meet 'ou( and are su4

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)erior to 'ou in stren*th( $e maGe 'ou s,a%es( and

o,i*e 'ou to cu,ti%ate our e,ds( or in case of re4

fusa, $e cut o 'our nose and ears"#

 To such a ,earned discourse it $as im)ossi,e to

maGe an' ans$er" I sumitted to ,aor in the *ar4

den of an o,d ne*ress( in order to sa%e m' nose and

ears" After continuin* in s,a%er' for a $ho,e 'ear

I $as at ,en*th ha))i,' ransomed"

As I had no$ seen a,, that $as rare( *ood( or

eautifu, on earth( I reso,%ed for the future to see

nothin* ut m' o$n home" I tooG a $ife( and soori

sus)ected that she decei%ed me7 ut( not$ith4

standin* this dout( I sti,, found that of a,, con4

ditions of ,ife this $as much the ha))iest"

 T&E &0RON7 OR( P0PIL OF

NAT0RE-

C&APTER I"

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 T&E &0RON ARRIVES IN FRANCE"

One da' St" Dunstan( an Irishman ' irth( and

a saint ' trade( ,eft Ire,and on a sma,, mountain(

$hich tooG its route to$ard the coast of France(

and set his saintshi) do$n in the a' of St" 1a,o"

When he had dismounted he *a%e his ,essin* to

the mountain( $hich( after some )rofound o$s(

tooG its ,ea%e( and returned to its former ),ace"

&ere St" Dunstan ,aid the foundation of a sma,,

)rior'( and *a%e it the name of the Prior' 1oun4

tain( $hich it sti,, Gee)s( as e%er'od' Gno$s"

On /u,' ;B( ;>M<( in the e%enin*( the Aot Ker4

Gaon( )rior of our Lad' of the 1ountain( ha)4

)ened to taGe the air a,on* the shore $ith 1iss

KerGaon( his sister" The )rior( $ho $as ecom4

in* a*ed( $as a %er' *ood c,er*'man( e,o%ed '

his nei*hors" What added most to the res)ect

that $as )aid him $as that( amon* a,, his c,erica,

-#Le &uron# $as dramati2ed( under the name of #Ci%i4

,i2ation(# ' 1r" /ohn &" Wi,Gins( and successfu,,' )ro4

duced at the Cit' of London Theatre( on Wednesda'( No%"

;=( ;MB@"

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>

 The &uron" >B

nei*hors( he $as the on,' one that cou,d $a,G

to his ed after su))er" &e $as to,era,' read in

theo,o*'( and $hen he $as tired of readin* St"

Au*ustine he refreshed himse,f $ith Rae,ais" A,,

the $or,d s)oGe $e,, of him"

1iss KerGaon( $ho had ne%er een married(

not$ithstandin* her heart' $ishes so to e( had )re4

ser%ed a freshness of com),e?ion in her fort'4fth

'ear" &er character $as that of a *ood and sen4

si,e $oman" She $as fond of ),easure( and $as a

de%otee"

As the' $ere $a,Gin*( the )rior( ,ooGin* on the

sea( said to his sister.

#It $as here( a,as that our )oor rother em4

arGed $ith our dear sister4in4,a$( 1adam Ker4

Gaon( his $ife( on oard the fri*ate S$a,,o$( in

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;>><( to ser%e the Gin* in Canada" &ad he not

een Gi,,ed( )roa,' he $ou,d ha%e $ritten to us"#

#Do 'ou e,ie%e(# said 1iss KerGaon( #that

our sister4in4,a$ has een eaten ' the CheroGees(

as $e ha%e een to,d#

#Certain it is( had she not een Gi,,ed( she $ou,d

ha%e come acG" I sha,, $ee) for her a,, m' ,ife4

time" She $as a charmin* $oman( and our

rother( $ho had a *reat dea, of $it( $ou,d no

dout ha%e made a fortune"#

 Thus the' $ere *oin* on $ith mutua, tender4

ness( $hen the' ehe,d a sma,, %esse, enter the a'

of Rence $ith the tide" It $as from En*,and( and

came to se,, )ro%isions" The cre$ ,ea)ed on shore

Vo," 4B

>> The &uron"

$ithout ,ooGin* at the )rior or 1iss( his sister(

$ho $ere shocGed at the ,itt,e attention sho$n

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them"

 That $as not the eha%ior of a $e,,4made 'outh(

$ho( dartin* himse,f o%er the heads of his com4

)anions( sudden,' stood efore 1iss KerGaon"

!ein* unaccustomed to o$in*( he made her a si*n

$ith his head" &is *ure and his dress attracted

the notice of rother and sister" &is head $as un4

co%ered( and his ,e*s are7 instead of shoes( he

$ore a Gind of sanda,s" From his head his ,on*

hair Qo$ed in tresses( $hi,e a sma,,( c,ose dou,et

dis),a'ed the eaut' of his sha)e" &e had a s$eet

and martia, air" In one hand he he,d a sma,, otX

tie of !aradoes $ater( and in the other a a*( in

$hich he had a *o,et( and some sea iscuit" &e

s)oGe French %er' inte,,i*i,'" &e oered some

of his !aradoes to 1iss KerGaon and her rother"

&e dranG $ith them7 he made them drinG a second

time( and a,, this $ith an air of such nati%e sim4

),icit' that uite charmed rother and sister" The'

oered him their ser%ice( and asGed him $ho he

$as( and $hither *oin* The 'oun* man an4

s$ered that he Gne$ not $here he shou,d *o( that

he had some curiosit'( that he had a desire to see

the coast of France( that he had seen it( and shou,d

return"

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 The )rior( Hud*in* ' his accent that he $as

not an En*,ishman( tooG the ,iert' of asGin* of

$hat countr' he $as"

 The &uron" >

#I am a &uron(# ans$ered the 'outh"

1iss KerGaon( ama2ed and enchanted to see

a &uron $ho had eha%ed so )o,ite,' to her(

e**ed the 'oun* man+s com)an' to su))er" &e

com),ied immediate,'( and a,, three $ent to*ether

to the )rior' of our Lad' of the 1ountain" This

short and round 1iss de%oured him $ith her ,itt,e

e'es( and said from time to time to her rother .

#This ta,, ,ad has a com),e?ion of ,i,ies and

roses" What a ne sGin he has for a &uron#

#Ver' true( sister(# said the )rior"

She )ut a hundred uestions( one after another(

and the tra%e,,er ans$ered a,$a's )ertinent,'"

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 The re)ort $as soon s)read that there $as a

&uron at the )rior'" A,, the *entee, com)an' of

the countr' came to su))er" The aot of St" 3%es

came $ith his sister( a ne( handsome( $e,, edu4

cated *ir," The ai,i( the ta?4*atherer( and their

$i%es( came a,, to*ether" The forei*ner $as seated

et$een 1iss KerGaon and 1iss St" 3%es" The

com)an' e'ed him $ith admiration" The' a,,

uestioned him to*ether" This did not confound

the &uron" &e seemed to ha%e taGen Lord !o,in*4

roGe+s motto( Ni, admirari" !ut at ,ast( tired out

$ith so much noise( he to,d them in a s$eet ut

serious tone.

#ent,emen( in m' countr' one ta,Gs after an4

other" &o$ can I ans$er 'ou if 'ou $i,, not a,,o$

me to hear 'ou#

>M The &uron"

Reasonin* a,$a's rin*s )eo),e to a momentar'

reQection" The' $ere a,, si,ent"

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1r" !ai,i( $ho a,$a's made a )ro)ert' of a

forei*ner $here%er he found him( and $ho $as the

rst man for asGin* uestions in the )ro%ince(

o)enin* a mouth of ,ar*e si2e( e*an.

#Sir( $hat is 'our name#

#I ha%e a,$a's een ca,,ed the In*enu(# an4

s$ered the &uron7 #and the En*,ish ha%e con4

rmed that name( ecause I a,$a's s)eaG as I thinG

and act as I ,iGe"#

#!ut( ein* orn a &uron( ho$ cou,d 'ou come

to En*,and#

#I ha%e een carried thither" I $as made )ris4

oner ' the En*,ish after some resistance( and the

En*,ish( $ho ,o%e ra%e )eo),e( ecause the' are

as ra%e and honest as $e( )ro)osed to me( either

to return to m' fami,'( or *o $ith them to En*,and"

I acce)ted the ,atter( ha%in* natura,,' a re,ish for

tra%e,,in*"#

#!ut( sir(# said the ai,i( $ith his usua, *ra%it'(

#ho$ cou,d 'ou thinG of aandonin* father and

mother#

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#!ecause I ne%er Gne$ either father or mother(#

said the forei*ner"

 This mo%ed the com)an'7 the' a,, re)eated.

#Neither father nor mother#

#We $i,, e in their stead(# said the mistress of

the house to her rother( the )rior" #&o$ interest4

in* this &uron *ent,eman is #

 The &uron" ><

 The In*enu thanGed her $ith a no,e and )roud

cordia,it'( and *a%e her to understand that he

$anted the assistance of nood'"

#I )ercei%e( 1r" &uron(# said the hu*e ai,i(

#that 'ou ta,G etter French than can e e?)ected

from an Indian"#

#A Frenchman(# ans$ered he( #$hom the' had

made )risoner $hen I $as a o'( and $ith $hom

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I contracted a *reat friendshi)( tau*ht it me" I ra)4

id,' ,earn $hat I ,iGe to ,earn" When I came to

P,'mouth I met $ith one of 'our French refu*ees(

$hom 'ou( I Gno$ not $h'( ca,, &u*uenots" &e

im)ro%ed m' Gno$,ed*e of 'our ,an*ua*e( and as

soon as I cou,d e?)ress m'se,f inte,,i*i,' I came

to see 'our countr'( ecause I ,iGe the French $e,,

enou*h( if the' do not )ut too man' uestions"#

Not$ithstandin* this candid remarG( the ae

of St" 3%es asGed him $hich of the three ,an*ua*es

),eased him est( the &uron( En*,ish( or French

#The &uron( to e sure(# ans$ered the In*enu"

#Is it )ossi,e# cried 1iss KerGaon" #I a,4

$a's thou*ht the French $as the rst of a,, ,an4

*ua*es( after that of Lo$ !rittan'"#

 Then a,, $ere ea*er to Gno$ ho$( in &uron(

the' asGed for snu &e re),ied.

#Ta'e"#

#What si*nies to eat#

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#Essenten"#

1iss KerGaon $as im)atient to Gno$ ho$ the'

e?)ressed to maGe ,o%e"

'o The &uron"

&e informed her( Tro%ander( and insisted( not

$ithout reason( that these $ords $ere $e,, $orth

their s'non'ms in French and En*,ish" Tro%ander(

es)ecia,,'( seemed %er' )rett' to a,, the com)an'"

 The )rior( $ho had in his ,irar' a &uron *ram4

mar( $hich had een *i%en him ' the Re%" Father

Sa*ar Theodat( a Reco,,et and famous missionar'(

rose from the ta,e to consu,t it" &e returned uite

)antin* $ith tenderness and Ho'" &e acGno$,4

ed*ed the forei*ner for a true &uron" The com4

)an' s)ecu,ated a ,itt,e on the mu,ti),icit' of ,an4

*ua*es( and a,, a*reed that( had it not een for the

unfortunate aair of the To$er of !ae,( a,, the

$or,d $ou,d ha%e s)oGen French"

 The inuisiti%e ai,i( $ho ti,, then had some

sus)icions of the forei*ner( concei%ed the dee)est

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$as m' Aacaa" One da' she )ursued a hare not

ao%e ft' ,ea*ues from m' haitation" A ase

A,*onuin( $ho d$e,,s an hundred ,ea*ues farther(

tooG her hare from her" I $as to,d of it7 I ran

thither( and $ith one stroGe of m' c,u ,e%e,,ed him

$ith the *round" I rou*ht him to the feet of m'

mistress( ound hand and foot" Aacaa+s )arents

$ere for urnin* him( ut I a,$a's had a dis,iGe

for such scenes" I set him at ,iert'( and thus made

him m' friend" Aacaa $as so ),eased $ith m'

conduct that she )referred me to a,, her ,o%ers 7 and

she $ou,d ha%e continued to ,o%e me had she not

een de%oured ' a ear" I s,e$ the ear( and $ore

his sGin a ,on* $hi,e( ut that has not comforted

me"#

1iss St" 3%es fe,t a secret ),easure at hearin* that

Aacaa had een his on,' mistress( and that she

$as no more7 'et she understood not the cause

of her o$n ),easure" A,, e'es $ere ri%eted on the

&uron( and he $as much a)),auded for de,i%erin*

an A,*onuin from the crue,t' of his countr'men"

 The merci,ess ai,i had no$ *ro$n so furious

that he e%en asGed the &uron $hat re,i*ion he $as

of7 $hether he had chosen the En*,ish( the French(

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or that of the &u*uenots

@ The &uron"

#I am of m' o$n re,i*ion(# said he( #Hust as

'ou are of 'ours"#

#Lord# cried 1iss KerGaon( #I see a,read'

that those $retched En*,ish ha%e not once thou*ht

of a)ti2in* him#

#ood hea%ens# said 1iss St" 3%es( #ho$ is it

)ossi,e &o$ is it )ossi,e the &urons shou,d

not e Roman Catho,ics &a%e not those re%er4

end fathers( the /esuits( con%erted a,, the $or,d#

 The &uron assured her that no true American

had e%er chan*ed his o)inion( and that there $as

not in their ,an*ua*e a $ord to e?)ress incon4

stanc'"

 These ,ast $ords e?treme,' ),eased 1iss St" 3%es"

#Oh $e+,, a)ti2e him( $e+,, a)ti2e him(# said

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After the &uron had een conducted to his

room( the' sa$ that he s)read the ,anGets on the

Qoor( and ,aid himse,f do$n u)on them in the nest

attitude in the $or,d"

C&APTER II"

 T&E &0RON( CALLED T&E INEN0( ACKNOWLEDED

!3 &IS RELATIONS"

 The In*enu( accordin* to custom( a$oGe $ith

the sun( at the cro$in* of the cocG( $hich is ca,,ed

in En*,and and &uronia( #the trum)et of the da'"#

&e did" not imitate $hat is st',ed *ood com)an'(

$ho ,an*uish in the ed of indo,ence ti,, the sun

has )erformed ha,f its dai,' Hourne'( una,e to

s,ee)( ut not dis)osed to rise( and ,ose so man'

)recious hours in that doutfu, state et$een ,ife

and death( and $ho ne%erthe,ess com),ain that ,ife

is too short"

&e had a,read' tra%ersed t$o or three ,ea*ues(

and Gi,,ed fteen race of *ame $ith his riQe( $hen(

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u)on his return( he found the )rior of the Lad' of

the 1ountain( $ith his discreet sister( in their ni*ht4

ca)s( $a,Gin* in their ,itt,e *arden" &e )resented

them $ith the s)oi,s of his mornin* ,aor( and(

taGin* from his osom a Gind of ,itt,e ta,isman(

The &uron"

$hich he constant,' $ore aout his necG( he en4

treated them to acce)t of it as an acGno$,ed*ment

for the Gind rece)tion the' had *i%en him"

#It is(# said he( #the most %a,ua,e thin* I )os4

sess" I ha%e een assured that I sha,, a,$a's e

ha))' $hi,e I carr' this ,itt,e to' aout me7 and

I *i%e it to 'ou that 'ou ma' e a,$a's ha))'"#

 The )rior and 1iss smi,ed $ith )it' at the franG4

ness of the In*enu" This )resent consisted of t$o

,itt,e )ortraits( )oor,' e?ecuted( and tied to*ether

$ith a *reas' strin*"

1iss KerGaon asGed him if there $ere an'

)ainters in &uronia

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#No(# re),ied the In*enu( #I had this curiosit'

from m' nurse" &er husand had otained it '

conuest( in stri))in* some of the French of Can4

ada( $ho had made $ar u)on us" This is a,, I Gno$

of the matter"#

 The )rior ,ooGed attenti%e,' u)on these )ictures(

$hi,e he chan*ed co,or7 his hands trem,ed( and

he seemed much aected"

#!' our Lad' of the 1ountain# he cried out(

#I e,ie%e these to e the faces of m' rother( the

ca)tain( and his ,ad'"#

1iss( after ha%in* consu,ted them $ith ,iGe emo4

tion( thou*ht the same" The' $ere oth strucG

$ith astonishment and Ho'( ,ended $ith *rief"

 The' oth me,ted( the' oth $e)t( their hearts

throed( and durin* their disorder the )ictures

.i6IEVE T&O!E TO !E T&E F#AOI

13 !ROT&ER( T&E CAPTAIN(

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AND &IM ,6AD3#

 The &uron" B

$ere interchan*ed et$een them at ,east t$ent'

times in a second" The' seemed to de%our the &u4

ron+s )ictures $ith their e'es" The' asGed one after

another( and e%en oth at once( at $hat time( in $hat

),ace( and ho$ these miniatures fe,, into the hands

of the nurse The' recGoned and com)uted the

time from the ca)tain+s de)arture7 the' reco,,ected

ha%in* recei%ed notice that he had )enetrated as

far as the countr' of the &urons 7 and from that

time the' had ne%er heard an'thin* more of him"

 The &uron had to,d them that he had ne%er

Gno$n either father or mother" The )rior( $ho

$as a man of sense( oser%ed that he had a ,itt,e

eard( and he Gne$ %er' $e,, that the &urons ne%er

had an'" &is chin $as some$hat hair'7 he $as

therefore the son of a Euro)ean" &is rother

and sister4in4,a$ $ere ne%er seen after the e?)edi4

tion a*ainst the &urons( in ;>><" &is ne)he$ must

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then ha%e een nursin* at the reast7 the &uron

nurse has )reser%ed his ,ife( and een a mother to

him" At ,en*th( after a hundred uestions and

ans$ers( the )rior and his sister conc,uded that

the &uron $as their o$n ne)he$" The' emraced

him( $hi,e tears streamed from their e'es( and the

&uron ,au*hed to thinG that an Indian shou,d e

ne)he$ to a )rior of Lo$er !rittan'"

A,, the com)an' $ent do$nstairs" 1r" de St"

 3%es( $ho $as a *reat )h'sio*nomist( com)ared

the t$o )ictures $ith the &uron+s countenance"

> The &uron"

 The' oser%ed( %er' sGi,fu,,'( that he had the

mother+s e'es( the forehead and nose of the ,ate Ca)4

tain KerGaon( and the cheeGs common to oth"

1iss St" 3%es( $ho had ne%er seen either father

or mother( $as strenuous,' of o)inion that the

'oun* man had a )erfect resem,ance to them"

 The' a,, admired Pro%idence( and $ondered at the

stran*e e%ents of this $or,d" In a $ord( the'

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$ere so )ersuaded( so con%inced of the irth of the

&uron( that he himse,f consented to e the )rior+s

ne)he$( sa'in* that he $ou,d as soon ha%e him

for his unc,e as another"

 The )rior $ent to return thanGs in the church

of our Lad' of the 1ountain7 $hi,e the &uron(

$ith an air of indierence( amused himse,f $ith

drinGin* in the house"

 The En*,ish $ho had rou*ht him o%er( and

$ho $ere read' to set sai,( came to te,, him that it

$as time to de)art"

#Proa,'(# said he to them( #'ou ha%e not met

$ith an' of 'our unc,es and aunts" I sha,, sta'

here 7 *o 'ou acG to P,'mouth" I *i%e 'ou a,, m'

c,othes( as I ha%e no ,on*er occasion for an'thin*

in this $or,d( since I am the ne)he$ of a )rior"#

 The En*,ish set sai,( $ithout ein* at a,, con4

cerned $hether the &uron had an' re,ations or not

in Lo$er !rittan'"

After the unc,e( the aunt( and the com)an' had

sun* Te Deum7 after the ai,i had once more

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&e then $as asGed if he had e%er read an' ooGs

&e said he had read Rae,ais trans,ated into En*4

,ish( and some )assa*es in ShaGes)eare( $hich he

Gne$ ' heart7 that these ooGs e,on*ed to the

ca)tain on oard of $hose shi) he came from Amer4

ica to P,'mouth 7 and that he $as %er' $e,, ),eased

$ith them" The ai,i fai,ed not to )ut man' ues4

tions to him concernin* these ooGs"

#I acGno$,ed*e(# said the &uron( #I thou*ht(

in readin* them( I understood some thin*s( ut not

the $ho,e"#

M The &uron"

 The ae of St" 3%es reQected u)on thi dis4

course( that it $as in this manner he had a,$a's

read( and that most men read no other $a'"

#3ou ha%e(# said he to the &uron( #dout,ess

read the !i,e#

#Ne%er( 1r" Ae7 it $as not amon* the ca)#4

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tain+s ooGs" I ne%er heard it mentioned"#

#This is the $a' $ith those cursed En*,ish(

said 1iss KerGaon7 #the' thinG more of a ),a'

of ShaGes)eare+s( a ),um )uddin*( or a ott,e of

rum( than the' do of the Pentateuch" For this

reason the' ha%e ne%er con%erted an' Indians irf

America" The' are certain,' cursed ' od( and

$e sha,, $rest /amaica and Vir*inia from them ii

a %er' short time"#

!e this as it ma'( the most sGi,fu, tai,or in a,,

St" 1a,o $as sent for to dress the &uron from head

to foot" The com)an' se)arated( and the ai,i

$ent e,se$here to dis),a' his inuisiti%eness" 1iss

St" 3%es( in )artin*( returned se%era, times to o4

ser%e the 'oun* stran*er( and made him ,o$er

courtesies than e%er she did an' one in her ,ife"

 The ai,i( efore he tooG his ,ea%e( )resented

to 1iss St" 3%es a stu)id do,t of a son( Hust come

from co,,e*e7 ut she scarce,' ,ooGed at him( so

much $as she taGen u) $ith the )o,iteness of the

&uron"

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 The &uron" <

C&APTER III"

 T&E &0RON CONVERTED"

 The )rior( ndin* that he $as some$hat ad4

%anced in 'ears( and that od had sent him

a ne)he$ for his conso,ation( tooG it into his head

that he $ou,d resi*n his enece in his fa%or( if he

succeeded in a)ti2in* him and of maGin* him

enter into orders"

 The &uron had an e?ce,,ent memor'" A *ood

constitution( inherited from his ancestors of Lo$er

!rittan'( stren*thened ' the c,imate of Canada(

had made his head so %i*orous that $hen he $as

strucG u)on it he scarce fe,t it 7 and $hen an'thin*

$as *ra%en in it( nothin* cou,d eace it" Nothin*

had e%er esca)ed his memor'" &is conce)tion $as

the more sure and ,i%e,' ecause his infanc' had

not een ,oaded $ith use,ess foo,eries( $hich o%er4

$he,m ours" Thin*s entered into his head $ithout

ein* c,ouded" The )rior at ,en*th reso,%ed to

maGe him read the Ne$ Testament" The &uron

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de%oured it $ith *reat ),easure7 ut( not Gno$in*

at $hat time( or in $hat countr'( a,, the ad%en4

tures re,ated in this ooG had ha))ened( he did not

in the ,east dout that the scene of action had een

in Lo$er !rittan'7 and he s$ore that he $ou,d

cut o Caia)has+ and Pontius Pi,ate+s ears if e%er

he met those scoundre,s"

&is unc,e( charmed $ith this *ood dis)osition(

Mo The &uron"

soon rou*ht him to the )oint" &e a)),auded his

2ea,( ut at the same time acuainted him that it

$as need,ess( as these )eo),e had een dead u)$ard

of ;><= 'ears" The &uron soon *ot the $ho,e

ooG ' heart" &e sometimes )ro)osed dicu,ties

that *reat,' emarrassed the )rior" &e $as often

o,i*ed to consu,t the Ae St" 3%es( $ho( not

Gno$in* $hat to ans$er( rou*ht a /esuit of Lo$er

!rittan' to )erfect the con%ersion of the &uron"

race( at ,en*th( o)erated( and the &uron )rom4

ised to ecome a Christian" &e did not dout that

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the rst ste) to$ard it $as circumcision"

#For(# said he( #I do not nd in the ooG that

$as )ut into m' hands a sin*,e )erson $ho $as

not circumcised" It is therefore e%ident that I

must maGe a sacrice to the &ere$ custom( and

the sooner the etter"#

&e sent for the sur*eon of the %i,,a*e( and de4

sired him to )erform the o)eration" The sur*eon(

$ho had ne%er )erformed such an o)eration( ac4

uainted the fami,'( $ho screamed out" The *ood

1iss KerGaon trem,ed ,est her ne)he$( $hom

she Gne$ to e reso,ute and e?)editious( shou,d

)erform the o)eration unsGi,fu,,' himse,f( and that

fata, conseuences mi*ht ensue"

 The )rior rectied the &uron+s mistaGe( re)re4

sentin* to him that circumcision $as no ,on*er in

fashion7 that a)tism $as much more *ent,e and

sa,utar'7 that the ,a$ of *race $as not ,iGe the

,a$ of ri*or" The &uron( $ho had much *ood

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 The &uron" M ;

sense( and $as $e,, dis)osed( dis)uted( ut soon ac4

Gno$,ed*ed his error( $hich se,dom ha))ens in

Euro)e amon* dis)utants" In a $ord( he )rom4

ised to ,et himse,f e a)ti2ed $hene%er the'

),eased"

!ut efore a)tism it $as necessar' that he

shou,d *o to confession( and this $as the *reatest

dicu,t' to surmount" The &uron had sti,, in his

)ocGet the ooG his unc,e *a%e him" &e did not

there nd that a sin*,e a)ost,e had e%er een con4

fessed( and this made him %er' resti%e" The )rior

si,enced him ' sho$in* him( in the e)ist,e of St"

 /ames the 1inor( these $ords . #Confess 'our sins

to one another"# The &uron $as mute( and con4

fessed his sins to a Reco,,et" When he had done(

he dra**ed the Reco,,et from the confessiona, chair(

and sei2in* him $ith a %i*orous arm( ),aced himse,f

in his seat( maGin* the Reco,,et Gnee, efore him"

#Come( m' friend( it is said( +$e must confess our

sins to one another7+ I ha%e re,ated to 'ou m' sins(

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and 'ou sha,, not stir ti,, 'ou recount 'ours"#

Whi,e he said this( he ?ed his *reat Gnee

a*ainst his ad%ersar'+s stomach" The Reco,,et

roared and *roaned ti,, he made the church re4

echo" The noise rou*ht )eo),e to his assistance(

$ho found the catechumen cun* the monG in the

name of St" /ames the 1inor" The Ho' diused at

the a)ti2in* at once a Lo$4!reton( a &uron( and

an En*,ishman( surmounted a,, these sin*u,arities"

 There $ere e%en some theo,o*ians of o)inion that

Vo," >

M@ The &uron"

confession $as not necessar'( as a)tism su)),ied

the ),ace of e%er'thin*"

 The isho) of St" 1a,o $as chosen for the cere4

mon'( $ho( Qattered( as ma' e e,ie%ed( at a)4

ti2in* a &uron( arri%ed in a )om)ous eui)a*e( fo,4

,o$ed ' his c,er*'" 1iss St" 3%es )ut on her est

*o$n to ,ess od( and sent for a hair4dresser from

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#1' dear ne)he$(# said the )rior to him( ten4

der,'( #this is not the $a' of ein* a)ti2ed in

Lo$er !rittan'" Put on 'our c,othes( and come

$ith us"#

1iss St" 3%es( ,istenin* to the discourse( said in

a $his)er to her com)anion.

#1iss( do 'ou thinG he $i,, )ut his c,othes on in

such a hurr'#

 The &uron( ho$e%er( re),ied to the )rior .

#3ou $i,, not maGe me e,ie%e no$ as 'ou did

efore" I ha%e studied %er' $e,, since( and I am

M The &uron"

%er' certain there is no other Gind of a)tism" The

eunuch of 8ueen Candace $as a)ti2ed in a ri%u,et"

I def' 'ou to sho$ me( in the ooG 'ou *a%e me(

that )eo),e $ere e%er a)ti2ed in an' other $a'"

I either $i,, not e a)ti2ed at a,,( or the ceremon'

sha,, e )erformed in the ri%er"#

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It $as in %ain to remonstrate $ith him that cus4

toms $ere a,tered" &e a,$a's recurred to the

eunuch of 8ueen Candace" And thou*h 1iss and

his aunt( $ho had oser%ed him throu*h the $i,4

,o$s( $ere authori2ed to te,, him that he had no

ri*ht to uote such a man the'( ne%erthe,ess( said

nothin* so *reat $as their discretion" The isho)

came himse,f to s)eaG to him( $hich $as a *reat

thin*7 ut he cou,d not )re%ai," The &uron dis4

)uted $ith the isho)"

#Sho$ me(# said he #in the ooG m' unc,e *a%e

me( one sin*,e man that $as not a)ti2ed in a

ri%er( and I $i,, do $hate%er 'ou ),ease"#

&is aunt( in des)air( had oser%ed that the rst

time her ne)he$ o$ed( he made a much ,o$er o$

to 1iss St" 3%es( than to an' one in the com)an'

that he had not e%en sa,uted the isho) $ith so

much res)ect( ,ended $ith cordia,it'( as he did that

a*reea,e 'oun* ,ad'" She thou*ht it ad%isa,e

to a)),' to her in this *reat emarrassment" She

earnest,' entreated her to use her inQuence to en4

*a*e the &uron to e a)ti2ed accordin* to the

custom of !rittan'( thinGin* that her ne)he$( cou,d

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 The &uron" MB

ne%er e a Christian if he )ersisted in ein*

christened in the stream"

1iss St" 3%es ,ushed at the secret Ho' she fe,t

in ein* a))ointed to e?ecute so im)ortant a com4

mission" She modest,' a))roached the &uron( and

suee2in* his hand in uite a no,e manner( she

said to him.

#What( $i,, 'ou do nothin* to ),ease me#

And in utterin* these $ords( she raised her e'es

from a do$ncast ,ooG into a *racefu, tenderness"

#Oh 'es( 1iss( e%er'thin* 'ou reuire( a,, that

'ou command( $hether it is to e a)ti2ed in $ater(

re( or ,ood7 there is nothin* I can refuse 'ou"#

1iss St" 3%es had the *,or' of eectin*( in t$o

$ords( $hat neither the im)ortunities of the )rior(

the re)eated interro*ations of the ai,i( nor the

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reasonin* of the isho)( cou,d eect" She $as sen4

si,e of her trium)h7 ut she $as not 'et sensi,e of

its utmost ,atitude"

!a)tism $as administered( and recei%ed $ith a,,

the decenc'( ma*nicence( and )ro)riet' )ossi,e"

&is unc,e and aunt 'ie,ded to the Ae St" 3%es

and his sister the fa%or of su))ortin* the &uron

u)on the font" 1iss St" 3%es+ e'es s)arG,ed $ith

 Ho' at ein* a *odmother" She $as i*norant ho$

much this hi*h tit,e com)romised her" She ac4

ce)ted the honor( $ithout ein* acuainted $ith

its fata, conseuences"

As there ne%er $as an' ceremon' that $as not

M> The &uron"

fo,,o$ed ' a *ood dinner( the com)an' tooG their

seats at ta,e after the christenin*" The humorists

of Lo$er !rittan' said( #the' did not choose to

ha%e their $ine a)ti2ed"# The )rior said( #that

$ine( accordin* to So,omon( cherished the heart of

man"# The isho) added( #that the Patriarch

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 /udah ou*ht to ha%e tied his ass4co,t to the %ine(

and stee)ed his c,oaG in the ,ood of the *ra)e 7

and that he $as sorr' the same cou,d not e done

in Lo$er !rittan'( to $hich od had not a,,otted

%ines"# E%er' one endea%ored to sa' a *ood thin*

u)on the &uron+s christenin* and stroGes of *a,4

,antr' to the *odmother" The ai,i( e%er interro4

*atin*( asGed the &uron if he $as faithfu, in Gee)4

in* his )romises"

#&o$(# said he( #can I fai, Gee)in* them( since

I ha%e de)osited them in the hands of 1iss St"

 3%es#

 The &uron *re$ $arm7 he had re)eated,'

drunG his *odmother+s hea,th"

#If(# said he( #I had een a)ti2ed $ith 'our

hand( I fee, that the $ater $hich $as )oured on the

na)e of m' necG $ou,d ha%e urned me"

 The ai,i thou*ht that this $as too )oetica,(

ein* i*norant that a,,e*or' is a fami,iar *ure in

Canada" !ut his *odmother $as %er' $e,, ),eased"

 The &uron had( at his a)tism( recei%ed the

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name of &ercu,es" The isho) of St" 1a,o fre4

uent,' inuired( $ho $as this tute,ar saint( $hom

he had ne%er heard mentioned efore The /esuit(

 The &uron" M

$ho $as %er' ,earned( to,d him that #he $as a

saint $ho had $rou*ht t$e,%e mirac,es"# There

$as a thirteenth( $hich $as $e,, $orth the other

t$e,%e( ut it $as not )ro)er for a /esuit to mention

it" This $as the marria*e of ft' *ir,s at one time

the dau*hters of Kin* Thes)ius" A $a*( $ho

$as )resent( re,ated this mirac,e %er' fee,in*,'"

And a,, Hud*ed( from the a))earance of the &uron(

that he $as a $orth' re)resentati%e of the saint

$hose name he ore"

C&APTER V"

 T&E &0RON IN LOVE"

It must e acGno$,ed*ed( that from the time of

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and that( on her side( she $ou,d sa' a fe$ $ords to

her dear rother( the ae of St" 3%es( and that

she Qattered herse,f it $ou,d meet $ith no o))osi4

tion"

 The 'outh re),ied that the consent of an' one $as

entire,' su)erQuous7 that it a))eared to him e?4

treme,' ridicu,ous to *o and asG others $hat the'

$ere to do7 that $hen t$o )arties $ere a*reed(

there $as no occasion for a third( to accom),ish

their union"

#I ne%er consu,t an' one(# said he( #$hen I ha%e

a mind to reaGfast( to hunt( or to s,ee)" I am sen4

si,e that in ,o%e it is not amiss to ha%e the consent

of the )erson $hom $e $ish for 7 ut as I am neither

in ,o%e $ith m' unc,e nor m' aunt( I ha%e no occa4

sion to address m'se,f to them in this aair7 and if

'ou $i,, e,ie%e me( 'ou ma' eua,,' dis)ense $ith

the ad%ice of the ae of St" 3%es"#

It ma' e su))osed that the 'oun* ,ad' e?erted

a,, the de,icac' of her $it to rin* her &uron to the

terms of *ood reedin*" She $as %er' an*r'( ut

soon softened" In a $ord( it cannot e said ho$

this con%ersation $ou,d ha%e ended( if the dec,inin*

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as 'ou can" I do not Gno$ $hat it is to e a su4

deacon( or $hat it is to resi*n7 ut e%er'thin* $i,,

e a*reea,e to me( )ro%ided I ha%e 1iss St" 3%es

at m' dis)osa,"#

#ood hea%ens( ne)he$ $hat is it 'ou sa'

Do 'ou ,o%e that eautifu, 'oun* ,ad' so

earnest,'#

#3es( unc,e"#

#A,as ne)he$( it is im)ossi,e 'ou shou,d e%er

marr' her"#

#It is %er' )ossi,e( unc,e7 for she did not on,'

<JD The &uron"

suee2e m' hand $hen she ,eft me( ut she )rom4

ised she $ou,d asG me in marria*e" I certain,'

sha,, $ed her"#

#It is im)ossi,e( I te,, 'ou7 she is 'our *od4

mother" It is a dreadfu, sin for a *odmother to

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#For *oodness saGe(# said he( #$ho is this

charmin* man( $ho is so *racious as to )romote

the amours of *ir,s and o's I $i,, *o and s)eaG

to him this instant"#

 The &uron" <;

 The di*nit' and character of the )o)e $as e?4

),ained to him( and the &uron $as sti,, more aston4

ished than efore"

#1' dear unc,e(# said he( #there is not a $ord of

a,, this in 'our ooG 7 I ha%e tra%e,,ed( and am ac4

uainted $ith the sea7 $e are no$ u)on the coast

of the ocean( and I must ,ea%e 1iss St" 3%es to *o

and asG ,ea%e to marr' her of a man $ho ,i%es to4

$ard the 1editerranean( four hundred ,ea*ues

hence( and $hose ,an*ua*e I do not understand

 This is most incom)rehensi,' ridicu,ous !ut I

$i,, *o rst to the Ae St" 3%es( $ho ,i%es on,' a

,ea*ue hence7 and I )romise 'ou I $i,, $ed m'

mistress efore ni*ht"#

Whi,e he $as 'et s)eaGin*( the ai,i entered(

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No sooner had the in*enuous &ercu,es reached

the house( than ha%in* asGed the o,d ser%ant $hich

$as his mistress+ a)artment( he forced o)en the

door( $hich $as ad,' fastened( and Qe$ to$ard the

ed" 1iss St" 3%es( start,ed out of her s,ee)( cried.

#Ah $hat7 is it 'ou Sto)7 $hat are 'ou

aout# &e ans$ered.

#I am *oin* to marr'"#

She o))osed him $ith a,, the decenc' of a 'oun*

,ad' so $e,, educated7 ut the &uron did not under4

stand rai,,er'( and found a,, e%asions e?treme,' dis4

a*reea,e"

#1iss Aacaa( m' rst mistress(# said he( #did

not eha%e in this manner7 'ou ha%e no honest'7

'ou )romised me marria*e( and 'ou $i,, not marr' 7

this is ein* decient in the rst ,a$s of honor"#

 The outcries of the ,ad' rou*ht the sa*acious

Ae de St" 3%es $ith his houseGee)er( an o,d

de%otee ser%ant( and the )arish )riest" The si*ht of

these moderated the coura*e of the assai,ant"

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#ood hea%ens # cried the ae 7 #m' dear nei*h4

or( $hat are 'ou aout #

#1' dut'(# re),ied the 'oun* man 7 #I am fu,4

,,in* m' )romises( $hich are sacred"#

1iss St" 3%es adHusted herse,f( not $ithout

 The &uron" <

,ushin*" The ,o%er $as conducted into another

a)artment" The ae remonstrated to him on the

enormit' of his conduct" The &uron defended him4

se,f u)on the )ri%i,e*es of the ,a$ of nature( $hich

he understood )erfect,' $e,," The ae main4

tained that the ,a$ )ositi%e shou,d e a,,o$ed a,,

its ad%anta*es( and that $ithout con%entions a*reed

on et$een men the ,a$ of nature must a,most con4

stant,' e nothin* more than natura, fe,on'" No4

taries( )riests( $itnesses( contracts( and dis)ensa4

tions are aso,ute,' necessar'"

 The in*enuous &ercu,es made ans$er $ith the

oser%ation constant,' ado)ted ' sa%a*es.

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#3ou are then %er' *reat ro*ues( since so man'

)recautions are necessar'"#

 This remarG some$hat disconcerted the ae"

#There are( I acGno$,ed*e( ,iertines and cheats

amon* us( and there $ou,d e as man' amon* the

&urons( if the' $ere united in a *reat cit'7 ut( at

the same time( $e ha%e discreet( honest( en,i*htened

)eo),e 7 and these are the men $ho ha%e framed the

,a$s" The more u)ri*ht $e are( the more readi,'

$e shou,d sumit to them( as $e there' set an e?4

am),e to the %icious( $ho res)ect those ounds

$hich %irtue has *i%en herse,f"#

 This ans$er strucG the &uron" It has a,read'

een oser%ed that his mind $as $e,, dis)osed" &e

$as softened ' Qatterin* s)eeches( $hich )romised

him ho)es7 a,, the $or,d is cau*ht in these snares7

and 1iss St" 3%es herse,f a))eared( after ha%in*

< The &uron"

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een at her toi,et" E%er'thin* $as no$ conducted

$ith the utmost *ood reedin*"

It $as $ith much dicu,t' that &ercu,es $as

sent acG to his re,ations" It $as a*ain necessar'

for the charmin* 1iss St" 3%es to interfere7 the

more she )ercei%ed the inQuence she had u)on him(

the more she ,o%ed him" She made him de)art( and

$as much aected at it" At ,en*th( $hen he $as

*one( the ae( $ho $as not on,' 1iss St" 3%es+

e,der rother ' man' 'ears( ut $as a,so her *uar4

dian( endea%ored to $ean his $ard from the im)or4

tunities of this dreadfu, ,o%er" &e $ent to consu,t

the ai,i( $ho had a,$a's intended his son for the

ae+s sister( and $ho ad%ised him to ),ace the )oor

*ir, in a con%ent" This $as a terri,e stroGe" Such

a measure $ou,d( to a 'oun* ,ad' unaected $ith

an' )articu,ar )assion( ha%e een ine?)ressi,e )un4

ishment7 ut to a ,o%e4sicG maid( eua,,' sa*acious

and tender( it $as des)air itse,f"

When the in*enuous &ercu,es returned to the

)rior+s( $ith his usua, franGness( he re,ated a,, that

had ha))ened" &e met $ith some remonstrances(

$hich had some eect u)on his mind( thou*h none

u)on his senses7 ut the ne?t da'( $hen he $anted

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to return to his mistress( in order to reason $ith

her u)on the ,a$ of nature and the ,a$ of con%ention(

the ai,i acuainted him( $ith insu,tin* Ho'( that

she $as in a con%ent"

#Ver' $e,,(# said he( #I+,, *o and reason $ith her

in this con%ent"#

 The &uron" <B

#That cannot e(# said the ai,i7 and then en4

tered into a ,on* e?),anation of the nature of a con4

%ent( te,,in* him that this $ord $as deri%ed from

con%entus( in the Latin( $hich si*nies #an assem4

,'# 7 and the &uron cou,d not com)rehend $h' he

mi*ht not e admitted into this assem,'" As soon

as he $as informed that this assem,' $as a Gind

of )rison( in $hich *ir,s $ere shut u)( a shocGin*

institution( unGno$n in &uronia and En*,and( he

ecame as furious as $as his )atron &ercu,es $hen

Euritus( Gin* of CEcha,ia( no ,ess crue, than the

ae of St" 3%es( refused him the eauteous ,o,a(

his dau*hter( not inferior in eaut' to the ae+s sis4

ter" &e $as u)on the )oint of *oin* to set re

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to the con%ent to carr' o his mistress( or e urned

$ith her" 1iss KerGaon( terried at such a dec,a4

ration( *a%e u) a,, ho)es of e%er seein* her ne)he$

a sudeacon7 and( sad,' $ee)in*( she e?c,aimed.

#The de%i, has certain,' een in him since he has

een christened"#

C&APTER VII"

 T&E &0RON REP0LSES T&E ENLIS&"

 The in*enuous &ercu,es $a,Ged to$ard the sea4

coast $ra))ed in dee) and *,oom' me,ancho,'( $ith

his dou,e4char*ed fusee u)on his shou,der and his

cut,ass ' his side( shootin* no$ and then a ird( and

often tem)ted to shoot himse,f 7 ut he had sti,, some

<> The &uron"

aection for ,ife( for the saGe of his dear mistress7

' turns e?ecratin* his unc,e and aunt( a,, Lo$er

!rittan'( and his christenin*7 then ,essin* them(

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as the' had introduced him to the Gno$,ed*e of her

he ,o%ed" &e reso,%ed u)on *oin* to urn the con4

%ent( and he sto))ed short for fear of urnin* his

mistress" The $a%es of the channe, are not more

a*itated ' the easter,' and $ester,' $inds than $as

his heart ' so man' contrar' emotions"

&e $as $a,Gin* a,on* %er' fast( $ithout Gno$4

in* $hither he $as *oin*( $hen he heard the eat of

a drum" &e sa$( at a *reat distance( a %ast mu,ti4

tude( )art of $hom ran to$ard the coast( and the

other )art in the o))osite direction"

A thousand shrieGs re4echoed on e%er' side" Cu4

riosit' and coura*e hurried him( that instant( to$ard

the s)ot $here the *reatest c,amor arose( $hich he

attained in a fe$ ,ea)s" The commander of the mi,i4

tia( $ho had su))ed $ith him at the )rior+s( Gne$

him immediate,'( and he ran to the &uron $ith o)en

arms.

#Ah it is the sincere American . he $i,, *ht for

us"#

0)on $hich the mi,itia( $ho $ere a,most dead

$ith fear( reco%ered themse,%es( cr'in* $ith one

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%oice .

#It is the &uron( the in*enuous &uron"#

#ent,emen(# said he( #$hat is the matter Wh'

are 'ou fri*htened &a%e the' shut 'our mistresses

u) in con%ents #

 The &uron" <

Instant,' a thousand confused %oices cried out .

#Do 'ou not see the En*,ish( $ho are ,andin*#

#Ver' $e,,(# re),ied the &uron( #the' are a ra%e

)eo),e7 the' ne%er )ro)osed maGin* me a sudea4

con 7 the' ne%er carried o m' mistress"#

 The commander made him understand that the'

$ere comin* to )i,,a*e the ae of the mountain(

drinG his unc,e+s $ine( and )erha)s carr' o 1iss

St" 3%es 7 that the ,itt,e %esse, $hich set him on shore

in !rittan' had come on,' to reconnoitre the coast 7

that the' $ere committin* acts of hosti,it'( $ithout

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ha%in* dec,ared $ar a*ainst France7 and that the

)ro%ince $as entire,' e?)osed to them"

#If this e the case(# said he( #the' %io,ate the ,a$

of nature . ,et me a,one 7 I ,i%ed a ,on* time amon*

them7 I am acuainted $ith their ,an*ua*e( and I

$i,, s)eaG to them" I cannot thinG the' can ha%e so

$icGed a desi*n"#

Durin* this con%ersation the En*,ish Qeet a)4

)roached7 the &uron ran to$ard it( and ha%in*

 Hum)ed into a ,itt,e oat( soon ro$ed to the admira,+s

shi)( and ha%in* *one on oard( asGed $hether it $as

true that the' $ere come to ra%a*e the coast( $ithout

ha%in* honest,' dec,ared $ar

 The admira, and a,, his cre$ urst out into ,au*h4

ter( made him drinG some )unch( and sent him acG"

 The in*enuous &ercu,es( )iued at this rece)tion(

thou*ht of nothin* e,se ut eatin* his o,d friends

for his countr'men and the )rior" The *ent,emen

of the nei*horhood ran from a,, uarters( and Hoined

Vo," 4

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<M The &uron"

them 7 the' had some cannon( and he dischar*ed them

one after the other" The En*,ish ,anded( and he Qe$

to$ard them( $hen he Gi,,ed three of them $ith his

o$n hand" &e e%en $ounded the admira,( $ho had

made a HoGe of him" The entire mi,itia $ere ani4

mated $ith his )ro$ess" The En*,ish returned to

their shi)s( and $ent on oard 7 and the $ho,e coast

re4echoed $ith the shouts of %ictor'( #Li%e the Gin*

,i%e the in*enuous &ercu,es #

E%er' one ran to emrace him 7 e%er' one stro%e

to sto) the ,eedin* of some s,i*ht $ounds he had

recei%ed"

#Ah # said he( #if 1iss St" 3%es $ere here( she

$ou,d )ut on a ),aster for me"#

 The ai,i( $ho had hid himse,f in his ce,,ar dur4

in* the att,e( came to )a' his com),iments ,iGe the

rest" !ut he $as *reat,' sur)rised $hen he heard

the in*enuous &ercu,es sa' to a do2en 'oun* men(

$e,, dis)osed for his ser%ice( $ho surrounded him .

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$ere a sudeacon"#

 The &uron had( durin* the att,e( )icGed u) a

)urse fu,, of *uineas( $hich the admira, had )ro4

a,' ,ost" &e did not dout that this )urse $ou,d

u' a,, Lo$er !rittan'( and( ao%e a,,( maGe 1iss

St" 3%es a *reat ,ad'" E%er' one )ersuaded him to

re)air to Versai,,es( to recei%e the recom)ense due to

his ser%ices" The commandant and the )rinci)a, of4

cers furnished him $ith certicates in aundance"

 The unc,e and aunt a,so a))ro%ed of this Hourne'"

&e $as to e )resented to the Gin* $ithout an' dif4

cu,t'" This a,one $ou,d *i%e him *reat $ei*ht in

the )ro%ince" These t$o *ood fo,Gs added to the

En*,ish )urse a considera,e )resent out of their

sa%in*s" The &uron said to himse,f( #When I see

the Gin*( I $i,, asG 1iss St" 3%es of him in mar4

ria*e( and certain,' he $i,, not refuse me"# &e set

out accordin*,'( amidst the acc,amations of the $ho,e

district( stiQed $ith emraces( athed in tears ' his

aunt( ,essed ' his unc,e( and recommendin* him4

se,f to the charmin* 1iss St" 3%es"

ioo The &uron"

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C&APTER VIII"

 T&E &0RON OES TO CO0RT S0PS 0PON T&E ROAD

WIT& SO1E &00ENOTS"

 The in*enuous &ercu,es tooG the Saumur road

in the coach( ecause there $as at that time no other

con%enience" When he came to Saumur( he $as as4

tonished to nd the cit' a,most deserted( and to see

se%era, fami,ies *oin* a$a'" &e $as to,d that( ha,f

a do2en 'ears efore( Saumur contained u)$ard of

ft' thousand inhaitants( and that at )resent there

$ere not si? thousand" &e mentioned this at the

inn( $hi,e at su))er" Se%era, Protestants $ere at

ta,e 7 some com),ained itter,'( others trem,ed $ith

ra*e( others( $ee)in*( said( #Nos du,cia ,inuitmis

ar%a( nos )atriam fu*imus"# The &uron( $ho did

not understand Latin( had these $ords e?),ained to

him( $hich si*nied( #We aandon our s$eet e,ds 7

$e Q' from our countr'"#

#And $h' do 'ou Q' from 'our countr'( *ent,e4

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men#

#!ecause $e must other$ise acGno$,ed*e the

)o)e"#

#And $h' not acGno$,ed*e him 3ou ha%e no

*odmothers( then( that 'ou $ant to marr'( for I

am to,d it is he that *rants this )ermission"#

#Ah sir( this )o)e sa's that he is master of the

domains of Gin*s"#

 The &uron" ;=;

#!ut( *ent,emen( $hat re,i*ion are 'ou of#

#Wh'( sir( $e are for the most )art dra)ers and

manufacturers"#

#If the )o)e( then( is not the master of 'our

c,othes and manufactures( 'ou do %er' $e,, not to

acGno$,ed*e him 7 ut as to Gin*s( it is their usiness(

and $h' do 'ou trou,e 'ourse,%es aout it #

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&ere a ,itt,e ,acG man tooG u) the ar*ument( and

%er' ,earned,' set forth the *rie%ances of the com4

)an'" &e ta,Ged of the re%ocation of the edict of

Nantes $ith so much ener*' 7 he de),ored( in so )a4

thetic a manner( the fate of ft' thousand fu*iti%e

fami,ies( and of ft' thousand others con%erted '

dra*oons( that the in*enuous &ercu,es cou,d not re4

frain from sheddin* tears"

#Whence arises it(# said he( #that so *reat a Gin*(

$hose reno$n e?)ands itse,f e%en to the &urons(

shou,d thus de)ri%e himse,f of so man' hearts that

$ou,d ha%e ,o%ed him( and so man' arms that $ou,d

ha%e ser%ed him #

#!ecause he has een im)osed u)on( ,iGe other

*reat Gin*s(# re),ied the ,itt,e orator" #&e has een

made to e,ie%e that as soon as he utters a $ord a,,

)eo),e thinG as he does 7 and that he can maGe us

chan*e our re,i*ion( Hust as his musician Lu,,i( in a

moment( chan*es the decorations of his o)era" &e

has not on,' a,read' ,ost %e or si? hundred thou4

sand %er' usefu, suHects( ut he has turned man' of

them into enemies 7 and Kin* Wi,,iam( $ho is at this

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IO@ The &uron"

time master of En*,and( has formed se%era, re*i4

ments of these identica, Frenchmen( $ho $ou,d

other$ise ha%e fou*ht for their monarch"

#Such a disaster is more astonishin*( as the )res4

ent )o)e( to $hom Louis :IV" sacrices a )art of

his )eo),e( is his dec,ared enem'" A %io,ent uarre,

has e?isted et$een them for near,' nine 'ears" It

has een carried so far that France had ho)e of at

,en*th castin* o the 'oGe ' $hich it has een Ge)t

in suHection for so man' a*es to this forei*ner( and(

more )articu,ar,'( of not *i%in* him an' more

mone'( $hich is the )rimum moi,e of the aairs of

this $or,d" It therefore a))ears e%ident that this

*reat Gin* has een im)osed on( as $e,, $ith res)ect

to his interest as the e?tent of his )o$er( and that

e%en the ma*nanimit' of his heart has eeen strucG

at"#

 The &uron( ecomin* more and more interested(

asGed .

#Who $ere the Frenchmen $ho thus decei%ed a

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monarch so dear to the &urons #

#The' are the /esuits(# he $as ans$ered( #and(

)articu,ar,'( Father ,a Chaise( the Gin*+s confessor"

It is to e ho)ed that od $i,, one da' )unish them

for it( and that the' $i,, e dri%en out( as the' no$

dri%e us" Can an' misfortune eua, ours 1" de

Lou%ois esets us on a,, sides $ith /esuits and

dra*oons"#

#We,, *ent,emen(# re),ied the &uron( #I am *o4

in* to Versai,,es to recei%e the recom)ense due to m'

 The &uron" ;=

ser%ices 7 I $i,, s)eaG to 1" de Lou%ois" I am to,d it

is he $ho maGes $ar from his c,oset" I sha,, see

the Gin*( and I $i,, acuaint him $ith the truth" It

is im)ossi,e not to 'ie,d to this truth( $hen it is fe,t"

I sha,, return %er' soon to marr' 1iss St" 3%es( and

I e* 'ou $i,, e )resent at our nu)tia,s"#

 These *ood )eo),e no$ tooG him for some *reat

,ord( $ho tra%e,,ed inco*nito in the coach" Some

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IO The &uron"

#Sir(# said the tra%e,,er to him( #'ou a))ear to me

to e a ra%e man" I am ne)he$ to the )rior of our

Lad' of the 1ountain" I ha%e Gi,,ed En*,ishmen(

and I am come to s)eaG to the Gin* 7 I e* 'ou $i,,

conduct me to his chamer"#

 The so,dier( de,i*hted to nd a man of coura*e

from his )ro%ince( $ho did not seem acuainted $ith

the customs of the court( to,d him it $as necessar'

to e )resented to 1" de Lou%ois"

#Ver' $e,,( then( conduct me to 1" de Lou%ois(

$ho $i,, dout,ess conduct me to the Gin*"#

#It is more dicu,t to s)eaG to 1" de Lou%ois

than the Gin*" !ut I $i,, conduct 'ou to 1" A,e?4

ander( rst commissioner of $ar( and this $i,, e

 Hust the same as if 'ou s)oGe to the minister"#

 The' accordin*,' re)aired to 1" A,e?ander+s(

$ho $as rst c,erG7 ut the' cou,d not e intro4

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duced( he ein* c,ose,' en*a*ed in usiness $ith a

,ad' of the court( and no )erson $as a,,o$ed ad4

mittance"

#We,,(# said the so,dier( #there is no harm done 7

,et us *o to 1" A,e?ander+s rst c,erG" This $i,, e

 Hust the same as if 'ou s)oGe to 1" A,e?ander him4

se,f"#

 The &uron( uite astonished( fo,,o$ed him" The'

remained to*ether ha,f an hour in a ,itt,e antecham4

er"

#What is a,, this# said the in*enuous &ercu,es"

#Is a,, the $or,d in%isi,e in this countr' It is

much easier to *ht in Lo$er !rittan' a*ainst En*4

 The &tiron" ;=B

,ishmen than to meet $ith )eo),e at Versai,,es $ith

$hom one has usiness"#

&e amused himse,f for some time $ith re,atin*

his amours to his countr'man 7 ut the c,ocG striGin*

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reca,,ed the so,dier to his )ost( $hen a mutua, )rom4

ise $as *i%en of meetin* on the morro$"

 The &uron remained another ha,f hour in the

antechamer( meditatin* u)on 1iss St" 3%es and the

dicu,t' of s)eaGin* to Gin*s and rst c,erGs"

At ,en*th the )atron a))eared"

#Sir(# said the in*enuous &ercu,es( #if I had

$aited to re)u,se the En*,ish as ,on* as 'ou ha%e

made me $ait for m' audience( the' $ou,d certain,'

ha%e ra%a*ed a,, Lo$er !rittan' $ithout o))osi4

tion"#

 These $ords im)ressed the c,erG" &e at ,en*th

said to the inhaitant of !rittan'( #What is 'our re4

uest#

#A recom)ense(# said the other7 #these are m'

tit,es 7# sho$in* his certicates"

 The c,erG read( and to,d him( #that )roa,' he

mi*ht otain ,ea%e to )urchase a ,ieutenanc'"#

#1e $hat( must I )a' mone' for ha%in* re)u,sed

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the En*,ish 1ust I )a' a ta? to e Gi,,ed for 'ou(

$hi,e 'ou are )eacea,' *i%in* 'our audience here

 3ou are certain,' Hestin*" I reuire a com)an' of

ca%a,r' for nothin*" I reuire that the Gin* sha,,

set 1iss St" 3%es at ,iert' from the con%ent( and

*i%e her to me in marria*e" I $ant to s)eaG to the

Gin* in fa%or of ft' thousand fami,ies( $hom I

;=> The &uron"

)ro)ose restorin* to him" In a $ord( I $ant to e

usefu," Let me e em),o'ed and ad%anced"#

#What is 'our name( sir( $ho ta,G in such a hi*h

st',e#

#Oh oh# ans$ered the &uron7 #'ou ha%e not

then read m' certicates This is the $a' the' are

treated" 1' name is &ercu,es de KerGaon" I am

christened( and I ,od*e at the +!,ue Dia,"+ # The c,erG

conc,uded( ,iGe the )eo),e at Saumur( that his head

$as turned( and did not )a' him an' further atten4

tion"

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then conducted him to the cast,e erected ' Kin*

Char,es V"( son of /ohn II"( near the street of St"

Antoine( at the *ate des Tourne,,es"

What $as the &uron+s astonishment on his $a'

thither the reader is ,eft to ima*ine" &e at rst

fancied it $as a,, a dream 7 and remained for some

time in a state of stu)efaction" Present,'( trans4

)orted $ith ra*e that *a%e him more than common

stren*th( he co,,ared t$o of his conductors $ho $ere

$ith him in the coach( Qun* them out of the door(

cast himse,f after them( and then dra**ed the third(

$ho $anted to ho,d him" &e fe,, in the attem)t(

$hen the' tied him( and re),aced him in the carria*e"

#This( then(# said he( #is $hat one *ets for dri%4

in* the En*,ish out of Lo$er !rittan' What $ou,d

'ou sa'( charmin* 1iss St" 3%es( if 'ou cou,d see

me in this situation #

 The' at ,en*th arri%ed at the ),ace of their desti4

nation" &e $as carried $ithout an' noise into the

chamer in $hich he $as to e ,ocGed u)( ,iGe a

dead cor)se *oin* to the *ra%e" This room $as

a,read' occu)ied ' an o,d so,itar' student of Port

Ro'a,( named ordon( $ho had een ,an*uishin*

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here for t$o 'ears"

#See(# said the chief of the 1arechaussee( #here

is com)an' I rin* 'ou 7# and immediate,' the

enormous o,ts of this stron* door( secured $ith

,ar*e iron ars( $ere fastened u)on them" These

t$o ca)ti%es $ere thus se)arated from a,, the uni4

%erse esides"

ioM The &uron"

C&APTER :"

 T&E &0RON IS S&0T 0P IN T&E !ASTILLE WIT& A

 /ANSENIST"

1r" ordon $as a hea,th' o,d man( of a serene

dis)osition( $ho $as acuainted $ith t$o *reat

thin*s7 the one $as( to ear ad%ersit'7 the other(

to conso,e the aYicted" &e a))roached his com4

)anion $ith an o)en( s'm)athi2in*X air( and said to

him( $hi,e he emraced him .

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#Whoe%er 'ou are that is come to )artaGe of m'

*ra%e( e assured that I sha,, constant,' for*et m'4

se,f to soften 'our torments in the inferna, a'ss

$here $e are ),un*ed" Let us adore Pro%idence

that has conducted us here" Let us suer in )eace(

and trust in ho)e"#

 These $ords had the same eect u)on the 'outh

as cordia, dro)s( $hich reca,, a d'in* )erson to ,ife

and sho$ to his astonished e'es a *,im)se of ,i*ht"

After the rst com),iments $ere o%er( ordon(

$ithout ur*in* him to re,ate the cause of his mis4

fortune( ins)ired him ' the s$eetness of his dis4

course and ' that interest $hich t$o unfortunate

)ersons share $ith each other( $ith a desire of o)en4

in* his heart and of disurdenin* himse,f of the

$ei*ht $hich o))ressed him 7 ut he cou,d not

*uess the cause of his misfortune( and the *ood

man ordon $as as much astonished as himse,f"

 The &uron" ;=<

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#od must( dout,ess(# said the /ansenist to the

&uron( #ha%e *reat desi*ns u)on 'ou( since he con4

ducted 'ou from LaGe Ontario to En*,and( and

thence to France7 caused 'ou to e a)ti2ed in

Lo$er !rittan'( and has no$ ,od*ed 'ou here for

'our sa,%ation"#

#In faith(# re),ied &ercu,es( #I e,ie%e the de%i,

a,one has interfered in m' destin'" 1' countr'men

in America $ou,d ne%er ha%e treated me $ith the

ararit' that I ha%e here e?)erienced7 the' ha%e

not the ,east idea of it" The' are ca,,ed sa%a*es7

the' are *ood )eo),e( ut rustic7 and the men of

this countr' are rened %i,,ains" I am( indeed(

*reat,' sur)rised to ha%e come from another $or,d(

to e shut u) in this( under four o,ts $ith a )riest 7

ut I consider $hat an innite numer of men set

out from one hemis)here to *o and *et Gi,,ed in the

other( or are cast a$a' in the %o'a*e( and are eaten

' the shes" I cannot disco%er the *racious de4

si*ns of od o%er these )eo),e"#

+ Their dinner $as rou*ht them throu*h a $icGet"

 The con%ersation turned u)on Pro%idence( ,ettres

de cachet( and u)on the art of not sinGin* under

dis*race( to $hich a,, men in this $or,d are e?)osed"

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#It is no$ t$o 'ears since I came here(# said the

o,d man( #$ithout an' other conso,ation than m'4

se,f and ooGs 7 and 'et I ha%e ne%er een a sin*,e

moment out of tem)er"#

#Ah 1r" ordon(# cried &ercu,es( #'ou are not

no The &uron"

then in ,o%e $ith 'our *odmother" If 'ou $ere as

$e,, acuainted $ith 1iss St" 3%es as I am( 'ou

$ou,d e in a state of des)eration"#

At these $ords he cou,d not refrain from tears(

$hich *reat,' re,ie%ed him from his o))ression"

#&o$ is it( then( that tears so,ace us# said the

&uron 7 #it seems to me that the' shou,d ha%e uite

an o))osite eect"#

#1' son(# said the *ood o,d man( #e%er'thin* is

)h'sica, aout us 7 a,, secretions are usefu, to the

od'( and a,, that comforts it( comforts the sou,"

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We are the machines of Pro%idence"#

 The in*enuous &uron( $ho( as $e ha%e a,read'

oser%ed more than once( had a *reat share of un4

derstandin*( entered dee),' into the consideration

of this idea( the seeds $hereof a))eared to e in

himse,f( after $hich he asGed his com)anion $h'

his machine had for t$o 'ears een conned ' four

o,ts"

#!' eectua, *race(# ans$ered ordon 7 #I )ass

for a /ansenist 7 I Gno$ Arnaud and Nico,e 7 the

 /esuits ha%e )ersecuted us" We e,ie%e that the

)o)e is nothin* more than a isho)( ,iGe another(

and therefore Father ,a Chaise has otained from the

Gin*( his )enitent( an order for roin* me( $ithout

an' form of Hustice( of the most )recious inheritance

of man ,iert' #

#This is %er' stran*e(# said the &uron 7 #a,, the

unha))' )eo),e $ith $hom I ha%e met ha%e een

made so so,e,' ' the )o)e" With res)ect to 'our

 The &uron" ; ; ;

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eectua, *race( I acGno$,ed*e I do not understand

$hat 'ou mean" !ut I consider it as a %er' *reat

fa%or that od has ,et me( in m' misfortune( meet

$ith a man $ho )ours into m' heart such conso,a4

tion as I thou*ht m'se,f inca)a,e of recei%in*"#

 The con%ersation ecame each da' more interest4

in* and instructi%e" The sou,s of the t$o ca)ti%es

seemed to unite in one od'" The o,d man had

acuired Gno$,ed*e( and the 'oun* man $as $i,,in*

to recei%e instruction" At the end of the rst month

he ea*er,' a)),ied himse,f to the stud' of *eometr'"

ordon made him read #Rohau,t+s Ph'sics(# $hich

ooG $as sti,, in fashion7 and he had *ood sense

enou*h to nd in it nothin* ut douts and uncer4

tainties"

&e after$ard read the rst %o,ume of the #En4

uir' After Truth"# This instructi%e $orG *a%e

him ne$ ,i*ht"

#What# said he( #do our ima*ination and our

senses decei%e us to that de*ree What are not

our ideas formed ' oHects( and can $e not acuire

them ' ourse,%es #

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Eterna, !ein*( ,iGe the stars and the e,ements that

he o)erates e%er'thin* in us that $e are sma,,

$hee,s of the immense machine( of $hich he is the

sou, that he acts accordin* to *enera, ,a$s( and

not from )articu,ar %ie$s" This is a,, that a))ears

to me inte,,i*i,e 7 a,, the rest is to me a darG a'ss"#

#!ut this( m' son( $ou,d e maGin* od the

author of sin #

#!ut( father( 'our eectua, *race $ou,d eua,,'

maGe him the author of sin 7 for certain,' a,, those

to $hom this *race $as refused $ou,d sin7 and is

not an a,,4)o$erfu, ein* $ho )ermits e%i,( %irtua,,'

the author of e%i, #

 This sincerit' *reat,' emarrassed the *ood man 7

he found that a,, his endea%ors to e?tricate himse,f

from this ua*mire $ere ineectua, 7 and he hea)ed

such uantities of $ords u)on one another( $hich

seemed to ha%e meanin*( ut $hich in fact had

none( that the &uron cou,d not he,) )it'in* him"

 This uestion e%ident,' determined the ori*in of

*ood and e%i,7 and )oor ordon $as reduced to

the necessit' of recurrin* to Pandora+s o?

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 The &uron" ;;

Oromasdes+ e** )ierced ' Arimanes the enmit'

et$een T')hon and Osiris and( at ,ast( ori*ina,

sin7 and these he hudd,ed to*ether in )rofound

darGness( $ithout their thro$in* the ,east *,im4

merin* ,i*ht u)on one another" &o$e%er( this

romance of the sou, di%erted their thou*hts from

the contem),ation of their o$n miser'7 and( ' a

stran*e ma*ic( the mu,titude of ca,amities dis)ersed

throu*hout the $or,d diminished the sensation of

their o$n miseries" The' did not dare com),ain

$hen a,, manGind $as in a state of suerance"

!ut in the re)ose of ni*ht( the ima*e of the

charmin* 1iss St" 3%es eaced from the mind of

her ,o%er e%er' meta)h'sica, and mora, idea" &e

a$oGe $ith his e'es athed in tears7 and the o,d

 /ansenist for*ot his eectua, *race( and the ae

of St" C'ran( and e%en /ansenius himse,f( to aord

conso,ation to a 'outh $hom he had Hud*ed *ui,t'

of a morta, sin"

After these ,ectures and their reasonin*s $ere

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o%er( their ad%entures furnished them $ith suHects

of con%ersation 7 after this store $as e?hausted the'

read to*ether( or se)arate,'" The &uron+s under4

standin* dai,' increased 7 and he $ou,d certain,'

ha%e made *reat )ro*ress in mathematics if the

thou*ht of 1iss St" 3%es had not freuent,' dis4

tracted him"

&e read histories( $hich made him me,ancho,'"

 The $or,d a))eared to him too $icGed and too

misera,e" In fact( histor' is nothin* more than a

Vo," M

;; ; h &uron"

)icture of crimes and misfortunes" The cro$d of

innocent and )eacea,e men is a,$a's in%isi,e u)on

this %ast theatre" The dramatis )ersons is com4

)osed of amitious( )er%erse men" The ),easure

$hich histor' aords is deri%ed from the same

source as tra*ed'( $hich $ou,d ,an*uish and e4

come insi)id( $ere it not ins)ired $ith stron* )as4

sions( *reat e%ents( and )iteous misfortunes" C,io

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must e armed $ith a )oniard as $e,, as 1e,)omene"

 Thou*h the histor' of France is not ,ess ,,ed

$ith horror than those of other nations( it ne%er4

the,ess a))eared to him so dis*ustin* in the e*in4

nin*( so dr' in the continuation( and so triQin* in

the end e%en in the time of &enr' IV" 7 e%er desti4

tute of *rand monuments( or forei*n to those ne

disco%eries $hich ha%e i,,ustrated other nations7

that he $as o,i*ed to reso,%e u)on not ein* tired

in order to *o throu*h a,, the )articu,ars of oscure

ca,amities conned to a ,itt,e corner of the $or,d"

ordon thou*ht ,iGe him" The' oth ,au*hed

$ith )it' $hen the' read of the so%erei*ns of Fe2en4

sacs( Fesansa*uet( and Astrac7 such a stud' cou,d

e re,ished on,' ' their heirs( if the' had an'" The

ri,,iant a*es of the Roman Re)u,ic made him

sometimes uite indierent as to an' other )art of

the *,oe" The s)ectac,e of %ictorious Rome( the

,a$*i%er of nations( en*rossed his $ho,e sou," &e

*,o$ed in contem),atin* a )eo),e $ho $ere *o%4

erned for se%en hundred 'ears ' the enthusiasm of

,iert' and *,or'"

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 The &uron" ;;B

 Thus ro,,ed da's( $eeGs( and months 7 and he

$ou,d ha%e thou*ht himse,f ha))' in the sanctuar'

of des)air( if he had not ,o%ed"

 The natura, *oodness of his heart $as softened

sti,, more $hen he reQected u)on the )rior of our

Lad' of the 1ountain( and the sensi,e KerGaon"

#What must the' thinG(# he $ou,d often re)eat(

#$hen the' can *et no tidin*s of me The' must

thinG me an un*ratefu, $retch"# This idea ren4

dered him inconso,a,e" &e )itied those $ho ,o%ed

him much more than he )itied himse,f"

C&APTER :I"

&OW T&E &0RON DISCLOSES &IS ENI0S"

Readin* a**randi2es the sou,( and an en,i*htened

friend aords conso,ation" Our ca)ti%e had these

t$o ad%anta*es in his fa%or $hich he had ne%er e?4

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)ected" #I sha,, e*in to e,ie%e in the 1etamor4

)hoses(# said he( #for I ha%e een transformed from

a rute into a man"#

&e formed a chosen ,irar' $ith )art of the

mone' $hich he $as a,,o$ed to dis)ose of" &is

friend encoura*ed him to commit to $ritin* such

oser%ations as occurred to him" These are his notes

u)on ancient histor' .

#I ima*ine that nations $ere for a ,on* time ,iGe

m'se,f 7 that the' did not ecome en,i*htened ti,, %er'

,ate7 that for man' a*es the' $ere occu)ied $ith

n> The &uron"

nothin* ut the )resent moment $hich e,a)sed 7 that

the' thou*ht %er' ,itt,e of $hat $as )ast( and ne%er

of the future" I ha%e tra%ersed %e or si? hundred

,ea*ues in Canada( and I did not meet $ith a sin*,e

monument 7 no one is the ,east acuainted $ith the

actions of his )redecessors" Is not this the natura,

state of man The human s)ecies of this continent

a))ears to me su)erior to that of the other" The'

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ha%e e?tended their ein* for man' a*es ' arts and

Gno$,ed*e" Is this ecause the' ha%e eards u)on

their chins and od has refused this ornament to

the Americans I do not e,ie%e it 7 for I nd the

Chinese ha%e %er' ,itt,e eard( and that the' ha%e

cu,ti%ated art for u)$ard of %e thousand 'ears"

In eect( if their anna,s *o acG u)$ard of four

thousand 'ears( the nation must necessari,' ha%e

een united and in a Qourishin* state more than %e

hundred centuries"

#One thin* )articu,ar,' striGes me in this ancient

histor' of China( $hich is( that a,most e%er'thin*

is )roa,e and natura," I admire it ecause it is

not tinctured $ith an'thin* of the mar%e,,ous"

#Wh' ha%e a,, other nations ado)ted fau,ous

ori*ins The ancient chronic,es of the histor' of

France( $hich( ' the '( are not %er' ancient( maGe

the French descend from one Francus( the son of

&ector" The Romans said the' $ere the issue of a

Phr'*ian( thou*h there $as not in their $ho,e

,an*ua*e a sin*,e $ord that had the ,east connection

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 The &uron" ;;

$ith the ,an*ua*e of Phr'*ia" The *ods had in4

haited E*')t for ten thousand 'ears( and the de%i,s

Sc'thia( $here the' had en*endered the &uns" I

meet $ith nothin* efore Thuc'dides ut romances

simi,ar to the Amadis( and far ,ess amusin*" A)4

)aritions( orac,es( )rodi*ies( sorcer'( metamor)hoses

are inters)ersed throu*hout $ith the e?),anation

of dreams( $hich are the ases of the destin' of the

*reatest em)ires and the sma,,est states" &ere are

s)eaGin* easts( there rutes that are adored( *ods

transformed into men( and men into *ods" If $e

must ha%e fa,es( ,et us( at ,east( ha%e such as a)4

)ear the em,em of truth" I admire the fa,es of

)hi,oso)hers( ut I ,au*h at those of chi,dren( and

hate those of im)ostors"#

&e one da' hit u)on a histor' of the Em)eror

 /ustinian" It $as there re,ated that some A))e4

deutes of Constantino),e had de,i%ered( in %er' ad

reeG( an edict a*ainst the *reatest ca)tain of the

a*e( ecause this hero had uttered the fo,,o$in*

$ords in the $armth of con%ersation. #Truth

shines forth $ith its )ro)er ,i*ht( and )eo),e+s minds

are not i,,umined $ith Qamin* )i,es"# The A))e4

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Pasto)hores shou,d not e su))orted( ut con4

strained"#

&e committed se%era, other oser%ations to )a)er(

$hich astonished o,d ordon" #What(# said he to

himse,f( #ha%e I consumed ft' 'ears in instruction

and not attained to the de*ree of natura, *ood sense

of this chi,d( $ho is a,most a sa%a*e I trem,e to

thinG I ha%e so arduous,' stren*thened )reHudices(

and he ,istens to sim),e nature on,'"#

 The *ood man had some ,itt,e ooGs of criticism(

some of those )eriodica, )am)h,ets $herein men( in4

ca)a,e of )roducin* an'thin* themse,%es( ,acGen

the )roductions of others7 $here a Vise insu,ts a

Racine( and a Faidit a Fene,on" The &uron ran

o%er some of them" #I com)are them(# said he(

#to certain *nats that ,od*e their e**s in the nostri,s

of the nest horses( $hich do not( ho$e%er( retard

their s)eed"#

 The &uron" ;;<

 The t$o )hi,oso)hers scarce dei*ned to cast their

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e'es u)on these dre*s of ,iterature"

 The' soon after $ent throu*h the e,ements of

astronom'" The &uron sent for some *,oes7 he

$as ra%ished at this *reat s)ectac,e"

#&o$ hard it is(# said he( #that I shou,d on,'

e*in to e acuainted $ith hea%en( $hen the )o$er

of contem),atin* it is ra%ished from me /u)iter

and Saturn re%o,%e in these immense s)aces7 mi,4

,ions of suns i,,umine m'riads of $or,ds 7 and( in

this corner of the earth on $hich I am cast( there

are ein*s that de)ri%e me of seein* and stud'in*

those $or,ds to $hich m' e'e mi*ht reach( and e%en

that in $hich od has ),aced me" The ,i*ht created

for the $ho,e uni%erse is ,ost to me" It $as not hid4

den from me in the northern hori2on( $here I )assed

m' infanc' and 'outh" Without 'ou( m' dear or4

don( I shou,d e annihi,ated"#

C&APTER :II"

 T&E &0RON+S SENTI1ENTS 0PON T&EATRICAL PIECES"

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 The 'oun* &uron resem,ed one of those %i*or4

ous trees( $hich( ,an*uishin* in an un*ratefu, soi,(

e?tend in a ,itt,e time their roots and ranches $hen

trans),anted to a more fa%ora,e s)ot7 and it $as

%er' e?traordinar' that this fa%ora,e s)ot shou,d e

a )rison"

Amon* the ooGs $hich em),o'ed the ,eisure of

I@O The &uron"

the t$o ca)ti%es $ere some )oems and a,so trans,a4

tions of reeG tra*edies( and some dramatic )ieces

in French" Those )assa*es that d$e,t on ,o%e com4

municated at once ),easure and )ain to the sou, of

the &uron" The' $ere ut so man' ima*es of his

dear 1iss St" 3%es" The fa,e of the t$o )i*eons

rent his heart( for he $as far estran*ed from his ten4

der do%e"

1o,iere enchanted him" &e tau*ht him the man4

ners of Paris and of human nature"

#To $hich of his comedies do 'ou *i%e the )ref4

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erence #

#Dout,ess to his Tartue"+ #

#I am of 'our o)inion(# said ordon7 #it $as a

 Tartue that Qun* me into this dun*eon( and )er4

ha)s the' $ere Tartues $ho ha%e een the cause

of 'our misfortunes"#

#What do 'ou thinG of these reeG tra*edies #

#The' are %er' *ood for recians"#

!ut $hen he read the modern #I)hi*enia(#

#Phaedrus(# #Andromache(# and #Atha,ia(# he $as

in ecstas'( he si*hed( he $e)t and he ,earned them

' heart( $ithout ha%in* an' such intention"

#Read +Rodo*une(+ # said ordon 7 #that is said

to e a ca)ita, )roduction7 the other )ieces $hich

ha%e *i%en 'ou so much ),easure are triQes com4

)ared to this"#

 The 'oun* man had scarce *ot throu*h the rst

)a*e( efore he said( #This is not $ritten ' the

same author"#

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 The &uron" ;@;

#&o$ do 'ou Gno$ it #

#I Gno$ nothin* 'et 7 ut these ,ines neither touch

m' ear nor m' heart"#

#Oh # said ordon( #the %ersication does not si*4

nif'"# The &uron asGed( #What must I Hud*e '(

then#

After ha%in* read the )iece %er' attenti%e,' $ith4

out an' other desi*n than ein* ),eased( he ,ooGed

steadfast,' at his friend $ith much astonishment(

not Gno$in* $hat to sa'" At ,en*th( ein* ur*ed to

*i%e his o)inion $ith res)ect to $hat he fe,t( this

$as the ans$er he made . #I understood %er' ,itt,e

of the e*innin*7 the midd,e dis*usted me7 ut

the ,ast scene *reat,' mo%ed me( thou*h there a)4

)ears to e ut ,itt,e )roai,it' in it" I ha%e no

)reHudices for or a*ainst an' one( ut I do not re4

memer t$ent' ,ines7 I( $ho reco,,ect them a,,

$hen the' ),ease me"#

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#This )iece( ne%erthe,ess( )asses for the est u)on

our sta*e"#

#If that e the case(# said he( #it is )erha)s ,iGe

man' )eo),e $ho are not $orth' of the ),aces the'

ho,d" After a,,( this is a matter of taste( and mine

cannot 'et e formed" I ma' e mistaGen 7 ut 'ou

Gno$ I am accustomed to sa' $hat I thinG( or rather

$hat I fee," I sus)ect that i,,usion( fashion( ca)rice(

often $ar) the Hud*ments of men"#

&ere he re)eated some ,ines from #I)hi*enia(#

of $hich he $as fu,, 7 and thou*h he dec,aimed ut

indierent,'( he uttered them $ith such truth and

;@@ The &uron"

emotion that he made the o,d /ansenist $ee)" &e

then read #Cinna(# $hich did not e?cite his tears(

ut his admiration"

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here is a ne o))ortunit'( and $e sha,, )erha)s nd

 The &uron" ;@

our )oor ne)he$" &e is our rother+s son( and it is

our dut' to assist him" Who Gno$s $e ma' )er4

ha)s at ,en*th )re%ai, u)on him to ecome a su4

deacon $hen the re of 'outh is some$hat aated"

&e $as much inc,ined to the sciences" Do 'ou reco,4

,ect ho$ he reasoned u)on the O,d and Ne$ Testa4

ments We are ans$era,e for his sou," &e $as

a)ti2ed at our insti*ation" &is dear mistress( 1iss

St" 3%es( does nothin* ut $ee) incessant,'" In4

deed( $e must *o to Paris" If he is concea,ed in an'

of those infamous houses of ),easure( of $hich I ha%e

often heard( $e $i,, *et him out"#

 The )rior $as aected at his sister+s discourse"

&e $ent in search of the isho) of St" 1a,o( $ho

had a)ti2ed the &uron( and reuested his )rotection

and ad%ice" The )re,ate a))ro%ed of the Hourne'"

&e *a%e the )rior ,etters of recommendation to

Father ,a Chaise( the Gin*+s confessor( $ho $as in4

%ested $ith the rst di*nit' of the Gin*dom7 to

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&ar,ai( the archisho) of Paris( and to !ossuet(

isho) of 1eau?"

At ,en*th the rother and sister set out7 ut

$hen the' came to Paris the' found themse,%es e4

$i,dered in a *reat ,a'rinth $ithout c,e$ or end"

 Their fortune $as ut midd,in*( and the' had occa4

sion e%er' da' for carria*es to )ursue their dis4

co%er'( $hich the' cou,d not accom),ish"

 The )rior $aited u)on the Re%erend Father ,a

Chaise7 he $as $ith 1ademoise,,e du Tron( and

cou,d not *i%e audience to )riors" &e $ent to

;@ The &uron"

the archisho)+s door 7 the )re,ate $as shut u) $ith

the eautifu, 1ademoise,,e de Lesdi*uieres aout

church matters" &e Qe$ to the countr' house of the

isho) of 1eau?7 he $as en*a*ed in a c,ose e?4

amination $ith 1ademoise,,e de 1au,eon( of the

m'ster' re,atin* to 1ademoise,,e u'on" At ,en*th(

ho$e%er( he *ained access to these t$o )re,ates7

the' oth dec,ared the' cou,d not interfere $ith re4

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*ard to his ne)he$( as he $as not a sudeacon"

&e at ,en*th sa$ the /esuit( $ho recei%ed him

$ith o)en arms( )rotestin* he had a,$a's enter4

tained the *reatest )ri%ate esteem for him( thou*h he

had ne%er Gno$n him" &e s$ore that his societ'

had a,$a's een attached to the inhaitants of Lo$er

!rittan'"

#!ut(# said he( #has not 'our ne)he$ the mis4

fortune of ein* a &u*uenot #

#No( certain,'( re%erend father"#

#1a' he not e a /ansenist #

#I can assure 'our re%erence that he is scarce a

Christian" It is aout e,e%en months since he $as

christened"#

#This is %er' $e,, 7 $e $i,, taGe care of him" Is

'our enece considera,e #

#No( a %er' triQe7 and our ne)he$ costs us a

*reat dea,"#

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#Are there an' /ansenists in 'our nei*horhood

 TaGe *reat care( m' dear )rior7 the' are more

dan*erous than &u*uenots( or e%en atheists"#

#1' re%erend father( $e ha%e none7 it is not

 The &uron" ;@B

e%en Gno$n at our Lad' of the 1ountain $hat /an4

senism is"#

#So much the etter 7 *o( there is nothin* I $i,,

not do for 'ou"#

&e dismissed the )rior in this aectionate man4

ner( ut thou*ht no more aout him"

 Time s,i))ed a$a'( and the )rior and his *ood

sister $ere a,most in des)air"

In the mean$hi,e( the cursed ai,i ur*ed %er'

strenuous,' the marria*e of his *reat oo' son $ith

the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ho $as taGen )ur4

)ose,' out of the con%ent" She a,$a's entertained

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a )assion for her *odson in )ro)ortion as she de4

tested the husand $ho $as desi*ned for her" The

insu,t that had een oered her( ' shuttin* her u)

in a con%ent( increased her aection 7 and the man4

date for $eddin* the ai,i+s son com),eted her an4

ti)ath' for him" Cha*rin( tenderness( and terror

racGed her sou," Lo%e( $e Gno$( is much more in4

%enti%e and more darin* in a 'oun* $oman than

friendshi) in an a*ed )rior and an aunt u)$ard of

fort'4%e" !esides( she had recei%ed *ood instruc4

tions in her con%ent $ith the assistance of romances(

$hich she read ' stea,th"

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es rememered the ,et4

ter that had een sent ' one of the Gin*+s *uards to

Lo$er !rittan'( $hich had een s)oGen of in the

)ro%ince" She reso,%ed to *o herse,f and *ain in4

formation at Versai,,es7 to thro$ herse,f at the

minister+s feet( if her husand shou,d e in )rison as

;@> The &uron"

it $as said( and otain Hustice for him" I Gno$ not

$hat secret inte,,i*ence she had *ained that at court

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nothin* is refused to a )rett' $oman 7 ut she Gne$

not the )rice of these oons"

&a%in* taGen this reso,ution( it aorded her some

conso,ation 7 and she enHo'ed some tranui,,it' $ith4

out u)raidin* Pro%idence $ith the se%erit' of her

,ot" She recei%ed her detested intended father4in4

,a$( caressed her rother( and s)read ha))iness

throu*hout the house" On the da' a))ointed for the

ceremon'( she secret,' de)arted at four o+c,ocG in

the mornin*( $ith the ,itt,e nu)tia, )resents she had

recei%ed( and a,, she cou,d *ather" &er ),an $as

so $e,, ,aid that she $as aout ten ,ea*ues u)on her

 Hourne'( $hen( aout noon( her asence $as dis4

co%ered( and $hen e%er' one+s consternation and

sur)rise $as ine?)ressi,e" The inuisiti%e ai,i

asGed more uestions that da' than he had done for a

$eeG efore7 the intended ride*room $as more

stu)eed than e%er" The Ae St" 3%es reso,%ed in

his ra*e to )ursue his sister" The ai,i and his son

$ere dis)osed to accom)an' him" Thus fate ,ed

a,most the $ho,e canton of Lo$er !rittan' to Paris"

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es $as not $ithout a)4

)rehensions that she shou,d e )ursued" She rode

on horseacG( and she *ot a,, the inte,,i*ence she

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cou,d from the couriers( $ithout ein* sus)ected"

She asGed if the' had not met a fat ae( an enor4

mous ai,i and a 'oun* oo'( *a,,o)in*4 as fast as

the' cou,d to Paris" &a%in* ,earned( on the third

 The &uron" ;@

da'( that the' $ere not far ehind( she tooG uite a

dierent road( and $as sGi,fu, and ,ucG' enou*h to

arri%e at Versai,,es( $hi,e the' $ere in a fruit,ess

)ursuit after her at Paris" !ut ho$ $as she to e4

ha%e at Versai,,es 3oun*( handsome( untutored( un4

su))orted( unGno$n( e?)osed to e%er' dan*er( ho$

cou,d she dare *o in search of one of the Gin*+s

*uards She had some thou*hts of a)),'in* to a

 /esuit of ,o$ ranG( for there $ere some for e%er'

station of ,ife( as od( the' sa'( has *i%en dierent

a,iments to e%er' s)ecies of anima,s" &e had *i%en

the Gin* his confessor( $ho $as ca,,ed( ' a,, so,ici4

tors of eneces( the head of the a,,ican Church"

 Then came the )rinces+ confessors" The ministers

had none( the' $ere not such du)es" There $ere

 /esuits for the *entee, mo( and )articu,ar,' those

for chamermaids( ' $hom $ere Gno$n the secrets

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of their mistresses 7 and this $as no sma,, %ocation"

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es addressed herse,f to

one of these ,ast( $ho $as ca,,ed Father Tout4a4tous

a,, to e%er' one" She confessed to him( set forth

her ad%enture( her situation( her dan*er( and con4

 Hured him to *et her a ,od*in* $ith some *ood de%4

otee( $ho mi*ht she,ter her from tem)tation"

Father Tout4a4tous introduced her to the $ife of

the cu)earer( one of his most trust' )enitents"

From the moment 1iss St" 3%es ecame her ,od*er(

she did her utmost to otain the condence and

friendshi) of this )enitent" She *ained inte,,i*ence

of the !reton *uard( and in%ited him to %isit her"

;@M The &uron"

&a%in* ,earned from him that her ,o%er had een

carried o after ha%in* had a conference $ith one of

the c,erGs( she Qe$ to this c,erG" The si*ht of a ne

$oman softened him( for it must e a,,o$ed od

created $oman on,' to tame manGind"

 The scrie( thus mo,,ied( acGno$,ed*ed to her

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e%er'thin*"

#3our ,o%er has een in the !asti,,e a,most a 'ear(

and $ithout 'our intercession he $ou,d( )erha)s(

ha%e ended his da's there"#

 The tender 1iss St" 3%es s$ooned at this inte,,i4

*ence" When she had reco%ered herse,f her in4

former to,d her .

#I ha%e no )o$er to do *ood 7 a,, m' inQuence e?4

tends to doin* harm" TaGe m' ad%ice( $ait u)on

1" de St" Pouan*e( $ho has the )o$er of doin* oth

*ood and i,,7 he is 1" de Lou%ois+ cousin and fa4

%orite" This minister has t$o sou,s 7 the one is 1"

de St" Pouan*e( and 1ademoise,,e de !e,,e is the

other( ut she is at )resent asent from Versai,,es 7

so that 'ou ha%e nothin* to do ut ca)ti%ate the )ro4

tector I ha%e )ointed out to 'ou"#

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( di%ided et$een

some triQin* Ho' and e?cessi%e *rief( et$een a

*,immerin* of ho)e and dreadfu, a))rehensions

)ursued ' her rother( ido,i2in* her ,o%er( $i)in*

her tears( $hich Qo$ed in torrents 7 trem,in* and

fee,e( 'et summonin* a,, her coura*e in this situa4

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tion( she Qe$ on the $in*s of ,o%e to 1" de St"

Pouan*e+s"

 The &uron" ;@<

C&APTER :IV"

RAPID PRORESS OF T&E &0RON+S INTELLECT"

 The in*enuous 'outh $as maGin* a ra)id )ro*4

ress in the sciences( and )articu,ar,' in the science of

man" The cause of this sudden disc,osure of his un4

derstandin* $as as much o$in* to his sa%a*e edu4

cation as to the dis)osition of his sou, 7 for( ha%in*

,earned nothin* in his infanc'( he had not imied

an' )reHudices" &is mind( not ha%in* een $ar)ed

' error( had retained a,, its )rimiti%e rectitude"

&e sa$ thin*s as the' $ere 7 $hereas the ideas that

are communicated to us# in our infanc' maGe us see

them a,, our ,ife in a fa,se ,i*ht"

#3our )ersecutors are %er' aomina,e $retches(#

said he to his friend ordon" #I )it' 'ou for ein*

o))ressed( ut I condemn 'ou for ein* a /ansenist"

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A,, that this i*norant 'outh( instructed on,' '

nature( said( made a %er' dee) im)ression u)on the

mind of the o,d unha))' scho,iast"

#Is it rea,,' certain(# he cried( #that I shou,d ha%e

made m'se,f tru,' misera,e for mere chimeras I

am much more certain of m' miser' than of eectua,

*race" I ha%e s)ent m' time in reasonin* aout the

,iert' of od and human nature( ut I ha%e ,ost m'

o$n" Neither St" Au*ustine nor St" Prosner $i,,

e?tricate me from m' )resent misfortunes"#

 The in*enuous &uron( $ho *a%e $a' to his nat4

ura, instincts( at ,en*th said.

#Wi,, 'ou *i%e me ,ea%e to s)eaG to 'ou o,d,'

and franG,' Those $ho rin* u)on themse,%es

)ersecution for such id,e dis)utes seem to me to

ha%e %er' ,itt,e sense7 those $ho )ersecute a))ear

to me %er' monsters"#

 The t$o ca)ti%es entire,' coincided $ith res)ect

to the inHustice of their ca)ti%it'"

#I am a hundred times more to e )itied than

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'ou(# said the &uron 7 #I am orn free as the air 7

I had t$o ,i%es( ,iert' and the oHect of m' ,o%e7

and I am de)ri%ed of oth" We are oth in fetters(

$ithout Gno$in* $ho )ut them on us( or $ithout

ein* a,e to inuire" It is said that the &urons are

 The &uron" ;;

ararians( ecause the' a%en*e themse,%es on their

enemies 7 ut the' ne%er o))ress their friends" I

had scarce set foot in France efore I shed m' ,ood

for this countr'" I ha%e( )erha)s( )reser%ed a $ho,e

)ro%ince( and m' recom)ense is im)risonment" In

this countr' men are condemned $ithout ein*

heard" This is not the case in En*,and" A,as it

$as not a*ainst the En*,ish that I shou,d ha%e

fou*ht"#

 Thus his *ro$in* )hi,oso)h' cou,d not rooG na4

ture ein* insu,ted in the rst of her ri*hts( and he

*a%e %ent to his Hust indi*nation"

&is com)anion did not contradict him" Asence

e%er increases un*ratied ,o%e( and )hi,oso)h' does

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not diminish it" &e as freuent,' s)oGe of his dear

1iss St" 3%es as he did of mora,it' or meta)h'sics"

 The more he )uried his sentiments( the more he

,o%ed" &e read some ne$ romances7 ut he met

$ith fe$ that de)icted to him the rea, state of his

sou," &e fe,t that his heart stretched e'ond the

ounds of his author"

#A,as# said he( #a,most a,, these $riters ha%e

nothin* ut $it and art"#

At ,en*th the *ood /ansenist )riest ecame insen4

si,' the condant of his tenderness" &e $as a,4

read' acuainted $ith ,o%e as a sin $ith $hich a

)enitent accuses himse,f at confession" &e no$

,earned to Gno$ it as a sentiment eua,,' no,e and

tender( $hich can e,e%ate the sou, as $e,, as soften

it( and can at times )roduce %irtues" In ne( for the

,ast mirac,e( a &uron con%erted a /ansenist"

;@ The &uron"

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C&APTER :V"

 T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES VISITS 1" DE ST"

PO0ANE"

 The charmin* 1iss St" 3%es( sti,, more aYicted

than her ,o%er( $aited accordin*,' u)on 1" de St"

Pouan*e( accom)anied ' her friend $ith $hom she

,od*ed( each ha%in* their faces co%ered $ith their

hoods" The rst thin* she sa$ at the door $as the

Ae St" 3%es( her rother( comin* out" She $as

terried( ut her friend su))orted her s)irits"

#For the %er' reason(# said she( #that )eo),e ha%e

een s)eaGin* a*ainst 'ou( s)eaG to him for 'ourse,f"

 3ou ma' e assured that the accusers in this )art

of the $or,d are a,$a's in the ri*ht( un,ess the' are

immediate,' detected" !esides( un,ess I am much

mistaGen( 'our )resence $i,, ha%e *reater eect than

the $ords of 'our rother"#

E%er so ,itt,e encoura*ement to a )assionate ,o%er

maGes her intre)id" 1iss St" 3%es a))eared at the

audience" &er 'outh( her charms( her ,an*uishin*

e'es( moistened $ith some in%o,untar' tears( at4

tracted e%er' one+s attention" E%er' s'co)hant to

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' sa'in*.

#Wou,d 'ou e,ie%e it( 1iss( that 'our rother

has een to reuest me to *rant him a ,ettre de cachet

a*ainst 'ou 7 ut( indeed( I $ou,d sooner *rant one

to send him acG to Lo$er !rittan'"#

#A,as sir(# said she( #,ettres de cachet are

*ranted %er' ,iera,,' in 'our oces( since )eo),e

come from the e?tremit' of the Gin*dom to so,icit

them ,iGe )ensions" I am %er' far from reuestin*

one a*ainst m' rother( 'et I ha%e much reason to

com),ain of him" !ut I res)ect the ,iert' of man4

Gind( and( therefore( su)),icate for that of a man

$hom I $ant to maGe m' husand7 of a man to

$hom the Gin* is indeted for the )reser%ation of a

)ro%ince7 $ho can enecia,,' ser%e him( and $ho

is the son of an ocer Gi,,ed in his ser%ice" Of $hat

is he accused &o$ cou,d he e treated so crue,,'

$ithout ein* heard#

; The &uron"

 The de)ut' minister then sho$ed her the ,etter

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of the s)' /esuit and that of the )erdious ai,i"

#What# said she $ith astonishment( #are there

such monsters u)on earth and $ou,d the' force me

to marr' the stu)id son of a ridicu,ous( $icGed man

and is it u)on such e%idence that the fate of citi2ens

is determined#

She thre$ herse,f u)on her Gnees and $ith a Qood

of tears so,icited the freedom of a ra%e man $ho

adored her" &er charms a))eared to the *reatest

ad%anta*e in such a situation" She $as so eautifu,

that St" Pouan*e( ereft of a,, shame( used $ords

$ith some reser%e( $hich rou*ht on others ,ess de,i4

cate( $hich $ere succeeded ' those sti,, more e?4

)ressi%e" The re%ocation of the ,ettre de cachet $as

)ro)osed( and he at ,en*th $ent so far as to state

the on,' means of otainin* the ,iert' of the man

$hose interest she had so %io,ent,' and aectionate,'

at heart"

 This uncommon con%ersation continued for a

,on* time" The de%otee in the anti4chamer( in read4

in* her #Christian Peda*o*ue(# said to herse,f.

#1' ,ord St" Pouan*e ne%er efore *a%e so ,on*

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an audience" Perha)s he has refused e%er'thin* to

this )oor *ir, and she is sti,, entreatin* him"#

At ,en*th her com)anion came out of the c,oset

in the *reatest confusion( $ithout ein* a,e to

s)eaG" She $as ,ost in dee) meditation u)on the

character of the *reat and the ha,f4*reat( $ho so

 The &uron" ;B

s,i*ht,' sacrice the ,iert' of men and the honor of

$omen"

She did not utter a $ord a,, the $a' acG" !ut

ha%in* returned to her friend+s( she urst out +and

to,d a,, that had ha))ened" &er )ious friend made

freuent si*ns of the cross"

#1' dear friend(# said she( #'ou must consu,t to4

morro$ Father Tout4a4tous( our director" &e has

much inQuence o%er 1" de St" Pouan*e" &e is con4

fessor of man' of the fema,e ser%ants of the house"

&e is a )ious( accommodatin* man( $ho has a,so the

direction of some $omen of fashion" 3ie,d to him 7

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this is m' $a'( and I a,$a's found m'se,f ri*ht"

We $eaG $omen stand in need of a man to ,ead us .

and so( m' dear friend( I+,, *o to4morro$ in search

of Father Tout4a4tous"#

C&APTER :VI"

1ISS ST" 3VES CONS0LTS A /ES0IT"

No sooner $as the eautifu, and disconso,ate

1iss St" 3%es $ith her ho,' confessor than she to,d

him that #a )o$erfu,( %o,u)tuous man had )ro)osed

to her to set at ,iert' the man $hom she intended

maGin* her ,a$fu, husand( and that he reuired a

*reat )rice for his ser%ice7 that she he,d such in4

de,it' in the hi*hest detestation( and that if her

,ife on,' had een reuired she $ou,d much sooner

ha%e sacriced it than to ha%e sumitted"#

;> The &uron"

#This is a most aomina,e sinner(# said Father

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 Tout4a4tous" #3ou shou,d te,, me the name of this

%i,e man" &e must certain,' e some /ansenist" I

$i,, inform a*ainst him to his re%erence( Father de

,a Chaise( $ho $i,, ),ace him in the situation of 'our

dear e,o%ed intended ride*room"#

 The )oor *ir,( after much hesitation and emar4

rassment( at ,en*th mentioned St" Pouan*e"

#1' ,ord St" Pouan*e # cried the /esuit( #ah m'

chi,d( the case is uite dierent" &e is cousin to the

*reatest minister $e ha%e e%er had 7 a man of $orth(

a )rotector of the *ood cause( a *ood Christian" &e

cou,d not entertain such a thou*ht" 3ou certain,'

must ha%e misunderstood him"#

#Oh father( I did ut understand him too $e,,"

I am ,ost on $hiche%er side I turn" The on,' a,ter4

nati%e I ha%e to choose is miser' or shame7 either

m' ,o%er must e uried a,i%e( or I must maGe m'4

se,f un$orth' of ,i%in*" I cannot ,et him )erish( nor

can I sa%e him"#

Father Tout4a4tous endea%ored to conso,e her

$ith these *ent,e e?)ressions .

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#In the rst ),ace( m' chi,d( ne%er use the $ord

+,o%er"+ It intimates somethin* $or,d,'( $hich ma'

oend od" Sa' +m' husand"+ 3ou consider him

as such( and nothin* can e more decent"

#Second,' . Thou*h he e idea,,' 'our husand(

and 'ou are in ho)es he $i,, e such e%entua,,'( 'et

he is not so in rea,it'7 conseuent,' 'ou are sti,,

free and the mistress of 'our o$n conduct"

 The &uron" ;

#Third,'. Actions are not ma,icious,' cu,)a,e

$hen the intention is %irtuous 7 and nothin* can e

more %irtuous than to )rocure 'our husand his

,iert'"

#Fourth,' . 3ou ha%e e?am),es in ho,' antiuit'

that miracu,ous,' ser%e 'ou for a *uide" St" Au4

*ustine re,ates that under the )roconsu,ate of Se)4

timius Ac'ndius( in the thirt'4fourth 'ear of our sa,4

%ation( a )oor man cou,d not )a' unto Caesar $hat

e,on*ed to Caesar( and $as Hust,' condemned to die(

not$ithstandin* the ma?im( +Where there is nothin*

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the Gin* must ,ose his ri*ht"+ The oHect in uestion

$as a )ound of *o,d" The cu,)rit had a $ife in

$hom od had united eaut' and )rudence"

#3ou ma' assure 'ourse,f( m' chi,d( that $hen a

 /esuit uotes St" Au*ustine( that saint must certain,'

ha%e een in the ri*ht" I ad%ise 'ou to nothin*"

 3ou are )rudent( and it is to e )resumed that 'ou

$i,, do 'our husand a ser%ice" 1' ,ord St" Pou4

an*e is an honest man" &e $i,, not decei%e 'ou"

 This is a,, I can sa'" I $i,, )ra' to od for 'ou( and

I ho)e e%er'thin* $i,, taGe ),ace for &is *,or'"#

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ho $as no ,ess

terried $ith the /esuit+s discourse than $ith the

)ro)osa,s of the de)ut' minister( returned in des)air

to her friend" She $as tem)ted to de,i%er herse,f '

death from the horror of her situation"

;M The &uron"

C&APTER :VII"

 T&E /ES0IT TRI01P&S"

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 The unfortunate 1iss St" 3%es entreated her

friend to Gi,, her 7 ut this ,ad'( $ho $as fu,,' as in4

du,*ent as the /esuit( s)oGe to her sti,, more c,ear,'"

#A,as# said she( #at this a*reea,e( *a,,ant and

famous court( usiness is a,$a's thus transacted"

 The most considera,e( as $e,, as the most indif4

ferent ),aces are se,dom *i%en a$a' $ithout a con4

sideration" The di*nities of $ar are so,icited ' the

ueen of ,o%e( and( $ithout re*ard to merit( a ),ace

is often *i%en to him $ho has the handsomest ad4

%ocate"

#3ou are in a situation that is e?treme,' critica,"

 The oHect is to restore 'our ,o%er to ,iert' and to

marr' him" It is a sacred dut' that 'ou are to fu,,"

 The $or,d $i,, a)),aud 'ou" It $i,, e said that 'ou

on,' a,,o$ed 'ourse,f to e *ui,t' of a $eaGness

throu*h an e?cess of %irtue"#

#&ea%ens # cried 1iss St" 3%es( #What Gind of

%irtue is this What a ,a'rinth of distress What

a $or,d What men to ecome acuainted $ith A

Father de ,a Chaise and a ridicu,ous ai,i im)rison

m' ,o%er 7 I am )ersecuted ' m' fami,' 7 assistance

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is oered me( on,' that I ma' e dishonored A

 /esuit has ruined a ra%e man( another /esuit $ants

to ruin me" On e%er' side snares are ,aid for me(

and I am u)on the %er' rinG of destruction I must

 The &uron" ;<

e%en s)eaG to the Gin*7 I $i,, thro$ m'se,f at his

feet as he *oes to mass or to the theatre"#

#&is attendants $i,, not ,et 'ou a))roach(# said

her *ood friend 7 #and if 'ou shou,d e so unfortu4

nate as to s)eaG to him( 1" de Loti%ois or the Re%er4

end Father de ,a Chaise mi*ht ur' 'ou in a con%ent

for the rest of 'our da's"#

Whi,e this *enerous friend thus increased the

)er),e?ities of 1iss St" 3%es+s tortured sou, and

),un*ed the da**er dee)er in her heart( a messen*er

arri%ed from 1" de St" Pouan*e $ith a ,etter and

t$o ne )endant earrin*s" 1iss St" 3%es( $ith

tears( refused to acce)t of an' )art of the contents of

the )acGet 7 ut her friend tooG the char*e of them

u)on herse,f"

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As soon as the messen*er had *one( the condante

read the ,etter( in $hich a )etit4sou)er a ,itt,e su)4

)er $as )ro)osed to the t$o friends for that ni*ht"

1iss St" 3%es )rotested she $ou,d not *o( $hi,e

her )ious friend endea%ored to maGe her tr' on the

diamond earrin*s 7 ut 1iss St" 3%es cou,d not en4

dure them and o))osed it a,, the da' ,on*( ein*

entire,' $ra))ed u) in the contem),ation of her

,o%er+s im)risonment" At ,en*th( after a ,on* re4

sistence . after si*hs( moans( and torrents of tears 7

dri%en ' e?citement a,most to the %er*e of in4

sanit'7 $eaGened $ith the conQict( o%er$he,med

and irreso,ute( the innocent %ictim( not Gno$in*

$hither she $as *oin*( $as dra**ed ' this artfu,

$oman to the fata, su))er of the #*ood Christian

and )rotector of the *ood cause(# 1" de St" Pouan*e"

;= The &uron"

C&APTER :VIII"

1ISS ST" 3VES DELIVERS &ER LOVER AND A /ANSENIST"

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At da'reaG she Qed to Paris $ith the minister+s

mandate" It $ou,d e dicu,t to de)ict the a*ita4

tion of her mind in this Hourne'" Ima*ine a %irtuous

and no,e sou,( hum,ed ' its o$n re)roaches( in4

to?icated $ith tenderness( distracted $ith the re4

morse of ha%in* etra'ed her ,o%er( and e,ated $ith

the ),easure of re,easin* the oHect of her adoration"

&er torments and conQicts ' turns en*a*ed her re4

Qections" She $as no ,on*er that innocent *ir,

$hose ideas $ere conned to a )ro%incia, education"

Lo%e and misfortunes had united to remou,d her"

Sentiment had made as ra)id a )ro*ress in her mind

as reason had in that of her ,o%er"

&er dress $as dictated ' the *reatest sim),icit'"

She %ie$ed $ith horror the tra))in*s $ith $hich

she had a))eared efore her fata, enefactor" &er

com)anion had taGen the earrin*s $ithout her

ha%in* ,ooGed at them" An?ious and confused( ido,4

i2in* the &uron and detestin* herse,f( she at ,en*th

arri%ed at the *ate of that dreadfu, cast,e the

)a,ace of %en*eance $here crimes and innocence

are a,iGe immured"

When she $as u)on the )oint of *ettin* out of

the coach her stren*th fai,ed her" Some )eo),e came

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to her assistance" She entered( $hi,e her heart $as

in the *reatest )a,)itation( her e'es streamin*( and

 The &uron" ;;

her $ho,e frame es)oGe the *reatest consternation"

She $as )resented to the *o%ernor" 1e $as *oin* to

s)eaG to her( ut she had ,ost a,, )o$er of e?)res4

sion. she sho$ed her order( $hi,e $ith *reat di4

cu,t' she articu,ated some accents" The *o%ernor

entertained a *reat esteem for his )risoner( and he

$as *reat,' ),eased at his ein* re,eased" &is heart

$as not ca,,ous( ,iGe those of most of his rethren(

$ho thinG of nothin* ut the fees their ca)ti%es are

to )a' them 7 e?tort their re%enues from their %ic4

tims7 and ,i%in* ' the miser' of others( concei%e

a horrid Ho' at the ,amentations of the unfortunate"

&e sent for the )risoner to come to his a)artment"

 The t$o ,o%ers s$ooned at the si*ht of each other"

 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es remained for a ,on*

time motion,ess( $ithout an' s'm)toms of ,ife7 the

other soon reca,,ed his fortitude"

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#This ,ad'(# said the *o%ernor( #is )roa,' 'our

$ife" 3ou did not te,, me 'ou $ere married" I am

informed that it is throu*h her *enerous so,icitude

that 'ou ha%e otained 'our ,iert'"#

#A,as # said the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( in a fa,4

terin* %oice( #I am not $orth' of ein* his $ife 7#

and s$ooned a*ain"

When she reco%ered her senses( she )resented(

$ith a trem,in* hand and a%erted e'es( the *rant

and $ritten )romise of a com)an'"

 The &uron( eua,,' astonished and aected(

a$oGe from one dream to fa,, into another"

#Wh' $as I shut u) here &o$ cou,d 'ou de4

;@ The &uron"

,i%er me Where are the monsters that immured

me 3ou are a di%init' sent from hea%en to succor

me"#

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 The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ith a deHected air(

,ooGed at her ,o%er( ,ushed( and instant,' turned

a$a' her streamin* e'es" In a $ord( the' to,d him

a,, she Gne$( and a,, she had under*one( e?ce)t $hat

she $as $i,,in* to concea, fore%er( ut $hich an'

other than the &uron( more accustomed to the $or,d

and etter acuainted $ith the customs of courts(

$ou,d easi,' ha%e *uessed"

#Is it )ossi,e(# said he( #that a $retch ,iGe the

ai,i can ha%e de)ri%ed me of m' ,iert'

#A,as I nd that men( ,iGe the %i,est of anima,s(

can a,, inHure"

#!ut is it )ossi,e that a monG( a /esuit( the Gin*+s

confessor( shou,d ha%e contriuted to m' misfor4

tunes as much as the ai,i( $ithout m' ein* a,e

to ima*ine under $hat )retence this detesta,e Gna%e

has )ersecuted me Did he maGe me )ass for a /an4

senist In ne( ho$ came 'ou to rememer me I

did not deser%e it 7 I $as then on,' a sa%a*e"

#What cou,d 'ou( $ithout ad%ice( $ithout as4

sistance( undertaGe a Hourne' to Versai,,es

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#3ou there a))eared and m' fetters $ere roGen

#There must then e in eaut' and %irtue an in4

%inci,e charm that o)ens *ates of adamant and

softens hearts of stee,"#

At the $ord #%irtue# a Qood of tears issued from

 The &uron" ;

the e'es of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es" She did not

Gno$ ho$ far she had een %irtuous in the crime

$ith $hich she re)roached herse,f"

&er ,o%er thus continued .

#Thou an*e,( $ho hast roGen m' chains( if thou

hast had sucient inQuence $hich I cannot 'et

com)rehend to otain Hustice for me( otain it ,iGe4

$ise for an o,d man $ho rst tau*ht me to thinG( as

thou didst to ,o%e" 1isfortunes ha%e united us7 I

,o%e him as a father 7 I can neither ,i%e $ithout thee

nor him"#

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#I so,icit#

#The same man"#

#Who#

#3es( I $i,, e eho,den to 'ou for e%er'thin*(

and I $i,, o$e nothin* to an' one ut 'ourse,f"

Write to this man in )o$er" O%er$he,m me $ith

Gindness com),ete $hat 'ou ha%e e*un )erfect

'our mirac,e"#

She $as sensi,e she ou*ht to do e%er'thin* her

,o%er desired" She $anted to $rite( ut her hand

refused its oce" She e*an her ,etter three times(

and tore it as often" At ,en*th she *ot to the end(

and the t$o ,o%ers ,eft the )rison( after ha%in* em4

raced the o,d mart'r to ecacious *race"

 The ha))' 'et disconso,ate 1iss 3%es Gne$

$here her rother ,od*ed 7 thither she re)aired( and

her ,o%er tooG an a)artment at the same house"

 The' had scarce,' reached their ,od*in* efore

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; The &uron"

her )rotector sent the order for re,easin* the *ood

o,d ordon( at the same time maGin* an a))ointment

$ith her for the ne?t da'"

She *a%e the order of re,ease to her ,o%er( and

refused the a))ointment of a enefactor $hom she

cou,d no more see $ithout e?)irin* $ith shame and

*rief"

&er ,o%er $ou,d not ha%e ,eft her u)on an' other

errand than to re,ease his friend" &e Qe$ to the

),ace of his connement and fu,,,ed this dut'( re4

Qectin*( mean$hi,e( u)on the stran*e %icissitudes of

this $or,d( and admirin* the coura*eous %irtue of a

'oun* ,ad'( to $hom t$o unfortunate men o$ed

more than ,ife"

C&APTER :I:"

 T&E &0RON( T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES( AND

 T&EIR RELATIONS( ARE CONVENED"

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 The *enerous and res)ecta,e( ut inHured( *ir,

$as $ith her rother( the Ae de St" 3%es( the *ood

)rior of the mountain( and Lad' de KerGaon"

 The' $ere eua,,' astonished( ut their situations

and sentiments $ere %er' dierent" The Ae de

St" 3%es $as e?)iatin* the $ron*s he had done his

sister at her feet( and she )ardoned him" The )rior

and his s'm)athi2in* sister ,iGe$ise $e)t( ut it $as

for Ho'" The ,th' ai,i and his insu))orta,e son

did not trou,e this aectin* scene" The' had set

out u)on the rst re)ort that their anta*onist had

 The &uron" ;B

een re,eased" The' Qe$ to ur' in their o$n )ro%4

ince their fo,,' and fear"

 The four dramatis )ersona( %arious,' a*itated(

$ere $aitin* for the return of the 'oun* man $ho

had *one to de,i%er his friend" The Ae de St"

 3%es did not dare to raise his e'es to meet those of

his sister" The *ood KerGaon said .

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#I sha,, then see once more m' dear ne)he$"#

#3ou $i,, see him a*ain(# said the charmin* 1iss

St" 3%es( #ut he is no ,on*er the same man" &is

eha%ior( his manners( his ideas( his sense( ha%e a,,

under*one a com),ete mutation" &e has ecome as

res)ecta,e as he $as efore i*norant and stran*e

to e%er'thin*" &e $i,, e the honor and conso,ation

of 'our fami,' 7 $ou,d to hea%en that I mi*ht a,so

e the honor of mine #

#What( are 'ou not the same as 'ou $ere# said

the )rior" #What( then( has ha))ened to $orG so

*reat a chan*e #

Durin* this con%ersation the &uron returned in

com)an' $ith the /ansenist" The scene $as no$

chan*ed( and ecame more interestin*" It e*an '

the unc,e and aunt+s tender emraces" The Ae de

St" 3%es a,most Gissed the Gnees of the in*enuous

&uron( $ho( ' the '( $as no ,on*er in*enuous"

 The ,an*ua*e of the e'es formed a,, the discourse of

the t$o ,o%ers( $ho( ne%erthe,ess( e?)ressed e%er'

sentiment $ith $hich the' $ere )enetrated" Satis4

faction and acGno$,ed*ment s)arG,ed in the coun4

tenance of the one( $hi,e emarrassment $as de4

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Vo," ;=

;> The &uron"

)icted in 1iss St" 3%es+s me,tin*( ut ha,f a%erted(

e'es" E%er' one $as astonished that she shou,d

min*,e *rief $ith so much Ho'"

 The %enera,e ordon soon endeared himse,f to

the $ho,e fami,'" &e had een unha))' $ith the

'oun* )risoner( and this $as a sucient tit,e to their

esteem" &e o$ed his de,i%erance to the t$o ,o%ers(

and this a,one reconci,ed him to ,o%e" The acrimon'

of his former sentiments $as dismissed from his

heart he $as con%erted ' *ratitude( as $e,, as

the &uron" E%er' one re,ated his ad%entures efore

su))er" The t$o aes and the aunt ,istened ,iGe

chi,dren to the re,ation of stories of *hosts( and oth

$ere dee),' interested"

#A,as # said ordon( #there are )erha)s u)$ard

of %e hundred %irtuous )eo),e in the same fetters as

1iss St" 3%es has roGen" Their misfortunes are

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unheeded" 1an' hands are found to striGe the un4

ha))' mu,titude( ho$ se,dom one to succor them"#

 This %er' Hust reQection increased his sensii,it'

and *ratitude" E%er'thin* hei*htened the trium)h

of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es" The *randeur and

intre)idit' of her sou, $ere the suHect of each one+s

admiration" This admiration $as ,ended $ith that

res)ect $hich $e fee, in s)ite of ourse,%es for a )er4

son $ho $e thinG has some inQuence at court" !ut

the Ae de St" 3%es inuired .

#What cou,d m' sister do to otain this inQuence

so soon #

Su))er ein* read'( e%er' one $as a,read' seated(

 The &uron" ;

$hen ,o the $orth' condante of Versai,,es arri%ed

$ithout ein* acuainted $ith an'thin* that had

)assed" She $as in a coach and si?( and it $as easi,'

seen to $hom the eui)a*e e,on*ed" She entered

$ith that air of authorit' assumed ' )eo),e in )o$er

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$ho ha%e a *reat dea, of usiness( sa,uted the com4

)an' $ith much indierence( and( )u,,in* the eauti4

fu, 1iss St" 3%es on one side( said .

#Wh' do 'ou maGe )eo),e $ait so ,on* Fo,,o$

me" There are the diamonds 'ou for*ot"#

&o$e%er soft,' she uttered these e?)ressions( the

&uron( ne%erthe,ess( o%erheard them" &e sa$ the

diamonds" The rother $as s)eech,ess" The unc,e

and aunt e?hiited the sur)rise of *ood )eo),e( $ho

had ne%er efore ehe,d such ma*nicence" The

'oun* man( $hose mind $as no$ formed ' an e?4

)erience of t$e,%e months( cou,d not he,) maGin*

some reQections a*ainst his $i,,( and $as for a mo4

ment in an?iet'" &is mistress )ercei%ed it( and a

morta, )a,eness s)read o%er her countenance7 a

tremor sei2ed her( and it $as $ith dicu,t' she

cou,d su))ort herse,f"

#Ah madam(# said she to her fata, friend( #'ou

ha%e ruined me 'ou ha%e *i%en me the morta,

,o$"#

 These $ords )ierced the heart of the &uron 7 ut

he had a,read' ,earned to )ossess himse,f" &e did

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not d$e,, u)on them( ,est he shou,d maGe his mis4

tress uneas' efore her rother( ut turned )a,e as

$e,, as she"

;M The &uron"

1iss St" 3%es( distracted $ith the chan*e she )er4

cei%ed in her ,o%er+s countenance( )u,,ed the $oman

out of the room into the )assa*e( and thre$ the

 He$e,s at her feet( sa'in* .

#A,as these $ere not m' seducers( as 'ou $e,,

Gno$ 7 ut he $ho *a%e them sha,, ne%er set e'es on

me a*ain"#

&er friend tooG them u)( $hi,e 1iss St" 3%es

added .

#&e ma' either taGe them a*ain( or *i%e them to

'ou" !e*one( and do not maGe me sti,, more odious

to m'se,f"#

 The amassadress at ,en*th de)arted( not ein*

a,e to com)rehend the remorse to $hich she had

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senism and 1o,inism( of those )ersecutions $ith

$hich one )art' ham)ered the other( and of the

ostinac' of oth" The &uron entered into a criti4

cism thereu)on( )it'in* those men $ho( not satis4

ed $ith the confusion occasioned ' these o))o4

site interests( create e%i,s ' ima*inar' interests and

uninte,,i*i,e asurdities" ordon re,ated the other

 Hud*ed" The *uests ,istened $ith emotion( and

*ained ne$ ,i*hts" The duration of misfortunes and

the shortness of ,ife then ecame the to)ics" It $as

remarGed that a,, )rofessions ha%e )ecu,iar %ices and

dan*ers anne?ed to them 7 and that from the )rince

do$n to the ,o$est e**ar( a,, seemed a,iGe to accuse

Pro%idence" &o$ ha))ens it that so man' men( for

so ,itt,e( )erform the oce of )ersecutors( ser*eants(

and e?ecutioners to others With $hat inhuman

indierence does a man in authorit' si*n )a)ers for

the destruction of a fami,' 7 and $ith $hat Ho'( sti,,

more ararous( do mercenaries e?ecute them"

#I sa$ in m' 'outh(# said the *ood o,d ordon(

#a re,ation of the 1arsha, de 1ari,,ic( $ho( ein*

)rosecuted in his o$n )ro%ince on account of that

i,,ustrious ut unfortunate man( concea,ed himse,f

under a orro$ed name in Paris" &e $as an o,d

man near,' se%ent'4t$o 'ears of a*e" &is $ife( $ho

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accom)anied him( $as near,' of the same a*e" The'

;B= The &uron"

had a ,iertine son( $ho( at fourteen 'ears of a*e(

asconded from his father+s house( turned so,dier(

and deserted" &e had *one throu*h e%er' *radation

of deaucher' and miser' 7 at ,en*th( ha%in* chan*ed

his name( he $as in the *uards of Cardina, Riche,ieu

for this )riest( as $e,, as 1a2arin( had *uards and

had otained an e?em)t+s sta in their com)an' of

ser*eants"

#This ad%enturer $as a))ointed to arrest the o,d

man and his $ife( and acuitted himse,f $ith a,, the

odurac' of a man $ho $as $i,,in* to ),ease his

master" As he $as conductin* them( he heard these

t$o %ictims de),ore the ,on* succession of miseries

$hich had efa,,en them from their crad,e" This

a*ed cou),e recGoned as one of their *reatest mis4

fortunes the $i,dness and ,oss of their son" &e

reco,,ected them( ut he ne%erthe,ess ,ed them to

)rison( assurin* them that his re%erence $as to e

ser%ed in )reference to e%er'od' e,se" &is emi4

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nence re$arded his 2ea,"

#I ha%e seen a s)' of Father de ,a Chaise etra'

his o$n rother( in ho)e of a ,itt,e enece( $hich he

did not otain 7 and I sa$ him die( not of remorse( ut

of *rief at ha%in* een cheated ' the /esuit"

#The %ocation of a confessor( $hich I for a ,on*

$hi,e e?ercised( made me acuainted $ith the secrets

of fami,ies" I ha%e Gno$n %er' fe$ $ho( thou*h

immersed in the *reatest distress( did not e?terna,,'

$ear the masG of fe,icit' and e%er' a))earance of

 The &uron" ;B;

 Ho' 7 and I ha%e a,$a's oser%ed that *reat *rief $as

the fruit of our unconstrained desires"#

#For m' )art(# said the &uron( #I ima*ine that

a no,e( *ratefu,( sensi,e man ma' a,$a's e ha))' 7

and I ho)e to enHo' an unchecGered fe,icit' $ith the

charmin*( *enerous 1iss St" 3%es" For I Qatter

m'se,f(# added he( in addressin* himse,f to her

rother( $ith a friend,' smi,e( #that 'ou $i,, not no$

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refuse me as 'ou did ,ast 'ear 7 esides( I sha,, )ursue

a more decent method"#

 The ae $as confounded in a)o,o*ies for the

)ast( and in )rotestin* an eterna, attachment"

0nc,e KerGaon said this $ou,d e the most *,o4

rious da' of his $ho,e ,ife" &is *ood Aunt KerGa4

on( in ecstasies of Ho'( cried out.

#I ha%e a,$a's said 'ou $ou,d ne%er e a su4

deacon" This sacrament is )refera,e to the other7

$ou,d to od I had een honored $ith it ut I $i,,

ser%e 'ou for a mother"#

And no$ a,, %ied $ith each other in a)),audin*

the *ent,e 1iss St" 3%es"

&er ,o%er+s heart $as too fu,, of $hat she had

done for him( and he ,o%ed her too much( for the

aair of the He$e,s to maGe an' )ermanent im)res4

sion on him" !ut those $ords( $hich he too $e,,

heard( #'ou ha%e *i%en me the morta, ,o$(# sti,,

secret,' terried him( and interru)ted a,, his Ho'7

$hi,e the eu,o*iums )aid his eautifu, mistress sti,,

increased his ,o%e" In a $ord( nothin* $as thou*ht

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;B@ The &uron"

of ut her( nothin* $as mentioned ut the ha))iness

those t$o ,o%ers deser%ed" A ),an $as a*itated to

,i%e a,to*ether at Paris( and schemes of *randeur and

fortune $ere formed" Those ho)es $hich the sma,,4

est ra' of ha))iness en*enders $ere )redominant"

!ut the &uron fe,t( in the secret recesses of his heart(

a sentiment that e?),oded the i,,usion" &e read o%er

the )romises si*ned ' St" Pouan*e( and the com4

mission si*ned Lou%ois" These men $ere )ainted

to him such as the' $ere( or such as the' $ere

thou*ht to e" E%er' one s)oGe of the ministers arid

administration $ith the freedom of con%i%ia, con4

%ersation( $hich is considered in France as the most

)recious ,iert' to e otained on earth"

#If I $ere Gin* of France(# said the &uron( #this

is the Gind of minister that I $ou,d choose for the

$ar de)artment" I $ou,d ha%e a man of the hi*hest

irth( as he is to *i%e orders to the noi,it'" I $ou,d

reuire that he shou,d himse,f ha%e een an ocer(

and ha%e )assed throu*h the %arious *radations( or(

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at ,east( that he had attained the ranG of ,ieutenant4

*enera, and $as $orth' of ein* a marsha, of

France" For( to e acuainted $ith the detai,s of the

ser%ice( is it not necessar' that he himse,f shou,d

ha%e ser%ed and $i,, not ocers oe'( $ith a hun4

dred times more a,acrit'( a mi,itar' man $ho( ,iGe

themse,%es( has een si*na,i2ed ' his coura*e( rather

than a mere man of the cainet $ho( $hate%er natura,

ai,it' he ma' )ossess( can( at most( on,' *uess at

the o)erations of a cam)ai*n I shou,d not e dis4

 The &uron" ;B

),eased at m' minister+s *enerosit'( e%en thou*h it

mi*ht sometimes emarrass a ,itt,e the Gee)er of the

ro'a, treasure" I shou,d desire him to ha%e a faci,it'

in usiness( and that he shou,d distin*uish himse,f

' that Gind of *a'et' of mind $hich is the ,ot of

men su)erior to usiness( $hich is so a*reea,e to the

nation( and $hich renders the )erformance of e%er'

dut' ,ess irGsome"#

 This is the character he $ou,d ha%e chosen for a

minister( as he had constant,' oser%ed that such an

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amia,e dis)osition is incom)ati,e $ith crue,t'"

1" de Lou%ois $ou,d not( )erha)s( ha%e een

satised $ith the &uron+s $ishes" &is merit ,a' in a

dierent $a,G" !ut $hi,e the' $ere sti,, at ta,e(

the disorder of the unha))' 1iss St" 3%es tooG a

fata, turn" &er ,ood $as on re 7 the s'm)toms of

a ma,i*nant fe%er had a))eared" She suered( ut

did not com),ain( ein* un$i,,in* to distur the

),easure of the *uests"

&er rother( thinGin* that she $as not as,ee)(

$ent to the foot of her ed" &e $as astonished at

the condition he found her in" E%er'od' Qe$ to

her" &er ,o%er a))eared ne?t to her rother" &e

$as certain,' the most a,armed( and the most aected

of an' one 7 ut he had ,earned to unite discretion to

a,, the ha))' *ifts nature had esto$ed u)on him(

and a uicG sensii,it' of decorum e*an to )re%ai,

o%er him"

A nei*horin* )h'sician $as immediate,' sent for"

&e $as one of those itinerant doctors $ho confound

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;B The &uron"

the ,ast disorder the' $ere consu,ted u)on $ith the

)resent 7 $ho fo,,o$ a ,ind )ractice in a science from

$hich the most mature in%esti*ations and carefu,

oser%ations do not )rec,ude uncertaint' and dan*er"

&e *reat,' increased the disorder ' )rescriin* a

fashiona,e nostrum" Can fashion e?tend to medi4

cine This fren2' $as then too )re%a,ent in Paris"

 The *rief of 1iss St" 3%es contriuted sti,, more

than her )h'sician to render her disorder fata," &er

od' suered mart'rdom in the torments of her

mind" The cro$d of thou*hts $hich a*itated her

reast communicated to her %eins a more dan*erous

)oison than that of the most urnin* fe%er"

C&APTER ::"

 T&E DEAT& OF T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES( AND

ITS CONSE80ENCES"

Another )h'sician $as ca,,ed in" !ut( instead of

assistin* nature and ,ea%in* it to act in a 'oun* )er4

son $hose or*ans reca,,ed the %ita, stream( he a)4

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se,dom maGe( did not )re%ent his fee,in* u)on this

occasion7 for he $as not of the numer of those

*,oom' )hi,oso)hers $ho )iue themse,%es u)on

ein* insensi,e"

&e $as aected at the fate of this 'oun* $oman(

,iGe a father $ho sees his dear chi,d 'ie,din* to a

s,o$ death" The Ae de St" 3%es $as des)erate 7

the )rior and his sister shed Qoods of tears 7 ut $ho

can descrie the situation of her ,o%er A,, e?)res4

sion fa,,s far short of the intensit' of his aYiction"

&is aunt( a,most ,ife,ess( su))orted the head of

the de)artin* fair in her fee,e arms7 her rother

$as u)on his Gnees at the foot of the ed 7 the ,o%er

suee2ed her hand( $hich he athed in tears7 his

*roans rent the air( $hi,e he ca,,ed her his *uardian

an*e,( his ,ife( his ho)e( his etter ha,f( his mistress(

his $ife" At the $ord #$ife(# a si*h esca)ed her(

$hi,e she ,ooGed u)on him $ith ine?)ressi,e ten4

;B> The &uron"

derness( and then aru)t,' *a%e a horrid scream"

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Present,' in one of those inter%a,s $hen *rief( the

o))ression of the senses( and )ain suside and ,ea%e

the sou, its ,iert' and )o$ers( she cried out .

#I 'our $ife Ah( dear ,o%er( this name( this

ha))iness( this fe,icit'( $ere not destined for me

I die( and I deser%e it" O ido, of m' heart O 'ou(

$hom I sacriced to inferna, demons it is done

I am )unished ,i%e and e ha))' #

 These tender ut dreadfu, e?)ressions $ere in4

com)rehensi,e 7 'et the' me,ted and terried e%er'

heart" She had the coura*e to e?),ain herse,f( and

her auditors uaGed $ith astonishment( *rief( and

)it'" The' $ith one %oice detested the man in

)o$er( $ho re)aired a shocGin* act of inHustice on,'

' his crimes( and $ho had forced the most amia,e

innocence to e his accom),ice"

#Who 'ou *ui,t'# said her ,o%er( #no( 'ou are

not" ui,t can on,' e in the heart7 'ours is de4

%oted so,e,' to %irtue and to me"#

 This o)inion he corroorated ' such e?)ressions

as seemed to reca,, the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es acG

to ,ife" She fe,t some conso,ation from them and

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$as astonished at ein* sti,, e,o%ed" The a*ed

ordon $ou,d ha%e condemned her at the time he

$as on,' a /ansenist7 ut ha%in* attained $isdom(

he esteemed her( and $e)t"

In the midst of these ,amentations and fears( $hi,e

the dan*erous situation of this $orth' *ir, en*rossed

 The &uron" ;B

e%er' reast( and a,, $ere in the *reatest consterna4

tion( a courier arri%ed from court"

#A courier from $hom( and u)on $hat ac4

count#

&e $as sent ' the Gin*+s confessor to the )rior

of the mountain" It $as not Father de ,a Chaise

$ho $rote( ut !rother Vad,ed( his %a,et de cham4

re( a man of *reat conseuence at that time( $ho

acuainted the archisho)s $ith the re%erend father+s

),easure( $ho *a%e audiences( )romised eneces(

and sometimes issued ,ettres de cachet"

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&e $rote to the ae of the mountain #that his

re%erence had een informed of his ne)he$+s e?4

),oits 7 that his ein* sent to )rison $as throu*h

mistaGe7 that such ,itt,e accidents freuent,' ha)4

)ened( and shou,d therefore not e attended to 7 and(

in ne( it ehoo%ed him( the )rior( to come and )re4

sent his ne)he$ the ne?t da' 7 that he $as to rin*

$ith him that *ood man ordon7 and that he(

!rother Vad,ed( shou,d introduce them to his re%er4

ence and 1" de Lou%ois( $ho $ou,d sa' a $ord to

them in his ante4chamer"#

 To $hich he added that #the histor' of the &uron(

and his comat a*ainst the En*,ish had een re,ated

to the Gin* 7 that dout,ess the Gin* $ou,d dei*n to

taGe notice of him in )assin* throu*h the *a,,er'( and

)erha)s he mi*ht e%en nod his head to him"#

 The ,etter conc,uded ' Qatterin* him $ith ho)es

that a,, the ,adies of the court $ou,d sho$ their

;BM The &uron"

ea*erness to reco*ni2e his ne)he$( and that se%era,

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amon* them $ou,d sa' to him( #ood da'( 1r"

&uron 7# and that he $ou,d certain,' e ta,Ged of at

the Gin*+s su))er"

 The ,etter $as si*ned( #3our aectionate rother

 /esuit( Vad,ed"#

 The )rior ha%in* read the ,etter a,oud( his furious

ne)he$ for an instant su))ressed his ra*e( and said

nothin* to the earer( ut turnin* to$ard the com4

)anion of his misfortunes( asGed him $hat he

thou*ht of that communication ordon re),ied .

#This( then( is the $a' that men are treated The'

are rst eaten and then( ,iGe monGe's( the' dance"#

 The &uron resumin* his character( $hich a,$a's

returned in the *reat emotions of his sou,( tore the

,etter to its( and thre$ them in the courier+s face .

#There is m' ans$er(# said he"

&is unc,e $as in terror( and fancied he sa$ thun4

dero,ts and t$ent' ,ettres de cachet at once fa,,

u)on him" &e immediate,' $rote the est e?cuse he

cou,d for these trans)orts of )assion in a 'oun*

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man( $hich he considered as the eu,,ition of a *reat

sou,"

!ut a so,icitude of a more me,ancho,' stam) no$

sei2ed e%er' heart" The eautifu, and unfortunate

1iss St" 3%es $as a,read' sensi,e of her a))roach4

in* end7 she $as serene( ut it $as that Gind of

shocGin* serenit'( the resu,t of e?hausted nature e4

in* no ,on*er a,e to $ithstand the conQict"

#Oh( m' dear ,o%er# said she( in a fa,terin*

 The &uron" ;B<

%oice( #death )unishes me for m' $eaGness7 ut I

e?)ire $ith the conso,ation of Gno$in* 'ou are free"

I adored 'ou $hi,e I etra'ed 'ou( and I adore 'ou

in iddin* 'ou an eterna, adieu"#

She did not maGe a )arade of a ridicu,ous forti4

tude7 she did not understand that misera,e *,or'

of ha%in* some of her nei*hors sa'( #she died $ith

coura*e"# Who( at t$ent'( can e at once torn from

her ,o%er( from ,ife( and $hat is ca,,ed honor( $ith4

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out re*ret( $ithout some )an*s She fe,t a,, the

horror of her situation( and made it fe,t ' those

e?)irin* ,ooGs and accents $hich s)eaG $ith so much

ener*'" In a $ord( she shed tears ,iGe other )eo),e

at those inter%a,s in $hich she $as ca)a,e of *i%in*

%ent to them"

Let others stri%e to ce,erate the )om)ous deaths

of those $ho insensi,' rush into destruction" This

is the ,ot of a,, anima,s" We die ,iGe them on,' $hen

a*e or disorders maGe us resem,e them ' the )a4

ra,'sis of our or*ans" Whoe%er suers a *reat ,oss

must fee, *reat re*rets" If the' are stiQed( it is

nothin* ut %anit' that is )ursued( e%en in the arms

of death"

When the fata, moment came( a,, around her most

fee,in*,' e?)ressed their *rief ' incessant tears

and ,amentations" The &uron $as sense,ess" reat

sou,s fee, more %io,ent sensations than those of ,ess

tender dis)ositions" The *ood o,d ordon Gne$

enou*h of his com)anion to dread that $hen he

came to himse,f he $ou,d e *ui,t' of suicide" A,,

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;>= The &uron"

Ginds of arms $ere )ut out of his $a'( $hich the

unfortunate 'oun* man )ercei%ed" &e said to his

re,ations and ordon( $ithout sheddin* an' tears(

$ithout a *roan( or the ,east emotion .

#Do 'ou then thinG that an' one u)on earth hath

the ri*ht and )o$er to )re%ent m' )uttin* an end to

m' ,ife#

ordon tooG care to a%oid maGin* a )arade of

those common4),ace dec,amations and ar*uments

$hich are re,ied on to )ro%e that $e are not a,,o$ed

to e?ercise our ,iert' in ceasin* to e $hen $e are

in a $retched situation 7 that $e shou,d not ,ea%e the

house $hen $e can no ,on*er remain in it 7 that a

man is ,iGe a so,dier at his )ost7 as if it si*nied

to the !ein* of ein*s $hether the conHunction of

the )artic,es of matter $ere in one s)ot or another"

Im)otent reasons( to $hich a rm and concentrated

des)air disdains to ,isten( and to $hich Cato re),ied

on,' $ith the use of a )oniard

 The &uron+s su,,en and dreadfu, si,ence( his do,e4

fu, as)ect( his trem,in* ,i)s( and the shi%erin* of

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his $ho,e frame( communicated to e%er' s)ectator+s

sou, that mi?ture of com)assion and terror $hich

fetters a,, our )o$ers( )rec,udes discourse( or com4

)e,s us to s)eaG on,' in fa,terin* accents" The

hostess and her fami,' $ere e?cited" The' trem,ed

to eho,d the state of his des)eration( 'et a,, Ge)t

their e'es u)on him( and attended to a,, his motions"

 The ice4co,d cor)se of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es

had a,read' een carried into a ,o$er ha,, out of the

 The &uron" ;>;

si*ht of her ,o%er( $ho seemed sti,, in search of it(

thou*h inca)a,e of oser%in* an' oHect"

In the midst of this s)ectac,e of death( $hi,e the

dead od' $as e?)osed at the door of the house7

$hi,e t$o )riests ' the side of the ho,'4font $ater

$ere re)eatin* )ra'ers $ith an air of distraction7

$hi,e some )assen*ers( throu*h id,eness( s)rinG,ed

the ier $ith some dro)s of ho,' $ater( and others

$ent their $a's uite indierent 7 $hi,e her re,ations

$ere dro$ned in tears( and e%er' one thou*ht the

,o%er $ou,d not sur%i%e his ,oss in this situation

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St" Pouan*e arri%ed $ith his fema,e Versai,,es

friend"

&e a,i*hted from his coach( and the rst oHect

that )resented itse,f $as the ier7 he turned a$a'

his e'es $ith that sim),e distaste of a man red u)

in ),easures( and $ho thinGs he shou,d a%oid a s)ec4

tac,e $hich mi*ht reca,, him to the contem),ation

of human miser'" &e $as inc,ined to *o u)stairs(

$hi,e his fema,e friend inuired throu*h curiosit'

$hose funera, it $as" The name of 1iss St" 3%es

$as )ronounced" At this name she turned( and *a%e

a )iercin* shrieG" St" Pouan*e then returned( $hi,e

sur)rise and *rief )ossessed his sou," The *ood o,d

ordon stood $ith streamin* e'es" &e for a mo4

ment ceased his ,amentations( to acuaint the courier

$ith a,, the circumstances of this me,ancho,' catas4

tro)he" &e s)oGe $ith that authorit' $hich is the

com)anion to sorro$ and %irtue" St" Pouan*e $as

not natura,,' $icGed" The torrent of usiness and

Vo," ii

;>@ The &uron"

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amusements had hurried a$a' his sou,( $hich $as

not 'et acuainted $ith itse,f" &e did not order

u)on that *ra' a*e $hich usua,,' hardens the hearts

of ministers" &e ,istened to ordon $ith a do$n4

cast ,ooG( and some tears esca)ed him( $hich he $as

sur)rised to shed" In a $ord( he re)ented"

#I $i,,(# said he( #aso,ute,' see this e?traordi4

nar' man 'ou ha%e mentioned to me" &e aects

me a,most as much as this innocent %ictim( $hose

death I ha%e occasioned"#

ordon fo,,o$ed him as far as the chamer in

$hich the Prior KerGaon( the Ae St" 3%es( and

some nei*hors $ere stri%in* to reca,, the 'oun*

man( $ho had a*ain fainted"

#I ha%e een the cause of 'our misfortunes(# said

the de)ut' minister( $hen the &uron had re*ained

consciousness( #and m' $ho,e ,ife sha,, e em),o'ed

in maGin* re)aration for m' error"#

 The rst idea that strucG the &uron $as to Gi,,

him and then destro' himse,f" !ut he $as $ithout

arms( and c,ose,' $atched" St" Pouan*e $as not

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re)u,sed $ith refusa,s accom)anied $ith re)roach(

contem)t( and the insu,ts he deser%ed( $hich $ere

,a%ished u)on him" Time softens e%er'thin*" 1"

de Lou%ois at ,en*th succeeded in maGin* an e?ce,4

,ent ocer of the &uron( $ho has a))eared under

another name at Paris and in the arm'( res)ected

' a,, honest men( ein* at once a $arrior and an

intre)id )hi,oso)her"

&e ne%er mentioned this ad%enture $ithout ein*

 The &uron" ;>

*reat,' aected( and 'et his *reatest conso,ation $as

to s)eaG of it" &e cherished the memor' of his e4

,o%ed 1iss St" 3%es to the ,ast moment of his ,ife"

 The Ae St" 3%es and the )rior $ere each )ro4

%ided $ith *ood ,i%in*s" The *ood KerGaon rather

chose to see his ne)he$ in%ested $ith mi,itar'

honors than in the sudeaconr'" The de%otee of

Versai,,es Ge)t the diamond earrin*s( and recei%ed

esides a handsome )resent" Father Tout4a4tous

had )resents of choco,ate( coee and confectioner'(

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$ith the #1editations of the Re%erend Father Croi4

set(# and the #F,o$er of the Saints(# ound in mo4

rocco" ood o,d ordon ,i%ed $ith the &uron ti,,

his death( in the most friend,' intimac' 7 he had a,so

a enece( and for*ot( fore%er( essentia, *race and

the concomitant concourse" &e tooG for his motto(

#1isfortunes are of some use"# &o$ man' $orth'

)eo),e are there in the $or,d $ho ma' Hust,' sa'(

#1isfortunes are *ood for nothin*#

 T&E PRINCESS OF !A!3LON"

C&APTER I"

RO3AL CONTEST FOR T&E &AND OF FOR1OSANTA"

 The a*ed !e,us( Gin* of !a',on( thou*ht him4

se,f the rst man u)on earth 7 for a,, his courtiers to,d

him so( and his historians )ro%ed it" We Gno$ that

his )a,ace and his )arG( situated a fe$ )arasan*s

from !a',on( e?tended et$een the Eu)hrates and

the Ti*ris( $hich $ashed those enchanted anGs"

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&is %ast house( three thousand feet in front( a,most

reached the c,ouds" The ),atform $as surrounded

$ith a a,ustrade of $hite mar,e( ft' feet hi*h(

$hich su))orted co,ossa, statues of a,, the Gin*s and

*reat men of the em)ire" This ),atform( com)osed

of t$o ro$s of ricGs( co%ered $ith a thicG surface

of ,ead from one e?tremit' to the other( ore t$e,%e

feet of earth 7 and u)on the earth $ere raised *ro%es

of o,i%e( oran*e( citron( )a,m( cocoa( and cinnamon

trees( and stocG *i,,'Qo$ers( $hich formed a,,e's

that the ra's of the sun cou,d not )enetrate"

 The $aters of the Eu)hrates runnin*( ' the as4

sistance of )um)s( in a hundred cana,s( formed cas4

cades of si? thousand feet in ,en*th in the )arG( and

a hundred thousand Hets d+eau( $hose hei*ht $as

;>

 The Princess of !a',on" ;>B

scarce )erce)ti,e" The' after$ards Qo$ed into the

Eu)hrates( $hence the' came" The *ardens of

Semiramis( $hich astonished Asia se%era, a*es after(

$ere on,' a fee,e imitation of these ancient )rod4

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i*ies 7 for in the time of Semiramis( e%er'thin* e4

*an to de*enerate amon* men and $omen"

!ut $hat $as more admira,e in !a',on( and

ec,i)sed e%er'thin* e,se( $as the on,' dau*hter of

the Gin*( named Formosanta" It $as from her )ic4

tures and statues that( in succeedin* times( Pra?ite,es

scu,)tured his A)hrodite( and the Venus of 1edicis"

&ea%ens $hat a dierence et$een the ori*ina,

and the co)ies So that Kin* !e,us $as )rouder of

his dau*hter than of his Gin*dom" She $as ei*hteen

'ears o,d" It $as necessar' she shou,d ha%e a hus4

and $orth' of her 7 ut $here $as he to e found

An ancient orac,e had ordained that Formosanta

cou,d not e,on* to an' ut him $ho cou,d end the

o$ of Nimrod"

 This Nimrod( #a mi*ht' hunter efore the Lord(#

en" ?. < had ,eft a o$ se%enteen !a',onian

feet in ,en*th( made of eon'( harder than the iron

of 1ount Caucasus( $hich is $rou*ht in the for*es

of Derent 7 and no morta, since Nimrod cou,d end

this astonishin* o$"

It $as a*ain said #that the arm $hich shou,d end

this o$ $ou,d Gi,, the most terri,e and ferocious

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,ion that shou,d e ,et ,oose in the Circus of !a',on"#

 This $as not a,," The ender of the o$ and the

conueror of the ,ion shou,d o%erthro$ a,, his ri%a,s 7

; >> The Princess of !a',on"

ut he $as ao%e a,, thin*s to e %er' sa*acious( the

most ma*nicent and most %irtuous of men( and )os4

sess the *reatest curiosit' in the $ho,e uni%erse"

 Three Gin*s a))eared( $ho $ere o,d enou*h to

c,aim Formosanta Pharaoh of E*')t( the Shah of

India( and the *reat Khan of the Sc'thians" !e,us

a))ointed the da' and ),ace of comat( $hich $as

to e at the e?tremit' of his )arG( in the %ast e?)anse

surrounded ' the Hoint $aters of the Eu)hrates and

the Ti*ris" Round the ,ists a mar,e am)hitheatre

$as erected( $hich mi*ht contain %e hundred thou4

sand s)ectators" O))osite the am)hitheatre $as

),aced the Gin*+s throne" &e $as to a))ear $ith

Formosanta( accom)anied ' the $ho,e court 7 and on

the ri*ht and ,eft et$een the throne and the am)hi4

theatre( there $ere other thrones and seats for the

three Gin*s( and for a,, the other so%erei*ns $ho

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$ere desirous to e )resent at this au*ust ceremon'"

 The Gin* of E*')t arri%ed the rst( mounted u)on

the u,, A)is( and ho,din* in his hand the cithern of

Isis" &e $as fo,,o$ed ' t$o thousand )riests(

c,ad in ,inen %estments $hiter than sno$( t$o thou4

sand eunuchs( t$o thousand ma*icians( and t$o

thousand $arriors"

 The Gin* of India came soon after in a car dra$n

' t$e,%e e,e)hants" &e had a train sti,, more

numerous and more ri,,iant than Pharaoh of E*')t"

 The ,ast $ho a))eared $as the Gin* of the Sc'th4

ians" &e had none $ith him ut chosen $arriors(

armed $ith o$s and arro$s" &e $as mounted

 The Princess of !a',on" ; >

u)on a su)er ti*er( $hich he had tamed( and $hich

$as as ta,, as an' of the nest Persian horses" The

maHestic and im)ortant mien of this Gin* eaced the

a))earance of his ri%a,s 7 his naGed arms( as ner%ous

as the' $ere $hite( seemed a,read' to end the o$

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)etitors cast ,ots $hich shou,d tr' Nimrod+s o$ rst"

 Their names inscried $ere )ut into a *o,den casue"

 That of the E*')tian Gin* came out rst( then the

name of the Gin* of India a))eared" The Gin* of

; >M The Princess of !a',on"

Sc'thia( %ie$in* the o$ and his ri%a,s( did not

com),ain at ein* the third"

Whi,e these ri,,iant tria,s $ere )re)arin*( t$ent'

thousand )a*es and t$ent' thousand 'outhfu,

maidens distriuted( $ithout an' disorder( refresh4

ments to the s)ectators et$een the ro$s of seats"

E%er' one acGno$,ed*ed that the *ods had instituted

Gin*s for no other cause than e%er' da' to *i%e fes4

ti%a,s( u)on condition the' shou,d e di%ersied

that ,ife is too short for an' other )ur)ose 7 that ,a$4

suits( intri*ues( $ars( the a,tercations of theo,o*ists(

$hich consume human ,ife( are horri,e and asurd 7

that man is orn on,' for ha))iness7 that he $ou,d

not )assionate,' and incessant,' )ursue ),easure

$ere he not desi*ned for it7 that the essence of

human nature is to enHo' ourse,%es( and a,, the rest

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is no other in the $or,d ut this 'oun* man $ho can

e so handsome as the )rincess"#

 The ushers( strucG $ith astonishment( asGed him

if he $as a Gin* The stran*er re),ied that he had

not that honor( ut that he had come from a distant

countr'( e?cited ' curiosit'( to see if there $ere

an' Gin* $orth' of Formosanta" &e $as introduced

into the rst ro$ of the am)hitheatre( $ith his %a,et(

his t$o unicorns( and his ird" &e sa,uted( $ith

*reat res)ect( !e,us( his dau*hter( the three Gin*s(

and a,, the assem,'" &e then tooG his seat( not

$ithout ,ushin*" &is t$o unicorns ,a' do$n at his

feet7 his ird )erched u)on his shou,der7 and his

%a,et( $ho carried a ,itt,e a*( ),aced himse,f ' his

side"

 The tria,s e*an" The o$ of Nimrod $as taGen

out of its *o,den case" The rst master of ceremonies(

fo,,o$ed ' ft' )a*es( and )receded ' t$ent'

trum)ets( )resented it to the Gin* of E*')t( $ho

made his )riest ,ess it 7 and su))ortin* it u)on the

head of the u,, A)is( he did not uestion his *ainin*

this rst %ictor'" &e dismounted( anX came into

the midd,e of the circus" &e tried( e?erted a,, his

stren*th( and made such ridicu,ous contortions that

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;= The Princess of !a',on"

the $ho,e am)hitheatre re4echoed $ith ,au*hter( and

Formosanta herse,f cou,d not he,) smi,in*"

&is hi*h a,moner a))roached him .

#Let 'our maHest' *i%e u) this id,e honor( $hich

de)ends entire,' u)on the ner%es and musc,es" 3ou

$i,, trium)h in e%er'thin* e,se" 3ou $i,, conuer

the ,ion( as 'ou are )ossessed of the fa%or of Osiris"

 The )rincess of !a',on is to e,on* to the )rince

$ho is most sa*acious( and 'ou ha%e so,%ed eni*mas"

She is to $ed the most %irtuous 7 'ou are such( as 'ou

ha%e een educated ' the )riests of E*')t" The

most *enerous is to marr' her( and 'ou ha%e )re4

sented her $ith t$o of the handsomest crocodi,es(

and t$o of the nest rats in a,, the De,ta" 3ou are

)ossessed of the u,, A)is( and the ooGs of &ermes(

$hich are the scarcest thin*s in the uni%erse" No

one can ho)e to dis)ute Formosanta $ith 'ou"#

#3ou are in the ri*ht(# said the Gin* of E*')t(

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and resumed his throne"

 The o$ $as then )ut in the hands of the Gin* of

India" It ,istered his hands for a fortni*ht 7 ut he

conso,ed himse,f in )resumin* that the Sc'thian Gin*

$ou,d not e more fortunate than himse,f"

 The Sc'thian hand,ed the o$ in his turn" &e

united sGi,, $ith stren*th" The o$ seemed to ha%e

some e,asticit' in his hands" &e ent it a ,itt,e( ut

he cou,d not rin* it near a cur%e" The s)ectators(

$ho had een )reHudiced in his fa%or ' his a*ree4

a,e as)ect( ,amented his i,, success( and conc,uded

that the eautifu, )rincess $ou,d ne%er e married"

 The Princess of !a',on" ;;

 The unGno$n 'outh ,ea)ed into the arena and(

addressin* himse,f to the Gin* of Sc'thia( said .

#3our maHest' need not e sur)rised at not ha%in*

entire,' succeeded" These eon' o$s are made in

m' countr'" There is a )ecu,iar method in usin*

them" 3our merit is *reater in ha%in* ent it than if

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I $ere to cur%e it"#

&e then tooG an arro$( and ),acin* it u)on the

strin*( ent the o$ of Nimrod( and shot the arro$

e'ond the *ates" A mi,,ion hands at once a)),auded

the )rodi*'" !a',on re4echoed $ith acc,amations 7

and a,, the ,adies a*reed it $as fortunate for so hand4

some a 'outh to e so stron*"

&e tooG out of his )ocGet a sma,, i%or' ta,et(

$rote u)on it $ith a *o,den )enci,( ?ed the ta,et

to the o$( and )resented it to the )rincess $ith such

a *race as charmed e%er' s)ectator" &e then

modest,' returned to his ),ace et$een his ird and

his %a,et" A,, !a',on $as in astonishment7 the

three Gin*s $ere confounded7 $hi,e the stran*er did

not seem to )a' the ,east attention to $hat had

ha))ened"

Formosanta $as sti,, more sur)rised to read u)on

the i%or' ta,et( tied to the o$( these ,ines( $ritten

in the est Cha,dsean .

Larc de Nemrod est ce,ui de ,a *uerre7

L+arc de r amour est ce,ui du onheur 7

Vous ,e )orte2" Par %ous ce Dieu %ainueur

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Est de%enu ,e maitre de ,a terre"

 Trots Rois )uissants( trois ri%au? auHourd+ hut(

Osent )rttendre a I+honneur de 4%ous ),aire"

 /e ne sais )as ui %otre cceur )refere(

1ais runi%ers seraHa,ou? de ,ui"

; @ The Princess of !a',on"

ZThe o$ of Nimrod is that of $ar7

 The o$ of ,o%e is that of ha))iness

Which 'ou )ossess" Throu*h 'ou this conuerin* od

&as ecome master of the earth"

 Three )o$erfu, Gin*s( three ri%a,s no$(

Dare as)ire to the honor of ),easin* 'ou"

I Gno$ not $hom 'our heart ma' )refer(

!ut the uni%erse $i,, e Hea,ous of him"[

 This ,itt,e madri*a, did not dis),ease the )rincess 7

ut it $as criticised ' some of the ,ords of the an4

cient court( $ho said that( in former times( !e,us

$ou,d ha%e een com)ared to the sun( and Formo4

santa to the moon 7 his necG to a to$er( and her reast

to a ushe, of $heat" The' said the stran*er had

no sort of ima*ination( and that he had ,ost si*ht of

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the ru,es of true )oetr'( ut a,, the ,adies thou*ht the

%erses %er' *a,,ant" The' $ere astonished that a man

$ho hand,ed a o$ so $e,, shou,d ha%e so much $it"

 The ,ad' of honor to the )rincess said to her .

#1adam( $hat *reat ta,ents are here entire,' ,ost

What enet $i,, this 'oun* man deri%e from his

$it( and his sGi,, $ith Nimrod+s o$ #

#!ein* admired# said Formosanta"

#Ah # said the ,ad'( #one more madri*a,( and he

mi*ht $e,, e e,o%ed"#

 The Gin* of !a',on( ha%in* consu,ted his sa*es(

dec,ared that thou*h none of these Gin*s cou,d end

the o$ of Nimrod( 'et( ne%erthe,ess( his dau*h4

ter $as to e married( and that she shou,d e,on*

to him $ho cou,d conuer the *reat ,ion( $hich $as

)ur)ose,' Ge)t in trainin* in his *reat mena*erie"

 The Gin* of E*')t( u)on $hose education a,, the

 The Princess of !a',on" ;

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$isdom of E*')t had een e?hausted( Hud*ed it %er'

ridicu,ous to e?)ose a Gin* to the ferocit' of $i,d

easts in order to e married" &e acGno$,ed*ed

that he considered the )ossession of Formosanta of

inestima,e %a,ue( ut he e,ie%ed that if the ,ion

shou,d stran*,e him( he cou,d ne%er $ed this fair

!a',onian" The Gin* of India he,d simi,ar %ie$s

to the Gin* of E*')t" The' oth conc,uded that the

Gin* of !a',on $as ,au*hin* at them( and that

the' shou,d send for armies to )unish him that

the' had man' suHects $ho $ou,d thinG themse,%es

hi*h,' honored to die in the ser%ice of their masters(

$ithout it costin* them a sin*,e hair of their sacred

heads that the' cou,d easi,' dethrone the Gin* of

!a',on( and then the' $ou,d dra$ ,ots for the fair

Formosanta"

 This a*reement ein* made( the t$o Gin*s sent

each an e?)ress into his res)ecti%e countr'( $ith

orders to assem,e three hundred thousand men to

carr' o Formosanta"

&o$e%er( the Gin* of Sc'thia descended a,one

into the arena( scimitar in hand" &e $as not dis4

tracted,' enamored $ith Formosanta+s charms"

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,or' ti,, then had een his on,' )assion( and it had

,ed him to !a',on" &e $as $i,,in* to sho$ that

if the Gin*s of India and E*')t $ere so )rudent as

not to ti,t $ith ,ions( he $as coura*eous enou*h not

to dec,ine the comat( and he $ou,d re)air the honor

of diadems" &is uncommon %a,or $ou,d not e%en

a,,o$ him to a%ai, himse,f of the assistance of his

; The Princess of !a',on"

ti*er" &e ad%anced sin*,'( s,i*ht,' armed $ith a

she,, casue ornamented $ith *o,d( and shaded $ith

three horses+ tai,s as $hite as sno$"

One of the most enormous and ferocious ,ions

that fed u)on the Anti,ianian mountains $as ,et

,oose u)on him" &is tremendous )a$s a))eared

ca)a,e of tearin* the three Gin*s to )ieces at once(

and his *u,,et to de%our them" The t$o )roud

cham)ions Qed $ith the utmost )reci)itanc' and in

the most ra)id manner to each other" The coura4

*eous Sc'thian ),un*ed his s$ord into the ,ion+s

mouth 7 ut the )oint meetin* $ith one of those thicG

teeth that nothin* can )enetrate( $as roGen 7 and

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the monster of the $oods( more furious from his

$ound( had a,read' im)ressed his fearfu, c,a$s into

the monarch+s sides"

 The unGno$n 'outh( touched $ith the )eri, of so

ra%e a )rince( ,ea)ed into the arena s$ift as ,i*ht4

nin*( and cut o the ,ion+s head $ith as much de?ter4

it' as $e ha%e ,ate,' seen( in our carousa,s( 'outhfu,

Gni*hts GnocG o the heads of ,acG ima*es"

 Then dra$in* out a sma,, o?( he )resented it to

the Sc'thian Gin*( sa'in* to him .

#3our maHest' $i,, here nd the *enuine dittan'(

$hich *ro$s in m' countr'" 3our *,orious $ounds

$i,, e hea,ed in a moment" Accident a,one )re4

%ented 'our trium)h o%er the ,ion" 3our %a,or is

not the ,ess to e admired"#

 The Sc'thian Gin*( animated more $ith *ratitude

than Hea,ous'( thanGed his enefactor( and( after ha%4

 T&S 0NKNOWN VO0T& LEAPED INTO T&E

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A1RNA( AND O0T OFF# T&E

I6ION+> &EAD

 The Princess of !a',on" ;B

in* tender,' emraced him( returned to his seat to

a)),' the dittan' to his $ounds"

 The stran*er *a%e the ,ion+s head to his %a,et(

$ho( ha%in* $ashed it at the *reat fountain $hich

$as eneath the am)hitheatre( and drained a,, the

,ood( tooG an iron instrument out of his ,itt,e a*(

$ith $hich ha%in* dra$n the ,ion+s fort' teeth( he

su)),ied their ),ace $ith fort' diamonds of eua,

si2e"

&is master( $ith his usua, modest'( returned to

his ),ace7 he *a%e the ,ion+s head to his ird"

#!eauteous ird(# said he( #carr' this sma,, homa*e(

and ,a' it at the feet of Formosanta"#

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dor of this incom)ara,e ird"

 The attention( curiosit'( astonishment( and ec4

stas' of the $ho,e court $ere di%ided et$een the

 He$e,s and the ird" It had )erched u)on the a,us4

trade et$een !e,us and his dau*hter Formosanta"

She )etted it( caressed it( and Gissed it" It seemed

to recei%e her attentions $ith a mi?ture of ),easure

and res)ect" When the )rincess *a%e the ird a Giss(

it returned the emrace( and then ,ooGed u)on her

$ith ,an*uishin* e'es" She *a%e it iscuits and )is4

tachios( $hich it recei%ed in its )ur),e4si,%ered c,a$

and carried to its i,, $ith ine?)ressi,e *race"

!e,us( $ho had attenti%e,' considered the dia4

monds( conc,uded that scarce an' one of his )ro%4

inces cou,d re)a' so %a,ua,e a )resent" &e ordered

that more ma*nicent *ifts shou,d e )re)ared for

the stran*er than those destined for the three mon4

archs" #This 'oun* man(# said he( #is dout,ess

son to the em)eror of China 7 or of that )art of the

$or,d ca,,ed Euro)e( $hich I ha%e heard s)oGen of 7

or of Africa( $hich is said to e in the %icinit' of the

Gin*dom of E*')t"#

&e immediate,' sent his rst euerr' to com),i4

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ment the stran*er( and asG him $hether he $as him4

se,f the so%erei*n( or son to the so%erei*n of one of

those em)ires( and $h'( ein* )ossessed of such sur4

 The Princess of !a',on" ;

)risin* treasures( he had come $ith nothin* ut his

%a,et and a ,itt,e a*

Whi,st the euerr' ad%anced to$ard the am)hi4

theatre to e?ecute his commission( another %a,et ar4

ri%ed u)on a unicorn" This %a,et( addressin* him4

se,f to the 'oun* man( said . #Ormar( 'our father is

a))roachin* the end of his ,ife7 I am come to ac4

uaint 'ou $ith it"#

 The stran*er raised his e'es to hea%en( $hi,st

tears streamed from them( and ans$ered on,' '

sa'in*( #Let us de)art"#

 The euerr'( after ha%in* )aid !e,us+ com),i4

ments to the conueror of the ,ion( to the *i%er of the

fort' diamonds( and to the master of the eautifu,

ird( asGed the %a,et( #Of $hat Gin*dom is the father

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of this 'oun* hero so%erei*n #

 The %a,et re),ied .

#&is father is an o,d she)herd( $ho is much e4

,o%ed in his district"#

Durin* this con%ersation( the stran*er had a,read'

mounted his unicorn" &e said to the euerr' .

#1' ,ord( %ouchsafe to )rostrate me at the feet

of Kin* !e,us and his dau*hter" I must entreat

her to taGe )articu,ar care of the ird I ,ea%e $ith

her( as it is a non)arei, ,iGe herse,f"#

In utterin* these ,ast $ords he set o( and Qe$

,iGe ,i*htnin*" The t$o %a,ets fo,,o$ed him( and in

an instant he $as out of si*ht"

Formosanta cou,d not refrain from shrieGin*"

Vo," ;@

;M The Princess of !a',on"

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the ,ife of the on,' com)etitor he had to fear7 and

$hen the oHect is to sur)ass the other t$o( I e,ie%e

'ou cannot dout that he $i,, easi,' succeed"#

#A,, that 'ou sa' is %er' true(# re),ied Formo4

santa( #ut is it )ossi,e that the *reatest of men( and

)erha)s the most amia,e too( shou,d e the son of a

she)herd #

 The ,ad' of honor( Hoinin* in the con%ersation(

said that the tit,e of she)herd $as freuent,' *i%en to

Gin*s 7 that the' $ere ca,,ed she)herds ecause the'

attended %er' c,ose,' to their QocGs 7 that this $as

dout,ess a )iece of i,,4timed ),easantr' in his %a,et 7

that this 'oun* hero had not come so ad,' eui))ed(

ut to sho$ ho$ much his )ersona, merit a,one $as

ao%e the fastidious )arade of Gin*s" The )rincess

made no ans$er( ut in *i%in* her ird a thousand

tender Gisses"

; M= The Princess of !a',on"

A *reat festi%a, $as ne%erthe,ess )re)ared for the

three Gin*s( and for a,, the )rinces $ho had come to

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the feast" The Gin*+s dau*hter and niece $ere to do

the honors" The Gin* distriuted )resents $orth'

the ma*nicence of !a',on" !e,us( durin* the time

the re)ast $as ein* ser%ed( assem,ed his counci, to

discuss the marria*e of the eautifu, Formosanta(

and this is the $a' he de,i%ered himse,f as a *reat

)o,itician .

#I am o,d 7 I Gno$ not $hat is est to do $ith m'

dau*hter( or u)on $hom to esto$ her" &e $ho de4

ser%es her is nothin* ut a mean she)herd" The Gin*s

of India and E*')t are co$ards" The Gin* of the

Sc'thians $ou,d e %er' a*reea,e to me( ut he has

not )erformed an' one of the conditions im)osed" I

$i,, a*ain consu,t the orac,e" In the meantime( de4

,ierate amon* 'ou( and $e $i,, conc,ude a*reea,'

to $hat the orac,e sa's7 for a Gin* shou,d fo,,o$

nothin* ut the dictates of the immorta, *ods"#

&e then re)aired to the tem),e7 the orac,e an4

s$ered in fe$ $ords accordin* to custom. #Th'

dau*hter sha,, not e married unti, she hath tra%4

ersed the *,oe"# In astonishment( !e,us returned

to the counci,( and re,ated this ans$er"

A,, the ministers had a )rofound res)ect for ora4

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c,es" The' therefore a,, a*reed( or at ,east a))eared

to a*ree( that the' $ere the foundation of re,i*ion 7

that reason shou,d e mute efore them 7 that it $as

' their means that Gin*s rei*ned o%er their )eo),e 7

 The Princess of !a',on" ;M;

that $ithout orac,es there $ou,d e neither %irtue nor

re)ose u)on earth"

At ,en*th( after ha%in* testied the most )rofound

%eneration for them( the' near,' a,, conc,uded that

this orac,e $as im)ertinent( and shou,d not e

oe'ed7 that nothin* cou,d e more indecent for a

'oun* $oman( and )articu,ar,' the dau*hter of the

*reat Gin* of !a',on( than to run aout( $ithout

an' )articu,ar destination7 that this $as the most

certain method to )re%ent her ein* married( or e,se

en*a*e her in a c,andestine( shamefu,( and ridicu,ous

union 7 that( in a $ord( this orac,e had not common

sense"

 The 'oun*est of the ministers( named Onadase(

$ho had more sense than the rest( said that the orac,e

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dout,ess meant some )i,*rima*e of de%otion( and

oered to e the )rincess+ *uide" The counci, a)4

)ro%ed of his o)inion( ut e%er' one $as for ein*

her euerr'" The Gin* determined that the )rincess

mi*ht *o three hundred )arasan*s u)on the road to

Araia( to the tem),e $hose saint had the re)utation

of )rocurin* 'oun* $omen ha))' marria*es( and

that the dean of the counci, shou,d accom)an' her"

After this determination the' $ent to su))er"

; M@ The Princess of !a',on"

C&APTER III"

RO3AL FESTIVAL IVEN IN &ONOR OF T&E KINL3

VISITORS T&E !IRD CONVERSES ELO80ENTL3 WIT&

FOR1OSANTA"

In the centre of the *ardens( et$een t$o cas4

cades( an o%a, sa,oon( three hundred feet in diameter(

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$as erected( $hose a2ure roof( intersected $ith

*o,den stars( re)resented a,, the conste,,ations and

),anets( each in its )ro)er station7 and this cei,in*

turned aout( as $e,, as the cano)'( ' machines as

in%isi,e as those $hich direct the ce,estia, s)heres"

A hundred thousand Qameau?( inc,osed in rich

cr'sta, c',inders( i,,uminated the *ardens and the

dinin*4ha,," A uet( $ith ste)s( contained t$ent'

thousand %ases and *o,den dishes 7 and o))osite the

uet( u)on other ste)s( $ere seated a *reat numer

of musicians" The t$o am)hitheatres $ere decGed

out . the one $ith the fruits of each season( the other

$ith cr'sta, decanters that s)arG,ed $ith the choicest

$ines"

 The *uests tooG their seats round a ta,e di%ided

into com)artments that resem,ed Qo$ers and fruits(

a,, in )recious stones" The eautifu, Formosanta

$as ),aced et$een the Gin*s of India and E*')t(

the amia,e A,dea ne?t the Gin* of Sc'thia" There

$ere aout thirt' )rinces( and each $as seated ne?t

one of the handsomest ,adies of the court" The Gin*

of !a',on( $ho $as in the midd,e( o))osite his

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 The Princess of !a',on" ; M

dau*hter( seemed di%ided et$een the cha*rin of e4

in* 'et una,e to eect her marria*e( and the ),easure

of sti,, eho,din* her" Formosanta asGed ,ea%e to

),ace her ird u)on the ta,e ne?t her 7 the Gin* a)4

)ro%ed of it"

 The music( $hich continued durin* the re)ast(

furnished e%er' )rince $ith an o))ortunit' of con4

%ersin* $ith his fema,e nei*hor" The festi%a, $as

as a*reea,e as it $as ma*nicent" A ra*out $as

ser%ed efore Formosanta( $hich her father $as

%er' fond of" The )rincess said it shou,d e carried

to his maHest'" The ird immediate,' tooG ho,d of

it( and carried it in a miracu,ous manner to the Gin*"

Ne%er $as an'thin* more astonishin* $itnessed"

!e,us caressed it as much as his dau*hter had done"

 The ird after$ard tooG its Qi*ht to return to her"

It dis),a'ed( in Q'in*( so ne a tai,( and its e?tended

$in*s set forth such a %ariet' of ri,,iant co,ors 7 the

*o,d of its ),uma*e made such a da22,in* ec,at( that

a,, e'es $ere ?ed u)on it" A,, the musicians $ere

strucG motion,ess( and their instruments aorded

harmon' no ,on*er" None ate( no one s)oGe( nothin*

ut a u22in* of admiration $as to e heard" The

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)rincess of !a',on Gissed it durin* the $ho,e su)4

)er( $ithout considerin* $hether there $ere an'

Gin*s in the $or,d" Those of India and E*')t fe,t

their s)ite and indi*nation reGind,e $ith dou,e force

and the' reso,%ed s)eedi,' to set their three hundred

thousand men in motion to otain re%en*e"

As for the Gin* of Sc'thia( he $as en*a*ed in

;M The Princess of !a',on"

entertainin* the eautifu, A,dea" &is hau*ht' sou,

des)isin*( $ithout ma,ice( Formosanta+s inattention(

had concei%ed for her more indierence than resent4

ment" #She is handsome(# said he( #I acGno$,ed*e(

ut she a))ears to me one of those $omen $ho are

entire,' taGen u) $ith their o$n eaut'( and $ho

fanc' that manGind are *reat,' o,i*ed to them $hen

the' dei*n to a))ear in )u,ic" I shou,d )refer an

u*,' com),aisant $oman( that e?hiited some amia4

i,it'( to that eautifu, statue" 3ou ha%e( madam(

as man' charms as she )ossesses( and 'ou( at ,east(

condescend to con%erse $ith stran*ers" I acGno$,4

ed*e to 'ou $ith the sincerit' of a Sc'thian( that I

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)refer 'ou to 'our cousin"#

&e $as( ho$e%er( mistaGen in re*ard to the char4

acter of Formosanta" She $as not so disdainfu, as

she a))eared" !ut his com),iments $ere %er' $e,,

recei%ed ' the )rincess A,dea" Their con%ersation

ecame %er' interestin*" The' $ere $e,, contented(

and a,read' certain of one another efore the' ,eft

the ta,e" After su))er the *uests $a,Ged in the

*ro%es" The Gin* of Sc'thia and A,dea did not fai,

to seeG for a ),ace of retreat" A,dea( $ho $as sin4

cerit' itse,f( thus dec,ared herse,f to the )rince .

#I do not hate m' cousin( thou*h she e hand4

somer than m'se,f( and is destined for the throne of

!a',on" The honor of ),easin* 'ou ma' %er' $e,,

stand in the stead of charms" I )refer Sc'thia $ith

'ou to the cro$n of !a',on $ithout 'ou" !ut this

cro$n e,on*s to me ' ri*ht( if there e an' ri*ht in

 The Princess of !a',on" ;MB

the $or,d 7 for I am of the e,der ranch of the Nimrod

fami,'( and Formosanta is on,' of the 'oun*er" &er

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*randfather dethroned mine( and )ut him to death"#

#Such( then( are the ri*hts of inheritance in the

ro'a, house of !a',on # said the Sc'thian" #What

$as 'our *randfather+s name #

#&e $as ca,,ed A,dea( ,iGe me" 1' father ore

the same name" &e $as anished to the e?tremit' of

the em)ire $ith m' mother7 and !e,us( after their

death( ha%in* nothin* to fear from me( $as $i,,in*

to rin* me u) $ith his dau*hter" !ut he has re4

so,%ed that I sha,, ne%er marr'"#

#I $i,, a%en*e the cause of 'our *randfather( of

'our father( and a,so 'our o$n cause(# said the Gin*

of Sc'thia" #I am res)onsi,e for 'our ein* married"

I $i,, carr' 'ou o the da' after to4morro$ ' da'4

reaG for $e must dine to4morro$ $ith the Gin* of

!a',on and I $i,, return and su))ort 'our ri*hts

$ith three hundred thousand men"#

#I a*ree to it(# said the eauteous A,dea7 and(

after ha%in* mutua,,' ),ed*ed their $ords of honor(

the' se)arated"

 The incom)ara,e Formosanta( efore retirin* to

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rest( had ordered a sma,, oran*e tree( in a si,%er case(

to e ),aced ' the side of her ed( that her ird

mi*ht )erch u)on it" &er curtains had ,on* een

dra$n( ut she $as not in the ,east dis)osed to s,ee)"

&er heart $as a*itated( and her ima*ination e?cited"

 The charmin* stran*er $as e%er in her thou*hts"

She fancied she sa$ him shootin* an arro$ $ith

; M> The Princess of !a',on"

Nimrod+s o$" She contem),ated him in the act of

cuttin* o the ,ion+s head" She re)eated his mad4

ri*a," At ,en*th( she sa$ him retirin* from the

cro$d u)on his unicorn" Tears( si*hs( and ,amenta4

tions o%er$he,med her at this reQection" At inter4

%a,s she cried out. #Sha,, I then ne%er see him

more Wi,, he ne%er return #

#&e $i,, sure,' return(# re),ied the ird from the

to) of the oran*e tree" #Can one ha%e seen 'ou once(

and not desire to see 'ou a*ain #

#&ea%ens eterna, )o$ers m' ird s)eaGs the

)urest Cha,daean"# In utterin* these $ords she dre$

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acG the curtains( )ut out her hand to him( and Gne,t

u)on her ed( sa'in* .

#Art thou a *od descended u)on earth Art thou

the *reat Oromasdes concea,ed under this eautifu,

),uma*e If thou art( restore me this charmin*

'oun* man"#

#I am nothin* ut a $in*ed anima,(# re),ied the

ird( #ut I $as orn at the time $hen a,, anima,s

sti,, s)oGe 7 $hen irds( ser)ents( asses( horses( and

*rins con%ersed fami,iar,' $ith man" I $ou,d

not s)eaG efore com)an'( ,est 'our ,adies of honor

shou,d ha%e taGen me for a sorcerer" I $ou,d not

disco%er m'se,f to an' ut 'ou"#

Formosanta $as s)eech,ess( e$i,dered( and in4

to?icated $ith so man' $onders" Desirous of )ut4

tin* a hundred uestions to him at once( she at

,en*th asGed him ho$ o,d he $as"

#On,' t$ent'4se%en thousand nine hundred 'ears

 The Princess of !a',on" ; M

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and si? months" I date m' a*e from the ,itt,e re%o,u4

tion of the euino?es( and $hich is accom),ished in

aout t$ent'4ei*ht thousand of 'our 'ears" There

are re%o,utions of a much *reater e?tent( so are there

ein*s much o,der than me" It is t$ent'4t$o thou4

sand 'ears since I ,earned Cha,daean in one of m'

tra%e,s" I ha%e a,$a's had a %er' *reat taste for the

Cha,daean ,an*ua*e( ut m' rethren( the other ani4

ma,s( ha%e renounced s)eaGin* in 'our c,imate"#

#And $h' so( m' di%ine ird #

#A,as ecause men ha%e accustomed themse,%es

to eat us( instead of con%ersin* and instructin* them4

se,%es $ith us" !ararians shou,d the' not ha%e

een con%inced that( ha%in* the same or*ans $ith

them( the same sentiments( the same $ants( the same

desires( $e ha%e a,so $hat is ca,,ed a sou,( the same

as themse,%es 7 that $e are their rothers( and that

none shou,d e dressed and eaten ut the $icGed

We are so far 'our rothers that the Su)reme !ein*(

the Omni)otent and Eterna, !ein*( ha%in* made a

com)act $ith men( e?)ress,' com)rehended us in the

treat'" &e forade 'ou to nourish 'ourse,%es $ith

our ,ood( and us to sucG 'ours"

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#The fa,es of 'our ancient Locman( trans,ated

into so man' ,an*ua*es( $i,, e an eterna,,' e?istin*

testimon' of the ha))' commerce 'ou former,' car4

ried on $ith us" The' a,, e*in $ith these $ords .

+In the time $hen easts s)oGe"+ It is true( there are

man' fami,ies amon* 'ou $ho Gee) u) an incessant

con%ersation $ith their do*s7 ut the do*s ha%e

; MM The Princess of !a',on"

reso,%ed not to ans$er( since the' ha%e een com4

)e,,ed ' $hi))in* to *o huntin* and ecome accom4

),ices in the murder of our ancient and common

friends( sta*s( deers( hares( and )artrid*es"

#3ou ha%e sti,, some ancient )oems in $hich

horses s)eaG( and 'our coachmen dai,' address them

in $ords 7 ut in so ararous a manner( and in utter4

in* such infamous e?)ressions( that horses( thou*h

former,' entertainin* so *reat a Gindness for 'ou(

no$ detest 'ou"

#The countr' $hich is the residence of 'our

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charmin* stran*er( the most )erfect of men( is the

on,' one in $hich 'our s)ecies has continued to ,o%e

ours( and to con%erse $ith us 7 and is the on,' coun4

tr' in the $or,d $here men are Hust"#

#And $here is the countr' of m' dear inco*nito

What is the name of his em)ire For I $i,, no

more e,ie%e he is a she)herd than that 'ou are a

at"#

#&is countr' is that of the an*arids( a $ise(

%irtuous( and in%inci,e )eo),e( $ho inhait the east4

ern shore of the an*es" The name of m' friend is

Ama2an" &e is no Gin* 7 and I Gno$ not $hether he

$ou,d so hum,e himse,f as to e one" &e has too

*reat a ,o%e for his fe,,o$ countr'men" &e is a

she)herd ,iGe them" !ut do not ima*ine that those

she)herds resem,e 'ours( $ho( co%ered $ith ra*s

and tatters( $atch their shee)( $ho are etter c,ad

than themse,%es7 $ho *roan under the urden of

)o%ert'( and $ho )a' to an e?tortioner ha,f the

 The Princess of !a',on" ;M<

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thousand men" &e $as athed in the sa,utar' $ater

of the +an*es( and fo,,o$ed the re*imen of the

countr'( $hich consists on,' of %e*eta,es( of $hich

nature has there een ama2in*,' ,iera, to nourish

;<= The Princess of !a',on"

e%er' reathin* creature" 1en $ho are fed $ith car4

ni%orous a,iments( and drenched $ith s)irituous

,iuors( ha%e a shar) adust ,ood( $hich turns their

rains a hundred dierent $a's" Their chief ra*e

is a fur' to s)i,, their rother+s ,ood( and( ,a'in*

$aste ferti,e ),ains( to rei*n o%er church'ards" Si?

fu,, months $ere taGen u) in curin* the Gin* of

India of his disorder" When the )h'sicians Hud*ed

that his )u,se had ecome natura,( the' certied this

to the counci, of the an*arids" The counci, then

fo,,o$ed the ad%ice of the unicorns and humane,'

sent acG the Gin* of India( his si,,' court( and im4

)otent $arriors to their o$n countr'" This ,esson

made them $ise( and from that time the Indians re4

s)ected the an*arids( as i*norant men( $i,,in* to

e instructed( re%ere the )hi,oso)hers the' cannot

eua,"

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#A)ro)os( m' dear ird(# said the )rincess to him(

#do the an*arids )rofess an' re,i*ion ha%e the'

one#

#3es( $e meet to return thanGs to od on the da's

of the fu,, moon 7 the men in a *reat tem),e made of

cedar( and the $omen in another( to )re%ent their

de%otion ein* di%erted" A,, the irds assem,e in a

*ro%e( and the uadru)eds on a ne do$n" We

thanG od for a,, the enets he has esto$ed u)on

us" We ha%e in )articu,ar some )arrots that )reach

$onderfu,,' $e,,"

#Such is the countr' of m' dear Ama2an 7 there I

reside" 1' friendshi) for him is as *reat as the ,o%e

 The Princess of !a',on" ;<;

$ith $hich he has ins)ired 'ou" If 'ou $i,, credit

me( $e $i,, set out to*ether( and 'ou sha,, )a' him a

%isit"#

#Rea,,'( m' dear ird( this is a %er' )rett' in%ita4

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tion of 'ours(# re),ied the )rincess smi,in*( and $ho

Qamed $ith desire to undertaGe the Hourne'( ut did

not dare sa' so"

#I ser%e m' friend(# said the ird7 #and( after

the ha))iness of ,o%in* 'ou( the *reatest ),easure is

to assist 'ou"#

Formosanta $as uite fascinated" She fancied

herse,f trans)orted from earth" A,, she had seen

that da'( a,, she then sa$( a,, she heard( and )ar4

ticu,ar,' $hat she fe,t in her heart( so ra%ished her

as far to sur)ass $hat those fortunate 1ussu,mans

no$ fee,( $ho( disencumered from their terrestria,

ties( nd themse,%es in the ninth hea%en in the arms

of their &ouris( surrounded and )enetrated $ith

*,or' and ce,estia, fe,icit'"

C&APTER IV"

 T&E !EA0TIF0L !IRD IS KILLED !3 T&E KIN OF E3PT

FOR1OSANTA !EINS A /O0RNE3 ALDEA ELOPES

WIT& T&E KIN OF SC3T&IA"

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Formosanta )assed the $ho,e ni*ht in s)eaGin*

of Ama2an" She no ,on*er ca,,ed him an'thin* ut

her she)herd7 and from this time it $as that the

names of she)herd and ,o%er $ere indiscriminate,'

used throu*hout e%er' nation"

;<@ The Princess of !a',on"

Sometimes she asGed the ird $hether Ama2an

had had an' other mistresses" It ans$ered( #No(#

and she $as at the summit of fe,icit'" Sometimes

she asGed ho$ he )assed his ,ife 7 and she( $ith trans4

)ort( ,earned that it $as em),o'ed in doin* *ood( in

cu,ti%atin* arts( in )enetratin* into the secrets of

nature and im)ro%in* himse,f" She at times $anted

to Gno$ if the sou, of her ,o%er $as of the same

nature as that of her ird 7 ho$ it ha))ened that it

had ,i%ed t$ent' thousand 'ears( $hen her ,o%er $as

not ao%e ei*hteen or nineteen" She )ut a hundred

such uestions( to $hich the ird re),ied $ith such

discretion as e?cited her curiosit'" At ,en*th s,ee)

c,osed their e'es( and 'ie,ded u) Formosanta to the

s$eet de,usion of dreams sent ' the *ods( $hich

sometimes sur)ass rea,it' itse,f( and $hich a,, the

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)hi,oso)h' of the Cha,dseans can scarce e?),ain"

Formosanta did not a$aGen ti,, %er' ,ate" The

da' $as far ad%anced $hen the Gin*( her father( en4

tered her chamer" The ird recei%ed his maHest'

$ith res)ectfu, )o,iteness( $ent efore him( Quttered

his $in*s( stretched his necG( and then re),aced him4

se,f u)on his oran*e tree" The Gin* seated himse,f

u)on his dau*hter+s ed( $hose dreams had made her

sti,, more eautifu," &is ,ar*e eard a))roached

her ,o%e,' face( and after ha%in* emraced her( he

s)oGe to her in these $ords.

#1' dear dau*hter( 'ou cou,d not 'esterda' nd

a husand a*reea,e to m' $ishes 7 'ou ne%erthe,ess

must marr'7 the )ros)erit' of m' em)ire reuires

 The Princess of !a',on" ; <

it" I ha%e consu,ted the orac,e( $hich 'ou Gno$

ne%er errs( and $hich directs a,, m' conduct" &is

commands are that 'ou shou,d tra%erse the *,oe"

 3ou must therefore e*in 'our Hourne'"#

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#Ah dout,ess to the an*arids(# said the )rin4

cess 7 and in utterin* these $ords( $hich esca)ed her(

she $as sensi,e of her indiscretion" The Gin*( $ho

$as utter,' i*norant of *eo*ra)h'( asGed her $hat

she meant ' the an*arids She easi,' di%erted the

uestion" The Gin* to,d her she must *o on a )i,4

*rima*e( that he had a))ointed the )ersons $ho

$ere to attend her the dean of the counse,,ors of

state( the hi*h a,moner( a ,ad' of honor( a )h'sician(

an a)othecar'( her ird( and a,, necessar' domestics"

Formosanta( $ho had ne%er een out of her fa4

ther+s )a,ace( and $ho( ti,, the arri%a, of the three

Gin*s and Ama2an( had ,ed a %er' insi)id ,ife( ac4

cordin* to the etiuette of ranG and the )arade of

),easure( $as charmed at settin* out u)on a )i,*rim4

a*e" #Who Gno$s(# said she( $his)erin* to her

heart( #if the *ods ma' not ins)ire Ama2an $ith the

,iGe desire of *oin* to the same cha)e,( and I ma'

ha%e the ha))iness of a*ain seein* the )i,*rim#

She aectionate,' thanGed her father( sa'in* she

had a,$a's entertained a secret de%otion for the saint

she $as *oin* to %isit"

!e,us *a%e an e?ce,,ent dinner to his *uests( $ho

$ere a,, men" The' formed a %er' i,,4assorted com4

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)an' Gin*s( ministers( )rinces( )ontis a,, Hea,ous

of each other7 a,, $ei*hin* their $ords and

Vo," ;

;< The Princess of !a',on"

eua,,' emarrassed $ith their nei*hors and them4

se,%es" The re)ast $as %er' *,oom'( thou*h the'

dranG )rett' free,'" The )rincesses remained in

their a)artments( each meditatin* u)on her res)ec4

ti%e Hourne'" The' dined at their ,itt,e co%er" For

mosanta after$ard $a,Ged in the *ardens $ith her

dear ird( $hich( to amuse her( Qe$ from tree to tree(

dis),a'in* his su)er tai, and di%ine ),uma*e"

 The Gin* of E*')t( $ho $as heated $ith $ine(

not to sa' drunG( asGed one of his )a*es for a o$

and arro$" This )rince $as( in truth( the most un4

sGi,fu, archer in his $ho,e Gin*dom" When he shot

at a marG( the ),ace of *reatest safet' $as *enera,,'

the s)ot he aimed at" !ut the eautifu, ird( Q'in*

as s$ift,' as the arro$( seemed to court it( and fe,,

,eedin* in the arms of Formosanta" The E*')tian(

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urstin* into a foo,ish ,au*h( retired to his ),ace"

 The )rincess rent the sGies $ith her moans( me,ted

into tears( tore her hair( and eat her reast" The

d'in* ird said to her( in a ,o$ %oice . #!urn me( and

fai, not to carr' m' ashes to the east of the ancient

cit' of Aden or Eden( and e?)ose them to the sun

u)on a ,itt,e )i,e of c,o%es and cinnamon"# After

ha%in* uttered these $ords it e?)ired" Formosanta

$as for a ,on* time in a s$oon( and re%i%ed a*ain

on,' to urst into si*hs and *roans" &er father(

)artaGin* of her *rief( and im)recatin* the Gin*

of E*')t( did not dout that this accident foreto,d

some fata, e%ent" &e immediate,' $ent to consu,t

 The Princess of !a',on" ;<B

the orac,e( $hich re),ied . #A mi?ture of e%er'thin*

,ife and death( inde,it' and constanc'( ,oss and

*ain( ca,amities and *ood fortune"# Neither he nor

his counci, cou,d com)rehend an' meanin* in this re4

),' 7 ut( at ,en*th( he $as satised $ith ha%in* fu,4

,,ed the duties of de%otion"

&is dau*hter $as athed in tears( $hi,e he con4

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su,ted the orac,e" She )aid the funera, oseuies to

the ird( $hich it had directed( and reso,%ed to carr'

its remains into Araia at the risG of her ,ife" It

$as urned in incomusti,e Qa?( $ith the oran*e4

tree on $hich it used to )erch" She *athered u)

the ashes in a ,itt,e *o,den %ase( set $ith ruies( and

the diamonds taGen from the ,ion+s mouth" Oh

that she cou,d( instead of fu,,,in* this me,ancho,'

dut'( ha%e urned a,i%e the detesta,e Gin* of

E*')t This $as her so,e $ish" She( in s)ite( )ut

to death the t$o crocodi,es( his t$o sea horses( his

t$o 2eras( his t$o rats( and had his t$o mummies

thro$n into the Eu)hrates" &ad she )ossessed his

u,, A)is( she $ou,d not ha%e s)ared him"

 The Gin* of E*')t( enra*ed at this aront( set out

immediate,' to for$ard his three hundred thousand

men" The Gin* of India( seein* his a,,' de)art(

set o a,so on the same da'( $ith a rm intention of

 Hoinin* his three hundred thousand Indians to -he

E*')tian arm'" The Gin* of Sc'thia decam)ed

in the ni*ht $ith the Princess A,dea( fu,,' reso,%ed

to *ht for her at the head of three hundred thou4

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;<> The Princess of !a',on"

sand Sc'thians( and to restore to her the inheritance

of !a',on( $hich $as her ri*ht( as she had de4

scended from the e,der ranch of the Nimrod fami,'"

As for the eautifu, Formosanta( she set out at

three in the mornin* $ith her cara%an of )i,*rims(

Qatterin* herse,f that she mi*ht *o into Araia( and

e?ecute the ,ast $i,, of her ird 7 and that the Hus4

tice of the *ods $ou,d restore her the dear Ama2an(

$ithout $hom ,ife had ecome insu))orta,e"

When the Gin* of !a',on a$oGe( he found a,,

the com)an' *one"

#&o$ mi*ht' festi%a,s terminate(# said he 7 #and

$hat a sur)risin* %acuum the' ,ea%e $hen the hurr'

is o%er"#

!ut he $as trans)orted $ith a ra*e tru,' ro'a,(

$hen he found that the Princess A,de"i had een car4

ried o" &e ordered a,, his ministers to e ca,,ed

u)( and the counci, to e con%ened" Whi,e the'

$ere dressin*( he fai,ed not to consu,t the orac,e 7

ut the on,' ans$er he cou,d otain $as in these

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$ords( so ce,erated since throu*hout the uni%erse .

#When *ir,s are not )ro%ided for in marria*e ' their

re,ati%es( the' marr' themse,%es"#

Orders $ere immediate,' issued to march three

hundred thousand men a*ainst the Gin* of Sc'thia"

 Thus $as the torch of a most dreadfu, $ar ,i*hted

u)( $hich $as caused ' the amusements of the nest

festi%a, e%er *i%en u)on earth" Asia $as u)on the

)oint of ein* o%errun ' four armies of three hun4

 The Princess of !a',on" ;<

dred thousand men each" It is ),ain that the $ar of

 Tro'( $hich astonished the $or,d some a*es after(

$as mere chi,d+s ),a' in com)arison to this . ut it

shou,d a,so e considered( that in the TroHans+ uar4

re,( the oHect $as nothin* more than a %er' im4

mora, o,d $oman( $ho had contri%ed to e t$ice

run a$a' $ith 7 $hereas( in this case( the cause $as

tri)artite t$o *ir,s and a ird"

 The Gin* of India $ent to meet his arm' u)on

the ,ar*e( ne road $hich then ,ed strai*ht to !a'4

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,on( at Cachemir" The Gin* of Sc'thia Qe$ $ith

A,dea ' the ne road $hich ,ed to 1ount Imaus"

O$in* to ad *o%ernment( a,, these ne roads ha%e

disa))eared in the ,a)se of time" The Gin* of

E*')t had marched to the $est( a,on* the coast of

the ,itt,e 1editerranean sea( $hich the i*norant &e4

re$s ha%e since ca,,ed the reat Sea"

As to the charmin* Formosanta( she )ursued the

road to !assora( ),anted $ith ,oft' )a,m trees( $hich

furnished a )er)etua, shade( and fruit at a,, seasons"

 The tem),e in $hich she $as to )erform her de%o4

tions( $as in !assora itse,f" The saint to $hom

this tem),e had een dedicated $as some$hat in the

st',e of him $ho $as after$ards adored at Lam)4

sacus( and $as *enera,,' successfu, in )rocurin* hus4

ands for 'oun* ,adies" Indeed( he $as the ho,iest

saint in a,, Asia"

Formosanta had no sort of inc,ination for the saint

of !assora" She on,' in%oGed her dear an*aridian

;<M The Princess of !a',on"

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she)herd( her charmin* Ama2an" She )ro)osed em4

arGin* at !assora( and ,andin* in Araia Fe,i?( to

)erform $hat her deceased ird had commanded"

At the third sta*e( scarce had she entered into a

ne inn( $here her harin*ers had made a,, the nec4

essar' )re)arations for her( $hen she ,earned that

the Gin* of E*')t had arri%ed there a,so" Informed

' his emissaries of the )rincess+ route( he imme4

diate,' a,tered his course( fo,,o$ed ' a numerous

escort" &a%in* a,i*hted( he ),aced sentine,s at a,,

the doors7 then re)aired to the eautifu, Formo4

santa+s a)artment( $hen he addressed her ' sa'in* .

#1iss( 'ou are the ,ad' I $as in uest of" 3ou

)aid me %er' ,itt,e attention $hen I $as at !a',on"

It is Hust to )unish scornfu,( ca)ricious $omen" 3ou

$i,,( if 'ou ),ease( e Gind enou*h to su) $ith me

to4ni*ht 7 and I sha,, eha%e to 'ou accordin* as I

am satised $ith 'ou"#

Formosanta sa$ %er' $e,, that she $as not the

stron*est" She Hud*ed that *ood sense consisted in

Gno$in* ho$ to conform to one+s situation" She re4

so,%ed to *et rid of the Gin* of E*')t ' an inno4

cent strata*em" She ,ooGed at him throu*h the cor4

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ners of her e'es $hich in after a*es has een ca,,ed

o*,in* and then she s)oGe to him( $ith a modest'(

*race( and s$eetness( a confusion( and a thousand

other charms( $hich $ou,d ha%e made the $isest man

a foo,( and decei%ed the most discernin* .

#I acGno$,ed*e( sir( I a,$a's a))eared $ith a

do$ncast ,ooG( $hen 'ou did the Gin*( m' father(

 The Princess of !a',on" ;<<

the honor of %isitin* him" I had some a))rehensions

for m' heart" I dreaded m' too *reat sim),icit'" I

trem,ed ,est m' father and 'our ri%a,s shou,d o4

ser%e the )reference I *a%e 'ou( and $hich 'ou so

hi*h,' deser%ed" I can no$ dec,are m' sentiments"

I s$ear ' the u,, A)is( $hich after 'ou is the thin*

I res)ect the most in the $or,d( that 'our )ro)osa,s

ha%e enchanted me" I ha%e a,read' su))ed $ith

'ou at m' father+s( and I $i,, su) $ith 'ou a*ain(

$ithout his ein* of the )art'" A,, that I reuest of

'ou is that 'our hi*h a,moner shou,d drinG $ith

us" &e a))eared to me at !a',on to e an e?ce,,ent

*uest" I ha%e some Chiras $ine remarGa,' *ood"

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I $i,, maGe 'ou oth taste it" I consider 'ou as

the *reatest of Gin*s( and the most amia,e of men"#

 This discourse turned the Gin* of E*')t+s head"

&e a*reed to ha%e the a,moner+s com)an'"

#I ha%e another fa%or to asG of 'ou(# said the

)rincess( #$hich is to a,,o$ me to s)eaG to m' a)othe4

car'" Women ha%e a,$a's some ,itt,e ai,s that re4

uire attention( such as %a)ors in the head( )a,)ita4

tions of the heart( co,ics( and the ,iGe( $hich often

reuire some assistance" In a $ord( I at )resent

stand in need of m' a)othecar'( and I ho)e 'ou $i,,

not refuse me this s,i*ht testimon' of condence"#

#1iss(# re),ied the Gin* of E*')t( #I Gno$ ,ife

too $e,, to refuse 'ou so Hust a demand" I $i,, order

the a)othecar' to attend 'ou $hi,e su))er is )re4

)arin*" I ima*ine 'ou must e some$hat fati*ued

' the Hourne'7 'ou $i,, a,so ha%e occasion for a

@OO The Princess of !a',on"

chamermaid 7 'ou ma' order her 'ou ,iGe est to

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attend 'ou" I $i,, after$ards $ait 'our commands

and con%enience"#

&e then retired( and the a)othecar' and the cham4

ermaid( named Ir,a( entered" The )rincess had en4

tire condence in her" She ordered her to rin* si?

ott,es of Chiras $ine for su))er( and to maGe a,,

the sentine,s( $ho had her ocers under arrest( drinG

the same" Then she recommended her a)othecar'

to infuse in a,, the ott,es certain )harmaceutic dru*s(

$hich maGe those $ho taGe them s,ee) t$ent'4four

hours( and $ith $hich he $as a,$a's )ro%ided" She

$as im),icit,' oe'ed" The Gin* returned $ith his

hi*h a,moner in aout ha,f an hour+s time" The con4

%ersation at su))er $as %er' *a'" The Gin* and the

)riest em)tied the si? ott,es( and acGno$,ed*ed

there $as not such *ood $ine in E*')t" The cham4

ermaid $as attenti%e to maGe the ser%ants in $ait4

in* drinG" As for the )rincess( she tooG *reat care

not to drinG an' herse,f( sa'in* that she $as ordered

' her )h'sician a )articu,ar re*imen" The' $ere

a,, )resent,' as,ee)"

 The Gin* of E*')t+s a,moner had one of the nest

eards that a man of his ranG cou,d $ear" Formo4

santa ,o))ed it o %er' sGi,fu,,' 7 then se$in* it to

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a rion( she )ut it on her o$n chin" She then

dressed herse,f in the )riest+s roes( and decGed her4

se,f in a,, the marGs of his di*nit'( and her $aitin*

maid c,ad herse,f ,iGe the sacristan of the *oddess

Isis" At ,en*th( ha%in* furnished herse,f $ith hi

 The Princess of !a',on" @=;

urn and He$e,s( she set out from the inn amidst the

sentine,s( $ho $ere as,ee) ,iGe their master" &er at4

tendant had taGen care to ha%e t$o horses read' at

the door" The )rincess cou,d not taGe $ith her

an' of the ocers of her train" The' $ou,d ha%e

een sto))ed ' the *reat *uard"

Formosanta and Ir,a )assed throu*h se%era, ranGs

of so,diers( $ho( taGin* the )rincess for the hi*h

)riest( ca,,ed her( #1' most Re%erend Father in

od(# and asGed his ,essin*" The t$o fu*iti%es ar4

ri%ed in t$ent'4four hours at !assora( efore the

Gin* a$oGe" The' then thre$ o their dis*uise(

$hich mi*ht ha%e created some sus)icion" The'

tted out $ith a,, )ossi,e e?)edition a shi)( $hich

carried them( ' the Straits of Ormus( to the eau4

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tifu, anGs of Eden in Araia Fe,i?" This $as that

Eden $hose *ardens $ere so famous that the' ha%e

since een the residence of the est of manGind" The'

$ere the mode, of the E,'sian e,ds( the *ardens of

the &es)erides( and a,so those of the Fortunate

Is,ands" In those $arm c,imates men ima*ined there

cou,d e no *reater fe,icit' than shades and mur4

murin* rooGs" To ,i%e eterna,,' in hea%en $ith the

Su)reme !ein*( or to $a,G in the *arden of )aradise(

$as the same thin* to those $ho incessant,' s)oGe

$ithout understandin* one another( and $ho cou,d

scarce ha%e an' distinct ideas or Hust e?)ressions"

As soon as the )rincess found herse,f in this ,and(

her rst care $as to )a' her dear ird the funera,

oseuies he had reuired of her" &er eautifu,

@O@ The Princess of !a',on"

hands )re)ared a sma,, uantit' of c,o%es and cin4

namon" What $as her sur)rise( $hen( ha%in* s)read

the ashes of the ird u)on this funera, )'re( she sa$

it ,a2e of itse,f A,, $as )resent,' consumed" In

the ),ace of the ashes there a))eared nothin* ut a

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,ar*e e**( $hence she sa$ her ird issue more ri,4

,iant than e%er" This $as one of the most ha))'

moments the )rincess had e%er e?)erienced in her

$ho,e ,ife" There $as ut another that cou,d e%er

e dearer to her 7 it $as the oHect of her $ishes( ut

a,most e'ond her ho)es"

#I ),ain,' see(# said she( to the ird( #'ou are the

)hoeni? of $hich I ha%e heard so much s)oGen" I am

a,most read' to e?)ire $ith Ho' and astonishment" I

did not e,ie%e in 'our resurrection 7 ut it is m' *ood

fortune to e con%inced of it"#

#Resurrection( in fact(# said the )hoeni? to her( #is

one of the most sim),e thin*s in the $or,d" There is

nothin* more in ein* orn t$ice than once" E%er'4

thin* in this $or,d is the eect of resurrection"

Cater)i,,ars are re*enerated into utterQies 7 a Ger4

ne, )ut into the earth is re*enerated into a tree" A,,

anima,s uried in earth re*enerate into %e*etation(

hers( and ),ants( and nourish other anima,s( of

$hich the' s)eedi,' com)ose )art of the sustance"

A,, )artic,es $hich com)ose odies are transformed

into dierent ein*s" It is true( that I am the on,'

one to $hom Oromasdes has *ranted the fa%or of

re*eneratin* m' o$n form"#

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Formosanta( $ho( from the moment she rst sa$

 The Princess of !a',on" @=

Ama2an and the )hoeni?( had )assed a,, her time in

a round of astonishment( said to him .

#I can easi,' concei%e that the Su)reme !ein*

ma' form out of 'our ashes a )hoeni? near,' resem4

,in* 'ourse,f 7 ut that 'ou shou,d e )recise,' the

same )erson( that 'ou shou,d ha%e the same sou,( is

a thin*( I acGno$,ed*e( I cannot %er' c,ear,' com4

)rehend" What ecame of 'our sou, $hen I carried

'ou in m' )ocGet after 'our death #

#ReQect one moment Is it not as eas' for the

*reat Oromasdes to continue action u)on a sin*,e

atom of m' ein* as to e*in afresh this action &e

had efore *ranted me sensation( memor'( and

thou*ht" &e *rants them to me a*ain" Whether

he united this fa%or to an atom of e,ementar' re(

,atent $ithin me( or to the assem,a*e of m' or*ans(

is( in rea,it'( of no conseuence" 1en( as $e,, as

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)hoeni?es( are entire,' i*norant ho$ thin*s come to

)ass 7 ut the *reatest fa%or the Su)reme !ein* has

esto$ed u)on me is to re*enerate me for 'ou" Oh

that I ma' )ass the t$ent'4ei*ht thousand 'ears

$hich I ha%e sti,, to ,i%e efore m' ne?t resurrec4

tion( $ith 'ou and m' dear Ama2an"#

#1' dear )hoeni?( rememer $hat 'ou rst to,d

me at !a',on( $hich I sha,, ne%er for*et( and $hich

Qattered me $ith the ho)e of a*ain seein* m' dear

she)herd( $hom I ido,i2e 7 +$e must aso,ute,' )a'

the an*arids a %isit to*ether(+ and I must carr'

Ama2an acG $ith me to !a',on"#

#This is )recise,' m' desi*n(# said the )hoeni?"

@= The Princess of !a',on"

#There is not a moment to ,ose" We must *o in search

of Ama2an ' the shortest road( that is( throu*h the

air" There are in Araia Fe,i? t$o *rins( $ho

are m' )articu,ar friends( and $ho ,i%e on,' a hun4

dred and ft' thousand ,ea*ues from here" I am

*oin* to $rite to them ' the )i*eon )ost( and the'

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$i,, e here efore ni*ht" We sha,, ha%e time to

maGe 'ou a con%enient )a,anuin( $ith dra$ers( in

$hich 'ou ma' ),ace 'our )ro%isions" 3ou $i,, e

uite at 'our ease in this %ehic,e( $ith 'our maid"

 These t$o *rins are the most %i*orous of their

Gind" Each of them $i,, su))ort one of the )o,es

of the cano)' et$een their c,a$s" !ut( once for a,,

time is %er' )recious"#

&e instant,' $ent $ith Formosanta to order the

carria*e from an u)ho,sterer of his acuaintance" It

$as made com),ete in four hours" In the dra$ers

$ere ),aced sma,, ne ,oa%es( iscuits su)erior to

those of !a',on( ,ar*e ,emons( )inea)),es( cocoa(

and )istachio nuts( Eden $ine( $hich is as su)erior

to that of Chiras( as Chiras is to that of Surinam"

 The t$o *rins arri%ed at Eden at the a))ointed

time" The %ehic,e $as as ,i*ht as it $as commodious

and so,id( and Formosanta and Ir,a ),aced them4

se,%es in it" The t$o *rins carried it o ,iGe a

feather" The )hoeni? sometimes Qe$ after it( and

sometimes )erched u)on its roof" The t$o *rins

$in*ed their $a' to$ard the an*es $ith the %e4

,ocit' of an arro$ $hich rends the air" The' ne%er

sto))ed ut a moment at ni*ht for the tra%e,,ers to

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 The Princess of !a',on" @=B

taGe some refreshment( and the carriers to taGe a

drau*ht of $ater"

 The' at ,en*th reached the countr' of the an4

*arids" The )rincess+ heart )a,)itated $ith ho)e(

,o%e and Ho'" The )hoeni? sto))ed the %ehic,e efore

Ama2an+s house 7 ut Ama2an had een asent from

home three hours( $ithout an' one Gno$in* $hither

he had *one"

 There are no $ords( e%en in the an*aridian ,an4

*ua*e( that cou,d e?)ress Formosanta+s e?treme de4

s)air"

#A,as that is $hat I dreaded(# said the )hoeni? .

#the three hours $hich 'ou )assed at the inn( u)on

the road to !assora( $ith that $retched Gin* of

E*')t( ha%e )erha)s een at the )rice of the ha)4

)iness of 'our $ho,e ,ife" I %er' much fear $e ha%e

,ost Ama2an( $ithout the )ossii,it' of reco%erin*

him"#

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&e then asGed the ser%ants if he cou,d sa,ute the

mother of Ama2an The' ans$ered( that her hus4

and had died on,' t$o da's efore( and she cou,d

s)eaG to no one" The )hoeni?( $ho $as not $ithout

inQuence in the house( introduced the )rincess of

!a',on into a sa,oon( the $a,,s of $hich $ere co%4

ered $ith oran*e4tree $ood in,aid $ith i%or'" The

inferior she)herds and she)herdesses( $ho $ere

dressed in ,on*( $hite *arments( $ith *o,d4co,ored

trimmin*s( ser%ed u)( in a hundred ),ain )orce,ain

asGets( a hundred %arious de,icacies( amon* $hich

n() dis*uised carcasses $ere to seen" The'

@=> The Princess of !a',on"

sisted of rice( sa*o( %ermice,,i( macaroni( ome,ets(

mi,G( e**s( cream( cheese( )astr' of e%er' Gind( %e*e4

ta,es( fruits( )ecu,iar,' fra*rant and *ratefu, to the

taste( of $hich no idea can e formed in other c,i4

mates 7 and the' $ere accom)anied $ith a )rofusion

of refreshin* ,iuors su)erior to the nest $ine"

Whi,st the )rincess re*a,ed herse,f( seated u)on a

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ed of roses( four )eacocGs( $ho $ere ,ucGi,' mute(

fanned her $ith their ri,,iant $in*s 7 t$o hundred

irds( one hundred she)herds and she)herdesses(

$ar,ed a concert in t$o dierent choirs 7 the ni*ht4

in*a,es( thist,enches( ,innets( chanches( sun* the

hi*her notes $ith the she)herdesses( and the she)4

herds sun* the tenor and ass" The )rincess ac4

Gno$,ed*ed( that if there $as more ma*nicence at

!a',on( nature $as innite,' more a*reea,e amon*

the an*arids 7 ut $hi,e this conso,ator' and %o,4

u)tuous music $as ),a'in*( tears Qo$ed from her

e'es( $hi,e she said to the damse, Ir,a .

#These she)herds and she)herdesses( these ni*ht4

in*a,es( these ,innets( are maGin* ,o%e 7 and for m'

)art I am de)ri%ed of the com)an' of the an*ar4

idian hero( the $orth' oHect of m' most tender

thou*hts"#

Whi,e she $as taGin* this co,,ation( her tears and

admiration Ge)t )ace $ith each other( and the )hoeni?

addressed himse,f to Ama2an+s mother( sa'in*.

#1adam( 'ou cannot a%oid seein* the )rincess of

!a',on 7 'ou Gno$ #

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#I Gno$ e%er'thin*(# said she( #e%en her ad%en4

 The Princess of !a',on" @=

ture at the inn( u)on the road to !assora" A ,acG4

ird re,ated the $ho,e to me this mornin* 7 and this

crue, ,acGird is the cause of m' son+s *oin* mad(

and ,ea%in* his )aterna, aode"#

#3ou ha%e not een informed( then( that the )rin4

cess re*enerated me #

#No( m' dear chi,d( the ,acGird to,d me 'ou

$ere dead( and this made me inconso,a,e" I $as

so aYicted at this ,oss( the death of m' husand( and

the )reci)itate Qi*ht of m' son( that I ordered m'

door to e shut to e%er'one" !ut since the )rincess

of !a',on has done me the honor of )a'in* me a

%isit( I e* she ma' e immediate,' introduced" I

ha%e matters of *reat im)ortance to acuaint her

$ith( and I choose 'ou shou,d e )resent"#

She then $ent to meet the )rincess in another sa4

,oon" She cou,d not $a,G %er' $e,," This ,ad' $as

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aout three hundred 'ears o,d 7 ut she had sti,, some

a*reea,e %esti*es of eaut'" It mi*ht e conHec4

tured( that aout her t$o hundred and fortieth( or

t$o hundred and ftieth 'ear( she must ha%e een

a most charmin* $oman" She recei%ed Formosanta

$ith a res)ectfu, no,eness( ,ended $ith an air of

interest and sorro$( $hich made a %er' ,i%e,' im4

)ression u)on the )rincess"

Formosanta immediate,' )aid her the com),iments

of condo,ence u)on her husand+s death"

#A,as # said the $ido$( #'ou ha%e more reason

to ,ament his death than 'ou ima*ine"#

#I am( dout,ess( *reat,' aYicted(# said Formo4

@=M The Princess of !a',on"

santa7 #he $as father to "# &ere a Qood of

tears )re%ented her from *oin* on" #For his saGe

on,' I undertooG this Hourne'( in $hich I ha%e so nar4

ro$,' esca)ed man' dan*ers" For him I ,eft m'

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father( and the most s),endid court in the uni%erse"

I $as detained ' a Gin* of E*')t( $hom I detest"

&a%in* esca)ed from this t'rant( I ha%e tra%ersed

the air in search of the on,' man I ,o%e" When I

arri%e( he Qies from me# &ere si*hs and tears

sto))ed her im)assioned haran*ue"

&is mother then said to her .

#When the Gin* of E*')t made 'ou his )ris4

oner7 $hen 'ou su))ed $ith him at an inn u)on

the road to !assora7 $hen 'our eautifu, hands

,,ed him um)ers of Chiras $ine( did 'ou oser%e

a ,acGird that Qe$ aout the room #

#3es( rea,,'(# said the )rincess( #I no$ reco,,ect

there $as such a ird( thou*h at that time I did not

)a' it the ,east attention" !ut in co,,ectin* m' ideas(

I no$ rememer $e,,( that at the instant $hen the

Gin* of E*')t rose from the ta,e to *i%e me a Giss(

the ,acGird Qe$ out at the $indo$ *i%in* a ,oud

cr'( and ne%er a))eared after"#

#A,as madam(# resumed Ama2an+s mother( #this

is )recise,' the cause of a,, our misfortunes 7 m' son

had des)atched this ,acGird to *ain inte,,i*ence of

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'our hea,th( and a,, that )assed at !a',on" &e )ro4

)osed s)eedi,' to return( thro$ himse,f at 'our feet(

and consecrate to 'ou the remainder of his ,ife" 3ou

Gno$ not to $hat a )itch he adores 'ou" A,, the

 The Princess of !a',on" @=<

an*arids are oth ,o%in* and faithfu, 7 ut m' son

is the most )assionate and constant of them a,," The

,acGird found 'ou at an inn( drinGin* %er' cheer4

fu,,' $ith the Gin* of E*')t and a %i,e )riest 7 he

after$ards sa$ 'ou *i%e this monarch $ho had Gi,,ed

the )hoeni? the man m' son ho,ds in utter detesta4

tion a fond emrace" The ,acGird( at the si*ht of

this( $as sei2ed $ith a Hust indi*nation" &e Qe$

a$a' im)recatin* 'our fata, error" &e returned

this da'( and has re,ated e%er'thin*" !ut( Hust

hea%en( at $hat a Huncture At the %er' time that m'

son $as de),orin* $ith me the ,oss of his father and

that of the $ise )hoeni?( the %er' instant I had in4

formed him that he $as 'our cousin4*erman #

#Oh hea%ens m' cousin( madam( is it )ossi,e

&o$ can this e And am I so ha))' as to e thus

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a,,ied to him( and 'et so misera,e as to ha%e oended

him #

#1' son is( I te,, 'ou(# said the an*aridian ,ad'(

#'our cousin( and I sha,, )resent,' con%ince 'ou of

it 7 ut in ecomin* m' re,ation( 'ou ro me of m'

son" &e cannot sur%i%e the *rief that the emrace

'ou *a%e to the Gin* of E*')t has occasioned him"#

#Ah m' dear aunt(# cried the eautifu, Formo4

santa( #I s$ear ' him and the a,,4)o$erfu, Oro4

masdes( that this emrace( so far from ein* crimina,(

$as the stron*est )roof of ,o%e 'our son cou,d re4

cei%e from me" I disoe'ed m' father for his saGe"

For him I $ent from the Eu)hrates to the an*es"

&a%in* fa,,en into the hands of the $orth,ess

Vo," ;

 The Princess of !a',on"

Pharaoh of E*')t( I cou,d not esca)e his c,utches

ut ' artice" I ca,, the ashes and sou, of the )hoe4

ni? $hich $ere then in m' )ocGet( to $itness" &e

can do me Hustice" !ut ho$ can 'our son( orn u)on

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the anGs of the an*es( e m' cousin I( $hose

fami,' ha%e rei*ned u)on the anGs of the Eu)hrates

for so man' centuries #

#3ou Gno$(# said the %enera,e an*aridian ,ad'

to her( #that 'our *randunc,e A,dea $as Gin* of

!a',on( and that he $as dethroned ' !e,us+

father#

#3es( madam"#

#3ou Gno$ that this A,dea had in marria*e a

dau*hter named A,dea( rou*ht u) in 'our court

It $as this )rince( $ho( ein* )ersecuted ' 'our

father( tooG refu*e under another name in our ha))'

countr'" &e married me( and is the father of the

'oun* )rince A,dea Ama2an( the most eautifu,( the

most coura*eous( the stron*est( and most %irtuous

of morta,s 7 and at this hour the most unha))'" &e

$ent to the !a',onian festi%a, u)on the credit of

'our eaut'7 since that time he ido,i2es 'ou( and

no$ *rie%es ecause he e,ie%es that 'ou ha%e )ro%ed

unfaithfu, to him" Perha)s I sha,, ne%er a*ain set

e'es u)on m' dear son"#

She then dis),a'ed to the )rincess a,, the tit,es

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of the house of A,dea" Formosanta scarce dei*ned

to ,ooG at them"

#Ah madam( do $e e?amine $hat is the oHect

 The Princess of !a',on" @;;

of our desire 1' heart sucient,' e,ie%es 'ou"

!ut $here is A,dea Ama2an Where is m' Ginsman(

m' ,o%er( m' Gin* Where is m' ,ife What road

has he taGen I $i,, seeG for him in e%er' s)here

the Eterna, !ein* has framed( and of $hich he is the

*reatest ornament" I $i,, *o into the star Cano)e(

into Sheath( into A,dearan 7 I $i,, *o and te,, him

of m' ,o%e and con%ince him of m' innocence"#

 The )hoeni? Hustied the )rincess $ith re*ard to

the crime that $as im)uted to her ' the ,acGird(

of fond,' emracin* the Gin* of E*')t 7 ut it $as

necessar' to undecei%e Ama2an and reca,, him"

!irds $ere des)atched on e%er' side" 0nicorns $ere

sent for$ard in e%er' direction" Ne$s at ,en*th

arri%ed that Ama2an had taGen the road to$ards

China"

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#We,,( then(# said the )rincess( #,et us set out

for China" I $i,, seeG him in deance of oth dif4

cu,t' and dan*er" The Hourne' is not ,on*( and I

ho)e I sha,, rin* 'ou acG 'our son in a fortni*ht

at farthest"#

At these $ords tears of aection streamed from

his mother+s e'es and a,so from those of the )rincess"

 The' most tender,' emraced( in the *reat sensii,it'

of their hearts"

 The )hoeni? immediate,' ordered a coach $ith

si? unicorns" Ama2an+s mother furnished t$o thou4

sand horsemen( and made the )rincess( her niece( a

)resent of some thousands of the nest diamonds of

@;@ The Princess of !a',on"

her countr'" The )hoeni?( aYicted at the e%i, occa4

sioned ' the ,acGird+s indiscretion( ordered a,,

the ,acGirds to uit the countr' 7 and from that time

none ha%e een met $ith u)on the anGs of the

an*es"

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C&APTER V

FOR1OSANTA VISITS C&INA AND SC3T&IA IN SEARC&

OF A1A9AN"

 The unicorn( in ,ess than ei*ht da's( carried For4

mosanta( Ir,a( and the )hoeni?( to Cama,u( the ca)i4

ta, of China" This cit' $as ,ar*er than !a',on( and

in a))earance uite dierent" These fresh oHects(

these stran*e manners( $ou,d ha%e amused Formo4

santa cou,d an'thin* ut Ama2an ha%e en*a*ed

her attention"

As soon as the em)eror of China ,earned that the

)rincess of !a',on $as at the cit' *ates( he des4

)atched four thousand mandarins in ceremonia,

roes to recei%e her" The' a,, )rostrated themse,%es

efore her( and )resented her $ith an address $ritten

in *o,den ,etters u)on a sheet of )ur),e si,G" Formo4

santa to,d them( that if she $ere )ossessed of four

thousand ton*ues( she $ou,d not omit re),'in* im4

mediate,' to e%er' mandarin7 ut that ha%in* on,'

one( she ho)ed the' $ou,d e satised $ith her

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*enera, thanGs" The' conducted her( in a res)ectfu,

manner( to the em)eror"

 The Princess of !a',on" @;

&e $as the $isest( most Hust and ene%o,ent

monarch u)on earth" It $as he $ho rst ti,,ed a

sma,, e,d $ith his o$n im)eria, hands( to maGe

a*ricu,ture res)ecta,e to his )eo),e" La$s in a,,

other countries $ere shamefu,,' conned to the )un4

ishment of crimes . he rst a,,otted )remiums to %ir4

tue" This em)eror had Hust anished from his do4

minions a *an* of forei*n !on2es( $ho had come

from the e?tremities of the West( $ith the frantic

ho)e of com)e,,in* a,, China to thinG ,iGe themse,%es 7

and $ho( under )retence of teachin* truths( had

a,read' acuired honors and riches" In e?)e,,in*

them( he de,i%ered himse,f in these $ords( $hich are

recorded in the anna,s of the em)ire .

 3ou ma' here do as much harm as 'ou ha%e e,se$here"

 3ou ha%e come to )reach do*mas of into,erance to the most

to,erant nation u)on earth" I send 'ou acG( that I ma'

ne%er e com)e,,ed to )unish 'ou" 3ou $i,, e honora,'

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conducted to m' frontiers" 3ou $i,, e furnished $ith e%er'4

thin* necessar' to return to the connes of the hemis)here

$hence 'ou came" De)art in )eace( if 'ou can e at )eace(

and ne%er return"

 The )rincess of !a',on heard $ith ),easure of

this s)eech and determination" She $as the more

certain of ein* $e,, recei%ed at court( as she $as

%er' far from entertainin* an' do*mas of into,erance"

 The em)eror of China( in dinin* $ith her tete4a4tete(

had the )o,iteness to anish a,, disa*reea,e etiuette"

She )resented the )hoeni? to him( $ho $as *ent,'

caressed ' the em)eror( and $ho )erched u)on his

chair" Formosanta( to$ards the end of the re)ast(

in*enuous,' acuainted him $ith the cause of her

@; The Princess of !a',on"

 Hourne'( and entreated him to search for the eauti4

fu, Ama2an in the cit' of Cama,u 7 and mean$hi,e

she acuainted the em)eror $ith her ad%entures(

$ithout concea,in* the fata, )assion $ith $hich her

heart urned for this 'outhfu, hero"

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#&e did me the honor of comin* to m' court(#

said the em)eror of China" #I $as enchanted $ith

this amia,e Ama2an" It is true that he is dee),'

aYicted 7 ut his *races are there' the more aect4

in*" Not one of m' fa%orites has more $it" There

is not a *o$n mandarin $ho has more Gno$,ed*e(

not a mi,itar' one $ho has a more martia, or heroic

air" &is e?treme 'outh adds an additiona, %a,ue

to a,, his ta,ents" If I $ere so unfortunate( so

aandoned ' the Tien and Chan*ti( as to desire to

e a conueror( I $ou,d $ish Ama2an to )ut him4

se,f at the head of m' armies( and I shou,d e sure

of conuerin* the $ho,e uni%erse" It is a *reat )it'

that his me,ancho,' sometimes disconcerts him"#

#Ah sir(# said Formosanta( $ith much a*itation

and *rief( ,ended $ith an air of re)roach( #$h' did

'ou not reuest me to dine $ith him This is a

crue, stroGe 'ou ha%e *i%en me" Send for him im4

mediate,'( I entreat 'ou"#

#&e set out this %er' mornin*(# re),ied the em4

)eror( #$ithout acuaintin* me $ith his destina4

tion"#

Formosanta( turnin* to$ards the )hoeni?( said to

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him.

 The Princess of !a',on" @;B

#Did 'ou e%er Gno$ so unfortunate a damse, as

m'se,f # Then resumin* the con%ersation( she said .

#Sir( ho$ came he to uit in so aru)t a manner

so )o,ite a court( in $hich( methinGs( one mi*ht )ass

one+s ,ife#

#The case $as as fo,,o$s(# said he" #One of the

most amia,e of the )rincesses of the ,ood( fa,,in*

des)erate,' in ,o%e $ith him( desired to meet him at

noon" &e set out at da'reaG( ,ea%in* this i,,et

for m' Gins$oman( $hom it hath cost a de,u*e of

tears .

!eautifu, )rincess of the 1on*o,ian race. 3ou are de4

ser%in* of a heart that $as ne%er oered u) at an' other

a,tar" I ha%e s$orn to the immorta, *ods ne%er to ,o%e an'

other than Formosanta( )rincess of !a',on( and to teach

her ho$ to conuer one+s desires in tra%e,,in*" She has had

the misfortune to 'ie,d to a $orth,ess Gin* of E*')t" I am

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the most unfortunate of men( ha%in* ,ost m' father( the

)hoeni?( and the ho)e of ein* ,o%ed ' Formosanta" I ,eft

m' mother in aYiction( forsooG m' home and countr'( ein*

una,e to ,i%e a moment in the ),ace $here I ,earned that

Formosanta ,o%ed another than me" I s$ore to tra%erse the

earth( and e faithfu," 3ou $ou,d des)ise me( and the *ods

)unish me( if I %io,ated m' oath" Choose another ,o%er(

madam( and e as faithfu, as I am"

#Ah *i%e me that miracu,ous ,etter(# said the

eautifu, Formosanta 7 #it $i,, aord me some con4

so,ation" I am ha))' in the midst of m' misfortunes"

Ama2an ,o%es me Ama2an( for me( renounces the

societ' of the )rincesses of China" There is no one

u)on earth ut himse,f endo$ed $ith so much for4

titude" &e sets me a most ri,,iant e?am),e" The

)hoeni? Gno$s I did not stand in need of it" &o$

crue, it is to e de)ri%ed of one+s ,o%er for the most

@i> The Princess of !a',on"

innocent emrace *i%en throu*h )ure de,it'" !ut(

te,, me( $hither has he *one What road has he

taGen Dei*n to inform me( and I $i,, immediate,'

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set out"#

 The em)eror of China to,d her that( accordin*

to the re)orts he had recei%ed( her ,o%er had taGen

the road to$ard Sc'thia" The unicorns $ere im4

mediate,' harnessed( and the )rincess( after the most

tender com),iments( tooG ,ea%e of the em)eror( and

resumed her Hourne' $ith the )hoeni?( her chamer4

maid Ir,a( and a,, her train"

As soon as she arri%ed in Sc'thia( she $as more

con%inced than e%er ho$ much men and *o%ernments

diered( and $ou,d continue to dier( unti, no,e and

en,i*htened minds shou,d ' de*rees remo%e that

c,oud of darGness $hich has co%ered the earth for

so man' a*es 7 and unti, there shou,d e found in

ararous c,imes( heroic sou,s $ho $ou,d ha%e

stren*th and )erse%erance enou*h to transform

rutes into men" There are no cities in Sc'thia( con4

seuent,' no a*reea,e arts" Nothin* $as to e seen

ut e?tensi%e e,ds( and $ho,e tries $hose so,e

i

haitations $ere tents and chars" Such an a))ear4

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ance strucG her $ith terror" Formosanta inuired in

$hat tent or char the Gin* $as ,od*ed She $as

informed that he had set out ei*ht da's efore $ith

three hundred thousand ca%a,r' to attacG the Gin*

of !a',on( $hose niece( the eautifu, Princess

A,dea( he had carried o"

#What did he run a$a' $ith m' cousin# cried

 The Princess of !a',on" @;

Formosanta" #I cou,d not ha%e ima*ined such an

incident" What has m' cousin( $ho $as too ha))'

in )a'in* her court to me( ecome a ueen( and I

am not 'et married# She $as immediate,' con4

ducted( ' her desire( to the ueen+s tent"

 Their une?)ected meetin* in such distant c,imes 7

the uncommon occurrences the' mutua,,' had to im4

)art to each other( *a%e such charm to this inter4

%ie$ as made them for*et the' ne%er ,o%ed one

another" The' sa$ each other $ith trans)ort 7 and

a soft i,,usion su)),ied the ),ace of rea, tenderness"

 The' emraced $ith tears( and there $as a cordia,it'

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and franGness on each side that cou,d not ha%e taGen

),ace in a )a,ace"

A,dea rememered the )hoeni? and the $aitin*

maid Ir,a" She )resented her cousin $ith 2ie,ine

sGins( $ho in return *a%e her diamonds" The $ar e4

t$een the t$o Gin*s $as s)oGen of" The' de),ored

the fate of so,diers $ho $ere forced into att,e( the

%ictims of the ca)rice of )rinces( $hen t$o honest

men mi*ht( )erha)s( sett,e the dis)ute in ,ess than

an hour( $ithout a sin*,e throat ein* cut" !ut the

)rinci)a, to)ic $as the handsome stran*er( $ho had

conuered ,ions( *i%en the ,ar*est diamonds in the

uni%erse( $ritten madri*a,s( and had no$ ecome the

most misera,e of men from e,ie%in* the statements

of a ,acGird"

#&e is m' dear rother(# said A,dea" #&e is

m' ,o%er(# cried Formosanta" #3ou ha%e dout4

,ess seen him" Is he sti,, here For( cousin( as he

@i M The Princess of !a',on" (

Gno$s he is 'our rother( he cannot ha%e ,eft 'ou so

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aru)t,' as he did the Gin* of China"#

#&a%e I seen him ood hea%ens 'es" &e

)assed four $ho,e da's $ith me" Ah cousin( ho$

much m' rother is to ,ame" A fa,se re)ort has

aso,ute,' turned his rain" &e roams aout the

$or,d( $ithout Gno$in* $hither he is destined"

Ima*ine to 'ourse,f his distraction of mind( $hich

is so *reat that he has refused to meet the hand4

somest ,ad' in a,, Sc'thia" &e set out 'esterda'(

after $ritin* her a ,etter $hich has thro$n her into

des)air" As for him( he has *one to %isit the Cim4

merians"#

#od e thanGed # cried Formosanta 7 #another

refusa, in m' fa%or" 1' *ood fortune is e'ond m'

ho)es( as m' misfortunes sur)ass m' *reatest a)4

)rehensions" Procure me this charmin* ,etter that

I ma' set out and fo,,o$ him( ,oaded $ith his sacri4

ces" Fare$e,,( cousin" Ama2an is amon* the Cim4

merians( and I Q' to meet him"#

A,dea Hud*ed that the )rincess( her cousin( $as

sti,, more frantic than her rother Ama2an" !ut as

she had herse,f een sensi,e of the eects of this

e)idemic conta*ion( ha%in* *i%en u) the de,i*hts

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and ma*nicence of !a',on for a Gin* of Sc'thia 7

and as the $omen a,$a's e?cuse those fo,,ies that

are the eects of ,o%e( she fe,t for Formosanta+s

aYiction( $ished her a ha))' Hourne'( and )romised

to e her ad%ocate $ith her rother( if e%er she $as

so fortunate as to see him a*ain"

 The Princess of !a',on" @ ; <

C&APTER VI"

 T&E PRINCESS CONTIN0ES &ER /O0RNE3"

From Sc'thia the )rincess of !a',on( $ith her

)hoeni?( soon arri%ed at the em)ire of the Cim4

merians( no$ ca,,ed Russia 7 a countr' indeed much

,ess )o)u,ous than Sc'thia( ut of far *reater e?4

tent"

After a fe$ da's+ Hourne' she entered a %er' ,ar*e

cit'( $hich has of ,ate een *reat,' im)ro%ed ' the

rei*nin* so%erei*n" The em)ress( ho$e%er( $as not

there at that time( ut $as maGin* a Hourne' throu*h

her dominions on the frontiers of Euro)e and Asia(

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in order to Hud*e of their state and condition $ith

her o$n e'es( to inuire into their *rie%ances( and to

)ro%ide the )ro)er remedies for them"

 The )rinci)a, ma*istrate of that ancient ca)ita,( as

soon as he $as informed of the arri%a, of the !a'4

,onian ,ad' and the )hoeni?( ,ost no time in )a'in*

her a,, the honors of his countr' 7 ein* certain that

his mistress( the most )o,ite and *enerous em)ress

in the $or,d( $ou,d e e?treme,' $e,, ),eased to

nd that he had recei%ed so i,,ustrious a ,ad' $ith

a,, that res)ect $hich she herse,f( if on the s)ot(

$ou,d ha%e sho$n her"

 The )rincess $as ,od*ed in the )a,ace and en4

tertained $ith *reat s),endor and e,e*ance" The

Cimmerian ,ord( $ho $as an e?ce,,ent natura, )hi4

,oso)her( di%erted himse,f in con%ersin* $ith the

@@= The Princess of !a',on"

)hoeni? at such times as the )rincess chose to retire

to her o$n a)artment" The )hoeni? to,d him that he

had former,' tra%e,,ed amon* the Cimmerians( ut

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that he shou,d not ha%e Gno$n the countr' a*ain"

#&o$ comes it(# said he( #that such )rodi*ious

chan*es ha%e een rou*ht aout in so short a time

Former,'( $hen I $as here( aout three hundred

'ears a*o( I sa$ nothin* ut sa%a*e nature in a,,

her horrors" At )resent( I )ercei%e industr'( arts(

s),endor( and )o,iteness"#

#This mi*ht' re%o,ution(# re),ied the Cimmerian(

#$as e*un ' one man( and is no$ carried to )er4

fection ' one $oman7 a $oman $ho is a *reater

,e*is,ator than the Isis of the E*')tians or the Ceres

of the reeGs" 1ost ,a$*i%ers ha%e een( unha)4

)i,'( of a narro$ *enius and an aritrar' dis)osition(

$hich conned their %ie$s to the countries the' *o%4

erned" Each of them ,ooGed u)on his o$n race as

the on,' )eo),e e?istin* u)on the earth( or as if the'

ou*ht to e at enmit' $ith a,, the rest" The' formed

institutions( introduced customs( and esta,ished re4

,i*ions e?c,usi%e,' for themse,%es" Thus the E*')4

tians( so famous for those hea)s of stones ca,,ed

)'ramids( ha%e dishonored themse,%es $ith their

ararous su)erstitions" The' des)ise a,, other na4

tions as )rofane7 refuse a,, manner of intercourse

$ith them7 and( e?ce)tin* those con%ersant in the

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court( $ho no$ and then rise ao%e the )reHudices of

the %u,*ar( there is not an E*')tian $ho $i,, eat o

a ),ate that has e%er een used ' a stran*er" Their

 The Princess of !a',on" @@;

)riests are eua,,' crue, and asurd" It $ere etter

to ha%e no ,a$s at a,,( and to fo,,o$ those notions

of ri*ht and $ron* en*ra%ed on our hearts ' na4

ture( than to suHect societ' to institutions so in4

hos)ita,e"

#Our em)ress has ado)ted uite a dierent s's4

tem" She considers her %ast dominions( under $hich

a,, the meridians on the *,oe are united( as under

an o,i*ation of corres)ondence $ith a,, the nations

d$e,,in* under those meridians" The rst and most

fundamenta, of her ,a$s is a uni%ersa, to,eration of

a,, re,i*ions( and an unounded com)assion for e%er'

error" &er )enetratin* *enius )ercei%es that

thou*h the modes of re,i*ious $orshi) dier( 'et

mora,it' is e%er'$here the same" !' this )rinci)a,

she has united her )eo),e to a,, the nations on

earth( and the Cimmerians $i,, soon consider the

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Scandina%ians and the Chinese as their rethren"

Not satised $ith this( she has reso,%ed to esta,ish

this in%a,ua,e to,eration( the stron*est ,inG of so4

ciet'( amon* her nei*hors" !' these means she

otained the tit,e of the )arent of her countr' 7 and(

if she )erse%ere( $i,, acuire that of the enefactress

of manGind"

#!efore her time( the men( $ho $ere unha))i,'

)ossessed of )o$er( sent out ,e*ions of murderers

to ra%a*e unGno$n countries( and to $ater $ith the

,ood of the chi,dren the inheritance of their fathers"

 Those assassins $ere ca,,ed heroes( and their ro4

eries accounted *,orious achie%ements" !ut our

@@@ The Princess of !a',on"

so%erei*n courts another sort of *,or'" She has sent

forth her armies to e the messen*ers of )eace( not

on,' to )re%ent men from ein* the destro'ers( ut

to o,i*e them to e the enefactors of one an4

other" &er standards are the ensi*ns of )u,ic

tranui,,it'"#

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 The )hoeni? $as uite charmed $ith $hat he

heard from this no,eman" &e to,d him that thou*h

he had ,i%ed t$ent'4se%en thousand nine hundred

'ears and se%en months in this $or,d he had ne%er

seen an'thin* ,iGe it" &e then inuired after his

friend Ama2an" The Cimmerian *a%e the same ac4

count of him that the )rincess had a,read' heard

from the Chinese and the Sc'thians" It $as

Ama2an+s constant )ractice to run a$a' from a,,

the courts he %isited the instant an' ,ad' noticed

him in )articu,ar and seemed an?ious to maGe his

acuaintance" The )hoeni? soon acuainted For4

mosanta $ith this fresh instance of Ama2an+s de,it'

a de,it' so much the more sur)risin* since he

cou,d not ima*ine his )rincess $ou,d e%er hear of it"

Ama2an had set out for Scandina%ia( $here4 he

$as entertained $ith si*hts sti,, more sur)risin*" In

this ),ace he ehe,d monarch' and ,iert' e?istin*

to*ether in a manner thou*ht incom)ati,e in other

states7 the ,aorers of the *round shared in the

,e*is,ature $ith the *randees of the rea,m" In

another ),ace he sa$ $hat $as sti,, more e?traor4

dinar' a )rince eua,,' remarGa,e for his e?4

treme 'outh and u)ri*htness( $ho )ossessed a so%4

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 The Princess of !a',on" @@

erei*n authorit' o%er his countr' acuired ' a

so,emn contract $ith his )eo),e"

Ama2an ehe,d a )hi,oso)her on the throne of

Sarmatia( $ho mi*ht e ca,,ed a Gin* of anarch'7

for he $as the chief of a hundred thousand )ett'

Gin*s( one of $hom $ith his sin*,e %oice cou,d render

ineectua, the reso,ution of a,, the rest" /Eo,us had

not more dicu,t' to Gee) the $arrin* $inds $ithin

their )ro)er ounds than this monarch had to recon4

ci,e the tumu,tuous discordant s)irits of his suHects"

&e $as the master of a shi) surrounded $ith eterna,

storms" !ut the %esse, did not founder( for he

$as an e?ce,,ent )i,ot"

In tra%ersin* those %arious countries( so dierent

from his o$n( Ama2an )erse%ered in reHectin* a,,

the ad%ances made to him ' the ,adies( thou*h in4

cessant,' distracted $ith the emrace *i%en ' For4

mosanta to the Gin* of E*')t( ein* reso,%ed to set

Formosanta an ama2in* e?am),e of an unshaGen

and un)ara,,e,ed de,it'"

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 The )rincess of !a',on $as constant,' c,ose at

his hee,s( and scarce,' e%er missed him ut ' a da'

or t$o 7 $ithout the one ein* tired of roamin*( or

the other ,osin* a moment in )ursuin* him"

 Thus he tra%ersed the immense continent of er4

man'( $here he ehe,d $ith $onder the )ro*ress

$hich reason and )hi,oso)h' had made in the north"

E%en their )rinces $ere en,i*htened and had e4

come the )atrons of freedom of thou*ht" Their

education had not een trusted to men $ho had an

@@ The Princess of !a',on"

interest in decei%in* them( or $ho $ere themse,%es

decei%ed" The' $ere rou*ht u) in the Gno$,ed*e

of uni%ersa, mora,it'( and in the contem)t of su)er4

stition"

 The' had anished from a,, their estates a sense4

,ess custom $hich had ener%ated and de)o)u,ated the

southern countries" This $as to ur' a,i%e in im4

mense dun*eons( innite numers of oth se?es $ho

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$ere eterna,,' se)arated from one another( and

s$orn to ha%e no communication to*ther" This

madness had contriuted more than the most crue,

$ars to ,a' $aste and de)o)u,ate the earth"

In o))osin* these ararous institutions so in4

imica, to the ,a$s of nature and the est interests of

societ'( the )rinces of the north had ecome the

enefactors of their race" The' had ,iGe$ise e?4

),oded other errors eua,,' asurd and )ernicious"

In short( men had at ,ast %entured to maGe use of

their reason in those immense re*ions7 $hereas it

$as sti,, e,ie%ed a,most e%er'$here e,se that the'

cou,d not e *o%erned ut in )ro)ortion to their

i*norance"

C&APTER VII"

A1A9AN VISITS AL!ION"

From erman'( Ama2an arri%ed at !ata%ia(

$here his )er)etua, cha*rin $as in a *reat measure

a,,e%iated ' )ercei%in* amon* the inhaitants a

faint resem,ance to his ha))' countr'men( the an4

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 The Princess of !a',on" @@B

*arids" There he sa$ ,iert'( securit' and eua,it'(

$ith to,eration in re,i*ion 7 ut the ,adies $ere so in4

dierent that none made him an' ad%ances( an e?4

)erience he had not met $ith efore" It is true(

ho$e%er( that had he een inc,ined to address them

the' $ou,d not ha%e een oended 7 thou*h( at the

same time( not one $ou,d ha%e een the ,east in ,o%e 7

ut he $as far from an' thou*hts of maGin* con4

uests"

Formosanta had near,' cau*ht him in this in4

si)id nation" &e had set out ut a moment efore

her arri%a,"

Ama2an had heard so much amon* the !ata%ians

in )raise of a certain is,and ca,,ed A,ion that he $as

,ed ' curiosit' to emarG $ith his unicorns on oard

a shi)( $hich( $ith a fa%ora,e easter,' $ind( car4

ried him in a fe$ hours to that ce,erated countr'(

more famous than T're or At,antis"

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 The eautifu, Formosanta( $ho had fo,,o$ed him(

as it $ere on the scent( to the anGs of the Vo,*a( the

Vistu,a( the E,e( and the Weser( and had ne%er

een ao%e a da' or t$o ehind him( arri%ed soon

after at the mouth of the Rhine( $here it em)ties its

$aters into the erman ocean"

&ere she ,earned that her e,o%ed Ama2an had

 Hust set sai, for A,ion" She thou*ht she sa$ the

%esse, on oard of $hich he $as( and cou,d not he,)

cr'in* out for Ho'( at $hich the !ata%ian ,adies

$ere *reat,' sur)rised( not ima*inin* that a 'oun*

man cou,d )ossi,' occasion so %io,ent a trans)ort"

Vo," ;B

@@> The Princess of !a',on"

 The' tooG( indeed( ut ,itt,e notice of the )hoeni?( as

the' recGoned his feathers $ou,d not fetch near,' so

*ood a )rice as those of their o$n ducGs and other

$ater4fo$," The )rincess of !a',on hired t$o %es4

se,s to carr' herse,f and her retinue to that ha))'

is,and $hich $as soon to )ossess the on,' oHect of

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her desires( the sou, of her ,ife( and the *od of her

ido,atr'"

An un)ro)itious $ind from the $est sudden,'

arose( Hust as the faithfu, and unha))' Ama2an

,anded on A,ion+s sea4*irt shore( and detained the

shi)s of the !a',onian )rincess Hust as the' $ere on

the )oint of sai,in*" Sei2ed $ith a dee) me,an4

cho,'( she $ent to her room( determined to remain

there ti,, the $ind shou,d chan*e7 ut it ,e$ for

the s)ace of ei*ht da's $ith an unremittin* %io,ence"

 The )rincess( durin* this tedious )eriod( em),o'ed

her maid of honor( Ir,a( in readin* romances 7 $hich

$ere not indeed $ritten ' the !ata%ians7 ut as

the' are the factors of the uni%erse the' trac in the

$it as $e,, as commodities of other nations" The

)rincess )urchased of 1arG 1ichae, Re'( the ooG4

se,,er( a,, the no%e,s $hich had een $ritten ' the

Ausonians and the We,sh( the sa,e of $hich had een

$ise,' )rohiited amon* those nations to enrich their

nei*hors( the !ata%ians" She e?)ected to nd in

those histories some ad%entures simi,ar to her o$n(

$hich mi*ht a,,e%iate her *rief" The maid of honor

read( the )hoeni? made comments( and the )rincess(

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 The Princess of !a',on" @@

ndin* nothin*4 in the #Fortunate Countr' 1aid(#

in #Tansai(# or in the #So)ha(# that had the ,east

resem,ance to her o$n aairs( interru)ted the

reader e%er' moment ' asGin* ho$ the $ind stood"

C&APTER VIII"

A1A9AN LEAVES AL!ION TO VISIT T&E LAND OF

SAT0RN"

In the meantime Ama2an $as on the road to the

ca)ita, of A,ion in his coach and si? unicorns( a,,

his thou*hts em),o'ed on his dear )rincess" At a

sma,, distance he )ercei%ed a carria*e o%erturned in

a ditch" The ser%ants had *one in dierent direc4

tions in uest of assistance( ut the o$ner Ge)t his

seat( smoGin* his )i)e $ith *reat tranui,,it'( $ith4

out manifestin* the sma,,est im)atience" &is name

$as m' ,ord What4then( in the ,an*ua*e from $hich

I trans,ate these memoirs"

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Ama2an made a,, the haste )ossi,e to he,) him(

and $ithout assistance set the carria*e to ri*hts( so

much $as his stren*th su)erior to that of other men"

1' ,ord What4then tooG no other notice of him than

sa'in*( #A stout fe,,o$( ' /o%e # In the meantime

the nei*horin* )eo),e( ha%in* arri%ed( Qe$ into a

*reat )assion at ein* ca,,ed out to no )ur)ose( and

fe,, u)on the stran*er" The' aused him( ca,,ed him

an out,andish do*( and cha,,en*ed him to stri) and

o?"

@@M The Princess of !a',on"

Ama2an sei2ed a race of them in each hand and

thre$ them t$ent' )aces from him 7 the rest( seein*

this( )u,,ed o their hats( and o$in* $ith *reat re4

s)ect( asGed his honor for somethin* to drinG" &is

honor *a%e them more mone' than the' had e%er

seen in their ,i%es efore" 1' ,ord What4then no$

e?)ressed *reat esteem for him( and asGed him to

dinner at his countr' house( aout three mi,es o"

&is in%itation ein* acce)ted( he $ent into Ama2an+s

coach( his o$n ein* out of order from the accident"

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After a uarter of an hour+s si,ence( m' ,ord

What4then( ,ooGin* u)on Ama2an for a" moment(

said . #&o$ d+'e do # $hich( ' the $a'( is a )hrase

$ithout an' meanin*7 addin*( #3ou ha%e *ot si?

ne unicorns there"# After $hich he continued

smoGin* as usua,"

 The tra%e,,er to,d him his unicorns $ere at his

ser%ice( and that he had rou*ht them from the

countr' of the an*arids" Then he tooG occasion to

inform him of his aair $ith the )rincess of !a'4

,on( and the un,ucG' Giss she had *i%en the Gin* of

E*')t7 to $hich the other made no re),'( ein*

%er' indierent $hether there $ere an' such )eo),e

in the $or,d as a Gin* of E*')t or a )rincess of

!a',on"

&e remained dum for another uarter of an

hour( after $hich he asGed his com)anion @ second

time ho$ he did( and $hether the' had an' *ood

roast eef amon* the an*arids"

Ama2an ans$ered $ith his $onted )o,iteness

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 The Princess of !a',on" @@<

that the' did not eat their rethren on the anGs of

the an*es" &e then e?),ained to him that s'stem

$hich man' a*es after$ard $as surnamed the

P'tha*orean )hi,oso)h'" !ut m' ,ord fe,, as,ee) in

the meantime( and made ut one na) of it ti,, he

came to his o$n house"

&e $as married to a 'oun* and charmin* $oman(

on $hom nature had esto$ed a sou, as ,i%e,' and

sensi,e as that of her husand $as du,, and stu)id"

A fe$ *ent,emen of A,ion had that da' come to

dine $ith her( amon* $hom there $ere characters of

a,, sorts 7 for that countr' ha%in* een a,most a,$a's

under the *o%ernment of forei*ners( the fami,ies that

had come o%er $ith these )rinces had im)orted their

dierent manners" There $ere in this com)an' some

)ersons of an amia,e dis)osition( others of su)erior

*enius( and a fe$ of )rofound ,earnin*"

 The mistress of the house had none of that

a$G$ard stiness( that fa,se modest'( $ith $hich

the 'oun* ,adies of A,ion $ere then re)roached"

She did not concea, ' a scornfu, ,ooG and an aected

taciturnit' her decienc' of ideas and the emar4

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rassin* humi,it' of ha%in* nothin* to sa'" Ne%er

$as a $oman more en*a*in*" She recei%ed Ama2an

$ith a *race and )o,iteness that $ere uite natura,

to her" The e?treme eaut' of this 'oun* stran*er(

and the in%o,untar' com)arison she cou,d not he,)

maGin* et$een him and her )rosaic husand( did

not increase her ha))iness or content"

Dinner ein* ser%ed( she ),aced Ama2an at her

@= The Princess of !a',on"

side( and he,)ed him to a %ariet' of )uddin*s( he

ha%in* informed her that the an*arids ne%er dined

u)on an'thin* $hich had recei%ed from the *ods

the ce,estia, *ift of ,ife" The e%ents of his ear,' ,ife(

the manners of the an*arids( the )ro*ress of arts(

re,i*ion( and *o%ernment $ere the suHects of a

con%ersation eua,,' a*reea,e and instructi%e a,, the

time of the entertainment( $hich ,asted ti,, ni*ht(

durin* $hich m' ,ord What4then did nothin* ut

)ush the ott,e aout( and ca,, for the toast"

After dinner( $hi,e m' ,ad' $as )ourin* out the

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tea( sti,, feedin* her e'es on the 'oun* stran*er( he

entered into a ,on* con%ersation $ith a memer of

)ar,iament 7 for e%er' one Gno$s that there $as e%en

then a )ar,iament ca,,ed #Wittena*emot(# or the

assem,' of $ise men" Ama2an inuired into

the constitution( ,a$s( manners( customs( forces( and

arts $hich made this countr' so res)ecta,e 7 and the

memer ans$ered him in the fo,,o$in* manner.

#For a ,on* time $e $ent starG naGed( thou*h our

c,imate is none of the hottest" We $ere ,iGe$ise for

a ,on* time ens,a%ed ' a )eo),e $ho came from the

ancient countr' of Saturn( $atered ' the Tier"

!ut the mischief $e ha%e done one another has

*reat,' e?ceeded a,, that $e e%er suered from our

rst conuerors" One of our )rinces carried his

su)erstition to such a )itch as to dec,are himse,f the

suHect of a )riest( $ho d$e,,s a,so on the anGs of

the Tier( and is ca,,ed the O,d 1an of the Se%en

1ountains" It has een the fate of the se%en moun4

 The Princess of !a',on" @ ;

tains to domineer o%er the *reatest )art of Euro)e(

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then inhaited ' rutes in human sha)e"

#To those times of infam' and deasement suc4

ceeded the a*es of ararit' and confusion" Our

countr'( more tem)estuous than the surroundin*

ocean( has een ra%a*ed and drenched in ,ood '

our ci%i, discords" 1an' of our cro$ned heads ha%e

)erished ' a %io,ent death" Ao%e a hundred

)rinces of the ro'a, ,ood ha%e ended their da's on

the scao,d( $hi,st the hearts of their adherents ha%e

een torn from their reasts and thro$n in their

faces" In short( it is the )ro%ince of the han*man

to $rite the histor' of our is,and( seein* that this

)ersona*e has na,,' determined a,, our aairs of

moment"

#!ut to cro$n these horrors( it is not %er' ,on*

since some fe,,o$s $earin* ,acG mant,es( and others

$ho cast $hite shirts o%er their HacGets( ha%in* e4

come a**ressi%e and into,erant( succeeded in com4

municatin* their madness to the $ho,e nation" Our

countr' $as then di%ided into t$o )arties( the mur4

derers and the murdered( the e?ecutioners and the

suerers( ),underers and s,a%es 7 and a,, in the name

of od( and $hi,e the' $ere seeGin* the Lord"

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#Who $ou,d ha%e ima*ined that from this hor4

ri,e a'ss( this chaos of dissension( crue,t'( i*no4

rance( and fanaticism( a *o%ernment shou,d at ,ast

s)rin* u)( the most )erfect( it ma' e said( no$ in

the $or,d 'et such has een the e%ent" A )rince(

honored and $ea,th'( a,,4)o$erfu, to do *ood( ut

@@ The Princess of !a',on"

$ithout )o$er to do e%i,( is at the head of a free(

$ar,iGe( commercia, and en,i*htened nation" The

no,es on one hand and the re)resentati%es of the

)eo),e on the other( share the ,e*is,ature $ith the

monarch"

#We ha%e seen( ' a sin*u,ar fata,it' of e%ents(

disorder( ci%i, $ars( anarch' and $retchedness ,a'

$aste the countr'( $hen our Gin*s aimed at aritrar'

)o$er. $hereas tranui,,it'( riches( and uni%ersa,

ha))iness ha%e on,' rei*ned amon* us $hen the

)rince has remained satised $ith a ,imited author4

it'" A,, order had een su%erted $hi,e $e $ere

dis)utin* aout m'steries( ut $as re4esta,ished the

moment $e *re$ $ise enou*h to des)ise them" Our

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%ictorious Qeets carr' our Qa* on e%er' ocean 7 our

,a$s ),ace our ,i%es and fortunes in securit'7 no

 Hud*e can e?),ain them in an aritrar' manner( and

no decision is e%er *i%en $ithout the reasons assi*ned

for it" We shou,d )unish a Hud*e as an assassin $ho

shou,d condemn a citi2en to death $ithout dec,arin*

the e%idence $hich accused him( and the ,a$ u)on

$hich he $as con%icted"

#It is true( there are a,$a's t$o )arties amon* us

$ho are continua,,' $ritin* and intri*uin* a*ainst

each other 7 ut the' constant,' reunite $hene%er it

is needfu, to arm in defence of ,iert' and our

countr'" These t$o )arties $atch o%er each other(

and mutua,,' )re%ent the %io,ation of the sacred de4

)osit of the ,a$s" The' hate one another( ut the'

 The Princess of !a',on" @

,o%e the state" The' are ,iGe those Hea,ous ,o%ers

$ho )a' court to the same mistress $ith a s)irit of

emu,ation"

#From the same fund of *enius ' $hich $e dis4

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co%ered and su))orted the natura, ri*hts of man4

Gind( $e ha%e carried the sciences to the hi*hest

)itch to $hich the' can attain amon* men" 3our

E*')tians( $ho )ass for such *reat mechanics 7 'our

Indians( $ho are e,ie%ed to e such *reat )hi,os4

o)hers 7 'our !a',onians( $ho oast of ha%in* o4

ser%ed the stars for the course of four hundred and

thirt' thousand 'ears 7 the reeGs( $ho ha%e $ritten

so much( and said so ,itt,e( Gno$ in rea,it' nothin*

in com)arison to our inferior scho,ars( $ho ha%e

studied the disco%eries of our *reat masters" We

ha%e ra%ished more secrets from nature in the s)ace

of a hundred 'ears than the human s)ecies had een

a,e to disco%er in as man' a*es"

#This is a true account of our )resent state" I

ha%e concea,ed from 'ou neither the *ood nor the

ad 7 neither our shame nor our *,or' 7 and I ha%e

e?a**erated nothin*"#

At this discourse Ama2an fe,t a stron* desire to

e instructed in those su,ime sciences his friend had

s)oGen of7 and if his )assion for the )rincess of

!a',on( his ,ia, dut' to his mother $hom he had

uitted( and his ,o%e for his nati%e countr'( had not

made stron* remonstrances to his distem)ered heart(

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he $ou,d $i,,in*,' ha%e s)ent the remainder of his

@ The Princess of !a',on"

,ife in A,ion" !ut that unfortunate Giss his )rincess

had *i%en the Gin* of E*')t did not ,ea%e his mind

at sucient ease to stud' the astruse sciences"

#I confess(# said he( #ha%in* made a so,emn %o$

to roam aout the $or,d( and to esca)e from m'4

se,f" I ha%e a curiosit' to see that ancient ,and of

Saturn that )eo),e of the Tier and of the Se%en

1ountains( $ho ha%e een heretofore 'our masters"

 The' must undouted,' e the rst )eo),e on earth"#

#I ad%ise 'ou ' a,, means(# ans$ered the mem4

er( #to taGe that Hourne'( if 'ou ha%e the sma,,est

taste for music or )aintin*" E%en $e ourse,%es fre4

uent,' carr' our s),een and me,ancho,' to the Se%en

1ountains" !ut 'ou $i,, e *reat,' sur)rised $hen

'ou see the descendants of our conuerors"#

 This $as a ,on* con%ersation( and Ama2an had

s)oGen in so a*reea,e a manner( his %oice $as

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so charmin*( his $ho,e eha%ior so no,e and en4

*a*in*( that the mistress of the house cou,d not re4

sist the ),easure of ha%in* a ,itt,e )ri%ate chat $ith

him in her turn" She accordin*,' sent him a ,itt,e

i,,et4dou? intimatin* her $ishes in the most a*ree4

a,e ,an*ua*e" Ama2an had once more the coura*e

to resist the fascination of fema,e societ'( and ac4

cordin* to custom( $rote the ,ad' an ans$er fu,, of

res)ect( re)resentin* to her the sacredness of his

oath and the strict o,i*ation he $as under to teach

the )rincess of !a',on to conuer her )assion '

his e?am),e( after $hich he harnessed his unicorns

and de)arted for !ata%ia( ,ea%in* a,, the com)an'

 The Princess of !a',on" @B

in dee) admiration of him( and the ,ad' in )rofound

astonishment" In her confusion she dro))ed

Ama2an+s ,etter" 1' Lord What4then read it ne?t

mornin*"

#D n it(# said he( shru**in* u) his shou,ders(

#$hat stu and nonsense ha%e $e *ot here# and

then rode out fo?4huntin* $ith some of his drunGen

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nei*hors"

Ama2an $as a,read' sai,in* u)on the sea( )os4

sessed of a *eo*ra)hica, chart( $ith $hich he had

een )resented ' the ,earned A,ion he had con4

%ersed $ith at Lord What4then+s" &e $as e?treme,'

astonished to nd the *reatest )art of the earth u)on

a sin*,e sheet of )a)er"

&is e'es and ima*ination $andered o%er this

,itt,e s)ace" &e oser%ed the Rhine( the Danue( the

A,)s of T'ro,( there s)ecied under their dierent

names( and a,, the countries throu*h $hich he $as

to )ass efore he arri%ed at the cit' of the Se%en

1ountains" !ut he more )articu,ar,' ?ed his e'es

u)on the countr' of the an*arids( u)on !a',on(

$here he had seen his dear )rincess( and u)on the

countr' of !assora( $here she had *i%en a fata, Giss

to the Gin* of E*')t" &e si*hed( and tears streamed

from his e'es at the unha))' rememrance" &e

a*reed $ith the A,ion $ho had )resented him $ith

the uni%erse in e)itome( $hen he a%erred that the

inhaitants of the anGs of the Thames $ere a thou4

sand times etter instructed than those u)on the

anGs of the Ni,e( the Eu)hrates( and the an*es"

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@> The Princess of !a',on"

As he returned into !ata%ia( Formosanta )ro4

ceeded to$ard A,ion $ith her t$o shi)s at fu,, sai,"

Ama2an+s shi) and the )rincess+ crossed one another

and a,most touched7 the t$o ,o%ers $ere c,ose to

each other $ithout ein* conscious of the fact" Ah

had the' ut Gno$n it !ut this *reat conso,ation

t'rannic destin' $ou,d not a,,o$"

C&APTER I:"

A1A9AN VISITS RO1E"

No sooner had Ama2an ,anded on the Qat( mudd'

shore of !ata%ia( than he immediate,' set out to$ard

the cit' of the Se%en 1ountains" &e $as o,i*ed to

tra%erse the southern )art of erman'" At e%er'

four mi,es he met $ith a )rince and )rincess( maids

of honor( and e**ars" &e $as *reat,' astonished

e%er'$here at the couetries of these ,adies and

maids of honor( in $hich the' indu,*ed $ith erman

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*ood faith" After ha%in* c,eared the A,)s he em4

arGed u)on the sea of Da,matia and ,anded in a

cit' that had no resem,ance to an'thin* he had

heretofore seen" The sea formed the streets( and

the houses $ere erected in the $ater" The fe$ )u4

,ic ),aces $ith $hich this cit' $as ornamented $ere

,,ed $ith men and $omen $ith dou,e faces that

$hich nature had esto$ed on them( and a )aste4

oard one( i,, )ainted( $ith $hich the' co%ered their

 The Princess of !a',on" @

natura, %isa*e7 so that this )eo),e seemed com4

)osed of s)ectres" 0)on the arri%a, of stran*ers in

this countr' the' immediate,' )urchase these %isa*es

in the same manner as )eo),e e,se$here furnish

themse,%es $ith hats and shoes" Ama2an des)ised

a fashion so contrar' to nature" &e a))eared Hust as

he $as"

1an' ,adies $ere introduced and interested them4

se,%es in the handsome Ama2an" !ut he Qed $ith

the utmost )reci)itanc'( utterin* the name of the in4

com)ara,e )rincess of !a',on and s$earin* '

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the immorta, *ods that she $as far handsomer than

the Venetian *ir,s"

#Su,ime traitoress(# he cried in his trans)orts(

#I $i,, teach 'ou to e faithfu, #

No$ the 'e,,o$ sur*es of the Tier( )estiferous

fens( a fe$ )a,e( emaciated inhaitants c,othed in tat4

ters $hich dis),a'ed their dr'( tanned hides( a)4

)eared to his si*ht and es)oGe his arri%a, at the *ate

of the cit' of the Se%en 1ountains that cit' of

heroes and ,e*is,ators $ho conuered and )o,ished a

*reat )art of the *,oe"

&e e?)ected to ha%e seen at the trium)ha, *ate

%e hundred atta,ions commanded ' heroes( and

in the senate an assem,' of demi4*ods *i%in* ,a$s

to the earth" !ut the on,' arm' he found consisted

of aout thirt' tatterdema,ions mountin* *uard $ith

umre,,as for fear of the sun" &a%in* arri%ed at a

tem),e $hich a))eared to him %er' ne( ut not so

@M The Princess of !a',on"

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ma*nicent as that of !a',on( he $as *reat,' as4

tonished to hear a concert )erformed ' men $ith

fema,e %oices"

#This(# said he( #is a mi*ht' ),easant countr'(

$hich $as former,' the ,and of Saturn" I ha%e een

in a cit' $here no one sho$ed his o$n face 7 here is

another $here men ha%e neither their o$n %oices nor

eards"#

&e $as to,d that these eunuchs had een trained

from chi,dhood( that the' mi*ht sin* the more a*ree4

a,' the )raises of a *reat numer of )ersons of merit"

Ama2an cou,d not com)rehend the meanin* of this"

 The' then e?),ained to him %er' ),easant,' and

$ith man' *esticu,ations( accordin* to the custom

of their countr'( the )oint in uestion" Ama2an $as

uite confounded"

#I ha%e tra%e,,ed a *reat $a'(# said he( #ut I

ne%er efore heard such a $him"#

After the' had sun* a *ood $hi,e the O,d 1an of

the Se%en 1ountains $ent $ith *reat ceremon' to

the *ate of the tem),e" &e cut the air in four )arts

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$ith his thum raised( t$o n*ers e?tended and

t$o ent( in utterin* these $ords in a ,an*ua*e

no ,on*er s)oGen . #To the cit' and to the uni%erse#

Ama2an cou,d not see ho$ t$o n*ers cou,d e?tend

so far"

&e )resent,' sa$ the $ho,e court of the master of

the $or,d ,e o" This court consisted of *ra%e )er4

sona*es( some in scar,et and others in %io,et roes"

 The' a,most a,, e'ed the handsome Ama2an $ith a

 The Princess of !a',on" @<

tender ,ooG( and o$ed to him( $hi,e commentin*

u)on his )ersona, a))earance"

 The 2ea,ots $hose %ocation $as to sho$ the curi4

osities of the cit' to stran*ers %er' ea*er,' oered

to conduct him to se%era, ruins( in $hich a mu,eteer

$ou,d not choose to )ass a ni*ht( ut $hich $ere

former,' $orth' monuments of the *randeur of a

ro'a, )eo),e" &e moreo%er sa$ )ictures of t$o hun4

dred 'ears+ standin*( and statues that had remained

t$ent' a*es( $hich a))eared to him master)ieces of

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their Gind"

#Can 'ou sti,, )roduce such $orG# said Ama2an"

#No( 'our e?ce,,enc'(# re),ied one of the 2ea,ots 7

#ut $e des)ise the rest of the earth ecause $e )re4

ser%e these rarities" We are a Gind of o,d4c,othes

men( $ho deri%e our *,or' from the cast4o *ars in

our $arehouses"#

Ama2an $as $i,,in* to see the )rince+s )a,ace and

he $as accordin*,' conducted thither" &e sa$ men

dressed in %io,et4co,ored roes( $ho $ere recGonin*

7he mone' of the re%enues of the domains of ,ands(

some situated u)on the Danue( some u)on the

Loire( others u)on the uada,ui%ir( or the Vistu,a"

#Oh Oh # said Ama2an( ha%in* consu,ted his

*eo*ra)hica, ma)( #'our master( then( )ossesses a,,

Euro)e( ,iGe those ancient heroes of the Se%en

1ountains #

#&e shou,d )ossess the $ho,e uni%erse ' di%ine

ri*ht(# re),ied a %io,et4,i%er' man 7 #and there $as

e%en a time $hen his )redecessors near,' com)assed

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@= The Princess of !a',on"

uni%ersa, monarch'( ut their successors are so *ood

as to content themse,%es at )resent $ith some

mone's $hich the Gin*s( their suHects( )a' to them

in the form of a triute"#

#3our master is then( in fact( the Gin* of Gin*s"

Is that his tit,e # said Ama2an"

#No( 'our e?ce,,enc'( his tit,e is the ser%ant of

ser%ants &e $as ori*ina,,' a sherman and )orter(

$herefore the em,ems of his di*nit' consist of Ge's

and nets 7 ut he at )resent issues orders to e%er'

Gin* in Christendom" It is not a ,on* $hi,e since

he sent one hundred and one mandates to a Gin* of

the Ce,ts( and the Gin* oe'ed"#

#3our sherman must then ha%e sent %e or si?

hundred thousand men to )ut these orders in e?ecu4

tion #

#Not at a,,( 'our e?ce,,enc'" Our ho,' master is

not rich enou*h to Gee) ten thousand so,diers on

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foot 7 ut he has %e or si? hundred thousand di%ine

)ro)hets dis)ersed in other countries" These

)ro)hets of %arious co,ors are( as the' ou*ht to e(

su))orted at the e?)ense of the )eo),e $here the'

reside" The' )roc,aim( from hea%en( that m' master

ma'( $ith his Ge's( o)en and shut a,, ,ocGs( and )ar4

ticu,ar,' those of stron* o?es" A Norman )riest(

$ho he,d the )ost of condant of their Gin*+s

thou*hts( con%inced him he ou*ht to oe'( $ithout

uestionin*( the one hundred and one thou*hts of

m' master 7 for 'ou must Gno$ that one of the )re4

ro*ati%es of the O,d 1an of the Se%en 1ountains is

 The Princess of !a',on" @;

ne%er to err( $hether he dei*ns to s)eaG or dei*ns

to $rite"#

#In faith(# said Ama2an( #this is a %er' sin*u,ar

man 7 I shou,d e ),eased to dine $ith him"#

#Were 'our e?ce,,enc' e%en a Gin*( 'ou cou,d not

eat at his ta,e" A,, that he cou,d do for 'ou $ou,d

e to a,,o$ 'ou to ha%e one ser%ed ' the side of his(

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ut sma,,er and ,o$er" !ut if 'ou are inc,ined to

ha%e the honor of s)eaGin* to him( I $i,, asG an

audience for 'ou on condition of the uona mancia(

$hich 'ou $i,, e Gind enou*h to *i%e me"#

#Ver' readi,'(# said the an*arid" The %io,et4

,i%er' man o$ed . #I $i,, introduce 'ou to4mor4

ro$(# said he" #3ou must maGe three %er' ,o$

o$s( and 'ou must Giss the feet of the O,d 1an of

the Se%en 1ountains"# At this information Ama2an

urst into so %io,ent a t of ,au*hin* that he $as

a,most choGed7 $hich( ho$e%er( he surmounted(

ho,din* his sides( $hi,st the %io,ent emotions of the

risi,e musc,es forced the tears do$n his cheeGs( ti,,

he reached the inn( $here the t sti,, continued u)on

him"

At dinner t$ent' eard,ess men and t$ent' %io4

,ins )roduced a concert" &e recei%ed the com),i4

ments of the *reatest ,ords of the cit' durin* the re4

mainder of the da'7 ut from their e?tra%a*ant

actions he $as stron*,' tem)ted to thro$ t$o or

three of these %io,et4co,ored *entr' out of the $in4

do$" &e ,eft $ith the *reatest )reci)itation this cit'

of the masters of the $or,d( $here 'oun* men $ere

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Vo," ;>

@@ The Princess of !a',on"

treated so $himsica,,'( and $here he found himse,f

necessitated to Giss an o,d man+s toe( as if his cheeG

$ere at the end of his foot

C&APTER :"

AN 0NFORT0NATE ADVENT0RE IN A0L"

In a,, the )ro%inces throu*h $hich Ama2an

)assed he remained e%er faithfu, to the )rincess of

!a',on( thou*h incessant,' enra*ed at the Gin* of

E*')t" This mode, of constanc' at ,en*th arri%ed

at the ne$ ca)ita, of the au,s" This cit'( ,iGe man'

others( had a,ternate,' sumitted to ararit'( i*no4

rance( fo,,'( and miser'" The rst name it ore $as

Dirt and 1ire7 it then tooG that of Isis( from the

$orshi) of Isis( $hich had reached e%en here" Its

rst senate consisted of a com)an' of $atermen" It

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had ,on* een in onda*e and sumitted to the ra%4

a*es of the heroes of the Se%en 1ountains 7 and

some a*es after some other heroic thie%es $ho came

from the farther anGs of the Rhine had sei2ed u)on

its ,itt,e ,ands"

 Time( $hich chan*es a,, thin*s( had formed it

into a cit'( ha,f of $hich $as %er' no,e and %er'

a*reea,e( the other ha,f some$hat ararous and

ridicu,ous. this $as the em,em of its inhaitants"

 There $ere $ithin its $a,,s at ,east a hundred thou4

 The Princess of !a',on" @

sand )eo),e( $ho had no other em),o'ment than ),a'

and di%ersion" These id,ers $ere the Hud*es of those

arts $hich the others cu,ti%ated" The' $ere i*no4

rant of a,, that )assed at court( thou*h the' $ere

on,' four short mi,es distant from it 7 ut it seemed

to them at ,east si? hundred thousand mi,es o"

A*reea,eness in com)an'( *a'et' and fri%o,it'

formed the im)ortant and so,e considerations of their

,i%es" The' $ere *o%erned ,iGe chi,dren $ho are

e?tra%a*ant,' su)),ied $ith *e$*a$s to )re%ent

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their cr'in*" If the horrors $ere discussed $hich

t$o centuries efore had ,aid $aste their countr'( or

if those dreadfu, )eriods $ere reca,,ed $hen one4

ha,f of the nation massacred the other for so)hisms(

the'( indeed( said #this $as not $e,, done#7 then

)resent,' the' fe,, to ,au*hin* a*ain or sin*in* of

catches"

In )ro)ortion as the id,ers $ere )o,ished( a*ree4

a,e and amia,e( it $as oser%ed that there $as a

*reater and more shocGin* contrast et$een them

and those $ho $ere en*a*ed in usiness"

Amon* the ,atter( or such as )retended so to e(

there $as a *an* of me,ancho,' fanatics( $hose a4

surdit' and Gna%er' di%ided their characters

$hose a))earance a,one diused miser' and $ho

$ou,d ha%e o%erturned the $or,d had the' een a,e

to *ain a ,itt,e credit" !ut the nation of id,ers( '

dancin* and sin*in*( forced them into oscurit' in

their ca%erns( as the $ar,in* irds dri%e the croaG4

in* ats acG to their ho,es and ruins"

@ The Princess of !a',on"

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A sma,,er numer of those $ho $ere occu)ied

$ere the )reser%ers of ancient ararous customs(

a*ainst $hich nature( terried( ,oud,' e?c,aimed"

 The' consu,ted nothin* ut their $orm4eaten re*is4

ters" If the' there disco%ered a foo,ish or horrid

custom( the' considered it as a sacred ,a$" It $as

from this %i,e )ractice of not darin* to thinG for

themse,%es( ut e?tractin* their ideas from the ruins

of those times $hen no one thou*ht at a,,( that in

the metro)o,is of ),easure there sti,, remained some

shocGin* manners" &ence it $as that there $as no

)ro)ortion et$een crimes and )unishments" A

thousand deaths $ere sometimes inQicted u)on an

innocent %ictim to maGe him acGno$,ed*e a crime he

had not committed"

 The e?tra%a*ances of 'outh $ere )unished $ith

the same se%erit' as murder or )arricide" The id,ers

screamed ,oud,' at these e?hiitions( and the ne?t

da' thou*ht no more aout them( ut $ere uried

in the contem),ation of some ne$ fashion"

 This )eo),e sa$ a $ho,e a*e e,a)se( in $hich the

ne arts attained a de*ree of )erfection that far sur4

)assed the most san*uine ho)es" Forei*ners then

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re)aired thither( as the' did to !a',on( to admire

the *reat monuments of architecture( the $onders

of *ardenin*( the su,ime eorts of scu,)ture and

)aintin*" The' $ere charmed $ith a s)ecies of

music that reached the heart $ithout astonishin* the

ears"

 True )oetr'( that is to sa'( such as is natura, and

 The Princess of !a',on" @B

harmonious( that $hich addresses the heart as $e,,

as the mind( $as unGno$n to this nation efore this

ha))' )eriod" Ne$ Ginds of e,ouence dis),a'ed

su,ime eauties" The theatres in )articu,ar re4

echoed $ith master)ieces that no other nation e%er

a))roached" In a $ord( *ood taste )re%ai,ed in

e%er' )rofession to that de*ree that there $ere e%en

*ood $riters amon* the Druids"

So man' ,aure,s that had ranched e%en to the

sGies soon $ithered in an e?hausted soi," There re4

mained ut a %er' sma,, numer( $hose ,ea%es $ere

of a )a,e d'in* %erdure" This deca' $as occasioned

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' the faci,it' of )roducin* ,a2iness )re%entin*

*ood )roductions and ' a satiet' of the ri,,iant

and a taste for the $himsica," Vanit' )rotected arts

that rou*ht acG times of ararit' 7 and this same

%anit'( in )ersecutin* )ersons of rea, merit( forced

them to uit their countr'" The hornets anished

the ees"

 There $ere scarce,' an' rea, arts( there $as

scarce,' an' rea, *enius" Ta,ent no$ consisted in

reasonin* ri*ht or $ron* u)on the merit of the ,ast

a*e" The dauer of a si*n4)ost criticised $ith an air

of sa*acit' the $orGs of the *reatest )ainters( and

the ,otters of )a)er dis*ured the $orGs of the

*reatest $riters" I*norance and ad taste had other

dauers in their )a'" The same thin*s $ere re4

)eated in a hundred %o,umes under dierent tit,es"

E%er' $orG $as either a dictionar' or a )am)h,et"

A Druid *a2etteer $rote t$ice a $eeG the oscure

@> The Princess of !a',on"

anna,s of an unGno$n )eo),e )ossessed $ith the

de%i,( and of ce,estia, )rodi*ies o)erated in *arrets

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' ,itt,e e**ars of oth se?es" Other e?4Druids(

dressed in ,acG( read' to die $ith ra*e and hun*er(

set forth their com),aints in a hundred dierent

$ritin*s( that the' $ere no ,on*er a,,o$ed to cheat

manGind this )ri%i,e*e ein* conferred on some

*oats c,ad in *re' 7 and some arch4Druids $ere em4

),o'ed in )rintin* defamator' ,ie,s"

Ama2an $as uite i*norant of a,, this( and e%en

if he had een acuainted $ith it he $ou,d ha%e *i%en

himse,f %er' ,itt,e concern aout it( ha%in* his head

ri,,ed $ith nothin* ut the )rincess of !a',on( the

Gin* of E*')t and the in%io,a,e %o$ he had made

to des)ise a,, fema,e couetr' in $hate%er countr'

his des)air shou,d dri%e him"

 The *a)in*( i*norant mo( $hose curiosit' e?4

ceeds a,, the ounds of nature and reason( for a ,on*

time thron*ed aout his unicorns" The more sen4

si,e $omen forced o)en the doors of his hote, to

contem),ate his )erson"

&e at rst testied some desire of %isitin* the

court 7 ut some of the id,ers( $ho constituted *ood

com)an' and casua,,' $ent thither( informed him

that it $as uite out of fashion( that times $ere

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*reat,' chan*ed( and that a,, amusements $ere con4

ned to the cit'" &e $as in%ited that %er' ni*ht to

su) $ith a ,ad' $hose sense and ta,ents had reached

forei*n c,imes( and $ho had tra%e,,ed in some coun4

tries throu*h $hich Ama2an had )assed" This ,ad'

 The Princess of !a',on" @

*a%e him *reat ),easure( as $e,, as the societ' he met

at her house" &ere rei*ned a decent ,iert'( *a'et'

$ithout tumu,t( si,ence $ithout )edantr'( and $it

$ithout as)erit'" &e found that *ood Com)an' $as

not uite idea,( thou*h the tit,e $as freuent,'

usur)ed ' )retenders" The ne?t da' he dined in a

societ' far ,ess amia,e( ut much more %o,u)tuous"

 The more he $as satised $ith the *uests the more

the' $ere ),eased $ith him" &e found his sou,

soften and disso,%e( ,iGe the aromatics of his countr'(

$hich *radua,,' me,t in a moderate heat and e?ha,e

in de,icious )erfumes"

After dinner he $as conducted to a ),ace of )u,ic

entertainment $hich $as enchantin*( ut con4

demned( ho$e%er( ' the Druids( ecause it de)ri%ed

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them of their auditors( $hich( therefore( e?cited their

 Hea,ous'" The re)resentation here consisted of

a*reea,e %erses( de,i*htfu, son*s( dances $hich e?4

)ressed the mo%ements of the sou,( and )ers)ecti%es

that charmed the e'e in decei%in* it" This Gind of

)astime( $hich inc,uded so man' Ginds( $as Gno$n

on,' under a forei*n name" It $as ca,,ed #an

O)era(# $hich former,' si*nied in the ,an*ua*e of

the Se%en 1ountains( $orG( care( occu)ation( indus4

tr'( enter)rise( usiness" This e?hiition enchanted

him" A fema,e sin*er( in )articu,ar( charmed him

' her me,odious %oice and the *races that accom4

)anied her" This chi,d of *enius( after the )erform4

ance( $as introduced to him ' his ne$ friends" &e

)resented her $ith a handfu, of diamonds( for $hich

@M The Princess of !a',on"

she $as so *ratefu, that she cou,d not ,ea%e him a,,

the rest of the da'" &e su))ed $ith her and her

com)anions( and 4durin* the de,i*htfu, re)ast he for4

*ot his soriet' and ecame heated and o,i%ious

$ith $ine What an instance of human

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frai,t'

 The eautifu, )rincess of !a',on arri%ed at this

 Huncture( $ith her )hoeni?( her chamermaid Ir,a

and her t$o hundred an*aridian ca%a,iers mounted

on their unicorns" It $as a ,on* $hi,e efore the

*ates $ere o)ened" She immediate,' asGed if the

handsomest( the most coura*eous( the most sensi,e

and the most faithfu, of men $as sti,, in that

cit'" The ma*istrates readi,' conc,uded that she

meant Ama2an" She $as conducted to his hote,"

&o$ *reat $as the )a,)itation of her heart the

)o$erfu, o)eration of the tender )assion" &er $ho,e

sou, $as )enetrated $ith ine?)ressi,e Ho'( to see

once more in her ,o%er the mode, of constanc'"

Nothin* cou,d )re%ent her enterin* his chamer 7 the

curtains $ere o)en( and she sa$ the eautifu, Ama4

2an as,ee) and stu)eed $ith drinG"

Formosanta e?)ressed her *rief $ith such screams

as made the house echo" She s$ooned into the arms

of Ir,a" As soon as she had reco%ered her senses she

retired from this fata, chamer $ith *rief ,ended

$ith ra*e"

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#&e does not deser%e it(# said the )rincess" #3ou

$ou,d crue,,' oend me" &e $ou,d thinG that I had

desired 'ou to re)roach him( and that I am $i,,in* to

e reconci,ed to him" If 'ou ,o%e me do not add this

inHur' to the insu,t he has oered me"#

 The )hceni?( $ho after a,, o$ed his ,ife to the

dau*hter of the Gin* of !a',on( cou,d not disoe'

her" She set out $ith a,, her attendants"

#Whither are 'ou *oin* # said Ir,a to her"

#I do not Gno$(# re),ied the )rincess 7 #$e $i,,

taGe the rst road $e nd" Pro%ided I Q' from

Ama2an fore%er I am satised"#

 The )hceni?( $ho $as $iser than Formosanta( e4

cause he $as di%ested of )assion( conso,ed her u)on

the road" &e *ent,' insinuated to her that it $as

shocGin* to )unish one+s se,f for the fau,ts of an4

@B= The Princess of !a',on"

other7 that Ama2an had *i%en )roofs sucient,'

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striGin* and numerous of his de,it'( so that she

shou,d for*i%e him for ha%in* for*otten himse,f for

one moment in socia, com)an'7 that this $as the

on,' time in $hich he had een $antin* of the

*race of Or)masdes7 that it $ou,d render him

on,' the more constant in ,o%e and %irtue for the

future 7 that the desire of e?)iatin* his fau,t $ou,d

raise him e'ond himse,f 7 that it $ou,d e the means

of increasin* her ha))iness 7 that man' *reat )rin4

cesses efore her had for*i%en such s,i)s and had

had no reason to e sorr' after$ards 7 and he $as so

thorou*h,' )ossessed of the art of )ersuasion( that

Formosanta+s mind *re$ more ca,m and )eacea,e"

She $as no$ sorr' she had set out so soon" She

thou*ht her unicorns $ent too fast( ut she did not

dare return" reat $as the conQict et$een her de4

sire of for*i%in* and that of sho$in* her ra*e e4

t$een her ,o%e and %anit'" &o$e%er( her unicorns

)ursued their )ace( and she tra%ersed the $or,d ac4

cordin* to the )rediction of her father+s orac,e"

When Ama2an a$oGe( he $as informed of the ar4

ri%a, and de)arture of Formosanta and the )hoeni?"

&e $as a,so to,d of the ra*e and distraction of the

)rincess( and that she had s$orn ne%er to for*i%e

him"

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#Then(# said he( #there is nothin* ,eft for me to

do ut fo,,o$ her and Gi,, m'se,f at her feet"#

 The re)ort of this ad%enture dre$ to*ether his

festi%e com)anions( $ho a,, remonstrated $ith him"

 The Princess of !a',on" @B;

 The' said that he had much etter sta' $ith them 7

that nothin* cou,d eua, the ),easant ,ife the' ,ed in

the centre of arts and rened de,icate ),easures 7 that

man' stran*ers( and e%en Gin*s( )referred such an

a*reea,e( enchantin* re)ose to their countr' and

their thrones" 1oreo%er( his %ehic,e $as roGen( and

another $as ein* made for him accordin* to the

ne$est fashion 7 that the est tai,or of the $ho,e cit'

had a,read' cut out for him a do2en suits in the ,atest

st',e 7 that the most %i%acious( amia,e and fashion4

a,e ,adies( at $hose houses dramatic )erformances

$ere re)resented( had each a))ointed a da' to *i%e

him a re*a,e" The *ir, from the o)era $as in the

mean$hi,e drinGin* her choco,ate( ,au*hin*( sin*in*

and o*,in* the eautifu, Ama2an( $ho ' this time

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c,ear,' )ercei%ed she had no more sense than a

*oose"

A sincerit'( cordia,it' and franGness( as $e,, as

ma*nanimit' and coura*e( constituted the character

of this *reat )rince 7 he re,ated his tra%e,s and mis4

fortunes to his friends" The' Gne$ that he $as

cousin4*erman to the )rincess" The' $ere informed

of the fata, Giss she had *i%en the Gin* of E*')t"

#Such ,itt,e tricGs(# said the'( #are often for*i%en

et$een re,ati%es( other$ise one+s $ho,e ,ife $ou,d

)ass in )er)etua, uneasiness"#

Nothin* cou,d shaGe his desi*n of )ursuin* For4

mosanta7 ut his carria*e not ein* read'( he $as

com)e,,ed to remain three da's ,on*er amon* the

id,ers( $ho $ere sti,, feastin* and merr'4maGin*"

 The Princess of !a',on"

&e at ,en*th tooG his ,ea%e of them ' emracin*

them and maGin* them acce)t some of his diamonds

that $ere the est mounted( and recommendin* to

them a constant )ursuit of fri%o,it' and ),easure(

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since the' $ere there' made more a*reea,e and

ha))'"

#The ermans(# said he( #are the *re'heads of

Euro)e 7 the )eo),e of A,ion are men formed 7 the

inhaitants of au, are the chi,dren and I ,o%e to

),a' $ith chi,dren"#

C&APTER :I"

A1A9AN AND FOR1OSANTA !ECO1E RECONCILED"

 The *uides had no dicu,t' in fo,,o$in* the route

the )rincess had taGen" There $as nothin* e,se

ta,Ged of ut her and her ,ar*e ird" A,, the in4

haitants $ere sti,, in a state of fascination" The

anGs of the Loire( of the Dordo*ne( the aronne(

and the ironde sti,, echoed $ith acc,amation"

When Ama2an reached the foot of the P'renees(

the ma*istrates and druids of the countr' made him

dance( $hether he $ou,d or not( a tamourin7 ut

as soon as he c,eared the P'renees( nothin* )re4

sented itse,f that $as either *a' or Ho'ous" If he

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here and there heard a )easant sin*( it $as a do,efu,

ditt'" The inhaitants sta,Ged $ith much *ra%it+(

ha%in* a fe$ strun* eads and a *irted )oniard"

 The nation dressed in ,acG( and a))eared to e in

mournin*"

 The Princess of !a',on" @B

If Ama2an+s ser%ants asGed )assen*ers an' ues4

tions( the' $ere ans$ered ' si*ns7 if the' $enX

into an inn the host acuainted his *uests in three

$ords that there $as nothin* in the house( ut that

the thin*s the' so )ressin*,' $anted mi*ht e found

a fe$ mi,es o"

When these %otaries to taciturnit' $ere asGed if

the' had seen the eautifu, )rincess of !a',on )ass(

the' ans$ered $ith ,ess re%it' than usua,. #We

ha%e seen her she is not so handsome there are

no eauties that are not ta$n' she dis),a's a osom

of a,aaster( $hich is the most dis*ustin* thin* in

the $or,d( and $hich is scarce Gno$n in our

c,imate"#

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Ama2an ad%anced to$ard the )ro%ince $atered

' the !etis" The T'rians disco%ered this countr'

aout t$e,%e thousand 'ears a*o( aout the time the'

disco%ered the *reat At,antic is,e( inundated so man'

centuries after" The T'rians cu,ti%ated !etica(

$hich the nati%es of the countr' had ne%er done(

ein* of o)inion that it $as not their ),ace to

medd,e $ith an'thin*( and that their nei*hors( the

au,s( shou,d come and rea) their har%ests" The

 T'rians had rou*ht $ith them some Pa,estines( or

 /e$s( $ho( from that time( ha%e $andered throu*h

e%er' c,ime $here mone' $as to e *ained" The

Pa,estines( ' e?traordinar' usur'( at ft' )er cent(

had )ossessed themse,%es of a,most a,, the riches of

the countr'" This made the )eo),e of !etica ima*ine

the Pa,estines $ere sorcerers7 and a,, those $ho

@B The Princess of !a',on"

$ere accused of $itchcraft $ere urned( $ithout

merc'( ' a com)an' of druids( $ho $ere ca,,ed the

inuisitors( or the anthro)oGaies" These )riests im4

mediate,' )ut their %ictims in a masuerade hait(

sei2ed u)on their eects( and de%out,' re)eated the

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Pa,estines+ o$n )ra'ers( $hi,e urnin* them ' a

s,o$ re( )or e, amor de Dios"

 The )rincess of !a',on a,i*hted in that cit'

$hich has since een ca,,ed Se%i,,a" &er desi*n

$as to emarG u)on the !etis to return ' T're to

!a',on( and see a*ain Kin* !e,us( her father 7 and

for*et( if )ossi,e( her )erdious ,o%er or( at ,east(

to asG him in marria*e" She sent for t$o Pa,estines(

$ho transacted a,, the usiness of the court" The'

$ere to furnish her $ith three shi)s" The )hoeni?

made a,, the necessar' contracts $ith them( and

sett,ed the )rice after some ,itt,e dis)ute"

 The hostess $as a *reat de%otee( and her husand(

$ho $as no ,ess re,i*ious( $as a Fami,iar7 that is

to sa'( a s)' of the druid inuisitors( or anthro4

)oGaies"

&e fai,ed not to inform them that in his house

$as a sorceress and t$o Pa,estines( $ho $ere enter4

in* in a com)act $ith the de%i,( dis*uised ,iGe a ,ar*e

*i,t ird"

 The inuisitors ha%in* ,earned that the ,ad' )os4

sessed a ,ar*e uantit' of diamonds( s$ore )oint

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,anG that she $as a sorceress" The' $aited ti,,

ni*ht to im)rison the t$o hundred ca%a,iers and the

 The Princess of !a',on" @BB

unicorns( $hich s,e)t in %er' e?tensi%e sta,es( for

the inuisitors are co$ards"

&a%in* stron*,' arricaded the *ates( the' sei2ed

the )rincess and Ir,a 7 ut the' cou,d not catch the

)hceni?( $ho Qe$ a$a' $ith *reat s$iftness" &e

did not dout of meetin* the Ama2an u)on the road

from au, to Se%i,,a"

&e met him u)on the frontiers of !etica( and

acuainted him $ith the disaster that had efa,,en

the )rincess"

Ama2an $as strucG s)eech,ess $ith ra*e" &e

armed himse,f $ith a stee, cuirass damasGeened $ith

*o,d( a ,ance t$e,%e feet ,on*( t$o Ha%e,ins( and an

ed*ed s$ord ca,,ed the Thunderer( $hich at one

sin*,e stroGe $ou,d rend trees( rocGs and druids"

&e co%ered his eautifu, head $ith a *o,den casue(

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shaded $ith heron and ostrich feathers" This $as

the ancient armor of 1a*o*( $hich his sister A,dea

*a%e him $hen u)on his Hourne' in Sc'thia" The

fe$ attendants he had $ith him a,, mounted their

unicorns"

Ama2an( in emracin* his dear )hceni?( uttered

on,' these me,ancho,' e?)ressions . #I am *ui,t'

&ad I not dined $ith the chi,d of *enius from the

o)era( in the cit' of the id,ers( the )rincess of !a'4

,on $ou,d not ha%e een in this a,armin* situation"

Let us Q' to the anthro)oGaies"# &e )resent,' en4

tered Se%i,,a" Fifteen hundred a,*ua2i,s *uarded

the *ates of the enc,osure in $hich the t$o hundred

@B> The Princess of !a',on"

an*arids and their unicorns $ere shut u)( $ithout

ein* a,,o$ed an'thin* to eat" Pre)arations $ere

a,read' made for sacricin* the )rincess of !a',on(

her chamermaid Ir,a( and the t$o rich Pa,estines"

 The hi*h anthro)oGaie( surrounded ' his sua,4

tern anthro)oGaies( $as a,read' seated u)on his

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sacred triuna," A cro$d of Se%i,,ians( $earin*

strun* eads at their *ird,es( Hoined their t$o hands(

$ithout utterin* a s',,a,e( $hen the eautifu,

)rincess( the maid Ir,a( and the t$o Pa,estines

$ere rou*ht forth( $ith their hands tied ehind

their acGs and dressed in masuerade haits"

 The )hoeni? entered the )rison ' a dormer $in4

do$( $hi,e the an*arids e*an to reaG o)en the

doors" The in%inci,e Ama2an shattered them $ith4

out" The' a,, sa,,ied forth( armed( u)on their uni4

corns( and Ama2an )ut himse,f at their head" &e

had no dicu,t' in o%erthro$in* the a,*ua2i,s( the

fami,iars( or the )riests ca,,ed anthro)oGaies" Each

unicorn )ierced do2ens at a time" The thunderin*

Ama2an cut to )ieces a,, he met" The )eo),e in ,acG

c,oaGs and dirt' frie2e ran a$a'( a,$a's Gee)in*

fast ho,d of their ,essed eads( )or e, amor de Dios"

Ama2an co,,ared the hi*h inuisitor u)on his

triuna, and thre$ him u)on the )i,e( $hich $as )re4

)ared aout fort' )aces distant7 and he a,so cast

u)on it the other inuisitors( one after the other" &e

then )rostrated himse,f at Formosanta+s feet" #Ah

ho$ amia,e 'ou are(# said she 7 #and ho$ I shou,d

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 The Princess of !a',on" @B

adore 'ou if 'ou had not forsaGen me for the com4

)an' of an o)era sin*er"#

Whi,e Ama2an $as maGin* his )eace $ith the

)rincess( $hi,e his an*arids cast u)on the )i,e the

odies of a,, the anthro)oGaies( and the Qames as4

cended to the c,ouds( Ama2an sa$ an arm' that a)4

)roached him at a distance" An a*ed monarch( $ith

a cro$n u)on his head( ad%anced u)on a car dra$n

' ei*ht mu,es harnessed $ith ro)es" A hundred

other cars fo,,o$ed" The' $ere accom)anied '

*ra%e4,ooGin* men in ,acG coats of frie2e( mounted

u)on %er' ne horses" A mu,titude of )eo),e( $ith

*reas' hair( fo,,o$ed si,ent,' on foot"

Ama2an immediate,' dre$ u) his an*arids

aout him( and ad%anced $ith his ,ance couched"

As soon as the Gin* )ercei%ed him( he tooG o his

cro$n( a,i*hted from his car( and emraced Ama4

2an+s stirru)( sa'in* to him . #1an sent ' the *ods(

'ou are the a%en*er of human Gind( the de,i%erer of

m' countr'" These sacred monsters( of $hich 'ou

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ha%e )ur*ed the earth( $ere m' masters( in the name

of the O,d 1an of the Se%en 1ountains" I $as

forced to sumit to their crimina, )o$er" 1' )eo),e

$ou,d ha%e deserted me if I had on,' een inc,ined

to moderate their aomina,e crimes" From this

moment I reathe( I rei*n( and am indeted to 'ou

for it"#

&e after$ards res)ectfu,,' Gissed Formosanta+s

hand( and entreated her to *et into his coach dra$n

' ei*ht mu,es $ith Ama2an( Ir,a( and the )hoeni?"

Vo," ;

@BM The Princess of !a',on"

 The t$o Pa,estine anGers( $ho sti,, remained

)rostrate on the *round throu*h fear and terror( no$

raised their heads" The troo) of unicorns fo,,o$ed

the Gin* of !etica into his )a,ace"

As the di*nit' of a Gin* $ho rei*ned o%er a )eo4

),e of characteristic re%it' reuired that his mu,es

shou,d *o at a %er' s,o$ )ace( Ama2an and For4

mosanta had time to re,ate to him their ad%entures"

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&e a,so con%ersed $ith the )hoeni?( admirin* and

freuent,' emracin* him" &e easi,' com)rehended

ho$ ruta, and ararous the )eo),e of the West

shou,d e considered( $ho ate anima,s and did not

understand their ,an*ua*e 7 that the an*arids a,one

had )reser%ed the nature and di*nit' of )rimiti%e

man7 ut he )articu,ar,' a*reed that the most ar4

arous of morta,s $ere the anthro)oGaies( of $hom

Ama2an had Hust )ur*ed the earth" &e incessant,'

,essed and thanGed him" The eautifu, Formo4

santa had a,read' for*otten the aair in au,( and

had her sou, ,,ed $ith nothin* ut the %a,or of the

hero $ho had )reser%ed her ,ife" Ama2an ein*

made acuainted $ith the innocence of the emrace

she had *i%en to the Gin* of E*')t( and ein* to,d

of the resurrection of the )hoeni?( tasted the )urest

 Ho'( and $as into?icated $ith the most %io,ent ,o%e"

 The' dined at the )a,ace( ut had a %er' indier4

ent re)ast" The cooGs of !etica $ere the $orst in

Euro)e" Ama2an ad%ised the Gin* to send for some

from au," The Gin*+s musicians )erformed( durin*

the re)ast( that ce,erated air $hich has since een

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 The Princess of !a',on" @B<

ca,,ed #The Fo,,ies of S)ain"# After dinner matters

of usiness came u)on the car)et"

 The Gin* inuired of the handsome Ama2an( the

eautifu, Formosanta( and the charmin* )hoeni?(

$hat the' )ro)osed doin*" #For m' )art(# said

Ama2an( #m' intention is to return to !a',on( of

$hich I am the )resum)ti%e heir( and to asG of m'

unc,e !e,us the hand of m' cousin4*erman( the in4

com)ara,e Formosanta"#

#1' desi*n certain,' is(# said the )rincess( #ne%er

to se)arate from m' cousin4*erman" !ut I ima*ine

he $i,, a*ree $ith me that I shou,d return rst to

m' father( ecause he on,' *a%e me ,ea%e to *o

u)on a )i,*rima*e to !assora( and I ha%e $andered

a,, o%er the $or,d"#

#For m' )art(# said the )hoeni?( #I $i,, fo,,o$

e%er'$here these t$o tender( *enerous ,o%ers"#

#3ou are in the ri*ht(# said the Gin* of !etica7

#ut 'our return to !a',on is not so eas' as 'ou

ima*ine" I recei%e dai,' inte,,i*ence from that coun4

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tr' ' T'rian shi)s( and m' Pa,estine anGers( $ho

corres)ond $ith a,, the nations of the earth" The

)eo),e are a,, in arms to$ards the Eu)hrates and the

Ni,e" The Gin* of Sc'thia c,aims the inheritance of

his $ife( at the head of three hundred thousand $ar4

riors on horseacG" The Gin*s of E*')t and India

are a,so ,a'in* $aste the anGs of the Ti*ris and the

Eu)hrates( each at the head of three thousand men(

to re%en*e themse,%es for ein* ,au*hed at" The

Gin* of Ethio)ia is ra%a*in* E*')t $ith three hun4

@>= The Princess of !a',on"

dred thousand men $hi,e the Gin* of E*')t is asent

from his countr'" And the Gin* of !a',on has as

'et on,' si? hundred thousand men to defend him4

se,f"

#I acGno$,ed*e to 'ou(# continued the Gin*(

#$hen I hear of those )rodi*ious armies $hich are

disemo*ued from the East( and their astonishin*

ma*nicence7 $hen I com)are them to m' triQin*

odies of t$ent' or thirt' thousand so,diers( $hich

it is so dicu,t to c,othe and feed( I am inc,ined to

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thinG the eastern e?isted ,on* efore the $estern

hemis)here" It seems as if $e s)run* on,' 'esterda'

from chaos and ararit'"#

#Sire(# said Ama2an( #the ,ast comers freuent,'

outstri) those $ho rst e*an the career" It is

thou*ht in m' countr' that man $as rst created in

India 7 ut of this I am not certain"#

#And(# said the Gin* of !etica to the )hoeni?(

#$hat do 'ou thinG#

#Sire(# re),ied the )hoeni?( #I am as 'et too

'oun* to ha%e an' Gno$,ed*e concernin* antiuit'"

I ha%e ,i%ed on,' aout t$ent'4se%en thousand 'ears 7

ut m' father( $ho had ,i%ed %e times that a*e( to,d

me he had ,earned from his father that the eastern

countr' had a,$a's een more )o)u,ous and rich

than the others" It had een transmitted to him

from his ancestors that the *eneration of a,, anima,s

had e*un u)on the anGs of the an*es" For m'

)art(# said he( #I ha%e not the %anit' to e of this

o)inion" I cannot e,ie%e that the fo?es of A,ion(

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 The Princess of !a',on" @>;

the marmots of the A,)s and the $o,%es of au, are

descended from m' countr'" In the ,iGe manner I

do not e,ie%e that the rs and oaGs of 'our countr'

descended from the )a,m and cocoa trees of India"#

#!ut $hence are $e descended( then# said the

Gin*"

#I do not Gno$(# said the )hoeni? 7 #a,, I $ant to

Gno$ is( $hither the eautifu, )rincess of !a',on

and m' dear Ama2an ma' re)air #

#I %er' much uestion(# said the Gin*( #$hether

$ith his t$o hundred unicorns he $i,, e a,e to de4

stro' so man' armies of three hundred thousand

men each"#

#Wh' not # said Ama2an"

 The Gin* of !etica fe,t the force of this su,ime

uestion( #Wh' not# ut he ima*ined su,imit'

a,one $as not sucient a*ainst innumera,e armies"

#I ad%ise 'ou(# said he( #to seeG the Gin* of

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Ethio)ia" I am re,ated to that ,acG )rince throu*h

m' Pa,estines" I $i,, *i%e 'ou ,etters of recommen4

dation to him" As he is at enmit' $ith the Gin* of

E*')t( he $i,, e ut too ha))' to e stren*thened

' 'our a,,iance" I can assist 'ou $ith t$o thousand

soer( ra%e men 7 and it $i,, de)end u)on 'ourse,f

to en*a*e as man' more of the )eo),e $ho reside( or

rather sGi)( aout the foot of the P'renees( and $ho

are ca,,ed Vasues or Vascons" Send one of 'our

$arriors u)on a unicorn( $ith a fe$ diamonds"

 There is not a Vascon that $i,, not uit the cast,e(

that is the thatched cotta*e of his father( to ser%e

@>@ The Princess of !a',on"

'ou" The' are indefati*a,e( coura*eous( and a*ree4

a,e 7 and $hi,e 'ou $ait their arri%a,( $e $i,, *i%e

'ou festi%a,s( and )re)are 'our shi)s" I cannot too

much acGno$,ed*e the ser%ice 'ou ha%e done me"#

Ama2an rea,i2ed the ha))iness of ha%in* reco%4

ered Formosanta( and enHo'ed in tranui,,it' her con4

%ersation( and a,, the charms of reconci,ed ,o%e(

$hich are a,most eua, to a *ro$in* )assion"

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A troo) of )roud( Ho'ous Vascons soon arri%ed(

dancin* a tamourin" The hau*ht' and *ra%e !eti4

can troo)s $ere no$ read'" The o,d sunurned Gin*

tender,' emraced the t$o ,o%ers" &e sent *reat

uantities of arms( eds( chests( oards( ,acG c,othes(

onions( shee)( fo$,s( Qour( and )articu,ar,' *ar,ic(

en oard the shi)s( and $ished them a ha))' %o'4

a*e( in%aria,e ,o%e( and man' %ictories"

Proud Cartha*e $as not then a sea)ort" There

$ere at that time on,' a fe$ Numidians there( $ho

dried sh in the sun" The' coasted a,on* !i2acenes(

the S'rthes( the ferti,e anGs $here since arose C'4

rene and the *reat Chersonese"

 The' at ,en*th arri%ed to$ards the rst mouth of

the sacred Ni,e" It $as at the e?tremit' of this fer4

ti,e ,and that the shi)s of a,, commercia, nations

$ere a,read' recei%ed in the )ort of Cano)e( $ith4

out Gno$in* $hether the *od Cano)e had founded

this )ort( or $hether the inhaitants had manufac4

tured the *od $hether the star Cano)e had *i%en its

name to the cit'( or $hether the cit' had esto$ed

it u)on the star" A,, that $as Gno$n of this matter

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 The Princess of !a',on" @>

$as that the cit' and the star $ere oth %er' ancient 7

and this is a,, that can e Gno$n of the ori*in of

thin*s( of $hatsoe%er nature the' ma' e"

It $as here that the Gin* of Ethio)ia( ha%in* ra%4

a*ed a,, E*')t( sa$ the in%inci,e Ama2an and the

adora,e Formosanta come on shore" &e tooG one

for the *od of $ar( and the other for the *oddess of

eaut'" Ama2an )resented to him the ,etter of rec4

ommendation from the Gin* of S)ain" The Gin* of

Ethio)ia immediate,' entertained them $ith some

admira,e festi%a,s( accordin* to the indis)ensa,e

custom of heroic times" The' then conferred aout

their e?)edition to e?terminate the three hundred

thousand men of the Gin* of E*')t( the three hun4

dred thousand of the em)eror of the Indies( and the

three hundred thousand of the *reat Ghan of the

Sc'thians( $ho ,aid sie*e to the immense( )roud(

%o,u)tuous cit' of !a',on"

 The t$o hundred S)aniards $hom Ama2an had

rou*ht $ith him said that the' had nothin* to do

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$ith the Gin* of Ethio)ia+s succorin* !a',on 7 that

it $as sucient their Gin* had ordered them to *o

and de,i%er it 7 and that the' $ere formida,e enou*h

for this e?)edition"

 The Vascons said the' had )erformed man' other

e?),oits 7 that the' $ou,d a,one defeat the E*')tians(

the Indians( and the Sc'thians 7 and that the' $ou,d

not march un,ess the S)aniards $ere ),aced in the

rear4*uard"

 The t$o hundred an*arids cou,d not refrain

@> The Princess of !a',on"

from ,au*hin* at the )retensions of their a,,ies( and

the' maintained that $ith on,' one hundred uni4

corns( the' cou,d )ut to Qi*ht a,, the Gin*s of the

earth" The eautifu, Formosanta a))eased them '

her )rudence( and ' enchantin* discourse" Ama2an

introduced to the ,acG monarch his an*arids( his

unicorns( his S)aniards( his Vascons( and his eau4

tifu, ird"

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E%er'thin* $as soon read' to march ' 1em)his(

&e,io)o,is( Arsinoe( Petra( Artemitis( Sora( and A)a4

mens( to attacG the three Gin*s( and to )rosecute this

memora,e $ar( efore $hich a,, the $ars e%er $a*ed

' man sinG into insi*nicance"

Fame $ith her hundred ton*ues has )roc,aimed

the %ictories Ama2an *ained o%er the three Gin*s(

$ith his S)aniards( his Vascons( and his unicorns"

&e restored the eautifu, Formosanta to her father"

&e set at ,iert' a,, his mistress+ train( $hom the

Gin* of E*')t had reduced to s,a%er'" The *reat

Ghan of the Sc'thians dec,ared himse,f his %assa,7

and his marria*e $as conrmed $ith Princess A,dea"

 The in%inci,e and *enerous Ama2an $as acGno$,4

ed*ed the heir to the Gin*dom of !a',on( and en4

tered the cit' in trium)h $ith the )hoeni?( in the

)resence of a hundred triutar' Gin*s" The festi%a,

of his marria*e far sur)assed that $hich Kin* !e,us

had *i%en" The u,, A)is $as ser%ed u) roasted at

ta,e" The Gin*s of E*')t and India $ere cu)4

earers to the married )air( and the nu)tia,s $ere ce,4

erated ' %e hundred i,,ustrious )oets of !a',on"

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 The Princess of !a',on" @>B

Oh( 1uses dau*hters of hea%en( $ho are con4

stant,' in%oGed at the e*innin* of a $orG( I on,'

im),ore 'ou at the end" It is need,ess to re)roach

me $ith sa'in* *race( $ithout ha%in* said enedi4

cite" !ut( 1uses 'ou $i,, not e ,ess m' )atron4

esses" Ins)ire( I )ra' 'ou( the #Ecc,esiastica, a24

etteer(# the i,,ustrious orator of the #Con%u,sion4

naires(# to sa' e%er'thin* )ossi,e a*ainst #The ;

Princess of !a',on(# in order that the $orG ma'

e condemned ' the Soronne( and( therefore(

e uni%ersa,,' read" And )re%ent( I eseech 'ou(

O chaste and no,e 1uses( an' su)),ementa, scri4

,ers s)oi,in*( ' their fa,es( the truths I ha%e

tau*ht morta,s in this faithfu, narrati%e"

 T&E WORLD AS IT OES"

Amon* the *enii $ho )reside o%er the em)ires of

the earth( Ithurie, he,d one of the rst ranGs( and

had the de)artment of 0))er Asia" &e one mornin*

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descended into the aode of !aouc( the Sc'thian(

$ho d$e,t on the anGs of the O?us( and said to him .

#!aouc( the fo,,ies and %ices of the Persians ha%e

dra$n u)on them our indi*nation" 3esterda' an

assem,' of the *enii of 0))er Asia $as he,d( to

consider $hether $e $ou,d chastise Perse)o,is or

destro' it entire,'" o to that cit' 7 e?amine e%er'4

thin* 7 return and *i%e me a faithfu, account 7 and(

accordin* to th' re)ort( I $i,, then determine

$hether to correct or e?tir)ate the inhaitants"#

#!ut( m' ,ord(# said !aouc $ith *reat humi,it'(

#I ha%e ne%er een in Persia( nor do I Gno$ a sin*,e

)erson in that countr'"#

#So much the etter(# said the an*e,( #thou $i,t

e the more im)artia, . thou hast recei%ed from

hea%en the s)irit of discernment( to $hich I no$ add

the )o$er of ins)irin* condence" o( see( hear( o4

ser%e( and fear nothin*" Thou sha,t e%er'$here meet

$ith a fa%ora,e rece)tion"#

!aouc mounted his came,( and set out $ith his

ser%ants" After ha%in* tra%e,,ed some da's( he met(

@>>

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @>

near the ),ains of Senaar( the Persian arm'( $hich

$as *oin* to attacG the forces of India" &e rst

addressed himse,f to a so,dier( $hom he found at a

distance from the main arm'( and asGed him $hat

$as the occasion of the $ar"

#!' a,, the *ods(# said the so,dier( #I Gno$ noth4

in* of the matter" It is none of m' usiness" 1'

trade is to Gi,, and to e Gi,,ed( to *et a ,i%e,ihood"

It is of no conseuence to me $hom I ser%e" To4

morro$( )erha)s( I ma' *o o%er to the Indian cam) 7

for it is said that the' *i%e their so,diers near,' ha,f

a co))er drachma a da' more than $e ha%e in this

cursed ser%ice of Persia" If thou desirest to Gno$

$h' $e *ht( s)eaG to m' ca)tain"#

!aouc( ha%in* *i%en the so,dier a sma,, )resent(

entered the cam)" &e soon ecame acuainted $ith

the ca)tain( and asGed him the cause of the $ar"

#&o$ canst thou ima*ine that I shou,d Gno$ it#

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said the ca)tain( #or of $hat im)ortance is it to me

I /i%e aout t$o hundred ,ea*ues from Perse)o,is.

I hear that $ar is dec,ared7 I instant,' ,ea%e m'

fami,'( and( ha%in* nothin* e,se to do( *o( accordin*

to our custom( to maGe m' fortune or to fa,, ' a

*,orious death"#

#!ut are not th' com)anions(# said !aouc( #a

,itt,e etter informed than thee#

#No+ said the ocer( #there are none ut our

)rinci)a, satra)s that Gno$ the true cause of our cut4

tin* one another+s throats"#

!aouc( strucG $ith astonishment( introduced

@>M The Wor,d as it oes"

himse,f to the *enera,s( and soon ecame fami,iar,'

acuainted $ith them" At ,ast one of them said .

#The cause of this $ar( $hich for t$ent' 'ears

)ast hath deso,ated Asia( s)ran* ori*ina,,' from a

uarre, et$een a eunuch e,on*in* to one of the

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concuines of the *reat Gin* of Persia( and the c,erG

of a factor' e,on*in* to the *reat Gin* of India"

 The dis)ute $as aout a c,aim $hich amounted

near,' to the thirtieth )art of a daric" Our rst min4

ister( and the re)resentati%e of India( maintained the

ri*hts of their res)ecti%e masters $ith ecomin* di*4

nit'" The dis)ute *re$ $arm" !oth )arties sent

into the e,d an arm' of a mi,,ion of so,diers" This

arm' must e recruited e%er' 'ear $ith u)$ards of

four hundred thousand men" 1assacres( urnin*

of houses( ruin and de%astation( are dai,' mu,ti),ied 7

the uni%erse suers 7 and their mutua, animosit' sti,,

continues" The rst ministers of the t$o nations

freuent,' )rotest that the' ha%e nothin* in %ie$

ut the ha))iness of manGind7 and e%er' )rotesta4

tion is attended $ith the destruction of a to$n( or the

deso,ation of a )ro%ince"#

Ne?t da'( on a re)ort ein* s)read that )eace

$as *oin* to e conc,uded( the Persian and Indian

*enera,s made haste to come to an en*a*ement" The

att,e $as ,on* and ,ood'" !aouc ehe,d e%er'

crime( and e%er' aomination" &e $as $itness to

the arts and strata*ems of the )rinci)a, satra)s( $ho

did a,, that ,a' in their )o$er to e?)ose their *enera,

to the dis*race of a defeat" &e sa$ ocers Gi,,ed

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @><

' their o$n troo)s( and so,diers stain* their a,4

read' e?)irin* comrades in order to stri) them of a

fe$ ,ood' *arments torn and co%ered $ith dirt"

&e entered the hos)ita,s to $hich the' $ere con%e'4

in* the $ounded( most of $hom died throu*h the

inhuman ne*,i*ence of those $ho $ere $e,, )aid '

the Gin* of Persia to assist these unha))' men"

#Are these men(# cried !aouc( #or are the' $i,d

easts Ah I ),ain,' see that Perse)o,is $i,, e

destro'ed"#

Fu,, of this thou*ht( he $ent o%er to the cam) of

the Indians( $here( accordin* to the )rediction of

the *enii( he $as as $e,, recei%ed as in that of the

Persians7 ut he sa$ there the same crimes $hich

had a,read' ,,ed him $ith horror"

#Oh # said he to himse,f( #if the an*e, Ithurie,

shou,d e?terminate the Persians( the an*e, of India

must certain,' destro' the Indians"#

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!ut ein* after$ard more )articu,ar,' informed

of a,, that )assed in oth armies( he heard of such acts

of *enerosit'( humanit'( and *reatness of sou, as at

once sur)rised and charmed him"

#0naccounta,e morta,s as 'e are(# cried he(

#ho$ can 'ou thus unite so much aseness and so

much *randeur( so man' %irtues and so man' %ices #

1ean$hi,e the )eace $as )roc,aimed( and the *en4

era,s of the t$o armies( neither of $hom had *ained

a com),ete %ictor'( ut $ho( for their o$n )ri%ate

interest( had shed the ,ood of so man' of their fe,4

,o$4creatures( $ent to so,icit their courts for re4

@= The Wor,d as it oes"

$ards" The )eace $as ce,erated in )u,ic $ritin*s

$hich announced the return of %irtue and ha))iness

to the earth"

#od e )raised(# said !aouc( #Perse)o,is $i,,

no$ e the aode of s)ot,ess innocence( and $i,, not

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e destro'ed( as the crue, *enii intended" Let us

haste $ithout de,a' to this ca)ita, of Asia"#

&e entered that immense cit' ' the ancient *ate(

$hich $as entire,' ararous( and oended the e'e

' its disa*reea,e rusticit'" A,, that )art of the

to$n sa%ored of the time $hen it $as ui,t 7 for( not4

$ithstandin* the ostinac' of men in )raisin* ancient

at the e?)ense of modern times( it must e o$ned

that the rst essa's in e%er' art are rude and un4

nished"

!aouc min*,ed in a cro$d of )eo),e com)osed of

the most i*norant( dirt'( and deformed of oth se?es(

$ho $ere thron*in* $ith a stu)id air into a ,ar*e and

*,oom' enc,osure" !' the constant hum7 ' the

*estures of the )eo),e7 ' the mone' $hich some

)ersons *a%e to others for the ,iert' of sittin* do$n(

he ima*ined that he $as in a marGet $here chairs

$ere so,d. ut oser%in* se%era, $omen fa,, do$n

on their Gnees $ith an a))earance of ,ooGin* direct4

,' efore them( $hi,e in rea,it' the' $ere ,eerin* at

the men ' their sides( he $as soon con%inced that

he $as in a tem),e" Shri,,( hoarse( sa%a*e( and dis4

cordant %oices made the %au,t re4echo $ith i,,4ar4

ticu,ated sounds( that )roduced the same eect as

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the ra'in* of asses( $hen( in the ),ains of Picta%ia(

 The Wor,d as it oes" @;

the' ans$er the cornet that ca,,s them to*ether" &e

sto))ed his ears7 ut he $as read' to shut his

mouth and ho,d his nose $hen he sa$ se%era, ,aor4

ers enter into the tem),e $ith )icGs and s)ades( $ho

remo%ed a ,ar*e stone and thre$ u) the earth on

oth sides( from $hence e?ha,ed a )esti,entia, %a)or"

At ,ast some others a))roached( de)osited a dead

od' in the o)enin*( and re),aced the stone u)on

it"#

#What# cried !aouc( #do these )eo),e ur'

their dead in the ),ace $here the' adore the Deit'

What are their tem),es )a%ed $ith carcasses I

am no ,on*er sur)rised at those )esti,entia, diseases

that freuent,' de)o)u,ate Perse)o,is" The )utre4

faction of the dead( and the infected reath of such

numers of the ,i%in*( assem,ed and cro$ded to4

*ether in the same ),ace( are sucient to )oison the

$ho,e terrestria, *,oe" Oh $hat an aomina,e cit'

is Perse)o,is The an*e,s )roa,' intend to destro'

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it in order to ui,d a more eautifu, one in its ),ace(

and to )eo),e it $ith inhaitants $ho are more %ir4

tuous and etter sin*ers" Pro%idence ma' ha%e its

reasons for so doin* 7 to its dis)osa, ,et us ,ea%e a,,

future e%ents"#

1ean$hi,e the sun a))roached his meridian

hei*ht" !aouc $as to dine at the other end of the

cit' $ith a ,ad' for $hom her husand( an ocer in

the arm'( had *i%en him some ,etters( ut he rst

tooG se%era, turns in Perse)o,is( $here he sa$ other

tem),es( etter ui,t and more rich,' adorned( ,,ed

 The Wor,d as it oes"

$ith a )o,ite audience( and resoundin* $ith harmo4

nious music" &e ehe,d )u,ic fountains( $hich(

thou*h i,,4),aced( strucG the e'e ' their eaut'7

suares $here the est Gin*s that had *o%erned Per4

sia seemed to reathe in ron2e( and others $here he

heard the )eo),e cr'in* out .

#When sha,, $e see our e,o%ed master#

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&e admired the ma*nicent rid*es ui,t o%er the

ri%er7 the su)er and commodious ua's7 the )a,4

aces raised on oth sides7 and an immense house(

$here thousands of o,d so,diers( co%ered $ith scars

and cro$ned $ith %ictor'( oered their dai,' )raises

to the *od of armies" At ,ast he entered the house

of the ,ad'( $ho( $ith a set of fashiona,e )eo),e(

$aited his com)an' to dinner" The house $as neat

and e,e*ant( the re)ast de,icious( the ,ad' 'oun*(

eautifu,( $itt'( and en*a*in*( and the com)an'

$orth' of her( and !aouc e%er' moment said to

himse,f .

#The an*e, Ithurie, has ,itt,e re*ard for the $or,d

or he $ou,d ne%er thinG of destro'in* such a charm4

in* cit'"#

In the meantime he oser%ed that the ,ad'( $ho

had e*un ' tender,' asGin* ne$s aout her hus4

and( s)oGe more tender,' to a 'oun* ma*i to$ard

the conc,usion of the re)ast" &e sa$ a ma*istrate(

$ho( in )resence of his $ife( )aid his court $ith

*reat %i%acit' to a $ido$( $hi,e the indu,*ent $ido$

he,d out her hand to a 'oun* citi2en remarGa,e

for his modest' and *racefu, a))earance"

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @

!aouc then e*an to fear that the *enius Ithurie,

had ut too much reason for destro'in* Perse)o,is"

 The ta,ent he )ossessed of *ainin* condence ,et

him that same da' into a,, the secrets of the ,ad'"

She confessed to him her aection for the 'oun*

ma*i( and assured him that in a,, the houses in Per4

se)o,is he $ou,d meet $ith simi,ar e?am),es of at4

tachment" !aouc conc,uded that such a societ'

cou,d not )ossi,' sur%i%e7 that Hea,ous'( discord(

and %en*eance must deso,ate e%er' house 7 that tears

and ,ood must e dai,' shed7 and( in ne( that

Ithurie, $ou,d do $e,, to destro' immediate,' a cit'

aandoned to continua, disasters"

Such $ere the *,oom' ideas that )ossessed his

mind( $hen a *ra%e man in a ,acG *o$n a))eared at

the *ate and hum,' e**ed to s)eaG to the 'oun*

ma*istrate" This stri),in*( $ithout risin* or taGin*

the ,east notice of the o,d *ent,eman( *a%e him some

)a)ers $ith a hau*ht' and care,ess air( and then dis4

missed him" !aouc asGed $ho this man $as" The

mistress of the house said to him in a ,o$ %oice .

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#&e is one of the est ad%ocates in the cit'( and

hath studied the ,a$ these ft' 'ears" The other(

$ho is ut t$ent'4%e 'ears of a*e( and has on,'

een a satra) of the ,a$ for t$o da's( hath ordered

him to maGe an e?tract of a )rocess he is *oin* to

determine( thou*h he has not as 'et e?amined it"#

#This *idd' 'outh acts $ise,'(# said !aouc( #in

asGin* counse, of an o,d man" !ut $h' is not the

o,d man himse,f the Hud*e#

Vo," ;M

@ The Wor,d as it oes"

#Thou art sure,' in Hest(# said the'7 #those $ho

ha%e *ro$n o,d in ,aorious and inferior )osts are

ne%er raised to ),aces of di*nit'" This 'oun* man

has a *reat )ost ecause his father is rich and the

ri*ht of dis)ensin* Hustice is )urchased here ,iGe a

farm"#

#O unha))' cit'# cried !aouc( #this is sure,'

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the hei*ht of anarch' and confusion" Those $ho

ha%e thus )urchased the ri*ht of Hud*in* $i,, dout4

,ess se,, their Hud*ments 7 nothin* do I see here ut

an a'ss of iniuit'#

Whi,e he $as thus e?)ressin* his *rief and sur4

)rise( a 'oun* $arrior( $ho that %er' da' had re4

turned from the arm'( said to him .

#Wh' $ou,dst thou not ha%e seats in the courts

of Hustice oered for sa,e I m'se,f )urchased the

ri*ht of ra%in* death at the head of t$o thousand

men $ho are under m' command" It has this 'ear

cost me fort' darics of *o,d to ,ie on the earth

thirt' ni*hts successi%e,' in a red dress( and at ,ast

to recei%e t$o $ounds $ith an arro$( of $hich I sti,,

fee, the smart" If I ruin m'se,f to ser%e the em)eror

of Persia( $hom I ne%er sa$( the satra) of the ,a$

ma' $e,, )a' somethin* for enHo'in* the ),easure of

*i%in* audience to ),eaders"#

!aouc $as ,,ed $ith indi*nation( and cou,d not

he,) condemnin* a countr' $here the hi*hest )osts

in the arm' and the ,a$ $ere e?)osed for sa,e" &e

at once conc,uded that the inhaitants must e en4

tire,' i*norant of the art of $ar and the ,a$s of

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @B

euit' 7 and that( thou*h Ithurie, shou,d not destro'

them( the' must soon e ruined ' their detesta,e

administration"

&e $as sti,, further conrmed in his ad o)inion

' the arri%a, of a fat man( $ho( after sa,utin* a,,

the com)an' $ith *reat fami,iarit'( $ent u) to the

'oun* ocer and said .

#I can on,' ,end thee ft' thousand darics of *o,d 7

for indeed the ta?es of the em)ire ha%e this 'ear

rou*ht me in ut three hundred thousand"#

!aouc inuired into the character of this man

$ho com),ained of ha%in* *ained so ,itt,e( and $as

informed that in Perse)o,is there $ere fort' ),eeian

Gin*s $ho he,d the em)ire of Persia ' ,ease( and

)aid a sma,, triute to the monarch"

After dinner he $ent into one of the most su)er

tem),es in the cit'( and seated himse,f amidst a cro$d

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of men and $omen $ho had come thither to )ass

a$a' the time" A ma*i a))eared in a machine e,e4

%ated ao%e the heads of the )eo),e( and ta,Ged a

,on* time of %ice and %irtue" &e di%ided into se%era,

)arts $hat needed no di%ision at a,, 7 he )ro%ed

methodica,,' $hat $as sucient,' c,ear( and he

tau*ht $hat e%er'od' Gne$" &e thre$ himse,f

into a )assion $ith *reat com)osure( and $ent a$a'

)ers)irin* and out of reath" The assem,' then

a$oGe and ima*ined the' had een )resent at a %er'

instructi%e discourse" !aouc said.

#This man has done his est to tire t$o or three

hundred of his fe,,o$4citi2ens 7 ut his intention $as

@> The Wor,d as it oes"

*ood( and there is nothin* in this that shou,d occasion

the destruction of Perse)o,is"#

0)on ,ea%in* the assem,' he $as conducted to a

)u,ic entertainment $hich $as e?hiited e%er' da'

in the 'ear" It $as in a Gind of *reat ha,,( at the

end of $hich a))eared a )a,ace" The most eautifu,

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$omen of Perse)o,is and the most considera,e sa4

tra)s $ere ran*ed in order( and formed so ne a

s)ectac,e that !aouc at rst e,ie%ed that this $as

a,, the entertainment" T$o or three )ersons( $ho

seemed to e Gin*s and ueens( soon a))eared in the

%estiu,e of their )a,ace" Their ,an*ua*e $as %er'

dierent from that of the )eo),e7 it $as measured(

harmonious( and su,ime" Nood' s,e)t" The audi4

ence Ge)t a )rofound si,ence $hich $as on,' inter4

ru)ted ' e?)ressions of sensii,it' and admiration"

 The dut' of Gin*s( the ,o%e of %irtue( and the dan4

*ers arisin* from unrid,ed )assions $ere a,, de4

scried ' such ,i%e,' and aectin* stroGes that

!aouc shed tears" &e douted not ut that these

heroes and heroines( these Gin*s and ueens $hom

he had Hust heard( $ere the )reachers of the em)ire 7

he e%en )ur)osed to en*a*e Ithurie, to come and

hear them( ein* condent that such a s)ectac,e

$ou,d fore%er reconci,e him to the cit'"

As soon as the entertainment $as nished( he re4

so,%ed to %isit the )rinci)a, ueen( $ho had recom4

mended such )ure and no,e mora,s in the )a,ace"

&e desired to e introduced to her maHest'( and

$as ,ed u) a narro$ staircase to an i,,4furnished

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @

a)artment in the second stor'( $here he found a

$oman in a mean dress( $ho said to him $ith a no,e

and )athetic air.

#This em),o'ment does not aord me a sucient

maintenance" I $ant mone'( and $ithout mone'

there is no comfort"#

!aouc *a%e her a hundred darics of *o,d( sa'4

in*.

#&ad there een no other e%i, in the cit' ut this(

Ithurie, $ou,d ha%e een to ,ame for ein* so much

oended"#

From thence he $ent to s)end the e%enin* at the

house of a tradesman $ho dea,t in ma*nicent triQes"

&e $as conducted thither ' a man of sense( $ith

$hom he had contracted an acuaintance" &e ou*ht

$hate%er ),eased his fanc'7 and the to' man $ith

*reat )o,iteness so,d him e%er'thin* for more than

it $as $orth" On his return home his friends

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sho$ed him ho$ much he had een cheated" !aouc

set do$n the name of the tradesman in his )ocGet4

ooG( in order to )oint him out to Ithurie, as an oHect

of )ecu,iar %en*eance on the da' $hen the cit'

shou,d e )unished" As he $as $ritin*( he heard

someod' GnocG at the door7 this $as the to'man

himse,f( $ho came to restore him his )urse( $hich

he had ,eft ' mistaGe on the counter"

#&o$ canst thou(# cried !aouc( #e so *enerous

and faithfu,( $hen thou hast had the assurance to

se,, me these triQes for four times their %a,ue #

#There is not a tradesman(# re),ied the merchant(

@M The Wor,d as it oes"

#of e%er so ,itt,e note in the cit'( that $ou,d not ha%e

returned thee th' )urse7 ut $hoe%er said that I

so,d thee these triQes for four times their %a,ue is

*reat,' mistaGen7 I so,d them for ten times their

%a,ue 7 and this is so true( that $ert thou to se,, them

a*ain in a month hence( thou $ou,dst not *et e%en

this tenth )art" !ut nothin* is more Hust" It is the

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%aria,e fancies of men that set a %a,ue on these

au,es7 it is this fanc' that maintains a hundred

$orGmen $hom I em),o' 7 it is this that *i%es me a

ne house and a handsome chariot and horses 7 it is

this( in ne( that e?cites industr'( encoura*es taste(

)romotes circu,ation( and )roduces aundance"

#I se,, the same triQes to the nei*horin* nation

at a much hi*her rate than I ha%e so,d them to thee(

and ' these means I am usefu, to the em)ire"#

!aouc( after ha%in* reQected a moment( erased

the tradesman+s name from his ta,ets"

!aouc( not Gno$in* as 'et $hat to thinG of Per4

se)o,is( reso,%ed to %isit the ma*i and the men of

,etters7 for( as the one studied $isdom and the other

re,i*ion( he ho)ed that the' in conHunction $ou,d

otain merc' for the rest of the )eo),e" Accordin*,'(

he $ent ne?t mornin* into a co,,e*e of ma*i" The

archimandrite confessed to him that he had a hun4

dred thousand cro$ns a 'ear for ha%in* taGen the

%o$ of )o%ert'( and that he enHo'ed a %er' e?tensi%e

em)ire in %irtue of his %o$ of humi,it'7 after $hich

he ,eft him $ith an inferior rother( $ho did him the

honors of the ),ace"

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @<

Whi,e the rother $as sho$in* him the ma*ni4

cence of this house of )enitence( a re)ort $as s)read

aroad that !aouc $as come to reform a,, these

houses" &e immediate,' recei%ed )etitions from

each of them( the sustance of $hich $as( #Preser%e

us and destro' a,, the rest"# On hearin* their

a)o,o*ies( a,, these societies $ere aso,ute,' neces4

sar' 7 on hearin* their mutua, accusations( the' a,,

deser%ed to e ao,ished" &e $as sur)rised to nd

that a,, the memers of these societies $ere so e?4

treme,' desirous of edif'in* the $or,d that the'

$ished to ha%e it entire,' under their dominion"

Soon after a ,itt,e man a))eared( $ho $as a demi4

ma*i( and $ho said to him .

#I ),ain,' see that the $orG is *oin* to e accom4

),ished( for 9erdust is returned to earth( and the

,itt,e *ir,s )ro)hes'( )inchin* and $hi))in* them4

se,%es" We therefore im),ore th' )rotection a*ainst

the *reat ,ama"#

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#What# said !aouc( #a*ainst the ro'a, )onti(

$ho resides at Tiet#

#3es( a*ainst him himse,f"#

#What 'ou are then maGin* $ar u)on him( and

raisin* armies#

#No( ut he sa's that man is a free a*ent( and

$e den' it" We ha%e $ritten se%era, )am)h,ets

a*ainst him( $hich he ne%er read" &ard,' has he

heard our name mentioned" &e has on,' con4

demned us in the same manner as a man orders the

trees in his *arden to e c,eared from cater)i,,ars"#

@M= The Wor,d as it oes"

!aouc $as incensed at the fo,,' of these men

$ho made )rofession of $isdom 7 and at the in4

tri*ues of those $ho had renounced the $or,d 7 and

at the amition( )ride( and a%arice of such as tau*ht

humi,it' and a disinterested s)irit 7 from a,, $hich he

conc,uded that Ithurie, had *ood reason to destro'

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the $ho,e race"

On his return home( he sent for some ne$ ooGs

to a,,e%iate his *rief( and in order to e?hi,arate his

s)irits( in%ited some men of ,etters to dine $ith him 7

$hen( ,iGe $as)s attracted ' a )ot of hone'( there

came t$ice as man' as he desired" These )arasites

$ere eua,,' ea*er to eat and to s)eaG 7 the' )raised

t$o sorts of )ersons( the dead and themse,%es 7 ut

none of their contem)oraries( e?ce)t the master of

the house" If an' of them ha))ened to dro) a smart

and $itt' e?)ression( the rest cast do$n their e'es

and it their ,i)s out of mere %e?ation that it had not

een said ' themse,%es" The' had ,ess dissimu,a4

tion than the ma*i( ecause the' had not such *rand

oHects of amition" Each of them eha%ed at once

$ith a,, the meanness of a %a,et and a,, the di*nit'

of a *reat man" The' said to each other+s face the

most insu,tin* thin*s( $hich the' tooG for stroGes of

$it" The' had some Gno$,ed*e of the desi*n of

!aouc+s commission7 one of them entreated him

in a ,o$ %oice to e?tir)ate an author $ho had not

)raised him sucient,' aout %e 'ears efore 7 an4

other reuested the ruin of a citi2en $ho had ne%er

,au*hed at his comedies7 and the third demanded

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @M;

the destruction of the academ' ecause he had not

een a,e to *et admitted into it" The re)ast ein*

ended( each of them de)arted ' himse,f7 for in

the $ho,e cro$d there $ere not t$o men that cou,d

endure the com)an' or con%ersation of each other(

e?ce)t at the houses of the rich( $ho in%ited them

to their ta,es" !aouc thou*ht that it $ou,d e no

*reat ,oss to the )u,ic if a,, these %ermin $ere de4

stro'ed in the *enera, catastro)he"

&a%in* no$ *ot rid of these men of ,etters( he

e*an to read some ne$ ooGs( $here he disco%ered

the true s)irit ' $hich his *uests had een actu4

ated" &e oser%ed $ith )articu,ar indi*nation those

s,anderous *a2ettes( those archi%es of ad taste( dic4

tated ' en%'( aseness( and hun*er 7 those un*en4

erous satires( $here the %u,ture is treated $ith

,enit' and the do%e torn in )ieces7 and those dr'

and insi)id romances( ,,ed $ith characters of $o4

men to $hom the author $as an utter stran*er"

A,, these detesta,e $ritin*s he committed to the

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Qames( and $ent to )ass the e%enin* in $a,Gin*"

In this e?cursion he $as introduced to an o,d man

)ossessed of *reat ,earnin*( $ho had not come to

increase the numer of his )arasites" This man of

,etters a,$a's Qed from cro$ds 7 he understood hu4

man nature( a%ai,ed himse,f of his Gno$,ed*e( and

im)arted it to others $ith *reat discretion" !aouc

to,d him ho$ much he $as *rie%ed at $hat he had

seen and read"

#Thou hast read %er' des)ica,e )erformances(#

@M@ The Wor,d as it oes"

said the man of ,etters7 #ut in a,, times( in a,, coun4

tries( and in a,, Ginds of ,iterature( the ad s$arm

and the *ood are rare" Thou hast recei%ed into th'

house the %er' dre*s of )edantr'" In a,, )rofes4

sions( those $ho are ,east $orth' of a))earin* are

a,$a's sure to )resent themse,%es $ith the *reatest

im)udence" The tru,' $ise ,i%e amon* themse,%es

in retirement and tranui,,it'7 and $e ha%e sti,,

some men and some ooGs that are $orth' of th'

attention"#

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Whi,e he $as thus s)eaGin*( the' $ere Hoined '

another man of ,etters7 and the con%ersation e4

came so entertainin* and instructi%e( so e,e%ated

ao%e %u,*ar )reHudices( and so conforma,e to %ir4

tue( that !aouc acGno$,ed*ed he had ne%er heard

the ,iGe"

#These are men(# said he to himse,f( #$hom the

an*e, Ithurie, $i,, not )resume to touch( or he must

e a merci,ess ein* indeed"#

 Thou*h reconci,ed to men of ,etters( he $as sti,,

enra*ed a*ainst the rest of the nation"

#Thou art a stran*er(# said the Hudicious )erson

$ho $as ta,Gin* to him7 #auses )resent them4

se,%es to th' e'es in cro$ds( $hi,e the *ood( $hich

,ies concea,ed( and $hich is e%en sometimes the

resu,t of these %er' auses( esca)es th' oser%a4

tion"#

&e then ,earned that amon* men of ,etters there

$ere some $ho $ere free from en%' 7 and that e%en

amon* the ma*i themse,%es there $ere some men

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @M

of %irtue" In ne( he conc,uded that these *reat

odies( $hich ' their mutua, shocGs seemed to

threaten their common ruin( $ere at ottom %er'

sa,utar' institutions 7 that each societ' of ma*i $as

a checG u)on its ri%a,s 7 and that thou*h these ri%a,s

mi*ht dier in some s)ecu,ati%e )oints( the' a,,

tau*ht the same mora,s( instructed the )eo),e( and

,i%ed in suHection to the ,a$s7 not un,iGe to those

)rece)tors $ho $atch o%er the heir of a fami,'

$hi,e the master of the house $atches o%er them"

&e con%ersed $ith se%era, of these ma*i( and found

them )ossessed of e?a,ted sou,s" &e ,iGe$ise

,earned that e%en amon* the foo,s $ho )retended

to maGe $ar on the *reat ,ama there had een some

men of distin*uished merit7 and from a,, these )ar4

ticu,ars he conHectured that it mi*ht e $ith the

manners of Perse)o,is as it $as $ith the ui,din*s 7

some of $hich mo%ed his )it'( $hi,e others ,,ed

him $ith admiration"

&e said to the man of ,etters.

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#I ),ain,' see that these ma*i( $hom I at rst im4

a*ined to e so dan*erous( are in rea,it' e?treme,'

usefu,( es)ecia,,' $hen a $ise *o%ernment hinders

them from renderin* themse,%es too necessar' 7 ut

thou $i,t at ,east acGno$,ed*e that 'our 'oun*

ma*istrates( $ho )urchase the oce of a Hud*e as

soon as the' can mount a horse( must dis),a' in

their triuna,s the most ridicu,ous im)ertinence and

the most iniuitous )er%erseness" It $ou,d dout4

@M The Wor,d as it oes"

,ess e etter to *i%e these ),aces *ratuitous,' to

those o,d ci%i,ians $ho ha%e s)ent their ,i%es in the

stud' of the ,a$"#

 The man of ,etters re),ied.

#Thou hast seen our arm' efore th' arri%a, at

Perse)o,is7 thou Gno$est that our 'oun* ocers

*ht $ith *reat ra%er'( thou*h the' u' their

)osts 7 )erha)s thou $i,t nd that our 'oun* ma*is4

trates do not *i%e $ron* decisions( thou*h the'

)urchase the ri*ht of dis)ensin* Hustice"#

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&e ,ed him ne?t da' to the *rand triuna,(

$here an aair of *reat im)ortance $as to e de4

cided" The cause $as Gno$n to a,, the $or,d" A,,

the o,d ad%ocates that s)oGe on the suHect $ere

$a%erin* and unsett,ed in their o)inions" The'

uoted a hundred ,a$s( none of $hich $ere a)),i4

ca,e to the uestion" The' considered the matter

in a hundred dierent ,i*hts( ut ne%er in its true

)oint of %ie$" The Hud*es $ere more uicG in their

decisions than the ad%ocates in raisin* douts" The'

$ere unanimous in their sentiments" The' decided

 Hust,'( ecause the' fo,,o$ed the ,i*ht of reason"

 The others reasoned fa,se,' ecause the' on,' con4

su,ted their ooGs"

!aouc conc,uded that the est thin*s freuent,'

arose from auses" &e sa$ the same da' that the

riches of the recei%ers of the )u,ic re%enue( at

$hich he had een so much oended( $ere ca)a,e

of )roducin* an e?ce,,ent eect7 for the em)eror

ha%in* occasion for mone'( he found in an hour '

 The Wor,d as it oes" @MB

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their means $hat he cou,d not ha%e )rocured in

si? months ' the ordinar' methods" &e sa$ that

those *reat c,ouds( s$e,,ed $ith the de$s of the

earth( restored in ),entifu, sho$ers $hat the' had

thence deri%ed" !esides( the chi,dren of these ne$

*ent,emen( $ho $ere freuent,' etter educated

than those of the most ancient fami,ies( $ere some4

times more usefu, memers of societ'( for he $hose

father hath een a *ood accountant ma' easi,' e4

come a *ood Hud*e( a ra%e $arrior( and an a,e

statesman"

!aouc $as insensi,' rou*ht to e?cuse the

a%arice of the farmer of the re%enues( $ho is

rea,it' $as not more a%aricious than other men(

and esides $as e?treme,' necessar'" &e o%er4

,ooGed the fo,,' of those $ho ruined themse,%es in

order to otain a )ost in the ,a$ or arm'( a fo,,'

that )roduces *reat ma*istrates and heroes" &e for4

*a%e the en%' of men of ,etters( amon* $hom there

$ere some that en,i*htened the $or,d7 and he $as

reconci,ed to the amitious and intri*uin* ma*i(

$ho $ere )ossessed of more *reat %irtues than ,itt,e

%ices" !ut he had sti,, man' causes of com),aint"

 The *a,,antries of the ,adies es)ecia,,'( and the fata,

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eects $hich these must necessari,' )roduce( ,,ed

him $ith fear and terror"

As he $as desirous of )r'in* into the characters

of men of e%er' condition( he $ent to $ait on a

minister of state( ut trem,ed a,, the $a'( ,est some

$ife shou,d e assassinated ' her husand in his

@M> The Wor,d as it oes"

)resence" &a%in* arri%ed at the statesman+s( he

$as o,i*ed to remain t$o hours in the antecham4

er efore his name $as sent in( and t$o hours more

after that $as done" In this inter%a, he reso,%ed to

recommend to the an*e, Ithurie, oth the minister

and his inso,ent )orters" The antechamer $as

,,ed $ith ,adies of e%er' ranG( ma*i of a,, co,ors(

 Hud*es( merchants( ocers( and )edants( and a,, of

them com),ained of the minister" The miser and

the usurer said.

#Dout,ess this man ),unders the )ro%inces"#

 The ca)ricious re)roached him $ith cG,eness7

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the %o,u)tuar' said.

#&e thinGs of nothin* ut his ),easure"#

 The factious ho)ed to see him soon ruined ' a

caa,( and the $omen Qattered themse,%es that the'

shou,d soon ha%e a 'oun*er minister"

!aouc heard their con%ersation( and cou,d not

he,) sa'in*.

#This is sure,' a ha))' man 7 he hath a,, his ene4

mies in his antechamer7 he crushes $ith his )o$er

those that en%' his *randeur7 he eho,ds those $ho

detest him *ro%e,,in* at his feet"#

At ,en*th he $as admitted into the )resence4

chamer( $here he sa$ a ,itt,e o,d man endin*

under the $ei*ht of 'ears and usiness( ut sti,,

,i%e,' and fu,, of s)irits"

 The minister $as ),eased $ith !aouc( and to

!aouc he a))eared a man of *reat merit" The

con%ersation ecame interestin*" The minister con4

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @M

fessed that he $as %er' unha))'7 that he )assed for

rich( $hi,e in rea,it' he $as )oor7 that he $as e4

,ie%ed to e a,,4)o$erfu,( and 'et $as constant,'

contradicted 7 that he had o,i*ed none ut a )arce,

of un*ratefu, $retches7 and that( in the course of

fort' 'ears+ ,aor he had hard,' enHo'ed a moment+s

rest" !aouc $as mo%ed $ith his misfortunes( and

thou*ht that if this man had een *ui,t' of some

fau,ts( and Ithurie, had a mind to anish him( he

ou*ht not to cut him o( ut to ,ea%e him in )os4

session of his ),ace"

-------

Whi,e !aouc $as ta,Gin* to the minister( the

eautifu, ,ad' $ith $hom he had dined entered hast4

i,'( her e'es and countenance sho$in* a,, the s'm)4

toms of *rief and indi*nation" She urst into re4

)roaches a*ainst the statesman 7 she shed tears7 she

com),ained itter,' that her husand had een re4

fused a ),ace to $hich his irth a,,o$ed him to

as)ire( and $hich he had fu,,' merited ' his

$ounds and his ser%ice" She e?)ressed herse,f $ith

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such force 7 she uttered her com),aints $ith such a

*racefu, air7 she o%erthre$ oHections $ith so much

address( and enforced her ar*uments $ith so much

e,ouence( that she did not ,ea%e the chamer ti,,

she had made her husand+s fortune"

!aouc *a%e her his hand( and said. #Is it )os4

si,e( madam( that thou canst taGe so much )ains

to ser%e a man $hom thou dost not ,o%e( and from

$hom thou hast e%er'thin* to fear#

@MM The Wor,d as it oes"

#A man $hom I do not ,o%e# cried she7 #Gno$(

sir( that m' husand is the est friend I ha%e in the

$or,d( and there is nothin* I $ou,d not sacrice for

him( e?ce)t m' o$n inc,inations"#

 The ,ad' conducted !aouc to her o$n house"

 The husand( $ho had at ,ast arri%ed o%er$he,med

$ith *rief( recei%ed his $ife $ith trans)orts of Ho'

and *ratitude" &e emraced ' turns his $ife( the

,itt,e ma*i( and !aouc" Wit( harmon'( cheerfu,4

ness( and a,, the *races eme,,ished the re)ast"

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!aouc( thou*h a Sc'thian( and sent ' a *enius(

found( that shou,d he continue much ,on*er in Per4

se)o,is( he $ou,d for*et e%en the an*e, Ithurie," &e

e*an to *ro$ fond of a cit' the inhaitants of $hich

$ere )o,ite( aa,e( and enecent( thou*h cG,e(

s,anderous( and %ain" &e $as much afraid that Per4

se)o,is $ou,d e condemned" &e $as e%en afraid

to *i%e in his account"

 This( ho$e%er( he did in the fo,,o$in* manner"

&e caused a ,itt,e statue( com)osed of dierent met4

a,s( of earth( and stones( the most )recious and the

most %i,e( to e cast ' one of the est founders in

the cit'( and carried it to Ithurie,"

#Wi,t thou reaG(# said he( #this )rett' statue(

ecause it is not $ho,,' com)osed of *o,d and dia4

monds#

Ithurie, immediate,' understood his meanin*(

and reso,%ed to thinG no more of )unishin* Perse)4

o,is( ut to ,ea%e #the $or,d as it *oes"#

#For(# said he( #if a,, is not $e,,( a,, is )assa,e"#

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 The Wor,d as it oes" @M<

 Thus Perse)o,is $as suered to remain( nor did

!aouc com),ain( ,iGe /onas( $ho accordin* to the

Scri)tures $as hi*h,' incensed at the )reser%ation

of Nine%eh"

"Vo," ;<

 T&E !LACK AND T&E W&ITE"

 The ad%enture of the 'outhfu, Rustan is *enera,,'

Gno$n throu*hout the $ho,e )ro%ince of Candahar"

&e $as the on,' son of a mir2a of that countr'"

 The tit,e of mir2a there is much the same as that of

maruis amon* us( or that of aron amon* the

ermans" The mir2a( his father( had a handsome

fortune" 3oun* Rustan $as to e married to a

mir2asse( or 'oun* ,ad'( of his o$n ranG" The t$o

fami,ies earnest,' desired their union" Rustan $as to

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ecome the comfort of his )arents( to maGe his $ife

ha))'( and to ,i%e ,essed in her )ossession"

!ut he had unfortunate,' seen the )rincess of

Cachemir at the fair of Cau,( $hich is the most

considera,e fair in the $or,d( and much more fre4

uented than those of !assora and Astracan" The

occasion that rou*ht the o,d )rince of Cachemir

to the fair $ith his dau*hter $as as fo,,o$s .

&e had ,ost the t$o most )recious curiosities of

his treasur' 7 one of them $as a diamond as thicG as

a man+s thum( u)on $hich the *ure of his dau*hter

$as en*ra%ed ' an art $hich $as then )ossessed '

the Indians( and has since een ,ost 7 the other $as a

 Ha%e,in( $hich $ent of itse,f $here%er its o$ner

thou*ht )ro)er to send it" This is nothin* %er' e?4

@<=

 The !,acG and the White" @<;

traordinar' amon* us( ut it $as thou*ht so at

Cachemir"

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A faGir e,on*in* to his hi*hness sto,e these t$o

curiosities 7 he carried them to the )rincess"

#Kee) these t$o curiosities $ith the utmost care 7

'our destin' de)ends u)on them(# said he( and then

de)arted"

 The duGe of Cachemir( in des)air( reso,%ed to

%isit the fair of Cau,( in order to see $hether there

mi*ht not( amon* the merchants $ho *o thither from

a,, uarters of the $or,d( e some one )ossessed of

his diamond and his $ea)on" The )rincess carried

his diamond $e,, fastened to her *ird,e7 ut the

 Ha%e,in( $hich she cou,d not so easi,' hide( she had

carefu,,' ,ocGed u) at Cachemir in a ,ar*e chest"

Rustan and she sa$ each other at Cau," The'

,o%ed one another $ith a,, the sincerit' of )ersons of

their a*e( and a,, the tenderness of aection natura,

to those of their countr'" The )rincess *a%e Rustan

her diamond as a ),ed*e of her ,o%e( and he )romised

at his de)arture to *o inco*nito to Cachemir( in order

to )a' her a %isit"

 The 'oun* mir2a had t$o fa%orites( $ho ser%ed

him as secretaries( *rooms( ste$ards( and %a,ets de

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chamre" The name of one $as To)a2 7 he $as hand4

some( $e,,4sha)ed( fair as a Circassian eaut'( as

mi,d and read' to ser%e as an Armenian( and as $ise

as a ueer" The name of the other $as Eene 7 he

$as a %er' eautifu, ne*ro( more acti%e and indus4

trious than To)a2( and one that thou*ht nothin*

@<@ The !,acG and the White"

dicu,t" The 'oun* mir2a communicated his inten4

tion of tra%e,,in* to these" To)a2 endea%ored to dis4

suade him from it( $ith the circums)ect 2ea, of a ser4

%ant $ho $as un$i,,in* to oend him" &e re)re4

sented to him the *reat dan*er to $hich he e?)osed

himse,f" &e asGed him ho$ he cou,d ,ea%e t$o

fami,ies in des)air ho$ he cou,d )ierce the hearts

of his )arents &e shooG the reso,ution of Rustan 7

ut Eene conrmed it ane$( and o%iated a,, his

oHections"

 The 'oun* man $as not furnished $ith mone' to

defra' the char*e of so ,on* a %o'a*e" The )rudent

 To)a2 $ou,d not ha%e ,ent him an' 7 Eene su)),ied

him" &e( $ith *reat address( sto,e his master+s dia4

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mond( made a fa,se one e?act,' ,iGe it( $hich he )ut

in its ),ace( and ),ed*ed the true one to an Armenian

for se%era, thousand ru)ees"

As soon as the maruis )ossessed these ru)ees( a,,

thin*s $ere in readiness for his de)arture" An e,e4

)hant $as ,oaded $ith his a**a*e" &is attendants

mounted on horseacG"

 To)a2 said to his master . #I ha%e taGen the ,iert'

to e?)ostu,ate $ith 'ou u)on 'our enter)rise( ut

after e?)ostu,atin* it is m' dut' to oe'" I am de4

%oted to 'ou( I ,o%e 'ou( I $i,, fo,,o$ 'ou to the

e?tremit' of the earth 7 ut ,et us ' the $a' consu,t

the orac,e that is ut t$o )arasan*s distant from

here"#

Rustan consented" The ans$er returned ' the

orac,e $as.

 The !,acG and the White" @<

#If 'ou *o to the east 'ou $i,, e at the $est"#

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Rustan cou,d not *uess the meanin* of this an4

s$er" To)a2 maintained that it oded no *ood"

Eene( a,$a's com),aisant to his master( )ersuaded

him that it $as hi*h,' fa%ora,e"

 There $as another orac,e at Cau, 7 the' $ent to

it" The orac,e of Cau, made ans$er in these $ords .

#If 'ou )ossess( 'ou $i,, cease to )ossess 7 if 'ou

are conueror( 'ou $i,, not conuer7 if 'ou are

Rustan( 'ou $i,, cease to e so"#

 This orac,e seemed sti,, more uninte,,i*i,e than

the former"

#TaGe care of 'ourse,f(# said To)a2"

#Fear nothin*(# said Eene 7 and this minister( as

ma' $e,, e ima*ined( $as a,$a's thou*ht in the

ri*ht ' his master( $hose )assions and ho)es he

encoura*ed" &a%in* ,eft Cau,( the' )assed throu*h

a %ast forest" The' seated themse,%es u)on the *rass

in order to taGe a re)ast( and ,eft their horses *ra2in*"

 The attendants $ere )re)arin* to un,oad the e,e4

)hant $hich carried the dinner( the ta,e( c,oth(

),ates( etc"( $hen( a,, on a sudden( To)a2 and Eene

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$ere )ercei%ed ' the ,itt,e cara%an to e missin*"

 The' $ere ca,,ed( the forest resounded $ith the

names of To)a2 and Eene7 the ,acGe's seeG them

on e%er' side( and ,, the forest $ith their cries 7

the' return $ithout ha%in* seen an'thin*( and $ith4

out ha%in* recei%ed an' ans$er"

#We ha%e(# said the' to Rustan( #found nothin*

@< The !,acG and the White"

ut a %u,ture that fou*ht $ith an ea*,e( and stri))ed

it of a,, its feathers"#

 The mention of this comat e?cited the curiosit'

of Rustan 7 he $ent on foot to the ),ace 7 he )ercei%ed

neither %u,ture nor ea*,e7 ut he sa$ his e,e)hant(

$hich $as sti,, ,oaded $ith a**a*e( attacGed ' a

hu*e rhinoceros 7 one strucG $ith its horn( the other

$ith its )rooscis" The rhinoceros desisted u)on

seein* Rustan 7 his e,e)hant $as rou*ht acG( ut

his horses $ere not to e found"

#Stran*e thin*s ha))en in forests to tra%e,,ers(#

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cried Rustan"

 The ser%ants $ere in *reat consternation( and the

master in des)air from ha%in* at once ,ost his horse(

his dear ne*ro( and the $ise To)a2( for $hom he

sti,, entertained a friendshi)( thou*h a,$a's dier4

in* from him in o)inion"

 The ho)e of ein* soon at the feet of the eautifu,

)rincess sti,, conso,ed the mir2a( $ho( Hourne'in* on(

no$ met $ith a hu*e streaGed ass( $hich a %i*orous

t$o4handed countr' c,o$n eat $ith an oaGen cud*e,"

 The asses of this sort are e?treme,' eautifu,( %er'

scarce( and e'ond com)arison s$ift in runnin*"

 The ass resented the re)eated ,o$s of the c,o$n '

GicGs $hich mi*ht ha%e rooted u) an oaG" The

'oun* mir2a( as $as reasona,e( tooG u)on him the

defence of the ass( $hich $as a charmin* creature"

 The c,o$n etooG himse,f to Qi*ht( cr'in* to the ass(

#3ou sha,, )a' for this"#

 The ass thanGed its de,i%erer in its o$n ,an*ua*e(

 The !,acG and the White" @<B

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and a))roachin* him( )ermitted his caresses and ca4

ressed him in her turn" After dinner( Rustan mounted

it and tooG the road to Cachemir $ith his ser%ants(

$ho fo,,o$ed him( some on foot and some u)on the

e,e)hant" Scarce had he" mounted his ass( $hen that

anima, turned to$ard Cau,( instead of )roceedin* to

Cachemir" It $as to no )ur)ose for her master to

turn the rid,e( to GicG( to )ress the sides of the

east $ith his Gnees( to s)ur( to s,acGen the rid,e( to

)u,, to$ard him( to $hi) oth on the ri*ht and the

,eft" The ostinate anima, )ersisted in runnin*

to$ard Cau,"

Rustan in des)air fretted and ra%ed( $hen he met

$ith a dea,er in came,s( $ho said to him .

#1aster( 'ou ha%e there a %er' ma,icious east(

that carries 'ou $here 'ou do not choose to *o" If

'ou $i,, *i%e it to me( I $i,, *i%e 'ou the choice of

four of m' came,s"#

Rustan thanGed Pro%idence for ha%in* thro$n

so *ood a ar*ain in the $a'"

#To)a2 $as %er' much in the $ron*(# said he(

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#to te,, me that m' Hourne' $ou,d )ro%e un)ros4

)erous"#

&e mounts the handsome came,( the others fo,4

,o$7 he reHoins his cara%an( and fancies himse,f on

the road to ha))iness"

Scarce had he Hourne'ed four )arasan*s( $hen he

$as sto))ed ' a dee)( road( and im)etuous torrent(

$hich ro,,ed o%er hu*e rocGs $hite $ith foam"

 The t$o anGs $ere fri*htfu, )reci)ices $hich da24

@<> The !,acG and the White"

2,ed the si*ht and made the ,ood run co,d" To )ass

$as im)ractica,e7 to *o to the ri*ht or to the ,eft

$as im)ossi,e"

#I am e*innin* to e afraid(# said Rustan( #that

 To)a2 $as in the ri*ht in ,amin* m' Hourne'( and

that I $as in the $ron* in undertaGin* it" If he $ere

sti,, here he mi*ht *i%e me *ood ad%ice" If I had

Eene $ith me( he $ou,d comfort me and nd e?4

)edients7 ut e%er'thin* fai,s me"# This )er),e?it'

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$as increased ' the consternation of his attendants"

 The ni*ht $as darG( and the' )assed it in ,amenta4

tions" At ,ast fati*ue and deHection made the amor4

ous tra%e,,er fa,, as,ee)" &e a$oGe at da'reaG( and

sa$( s)annin* the torrent( a eautifu, mar,e rid*e

$hich reached from shore to shore"

Nothin* $as heard ut e?c,amations( cries of as4

tonishment and Ho'" Is it )ossi,e Is this a dream

What a )rodi*' is this What an enchantment

Sha,, $e %enture to )ass The $ho,e com)an'

Gnee,ed( rose u)( $ent to the rid*e( Gissed the

*round( ,ooGed u) to hea%en( stretched out their

hands( set their feet on it $ith trem,in*( $ent to and

fro( fe,, into ecstasies( and Rustan said .

#At ,ast hea%en fa%ors me" To)a2 did not Gno$

$hat he $as sa'in*" The orac,es $ere fa%ora,e to

me" Eene $as in the ri*ht( ut $h' is he not here #

Scarce had the com)an' *ot e'ond the torrent(

$hen the rid*e sanG into the $ater $ith a )rodi*4

ious noise"

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 The !,acG and the White" @<

#So much the etter( so much the etter(# cried

Rustan" #Praised e od( ,essed e hea%en7 it

$ou,d not ha%e me return to m' countr'( $here I

shou,d e nothin* more than a *ent,eman" The in4

tention of hea%en is that I shou,d $ed her I ,o%e" ;

sha,, ecome )rince of Cachemir 7 thus in )ossessin*

m' mistress I sha,, cease to )ossess m' ,itt,e mar4

uisate at Candahar" +I sha,, e Rustan( and I sha,,

not e Rustan ecause I sha,, ha%e ecome a *reat

)rince7 thus is a *reat )art of the orac,e c,ear,'

e?),ained in m' fa%or" The rest $i,, e e?),ained in

the same manner" I am %er' ha))'" !ut $h' is not

Eene $ith me I re*ret him a thousand times

more than To)a2"#

&e )roceeded a fe$ )arasan*s farther $ith the

*reatest a,acrit' ima*ina,e7 ut( at the c,ose of

da'( a chain of mountains more ru**ed than a coun4

terscar)( and hi*her than the to$er of !ae, $ou,d

ha%e een had it een nished( sto))ed the )assa*e

of the cara%an( $hich $as a*ain sei2ed $ith dread"

A,, the com)an' cried out . #It is the $i,, of od

that $e )erish here &e roGe the rid*e mere,' to

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taGe from us a,, ho)es of returnin*7 &e raised the

mountain for no other reason than to de)ri%e us of

a,, means of ad%ancin*" Oh( Rustan oh( unha))'

maruis $e sha,, ne%er see Cachemir7 $e sha,,

ne%er return to the ,and of Candahar"#

 The most )oi*nant an*uish( the most insu))ort4

a,e deHection succeeded in the sou, of Rustan to the

@<M The !,acG and the White"

immoderate Ho' $hich he had fe,t( to the ho)es $ith

$hich he had into?icated himse,f" &e $as no ,on*er

dis)osed to inter)ret the )ro)hecies in his fa%or"

#Oh( hea%ens oh( od of m' fathers # said he(

#must I then ,ose m' friend To)a2 #

As he )ronounced these $ords( hea%in* dee) si*hs

and sheddin* tears in the midst of his disconso,ate

fo,,o$ers( the ase of the mountain o)ened( a ,on*

*a,,er' a))eared to the da22,ed e'es in a %au,t ,i*hted

$ith a hundred thousand torches" Rustan imme4

diate,' e*ins to e?u,t( and his )eo),e to thro$ them4

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se,%es u)on their Gnees and to fa,, u)on their acGs

in astonishment( and cr' out( #A mirac,e a mirac,e

Rustan is the fa%orite of Witsno$( the $e,,4e,o%ed

of !rahma" &e $i,, ecome the master of man4

Gind"#

Rustan e,ie%ed it7 he $as uite eside himse,f7

he $as raised ao%e himse,f"

#A,as( Eene(# said he( #m' dear Eene( $here

are 'ou Wh' are 'ou not $itness of a,, these $on4

ders &o$ did I ,ose 'ou !eauteous )rincess of

Cachemir( $hen sha,, I a*ain eho,d 'our charms #

&e ad%ances $ith his attendants( his e,e)hants(

and his came,s under the ho,,o$ of the mountain( at

the end of $hich he enters into a meado$ ename,,ed

$ith Qo$ers and encom)assed $ith ri%u,ets" At the

e?tremit' of the meado$s are $a,Gs of trees to the

end of $hich the e'e cannot reach( and at the end of

these a,,e's is a ri%er( on the sides of $hich are a

thousand ),easure houses $ith de,icious *ardens"

 The !,acG and the White" @<<

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&e e%er'$here hears concerts of %oca, and instru4

menta, music7 he sees dances7 he maGes haste to *o

u)on one of the rid*es of the ri%er7 he asGs the rst

man he meets $hat ne countr' that is

&e $hom he addressed ans$ered .

#3ou are in the )ro%ince of Cachemir 7 'ou see the

inhaitants immersed in Ho' and ),easure" We ce,e4

rate the marria*e of our eauteous )rincess( $ho is

*oin* to e married to the ,ord !araou( to $hom

her father )romised her" 1a' od )er)etuate their

fe,icit' #

At these $ords Rustan fainted a$a'( and the

Cachemirian ,ord thou*ht he $as trou,ed $ith the

fa,,in* sicGness" &e caused him to e carried to his

house( $here he remained a ,on* time insensi,e"

&e sent in search of the t$o most a,e )h'sicians in

that )art of the countr'" The' fe,t the )atient+s

)u,se( $ho( ha%in* some$hat reco%ered his s)irits(

soed( ro,,ed his e'es( and cried from time to time(

#To)a2( To)a2( 'ou $ere entire,' in the ri*ht #

One of the t$o )h'sicians said to the Cachemirian

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,ord.

#I )ercei%e( ' this 'oun* man+s accent( that he

is from Candahar( and that the air of this countr'

is hurtfu, to him" &e must e sent home" I )ercei%e

' his e'es that he has ,ost his senses" Intrust me

$ith him 7 I $i,, carr' him acG to his o$n countr'

and cure him"#

 The other )h'sician maintained that *rief $as his

on,' disorder 7 and that it $as )ro)er to carr' him to

== The !,acG and the White"

the $eddin* of the )rincess( and maGe him dance"

Whi,st the' $ere in consu,tation( the )atient reco%4

ered his hea,th" The t$o )h'sicians $ere dismissed(

and Rustan remained a,on* $ith his host"

#1' ,ord(# said he( #I asG 'our )ardon for ha%in*

een so free as to faint in 'our )resence" I Gno$ it

to e a reach of )o,iteness" I entreat 'ou to acce)t

of m' e,e)hant( as an acGno$,ed*ment of the Gind4

ness 'ou ha%e sho$n me"#

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&e then re,ated to him a,, his ad%enture( taGin*

)articu,ar care to concea, from him the occasion of

his Hourne'"

#!ut( in the name of Witsno$ and !rahma(# said

he to him( #te,, me $ho is this ha))' !araou $ho

is to marr' the )rincess of Cachemir Wh' has her

father chosen him for his son4in4,a$( and $h' has

the )rincess acce)ted of him for a husand#

#Sir(# ans$ered the Cachemirian( #the )rincess

has ' no means acce)ted of !araou" She is( on

the contrar'( in tears( $hi,st the $ho,e )ro%ince Ho'4

fu,,' ce,erates her marria*e" She has shut herse,f

u) in a to$er of her )a,ace" She does not choose to

see an' of the reHoicin*s made u)on the occasion"#

Rustan( at hearin* this( )ercei%ed himse,f re%i%ed"

 The ,oom of his com),e?ion( $hich *rief had caused

to fade( a))eared a*ain u)on his countenance"

#Te,, me( I entreat 'ou(# continued he( #$h' the

)rince of Cachemir is ostinate,' ent u)on *i%in*

his dau*hter to Lord !araou( $hom she does not

,o%e#

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 The !,acG and the White" =;

#This is the fact(# ans$ered the Cachemirian"

#Do 'ou Gno$ that our au*ust )rince ,ost a ,ar*e dia4

mond and a Ha%e,in $hich he considered as of *reat

%a,ue#

#Ah I %er' $e,, Gno$ that(# said Rustan"

#Kno$ then(# said his host( #that our )rince( e4

in* in des)air at not ha%in* heard of his t$o )recious

curiosities after ha%in* caused them to e sou*ht for

a,, o%er the $or,d( )romised his dau*hter to $hoe%er

shou,d rin* him either the one or the other" A Lord

!araou came $ho had the diamond( and he is to

marr' the )rincess to4morro$"#

Rustan turned )a,e( stammered out a com),i4

ment( tooG ,ea%e of his host( and *a,,o)ed u)on his

dromedar' to the ca)ita, cit'( $here the ceremon'

$as to e )erformed" &e arri%es at the )a,ace of the

)rince( he te,,s him he has somethin* of im)ortance

to communicate to him( he demands an audience" &e

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is to,d that the )rince is taGen u) $ith the )re)ara4

tions for the $eddin*"

#It is for that %er' reason(# said he( #that I am

desirous of s)eaGin* to him"# Such is his im)or4

tunit'( that he is at ,ast admitted"

#Prince(# said he( #ma' od cro$n a,, 'our da's

$ith *,or' and ma*nicence 3our son4in4,a$ is a

Gna%e"#

#What a Gna%e ho$ dare 'ou s)eaG in such

terms Is that a )ro)er $a' of s)eaGin* to a duGe

of Cachemir of a son4in4,a$ of $hom he has made

choice #

=@ The !,acG and the White"

#3es( he is a Gna%e(# continued Rustan( #and to

)ro%e it to 'our hi*hness( I ha%e rou*ht 'ou acG

'our diamond"#

 The duGe( sur)rised at $hat he heard( com)ared

the t$o diamonds7 and( as he $as no Hud*e of )re4

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cious stones( he cou,d not determine $hich $as the

true one"

#&ere are t$o diamonds(# said he( #and I ha%e ut

one dau*hter" I am in a stran*e )er),e?it'"#

&e sent for !araou( and asGed him if he had

not im)osed u)on him" !araou s$ore he had

ou*ht his diamond from an Armenian7 the other

did not te,, him $ho he had his from 7 ut he )ro)osed

an e?)edient( $hich $as that he shou,d en*a*e his

ri%a, in sin*,e comat"

#It is not enou*h for 'our son4in4,a$ to *i%e a

diamond(# said he 7 #he shou,d a,so *i%e )roofs of

%a,or" Do not 'ou thinG it Hust that he $ho Gi,,s

his ri%a, shou,d marr' the )rincess #

#0ndouted,'(# ans$ered the )rince" #It $i,, e

a ne si*ht for the court" Fi*ht direct,'" The con4

ueror sha,, taGe the arms of the conuered( accord4

in* to the customs of Cachemir( and he sha,, marr'

m' dau*hter"#

 The t$o )retenders to the hand of the )rincess *o

do$n into the court" 0)on the stairs there $as a

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 Ha' and a ra%en" The ra%en cried( #Fi*ht( *ht"#

 The Ha' cried( #Don+t *ht"#

 This made the )rince ,au*h 7 the t$o ri%a,s scarce

tooG an' notice of it" The' e*in the comat" A,,

 The !,acG and the White" =

the courtiers made a circ,e round them" The )rin4

cess( $ho Ge)t herse,f constant,' shut u) in her

to$er( did not choose to eho,d this si*ht" She ne%er

dreamed that her ,o%er $as at Cachemir( and she

hated !araou to such a de*ree that she cou,d not

ear the si*ht of him" The comat had the ha))iest

resu,t ima*ina,e" !araou $as Gi,,ed outri*ht7

and this *reat,' reHoiced the )eo),e( ecause he $as

u*,' and Rustan $as %er' handsome" The fa%or

of the )u,ic is a,most a,$a's determined ' this

circumstance"

 The conueror )ut on the coat of mai,( scarf( and

the casue of the conuered and came( fo,,o$ed '

the $ho,e court( to )resent himse,f under the $in4

do$s of his mistress" The mu,titude cried a,oud.

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#!eautifu, )rincess( come and see 'our handsome

,o%er( $ho has Gi,,ed his u*,' ri%a,"# These $ords

$ere re4echoed ' her $omen" The )rincess un4

,ucGi,' ,ooGed out of the $indo$( and( seein* the

armor of a man she hated( she ran ,iGe one frantic to

her stron* o?( and tooG out the fata, Ha%e,in( $hich

Qe$ to )ierce Rustan( not$ithstandin* his cuirass"

&e cried out ,oud,'( and at this cr' the )rincess

thou*ht she a*ain Gne$ the %oice of her unha))'

,o%er"

She ran do$nstairs( $ith her hair dishe%e,,ed( and

death in her e'es as $e,, as her heart" Rustan had

a,read' fa,,en( a,, ,ood'( into the arms of his attend4

ants" She sees him" Oh( moment oh( si*ht oh(

disco%er' of ine?)ressi,e *rief( tenderness and

= The !,acG and the White"

horror She thro$s herse,f u)on him( and emraces

him"

#3ou recei%e(# said she( #the rst and ,ast Gisses

of 'our mistress and 'our murderer"#

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She )u,,s the dart from the $ound( ),un*es it in

her heart( and dies u)on the od' of the ,o%er $hom

she adores" The father( terried( in des)air( and

read' to die ,iGe his dau*hter( tries in %ain to rin*

her to ,ife" She $as no more" &e curses the fata,

dart( reaGs it to )ieces( thro$s a$a' the t$o fata,

diamonds 7 and $hi,st he )re)ared the funera, of his

dau*hter instead of her marria*e( he caused Rustan(

$ho $e,tered in his ,ood and had sti,, some remains

of ,ife( to e carried to his )a,ace"

&e $as )ut into ed" The rst oHects he sa$ on

each side of his deathed $ere To)a2 and Eene"

 This sur)rise made him in some de*ree reco%er his

stren*th"

#Crue, men(# said he( #$h' did 'ou aandon me

Perha)s the )rincess $ou,d sti,, e a,i%e if 'ou had

een $ith the unha))' Rustan"#

#I ha%e not forsaGen 'ou a moment(# said To)a2"

#I ha%e a,$a's een $ith 'ou(# said Eene"

#Ah $hat do 'ou sa' Wh' do 'ou insu,t me in

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m' ,ast moments# ans$ered Rustan( $ith a ,an4

*uishin* %oice"

#3ou ma' e,ie%e me(# said To)a2" #3ou Gno$

I ne%er a))ro%ed of this fata, Hourne'( the dreadfu,

conseuences of $hich I foresa$" I $as the ea*,e

S&E T&ROWS &ERSELF+ 0PON &I1 AND

E1!RACES &I1

 The !,acG and the White" =B

that fou*ht $ith the %u,ture and stri))ed It of its

feathers 7 I $as the e,e)hant that carried a$a' the

a**a*e( in order to force 'ou to return to 'our o$n

countr'7 I $as the streaGed ass that carried 'ou(

$hether 'ou $ou,d or no( to 'our father 7 it $as I

that made 'our horses *o astra' 7 it $as I that caused

the torrent that )re%ented 'our )assa*e 7 it $as I that

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raised the mountain $hich sto))ed u) a road so fata,

to 'ou7 I $as the )h'sician that ad%ised 'ou to re4

turn to 'our o$n countr'7 I $as the Ha' that cried

to 'ou not to *ht"#

#And I(# said Eene( #$as the %u,ture that he

stri))ed of his feathers( the rhinoceros $ho *a%e him

a hundred stroGes $ith the horn( the c,o$n that eat

the streaGed ass( the merchant $ho made 'ou a )res4

ent of the came,s to hasten 'ou to 'our destruction 7 I

du* the ca%ern that 'ou crossed( I am the )h'sician

that encoura*ed 'ou to $a,G( the ra%en that cried out

to 'ou to comat"#

#A,as # said To)a2( #rememer the orac,es . +If

'ou *o to the east 'ou $i,, e at the $est"+ #

#3es(# said Eene( #here the dead are uried $ith

their faces turned to the $est" The orac,e $as ),ain

enou*h( thou*h 'ou did not understand it" 3ou )os4

sessed( and 'ou did not )ossess 7 for thou*h 'ou had

the diamond( it $as a fa,se one( and 'ou did not

Gno$ it" 3ou are conueror( and 'ou die 7 'ou are

Rustan( and 'ou cease to e so 7 a,, has een accom4

),ished"#

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Vo," @=

=> The !,acG and the White"

Whi,st he s)oGe thus( four $hite $in*s co%ered

the od' of To)a2( and four ,acG ones that of

Eenc"

#What do I see # cried Rustan"

 To)a2 and Eene ans$ered to*ether. #3ou see

'our t$o *enii"#

#ood *ent,emen(# cried the unha))' Rustan(

#ho$ came 'ou to medd,e 7 and $hat occasion had a

)oor man for t$o *enii #

#It is a ,a$(# ans$ered To)a27 #e%er' man has

t$o *enii" P,ato $as the rst man $ho said so(

and others ha%e re)eated it after him" 3ou see that

nothin* can e more true" I $ho no$ s)eaG to 'ou

am 'our *ood *enius" I $as char*ed to $atch o%er

'ou to the ,ast moment of 'our ,ife" Of this tasG I

ha%e faithfu,,' acuitted m'se,f"#

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#!ut(# said the d'in* man( #if 'our usiness $as

to ser%e me( I am of a nature much su)erior to 'ours"

And then ho$ can 'ou ha%e the assurance to sa' 'ou

are m' *ood *enius( since 'ou ha%e suered me to e

decei%ed in e%er'thin* I ha%e undertaGen( and since

'ou suer oth m' mistress and me to die miser4

a,'#

#A,as # said To)a2( #it $as 'our destin'"#

#If destin' does a,,(# ans$ered the d'in* man(

#$hat is a *enius *ood for And 'ou( Eene( $ith

'our four ,acG $in*s( 'ou are dout,ess m' e%i,

*enius"#

#3ou ha%e hit it(# ans$ered Eene"

 The !,acG and the White" =

#Then I su))ose 'ou $ere the e%i, *enius of m'

)rincess ,iGe$ise(# said Rustan"

#No(# re),ied Eene( #she had an e%i, *enius of

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her o$n( and I seconded him )erfect,'"#

#Ah cursed Eene(# said Rustan( #if 'ou are so

ma,icious( 'ou don+t e,on* to the same master $ith

 To)a2 7 'ou ha%e een formed ' t$o dierent )rin4

ci),es( one of $hich is ' nature *ood( the other e%i,"#

#That does not fo,,o$(# said Eene7 #this is a

%er' Gnott' )oint"#

#It is not )ossi,e(# ans$ered the d'in* man(

#that a ene%o,ent ein* cou,d create so destructi%e a

*enius"#

#Possi,e or not )ossi,e(# re),ied the *enius( #the

thin* is Hust as I sa'"#

#A,as # said To)a2( #m' )oor unfortunate friend(

don+t 'ou see that that ro*ue is so ma,icious as to

encoura*e 'ou to dis)ute( in order to inQame 'our

,ood and hasten 'our death #

#et 'ou *one(# said the me,ancho,' Rustan( #I

am not much etter satised $ith 'ou than $ith him"

&e at ,east acGno$,ed*es that it $as his intention to

hurt me 7 and 'ou( $ho )retended to defend me( ha%e

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done me no ser%ice at a,,"#

#I am %er' sorr' for it(# said the *ood *enius"

#And I( too(# said the d'in* man7 #there is some4

thin* at the ottom of a,, this $hich I cannot com4

)rehend"#

#Nor I neither(# said the *ood *enius"

=M The !,acG and the White"

#I sha,, Gno$ the truth of the matter in a mo4

ment(# said Rustan"

#We sha,, see that(# said To)a2"

 The $ho,e scene then %anished" Rustan a*ain

found himse,f in the house of his father( $hich he had

not uitted( and in his ed( $here he had s,e)t an

hour"

&e a$aGes in astonishment( )ers)irin* a,, o%er(

and uite $i,d" &e rus himse,f( he ca,,s( he rin*s

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the e,," &is %a,et de chamre( To)a2( runs in( in

his ni*htca)( and 'a$nin*"

#Am I dead or a,i%e# cried out Rustan7 #sha,,

the eauteous )rincess of Cachemir esca)e#

#Does 'our ,ordshi) ra%e# ans$ered To)a2(

co,d,'"

#Ah# cried Rustan( #$hat( then( is ecome of

this ararous Eene( $ith his four ,acG $in*s It

is he that maGes me die ' so crue, a death"#

#1' ,ord(# ans$ered To)a2( #I ,eft him snorin*

u)stairs" Wou,d 'ou ha%e me id him come do$n#

#The %i,,ain(# said Rustan( #has )ersecuted me

for si? months to*ether" It $as he $ho carried me

to the fata, fair of Cau,7 it is he that cheated me of

the diamond $hich the )rincess )resented me7 he is

the so,e cause of m' Hourne'( of the death of m' )rin4

cess( and of the $ound $ith the Ha%e,in( of $hich I

die in the Qo$er of m' a*e"#

#TaGe heart(# said To)a2 7 #'ou $ere ne%er at

Cau, 7 there is no )rincess of Cachemir 7 her father

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ne%er had an' chi,dren ut t$o o's( $ho are no$ at

 The !,acG and the White" =<

co,,e*e 7 'ou ne%er had a diamond 7 the )rincess can4

not e dead( ecause she ne%er $as orn 7 and 'ou are

in )erfect hea,th"#

#What is it not then true that 'ou attended me

$hi,st d'in*( and in the ed of the )rince of Cache4

mir Did 'ou not acGno$,ed*e to me that( in order

to )reser%e me from so man' dan*ers( 'ou $ere an

ea*,e( an e,e)hant( a streaGed ass( a )h'sician( and

a Ha'#

#1' ,ord( 'ou ha%e dreamed a,, this(# ans$ered

 To)a2 7 #our ideas are no more of our o$n creatin*

$hi,st $e are as,ee) than $hi,st $e are a$aGe" od

has thou*ht )ro)er that this train of ideas shou,d

)ass in 'our head( most )roa,' to con%e' some in4

struction to 'ou of $hich 'ou ma' maGe a *ood use"#

#3ou maGe a Hest of me(# re),ied Rustan 7 #ho$

,on* ha%e I s,e)t #

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#1' ,ord(# said To)a2( #'ou ha%e not 'et s,e)t an

hour"#

#Cursed reasoner(# returned Rustan( #ho$ is it

)ossi,e that I cou,d e in the s)ace of an hour at the

fair of Cau, si? months a*o 7 that I cou,d ha%e re4

turned from thence( ha%e tra%e,,ed to Cachemir( and

that !araou( the )rincess( and I shou,d ha%e died #

#1' ,ord(# said To)a2( #nothin* can e more eas'

and more common( and 'ou mi*ht ha%e tra%e,,ed

around the $or,d( and ha%e met $ith a *reat man'

more ad%entures in much ,ess time" Is it not true

that 'ou can( in an hour+s time( read the arid*ment

of the Persian histor'( $ritten ' 9oroaster 'et

;= The !,acG and the White"

this arid*ment contains ei*ht hundred thousand

'ears" A,, these e%ents )ass efore 'our e'es( one

after another( in an hour+s time" No$( 'ou must

acGno$,ed*e that it is as eas' to !rahma to conne

them to the s)ace of an hour as to e?tend them to

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*o and fetch it" It $i,, ),ease 'ou7 its memor' is

faithfu, 7 it re,ates in a sim),e manner( $ithout en4

dea%orin* to sho$ $it at e%er' turn"#

 The !,acG and the White" ;;

#So much the etter(# said Rustan( #I ,iGe that

manner of te,,in* stories"#

 The )arrot ein* rou*ht to him( s)oGe in this

manner .

N" !" Catherine Vade cou,d ne%er nd the his4

tor' of the )arrot in the common),ace4ooG of her

,ate cousin Anthon' Vade( author of that ta,e" This

is a *reat misfortune( considerin* $hat a*e that )ar4

rot ,i%ed in"

 T&E OOD !RA&1IN"

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DOES &APPINESS RES0LT FRO1 INORANCE OR FRO1

KNOWLEDE

In m' tra%e,s I once ha))ened to meet $ith an

a*ed !rahmin" This man had a *reat share of un4

derstandin* and )rudence( and $as %er' ,earned"

&e $as a,so %er' rich( and his riches added *reat,'

to his )o)u,arit'( for( $antin* nothin* that $ea,th

cou,d )rocure( he had no desire to defraud an' one"

&is fami,' $as admira,' mana*ed ' three hand4

some $i%es( $ho a,$a's studied to ),ease him( and

$hen he $as $ear' of their societ'( he had recourse

to the stud' of )hi,oso)h'"

Not far from his house( $hich $as handsome(

$e,, furnished( and eme,,ished $ith de,i*htfu, *ar4

dens( d$e,t an o,d Indian $oman $ho $as a *reat

i*ot( i*norant( and $itha, %er' )oor"

#I $ish(# said the !rahmin to me one da'( #I had

ne%er een orn"#

#Wh' so# said I"

#!ecause(# said he( #I ha%e een stud'in* these

fort' 'ears( and I nd it has een so much time ,ost"

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Whi,e I teach others I Gno$ nothin* m'se,f" The

sense of m' condition is so humi,iatin*( it maGes a,,

thin*s so distastefu, to me( that ,ife has ecome a ur4

#

 The ood !rahmin" ;

den" I ha%e een orn( and I e?ist in time( $ithout

Gno$in* $hat time is" I am ),aced( as our $ise men

sa'( in the connes et$een t$o eternities( and 'et I

ha%e no idea of eternit'" I am com)osed of matter(

I thinG( ut ha%e ne%er een a,e to satisf' m'se,f

$hat it is that )roduces thou*ht" I e%en am i*norant

$hether m' understandin* is a sim),e facu,t' I )os4

sess( ,iGe that of $a,Gin* and di*estin*( or if I thinG

$ith m' head in the same manner as I taGe ho,d of

a thin* $ith m' hands" I am not on,' thus in the

darG $ith re,ation to the )rinci),es( of thou*ht( ut

the )rinci),es of m' motions are entire,' unGno$n to

me" I do not Gno$ $h' I e?ist( and 'et I am a)),ied

to e%er' da' for a so,ution of the eni*ma" I must

return an ans$er( ut can sa' nothin* satisfactor'

on the suHect" I ta,G a *reat dea,( and $hen I ha%e

done s)eaGin* remain confounded and ashamed of

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$hat I ha%e said"

#I am in sti,, *reater )er),e?it' $hen I am asGed

if !rahma $as )roduced ' Vishnu( or if the' ha%e

oth e?isted from eternit'" od is m' Hud*e that I

Gno$ nothin* of the matter( as ),ain,' a))ears ' m'

ans$ers" +Re%erend father(+ sa's one( +e ),eased

to inform me ho$ e%i, is s)read o%er the face of the

earth"+ I am as much at a ,oss as those $ho asG the

uestion" Sometimes I te,, them that e%er'thin* is

for the est 7 ut those $ho ha%e the *out or the stone

those $ho ha%e ,ost their fortunes or their ,ims

in the $ars e,ie%e as ,itt,e of this assertion as I do

m'se,f" I retire to m' o$n house fu,, of curiosit'(

; The ood !rahmin"

and endea%or to en,i*hten m' i*norance ' consu,t4

in* the $ritin*s of our ancient sa*es( ut the' on,'

ser%e to e$i,der me the more" When I ta,G $ith m'

rethren u)on this suHect( some te,, me $e ou*ht to

maGe the most of ,ife and ,au*h at the $or,d" Others

thinG the' Gno$ somethin*( and ,ose themse,%es in

%ain and chimerica, h')otheses" E%er' eort I

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maGe to so,%e the m'ster' adds to the ,oad I fee,"

Sometimes I am read' to fa,, into des)air $hen I

reQect that( after a,, m' researches( I neither Gno$

from $hence I came( $hat I am( $hither I sha,, *o(

or $hat is to ecome of me"#

 The condition in $hich I sa$ this *ood man *a%e

me rea, concern" No one cou,d e more rationa,( no

one more o)en and honest" It a))eared to me that

the force of his understandin* and the sensii,it' of

his heart $ere the causes of his miser'"

 The same da' I had a con%ersation $ith the o,d

$oman( his nei*hor" I asGed her if she had e%er

een unha))' for not understandin* ho$ her sou,

$as made She did not e%en com)rehend m' ues4

tion" She had not( for the riefest moment in

her ,ife( had a thou*ht aout these suHects $ith

$hich the *ood !rahmin had so tormented himse,f"

She e,ie%ed from the ottom of her heart in the

metamor)hoses of her *od( Vishnu( and( )ro%ided

she cou,d *et some of the sacred $ater of the an*es

in $hich to maGe her a,utions( she thou*ht herse,f

the ha))iest of $omen"

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 The ood !rahmin" ;B

StrucG $ith the ha))iness of this )oor creature( I

returned to m' )hi,oso)her( $hom I thus addressed .

#Are 'ou not ashamed to e thus misera,e $hen(

not ft' 'ards from 'ou( there is an o,d automaton

$ho thinGs of nothin* and ,i%es contented #

#3ou are ri*ht(# he re),ied" #I ha%e said to m'4

se,f a thousand times that I shou,d e ha))' if I $ere

ut as i*norant as m' o,d nei*hor( and 'et it is a

ha))iness I do not desire"#

 This re),' of the !rahmin made a *reater im)res4

sion on me than an'thin* that had )assed" I con4

su,ted m' o$n heart and found that I m'se,f shou,d

not $ish to e ha))' on condition of ein* i*norant"

I sumitted this matter to some )hi,oso)hers( and

the' $ere a,, of m' o)inion 7 and 'et( said I( there is

somethin* %er' contradictor' in this manner of

thinGin*( for( after a,,( $hat is the uestion Is it

not to e ha))' What si*nies it then $hether $e

ha%e understandin*s or $hether $e are foo,s !e4

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sides( there is this to e said. those $ho are con4

tented $ith their condition are sure of that content(

$hi,e those $ho ha%e the facu,t' of reasonin* are not

a,$a's sure of reasonin* ri*ht" It is e%ident then( I

continued( that $e ou*ht rather to $ish not to ha%e

common sense( if that common sense contriutes to

our ein* either misera,e or $icGed"

 The' $ere a,, of m' o)inion( and 'et not one of

them cou,d e found to acce)t of ha))iness on the

terms of ein* i*norant" From hence I conc,uded

;> The ood !rahmin