Voltaire V

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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 V

AKRON, OHIO

THE WERNER COMPANY

1!"



The WORKS of VOLTAIRE



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( there is a m'sterious re+ation"

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

)rofound res)ect- .ES/S WEPT- VOLTAIRE S0ILED"

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

s$eetness of the )resent ci%i+i1ation"#

VICTOR &/O"

VOLTAIRE AT T&E A23 E OR T&IRT4

EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION



T&E WORKS OF

VOLTAI RE

A CONTE0PORAR4 VERSION

WIT& NOTES !4 TO!IAS S0OLLETT( REVISED AND 0ODERNI5ED

NEW TRANSLATIONS !4 WILLIA0 F" FLE0IN( AND AN

INTROD/CTION !4 OLIVER &" ( LEI&

A CRITI6/E AND !IORAP&4

!4

T&E RT" &ON" .O&N 0ORLE4



FORT47T&REE VOL/0ES

ONE &/NDRED AND SI8T47!I&T DESINS( CO0PRISIN REPROD/CTIONS

OF RA8! OLD ENRAVINS( STEEL PLATES( P&OTORAV/RES(

A0D C/RIO/S FAC7SI0IL93

VOL/0E V

COPTEI&T :;<:

!4 E" R" Du0oNT

OWNED !4

T&E WERNER CO0PANT

AKRON( O&IO



0ADE !4

T&E WERNER CO0PANV

AKRON( O&IO

Stac=

Anne>

P6

?<@

ESB

:;<B

'"S

VOLTAIRE

A P&ILOSOP&ICAL DICTIONAR4



VOL" I

A( !( C7 APPARITION

A P&ILOSOP&ICAL DICTIONAR4"

The DICTIONNAIRE P&ILOSOP&I6/E is Vo+taires

)rinci)a+ essa' in )hi+oso)h'( thou*h not a sustained

$or=" The misce++aneous artic+es he contriuted to

Diderots ENC4CLOPEDIE $hich com)ose this Dic7

tionar' emod' a mass of scho+ar+' research( criti7

cism( and s)ecu+ation( +it u) $ith )un*ent sa++ies at

the forma+ and t'rannous ecc+esiasticism of the

)eriod and the ases of e+ief on $hich it stood"

These short studies reect e%er' )hase of Vo+7

taires s)ar=+in* *enius" Thou*h some of the %ie$s

enunciated in them are no$ uni%ersa++' he+d( and

others ha%e ecome oso+ete throu*h e>tended

=no$+ed*e( the' $ere start+in*+' ne$ $hen Vo+taire(

at )eri+ of freedom and re)utation( s)read them e7

fore the )eo)+e of a++ ci%i+i1ed nations( $ho read



them sti++ $ith their rst charm of st'+e and su7

stance"

LIST OF PLATES

VOL" V

PACK

VOLTAIRE AT T&E AE OF T&IRT4 Frontis)iece

0A&O0ET ;G

Louis AND 0DLLE" DE LA VALLIERE " " :9?

ANCIENT REECE ?GG

A P&ILOSOP&ICAL DICTIONAR4"

A"



T&E +etter A has een accounted sacred in a+most

e%er' nation( ecause it $as the rst +etter" The

E*')tians added this to their numer+ess su)ersti7

tionsH hence it $as that the ree=s of A+e>andria

ca++ed it hier a+)haH and( as ome*a $as the +ast of the

+etters( these $ords a+)ha and ome*a si*nied the

e*innin* and the end of a++ thin*s" This $as the

ori*in of the caa+istic art( and of more than one

m'sterious fo++'"

The +etters ser%ed as ci)hers( and to e>)ress mu7

sica+ notes" .ud*e $hat an innit' of usefu+ =no$+7

ed*e must thus ha%e een )roduced" A( ( c( d( e(

f( *( $ere the se%en hea%ensH the harmon' of the

ce+estia+ s)heres $as com)osed of the se%en rst +et7

ters H and an acrostic accounted for e%er'thin* amon*

the e%er %enera+e Ancients"

A( !( C( OR ALP&A!ET"

W&4 has not the a+)haet a name in an' Euro)ean

+an*ua*e A+)haet si*nies nothin* more than A(

!( and A( !( si*nies nothin*( or ut indicates t$o

sounds( $hich t$o sounds ha%e no re+ation to each



B Phi+oso)hica+

other" !eta is not formed from a+)haH one is rst(

the other is second( and no one =no$s $h'"

&o$ can it ha%e ha))ened that terms are sti++

$antin* to e>)ress the )orta+ of a++ the sciences

The =no$+ed*e of numers( the art of numeration(

is not ca++ed the one7t$oH 'et the rst rudiment of

the art of e>)ressin* our thou*hts has not in a++

Euro)e otained a )ro)er desi*nation"

The a+)haet is the rst )art of *rammar H )erha)s

those $ho are acJuainted $ith Araic( of $hich I

ha%e not the s+i*htest notion( can inform me $hether

that +an*ua*e( $hich is said to contain no fe$er than

ei*ht' $ords to e>)ress a horse( has one $hich si*7

nies the a+)haet"

I )rotest that I =no$ no more of Chinese than of

Araic( ut I ha%e read( in a sma++ Chinese %ocau7

+ar'( that this nation has a+$a's had t$o $ords to

e>)ress the cata+o*ue or +ist of the characters of its



+an*ua*e - one is =o7tou( the other hai7)ienH $e ha%e

neither =o7tou nor hai7)ien in our Occidenta+

ton*ues" The ree=s( $ho $ere no more adroit than

ourse+%es( a+so said a+)haet" Seneca( the )hi+os7

o)her( used the ree= )hrase to desi*nate an o+d

man $ho( +i=e me( as=s Juestions on *rammar( ca++7

in* him S=edon ana+)haetos" No$ the ree=s had

this same a+)haet from the Phoenicians from that

)eo)+e ca++ed the +etter nation ' the &ere$s them7

se+%es( $hen the +atter( at so +ate a )eriod( $ent to

sett+e in their nei*horhood"

It ma' $e++ e su))osed that the Phoenicians( '

Dictionar'" @

communicatin* their characters to the ree=s( ren7

dered them a *reat ser%ice in de+i%erin* them from

the emarrassment occasioned ' the E*')tian

mode of $ritin* tau*ht them ' Cecro)s" The

Phoenicians( in the ca)acit' of merchants( sou*ht to

ma=e e%er'thin* eas' of com)rehensionH $hi+e the

E*')tians( in their ca)acit' of inter)reters of the

*ods( stro%e to ma=e e%er'thin* dicu+t"



I can ima*ine I hear a Phoenician merchant +anded

in Achaia sa'in* to a ree= corres)ondent- #Our

characters are not on+' eas' to $rite( and communi7

cate the thou*hts as $e++ as the sound of the %oice H

the' a+so e>)ress our res)ecti%e dets" 0' a+e)h(

$hich 'ou choose to )ronounce a+)ha( stands for an

ounce of si+%er( eta for t$o ounces( tau for a hun7

dred( si*ma for t$o hundred" I o$e 'ou t$o hun7

dred ounces H I )a' 'ou a tau( and sti++ o$e 'ou an7

other tauH thus $e sha++ soon ma=e our rec=onin*"#

It $as most )roa+' ' mutua+ trac $hich ad7

ministered to their $ants( that societ' $as rst esta7

+ished amon* menH and it is necessar' that those

et$een $hom commerce is carried on shou+d under7

stand one another"

The E*')tians did not a))+' themse+%es to com7

merce unti+ a %er' +ate )eriod H the' had a horror of

the seaH it $as their T')hon" The T'rians( on the

contrar'( $ere na%i*ators from time immemoria+ H

the' rou*ht to*ether those nations $hich Nature

had se)arated( and re)aired those ca+amities into

$hich the re%o+utions of the $or+d freJuent+'



9 Phi+oso)hica+

)+un*ed a +ar*e )ortion of man=ind" The ree=s( in

their turn( carried to other nations their commerce

and their con%enient a+)haet( $hich +atter $as a+7

tered a +itt+e( as the ree=s had a+tered that of the

T'rians" When their merchants( $ho $ere after7

$ards made demi7*ods( $ent to Co+chis to esta+ish

a trade in shee)s=ins $hence $e ha%e the fa+e of

the *o+den eece the' communicated their +etters to

the )eo)+e of the countr'( $ho sti++ 7retain them $ith

some a+teration" The' ha%e not ado)ted the a+)ha7

et of the Tur=s( to $hom the' are at )resent su7

Mect( ut $hose 'o=e( than=s to the Em)ress of Rus7

sia( I ho)e the' $i++ thro$ o"

It is %er' +i=e+' I do not sa' it is certain od

forid Q that neither T're nor E*')t( nor an' other

countr' situated near the 0editerranean Sea( com7

municated its a+)haet to the nations of Eastern Asia"

If( for e>am)+e( the T'rians( or the Cha+daeans( $ho

d$e+t near the Eu)hrates( had communicated their

method to the Chinese( some traces of it $ou+d ha%e

remainedH $e shou+d ha%e had the si*ns of the



t$ent'7t$o( t$ent'7three( or t$ent'7four +etters(

$hereas the' ha%e a si*n for each $ord in their +an7

*ua*e H and the numer of their $ords( $e are to+d(

is ei*ht' thousand" This method has nothin* in

common $ith that of T're H it is se%ent'7nine thou7

sand nine hundred and se%ent'7si> times more

+earned and more emarrassin* than our o$n" !e7

sides this )rodi*ious dierence( the' $rite from the

to) to the ottom of the )a*e H $hi+e the T'rians and

Dictionar'" *

the Cha+dasans $rote from ri*ht to +eft( and the

ree=s( +i=e ourse+%es( $rote from +eft to ri*ht"

E>amine the Tartar( the &indoo( the Siamese( the

.a)anese characters H 'ou $i++ not nd the +east re7

sem+ance to the ree= or the Phoenician a+)haet"

4et a++ these nations( and not these a+one( ut

e%en the &ottentots and Kars( )ronounce the

%o$e+s and consonants as $e do( ecause the +ar'n>

in them is essentia++' the same as in us Must as the

throat of the rudest oor is made +i=e that of the



nest o)era7sin*er( the dierence( $hich ma=es of

one a rou*h( discordant( insu))orta+e ass( and of

the other a %oice s$eeter than the ni*htin*a+es( ein*

im)erce)ti+e to the most acute anatomist H or( as the

rain of a foo+ is for a++ the $or+d +i=e the rain of a

*reat *enius"

When $e said that the T'rian merchants tau*ht

the ree=s their A( !( C( $e did not )retend that

the' a+so tau*ht them to s)ea=" It is )roa+e that

the Athenians a+read' e>)ressed themse+%es in a

etter manner than the )eo)+e of Lo$er S'ria H their

throats $ere more e>i+e( and their $ords $ere a

more ha))' assem+a*e of %o$e+s( consonants( and

di)hthon*s" The +an*ua*e of the Phoenician )eo7

)+e $as rude and *ross( consistin* of such $ords as

ShasirothMAshtaroth( Shaaoth( Choti=et( Tho)heth(

etc" enou*h to terrif' a son*stress from the o)era

of Na)+es" Su))ose that the Romans of the )resent

da' had retained the ancient Etrurian a+)haet( and

some Dutch traders rou*ht them that $hich the'

+o Phi+oso)hica+



no$ use H the Romans $ou+d do %er' $e++ to recei%e

their characters( ut it is not at a++ +i=e+' that the'

$ou+d s)ea= the !ata%ian +an*ua*e" .ust so $ou+d

the )eo)+e of Athens dea+ $ith the sai+ors of Ca)thor(

$ho had come from T're or !aireuthH the' $ou+d

ado)t their a+)haet as ein* etter than that of

0israim or E*')t( ut $ou+d reMect their s)eech"

Phi+oso)hica++' s)ea=in*( and settin* aside a++ in7

ferences to e dra$n from the &o+' Scri)tures(

$hich certain+' are not here the suMect of discussion(

is not the )rimiti%e +an*ua*e a tru+' +au*ha+e

chimera

What $ou+d e thou*ht of a man $ho shou+d

see= to disco%er $hat had een the )rimiti%e cr' of a++

anima+s H and ho$ it ha))ens that( after a series of

a*es( shee) +eat( cats me$( do%es coo( +innets

$hist+e The' understand one another )erfect+'

in their res)ecti%e idioms( and much etter than $e

do" E%er' s)ecies has its +an*ua*e H that of the Es7

Juimau> $as ne%er that of Peru H there has no more

een a )rimiti%e +an*ua*e or a )rimiti%e a+)haet

than there ha%e een )rimiti%e oa=s or )rimiti%e

*rass"



Se%era+ rais assert that the Samaritan $as the

ori*ina+ ton*ue H other )ersons sa' that it $as that

of Lo$er !rittan'" We ma' sure+'( $ithout of7

fendin* either the )eo)+e of !rittan' or those of

Samaria( admit no ori*ina+ ton*ue"

0a' $e not( a+so( $ithout oendin* an' one( su)7

)ose that the a+)haet ori*inated in cries and e>c+a7

Dictionar'" : :

mations Infants of themse+%es articu+ate one sound

$hen an oMect catches their attention( another $hen

the' +au*h( and a third $hen the' are $hi))ed(

$hich the' ou*ht not to e"

As for the t$o +itt+e o's $hom the E*')tian

=in* Psammeticus $hich( ' the '( is not an

E*')tian $ord rou*ht u)( in order to =no$ $hat

$as the )rimiti%e +an*ua*e( it seems hard+' )ossi+e

that the' shou+d oth ha%e cried ee ee $hen the'

$anted their rea=fast"

From e>c+amations formed ' %o$e+s as natura+



to chi+dren as croa=in* is to fro*s( the transition

to a com)+ete a+)haet is not so *reat as it ma' e

thou*ht" A mother must a+$a's ha%e said to her

chi+d the eJui%a+ent of come( *o( ta=e( +ea%e( hush

etc" These $ords re)resent nothin*H the' descrie

nothin*H ut a *esture ma=es them inte++i*i+e"

From these sha)e+ess rudiments $e ha%e( it is

true( an immense distance to tra%e+ efore $e arri%e

at s'nta>" It is a+most terrif'in* to contem)+ate

that from the sim)+e $ord come( $e ha%e arri%ed

at such sentences as the fo++o$in* - 0other( I shou+d

ha%e come $ith )+easure( and shou+d ha%e oe'ed

'our commands( $hich are e%er dear to me( if I

had not( $hen runnin* to$ards 'ou( fa++en ac=7

$ards( $hich caused a thorn to run into m' +eft +e*"

It a))ears to m' astonished ima*ination that it

must ha%e reJuired a*es to adMust this sentence( and

a*es more to )ut it into +an*ua*e" &ere $e mi*ht

te++( or endea%or to te++( the reader ho$ such $ords

: ? Phi+oso)hica+



are e>)ressed and )ronounced in e%er' +an*ua*e of

the earth( as father( mother( +and( $ater( da'( ni*ht(

eatin*( drin=in*( etc"( ut $e must( as much as )os7

si+e( a%oid a))earin* ridicu+ous"

The a+)haetica+ characters( denotin* at once the

names of thin*s( their numer( and the dates of

e%ents( the ideas of men( soon ecame m'steries e%en

to those $ho had in%ented the si*ns" The Cha+daeans(

the S'rians( and the E*')tians attriuted somethin*

di%ine to the comination of the +etters and the man7

ner of )ronouncin* them" The' e+ie%ed that names

had a force a %irtue inde)endent+' of the thin*s

$hich the' re)resented H the' $ent so far as to )re7

tend that the $ord $hich si*nied )o$er $as )o$er7

fu+ in itse+fH that $hich e>)ressed an an*e+ $as

an*e+ic( and that $hich *a%e the idea of od $as

di%ine" The science of numers natura++' ecame a

)art of necromanc'( and no ma*ica+ o)eration cou+d

e )erformed $ithout the +etters of the a+)haet"

Thus the c+ue to a++ =no$+ed*e +ed to e%er' error"

The ma*i of e%er' countr' used it to conduct them7

se+%es into the +a'rinth $hich the' had constructed(

and $hich the rest of man=ind $ere not )ermitted to

enter" The manner of )ronouncin* %o$e+s and con7



sonants ecame the most )rofound of m'steries( and

often the most terri+e" There $as( amon* the S'r7

ians and E*')tians( a manner of )ronouncin* .e7

ho%ah $hich $ou+d cause a man to fa++ dead"

St" C+ement of A+e>andria re+ates that 0oses

=i++ed a =in* of E*')t on the s)ot ' soundin* this

Dictionar'" :3

name in his ear( after $hich he rou*ht him to +ife

a*ain ' )ronouncin* the same $ord" St" C+ement

is %er' e>act H he cites the author( the +earned Arta7

)anus" Who can im)each the testimon' of Arta7

)anus

Nothin* tended more to retard the )ro*ress of the

human mind that this )rofound science of error

$hich s)run* u) amon* the Asiatics $ith the ori*in

of truth" The uni%erse $as ruta+i1ed ' the %er' art

that shou+d ha%e en+i*htened it" Of this $e ha%e

*reat e>am)+es in Ori*en( C+ement of A+e>andria(

Tertu++ian( etc"



Ori*en( in )articu+ar( e>)ress+' sa's - #If( $hen

in%o=in* od( or s$earin* ' him( 'ou ca++ him the

od of Araham( Isaac( and .aco 'ou $i++( '

these $ords( do thin*s the nature and force of $hich

are such that the e%i+ s)irits sumit to those $ho

)ronounce themH ut if 'ou ca++ him ' another

name as od of the roarin* sea( etc"( no eort $i++

e )roduced" The name of Israe+ rendered in ree=

$i++ $or= nothin* H ut )ronounce it in &ere$ $ith

the other $ords reJuired( and 'ou $i++ eect the

conMuration"#

The same Ori*en had these remar=a+e $ords-

#There are names $hich are )o$erfu+ from their o$n

nature" Such are those used ' the sa*es of E*')t(

the ma*i of Persia( and the !rahmins of India"

What is ca++ed ma*ic is not a %ain and chimerica+ art(

as the Stoics and E)icureans )retend" The names

Saaoth and Adonai $ere not made for created

:G Phi+oso)hica+

ein*s( ut e+on* to a m'sterious theo+o*' $hich

has reference to the creator H hence the %irtue of these



names $hen the' are arran*ed and )ronounced ac7

cordin* to ru+e(# etc"

It $as ' )ronouncin* +etters accordin* to the

ma*ica+ method( that the moon $as made to descend

to the earth" Vir*i+ must e )ardoned for ha%in*

faith in this nonsense( and s)ea=in* of it serious+'

in his ei*hth ec+o*ue -

Carmina de cce+o )ossunt deducere +unam"

Pa+e Phoee( dra$n ' %erse( from hea%en descends"

DR4DENS VIRIL"

In short( the a+)haet $as the ori*ia of a++ mans

=no$+ed*e( and of a++ his errors"

A!!E"

T&E $ord ae( +et it e rememered( si*nies

father" If 'ou ecome one 'ou render a ser%ice to

the state H 'ou dout+ess )erform the est $or= that

a man can )erformH 'ou *i%e irth to a thin=in*

ein* - in this action there is somethin* di%ine" !ut

if 'ou are on+' 0onsieur IAe ecause 'ou ha%e

had 'our head sha%ed( $ear a sma++ co++ar( and a



short c+oa=( and are $aitin* for a fat enece( 'ou

do not deser%e the name of ae"

The ancient mon=s *a%e this name to the su)erior

$hom the' e+ectedH the ae $as their s)iritua+

father" What dierent thin*s do the same $ords

si*nif' at dierent times The s)iritua+ ae $as

once a )oor man at the head of others eJua++' )oor H

ut the )oor s)iritua+ fathers ha%e since had incomes

Dictionar'" :

of t$o hundred or four hundred thousand +i%res( and

there are )oor s)iritua+ fathers in erman' $ho ha%e

re*iments of *uards"

A )oor man( ma=in* a %o$ of )o%ert'( and in con7

seJuence ecomin* a so%erei*n Tru+'( this is in7

to+era+e" The +a$s e>c+aim a*ainst such an ause H

re+i*ion is indi*nant at it( and the rea++' )oor( $ho

$ant food and c+othin*( a))ea+ to hea%en a*ainst

0onsieur I Ae"

!ut I hear the aes of Ita+'( erman'( F+anders(



and !ur*und' as= - #Wh' are not $e to accumu+ate

$ea+th and honors Wh' are $e not to ecome

)rinces The isho)s are( $ho $ere ori*ina++' )oor(

+i=e us H the' ha%e enriched and e+e%ated themse+%es H

one of them has ecome su)erior e%en to =in*s H +et

us imitate them as far as $e are a+e"#

ent+emen( 'ou are ri*ht" In%ade the +and H it e7

+on*s to him $hose stren*th or s=i++ otains )osses7

sion of it" 4ou ha%e made am)+e use of the times of

i*norance( su)erstition( and infatuation( to stri) us

of our inheritances( and tram)+e us under 'our feet(

that 'ou mi*ht fatten on the sustance of the unfor7

tunate" Trem+e( for fear that the da' of reason

$i++ arri%e

A!!E4 A!!OT"

SECTION I"

AN ae' is a re+i*ious communit'( *o%erned '

an aot or an aess"

The $ord aot aas in Latin and ree=( aa

in Cha+dee and S'riac came from the &ere$ a(



: B Phi+oso)hica+

meanin* father" The .e$ish doctors too= this tit+e

throu*h )ride H therefore .esus said to his disci)+es -

#Ca++ no one 'our father u)on the earth( for one is

'our Father $ho is in hea%en"#

A+thou*h St" .erome $as much enra*ed a*ainst

the mon=s of his time( $ho( in s)ite of our Lords

command( *a%e or recei%ed the tit+e of aot( the

Si>th Counci+ of Paris decided that if aots are s)ir7

itua+ fathers and e*et s)iritua+ sons for the Lord(

it is $ith reason that the' are ca++ed aots"

Accordin* to this decree( if an' one deser%ed this

a))e++ation it e+on*ed most assured+' to St" !ene7

dict( $ho( in the 'ear ?9( founded on 0ount Cas7

sino( in the =in*dom of Na)+es( that societ' so emi7

nent for $isdom and discretion( and so *ra%e in its

s)eech and in its st'+e" These are the terms used '

Po)e St" re*or'( $ho does not fai+ to mention the

sin*u+ar )ri%i+e*e $hich it )+eased od to *rant to

this ho+' founder that a++ !enedictines $ho die on

0ount Cassino are sa%ed" It is not( then( sur)risin*



that these mon=s rec=on si>teen thousand canon7

i1ed saints of their order" The !enedictine sisters

e%en assert that the' are $arned of their a))roach7

in* disso+ution ' some nocturna+ noise( $hich the'

ca++ the =noc=s of St" !enedict"

It ma' $e++ e su))osed that this ho+' aot did

not for*et himse+f $hen e**in* the sa+%ation of his

disci)+es" Accordin*+'( on the ?ist of 0arch( G3(

the e%e of Passion Sunda'( $hich $as the da' of his

death( t$o mon=s one of them in the monaster'(

Dictionar'" :@

the other at a distance from it had the same %ision"

The' sa$ a +on* road co%ered $ith car)ets( and

+i*hted ' an innite numer of torches( e>tendin*

east$ard from the monaster' to hea%en" A %ener7

a+e )ersona*e a))eared( and as=ed them for $hom

this road $as made" The' said the' did not =no$"

#It is that(# reMoined he( #' $hich !enedict( the

$e++7e+o%ed of od( has ascended into hea%en"#

An order in $hich sa+%ation $as so $e++ secured



soon e>tended itse+f into other states( $hose so%er7

ei*ns a++o$ed themse+%es to e )ersuaded that( to

e sure of a )+ace in Paradise( it $as on+' necessar' to

ma=e themse+%es a friend in it( and that ' donations

to the churches the' mi*ht atone for the most cr'in*

inMustices and the most enormous crimes"

Connin* ourse+%es to France( $e read in the

#E>)+oits of Kin* Da*oert# estes du Roi Da*o7

ert( the founder of the ae' of St" Denis( near

Paris( that this )rince( after death( $as condemned

' the Mud*ment of od( and that a hermit named

.ohn( $ho d$e+t on the coast of Ita+'( sa$ his sou+

chained in a oat and eaten ' de%i+s( $ho $ere ta=7

in* him to$ards Sici+' to thro$ him into the er'

mouth of Etna H ut a++ at once St" Denis a))eared

on a +uminous *+oe( )receded ' thunder and +i*ht7

nin*( and( ha%in* )ut the e%i+ s)irits to i*ht( and

rescued the )oor sou+ from the c+utches of the most

crue+( ore it to hea%en in trium)h(

f'7 Char+es 0arte+( on the contrar'( $as damned

od' and sou+ for ha%in* re$arded his ca)tains

Vo+" ?



: 9 Phi+oso)hica+

' *i%in* them ae's" These( thou*h +a'men( ore

the tit+e of aot( as married $omen ha%e since orne

that of aess( and had con%ents of fema+es" A ho+'

isho) of L'ons( named Eucher( ein* at )ra'er( had

the fo++o$in* %ision - &e thou*ht he $as +ed ' an

an*e+ into he++( $here he sa$ Char+es 0arte+( $ho(

the an*e+ informed him( had een condemned to e%er7

+astin* ames ' the saints $hose churches he had

des)oi+ed" St" Eucher $rote an account of this re%7

e+ation to !oniface( isho) of 0a'ence( and to Fu+7

rad( *rand cha)+ain to Pe)in7+e7ref( )ra'in* them

to o)en the tom of Char+es 0arte+ and see if his

od' $ere there" The tom $as o)ened" The inte7

rior of it ore mar=s of re( ut nothin* $as found

in it e>ce)t a *reat ser)ent( $hich issued forth $ith a

c+oud of oensi%e smo=e"

!oniface $as so =ind as to $rite to Pe)in7+e7ref

and to Car+oman a++ these )articu+ars re+ati%e to the

damnation of their father H and $hen( in 99( Louis

of erman' sei1ed some ecc+esiastica+ )ro)ert'( the

isho)s of the assem+' of Creci reminded him( in a

+etter( of a++ the )articu+ars of this terri+e stor'(



addin* that the' had them from a*ed men( on $hose

$ord the' cou+d re+'( and $ho had een e'e7$it7

nesses of the $ho+e"

St" !ernard( rst aot of C+air%au>( in ::: had

+i=e$ise had it re%ea+ed to him that a++ $ho recei%ed

the monastic hait from his hand shou+d e sa%ed"

Ne%erthe+ess( Po)e /ran II"( ha%in*( in a u++ dated

:<;?( *i%en to the ae' of 0ount Cassino the tit+e

Dictionar'" i*

of chief of a++ monasteries( ecause from that s)ot

the %enera+e re+i*ion of the monastic order had

o$ed from the osom of !enedict as from a ce+es7

tia+ s)rin*( the Em)eror Lothario continued this

)rero*ati%e ' a charter of the 'ear : :3@( $hich *a%e

to the monaster' of 0ount Cassino the )re7eminence

in )o$er and *+or' o%er a++ the monasteries $hich

$ere or mi*ht e founded throu*hout the $or+d( and

ca++ed u)on a++ the aots and mon=s in Christendom

to honor and re%erence it"

Pascha+ II"( in a u++ of the 'ear :::3( addressed



to the aot of 0ount Cassino( e>)resses himse+f

thus - #We decree that 'ou( as +i=e$ise a++ 'our suc7

cessors( sha++( as ein* su)erior to a++ aots( e a+7

+o$ed to sit in e%er' assem+' of isho)s or )rinces H

and that in a++ Mud*ments 'ou sha++ *i%e 'our o)in7

ion efore an' other of 'our order"# The aot of

C+uni ha%in* a+so dared to ca++ himse+f the aot of

aots( the )o)es chance++or decided( in a counci+

he+d at Rome in :::?( that this distinction e+on*ed

to the aot of 0ount Cassino" &e of C+uni con7

tented himse+f $ith the tit+e of cardina+ aot( $hich

he after$ards otained from Ca+i>tus II"( and $hich

the aot of The Trinit' of Vendome and some oth7

ers ha%e since assumed"

Po)e .ohn 88"( in :3?B *ranted to the aot of

0ount Cassino the tit+e of isho)( and he continued

to dischar*e the e)isco)a+ functions unti+ :3B@ H ut

/ran V"( ha%in* then thou*ht )ro)er to de)ri%e

him of that di*nit'( he no$ sim)+' entit+es himse+f

?O Phi+oso)hica+

Patriarch of the &o+' Re+i*ion( Aot of the &o+'



0onaster' of 0ount Cassino( Chance++or and rand

Cha)+ain of the &o+' Roman Em)ire( Aot of A7

ots( Chief of the !enedictine &ierarch'( Chance++or

Co++atera+ of the Kin*dom of Sici+'( Count and o%7

ernor of the Cam)a*na and of the maritime )ro%ince(

Prince of Peace"

&e +i%es( $ith a )art of his ocers( at San7er7

mano( a +itt+e to$n at the foot of 0ount Cassino( in

a s)acious house( $here a++ )assen*ers( from the

)o)e do$n to the meanest e**ar( are recei%ed(

+od*ed( fed( and treated accordin* to their ran="

The aot each da' %isits a++ his *uests( $ho some7

times amount to three hundred" In :39( St" I*natius

shared his hos)ita+it'( ut he $as +od*ed in a house

on 0ount Cassino( si> hundred )aces $est of the

ae'" There he com)osed his ce+erated Institute

$hence a Dominican( in a $or= entit+ed( #The

Turt+e7Do%e of the Sou+(# sa's- #I*natius d$e+t

for t$e+%e months on this mountain of contem)+a7

tion( and( +i=e another 0oses( framed those second

ta+es of re+i*ious +a$s $hich are inferior in noth7

in* to the rst"#

Tru+'( this founder of the .esuits $as not re7

cei%ed ' the !enedictines $ith that com)+aisance



$hich St" !enedict( on his arri%a+ at 0ount Cassino(

had found in St" 0artin the hermit( $ho *a%e u) to

him the )+ace in his )ossession( and retired to 0ount

0arsica( near Carnio+a" On the contrar'( the !ene7

dictine Amrose CaMeta( in a %o+uminous $or= $rit7

Dictionar'" ?:

ten for the )ur)ose( has endea%ored to trace the

ori*in of the .esuits to the order of St" !enedict"

The +a>it' of manners $hich has a+$a's )re%ai+ed

in the $or+d( e%en amon* the c+er*'( induced St"

!asi+( so ear+' as the fourth centur'( to ado)t the idea

of assem+in* in one communit' the so+itaries $ho

had ed into deserts to fo++o$ the +a$ H ut( as $i++

e e+se$here seen( e%en the re*u+ars ha%e not a+$a's

een re*u+ar"

As for the secu+ar c+er*'( +et us see $hat St" C')7

rian sa's of them( e%en from the third centur' -

#0an' isho)s( instead of e>hortin* and settin* an

e>am)+e to others( ne*+ected the aairs of od( us7

ied themse+%es $ith tem)ora+ concerns( Juitted their



)u+)its( aandoned their oc=s( and tra%e++ed in other

)ro%inces( in order to attend fairs and enrich them7

se+%es ' tracH the' succored not their rethren

$ho $ere d'in* of hun*erH the' sou*ht on+' to

amass hea)s of mone'( to *ain )ossession of +ands '

unMust artices( and to ma=e immense )rots '

usur'"#

Char+ema*ne( in a di*est of $hat he intended to

)ro)ose to the )ar+iament of 9::( thus e>)resses him7

se+f - #We $ish to =no$ the duties of ecc+esiastics(

in order that $e ma' not as= of them $hat the' are

not )ermitted to *i%e( and that the' ma' not demand

of us $hat $e ou*ht not to *rant" We e* of them to

e>)+ain to us c+ear+' $hat the' ca++ Juittin* the $or+d(

and ' $hat those $ho Juit it ma' e distin*uished

from those $ho remain in it H if it is on+' ' their not

?? Phi+oso)hica+

earin* arms( and not ein* married in )u+icH if

that man has Juitted the $or+d $ho continues to add

to his )ossessions ' means of e%er' sort( )reachin*

Paradise and threatenin* $ith damnationH em)+o'7



in* the name of od or of some saint to )ersuade

the sim)+e to stri) themse+%es of their )ro)ert'(

thus entai+in* $ant u)on their +a$fu+ heirs( $ho

therefore thin= themse+%es Mustied in committin*

theft and )i++a*e H if to Juit the $or+d is to carr' the

)assion of co%etousness to such a +en*th as to rie

fa+se $itnesses in order to otain $hat e+on*s to

another( and to see= out Mud*es $ho are crue+( inter7

ested( and $ithout the fear of od"#

To conc+ude - We ma' Mud*e of the mora+s of the

re*u+ar c+er*' from a haran*ue de+i%ered in :G;3(

in $hich the Ae Triteme said to his rethren-

#4ou aes( $ho are i*norant and hosti+e to the

=no$+ed*e of sa+%ationH $ho )ass 'our da's in

shame+ess )+easures( in drin=in* and *amin*H $ho

> 'our aections on the thin*s of this +ife H $hat an7

s$er $i++ 'ou ma=e to od and to 'our founder( St"

!enedict#

The same ae ne%erthe+ess asserted that one7

third of a++ the )ro)ert' of Christians e+on*ed of

ri*ht to the order of St" !enedict( and that if the'

had it not( it $as ecause the' had een roed of

it" #The' are so )oor at )resent(# added he( #that

their re%enues do not amount to more than a hundred



mi++ions of +ouis dors"# Triteme does not te++ us to

$hom the other t$o7thirds e+on*( ut as in his time

Dictionar'" ?3

there $ere on+' fteen thousand ae's of !ene7

dictines( esides the sma++ con%ents of the same order(

$hi+e in the se%enteenth centur' their numer had

increased to thirt'7se%en thousand( it is c+ear( '

the ru+e of )ro)ortion( that this ho+' order ou*ht no$

to )ossess %e7si>ths of the )ro)ert' in Christen7

dom( ut for the fata+ )ro*ress of heres' durin* the

+atter a*es"

In addition to a++ other misfortunes( since the Con7

cordat $as si*ned( in ::( et$een Leo 8" and

Francis I"( the =in* of France nominatin* to near+'

a++ the ae's in his =in*dom( most of them ha%e een

*i%en to secu+ars $ith sha%en cro$ns" It $as in con7

seJuence of this custom ein* ut +itt+e =no$n in

En*+and that Dr" re*or' said )+easant+' to the

Ae a++ois( $hom he too= for a !enedictine - #The

*ood father ima*ines that $e ha%e returned to those

fau+ous times $hen a mon= $as )ermitted to sa'



$hat he )+eased"#

SECTION II"

Those $ho ' from the $or+d are $iseH those

$ho de%ote themse+%es to od are to e res)ected"

Perha)s time has corru)ted so ho+' an institution"

To the .e$ish thera)euts succeeded the E*')tian

mon=s idiotoi( monoi idiot then si*nif'in* on+'

so+itar'" The' soon formed themse+%es into odies

and ecame the o))osite of so+itaries" Each societ'

of mon=s e+ected its su)erior H for( in the ear+' a*es

of the church( e%er'thin* $as done ' the )+ura+it'

?G Phi+oso)hica+

of %oices" 0en sou*ht to re*ain the )rimiti%e +iert'

of human nature ' esca)in* throu*h )iet' from the

tumu+t and s+a%er' inse)ara+' attendant on *reat

em)ires" E%er' societ' of mon=s chose its father

its aa its aot( a+thou*h it is said in the *os)e+(

#ca++ no man 'our father"#



Neither aots nor mon=s $ere )riests in the

ear+' a*es H the' $ent in troo)s to hear mass at the

nearest %i++a*e H their numers( in time( ecame con7

sidera+e" It is said that there $ere u)$ards of

ft' thousand mon=s in E*')t"

St" !asi+( $ho $as rst a mon= and after$ards

!isho) of Caesarea and Ca))adocia( com)osed a

code for a++ the mon=s of the fourth centur'" This

ru+e of St" !asi+s $as recei%ed in the East and in

the West H no mon=s $ere =no$n ut those of St"

!asi+ H the' $ere rich( too= )art in a++ )u+ic aairs(

and contriuted to the re%o+utions of em)ires"

No order ut this $as =no$n unti+( in the si>th

centur'( St" !enedict esta+ished a ne$ )o$er on

0ount Cassino" St" re*or' the reat assures us(

in his Dia+o*ues( that od *ranted him a s)ecia+ )ri%7

i+e*e( ' $hich a++ the !enedictines $ho shou+d die

on 0ount Cassino $ere to e sa%ed" ConseJuent+'(

Po)e /ran II"( in a u++ of the 'ear :<;?( dec+ared

the aot of 0ount Cassino chief of a++ the ae's

in the $or+d" Pascha+ II" *a%e him the tit+e of Aot

of Aots( Patriarch of the &o+' Re+i*ion( Chan7

ce++or Co++atera+ of the Kin*dom of Sici+'( Count

and o%ernor of the Cam)a*na( Prince of Peace( etc"



Dictionar'" ?

A++ these tit+es $ou+d a%ai+ ut +itt+e $ere the' not

su))orted ' immense riches"

Not +on* a*o I recei%ed a +etter from one of

m' erman corres)ondents( $hich e*an $ith these

$ords - #The aots( )rinces of Kem)ten( E+%en*en(

Eudestet( 0usach( !er*hs*aden( Vissemur*(

Prum( Sta+e( and Cor%e'( and the other aots

$ho are not )rinces( enMo' to*ether a re%enue of

aout nine hundred thousand orins( or t$o mi++ions

and ft' thousand French +i%res of the )resent cur7

renc'" Whence I conc+ude that .esus Christs cir7

cumstances $ere not Juite so eas' as theirs"# I re7

)+ied - #Sir( 'ou must confess that the French are

more )ious than the ermans( in the )ro)ortion of

G :B7G: to unit' H for our consistoria+ eneces a+one(

that is( those $hich )a' annats to the Po)e( )roduce

a re%enue of nine mi++ions H and t$o mi++ions ft'

thousand +i%res are to nine mi++ions as i is to G :B7G:"

Whence I conc+ude that 'our aots are not su7

cient+' rich( and that the' ou*ht to ha%e ten times



more" I ha%e the honor to e(# etc" &e ans$ered me

' the fo++o$in* short +etter- ##Dear Sir( I do not

understand 'ou" 4ou dout+ess fee+( $ith me( that

nine mi++ions of 'our mone' are rather too much for

those $ho ha%e made a %o$ of )o%ert' H 'et 'ou $ish

that the' had ninet'" I e* 'ou $i++ e>)+ain this

eni*ma"# I had the honor of immediate+' re)+'in* -

#Dear Sir( there $as once a 'oun* man to $hom it

$as )ro)osed to marr' a $oman of si>t'( $ho $ou+d

+ea%e him a++ her )ro)ert'" &e ans$ered that she

?B Phi+oso)hica+

$as not o+d enou*h"# The erman understood m'

eni*ma"

The reader must e informed that( in :@( it $as

)ro)osed in a counci+ of &enr' III"( Kin* of France(

to erect a++ the ae's of mon=s into secu+ar com7

mendams( and to *i%e them to the ocers of his court

and his arm'H ut this monarch( ha))enin* after7

$ards to e e>communicated and assassinated( the

)roMect $as of course not carried into eect"



In :@< Count dAr*enson( the minister of $ar(

$ished to raise )ensions from the eneces for che%7

a+iers of the mi+itar' order of St" Louis" Nothin*

cou+d e more sim)+e( more Must( more usefu+ H ut

his eorts $ere fruit+ess" 4et the Princess of Conti

had had an ae' under Louis 8IV"( and e%en e7

fore his rei*n secu+ars )ossessed eneces" The Du=e

de Su++i had an ae'( a+thou*h he $as a &u*uenot"

The father of &u*h Ca)et $as rich on+' ' his

ae's( and $as ca++ed &u*h the Aot" Ae's

$ere *i%en to Jueens( to furnish them $ith )in7

mone'" O*ine( mother of Louis dOutremer( +eft

her son ecause he had ta=en from her the ae' of

St" 0ar' of Laon( and *i%en it to his $ife( erer*e"

Thus $e ha%e e>am)+es of e%er'thin*" Each one

stri%es to ma=e customs( inno%ations( +a$s $hether

o+d or ne$( aro*ated( re%i%ed( or miti*ated char7

ters( $hether rea+ or su))osed the )ast( the )res7

ent and the future( a+i=e suser%ient to the *rand end

of otainin* the *ood thin*s of this $or+d H 'et it is

a+$a's for the *reater *+or' of od"



Dictionar'" ?@

A!LE A!ILIT4"

A!LE" An adMecti%e term( $hich( +i=e a+most a++

others( has dierent acce)tations as it is dierent+'

em)+o'ed"

In *enera+ it si*nies more than ca)a+e( more

than $e++7informed( $hether a))+ied to an artist( a

*enera+( a man of +earnin*( or a Mud*e" A man ma'

ha%e read a++ that has een $ritten on $ar( and ma'

ha%e seen it( $ithout ein* a+e to conduct a $ar" &e

ma' e ca)a+e of commandin*( ut to acJuire the

name of an a+e *enera+ he must command more than

once $ith success" A Mud*e ma' =no$ a++ the +a$s(

$ithout ein* a+e to a))+' them" A +earned man

ma' not e a+e either to $rite or to teach" An a+e

man( then( is he $ho ma=es a *reat use of $hat he

=no$s" A ca)a+e man can do a thin* H an a+e one

does it" This $ord cannot e a))+ied to eorts of

)ure *enius" We do not sa' an a+e )oet( an a+e

orator H or( if $e sometimes sa' so of an orator( it

is $hen he has a+'( de>terous+' treated a thorn'

suMect"



!ossuet( for e>am)+e( ha%in*( in his funera+ ora7

tion o%er the *reat Conde( to treat of his ci%i+ $ars(

sa's that there is a )enitence as *+orious as innocence

itse+f" &e mana*es this )oint a+'" Of the rest he

s)ea=s $ith *randeur"

We sa'( an a+e historian( meanin* one $ho has

dra$n his materia+s from *ood sources( com)ared

dierent re+ations( and Mud*ed sound+' of themH

?9 Phi+oso)hica+

one( in short( $ho has ta=en *reat )ains" If he has(

moreo%er( the *ift of narratin* $ith suita+e e+o7

Juence( he is more than a+e( he is a *reat historian(

+i=e Titus( Li%ius( de Thou( etc"

The $ord a+e is a))+ica+e to those arts $hich

e>ercise at once the mind and the hand( as )aintin*

and scu+)ture" We sa' of a )ainter or scu+)tor( he

is an a+e artist( ecause these arts reJuire a +on* no7

%itiate H $hereas a man ecomes a )oet near+' a++ at

once( +i=e Vir*i+ or O%id( or ma' e%en e an orator

$ith %er' +itt+e stud'( as se%era+ )reachers ha%e een"



Wh' do $e( ne%erthe+ess( sa'( an a+e )reacher

It is ecause more attention is then )aid to art than

to e+oJuence( $hich is no *reat eu+o*ium" We do

not sa' of the su+ime !ossuet( he $as an a+e

ma=er of funera+ orations" A mere )+a'er of an in7

strument is a+eH a com)oser must e more than a+e H

he must ha%e *enius" The $or=man e>ecutes c+e%7

er+' $hat the man of taste has desi*ned a+'"

An a+e man in )u+ic aairs is $e++7informed(

)rudent and acti%e H if he $ants either of these Jua+7

ications he is not a+e"

The term( an a+e courtier( im)+ies +ame rather

than )raise( since it too often means an a+e atterer"

It ma' a+so e used to desi*nate sim)+' a c+e%er man(

$ho is neither %er' *ood nor %er' $ic=ed" The fo>

$ho( $hen Juestioned ' the +ion res)ectin* the odor

of his )a+ace( re)+ied that he had ta=en co+d( $as an

a+e courtier H the fo> $ho( to re%en*e himse+f on the

$o+f( recommended to the o+d +ion the s=in of a $o+f

Dictionar'" ?;



ne$+' a'ed( to =ee) his maMest' $arm( $as some7

thin* more than a+e"

We sha++ not here discuss those )oints of our su7

Mect $hich e+on* more )articu+ar+' to mora+it'( as

the dan*er of $ishin* to e too a+e( the ris=s $hich

an a+e $oman runs $hen she $ishes to *o%ern the

aairs of her househo+d $ithout ad%ice( etc" We are

afraid of s$e++in* this dictionar' $ith use+ess dec+a7

mations" The' $ho )reside o%er this *reat and im7

)ortant $or= must treat at +en*th those artic+es re7

+atin* to the arts and sciences $hich interest the )u7

+ic( $hi+e those to $hom the' intrust +itt+e artic+es

of +iterature must ha%e the merit of ein* rief"

A!ILIT4" This $ord is to ca)acit' $hat a+e is

to ca)a+e ai+it' in a science( in an art( in conduct"

We e>)ress an acJuired Jua+it' ' sa'in*( he has

ai+it'H in action( ' sa'in*( he conducts that aair

$ith ai+it'"

A!L4 has the same acce)tationsH he $or=s( he

)+a's( he teaches a+'" &e has a+' surmounted that

dicu+t'"



A!RA&A0"

SECTION I"

WE must sa' nothin* of $hat is di%ine in Ara7

ham( since the Scri)tures ha%e said a++" We must

not e%en touch( e>ce)t $ith a res)ectfu+ hand( that

$hich e+on*s to the )rofane that $hich a))ertains

to *eo*ra)h'( the order of time( manners( and cus7

toms H for these( ein* connected $ith sacred histor'(

3< Phi+oso)hica+

are so man' streams $hich )reser%e somethin* of

the di%init' of their source"

Araham( thou*h orn near the Eu)hrates( ma=es

a *reat e)och $ith the Western nations( 'et ma=es

none $ith the Orienta+s( $ho( ne%erthe+ess( res)ect

him as much as $e do" The 0ahometans ha%e no

certain chrono+o*' efore their he*ira" The science

of time( tota++' +ost in those countries $hich $ere the

scene of *reat e%ents( has rea))eared in the re*ions



of the West( $here those e%ents $ere un=no$n" We

dis)ute aout e%er'thin* that $as done on the an=s

of the Eu)hrates( the .ordan( and the Ni+e( $hi+e

the' $ho are masters of the Ni+e( the .ordan and the

Eu)hrates enMo' $ithout dis)utin*" A+thou*h our

*reat e)och is that of Araham( $e dier si>t' 'ears

$ith res)ect to the time of his irth" The account(

accordin* to the re*isters( is as fo++o$s -

#And Terah +i%ed se%ent' 'ears( and e*at Ara7

ham( Nahor( and &aran" And the da's of Terah

$ere t$o hundred and %e 'ears( and Terah died in

&aran" No$ the Lord had said unto Araham( *et

thee out of th' countr' and from th' =indred( and

from th' fathers house( unto a +and that I $i++ sho$

thee" And I $i++ ma=e of thee a *reat nation"#

It is sucient+' e%ident from the te>t that Terah(

ha%in* had Araham at the a*e of se%ent'( died at

that of t$o hundred and %e H and Araham( ha%in*

Juitted Cha+dsea immediate+' after the death of his

father( $as Must one hundred and thirt'7%e 'ears

Dictionar'" 3 :



o+d $hen he +eft his countr'" This is near+' the o)in7

ion of St" Ste)hen( in his discourse to the .e$s"

!ut the !oo= of enesis a+so sa's - #And Ara7

ham $as se%ent' and %e 'ears o+d $hen he de)arted

out of &aran"#

This is the )rinci)a+ cause for there are se%era+

othersQ of the dis)ute on the suMect of Arahams

a*e" &o$ cou+d he e at once a hundred and thirt'7

%e 'ears( and on+' se%ent'7%e St" .erome and St"

Au*ustine sa' that this dicu+t' is ine>)+ica+e"

Father Ca+met( $ho confesses that these t$o saints

cou+d not so+%e the )ro+em( thin=s he does it ' sa'7

in* that Araham $as the 'oun*est of Terahs sons(

a+thou*h the !oo= of enesis names him the rst(

and conseJuent+' as the e+dest" Accordin* to enesis(

Araham $as orn in his fathers se%entieth 'earH

$hi+e( accordin* to Ca+met( he $as orn $hen his

father $as a hundred and thirt'" Such a reconci+ia7

tion has on+' een a ne$ cause of contro%ers'" Con7

siderin* the uncertaint' in $hich $e are +eft ' oth

te>t and commentar'( the est $e can do is to adore

$ithout dis)utin*"



There is no e)och in those ancient times $hich has

not )roduced a mu+titude of dierent o)inions" Ac7

cordin* to 0oreri there $ere in his da' se%ent' s's7

tems of chrono+o*' founded on the histor' dictated

' od himse+f" There ha%e since a))eared %e ne$

methods of reconci+in* the %arious te>ts of Scri)ture"

Thus there are as man' dis)utes aout Araham as

3? Phi+oso)hica+

the numer of his 'ears accordin* to the te>tQ

$hen he +eft &aran" And of these se%ent'7%e s's7

tems there is not one $hich te++s us )recise+' $hat

this to$n or %i++a*e of &aran $as( or $here it $as

situated" What thread sha++ *uide us in this +a'7

rinth of conMectures and contradictions from the %er'

rst %erse to the %er' +ast Resi*nation" The &o+'

S)irit did not intend to teach us chrono+o*'( meta7

)h'sics or +o*ic H ut on+' to ins)ire us $ith the fear

of od" Since $e can com)rehend nothin*( a++ that

$e can do is to sumit"

It is eJua++' dicu+t to e>)+ain satisfactori+' ho$

it $as that Sarah( the $ife of Araham( $as a+so



his sister" Araham sa's )ositi%e+' to Aime+ech(

=in* of erar( $ho had ta=en Sarah to himse+f on ac7

count of her *reat eaut'( at the a*e of ninet'( $hen

she $as )re*nant of Isaac - #And 'et indeed she is

m' sister H she is the dau*hter of m' father( ut not

the dau*hter of m' mother( and she ecame m'

$ife"# The O+d Testament does not inform us ho$

Sarah $as her husands sister" Ca+met( $hose Mud*7

ment and sa*acit' are =no$n to e%er' one( sa's that

she mi*ht e his niece" With the Cha+daeans it $as

)roa+' no more an incest than $ith their nei*hors(

the Persians" 0anners chan*e $ith times and $ith

)+aces" It ma' e su))osed that Araham( the son

of Terah( an ido+ater( $as sti++ an ido+ater $hen he

married Sarah( $hether Sarah $as his sister or his

niece"

There are se%era+ Fathers of the Church $ho do

Dictionar'" 33

not thin= Araham Juite so e>cusa+e ior ha%in*

said to Sarah( in E*')t- #It sha++ come to )ass(

$hen the E*')tians sha++ see thee( that the' sha++



sa'( This is his $ife( and the' $i++ =i++ me( ut

the' $i++ sa%e thee a+i%e" Sa'( I )ra' thee( thou art

m' sister( that it ma' e $e++ $ith me for th' sa=e"#

She $as then on+' si>t'7%e" Since she had( t$ent'7

%e 'ears after$ards the =in* of erar for a +o%er(

it is not sur)risin* that( $hen t$ent'7%e 'ears

'oun*er( she had =ind+ed some )assion in Pharaoh

of E*')t" Indeed( she $as ta=en a$a' ' him in the

same manner as she $as after$ards ta=en ' Aim7 :

e+ech( the =in* of erar( in the desert"

Araham recei%ed )resents( at the court of Pha7

raoh( of man' #shee)( and o>en( and he7asses( and

men7ser%ants( and maid7ser%ants( and she7asses( and

came+s"# These )resents( $hich $ere considera+e(

)ro%e that the Pharaohs had a+read' ecome *reat

=in*s H the countr' of E*')t must therefore ha%e

een %er' )o)u+ous" !ut to ma=e the countr' in7

haita+e( and to ui+d to$ns( it must Ra%e cost im7

mense +aor" It $as necessar' to construct cana+s for

the )ur)ose of drainin* the $aters of the Ni+e( $hich

o%ero$ed E*')t durin* four or %e months of each

'ear( and sta*nated on the soi+" It $as a+so neces7

sar' to raise the to$n at +east t$ent' feet ao%e these

cana+s" Wor=s so considera+e seem to ha%e re7

Juired thousands of a*es"



There $ere on+' aout four hundred 'ears e7

t$een the De+u*e and the )eriod at $hich $e >

Vo+" 73

3G Phi+oso)hica+

Arahams Mourne' into E*')t" The E*')tians

must ha%e een %er' in*enious and indefati*a+'

+aorious( since( in so short a time( the' in%ented a++

the arts and sciences( set ounds to the Ni+e( and

chan*ed the $ho+e face of the countr'" Proa+'

the' had a+read' ui+t some of the *reat P'ramids(

for $e see that the art of ema+min* the dead $as

in a short time after$ards rou*ht to )erfection(

and the P'ramids $ere on+' the toms in $hich the

odies of their )rinces $ere de)osited $ith the most

au*ust ceremonies"

This o)inion of the *reat antiJuit' of the P'ra7

mids recei%es additiona+ countenance from the fact

that three hundred 'ears ear+ier( or ut one hundred

'ears after the &ere$ e)och of the De+u*e of Noah(

the Asiatics had ui+t( in the )+ain of Sennaar( a to$er



$hich $as to reach to hea%en" St" .erome( in his

commentar' on Isaiah( sa's that this to$er $as a+7

read' four thousand )aces hi*h $hen od came

do$n to sto) the )ro*ress of the $or="

Let us su))ose each )ace to e t$o feet and a

ha+f" Four thousand )aces( then( are ten thousand

feetH conseJuent+' the to$er of !ae+ $as t$ent'

times as hi*h as the P'ramids of E*')t( $hich are

on+' aout %e hundred feet" !ut $hat a )rodi*ious

Juantit' of instruments must ha%e een reJuisite to

raise such an edice A++ the arts must ha%e con7

curred in for$ardin* the $or=" Whence commenta7

tors conc+ude that men of those times $ere incom7

Dictionar'" 3

)ara+' +ar*er( stron*er( and more industrious than

those of modern nations"

So much ma' e remar=ed $ith res)ect to Ara7

ham( as re+atin* to the arts and sciences" With

re*ard to his )erson( it is most +i=e+' that he $as

a man of considera+e im)ortance" The Cha+dseans



and the Persians each c+aim him as their o$n" The

ancient re+i*ion of the ma*i has( from time immemo7

ria+( een ca++ed Kish Irahim( 0i+at Irahim( and it

is a*reed that the $ord Irahim is )recise+' the same

as Araham( nothin* ein* more common amon* the

Asiatics( $ho rare+' $rote the %o$e+s( than to chan*e

the i into a( or the a into i in )ronunciation"

It has e%en een asserted that Araham $as the

!rahma of the Indians( and that their notions $ere

ado)ted ' the )eo)+e of the countries near the Eu7

)hrates( $ho traded $ith India from time immemo7

ria+"

The Aras re*arded him as the founder of 0ecca"

0ahomet( in his Koran( a+$a's %ie$ed in him the

most res)ecta+e of his )redecessors" In his third

sura( or cha)ter( he s)ea=s of him thus - #Araham

$as neither .e$ nor Christian H he $as an orthodo>

0ussu+man H he $as not of the numer of those $ho

ima*ine that od has co++ea*ues"#

The temerit' of the human understandin* has

e%en *one so far as to ima*ine that the .e$s did not

ca++ themse+%es the descendants of Araham unti+ a

%er' +ate )eriod( $hen the' had at +ast esta+ished



3B Phi+oso)hica+

themse+%es in Pa+estine" The' $ere stran*ers( hated

and des)ised ' their nei*hors" The' $ished( sa'

some( to re+ie%e themse+%es ' )assin* for descend7

ants of that Araham $ho $as so much re%erenced in

a *reat )art of Asia" The faith $hich $e o$e to the

sacred oo=s of the .e$s remo%es a++ these di7

cu+ties"

Other critics( no +ess hard'( start other oMections

re+ati%e to Arahams direct communication $ith the

A+mi*ht'( his att+es and his %ictories" The Lord

a))eared to him after he $ent out of E*')t( and

said( #Lift u) no$ thine e'es( and +oo= from the

)+ace $here thou art( north$ard and south$ard( and

east$ard( and $est$ard" For a++ the +and $hich

thou seest( to thee $i++ I *i%e it( and to th' seed for7

e%er"#

The Lord( ' a second oath( after$ards )romised

him a++ #from the ri%er of E*')t unto the *reat

ri%er( the ri%er Eu)hrates"# The critics as=( ho$



cou+d od )romise the .e$s this immense countr'

$hich the' ha%e ne%er )ossessed And ho$ cou+d

od *i%e to them fore%er that sma++ )art of Pa+estine

out of $hich the' ha%e so +on* een dri%en A*ain(

the Lord added to these )romises( that Arahams

)osterit' shou+d e as numerous as the dust of the

earth #so that if a man can numer the dust of the

earth( then sha++ th' seed a+so e numered"#

Our critics insist there are not no$ on the face

of the earth four hundred thousand .e$s( thou*h

the' ha'e a+$a's re*arded marria*e as a sacred dut'

Dictionar'" 3@

and made )o)u+ation their *reatest oMect" To these

dicu+ties it is re)+ied that the church( sustituted

for the s'na*o*ue( is the true race of Araham(

$hich is therefore %er' numerous"

It must e admitted that the' do not )ossess

Pa+estine H ut the' ma' one da' )ossess it( as the'

ha%e a+read' conJuered it once( in the rst crusade(

in the time of /ran II" In a $ord( $hen $e %ie$



the O+d Testament $ith the e'es of faith( as a t')e

of the Ne$( a++ either is or $i++ e accom)+ished( and

our $ea= reason must o$ in si+ence"

Fresh dicu+ties are raised res)ectin* Arahams

%ictor' near Sodom" It is said to e inconcei%a+e

that a stran*er $ho dro%e his oc=s to *ra1e in the

nei*horhood of Sodom shou+d( $ith three hundred

and ei*hteen =ee)ers of shee) and o>en( eat a =in*

of Persia( a =in* of Pontus( the =in* of !a'+on(

and the =in* of nations( and )ursue them to Damas7

cus( $hich is more than a hundred mi+es from Sod7

om" 4et such a %ictor' is not im)ossi+e( for $e see

other simi+ar instances in those heroic times $hen

the arm of od $as not shortened" Thin= of id7

eon( $ho( $ith three hundred men( armed $ith three

hundred )itchers and three hundred +am)s( defeated

a $ho+e arm' Thin= of Samson( $ho s+e$ a thou7

sand Phi+istines $ith the Ma$one of an ass

E%en )rofane histor' furnishes +i=e e>am)+es"

Three hundred S)artans sto))ed( for a moment( the

$ho+e arm' of 8er>es( at the )ass of Thermo)'+ae"

It is true that( $ith the e>ce)tion of one man $ho



39 Phi+oso)hica+

ed( the' $ere a++ s+ain( to*ether $ith their =in*(

Leonidas( $hom 8er>es had the aseness to *iet(

instead of raisin* to his memor' the monument

$hich it deser%ed" It is moreo%er true that these

three hundred Lacedaemonians( $ho *uarded a

stee) )assa*e $hich $ou+d scarce+' admit t$o men

areast( $ere su))orted ' an arm' of ten thousand

ree=s( distriuted in ad%anta*eous )osts amon*

the roc=s of Pe+ion and Ossa( four thousand of

$hom( e it oser%ed( $ere stationed ehind this %er'

)assa*e of Thermo)'+ae"

These four thousand )erished after a +on* com7

at" &a%in* een )+aced in a situation more e>)osed

than that of the three hundred S)artans( the' ma'

e said to ha%e acJuired more *+or' in defendin* it

a*ainst the Persian arm'( $hich cut them a++ in

)ieces" Indeed( on the monument after$ards

erected on the e+d of att+e( mention $as made

of these four thousand %ictims( $hereas none are

s)o=en of no$ ut the three hundred"

A sti++ more memora+e( thou*h much +ess ce+e7



rated( action $as that of ft' S$iss( $ho( in :3:(

routed at 0or*arten the $ho+e arm' of the Arch7

du=e Leo)o+d( of Austria( consistin* of t$ent'

thousand men" The' destro'ed the ca%a+r' '

thro$in* do$n stones from a hi*h roc= H and *a%e

time to fourteen hundred &e+%etians to come u) and

nish the defeat of the arm'" This achie%ement at

0or*arten is more ri++iant than that of Thermo)'7

+ae( inasmuch as it is a ner thin* to conJuer than to

Dictionar'" 3;

e conJuered" The ree=s amounted to ten thousand(

$e++ armed H and it $as im)ossi+e that( in a moun7

tainous countr'( the' cou+d ha%e to encounter more

than a hundred thousand Persians at once H it is more

than )roa+e that there $ere not thirt' thousand

Persians en*a*ed" !ut here fourteen hundred S$iss

defeat an arm' of t$ent' thousand men" The

diminished )ro)ortions of the +ess to the *reater

numer a+so increases the )ro)ortion of *+or'" !ut

ho$ far has Araham +ed us These di*ressions

amuse him $ho ma=es and sometimes him $ho reads

them" !esides( e%er' one is de+i*hted to see a *reat



arm' eaten ' a +itt+e one"

SECTION II"

Araham is one of those names $hich $ere

famous in Asia 0inor and Araia( as Thaut $as

amon* the E*')tians( the rst 5oroaster in Persia(

&ercu+es in reece( Or)heus in Thrace( Odin

amon* the northern nations( and so man' others(

=no$n more ' their fame than ' an' authentic

histor'" I s)ea= here of )rofane histor' on+'H as

for that of the .e$s( our masters and our enemies(

$hom $e at once detest and e+ie%e( their histor'

ha%in* e%ident+' een $ritten ' the &o+' host(

$e fee+ to$ard it as $e ou*ht to fee+" We ha%e to

do here on+' $ith the Aras" The' oast of ha%in*

descended from Araham throu*h Ishmae+( e+ie%7

in* that this )atriarch ui+t 0ecca and died there"

The fact is( that the race of Ishmae+ has een in7

GO Phi+oso)hica+

nite+' more fa%ored ' od than has that of .aco"

!oth races( it is true( ha%e )roduced roersH ut



the Araian roers ha%e een )rodi*ious+' su)erior

to the .e$ish ones H the descendants of .aco con7

Juered on+' a %er' sma++ countr'( $hich the' ha%e

+ost( $hereas the descendants of Ishmae+ conJuered

)arts of Asia( of Euro)e( and of Africa( esta+ished

an em)ire more e>tensi%e than that of the Romans(

and dro%e the .e$s from their ca%erns( $hich the'

ca++ed The Land of Promise"

.ud*in* of thin*s on+' ' the e>am)+es to e

found in our modern histories( it $ou+d e dicu+t

to e+ie%e that Araham had een the father of t$o

nations so $ide+' dierent" We are to+d that he

$as orn in Cha+daea( and that he $as the son of a

)oor )otter( $ho earned his read ' ma=in* +itt+e

earthen ido+s" It is hard+' +i=e+' that this son of a

)otter shou+d ha%e )assed throu*h im)ractica+e

deserts and founded the cit' of 0ecca( at the dis7

tance of four hundred +ea*ues( under a tro)ica+ sun"

If he $as a conJueror( he dout+ess cast his e'es on

the ne countr' of Ass'ria" If he $as no more than

a )oor man( he did not found =in*doms aroad"

The !oo= of enesis re+ates that he $as se%ent'7

%e 'ears o+d $hen he $ent out of the +and of &aran

after the death of his father( Terah the )otter H ut



the same oo= a+so te++s us that Terah( ha%in* e7

*otten Araham at the a*e of se%ent' 'ears( +i%ed to

that of t$o hundred and %e H and( after$ard( that

Dictionar'" G:

Araham $ent out of &aran( $hich seems to si*nif'

that it $as after the death of his father"

Either the author did not =no$ ho$ to dis)ose

his narration( or it is c+ear from the !oo= of enesis

itse+f that Araham $as one hundred and thirt'7%e

'ears o+d $hen he Juitted 0eso)otamia" &e $ent

from a countr' $hich is ca++ed ido+atrous to another

ido+atrous countr' named Sichem( in Pa+estine" Wh'

did he Juit the fruitfu+ an=s of the Eu)hrates for a

s)ot so remote( so arren( and so ston' as Sichem It

$as not a )+ace of trade( and $as distant a hundred

+ea*ues from Cha+daea( and deserts +a' et$een" !ut

od chose that Araham shou+d *o this Mourne' H he

chose to sho$ him the +and $hich his descendants

$ere to occu)' se%era+ a*es after him" It is $ith

dicu+t' that the human understandin* com)re7

hends the reasons for such a Mourne'"



Scarce+' had he arri%ed in the +itt+e mountainous

countr' of Sichem( $hen famine com)e++ed him to

Juit it" &e $ent into E*')t $ith his $ife Sarah( to

see= a susistence" The distance from Sichem to

0em)his is t$o hundred +ea*ues" Is it natura+ that

a man shou+d *o so far to as= for corn in a countr'

the +an*ua*e of $hich he did not understand

Tru+' these $ere stran*e Mourne's( underta=en at

the a*e of near+' a hundred and fort' 'ears

&e rou*ht $ith him to 0em)his his $ife( Sarah(

$ho $as e>treme+' 'oun*( and a+most an infant

$hen com)ared $ith himse+f H for she $as on+' si>7

G? Phi+oso)hica+

t'7%e" As she $as %er' handsome( he reso+%ed to

turn her eaut' to account" #Sa'( I )ra' thee( that

thou art m' sister( that it ma' e $e++ $ith me for

th' sa=e"# &e shou+d rather ha%e said to her( #Sa'(

I )ra' thee( that thou art m' dau*hter"# The =in*

fe++ in +o%e $ith the 'oun* Sarah( and *a%e the )re7

tended rother aundance of shee)( o>en( he7asses(



she7asses( came+s( men7ser%ants and maid7ser%antsH

$hich )ro%es that E*')t $as then a )o$erfu+ and

$e++7re*u+ated( and conseJuent+' an ancient =in*7

dom( and that those $ere ma*nicent+' re$arded

$ho came and oered their sisters to the =in*s of

0em)his" The 'outhfu+ Sarah $as ninet' 'ears o+d

$hen od )romised her that( in the course of a 'ear(

she shou+d ha%e a chi+d ' Araham( $ho $as then

a hundred and si>t'"

Araham( $ho $as fond of tra%e++in*( $ent into

the horri+e desert of Kadesh $ith his )re*nant

$ife( e%er 'oun* and e%er )rett'" A =in* of this

desert $as( of course( ca)ti%ated ' Sarah( as the

=in* of E*')t had een" The father of the faithfu+

to+d the same +ie as in E*')t( ma=in* his $ife )ass

for his sister H $hich rou*ht him more shee)( o>en(

men7ser%ants( and maid7ser%ants" It mi*ht e said

that this Araham ecame rich )rinci)a++' ' means

of his $ife" Commentators ha%e $ritten a )rodi7

*ious numer of %o+umes to Mustif' Arahams con7

duct( and to e>)+ain a$a' the errors in chrono+o*'"

To these commentaries $e must refer the readerH

the' are a++ com)osed ' men of nice and acute )er7



Dictionar'" G3

ce)tions( e>ce++ent meta)h'sicians( and ' no means

)edants"

For the rest( this name of !ram( or Aram( $as

famous in .udsea and in Persia" Se%era+ of the

+earned e%en assert that he $as the same +e*is+ator

$hom the ree=s ca++ed 5oroaster" Others sa' that

he $as the !rahma of the Indians( $hich is not dem7

onstrated" !ut it a))ears %er' reasona+e to man'

that this Araham $as a Cha+daean or a Persian( from

$hom the .e$s after$ards oasted of ha%in* de7

scended( as the Fran=s did of their descent from

&ector( and the !ritons from Tua+" It cannot e

denied that the .e$ish nation $ere a %er' modern

horde H that the' did not esta+ish themse+%es on the

orders of Phoenicia unti+ a %er' +ate )eriodH that

the' $ere surrounded ' ancient states( $hose +an7

*ua*e the' ado)ted( recei%in* from them e%en the

name of Israe+( $hich is Cha+daean( from the testi7

mon' of the .e$ F+a%ius .ose)hus himse+f" We

=no$ that the' too= the names of the an*e+s from

the !a'+onians( and that the' ca++ed od ' the

names of E+oi or E+oa( Adonai( .eho%ah or &iao(



after the Phoenicians" It is )roa+e that the' =ne$

the name of Araham or Irahim on+' throu*h the

!a'+onians H for the ancient re+i*ion of a++ the coun7

tries from the Eu)hrates to the O>us $as ca++ed

Kish Irahim or 0i+at Irahim" This is conrmed

' a++ the researches made on the s)ot ' the +earned

&'de"

The .e$s( then( treat their histor' and ancient

GG Phi+oso)hica+

fa+es as their c+othesmen treat their o+d coats

the' turn them and se++ them for ne$ at as hi*h a

)rice as )ossi+e" It is a sin*u+ar instance of human

stu)idit' that $e ha%e so +on* considered the .e$s as

a nation $hich tau*ht a++ others( $hi+e their histo7

rian .ose)hus himse+f confesses the contrar'"

It is dicu+t to )enetrate the shades of antiJuit' H

ut it is e%ident that a++ the =in*doms of Asia $ere

in a %er' ourishin* state efore the $anderin*

horde of Aras( ca++ed .e$s( had a sma++ s)ot of

earth $hich the' ca++ed their o$n $hen the' had



neither a to$n( nor +a$s( nor e%en a >ed re+i*ion"

When( therefore( $e see an ancient rite or an ancient

o)inion esta+ished in E*')t or Asia( and a+so amon*

the .e$s( it is %er' natura+ to su))ose that this sma++(

ne$+' formed( i*norant( stu)id )eo)+e co)ied( as

$e++ as the' $ere a+e( the ancient( ourishin*( and

industrious nation"

It is on this )rinci)+e that $e must Mud*e of

.udaea( !isca'( Corn$a++( etc" 0ost certain+' trium7

)hant Rome did not in an'thin* imitate !isca' or

Corn$a++ H and he must e either %er' i*norant or

a *reat =na%e $ho $ou+d sa' that the .e$s tau*ht

an'thin* to the ree=s"

SECTION III"

It must not e thou*ht that Araham $as =no$n

on+' to the .e$s H on the contrar'( he $as reno$ned

throu*hout Asia" This name( $hich si*nies father

of a )eo)+e in more Orienta+ +an*ua*es than one(

Dictionar'" G



$as *i%en to some inhaitant of Cha+daea from

$hom se%era+ nations ha%e oasted of descendin*"

The )ains $hich the Aras and the .e$s too= to es7

ta+ish their descent from this )atriarch render it

im)ossi+e for e%en the *reatest P'rrhoneans to

dout of there ha%in* een an Araham"

The &ere$ Scri)tures ma=e him the son of Te7

rah( $hi+e the Aras sa' that Tcrah $as his *rand7

father and A1ar his father( in $hich the' ha%e een

fo++o$ed ' se%era+ Christians" The inter)reters

are of fort'7t$o dierent o)inions $ith res)ect to

the 'ear in $hich Araham $as rou*ht into the

$or+d( and I sha++ not ha1ard a fort'7third" It a+so

a))ears( ' the dates( that Araham +i%ed si>t'

'ears +on*er than the te>t a++o$s him H ut mista=es

in chrono+o*' do not destro' the truth of a fact"

Su))osin* e%en that the oo= $hich s)ea=s of Ara7

ham had not een so sacred as $as the +a$( it is not

therefore +ess certain that Araham e>isted" The

.e$s distin*uished oo=s $ritten ' ins)ired men

from oo=s com)osed ' )articu+ar ins)iration"

&o$( indeed( can it e e+ie%ed that od dictated

fa+se dates

Phi+o( the .e$ of Suidas( re+ates that Terah( the



father or *randfather of Araham( $ho d$e+t at /r

in Cha+daea( $as a )oor man $ho *ained a +i%e+ihood

' ma=in* +itt+e ido+s( and that he $as himse+f an

ido+ater" If so( that ancient re+i*ion of the Saeans(

$ho had no ido+s( ut $orshi))ed the hea%ens( had

)ot( then( )erha)s( een esta+ished in Cha+d";3 H or"

GB Phi+oso)hica+

if it )re%ai+ed in one )art of the countr'( it is %er'

)roa+e that ido+atr' $as )redominant in the rest"

It seems that in those times each +itt+e horde had

its re+i*ion( as each fami+' had its o$n )ecu+iar cus7

tomsH a++ $ere to+erated( and a++ $ere )eacea+'

confounded" Laan( the father7in7+a$ of .aco( had

ido+s" Each c+an $as )erfect+' $i++in* that the

nei*horin* c+an shou+d ha%e its *ods( and contented

itse+f $ith e+ie%in* that its o$n $ere the mi*htiest"

The Scri)ture sa's that the od of the .e$s( $ho

intended to *i%e them the +and of Canaan( com7

manded Araham to +ea%e the ferti+e countr' of

Cha+daea and *o to$ards Pa+estine( )romisin* him

that in his seed a++ the nations of the earth shou+d e



+essed" It is for theo+o*ians to e>)+ain( ' a++e*or'

and m'stica+ sense( ho$ a++ the nations of the earth

$ere to e +essed in a seed from $hich the' did not

descend( since this much7to7e7%enerated m'stica+

sense cannot e made the oMect of a research )ure+'

critica+" A short time after these )romises Ara7

hams fami+' $as aicted ' famine( and $ent into

E*')t for corn" It is sin*u+ar that the &ere$s

ne%er $ent into E*')t( e>ce)t $hen )ressed ' hun7

*erH for .aco after$ards sent his chi+dren on the

same errand"

Araham( $ho $as then %er' o+d( $ent this Mour7

ne' $ith his $ife Sarah( a*ed si>t'7%e - she $as

%er' handsome( and Araham feared that the E*')7

tians( smitten ' her charms( $ou+d =i++ him in order

to enMo' her transcendent eauties - he )ro)osed to

Dictionar'" G@

her that she shou+d )ass for his sister( etc" &uman

nature must at that time ha%e )ossessed a %i*or

$hich time and +u>ur' ha%e since %er' much $ea=7

ened" This $as the o)inion of a++ the ancientsH it



has een asserted that &e+en $as se%ent' $hen she

$as carried o ' Paris" That $hich Araham had

foreseen came to )ass H the E*')tian 'outh found his

$ife charmin*( not$ithstandin* her si>t'7%e 'ears H

the =in* himse+f fe++ in +o%e $ith her( and )+aced her

in his sera*+io( thou*h( )roa+'( he had 'oun*er

$omen thereH ut the Lord )+a*ued the =in* and

his sera*+io $ith %er' *reat sores" The te>t does

not te++ us ho$ the =in* came to =no$ that this dan7

*erous eaut' $as Arahams $ifeH ut it seems

that he did come to =no$ it( and restored her"

Sarahs eaut' must ha%e een una+tera+eH for

t$ent'7%e 'ears after$ards( $hen she $as ninet'

'ears o+d( )re*nant( and tra%e++in* $ith her husand

throu*h the dominions of a =in* of Phoenicia named

Aime+ech( Araham( $ho had not 'et corrected

himse+f( made her a second time )ass for his sister"

The Phoenician =in* $as as sensi+e to her attrac7

tions as the =in* of E*')t had een H ut od a)7

)eared to this Aime+ech in a dream( and threatened

him $ith death if he touched his ne$ mistress" It

must e confessed that Sarahs conduct $as as e>7

traordinar' as the +astin* nature of her charms"

The sin*u+arit' of these ad%entures $as )roa+'



the reason $h' the .e$s had not the same sort of

faith in their histories as the' had in their Le%iticus"

G9 Phi+oso)hica+

There $as not a sin*+e iota of their +a$ in $hich the'

did not e+ie%eH ut the historica+ )art of their

Scri)tures did not demand the same res)ect" Their

conduct in re*ard to their ancient oo=s ma' e com7

)ared to that of the En*+ish( $ho recei%ed the +a$s

of St" Ed$ard $ithout aso+ute+' e+ie%in* that St"

Ed$ard cured the scrofu+aH or to that of the Ro7

mans( $ho( $hi+e the' oe'ed their )rimiti%e +a$s(

$ere not o+i*ed to e+ie%e in the mirac+es of the

sie%e ++ed $ith $ater( the shi) dra$n to the shore

' a %esta+s *ird+e( the stone cut $ith a ra1or( and

so forth" Therefore the historian .ose)hus( thou*h

stron*+' attached to his form of $orshi)( +ea%es his

readers at +iert' to e+ie%e Must so much as the'

choose of the ancient )rodi*ies $hich he re+ates"

For the same reason the Sadducees $ere )ermitted

not to e+ie%e in the an*e+s( a+thou*h the an*e+s are

so often s)o=en of in the O+d Testament H ut these

same Sadducees $ere not )ermitted to ne*+ect the



)rescried feasts( fasts( and ceremonies" This )art

of Arahams histor' the Mourne's into E*')t and

PhoeniciaQ )ro%es that *reat =in*doms $ere a+read'

esta+ished( $hi+e the .e$ish nation e>isted in a sin7

*+e fami+' H that there a+read' $ere +a$s( since $ith7

out them a *reat =in*dom cannot e>ist H and conse7

Juent+' that the +a$ of 0oses( $hich $as )osterior(

$as not the rst +a$" It is not necessar' for a +a$

to e di%ine( that it shou+d e the most ancient of a++"

od is undouted+' the master of time" It $ou+d(

it is true( seem more conforma+e to the faint +i*ht

Dictionar'" G;

of reason that od( ha%in* to *i%e a +a$( shou+d

ha%e *i%en it at the rst to a++ man=ind H ut if it e

)ro%ed that &e )roceeds in a dierent $a'( it is not

for us to Juestion &im"

The remainder of Arahams histor' is suMect to

*reat dicu+ties" od( $ho freJuent+' a))eared to

and made se%era+ treaties $ith him( one da' sent

three an*e+s to him in the %a++e' of 0amre" The

)atriarch *a%e them read( %ea+( utter( and mi+= to



eat" The three s)irits dined( and after dinner the'

sent for Sarah( $ho had a=ed the read" One of

the an*e+s( $hom the te>t ca++s the Lord( the Eterna+(

)romised Sarah that( in the course of a 'ear( she

shou+d ha%e a son" Sarah( $ho $as then ninet'7

four( $hi+e her husand $as near+' a hundred(

+au*hed at the )romise a )roof that Sarah con7

fessed her decre)itude a )roof that( accordin* to

the Scri)ture itse+f( human nature $as not then %er'

dierent from $hat it is no$" Ne%erthe+ess( the fo+7

+o$in* 'ear( as $e ha%e a+read' seen( this a*ed $o7

man( after ecomin* )re*nant( ca)ti%ated Kin*

Aime+ech" Certes( to consider these stories as

natura+( $e must either ha%e a s)ecies of understand7

in* Juite dierent from that $hich $e ha%e at )res7

ent( or re*ard e%er' trait in the +ife of Araham as

a mirac+e( or e+ie%e that it is on+' an a++e*or' H ut

$hiche%er $a' $e turn( $e cannot esca)e emar7

rassment" For instance( $hat are $e to ma=e of

ods )romise to Araham that he $ou+d *i%e to

him and his )osterit' a++ the +and of Canaan( $hich

Vo+" 7G



< Phi+oso)hica+

no Cha+daean e%er )ossessed This is one of the dif7

cu+ties $hich it is im)ossi+e to so+%e"

It seems astonishin* that od( after causin* Isaac

to e orn of a centenar' father and a $oman of

ninet'7%e( shou+d after$ards ha%e ordered that

father to murder the son $hom he had *i%en him

contrar' to e%er' e>)ectation" This stran*e order

from od seems to sho$ that( at the time $hen this

histor' $as $ritten( the sacrice of human %ictims

$as customar' amon*st the .e$s( as it after$ards

ecame in other nations( as $itness the %o$ of .e)h7

thah" !ut it ma' e said that the oedience of Ara7

ham( $ho $as read' to sacrice his son to the od

$ho had *i%en him( is an a++e*or' of the resi*na7

tion $hich man o$es to the orders of the Su)reme

!ein*"

There is one remar= $hich it is )articu+ar+' im7

)ortant to ma=e on the histor' of this )atriarch re7

*arded as the father of the .e$s and the Aras"

&is )rinci)a+ chi+dren $ere Isaac( orn of his $ife

' a miracu+ous fa%or of Pro%idence( and Ishmae+(

orn of his ser%ant" It $as in Isaac that the race of



the )atriarch $as +essed H 'et Isaac $as father on+'

of an unfortunate and contem)ti+e )eo)+e( $ho $ere

for a +on* )eriod s+a%es( and ha%e for a sti++ +on*er

)eriod een dis)ersed" Ishmae+( on the contrar'( $as

the father of the Aras( $ho( in course of time(

esta+ished the em)ire of the ca+i)hs( one of the most

)o$erfu+ and most e>tensi%e in the $or+d"

The 0ussu+mans ha%e a *reat re%erence for

Dictionar'" :

Araham( $hom the' ca++ Irahim" Those $ho e7

+ie%e him to ha%e een uried at &eron( ma=e a )i+7

*rima*e thither( $hi+e those $ho thin= that his

tom is at 0ecca( *o and )a' their homa*e to him

there"

Some of the ancient Persians e+ie%ed that Ara7

ham $as the same as 5oroaster" It has een $ith

him as $ith most of the founders of the Eastern

nations( to $hom %arious names and %arious ad%en7

tures ha%e een attriuted H ut it a))ears ' the

Scri)ture te>t that he $as one of those $anderin*



Aras $ho had no >ed haitation" We see him

orn at /r in Cha+dsea( *oin* rst to &aran( then

into Pa+estine( then into E*')t( then into Phoenicia(

and +ast+' forced to u' a *ra%e at &eron"

One of the most remar=a+e circumstances of his

+ife $as( that at the a*e of ninet'( efore he had e7

*otten Isaac( he caused himse+f( his son Ishmae+( and

a++ his ser%ants to e circumcised" It seems that he

had ado)ted this idea from the E*')tians" It is

dicu+t to determine the ori*in of such an o)eration H

ut it is most +i=e+' that it $as )erformed in order

to )re%ent the auses of )uert'" !ut $h' shou+d

a man under*o this o)eration at the a*e of a hun7

dred

On the other hand it is asserted that on+' the

)riests $ere ancient+' distin*uished in E*')t ' this

custom" It $as a usa*e of *reat antiJuit' in Africa

and )art of Asia for the most ho+' )ersona*es to

)resent their %iri+e memer to e =issed ' the $o7

? Phi+oso)hica+



men $hom the' met" The or*ans of *eneration $ere

+oo=ed u)on as somethin* no+e and sacred as a

s'mo+ of di%ine )o$er - it $as customar' to s$ear

' them H and( $hen ta=in* an oath to another )er7

son( to +a' the hand on his testic+es" It $as )erha)s

from this ancient custom that the' after$ards re7

cei%ed their name( $hich si*nies $itnesses( ecause

the' $ere thus made a testimon' and a )+ed*e"

When Araham sent his ser%ant to as= Reecca for

his son Isaac( the ser%ant )+aced his hand on Ara7

hams *enita+s( $hich has een trans+ated ' the

$ord thi*h"

!' this $e see ho$ much the manners of remote

antiJuit' diered from ours" In the e'es of a )hi7

+oso)her it is no more astonishin* that men shou+d

former+' ha%e s$orn ' that )art than ' the head H

nor is it astonishin* that those $ho $ished to dis7

tin*uish themse+%es from other men shou+d ha%e

testied ' this %enerated )ortion of the human )er7

son"

The !oo= of enesis te++s us that circumcision

$as a co%enant et$een od and Araham H and e>7

)ress+' adds( that $hosoe%er sha++ not e circum7

cised in his house( sha++ e )ut to death" 4et $e are



not to+d that Isaac $as circumcisedH nor is circum7

cision a*ain s)o=en of unti+ the time of 0oses"

We sha++ conc+ude this artic+e $ith one more o7

ser%ation( $hich is( that Araham( after ha%in* '

Sarah and &a*ar t$o sons( $ho ecame each the

father of a *reat nation( had si> sons ' Keturah(

Dictionar'" 3

$ho sett+ed in AraiaH ut their )osterit' $ere not

famous"

A!/SE"

A VICE attached to a++ the customs( to a++ the +a$s(

to a++ the institutions of man - the detai+ is too %ast

to e contained in an' +irar'"

States are *o%erned ' auses" 0a>imus i++e est

Jui minimis ur*etur" It mi*ht e said to the Chinese(

to the .a)anese( to the En*+ish 'our *o%ernment

s$arms $ith auses( $hich 'ou do not correct

The Chinese $i++ re)+' - We ha%e e>isted as a )eo)+e



for %e thousand 'ears( and at this da' are )erha)s

the most fortunate nation on earth( ecause $e are

the most tranJui+" The .a)anese $i++ sa' near+' the

same" The En*+ish $i++ ans$er - We are )o$erfu+

at sea( and )ros)erous on +and H )erha)s in ten thou7

sand 'ears $e sha++ rin* our usa*es to )erfection"

The *rand secret is( to e in a etter condition than

others( e%en $ith enormous auses"

A!/SE OF WORDS"

!OOKS( +i=e con%ersation( rare+' *i%e us an' )re7

cise ideas - nothin* is so common as to read and

con%erse un)rota+'"

We must here re)eat $hat Loc=e has so stron*+'

ur*ed Dene 'our terms"

A Murisconsu+t( in his crimina+ institute( an7

nounces that the non7oser%ance of Sunda's and

ho+ida's is treason a*ainst the Di%ine 0aMest'"

G Phi+oso)hica+



Treason a*ainst the Di%ine 0aMest' *i%es an idea of

the most enormous of crimes( and the most dread7

fu+ of chastisements" !ut $hat constitutes the of7

fence To ha%e missed %es)ers a thin* $hich

ma' ha))en to the est man in the $or+d"

In a++ dis)utes on +iert'( one reasoner *enera++'

understands one thin*( and his ad%ersar' another"

A third comes in $ho understands neither the one

nor the other( nor is himse+f understood" In these

dis)utes( one has in his head the )o$er of actin* H a

second( the )o$er of $i++in* H a third( the desire of

e>ecutin* H each re%o+%es in his o$n circ+e( and the'

ne%er meet" It is the same $ith Juarre+s aout *race"

Who can understand its nature( its o)erations( the

sucienc' $hich is not sucient( and the ecac'

$hich is ineectua+"

The $ords sustantia+ form $ere )ronounced for

t$o thousand 'ears $ithout su**estin* the +east

notion" For these( )+astic natures ha%e een su7

stituted( ut sti++ $ithout an'thin* ein* *ained"

A tra%e++er( sto))ed on his $a' ' a torrent( as=s

a %i++a*er on the o))osite an= to sho$ him the

ford - #o to the ri*ht # shouts the countr'man" &e



ta=es the ri*ht and is dro$ned" The other runs u)

cr'in* - #Oh ho$ unfortunate I did not te++ him

to *o to his ri*ht( ut to mine #

The $or+d is fu++ of these misunderstandin*s"

&o$ $i++ a Nor$e*ian( $hen readin* this formu+a -

Ser%ant of the ser%ants of odH disco%er that it is

Dictionar'"

the !isho) of !isho)s( and Kin* of Kin*s $ho

s)ea=s

At the time $hen the #Fra*ments of Petronius#

made a *reat noise in the +iterar' $or+d( 0eio7

mius( a noted +earned man of Liiec=( read in the

)rinted +etter of another +earned man of !o+o*na-

#We ha%e here an entire Petrcnius( $hich I ha%e

seen $ith m' o$n e'es and admired"# &aemus hie

Petronium inte*rum( Juern %idi meis ocu+is non sine

admiratione" &e immediate+' set out for Ita+'(

hastened to !o+o*na( $ent to the +irarian Ca))oni(

and as=ed him if it $ere true that the' had the entire

Petronius at !o+o*na" Ca))oni ans$ered that it



$as a fact $hich had +on* een )u+ic" #Can I see

this Petronius !e so *ood as to sho$ him to me"#

#Nothin* is more eas'(# said Ca))oni" &e then

too= him to the church in $hich the od' of St" Pe7

tronius $as +aid" 0eiomius ordered horses and

ed"

If the .esuit Danie+ too= a $ar+i=e aot( aa7

tern martia+em( for the aot 0artia+( a hundred his7

torians ha%e fa++en into sti++ *reater mista=es" The

.esuit dOr+eans( in his #Re%o+utions of En*+and(#

$rote indierent+' Northam)ton or Southam)ton(

on+' mista=in* the north for the south( or %ice %ersa"

0eta)h'sica+ terms( ta=en in their )ro)er sense(

ha%e sometimes determined the o)inion of t$ent'

nations" E%er' one =no$s the meta)hor of Isaiah(

&o$ hast thou fa++en from hea%en( thou star $hich

B Phi+oso)hica+

rose in the mornin* This discourse $as ima*ined

to ha%e een addressed to the de%i+ H and as the &e7

re$ $ord ans$erin* to the )+anet Venus $as ren7



dered in Latin ' the $ord Lucifer( the de%i+ has

e%er "since een ca++ed Lucifer"

0uch ridicu+e has een esto$ed on the #Chart

of the Tender Passion# ' 0d++e" Cuderi" The +o%ers

emar= on the ri%er TendreH the' dine at Tendre

sur Estime( su) at Tendre sur Inc+ination( s+ee) at

Tendre sur Desir( nd themse+%es the ne>t mornin*

at Tendre sur Passion( and +ast+' at Tendre sur

Tendre" These ideas ma' e ridicu+ous( es)ecia++'

$hen C+e+ia( &oratius Codes( and other rude and

austere Romans set out on the %o'a*e H ut this *eo7

*ra)hica+ chart at +east sho$s us that +o%e has %ari7

ous +od*in*s( and that the same $ord does not a+7

$a's si*nif' the same thin*" There is a )rodi*ious

dierence et$een the +o%e of TarJuin and that of

Ce+adon et$een Da%ids +o%e for .onathan( $hich

$as stron*er than that of $omen( and the Ae Des7

fontaines +o%e for +itt+e chimne'7s$ee)ers"

The most sin*u+ar instance of this ause of $ords

these %o+untar' eJui%oJues these misunderstand7

in*s $hich ha%e caused so man' Juarre+s is the

Chinese Kin*7tien" The missionaries ha%in* %io7

+ent dis)utes aout the meanin* of this $ord( the

Court of Rome sent a Frenchman( named 0ai*rot(



$hom the' made the ima*inar' isho) of a )ro%ince

in China( to adMust the dierence" 0ai*rot did not

=no$ a $ord of ChineseH ut the em)eror dei*ned

Dictionar'" @

to *rant that he shou+d e to+d $hat he understood

' Kin*7tien" 0ai*rot $ou+d not e+ie%e $hat $as

to+d him( ut caused the em)eror of China to e con7

demned at Rome

The ause of $ords is an ine>hausti+e suMect"

In histor'( in mora+it'( in Muris)rudence( in medicine(

ut es)ecia++' in theo+o*'( e$are of ami*uit'"

ACADE04"

ACADE0IES are to uni%ersities as maturit' is to

chi+dhood( orator' to *rammar( or )o+iteness to the

rst +essons in ci%i+it'" Academies( not ein* sti7

)endiar'( shou+d e entire+' free H such $ere the acad7

emies of Ita+'H such is the French Academ'H and

such( more )articu+ar+'( is the Ro'a+ Societ' of Lon7

don"



The French Academ'( $hich formed itse+f( re7

cei%ed( it is true( +etters )atent from Louis 8III"(

ut $ithout an' sa+ar'( and conseJuent+' $ithout

an' suMectionH hence it $as that the rst men in

the =in*dom( and e%en )rinces( sou*ht admission

into this i++ustrious od'" The Societ' of London

has )ossessed the same ad%anta*e"

The ce+erated Co+ert( ein* a memer of the

French Academ'( em)+o'ed some of his rethren to

com)ose inscri)tions and de%ices for the )u+ic

ui+din*s" This assem+'( to $hich !oi+eau and Ra7

cine after$ards e+on*ed( soon ecame an academ'

of itse+f" The esta+ishment of this Academ' of In7

scri)tions( no$ ca++ed that of the !1++es7Lettres( ma'(

9 Phi+oso)hica+

indeed( e dated from the 'ear :BB:( and that of the

Academ' of Sciences from :BBB" We are indeted

for oth esta+ishments to the same minister( $ho

contriuted in so man' $a's to the s)+endor of the

a*e of Louis 8IV"



After the deaths of .ean !a)tiste Co+ert and the

0arJuis de Lou%ois( $hen Count de Pontchartrain(

secretar' of state( had the de)artment of Paris( he

intrusted the *o%ernment of the ne$ academies to

his ne)he$( the Ae !i*non" Then $ere rst de7

%ised honorar' fe++o$shi)s reJuirin* no +earnin*(

and $ithout remuneration H )+aces $ith sa+aries dis7

a*reea+' distin*uished from the formerH fe++o$7

shi)s $ithout sa+aries H and scho+arshi)s( a tit+e sti++

more disa*reea+e( $hich has since een su))ressed"

The Academ' of the !e++es7Lettres $as )ut on the

same footin* H oth sumitted to the immediate con7

tro+ of the secretar' of state( and to the re%o+tin* dis7

tinction of honoraries( )ensionaries( and )u)i+s"

The Ae !i*non %entured to )ro)ose the same

re*u+ation to the French Academ'( of $hich he $as

a memer H ut he $as heard $ith unanimous indi*7

nation" The +east o)u+ent in the Academ' $ere the

rst to reMect his oers( and to )refer +iert' to )en7

sions and honors" The Ae !i*non( $ho( in the

+auda+e intention of doin* *ood( had dea+t too

free+' $ith the no+e sentiments of his rethren(

ne%er a*ain set his foot in the French Academ'"



The $ord Academ' ecame so ce+erated that

$hen Lu++i( $ho $as a sort of fa%orite( otained the

Dictionar'" ;

esta+ishment of his O)era( in :B;?( he had interest

enou*h to *et inserted in the )atent( thdt it 7$as a

Ro'a+ Academ' of 0usic( in $hich Ladies and en7

t+emen mi*ht sin* $ithout demeanin* themse+%es"

&e did not confer the same honor on the dancers H

the )u+ic( ho$e%er( has a+$a's continued to *o to

the O)era( ut ne%er to the Academ' of 0usic"

It is =no$n that the $ord Academ'( orro$ed

from the ree=s( ori*ina++' si*nied a societ' or

schoo+ of )hi+oso)h' at Athens( $hich met in a *ar7

den eJueathed to it ' Academus" The Ita+ians

$ere the rst $ho instituted such societies after the

re%i%a+ of +ettersH the Academ' De+ia Crusca is of

the si>teenth centur'" Academies $ere after$ards

esta+ished in e%er' to$n $here the sciences $ere

cu+ti%ated" The Societ' of London has ne%er ta=en

the tit+e of Academ'"



The )ro%incia+ academies ha%e een of si*na+ ad7

%anta*e" The' ha%e *i%en irth to emu+ation( forced

'outh to +aor( introduced them to a course of *ood

readin*( dissi)ated the i*norance and )reMudices of

some of our to$ns( fostered a s)irit of )o+iteness(

and( as far as it is )ossi+e( destro'ed )edantr'"

Scarce+' an'thin* has een $ritten a*ainst the

French Academ'( e>ce)t fri%o+ous and insi)id )+eas7

antries" St" E%remonds comed' of #The Acade7

micians# had some re)utation in its timeH ut a

)roof of the +itt+e merit it )ossessed is that it is no$

for*otten( $hereas the *ood satires of !oi+eau are

immorta+"

B< Phi+oso)hica+

ADA0"

SECTION I"

So 0/C& has een said and so much $ritten con7

cernin* Adam( his $ife( the )re7Adamites( etc"( and

the rais ha%e )ut forth so man' id+e stories re7



s)ectin* Adam( and it is so du++ to re)eat $hat oth7

ers ha%e said efore( that I sha++ here ha1ard an idea

entire+' ne$ H one( at +east( $hich is not to e found

in an' ancient author( father of the church( )reacher(

theo+o*ian( critic( or scho+ar $ith $hom I am ac7

Juainted" I mean the )rofound secrec' $ith res)ect

to Adam $hich $as oser%ed throu*hout the hai7

ta+e earth( Pa+estine on+' e>ce)ted( unti+ the time

$hen the .e$ish oo=s e*an to e =no$n in A+e>7

andria( and $ere trans+ated into ree= under one of

the Pto+emies" Sti++ the' $ere %er' +itt+e =no$nH

for +ar*e oo=s $ere %er' rare and %er' dear" !e7

sides( the .e$s of .erusa+em $ere so incensed a*ainst

those of A+e>andria( +oaded them $ith so man' re7

)roaches for ha%in* trans+ated their !i+e into a )ro7

fane ton*ue( ca++ed them so man' i++ names( and

cried so +oud+' to the Lord( that the A+e>andrian

.e$s concea+ed their trans+ation as much as )ossi+e H

it $as so secret that no ree= or Roman author

s)ea=s of it efore the time of the Em)eror Aure7

an"

The historian .ose)hus confesses( in his ans$er

to A))ian( that the .e$s had not +on* had an' in7

tercourse $ith other nations - #We inhait(# sa's he(



Dictionar'" B :

#a countr' distant from the seaH $e do not a))+'

ourse+%es to commerce( nor ha%e $e an' communi7

cation $ith other nations" Is it to e $ondered at

that our )eo)+e( d$e++in* so far from the sea( and

aectin* ne%er to $rite( ha%e een so +itt+e =no$n #

&ere it $i++ )roa+' e as=ed ho$ .ose)hus

cou+d sa' that his nation aected ne%er to $rite an'7

thin*( $hen the' had t$ent'7t$o canonica+ oo=s(

$ithout rec=onin* the #Tar *um# ' On=e+os" !ut it

must e considered that t$ent'7t$o sma++ %o+umes

$ere %er' +itt+e $hen "com)ared $ith the mu+titude

of oo=s )reser%ed in the +irar' of A+e>andria( ha+f

of $hich $ere urned in Caesars $ar"

It is certain that the .e$s had $ritten and read

%er' +itt+eH that the' $ere )rofound+' i*norant of

astronom'( *eometr'( *eo*ra)h'( and )h'sics H that

the' =ne$ nothin* of the histor' of other nations H

and that in A+e>andria the' rst e*an to +earn"

Their +an*ua*e $as a ararous mi>ture of ancient

Phoenician and corru)ted Cha+dee H it $as so )oor



that se%era+ moods $ere $antin* in the conMu*ation

of their %ers"

0oreo%er( as the' communicated neither their

oo=s nor the tit+es of them to an' forei*ner( no one

on earth e>ce)t themse+%es had e%er heard of Adam(

or E%e( or Ae+( or Cain( or Noah" Araham a+one

$as( in course of time( =no$n to the Orienta+ na7

tions H ut no ancient )eo)+e admitted that Araham

$as the root of the .e$ish nation"

Such are the secrets of Pro%idence( that the father

B? Phi+oso)hica+

and mother of the human race ha%e e%er een tota++'

un=no$n to their descendantsH so that the names

of Adam and E%e are to e found in no ancient

author( either of reece( of Rome( of Persia( or of

S'ria( nor e%en amon* the Aras( unti+ near the

time of 0ahomet" It $as ods )+easure that the

ori*in of the *reat fami+' of the $or+d shou+d e

concea+ed from a++ ut the sma++est and most un7

fortunate )art of that fami+'"



&o$ is it that Adam and E%e ha%e een un7

=no$n to a++ their chi+dren &o$ cou+d it e that

neither in E*')t nor in !a'+on $as an' trace

an' tradition of our rst )arents to e found Wh'

$ere the' not mentioned ' Or)heus( ' Linus( or

' Tham'ris For if the' had said ut one $ord of

them( it $ou+d undouted+' ha%e een cau*ht '

&esiod( and es)ecia++' ' &omer( $ho s)ea= of

e%er'thin* e>ce)t the authors of the human race"

C+ement of A+e>andria( $ho co++ected so man'

ancient testimonies( $ou+d not ha%e fai+ed to Juote

an' )assa*e in $hich mention had een made of

Adam and E%e" Euseius( in his #/ni%ersa+ &is7

tor'(# has e>amined e%en the most doutfu+ testi7

monies( and $ou+d assured+' ha%e made the most of

the sma++est a++usion( or a))earance of an a++usion( to

our rst )arents" It is( then( sucient+' c+ear that

the' $ere a+$a's utter+' un=no$n to the nations"

We do( it is true( nd amon* the !rahmins( in

the oo= entit+ed the #E1our%eidam(# the names of

Adimo and of Procriti( his $ife" !ut thou*h Adimo



Dictionar'" B3

has some +itt+e resem+ance to our Adam( the In7

dians sa'- #We $ere a *reat )eo)+e esta+ished on

the an=s of the Indus and the an*es man' a*es

efore the &ere$ horde mo%ed to$ards the .ordan"

The E*')tians( the Persians( and the Aras came

to us for $"isdom and s)ices $hen the .e$s $ere un7

=no$n to the rest of man=ind" We cannot ha%e

ta=en our Adimo from their AdamH our Procriti

does not in the +east resem+e E%eH esides( their

histor' and ours are entire+' dierent"

#0oreo%er( the Veidam( on $hich the Esour7

%eidam is a commentar'( is e+ie%ed ' us to ha%e

een com)osed at a more remote )eriod of antiJuit'

than the .e$ish oo=sH and the + Veidam itse+f is a

ne$er +a$ *i%en to the !rahmins( fteen hundred

'ears after their rst +a$( ca++ed Shasta or Shasta7

ad"#

Such( or near+' such( are the ans$ers $hich the

!rahmins of the )resent da' ha%e often made to the

cha)+ains of merchant %esse+s $ho ha%e ta+=ed to

them of Adam and E%e( and Cain and Ae+( $hen

the traders of Euro)e ha%e *one( $ith arms in their



hands( to u' their s)ices and +a' $aste their coun7

tr'"

The Phoenician Sanchoniathon( $ho certain+'

+i%ed efore the )eriod at $hich $e )+ace 0oses(

and $ho is Juoted ' Euseius as an authentic

$riter( *i%es ten *enerations to the human race( as

does 0oses( do$n to the time of Noah H ut( in these

ten *enerations( he mentions neither Adam nor E%e(

BG Phi+oso)hica+

nor an' of their descendants( not e%en Noah him7

se+f" The names( accordin* to the ree= trans+a7

tion ' Phi+o of !i+os( are Lon( enos( Pho>( Li7

an( /sou( &a+ieus( Chrisor( Tecnites( A*ro%e(

AmineH these are the rst ten *enerations"

We do not see the name of Noah or ef Adam in

an' of the ancient d'nasties of E*')t - the' are not

to e found amon* the Cha+daeans H in a $ord( the

$ho+e earth has een si+ent res)ectin* them" It

must e o$ned that such a si+ence is un)ara++e+ed"

E%er' )eo)+e has attriuted to itse+f some ima*inar'



ori*in( 'et none has a))roached the true one" We

cannot com)rehend ho$ the father of a++ nations has

so +on* een un=no$n( $hi+e in the natura+ course

of thin*s his name shou+d ha%e een carried from

mouth to mouth to the farthest corners of the earth"

Let us hum+e ourse+%es to the decrees of that

Pro%idence $hich has )ermitted so astonishin* an

o+i%ion" A++ $as m'sterious and concea+ed in the

nation *uided ' od &imse+f( $hich )re)ared the

$a' for Christianit'( and $as the $i+d o+i%e on

$hich the fruitfu+ one has een *rafted" That the

names of the authors of man=ind shou+d e un7

=no$n to man=ind is a m'ster' of the hi*hest order"

I $i++ %enture to arm that it has reJuired a

mirac+e thus to shut the e'es and ears of a++ nations

to destro' e%er' monument( e%er' memoria+ of

their rst father" What $ou+d Caesar( Anton'(

Crassus( Pom)e'( Cicero( 0arce++us( or 0ete++us

ha%e thou*ht( if a )oor .e$( $hi+e se++in* them

Dictionar'" B



a+m( had said( #We a++ descend from one father(

named Adam"# A++ the Roman senate $ou+d ha%e

cried( #Sho$ us our *enea+o*ica+ tree"# Then the

.e$ $ou+d ha%e dis)+a'ed his ten *enerations( do$n

to the time of Noah( and the secret of the uni%ersa+

de+u*e" The senate $ou+d ha%e as=ed him ho$

man' )ersons $ere in the ar= to feed a++ the ani7

ma+s for ten $ho+e months( and durin* the fo++o$7

in* 'ear in $hich no food $ou+d e )roduced The

)edd+er $ou+d ha%e said( #We $ere ei*ht Noah and

his $ife( their three sons( Shem( &am( and .a)het(

and their $i%es" A++ this fami+' descended in a ri*ht

+ine from Adam"#

Cicero( $ou+d( dout+ess( ha%e inJuired for the

*reat monuments( the indis)uta+e testimonies $hich

Noah and his chi+dren had +eft of our common fa7

ther" #After the de+u*e(# he $ou+d ha%e said( #the

$ho+e $or+d $ou+d ha%e resounded $ith the names

of Adam and Noah( one the father( the other the

restorer of e%er' race" These names $ou+d ha%e

een in e%er' mouth as soon as men cou+d s)ea=( on

e%er' )archment as soon as the' cou+d $rite( on the

door of e%er' house as soon as the' cou+d ui+d( on

e%er' tem)+e( on e%er' statue H and ha%e 'ou =no$n

so *reat a secret( 'et concea+ed it from us# The



.e$ $ou+d ha%e ans$ered- #It is ecause $e are

)ure and 'ou are im)ure"# The Roman senate

$ou+d ha%e +au*hed #and the .e$ $ou+d ha%e een

$hi))edH so much are men attached to their

)reMudices

Vo+ V e"

BB Phi+oso)hica+

SECTION II"

The )ious 0adame de !ouri*non $as sure that

Adam $as an herma)hrodite( +i=e the rst men of

the di%ine P+ato" od had re%ea+ed a *reat secret

to her H ut as I ha%e not had the same re%e+ation( I

sha++ sa' nothin* of the matter"

The .e$ish rais ha%e read Adams oo=s( and

=no$ the names of his )rece)tor and his second

$ife H ut as I ha%e not read our rst )arents oo=s(

I sha++ remain si+ent" Some acute and %er' +earned

)ersons are Juite astonished $hen the' read the

#Veidam# of the ancient !rahmins( to nd that the



rst man $as created in India( and ca++ed Adimo(

$hich si*nies the e*etter( and his $ife( Procriti(

si*nif'in* +ife" The' sa' the sect of the !rahmins

is incontesta+' more ancient than that of the .e$s H

that it $as not unti+ a +ate )eriod that the .e$s cou+d

$rite in the Canaanitish +an*ua*e( since it $as not

unti+ +ate that the' esta+ished themse+%es in the +it7

t+e countr' of Canaan" The' sa' the Indians $ere

a+$a's in%entors( and the .e$s a+$a's imitatorsH

the Indians a+$a's in*enious( and the .e$s a+$a's

rude" The' sa' it is dicu+t to e+ie%e that Adam(

$ho $as fair and had hair on his head( $as father

to the ne*roes( $ho are entire+' +ac=( and ha%e

+ac= $oo+" What( indeed( do the' not sa' As for

me( I sa' nothin*H I +ea%e these researches to the

Re%erend Father !erru'er of the Societ' of .esus"

&e is the most )erfect Innocent I ha%e e%er =no$n H

Dictionar'" B@

the oo= has een urned( as that of a man $ho

$ished to turn the !i+e into ridicu+eH ut I am

Juite sure he had no such $ic=ed end in %ie$"



SECTION III"

The a*e for inJuirin* serious+' $hether or not

=no$+ed*e $as infused into Adam had )assed 'H

tose $ho so +on* a*itated the Juestion had no

=no$+ed*e( either infused or acJuired" It is as di7

cu+t to =no$ at $hat time the !oo= of enesis( $hich

s)ea=s of Adam( $as $ritten( as it is to =no$ the

date of the #Veidam(# of the #Sans=rit(# or an' other

of the ancient Asiatic oo=s" It is im)ortant to re7

mar= that the .e$s $ere not )ermitted to read the

rst cha)ter of enesis efore the' $ere t$ent'7%e

'ears o+d" 0an' rais ha%e re*arded the forma7

tion of Adam and E%e and their ad%enture as an

a++e*or'" E%er' ce+erated nation of antiJuit' has

ima*ined some simi+ar one H and( ' a sin*u+ar con7

currence( $hich mar=s the $ea=ness of our nature(

a++ ha%e endea%ored to e>)+ain the ori*in of mora+

and )h'sica+ e%i+ ' ideas near+' a+i=e" The Cha+7

daeans( the Indians( the Persians and the E*')tians

ha%e accounted( in simi+ar $a's( for that mi>ture of

*ood and e%i+ $hich seems to e a necessar' a)7

)enda*e to our *+oe" The .e$s( $ho $ent out of

E*')t( rude as the' $ere( had heard of the a++e*or7

ica+ )hi+oso)h' of the E*')tians" With the +itt+e

=no$+ed*e thus acJuired( the' after$ards mi>ed



that $hich the' recei%ed from the Phoenicians and

B9 Phi+oso)hica+

from the !a'+onians durin* their +on* s+a%er'" !ut

as it is natura+ and %er' common for a rude nation

to imitate rude+' the conce)tions of a )o+ished )eo7

)+e( it is not sur)risin* that the .e$s ima*ined a

$oman formed from the side of a man( the s)irit of

+ife reathed from the mouth of od on the face of

Adam the Ti*ris( the Eu)hrates( the Ni+e and the

O>us( ha%in* a++ the same source in a *arden( and

the foridden fruit( $hich rou*ht death into the

$or+d( as $e++ as )h'sica+ and mora+ e%i+" Fu++ of

the idea $hich )re%ai+ed amon* the ancients( that

the ser)ent $as a %er' cunnin* anima+( the' had no

*reat dicu+t' in endo$in* it $ith understandin*

and s)eech"

This )eo)+e( $ho then inhaited on+' a sma++

corner of the earth( $hich the' e+ie%ed to e +on*(

narro$ and at( cou+d easi+' e+ie%e that a++ men

came from Adam" The' did not e%en =no$ that the

ne*roes( $ith a conformation dierent from their



o$n( inhaited immense re*ionsH sti++ +ess cou+d

the' ha%e an' idea of America"

It is( ho$e%er( %er' stran*e that the .e$ish )eo7

)+e $ere )ermitted to read the oo=s of E>odus(

$here there are so man' mirac+es that shoc= reason(

'et $ere not )ermitted to read efore the a*e of

t$ent'7%e the rst cha)ter of enesis( in $hich a++

is necessari+' a mirac+e( since the creation is the su7

Mect" Perha)s it $as ecause od( after creatin* the

man and $oman in the rst cha)ter( ma=es them

a*ain in another( and it $as thou*ht e>)edient to

Dictionar'" B;

=ee) this a))earance of contradiction from the e'es of

'outh" Perha)s it is ecause it is said that od

made man in his o$n ima*e( and this e>)ression

*a%e the .e$s too cor)orea+ an idea of od" Perha)s

it $as ecause it is said that od too= a ri from

Adams side to form the $oman( and the 'oun* and

inconsiderate( fee+in* their sides( and ndin* the



ri*ht numer of ris( mi*ht ha%e sus)ected the

author of some inde+it'" Perha)s it $as e7

cause od( $ho a+$a's too= a $a+= at noon in the

*arden of Eden( +au*hed at Adam after his fa++( and

this tone of ridicu+e mi*ht tend to *i%e 'outh too

*reat a taste for )+easantr'" In short( e%er' +ine of

this cha)ter furnishes %er' )+ausi+e reasons for in7

terdictin* the readin* of it H ut such ein* the case(

one cannot c+ear+' see ho$ it $as that the other

cha)ters $ere )ermitted" It is( esides( sur)risin*

that the .e$s $ere not to read this cha)ter unti+ the'

$ere t$ent'7%e" One $ou+d thin= that it shou+d

rst ha%e een )ro)osed to chi+dhood( $hich recei%es

e%er'thin* $ithout e>amination( rather than to

'outh( $hose )ride is to Mud*e and to +au*h" On the

other hand( the .e$s of t$ent'7%e 'ears of a*e(

ha%in* their Mud*ments )re)ared and stren*thened(

mi*ht e more tted to recei%e this cha)ter than in7

e>)erienced minds" We sha++ sa' nothin* here of

Adams second $ife( named Li++ah( $hom the an7

cient rais ha%e *i%en him" It must e confessed

that $e =no$ %er' fe$ anecdotes of our fami+'"

@< Phi+oso)hica+



ADORATION"

Is IT not a *reat fau+t in some modern +an*ua*es

that the same $ord that is used in addressin* the

Su)reme !ein* is a+so used in addressin* a mis7

tress We not infreJuent+' *o from hearin* a ser7

mon( in $hich the )reacher has ta+=ed of nothin*

ut adorin* od in s)irit and in truth( to the o)era(

$here nothin* is to e heard ut the charmin* oMect

of m' adoration( etc"

The ree=s and Romans( at +east( did not fa++ into

this e>tra%a*ant )rofanation" &orace does not sa'

that he adores La+a*eH Tiu++us does not adore

De+ia H nor is e%en the term adoration to e found in

Petronius" If an'thin* can e>cuse this indecenc'( it

is the freJuent mention $hich is made in our o)eras

and son*s of the *ods of ancient fa+e" Poets ha%e

said that their mistresses $ere more adora+e

than these fa+se di%initiesH for $hich no one cou+d

+ame them" We ha%e insensi+' ecome fami+iar7

i1ed $ith this mode of e>)ression( unti+ at +ast( $ith7

out an' )erce)tion of the fo++'( the od of the uni7

%erse is addressed in the same terms as an o)era

sin*er"



!ut to return to the im)ortant )art of our su7

Mect - There is no ci%i+i1ed nation $hich does not

render )u+ic adoration to od" It is true that

neither in Asia nor in Africa is an' )erson forced

to the mosJue or tem)+e of the )+ace H each one *oes

of his o$n accord" This custom of assem+in*

Dictionar'" @:

shou+d tend to unite the minds of men and render

them more *ent+e in societ' H 'et ha%e the' een seen

ra*in* a*ainst each other( e%en in the consecrated

aode of )eace" The tem)+e of .erusa+em $as

de+u*ed $ith +ood ' 1ea+ots $ho murdered their

rethren( and our churches ha%e more than once een

de+ed ' carna*e"

In the artic+e on #China# it $i++ e seen that the

em)eror is the chief )onti( and that the $orshi) is

au*ust and sim)+e" There are other countries in

$hich it is sim)+e $ithout an' ma*nicence( as

amon* the reformers of Euro)e and in !ritish

America" In others $a> ta)ers must e +i*hted at



noon( a+thou*h in the )rimiti%e a*es the' $ere he+d

in aomination" A con%ent of nuns( if de)ri%ed of

their ta)ers( $ou+d cr' out that the +i*ht of the faith

$as e>tin*uished and the $or+d $ou+d short+' e at

an end" The Church of En*+and ho+ds a midd+e

course et$een the )om)ous ceremonies of the

Church of Rome and the )+ainness of the Ca+%inists"

Throu*hout the East( son*s( dances and torches

formed )art of the ceremonies essentia+ in a++ sacred

feasts" No sacerdota+ institution e>isted amon* the

ree=s $ithout son*s and dances" The &ere$s

orro$ed this custom from their nei*horsH for

Da%id san* and danced efore the ar="

St" 0atthe$ s)ea=s of a cantic+e sun* ' .esus

Christ &imse+f and ' &is a)ost+es after their Pass7

o%er" This cantic+e( $hich is not admitted into the

authori1ed oo=s( is to e found in fra*ments in the

@? Phi+oso)hica+

?3@th +etter of St" Au*ustine to !isho) ChretiusH

and( $hate%er dis)utes there ma' ha%e een aout its



authenticit'( it is certain that sin*in* $as em)+o'ed

in a++ re+i*ious ceremonies" 0ahomet found this a

sett+ed mode of $orshi) amon* the Aras H it is a+so

esta+ished in India( ut does not a))ear to e in use

amon* the +ettered men of China" The ceremonies

of a++ )+aces ha%e some resem+ance and some dier7

enceH ut od is $orshi))ed throu*hout the earth"

Woe( assured+'( unto those $ho do not adore &im

as $e do $hether errin* in their tenets or in their

rites" The' sit in the shado$ of deathH ut the

*reater their misfortune the more are the' to e

)itied and su))orted"

It is indeed a *reat conso+ation for us that the

0ahometans( the Indians( the Chinese( the Tartars(

a++ adore one on+' od H for so far the' are our =in7

dred" Their fata+ i*norance of our sacred m'steries

can on+' ins)ire us $ith tender com)assion for our

$anderin* rethren" Far from us e a++ s)irit of

)ersecution $hich $ou+d on+' ser%e to render them

irreconci+a+e"

One on+' od ein* adored throu*hout the

=no$n $or+d( sha++ those $ho ac=no$+ed*e &im as

their Father ne%er cease to )resent to &im the re7

%o+tin* s)ectac+e of &is chi+dren detestin*( anathe7



mati1in*( )ersecutin* and massacrin* one another

' $a' of ar*ument

It is hard to determine )recise+' $hat the ree=s

and Romans understood ' adorin*( or $hether the'

Dictionar'" @3

adored fauns( s'+%ans( dr'ads and naiads as the'

adored the t$e+%e su)erior *ods" It is not +i=e+'

that Adrians minion( Antinous( $as adored ' the

E*')tians of +ater times $ith the same $orshi)

$hich the' )aid to Sera)isH and it is sucient+'

)ro%ed that the ancient E*')tians did not adore

onions and crocodi+es as the' did Isis and Osiris"

Ami*uit' aounds e%er'$here and confounds

e%er'thin*H $e are o+i*ed at e%er' $ord to e>7

c+aim( What do 'ou mean $e must constant+' re7

)eat Dene 'our terms"

Is it Juite true that Simon( ca++ed the 0a*ician(

$as adored amon* the Romans It is not more

true that he $as utter+' un=no$n to them" St"

.ustin in his #A)o+o*'(# $hich $as as +itt+e



=no$n at Rome as Simon( te++s us that this od had

a statue erected on the Tier( or rather near the

Tier( et$een the t$o rid*es( $ith this inscri)7

tion - Sitnoni deo sancto" St" Irenasus and Tertu+7

+ian attest the same thin* H ut to $hom do the' at7

test it To )eo)+e $ho had ne%er seen Rome to

Africans( to A++oro*es( to S'rians( and to some of

the inhaitants of Sichem" The' had certain+' not

seen this statue( the rea+ inscri)tion on $hich $as

Semo sanco deo dio( and not Simoni deo sancto"

The' shou+d at +east ha%e consu+ted Dion'sius of

&a+icarnassus( $ho *i%es this inscri)tion in his

fourth oo=" " Semo sanco $as an o+d Saine $ord(

si*nif'in* ha+f *od and ha+f manH $e nd in Li%'(

!ona Semoni sanco censuerunt consecranda" This

@G Phi+oso)hica+

*od $as one of the most ancient in Roman $orshi)(

ha%in* een consecrated ' TarJuin the Proud( and

$as considered as the *od of a++iances and *ood

faith" It $as the custom to sacrice an o> to him(

and to $rite an' treat' made $ith a nei*horin*

)eo)+e u)on the s=in" &e had a tem)+e near that of



6uirinus H oerin*s $ere sometimes )resented to

him under the name of Semo the father( and some7

times under that of Sancus dius( $hence O%id sa's

in his #Fasti# -

6ucEream nonas Sanco( Fido%e referrem(

An tii( Semo )ater"

Such $as the Roman di%init' $hich for so man'

a*es $as ta=en for Simon the 0a*ician" St" C'ri+

of .erusa+em had no douts on the suMect( and St"

Au*ustine in his rst oo= of #&eresies# te++s us that

Simon the 0a*ician himse+f )rocured the erection

of this statue( to*ether $ith that of his &e+ena( '

order of the em)eror and senate"

This stran*e fa+e( the fa+sehood of $hich mi*ht

so easi+' ha%e een disco%ered( $as constant+' con7

nected $ith another fa+e( $hich re+ates that Simon

and St" Peter oth a))eared efore Nero and cha+7

+en*ed each other $hich of them shou+d soonest

rin* to +ife the cor)se of a near re+ati%e of Neros(

and a+so raise himse+f hi*hest in the air H that Simon

caused himse+f to e carried u) ' de%i+s in a er'

chariotH that St" Peter and St" Pau+ rou*ht him

do$n ' their )ra'ers H that he ro=e his +e*s and in



Dictionar'" @

conseJuence died( and that Nero( ein* enra*ed( )ut

oth St" Peter and St" Pau+ to death"

Adias( 0arce++inus and &e*isi))us ha%e each

re+ated this stor'( $ith a +itt+e dierence in the de7

tai+s" Arnoius( St" C'ri+ of .erusa+em( Su+)icius

Se%erus( Phi+aster( St" E)i)hanius( Isidorus of Da7

mietta( 0a>imus of Turin( and se%era+ other authors

successi%e+' *a%e currenc' to this error( and it $as

*enera++' ado)ted( unti+ at +en*th there $as found(

at Rome a statue of Semo sancus deus dius( and the

+earned Father 0ai++on du* u) an ancient monu7

ment $ith the inscri)tion Semoni sanco deo dio"

It is ne%erthe+ess certain that there $as a Simon(

$hom the .e$s e+ie%ed to e a ma*ician( as it is

certain that there $as an A)o++onius of T'ana" It

is a+so true that this Simon( $ho $as orn in the +it7

t+e countr' of Samaria( *athered to*ether some %a*7

aonds( $hom he )ersuaded that he $as one sent '

od H he a)ti1ed( indeed( as $e++ as the a)ost+es(



and raised a+tar a*ainst a+tar"

The .e$s of Samaria( a+$a's hosti+e to those of

.erusa+em( %entured to o))ose this Simon to .esus

Christ( ac=no$+ed*ed ' the a)ost+es and disci)+es(

a++ of $hom $ere of the trie of !enMamin or that of

.udah" &e a)ti1ed +i=e them( ut to the a)tism of

$ater he added re( sa'in* that he had een fore7

to+d ' .ohn the !a)tist in these $ords - #&e that

cometh after me is mi*htier than I H he sha++ a)ti1e

'ou $ith the &o+' host and $ith re"#

Simon +i*hted a +ament ame o%er the a)tisma+

@ B Phi+oso)hica+

font $ith na)htha from the As)ha+tic La=e" &is

)art' $as %er' stron*( ut it is %er' doutfu+

$hether his disci)+es adored himH St" .ustin is the

on+' one $ho e+ie%es it"

0enander( +i=e Simon( said he $as sent ' od

to e the sa%ior of men" A++ the fa+se 0essiahs( !ar7

cocheas es)ecia++'( ca++ed themse+%es sent ' odH



ut not e%en !arcocheas demanded to e adored"

0en are not often erected into di%inities $hi+e the'

+i%e( un+ess( indeed( the' e A+e>anders or Roman

em)erors( $ho e>)ress+' order their s+a%es so to do"

!ut this is not( strict+' s)ea=in*( adoration H it is an

e>traordinar' homa*e( an antici)ated a)otheosis( a

atter' as ridicu+ous as those $hich are +a%ished on

Octa%ius ' Vir*i+ and &orace"

AD/LTER4"

WE are not indeted for this e>)ression to the

ree=sH the' ca++ed adu+ter' moicheia( from $hich

came the Latin mcechus( $hich $e ha%e not ado)ted"

We o$e it neither to the S'riac ton*ue nor to the

&ere$( a Mar*on of the S'riac( in $hich adu+ter'

is ca++ed niu)h" In Latin adu+teratio si*nied a+ter7

ation adu+teration( one thin* )ut for another a

counterfeit( as fa+se =e's( fa+se ar*ains( fa+se si*na7

turesH thus he $ho too= )ossession of anothers ed

$as ca++ed adu+ter"

In a simi+ar $a'( ' anti)hrasis( the name o,f

cocc'>( a cuc=oo( $as *i%en to the )oor husand into

$hose nest a stran*er intruded" P+in'( the natura+7



Dictionar'( @@

:st( sa's - #Cocc'> o%a sudit in nidis a+ienisH ita

)+eriJue a+ienas u>ores faciunt matres# #the

cuc=oo de)osits its e**s in the nest of other irdsH

so the Romans not unfreJuent+' made mothers of

the $i%es of their friends"# The com)arison is not

o%er Must" Cocc'> si*nif'in* a cuc=oo( $e ha%e

made it cuc=o+d" What a numer of thin*s do $e

o$e to the Romans !ut as the sense of a++ $ords is

suMect to chan*e( the term a))+ied to cuc=o+d(

$hich( accordin* to *ood *rammar( shou+d e the

*a++ant( is a))ro)riated to the husand" Some of

the +earned assert that it is to the ree=s $e o$e the

em+em of the horns( and that the' esto$ed the a)7

)e++ation of *oat u)on a husand the dis)osition of

$hose $ife resem+ed that of a fema+e of the same

s)ecies" Indeed( the' used the e)ithet son of a *oat

in the same $a' as the modern %u+*ar do an a))e++a7

tion $hich is much more +itera+"

These %i+e terms are no +on*er made use of in

*ood com)an'" E%en the $ord adu+ter' is ne%er

)ronounced" We do not no$ sa'( #0adame +a



Duchesse +i%es in adu+ter' $ith 0onsieur +e Che%a7

+ier 0adame +a 0arJuise has a crimina+ intimac'

$ith 0onsieur IAeH# ut $e sa'( #0onsieur

I Ae is this $ee= the +o%er of 0adame +a 0ar7

Juise"# When +adies ta+= of their adu+teries to their

fema+e friends( the' sa'( #I confess I ha%e some in7

c+ination for him# The' used former+' to confess

that the' fe+t some esteem( ut since the time $hen

a certain citi1ens $ife accused herse+f to her con7

@9 Phi+oso)hica+

fessor of ha%in* esteem for a counse++or( and the

confessor inJuired as to the numer of )roofs of

esteem aorded( +adies of Jua+it' ha%e esteemed no

one and *one ut +itt+e to confession"

The $omen of Lacedaemon( $e are to+d( =ne$

neither confession nor adu+ter'" It is true that 0ene7

+aus had e>)erienced the intractai+it' of &e+en( ut

L'cur*us set a++ ri*ht ' ma=in* the $omen com7

mon( $hen the husands $ere $i++in* to +end them

and the $i%es consented" E%er' one mi*ht dis)ose

of his o$n" In this case a husand had not to a))re7



hend that he shou+d foster in his house the os)rin*

of a stran*er H a++ chi+dren e+on*ed to the re)u+ic(

and not to an' )articu+ar fami+'( so that no one $as

inMured" Adu+ter' is an e%i+ on+' inasmuch as it is

a theft H ut $e do not stea+ that $hich is *i%en to

us" The Lacedaemonians( therefore( had *ood

reason for sa'in* that adu+ter' $as im)ossi+e

amon* them" It is other$ise in our modern nations(

$here e%er' +a$ is founded on the )rinci)+e of

meum and tuum"

It is the *reatest $ron*( the *reatest inMur'( to

*i%e a )oor fe++o$ chi+dren $hich do not e+on* to

him and +a' u)on him a urden $hich he ou*ht not

to ear" Races of heroes ha%e thus een utter+' as7

tardi1ed" The $i%es of the Asto+)hos and the .o7

condas( throu*h a de)ra%ed a))etite( a momentar'

$ea=ness( ha%e ecome )re*nant ' some deformed

d$arf some +itt+e )a*e( de%oid a+i=e of heart and

mind( and oth the odies and sou+s of the os)rin*

Dictionar'" @;

ha%e orne testimon' to the fact" In some countries



of Euro)e the heirs to the *reatest names are +itt+e

insi*nicant a)es( $ho ha%e in their ha++s the )or7

traits of their )retended fathers( si> feet hi*h( hand7

some( $e++7made( and carr'in* a roads$ord $hich

their successors of the )resent da' $ou+d scarce+' e

a+e to +ift" Im)ortant oces are thus he+d ' men

$ho ha%e no ri*ht to them( and $hose hearts( heads(

and arms are uneJua+ to the urden"

In some )ro%inces of Euro)e the *ir+s ma=e +o%e(

$ithout their after$ards ecomin* +ess )rudent

$i%es" In France it is Juite the contrar' H the *ir+s

are shut u) in con%ents( $here( hitherto( the' ha%e

recei%ed a most ridicu+ous education" Their

mothers( in order to conso+e them( teach them to +oo=

for +iert' in marria*e" Scarce+' ha%e the' +i%ed a

'ear $ith their husands $hen the' ecome im)a7

tient to ascertain the force of their attractions" A

'oun* $ife neither sits( nor eats( nor $a+=s( nor

*oes to the )+a'( ut in com)an' $ith $omen $ho

ha%e each their re*u+ar intri*ue" If she has not her

+o%er +i=e the rest( she is to e un)airedH and

ashamed of ein* so( she is afraid to sho$ herse+f"

The Orienta+s )roceed Juite in another $a'"

ir+s are rou*ht to them and $arranted %ir*ins on



the $ords of a Circassian" The' marr' them and

shut them u) as a measure of )recaution( as $e shut

u) our maids" No Mo=es there u)on +adies and their

husands no son*s nothin* resem+in* our Juod7

+iets aout horns and cuc=o+dom We )it' the

9o Phi+oso)hica+

*reat +adies of Tur=e'( Persia and IndiaH ut the'

are a thousand times ha))ier in their sera*+ios than

our 'oun* $omen in their con%ents"

It sometimes ha))ens amon* us that a dissatised

husand( not choosin* to institute a crimina+ )roc7

ess a*ainst his $ife for adu+ter'( $hich $ou+d su7

Mect him to the im)utation of ararit'( contents

himse+f $ith otainin* a se)aration of )erson and

)ro)ert'" And here $e must insert an astract of a

memoria+( dra$n u) ' a *ood man $ho nds him7

se+f in this situation" These are his com)+aints H are

the' Must or not

A memoria+( $ritten ' a ma*istrate( aout the 'ear

:@BG"



A )rinci)a+ ma*istrate of a to$n in France is so

unfortunate as to ha%e a $ife $ho $as deauched

' a )riest efore her marria*e( and has since

rou*ht herse+f to )u+ic shameH he has( ho$e%er(

contented himse+f $ith a )ri%ate se)aration" This

man( $ho is fort' 'ears o+d( hea+th'( and of a )+eas7

in* *ure( has need of $omans societ'" &e is too

scru)u+ous to see= to seduce the $ife of another H he

e%en fears to contract an i++icit intimac' $ith a maid

or a $ido$" In this state of sorro$ and )er)+e>it'

he addresses the fo++o$in* com)+aints to the Church(

of $hich he is a memer -

#0' $ife is crimina+( and I suer the )unish7

ment" A $oman is necessar' to the comfort of m'

+ife na'( e%en to the )reser%ation of m' %irtueH

'et she is refused me ' the Church( $hich forids

Dictionar'" 9 :

me to marr' an honest $oman" The ci%i+ +a$ of

the )resent da'( $hich is( unha))i+'( founded on the

canon +a$( de)ri%es me of the ri*hts of humanit'"



The Church com)e+s me to see= either )+easures

$hich it re)roates( or shamefu+ conso+ations $hich

it condemns H it forces me to e crimina+"

#If I +oo= round amon* the nations of the earth( I

see no re+i*ion e>ce)t the Roman Catho+ic $hich

does not reco*ni1e di%orce and second marria*e as

a natura+ ri*ht" What in%ersion of order( then( has

made it a %irtue in Catho+ics to suer adu+ter' and

a dut' to +i%e $ithout $i%es $hen their $i%es ha%e

thus shamefu++' inMured them Wh' is a can=ered

tie indisso+u+e( not$ithstandin* the *reat ma>im

ado)ted ' the code( 6uicJuid +i*atur disso+ui+e

estf A se)aration of )erson and )ro)ert' is *ranted

me( ut not a di%orce" The +a$ ta=es from me m'

$ife( and +ea%es me the $ord sacrament I no +on*er

enMo' matrimon'( ut sti++ I am married What

contradiction What s+a%er'

#Nor is it +ess stran*e that this +a$ of the Church

is direct+' contrar' to the $ords $hich it e+ie%es

to ha%e een )ronounced ' .esus Christ - Whoso7

e%er sha++ )ut a$a' his $ife( e>ce)t it e for forni7

cation( and sha++ marr' another( committeth

adu+ter'"



#I ha%e no $ish here to inJuire $hether the )on7

tis of Rome ha%e a ri*ht to %io+ate at )+easure the

+a$ of &im $hom the' re*ard as their 0asterH

$hether $hen a =in*dom $ants an heir( it is a++o$7

9? Phi+oso)hica+

a+e to re)udiate the $oman $ho is inca)a+e of

*i%in* oneH nor $hether a turu+ent $ife( one at7

tac=ed ' +unac'( or one *ui+t' of murder( shou+d

not e di%orced as $e++ as an adu+teress H I conne

m'se+f to $hat concerns m' o$n sad situation" od

)ermits me to marr' a*ain( ut the isho) of Rome

forids me"

#Di%orce $as customar' amon* Catho+ics under

a++ the em)erors( as $e++ as in a++ the disMointed mem7

ers of the Roman Em)ire" A+most a++ those =in*s

of France $ho are ca++ed of the rst race( re)udiated

their $i%es and too= fresh ones" At +en*th came one

re*or' I8"( an enem' to em)erors and =in*s( $ho(

' a decree( made the onds of marria*e indisso+u7

+eH and his decreta+ ecame the +a$ of Euro)e"

&ence( $hen a =in* $ished to re)udiate an adu+ter7



ous $ife( accordin* to the +a$ of .esus Christ( he

cou+d not do so $ithout see=in* some ridicu+ous )re7

te>t" St" Louis $as o+i*ed( in order to eect his

unfortunate di%orce from E+eanora of uienne( to

a++e*e a re+ationshi) $hich did not e>ist H and &enr'

IV"( to re)udiate 0ar*aret of Va+ois( rou*ht for7

$ard a sti++ more unfounded )retence a $ant of

consent" Thus a +a$fu+ di%orce $as to e otained

' fa+sehood"

#What ma' a so%erei*n adicate his cro$n( and

sha++ he not $ithout the )o)es )ermission adicate

his faith+ess $ife And is it )ossi+e that men( en7

+i*htened in other thin*s( ha%e so +on* sumitted to

this asurd and aMect s+a%er'

Dictionar'" 93

#Let our )riests and our mon=s astain from

$omen( if it must e so H the' ha%e m' consent" It

is detrimenta+ to the )ro*ress of )o)u+ation and a

misfortune for them H ut the' deser%e that misfor7

tune $hich the' ha%e contri%ed for themse+%es"

The' are the %ictims of the )o)es( $ho in them $ish



to )ossess s+a%es so+diers $ithout fami+' or coun7

tr'( +i%in* for the ChurchH ut I( a ma*istrate( $ho

ser%e the state the $ho+e da' +on*( ha%e occasion for

a $oman at ni*ht H and the Church has no ri*ht to

de)ri%e me of a )ossession a++o$ed me ' the Deit'"

The a)ost+es $ere married( .ose)h $as married(

and I $ish to e married" If I( an A+satian( am de7

)endent on a )riest $ho +i%es at Rome and has the

ararous )o$er to de)ri%e me of a $ife( he ma' as

$e++ ma=e me a eunuch to sin* 0iserere in his

cha)e+"#

A P+ea for Wi%es"

EJuit' reJuires that( after *i%in* this memoria+

in fa%or of husands( $e shou+d a+so +a' efore the

)u+ic the )+ea on eha+f of $i%es( )resented to the

Munta of Portu*a+( ' one Countess DArcira" It is

in sustance as fo++o$s -

#The *os)e+ has foridden adu+ter' to m' hus7

and as $e++ as to me H $e sha++ e damned a+i=e H

nothin* is more certain" A+thou*h he has een

*ui+t' of ft' inde+ities thou*h he has *i%en m'

nec=+ace to one of m' ri%a+s( and m' earrin*s to an7

other( I ha%e not ca++ed u)on the Mud*es to order his



head to e sha%ed( himse+f to e shut u) $ith mon=s(

9G Phi+oso)hica+

and his )ro)ert' to e *i%en to me H 'et I( for ha%in*

ut once imitated him for ha%in* done that $ith

the handsomest 'oun* man in Lison( $hich he is

a++o$ed to do e%er' da' $ith the home+iest and

most stu)id creatures of the court and the cit'( must

e )+aced on a stoo+ to ans$er the Juestions of a set

of +icentiates( e%er' one of $hom $ou+d e at m'

feet $ere he a+one $ith me in m' c+osetH must

ha%e the nest hair in the $or+d cut from m' head H

e conned $ith nuns $ho ha%e not common sense H

e de)ri%ed of m' )ortion and marria*e sett+ement(

and see m' )ro)ert' *i%en to m' foo+ of a husand

to assist him in seducin* other $omen and commit7

tin* fresh adu+teries" I as= if the thin* is Must if it

is not e%ident that the cuc=o+ds are the +a$ma=ers

#The ans$er to m' com)+aint is that I am ut too

fortunate in not ein* stoned at the cit' *ate ' the

canons and the )eo)+e( as $as the custom $ith the

rst nation of the earth the cherished nation the



chosen )eo)+e the on+' one $hich $as ri*ht $hen

a++ others $ere $ron*"

#To these ararians I re)+' that $hen the )oor

$oman( ta=en in adu+ter'( $as )resented to her ac7

cusers ' the 0aster of the O+d and of the Ne$

La$( he did not order her to e stoned H on the con7

trar'( he re)roached their inMustice( tracin* on the

sand $ith his n*er the o+d &ere$ )ro%er - Let

him $ho is $ithout sin cast the rst stone" A++ then

retired( the o+dest ein* the rst to de)art( since the

Dictionar'" 9

*reater their a*e the more adu+teries the' had com7

mitted"

#The doctors of the canon +a$ te++ me that this

stor' of the $oman ta=en in adu+ter' is re+ated on+'

in the os)e+ of St" .ohn( and that there it is nothin*

more than an inter)o+ation H that Leontius and 0a+7

donat arm that it is to e found in ut one ancient

ree= co)'H that not one of the rst t$ent'7three

commentators has s)o=en of it H that neither Ori*en



seJuent+'( I o$e him e%er'thin* and he o$es me

nothin*" !ut I as= if 6ueen Anne( of En*+and( is

not the head of her husand if the Prince of Den7

mar=( $ho is her hi*h admira+( does not o$e her an

entire oedience and if she $ou+d not ha%e him

condemned ' the &ouse of Peers shou+d the +itt+e

man )ro%e unfaithfu+ It is c+ear that( if $omen

ha%e not their husands )unished( it is $hen the'

are not the stron*est"#

Conc+usion of the Cha)ter on Adu+ter'"

In order to otain an eJuita+e %erdict in an action

for adu+ter'( the Mur' shou+d e com)osed of t$e+%e

men and t$e+%e $omen( $ith an herma)hrodite to

*i%e the castin* %ote in the e%ent of necessit'" !ut

sin*u+ar cases ma' e>ist $herein rai++er' is ina))+i7

ca+e( and of $hich it is not for us to Mud*e" Such

is the ad%enture re+ated ' St" Au*ustine in his

sermon on Christs )reachin* on the 0ount"

Se)timius Ac'ndicus( )roconsu+ of S'ria( caused

a Christian of Antioch $ho $as una+e to )a' the

treasur' a )ound of *o+d the amount to $hich he

$as ta>edQ( to e thro$n into )rison and threatened



$ith death" A $ea+th' man )romised the unfortu7

nate )risoners $ife to furnish her $ith the )ound

it she $ou+d consent to his desires" The $ife has7

tened to inform her husand( $ho e**ed that she

$ou+d sa%e his +ife at the e>)ense of his ri*hts( $hich

he $as $i++in* to *i%e u)" She oe'ed( ut the man

$ho o$ed her the *o+d decei%ed her ' *i%in* her

Dictionar'" 9@

a sac=fu+ of earth" The husand( ein* sti++ una+e

to )a' the ta>( $as aout to e +ed to the scao+d(

ut this infamous transaction ha%in* come to the ears

of the )roconsu+ he )aid the )ound of *o+d from his

o$n coers and *a%e to the Christian cou)+e the

estate from $hich the sac=fu+ of earth had een

ta=en"

It is certain that far from inMurin* her husand

the $ife( in this instance( acted conforma+' to his

$i++( not on+' oe'in* him( ut a+so sa%in* his +ife"

St" Au*ustine does not %enture to decide on the *ui+t

or %irtue of this action H he is afraid to condemn it"



It is( in m' o)inion( %er' sin*u+ar that !a'+e

shou+d )retend to e more se%ere than St" Au*ustine"

&e o+d+' condemns the )oor $oman" This $ou+d

e inconcei%a+e did $e not =no$ ho$ much a+most

e%er' $riter has suered his )en to e+ie his heart

$ith $hat faci+it' his o$n fee+in*s ha%e een sacri7

ced to the fear of enra*in* some e%i+7dis)osed )ed7

ant in a $ord( ho$ inconsistent he has een $ith

himse+f"

A Fathers Reection"

A $ord on the contradictor' education $hich $e

esto$ u)on our dau*hters" We incu+cate an im7

moderate desire of )+easin* H $e dictate $hen nature

does enou*h $ithout us( and add to her +essons

e%er' renement of art" When the' are )erfect+'

trained $e )unish them if the' )ut in )ractice the

%er' arts $hich $e ha%e een so an>ious to teach

What shou+d $e thin= of a dancin* master $ho(

99 Phi+oso)hica+

ha%in* tau*ht a )u)i+ for ten 'ears( $ou+d rea= his



+e* ecause he had found him dancin* $ith other

)eo)+e

0i*ht not this )ara*ra)h e added "to the cha)ter

of contradictions

AFFIR0ATION OR OAT&"

WE sha++ not sa' an'thin* of the armations so

freJuent+' made use of ' the +earned" To arm(

to decide( is )ermissi+e on+' in *eometr'" In e%er'7

thin* e+se +et us imitate the Doctor 0eta)hrastes of

0o+iere it ma' e soH the thin* is feasi+eH it is

not im)ossi+eH $e sha++ see" Let us ado)t Rae7

+ais )erha)s( 0ontai*nes $hat =no$ I the Roman

non +iJuet( or the dout of the Athenian academ'-

ut on+' in )rofane matters( e it understood( for in

sacred thin*s( $e are $e++ a$are that doutin* is

not )ermitted"

The )rimiti%es( in En*+and ca++ed 6ua=ers( are

a++o$ed to *i%e testimon' in a court of Mustice on

their sim)+e armation( $ithout ta=in* an oath" The

)eers of the rea+m ha%e the same )ri%i+e*e the +a'

)eers armin* on their honor( and the isho)s +a'7

in* their hands on their hearts" The 6ua=ers o7



tained it in the rei*n of Char+es II"( and are the on+'

sect in Euro)e so honored"

The Lord Chance++or Co$)er $ished to com)e+

the 6ua=ers to s$ear +i=e other citi1ens" &e $ho

$as then at their head said to him *ra%e+' - #Friend

Dictionar'" 9;

Chance++or( thou ou*htest to =no$ that our Lord and

Sa%iour .esus Christ hath foridden us to arm

other$ise than ' 'ea or na'( he hath e>)ress+' said -

forid thee to s$ear ' hea%en( ecause it is the

throne of odH ' the earth( ecause it is his foot7

stoo+H ' .erusa+em( ecause it is the cit' of the

Kin* of =in*sH or ' th' head( ecause thou canst

not chan*e the co+or of a sin*+e hair" This( friend(

is )ositi%e( and $e $i++ not disoe' od to )+ease

thee and th' )ar+iament"# #It is im)ossi+e to ar*ue

etter(# re)+ied the Chance++orH #ut e it =no$n to

thee that .u)iter one da' ordered a++ easts of ur7

den to *et shod - horses( mu+es( and e%en came+s( in7

stant+' oe'ed( the asses a+one resistedH the' made

so man' re)resentations( and ra'ed so +on* that



.u)iter( $ho $as *ood7natured( at +ast said to them(

Asses( I *rant 'our )ra'er H 'ou sha++ not e shod H

ut the rst s+i) 'ou ma=e 'ou sha++ ha%e a most

sound cud*e++in*" #

It must e *ranted that( hitherto( the 6ua=ers

ha%e made no s+i)s"

AAR( OR &AAR"

W&EN a man )uts a$a' his mistress his friend

the )artner of his ed( he must either ma=e her con7

dition to+era+' comforta+e or e re*arded amon*

us as a man of ad heart"

We are to+d that Araham $as %er' rich in the

desert of erar( a+thou*h he did not )ossess an inch

oo Phi+oso)hica+

of +and" &o$e%er( $e =no$ $ith the *reatest cer7

taint' that he defeated the armies of four *reat

=in*s $ith three hundred and ei*hteen she)herds"



&e shou+d( then( at +east ha%e *i%en a sma++ oc=

to his mistress A*ar( $hen he sent her a$a' in the

desert" I s)ea= a+$a's accordin* to $or+d+' notions(

a+$a's re%erencin* those incom)rehensi+e $a's

$hich are not our $a's"

$ou+d ha%e *i%en m' o+d com)anion A*ar a

fe$ shee)( a fe$ *oats( a fe$ suits of c+othes for

herse+f and our son Ishmae+( a *ood she7ass for the

mother and a )rett' foa+ for the chi+d( a came+ to

carr' their a**a*e( and at +east t$o men to attend

them and )re%ent them from ein* de%oured '

$o+%es"

!ut $hen the Father of the Faithfu+ e>)osed his

)oor mistress and her chi+d in the desert he *a%e

them on+' a +oaf and a )itcher of $ater" Some im7

)ious )ersons ha%e asserted that Araham $as not

a %er' tender father that he $ished to ma=e his

astard son die of hun*er( and to cut his +e*itimate

sons throat !ut a*ain +et it e rememered that

these $a's $ere not our $a's"

It is said that )oor A*ar $ent a$a' into the

desert of !eer7shea" There $as no desert of !eer7

sheaH this name $as not =no$n unti+ +on* afterH



ut this is a mere trie H the foundation of the stor'

is not the +ess authentic" It is true that the )os7

terit' of A*ars son Ishmae+ too= am)+e re%en*e

on the )osterit' of Sarahs son Isaac( in fa%or of

Dictionar'" ; :

$hom he had een cast out" The Saracens( de7

scendin* in a ri*ht +ine from Ishmae+( made them7

se+%es masters of .erusa+em( $hich e+on*ed ' ri*ht

of conJuest to the )osterit' of Isaac" I $ou+d ha%e

made the Saracens descend from SarahH the et'7

mo+o*' $ou+d then ha%e een neater"

It has een asserted that the $ord Saracen comes

from sarac( a roer" I do not e+ie%e an' )eo)+e

ha%e e%er ca++ed themse+%es roersH near+' a++ ha%e

een roers( ut it is not usua+ for them to ta=e the

tit+e" Saracen descendin* from Sarah( a))ears to

me to sound etter"

ALC&E04"

T&E em)hatic a+ )+aces the a+chemist as much



ao%e the ordinar' chemist as the *o+d $hich he

otains is su)erior to other meta+s" erman' sti++

s$arms $ith )eo)+e $ho see= the )hi+oso)hers

stone( as the i%ater of immorta+it' has een sou*ht

in China( and the fountain of 'outh in Euro)e" In

France some ha%e een =no$n to ruin themse+%es

in this )ursuit"

The numer of those $ho ha%e e+ie%ed in trans7

mutations is )rodi*ious( and the numer of cheats

has een in )ro)ortion to that of the credu+ous" At

Paris $e ha%e seen Si*nor Dammi( 0arJuis of Con7

%enti*+io( otain some hundred +ouis from se%era+

of the noi+it' that he mi*ht ma=e them *o+d to the

amount of t$o or three cro$ns" The est tric= that

has e%er een )erformed in a+chem' $as that of a

)i Phi+oso)hica+

Rosicrucian( $ho( in :B?<( $ent to &enr'( Du=e

of !oui++on( of the house of Turenne( So%erei*n

Prince of Sedan( and addressed him as fo++o$s -

#4ou ha%e not a so%erei*nt' )ro)ortioned to 'our



*reat coura*e( ut I $i++ ma=e 'ou richer than the

em)eror" I cannot remain for more than t$o da's

in 'our states( ha%in* to *o to Venice to ho+d the

*rand assem+' of the rethren H I on+' char*e 'ou

to =ee) the secret" Send to the rst a)othecar' of

'our to$n for some +ithar*eH thro$ into it one

*rain of the red )o$der $hich I $i++ *i%e 'ou( )ut

the $ho+e into a cruci+e and in a Juarter of an hour

'ou $i++ ha%e *o+d"#

The )rince )erformed the o)eration( and re)eated

it three times( in )resence of the %irtuoso" This man

had )re%ious+' ou*ht u) a++ the +ithar*e from the

a)othecaries of Sedan and *ot it reso+d after mi>in*

it $ith a fe$ ounces of *o+d" The ade)t( on ta=in*

+ea%e( made the Du=e of !oui++on a )resent of a++

his transmutin* )o$der"

The )rince( ha%in* made three ounces of *o+d

$ith three *rains( douted not that $ith three hun7

dred thousand *rains he shou+d ma=e three hundred

thousand ounces( and that he shou+d in a $ee= )os7

sess ei*hteen thousand( se%en hundred and ft'

)ounds of *o+d( esides $hat he shou+d after$ards

ma=e" It too= at +east three months to ma=e this

)o$der" The )hi+oso)her $as in haste to de)artH



he $as $ithout an'thin*( ha%in* *i%en a++ to the

)rince( and $anted some read' mone' in order to

Dictionar'" ;3

ho+d the states7*enera+ of hermetic )hi+oso)h'" &e

$as a man %er' moderate in his desires( and as=ed

on+' t$ent' thousand cro$ns for the e>)enses of his

Mourne'" The du=e( ashamed to *i%e so sma++ a sum(

)resented him $ith fort' thousand" When he had

consumed a++ the +ithar*e in Sedan he made no more

*o+d( nor e%er more sa$ his )hi+oso)her or his fort'

thousand cro$ns"

A++ )retended a+chemic transmutations ha%e een

)erformed near+' in the same manner" To chan*e

one natura+ )roduction into another( for e>am)+e(

iron into si+%er( is a rather dicu+t o)eration( since

it reJuires t$o thin*s a +itt+e ao%e our )o$er the

annihi+ation of the iron and creation of the si+%er"

We must not( ho$e%er( reMect a++ disco%eries of

secrets and a++ ne$ in%entions" It is $ith them as

$ith theatrica+ )ieces( there ma' e one *ood out of



a thousand"

ALKORAN H

OR( 0ORE PROPERL4( T&E KORAN"

SECTION I"

T&IS oo= *o%erns $ith des)otic s$a' the $ho+e

of northern Africa( from 0ount At+as to the desert

of !arca( the $ho+e of E*')t( the coasts of the Ethio7

)ian Sea to the e>tent of si> hundred +ea*ues( S'ria(

Asia 0inor( a++ the countries round the !+ac= and

the Cas)ian seas e>ce)tin* the =in*dom of Astra7

=hanQ( the $ho+e em)ire of &indostan( a++ Persia( a

*reat )art of Tartar' H and in Euro)e( Thrace( 0ace7

;G Phi+oso)hica+

donia( !u+*aria( Ser%ia( !osnia( reece( E)irus( and

near+' a++ the is+ands as far as the +itt+e strait of

Otranto( $hich terminates these )ossessions"

In this )rodi*ious e>tent of countr' there is not

a sin*+e 0ahometan $ho has the ha))iness of read7



in* our sacred oo=sH and %er' fe$ of our +iterati

are acJuainted $ith the Koran( of $hich $e a+7

$a's form a ridicu+ous idea( not$ithstandin* the

researches of our rea++' +earned men"

The rst +ines of this oo= are as fo++o$s - #Praise

to od( the so%erei*n of a++ $or+ds( to the od of

merc'( the so%erei*n of the da' of Mustice Thee

$e adore to Thee on+' do $e +oo= for )rotection"

Lead us in the ri*ht $a' in the $a' of those $hom

Thou hast +oaded $ith Th' *races( and not in the

$a' of the oMects of Th' $rath of them $ho ha%e

*one astra'"#

Such is the introduction" Then come three +et7

ters( A( L( 0( $hich( accordin* to the +earned Sa+e(

are not understood( for each commentator e>)+ains

them in his o$n $a' H ut the most common o)inion

is that the' si*nif' A++( Latif( 0a*id od( race(

+or'"

od himse+f then s)ea=s to 0ahomet in these

$ords - #This oo= admitteth not of dout" It is

for the direction of the Must( $ho e+ie%e in the

de)ths of the faith( $ho oser%e the times of )ra'er(

$ho distriute in a+ms $hat it has )+eased 0e to *i%e



them( $ho e+ie%e in the re%e+ation $hich hath de7

scended to thee" and $as de+i%ered to the )ro)hets

0A&O0ET

Dictionar'" ;

efore thee" Let the faithfu+ ha%e a rm assurance

in the +ife to comeH +et them e directed ' their

LordH and the' sha++ e ha))'"

#As for une+ie%ers( it mattereth not $hether thou

ca++est them or no - the' do not e+ie%e H the sea+ of

une+ief is on their hearts and on their ears H a ter7

ri+e )unishment a$aiteth them" There are some

$ho sa'( We e+ie%e in od and in the Last Da'

ut in their hearts the' are une+ie%ers" The' thin=

to decei%e the Eterna+ H the' decei%e themse+%es $ith7

out =no$in* it" Inrmit' is in their hearts( and od

himse+f increaseth this inrmit'(# etc"

These $ords are said to ha%e incom)ara+' more



ener*' in Araic" Indeed( the Koran sti++ )asses

for the most e+e*ant and most su+ime oo= that has

een $ritten in that +an*ua*e" We ha%e im)uted to

the Koran a *reat numer of foo+ish thin*s $hich

it ne%er contained" It $as chie' a*ainst the Tur=s(

$ho had ecome 0ahometans( that our mon=s $rote

so man' oo=s( at a time $hen no other o))osition

$as of much ser%ice a*ainsf the conJuerors of Con7

stantino)+e" Our authors( much more numerous than

the Manissaries( had no *reat dicu+t' in ran*in* our

$omen on their side H the' )ersuaded them that 0a7

homet +oo=ed u)on them mere+' as inte++i*ent ani7

ma+s H that( ' the +a$s of the Koran( the' $ere a++

s+a%es( ha%in* no )ro)ert' in this $or+d( nor an'

share in the )aradise of the ne>t" The fa+sehood of

a++ this is e%ident H 'et it has a++ een rm+' e+ie%ed"

It $as( ho$e%er( on+' necessar' in order to dis7

;B Phi+oso)hica+

co%er the dece)tion to ha%e read the fourth sura or

cha)ter of the Koran( in $hich $ou+d ha%e een

found the fo++o$in* +a$s( trans+ated in the same



manner ' Du R'er( $ho resided for a +on* time at

Constantino)+e H ' 0aracci( $ho ne%er $ent there H

and ' Sa+e( $ho +i%ed t$ent'7%e 'ears amon* the

Aras -

0ahomets Re*u+ations uhth Res)ect to Wi%es"

I"

Ne%er marr' ido+atrous $omen( un+ess the' $i++

ecome e+ie%ers" A 0ussu+man ser%ant is etter

than an ido+atrous $oman( thou*h of the hi*hest

ran="

?"

The' $ho( ha%in* $i%es( $ish to ma=e a %o$ of

chastit'( sha++ $ait four months efore the' decide"

Wi%es sha++ conduct themse+%es to$ards their hus7

ands as their husands conduct themse+%es to$ards

them"

37

4ou ma' se)arate 'ourse+f from 'our $ife t$ice H



ut if 'ou di%orce her a third time( it must e for7

e%er H 'ou must either =ee) her humane+' or )ut her

a$a' =ind+'" 4ou are not )ermitted to =ee) an'7

thin* from her that 'ou ha%e *i%en to her"

G7

ood $i%es are oedient and attenti%e( e%en in

the asence of their husands" If 'our $ife is )ru7

dent e carefu+ not to ha%e an' Juarre+ $ith herH

Dictionar'" ;@

ut if one shou+d ha))en( +et an ariter e chosen

from 'our o$n fami+'( and one from hers"

7

Ta=e one $ife( or t$o( or three( or four( ut ne%er

more" !ut if 'ou dout 'our ai+it' to act eJuita+'

to$ards se%era+( ta=e on+' one" i%e them a suita+e

do$r'( ta=e care of them( and s)ea= to them a+$a's

+i=e a friend"



B"

4ou are not )ermitted to inherit from 'our $ife

a*ainst her $i++ H nor to )re%ent her from marr'in*

another after her di%orce( in order to )ossess 'our7

se+f of her do$er( un+ess she has een dec+ared *ui+t'

of some crime"

When 'ou choose to se)arate 'ourse+f from 'our

$ife and ta=e another( 'ou must not( thou*h 'ou

ha%e e%en *i%en her a ta+ent at 'our marria*e( ta=e

an'thin* from her"

@7

4ou are )ermitted to marr' a s+a%e( ut it is etter

that 'ou shou+d not do so"

9"

A re)udiated $ife is o+i*ed to suc=+e her chi+d

unti+ it is t$o 'ears o+d( durin* $hich time the father

is o+i*ed to maintain them accordin* to his con7

dition" If the infant is $eaned at an ear+ier )eriod(

it must e $ith the consent of oth father and



mother" If 'ou are o+i*ed to entrust it to a stran*e

nurse( 'ou sha++ ma=e her a reasona+e a++o$ance"

Vo+" 7@

;9 Phi+oso)hica+

&ere( then( is sucient to reconci+e the $omen

to 0ahomet( $ho has not used them so hard+' as he

is said to ha%e done" We do not )retend to Mustif'

either his i*norance or his im)osture H ut $e cannot

condemn his doctrine of one on+' od( These $ords

of his I??d sura( #od is one( eterna+( neither e7

*ettin* nor e*otten H no one is +i=e to &im H# these

$ords had more eect than e%en his s$ord in su7

Mu*atin* the East"

Sti++ his Koran is a co++ection of ridicu+ous re%e7

+ations and %a*ue and incoherent )redictions( com7

ined $ith +a$s that $ere %er' *ood for the countr'

in $hich he +i%ed( and a++ $hich continue to e fo+7

+o$ed( $ithout ha%in* een chan*ed or $ea=ened(

either ' 0ahometan inter)reters or ' ne$ decrees"

The )oets of 0ecca $ere hosti+e to 0ahomet( ut

ao%e a++ the doctors" These raised the ma*istrac'



a*ainst him( and a $arrant $as issued for his a)7

)rehension as on+' du+' accused and con%icted of

ha%in* said that od must e adored( and not the

stars" This( it is =no$n( $as the source of his *reat7

ness" When it $as seen that he cou+d not e )ut

do$n( and that his $ritin*s $ere ecomin* )o)u+ar(

it $as *i%en out in the cit' that he $as not the

author of them( or that at +east he $as assisted in their

com)osition ' a +earned .e$( and sometimes ' a

+earned Christian su))osin* that there $ere at that

time +earned .e$s and +earned Christians"

So( in our da's( more than one )re+ate has een

re)roached $ith ha%in* set mon=s to com)ose his

Dictionar'" ;;

sermons and funera+ orations" There $as one Father

&ercu+es Pere &ercu+eQ $ho made sermons for a

certain isho)( and $hen )eo)+e $ent to hear him

)reach( the' used to sa'( #Let us *o and hear the

+aors of &ercu+es"#

To this char*e 0ahomet *i%es an ans$er in his



: Bth cha)ter( occasioned ' a *ross +under he had

made in the )u+)it( aout $hich a *reat dea+ had

een said" &e *ets out of the scra)e thus - #When

thou readest the Koran( address th'se+f to od(

that &e ma' )reser%e thee from the machinations

of Satan" &e has )o$er on+' o%er those $ho ha%e

chosen &im for their 0aster( and $ho *i%e asso7

ciates unto od"

#When I sustitute one %erse for another in the

Koran the reason for $hich chan*es is =no$n to

odQ some une+ie%ers cr' out( Thou hast for*ed

those %erses H ut the' =no$ not ho$ to distin*uish

truth from fa+sehood" Sa' rather that the &o+'

S)irit rou*ht those %erses of truth to me from od"

Others sa'( sti++ more ma+i*nant+'( There is a certain

man $ho +aors $ith him in com)osin* the Koran"

!ut ho$ can this man( to $hom the' attriute m'

$or=s( ha%e tau*ht me( s)ea=in* as he does( a for7

ei*n +an*ua*e( $hi+e the Koran is $ritten in the

)urest Araic #

&e $ho( it $as )retended( assisted 0ahomet( $as

a .e$ named !ensa+en or !ensa+on" It is not %er'

+i=e+' that a .e$ shou+d ha%e +ent his assistance to

0ahomet in $ritin* a*ainst the .e$s H 'et the thin*



ioo Phi+oso)hica+

is not im)ossi+e" The mon= $ho $as said to ha%e

contriuted to the Koran $as ' some ca++ed !o7

haira( ' others Ser*ius" There is somethin* )+eas7

ant in this mon=s ha%in* had oth a Latin and an

Araic name" As for the ne theo+o*ica+ dis)utes

$hich ha%e arisen amon* the 0ussu+mans( I ha%e

no concern $ith themH I +ea%e them to the decision

of the mufti"

In #The Trium)h of the Cross# #Le Triom)he de

+a Croi>#Q the Koran is said to e Arian( Sae++ian(

Car)ocratian( Cardonician( 0anichaean( Donatistic(

Ori*enian( 0acedonian( and Eionitish" 0ahomet(

ho$e%er( $as nothin* of a++ this H he $as rather a

.ansenist( for the foundation of his doctrine is the

aso+ute de*ree of *ratuitous )redestination"

SECTION II"

This 0ahomet( son of Ada++ah( $as a o+d and

su+ime char+atan" &e sa's in his tenth cha)ter(



#Who ut od can ha%e com)osed the Koran 0a7

homet( 'ou sa'( has for*ed this oo=" We++H tr'

then to $rite one cha)ter resem+in* it and ca++ to

'our aid $homsoe%er 'ou )+ease"# In the se%en7

teenth he e>c+aims( #Praise e to &im $ho in one

ni*ht trans)orted &is ser%ant from the sacred tem7

)+e of 0ecca to that of .erusa+em #

This $as a %er' ne Mourne'( ut nothin* +i=e

that $hich he too= the %er' same ni*ht from )+anet

to )+anet" &e )retended that it $as %e hundred

'ears Mourne' from one to another( and that he c+eft

Dictionar'" :<:

the moon in t$ain" &is disci)+es $ho( after his

death( co++ected( in a so+emn manner( the %erses of

this Koran( su))ressed this ce+estia+ Mourne'( for

the' dreaded rai++er' and )hi+oso)h'" After a++( the'

had too much de+icac'H the' mi*ht ha%e trusted to

the commentators( $ho $ou+d ha%e found no di7

cu+t' $hate%er in e>)+ainin* the itinerar'" 0a7

homets friends shou+d ha%e =no$n ' e>)erience

that the mar%e++ous is the reason of the mu+titude H



the $ise contradict in si+ence( $hich the mu+titude

)re%ent them from rea=in*" !ut $hi+e the itin7

erar' of the )+anets $as su))ressed( a fe$ $ords

$ere retained aout the ad%enture of the moon"

One cannot e a+$a's on ones *uard"

The Koran is a rha)sod'( $ithout connection(

$ithout order( and $ithout art" This tedious oo=

is( ne%erthe+ess( said to e a %er' ne )roduction(

at +east ' the Aras( $ho assert that it is $ritten

$ith an e+e*ance and )urit' that no +ater $or= has

eJua++ed" It is a )oem( or sort of rh'med )rose( con7

sistin* of three thousand %erses" No )oem e%er ad7

%anced the fortune of its author so much as the

Koran" It $as dis)uted amon* the 0ussu+mans

$hether it $as eterna+ or od had created it in

order to dictate it to 0ahomet" The doctors decided

that it $as eterna+( and the' $ere ri*ht H this eternit'

is a much ner o)inion than the other( for $ith the

%u+*ar $e must a+$a's ado)t that $hich is the most

incredi+e"

The mon=s $ho ha%e attac=ed 0ahomet( and



Phi+oso)hica+

said so man' si++' thin*s aout him( ha%e asserted

that he cou+d not $rite" !ut ho$ can $e ima*ine

that a man $ho had een a merchant( a )oet( a +e*is7

+ator( and a so%erei*n( did not =no$ ho$ to si*n his

name If his oo= is ad for our times and for us(

it $as %er' *ood for his contem)oraries( and his re7

+i*ion $as sti++ etter" It must e ac=no$+ed*ed that

he rec+aimed near+' the $ho+e of Asia from ido+atr'"

&e tau*ht the unit' of od( and forci+' dec+aimed

a*ainst a++ those $ho *a%e him associates" &e for7

ade usur' $ith forei*ners( and commanded the *i%7

in* of a+ms" With him )ra'er $as a thin* of aso7

+ute necessit'( and resi*nation to the eterna+ decrees

the )rimum moi+e of a++" A re+i*ion so sim)+e and

so $ise( tau*ht ' one $ho $as constant+' %ictorious(

cou+d hard+' fai+ to suMu*ate a )ortion of the earth"

Indeed the 0ussu+mans ha%e made as man' )rose7

+'tes ' their creed as ' their s$ords H the' ha%e con7

%erted the Indians and the ne*roes to their re+i*ion H

e%en the Tur=s( $ho conJuered them( sumitted to

Is+amism"

0ahomet a++o$ed man' thin*s to remain in his

+a$ $hich he had found esta+ished amon* the Aras



as circumcision( fastin*( the )i+*rima*e to 0ecca(

$hich $as instituted four thousand 'ears efore his

time H a+utions( so necessar' to hea+th and c+ean+iness

in a urnin* countr'( $here +inen $as un=no$n H and

the idea of a +ast Mud*ment( $hich the ma*i had a+7

$a's incu+cated( and $hich had reached the inhait7

ants of Araia" It is said that on his announcin* that

Dictionar'" :<3

$e shou+d rise a*ain Juite na=ed( his $ife( Aishca(

e>)ressed her o)inion that the thin* $ou+d e im7

modest and dan*erous" #Do not e a+armed( m'

dear(# said he( #no one $i++ then fee+ an' inc+ination

to +au*h"# Accordin* to the Koran( an an*e+ $i++

$ei*h oth men and $omen in a *reat a+ance H this

idea( too( is ta=en from the ma*i" &e a+so sto+e frc7m

them their narro$ rid*e $hich must e )assed o%er

after deathH and their e+'sium( $here the 0ussuQ7

mans e+ect $i++ nd aths( $e++7furnished a)artments

*ood eds( and houris $ith *reat +ac= e'es" &f

does( it is true( sa' that a++ these )+easures of the

senses( so necessar' to those that are to rise a*ain

$ith senses( $i++ e nothin* in com)arison $ith the



)+easure of contem)+atin* the Su)reme !ein*" &e

has the humi+it' to confess that he himse+f $i++ not

enter )aradise throu*h his o$n merits( ut )ure+' '

the $i++ of od" Throu*h this same )ure Di%ine $i++

he orders that a fth )art of the s)oi+ sha++ a+$a's e

reser%ed for the )ro)het"

It is not true that he e>c+udes $omen from )ara7

dise" It is hard+' +i=e+' that so a+e a man shou+d

ha%e chosen to emroi+ himse+f $ith that ha+f of the

human race ' $hich the other ha+f is +ed" Au+feda

re+ates that an o+d +ad' one da' im)ortuned him to

te++ her $hat she must do to *et into )aradise" #0'

*ood +ad'(# said he( #)aradise is not for o+d $omen"#

The *ood $oman e*an to $ee)( ut the )ro)het

conso+ed her ' sa'in*( #There $i++ e no o+d $omen

ecause the' $i++ ecome 'oun* a*ain"# This con7

IOG Phi+oso)hica+

so+ator' doctrine is conrmed in the ft'7fourth

cha)ter of the Koran"

&e forade $ine ecause some of his fo++o$ers



once $ent into>icated to )ra'ers" &e )ermitted a

)+ura+it' of $i%es( conformin* in this )oint to the

immemoria+ usa*e of the orienta+s"

In short( his ci%i+ +a$s are *ood H his doctrine is

admira+e in a++ $hich it has in common $ith ours H

ut his means are shoc=in* %i++ain' and murder

&e is e>cused ' some( on the rst of these

char*es( ecause( sa' the'( the Aras had a hundred

and t$ent'7four thousand )ro)hets efore him( and

there cou+d e no *reat harm in the a))earance of one

more H men( it is added( reJuire to e decei%ed" !ut

ho$ are $e to Mustif' a man $ho sa's( #!e+ie%e that

I ha%e con%ersed $ith the an*e+ arie+(( or )a' me

triute#

&o$ su)erior is Confucius the rst of morta+s

$ho ha%e not een fa%ored $ith re%e+ations &e

em)+o's neither fa+sehood nor the s$ord( ut on+'

reason" The %icero' of a *reat )ro%ince( he causes

the +a$s to e oser%ed and mora+it' to ourish H

dis*raced and )oor( he teaches them" &e )ractises

them a+i=e in *reatness and in humi+iation H he ren7

ders %irtue amia+eH and has for his disci)+es the

most ancient and $isest )eo)+e on the earth"



In %ain does Count de !ou+ain%i++iers( $ho had

some res)ect for 0ahomet( e>to+ the Aras" Not7

$ithstandin* a++ his oastin*s( the' $ere a nation of

anditti" The' roed efore 0ahomet( $hen the'

Dictionar'" :<

adored the stars H the' roed under 0ahomet in the

name of od" The' had( sa' 'ou( the sim)+icit' of

the heroic a*es H ut $hat $ere these heroic a*es

times $hen men cut one anothers throats for a $e++

or a cistern( as the' no$ do for a )ro%ince

The rst 0ussu+mans $ere animated ' 0ahomet

$ith the ra*e of enthusiasm" Nothin* is more ter7

ri+e than a )eo)+e $ho( ha%in* nothin* to +ose( *ht

in the united s)irit of ra)ine and of re+i*ion"

It is true there $as not much art in their )roceed7

in*s" The contract of marria*e et$een 0ahomet

and his rst $ife e>)resses that( $hi+e Cadisha +o%es

him( and he in +i=e manner +o%es Cadisha( it is

thou*ht meet to Moin them" !ut is there the same



sim)+icit' in ha%in* com)osed a *enea+o*' $hich

ma=es him descend in a ri*ht +ine from Adam( as

se%era+ S)anish and Scotch fami+ies ha%e een made

to descend

The *reat )ro)het e>)erienced the dis*race com7

mon to so man' husands( after $hich no one shou+d

com)+ain" The name of him $ho recei%ed the fa%ors

of his second $ife $as Assam" The eha%ior of

0ahomet( on this occasion( $as e%en more +oft' than

that of Caesar( $ho )ut a$a' his $ife( sa'in*( #The

$ife of Caesar ou*ht not to e sus)ected"# The

)ro)het $ou+d not sus)ect his" &e sent to hea%en

for a cha)ter of the Koran( armin* that his $ife

$as faithfu+" This cha)ter( +i=e a++ the others( had

een $ritten from a++ eternit'"

&e is admired for ha%in* raised himse+f from

ioB Phi+oso)hica+

ein* a came+7dri%er to e a )onti( a +e*is+ator( and

a monarchH for ha%in* sudued Araia( $hich had

ne%er efore een suMu*ated H for ha%in* *i%en the



rst shoc= to the Roman Em)ire in the East( and to

that of the Persians H and admire him sti++ more for

ha%in* =e)t )eace in his house amon* his $i%es" &e

chan*ed the face of )art of Euro)e( one ha+f of Asia(

and near+' a++ Africa H nor $as his re+i*ion un+i=e+'(

at one time( to suMu*ate the $ho+e earth" On ho$

tri%ia+ a circumstance $i++ re%o+utions sometimes de7

)end A +o$ from a stone( a +itt+e harder than that

$hich he recei%ed in his rst att+e( mi*ht ha%e

chan*ed the destin' of the $or+d

&is son7in7+a$ A+i asserted that $hen the )ro)het

$as aout to e inhumed( he $as found in a

situation not %er' common to the dead" The $ords

of the Roman so%erei*n mi*ht e $e++ a))+ied in this

case - #Decet im)eratorem stantem mori"#

Ne%er $as the +ife of a man $ritten more in detai+

than his H the most minute )articu+ars $ere re*arded

as sacred" We ha%e the name and the numers of a++

that e+on*ed to him nine s$ords( three +ances(

three o$s( se%en cuirasses( three uc=+ers( t$e+%e

$i%es( one $hite coc=( se%en horses( t$o mu+es( and

four came+s( esides the mare !orac( on $hich he

$ent to hea%en" !ut this +ast he had on+' orro$ed H

at $as the )ro)ert' of the an*e+ arie+"



A++ his sa'in*s ha%e een )reser%ed" One $as that

the enMo'ment of $omen made him more fer%ent in

Dictionar'" :<@

)ra'er" !esides a++ his other =no$+ed*e he is said

to ha%e een a *reat )h'sicianH so that he $anted

none of the Jua+ications for decei%in* man=ind"

ALE8ANDER"

IT is no +on*er a++o$a+e to s)ea= of A+e>ander(

e>ce)t in order to sa' somethin* ne$ of him( or to

destro' the fa+es( historica+( )h'sica+( and mora+(

$hich ha%e dis*ured the histor' of the on+' *reat

man to e found amon* the conJuerors of Asia"

After reectin* a +itt+e on the +ife of A+e>ander(

$ho( amid the into>ications of )+easure and con7

Juest( ui+t more to$ns than a++ the other conJuerors

of Asia destro'ed after ca++in* to mind that( 'oun*

as he $as( he turned the commerce of the $or+d into

a ne$ channe+( it a))ears %er' stran*e that !oi+eau



shou+d ha%e s)o=en of him as a roer and a madman"

A+e>ander( ha%in* een e+ected at Corinth ca)tain7

*enera+ of reece( and commissioned as such to

a%en*e the in%asions of the Persians( did no more

than his dut' in destro'in* their em)ire H and( ha%in*

a+$a's united the *reatest ma*nanimit' $ith the

*reatest coura*e ha%in* res)ected the $ife and

dau*hters of Darius $hen in his )o$er( he did not

in an' $a' deser%e either to e conned as a madman

or han*ed as a roer"

Ro++in asserts that A+e>ander too= the famous cit'

of T're on+' to o+i*e the .e$s( $ho hated the

T'rians H it is( ho$e%er( Juite as +i=e+' that A+e>ander

io9 Phi+oso)hica+

had other reasons H for a na%a+ commander $ou+d not

+ea%e T're mistress of the sea( $hen he $as *oin* to

attac= E*')t" A+e>anders friendshi) and res)ect

for .erusa+em $ere undouted+' *reat H ut it shou+d

hard+' e said that the .e$s set a rare e>am)+e of

de+it' an e>am)+e $orth' of the on+' )eo)+e $ho(

at that time( had the =no$+ed*e of the true od( in



refusin* to furnish A+e>ander $ith )ro%isions e7

cause the' had s$orn de+it' to Darius" It is $e++

=no$n that the .e$s too= e%er' o))ortunit' of re7

%o+tin* a*ainst their so%erei*ns H for a .e$ $as not

to ser%e a )rofane =in*" If the' im)rudent+' refused

contriutions to the conJueror( it $as not $ith a %ie$

to )ro%e themse+%es the faithfu+ s+a%es of Darius(

since their +a$ e>)ress+' ordered them to ho+d a++

ido+atrous nations in ahorrence H their oo=s are fu++

of e>ecrations )ronounced a*ainst them( and of

reiterated attem)ts to thro$ o their 'o=e" If( there7

fore( the' at rst refused the contriutions( it $as e7

cause their ri%a+s( the Samaritans( had )aid them

$ithout hesitation( and the' e+ie%ed that Darius(

thou*h %anJuished( $as sti++ )o$erfu+ enou*h to

su))ort .erusa+em a*ainst Samaria"

It is $ho++' fa+se that the .e$s $ere then the on+'

)eo)+e $ho had the =no$+ed*e of the true od( as

Ro++in te++s us" The Samaritans $orshi))ed the

same od( thou*h in another tem)+e H the' had the

same Pentateuch as the .e$s( and the' had it in

T'rian characters( $hich the .e$s had +ost" The

schism et$een Samaria and .erusa+em $as( on a



Dictionar'" :<;

sma++ sca+e( $hat the schism et$een the ree= and

Latin churches is on a +ar*e one" The hatred $as

eJua+ on oth sides( ha%in* the same foundation

re+i*ion"

A+e>ander( ha%in* )ossessed himse+f of T're '

means of that famous cause$a' $hich is sti++ the ad7

miration of a++ *enera+s( $ent to )unish .erusa+em(

$hich +a' not far out of his $a'" The .e$s( headed

' their hi*h )riest( came and hum+ed themse+%es

efore him( oerin* him mone' for an*r' con7

Juerors are not to e a))eased $ithout mone'" A+e>7

ander $as a))eased( and the' remained suMect to

A+e>ander and to his successors" Such is the true( as

$e++ as the on+' )roa+e( histor' of the aair"

Ro++in re)eats a stor' to+d aout four hundred

'ears after A+e>anders e>)edition( ' that roman7

cin*( e>a**eratin* historian( F+a%ius .ose)hus( $ho

ma' e )ardoned for ha%in* ta=en e%er' o))ortunit'

of settin* o his $retched countr' to the est ad%an7

ta*e" Ro++in re)eats( after .ose)hus( that .addus(

the hi*h7)riest( ha%in* )rostrated himse+f efore



A+e>ander( the )rince( seein* the name of .eho%ah

en*ra%ed on a )+ate of *o+d attached to .addus ca)(

and understandin* &ere$ )erfect+'( fe++ )rostrate

in his turn( and )aid homa*e to .addus" This e>cess

of ci%i+it' ha%in* astonished Parmenio( A+e>ander

to+d him that he had =no$n .addus a +on* time H that

he had a))eared to him( in the same hait and the

same ca)( ten 'ears efore( $hen he $as meditatin*

the conJuest of Asia a conJuest $hich he had not

: : o Phi+oso)hica+

then e%en thou*ht ofQ H that this same .addus had

e>horted him to cross the &e++es)ont( assurin* him

that od $ou+d march at the head of the ree=s( and

that the od of the .e$s $ou+d *i%e him the %ictor'

o%er the Persians" This o+d $omans ta+e ma=es ut

a sorr' *ure in the histor' of such a man as A+e>7

ander"

An ancient histor' $e++ di*ested $as an under7

ta=in* ca+cu+ated to e of *reat ser%ice to 'outh H it

is to e $ished that it had not een in some de*ree

marred ' the ado)tion of some asurdities" The



stor' of .addus $ou+d e entit+ed to our res)ect it

$ou+d e e'ond the reach of animad%ersion $ere

e%en an' shado$ of it to e found in the sacred

$ritin*s H ut as the' do not ma=e the s+i*htest men7

tion of it( $e are Juite at +iert' to see that it is

ridicu+ous"

There can e no dout that A+e>ander sudued

that )art of India $hich +ies on this side the an*es

and $as triutar' to the Persians" 0r" &o+$e++( $ho

+i%ed for thirt' 'ears amon* the !rahmins of !enares

and the nei*horin* countries( and $ho +earned not

on+' their modern +an*ua*e ut a+so their ancient

sacred ton*ue( assures us that their anna+s attest the

in%asion ' A+e>ander( $hom the' ca++ 0ahadu=cit

Kounha *reat roer( *reat murderer" These

)eacefu+ )eo)+e cou+d not ca++ him other$ise H indeed(

it is hard+' to e su))osed that the' *a%e an' other

name to the =in*s of Persia" The same anna+s sa'

that A+e>ander entered ' the )ro%ince no$ ca++ed

Dictionar'" : : :

Candahar( and it is )roa+e that there $ere a+$a's



some fortresses on that frontier"

A+e>ander after$ards descended the ri%er 5om7

odi)o( $hich the ree=s ca++ed Sind" In the histor'

of A+e>ander there is not a sin*+e Indian name to e

found" The ree=s ne%er ca++ed an Asiatic to$n or

)ro%ince ' their o$n name" The' dea+t in the same

manner $ith the E*')tians" The' $ou+d ha%e

thou*ht it a dishonor to the ree= ton*ue had the'

introduced into it a )ronunciation $hich the'

thou*ht ararous H if( for instance( the' had not

ca++ed the cit' of 0o)h 0em)his"

0r" &o+$e++ sa's that the Indians ne%er =ne$

either Porus or Ta>i+es H indeed these are not Indian

$ords" Ne%erthe+ess( if $e ma' e+ie%e our mis7

sionaries( there are sti++ some Indian +ords $ho )re7

tend to ha%e descended from Porus" Perha)s the

missionaries ha%e attered them $ith this ori*in

unti+ the' ha%e ado)ted it" There is( at +east( no

countr' in Euro)e in $hich ser%i+it' has not in7

%ented and %anit' recei%ed *enea+o*ies 'et more

chimerica+"

If F+a%ius .ose)hus has re+ated a ridicu+ous fa+e

aout A+e>ander and a .e$ish )onti( P+utarch( $ho



$rote +on* after .ose)hus( in his turn seems not to

ha%e een s)arin* in fa+es concernin* this hero" &e

has e%en outdone 6uintus Curtius" !oth assert that

A+e>ander( $hen marchin* to$ards India( $ished to

ha%e himse+f adored( not on+' ' the Persians ut

a+so ' the ree=s" The Juestion is( $hat did A+e>7

&? Phi+oso)hica+

ander( the Persians( the ree=s( 6uintus Curtius(

and P+utarch understand ' adorin* We must

ne%er +ose si*ht of the *reat ru+e Dene 'our

terms"

If ' adorin* he meant in%o=in* a man as a

di%init' oerin* to him incense and sacrices

raisin* to him a+tars and tem)+es( it is c+ear that

A+e>ander reJuired nothin* of a++ this" If( ein* the

conJueror and master of the Persians( he chose that

the' shou+d sa+ute him after the Persian manner(

)rostratin* themse+%es on certain occasions( treatin*

him( in short( +i=e $hat he $as( a so%erei*n of Persia(

there is nothin* in this ut $hat is %er' reasona+e

and %er' common" The memers of the French )ar7



+iament( in their eds of Mustice( address the =in*

=nee+in*H the third estate addresses( the states7*en7

era+ =nee+in*( a cu) of $ine is )resented =nee+in*( to

the =in* of En*+and H se%era+ Euro)ean so%erei*ns

are ser%ed =nee+in* at their consecration" The *reat

mo*u+( the em)eror of China( and the em)eror of

.a)an are a+$a's addressed =nee+in*" The Chinese

co+aos of an inferior order end the =nee efore the

co+aos of a su)erior order" We adore the )o)e( and

=iss the toe of his ri*ht foot" None of these cere7

monies ha%e e%er een re*arded as adoration in the

strict sense of the $ord( or as a $orshi) +i=e that due

to the Di%init'"

Thus( a++ that has een said of the )retended

adoration e>acted ' A+e>ander is founded on

ami*uit'"

Dictionar'" ::3

Octa%ius( surnamed Au*ustus( rea++' caused him7

se+f to e adored in the strictest sense of the $ord"

Tem)+es and a+tars $ere raised to him" There $ere

)riests of Au*ustus" &orace )ositi%e+' te++s him -



#.urandisJue tuum )ar nomen )onimus aras"#

&ere $as tru+' a sacri+e*ious adoration H 'et $e are

not to+d that it e>cited discontent"

The contradictions in the character of A+e>ander

$ou+d e more dicu+t to reconci+e did $e not =no$

that men( es)ecia++' men ca++ed heroes( are often %er'

inconsistent $ith themse+%es( and that the +ife or

death of the est citi1ens( or the fate of a )ro%ince(

has more than once de)ended on the *ood or ad

di*estion of a $e++ or i++ ad%ised so%erei*n"

!ut ho$ are $e to reconci+e im)roa+e facts re7

+ated in a contradictor' manner Some sa' that

Ca++isthenes $as crucied ' order of A+e>ander for

not ha%in* ac=no$+ed*ed him to e the son of .u)i7

ter" !ut the cross $as not a mode of e>ecution

amon* the ree=s" Others sa' that he died +on*

after$ards( of too *reat cor)u+enc'" Athenaeus as7

sures us that he $as carried( +i=e a ird( in an iron

ca*e unti+ he $as de%oured ' %ermin" Amon*

a++ these dierent stories distin*uish the true one if

'ou can" Some ad%entures are su))osed ' 6uintus

Curtius to ha%e ha))ened in one to$n( and ' P+u7

tarch in another( the t$o )+aces ein* %e hundred



+ea*ues a)art" A+e>ander( armed and a+one( +ea)ed

from the to) of a $a++ into a to$n he $as esie*in* H

accordin* to P+utarch near the mouth of the Indus"

Vo+" 9

&G Phi+oso)hica+

When he arri%ed on the 0a+aar coast( or near the

an*es no matter $hich( it is on+' nine hundred

mi+es from the one to the other he *a%e orders to

sei1e ten of the Indian )hi+oso)hers( ca++ed ' the

ree=s *'mnoso)hists( $ho $ent aout as na=ed as

a)es H to those he )ro)osed ridicu+ous Juestions(

)romisin* them %er' serious+' that he $ho *a%e the

$orst ans$ers shou+d e han*ed the rst( and the rest

in due order" This reminds us of Neuchadonosor(

$ho $ou+d aso+ute+' )ut his ma*i to death if the'

did not di%ine one of his dreams $hich he had for7

*otten H and of the Ca+i)h of the #Thousand and One

Ni*hts(# $ho $as to stran*+e his $ife as soon as she

had nished her stor'" !ut it is P+utarch $ho re7

+ates this nonsense H therefore it must e res)ected( for

he $as a ree="



This +atter stor' is entit+ed to the same credit as

that of the )oisonin* of A+e>ander ' Aristot+e H for

P+utarch te++s us that someod' had heard one

A*notemis sa'( that he had heard Anti*onus sa'(

that Aristot+e sent a ott+e of $ater from Nonacris(

a to$n in Arcadia( $hich $ater $as so e>treme+'

co+d that the' $ho dran= it instant+' diedH that

Anti)ater sent this $ater in a horn H that it arri%ed

at !a'+on Juite fresh H that A+e>ander dran= of it H

and that( at the end of si> da's( he died of a con7

tinued fe%er"

P+utarch has( it is true( some douts res)ectin*

this anecdote" A++ that $e can e Juite certain of is

that A+e>ander( at the a*e of t$ent'7four( had con7

Dictionar'" ::

Juered Persia ' three att+es H that his *enius $as

as *reat as his %a+orH that he chan*ed the face of

Asia( reece( and E*')t( and *a%e a ne$ direction

to the commerce of the $or+dH and that !oi+eau

shou+d ha%e een more s)arin* of his ridicu+e( since



it is not %er' +i=e+' that !oi+eau $ou+d ha%e done

more in as short a time"

ALE8ANDRIA"

0ORE than t$ent' to$ns ha%e orne the name of

A+e>andria( a++ ui+t ' A+e>ander and his ca)tains(

$ho ecame so man' =in*s" These to$ns are so

man' monuments of *+or'( far su)erior to the statues

$hich ser%i+it' after$ards erected to )o$er H ut the

on+' one of them $hich attracted the attention of the

$or+d ' its *reatness and its $ea+th $as that $hich

ecame the ca)ita+ of E*')t" This is no$ ut a hea)

of ruins H for it is $e++ =no$n that one ha+f of the

cit' has een reui+t on another site( near the sea"

The +i*hthouse( former+' one of the $onders of the

$or+d( has a+so ceased to e>ist"

The cit' $as a+$a's ourishin* under the Pto+e7

mies and the Romans" It did not dec+ine under the

Aras( nor did the 0ame+u=es or the Tur=s( $ho suc7

cessi%e+' conJuered it( to*ether $ith the rest of

E*')t( suer it to *o to deca'" It )reser%ed some

)ortion of its *reatness unti+ the )assa*e of the Ca)e

of ood &o)e o)ened a ne$ route to the Indies( and

once more *a%e a ne$ direction to the commerce of



the $or+d( $hich A+e>ander had )re%ious+' chan*ed(

nB Phi+oso)hica+

and $hich had een chan*ed se%era+ times efore

A+e>ander"

The A+e>andrians $ere remar=a+e( under a++

their successi%e dominations( for industr' united

$ith +e%it'H for +o%e of no%e+t'( accom)anied ' a

c+ose a))+ication to commerce( and to a++ the arts

that ma=e commerce ourish H and for a contentious

and Juarre+some s)irit( Moined to co$ardice( su)er7

stition( and deaucher' a++ $hich ne%er chan*ed"

The cit' $as )eo)+ed $ith E*')tians( .e$s( and

Tur=s( a++ of $hom( thou*h )oor at rst( enriched

themse+%es ' trac" O)u+ence introduced the cu+7

ti%ation of the ne arts( $ith a taste for +iterature(

and conseJuent+' for dis)utation"

The .e$s ui+t a ma*nicent tem)+e( and trans7

+ated their oo=s into ree=( $hich had ecome the

+an*ua*e of the countr'" So *reat $ere the ani7

mosities amon* the nati%e E*')tians( the ree=s(



the .e$s( and the Christians( that the' $ere contin7

ua++' accusin* one another to the *o%ernor( to the no

sma++ ad%anta*e of his re%enue" There $ere e%en

freJuent and +ood' seditions( in one of $hich( in the

rei*n of Ca+i*u+a( the .e$s( $ho e>a**erate e%er'7

thin*( assert that re+i*ious and commercia+ Mea+ous'(

united( cost them ft' thousand men( $hom the

A+e>andrians murdered"

Christianit'( $hich the Ori*ens( C+ements( and

others had esta+ished and rendered admira+e '

their +i%es( de*enerated into a mere s)irit of )art'"

The Christians ado)ted the manners of the E*')7

Dictionar'" ::@

tians H re+i*ion 'ie+ded to the desire of *ain H and a++

the inhaitants( di%ided in e%er'thin* e+se( $ere

unanimous on+' in the +o%e of mone'" This it $as

$hich )roduced that famous +etter from the Em)eror

Adrian to the Consu+ Ser%ianus( $hich Vo)iscus

*i%es us as fo++o$s -

ADRIANI EPISTOLA( E8 LI!RIS P&LEONTIS E./S



PRODITA"

Adrianus Au*ustus Ser%iano Cos" Vo"

U*')tum( Juam mihi +audaas( Ser%iane caris7

sime( totam didici( +e%em( )endu+am( et ad omnia

fames monumenta %o+itantem" I++i Jui Sera)in co+unt

Christiani sunt( et de%oti sunt Sera)i Jui se C&RISTI

e)isco)us dicunt" Nemo i++ic Archis'na*o*us .udcs7

orum( nemo Semarites( nemo Christianorum )res7

'ter( non mathematicus( non arus)e>( non a+i)tes"

I)se i++e Patriarcha( Juum ?E*')tum %enerit( a a+iis

Sera)idem adorare( a a+iis co*itur C&RIST/0"

enus hominis seditiosissimum( inMuriosissimum"

Ci%itas o)u+enta( di%es( fecunda( in Jua nemo %i%at

otiosus" A+ii %itrum constant( a a+iis charta con7

citurH omnes certe +'m)hiones cuMuscunJue artis et

%identur et haentur" Poda*rosi Juod a*ant haent(

coed Juod faciantH ne chira*ri Juidem a)ud cos otiosi

%i%unt" /nus i++is deus estH hunc Christiani( hunc

.udcei( hunc homnes %enerantur et *entes"

Which ma' e rendered thus -

#0' dear Ser%ian- I ha%e seen that E*')t of

$hich 'ou ha%e s)o=en so hi*h+'H I =no$ it thor7



: : 9 Phi+oso)hica+

ou*h+'" It is a +i*ht( uncertain( c=+e nation" The

$orshi))ers of Sera)is turn Christians( and the'

$ho are at the head of the re+i*ion of Christ de%ote

themse+%es to Sera)is" There is no chief of the

rais( no Samaritan( no Christian )riest $ho is

not an astro+o*er( a di%iner( a )ander" When the

ree= )atriarch comes into E*')t( some )ress him

to $orshi) Sera)is( others to adore Christ" The'

are %er' seditious( %er' %ain( and %er' Juarre+some"

The cit' is commercia+( o)u+ent( and )o)u+ous" No

one is id+e" Some ma=e *+ass H others manufacture

)a)er H the' seem to e( and indeed are( of a++ trades H

not e%en the *out in their feet and hands can reduce

them to entire inacti%it'H e%en the +ind $or="

0one' is a *od $hich the Christians( .e$s( and a++

men adore a+i=e"#

This +etter of an em)eror( $hose discernment $as

as *reat as his %a+or( sucient+' )ro%es that the

Christians( as $e++ as others( had ecome corru)ted

in this aode of +u>ur' and contro%ers' H ut the man7



ners of the )rimiti%e Christians had not de*enerated

e%er'$hereH and a+thou*h the' had the misfortune

to e for a +on* time di%ided into dierent sects(

$hich detested and accused one another( the most

%io+ent enemies of Christianit' $ere o+i*ed to ac7

=no$+ed*e that the )urest and the *reatest sou+s

$ere to e found amon* its )rose+'tes" Such is the

case e%en at the )resent da' in cities $herein the

de*ree of fo++' and fren1' e>ceeds that of ancient

A+e>andria"

Dictionar'" ::;

ALIERS"

T&E )rinci)a+ oMect of this dictionar' is )hi7

+oso)h'" It is not( therefore( as *eo*ra)hers that $e

s)ea= of A+*iers( ut for the )ur)ose of remar=in*

that the rst desi*n of Louis 8IV"( $hen he too=

the rei*ns of *o%ernment( $as to de+i%er Christian

Euro)e from the continua+ de)redations of the !ar7

ar' corsairs" This )roMect $as an indication of a

*reat mind" &e $ished to )ursue e%er' road to

*+or'" It is some$hat astonishin* that( $ith the



s)irit of order $hich he sho$ed in his court( in his

nances( and in the conduct of state aairs( he had

a sort of re+ish for ancient chi%a+r'( $hich +ed him to

the )erformance of *enerous and ri++iant actions(

e%en a))roachin* the romantic" It is certain that

Louis inherited from his mother a dea+ of that S)an7

ish *a++antr'( at once no+e and de+icate( $ith much

of that *reatness of sou+ that )assion for *+or'

that +oft' )ride( so cons)icuous in o+d romances" &e

ta+=ed of *htin* the em)eror Leo)o+d( +i=e a =ni*ht

see=in* ad%entures" The erection of the )'ramid

at Rome( the assertion of his ri*ht of )recedence( and

the idea of ha%in* a )ort near A+*iers to cur the

)irates( $ere +i=e$ise of this c+ass" To this +atter

attem)t he $as moreo%er e>cited ' Po)e A+e>ander

VII"( and ' Cardina+ 0a1arin efore his death" &e

had for some time deated $ith himse+f $hether he

shou+d *o on this e>)edition in )erson( +i=e Char+es

the Fifth H ut he had not %esse+s to e>ecute so *reat

: ?< Phi+oso)hica+

an enter)rise( $hether in )erson or ' his *enera+s(

The attem)t $as therefore fruit+ess( and it cou+d not



e other$ise"

It $as( ho$e%er( of ser%ice in e>ercisin* the

French marine( and )re)ared the $or+d to e>)ect

some of those no+e and heroic actions $hich are out

of the ordinar' +ine of )o+ic'( such as the disinter7

ested aid +ent to the Venetians esie*ed in Candia(

and to the ermans )ressed ' the Ottoman arms at

St" othard"

The detai+s of the African e>)edition are +ost in

the numer of successfu+ or unsuccessfu+ $ars(

$a*ed Must+' or unMust+'( $ith *ood or ad )o+ic'"

We sha++ mere+' *i%e the fo++o$in* +etter( $hich

$as $ritten some 'ears a*e on the suMect of the

A+*erine )iracies -

#It is to e +amented( sire( that the )ro)osa+s of the

order of 0a+ta $ere not acceded to( $hen the'

oered( on consideration of a moderate susid' from

each Christian )o$er( to free the seas from the

)irates of A+*iers( 0orocco( and Tunis" The =ni*hts

of 0a+ta $ou+d then ha%e een tru+' the defenders

of Christianit'" The actua+ force of the A+*erines is

ut t$o ft'7*un shi)s( %e of aout fort'( and four

of thirt' *uns H the rest are not $orth mentionin*"



#It is shamefu+ to see their +itt+e ar=s sei1in*

our merchant %esse+s e%er' da' throu*hout the 0ed7

iterranean" The' e%en cruise as far as the Canaries

and the A1ores"

#Their so+dier'( com)osed of a %ariet' of na7

Dictionar'" :?:

tions ancient 0auritanians( ancient Numidians(

Aras( Tur=s( and e%en ne*roes( set sai+( a+most

$ithout )ro%isions( in ti*ht %esse+s carr'in* from

ei*hteen to t$ent' *uns( and infest a++ our seas +i=e

%u+tures see=in* their )re'" When the' see a man

of $ar( the' 'H $hen the' see a merchant %esse+

the' sei1e it" Our friends and our re+ati%es( men

and $omen( are made s+a%es H and $e must hum+'

su))+icate the ararians to dei*n to recei%e our

mone' for restorin* to us their ca)ti%es"

#Some Christian states ha%e had the shamefu+

)rudence to treat $ith them( and send them arms

$here$ith to attac= others( ar*ainin* $ith them



as merchants( $hi+e the' ne*otiate as $arriors"

#Nothin* $ou+d e more eas' than to )ut do$n

these marauders H 'et it is not done" !ut ho$ man'

other usefu+ and eas' thin*s are entire+' ne*+ected

The necessit' of reducin* these )irates is ac=no$+7

ed*ed in e%er' )rinces cainetH 'et no one under7

ta=es their reduction" When the ministers of dier7

ent courts accident+' ta+= the matter o%er( the' do

ut i++ustrate the fa+e of t'in* the e++ round the

cats nec="

#The order of the Redem)tion of Ca)ti%es is the

nest of a++ monastic institutions( ut it is a sad re7

)roach to us" The =in*doms of Fe1( A+*iers( and

Tunis ha%e no maraous of the Redem)tion of Ca)7

ti%es H ecause( thou*h the' ta=e man' Christians

from us( $e ta=e scarce+' an' 0ussu+mans from

them"

:?? Phi+oso)hica+

#Ne%erthe+ess( the' are more attached to their

re+i*ion than $e are to ours H for no Tur= or Ara



e%er turns Christian( $hi+e the' ha%e hundreds of

rene*adoes amon* them( $ho e%en ser%e in their e>7

)editions" An Ita+ian named Pe+e*ini( $as( in :@:?(

ca)tain7*enera+ of the A+*erine *a++e's" The mira7

mo+in( the e'( the de'( a++ ha%e Christian fema+es

in their sera*+ios( ut there are on+' t$o Tur=ish

*ir+s $ho ha%e found +o%ers in Paris"

#The A+*erine +and force consists of t$e+%e thou7

sand re*u+ar so+diers on+'H ut a++ the rest of the

men are trained to arms H and it is this that renders

the conJuest of the countr' so dicu+t" The Van7

da+s( ho$e%er( easi+' sudued itH 'et $e dare not

attac= it"#

ALLEORIES"

./PITER( Ne)tune( and 0ercur'( tra%e++in* one

da' in Thrace( ca++ed on a certain =in* named

&'reus( $ho entertained them %er' handsome+'"

After eatin* a *ood dinner( the' as=ed him if the'

cou+d render him an' ser%ice" The *ood man( $ho

$as )ast the a*e at $hich it is usua+ for men to ha%e

chi+dren( to+d them he shou+d e %er' much o+i*ed

to them if the' $ou+d ma=e him a o'" The three

*ods then urinated on the s=in of a ne$ a'ed o> H



and from these s)ran* Orion( $ho ecame one of the

conste++ations =no$n to the most remote antiJuit'"

This conste++ation $as named Orion ' the ancient

Cha+dseans H it is s)o=en of in the !oo= of .o" It

Dictionar'" : ?3

$ou+d e hard to disco%er a rationa+ a++e*or' in this

)rett' stor'( un+ess $e are to infer from it that

nothin* $as im)ossi+e to the *ods"

There $ere in reece t$o 'oun* ra=es( $ho $ere

to+d ' the orac+e to e$are of the me+am)'*os or

sa+e )osteriors" One da' &ercu+es too= them and

tied them ' the feet to the end of his c+u( so that

the' hun* do$n his ac= $ith their heads do$n7

$ard( +i=e a cou)+e of raits( ha%in* a fu++ %ie$

of his )erson" #Ah# said the'H #the orac+e is

accom)+ishedH this is the me+am)'*os# &ercu+es

fe++ a+au*hin*( and +et them *o" &ere a*ain it $ou+d

e rather dicu+t to di%ine the mora+ sense"

Amon* the fathers of m'tho+o*' there $ere some

$ho had on+' ima*ination H ut the *reater )art of



them )ossessed understandin*s of no mean order"

Not a++ our academies( not a++ our ma=ers of de%ices(

not e%en the' $ho com)ose the +e*ends for the coun7

ters of the ro'a+ treasur'( $i++ e%er in%ent a++e*ories

more true( more )+easin*( or more in*enious( than

those of the Nine 0uses( of Venus( the races( the

od of Lo%e( and so man' others( $hich $i++ e the

de+i*ht and instruction of a++ a*es"

The ancients( it must e confessed( a+most a+$a's

s)o=e in a++e*ories" The ear+ier fathers of the

church( the *reater )art of $hom $ere P+atonists(

imitated this method of P+atos" The' ha%e( indeed(

een re)roached $ith ha%in* carried this taste for

a++e*ories and a++usions a +itt+e too far"

St" .ustin( in his #A)o+o*'(# sa's that the si*n oi

:?G Phi+oso)hica+

the cross is mar=ed in the +ims and features of man H

that $hen he e>tends his arms there is a )erfect

cross H and that his nose and e'es form a cross u)on

his face"



Accordin* to Ori*ens e>)+anation of Le%iticus(

the fat of the %ictims si*nies the Church( and the

tai+ is a s'mo+ of )erse%erance"

St" Au*ustine( in his sermon on the dierence

and a*reement of the t$o *enea+o*ies of Christ( e>7

)+ains to his auditors $h' St" 0atthe$( a+thou*h he

rec=ons fort'7t$o *enerations( enumerates on+'

fort'7one" It is( sa's he( ecause .echonias must e

rec=oned t$ice( .echonias ha%in* *one from .eru7

sa+em to !a'+on" This Mourne' is to e considered

as the corner7stoneH and if the corner7stone is the

rst of one side of a ui+din*( it is a+so the rst of

the other sideH conseJuent+' this stone must e

rec=oned t$iceH and therefore .echonias must e

rec=oned t$ice" &e adds that( in the fort'7t$o *en7

erations( $e must d$e++ on the numer fort'( ecause

that numer si*nies +ife" The numer ten de7

notes +essedness( and ten mu+ti)+ied ' four( $hich

re)resents the four e+ements and the four seasons(

)roduces fort'"

In his ft'7third sermon( the dimensions of mat7

ter ha%e astonishin* )ro)erties" !readth is the di+a7

tion of the heart( +en*th is +on*7suerin*( hei*ht is



ho)e( and de)th is faith" So that( esides the a++e7

*or'( $e ha%e four dimensions of matter instead of

three"

Dictionar'" :?

It is c+ear and induita+e sa's he in his sermon

on the Bth )sa+mQ that the numer four denotes the

human od'( ecause of the four e+ements( and the

four Jua+ities of hot( co+d( moist( and dr'H and as

four re+ates to the od'( so three re+ates to the sou+ H

for $e must +o%e od $ith a tri)+e +o%e $ith a++

our hearts( $ith a++ our sou+s( and $ith a++ our minds"

Four a+so re+ates to the O+d Testament( and three to

the Ne$" Four and three ma=e u) the numer of

se%en da's( and the ei*ht is the da' of Mud*ment"

One cannot ut fee+ that there is in these a++e*ories

an aectation ut +itt+e com)ati+e $ith true e+o7

Juence" The fathers( $ho sometimes made use of

these *ures( $rote in times and countries in $hich

near+' a++ the arts $ere de*eneratin*" Their +earn7

in* and ne *enius $ere $ar)ed ' the im)erfections

of the a*e in $hich the' +i%ed" St" Au*ustine is not



to e res)ected the +ess for ha%in* )aid this triute

to the ad taste of Africa and the fourth centur'"

The discourses of our modern )reachers are not

dis*ured ' simi+ar fau+ts" Not that $e dare )re7

fer them to the fathers H ut the )resent a*e is to e

)referred to the a*es in $hich the' $rote" E+o7

Juence( $hich ecame more and more corru)ted( and

$as not re%i%ed unti+ +ater times( fe++( after them(

into sti++ *reater e>tra%a*ances H and the +an*ua*es

of a++ ararous nations $ere a+i=e ridicu+ous unti+

the a*e of Louis 8IV" Loo= at a++ the o+d co++ections

of sermons H the' are far e+o$ the dramatic )ieces

of the Passion( $hich used to e )+a'ed at the &ote+

:?B Phi+oso)hica+

de !our*o*ne" !ut the s)irit of a++e*or'( $hich has

ne%er een +ost( ma' e traced throu*hout these ar7

arous discourses" The ce+erated 0enot( $ho +i%ed

in the rei*n of Francis I"( did more honor( )erha)s(

than an' other to the a++e*orica+ st'+e" #The $orth'

administrators of Mustice(# said he( #are +i=e a cat

set to ta=e care of a cheese( +est it shou+d e *na$ed



' the mice" One ite of the cat does more dama*e

to the cheese than t$ent' mice can do"#

&ere is another %er' curious )assa*e- #The

$oodmen( in a forest( cut +ar*e and sma++ ranches(

and ind them in fa**ots H Must so do our ecc+esias7

tics( $ith dis)ensations from Rome( hea) to*ether

*reat and sma++ eneces" The cardina+s hat is *ar7

nished $ith isho)rics( the isho)rics are *arnished

$ith ae's and )riories( and the $ho+e is *arnished

$ith de%i+s" A++ these church )ossessions must )ass

throu*h the three +in=s of the A%e 0ariaH for enc7

dicta tu stands for fat ae's of !enedictines( in

mu+ierius for monsieur and madame( and fructus

%entris for anJuets and *ormandi1ers"#

The sermons of !ar+et and 0ai++ard are a++

framed after this mode+( and $ere de+i%ered ha+f in

ad Latin( and ha+f in ad French" The Ita+ian ser7

mons $ere in the same taste H and the erman $ere

sti++ $orse" This monstrous med+e' *a%e irth to

the macaroni st'+e( the %er' c+ima> of ararism"

The s)ecies of orator'( $orth' on+' of the Indians

on the an=s of the 0issouri( )re%ai+ed e%en so +ate+'

as the rei*n of Louis 8III" The .esuit arasse( one



Dictionar'" :?@

of the most distin*uished enemies of common sense(

ne%er )reached in an' other st'+e" &e +i=ened the

ce+erated Theo)hi+e to a ca+f( ecause Theo)hi+es

fami+' name $as Viaud( somethin* resem+in* %eau

a ca+fQ" #!ut(# said he( #the esh of a ca+f is *ood

to roast and to oi+( $hereas thine is *ood for nothin*

ut to urn"#

A++ these a++e*ories( used ' our ararians( fa++

innite+' short of those em)+o'ed ' &omer( Vir*i+(

and O%id( $hich )ro%es that if there e sti++ some

oths and Vanda+s $ho des)ise ancient fa+e the'

are not a+to*ether in the ri*ht"

AL0ANAC"

IT is of +itt+e moment to =no$ $hether $e ha%e

the $ord a+manac from the ancient Sa>ons( $ho

cou+d not $rite( or from the Aras( $ho are =no$n

to ha%e een astronomers( and to ha%e had some

acJuaintance $ith the courses of the )+anets( $hi+e

the $estern nations $ere sti++ $ra))ed in an i*no7



rance as *reat as their ararism" I sha++ here con7

ne m'se+f to one short oser%ation"

Let an Indian )hi+oso)her( $ho has emar=ed at

0e+ia)our( come to !a'onne" I sha++ su))ose this

)hi+oso)her to e a man of sense( $hich( 'ou $i++ sa'(

is rare amon* the +earned of India H to e di%ested of

a++ scho+astic )reMudices a thin* that $as rare

e%er'$here not +on* a*o and I sha++ su))ose him

to meet $ith a +oc=head in our )art of the $or+d

$hich is not Juite so *reat a rarit'"

:?9 Phi+oso)hica+

Our +oc=head( in order to ma=e him con%ersant

$ith our arts and sciences( )resents him $ith a Lie*e

a+manac( com)osed ' 0atthe$ Lanser*( and the

Lame 0essen*er 0essa*er oiteu>Q ' Anthon'

Souci( astro+o*er and historian( )rinted e%er' 'ear

at !as+e( and so+d to the numer of ?<(<<< co)ies in

ei*ht da's" There 'ou eho+d the ne *ure of a

man( surrounded ' the si*ns of the 5odiac( $ith cer7

tain indications most c+ear+' demonstratin* that the

sca+es )reside o%er the )osteriors( the ram o%er the



creet )ersons amon* us( somethin* ma'( $ith the

+essin* of od( e made of us"

It $as )recise+' in this $a' that our rst mis7

sionaries( es)ecia++' St" Francis 8a%ier( s)o=e of the

)eo)+e inhaitin* the )eninsu+a of India" The' e%en

fe++ into sti++ *rosser mista=es res)ectin* the customs

of the Indians( their sciences( their o)inions( their

manners( and their $orshi)" The accounts $hich

the' sent to Euro)e $ere e>treme+' curious" E%er'

statue $as a de%i+ H e%er' assem+' a saath H e%er'

s'mo+ica+ *ure a ta+isman H e%er' !rahmin a sor7

cererH and these are made the suMect of ne%er7

endin* +amentations" The' ho)e that the har%est

$i++ e aundantH and add( ' a rather incon*ruous

meta)hor( that the' $i++ +aor eectua++' in the %ine7

'ard of the Lord( in a countr' $here $ine has a+$a's

een un=no$n" Thus( or near+' thus( ha%e e%er'

)eo)+e Mud*ed( not on+' of distant nations( ut of

their nei*hors"

The Chinese are said to e the most ancient

a+manac7ma=ers" The nest of their em)erors

)ri%i+e*es is that of sendin* his ca+endar to his %as7

sa+s and nei*hors H their refusa+ of $hich $ou+d e

considered as a ra%ado( and $ar $ou+d forth$ith



e made u)on them( as it used to e in Euro)e on

feuda+ +ords $ho refused their homa*e"

If $e ha%e on+' t$e+%e conste++ations( the Chinese

ha%e t$ent'7ei*ht( the names of $hich ha%e not the

+east anit' $ith ours a sucient )roof that the'

ha%e ta=en nothin* from the Cha+daean 5odiac( that

Vo+ 7;

:3< Phi+oso)hica+

$e ha%e ado)ted" !ut thou*h the' ha%e had a com7

)+ete s'stem of astro+o*' for more than four thou7

sand 'ears( the' resem+e 0atthe$ Lanser* and

Anthon' Souci in the ne )redictions and secrets of

hea+th $ith $hich the' stu their Im)eria+ A+manac"

The' di%ide the da' into ten thousand minutes( and

=no$( $ith the *reatest )recision( $hat minute is

fa%ora+e or other$ise" When the Em)eror Kamhi

$ished to em)+o' the .esuit missionaries in ma=7

in* the a+manac( the' are said to ha%e e>cused

themse+%es( at rst( on account of the e>tra%a*ant

su)erstitions $ith $hich it must e ++ed" #I ha%e



much +ess faith than 'ou in the su)erstitions(# re7

)+ied the em)eror H #on+' ma=e me a *ood ca+endar(

and +ea%e it for m' +earned men to ++ u) the oo=

$ith their foo+er'"#

The in*enious author of the #P+ura+it' of

Wor+ds# ridicu+es the Chinese( ecause( sa's he(

the' see a thousand stars fa++ at once into the sea" It

is %er' +i=e+' that the Em)eror Kamhi ridicu+ed this

notion as $e++ as Fontene++e" Some Chinese a+manac7

ma=er had( it $ou+d seem( een *ood7natured

enou*h to s)ea= of these meteors after the manner

of the )eo)+e( and to ta=e them for stars" E%er'

countr' has its foo+ish notions" A++ the nations of

antiJuit' made the sun +ie do$n in the sea( $here

for a +on* time $e sent the stars" We ha%e e+ie%ed

that the c+ouds touched the rmament( that the

rmament $as a hard sustance( and that it su)7

)orted a reser%oir of $ater" It has not +on* een

Dictionar'" :3:

=no$n in our to$ns that the Vir*in7thread + de +a

%ier*eQ so often found in the countr'( is nothin*



more than the thread s)un ' a s)ider" Let us not

+au*h at an' )eo)+e" Let us reect that the Chinese

had astro+aes and s)heres efore $e cou+d read( and

that if the' ha%e made no *reat )ro*ress in astron7

om'( it is throu*h that same res)ect for the ancients

$hich $e ha%e had for Aristot+e"

It is conso+in* to =no$ that the Roman )eo)+e(

)o)u+us +ate re>( $ere( in this )articu+ar( far ehind

0atthe$ Lanser*( and the Lame 0essen*er( and

the astro+o*ers of China( unti+ the )eriod $hen .u+ius

Caesar reformed the Roman 'ear( $hich $e ha%e re7

cei%ed from him and sti++ ca++ ' his name the

.u+ian Ca+endar( a+thou*h $e ha%e no ca+ends( and

he $as o+i*ed to reform it himse+f"

The )rimiti%e Romans had( at rst( a 'ear of ten

months( ma=in* three hundred and four da's H this

$as neither so+ar nor +unar( nor an'thin* e>ce)t ar7

arous" The Roman 'ear $as after$ards com)osed

of three hundred and ft'7%e da's another mis7

ta=e( $hich $as corrected so im)erfect+' that( in

Caesars time( the summer festi%a+s $ere he+d in

$inter" The Roman *enera+s a+$a's trium)hed( ut

ne%er =ne$ on $hat da' the' trium)hed"



Caesar reformed e%er'thin*H he seemed to ru+e

oth hea%en and earth" I =no$ not throu*h $hat

com)+aisance for the Roman customs it $as that he

e*an the 'ear at a time $hen it does not e*in

that is( ei*ht da's after the $inter so+stice" A++ the

:3? Phi+oso)hica+

nations com)osin* the Roman Em)ire sumitted to

this inno%ation H e%en the E*')tians( $ho had unti+

then *i%en the +a$ in a++ that re+ated to a+manacs(

recei%ed itH ut none of these dierent nations a+7

tered an'thin* in the distriution of their feasts"

The .e$s( +i=e the rest( ce+erated their ne$ moonsH

their )hase or )ascha( the fourteenth da' of the

moon of 0arch( ca++ed the red7haired moon( $hich

da' often fe++ in A)ri+H their Pentecost( ft' da's

after the )aschaH the feast of horns or trum)ets( the

rst da' of .u+' H that of taernac+es on the fteenth

of the same month( and that of the *reat saath(

se%en da's after$ards"

The rst Christians fo++o$ed the com)utations of

the em)ire( and rec=oned ' ca+ends( nones( and



ides( +i=e their mastersH the' +i=e$ise recei%ed the

!isse>ti+e( $hich $e ha%e sti++( a+thou*h it $as

found necessar' to correct it in the fteenth centur'(

and it must some da' e corrected a*ain H ut the'

conformed to the .e$ish methods in the ce+eration

of their *reat feasts" The' >ed their Easter for

the fourteenth da' of the red moon( unti+ the Coun7

ci+ of Nice determined that it shou+d e the Sunda'

fo++o$in*" Those $ho ce+erated it on the four7

teenth $ere dec+ared hereticsH and oth $ere mis7

ta=en in their ca+cu+ation"

The feasts of the !+essed Vir*in $ere( as far as

)ossi+e( sustituted for the ne$ moons" The author

of the #Roman Ca+endar# Le Ca+endrier RomainQ

sa's the reason of this is dra$n from the %erse of

Dictionar'" :33

the Cantic+e( )u+chra ut +una( #fair as the moon#H

ut( ' the same ru+e( these feasts shou+d e he+d on

a Sunda'( for in the same %erse $e nd e+ecta ut so+(

#chosen +i=e the sun"# The Christians a+so =e)t the

feast of Pentecost H it $as >ed( +i=e that of the .e$s(



)recise+' ft' da's after Easter" The same author

asserts that saint7da's too= the )+ace of the feasts of

taernac+es" &e adds that St" .ohns da' $as >ed

for the ?Gth of .une( on+' ecause the da's then e*in

to shorten( and St" .ohn had said( $hen s)ea=in* of

.esus Christ( #&e must *ro$( and I must ecome

+ess# O)ortet i+ium crescere( me autem minui"

There is somethin* %er' sin*u+ar in the ancient

ceremon' of +i*htin* a *reat re on St" .ohns da'(

in the hottest )eriod of the 'ear" It has een said to

e a %er' o+d custom( ori*ina++' desi*ned to com7

memorate the ancient urnin* of the $or+d( $hich

a$aited a second cona*ration" The same $riter

assures us that the feast of the Assum)tion is =e)t

on the : th of Au*ust ecause the sun is then in the

si*n of the Vir*in" &e a+so certies that St"

0athias da' is in the month of Feruar'( ecause

he $as( as it $ere( interca+ated amon* the t$e+%e

a)ost+es( as a da' is added to Feruar' e%er' +ea)7

'ear" There $ou+d( )erha)s( e somethin* in these

astronomica+ ima*inin*s to ma=e our Indian )hi+os7

o)her smi+eH ne%erthe+ess( the author of them $as

mathematica+ master to the Dau)hin( son of Louis

8IV"( and moreo%er( an en*ineer and a %er' $orth'

ocer"



:3G Phi+oso)hica+

ALTARS( TE0PLES( RITES( SACRIFICES(

ETC"

IT is uni%ersa++' ac=no$+ed*ed that the rst

Christians had neither tem)+es( nor a+tars( nor ta7

)ers( nor incense( nor ho+' $ater( nor an' of those

rites $hich the )rudence of )astors after$ards in7

stituted( in conformit' $ith times and )+aces( ut

more es)ecia++' $ith the %arious $ants of the faith7

fu+"

We ha%e am)+e testimon' in Ori*en( Athena7

*oras( Theo)hi+us( .ustin( and Tertu++ian( that the

)rimiti%e Christians he+d tem)+es and a+tars in aom7

ination H and that not mere+' ecause the' cou+d not

in the e*innin* otain )ermission from the *o%7

ernment to ui+d tem)+es( ut ecause the' had a

rea+ a%ersion for e%er'thin* that seemed to a))+'

an' anit' $ith other re+i*ions" This ahorrence

e>isted amon* them for t$o hundred and ft' 'ears(

as is )ro%ed ' the fo++o$in* )assa*e of 0inutius

Fe+i>( $ho +i%ed in the third centur'" Addressin*



the Romans( he sa's -

# Putatis autem nos occu+tare Juod co+imus( si de+ura et

aras non haemus" 6uod enim simu+acrum Deo n*am(

Juum( si recte e>is times( sit Dei homo i)se simu+acrum

Juod tem)+um ei e>struam( Juum totus hie mundus( eMus

o)ere faric atus( eum ca)er e non )ossit et Juum homo

+atius maneam( intra unam adicu+um %im tant21 maMestatis

inc+udamf nonne me+ius in nostra dedicandus est mente(

in nostro imo consecrandus est )ec tore #

#4ou thin= that $e concea+ $hat $e adore( e7

cause $e ha%e neither tem)+es nor a+tars" !ut $hat

sha++ $e erect +i=e to od( since man himse+f is

Dictionar'" :3

ods ima*e What tem)+e sha++ $e ui+d for &im(

$hen the $ho+e $or+d( $hich is the $or= of &is

hands( cannot contain &im &o$ sha++ $e enc+ose

the )o$er of such maMest' in one d$e++in*7)+ace

Is it not etter to consecrate a tem)+e to &im in our

minds and in our hearts #



The Christians( then( had no tem)+es unti+ aout

the e*innin* of the rei*n of Dioc+etian" The Church

had then ecome %er' numerous H and it $as found

necessar' to introduce those decorations and rites

$hich( at an ear+ier )eriod( $ou+d ha%e een use+ess

and e%en dan*erous to a s+ender oc=( +on* des)ised(

and considered as nothin* more than a sma++ sect of

dissentin* .e$s"

It is manifest that( $hi+e the' $ere confounded

$ith the .e$s( the' cou+d not otain )ermission to

erect tem)+es" The .e$s( $ho )aid %er' dear for

their s'na*o*ues( $ou+d themse+%es ha%e o))osed

itH for the' $ere morta+ enemies to the Christians(

and the' $ere rich" We must not sa'( $ith To+and(

that the Christians( $ho at that time made a sho$ of

des)isin* tem)+es and a+tars( $ere +i=e the fo> that

said the *ra)es $ere sour" This com)arison a)7

)ears as unMust as it is im)ious( since a++ the )rimi7

ti%e Christians in so man' dierent countries( a*reed

in maintainin* that there $as no need of raisin*

tem)+es or a+tars to the true od"

Pro%idence( actin* ' second causes( $i++ed that

the' shou+d erect a s)+endid tem)+e at Nicomedia( the

residence of the Em)eror Dioc+etian( as soon as the'



:3B Phi+oso)hica+

had otained that so%erei*ns )rotection" The' ui+t

others in other cities H ut sti++ the' had a horror of

ta)ers( +ustra+ $ater( )ontica+ haits( etc" A++ this

)om) and circumstance $as in their e'es no other

than a distincti%e mar= of )a*anism" These cus7

toms $ere ado)ted under Constantine and his suc7

cessors( and ha%e freJuent+' chan*ed"

Our *ood $omen of the )resent da'( $ho e%er'

Sunda' hear a Latin mass( at $hich a +itt+e o' at7

tends( ima*ine that this rite has een oser%ed from

the ear+iest a*es( that there ne%er $as an' other( and

that the custom in other countries of assem+in* to

oer u) )ra'ers to od in common is diao+ica+ and

Juite of recent ori*in" There is( undenia+'( some7

thin* %er' res)ecta+e in a mass( since it has een

authori1ed ' the Church H it is not at a++ an ancient

usa*e( ut is not the +ess entit+ed to our %eneration"

There is not( )erha)s( a sin*+e ceremon' of this

da' $hich $as in use in the time of the a)ost+es"



The &o+' S)irit has a+$a's conformed himse+f to

the times" &e ins)ired the rst disci)+es in a mean

a)artment H &e no$ communicates &is ins)irations

in St" Peters at Rome( $hich cost se%era+ mi++ions

eJua++' di%ine( ho$e%er( in the $retched room( and

in the su)er edice of .u+ius II"( Leo 8"( Pau+ III"(

and Si>tus V"

A0A5ONS"

!OLD and %i*orous $omen ha%e een often seen

to *ht +i=e men" &istor' ma=es mention of such H

for( $ithout rec=onin* Semiramis( Tom'ris( or

Dictionar'" :3@

Penthesi+ea $ho( )erha)s( e>isted on+' in fa+e it

is certain that there $ere man' $omen in the armies

of the rst ca+i)hs" In the trie of the &omerites(

es)ecia++'( it $as a sort of +a$( dictated ' +o%e and

coura*e( that in att+e $i%es shou+d succor and

a%en*e their husands( and mothers their chi+dren"

When the famous chief Derar $as *htin* in

S'ria a*ainst the *enera+s of the Em)eror &erac+ius(



in the time of the ca+i)h Aue=er( successor to

0ahomet( Peter( $ho commanded at Damascus( too=

thither se%era+ $omen( $hom he had ca)tured( to7

*ether $ith some oot'( in one of his e>cursions H

amon* the )risoners $as the sister of Derar" A+%a7

=edis #Araian &istor'(# trans+ated ' Oc=+e'( sa's

that she $as a )erfect eaut'( and that Peter ecame

enamored of her( )aid *reat attention to her on the

$a'( and indu+*ed her and her fe++o$7)risoners $ith

short marches" The' encam)ed in an e>tensi%e

)+ain( under tents( *uarded ' troo)s )osted at a

short distance" Cau+ah so this sister of Derar s

$as namedQ )ro)osed to one of her com)anions(

ca++ed Oserra( that the' shou+d endea%or to esca)e

from ca)ti%it'( and )ersuaded her rather to die than

e a %ictim to the +e$d desires of the Christians" 7The

same 0ahometan enthusiasm sei1ed a++ the $omen H

the' armed themse+%es $ith the iron7)ointed sta%es

that su))orted their tents( and $ith a sort of da**er

$hich the' $ore in their *ird+es H the' then formed a

circ+e( as the co$s do $hen the' )resent their horns

to attac=in* $o+%es" Peter on+' +au*hed at rst H he

:39 Phi+oso)hica+



ad%anced to$ard the $omen( $ho *a%e him hard

+o$s $ith the sta%es H after hesitatin* for some time(

he at +en*th reso+%ed to use force H the sares of his

men $ere a+read' dra$n( $hen Derar arri%ed( )ut

the ree=s to i*ht( and de+i%ered his sister and the

other ca)ti%es"

Nothin* can more stron*+' resem+e those times

ca++ed heroic( sun* ' &omer" &ere are the same

sin*+e comats at the head of armies( the comat7

ants freJuent+' ho+din* a +on* con%ersation efore

the' commence *htin*H and this( no dout( Musties

&omer"

Thomas( *o%ernor of S'ria( &erac+iuss son7in7

+a$( made a sa++' from Damascus( and attac=ed

Ser*iai+( ha%in* rst )ra'ed to .esus Christ" #/n7

Must a**ressor(# said he to Ser*iai+( #thou canst not

resist .esus( m' od( $ho $i++ *ht for the cham7

)ions of &is re+i*ion"# #Thou te++est an im)ious +ie(#

ans$ered Ser*iai+H #.esus is not *reater efore

od than Adam" od raised &im from the dust H

&e *a%e +ife to &im as to another man( and( after

+ea%in* &im for some time on earth( too= &im u)

into hea%en"# After some more %era+ s=irmishin*



the *ht e*an" Thomas dischar*ed an arro$(

$hich $ounded 'oun* Aan( the son of Sai( ' the

side of the %a+iant Ser*iai+ H Aan fe++ and e>)ired H

the ne$s of his death reached his 'oun* $ife( to

$hom he had een united ut a fe$ da's eforeH

she neither $e)t nor com)+ained( ut ran to the e+d

of att+e( $ith a Jui%er at her ac=( and a cou)+e of

Dictionar'" :3;

arro$s in her hand H $ith the rst of these she =i++ed

the Christian standard7earer( and the Aras sei1ed

the tro)h'( cr'in*( A++ah achar With the other she

shot Thomas in the e'e( and he retired( +eedin*( into

the to$n"

Araian histor' is fu++ of simi+ar e>am)+es( ut

the' do not te++ us that these $ar+i=e $omen urned

their ri*ht reast( that the' mi*ht dra$ the o$ et7

ter( nor that the' +i%ed $ithout menH on the con7

trar'( the' e>)osed themse+%es in att+e for their

husands or their +o%ers H from $hich %er' circum7

stance $e must conc+ude that( so far from re)roach7

in* Ariosto and Tasso for ha%in* introduced so man'



enamored $arriors into their )oems( $e shou+d )raise

them for ha%in* de+ineated rea+ and interestin* man7

ners"

When the crusadin* mania $as at its hei*ht there

$ere some Christian $omen $ho shared the fati*ues

and dan*ers of their husands" To such a )itch( in7

deed( $as this enthusiasm carried that the enoese

$omen undertoo= a crusade of their o$n( and $ere

on the )oint of settin* out for Pa+estine to form )etti7

coat atta+ions H the' had made a %o$ so to do( ut

$ere aso+%ed from it ' a )o)e( $ho $as a +itt+e

$iser than themse+%es"

0ar*aret of AnMou( $ife of the unfortunate

&enr' VI" of En*+and( e%inced( in a Muster $ar( a

%a+or tru+' heroic H she fou*ht in ten att+es to de7

+i%er her husand" &istor' aords no authenticated

e>am)+e of *reater or more )erse%erin* coura*e in

:G< Phi+oso)hica+

a $oman" She had een )receded ' the ce+erated

Countess de 0ontfort( in !rittan'" #This )rincess(#



sa's dAr*entre( #$as %irtuous e'ond the nature of

her se>( and %a+iant e'ond a++ menH she mounted

her horse( and mana*ed him etter than an' esJuire H

she fou*ht hand to hand( or char*ed a troo) of armed

men +i=e the most %a+iant ca)tainH she fou*ht on

sea and +and $ith eJua+ ra%er'(# etc" She $ent(

s$ord in hand( throu*h her states( $hich $ere in7

%aded ' her com)etitor( Char+es de !+ois" She not

on+' sustained t$o assau+ts( armed ca)7a7)ie( in the

reach of &enneon( ut she made a sortie $ith %e

hundred men( attac=ed the enem's cam)( set re to

it( and reduced it to ashes"

The e>)+oits of .oan of Arc( etter =no$n as the

0aid of Or+eans( are +ess astonishin* than those of

0ar*aret of AnMou and the Countess de 0ontfort"

These t$o )rincesses ha%in* een rou*ht u) in the

+u>ur' of courts( and .oan of Arc in the rude e>7

ercises of countr' +ife( it $as more sin*u+ar( as $e++

as more no+e( to Juit a )a+ace for the e+d than a

cotta*e"

The heroine $ho defended !eau%ais $as( )er7

ha)s( su)erior to her $ho raised the sie*e of Or+eans(

for she fou*ht Juite as $e++( and neither oasted of

ein* a maid( nor of ein* ins)ired" It $as in :G@?(



$hen the !ur*undian arm' $as esie*in* !eau%ais(

that .eanne &achette( at the head of a numer of

$omen( sustained an assau+t for a considera+e time(

$rested the standard from one of the enem' $ho $as

Dictionar'" :G:

aout to )+ant it on the reach( thre$ the earer into

the trench( and *a%e time for the =in*s troo)s to

arri%e and re+ie%e the to$n" &er descendants ha%e

een e>em)ted from the tai++e )o++ ta>Q a mean

and shamefu+ recom)ense The $omen and *ir+s of

!eau%ais are more attered ' their $a+=in* efore

the men in the )rocession on the anni%ersar' da'"

E%er' )u+ic mar= of honor is an encoura*ement of

meritH ut the e>em)tion from the tai++e is ut a

)roof that the )ersons so e>em)ted $ere suMected

to this ser%itude ' the misfortune of their irth"

There is hard+' an' nation $hich does not oast

of ha%in* )roduced such heroines H the numer of

these( ho$e%er( is not *reat H nature seems to ha%e

desi*ned $omen for other )ur)oses" Women ha%e

een =no$n ut rare+' to e>hiit themse+%es as

so+diers" In short( e%er' )eo)+e ha%e had their fe7



ma+e $arriors H ut the =in*dom of the Ama1ons( on

the an=s of the Thermodon( is( +i=e most other

ancient stories( nothin* more than a )oetic ction"

A0!I/IT4 E6/IVOCATION"

FOR $ant of dennin* terms( and es)ecia++' for

$ant of a c+ear understandin*( a+most a++ +a$s( that

shou+d e as )+ain as arithmetic and *eometr'( are

as oscure as +o*o*ri)hs" The me+ancho+' )roof of

this is that near+' a++ )rocesses are founded on the

sense of the +a$s( a+$a's dierent+' understood '

the )+eaders( the ad%ocates( and the Mud*es"

The $ho+e )u+ic +a$ of Euro)e had its ori*in in

:G? Phi+oso)hica+

eJui%oca+ e>)ressions( e*innin* $ith the Sa+iJue

+a$" She sha++ not inherit Sa+iJue +and" !ut $hat

is Sa+iJue +and And sha++ not a *ir+ inherit mone'(

or a nec=+ace( +eft to her( $hich ma' e $orth more

than the +and



The citi1ens of Rome sa+uted Kar+( son of the

Austrasian Pe)in +e !ref( ' the name of im)erator"

Did the' understand there' - We confer on 'ou a++

the )rero*ati%es of Octa%ius( Tierius( Ca+i*u+a( and

C+audius We *i%e 'ou a++ the countr' $hich the'

)ossessed &o$e%er( the' cou+d not *i%e itH for

so far $ere the' from ein* masters of it that the'

$ere scarce+' masters of their o$n cit'" There ne%e,

$as a more eJui%oca+ e>)ressionH and such as i+

$as then it sti++ is"

Did Leo III"( the isho) of Rome $ho is said to

ha%e sa+uted Char+ema*ne em)eror( com)rehend

the meanin* of the $ords $hich he )ronounced

The ermans assert that he understood ' them

that Char+es shou+d e his master" The Datar' has

asserted that he meant he shou+d e master o%er

Char+ema*ne"

&a%e not thin*s the most %enera+e( the most

sacred( the most di%ine( een oscured ' the am7

i*uities of +an*ua*e As= t$o Christians of $hat

re+i*ion the' are" Each $i++ ans$er( I am a Catho+ic"

4ou thin= the' are oth of the same communionH

'et one is of the ree=( the other of the Latin church H

and the' are irreconci+a+e" If 'ou see= to e fur7



ther informed( 'ou $i++ nd that ' the $ord

Dictionar'" :G3

Catho+ic each of them understands uni%ersa+( in

$hich case uni%ersa+ si*nies a )art"

The sou+ of St" Francis is in hea%en is in )ara7

dise" One of these $ords si*nies the airH the other

means a *arden" The $ord s)irit is used a+i=e to

e>)ress e>tract( thou*ht( disti++ed +iJuor( a))arition"

Ami*uit' has een so necessar' a %ice in a++

+an*ua*es( formed ' $hat is ca++ed chance and '

custom( that the author of a++ c+earness and truth

&imse+f condescended to s)ea= after the manner of

&is )eo)+eH $hence is it that E+ohim si*nies in

some )+aces Mud*es( at other times *ods(a"nd at others

an*e+s" #Tu es Petrus( et su)er hunc )etrum adi7

cao ecc+esiam meam(# $ou+d e eJui%oca+ in a )ro7

fane ton*ue( and on )rofane suMectH ut these

$ords recei%e a di%ine sense from the mouth $hich

utters them( and the suMect to $hich the' are a)7

)+ied"



#I am the od of Araham( the od of Isaac( the

od of .aco H no$ od is not the od of the dead(

ut of the +i%in*"# In the ordinar' sense these $ords

mi*ht si*nif' - #I am the same od that $as $or7

shi))ed ' Araham( Isaac and .acoH as the earth(

$hich ore Araham( Isaac( and .aco( +i=e$ise

ears their descendantsH the sun $hich shines to7

da' is the sun that shone on Araham( Isaac( and

.acoH the +a$ of their chi+dren $as their +a$"#

This does not( ho$e%er( si*nif' that Araham( Isaac(

and .aco are sti++ +i%in*" !ut $hen the 0essiah

s)ea=s( there is no +on*er an' ami*uit' H the sense

:GG Phi+oso)hica+

is as c+ear as it is di%ine" It is e%ident that Araham(

Isaac( and .aco are not amon* the dead( ut +i%e

in *+or'( since this orac+e is )ronounced ' the 0es7

siah H ut it $as necessar' that &e and no one e+se

shou+d utter it"

The discourses of the .e$ish )ro)hets mi*ht seem

eJui%oca+ to men of *ross inte++ects( $ho cou+d not

)ercei%e their meanin*H ut the' $ere not so to



minds i++umined ' the +i*ht of faith"

A++ the orac+es of antiJuit' $ere eJui%oca+" It

$as foreto+d to Croesus that a )o$erfu+ em)ire $as

to fa++ H ut $as it to e his o$n or that of C'rus

It $as a+so foreto+d to P'rrhus that the Romans

mi*ht conJuer him( and that he mi*ht conJuer the

Romans" It $as im)ossi+e that this orac+e shou+d

+ie"

When Se)timius Se%erus( Pescennius Ni*er( and

C+odius A+inus $ere contendin* for the em)ire(

the orac+e of De+)hos( ein* consu+ted not$ith7

standin* the assertion of the .esuit !a+tus that

orac+es had ceasedQ( ans$ered that the ro$n $as

%er' *ood( the $hite *ood for nothin*( and the

African to+era+e" It is )+ain that there are more

$a's than one of e>)+ainin* such an orac+e"

When Aure+ian consu+ted the *od of Pa+m'ra

sti++ in s)ite of !a+tusQ( the *od said that the do%es

fear the fa+con" Whate%er mi*ht ha))en( the *od

$ou+d not e emarrassedH the fa+con $ou+d e

the conJueror( and the do%es the conJuered"

So%erei*ns( as $e++ as *ods( ha%e sometimes



Dictionar'" :G

made use of eJui%ocation" Some t'rant( $hose name

I for*et( ha%in* s$orn to one of his ca)ti%es that he

$ou+d not =i++ him( ordered that he shou+d ha%e

nothin* to eat( sa'in* that he had )romised not to

)ut him to death( ut he had not )romised to =ee)

him a+i%e"

A0ERICA"

SINCE framers of s'stems are continua++' con7

Mecturin* on the manner in $hich America can ha%e

een )eo)+ed( $e $i++ e eJua++' consistent in sa'in*

that &e $ho caused ies to e>ist in those re*ions

caused men to e>ist there a+so" &o$e%er )+easant

it ma' e to dis)ute( it cannot e denied that the

Su)reme !ein*( $ho +i%es in a++ nature( has created(

aout the fort'7ei*hth de*ree( t$o7+e**ed anima+s

$ithout feathers( the co+or of $hose s=in is a mi>7

ture of $hite and carnation( $ith +on* eards a)7

)roachin* to red H aout the +ine( in Africa and its

is+ands( ne*roes $ithout eards H and in the same



there in oats( and that 0e>ico must ha%e een )eo7

)+ed ' some of the descendants of 0a*o*" As $e++

mi*ht e said that if there e men in the moon the'

must ha%e een ta=en thither ' Asto+)ho on his

hi))o*ri( $hen he $ent to fetch Ro+ands senses(

$hich $ere cor=ed u) in a ott+e" If America had

een disco%ered in his time( and there had then een

men in Euro)e s'stematic enou*h to ha%e ad%anced(

$ith the .esuit Latau( that the Cariees descended

from the inhaitants of Caria( and the &urons from

the .e$s( he $ou+d ha%e done $e++ to ha%e rou*ht

ac= the ott+e containin* the $its of these reason7

ers( $hich he $ou+d dout+ess ha%e found in the

moon( a+on* $ith those of An*e+icas +o%er"

The rst thin* done $hen an inhaited is+and is

disco%ered in the Indian Ocean( or in the South

Seas( is to inJuire $hence came these )eo)+e !ut as

for the trees and the tortoises( the' are( $ithout an'

hesitation( )ronounced to e indi*enousH as if it

$as more dicu+t for Nature to ma=e men than to

ma=e tortoises" One thin*( ho$e%er( $hich tends

to countenance this s'stem is that there is scarce+' an

is+and in the Eastern or in the Western Ocean $hich



Dictionar'" :G@

does not contain Mu**+ers( Juac=s( =na%es and foo+s"

This( it is )roa+e( *a%e rise to the o)inion that

these anima+s are of the same race $ith ourse+%es"

A0PLIFICATION"

IT is )retended that am)+ication is a ne *ure

of rhetoricH )erha)s( ho$e%er( it $ou+d e more

reasona+e to ca++ it a defect" In sa'in* a++ that $e

shou+d sa'( $e do not am)+if' H and if after sa'in*

this $e am)+if'( $e sa' too much" To )+ace a *ood

or ad action in e%er' +i*ht is not to am)+if' H ut

to *o farther than this is to e>a**erate and ecome

$earisome"

Pri1es $ere former+' *i%en in co++e*es for am)+i7

cation" This $as indeed teachin* the art of ein*

diuse" It $ou+d( )erha)s( ha%e een etter to ha%e

*i%en the fe$est $ords( and thus teach the art of

s)ea=in* $ith *reater force and ener*'" !ut $hi+e

$e a%oid am)+ication( +et us e$are of dr'ness"

I ha%e heard )rofessors teach that certain )as7

sa*es in #Vir*i+# are am)+ications( as( for instance(



the fo++o$in* -

No> erat( et )+acidum car)eant fessa so)orem

Cor)ora )er terras( si+%ceJue et sae%a Juierunt

A5Juora H Juum media %o+%untur sidera +a)su H

6uum facet omnis a*er( )ecudes()ietaeJue %o+ucres H

6uaeJue +acus +ate +iJuidos( JuaeJue as)era dumis

Rura tenant( somno )ositae su nocte si+enti

Leniant curas( et corda o+ita +aorum -

At non infe+i> animi Phcenissa"

T$as dead of ni*ht( $hen $ear' odies c+ose

Their e'es in a+m' s+ee) and soft re)ose-

The $inds no +on*er $his)er throu*h the $oods(

Nor murmurin* tides distur the *ent+e oodsH

The stars in si+ent order mo%ed around(

And )eace( $ith do$n' $in*s( $as roodin* on the *round"

:G9 Phi+oso)hica+



The oc=s and herds( and )arti7co+ored fo$+(

Which haunt the $oods and s$im the $eed' )oo+(

Stretched on the Juiet earth secure+' +a'"

For*ettin* the )ast +aors of the da'"

A++ e+se of Natures common *ift )arta=eH

/nha))' Dido $as a+one a$a=e" DR4DEN"

If the +on* descri)tion of the rei*n of s+ee)

throu*hout a++ nature did not form an admira+e con7

trast $ith the crue+ inJuietude of Dido( these +ines

$ou+d e no other than a )ueri+e am)+ication H it is

the $ords At non infe+i> animi Phanissa #/n7

ha))' Dido(# etc"( $hich *i%e them their charm"

That eautifu+ ode of Sa))hos $hich )aints a++

the s'm)toms of +o%e( and $hich has een ha))i+'

trans+ated into e%er' cu+ti%ated +an*ua*e( $ou+d

dout+ess ha%e een +ess touchin* had Sa))ho een

s)ea=in* of an' other than herse+fH it mi*ht then

ha%e een considered as an am)+ication"

The descri)tion of the tem)est in the rst oo= of

the #'neid# is not an am)+icationH it is a true

)icture of a++ that ha))ens in a tem)estH there is

no idea re)eated( and re)etition is the %ice of a++



$hich is mere+' am)+ication"

The nest )art on the sta*e in an' +an*ua*e is

that of Phedre PhaedraQ" Near+' a++ that she sa's

$ou+d e tiresome am)+ication if an' other $as

s)ea=in* of Phaedras )assion"

Athenes me montra mon su)ere ennemie H

.e +e iis(Me rousts( Me )+Uis( a sa %ueH

/n trou+e st+e%a dans mon dme t'erdue H

0es'eu> ne %o'aient )+us(Me ne )ou%ais )ar+er(

.e sen t is tout mon cor)s et transir et ru+er H

.e reconnus Venus et ses traits rddouta+es(

Dun san* *ue++e )oursuit tormens ine%ita+es"

Dictionar'" :G;

4esH Athens sho$ed me m' )roud enem'H

I sa$ him +ushed turned )a+eH

A sudden trou+e came u)on m' sou+(

0' e'es *re$ dim m' ton*ue refused its oce(



I urned and shi%eredH throu*h m' trem+in* frame

Venus in a++ her dreadfu+ )o$er I fe+t(

Shootin* throu*h e%er' %ein a se)arate )an*"

It is Juite c+ear that since Athens sho$ed her her

)roud enem' &i))o+'tus( she sa$ &i))o+'tusH if

she +ushed and turned )a+e( she $as dout+ess

trou+ed" It $ou+d ha%e een a )+eonasm( a redun7

danc'( if a stran*er had een made to re+ate the +o%es

of PhaedraH ut it is Phaedra( enamored and

ashamed of her )assion her heart is fu++ e%er'7

thin* esca)es her -

/t %tdt( ut )erii( ut me ma+us astu+it error"

.e +e %is t Me rou*is(Me)d+is( a so( %ue"

I sa$ him +ushed turned )a+e"

What can e a etter imitation of Vir*i+

0es 'eu> ne 7uo'aient)+us(Me ne )ou%ais )ar+er H

.e sentis tout man cor)s et transir et rd+er H

0' e'es *re$ dim m' ton*ue refused its oceH

I urned and shi%eredH



What can e a ner imitation of Sa))ho

These +ines( thou*h imitated( o$ as from their

rst sourceH each $ord mo%es and )enetrates the

fee+in* heart H this is not am)+ication H it is the

)erfection of nature and of art"

The fo++o$in* is( in m' o)inion( an instance of

am)+ication( in a modern tra*ed'( $hich ne%erthe7

+ess has *reat eauties" T'deus is at the court of

Ar*osH he is in +o%e $ith a sister of E+ectraH he

+aments the fa++ of his friend Orestes and of his

father H he is di%ided et$i>t his )assion for E+ectra

: < Phi+oso)hica+

and his desire of %en*eance H $hi+e in this state of

care and )er)+e>it' he *i%es one of his fo++o$ers a

+on* descri)tion of a tem)est( in $hich he had een

shi)$rec=ed some time efore"

Tu sats ce Juen ces +ieu> nous %enions entre)rendre H



Tu sais Jue Pa+amede( a%ant Jue de s' rendre

Ne %ou+ut )oint tenter son retour dans Ar*os(

6ui+ rieut interro*e F orac+e de Dt+os"

A de siMustes soins on souscri'it sans )eine H

Nous )ar times( comtts des ienfaits de Th'rrene H

Tout nous fa%orisait H nous %o'a*eUmes +on*tems

A u *r de nos ddsirs( ien )+us Juau *rt des %ents H

0ais( si*na+ant ientot toute son inconstance(

Le mer en un moment se mutine et fe+ance H

Lair mu*it( +e Mourfuit( une d)aisse ita)eur

Cou%re dun %oi+e areu> +es 7%a*ues enfureurH

Laf)udre( tc+airante seu+e une nuit si)rofonde(

A si++ons redou+es ou%re +e de+ et Ionde(



Et comme un touri++on( emrassant nos %aisseait>(

Sem+e en sources de feu oui++onner sur +es eau> H

Les %a*ues Jue+Juefois( nous )ortant sur +eurs cimes(

Nous font rou+er a)res sous de %astes atmes(

Ou +es Ec+airs )resses( )ene#trans a%ec nous(

Dans des *oures defeu sem+aient nous P +on*er tous H

Le )i+ote era't( Jue +aamme en%ironne(

Au> roc=ers Jui+ fu'ait +ui7meme saandonne H

A tra%ers +es dcuei+s notre %aisseau )ousse(

Se rise( et na*e enn sur +es eau> dis)erstes"

Thou =no$est $hat )ur)ose rou*ht us to these shoresH

Thou =no$est that Pa+amed $ou+d not attem)t

A*ain to set his foot $ithin these $a++s



/nti+ hed Juestioned De+os, orac+e"

To his Must care $e readi+' suscriedH

We sai+ed( and fa%orin* *a+es at rst a))eared

To announce a )ros)erous %o'a*eH

Lon* time $e he+d our course( and he+d it rather

As our desires than as the $inds im)e++edH

!ut the inconstant ocean hea%ed at +ast

Its treacherous osomH ho$+in* +asts aroseH

The hea%ens $ere dar=enedH %a)ors +ac= and dense

S)read oer the furious $a%es a fri*htfu+ %ei+(

Pierced on+' ' the thundero+ts( $hich c+o%e

The $aters and the rmament at once(

And $hir+in* round our shi)( in horrid s)ort



Chased one another oer the oi+in* sur*eH

Dictionar'" ::

No$ rose $e on some $ater' mountains summit(

No$ $ith the +i*htnin* )+un*ed into a *u+f

That seemed to s$a++o$ a++" Our )i+ot( struc=

Po$er+ess ' terror( ceased to steer( and +eft us

Aandoned to those roc=s $e dreaded mostH

Soon did our %esse+ dash u)on their )oints(

And s$im in scattered fra*ments on the i++o$s"

In this descri)tion $e see the )oet $ishin* to sur7

)rise his readers $ith the re+ation of a shi)$rec=(

rather than the man $ho see=s to a%en*e his father

and his friend to =i++ the t'rant of Ar*os( ut $ho

is at the same time di%ided et$een +o%e and %en7

*eance"

Se%era+ men of taste( and amon* others the author

of #Te+emachus(# ha%e considered the re+ation

of the death of &i))o+'tus( in Racine( as an am)+i7

cation H +on* recita+s $ere the fashion at that time"

The %anit' of actors ma=e them $ish to e +istened



to( and it $as then the custom to indu+*e them in

this $a'" The archisho) of Camra' sa's that

Theramenes shou+d not( after &i))o+'tus catastro7

)he( ha%e stren*th to s)ea= so +on*H that he *i%es

too am)+e a descri)tion of the monsters threatenin*

horns( his saron sca+es( etc"H that he shou+d sa' in

ro=en accents( &i))o+'tus is dead a monster has

destro'ed him ehe+d it"

I sha++ not enter on a defence of the threatenin*

horns( etc" H 'et this )iece of criticism( $hich has

een so often re)eated( a))ears to me to e unMust"

4ou $ou+d ha%e Theramenes sa' nothin* more than

&i))o+'tus is =i++ed sa$ him die a++ is o%er"

This is )recise+' $hat he does sa' H &i))o+'te nest

:? Phi+oso)hica+

)+us &i))o+'tus is no moreQ &is father e>7

c+aims a+oudH and Theramenes( on reco%erin* his

senses( sa's -

fat %u des morte+s )trir +e )+us amia+e(



ha%e seen the most amia+e of morta+s )erish(

and adds this +ine( so necessar' and so aectin* 'et

so a*oni1in* for Theseus -

Etfose dire encore( Sei*neur( +e mains cou)a+e"

And( Sire( I ma' tru+' add( the most innocent"

The *radations are fu++' oser%ed H each shade

is accurate+' distin*uished" The $retched father

as=s $hat od $hat sudden thunder7stro=e has

de)ri%ed him of his son" &e has not coura*e to

)roceed H he is mute $ith *rief H he a$aits the dread7

fu+ recita+( and the audience a$aits it a+so" Thera7

menes must ans$er H he is as=ed for )articu+ars H he

must *i%e them"

Was it for him $ho had made 0entor and a++ the

rest of his )ersona*es discourse at such +en*th( some7

times e%en tedious+'H $as it for him to shut the

mouth of Theramenes Who amon* the s)ectators

$ou+d not +isten to him Who $ou+d not enMo' the

me+ancho+' )+easure of hearin* the circumstance of

&i))o+'tus death Who $ou+d ha%e so much as

three +ines struc= out This is no %ain descri)tion

of a storm unconnected $ith the )iece H no i++7$ritten



am)+icationH it is the )urest diction( the most

aectin* +an*ua*e H in short( it is Racine" Am)+i7

cation( dec+amation( and e>a**eration $ere at a++

Dictionar'" : 3

times the fau+ts of the ree=s( e>ce)tin* Demos7

thenes and Aristot+e"

There ha%e een asurd )ieces of )oetr' on $hich

time has set the stam) of a+most uni%ersa+ a))roa7

tion( ecause the' $ere mi>ed $ith ri++iant ashes

$hich thre$ a *+are o%er their im)erfections( or e7

cause the )oets $ho came after$ard did nothin*

etter" The rude e*innin*s of e%er' art acJuire a

*reater ce+erit' than the art in )erfection H he $ho

rst )+a'ed the dd+e $as +oo=ed u)on as a demi7

*od( $hi+e Rameau had on+' enemies" In ne( men(

*enera++' *oin* $ith the stream( se+dom Mud*e for

themse+%es( and )urit' of taste is a+most as rare as

ta+ent"

At the )resent da'( most of our sermons( funera+

orations( set discourses( and haran*ues in certain



ceremonies( are tedious am)+ications strin*s of

common)+ace e>)ressions re)eated a*ain and a*ain

a thousand times" These discourses are on+' su)7

)orta+e $hen rare+' heard" Wh' s)ea= $hen 'ou

ha%e nothin* ne$ to sa' It is hi*h time to )ut a

sto) to this e>cessi%e $aste of $ords( and therefore

$e conc+ude our artic+e"

ANCIENTS AND 0ODERNS"

T&E *reat cause of the ancients %ersus the

moderns is not 'et dis)osed of H it has een at issue

e%er since the si+%er a*e( $hich succeeded the *o+den

one" 0en ha%e a+$a's )retended that the *ood o+d

times $ere much etter than the )resent" Nestor( in

: G Phi+oso)hica+

the #I+iad(# $ishin* to insinuate himse+f( +i=e a $ise

mediator( into the *ood o)inion of Achi++es and

A*amemnon( e*ins $ith sa'in* - #I ha%e +i%ed $ith

etter men than 'ou H ne%er ha%e I seen( nor sha++ I

e%er see a*ain( such *reat )ersona*es as Dr' as(

Cseneus( E>adius( Po+')hemus eJua+ to the *ods(#

etc" Posterit' has made am)+e amends to Achi++es



for Nestors ad com)+iment( so %ain+' admired '

those $ho admire nothin* ut $hat is ancient" Who

=no$s an'thin* aout Dr' as We ha%e scarce+'

heard of E>adius or of CceneusH and as for Po+'7

)hemus eJua+ to the *ods( he has no %er' hi*h re)u7

tation( un+ess( indeed( there $as somethin* di%ine in

his ha%in* a *reat e'e in the midd+e of his forehead(

and eatin* the ra$ carcasses of man=ind"

Lucretius does not hesitate to sa' that nature has

de*enerated -

I)sa dedit du+ces fcetus et )au+a +oeta(

6ua nunc %i> nostro *randescunt aucta +aorsH

ConterimusJue o%es( et %ires a*rico+arum( etc"

AntiJuit' is fu++ of the )raises of another an7

tiJuit' sti++ more remote -

Les homines( en tout terns( ont )ensd 'u autrefois(

De +on*s ruisseau> de +ait ser)entaient dans nos ois H

La +une ttait )+us *rande( et +a nuit mains oscure H

L=i%er se couronnait de eurs et de #%erdureH

Se contem)+ait a raise( admirait son ne#ant(



Et( forme )our a*ir( se )+aisait a rienfaire( etc"

0en ha%e( in e%er' a*e( e+ie%ed that once

Lon* streams of mi+= ran $indin* throu*h the $oodsH

The moon $as +ar*er and the ni*ht +ess dar=H

Winter $as cro$ned $ith o$ers and trod on %erdureH

0an( the $or+ds =in*( had nothin* e+se to do

Than contem)+ate his utter $orth+essness(

And( formed for action( too= de+i*ht in s+oth( etc"

Dictionar'" :

&orace comats this )reMudice $ith eJua+ force

and address in his ne e)ist+e to Au*ustus" #0ust

our )oems( then(# sa's he( #e +i=e our $ines( of

$hich the o+dest are a+$a's )referred # &e after7

$ard sa's -



Indi*nor JuidJuam re)rehendi( non Juia crasse

Com)ositum i++e)ide%e )utetur( sed Juia nu)er H

Nee %eniam antiJuis( sed honorem et )rcsmia )osci"

In*eniis non i++e fa%et )+auditJue se)u+tis(

Nostra sed im)u*nat( nos nostraJue +i%idus odit"

I fee+ m' honest indi*nation rise(

When( $ith aected air( a co>com cries-

#The $or=( I o$n( has e+e*ance and ease(

!ut sure no modern shou+d )resume to )+ease#H

Thus for his fa%orite ancients dares to c+aim(

Not )ardon on+'( ut re$ards and fame"

Not to the i++ustrious dead his homa*e )a's(

!ut en%ious ros the +i%in* of their )raise" FRANCIS"

On this suMect the +earned and in*enious Fon7

tene++e e>)resses himse+f thus -

#The $ho+e of the Juestion of )re7eminence e7

t$een the ancients and moderns( ein* once $e++ un7

derstood( reduces itse+f to this- Were the trees

$hich former+' *re$ in the countr' +ar*er than

those of the )resent da' If the' $ere( &omer(



P+ato( and Demosthenes cannot e eJua++ed in these

+atter a*es H ut if our trees are as +ar*e as those

of former times( then can $e eJua+ &omer( P+ato(

and Demosthenes"

#!ut to c+ear u) the )arado> - If the ancients had

stron*er minds than ourse+%es( it must ha%e een that

the rains of those times $ere etter dis)osed( $ere

:XB Phi+oso)hica+

formed of rmer or more de+icate res( or con7

tained a +ar*er )ortion of anima+ s)irits" !ut ho$

shou+d the rains of those times ha%e een etter dis7

)osed &ad such een the case( the +ea%es $ou+d

+i=e$ise ha%e een +ar*er and more eautifu+ H for if

nature $as then more 'outhfu+ and %i*orous( the

trees( as $e++ as the rains of men( $ou+d ha%e orne

testimon' to that 'outh and %i*or"#

With our i++ustrious academicians +ea%e( this is

' no means the state of the Juestion" It is not

as=ed $hether nature can at the )resent da' )roduce

as *reat *eniuses( and as *ood $or=s( as those of



ree= and Latin antiJuit'( ut $hether $e rea++'

ha%e such" It is dout+ess )ossi+e that there are

oa=s in the forest of Chanti++' as +ar*e as those of

DodonaH ut su))osin* that the oa=s of Dodona

cou+d ta+=( it is Juite c+ear that the' had a *reat ad7

%anta*e o%er ours( $hich( it is )roa+e( $i++ ne%er

ta+="

La 0otte( a man of $it and ta+ent( $ho has

merited a))+ause in more than one =ind of $ritin*(

has( in an ode fu++ of ha))' +ines( ta=en the )art of

the moderns" We *i%e one of his stan1as -

Et )ourJuoi %eut7on Jue fencense

Ces )retendus Dieu> dontMe sors

En moi +a meme inte++i*ence

Fait mou%oir +es memes ressorts"

Croit7on +a nature i1arre(

Pour nous auM our d hui )+us a%are

6ue )our +es recs et +es Remains

De nos acnes mere ido+Utre(

Nest7e++e )+us Jue +a mardtre

Dure et *rossiere des humains



Dictionar'" :@

And )ra'( $h' must I end the =nee

To these )retended ods of ours

The same inte++i*ence in me

i%es %i*or to the se+f7same )o$ers"

Thin= 'e that nature is ca)ricious(

Or to$ards us more a%aricious

Than to our ree= and Roman sires

To them an ido+i1in* mother(

Whi+e in their chi+dren she $ou+d smother

The s)ar=s of inte++ectua+ res

&e mi*ht e ans$ered thus- Esteem 'our an7

cestors( $ithout adorin* them" 4ou ha%e inte++i7

*ence and )o$ers of in%ention( as Vir*i+ and &orace

hadH ut )erha)s it is not aso+ute+' the same in7



te++i*ence" Perha)s their ta+ents $ere su)erior to

'ours H the' e>ercised them( too( in a +an*ua*e richer

and more harmonious than our modern ton*ues(

$hich are a mi>ture of corru)ted Latin( $ith the

horri+e Mar*on of the Ce+ts"

Nature is not ca)riciousH ut it is )ossi+e that

she had *i%en the Athenians a soi+ and s=' etter

ada)ted than West)ha+ia and the Limousin to the

formation of *eniuses of a certain order" It is a+so

+i=e+' that the *o%ernment of Athens( secondin* the

fa%ora+e c+imate( )ut ideas into the head of Demos7

thenes $hich the air of C+amar and La renoui++ere

comined $ith the *o%ernment of Cardina+ de Riche7

+ieu( did not )ut into the heads of Omer Ta+on and

.erome !i*non"

Some one ans$ered La 0ottes +ines ' the fo+7

+o$in* -

Cher +a 0otte( imite et re%+re

Ces Dieu> dont tu ne descends )asH

Si tu crois *u &orace est ton )ere(

II a fait des enfans in*rats"



:9 Phi+oso)hica+

La nature riest )oint i1arre H

Pour Danchet e++e est fort a%are(

0ais Racine enfut ien traite# H

Tiu++e e#tait *uide# Par e++e(

0ais )our notre ami La Cha)e++e(

&e# +as Jue++e a)eu de onte#

Re%ere and imitate( La 0otte(

Those ods from $hom thourt not descendedH

If thou ' &orace i%ert e*ot(

&is chi+drens manners mi*ht e mended"

Nature is not at a++ ca)riciousH

To Danchet she is a%aricious(

!ut she $as +iera+ to RacineH

She used Tiu++us %er' $e++(



Dictionar'" : ;

Chinese nor the E*')tians cou+d ha%e made a sin*+e

statue +i=e those formed ' our +i%in* scu+)tors"

Sir Wi++iam Tem)+e( $ho made a )oint of de7

*radin* the moderns( asserts that the' ha%e nothin*

in architecture that can e com)ared to the tem)+es

of reece and RomeH ut( En*+ishman as he $as(

he shou+d ha%e admitted that St" Peters at Rome is

incom)ara+' more eautifu+ than the ca)ito+"

There is somethin* curious in the assurance $ith

$hich he asserts that there is nothin* ne$ in our as7

tronom'( nor in our =no$+ed*e of the human od'(

e>ce)t( sa's he( it e the circu+ation of the +ood" The

+o%e of his o)inion( founded on his e>treme se+f7+o%e(

ma=es him for*et the disco%er' of .u)iters sate++ites(

of Saturns %e moons and rin*( of the suns rotation

on his a>is( the ca+cu+ation of the )ositions of three

thousand stars( the de%e+o)ment ' Ke)+er and Ne$7

ton of the +a$ ' $hich the hea%en+' odies are *o%7

erned( and the =no$+ed*e of a thousand other thin*s

of $hich the ancients did not e%en sus)ect the )ossi7

i+it'" The disco%eries in anatom' ha%e een no +ess



numerous" A ne$ uni%erse in miniature( disco%ered

' the microsco)e( $ent as nothin* $ith Sir Wi++iam

Tem)+e H he c+osed his e'es to the $onders of his con7

tem)oraries( and o)ened them on+' to admire ancient

i*norance"

&e e%en *oes so far as to re*ret that $e ha%e

nothin* +eft of the ma*ic of the Indians( Cha+dseans(

and E*')tians" !' this ma*ic( he understands a

)rofound =no$+ed*e of nature( $hich ena+ed them

: B< Phi+oso)hica+

to $or= mirac+es of $hich( ho$e%er( he does not

mention one( ecause the truth is that the' ne%er

$or=ed an'" #What(# sa's he( #has ecome of the

charms of that music $hich so often enchanted men

and easts( shes( irds( and ser)ents( and e%en

chan*ed their nature # This enem' to his o$n times

e+ie%ed im)+icit+' in the fa+e of #Or)heus(# and( it

shou+d seem( had ne%er heard of the ne music of

Ita+'( nor e%en of that of France( $hich do not

charm ser)ents( it is true( ut $hich do charm the

ears of the connoisseur"



It is sti++ more stran*e that( ha%in* a++ his +ife

cu+ti%ated the e++es7+ettres( he reasons no etter on

our *ood authors than on our )hi+oso)hers" &e con7

siders Rae+ais a *reat man( and s)ea=s of #+es

Amours des au+es# #The Lo%es of the au+s#Q( as

one of his est $or=s" &e $as( ne%erthe+ess( a

+earned man( a courtier( a man of considera+e $it(

and an amassador( $ho had made )rofound re7

ections on a++ that he had seen H he )ossessed *reat

=no$+ed*e H one )reMudice suced to render a++ this

merit una%ai+in*"

!oi+eau and Racine( $hen $ritin* in fa%or of the

ancients a*ainst Perrau+t( sho$ed more address

than Sir Wi++iam Tem)+e" The' =ne$ etter than

to touch on astronom' and )h'sica+ science" !oi+eau

see=s on+' to %indicate &omer a*ainst Perrau+t( at

the same time *+idin* adroit+' o%er the fau+ts of the

ree= )oet( and the s+umer $ith $hich &orace

re)roaches him" &e stro%e to turn Perrau+t( the

Dictionar'" :B:



enem' of &omer( into ridicu+e" Where%er Perrau+t

misunderstands a )assa*e( or renders inaccurate+' a

)assa*e $hich he understands( !oi+eau( sei1in* this

+itt+e ad%anta*e( fa++s u)on him +i=e a redouta+e

enem'( and eats him as an i*noramus a du++

$riter" !ut it is not at a++ im)roa+e that Perrau+t(

thou*h often mista=en( $as freJuent+' ri*ht in his

remar=s on the contradictions( the re)etitions( the

uniformit' of the comats( the +on* haran*ues in

the midst of them( the indecent and inconsistent con7

duct of the *ods in the )oem in short( on a++ the

errors into $hich this *reat )oet is asserted to ha%e

fa++en" In a $ord( !oi+eau ridicu+es Perrau+t much

more than he Musties &omer"

Racine used the same artice( for he $as at +east

as ma+i*nant as !oi+eau" A+thou*h he did not( +i=e

the +atter( ma=e his fortune ' satire( he enMo'ed the

)+easure of confoundin* his enemies on the occasion

of a sma++ and %er' )ardona+e mista=e into $hich

the' had fa++en res)ectin* Euri)ides( and( at the

same time( of fee+in* much su)erior to Euri)ides

himse+f" &e ra++ies the same Perrau+t and his )ar7

tisans u)on their critiJue on the A+ceste of Euri)ides(

ecause these *ent+emen had unfortunate+' een de7

cei%ed ' a fau+t' edition of Euri)ides( and had ta=en



some re)+ies of Admetus for those of A+cesteH ut

Euri)ides does not the +ess a))ear in a++ countries to

ha%e done %er' $ron* in ma=in* Admetus use such

e>traordinar' +an*ua*e to his father( $hom he %io7

+ent+' re)roaches for not ha%in* died for him -

Vo+" ii

: B? Phi+oso)hica+

#&o$ # re)+ies the =in*( his father H #$hom( )ra'(

are 'ou addressin* so hau*hti+' Some L'dian or

Phr'*ian s+a%e Kno$ 'ou not that I am free( and

a Thessa+ian Fine +an*ua*e( tru+'( for a =in* and

a father Q 4ou insu+t me as if I $ere the meanest of

men" Where is the +a$ $hich sa's fathers must die

for their chi+dren Each for himse+f here e+o$" I

ha%e fu+++ed a++ m' o+i*ations to$ard 'ou" In

$hat( then( do I $ron* 'ou Do I as= 'ou to die

for me The +i*ht is dear to 'ou H is it +ess so to

me 4ou accuse me of co$ardice Co$ard that

'ou 'ourse+f are 4ou $ere not ashamed to ur*e

'our $ife to sa%e 'ou( ' d'in* for 'ou" After this(

does it ecome 'ou to treat as co$ards those $ho re7

fuse to do for 'ou $hat 'ou ha%e not the coura*e to



do 'ourse+f !e+ie%e me( 'ou ou*ht rather to e

si+ent" 4ou +o%e +ife H others +o%e it no +ess" !e as7

sured that if 'ou continue to ause me( 'ou sha++

ha%e re)roaches( and not fa+se ones( in return"#

&e is here interru)ted ' the chorus( $ith-

#Enou*h Too much on oth sides O+d man( cease

this i++ +an*ua*e to$ard 'our son"#

One $ou+d thin= that the chorus shou+d rather

*i%e the son a se%ere re)rimand for s)ea=in* in so

ruta+ a manner to his father"

A++ the rest of the scene is in the same st'+e -

Pheres to his sonQ" Thou s)ea=est a*ainst th'

father( $ithout his ha%in* inMured thee"

Admetus" Oh I am $e++ a$are that 'ou $ish

to +i%e as +on* as )ossi+e"

Dictionar'" : B3

Pheres" And art thou not carr'in* to the tom



her $ho died for thee

Admetus" Ah most infamous of men Tis the

)roof of th' co$ardice

Pheres" At +east( thou canst not sa' she died

for me"

Admetus" Wou+d to hea%en that thou $ert in a

situation to need m' assistance

Pheres" Thou $ou+dst do etter to thin= of mar7

r'in* se%era+ $i%es( $ho ma' die that th' +ife ma'

e +en*thened"

After this scene a domestic comes and ta+=s to

himse+f aout the arri%a+ of &ercu+es"

#A stran*er(# sa's he( #o)ens the door of his

o$n accordH )+aces himse+f $ithout more ado at

ta+eH is an*r' ecause he is not ser%ed Juic=

enou*h H ++s his cu) e%er' moment $ith $ine( and

drin=s +on* drau*hts of red and of $hite H constant+'

sin*in*( or rather ho$+in*( ad son*s( $ithout *i%7

in* himse+f an' concern aout the =in* and his $ife(

for $hom $e are mournin*" &e is( dout+ess( some



cunnin* ro*ue( some %a*aond( or assassin"#

It seems some$hat stran*e that &ercu+es shou+d

e ta=en for a cunnin* ro*ue( and no +ess so that

&ercu+es( the friend of Admetus( shou+d e un7

=no$n to the househo+d" It is sti++ more e>traordi7

nar' that &ercu+es shou+d e i*norant of A+cestes

death( at the %er' time $hen the' $ere carr'in* her

to her tom"

Tastes must not e dis)uted( ut such scenes as(

: BG Phi+oso)hica+

these $ou+d( assured+'( not e to+erated at one of

our countr' fairs"

!rumo'( $ho has *i%en us the Theatre des recs

ree= TheatreQ( ut has not trans+ated Euri)ides

$ith scru)u+ous de+it'( does a++ he can to Mustif' the

scene of Admetus and his father- the ar*ument he

ma=es use of is rather sin*u+ar"

First( he sa's( that #there $as nothin* oensi%e



to the ree=s in these thin*s $hich $e re*ard as hor7

ri+e and indecent( therefore it must e admitted that

the' $ere not e>act+' $hat $e ta=e them to ha%e

een( in short( ideas ha%e chan*ed"# To this it ma'

e ans$ered that the ideas of )o+ished nations on the

res)ect due from chi+dren to their fathers ha%e ne%er

chan*ed" &e adds( #Who can dout that in dierent

a*es ideas ha%e chan*ed re+ati%e to )oints of mora+it'

of sti++ *reater im)ortance# We ans$er( that there

are scarce+' an' )oints of *reater im)ortance"

#A Frenchman(# continues he( #is insu+tedH the

)retended *ood sense of the French o+i*es him to

run the ris= of a due+( and to =i++ or e =i++ed( in order

to reco%er his honor"# We ans$er( that it is not the

)retended *ood sense of the French a+one( ut of a++

the nations of Euro)e $ithout e>ce)tion" &e )ro7

ceeds -

#The $or+d in *enera+ cannot e fu++' sensi+e

ho$ ridicu+ous this ma>im $i++ a))ear t$o thousand

'ears hence( nor ho$ it $ou+d ha%e een scoed at

in the time of Euri)ides"# This ma>im is crue+ and

fata+( ut it is not ridicu+ousH nor $ou+d it ha%e een



Dictionar'" :B

in an' $a' scoed at in the time of Euri)ides" There

$ere man' instances of due+s amon* the Asiatics" In

the %er' commencement of the rst oo= of the

#I+iad(# $e see Achi++es ha+f unsheathin* his s$ord(

and read' to *ht A*amemnon( had not 0iner%a

ta=en him ' the hair and made him desist"

P+utarch re+ates that &e)haestion and Craterus

$ere *htin* a due+( ut $ere se)arated ' A+e>7

ander" 6uintus Curtius te++s us that t$o other of

A+e>anders ocers fou*ht a due+ in the )resence of

A+e>ander( one of them armed at a++ )oints( the other(

$ho $as a $rest+er( su))+ied on+' $ith a sta( and

that the +atter o%ercame his ad%ersar'" !esides(

$hat has due++in* to do $ith Admetus and his father

Pheres( re)roachin* each other ' turns( $ith ha%in*

too *reat a +o%e for +ife( and $ith ein* co$ards

I sha++ *i%e on+' this one instance of the +indness

of trans+ators and commentators H for if !rumo'( the

most im)artia+ of a++( has fa++en into such errors( $hat

are $e to e>)ect from others I $ou+d( ho$e%er(

as= the !rumo's and the Daciers( if the' nd much



sa+t in the +an*ua*e $hich Euri)ides )uts into the

mouth of Po+')hemus - #I fear not the thunder of

.u)iterH I =no$ not that .u)iter is a )rouder or a

stron*er *od than m'se+fH I care %er' +itt+e aout

him" If he sends do$n rain( I shut m'se+f u) in m'

ca%ern H there I eat a roasted ca+f or some $i+d ani7

ma+( after $hich I +ie do$n a++ m' +en*th( drin= o

a *reat )otfu+ of mi+=( and send forth a certain noise(

$hich is as *ood as his thunder"#

: BB Phi+oso)hica+

The schoo+men cannot ha%e %er' ne noses if the'

are not dis*usted $ith the noise $hich Po+')hemus

ma=es $hen he has eaten hearti+'"

The' sa' that the Athenian )it +au*hed at this

)+easantr'( and that the Athenians ne%er +au*hed at

an'thin* stu)id" So the $ho+e )o)u+ace of Athens

had more $it than the court of Louis 8IV"( and the

)o)u+ace are not the same e%er'$here

Ne%erthe+ess( Euri)ides has eauties( and So)ho7

c+es sti++ more H ut the' ha%e much *reater defects"



We ma' %enture to sa' that the ne scenes of Cor7

nei++e and the aectin* tra*edies of Racine are as

much su)erior to the tra*edies of So)hoc+es and Eu7

ri)ides( as these t$o ree=s $ere to Thes)is" Racine

$as Juite sensi+e of his *reat su)eriorit' o%er Eu7

ri)ides( ut he )raised the ree= )oet for the sa=e of

hum+in* Perrau+t"

0o+iere( in his est )ieces( is as su)erior to the

)ure ut co+d Terence( and to the uoon Aristo)h7

anes( as to the merr'7andre$ Dancourt"

Thus there are thin*s in $hich the moderns are

su)erior to the ancientsH and others( thou*h %er'

fe$( in $hich $e are their inferiors" The $ho+e of

the dis)ute reduces itse+f to this fact"

Certain Com)arisons et$een Ce+erated Wor=s"

!oth taste and reason seem to reJuire that $e

shou+d( in an ancient as $e++ as in a modern( discrim7

inate et$een the *ood and the ad that are often to

e found in contact $ith each other"



Dictionar'" :B@

The $armest admiration must e e>cited ' that

+ine of Cornei++es( uneJua++ed ' an' in &omer( in

So)hoc+es( or in Euri)ides -

6ue 7%ou+ie17%ous Jui+t contre trots 6ui+ mourUt"

What cou+d he do a*ainst three $ea)ons Die"

And( $ith eJua+ Mustice( the +ine that fo++o$s $i++

e condemned"

The man of taste( $hi+e he admires the su+ime

)icture( the stri=in* contrasts of character and stron*

co+orin* in the +ast scene of Rodo*'ne( $i++ )ercei%e

ho$ man' fau+ts( ho$ man' im)roai+ities( ha%e

)re)ared the $a' for this terri+e situation ho$

much Rodo*'ne has e+ied her character( and '

$hat croo=ed $a's it is necessar' to )ass to this

*reat and tra*ica+ catastro)he"

The same eJuita+e Mud*e $i++ not fai+ to do Mus7

tice to the ne and artfu+ conte>ture of Racines

tra*edies( the on+' ones( )erha)s( that ha%e een $e++

$rou*ht from the time of Esch'+us do$n to the

a*e of Louis 8IV" &e $i++ e touched ' that con7



tinued e+e*ance( that )urit' of +an*ua*e( that truth

of character( to e found in him on+' H ' that *ran7

deur $ithout omast( that de+it' to nature $hich

ne%er $anders in %ain dec+amations( so)histica+ dis7

)utes( fa+se and far7fetched ima*es( often e>)ressed

in so+ecisms or rhetorica+ )+eadin*s( tter for )ro7

%incia+ schoo+s than for a tra*ed'" The same )erson

$i++ disco%er $ea=ness and uniformit' in some of

Racines charactersH and in others( *a++antr' and

sometimes e%en coJuetr'H he $i++ nd dec+arations

: B9 Phi+oso)hica+

of +o%e reathin* more of the id'+ and the e+e*'( than

of a *reat dramatic )assion H and $i++ com)+ain that

more than one $e++7$ritten )iece has e+e*ance to

)+ease( ut not e+oJuence to mo%e him" .ust so $i++

he Mud*e of the ancients H not ' their names not

' the a*e in $hich the' +i%ed ut ' their $or=s

themse+%es"

Su))ose Timanthes the )ainter $ere at this da'

to come and )resent to us( ' the side of the )aint7

in*s in the Pa+ais Ro'a+( his )icture in four co+ors



of the #Sacrice of I)hi*enia(# te++in* us that men

of Mud*ment in reece had assured him that it $as

an admira+e artice to %ei+ the face of A*amemnon(

+est his *rief shou+d a))ear to eJua+ that of C+'tem7

nestra( and the tears of the father dishonor the

maMest' of the monarch" &e $ou+d nd connois7

seurs $ho $ou+d re)+' it is a stro=e of in*enuit'(

ut not of )aintin* H a %ei+ on the head of 'our )rin7

ci)a+ )ersona*e has a fri*htfu+ eectH 'our art has

fai+ed 'ou" !eho+d the master)iece of Ruens( $ho

has succeeded in e>)ressin* in the countenance of

0ar' of 0edicis the )ain attendant on chi+dirth

the Mo'( the smi+e( the tenderness not $ith four

co+ors( ut $ith e%er' tint of nature" If 'ou $ished

that A*amemnon shou+d )art+' concea+ his face( 'ou

shou+d ha%e made him hide a )ortion of it ' )+acin*

his hands o%er his e'es and forehead H and not $ith

a %ei+( $hich is as disa*reea+e to the e'e( and as un7

)icturesJue( as it is contrar' to a++ costume" 4ou

shou+d then ha%e sho$n some fa++in* tears that

Dictionar'" :B;

the hero $ou+d concea+( and ha%e e>)ressed in his



musc+es the con%u+sions of a *rief $hich he stru*7

*+es to su))ress H 'ou shou+d ha%e )ainted in this

attitude maMest' and des)air" 4ou are a ree=( and

Ruens is a !e+*ianH ut the !e+*ian ears a$a'

the )a+m"

On a Passa*e in &omer"

A F+orentine( a man of +etters( of c+ear under7

standin* and cu+ti%ated taste( $as one da' in Lord

Chestere+ds +irar'( to*ether $ith an O>ford )ro7

fessor and a Scotchman( $ho $as oastin* of the

)oem of Fin*a+( com)osed( said he( in the ae+ic

ton*ue( $hich is sti++ )art+' that of Lo$er !rittan'"

#Ah# e>c+aimed he( #ho$ ne is antiJuit'H the

)oem of Fin*a+ has )assed from mouth to mouth for

near+' t$o thousand 'ears( do$n to us( $ithout an'

a+teration" Such )o$er has rea+ eaut' o%er the

minds of men # &e then read to the com)an' the

commencement of Fin*a+ -

#Cuthu++in sat ' Taras $a++ H ' the tree of the

rust+in* sound" &is s)ear +eaned a*ainst a roc="

&is shie+d +a' on the *rass ' his side" Amid his

thou*hts of mi*ht' Carar( a hero s+ain ' the chief

in $ar( the scout of ocean comes( 0oran( the son of



Fithi+

# Arise( sa's the 'outh( Cuthu++in( arise I see

the shi)s of the north man'( chief of men( are the

foeH man' the heroes of the sea7orn S$aran

0oran( re)+ied the +ue7e'ed chief( thou e%er trem7

+est( son of Fithi+ th' fears ha%e increased the foe"

iMo Phi+oso)hica+

It is Fin*a+( =in* of deserts( $ith aid to *reen Erin

of streams" I ehe+d their chief( sa's 0oran( ta++

as a *+itterin* roc=" &is s)ear is a +asted )ine" &is

shie+d the risin* moon &e sat on the shore( +i=e a

c+oud of mist on the si+ent hi++ # etc"

#That(# said the O>ford )rofessor( #is the true

st'+e of &omerH ut $hat )+eases me sti++ more is

that I nd in it the su+ime e+oJuence of the &e7

re$s" I cou+d fanc' m'se+f to e readin* )assa*es

such as these from those ne cantic+es -

# Thou sha+t rea= them $ith a rod of iron H thou

sha+t dash them in )ieces +i=e a )otters %esse+" Thou



hast ro=en the teeth of the un*od+'" Then the

earth shoo= and trem+edH the foundation a+so of

the hi++s mo%ed and $ere sha=en ecause he $as

$roth" The Lord a+so thundered in the hea%ensH

and the &i*hest *a%e &is %oice hai+stones and coa+s

of re" In them hath &e set a taernac+e for the sun"

Which is as a ride*room comin* out of his cham7

er"

# !rea= their teeth in their mouth( O od H rea=

the *reat teeth of the 'oun* +ions( O Lord" Let

them )ass a$a' as $aters that run continua++'H

$hen he endeth his o$ to shoot his arro$s( +et

them e as cut in )ieces" As a snai+ $hich me+teth(

+et e%er' one of them )ass a$a'( +i=e the untime+'

irth of a $oman( that the' ma' not see the sun"

!efore 'our )ots can fee+ the thorns( he sha++ ta=e

them a$a' as in a $hir+$ind( oth +i%in*( and in his

$rath"

Dictionar'" :@:

# The' return at e%enin* H the' ma=e a noise +i=e

a do*" !ut Thou( O Lord( sha+t +au*h at themH



Thou sha+t ha%e a++ the heathen in derision" Con7

sume them in $rath H consume them that the' ma'

not e"

# The hi++ of od is as the hi++ of !ashan( a hi*h

hi++ as the hi++ of !ashan" Wh' +ea) 'e( 'e hi*h

hi++s The Lord said I $i++ rin* a*ain from

!ashan( I $i++ rin* u) m' )eo)+e a*ain from the

de)ths of the sea H that th' feet ma' e di))ed in the

+ood of thine enemies( and the ton*ue of th' do*s

in the same"

# O)en th' mouth $ide and I $i++ ++ it" O m'

od( ma=e them +i=e a $hee+ H as the stu+e efore

the $ind" As the re urneth the $ood( and as the

ame setteth the mountains on reH so )ersecute

them $ith Th' tem)est and ma=e them afraid $ith

Th' storm"

# &e sha++ Mud*e amon* the heathen H he sha++

++ the )+aces $ith dead odies H &e sha++ $ound the

heads o%er man' countries" &a))' sha++ he e that

ta=eth and dasheth th' +itt+e ones a*ainst the

stones( # etc"

The F+orentine( ha%in* +istened $ith *reat atten7



tion to the %erses of the cantic+es recited ' the doc7

tor( as $e++ as to the rst +ines of Fin*a+ e++o$ed

forth ' the Scotchman( confessed that he $as not

*reat+' mo%ed ' a++ these Eastern *ures( and that

he +i=ed the no+e sim)+icit' of Vir*i+s st'+e much

etter"

: @? Phi+oso)hica+

At these $ords the Scotchman turned )a+e $ith

$rath( the O>onian shru**ed his shou+ders $ith

)it'( ut Lord Chestere+d encoura*ed the F+oren7

tine ' a smi+e of a))roation"

The F+orentine( ecomin* $arm and ndin* him7

se+f su))orted( said to them - #ent+emen( nothin*

is more eas' than to do %io+ence to nature H nothin*

more dicu+t than to imitate her" I =no$ somethin*

of those $hom $e in Ita+' ca++ im)ro%isatoriH and I

cou+d s)ea= in this orienta+ st'+e for ei*ht hours to7

*ether $ithout the +east eort( for it reJuires none to

e omastic in ne*+i*ent %erse( o%er+oaded $ith e)i7

thets a+most continua++' re)eated( to hea) comat

u)on comat( and to descrie chimeras"#



#What# said the )rofessor( #'ou ma=e an e)ic

)oem im)rom)tu# #Not a rationa+ e)ic )oem in

correct %erse( +i=e Vir*i+(# re)+ied the Ita+ian( #ut

a )oem in $hich I $ou+d aandon m'se+f to the cur7

rent of m' ideas( and not ta=e the trou+e to arran*e

them"#

#I def' 'ou to do it(# said the Scotchman and the

O>ford *raduate at once" #We++(# returned the

F+orentine( #*i%e me a suMect"# Lord Chestere+d

*a%e him as a suMect the !+ac= Prince( the con7

Jueror of Poictiers( *rantin* )eace after the %ic7

tor'"

The Ita+ian co++ected himse+f and thus e*an -

#0use of A+ion( *enius that )residest o%er

heroes( come sin* $ith me not the id+e ra*e of men

im)+aca+e a+i=e to friends and foes not the deeds of

Dictionar'" :@3

heroes $hom the *ods ha%e fa%ored in turn( $ithout



an' reason for so fa%orin* them not the sie*e of a

to$n $hich is not ta=en not the e>tra%a*ant e>7

)+oits of the fau+ous Fin*a+( ut the rea+ %ictories of

a hero modest as ra%e( $ho +ed =in*s ca)ti%e and

res)ected his %anJuished enemies"

#eor*e( the 0ars of En*+and( had descended

from on hi*h on that immorta+ char*er efore $hich

the )roudest coursers of Limousin ee as the +eat7

in* shee) and the tender +ams cro$d into the fo+d

at the si*ht of a terri+e $o+f issuin* from the forest

$ith er' e'es( $ith hair erect and foamin* mouth(

threatenin* the oc= and the she)herd $ith the fur'

of his murderous Ma$s"

#0artin( the famed )rotector of them $ho d$e++

in fruitfu+ Touraine( ene%ie%e( the mi+d di%init' of

them $ho drin= the $aters of the Seine and the

0arne( Denis( $ho ore his head under his arm in

the si*ht of man and of immorta+s( trem+ed as the'

sa$ eor*e )roud+' tra%ersin* the %ast e+ds of air"

On his head $as a *o+den he+met( *+itterin* $ith

diamonds that once )a%ed the sJuares of the hea%en+'

.erusa+em( $hen it a))eared to morta+s durin* fort'

diurna+ re%o+utions of the *reat +uminar' and his in7

constant sister( $ho $ith her mi+d radiance en7



+i*htens the dar=ness of ni*ht"

#In his hand is the terri+e and sacred +ance $ith

$hich( in the rst da's of the $or+d( the demi7*od

0ichae+( $ho e>ecutes the %en*eance of the 0ost

.ii*h( o%erthre$ the eterna+ enem' of the $or+d and

:@G Phi+oso)hica+

the Creator" The most eautifu+ of the )+uma*e of

the an*e+s that stand aout the throne( )+uc=ed from

their immorta+ ac=s( $a%ed o%er his casJueH and

around it ho%ered Terror( destro'in* War( un)it'in*

Re%en*e( and Death( the terminator of mans ca+ami7

ties" &e came +i=e a comet in its ra)id course( dart7

in* throu*h the orits of the $onderin* )+anets( and

+ea%in* far ehind its ra's( )a+e and terri+e( an7

nouncin* to $ea= morta+s the fa++ of =in*s and na7

tions"

#&e a+i*hted on the an=s of the Charente( and

the sound of his immorta+ arms $as echoed from the

s)heres of .u)iter and Saturn" T$o strides rou*ht

him to the s)ot $here the son of the ma*nanimous



Ed$ard $aited for the son of the intre)id de Va7

+ois(# etc"

The F+orentine continued in this strain for more

than a Juarter of an hour" The $ords fe++ from his

+i)s( as &omer sa's( more thic=+' and aundant+'

than the sno$s descend in $interH ut his $ords

$ere not co+d H the' $ere rather +i=e the ra)id s)ar=s

esca)in* from the furnace $hen the C'c+o)s for*e

the o+ts of .o%e on resoundin* an%i+"

&is t$o anta*onists $ere at +ast o+i*ed to si+ence

him( ' ac=no$+ed*in* that it $as easier than the'

had thou*ht it $as( to strin* to*ether *i*antic im7

a*es( and ca++ in the aid of hea%en( earth and he++ H

ut the' maintained that to unite the tender and

mo%in* $ith the su+ime $as the )erfection of the

art

Dictionar'" :@

#For e>am)+e(# said the O>onian( #can an'thin*

e more mora+( and at the same time more %o+u)7



tuous( than to see .u)iter re)osin* $ith his $ife on

0ount Ida#

&is +ordshi) then s)o=e - #ent+emen(# said he(

#I as= 'our )ardon for medd+in* in the dis)ute"

Perha)s to the ree=s there $as somethin* %er' in7

terestin* in a *ods +'in* $ith his $ife u)on a moun7

tain H for m' o$n )art( I see nothin* in it rened or

attracti%e" I $i++ a*ree $ith 'ou that the hand=er7

chief( $hich commentators and imitators ha%e een

)+eased to ca++ the *ird+e of Venus( is a charmin*

*ure H ut I ne%er understood that it $as a so)oric(

nor ho$ .uno cou+d recei%e the caresses of the mas7

ter of the *ods for the )ur)ose of )uttin* him to

s+ee)" A Jueer *od( tru+'( to fa++ as+ee) so soon I

can s$ear that( $hen I $as 'oun*( I $as not so

dro$s'" It ma'( for au*ht I =no$( e no+e( )+eas7

in*( interestin*( $itt'( and decorous to ma=e .uno

sa' to .u)iter( If 'ou are determined to emrace me(

+et us *o to 'our a)artment in hea%en( $hich is the

$or= of Vu+can( and the door of $hich c+oses so

$e++ that none of the *ods can enter"

#I am eJua++' at a +oss to understand# ho$ the *od

of s+ee)( $hom .uno )ra's to c+ose the e'es of .u)i7

ter( can e so ris= a di%init'" &e arri%es in a mo7



ment from the is+es of Lemnos and Imros H there is

somethin* ne in comin* from t$o is+ands at once"

&e then mounts a )ine and is instant+' amon* the

ree= shi)s H he see=s Ne)tune( nds him( conMures

iMB Phi+oso)hica+

him to *i%e the %ictor' to the ree=s( and returns

$ith a ra)id i*ht to Lemnos" I =no$ of nothin*

so nim+e as this *od of s+ee)"

#In short( if in an e)ic )oem there must e amor7

ous matters( I o$n that I incom)ara+' )refer the

assi*nations of A+cina $ith Ro*ero( and of Armida

$ith Rina+do" Come( m' dear F+orentine( read me

those t$o admira+e cantos of Ariosto and Tasso"#

The F+orentine readi+' oe'ed( and his +ordshi)

$as enchanted H durin* $hich time the Scotchman re7

)erused Fin*a+( the O>ford )rofessor re7)erused

&omer H and e%er' one $as content" It $as at +ast

a*reed that ha))' is he $ho is sensi+e to the merits

of the ancients and the moderns( a))reciates their

eauties( =no$s their fau+ts and )ardons them"



ANECDOTES"

IF Suetonius cou+d e confronted $ith the %a+ets7

de7chamre of the t$e+%e Caesars( thin= 'ou that

the' $ou+d in e%er' instance corroorate his testi7

mon' And in case of dis)ute( $ho $ou+d not ac=

the %a+ets7de7chamre a*ainst the historian

In our o$n times( ho$ man' oo=s are founded

on nothin* more than the ta+= of the to$n Must

as the science of )h'sics $as founded on chimeras

$hich ha%e een re)eated from a*e to a*e to the

)resent time" Those $ho ta=e the trou+e of notin*

do$n at ni*ht $hat the' ha%e heard in the da'(

shou+d( +i=e St" Au*ustine( $rite a oo= of retrac7

tions at the end of the 'ear"

Dictionar'" :@@

Some one re+ated to the *rand7audiencier :toi+e

that &enr' IV"( huntin* near Cretei+( $ent a+one into

an inn $here some Parisian +a$'ers $ere dinin* in

an u))er room" The =in*( $ithout ma=in* himse+f



=no$n( sent the hostess to as= them if the' $ou+d

admit him at their ta+e or se++ him a )art of their

dinner" The' sent him for ans$er that the' had

)ri%ate usiness to ta+= of and had ut a short din7

nerH the' therefore e**ed that the stran*er $ou+d

e>cuse them"

&enr' ca++ed his *uards and had the *uests out7

ra*eous+' eaten( to teach them( sa's de :toi+e( to

sho$ more courtes' to *ent+emen" Some authors

of the )resent da'( $ho ha%e ta=en u)on them to

$rite the +ife of &enr' IV"( co)' this anecdote from

de Ttoi+e $ithout e>amination( and( $hich is $orse(

fai+ not to )raise it as a ne action in &enr'" The

thin* is( ho$e%er( neither true nor +i=e+' H and $ere

it true( &enr' $ou+d ha%e een *ui+t' of an act at

once the most ridicu+ous( the most co$ard+'( the

most t'rannica+( and the most im)rudent"

First( it is not +i=e+' that( in :<?( &enr' IV"(

$hose )h'sio*nom' $as so remar=a+e( and $ho

sho$ed himse+f to e%er'od' $ith so much aai+it'(

$as un=no$n at Cretei+ near Paris" Second+'(

de :toi+e( far from %erif'in* his im)ertinent stor'(

sa's he had it from a man $ho had it from 0" de

Vitri H so that it is nothin* more than an id+e rumor"



Third+'( it $ou+d ha%e een co$ard+' and hatefu+ to

inict a shamefu+ )unishment on citi1ens assem+ed

Vo+ :?

:@9 Phi+oso)hica+

to*ether on usiness( $ho certain+' committed no

crime in refusin* to share their dinner $ith a

stran*er and( it must e admitted( $ith an indis7

creet oneQ $ho cou+d easi+' nd somethin* to eat in

the same house" Fourth+'( this action( so t'ran7

nica+( so un$orth' not on+' of a =in* ut of a man(

so +ia+e to )unishment ' the +a$s of e%er' coun7

tr'( $ou+d ha%e een as im)rudent as ridicu+ous and

crimina+H it $ou+d ha%e dra$n u)on &enr' IV"

the e>ecrations of the $ho+e commona+t' of Paris(

$hose *ood o)inion $as then of so much im)or7

tance to him"

&istor'( then( shou+d not ha%e een dis*ured

' so stu)id a stor'( nor shou+d the character of

&enr' IV" ha%e een dishonored ' so im)erti7

nent an anecdote"



In a oo= entit+ed #Anecdotes Litteraires# )rinted

' Durand in :@?( a%ec )ri%i+e*e( there a))ears

the fo++o$in* )assa*e %o+" iii( )a*e :93Q- #The

Amours of Louis 8IV"( ha%in* een dramati1ed in

En*+and( that )rince $ished to ha%e those of Kin*

Wi++iam )erformed in France" The Ae !rue's

$as directed ' 0" de Torc' to com)ose the )iece H

ut thou*h a))+auded( it $as ne%er )+a'ed( for the

suMect of it died in the meantime"#

There are a+most as man' asurd +ies as there are

$ords in these fe$ +ines" The Amours of Louis 8IV"

$ere ne%er )+a'ed on the London sta*e" Louis

8IV" ne%er +o$ered himse+f so far as to order a

farce to e $ritten on the amours of Kin* Wi++iam"

Dictionar'" :@;

Kin* Wi++iam ne%er had a mistress H no one accused

him of $ea=ness of that sort" The 0arJuis de Torc'

ne%er s)o=e to the Ae !rue's H he $as inca)a+e

of ma=in* to the ae( or an' one e+se( so indiscreet

and chi+dish a )ro)osa+" The Ae !rue's ne%er



$rote the )iece in Juestion" So much for the faith

to e )+aced in anecdotes"

The same oo= sa's that #Louis 8IV" $as so

much )+eased $ith the o)era of Isis that he ordered

a decree to e )assed in counci+ ' $hich men of

ran= $ere )ermitted to sin* at the o)era( and recei%e

a sa+ar' for so doin*( $ithout demeanin* themse+%es"

This decree $as re*istered in the Par+iament of

Paris"#

No such dec+aration $as e%er re*istered in the

Par+iament of Paris" It is true that Lu++i otained in

:B@?( +on* efore the o)era of Isis $as )erformed(

+etters )ermittin* him to esta+ish his o)era( in $hich

+etters he *ot it inserted that #+adies and *ent+emen

mi*ht sin* in this theatre $ithout de*radation"# !ut

no dec+aration $as e%er re*istered"

Of a++ the anas( that $hich deser%es to stand fore7

most in the ran=s of )rinted fa+sehood is the Se7

*raisiana - It $as com)i+ed ' the amanuensis of Se7

*rais( one of his domestics( and $as )rinted +on*

after the masters death" The 0ena*iana( re%ised

' La 0onno'e( is the on+' one that contains an'7

thin* instructi%e" Nothin* is more common than



to nd in our ne$ misce++anies o+d ans mots at7

triuted to our contem)oraries( or inscri)tions and

:9< Phi+oso)hica+

e)i*rams $ritten on certain )rinces( a))+ied to

others"

We are to+d in the #&istoire Phi+oso)hiJue et

Po+itiJue du Commerce dans +es deu> Indes# the

Phi+oso)hica+ and Po+itica+ &istor' of the Commerce

of the t$o IndiesQ( that the Dutch( ha%in* dri%en the

Portu*uese from 0a+acca( the Dutch ca)tain as=ed

the Portu*uese commander $hen he shou+d return H

to $hich he re)+ied- #When 'our sins are *reater

than ours"# This ans$er had efore een attriuted

to an En*+ishman in the time of Char+es VII" of

France( and efore them to a Saracen emir in Sici+' H

after a++( it is the ans$er rather of a Ca)uchin than

of a )o+itician H it $as not ecause the French $ere

*reater sinners than the En*+ish that the +atter de7

)ri%ed them of Canada"

The author of this same histor' re+ates( in a seri7



ous manner( a +itt+e stor' in%ented ' Stee+e( and in7

serted in the S)ectatorH and $ou+d ma=e it )ass for

one of the rea+ causes of $ar et$een the En*+ish

and the sa%a*es" The ta+e $hich Stee+e o))oses to

the much )+easanter stor' of the $ido$ of E)hesus(

is as fo++o$s and is desi*ned to )ro%e that men are

not more constant than $omenH ut in Petronius

the E)hesian matron e>hiits on+' an amusin* and

)ardona+e $ea=ness H $hi+e the merchant In=+e( in

the S)ectator( is *ui+t' of the most fri*htfu+ in*rati7

tude- #This 'oun* tra%e++er In=+e is on the )oint of

ein* ta=en ' the Cariees on the continent of

America( $ithout it ein* said at $hat )+ace or on

Dictionar'" : 9 :

$hat occasion" 4arico( a )rett' Cariee( sa%es his

+ife( and at +en*th ies $ith him to !aradoes" As

soon as the' arri%e( In=+e *oes and se++s his ene7

factress in the s+a%e mar=et" /n*ratefu+ and ar7

arous man sa's 4arico( $i+t thou se++ me( $hen

I am $ith chi+d ' thee With chi+d re)+ied the

En*+ish merchant( so much the etterH I sha++ *et

more for thee # And this is *i%en us as a true stor'



and as the ori*in of a +on* $ar"

The s)eech of a $oman of !oston to her

Mud*es( $ho condemned her to the house of

correction for the fth time for ha%in* rou*ht

to ed a fth chi+d( $as a )+easantr' of the

i++ustrious Fran=+inH 'et it is re+ated in the same

$or= as an authentic occurrence" &o$ man' ta+es

ha%e eme++ished and dis*ured e%er' histor'

An author( $ho has thou*ht more correct+' than

he has Juoted( asserts that the fo++o$in* e)ita)h $as

made for Crom$e++ -

Ci7*+t +e destructeur dun)ou7%oir tt*itime(

fusJu a son dernier Mour fa7%orist des cieu> t

Dont +es %ertus meritaient mieu>

6ue +e sce)tre acJuis )ar un crime"

Par Jue+ destin faut7i+ t )ar Jue+ ttran*e +ot

6u a tous ceu> Jui sontnes )our )orter +a couronne

Ce soit r /sur)ateur Jui donne

L e>em)+e des %ertus Jue doit a%oir un Roi



&ere +ies the man $ho trod on ri*htfu+ )o$er(

Fa%ored ' hea%en to his +atest hourH

Whose %irtues merited a no+er fate

Than that of ru+in* crimina++' *reat"

What $ondrous destin' can so ordain(

That amon* a++ $hose fortune is to rei*n(

The usur)er on+' to his sce)tre rin*s

The %irtues %ain+' sou*ht in +a$fu+ =inYs"

: 9? Phi+oso)hica+

These %erses $ere ne%er made for Crom$e++( ut

for Kin* Wi++iam" The' are not an e)ita)h( ut

$ere $ritten under a )ortrait of that monarch" In7

stead of Ci7*it &ere +iesQ it $as-

Te+fut +e destructeur dun )ou%oir +e*itime"

Such $as the man $ho trod on ri*htfu+ )o$er"

No one in France $as e%er so stu)id as to sa'

that Crom$e++ had e%er set an e>am)+e of %irtue"

It is *ranted that he had %a+or and *enius H ut the



tit+e of %irtuous $as not his due" A thousand stories

a thousand facetiae ha%e een tra%e++in* aout

the $or+d for the +ast thirt' centuries" Our oo=s

are stued $ith ma>ims $hich come forth as ne$(

ut are to e found in P+utarch( in Athenaeus( in

Seneca( in P+autus( in a++ the ancients"

These are on+' mista=es( as innocent as the' are

commonH ut $i+fu+ fa+sehoods historica+ +ies

$hich attac= the *+or' of )rinces and the re)utation

of )ri%ate indi%idua+s are serious oences" Of a++

the oo=s that are s$e++ed $ith fa+se anecdotes( that

in $hich the most asurd and im)udent +ies are

cro$ded to*ether( is the )retended #0emoires de

0adame de 0aintenon"# The foundation of it $as

true- the author had se%era+ of that +ad's +etters(

$hich had een communicated to him ' a )erson

of conseJuence at St" C'rH ut this sma++ Juantit'

of truth is +ost in a romance of se%en %o+umes"

In this $or= the author sho$s us Louis 8IV" su)7

)+anted ' one of his %a+ets7de7chamre" It su))oses

+etters from 0d++e" 0ancini after$ards 0adame



L"O/I9 AT 0DL"/E" OE IZA VA+Z+ZIERES

Dictionar'" : 93

Co+onneQ to Louis 8IV"( in one of $hich he ma=es

this niece of Cardina+ 0a1arin sa' to the =in* - #4ou

oe' a )riest 'ou are un$orth' of me if 'ou sumit

to ser%e another" I +o%e 'ou as I +o%e the +i*ht of

hea%en( ut I +o%e 'our *+or' sti++ etter"# 0ost cer7

tain+' the author had not the ori*ina+ of this +etter"

#0d++e" de +a Va++iere(# he sa's( in another )+ace(

#had thro$n herse+f on a sofa in a +i*ht dishai++e(

her thou*hts em)+o'ed on her +o%er" Often did the

da$n of da' nd her sti++ seated in a chair( her arm

restin* on a ta+e( her e'e >ed( her sou+ constant+'

attached to the same oMect( in the ecstas' of +o%e"

The =in* a+one occu)ied her mind H )erha)s at that

moment she $as in$ard+' com)+ainin* of the %i*i7

+ance of the s)ies of &enriette( or the se%erit' of the

Jueen7mother" A s+i*ht noise aroused her from her

re%erie she shrun= ac= $ith sur)rise and dreadH

Louis $as at her feet she $ou+d ha%e ed he

sto))ed her H she threatened he )acied H she $e)t



he $i)ed a$a' her tears"# Such a descri)tion

$ou+d not no$ e to+erated in one of our most insi)id

no%e+s"

Du &ai++an asserts( in one of his sma++ $or=s( that

Char+es VIII" $as not the son of Louis 8L This

$ou+d account for Louis ha%in* ne*+ected his educa7

tion and a+$a's =ee)in* him at a distance" Char+es

VIII" did not resem+e Louis 8L either in od' or

in mind H ut dissimi+arit' et$een fathers and their

chi+dren is sti++ +ess a )roof of i++e*itimac' than re7

sem+ance is a )roof of the contrar'" That Louis

: 9G Phi+oso)hica+

8I" hated Char+es VIII" rin*s us to no conc+usionH

so ad a son mi*ht $e++ e a ad father" Thou*h

ten Du &aitians shou+d te++ me that Char+es VIII"

s)run* from some other than Louis 8L( I shou+d

not e+ie%e him im)+icit+'" I thin= a )rudent reader

shou+d )ronounce as the Mud*es do Pater est is

Juern nu)tice demonstrant"

Did Char+es V" intri*ue $ith his sister 0ar*aret(



$ho *o%erned the Lo$ Countries Was it ' her

that he had Don .ohn of Austria( the intre)id rother

of the )rudent Phi+i) II" We ha%e no more )roof

of this than $e ha%e of the secrets of Char+ema*nes

ed( $ho is said to ha%e made free $ith a++ his dau*h7

ters" If the &o+' Scri)tures did not assure me that

Lots dau*hters had chi+dren ' their o$n father( and

Tamar ' her father7in7+a$( I shou+d hesitate to ac7

cuse them of it H one cannot e too discreet"

It has een $ritten that the Duchess de 0ont7

)ensier esto$ed her fa%ors on the mon= .acJues

C+ement( in order to encoura*e him to assassinate his

so%erei*n" It $ou+d ha%e een more )o+itic to ha%e

)romised them than to ha%e *i%en them" !ut a fanat7

ica+ or )arricide )riest is not incited in this $a'H

hea%en is he+d out to him( and not a $oman" &is

Prior !our*oin* had much *reater )o$er in deter7

minin* him to an' act than the *reatest eaut' u)on

earth" When he =i++ed the =in* he had in his )oc=et

no +o%e7+etters( ut the stories of .udith and Ehud(

Juite do*7eared and $orn out $ith thumin*"

.ean Chate+ and Ra%ai++ac had no accom)+icesH



Dictionar'" :9

their crime $as that of the a*eH their on+' accom7

)+ice $as the cr' of re+i*ion" It has een re)eated+'

asserted that Ra%ai++ac had ta=en a Mourne' to Na)+es

and that the .esuit A+a*ona had( in Na)+es( )redicted

the death of the =in*" The .esuits ne%er $ere )ro)h7

ets H had the' een so( the' $ou+d ha%e foreto+d their

o$n destinationH ut( on the contrar'( the'( )oor

men( a+$a's )ositi%e+' dec+ared that the' shou+d en7

dure to the end of time" We shou+d ne%er e too

sure of an'thin*"

It is in %ain that the .esuit Danie+ te++s me( in his

%er' dr' and %er' defecti%e #&istor' of France(# that

&enr' IV" $as a Catho+ic +on* efore his aMuration"

I $i++ rather e+ie%e &enr' IV" himse+f than the

.esuit Danie+" &is +etter toLa !e++e arie++e- #Cest

demain Jue Me fais +e saut )eri++eu># To7morro$ I

ta=e the fata+ +ea)Q )ro%es( at +east( that somethin*

dierent from Catho+icism $as sti++ in his heart" &ad

his *reat sou+ een +on* )enetrated ' the ecac'

of *race( he $ou+d )erha)s ha%e said to his mistress -

#These isho)s edif' me H# ut he sa's - #Ces *ens7

+a mennuient"# These )eo)+e $ear' me"Q Are



these the $ords of a *reat catechumen

This *reat mans +etters to Corisande dAndouin(

Countess of rammont( are not a matter of doutH

the' sti++ e>ist in the ori*ina+s" The author of the

#Essai sur +es 0ceurs et I Es)rit des Nations# Essa'

on the 0anners and S)irit of NationsQ *i%es se%era+

of these interestin* +etters( in $hich there are the

fo++o$in* curious )assa*es- #Tous ces em)oison7

: 9B Phi+oso)hica+

neurs sont tous Pa)istes" .ai decou%ert un tueur

)our moi" Les )recheurs Remains )rechent tout7

haut Jui+ n' a )+us Juune mort a %oirH /s admones7

tent tout an Catho+iJue de )rendre e>em)+e" Et

%ous etes de cette re+i*ion Si Me netais &u*uenot(

Me me ferais Turc"# [These )oisoners are a++ Pa)ists"

I ha%e disco%ered an e>ecutioner for m'se+f" The

Roman )reachers e>c+aim a+oud that there is on+' one

more death to e +oo=ed for H the' admonish a++ *ood

Catho+ics to )rot ' the e>am)+e of the )oisonin*

of the )rince of Conde Q " And 'ou are of this re+i7

*ion If I $ere not a &u*uenot( I $ou+d turn Tur="\



It is dicu+t( after seein* these testimonia+s in &enr'

IV"s o$n hand( to ecome rm+' )ersuaded that he

$as a Catho+ic in his heart"

Another modern historian accuses the du=e of

Lerma of the murder of &enr' IV" #This(# sa's he(

#is the est esta+ished o)inion"# This o)inion

is e%ident+' the $orst esta+ished" It has ne%er een

heard of in S)ain H and in France( the continuator of

de Thou is the on+' one $ho has *i%en an' credit to

these %a*ue and ridicu+ous sus)icions" If the du=e

of Lerma( )rime minister( em)+o'ed Ra%ai++ac( he

)aid him %er' i++ H for $hen the unfortunate man $as

sei1ed( he $as a+most $ithout mone'" If the du=e of

Lerma either )rom)ted him or caused him to e

)rom)ted to the commission of the act( ' the )rom7

ise of a re$ard )ro)ortioned to the attem)t( Ra%ai++ac

$ou+d assured+' ha%e named oth him and his emis7

saries( if on+' to re%en*e himse+f" &e named the

Dictionar'" :9@

.esuit dAui*n'( to $hom he had on+' sho$n a

=nife $h'( then( shou+d he s)are the du=e of



Lerma It is %er' stran*e ostinac' not to e+ie%e

$hat Ra%ai++ac himse+f dec+ared $hen )ut to the tor7

ture" Is a *reat S)anish fami+' to e insu+ted $ith7

out the +east shado$ of )roof

Et %oi+a Mustement comme on ecrit I histoire"

4et this is ho$ histor' is $ritten"Q The S)anish na7

tion is not accustomed to resort to shamefu+ crimes H

and the S)anish *randees ha%e a+$a's )ossessed a

*enerous )ride $hich has )re%ented them from actin*

so ase+'" If Phi+i) II" set a )rice on the head of the

)rince of Oran*e( he had( at +east( the )rete>t of )un7

ishin* a ree++ious suMect( as the Par+iament of Paris

had $hen the' set ft' thousand cro$ns on the head

of Admira+ Co+i*ni( and after$ards on that of Cardi7

na+ 0a1arin" These )o+itica+ )roscri)tions )artoo=

of the horror of the ci%i+ $ars H ut ho$ can it e su)7

)osed that the du=e of Lerma had secret communica7

tions $ith a )oor $retch +i=e Ra%ai++ac

The same author sa's that 0arsha+ DAncre and

his $ife $ere struc=( as it $ere( ' a thundero+t"

The truth is( that the one $as struc= ' )isto+7a++s(

and the other urned as a $itch" An assassination

and a sentence of death )assed on the $ife of a mar7

sha+ of France( an attendant on the Jueen( as a re)uted



sorceress( do %er' +itt+e honor either to the chi%a+r'

or to the Muris)rudence of that da'" !ut I =no$ not

$h' the historian ma=es use of these $ords - #If

these t$o $retches $ere not accom)+ices in the =in*s

: 99 Phi+oso)hica+

death( the' at +east deser%ed the most ri*orous chas7

tisementH it is certain that( e%en durin* the =in*s

+ife( Concini and his $ife had connections $ith S)ain

in o))osition to the =in*s desi*ns"#

This is not at a++ certain( nor is it e%en +i=e+'"

The' $ere F+orentines" The *rand du=e of F+orence

$as the rst to ac=no$+ed*e &enr' IV"( and feared

nothin* so much as the )o$er of S)ain in Ita+'"

Concini and his $ife had no inuence in the time of

&enr' IV" If the' intri*ued $ith the court of 0ad7

rid it cou+d on+' e throu*h the Jueen( $ho must(

therefore( ha%e etra'ed her husand" !esides( +et it

once more e oser%ed that $e are not at +iert' to

rin* for$ard such accusations $ithout )roofs"

What sha++ a $riter )ronounce a defamation from

his *arret( $hich the most en+i*htened Mud*es in



the =in*dom $ou+d trem+e to hear in a court of Mus7

tice Wh' are a marsha+ of France and his $ife(

one of the Jueens attendants( to e ca++ed t$o

$retches Does 0arsha+ dAncre( $ho raised an

arm' a*ainst the ree+s at his o$n e>)ense( merit an

e)ithet suita+e on+' to Ra%ai++ac or Cartouche

to )u+ic roers( or )u+ic ca+umniators

It is ut too true that one fanatic is sucient for

the commission of a )arricide( $ithout an' accom7

)+ice" Damiens had noneH he re)eated four times(

in the course of his interro*ator'( that he committed

his crime so+e+' throu*h a )rinci)+e of re+i*ion" &a%7

in* een in the $a' of =no$in* the con%u+sionaries(

I ma' sa' that I ha%e seen t$ent' of them ca)a+e

Dictionar'" :9;

of an' act eJua++' horrid( so e>cessi%e has een their

infatuation" Re+i*ion( i++7understood( is a fe%er $hich

the sma++est occurrence raises to fren1'" It is the

)ro)ert' of fanaticism to heat the ima*ination" When

a fe$ s)ar=s from the re that =ee)s their su)er7

stitious heads a7oi+in*( fa++ on some %io+ent and



$ic=ed s)irit $hen some i*norant and furious man

thin=s he is imitatin* Phineas( Ehud( .udith( and

other such )ersona*es( he has more accom)+ices than

he is a$are of" 0an' incite to murder $ithout =no$7

in* it" Some )ersons dro) a fe$ indiscreet and %io7

+ent $ords H a ser%ant re)eats them( $ith additions

and eme++ishmentsH a Chate+( a Ra%ai++ac( or a

Damiens +istens to them( $hi+e the' $ho )ronounced

them +itt+e thin= $hat mischief the' ha%e done H the'

are in%o+untar' accom)+ices( $ithout there ha%in*

een either )+ot or insti*ation" In short( he =no$s

+itt+e of the human mind $ho does not =no$ that

fanaticism renders the )o)u+ace ca)a+e of an'thin*"

The author of the #Siec+e de Louis 8I V# #A*e

of Louis the Fourteenth#Q is the rst $ho has

s)o=en of the 0an in the Iron 0as= in an' authentic

histor'" &e $as $e++ acJuainted $ith this circum7

stance( $hich is the astonishment of the )resent a*e(

and $i++ e that of )osterit'( ut $hich is on+' too

true" &e had een decei%ed res)ectin* the time of

the death of this un=no$n and sin*u+ar+' unfortu7

nate )erson( $ho $as interred at the church of St"

Pau+ 0arch 3( :@<3( and not in :@<G"



:;< Phi+oso)hica+

&e $as rst conned at Pi*nero+( efore he $as

sent to the Is+es of Ste" 0ar*uerite( and after$ards

to the !asti++e( a+$a's under the care of the same

man( that St" 0arc( $ho sa$ him die" Father rif7

fet( a .esuit( has communicated to the )u+ic the

Mourna+ of the !asti++e( $hich certies the dates" &e

had no dicu+t' in otainin* this Mourna+( since he

e>ercised the de+icate oce of confessor to the )ris7

oners conned in the !asti++e"

The 0an in the Iron 0as= is an eni*ma $hich

each one attem)ts to so+%e" Some ha%e said that he

$as the du=e of !eaufort( ut the du=e of !eaufort

$as =i++ed ' the Tur=s in the defence of Candia( in

:BB;( and the 0an in the Iron 0as= $as at Pi*7

nero+ in :B@?" !esides( ho$ shou+d the du=e of !eau7

fort ha%e een arrested in the midst of his arm'

&o$ cou+d he ha%e een transferred to France $ith7

out some ones =no$in* somethin* aout it and

$h' shou+d he ha%e een im)risoned and $h'

mas=ed



Others ha%e ima*ined that he $as Count Verman7

dois( natura+ son to Louis 8IV"( $ho( it is $e++

=no$n( died of sma++)o> $hen $ith the arm'( in

:B93( and $as uried in the to$n of Arras"

It has since een su))osed that the du=e of 0on7

mouth( $ho $as )u+ic+' eheaded ' order of Kin*

.ames( in :B9( $as the 0an in the Iron 0as=" !ut

either the du=e must ha%e come to +ife a*ain( and

after$ards chan*ed the order of time( )uttin* the

'ear :BB? for the 'ear :B9( or Kin* .ames( $ho

Dictionar'" :;:

ne%er )ardoned an' one( and therefore merited a++

his misfortunes( must ha%e )ardoned the du=e of

0onmouth( and )ut to death in his stead some

one $ho )erfect+' resem+ed him" In the +atter case(

a )erson must ha%e een found =ind enou*h to ha%e

his head )u+ic+' cut o to sa%e the du=e of 0on7

mouth" A++ En*+and must ha%e een decei%ed in the

)erson H then Kin* .ames must ha%e e**ed of Louis

8IV" that he $ou+d e so *ood as to ecome his



Mai+er" Louis 8IV"( ha%in* *ranted Kin* .ames

this sma++ fa%or( cou+d not ha%e refused to sho$ the

same re*ard for Kin* Wi++iam and 6ueen Anne(

$ith $hom he $as at $arH ut $ou+d ha%e een

carefu+ to maintain the di*nit' of Mai+er $ith $hich

Kin* .ames had honored him to the end of the

cha)ter"

A++ these i++usions ein* dissi)ated( it remains to

e =no$n $ho this constant+'7mas=ed )risoner $as(

at $hat a*e he died( and under $hat name he $as

uried" It is c+ear that( if he $as not )ermitted to

$a+= in the court of the !asti++e( nor to see his )h'si7

cian e>ce)t in a mas= it $as for fear that some

%er' stri=in* resem+ance $ou+d e disco%ered in

his features" &e $as )ermitted to sho$ his ton*ue(

ut ne%er his face" As for his a*e( he himse+f to+d

the a)othecar' of the !asti++e( a +itt+e efore his death(

that he e+ie%ed he $as aout si>t'" The a)othe7

car's son7in7+a$( 0arso+am( sur*eon to 0arsha+ de

Riche+ieu( and after$ards to the du=e of Or+eans the

re*ent( has re)eated this to me se%era+ times" To

: ;? Phi+oso)hica+



conc+ude - Wh' $as an Ita+ian name *i%en to him

&e $as a+$a's ca++ed 0archia+i" The $riter of this

artic+e( )erha)s( =no$s more on the suMect than

Father riet( thou*h he $i++ not sa' more"

It is true that Nicho+as FouJuet( su)erintendent

of the nances( had man' friends in his dis*race(

and that the' )erse%ered e%en unti+ Mud*ment $as

)assed on him" It is true that the chance++or( $ho

)resided at that Mud*ment( treated the i++ustrious

ca)ti%e $ith too much ri*or" !ut it $as not 0iche+

Lete++ier( as stated in some editions of the #Siec+e de

Louis 8IV"H# it $as Pierre Se*uier" This inad%ert7

enc' of ha%in* )+aced one for the other is a fau+t

$hich must e corrected"

It is %er' remar=a+e that no one =no$s $here

this ce+erated minister died" Not that it is of an'

im)ortance to =no$ it( for his death not ha%in* +ed

to an' e%ent $hate%er( is +i=e a++ other indierent

occurrencesH ut this ser%es to )ro%e ho$ com7

)+ete+' he $as for*otten to$ards the c+ose of +ife(

ho$ $orth+ess that $or+d+' consideration is $hich

is so an>ious+' sou*ht for( and ho$ ha))' the' are

$ho ha%e no hi*her amition than to +i%e and die



un=no$n" This =no$+ed*e is far more usefu+ than

that of dates"

Father riet does his utmost to )ersuade us that

Cardina+ Riche+ieu $rote a ad oo=" We++( man'

statesmen ha%e done the same" !ut it is %er' ne

to see him stri%e so hard to )ro%e that( accordin* to

Dictionar'" : ;3

Cardina+ Riche+ieu( #our a++ies( the S)aniards(# so

ha))i+' *o%erned ' a !ouron( #are triutar' to

he++( and ma=e the Indies triutar' to he++# Car7

dina+ Riche+ieus #Po+itica+ Testament# is not that of

a )o+ite man" &e a++e*es -

That France had more *ood )orts on the 0edi7

terranean than the $ho+e S)anish monarch' this is

an e>a**erationQ H that to =ee) u) an arm' of ft'

thousand men it is est to raise a hundred thousand

this thro$s mone' a$a'Q H that $hen a ne$ ta> is

im)osed the )a' of the so+diers is increased $hich



has ne%er een done either in France or e+se$hereQ H

that the )ar+iaments and other su)erior courts

shou+d e made to )a' the tai++e an infa++i+e means

of *ainin* their hearts and ma=in* the ma*istrac'

res)ecta+eQ H that the no+esse shou+d e forced to

ser%e and to enro++ themse+%es in the ca%a+r' the

etter to )reser%e their )ri%i+e*esQ H that enoa $as

the richest cit' in Ita+' $hich I $ish it $ereQ H that

$e must e %er' chaste the testator mi*ht add

+i=e certain )reachers #Do $hat I sa'( not $hat I

do#Q H that an ae' shou+d e *i%en to the ho+'

cha)e+ at Paris a thin* of *reat im)ortance at the

crisis in $hich 'our friend stoodQ H that Po)e !ene7

dict 8L *a%e a *reat dea+ of trou+e to the corde7

+iers( $ho $ere )iJued on the suMect of )o%ert'

that is to sa'( the re%enues of the order of St"

FrancisQ H that the' $ere e>as)erated a*ainst him

to such a de*ree that the' made $ar u)on him '

their $ritin*s more im)ortant sti++ and more

Vo+" :3

: ;G Phi+oso)hica+



+earned es)ecia++' $hen .ohn 88II" is ta=en for

!enedict 8L and $hen in a #Po+itica+ Testament#

nothin* is said of the manner in $hich the $ar

a*ainst S)ain and the em)ire $as to e conducted(

nor of the means of ma=in* )eace( nor of )resent

dan*ers( nor of resources( nor of a++iances( nor of the

*enera+s and ministers $ho $ere to e em)+o'ed(

nor e%en of the dau)hin( $hose education $as of so

much im)ortance to the State( nor( in short( of an'

one oMect of the ministr'Q"

I consent $ith a++ m' heart( since it must e so(

that Cardina+ Riche+ieus memor' sha++ e re)roached

$ith this unfortunate $or=( fu++ of anachronisms(

i*norance( ridicu+ous ca+cu+ations( and ac=no$+ed*ed

fa+sities" Let )eo)+e stri%e as hard as the' )+ease to

)ersuade themse+%es that the *reatest minister $as

the most i*norant and tedious( as $e++ as the most

e>tra%a*ant of $ritersH it ma' aord some *rati7

cation to those $ho detest his t'rann'" It is a+so

a fact $orth )reser%in* in the histor' of the human

mind that this des)ica+e $or= $as )raised for more

than thirt' 'ears( $hi+e it $as e+ie%ed to e that

*reat ministers( and Juite as true that the )retended

#Testament# made no noise in the $or+d unti+ thirt'

'ears after the Cardina+s deathH that it $as not



)rinted unti+ fort'7t$o 'ears after that e%ent H that

the ori*ina+( si*ned ' him( has ne%er een seenH

that the oo= is %er' ad H and that it scarce+' de7

ser%es to e mentioned"

Did Count de 0oret( son of &enr' IV"( $ho $as

Dictionar'" :;

$ounded in the +itt+e s=irmish at Caste+naudari( +i%e

unti+ the 'ear :B;3 under the name of the hermit

.ean !a)tist ef What )roof ha%e $e that this her7

mit $as the son of &enr' IV" None"

Did .eanne dA+ret de Na%arre( mother of &enr'

IV"( after the death of Antoine( marr' a *ent+eman

named u'on( $ho $as =i++ed in the massacre of St"

!artho+ome$ &ad she a son ' him( $ho )reached

at !ordeau> These facts are detai+ed at *reat

+en*th in the #Remar=s on !a'+es Ans$ers to the

6uestions of a Pro%incia+(# fo+io( )a*e B9;" Was

0ar*aret of Va+ois( $ife to &enr' IV"( rou*ht to

ed of t$o chi+dren secret+' after her marria*e



We mi*ht ++ %o+umes $ith inJuiries +i=e these"

!ut ho$ much )ains shou+d $e e ta=in* to disco%er

thin*s of no use to man=ind Let us rather see=

cures for the scrofu+a( the *out( the stone( the *ra%e+(

and a thousand other chronic or acute diseases" Let

us see= remedies for the distem)ers of the mind(

no +ess terri+e and no +ess morta+" Let us +aor

to rin* the arts to )erfection( and to +essen the

miseries of the human raceH and +et us not $aste

our time o%er the anas( the anecdotes( and curious

stories of our da'( the co++ections of )retended ons

mots( etc"

I read in a oo= +ate+' )u+ished that Louis 8IV"

e>em)ted a++ ne$7married men from the tai++e for

%e 'ears" I ha%e not found this fact in an' co++ection

of edicts( nor in an' memoir of that time" I read in

the same oo= that the =in* of Prussia has ft' +i%res

:;B Phi+oso)hica+

*i%en to e%er' *ir+ $ith chi+d" There is( in truth( no

etter $a' of +a'in* out mone'( nor of encoura*in*

)ro)a*ation( ut I do not e+ie%e that this ro'a+ mu7



nicence is true H at +east I ha%e ne%er $itnessed it"

An anecdote of *reater antiJuit' has Must fa++en

under m' e'e( and a))ears to me to e a %er' stran*e

one" It is said in a chrono+o*ica+ histor' of Ita+' that

the *reat Arian( Theodoric he $ho is re)resented

to ha%e een so $ise had amon*st his ministers a

Catho+ic( for $hom he had a *reat +i=in*( and $ho

)ro%ed $orth' of a++ his condence" This minister

thou*ht he shou+d rise sti++ hi*her in his masters fa7

%or ' emracin* Arianism H ut Theodoric had

him immediate+' eheaded( sa'in*- # a man is

not faithfu+ to od( ho$ can he e faithfu+ to me(

$ho am ut a man# The com)i+er remar=s that

#this trait does *reat honor to Theodoric s manner of

thin=in* $ith res)ect to re+i*ion"#

I )iJue m'se+f on thin=in*( in matters of re+i*ion(

etter than Ostro*oth( Theodoric( the assassin of

S'mmachus( and !oetius( ecause I am a *ood Cath7

o+ic( and he $as an Arian" !ut I dec+are this =in*

$orth' of ein* conned as a madman if he $ere so

atrocious+' esotted" What he immediate+' cut o

his ministers head ecause that minister had at +ast

come o%er to his o$n $a' of thin=in*" &o$ $as a

$orshi))er of od( $ho )assed from the o)inion of



Athanasius to that of Arius and Euseius( unfaithfu+

to od &e $as at most unfaithfu+ on+' to Athana7

sius and his )art'( at a time $hen the $or+d $as di%i7

Dictionar'" :;@

ded et$een the Athanasians and the Euseians H ut

Theodoric cou+d not re*ard him as a man unfaithfu+

to od( ecause he had reMected the term consustan7

tia+( after admittin* it at rst" To cut o his fa%or7

ites head for such a reason cou+d certain+' e the

act of none ut the $ic=edest foo+ and most ararous

+oc=head that e%er e>isted" What $ou+d 'ou sa'

of Louis 8IV" if he had eheaded the du=e de +a

Force ecause the du=e de +a Force had Juitted Ca+7

%inism for the re+i*ion of Louis 8IV"

I ha%e Must o)ened a histor' of &o++and( in $hich

I nd that( in :B@?( 0arsha+ de Lu>emour* ha7

ran*ued his troo)s in the fo++o$in* manner - #o(

m' chi+dren( )+under( ro( =i++( ra%ishH and if there

e an'thin* more aomina+e fai+ not to do it( that

I ma' nd I ha%e not een mista=en in se+ectin* 'ou

as the ra%est of men"# This is certain+' a %er'



)rett' haran*ue" It is as true as those *i%en us '

Li%'( ut it is not in his st'+e" To com)+ete the

dishonor of t')o*ra)h'( this ne )iece is inserted in

se%era+ ne$ dictionaries( $hich are no other than im7

)ostures in a+)haetica+ order"

It is a triin* error in the #Are*e Chrono+o*iJue

de I&istoire de France# #Chrono+o*ica+ Arid*7

ment of the &istor' of France#Q to su))ose that

Louis 8IV"( after the Peace of /trecht( for $hich

he $as indeted to the En*+ish( after nine 'ears of

misfortune( and after the man' *reat %ictories $hich

the En*+ish had *ained( said to the En*+ish amas7

sador- #I ha%e a+$a's een master at home( and

:;9 Phi+oso)hica+

sometimes aroadH do not remind me of it"# This

s)eech $ou+d ha%e een %er' i++7timed( %er' fa+se as

it re*arded the En*+ish( and $ou+d ha%e e>)osed the

=in* to a most *a++in* re)+'"

The author himse+f confessed to me that the 0ar7

Juis de Torc'( $ho $as )resent at a++ the ear+ of



Stairs audiences( had a+$a's *i%en the +ie to this an7

ecdote" It is assured+' neither true nor +i=e+'( and

has remained in the +ater editions of this oo= on+'

ecause it $as )ut in the rst" This error( ho$e%er(

does not at a++ dis)ara*e this %er' usefu+ $or=( in

$hich a++ the *reat e%ents( arran*ed in the most con7

%enient order( are )erfect+' authenticated"

A++ these +itt+e ta+es( desi*ned to eme++ish his7

tor'( do ut dishonor it( and unfortunate+' a+most a++

ancient histories are +itt+e e+se than ta+es" 0a+e7

ranche $as ri*ht $hen( s)ea=in* on this suMect(

he said- #I thin= no more of histor' than I do of

the ne$s of m' )arish"#

In :@?3( Father FouJuet( a .esuit( returned to

France from China( $here he had )assed t$ent'7

%e 'ears" Re+i*ious dis)utes had emroi+ed him

$ith his rethren" &e had carried $ith him to China

a *os)e+ dierent from theirs( and no$ rou*ht ac=

to France memoria+s a*ainst them" T$o Chinese

+iterati made the %o'a*e $ith him H one of them died

on the $a'( the other came $ith Father FouJuet to

Paris" The .esuit $as to ta=e the Chinese to Rome



secret+'( as a $itness of the conduct of the *ood

Dictionar'" :;;

fathers in China( and in the meantime FouJuet and

his com)anion +od*ed at the house of the Professed(

Rue St" Antoine"

The re%erend fathers recei%ed ad%ice of their re%7

erend rothers intentions" FouJuet $as no +ess

Juic=+' informed of the desi*ns of the re%erend fa7

thers" &e +ost not a moment( ut set o the same

ni*ht for Rome" The re%erend fathers had interest

enou*h to *et him )ursued( ut the Chinese on+' $as

ta=en" This )oor fe++o$ did not understand a $ord

of French" The *ood fathers $ent to Cardina+ Du7

ois( $ho at that time needed their su))ort( and to+d

him that the' had amon* them a 'oun* man $ho had

*one mad( and $hom it $as necessar' to conne"

The cardina+ immediate+' *ranted a +ettre de cachet(

than $hich there is sometimes nothin* $hich a min7

ister is more read' to *rant" The +ieutenant of )o+ice

$ent to ta=e this madman( $ho $as )ointed out to

him" &e found a man ma=in* re%erences in a $a'



dierent from the French( s)ea=in* in a sin*in* tone(

and +oo=in* Juite astonished" &e e>)ressed *reat

)it' for his deran*ement( ordered his hands to e

tied ehind him( and sent him to Charenton( $here(

+i=e the Ae Desfontaines( he $as o**ed t$ice a

$ee=" The Chinese did not at a++ understand this

method of recei%in* stran*ers" &e had )assed on+'

t$o or three da's in Paris( and had found the manners

of the French %er' odd" &e had +i%ed t$o 'ears on

read and $ater( amon*st madmen and =ee)ers( and

e+ie%ed that the French nation consisted of these

?OO Phi+oso)hica+

t$o s)ecies( the one )art dancin* $hi+e the other

o**ed them"

At +en*th( $hen t$o 'ears had e+a)sed( the min7

istr' chan*ed and a ne$ +ieutenant of )o+ice $as

a))ointed" This ma*istrate commenced his admin7

istration ' %isitin* the )risons" &e a+so sa$ the

+unatics at Charenton" After con%ersin* $ith them

he as=ed if there $ere no other )ersons for him to

see" &e $as to+d that there $as one more unfortu7



nate man( ut that he s)o=e a +an*ua*e $hich nood'

understood" A .esuit( $ho accom)anied the ma*7

istrate( said it $as the )ecu+iarit' of this mans mad7

ness that he ne%er *a%e an ans$er in French H noth7

in* $ou+d e *otten from him( and he thou*ht it

$ou+d e etter not to ta=e the trou+e of ca++in* him"

The minister insisted" The unfortunate man $as

rou*ht( and thre$ himse+f at his feet" The +ieuten7

ant sent for the =in*s inter)reters( $ho s)o=e to him

in S)anish( Latin( ree=( and En*+ish( ut he con7

stant+' said Kanton( Kanton( and nothin* e+se" The

.esuit assured them he $as )ossessed" The ma*is7

trate( ha%in* at some time heard it said that there

$as a )ro%ince in China ca++ed Kanton( thou*ht this

man mi*ht )erha)s ha%e come from thence" An

inter)reter to the forei*n missions $as sent for(

$ho cou+d murder Chinese" A++ $as disco%ered"

The ma*istrate =ne$ not $hat to do( nor the .esuit

$hat to sa'" The Du=e de !ouron $as then )rime

minister" The circumstance ha%in* een re+ated to

him( he ordered mone' and c+othes to e *i%en to

Dictionar'" ?<:



the Chinese( and sent him ac= to his o$n countr'(

$hence it is not thou*ht that man' +iterati $i++ come

and see us in the future" It $ou+d ha%e een more

)o+itic to ha%e =e)t this man and treated him $e++(

than to ha%e sent him to *i%e his countr'men the

%er' $orst o)inion of the French"

Aout thirt' 'ears a*o the French .esuits sent

secret missionaries to China( $ho enticed a chi+d from

his )arents in Canton( and rou*ht him to Paris(

$here the' educated him in their con%ent of La Rue

St" Antoine" This o' ecame a .esuit at the a*e of

fteen( after $hich he remained ten 'ears in France"

&e =no$s oth French and Chinese )erfect+'( and is

%er' +earned" 0" !ertin( com)tro++er7*enera+( and

after$ards secretar' of state( sent him ac= to China

in :@B3( after the ao+ition of the .esuits" &e ca++s

himse+f Ko( and si*ns himse+f Ko( .esuit"

In :@@? there $ere fourteen .esuits in Pe=in(

amon*st $hom $as !rother Ko( $ho sti++ +i%es in

their house" The Em)eror Kien7Lon* has =e)t

these mon=s of Euro)e aout him in the )ositions of

)ainters( en*ra%ers( $atch7ma=ers( and mechanics(



$ith an e>)ress )rohiition from e%er dis)utin* on

re+i*ion( or causin* the +east trou+e in the em)ire"

The .esuit Ko has sent manuscri)ts of his o$n

com)osition from Pe=in to Paris entit+ed - #0emoirs

Re+ati%e to the &istor'( Arts and Sciences of the

Chinese ' the 0issionaries at Pe=in"# This oo=

is )rinted( and is no$ se++in* at Paris ' N'on( the

?O? Phi+oso)hica+

oo=se++er" The author attac=s a++ the )hi+oso)hers

of Euro)e" &e ca++s a )rince of the Tartar race(

$hom the .esuits had seduced( and the +ate em)eror(

4on*7Chin( had anished( an i++ustrious mart'r to

.esus Christ" This Ko oasts of ma=in* man' neo7

)h'tes( $ho are ardent s)irits( ca)a+e of trou+in*

China e%en more than the .esuits former+' trou+ed

.a)an" It is said that a Russian no+eman( indi*nant

at this .esuitica+ inso+ence( $hich reaches the far7

thest corners of the earth e%en after the e>tinction

of the order has reso+%ed to nd some means of

sendin* to the )resident of the triuna+ of rites at

Pe=in an e>tract in Chinese from these memoirs(



$hich ma' ser%e to ma=e the aforesaid Ko( and the

.esuits $ho +aor $ith him( etter =no$n"

ANELS"

SECTION I"

An*e+s of the Indians( Persians( etc"

T&E author of the artic+e #An*e+# in the Enc'c+o7

)aedia sa's that a++ re+i*ions ha%e admitted the e>ist7

ence of an*e+s( a+thou*h it is not demonstrated '

natura+ reason"

We understand ' this $ord( ministers of od(

su)ernatura+ is e'ond reason" If I mista=e not it

shou+d ha%e een se%era+ re+i*ions and not a++Q ha%e

ac=no$+ed*ed the e>istence of an*e+s" That of Nu7

ma( that of Saaism( that of the Druids( that of the

Sc'thians( and that of the Phoenicians and ancient

E*')tians did not admit their e>istence"

Dictionar'" ?<3



We understand ' this $ord( ministers of od(

de)uties( ein*s of a midd+e order et$een od and

man( sent to ma=e =no$n to us &is orders"

At the )resent time in :@@? the !rahmins

oast of ha%in* )ossessed in $ritin*( for Must four

thousand ei*ht hundred and se%ent'7ei*ht 'ears(

their rst sacred +a$( entit+ed the Shastah( fteen

hundred 'ears efore their second +a$( ca++ed

Veidam( si*nif'in* the $ord of od" The Shastah

contains %e cha)tersH the rst( of od and &is

attriutesH the second( of the creation of the an*e+sH

the third( of the fa++ of the an*e+sH the fourth( of

their )unishmentH the fth( of their )ardon( and the

creation of man"

It is *ood( in the rst )+ace( to oser%e the manner

in $hich this oo= s)ea=s of od"

First Cha)ter of the Shastah"

od is oneH &e has created a++H it is a )erfect

s)here( $ithout e*innin* or end" od conducts the

$ho+e creation ' a *enera+ )ro%idence( resu+tin*

from a determined )rinci)+e" Thou sha+t not see= to

disco%er the nature and essence of the Eterna+( nor



' $hat +a$s &e *o%ernsH such an underta=in*

$ou+d e %ain and crimina+" It is enou*h for thee

to contem)+ate da' and ni*ht in &is $or=s( &is

$isdom( &is )o$er( and &is *oodness"

After )a'in* to this o)enin* of the Shastah the

triute of admiration $hich is due to it( +et us )ass

to the creation of the an*e+s"

?<G Phi+oso)hica+

Second Cha)ter of the Shastah"

The Eterna+( asored in the contem)+ation of &is

o$n e>istence( reso+%ed( in the fu+ness of time( to

communicate &is *+or' and &is essence to ein*s

ca)a+e of fee+in* and )arta=in* &is eatitude as

$e++ as of contriutin* to &is *+or'" The Eterna+

$i++ed it( and the' $ere" &e formed them )art+' of

&is o$n essence( ca)a+e of )erfection or im)er7

fection( accordin* to their $i++"

The Eterna+ rst created !rahma( Vishnu( and

Si%a( then 0o1a1or( and a++ the mu+titude of the



an*e+s" The Eterna+ *a%e the )re7eminence to !rah7

ma( Vishnu( and Si%a" !rahma $as the )rince of

the an*e+ic arm' H Vishnu and Si%a $ere &is coad7

Mutors" The Eterna+ di%ided the an*e+ic arm' into

se%era+ ands( and *a%e to each a chief" The' adored

the Eterna+( ran*ed around &is throne( each in the

de*ree assi*ned him" There $as harmon' in hea%en"

0o1a1or( chief of the rst and( +ed the cantic+e of

)raise and adoration to the Creator( and the son* of

oedience to !rahma( his rst creatureH and the

Eterna+ reMoiced in &is ne$ creation"

Cha)ter &I" The Fa++ of a Part of the An*e+s"

From the creation of the ce+estia+ arm'( Mo' and

harmon' surrounded the throne of the Eterna+ for

a thousand 'ears mu+ti)+ied ' a thousand( and $ou+d

ha%e +asted unti+ the end of time had not en%' sei1ed

0o1a1or and other )rinces of the an*e+ic ands(

Dictionar'" ?<

amon* $hom $as Raaon( the ne>t in di*nit' to

0o1a1or" For*etfu+ of the +essin* of their creation(



and of their dut'( the' reMected the )o$er of )erfec7

tion( and e>ercised the )o$er of im)erfection" The'

did e%i+ in the si*ht of the Eterna+ H the' disoe'ed

&im H the' refused to sumit to ods +ieutenant and

his coadMutors Vishnu and Si%a( sa'in* - #We $i++

*o%ern(# and( $ithout fearin* the )o$er and the an7

*er of their Creator( disseminated their seditious

)rinci)+es in the ce+estia+ arm'" The' seduced the

an*e+s( and )ersuaded a *reat mu+titude of them to

ree+ H and the' forsoo= the throne of the Eterna+ H

and sorro$ came u)on the faithfu+ an*e+ic s)iritsH

and for the rst time *rief $as =no$n in hea%en"

Cha)ter IV" Punishment of the ui+t' An*e+s"

The Eterna+( $hose omniscience( )rescience( and

inuence e>tend o%er a++ thin*s e>ce)t the action of

the ein*s $hom &e has created free( ehe+d $ith

*rief and an*er the defection of 0o1a1or( Raaon(

and the other chiefs of the an*e+s"

0ercifu+ in his $rath( he sent !rahma( Vishnu(

and Si%a to re)roach them $ith their crime( and rin*

them ac= to their dut' H ut( conrmed in their s)irit

of inde)endence( the' )ersisted in their re%o+t" The

Eterna+ then commanded Si%a to march a*ainst



them( armed $ith a+mi*ht' )o$er( and hur+ them

do$n from the hi*h )+ace to the )+ace of dar=ness(

into the Ondera( there to e )unished for a thousand

'ears mu+ti)+ied ' a thousand(

?<B Phi+oso)hica+

Astract of the Fifth Cha)ter"

At the end of a thousand 'ears !rahma( Vishnu(

and Si%a im)+ored the c+emenc' of the Eterna+ in

fa%or of the de+inJuents" The Eterna+ %ouchsafed to

de+i%er them from the )rison of the Ondera( and

)+ace them in a state of )roation durin* a *reat num7

er of so+ar re%o+utions" There $ere other ree++ions

a*ainst od durin* this time of )enitence"

It $as at one of these )eriods that od created

the earth( $here the )enitent an*e+s under$ent se%7

era+ metem)s'choses( one of the +ast of $hich $as

their transformation into co$s" &ence it $as that

co$s ecame sacred in India" Last+'( the' $ere met7

amor)hosed into men"



So that the Indian s'stem of an*e+s is )recise+'

that of the .esuit !ou*eant( $ho asserts that the

odies of easts are inhaited ' sinfu+ an*e+s"

What the !rahmins had in%ented serious+'( !ou7

*eant( more than four thousand 'ears after( im7

a*ined in Mest if( indeed( this )+easantr' of his $as

not a remnant of su)erstition( comined $ith the

s)irit of s'stem7ma=in*( as is often the case"

Such is the histor' of the an*e+s amon* the ancient

!rahmins( $hich( after the +a)se of aout ft' centu7

ries( the' sti++ continue to teach" Neither our mer7

chants $ho ha%e traded in India( nor our mission7

aries( ha%e e%er een informed of it H for the !rah7

mins( ha%in* ne%er een edied ' their science or

their manners( ha%e not communicated to them their

Dictionar'" ?<@

secrets" It $as +eft for an En*+ishman( named &oi7

$e++( to reside for thirt' 'ears at !enares( on the

an*es( an ancient schoo+ of the !rahmins( to +earn

the ancient Sanscrit ton*ue( in order at +en*th to en7

rich our Euro)e $ith this sin*u+ar =no$+ed*eH Must



as 0r" Sa+e +i%ed a +on* time in Araia to *i%e us a

faithfu+ trans+ation of the Koran and information

re+ati%e to ancient Saaism( $hich has een suc7

ceeded ' the 0ussu+man re+i*ion H and as Dr" &'de

continued for t$ent' 'ears his researches into e%er'7

thin* concernin* the re+i*ion of the 0a*i"

An*e+s of the Persians"

The Persians had thirt'7one an*e+s" The rst of

a++( $ho is ser%ed ' four other an*e+s( is named

!ahaman" &e has the ins)ection of a++ anima+s e>7

ce)t man( o%er $hom od has reser%ed to himse+f

an immediate Murisdiction"

od )resides o%er the da' on $hich the sun enters

the Ram( and this da' is a Saath( $hich )ro%es

that the feast of the Saath $as oser%ed amon*

the Persians in the ancient times" The second an7

*e+ )resides o%er the se%enth da'( and is ca++ed Dea7

dur" The third is Kur( $hich )roa+' $as after7

$ards con%erted into C'rus" &e is the an*e+ of the

sun" The fourth is ca++ed 0ah( and )resides o%er

the moon" Thus each an*e+ has his )ro%ince" It $as

amon* the Persians that the doctrine of the *uardian

an*e+ and the e%i+ an*e+ $as rst ado)ted" It is e7



sons of hea%en( ehe+d them the' ecame enamored

of them( sa'in* to each other - Come( +et us se+ect

for ourse+%es $i%es from the )ro*en' of men( and

+et us e*et chi+dren" Then their +eader( Sam'a1a(

said to them - I fear that 'ou ma' )erha)s e indis7

)osed to the )erformance of this enter)rise( and that

I a+one sha++ suer for so *rie%ous a crime" !ut

the' ans$ered him and said- We a++ s$ear( and

ind ourse+%es ' mutua+ e>ecrations( that $e $i++

not chan*e our intention( ut e>ecute our )roMected

underta=in*"

#Then the' s$ore a++ to*ether( and a++ ound

themse+%es ' mutua+ e>ecrations" Their $ho+e

Dictionar'" ?<;

numer $as t$o hundred( $ho descended u)on

Ardis( $hich is the to) of 0ount Armon" That

mountain( therefore( $as ca++ed Armon( ecause

the' had s$orn u)on it( and ound themse+%es '

mutua+ e>ecrations" These are the names of their

chiefs - Sam'a1a( $ho $as their +eader H /ra=aara7

mee+( A=aee+( Tamie+( Ramue+( Dane+( A1=ee+(



Sara=u'a+( Asae+( Armers( !atraa+( Anane( 5a%ee(

Samsa%ee+( Ertae+( Ture+( 4om'ae+( Ara1'a+" These

$ere the )refects of the t$o hundred an*e+s( and the

remainder $ere a++ $ith them"

#Then the' too= $i%es( each choosin* for himse+f(

$hom the' e*an to a))roach( and $ith $hom the'

cohaited( teachin* them sorcer'( incantations( and

the di%idin* of roots and trees" And the $omen(

concei%in*( rou*ht forth *iants( $hose stature $as

each three hundred cuits(# etc"

The author of this fra*ment $rites in the st'+e

$hich seems to e+on* to the )rimiti%e a*es" &e

has the same sim)+icit'" &e does not fai+ to name

the )ersons( nor does he for*et the dates H here are

no reections( no ma>ims" It is the ancient Orienta+

manner"

It is e%ident that this stor' is founded on the si>th

cha)ter of enesis - #There $ere *iants in the earth

in those da's( and a+so after that( $hen the sons of

od came in unto the dau*hters of men( and the'

are chi+dren to them( the same ecame mi*ht' men

$hich $ere of o+d( men of reno$n"# enesis and



the !oo= of Enoch )erfect+' a*ree res)ectin* the

Vo+" r G

?io Phi+oso)hica+

cou)+in* of the an*e+s $ith the dau*hters of men(

and the race of *iants $hich s)run* from this

union H ut neither this Enoch( nor an' oo= of the

O+d Testament( s)ea=s of the $ar of the an*e+s

a*ainst od( or of their defeat( or of their fa++ into

he++( or of their hatred to man=ind"

Near+' a++ the commentators on the O+d Testa7

ment unanimous+' sa' that efore the !a'+onian

ca)ti%it'( the .e$s =ne$ not the name of an' an*e+"

The one that a))eared to 0anoah( father of Sam7

son( $ou+d not te++ his name"

When the three an*e+s a))eared to Araham(

and he had a $ho+e ca+f dressed to re*a+e them(

the' did not te++ him their names" One of them

said- #I $i++ come to see thee ne>t 'ear( if od

*rant me +ife H and Sarah th' $ife sha++ ha%e a son"#



Ca+met disco%ers a *reat anit' et$een this

stor' and the fa+e $hich O%id re+ates in his #Fasti(#

of .u)iter( Ne)tune( and 0ercur'( $ho( ha%in*

su))ed $ith o+d &'reus( and ndin* that he $as af7

icted $ith im)otence( urinated u)on the s=in of a

ca+f $hich he had ser%ed u) to them( and ordered

him to ur' this hide $atered $ith ce+estia+ urine

in the *round( and +ea%e it there for nine months"

At the end of the nine months( &'reus unco%ered

his hide( and found in it a chi+d( $hich $as named

Orion( and is no$ in the hea%ens" Ca+met more7

o%er sa's that the $ords $hich the an*e+s used to

Araham ma' e rendered thus- A chi+d sha++ e

orn of 'our ca+f"

Dictionar'" ?::

!e this as it ma'( the an*e+s did not te++ Araham

their names H the' did not e%en te++ them to 0oses H

and $e nd the name of Ra)hae+ on+' in Toit( at

the time of the ca)ti%it'" The other names of an*e+s

are e%ident+' ta=en from the Cha+dseans and the Per7

sians" Ra)hae+( arie+( and /rie+( are Persian or

!a'+onian" The name of Israe+ itse+f is Cha+daean(



as the +earned .e$ Phi+o e>)ress+' sa's( in the ac7

count of his de)utation to Ca+i*u+a"

We sha++ not here re)eat $hat has een e+se$here

said of an*e+s"

Whether the ree=s and the Romans admitted the

E>istence of An*e+s"

The' had *ods and demi7*ods enou*h to dis7

)ense $ith a++ other sua+tern ein*s" 0ercur' e>e7

cuted the commissions of .u)iter( and Iris those of

.uno H ne%erthe+ess( the' admitted *enii and demons"

The doctrine of *uardian an*e+s $as %ersied '

&esiod( $ho $as contem)orar' $ith &omer" In

his )oem of #The Wor=s and Da's# he thus e>7

)+ains it -

When *ods a+i=e and morta+s rose to irth(

A *o+den race the immorta+s formed on earth

Of man'7+an*ua*ed menH the' +i%ed of o+d(

When Saturn rei*ned in hea%en an a*e of *o+d"

Li=e *ods the' +i%ed( $ith ca+m( untrou+ed mind(

Free from the toi+ and an*uish of our =ind"

Nor sad( decre)it a*e a))roachin* ni*h(

Their +ims missha)ed $ith s$o+n deformit'"



Stran*ers to i++( the' Natures anJuet )ro%ed(

Rich in earths fruits( and of the +est e+o%ed-

The' san= to death( as o)iate s+umer stoie

Soft oer the sense( and $he+med the $i++in* sou+"

ai? Phi+oso)hica+

Theirs $as each *ood- the *rain7e>uerant soi+

Poured the fu++ har%est( uncom)e++ed ' toi+-

The %irtuous man' d$e+t in common( +est(

And a++ unen%'in* shared $hat a++ in )eace )ossessed"

When on this race the %erdant earth had +ain(

!' .o%es hi*h $i++ the' rose a enii train-

Earth7$anderin* daemons( the' their char*e e*an(

The ministers of *ood and *uards of man-

Vei+ed $ith a mant+e of aeria+ ni*ht(



Oer earths $ide s)ace the' $in* their ho%erin* i*htH

Dis)ense the ferti+e treasures of the *round(

And end their a++7oser%ant *+ance aroundH

To mar= the deed unMust( the Must a))ro%e(

Their =in*+' oce( de+e*ate from .o%e"

ELTONS Trans+ation"

The farther $e search into antiJuit'( the more

$e see ho$ modern nations ha%e ' turns e>)+ored

these no$ a+most aandoned mines" The ree=s(

$ho so +on* )assed for in%entors( imitated E*')t(

$hich had co)ied from the Cha+daeans( $ho o$ed

a+most e%er'thin* to the Indians" The doctrine of

the *uardian an*e+s( so $e++ sun* ' &esiod( $as

after$ards so)histicated in the schoo+s - it $as a++

that the' $ere ca)a+e of doin*" E%er' man had

his *ood and his e%i+ *enius( as each one had his

)articu+ar star

Est *enius nata+e comes Jui tem)erat astrum"



Socrates( $e =no$( had his *ood an*e+ H ut his

ad an*e+ must ha%e *o%erned him" No an*e+ ut

an e%i+ one cou+d )rom)t a )hi+oso)her to run from

house to house( to te++ )eo)+e( ' Juestion and an7

s$er( that father and mother( )rece)tor and )u)i+(

$ere a++ i*norant and imeci+e" A *uardian an*e+

in that e%ent $i++ nd it %er' dicu+t to sa%e his

)rote*e from the hem+oc="

Dictionar'" ?:3

We are acJuainted on+' $Mth the e%i+ an*e+ of

0arcus !rutus( $hich a))eared to him efore the

att+e of Phi+i))i"

SECTION II"

The doctrine of an*e+s is one of the o+dest in the

$or+d" It )receded that of the immorta+it' of the

sou+" This is not sur)risin*H )hi+oso)h' is neces7

sar' to the e+ief that the sou+ of morta+ man is

immorta+ H ut ima*ination and $ea=ness are suf7

cient for the in%ention of ein*s su)erior to our7



se+%es( )rotectin* or )ersecutin* us" 4et it does

not a))ear that the ancient E*')tians had an' notion

of these ce+estia+ ein*s( c+othed $ith an etherea+

od' and administerin* to the orders of a od"

The ancient !a'+onians $ere the rst $ho ad7

mitted this theo+o*'" The &ere$ oo=s em)+o'

the an*e+s from the rst oo= of enesis do$n7

$ards - ut the !oft= of enesis $as not $ritten e7

fore the Cha+daeans had ecome a )o$erfu+ nation -

nor $as it unti+ the ca)ti%it' of !a'+on that the

.e$s +earned the names of arie+( Ra)hae+( 0ichae+(

/rie+( etc"( $hich $ere *i%en to the an*e+s" The

.e$ish and Christian re+i*ions ein* founded on the

fa++ of Adam( and this fa++ ein* founded on the

tem)tation ' the e%i+ an*e+( the de%i+( it is %er'

sin*u+ar that not a $ord is said in the Pentateuch

of the e>istence of the ad an*e+s( sti++ +ess of their

)unishment and aode in he++"

The reason of this omission is e%ident- the

e%i+ an*e+s $ere un=no$n to the .e$s unti+ the !a'7

?:G Phi+oso)hica+



Ionian ca)ti%it' H then it is that Asmodeus e*ins to

e ta+=ed of( $hom Ra)hae+ $ent to ind in /))er

E*')t H there it is that the .e$s rst hear of Satan"

This $ord Satan $as Cha+daeanH and the !oo= of

.o( an inhaitant of Cha+daea( is the rst that ma=es

mention of him"

The ancient Persians said Satan $as an an*e+

or *enius $ho had made $ar u)on the Di%es and the

Peris( that is( the fairest of the East"

Thus( accordin* to the ordinar' ru+es of )ro7

ai+it'( those $ho are *uided ' reason a+one mi*ht

e )ermitted to thin= that( from this theo+o*'( the

.e$s and Christians at +en*th too= the idea that the

e%i+ an*e+s had een dri%en out of hea%en( and that

their )rince had tem)ted E%e( in the form of a ser7

)ent"

It has een )retended that Isaiah( in his four7

teenth cha)ter( had this a++e*or' in %ie$ $hen he

said - #6uomodo occidisti de cce+o( Lucifer( Jui mane

oriearisf# #&o$ hast thou fa++en from hea%en(

O Lucifer( son of the mornin* #

It $as this same Latin %erse( trans+ated from



Isaiah( $hich )rocured for the de%i+ the name of

Lucifer" It $as for*otten that Lucifer si*nies

#that $hich sheds +i*ht"# The $ords of Isaiah( too(

ha%e recei%ed a +itt+e attention H he is s)ea=in* of the

dethroned =in* of !a'+on H and ' a common *7

ure of s)eech( he sa's to him - #&o$ hast thou fa++en

from hea%en( thou ri++iant star#

It does not at a++ a))ear that Isaiah sou*ht( '

Dictionar'" ?:

this stro=e of rhetoric( to esta+ish the doctrine of the

an*e+s )reci)itated into he++" It $as scarce+' efore

the time of the )rimiti%e Christian church that the

fathers and the rais e>erted themse+%es to encour7

a*e this doctrine( in order to sa%e the incredii+it'

of the stor' of a ser)ent $hich seduced the mother

of men( and $hich( condemned for this ad action to

cra$+ on its e++'( has e%er since een an enem' to

man( $ho is a+$a's stri%in* to crush it( $hi+e it is

a+$a's endea%orin* to ite him" There seemed

to e some$hat more of su+imit' in ce+estia+ su7

stances )reci)itated into the a'ss( and issuin* from



it to )ersecute man=ind"

It cannot e )ro%ed ' an' reasonin* that these

ce+estia+ and inferna+ )o$ers e>istH neither can it

e )ro%ed that the' do not e>ist" There is certain+'

no contradiction in ac=no$+ed*in* the e>istence of

enecent and ma+i*nant sustances $hich are nei7

ther of the nature of od nor of the nature of man -

ut a thin*( to e e+ie%ed( must e more than )os7

si+e"

The an*e+s $ho( accordin* to the !a'+onians

and the .e$s( )resided o%er nations( $ere )recise+'

$hat the *ods of &omer $ere ce+estia+ ein*s(

suordinate to a su)reme ein*" The ima*ination

$hich )roduced the one )roa+' )roduced the

other" The numer of the inferior *ods increased

$ith the re+i*ion of &omer" Amon* the Christians(

the numer of the an*e+s $as au*mented in the

course of time"

? : B Phi+oso)hica+

The $riters =no$n ' the names of Dion'sius the



Areo)a*ite and re*or' I" >ed the numer of an*e+s

in nine choirs( formin* three hierarchies H the rst

consistin* of the sera)him( cheruim( and thrones H

the second of the dominations( %irtues and )o$ers H

and the third of the )rinci)a+ities( archan*e+s( and(

+ast+'( the an*e+s( $ho *i%e their domination to a++

the rest" It is hard+' )ermissi+e for an' one ut a

)o)e thus to sett+e the dierent ran=s in hea%en"

SECTION III"

An*e+( in ree=( is en%o'" The reader $i++ hard+'

e the $iser for ein* to+d that the Persians had their

)eris( the &ere$s their ma+a=im( and the ree=s

their demonoi"

!ut it is )erha)s etter $orth =no$in* that( one

of the rst of mans ideas has a+$a's een to )+ace

intermediate ein*s et$een the Di%init' and him7

se+fH such $ere those demons( those *enii( in%ented

in the a*es of antiJuit'" 0an a+$a's made the *ods

after his o$n ima*eH )rinces $ere seen to com7

municate their orders ' messen*ersH therefore(

the Di%init' had a+so his couriers" 0ercur'( Iris(

$ere couriers or messen*ers"



The .e$s( the on+' )eo)+e under the conduct of

the Di%init' &imse+f( did not at rst *i%e names to

the an*e+s $hom od %ouchsafed to send them H the'

orro$ed the names *i%en them ' the Cha+daeans

$hen the .e$ish nation $as ca)ti%e in !a'+onH

0ichae+ and arie+ are named for the rst time '

Dictionar'" ?:@

Danie+( a s+a%e amon* those )eo)+e" The .e$ Toit(

$ho +i%ed at Nine%ah( =ne$ the an*e+ Ra)hae+( $ho

tra%e++ed $ith his son to assist him in reco%erin* the

mone' due to him from the .e$ aae+"

In the +a$s of the .e$s( that is( in Le%iticus and

Deuteronom'( not the +east mention is made of the

e>istence of the an*e+s much +ess of the $orshi) of

them" Neither did the Sadducees e+ie%e in the

an*e+s"

!ut in the histories of the .e$s( the' are much

s)o=en of" The an*e+s $ere cor)orea+ H the' had

$in*s at their ac=s( as the enti+es fei*ned that

0ercur' had at his hee+s H sometimes the' concea+ed



their $in*s under their c+othin*" &o$ cou+d the'

e $ithout odies( since the' a++ ate and dran=( and

the inhaitants of Sodom $anted to commit the sin

of )ederast' $ith the an*e+s $ho $ent to Lots

house

The ancient .e$ish tradition( accordin* to !en

0aimon( admits ten de*rees( ten orders of an*e+s-

i " The chaios ecodesh( )ure( ho+'" ?" The ofamin(

s$ift" 3" The ora+im( stron*" G" The chasma+im(

ames" " The sera)him( s)ar=s" B" The ma+a=im(

an*e+s( messen*ers( de)uties" @" The e+ohim( *ods

or Mud*es" 9" The en e+ohim( sons of the *ods"

;" The cheruim( ima*es" :<" The 'chim( animated"

The stor' of the fa++ of the an*e+s is not to e

found in the oo=s of 0oses" The rst testimon'

res)ectin* it is that of Isaiah( $ho( a)ostro)hi1in*

the =in* of !a'+on( e>c+aims( #Where is no$ the

?i 9 Phi+oso)hica+

e>acter of triutes The )ines and the cedars re7



Moice in his fa++" &o$ hast thou fa++en from hea%en(

O &e++e+( star of the mornin*# It has een a+read'

oser%ed that the $ord &e++e+ has een rendered '

the Latin $ord LuciferH that after$ards( in an a+7

+e*orica+ sense( the name of Lucifer $as *i%en to the

)rince of the an*e+s( $ho made $ar in hea%en H and

that( at +ast( this $ord( si*nif'in* Phos)horus and

Aurora( has ecome the name of the de%i+"

The Christian re+i*ion is founded on the fa++ of

the an*e+s" Those $ho re%o+ted $ere )reci)itated

from the s)heres $hich the' inhaited into he++(

in the centre of the earth( and ecame de%i+s" A

de%i+( in the form of a ser)ent( tem)ted E%e( and

damned man=ind" .esus came to redeem man=ind(

and to trium)h o%er the de%i+( $ho tem)ts us sti++"

4et this fundamenta+ tradition is to e found no7

$here ut in the a)ocr')ha+ oo= of EnochH and

there it is in a form Juite dierent from that of

the recei%ed tradition"

St" Au*ustine( in his +O6th +etter( does not hesi7

tate to *i%e s+ender and a*i+e odies to the *ood and

ad an*e+s" Po)e re*or' I" has reduced to nine

choirs to nine hierarchies or orders the ten choirs

of an*e+s ac=no$+ed*ed ' the .e$s"



The .e$s had in their tem)+e t$o cherus( each

$ith t$o heads the one that of an o>( the other

that of an ea*+e( $ith si> $in*s" We )aint them

no$ in the form of a 'in* head( $ith t$o sma++

$in*s e+o$ the ears" We )aint the an*e+s and arch7

Dictionar'" ?:;

an*e+s in the form of 'oun* men( $ith t$o $in*s

at the ac=" As for the thrones and dominations(

no one has 'et thou*ht of )aintin* them"

St" Thomas( at Juestion c%iii" artic+e ?( sa's that

the thrones are as near to od as the cheruim and

the sera)him( ecause it is u)on them that od sits"

Scot has counted a thousand mi++ion of an*e+s" The

ancient m'tho+o*' of the *ood and ad *enii( ha%in*

)assed from the East to reece and Rome( $e con7

secrated this o)inion( for admittin* for each in7

di%idua+ a *ood and an e%i+ an*e+( of $hom one

assists him and the other torments him( from his

irth to his death H ut it is not 'et =no$n $hether

these *ood and ad an*e+s are continua++' )assin*



from one to another( or are re+ie%ed ' others" On

this )oint( consu+t #St" Thomass Dream"#

It is not =no$n )recise+' $here the an*e+s d$e++

$hether in the air( in the %oid( or in the )+anets"

It has not een ods )+easure that $e shou+d e

informed of their aode"

ANNALS"

&o$ man' nations ha%e +on* e>isted( and sti++

e>ist( $ithout anna+s" There $ere none in a++ Amer7

ica( that is( in one7ha+f of our *+oe( e>ce)tin* those

of 0e>ico and Peru( $hich are not %er' ancient"

!esides( =notted cords are a sort of oo=s $hich

cannot enter into %er' minute detai+s" Three7fourths

of Africa ne%er had anna+s H and( at the )resent da'(

in the most +earned nations( in those $hich ha%e

??< Phi+oso)hica+

e%en used and aused the art of $ritin* the most(

ninet'7nine out of a hundred )ersons ma' e re7

*arded as not =no$in* an'thin* that ha))ened there



farther ac= than four *enerations( and as i*norant

a+most of the names of their *reat7*randfathers"

Such is the case $ith near+' a++ the inhaitants of

to$ns and %i++a*es( %er' fe$ fami+ies ho+din* tit+es

of their )ossessions" When a +iti*ation arises re7

s)ectin* the +imits of a e+d or a meado$( the Mud*es

decide accordin* to the testimon' of the o+d menH

and )ossession constitutes the tit+e" Some *reat

e%ents are transmitted from father to son( and are

entire+' a+tered in )assin* from mouth to mouth"

The' ha%e no other anna+s"

Loo= at a++ the %i++a*es of our Euro)e( so )o+ished(

so en+i*htened( so fu++ of immense +iraries( and

$hich no$ seem to *roan under the enormous mass

of oo=s" In each %i++a*e t$o men at most( on an

a%era*e( can read and $rite" Societ' +oses nothin*

in conseJuence" A++ $or=s are )erformed ui+din*(

)+antin*( so$in*( rea)in*( as the' $ere in the re7

motest times" The +aorer has not e%en +eisure to re7

*ret that he has not een tau*ht to consume some

hours of the da' in readin*" This )ro%es that man7

=ind had no need of historica+ monuments to cu+ti7

%ate the arts rea++' necessar' to +ife"

It is astonishin*( not that so man' tries of )eo7



)+e are $ithout anna+s( ut that three or four nations

ha%e )reser%ed them for %e thousand 'ears or

thereaouts( throu*h so man' %io+ent re%o+utions

Dictionar'" ?? :

$hich the earth has under*one" Not a +ine remains

of the ancient E*')tian( Cha+daean( or Persian an7

na+s( nor of those of the Latins and Etruscans" The

on+' anna+s that can oast of a +itt+e antiJuit' are the

Indian( the Chinese( and the &ere$"

We cannot *i%e the name of anna+s to %a*ue and

rude fra*ments of histor' $ithout date( order( or

connection" The' are ridd+es )ro)osed ' antiJuit'

to )osterit'( $ho understand nothin* at a++ of them"

We %enture to arm that Sanchoniathon( $ho is

said to ha%e +i%ed efore the time of 0oses( com7

)osed anna+s" &e )roa+' +imited his researches to

cosmo*on'( as &esiod after$ards did in reece" We

ad%ance this +atter o)inion on+' as a dout H for $e

$rite on+' to e informed( and not to teach"

!ut $hat deser%es the *reatest attention is that



Sanchoniathon Juotes the oo=s of the E*')tian

Thoth( $ho( he te++s us( +i%ed ei*ht hundred 'ears

efore him" No$ Sanchoniathon )roa+' $rote in

the a*e in $hich $e )+ace .ose)hs ad%enture in

E*')t" We common+' )+ace the e)och of the )ro7

motion of the .e$ .ose)h to the )rime7ministr' of

E*')t at the 'ear of the creation ?3<<"

If( then( the oo=s of Thoth $ere $ritten ei*ht

hundred 'ears efore( the' $ere $ritten in the 'ear

:<< of the creation" Therefore( their date $as a

hundred and ft'7si> 'ears efore the de+u*e" The'

must( then( ha%e een en*ra%ed on stone( and )re7

ser%ed in the uni%ersa+ inundation" Another di7

cu+t' is that Sanchoniathon does not s)ea= of the

??? Phi+oso)hica+

de+u*e( and that no E*')tian $riter has e%er een

Juoted $ho does s)ea= of it" !ut these dicu+ties

%anish efore the !oo= of enesis( ins)ired ' the

&o+' host"

We ha%e no intention here to )+un*e into the



chaos $hich ei*ht' $riters ha%e sou*ht to c+ear u)(

' in%entin* dierent chrono+o*ies H $e a+$a's =ee)

to the O+d Testament" We on+' as= $hether in the

time of Thoth the' $rote in hiero*+')hics( or in a+7

)haetica+ characters $hether stone and ric= had

'et een +aid aside for %e++um( or an' other materia+

$hether Thoth $rote anna+s( or on+' a cosmo*on'

$hether there $ere some )'ramids a+read' ui+t in

the time of Thoth $hether Lo$er E*')t $as a+7

read' inhaited $hether cana+s had een con7

structed to recei%e the $aters of the Ni+e $hether

the Cha+daeans had a+read' tau*ht the arts of the

E*')tians( and $hether the Cha+daeans had recei%ed

them from the !rahmins There are )ersons $ho

ha%e reso+%ed a++ these Juestions H $hich once occa7

sioned a man of sense and $it to sa' of a *ra%e doc7

tor( #That man must e %er' i*norant( for he ans$ers

e%er' Juestion that is as=ed him"#

ANNATS"

T&E e)och of the esta+ishment of annats is un7

certain( $hich is a )roof that the e>action of them

is a usur)ation an e>tortionar' custom" What7

e%er is not founded on an authentic +a$ is an ause"

E%er' ause ou*ht to e reformed( un+ess the reform



Dictionar'( ??3

is more dan*erous than the ause itse+f" /sur)ation

e*ins ' sma++ and successi%e encroachments H eJuit'

and the )u+ic interest at +en*th e>c+aim and )ro7

test H then comes )o+ic'( $hich does its est to recon7

ci+e usur)ation $ith eJuit'( and the ause remains"

In se%era+ dioceses the isho)s( cha)ters( and arch7

deacons( after the e>am)+e of the )o)es( im)osed

annats u)on the cures" In Normand' this e>ac7

tion is ca++ed droit de de)ort" Po+ic' ha%in* no

interest in maintainin* this )i++a*e( it $as ao+ished

in se%era+ )+acesH it sti++ e>ists in othersH so true

is it that mone' is the rst oMect of $orshi)

In :G<;( at the Counci+ of Pisa( Po)e A+e>ander

V" e>)ress+' renounced annatsH Char+es VII" con7

demned them ' an edict of A)ri+( :G:9H the Counci+

of !ase+ dec+ared that the' came under the domina7

tion of simon'( and the Pra*matic Sanction ao+ished

them a*ain"



Francis I"( ' a )ri%ate treat' $hich he made $ith

Leo 8"( and $hich $as not inserted in the con7

cordat( a++o$ed the )o)e to raise this triute( $hich

)roduced him annua++'( durin* that )rinces rei*n( a

hundred thousand cro$ns of that da'( accordin* to

the ca+cu+ation then made ' .acJues Ca)e++e( ad%o7

cate7*enera+ to the Par+iament of Paris"

The )ar+iament( the uni%ersities( the c+er*'( the

$ho+e nation( )rotested a*ainst this e>action( and

&enr' II"( 'ie+din* at +en*th to the cries of his

)eo)+e( rene$ed the +a$ of Char+es VIL( ' an edict

of the 3d of Se)temer( ::"

??G Phi+oso)hica+

The )a'in* of annats $as a*ain foridden '

Char+es I8"( at the States of Or+eans( in :B<- #!'

the ad%ice of our counci+( and in )ursuance of the

decrees of the &o+' Counci+s( the ancient ordinances

of the =in*s( our )redecessors( and the decisions of

our courts of )ar+iament( $e order that a++ con%e'in*

of *o+d and si+%er out of our =in*dom( and )a'in* of

mone' under the name of annats( %acant or other7



$ise( sha++ cease( on )ain of a four7fo+d )ena+t' on

the oenders"#

This +a$( )romu+*ated in the *enera+ assem+'

of the nation( must ha%e seemed irre%oca+e( ut t$o

'ears after$ards the same )rince( sudued ' the

court of Rome( at that time )o$erfu+( re7esta+ished

$hat the $ho+e nation and himse+f had aro*ated"

&enr' IV"( $ho feared no dan*er( ut feared

Rome( conrmed the annats ' an edict of the ??d of

.anuar'( :;B"

Three ce+erated Murisconsu+ts( Dumou+in( Lan7

no'( and Duaren( ha%e $ritten stron*+' a*ainst an7

nats( $hich the' ca++ a rea+ simon'" If( in defau+t

of their )a'ment the )o)e refuses his u++s( Duaren

ad%ises the a++ican Church to imitate that of S)ain(

$hich( in the t$e+fth Counci+ of To+edo( char*ed the

archisho) of that cit'( on the )o)es refusa+( to )ro7

%ide for the )re+ates a))ointed ' the =in*"

It is one of the most certain ma>ims of French

+a$( consecrated ' artic+e fourteen of our +ierties(

that the isho) of Rome has no )o$er o%er the tem7

)ora+ities of eneces( ut enMo's the re%enues of



Dictionar'" ??

annats on+' ' the =in*s )ermission" !ut ou*ht

there not to e a term to this )ermission What

a%ai+s our en+i*htenment if $e are a+$a's to retain

our auses

The amount of the sums $hich ha%e een and

sti++ are )aid to the )o)e is tru+' fri*htfu+" The at7

torne'7*enera+( .ean de St" Remain( has remar=ed

that in the time of Pius II" t$ent'7t$o isho)rics

ha%in* ecome %acant in France in the s)ace of three

'ears( it $as necessar' to carr' to Rome a hundred

and t$ent' thousand cro$ns H that si>t'7one ae's

ha%in* a+so ecome %acant( the +i=e sum had een

)aid to the court of Rome H that aout the same time

there had een )aid to this court for )ro%isions for

the )riorshi)s( deaneries( and other inferior di*ni7

ties( a thousand cro$ns H that for each curate there

$as at +east a *race e>)ectati%e( $hich $as so+d for

t$ent'7%e cro$ns( esides an innite numer of

dis)ensations( amountin* to t$o mi++ions of cro$ns"

St" Remain +i%ed in the time of Louis 8I" .ud*e



then( $hat these sums $ou+d no$ amount to" .ud*e

ho$ much other states ha%e *i%en" .ud*e $hether

the Roman common$ea+th in the time of Lucu++us

dre$ more *o+d and si+%er from the nations con7

Juered ' its s$ord than the )o)es( the fathers of

those same nations( ha%e dra$n from them ' their

)ens"

Su))osin* that St" Romains ca+cu+ation is too

hi*h ' ha+f( $hich is %er' un+i=e+'( does there not

sti++ remain a sum sucient+' considera+e to entit+e

Vo+" 7:

??B Phi+oso)hica+

us to ca++ the a)osto+ica+ chamer to an account and

demand restitution( seein* that there is nothin* at

a++ a)osto+ica+ in such an amount of mone'

ANT&ROPO0ORP&ITES"

T&E4 are said to ha%e een a sma++ sect of the

fourth centur'( ut the' $ere rather the sect of e%er'



)eo)+e that had )ainters and scu+)tors" As soon as

the' cou+d dra$ a +itt+e( or sha)e a *ure( the' made

an ima*e of the Di%init'" If the E*')tians conse7

crated cats and *nats the' a+so scu+)tured Isis and

Osiris" !e+ $as car%ed at !a'+on( &ercu+es at

T're( !rahma in India"

The 0ussu+mans did not )aint od as a man"

The ueres had no ima*e of the reat !ein*" The

Saean Aras did not *i%e the human *ure to the

stars" The .e$s did not *i%e it to od in their

tem)+e" None of these nations cu+ti%ated the art of

desi*n( and if So+omon )+aced *ures of anima+s

in his tem)+e it is +i=e+' that he had them car%ed at

T're H ut a++ the .e$s ha%e s)o=en of od as of a

man"

A+thou*h the' had no ima*es the' seem to ha%e

made od a man on a++ occasions" &e comes do$n

into the *arden H &e $a+=s there e%er' da' at noon H

&e ta+=s to &is creatures H &e ta+=s to the ser)ent H

&e ma=es &imse+f heard ' 0oses in the ush H &e

sho$s him on+' &is ac= )arts on the mountainH

&e ne%erthe+ess ta+=s to him( face to face( +i=e one

friend to another"



Dictionar'" ??@

In the Koran( too( od is a+$a's +oo=ed u) to as

a =in*" In the t$e+fth cha)ter( a throne is *i%en

&im ao%e the $aters" &e had this Koran $ritten

' a secretar'( as =in*s ha%e their orders" &e sent

this same Koran to 0ahomet ' the an*e+ arie+(

as =in*s communicate their orders throu*h the *reat

ocers of the cro$n" In short( a+thou*h od is

dec+ared in the Koran to e neither e*ettin* nor

e*otten( there is( ne%erthe+ess a morse+ of anthro)o7

mor)hism" In the ree= and Latin Churches( od

has a+$a's een )ainted $ith a *reat eard"

ANTI7L/CRETI/S"

T&E readin* of the $ho+e )oem of the +ate Cardi7

na+ Po+i*nac has conrmed me in the idea $hich I

formed of it $hen he read to me the rst oo=" I am

moreo%er astonished that amidst the dissi)ations of

the $or+d and the trou+es in )u+ic +ife( he shou+d

ha%e een a+e to $rite a +on* $or= in %erse( in a

forei*n +an*ua*e H he( $ho cou+d hard+' ha%e made

four *ood +ines in his o$n ton*ue" It seems to me



that he often united the stren*th of Lucretius and

the e+e*ance of Vir*i+" I admire him( ao%e a++( for

that faci+it' $ith $hich he e>)resses such dicu+t

thin*s"

Perha)s( indeed( his #Anti7Lucretius# is too dif7

fuse( and too +itt+e di%ersied( ut he is here to e

e>amined as a )hi+oso)her( not as a )oet" It a))ears

to me that so ne a mind as his shou+d ha%e done

more Mustice to the mora+s of E)icurus( $ho( thou*h

??9 Phi+oso)hica+

he $as a %er' ad natura+ )hi+oso)her( $as( ne%erthe7

+ess( a %er' $orth' man and a+$a's tau*ht mi+dness(

tem)erance( moderation( and Mustice( %irtues $hich

his e>am)+e incu+cated sti++ more forci+'"

In the #Anti7Lucretius(# this *reat man is thus

a)ostro)hi1ed -

Si %irtutis eras a%idus( rectiJue oniJue

Tarn sitiens( Juid re++i*io tii sancta noceat7

As)era Jui))e nintis %isa est" As)errima certe



audenti %itiis( sed non %irtutis amanti"

Er*o ) erf u*ium cu+)a( so /sJue eni*nus

Per Muris ac faedifra*is" E)icure( )araas"

So+am hominum faecem )oteras( de%otaJue fureis

Cor)ora( etc"

If %irtue( Mustice( *oodness( $ere th' care(

Wh' didst thou trem+e at Re+i*ions ca++

Whose +a$s are harsh to %icious minds a+one

Not to the s)irit that de+i*hts in %irtue"

No( no the $orst of men( the $orst of crimes

&as th' so+icitude th' dearest aim

To nd a refu*e for the *ui+t' sou+( etc"

!ut E)icurus mi*ht re)+' to the cardina+- #If

I had had the ha))iness of =no$in*( +i=e 'ou( the

true od( of ein* orn( +i=e 'ou( in a )ure and ho+'

re+i*ion( I shou+d certain+' not ha%e reMected that re7

%ea+ed od( $hose tenets $ere necessari+' un=no$n

to m' mind( ut $hose mora+it' $as in m' heart"



I cou+d not admit the e>istence of such *ods as $ere

announced to me ' )a*anism" I $as too rationa+

to adore di%inities( made to s)rin* from a father and

a mother( +i=e morta+s( and +i=e them( to ma=e $ar

u)on one another" I $as too *reat a friend to %irtue

not to hate a re+i*ion $hich no$ in%ited to crime '

the e>am)+e of those *ods themse+%es( and no$ so+d

for mone' the remission of the most horri+e enor7

Dictionar'" ??;

mities" I ehe+d( on one hand( infatuated men(

stained $ith %ices( and see=in* to )urif' themse+%es

efore im)ure *ods H and on the other( =na%es $ho

oasted that the' cou+d Mustif' the most )er%erse '

initiatin* them in m'steries( ' dro))in* u++oc=s

+ood on their heads( or ' di))in* them in the

$aters of the an*es" I ehe+d the most unMust $ars

underta=en $ith )erfect sanctit'( so soon as a rams

+i%er $as found uns)otted( or a $oman( $ith hair

dishe%e++ed and ro++in* e'es( uttered $ords of $hich

neither she nor an' one e+se =ne$ the meanin*" In

short( I ehe+d a++ the countries of the earth stained

$ith the +ood of human %ictims( sacriced ' ar7



arous )ontis to ararous *ods" I consider that I

did $e++ to detest such re+i*ions" 0ine is %irtue"

I e>horted m' disci)+es not to medd+e $ith the af7

fairs of this $or+d( ecause the' $ere horri+' *o%7

erned" A true E)icurean $as mi+d( moderate( Must(

amia+e a man of $hom no societ' had to com7

)+ain one $ho did not )a' e>ecutioners to assassi7

nate in )u+ic those $ho thou*ht dierent+' from

himse+f" From hence to the ho+' re+i*ion in $hich

'ou ha%e een red there is ut one ste)" I de7

stro'ed the fa+se *ods( and( had I +i%ed in 'our da'(

I $ou+d ha%e reco*ni1ed the true ones"#

Thus mi*ht E)icurus Mustif' himse+f concernin*

his error" &e mi*ht e%en entit+e himse+f to )ardon

res)ectin* the do*ma of the immorta+it' of the sou+(

' sa'in*- #Pit' me for ha%in* comated a truth

$hich od re%ea+ed %e hundred 'ears after m'

?3< Phi+oso)hica+

irth" I thou*ht +i=e a++ the rst Pa*an +e*is+ators of

the $or+d H and the' $ere a++ i*norant of this truth"#



I $ish( then( that Cardina+ Po+i*nac had )itied

$hi+e he condemned E)icurus H it $ou+d ha%e een

no detriment to ne )oetr'" With re*ard to )h'sics

it a))ears to me that the author has +ost much time

and man' %erses in refutin* the dec+ination of atoms

and the other asurdities $hich s$arm in the )oem

of Lucretius" This is em)+o'in* arti++er' to destro'

a cotta*e" !esides( $h' remo%e Lucretius re%eries

to sustitute those of Descartes

Cardina+ Po+i*nac has inserted in his )oem some

%er' ne +ines on the disco%eries of Ne$tonH ut

in these( unfortunate+' for himse+f( he comats dem7

onstrated truths" The )hi+oso)h' of Ne$ton is

not to e discussed in %erse H it is scarce+' to e a)7

)roached in )rose" Founded a+to*ether on *eome7

tr'( the *enius of )oetr' is not t to assai+ it" The

surface of these truths ma' e decorated $ith ne

%erses ut to fathom them( ca+cu+ation is reJuisite(

and not %erse"

ANTI6/IT4"

SECTION I"

&AVE 'ou not sometimes seen( in a %i++a*e( Pierre



Aoudri and his $ife Perone++e stri%in* to *o efore

their nei*hors in a )rocession #Our *rand7

fathers(# sa' the'( #run* the e++s efore those $ho

e+o$ %is no$ had so much as a sta+e of their o$n"#

Dictionar'" ?3 :

The %anit' of Pierre Aoudri( his $ife( and his

nei*hors =no$s no etter" The' *ro$ $arm" The

Juarre+ is an im)ortant one( for honor is in Juestion"

Proofs must no$ e found" Some +earned church7

sin*er disco%ers an o+d rust' iron )ot( mar=ed $ith

an A( the initia+ of the ra1iers name $ho made the

)ot" Pierre Aoudri )ersuades himse+f that it $as

the he+met of one of his ancestors" So Caesar de7

scended from a hero and from the *oddess Venus"

Such is the histor' of nations H such is( %er' near+'(

the =no$+ed*e of ear+' antiJuit'"

The +earned of Armenia demonstrate that the ter7

restria+ )aradise $as in their countr'" Some )ro7

found S$edes demonstrate that it $as some$here

aout La=e Wenner( $hich e>hiits %isi+e remains

of it" Some S)aniards( too( demonstrate that it $as



in Casti+e" Whi+e the .a)anese( the Chinese( the

Tartars( the Indians( the Africans( and the Ameri7

cans( are so unfortunate as not e%en to =no$ that a

terrestria+ )aradise once e>isted at the sources of

the Pison( the ihon( the Ti*ris( and the Eu)hrates(

or( $hich is the same thin*( at the sources of the

uada+Jui%ir( the uadiana( the Douro( and the

Ero" For of Pison $e easi+' ma=e Phseris( and of

Phaeris $e easi+' ma=e the !setis( $hich is the uad7

a+Jui%ir" The ihon( it is )+ain( is the uadiana( for

the' oth e*in $ith a " And the Ero( $hich is in

Cata+onia( is unJuestiona+' the Eu)hrates( oth e7

*innin* $ith an E"

!ut a Scotchman comes( and in his turn demon7

?3? Phi+oso)hica+

strates that the *arden of Eden $as at Edinur*h(

$hich has retained its name H and it is not un+i=e+'

that( in a fe$ centuries( this o)inion $i++ )re%ai+"

The $ho+e *+oe $as once urned( sa's a man

con%ersant $ith ancient and modern histor' H for I



ha%e read in a Mourna+ that charcoa+ Juite +ac= has

een found a hundred feet dee)( amon* mountains

co%ered $ith $ood" And it is a+so sus)ected that

there $ere charcoa+7urners in this )+ace"

Phaetons ad%enture sucient+' sho$s that e%er'7

thin* has een oi+ed( e%en to the ottom of the sea"

The su+)hur of 0ount Vesu%ius incontro%erti+'

)ro%es that the an=s of the Rhine( the Danue( the

an*es( the Ni+e( and the reat 4e++o$ Ri%er( are

nothin* ut su+)hur( nitre( and oi+ of *uiacum( $hich

on+' $ait for the moment of e>)+osion to reduce the

earth to ashes( as it has a+read' once een" The sand

on $hich $e $a+= is an e%ident )roof that the uni7

%erse has %itried( and that our *+oe is nothin* ut

a a++ of *+ass +i=e our ideas"

!ut if re has chan*ed our *+oe( $ater has )ro7

duced sti++ more $onderfu+ re%o+utions" For it is

)+ain that the sea( the tides of $hich in our +atitudes

rise ei*ht feet( has )roduced the mountains( $hich

are si>teen to se%enteen thousand feet hi*h" This

is so true that some +earned men( $ho ne%er $ere in

S$it1er+and( found a +ar*e %esse+ there( $ith a++ its

ri**in*( )etried( either on 0ount St" othard or

at the ottom of a )reci)ice it is not )ositi%e+'



=no$n $hichH ut it is Juite certain that it $as

Dictionar'" ?33

there" Therefore( men $ere ori*ina++' shes 6"

E" D"

Comin* do$n to antiJuit' +ess ancient +et us s)ea=

of the times $hen most ararous nations Juitted

their o$n countries to see= others $hich $ere not

much etter" It is true( if there e an'thin* true in

ancient histor'( that there $ere au+ish roers $ho

$ent to )+under Rome in the time of Cami++us"

Other roers from au+ had( it is said( )assed

throu*h I++'ria to se++ their ser%ices as murderers to

other murderers in the nei*horhood of Thrace - the'

artered their +ood for read( and at +en*th sett+ed

in a+atia" !ut $ho $ere these au+s Were the'

nati%es of !err' and AnMou The' $ere( dout+ess(

some of those au+s $hom the Romans ca++ed Cisa+7

)ine( and $hom $e ca++ Transa+)ine famishin*

mountaineers( inhaitin* the A+)s and the A)en7

nines" The au+s of the Seine and the 0arne did

not then =no$ that Rome e>isted( and cou+d not



reso+%e to cross 0ont Cenis( as $as after$ards

done ' &annia+( to stea+ the $ardroes of the Ro7

man senators( $hose on+' mo%a+es $ere a *o$n of

ad *re' c+oth( decorated $ith a and( the co+or of

u++s +ood( t$o sma++ =nos of i%or'( or rather

do*s one( >ed to the arms of a $ooden chair( and

a )iece of rancid acon in their =itchens"

The au+s( $ho $ere d'in* of hun*er( ndin*

nothin* to eat at home( $ent to tr' their fortune

farther oH as the Romans after$ards did $hen

the' ra%a*ed so man' countries( and as the )eo)+e of

Phi+oso)hica+

the North did at a +ater )eriod $hen the' destro'ed

the Roman Em)ire"

And $hence ha%e $e recei%ed our %a*ue informa7

tion res)ectin* these emi*rations From some +ines

$ritten at a %enture ' the Romans H for( as for the

Ce+ts( We+sh( or au+s( $hom some $ou+d ha%e us

e+ie%e to ha%e een e+oJuent( neither the' nor their

ards cou+d at that time read or $rite"



!ut( to infer from these that the au+s or Ce+ts(

after$ards conJuered ' a fe$ of Caesars +e*ions(

then ' a horde of oths( then ' a horde of !ur7

*undians( and +ast+' ' a horde of Sicamri( under

one C+odo%ic( had efore suMu*ated the $ho+e earth(

and *i%en their names and their +a$s to Asia( seems

to me to e inferrin* a *reat dea+" The thin*( ho$7

e%er( is not mathematica++' im)ossi+eH and if it

e demonstrated( I assent - it $ou+d e %er' unci%i+

to refuse to the We+sh $hat is *ranted to the

Tartars"

SECTION II"

On the AntiJuit' of /sa*es"

Who ha%e een the *reatest foo+s( and $ho the

most ancient foo+s Ourse+%es or the E*')tians( or

the S'rians or some other )eo)+e What $as si*7

nied ' our mis+etoe Who rst consecrated a cat

It must ha%e een he $ho $as the most trou+ed $ith

mice" In $hat nation did the' rst dance under the

ou*hs of trees in honor of the *ods Who rst

made )rocessions( and )+aced foo+s( $ith ca)s and



Dictionar'" ?3

e++s( at the head of them Who rst carried a

)ria)us throu*h the streets( and >ed one +i=e a

=noc=er at the door What Ara rst too= it into

his head to han* his $ifes dra$ers out at the $in7

do$( the da' after his marria*e

A++ nations ha%e former+' danced at the time of

the ne$ moon" Did the' then *i%e one another the

$ord No H no more than the' did to reMoice at the

irth of a son( or to mourn( or seem to mourn( at

the death of a father" E%er' one is %er' *+ad to see

the moon a*ain( after ha%in* +ost her for se%era+

ni*hts" There are a hundred usa*es so natura+ to

a++ men( that it cannot e said the !isca'ans tau*ht

them to the Phr'*ians( or the Phr'*ians to the !is7

ca'ans"

Fire and $ater ha%e een used in tem)+es" This

custom needed no introduction" A )riest did not

choose a+$a's to ha%e his hands dirt'" Fire $as

necessar' to coo= the immo+ated carcasses( and to

urn s+i)s of resinous $ood and s)ices( in order to



comat the odor of the sacerdota+ sham+es"

!ut the m'sterious ceremonies $hich it is so

dicu+t to understand( the usa*es $hich nature does

not teach in $hat )+ace( $hen( $here( ho$( $h'(

$ere the' in%ented Who communicated them to

other nations It is not +i=e+' that it shou+d( at the

same time( ha%e entered the head of an Ara and of

an E*')tian to cut o one end of his sons )re)uce H

nor that a Chinese and a Persian shou+d( oth at

once( ha%e reso+%ed to castrate +itt+e o's"

?3B Phi+oso)hica+

It can ne%er ha%e een that t$o fathers( in dif7

ferent countries( ha%e( at the same moment( formed

the idea of cuttin* their sons throats to )+ease od"

Some nations must ha%e communicated to others

their fo++ies( serious( ridicu+ous( or ararous" In

this antiJuit' men +o%e to search( to disco%er( if

)ossi+e( the rst madman and the rst scoundre+

$ho )er%erted human nature"

!ut ho$ are $e to =no$ $hether .ehu( in Phoe7



nicia( ' immo+atin* his son( $as the in%entor of

sacrices of human +ood &o$ can $e e as7

sured that L'caon $as the rst $ho ate human esh(

$hen $e do not =no$ $ho rst e*an to eat fo$+s

We see= to =no$ the ori*in of ancient feasts"

The most ancient and the nest is that of the em7

)erors of China ti++in* and so$in* the *round( to7

*ether $ith their rst mandarins" The second is

that of the Thesmo)horia at Athens" To ce+erate

at once a*ricu+ture and Mustice( to sho$ men ho$

necessar' the' oth are( to unite the cur of +a$ $ith

the art $hich is the source of a++ $ea+th nothin*

is more $ise( more )ious( or more usefu+"

There are o+d a++e*orica+ feasts to e found e%er'7

$here( as those of the return of the seasons" It $as

not necessar' that one nation shou+d come from afar

o to teach another that mar=s of Mo' and friend7

shi) for ones nei*hors ma' e *i%en on the rst

da' of the 'ear" This custom has een that of e%er'

)eo)+e" The Saturna+ia of the Romans are etter

=no$n than those of the A++oro*es and the Picts H



Dictionar'" ?3@

ecause there are man' Roman $ritin*s and monu7

ments remainin*( ut there are none of the other

nations of $estern Euro)e"

The feast of Saturn $as the feast of Time" &e

had four $in*sH time ies Juic=+' his t$o faces

e%ident+' si*nif'in* the conc+uded and the com7

mencin* 'ear" The ree=s said that he had de7

%oured his father and that he de%oured his chi+dren"

No a++e*or' is more reasona+e" Time de%ours the

)ast and the )resent( and $i++ de%our the future"

Wh' see= for %ain and *+oom' e>)+anations of a

feast so uni%ersa+( so *a'( and so $e++ =no$n

When I +oo= $e++ into antiJuit'( I do not nd a

sin*+e annua+ festi%a+ of a me+ancho+' character H or(

at +east( if the' e*in $ith +amentations( the' end

in dancin* and re%e+r'" If tears are shed for Adoni

or Adonai( $hom $e ca++ Adonis( he is soon resusci7

tated( and reMoicin* ta=es )+ace" It is the same $ith

the feasts" of Isis( Osiris( and &orus" The ree=s(

too( did as much for Ceres as for Pros)erine" The

death of the ser)ent P'thon $as ce+erated $ith

*a'et'" A feast da' and a da' of Mo' $ere one and



the same thin*" At the feasts of !acchus this Mo'

$as on+' carried too far"

I do not nd one *enera+ commemoration of an

unfortunate e%ent" The institutors of the feasts

$ou+d ha%e sho$n themse+%es to e de%oid of com7

mon sense if the' had esta+ished at Athens a ce+e7

ration of the att+e +ost at Chseronea( and at Rome

another of the att+e of Cannae"

?39 Phi+oso)hica+

The' )er)etuated the rememrance of $hat

mi*ht encoura*e men( and not of that $hich mi*ht

++ them $ith co$ardice or des)air" This is so

true that fa+es $ere in%ented for the )ur)ose of

institutin* feasts" Castor and Po++u> did not *ht

for the Romans near La=e Re*i++us H ut( at the end

of three or four hundred 'ears( some )riests said so(

and a++ the )eo)+e danced" &ercu+es did not de+i%er

reece from a h'dra $ith se%en heads H ut &er7

cu+es and his h'dra $ere sun*"

SECTION III"



Festi%a+s Founded on Chimeras"

I do not =no$ that there $as( in a++ antiJuit'( a

sin*+e festi%a+ founded on an esta+ished fact" It

has een e+se$here remar=ed ho$ e>treme+' ridicu7

+ous those schoo+men a))ear $ho sa' to 'ou( $ith

a ma*isteria+ air- #&ere is an ancient h'mn in

honor of A)o++o( $ho %isited C+aros H therefore

A)o++o $ent to C+arosH a cha)e+ $as erected to

Perseus H therefore he de+i%ered Andromeda"# Poor

men 4ou shou+d rather sa'( therefore there $as

no Andromeda"

!ut $hat( then( $i++ ecome of that +earned an7

tiJuit' $hich )receded the o+'m)iads It $i++ e7

come $hat it is an un=no$n time( a time +ost( a

time of a++e*ories and +ies( a time re*arded $ith

contem)t ' the $ise( and )rofound+' discussed '

+oc=heads( $ho +i=e to oat in a %oid( +i=e E)icurus

atoms"

Dictionar'" ?3;



There $ere e%er'$here da's of )enance( da's

of e>)iation in the tem)+esH ut these da's $ere

ne%er ca++ed ' a name ans$erin* to that of feasts"

E%er' feast7da' $as sacred to di%ersionH so true

is this that the E*')tian )riests fasted on the e%e

in order to eat the more on the morro$ a custom

$hich our mon=s ha%e )reser%ed" There $ere( no

dout( mournfu+ ceremonies" It $as not customar'

to dance the ree= ra$+ $hi+e interrin* or carr'in*

to the funera+ )i+e a son or a dau*hter H this $as a

)u+ic ceremon'( ut certain+' not a feast"

SECTION IV"

On the AntiJuit' of Feasts( Which( It has een As7

serted( $ere A+$a's 0ournfu+"

0en of in*enuit'( )rofound searchers into an7

tiJuit'( $ho $ou+d =no$ ho$ the earth $as made

a hundred thousand 'ears a*o( if *enius cou+d dis7

co%er it( ha%e asserted that man=ind( reduced to a

%er' sma++ numer in oth continents( and sti++ ter7

ried at the innumera+e re%o+utions $hich this sad

*+oe had under*one( )er)etuated the rememrance

of their ca+amities ' disma+ and mournfu+ com7

memorations"



#E%er' feast(# sa' the'( #$as a da' of horror(

instituted to remind men that their fathers had een

destro'ed ' the res of the %o+canoes( ' roc=s

fa++in* from the mountains( ' eru)tions of the sea(

' the teeth and c+a$s of $i+d easts( ' $ar( )esti7

+ence and famine"#

?G< Phi+oso)hica+

Then $e are not made as men $ere then" There

$as ne%er so much reMoicin* in London as after the

)+a*ue and the urnin* of the $ho+e cit' in the

rei*n of Char+es II" We made son*s $hi+e the

massacres of !artho+ome$ $ere sti++ *oin* on"

Some )asJuinades ha%e een )reser%ed $hich $ere

made the da' after the assassination of Co+i*ni H

there $as )rinted in Paris( Passio Domini nostri

as)ardi Co+i*nii secundum !artho+omUum"

It has a thousand times ha))ened that the su+tan

$ho rei*ns in Constantino)+e has made his eunuchs

and oda+is=s dance in a)artments stained $ith the

+ood of his rothers and his %i1iers" What do the



)eo)+e of Paris do on the %er' da' that the' are

a))rised of the +oss of a att+e and the death of a

hundred ra%e ocers The' run to the )+a' and

the o)era"

What did the' $hen the $ife of 0arsha+ dAncre

$as *i%en u) in the re%e to the ararit' of her

)ersecutors When 0arsha+ de 0ari++ac $as

dra**ed to e>ecution in a $a*on( ' %irtue of a

)a)er si*ned ' roed +ac=e's in Cardina+ de Riche7

+ieus ante7chamer When a +ieutenant7*enera+ of

the arm'( a forei*ner( $ho had shed his +ood for

the state( condemned ' the cries of his infuriated

enemies( $as +ed to the scao+d in a dun*7cart( $ith

a *a* in his mouth When a 'oun* man of nine7

teen( fu++ of candor( coura*e and modest'( ut %er'

im)rudent( $as carried to the most dreadfu+ of

)unishments The' san* %aude%i++es" Such is

Dictionar'" ?G:

man( at +east man on the an=s of the Seine" Such

has he een at a++ times( for the same reason that

raits ha%e a+$a's had hair( and +ar=s feathers"



SECTION %"

On the Ori*in of the Arts"

What $e $ou+d =no$ the )recise theo+o*' of

Thoth( 5erdusht( or Sanchoniathon( a+thou*h $e

=no$ not $ho in%ented the shutt+e" The rst

$ea%er( the rst mason( the rst smith $ere un7

douted+' *reat *eniuses H 'et no account has een

made of them" And $h' !ecause not one of

them in%ented a )erfect art" &e $ho rst ho++o$ed

the trun= of an oa= for the )ur)ose of crossin* a

ri%er did not ui+d *a++e's H nor did the' $ho )i+ed

u) unhe$n stones( and +aid )ieces of $ood across

them( dream of the )'ramids" E%er'thin* is done

' de*rees( and the *+or' e+on*s to no one"

A++ $as done in the dar=( unti+ )hi+oso)hers(

aided ' *eometr'( tau*ht men to )roceed $ith

accurac' and safet'"

It $as +eft for P'tha*oras( on his return from his

tra%e+s( to sho$ $or=men the $a' to ma=e an e>act

sJuare" &e too= three ru+es - one three( one four(

and one %e feet +on*( and $ith these he made a

ri*ht7an*+ed trian*+e" 0oreo%er( it $as found that



the side furnished a sJuare Must eJua+ to the t$o

sJuares )roduced ' the sides G and 3 H a method of

im)ortance in a++ re*u+ar $or=s"

This is the famous theorem $hich he had rou*ht

Vo+" :B

?G? Phi+oso)hica+

from India( and $hich $e ha%e e+se$here said $as

=no$n in China +on* efore( accordin* to the re7

+ation of the Em)eror Cam7hi" Lon* efore P+ato(

the ree=s made use of a sin*+e *eometrica+ *ure

to dou+e the sJuare"

Arch'tas and Erastothenes in%ented a method of

dou+in* the cue( $hich $as im)ractica+e ' ordi7

nar' *eometr'( and $hich $ou+d ha%e done honor

to Archimedes"

This Archimedes found the method of ca+cu+atin*

e>act+' the Juantit' of a++o' mi>ed $ith *o+dH for

*o+d had een $or=ed for a*es efore the fraud of

the $or=ers cou+d e disco%ered" Kna%er' e>isted



+on* efore mathematics" The )'ramids( ui+t $ith

the sJuare( and corres)ondin* e>act+' $ith the four

cardina+ )oints( sucient+' sho$ that *eometr' $as

=no$n in E*')t from time immemoria+ H and 'et it

is )ro%ed that E*')t is Juite a ne$ countr'"

Without )hi+oso)h' $e shou+d e +itt+e ao%e

the anima+s that di* or erect their haitations( )re7

)are their food in them( ta=e care of their +itt+e ones

in their d$e++in*s( and ha%e esides the *ood for7

tune( $hich $e ha%e not( of ein* orn read'

c+othed" Vitru%ius( $ho had tra%e++ed in au+ and

S)ain( te++s us that in his time the houses $ere ui+t

of a sort of mortar( co%ered $ith thatch or oa=

shin*+es( and that the )eo)+e did not ma=e use of

ti+es" What $as the time of Vitru%ius It $as that

of Au*ustus" The arts had scarce+' 'et reached

the S)aniards( $ho had mines of *o+d and si+%er H or

Dictionar'" ?G3

the au+s( $ho had fou*ht for ten 'ears a*ainst

Caesar"



The same Vitru%ius informs us that in the o)u7

+ent and in*enious to$n of 0arsei++es( $hich traded

$ith so man' nations( the roofs $ere on+' of a =ind

of c+a' mi>ed $ith stra$"

&e sa's that the Phr'*ians du* themse+%es hai7

tations in the *roundH the' stuc= )o+es round the

ho++o$( rou*ht them to*ether at the to)( and +aid

earth o%er them" The &urons and the A+*onJuins

are etter +od*ed" This *i%es us no %er' +oft' idea

of Tro'( ui+t ' the *ods( and the )a+ace of Priam -

A))aret domus intus( et atria +on*a )atescuntH

A))arent Priami et %eterum )enetra+ia re*um"

A mi*ht' reach is madeH the rooms concea+ed

A))ear( and a++ the )a+ace is re%ea+ed

The ha++s of audience( and of )u+ic state" DR4DEN"

To e sure( the )eo)+e are not +od*ed +i=e =in*s H

huts are to e seen near the Vatican and near Ver7

sai++es" !esides( industr' rises and fa++s amon* na7

tions ' a thousand re%o+utions -



Et cam)us ui TroMafuit"

"""" the )+ain $here Tro' once stood"

We ha%e our arts( the ancients had theirs" We

cou+d not ma=e a *a++e' $ith three enches of oars(

ut $e can ui+d shi)s $ith a hundred )ieces of

cannon" We cannot raise oe+is=s a hundred feet

hi*h in a sin*+e )iece( ut our meridians are more

e>act" The 'ssus is un=no$n to us( ut the stus

of L'ons are more %a+ua+e" The Ca)ito+ $as

$orth' of admiration( the church of St" Peter is

?GG Phi+oso)hica+

+ar*er and more eautifu+" The Lou%re is a master7

)iece $hen com)ared $ith the )a+ace of Perse)o+is(

the situation and ruins of $hich do ut te++ of a %ast

monument to araric $ea+th" Rameaus music is

)roa+' etter than that of Timotheus H and there

is not a )icture )resented at Paris in the &a++ of

A)o++o sa+on dA)o++onQ $hich does not e>ce+ the

)aintin*s du* out of &ercu+aneum"

APIS"



WAS the o> A)is $orshi))ed at 0em)his as a

*od( as a s'mo+( or as an o> It is +i=e+' that the

fanatics re*arded him as a *od( the $ise as mere+'

a s'mo+( and that the more stu)id )art of the )eo)+e

$orshi))ed the o>" Did Cam'ses do ri*ht in

=i++in* this o> $ith his o$n hand Wh' not &e

sho$ed to the imeci+e that their *od mi*ht e )ut

on the s)it $ithout natures armin* herse+f to

a%en*e the sacri+e*e" The E*')tians ha%e een

much e>to++ed" I ha%e not heard of a more misera7

+e )eo)+e" There must a+$a's ha%e een in their

character( and in their *o%ernment( some radica+

%ice $hich has constant+' made %i+e s+a%es of them"

Let it e *ranted that in times a+most un=no$n

the' conJuered the earthH ut in historica+ times

the' ha%e een suMu*ated ' a++ $ho ha%e chosen

to ta=e the trou+e ' the Ass'rians( ' the ree=s(

' the Romans( ' the Aras( ' the 0ame+u=es(

' the Tur=s( ' a++( in short( ut our crusaders( $ho

$ere e%en more i++7ad%ised than the E*')tians $ere

A VAST 0ON/0ENT TO !AR!ARIC WEALT&



Dictionar'" ?G

co$ard+'" It $as the 0ame+u=e mi+itia that eat

the French under St" Louis" There are( )erha)s(

ut t$o thin*s to+era+e in this nation H the rst is(

that those $ho $orshi))ed an o> ne%er sou*ht to

com)e+ those $ho adored an a)e to chan*e their re7

+i*ionH the second( that the' ha%e a+$a's hatched

chic=ens in o%ens"

We are to+d of their )'ramids H ut the' are

monuments of an ens+a%ed )eo)+e" The $ho+e na7

tion must ha%e een set to $or= on them( or those

unsi*ht+' masses cou+d ne%er ha%e een raised" And

for $hat use $ere the' To )reser%e in a sma++

chamer the mumm' of some )rince( or *o%ernor(

or intendant( $hich his sou+ $as to reanimate at

the end of a thousand 'ears" !ut if the' +oo=ed

for$ard to this resurrection of the od'( $h' did

the' ta=e out the rains efore ema+min* them

Were the E*')tians to e resuscitated $ithout

rains

APOCAL4PSE"



SECTION I"

./STIN the 0art'r( $ho $rote aout the 'ear

?@< of the Christian era( $as the rst $ho s)o=e of

the A)oca+')se H he attriutes it to the a)ost+e .ohn

the E%an*e+ist" In his dia+o*ue $ith Tr')hon( that

.e$ as=s him if he does not e+ie%e that .erusa+em

is one da' to e re7esta+ished .ustin ans$ers that

he e+ie%es it( as a++ Christians do $ho thin= ari*ht"

#There $as amon* us(# sa's he( #a certain )erson

?GB Phi+oso)hica+

named .ohn( one of the t$e+%e a)ost+es of .esus H

he foreto+d that the faithfu+ sha++ )ass a thousand

'ears in .erusa+em"#

The e+ief in this rei*n of a thousand 'ears $as

+on* )re%a+ent amon* the Christians" This )eriod

$as a+so in *reat credit amon* the enti+es" The

sou+s of the E*')tians returned to their odies at

the end of a thousand 'ears H and( accordin* to

Vir*i+( the sou+s in )ur*ator' $ere e>orcised for



the same s)ace of time et mi++e )er annos" The

Ne$ .erusa+em of a thousand 'ears $as to ha%e

t$e+%e *ates( in memor' of the t$e+%e a)ost+es H its

form $as to e sJuareH its +en*th( readth( and

hei*ht $ere each to e a thousand stadii i" e"( %e

hundred +ea*ues H so that the houses $ere to e %e

hundred +ea*ues hi*h" It $ou+d e rather disa*ree7

a+e to +i%e in the u))er stor' H ut $e nd a++ this

in the t$ent'7rst cha)ter of the A)oca+')se"

If .ustin $as the rst $ho attriuted the A)oc7

a+')se to St" .ohn( some )ersons ha%e reMected his

testimon'H ecause in the same dia+o*ue $ith the

.e$ Tr')hon he sa's that( accordin* to the re+ation

of the a)ost+es( .esus Christ( $hen he $ent into the

.ordan( made the $ater oi+( $hich( ho$e%er( is not

to e found in an' $ritin* of the a)ost+es"

The same St" .ustin condent+' cites the orac+es

of Si'+sH he moreo%er )retends to ha%e seen the

remains of the )+aces in $hich the se%ent'7t$o in7

ter)reters $ere conned in the E*')tian )haros( in

&erods time" The testimon' of a man $ho had had



Dictionar'" ?G@

the misfortune to see these )+aces seems to indicate

that he mi*ht )ossi+' ha%e een conned there him7

se+f"

St" Irenaeus( $ho comes after$ards( and $ho a+so

e+ie%ed in the rei*n of a thousand 'ears( te++s us that

he +earned from an o+d man that St" .ohn $rote the

A)oca+')se" !ut St" Irenaeus is re)roached $ith

ha%in* $ritten that there shou+d e ut four *os)e+s(

ecause there are ut four Juarters of the $or+d(

and four cardina+ )oints( and E1e=ie+ sa$ ut four

anima+s" &e ca++s this reasonin* a demonstration"

It must e confessed that Irenaeuss method of dem7

onstratin* is Juite $orth' of .ustins )o$er of si*ht"

C+ement of A+e>andria( in his #E+ecta# mentions

on+' an A)oca+')se of St" Peter( to $hich *reat im7

)ortance $as attached" Tertu++ian( a *reat )artisan

of the thousand 'ears rei*n( not on+' assures us that

St" .ohn foreto+d this resurrection and rei*n of a

thousand 'ears in the cit' of .erusa+em( ut a+so as7

serts that this .erusa+em $as a+read' e*innin* to

form itse+f in the air( $here it had een seen ' a++

the Christians of Pa+estine( and e%en ' the Pa*ans(



at the +atter end of the ni*ht( for fort' ni*hts suc7

cessi%e+' H ut( unfortunate+'( the cit' a+$a's disa)7

)eared as soon as it $as da'+i*ht"

Ori*en( in his )reface to St" .ohns os)e+( and

in his homi+ies( Juotes the orac+es of the A)oca+')se(

ut he +i=e$ise Juotes the orac+es of Si'+s" And

St" Dion'sius of A+e>andria( $ho $rote aout the

midd+e of the third centur'( sa's( in one of his fra*7

?G9 Phi+oso)hica+

merits )reser%ed ' Euseius( that near+' a++ the doc7

tors reMected the A)oca+')se as a oo= de%oid of rea7

son( and that this oo= $as com)osed( not ' St"

.ohn( ut ' one Cerinthus( $ho made use of a *reat

name to *i%e more $ei*ht to his re%eries"

The Counci+ of Laodicea( he+d in 3B<( did not

rec=on the A)oca+')se amon* the canonica+ oo=s"

It is %er' sin*u+ar that Laodicea( one of the churches

to $hich the A)oca+')se $as addressed( shou+d ha%e

reMected a treasure desi*ned for itse+f( and that the

isho) of E)hesus( $ho attended the counci+( shou+d



a+so ha%e reMected this oo= of St" .ohn( $ho $as

uried at E)hesus"

It $as %isi+e to a++ e'es that St" .ohn $as contin7

ua++' turnin* aout in his *ra%e( causin* a constant

risin* and fa++in* of the earth" 4et the same )er7

sons $ho $ere sure that St" .ohn $as not Juite dead

$ere a+so sure that he had not $ritten the A)oca+')se"

!ut those $ho $ere for the thousand 'ears rei*n

$ere unsha=en in their o)inion" Su+)icius Se%erus(

in his #Sacred &istor'(# oo= >i"( treats as mad and

im)ious those $ho did not recei%e the A)oca+')se"

At +en*th( after numerous o))ositions of counci+ to

counci+( the o)inion of Su+)icius Se%erus )re%ai+ed"

The matter ha%in* een thus c+eared u)( the Church

came to the decision( from $hich there is no a))ea+(

that the A)oca+')se is incontesta+' St" .ohns"

E%er' Christian communion has a))+ied to itse+f

the )ro)hecies contained in this oo=" The En*+ish

ha%e found in it the re%o+utions of reat !ritain H

Dictionar'" ?G;



Y

the Lutherans( the trou+es of erman' H the French

reformers( the rei*n of Char+es I8"( and the re*enc'

of Catherine de 0edici( and the' are a++ eJua++'

ri*ht" !ossuet and Ne$ton ha%e oth commented

on the A)oca+')se( 'et( after a++( the e+oJuent dec+a7

mations of the one( and the su+ime disco%eries of the

other( ha%e done them *reater honor than their com7

mentaries"

SECTION II"

T$o *reat men( ut %er' dierent in their *reat7

ness( ha%e commented on the A)oca+')se in the se%7

enteenth centur'- Ne$ton( to $hom such a stud'

$as %er' i++ suited( and !ossuet( $ho $as etter tted

for the underta=in*" !oth *a%e additiona+ $ea)ons

to their enemies( ' their commentaries( and( as has

e+se$here een said( the former conso+ed man=ind

for his su)eriorit' o%er them( $hi+e the +atter made

his enemies reMoice"

The Catho+ics and the Protestants ha%e oth e>7

)+ained the A)oca+')se in their fa%or( and ha%e each

found in it e>act+' $hat has accorded $ith their in7



terests" The' ha%e made $onderfu+ commentaries

on the *reat east $ith se%en heads and ten horns(

$ith the hair of a +eo)ard( the feet of a ear( the

throat of a +ion( the stren*th of a dra*on( and to u'

and se++ it $as necessar' to ha%e the character and

numer of the east( $hich numer $as BBB"

!ossuet nds that this east $as e%ident+' the

Em)eror Dioc+etian( ' ma=in* an acrostic of his

name" rotius e+ie%ed that it $as TraMan" A curate

?< Phi+oso)hica+

of St" Su+)ice( named La Chetardie( =no$n from

some stran*e ad%entures( )ro%es that the east $as

.u+ian" .urieu )ro%es that the east is the )o)e" One

)reacher has demonstrated that it $as Louis 8IV"

A *ood Catho+ic has demonstrated that it $as Wi+7

+iam( =in* of En*+and" It is not eas' to ma=e them

a++ a*ree"

There ha%e een $arm dis)utes concernin* the

stars $hich fe++ from hea%en to earth( and the sun

and moon( $hich $ere struc= $ith dar=ness in their



third )arts"

There are se%era+ o)inions res)ectin* the oo= that

the an*e+ made the author of the A)oca+')se eat(

$hich oo= $as s$eet to the mouth and itter to the

stomach" .urieu asserted that the oo=s of his ad7

%ersar' $ere desi*nated there'( and his ar*ument

$as retorted u)on himse+f"

There ha%e een dis)utes aout this %erse - #And

I heard a %oice from hea%en( as the %oice of man'

$aters( and as the %oice of a *reat thunder H and I

heard the %oice of har)ers har)in* on their har)s"#

It is Juite c+ear that it $ou+d ha%e een etter to

ha%e res)ected the A)oca+')se than to ha%e com7

mented u)on it"

Camus( isho) of !e++a'( )rinted in the +ast centur'

a +ar*e oo= a*ainst the mon=s( $hich an unfroc=ed

mon= arid*ed" It $as entit+ed #A)oca+')se(# e7

cause in it he e>)osed the dan*ers and defects of the

monastic +ifeH and #0e+itos A)oca+')se# #A)oc7

a+')se de 0e+iton#Q( ecause 0e+ito( isho) of Sar7



Dictionar'" ?:

dis( in the second centur'( had )assed for a )ro)het"

This isho)s $or= has none of the oscurities of St"

.ohns A)oca+')se" Nothin* $as e%er c+earer" The

isho) is +i=e a ma*istrate sa'in* to an attorne'(

#4ou are a for*er and a cheat do 'ou com)rehend

me#

The isho) of !e++a' com)utes( in his A)oca+')se

or Re%e+ations( that there $ere in his time ninet'7

ei*ht orders of mon=s endo$ed or mendicant( +i%in*

at the e>)ense of the )eo)+e( $ithout em)+o'in*

themse+%es in the sma++est +aor" &e rec=oned si>

hundred thousand mon=s in Euro)e" The ca+cu+ation

$as a +itt+e strainedH ut it is certain that the rea+

numer of the mon=s $as rather too +ar*e"

&e assures us that the mon=s are enemies to the

isho)s( curates( and ma*istratesH that( amon* the

)ri%i+e*es *ranted to the Corde+iers( the si>th )ri%i7

+e*e is the certaint' of ein* sa%ed( $hate%er horri+e

crime 'ou ma' ha%e committed( )ro%ided 'ou e+on*

to the Order of St" Francis H that the mon=s are +i=e

a)es H the hi*her the' c+im( the )+ainer 'ou see their



)osteriors H that the name of mon= has ecome so in7

famous and e>ecra+e that it is re*arded ' the mon=s

themse+%es as a fou+ re)roach and the most %io+ent

insu+t that can e oered them"

0' dear reader( $hoe%er 'ou are( minister or

ma*istrate( consider attenti%e+' the fo++o$in* short

e>tract from our isho)s oo= -

#Fi*ure to 'ourse+f the con%ent of the Escoria+ or

of 0onte Cassino( $here the coenoites ha%e e%er'7

?? Phi+oso)hica+

thin* necessar'( usefu+( de+i*htfu+( su)eruous and

su)eraundant since the' ha%e their 'ear+' re%enue

of a hundred and ft' thousand( four hundred thou7

sand( or %e hundred thousand cro$ns H and Mud*e

$hether 0onsieur :Ae has $here$itha+ to a++o$

himse+f and those under him to s+ee) after dinner"

#Then ima*ine an artisan or +aorer( $ith no de7

)endence e>ce)t on the $or= of his hands( and ur7

dened $ith a +ar*e fami+'( toi+in* +i=e a s+a%e e%er'



da' and at a++ seasons( to feed them $ith the read

of sorro$ and the $ater of tears H and sa'( $hich of

the t$o conditions is )re7eminent in )o%ert'"#

This is a )assa*e from the #E)isco)a+ A)oc7

a+')se# $hich needs no commentar'" A++ that is

$anted is an an*e+ to come and ++ his cu) $ith the

$ine of the mon=s( to s+a=e the thirst of the +aorers

$ho )+o$( so$( and rea)( for the monasteries"

!ut this )re+ate( instead of $ritin* a usefu+ oo=(

on+' com)osed a satire" Consistent+' $ith his di*7

nit'( he shou+d ha%e stated the *ood as $e++ as

e%i+" &e shou+d ha%e ac=no$+ed*ed that the !ene7

dictines ha%e )roduced man' *ood $or=s( and that

the .esuits ha%e rendered *reat ser%ices to +iterature"

&e mi*ht ha%e +essed the rethren of La Charite(

and those of the Redem)tion of the Ca)ti%es" Our

rst dut' is to e Must" Camus *a%e too much sco)e

to his ima*ination" St" Francois de Sa+es ad%ised

him to $rite mora+ romances H ut he aused the ad7

%ice"

Dictionar'" ?3



ANTI7TRINITARIANS"

T&ESE are heretics $ho mi*ht )ass for other than

Christians" &o$e%er( the' ac=no$+ed*e .esus as

Sa%iour and 0ediatorH ut the' dare to maintain

that nothin* is more contrar' to ri*ht reason than

$hat is tau*ht amon* Christians concernin* the Trin7

it' of )ersons in one on+' di%ine essence( of $hom the

second is e*otten ' the rst( and the third )roceeds

from the other t$o H that this uninte++i*i+e doctrine

is not to e found in an' )art of Scri)ture H that no

)assa*e can e )roduced $hich authori1es it H or to

$hich( $ithout in an' $ise de)artin* from the s)irit

of the te>t( a sense cannot e *i%en more c+ear( more

natura+( or more conforma+e to common notions(

and to )rimiti%e and immuta+e truths H that to main7

tain( as the orthodo> do( that in the di%ine essence

there are se%era+ distinct )ersons( and that the Eterna+

is not the on+' true od( ut that the Son and the

&o+' host must e Moined $ith &im( is to introduce

into the Church of Christ an error the most *ross

and dan*erous( since it is o)en+' to fa%or )o+'the7

ism H that it im)+ies a contradiction( to sa' that there

is ut one od( and that( ne%erthe+ess( there are

three )ersons( each of $hich is tru+' od H that this



distinction( of one in essence( and three in )erson(

$as ne%er in Scri)tureH that it is manifest+' fa+se(

since it is certain that there are no fe$er essences

than )ersons( nor )ersons than essencesH that the

three )ersons of the Trinit' are either three dierent

?G Phi+oso)hica+

sustances( or accidents of the di%ine tssence( or

that essence itse+f $ithout distinctionH that( in the

rst )+ace( 'ou ma=e three ods H that( in the second(

od is com)osed of accidents H 'ou adore accidents(

and metamor)hose accidents into )ersonsH that( in

the third( 'ou unfounded+' and to no )ur)ose di%ide

an indi%isi+e suMect( and distin*uish into three that

$hich $ithin itse+f has no distinction H that if it e

said that the three )ersona+ities are neither dierent

sustances in the di%ine essence( nor accidents of that

essence( it $i++ e dicu+t to )ersuade ourse+%es that

the' are an'thin* at a++ H that it must not e e+ie%ed

that the most ri*id and decided Trinitarians ha%e

themse+%es an' c+ear idea of the $a' in $hich the

three h')ostases susist in od( $ithout di%idin* &is

sustance( and conseJuent+' $ithout mu+ti)+'in* it H



that St" Au*ustine himse+f( after ad%ancin* on this

suMect a thousand reasonin*s a+i=e dar= and fa+se(

$as forced to confess that nothin* inte++i*i+e cou+d

e said aout the matter H the' then re)eat the )as7

sa*e ' this father( $hich is( indeed( a %er' sin*u+ar

one- #When(# sa's he( #it is as=ed $hat are the

three( the +an*ua*e of man fai+s and terms are $ant7

in* to e>)ress them"# #Three )ersons( has( ho$e%er(

een said not for the )ur)ose of e>)ressin* an'7

thin*( ut in order to sa' somethin* and not remain

mute"# #Dictum est tres )ersona( non ut a+iJuid

dicer etur( sed ne taceretur"# De Trinit" +i" %" ca)" ; H

that modern theo+o*ians ha%e c+eared u) this matter

no etter H that( $hen the' are as=ed $hat the' un7

Dictionar'" ?

derstand ' the $ord )erson( the' e>)+ain themse+%es

on+' ' sa'in* that it is a certain incom)rehensi+e

distinction ' $hich are distin*uished in one nature

on+'( a Father( a Son( and a &o+' hostH that the

e>)+anation $hich the' *i%e of the terms e*ettin*

and )roceedin*( is no more satisfactor'( since it re7

duces itse+f to sa'in* that these terms indicate certain



incom)rehensi+e re+ations e>istin* amon* the three

)ersons of the Trinit' H that it ma' e hence *athered

that the state of the Juestion et$een them and the

orthodo> is to =no$ $hether there are in od three

distinctions( of $hich no one has an' denite idea(

and amon* $hich there are certain re+ations of $hich

no one has an' more idea"

From a++ this the' conc+ude that it $ou+d e $iser

to aide ' the testimon' of the a)ost+es( $ho ne%er

s)o=e of the Trinit'( and to anish from re+i*ion for7

e%er a++ terms $hich are not in the scri)tures as

trinit'( )erson( essence( h')ostasis( h')ostatic and

)ersona+ union( incarnation( *eneration( )roceedin*(

and man' others of the same =ind H $hich ein* a7

so+ute+' de%oid of meanin*( since the' are re)resented

' no rea+ e>istence in nature( can e>cite in the under7

standin* none ut fa+se( %a*ue( oscure( and undena7

+e notions"

To this artic+e +et us add $hat Ca+met sa's in his

dissertation on the fo++o$in* )assa*e of the E)ist+e

of .ohn the E%an*e+ist - #For there are three that

ear record in hea%en( the Father( the Word( and the

&o+' host H and these three are one H and there are



?B Phi+oso)hica+

three that ear $itness in earth( the s)irit( the $ater

and the +ood H and these three are one"# Ca+met

ac=no$+ed*es that these t$o %erses are not in an'

ancient i+eH indeed( it $ou+d e %er' stran*e if

St" .ohn had s)o=en of the Trinit' in a +etter( and

said not a $ord aout it in his os)e+" We nd no

trace of this do*ma( either in the canonica+ or in the

a)ocr')ha+ *os)e+s" A++ these reasons and man'

others mi*ht e>cuse the anti7trinitarians( if the coun7

ci+s had not decided" !ut as the heretics )a' no re7

*ard to counci+s( $e =no$ not $hat measures to ta=e

to confound them" Let us content ourse+%es $ith e7

+ie%in* and $ishin* them to e+ie%e"

APOCR4P&A APOCR4P&AL"

FRO0 T&E REEK WORD SINIF4IN hidden"Q

IT has een %er' $e++ remar=ed that the di%ine

$ritin*s mi*ht( at one and the same time( e sacred

and a)ocr')ha+ H sacred( ecause the' had undout7

ed+' een dictated ' od &imse+f H a)ocr')ha+( e7

cause the' $ere hidden from the nations( and e%en



from the .e$ish )eo)+e"

That the' $ere hidden from the nations efore the

trans+ation e>ecuted at A+e>andria( under the Pto+7

emies( is an ac=no$+ed*ed truth" .ose)hus dec+ares

it in the ans$er to A))ian( $hich he $rote after A)7

)ians death H and his dec+aration has not +ess stren*th

ecause he see=s to stren*then it ' a fa+e" &e

sa's in his histor' that the .e$ish oo=s ein* a++7

Dictionar'" ?@

di%ine( no forei*n historian or )oet had e%er dared

to s)ea= of them" And( immediate+' after assurin*

us that no one had e%er dared to mention the .e$ish

+a$s( he adds that the historian Theo)om)us( ha%in*

on+' intended to insert somethin* concernin* them in

his histor'( od struc= him $ith madness for thirt'

da's H ut that( ha%in* een informed in a dream that

he $as mad on+' ecause he had $ished to =no$

di%ine thin*s and ma=e them =no$n to the )rofane(

he as=ed )ardon of od( $ho restored him to his

senses"



.ose)hus in the same )assa*e a+so re+ates that a

)oet named Theodectes( ha%in* said a fe$ $ords

aout the .e$s in his tra*edies( ecame +ind( and

that od did not restore his si*ht unti+ he had done

)enance"

As for the .e$ish )eo)+e( it is certain that there

$as a time $hen the' cou+d not read the di%ine $rit7

in*s H for it is said in the Second !oo= of Kin*s

cha)( >>ii"( %er" 9( and in the Second !oo= of

Chronic+es cha)( >>>i%"( %er" :GQ( that in the rei*n

of .osias the' $ere un=no$n( and that a sin*+e co)'

$as accidenta++' found in the house of the hi*h

)riest &i+=iah"

The t$e+%e tries $hich $ere dis)ersed ' Sha+7

maneser ha%e ne%er re7a))eared H and their oo=s( if

the' had an'( ha%e een +ost $ith them" The t$o

tries $hich $ere in s+a%er' at !a'+on and a++o$ed

to return at the end of se%ent' 'ears( returned $ith7

out their oo=s( or at +east the' $ere %er' scarce and

Vo+" :@



?9 Phi+oso)hica+

%er' defecti%e( since Esdras $as o+i*ed to restore

them" !ut a+thou*h durin* the !a'+onian ca)ti%it'

these oo=s $ere a)ocr')ha+( that is( hidden or un7

=no$n to the )eo)+e( the' $ere constant+' sacred

the' ore the stam) of di%init' the' $ere( as a++ the

$or+d a*rees( the on+' monument of truth u)on

earth"

We no$ *i%e the name of a)ocr')ha to those

oo=s $hich are not $orth' of e+iefH so suMect are

+an*ua*es to chan*e Catho+ics and Protestants

a*ree in re*ardin* as a)ocr')ha+ in this sense( and

in reMectin*( the )ra'er of 0anasseh( =in* of .udah(

contained in the Second !oo= of Kin*s H the Third

and Fourth !oo=s of 0accaees H the Fourth !oo=

of Esdras H a+thou*h these oo=s $ere incontesta+'

$ritten ' .e$s" !ut it is denied that the authors

$ere ins)ired ' od( +i=e the .e$s"

The other oo=s( reMected ' the Protestants on+'(

and conseJuent+' considered ' them as not ins)ired

' od &imse+f( are the !oo= of Wisdom( thou*h it

is $ritten in the same st'+e as the Pro%ers H Ecc+esi7

asticus( thou*h the st'+e is sti++ the same H the rst



t$o oo=s of 0accaees( thou*h $ritten ' a .e$(

!ut the' do not e+ie%e this .e$ to ha%e een ins)ired

' od Toit a+thou*h the stor' is edif'in*" The

Mudicious and )rofound Ca+met arms that a )art of

this oo= $as $ritten ' Toit the father( and a )art

' Toit the son H and that a third author added the

conc+usion of the +ast cha)ter( $hich sa's that Toit

the 'oun*er e>)ired at the a*e of one hundred and

Dictionar'" ?;

t$ent'7se%en 'ears( and that he died reMoicin* o%er

the destruction of Nine%eh"

The same Ca+met( at the end of his )reface( has

these $ords - #Neither the stor' itse+f( nor the man7

ner in $hich it is to+d( ears an' fau+ous or ctitious

character" If a++ Scri)ture histories( containin* an'7

thin* of the mar%e++ous or e>traordinar'( $ere to e

reMected( $here is the sacred oo= $hich is to e )re7

ser%ed #

.udith is another oo= reMected ' the Protest7

ants( a+thou*h Luther himse+f dec+ares that #this



oo= is eautifu+( *ood( ho+'( usefu+( the +an*ua*e of

a ho+' )oet and a )ro)het animated ' the &o+'

S)irit( that had een his instructor(# etc"

It is indeed hard to disco%er at $hat time .udiths

ad%enture ha))ened( or $here the to$n of !ethu+ia

$as" The de*ree of sanctit' in .udiths action has

a+so een dis)utedH ut the oo= ha%in* een de7

c+ared canonica+ ' the Counci+ of Trent( a++ dis)utes

are at an end"

Other oo=s are !aruch( a+thou*h it is $ritten in

the st'+e of a++ the other )ro)hets H Esther( of $hich

the Protestants reMect on+' some additions after the

tenth cha)ter" The' admit a++ the rest of the oo= H

'et no one =no$s $ho Kin* Ahasuerus $as( a+thou*h

he is the )rinci)a+ )erson in the stor'H Danie+( in

$hich the Protestants retrench Susannahs ad%enture

and that of the chi+dren in the furnace H ut the' re7

tain Neuchadne11ars dream and his *ra1in* $ith

the easts"

:B< Phi+oso)hica+



On the Life of 0oses( an A)ocr')ha+ !oo= of the

&i*hest AntiJuit'"

The ancient oo= $hich contains the +ife and death

of 0oses seems to ha%e een $ritten at the time of the

!a'+onian ca)ti%it'" It $as then that the .e$s

e*an to =no$ the names *i%en to the an*e+s ' the

Cha+daeans and Persians"

&ere $e see the names of 5in*uie+( Samae+( Tsa7

=on( La=ah( and man' others of $hich the .e$s had

made no mention"

The oo= of the death of 0oses seems to ha%e

een $ritten +ater" It is =no$n that the .e$s had

se%era+ %er' ancient +i%es of 0oses and other oo=s(

inde)endent+' of the Pentateuch" In them he $as

ca++ed 0oni( not 0osesH and it is asserted that mo

si*nied $ater( and ni the )artic+e of" &e $as ca++ed

' the *enera+ name of 0e+=" &e recei%ed those of

.oa=im( Adamosi( ThetmosiH and it has een

thou*ht that he $as the same )erson $hom 0ane

thon ca++s O1ar1i)h"

Some of these o+d &ere$ manuscri)ts $ere $ith7

dra$n from their co%erin* of dust in the cainets of



the .e$s aout the 'ear ::@" The +earned i+ert

aumin( $ho $as a )erfect master of their +an*ua*e(

trans+ated them into Latin aout the 'ear :3"

The' $ere after$ards )rinted and dedicated to Car7

dina+ !e ru+e" The co)ies ha%e ecome e>treme+'

scarce"

Ne%er $ere rainism( the taste for the mar7

Dictionar'" ?B:

%e++ous and the ima*ination of the orienta+s dis7

)+a'ed to *reater e>cess"

Fra*ment of the Life of 0oses"

A hundred and thirt' 'ears after the sett+in* of the

.e$s in E*')t( and si>t' 'ears after the death of the

)atriarch .ose)h( Pharaoh( $hi+e s+ee)in*( had a

dream" &e sa$ an o+d man ho+din* a a+ance H in one

sca+e $ere a++ the inhaitants of E*')t H in the other

$as an infant( and this infant $ei*hed more than a++

the E*')tians to*ether" Pharaoh forth$ith ca++ed

to*ether his shotim( or sa*es" One of the $ise men



said- #O =in*( this infant is a .e$ $ho $i++ one

da' do *reat e%i+ to 'our =in*dom" Cause a++ the

chi+dren of the .e$s to e s+ain H thus sha+t thou sa%e

th' em)ire( if( indeed( the decrees of fate can e o)7

)osed"#

Pharaoh $as )+eased $ith this ad%ice" &e sent

for the mid$i%es and ordered them to stran*+e a++

the ma+e chi+dren of $hich the .e$esses $ere de+i%7

ered" There $as in E*')t a man named Araham(

son of Keath( husand to .ocaed( sister to his

rother" This .ocaed ore him a dau*hter named

0ar'( si*nif'in* #)ersecuted(# ecause the E*')7

tians( ein* descended from &am( )ersecuted the Is7

rae+ites( $ho $ere e%ident+' descended from Shem"

.ocaed after$ards rou*ht forth Aaron( si*nif'in*

#condemned to death(# ecause Pharaoh had con7

demned a++ the .e$ish infants to death" Aaron and

0ar' $ere )reser%ed ' the an*e+s of the Lord( $ho

?B? Phi+oso)hica+

nursed them in the e+ds and restored them to their

)arents $hen the' had reached the )eriod of ado+es7



cence"

At +en*th .ocaed had a third chi+dH this $as

0oses( $ho( conseJuent+'( $as fteen 'ears 'oun*er

than his rother" &e $as e>)osed on the Ni+e" Pha7

raohs dau*hter found him $hi+e athin*( had him

nursed and ado)ted him as her son( a+thou*h she $as

not married"

Three 'ears after( her father( Pharaoh( too= a fresh

$ife( on $hich occasion he he+d a *reat feast" &is

$ife $as at his ri*ht hand( and at his +eft $as his

dau*hter( $ith +itt+e 0oses" The chi+d( in s)ort( too=

the cro$n and )ut it on his head" !a+aam( the ma*i7

cian( the =in*s eunuch( then reca++ed his maMest's

dream" #!eho+d(# said he( #the chi+d $ho is one da'

to do so much mischief The s)irit of od is in

him" What he has Must no$ done is a )roof that he

has a+read' formed the desi*n of dethronin* 'ou"

&e must instant+' e )ut to death"# This idea )+eased

Pharaoh much"

The' $ere aout to =i++ +itt+e 0oses $hen the Lord

sent his an*e+ arie+( dis*uised as one of Pharaohs

ocers( to sa' to him - #0' +ord( $e shou+d not )ut

to death an innocent chi+d( $hich is not 'et come to



'ears of discretion H he )ut on 'our cro$n on+' e7

cause he $ants Mud*ment" 4ou ha%e on+' to +et a

ru' and a urnin* coa+ e )resented to him H if he

choose the coa+( it is c+ear that he is a +oc=head $ho

$i++ ne%er do an' harm H ut if he ta=e the ru' it

Dictionar'" ?B3

$i++ e a si*n that he has too much sense to urn his

n*ers H then +et him e s+ain"#

A ru' and a coa+ $ere immediate+' rou*ht"

0oses did not fai+ to ta=e the ru'H ut the an*e+

arie+( ' a sort of +e*erdemain( s+i))ed the coa+

into the )+ace of the )recious stone" 0oses )ut the

coa+ into his mouth and urned his ton*ue so hor7

ri+' that he stammered e%er afterH and this $as

the reason that the .e$ish +a$*i%er cou+d ne%er

articu+ate"

0oses $as fteen 'ears o+d and a fa%orite $ith

Pharaoh" A &ere$ came to com)+ain to him that

an E*')tian had eaten him after +'in* $ith his $ife"

0oses =i++ed the E*')tian" Pharaoh ordered 0oses



+o$ ce++ and a++o$in* him on+' read and $ater"

0oses *re$ fat in his dun*eon( at $hich .ethro $as

Juite astonished" &e $as not a$are that his dau*hter

Se)hora had fa++en in +o%e $ith the )risoner( and

e%er' da'( $ith her o$n hands( carried him

)artrid*es and Juai+s( $ith e>ce++ent $ine" &e con7

c+uded that 0oses $as )rotected ' od and did not

*i%e him u) to Pharaoh"

&o$e%er( .ethro the )riest $ished to ha%e his

dau*hter married" &e had in his *arden a tree of

sa))hire( on $hich $as en*ra%en the $ord .aho or

.eho%ah" &e caused it to e )u+ished throu*hout

the countr' that he $ou+d *i%e his dau*hter to him

$ho cou+d tear u) the sa))hire tree" Se)horas +o%ers

)resented themse+%es( ut none of them cou+d so

much as end the tree" 0oses( $ho $as on+' se%ent'7

se%en 'ears o+d( tore it u) at once $ithout an eort"

&e married Se)hora( ' $hom he soon had a ne

o' named erson"

As he $as one da' $a+=in* in a sma++ $ood( he

met od $ho had former+' ca++ed &imse+f Sadai(

and then ca++ed &imse+f .eho%ahQ( and od ordered

him to *o and $or= mirac+es at Pharaohs court" &e

set out $ith his $ife and son" On the $a' the' met



an an*e+ to $hom no name is *i%enQ( $ho ordered

Se)hora to circumcise +itt+e erson $ith a =nife made

Dictionar'" ?B

of stone" od sent Aaron on the same errand( ut

Aaron thou*ht his rother had done $ron* in marr'7

in* a 0idianite H he ca++ed her a %er' coarse name( and

+itt+e erson a astard( and sent them the shortest

$a' ac= to their o$n countr'"

Aaron and 0oses then $ent to Pharaohs )a+ace

' themse+%es" The *ate of the )a+ace $as *uarded

' t$o +ions of an enormous si1e" !a+aam( one of

the =in*s ma*icians( seein* the t$o rothers come(

set the +ions u)on themH ut 0oses touched them

$ith his rod( and the +ions( hum+' )rostratin* them7

se+%es( +ic=ed the feet of Aaron and 0oses" The

=in*( in astonishment( had the t$o )i+*rims rou*ht

into the )resence of a++ his ma*icians( that the' mi*ht

stri%e $hich cou+d $or= the most mirac+es"

The author here re+ates the ten )+a*ues of E*')t(

near+' as the' are re+ated in E>odus" &e on+' adds



that 0oses co%ered a++ E*')t $ith +ice( to the de)th of

a cuitH and that he sent amon* a++ the E*')tians

+ions( $o+%es( ears( and ti*ers( $hich ran into a++ the

houses( not$ithstandin* that the doors $ere o+ted(

and de%oured a++ the +itt+e chi+dren"

Accordin* to this $riter( it $as not the .e$s $ho

ed throu*h the Red Sea H it $as Pharaoh( $ho ed

that $a' $ith his arm' - the .e$s ran after him H the

$aters se)arated ri*ht and +eft to see them *htH

and a++ the E*')tians( e>ce)t the =in*( $ere s+ain

u)on the sand" Then the =in*( ndin* that his o$n

$as the $ea=er side( as=ed )ardon of od" 0ichae+

and arie+ $ere sent to him and con%e'ed him to

?BB Phi+oso)hica+

the cit' of Nine%eh( $here he rei*ned four hundred

'ears"

The Death of 0oses"

od had dec+ared to the )eo)+e of Israe+ that the'

shou+d not *o out of E*')t unti+ the' had once more



found the tom of .ose)h" 0oses found it and car7

ried it on his shou+ders throu*h the Red Sea" od

to+d him that &e $ou+d ear in mind this *ood action

and $ou+d assist him at the time of his death" When

0oses had +i%ed si> score 'ears( od came to an7

nounce to him that he must die and had ut three

hours more to +i%e" The ad an*e+ Samae+ $as )res7

ent at the con%ersation" As soon as the rst hour had

)assed he e*an to +au*h for Mo' that he shou+d so

soon carr' o the sou+ of 0oses H and 0ichae+ e*an

to $ee)" #!e not reMoiced( thou $ic=ed east(# said

the *ood to the ad an*e+ H #0oses is *oin* to die(

ut $e ha%e .oshua in his stead"#

When the three hours had e+a)sed od com7

manded arie+ to ta=e the d'in* mans sou+" arie+

e**ed to e e>cused" 0ichae+ did the same" These

t$o an*e+s ha%in* refused( od addressed &imse+f

to 5in*uie+" !ut this an*e+ $as no more $i++in* to

oe' than the others" #I(# said he( #$as former+' hi*

)rece)tor( and I $i++ not =i++ m' disci)+e"# Then od(

ein* an*r'( said to the ad an*e+ Samae+( #We++(

then( $ic=ed one( thou must ta=e his sou+"# Samae+

Mo'fu++' dre$ his s$ord and ran u) to 0oses" The

d'in* man rose u) in $rath( his e'es s)ar=+in* $ith

re" #What thou %i++ain(# said 0oses( #$ou+dst



Dictionar'" ?B@

thou dare to =i++ me me( $ho $hen a chi+d( )ut on

m' head the cro$n of a Pharaoh H $ho ha%e $or=ed

mirac+es at the a*e of ei*ht' 'earsH $ho ha%e +ed

si>t' mi++ions of men out of E*')t H $ho ha%e cut the

Red Sea in t$oH $ho ha%e conJuered t$o =in*s so

ta++ that at the time of the ood the' $ere not =nee7

dee) in $ater !e*one( 'ou rasca+ H +ea%e m' )res7

ence instant+'"#

This a+tercation +asted a fe$ moments +on*er(

durin* $hich time arie+ )re)ared a +itter to con%e'

the sou+ of 0oses( 0ichae+ a )ur)+e mant+e( and 5in7

*uie+ a cassoc=" od then +aid &is hands on 0oses

reast and too= a$a' his sou+"

It is to this histor' that St" .ude the a)ost+e a++udes

in his e)ist+e $hen he sa's that the archan*e+

0ichae+ contended $ith the de%i+ for the od' of

0oses" As this fact is to e found on+' in the oo=

$hich I ha%e Must Juoted( it is e%ident that St" .ude

had read it( and that he considered it as a canonica+



oo="

The second histor' of the death of 0oses is +i=e7

$ise a con%ersation $ith od" It is no +ess )+easant

and curious than the rst" A )art of this dia+o*ue is

as fo++o$s -

0oses" I )ra' Thee( O Lord( +et me enter the

+and of )romise( at +east for t$o or three 'ears"

od" NoH 0' decree e>)ress+' saith that thou

sha+t not enter it"

0oses" rant( at +east( that I ma' e carried

thither after m' death"

?B9 Phi+oso)hica+

od" NoH neither dead nor a+i%e"

0oses" A+as ut( *ood Lord( thou sho$est such

c+emenc' to Th' creaturesH Thou )ardonest them

t$ice or three timesH I ha%e sinned ut once( and

am not to e for*i%en



od" Thou =no$est not $hat thou sa'est H thou

hast committed si> sins" I rememer to ha%e s$orn

th' death( or the destruction of Israe+ H one of the

t$o must e accom)+ished" If thou $i+t +i%e Israe+

must )erish"

0oses" O Lord( e not so hast'" A++ is in Th'

hands" Let 0oses )erish( rather than one sou+ in

Israe+"

After se%era+ discourses of this sort( the echo of

the mountain sa's to 0oses( #Thou hast ut %e

hours to +i%e"# At the end of %e hours od sends

for arie+( 5in*uie+ and Samae+" &e )romises

0oses that he sha++ e uried and carries a$a' his

sou+"

When $e reect that near+' the $ho+e earth has

een infatuated ' simi+ar stories( and that the' ha%e

formed the education of man=ind( the fa+es of Pi+7

)a'( Lo=man( or Eso) a))ear Juite reasona+e"

A)ocr')ha+ !oo=s of the Ne$ La$"

There $ere ft' *os)e+s( a++ %er' dierent from

one another( of $hich there remain on+' four entire



that of .ames( that of Nicodemus( that of the in7

fanc' of .esus( and that of the irth of 0ar'" Of

the rest $e ha%e nothin* more than fra*ments and

s+i*ht notices"

Dictionar'" ?B;

The tra%e++er Tournefort( sent into Asia ' Louis

8IV"( informs us that the eor*ians ha%e )reser%ed

the *os)e+ of the Infanc'( $hich $as )roa+' com7

municated to them ' the A1menians"

In the e*innin*( se%era+ of these *os)e+s( no$ re7

*arded as a)ocr')ha+( $ere cited as authentic( and

$ere e%en the on+' *os)e+s that $ere cited" In the

Acts of the A)ost+es $e nd these $ords uttered '

St" Pau+ cha)( >>"( %er" 3Q( #And rememer the

$ords of the Lord .esus( ho$ &e said( it is more

+essed to *i%e than to recei%e"#

St" !arnaas( in his Catho+ic E)ist+e Nos" G and

@Q ( ma=es .esus Christ s)ea= thus - #Let us resist a++

iniJuit' H +et us hate it" Such as $ou+d see 0e enter

into 0' =in*dom must fo++o$ 0e throu*h )ain and



sorro$"#

St" C+ement( in his second E)ist+e to the Corin7

thians( )uts these $ords into the mouth of .esus

Christ - #If 'ou are assem+ed in 0' osom and do

not fo++o$ 0' commandments( I sha++ reMect 'ou and

sa' to 'ou( De)art from 0e H I =no$ 'ou not H de7

)art from 0e( 'e $or=ers of iniJuit'" #

&e after$ards attriutes to .esus Christ these

$ords- #Kee) 'our esh chaste and the sea+ un7

s)otted( in order that 'ou ma' recei%e eterna+ +ife"#

In the A)osto+ica+ Constitutions( com)osed in the

second centur'( $e nd these $ords - #.esus Christ

has said( !e 'e honest e>chan*e ro=ers" #

We nd man' simi+ar Juotations( not one of $hich

is ta=en from the four *os)e+s reco*ni1ed ' the

i'o Phi+oso)hica+

Church as the on+' canonica+ ones" The' are( for the

most )art( ta=en from the *os)e+ accordin* to the



&ere$s( a *os)e+ $hich $as trans+ated ' St" .e7

rome( and is no$ considered as a)ocr')ha+"

St" C+ement the Roman sa's( in his second E)ist+e -

#The Lord( ein* as=ed $hen his rei*n shou+d come(

ans$ered - When t$o sha++ ma=e one( $hen that

$hich is $ithout sha++ e $ithin( $hen the ma+e sha++

e fema+e( and $hen there sha++ e neither fema+e

nor ma+e" #

These $ords are ta=en from the *os)e+ accordin*

to the E*')tians H and the te>t is re)eated entire '

St" C+ement of A+e>andria" !ut $hat cou+d the

author of the E*')tian *os)e+s( and $hat cou+d St"

C+ement himse+f e thin=in* of The $ords $hich

he Juotes are inMurious to .esus Christ H the' *i%e us

to understand that &e did not e+ie%e that &is rei*n

$ou+d come at a++" To sa' that a thin* $i++ ta=e

)+ace $hen t$o sha++ ma=e one( $hen the ma+e sha++

e fema+e( is to sa' that it $i++ ne%er ta=e )+ace" A

)assa*e +i=e this is rainica+( much rather than e%an7

*e+ica+"

There $ere a+so t$o a)ocr')ha+ Acts of the

A)ost+es" The' are Juoted ' St" E)i)hanius" In

these Acts it is re+ated that St" Pau+ $as the son of



an ido+atrous father and mother( and turned .e$ in

order to marr' the dau*hter of ama+ie+ H and that

either ein* refused( or not ndin* her a %ir*in( he

too= )art $ith the disci)+es of .esus" This is nothin*

+ess than +as)hem' a*ainst St" Pau+"

Dictionar'" ?@:

The Other A)ocr')ha+ !oo=s of the First and Sec7

ond Centuries"

i"

The !oo= of Enoch( the se%enth man after Adam(

$hich mentions the $ar of the ree++ious an*e+s(

under their ca)tain( Samasia( a*ainst the faithfu+

an*e+s +ed ' 0ichae+" The oMect of the $ar $as

to enMo' the dau*hters of men( as has een said in

the artic+e on #An*e+"#

n"

The Acts of St" Thec+a and St" Pau+( $ritten ' a

disci)+e named .ohn( attached to St" Pau+" In this



histor' Thec+a esca)es from her )ersecutors to *o to

St" Pau+( dis*uised as a man" She a+so a)ti1es a

+ion H ut this ad%enture $as after$ards su))ressed"

&ere( too( $e ha%e the )ortrait of Pau+- Statura

re%i( ca+%astrum( crurius cur%is( sorosum( su)er7

ci+iis Munctis( naso aJui+ino( )+enum *ratia Dei"

A+thou*h this stor' $as recommended ' St"

re*or' Na1ian1en( St" Amrose( St" .ohn Chr'sos7

tom( and others( it had no re)utation amon* the

other doctors of the Church"

in"

The Preachin* of Peter" This $ritin* is a+so

ca++ed the os)e+ or Re%e+ation of Peter" St" C+e7

ment of A+e>andria s)ea=s of it $ith *reat )raiseH

ut it is eas' to )ercei%e that some im)ostor had

ta=en that a)ost+es name"

?@? Phi+oso)hica+

IV"



The Acts of Peter( a $or= eJua++' su))osititious"

%"

The Testament of the T$e+%e Patriarchs" It is

douted $hether this oo= is ' a .e$ or a Christian

of the )rimiti%e a*es H for it is said in the Testament

of Le%i that at the end of the se%enth $ee= there

sha++ come )riests *i%en to ido+atr' e++atores(

a%ari( scries iniJui( im)udici( )uerorum corru)tores

et )ecorumH that there sha++ then e a ne$ )riest7

hoodH that the hea%ens sha++ e o)enedH and that

the *+or' of the 0ost &i*h( and the s)irit of inte++i7

*ence and sanctication( sha++ descend u)on this

ne$ )riest H $hich seems to forete++ .esus Christ"

VI"

The Letter of A*arus( a )retended =in* of

Edessa( to .esus Christ( and .esus Christs ans$er to

Kin* A*arus" It is( indeed( e+ie%ed that( in the

time of Tierius( there $as a to)arch of Edessa $ho

had )assed from the ser%ice of the Persians into that

of the Romans( ut his e)isto+ar' corres)ondence

has een considered ' a++ *ood critics as a chimera"



VII"

The Acts of Pi+ate" Pi+ates +etter to Tierius on

the death of .esus Christ" The +ife of Procu+a(

Pi+ates $ife"

VIII"

The Acts of Peter and Pau+( in $hich is the his7

Dictionar'" ?@3

tor' of St" Peters Juarre+ $ith Simon the ma*ician"

Adias( 0arce++us( and &e*esi))us ha%e a++ three

$ritten this stor'" St" Peter rst dis)uted $ith

Simon $hich shou+d resuscitate one of the Em)eror

Neros re+ati%es( $ho had Must diedH Simon ha+f

restored him( and St" Peter nished the resurrec7

tion" Simon ne>t e$ u) in the air( ut Peter

rou*ht him do$n a*ain( and the ma*ician ro=e his

+e*s" The Em)eror Nero( incensed at the death of

his ma*ician( had St" Peter crucied $ith his head

do$n$ards( and St" Pau+ deca)itated( as one of St"

Peters )art'"



I8"

The Acts of !+essed Pau+ the A)ost+e and Teacher

of the Nations" In this oo= St" Pau+ is made to

+i%e at Rome for t$o 'ears after St" Peters death"

The author sa's that $hen St" Pau+s head $as cut

o there issued forth mi+= instead of +ood( and that

Lucina( a de%out $oman( had him uried t$ent'

mi+es from Rome( on the $a' to Ostia( at her countr'

house"

>"

The Acts of the !+essed A)ost+e Andre$" The

author re+ates that St" Andre$ $ent to the cit' of the

0'rmidons and that he a)ti1ed a++ the citi1ens" A

'oun* man named Sostratus( of the to$n of Amarea(

$hich is at +east etter =no$n than that of the

0'rmidons( came and said to the +essed Andre$ -

#I am so handsome that m' mother has concei%ed a

)assion for me" I ahorred so e>ecra+e a crime(

Vo+" s :B



?@G Phi+oso)hica+

and ha%e ed" 0' mother( in her fur'( accuses me

to the )roconsu+ of the )ro%ince of ha%in* attem)ted

to %io+ate her" I can ma=e no ans$er( for I $ou+d

rather die than accuse m' mother"# Whi+e he $as

'et s)ea=in*( the *uards of the )roconsu+ came and

sei1ed him" St" Andre$ accom)anied the son efore

the Mud*e( and )+eaded his cause" The mother( not

at a++ disconcerted( accused St" Andre$ himse+f of

ha%in* insti*ated her son to the crime" The )ro7

consu+ immediate+' ordered St" Andre$ to e thro$n

into the ri%er H ut( the a)ost+e ha%in* )ra'ed to od(

there came a *reat earthJua=e( and the mother $as

struc= ' a thundero+t"

After se%era+ ad%entures of the same sort the

author has St" Andre$ crucied at Patras"

8I"

The Acts of St" .ames the reater" The author

has him condemned to death at .erusa+em ' the

)onti( and( efore his cruci>ion( he a)ti1es the

re*istrar"



8II"

The Acts of St" .ohn the E%an*e+ist" The author

re+ates that( at E)hesus of $hich )+ace St" .ohn

$a* isho) Drusi++a( ein* con%erted ' him( de7

sired no more of her husand Andronicuss com7

)an'( ut retired into a tom" A 'oun* man named

Ca++imachus( in +o%e $ith her( re)eated+' )ressed

her( e%en in her tom( to consent to the *ratication

of his )assion" Drusi++a( ein* ur*ed oth ' her

husand and her +o%er( $ished for death( and o7

Dictionar'" ?@

tained it" Ca++imachus( $hen informed of her +oss(

$as sti++ more furious $ith +o%e H he ried one of

Andronicuss domestics( $ho had the =e's of the

tomH he ran to it( stri))ed his mistress of her

shroud( and e>c+aimed( #What thou $ou+dst not

*rant me +i%in*( thou sha+t *rant me dead"# A

ser)ent instant+' issued from the tom H the 'oun*

man faintedH the ser)ent =i++ed him( as a+so the

domestic $ho $as his accom)+ice( and coi+ed itse+f



round his od'" St" .ohn arri%es $ith the husand(

and( to their astonishment( the' nd Ca++imachus

a+i%e" St .ohn orders the ser)ent to de)art( and

the ser)ent oe's" &e as=s the 'oun* man ho$ he

has een resuscitated" Ca++imachus ans$ered that

an an*e+ had a))eared to him( sa'in*( #It $as neces7

sar' that thou shou+dst die in order to re%i%e a

Christian"# &e immediate+' as=ed to e a)ti1ed(

and e**ed that .ohn $ou+d resuscitate Drusi++a"

The a)ost+e ha%in* instant+' $or=ed this mirac+e(

Ca++imachus and Drusi++a )ra'ed that he $ou+d a+so

e so *ood as to resuscitate the domestic" The +at7

ter( $ho $as an ostinate )a*an( ein* restored to

+ife( dec+ared that he $ou+d rather die than e a

Christian( and( accordin*+'( he incontinent+' died

a*ain H on $hich St" .ohn said that a ad tree a+$a's

ears ad fruit"

Aristodemus( hi*h7)riest of E)hesus( thou*h

struc= ' such a )rodi*'( $ou+d not e con%erted H

he said to St" .ohn- #Permit me to )oison 'ouH

and( if 'ou do not die( I $i++ e con%erted"# The

?MB Phi+oso)hica+



a)ost+e acce)ted the )ro)osa+ H ut he chose that

Aristodemus shou+d rst )oison t$o E)hesians con7

demned to death" Aristodemus immediate+' )re7

sented to them the )oison( and the' instant+' e>7

)ired" St" .ohn too= the same )oison( $hich did

him no harm" &e resuscitated the t$o dead men(

and the hi*h7)riest $as con%erted"

St" .ohn ha%in* attained the a*e of ninet'7se%en

'ears( .esus Christ a))eared to him( and said( #It is

time for thee to come to 0' ta+e( and feast $ith

th' rethren#H and soon after the a)ost+e s+e)t in

)eace"

8III"

The &istor' of the !+essed .ames the Less( and

the rothers Simon and .ude" These a)ost+es $ent

into Persia( and )erformed thin*s as incredi+e as

those re+ated of St" Andre$"

8IV"

The Acts of St" 0atthe$( a)ost+e and e%an*e+ist"

St" 0atthe$ *oes into Ethio)ia( to the *reat to$n



of Nada%er( $here he restores to +ife the son of

6ueen Candace( and founds Christian churches"

>%"

The Acts of the !+essed !artho+ome$ in India"

!artho+ome$ $ent rst to the tem)+e of Astaroth"

This *oddess de+i%ered orac+es( and cured a++ dis7

eases" !artho+ome$ si+enced her( and made sic= a++

those $hom she had cured" Kin* Po+imius dis)uted

$ith himH the de%i+ dec+ared( efore the =in*( that

Dictionar' ?@@

he $as conJuered( and St" !artho+ome$ consecrated

Kin* Po+imius isho) of the Indies"

8VI"

The Acts of the !+essed Thomas( a)ost+e of In7

dia" St" Thomas entered India ' another road( and

$or=ed more mirac+es than St" !artho+ome$" &e at

+ast suered mart'rdom( and a))eared to 8i)horo

and Susani"



8VII"

The Acts of the !+essed Phi+i)" &e $ent to

)reach in Sc'thia" The' $ished to ma=e him a sac7

rice to 0ars( ut he caused a dra*on to issue from

the a+tar and de%our the chi+dren of the )riests" &e

died at &iera)o+is( at the a*e of ei*ht'7se%en" It is

not =no$n $hat to$n this $as( for there $ere se%era+

of the name"

A++ these histories are su))osed to ha%e een

$ritten ' Adias( isho) of !a'+on( and $ere

trans+ated ' .u+ius Africanus"

8VIII"

To these auses of the &o+' Scri)tures $as added

one +ess re%o+tin* one $hich did not fai+ in res)ect

for Christianit'( +i=e those $hich ha%e Must een

+aid efore the reader( %i1"( the Litur*ies attriuted

to St" .ames( St" Peter( and St" 0ar=( the fa+sehood

of $hich has een sho$n ' the +earned Ti++emont"

8I8"



Faricius )+aces amon* the a)ocr')ha+ $ritin*s

the &omi+' attriuted to St" Au*ustineQ on the

?' 9 Phi+oso)hica+

manner in $hich the S'mo+ $as formed" !ut he

certain+' does not mean to insinuate that this S'm7

o+ or Creed( $hich $e ca++ the A)ost+es( is the +ess

true and sacred" It is said in this &omi+'( in Runus(

and after$ards in Isidorus( that ten da's after the

ascension( the a)ost+es( ein* shut u) to*ether for

fear of the .e$s( Peter said( #I e+ie%e in od( the

Father A+mi*ht'H# Andre$( #and in .esus Christ(

&is on+' son H# .ames( #$ho $as concei%ed ' the

&o+' hostH# and that thus( each a)ost+e ha%in*

re)eated an artic+e( the Creed $as com)+eted"

This stor' not ein* in the Acts of the A)ost+es(

our e+ief in it is dis)ensed $ith ut not our e+ief

in the Creed( of $hich the a)ost+es tau*ht the su7

stance" Truth must not suer from the fa+se orna7

ments in $hich it has een sou*ht to arra' her"

>>"



The A)osto+ica+ Constitutions" The Constitutions

of the &o+' A)ost+es( $hich $ere former+' su))osed

to ha%e een di*ested ' St" C+ement the Roman( are

no$ ran=ed amon* the a)ocr')ha+ $ritin*s" The

readin* of a fe$ cha)ters is sucient to sho$ that

the a)ost+es had no share in this $or=" In the

e+e%enth cha)ter( $omen are ordered not to rise e7

fore the ninth hour" In the rst cha)ter of the

second oo= it is desired that isho)s shou+d e

+earned( ut in the time of the a)ost+es there $as no

hierarch' no isho) attached to a sin*+e church"

The' $ent aout teachin* from to$n to to$n( from

Dictionar'" ?@;

ti++a*e to %i++a*eH the' $ere ca++ed a)ost+es( not

isho)sH and( ao%e a++ thin*s( the' did not )ride

themse%es on ein* +earned"

In the second cha)ter of the second oo= it is

said that a isho) shou+d ha%e ut one $ife( to ta=e

*reat care of his househo+d H $hich on+' *oes to )ro%e

that at the c+ose of the rst and the commencement



of the second centur'( $hen the hierarch' $as e7

*innin* to e esta+ished( the )riests $ere married"

Throu*h a+most the $ho+e oo= the isho)s are

re*arded as the Mud*es of the faithfu+ H ut it is $e++

=no$n that the a)ost+es had no Murisdiction"

It is said( in cha)ter >>i"( that oth )arties must

e heardH $hich su))oses an esta+ished Murisdic7

tion" In cha)ter >>%i" it is said( #The isho) is 'our

)rince( 'our =in*( 'our em)eror( 'our od u)on

earth"# These e>)ressions are some$hat at %ari7

ance $ith the humi+it' of the a)ost+es"

In cha)ter >>%iii"( #At the feasts of the A*a)ae(

there must e *i%en to the deacon dou+e that $hich

is *i%en to an o+d $oman( and to the )riest dou+e

the *ift to the deacon( ecause the )riests are the

counse++ors of the isho)s and the cro$n of the

Church" The reader sha++ ha%e a )ortion( in honor

of the )ro)hets( as a+so the chanter and the door7

=ee)er" Such of the +ait' as $ish to recei%e an'thin*

sha++ a))+' to the isho) throu*h the deacon"# The

a)ost+es ne%er used an' term ans$erin* to +ait'( or

mar=in* the dierence et$een the )rofane and the

)riesthood"



?9< Phi+oso)hica+

In cha)ter >>>i%"( #4ou must re%erence the

isho) as a =in*( honor him as a master( and *i%e

him 'our fruits( the $or=s of 'our hands( 'our rst

fruits( 'our tenths( 'our sa%in*s( the )resents that

are made to 'ou( 'our corn( 'our $ine( 'our oi+(

'our $oo+(# etc" This is a stron* artic+e"

In cha)ter I%ii"( #Let the church e +on*H +et it

+oo= to$ards the East H +et it resem+e a shi) H +et the

isho)s throne e in the midd+e H +et the reader read

the oo=s of 0oses( .oshua( .ud*es( Kin*s( Chroni7

c+es( .o(# etc"

In cha)ter >%ii" of the third oo=( #!a)tism is

administered for the death of .esus H oi+ for the &o+'

host" When $e are )+un*ed into the $ater( $e

die H $hen $e come out of it( $e re%i%e" The Father

is the od of a++" Christ is the on+' Son of od(

his e+o%ed Son( and the Lord of *+or'" The &o+'

S)irit is the Parac+ete( sent ' Christ the teacher(

)reachin* Christ .esus"# This doctrine $ou+d no$



e e>)+ained in more canonica+ terms"

In cha)ter %ii" of the fth oo= are Juoted some

%erses of the Si'+s on the comin* of .esus and the

resurrection" This $as the rst time that the Chris7

tians admitted the %erses of the Si'+s( $hich the'

continued to do for more than three hundred 'ears"

In cha)ter %" of the ei*hth oo= are these $ords-

#O od A+mi*ht'( *i%e to the isho)( throu*h

Christ( the )artici)ation of the &o+' S)irit"# In

cha)ter i%"( #Commend 'ourse+f to od a+one(

throu*h .esus Christ#H $hich does not sucient+'

Dictionar'" ?9:

e>)ress the di%init' of our Lord" In cha)ter >ii" is

the Constitution of .ames( the rother of 5eedee"

In cha)ter >%" the deacon is to sa' a+oud( #Inc+ine

'ourse+%es efore od throu*h Christ"# At the )res7

ent da' these e>)ressions are not %er' correct"

88I"



The A)osto+ica+ Canons" The si>th canon ordains

that no isho) or )riest sha++ se)arate himse+f from

his $ife on )retence of re+i*ion H if he do so( he is to

e e>communicated( and if he )ersist he is to e

dri%en a$a'" The se%enth that no )riest sha++ e%er

medd+e $ith secu+ar aairs" The nineteenth that

he $ho has married t$o sisters sha++ not e admitted

into the c+er*'" The t$ent'7rst and t$ent'7second

that eunuchs sha++ e admitted into the )riesthood

e>ce)tin* such as ha%e castrated themse+%es" 4et

Ori*en $as a )riest( not$ithstandin* this +a$" The

ft'7fth that if a isho)( a )riest( a deacon( or a

c+er= eat esh $hich is not c+ear of +ood( he sha++

e dis)+aced" It is Juite e%ident that these canons

cou+d not e )romu+*ated ' the a)ost+es"

88II"

The Confessions of St" C+ement to .ames( rother

of the Lord( in ten oo=s( trans+ated from ree= into

Latin ' Runus" This oo= commences $ith a dout

res)ectin* the immorta+it' of the sou+ - #/trumne

sit mihi a+iJua %ita )ost mortem( an nihi+ omnino

)ostea sim futurns"# St" C+ement( distured ' this

dout and $ishin* to =no$ $hether the $or+d $as



?9? Phi+oso)hica+

eterna+ or had een created $hether there $ere a

Tartarus and a Ph+e*ethon( an I>ion and a Tanta+us(

etc"( reso+%ed to *o into E*')t to +earn necromanc'(

ut ha%in* heard of St" !artho+ome$( $ho $as

)reachin* Christianit'( he $ent to him in the East(

at the time $hen !arnaas $as ce+eratin* a .e$ish

feast" &e after$ards met St" Peter at Caesarea( $ith

Simon the ma*ician and 5acchaeus( The' dis)uted

to*ether( and St" Peter re+ated to them a++ that had

)assed since the death of .esus" C+ement turned

Christian( ut Simon remained a ma*ician"

Simon fe++ in +o%e $ith a $oman named Luna(

and( $hi+e $aitin* to marr' her( he )ro)osed to St"

Peter( to 5acchseus( to La1arus( to" Nicodemus( to

Dositheus( and to se%era+ others( that the' shou+d

ecome his disci)+es" Dositheus ans$ered him at

once $ith a +o$ from a stic= H ut the stic= ha%in*

)assed throu*h Simons od' as if it had een smo=e(

Dositheus $orshi))ed him and ecame his +ieutenant(

after $hich Simon married his mistress end dec+ared

that she $as Luna herse+f( descended from hea%en



to marr' him"

!ut enou*h of the Confessions of St" C+ement"

It must( ho$e%er( e remar=ed that in the ninth

oo= the Chinese are s)o=en of under the name

of Seres as the Mustest and $isest of man=ind" After

them come the !rahmins( to $hom the author does

the Mustice that $as rendered them ' a++ antiJuit'"

&e cites them as mode+s of soerness( mi+dness( and

Mustice"

Dictionar'" ?93

88III"

St" Peters Letter to St" .ames( and St" C+ements

Letter to the same St" .ames( rother of the Lord(

*o%ernor of the &o+' Church of the &ere$s at

.erusa+em( and of a++ churches" St" Peters Letter

contains nothin* curious( ut St" C+ements is %er'

remar=a+e" &e asserts that Peter dec+ared him

isho) of Rome efore his death( and his coadMutor H

that he +aid his hands u)on his head( and made him

sit in the e)isco)a+ chair in the )resence of a++ the



faithfu+ H and that he said to him( #Fai+ not to $rite

to m' rother .ames as soon as I am dead"#

This +etter seems to )ro%e that it $as not then

e+ie%ed that St" Peter had suered mart'rdom( since

it is )roa+e that this +etter( attriuted to St" C+em7

ent( $ou+d ha%e mentioned the circumstance" It a+so

)ro%es that C+etus and Anac+etus $ere not rec=oned

amon* the isho)s of Rome"

88IV"

St" C+ements &omi+ies( to the numer of nineteen"

&e sa's in his rst homi+' $hat he had a+read' said

in his confessions that he $ent to St" Peter and St"

!arnaas at Caesarea( to =no$ $hether the sou+ $as

immorta+( and the $or+d eterna+"

In the second homi+'( No" >>>%iii"( $e nd a much

more e>traordinar' )assa*e" St" Peter himse+f(

s)ea=in* of the O+d Testament( e>)resses himse+f

thus - #The $ritten +a$ contains certain fa+se thin*s

a*ainst the +a$ of od( the Creator of hea%en and



?9G Phi+oso)hica+

earth H the de%i+ has done this( for *ood reasons H it

has a+so come to )ass throu*h the Mud*ments of

od( in order to disco%er such as $ou+d +isten $ith

)+easure to $hat is $ritten a*ainst &im(# etc"

In the si>th homi+' St" C+ement meets $ith A)7

)ian( the same $ho had $ritten a*ainst the .e$s in

the time of Tierius" &e te++s A))ian that he is in

+o%e $ith an E*')tian $oman and e*s that he $i++

$rite a +etter in his name to his )retended mistress

to con%ince her( ' the e>am)+e of a++ the *ods( that

+o%e is a dut'" A))ian $rites a +etter and St" C+em7

ent ans$ers it in the name of his )retended mistress(

after $hich the' dis)ute on the nature of the *ods"

>>%"

T$o E)ist+es of St" C+ement to the Corinthians"

It hard+' seems Must to ha%e ran=ed these e)ist+es

amon* the a)ocr')ha+ $ritin*s" Some of the +earned

ma' ha%e dec+ined to reco*ni1e them ecause the'

s)ea= of #the )hoeni> of Araia( $hich +i%es %e

hundred 'ears( and urns itse+f in E*')t in the cit'

of &e+io)o+is"# !ut there is nothin* e>traordinar'



in St" C+ements ha%in* e+ie%ed this fa+e $hich so

man' others e+ie%ed( nor in his ha%in* $ritten

+etters to the Corinthians"

It is =no$n that there $as at that time a *reat

dis)ute et$een the church of Corinth and that of

Rome" The church of Corinth( $hich dec+ared itse+f

to ha%e een founded rst( $as *o%erned in common H

there $as scarce+' an' distinction et$een the )riests

Dictionar'" ?9

and the secu+ars( sti++ +ess et$een the )riests and the

isho) H a++ a+i=e had a de+ierati%e %oice( so( at +east(

se%era+ of the +earned assert" St" C+ement sa's to the

Corinthians in his rst e)ist+e - #4ou ha%e +aid the

rst foundations of seditionH e suMect to 'our

)riests( correct 'ourse+%es ' )enance( end the =nees

of 'our hearts( +earn to oe'"# It is not at a++ aston7

ishin* that a isho) of Rome shou+d use these e>7

)ressions"

In the second e)ist+e $e a*ain nd that ans$er of

.esus Christ( on ein* as=ed $hen &is =in*dom of



hea%en shou+d come- #When t$o sha++ ma=e one(

$hen that $hich is $ithout sha++ e $ithin( $hen

the ma+e sha++ e fema+e( $hen there sha++ e neither

ma+e nor fema+e"#

88VI"

Letter from St" I*natius the mart'r to the Vir*in

0ar'( and the Vir*ins ans$er to St" I*natius -

#To 0ar' the 0other of Christ( from her de7

%oted I*natius - 4ou shou+d conso+e me( a neo)h'te(

and a disci)+e of 'our .ohn" I ha%e heard se%era+

$onderfu+ thin*s of 'our .esus( at $hich I ha%e

een much astonished" I desire $ith a++ m' heart to

e informed of them ' 'ou( $ho a+$a's +i%ed in

fami+iarit' $ith &im and =ne$ a++ &is secrets" Fare

'ou $e++" Comfort the neo)h'tes( $ho are $ith me

from 'ou and throu*h 'ou" Amen"#

#The &o+' Vir*ins Ans$er to &er Dear Dis7

ci)+e I*natius-

#The &um+e Ser%ant of .esus Christ - A++ the



?9B Phi+oso)hica+

thin*s $hich 'ou ha%e +earned from .ohn are true H

e+ie%e in them H )erse%ere in 'our e+ief H =ee) 'our

%o$ of Christianit'" I $i++ come and see 'ou $ith

.ohn( 'ou and those $ho are $ith 'ou" !e rm in

the faith H act +i=e a man H +et not se%erit' and )er7

secution distur 'ou( ut +et 'our s)irit e stren*th7

ened and e>a+ted in od 'our Sa%iour" Amen"#

It is asserted that these +etters $ere $ritten in

the 'ear ::B of the Christian era( ut the' are not

therefore the +ess fa+se and asurd" The' $ou+d

e%en ha%e een an insu+t to our ho+' re+i*ion had

the' not een $ritten in a s)irit of sim)+icit'( $hich

renders e%er'thin* )ardona+e"

88VII"

Fra*ments of the A)ost+es" We nd in them this

)assa*e- #Pau+( a man of short stature( $ith an

aJui+ine nose and an an*e+ic face( instructed in

hea%en( said to P+anti++a( of Rome( efore he died-

Adieu( P+anti++a( thou +itt+e )+ant of eterna+ sa+%a7

tion H =no$ th' o$n noi+it' H thou art $hiter than



sno$H thou art re*istered amon* the so+diers of

ChristH thou art an heiress to the =in*dom of

hea%en" # This $as not $orth' to e refuted"

88VIII"

There are e+e%en A)oca+')ses( $hich are attri7

uted to the )atriarchs and )ro)hets( to St" Peter(

Cerinthus( St" Thomas( St" Ste)hen the rst mart'r(

t$o to St" .ohn( dierin* from the canonica+ one(

Dictionar'" ?9@

and three to St" Pau+" A++ these A)oca+')ses ha%e

een ec+i)sed ' that of St" .ohn"

88I8"

The Visions( Prece)ts( and Simi+itudes of &er7

mas" &ermas seems to ha%e +i%ed aout the c+ose of

the rst centur'" The' $ho re*ard his oo= as

a)ocr')ha+ are ne%erthe+ess o+i*ed to do Mustice to

his mora+it'" &e e*ins ' sa'in* that his foster7

father had so+d a 'oun* $oman at Rome" &ermas



reco*ni1ed this 'oun* $oman after the +a)se of se%7

era+ 'ears( and +o%ed her( he sa's( as if she had een

his sister" &e one da' sa$ her athin* in the Tier H

he stretched forth his hand( dre$ her out of the ri%er

and said in his heart( #&o$ ha))' shou+d I e if I

had a $ife +i=e her in eaut' rid in manners"# Im7

mediate+' the hea%ens o)ened( and he a++ at once

ehe+d this same $ife( $ho made him a courtes'

from ao%e( and said( #ood mornin*( &ermas"#

This $ife $as the Christian ChurchH she *a%e him

much *ood ad%ice"

A 'ear after( the s)irit trans)orted him to the

same )+ace $here he had seen this eaut'( $ho ne%7

erthe+ess $as o+d H ut she $as fresh in her a*e( and

$as o+d on+' ecause she had een created from the

e*innin* of the $or+d( and the $or+d had een made

for her"

The !oo= of Prece)ts contains fe$er a++e*ories(

ut that of Simi+itudes contains man'" #One da'(#

sa's &ermas( #$hen I $as fastin* and $as seated

?99 Phi+oso)hica+



on a hi++( *i%in* than=s to od for a++ that he had

done for me( a she)herd came( sat do$n eside me(

and said( Wh' ha%e 'ou come here so ear+' !e7

cause I am *oin* throu*h the stations ans$ered

I" What is a station as=ed the she)herd" It is a

fast" And $hat is this fast It is m' custom"

Ah re)+ied the she)herd( 'ou =no$ not $hat it is

to fastH a++ this is of no a%ai+ efore od" I $i++

teach 'ou that $hich is true fastin* and )+easin* to

the Di%init'" 4our fastin* has nothin* to do $ith

Mustice and %irtue" Ser%e od $ith a )ure heartH

=ee) &is commandments H admit into 'our heart no

*ui+t' desi*ns" If 'ou ha%e a+$a's the fear of od

efore 'our e'es if 'ou astain from a++ e%i+( that

$i++ e true fastin*( that $i++ e the *reat fast $hich

is acce)ta+e to od" #

This )hi+oso)hica+ and su+ime )iet' is one of the

most sin*u+ar monuments of the rst centur'" !ut

it is some$hat stran*e that( at the end of the Simi+i7

tudes( the she)herd *i%es him %er' *ood7natured

maidens %a+de aai+es to ta=e care of his house

and dec+ares to him that he cannot fu++ ods com7

mandments $ithout these maidens( $ho( it is )+ain(

t')if' the %irtues"



This +ist $ou+d ecome immense if $e $ere to

enter into e%er' detai+" We $i++ carr' it no further(

ut conc+ude $ith the Si'+s"

888"

The Si'+s" What is most a)ocr')ha+ in the

)rimiti%e church is the )rodi*ious numer of %erses

Dictionar'" ?9;

in fa%or of the Christian re+i*ion attriuted to the

ancient si'+s" Diodorus Sicu+us =ne$ of on+' one(

$ho $as ta=en at Thees ' the E)i*oni( and )+aced

at De+)hos efore the TroMan $ar" Ten si'+s that

is( ten )ro)hetesses( $ere soon made from this one"

She of Cuma had most credit amon* the Romans(

and the si'+ Er'threa amon* the ree=s"

As a++ orac+es $ere de+i%ered in %erse( none of the

si'+s cou+d fai+ to ma=e %ersesH and to *i%e them

*reater authorit' the' sometimes made them in

acrostics a+so" Se%era+ Christians $ho had not a



1ea+ accordin* to =no$+ed*e not on+' misinter)reted

the ancient %erses su))osed to ha%e een $ritten '

the si'+s( ut a+so made some themse+%es( and $hich

ds $orse( in acrostics( not dreamin* that this dicu+t

artice of acrostici1in* had no resem+ance $hate%er

to the ins)iration and enthusiasm of a )ro)hetess"

The' reso+%ed to su))ort the est of causes ' the

most a$=$ard fraud" The' accordin*+' made ad

ree= %erses( the initia+s of $hich si*nied in ree=

.esus( Christ( Son( Sa%iour( and these %erses said

that $ith %e +oa%es and t$o shes &e shou+d feed

%e thousand men in the desert and that $ith the

fra*ments that remained &e shou+d ++ t$e+%e as7

=ets"

The mi++ennium and the Ne$ .erusa+em( $hich

.ustin had seen in the air for fort' ni*hts( $ere( of

course( foreto+d ' the si'+s" In the fourth centur'

Lactantius co++ected a+most a++ the %erses attriuted

to the si'+s and considered them as con%incin*

Vo+" :9

?;< Phi+oso)hica+



)roofs" The o)inion $as so $e++ authori1ed and so

+on* he+d that $e sti++ sin* h'mns in $hich the testi7

mon' of the si'+s is Moined $ith the )redictions of

Da%id -

So+%et sUc+um infa%i++a(

Teste Da%id cum Si'++a"

This cata+o*ue of errors and frauds has een car7

ried Juite far enou*h" A hundred mi*ht e re)eated(

so constant+' has the $or+d een com)osed of de7

cei%ers and of )eo)+e fond of ein* decei%ed"

!ut +et us )ursue no further so dan*erous a re7

search" The e+ucidation of one *reat truth is $orth

more than the disco%er' of a thousand fa+sehoods"

Not a++ these errors( not a++ the cro$d of a)ocr')ha+

oo=s ha%e een sucient to inMure the Christian re7

+i*ion( ecause( as $e a++ =no$( it is founded u)on

immuta+e truths" These truths are su))orted ' a

church mi+itant and trium)hant( to $hich od has

*i%en the )o$er of teachin* and of re)ressin*" In

se%era+ countries it unites tem)ora+ $ith s)iritua+ au7

thorit'" Prudence( stren*th( $ea+th are its attri7

utes( and a+thou*h it is di%ided( and its di%isions



ha%e sometimes stained it $ith +ood( it ma' te com7

)ared to the Roman common$ea+th constant+' torn

' interna+ dissensions( ut constant+' trium)hant"

APOSTATE"

IT is sti++ a Juestion amon* the +earned $hether

the Em)eror .u+ian $as rea++' an a)ostate and

$hether he $as e%er tru+' a Christian" &e $as

Dictionar'" ?;:

not si> 'ears o+d $hen the Em)eror Constantius(

sti++ more ararous than Constantine( had his

father( his rother( and se%en of his cousins mur7

dered" &e and his rother Ca++us $ith dicu+t'

esca)ed from this carna*e( ut he $as a+$a's %er'

harsh+' treated ' Constantius" &is +ife $as for a

+on* time threatened( and he soon ehe+d his on+'

remainin* rother assassinated ' the t'rants order"

The most ararous of the Tur=ish su+tans ha%e

ne%er( I am sorr' to sa' it( sur)assed in crue+t' or

in %i++ain' the Constantine fami+'" From his tender7

est 'ears stud' $as .u+ians on+' conso+ation" &e



communicated in secret $ith the most i++ustrious of

the )hi+oso)hers( $ho $ere of the ancient re+i*ion of

Rome" It is %er' )roa+e that he )rofessed that of

his unc+e Constantius on+' to a%oid assassination"

.u+ian $as o+i*ed to concea+ his menta+ )o$ers( as

!rutus had done under TarJuin" &e $as +ess +i=e+'

to e a Christian( as his unc+e had forced him to e a

mon= and to )erform the oce of reader in the

church" A man is rare+' of the re+i*ion of his )erse7

cutor( es)ecia++' $hen the +atter $ishes to e ru+er

of his conscience"

Another circumstance $hich renders this )roa+e

is that he does not sa' in an' of his $or=s that he

had een a Christian" &e ne%er as=s )ardon for it of

the )ontis of the ancient re+i*ion" &e addresses

them in his +etters as if he had a+$a's een attached

to the $orshi) of the senate" It is not e%en )ro%ed

that he )ractise the ceremonies of the Tauroo+ium(

?;? Phi+oso)hica+

$hich mi*ht e re*arded as a sort of e>)iation( and

that he desired to $ash out $ith u++s +ood that



$hich he so unfortunate+' ca++ed the stain of his a)7

tism" &o$e%er( this $as a )a*an form of de%otion(

$hich is no more a )roof than the assem+in* at the

m'steries of Ceres" In short( neither his friends nor

his enemies re+ate an' fact( an' $ords $hich can

)ro%e that he e%er e+ie%ed in Christianit'( and that

he )assed from that sincere e+ief to the $orshi)

of the *ods of the em)ire" If such e the case the'

$ho do not s)ea= of him as an a)ostate a))ear %er'

e>cusa+e"

Sound criticism ein* rou*ht to )erfection( a++

the $or+d no$ ac=no$+ed*es that the Em)eror .u7

+ian $as a hero and a $ise man a stoic( eJua+ to

0arcus Aure+ius" &is errors are condemned( ut

his %irtues are admitted" &e is no$ re*arded( as he

$as ' his contem)orar'( Prudentius( author of the

h'mn #Sa+%ete &ares mart'rum"# &e sa's of .u+ian -

Ductor fortissimus armis(

Conditor et +e*um ce+eerrimus H ore manuJue

Consu+tor)atricEH sednon consu+ tor haendus

Re+i*ionis amans tercentum mi++ia di%um

Perdus i++e Deo( sednon est )erdus ori"

Thou*h *reat in arms( in %irtues( and in +a$s(

Thou*h a+' 1ea+ous in his countr's cause(



&e s)urned re+i*ion in his +oft' )+an(

ReMectin* od $hi+e enetin* man"

&is detractors are reduced to the misera+e e>)e7

dient of stri%in* to ma=e him a))ear ridicu+ous" One

historian( on the authorit' of St" re*or' Na1ian1en(

re)roaches him $ith ha%in* $orn too +ar*e a eard"

!ut( m' friend( if nature *a%e him a +on* eard $h'

Dictionar'" ?;3

shou+d he $ear it short &e used to sha=e his head"

Carr' th' o$n etter" &is ste) $as hurried" !ear

in mind that the Ae dAui*nac( the =in*s

)reacher( ha%in* een hissed at the )+a'( +au*hs at

the air and *ait of the *reat Cornei++e" Cou+d 'ou

ho)e to turn 0arsha+ de Lu>emour* into ridicu+e

ecause he $a+=ed i++ and his *ure $as sin*u+ar

&e cou+d march %er' $e++ a*ainst the enem'" Let us

+ea%e it to the e>7.esuit Patoui++et( the e>7.esuit

Nonotte( etc"( to ca++ the Em)eror .u+ian the A)os7

tate" Poor creatures &is Christian successor( .o7

%ian( ca++ed him Di%us .u+ianus"



Let us treat this mista=en em)eror as he himse+f

treated us" &e saidM #We shou+d )it' and not hate

themH the' are a+read' sucient+' unfortunate in

errin* on the most im)ortant of Juestions"# Let us

ha%e the same com)assion for him( since $e are sure

that the truth is on our side" &e rendered strict

Mustice to his suMects( +et us then render it to his

memor'" Some A+e>andrians $ere incensed a*ainst

a isho)( $ho( it is true( $as a $ic=ed man( chosen

' a $orth+ess caa+" &is name $as eor*e !ior7

dos( and he $as the son of a mason" &is manners

$ere +o$er than his irth" &e united the asest

)erd' $ith the most ruta+ ferocit'( and su)ersti7

tion $ith e%er' %ice" A ca+umniator( a )ersecutor(

and an im)ostor a%aricious( san*uinar'( and sedi7

tious( he $as detested ' e%er' )art' and at +ast the

)eo)+e cud*e++ed him to death" The fo++o$in* is

the +etter $hich the Em)eror .u+ian $rote to the

?;G Phi+oso)hica+

A+e>andrians on the suMect of this )o)u+ar commo7

tion" 0ar= ho$ he addresses them( +i=e a father and

a Mud*e -



#What # said he( #instead of reser%in* for me the

=no$+ed*e of 'our $ron*s 'ou ha%e suered 'our7

se+%es to e trans)orted $ith an*er 4ou ha%e een

*ui+t' of the same e>cesses $ith $hich 'ou re)roach

'our enemies eor*e deser%ed to e so treated( ut

it $as not for 'ou to e his e>ecutioners" 4ou ha%e

+a$s H 'ou shou+d ha%e demanded Mustice(# etc"

Some ha%e dared to rand .u+ian $ith the e)ithets

into+erant and )ersecutin* the man $ho sou*ht to

e>tir)ate )ersecution and into+erance Peruse his

ft'7second +etter( and res)ect his memor'" Is he

not sucient+' unfortunate in not ha%in* een a

Catho+ic( and conseJuent+' in ein* urned in he++(

to*ether $ith the innumera+e mu+titude of those

$ho ha%e not een Catho+ics( $ithout our insu+tin*

him so far as to accuse him of into+erance

On the +oes of Fire said to ha%e issued from the

Earth to )re%ent the reui+din* of the Tem)+e of

.erusa+em under the Em)eror .u+ian"

It is %er' +i=e+' that $hen .u+ian reso+%ed to carr'

the $ar into Persia he $anted mone'" It is a+so %er'

+i=e+' that the .e$s *a%e him some for )ermission to



reui+d their tem)+e( $hich Titus had )art+' de7

stro'ed( ut of $hich there sti++ remained the foun7

dations( an entire $a++( and the Antonine to$er" !ut

Dictionar'" ?;

is it as +i=e+' that *+oes of re urst u)on the $or=s

and the $or=men and caused the underta=in* to e

re+inJuished Is there not a )a+)a+e contradiction

in $hat the historians re+ate

:" &o$ cou+d it e that the .e$s e*an ' de7

stro'in* as the' are said to ha%e doneQ the founda7

tions of the tem)+e $hich it $as their $ish and their

dut' to reui+d on the same s)ot The tem)+e $as

necessari+' to e on 0ount 0oriah" There it $as

that So+omon had ui+t it" There it $as that &erod

had reui+t it $ith *reater so+idit' and ma*nicence(

ha%in* )re%ious+' erected a ne theatre at .erusa+em(

and a tem)+e to Au*ustus at Caesarea" The founda7

tions of this tem)+e( en+ar*ed ' &erod( $ere( ac7

cordin* to .ose)hus( as much as t$ent'7%e feet

road" Cou+d the .e$s( in .u+ians time( )ossi+' e

mad enou*h to $ish to disarran*e these stones $hich



$ere so $e++ )re)ared to recei%e the rest of the edi7

ce( and u)on $hich the 0ahometans after$ards

ui+t their mosJue What man $as e%er foo+ish and

stu)id enou*h thus to de)ri%e himse+f at *reat cost

and e>cessi%e +aor of the *reatest ad%anta*e that

cou+d )resent itse+f to his hands and e'es Nothin*

is more incredi+e"

?" &o$ cou+d eru)tions of ame urst forth

from the interior of these stones There mi*ht e

an earthJua=e in the nei*horhood( for the' are fre7

Juent in S'ria( ut that *reat +oc=s of stone shou+d

ha%e %omited c+ouds of re Is not this stor' en7

tit+ed to Must as much credit as a++ those of antiJuit'

i*B Phi+oso)hica+

3" If this )rodi*'( or if an earthJua=e( $hich is

not a )rodi*'( had rea++' ha))ened $ou+d not the

Em)eror .u+ian ha%e s)o=en of it in the +etter in

$hich he sa's that he had intended to reui+d this

tem)+e Wou+d not his testimon' ha%e een tri7

um)hant+' adduced Is it not innite+' more )roa7

+e that he chan*ed his mind Does not this +ettei



contain these $ords-

#6uid de tem)+o suo dicent( Juod( Juum tertio

sit e%ersum( nondum hodiernam usJue diem instau7

ratur &a1e e*o( non ut i++is e>)roarem( in me7

dium addu>i( ut)ote Jui tem)+um i++ud tanto inter7

%a++o a ruinis e>citare %o+uerimH sed idea com7

$iemora%i( ut ostenderem de+irasse )ro)hetas istos(

Juius cum sto+idis anicu+is ne*otium erat"#

#What $i++ the' the .e$sQ sa' of their tem)+e

$hich has een destro'ed for the third time and is

not 'et restored I s)ea= of this( not for the )ur7

)ose of re)roachin* them( for I m'se+f had intended

to raise it once more from its ruins( ut to sho$ the

e>tra%a*ance of their )ro)hets $ho had none ut o+d

$omen to dea+ $ith"#

Is it not e%ident that the em)eror ha%in* )aid at7

tention to the .e$ish )ro)hecies( that the tem)+e

shou+d e reui+t more eautifu+ than e%er and that

a++ the nations of the earth shou+d come and $orshi)

in it( thou*ht t to re%o=e the )ermission to raise

the edice The historica+ )roai+it'( then( from

the em)erors o$n $ords( is( that unfortunate+'

ho+din* the .e$ish oo=s( as $e++ as our o$n( in



Dictionar'" ?;@

ahorrence( he at +en*th reso+%ed to ma=e the .e$ish

)ro)hets +ie"

The Ae de +a !+etrie( the historian of the Em7

)eror .u+ian( does not understand ho$ the tem)+e of

.erusa+em $as destro'ed three times" &e sa's that

a))arent+' .u+ian rec=oned as a third destruction

the catastro)he $hich ha))ened durin* his rei*n" A

curious destruction this the non7remo%a+ of the

stones of an o+d foundation" What cou+d )re%ent

this $riter from seein* that the tem)+e( ha%in* een

ui+t ' So+omon( reconstructed ' 5oroae+( en7

tire+' destro'ed ' &erod( reui+t ' &erod himse+f

$ith so much ma*nicence( and at +ast +aid in ruins

' Titus( manifest+' made three destructions of the

tem)+e The rec=onin* is correct" .u+ian shou+d

sure+' ha%e esca)ed ca+umn' on this )oint"

The Ae de +a !+etrie ca+umniates him su7

cient+' ' sa'in* that a++ his %irtues $ere on+' seem7

in*( $hi+e a++ his %ices $ere rea+" !ut .u+ian $as



not h')ocritica+( nor a%aricious( nor fraudu+ent( nor

+'in*( nor un*ratefu+( nor co$ard+'( nor drun=en(

nor deauched( nor id+e( nor %indicti%e" What then

$ere his %ices

G" Let us no$ e>amine the redouta+e ar*u7

ment made use of to )ersuade us that *+oes of re

issued from stones" Ammianus 0arceTIinus a )a*an

$riter( free from a++ sus)icion( has said it" !e it so -

ut this Ammianus has a+so said that $hen the em7

)eror $as aout to sacrice ten o>en to his *ods for

his rst %ictor' o%er the Persians( nine of them fe++

?;9 Phi+oso)hica+

to the earth efore the' $ere )resented to the a+tar"

&e re+ates a hundred )redictions a hundred )rodi7

*ies" Are $e to e+ie%e in them Are $e to e+ie%e

in a++ the ridicu+ous mirac+es re+ated ' Li%'

!esides( $ho can sa' that the te>t of Ammianus

0arce++inus has not een fa+sied Wou+d it e the

on+' instance in $hich this artice has een em7

)+o'ed



I $onder that no mention is made of the +itt+e

er' crosses $hich a++ the $or=men found on their

odies $hen the' $ent to ed" The' $ou+d ha%e

made an admira+e *ure a+on* $ith the *+oes"

The fact is that the tem)+e of the .e$s $as not

reui+t( and it ma' e )resumed ne%er $i++ e so"

&ere +et us ho+d( and not see= use+ess )rodi*ies"

+oi ammarum *+oes of re( issue neither from

stones nor from earth" Ammianus( and those $ho

ha%e Juoted him( $ere not natura+ )hi+oso)hers" Let

the Ae de +a !+etrie on+' +oo= at the re on St"

.ohns da'( and he $i++ see that ame a+$a's ascends

$ith a )oint( or in a c+oud( and ne%er in a *+oe"

This a+one is sucient to o%erturn the nonsense

$hich he comes for$ard to defend $ith inMudicious

criticism and re%o+tin* )ride"

After a++( the thin* is of %er' +itt+e im)ortance"

There is nothin* in it that aects either faith or

mora+s H and historica+ truth is a++ that is here sou*ht

for"



Dictionar'" ?;;

APOSTLES"

Their Li%es( their Wi%es( their Chi+dren"

AFTER the artic+e #A)ost+e# in the Enc'c+o)aedia(

$hich is as +earned as it is orthodo>( %er' +itt+e re7

mains to e said" !ut $e often hear it as=ed Were

the a)ost+es married &ad the' an' chi+dren if

the' had( $hat ecame of those chi+dren Where

did the a)ost+es +i%e Where did the' $rite Where

did the' die &ad the' an' a))ro)riated districts

Did the' e>ercise an' ci%i+ ministr' &ad the' an'

Murisdiction o%er the faithfu+ Were the' isho)s

&ad the' a hierarch'( rites( or ceremonies

i"

Were the A)ost+es 0arried

There is e>tant a +etter attriuted to St" I*natius

the 0art'r( in $hich are these decisi%e $ords - #I

ca++ to mind 'our sanctit' as I do that of E+ias( .ere7

miah( .ohn the !a)tist( and the chosen disci)+es Tim7

oth'( Titus( E%adius( and C+ementH 'et I do not

+ame such other of the +essed as $ere ound in



the onds of marria*e( ut ho)e to e found $orth'

of od in fo++o$in* their footste)s in his =in*dom(

after the e>am)+e of Araham( Isaac( .aco( .ose)h(

Isaiah( and the other )ro)hets of Peter and Pau+(

and the a)ost+es $ho $ere married"#

Some of the +earned assert that the name of St"

Pau+ has een inter)o+ated in this famous +etter-

ho$e%er( Turrian and a++ $ho ha%e seen the +etters

3<< Phi+oso)hica+

of I*natius in the +irar' of the Vatican ac=no$+7

ed*e that St" Pau+s name a))ears there" And !a7

ronius does not den' that this )assa*e is to e found

in some ree= manuscri)ts - Non ne*amus in Jui7

usdam *reeds codicius" !ut he asserts that these

$ords ha%e een added ' modern ree=s"

In the o+d O>ford +irar' there $as a manuscri)t

of St" I*natiuss +etters in ree=( $hich contained the

ao%e $ordsH ut it $as( I e+ie%e( urned $ith

man' other oo=s at the ta=in* of O>ford ' Crom7

$e++" There is sti++ one in Latin in the same +irar'(



in $hich the $ords Pau+i et a)osto+orum ha%e een

eaced( ut in such a manner that the o+d characters

ma' e easi+' distin*uished"

It is ho$e%er certain that this )assa*e e>ists in

se%era+ editions of these +etters" This dis)ute aout

St" Pau+s marria*e is( after a++( a %er' fri%o+ous one"

What matters it $hether he $as married or not( if

the other a)ost+es $ere married &is rst E)ist+e

to the Corinthians is Juite sucient to )ro%e that

he mi*ht e married( as $e++ as the rest -

#&a%e $e not )o$er to eat and to drin= &a%e

$e not )o$er to +ead aout a sister( a $ife( as $e++

as other a)ost+es( and as the rethren of the Lord(

and Ce)has Or I on+' and !arnaas( ha%e not $e

)o$er to forear $or=in* Who *oeth a $arfare

an' time at his o$n char*es #

It is c+ear from this )assa*e that a++ the a)ost+es

$ere married( as $e++ as St" Peter" And St" C+ement

of A+e>andria )ositi%e+' dec+ares that St" Pau+ had a

Dictionar'" 3<:



$ife" The Roman disci)+ine has chan*ed( $hich is

no )roof that the usa*e of the )rimiti%e a*es $as

not dierent"

n"

Chi+dren of the A)ost+es"

Ver' +itt+e is =no$n of their fami+ies" St" C+ement

of A+e>andria sa's that Peter had chi+dren( that

Phi+i) had dau*hters( and that he *a%e them in mar7

ria*e" The Acts of the A)ost+es s)ecif' St" Phi+i)(

$hose four dau*hters )ro)hesied( of $hom it is e7

+ie%ed that one $as married( and that this one $as

St" &ermione"

Euseius re+ates that Nicho+as( chosen ' the

a)ost+es to co7o)erate in the sacred ministr' $ith

St" Ste)hen( had a %er' handsome $ife( of $hom he

$as Mea+ous" The a)ost+es ha%in* re)roached him

$ith his Mea+ous'( he corrected himse+f of it( rou*ht

his $ife to them and said( #I am read' to 'ie+d her

u)H +et him marr' her $ho $i++"# The a)ost+es(

ho$e%er( did not acce)t his )ro)osa+" &e had ' his

$ife a son and se%era+ dau*hters"



C+eo)has( accordin* to Euseius and St" E)i)ha7

nius( $as rother to St" .ose)h( and father of St"

.ames the Less( and of St" .ude( $hom he had '

0ar'( sister to the !+essed Vir*in" So that St" .ude

the a)ost+e $as rst cousin to .esus Christ"

&e*esi))us( Juoted ' Euseius( te++s us that t$o

*randsons of St" .ude $ere informed a*ainst to the

Em)eror Domitian as ein* descendants of Da%id

3<? Phi+oso)hica+

and ha%in* an incontesta+e ri*ht to the throne of

.erusa+em" Domitian( fearin* that the' mi*ht a%ai+

themse+%es of this ri*ht( )ut Juestions to them him7

se+f( and the' acJuainted him $ith their *enea+o*'"

The em)eror as=ed them $hat fortune the' had"

The' ans$ered that the' had thirt'7nine acres of

+and( $hich )aid triute( and that the' $or=ed for

their +i%e+ihood" &e then as=ed them $hen .esus

Christs =in*dom $as to come( and the' to+d him

#At the end of the $or+d"# After $hich Domitian

)ermitted them to de)art in )eace H $hich *oes far to



)ro%e that he $as not a )ersecutor" This( if I mis7

ta=e not( is a++ that is =no$n aout the chi+dren of

the a)ost+es"

in"

Where did the A)ost+es Li%e Where did The' Die

Accordin* to Euseius( .ames( surnamed the .ust(

rother to .esus Christ( $as in the e*innin* )+aced

rst on the e)isco)a+ throne of the cit' of .erusa+em H

these are his o$n $ords" So that( accordin* to

him( the rst isho)ric $as that of .erusa+em su)7

)osin* that the .e$s =ne$ e%en the name of isho)"

It does( indeed( a))ear %er' +i=e+' that the rother

of .esus Christ shou+d ha%e een the rst after him(

and that the %er' cit' in $hich the mirac+e of our

sa+%ation $as $or=ed shou+d ha%e ecome the

metro)o+is of the Christian $or+d" As for the e)is7

co)a+ throne( that is a term $hich Euseius uses '

antici)ation" We a++ =no$ that there $as then neither

throne nor see(

Dictionar'" 3<3



Euseius adds( after St" C+ement( that the other

a)ost+es did not contend $ith St" .ames for this di*7

nit'" The' e+ected him immediate+' after the Ascen7

sion" #Our Lord(# sa's he( #after &is resurrection(

had *i%en to .ames( surnamed the .ust( to .ohn and

to Peter the *ift of =no$+ed*e# %er' remar=a+e

$ords" Euseius mentions .ames rst( then .ohn(

and Peter comes +ast" It seems ut Must that the

rother and the e+o%ed disci)+e of .esus shou+d

come efore the man $ho had denied &im" Near+'

the $ho+e ree= Church and a++ the reformers as=(

Where is Peters )rimac' The Catho+ics ans$er

If he is not )+aced rst ' the fathers of the church(

he is in the Acts of the A)ost+es" The ree=s and the

rest re)+' that he $as not the rst isho) H and the

dis)ute $i++ endure as +on* as the churches"

St" .ames( this rst isho) of .erusa+em( a+$a's

continued to oser%e the 0osaic +a$" &e $as a

RechaiteH he $a+=ed arefoot( and ne%er sha%edH

$ent and )rostrated himse+f in the .e$ish tem)+e

t$ice a da'( and $as surnamed ' the .e$s O+ia(

si*nif'in* the Must" The' at +en*th a))+ied to him

to =no$ $ho .esus Christ $as( and ha%in* ans$ered

that .esus $as the son of man( $ho sat on the ri*ht

hand of od( and that &e shou+d come in the c+ouds(



he $as eaten to death" This $as St" .ames the

Less"

St" .ames the reater $as his unc+e( rother to

St" .ohn the E%an*e+ist( and son of 5eedee and

Sa+ome" It is asserted that A*ri))a( =in* of the

3<G Phi+oso)hica+

.e$s( had him eheaded at .erusa+em" St" .ohn re7

mained in Asia and *o%erned the church of E)hesus(

$here( it is said( he $as uried" St" Andre$( rother

to St" Peter( Juitted the schoo+ of St" .ohn for that

of .esus Christ" It is not a*reed $hether he

)reached amon* the Tartars or in Ar*osH ut( to

*et rid of the dicu+t'( $e are to+d that it $as in

E)irus" No one =no$s $here he suered mart'r7

dom( nor e%en $hether he suered it at a++" The

Acts of his mart'rdom are more than sus)ected '

the +earned" Painters ha%e a+$a's re)resented him

on a sa+tier7cross( to $hich his name has een *i%en"

This custom has )re%ai+ed $ithout its ori*in ein*

=no$n"



St" Peter )reached to the .e$s dis)ersed in Pon7

tus( !ith'nia( Ca))adocia( at Antioch( and at !a'7

+on" The Acts of the A)ost+es do not s)ea= of his

Mourne' to Rome( nor does St" Pau+ himse+f ma=e

an' mention of it in the +etters $hich he $rote from

that ca)ita+" St" .ustin is the rst accredited author

$ho s)ea=s of this Mourne'( aout $hich the +earned

are not a*reed" St" Irenseus( after St" .ustin( e>7

)ress+' sa's that St" Peter and St" Pau+ came to

Rome( and that the' entrusted its *o%ernment to St"

Linus" !ut here is another dicu+t' - if the' made

St" Linus ins)ector of the risin* Christian societ' at

Rome( it must e inferred that the' themse+%es did

not su)erintend it nor remain in that cit'"

Criticism has cast u)on this matter a thousand

uncertainties" The o)inion that St" Peter came to

Dictionar'" 3<

Rome in Neros rei*n and ++ed the )ontica+ chair

there for t$ent'7%e 'ears( is untena+e( for Nero

rei*ned on+' thirteen 'ears" The $ooden chair( so

s)+endid+' in+aid in the church at Rome( can hard+'



ha%e e+on*ed to St" Peter- $ood does not +ast so

+on*H nor is it +i=e+' that St" Peter de+i%ered his

+essons from this chair as in a schoo+ thorou*h+'

formed( since it is a%erred that the .e$s of Rome

$ere %io+ent enemies to the disci)+es of .esus Christ"

The *reatest dicu+t' )erha)s is that St" Pau+( in

his e)ist+e $ritten to the Co+ossians from Rome( )os7

iti%e+' sa's that he $as assisted on+' ' Aristarchus(

0arcus( and another earin* the name of .esus"

This oMection has( to men of the *reatest +earnin*(

a))eared to e insurmounta+e"

In his +etter to the a+atians he sa's that he

o+i*ed .ames( Ce)has( and .ohn( $ho seemed to e

)i++ars( to ac=no$+ed*e himse+f and !arnaas as

)i++ars a+so" If he )+aced .ames efore Ce)has( then

Ce)has $as not the chief" &a))i+'( these dis)utes

aect not the foundation of our ho+' re+i*ion"

Whether St" Peter e%er $a"s at Rome or not( .esus

Christ is no +ess the Son of od and the Vir*in

0ar'H &e did not the +ess rise a*ainH nor did &e

the +ess recommend humi+it' and )o%ert'H $hich

are ne*+ected( it is true( ut aout $hich there is no

dis)ute"



Ca++istus Nice)horus( a $riter of the fourteenth

centur'( sa's that #Peter $as ta++( strai*ht and s+en7

der( his face +on* and )a+e( his eard and hair short(

Vo+" :;

3<B Phi+oso)hica+

cur+'( and ne*+ected his e'es +ac=( his nose +on*(

and rather at than )ointed"# So Ca+met trans+ates

the )assa*e"

St" !artho+ome$ is a $ord corru)ted from !ar"

Pto+omaios( son of Pto+em'" The Acts of the

A)ost+es inform us that he $as a a+i+ean" Euseius

asserts that he $ent to )reach in India( Araia Fe+i>(

Persia( and A'ssinia" &e is e+ie%ed to ha%e een

the same as Nathanae+" There is a *os)e+ at7

triuted to him H ut a++ that has een said of his +ife

and of his death is %er' uncertain" It has een as7

serted that Ast'a*es( rother to Po+emon( =in* of

Armenia( had him a'ed a+i%e H ut a++ *ood $riters

re*ard this stor' as fau+ous"

St" Phi+i)" Accordin* to the a)ocr')ha+ +e*ends



he +i%ed ei*ht'7se%en 'ears( and died in )eace in the

rei*n of TraMan"

St" Thomas Did'mus" Ori*en( Juoted ' Euse7

ius( sa's that he $ent and )reached to the 0edes(

the Persians( the Caramanians( the !as=erians( and

the ma*i as if the ma*i had een a )eo)+e" It is

added that he a)ti1ed one of the ma*i( $ho had

come to !eth+ehem" The 0anichaeans assert that a

man $ho had stric=en Thomas $as de%oured ' a

+ion" Some Portu*uese $riters assure us that he

suered mart'rdom at 0e+ia)our( in the )eninsu+a

of India" The ree= Church e+ie%es that he

)reached in India( and that from thence his od' $as

carried to Edessa" Some mon=s are further induced

to e+ie%e that he $ent to India( ' the circumstance

Dictionar'" 3<@

that( aout the end of the fteenth centur'( there

$ere found( near the coast of Ormu1( some fami+ies

of Nestorians( $ho had een esta+ished there ' a

merchant of 0oussou+( named Thomas" The +e*end

sets forth that he ui+t a ma*nicent )a+ace for an



Indian =in* named ondaser- ut a++ these stories

are reMected ' the +earned"

St" 0atthias" No )articu+ars are =no$n of him"

&is +ife $as not found unti+ the t$e+fth centur' '

a mon= of the ae' of St" 0atthias of Tre%es" &e

said he had it from a .e$( $ho trans+ated it for him

from &ere$ into Latin"

St" 0atthe$" Accordin* to Runus( Socrates(

and Adias( he )reached and died in Ethio)ia"

&erac+eon ma=es him +i%e a +on* time and die a

natura+ death" !ut Adias sa's that &'rtacus( =in*

of Ethio)ia( rother to E*+')us( $ishin* to marr'

his niece I)hi*enia( and ndin* that he cou+d not

otain St" 0atthe$s )ermission( had his head struc=

o and set re to I)hi*enias house" &e to $hom

$e o$e the most circumstantia+ *os)e+ that $e )os7

sess deser%ed a etter historian than Adias"

St" Simon the Canaanite( $hose feast is com7

mon+' Moined $ith that of St" .ude" Of his +ife

nothin* is =no$n" The modern ree=s sa' that he

$ent to )reach in Li'a( and thence into En*+and"

Others ma=e him suer mart'rdom in Persia"



St" Thaddaeus or Leaeus" The same as St"

.ude( $hom the .e$s in St" 0atthe$ ca++ rother to

.esus Christ( and $ho( accordin* to Euseius( $as

3<9 Phi+oso)hica+

his rst cousin" A++ these re+ations( for the most )art

%a*ue and uncertain( thro$ no +i*ht on the +i%es of

the a)ost+es" !ut if there is +itt+e to *ratif' our curi7

osit'( there is much from $hich $e ma' deri%e in7

struction" T$o of the four *os)e+s( chosen from

amon* the ft'7four com)osed ' the rst Chris7

tians( $ere not $ritten ' a)ost+es"

St" Pau+ $as not one of the t$e+%e a)ost+es( 'et

he contriuted more than an' other to the esta+ish7

ment of Christianit'" &e $as the on+' man of +etters

amon* them" &e had studied under ama+ie+" Fes7

tus himse+f( the *o%ernor of .udaea( re)roaches him

$ith ein* too +earned H and( una+e to com)rehend

the su+imities of his doctrine( he sa's to him( #In7

sanis( Pau+e( mu+tce te +itterce ad insaniam con%ert7

unt"# #Pau+( thou art eside th'se+f H much +earnin*

doth ma=e thee mad"#



In his rst e)ist+e to the Corinthians he ca++s him7

se+f sent" #Am I not an a)ost+e Am I not free

&a%e I not seen .esus Christ our Lord Are 'e not

m' $or= in the Lord If I am not an a)ost+e unto

others( 'et( dout+ess( I am unto 'ou(# etc"

&e mi*ht( indeed( ha%e seen .esus $hi+e he $as

stud'in* at .erusa+em under ama+ie+" 4et it ma'

e said that this $as not a reason $hich cou+d au7

thori1e his a)ost+eshi)" &e had not een one of the

disci)+es of .esusH on the contrar'( he had )erse7

cuted them( and had een an accom)+ice in the death

of St" Ste)hen" It is astonishin* that he does not

rather Mustif' his %o+untar' a)ost+eshi) ' the mira7

Dictionar'" 3<;

c+e $hich .esus Christ after$ards $or=ed in his

fa%or ' the +i*ht from hea%en $hich a))eared to

him at midda' and thre$ him from his horse( and

' his ein* carried u) to the third hea%en"

St" E)i)hanius Juotes Acts of the A)ost+es( e7



+ie%ed to ha%e een com)osed ' those Christians

ca++ed Eionites( or )oor( and $hich $ere reMected '

the Church acts %er' ancient( it is true( ut fu++ of

ause of St" Pau+" In them it is said that St" Pau+

$as orn at Tarsus of ido+atrous )arents utroJue

)arente *enti+i )rocreatus that( ha%in* come to

.erusa+em( $here he remained some time( he $ished

to marr' the dau*hter of ama+ie+ H that( $ith this de7

si*n( he ecame a .e$ish )rose+'te and *ot himse+f

circumcisedH ut that( not otainin* this %ir*in or

not ndin* her a %ir*inQ( his %e>ation made him

$rite a*ainst circumcision( a*ainst the Saath( and

a*ainst the $ho+e +a$"

#6uumJue &ieroso+'mam accessisset( et iidem

a+iJuandiu mansisset( )onticis +iam ducere in ani7

mum indu>isse( et earn o rent )rose+'tum factum(

atJue circumcisum esseH )osted Juod %ir*inem earn

non acce)isset( succensuisse( et ad%ersus circum7

cisionem( ac saathum totamJue +e*em scri)sisse"#

These inMurious $ords sho$ that these )rimiti%e

Christians( under the name of the )oor( $ere sti++

attached to the Saath and to circumcision( restin*

this attachment on the circumcision of .esus Christ

and his oser%ance of the SaathH and that the'



$ere enemies to St" Pau+( re*ardin* him as an in7

3:< Phi+oso)hica+

truder $ho sou*ht to o%erturn e%er'thin*" In short(

the' $ere heretics H conseJuent+' the' stro%e to de7

fame their enemies( an e>cess of $hich )art' s)irit

and su)erstition are too often *ui+t'" St" Pau+( too(

ca++s them #fa+se a)ost+es( deceitfu+ $or=ers(# and

+oads them $ith ause" In his +etter to the Phi+i)7

)ians he ca++s them do*s"

St" .erome asserts that he $as orn at iscea+a( a

to$n of a+i+ee( and not at Tarsus" Others dis)ute

his ha%in* een a Roman citi1en( ecause at that

time there $ere no Roman citi1ens at Tarsus( nor at

a+*a+a( and Tarsus $as not a Roman co+on' unti+

aout a hundred 'ears after" !ut $e must e+ie%e

the Acts of the A)ost+es( $hich $ere ins)ired '

the &o+' host( and therefore out$ei*h the testi7

mon' of St" .erome( +earned as he mi*ht e"

E%er' )articu+ar re+ati%e to St" Peter and St"

Pau+ is interestin*" If Nice)horus has *i%en us a



)ortrait of the one( the Acts of St" Thec+a( $hich(

thou*h not canonica+( are of the rst centur'( ha%e

furnished us $ith a )ortrait of the other" &e $as(

sa' these acts( short in stature( his head $as a+d( his

thi*hs $ere croo=ed( his +e*s thic=( his nose aJui+ine(

his e'ero$s Moined( and he $as fu++ of the *race of

od" Statura re%i( etc"

These Acts of St" Pau+ and St" Thec+a $ere( ac7

cordin* to Tertu++ian( com)osed ' an Asiatic( one of

Pau+s o$n disci)+es( $ho at rst )ut them forth

under the a)ost+es name H for $hich he $as ca++ed

to account and dis)+aced that is( e>c+uded from the

Dictionar'" 3::

assem+'H for the hierarch'( not ein* then esta7

+ished( no one cou+d( )ro)er+' s)ea=in*( e dis)+aced"

IV"

/nder What Disci)+ine Did the A)ost+es and Primi7

ti%e Disci)+es Li%e



It a))ears that the' $ere a++ eJua+" EJua+it' $as

the *reat )rinci)+e of the Essenians( the Rechaites(

the Thera)utae( the disci)+es of .ohn( and es)ecia++'

those of .esus Christ( $ho incu+cated it more than

once"

St" !arnaas( $ho $as not one of the t$e+%e a)os7

t+es( *a%e his %oice a+on* $ith theirs" St" Pau+( $ho

$as sti++ +ess a chosen a)ost+e durin* the +ife of .esus(

not on+' $as eJua+ to them( ut had a sort of as7

cendanc' H he rude+' reu=es St" Peter"

When the' are to*ether $e nd amon* them no

su)erior" There $as no )residin*( not e%en in turn"

The' did not at rst ca++ themse+%es isho)s" St"

Peter *i%es the name of isho)( or the eJui%a+ent e)i7

thet( on+' to .esus Christ( $hom he ca++s the in7

s)ector of sou+s" This name of ins)ector or isho)

$as after$ards *i%en to the ancients( $hom $e ca++

)riestsH ut $ith no ceremon'( no di*nit'( no dis7

tincti%e mar= of )re7eminence" It $as the oce of

the ancients or e+ders to distriute the a+ms" The

'oun*er of them $ere chosen ' a )+ura+it' of %oices

to ser%e the ta+es( and $ere se%en in numerH a++

$hich c+ear+' %eries the re)orts in common" Of

Murisdiction( of )o$er( of command( not the +east



trace is to e found"

3:? Phi+oso)hica+

It is true that Ananias and Sa))hira $ere struc=

dead for not *i%in* a++ their mone' to St" Peter( ut

retainin* a sma++ )art for their o$n immediate $ants

$ithout confessin* it for corru)tin*( ' a triin*

fa+sehood( the sanctit' of their *ifts H ut it is not St"

Peter $ho condemns them" It is true that he di%ines

Ananias fau+t H he re)roaches him $ith it and te++s

him that he has +ied to the &o+' host H after $hich

Ananias fa++s do$n dead" Then comes Sa))hiraH

and Peter( instead of $arnin*( interro*ates her(

$hich seems to e the action of a Mud*e" &e ma=es

her fa++ into the snare ' sa'in*( #Te++ me $hether

'e so+d the +and for so much"# The $ife made the

same ans$er as her husand" It is astonishin* that

she did not( on reachin* the )+ace( +earn of her hus7

ands death that no one had informed her of it

that she did not oser%e the terror and tumu+t $hich

such a death must ha%e occasioned( and ao%e a++(

the morta+ fear +est the ocers of Mustice shou+d ta=e

co*ni1ance of it as of a murder" It is stran*e that



thou*h cu+)a+e reticence"

!e this as it ma'( it is certain that the a)ost+es had

no Murisdiction( no )o$er( no authorit'( ut that of

)ersuasion( $hich is the rst of a++( and u)on $hich

e%er' other is founded" !esides( it a))ears from

this %er' stor' that the Christians +i%ed in common"

When t$o or three of them $ere *athered to*ether(

.esus Christ $as in the midst of them" The' cou+d

a++ a+i=e recei%e the S)irit" .esus $as their true(

their on+' su)erior H &e had said to them -

#!e not 'e ca++ed rai H for one is 'our master(

e%en ChristH and a++ 'e are rethren" And ca++ no

man 'our father u)on earth H for one is 'our father(

$hich is in hea%en" Neither e 'e ca++ed mastersH

for one is 'our master( e%en Christ"#

In the time of the a)ost+es there $as no ritua+(

no +itur*' H there $ere no >ed hours for assem+in*(

no ceremonies" The disci)+es a)ti1ed the catechu7

mens( and reathed the &o+' host into their

mouths( as .esus Christ had reathed on the a)ost+es H



3:G Phi+oso)hica+

and as( in man' churches( it is sti++ the custom to

reathe into the mouth of a chi+d $hen administerin*

a)tism" Such $ere the e*innin*s of Christianit'"

A++ $as done ' ins)iration ' enthusiasm( as

amon* the Thera)eutse and the .udaites( if $e ma'

for a moment e )ermitted to com)are .e$ish socie7

ties( no$ ecome re)roate( $ith societies conducted

' .esus Christ &imse+f from the hi*hest hea%en(

$here &e sat at the ri*ht hand of &is Father" Time

rou*ht necessar' chan*esH the Church ein* e>7

tended( stren*thened( and enriched( had occasion for

ne$ +a$s"

APPARITION"

IT is not at a++ uncommon for a )erson under

stron* emotion to see that $hich is not" In :@?B a

$oman in London( accused of ein* an accom)+ice

in her husands murder( denied the fact H the dead

mans coat $as he+d u) and sha=en efore her( her

terried ima*ination )resented the husand himse+f

to her %ie$ H she fe++ at his feet and $ou+d ha%e em7

raced him" She to+d the Mur' that she had seen her

husand" It is not $onderfu+ that" Theodoric sa$



in the head of a sh( $hich $as ser%ed u) to him(

that of S'mmachus( $hom he had assassinated or

unMust+' e>ecuted H for it is )recise+' the same thin*"

Char+es I8"( after the massacre of St" !artho+o7

me$( sa$ dead odies and +ood H not in his dreams(

ut in the con%u+sions of a trou+ed mind see=in*

for s+ee) in %ain" &is )h'sician and his nurse ore

Dictionar'" 3:

$itness to it" Fantastic %isions are %er' freJuent

in hot fe%ers" This is not seein* in ima*ination H it

is seein* in rea+it'" The )hantom e>ists to him

$ho has the )erce)tion of it" If the *ift of reason

%ouchsafed to the human machine $ere not at hand

to correct these i++usions( a++ heated ima*inations

$ou+d e in an a+most continua+ trans)ort( and it

$ou+d e im)ossi+e to cure them"

It is es)ecia++' in that midd+e state et$een s+ee)7

in* and $a=in* that an inamed rain sees im7

a*inar' oMects and hears sounds $hich nood' ut7

ters" Fear( +o%e( *rief( remorse are the )ainters



$ho trace the )ictures efore unsett+ed ima*inations"

The e'e $hich sees s)ar=s in the ni*ht( $hen acci7

denta++' )ressed in a certain direction( is ut a faint

ima*e of the disorders of the rain"

No theo+o*ian douts that $ith these natura+

causes the 0aster of nature has sometimes united

&is di%ine inuence" To this the O+d and the Ne$

Testament ear am)+e testimon'" Pro%idence has

dei*ned to em)+o' these a))aritions these %isions

in fa%or of the .e$s( $ho $ere then its cherished

)eo)+e"

It ma' e that( in the course of time( some rea++'

)ious sou+s( decei%ed ' their enthusiasm( ha%e e7

+ie%ed that the' had recei%ed from an intimate com7

munication $ith od that $hich the' o$ed on+' to

their inamed ima*inations" In such cases there is

need of the ad%ice of an honest man( and es)ecia++'

of a *ood )h'sician"

3 : B Phi+oso)hica+

The stories of a))aritions are innumera+e" It is



said to ha%e een in conseJuence of an a))arition

that St" Theodore( in the e*innin* of the fourth

centur'( $ent and set re to the tem)+e of Amasia

and reduced it to ashes" It is %er' +i=e+' that od

did not command this action( in itse+f so crimina+( '

$hich se%era+ citi1ens )erished( and $hich e>)osed

a++ the Christians to a Must re%en*e"

od mi*ht )ermit St" Potamienne to a))ear to St"

!asi+idesH for there resu+ted no disturance to the

state" We $i++ not den' that .esus Christ mi*ht a)7

)ear to St" Victor" !ut that St" !enedict sa$ the

sou+ of St" ermanus of Ca)ua carried u) to hea%en

' an*e+s H and that t$o mon=s after$ards sa$ the

sou+ of St" !enedict $a+=in* on a car)et e>tended

from hea%en to 0ount Cassino this is not Juite

so eas' to e+ie%e"

It ma' +i=e$ise( $ithout an' oence to our au7

*ust re+i*ion( e douted $hether St" Eucherius $as

conducted ' an an*e+ into he++( $here he sa$

Char+es 0atte+s sou+H and $hether a ho+' hermit

of Ita+' sa$ the sou+ of Da*oert chained in a oat

' de%i+s( $ho $ere o**in* it $ithout merc' H for(

after a++( it is rather dicu+t to e>)+ain satisfactori+'

ho$ a sou+ can $a+= u)on a car)et( ho$ it can e



chained in a oat( or ho$ it can e o**ed"

!ut( it ma' %er' $e++ e that heated rains ha%e

had such %isions H from a*e to a*e $e ha%e a thou7

sand instances of them" One must e %er' en+i*ht7

ened to distin*uish( in this )rodi*ious numer of

Dictionar'" 3:@

%isions( those $hich came from od &imse+f from

those $hich $ere )ure+' the os)rin* of ima*ina7

tion"

The i++ustrious !ossuet re+ates( in his funera+ ora7

tion o%er the Princess Pa+atine( t$o %isions $hich

acted )o$erfu++' on that )rincess( and determined

the $ho+e conduct of her +atter 'ears" These hea%en+'

%isions must e e+ie%ed since the' are re*arded

as such ' the discreet and +earned isho) of 0eau>(

$ho )enetrated into a++ the de)ths of theo+o*' and

e%en undertoo= to +ift the %ei+ $hich co%ers the

A)oca+')se"

&e sa's( then( that the Princess Pa+atine( ha%in*



+ent a hundred thousand francs to her sister( the

Jueen of Po+and( so+d the duch' of Rete+ois for a

mi++ion( and married her dau*hters ad%anta*eous+'"

&a))' accordin* to the $or+d( ut unfortunate+'

doutin* the truths of the Christian re+i*ion( she $as

rou*ht ac= to her con%iction( and to the +o%e of

these inea+e truths ' t$o %isions" The rst $as

a dream in $hich a man orn +ind to+d her that he

had no idea of +i*ht( and that $e must e+ie%e the

$ord of others in thin*s of $hich $e cannot our7

se+%es concei%e" The second arose( from a %io+ent

shoc= of the memranes and res of the rain in

an attac= of fe%er" She sa$ a hen runnin* after one

of her chic=ens( $hich a do* he+d in his mouth" The

Princess Pa+atine snatched the chic= from the do*(

on $hich a %oice cried out- #i%e him ac= his

chic=en H if 'ou de)ri%e him of his food he $i++ not

3 : 9 Phi+oso)hica+

$atch as he ou*ht"# !ut the )rincess e>c+aimed(

#No( I $i++ ne%er *i%e it ac="#

The chic=en $as the sou+ of Anne of on1a*a(



Princess Pa+atine H the hen $as the Church( and the

do* $as the de%i+" Anne of on1a*a( $ho $as ne%er

to *i%e ac= the chic=en to the do*( $as ecacious

*race"

!ossuet )reached this funera+ oration to the Car7

me+ite nuns of the Fauour* St" .acJues( at Paris(

efore the $ho+e house of Conde H he used these

remar=a+e $ords - #&ear=en( and e es)ecia++'

carefu+ not to hear $ith contem)t the order of

the Di%ine $arnin*s( and the conduct of Di%ine

*race"#

The reader( then( must )eruse this stor' $ith the

same re%erence $ith $hich its hearers +istened to it"

These e>traordinar' $or=in*s of Pro%idence are +i=e

the mirac+es of canoni1ed saints( $hich must e at7

tested ' irre)roacha+e $itnesses" And $hat more

+a$fu+ de)onent can $e ha%e to the a))aritions and

%isions of the Princess Pa+atine than the man $ho

em)+o'ed his +ife in distin*uishin* truth from a)7

)earance $ho comated %i*orous+' a*ainst the nuns

of Port Ro'a+ on the formu+ar' H a*ainst Pau+ Ferri

on the catechism H a*ainst the minister C+aude on the

%ariations of the Church H a*ainst Doctor Du)in on

China H a*ainst Father Simon on the understandin*



of the sacred te>tH a*ainst Cardina+ Sfondrati on

)redestination H a*ainst the )o)e on the ri*hts of the

a++ican Church H a*ainst the archisho) of Camra'

Dictionar'" 3:;

on )ure and disinterested +o%e" &e $as not to e se7

duced ' the names( nor the tit+es( nor the re)utation(

nor the dia+ectics of his ad%ersaries" &e re+ated this

factH therefore he e+ie%ed it" Let us Moin him in

his e+ief( in s)ite of the rai++er' $hich it has occa7

sioned" Let us adore the secrets of Pro%idence( ut

+et us distrust the $anderin*s7 of the ima*ination(

$hich 0a+eranche ca++ed +a fo++e du +o*is" For these

t$o %isions accorded to the Princess Pa+atine are not

%ouchsafed to e%er' one"

.esus Christ a))eared to St" Catharine of Sienna H

he es)oused her and *a%e her a rin*" This m'stica+

a))arition is to e %enerated( for it is attested ' Ra'7

mond of Ca)ua( *enera+ of the Dominicans( $ho con7

fessed her( as a+so ' Po)e /ran VI" !ut it is re7

Mected ' the +earned F+eur'( author of the #Ecc+esi7

astica+ &istor'"# And a 'oun* $oman $ho shou+d



no$ oast of ha%in* contracted such a marria*e

mi*ht recei%e as a nu)tia+ )resent a )+ace in a +unatic

as'+um"

The a))earance of 0other An*e+ica( aess of

Port Ro'a+( to Sister Doroth' is re+ated ' a man

of %er' *reat $ei*ht amon* the .ansenists( the Sieur

Dufosse( author of the #0emoirs de Pontis"#

0other An*e+ica( +on* after her death( came and

seated herse+f in the church of Port Ro'a+( in her

o+d )+ace( $ith her crosier in her hand" She com7

manded that Sister Doroth' shou+d e sent for and

to her she to+d terri+e secrets" !ut the testimon'

of this Dufosse is of +ess $ei*ht than that of Ra'7

Voltaire V

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Transcript of Voltaire V