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E D I T I O N D E L A P A C I F I C A T I O N
T H E W O R K S O F
VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION
W ITH NOTES BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED AND MODERNIZED
NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN
INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH
A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY
BY
T H E R T . H O N . J O H N M O R L E Y
F O R T Y - T H R E E V O L U M E S
ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS
OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,
AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES
VOLUME III
AKRON, OHIO
THE WERNER COMPANY
1!"
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The WORKS of VOLTAIRE
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EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION
Limited to one thousand sets
for America and reat !ritain"
#!et$een t$o ser%ants of &umanit'( $ho a))eared
ei*hteen hundred 'ears a)art( the rf ++ a m'sterious re,ation"
- - - - Let us sa' it $ith a sentiment of
)rofound res)ect. /ES0S WEPT. VOLTAIRE S1ILED"
Of that di%ine tear and of that human smi,e is com)osed the
s$eetness of the )resent ci%i,i2ation#
VICTOR &0O"
+3O0 &AVE A!ANDONED 1E(# SAID CO4
565N7 #!0T T&O0& VO0 ARE A
8REAT 1AN I WILL L"OVE
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VO0 POREVER#
EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION
T&E WORKS OF
A CONTE1PORAR3 VERSION
WIT& NOTES !3 TO!IAS S1OLLETT( REVISED AND 1ODERNI9ED
NEW TRANSLATIONS !3 WILLIA1 F" FLE1IN( AND AN
INTROD0CTION !3 OLIVER &" " LEI&
A CRITI80E AND !IORAP&3
!3
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T&E RT" &ON" /O&N 1ORLE3
FORT34T&REE VOL01ES
ONE &0NDRED AND SI:T34EI&T DESINS( CO1PRISIN REPROD0CTIONS
OF KAR! OLD ENRAVINS( STEEL PLAT!S( P&OTORAV0RES(
A1D C0RIO0S FAC4SI1IL!S
VOL01E III
AKRON( O&IO
T&E WERNER CO1PAN3
;<=>
COP3RI&T ;<=;
!3 E" R" D01ONT
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OWNED !3
T&E WERNER CO1PAN3
AKRON( O&IO
1ini er
T&C WERNER CO1PAN3
AK&ON( O&
StacK
Anne?
P8
@OB
EBS>
;<=>
-(
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VOLTAIRE
RO1ANCES
IN T&REE VOL01ES
VOL" II"
CONTENTS
I" /EANNOT AND COLIN """" B
II" 1,CRO1EAS @=
A %o'a*e to Saturn ' an inhaitant of
Sirius7 $hat efe, him on our *,oe7 he ca)4
tures a %esse,7 $hat ha))ened in his inter4
course $ith men"
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III" T&E TRAVELS OF SCAR1ENTADO " " B;
IV" T&E &0RON7 OR( P0PIL OF NAT0RE " >
&e is con%erted7 fa,,s in ,o%e7 re)u,ses the
En*,ish 7 *oes to the court 7 is im)risoned in
the !asti,,e $ith a /ansenist 7 his sentiments
on the drama7 1iss St" 3%es consu,ts a
/esuit 7 her death and its conseuences"
V" T&E PRINCESS OF !A!3LON " " ";>
Ro'a, contest for the hand of Formosanta 7
the Gin*+s counci,7 the ird+s e,ouent
con%ersation7 A,dea e,o)es $ith the Gin*7
Formosanta %isits China7 Ama2an %isits
A,ion( and Saturn( and Rome 7 an unfor4
tunate ad%enture in au,7 reconci,iation"
VI" T&E WORLD AS IT OES " " " @>>
VII" T&E !LACK AND T&E W&ITE " " " @<=
VIII" T&E OOD !RA&1IN " " " ";@
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LIST OF PLATES
VOL" I,,
PAE
COLIN AND /EANNOT " " " Frontis)iece
T&E PRIOR RECONI9ES T&E PICT0RES "
T&E 0NKNOWN 3O0T& SLA3S T&E LION " ;
T&E PRINCESS WEEPS OVER R0STAN " " =
/EANNOT AND COLIN"
1an' )ersons( $orth' of credit( ha%e seen /ean4
not and Co,in at schoo, in the to$n of Issoire( in
Au%er*ne( France a to$n famous a,, o%er the
$or,d for its co,,e*e and its ca,drons"
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/eannot $as the son of a dea,er in mu,es( of
*reat re)utation( and Co,in o$ed his irth to a
*ood sustantia, farmer in the nei*horhood( $ho
cu,ti%ated the ,and $ith four mu,es( and $ho(
after he had )aid a,, ta?es and duties at the rate
of a so, )er )ound( $as not %er' rich at the 'ear+s
end"
/eannot and Co,in $ere %er' handsome( consid4
erin* the' $ere nati%es of Au%er*ne" The' dear,'
,o%ed each other" The' had man' enHo'ments in
common( and certain ,itt,e ad%entures of such a na4
ture as men a,$a's reco,,ect $ith ),easure $hen
the' after$ards meet in the $or,d"
Their studies $ere near,' nished( $hen a tai,or
rou*ht /eannot a %e,%et suit of three co,ors( $ith
a $aistcoat from L'ons( $hich $as e?treme,' $e,,
fancied" With these came a ,etter addressed to
1onsieur de ,a /eannotiere"
Co,in admired the coat( and $as not at a,, Hea,4
ous7 ut /eannot assumed an air of su)eriorit'
B
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> /eannot and Co,in"
$hich *a%e Co,in some uneasiness" From that mo4
ment /eannot aandoned his studies7 he contem4
),ated himse,f in a *,ass( and des)ised a,, manGind"
Soon after a %a,et de chamre arri%ed )ost4
haste( and rou*ht a second ,etter to the 1aruis
de ,a /eannotiere" It $as an order from his father(
$ho desired the 'oun* maruis to re)air imme4
diate,' to Paris" /eannot *ot into his chaise( *i%4
in* his hand to Co,in $ith a smi,e( $hich denoted
the su)eriorit' of a )atron" Co,in fe,t his ,itt,eness(
and $e)t" /eannot de)arted in a,, the )om) of his
*,or'"
Such readers as taGe a ),easure in ein* in4
structed shou,d e informed that 1onsieur /eannot(
the father( had( $ith *reat ra)idit'( acuired an
immense fortune ' usiness" 3ou $i,, asG ho$
such *reat fortunes are made" 1' ans$er is( '
,ucG" 1onsieur /eannot had a *ood )erson( so
had his $ife7 and she had sti,, some freshness re4
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mainin*" The' $ent to Paris on account of a ,a$4
suit( $hich ruined them7 $hen fortune( $hich
raises and de)resses men at her ),easure( )resented
them to the $ife of an undertaGer e,on*in* to one
of the hos)ita,s for the arm'" This undertaGer( a
man of *reat ta,ents( mi*ht maGe it his oast that
he had uried more so,diers in a 'ear than cannons
destro' in ten" /eannot ),eased the $ife7 the $ife
of /eannot interested the undertaGer" /eannot $as
em),o'ed in the undertaGer+s usiness7 this intro4
/eannot and Co,in"
duced him to other usiness" When our oat runs
$ith $ind and stream $e ha%e nothin* to do ut
,et it sai, on" We then maGe an immense fortune
$ith ease" The )oor creatures $ho from the shore
see 'ou )ursue 'our %o'a*e $ith fu,, sai,( stare $ith
astonishment7 the' cannot concei%e to $hat 'ou
o$e 'our success7 the' en%' 'ou instincti%e,'(
and $rite )am)h,ets a*ainst 'ou $hich 'ou ne%er
read"
That is Hust $hat ha))ened to /eannot( the
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father( $ho soon ecame 1onsieur de ,a /eannot4
iere7 and $ho( ha%in* )urchased a maruisate in
si? months+ time( tooG the 'oun* maruis( his son(
from schoo, in order to introduce him to the )o,ite
$or,d at Paris( JsS
Co,in( $hose heart $as re),ete $ith tenderness(
$rote a ,etter of com),iments to his o,d com)anion(
and con*ratu,ated him on his *ood fortune" The
,itt,e maruis did not re),'" Co,in $as so much
aected at this ne*,ect that he $as taGen i,,"
The father and mother immediate,' consi*ned
the 'oun* maruis to the care of a *o%ernor" This
*o%ernor( $ho $as a man of fashion( and $ho Gne$
nothin*( $as not a,e to teach his )u)i, an'thin*"
The maruis $ou,d ha%e had his son ,earn Latin"
This his ,ad' o))osed" The' then referred the mat4
ter to the Hud*ment of an author( $ho had at that
time acuired *reat re)utation ' his entertainin*
$ritin*s" This author $as in%ited to dinner" The
master of the house immediate,' addressed him thus .
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M /eannot and Co,in"
#Sir( as 'ou understand Latin( and are a man
acuainted $ith the court #
#I understand Latin I don+t Gno$ one $ord of
it(# ans$ered the $it( #and I thinG m'se,f the etter
for ein* unacuainted $ith it" It is %er' e%ident
that a man s)eaGs his o$n ,an*ua*e in *reater )er4
fection $hen he does not di%ide his a)),ication e4
t$een it and forei*n ,an*ua*es" On,' consider our
,adies 7 the' ha%e a much more a*reea,e turn of $it
than the men7 their ,etters are $ritten $ith a hun4
dred times the *race of ours" This su)eriorit' the'
o$e to nothin* e,se ut their not understandin*
Latin"#
#We,,( $as I not in the ri*ht# said the ,ad'" #I
$ou,d ha%e m' son )ro%e a nota,e man( I $ou,d ha%e
him succeed in the $or,d 7 and 'ou see that if he $ere
to understand Latin he $ou,d e ruined" Pra'( are
),a's and o)eras )erformed in Latin Do ,a$'ers
),ead in Latin Do men court a mistress in Latin #
The maruis( da22,ed ' these reasons( *a%e u)
the )oint( and it $as reso,%ed that the 'oun* maruis
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shou,d not miss)end his time in endea%orin* to e4
come acuainted $ith Cicero( &orace( and Vir*i,"
#Then(# said the father( #$hat sha,, he ,earn
For he must Gno$ somethin*" 1i*ht not one teach
him a ,itt,e *eo*ra)h'#
#Of $hat use $i,, that e# ans$ered the *o%er4
nor" When the maruis *oes to his estate $on+t the
)osti,ion Gno$ the roads The' certain,' $i,, not
carr' him out of his $a'" There is no occasion for a
/eannot and Co,in" <
uadrant to tra%e, there 7 and one can *o %er' com4
modious,' from Paris to Au%er*ne $ithout Gno$in*
$hat ,atitude one is in"#
#3ou are in the ri*ht(# re),ied the father 7 #ut ;
ha%e heard of a science ca,,ed astronom'( if I am not
mistaGen"#
#!,ess me # said the *o%ernor( #do )eo),e re*u,ate
their conduct ' the inQuence of the stars in this
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$or,d And must the 'oun* *ent,eman )er),e?
himse,f $ith the ca,cu,ation of an ec,i)se $hen he
nds it read' ca,cu,ated to his hand in an a,manac
$hich( at the same time( sho$s him the mo%a,e
feasts( the a*e of the moon( and a,so that of a,, the
)rincesses in Euro)e#
The ,ad' a*reed )erfect,' $ith the *o%ernor 7 the
,itt,e maruis $as trans)orted $ith Ho'7 the father
remained undetermined" #What then is m' son to
,earn# said he"
#To ecome amia,e(# ans$ered the friend $ho
$as consu,ted( #and if he Gno$s ho$ to ),ease he
$i,, Gno$ a,, that need e Gno$n" This art he $i,,
,earn in the com)an' of his mother $ithout either he
or she ein* at an' trou,e"#
The ,ad' u)on hearin* this emraced the i*norant
Qatterer and said. #It is eas' to see( sir( that 'ou
are the $isest man in the $or,d" 1' son $i,, e en4
tire,' indeted to 'ou for his education" I thinG(
ho$e%er( it $ou,d not e amiss if he $ere to Gno$
somethin* of histor'"#
#A,as madam( $hat is that *ood for# ans$ered
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io /eannot and Co,in"
he 7 #there certain,' is no usefu, or entertainin* his4
tor' ut the histor' of the da' 7 a,, ancient histories(
as one of our $its has oser%ed( are on,' fa,es that
men ha%e a*reed to admit as true With re*ard to
modern histor' it is a mere chaos( a confusion of
$hich it is im)ossi,e to maGe an'thin*" Of $hat
conseuence is it to the 'oun* maruis( 'our son( to
Gno$ that Char,ema*ne instituted the t$e,%e )eers
of France and that his successor stammered#
#Admira,' said(# cried the *o%ernor 7 #the *enius
of 'oun* )ersons is smothered under a hea) of use4
,ess Gno$,ed*e7 ut of a,, sciences( the most a4
surd( and that $hich( in m' o)inion( is most ca,cu,ated
to stiQe *enius of e%er' Gind( is *eometr'" The o4
Hects aout $hich this ridicu,ous science is con%ersant
are surfaces( ,ines( and )oints that ha%e no e?istence
in nature" !' the force of ima*ination the *eometri4
cian maGes a hundred thousand cur%ed ,ines )ass e4
t$een a circ,e and a ri*ht ,ine that touches it( $hen(
in rea,it'( there is not room for a stra$ to )ass there"
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eometr'( if $e consider it in its true ,i*ht( is a mere
Hest( and nothin* more"#
The maruis and his ,ad' did not $e,, understand
the *o%ernor+s meanin*( 'et the' $ere entire,' of his
o)inion"
#A man of ua,it'( ,iGe the 'oun* maruis(# con4
tinued he( #shou,d not racG his rains $ith use,ess
sciences" If he shou,d e%er ha%e occasion for a ),an
of the ,ands of his estate he ma' ha%e them correct,'
sur%e'ed $ithout stud'in* *eometr'" If he has a
/eannot and Co,in" ; ;
mind to trace the antiuit' of his no,e fami,'( $hich
,eads the inuirer acG to the most remote a*es( he
$i,, send for a !enedictine" It $i,, e the same thin*
$ith re*ard to a,, other $ants" A 'oun* man of
ua,it' endo$ed $ith a ha))' *enius is neither a
)ainter( a musician( an architect( nor a *ra%er 7 ut
he maGes a,, these arts Qourish ' *enerous,' encour4
a*in* them" It is( dout,ess( etter to )atroni2e than
to )ractise them" It is enou*h for the 'oun* mar4
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uis to ha%e a taste 7 it is the usiness of artists to
e?ert themse,%es for him 7 and it is in this sense that
it is said %er' Hust,' of )eo),e of ua,it' I mean
those $ho are %er' rich( that the' Gno$ a,, thin*s
$ithout ha%in* ,earned an'thin*7 for the'( in fact(
come at ,ast to Gno$ ho$ to Hud*e concernin* $hat4
e%er the' order or )a' for"#
The i*norant man of fashion then s)oGe to this
)ur)ose .
#3ou ha%e %er' Hust,' oser%ed( madam( that the
*rand end $hich a man shou,d ha%e in %ie$ is to
succeed in the $or,d" Can it )ossi,' e said that
this success is to e otained ' cu,ti%atin* the sci4
ences Did an'od' e%er so much as thinG of ta,G4
in* of *eometr' in *ood com)an' Does an' one
e%er inuire of a man of the $or,d $hat star rises
$ith the sun Who inuires at su))er $hether the
,on*4haired C,odion )assed the Rhine#
#No( dout,ess(# cried the marchioness( $hom her
charms had in some measure initiated into the cus4
toms of the )o,ite $or,d 7 #and m' son shou,d not
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;@ /eaniiot and Co,in"
e?tin*uish his *enius ' the stud' of a,, this stu"
!ut $hat is he( after a,,( to ,earn for it is )ro)er that
a 'oun* )erson of ua,it' shou,d Gno$ ho$ to shine
u)on an occasion( as m' husand oser%es" I re4
memer to ha%e heard an ae sa' that the most de4
,i*htfuLof a,, sciences is somethin* that e*ins $ith
a !"#
#With a !( madam Is it not otan' 'ou mean #
#No( it $as not otan' he s)oGe of 7 the name of
the science he mentioned e*an $ith a !( and ended
$ith on#
#Oh( I com)rehend 'ou( madam(# said the man of
fashion 7 #it is !,ason 'ou mean" It is( indeed( a )ro4
found science 7 ut it is no ,on*er in fashion since the
)eo),e of ua,it' ha%e ceased to cause their arms to
e )ainted u)on the doors of their coaches" It $as
once the most usefu, thin* in the $or,d( in a $e,,
re*u,ated state" !esides( this stud' $ou,d e end4
,ess" No$ada's there is hard,' a arer that has not
his coat of arms 7 and 'ou Gno$ that $hate%er e4
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comes common is ut ,itt,e esteemed"#
In ne( after the' had e?amined the e?ce,,encies
and defects of a,, the sciences it $as determined that
the 'oun* maruis shou,d ,earn to dance"
Nature( $hich does a,,( had *i%en him a ta,ent
that uicG,' dis),a'ed itse,f sur)risin*,' 7 it $as that
of sin*in* a,,ads a*reea,'" The *races of 'outh(
Hoined to this su)erior *ift( caused him to e ,ooGed
u)on as a 'oun* man of the ri*htest ho)es" &e $as
admired ' the $omen 7 and ha%in* his head fu,, of
/eannot and Co,in" ;
son*s he com)osed some for his mistress" &e sto,e
from the son*( #!acchus and Lo%e(# in one a,,ad7
from that of #Ni*ht and Da'(# in another 7 from that
of #Charms and A,arms(# in a third" !ut as there
$ere a,$a's in his %erses some su)erQuous feet( or
not enou*h( he had them corrected for t$ent' ,ouis
d+or a son*7 and in the anna,s of ,iterature he $as
)ut u)on a ,e%e, $ith the La Fares( Chau,ieus( &am4
i,tons( Sarra2ins( and Voitures"
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The marchioness then ,ooGed u)on herse,f as the
mother of a $it( and *a%e a su))er to the $its of
Paris" The 'oun* man+s rain $as soon turned 7 he
acuired the art of s)eaGin* $ithout Gno$in* his o$n
meanin*( and he ecame )erfect in the hait of e4
in* *ood for nothin*" When his father found that he
$as so e,ouent he %er' much re*retted that his son
had not ,earned Latin7 for he $ou,d ha%e ou*ht
him a ,ucrati%e ),ace amon* the *entr' of the ,on*
roe" The mother( $ho had more e,e%ated senti4
ments( undertooG to )rocure a re*iment for her son 7
and( in the meantime( courtshi) $as his occu)ation"
Lo%e is sometimes more e?)ensi%e than a re*iment"
&e $as %er' im)ro%ident( $hi,st his )arents e?4
hausted their nances sti,, more ' e?)ensi%e ,i%in*"
A 'oun* $ido$ of fashion( their nei*hor( $ho
had ut a moderate fortune( had an inc,ination to se4
cure the *reat $ea,th of 1onsieur and 1adame de
,a /eannotiere and a))ro)riatin* it to herse,f ' a
marria*e $ith the 'oun* maruis" She a,,ured him
to %isit her 7 she admitted his addresses 7 she sho$ed
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; /eannot and Co,in"
that she $as not indierent to him 7 she ,ed him on
' de*rees 7 she enchanted and ca)ti%ated him $ith4
out much dicu,t'" Sometimes she ,a%ished )raises
u)on him( sometimes she *a%e him ad%ice" She e4
came the most intimate friend of oth the father
and mother"
An e,der,' ,ad'( $ho $as their nei*hor( )ro)osed
the match" The )arents( da22,ed ' the *,or' of such
an a,,iance( acce)ted the )ro)osa, $ith Ho'" The'
*a%e their on,' son to their intimate friend"
The 'oun* maruis $as no$ on the )oint of mar4
r'in* a $oman $hom he adored( and ' $hom he
$as e,o%ed 7 the friends of the fami,' con*ratu,ated
them7 the marria*e artic,es $ere Hust *oin* to e
dra$n u)( $hi,st $eddin* c,othes $ere ein* made
for the 'oun* cou),e( and their e)itha,amium com4
)osed"
The 'oun* maruis $as one da' u)on his Gnees
efore his charmin* mistress $hom ,o%e( esteem( and
friendshi) $ere *oin* to maGe a,, his o$n" In a
tender and s)irited con%ersation the' enHo'ed a fore4
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taste of their comin* ha))iness7 the' concerted
measures to ,ead a ha))' ,ife" When( a,, on a sud4
den( a %a,et de chamre e,on*in* to the o,d mar4
chioness( arri%ed in a *reat fri*ht"
#&ere is sad ne$s(# said he" #Ocers ha%e re4
mo%ed the eects of m' master and mistress 7 the
creditors ha%e sei2ed u)o$ a,, ' %irtue of an e?ecu4
tion7 and I am o,i*ed to maGe the est shift I can
to ha%e m' $a*es )aid"#
/eannot and Co,in" ;B
#Let+s see(# said the maruis( #$hat is this What
can this ad%enture mean #
#o(# said the $ido$( #*o uicG,'( and )unish
those %i,,ains"#
&e runs( he arri%es at the house7 his father is
a,read' in )rison7 a,, the ser%ants ha%e Qed in dif4
ferent $a's( each carr'in* o $hate%er he cou,d ,a'
his hands u)on" &is mother is a,one( $ithout as4
sistance( $ithout comfort( dro$ned in tears" She
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has nothin* ,eft ut the rememrance of her for4
tune( of her eaut'( her fau,ts( and her e?tra%a*ant
,i%in*"
After the son had $e)t a ,on* time $ith his mother
he at ,en*th said to her .
#Let us not *i%e ourse,%es u) to des)air" This
'oun* $ido$ ,o%es me to e?cess 7 she is more *en4
erous than rich( I can ans$er for her 7 I $i,, *o and
rin* her to 'ou"#
&e returns to his mistress and nds her in com4
)an' $ith a %er' amia,e 'oun* ocer"
#What( is it 'ou( 1" de ,a /eannotiere(# said she 7
#$hat rin*s 'ou here Is it )ro)er to forsaGe 'our
unha))' mother in such a crisis o to that )oor(
unfortunate $oman and te,, her that I sti,, $ish her
$e,," I ha%e occasion for a chamermaid and $i,,
*i%e her the )reference"#
#1' ,ad(# said the ocer( #'ou are $e,, sha)ed"
En,ist in m' com)an'7 'ou ma' de)end on *ood
usa*e"#
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The maruis( thunderstrucG( and $ith a heart en4
; > /eannot and Co,in"
ra*ed( $ent in uest of his o,d *o%ernor( made him
acuainted $ith his misfortune and asGed his ad%ice"
The *o%ernor )ro)osed that he shou,d ecome a tu4
tor( ,iGe himse,f"
#A,as# said the maruis( #I Gno$ nothin*7 'ou
ha%e tau*ht me nothin*( and 'ou are the rst cause
of m' misfortunes"# &e soed $hen he s)oGe thus"
#Write romances(# said a $it $ho $as )resent7
#it is an admira,e resource at Paris"#
The 'oun* man in *reater des)air than e%er ran
to his mother+s confessor" This confessor $as a
Theatin of *reat re)utation $ho directed the con4
sciences on,' of $omen of the rst ranG" As soon
as he sa$ /eannot he ran u) to him .
#1' od( 1r" 1aruis(# said he( #$here is 'our
coach &o$ is the *ood ,ad' 'our mother #
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The maruis $as a,most read' to faint" &e met
$ith much the same treatment from a,, 7 and acuired
more Gno$,ed*e of the $or,d in ha,f a da' than he
had )re%ious,' ,earned in a,, the rest of his ,ife"
!ein* uite o%er$he,med $ith des)air( he sa$ an
o,d4fashioned chaise ad%ance $hich resem,ed an
o)en $a*on $ith ,eather curtains 7 it $as fo,,o$ed
' four enormous carts $hich $ere ,oaded" In the
chaise there $as a 'oun* man dressed in the rustic
manner( $hose fresh countenance $as re),ete $ith
s$eetness and *a'et'" &is $ife( a ,itt,e $oman of
a ro$n com),e?ion and an a*reea,e *ure( thou*h
some$hat stout( sat c,ose ' him" As the carria*e
did not mo%e on ,iGe the chaise of a )etit4maitre( the
tra%e,,er had sucient time to contem),ate the mar4
uis( $ho $as motion,ess and immersed in sorro$"
#ood od # cried he( #I thinG that is /eannot"#
0)on hearin* this name the maruis ,ifts u) his e'es(
the carria*e sto)s( and Co,in cries out( # Tis /eannot(
+tis /eannot himse,f"#
The ,itt,e fat um)Gin *a%e ut one s)rin* from
the chaise and ran to emrace his o,d com)anion"
/eannot reco,,ected his friend Co,in( $hi,e his e'es
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$ere ,inded $ith tears of shame"
#3ou ha%e aandoned me(# said Co,in7 #ut
thou*h 'ou are a *reat man I $i,, ,o%e 'ou fore%er"#
/eannot( confused and aected( re,ated to him(
$ith emotion( a *reat )art of his histor'"
Vo," @
; M /eannot and Co,in"
#Come to the inn $here I ,od*e and te,, me the
rest of it(# said Co,in 7 #emrace m' $ife here and
,et us *o and dine to*ether"# The' then $ent on
foot( fo,,o$ed ' their a**a*e"
#What is a,, this train(# said /eannot7 #is it
'ours #
#3es(# ans$ered Co,in( #it a,, e,on*s to me and
to m' $ife" We ha%e Hust come in from the countr'"
I am no$ at the head of a ,ar*e manufactor' of tin
and co))er" I ha%e married the dau*hter of a mer4
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chant $e,, )ro%ided $ith a,, thin*s necessar' for the
*reat as $e,, as the ,itt,e" We $orG a *reat dea, 7
od ,esses us 7 $e ha%e not chan*ed our condition 7
$e are ha))' 7 $e $i,, assist our friend /eannot" !e
no ,on*er a maruis 7 a,, the *randeur in the $or,d is
not to e com)ared to a *ood friend" 3ou sha,, re4
turn $ith me to the countr'" I $i,, teach 'ou the
trade 7 it is not %er' dicu,t 7 I $i,, maGe 'ou m'
)artner( and $e $i,, ,i%e merri,' in the remote cor4
ner $here $e $ere orn"#
/eannot( uite trans)orted( fe,t emotions of *rief
and Ho'( tenderness and shame 7 and he said $ithin
himse,f. #1' fashiona,e friends ha%e etra'ed
me( and Co,in( $hom I des)ised( is the on,' one $ho
comes to re,ie%e me"# What instruction does not
this narrati%e aord
Co,in+s *oodness of heart caused the seeds of a
%irtuous dis)osition( $hich the $or,d had not uite
stiQed in /eannot( to re%i%e" &e $as sensi,e that he
cou,d not forsaGe his father and mother"
/eannot and Co,in" ;<
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#We $i,, taGe care of 'our mother(# said Co,in 7
#and as to the *ood man 'our father( $ho is no$ in
Hai,( his creditors seein* he has nothin* $i,, com4
)romise matters for a triQe" I Gno$ somethin* of
usiness and $i,, taGe the $ho,e aair u)on m'se,f"#
Co,in found means to )rocure the father+s re,ease"
/eannot returned to the countr' $ith his re,ati%es(
$ho resumed their former $a' of ,ife" &e married a
sister of Co,in( and she ein* of the same tem)er
$ith her rother( made him com),ete,' ha))'"
/eannot the father( /eannotte the mother( and
/eannot the son( $ere thus con%inced that ha))iness
is not the resu,t of %anit'"
1ICRO1EAS"
C&APTER I"
A VOBTAE TO T&E PLANET SAT0RN !3 A NATIVE OF
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1icrome*as" @ ;
times *reater than that of this( our tin' a,," Noth4
in* in nature is more sim),e and common" The do4
minions of some so%erei*ns of erman' or Ita,'(
$hich ma' e com)assed in ha,f an hour( $hen com4
)ared $ith the Ottoman( Russian( or Chinese em4
)ires( are no other than faint instances of the )ro4
di*ious dierence that nature has made in the sca,e
of ein*s" The stature of his e?ce,,enc' ein* of
these e?traordinar' dimensions( a,, our artists $i,,
a*ree that the measure around his od' mi*ht
amount to ft' thousand ro'a, feet( a %er' a*reea,e
and Hust )ro)ortion"
+ &is nose ein* eua, in ,en*th to one4third of his
face( and his Ho,,' countenance en*rossin* one4
se%enth )art of his hei*ht( it must e o$ned that the
nose of this same Sirian $as si? thousand three hun4
dred and thirt'4three ro'a, feet( to a hair( $hich $as
to e demonstrated" With re*ard to his understand4
in*( it is one of the est cu,ti%ated I ha%e Gno$n"
&e is )erfect,' $e,, acuainted $ith aundance of
thin*s( some of $hich are of his o$n in%ention 7 for(
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$hen his a*e did not e?ceed t$o hundred and ft'
'ears( he studied accordin* to the custom of the
countr'( at the most ce,erated uni%ersit' of the
$ho,e ),anet( and ' the force of his *enius disco%4
ered u)$ards of ft' )ro)ositions of Euc,id( ha%in*
the ad%anta*e ' more than ei*hteen of !,aise Pas4
ca,( $ho as $e are to,d ' his o$n sister( demon4
strated t$o and thirt' for his amusement and then
@@ 1icrome*as(
,eft o( choosin* rather to e an indierent )hi,os4
o)her than a *reat mathematician"
Aout the four hundred and ftieth 'ear of his a*e(
or ,atter end of his chi,dhood( he dissected a *reat
numer of sma,, insects not more than one hundred
feet in diameter( $hich are not )ercei%a,e ' ordi4
nar' microsco)es( on $hich he com)osed a %er' cu4
rious treatise( $hich in%o,%ed him in some trou,e"
The mufti of the nation( thou*h %er' o,d and %er'
i*norant( made shift to disco%er in his ooG certain
,emmas that $ere sus)icious( unseem,'( rash( heretic(
and unsound( and )rosecuted him $ith *reat animos4
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it'7 for the suHect of the author+s inuir' $as
$hether( in the $or,d of Sirius( there $as an' dier4
ence et$een the sustantia, forms of a Qea and a
snai,"
1icrome*as defended his )hi,oso)h' $ith such
s)irit as made a,, the fema,e se? his )rose,'tes 7 and
the )rocess ,asted t$o hundred and t$ent' 'ears 7
at the end of $hich time( in conseuence of the
mufti+s interest( the ooG $as condemned ' Hud*es
$ho had ne%er read it( and the author e?)e,,ed from
court for the term of ei*ht hundred 'ears"
Not much aected at his anishment from a court
that teemed $ith nothin* ut turmoi,s and triQes(
he made a %er' humorous son* u)on the mufti( $ho
*a%e himse,f no trou,e aout the matter( and set out
on his tra%e,s from ),anet to ),anet in order as the
sa'in* is to im)ro%e his mind and nish his educa4
tion" Those $ho ne%er tra%e, ut in a )ost4chaise or
1icrome*as" @
er,in( $i,, dout,ess e astonished at the eui)a*es
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used ao%e( for $e that strut u)on this ,itt,e mo,e4
hi,, are at a ,oss to concei%e an'thin* that sur)asses
our o$n customs" !ut our tra%e,,er $as a $onder4
fu, ade)t in the ,a$s of *ra%itation( to*ether $ith
the $ho,e force of attraction and re)u,sion( and
made such seasona,e use of his Gno$,ed*e that
sometimes ' the he,) of a suneam( and sometimes
' the con%enience of a comet( he and his retinue
*,ided from s)here to s)here( as the ird ho)s from
one ou*h to another" &e in a %er' ,itt,e time
)osted throu*h the mi,G' $a'( and I am o,i*ed to
o$n he sa$ not a t$inG,e of those stars su))osed
to adorn that fair em)'rean $hich the i,,ustrious
Dr" Derham ra*s to ha%e oser%ed throu*h his
te,esco)e" Not that I )retend to sa' the doctor $as
mistaGen" od forid !ut 1icrome*as $as u)on
the s)ot( an e?ceedin* *ood oser%er( and I ha%e
no mind to contradict an' man" !e that as it ma'(
after man' $indin*s and turnin*s( he arri%ed at the
),anet Saturn( and( accustomed as he $as to the si*ht
of no%e,ties( he cou,d not for his ,ife re)ress a su)er4
ci,ious and conceited smi,e( $hich often esca)es the
$isest )hi,oso)her( $hen he )ercei%ed the sma,,4
ness of that *,oe and the diminuti%e si2e of its
inhaitants7 for rea,,' Saturn is ut aout nine hun4
dred times ,ar*er than this our earth( and the )eo),e
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of that countr' mere d$arfs( aout a thousand
fathoms hi*h" In short( he at rst derided those
)oor )'*mies( Hust as an Indian dd,er ,au*hs at the
@ 1icrome*as"
music of Lu,,'( at his rst arri%a, in Paris7 ut as
this Sirian $as a )erson of *ood sense( he soon )er4
cei%ed that a thinGin* ein* ma' not e a,to*ether
ridicu,ous( e%en thou*h he is not uite si? thousand
feet hi*h7 and therefore he ecame fami,iar $ith
them( after the' had ceased to $onder at his e?traor4
dinar' a))earance" In )articu,ar( he contracted
an intimate friendshi) $ith the secretar' of the
Academ' of Saturn( a man of *ood understandin*(
$ho( thou*h in truth he had in%ented nothin* of his
o$n( *a%e a %er' *ood account of the in%entions
of others( and enHo'ed in )eace the re)utation of a
,itt,e )oet and *reat ca,cu,ator" And here( for the
edication of the reader( I $i,, re)eat a %er' sin*u4
,ar con%ersation that one da' )assed et$een 1r"
Secretar' and 1icrome*as"
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nettes # said our tra%e,,er"
#Then it is ,iGe a *a,,er' of )ictures( the stroGes
of $hich #
#Not at a,,(# ans$ered 1icrome*as( #I te,, 'ou(
once for a,,( nature is ,iGe nature( and com)arisons
are odious"#
#We,,( to ),ease 'ou(# said the secretar'
#I $on+t e ),eased(# re),ied the Sirian( #I $ant
to e instructed7 e*in( therefore( $ithout further
)ream,e( and te,, me ho$ man' senses the )eo),e
of this $or,d enHo'"#
#We ha%e se%ent' and t$o(# said the academi4
cian( #ut $e are dai,' com),ainin* of the sma,,
numer( as our ima*ination transcends our $ants(
for( $ith the se%ent'4t$o senses( our %e moons and
rin*( $e nd ourse,%es %er' much restricted7 and
not$ithstandin* our curiosit'( and the no sma,,
numer of those )assions that resu,t from these fe$
senses( $e ha%e sti,, time enou*h to e tired of
id,eness"#
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#I sincere,' e,ie%e $hat 'ou sa'(# cried 1icro4
me*as( for( thou*h $e Sirians ha%e near a thousand
dierent senses( there sti,, remains a certain %a*ue
desire( an unaccounta,e inuietude incessant,' ad4
monishin* us of our o$n unim)ortance( and *i%in*
us to understand that there are other ein*s $ho
are much our su)eriors in )oint of )erfection" I
;> 1icrome*as"
ha%e tra%e,,ed a ,itt,e( and seen morta,s oth ao%e
and e,o$ m'se,f in the sca,e of ein*( ut I ha%e
met $ith none $ho had not more desire than neces4
sit'( and more $ant than *ratication" Perha)s I
sha,, one da' arri%e in some countr' $here nau*ht
is $antin*( ut hitherto I ha%e had no certain in4
formation of such a ha))' ,and"#
The Saturnian and his *uest e?hausted them4
se,%es in conHectures u)on this suHect( and after
aundance of ar*umentation eua,,' in*enious and
uncertain( $ere fain to return to matter of fact"
#To $hat a*e do 'ou common,' ,i%e# said the
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Sirian"
#LacGada' a mere triQe(# re),ied the ,itt,e
*ent,eman"
#It is the %er' same case $ith us(# resumed the
other( the shortness of ,ife is our dai,' com),aint(
so that this must e a uni%ersa, ,a$ in nature"#
#A,as# cried the Saturnian( #fe$( %er' fe$ on
this *,oe out,i%e %e hundred *reat re%o,utions of
the sun these( accordin* to our $a' of recGonin*(
amount to aout fteen thousand 'ears" So( 'ou
see( $e in a manner e*in to die the %er' moment
$e are orn 7 our e?istence is no more than a )oint(
our duration an instant( and our *,oe an atom"
Scarce do $e e*in to ,earn a ,itt,e( $hen death in4
ter%enes efore $e can )rot ' e?)erience" For m'
o$n )art( I am deterred from ,a'in* schemes $hen I
consider m'se,f as a sin*,e dro) in the midst of an
immense ocean" I am )articu,ar,' ashamed( in
1icrome*as" @
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'our )resence( of the ridicu,ous *ure I maGe
amon* m' fe,,o$4creatures"#
To this dec,aration 1icrome*as re),ied .
#If 'ou $ere not a )hi,oso)her( I shou,d e
afraid of mortif'in* 'our )ride ' te,,in* 'ou that
the term of our ,i%es is se%en hundred times ,on*er
than the ,en*th of 'our e?istence 7 ut 'ou are %er'
sensi,e that $hen the te?ture of the od' is re4
so,%ed( in order to reanimate nature in another form(
$hich is the conseuence of $hat $e ca,, death
$hen that moment of chan*e arri%es( there is not
the ,east dierence et$i?t ha%in* ,i%ed a $ho,e
eternit' or a sin*,e da'" I ha%e een in some coun4
tries $here the )eo),e ,i%e a thousand times ,on*er
than $ith us( and 'et the' murmured at the short4
ness of their time" !ut one $i,, nd e%er'$here
some fe$ )ersons of *ood sense( $ho Gno$ ho$ to
maGe the est of their )ortion and thanG the
author of nature for his ount'" There is a )ro4
fusion of %ariet' scattered throu*h the uni%erse(
and 'et there is an admira,e %ein of uniformit'
that runs throu*h the $ho,e 7 for e?am),e( a,, thinG4
in* ein*s are dierent amon* themse,%es( thou*h
at ottom the' resem,e one another in the )o$ers
and )assions of the sou," 1atter( thou*h intermin4
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a,e( hath dierent )ro)erties in e%er' s)here"
&o$ man' )rinci)a, attriutes do 'ou recGon in
the matter of this $or,d#
#If 'ou mean those )ro)erties(# said the Satur4
nian( #$ithout $hich $e e,ie%e this our *,oe
@M 1icrome*as"
cou,d not susist( $e recGon in a,, three hundred(
such as e?tent( im)enetrai,it'( motion( *ra%itation(
di%isii,it'( et caetera"#
#That sma,, numer(# re),ied the tra%e,,er(
#)roa,' ans$ers the %ie$s of the Creator on this
'our narro$ s)here" I adore &is $isdom in a,,
&is $orGs" I see innite %ariet'( ut e%er'$here
)ro)ortion" 3our *,oe is sma,,( so are the inhai4
tants" 3ou ha%e fe$ sensations( ecause 'our
matter is endued $ith fe$ )ro)erties" These are
the $orGs of unerrin* )ro%idence" Of $hat co,or
does 'our sun a))ear $hen accurate,' e?amined#
#Of a 'e,,o$ish $hite(# ans$ered the Saturnian(
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#and in se)aratin* one of his ra's $e nd it con4
tains se%en co,ors"#
#Our sun(# said the Sirian( #is of a reddish hue(
and $e ha%e no ,ess than thirt'4nine ori*ina, co,ors"
Amon* a,, the suns I ha%e seen there is no sort of
resem,ance( and in this s)here of 'ours there is
not one face ,iGe another"#
After di%ers uestions of this nature he asGed
ho$ man' sustances( essentia,,' dierent( the'
counted in the $or,d of Saturn( and understood
that the' numered ut thirt'( such as od( s)ace(
matter( ein*s endo$ed $ith sense and e?tension(
ein*s that ha%e e?tension( sense( and reQection7
thinGin* ein*s $ho ha%e no e?tension7 those that
are )enetra,e 7 those that are im)enetra,e( and a,so
a,, others" !ut this Saturnian )hi,oso)her $as )ro4
di*ious,' astonished $hen the Sirian to,d him the'
1icrome*as" @<
had no ,ess than three hundred( and that he himse,f
had disco%ered three thousand more in the course
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of his tra%e,s" In short( after ha%in* communi4
cated to each other $hat the' Gne$( and e%en $hat
the' did not Gno$( and ar*ued durin* a com),ete
re%o,ution of the sun( the' reso,%ed to set out to4
*ether on a sma,, )hi,oso)hica, tour"
C&APTER III"
T&E VO3AE OF T&ESE IN&A!ITANTS OF OT&ER
WORLDS"
Our t$o )hi,oso)hers $ere Hust read' to emarG
for the atmos)here of Saturn( $ith a ,ar*e )ro%ision
of mathematica, instruments( $hen the Saturnian+s
mistress( ha%in* *ot an inG,in* of their desi*n(
came a,, in tears to maGe her )rotests" She $as a
handsome runette( thou*h not ao%e si? hundred
and threescore fathoms hi*h 7 ut her a*reea,e at4
tractions made amends for the sma,,ness of her
stature"
#Ah crue, man(# cried she( #after a courtshi) of
fteen hundred 'ears( $hen at ,en*th I surrendered
and ecame 'our $ife( and scarce ha%e )assed t$o
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hundred more in th' emraces( to ,ea%e me thus(
efore the hone'moon is o%er( and *o a4ram,in*
$ith a *iant of another $or,d o( *o( thou art a
mere %irtuoso( de%oid of tenderness and ,o%e If
thou $ert a true Saturnian( thou $ou,dst e faithfu,
= 1icrome*as"
and in%aria,e" Ah $hither art thou *oin* $hat
is th' desi*n Our %e moons are not so incon4
stant( nor our rin* so chan*ea,e as thee !ut taGe
this a,on* $ith thee( henceforth I ne+er sha,, ,o%e
another man"#
The ,itt,e *ent,eman emraced and $e)t o%er
her( not$ithstandin* his )hi,oso)h'7 and the ,ad'(
after ha%in* s$ooned $ith *reat decenc'( $ent to
conso,e herse,f $ith more a*reea,e com)an'"
1ean$hi,e our t$o %irtuosi set out( and at one
Hum) ,ea)ed u)on the rin*( $hich the' found )rett'
Qat( accordin* to the in*enious *uess of an i,,us4
trious inhaitant of this our ,itt,e earth" From
thence the' easi,' s,i))ed from moon to moon 7 and
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a comet chancin* to )ass( the' s)ran* u)on it $ith
a,, their ser%ants and a))aratus" Thus carried
aout one hundred and ft' mi,,ions of ,ea*ues(
the' met $ith the sate,,ites of /u)iter( and arri%ed
u)on the od' of the ),anet itse,f( $here the' con4
tinued a $ho,e 'ear7 durin* $hich the' ,earned
some %er' curious secrets( $hich $ou,d actua,,' e
sent to the )ress( $ere it not for fear of the *ent,e4
men inuisitors( $ho ha%e found amon* them some
coro,,aries %er' hard of di*estion" Ne%erthe,ess( I
ha%e read the manuscri)t in the ,irar' of the i,,us4
trious archisho) of ( $ho( $ith that *enerosit'
and *oodness $hich shou,d e%er e commended(
has *ranted me )ermission to )eruse his ooGs 7
$herefore I )romise he sha,, ha%e a ,on* artic,e in
the ne?t edition of 1oreri( and I sha,, not for*et
1icrome*as" ;
the 'oun* *ent,emen( his sons( $ho *i%e us such
),easin* ho)es of seein* )er)etuated the race of
their i,,ustrious father" !ut to return to our tra%e,4
,ers" When the' tooG ,ea%e of /u)iter( the' tra%4
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ersed a s)ace of aout one hundred mi,,ions of
,ea*ues( and coastin* a,on* the ),anet 1ars( $hich
is $e,, Gno$n to e %e times sma,,er than our ,itt,e
earth( the' descried t$o moons suser%ient to that
or $hich ha%e esca)ed the oser%ation of a,,
our astronomers" I Gno$ Father Caste, $i,, $rite(
and that ),easant,' enou*h( a*ainst the e?istence
of these t$o moons7 ut I entire,' refer m'se,f to
those $ho reason ' ana,o*'" Those $orth' )hi4
,oso)hers are %er' sensi,e that 1ars( $hich is at
such a distance from the sun( must e in a %er' un4
comforta,e situation( $ithout the enet of a
cou),e of moons"- !e that as it ma'( our *ent,emen
found the ),anet so sma,, that the' $ere afraid the'
shou,d not nd room to taGe a ,itt,e re)ose( so that
the' )ursued their Hourne' ,iGe t$o tra%e,,ers $ho
des)ise the )a,tr' accommodation of a %i,,a*e and
)ush for$ard to the ne?t marGet to$n" !ut the
Sirian and his com)anion soon re)ented of their
de,icac'( for the' Hourne'ed a ,on* time $ithout
ndin* a restin*4),ace( ti,, at ,en*th the' discerned
a sma,, s)ecG( $hich $as the Earth" Comin* from
/u)iter( the' cou,d not ut e mo%ed $ith com)as4
sion at the si*ht of this misera,e s)ot( u)on $hich(
-This fanc' of Vo,taire for it $as not a conHecture
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comin* throu*h oth hemis)heres( the' did a,, that
,a' in their )o$er to disco%er $hether or not the
*,oe $as inhaited" The' stoo)ed( the' ,a' do$n(
the' *ro)ed in e%er' corner7 ut their e'es and
hands $ere not at a,, )ro)ortioned to the sma,,
ein*s that cra$, u)on this earth( and( therefore(
the' cou,d not nd the sma,,est reason to sus)ect
that $e and our fe,,o$4citi2ens of this *,oe had the
honor to e?ist"
The d$arf( $ho sometimes Hud*ed too hasti,'(
conc,uded at once that there $ere no ,i%in* creatures
u)on earth( and his chief reason $as that he had
seen nood'" !ut 1icrome*as( in a )o,ite manner(
made him sensi,e of the unHust conc,usion.
#For(# said he( #$ith 'our diminuti%e e'es 'ou
cannot see certain stars of the ftieth ma*nitude(
$hich I easi,' )ercei%e7 and #do 'ou taGe it for
*ranted that no such stars e?ist#
#!ut I ha%e *ro)ed $ith *reat care(# re),ied the
d$arf"
#Then 'our sense of fee,in* must e ad(# said
the other"
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#!ut this *,oe(# said the d$arf( #is i,, contri%ed(
Vo," 4
1icrome*as"
and so irre*u,ar in its form as to e uite ridicu,ous"
The $ho,e to*ether ,ooGs ,iGe a chaos" Do ut
oser%e these ,itt,e ri%u,ets7 not one of them runs
in a strai*ht ,ine 7 and these )onds $hich are neither
round( suare( nor o%a,( nor indeed of an' re*u,ar
*ure 7 to*ether $ith these ,itt,e shar) )e,es
meanin* the mountains that rou*hen the $ho,e
surface of the *,oe( and ha%e torn a,, the sGin from
m' feet" !esides( )ra' taGe notice of the sha)e of
the $ho,e( ho$ it Qattens at the )o,es( and turns
round the sun in an a$G$ard o,iue manner( so
that the )o,ar circ,es cannot )ossi,' e cu,ti%ated"
Tru,'( $hat maGes me e,ie%e there is no inhaitant
on this s)here is a fu,, )ersuasion that no sensi,e
ein* $ou,d ,i%e in such a disa*reea,e ),ace"#
#What then # said 1icrome*as 7 #)erha)s the e4
in*s that inhait it come not under that denomina4
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tion7 ut( to a,, a))earance( it $as not made for
nothin*" E%er'thin* here seems to 'ou irre*u,ar(
ecause 'ou fetch a,, 'our com)arisons from /u)iter
or Saturn" Perha)s this is the %er' reason of the
seemin* confusion $hich 'ou condemn 7 ha%e I not
to,d 'ou that in the course of m' tra%e,s I ha%e a,4
$a's met $ith %ariet'#
The Saturnian re),ied to a,, these ar*uments( and
)erha)s the dis)ute $ou,d ha%e Gno$n no end( if
1icrome*as( in the heat of the contest( had not
,ucGi,' roGen the strin* of his diamond necG,ace(
so that the He$e,s fe,, to the *round7 the' consisted
of )rett' sma,, uneua, stones( the ,ar*est of $hich
1icrome*as" B
$ei*hed four hundred )ounds( and the sma,,est
ft'" The d$arf( in he,)in* to )icG them u)( )er4
cei%ed( as the' a))roached his e'e( that e%er' sin*,e
diamond $as cut in such a manner as to ans$er the
)ur)ose of an e?ce,,ent microsco)e" &e therefore
tooG u) a sma,, one( aout one hundred and si?t' feet
in diameter( and a)),ied it to his e'e( $hi,e 1icro4
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me*as chose another of t$o thousand %e hundred
feet" Thou*h the' $ere of e?ce,,ent )o$ers( the
oser%ers cou,d )ercei%e nothin* ' their assist4
ance( so the' $ere a,tered and adHusted" At ,en*th(
the inhaitant of Saturn discerned somethin* a,4
most im)erce)ti,e mo%in* et$een t$o $a%es in
the !a,tic" This $as no other than a $ha,e( $hich(
in a de?trous manner( he cau*ht $ith his ,itt,e
n*er( and( ),acin* it on the nai, of his thum(
sho$ed it to the Sirian( $ho ,au*hed hearti,' at the
e?cessi%e sma,,ness )ecu,iar to the inhaitants of
this our *,oe" The Saturnian( ' this time con4
%inced that our $or,d $as inhaited( e*an to
ima*ine $e had no other anima,s than $ha,es7 and
ein* a mi*ht' deater( he forth$ith set aout in4
%esti*atin* the ori*in and motion of this sma,, atom(
curious to Gno$ $hether or not it $as furnished
$ith ideas( Hud*ment( and free $i,," 1icrome*as
$as %er' much )er),e?ed u)on this suHect" &e
e?amined the anima, $ith the most )atient atten4
tion( and the resu,t of his inuir' $as that he cou,d
see no reason to e,ie%e a sou, $as ,od*ed in such
a od'" The t$o tra%e,,ers $ere actua,,' inc,ined
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> 1icrome*as"
to thinG there $as no such thin* as mind in this
our haitation( $hen( ' the he,) of their micro4
sco)e( the' )ercei%ed somethin* as ,ar*e as a $ha,e
Qoatin* u)on the surface of the sea" It is $e,,
Gno$n that at this )eriod a QocG of )hi,oso)hers
$ere u)on their return from the )o,ar circ,e( $here
the' had een maGin* oser%ations( for $hich no4
od' has hitherto een the $iser" The *a2ettes re4
cord that their %esse, ran ashore on the coast of
!othnia and that the' $ith *reat dicu,t' sa%ed
their ,i%es7 ut in this $or,d one can ne%er di%e to
the ottom of thin*s" For m' o$n )art( I $i,, in4
*enious,' recount the transaction Hust as it ha)4
)ened( $ithout an' addition of m' o$n7 and this
is no sma,, eort in a modern historian"
C&APTER V"
T&E TRAVELLERS CAPT0RE A VESSEL"
1icrome*as stretched out his hand *ent,' to4
$ard the ),ace $here the oHect a))eared( and ad4
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%anced t$o n*ers( $hich he instant,' )u,,ed acG(
for fear of ein* disa))ointed 7 then o)enin* soft,'
and shuttin* them a,, at once( he %er' de?trous,'
sei2ed the shi) that contained those *ent,emen( and
),aced it on his nai,( a%oidin* too much )ressure(
$hich mi*ht ha%e crushed the $ho,e in )ieces"
#This(# said the Saturnian d$arf( #is a creature
%er' dierent from the former"#
1icrome*as"
0)on $hich the Sirian( ),acin* the su))osed
anima, in the ho,,o$ of his hand( the )assen*ers
and cre$( $ho e,ie%ed themse,%es thro$n ' a
hurricane u)on some rocG( e*an to )ut themse,%es
in motion" The sai,ors ha%in* hoisted out some
casGs of $ine( Hum)ed after them into the hand of
1icrome*as 7 the mathematicians ha%in* secured
their uadrants( sectors( and La),and ser%ants( $ent
o%eroard at a dierent ),ace( and made such a ust,e
in their descent that the Sirian at ,en*th fe,t his
n*ers ticG,ed ' somethin* that seemed to mo%e"
An iron ar chanced to )enetrate aout a foot dee)
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into his foren*er 7 and from this )ricG he conc,uded
that somethin* had issued from the ,itt,e anima, he
he,d in his hand 7 ut at rst he sus)ected nothin*
more( for the microsco)e( that scarce rendered a
$ha,e and a shi) %isi,e( had no eect u)on an oHect
so im)erce)ti,e as man"
I do not intend to shocG the %anit' of an' )er4
son $hate%er 7 ut here I am o,i*ed to reuest
)eo),e of im)ortance to consider that( su))osin*
the stature of a man to e aout %e feet( $e morta,s
maGe Hust such a *ure u)on the earth as an anima,
the si?t' thousandth )art of a foot in hei*ht $ou,d
e?hiit u)on a o$, ten feet in circumference"
When 'ou reQect u)on a ein* $ho cou,d ho,d this
$ho,e earth in the )a,m of his hand( and is )ro%ided
$ith or*ans )ro)ortioned to those $e )ossess( 'ou
$i,, easi,' concei%e that there must e a *reat %ar4
iet' of created sustances and )ra'( $hat must
M 1icrome*as"
such ein*s thinG of those att,es ' $hich a con4
ueror *ains a sma,, %i,,a*e( to ,ose it a*ain in the
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seue,
I do not at a,, dout ut if some ca)tain of
*renadiers shou,d chance to read this $orG( he
$ou,d add t$o ,ar*e feet at ,east to the ca)s of his
com)an'7 ut I assure him his ,aor $i,, e in
%ain( for( do $hat he $i,,( he and his so,diers $i,,
ne%er e other than innite,' diminuti%e and in4
considera,e"
What $onderfu, address must ha%e een inher4
ent in our Sirian )hi,oso)her that ena,ed him to
)ercei%e these atoms of $hich $e ha%e een s)eaG4
in*" When Leu$enhoeG and &artsoeGer oser%ed
the rst rudiments of $hich $e are formed(
the' did not maGe such an astonishin* disco%er'"
What ),easure( therefore( $as the )ortion of 1icro4
me*as in oser%in* the motion of those ,itt,e ma4
chines( in e?aminin* a,, their )ranGs( and fo,,o$in*
them in a,, their o)erations With $hat Ho' did he
)ut his microsco)e into his com)anion+s hand 7 and
$ith $hat trans)ort did the' oth at once e?c,aim .
#I see them distinct,' don+t 'ou see them car4
r'in* urdens( ,'in* do$n and risin* u) a*ain #
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So sa'in*( their hands shooG $ith ea*erness to
see and a))rehension to ,ose such uncommon o4
Hects" The Saturnian( maGin* a sudden transition
from the most cautious distrust to the most e?ces4
si%e credu,it'( ima*ined he sa$ them en*a*ed in
their de%otions( and cried a,oud in astonishment"
1icrome*as" <
Ne%erthe,ess( he $as decei%ed ' a))earances7
a case too common( $hether $e do or do not maGe
use of microsco)es"
C&APTER VI"
W&AT &APPENED IN T&EIR INTERCO0RSE WIT& 1EN"
1icrome*as ein* a much etter oser%er than
the d$arf( )ercei%ed distinct,' that those atoms
s)oGe7 and made the remarG to his com)anion(
$ho $as so much ashamed of ein* mistaGen in his
rst su**estion that he $ou,d not e,ie%e such a
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)un' s)ecies cou,d )ossi,' communicate their
ideas( for( thou*h he had the *ift of ton*ues( as
$e,, as his com)anion( he cou,d not hear those
)artic,es s)eaG( and( therefore( su))osed the' had
no ,an*ua*e"
#!esides( ho$ shou,d such im)erce)ti,e ein*s
ha%e the or*ans of s)eech and $hat in the name
of /o%e can the' sa' to one another In order to
s)eaG( the' must ha%e somethin* ,iGe thou*ht( and
if the' thinG( the' must sure,' ha%e somethin*
eui%a,ent to a sou," No$( to attriute an'thin*
,iGe a sou, to such an insect s)ecies a))ears a mere
asurdit'"#
#!ut Hust no$(# re),ied the Sirian( #'ou e,ie%ed
the' $ere en*a*ed in de%otiona, e?ercises7 and do
'ou thinG this cou,d e done $ithout thinGin*(
$ithout usin* some sort of ,an*ua*e( or at ,east
= 1icrome*as"
some $a' of maGin* themse,%es understood Or
do 'ou su))ose it is more dicu,t to ad%ance an
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ar*ument than to en*a*e in )h'sica, e?ercise For
m' o$n )art( I ,ooG u)on a,, facu,ties as a,iGe
m'sterious"#
#I $i,, no ,on*er %enture to e,ie%e or den'(#
ans$ered the d$arf( #in short( I ha%e no o)inion at
a,," Let us endea%or to e?amine these insects( and
$e $i,, reason u)on them after$ard"#
#With a,, m' heart(# said 1icrome*as( $ho(
taGin* out a )air of scissors $hich he Ge)t for
)arin* his nai,s( cut o a )arin* from his thum
nai,( of $hich he immediate,' formed a ,ar*e Gind
of s)eaGin* trum)et( ,iGe a %ast tunne,( and c,a))ed
the )i)e to his ear7 as the circumference of this
machine inc,uded the shi) and a,, the cre$( the most
fee,e %oice $as con%e'ed a,on* the circu,ar res
of the nai,7 so that( thanGs to his industr'( the
)hi,oso)her cou,d distinct,' hear the u22in* of our
insects that $ere e,o$" In a fe$ hours he dis4
tin*uished articu,ate sounds( and at ,ast ),ain,'
understood the French ,an*ua*e" The d$arf heard
the same( thou*h $ith more dicu,t'"
The astonishment of our tra%e,,ers increased
e%er' instant" The' heard a nest of mites ta,G in a
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%er' sensi,e strain . and that ,usu s nature seemed
to them ine?),ica,e" 3ou need not dout ut the
Sirian and his d$arf *,o$ed $ith im)atience to
enter into con%ersation $ith such atoms" 1icro4
me*as ein* afraid that his %oice( ,iGe thunder(
1icrome*as" ;
$ou,d deafen and confound the mites( $ithout e4
in* understood ' them( sa$ the necessit' of dimin4
ishin* the sound7 each( therefore( )ut into his
mouth a sort of sma,, tooth)icG( the s,ender end of
$hich reached to the %esse," The Sirian settin* the
d$arf u)on his Gnees( and the shi) and cre$
u)on his nai,( he,d do$n his head and s)oGe soft,'"
In ne( ha%in* taGen these and a *reat man' more
)recautions( he addressed himse,f to them in these
$ords .
#O 'e in%isi,e insects( $hom the hand of the
Creator hath dei*ned to )roduce in the a'ss of
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innite ,itt,eness I *i%e )raise to &is *oodness( in
that &e hath een ),eased to disc,ose unto me those
secrets that seemed to e im)enetra,e"#
If e%er there $as such a thin* as astonishment(
it sei2ed u)on the )eo),e $ho heard this address(
and $ho cou,d not concei%e from $hence it )ro4
ceeded" The cha),ain of the shi) re)eated e?or4
cisms( the sai,ors s$ore( and the )hi,oso)hers
formed a s'stem 7 ut( not$ithstandin* a,, their s's4
tems( the' cou,d not di%ine $ho the )erson $as that
s)oGe to them" Then the d$arf of Saturn( $hose
%oice $as softer than that of 1icrome*as( *a%e
them rieQ' to understand $hat s)ecies of ein*s
the' had to do $ith" &e re,ated the )articu,ars of
their %o'a*e from Saturn( made them acuainted
$ith the ranG and ua,it' of 1onsieur 1icrome*as(
and( after ha%in* )itied their sma,,ness( asGed if
the' had a,$a's een in that misera,e state so near
@ 1icrome*as"
aGin to annihi,ation7 and $hat their usiness $as
u)on that *,oe $hich seemed to e the )ro)ert' of
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$ha,es" &e a,so desired to Gno$ if the' $ere
ha))' in their situation if the' $ere ins)ired $ith
sou,s and )ut a hundred uestions of the ,iGe
nature"
A certain mathematician on oard( ra%er than
the rest( and shocGed to hear his sou, ca,,ed in
uestion( ),anted his uadrant( and ha%in* taGen
t$o oser%ations of this inter,ocutor( said. #3ou
e,ie%e then( 1r" $hat+s 'our name( that ecause
'ou measure from head to foot a thousand
fathoms #
#A thousand fathoms# cried the d$arf( #*ood
hea%ens &o$ shou,d he Gno$ the hei*ht of m'
stature A thousand fathoms 1' %er' dimen4
sions to a hair" What( measured ' a mite This
atom( forsooth( is a *eometrician( and Gno$s
e?act,' ho$ ta,, I am7 $hi,e I( $ho can scarce )er4
cei%e him throu*h a microsco)e( am utter,' i*no4
rant of his e?tent#
#3es( I ha%e taGen 'our measure(# ans$ered
the )hi,oso)her( #and I $i,, no$ do the same '
'our ta,, com)anion"#
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The )ro)osa, $as emraced7 his e?ce,,enc' re4
c,ined u)on his side( for( had he stood u)ri*ht( his
head $ou,d ha%e reached too far ao%e the c,ouds"
Our mathematicians ),anted a ta,, tree near him(
and then( ' a series of trian*,es Hoined to*ether(
the' disco%ered that the oHect of their oser%ation
1icrome*as"
$as a stra))in* 'outh( e?act,' one hundred and
t$ent' thousand ro'a, feet in ,en*th" In conse4
uence of this ca,cu,ation( 1icrome*as uttered
these $ords.
#I am no$ more than e%er con%inced that $e
ou*ht to Hud*e of nothin* ' its e?terna, ma*ni4
tude" O od $ho hast esto$ed understandin*
u)on such seemin*,' contem)ti,e sustances(
Thou canst $ith eua, ease )roduce that $hich is
innite,' sma,,( as that $hich is incredi,' *reat7
and if it e )ossi,e that amon* th' $orGs there
are ein*s sti,, more diminuti%e than these( the'
ma'( ne%erthe,ess( e endued $ith understandin*
su)erior to the inte,,i*ence of those stu)endous
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unincumered $ith matter( and( to a,, a))earance(
,itt,e e,se than sou,( 'ou must s)end 'our ,i%es in
the de,i*hts of ),easure and reQection( $hich are
the true enHo'ments of a )erfect s)irit" True ha)4
)iness I ha%e no$here found7 ut certain,' here it
d$e,,s"#
At this haran*ue a,, the )hi,oso)hers shooG their
heads( and one amon* them( more candid than his
rethren( franG,' o$ned that( e?ce)tin* a %er'
sma,, numer of inhaitants $ho $ere %er' ,itt,e
esteemed ' their fe,,o$s( a,, the rest $ere a )arce,
of Gna%es( foo,s( and misera,e $retches"
#We ha%e matter enou*h(# said he( #to do aun4
dance of mischief( if mischief comes from matter7
and too much understandin*( if e%i, Qo$s from
understandin*" 3ou must Gno$( for e?am),e( that
at this %er' moment( $hi,e I am s)eaGin*( there
are one hundred thousand anima,s of our o$n
s)ecies( co%ered $ith hats( s,a'in* an eua, num4
er of their fe,,o$4creatures $ho $ear turans7
at ,east the' are either s,a'in* or ein* s,ain7 and
this hath usua,,' een the case a,, o%er the earth
from time immemoria,"#
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The Sirian( shudderin* at this information(
e**ed to Gno$ the cause of those horri,e uarre,s
amon* such a )un' race( and $as *i%en to under4
1icrome*as" B
stand that the suHect of the dis)ute $as a )itifu,
mo,e4hi,, ca,,ed Pa,estine( no ,ar*er than his hee,"
Not that an' one of those mi,,ions $ho cut one
another+s throats )retends to ha%e the ,east c,aim
to the sma,,est )artic,e of that c,od" The uestion
is( $hether it sha,, e,on* to a certain )erson $ho
is Gno$n ' the name of Su,tan( or to another
$hom for $hat reason I Gno$ not the' di*nif'
$ith the a))e,,ation of Po)e" Neither the one nor
the other has seen or e%er $i,, see the )itifu, corner
in uestion7 and )roa,' none of these $retches(
$ho so mad,' destro' each other( e%er ehe,d the
ru,er on $hose account the' are so merci,ess,' sacri4
ced
#Ah( miscreants# cried the indi*nant Sirian(
#such e?cess of des)erate ra*e is e'ond conce)4
tion" I ha%e a *ood mind to taGe t$o or three
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ste)s( and tram),e the $ho,e nest of such ridicu,ous
assassins under m' feet"#
#Don+t *i%e 'ourse,f the trou,e(# re),ied the
)hi,oso)her 7 #the' are industrious enou*h in )rocur4
in* their o$n destruction" At the end of ten 'ears
the hundredth )art of those $retches $i,, not sur4
%i%e7 for 'ou must Gno$ that( thou*h the' shou,d
not dra$ a s$ord in the cause the' ha%e es)oused(
famine( fati*ue( and intem)erance $ou,d s$ee)
a,most a,, of them from the face of the earth" !e4
sides( the )unishment shou,d not e inQicted u)on
them( ut u)on those sedentar' and s,othfu, ar4
arians( $ho( from their )a,aces( *i%e orders for
> 1icrome*as"
murderin* a mi,,ion of men and then so,emn,'
thanG od for their success"#
Our tra%e,,er $as mo%ed $ith com)assion for
the entire human race( in $hich he disco%ered such
astonishin* contrasts" #Since 'ou are of the sma,,
numer of the $ise(# said he( #and in a,, ,iGe,ihood
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do not en*a*e 'ourse,%es in the trade of murder
for hire( e so *ood as to te,, me 'our occu)ation"#
#We anatomi2e Qies(# re),ied the )hi,oso)her(
#$e measure ,ines( $e maGe ca,cu,ations( $e a*ree
u)on t$o or three )oints $hich $e understand( and
dis)ute u)on t$o or three thousand that are e'ond
our com)rehension"#
#&o$ far(# said the Sirian( #do 'ou recGon the
distance et$een the *reat star of the conste,,ation
emini and that ca,,ed Canicu,a#
To this uestion a,, of them ans$ered $ith one
%oice. #Thirt'4t$o de*rees and a ha,f"#
#And $hat is the distance from thence to the
moon#
#Si?t' semi4diameters of the earth"#
&e then thou*ht to )u22,e them ' asGin* the
$ei*ht of the air 7 ut the' ans$ered distinct,' that
common air is aout nine hundred times s)ecica,,'
,i*hter than an eua, co,umn of the ,i*htest $ater(
and nineteen hundred times ,i*hter than current
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,ea*ues( #that th' sou, shou,d e ,earned efore
irth( in order to e so i*norant $hen thou hast *ot
a eard u)on th' chin" !ut $hat dost thou under4
stand ' s)irit#
#I ha%e no idea of it(# said the )hi,oso)her 7 #in4
deed( it is su))osed to e immateria,"#
#At ,east( thou Gno$est $hat matter is# re4
sumed the Sirian"
#Perfect,' $e,,(# ans$ered the other" #For
e?am),e. that stone is *ra'( is of a certain *ure(
has three dimensions( s)ecic $ei*ht( and di%is4
ii,it'"#
#I $ant to Gno$(# said the *iant( #$hat that
oHect is( $hich( accordin* to th' oser%ation( hath
a *ra' co,or( $ei*ht and di%isii,it'" Thou seest
a fe$ ua,ities( ut dost thou Gno$ the nature of
the thin* itse,f#
#Not I( tru,'(# ans$ered the Cartesian"
0)on $hich the Sirian admitted that he a,so $as
i*norant in re*ard to this suHect" Then addressin*
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uncontro%erti,e"#
A ,itt,e )artisan of LocGe( $ho chanced to e
)resent( ein* asGed his o)inion on the same su4
Hect( said. #I do not Gno$ ' $hat )o$er I thinG7
ut $e,, I Gno$ that I shou,d ne%er ha%e thou*ht
$ithout the assistance of m' senses" That there
are immateria, and inte,,i*ent sustances I do not
at a,, dout7 ut that it is im)ossi,e for od to
communicate the facu,t' of thinGin* to matter( I
dout %er' much" I re%ere the Eterna, Po$er( to
$hich it $ou,d i,, ecome me to )rescrie ounds"
I arm nothin*( and am contented to e,ie%e that
man' more thin*s are )ossi,e than are usua,,'
thou*ht so"#
The Sirian smi,ed at this dec,aration( and did not
,ooG u)on the author as the ,east sa*acious of the
com)an'7 and as for the d$arf of Saturn( he $ou,d
ha%e emraced this adherent of LocGe( had it not
een for the e?treme dis)ro)ortion in their res)ec4
ti%e si2es" !ut un,ucGi,' there $as another anima,4
cu,e in a suare ca)( $ho( taGin* the $ord from a,,
his )hi,oso)hica, rethren( armed that he Gne$ the
Vo," 4
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B= 1icrome*as"
$ho,e secret( $hich $as contained in the arid*4
ment of St" Thomas" &e sur%e'ed the t$o ce,estia,
stran*ers from to) to toe( and maintained to their
faces that their )ersons( their fashions( their suns(
and their stars $ere created so,e,' for the use of
man" At this $i,d assertion our t$o tra%e,,ers $ere
sei2ed $ith a t of that uncontro,,a,e ,au*hter(
$hich accordin* to &omer is the )ortion of the
immorta, *ods 7 their e,,ies ui%ered( their shou,4
ders rose and fe,,( and( durin* these con%u,sions( the
%esse, fe,, from the Sirian+s nai, into the Saturnian+s
)ocGet( $here these $orth' )eo),e searched for it a
,on* time $ith *reat di,i*ence" At ,en*th( ha%in*
found the shi) and set e%er'thin* to ri*hts a*ain(
the Sirian resumed the discourse $ith those diminu4
ti%e mites( and )romised to com)ose for them a
choice ooG of )hi,oso)h' $hich $ou,d demon4
strate the %er' essence of thin*s" Accordin*,'( e4
fore his de)arture( he made them a )resent of the
ooG( $hich $as rou*ht to the Academ' of
Sciences at Paris( ut $hen the o,d secretar' came
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to o)en it he sa$ nothin* ut ,anG )a)er( u)on
$hich
#A'( a'(# said he( # this is Hust $hat I sus)ected"#
T&E &ISTOR3 OF T&E TRAVELS
OF SCAR1ENTADO"
I $as orn in Candid( in the 'ear ;>==" 1'
father $as *o%ernor of the cit'7 and I rememer
that a )oet of midd,in* )arts( and of a most un4
musica, ear( $hose name $as Iro( com)osed some
%erses in m' )raise( in $hich he made me to descend
from 1inos in a direct ,ine7 ut m' father ein*
after$ards dis*raced( he $rote some other %erses(
in $hich he deri%ed m' )edi*ree from no no,er an
ori*in than the amours of Pasi)hae and her *a,,ant"
This Iro $as a most mischie%ous ro*ue( and one of
the most trou,esome fe,,o$s in the is,and"
1' father sent me at fteen 'ears of a*e to )ros4
ecute m' studies at Rome" There I arri%ed in fu,,
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ho)es of ,earnin* a,, Ginds of truth( for I had hith4
erto een tau*ht uite the re%erse( accordin* to the
custom of this ,o$er $or,d from China to the A,)s"
1onsi*nor Profondo( to $hom I $as recommended(
$as a man of a %er' sin*u,ar character( and one of
the most terri,e scho,ars in the $or,d" &e $as for
teachin* me te cate*ories of Aristot,e7 and $as
Hust on the )oint of ),acin* me in the cate*or' of
his minions 7 a fate $hich I narro$,' esca)ed" I
sa$ )rocessions( e?orcisms( and some roeries"
B@ Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"
It $as common,' said( ut $ithout an' ""founda4
tion( that ,a Si*nora O,'m)ia( a ,ad' of *reat )ru4
dence( had decei%ed man' ,o%ers( she ein* oth
inconstant and mercenar'" I $as then of an a*e
to re,ish such comica, anecdotes"
A 'oun* ,ad' of *reat s$eetness of tem)er(
ca,,ed ,a Si*nora Fate,o( thou*ht )ro)er to fa,, in
,o%e $ith me" She $as courted ' the re%erend
father Pio*nardini and ' the re%erend father
Aconiti(- 'oun* monGs of an order no$ e?tinct7
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and she reconci,ed the t$o ri%a,s ' dec,arin* her
)reference for me7 ut at the same time I ran the
risG of ein* e?communicated and )oisoned" I
,eft Rome hi*h,' ),eased $ith the architecture of
St" Peter+s"
I tra%e,,ed to France" It $as durin* the rei*n
of Louis the /ust" The rst uestion )ut to me
$as( $hether I chose to reaGfast on a s,ice of the
1arsha, d+Ancre(f $hose Qesh the )eo),e had
roasted and distriuted $ith *reat ,iera,it' to such
as chose to taste it"
This Gin*dom $as continua,,' in%o,%ed in ci%i,
$ars 7 sometimes for a ),ace at court( sometimes for
- A,,udin* to the infamous )ractice of )oisonin* and
assassination at that time )re%a,ent in Rome" Trans"
fThis $as the famous Concini"$ho $as murdered on the
dra$rid*e of the Lou%re( ' the intri*ues of De Luines(
not $ithout the Gno$,ed*e of the Gin*( Louis :III" &is
od'( $hich had een secret,' interred in the church of
St" ermain ;+Au?errois( $as ne?t da' du* u) ' the
)o)u,ace( $ho dra**ed it throu*h the streets( then urned
the Qesh( and thre$ the ones into the ri%er" The marsha,+s
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*reatest crime $as his ein* a forei*ner" "
Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" B
t$o )a*es of theo,o*ica, contro%ers'" This re(
$hich at one time ,a' concea,ed under the ashes( and
at another urst forth $ith *reat %io,ence( had deso4
,ated these eautifu, )ro%inces for u)$ards of si?t'
'ears" The )rete?t $as( defendin* the ,ierties of
the a,,ican church" #A,as # said I( #these )eo),e
are ne%erthe,ess orn $ith a *ent,e dis)osition"
What can ha%e dra$n them so far from their nat4
ura, character The' HoGe and Gee) ho,' da's"-
&a))' the time $hen the' sha,, do nothin* ut
HoGe#
I $ent o%er to En*,and( $here the same dis4
)utes occasioned the same ararities" Some )ious
Catho,ics had reso,%ed( for the *ood of the church(
to ,o$ u) into the air $ith *un)o$der the Gin*(
the ro'a, fami,'( and the $ho,e )ar,iament( and
thus to de,i%er En*,and from a,, these heretics at
once" The' sho$ed me the ),ace $here 8ueen
1ar' of ,essed memor'( the dau*hter of &enr'
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the state"
#&e has done much $orse(# re),ied a )reacher
in a ,acG c,oaG7 #he e,ie%ed that men ma' e
sa%ed ' *ood $orGs as $e,, as ' faith" 3ou must
)ercei%e(# adds he( #that if such o)inions $ere to
*ain *round( a re)u,ic cou,d not susist( and that
there must e se%ere ,a$s to su))ress such scanda4
,ous and horrid ,as)hemies"#
A )rofound )o,itician said to me $ith a si*h .
#A,as sir( this ha))' time $i,, not ,ast ,on*7 it
is on,' ' chance that the )eo),e are so 2ea,ous"
The' are natura,,' inc,ined to the aomina,e doc4
trine of to,eration( and the' $i,, certain,' at ,ast
*rant it"# This reQection set him a4*roanin*"
For m' o$n )art( in e?)ectation of that fata,
)eriod $hen moderation and indu,*ence shou,d
taGe ),ace( I instant,' uitted a countr' $here se4
%erit' $as not softened ' an' ,eniti%e( and em4
arGed for S)ain"
The court $as then at Se%i,,e" The *a,,eons had
Hust arri%ed( and e%er'thin* reathed ),ent' and
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Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" BB
*,adness( in the most eautifu, season of the 'ear"
I oser%ed( at the end of an a,,e' of oran*e and
citron trees( a Gind of ,ar*e rin*( surrounded $ith
ste)s co%ered $ith rich and cost,' c,oth" The Gin*(
the ueen( the infantes( and the infantas $ere seated
under a su)er cano)'" O))osite to the ro'a,
fami,' $as another throne( raised hi*her than that
on $hich his maHest' sat" I said to a fe,,o$4tra%4
e,,er. #0n,ess this throne e reser%ed for od(
I don+t see $hat )ur)ose it can ser%e"#
This un*uarded e?)ression $as o%erheard ' a
*ra%e S)aniard( and cost me dear" 1ean$hi,e( I
ima*ined $e $ere *oin* to a carousa,( or a match of
u,,4aitin*( $hen the *rand inuisitor a))eared
on that e,e%ated throne( from $hence he ,essed the
Gin* and the )eo),e"
Then came an arm' of monGs( $ho ,ed o in
)airs( $hite( ,acG( *ra'( shod( unshod( earded(
eard,ess( $ith )ointed co$,s( and $ithout co$,s"
Ne?t fo,,o$ed the han*man( and ,ast of a,, $ere
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seen( in the midst of the *uards and *randees( aout
fort' )ersons c,ad in sacGc,oth( on $hich $ere
)ainted the *ures of Qames and de%i,s" Some of
these $ere /e$s( $ho cou,d not e )re%ai,ed u)on
to renounce 1oses entire,'7 others $ere Christians
$ho had married $omen $ith $hom the' had stood
s)onsors to a chi,d7 $ho had not adored our Lad'
of Atocha7 or $ho had refused to )art $ith their
read' mone' in fa%or of the &ieron'mite rothers"
Some )rett' )ra'ers $ere sun* $ith much de%otion
B> Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"
and then the crimina,s $ere urnt at a s,o$ re
a ceremon' $ith $hich the ro'a, fami,' seemed to
e *reat,' edied"
As I $as *oin* to ed in the e%enin*( t$o mem4
ers of the Inuisition came to m' ,od*in* $ith the
Santa &ermandad" The' emraced me $ith *reat
tenderness( and conducted me in so,emn si,ence to
a $e,,4aired )rison( furnished $ith a ed of mat(
and a eautifu, cruci?" There I remained for si?
$eeGs( at the end of $hich time the re%erend father(
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Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" B
and then $ent to )ress m' com)anions to uit the
countr'( eautifu, as it $as"
The' had( durin* m' im)risonment( found time
to inform themse,%es of a,, the *reat thin*s $hich
the S)aniards had done for the interest of re,i*ion"
The' had read the memoirs of the famous isho) of
Chia)a( ' $hich it a))ears that the' had massa4
cred( or urnt( or dro$ned( aout ten mi,,ions of
inde,s in America( in order to con%ert them" I
e,ie%e the accounts of the isho) are a ,itt,e e?a*4
*erated7 ut su))ose $e reduce the numer of
%ictims to %e mi,,ions( it $i,, sti,, e a most *,o4
rious achie%ement"
The im)u,se for tra%e,,in* sti,, )ossessed me"
I had )ro)osed to nish the tour of Euro)e $ith
TurGe'( and thither $e no$ directed our course" I
made a rm reso,ution not to *i%e m' o)inion of
an' )u,ic feasts I mi*ht see in the future" #These
TurGs(# said I to m' com)anions( #are a set of mis4
creants that ha%e not een a)ti2ed( and therefore
$i,, e more crue, than the re%erend fathers( the
inuisitors" Let us oser%e a )rofound si,ence
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$hi,e $e are amon* the 1ahometans"# When $e
arri%ed there I $as *reat,' sur)rised to see more
Christian churches in TurGe' than in Candia" I
sa$ a,so numerous troo)s of monGs( $ho $ere
a,,o$ed to )ra' to the Vir*in 1ar' $ith *reat
freedom( and to curse 1ahomet some in reeG(
some in Latin( and others in Armenian" #What
*ood4natured )eo),e are these TurGs(# cried I"
BM Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"
The reeG Christians and the Latin Christians
in Constantino),e $ere morta, enemies" These sec4
tarians )ersecuted each other in much the same
manner as do*s *ht in the streets( ti,, their mas4
ters )art them $ith a cud*e,"
The *rand %i2ier $as at that time the )rotector
of the reeGs" The reeG )atriarch accused me of
ha%in* su))ed $ith the Latin )atriarch( and I $as
condemned in fu,, di%an to recei%e a hundred
,o$s on the so,es of m' feet( redeema,e for %e
hundred seuins" The ne?t da' the *rand %i2ier
$as stran*,ed" The da' fo,,o$in* his successor(
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I to,d her that I $as ,essin* od for ha%in*
*i%en me so much enHo'ment( and that I thou*ht
m'se,f e?treme,' ha))'"
In the mornin* the imaum came to enro,, me
amon* the circumcised( and as I made some o4
Hection to the initiation( the cadi of that district
a man of *reat ,o'a,t' )ro)osed to ha%e me em4
)a,ed" I )reser%ed m' freedom ' )a'in* a thou4
sand seuins( and then Qed direct,' into Persia(
reso,%ed for the future ne%er to hear reeG or Latin
mass( nor to cr' #A,,ah( I,,ah( A,,ah# in a ,o%e
encounter"
On m' arri%a, at Is)ahan the )eo),e asGed me
$hether I $as for $hite or ,acG mutton I to,d
them that it $as a matter of indierence to me(
)ro%ided it $as tender" It must e oser%ed that
the Persian em)ire $as at that time s),it into t$o
factions( that of the $hite mutton and that of the
,acG" The t$o )arties ima*ined that I had made
a Hest of them oth( so that I found m'se,f en*a*ed
in a %er' trou,esome aair at the *ates of the
cit'( and it cost me a *reat numer of seuins to
*et rid of the $hite and the ,acG mutton"
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I )roceeded as far as China( in com)an' $ith
an inter)reter( $ho assured me that this countr'
$as the seat of *a'et' and freedom" The Tartars
had made themse,%es masters of it( after ha%in*
destro'ed e%er'thin* $ith re and s$ord"
The re%erend fathers( the /esuits( on the one
hand( and the re%erend fathers( the Dominicans(
>= Tra%e,s of Scarmentado"
on the other( a,,e*ed that the' had *ained man'
sou,s to od in that countr'( $ithout an' one
Gno$in* au*ht of the matter" Ne%er $ere seen
such 2ea,ous con%erters" The' a,ternate,' )erse4
cuted one another7 the' transmitted to Rome
$ho,e %o,umes of s,ander( and treated each other
as inde,s and )re%aricators for the saGe of one
sou," !ut the most %io,ent dis)ute et$een them
$as $ith re*ard to the manner of maGin* a o$"
The /esuits $ou,d ha%e the Chinese to sa,ute their
)arents after the fashion of China( and the Domin4
icans $ou,d ha%e them to do it after the fashion of
Rome"
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I ha))ened un,ucGi,' to e taGen ' the /esuits
for a Dominican" The' re)resented me to his Tar4
tarian maHest' as a s)' of the )o)e" The su)reme
counci, char*ed a )rime mandarin( $ho ordered a
ser*eant( $ho commanded four shires of the coun4
tr'( to sei2e me and ind me $ith *reat ceremon'"
In this manner I $as conducted efore his maHest'(
after ha%in* made aout a hundred and fort' *en4
uQections" &e asGed me if I $as a s)' of the
)o)e+s( and if it $as true that that )rince $as to
come in )erson to dethrone him" I to,d him that
the )o)e $as a )riest of se%ent' 'ears of a*e7 that
he ,i%ed at the distance of four thousand ,ea*ues
from his sacred Tartaro4Chinese maHest'7 that he
had aout t$o thousand so,diers( $ho mounted
*uard $ith umre,,as 7 that he ne%er dethroned an'4
Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" >;
od'7 and that his maHest' mi*ht s,ee) in )erfect
securit'"
Of a,, the ad%entures of m' ,ife this $as the
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,east fata," I $as sent to 1acao( and there I tooG
shi))in* for Euro)e"
1' shi) reuired to e retted on the coast of
o,conda" I emraced this o))ortunit' to %isit
the court of the *reat Aurun*49e( of $hom such
$onderfu, thin*s ha%e een to,d( and $hich $as
then in De,)hi" I had the ),easure to see him on
the da' of that )om)ous ceremon' in $hich he
recei%es the ce,estia, )resent sent him ' the Sherif
of 1ecca" This $as the esom $ith $hich the' had
s$e)t the ho,' house( the Kaaa( and the !eth
A,ia" It is a s'mo, that s$ee)s a$a' a,, the )o,4
,utions of the sou,"
Aurun*49e seemed to ha%e no need of it" &e
$as the most )ious man in a,, Indostan" It is true(
he had cut the throat of one of his rothers( and
)oisoned his father" T$ent' ra'as( and as man'
omras( had een )ut to death7 ut that $as a
triQe" Nothin* $as ta,Ged of ut his de%otion"
No Gin* $as thou*ht com)ara,e to him( e?ce)t
his sacred maHest'( 1u,e' Ismae,( the most serene
em)eror of 1orocco( $ho a,$a's cut o some
heads e%er' Frida' after )ra'ers"
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I had no$ on,' Africa to %isit in order to enHo'
a,, the ),easures of our continent( and thither I $ent
to com),ete m' %o'a*e" The shi) in $hich I em4
arGed $as taGen ' the ne*ro corsairs" The mas4
ter of the %esse, com),ained ,oud,'( and asGed $h'
the' thus %io,ated the ,a$s of nations" The ca)4
tain of the ne*roes thus re),ied .
#3ou ha%e a ,on* nose( and $e ha%e a short one"
3our hair is strai*ht( and ours is cur,ed 7 'our sGin
is ash4co,ored( and ours is of the co,or of eon7
and therefore $e ou*ht( ' the sacred ,a$s of na4
ture( to e a,$a's at enmit'" 3ou u' us in the
)u,ic marGets on the coast of uinea ,iGe easts of
Tra%e,s of Scarmentado" >
urden( to maGe us ,aor in I don+t Gno$ $hat Gind
of drud*er'( eua,,' hard and ridicu,ous" With the
$hi) he,d o%er our heads( 'ou maGe us di* in mines
for a Gind of 'e,,o$ earth( $hich in itse,f is *ood for
nothin*( and is not so %a,ua,e as an E*')tian onion"
In ,iGe manner( $here%er $e meet 'ou( and are su4
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)erior to 'ou in stren*th( $e maGe 'ou s,a%es( and
o,i*e 'ou to cu,ti%ate our e,ds( or in case of re4
fusa, $e cut o 'our nose and ears"#
To such a ,earned discourse it $as im)ossi,e to
maGe an' ans$er" I sumitted to ,aor in the *ar4
den of an o,d ne*ress( in order to sa%e m' nose and
ears" After continuin* in s,a%er' for a $ho,e 'ear
I $as at ,en*th ha))i,' ransomed"
As I had no$ seen a,, that $as rare( *ood( or
eautifu, on earth( I reso,%ed for the future to see
nothin* ut m' o$n home" I tooG a $ife( and soori
sus)ected that she decei%ed me7 ut( not$ith4
standin* this dout( I sti,, found that of a,, con4
ditions of ,ife this $as much the ha))iest"
T&E &0RON7 OR( P0PIL OF
NAT0RE-
C&APTER I"
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T&E &0RON ARRIVES IN FRANCE"
One da' St" Dunstan( an Irishman ' irth( and
a saint ' trade( ,eft Ire,and on a sma,, mountain(
$hich tooG its route to$ard the coast of France(
and set his saintshi) do$n in the a' of St" 1a,o"
When he had dismounted he *a%e his ,essin* to
the mountain( $hich( after some )rofound o$s(
tooG its ,ea%e( and returned to its former ),ace"
&ere St" Dunstan ,aid the foundation of a sma,,
)rior'( and *a%e it the name of the Prior' 1oun4
tain( $hich it sti,, Gee)s( as e%er'od' Gno$s"
On /u,' ;B( ;>M<( in the e%enin*( the Aot Ker4
Gaon( )rior of our Lad' of the 1ountain( ha)4
)ened to taGe the air a,on* the shore $ith 1iss
KerGaon( his sister" The )rior( $ho $as ecom4
in* a*ed( $as a %er' *ood c,er*'man( e,o%ed '
his nei*hors" What added most to the res)ect
that $as )aid him $as that( amon* a,, his c,erica,
-#Le &uron# $as dramati2ed( under the name of #Ci%i4
,i2ation(# ' 1r" /ohn &" Wi,Gins( and successfu,,' )ro4
duced at the Cit' of London Theatre( on Wednesda'( No%"
;=( ;MB@"
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>
The &uron" >B
nei*hors( he $as the on,' one that cou,d $a,G
to his ed after su))er" &e $as to,era,' read in
theo,o*'( and $hen he $as tired of readin* St"
Au*ustine he refreshed himse,f $ith Rae,ais" A,,
the $or,d s)oGe $e,, of him"
1iss KerGaon( $ho had ne%er een married(
not$ithstandin* her heart' $ishes so to e( had )re4
ser%ed a freshness of com),e?ion in her fort'4fth
'ear" &er character $as that of a *ood and sen4
si,e $oman" She $as fond of ),easure( and $as a
de%otee"
As the' $ere $a,Gin*( the )rior( ,ooGin* on the
sea( said to his sister.
#It $as here( a,as that our )oor rother em4
arGed $ith our dear sister4in4,a$( 1adam Ker4
Gaon( his $ife( on oard the fri*ate S$a,,o$( in
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;>><( to ser%e the Gin* in Canada" &ad he not
een Gi,,ed( )roa,' he $ou,d ha%e $ritten to us"#
#Do 'ou e,ie%e(# said 1iss KerGaon( #that
our sister4in4,a$ has een eaten ' the CheroGees(
as $e ha%e een to,d#
#Certain it is( had she not een Gi,,ed( she $ou,d
ha%e come acG" I sha,, $ee) for her a,, m' ,ife4
time" She $as a charmin* $oman( and our
rother( $ho had a *reat dea, of $it( $ou,d no
dout ha%e made a fortune"#
Thus the' $ere *oin* on $ith mutua, tender4
ness( $hen the' ehe,d a sma,, %esse, enter the a'
of Rence $ith the tide" It $as from En*,and( and
came to se,, )ro%isions" The cre$ ,ea)ed on shore
Vo," 4B
>> The &uron"
$ithout ,ooGin* at the )rior or 1iss( his sister(
$ho $ere shocGed at the ,itt,e attention sho$n
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them"
That $as not the eha%ior of a $e,,4made 'outh(
$ho( dartin* himse,f o%er the heads of his com4
)anions( sudden,' stood efore 1iss KerGaon"
!ein* unaccustomed to o$in*( he made her a si*n
$ith his head" &is *ure and his dress attracted
the notice of rother and sister" &is head $as un4
co%ered( and his ,e*s are7 instead of shoes( he
$ore a Gind of sanda,s" From his head his ,on*
hair Qo$ed in tresses( $hi,e a sma,,( c,ose dou,et
dis),a'ed the eaut' of his sha)e" &e had a s$eet
and martia, air" In one hand he he,d a sma,, otX
tie of !aradoes $ater( and in the other a a*( in
$hich he had a *o,et( and some sea iscuit" &e
s)oGe French %er' inte,,i*i,'" &e oered some
of his !aradoes to 1iss KerGaon and her rother"
&e dranG $ith them7 he made them drinG a second
time( and a,, this $ith an air of such nati%e sim4
),icit' that uite charmed rother and sister" The'
oered him their ser%ice( and asGed him $ho he
$as( and $hither *oin* The 'oun* man an4
s$ered that he Gne$ not $here he shou,d *o( that
he had some curiosit'( that he had a desire to see
the coast of France( that he had seen it( and shou,d
return"
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The )rior( Hud*in* ' his accent that he $as
not an En*,ishman( tooG the ,iert' of asGin* of
$hat countr' he $as"
The &uron" >
#I am a &uron(# ans$ered the 'outh"
1iss KerGaon( ama2ed and enchanted to see
a &uron $ho had eha%ed so )o,ite,' to her(
e**ed the 'oun* man+s com)an' to su))er" &e
com),ied immediate,'( and a,, three $ent to*ether
to the )rior' of our Lad' of the 1ountain" This
short and round 1iss de%oured him $ith her ,itt,e
e'es( and said from time to time to her rother .
#This ta,, ,ad has a com),e?ion of ,i,ies and
roses" What a ne sGin he has for a &uron#
#Ver' true( sister(# said the )rior"
She )ut a hundred uestions( one after another(
and the tra%e,,er ans$ered a,$a's )ertinent,'"
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The re)ort $as soon s)read that there $as a
&uron at the )rior'" A,, the *entee, com)an' of
the countr' came to su))er" The aot of St" 3%es
came $ith his sister( a ne( handsome( $e,, edu4
cated *ir," The ai,i( the ta?4*atherer( and their
$i%es( came a,, to*ether" The forei*ner $as seated
et$een 1iss KerGaon and 1iss St" 3%es" The
com)an' e'ed him $ith admiration" The' a,,
uestioned him to*ether" This did not confound
the &uron" &e seemed to ha%e taGen Lord !o,in*4
roGe+s motto( Ni, admirari" !ut at ,ast( tired out
$ith so much noise( he to,d them in a s$eet ut
serious tone.
#ent,emen( in m' countr' one ta,Gs after an4
other" &o$ can I ans$er 'ou if 'ou $i,, not a,,o$
me to hear 'ou#
>M The &uron"
Reasonin* a,$a's rin*s )eo),e to a momentar'
reQection" The' $ere a,, si,ent"
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1r" !ai,i( $ho a,$a's made a )ro)ert' of a
forei*ner $here%er he found him( and $ho $as the
rst man for asGin* uestions in the )ro%ince(
o)enin* a mouth of ,ar*e si2e( e*an.
#Sir( $hat is 'our name#
#I ha%e a,$a's een ca,,ed the In*enu(# an4
s$ered the &uron7 #and the En*,ish ha%e con4
rmed that name( ecause I a,$a's s)eaG as I thinG
and act as I ,iGe"#
#!ut( ein* orn a &uron( ho$ cou,d 'ou come
to En*,and#
#I ha%e een carried thither" I $as made )ris4
oner ' the En*,ish after some resistance( and the
En*,ish( $ho ,o%e ra%e )eo),e( ecause the' are
as ra%e and honest as $e( )ro)osed to me( either
to return to m' fami,'( or *o $ith them to En*,and"
I acce)ted the ,atter( ha%in* natura,,' a re,ish for
tra%e,,in*"#
#!ut( sir(# said the ai,i( $ith his usua, *ra%it'(
#ho$ cou,d 'ou thinG of aandonin* father and
mother#
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#!ecause I ne%er Gne$ either father or mother(#
said the forei*ner"
This mo%ed the com)an'7 the' a,, re)eated.
#Neither father nor mother#
#We $i,, e in their stead(# said the mistress of
the house to her rother( the )rior" #&o$ interest4
in* this &uron *ent,eman is #
The &uron" ><
The In*enu thanGed her $ith a no,e and )roud
cordia,it'( and *a%e her to understand that he
$anted the assistance of nood'"
#I )ercei%e( 1r" &uron(# said the hu*e ai,i(
#that 'ou ta,G etter French than can e e?)ected
from an Indian"#
#A Frenchman(# ans$ered he( #$hom the' had
made )risoner $hen I $as a o'( and $ith $hom
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I contracted a *reat friendshi)( tau*ht it me" I ra)4
id,' ,earn $hat I ,iGe to ,earn" When I came to
P,'mouth I met $ith one of 'our French refu*ees(
$hom 'ou( I Gno$ not $h'( ca,, &u*uenots" &e
im)ro%ed m' Gno$,ed*e of 'our ,an*ua*e( and as
soon as I cou,d e?)ress m'se,f inte,,i*i,' I came
to see 'our countr'( ecause I ,iGe the French $e,,
enou*h( if the' do not )ut too man' uestions"#
Not$ithstandin* this candid remarG( the ae
of St" 3%es asGed him $hich of the three ,an*ua*es
),eased him est( the &uron( En*,ish( or French
#The &uron( to e sure(# ans$ered the In*enu"
#Is it )ossi,e# cried 1iss KerGaon" #I a,4
$a's thou*ht the French $as the rst of a,, ,an4
*ua*es( after that of Lo$ !rittan'"#
Then a,, $ere ea*er to Gno$ ho$( in &uron(
the' asGed for snu &e re),ied.
#Ta'e"#
#What si*nies to eat#
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#Essenten"#
1iss KerGaon $as im)atient to Gno$ ho$ the'
e?)ressed to maGe ,o%e"
'o The &uron"
&e informed her( Tro%ander( and insisted( not
$ithout reason( that these $ords $ere $e,, $orth
their s'non'ms in French and En*,ish" Tro%ander(
es)ecia,,'( seemed %er' )rett' to a,, the com)an'"
The )rior( $ho had in his ,irar' a &uron *ram4
mar( $hich had een *i%en him ' the Re%" Father
Sa*ar Theodat( a Reco,,et and famous missionar'(
rose from the ta,e to consu,t it" &e returned uite
)antin* $ith tenderness and Ho'" &e acGno$,4
ed*ed the forei*ner for a true &uron" The com4
)an' s)ecu,ated a ,itt,e on the mu,ti),icit' of ,an4
*ua*es( and a,, a*reed that( had it not een for the
unfortunate aair of the To$er of !ae,( a,, the
$or,d $ou,d ha%e s)oGen French"
The inuisiti%e ai,i( $ho ti,, then had some
sus)icions of the forei*ner( concei%ed the dee)est
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$as m' Aacaa" One da' she )ursued a hare not
ao%e ft' ,ea*ues from m' haitation" A ase
A,*onuin( $ho d$e,,s an hundred ,ea*ues farther(
tooG her hare from her" I $as to,d of it7 I ran
thither( and $ith one stroGe of m' c,u ,e%e,,ed him
$ith the *round" I rou*ht him to the feet of m'
mistress( ound hand and foot" Aacaa+s )arents
$ere for urnin* him( ut I a,$a's had a dis,iGe
for such scenes" I set him at ,iert'( and thus made
him m' friend" Aacaa $as so ),eased $ith m'
conduct that she )referred me to a,, her ,o%ers 7 and
she $ou,d ha%e continued to ,o%e me had she not
een de%oured ' a ear" I s,e$ the ear( and $ore
his sGin a ,on* $hi,e( ut that has not comforted
me"#
1iss St" 3%es fe,t a secret ),easure at hearin* that
Aacaa had een his on,' mistress( and that she
$as no more7 'et she understood not the cause
of her o$n ),easure" A,, e'es $ere ri%eted on the
&uron( and he $as much a)),auded for de,i%erin*
an A,*onuin from the crue,t' of his countr'men"
The merci,ess ai,i had no$ *ro$n so furious
that he e%en asGed the &uron $hat re,i*ion he $as
of7 $hether he had chosen the En*,ish( the French(
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or that of the &u*uenots
@ The &uron"
#I am of m' o$n re,i*ion(# said he( #Hust as
'ou are of 'ours"#
#Lord# cried 1iss KerGaon( #I see a,read'
that those $retched En*,ish ha%e not once thou*ht
of a)ti2in* him#
#ood hea%ens# said 1iss St" 3%es( #ho$ is it
)ossi,e &o$ is it )ossi,e the &urons shou,d
not e Roman Catho,ics &a%e not those re%er4
end fathers( the /esuits( con%erted a,, the $or,d#
The &uron assured her that no true American
had e%er chan*ed his o)inion( and that there $as
not in their ,an*ua*e a $ord to e?)ress incon4
stanc'"
These ,ast $ords e?treme,' ),eased 1iss St" 3%es"
#Oh $e+,, a)ti2e him( $e+,, a)ti2e him(# said
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After the &uron had een conducted to his
room( the' sa$ that he s)read the ,anGets on the
Qoor( and ,aid himse,f do$n u)on them in the nest
attitude in the $or,d"
C&APTER II"
T&E &0RON( CALLED T&E INEN0( ACKNOWLEDED
!3 &IS RELATIONS"
The In*enu( accordin* to custom( a$oGe $ith
the sun( at the cro$in* of the cocG( $hich is ca,,ed
in En*,and and &uronia( #the trum)et of the da'"#
&e did" not imitate $hat is st',ed *ood com)an'(
$ho ,an*uish in the ed of indo,ence ti,, the sun
has )erformed ha,f its dai,' Hourne'( una,e to
s,ee)( ut not dis)osed to rise( and ,ose so man'
)recious hours in that doutfu, state et$een ,ife
and death( and $ho ne%erthe,ess com),ain that ,ife
is too short"
&e had a,read' tra%ersed t$o or three ,ea*ues(
and Gi,,ed fteen race of *ame $ith his riQe( $hen(
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u)on his return( he found the )rior of the Lad' of
the 1ountain( $ith his discreet sister( in their ni*ht4
ca)s( $a,Gin* in their ,itt,e *arden" &e )resented
them $ith the s)oi,s of his mornin* ,aor( and(
taGin* from his osom a Gind of ,itt,e ta,isman(
The &uron"
$hich he constant,' $ore aout his necG( he en4
treated them to acce)t of it as an acGno$,ed*ment
for the Gind rece)tion the' had *i%en him"
#It is(# said he( #the most %a,ua,e thin* I )os4
sess" I ha%e een assured that I sha,, a,$a's e
ha))' $hi,e I carr' this ,itt,e to' aout me7 and
I *i%e it to 'ou that 'ou ma' e a,$a's ha))'"#
The )rior and 1iss smi,ed $ith )it' at the franG4
ness of the In*enu" This )resent consisted of t$o
,itt,e )ortraits( )oor,' e?ecuted( and tied to*ether
$ith a *reas' strin*"
1iss KerGaon asGed him if there $ere an'
)ainters in &uronia
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#No(# re),ied the In*enu( #I had this curiosit'
from m' nurse" &er husand had otained it '
conuest( in stri))in* some of the French of Can4
ada( $ho had made $ar u)on us" This is a,, I Gno$
of the matter"#
The )rior ,ooGed attenti%e,' u)on these )ictures(
$hi,e he chan*ed co,or7 his hands trem,ed( and
he seemed much aected"
#!' our Lad' of the 1ountain# he cried out(
#I e,ie%e these to e the faces of m' rother( the
ca)tain( and his ,ad'"#
1iss( after ha%in* consu,ted them $ith ,iGe emo4
tion( thou*ht the same" The' $ere oth strucG
$ith astonishment and Ho'( ,ended $ith *rief"
The' oth me,ted( the' oth $e)t( their hearts
throed( and durin* their disorder the )ictures
.i6IEVE T&O!E TO !E T&E F#AOI
13 !ROT&ER( T&E CAPTAIN(
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AND &IM ,6AD3#
The &uron" B
$ere interchan*ed et$een them at ,east t$ent'
times in a second" The' seemed to de%our the &u4
ron+s )ictures $ith their e'es" The' asGed one after
another( and e%en oth at once( at $hat time( in $hat
),ace( and ho$ these miniatures fe,, into the hands
of the nurse The' recGoned and com)uted the
time from the ca)tain+s de)arture7 the' reco,,ected
ha%in* recei%ed notice that he had )enetrated as
far as the countr' of the &urons 7 and from that
time the' had ne%er heard an'thin* more of him"
The &uron had to,d them that he had ne%er
Gno$n either father or mother" The )rior( $ho
$as a man of sense( oser%ed that he had a ,itt,e
eard( and he Gne$ %er' $e,, that the &urons ne%er
had an'" &is chin $as some$hat hair'7 he $as
therefore the son of a Euro)ean" &is rother
and sister4in4,a$ $ere ne%er seen after the e?)edi4
tion a*ainst the &urons( in ;>><" &is ne)he$ must
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then ha%e een nursin* at the reast7 the &uron
nurse has )reser%ed his ,ife( and een a mother to
him" At ,en*th( after a hundred uestions and
ans$ers( the )rior and his sister conc,uded that
the &uron $as their o$n ne)he$" The' emraced
him( $hi,e tears streamed from their e'es( and the
&uron ,au*hed to thinG that an Indian shou,d e
ne)he$ to a )rior of Lo$er !rittan'"
A,, the com)an' $ent do$nstairs" 1r" de St"
3%es( $ho $as a *reat )h'sio*nomist( com)ared
the t$o )ictures $ith the &uron+s countenance"
> The &uron"
The' oser%ed( %er' sGi,fu,,'( that he had the
mother+s e'es( the forehead and nose of the ,ate Ca)4
tain KerGaon( and the cheeGs common to oth"
1iss St" 3%es( $ho had ne%er seen either father
or mother( $as strenuous,' of o)inion that the
'oun* man had a )erfect resem,ance to them"
The' a,, admired Pro%idence( and $ondered at the
stran*e e%ents of this $or,d" In a $ord( the'
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$ere so )ersuaded( so con%inced of the irth of the
&uron( that he himse,f consented to e the )rior+s
ne)he$( sa'in* that he $ou,d as soon ha%e him
for his unc,e as another"
The )rior $ent to return thanGs in the church
of our Lad' of the 1ountain7 $hi,e the &uron(
$ith an air of indierence( amused himse,f $ith
drinGin* in the house"
The En*,ish $ho had rou*ht him o%er( and
$ho $ere read' to set sai,( came to te,, him that it
$as time to de)art"
#Proa,'(# said he to them( #'ou ha%e not met
$ith an' of 'our unc,es and aunts" I sha,, sta'
here 7 *o 'ou acG to P,'mouth" I *i%e 'ou a,, m'
c,othes( as I ha%e no ,on*er occasion for an'thin*
in this $or,d( since I am the ne)he$ of a )rior"#
The En*,ish set sai,( $ithout ein* at a,, con4
cerned $hether the &uron had an' re,ations or not
in Lo$er !rittan'"
After the unc,e( the aunt( and the com)an' had
sun* Te Deum7 after the ai,i had once more
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&e then $as asGed if he had e%er read an' ooGs
&e said he had read Rae,ais trans,ated into En*4
,ish( and some )assa*es in ShaGes)eare( $hich he
Gne$ ' heart7 that these ooGs e,on*ed to the
ca)tain on oard of $hose shi) he came from Amer4
ica to P,'mouth 7 and that he $as %er' $e,, ),eased
$ith them" The ai,i fai,ed not to )ut man' ues4
tions to him concernin* these ooGs"
#I acGno$,ed*e(# said the &uron( #I thou*ht(
in readin* them( I understood some thin*s( ut not
the $ho,e"#
M The &uron"
The ae of St" 3%es reQected u)on thi dis4
course( that it $as in this manner he had a,$a's
read( and that most men read no other $a'"
#3ou ha%e(# said he to the &uron( #dout,ess
read the !i,e#
#Ne%er( 1r" Ae7 it $as not amon* the ca)#4
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tain+s ooGs" I ne%er heard it mentioned"#
#This is the $a' $ith those cursed En*,ish(
said 1iss KerGaon7 #the' thinG more of a ),a'
of ShaGes)eare+s( a ),um )uddin*( or a ott,e of
rum( than the' do of the Pentateuch" For this
reason the' ha%e ne%er con%erted an' Indians irf
America" The' are certain,' cursed ' od( and
$e sha,, $rest /amaica and Vir*inia from them ii
a %er' short time"#
!e this as it ma'( the most sGi,fu, tai,or in a,,
St" 1a,o $as sent for to dress the &uron from head
to foot" The com)an' se)arated( and the ai,i
$ent e,se$here to dis),a' his inuisiti%eness" 1iss
St" 3%es( in )artin*( returned se%era, times to o4
ser%e the 'oun* stran*er( and made him ,o$er
courtesies than e%er she did an' one in her ,ife"
The ai,i( efore he tooG his ,ea%e( )resented
to 1iss St" 3%es a stu)id do,t of a son( Hust come
from co,,e*e7 ut she scarce,' ,ooGed at him( so
much $as she taGen u) $ith the )o,iteness of the
&uron"
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The &uron" <
C&APTER III"
T&E &0RON CONVERTED"
The )rior( ndin* that he $as some$hat ad4
%anced in 'ears( and that od had sent him
a ne)he$ for his conso,ation( tooG it into his head
that he $ou,d resi*n his enece in his fa%or( if he
succeeded in a)ti2in* him and of maGin* him
enter into orders"
The &uron had an e?ce,,ent memor'" A *ood
constitution( inherited from his ancestors of Lo$er
!rittan'( stren*thened ' the c,imate of Canada(
had made his head so %i*orous that $hen he $as
strucG u)on it he scarce fe,t it 7 and $hen an'thin*
$as *ra%en in it( nothin* cou,d eace it" Nothin*
had e%er esca)ed his memor'" &is conce)tion $as
the more sure and ,i%e,' ecause his infanc' had
not een ,oaded $ith use,ess foo,eries( $hich o%er4
$he,m ours" Thin*s entered into his head $ithout
ein* c,ouded" The )rior at ,en*th reso,%ed to
maGe him read the Ne$ Testament" The &uron
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de%oured it $ith *reat ),easure7 ut( not Gno$in*
at $hat time( or in $hat countr'( a,, the ad%en4
tures re,ated in this ooG had ha))ened( he did not
in the ,east dout that the scene of action had een
in Lo$er !rittan'7 and he s$ore that he $ou,d
cut o Caia)has+ and Pontius Pi,ate+s ears if e%er
he met those scoundre,s"
&is unc,e( charmed $ith this *ood dis)osition(
Mo The &uron"
soon rou*ht him to the )oint" &e a)),auded his
2ea,( ut at the same time acuainted him that it
$as need,ess( as these )eo),e had een dead u)$ard
of ;><= 'ears" The &uron soon *ot the $ho,e
ooG ' heart" &e sometimes )ro)osed dicu,ties
that *reat,' emarrassed the )rior" &e $as often
o,i*ed to consu,t the Ae St" 3%es( $ho( not
Gno$in* $hat to ans$er( rou*ht a /esuit of Lo$er
!rittan' to )erfect the con%ersion of the &uron"
race( at ,en*th( o)erated( and the &uron )rom4
ised to ecome a Christian" &e did not dout that
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the rst ste) to$ard it $as circumcision"
#For(# said he( #I do not nd in the ooG that
$as )ut into m' hands a sin*,e )erson $ho $as
not circumcised" It is therefore e%ident that I
must maGe a sacrice to the &ere$ custom( and
the sooner the etter"#
&e sent for the sur*eon of the %i,,a*e( and de4
sired him to )erform the o)eration" The sur*eon(
$ho had ne%er )erformed such an o)eration( ac4
uainted the fami,'( $ho screamed out" The *ood
1iss KerGaon trem,ed ,est her ne)he$( $hom
she Gne$ to e reso,ute and e?)editious( shou,d
)erform the o)eration unsGi,fu,,' himse,f( and that
fata, conseuences mi*ht ensue"
The )rior rectied the &uron+s mistaGe( re)re4
sentin* to him that circumcision $as no ,on*er in
fashion7 that a)tism $as much more *ent,e and
sa,utar'7 that the ,a$ of *race $as not ,iGe the
,a$ of ri*or" The &uron( $ho had much *ood
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The &uron" M ;
sense( and $as $e,, dis)osed( dis)uted( ut soon ac4
Gno$,ed*ed his error( $hich se,dom ha))ens in
Euro)e amon* dis)utants" In a $ord( he )rom4
ised to ,et himse,f e a)ti2ed $hene%er the'
),eased"
!ut efore a)tism it $as necessar' that he
shou,d *o to confession( and this $as the *reatest
dicu,t' to surmount" The &uron had sti,, in his
)ocGet the ooG his unc,e *a%e him" &e did not
there nd that a sin*,e a)ost,e had e%er een con4
fessed( and this made him %er' resti%e" The )rior
si,enced him ' sho$in* him( in the e)ist,e of St"
/ames the 1inor( these $ords . #Confess 'our sins
to one another"# The &uron $as mute( and con4
fessed his sins to a Reco,,et" When he had done(
he dra**ed the Reco,,et from the confessiona, chair(
and sei2in* him $ith a %i*orous arm( ),aced himse,f
in his seat( maGin* the Reco,,et Gnee, efore him"
#Come( m' friend( it is said( +$e must confess our
sins to one another7+ I ha%e re,ated to 'ou m' sins(
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and 'ou sha,, not stir ti,, 'ou recount 'ours"#
Whi,e he said this( he ?ed his *reat Gnee
a*ainst his ad%ersar'+s stomach" The Reco,,et
roared and *roaned ti,, he made the church re4
echo" The noise rou*ht )eo),e to his assistance(
$ho found the catechumen cun* the monG in the
name of St" /ames the 1inor" The Ho' diused at
the a)ti2in* at once a Lo$4!reton( a &uron( and
an En*,ishman( surmounted a,, these sin*u,arities"
There $ere e%en some theo,o*ians of o)inion that
Vo," >
M@ The &uron"
confession $as not necessar'( as a)tism su)),ied
the ),ace of e%er'thin*"
The isho) of St" 1a,o $as chosen for the cere4
mon'( $ho( Qattered( as ma' e e,ie%ed( at a)4
ti2in* a &uron( arri%ed in a )om)ous eui)a*e( fo,4
,o$ed ' his c,er*'" 1iss St" 3%es )ut on her est
*o$n to ,ess od( and sent for a hair4dresser from
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#1' dear ne)he$(# said the )rior to him( ten4
der,'( #this is not the $a' of ein* a)ti2ed in
Lo$er !rittan'" Put on 'our c,othes( and come
$ith us"#
1iss St" 3%es( ,istenin* to the discourse( said in
a $his)er to her com)anion.
#1iss( do 'ou thinG he $i,, )ut his c,othes on in
such a hurr'#
The &uron( ho$e%er( re),ied to the )rior .
#3ou $i,, not maGe me e,ie%e no$ as 'ou did
efore" I ha%e studied %er' $e,, since( and I am
M The &uron"
%er' certain there is no other Gind of a)tism" The
eunuch of 8ueen Candace $as a)ti2ed in a ri%u,et"
I def' 'ou to sho$ me( in the ooG 'ou *a%e me(
that )eo),e $ere e%er a)ti2ed in an' other $a'"
I either $i,, not e a)ti2ed at a,,( or the ceremon'
sha,, e )erformed in the ri%er"#
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It $as in %ain to remonstrate $ith him that cus4
toms $ere a,tered" &e a,$a's recurred to the
eunuch of 8ueen Candace" And thou*h 1iss and
his aunt( $ho had oser%ed him throu*h the $i,4
,o$s( $ere authori2ed to te,, him that he had no
ri*ht to uote such a man the'( ne%erthe,ess( said
nothin* so *reat $as their discretion" The isho)
came himse,f to s)eaG to him( $hich $as a *reat
thin*7 ut he cou,d not )re%ai," The &uron dis4
)uted $ith the isho)"
#Sho$ me(# said he #in the ooG m' unc,e *a%e
me( one sin*,e man that $as not a)ti2ed in a
ri%er( and I $i,, do $hate%er 'ou ),ease"#
&is aunt( in des)air( had oser%ed that the rst
time her ne)he$ o$ed( he made a much ,o$er o$
to 1iss St" 3%es( than to an' one in the com)an'
that he had not e%en sa,uted the isho) $ith so
much res)ect( ,ended $ith cordia,it'( as he did that
a*reea,e 'oun* ,ad'" She thou*ht it ad%isa,e
to a)),' to her in this *reat emarrassment" She
earnest,' entreated her to use her inQuence to en4
*a*e the &uron to e a)ti2ed accordin* to the
custom of !rittan'( thinGin* that her ne)he$( cou,d
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The &uron" MB
ne%er e a Christian if he )ersisted in ein*
christened in the stream"
1iss St" 3%es ,ushed at the secret Ho' she fe,t
in ein* a))ointed to e?ecute so im)ortant a com4
mission" She modest,' a))roached the &uron( and
suee2in* his hand in uite a no,e manner( she
said to him.
#What( $i,, 'ou do nothin* to ),ease me#
And in utterin* these $ords( she raised her e'es
from a do$ncast ,ooG into a *racefu, tenderness"
#Oh 'es( 1iss( e%er'thin* 'ou reuire( a,, that
'ou command( $hether it is to e a)ti2ed in $ater(
re( or ,ood7 there is nothin* I can refuse 'ou"#
1iss St" 3%es had the *,or' of eectin*( in t$o
$ords( $hat neither the im)ortunities of the )rior(
the re)eated interro*ations of the ai,i( nor the
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reasonin* of the isho)( cou,d eect" She $as sen4
si,e of her trium)h7 ut she $as not 'et sensi,e of
its utmost ,atitude"
!a)tism $as administered( and recei%ed $ith a,,
the decenc'( ma*nicence( and )ro)riet' )ossi,e"
&is unc,e and aunt 'ie,ded to the Ae St" 3%es
and his sister the fa%or of su))ortin* the &uron
u)on the font" 1iss St" 3%es+ e'es s)arG,ed $ith
Ho' at ein* a *odmother" She $as i*norant ho$
much this hi*h tit,e com)romised her" She ac4
ce)ted the honor( $ithout ein* acuainted $ith
its fata, conseuences"
As there ne%er $as an' ceremon' that $as not
M> The &uron"
fo,,o$ed ' a *ood dinner( the com)an' tooG their
seats at ta,e after the christenin*" The humorists
of Lo$er !rittan' said( #the' did not choose to
ha%e their $ine a)ti2ed"# The )rior said( #that
$ine( accordin* to So,omon( cherished the heart of
man"# The isho) added( #that the Patriarch
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/udah ou*ht to ha%e tied his ass4co,t to the %ine(
and stee)ed his c,oaG in the ,ood of the *ra)e 7
and that he $as sorr' the same cou,d not e done
in Lo$er !rittan'( to $hich od had not a,,otted
%ines"# E%er' one endea%ored to sa' a *ood thin*
u)on the &uron+s christenin* and stroGes of *a,4
,antr' to the *odmother" The ai,i( e%er interro4
*atin*( asGed the &uron if he $as faithfu, in Gee)4
in* his )romises"
#&o$(# said he( #can I fai, Gee)in* them( since
I ha%e de)osited them in the hands of 1iss St"
3%es#
The &uron *re$ $arm7 he had re)eated,'
drunG his *odmother+s hea,th"
#If(# said he( #I had een a)ti2ed $ith 'our
hand( I fee, that the $ater $hich $as )oured on the
na)e of m' necG $ou,d ha%e urned me"
The ai,i thou*ht that this $as too )oetica,(
ein* i*norant that a,,e*or' is a fami,iar *ure in
Canada" !ut his *odmother $as %er' $e,, ),eased"
The &uron had( at his a)tism( recei%ed the
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name of &ercu,es" The isho) of St" 1a,o fre4
uent,' inuired( $ho $as this tute,ar saint( $hom
he had ne%er heard mentioned efore The /esuit(
The &uron" M
$ho $as %er' ,earned( to,d him that #he $as a
saint $ho had $rou*ht t$e,%e mirac,es"# There
$as a thirteenth( $hich $as $e,, $orth the other
t$e,%e( ut it $as not )ro)er for a /esuit to mention
it" This $as the marria*e of ft' *ir,s at one time
the dau*hters of Kin* Thes)ius" A $a*( $ho
$as )resent( re,ated this mirac,e %er' fee,in*,'"
And a,, Hud*ed( from the a))earance of the &uron(
that he $as a $orth' re)resentati%e of the saint
$hose name he ore"
C&APTER V"
T&E &0RON IN LOVE"
It must e acGno$,ed*ed( that from the time of
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and that( on her side( she $ou,d sa' a fe$ $ords to
her dear rother( the ae of St" 3%es( and that
she Qattered herse,f it $ou,d meet $ith no o))osi4
tion"
The 'outh re),ied that the consent of an' one $as
entire,' su)erQuous7 that it a))eared to him e?4
treme,' ridicu,ous to *o and asG others $hat the'
$ere to do7 that $hen t$o )arties $ere a*reed(
there $as no occasion for a third( to accom),ish
their union"
#I ne%er consu,t an' one(# said he( #$hen I ha%e
a mind to reaGfast( to hunt( or to s,ee)" I am sen4
si,e that in ,o%e it is not amiss to ha%e the consent
of the )erson $hom $e $ish for 7 ut as I am neither
in ,o%e $ith m' unc,e nor m' aunt( I ha%e no occa4
sion to address m'se,f to them in this aair7 and if
'ou $i,, e,ie%e me( 'ou ma' eua,,' dis)ense $ith
the ad%ice of the ae of St" 3%es"#
It ma' e su))osed that the 'oun* ,ad' e?erted
a,, the de,icac' of her $it to rin* her &uron to the
terms of *ood reedin*" She $as %er' an*r'( ut
soon softened" In a $ord( it cannot e said ho$
this con%ersation $ou,d ha%e ended( if the dec,inin*
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as 'ou can" I do not Gno$ $hat it is to e a su4
deacon( or $hat it is to resi*n7 ut e%er'thin* $i,,
e a*reea,e to me( )ro%ided I ha%e 1iss St" 3%es
at m' dis)osa,"#
#ood hea%ens( ne)he$ $hat is it 'ou sa'
Do 'ou ,o%e that eautifu, 'oun* ,ad' so
earnest,'#
#3es( unc,e"#
#A,as ne)he$( it is im)ossi,e 'ou shou,d e%er
marr' her"#
#It is %er' )ossi,e( unc,e7 for she did not on,'
<JD The &uron"
suee2e m' hand $hen she ,eft me( ut she )rom4
ised she $ou,d asG me in marria*e" I certain,'
sha,, $ed her"#
#It is im)ossi,e( I te,, 'ou7 she is 'our *od4
mother" It is a dreadfu, sin for a *odmother to
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#For *oodness saGe(# said he( #$ho is this
charmin* man( $ho is so *racious as to )romote
the amours of *ir,s and o's I $i,, *o and s)eaG
to him this instant"#
The &uron" <;
The di*nit' and character of the )o)e $as e?4
),ained to him( and the &uron $as sti,, more aston4
ished than efore"
#1' dear unc,e(# said he( #there is not a $ord of
a,, this in 'our ooG 7 I ha%e tra%e,,ed( and am ac4
uainted $ith the sea7 $e are no$ u)on the coast
of the ocean( and I must ,ea%e 1iss St" 3%es to *o
and asG ,ea%e to marr' her of a man $ho ,i%es to4
$ard the 1editerranean( four hundred ,ea*ues
hence( and $hose ,an*ua*e I do not understand
This is most incom)rehensi,' ridicu,ous !ut I
$i,, *o rst to the Ae St" 3%es( $ho ,i%es on,' a
,ea*ue hence7 and I )romise 'ou I $i,, $ed m'
mistress efore ni*ht"#
Whi,e he $as 'et s)eaGin*( the ai,i entered(
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No sooner had the in*enuous &ercu,es reached
the house( than ha%in* asGed the o,d ser%ant $hich
$as his mistress+ a)artment( he forced o)en the
door( $hich $as ad,' fastened( and Qe$ to$ard the
ed" 1iss St" 3%es( start,ed out of her s,ee)( cried.
#Ah $hat7 is it 'ou Sto)7 $hat are 'ou
aout# &e ans$ered.
#I am *oin* to marr'"#
She o))osed him $ith a,, the decenc' of a 'oun*
,ad' so $e,, educated7 ut the &uron did not under4
stand rai,,er'( and found a,, e%asions e?treme,' dis4
a*reea,e"
#1iss Aacaa( m' rst mistress(# said he( #did
not eha%e in this manner7 'ou ha%e no honest'7
'ou )romised me marria*e( and 'ou $i,, not marr' 7
this is ein* decient in the rst ,a$s of honor"#
The outcries of the ,ad' rou*ht the sa*acious
Ae de St" 3%es $ith his houseGee)er( an o,d
de%otee ser%ant( and the )arish )riest" The si*ht of
these moderated the coura*e of the assai,ant"
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#ood hea%ens # cried the ae 7 #m' dear nei*h4
or( $hat are 'ou aout #
#1' dut'(# re),ied the 'oun* man 7 #I am fu,4
,,in* m' )romises( $hich are sacred"#
1iss St" 3%es adHusted herse,f( not $ithout
The &uron" <
,ushin*" The ,o%er $as conducted into another
a)artment" The ae remonstrated to him on the
enormit' of his conduct" The &uron defended him4
se,f u)on the )ri%i,e*es of the ,a$ of nature( $hich
he understood )erfect,' $e,," The ae main4
tained that the ,a$ )ositi%e shou,d e a,,o$ed a,,
its ad%anta*es( and that $ithout con%entions a*reed
on et$een men the ,a$ of nature must a,most con4
stant,' e nothin* more than natura, fe,on'" No4
taries( )riests( $itnesses( contracts( and dis)ensa4
tions are aso,ute,' necessar'"
The in*enuous &ercu,es made ans$er $ith the
oser%ation constant,' ado)ted ' sa%a*es.
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#3ou are then %er' *reat ro*ues( since so man'
)recautions are necessar'"#
This remarG some$hat disconcerted the ae"
#There are( I acGno$,ed*e( ,iertines and cheats
amon* us( and there $ou,d e as man' amon* the
&urons( if the' $ere united in a *reat cit'7 ut( at
the same time( $e ha%e discreet( honest( en,i*htened
)eo),e 7 and these are the men $ho ha%e framed the
,a$s" The more u)ri*ht $e are( the more readi,'
$e shou,d sumit to them( as $e there' set an e?4
am),e to the %icious( $ho res)ect those ounds
$hich %irtue has *i%en herse,f"#
This ans$er strucG the &uron" It has a,read'
een oser%ed that his mind $as $e,, dis)osed" &e
$as softened ' Qatterin* s)eeches( $hich )romised
him ho)es7 a,, the $or,d is cau*ht in these snares7
and 1iss St" 3%es herse,f a))eared( after ha%in*
< The &uron"
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een at her toi,et" E%er'thin* $as no$ conducted
$ith the utmost *ood reedin*"
It $as $ith much dicu,t' that &ercu,es $as
sent acG to his re,ations" It $as a*ain necessar'
for the charmin* 1iss St" 3%es to interfere7 the
more she )ercei%ed the inQuence she had u)on him(
the more she ,o%ed him" She made him de)art( and
$as much aected at it" At ,en*th( $hen he $as
*one( the ae( $ho $as not on,' 1iss St" 3%es+
e,der rother ' man' 'ears( ut $as a,so her *uar4
dian( endea%ored to $ean his $ard from the im)or4
tunities of this dreadfu, ,o%er" &e $ent to consu,t
the ai,i( $ho had a,$a's intended his son for the
ae+s sister( and $ho ad%ised him to ),ace the )oor
*ir, in a con%ent" This $as a terri,e stroGe" Such
a measure $ou,d( to a 'oun* ,ad' unaected $ith
an' )articu,ar )assion( ha%e een ine?)ressi,e )un4
ishment7 ut to a ,o%e4sicG maid( eua,,' sa*acious
and tender( it $as des)air itse,f"
When the in*enuous &ercu,es returned to the
)rior+s( $ith his usua, franGness( he re,ated a,, that
had ha))ened" &e met $ith some remonstrances(
$hich had some eect u)on his mind( thou*h none
u)on his senses7 ut the ne?t da'( $hen he $anted
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to return to his mistress( in order to reason $ith
her u)on the ,a$ of nature and the ,a$ of con%ention(
the ai,i acuainted him( $ith insu,tin* Ho'( that
she $as in a con%ent"
#Ver' $e,,(# said he( #I+,, *o and reason $ith her
in this con%ent"#
The &uron" <B
#That cannot e(# said the ai,i7 and then en4
tered into a ,on* e?),anation of the nature of a con4
%ent( te,,in* him that this $ord $as deri%ed from
con%entus( in the Latin( $hich si*nies #an assem4
,'# 7 and the &uron cou,d not com)rehend $h' he
mi*ht not e admitted into this assem,'" As soon
as he $as informed that this assem,' $as a Gind
of )rison( in $hich *ir,s $ere shut u)( a shocGin*
institution( unGno$n in &uronia and En*,and( he
ecame as furious as $as his )atron &ercu,es $hen
Euritus( Gin* of CEcha,ia( no ,ess crue, than the
ae of St" 3%es( refused him the eauteous ,o,a(
his dau*hter( not inferior in eaut' to the ae+s sis4
ter" &e $as u)on the )oint of *oin* to set re
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to the con%ent to carr' o his mistress( or e urned
$ith her" 1iss KerGaon( terried at such a dec,a4
ration( *a%e u) a,, ho)es of e%er seein* her ne)he$
a sudeacon7 and( sad,' $ee)in*( she e?c,aimed.
#The de%i, has certain,' een in him since he has
een christened"#
C&APTER VII"
T&E &0RON REP0LSES T&E ENLIS&"
The in*enuous &ercu,es $a,Ged to$ard the sea4
coast $ra))ed in dee) and *,oom' me,ancho,'( $ith
his dou,e4char*ed fusee u)on his shou,der and his
cut,ass ' his side( shootin* no$ and then a ird( and
often tem)ted to shoot himse,f 7 ut he had sti,, some
<> The &uron"
aection for ,ife( for the saGe of his dear mistress7
' turns e?ecratin* his unc,e and aunt( a,, Lo$er
!rittan'( and his christenin*7 then ,essin* them(
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as the' had introduced him to the Gno$,ed*e of her
he ,o%ed" &e reso,%ed u)on *oin* to urn the con4
%ent( and he sto))ed short for fear of urnin* his
mistress" The $a%es of the channe, are not more
a*itated ' the easter,' and $ester,' $inds than $as
his heart ' so man' contrar' emotions"
&e $as $a,Gin* a,on* %er' fast( $ithout Gno$4
in* $hither he $as *oin*( $hen he heard the eat of
a drum" &e sa$( at a *reat distance( a %ast mu,ti4
tude( )art of $hom ran to$ard the coast( and the
other )art in the o))osite direction"
A thousand shrieGs re4echoed on e%er' side" Cu4
riosit' and coura*e hurried him( that instant( to$ard
the s)ot $here the *reatest c,amor arose( $hich he
attained in a fe$ ,ea)s" The commander of the mi,i4
tia( $ho had su))ed $ith him at the )rior+s( Gne$
him immediate,'( and he ran to the &uron $ith o)en
arms.
#Ah it is the sincere American . he $i,, *ht for
us"#
0)on $hich the mi,itia( $ho $ere a,most dead
$ith fear( reco%ered themse,%es( cr'in* $ith one
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%oice .
#It is the &uron( the in*enuous &uron"#
#ent,emen(# said he( #$hat is the matter Wh'
are 'ou fri*htened &a%e the' shut 'our mistresses
u) in con%ents #
The &uron" <
Instant,' a thousand confused %oices cried out .
#Do 'ou not see the En*,ish( $ho are ,andin*#
#Ver' $e,,(# re),ied the &uron( #the' are a ra%e
)eo),e7 the' ne%er )ro)osed maGin* me a sudea4
con 7 the' ne%er carried o m' mistress"#
The commander made him understand that the'
$ere comin* to )i,,a*e the ae of the mountain(
drinG his unc,e+s $ine( and )erha)s carr' o 1iss
St" 3%es 7 that the ,itt,e %esse, $hich set him on shore
in !rittan' had come on,' to reconnoitre the coast 7
that the' $ere committin* acts of hosti,it'( $ithout
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ha%in* dec,ared $ar a*ainst France7 and that the
)ro%ince $as entire,' e?)osed to them"
#If this e the case(# said he( #the' %io,ate the ,a$
of nature . ,et me a,one 7 I ,i%ed a ,on* time amon*
them7 I am acuainted $ith their ,an*ua*e( and I
$i,, s)eaG to them" I cannot thinG the' can ha%e so
$icGed a desi*n"#
Durin* this con%ersation the En*,ish Qeet a)4
)roached7 the &uron ran to$ard it( and ha%in*
Hum)ed into a ,itt,e oat( soon ro$ed to the admira,+s
shi)( and ha%in* *one on oard( asGed $hether it $as
true that the' $ere come to ra%a*e the coast( $ithout
ha%in* honest,' dec,ared $ar
The admira, and a,, his cre$ urst out into ,au*h4
ter( made him drinG some )unch( and sent him acG"
The in*enuous &ercu,es( )iued at this rece)tion(
thou*ht of nothin* e,se ut eatin* his o,d friends
for his countr'men and the )rior" The *ent,emen
of the nei*horhood ran from a,, uarters( and Hoined
Vo," 4
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<M The &uron"
them 7 the' had some cannon( and he dischar*ed them
one after the other" The En*,ish ,anded( and he Qe$
to$ard them( $hen he Gi,,ed three of them $ith his
o$n hand" &e e%en $ounded the admira,( $ho had
made a HoGe of him" The entire mi,itia $ere ani4
mated $ith his )ro$ess" The En*,ish returned to
their shi)s( and $ent on oard 7 and the $ho,e coast
re4echoed $ith the shouts of %ictor'( #Li%e the Gin*
,i%e the in*enuous &ercu,es #
E%er' one ran to emrace him 7 e%er' one stro%e
to sto) the ,eedin* of some s,i*ht $ounds he had
recei%ed"
#Ah # said he( #if 1iss St" 3%es $ere here( she
$ou,d )ut on a ),aster for me"#
The ai,i( $ho had hid himse,f in his ce,,ar dur4
in* the att,e( came to )a' his com),iments ,iGe the
rest" !ut he $as *reat,' sur)rised $hen he heard
the in*enuous &ercu,es sa' to a do2en 'oun* men(
$e,, dis)osed for his ser%ice( $ho surrounded him .
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$ere a sudeacon"#
The &uron had( durin* the att,e( )icGed u) a
)urse fu,, of *uineas( $hich the admira, had )ro4
a,' ,ost" &e did not dout that this )urse $ou,d
u' a,, Lo$er !rittan'( and( ao%e a,,( maGe 1iss
St" 3%es a *reat ,ad'" E%er' one )ersuaded him to
re)air to Versai,,es( to recei%e the recom)ense due to
his ser%ices" The commandant and the )rinci)a, of4
cers furnished him $ith certicates in aundance"
The unc,e and aunt a,so a))ro%ed of this Hourne'"
&e $as to e )resented to the Gin* $ithout an' dif4
cu,t'" This a,one $ou,d *i%e him *reat $ei*ht in
the )ro%ince" These t$o *ood fo,Gs added to the
En*,ish )urse a considera,e )resent out of their
sa%in*s" The &uron said to himse,f( #When I see
the Gin*( I $i,, asG 1iss St" 3%es of him in mar4
ria*e( and certain,' he $i,, not refuse me"# &e set
out accordin*,'( amidst the acc,amations of the $ho,e
district( stiQed $ith emraces( athed in tears ' his
aunt( ,essed ' his unc,e( and recommendin* him4
se,f to the charmin* 1iss St" 3%es"
ioo The &uron"
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C&APTER VIII"
T&E &0RON OES TO CO0RT S0PS 0PON T&E ROAD
WIT& SO1E &00ENOTS"
The in*enuous &ercu,es tooG the Saumur road
in the coach( ecause there $as at that time no other
con%enience" When he came to Saumur( he $as as4
tonished to nd the cit' a,most deserted( and to see
se%era, fami,ies *oin* a$a'" &e $as to,d that( ha,f
a do2en 'ears efore( Saumur contained u)$ard of
ft' thousand inhaitants( and that at )resent there
$ere not si? thousand" &e mentioned this at the
inn( $hi,e at su))er" Se%era, Protestants $ere at
ta,e 7 some com),ained itter,'( others trem,ed $ith
ra*e( others( $ee)in*( said( #Nos du,cia ,inuitmis
ar%a( nos )atriam fu*imus"# The &uron( $ho did
not understand Latin( had these $ords e?),ained to
him( $hich si*nied( #We aandon our s$eet e,ds 7
$e Q' from our countr'"#
#And $h' do 'ou Q' from 'our countr'( *ent,e4
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men#
#!ecause $e must other$ise acGno$,ed*e the
)o)e"#
#And $h' not acGno$,ed*e him 3ou ha%e no
*odmothers( then( that 'ou $ant to marr'( for I
am to,d it is he that *rants this )ermission"#
#Ah sir( this )o)e sa's that he is master of the
domains of Gin*s"#
The &uron" ;=;
#!ut( *ent,emen( $hat re,i*ion are 'ou of#
#Wh'( sir( $e are for the most )art dra)ers and
manufacturers"#
#If the )o)e( then( is not the master of 'our
c,othes and manufactures( 'ou do %er' $e,, not to
acGno$,ed*e him 7 ut as to Gin*s( it is their usiness(
and $h' do 'ou trou,e 'ourse,%es aout it #
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&ere a ,itt,e ,acG man tooG u) the ar*ument( and
%er' ,earned,' set forth the *rie%ances of the com4
)an'" &e ta,Ged of the re%ocation of the edict of
Nantes $ith so much ener*' 7 he de),ored( in so )a4
thetic a manner( the fate of ft' thousand fu*iti%e
fami,ies( and of ft' thousand others con%erted '
dra*oons( that the in*enuous &ercu,es cou,d not re4
frain from sheddin* tears"
#Whence arises it(# said he( #that so *reat a Gin*(
$hose reno$n e?)ands itse,f e%en to the &urons(
shou,d thus de)ri%e himse,f of so man' hearts that
$ou,d ha%e ,o%ed him( and so man' arms that $ou,d
ha%e ser%ed him #
#!ecause he has een im)osed u)on( ,iGe other
*reat Gin*s(# re),ied the ,itt,e orator" #&e has een
made to e,ie%e that as soon as he utters a $ord a,,
)eo),e thinG as he does 7 and that he can maGe us
chan*e our re,i*ion( Hust as his musician Lu,,i( in a
moment( chan*es the decorations of his o)era" &e
has not on,' a,read' ,ost %e or si? hundred thou4
sand %er' usefu, suHects( ut he has turned man' of
them into enemies 7 and Kin* Wi,,iam( $ho is at this
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IO@ The &uron"
time master of En*,and( has formed se%era, re*i4
ments of these identica, Frenchmen( $ho $ou,d
other$ise ha%e fou*ht for their monarch"
#Such a disaster is more astonishin*( as the )res4
ent )o)e( to $hom Louis :IV" sacrices a )art of
his )eo),e( is his dec,ared enem'" A %io,ent uarre,
has e?isted et$een them for near,' nine 'ears" It
has een carried so far that France had ho)e of at
,en*th castin* o the 'oGe ' $hich it has een Ge)t
in suHection for so man' a*es to this forei*ner( and(
more )articu,ar,'( of not *i%in* him an' more
mone'( $hich is the )rimum moi,e of the aairs of
this $or,d" It therefore a))ears e%ident that this
*reat Gin* has een im)osed on( as $e,, $ith res)ect
to his interest as the e?tent of his )o$er( and that
e%en the ma*nanimit' of his heart has eeen strucG
at"#
The &uron( ecomin* more and more interested(
asGed .
#Who $ere the Frenchmen $ho thus decei%ed a
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monarch so dear to the &urons #
#The' are the /esuits(# he $as ans$ered( #and(
)articu,ar,'( Father ,a Chaise( the Gin*+s confessor"
It is to e ho)ed that od $i,, one da' )unish them
for it( and that the' $i,, e dri%en out( as the' no$
dri%e us" Can an' misfortune eua, ours 1" de
Lou%ois esets us on a,, sides $ith /esuits and
dra*oons"#
#We,, *ent,emen(# re),ied the &uron( #I am *o4
in* to Versai,,es to recei%e the recom)ense due to m'
The &uron" ;=
ser%ices 7 I $i,, s)eaG to 1" de Lou%ois" I am to,d it
is he $ho maGes $ar from his c,oset" I sha,, see
the Gin*( and I $i,, acuaint him $ith the truth" It
is im)ossi,e not to 'ie,d to this truth( $hen it is fe,t"
I sha,, return %er' soon to marr' 1iss St" 3%es( and
I e* 'ou $i,, e )resent at our nu)tia,s"#
These *ood )eo),e no$ tooG him for some *reat
,ord( $ho tra%e,,ed inco*nito in the coach" Some
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IO The &uron"
#Sir(# said the tra%e,,er to him( #'ou a))ear to me
to e a ra%e man" I am ne)he$ to the )rior of our
Lad' of the 1ountain" I ha%e Gi,,ed En*,ishmen(
and I am come to s)eaG to the Gin* 7 I e* 'ou $i,,
conduct me to his chamer"#
The so,dier( de,i*hted to nd a man of coura*e
from his )ro%ince( $ho did not seem acuainted $ith
the customs of the court( to,d him it $as necessar'
to e )resented to 1" de Lou%ois"
#Ver' $e,,( then( conduct me to 1" de Lou%ois(
$ho $i,, dout,ess conduct me to the Gin*"#
#It is more dicu,t to s)eaG to 1" de Lou%ois
than the Gin*" !ut I $i,, conduct 'ou to 1" A,e?4
ander( rst commissioner of $ar( and this $i,, e
Hust the same as if 'ou s)oGe to the minister"#
The' accordin*,' re)aired to 1" A,e?ander+s(
$ho $as rst c,erG7 ut the' cou,d not e intro4
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duced( he ein* c,ose,' en*a*ed in usiness $ith a
,ad' of the court( and no )erson $as a,,o$ed ad4
mittance"
#We,,(# said the so,dier( #there is no harm done 7
,et us *o to 1" A,e?ander+s rst c,erG" This $i,, e
Hust the same as if 'ou s)oGe to 1" A,e?ander him4
se,f"#
The &uron( uite astonished( fo,,o$ed him" The'
remained to*ether ha,f an hour in a ,itt,e antecham4
er"
#What is a,, this# said the in*enuous &ercu,es"
#Is a,, the $or,d in%isi,e in this countr' It is
much easier to *ht in Lo$er !rittan' a*ainst En*4
The &tiron" ;=B
,ishmen than to meet $ith )eo),e at Versai,,es $ith
$hom one has usiness"#
&e amused himse,f for some time $ith re,atin*
his amours to his countr'man 7 ut the c,ocG striGin*
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reca,,ed the so,dier to his )ost( $hen a mutua, )rom4
ise $as *i%en of meetin* on the morro$"
The &uron remained another ha,f hour in the
antechamer( meditatin* u)on 1iss St" 3%es and the
dicu,t' of s)eaGin* to Gin*s and rst c,erGs"
At ,en*th the )atron a))eared"
#Sir(# said the in*enuous &ercu,es( #if I had
$aited to re)u,se the En*,ish as ,on* as 'ou ha%e
made me $ait for m' audience( the' $ou,d certain,'
ha%e ra%a*ed a,, Lo$er !rittan' $ithout o))osi4
tion"#
These $ords im)ressed the c,erG" &e at ,en*th
said to the inhaitant of !rittan'( #What is 'our re4
uest#
#A recom)ense(# said the other7 #these are m'
tit,es 7# sho$in* his certicates"
The c,erG read( and to,d him( #that )roa,' he
mi*ht otain ,ea%e to )urchase a ,ieutenanc'"#
#1e $hat( must I )a' mone' for ha%in* re)u,sed
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the En*,ish 1ust I )a' a ta? to e Gi,,ed for 'ou(
$hi,e 'ou are )eacea,' *i%in* 'our audience here
3ou are certain,' Hestin*" I reuire a com)an' of
ca%a,r' for nothin*" I reuire that the Gin* sha,,
set 1iss St" 3%es at ,iert' from the con%ent( and
*i%e her to me in marria*e" I $ant to s)eaG to the
Gin* in fa%or of ft' thousand fami,ies( $hom I
;=> The &uron"
)ro)ose restorin* to him" In a $ord( I $ant to e
usefu," Let me e em),o'ed and ad%anced"#
#What is 'our name( sir( $ho ta,G in such a hi*h
st',e#
#Oh oh# ans$ered the &uron7 #'ou ha%e not
then read m' certicates This is the $a' the' are
treated" 1' name is &ercu,es de KerGaon" I am
christened( and I ,od*e at the +!,ue Dia,"+ # The c,erG
conc,uded( ,iGe the )eo),e at Saumur( that his head
$as turned( and did not )a' him an' further atten4
tion"
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then conducted him to the cast,e erected ' Kin*
Char,es V"( son of /ohn II"( near the street of St"
Antoine( at the *ate des Tourne,,es"
What $as the &uron+s astonishment on his $a'
thither the reader is ,eft to ima*ine" &e at rst
fancied it $as a,, a dream 7 and remained for some
time in a state of stu)efaction" Present,'( trans4
)orted $ith ra*e that *a%e him more than common
stren*th( he co,,ared t$o of his conductors $ho $ere
$ith him in the coach( Qun* them out of the door(
cast himse,f after them( and then dra**ed the third(
$ho $anted to ho,d him" &e fe,, in the attem)t(
$hen the' tied him( and re),aced him in the carria*e"
#This( then(# said he( #is $hat one *ets for dri%4
in* the En*,ish out of Lo$er !rittan' What $ou,d
'ou sa'( charmin* 1iss St" 3%es( if 'ou cou,d see
me in this situation #
The' at ,en*th arri%ed at the ),ace of their desti4
nation" &e $as carried $ithout an' noise into the
chamer in $hich he $as to e ,ocGed u)( ,iGe a
dead cor)se *oin* to the *ra%e" This room $as
a,read' occu)ied ' an o,d so,itar' student of Port
Ro'a,( named ordon( $ho had een ,an*uishin*
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here for t$o 'ears"
#See(# said the chief of the 1arechaussee( #here
is com)an' I rin* 'ou 7# and immediate,' the
enormous o,ts of this stron* door( secured $ith
,ar*e iron ars( $ere fastened u)on them" These
t$o ca)ti%es $ere thus se)arated from a,, the uni4
%erse esides"
ioM The &uron"
C&APTER :"
T&E &0RON IS S&0T 0P IN T&E !ASTILLE WIT& A
/ANSENIST"
1r" ordon $as a hea,th' o,d man( of a serene
dis)osition( $ho $as acuainted $ith t$o *reat
thin*s7 the one $as( to ear ad%ersit'7 the other(
to conso,e the aYicted" &e a))roached his com4
)anion $ith an o)en( s'm)athi2in*X air( and said to
him( $hi,e he emraced him .
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#Whoe%er 'ou are that is come to )artaGe of m'
*ra%e( e assured that I sha,, constant,' for*et m'4
se,f to soften 'our torments in the inferna, a'ss
$here $e are ),un*ed" Let us adore Pro%idence
that has conducted us here" Let us suer in )eace(
and trust in ho)e"#
These $ords had the same eect u)on the 'outh
as cordia, dro)s( $hich reca,, a d'in* )erson to ,ife
and sho$ to his astonished e'es a *,im)se of ,i*ht"
After the rst com),iments $ere o%er( ordon(
$ithout ur*in* him to re,ate the cause of his mis4
fortune( ins)ired him ' the s$eetness of his dis4
course and ' that interest $hich t$o unfortunate
)ersons share $ith each other( $ith a desire of o)en4
in* his heart and of disurdenin* himse,f of the
$ei*ht $hich o))ressed him 7 ut he cou,d not
*uess the cause of his misfortune( and the *ood
man ordon $as as much astonished as himse,f"
The &uron" ;=<
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#od must( dout,ess(# said the /ansenist to the
&uron( #ha%e *reat desi*ns u)on 'ou( since he con4
ducted 'ou from LaGe Ontario to En*,and( and
thence to France7 caused 'ou to e a)ti2ed in
Lo$er !rittan'( and has no$ ,od*ed 'ou here for
'our sa,%ation"#
#In faith(# re),ied &ercu,es( #I e,ie%e the de%i,
a,one has interfered in m' destin'" 1' countr'men
in America $ou,d ne%er ha%e treated me $ith the
ararit' that I ha%e here e?)erienced7 the' ha%e
not the ,east idea of it" The' are ca,,ed sa%a*es7
the' are *ood )eo),e( ut rustic7 and the men of
this countr' are rened %i,,ains" I am( indeed(
*reat,' sur)rised to ha%e come from another $or,d(
to e shut u) in this( under four o,ts $ith a )riest 7
ut I consider $hat an innite numer of men set
out from one hemis)here to *o and *et Gi,,ed in the
other( or are cast a$a' in the %o'a*e( and are eaten
' the shes" I cannot disco%er the *racious de4
si*ns of od o%er these )eo),e"#
+ Their dinner $as rou*ht them throu*h a $icGet"
The con%ersation turned u)on Pro%idence( ,ettres
de cachet( and u)on the art of not sinGin* under
dis*race( to $hich a,, men in this $or,d are e?)osed"
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#It is no$ t$o 'ears since I came here(# said the
o,d man( #$ithout an' other conso,ation than m'4
se,f and ooGs 7 and 'et I ha%e ne%er een a sin*,e
moment out of tem)er"#
#Ah 1r" ordon(# cried &ercu,es( #'ou are not
no The &uron"
then in ,o%e $ith 'our *odmother" If 'ou $ere as
$e,, acuainted $ith 1iss St" 3%es as I am( 'ou
$ou,d e in a state of des)eration"#
At these $ords he cou,d not refrain from tears(
$hich *reat,' re,ie%ed him from his o))ression"
#&o$ is it( then( that tears so,ace us# said the
&uron 7 #it seems to me that the' shou,d ha%e uite
an o))osite eect"#
#1' son(# said the *ood o,d man( #e%er'thin* is
)h'sica, aout us 7 a,, secretions are usefu, to the
od'( and a,, that comforts it( comforts the sou,"
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We are the machines of Pro%idence"#
The in*enuous &uron( $ho( as $e ha%e a,read'
oser%ed more than once( had a *reat share of un4
derstandin*( entered dee),' into the consideration
of this idea( the seeds $hereof a))eared to e in
himse,f( after $hich he asGed his com)anion $h'
his machine had for t$o 'ears een conned ' four
o,ts"
#!' eectua, *race(# ans$ered ordon 7 #I )ass
for a /ansenist 7 I Gno$ Arnaud and Nico,e 7 the
/esuits ha%e )ersecuted us" We e,ie%e that the
)o)e is nothin* more than a isho)( ,iGe another(
and therefore Father ,a Chaise has otained from the
Gin*( his )enitent( an order for roin* me( $ithout
an' form of Hustice( of the most )recious inheritance
of man ,iert' #
#This is %er' stran*e(# said the &uron 7 #a,, the
unha))' )eo),e $ith $hom I ha%e met ha%e een
made so so,e,' ' the )o)e" With res)ect to 'our
The &uron" ; ; ;
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eectua, *race( I acGno$,ed*e I do not understand
$hat 'ou mean" !ut I consider it as a %er' *reat
fa%or that od has ,et me( in m' misfortune( meet
$ith a man $ho )ours into m' heart such conso,a4
tion as I thou*ht m'se,f inca)a,e of recei%in*"#
The con%ersation ecame each da' more interest4
in* and instructi%e" The sou,s of the t$o ca)ti%es
seemed to unite in one od'" The o,d man had
acuired Gno$,ed*e( and the 'oun* man $as $i,,in*
to recei%e instruction" At the end of the rst month
he ea*er,' a)),ied himse,f to the stud' of *eometr'"
ordon made him read #Rohau,t+s Ph'sics(# $hich
ooG $as sti,, in fashion7 and he had *ood sense
enou*h to nd in it nothin* ut douts and uncer4
tainties"
&e after$ard read the rst %o,ume of the #En4
uir' After Truth"# This instructi%e $orG *a%e
him ne$ ,i*ht"
#What# said he( #do our ima*ination and our
senses decei%e us to that de*ree What are not
our ideas formed ' oHects( and can $e not acuire
them ' ourse,%es #
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Eterna, !ein*( ,iGe the stars and the e,ements that
he o)erates e%er'thin* in us that $e are sma,,
$hee,s of the immense machine( of $hich he is the
sou, that he acts accordin* to *enera, ,a$s( and
not from )articu,ar %ie$s" This is a,, that a))ears
to me inte,,i*i,e 7 a,, the rest is to me a darG a'ss"#
#!ut this( m' son( $ou,d e maGin* od the
author of sin #
#!ut( father( 'our eectua, *race $ou,d eua,,'
maGe him the author of sin 7 for certain,' a,, those
to $hom this *race $as refused $ou,d sin7 and is
not an a,,4)o$erfu, ein* $ho )ermits e%i,( %irtua,,'
the author of e%i, #
This sincerit' *reat,' emarrassed the *ood man 7
he found that a,, his endea%ors to e?tricate himse,f
from this ua*mire $ere ineectua, 7 and he hea)ed
such uantities of $ords u)on one another( $hich
seemed to ha%e meanin*( ut $hich in fact had
none( that the &uron cou,d not he,) )it'in* him"
This uestion e%ident,' determined the ori*in of
*ood and e%i,7 and )oor ordon $as reduced to
the necessit' of recurrin* to Pandora+s o?
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The &uron" ;;
Oromasdes+ e** )ierced ' Arimanes the enmit'
et$een T')hon and Osiris and( at ,ast( ori*ina,
sin7 and these he hudd,ed to*ether in )rofound
darGness( $ithout their thro$in* the ,east *,im4
merin* ,i*ht u)on one another" &o$e%er( this
romance of the sou, di%erted their thou*hts from
the contem),ation of their o$n miser'7 and( ' a
stran*e ma*ic( the mu,titude of ca,amities dis)ersed
throu*hout the $or,d diminished the sensation of
their o$n miseries" The' did not dare com),ain
$hen a,, manGind $as in a state of suerance"
!ut in the re)ose of ni*ht( the ima*e of the
charmin* 1iss St" 3%es eaced from the mind of
her ,o%er e%er' meta)h'sica, and mora, idea" &e
a$oGe $ith his e'es athed in tears7 and the o,d
/ansenist for*ot his eectua, *race( and the ae
of St" C'ran( and e%en /ansenius himse,f( to aord
conso,ation to a 'outh $hom he had Hud*ed *ui,t'
of a morta, sin"
After these ,ectures and their reasonin*s $ere
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o%er( their ad%entures furnished them $ith suHects
of con%ersation 7 after this store $as e?hausted the'
read to*ether( or se)arate,'" The &uron+s under4
standin* dai,' increased 7 and he $ou,d certain,'
ha%e made *reat )ro*ress in mathematics if the
thou*ht of 1iss St" 3%es had not freuent,' dis4
tracted him"
&e read histories( $hich made him me,ancho,'"
The $or,d a))eared to him too $icGed and too
misera,e" In fact( histor' is nothin* more than a
Vo," M
;; ; h &uron"
)icture of crimes and misfortunes" The cro$d of
innocent and )eacea,e men is a,$a's in%isi,e u)on
this %ast theatre" The dramatis )ersons is com4
)osed of amitious( )er%erse men" The ),easure
$hich histor' aords is deri%ed from the same
source as tra*ed'( $hich $ou,d ,an*uish and e4
come insi)id( $ere it not ins)ired $ith stron* )as4
sions( *reat e%ents( and )iteous misfortunes" C,io
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must e armed $ith a )oniard as $e,, as 1e,)omene"
Thou*h the histor' of France is not ,ess ,,ed
$ith horror than those of other nations( it ne%er4
the,ess a))eared to him so dis*ustin* in the e*in4
nin*( so dr' in the continuation( and so triQin* in
the end e%en in the time of &enr' IV" 7 e%er desti4
tute of *rand monuments( or forei*n to those ne
disco%eries $hich ha%e i,,ustrated other nations7
that he $as o,i*ed to reso,%e u)on not ein* tired
in order to *o throu*h a,, the )articu,ars of oscure
ca,amities conned to a ,itt,e corner of the $or,d"
ordon thou*ht ,iGe him" The' oth ,au*hed
$ith )it' $hen the' read of the so%erei*ns of Fe2en4
sacs( Fesansa*uet( and Astrac7 such a stud' cou,d
e re,ished on,' ' their heirs( if the' had an'" The
ri,,iant a*es of the Roman Re)u,ic made him
sometimes uite indierent as to an' other )art of
the *,oe" The s)ectac,e of %ictorious Rome( the
,a$*i%er of nations( en*rossed his $ho,e sou," &e
*,o$ed in contem),atin* a )eo),e $ho $ere *o%4
erned for se%en hundred 'ears ' the enthusiasm of
,iert' and *,or'"
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The &uron" ;;B
Thus ro,,ed da's( $eeGs( and months 7 and he
$ou,d ha%e thou*ht himse,f ha))' in the sanctuar'
of des)air( if he had not ,o%ed"
The natura, *oodness of his heart $as softened
sti,, more $hen he reQected u)on the )rior of our
Lad' of the 1ountain( and the sensi,e KerGaon"
#What must the' thinG(# he $ou,d often re)eat(
#$hen the' can *et no tidin*s of me The' must
thinG me an un*ratefu, $retch"# This idea ren4
dered him inconso,a,e" &e )itied those $ho ,o%ed
him much more than he )itied himse,f"
C&APTER :I"
&OW T&E &0RON DISCLOSES &IS ENI0S"
Readin* a**randi2es the sou,( and an en,i*htened
friend aords conso,ation" Our ca)ti%e had these
t$o ad%anta*es in his fa%or $hich he had ne%er e?4
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)ected" #I sha,, e*in to e,ie%e in the 1etamor4
)hoses(# said he( #for I ha%e een transformed from
a rute into a man"#
&e formed a chosen ,irar' $ith )art of the
mone' $hich he $as a,,o$ed to dis)ose of" &is
friend encoura*ed him to commit to $ritin* such
oser%ations as occurred to him" These are his notes
u)on ancient histor' .
#I ima*ine that nations $ere for a ,on* time ,iGe
m'se,f 7 that the' did not ecome en,i*htened ti,, %er'
,ate7 that for man' a*es the' $ere occu)ied $ith
n> The &uron"
nothin* ut the )resent moment $hich e,a)sed 7 that
the' thou*ht %er' ,itt,e of $hat $as )ast( and ne%er
of the future" I ha%e tra%ersed %e or si? hundred
,ea*ues in Canada( and I did not meet $ith a sin*,e
monument 7 no one is the ,east acuainted $ith the
actions of his )redecessors" Is not this the natura,
state of man The human s)ecies of this continent
a))ears to me su)erior to that of the other" The'
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ha%e e?tended their ein* for man' a*es ' arts and
Gno$,ed*e" Is this ecause the' ha%e eards u)on
their chins and od has refused this ornament to
the Americans I do not e,ie%e it 7 for I nd the
Chinese ha%e %er' ,itt,e eard( and that the' ha%e
cu,ti%ated art for u)$ard of %e thousand 'ears"
In eect( if their anna,s *o acG u)$ard of four
thousand 'ears( the nation must necessari,' ha%e
een united and in a Qourishin* state more than %e
hundred centuries"
#One thin* )articu,ar,' striGes me in this ancient
histor' of China( $hich is( that a,most e%er'thin*
is )roa,e and natura," I admire it ecause it is
not tinctured $ith an'thin* of the mar%e,,ous"
#Wh' ha%e a,, other nations ado)ted fau,ous
ori*ins The ancient chronic,es of the histor' of
France( $hich( ' the '( are not %er' ancient( maGe
the French descend from one Francus( the son of
&ector" The Romans said the' $ere the issue of a
Phr'*ian( thou*h there $as not in their $ho,e
,an*ua*e a sin*,e $ord that had the ,east connection
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The &uron" ;;
$ith the ,an*ua*e of Phr'*ia" The *ods had in4
haited E*')t for ten thousand 'ears( and the de%i,s
Sc'thia( $here the' had en*endered the &uns" I
meet $ith nothin* efore Thuc'dides ut romances
simi,ar to the Amadis( and far ,ess amusin*" A)4
)aritions( orac,es( )rodi*ies( sorcer'( metamor)hoses
are inters)ersed throu*hout $ith the e?),anation
of dreams( $hich are the ases of the destin' of the
*reatest em)ires and the sma,,est states" &ere are
s)eaGin* easts( there rutes that are adored( *ods
transformed into men( and men into *ods" If $e
must ha%e fa,es( ,et us( at ,east( ha%e such as a)4
)ear the em,em of truth" I admire the fa,es of
)hi,oso)hers( ut I ,au*h at those of chi,dren( and
hate those of im)ostors"#
&e one da' hit u)on a histor' of the Em)eror
/ustinian" It $as there re,ated that some A))e4
deutes of Constantino),e had de,i%ered( in %er' ad
reeG( an edict a*ainst the *reatest ca)tain of the
a*e( ecause this hero had uttered the fo,,o$in*
$ords in the $armth of con%ersation. #Truth
shines forth $ith its )ro)er ,i*ht( and )eo),e+s minds
are not i,,umined $ith Qamin* )i,es"# The A))e4
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Pasto)hores shou,d not e su))orted( ut con4
strained"#
&e committed se%era, other oser%ations to )a)er(
$hich astonished o,d ordon" #What(# said he to
himse,f( #ha%e I consumed ft' 'ears in instruction
and not attained to the de*ree of natura, *ood sense
of this chi,d( $ho is a,most a sa%a*e I trem,e to
thinG I ha%e so arduous,' stren*thened )reHudices(
and he ,istens to sim),e nature on,'"#
The *ood man had some ,itt,e ooGs of criticism(
some of those )eriodica, )am)h,ets $herein men( in4
ca)a,e of )roducin* an'thin* themse,%es( ,acGen
the )roductions of others7 $here a Vise insu,ts a
Racine( and a Faidit a Fene,on" The &uron ran
o%er some of them" #I com)are them(# said he(
#to certain *nats that ,od*e their e**s in the nostri,s
of the nest horses( $hich do not( ho$e%er( retard
their s)eed"#
The &uron" ;;<
The t$o )hi,oso)hers scarce dei*ned to cast their
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e'es u)on these dre*s of ,iterature"
The' soon after $ent throu*h the e,ements of
astronom'" The &uron sent for some *,oes7 he
$as ra%ished at this *reat s)ectac,e"
#&o$ hard it is(# said he( #that I shou,d on,'
e*in to e acuainted $ith hea%en( $hen the )o$er
of contem),atin* it is ra%ished from me /u)iter
and Saturn re%o,%e in these immense s)aces7 mi,4
,ions of suns i,,umine m'riads of $or,ds 7 and( in
this corner of the earth on $hich I am cast( there
are ein*s that de)ri%e me of seein* and stud'in*
those $or,ds to $hich m' e'e mi*ht reach( and e%en
that in $hich od has ),aced me" The ,i*ht created
for the $ho,e uni%erse is ,ost to me" It $as not hid4
den from me in the northern hori2on( $here I )assed
m' infanc' and 'outh" Without 'ou( m' dear or4
don( I shou,d e annihi,ated"#
C&APTER :II"
T&E &0RON+S SENTI1ENTS 0PON T&EATRICAL PIECES"
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The 'oun* &uron resem,ed one of those %i*or4
ous trees( $hich( ,an*uishin* in an un*ratefu, soi,(
e?tend in a ,itt,e time their roots and ranches $hen
trans),anted to a more fa%ora,e s)ot7 and it $as
%er' e?traordinar' that this fa%ora,e s)ot shou,d e
a )rison"
Amon* the ooGs $hich em),o'ed the ,eisure of
I@O The &uron"
the t$o ca)ti%es $ere some )oems and a,so trans,a4
tions of reeG tra*edies( and some dramatic )ieces
in French" Those )assa*es that d$e,t on ,o%e com4
municated at once ),easure and )ain to the sou, of
the &uron" The' $ere ut so man' ima*es of his
dear 1iss St" 3%es" The fa,e of the t$o )i*eons
rent his heart( for he $as far estran*ed from his ten4
der do%e"
1o,iere enchanted him" &e tau*ht him the man4
ners of Paris and of human nature"
#To $hich of his comedies do 'ou *i%e the )ref4
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erence #
#Dout,ess to his Tartue"+ #
#I am of 'our o)inion(# said ordon7 #it $as a
Tartue that Qun* me into this dun*eon( and )er4
ha)s the' $ere Tartues $ho ha%e een the cause
of 'our misfortunes"#
#What do 'ou thinG of these reeG tra*edies #
#The' are %er' *ood for recians"#
!ut $hen he read the modern #I)hi*enia(#
#Phaedrus(# #Andromache(# and #Atha,ia(# he $as
in ecstas'( he si*hed( he $e)t and he ,earned them
' heart( $ithout ha%in* an' such intention"
#Read +Rodo*une(+ # said ordon 7 #that is said
to e a ca)ita, )roduction7 the other )ieces $hich
ha%e *i%en 'ou so much ),easure are triQes com4
)ared to this"#
The 'oun* man had scarce *ot throu*h the rst
)a*e( efore he said( #This is not $ritten ' the
same author"#
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The &uron" ;@;
#&o$ do 'ou Gno$ it #
#I Gno$ nothin* 'et 7 ut these ,ines neither touch
m' ear nor m' heart"#
#Oh # said ordon( #the %ersication does not si*4
nif'"# The &uron asGed( #What must I Hud*e '(
then#
After ha%in* read the )iece %er' attenti%e,' $ith4
out an' other desi*n than ein* ),eased( he ,ooGed
steadfast,' at his friend $ith much astonishment(
not Gno$in* $hat to sa'" At ,en*th( ein* ur*ed to
*i%e his o)inion $ith res)ect to $hat he fe,t( this
$as the ans$er he made . #I understood %er' ,itt,e
of the e*innin*7 the midd,e dis*usted me7 ut
the ,ast scene *reat,' mo%ed me( thou*h there a)4
)ears to e ut ,itt,e )roai,it' in it" I ha%e no
)reHudices for or a*ainst an' one( ut I do not re4
memer t$ent' ,ines7 I( $ho reco,,ect them a,,
$hen the' ),ease me"#
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#This )iece( ne%erthe,ess( )asses for the est u)on
our sta*e"#
#If that e the case(# said he( #it is )erha)s ,iGe
man' )eo),e $ho are not $orth' of the ),aces the'
ho,d" After a,,( this is a matter of taste( and mine
cannot 'et e formed" I ma' e mistaGen 7 ut 'ou
Gno$ I am accustomed to sa' $hat I thinG( or rather
$hat I fee," I sus)ect that i,,usion( fashion( ca)rice(
often $ar) the Hud*ments of men"#
&ere he re)eated some ,ines from #I)hi*enia(#
of $hich he $as fu,, 7 and thou*h he dec,aimed ut
indierent,'( he uttered them $ith such truth and
;@@ The &uron"
emotion that he made the o,d /ansenist $ee)" &e
then read #Cinna(# $hich did not e?cite his tears(
ut his admiration"
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here is a ne o))ortunit'( and $e sha,, )erha)s nd
The &uron" ;@
our )oor ne)he$" &e is our rother+s son( and it is
our dut' to assist him" Who Gno$s $e ma' )er4
ha)s at ,en*th )re%ai, u)on him to ecome a su4
deacon $hen the re of 'outh is some$hat aated"
&e $as much inc,ined to the sciences" Do 'ou reco,4
,ect ho$ he reasoned u)on the O,d and Ne$ Testa4
ments We are ans$era,e for his sou," &e $as
a)ti2ed at our insti*ation" &is dear mistress( 1iss
St" 3%es( does nothin* ut $ee) incessant,'" In4
deed( $e must *o to Paris" If he is concea,ed in an'
of those infamous houses of ),easure( of $hich I ha%e
often heard( $e $i,, *et him out"#
The )rior $as aected at his sister+s discourse"
&e $ent in search of the isho) of St" 1a,o( $ho
had a)ti2ed the &uron( and reuested his )rotection
and ad%ice" The )re,ate a))ro%ed of the Hourne'"
&e *a%e the )rior ,etters of recommendation to
Father ,a Chaise( the Gin*+s confessor( $ho $as in4
%ested $ith the rst di*nit' of the Gin*dom7 to
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&ar,ai( the archisho) of Paris( and to !ossuet(
isho) of 1eau?"
At ,en*th the rother and sister set out7 ut
$hen the' came to Paris the' found themse,%es e4
$i,dered in a *reat ,a'rinth $ithout c,e$ or end"
Their fortune $as ut midd,in*( and the' had occa4
sion e%er' da' for carria*es to )ursue their dis4
co%er'( $hich the' cou,d not accom),ish"
The )rior $aited u)on the Re%erend Father ,a
Chaise7 he $as $ith 1ademoise,,e du Tron( and
cou,d not *i%e audience to )riors" &e $ent to
;@ The &uron"
the archisho)+s door 7 the )re,ate $as shut u) $ith
the eautifu, 1ademoise,,e de Lesdi*uieres aout
church matters" &e Qe$ to the countr' house of the
isho) of 1eau?7 he $as en*a*ed in a c,ose e?4
amination $ith 1ademoise,,e de 1au,eon( of the
m'ster' re,atin* to 1ademoise,,e u'on" At ,en*th(
ho$e%er( he *ained access to these t$o )re,ates7
the' oth dec,ared the' cou,d not interfere $ith re4
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*ard to his ne)he$( as he $as not a sudeacon"
&e at ,en*th sa$ the /esuit( $ho recei%ed him
$ith o)en arms( )rotestin* he had a,$a's enter4
tained the *reatest )ri%ate esteem for him( thou*h he
had ne%er Gno$n him" &e s$ore that his societ'
had a,$a's een attached to the inhaitants of Lo$er
!rittan'"
#!ut(# said he( #has not 'our ne)he$ the mis4
fortune of ein* a &u*uenot #
#No( certain,'( re%erend father"#
#1a' he not e a /ansenist #
#I can assure 'our re%erence that he is scarce a
Christian" It is aout e,e%en months since he $as
christened"#
#This is %er' $e,, 7 $e $i,, taGe care of him" Is
'our enece considera,e #
#No( a %er' triQe7 and our ne)he$ costs us a
*reat dea,"#
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#Are there an' /ansenists in 'our nei*horhood
TaGe *reat care( m' dear )rior7 the' are more
dan*erous than &u*uenots( or e%en atheists"#
#1' re%erend father( $e ha%e none7 it is not
The &uron" ;@B
e%en Gno$n at our Lad' of the 1ountain $hat /an4
senism is"#
#So much the etter 7 *o( there is nothin* I $i,,
not do for 'ou"#
&e dismissed the )rior in this aectionate man4
ner( ut thou*ht no more aout him"
Time s,i))ed a$a'( and the )rior and his *ood
sister $ere a,most in des)air"
In the mean$hi,e( the cursed ai,i ur*ed %er'
strenuous,' the marria*e of his *reat oo' son $ith
the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ho $as taGen )ur4
)ose,' out of the con%ent" She a,$a's entertained
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a )assion for her *odson in )ro)ortion as she de4
tested the husand $ho $as desi*ned for her" The
insu,t that had een oered her( ' shuttin* her u)
in a con%ent( increased her aection 7 and the man4
date for $eddin* the ai,i+s son com),eted her an4
ti)ath' for him" Cha*rin( tenderness( and terror
racGed her sou," Lo%e( $e Gno$( is much more in4
%enti%e and more darin* in a 'oun* $oman than
friendshi) in an a*ed )rior and an aunt u)$ard of
fort'4%e" !esides( she had recei%ed *ood instruc4
tions in her con%ent $ith the assistance of romances(
$hich she read ' stea,th"
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es rememered the ,et4
ter that had een sent ' one of the Gin*+s *uards to
Lo$er !rittan'( $hich had een s)oGen of in the
)ro%ince" She reso,%ed to *o herse,f and *ain in4
formation at Versai,,es7 to thro$ herse,f at the
minister+s feet( if her husand shou,d e in )rison as
;@> The &uron"
it $as said( and otain Hustice for him" I Gno$ not
$hat secret inte,,i*ence she had *ained that at court
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nothin* is refused to a )rett' $oman 7 ut she Gne$
not the )rice of these oons"
&a%in* taGen this reso,ution( it aorded her some
conso,ation 7 and she enHo'ed some tranui,,it' $ith4
out u)raidin* Pro%idence $ith the se%erit' of her
,ot" She recei%ed her detested intended father4in4
,a$( caressed her rother( and s)read ha))iness
throu*hout the house" On the da' a))ointed for the
ceremon'( she secret,' de)arted at four o+c,ocG in
the mornin*( $ith the ,itt,e nu)tia, )resents she had
recei%ed( and a,, she cou,d *ather" &er ),an $as
so $e,, ,aid that she $as aout ten ,ea*ues u)on her
Hourne'( $hen( aout noon( her asence $as dis4
co%ered( and $hen e%er' one+s consternation and
sur)rise $as ine?)ressi,e" The inuisiti%e ai,i
asGed more uestions that da' than he had done for a
$eeG efore7 the intended ride*room $as more
stu)eed than e%er" The Ae St" 3%es reso,%ed in
his ra*e to )ursue his sister" The ai,i and his son
$ere dis)osed to accom)an' him" Thus fate ,ed
a,most the $ho,e canton of Lo$er !rittan' to Paris"
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es $as not $ithout a)4
)rehensions that she shou,d e )ursued" She rode
on horseacG( and she *ot a,, the inte,,i*ence she
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cou,d from the couriers( $ithout ein* sus)ected"
She asGed if the' had not met a fat ae( an enor4
mous ai,i and a 'oun* oo'( *a,,o)in*4 as fast as
the' cou,d to Paris" &a%in* ,earned( on the third
The &uron" ;@
da'( that the' $ere not far ehind( she tooG uite a
dierent road( and $as sGi,fu, and ,ucG' enou*h to
arri%e at Versai,,es( $hi,e the' $ere in a fruit,ess
)ursuit after her at Paris" !ut ho$ $as she to e4
ha%e at Versai,,es 3oun*( handsome( untutored( un4
su))orted( unGno$n( e?)osed to e%er' dan*er( ho$
cou,d she dare *o in search of one of the Gin*+s
*uards She had some thou*hts of a)),'in* to a
/esuit of ,o$ ranG( for there $ere some for e%er'
station of ,ife( as od( the' sa'( has *i%en dierent
a,iments to e%er' s)ecies of anima,s" &e had *i%en
the Gin* his confessor( $ho $as ca,,ed( ' a,, so,ici4
tors of eneces( the head of the a,,ican Church"
Then came the )rinces+ confessors" The ministers
had none( the' $ere not such du)es" There $ere
/esuits for the *entee, mo( and )articu,ar,' those
for chamermaids( ' $hom $ere Gno$n the secrets
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of their mistresses 7 and this $as no sma,, %ocation"
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es addressed herse,f to
one of these ,ast( $ho $as ca,,ed Father Tout4a4tous
a,, to e%er' one" She confessed to him( set forth
her ad%enture( her situation( her dan*er( and con4
Hured him to *et her a ,od*in* $ith some *ood de%4
otee( $ho mi*ht she,ter her from tem)tation"
Father Tout4a4tous introduced her to the $ife of
the cu)earer( one of his most trust' )enitents"
From the moment 1iss St" 3%es ecame her ,od*er(
she did her utmost to otain the condence and
friendshi) of this )enitent" She *ained inte,,i*ence
of the !reton *uard( and in%ited him to %isit her"
;@M The &uron"
&a%in* ,earned from him that her ,o%er had een
carried o after ha%in* had a conference $ith one of
the c,erGs( she Qe$ to this c,erG" The si*ht of a ne
$oman softened him( for it must e a,,o$ed od
created $oman on,' to tame manGind"
The scrie( thus mo,,ied( acGno$,ed*ed to her
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e%er'thin*"
#3our ,o%er has een in the !asti,,e a,most a 'ear(
and $ithout 'our intercession he $ou,d( )erha)s(
ha%e ended his da's there"#
The tender 1iss St" 3%es s$ooned at this inte,,i4
*ence" When she had reco%ered herse,f her in4
former to,d her .
#I ha%e no )o$er to do *ood 7 a,, m' inQuence e?4
tends to doin* harm" TaGe m' ad%ice( $ait u)on
1" de St" Pouan*e( $ho has the )o$er of doin* oth
*ood and i,,7 he is 1" de Lou%ois+ cousin and fa4
%orite" This minister has t$o sou,s 7 the one is 1"
de St" Pouan*e( and 1ademoise,,e de !e,,e is the
other( ut she is at )resent asent from Versai,,es 7
so that 'ou ha%e nothin* to do ut ca)ti%ate the )ro4
tector I ha%e )ointed out to 'ou"#
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( di%ided et$een
some triQin* Ho' and e?cessi%e *rief( et$een a
*,immerin* of ho)e and dreadfu, a))rehensions
)ursued ' her rother( ido,i2in* her ,o%er( $i)in*
her tears( $hich Qo$ed in torrents 7 trem,in* and
fee,e( 'et summonin* a,, her coura*e in this situa4
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tion( she Qe$ on the $in*s of ,o%e to 1" de St"
Pouan*e+s"
The &uron" ;@<
C&APTER :IV"
RAPID PRORESS OF T&E &0RON+S INTELLECT"
The in*enuous 'outh $as maGin* a ra)id )ro*4
ress in the sciences( and )articu,ar,' in the science of
man" The cause of this sudden disc,osure of his un4
derstandin* $as as much o$in* to his sa%a*e edu4
cation as to the dis)osition of his sou, 7 for( ha%in*
,earned nothin* in his infanc'( he had not imied
an' )reHudices" &is mind( not ha%in* een $ar)ed
' error( had retained a,, its )rimiti%e rectitude"
&e sa$ thin*s as the' $ere 7 $hereas the ideas that
are communicated to us# in our infanc' maGe us see
them a,, our ,ife in a fa,se ,i*ht"
#3our )ersecutors are %er' aomina,e $retches(#
said he to his friend ordon" #I )it' 'ou for ein*
o))ressed( ut I condemn 'ou for ein* a /ansenist"
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A,, that this i*norant 'outh( instructed on,' '
nature( said( made a %er' dee) im)ression u)on the
mind of the o,d unha))' scho,iast"
#Is it rea,,' certain(# he cried( #that I shou,d ha%e
made m'se,f tru,' misera,e for mere chimeras I
am much more certain of m' miser' than of eectua,
*race" I ha%e s)ent m' time in reasonin* aout the
,iert' of od and human nature( ut I ha%e ,ost m'
o$n" Neither St" Au*ustine nor St" Prosner $i,,
e?tricate me from m' )resent misfortunes"#
The in*enuous &uron( $ho *a%e $a' to his nat4
ura, instincts( at ,en*th said.
#Wi,, 'ou *i%e me ,ea%e to s)eaG to 'ou o,d,'
and franG,' Those $ho rin* u)on themse,%es
)ersecution for such id,e dis)utes seem to me to
ha%e %er' ,itt,e sense7 those $ho )ersecute a))ear
to me %er' monsters"#
The t$o ca)ti%es entire,' coincided $ith res)ect
to the inHustice of their ca)ti%it'"
#I am a hundred times more to e )itied than
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'ou(# said the &uron 7 #I am orn free as the air 7
I had t$o ,i%es( ,iert' and the oHect of m' ,o%e7
and I am de)ri%ed of oth" We are oth in fetters(
$ithout Gno$in* $ho )ut them on us( or $ithout
ein* a,e to inuire" It is said that the &urons are
The &uron" ;;
ararians( ecause the' a%en*e themse,%es on their
enemies 7 ut the' ne%er o))ress their friends" I
had scarce set foot in France efore I shed m' ,ood
for this countr'" I ha%e( )erha)s( )reser%ed a $ho,e
)ro%ince( and m' recom)ense is im)risonment" In
this countr' men are condemned $ithout ein*
heard" This is not the case in En*,and" A,as it
$as not a*ainst the En*,ish that I shou,d ha%e
fou*ht"#
Thus his *ro$in* )hi,oso)h' cou,d not rooG na4
ture ein* insu,ted in the rst of her ri*hts( and he
*a%e %ent to his Hust indi*nation"
&is com)anion did not contradict him" Asence
e%er increases un*ratied ,o%e( and )hi,oso)h' does
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not diminish it" &e as freuent,' s)oGe of his dear
1iss St" 3%es as he did of mora,it' or meta)h'sics"
The more he )uried his sentiments( the more he
,o%ed" &e read some ne$ romances7 ut he met
$ith fe$ that de)icted to him the rea, state of his
sou," &e fe,t that his heart stretched e'ond the
ounds of his author"
#A,as# said he( #a,most a,, these $riters ha%e
nothin* ut $it and art"#
At ,en*th the *ood /ansenist )riest ecame insen4
si,' the condant of his tenderness" &e $as a,4
read' acuainted $ith ,o%e as a sin $ith $hich a
)enitent accuses himse,f at confession" &e no$
,earned to Gno$ it as a sentiment eua,,' no,e and
tender( $hich can e,e%ate the sou, as $e,, as soften
it( and can at times )roduce %irtues" In ne( for the
,ast mirac,e( a &uron con%erted a /ansenist"
;@ The &uron"
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C&APTER :V"
T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES VISITS 1" DE ST"
PO0ANE"
The charmin* 1iss St" 3%es( sti,, more aYicted
than her ,o%er( $aited accordin*,' u)on 1" de St"
Pouan*e( accom)anied ' her friend $ith $hom she
,od*ed( each ha%in* their faces co%ered $ith their
hoods" The rst thin* she sa$ at the door $as the
Ae St" 3%es( her rother( comin* out" She $as
terried( ut her friend su))orted her s)irits"
#For the %er' reason(# said she( #that )eo),e ha%e
een s)eaGin* a*ainst 'ou( s)eaG to him for 'ourse,f"
3ou ma' e assured that the accusers in this )art
of the $or,d are a,$a's in the ri*ht( un,ess the' are
immediate,' detected" !esides( un,ess I am much
mistaGen( 'our )resence $i,, ha%e *reater eect than
the $ords of 'our rother"#
E%er so ,itt,e encoura*ement to a )assionate ,o%er
maGes her intre)id" 1iss St" 3%es a))eared at the
audience" &er 'outh( her charms( her ,an*uishin*
e'es( moistened $ith some in%o,untar' tears( at4
tracted e%er' one+s attention" E%er' s'co)hant to
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' sa'in*.
#Wou,d 'ou e,ie%e it( 1iss( that 'our rother
has een to reuest me to *rant him a ,ettre de cachet
a*ainst 'ou 7 ut( indeed( I $ou,d sooner *rant one
to send him acG to Lo$er !rittan'"#
#A,as sir(# said she( #,ettres de cachet are
*ranted %er' ,iera,,' in 'our oces( since )eo),e
come from the e?tremit' of the Gin*dom to so,icit
them ,iGe )ensions" I am %er' far from reuestin*
one a*ainst m' rother( 'et I ha%e much reason to
com),ain of him" !ut I res)ect the ,iert' of man4
Gind( and( therefore( su)),icate for that of a man
$hom I $ant to maGe m' husand7 of a man to
$hom the Gin* is indeted for the )reser%ation of a
)ro%ince7 $ho can enecia,,' ser%e him( and $ho
is the son of an ocer Gi,,ed in his ser%ice" Of $hat
is he accused &o$ cou,d he e treated so crue,,'
$ithout ein* heard#
; The &uron"
The de)ut' minister then sho$ed her the ,etter
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of the s)' /esuit and that of the )erdious ai,i"
#What# said she $ith astonishment( #are there
such monsters u)on earth and $ou,d the' force me
to marr' the stu)id son of a ridicu,ous( $icGed man
and is it u)on such e%idence that the fate of citi2ens
is determined#
She thre$ herse,f u)on her Gnees and $ith a Qood
of tears so,icited the freedom of a ra%e man $ho
adored her" &er charms a))eared to the *reatest
ad%anta*e in such a situation" She $as so eautifu,
that St" Pouan*e( ereft of a,, shame( used $ords
$ith some reser%e( $hich rou*ht on others ,ess de,i4
cate( $hich $ere succeeded ' those sti,, more e?4
)ressi%e" The re%ocation of the ,ettre de cachet $as
)ro)osed( and he at ,en*th $ent so far as to state
the on,' means of otainin* the ,iert' of the man
$hose interest she had so %io,ent,' and aectionate,'
at heart"
This uncommon con%ersation continued for a
,on* time" The de%otee in the anti4chamer( in read4
in* her #Christian Peda*o*ue(# said to herse,f.
#1' ,ord St" Pouan*e ne%er efore *a%e so ,on*
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an audience" Perha)s he has refused e%er'thin* to
this )oor *ir, and she is sti,, entreatin* him"#
At ,en*th her com)anion came out of the c,oset
in the *reatest confusion( $ithout ein* a,e to
s)eaG" She $as ,ost in dee) meditation u)on the
character of the *reat and the ha,f4*reat( $ho so
The &uron" ;B
s,i*ht,' sacrice the ,iert' of men and the honor of
$omen"
She did not utter a $ord a,, the $a' acG" !ut
ha%in* returned to her friend+s( she urst out +and
to,d a,, that had ha))ened" &er )ious friend made
freuent si*ns of the cross"
#1' dear friend(# said she( #'ou must consu,t to4
morro$ Father Tout4a4tous( our director" &e has
much inQuence o%er 1" de St" Pouan*e" &e is con4
fessor of man' of the fema,e ser%ants of the house"
&e is a )ious( accommodatin* man( $ho has a,so the
direction of some $omen of fashion" 3ie,d to him 7
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this is m' $a'( and I a,$a's found m'se,f ri*ht"
We $eaG $omen stand in need of a man to ,ead us .
and so( m' dear friend( I+,, *o to4morro$ in search
of Father Tout4a4tous"#
C&APTER :VI"
1ISS ST" 3VES CONS0LTS A /ES0IT"
No sooner $as the eautifu, and disconso,ate
1iss St" 3%es $ith her ho,' confessor than she to,d
him that #a )o$erfu,( %o,u)tuous man had )ro)osed
to her to set at ,iert' the man $hom she intended
maGin* her ,a$fu, husand( and that he reuired a
*reat )rice for his ser%ice7 that she he,d such in4
de,it' in the hi*hest detestation( and that if her
,ife on,' had een reuired she $ou,d much sooner
ha%e sacriced it than to ha%e sumitted"#
;> The &uron"
#This is a most aomina,e sinner(# said Father
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Tout4a4tous" #3ou shou,d te,, me the name of this
%i,e man" &e must certain,' e some /ansenist" I
$i,, inform a*ainst him to his re%erence( Father de
,a Chaise( $ho $i,, ),ace him in the situation of 'our
dear e,o%ed intended ride*room"#
The )oor *ir,( after much hesitation and emar4
rassment( at ,en*th mentioned St" Pouan*e"
#1' ,ord St" Pouan*e # cried the /esuit( #ah m'
chi,d( the case is uite dierent" &e is cousin to the
*reatest minister $e ha%e e%er had 7 a man of $orth(
a )rotector of the *ood cause( a *ood Christian" &e
cou,d not entertain such a thou*ht" 3ou certain,'
must ha%e misunderstood him"#
#Oh father( I did ut understand him too $e,,"
I am ,ost on $hiche%er side I turn" The on,' a,ter4
nati%e I ha%e to choose is miser' or shame7 either
m' ,o%er must e uried a,i%e( or I must maGe m'4
se,f un$orth' of ,i%in*" I cannot ,et him )erish( nor
can I sa%e him"#
Father Tout4a4tous endea%ored to conso,e her
$ith these *ent,e e?)ressions .
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#In the rst ),ace( m' chi,d( ne%er use the $ord
+,o%er"+ It intimates somethin* $or,d,'( $hich ma'
oend od" Sa' +m' husand"+ 3ou consider him
as such( and nothin* can e more decent"
#Second,' . Thou*h he e idea,,' 'our husand(
and 'ou are in ho)es he $i,, e such e%entua,,'( 'et
he is not so in rea,it'7 conseuent,' 'ou are sti,,
free and the mistress of 'our o$n conduct"
The &uron" ;
#Third,'. Actions are not ma,icious,' cu,)a,e
$hen the intention is %irtuous 7 and nothin* can e
more %irtuous than to )rocure 'our husand his
,iert'"
#Fourth,' . 3ou ha%e e?am),es in ho,' antiuit'
that miracu,ous,' ser%e 'ou for a *uide" St" Au4
*ustine re,ates that under the )roconsu,ate of Se)4
timius Ac'ndius( in the thirt'4fourth 'ear of our sa,4
%ation( a )oor man cou,d not )a' unto Caesar $hat
e,on*ed to Caesar( and $as Hust,' condemned to die(
not$ithstandin* the ma?im( +Where there is nothin*
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the Gin* must ,ose his ri*ht"+ The oHect in uestion
$as a )ound of *o,d" The cu,)rit had a $ife in
$hom od had united eaut' and )rudence"
#3ou ma' assure 'ourse,f( m' chi,d( that $hen a
/esuit uotes St" Au*ustine( that saint must certain,'
ha%e een in the ri*ht" I ad%ise 'ou to nothin*"
3ou are )rudent( and it is to e )resumed that 'ou
$i,, do 'our husand a ser%ice" 1' ,ord St" Pou4
an*e is an honest man" &e $i,, not decei%e 'ou"
This is a,, I can sa'" I $i,, )ra' to od for 'ou( and
I ho)e e%er'thin* $i,, taGe ),ace for &is *,or'"#
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ho $as no ,ess
terried $ith the /esuit+s discourse than $ith the
)ro)osa,s of the de)ut' minister( returned in des)air
to her friend" She $as tem)ted to de,i%er herse,f '
death from the horror of her situation"
;M The &uron"
C&APTER :VII"
T&E /ES0IT TRI01P&S"
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The unfortunate 1iss St" 3%es entreated her
friend to Gi,, her 7 ut this ,ad'( $ho $as fu,,' as in4
du,*ent as the /esuit( s)oGe to her sti,, more c,ear,'"
#A,as# said she( #at this a*reea,e( *a,,ant and
famous court( usiness is a,$a's thus transacted"
The most considera,e( as $e,, as the most indif4
ferent ),aces are se,dom *i%en a$a' $ithout a con4
sideration" The di*nities of $ar are so,icited ' the
ueen of ,o%e( and( $ithout re*ard to merit( a ),ace
is often *i%en to him $ho has the handsomest ad4
%ocate"
#3ou are in a situation that is e?treme,' critica,"
The oHect is to restore 'our ,o%er to ,iert' and to
marr' him" It is a sacred dut' that 'ou are to fu,,"
The $or,d $i,, a)),aud 'ou" It $i,, e said that 'ou
on,' a,,o$ed 'ourse,f to e *ui,t' of a $eaGness
throu*h an e?cess of %irtue"#
#&ea%ens # cried 1iss St" 3%es( #What Gind of
%irtue is this What a ,a'rinth of distress What
a $or,d What men to ecome acuainted $ith A
Father de ,a Chaise and a ridicu,ous ai,i im)rison
m' ,o%er 7 I am )ersecuted ' m' fami,' 7 assistance
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is oered me( on,' that I ma' e dishonored A
/esuit has ruined a ra%e man( another /esuit $ants
to ruin me" On e%er' side snares are ,aid for me(
and I am u)on the %er' rinG of destruction I must
The &uron" ;<
e%en s)eaG to the Gin*7 I $i,, thro$ m'se,f at his
feet as he *oes to mass or to the theatre"#
#&is attendants $i,, not ,et 'ou a))roach(# said
her *ood friend 7 #and if 'ou shou,d e so unfortu4
nate as to s)eaG to him( 1" de Loti%ois or the Re%er4
end Father de ,a Chaise mi*ht ur' 'ou in a con%ent
for the rest of 'our da's"#
Whi,e this *enerous friend thus increased the
)er),e?ities of 1iss St" 3%es+s tortured sou, and
),un*ed the da**er dee)er in her heart( a messen*er
arri%ed from 1" de St" Pouan*e $ith a ,etter and
t$o ne )endant earrin*s" 1iss St" 3%es( $ith
tears( refused to acce)t of an' )art of the contents of
the )acGet 7 ut her friend tooG the char*e of them
u)on herse,f"
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As soon as the messen*er had *one( the condante
read the ,etter( in $hich a )etit4sou)er a ,itt,e su)4
)er $as )ro)osed to the t$o friends for that ni*ht"
1iss St" 3%es )rotested she $ou,d not *o( $hi,e
her )ious friend endea%ored to maGe her tr' on the
diamond earrin*s 7 ut 1iss St" 3%es cou,d not en4
dure them and o))osed it a,, the da' ,on*( ein*
entire,' $ra))ed u) in the contem),ation of her
,o%er+s im)risonment" At ,en*th( after a ,on* re4
sistence . after si*hs( moans( and torrents of tears 7
dri%en ' e?citement a,most to the %er*e of in4
sanit'7 $eaGened $ith the conQict( o%er$he,med
and irreso,ute( the innocent %ictim( not Gno$in*
$hither she $as *oin*( $as dra**ed ' this artfu,
$oman to the fata, su))er of the #*ood Christian
and )rotector of the *ood cause(# 1" de St" Pouan*e"
;= The &uron"
C&APTER :VIII"
1ISS ST" 3VES DELIVERS &ER LOVER AND A /ANSENIST"
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At da'reaG she Qed to Paris $ith the minister+s
mandate" It $ou,d e dicu,t to de)ict the a*ita4
tion of her mind in this Hourne'" Ima*ine a %irtuous
and no,e sou,( hum,ed ' its o$n re)roaches( in4
to?icated $ith tenderness( distracted $ith the re4
morse of ha%in* etra'ed her ,o%er( and e,ated $ith
the ),easure of re,easin* the oHect of her adoration"
&er torments and conQicts ' turns en*a*ed her re4
Qections" She $as no ,on*er that innocent *ir,
$hose ideas $ere conned to a )ro%incia, education"
Lo%e and misfortunes had united to remou,d her"
Sentiment had made as ra)id a )ro*ress in her mind
as reason had in that of her ,o%er"
&er dress $as dictated ' the *reatest sim),icit'"
She %ie$ed $ith horror the tra))in*s $ith $hich
she had a))eared efore her fata, enefactor" &er
com)anion had taGen the earrin*s $ithout her
ha%in* ,ooGed at them" An?ious and confused( ido,4
i2in* the &uron and detestin* herse,f( she at ,en*th
arri%ed at the *ate of that dreadfu, cast,e the
)a,ace of %en*eance $here crimes and innocence
are a,iGe immured"
When she $as u)on the )oint of *ettin* out of
the coach her stren*th fai,ed her" Some )eo),e came
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to her assistance" She entered( $hi,e her heart $as
in the *reatest )a,)itation( her e'es streamin*( and
The &uron" ;;
her $ho,e frame es)oGe the *reatest consternation"
She $as )resented to the *o%ernor" 1e $as *oin* to
s)eaG to her( ut she had ,ost a,, )o$er of e?)res4
sion. she sho$ed her order( $hi,e $ith *reat di4
cu,t' she articu,ated some accents" The *o%ernor
entertained a *reat esteem for his )risoner( and he
$as *reat,' ),eased at his ein* re,eased" &is heart
$as not ca,,ous( ,iGe those of most of his rethren(
$ho thinG of nothin* ut the fees their ca)ti%es are
to )a' them 7 e?tort their re%enues from their %ic4
tims7 and ,i%in* ' the miser' of others( concei%e
a horrid Ho' at the ,amentations of the unfortunate"
&e sent for the )risoner to come to his a)artment"
The t$o ,o%ers s$ooned at the si*ht of each other"
The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es remained for a ,on*
time motion,ess( $ithout an' s'm)toms of ,ife7 the
other soon reca,,ed his fortitude"
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#This ,ad'(# said the *o%ernor( #is )roa,' 'our
$ife" 3ou did not te,, me 'ou $ere married" I am
informed that it is throu*h her *enerous so,icitude
that 'ou ha%e otained 'our ,iert'"#
#A,as # said the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( in a fa,4
terin* %oice( #I am not $orth' of ein* his $ife 7#
and s$ooned a*ain"
When she reco%ered her senses( she )resented(
$ith a trem,in* hand and a%erted e'es( the *rant
and $ritten )romise of a com)an'"
The &uron( eua,,' astonished and aected(
a$oGe from one dream to fa,, into another"
#Wh' $as I shut u) here &o$ cou,d 'ou de4
;@ The &uron"
,i%er me Where are the monsters that immured
me 3ou are a di%init' sent from hea%en to succor
me"#
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The eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es( $ith a deHected air(
,ooGed at her ,o%er( ,ushed( and instant,' turned
a$a' her streamin* e'es" In a $ord( the' to,d him
a,, she Gne$( and a,, she had under*one( e?ce)t $hat
she $as $i,,in* to concea, fore%er( ut $hich an'
other than the &uron( more accustomed to the $or,d
and etter acuainted $ith the customs of courts(
$ou,d easi,' ha%e *uessed"
#Is it )ossi,e(# said he( #that a $retch ,iGe the
ai,i can ha%e de)ri%ed me of m' ,iert'
#A,as I nd that men( ,iGe the %i,est of anima,s(
can a,, inHure"
#!ut is it )ossi,e that a monG( a /esuit( the Gin*+s
confessor( shou,d ha%e contriuted to m' misfor4
tunes as much as the ai,i( $ithout m' ein* a,e
to ima*ine under $hat )retence this detesta,e Gna%e
has )ersecuted me Did he maGe me )ass for a /an4
senist In ne( ho$ came 'ou to rememer me I
did not deser%e it 7 I $as then on,' a sa%a*e"
#What cou,d 'ou( $ithout ad%ice( $ithout as4
sistance( undertaGe a Hourne' to Versai,,es
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#3ou there a))eared and m' fetters $ere roGen
#There must then e in eaut' and %irtue an in4
%inci,e charm that o)ens *ates of adamant and
softens hearts of stee,"#
At the $ord #%irtue# a Qood of tears issued from
The &uron" ;
the e'es of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es" She did not
Gno$ ho$ far she had een %irtuous in the crime
$ith $hich she re)roached herse,f"
&er ,o%er thus continued .
#Thou an*e,( $ho hast roGen m' chains( if thou
hast had sucient inQuence $hich I cannot 'et
com)rehend to otain Hustice for me( otain it ,iGe4
$ise for an o,d man $ho rst tau*ht me to thinG( as
thou didst to ,o%e" 1isfortunes ha%e united us7 I
,o%e him as a father 7 I can neither ,i%e $ithout thee
nor him"#
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#I so,icit#
#The same man"#
#Who#
#3es( I $i,, e eho,den to 'ou for e%er'thin*(
and I $i,, o$e nothin* to an' one ut 'ourse,f"
Write to this man in )o$er" O%er$he,m me $ith
Gindness com),ete $hat 'ou ha%e e*un )erfect
'our mirac,e"#
She $as sensi,e she ou*ht to do e%er'thin* her
,o%er desired" She $anted to $rite( ut her hand
refused its oce" She e*an her ,etter three times(
and tore it as often" At ,en*th she *ot to the end(
and the t$o ,o%ers ,eft the )rison( after ha%in* em4
raced the o,d mart'r to ecacious *race"
The ha))' 'et disconso,ate 1iss 3%es Gne$
$here her rother ,od*ed 7 thither she re)aired( and
her ,o%er tooG an a)artment at the same house"
The' had scarce,' reached their ,od*in* efore
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; The &uron"
her )rotector sent the order for re,easin* the *ood
o,d ordon( at the same time maGin* an a))ointment
$ith her for the ne?t da'"
She *a%e the order of re,ease to her ,o%er( and
refused the a))ointment of a enefactor $hom she
cou,d no more see $ithout e?)irin* $ith shame and
*rief"
&er ,o%er $ou,d not ha%e ,eft her u)on an' other
errand than to re,ease his friend" &e Qe$ to the
),ace of his connement and fu,,,ed this dut'( re4
Qectin*( mean$hi,e( u)on the stran*e %icissitudes of
this $or,d( and admirin* the coura*eous %irtue of a
'oun* ,ad'( to $hom t$o unfortunate men o$ed
more than ,ife"
C&APTER :I:"
T&E &0RON( T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES( AND
T&EIR RELATIONS( ARE CONVENED"
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The *enerous and res)ecta,e( ut inHured( *ir,
$as $ith her rother( the Ae de St" 3%es( the *ood
)rior of the mountain( and Lad' de KerGaon"
The' $ere eua,,' astonished( ut their situations
and sentiments $ere %er' dierent" The Ae de
St" 3%es $as e?)iatin* the $ron*s he had done his
sister at her feet( and she )ardoned him" The )rior
and his s'm)athi2in* sister ,iGe$ise $e)t( ut it $as
for Ho'" The ,th' ai,i and his insu))orta,e son
did not trou,e this aectin* scene" The' had set
out u)on the rst re)ort that their anta*onist had
The &uron" ;B
een re,eased" The' Qe$ to ur' in their o$n )ro%4
ince their fo,,' and fear"
The four dramatis )ersona( %arious,' a*itated(
$ere $aitin* for the return of the 'oun* man $ho
had *one to de,i%er his friend" The Ae de St"
3%es did not dare to raise his e'es to meet those of
his sister" The *ood KerGaon said .
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#I sha,, then see once more m' dear ne)he$"#
#3ou $i,, see him a*ain(# said the charmin* 1iss
St" 3%es( #ut he is no ,on*er the same man" &is
eha%ior( his manners( his ideas( his sense( ha%e a,,
under*one a com),ete mutation" &e has ecome as
res)ecta,e as he $as efore i*norant and stran*e
to e%er'thin*" &e $i,, e the honor and conso,ation
of 'our fami,' 7 $ou,d to hea%en that I mi*ht a,so
e the honor of mine #
#What( are 'ou not the same as 'ou $ere# said
the )rior" #What( then( has ha))ened to $orG so
*reat a chan*e #
Durin* this con%ersation the &uron returned in
com)an' $ith the /ansenist" The scene $as no$
chan*ed( and ecame more interestin*" It e*an '
the unc,e and aunt+s tender emraces" The Ae de
St" 3%es a,most Gissed the Gnees of the in*enuous
&uron( $ho( ' the '( $as no ,on*er in*enuous"
The ,an*ua*e of the e'es formed a,, the discourse of
the t$o ,o%ers( $ho( ne%erthe,ess( e?)ressed e%er'
sentiment $ith $hich the' $ere )enetrated" Satis4
faction and acGno$,ed*ment s)arG,ed in the coun4
tenance of the one( $hi,e emarrassment $as de4
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Vo," ;=
;> The &uron"
)icted in 1iss St" 3%es+s me,tin*( ut ha,f a%erted(
e'es" E%er' one $as astonished that she shou,d
min*,e *rief $ith so much Ho'"
The %enera,e ordon soon endeared himse,f to
the $ho,e fami,'" &e had een unha))' $ith the
'oun* )risoner( and this $as a sucient tit,e to their
esteem" &e o$ed his de,i%erance to the t$o ,o%ers(
and this a,one reconci,ed him to ,o%e" The acrimon'
of his former sentiments $as dismissed from his
heart he $as con%erted ' *ratitude( as $e,, as
the &uron" E%er' one re,ated his ad%entures efore
su))er" The t$o aes and the aunt ,istened ,iGe
chi,dren to the re,ation of stories of *hosts( and oth
$ere dee),' interested"
#A,as # said ordon( #there are )erha)s u)$ard
of %e hundred %irtuous )eo),e in the same fetters as
1iss St" 3%es has roGen" Their misfortunes are
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unheeded" 1an' hands are found to striGe the un4
ha))' mu,titude( ho$ se,dom one to succor them"#
This %er' Hust reQection increased his sensii,it'
and *ratitude" E%er'thin* hei*htened the trium)h
of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es" The *randeur and
intre)idit' of her sou, $ere the suHect of each one+s
admiration" This admiration $as ,ended $ith that
res)ect $hich $e fee, in s)ite of ourse,%es for a )er4
son $ho $e thinG has some inQuence at court" !ut
the Ae de St" 3%es inuired .
#What cou,d m' sister do to otain this inQuence
so soon #
Su))er ein* read'( e%er' one $as a,read' seated(
The &uron" ;
$hen ,o the $orth' condante of Versai,,es arri%ed
$ithout ein* acuainted $ith an'thin* that had
)assed" She $as in a coach and si?( and it $as easi,'
seen to $hom the eui)a*e e,on*ed" She entered
$ith that air of authorit' assumed ' )eo),e in )o$er
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$ho ha%e a *reat dea, of usiness( sa,uted the com4
)an' $ith much indierence( and( )u,,in* the eauti4
fu, 1iss St" 3%es on one side( said .
#Wh' do 'ou maGe )eo),e $ait so ,on* Fo,,o$
me" There are the diamonds 'ou for*ot"#
&o$e%er soft,' she uttered these e?)ressions( the
&uron( ne%erthe,ess( o%erheard them" &e sa$ the
diamonds" The rother $as s)eech,ess" The unc,e
and aunt e?hiited the sur)rise of *ood )eo),e( $ho
had ne%er efore ehe,d such ma*nicence" The
'oun* man( $hose mind $as no$ formed ' an e?4
)erience of t$e,%e months( cou,d not he,) maGin*
some reQections a*ainst his $i,,( and $as for a mo4
ment in an?iet'" &is mistress )ercei%ed it( and a
morta, )a,eness s)read o%er her countenance7 a
tremor sei2ed her( and it $as $ith dicu,t' she
cou,d su))ort herse,f"
#Ah madam(# said she to her fata, friend( #'ou
ha%e ruined me 'ou ha%e *i%en me the morta,
,o$"#
These $ords )ierced the heart of the &uron 7 ut
he had a,read' ,earned to )ossess himse,f" &e did
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not d$e,, u)on them( ,est he shou,d maGe his mis4
tress uneas' efore her rother( ut turned )a,e as
$e,, as she"
;M The &uron"
1iss St" 3%es( distracted $ith the chan*e she )er4
cei%ed in her ,o%er+s countenance( )u,,ed the $oman
out of the room into the )assa*e( and thre$ the
He$e,s at her feet( sa'in* .
#A,as these $ere not m' seducers( as 'ou $e,,
Gno$ 7 ut he $ho *a%e them sha,, ne%er set e'es on
me a*ain"#
&er friend tooG them u)( $hi,e 1iss St" 3%es
added .
#&e ma' either taGe them a*ain( or *i%e them to
'ou" !e*one( and do not maGe me sti,, more odious
to m'se,f"#
The amassadress at ,en*th de)arted( not ein*
a,e to com)rehend the remorse to $hich she had
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senism and 1o,inism( of those )ersecutions $ith
$hich one )art' ham)ered the other( and of the
ostinac' of oth" The &uron entered into a criti4
cism thereu)on( )it'in* those men $ho( not satis4
ed $ith the confusion occasioned ' these o))o4
site interests( create e%i,s ' ima*inar' interests and
uninte,,i*i,e asurdities" ordon re,ated the other
Hud*ed" The *uests ,istened $ith emotion( and
*ained ne$ ,i*hts" The duration of misfortunes and
the shortness of ,ife then ecame the to)ics" It $as
remarGed that a,, )rofessions ha%e )ecu,iar %ices and
dan*ers anne?ed to them 7 and that from the )rince
do$n to the ,o$est e**ar( a,, seemed a,iGe to accuse
Pro%idence" &o$ ha))ens it that so man' men( for
so ,itt,e( )erform the oce of )ersecutors( ser*eants(
and e?ecutioners to others With $hat inhuman
indierence does a man in authorit' si*n )a)ers for
the destruction of a fami,' 7 and $ith $hat Ho'( sti,,
more ararous( do mercenaries e?ecute them"
#I sa$ in m' 'outh(# said the *ood o,d ordon(
#a re,ation of the 1arsha, de 1ari,,ic( $ho( ein*
)rosecuted in his o$n )ro%ince on account of that
i,,ustrious ut unfortunate man( concea,ed himse,f
under a orro$ed name in Paris" &e $as an o,d
man near,' se%ent'4t$o 'ears of a*e" &is $ife( $ho
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accom)anied him( $as near,' of the same a*e" The'
;B= The &uron"
had a ,iertine son( $ho( at fourteen 'ears of a*e(
asconded from his father+s house( turned so,dier(
and deserted" &e had *one throu*h e%er' *radation
of deaucher' and miser' 7 at ,en*th( ha%in* chan*ed
his name( he $as in the *uards of Cardina, Riche,ieu
for this )riest( as $e,, as 1a2arin( had *uards and
had otained an e?em)t+s sta in their com)an' of
ser*eants"
#This ad%enturer $as a))ointed to arrest the o,d
man and his $ife( and acuitted himse,f $ith a,, the
odurac' of a man $ho $as $i,,in* to ),ease his
master" As he $as conductin* them( he heard these
t$o %ictims de),ore the ,on* succession of miseries
$hich had efa,,en them from their crad,e" This
a*ed cou),e recGoned as one of their *reatest mis4
fortunes the $i,dness and ,oss of their son" &e
reco,,ected them( ut he ne%erthe,ess ,ed them to
)rison( assurin* them that his re%erence $as to e
ser%ed in )reference to e%er'od' e,se" &is emi4
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nence re$arded his 2ea,"
#I ha%e seen a s)' of Father de ,a Chaise etra'
his o$n rother( in ho)e of a ,itt,e enece( $hich he
did not otain 7 and I sa$ him die( not of remorse( ut
of *rief at ha%in* een cheated ' the /esuit"
#The %ocation of a confessor( $hich I for a ,on*
$hi,e e?ercised( made me acuainted $ith the secrets
of fami,ies" I ha%e Gno$n %er' fe$ $ho( thou*h
immersed in the *reatest distress( did not e?terna,,'
$ear the masG of fe,icit' and e%er' a))earance of
The &uron" ;B;
Ho' 7 and I ha%e a,$a's oser%ed that *reat *rief $as
the fruit of our unconstrained desires"#
#For m' )art(# said the &uron( #I ima*ine that
a no,e( *ratefu,( sensi,e man ma' a,$a's e ha))' 7
and I ho)e to enHo' an unchecGered fe,icit' $ith the
charmin*( *enerous 1iss St" 3%es" For I Qatter
m'se,f(# added he( in addressin* himse,f to her
rother( $ith a friend,' smi,e( #that 'ou $i,, not no$
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refuse me as 'ou did ,ast 'ear 7 esides( I sha,, )ursue
a more decent method"#
The ae $as confounded in a)o,o*ies for the
)ast( and in )rotestin* an eterna, attachment"
0nc,e KerGaon said this $ou,d e the most *,o4
rious da' of his $ho,e ,ife" &is *ood Aunt KerGa4
on( in ecstasies of Ho'( cried out.
#I ha%e a,$a's said 'ou $ou,d ne%er e a su4
deacon" This sacrament is )refera,e to the other7
$ou,d to od I had een honored $ith it ut I $i,,
ser%e 'ou for a mother"#
And no$ a,, %ied $ith each other in a)),audin*
the *ent,e 1iss St" 3%es"
&er ,o%er+s heart $as too fu,, of $hat she had
done for him( and he ,o%ed her too much( for the
aair of the He$e,s to maGe an' )ermanent im)res4
sion on him" !ut those $ords( $hich he too $e,,
heard( #'ou ha%e *i%en me the morta, ,o$(# sti,,
secret,' terried him( and interru)ted a,, his Ho'7
$hi,e the eu,o*iums )aid his eautifu, mistress sti,,
increased his ,o%e" In a $ord( nothin* $as thou*ht
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;B@ The &uron"
of ut her( nothin* $as mentioned ut the ha))iness
those t$o ,o%ers deser%ed" A ),an $as a*itated to
,i%e a,to*ether at Paris( and schemes of *randeur and
fortune $ere formed" Those ho)es $hich the sma,,4
est ra' of ha))iness en*enders $ere )redominant"
!ut the &uron fe,t( in the secret recesses of his heart(
a sentiment that e?),oded the i,,usion" &e read o%er
the )romises si*ned ' St" Pouan*e( and the com4
mission si*ned Lou%ois" These men $ere )ainted
to him such as the' $ere( or such as the' $ere
thou*ht to e" E%er' one s)oGe of the ministers arid
administration $ith the freedom of con%i%ia, con4
%ersation( $hich is considered in France as the most
)recious ,iert' to e otained on earth"
#If I $ere Gin* of France(# said the &uron( #this
is the Gind of minister that I $ou,d choose for the
$ar de)artment" I $ou,d ha%e a man of the hi*hest
irth( as he is to *i%e orders to the noi,it'" I $ou,d
reuire that he shou,d himse,f ha%e een an ocer(
and ha%e )assed throu*h the %arious *radations( or(
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at ,east( that he had attained the ranG of ,ieutenant4
*enera, and $as $orth' of ein* a marsha, of
France" For( to e acuainted $ith the detai,s of the
ser%ice( is it not necessar' that he himse,f shou,d
ha%e ser%ed and $i,, not ocers oe'( $ith a hun4
dred times more a,acrit'( a mi,itar' man $ho( ,iGe
themse,%es( has een si*na,i2ed ' his coura*e( rather
than a mere man of the cainet $ho( $hate%er natura,
ai,it' he ma' )ossess( can( at most( on,' *uess at
the o)erations of a cam)ai*n I shou,d not e dis4
The &uron" ;B
),eased at m' minister+s *enerosit'( e%en thou*h it
mi*ht sometimes emarrass a ,itt,e the Gee)er of the
ro'a, treasure" I shou,d desire him to ha%e a faci,it'
in usiness( and that he shou,d distin*uish himse,f
' that Gind of *a'et' of mind $hich is the ,ot of
men su)erior to usiness( $hich is so a*reea,e to the
nation( and $hich renders the )erformance of e%er'
dut' ,ess irGsome"#
This is the character he $ou,d ha%e chosen for a
minister( as he had constant,' oser%ed that such an
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amia,e dis)osition is incom)ati,e $ith crue,t'"
1" de Lou%ois $ou,d not( )erha)s( ha%e een
satised $ith the &uron+s $ishes" &is merit ,a' in a
dierent $a,G" !ut $hi,e the' $ere sti,, at ta,e(
the disorder of the unha))' 1iss St" 3%es tooG a
fata, turn" &er ,ood $as on re 7 the s'm)toms of
a ma,i*nant fe%er had a))eared" She suered( ut
did not com),ain( ein* un$i,,in* to distur the
),easure of the *uests"
&er rother( thinGin* that she $as not as,ee)(
$ent to the foot of her ed" &e $as astonished at
the condition he found her in" E%er'od' Qe$ to
her" &er ,o%er a))eared ne?t to her rother" &e
$as certain,' the most a,armed( and the most aected
of an' one 7 ut he had ,earned to unite discretion to
a,, the ha))' *ifts nature had esto$ed u)on him(
and a uicG sensii,it' of decorum e*an to )re%ai,
o%er him"
A nei*horin* )h'sician $as immediate,' sent for"
&e $as one of those itinerant doctors $ho confound
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;B The &uron"
the ,ast disorder the' $ere consu,ted u)on $ith the
)resent 7 $ho fo,,o$ a ,ind )ractice in a science from
$hich the most mature in%esti*ations and carefu,
oser%ations do not )rec,ude uncertaint' and dan*er"
&e *reat,' increased the disorder ' )rescriin* a
fashiona,e nostrum" Can fashion e?tend to medi4
cine This fren2' $as then too )re%a,ent in Paris"
The *rief of 1iss St" 3%es contriuted sti,, more
than her )h'sician to render her disorder fata," &er
od' suered mart'rdom in the torments of her
mind" The cro$d of thou*hts $hich a*itated her
reast communicated to her %eins a more dan*erous
)oison than that of the most urnin* fe%er"
C&APTER ::"
T&E DEAT& OF T&E !EA0TIF0L 1ISS ST" 3VES( AND
ITS CONSE80ENCES"
Another )h'sician $as ca,,ed in" !ut( instead of
assistin* nature and ,ea%in* it to act in a 'oun* )er4
son $hose or*ans reca,,ed the %ita, stream( he a)4
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se,dom maGe( did not )re%ent his fee,in* u)on this
occasion7 for he $as not of the numer of those
*,oom' )hi,oso)hers $ho )iue themse,%es u)on
ein* insensi,e"
&e $as aected at the fate of this 'oun* $oman(
,iGe a father $ho sees his dear chi,d 'ie,din* to a
s,o$ death" The Ae de St" 3%es $as des)erate 7
the )rior and his sister shed Qoods of tears 7 ut $ho
can descrie the situation of her ,o%er A,, e?)res4
sion fa,,s far short of the intensit' of his aYiction"
&is aunt( a,most ,ife,ess( su))orted the head of
the de)artin* fair in her fee,e arms7 her rother
$as u)on his Gnees at the foot of the ed 7 the ,o%er
suee2ed her hand( $hich he athed in tears7 his
*roans rent the air( $hi,e he ca,,ed her his *uardian
an*e,( his ,ife( his ho)e( his etter ha,f( his mistress(
his $ife" At the $ord #$ife(# a si*h esca)ed her(
$hi,e she ,ooGed u)on him $ith ine?)ressi,e ten4
;B> The &uron"
derness( and then aru)t,' *a%e a horrid scream"
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Present,' in one of those inter%a,s $hen *rief( the
o))ression of the senses( and )ain suside and ,ea%e
the sou, its ,iert' and )o$ers( she cried out .
#I 'our $ife Ah( dear ,o%er( this name( this
ha))iness( this fe,icit'( $ere not destined for me
I die( and I deser%e it" O ido, of m' heart O 'ou(
$hom I sacriced to inferna, demons it is done
I am )unished ,i%e and e ha))' #
These tender ut dreadfu, e?)ressions $ere in4
com)rehensi,e 7 'et the' me,ted and terried e%er'
heart" She had the coura*e to e?),ain herse,f( and
her auditors uaGed $ith astonishment( *rief( and
)it'" The' $ith one %oice detested the man in
)o$er( $ho re)aired a shocGin* act of inHustice on,'
' his crimes( and $ho had forced the most amia,e
innocence to e his accom),ice"
#Who 'ou *ui,t'# said her ,o%er( #no( 'ou are
not" ui,t can on,' e in the heart7 'ours is de4
%oted so,e,' to %irtue and to me"#
This o)inion he corroorated ' such e?)ressions
as seemed to reca,, the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es acG
to ,ife" She fe,t some conso,ation from them and
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$as astonished at ein* sti,, e,o%ed" The a*ed
ordon $ou,d ha%e condemned her at the time he
$as on,' a /ansenist7 ut ha%in* attained $isdom(
he esteemed her( and $e)t"
In the midst of these ,amentations and fears( $hi,e
the dan*erous situation of this $orth' *ir, en*rossed
The &uron" ;B
e%er' reast( and a,, $ere in the *reatest consterna4
tion( a courier arri%ed from court"
#A courier from $hom( and u)on $hat ac4
count#
&e $as sent ' the Gin*+s confessor to the )rior
of the mountain" It $as not Father de ,a Chaise
$ho $rote( ut !rother Vad,ed( his %a,et de cham4
re( a man of *reat conseuence at that time( $ho
acuainted the archisho)s $ith the re%erend father+s
),easure( $ho *a%e audiences( )romised eneces(
and sometimes issued ,ettres de cachet"
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&e $rote to the ae of the mountain #that his
re%erence had een informed of his ne)he$+s e?4
),oits 7 that his ein* sent to )rison $as throu*h
mistaGe7 that such ,itt,e accidents freuent,' ha)4
)ened( and shou,d therefore not e attended to 7 and(
in ne( it ehoo%ed him( the )rior( to come and )re4
sent his ne)he$ the ne?t da' 7 that he $as to rin*
$ith him that *ood man ordon7 and that he(
!rother Vad,ed( shou,d introduce them to his re%er4
ence and 1" de Lou%ois( $ho $ou,d sa' a $ord to
them in his ante4chamer"#
To $hich he added that #the histor' of the &uron(
and his comat a*ainst the En*,ish had een re,ated
to the Gin* 7 that dout,ess the Gin* $ou,d dei*n to
taGe notice of him in )assin* throu*h the *a,,er'( and
)erha)s he mi*ht e%en nod his head to him"#
The ,etter conc,uded ' Qatterin* him $ith ho)es
that a,, the ,adies of the court $ou,d sho$ their
;BM The &uron"
ea*erness to reco*ni2e his ne)he$( and that se%era,
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amon* them $ou,d sa' to him( #ood da'( 1r"
&uron 7# and that he $ou,d certain,' e ta,Ged of at
the Gin*+s su))er"
The ,etter $as si*ned( #3our aectionate rother
/esuit( Vad,ed"#
The )rior ha%in* read the ,etter a,oud( his furious
ne)he$ for an instant su))ressed his ra*e( and said
nothin* to the earer( ut turnin* to$ard the com4
)anion of his misfortunes( asGed him $hat he
thou*ht of that communication ordon re),ied .
#This( then( is the $a' that men are treated The'
are rst eaten and then( ,iGe monGe's( the' dance"#
The &uron resumin* his character( $hich a,$a's
returned in the *reat emotions of his sou,( tore the
,etter to its( and thre$ them in the courier+s face .
#There is m' ans$er(# said he"
&is unc,e $as in terror( and fancied he sa$ thun4
dero,ts and t$ent' ,ettres de cachet at once fa,,
u)on him" &e immediate,' $rote the est e?cuse he
cou,d for these trans)orts of )assion in a 'oun*
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man( $hich he considered as the eu,,ition of a *reat
sou,"
!ut a so,icitude of a more me,ancho,' stam) no$
sei2ed e%er' heart" The eautifu, and unfortunate
1iss St" 3%es $as a,read' sensi,e of her a))roach4
in* end7 she $as serene( ut it $as that Gind of
shocGin* serenit'( the resu,t of e?hausted nature e4
in* no ,on*er a,e to $ithstand the conQict"
#Oh( m' dear ,o%er# said she( in a fa,terin*
The &uron" ;B<
%oice( #death )unishes me for m' $eaGness7 ut I
e?)ire $ith the conso,ation of Gno$in* 'ou are free"
I adored 'ou $hi,e I etra'ed 'ou( and I adore 'ou
in iddin* 'ou an eterna, adieu"#
She did not maGe a )arade of a ridicu,ous forti4
tude7 she did not understand that misera,e *,or'
of ha%in* some of her nei*hors sa'( #she died $ith
coura*e"# Who( at t$ent'( can e at once torn from
her ,o%er( from ,ife( and $hat is ca,,ed honor( $ith4
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out re*ret( $ithout some )an*s She fe,t a,, the
horror of her situation( and made it fe,t ' those
e?)irin* ,ooGs and accents $hich s)eaG $ith so much
ener*'" In a $ord( she shed tears ,iGe other )eo),e
at those inter%a,s in $hich she $as ca)a,e of *i%in*
%ent to them"
Let others stri%e to ce,erate the )om)ous deaths
of those $ho insensi,' rush into destruction" This
is the ,ot of a,, anima,s" We die ,iGe them on,' $hen
a*e or disorders maGe us resem,e them ' the )a4
ra,'sis of our or*ans" Whoe%er suers a *reat ,oss
must fee, *reat re*rets" If the' are stiQed( it is
nothin* ut %anit' that is )ursued( e%en in the arms
of death"
When the fata, moment came( a,, around her most
fee,in*,' e?)ressed their *rief ' incessant tears
and ,amentations" The &uron $as sense,ess" reat
sou,s fee, more %io,ent sensations than those of ,ess
tender dis)ositions" The *ood o,d ordon Gne$
enou*h of his com)anion to dread that $hen he
came to himse,f he $ou,d e *ui,t' of suicide" A,,
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;>= The &uron"
Ginds of arms $ere )ut out of his $a'( $hich the
unfortunate 'oun* man )ercei%ed" &e said to his
re,ations and ordon( $ithout sheddin* an' tears(
$ithout a *roan( or the ,east emotion .
#Do 'ou then thinG that an' one u)on earth hath
the ri*ht and )o$er to )re%ent m' )uttin* an end to
m' ,ife#
ordon tooG care to a%oid maGin* a )arade of
those common4),ace dec,amations and ar*uments
$hich are re,ied on to )ro%e that $e are not a,,o$ed
to e?ercise our ,iert' in ceasin* to e $hen $e are
in a $retched situation 7 that $e shou,d not ,ea%e the
house $hen $e can no ,on*er remain in it 7 that a
man is ,iGe a so,dier at his )ost7 as if it si*nied
to the !ein* of ein*s $hether the conHunction of
the )artic,es of matter $ere in one s)ot or another"
Im)otent reasons( to $hich a rm and concentrated
des)air disdains to ,isten( and to $hich Cato re),ied
on,' $ith the use of a )oniard
The &uron+s su,,en and dreadfu, si,ence( his do,e4
fu, as)ect( his trem,in* ,i)s( and the shi%erin* of
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his $ho,e frame( communicated to e%er' s)ectator+s
sou, that mi?ture of com)assion and terror $hich
fetters a,, our )o$ers( )rec,udes discourse( or com4
)e,s us to s)eaG on,' in fa,terin* accents" The
hostess and her fami,' $ere e?cited" The' trem,ed
to eho,d the state of his des)eration( 'et a,, Ge)t
their e'es u)on him( and attended to a,, his motions"
The ice4co,d cor)se of the eautifu, 1iss St" 3%es
had a,read' een carried into a ,o$er ha,, out of the
The &uron" ;>;
si*ht of her ,o%er( $ho seemed sti,, in search of it(
thou*h inca)a,e of oser%in* an' oHect"
In the midst of this s)ectac,e of death( $hi,e the
dead od' $as e?)osed at the door of the house7
$hi,e t$o )riests ' the side of the ho,'4font $ater
$ere re)eatin* )ra'ers $ith an air of distraction7
$hi,e some )assen*ers( throu*h id,eness( s)rinG,ed
the ier $ith some dro)s of ho,' $ater( and others
$ent their $a's uite indierent 7 $hi,e her re,ations
$ere dro$ned in tears( and e%er' one thou*ht the
,o%er $ou,d not sur%i%e his ,oss in this situation
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St" Pouan*e arri%ed $ith his fema,e Versai,,es
friend"
&e a,i*hted from his coach( and the rst oHect
that )resented itse,f $as the ier7 he turned a$a'
his e'es $ith that sim),e distaste of a man red u)
in ),easures( and $ho thinGs he shou,d a%oid a s)ec4
tac,e $hich mi*ht reca,, him to the contem),ation
of human miser'" &e $as inc,ined to *o u)stairs(
$hi,e his fema,e friend inuired throu*h curiosit'
$hose funera, it $as" The name of 1iss St" 3%es
$as )ronounced" At this name she turned( and *a%e
a )iercin* shrieG" St" Pouan*e then returned( $hi,e
sur)rise and *rief )ossessed his sou," The *ood o,d
ordon stood $ith streamin* e'es" &e for a mo4
ment ceased his ,amentations( to acuaint the courier
$ith a,, the circumstances of this me,ancho,' catas4
tro)he" &e s)oGe $ith that authorit' $hich is the
com)anion to sorro$ and %irtue" St" Pouan*e $as
not natura,,' $icGed" The torrent of usiness and
Vo," ii
;>@ The &uron"
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amusements had hurried a$a' his sou,( $hich $as
not 'et acuainted $ith itse,f" &e did not order
u)on that *ra' a*e $hich usua,,' hardens the hearts
of ministers" &e ,istened to ordon $ith a do$n4
cast ,ooG( and some tears esca)ed him( $hich he $as
sur)rised to shed" In a $ord( he re)ented"
#I $i,,(# said he( #aso,ute,' see this e?traordi4
nar' man 'ou ha%e mentioned to me" &e aects
me a,most as much as this innocent %ictim( $hose
death I ha%e occasioned"#
ordon fo,,o$ed him as far as the chamer in
$hich the Prior KerGaon( the Ae St" 3%es( and
some nei*hors $ere stri%in* to reca,, the 'oun*
man( $ho had a*ain fainted"
#I ha%e een the cause of 'our misfortunes(# said
the de)ut' minister( $hen the &uron had re*ained
consciousness( #and m' $ho,e ,ife sha,, e em),o'ed
in maGin* re)aration for m' error"#
The rst idea that strucG the &uron $as to Gi,,
him and then destro' himse,f" !ut he $as $ithout
arms( and c,ose,' $atched" St" Pouan*e $as not
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re)u,sed $ith refusa,s accom)anied $ith re)roach(
contem)t( and the insu,ts he deser%ed( $hich $ere
,a%ished u)on him" Time softens e%er'thin*" 1"
de Lou%ois at ,en*th succeeded in maGin* an e?ce,4
,ent ocer of the &uron( $ho has a))eared under
another name at Paris and in the arm'( res)ected
' a,, honest men( ein* at once a $arrior and an
intre)id )hi,oso)her"
&e ne%er mentioned this ad%enture $ithout ein*
The &uron" ;>
*reat,' aected( and 'et his *reatest conso,ation $as
to s)eaG of it" &e cherished the memor' of his e4
,o%ed 1iss St" 3%es to the ,ast moment of his ,ife"
The Ae St" 3%es and the )rior $ere each )ro4
%ided $ith *ood ,i%in*s" The *ood KerGaon rather
chose to see his ne)he$ in%ested $ith mi,itar'
honors than in the sudeaconr'" The de%otee of
Versai,,es Ge)t the diamond earrin*s( and recei%ed
esides a handsome )resent" Father Tout4a4tous
had )resents of choco,ate( coee and confectioner'(
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$ith the #1editations of the Re%erend Father Croi4
set(# and the #F,o$er of the Saints(# ound in mo4
rocco" ood o,d ordon ,i%ed $ith the &uron ti,,
his death( in the most friend,' intimac' 7 he had a,so
a enece( and for*ot( fore%er( essentia, *race and
the concomitant concourse" &e tooG for his motto(
#1isfortunes are of some use"# &o$ man' $orth'
)eo),e are there in the $or,d $ho ma' Hust,' sa'(
#1isfortunes are *ood for nothin*#
T&E PRINCESS OF !A!3LON"
C&APTER I"
RO3AL CONTEST FOR T&E &AND OF FOR1OSANTA"
The a*ed !e,us( Gin* of !a',on( thou*ht him4
se,f the rst man u)on earth 7 for a,, his courtiers to,d
him so( and his historians )ro%ed it" We Gno$ that
his )a,ace and his )arG( situated a fe$ )arasan*s
from !a',on( e?tended et$een the Eu)hrates and
the Ti*ris( $hich $ashed those enchanted anGs"
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&is %ast house( three thousand feet in front( a,most
reached the c,ouds" The ),atform $as surrounded
$ith a a,ustrade of $hite mar,e( ft' feet hi*h(
$hich su))orted co,ossa, statues of a,, the Gin*s and
*reat men of the em)ire" This ),atform( com)osed
of t$o ro$s of ricGs( co%ered $ith a thicG surface
of ,ead from one e?tremit' to the other( ore t$e,%e
feet of earth 7 and u)on the earth $ere raised *ro%es
of o,i%e( oran*e( citron( )a,m( cocoa( and cinnamon
trees( and stocG *i,,'Qo$ers( $hich formed a,,e's
that the ra's of the sun cou,d not )enetrate"
The $aters of the Eu)hrates runnin*( ' the as4
sistance of )um)s( in a hundred cana,s( formed cas4
cades of si? thousand feet in ,en*th in the )arG( and
a hundred thousand Hets d+eau( $hose hei*ht $as
;>
The Princess of !a',on" ;>B
scarce )erce)ti,e" The' after$ards Qo$ed into the
Eu)hrates( $hence the' came" The *ardens of
Semiramis( $hich astonished Asia se%era, a*es after(
$ere on,' a fee,e imitation of these ancient )rod4
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i*ies 7 for in the time of Semiramis( e%er'thin* e4
*an to de*enerate amon* men and $omen"
!ut $hat $as more admira,e in !a',on( and
ec,i)sed e%er'thin* e,se( $as the on,' dau*hter of
the Gin*( named Formosanta" It $as from her )ic4
tures and statues that( in succeedin* times( Pra?ite,es
scu,)tured his A)hrodite( and the Venus of 1edicis"
&ea%ens $hat a dierence et$een the ori*ina,
and the co)ies So that Kin* !e,us $as )rouder of
his dau*hter than of his Gin*dom" She $as ei*hteen
'ears o,d" It $as necessar' she shou,d ha%e a hus4
and $orth' of her 7 ut $here $as he to e found
An ancient orac,e had ordained that Formosanta
cou,d not e,on* to an' ut him $ho cou,d end the
o$ of Nimrod"
This Nimrod( #a mi*ht' hunter efore the Lord(#
en" ?. < had ,eft a o$ se%enteen !a',onian
feet in ,en*th( made of eon'( harder than the iron
of 1ount Caucasus( $hich is $rou*ht in the for*es
of Derent 7 and no morta, since Nimrod cou,d end
this astonishin* o$"
It $as a*ain said #that the arm $hich shou,d end
this o$ $ou,d Gi,, the most terri,e and ferocious
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,ion that shou,d e ,et ,oose in the Circus of !a',on"#
This $as not a,," The ender of the o$ and the
conueror of the ,ion shou,d o%erthro$ a,, his ri%a,s 7
; >> The Princess of !a',on"
ut he $as ao%e a,, thin*s to e %er' sa*acious( the
most ma*nicent and most %irtuous of men( and )os4
sess the *reatest curiosit' in the $ho,e uni%erse"
Three Gin*s a))eared( $ho $ere o,d enou*h to
c,aim Formosanta Pharaoh of E*')t( the Shah of
India( and the *reat Khan of the Sc'thians" !e,us
a))ointed the da' and ),ace of comat( $hich $as
to e at the e?tremit' of his )arG( in the %ast e?)anse
surrounded ' the Hoint $aters of the Eu)hrates and
the Ti*ris" Round the ,ists a mar,e am)hitheatre
$as erected( $hich mi*ht contain %e hundred thou4
sand s)ectators" O))osite the am)hitheatre $as
),aced the Gin*+s throne" &e $as to a))ear $ith
Formosanta( accom)anied ' the $ho,e court 7 and on
the ri*ht and ,eft et$een the throne and the am)hi4
theatre( there $ere other thrones and seats for the
three Gin*s( and for a,, the other so%erei*ns $ho
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$ere desirous to e )resent at this au*ust ceremon'"
The Gin* of E*')t arri%ed the rst( mounted u)on
the u,, A)is( and ho,din* in his hand the cithern of
Isis" &e $as fo,,o$ed ' t$o thousand )riests(
c,ad in ,inen %estments $hiter than sno$( t$o thou4
sand eunuchs( t$o thousand ma*icians( and t$o
thousand $arriors"
The Gin* of India came soon after in a car dra$n
' t$e,%e e,e)hants" &e had a train sti,, more
numerous and more ri,,iant than Pharaoh of E*')t"
The ,ast $ho a))eared $as the Gin* of the Sc'th4
ians" &e had none $ith him ut chosen $arriors(
armed $ith o$s and arro$s" &e $as mounted
The Princess of !a',on" ; >
u)on a su)er ti*er( $hich he had tamed( and $hich
$as as ta,, as an' of the nest Persian horses" The
maHestic and im)ortant mien of this Gin* eaced the
a))earance of his ri%a,s 7 his naGed arms( as ner%ous
as the' $ere $hite( seemed a,read' to end the o$
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)etitors cast ,ots $hich shou,d tr' Nimrod+s o$ rst"
Their names inscried $ere )ut into a *o,den casue"
That of the E*')tian Gin* came out rst( then the
name of the Gin* of India a))eared" The Gin* of
; >M The Princess of !a',on"
Sc'thia( %ie$in* the o$ and his ri%a,s( did not
com),ain at ein* the third"
Whi,e these ri,,iant tria,s $ere )re)arin*( t$ent'
thousand )a*es and t$ent' thousand 'outhfu,
maidens distriuted( $ithout an' disorder( refresh4
ments to the s)ectators et$een the ro$s of seats"
E%er' one acGno$,ed*ed that the *ods had instituted
Gin*s for no other cause than e%er' da' to *i%e fes4
ti%a,s( u)on condition the' shou,d e di%ersied
that ,ife is too short for an' other )ur)ose 7 that ,a$4
suits( intri*ues( $ars( the a,tercations of theo,o*ists(
$hich consume human ,ife( are horri,e and asurd 7
that man is orn on,' for ha))iness7 that he $ou,d
not )assionate,' and incessant,' )ursue ),easure
$ere he not desi*ned for it7 that the essence of
human nature is to enHo' ourse,%es( and a,, the rest
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is no other in the $or,d ut this 'oun* man $ho can
e so handsome as the )rincess"#
The ushers( strucG $ith astonishment( asGed him
if he $as a Gin* The stran*er re),ied that he had
not that honor( ut that he had come from a distant
countr'( e?cited ' curiosit'( to see if there $ere
an' Gin* $orth' of Formosanta" &e $as introduced
into the rst ro$ of the am)hitheatre( $ith his %a,et(
his t$o unicorns( and his ird" &e sa,uted( $ith
*reat res)ect( !e,us( his dau*hter( the three Gin*s(
and a,, the assem,'" &e then tooG his seat( not
$ithout ,ushin*" &is t$o unicorns ,a' do$n at his
feet7 his ird )erched u)on his shou,der7 and his
%a,et( $ho carried a ,itt,e a*( ),aced himse,f ' his
side"
The tria,s e*an" The o$ of Nimrod $as taGen
out of its *o,den case" The rst master of ceremonies(
fo,,o$ed ' ft' )a*es( and )receded ' t$ent'
trum)ets( )resented it to the Gin* of E*')t( $ho
made his )riest ,ess it 7 and su))ortin* it u)on the
head of the u,, A)is( he did not uestion his *ainin*
this rst %ictor'" &e dismounted( anX came into
the midd,e of the circus" &e tried( e?erted a,, his
stren*th( and made such ridicu,ous contortions that
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;= The Princess of !a',on"
the $ho,e am)hitheatre re4echoed $ith ,au*hter( and
Formosanta herse,f cou,d not he,) smi,in*"
&is hi*h a,moner a))roached him .
#Let 'our maHest' *i%e u) this id,e honor( $hich
de)ends entire,' u)on the ner%es and musc,es" 3ou
$i,, trium)h in e%er'thin* e,se" 3ou $i,, conuer
the ,ion( as 'ou are )ossessed of the fa%or of Osiris"
The )rincess of !a',on is to e,on* to the )rince
$ho is most sa*acious( and 'ou ha%e so,%ed eni*mas"
She is to $ed the most %irtuous 7 'ou are such( as 'ou
ha%e een educated ' the )riests of E*')t" The
most *enerous is to marr' her( and 'ou ha%e )re4
sented her $ith t$o of the handsomest crocodi,es(
and t$o of the nest rats in a,, the De,ta" 3ou are
)ossessed of the u,, A)is( and the ooGs of &ermes(
$hich are the scarcest thin*s in the uni%erse" No
one can ho)e to dis)ute Formosanta $ith 'ou"#
#3ou are in the ri*ht(# said the Gin* of E*')t(
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and resumed his throne"
The o$ $as then )ut in the hands of the Gin* of
India" It ,istered his hands for a fortni*ht 7 ut he
conso,ed himse,f in )resumin* that the Sc'thian Gin*
$ou,d not e more fortunate than himse,f"
The Sc'thian hand,ed the o$ in his turn" &e
united sGi,, $ith stren*th" The o$ seemed to ha%e
some e,asticit' in his hands" &e ent it a ,itt,e( ut
he cou,d not rin* it near a cur%e" The s)ectators(
$ho had een )reHudiced in his fa%or ' his a*ree4
a,e as)ect( ,amented his i,, success( and conc,uded
that the eautifu, )rincess $ou,d ne%er e married"
The Princess of !a',on" ;;
The unGno$n 'outh ,ea)ed into the arena and(
addressin* himse,f to the Gin* of Sc'thia( said .
#3our maHest' need not e sur)rised at not ha%in*
entire,' succeeded" These eon' o$s are made in
m' countr'" There is a )ecu,iar method in usin*
them" 3our merit is *reater in ha%in* ent it than if
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I $ere to cur%e it"#
&e then tooG an arro$( and ),acin* it u)on the
strin*( ent the o$ of Nimrod( and shot the arro$
e'ond the *ates" A mi,,ion hands at once a)),auded
the )rodi*'" !a',on re4echoed $ith acc,amations 7
and a,, the ,adies a*reed it $as fortunate for so hand4
some a 'outh to e so stron*"
&e tooG out of his )ocGet a sma,, i%or' ta,et(
$rote u)on it $ith a *o,den )enci,( ?ed the ta,et
to the o$( and )resented it to the )rincess $ith such
a *race as charmed e%er' s)ectator" &e then
modest,' returned to his ),ace et$een his ird and
his %a,et" A,, !a',on $as in astonishment7 the
three Gin*s $ere confounded7 $hi,e the stran*er did
not seem to )a' the ,east attention to $hat had
ha))ened"
Formosanta $as sti,, more sur)rised to read u)on
the i%or' ta,et( tied to the o$( these ,ines( $ritten
in the est Cha,dsean .
Larc de Nemrod est ce,ui de ,a *uerre7
L+arc de r amour est ce,ui du onheur 7
Vous ,e )orte2" Par %ous ce Dieu %ainueur
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Est de%enu ,e maitre de ,a terre"
Trots Rois )uissants( trois ri%au? auHourd+ hut(
Osent )rttendre a I+honneur de 4%ous ),aire"
/e ne sais )as ui %otre cceur )refere(
1ais runi%ers seraHa,ou? de ,ui"
; @ The Princess of !a',on"
ZThe o$ of Nimrod is that of $ar7
The o$ of ,o%e is that of ha))iness
Which 'ou )ossess" Throu*h 'ou this conuerin* od
&as ecome master of the earth"
Three )o$erfu, Gin*s( three ri%a,s no$(
Dare as)ire to the honor of ),easin* 'ou"
I Gno$ not $hom 'our heart ma' )refer(
!ut the uni%erse $i,, e Hea,ous of him"[
This ,itt,e madri*a, did not dis),ease the )rincess 7
ut it $as criticised ' some of the ,ords of the an4
cient court( $ho said that( in former times( !e,us
$ou,d ha%e een com)ared to the sun( and Formo4
santa to the moon 7 his necG to a to$er( and her reast
to a ushe, of $heat" The' said the stran*er had
no sort of ima*ination( and that he had ,ost si*ht of
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the ru,es of true )oetr'( ut a,, the ,adies thou*ht the
%erses %er' *a,,ant" The' $ere astonished that a man
$ho hand,ed a o$ so $e,, shou,d ha%e so much $it"
The ,ad' of honor to the )rincess said to her .
#1adam( $hat *reat ta,ents are here entire,' ,ost
What enet $i,, this 'oun* man deri%e from his
$it( and his sGi,, $ith Nimrod+s o$ #
#!ein* admired# said Formosanta"
#Ah # said the ,ad'( #one more madri*a,( and he
mi*ht $e,, e e,o%ed"#
The Gin* of !a',on( ha%in* consu,ted his sa*es(
dec,ared that thou*h none of these Gin*s cou,d end
the o$ of Nimrod( 'et( ne%erthe,ess( his dau*h4
ter $as to e married( and that she shou,d e,on*
to him $ho cou,d conuer the *reat ,ion( $hich $as
)ur)ose,' Ge)t in trainin* in his *reat mena*erie"
The Gin* of E*')t( u)on $hose education a,, the
The Princess of !a',on" ;
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$isdom of E*')t had een e?hausted( Hud*ed it %er'
ridicu,ous to e?)ose a Gin* to the ferocit' of $i,d
easts in order to e married" &e acGno$,ed*ed
that he considered the )ossession of Formosanta of
inestima,e %a,ue( ut he e,ie%ed that if the ,ion
shou,d stran*,e him( he cou,d ne%er $ed this fair
!a',onian" The Gin* of India he,d simi,ar %ie$s
to the Gin* of E*')t" The' oth conc,uded that the
Gin* of !a',on $as ,au*hin* at them( and that
the' shou,d send for armies to )unish him that
the' had man' suHects $ho $ou,d thinG themse,%es
hi*h,' honored to die in the ser%ice of their masters(
$ithout it costin* them a sin*,e hair of their sacred
heads that the' cou,d easi,' dethrone the Gin* of
!a',on( and then the' $ou,d dra$ ,ots for the fair
Formosanta"
This a*reement ein* made( the t$o Gin*s sent
each an e?)ress into his res)ecti%e countr'( $ith
orders to assem,e three hundred thousand men to
carr' o Formosanta"
&o$e%er( the Gin* of Sc'thia descended a,one
into the arena( scimitar in hand" &e $as not dis4
tracted,' enamored $ith Formosanta+s charms"
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,or' ti,, then had een his on,' )assion( and it had
,ed him to !a',on" &e $as $i,,in* to sho$ that
if the Gin*s of India and E*')t $ere so )rudent as
not to ti,t $ith ,ions( he $as coura*eous enou*h not
to dec,ine the comat( and he $ou,d re)air the honor
of diadems" &is uncommon %a,or $ou,d not e%en
a,,o$ him to a%ai, himse,f of the assistance of his
; The Princess of !a',on"
ti*er" &e ad%anced sin*,'( s,i*ht,' armed $ith a
she,, casue ornamented $ith *o,d( and shaded $ith
three horses+ tai,s as $hite as sno$"
One of the most enormous and ferocious ,ions
that fed u)on the Anti,ianian mountains $as ,et
,oose u)on him" &is tremendous )a$s a))eared
ca)a,e of tearin* the three Gin*s to )ieces at once(
and his *u,,et to de%our them" The t$o )roud
cham)ions Qed $ith the utmost )reci)itanc' and in
the most ra)id manner to each other" The coura4
*eous Sc'thian ),un*ed his s$ord into the ,ion+s
mouth 7 ut the )oint meetin* $ith one of those thicG
teeth that nothin* can )enetrate( $as roGen 7 and
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the monster of the $oods( more furious from his
$ound( had a,read' im)ressed his fearfu, c,a$s into
the monarch+s sides"
The unGno$n 'outh( touched $ith the )eri, of so
ra%e a )rince( ,ea)ed into the arena s$ift as ,i*ht4
nin*( and cut o the ,ion+s head $ith as much de?ter4
it' as $e ha%e ,ate,' seen( in our carousa,s( 'outhfu,
Gni*hts GnocG o the heads of ,acG ima*es"
Then dra$in* out a sma,, o?( he )resented it to
the Sc'thian Gin*( sa'in* to him .
#3our maHest' $i,, here nd the *enuine dittan'(
$hich *ro$s in m' countr'" 3our *,orious $ounds
$i,, e hea,ed in a moment" Accident a,one )re4
%ented 'our trium)h o%er the ,ion" 3our %a,or is
not the ,ess to e admired"#
The Sc'thian Gin*( animated more $ith *ratitude
than Hea,ous'( thanGed his enefactor( and( after ha%4
T&S 0NKNOWN VO0T& LEAPED INTO T&E
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A1RNA( AND O0T OFF# T&E
I6ION+> &EAD
The Princess of !a',on" ;B
in* tender,' emraced him( returned to his seat to
a)),' the dittan' to his $ounds"
The stran*er *a%e the ,ion+s head to his %a,et(
$ho( ha%in* $ashed it at the *reat fountain $hich
$as eneath the am)hitheatre( and drained a,, the
,ood( tooG an iron instrument out of his ,itt,e a*(
$ith $hich ha%in* dra$n the ,ion+s fort' teeth( he
su)),ied their ),ace $ith fort' diamonds of eua,
si2e"
&is master( $ith his usua, modest'( returned to
his ),ace7 he *a%e the ,ion+s head to his ird"
#!eauteous ird(# said he( #carr' this sma,, homa*e(
and ,a' it at the feet of Formosanta"#
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dor of this incom)ara,e ird"
The attention( curiosit'( astonishment( and ec4
stas' of the $ho,e court $ere di%ided et$een the
He$e,s and the ird" It had )erched u)on the a,us4
trade et$een !e,us and his dau*hter Formosanta"
She )etted it( caressed it( and Gissed it" It seemed
to recei%e her attentions $ith a mi?ture of ),easure
and res)ect" When the )rincess *a%e the ird a Giss(
it returned the emrace( and then ,ooGed u)on her
$ith ,an*uishin* e'es" She *a%e it iscuits and )is4
tachios( $hich it recei%ed in its )ur),e4si,%ered c,a$
and carried to its i,, $ith ine?)ressi,e *race"
!e,us( $ho had attenti%e,' considered the dia4
monds( conc,uded that scarce an' one of his )ro%4
inces cou,d re)a' so %a,ua,e a )resent" &e ordered
that more ma*nicent *ifts shou,d e )re)ared for
the stran*er than those destined for the three mon4
archs" #This 'oun* man(# said he( #is dout,ess
son to the em)eror of China 7 or of that )art of the
$or,d ca,,ed Euro)e( $hich I ha%e heard s)oGen of 7
or of Africa( $hich is said to e in the %icinit' of the
Gin*dom of E*')t"#
&e immediate,' sent his rst euerr' to com),i4
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ment the stran*er( and asG him $hether he $as him4
se,f the so%erei*n( or son to the so%erei*n of one of
those em)ires( and $h'( ein* )ossessed of such sur4
The Princess of !a',on" ;
)risin* treasures( he had come $ith nothin* ut his
%a,et and a ,itt,e a*
Whi,st the euerr' ad%anced to$ard the am)hi4
theatre to e?ecute his commission( another %a,et ar4
ri%ed u)on a unicorn" This %a,et( addressin* him4
se,f to the 'oun* man( said . #Ormar( 'our father is
a))roachin* the end of his ,ife7 I am come to ac4
uaint 'ou $ith it"#
The stran*er raised his e'es to hea%en( $hi,st
tears streamed from them( and ans$ered on,' '
sa'in*( #Let us de)art"#
The euerr'( after ha%in* )aid !e,us+ com),i4
ments to the conueror of the ,ion( to the *i%er of the
fort' diamonds( and to the master of the eautifu,
ird( asGed the %a,et( #Of $hat Gin*dom is the father
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of this 'oun* hero so%erei*n #
The %a,et re),ied .
#&is father is an o,d she)herd( $ho is much e4
,o%ed in his district"#
Durin* this con%ersation( the stran*er had a,read'
mounted his unicorn" &e said to the euerr' .
#1' ,ord( %ouchsafe to )rostrate me at the feet
of Kin* !e,us and his dau*hter" I must entreat
her to taGe )articu,ar care of the ird I ,ea%e $ith
her( as it is a non)arei, ,iGe herse,f"#
In utterin* these ,ast $ords he set o( and Qe$
,iGe ,i*htnin*" The t$o %a,ets fo,,o$ed him( and in
an instant he $as out of si*ht"
Formosanta cou,d not refrain from shrieGin*"
Vo," ;@
;M The Princess of !a',on"
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the ,ife of the on,' com)etitor he had to fear7 and
$hen the oHect is to sur)ass the other t$o( I e,ie%e
'ou cannot dout that he $i,, easi,' succeed"#
#A,, that 'ou sa' is %er' true(# re),ied Formo4
santa( #ut is it )ossi,e that the *reatest of men( and
)erha)s the most amia,e too( shou,d e the son of a
she)herd #
The ,ad' of honor( Hoinin* in the con%ersation(
said that the tit,e of she)herd $as freuent,' *i%en to
Gin*s 7 that the' $ere ca,,ed she)herds ecause the'
attended %er' c,ose,' to their QocGs 7 that this $as
dout,ess a )iece of i,,4timed ),easantr' in his %a,et 7
that this 'oun* hero had not come so ad,' eui))ed(
ut to sho$ ho$ much his )ersona, merit a,one $as
ao%e the fastidious )arade of Gin*s" The )rincess
made no ans$er( ut in *i%in* her ird a thousand
tender Gisses"
; M= The Princess of !a',on"
A *reat festi%a, $as ne%erthe,ess )re)ared for the
three Gin*s( and for a,, the )rinces $ho had come to
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the feast" The Gin*+s dau*hter and niece $ere to do
the honors" The Gin* distriuted )resents $orth'
the ma*nicence of !a',on" !e,us( durin* the time
the re)ast $as ein* ser%ed( assem,ed his counci, to
discuss the marria*e of the eautifu, Formosanta(
and this is the $a' he de,i%ered himse,f as a *reat
)o,itician .
#I am o,d 7 I Gno$ not $hat is est to do $ith m'
dau*hter( or u)on $hom to esto$ her" &e $ho de4
ser%es her is nothin* ut a mean she)herd" The Gin*s
of India and E*')t are co$ards" The Gin* of the
Sc'thians $ou,d e %er' a*reea,e to me( ut he has
not )erformed an' one of the conditions im)osed" I
$i,, a*ain consu,t the orac,e" In the meantime( de4
,ierate amon* 'ou( and $e $i,, conc,ude a*reea,'
to $hat the orac,e sa's7 for a Gin* shou,d fo,,o$
nothin* ut the dictates of the immorta, *ods"#
&e then re)aired to the tem),e7 the orac,e an4
s$ered in fe$ $ords accordin* to custom. #Th'
dau*hter sha,, not e married unti, she hath tra%4
ersed the *,oe"# In astonishment( !e,us returned
to the counci,( and re,ated this ans$er"
A,, the ministers had a )rofound res)ect for ora4
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c,es" The' therefore a,, a*reed( or at ,east a))eared
to a*ree( that the' $ere the foundation of re,i*ion 7
that reason shou,d e mute efore them 7 that it $as
' their means that Gin*s rei*ned o%er their )eo),e 7
The Princess of !a',on" ;M;
that $ithout orac,es there $ou,d e neither %irtue nor
re)ose u)on earth"
At ,en*th( after ha%in* testied the most )rofound
%eneration for them( the' near,' a,, conc,uded that
this orac,e $as im)ertinent( and shou,d not e
oe'ed7 that nothin* cou,d e more indecent for a
'oun* $oman( and )articu,ar,' the dau*hter of the
*reat Gin* of !a',on( than to run aout( $ithout
an' )articu,ar destination7 that this $as the most
certain method to )re%ent her ein* married( or e,se
en*a*e her in a c,andestine( shamefu,( and ridicu,ous
union 7 that( in a $ord( this orac,e had not common
sense"
The 'oun*est of the ministers( named Onadase(
$ho had more sense than the rest( said that the orac,e
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dout,ess meant some )i,*rima*e of de%otion( and
oered to e the )rincess+ *uide" The counci, a)4
)ro%ed of his o)inion( ut e%er' one $as for ein*
her euerr'" The Gin* determined that the )rincess
mi*ht *o three hundred )arasan*s u)on the road to
Araia( to the tem),e $hose saint had the re)utation
of )rocurin* 'oun* $omen ha))' marria*es( and
that the dean of the counci, shou,d accom)an' her"
After this determination the' $ent to su))er"
; M@ The Princess of !a',on"
C&APTER III"
RO3AL FESTIVAL IVEN IN &ONOR OF T&E KINL3
VISITORS T&E !IRD CONVERSES ELO80ENTL3 WIT&
FOR1OSANTA"
In the centre of the *ardens( et$een t$o cas4
cades( an o%a, sa,oon( three hundred feet in diameter(
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$as erected( $hose a2ure roof( intersected $ith
*o,den stars( re)resented a,, the conste,,ations and
),anets( each in its )ro)er station7 and this cei,in*
turned aout( as $e,, as the cano)'( ' machines as
in%isi,e as those $hich direct the ce,estia, s)heres"
A hundred thousand Qameau?( inc,osed in rich
cr'sta, c',inders( i,,uminated the *ardens and the
dinin*4ha,," A uet( $ith ste)s( contained t$ent'
thousand %ases and *o,den dishes 7 and o))osite the
uet( u)on other ste)s( $ere seated a *reat numer
of musicians" The t$o am)hitheatres $ere decGed
out . the one $ith the fruits of each season( the other
$ith cr'sta, decanters that s)arG,ed $ith the choicest
$ines"
The *uests tooG their seats round a ta,e di%ided
into com)artments that resem,ed Qo$ers and fruits(
a,, in )recious stones" The eautifu, Formosanta
$as ),aced et$een the Gin*s of India and E*')t(
the amia,e A,dea ne?t the Gin* of Sc'thia" There
$ere aout thirt' )rinces( and each $as seated ne?t
one of the handsomest ,adies of the court" The Gin*
of !a',on( $ho $as in the midd,e( o))osite his
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The Princess of !a',on" ; M
dau*hter( seemed di%ided et$een the cha*rin of e4
in* 'et una,e to eect her marria*e( and the ),easure
of sti,, eho,din* her" Formosanta asGed ,ea%e to
),ace her ird u)on the ta,e ne?t her 7 the Gin* a)4
)ro%ed of it"
The music( $hich continued durin* the re)ast(
furnished e%er' )rince $ith an o))ortunit' of con4
%ersin* $ith his fema,e nei*hor" The festi%a, $as
as a*reea,e as it $as ma*nicent" A ra*out $as
ser%ed efore Formosanta( $hich her father $as
%er' fond of" The )rincess said it shou,d e carried
to his maHest'" The ird immediate,' tooG ho,d of
it( and carried it in a miracu,ous manner to the Gin*"
Ne%er $as an'thin* more astonishin* $itnessed"
!e,us caressed it as much as his dau*hter had done"
The ird after$ard tooG its Qi*ht to return to her"
It dis),a'ed( in Q'in*( so ne a tai,( and its e?tended
$in*s set forth such a %ariet' of ri,,iant co,ors 7 the
*o,d of its ),uma*e made such a da22,in* ec,at( that
a,, e'es $ere ?ed u)on it" A,, the musicians $ere
strucG motion,ess( and their instruments aorded
harmon' no ,on*er" None ate( no one s)oGe( nothin*
ut a u22in* of admiration $as to e heard" The
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)rincess of !a',on Gissed it durin* the $ho,e su)4
)er( $ithout considerin* $hether there $ere an'
Gin*s in the $or,d" Those of India and E*')t fe,t
their s)ite and indi*nation reGind,e $ith dou,e force
and the' reso,%ed s)eedi,' to set their three hundred
thousand men in motion to otain re%en*e"
As for the Gin* of Sc'thia( he $as en*a*ed in
;M The Princess of !a',on"
entertainin* the eautifu, A,dea" &is hau*ht' sou,
des)isin*( $ithout ma,ice( Formosanta+s inattention(
had concei%ed for her more indierence than resent4
ment" #She is handsome(# said he( #I acGno$,ed*e(
ut she a))ears to me one of those $omen $ho are
entire,' taGen u) $ith their o$n eaut'( and $ho
fanc' that manGind are *reat,' o,i*ed to them $hen
the' dei*n to a))ear in )u,ic" I shou,d )refer an
u*,' com),aisant $oman( that e?hiited some amia4
i,it'( to that eautifu, statue" 3ou ha%e( madam(
as man' charms as she )ossesses( and 'ou( at ,east(
condescend to con%erse $ith stran*ers" I acGno$,4
ed*e to 'ou $ith the sincerit' of a Sc'thian( that I
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)refer 'ou to 'our cousin"#
&e $as( ho$e%er( mistaGen in re*ard to the char4
acter of Formosanta" She $as not so disdainfu, as
she a))eared" !ut his com),iments $ere %er' $e,,
recei%ed ' the )rincess A,dea" Their con%ersation
ecame %er' interestin*" The' $ere $e,, contented(
and a,read' certain of one another efore the' ,eft
the ta,e" After su))er the *uests $a,Ged in the
*ro%es" The Gin* of Sc'thia and A,dea did not fai,
to seeG for a ),ace of retreat" A,dea( $ho $as sin4
cerit' itse,f( thus dec,ared herse,f to the )rince .
#I do not hate m' cousin( thou*h she e hand4
somer than m'se,f( and is destined for the throne of
!a',on" The honor of ),easin* 'ou ma' %er' $e,,
stand in the stead of charms" I )refer Sc'thia $ith
'ou to the cro$n of !a',on $ithout 'ou" !ut this
cro$n e,on*s to me ' ri*ht( if there e an' ri*ht in
The Princess of !a',on" ;MB
the $or,d 7 for I am of the e,der ranch of the Nimrod
fami,'( and Formosanta is on,' of the 'oun*er" &er
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*randfather dethroned mine( and )ut him to death"#
#Such( then( are the ri*hts of inheritance in the
ro'a, house of !a',on # said the Sc'thian" #What
$as 'our *randfather+s name #
#&e $as ca,,ed A,dea( ,iGe me" 1' father ore
the same name" &e $as anished to the e?tremit' of
the em)ire $ith m' mother7 and !e,us( after their
death( ha%in* nothin* to fear from me( $as $i,,in*
to rin* me u) $ith his dau*hter" !ut he has re4
so,%ed that I sha,, ne%er marr'"#
#I $i,, a%en*e the cause of 'our *randfather( of
'our father( and a,so 'our o$n cause(# said the Gin*
of Sc'thia" #I am res)onsi,e for 'our ein* married"
I $i,, carr' 'ou o the da' after to4morro$ ' da'4
reaG for $e must dine to4morro$ $ith the Gin* of
!a',on and I $i,, return and su))ort 'our ri*hts
$ith three hundred thousand men"#
#I a*ree to it(# said the eauteous A,dea7 and(
after ha%in* mutua,,' ),ed*ed their $ords of honor(
the' se)arated"
The incom)ara,e Formosanta( efore retirin* to
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rest( had ordered a sma,, oran*e tree( in a si,%er case(
to e ),aced ' the side of her ed( that her ird
mi*ht )erch u)on it" &er curtains had ,on* een
dra$n( ut she $as not in the ,east dis)osed to s,ee)"
&er heart $as a*itated( and her ima*ination e?cited"
The charmin* stran*er $as e%er in her thou*hts"
She fancied she sa$ him shootin* an arro$ $ith
; M> The Princess of !a',on"
Nimrod+s o$" She contem),ated him in the act of
cuttin* o the ,ion+s head" She re)eated his mad4
ri*a," At ,en*th( she sa$ him retirin* from the
cro$d u)on his unicorn" Tears( si*hs( and ,amenta4
tions o%er$he,med her at this reQection" At inter4
%a,s she cried out. #Sha,, I then ne%er see him
more Wi,, he ne%er return #
#&e $i,, sure,' return(# re),ied the ird from the
to) of the oran*e tree" #Can one ha%e seen 'ou once(
and not desire to see 'ou a*ain #
#&ea%ens eterna, )o$ers m' ird s)eaGs the
)urest Cha,daean"# In utterin* these $ords she dre$
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acG the curtains( )ut out her hand to him( and Gne,t
u)on her ed( sa'in* .
#Art thou a *od descended u)on earth Art thou
the *reat Oromasdes concea,ed under this eautifu,
),uma*e If thou art( restore me this charmin*
'oun* man"#
#I am nothin* ut a $in*ed anima,(# re),ied the
ird( #ut I $as orn at the time $hen a,, anima,s
sti,, s)oGe 7 $hen irds( ser)ents( asses( horses( and
*rins con%ersed fami,iar,' $ith man" I $ou,d
not s)eaG efore com)an'( ,est 'our ,adies of honor
shou,d ha%e taGen me for a sorcerer" I $ou,d not
disco%er m'se,f to an' ut 'ou"#
Formosanta $as s)eech,ess( e$i,dered( and in4
to?icated $ith so man' $onders" Desirous of )ut4
tin* a hundred uestions to him at once( she at
,en*th asGed him ho$ o,d he $as"
#On,' t$ent'4se%en thousand nine hundred 'ears
The Princess of !a',on" ; M
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and si? months" I date m' a*e from the ,itt,e re%o,u4
tion of the euino?es( and $hich is accom),ished in
aout t$ent'4ei*ht thousand of 'our 'ears" There
are re%o,utions of a much *reater e?tent( so are there
ein*s much o,der than me" It is t$ent'4t$o thou4
sand 'ears since I ,earned Cha,daean in one of m'
tra%e,s" I ha%e a,$a's had a %er' *reat taste for the
Cha,daean ,an*ua*e( ut m' rethren( the other ani4
ma,s( ha%e renounced s)eaGin* in 'our c,imate"#
#And $h' so( m' di%ine ird #
#A,as ecause men ha%e accustomed themse,%es
to eat us( instead of con%ersin* and instructin* them4
se,%es $ith us" !ararians shou,d the' not ha%e
een con%inced that( ha%in* the same or*ans $ith
them( the same sentiments( the same $ants( the same
desires( $e ha%e a,so $hat is ca,,ed a sou,( the same
as themse,%es 7 that $e are their rothers( and that
none shou,d e dressed and eaten ut the $icGed
We are so far 'our rothers that the Su)reme !ein*(
the Omni)otent and Eterna, !ein*( ha%in* made a
com)act $ith men( e?)ress,' com)rehended us in the
treat'" &e forade 'ou to nourish 'ourse,%es $ith
our ,ood( and us to sucG 'ours"
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#The fa,es of 'our ancient Locman( trans,ated
into so man' ,an*ua*es( $i,, e an eterna,,' e?istin*
testimon' of the ha))' commerce 'ou former,' car4
ried on $ith us" The' a,, e*in $ith these $ords .
+In the time $hen easts s)oGe"+ It is true( there are
man' fami,ies amon* 'ou $ho Gee) u) an incessant
con%ersation $ith their do*s7 ut the do*s ha%e
; MM The Princess of !a',on"
reso,%ed not to ans$er( since the' ha%e een com4
)e,,ed ' $hi))in* to *o huntin* and ecome accom4
),ices in the murder of our ancient and common
friends( sta*s( deers( hares( and )artrid*es"
#3ou ha%e sti,, some ancient )oems in $hich
horses s)eaG( and 'our coachmen dai,' address them
in $ords 7 ut in so ararous a manner( and in utter4
in* such infamous e?)ressions( that horses( thou*h
former,' entertainin* so *reat a Gindness for 'ou(
no$ detest 'ou"
#The countr' $hich is the residence of 'our
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charmin* stran*er( the most )erfect of men( is the
on,' one in $hich 'our s)ecies has continued to ,o%e
ours( and to con%erse $ith us 7 and is the on,' coun4
tr' in the $or,d $here men are Hust"#
#And $here is the countr' of m' dear inco*nito
What is the name of his em)ire For I $i,, no
more e,ie%e he is a she)herd than that 'ou are a
at"#
#&is countr' is that of the an*arids( a $ise(
%irtuous( and in%inci,e )eo),e( $ho inhait the east4
ern shore of the an*es" The name of m' friend is
Ama2an" &e is no Gin* 7 and I Gno$ not $hether he
$ou,d so hum,e himse,f as to e one" &e has too
*reat a ,o%e for his fe,,o$ countr'men" &e is a
she)herd ,iGe them" !ut do not ima*ine that those
she)herds resem,e 'ours( $ho( co%ered $ith ra*s
and tatters( $atch their shee)( $ho are etter c,ad
than themse,%es7 $ho *roan under the urden of
)o%ert'( and $ho )a' to an e?tortioner ha,f the
The Princess of !a',on" ;M<
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thousand men" &e $as athed in the sa,utar' $ater
of the +an*es( and fo,,o$ed the re*imen of the
countr'( $hich consists on,' of %e*eta,es( of $hich
nature has there een ama2in*,' ,iera, to nourish
;<= The Princess of !a',on"
e%er' reathin* creature" 1en $ho are fed $ith car4
ni%orous a,iments( and drenched $ith s)irituous
,iuors( ha%e a shar) adust ,ood( $hich turns their
rains a hundred dierent $a's" Their chief ra*e
is a fur' to s)i,, their rother+s ,ood( and( ,a'in*
$aste ferti,e ),ains( to rei*n o%er church'ards" Si?
fu,, months $ere taGen u) in curin* the Gin* of
India of his disorder" When the )h'sicians Hud*ed
that his )u,se had ecome natura,( the' certied this
to the counci, of the an*arids" The counci, then
fo,,o$ed the ad%ice of the unicorns and humane,'
sent acG the Gin* of India( his si,,' court( and im4
)otent $arriors to their o$n countr'" This ,esson
made them $ise( and from that time the Indians re4
s)ected the an*arids( as i*norant men( $i,,in* to
e instructed( re%ere the )hi,oso)hers the' cannot
eua,"
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#A)ro)os( m' dear ird(# said the )rincess to him(
#do the an*arids )rofess an' re,i*ion ha%e the'
one#
#3es( $e meet to return thanGs to od on the da's
of the fu,, moon 7 the men in a *reat tem),e made of
cedar( and the $omen in another( to )re%ent their
de%otion ein* di%erted" A,, the irds assem,e in a
*ro%e( and the uadru)eds on a ne do$n" We
thanG od for a,, the enets he has esto$ed u)on
us" We ha%e in )articu,ar some )arrots that )reach
$onderfu,,' $e,,"
#Such is the countr' of m' dear Ama2an 7 there I
reside" 1' friendshi) for him is as *reat as the ,o%e
The Princess of !a',on" ;<;
$ith $hich he has ins)ired 'ou" If 'ou $i,, credit
me( $e $i,, set out to*ether( and 'ou sha,, )a' him a
%isit"#
#Rea,,'( m' dear ird( this is a %er' )rett' in%ita4
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tion of 'ours(# re),ied the )rincess smi,in*( and $ho
Qamed $ith desire to undertaGe the Hourne'( ut did
not dare sa' so"
#I ser%e m' friend(# said the ird7 #and( after
the ha))iness of ,o%in* 'ou( the *reatest ),easure is
to assist 'ou"#
Formosanta $as uite fascinated" She fancied
herse,f trans)orted from earth" A,, she had seen
that da'( a,, she then sa$( a,, she heard( and )ar4
ticu,ar,' $hat she fe,t in her heart( so ra%ished her
as far to sur)ass $hat those fortunate 1ussu,mans
no$ fee,( $ho( disencumered from their terrestria,
ties( nd themse,%es in the ninth hea%en in the arms
of their &ouris( surrounded and )enetrated $ith
*,or' and ce,estia, fe,icit'"
C&APTER IV"
T&E !EA0TIF0L !IRD IS KILLED !3 T&E KIN OF E3PT
FOR1OSANTA !EINS A /O0RNE3 ALDEA ELOPES
WIT& T&E KIN OF SC3T&IA"
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Formosanta )assed the $ho,e ni*ht in s)eaGin*
of Ama2an" She no ,on*er ca,,ed him an'thin* ut
her she)herd7 and from this time it $as that the
names of she)herd and ,o%er $ere indiscriminate,'
used throu*hout e%er' nation"
;<@ The Princess of !a',on"
Sometimes she asGed the ird $hether Ama2an
had had an' other mistresses" It ans$ered( #No(#
and she $as at the summit of fe,icit'" Sometimes
she asGed ho$ he )assed his ,ife 7 and she( $ith trans4
)ort( ,earned that it $as em),o'ed in doin* *ood( in
cu,ti%atin* arts( in )enetratin* into the secrets of
nature and im)ro%in* himse,f" She at times $anted
to Gno$ if the sou, of her ,o%er $as of the same
nature as that of her ird 7 ho$ it ha))ened that it
had ,i%ed t$ent' thousand 'ears( $hen her ,o%er $as
not ao%e ei*hteen or nineteen" She )ut a hundred
such uestions( to $hich the ird re),ied $ith such
discretion as e?cited her curiosit'" At ,en*th s,ee)
c,osed their e'es( and 'ie,ded u) Formosanta to the
s$eet de,usion of dreams sent ' the *ods( $hich
sometimes sur)ass rea,it' itse,f( and $hich a,, the
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)hi,oso)h' of the Cha,dseans can scarce e?),ain"
Formosanta did not a$aGen ti,, %er' ,ate" The
da' $as far ad%anced $hen the Gin*( her father( en4
tered her chamer" The ird recei%ed his maHest'
$ith res)ectfu, )o,iteness( $ent efore him( Quttered
his $in*s( stretched his necG( and then re),aced him4
se,f u)on his oran*e tree" The Gin* seated himse,f
u)on his dau*hter+s ed( $hose dreams had made her
sti,, more eautifu," &is ,ar*e eard a))roached
her ,o%e,' face( and after ha%in* emraced her( he
s)oGe to her in these $ords.
#1' dear dau*hter( 'ou cou,d not 'esterda' nd
a husand a*reea,e to m' $ishes 7 'ou ne%erthe,ess
must marr'7 the )ros)erit' of m' em)ire reuires
The Princess of !a',on" ; <
it" I ha%e consu,ted the orac,e( $hich 'ou Gno$
ne%er errs( and $hich directs a,, m' conduct" &is
commands are that 'ou shou,d tra%erse the *,oe"
3ou must therefore e*in 'our Hourne'"#
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#Ah dout,ess to the an*arids(# said the )rin4
cess 7 and in utterin* these $ords( $hich esca)ed her(
she $as sensi,e of her indiscretion" The Gin*( $ho
$as utter,' i*norant of *eo*ra)h'( asGed her $hat
she meant ' the an*arids She easi,' di%erted the
uestion" The Gin* to,d her she must *o on a )i,4
*rima*e( that he had a))ointed the )ersons $ho
$ere to attend her the dean of the counse,,ors of
state( the hi*h a,moner( a ,ad' of honor( a )h'sician(
an a)othecar'( her ird( and a,, necessar' domestics"
Formosanta( $ho had ne%er een out of her fa4
ther+s )a,ace( and $ho( ti,, the arri%a, of the three
Gin*s and Ama2an( had ,ed a %er' insi)id ,ife( ac4
cordin* to the etiuette of ranG and the )arade of
),easure( $as charmed at settin* out u)on a )i,*rim4
a*e" #Who Gno$s(# said she( $his)erin* to her
heart( #if the *ods ma' not ins)ire Ama2an $ith the
,iGe desire of *oin* to the same cha)e,( and I ma'
ha%e the ha))iness of a*ain seein* the )i,*rim#
She aectionate,' thanGed her father( sa'in* she
had a,$a's entertained a secret de%otion for the saint
she $as *oin* to %isit"
!e,us *a%e an e?ce,,ent dinner to his *uests( $ho
$ere a,, men" The' formed a %er' i,,4assorted com4
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)an' Gin*s( ministers( )rinces( )ontis a,, Hea,ous
of each other7 a,, $ei*hin* their $ords and
Vo," ;
;< The Princess of !a',on"
eua,,' emarrassed $ith their nei*hors and them4
se,%es" The re)ast $as %er' *,oom'( thou*h the'
dranG )rett' free,'" The )rincesses remained in
their a)artments( each meditatin* u)on her res)ec4
ti%e Hourne'" The' dined at their ,itt,e co%er" For
mosanta after$ard $a,Ged in the *ardens $ith her
dear ird( $hich( to amuse her( Qe$ from tree to tree(
dis),a'in* his su)er tai, and di%ine ),uma*e"
The Gin* of E*')t( $ho $as heated $ith $ine(
not to sa' drunG( asGed one of his )a*es for a o$
and arro$" This )rince $as( in truth( the most un4
sGi,fu, archer in his $ho,e Gin*dom" When he shot
at a marG( the ),ace of *reatest safet' $as *enera,,'
the s)ot he aimed at" !ut the eautifu, ird( Q'in*
as s$ift,' as the arro$( seemed to court it( and fe,,
,eedin* in the arms of Formosanta" The E*')tian(
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urstin* into a foo,ish ,au*h( retired to his ),ace"
The )rincess rent the sGies $ith her moans( me,ted
into tears( tore her hair( and eat her reast" The
d'in* ird said to her( in a ,o$ %oice . #!urn me( and
fai, not to carr' m' ashes to the east of the ancient
cit' of Aden or Eden( and e?)ose them to the sun
u)on a ,itt,e )i,e of c,o%es and cinnamon"# After
ha%in* uttered these $ords it e?)ired" Formosanta
$as for a ,on* time in a s$oon( and re%i%ed a*ain
on,' to urst into si*hs and *roans" &er father(
)artaGin* of her *rief( and im)recatin* the Gin*
of E*')t( did not dout that this accident foreto,d
some fata, e%ent" &e immediate,' $ent to consu,t
The Princess of !a',on" ;<B
the orac,e( $hich re),ied . #A mi?ture of e%er'thin*
,ife and death( inde,it' and constanc'( ,oss and
*ain( ca,amities and *ood fortune"# Neither he nor
his counci, cou,d com)rehend an' meanin* in this re4
),' 7 ut( at ,en*th( he $as satised $ith ha%in* fu,4
,,ed the duties of de%otion"
&is dau*hter $as athed in tears( $hi,e he con4
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su,ted the orac,e" She )aid the funera, oseuies to
the ird( $hich it had directed( and reso,%ed to carr'
its remains into Araia at the risG of her ,ife" It
$as urned in incomusti,e Qa?( $ith the oran*e4
tree on $hich it used to )erch" She *athered u)
the ashes in a ,itt,e *o,den %ase( set $ith ruies( and
the diamonds taGen from the ,ion+s mouth" Oh
that she cou,d( instead of fu,,,in* this me,ancho,'
dut'( ha%e urned a,i%e the detesta,e Gin* of
E*')t This $as her so,e $ish" She( in s)ite( )ut
to death the t$o crocodi,es( his t$o sea horses( his
t$o 2eras( his t$o rats( and had his t$o mummies
thro$n into the Eu)hrates" &ad she )ossessed his
u,, A)is( she $ou,d not ha%e s)ared him"
The Gin* of E*')t( enra*ed at this aront( set out
immediate,' to for$ard his three hundred thousand
men" The Gin* of India( seein* his a,,' de)art(
set o a,so on the same da'( $ith a rm intention of
Hoinin* his three hundred thousand Indians to -he
E*')tian arm'" The Gin* of Sc'thia decam)ed
in the ni*ht $ith the Princess A,dea( fu,,' reso,%ed
to *ht for her at the head of three hundred thou4
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;<> The Princess of !a',on"
sand Sc'thians( and to restore to her the inheritance
of !a',on( $hich $as her ri*ht( as she had de4
scended from the e,der ranch of the Nimrod fami,'"
As for the eautifu, Formosanta( she set out at
three in the mornin* $ith her cara%an of )i,*rims(
Qatterin* herse,f that she mi*ht *o into Araia( and
e?ecute the ,ast $i,, of her ird 7 and that the Hus4
tice of the *ods $ou,d restore her the dear Ama2an(
$ithout $hom ,ife had ecome insu))orta,e"
When the Gin* of !a',on a$oGe( he found a,,
the com)an' *one"
#&o$ mi*ht' festi%a,s terminate(# said he 7 #and
$hat a sur)risin* %acuum the' ,ea%e $hen the hurr'
is o%er"#
!ut he $as trans)orted $ith a ra*e tru,' ro'a,(
$hen he found that the Princess A,de"i had een car4
ried o" &e ordered a,, his ministers to e ca,,ed
u)( and the counci, to e con%ened" Whi,e the'
$ere dressin*( he fai,ed not to consu,t the orac,e 7
ut the on,' ans$er he cou,d otain $as in these
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$ords( so ce,erated since throu*hout the uni%erse .
#When *ir,s are not )ro%ided for in marria*e ' their
re,ati%es( the' marr' themse,%es"#
Orders $ere immediate,' issued to march three
hundred thousand men a*ainst the Gin* of Sc'thia"
Thus $as the torch of a most dreadfu, $ar ,i*hted
u)( $hich $as caused ' the amusements of the nest
festi%a, e%er *i%en u)on earth" Asia $as u)on the
)oint of ein* o%errun ' four armies of three hun4
The Princess of !a',on" ;<
dred thousand men each" It is ),ain that the $ar of
Tro'( $hich astonished the $or,d some a*es after(
$as mere chi,d+s ),a' in com)arison to this . ut it
shou,d a,so e considered( that in the TroHans+ uar4
re,( the oHect $as nothin* more than a %er' im4
mora, o,d $oman( $ho had contri%ed to e t$ice
run a$a' $ith 7 $hereas( in this case( the cause $as
tri)artite t$o *ir,s and a ird"
The Gin* of India $ent to meet his arm' u)on
the ,ar*e( ne road $hich then ,ed strai*ht to !a'4
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,on( at Cachemir" The Gin* of Sc'thia Qe$ $ith
A,dea ' the ne road $hich ,ed to 1ount Imaus"
O$in* to ad *o%ernment( a,, these ne roads ha%e
disa))eared in the ,a)se of time" The Gin* of
E*')t had marched to the $est( a,on* the coast of
the ,itt,e 1editerranean sea( $hich the i*norant &e4
re$s ha%e since ca,,ed the reat Sea"
As to the charmin* Formosanta( she )ursued the
road to !assora( ),anted $ith ,oft' )a,m trees( $hich
furnished a )er)etua, shade( and fruit at a,, seasons"
The tem),e in $hich she $as to )erform her de%o4
tions( $as in !assora itse,f" The saint to $hom
this tem),e had een dedicated $as some$hat in the
st',e of him $ho $as after$ards adored at Lam)4
sacus( and $as *enera,,' successfu, in )rocurin* hus4
ands for 'oun* ,adies" Indeed( he $as the ho,iest
saint in a,, Asia"
Formosanta had no sort of inc,ination for the saint
of !assora" She on,' in%oGed her dear an*aridian
;<M The Princess of !a',on"
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she)herd( her charmin* Ama2an" She )ro)osed em4
arGin* at !assora( and ,andin* in Araia Fe,i?( to
)erform $hat her deceased ird had commanded"
At the third sta*e( scarce had she entered into a
ne inn( $here her harin*ers had made a,, the nec4
essar' )re)arations for her( $hen she ,earned that
the Gin* of E*')t had arri%ed there a,so" Informed
' his emissaries of the )rincess+ route( he imme4
diate,' a,tered his course( fo,,o$ed ' a numerous
escort" &a%in* a,i*hted( he ),aced sentine,s at a,,
the doors7 then re)aired to the eautifu, Formo4
santa+s a)artment( $hen he addressed her ' sa'in* .
#1iss( 'ou are the ,ad' I $as in uest of" 3ou
)aid me %er' ,itt,e attention $hen I $as at !a',on"
It is Hust to )unish scornfu,( ca)ricious $omen" 3ou
$i,,( if 'ou ),ease( e Gind enou*h to su) $ith me
to4ni*ht 7 and I sha,, eha%e to 'ou accordin* as I
am satised $ith 'ou"#
Formosanta sa$ %er' $e,, that she $as not the
stron*est" She Hud*ed that *ood sense consisted in
Gno$in* ho$ to conform to one+s situation" She re4
so,%ed to *et rid of the Gin* of E*')t ' an inno4
cent strata*em" She ,ooGed at him throu*h the cor4
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ners of her e'es $hich in after a*es has een ca,,ed
o*,in* and then she s)oGe to him( $ith a modest'(
*race( and s$eetness( a confusion( and a thousand
other charms( $hich $ou,d ha%e made the $isest man
a foo,( and decei%ed the most discernin* .
#I acGno$,ed*e( sir( I a,$a's a))eared $ith a
do$ncast ,ooG( $hen 'ou did the Gin*( m' father(
The Princess of !a',on" ;<<
the honor of %isitin* him" I had some a))rehensions
for m' heart" I dreaded m' too *reat sim),icit'" I
trem,ed ,est m' father and 'our ri%a,s shou,d o4
ser%e the )reference I *a%e 'ou( and $hich 'ou so
hi*h,' deser%ed" I can no$ dec,are m' sentiments"
I s$ear ' the u,, A)is( $hich after 'ou is the thin*
I res)ect the most in the $or,d( that 'our )ro)osa,s
ha%e enchanted me" I ha%e a,read' su))ed $ith
'ou at m' father+s( and I $i,, su) $ith 'ou a*ain(
$ithout his ein* of the )art'" A,, that I reuest of
'ou is that 'our hi*h a,moner shou,d drinG $ith
us" &e a))eared to me at !a',on to e an e?ce,,ent
*uest" I ha%e some Chiras $ine remarGa,' *ood"
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I $i,, maGe 'ou oth taste it" I consider 'ou as
the *reatest of Gin*s( and the most amia,e of men"#
This discourse turned the Gin* of E*')t+s head"
&e a*reed to ha%e the a,moner+s com)an'"
#I ha%e another fa%or to asG of 'ou(# said the
)rincess( #$hich is to a,,o$ me to s)eaG to m' a)othe4
car'" Women ha%e a,$a's some ,itt,e ai,s that re4
uire attention( such as %a)ors in the head( )a,)ita4
tions of the heart( co,ics( and the ,iGe( $hich often
reuire some assistance" In a $ord( I at )resent
stand in need of m' a)othecar'( and I ho)e 'ou $i,,
not refuse me this s,i*ht testimon' of condence"#
#1iss(# re),ied the Gin* of E*')t( #I Gno$ ,ife
too $e,, to refuse 'ou so Hust a demand" I $i,, order
the a)othecar' to attend 'ou $hi,e su))er is )re4
)arin*" I ima*ine 'ou must e some$hat fati*ued
' the Hourne'7 'ou $i,, a,so ha%e occasion for a
@OO The Princess of !a',on"
chamermaid 7 'ou ma' order her 'ou ,iGe est to
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attend 'ou" I $i,, after$ards $ait 'our commands
and con%enience"#
&e then retired( and the a)othecar' and the cham4
ermaid( named Ir,a( entered" The )rincess had en4
tire condence in her" She ordered her to rin* si?
ott,es of Chiras $ine for su))er( and to maGe a,,
the sentine,s( $ho had her ocers under arrest( drinG
the same" Then she recommended her a)othecar'
to infuse in a,, the ott,es certain )harmaceutic dru*s(
$hich maGe those $ho taGe them s,ee) t$ent'4four
hours( and $ith $hich he $as a,$a's )ro%ided" She
$as im),icit,' oe'ed" The Gin* returned $ith his
hi*h a,moner in aout ha,f an hour+s time" The con4
%ersation at su))er $as %er' *a'" The Gin* and the
)riest em)tied the si? ott,es( and acGno$,ed*ed
there $as not such *ood $ine in E*')t" The cham4
ermaid $as attenti%e to maGe the ser%ants in $ait4
in* drinG" As for the )rincess( she tooG *reat care
not to drinG an' herse,f( sa'in* that she $as ordered
' her )h'sician a )articu,ar re*imen" The' $ere
a,, )resent,' as,ee)"
The Gin* of E*')t+s a,moner had one of the nest
eards that a man of his ranG cou,d $ear" Formo4
santa ,o))ed it o %er' sGi,fu,,' 7 then se$in* it to
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a rion( she )ut it on her o$n chin" She then
dressed herse,f in the )riest+s roes( and decGed her4
se,f in a,, the marGs of his di*nit'( and her $aitin*
maid c,ad herse,f ,iGe the sacristan of the *oddess
Isis" At ,en*th( ha%in* furnished herse,f $ith hi
The Princess of !a',on" @=;
urn and He$e,s( she set out from the inn amidst the
sentine,s( $ho $ere as,ee) ,iGe their master" &er at4
tendant had taGen care to ha%e t$o horses read' at
the door" The )rincess cou,d not taGe $ith her
an' of the ocers of her train" The' $ou,d ha%e
een sto))ed ' the *reat *uard"
Formosanta and Ir,a )assed throu*h se%era, ranGs
of so,diers( $ho( taGin* the )rincess for the hi*h
)riest( ca,,ed her( #1' most Re%erend Father in
od(# and asGed his ,essin*" The t$o fu*iti%es ar4
ri%ed in t$ent'4four hours at !assora( efore the
Gin* a$oGe" The' then thre$ o their dis*uise(
$hich mi*ht ha%e created some sus)icion" The'
tted out $ith a,, )ossi,e e?)edition a shi)( $hich
carried them( ' the Straits of Ormus( to the eau4
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tifu, anGs of Eden in Araia Fe,i?" This $as that
Eden $hose *ardens $ere so famous that the' ha%e
since een the residence of the est of manGind" The'
$ere the mode, of the E,'sian e,ds( the *ardens of
the &es)erides( and a,so those of the Fortunate
Is,ands" In those $arm c,imates men ima*ined there
cou,d e no *reater fe,icit' than shades and mur4
murin* rooGs" To ,i%e eterna,,' in hea%en $ith the
Su)reme !ein*( or to $a,G in the *arden of )aradise(
$as the same thin* to those $ho incessant,' s)oGe
$ithout understandin* one another( and $ho cou,d
scarce ha%e an' distinct ideas or Hust e?)ressions"
As soon as the )rincess found herse,f in this ,and(
her rst care $as to )a' her dear ird the funera,
oseuies he had reuired of her" &er eautifu,
@O@ The Princess of !a',on"
hands )re)ared a sma,, uantit' of c,o%es and cin4
namon" What $as her sur)rise( $hen( ha%in* s)read
the ashes of the ird u)on this funera, )'re( she sa$
it ,a2e of itse,f A,, $as )resent,' consumed" In
the ),ace of the ashes there a))eared nothin* ut a
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,ar*e e**( $hence she sa$ her ird issue more ri,4
,iant than e%er" This $as one of the most ha))'
moments the )rincess had e%er e?)erienced in her
$ho,e ,ife" There $as ut another that cou,d e%er
e dearer to her 7 it $as the oHect of her $ishes( ut
a,most e'ond her ho)es"
#I ),ain,' see(# said she( to the ird( #'ou are the
)hoeni? of $hich I ha%e heard so much s)oGen" I am
a,most read' to e?)ire $ith Ho' and astonishment" I
did not e,ie%e in 'our resurrection 7 ut it is m' *ood
fortune to e con%inced of it"#
#Resurrection( in fact(# said the )hoeni? to her( #is
one of the most sim),e thin*s in the $or,d" There is
nothin* more in ein* orn t$ice than once" E%er'4
thin* in this $or,d is the eect of resurrection"
Cater)i,,ars are re*enerated into utterQies 7 a Ger4
ne, )ut into the earth is re*enerated into a tree" A,,
anima,s uried in earth re*enerate into %e*etation(
hers( and ),ants( and nourish other anima,s( of
$hich the' s)eedi,' com)ose )art of the sustance"
A,, )artic,es $hich com)ose odies are transformed
into dierent ein*s" It is true( that I am the on,'
one to $hom Oromasdes has *ranted the fa%or of
re*eneratin* m' o$n form"#
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Formosanta( $ho( from the moment she rst sa$
The Princess of !a',on" @=
Ama2an and the )hoeni?( had )assed a,, her time in
a round of astonishment( said to him .
#I can easi,' concei%e that the Su)reme !ein*
ma' form out of 'our ashes a )hoeni? near,' resem4
,in* 'ourse,f 7 ut that 'ou shou,d e )recise,' the
same )erson( that 'ou shou,d ha%e the same sou,( is
a thin*( I acGno$,ed*e( I cannot %er' c,ear,' com4
)rehend" What ecame of 'our sou, $hen I carried
'ou in m' )ocGet after 'our death #
#ReQect one moment Is it not as eas' for the
*reat Oromasdes to continue action u)on a sin*,e
atom of m' ein* as to e*in afresh this action &e
had efore *ranted me sensation( memor'( and
thou*ht" &e *rants them to me a*ain" Whether
he united this fa%or to an atom of e,ementar' re(
,atent $ithin me( or to the assem,a*e of m' or*ans(
is( in rea,it'( of no conseuence" 1en( as $e,, as
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)hoeni?es( are entire,' i*norant ho$ thin*s come to
)ass 7 ut the *reatest fa%or the Su)reme !ein* has
esto$ed u)on me is to re*enerate me for 'ou" Oh
that I ma' )ass the t$ent'4ei*ht thousand 'ears
$hich I ha%e sti,, to ,i%e efore m' ne?t resurrec4
tion( $ith 'ou and m' dear Ama2an"#
#1' dear )hoeni?( rememer $hat 'ou rst to,d
me at !a',on( $hich I sha,, ne%er for*et( and $hich
Qattered me $ith the ho)e of a*ain seein* m' dear
she)herd( $hom I ido,i2e 7 +$e must aso,ute,' )a'
the an*arids a %isit to*ether(+ and I must carr'
Ama2an acG $ith me to !a',on"#
#This is )recise,' m' desi*n(# said the )hoeni?"
@= The Princess of !a',on"
#There is not a moment to ,ose" We must *o in search
of Ama2an ' the shortest road( that is( throu*h the
air" There are in Araia Fe,i? t$o *rins( $ho
are m' )articu,ar friends( and $ho ,i%e on,' a hun4
dred and ft' thousand ,ea*ues from here" I am
*oin* to $rite to them ' the )i*eon )ost( and the'
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$i,, e here efore ni*ht" We sha,, ha%e time to
maGe 'ou a con%enient )a,anuin( $ith dra$ers( in
$hich 'ou ma' ),ace 'our )ro%isions" 3ou $i,, e
uite at 'our ease in this %ehic,e( $ith 'our maid"
These t$o *rins are the most %i*orous of their
Gind" Each of them $i,, su))ort one of the )o,es
of the cano)' et$een their c,a$s" !ut( once for a,,
time is %er' )recious"#
&e instant,' $ent $ith Formosanta to order the
carria*e from an u)ho,sterer of his acuaintance" It
$as made com),ete in four hours" In the dra$ers
$ere ),aced sma,, ne ,oa%es( iscuits su)erior to
those of !a',on( ,ar*e ,emons( )inea)),es( cocoa(
and )istachio nuts( Eden $ine( $hich is as su)erior
to that of Chiras( as Chiras is to that of Surinam"
The t$o *rins arri%ed at Eden at the a))ointed
time" The %ehic,e $as as ,i*ht as it $as commodious
and so,id( and Formosanta and Ir,a ),aced them4
se,%es in it" The t$o *rins carried it o ,iGe a
feather" The )hoeni? sometimes Qe$ after it( and
sometimes )erched u)on its roof" The t$o *rins
$in*ed their $a' to$ard the an*es $ith the %e4
,ocit' of an arro$ $hich rends the air" The' ne%er
sto))ed ut a moment at ni*ht for the tra%e,,ers to
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The Princess of !a',on" @=B
taGe some refreshment( and the carriers to taGe a
drau*ht of $ater"
The' at ,en*th reached the countr' of the an4
*arids" The )rincess+ heart )a,)itated $ith ho)e(
,o%e and Ho'" The )hoeni? sto))ed the %ehic,e efore
Ama2an+s house 7 ut Ama2an had een asent from
home three hours( $ithout an' one Gno$in* $hither
he had *one"
There are no $ords( e%en in the an*aridian ,an4
*ua*e( that cou,d e?)ress Formosanta+s e?treme de4
s)air"
#A,as that is $hat I dreaded(# said the )hoeni? .
#the three hours $hich 'ou )assed at the inn( u)on
the road to !assora( $ith that $retched Gin* of
E*')t( ha%e )erha)s een at the )rice of the ha)4
)iness of 'our $ho,e ,ife" I %er' much fear $e ha%e
,ost Ama2an( $ithout the )ossii,it' of reco%erin*
him"#
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&e then asGed the ser%ants if he cou,d sa,ute the
mother of Ama2an The' ans$ered( that her hus4
and had died on,' t$o da's efore( and she cou,d
s)eaG to no one" The )hoeni?( $ho $as not $ithout
inQuence in the house( introduced the )rincess of
!a',on into a sa,oon( the $a,,s of $hich $ere co%4
ered $ith oran*e4tree $ood in,aid $ith i%or'" The
inferior she)herds and she)herdesses( $ho $ere
dressed in ,on*( $hite *arments( $ith *o,d4co,ored
trimmin*s( ser%ed u)( in a hundred ),ain )orce,ain
asGets( a hundred %arious de,icacies( amon* $hich
n() dis*uised carcasses $ere to seen" The'
@=> The Princess of !a',on"
sisted of rice( sa*o( %ermice,,i( macaroni( ome,ets(
mi,G( e**s( cream( cheese( )astr' of e%er' Gind( %e*e4
ta,es( fruits( )ecu,iar,' fra*rant and *ratefu, to the
taste( of $hich no idea can e formed in other c,i4
mates 7 and the' $ere accom)anied $ith a )rofusion
of refreshin* ,iuors su)erior to the nest $ine"
Whi,st the )rincess re*a,ed herse,f( seated u)on a
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ed of roses( four )eacocGs( $ho $ere ,ucGi,' mute(
fanned her $ith their ri,,iant $in*s 7 t$o hundred
irds( one hundred she)herds and she)herdesses(
$ar,ed a concert in t$o dierent choirs 7 the ni*ht4
in*a,es( thist,enches( ,innets( chanches( sun* the
hi*her notes $ith the she)herdesses( and the she)4
herds sun* the tenor and ass" The )rincess ac4
Gno$,ed*ed( that if there $as more ma*nicence at
!a',on( nature $as innite,' more a*reea,e amon*
the an*arids 7 ut $hi,e this conso,ator' and %o,4
u)tuous music $as ),a'in*( tears Qo$ed from her
e'es( $hi,e she said to the damse, Ir,a .
#These she)herds and she)herdesses( these ni*ht4
in*a,es( these ,innets( are maGin* ,o%e 7 and for m'
)art I am de)ri%ed of the com)an' of the an*ar4
idian hero( the $orth' oHect of m' most tender
thou*hts"#
Whi,e she $as taGin* this co,,ation( her tears and
admiration Ge)t )ace $ith each other( and the )hoeni?
addressed himse,f to Ama2an+s mother( sa'in*.
#1adam( 'ou cannot a%oid seein* the )rincess of
!a',on 7 'ou Gno$ #
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#I Gno$ e%er'thin*(# said she( #e%en her ad%en4
The Princess of !a',on" @=
ture at the inn( u)on the road to !assora" A ,acG4
ird re,ated the $ho,e to me this mornin* 7 and this
crue, ,acGird is the cause of m' son+s *oin* mad(
and ,ea%in* his )aterna, aode"#
#3ou ha%e not een informed( then( that the )rin4
cess re*enerated me #
#No( m' dear chi,d( the ,acGird to,d me 'ou
$ere dead( and this made me inconso,a,e" I $as
so aYicted at this ,oss( the death of m' husand( and
the )reci)itate Qi*ht of m' son( that I ordered m'
door to e shut to e%er'one" !ut since the )rincess
of !a',on has done me the honor of )a'in* me a
%isit( I e* she ma' e immediate,' introduced" I
ha%e matters of *reat im)ortance to acuaint her
$ith( and I choose 'ou shou,d e )resent"#
She then $ent to meet the )rincess in another sa4
,oon" She cou,d not $a,G %er' $e,," This ,ad' $as
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aout three hundred 'ears o,d 7 ut she had sti,, some
a*reea,e %esti*es of eaut'" It mi*ht e conHec4
tured( that aout her t$o hundred and fortieth( or
t$o hundred and ftieth 'ear( she must ha%e een
a most charmin* $oman" She recei%ed Formosanta
$ith a res)ectfu, no,eness( ,ended $ith an air of
interest and sorro$( $hich made a %er' ,i%e,' im4
)ression u)on the )rincess"
Formosanta immediate,' )aid her the com),iments
of condo,ence u)on her husand+s death"
#A,as # said the $ido$( #'ou ha%e more reason
to ,ament his death than 'ou ima*ine"#
#I am( dout,ess( *reat,' aYicted(# said Formo4
@=M The Princess of !a',on"
santa7 #he $as father to "# &ere a Qood of
tears )re%ented her from *oin* on" #For his saGe
on,' I undertooG this Hourne'( in $hich I ha%e so nar4
ro$,' esca)ed man' dan*ers" For him I ,eft m'
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father( and the most s),endid court in the uni%erse"
I $as detained ' a Gin* of E*')t( $hom I detest"
&a%in* esca)ed from this t'rant( I ha%e tra%ersed
the air in search of the on,' man I ,o%e" When I
arri%e( he Qies from me# &ere si*hs and tears
sto))ed her im)assioned haran*ue"
&is mother then said to her .
#When the Gin* of E*')t made 'ou his )ris4
oner7 $hen 'ou su))ed $ith him at an inn u)on
the road to !assora7 $hen 'our eautifu, hands
,,ed him um)ers of Chiras $ine( did 'ou oser%e
a ,acGird that Qe$ aout the room #
#3es( rea,,'(# said the )rincess( #I no$ reco,,ect
there $as such a ird( thou*h at that time I did not
)a' it the ,east attention" !ut in co,,ectin* m' ideas(
I no$ rememer $e,,( that at the instant $hen the
Gin* of E*')t rose from the ta,e to *i%e me a Giss(
the ,acGird Qe$ out at the $indo$ *i%in* a ,oud
cr'( and ne%er a))eared after"#
#A,as madam(# resumed Ama2an+s mother( #this
is )recise,' the cause of a,, our misfortunes 7 m' son
had des)atched this ,acGird to *ain inte,,i*ence of
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'our hea,th( and a,, that )assed at !a',on" &e )ro4
)osed s)eedi,' to return( thro$ himse,f at 'our feet(
and consecrate to 'ou the remainder of his ,ife" 3ou
Gno$ not to $hat a )itch he adores 'ou" A,, the
The Princess of !a',on" @=<
an*arids are oth ,o%in* and faithfu, 7 ut m' son
is the most )assionate and constant of them a,," The
,acGird found 'ou at an inn( drinGin* %er' cheer4
fu,,' $ith the Gin* of E*')t and a %i,e )riest 7 he
after$ards sa$ 'ou *i%e this monarch $ho had Gi,,ed
the )hoeni? the man m' son ho,ds in utter detesta4
tion a fond emrace" The ,acGird( at the si*ht of
this( $as sei2ed $ith a Hust indi*nation" &e Qe$
a$a' im)recatin* 'our fata, error" &e returned
this da'( and has re,ated e%er'thin*" !ut( Hust
hea%en( at $hat a Huncture At the %er' time that m'
son $as de),orin* $ith me the ,oss of his father and
that of the $ise )hoeni?( the %er' instant I had in4
formed him that he $as 'our cousin4*erman #
#Oh hea%ens m' cousin( madam( is it )ossi,e
&o$ can this e And am I so ha))' as to e thus
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a,,ied to him( and 'et so misera,e as to ha%e oended
him #
#1' son is( I te,, 'ou(# said the an*aridian ,ad'(
#'our cousin( and I sha,, )resent,' con%ince 'ou of
it 7 ut in ecomin* m' re,ation( 'ou ro me of m'
son" &e cannot sur%i%e the *rief that the emrace
'ou *a%e to the Gin* of E*')t has occasioned him"#
#Ah m' dear aunt(# cried the eautifu, Formo4
santa( #I s$ear ' him and the a,,4)o$erfu, Oro4
masdes( that this emrace( so far from ein* crimina,(
$as the stron*est )roof of ,o%e 'our son cou,d re4
cei%e from me" I disoe'ed m' father for his saGe"
For him I $ent from the Eu)hrates to the an*es"
&a%in* fa,,en into the hands of the $orth,ess
Vo," ;
The Princess of !a',on"
Pharaoh of E*')t( I cou,d not esca)e his c,utches
ut ' artice" I ca,, the ashes and sou, of the )hoe4
ni? $hich $ere then in m' )ocGet( to $itness" &e
can do me Hustice" !ut ho$ can 'our son( orn u)on
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the anGs of the an*es( e m' cousin I( $hose
fami,' ha%e rei*ned u)on the anGs of the Eu)hrates
for so man' centuries #
#3ou Gno$(# said the %enera,e an*aridian ,ad'
to her( #that 'our *randunc,e A,dea $as Gin* of
!a',on( and that he $as dethroned ' !e,us+
father#
#3es( madam"#
#3ou Gno$ that this A,dea had in marria*e a
dau*hter named A,dea( rou*ht u) in 'our court
It $as this )rince( $ho( ein* )ersecuted ' 'our
father( tooG refu*e under another name in our ha))'
countr'" &e married me( and is the father of the
'oun* )rince A,dea Ama2an( the most eautifu,( the
most coura*eous( the stron*est( and most %irtuous
of morta,s 7 and at this hour the most unha))'" &e
$ent to the !a',onian festi%a, u)on the credit of
'our eaut'7 since that time he ido,i2es 'ou( and
no$ *rie%es ecause he e,ie%es that 'ou ha%e )ro%ed
unfaithfu, to him" Perha)s I sha,, ne%er a*ain set
e'es u)on m' dear son"#
She then dis),a'ed to the )rincess a,, the tit,es
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of the house of A,dea" Formosanta scarce dei*ned
to ,ooG at them"
#Ah madam( do $e e?amine $hat is the oHect
The Princess of !a',on" @;;
of our desire 1' heart sucient,' e,ie%es 'ou"
!ut $here is A,dea Ama2an Where is m' Ginsman(
m' ,o%er( m' Gin* Where is m' ,ife What road
has he taGen I $i,, seeG for him in e%er' s)here
the Eterna, !ein* has framed( and of $hich he is the
*reatest ornament" I $i,, *o into the star Cano)e(
into Sheath( into A,dearan 7 I $i,, *o and te,, him
of m' ,o%e and con%ince him of m' innocence"#
The )hoeni? Hustied the )rincess $ith re*ard to
the crime that $as im)uted to her ' the ,acGird(
of fond,' emracin* the Gin* of E*')t 7 ut it $as
necessar' to undecei%e Ama2an and reca,, him"
!irds $ere des)atched on e%er' side" 0nicorns $ere
sent for$ard in e%er' direction" Ne$s at ,en*th
arri%ed that Ama2an had taGen the road to$ards
China"
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#We,,( then(# said the )rincess( #,et us set out
for China" I $i,, seeG him in deance of oth dif4
cu,t' and dan*er" The Hourne' is not ,on*( and I
ho)e I sha,, rin* 'ou acG 'our son in a fortni*ht
at farthest"#
At these $ords tears of aection streamed from
his mother+s e'es and a,so from those of the )rincess"
The' most tender,' emraced( in the *reat sensii,it'
of their hearts"
The )hoeni? immediate,' ordered a coach $ith
si? unicorns" Ama2an+s mother furnished t$o thou4
sand horsemen( and made the )rincess( her niece( a
)resent of some thousands of the nest diamonds of
@;@ The Princess of !a',on"
her countr'" The )hoeni?( aYicted at the e%i, occa4
sioned ' the ,acGird+s indiscretion( ordered a,,
the ,acGirds to uit the countr' 7 and from that time
none ha%e een met $ith u)on the anGs of the
an*es"
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C&APTER V
FOR1OSANTA VISITS C&INA AND SC3T&IA IN SEARC&
OF A1A9AN"
The unicorn( in ,ess than ei*ht da's( carried For4
mosanta( Ir,a( and the )hoeni?( to Cama,u( the ca)i4
ta, of China" This cit' $as ,ar*er than !a',on( and
in a))earance uite dierent" These fresh oHects(
these stran*e manners( $ou,d ha%e amused Formo4
santa cou,d an'thin* ut Ama2an ha%e en*a*ed
her attention"
As soon as the em)eror of China ,earned that the
)rincess of !a',on $as at the cit' *ates( he des4
)atched four thousand mandarins in ceremonia,
roes to recei%e her" The' a,, )rostrated themse,%es
efore her( and )resented her $ith an address $ritten
in *o,den ,etters u)on a sheet of )ur),e si,G" Formo4
santa to,d them( that if she $ere )ossessed of four
thousand ton*ues( she $ou,d not omit re),'in* im4
mediate,' to e%er' mandarin7 ut that ha%in* on,'
one( she ho)ed the' $ou,d e satised $ith her
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*enera, thanGs" The' conducted her( in a res)ectfu,
manner( to the em)eror"
The Princess of !a',on" @;
&e $as the $isest( most Hust and ene%o,ent
monarch u)on earth" It $as he $ho rst ti,,ed a
sma,, e,d $ith his o$n im)eria, hands( to maGe
a*ricu,ture res)ecta,e to his )eo),e" La$s in a,,
other countries $ere shamefu,,' conned to the )un4
ishment of crimes . he rst a,,otted )remiums to %ir4
tue" This em)eror had Hust anished from his do4
minions a *an* of forei*n !on2es( $ho had come
from the e?tremities of the West( $ith the frantic
ho)e of com)e,,in* a,, China to thinG ,iGe themse,%es 7
and $ho( under )retence of teachin* truths( had
a,read' acuired honors and riches" In e?)e,,in*
them( he de,i%ered himse,f in these $ords( $hich are
recorded in the anna,s of the em)ire .
3ou ma' here do as much harm as 'ou ha%e e,se$here"
3ou ha%e come to )reach do*mas of into,erance to the most
to,erant nation u)on earth" I send 'ou acG( that I ma'
ne%er e com)e,,ed to )unish 'ou" 3ou $i,, e honora,'
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conducted to m' frontiers" 3ou $i,, e furnished $ith e%er'4
thin* necessar' to return to the connes of the hemis)here
$hence 'ou came" De)art in )eace( if 'ou can e at )eace(
and ne%er return"
The )rincess of !a',on heard $ith ),easure of
this s)eech and determination" She $as the more
certain of ein* $e,, recei%ed at court( as she $as
%er' far from entertainin* an' do*mas of into,erance"
The em)eror of China( in dinin* $ith her tete4a4tete(
had the )o,iteness to anish a,, disa*reea,e etiuette"
She )resented the )hoeni? to him( $ho $as *ent,'
caressed ' the em)eror( and $ho )erched u)on his
chair" Formosanta( to$ards the end of the re)ast(
in*enuous,' acuainted him $ith the cause of her
@; The Princess of !a',on"
Hourne'( and entreated him to search for the eauti4
fu, Ama2an in the cit' of Cama,u 7 and mean$hi,e
she acuainted the em)eror $ith her ad%entures(
$ithout concea,in* the fata, )assion $ith $hich her
heart urned for this 'outhfu, hero"
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#&e did me the honor of comin* to m' court(#
said the em)eror of China" #I $as enchanted $ith
this amia,e Ama2an" It is true that he is dee),'
aYicted 7 ut his *races are there' the more aect4
in*" Not one of m' fa%orites has more $it" There
is not a *o$n mandarin $ho has more Gno$,ed*e(
not a mi,itar' one $ho has a more martia, or heroic
air" &is e?treme 'outh adds an additiona, %a,ue
to a,, his ta,ents" If I $ere so unfortunate( so
aandoned ' the Tien and Chan*ti( as to desire to
e a conueror( I $ou,d $ish Ama2an to )ut him4
se,f at the head of m' armies( and I shou,d e sure
of conuerin* the $ho,e uni%erse" It is a *reat )it'
that his me,ancho,' sometimes disconcerts him"#
#Ah sir(# said Formosanta( $ith much a*itation
and *rief( ,ended $ith an air of re)roach( #$h' did
'ou not reuest me to dine $ith him This is a
crue, stroGe 'ou ha%e *i%en me" Send for him im4
mediate,'( I entreat 'ou"#
#&e set out this %er' mornin*(# re),ied the em4
)eror( #$ithout acuaintin* me $ith his destina4
tion"#
Formosanta( turnin* to$ards the )hoeni?( said to
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him.
The Princess of !a',on" @;B
#Did 'ou e%er Gno$ so unfortunate a damse, as
m'se,f # Then resumin* the con%ersation( she said .
#Sir( ho$ came he to uit in so aru)t a manner
so )o,ite a court( in $hich( methinGs( one mi*ht )ass
one+s ,ife#
#The case $as as fo,,o$s(# said he" #One of the
most amia,e of the )rincesses of the ,ood( fa,,in*
des)erate,' in ,o%e $ith him( desired to meet him at
noon" &e set out at da'reaG( ,ea%in* this i,,et
for m' Gins$oman( $hom it hath cost a de,u*e of
tears .
!eautifu, )rincess of the 1on*o,ian race. 3ou are de4
ser%in* of a heart that $as ne%er oered u) at an' other
a,tar" I ha%e s$orn to the immorta, *ods ne%er to ,o%e an'
other than Formosanta( )rincess of !a',on( and to teach
her ho$ to conuer one+s desires in tra%e,,in*" She has had
the misfortune to 'ie,d to a $orth,ess Gin* of E*')t" I am
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the most unfortunate of men( ha%in* ,ost m' father( the
)hoeni?( and the ho)e of ein* ,o%ed ' Formosanta" I ,eft
m' mother in aYiction( forsooG m' home and countr'( ein*
una,e to ,i%e a moment in the ),ace $here I ,earned that
Formosanta ,o%ed another than me" I s$ore to tra%erse the
earth( and e faithfu," 3ou $ou,d des)ise me( and the *ods
)unish me( if I %io,ated m' oath" Choose another ,o%er(
madam( and e as faithfu, as I am"
#Ah *i%e me that miracu,ous ,etter(# said the
eautifu, Formosanta 7 #it $i,, aord me some con4
so,ation" I am ha))' in the midst of m' misfortunes"
Ama2an ,o%es me Ama2an( for me( renounces the
societ' of the )rincesses of China" There is no one
u)on earth ut himse,f endo$ed $ith so much for4
titude" &e sets me a most ri,,iant e?am),e" The
)hoeni? Gno$s I did not stand in need of it" &o$
crue, it is to e de)ri%ed of one+s ,o%er for the most
@i> The Princess of !a',on"
innocent emrace *i%en throu*h )ure de,it'" !ut(
te,, me( $hither has he *one What road has he
taGen Dei*n to inform me( and I $i,, immediate,'
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set out"#
The em)eror of China to,d her that( accordin*
to the re)orts he had recei%ed( her ,o%er had taGen
the road to$ard Sc'thia" The unicorns $ere im4
mediate,' harnessed( and the )rincess( after the most
tender com),iments( tooG ,ea%e of the em)eror( and
resumed her Hourne' $ith the )hoeni?( her chamer4
maid Ir,a( and a,, her train"
As soon as she arri%ed in Sc'thia( she $as more
con%inced than e%er ho$ much men and *o%ernments
diered( and $ou,d continue to dier( unti, no,e and
en,i*htened minds shou,d ' de*rees remo%e that
c,oud of darGness $hich has co%ered the earth for
so man' a*es 7 and unti, there shou,d e found in
ararous c,imes( heroic sou,s $ho $ou,d ha%e
stren*th and )erse%erance enou*h to transform
rutes into men" There are no cities in Sc'thia( con4
seuent,' no a*reea,e arts" Nothin* $as to e seen
ut e?tensi%e e,ds( and $ho,e tries $hose so,e
i
haitations $ere tents and chars" Such an a))ear4
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ance strucG her $ith terror" Formosanta inuired in
$hat tent or char the Gin* $as ,od*ed She $as
informed that he had set out ei*ht da's efore $ith
three hundred thousand ca%a,r' to attacG the Gin*
of !a',on( $hose niece( the eautifu, Princess
A,dea( he had carried o"
#What did he run a$a' $ith m' cousin# cried
The Princess of !a',on" @;
Formosanta" #I cou,d not ha%e ima*ined such an
incident" What has m' cousin( $ho $as too ha))'
in )a'in* her court to me( ecome a ueen( and I
am not 'et married# She $as immediate,' con4
ducted( ' her desire( to the ueen+s tent"
Their une?)ected meetin* in such distant c,imes 7
the uncommon occurrences the' mutua,,' had to im4
)art to each other( *a%e such charm to this inter4
%ie$ as made them for*et the' ne%er ,o%ed one
another" The' sa$ each other $ith trans)ort 7 and
a soft i,,usion su)),ied the ),ace of rea, tenderness"
The' emraced $ith tears( and there $as a cordia,it'
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and franGness on each side that cou,d not ha%e taGen
),ace in a )a,ace"
A,dea rememered the )hoeni? and the $aitin*
maid Ir,a" She )resented her cousin $ith 2ie,ine
sGins( $ho in return *a%e her diamonds" The $ar e4
t$een the t$o Gin*s $as s)oGen of" The' de),ored
the fate of so,diers $ho $ere forced into att,e( the
%ictims of the ca)rice of )rinces( $hen t$o honest
men mi*ht( )erha)s( sett,e the dis)ute in ,ess than
an hour( $ithout a sin*,e throat ein* cut" !ut the
)rinci)a, to)ic $as the handsome stran*er( $ho had
conuered ,ions( *i%en the ,ar*est diamonds in the
uni%erse( $ritten madri*a,s( and had no$ ecome the
most misera,e of men from e,ie%in* the statements
of a ,acGird"
#&e is m' dear rother(# said A,dea" #&e is
m' ,o%er(# cried Formosanta" #3ou ha%e dout4
,ess seen him" Is he sti,, here For( cousin( as he
@i M The Princess of !a',on" (
Gno$s he is 'our rother( he cannot ha%e ,eft 'ou so
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aru)t,' as he did the Gin* of China"#
#&a%e I seen him ood hea%ens 'es" &e
)assed four $ho,e da's $ith me" Ah cousin( ho$
much m' rother is to ,ame" A fa,se re)ort has
aso,ute,' turned his rain" &e roams aout the
$or,d( $ithout Gno$in* $hither he is destined"
Ima*ine to 'ourse,f his distraction of mind( $hich
is so *reat that he has refused to meet the hand4
somest ,ad' in a,, Sc'thia" &e set out 'esterda'(
after $ritin* her a ,etter $hich has thro$n her into
des)air" As for him( he has *one to %isit the Cim4
merians"#
#od e thanGed # cried Formosanta 7 #another
refusa, in m' fa%or" 1' *ood fortune is e'ond m'
ho)es( as m' misfortunes sur)ass m' *reatest a)4
)rehensions" Procure me this charmin* ,etter that
I ma' set out and fo,,o$ him( ,oaded $ith his sacri4
ces" Fare$e,,( cousin" Ama2an is amon* the Cim4
merians( and I Q' to meet him"#
A,dea Hud*ed that the )rincess( her cousin( $as
sti,, more frantic than her rother Ama2an" !ut as
she had herse,f een sensi,e of the eects of this
e)idemic conta*ion( ha%in* *i%en u) the de,i*hts
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and ma*nicence of !a',on for a Gin* of Sc'thia 7
and as the $omen a,$a's e?cuse those fo,,ies that
are the eects of ,o%e( she fe,t for Formosanta+s
aYiction( $ished her a ha))' Hourne'( and )romised
to e her ad%ocate $ith her rother( if e%er she $as
so fortunate as to see him a*ain"
The Princess of !a',on" @ ; <
C&APTER VI"
T&E PRINCESS CONTIN0ES &ER /O0RNE3"
From Sc'thia the )rincess of !a',on( $ith her
)hoeni?( soon arri%ed at the em)ire of the Cim4
merians( no$ ca,,ed Russia 7 a countr' indeed much
,ess )o)u,ous than Sc'thia( ut of far *reater e?4
tent"
After a fe$ da's+ Hourne' she entered a %er' ,ar*e
cit'( $hich has of ,ate een *reat,' im)ro%ed ' the
rei*nin* so%erei*n" The em)ress( ho$e%er( $as not
there at that time( ut $as maGin* a Hourne' throu*h
her dominions on the frontiers of Euro)e and Asia(
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in order to Hud*e of their state and condition $ith
her o$n e'es( to inuire into their *rie%ances( and to
)ro%ide the )ro)er remedies for them"
The )rinci)a, ma*istrate of that ancient ca)ita,( as
soon as he $as informed of the arri%a, of the !a'4
,onian ,ad' and the )hoeni?( ,ost no time in )a'in*
her a,, the honors of his countr' 7 ein* certain that
his mistress( the most )o,ite and *enerous em)ress
in the $or,d( $ou,d e e?treme,' $e,, ),eased to
nd that he had recei%ed so i,,ustrious a ,ad' $ith
a,, that res)ect $hich she herse,f( if on the s)ot(
$ou,d ha%e sho$n her"
The )rincess $as ,od*ed in the )a,ace and en4
tertained $ith *reat s),endor and e,e*ance" The
Cimmerian ,ord( $ho $as an e?ce,,ent natura, )hi4
,oso)her( di%erted himse,f in con%ersin* $ith the
@@= The Princess of !a',on"
)hoeni? at such times as the )rincess chose to retire
to her o$n a)artment" The )hoeni? to,d him that he
had former,' tra%e,,ed amon* the Cimmerians( ut
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that he shou,d not ha%e Gno$n the countr' a*ain"
#&o$ comes it(# said he( #that such )rodi*ious
chan*es ha%e een rou*ht aout in so short a time
Former,'( $hen I $as here( aout three hundred
'ears a*o( I sa$ nothin* ut sa%a*e nature in a,,
her horrors" At )resent( I )ercei%e industr'( arts(
s),endor( and )o,iteness"#
#This mi*ht' re%o,ution(# re),ied the Cimmerian(
#$as e*un ' one man( and is no$ carried to )er4
fection ' one $oman7 a $oman $ho is a *reater
,e*is,ator than the Isis of the E*')tians or the Ceres
of the reeGs" 1ost ,a$*i%ers ha%e een( unha)4
)i,'( of a narro$ *enius and an aritrar' dis)osition(
$hich conned their %ie$s to the countries the' *o%4
erned" Each of them ,ooGed u)on his o$n race as
the on,' )eo),e e?istin* u)on the earth( or as if the'
ou*ht to e at enmit' $ith a,, the rest" The' formed
institutions( introduced customs( and esta,ished re4
,i*ions e?c,usi%e,' for themse,%es" Thus the E*')4
tians( so famous for those hea)s of stones ca,,ed
)'ramids( ha%e dishonored themse,%es $ith their
ararous su)erstitions" The' des)ise a,, other na4
tions as )rofane7 refuse a,, manner of intercourse
$ith them7 and( e?ce)tin* those con%ersant in the
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court( $ho no$ and then rise ao%e the )reHudices of
the %u,*ar( there is not an E*')tian $ho $i,, eat o
a ),ate that has e%er een used ' a stran*er" Their
The Princess of !a',on" @@;
)riests are eua,,' crue, and asurd" It $ere etter
to ha%e no ,a$s at a,,( and to fo,,o$ those notions
of ri*ht and $ron* en*ra%ed on our hearts ' na4
ture( than to suHect societ' to institutions so in4
hos)ita,e"
#Our em)ress has ado)ted uite a dierent s's4
tem" She considers her %ast dominions( under $hich
a,, the meridians on the *,oe are united( as under
an o,i*ation of corres)ondence $ith a,, the nations
d$e,,in* under those meridians" The rst and most
fundamenta, of her ,a$s is a uni%ersa, to,eration of
a,, re,i*ions( and an unounded com)assion for e%er'
error" &er )enetratin* *enius )ercei%es that
thou*h the modes of re,i*ious $orshi) dier( 'et
mora,it' is e%er'$here the same" !' this )rinci)a,
she has united her )eo),e to a,, the nations on
earth( and the Cimmerians $i,, soon consider the
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Scandina%ians and the Chinese as their rethren"
Not satised $ith this( she has reso,%ed to esta,ish
this in%a,ua,e to,eration( the stron*est ,inG of so4
ciet'( amon* her nei*hors" !' these means she
otained the tit,e of the )arent of her countr' 7 and(
if she )erse%ere( $i,, acuire that of the enefactress
of manGind"
#!efore her time( the men( $ho $ere unha))i,'
)ossessed of )o$er( sent out ,e*ions of murderers
to ra%a*e unGno$n countries( and to $ater $ith the
,ood of the chi,dren the inheritance of their fathers"
Those assassins $ere ca,,ed heroes( and their ro4
eries accounted *,orious achie%ements" !ut our
@@@ The Princess of !a',on"
so%erei*n courts another sort of *,or'" She has sent
forth her armies to e the messen*ers of )eace( not
on,' to )re%ent men from ein* the destro'ers( ut
to o,i*e them to e the enefactors of one an4
other" &er standards are the ensi*ns of )u,ic
tranui,,it'"#
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The )hoeni? $as uite charmed $ith $hat he
heard from this no,eman" &e to,d him that thou*h
he had ,i%ed t$ent'4se%en thousand nine hundred
'ears and se%en months in this $or,d he had ne%er
seen an'thin* ,iGe it" &e then inuired after his
friend Ama2an" The Cimmerian *a%e the same ac4
count of him that the )rincess had a,read' heard
from the Chinese and the Sc'thians" It $as
Ama2an+s constant )ractice to run a$a' from a,,
the courts he %isited the instant an' ,ad' noticed
him in )articu,ar and seemed an?ious to maGe his
acuaintance" The )hoeni? soon acuainted For4
mosanta $ith this fresh instance of Ama2an+s de,it'
a de,it' so much the more sur)risin* since he
cou,d not ima*ine his )rincess $ou,d e%er hear of it"
Ama2an had set out for Scandina%ia( $here4 he
$as entertained $ith si*hts sti,, more sur)risin*" In
this ),ace he ehe,d monarch' and ,iert' e?istin*
to*ether in a manner thou*ht incom)ati,e in other
states7 the ,aorers of the *round shared in the
,e*is,ature $ith the *randees of the rea,m" In
another ),ace he sa$ $hat $as sti,, more e?traor4
dinar' a )rince eua,,' remarGa,e for his e?4
treme 'outh and u)ri*htness( $ho )ossessed a so%4
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The Princess of !a',on" @@
erei*n authorit' o%er his countr' acuired ' a
so,emn contract $ith his )eo),e"
Ama2an ehe,d a )hi,oso)her on the throne of
Sarmatia( $ho mi*ht e ca,,ed a Gin* of anarch'7
for he $as the chief of a hundred thousand )ett'
Gin*s( one of $hom $ith his sin*,e %oice cou,d render
ineectua, the reso,ution of a,, the rest" /Eo,us had
not more dicu,t' to Gee) the $arrin* $inds $ithin
their )ro)er ounds than this monarch had to recon4
ci,e the tumu,tuous discordant s)irits of his suHects"
&e $as the master of a shi) surrounded $ith eterna,
storms" !ut the %esse, did not founder( for he
$as an e?ce,,ent )i,ot"
In tra%ersin* those %arious countries( so dierent
from his o$n( Ama2an )erse%ered in reHectin* a,,
the ad%ances made to him ' the ,adies( thou*h in4
cessant,' distracted $ith the emrace *i%en ' For4
mosanta to the Gin* of E*')t( ein* reso,%ed to set
Formosanta an ama2in* e?am),e of an unshaGen
and un)ara,,e,ed de,it'"
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The )rincess of !a',on $as constant,' c,ose at
his hee,s( and scarce,' e%er missed him ut ' a da'
or t$o 7 $ithout the one ein* tired of roamin*( or
the other ,osin* a moment in )ursuin* him"
Thus he tra%ersed the immense continent of er4
man'( $here he ehe,d $ith $onder the )ro*ress
$hich reason and )hi,oso)h' had made in the north"
E%en their )rinces $ere en,i*htened and had e4
come the )atrons of freedom of thou*ht" Their
education had not een trusted to men $ho had an
@@ The Princess of !a',on"
interest in decei%in* them( or $ho $ere themse,%es
decei%ed" The' $ere rou*ht u) in the Gno$,ed*e
of uni%ersa, mora,it'( and in the contem)t of su)er4
stition"
The' had anished from a,, their estates a sense4
,ess custom $hich had ener%ated and de)o)u,ated the
southern countries" This $as to ur' a,i%e in im4
mense dun*eons( innite numers of oth se?es $ho
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$ere eterna,,' se)arated from one another( and
s$orn to ha%e no communication to*ther" This
madness had contriuted more than the most crue,
$ars to ,a' $aste and de)o)u,ate the earth"
In o))osin* these ararous institutions so in4
imica, to the ,a$s of nature and the est interests of
societ'( the )rinces of the north had ecome the
enefactors of their race" The' had ,iGe$ise e?4
),oded other errors eua,,' asurd and )ernicious"
In short( men had at ,ast %entured to maGe use of
their reason in those immense re*ions7 $hereas it
$as sti,, e,ie%ed a,most e%er'$here e,se that the'
cou,d not e *o%erned ut in )ro)ortion to their
i*norance"
C&APTER VII"
A1A9AN VISITS AL!ION"
From erman'( Ama2an arri%ed at !ata%ia(
$here his )er)etua, cha*rin $as in a *reat measure
a,,e%iated ' )ercei%in* amon* the inhaitants a
faint resem,ance to his ha))' countr'men( the an4
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The Princess of !a',on" @@B
*arids" There he sa$ ,iert'( securit' and eua,it'(
$ith to,eration in re,i*ion 7 ut the ,adies $ere so in4
dierent that none made him an' ad%ances( an e?4
)erience he had not met $ith efore" It is true(
ho$e%er( that had he een inc,ined to address them
the' $ou,d not ha%e een oended 7 thou*h( at the
same time( not one $ou,d ha%e een the ,east in ,o%e 7
ut he $as far from an' thou*hts of maGin* con4
uests"
Formosanta had near,' cau*ht him in this in4
si)id nation" &e had set out ut a moment efore
her arri%a,"
Ama2an had heard so much amon* the !ata%ians
in )raise of a certain is,and ca,,ed A,ion that he $as
,ed ' curiosit' to emarG $ith his unicorns on oard
a shi)( $hich( $ith a fa%ora,e easter,' $ind( car4
ried him in a fe$ hours to that ce,erated countr'(
more famous than T're or At,antis"
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The eautifu, Formosanta( $ho had fo,,o$ed him(
as it $ere on the scent( to the anGs of the Vo,*a( the
Vistu,a( the E,e( and the Weser( and had ne%er
een ao%e a da' or t$o ehind him( arri%ed soon
after at the mouth of the Rhine( $here it em)ties its
$aters into the erman ocean"
&ere she ,earned that her e,o%ed Ama2an had
Hust set sai, for A,ion" She thou*ht she sa$ the
%esse, on oard of $hich he $as( and cou,d not he,)
cr'in* out for Ho'( at $hich the !ata%ian ,adies
$ere *reat,' sur)rised( not ima*inin* that a 'oun*
man cou,d )ossi,' occasion so %io,ent a trans)ort"
Vo," ;B
@@> The Princess of !a',on"
The' tooG( indeed( ut ,itt,e notice of the )hoeni?( as
the' recGoned his feathers $ou,d not fetch near,' so
*ood a )rice as those of their o$n ducGs and other
$ater4fo$," The )rincess of !a',on hired t$o %es4
se,s to carr' herse,f and her retinue to that ha))'
is,and $hich $as soon to )ossess the on,' oHect of
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her desires( the sou, of her ,ife( and the *od of her
ido,atr'"
An un)ro)itious $ind from the $est sudden,'
arose( Hust as the faithfu, and unha))' Ama2an
,anded on A,ion+s sea4*irt shore( and detained the
shi)s of the !a',onian )rincess Hust as the' $ere on
the )oint of sai,in*" Sei2ed $ith a dee) me,an4
cho,'( she $ent to her room( determined to remain
there ti,, the $ind shou,d chan*e7 ut it ,e$ for
the s)ace of ei*ht da's $ith an unremittin* %io,ence"
The )rincess( durin* this tedious )eriod( em),o'ed
her maid of honor( Ir,a( in readin* romances 7 $hich
$ere not indeed $ritten ' the !ata%ians7 ut as
the' are the factors of the uni%erse the' trac in the
$it as $e,, as commodities of other nations" The
)rincess )urchased of 1arG 1ichae, Re'( the ooG4
se,,er( a,, the no%e,s $hich had een $ritten ' the
Ausonians and the We,sh( the sa,e of $hich had een
$ise,' )rohiited amon* those nations to enrich their
nei*hors( the !ata%ians" She e?)ected to nd in
those histories some ad%entures simi,ar to her o$n(
$hich mi*ht a,,e%iate her *rief" The maid of honor
read( the )hoeni? made comments( and the )rincess(
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The Princess of !a',on" @@
ndin* nothin*4 in the #Fortunate Countr' 1aid(#
in #Tansai(# or in the #So)ha(# that had the ,east
resem,ance to her o$n aairs( interru)ted the
reader e%er' moment ' asGin* ho$ the $ind stood"
C&APTER VIII"
A1A9AN LEAVES AL!ION TO VISIT T&E LAND OF
SAT0RN"
In the meantime Ama2an $as on the road to the
ca)ita, of A,ion in his coach and si? unicorns( a,,
his thou*hts em),o'ed on his dear )rincess" At a
sma,, distance he )ercei%ed a carria*e o%erturned in
a ditch" The ser%ants had *one in dierent direc4
tions in uest of assistance( ut the o$ner Ge)t his
seat( smoGin* his )i)e $ith *reat tranui,,it'( $ith4
out manifestin* the sma,,est im)atience" &is name
$as m' ,ord What4then( in the ,an*ua*e from $hich
I trans,ate these memoirs"
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Ama2an made a,, the haste )ossi,e to he,) him(
and $ithout assistance set the carria*e to ri*hts( so
much $as his stren*th su)erior to that of other men"
1' ,ord What4then tooG no other notice of him than
sa'in*( #A stout fe,,o$( ' /o%e # In the meantime
the nei*horin* )eo),e( ha%in* arri%ed( Qe$ into a
*reat )assion at ein* ca,,ed out to no )ur)ose( and
fe,, u)on the stran*er" The' aused him( ca,,ed him
an out,andish do*( and cha,,en*ed him to stri) and
o?"
@@M The Princess of !a',on"
Ama2an sei2ed a race of them in each hand and
thre$ them t$ent' )aces from him 7 the rest( seein*
this( )u,,ed o their hats( and o$in* $ith *reat re4
s)ect( asGed his honor for somethin* to drinG" &is
honor *a%e them more mone' than the' had e%er
seen in their ,i%es efore" 1' ,ord What4then no$
e?)ressed *reat esteem for him( and asGed him to
dinner at his countr' house( aout three mi,es o"
&is in%itation ein* acce)ted( he $ent into Ama2an+s
coach( his o$n ein* out of order from the accident"
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After a uarter of an hour+s si,ence( m' ,ord
What4then( ,ooGin* u)on Ama2an for a" moment(
said . #&o$ d+'e do # $hich( ' the $a'( is a )hrase
$ithout an' meanin*7 addin*( #3ou ha%e *ot si?
ne unicorns there"# After $hich he continued
smoGin* as usua,"
The tra%e,,er to,d him his unicorns $ere at his
ser%ice( and that he had rou*ht them from the
countr' of the an*arids" Then he tooG occasion to
inform him of his aair $ith the )rincess of !a'4
,on( and the un,ucG' Giss she had *i%en the Gin* of
E*')t7 to $hich the other made no re),'( ein*
%er' indierent $hether there $ere an' such )eo),e
in the $or,d as a Gin* of E*')t or a )rincess of
!a',on"
&e remained dum for another uarter of an
hour( after $hich he asGed his com)anion @ second
time ho$ he did( and $hether the' had an' *ood
roast eef amon* the an*arids"
Ama2an ans$ered $ith his $onted )o,iteness
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The Princess of !a',on" @@<
that the' did not eat their rethren on the anGs of
the an*es" &e then e?),ained to him that s'stem
$hich man' a*es after$ard $as surnamed the
P'tha*orean )hi,oso)h'" !ut m' ,ord fe,, as,ee) in
the meantime( and made ut one na) of it ti,, he
came to his o$n house"
&e $as married to a 'oun* and charmin* $oman(
on $hom nature had esto$ed a sou, as ,i%e,' and
sensi,e as that of her husand $as du,, and stu)id"
A fe$ *ent,emen of A,ion had that da' come to
dine $ith her( amon* $hom there $ere characters of
a,, sorts 7 for that countr' ha%in* een a,most a,$a's
under the *o%ernment of forei*ners( the fami,ies that
had come o%er $ith these )rinces had im)orted their
dierent manners" There $ere in this com)an' some
)ersons of an amia,e dis)osition( others of su)erior
*enius( and a fe$ of )rofound ,earnin*"
The mistress of the house had none of that
a$G$ard stiness( that fa,se modest'( $ith $hich
the 'oun* ,adies of A,ion $ere then re)roached"
She did not concea, ' a scornfu, ,ooG and an aected
taciturnit' her decienc' of ideas and the emar4
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rassin* humi,it' of ha%in* nothin* to sa'" Ne%er
$as a $oman more en*a*in*" She recei%ed Ama2an
$ith a *race and )o,iteness that $ere uite natura,
to her" The e?treme eaut' of this 'oun* stran*er(
and the in%o,untar' com)arison she cou,d not he,)
maGin* et$een him and her )rosaic husand( did
not increase her ha))iness or content"
Dinner ein* ser%ed( she ),aced Ama2an at her
@= The Princess of !a',on"
side( and he,)ed him to a %ariet' of )uddin*s( he
ha%in* informed her that the an*arids ne%er dined
u)on an'thin* $hich had recei%ed from the *ods
the ce,estia, *ift of ,ife" The e%ents of his ear,' ,ife(
the manners of the an*arids( the )ro*ress of arts(
re,i*ion( and *o%ernment $ere the suHects of a
con%ersation eua,,' a*reea,e and instructi%e a,, the
time of the entertainment( $hich ,asted ti,, ni*ht(
durin* $hich m' ,ord What4then did nothin* ut
)ush the ott,e aout( and ca,, for the toast"
After dinner( $hi,e m' ,ad' $as )ourin* out the
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tea( sti,, feedin* her e'es on the 'oun* stran*er( he
entered into a ,on* con%ersation $ith a memer of
)ar,iament 7 for e%er' one Gno$s that there $as e%en
then a )ar,iament ca,,ed #Wittena*emot(# or the
assem,' of $ise men" Ama2an inuired into
the constitution( ,a$s( manners( customs( forces( and
arts $hich made this countr' so res)ecta,e 7 and the
memer ans$ered him in the fo,,o$in* manner.
#For a ,on* time $e $ent starG naGed( thou*h our
c,imate is none of the hottest" We $ere ,iGe$ise for
a ,on* time ens,a%ed ' a )eo),e $ho came from the
ancient countr' of Saturn( $atered ' the Tier"
!ut the mischief $e ha%e done one another has
*reat,' e?ceeded a,, that $e e%er suered from our
rst conuerors" One of our )rinces carried his
su)erstition to such a )itch as to dec,are himse,f the
suHect of a )riest( $ho d$e,,s a,so on the anGs of
the Tier( and is ca,,ed the O,d 1an of the Se%en
1ountains" It has een the fate of the se%en moun4
The Princess of !a',on" @ ;
tains to domineer o%er the *reatest )art of Euro)e(
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then inhaited ' rutes in human sha)e"
#To those times of infam' and deasement suc4
ceeded the a*es of ararit' and confusion" Our
countr'( more tem)estuous than the surroundin*
ocean( has een ra%a*ed and drenched in ,ood '
our ci%i, discords" 1an' of our cro$ned heads ha%e
)erished ' a %io,ent death" Ao%e a hundred
)rinces of the ro'a, ,ood ha%e ended their da's on
the scao,d( $hi,st the hearts of their adherents ha%e
een torn from their reasts and thro$n in their
faces" In short( it is the )ro%ince of the han*man
to $rite the histor' of our is,and( seein* that this
)ersona*e has na,,' determined a,, our aairs of
moment"
#!ut to cro$n these horrors( it is not %er' ,on*
since some fe,,o$s $earin* ,acG mant,es( and others
$ho cast $hite shirts o%er their HacGets( ha%in* e4
come a**ressi%e and into,erant( succeeded in com4
municatin* their madness to the $ho,e nation" Our
countr' $as then di%ided into t$o )arties( the mur4
derers and the murdered( the e?ecutioners and the
suerers( ),underers and s,a%es 7 and a,, in the name
of od( and $hi,e the' $ere seeGin* the Lord"
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#Who $ou,d ha%e ima*ined that from this hor4
ri,e a'ss( this chaos of dissension( crue,t'( i*no4
rance( and fanaticism( a *o%ernment shou,d at ,ast
s)rin* u)( the most )erfect( it ma' e said( no$ in
the $or,d 'et such has een the e%ent" A )rince(
honored and $ea,th'( a,,4)o$erfu, to do *ood( ut
@@ The Princess of !a',on"
$ithout )o$er to do e%i,( is at the head of a free(
$ar,iGe( commercia, and en,i*htened nation" The
no,es on one hand and the re)resentati%es of the
)eo),e on the other( share the ,e*is,ature $ith the
monarch"
#We ha%e seen( ' a sin*u,ar fata,it' of e%ents(
disorder( ci%i, $ars( anarch' and $retchedness ,a'
$aste the countr'( $hen our Gin*s aimed at aritrar'
)o$er. $hereas tranui,,it'( riches( and uni%ersa,
ha))iness ha%e on,' rei*ned amon* us $hen the
)rince has remained satised $ith a ,imited author4
it'" A,, order had een su%erted $hi,e $e $ere
dis)utin* aout m'steries( ut $as re4esta,ished the
moment $e *re$ $ise enou*h to des)ise them" Our
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%ictorious Qeets carr' our Qa* on e%er' ocean 7 our
,a$s ),ace our ,i%es and fortunes in securit'7 no
Hud*e can e?),ain them in an aritrar' manner( and
no decision is e%er *i%en $ithout the reasons assi*ned
for it" We shou,d )unish a Hud*e as an assassin $ho
shou,d condemn a citi2en to death $ithout dec,arin*
the e%idence $hich accused him( and the ,a$ u)on
$hich he $as con%icted"
#It is true( there are a,$a's t$o )arties amon* us
$ho are continua,,' $ritin* and intri*uin* a*ainst
each other 7 ut the' constant,' reunite $hene%er it
is needfu, to arm in defence of ,iert' and our
countr'" These t$o )arties $atch o%er each other(
and mutua,,' )re%ent the %io,ation of the sacred de4
)osit of the ,a$s" The' hate one another( ut the'
The Princess of !a',on" @
,o%e the state" The' are ,iGe those Hea,ous ,o%ers
$ho )a' court to the same mistress $ith a s)irit of
emu,ation"
#From the same fund of *enius ' $hich $e dis4
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co%ered and su))orted the natura, ri*hts of man4
Gind( $e ha%e carried the sciences to the hi*hest
)itch to $hich the' can attain amon* men" 3our
E*')tians( $ho )ass for such *reat mechanics 7 'our
Indians( $ho are e,ie%ed to e such *reat )hi,os4
o)hers 7 'our !a',onians( $ho oast of ha%in* o4
ser%ed the stars for the course of four hundred and
thirt' thousand 'ears 7 the reeGs( $ho ha%e $ritten
so much( and said so ,itt,e( Gno$ in rea,it' nothin*
in com)arison to our inferior scho,ars( $ho ha%e
studied the disco%eries of our *reat masters" We
ha%e ra%ished more secrets from nature in the s)ace
of a hundred 'ears than the human s)ecies had een
a,e to disco%er in as man' a*es"
#This is a true account of our )resent state" I
ha%e concea,ed from 'ou neither the *ood nor the
ad 7 neither our shame nor our *,or' 7 and I ha%e
e?a**erated nothin*"#
At this discourse Ama2an fe,t a stron* desire to
e instructed in those su,ime sciences his friend had
s)oGen of7 and if his )assion for the )rincess of
!a',on( his ,ia, dut' to his mother $hom he had
uitted( and his ,o%e for his nati%e countr'( had not
made stron* remonstrances to his distem)ered heart(
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he $ou,d $i,,in*,' ha%e s)ent the remainder of his
@ The Princess of !a',on"
,ife in A,ion" !ut that unfortunate Giss his )rincess
had *i%en the Gin* of E*')t did not ,ea%e his mind
at sucient ease to stud' the astruse sciences"
#I confess(# said he( #ha%in* made a so,emn %o$
to roam aout the $or,d( and to esca)e from m'4
se,f" I ha%e a curiosit' to see that ancient ,and of
Saturn that )eo),e of the Tier and of the Se%en
1ountains( $ho ha%e een heretofore 'our masters"
The' must undouted,' e the rst )eo),e on earth"#
#I ad%ise 'ou ' a,, means(# ans$ered the mem4
er( #to taGe that Hourne'( if 'ou ha%e the sma,,est
taste for music or )aintin*" E%en $e ourse,%es fre4
uent,' carr' our s),een and me,ancho,' to the Se%en
1ountains" !ut 'ou $i,, e *reat,' sur)rised $hen
'ou see the descendants of our conuerors"#
This $as a ,on* con%ersation( and Ama2an had
s)oGen in so a*reea,e a manner( his %oice $as
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so charmin*( his $ho,e eha%ior so no,e and en4
*a*in*( that the mistress of the house cou,d not re4
sist the ),easure of ha%in* a ,itt,e )ri%ate chat $ith
him in her turn" She accordin*,' sent him a ,itt,e
i,,et4dou? intimatin* her $ishes in the most a*ree4
a,e ,an*ua*e" Ama2an had once more the coura*e
to resist the fascination of fema,e societ'( and ac4
cordin* to custom( $rote the ,ad' an ans$er fu,, of
res)ect( re)resentin* to her the sacredness of his
oath and the strict o,i*ation he $as under to teach
the )rincess of !a',on to conuer her )assion '
his e?am),e( after $hich he harnessed his unicorns
and de)arted for !ata%ia( ,ea%in* a,, the com)an'
The Princess of !a',on" @B
in dee) admiration of him( and the ,ad' in )rofound
astonishment" In her confusion she dro))ed
Ama2an+s ,etter" 1' Lord What4then read it ne?t
mornin*"
#D n it(# said he( shru**in* u) his shou,ders(
#$hat stu and nonsense ha%e $e *ot here# and
then rode out fo?4huntin* $ith some of his drunGen
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nei*hors"
Ama2an $as a,read' sai,in* u)on the sea( )os4
sessed of a *eo*ra)hica, chart( $ith $hich he had
een )resented ' the ,earned A,ion he had con4
%ersed $ith at Lord What4then+s" &e $as e?treme,'
astonished to nd the *reatest )art of the earth u)on
a sin*,e sheet of )a)er"
&is e'es and ima*ination $andered o%er this
,itt,e s)ace" &e oser%ed the Rhine( the Danue( the
A,)s of T'ro,( there s)ecied under their dierent
names( and a,, the countries throu*h $hich he $as
to )ass efore he arri%ed at the cit' of the Se%en
1ountains" !ut he more )articu,ar,' ?ed his e'es
u)on the countr' of the an*arids( u)on !a',on(
$here he had seen his dear )rincess( and u)on the
countr' of !assora( $here she had *i%en a fata, Giss
to the Gin* of E*')t" &e si*hed( and tears streamed
from his e'es at the unha))' rememrance" &e
a*reed $ith the A,ion $ho had )resented him $ith
the uni%erse in e)itome( $hen he a%erred that the
inhaitants of the anGs of the Thames $ere a thou4
sand times etter instructed than those u)on the
anGs of the Ni,e( the Eu)hrates( and the an*es"
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@> The Princess of !a',on"
As he returned into !ata%ia( Formosanta )ro4
ceeded to$ard A,ion $ith her t$o shi)s at fu,, sai,"
Ama2an+s shi) and the )rincess+ crossed one another
and a,most touched7 the t$o ,o%ers $ere c,ose to
each other $ithout ein* conscious of the fact" Ah
had the' ut Gno$n it !ut this *reat conso,ation
t'rannic destin' $ou,d not a,,o$"
C&APTER I:"
A1A9AN VISITS RO1E"
No sooner had Ama2an ,anded on the Qat( mudd'
shore of !ata%ia( than he immediate,' set out to$ard
the cit' of the Se%en 1ountains" &e $as o,i*ed to
tra%erse the southern )art of erman'" At e%er'
four mi,es he met $ith a )rince and )rincess( maids
of honor( and e**ars" &e $as *reat,' astonished
e%er'$here at the couetries of these ,adies and
maids of honor( in $hich the' indu,*ed $ith erman
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*ood faith" After ha%in* c,eared the A,)s he em4
arGed u)on the sea of Da,matia and ,anded in a
cit' that had no resem,ance to an'thin* he had
heretofore seen" The sea formed the streets( and
the houses $ere erected in the $ater" The fe$ )u4
,ic ),aces $ith $hich this cit' $as ornamented $ere
,,ed $ith men and $omen $ith dou,e faces that
$hich nature had esto$ed on them( and a )aste4
oard one( i,, )ainted( $ith $hich the' co%ered their
The Princess of !a',on" @
natura, %isa*e7 so that this )eo),e seemed com4
)osed of s)ectres" 0)on the arri%a, of stran*ers in
this countr' the' immediate,' )urchase these %isa*es
in the same manner as )eo),e e,se$here furnish
themse,%es $ith hats and shoes" Ama2an des)ised
a fashion so contrar' to nature" &e a))eared Hust as
he $as"
1an' ,adies $ere introduced and interested them4
se,%es in the handsome Ama2an" !ut he Qed $ith
the utmost )reci)itanc'( utterin* the name of the in4
com)ara,e )rincess of !a',on and s$earin* '
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the immorta, *ods that she $as far handsomer than
the Venetian *ir,s"
#Su,ime traitoress(# he cried in his trans)orts(
#I $i,, teach 'ou to e faithfu, #
No$ the 'e,,o$ sur*es of the Tier( )estiferous
fens( a fe$ )a,e( emaciated inhaitants c,othed in tat4
ters $hich dis),a'ed their dr'( tanned hides( a)4
)eared to his si*ht and es)oGe his arri%a, at the *ate
of the cit' of the Se%en 1ountains that cit' of
heroes and ,e*is,ators $ho conuered and )o,ished a
*reat )art of the *,oe"
&e e?)ected to ha%e seen at the trium)ha, *ate
%e hundred atta,ions commanded ' heroes( and
in the senate an assem,' of demi4*ods *i%in* ,a$s
to the earth" !ut the on,' arm' he found consisted
of aout thirt' tatterdema,ions mountin* *uard $ith
umre,,as for fear of the sun" &a%in* arri%ed at a
tem),e $hich a))eared to him %er' ne( ut not so
@M The Princess of !a',on"
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ma*nicent as that of !a',on( he $as *reat,' as4
tonished to hear a concert )erformed ' men $ith
fema,e %oices"
#This(# said he( #is a mi*ht' ),easant countr'(
$hich $as former,' the ,and of Saturn" I ha%e een
in a cit' $here no one sho$ed his o$n face 7 here is
another $here men ha%e neither their o$n %oices nor
eards"#
&e $as to,d that these eunuchs had een trained
from chi,dhood( that the' mi*ht sin* the more a*ree4
a,' the )raises of a *reat numer of )ersons of merit"
Ama2an cou,d not com)rehend the meanin* of this"
The' then e?),ained to him %er' ),easant,' and
$ith man' *esticu,ations( accordin* to the custom
of their countr'( the )oint in uestion" Ama2an $as
uite confounded"
#I ha%e tra%e,,ed a *reat $a'(# said he( #ut I
ne%er efore heard such a $him"#
After the' had sun* a *ood $hi,e the O,d 1an of
the Se%en 1ountains $ent $ith *reat ceremon' to
the *ate of the tem),e" &e cut the air in four )arts
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$ith his thum raised( t$o n*ers e?tended and
t$o ent( in utterin* these $ords in a ,an*ua*e
no ,on*er s)oGen . #To the cit' and to the uni%erse#
Ama2an cou,d not see ho$ t$o n*ers cou,d e?tend
so far"
&e )resent,' sa$ the $ho,e court of the master of
the $or,d ,e o" This court consisted of *ra%e )er4
sona*es( some in scar,et and others in %io,et roes"
The' a,most a,, e'ed the handsome Ama2an $ith a
The Princess of !a',on" @<
tender ,ooG( and o$ed to him( $hi,e commentin*
u)on his )ersona, a))earance"
The 2ea,ots $hose %ocation $as to sho$ the curi4
osities of the cit' to stran*ers %er' ea*er,' oered
to conduct him to se%era, ruins( in $hich a mu,eteer
$ou,d not choose to )ass a ni*ht( ut $hich $ere
former,' $orth' monuments of the *randeur of a
ro'a, )eo),e" &e moreo%er sa$ )ictures of t$o hun4
dred 'ears+ standin*( and statues that had remained
t$ent' a*es( $hich a))eared to him master)ieces of
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their Gind"
#Can 'ou sti,, )roduce such $orG# said Ama2an"
#No( 'our e?ce,,enc'(# re),ied one of the 2ea,ots 7
#ut $e des)ise the rest of the earth ecause $e )re4
ser%e these rarities" We are a Gind of o,d4c,othes
men( $ho deri%e our *,or' from the cast4o *ars in
our $arehouses"#
Ama2an $as $i,,in* to see the )rince+s )a,ace and
he $as accordin*,' conducted thither" &e sa$ men
dressed in %io,et4co,ored roes( $ho $ere recGonin*
7he mone' of the re%enues of the domains of ,ands(
some situated u)on the Danue( some u)on the
Loire( others u)on the uada,ui%ir( or the Vistu,a"
#Oh Oh # said Ama2an( ha%in* consu,ted his
*eo*ra)hica, ma)( #'our master( then( )ossesses a,,
Euro)e( ,iGe those ancient heroes of the Se%en
1ountains #
#&e shou,d )ossess the $ho,e uni%erse ' di%ine
ri*ht(# re),ied a %io,et4,i%er' man 7 #and there $as
e%en a time $hen his )redecessors near,' com)assed
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@= The Princess of !a',on"
uni%ersa, monarch'( ut their successors are so *ood
as to content themse,%es at )resent $ith some
mone's $hich the Gin*s( their suHects( )a' to them
in the form of a triute"#
#3our master is then( in fact( the Gin* of Gin*s"
Is that his tit,e # said Ama2an"
#No( 'our e?ce,,enc'( his tit,e is the ser%ant of
ser%ants &e $as ori*ina,,' a sherman and )orter(
$herefore the em,ems of his di*nit' consist of Ge's
and nets 7 ut he at )resent issues orders to e%er'
Gin* in Christendom" It is not a ,on* $hi,e since
he sent one hundred and one mandates to a Gin* of
the Ce,ts( and the Gin* oe'ed"#
#3our sherman must then ha%e sent %e or si?
hundred thousand men to )ut these orders in e?ecu4
tion #
#Not at a,,( 'our e?ce,,enc'" Our ho,' master is
not rich enou*h to Gee) ten thousand so,diers on
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foot 7 ut he has %e or si? hundred thousand di%ine
)ro)hets dis)ersed in other countries" These
)ro)hets of %arious co,ors are( as the' ou*ht to e(
su))orted at the e?)ense of the )eo),e $here the'
reside" The' )roc,aim( from hea%en( that m' master
ma'( $ith his Ge's( o)en and shut a,, ,ocGs( and )ar4
ticu,ar,' those of stron* o?es" A Norman )riest(
$ho he,d the )ost of condant of their Gin*+s
thou*hts( con%inced him he ou*ht to oe'( $ithout
uestionin*( the one hundred and one thou*hts of
m' master 7 for 'ou must Gno$ that one of the )re4
ro*ati%es of the O,d 1an of the Se%en 1ountains is
The Princess of !a',on" @;
ne%er to err( $hether he dei*ns to s)eaG or dei*ns
to $rite"#
#In faith(# said Ama2an( #this is a %er' sin*u,ar
man 7 I shou,d e ),eased to dine $ith him"#
#Were 'our e?ce,,enc' e%en a Gin*( 'ou cou,d not
eat at his ta,e" A,, that he cou,d do for 'ou $ou,d
e to a,,o$ 'ou to ha%e one ser%ed ' the side of his(
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ut sma,,er and ,o$er" !ut if 'ou are inc,ined to
ha%e the honor of s)eaGin* to him( I $i,, asG an
audience for 'ou on condition of the uona mancia(
$hich 'ou $i,, e Gind enou*h to *i%e me"#
#Ver' readi,'(# said the an*arid" The %io,et4
,i%er' man o$ed . #I $i,, introduce 'ou to4mor4
ro$(# said he" #3ou must maGe three %er' ,o$
o$s( and 'ou must Giss the feet of the O,d 1an of
the Se%en 1ountains"# At this information Ama2an
urst into so %io,ent a t of ,au*hin* that he $as
a,most choGed7 $hich( ho$e%er( he surmounted(
ho,din* his sides( $hi,st the %io,ent emotions of the
risi,e musc,es forced the tears do$n his cheeGs( ti,,
he reached the inn( $here the t sti,, continued u)on
him"
At dinner t$ent' eard,ess men and t$ent' %io4
,ins )roduced a concert" &e recei%ed the com),i4
ments of the *reatest ,ords of the cit' durin* the re4
mainder of the da'7 ut from their e?tra%a*ant
actions he $as stron*,' tem)ted to thro$ t$o or
three of these %io,et4co,ored *entr' out of the $in4
do$" &e ,eft $ith the *reatest )reci)itation this cit'
of the masters of the $or,d( $here 'oun* men $ere
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Vo," ;>
@@ The Princess of !a',on"
treated so $himsica,,'( and $here he found himse,f
necessitated to Giss an o,d man+s toe( as if his cheeG
$ere at the end of his foot
C&APTER :"
AN 0NFORT0NATE ADVENT0RE IN A0L"
In a,, the )ro%inces throu*h $hich Ama2an
)assed he remained e%er faithfu, to the )rincess of
!a',on( thou*h incessant,' enra*ed at the Gin* of
E*')t" This mode, of constanc' at ,en*th arri%ed
at the ne$ ca)ita, of the au,s" This cit'( ,iGe man'
others( had a,ternate,' sumitted to ararit'( i*no4
rance( fo,,'( and miser'" The rst name it ore $as
Dirt and 1ire7 it then tooG that of Isis( from the
$orshi) of Isis( $hich had reached e%en here" Its
rst senate consisted of a com)an' of $atermen" It
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had ,on* een in onda*e and sumitted to the ra%4
a*es of the heroes of the Se%en 1ountains 7 and
some a*es after some other heroic thie%es $ho came
from the farther anGs of the Rhine had sei2ed u)on
its ,itt,e ,ands"
Time( $hich chan*es a,, thin*s( had formed it
into a cit'( ha,f of $hich $as %er' no,e and %er'
a*reea,e( the other ha,f some$hat ararous and
ridicu,ous. this $as the em,em of its inhaitants"
There $ere $ithin its $a,,s at ,east a hundred thou4
The Princess of !a',on" @
sand )eo),e( $ho had no other em),o'ment than ),a'
and di%ersion" These id,ers $ere the Hud*es of those
arts $hich the others cu,ti%ated" The' $ere i*no4
rant of a,, that )assed at court( thou*h the' $ere
on,' four short mi,es distant from it 7 ut it seemed
to them at ,east si? hundred thousand mi,es o"
A*reea,eness in com)an'( *a'et' and fri%o,it'
formed the im)ortant and so,e considerations of their
,i%es" The' $ere *o%erned ,iGe chi,dren $ho are
e?tra%a*ant,' su)),ied $ith *e$*a$s to )re%ent
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their cr'in*" If the horrors $ere discussed $hich
t$o centuries efore had ,aid $aste their countr'( or
if those dreadfu, )eriods $ere reca,,ed $hen one4
ha,f of the nation massacred the other for so)hisms(
the'( indeed( said #this $as not $e,, done#7 then
)resent,' the' fe,, to ,au*hin* a*ain or sin*in* of
catches"
In )ro)ortion as the id,ers $ere )o,ished( a*ree4
a,e and amia,e( it $as oser%ed that there $as a
*reater and more shocGin* contrast et$een them
and those $ho $ere en*a*ed in usiness"
Amon* the ,atter( or such as )retended so to e(
there $as a *an* of me,ancho,' fanatics( $hose a4
surdit' and Gna%er' di%ided their characters
$hose a))earance a,one diused miser' and $ho
$ou,d ha%e o%erturned the $or,d had the' een a,e
to *ain a ,itt,e credit" !ut the nation of id,ers( '
dancin* and sin*in*( forced them into oscurit' in
their ca%erns( as the $ar,in* irds dri%e the croaG4
in* ats acG to their ho,es and ruins"
@ The Princess of !a',on"
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A sma,,er numer of those $ho $ere occu)ied
$ere the )reser%ers of ancient ararous customs(
a*ainst $hich nature( terried( ,oud,' e?c,aimed"
The' consu,ted nothin* ut their $orm4eaten re*is4
ters" If the' there disco%ered a foo,ish or horrid
custom( the' considered it as a sacred ,a$" It $as
from this %i,e )ractice of not darin* to thinG for
themse,%es( ut e?tractin* their ideas from the ruins
of those times $hen no one thou*ht at a,,( that in
the metro)o,is of ),easure there sti,, remained some
shocGin* manners" &ence it $as that there $as no
)ro)ortion et$een crimes and )unishments" A
thousand deaths $ere sometimes inQicted u)on an
innocent %ictim to maGe him acGno$,ed*e a crime he
had not committed"
The e?tra%a*ances of 'outh $ere )unished $ith
the same se%erit' as murder or )arricide" The id,ers
screamed ,oud,' at these e?hiitions( and the ne?t
da' thou*ht no more aout them( ut $ere uried
in the contem),ation of some ne$ fashion"
This )eo),e sa$ a $ho,e a*e e,a)se( in $hich the
ne arts attained a de*ree of )erfection that far sur4
)assed the most san*uine ho)es" Forei*ners then
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re)aired thither( as the' did to !a',on( to admire
the *reat monuments of architecture( the $onders
of *ardenin*( the su,ime eorts of scu,)ture and
)aintin*" The' $ere charmed $ith a s)ecies of
music that reached the heart $ithout astonishin* the
ears"
True )oetr'( that is to sa'( such as is natura, and
The Princess of !a',on" @B
harmonious( that $hich addresses the heart as $e,,
as the mind( $as unGno$n to this nation efore this
ha))' )eriod" Ne$ Ginds of e,ouence dis),a'ed
su,ime eauties" The theatres in )articu,ar re4
echoed $ith master)ieces that no other nation e%er
a))roached" In a $ord( *ood taste )re%ai,ed in
e%er' )rofession to that de*ree that there $ere e%en
*ood $riters amon* the Druids"
So man' ,aure,s that had ranched e%en to the
sGies soon $ithered in an e?hausted soi," There re4
mained ut a %er' sma,, numer( $hose ,ea%es $ere
of a )a,e d'in* %erdure" This deca' $as occasioned
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' the faci,it' of )roducin* ,a2iness )re%entin*
*ood )roductions and ' a satiet' of the ri,,iant
and a taste for the $himsica," Vanit' )rotected arts
that rou*ht acG times of ararit' 7 and this same
%anit'( in )ersecutin* )ersons of rea, merit( forced
them to uit their countr'" The hornets anished
the ees"
There $ere scarce,' an' rea, arts( there $as
scarce,' an' rea, *enius" Ta,ent no$ consisted in
reasonin* ri*ht or $ron* u)on the merit of the ,ast
a*e" The dauer of a si*n4)ost criticised $ith an air
of sa*acit' the $orGs of the *reatest )ainters( and
the ,otters of )a)er dis*ured the $orGs of the
*reatest $riters" I*norance and ad taste had other
dauers in their )a'" The same thin*s $ere re4
)eated in a hundred %o,umes under dierent tit,es"
E%er' $orG $as either a dictionar' or a )am)h,et"
A Druid *a2etteer $rote t$ice a $eeG the oscure
@> The Princess of !a',on"
anna,s of an unGno$n )eo),e )ossessed $ith the
de%i,( and of ce,estia, )rodi*ies o)erated in *arrets
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' ,itt,e e**ars of oth se?es" Other e?4Druids(
dressed in ,acG( read' to die $ith ra*e and hun*er(
set forth their com),aints in a hundred dierent
$ritin*s( that the' $ere no ,on*er a,,o$ed to cheat
manGind this )ri%i,e*e ein* conferred on some
*oats c,ad in *re' 7 and some arch4Druids $ere em4
),o'ed in )rintin* defamator' ,ie,s"
Ama2an $as uite i*norant of a,, this( and e%en
if he had een acuainted $ith it he $ou,d ha%e *i%en
himse,f %er' ,itt,e concern aout it( ha%in* his head
ri,,ed $ith nothin* ut the )rincess of !a',on( the
Gin* of E*')t and the in%io,a,e %o$ he had made
to des)ise a,, fema,e couetr' in $hate%er countr'
his des)air shou,d dri%e him"
The *a)in*( i*norant mo( $hose curiosit' e?4
ceeds a,, the ounds of nature and reason( for a ,on*
time thron*ed aout his unicorns" The more sen4
si,e $omen forced o)en the doors of his hote, to
contem),ate his )erson"
&e at rst testied some desire of %isitin* the
court 7 ut some of the id,ers( $ho constituted *ood
com)an' and casua,,' $ent thither( informed him
that it $as uite out of fashion( that times $ere
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*reat,' chan*ed( and that a,, amusements $ere con4
ned to the cit'" &e $as in%ited that %er' ni*ht to
su) $ith a ,ad' $hose sense and ta,ents had reached
forei*n c,imes( and $ho had tra%e,,ed in some coun4
tries throu*h $hich Ama2an had )assed" This ,ad'
The Princess of !a',on" @
*a%e him *reat ),easure( as $e,, as the societ' he met
at her house" &ere rei*ned a decent ,iert'( *a'et'
$ithout tumu,t( si,ence $ithout )edantr'( and $it
$ithout as)erit'" &e found that *ood Com)an' $as
not uite idea,( thou*h the tit,e $as freuent,'
usur)ed ' )retenders" The ne?t da' he dined in a
societ' far ,ess amia,e( ut much more %o,u)tuous"
The more he $as satised $ith the *uests the more
the' $ere ),eased $ith him" &e found his sou,
soften and disso,%e( ,iGe the aromatics of his countr'(
$hich *radua,,' me,t in a moderate heat and e?ha,e
in de,icious )erfumes"
After dinner he $as conducted to a ),ace of )u,ic
entertainment $hich $as enchantin*( ut con4
demned( ho$e%er( ' the Druids( ecause it de)ri%ed
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them of their auditors( $hich( therefore( e?cited their
Hea,ous'" The re)resentation here consisted of
a*reea,e %erses( de,i*htfu, son*s( dances $hich e?4
)ressed the mo%ements of the sou,( and )ers)ecti%es
that charmed the e'e in decei%in* it" This Gind of
)astime( $hich inc,uded so man' Ginds( $as Gno$n
on,' under a forei*n name" It $as ca,,ed #an
O)era(# $hich former,' si*nied in the ,an*ua*e of
the Se%en 1ountains( $orG( care( occu)ation( indus4
tr'( enter)rise( usiness" This e?hiition enchanted
him" A fema,e sin*er( in )articu,ar( charmed him
' her me,odious %oice and the *races that accom4
)anied her" This chi,d of *enius( after the )erform4
ance( $as introduced to him ' his ne$ friends" &e
)resented her $ith a handfu, of diamonds( for $hich
@M The Princess of !a',on"
she $as so *ratefu, that she cou,d not ,ea%e him a,,
the rest of the da'" &e su))ed $ith her and her
com)anions( and 4durin* the de,i*htfu, re)ast he for4
*ot his soriet' and ecame heated and o,i%ious
$ith $ine What an instance of human
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frai,t'
The eautifu, )rincess of !a',on arri%ed at this
Huncture( $ith her )hoeni?( her chamermaid Ir,a
and her t$o hundred an*aridian ca%a,iers mounted
on their unicorns" It $as a ,on* $hi,e efore the
*ates $ere o)ened" She immediate,' asGed if the
handsomest( the most coura*eous( the most sensi,e
and the most faithfu, of men $as sti,, in that
cit'" The ma*istrates readi,' conc,uded that she
meant Ama2an" She $as conducted to his hote,"
&o$ *reat $as the )a,)itation of her heart the
)o$erfu, o)eration of the tender )assion" &er $ho,e
sou, $as )enetrated $ith ine?)ressi,e Ho'( to see
once more in her ,o%er the mode, of constanc'"
Nothin* cou,d )re%ent her enterin* his chamer 7 the
curtains $ere o)en( and she sa$ the eautifu, Ama4
2an as,ee) and stu)eed $ith drinG"
Formosanta e?)ressed her *rief $ith such screams
as made the house echo" She s$ooned into the arms
of Ir,a" As soon as she had reco%ered her senses she
retired from this fata, chamer $ith *rief ,ended
$ith ra*e"
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#&e does not deser%e it(# said the )rincess" #3ou
$ou,d crue,,' oend me" &e $ou,d thinG that I had
desired 'ou to re)roach him( and that I am $i,,in* to
e reconci,ed to him" If 'ou ,o%e me do not add this
inHur' to the insu,t he has oered me"#
The )hceni?( $ho after a,, o$ed his ,ife to the
dau*hter of the Gin* of !a',on( cou,d not disoe'
her" She set out $ith a,, her attendants"
#Whither are 'ou *oin* # said Ir,a to her"
#I do not Gno$(# re),ied the )rincess 7 #$e $i,,
taGe the rst road $e nd" Pro%ided I Q' from
Ama2an fore%er I am satised"#
The )hceni?( $ho $as $iser than Formosanta( e4
cause he $as di%ested of )assion( conso,ed her u)on
the road" &e *ent,' insinuated to her that it $as
shocGin* to )unish one+s se,f for the fau,ts of an4
@B= The Princess of !a',on"
other7 that Ama2an had *i%en )roofs sucient,'
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striGin* and numerous of his de,it'( so that she
shou,d for*i%e him for ha%in* for*otten himse,f for
one moment in socia, com)an'7 that this $as the
on,' time in $hich he had een $antin* of the
*race of Or)masdes7 that it $ou,d render him
on,' the more constant in ,o%e and %irtue for the
future 7 that the desire of e?)iatin* his fau,t $ou,d
raise him e'ond himse,f 7 that it $ou,d e the means
of increasin* her ha))iness 7 that man' *reat )rin4
cesses efore her had for*i%en such s,i)s and had
had no reason to e sorr' after$ards 7 and he $as so
thorou*h,' )ossessed of the art of )ersuasion( that
Formosanta+s mind *re$ more ca,m and )eacea,e"
She $as no$ sorr' she had set out so soon" She
thou*ht her unicorns $ent too fast( ut she did not
dare return" reat $as the conQict et$een her de4
sire of for*i%in* and that of sho$in* her ra*e e4
t$een her ,o%e and %anit'" &o$e%er( her unicorns
)ursued their )ace( and she tra%ersed the $or,d ac4
cordin* to the )rediction of her father+s orac,e"
When Ama2an a$oGe( he $as informed of the ar4
ri%a, and de)arture of Formosanta and the )hoeni?"
&e $as a,so to,d of the ra*e and distraction of the
)rincess( and that she had s$orn ne%er to for*i%e
him"
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#Then(# said he( #there is nothin* ,eft for me to
do ut fo,,o$ her and Gi,, m'se,f at her feet"#
The re)ort of this ad%enture dre$ to*ether his
festi%e com)anions( $ho a,, remonstrated $ith him"
The Princess of !a',on" @B;
The' said that he had much etter sta' $ith them 7
that nothin* cou,d eua, the ),easant ,ife the' ,ed in
the centre of arts and rened de,icate ),easures 7 that
man' stran*ers( and e%en Gin*s( )referred such an
a*reea,e( enchantin* re)ose to their countr' and
their thrones" 1oreo%er( his %ehic,e $as roGen( and
another $as ein* made for him accordin* to the
ne$est fashion 7 that the est tai,or of the $ho,e cit'
had a,read' cut out for him a do2en suits in the ,atest
st',e 7 that the most %i%acious( amia,e and fashion4
a,e ,adies( at $hose houses dramatic )erformances
$ere re)resented( had each a))ointed a da' to *i%e
him a re*a,e" The *ir, from the o)era $as in the
mean$hi,e drinGin* her choco,ate( ,au*hin*( sin*in*
and o*,in* the eautifu, Ama2an( $ho ' this time
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c,ear,' )ercei%ed she had no more sense than a
*oose"
A sincerit'( cordia,it' and franGness( as $e,, as
ma*nanimit' and coura*e( constituted the character
of this *reat )rince 7 he re,ated his tra%e,s and mis4
fortunes to his friends" The' Gne$ that he $as
cousin4*erman to the )rincess" The' $ere informed
of the fata, Giss she had *i%en the Gin* of E*')t"
#Such ,itt,e tricGs(# said the'( #are often for*i%en
et$een re,ati%es( other$ise one+s $ho,e ,ife $ou,d
)ass in )er)etua, uneasiness"#
Nothin* cou,d shaGe his desi*n of )ursuin* For4
mosanta7 ut his carria*e not ein* read'( he $as
com)e,,ed to remain three da's ,on*er amon* the
id,ers( $ho $ere sti,, feastin* and merr'4maGin*"
The Princess of !a',on"
&e at ,en*th tooG his ,ea%e of them ' emracin*
them and maGin* them acce)t some of his diamonds
that $ere the est mounted( and recommendin* to
them a constant )ursuit of fri%o,it' and ),easure(
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since the' $ere there' made more a*reea,e and
ha))'"
#The ermans(# said he( #are the *re'heads of
Euro)e 7 the )eo),e of A,ion are men formed 7 the
inhaitants of au, are the chi,dren and I ,o%e to
),a' $ith chi,dren"#
C&APTER :I"
A1A9AN AND FOR1OSANTA !ECO1E RECONCILED"
The *uides had no dicu,t' in fo,,o$in* the route
the )rincess had taGen" There $as nothin* e,se
ta,Ged of ut her and her ,ar*e ird" A,, the in4
haitants $ere sti,, in a state of fascination" The
anGs of the Loire( of the Dordo*ne( the aronne(
and the ironde sti,, echoed $ith acc,amation"
When Ama2an reached the foot of the P'renees(
the ma*istrates and druids of the countr' made him
dance( $hether he $ou,d or not( a tamourin7 ut
as soon as he c,eared the P'renees( nothin* )re4
sented itse,f that $as either *a' or Ho'ous" If he
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here and there heard a )easant sin*( it $as a do,efu,
ditt'" The inhaitants sta,Ged $ith much *ra%it+(
ha%in* a fe$ strun* eads and a *irted )oniard"
The nation dressed in ,acG( and a))eared to e in
mournin*"
The Princess of !a',on" @B
If Ama2an+s ser%ants asGed )assen*ers an' ues4
tions( the' $ere ans$ered ' si*ns7 if the' $enX
into an inn the host acuainted his *uests in three
$ords that there $as nothin* in the house( ut that
the thin*s the' so )ressin*,' $anted mi*ht e found
a fe$ mi,es o"
When these %otaries to taciturnit' $ere asGed if
the' had seen the eautifu, )rincess of !a',on )ass(
the' ans$ered $ith ,ess re%it' than usua,. #We
ha%e seen her she is not so handsome there are
no eauties that are not ta$n' she dis),a's a osom
of a,aaster( $hich is the most dis*ustin* thin* in
the $or,d( and $hich is scarce Gno$n in our
c,imate"#
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Ama2an ad%anced to$ard the )ro%ince $atered
' the !etis" The T'rians disco%ered this countr'
aout t$e,%e thousand 'ears a*o( aout the time the'
disco%ered the *reat At,antic is,e( inundated so man'
centuries after" The T'rians cu,ti%ated !etica(
$hich the nati%es of the countr' had ne%er done(
ein* of o)inion that it $as not their ),ace to
medd,e $ith an'thin*( and that their nei*hors( the
au,s( shou,d come and rea) their har%ests" The
T'rians had rou*ht $ith them some Pa,estines( or
/e$s( $ho( from that time( ha%e $andered throu*h
e%er' c,ime $here mone' $as to e *ained" The
Pa,estines( ' e?traordinar' usur'( at ft' )er cent(
had )ossessed themse,%es of a,most a,, the riches of
the countr'" This made the )eo),e of !etica ima*ine
the Pa,estines $ere sorcerers7 and a,, those $ho
@B The Princess of !a',on"
$ere accused of $itchcraft $ere urned( $ithout
merc'( ' a com)an' of druids( $ho $ere ca,,ed the
inuisitors( or the anthro)oGaies" These )riests im4
mediate,' )ut their %ictims in a masuerade hait(
sei2ed u)on their eects( and de%out,' re)eated the
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Pa,estines+ o$n )ra'ers( $hi,e urnin* them ' a
s,o$ re( )or e, amor de Dios"
The )rincess of !a',on a,i*hted in that cit'
$hich has since een ca,,ed Se%i,,a" &er desi*n
$as to emarG u)on the !etis to return ' T're to
!a',on( and see a*ain Kin* !e,us( her father 7 and
for*et( if )ossi,e( her )erdious ,o%er or( at ,east(
to asG him in marria*e" She sent for t$o Pa,estines(
$ho transacted a,, the usiness of the court" The'
$ere to furnish her $ith three shi)s" The )hoeni?
made a,, the necessar' contracts $ith them( and
sett,ed the )rice after some ,itt,e dis)ute"
The hostess $as a *reat de%otee( and her husand(
$ho $as no ,ess re,i*ious( $as a Fami,iar7 that is
to sa'( a s)' of the druid inuisitors( or anthro4
)oGaies"
&e fai,ed not to inform them that in his house
$as a sorceress and t$o Pa,estines( $ho $ere enter4
in* in a com)act $ith the de%i,( dis*uised ,iGe a ,ar*e
*i,t ird"
The inuisitors ha%in* ,earned that the ,ad' )os4
sessed a ,ar*e uantit' of diamonds( s$ore )oint
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,anG that she $as a sorceress" The' $aited ti,,
ni*ht to im)rison the t$o hundred ca%a,iers and the
The Princess of !a',on" @BB
unicorns( $hich s,e)t in %er' e?tensi%e sta,es( for
the inuisitors are co$ards"
&a%in* stron*,' arricaded the *ates( the' sei2ed
the )rincess and Ir,a 7 ut the' cou,d not catch the
)hceni?( $ho Qe$ a$a' $ith *reat s$iftness" &e
did not dout of meetin* the Ama2an u)on the road
from au, to Se%i,,a"
&e met him u)on the frontiers of !etica( and
acuainted him $ith the disaster that had efa,,en
the )rincess"
Ama2an $as strucG s)eech,ess $ith ra*e" &e
armed himse,f $ith a stee, cuirass damasGeened $ith
*o,d( a ,ance t$e,%e feet ,on*( t$o Ha%e,ins( and an
ed*ed s$ord ca,,ed the Thunderer( $hich at one
sin*,e stroGe $ou,d rend trees( rocGs and druids"
&e co%ered his eautifu, head $ith a *o,den casue(
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shaded $ith heron and ostrich feathers" This $as
the ancient armor of 1a*o*( $hich his sister A,dea
*a%e him $hen u)on his Hourne' in Sc'thia" The
fe$ attendants he had $ith him a,, mounted their
unicorns"
Ama2an( in emracin* his dear )hceni?( uttered
on,' these me,ancho,' e?)ressions . #I am *ui,t'
&ad I not dined $ith the chi,d of *enius from the
o)era( in the cit' of the id,ers( the )rincess of !a'4
,on $ou,d not ha%e een in this a,armin* situation"
Let us Q' to the anthro)oGaies"# &e )resent,' en4
tered Se%i,,a" Fifteen hundred a,*ua2i,s *uarded
the *ates of the enc,osure in $hich the t$o hundred
@B> The Princess of !a',on"
an*arids and their unicorns $ere shut u)( $ithout
ein* a,,o$ed an'thin* to eat" Pre)arations $ere
a,read' made for sacricin* the )rincess of !a',on(
her chamermaid Ir,a( and the t$o rich Pa,estines"
The hi*h anthro)oGaie( surrounded ' his sua,4
tern anthro)oGaies( $as a,read' seated u)on his
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sacred triuna," A cro$d of Se%i,,ians( $earin*
strun* eads at their *ird,es( Hoined their t$o hands(
$ithout utterin* a s',,a,e( $hen the eautifu,
)rincess( the maid Ir,a( and the t$o Pa,estines
$ere rou*ht forth( $ith their hands tied ehind
their acGs and dressed in masuerade haits"
The )hoeni? entered the )rison ' a dormer $in4
do$( $hi,e the an*arids e*an to reaG o)en the
doors" The in%inci,e Ama2an shattered them $ith4
out" The' a,, sa,,ied forth( armed( u)on their uni4
corns( and Ama2an )ut himse,f at their head" &e
had no dicu,t' in o%erthro$in* the a,*ua2i,s( the
fami,iars( or the )riests ca,,ed anthro)oGaies" Each
unicorn )ierced do2ens at a time" The thunderin*
Ama2an cut to )ieces a,, he met" The )eo),e in ,acG
c,oaGs and dirt' frie2e ran a$a'( a,$a's Gee)in*
fast ho,d of their ,essed eads( )or e, amor de Dios"
Ama2an co,,ared the hi*h inuisitor u)on his
triuna, and thre$ him u)on the )i,e( $hich $as )re4
)ared aout fort' )aces distant7 and he a,so cast
u)on it the other inuisitors( one after the other" &e
then )rostrated himse,f at Formosanta+s feet" #Ah
ho$ amia,e 'ou are(# said she 7 #and ho$ I shou,d
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The Princess of !a',on" @B
adore 'ou if 'ou had not forsaGen me for the com4
)an' of an o)era sin*er"#
Whi,e Ama2an $as maGin* his )eace $ith the
)rincess( $hi,e his an*arids cast u)on the )i,e the
odies of a,, the anthro)oGaies( and the Qames as4
cended to the c,ouds( Ama2an sa$ an arm' that a)4
)roached him at a distance" An a*ed monarch( $ith
a cro$n u)on his head( ad%anced u)on a car dra$n
' ei*ht mu,es harnessed $ith ro)es" A hundred
other cars fo,,o$ed" The' $ere accom)anied '
*ra%e4,ooGin* men in ,acG coats of frie2e( mounted
u)on %er' ne horses" A mu,titude of )eo),e( $ith
*reas' hair( fo,,o$ed si,ent,' on foot"
Ama2an immediate,' dre$ u) his an*arids
aout him( and ad%anced $ith his ,ance couched"
As soon as the Gin* )ercei%ed him( he tooG o his
cro$n( a,i*hted from his car( and emraced Ama4
2an+s stirru)( sa'in* to him . #1an sent ' the *ods(
'ou are the a%en*er of human Gind( the de,i%erer of
m' countr'" These sacred monsters( of $hich 'ou
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ha%e )ur*ed the earth( $ere m' masters( in the name
of the O,d 1an of the Se%en 1ountains" I $as
forced to sumit to their crimina, )o$er" 1' )eo),e
$ou,d ha%e deserted me if I had on,' een inc,ined
to moderate their aomina,e crimes" From this
moment I reathe( I rei*n( and am indeted to 'ou
for it"#
&e after$ards res)ectfu,,' Gissed Formosanta+s
hand( and entreated her to *et into his coach dra$n
' ei*ht mu,es $ith Ama2an( Ir,a( and the )hoeni?"
Vo," ;
@BM The Princess of !a',on"
The t$o Pa,estine anGers( $ho sti,, remained
)rostrate on the *round throu*h fear and terror( no$
raised their heads" The troo) of unicorns fo,,o$ed
the Gin* of !etica into his )a,ace"
As the di*nit' of a Gin* $ho rei*ned o%er a )eo4
),e of characteristic re%it' reuired that his mu,es
shou,d *o at a %er' s,o$ )ace( Ama2an and For4
mosanta had time to re,ate to him their ad%entures"
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&e a,so con%ersed $ith the )hoeni?( admirin* and
freuent,' emracin* him" &e easi,' com)rehended
ho$ ruta, and ararous the )eo),e of the West
shou,d e considered( $ho ate anima,s and did not
understand their ,an*ua*e 7 that the an*arids a,one
had )reser%ed the nature and di*nit' of )rimiti%e
man7 ut he )articu,ar,' a*reed that the most ar4
arous of morta,s $ere the anthro)oGaies( of $hom
Ama2an had Hust )ur*ed the earth" &e incessant,'
,essed and thanGed him" The eautifu, Formo4
santa had a,read' for*otten the aair in au,( and
had her sou, ,,ed $ith nothin* ut the %a,or of the
hero $ho had )reser%ed her ,ife" Ama2an ein*
made acuainted $ith the innocence of the emrace
she had *i%en to the Gin* of E*')t( and ein* to,d
of the resurrection of the )hoeni?( tasted the )urest
Ho'( and $as into?icated $ith the most %io,ent ,o%e"
The' dined at the )a,ace( ut had a %er' indier4
ent re)ast" The cooGs of !etica $ere the $orst in
Euro)e" Ama2an ad%ised the Gin* to send for some
from au," The Gin*+s musicians )erformed( durin*
the re)ast( that ce,erated air $hich has since een
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The Princess of !a',on" @B<
ca,,ed #The Fo,,ies of S)ain"# After dinner matters
of usiness came u)on the car)et"
The Gin* inuired of the handsome Ama2an( the
eautifu, Formosanta( and the charmin* )hoeni?(
$hat the' )ro)osed doin*" #For m' )art(# said
Ama2an( #m' intention is to return to !a',on( of
$hich I am the )resum)ti%e heir( and to asG of m'
unc,e !e,us the hand of m' cousin4*erman( the in4
com)ara,e Formosanta"#
#1' desi*n certain,' is(# said the )rincess( #ne%er
to se)arate from m' cousin4*erman" !ut I ima*ine
he $i,, a*ree $ith me that I shou,d return rst to
m' father( ecause he on,' *a%e me ,ea%e to *o
u)on a )i,*rima*e to !assora( and I ha%e $andered
a,, o%er the $or,d"#
#For m' )art(# said the )hoeni?( #I $i,, fo,,o$
e%er'$here these t$o tender( *enerous ,o%ers"#
#3ou are in the ri*ht(# said the Gin* of !etica7
#ut 'our return to !a',on is not so eas' as 'ou
ima*ine" I recei%e dai,' inte,,i*ence from that coun4
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tr' ' T'rian shi)s( and m' Pa,estine anGers( $ho
corres)ond $ith a,, the nations of the earth" The
)eo),e are a,, in arms to$ards the Eu)hrates and the
Ni,e" The Gin* of Sc'thia c,aims the inheritance of
his $ife( at the head of three hundred thousand $ar4
riors on horseacG" The Gin*s of E*')t and India
are a,so ,a'in* $aste the anGs of the Ti*ris and the
Eu)hrates( each at the head of three thousand men(
to re%en*e themse,%es for ein* ,au*hed at" The
Gin* of Ethio)ia is ra%a*in* E*')t $ith three hun4
@>= The Princess of !a',on"
dred thousand men $hi,e the Gin* of E*')t is asent
from his countr'" And the Gin* of !a',on has as
'et on,' si? hundred thousand men to defend him4
se,f"
#I acGno$,ed*e to 'ou(# continued the Gin*(
#$hen I hear of those )rodi*ious armies $hich are
disemo*ued from the East( and their astonishin*
ma*nicence7 $hen I com)are them to m' triQin*
odies of t$ent' or thirt' thousand so,diers( $hich
it is so dicu,t to c,othe and feed( I am inc,ined to
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thinG the eastern e?isted ,on* efore the $estern
hemis)here" It seems as if $e s)run* on,' 'esterda'
from chaos and ararit'"#
#Sire(# said Ama2an( #the ,ast comers freuent,'
outstri) those $ho rst e*an the career" It is
thou*ht in m' countr' that man $as rst created in
India 7 ut of this I am not certain"#
#And(# said the Gin* of !etica to the )hoeni?(
#$hat do 'ou thinG#
#Sire(# re),ied the )hoeni?( #I am as 'et too
'oun* to ha%e an' Gno$,ed*e concernin* antiuit'"
I ha%e ,i%ed on,' aout t$ent'4se%en thousand 'ears 7
ut m' father( $ho had ,i%ed %e times that a*e( to,d
me he had ,earned from his father that the eastern
countr' had a,$a's een more )o)u,ous and rich
than the others" It had een transmitted to him
from his ancestors that the *eneration of a,, anima,s
had e*un u)on the anGs of the an*es" For m'
)art(# said he( #I ha%e not the %anit' to e of this
o)inion" I cannot e,ie%e that the fo?es of A,ion(
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The Princess of !a',on" @>;
the marmots of the A,)s and the $o,%es of au, are
descended from m' countr'" In the ,iGe manner I
do not e,ie%e that the rs and oaGs of 'our countr'
descended from the )a,m and cocoa trees of India"#
#!ut $hence are $e descended( then# said the
Gin*"
#I do not Gno$(# said the )hoeni? 7 #a,, I $ant to
Gno$ is( $hither the eautifu, )rincess of !a',on
and m' dear Ama2an ma' re)air #
#I %er' much uestion(# said the Gin*( #$hether
$ith his t$o hundred unicorns he $i,, e a,e to de4
stro' so man' armies of three hundred thousand
men each"#
#Wh' not # said Ama2an"
The Gin* of !etica fe,t the force of this su,ime
uestion( #Wh' not# ut he ima*ined su,imit'
a,one $as not sucient a*ainst innumera,e armies"
#I ad%ise 'ou(# said he( #to seeG the Gin* of
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Ethio)ia" I am re,ated to that ,acG )rince throu*h
m' Pa,estines" I $i,, *i%e 'ou ,etters of recommen4
dation to him" As he is at enmit' $ith the Gin* of
E*')t( he $i,, e ut too ha))' to e stren*thened
' 'our a,,iance" I can assist 'ou $ith t$o thousand
soer( ra%e men 7 and it $i,, de)end u)on 'ourse,f
to en*a*e as man' more of the )eo),e $ho reside( or
rather sGi)( aout the foot of the P'renees( and $ho
are ca,,ed Vasues or Vascons" Send one of 'our
$arriors u)on a unicorn( $ith a fe$ diamonds"
There is not a Vascon that $i,, not uit the cast,e(
that is the thatched cotta*e of his father( to ser%e
@>@ The Princess of !a',on"
'ou" The' are indefati*a,e( coura*eous( and a*ree4
a,e 7 and $hi,e 'ou $ait their arri%a,( $e $i,, *i%e
'ou festi%a,s( and )re)are 'our shi)s" I cannot too
much acGno$,ed*e the ser%ice 'ou ha%e done me"#
Ama2an rea,i2ed the ha))iness of ha%in* reco%4
ered Formosanta( and enHo'ed in tranui,,it' her con4
%ersation( and a,, the charms of reconci,ed ,o%e(
$hich are a,most eua, to a *ro$in* )assion"
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A troo) of )roud( Ho'ous Vascons soon arri%ed(
dancin* a tamourin" The hau*ht' and *ra%e !eti4
can troo)s $ere no$ read'" The o,d sunurned Gin*
tender,' emraced the t$o ,o%ers" &e sent *reat
uantities of arms( eds( chests( oards( ,acG c,othes(
onions( shee)( fo$,s( Qour( and )articu,ar,' *ar,ic(
en oard the shi)s( and $ished them a ha))' %o'4
a*e( in%aria,e ,o%e( and man' %ictories"
Proud Cartha*e $as not then a sea)ort" There
$ere at that time on,' a fe$ Numidians there( $ho
dried sh in the sun" The' coasted a,on* !i2acenes(
the S'rthes( the ferti,e anGs $here since arose C'4
rene and the *reat Chersonese"
The' at ,en*th arri%ed to$ards the rst mouth of
the sacred Ni,e" It $as at the e?tremit' of this fer4
ti,e ,and that the shi)s of a,, commercia, nations
$ere a,read' recei%ed in the )ort of Cano)e( $ith4
out Gno$in* $hether the *od Cano)e had founded
this )ort( or $hether the inhaitants had manufac4
tured the *od $hether the star Cano)e had *i%en its
name to the cit'( or $hether the cit' had esto$ed
it u)on the star" A,, that $as Gno$n of this matter
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The Princess of !a',on" @>
$as that the cit' and the star $ere oth %er' ancient 7
and this is a,, that can e Gno$n of the ori*in of
thin*s( of $hatsoe%er nature the' ma' e"
It $as here that the Gin* of Ethio)ia( ha%in* ra%4
a*ed a,, E*')t( sa$ the in%inci,e Ama2an and the
adora,e Formosanta come on shore" &e tooG one
for the *od of $ar( and the other for the *oddess of
eaut'" Ama2an )resented to him the ,etter of rec4
ommendation from the Gin* of S)ain" The Gin* of
Ethio)ia immediate,' entertained them $ith some
admira,e festi%a,s( accordin* to the indis)ensa,e
custom of heroic times" The' then conferred aout
their e?)edition to e?terminate the three hundred
thousand men of the Gin* of E*')t( the three hun4
dred thousand of the em)eror of the Indies( and the
three hundred thousand of the *reat Ghan of the
Sc'thians( $ho ,aid sie*e to the immense( )roud(
%o,u)tuous cit' of !a',on"
The t$o hundred S)aniards $hom Ama2an had
rou*ht $ith him said that the' had nothin* to do
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$ith the Gin* of Ethio)ia+s succorin* !a',on 7 that
it $as sucient their Gin* had ordered them to *o
and de,i%er it 7 and that the' $ere formida,e enou*h
for this e?)edition"
The Vascons said the' had )erformed man' other
e?),oits 7 that the' $ou,d a,one defeat the E*')tians(
the Indians( and the Sc'thians 7 and that the' $ou,d
not march un,ess the S)aniards $ere ),aced in the
rear4*uard"
The t$o hundred an*arids cou,d not refrain
@> The Princess of !a',on"
from ,au*hin* at the )retensions of their a,,ies( and
the' maintained that $ith on,' one hundred uni4
corns( the' cou,d )ut to Qi*ht a,, the Gin*s of the
earth" The eautifu, Formosanta a))eased them '
her )rudence( and ' enchantin* discourse" Ama2an
introduced to the ,acG monarch his an*arids( his
unicorns( his S)aniards( his Vascons( and his eau4
tifu, ird"
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E%er'thin* $as soon read' to march ' 1em)his(
&e,io)o,is( Arsinoe( Petra( Artemitis( Sora( and A)a4
mens( to attacG the three Gin*s( and to )rosecute this
memora,e $ar( efore $hich a,, the $ars e%er $a*ed
' man sinG into insi*nicance"
Fame $ith her hundred ton*ues has )roc,aimed
the %ictories Ama2an *ained o%er the three Gin*s(
$ith his S)aniards( his Vascons( and his unicorns"
&e restored the eautifu, Formosanta to her father"
&e set at ,iert' a,, his mistress+ train( $hom the
Gin* of E*')t had reduced to s,a%er'" The *reat
Ghan of the Sc'thians dec,ared himse,f his %assa,7
and his marria*e $as conrmed $ith Princess A,dea"
The in%inci,e and *enerous Ama2an $as acGno$,4
ed*ed the heir to the Gin*dom of !a',on( and en4
tered the cit' in trium)h $ith the )hoeni?( in the
)resence of a hundred triutar' Gin*s" The festi%a,
of his marria*e far sur)assed that $hich Kin* !e,us
had *i%en" The u,, A)is $as ser%ed u) roasted at
ta,e" The Gin*s of E*')t and India $ere cu)4
earers to the married )air( and the nu)tia,s $ere ce,4
erated ' %e hundred i,,ustrious )oets of !a',on"
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The Princess of !a',on" @>B
Oh( 1uses dau*hters of hea%en( $ho are con4
stant,' in%oGed at the e*innin* of a $orG( I on,'
im),ore 'ou at the end" It is need,ess to re)roach
me $ith sa'in* *race( $ithout ha%in* said enedi4
cite" !ut( 1uses 'ou $i,, not e ,ess m' )atron4
esses" Ins)ire( I )ra' 'ou( the #Ecc,esiastica, a24
etteer(# the i,,ustrious orator of the #Con%u,sion4
naires(# to sa' e%er'thin* )ossi,e a*ainst #The ;
Princess of !a',on(# in order that the $orG ma'
e condemned ' the Soronne( and( therefore(
e uni%ersa,,' read" And )re%ent( I eseech 'ou(
O chaste and no,e 1uses( an' su)),ementa, scri4
,ers s)oi,in*( ' their fa,es( the truths I ha%e
tau*ht morta,s in this faithfu, narrati%e"
T&E WORLD AS IT OES"
Amon* the *enii $ho )reside o%er the em)ires of
the earth( Ithurie, he,d one of the rst ranGs( and
had the de)artment of 0))er Asia" &e one mornin*
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descended into the aode of !aouc( the Sc'thian(
$ho d$e,t on the anGs of the O?us( and said to him .
#!aouc( the fo,,ies and %ices of the Persians ha%e
dra$n u)on them our indi*nation" 3esterda' an
assem,' of the *enii of 0))er Asia $as he,d( to
consider $hether $e $ou,d chastise Perse)o,is or
destro' it entire,'" o to that cit' 7 e?amine e%er'4
thin* 7 return and *i%e me a faithfu, account 7 and(
accordin* to th' re)ort( I $i,, then determine
$hether to correct or e?tir)ate the inhaitants"#
#!ut( m' ,ord(# said !aouc $ith *reat humi,it'(
#I ha%e ne%er een in Persia( nor do I Gno$ a sin*,e
)erson in that countr'"#
#So much the etter(# said the an*e,( #thou $i,t
e the more im)artia, . thou hast recei%ed from
hea%en the s)irit of discernment( to $hich I no$ add
the )o$er of ins)irin* condence" o( see( hear( o4
ser%e( and fear nothin*" Thou sha,t e%er'$here meet
$ith a fa%ora,e rece)tion"#
!aouc mounted his came,( and set out $ith his
ser%ants" After ha%in* tra%e,,ed some da's( he met(
@>>
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The Wor,d as it oes" @>
near the ),ains of Senaar( the Persian arm'( $hich
$as *oin* to attacG the forces of India" &e rst
addressed himse,f to a so,dier( $hom he found at a
distance from the main arm'( and asGed him $hat
$as the occasion of the $ar"
#!' a,, the *ods(# said the so,dier( #I Gno$ noth4
in* of the matter" It is none of m' usiness" 1'
trade is to Gi,, and to e Gi,,ed( to *et a ,i%e,ihood"
It is of no conseuence to me $hom I ser%e" To4
morro$( )erha)s( I ma' *o o%er to the Indian cam) 7
for it is said that the' *i%e their so,diers near,' ha,f
a co))er drachma a da' more than $e ha%e in this
cursed ser%ice of Persia" If thou desirest to Gno$
$h' $e *ht( s)eaG to m' ca)tain"#
!aouc( ha%in* *i%en the so,dier a sma,, )resent(
entered the cam)" &e soon ecame acuainted $ith
the ca)tain( and asGed him the cause of the $ar"
#&o$ canst thou ima*ine that I shou,d Gno$ it#
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said the ca)tain( #or of $hat im)ortance is it to me
I /i%e aout t$o hundred ,ea*ues from Perse)o,is.
I hear that $ar is dec,ared7 I instant,' ,ea%e m'
fami,'( and( ha%in* nothin* e,se to do( *o( accordin*
to our custom( to maGe m' fortune or to fa,, ' a
*,orious death"#
#!ut are not th' com)anions(# said !aouc( #a
,itt,e etter informed than thee#
#No+ said the ocer( #there are none ut our
)rinci)a, satra)s that Gno$ the true cause of our cut4
tin* one another+s throats"#
!aouc( strucG $ith astonishment( introduced
@>M The Wor,d as it oes"
himse,f to the *enera,s( and soon ecame fami,iar,'
acuainted $ith them" At ,ast one of them said .
#The cause of this $ar( $hich for t$ent' 'ears
)ast hath deso,ated Asia( s)ran* ori*ina,,' from a
uarre, et$een a eunuch e,on*in* to one of the
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concuines of the *reat Gin* of Persia( and the c,erG
of a factor' e,on*in* to the *reat Gin* of India"
The dis)ute $as aout a c,aim $hich amounted
near,' to the thirtieth )art of a daric" Our rst min4
ister( and the re)resentati%e of India( maintained the
ri*hts of their res)ecti%e masters $ith ecomin* di*4
nit'" The dis)ute *re$ $arm" !oth )arties sent
into the e,d an arm' of a mi,,ion of so,diers" This
arm' must e recruited e%er' 'ear $ith u)$ards of
four hundred thousand men" 1assacres( urnin*
of houses( ruin and de%astation( are dai,' mu,ti),ied 7
the uni%erse suers 7 and their mutua, animosit' sti,,
continues" The rst ministers of the t$o nations
freuent,' )rotest that the' ha%e nothin* in %ie$
ut the ha))iness of manGind7 and e%er' )rotesta4
tion is attended $ith the destruction of a to$n( or the
deso,ation of a )ro%ince"#
Ne?t da'( on a re)ort ein* s)read that )eace
$as *oin* to e conc,uded( the Persian and Indian
*enera,s made haste to come to an en*a*ement" The
att,e $as ,on* and ,ood'" !aouc ehe,d e%er'
crime( and e%er' aomination" &e $as $itness to
the arts and strata*ems of the )rinci)a, satra)s( $ho
did a,, that ,a' in their )o$er to e?)ose their *enera,
to the dis*race of a defeat" &e sa$ ocers Gi,,ed
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The Wor,d as it oes" @><
' their o$n troo)s( and so,diers stain* their a,4
read' e?)irin* comrades in order to stri) them of a
fe$ ,ood' *arments torn and co%ered $ith dirt"
&e entered the hos)ita,s to $hich the' $ere con%e'4
in* the $ounded( most of $hom died throu*h the
inhuman ne*,i*ence of those $ho $ere $e,, )aid '
the Gin* of Persia to assist these unha))' men"
#Are these men(# cried !aouc( #or are the' $i,d
easts Ah I ),ain,' see that Perse)o,is $i,, e
destro'ed"#
Fu,, of this thou*ht( he $ent o%er to the cam) of
the Indians( $here( accordin* to the )rediction of
the *enii( he $as as $e,, recei%ed as in that of the
Persians7 ut he sa$ there the same crimes $hich
had a,read' ,,ed him $ith horror"
#Oh # said he to himse,f( #if the an*e, Ithurie,
shou,d e?terminate the Persians( the an*e, of India
must certain,' destro' the Indians"#
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!ut ein* after$ard more )articu,ar,' informed
of a,, that )assed in oth armies( he heard of such acts
of *enerosit'( humanit'( and *reatness of sou, as at
once sur)rised and charmed him"
#0naccounta,e morta,s as 'e are(# cried he(
#ho$ can 'ou thus unite so much aseness and so
much *randeur( so man' %irtues and so man' %ices #
1ean$hi,e the )eace $as )roc,aimed( and the *en4
era,s of the t$o armies( neither of $hom had *ained
a com),ete %ictor'( ut $ho( for their o$n )ri%ate
interest( had shed the ,ood of so man' of their fe,4
,o$4creatures( $ent to so,icit their courts for re4
@= The Wor,d as it oes"
$ards" The )eace $as ce,erated in )u,ic $ritin*s
$hich announced the return of %irtue and ha))iness
to the earth"
#od e )raised(# said !aouc( #Perse)o,is $i,,
no$ e the aode of s)ot,ess innocence( and $i,, not
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e destro'ed( as the crue, *enii intended" Let us
haste $ithout de,a' to this ca)ita, of Asia"#
&e entered that immense cit' ' the ancient *ate(
$hich $as entire,' ararous( and oended the e'e
' its disa*reea,e rusticit'" A,, that )art of the
to$n sa%ored of the time $hen it $as ui,t 7 for( not4
$ithstandin* the ostinac' of men in )raisin* ancient
at the e?)ense of modern times( it must e o$ned
that the rst essa's in e%er' art are rude and un4
nished"
!aouc min*,ed in a cro$d of )eo),e com)osed of
the most i*norant( dirt'( and deformed of oth se?es(
$ho $ere thron*in* $ith a stu)id air into a ,ar*e and
*,oom' enc,osure" !' the constant hum7 ' the
*estures of the )eo),e7 ' the mone' $hich some
)ersons *a%e to others for the ,iert' of sittin* do$n(
he ima*ined that he $as in a marGet $here chairs
$ere so,d. ut oser%in* se%era, $omen fa,, do$n
on their Gnees $ith an a))earance of ,ooGin* direct4
,' efore them( $hi,e in rea,it' the' $ere ,eerin* at
the men ' their sides( he $as soon con%inced that
he $as in a tem),e" Shri,,( hoarse( sa%a*e( and dis4
cordant %oices made the %au,t re4echo $ith i,,4ar4
ticu,ated sounds( that )roduced the same eect as
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the ra'in* of asses( $hen( in the ),ains of Picta%ia(
The Wor,d as it oes" @;
the' ans$er the cornet that ca,,s them to*ether" &e
sto))ed his ears7 ut he $as read' to shut his
mouth and ho,d his nose $hen he sa$ se%era, ,aor4
ers enter into the tem),e $ith )icGs and s)ades( $ho
remo%ed a ,ar*e stone and thre$ u) the earth on
oth sides( from $hence e?ha,ed a )esti,entia, %a)or"
At ,ast some others a))roached( de)osited a dead
od' in the o)enin*( and re),aced the stone u)on
it"#
#What# cried !aouc( #do these )eo),e ur'
their dead in the ),ace $here the' adore the Deit'
What are their tem),es )a%ed $ith carcasses I
am no ,on*er sur)rised at those )esti,entia, diseases
that freuent,' de)o)u,ate Perse)o,is" The )utre4
faction of the dead( and the infected reath of such
numers of the ,i%in*( assem,ed and cro$ded to4
*ether in the same ),ace( are sucient to )oison the
$ho,e terrestria, *,oe" Oh $hat an aomina,e cit'
is Perse)o,is The an*e,s )roa,' intend to destro'
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it in order to ui,d a more eautifu, one in its ),ace(
and to )eo),e it $ith inhaitants $ho are more %ir4
tuous and etter sin*ers" Pro%idence ma' ha%e its
reasons for so doin* 7 to its dis)osa, ,et us ,ea%e a,,
future e%ents"#
1ean$hi,e the sun a))roached his meridian
hei*ht" !aouc $as to dine at the other end of the
cit' $ith a ,ad' for $hom her husand( an ocer in
the arm'( had *i%en him some ,etters( ut he rst
tooG se%era, turns in Perse)o,is( $here he sa$ other
tem),es( etter ui,t and more rich,' adorned( ,,ed
The Wor,d as it oes"
$ith a )o,ite audience( and resoundin* $ith harmo4
nious music" &e ehe,d )u,ic fountains( $hich(
thou*h i,,4),aced( strucG the e'e ' their eaut'7
suares $here the est Gin*s that had *o%erned Per4
sia seemed to reathe in ron2e( and others $here he
heard the )eo),e cr'in* out .
#When sha,, $e see our e,o%ed master#
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&e admired the ma*nicent rid*es ui,t o%er the
ri%er7 the su)er and commodious ua's7 the )a,4
aces raised on oth sides7 and an immense house(
$here thousands of o,d so,diers( co%ered $ith scars
and cro$ned $ith %ictor'( oered their dai,' )raises
to the *od of armies" At ,ast he entered the house
of the ,ad'( $ho( $ith a set of fashiona,e )eo),e(
$aited his com)an' to dinner" The house $as neat
and e,e*ant( the re)ast de,icious( the ,ad' 'oun*(
eautifu,( $itt'( and en*a*in*( and the com)an'
$orth' of her( and !aouc e%er' moment said to
himse,f .
#The an*e, Ithurie, has ,itt,e re*ard for the $or,d
or he $ou,d ne%er thinG of destro'in* such a charm4
in* cit'"#
In the meantime he oser%ed that the ,ad'( $ho
had e*un ' tender,' asGin* ne$s aout her hus4
and( s)oGe more tender,' to a 'oun* ma*i to$ard
the conc,usion of the re)ast" &e sa$ a ma*istrate(
$ho( in )resence of his $ife( )aid his court $ith
*reat %i%acit' to a $ido$( $hi,e the indu,*ent $ido$
he,d out her hand to a 'oun* citi2en remarGa,e
for his modest' and *racefu, a))earance"
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The Wor,d as it oes" @
!aouc then e*an to fear that the *enius Ithurie,
had ut too much reason for destro'in* Perse)o,is"
The ta,ent he )ossessed of *ainin* condence ,et
him that same da' into a,, the secrets of the ,ad'"
She confessed to him her aection for the 'oun*
ma*i( and assured him that in a,, the houses in Per4
se)o,is he $ou,d meet $ith simi,ar e?am),es of at4
tachment" !aouc conc,uded that such a societ'
cou,d not )ossi,' sur%i%e7 that Hea,ous'( discord(
and %en*eance must deso,ate e%er' house 7 that tears
and ,ood must e dai,' shed7 and( in ne( that
Ithurie, $ou,d do $e,, to destro' immediate,' a cit'
aandoned to continua, disasters"
Such $ere the *,oom' ideas that )ossessed his
mind( $hen a *ra%e man in a ,acG *o$n a))eared at
the *ate and hum,' e**ed to s)eaG to the 'oun*
ma*istrate" This stri),in*( $ithout risin* or taGin*
the ,east notice of the o,d *ent,eman( *a%e him some
)a)ers $ith a hau*ht' and care,ess air( and then dis4
missed him" !aouc asGed $ho this man $as" The
mistress of the house said to him in a ,o$ %oice .
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#&e is one of the est ad%ocates in the cit'( and
hath studied the ,a$ these ft' 'ears" The other(
$ho is ut t$ent'4%e 'ears of a*e( and has on,'
een a satra) of the ,a$ for t$o da's( hath ordered
him to maGe an e?tract of a )rocess he is *oin* to
determine( thou*h he has not as 'et e?amined it"#
#This *idd' 'outh acts $ise,'(# said !aouc( #in
asGin* counse, of an o,d man" !ut $h' is not the
o,d man himse,f the Hud*e#
Vo," ;M
@ The Wor,d as it oes"
#Thou art sure,' in Hest(# said the'7 #those $ho
ha%e *ro$n o,d in ,aorious and inferior )osts are
ne%er raised to ),aces of di*nit'" This 'oun* man
has a *reat )ost ecause his father is rich and the
ri*ht of dis)ensin* Hustice is )urchased here ,iGe a
farm"#
#O unha))' cit'# cried !aouc( #this is sure,'
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the hei*ht of anarch' and confusion" Those $ho
ha%e thus )urchased the ri*ht of Hud*in* $i,, dout4
,ess se,, their Hud*ments 7 nothin* do I see here ut
an a'ss of iniuit'#
Whi,e he $as thus e?)ressin* his *rief and sur4
)rise( a 'oun* $arrior( $ho that %er' da' had re4
turned from the arm'( said to him .
#Wh' $ou,dst thou not ha%e seats in the courts
of Hustice oered for sa,e I m'se,f )urchased the
ri*ht of ra%in* death at the head of t$o thousand
men $ho are under m' command" It has this 'ear
cost me fort' darics of *o,d to ,ie on the earth
thirt' ni*hts successi%e,' in a red dress( and at ,ast
to recei%e t$o $ounds $ith an arro$( of $hich I sti,,
fee, the smart" If I ruin m'se,f to ser%e the em)eror
of Persia( $hom I ne%er sa$( the satra) of the ,a$
ma' $e,, )a' somethin* for enHo'in* the ),easure of
*i%in* audience to ),eaders"#
!aouc $as ,,ed $ith indi*nation( and cou,d not
he,) condemnin* a countr' $here the hi*hest )osts
in the arm' and the ,a$ $ere e?)osed for sa,e" &e
at once conc,uded that the inhaitants must e en4
tire,' i*norant of the art of $ar and the ,a$s of
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The Wor,d as it oes" @B
euit' 7 and that( thou*h Ithurie, shou,d not destro'
them( the' must soon e ruined ' their detesta,e
administration"
&e $as sti,, further conrmed in his ad o)inion
' the arri%a, of a fat man( $ho( after sa,utin* a,,
the com)an' $ith *reat fami,iarit'( $ent u) to the
'oun* ocer and said .
#I can on,' ,end thee ft' thousand darics of *o,d 7
for indeed the ta?es of the em)ire ha%e this 'ear
rou*ht me in ut three hundred thousand"#
!aouc inuired into the character of this man
$ho com),ained of ha%in* *ained so ,itt,e( and $as
informed that in Perse)o,is there $ere fort' ),eeian
Gin*s $ho he,d the em)ire of Persia ' ,ease( and
)aid a sma,, triute to the monarch"
After dinner he $ent into one of the most su)er
tem),es in the cit'( and seated himse,f amidst a cro$d
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of men and $omen $ho had come thither to )ass
a$a' the time" A ma*i a))eared in a machine e,e4
%ated ao%e the heads of the )eo),e( and ta,Ged a
,on* time of %ice and %irtue" &e di%ided into se%era,
)arts $hat needed no di%ision at a,, 7 he )ro%ed
methodica,,' $hat $as sucient,' c,ear( and he
tau*ht $hat e%er'od' Gne$" &e thre$ himse,f
into a )assion $ith *reat com)osure( and $ent a$a'
)ers)irin* and out of reath" The assem,' then
a$oGe and ima*ined the' had een )resent at a %er'
instructi%e discourse" !aouc said.
#This man has done his est to tire t$o or three
hundred of his fe,,o$4citi2ens 7 ut his intention $as
@> The Wor,d as it oes"
*ood( and there is nothin* in this that shou,d occasion
the destruction of Perse)o,is"#
0)on ,ea%in* the assem,' he $as conducted to a
)u,ic entertainment $hich $as e?hiited e%er' da'
in the 'ear" It $as in a Gind of *reat ha,,( at the
end of $hich a))eared a )a,ace" The most eautifu,
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$omen of Perse)o,is and the most considera,e sa4
tra)s $ere ran*ed in order( and formed so ne a
s)ectac,e that !aouc at rst e,ie%ed that this $as
a,, the entertainment" T$o or three )ersons( $ho
seemed to e Gin*s and ueens( soon a))eared in the
%estiu,e of their )a,ace" Their ,an*ua*e $as %er'
dierent from that of the )eo),e7 it $as measured(
harmonious( and su,ime" Nood' s,e)t" The audi4
ence Ge)t a )rofound si,ence $hich $as on,' inter4
ru)ted ' e?)ressions of sensii,it' and admiration"
The dut' of Gin*s( the ,o%e of %irtue( and the dan4
*ers arisin* from unrid,ed )assions $ere a,, de4
scried ' such ,i%e,' and aectin* stroGes that
!aouc shed tears" &e douted not ut that these
heroes and heroines( these Gin*s and ueens $hom
he had Hust heard( $ere the )reachers of the em)ire 7
he e%en )ur)osed to en*a*e Ithurie, to come and
hear them( ein* condent that such a s)ectac,e
$ou,d fore%er reconci,e him to the cit'"
As soon as the entertainment $as nished( he re4
so,%ed to %isit the )rinci)a, ueen( $ho had recom4
mended such )ure and no,e mora,s in the )a,ace"
&e desired to e introduced to her maHest'( and
$as ,ed u) a narro$ staircase to an i,,4furnished
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The Wor,d as it oes" @
a)artment in the second stor'( $here he found a
$oman in a mean dress( $ho said to him $ith a no,e
and )athetic air.
#This em),o'ment does not aord me a sucient
maintenance" I $ant mone'( and $ithout mone'
there is no comfort"#
!aouc *a%e her a hundred darics of *o,d( sa'4
in*.
#&ad there een no other e%i, in the cit' ut this(
Ithurie, $ou,d ha%e een to ,ame for ein* so much
oended"#
From thence he $ent to s)end the e%enin* at the
house of a tradesman $ho dea,t in ma*nicent triQes"
&e $as conducted thither ' a man of sense( $ith
$hom he had contracted an acuaintance" &e ou*ht
$hate%er ),eased his fanc'7 and the to' man $ith
*reat )o,iteness so,d him e%er'thin* for more than
it $as $orth" On his return home his friends
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sho$ed him ho$ much he had een cheated" !aouc
set do$n the name of the tradesman in his )ocGet4
ooG( in order to )oint him out to Ithurie, as an oHect
of )ecu,iar %en*eance on the da' $hen the cit'
shou,d e )unished" As he $as $ritin*( he heard
someod' GnocG at the door7 this $as the to'man
himse,f( $ho came to restore him his )urse( $hich
he had ,eft ' mistaGe on the counter"
#&o$ canst thou(# cried !aouc( #e so *enerous
and faithfu,( $hen thou hast had the assurance to
se,, me these triQes for four times their %a,ue #
#There is not a tradesman(# re),ied the merchant(
@M The Wor,d as it oes"
#of e%er so ,itt,e note in the cit'( that $ou,d not ha%e
returned thee th' )urse7 ut $hoe%er said that I
so,d thee these triQes for four times their %a,ue is
*reat,' mistaGen7 I so,d them for ten times their
%a,ue 7 and this is so true( that $ert thou to se,, them
a*ain in a month hence( thou $ou,dst not *et e%en
this tenth )art" !ut nothin* is more Hust" It is the
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%aria,e fancies of men that set a %a,ue on these
au,es7 it is this fanc' that maintains a hundred
$orGmen $hom I em),o' 7 it is this that *i%es me a
ne house and a handsome chariot and horses 7 it is
this( in ne( that e?cites industr'( encoura*es taste(
)romotes circu,ation( and )roduces aundance"
#I se,, the same triQes to the nei*horin* nation
at a much hi*her rate than I ha%e so,d them to thee(
and ' these means I am usefu, to the em)ire"#
!aouc( after ha%in* reQected a moment( erased
the tradesman+s name from his ta,ets"
!aouc( not Gno$in* as 'et $hat to thinG of Per4
se)o,is( reso,%ed to %isit the ma*i and the men of
,etters7 for( as the one studied $isdom and the other
re,i*ion( he ho)ed that the' in conHunction $ou,d
otain merc' for the rest of the )eo),e" Accordin*,'(
he $ent ne?t mornin* into a co,,e*e of ma*i" The
archimandrite confessed to him that he had a hun4
dred thousand cro$ns a 'ear for ha%in* taGen the
%o$ of )o%ert'( and that he enHo'ed a %er' e?tensi%e
em)ire in %irtue of his %o$ of humi,it'7 after $hich
he ,eft him $ith an inferior rother( $ho did him the
honors of the ),ace"
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The Wor,d as it oes" @<
Whi,e the rother $as sho$in* him the ma*ni4
cence of this house of )enitence( a re)ort $as s)read
aroad that !aouc $as come to reform a,, these
houses" &e immediate,' recei%ed )etitions from
each of them( the sustance of $hich $as( #Preser%e
us and destro' a,, the rest"# On hearin* their
a)o,o*ies( a,, these societies $ere aso,ute,' neces4
sar' 7 on hearin* their mutua, accusations( the' a,,
deser%ed to e ao,ished" &e $as sur)rised to nd
that a,, the memers of these societies $ere so e?4
treme,' desirous of edif'in* the $or,d that the'
$ished to ha%e it entire,' under their dominion"
Soon after a ,itt,e man a))eared( $ho $as a demi4
ma*i( and $ho said to him .
#I ),ain,' see that the $orG is *oin* to e accom4
),ished( for 9erdust is returned to earth( and the
,itt,e *ir,s )ro)hes'( )inchin* and $hi))in* them4
se,%es" We therefore im),ore th' )rotection a*ainst
the *reat ,ama"#
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#What# said !aouc( #a*ainst the ro'a, )onti(
$ho resides at Tiet#
#3es( a*ainst him himse,f"#
#What 'ou are then maGin* $ar u)on him( and
raisin* armies#
#No( ut he sa's that man is a free a*ent( and
$e den' it" We ha%e $ritten se%era, )am)h,ets
a*ainst him( $hich he ne%er read" &ard,' has he
heard our name mentioned" &e has on,' con4
demned us in the same manner as a man orders the
trees in his *arden to e c,eared from cater)i,,ars"#
@M= The Wor,d as it oes"
!aouc $as incensed at the fo,,' of these men
$ho made )rofession of $isdom 7 and at the in4
tri*ues of those $ho had renounced the $or,d 7 and
at the amition( )ride( and a%arice of such as tau*ht
humi,it' and a disinterested s)irit 7 from a,, $hich he
conc,uded that Ithurie, had *ood reason to destro'
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the $ho,e race"
On his return home( he sent for some ne$ ooGs
to a,,e%iate his *rief( and in order to e?hi,arate his
s)irits( in%ited some men of ,etters to dine $ith him 7
$hen( ,iGe $as)s attracted ' a )ot of hone'( there
came t$ice as man' as he desired" These )arasites
$ere eua,,' ea*er to eat and to s)eaG 7 the' )raised
t$o sorts of )ersons( the dead and themse,%es 7 ut
none of their contem)oraries( e?ce)t the master of
the house" If an' of them ha))ened to dro) a smart
and $itt' e?)ression( the rest cast do$n their e'es
and it their ,i)s out of mere %e?ation that it had not
een said ' themse,%es" The' had ,ess dissimu,a4
tion than the ma*i( ecause the' had not such *rand
oHects of amition" Each of them eha%ed at once
$ith a,, the meanness of a %a,et and a,, the di*nit'
of a *reat man" The' said to each other+s face the
most insu,tin* thin*s( $hich the' tooG for stroGes of
$it" The' had some Gno$,ed*e of the desi*n of
!aouc+s commission7 one of them entreated him
in a ,o$ %oice to e?tir)ate an author $ho had not
)raised him sucient,' aout %e 'ears efore 7 an4
other reuested the ruin of a citi2en $ho had ne%er
,au*hed at his comedies7 and the third demanded
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The Wor,d as it oes" @M;
the destruction of the academ' ecause he had not
een a,e to *et admitted into it" The re)ast ein*
ended( each of them de)arted ' himse,f7 for in
the $ho,e cro$d there $ere not t$o men that cou,d
endure the com)an' or con%ersation of each other(
e?ce)t at the houses of the rich( $ho in%ited them
to their ta,es" !aouc thou*ht that it $ou,d e no
*reat ,oss to the )u,ic if a,, these %ermin $ere de4
stro'ed in the *enera, catastro)he"
&a%in* no$ *ot rid of these men of ,etters( he
e*an to read some ne$ ooGs( $here he disco%ered
the true s)irit ' $hich his *uests had een actu4
ated" &e oser%ed $ith )articu,ar indi*nation those
s,anderous *a2ettes( those archi%es of ad taste( dic4
tated ' en%'( aseness( and hun*er 7 those un*en4
erous satires( $here the %u,ture is treated $ith
,enit' and the do%e torn in )ieces7 and those dr'
and insi)id romances( ,,ed $ith characters of $o4
men to $hom the author $as an utter stran*er"
A,, these detesta,e $ritin*s he committed to the
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Qames( and $ent to )ass the e%enin* in $a,Gin*"
In this e?cursion he $as introduced to an o,d man
)ossessed of *reat ,earnin*( $ho had not come to
increase the numer of his )arasites" This man of
,etters a,$a's Qed from cro$ds 7 he understood hu4
man nature( a%ai,ed himse,f of his Gno$,ed*e( and
im)arted it to others $ith *reat discretion" !aouc
to,d him ho$ much he $as *rie%ed at $hat he had
seen and read"
#Thou hast read %er' des)ica,e )erformances(#
@M@ The Wor,d as it oes"
said the man of ,etters7 #ut in a,, times( in a,, coun4
tries( and in a,, Ginds of ,iterature( the ad s$arm
and the *ood are rare" Thou hast recei%ed into th'
house the %er' dre*s of )edantr'" In a,, )rofes4
sions( those $ho are ,east $orth' of a))earin* are
a,$a's sure to )resent themse,%es $ith the *reatest
im)udence" The tru,' $ise ,i%e amon* themse,%es
in retirement and tranui,,it'7 and $e ha%e sti,,
some men and some ooGs that are $orth' of th'
attention"#
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Whi,e he $as thus s)eaGin*( the' $ere Hoined '
another man of ,etters7 and the con%ersation e4
came so entertainin* and instructi%e( so e,e%ated
ao%e %u,*ar )reHudices( and so conforma,e to %ir4
tue( that !aouc acGno$,ed*ed he had ne%er heard
the ,iGe"
#These are men(# said he to himse,f( #$hom the
an*e, Ithurie, $i,, not )resume to touch( or he must
e a merci,ess ein* indeed"#
Thou*h reconci,ed to men of ,etters( he $as sti,,
enra*ed a*ainst the rest of the nation"
#Thou art a stran*er(# said the Hudicious )erson
$ho $as ta,Gin* to him7 #auses )resent them4
se,%es to th' e'es in cro$ds( $hi,e the *ood( $hich
,ies concea,ed( and $hich is e%en sometimes the
resu,t of these %er' auses( esca)es th' oser%a4
tion"#
&e then ,earned that amon* men of ,etters there
$ere some $ho $ere free from en%' 7 and that e%en
amon* the ma*i themse,%es there $ere some men
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The Wor,d as it oes" @M
of %irtue" In ne( he conc,uded that these *reat
odies( $hich ' their mutua, shocGs seemed to
threaten their common ruin( $ere at ottom %er'
sa,utar' institutions 7 that each societ' of ma*i $as
a checG u)on its ri%a,s 7 and that thou*h these ri%a,s
mi*ht dier in some s)ecu,ati%e )oints( the' a,,
tau*ht the same mora,s( instructed the )eo),e( and
,i%ed in suHection to the ,a$s7 not un,iGe to those
)rece)tors $ho $atch o%er the heir of a fami,'
$hi,e the master of the house $atches o%er them"
&e con%ersed $ith se%era, of these ma*i( and found
them )ossessed of e?a,ted sou,s" &e ,iGe$ise
,earned that e%en amon* the foo,s $ho )retended
to maGe $ar on the *reat ,ama there had een some
men of distin*uished merit7 and from a,, these )ar4
ticu,ars he conHectured that it mi*ht e $ith the
manners of Perse)o,is as it $as $ith the ui,din*s 7
some of $hich mo%ed his )it'( $hi,e others ,,ed
him $ith admiration"
&e said to the man of ,etters.
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#I ),ain,' see that these ma*i( $hom I at rst im4
a*ined to e so dan*erous( are in rea,it' e?treme,'
usefu,( es)ecia,,' $hen a $ise *o%ernment hinders
them from renderin* themse,%es too necessar' 7 ut
thou $i,t at ,east acGno$,ed*e that 'our 'oun*
ma*istrates( $ho )urchase the oce of a Hud*e as
soon as the' can mount a horse( must dis),a' in
their triuna,s the most ridicu,ous im)ertinence and
the most iniuitous )er%erseness" It $ou,d dout4
@M The Wor,d as it oes"
,ess e etter to *i%e these ),aces *ratuitous,' to
those o,d ci%i,ians $ho ha%e s)ent their ,i%es in the
stud' of the ,a$"#
The man of ,etters re),ied.
#Thou hast seen our arm' efore th' arri%a, at
Perse)o,is7 thou Gno$est that our 'oun* ocers
*ht $ith *reat ra%er'( thou*h the' u' their
)osts 7 )erha)s thou $i,t nd that our 'oun* ma*is4
trates do not *i%e $ron* decisions( thou*h the'
)urchase the ri*ht of dis)ensin* Hustice"#
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&e ,ed him ne?t da' to the *rand triuna,(
$here an aair of *reat im)ortance $as to e de4
cided" The cause $as Gno$n to a,, the $or,d" A,,
the o,d ad%ocates that s)oGe on the suHect $ere
$a%erin* and unsett,ed in their o)inions" The'
uoted a hundred ,a$s( none of $hich $ere a)),i4
ca,e to the uestion" The' considered the matter
in a hundred dierent ,i*hts( ut ne%er in its true
)oint of %ie$" The Hud*es $ere more uicG in their
decisions than the ad%ocates in raisin* douts" The'
$ere unanimous in their sentiments" The' decided
Hust,'( ecause the' fo,,o$ed the ,i*ht of reason"
The others reasoned fa,se,' ecause the' on,' con4
su,ted their ooGs"
!aouc conc,uded that the est thin*s freuent,'
arose from auses" &e sa$ the same da' that the
riches of the recei%ers of the )u,ic re%enue( at
$hich he had een so much oended( $ere ca)a,e
of )roducin* an e?ce,,ent eect7 for the em)eror
ha%in* occasion for mone'( he found in an hour '
The Wor,d as it oes" @MB
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their means $hat he cou,d not ha%e )rocured in
si? months ' the ordinar' methods" &e sa$ that
those *reat c,ouds( s$e,,ed $ith the de$s of the
earth( restored in ),entifu, sho$ers $hat the' had
thence deri%ed" !esides( the chi,dren of these ne$
*ent,emen( $ho $ere freuent,' etter educated
than those of the most ancient fami,ies( $ere some4
times more usefu, memers of societ'( for he $hose
father hath een a *ood accountant ma' easi,' e4
come a *ood Hud*e( a ra%e $arrior( and an a,e
statesman"
!aouc $as insensi,' rou*ht to e?cuse the
a%arice of the farmer of the re%enues( $ho is
rea,it' $as not more a%aricious than other men(
and esides $as e?treme,' necessar'" &e o%er4
,ooGed the fo,,' of those $ho ruined themse,%es in
order to otain a )ost in the ,a$ or arm'( a fo,,'
that )roduces *reat ma*istrates and heroes" &e for4
*a%e the en%' of men of ,etters( amon* $hom there
$ere some that en,i*htened the $or,d7 and he $as
reconci,ed to the amitious and intri*uin* ma*i(
$ho $ere )ossessed of more *reat %irtues than ,itt,e
%ices" !ut he had sti,, man' causes of com),aint"
The *a,,antries of the ,adies es)ecia,,'( and the fata,
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eects $hich these must necessari,' )roduce( ,,ed
him $ith fear and terror"
As he $as desirous of )r'in* into the characters
of men of e%er' condition( he $ent to $ait on a
minister of state( ut trem,ed a,, the $a'( ,est some
$ife shou,d e assassinated ' her husand in his
@M> The Wor,d as it oes"
)resence" &a%in* arri%ed at the statesman+s( he
$as o,i*ed to remain t$o hours in the antecham4
er efore his name $as sent in( and t$o hours more
after that $as done" In this inter%a, he reso,%ed to
recommend to the an*e, Ithurie, oth the minister
and his inso,ent )orters" The antechamer $as
,,ed $ith ,adies of e%er' ranG( ma*i of a,, co,ors(
Hud*es( merchants( ocers( and )edants( and a,, of
them com),ained of the minister" The miser and
the usurer said.
#Dout,ess this man ),unders the )ro%inces"#
The ca)ricious re)roached him $ith cG,eness7
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the %o,u)tuar' said.
#&e thinGs of nothin* ut his ),easure"#
The factious ho)ed to see him soon ruined ' a
caa,( and the $omen Qattered themse,%es that the'
shou,d soon ha%e a 'oun*er minister"
!aouc heard their con%ersation( and cou,d not
he,) sa'in*.
#This is sure,' a ha))' man 7 he hath a,, his ene4
mies in his antechamer7 he crushes $ith his )o$er
those that en%' his *randeur7 he eho,ds those $ho
detest him *ro%e,,in* at his feet"#
At ,en*th he $as admitted into the )resence4
chamer( $here he sa$ a ,itt,e o,d man endin*
under the $ei*ht of 'ears and usiness( ut sti,,
,i%e,' and fu,, of s)irits"
The minister $as ),eased $ith !aouc( and to
!aouc he a))eared a man of *reat merit" The
con%ersation ecame interestin*" The minister con4
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The Wor,d as it oes" @M
fessed that he $as %er' unha))'7 that he )assed for
rich( $hi,e in rea,it' he $as )oor7 that he $as e4
,ie%ed to e a,,4)o$erfu,( and 'et $as constant,'
contradicted 7 that he had o,i*ed none ut a )arce,
of un*ratefu, $retches7 and that( in the course of
fort' 'ears+ ,aor he had hard,' enHo'ed a moment+s
rest" !aouc $as mo%ed $ith his misfortunes( and
thou*ht that if this man had een *ui,t' of some
fau,ts( and Ithurie, had a mind to anish him( he
ou*ht not to cut him o( ut to ,ea%e him in )os4
session of his ),ace"
-------
Whi,e !aouc $as ta,Gin* to the minister( the
eautifu, ,ad' $ith $hom he had dined entered hast4
i,'( her e'es and countenance sho$in* a,, the s'm)4
toms of *rief and indi*nation" She urst into re4
)roaches a*ainst the statesman 7 she shed tears7 she
com),ained itter,' that her husand had een re4
fused a ),ace to $hich his irth a,,o$ed him to
as)ire( and $hich he had fu,,' merited ' his
$ounds and his ser%ice" She e?)ressed herse,f $ith
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such force 7 she uttered her com),aints $ith such a
*racefu, air7 she o%erthre$ oHections $ith so much
address( and enforced her ar*uments $ith so much
e,ouence( that she did not ,ea%e the chamer ti,,
she had made her husand+s fortune"
!aouc *a%e her his hand( and said. #Is it )os4
si,e( madam( that thou canst taGe so much )ains
to ser%e a man $hom thou dost not ,o%e( and from
$hom thou hast e%er'thin* to fear#
@MM The Wor,d as it oes"
#A man $hom I do not ,o%e# cried she7 #Gno$(
sir( that m' husand is the est friend I ha%e in the
$or,d( and there is nothin* I $ou,d not sacrice for
him( e?ce)t m' o$n inc,inations"#
The ,ad' conducted !aouc to her o$n house"
The husand( $ho had at ,ast arri%ed o%er$he,med
$ith *rief( recei%ed his $ife $ith trans)orts of Ho'
and *ratitude" &e emraced ' turns his $ife( the
,itt,e ma*i( and !aouc" Wit( harmon'( cheerfu,4
ness( and a,, the *races eme,,ished the re)ast"
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!aouc( thou*h a Sc'thian( and sent ' a *enius(
found( that shou,d he continue much ,on*er in Per4
se)o,is( he $ou,d for*et e%en the an*e, Ithurie," &e
e*an to *ro$ fond of a cit' the inhaitants of $hich
$ere )o,ite( aa,e( and enecent( thou*h cG,e(
s,anderous( and %ain" &e $as much afraid that Per4
se)o,is $ou,d e condemned" &e $as e%en afraid
to *i%e in his account"
This( ho$e%er( he did in the fo,,o$in* manner"
&e caused a ,itt,e statue( com)osed of dierent met4
a,s( of earth( and stones( the most )recious and the
most %i,e( to e cast ' one of the est founders in
the cit'( and carried it to Ithurie,"
#Wi,t thou reaG(# said he( #this )rett' statue(
ecause it is not $ho,,' com)osed of *o,d and dia4
monds#
Ithurie, immediate,' understood his meanin*(
and reso,%ed to thinG no more of )unishin* Perse)4
o,is( ut to ,ea%e #the $or,d as it *oes"#
#For(# said he( #if a,, is not $e,,( a,, is )assa,e"#
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The Wor,d as it oes" @M<
Thus Perse)o,is $as suered to remain( nor did
!aouc com),ain( ,iGe /onas( $ho accordin* to the
Scri)tures $as hi*h,' incensed at the )reser%ation
of Nine%eh"
"Vo," ;<
T&E !LACK AND T&E W&ITE"
The ad%enture of the 'outhfu, Rustan is *enera,,'
Gno$n throu*hout the $ho,e )ro%ince of Candahar"
&e $as the on,' son of a mir2a of that countr'"
The tit,e of mir2a there is much the same as that of
maruis amon* us( or that of aron amon* the
ermans" The mir2a( his father( had a handsome
fortune" 3oun* Rustan $as to e married to a
mir2asse( or 'oun* ,ad'( of his o$n ranG" The t$o
fami,ies earnest,' desired their union" Rustan $as to
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ecome the comfort of his )arents( to maGe his $ife
ha))'( and to ,i%e ,essed in her )ossession"
!ut he had unfortunate,' seen the )rincess of
Cachemir at the fair of Cau,( $hich is the most
considera,e fair in the $or,d( and much more fre4
uented than those of !assora and Astracan" The
occasion that rou*ht the o,d )rince of Cachemir
to the fair $ith his dau*hter $as as fo,,o$s .
&e had ,ost the t$o most )recious curiosities of
his treasur' 7 one of them $as a diamond as thicG as
a man+s thum( u)on $hich the *ure of his dau*hter
$as en*ra%ed ' an art $hich $as then )ossessed '
the Indians( and has since een ,ost 7 the other $as a
Ha%e,in( $hich $ent of itse,f $here%er its o$ner
thou*ht )ro)er to send it" This is nothin* %er' e?4
@<=
The !,acG and the White" @<;
traordinar' amon* us( ut it $as thou*ht so at
Cachemir"
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A faGir e,on*in* to his hi*hness sto,e these t$o
curiosities 7 he carried them to the )rincess"
#Kee) these t$o curiosities $ith the utmost care 7
'our destin' de)ends u)on them(# said he( and then
de)arted"
The duGe of Cachemir( in des)air( reso,%ed to
%isit the fair of Cau,( in order to see $hether there
mi*ht not( amon* the merchants $ho *o thither from
a,, uarters of the $or,d( e some one )ossessed of
his diamond and his $ea)on" The )rincess carried
his diamond $e,, fastened to her *ird,e7 ut the
Ha%e,in( $hich she cou,d not so easi,' hide( she had
carefu,,' ,ocGed u) at Cachemir in a ,ar*e chest"
Rustan and she sa$ each other at Cau," The'
,o%ed one another $ith a,, the sincerit' of )ersons of
their a*e( and a,, the tenderness of aection natura,
to those of their countr'" The )rincess *a%e Rustan
her diamond as a ),ed*e of her ,o%e( and he )romised
at his de)arture to *o inco*nito to Cachemir( in order
to )a' her a %isit"
The 'oun* mir2a had t$o fa%orites( $ho ser%ed
him as secretaries( *rooms( ste$ards( and %a,ets de
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chamre" The name of one $as To)a2 7 he $as hand4
some( $e,,4sha)ed( fair as a Circassian eaut'( as
mi,d and read' to ser%e as an Armenian( and as $ise
as a ueer" The name of the other $as Eene 7 he
$as a %er' eautifu, ne*ro( more acti%e and indus4
trious than To)a2( and one that thou*ht nothin*
@<@ The !,acG and the White"
dicu,t" The 'oun* mir2a communicated his inten4
tion of tra%e,,in* to these" To)a2 endea%ored to dis4
suade him from it( $ith the circums)ect 2ea, of a ser4
%ant $ho $as un$i,,in* to oend him" &e re)re4
sented to him the *reat dan*er to $hich he e?)osed
himse,f" &e asGed him ho$ he cou,d ,ea%e t$o
fami,ies in des)air ho$ he cou,d )ierce the hearts
of his )arents &e shooG the reso,ution of Rustan 7
ut Eene conrmed it ane$( and o%iated a,, his
oHections"
The 'oun* man $as not furnished $ith mone' to
defra' the char*e of so ,on* a %o'a*e" The )rudent
To)a2 $ou,d not ha%e ,ent him an' 7 Eene su)),ied
him" &e( $ith *reat address( sto,e his master+s dia4
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mond( made a fa,se one e?act,' ,iGe it( $hich he )ut
in its ),ace( and ),ed*ed the true one to an Armenian
for se%era, thousand ru)ees"
As soon as the maruis )ossessed these ru)ees( a,,
thin*s $ere in readiness for his de)arture" An e,e4
)hant $as ,oaded $ith his a**a*e" &is attendants
mounted on horseacG"
To)a2 said to his master . #I ha%e taGen the ,iert'
to e?)ostu,ate $ith 'ou u)on 'our enter)rise( ut
after e?)ostu,atin* it is m' dut' to oe'" I am de4
%oted to 'ou( I ,o%e 'ou( I $i,, fo,,o$ 'ou to the
e?tremit' of the earth 7 ut ,et us ' the $a' consu,t
the orac,e that is ut t$o )arasan*s distant from
here"#
Rustan consented" The ans$er returned ' the
orac,e $as.
The !,acG and the White" @<
#If 'ou *o to the east 'ou $i,, e at the $est"#
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Rustan cou,d not *uess the meanin* of this an4
s$er" To)a2 maintained that it oded no *ood"
Eene( a,$a's com),aisant to his master( )ersuaded
him that it $as hi*h,' fa%ora,e"
There $as another orac,e at Cau, 7 the' $ent to
it" The orac,e of Cau, made ans$er in these $ords .
#If 'ou )ossess( 'ou $i,, cease to )ossess 7 if 'ou
are conueror( 'ou $i,, not conuer7 if 'ou are
Rustan( 'ou $i,, cease to e so"#
This orac,e seemed sti,, more uninte,,i*i,e than
the former"
#TaGe care of 'ourse,f(# said To)a2"
#Fear nothin*(# said Eene 7 and this minister( as
ma' $e,, e ima*ined( $as a,$a's thou*ht in the
ri*ht ' his master( $hose )assions and ho)es he
encoura*ed" &a%in* ,eft Cau,( the' )assed throu*h
a %ast forest" The' seated themse,%es u)on the *rass
in order to taGe a re)ast( and ,eft their horses *ra2in*"
The attendants $ere )re)arin* to un,oad the e,e4
)hant $hich carried the dinner( the ta,e( c,oth(
),ates( etc"( $hen( a,, on a sudden( To)a2 and Eene
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$ere )ercei%ed ' the ,itt,e cara%an to e missin*"
The' $ere ca,,ed( the forest resounded $ith the
names of To)a2 and Eene7 the ,acGe's seeG them
on e%er' side( and ,, the forest $ith their cries 7
the' return $ithout ha%in* seen an'thin*( and $ith4
out ha%in* recei%ed an' ans$er"
#We ha%e(# said the' to Rustan( #found nothin*
@< The !,acG and the White"
ut a %u,ture that fou*ht $ith an ea*,e( and stri))ed
it of a,, its feathers"#
The mention of this comat e?cited the curiosit'
of Rustan 7 he $ent on foot to the ),ace 7 he )ercei%ed
neither %u,ture nor ea*,e7 ut he sa$ his e,e)hant(
$hich $as sti,, ,oaded $ith a**a*e( attacGed ' a
hu*e rhinoceros 7 one strucG $ith its horn( the other
$ith its )rooscis" The rhinoceros desisted u)on
seein* Rustan 7 his e,e)hant $as rou*ht acG( ut
his horses $ere not to e found"
#Stran*e thin*s ha))en in forests to tra%e,,ers(#
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cried Rustan"
The ser%ants $ere in *reat consternation( and the
master in des)air from ha%in* at once ,ost his horse(
his dear ne*ro( and the $ise To)a2( for $hom he
sti,, entertained a friendshi)( thou*h a,$a's dier4
in* from him in o)inion"
The ho)e of ein* soon at the feet of the eautifu,
)rincess sti,, conso,ed the mir2a( $ho( Hourne'in* on(
no$ met $ith a hu*e streaGed ass( $hich a %i*orous
t$o4handed countr' c,o$n eat $ith an oaGen cud*e,"
The asses of this sort are e?treme,' eautifu,( %er'
scarce( and e'ond com)arison s$ift in runnin*"
The ass resented the re)eated ,o$s of the c,o$n '
GicGs $hich mi*ht ha%e rooted u) an oaG" The
'oun* mir2a( as $as reasona,e( tooG u)on him the
defence of the ass( $hich $as a charmin* creature"
The c,o$n etooG himse,f to Qi*ht( cr'in* to the ass(
#3ou sha,, )a' for this"#
The ass thanGed its de,i%erer in its o$n ,an*ua*e(
The !,acG and the White" @<B
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and a))roachin* him( )ermitted his caresses and ca4
ressed him in her turn" After dinner( Rustan mounted
it and tooG the road to Cachemir $ith his ser%ants(
$ho fo,,o$ed him( some on foot and some u)on the
e,e)hant" Scarce had he" mounted his ass( $hen that
anima, turned to$ard Cau,( instead of )roceedin* to
Cachemir" It $as to no )ur)ose for her master to
turn the rid,e( to GicG( to )ress the sides of the
east $ith his Gnees( to s)ur( to s,acGen the rid,e( to
)u,, to$ard him( to $hi) oth on the ri*ht and the
,eft" The ostinate anima, )ersisted in runnin*
to$ard Cau,"
Rustan in des)air fretted and ra%ed( $hen he met
$ith a dea,er in came,s( $ho said to him .
#1aster( 'ou ha%e there a %er' ma,icious east(
that carries 'ou $here 'ou do not choose to *o" If
'ou $i,, *i%e it to me( I $i,, *i%e 'ou the choice of
four of m' came,s"#
Rustan thanGed Pro%idence for ha%in* thro$n
so *ood a ar*ain in the $a'"
#To)a2 $as %er' much in the $ron*(# said he(
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#to te,, me that m' Hourne' $ou,d )ro%e un)ros4
)erous"#
&e mounts the handsome came,( the others fo,4
,o$7 he reHoins his cara%an( and fancies himse,f on
the road to ha))iness"
Scarce had he Hourne'ed four )arasan*s( $hen he
$as sto))ed ' a dee)( road( and im)etuous torrent(
$hich ro,,ed o%er hu*e rocGs $hite $ith foam"
The t$o anGs $ere fri*htfu, )reci)ices $hich da24
@<> The !,acG and the White"
2,ed the si*ht and made the ,ood run co,d" To )ass
$as im)ractica,e7 to *o to the ri*ht or to the ,eft
$as im)ossi,e"
#I am e*innin* to e afraid(# said Rustan( #that
To)a2 $as in the ri*ht in ,amin* m' Hourne'( and
that I $as in the $ron* in undertaGin* it" If he $ere
sti,, here he mi*ht *i%e me *ood ad%ice" If I had
Eene $ith me( he $ou,d comfort me and nd e?4
)edients7 ut e%er'thin* fai,s me"# This )er),e?it'
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$as increased ' the consternation of his attendants"
The ni*ht $as darG( and the' )assed it in ,amenta4
tions" At ,ast fati*ue and deHection made the amor4
ous tra%e,,er fa,, as,ee)" &e a$oGe at da'reaG( and
sa$( s)annin* the torrent( a eautifu, mar,e rid*e
$hich reached from shore to shore"
Nothin* $as heard ut e?c,amations( cries of as4
tonishment and Ho'" Is it )ossi,e Is this a dream
What a )rodi*' is this What an enchantment
Sha,, $e %enture to )ass The $ho,e com)an'
Gnee,ed( rose u)( $ent to the rid*e( Gissed the
*round( ,ooGed u) to hea%en( stretched out their
hands( set their feet on it $ith trem,in*( $ent to and
fro( fe,, into ecstasies( and Rustan said .
#At ,ast hea%en fa%ors me" To)a2 did not Gno$
$hat he $as sa'in*" The orac,es $ere fa%ora,e to
me" Eene $as in the ri*ht( ut $h' is he not here #
Scarce had the com)an' *ot e'ond the torrent(
$hen the rid*e sanG into the $ater $ith a )rodi*4
ious noise"
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The !,acG and the White" @<
#So much the etter( so much the etter(# cried
Rustan" #Praised e od( ,essed e hea%en7 it
$ou,d not ha%e me return to m' countr'( $here I
shou,d e nothin* more than a *ent,eman" The in4
tention of hea%en is that I shou,d $ed her I ,o%e" ;
sha,, ecome )rince of Cachemir 7 thus in )ossessin*
m' mistress I sha,, cease to )ossess m' ,itt,e mar4
uisate at Candahar" +I sha,, e Rustan( and I sha,,
not e Rustan ecause I sha,, ha%e ecome a *reat
)rince7 thus is a *reat )art of the orac,e c,ear,'
e?),ained in m' fa%or" The rest $i,, e e?),ained in
the same manner" I am %er' ha))'" !ut $h' is not
Eene $ith me I re*ret him a thousand times
more than To)a2"#
&e )roceeded a fe$ )arasan*s farther $ith the
*reatest a,acrit' ima*ina,e7 ut( at the c,ose of
da'( a chain of mountains more ru**ed than a coun4
terscar)( and hi*her than the to$er of !ae, $ou,d
ha%e een had it een nished( sto))ed the )assa*e
of the cara%an( $hich $as a*ain sei2ed $ith dread"
A,, the com)an' cried out . #It is the $i,, of od
that $e )erish here &e roGe the rid*e mere,' to
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taGe from us a,, ho)es of returnin*7 &e raised the
mountain for no other reason than to de)ri%e us of
a,, means of ad%ancin*" Oh( Rustan oh( unha))'
maruis $e sha,, ne%er see Cachemir7 $e sha,,
ne%er return to the ,and of Candahar"#
The most )oi*nant an*uish( the most insu))ort4
a,e deHection succeeded in the sou, of Rustan to the
@<M The !,acG and the White"
immoderate Ho' $hich he had fe,t( to the ho)es $ith
$hich he had into?icated himse,f" &e $as no ,on*er
dis)osed to inter)ret the )ro)hecies in his fa%or"
#Oh( hea%ens oh( od of m' fathers # said he(
#must I then ,ose m' friend To)a2 #
As he )ronounced these $ords( hea%in* dee) si*hs
and sheddin* tears in the midst of his disconso,ate
fo,,o$ers( the ase of the mountain o)ened( a ,on*
*a,,er' a))eared to the da22,ed e'es in a %au,t ,i*hted
$ith a hundred thousand torches" Rustan imme4
diate,' e*ins to e?u,t( and his )eo),e to thro$ them4
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se,%es u)on their Gnees and to fa,, u)on their acGs
in astonishment( and cr' out( #A mirac,e a mirac,e
Rustan is the fa%orite of Witsno$( the $e,,4e,o%ed
of !rahma" &e $i,, ecome the master of man4
Gind"#
Rustan e,ie%ed it7 he $as uite eside himse,f7
he $as raised ao%e himse,f"
#A,as( Eene(# said he( #m' dear Eene( $here
are 'ou Wh' are 'ou not $itness of a,, these $on4
ders &o$ did I ,ose 'ou !eauteous )rincess of
Cachemir( $hen sha,, I a*ain eho,d 'our charms #
&e ad%ances $ith his attendants( his e,e)hants(
and his came,s under the ho,,o$ of the mountain( at
the end of $hich he enters into a meado$ ename,,ed
$ith Qo$ers and encom)assed $ith ri%u,ets" At the
e?tremit' of the meado$s are $a,Gs of trees to the
end of $hich the e'e cannot reach( and at the end of
these a,,e's is a ri%er( on the sides of $hich are a
thousand ),easure houses $ith de,icious *ardens"
The !,acG and the White" @<<
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&e e%er'$here hears concerts of %oca, and instru4
menta, music7 he sees dances7 he maGes haste to *o
u)on one of the rid*es of the ri%er7 he asGs the rst
man he meets $hat ne countr' that is
&e $hom he addressed ans$ered .
#3ou are in the )ro%ince of Cachemir 7 'ou see the
inhaitants immersed in Ho' and ),easure" We ce,e4
rate the marria*e of our eauteous )rincess( $ho is
*oin* to e married to the ,ord !araou( to $hom
her father )romised her" 1a' od )er)etuate their
fe,icit' #
At these $ords Rustan fainted a$a'( and the
Cachemirian ,ord thou*ht he $as trou,ed $ith the
fa,,in* sicGness" &e caused him to e carried to his
house( $here he remained a ,on* time insensi,e"
&e sent in search of the t$o most a,e )h'sicians in
that )art of the countr'" The' fe,t the )atient+s
)u,se( $ho( ha%in* some$hat reco%ered his s)irits(
soed( ro,,ed his e'es( and cried from time to time(
#To)a2( To)a2( 'ou $ere entire,' in the ri*ht #
One of the t$o )h'sicians said to the Cachemirian
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,ord.
#I )ercei%e( ' this 'oun* man+s accent( that he
is from Candahar( and that the air of this countr'
is hurtfu, to him" &e must e sent home" I )ercei%e
' his e'es that he has ,ost his senses" Intrust me
$ith him 7 I $i,, carr' him acG to his o$n countr'
and cure him"#
The other )h'sician maintained that *rief $as his
on,' disorder 7 and that it $as )ro)er to carr' him to
== The !,acG and the White"
the $eddin* of the )rincess( and maGe him dance"
Whi,st the' $ere in consu,tation( the )atient reco%4
ered his hea,th" The t$o )h'sicians $ere dismissed(
and Rustan remained a,on* $ith his host"
#1' ,ord(# said he( #I asG 'our )ardon for ha%in*
een so free as to faint in 'our )resence" I Gno$ it
to e a reach of )o,iteness" I entreat 'ou to acce)t
of m' e,e)hant( as an acGno$,ed*ment of the Gind4
ness 'ou ha%e sho$n me"#
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&e then re,ated to him a,, his ad%enture( taGin*
)articu,ar care to concea, from him the occasion of
his Hourne'"
#!ut( in the name of Witsno$ and !rahma(# said
he to him( #te,, me $ho is this ha))' !araou $ho
is to marr' the )rincess of Cachemir Wh' has her
father chosen him for his son4in4,a$( and $h' has
the )rincess acce)ted of him for a husand#
#Sir(# ans$ered the Cachemirian( #the )rincess
has ' no means acce)ted of !araou" She is( on
the contrar'( in tears( $hi,st the $ho,e )ro%ince Ho'4
fu,,' ce,erates her marria*e" She has shut herse,f
u) in a to$er of her )a,ace" She does not choose to
see an' of the reHoicin*s made u)on the occasion"#
Rustan( at hearin* this( )ercei%ed himse,f re%i%ed"
The ,oom of his com),e?ion( $hich *rief had caused
to fade( a))eared a*ain u)on his countenance"
#Te,, me( I entreat 'ou(# continued he( #$h' the
)rince of Cachemir is ostinate,' ent u)on *i%in*
his dau*hter to Lord !araou( $hom she does not
,o%e#
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The !,acG and the White" =;
#This is the fact(# ans$ered the Cachemirian"
#Do 'ou Gno$ that our au*ust )rince ,ost a ,ar*e dia4
mond and a Ha%e,in $hich he considered as of *reat
%a,ue#
#Ah I %er' $e,, Gno$ that(# said Rustan"
#Kno$ then(# said his host( #that our )rince( e4
in* in des)air at not ha%in* heard of his t$o )recious
curiosities after ha%in* caused them to e sou*ht for
a,, o%er the $or,d( )romised his dau*hter to $hoe%er
shou,d rin* him either the one or the other" A Lord
!araou came $ho had the diamond( and he is to
marr' the )rincess to4morro$"#
Rustan turned )a,e( stammered out a com),i4
ment( tooG ,ea%e of his host( and *a,,o)ed u)on his
dromedar' to the ca)ita, cit'( $here the ceremon'
$as to e )erformed" &e arri%es at the )a,ace of the
)rince( he te,,s him he has somethin* of im)ortance
to communicate to him( he demands an audience" &e
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is to,d that the )rince is taGen u) $ith the )re)ara4
tions for the $eddin*"
#It is for that %er' reason(# said he( #that I am
desirous of s)eaGin* to him"# Such is his im)or4
tunit'( that he is at ,ast admitted"
#Prince(# said he( #ma' od cro$n a,, 'our da's
$ith *,or' and ma*nicence 3our son4in4,a$ is a
Gna%e"#
#What a Gna%e ho$ dare 'ou s)eaG in such
terms Is that a )ro)er $a' of s)eaGin* to a duGe
of Cachemir of a son4in4,a$ of $hom he has made
choice #
=@ The !,acG and the White"
#3es( he is a Gna%e(# continued Rustan( #and to
)ro%e it to 'our hi*hness( I ha%e rou*ht 'ou acG
'our diamond"#
The duGe( sur)rised at $hat he heard( com)ared
the t$o diamonds7 and( as he $as no Hud*e of )re4
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cious stones( he cou,d not determine $hich $as the
true one"
#&ere are t$o diamonds(# said he( #and I ha%e ut
one dau*hter" I am in a stran*e )er),e?it'"#
&e sent for !araou( and asGed him if he had
not im)osed u)on him" !araou s$ore he had
ou*ht his diamond from an Armenian7 the other
did not te,, him $ho he had his from 7 ut he )ro)osed
an e?)edient( $hich $as that he shou,d en*a*e his
ri%a, in sin*,e comat"
#It is not enou*h for 'our son4in4,a$ to *i%e a
diamond(# said he 7 #he shou,d a,so *i%e )roofs of
%a,or" Do not 'ou thinG it Hust that he $ho Gi,,s
his ri%a, shou,d marr' the )rincess #
#0ndouted,'(# ans$ered the )rince" #It $i,, e
a ne si*ht for the court" Fi*ht direct,'" The con4
ueror sha,, taGe the arms of the conuered( accord4
in* to the customs of Cachemir( and he sha,, marr'
m' dau*hter"#
The t$o )retenders to the hand of the )rincess *o
do$n into the court" 0)on the stairs there $as a
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Ha' and a ra%en" The ra%en cried( #Fi*ht( *ht"#
The Ha' cried( #Don+t *ht"#
This made the )rince ,au*h 7 the t$o ri%a,s scarce
tooG an' notice of it" The' e*in the comat" A,,
The !,acG and the White" =
the courtiers made a circ,e round them" The )rin4
cess( $ho Ge)t herse,f constant,' shut u) in her
to$er( did not choose to eho,d this si*ht" She ne%er
dreamed that her ,o%er $as at Cachemir( and she
hated !araou to such a de*ree that she cou,d not
ear the si*ht of him" The comat had the ha))iest
resu,t ima*ina,e" !araou $as Gi,,ed outri*ht7
and this *reat,' reHoiced the )eo),e( ecause he $as
u*,' and Rustan $as %er' handsome" The fa%or
of the )u,ic is a,most a,$a's determined ' this
circumstance"
The conueror )ut on the coat of mai,( scarf( and
the casue of the conuered and came( fo,,o$ed '
the $ho,e court( to )resent himse,f under the $in4
do$s of his mistress" The mu,titude cried a,oud.
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#!eautifu, )rincess( come and see 'our handsome
,o%er( $ho has Gi,,ed his u*,' ri%a,"# These $ords
$ere re4echoed ' her $omen" The )rincess un4
,ucGi,' ,ooGed out of the $indo$( and( seein* the
armor of a man she hated( she ran ,iGe one frantic to
her stron* o?( and tooG out the fata, Ha%e,in( $hich
Qe$ to )ierce Rustan( not$ithstandin* his cuirass"
&e cried out ,oud,'( and at this cr' the )rincess
thou*ht she a*ain Gne$ the %oice of her unha))'
,o%er"
She ran do$nstairs( $ith her hair dishe%e,,ed( and
death in her e'es as $e,, as her heart" Rustan had
a,read' fa,,en( a,, ,ood'( into the arms of his attend4
ants" She sees him" Oh( moment oh( si*ht oh(
disco%er' of ine?)ressi,e *rief( tenderness and
= The !,acG and the White"
horror She thro$s herse,f u)on him( and emraces
him"
#3ou recei%e(# said she( #the rst and ,ast Gisses
of 'our mistress and 'our murderer"#
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She )u,,s the dart from the $ound( ),un*es it in
her heart( and dies u)on the od' of the ,o%er $hom
she adores" The father( terried( in des)air( and
read' to die ,iGe his dau*hter( tries in %ain to rin*
her to ,ife" She $as no more" &e curses the fata,
dart( reaGs it to )ieces( thro$s a$a' the t$o fata,
diamonds 7 and $hi,st he )re)ared the funera, of his
dau*hter instead of her marria*e( he caused Rustan(
$ho $e,tered in his ,ood and had sti,, some remains
of ,ife( to e carried to his )a,ace"
&e $as )ut into ed" The rst oHects he sa$ on
each side of his deathed $ere To)a2 and Eene"
This sur)rise made him in some de*ree reco%er his
stren*th"
#Crue, men(# said he( #$h' did 'ou aandon me
Perha)s the )rincess $ou,d sti,, e a,i%e if 'ou had
een $ith the unha))' Rustan"#
#I ha%e not forsaGen 'ou a moment(# said To)a2"
#I ha%e a,$a's een $ith 'ou(# said Eene"
#Ah $hat do 'ou sa' Wh' do 'ou insu,t me in
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m' ,ast moments# ans$ered Rustan( $ith a ,an4
*uishin* %oice"
#3ou ma' e,ie%e me(# said To)a2" #3ou Gno$
I ne%er a))ro%ed of this fata, Hourne'( the dreadfu,
conseuences of $hich I foresa$" I $as the ea*,e
S&E T&ROWS &ERSELF+ 0PON &I1 AND
E1!RACES &I1
The !,acG and the White" =B
that fou*ht $ith the %u,ture and stri))ed It of its
feathers 7 I $as the e,e)hant that carried a$a' the
a**a*e( in order to force 'ou to return to 'our o$n
countr'7 I $as the streaGed ass that carried 'ou(
$hether 'ou $ou,d or no( to 'our father 7 it $as I
that made 'our horses *o astra' 7 it $as I that caused
the torrent that )re%ented 'our )assa*e 7 it $as I that
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raised the mountain $hich sto))ed u) a road so fata,
to 'ou7 I $as the )h'sician that ad%ised 'ou to re4
turn to 'our o$n countr'7 I $as the Ha' that cried
to 'ou not to *ht"#
#And I(# said Eene( #$as the %u,ture that he
stri))ed of his feathers( the rhinoceros $ho *a%e him
a hundred stroGes $ith the horn( the c,o$n that eat
the streaGed ass( the merchant $ho made 'ou a )res4
ent of the came,s to hasten 'ou to 'our destruction 7 I
du* the ca%ern that 'ou crossed( I am the )h'sician
that encoura*ed 'ou to $a,G( the ra%en that cried out
to 'ou to comat"#
#A,as # said To)a2( #rememer the orac,es . +If
'ou *o to the east 'ou $i,, e at the $est"+ #
#3es(# said Eene( #here the dead are uried $ith
their faces turned to the $est" The orac,e $as ),ain
enou*h( thou*h 'ou did not understand it" 3ou )os4
sessed( and 'ou did not )ossess 7 for thou*h 'ou had
the diamond( it $as a fa,se one( and 'ou did not
Gno$ it" 3ou are conueror( and 'ou die 7 'ou are
Rustan( and 'ou cease to e so 7 a,, has een accom4
),ished"#
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Vo," @=
=> The !,acG and the White"
Whi,st he s)oGe thus( four $hite $in*s co%ered
the od' of To)a2( and four ,acG ones that of
Eenc"
#What do I see # cried Rustan"
To)a2 and Eene ans$ered to*ether. #3ou see
'our t$o *enii"#
#ood *ent,emen(# cried the unha))' Rustan(
#ho$ came 'ou to medd,e 7 and $hat occasion had a
)oor man for t$o *enii #
#It is a ,a$(# ans$ered To)a27 #e%er' man has
t$o *enii" P,ato $as the rst man $ho said so(
and others ha%e re)eated it after him" 3ou see that
nothin* can e more true" I $ho no$ s)eaG to 'ou
am 'our *ood *enius" I $as char*ed to $atch o%er
'ou to the ,ast moment of 'our ,ife" Of this tasG I
ha%e faithfu,,' acuitted m'se,f"#
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#!ut(# said the d'in* man( #if 'our usiness $as
to ser%e me( I am of a nature much su)erior to 'ours"
And then ho$ can 'ou ha%e the assurance to sa' 'ou
are m' *ood *enius( since 'ou ha%e suered me to e
decei%ed in e%er'thin* I ha%e undertaGen( and since
'ou suer oth m' mistress and me to die miser4
a,'#
#A,as # said To)a2( #it $as 'our destin'"#
#If destin' does a,,(# ans$ered the d'in* man(
#$hat is a *enius *ood for And 'ou( Eene( $ith
'our four ,acG $in*s( 'ou are dout,ess m' e%i,
*enius"#
#3ou ha%e hit it(# ans$ered Eene"
The !,acG and the White" =
#Then I su))ose 'ou $ere the e%i, *enius of m'
)rincess ,iGe$ise(# said Rustan"
#No(# re),ied Eene( #she had an e%i, *enius of
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her o$n( and I seconded him )erfect,'"#
#Ah cursed Eene(# said Rustan( #if 'ou are so
ma,icious( 'ou don+t e,on* to the same master $ith
To)a2 7 'ou ha%e een formed ' t$o dierent )rin4
ci),es( one of $hich is ' nature *ood( the other e%i,"#
#That does not fo,,o$(# said Eene7 #this is a
%er' Gnott' )oint"#
#It is not )ossi,e(# ans$ered the d'in* man(
#that a ene%o,ent ein* cou,d create so destructi%e a
*enius"#
#Possi,e or not )ossi,e(# re),ied the *enius( #the
thin* is Hust as I sa'"#
#A,as # said To)a2( #m' )oor unfortunate friend(
don+t 'ou see that that ro*ue is so ma,icious as to
encoura*e 'ou to dis)ute( in order to inQame 'our
,ood and hasten 'our death #
#et 'ou *one(# said the me,ancho,' Rustan( #I
am not much etter satised $ith 'ou than $ith him"
&e at ,east acGno$,ed*es that it $as his intention to
hurt me 7 and 'ou( $ho )retended to defend me( ha%e
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done me no ser%ice at a,,"#
#I am %er' sorr' for it(# said the *ood *enius"
#And I( too(# said the d'in* man7 #there is some4
thin* at the ottom of a,, this $hich I cannot com4
)rehend"#
#Nor I neither(# said the *ood *enius"
=M The !,acG and the White"
#I sha,, Gno$ the truth of the matter in a mo4
ment(# said Rustan"
#We sha,, see that(# said To)a2"
The $ho,e scene then %anished" Rustan a*ain
found himse,f in the house of his father( $hich he had
not uitted( and in his ed( $here he had s,e)t an
hour"
&e a$aGes in astonishment( )ers)irin* a,, o%er(
and uite $i,d" &e rus himse,f( he ca,,s( he rin*s
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the e,," &is %a,et de chamre( To)a2( runs in( in
his ni*htca)( and 'a$nin*"
#Am I dead or a,i%e# cried out Rustan7 #sha,,
the eauteous )rincess of Cachemir esca)e#
#Does 'our ,ordshi) ra%e# ans$ered To)a2(
co,d,'"
#Ah# cried Rustan( #$hat( then( is ecome of
this ararous Eene( $ith his four ,acG $in*s It
is he that maGes me die ' so crue, a death"#
#1' ,ord(# ans$ered To)a2( #I ,eft him snorin*
u)stairs" Wou,d 'ou ha%e me id him come do$n#
#The %i,,ain(# said Rustan( #has )ersecuted me
for si? months to*ether" It $as he $ho carried me
to the fata, fair of Cau,7 it is he that cheated me of
the diamond $hich the )rincess )resented me7 he is
the so,e cause of m' Hourne'( of the death of m' )rin4
cess( and of the $ound $ith the Ha%e,in( of $hich I
die in the Qo$er of m' a*e"#
#TaGe heart(# said To)a2 7 #'ou $ere ne%er at
Cau, 7 there is no )rincess of Cachemir 7 her father
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ne%er had an' chi,dren ut t$o o's( $ho are no$ at
The !,acG and the White" =<
co,,e*e 7 'ou ne%er had a diamond 7 the )rincess can4
not e dead( ecause she ne%er $as orn 7 and 'ou are
in )erfect hea,th"#
#What is it not then true that 'ou attended me
$hi,st d'in*( and in the ed of the )rince of Cache4
mir Did 'ou not acGno$,ed*e to me that( in order
to )reser%e me from so man' dan*ers( 'ou $ere an
ea*,e( an e,e)hant( a streaGed ass( a )h'sician( and
a Ha'#
#1' ,ord( 'ou ha%e dreamed a,, this(# ans$ered
To)a2 7 #our ideas are no more of our o$n creatin*
$hi,st $e are as,ee) than $hi,st $e are a$aGe" od
has thou*ht )ro)er that this train of ideas shou,d
)ass in 'our head( most )roa,' to con%e' some in4
struction to 'ou of $hich 'ou ma' maGe a *ood use"#
#3ou maGe a Hest of me(# re),ied Rustan 7 #ho$
,on* ha%e I s,e)t #
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#1' ,ord(# said To)a2( #'ou ha%e not 'et s,e)t an
hour"#
#Cursed reasoner(# returned Rustan( #ho$ is it
)ossi,e that I cou,d e in the s)ace of an hour at the
fair of Cau, si? months a*o 7 that I cou,d ha%e re4
turned from thence( ha%e tra%e,,ed to Cachemir( and
that !araou( the )rincess( and I shou,d ha%e died #
#1' ,ord(# said To)a2( #nothin* can e more eas'
and more common( and 'ou mi*ht ha%e tra%e,,ed
around the $or,d( and ha%e met $ith a *reat man'
more ad%entures in much ,ess time" Is it not true
that 'ou can( in an hour+s time( read the arid*ment
of the Persian histor'( $ritten ' 9oroaster 'et
;= The !,acG and the White"
this arid*ment contains ei*ht hundred thousand
'ears" A,, these e%ents )ass efore 'our e'es( one
after another( in an hour+s time" No$( 'ou must
acGno$,ed*e that it is as eas' to !rahma to conne
them to the s)ace of an hour as to e?tend them to
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*o and fetch it" It $i,, ),ease 'ou7 its memor' is
faithfu, 7 it re,ates in a sim),e manner( $ithout en4
dea%orin* to sho$ $it at e%er' turn"#
The !,acG and the White" ;;
#So much the etter(# said Rustan( #I ,iGe that
manner of te,,in* stories"#
The )arrot ein* rou*ht to him( s)oGe in this
manner .
N" !" Catherine Vade cou,d ne%er nd the his4
tor' of the )arrot in the common),ace4ooG of her
,ate cousin Anthon' Vade( author of that ta,e" This
is a *reat misfortune( considerin* $hat a*e that )ar4
rot ,i%ed in"
T&E OOD !RA&1IN"
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DOES &APPINESS RES0LT FRO1 INORANCE OR FRO1
KNOWLEDE
In m' tra%e,s I once ha))ened to meet $ith an
a*ed !rahmin" This man had a *reat share of un4
derstandin* and )rudence( and $as %er' ,earned"
&e $as a,so %er' rich( and his riches added *reat,'
to his )o)u,arit'( for( $antin* nothin* that $ea,th
cou,d )rocure( he had no desire to defraud an' one"
&is fami,' $as admira,' mana*ed ' three hand4
some $i%es( $ho a,$a's studied to ),ease him( and
$hen he $as $ear' of their societ'( he had recourse
to the stud' of )hi,oso)h'"
Not far from his house( $hich $as handsome(
$e,, furnished( and eme,,ished $ith de,i*htfu, *ar4
dens( d$e,t an o,d Indian $oman $ho $as a *reat
i*ot( i*norant( and $itha, %er' )oor"
#I $ish(# said the !rahmin to me one da'( #I had
ne%er een orn"#
#Wh' so# said I"
#!ecause(# said he( #I ha%e een stud'in* these
fort' 'ears( and I nd it has een so much time ,ost"
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Whi,e I teach others I Gno$ nothin* m'se,f" The
sense of m' condition is so humi,iatin*( it maGes a,,
thin*s so distastefu, to me( that ,ife has ecome a ur4
#
The ood !rahmin" ;
den" I ha%e een orn( and I e?ist in time( $ithout
Gno$in* $hat time is" I am ),aced( as our $ise men
sa'( in the connes et$een t$o eternities( and 'et I
ha%e no idea of eternit'" I am com)osed of matter(
I thinG( ut ha%e ne%er een a,e to satisf' m'se,f
$hat it is that )roduces thou*ht" I e%en am i*norant
$hether m' understandin* is a sim),e facu,t' I )os4
sess( ,iGe that of $a,Gin* and di*estin*( or if I thinG
$ith m' head in the same manner as I taGe ho,d of
a thin* $ith m' hands" I am not on,' thus in the
darG $ith re,ation to the )rinci),es( of thou*ht( ut
the )rinci),es of m' motions are entire,' unGno$n to
me" I do not Gno$ $h' I e?ist( and 'et I am a)),ied
to e%er' da' for a so,ution of the eni*ma" I must
return an ans$er( ut can sa' nothin* satisfactor'
on the suHect" I ta,G a *reat dea,( and $hen I ha%e
done s)eaGin* remain confounded and ashamed of
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$hat I ha%e said"
#I am in sti,, *reater )er),e?it' $hen I am asGed
if !rahma $as )roduced ' Vishnu( or if the' ha%e
oth e?isted from eternit'" od is m' Hud*e that I
Gno$ nothin* of the matter( as ),ain,' a))ears ' m'
ans$ers" +Re%erend father(+ sa's one( +e ),eased
to inform me ho$ e%i, is s)read o%er the face of the
earth"+ I am as much at a ,oss as those $ho asG the
uestion" Sometimes I te,, them that e%er'thin* is
for the est 7 ut those $ho ha%e the *out or the stone
those $ho ha%e ,ost their fortunes or their ,ims
in the $ars e,ie%e as ,itt,e of this assertion as I do
m'se,f" I retire to m' o$n house fu,, of curiosit'(
; The ood !rahmin"
and endea%or to en,i*hten m' i*norance ' consu,t4
in* the $ritin*s of our ancient sa*es( ut the' on,'
ser%e to e$i,der me the more" When I ta,G $ith m'
rethren u)on this suHect( some te,, me $e ou*ht to
maGe the most of ,ife and ,au*h at the $or,d" Others
thinG the' Gno$ somethin*( and ,ose themse,%es in
%ain and chimerica, h')otheses" E%er' eort I
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maGe to so,%e the m'ster' adds to the ,oad I fee,"
Sometimes I am read' to fa,, into des)air $hen I
reQect that( after a,, m' researches( I neither Gno$
from $hence I came( $hat I am( $hither I sha,, *o(
or $hat is to ecome of me"#
The condition in $hich I sa$ this *ood man *a%e
me rea, concern" No one cou,d e more rationa,( no
one more o)en and honest" It a))eared to me that
the force of his understandin* and the sensii,it' of
his heart $ere the causes of his miser'"
The same da' I had a con%ersation $ith the o,d
$oman( his nei*hor" I asGed her if she had e%er
een unha))' for not understandin* ho$ her sou,
$as made She did not e%en com)rehend m' ues4
tion" She had not( for the riefest moment in
her ,ife( had a thou*ht aout these suHects $ith
$hich the *ood !rahmin had so tormented himse,f"
She e,ie%ed from the ottom of her heart in the
metamor)hoses of her *od( Vishnu( and( )ro%ided
she cou,d *et some of the sacred $ater of the an*es
in $hich to maGe her a,utions( she thou*ht herse,f
the ha))iest of $omen"
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The ood !rahmin" ;B
StrucG $ith the ha))iness of this )oor creature( I
returned to m' )hi,oso)her( $hom I thus addressed .
#Are 'ou not ashamed to e thus misera,e $hen(
not ft' 'ards from 'ou( there is an o,d automaton
$ho thinGs of nothin* and ,i%es contented #
#3ou are ri*ht(# he re),ied" #I ha%e said to m'4
se,f a thousand times that I shou,d e ha))' if I $ere
ut as i*norant as m' o,d nei*hor( and 'et it is a
ha))iness I do not desire"#
This re),' of the !rahmin made a *reater im)res4
sion on me than an'thin* that had )assed" I con4
su,ted m' o$n heart and found that I m'se,f shou,d
not $ish to e ha))' on condition of ein* i*norant"
I sumitted this matter to some )hi,oso)hers( and
the' $ere a,, of m' o)inion 7 and 'et( said I( there is
somethin* %er' contradictor' in this manner of
thinGin*( for( after a,,( $hat is the uestion Is it
not to e ha))' What si*nies it then $hether $e
ha%e understandin*s or $hether $e are foo,s !e4
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sides( there is this to e said. those $ho are con4
tented $ith their condition are sure of that content(
$hi,e those $ho ha%e the facu,t' of reasonin* are not
a,$a's sure of reasonin* ri*ht" It is e%ident then( I
continued( that $e ou*ht rather to $ish not to ha%e
common sense( if that common sense contriutes to
our ein* either misera,e or $icGed"
The' $ere a,, of m' o)inion( and 'et not one of
them cou,d e found to acce)t of ha))iness on the
terms of ein* i*norant" From hence I conc,uded
;> The ood !rahmin
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