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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 VI
AKRON, OHIO
THE WERNER COMPANY
1!"
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The WORKS of VOLT A I RE
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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( there is a m'sterious re+ation"
, , Let us sa' it $ith a sentiment of
)rofound res)ect- .ES/S WEPT- VOLTAIRE S0ILED"
Of that di%ine tear and of that human smi+e is com)osed the
s$eetness of the )resent ci%i+i1ation" 2 2
VICTOR &/O"
T&E !ASTILLE
3L" OP OP4
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PRIEST"#
IN5ERSO/I4
6"
I EL"EVEN 0ONT&S( IN
7T7T47S( AND F4OR EI&TEEN DA8S IN 79:a;
EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION
T&E WORKS OF
VOLTAI RE
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A CONTE0PORAR8 VERSION
WIT& NOTES !8 TO!IAS S0OLLETT( REVISED AND 0ODERNI<ED
NEW TRANSLATIONS !8 WILLIA0 F" FLE0IN( AND AN
INTROD/CTION !8 OLIVER &" " LEI&
A CRITI5/E AND !IORAP&8
!8
T&E RT" &ON" .O&N 0ORLE8
FORT84T&REE VOL/0ES
ONE &/NDRED AND SI=T84!I&T DESINS( CO0PRISIN REPROD/CTIONS
OF KAR! OLD ENRAVINS( STEEL PLATES( P&OTORAV/RES(
A0D C/RIO/S FAC4SI0IL!S
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VOL/0E VI
COP8RI&T 7>?7
!T E" R" DO0ONT
OWNED !8
T&E WERNER CO0PAN8
AKRON( O&IO
T&E WERNER CO0PAN8
AKRON( O&IO
Stac@
Anne
P5
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:O9B
EBS
I>O
A fc
VOLTAIRE
A P&ILOSOP&ICAL DICTIONAR8
VOL" II
APPEARANCE CALENDS
LIST OF PLATES
VOL" VI
PACK
T&E !ASTILLE """" Frontis)iece
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AN ASTROLOER >
A T8PE OF !EA/T8 ::
ALE=ANDER2S TRI/0P& " " " " :9G
A P&ILOSOP&ICAL DICTIONAR8"
APPEARANCE"
ARE a++ a))earances deceitfu+ H &a%e our senses
een *i%en us on+' to @ee) us in continua+ de4
+usion H Is e%er'thin* error H Do $e +i%e in a dream(
surrounded ' shado$' chimeras H We see the sun
settin* $hen he is a+read' e+o$ the hori1onJ e4
fore he has 'et risen $e see him a))ear" A suare
to$er seems to e round" A strai*ht stic@( thrust
into the $ater( seems to e ent"
8ou see 'our face in a mirror and the ima*e a)4
)ears to e ehind the *+ass - it is( ho$e%er( neither
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ehind nor efore it" This *+ass( $hich to the si*ht
and the touch is so smooth and e%en( is no other than
an uneua+ con*re*ation of )roections and ca%ities"
The Mnest and fairest s@in is a @ind of rist+ed net4
$or@( the o)enin*s of $hich are incom)ara+' +ar*er
than the threads( and enc+ose an inMnite numer of
minute hairs" /nder this net$or@ there are +iuors
incessant+' )assin*( and from it there issue continua+
eha+ations $hich co%er the $ho+e surface" What
$e ca++ +ar*e is to an e+e)hant %er' sma++( and $hat
$e ca++ sma++ is to insects a $or+d"
The same motion $hich $ou+d e ra)id to a snai+
$ou+d e %er' s+o$ in the e'e of an ea*+e" This
B
Phi+oso)hica+
A
roc@( $hich is im)enetra+e ' stee+( is a sie%e con4
sistin* of more )ores than matter( and containin* a
thousand a%enues of )rodi*ious $idth +eadin* to its
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centre( in $hich are +od*ed mu+titudes of anima+s(
$hich ma'( for au*ht $e @no$( thin@ themse+%es the
masters of the uni%erse"
Nothin* is either as it a))ears to e( or in the
)+ace $here $e e+ie%e it to e" Se%era+ )hi+oso4
)hers( tired of ein* constant+' decei%ed ' odies(
ha%e in their s)+een )ronounced that odies do not
eist( and that there is nothin* rea+ ut our minds"
As $e++ mi*ht the' ha%e conc+uded that( a++ a))ear4
ances ein* fa+se( and the nature of the sou+ ein*
as +itt+e @no$n as that of the matter( there is no
rea+it' in either od' or sou+" Perha)s it is this de4
s)air of @no$in* an'thin* $hich has caused some
Chinese )hi+oso)hers to sa' that nothin* is the e4
*innin* and the end of a++ thin*s" This )hi+oso)h'(
so destructi%e to ein*( $as $e++ @no$n in 0o+iere2s
time" Doctor 0ac)hurius re)resents the schoo+ J
$hen teachin* S*anare++e( he sa's( #8ou must not
sa'( 2I am come(2 ut 2it seems to me that I am come2 J
for it ma' seem to 'ou( $ithout such ein* rea++'
the case"# !ut at the )resent da' a comic scene is
not an ar*ument( thou*h it is sometimes etter than
an ar*umentJ and there is often as much )+easure
in see@in* after truth as in +au*hin* at )hi+oso)h'"
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8ou do not see the net$or@( the ca%ities( the
threads( the ineua+ities( the eha+ations of that $hite
and de+icate s@in $hich 'ou ido+i1e" Anima+s a thou4
Dictionar'" 9
sand times +ess than a mite discern a++ these oects
$hich esca)e 'our %isionJ the' +od*e( feed( and
tra%e+ aout in them( as in an etensi%e countr'( and
those on the ri*ht arm are )erfect+' i*norant that
there are creatures of their o$n s)ecies on the +eft"
If 'ou $ere so unfortunate as to see $hat the' see(
'our charmin* s@in $ou+d stri@e 'ou $ith horror"
The harmon' of a concert( to $hich 'ou +isten
$ith de+i*ht( must ha%e on certain c+asses of minute
anima+s the eect of terri+e thunderJ and )erha)s
it @i++s them" We see( touch( hear( fee+ thin*s on+'
in the $a' in $hich the' ou*ht to e seen( touched(
heard( or fe+t ' ourse+%es"
A++ is in due )ro)ortion" The +a$s of o)tics(
$hich sho$ 'ou an oect in the $ater $here it is
not( and rea@ a ri*ht +ine( are in entire accordance
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$ith those $hich ma@e the sun a))ear to 'ou $ith a
diameter of t$o feet( a+thou*h it is a mi++ion times
+ar*er than the earth" To see it in its true dimen4
sions $ou+d reuire an e'e co++ectin* his ra's at an
an*+e as *reat as his dis@( $hich is im)ossi+e" Our
senses( then( assist much more than the' decei%e us"
0otion( time( hardness( softness( dimensions( dis4
tance( a))roimation( stren*th( $ea@ness( a))ear4
ances( of $hate%er @ind( a++ is re+ati%e" And $ho
has created these re+ations H
APROPOS"
ALL *reat successes( of $hate%er @ind( are found4
ed u)on thin*s done or said a)ro)os"
G Phi+oso)hica+
Arno+d of !rescia( .ohn &uss( and .erome of
Pra*ue did not come uite a)ro)os J the )eo)+e $ere
not then sucient+' en+i*htenedJ the in%ention of
)rintin* had not then +aid the auses com)+ained of
efore the e'es of e%er' one" !ut $hen men e*an
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to read $hen the )o)u+ace( $ho $ere so+icitous to
esca)e )ur*ator'( ut at the same time $ished not
to )a' too dear for indu+*ences( e*an to o)en their
e'es( the reformers of the siteenth centur' came
uite a)ro)os( and succeeded"
It has een e+se$here oser%ed that Crom$e++
under E+i1aeth or Char+es the Second( or Cardina+
de Ret1 $hen Louis =IV" *o%erned ' himse+f(
$ou+d ha%e een %er' ordinar' )ersons"
&ad Caesar een orn in the time of Sci)io Afri4
canus he $ou+d not ha%e suu*ated the Roman
common$ea+th J nor $ou+d 0ahomet( cou+d he rise
a*ain at the )resent da'( e more than sheri of
0ecca" !ut if Archimedes and Vir*i+ $ere restored(
one $ou+d sti++ e the est mathematician( the other
the est )oet of his countr'"
ARA!SJ
AND( OCCASIONALL8( ON T&E !OOK OF .O!"
IF an' one e desirous of otainin* a thorou*h
@no$+ed*e of the antiuities of Araia( it ma' e
)resumed that he $i++ *ain no more information than
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aout those of Au%er*ne and Poitou" It is( ho$e%er(
certain( that the Aras $ere of some conseuence
+on* efore 0ahomet" The .e$s themse+%es sa' that
Dictionar'" >
0oses married an Araian $oman( and his father4
in4+a$ .ethro seems to ha%e een a man of *reat
*ood sense"
0ecca is considered( and not $ithout reason( as
one of the most ancient cities in the $or+d" It is(
indeed( a )roof of its antiuit' that nothin* ut
su)erstition cou+d occasion the ui+din* of a to$n
on such a s)ot( for it is in a sand' desert( $here the
$ater is rac@ish( so that the )eo)+e die of hun*er
and thirst" The countr' a fe$ mi+es to the east is
the most de+i*htfu+ u)on earth( the est $atered and
the most ferti+e" There the Aras shou+d ha%e ui+t(
and not at 0ecca" !ut it $as enou*h for some char4
+atan( some fa+se )ro)het( to *i%e out his re%eries(
to ma@e of 0ecca a sacred s)ot and the resort of
nei*horin* nations" Thus it $as that the tem)+e
of .u)iter Ammon $as ui+t in the midst of sands"
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Araia etends from northeast to south$est( from
the desert of .erusa+em to Aden or Eden( aout the
Mftieth de*ree of north +atitude" It is an immense
countr'( aout three times as +ar*e as erman'" It
is %er' +i@e+' that its deserts of sand $ere rou*ht
thither ' the $aters of the ocean( and that its ma4
rine *u+fs $ere once ferti+e +ands"
The e+ief in this nation2s antiuit' is fa%ored '
the circumstance that no historian s)ea@s of its ha%4
in* een suu*ated" It $as not sudued e%en '
A+eander( nor ' an' @in* of S'ria( nor ' the
Romans" The Aras( on the contrar'( suu*ated a
hundred nations( from the Indus to the aronneJ
IO Phi+oso)hica+
and( ha%in* after$ards +ost their conuests( the' re4
tired into their o$n countr' and did not mi $ith
an' other )eo)+e"
&a%in* ne%er een suect to nor mied $ith
other nations it is more than )roa+e that the' ha%e
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)reser%ed their manners and their +an*ua*e" In4
deed( Araic is( in some sense( the mother ton*ue of
a++ Asia as far as the Indus J or rather the )re%ai+in*
ton*ue( for mother ton*ues ha%e ne%er eisted"
Their *enius has ne%er chan*ed" The' sti++ com4
)ose their #Ni*hts2 Entertainments(# as the' did
$hen the' ima*ined one !ac or !acchus( $ho )assed
throu*h the Red Sea $ith three mi++ions of men(
$omen( and chi+dren J $ho sto))ed the sun and
moon( and made streams of $ine issue forth $ith a
+o$ of his rod( $hich( $hen he chose( he chan*ed
into a ser)ent"
A nation so iso+ated( and $hose +ood remains
unmied( cannot chan*e its character" The Aras
of the desert ha%e a+$a's een *i%en to roer'(
and those inhaitin* the to$ns een fond of fa+es(
)oetr'( and astronom'" It is said( in the historica+
)reface to the Koran( that $hen an' one of their
tries had a *ood )oet the other tries ne%er fai+ed
to send de)uties to that one on $hich od had
%ouchsafed to esto$ so *reat a *ift"
The tries assem+ed e%er' 'ear( ' re)resenta4
ti%es( in an o)en )+ace named Ocad( $here %erses
$ere recited( near+' in the same $a' as is no$ done
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at Rome in the *arden of the academ' of the Area4
Dictionar'" 7 7
dii( and this custom continued unti+ the time of 0a4
homet" In his time( each one )osted his %erses on
the door of the tem)+e of 0ecca" Laid( son of
Raia( $as re*arded as the &omer of 0eccaJ ut(
ha%in* seen the second cha)ter of the Koran( $hich
0ahomet had )osted( he fe++ on his @nees efore him(
and said( #O 0ahomet( son of Ada++ah( son of 0o4
ta+i( son of Achem( thou art a *reater )oet than
I thou art dout+ess the )ro)het of od"#
The Aras of 0aden( Na2id( and Sanaa $ere no
+ess *enerous than those of the desert $ere addicted
to )+under" Amon* them( one friend $as dishon4
ored if he had refused his assistance to another"
In their co++ection of %erses( entit+ed #To*raid(#
it is re+ated that( #one da'( in the tem)+e of 0ecca(
three Aras $ere dis)utin* on *enerosit' and friend4
shi)( and cou+d not a*ree as to $hich( amon* those
$ho then set the *reatest eam)+es of these %irtues(
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deser%ed the )reference" Some $ere for Ada++ah(
son of iafar( unc+e to 0ahometJ others for Kais(
son of Saad J and others for Araad( of the trie of
As" After a +on* dis)ute the' a*reed to send a
friend of Ada++ah to him( a friend of Kais to Kais(
and a friend of Araad to Araad( to tr' them a++
three( and to come and ma@e their re)ort to the as4
sem+'"
#Then the friend of Ada++ah $ent and said to
him( 2Son of the unc+e of 0ahomet( I am on a our4
ne' and am destitute of e%er'thin*"2 Ada++ah $as
mounted on his came+ +oaded $ith *o+d and si+@ J he
7 : Phi+oso)hica+
dismounted $ith a++ s)eed( *a%e him his came+( and
returned home on foot"
#The second $ent and made a))+ication to his
friend Kais( son of Saad" Kais $as sti++ as+ee)(
and one of his domestics as@ed the tra%e++er $hat he
$anted" The tra%e++er ans$ered that he $as the
friend of Kais( and needed his assistance" The do4
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mestic said to him( 2I $i++ not $a@e m' masterJ ut
here are se%en thousand )ieces of *o+d( $hich are
a++ that $e at )resent ha%e in the house" Ta@e a+so
a came+ from the sta+e( and a s+a%eJ these $i++( I
thin@( e sucient for 'ou unti+ 'ou reach 'our o$n
house"2 When Kais a$o@e( he chid the domestic for
not ha%in* *i%en more"
#The third re)aired to his friend Araad( of the
trie of As" Araad $as +ind( and $as comin* out
of his house( +eanin* on t$o s+a%es( to )ra' to od
in the tem)+e of 0ecca" As soon as he heard his
friend2s %oice( he said to him( 2I )ossess nothin* ut
m' t$o s+a%esJ I e* that 'ou $i++ ta@e and se++
them J I $i++ *o to the tem)+e as $e++ as I can( $ith
m' stic@"2
#The three dis)utants( ha%in* returned to the as4
sem+'( faithfu++' re+ated $hat had ha))ened" 0an'
)raises $ere esto$ed on Ada++ah( son of iafar
on Kais( son of Saad and on Araad( of the trie of
As( ut the )reference $as *i%en to Araad"#
The Aras ha%e se%era+ ta+es of this @ind( ut our
$estern nations ha%e none" Our romances are not in
this taste" We ha%e( indeed( se%era+ $hich turn u)on
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Dictionar'" 7
tric@ a+one( as those of !occaccio( #u1man d2A+far4
ache(# #i+ !ias(# etc"
On .o( the Ara"
It is c+ear that the Aras at +east )ossessed no+e
and ea+ted ideas" Those $ho are most con%ersant
$ith the orienta+ +an*ua*es thin@ that the !oo@ of
.o( $hich is of the hi*hest antiuit'( $as com)osed
' an Ara of Idumsea" The most c+ear and indui4
ta+e )roof is that the &ere$ trans+ator has +eft in
his trans+ation more than a hundred Araic $ords(
$hich( a))arent+'( he did not understand"
.o( the hero of the )iece( cou+d not e a &ere$(
for he sa's( in the fort'4second cha)ter( that ha%in*
een restored to his former circumstances( he di%ided
his )ossessions eua++' amon* his sons and dau*h4
ters( $hich is direct+' contrar' to the &ere$ +a$"
It is most +i@e+' that( if this oo@ had een com4
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)osed after the )eriod at $hich $e )+ace 0oses( the
author $ho s)ea@s of so man' thin*s and is not
s)arin* of eam)+es $ou+d ha%e mentioned some
one of the astonishin* )rodi*ies $or@ed ' 0oses(
$hich $ere( dout+ess( @no$n to a++ the nations of
Asia"
In the %er' Mrst cha)ter Satan a))ears efore od
and as@s )ermission to tem)t .o" Satan $as un4
@no$n in the Pentateuch J it $as a Cha+daean $ord J
a fresh )roof that the Araian author $as in the
nei*horhood of Cha+dsea"
It has een thou*ht that he mi*ht e a .e$ e4
7 Phi+oso)hica+
cause the &ere$ trans+ator has )ut .eho%ah instead
of E+( or !e+( or Sadai" !ut $hat man of the +east
information does not @no$ that the $ord .eho%ah
$as common to the Phoenicians( the S'rians( the
E*')tians( and e%er' )eo)+e of the nei*horin*
countries H
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A 'et stron*er )roof one to $hich there is no
re)+' is the @no$+ed*e of astronom' $hich a))ears
in the !oo@ of .o" 0ention is here made of the
conste++ations $hich $e ca++ Arcturus( Orion( the
P+eiades( and e%en of those of #the chamers of the
south"# No$( the &ere$s had no @no$+ed*e of
the s)here J the' had not e%en a term to e)ress as4
tronom' J ut the Aras( +i@e the Cha+daeans( ha%e a+4
$a's een famed for their s@i++ in this science"
It does( then( seem to e thorou*h+' )ro%ed that
the !oo@ of .o cannot ha%e een $ritten ' a .e$(
and that it $as anterior to a++ the .e$ish oo@s(
Phi+o and .ose)hus $ere too )rudent to count it
amon* those of the &ere$ canon" It is incontesta4
+' an Araian )ara+e or a++e*or'"
This is not a++" We deri%e from it some @no$+4
ed*e of the customs of the ancient $or+d( and es)e4
cia++' of Araia" &ere $e read of tradin* $ith the
IndiesJ a commerce $hich the Aras ha%e in a++
a*es carried on( ut $hich the .e$s ne%er e%en heard
of"
&ere( too( $e see that the art of $ritin* $as in
*reat cu+ti%ation( and that the' a+read' made *reat
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oo@s"
Dictionar'" 7 B
It cannot e denied that the commentator Ca+met(
)rofound as he is( %io+ates a++ the ru+es of +o*ic in
)retendin* that .o announces the immorta+it' of
the sou+ and the resurrection of the od'( $hen he
sa's-
#For I @no$ that m' Redeemer +i%eth" And
thou*h after m' s@in $orms destro' this od'( 'ei
in m' Qesh sha++ I see od" !ut 'e shou+d sa'( Wh'
)ersecute $e him H seein* the root of the matter is
found in me" !e 'e afraid of the s$ord J for $rath
rin*eth the )unishment of the s$ord( that 'e ma'
@no$ there is a ud*ment"#
Can an'thin* e understood ' those $ords( other
than his ho)e of ein* curedH The immorta+it' of
the sou+( and the resurrection of the od' at the +ast
da'( are truths so induita+' announced in the Ne$
Testament( and so c+ear+' )ro%ed ' the fathers and
the counci+s( that there is no need to attriute the
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Mrst @no$+ed*e of them to an Ara" These *reat
m'steries are not e)+ained in an' )assa*e of the
&ere$ Pentateuch J ho$ then can the' e e4
)+ained in a sin*+e %erse of .o and that in so oscure
a manner H Ca+met has no etter reason for seein* in
the $ords of .o the immorta+it' of the sou+( and the
*enera+ resurrection( than he $ou+d ha%e for disco%4
erin* a dis*racefu+ disease in the ma+ad' $ith $hich
he $as aicted" Neither )h'sics nor +o*ic ta@e the
)art of this commentator"
As for this a++e*orica+ !oo@ of .o - it ein* mani4
fest+' Araian( $e are at +iert' to sa' that it has
7 Phi+oso)hica+
neither ustness( method( nor )recision" 8et it is
)erha)s the most ancient oo@ that has een $ritten(
and the most %a+ua+e monument that has een
found on this side the Eu)hrates"
ARARAT"
T&IS is a mountain of Armenia( on $hich the
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ar@ rested" The uestion has +on* een a*itated(
$hether the de+u*e $as uni%ersa+ $hether it inun4
dated the $ho+e earth $ithout ece)tion( or on+' the
)ortion of the earth $hich $as then @no$n" Those
$ho ha%e thou*ht that it etended on+' to the tries
then eistin*( ha%e founded their o)inion on the
inuti+it' of Qoodin* un)eo)+ed +ands( $hich reason
seems %er' )+ausi+e" As for us( $e aide ' the
Scri)ture tet( $ithout )retendin* to e)+ain it" !ut
$e sha++ ta@e *reater +iert' $ith !erosus( an ancient
Cha+daean $riter( of $hom there are fra*ments )re4
ser%ed ' A'denus( uoted ' Euseius( and re4
)eated $ord for $ord ' eor*e S'nce++us" From
these fra*ments $e Mnd that the Orienta+s of the
orders of the Euine( in ancient times( made Ar4
menia the aode of their *ods" In this the' $ere
imitated ' the ree@s( $ho )+aced their deities on
0ount O+'m)us" 0en ha%e a+$a's confounded hu4
man $ith di%ine thin*s" Princes ui+t their citade+s
on mountainsJ therefore the' $ere a+so made the
d$e++in* )+ace of the *ods( and ecame sacred" The
summit of 0ount Ararat is concea+ed ' mistsJ
therefore the *ods hid themse+%es in those mists(
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Dictionar'" 79
sometimes %ouchsaMn* to a))ear to morta+s in Mne
$eather"
A *od of that countr'( e+ie%ed to ha%e een Sat4
urn( a))eared one da' to =iuter( tenth @in* of
Cha+daea( accordin* to the com)utation of Africanus(
A'denus( and A)o++odorus( and said to him -
#On the Mfteenth da' of the month Oesi( man@ind
sha++ e destro'ed ' a de+u*e" Shut u) c+ose a++
'our $ritin*s in Si)ara( the cit' of the sun( that the
memor' of thin*s ma' not e +ost" !ui+d a %esse+ J
enter it $ith 'our re+ati%es and friendsJ ta@e $ith
'ou irds and easts J stoc@ it $ith )ro%isions( and(
$hen 'ou are as@ed( 2Whither are 'ou *oin* in that
%esse+ H2 ans$er( 2To the *ods( to e* their fa%or for
man@ind"2 #
=iuter ui+t his %esse+( $hich $as t$o stadii
$ide( and M%e +on* J that it( its $idth $as t$o hun4
dred and Mft' *eometrica+ )aces( and its +en*th si
hundred and t$ent'4M%e" This shi)( $hich $as to
*o u)on the !+ac@ Sea( $as a s+o$ sai+er" The Qood
came" When it had ceased =iuter +et some of his
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irds Q' out( ut( Mndin* nothin* to eat( the' re4
turned to the %esse+" A fe$ da's after$ards he
a*ain set some of his irds at +iert'( and the' re4
turned $ith mud in their c+a$s" At +ast the' $ent
and returned no more" =iuter did +i@e$ise- he
uitted his shi)( $hich had )erched u)on a mountain
of Armenia( and he $as seen no more J the *ods too@
him a$a'"
There is )roa+' somethin* historic in this fa+e"
Vo+" :
7 G Phi+oso)hica+
The Euine o%erQo$ed its an@s( and inundated
some )ortions of territor'( and the @in* of Cha+daea
hastened to re)air the dama*e" We ha%e in Rae4
+ais ta+es no +ess ridicu+ous( founded on some sma++
)ortion of truth" The ancient historians are( for the
most )art( serious Rae+ais"
As for 0ount Ararat( it has een asserted that it
$as one of the mountains of Phr'*ia( and that it $as
ca++ed ' a name ans$erin* that of ar@( ecause it
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$as enc+osed ' three ri%ers"
There are thirt' o)inions res)ectin* this moun4
tain" &o$ sha++ $e distin*uish the true oneH That
$hich the mon@s no$ ca++ Ararat( $as( the' sa'( one
of the +imits of the terrestria+ )aradise a )aradise
of $hich $e Mnd ut fe$ traces" It is a co++ection of
roc@s and )reci)ices( co%ered $ith eterna+ sno$s"
Tournefort $ent thither ' order of Louis =IV" to
see@ for )+ants" &e sa's that the $ho+e nei*hor4
hood is horri+e( and the mountain itse+f sti++ more
soJ that he found sno$ four feet thic@( and uite
cr'sta++i1ed( and that there are )er)endicu+ar )reci4
)ices on e%er' side"
The Dutch tra%e++er( .ohn Stru's( )retends that
he $ent thither a+so" &e te++s us that he ascended
to the %er' to)( to cure a hermit aicted $ith a ru)4
ture"
#&is hermita*e(# sa's he( #$as so distant from
the earth that $e did not reach it unti+ the c+ose of
the se%enth da'( thou*h each da' $e $ent M%e
+ea*ues"# If( in this ourne'( he $as constant+' aH4
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Dictionar'" i
cendin*( this 0ount Ararat must e thirt'4M%e
+ea*ues hi*h" In the time of the iants2 $ar( a fe$
Ararats )i+ed one u)on another $ou+d ha%e made
the ascent to the moon uite eas'" .ohn Stru's(
moreo%er( assures us that the hermit $hom he cured
)resented him $ith a cross made of the $ood of
Noah2s ar@" Tournefort had not this ad%anta*e"
ARIANIS0"
T&E *reat theo+o*ica+ dis)utes( for t$e+%e hun4
dred 'ears( $ere a++ ree@" What $ou+d &omer(
So)hoc+es( Demosthenes( Archimedes( ha%e said( had
the' $itnessed the sut+e ca%i++in*s $hich ha%e cost
so much +ood"
Arius has( e%en at this da'( the honor of ein*
re*arded as the in%entor of his o)inion( as Ca+%in is
considered to ha%e een the founder of Ca+%inism"
The )ride in ein* the head of a sect is the second of
this $or+d2s %anities J for that of conuest is said to
e the Mrst" &o$e%er( it is certain that neither
Arius nor Ca+%in is entit+ed to the me+ancho+' *+or'
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of in%ention" The uarre+ aout the Trinit' eisted
+on* efore Arius too@ )art in it( in the dis)utatious
to$n of A+eandria( $here it had een e'ond the
)o$er of Euc+id to ma@e men thin@ ca+m+' and
ust+'" There ne%er $as a )eo)+e more fri%o+ous
than the A+eandrians J in this res)ect the' far e4
ceeded e%en the Parisians"
There must a+read' ha%e een $arm dis)utes
aout the Trinit'J since the )atriarch( $ho com4
:O Phi+oso)hica+
)osed the #A+eandrian Chronic+e(# )reser%ed at
Oford( assures us that the )art' emraced ' Arius
$as su))orted ' t$o thousand )riests"
We $i++ here( for the reader2s con%enience( *i%e
$hat is said of Arius in a sma++ oo@ $hich e%er'
one ma' not ha%e at hand - &ere is an incom)rehen4
si+e uestion( $hich( for more than siteen hundred
'ears( has furnished eercise for curiosit'( for so4
)histic sut+et'( for animosit'( for the s)irit of caa+(
for the fur' of dominion( for the ra*e of )ersecution(
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for +ind and san*uinar' fanaticism( for ararous
credu+it'( and $hich has )roduced more horrors than
the amition of )rinces( $hich amition has occa4
sioned %er' man'" Is .esus the WordH If &e e
the Word( did &e emanate from od in time or e4
fore timeH If &e emanated from od( is &e co4
eterna+ and consustantia+ $ith &im( or is &e of a
simi+ar sustanceH Is &e distinct from &im( or is
&e notH Is &e made or e*ottenH Can &e e*et
in his turn H &as &e )aternit' H or )roducti%e %irtue
$ithout )aternit' H Is the &o+' host made H or e4
*ottenH or )roducedH or )roceedin* from the
Father H or )roceedin* from the Son H or )roceedin*
from othH Can &e e*etH can &e )roduceH is &is
h')ostasis consustantia+ $ith the h')ostasis of the
Father and the Son H and ho$ is it that( ha%in* the
same nature the same essence as the Father and the
Son( &e cannot do the same thin*s done ' these
)ersons $ho are &imse+f H
These uestions( so far ao%e reason( certain+'
Dictionar'" :7
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needed the decision of an infa++i+e church" The
Christians so)histicated( ca%i++ed( hated( and ecom4
municated one another( for some of these do*mas
inaccessi+e to human inte++ect( efore the time of
Arius and Athanasius" The E*')tian ree@s $ere
remar@a+' c+e%er J the' $ou+d s)+it a hair into four(
ut on this occasion the' s)+it it on+' into three"
A+eandros( isho) of A+eandria( thou*ht )ro)er to
)reach that od( ein* necessari+' indi%idua+ sin*+e
a monad in the strictest sense of the $ord( this
monad is triune"
The )riest Arius( $hom $e ca++ Arius( $as uite
scanda+i1ed ' A+eandros 2s monad( and e)+ained
the thin* in uite a dierent $a'" &e ca%i++ed in
)art +i@e the )riest Sae++ius( $ho had ca%i++ed +i@e
the Phr'*ian Praeas( $ho $as a *reat ca%i++er"
A+eandros uic@+' assem+ed a sma++ counci+ of
those of his o$n o)inion( and ecommunicated his
)riest" Euseius( isho) of Nicomedia( too@ the
)art of Arius" Thus the $ho+e Church $as in a
Qame"
The Em)eror Constantine $as a %i++ainJ I con4
fess it a )arricide( $ho had smothered his $ife in a
ath( cut his son2s throat( assassinated his father4in4
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+a$( his rother4in4+a$( and his ne)he$J I cannot
den' it a man )ued u) $ith )ride and immersed
in )+easureJ *ranted a detesta+e t'rant( +i@e his
chi+dren J transeat ut he $as a man of sense" &e
$ou+d not ha%e otained the em)ire( and sudued
a++ his ri%a+s( had he not reasoned ust+'"
:: Phi+oso)hica+
When he sa$ the Qames of ci%i+ $ar +i*hted
amon* the scho+astic rains( he sent the ce+erated
!isho) Osius $ith dissuasi%e +etters to the t$o
e++i*erent )arties" #8ou are *reat foo+s(# he e4
)ress+' te++s them in this +etter( #to uarre+ aout
thin*s $hich 'ou do not understand" It is un$orth'
the *ra%it' of 'our ministr' to ma@e so much noise
aout so triQin* a matter"#
!' # so triQin* a matter(# Constantine meant not
$hat re*ards the Di%init'( ut the incom)rehensi+e
manner in $hich the' $ere stri%in* to e)+ain the
nature of the Di%init'" The Araian )atriarch( $ho
$rote the histor' of the Church of A+eandria(
ma@es Osius( on )resentin* the em)eror2s +etter(
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s)ea@ in near+' the fo++o$in* $ords -
#0' rethren( Christianit' is ust e*innin* to
eno' the +essin*s of )eace( and 'ou $ou+d )+un*e
it into eterna+ discord" The em)eror has ut too
much reason to te++ 'ou that 'ou uarre+ aout a %er'
triQin* matter" Certain+'( had the oect of the dis4
)ute een essentia+( .esus Christ( $hom $e a++ ac4
@no$+ed*e as our +e*is+ator( $ou+d ha%e mentioned
it" od $ou+d not ha%e sent &is Son on earth( to
return $ithout teachin* us our catechism" Whate%er
&e has not e)ress+' to+d us is the $or@ of men and
error is their )ortion" .esus has commanded 'ou to
+o%e one another( and 'ou e*in ' hatin* one an4
other and stirrin* u) discord in the em)ire" Pride
a+one has *i%en irth to these dis)utes( and .esus(
'our 0aster( has commanded 'ou to e hum+e"
Dictionar'" :
Not one amon* 'ou can @no$ $hether .esus is made
or e*otten" And in $hat does &is nature concern
'ou( )ro%ided 'our o$n is to e ust and reasona+e H
What has the %ain science of $ords to do $ith the
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mora+it' $hich shou+d *uide 'our actionsH 8ou
c+oud our doctrines $ith m'steries 'ou( $ho $ere
desi*ned to stren*then re+i*ion ' 'our %irtues"
Wou+d 'ou +ea%e the Christian re+i*ion a mass of
so)histr' H Did Christ come for this H Cease to dis4
)ute( hum+e 'ourse+%es( edif' one another( c+othe
the na@ed( feed the hun*r'( and )acif' the uarre+s
of fami+ies( instead of *i%in* scanda+ to the $ho+e
em)ire ' 'our dissensions"#
!ut Osius addressed an ostinate audience" The
Counci+ of Nice $as assem+ed and the Roman Em4
)ire $as torn ' a s)iritua+ ci%i+ $ar" This $ar
rou*ht on others and mutua+ )ersecution has con4
tinued from a*e to a*e( unto this da'"
The me+ancho+' )art of the aair $as that as soon
as the counci+ $as ended the )ersecution e*an J ut
Constantine( $hen he o)ened it( did not 'et @no$
ho$ he shou+d act( nor u)on $hom the )ersecution
shou+d fa++" &e $as not a Christian( thou*h he $as
at the head of the Christians" !a)tism a+one then
constituted Christianit'( and he had not een a)4
ti1ed J he had e%en reui+t the Tem)+e of Concord at
Rome" It $as( dout+ess( )erfect+' indierent to
him $hether A+eander of A+eandria( or Euseius
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of Nicomedia( and the )riest Arius( $ere ri*ht or
$ron*J it is uite e%ident( from the +etter *i%en
: Phi+oso)hica+
ao%e( that he had a )rofound contem)t for the
dis)ute"
!ut there ha))ened that $hich a+$a's ha))ens
and a+$a's $i++ ha))en in e%er' court" The enemies
of those $ho $ere after$ards named Arians accused
Euseius of Nicomedia of ha%in* former+' ta@en )art
$ith Licinius a*ainst the em)eror" #I ha%e )roofs
of it(# said Constantine in his +etter to the Church of
Nicomedia( #from the )riests and deacons in his
train $hom I ha%e ta@en(# etc"
Thus( from the time of the Mrst *reat counci+(
intri*ue( caa+( and )ersecution $ere esta+ished( to4
*ether $ith the tenets of the Church( $ithout the
)o$er to dero*ate from their sanctit'" Constantine
*a%e the cha)e+s of those $ho did not e+ie%e in the
consustantia+it' to those $ho did e+ie%e in it J con4
Mscated the )ro)ert' of the dissenters to his o$n
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)roMt( and used his des)otic )o$er to ei+e Arius and
his )artisans( $ho $ere not then the stron*est" It
has e%en een said that of his o$n )ri%ate authorit'
he condemned to death $hosoe%er shou+d not urn
the $ritin*s of Arius J ut this is not true" Constan4
tine( )rodi*a+ as he $as of human +ood( did not
carr' his crue+t' to so mad and asurd an ecess as
to order his eecutioners to assassinate the man $ho
shou+d @ee) an heretica+ oo@( $hi+e he suered the
heresiarch to +i%e"
At court e%er'thin* soon chan*es" Se%era+ non4
consustantia+ isho)s( $ith some of the eunuchs
and the $omen( s)o@e in fa%or of Arius( and o4
Dictionar'" :B
tained the re%ersa+ of the +ettre de cachet" The
same thin* has re)eated+' ha))ened in our modern
courts on simi+ar occasions"
The ce+erated Euseius( isho) of Caesarea(
@no$n ' his $ritin*s( $hich e%ince no *reat dis4
cernment( stron*+' accused Eustatius( isho) of An4
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tioch( of ein* a Sae++ianJ and Eustatius accused
Euseius of ein* an Arian" A counci+ $as assem4
+ed at AntiochJ Euseius *ained his causeJ Eu4
statius $as dis)+acedJ and the See of Antioch $as
oered to Euseius( $ho $ou+d not acce)t itJ the
t$o )arties armed a*ainst each other( and this $as
the )re+ude to contro%ersia+ $arfare" Constantine(
$ho had anished Arius for not e+ie%in* in the con4
sustantia+ Son( no$ anished Eustatius for e+ie%4
in* in &im J nor are such re%o+utions uncommon"
St" Athanasius $as then isho) of A+eandria"
&e $ou+d not admit Arius( $hom the em)eror had
sent thither( into the to$n( sa'in* that #Arius $as
ecommunicatedJ that an ecommunicated man
ou*ht no +on*er to ha%e either home or countr'J
that he cou+d neither eat nor s+ee) an'$here J and
that it $as etter to oe' od than man"# A ne$
counci+ $as forth$ith he+d at T're( and ne$ +et4
ires de cachet $ere issued" Athanasius $as re4
mo%ed ' the T'rian fathers and anished to Tre%es"
Thus Arius( and Athanasius( his *reatest enem'(
$ere condemned in turn ' a man $ho $as not 'et
a Christian"
The t$o factions a+i@e em)+o'ed artiMce( fraud(
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: Phi+oso)hica+
and ca+umn'( accordin* to the o+d and eterna+ usa*e"
Constantine +eft them to dis)ute and caa+( for he
had other occu)ations( It $as at that time that this
*ood )rince assassinated his son( his $ife( and his
ne)he$( the 'oun* Licinius( the ho)e of the em)ire(
$ho $as not 'et t$e+%e 'ears o+d"
/nder Constantine( Arius2 )art' $as constant+'
%ictorious" The o))osite )art' has un+ushin*+'
$ritten that one da' St" 0acarius( one of the most
ardent fo++o$ers of Athanasius( @no$in* that Arius
$as on the $a' to the cathedra+ of Constantino)+e(
fo++o$ed ' se%era+ of his rethren( )ra'ed so ar4
dent+' to od to confound this heresiarch that od
cou+d not resist the )ra'erJ and immediate+' a++
Arius2 o$e+s )assed throu*h his fundament
$hich is im)ossi+e" !ut at +en*th Arius died"
Constantine fo++o$ed him a 'ear after$ards(
and it is said he died of +e)ros'" .u+ian( in his
#Caesars(# sa's that a)tism( $hich this em)eror re4
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cei%ed a fe$ hours efore his death( cured no one of
this distem)er"
As his chi+dren rei*ned after him the Qatter'
of the Roman )eo)+e( $ho had +on* een s+a%es(
$as carried to such an ecess that those of the o+d
re+i*ion made him a *od( and those of the ne$ made
him a saint" &is feast $as +on* @e)t( to*ether $ith
that of his mother"
After his death( the trou+es caused ' the sin*+e
$ord #consustantia+# a*itated the em)ire $ith re4
ne$ed %io+ence" Constantius( son and successor
Dictionar'" :9
to Constantine( imitated a++ his father2s crue+ties(
and( +i@e him( he+d counci+s $hich counci+s anath4
emati1ed one another" Athanasius $ent o%er a++
Euro)e and Asia to su))ort his )art'( ut the Eu4
seians o%er$he+med him" !anishment( im)rison4
ment( tumu+t( murder( and assassination si*na+i1ed
the c+ose of the rei*n of Constantius" .u+ian( the
Church2s morta+ enem'( did his utmost to restore
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)eace to the Church( ut $as unsuccessfu+" .o%ian(
and after him Va+entinian( *a%e entire +iert' of
conscience( ut the t$o )arties acce)ted it on+' as
the +iert' to eercise their hatred and their fur'"
Theodosius dec+ared for the Counci+ of Nice( ut
the Em)ress .ustina( $ho rei*ned in Ita+'( I++'ria(
and Africa( as *uardian of the 'oun* Va+entinian(
)roscried the *reat Counci+ of Nice J and soon after
the oths( Vanda+s( and !ur*undians( $ho s)read
themse+%es o%er so man' )ro%inces( Mndin* Arian4
ism esta+ished in them( emraced it in order to *o%4
ern the conuered nations ' the re+i*ion of those
nations"
!ut the Nicaean faith ha%in* een recei%ed '
the au+s( their conueror( C+o%is( fo++o$ed that
communion for the %er' same reason that the other
ararians had )rofessed the faith of Arius"
In Ita+'( the *reat Theodoric @e)t )eace et$een
the t$o )arties( and at +ast the Nicaean formu+a )re4
%ai+ed in the east and in the $est" Arianism rea)4
)eared aout the midd+e of the siteenth centur'(
fa%ored ' the re+i*ious dis)utes $hich then di%ided
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:G Phi+oso)hica+
Euro)e J and it rea))eared( armed $ith ne$
stren*th and a sti++ *reater incredu+it'" Fort' *en4
t+emen of Vicen1a formed an academ'( in $hich
such tenets on+' $ere esta+ished as a))eared neces4
sar' to ma@e men Christians" .esus $as ac@no$+4
ed*ed as the Word( as Sa%iour( and as .ud*e J ut
&is di%init'( &is consustantia+it'( and e%en the
Trinit'( $ere denied"
Of these do*mati1ers( the )rinci)a+ $ere Lae+ius
Socinus( Ochin( Pa1uta( and enti+is( $ho $ere
oined ' Ser%etus" The unfortunate dis)ute of the
+atter $ith Ca+%in is $e++ @no$n J the' carried on for
some time an interchan*e of ause ' +etter" Ser4
%etus $as so im)rudent as to )ass throu*h ene%a(
on his $a' to erman'" Ca+%in $as co$ard+' enou*h
to ha%e him arrested( and ararous enou*h to ha%e
him condemned to e roasted ' a s+o$ Mre the
same )unishment $hich Ca+%in himse+f had narro$+'
esca)ed in France" Near+' a++ the theo+o*ians of that
time $ere ' turns )ersecutin* and )ersecuted( e4
ecutioners and %ictims"
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The same Ca+%in so+icited the death of enti+is at
ene%a" &e found M%e ad%ocates to suscrie that
enti+is deser%ed to )erish in the Qames" Such hor4
rors $ere $orth' of that aomina+e a*e" enti+is
$as )ut in )rison( and $as on the )oint of ein*
urned +i@e Ser%etus( ut he $as etter ad%ised than
the S)aniard J he retracted( esto$ed the most ridic4
u+ous )raises on Ca+%in( and $as sa%ed" !ut he had
after$ards the i++ fortune( throu*h not ha%in* made
Dictionar'" :>
terms $ith a ai+i of the canton of !erne( to e ar4
rested as an Arian" There $ere $itnesses $ho de4
)osed that he had said that the $ords trinit'( essence(
h')ostasis $ere not to e found in the Scri)tures(
and on this de)osition the ud*es( $ho $ere as i*4
norant of the meanin* of h')ostasis as himse+f( con4
demned him( $ithout at a++ ar*uin* the uestion(
to +ose his head"
Faustus Socinus( ne)he$ to Lae+ius Socinus( and
his com)anions $ere more fortunate in erman'"
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The' )enetrated into Si+esia and Po+and( founded
churches there( $rote( )reached( and $ere success4
fu+( ut at +en*th( their re+i*ion ein* di%ested of
a+most e%er' m'ster'( and a )hi+oso)hica+ and )eace4
fu+( rather than a mi+itant sect( the' $ere aandoned J
and the .esuits( $ho had more inQuence( )ersecuted
and dis)ersed them"
The remains of this sect in Po+and( erman'( and
&o++and @ee) uiet and concea+edJ ut in En*+and
the sect has rea))eared $ith *reater stren*th and
ec+at" The *reat Ne$ton and Loc@e emraced it"
Samue+ C+ar@e( the ce+erated rector of St" .ames(
and author of an ece++ent oo@ on the eistence of
od( o)en+' dec+ared himse+f an Arian( and his dis4
ci)+es are %er' numerous" &e $ou+d ne%er attend
his )arish church on the da' $hen the Athanasian
Creed $as recited" In the course of this $or@ $i++
e seen the sut+eties $hich a++ these ostinate )er4
sons( $ho $ere not so much Christians as )hi+oso4
)hers( o))osed to the )urit' of the Catho+ic faith"
? Phi+oso)hica+
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A+thou*h amon* the theo+o*ians of London there
$as a +ar*e Qoc@ of Arians( the )u+ic mind there has
een more occu)ied ' the *reat mathematica+ truths
disco%ered ' Ne$ton( and the meta)h'sica+ $is4
dom of Loc@e" Dis)utes on consustantia+it' a)4
)ear %er' du++ to )hi+oso)hers" The same thin*
ha))ened to Ne$ton in En*+and as to Cornei++e in
France( $hose #Per thorite(# #Theodore# and #Re4
cuei+ de Vers# $ere for*otten( $hi+e #CinncP $as
a+one thou*ht of" Ne$ton $as +oo@ed u)on as od2s
inter)reter( in the ca+cu+ation of Quions( the +a$s of
*ra%itation( and the nature of +i*ht" On his death(
his )a++ $as orne ' the )eers and the chance++or of
the rea+m( and his remains $ere +aid near the toms
of the @in*s than $hom he is more re%ered" Ser4
%etus( $ho is said to ha%e disco%ered the circu+ation
of the +ood( $as roasted ' a s+o$ Mre( in a +itt+e
to$n of the A++oro*es( ru+ed ' a theo+o*ian of
Picard'"
ARISTEAS"
S&ALL men fore%er e decei%ed in the most in4
dierent as $e++ as the most serious thin*sH A
)retended Aristeas $ou+d ma@e us e+ie%e that he
had the O+d Testament trans+ated into ree@ for the
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use of Pto+em' Phi+ade+)hus ust as the Du@e de
0ontausier had commentaries $ritten on the est"
Latin authors for the dau)hin( $ho made no use
of them"
Accordin* to this Aristeas( Pto+em'( urnin* $ith
Dictionar'" 7
desire to e acuainted $ith the .e$ish oo@s( and
to @no$ those +a$s $hich the meanest .e$ in A+e4
andria cou+d ha%e trans+ated for Mft' cro$ns( deter4
mined to send a so+emn emass' to the hi*h4)riest
of the .e$s of .erusa+em J to de+i%er a hundred and
t$ent' thousand .e$ish s+a%es( $hom his father(
Pto+em' Soter( had made )risoners in .udsea( and
in order to assist them in )erformin* the ourne'
a*reea+'( to *i%e them aout fort' cro$ns each
of our mone' amountin* in the $ho+e to fourteen
mi++ions four hundred thousand of our +i%res( or
aout M%e hundred and se%ent'4si thousand )ounds"
Pto+em' did not content himse+f $ith this un4
heard4of +iera+it'" &e sent to the tem)+e a +ar*e
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ta+e of massi%e *o+d( enriched a++ o%er $ith )re4
cious stones( and had en*ra%ed u)on it a chart of
the 0eander( a ri%er of Phr'*ia( the course of
$hich ri%er $as mar@ed $ith ruies and emera+ds"
It is o%ious ho$ charmin* such a chart of the 0e4
ander must ha%e een to the .e$s" This ta+e $as
+oaded $ith t$o immense *o+den %ases( sti++ more
rich+' $or@ed" &e a+so *a%e thirt' other *o+den
and an inMnite numer of si+%er %ases" Ne%er $as
a oo@ so dear+' )aid for J the $ho+e Vatican +irar'
mi*ht e had for a +ess amount"
E+ea1ar( the )retended hi*h4)riest of .erusa+em(
sent amassadors in his turn( $ho )resented on+'
a +etter $ritten u)on Mne %e++um in characters of
*o+d" It $as an act $orth' of the .e$s( to *i%e
a it of )archment for aout thirt' mi++ions of +i%res"
: Phi+oso)hica+
Pto+em' $as so much de+i*hted $ith E+ea1ar2s
st'+e that he shed tears of o'"
The amassador dined $ith the @in* and the
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chief )riests of E*')t" When *race $as to e said(
the E*')tians 'ie+ded the honor to the .e$s" With
these amassadors came se%ent'4t$o inter)reters(
si from each of the t$e+%e tries( $ho had a++
+earned ree@ )erfect+' at .erusa+em" It is rea++'
a )it' that of these t$e+%e tries ten $ere entire+'
+ost( and had disa))eared from the face of the
earth so man' a*es eforeJ ut E+ea1ar( the hi*h4
)riest( found them a*ain( on )ur)ose to send trans4
+ators to Pto+em'"
The se%ent'4t$o inter)reters $ere shut u) in the
is+and of Pharos" Each of them com)+eted his trans4
+ation in se%ent'4t$o da's( and a++ the trans+ations
$ere found to e $ord for $ord a+i@e" This is ca++ed
the Se)tua*int or trans+ation of the se%ent'( thou*h
it shou+d ha%e een ca++ed the trans+ation of the se%4
ent'4t$o"
As soon as the @in* had recei%ed these oo@s he
$orshi))ed them he $as so *ood a .e$" Each
inter)reter recei%ed three ta+ents of *o+d( and there
$ere sent to the hi*h4sacriMcer in return for
his )archment ten couches of si+%er( a cro$n of
*o+d( censers and cu)s of *o+d( a %ase of thirt' ta+4
ents of si+%er that is( of the $ei*ht of aout sit'
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thousand cro$ns $ith ten )ur)+e roes( and a hun4
dred )ieces of the Mnest +inen"
Near+' a++ this Mne stor' is faithfu++' re)eated '
Dictionar'"
the historian .ose)hus( $ho ne%er ea**erates an'4
thin*" St" .ustin im)ro%es u)on .ose)hus" &e
sa's that Pto+em' a))+ied to Kin* &erod( and not
to the hi*h4)riest E+ea1ar" &e ma@es Pto+em' send
t$o amassadors to &erod $hich adds much to
the mar%e++ousness of the ta+e( for $e @no$ that
&erod $as not orn unti+ +on* after the rei*n of
Pto+em' Phi+ade+)hus"
It is need+ess to )oint out the )rofusion of an4
achronisms in these and a++ such romances( or the
s$arm of contradictions and enormous +unders into
$hich the .e$ish author fa++s in e%er' sentenceJ
'et this fa+e $as re*arded for a*es as an incon4
testa+e truthJ and( the etter to eercise the cre4
du+it' of the human mind( e%er' $riter $ho re)eated
it added or retrenched in his o$n $a'( so that( to
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e+ie%e it a++( it $as necessar' to e+ie%e it in a
hundred dierent $a's" Some smi+e at these a4
surdities $hich $ho+e nations ha%e s$a++o$ed( $hi+e
others si*h o%er the im)osture" The inMnite di%er4
sit' of these fa+sehoods mu+ti)+ies the fo++o$ers of
Democritus and &erac+itus"
ARISTOTLE"
IT is not to e e+ie%ed that A+eander2s )rece)tor(
chosen ' Phi+i)( $as $ron*4headed and )edantic"
Phi+i) $as assured+' a ud*e( ein* himse+f $e++
informed( and the ri%a+ of Demosthenes in e+o4
uence"
Vo+"
Phi+oso)hica+
2Aristot+e2s Lo*ic"
Aristot+e2s +o*ic his art of reasonin* is so much
the more to e esteemed as he had to dea+ $ith the
ree@s( $ho $ere continua++' ho+din* ca)tious ar*u4
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ments( from $hich fau+t his master P+ato $as e%en
+ess eem)t than others"
Ta@e( for eam)+e( the artic+e ' $hich( in the
#Phadon# P+ato )ro%es the immorta+it' of the sou+ -
#Do 'ou not sa' that death is the o))osite of +ifeH
8es" And that the' s)rin* from each otherH
8es" What( then( is it that s)rin*s from the +i%in* H
The dead" And $hat from the deadH The +i%in*"
It is( then( from the dead that a++ +i%in* creatures
arise" Conseuent+'( sou+s eist after death in the
inferna+ re*ions"#
Sure and unerrin* ru+es $ere $anted to unra%e+
this etraordinar' nonsense( $hich( throu*h P+ato2s
re)utation( fascinated the minds of men" It $as
necessar' to sho$ that P+ato *a%e a +oose meanin*
to a++ his $ords"
Death does not s)rin* from +ife( ut the +i%in*
man ceases to +i%e" The +i%in* s)rin*s not from the
dead( ut from a +i%in* man $ho suseuent+' dies"
Conseuent+'( the conc+usion that a++ +i%in* thin*s
s)rin* from dead ones is ridicu+ous"
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From this conc+usion 'ou dra$ another( $hich
is no $a' inc+uded in the )remises( that sou+s are
in the inferna+ re*ions after death" It shou+d Mrst
ha%e een )ro%ed that dead odies are in the inferna+
re*ions( and that the sou+s accom)an' them"
Dictionar'" B
There is not a correct $ord in 'our ar*ument"
8ou shou+d ha%e said That $hich thin@s has no
)arts J that $hich has no )arts is indestructi+e -
therefore( the thin@in* facu+t' in us( ha%in* no )arts(
is indestructi+e" Or the od' dies ecause it is
di%isi+eJ the sou+ is indi%isi+eJ therefore it does
not die" Then 'ou $ou+d at +east ha%e een under4
stood"
It is the same $ith a++ the ca)tious reasonin*s
of the ree@s" A master tau*ht rhetoric to his dis4
ci)+e on condition that he shou+d )a' him after the
Mrst cause that he *ained" The disci)+e intended
ne%er to )a' him" &e commenced an action a*ainst
his master( sa'in* - #I $i++ ne%er )a' 'ou an'thin*(
for( if I +ose m' cause I $as not to )a' 'ou unti+ I
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had *ained it( and if I *ain it m' demand is that
I ma' not )a' 'ou"#
The master retorted( sa'in*- #If 'ou +ose 'ou
must )a' J if 'ou *ain 'ou must a+so )a' J for our
ar*ain is that 'ou sha++ )a' me after the Mrst cause
that 'ou ha%e *ained"#
It is e%ident that a++ this turns on an ami*uit'"
Aristot+e teaches ho$ to remo%e it( ' )uttin* the
necessar' terms in the ar*ument -
A sum is not due unti+ the da' a))ointed for its
)a'ment" The da' a))ointed is that $hen a cause
sha++ ha%e een *ained" No cause has 'et een
*ained" Therefore the da' a))ointed has not 'et
arri%ed" Therefore the disci)+e d"oe(s not 'et o$e
an'thin*"
Phi+oso)hica+
!ut not 'et does not mean ne%er" So that the
disci)+e instituted a ridicu+ous action" The master(
too( had no ri*ht to demand an'thin*( since the da'
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a))ointed had not arri%ed" &e must $ait unti+ the
disci)+e had )+eaded some other cause"
Su))ose a conuerin* )eo)+e $ere to sti)u+ate
that the' $ou+d restore to the conuered on+' one4
ha+f of their shi)sJ then( ha%in* sa$ed them in
t$o( and ha%in* thus *i%en ac@ the eact ha+f( $ere,
to )retend that the' had fu+M++ed the treat'" It is
e%ident that this $ou+d e a %er' crimina+ eui%oca4
tion"
Aristot+e did( then( render a *reat ser%ice to man4
@ind ' )re%entin* a++ ami*uit' J for this it is $hich
causes a++ misunderstandin*s in )hi+oso)h'( in the4
o+o*'( and in )u+ic aairs" The )retet for the un4
fortunate $ar of 79B $as an eui%ocation res)ect4
in* Acadia"
It is true that natura+ *ood sense( comined $itK
the hait of reasonin*( ma' dis)ense $ith Aristot+e2s
ru+es" A man $ho has a *ood ear and %oice ma'
sin* $e++ $ithout musica+ ru+es( ut it is etter to
@no$ them"
&is Ph'sics"
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The' are ut +itt+e understood( ut it is more than
)roa+e that Aristot+e understood himse+f( and $as
understood in his o$n time" We are stran*ers to"
the +an*ua*e of the ree@sJ $e do not attach to
the same $ords the same ideas"
For instance( $hen he sa's( in his se%enth cha)4
Dictionar'" 9
ter( that the )rinci)+es of odies are matter( )ri%a4
tion( and form( he seems to ta+@ e*re*ious nonsense J
ut such is not the case" 0atter( $ith him( is the
Mrst )rinci)+e of e%er'thin* the suect of e%er'4
thin* indierent to e%er'thin*" Form is essentia+
to its ecomin* an' certain thin*" Pri%ation is that
$hich distin*uishes an' ein* from a++ those thin*s
$hich are not in it" 0atter ma'( indierent+'( e4
come a rose or an a))+eJ ut( $hen it is an a))+e
or a rose it is de)ri%ed of a++ that $ou+d ma@e it
si+%er or +ead" Perha)s this truth $as not $orth the
trou+e of re)eatin* J ut $e ha%e nothin* here ut
$hat is uite inte++i*i+e( and nothin* at a++ im)erti4
nent"
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The #act of that $hich is in )o$er# a+so seems
a ridicu+ous )hrase( thou*h it is no more so than the
one ust noticed" 0atter ma' ecome $hate%er 'ou
$i++ Mre( earth( $ater( %a)or( meta+( minera+( an4
ima+( tree( Qo$er" This is a++ that is meant ' the
e)ression( act in )o$er" So that there $as noth4
in* ridicu+ous to the ree@s in sa'in* that motion
$as an act of )o$er( since matter ma' e mo%edJ
and it is %er' +i@e+' that Aristot+e understood there4
' that motion $as not essentia+ to matter"
Aristot+e2s )h'sics must necessari+' ha%e Seen
%er' ad in detai+" This $as common to a++ )hi+os4
o)hers unti+ the time $hen the a+i+eos( the Torri4
ce++is( the ueric@es( the Dree+s( and the Academ'
de+ Cimento e*an to ma@e e)eriments" Natura+
)hi+oso)h' is a mine $hich cannot e e)+ored $ith4
G Phi+oso)hica+
out instruments that $ere un@no$n to the ancients"
The' remained on the rin@ of the a'ss( and rea4
soned u)on $ithout seein* its contents"
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Aristot+e2s Treatise on Anima+s"
&is researches re+ati%e to anima+s formed( on the
contrar'( the est oo@ of antiuit'( ecause here
Aristot+e made use of his e'es" A+eander furnished
him $ith a++ the rare anima+s of Euro)e( Asia( and
Africa" This $as one fruit of his conuests" In
this $a' that hero s)ent immense sums( $hich at
this da' $ou+d terrif' a++ the *uardians of the ro'a+
treasur'( and $hich shou+d immorta+i1e A+eander2s
*+or'( of $hich $e ha%e a+read' s)o@en"
At the )resent da' a hero( $hen he has the mis4
fortune to ma@e $ar( can scarce+' *i%e an' encour4
a*ement to the sciencesJ he must orro$ mone'
of a .e$( and consu+t other .e$s in order to ma@e
the sustance of his suects Qo$ into his coer of
the Danaides( $hence it esca)es throu*h a thousand
o)enin*s" A+eander sent to Aristot+e e+e)hants(
rhinoceroses( ti*ers( +ions( crocodi+es( *a1e++es(
ea*+es( ostriches( etc" J and $e( $hen ' chance a rare
anima+ is rou*ht to our fairs( *o and admire it
for si)ence( and it dies efore $e @no$ an'thin*
aout it"
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Of the Eterna+ Wor+d"
Aristot+e e)ress+' maintains( in his oo@ on
hea%en( cha)( i"( that the $or+d is eterna+" This
$as the o)inion of a++ antiuit'( ece)tin* the E)i4
Dictionar'" >
cureans" &e admitted a od a Mrst mo%er and
deMned &im to e #one( eterna+( immo%a+e( indi%is4
i+e( $ithout ua+ities"#
&e must( therefore( ha%e re*arded the $or+d as
emanatin* from od( as the +i*ht emanates from the
sun( and is co4eistent $ith it" Aout the ce+estia+
s)heres he $as as i*norant as a++ the rest of the )hi4
+oso)hers" Co)ernicus $as not 'et come"
&is 0eta)h'sics"
od ein* the Mrst mo%er( &e *i%es motion to
the sou+" !ut $hat is od( and $hat is the sou+(
accordin* to himH The sou+ is an ente+echia" #It
is(# sa's he( #a )rinci)+e and an act a nourishin*(
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fee+in*( and reasonin* )o$er"# This can on+' mean
that $e ha%e the facu+ties of nourishin* ourse+%es( of
fee+in*( and of reasonin*" The ree@s no more @ne$
$hat an ente+echia $as than do the South Sea is+and4
ers J nor ha%e our doctors an' more @no$+ed*e of
$hat a sou+ is"
&is 0ora+s"
Aristot+e2s mora+s( +i@e a++ others( are *ood( for
there are not t$o s'stems of mora+it'" Those of
Confucius( of <oroaster( of P'tha*oras( of Aristot+e(
of E)ictetus( of Antoninus( are aso+ute+' the same"
od has )+aced in e%er' reast the @no$+ed*e of
*ood( $ith some inc+ination for e%i+"
Aristot+e sa's that to e %irtuous three thin*s are
necessar' nature( reason( and haitJ and nothin*
is more true" Without a *ood dis)osition( %irtue is
O Phi+oso)hica+
too dicu+tJ reason stren*thens itJ and hait ren4
ders *ood actions as fami+iar as a dai+' eercise to
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$hich one is accustomed"
&e enumerates a++ the %irtues( and does not fai+
to )+ace friendshi) amon* them" &e distin*uishes
friendshi) et$een eua+s( et$een re+ati%es( e4
t$een *uests( and et$een +o%ers" Friendshi)
s)rin*in* from the ri*hts of hos)ita+it' is no +on*er
@no$n amon* us" That $hich( amon* the ancients(
$as the sacred ond of societ' is( $ith us( nothin*
ut an inn@ee)er2s rec@onin*J and as for +o%ers( it
is %er' rare+' no$ada's that %irtue has an'thin* to
do $ith +o%e" We thin@ $e o$e nothin* to a $oman
to $hom $e ha%e a thousand times )romised e%er'4
thin*"
It is a me+ancho+' reQection that our Mrst thin@ers
ha%e ne%er ran@ed friendshi) amon* the %irtues
ha%e rare+' recommended friendshi)J ut( on the
contrar'( ha%e often seemed to reathe enmit'(
+i@e t'rants( $ho dread a++ associations"
It is( moreo%er( $ith %er' *ood reason that Aris4
tot+e )+aces a++ the %irtues et$een the t$o etremes"
&e $as( )erha)s( the Mrst $ho assi*ned them this
)+ace" &e e)ress+' sa's that )iet' is the medium
et$een atheism and su)erstition"
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&is Rhetoric"
It $as )roa+' his ru+es for rhetoric and )oetr'
that Cicero and 5uinti+ian had in %ie$" Cicero(
in his #Orator# sa's that #no one had more science(
Dictionar'" 7
sa*acit'( in%ention( or ud*ment"# 5uinti+ian *oes
so far as to )raise( not on+' the etent of his @no$+4
ed*e( ut a+so the sua%it' of his e+ocution sua%ita4
tem e+ouendi(
Aristot+e $ou+d ha%e an orator $e++ informed re4
s)ectin* +a$s( Mnances( treaties( fortresses( *arri4
sons( )ro%isions( and merchandise" The orators
in the )ar+iaments of En*+and( the diets of Po+and(
the states of S$eden( the )re*adi of Venice( etc"(
$ou+d not Mnd these +essons of Aristot+e un)roMt4
a+eJ to other nations( )erha)s( the' $ou+d e so"
&e $ou+d ha%e his orator @no$ the )assions and
manners of men( and the humors of e%er' condi4
tion"
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I thin@ there is not a sin*+e nicet' of the art
$hich has esca)ed him" &e )articu+ar+' commends
the citin* of instances $here )u+ic aairs are
s)o@en ofJ nothin* has so *reat an eect on the
minds of men"
What he sa's on this suect )ro%es that he $rote
his #Rhetoric# +on* efore A+eander $as a))ointed
ca)tain4*enera+ of the ree@s a*ainst the *reat @in*"
#If(# sa's he( #an' one had to )ro%e to the
ree@s that it is to their interest to o))ose the enter4
)rises of the @in* of Persia( and to )re%ent him from
ma@in* himse+f master of E*')t( he shou+d Mrst
remind them that Darius Ochus $ou+d not attac@
reece unti+ E*')t $as in his )o$erJ he shou+d
remar@ that =eres had )ursued the same courseJ
he shou+d add that it $as not to e douted that
: Phi+oso)hica+
Darius Codomannus $ou+d do the sameJ and that(
therefore( the' must not suer him to ta@e )osses4
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sion of E*')t"#
&e e%en )ermits( in s)eeches de+i%ered to *reat
assem+ies( the introduction of )ara+es and fa+es J
the' a+$a's stri@e the mu+titude" &e re+ates some
in*enious ones( $hich are of the hi*hest antiuit'(
as the horse that im)+ored the assistance of man to
a%en*e himse+f on the sta*( and ecame a s+a%e
throu*h ha%in* sou*ht a )rotector"
It ma' e remar@ed that( in the second oo@(
$here he treats of ar*uin* from the *reater to the
+ess( he *i%es an eam)+e $hich )+ain+' sho$s $hat
$as the o)inion of reece( and )roa+' of Asia(
res)ectin* the etent of the )o$er of the *ods"
#If(# sa's he( #it e true that the *ods themse+%es(
en+i*htened as the' are( cannot @no$ e%er'thin*(
much +ess can men"# This )assa*e c+ear+' )ro%es
that omniscience $as not then attriuted to the Di4
%init'" It $as concei%ed that the *ods cou+d not
@no$ $hat $as notJ the future $as not( therefore
it seemed im)ossi+e that the' shou+d @no$ it" This
is the o)inion of the Socinians at the )resent da'"
!ut to return to Aristot+e2s #Rhetoric"# What
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I sha++ chieQ' remar@ on in his oo@ on e+ocution
and diction is the *ood sense $ith $hich he con4
demns those $ho $ou+d e )oets( in )rose" &e $ou+d
ha%e )athos( ut he anishes omast( and )roscries
use+ess e)ithets" Indeed( Demosthenes and Cicero(
Dictionar'"
$ho fo++o$ed his )rece)ts( ne%er aected the )oetic
st'+e in their s)eeches" #The st'+e(# sa's Aristot+e(
#must a+$a's e conforma+e to the suect"#
Nothin* can e more mis)+aced than to s)ea@ of
)h'sics )oetica++'( and +a%ish M*ure and ornament
$here there shou+d e on+' method( c+earness( and
truth" It is the uac@er' of a man $ho $ou+d )ass
o fa+se s'stems under co%er of an em)t' noise of
$ords" Wea@ minds are cau*ht ' the ait( and
stron* minds disdain it"
Amon* us the funera+ oration has ta@en )osses4
sion of the )oetic st'+e in )rose J ut this ranch of
orator'( consistin* a+most entire+' of ea**eration(
seems )ri%i+e*ed to orro$ the ornaments of )oetr'"
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The $riters of romances ha%e sometimes ta@en
this +icence" La Ca+)renede $as( I thin@( the Mrst
$ho thus trans)osed the +imits of the arts( and
aused this faci+it'" The author of #Te+emachus#
$as )ardoned throu*h consideration for &omer(
$hom he imitated( thou*h he cou+d not ma@e %erses(
and sti++ more in consideration of his mora+it'( in
$hich he inMnite+' sur)asses &omer( $ho has none
at a++" !ut he o$ed his )o)u+arit' chieQ' to the crit4
icism on the )ride of Louis =IV" and the harshness
of Lou%ois( $hich( it $as thou*ht( $ere disco%era+e
in #Te+emachus"#
!e this as it ma'( nothin* can e a etter )roof
of Aristot+e2s *ood sense and *ood taste than his
ha%in* assi*ned to e%er'thin* its )ro)er )+ace"
Phi+oso)hica+
Aristot+e on Poetr'"
Where( in our modern nations( sha++ $e Mnd a
natura+ )hi+oso)her( a *eometrician( a meta)h'sician(
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or e%en a mora+ist $ho has s)o@en $e++ on the su4 7
ect of )oetr'H The' teem $ith the names of &o4
mer( Vir*i+( So)hoc+es( Ariosto( Tasso( and so man'
others $ho ha%e charmed the $or+d ' the harmo4
nious )roductions of their *enius( ut the' fee+ not
their eauties J or if the' fee+ them the' $ou+d an4
nihi+ate them"
&o$ ridicu+ous is it in Pasca+ to sa'- #As $e
sa' )oetica+ eaut'( $e shou+d +i@e$ise sa' *eomet4
rica+ eaut'( and medicina+ eaut'" 8et $e do not
sa' so( and the reason is that $e $e++ @no$ $hat
is the oect of *eometr'( and $hat is the oect of
medicine( ut $e do not @no$ in $hat the )ecu+iar
charm $hich is the oect of )oetr' consists"
We @no$ not $hat that natura+ mode+ is $hich
must e imitatedJ and for $ant of this @no$+ed*e
$e ha%e in%ented certain fantastic terms( as a*e of
*o+d( $onder of the a*e( fata+ $reath( fair star( etc"
And this ar*on $e ca++ )oetic eaut'"#
The )itifu+ness of this )assa*e is sucient+' o4
%ious" We @no$ that there is nothin* eautifu+ in
a medicine( nor in the )ro)erties of a trian*+e J and
that $e a))+' the term #eautifu+# on+' to that $hich
raises admiration in our minds and *i%es )+easure
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to our senses" Thus reasons Aristot+e J and Pasca+
here reasons %er' i++" Fata+ $reath( fair star( ha%e
Dictionar'" B
ne%er een )oetic eauties" If he $ished to @no$
$hat is )oetic eaut'( he had on+' to read"
Nico+e $rote a*ainst the sta*e( aout $hich he
had not a sin*+e ideaJ and $as seconded ' one
Duois( $ho $as as i*norant of the e++es +ettres as
himse+f"
E%en 0ontesuieu( in his amusin* #Persian Let4
ters(# has the )ett' %anit' to thin@ that &omer and
Vir*i+ are nothin* in com)arison $ith one $ho im4
itates $ith s)irit and success Dufreno'2s #Siamois(#
and M++s his oo@ $ith o+d assertions( $ithout $hich
it $ou+d not ha%e een read" #What(# sa's he( #are
e)ic )oemsH I @no$ them not" I des)ise the +'ric
as much as I esteem the tra*ic )oets"# &e shou+d
not( ho$e%er( ha%e des)ised Pindar and &orace uite
so much" Aristot+e did not des)ise Pindar"
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Descartes did( it is true( $rite for 5ueen Chris4
tina a +itt+e di%ertissement in %erse( $hich $as uite
$orth' of his matiere canne+ee"
0a+eranche cou+d not distin*uish Cornei++e2s
5u2i+ mourut# from a +ine of .ode+e2s or arnier2s"
What a man( then( $as Aristot+e( $ho traced the
ru+es of tra*ed' $ith the same hand $ith $hich he
had +aid do$n those of dia+ectics( of mora+s( of )o+4
itics( and +ifted( as far as he found it )ossi+e( the
*reat %ei+ of nature
To his fourth cha)ter on )oetr' !oi+eau is in4
deted for these Mne +ines -
UU n2est )oint de ser)ent( ni de monstre odieu
5ui3 )ar I2art imitd t ne )uisse )+aire au 'eu"
Phi+oso)hica+
UH2 )inceau cte+icat 2 artiMce a*re#a+e
Du )+us areu oect fait un oet aima+eJ
Ainsi( )our nous charmer( +a tra*tdie eut )+eurs
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/CEdi)e tout4 san*+ant Mt )ar+er +es dou+eurs"
Each horrid sha)e( each oect of ari*ht(
Nice imitation teaches to de+i*htJ
So does the s@i+fu+ )ainter2s )+easin* art
Attractions to the dar@est form im)artJ
So does the tra*ic 0use( disso+%ed in tears(
With ta+es of $oe and sorro$ charm our ears"
Aristot+e sa's- #Imitation and harmon' ha%e
)roduced )oetr'" We see terri+e anima+s( dead or
d'in* men( in a )icture( $ith )+easure oects
$hich in nature $ou+d ins)ire us on+' $ith fear and
sorro$" The etter the' are imitated the more com4
)+ete is our satisfaction"#
This fourth cha)ter of Aristot+e2s rea))ears a+4
most entire in &orace and !oi+eau" The +a$s $hich
he *i%es in the fo++o$in* cha)ters are at this da'
those of our *ood $riters( ece)tin* on+' $hat re4
+ates to the choruses and music" &is idea that tra*4
ed' $as instituted to )urif' the )assions has een
$arm+' comatedJ ut if he meant( as I e+ie%e he
did( that an incestuous +o%e mi*ht e sudued ' $it4
nessin* the misfortune of Phaedra( or an*er e re4
)ressed ' eho+din* the me+ancho+' eam)+e of
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Aa( there is no +on*er an' dicu+t'"
This )hi+oso)her e)ress+' commands that there
e a+$a's the heroic in tra*ed' and the ridicu+ous in
comed'" This is a ru+e from $hich it is( )erha)s(
no$ ecomin* too customar' to de)art"
Dictionar'" 9
AR0SAR0IES"
IT is $orth' of consideration that there ha%e een
and sti++ are( u)on the earth societies $ithout armies"
The !rahmins( $ho +on* *o%erned near+' a++ the
*reat Indian ChersonesusJ the )rimiti%es( ca++ed
5ua@ers( $ho *o%erned Penns'+%ania J some Ameri4
can tries( some in the centre of Africa( the Samo4
'eds( the La)+anders( the Kamchada+es( ha%e ne%er
marched $ith co+ors Q'in* to destro' their nei*h4
ors"
The !rahmins $ere the most considera+e of a++
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these )aciMc nationsJ their caste( $hich is so an4
cient( $hich is sti++ eistin*( and com)ared $ith
$hich a++ other institutions are uite recent( is a
)rodi*' $hich cannot e sucient+' admired" Their
re+i*ion and their )o+ic' a+$a's concurred in a4
stainin* from the sheddin* of +ood( e%en of that of
the meanest anima+" Where such is the re*ime( su4
u*ation is eas'J the' ha%e een suu*ated( ut
ha%e not chan*ed"
The Penns'+%anians ne%er had an arm' J the' a+4
$a's he+d $ar in ahorrence"
Se%era+ of the American tries did not @no$ $hat
an arm' $as unti+ the S)aniards came to eterminate
them a++" The )eo)+e on the orders of the Ic' Sea
are i*norant a+i@e of armies( of the *od of armies( of
atta+ions( and of suadrons"
!esides these )o)u+ations( the )riests and mon@s
G Phi+oso)hica+
do not ear arms in an' countr' at +east $hen
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the' oser%e the +a$s of their institution"
It is on+' amon* Christians that there ha%e een
re+i*ious societies esta+ished for the )ur)ose of
M*htin* as the Kni*hts Tem)+ars( the Kni*hts of
St" .ohn( the Kni*hts of the Teutonic Order( the
Kni*hts S$ordearers" These re+i*ious orders $ere
instituted in imitation of the Le%ites( $ho fou*ht
+i@e the rest of the .e$ish tries"
Neither armies nor arms $ere the same in an4
tiuit' as at )resent" The E*')tians hard+' e%er
had ca%a+r'" It $ou+d ha%e een of +itt+e use in a
countr' intersected ' cana+s( inundated durin* M%e
months of the 'ear( and mir' durin* M%e more" The
inhaitants of a *reat )art of Asia used chariots of
$ar"
The' are mentioned in the anna+s of China" Con4
fucius sa's that in his time each *o%ernor of a )ro%4
ince furnished to the em)eror a thousand $ar
chariots( each dra$n ' four horses" The ree@s
and Troans fou*ht in chariots dra$n ' t$o horses"
Ca%a+r' and chariots $ere un@no$n to the .e$s
in a mountainous tract( $here their Mrst @in*( $hen
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he $as e+ected( had nothin* ut she4asses" Thirt'
sons of .air( )rinces of thirt' cities( accordin* to
the tet 6.ud*es( ( ; ( rode each u)on an ass" Sau+(
after$ards @in* of .udah( had on+' she4asses J and
the sons of Da%id a++ Qed u)on mu+es $hen Asa+om
had s+ain his rother Amnon" Asa+om $as
mounted on a mu+e in the att+e $hich he fou*ht
Dictionar'" >
a*ainst his father2s troo)s J $hich )ro%es( accordin*
to the .e$ish historians( either that mares $ere
e*innin* to e used in Pa+estine( or that the' $ere
a+read' rich enou*h there to u' mu+es from the
nei*horin* countr'"
The ree@s made ut +itt+e use of ca%a+r'" It $as
chieQ' $ith the 0acedonian )ha+an that A+eander
*ained the att+es $hich +aid Persia at his feet" It
$as the Roman infantr' that suu*ated the *reater
)art of the $or+d" At the att+e of Pharsa+ia( Caesar
had ut one thousand horsemen"
It is not @no$n at $hat time the Indians and the
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Africans Mrst e*an to march e+e)hants at the head
of their armies" We cannot read $ithout sur)rise
of &annia+2s e+e)hants crossin* the A+)s( $hich
$ere much harder to )ass then than the' are no$"
There ha%e +on* een dis)utes aout the dis)osi4
tion of the ree@ and Roman armies( their arms(
and their e%o+utions" Each one has *i%en his )+an
of the att+es of <ama and Pharsa+ia"
The commentator Ca+met( a !enedictine( has
)rinted three *reat %o+umes of his #Dictionar' of the
!i+e(# in $hich( the etter to e)+ain od2s com4
mandments( are inserted a hundred en*ra%in*s(
$here 'ou see )+ans of att+es and sie*es in co))er4
)+ate" The od of the .e$s $as the od of
armies( ut Ca+met $as not &is secretar' J he can4
not ha%e @no$n( ut ' re%e+ation( ho$ the armies
of the Ama+e@ites( the 0oaites( the S'rians( and
the Phi+istines $ere arran*ed on the da's of *enera+
Vo+"
B? Phi+oso)hica+
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murder" These )+ates of carna*e( desi*ned at a
%enture( made his oo@ M%e or si +ouis dearer( ut
made it no etter"
It is a *reat uestion $hether the Fran@s( $hom
the .esuit Danie+ ca++s French ' antici)ation( used
o$s and arro$s in their armies( and $hether the'
had he+mets and cuirasses"
Su))osin* that the' $ent to comat a+most
na@ed( and armed( as the' are said to ha%e een(
$ith on+' a sma++ car)enter2s a( a s$ord( and a
@nife( $e must infer that the Romans( masters of
au+( so easi+' conuered ' C+o%is( had +ost a++
their ancient %a+or( and that the au+s $ere as $i++4
in* to e suect to a sma++ numer of Fran@s as to a
sma++ numer of Romans" War+i@e accoutrements
ha%e since chan*ed( as e%er'thin* e+se chan*es"
In the da's of @ni*hts( suires( and %ar+ets( the
armed forces of erman'( France( Ita+'( En*+and(
and S)ain consisted a+most entire+' of horsemen(
$ho( as $e++ as their horses( $ere co%ered $ith stee+"
The infantr' )erformed the functions rather of )io4
neers than of so+diers" !ut the En*+ish a+$a's had
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*ood archers amon* their foot( $hich contriuted(
in a *reat measure( to their *ainin* a+most e%er'
att+e"
Who $ou+d e+ie%e that armies no$ada's do ut
ma@e e)eriments in natura+ )hi+oso)h' H A so+dier
$ou+d e much astonished if some +earned man $ere
to sa' to him -
#0' friend( 'ou are a etter machinist than Ar4
Dictionar'" B7
chimedes" Fi%e )arts of sa+t)etre( one of su+)hur(
and one of caro +i*neus ha%e een se)arate+' )re4
)ared" 8our sa+t)etre disso+%ed( $e++ M+tered( $e++
e%a)orated( $e++ cr'sta++i1ed( $e++ turned( $e++ dried(
has een incor)orated $ith the 'e++o$ )uriMed su+4
)hur" These t$o in*redients( mied $ith )o$dered
charcoa+( ha%e( ' means of a +itt+e %ine*ar( or so4
+ution of sa+4ammoniac( or urine( formed +ar*e a++s(
$hich a++s ha%e een reduced in )u+%erem )'rium
' a mi++" The eect of this miture is a di+ata4
tion( $hich is near+' as four thousand to unit' J and
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the +ead in 'our arre+ ehiits another eect( $hich
is the )roduct of its u+@ mu+ti)+ied ' its %e+ocit'"
#The Mrst $ho disco%ered a )art of this mathe4
matica+ secret $as a !enedictine named Ro*er
!acon" The in%ention $as )erfected( in erman'(
in the fourteenth centur'( ' another !enedictine
named Sch$art1" So that 'ou o$e to t$o mon@s
the art of ein* an ece++ent murderer( $hen 'ou
aim $e++( and 'our )o$der is *ood"
#Du Can*e has in %ain )retended that( in 7G(
the re*isters of the Chamre des Com)tes( at Paris(
mention a i++ )aid for *un)o$der" Do not e+ie%e
it" It $as arti++er' $hich is there s)o@en of a
name attached to ancient as $e++ as to modern $ar4
+i@e machines"
#un)o$der entire+' su)erseded the ree@ Mre(
of $hich the 0oors sti++ made use" In Mne( 'ou
are the de)ositar' of an art( $hich not on+' imitates
the thunder( ut is a+so much more terri+e(#
B: Phi+oso)hica+
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There is( ho$e%er( nothin* ut truth in this
s)eech" T$o mon@s ha%e( in rea+it'( chan*ed the
face of the earth"
!efore cannon $ere @no$n( the northern nations
had suu*ated near+' the $ho+e hemis)here( and
cou+d come a*ain( +i@e famishin* $o+%es( to sei1e
u)on the +ands as their ancestors had done"
In a++ armies( the %ictor'( and conseuent+' the
fate of @in*doms( $as decided ' odi+' stren*th
and a*i+it' a sort of san*uinar' fur' a des)erate
stru**+e( man to man" Intre)id men too@ to$ns '
sca+in* their $a++s" Durin* the dec+ine of the Ro4
man Em)ire there $as hard+' more disci)+ine in
the armies of the North than amon* carni%orous
easts rushin* on their )re'"
No$ a sin*+e frontier fortress $ou+d suce to
sto) the armies of en*his or Atti+a" It is not +on*
since a %ictorious arm' of Russians $ere una%ai+4
a+' consumed efore Custrin( $hich is nothin* more
than a +itt+e fortress in a marsh"
In att+e( the $ea@est in od' ma'( $ith $e++4
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directed arti++er'( )re%ai+ a*ainst the stoutest" At
the att+e of Fonteno' a fe$ cannon $ere sucient
to com)e+ the retreat of the $ho+e En*+ish co+umn(
thou*h it had een master of the Me+d"
The comatants no +on*er c+ose" The so+dier has
no +on*er that ardor( that im)etuosit'( $hich is
redou+ed in the heat of action( $hen the M*ht is
hand to hand" Stren*th( s@i++( and e%en the tem)er
of the $ea)ons( are use+ess" Rare+' is a char*e $ith
Dictionar'" B
the a'onet made in the course of a "$ar( thou*h
the a'onet is the most terri+e of $ea)ons"
In a )+ain( freuent+' surrounded ' redouts
furnished $ith hea%' arti++er'( t$o armies ad%ance
in si+ence( each di%ision ta@in* $ith it Q'in* ar4
ti++er'" The Mrst +ines Mre at one another and after
one another - the' are %ictims )resented in turn to
the u++ets" Suadrons at the $in*s are often e4
)osed to a cannonadin* $hi+e $aitin* for the *en4
era+2s orders" The' $ho Mrst tire of this man4
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oeu%re( $hich *i%es no sco)e for the dis)+a' of im4
)etuous ra%er'( dis)erse and uit the Me+dJ and
are ra++ied( if )ossi+e( a fe$ mi+es o" The %icto4
rious enemies esie*e a to$n( $hich sometimes costs
them more men( mone'( and time than the' $ou+d
ha%e +ost ' se%era+ att+es" The )ro*ress made is
rare+' ra)idJ and at the end of M%e or si 'ears(
oth sides( ein* eua++' ehausted( are com)e++ed to
ma@e )eace"
Thus( at a++ e%ents( the in%ention of arti++er' and
the ne$ mode of $arfare ha%e esta+ished amon*
the res)ecti%e )o$ers an eua+it' $hich secures
man@ind from de%astations +i@e those of former
times( and there' renders $ar +ess fata+ in its con4
seuences( thou*h it is sti++ )rodi*ious+' so"
The ree@s in a++ a*es( the Romans in the time
of Su++a( and the other nations of the $est and
south( had no standin* arm' J e%er' citi1en $as a
so+dier( and enro++ed himse+f in time of $ar" It is(
at this da'( )recise+' the same in S$it1er+and" o
B Phi+oso)hica+
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throu*h the $ho+e countr'( and 'ou $i++ not f@+
a atta+ion( ece)t at the time of the re%ie$s" If
it *oes to $ar( 'ou a++ at once see ei*ht' thousand
men in arms"
Those $ho usur)ed the su)reme )o$er after
Su++a a+$a's had a )ermanent force( )aid $ith the
mone' of the citi1ens( to @ee) the citi1ens in su4
ection( much more than to suu*ate other nations"
The isho) of Rome himse+f @ee)s a sma++ arm' in
his )a'" Who( in the time of the a)ost+es( $ou+d
ha%e said that the ser%ant of the ser%ants of od
shou+d ha%e re*iments( and ha%e them in RomeH
Nothin* is so much feared in En*+and as a *reat
standin* arm'" The anissaries ha%e raised the
su+tans to *reatness( ut the' ha%e a+so stran*+ed
them" The su+tans $ou+d ha%e a%oided the ro)e(
if instead of these +ar*e odies of troo)s( the' had
esta+ished sma++ ones"
AROT AND 0AROT"
WIT& A S&ORT REVIEW OF T&E KORAN"
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T&IS artic+e ma' ser%e to sho$ ho$ rmich the
most +earned men ma' e decei%ed( and to de%e+o)
some usefu+ truths" In the #Dictionnaire Enc'c+o)e4
diue# there is the fo++o$in* )assa*e concernin*
Arot and 0arot -
#These are the names of t$o an*e+s( $ho( the
im)ostor 0ahomet said( had een sent from od to
teach man( and to order him to astain from mur4
Dictionar'" BB
der( fa+se ud*ments( and ecesses of e%er' @ind"
This fa+se )ro)het adds that a %er' eautifu+ $oman(
ha%in* in%ited these t$o an*e+s to her ta+e( made
them drin@ $ine( $ith $hich ein* heated( the'
so+icited her as +o%ersJ that she fei*ned to 'ie+d
to their )assion( )ro%ided the' $ou+d Mrst teach her
the $ords ' )ronouncin* $hich the' said it $as
eas' to ascend to hea%en J that ha%in* otained from
them $hat she as@ed( she $ou+d not @ee) her )rom4
iseJ and that she $as then ta@en u) into hea%en(
$here( ha%in* re+ated to od $hat had )assed( she
$as chan*ed into the mornin* star ca++ed Lucifer or
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Aurora( and the an*e+s $ere se%ere+' )unished"
&ence it $as( accordin* to 0ahomet( that od too@
occasion to forid $ine to men"#
It $ou+d e in %ain to see@ in the Koran for a
sin*+e $ord of this asurd stor' and )retended rea4
son for 0ahomet2s foriddin* his fo++o$ers the use
of $ine" &e forids it on+' in the second and Mfth
cha)ters"
#The' $i++ uestion thee aout $ine and stron*
+iuors- thou sha+t ans$er( that it is a *reat sin"
The ust( $ho e+ie%e and do *ood $or@s( must not
e re)roached $ith ha%in* drun@( and )+a'ed at
*ames of chance( efore *ames of chance $ere for4
idden"#
It is a%erred ' a++ the 0ahometans that their
)ro)het forade $ine and +iuors so+e+' to )reser%e
their hea+th and )re%ent uarre+s( in the urnin*
ciate of Araia" The use of an' fermented +iuor
B Phi+oso)hica+
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soon aects the head( and ma' destro' oth hea+th
and reason"
The fa+e of Arot and 0arot descendin* from
hea%en( and $antin* to +ie $ith an Ara $oman(
after drin@in* $ine $ith her( is not in an' 0ahome4
tan author" It is to e found on+' amon* the im4
)ostures $hich %arious Christian $riters( more in4
discreet than en+i*htened( ha%e )rinted a*ainst the
0ussu+man re+i*ion( throu*h a 1ea+ $hich is not ac4
cordin* to @no$+ed*e" The names of Arot and
0arot are in no )art of the Koran" It is one S'+4
ur*ius $ho sa's( in an o+d oo@ $hich nood'
reads( that he anathemati1es the an*e+s Arot( 0arot(
Safah( and 0er$ah"
Oser%e( @ind reader( that Safah and 0er$ah are
t$o +itt+e hi++s near 0ecca J so that our +earned S'+4
ur*ius has ta@en t$o hi++s for t$o an*e+s" Thus
it $as $ith e%er' $riter on 0ahometanism amon*
us( a+most $ithout ece)tion( unti+ the inte++i*ent
Re+and *a%e us c+ear ideas of the 0ussu+man e+ief(
and the +earned Sa+e( after +i%in* t$ent'4four 'ears
in and aout Araia( at +en*th en+i*htened us '
his faithfu+ trans+ation of the Koran( and his most
instructi%e )reface"
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a*nier himse+f( not$ithstandin* his Araic )ro4
fessorshi) at Oford( has een )+eased to )ut forth a
fe$ fa+sehoods concernin* 0ahomet( as if $e had
need of +ies to maintain the truth of our re+i*ion
a*ainst a fa+se )ro)het" &e *i%es us at fu++ +en*th
0ahomet2s ourne' throu*h the se%en hea%ens on
Dictionar'" B9
the mare A+orac( and e%en %entures to cite the Mft'4
third sura or cha)ter J ut neither in this Mft'4third
sura( nor in an' other( is there so much as an a++u4
sion to this )retended ourne' throu*h the hea%ens"
This stran*e stor' is re+ated ' Au+feda( se%en
hundred 'ears after 0ahomet" It is ta@en( he sa's(
from ancient manuscri)ts $hich $ere current in 0a4
homet2s time" !ut it is e%ident that the' $ere not
0ahomet2sJ for( after his death( Aue@er *ath4
ered to*ether a++ the +ea%es of the Koran( in the
)resence of a++ the chiefs of tries( and nothin* $as
inserted in the co++ection that did not a))ear to e
authentic"
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!esides( the cha)ter concernin* the ourne' to
hea%en( not on+' is not in the Koran( ut is in a %er'
dierent st'+e( and is at +east four times as +on* as
an' of the recei%ed cha)ters" Com)are a++ the other
cha)ters of the Koran $ith this( and 'ou $i++ Mnd
a )rodi*ious dierence" It e*ins thus -
#One ni*ht( I fe++ as+ee) et$een the t$o hi++s
of Safah and 0er$ah" That ni*ht $as %er' dar@(
ut so sti++ that the do*s $ere not heard to ar@(
nor the coc@s to cro$" A++ at once( the an*e+ arie+
a))eared efore me in the form in $hich the 0ost
&i*h od created him" &is s@in $as $hite as sno$"
&is fair hair( admira+' dis)osed( fe++ in rin*+ets
o%er his shou+ders J his forehead $as c+ear( maestic(
and serene( his teeth eautifu+ and shinin*( and his
+e*s of a saron hue J his *arments $ere *+itterin*
$ith )ear+s( and $ith thread of )ure *o+d" On his
BG Phi+oso)hica+
forehead $as a )+ate of *o+d( on $hich $ere $ritten
t$o +ines( ri++iant and da11+in* $ith +i*htJ in the
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Mrst $ere these $ords( 2There is no od ut od2 J
and in the second these( 20ahomet is od2s A)ost+e"2
On eho+din* this( I remained the most astonished
and confused of men" I oser%ed aout him se%ent'
thousand +itt+e oes or a*s of mus@ and saron"
&e had M%e hundred )airs of $in*sJ and the dis4
tance from one $in* to another $as M%e hundred
'ears2 ourne'"
#Thus did arie+ a))ear efore me" &e touched
me( and said( 2Arise( thou s+ee)er2 I $as sei1ed
$ith fear and trem+in*( and startin* u)( said to
him( 2Who art thouH2 &e ans$ered( 2od ha%e
merc' u)on thee I am th' rother arie+"2 2O
m' dear+' e+o%ed arie+(2 said I( 2I as@ th' )ar4
donJ is it a re%e+ation of somethin* ne$( or is it
some aictin* threat that thou rin*est meH2 2It
is somethin* ne$(2 returned he J 2rise( m' dear+' e4
+o%ed( and tie th' mant+e o%er th' shou+ders J thou
$i+t ha%e need of it( for thou must this ni*ht )a'
a %isit to th' LordU So sa'in*( arie+( ta@in* m'
hand( raised me from the *round( and ha%in*
mounted me on the mare A+orac( +ed her himse+f '
the rid+e"#
In Mne( it is a%erred ' the 0ussu+mans that this
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cha)ter( $hich has no authenticit'( $as ima*ined
' Au4&orairah( $ho is said to ha%e een contem4
)orar' $ith the )ro)het" What shou+d $e sa' of a
Tur@ $ho shou+d come and insu+t our re+i*ion '
Dictionar'" B>
te++in* us that $e rec@on amon* our sacred oo@s
the +etters of St" Pau+ to Seneca( and Seneca2s +et4
ters to St" Pau+J the acts of Pi+ateJ the +ife of Pi4
+ate2s $ifeJ the +etters of the )retended Kin* A4
*arus to .esus Christ( and .esus Christ2s ans$er to
the same J the stor' of St" Peter2s cha++en*e to Si4
mon the ma*ician J the )redictions of the si'+s J the
testament of the t$e+%e )atriarchsJ and so man'
other oo@s of the same @ind H
We shou+d ans$er the Tur@ ' sa'in* that he $as
%er' i++ informed and that not one of these $or@s
$as re*arded as authentic" The Tur@ $i++ ma@e the
same ans$er to us( $hen to confound him $e re4
)roach him $ith 0ahomet2s ourne' to the se%en
hea%ens" &e $i++ te++ us that this is nothin* more
than a )ious fraud of +atter times( and that this
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ourne' is not in the Koran" Assured+' I am not
here com)arin* truth $ith error Christianit' $ith
0ahometanism the os)e+ $ith the KoranJ ut
fa+se tradition $ith fa+se tradition ause $ith ause
asurdit' $ith asurdit'"
This asurdit' has een carried to such a +en*th
that rotius char*es 0ahomet $ith ha%in* said that
od2s hands are co+d( for he has fe+t them J that od
is carried aout in a chair J and that( in Noah2s ar@(
the rat $as )roduced from the e+e)hant2s dun*( and
the cat from the +ion2s reath"
rotius re)roaches 0ahomet $ith ha%in* im4
a*ined that .esus Christ $as ta@en u) into hea%en
instead of suerin* eecution" &e for*ets that
? Phi+oso)hica+
there $ere entire heretica+ communions of )rimiti%e
Christians $ho s)read this o)inion( $hich $as )re4
ser%ed in S'ria and Araia unti+ 0ahomet2s time"
&o$ man' times has it een re)eated that 0a4
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homet had accustomed a )i*eon to eat *rain out of
his ear( and made his fo++o$ers e+ie%e that this
)i*eon rou*ht him messa*es from odH
Is it not enou*h for us that $e are )ersuaded of
the fa+seness of his sect( and in%inci+' con%inced
' faith of the truth of our o$n( $ithout +osin* our
time in ca+umniatin* the 0ahometans( $ho ha%e
esta+ished themse+%es from 0ount Caucasus to
0ount At+as( and from the conMnes of E)irus to the
etremities of IndiaH We are incessant+' $ritin*
ad oo@s a*ainst them( of $hich the' @no$ noth4
in*" We cr' out that their re+i*ion has een em4
raced ' so man' nations on+' ecause it Qatters
the senses" !ut $here is the sensua+it' in orderin*
astinence from the $ine and +iuors in $hich $e
indu+*e to such ecess J in )ronouncin* to e%er' one
an indis)ensa+e command to *i%e to the )oor each
'ear t$o and a ha+f )er cent( of his income( to fast
$ith the *reatest ri*or( to under*o a )ainfu+ o)era4
tion in the ear+iest sta*e of )uert'( to ma@e( o%er
arid sands a )i+*rima*e of sometimes M%e hundred
+ea*ues( and to )ra' to od M%e times a da'( e%en
$hen in the Me+d H
!ut( sa' 'ou( the' are a++o$ed four $i%es in this
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$or+d( and in the net the' $i++ ha%e ce+estia+ rides"
rotius e)ress+' sa's- #It must ha%e reuired a
Dictionar'" 7
*reat share of stu)idit' to admit re%eries so *ross
and dis*ustin*"#
We a*ree $ith rotius that the 0ahometans
ha%e een )rodi*a+ of re%eries" The man $ho $as
constant+' recei%in* the cha)ters of his Koran from
the an*e+ arie+ $as $orse than a %isionar'J he
$as an im)ostor( $ho su))orted his seductions '
his coura*eJ ut certain+' there is nothin* either
stu)id or sensua+ in reducin* to four the un+imited
numer of $i%es $hom the )rinces( the satra)s( the
naos( and the omrahs of the East @e)t in their
sera*+ios" It is said that So+omon had three hun4
dred $i%es and se%en hundred concuines" The
Aras( +i@e the .e$s( $ere at +iert' to marr' t$o
sistersJ 0ahomet $as the Mrst $ho forade these
marria*es" Where( then( is the *rossnessH
And $ith re*ard to the ce+estia+ rides( $here
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Mrst )arents $ere for a fe$ da's" Those( then(
must e )ardoned( $ho ha%e thou*ht that( ha%in*
a od'( that od' $i++ e constant+' satisMed" Our
fathers of the Church had no other idea of the
hea%en+' .erusa+em" St" Irenaeus sa's( #There each
%ine sha++ ear ten thousand ranches( each ranch
ten thousand c+usters( and each c+uster ten thousand
*ra)es"#
Se%era+ fathers of the Church ha%e( indeed(
thou*ht that the +essed in hea%en $ou+d eno' a++
their senses" St" Thomas sa's that the sense of
seein* $i++ e inMnite+' )erfectJ that the e+ements
$i++ e so too J that the surface of the earth $i++ e
trans)arent as *+ass( the $ater +i@e cr'sta+( the air
+i@e the hea%ens( and the Mre +i@e the stars" St"
Au*ustine( in his #Christian Doctrine(# sa's that
the sense of hearin* $i++ eno' the )+easures of sin*4
in* and of s)eech"
One of our *reat Ita+ian theo+o*ians( named
Pia11a( in his #Dissertation on Paradise(# informs us
that the e+ect $i++ fore%er sin* and )+a' the *uitar -
#The' $i++ ha%e(# sa's he( #three noi+ities three
ad%anta*es( %i1" - desire $ithout ecitement( caresses
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Dictionar'"
$ithout $antonness( and %o+u)tuousness $ithout
ecess# #ires noi+itates J i++ecera sine titi++atione(
+anditia sine mo++itudine( et %o+u)tas sine eue4
rantia"#
St" Thomas assures us that the sme++ of the *+ori4
Med odies $i++ e )erfect( and $i++ not e diminished
' )ers)iration" #Cor)orius *+oriosi serit odor u+4
tima )erfectione( nu++o modo )er humidum re)res4
sus"# This uestion has een )rofound+' treated '
a *reat man' other doctors"
Suare1( in his #Wisdom(# thus e)resses himse+f
concernin* taste - #It is not dicu+t for od )ur4
)ose+' to ma@e some ra)id humor act on the or*an
of taste"# #Non est Deo dici+e facere ut sa)idus
humor sit intra or*anum *ustus( ui sensum i+ium
intentiona+iter af&cere"#
And( to conc+ude( St" Pros)er( reca)itu+atin* the
$ho+e( )ronounces that the +essed sha++ Mnd *rati4
Mcation $ithout satiet'( and eno' hea+th $ithout
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disease" #Saturitas sine fastidio( et tota sanitas sine
moro"#
It is not then so much to e $ondered at that the
0ahometans ha%e admitted the use of the M%e senses
in their )aradise" The' sa' that the Mrst eatitude
$i++ e the union $ith od J ut this does not e4
c+ude the rest" 0ahomet2s )aradise is a fa+e J ut
once more e it oser%ed( there is in it neither contra4
diction nor im)urit'"
Phi+oso)h' reuires c+ear and )recise ideas( $hich
rotius had not" &e uotes a *reat dea+( and ma@es
Phi+oso)hica+
a sho$ of reasonin* $hich $i++ not ear a c+ose eam4
ination" The unust im)utations cast on the 0a4
hometans $ou+d suce to ma@e a %er' +ar*e oo@"
The' ha%e suu*ated one of the +ar*est and most
eautifu+ countries u)on earth J to dri%e them from
it $ou+d ha%e een a Mner e)+oit than to ause
them"
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The em)ress of Russia su))+ies a *reat eam)+e"
She ta@es from them A1o% and Tan*aro@( 0o+da%ia(
Wa++achia( and eor*iaJ she )ushes her conuests
to the ram)arts of Er1erum J she sends a*ainst them
Qeets from the remotest )arts of the !a+tic( and
others co%erin* the Euine J ut she does not sa' in
her manifestos that a )i*eon $his)ered in 0a4
homet2s ear"
ART OF POETR8"
A 0AN of a+most uni%ersa+ +earnin* a man e%en
of *enius( $ho oins )hi+oso)h' $ith ima*ination(
uses( in his ece++ent artic+e #Enc'c+o)edia(# these
remar@a+e $ords - #If $e ece)t this Perrau+t( and
some others( $hose merits the %ersiMer !oi+eau $as
not ca)a+e of a))reciatin*"#
This )hi+oso)her is ri*ht in doin* ustice to
C+aude Perrau+t( the +earned trans+ator of Vitru%ius(
a man usefu+ in more arts than one( and to $hom
$e are indeted for the Mne front of the Lou%re and
for other *reat monuments J ut ustice shou+d a+so
e rendered to !oi+eau" &ad he een on+' a %ersi4
Mer( he $ou+d scarce+' ha%e een @no$n J he $ou+d
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Dictionar'" B
not ha%e een one of the fe$ *reat men $ho $i++
hand do$n the a*e of Louis =IV" to )osterit'" &is
tart satires( his Mne e)ist+es( and ao%e a++( his art
of )oetr'( are master)ieces of reasonin* as $e++
as )oetr' #sa)ere est )rinci)ium et fansU2 The
art of %ersif'in* is( indeed( )rodi*ious+' dicu+t(
es)ecia++' in our +an*ua*e( $here a+eandrines fo+4
+o$ one another t$o ' t$oJ $here it is rare to
a%oid monoton'J $here it is aso+ute+' necessar'
to rh'me J $here no+e and )+easin* rh'mes
are too +imited in numerJ and $here a $ord
out of its )+ace( or a harsh s'++a+e( is sucient to
s)oi+ a ha))' thou*ht" It is +i@e dancin* in fetters
on a ro)e J the *reatest success is of itse+f nothin*"
!oi+eau2s art of )oetr' is to e admired( ecause
he a+$a's sa's true and usefu+ thin*s in a )+easin*
manner( ecause he a+$a's *i%es oth )rece)t and
eam)+e( and ecause he is %aried( )assin* $ith
)erfect ease( and $ithout e%er fai+in* in )urit' of
+an*ua*e( #From *ra%e to *a'( from +i%e+' to se4
%ere"#
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&is re)utation amon* men of taste is )ro%ed '
the fact that his %erses are @no$n ' heart J and to
)hi+oso)hers it must e )+easin* to Mnd that he is a+4
most a+$a's in the ri*ht"
As $e ha%e s)o@en of the )reference $hich ma'
sometimes e *i%en to the moderns o%er the ancients(
$e $i++ here %enture to )resume that !oi+eau2s art
of )oetr' is su)erior to that of &orace" 0ethod is
certain+' a eaut' in a didactic )oem J and &orace
Vo+" B
Phi+oso)hica+
has no method" We do not mention this as a re4
)roachJ for his )oem is a fami+iar e)ist+e to the
Pisos( and not a re*u+ar $or@ +i@e the #eor*ics# -
ut there is this additiona+ merit in !oi+eau( a merit
for $hich )hi+oso)hers shou+d *i%e him credit"
The Latin art of )oetr' does not seem near+' so
Mne+' +aored as the French" &orace e)resses him4
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se+f( a+most throu*hout( in the free and fami+iar
tone of his other e)ist+es" &e dis)+a's an etreme
c+earness of understandin* and a reMned taste( in
%erses $hich are ha))' and s)irited( ut often $ith4
out connection( and sometimes destitute of harmon' J
he has not the e+e*ance and correctness of Vir*i+"
&is $or@ is *ood( ut !oi+eau2s a))ears to e sti++
etter- and( if $e ece)t the tra*edies of Racine(
$hich ha%e the su)erior merit of treatin* the )as4
sions and surmountin* a++ the dicu+ties of the sta*e(
Des)reau2s #Art of Poetr'# is( indis)uta+'( the
)oem that does most honor to the French +an*ua*e"
It is +amenta+e $hen )hi+oso)hers are enemies
to )oetr'" Literature shou+d e +i@e the house of
0aecenas #est +ocus unicuiue suus"# The author
of the #Persian Letters# so eas' to $rite and
amon* $hich some are %er' )rett'( others %er' o+d(
others indierent( and others fri%o+ous this author(
I sa'( thou*h other$ise much to e recommended(
'et ha%in* ne%er een a+e to ma@e %erses( a+thou*h
he )ossesses ima*ination and often su)eriorit' of
st'+e( ma@es himse+f amends ' sa'in* that #con4
tem)t is hea)ed u)on )oetr'(# that #+'ric )oetr' is
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Dictionar'" 9
harmonious etra%a*ance"# Thus do men often
see@ to de)reciate the ta+ents $hich the' cannot
attain"
#We cannot reach it(# sa's 0ontai*neJ #+et us
re%en*e ourse+%es ' s)ea@in* i++ of it"# !ut 0on4
tai*ne( 0ontesuieu2s )redecessor and master in
ima*ination and )hi+oso)h'( thou*ht %er' dierent+'
of )oetr'"
&ad 0ontesuieu een as ust as he $as $itt'(
he cou+d not ut ha%e fe+t that se%era+ of our Mne
odes and *ood o)eras are $orth inMnite+' more than
the )+easantries of Rica to /sec@( imitated from
Dufreno'2s #Siamois(# and the detai+s of $hat )assed
in /sec@2s sera*+io at Is)ahan"
We sha++ s)ea@ more fu++' of this too freuent
inustice( in the artic+e on #Criticism"#
ARTS FINE ARTS"
ARTICLE DEDICATED TO T&E KIN OF PR/SSIA"X
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SIRE- The sma++ societ' of amateurs( a )art of
$hom are +aorin* at these rha)sodies at 0ount
Kra)a@( $i++ sa' nothin* to 'our maest' on the art
of $ar" It is heroic( or it ma' e an aomina+e
art" If there $ere an'thin* Mne in it( $e $ou+d te++
'our maest'( $ithout fear of contradiction( that 'ou
are the Mnest man in Euro)e"
8ou @no$( sire( the four a*es of" the arts" A+4
most e%er'thin* s)run* u) and $as rou*ht to )er4
fection under Louis =IV"J after $hich man' of
these arts( anished from France( $ent to eme+4
G Phi+oso)hica+
+ish and enrich the rest of Euro)e( at the fata+ )eriod
of the destruction of the ce+erated edict of &enr'
IV" )ronounced irre%oca+e( 'et so easi+' re%o@ed"
Thus( the *reatest inur' $hich Louis =IV" cou+d
do to himse+f did *ood to other )rinces a*ainst his
$i++ - this is )ro%ed ' $hat 'ou ha%e said in 'our
histor' of !randenur*"
If that monarch $ere @no$n on+' from his an4
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ishment of si or se%en hundred thousand usefu+
citi1ens from his irru)tion into &o++and( $hence he
$as soon forced to retreat from his *reatness(
$hich sta'ed him at the an@( $hi+e his troo)s $ere
s$immin* across the Rhine J if there $ere no other
monuments of his *+or' than the )ro+o*ues to his
o)eras( fo++o$ed ' the att+e of &ochstet( his )er4
son and his rei*n $ou+d *o do$n to )osterit' $ith
ut +itt+e ec+at" !ut the encoura*ement of a++ the
Mne arts ' his taste and muniMcence J the conferrin*
of so man' eneMts on the +iterar' men of other
countries J the rise of his @in*dom2s commerce at his
%oice J the esta+ishment of so man' manufactories J
the ui+din* of so man' Mne citade+s J the construc4
tion of so man' admira+e )orts J the union of the
t$o seas ' immense +aor( etc"( sti++ o+i*e Euro)e
to re*ard Louis =IV" and his a*e $ith res)ect"
And( ao%e a++( those *reat men( uniue in e%er'
ranch of art and science( $hom nature then )ro4
duced at one time( $i++ render his rei*n eterna++'
memora+e" The a*e $as *reater than Louis =IV"(
ut it shed its *+or' u)on him"
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Dictionar'" >
Emu+ation in art has chan*ed the face of the con4
tinent( from the P'renees to the ic' sea" There is
hard+' a )rince in erman' $ho has not made use4
fu+ and *+orious esta+ishments"
What ha%e the Tur@s done for *+or' H Nothin*"
The' ha%e ra%a*ed three em)ires and t$ent' @in*4
domsJ ut an' one cit' of ancient reece $i++ a+4
$a's ha%e a *reater re)utation than a++ the Otto4
man cities to*ether"
See $hat has een done in the course of a fe$
'ears at St" Petersur*( $hich $as a o* at the
e*innin* of the se%enteenth centur'" A++ the arts
are there assem+ed( $hi+e in the countr' of Or)heus(
Linus( and &omer( the' are annihi+ated"
That the Recent !irth of the Arts does not Pro%e
the Recent Formation of the +oe"
A++ )hi+oso)hers ha%e thou*ht matter eterna+J
ut the arts a))ear to e ne$" E%en the art of ma@4
in* read is of recent ori*in" The Mrst Romans ate
oi+ed *rain J those conuerors of so man' nations
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had neither $indmi++s nor $atermi++s" This truth
seems( at Mrst si*ht( to contro%ert the doctrine of the
antiuit' of the *+oe as it no$ is( or to su))ose ter4
ri+e re%o+utions in it" Irru)tions of ararians can
hard+' annihi+ate arts $hich ha%e ecome necessar'"
Su))ose that an arm' of ne*roes $ere to come u)on
us( +i@e +ocusts( from the mountains of southern
Africa( throu*h 0onomota)a( 0onoemu*i( etc"(
tra%ersin* A'ssinia( Nuia( E*')t( S'ria( Asia
'o Phi+oso)hica+
0inor( and a++ Euro)e( ra%a*in* and o%erturnin*
e%er'thin* in its $a'J there $ou+d sti++ e a fe$
a@ers( tai+ors( shoema@ers( and car)enters +eft J the
necessar' arts $ou+d re%i%e J +uur' a+one $ou+d e
annihi+ated" Such $as the case at the fa++ of the
Roman Em)ire J e%en the art of $ritin* ecame %er'
rareJ near+' a++ those arts $hich contriuted to
render +ife a*reea+e $ere for a +on* time etinct"
No$( $e are in%entin* ne$ ones e%er' da'"
From a++ this( no $e++4*rounded inference can e
dra$n a*ainst the antiuit' of the *+oe" For( su)4
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)osin* that a Qood of ararians had entire+' s$e)t
a$a' the arts of $ritin* and ma@in* read J su)4
)osin* e%en that $e had had read( or )ens( in@( and
)a)er( on+' for ten 'ears the countr' $hich cou+d
eist for ten 'ears $ithout eatin* read or $ritin*
do$n its thou*hts cou+d eist for an a*e( or a hun4
dred thousand a*es( $ithout these he+)s2"
It is uite c+ear that man and the other anima+s
can %er' $e++ susist $ithout a@ers( $ithout ro4
mance4$riters( and $ithout di%ines( as $itness
America( and as $itness a+so three4fourths of our
o$n continent" The recent irth of the arts amon*
us does not )ro%e the recent formation of the *+oe(
as $as )retended ' E)icurus( one of our )redeces4
sors in re%erie( $ho su))osed that( ' chance( the
dec+ination of atoms one da' formed our earth"
Pom)onatius used to sa'- #Se i+ mondo non e
eterno( )er tutti santi e motto %ecchio# #If this
$or+d e not eterna+( ' a++ the saints( it is %er' o+d"#
Dictionar'" 97
S+i*ht Incon%eniences Attached to the Arts"
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Those $ho hand+e +ead and uic@si+%er are su4
ect to dan*erous co+ics( and %er' serious aections
of the ner%es" Those $ho use )en and in@ are at4
tac@ed ' %ermin( $hich the' ha%e continua++' to
sha@e oJ these %ermin are some e4 .esuits( $ho
em)+o' themse+%es in manufacturin* +ie+s" 8ou(
Sire( do not @no$ this race of anima+sJ the' are
dri%en from 'our states( as $e++ as from those of the
em)ress of Russia( the @in* of S$eden( and the @in*
of Denmar@( m' other )rotectors" The e4.esuits
Po+ian and Nonotte( $ho +i@e me cu+ti%ate the Mne
arts( )ersecute me e%en unto 0ount Kra)a@( crush4
in* me under the $ei*ht of their re)utation( and
that of their *enius( the s)eciMc *ra%it' of $hich
is sti++ *reater" /n+ess 'our maest' %ouchsafe to
assist me a*ainst these *reat men( I am undone"
AS0ODE/S"
No ONE at a++ %ersed in antiuit' is i*norant that
the .e$s @ne$ nothin* of the an*e+s ut $hat the'
*+eaned from the Persians and Cha+dseans( durin*
ca)ti%it'" It $as the'( $ho( accordin* to Ca+met(
tau*ht them that there are se%en )rinci)a+ an*e+s
efore the throne of the Lord" The' a+so tau*ht
them the names of the de%i+s" &e $hom $e ca++
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Asmodeus( $as named &ashmodai or Chammadai"
#We @no$(# sa's Ca+met( #that there are %arious
sorts of de%i+s( some of them )rinces and master4
demons( the rest sua+terns"#
9: Phi+oso)hica+
&o$ $as it that this &ashmodai $as sucient+'
)o$erfu+ to t$ist the nec@s of se%en 'oun* men
$ho successi%e+' es)oused the eautifu+ Sarah( a
nati%e of Ra*es( Mfteen +ea*ues from EcatanaH
The 0edes must ha%e een se%en times as *reat as
the Persians" The *ood )rinci)+e *i%es a husand
to this maiden J and eho+d the ad )rinci)+e( this
@in* of demons( &ashmodai( destro's the $or@ of
the eneMcent )rinci)+e se%en times in succession"
!ut Sarah $as a .e$ess( dau*hter of the .e$
Ra*ue+( and a ca)ti%e in the countr' of Ecatana"
&o$ cou+d a 0edian demon ha%e such )o$er o%er
.e$ish odies H It has een thou*ht that Asmodeus
or Chammadai $as a .e$ +i@e$ise J that he $as the
o+d ser)ent $hich had seduced E%eJ and that he
$as )assionate+' fond of $omen( sometimes se4
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ducin* them( and sometimes @i++in* their husands
throu*h an ecess of +o%e and ea+ous'"
Indeed the ree@ %ersion of the !oo@ of Toit
*i%es us to understand that Asmodeus $as in +o%e
$ith Sarah #oti daimonion )hi+ei autein"# It $as
the o)inion of a++ the +earned of antiuit' that the
*enii( $hether *ood or e%i+( had a *reat inc+ination
for our %ir*ins( and the fairies for our 'ouths" E%en
the Scri)tures( accommodatin* themse+%es to our
$ea@ness( and condescendin* to s)ea@ in the +an4
*ua*e of the %u+*ar( sa'( M*urati%e+'( that #the sons
of od sa$ the dau*hters of men( that the' $ere
fairJ and the' too@ them $i%es of a++ $hich the'
chose"#
Dictionar'" 9
!ut the an*e+ Ra)hae+( the conductor of 'oun*
Toit( *i%es him a reason more $orth' of his min4
istr'( and etter ca+cu+ated to en+i*hten the )erson
$hom he is *uidin*" &e te++s him that Sarah2s
se%en husands $ere *i%en u) to the crue+t' of
Asmodeus( on+' ecause( +i@e horses or mu+es( the'
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had married her for their )+easure a+one" #&er
husand(# sa's the an*e+( #must oser%e continence
$ith her for three da's( durin* $hich time the'
must )ra' to od to*ether"#
This instruction $ou+d seem to ha%e een uite
sucient to @ee) o Asmodeus J ut Ra)hae+ adds
that it is a+so necessar' to ha%e the heart of a Msh
*ri++ed o%er urnin* coa+s" Wh'( then( $as not this
infa++i+e secret after$ards resorted to in order to
dri%e the de%i+ from the odies of $omen H Wh' did
the a)ost+es( $ho $ere sent on )ur)ose to cast out
de%i+s ne%er +a' a Msh2s heart u)on the *ridironH
Wh' $as not this e)edient made use of in the aair
of 0artha !rossierJ that of the nuns of LoudunJ
that of the mistresses of /ran andierJ that of
La CadiereJ that of Father irardJ and those of
a thousand other demoniacs in the times $hen there
$ere demoniacsH
The ree@s and Romans( $ho had so man'
)hi+ters $here$ith to ma@e themse+%es e+o%ed( had
others to cure +o%e J the' em)+o'ed hers and roots"
The a*nus castus had *reat re)utation" The mod4
erns ha%e administered it to 'oun* nuns( on $hom it
has had ut +itt+e eect" A)o++o( +on* a*o( com4
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s'm)ath'"
Not on+' did Asmodeus Qee( ut arie+ $ent
and chained him in /))er E*')t( $here he sti++ is"
&e d$e++s in a *rotto near the cit' of Saata or
Taata" Pau+ Lucas sa$ and s)o@e to him" The'
cut this ser)ent in )ieces( and the )ieces immediate+'
oined a*ain" To this fact Ca+met cites the testi4
mon' of Pau+ Lucas( $hich testimon' I must a+so
cite" It is thou*ht that Pau+ Lucas2s theor' ma' e
oined $ith that of the %am)ires( in the net com4
)i+ation of the Ae u'on"
Dictionar'" 9B
ASP&ALT/S"
ASP&ALTIC LAKE" SODO0"
ASP&ALT/S is a Cha+dsean $ord( si*nif'in* a
s)ecies of itumen" There is a *reat dea+ of it in the
countries $atered ' the Eu)hrates J it is a+so to e
found in Euro)e( ut of a ad ua+it'" An e)eri4
ment $as made ' co%erin* the to)s of the $atch4
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houses on each side of one of the *ates of ene%a J
the co%erin* did not +ast a 'ear( and the mine has
een aandoned" &o$e%er( $hen mied $ith rosin(
it ma' e used for +inin* cisterns J )erha)s it $i++
some da' e a))+ied to a more usefu+ )ur)ose"
The rea+ as)ha+tus is that $hich $as otained in
the %icinit' of !a'+on( and $ith $hich it is said
that the ree@ Mre $as fed" Se%era+ +a@es are fu++
of as)ha+tus( or a itumen resem+in* it( as others
are stron*+' im)re*nated $ith nitre" There is a
*reat +a@e of nitre in the desert of E*')t( $hich e4
tends from +a@e 0ceris to the entrance of the De+ta J
and it has no other name than the Nitre La@e"
The La@e As)ha+tites( @no$n ' the name of
Sodom( $as +on* famed for its itumenJ ut the
Tur@s no$ ma@e no use of it( either ecause the
mine under the $ater is diminished( ecause its
ua+it' is a+tered( or ecause there is too much
dicu+t' in dra$in* it from under the $ater" Oi+'
)artic+es of it( and sometimes +ar*e masses( se)4
arate and Qoat on the surface J these are *athered
to*ether( mied u)( and so+d for a+m of 0ecca"
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9 Phi+oso)hica+
F+a%ius .ose)hus( $ho $as of that countr'( sa's
that( in his time( there $ere no Msh in the +a@e of
Sodom( and the $ater $as so +i*ht that the hea%iest
odies $ou+d not *o to the ottom" It seems that
he meant to sa' so hea%' instead of so +i*ht" It
$ou+d a))ear that he had not made the e)eriment"
After a++( a sta*nant $ater( im)re*nated $ith sa+ts
and com)act matter( its s)eciMc matter ein* then
*reater than that of the od' of a man or a east(
mi*ht force it to Qoat" .ose)hus2s error consists in
assi*nin* a fa+se cause to a )henomenon $hich ma'
e )erfect+' true"
As for the $ant of Msh( it is not incredi+e" It
is( ho$e%er( +i@e+' that this +a@e( $hich is Mft' or
sit' mi+es +on*( is not a++ as)ha+tic( and that $hi+e
recei%in* the $aters of the .ordan it a+so recei%es
the Mshes of that ri%er J ut )erha)s the .ordan( too(
is $ithout Msh( and the' are to e found on+' in the
u))er +a@e of Tierias"
.ose)hus adds( that the trees $hich *ro$ on the
orders of the Dead Sea ear fruits of the most
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It ma' e ans$ered that the countr' $as then much
etter"
Other critics $i++ sa' ho$ cou+d M%e to$ns
eist at the etremities of a +a@e( the $ater of
$hich( efore their destruction( $as not )ota+eH
The Scri)ture itse+f informs us that a++ this +and $as
as)ha+tic efore the urnin* of Sodom - #And the
%a+e of Sodom $as fu++ of s+ime4)its J and the @in*s
of Sodom and omorrah Qed and fe++ there"
Another oection is a+so stated" Isaiah and .ere4
miah sa' that Sodom and omorrah sha++ ne%er e
reui+tJ ut Ste)hen( the *eo*ra)her( s)ea@s of
Sodom and omorrah on the coast of the Dead Sea J
and the #&istor' of the Counci+s# mentions isho)s
of Sodom and Se*or" To this it ma' e ans$ered
that od M++ed these to$ns( $hen reui+t( $ith +ess
*ui+t' inhaitantsJ for at that time there $as no
isho) in )artius"
!ut( it $i++ e said( $ith $hat $ater cou+d these
ne$ inhaitants uench their thirstH A++ the $e++s
are rac@ishJ 'ou Mnd as)ha+tus and corrosi%e sa+t
on Mrst stri@in* a s)ade into the *round"
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It $i++ e ans$ered that some Aras sti++ susist
there( and ma' e haituated to drin@in* %er' ad
$ater J that the Sodom and omorrah of the East4
ern Em)ire $ere $retched ham+ets( and that at that
time there $ere man' isho)s $hose $ho+e diocese
consisted in a )oor %i++a*e" It ma' a+so e said that
the )eo)+e $ho co+oni1ed these %i++a*es )re)ared the
as)ha+tus( and carried on a usefu+ trade in it"
Dictionar'" 9>
The arid and urnin* desert( etendin* from
Se*or to the territor' of .erusa+em( )roduces a+m
and aromatic hers for the same reason that it su)4
)+ies na)htha( corrosi%e sa+t and su+)hur"
It is said that )etrifaction ta@es )+ace in this
desert $ith astonishin* ra)idit'J and this( accord4
in* to some natura+ )hi+oso)hers( ma@es the )etri4
faction of Lot2s $ife Edith a %er' )+ausi+e stor'"
!ut it is said that this $oman( #ha%in* +oo@ed
ac@( ecame a )i++ar of sa+t"# This( then( $as not a
natura+ )etrifaction( o)erated ' as)ha+tus and sa+t(
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ut an e%ident mirac+e" F+a%ius .ose)hus sa's that
he sa$ this )i++ar" St" .ustin and St" Irenaeus s)ea@
of it as a )rodi*'( $hich in their time $as sti++ e4
istin*"
These testimonies ha%e een +oo@ed u)on as
ridicu+ous fa+es" It $ou+d( ho$e%er( e %er' natu4
ra+ for some .e$s to amuse themse+%es $ith cuttin*
a hea) of as)ha+tus into a rude M*ure( and ca++in* it
Lot2s $ife" I ha%e seen cisterns of as)ha+tus( %er'
$e++ made( $hich ma' +ast a +on* time" !ut it must
e o$ned that St" Irenseus *oes a +itt+e too far $hen
he sa's that Lot2s $ife remained in the countr' of
Sodom no +on*er in corru)ti+e Qesh( ut as a )er4
manent statue of sa+t( her feminine nature sti++ )ro4
ducin* the ordinar' eect- #/or remansit in
Sodomis( am non caro corru)tii+is sed statua sai+s
sem)er manens( et )er natura+ia ea uYsunt conZ
suetudmis hominis ostendens"#
St" Irenaeus does not seem to e)ress himse+f
G? Phi+oso)hica+
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$ith a++ the )recision of a *ood natura+ist $hen he
sa's Lot2s $ife is no +on*er of corru)ti+e Qesh( ut
sti++retainsher feminine nature"
In the )oem of Sodom( attriuted to Tertu++ian(
this is e)ressed $ith sti++ *reater ener*' -
Dicitur et %i%ens a+to su cor)ore se us(
0iriMce so+ito dis)un*ere san*uine menses"
This $as trans+ated ' a )oet of the time of
&enr' II"( in his a++ic st'+e -
Lafemme a Loth( uoiue se+ de%enue(
Estfemme encore J car e++e a sa menstrue"
The +and of aromatics $as a+so the +and of fa+es"
Into the deserts of Araia Petraea the ancient m'th4
o+o*ists )retend that 0'rrha( the *randdau*hter
of a statue( Qed after committin* incest $ith her
father( as Lot2s dau*hters did $ith theirs( and that
she $as metamor)hosed into the tree that ears
m'rrh" Other )rofound m'tho+o*ists assure us that
she Qed into Araia Fe+iJ and this o)inion is as
$e++ su))orted as the other"
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!e this as it ma'( not one of our tra%e++ers has
'et thou*ht Mt to eamine the soi+ of Sodom( $ith
its as)ha+tus( its sa+t( its trees and their fruits( to
$ei*h the $ater of the +a@e( to ana+'1e it( to ascer4
tain $hether odies of *reater s)eciMc *ra%it' than
common $ater Qoat u)on its surface( and to *i%e us
a faithfu+ account of the natura+ histor' of the coun4
tr'" Our )i+*rims to .erusa+em do not care to *o
and ma@e these researches J this desert has ecome
infested ' $anderin* Aras( $ho ran*e as far as
Dictionar'" G7
Damascus( and retire into the ca%erns of the moun4
tains( the authorit' of the )asha of Damascus ha%in*
hitherto een inadeuate to re)ress them" Thus the
curious ha%e ut +itt+e information aout an'thin*
concernin* the As)ha+tic La@e"
As to Sodom( it is a me+ancho+' reQection for the
+earned that( amon* so man' $ho ma' e deemed
nati%es( not one has furnished us $ith an' notion
$hate%er of this ca)ita+ cit'"
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ASS"
WE $i++ add a +itt+e to the artic+e #Ass# in the
#Enc'c+o)aedia(# concernin* Lucian2s ass( $hich e4
came *o+den in the hands of A)u+eius" The )+easant4
est )art of the ad%enture( ho$e%er( is in Lucian -
That a +ad' fe++ in +o%e $ith this *ent+eman $hi+e he
$as an ass( ut $ou+d ha%e nothin* more to sa' to
him $hen he $as ut a man" These metamor)hoses
$ere %er' common throu*hout antiuit'" Si+enus2s
ass had s)o@en J and the +earned had thou*ht that he
e)+ained himse+f in AraicJ for he $as )roa+' a
man turned into an ass ' the )o$er of !acchus(
and !acchus( $e @no$( $as an Ara"
Vir*i+ s)ea@s of the transformation of 0oeris into
a $o+f( as a thin* of %er' ordinar' occurrence -
Sae)e +u)um Meri 0cerim( et se condere si+%is"
Oft chan*ed to $o+f( he see@s the forest shade"
Was this doctrine of metamor)hoses deri%ed
from the o+d fa+es of E*')t( $hich *a%e out that
Vo+"
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G: Phi+oso)hica+
the *ods had chan*ed themse+%es into anima+s in
the $ar a*ainst the *iants H
The ree@s( *reat imitators and im)ro%ers of the
Orienta+ fa+es( metamor)hosed a+most a++ the *ods
into men or into easts( to ma@e them succeed the
etter in their amorous desi*ns" If the *ods chan*ed
themse+%es into u++s( horses( s$ans( do%es( etc"( $h'
shou+d not men ha%e under*one the same o)eration H
Se%era+ commentators( for*ettin* the res)ect due
to the &o+' Scri)tures( ha%e cited the eam)+e of
Neuchadne11ar chan*ed into an o J ut this $as a
mirac+e a di%ine %en*eance a thin* uite out of
the course of nature( $hich ou*ht not to e e4
amined $ith )rofane e'es( and cannot ecome an
oect of our researches"
Others of the +earned( )erha)s $ith eua+ indis4
cretion( a%ai+ themse+%es of $hat is re+ated in the
os)e+ of the Infanc'" An E*')tian maiden ha%in*
entered the chamer of some $omen( sa$ there a
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mu+e $ith a si+@en c+oth o%er his ac@( and an eon'
)endant at his nec@"
These $omen $ere in tears( @issin* him and
*i%in* him to eat" The mu+e $as their o$n rother"
Some sorceresses had de)ri%ed him of the human
M*ureJ ut the 0aster of Nature soon restored it"
A+thou*h this *os)e+ is a)ocr')ha+( the %er' name
that it ears )re%ents us from eaminin* this ad4
%enture in detai+ J on+' it ma' ser%e to sho$ ho$
much metamor)hoses $ere in %o*ue a+most throu*h4
out the earth" The Christians $ho com)osed their
Dictionar'" G
*os)e+ $ere undouted+' honest men" The' did not
see@ to faricate a romance J the' re+ated $ith sim4
)+icit' $hat the' had heard" The church( $hich
after$ards reected their *os)e+( to*ether $ith fort'4
nine others( did not accuse its authorit' of im)iet'
and )re%arication J those oscure indi%idua+s ad4
dressed the )o)u+ace in +an*ua*e comforma+e $ith
the )reudices of the a*e in $hich the' +i%ed" China
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$as )erha)s the on+' countr' eem)t from these
su)erstitions"
The ad%enture of the com)anions of /+'sses(
chan*ed into easts ' Circe( $as much more an4
cient than the do*ma of the metem)s'chosis(
roached in reece and Ita+' ' P'tha*oras"
On $hat can the assertion e founded that there
is no uni%ersa+ error $hich is not the ause of some
truth J that there ha%e een uac@s on+' ecause
there ha%e een true )h'sicians J and that fa+se
)rodi*ies ha%e een e+ie%ed on+' ecause there ha%e
een true ones H
Were there an' certain testimonies that men had
ecome $o+%es( oen( horses( or assesH This uni4
%ersa+ error had for its )rinci)+e on+' the +o%e of the
mar%e++ous and the natura+ inc+ination to su)ersti4
tion"
One erroneous o)inion is enou*h to M++ the $ho+e
$or+d $ith fa+es" An Indian doctor sees that ani4
ma+s ha%e fee+in* and memor'" &e conc+udes that
the' ha%e a sou+" 0en ha%e one +i@e$ise" What e4
comes of the sou+ of man after deathH What e4
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G Phi+oso)hica+
comes of that of the eastH The' must *o some4
$here" The' *o into the nearest od' that is e4
*innin* to e formed" The sou+ of a !rahmin ta@es
u) its aode in the od' of an e+e)hant( the sou+ of
an ass is that of a +itt+e !rahmin" Such is the do*ma
of the metem)s'chosis( $hich $as ui+t u)on sim)+e
deduction"
!ut it is a $ide ste) from this do*ma to that of
metamor)hosis" We ha%e no +on*er a sou+ $ithout
a tenement( see@in* a +od*in*J ut one od'
chan*ed into another( the sou+ remainin* as efore"
No$( $e certain+' ha%e not in nature an' eam)+e of
such +e*erdemain"
Let us then inuire into the ori*in of so etra%a4
*ant 'et so *enera+ an o)inion" If some father had
characteri1ed his son( sun@ in i*norance and M+th'
deaucher'( as a ho*( a horse( or an ass( and after4
$ards made him do )enance $ith an ass2s ca) on his
head( and some ser%ant *ir+ of the nei*horhood
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*a%e it out that this 'oun* man had een turned
into an ass as a )unishment for his fau+ts( her nei*h4
ors $ou+d re)eat it to other nei*hors( and from
mouth to mouth this stor'( $ith a thousand eme+4
+ishments( $ou+d ma@e the tour of the $or+d" An
ami*uous e)ression $ou+d suce to decei%e the
$ho+e earth"
&ere then +et us confess( $ith !oi+eau( that am4
i*uit' has een the )arent of most of our ridicu+ous
fo++ies" Add to this the )o$er of ma*ic( $hich has
Dictionar'" GB
een ac@no$+ed*ed as indis)uta+e in a++ nations(
and 'ou $i++ no +on*er e astonished at an'thin*"
One $ord more on asses" It is said that in 0eso4
)otamia the' are $ar+i@e and that 0er%an( the
t$ent'4Mrst ca+i)h( $as surnamed #the Ass(# for his
%a+or"
The )atriarch Photius re+ates( in the etract from
the Life of Isidorus( that Ammonius had an ass
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$hich had a *reat taste for )oetr'( and $ou+d +ea%e
his man*er to *o and hear %erses" The fa+e of
0idas is etter than the ta+e of Photius"
0achia%e++i2s o+den Ass"
0achia%e++i2s ass is ut +itt+e @no$n" The dic4
tionaries $hich s)ea@ of it sa' that it $as a )roduc4
tion of his 'outh J it $ou+d seem( ho$e%er( that he
$as of mature a*e J for he s)ea@s in it of the mis4
fortunes $hich he had former+' and for a +on* time
e)erienced" The $or@ is a satire on his contem)o4
raries" The author sees a numer of F+orentines( of
$hom one is chan*ed into a cat( another into a
dra*on( a third into a do* that a's the moon( a
fourth into a fo $ho does not suer himse+f to e
cau*htJ each character is dra$n under the name
of an anima+" The factions of the house of 0edicis
and their enemies are dout+ess M*ured therein J and
the @e' to this comic a)oca+')se $ou+d admit us to
the secrets of Po)e Leo and the trou+es of F+orence"
This )oem is fu++ of mora+it' and )hi+oso)h'" It
G Phi+oso)hica+
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ends $ith the %er' rationa+ reQections of a +ar*e
ho*( $hich addresses man in near+' the fo++o$in*
terms -
8e na@ed i)eds( $ithout ea@s or c+a$s(
&air+ess( and feather+ess( and tender4hided(
Wee)in* 'e come into the $or+d ecause
8e fee+ 'our e%i+ destin' decidedJ
Nature has *i%en 'ou industrious )a$sJ
8ou( +i@e the )arrots( are $ith s)eech )ro%idedJ
!ut ha%e 'e honest heartsH A+as a+as
In this $e s$ine 'our i)edshi)s sur)ass
0an is far $orse than $e more Merce( more $i+d
Co$ard or madman( sinnin* e%er' minuteJ
!' fren1' and ' fear in turn e*ui+ed(
&e dreads the *ra%e( 'et )+un*es head+on* in itJ
If )i*s fa++ out( the' soon are reconci+edJ
Their uarre+2s ended ere the' $e++ e*in it"
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If crime $ith manhood a+$a's must comine(
ood Lord +et me fore%er e a s$ine"
This is the ori*ina+ of !oi+eau2s #Satire on 0an(#
and La Fontaine2s fa+e of the #Com)anions of
/+'sses# J ut it is uite +i@e+' that neither La Fon4
taine nor !oi+eau had e%er heard of 0achia%e++i2s
ass"
The Ass of Verona"
I must s)ea@ the truth( and not decei%e m' read4
ers" I do not %er' c+ear+' @no$ $hether the Ass of
Verona sti++ eists in a++ his s)+endor J ut the tra%e+4
+ers $ho sa$ him fort' or Mft' 'ears a*o a*ree in
sa'in* that the re+ics $ere enc+osed in the od' of
an artiMcia+ ass made on )ur)ose( $hich $as in the
@ee)in* of fort' mon@s of Our Lad' of the Or*an(
at Verona( and $as carried in )rocession t$ice a
'ear" This $as one of the most ancient re+ics of the
to$n" Accordin* to the tradition( this ass( ha%in*
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Dictionar'" G9
carried our Lord in his entr' into .erusa+em( did
not choose to aide an' +on*er in that cit'( ut trot4
ted o%er the sea $hich for that )ur)ose ecame as
hard as his hoof ' $a' of C')rus( Rhodes( Can4
dia( 0a+ta( and Sici+'" There he $ent to soourn at
Aui+ea J and at +ast he sett+ed at Verona( $here he
+i%ed a +on* $hi+e"
This fa+e ori*inated in the circumstance that
most asses ha%e a sort of +ac@ cross on their ac@s"
There )ossi+' mi*ht e an o+d ass in the nei*hor4
hood of Verona( on $hose ac@ the )o)u+ace re4
mar@ed a Mner cross than his rethren cou+d oast
of J some *ood o+d $oman $ou+d e at hand to sa'
that this $as the ass on $hich Christ rode into .eru4
sa+em J and the ass $ou+d e honored $ith a ma*4
niMcent funera+" The feast esta+ished at Verona
)assed into other countries( and $as es)ecia++' ce+e4
rated in France" In the mass $as sun* -
Orientis )artius
Ad%entait astnus(
Pu+cher et fortissimus"
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There $as a +on* )rocession( headed ' a 'oun*
$oman $ith a chi+d in her arms( mounted on an ass(
re)resentin* the Vir*in 0ar' *oin* into E*')t" At
the end of the mass the )riest( instead of sa'in*
Ite missa est( ra'ed three times $ith a++ his mi*ht(
and the )eo)+e ans$ered in chorus"
We ha%e oo@s on the feast of the ass( and the
feast of foo+sJ the' furnish materia+ to$ards a
uni%ersa+ histor' of the human mind"
GG Phi+oso)hica+
ASSASSIN ASSASSINATION"
SECTION I"
A NA0E corru)ted from the $ord Ehissess+n"
Nothin* is more common to those $ho *o into a
distant countr' than to $rite( re)eat( and under4
stand incorrect+' in their o$n +an*ua*e $hat the'
ha%e misunderstood in a +an*ua*e entire+' forei*n to
them( and after$ards to decei%e their countr'men
as $e++ as themse+%es" Error Qies from mouth to
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mouth( from )en to )en( and to destro' it reuires
a*es"
In the time of the Crusades there $as a $retched
+itt+e )eo)+e of mountaineers inhaitin* the ca%erns
near the road to Damascus" These ri*ands e+ected
a chief( $hom the' named Chei@ E+chassissin" It is
said that this honoriMc tit+e of chei@ ori*ina++' si*ni4
Med o+d( as $ith us the tit+e of sei*neur comes from
senior( e+der( and the $ord *raf( a count( si*niMes
o+d amon* the ermans J for( in ancient times
a+most e%er' )eo)+e conferred the ci%i+ command
u)on the o+d men" After$ards( the command ha%4
in* ecome hereditar'( the tit+e of chei@( *raf( sei*4
neur( or count has een *i%en to chi+dren J and the
ermans ca++ a +itt+e master of four 'ears o+d( the
count that is( the o+d *ent+eman"
The Crusaders named the o+d man of the Araian
mountains( the O+d 0an of the &i++( and ima*ined
him to e a *reat )rince( ecause he had caused a
count of 0ontserrat and some other crusadin*
Dictionar'" G>
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no+es to e roed and murdered on the hi*h$a'"
These )eo)+e $ere ca++ed the assassins( and their
chei@ the @in* of the %ast countr' of the assassins"
This %ast territor' is M%e or si +ea*ues +on* '
t$o or three road( ein* )art of Anti4Lianus( a
horri+e countr'( fu++ of roc@s( +i@e a+most a++ Pa+es4
tine( ut intersected ' )+easant meado$4+ands(
$hich feed numerous Qoc@s( as is attested ' a++
$ho ha%e made the ourne' from A+e))o to Damas4
cus"
The chei@ or senior of these assassins cou+d e
nothin* more than a chief of anditti J for there $as
at that time a su+tan of Damascus $ho $as %er'
)o$erfu+"
Our romance4$riters of that da'( as fond of
chimeras as the Crusaders( thou*ht )ro)er to re+ate
that in 7: this *reat )rince of the assassins( fear4
in* that Louis I="( of $hom he had ne%er heard(
$ou+d )ut himse+f at the head of a crusade( and
come and ta@e from him his territor'( sent t$o *reat
men of his court from the ca%erns of Anti4Lianus
to Paris to assassinate that @in* J ut that ha%in* the
net da' heard ho$ *enerous and amia+e a )rince
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Louis $as( he immediate+' sent out to sea t$o more
*reat men to countermand the assassination" I sa'
out to sea( for neither the t$o emissaries sent to @i++
Louis( nor the t$o others sent to sa%e him( cou+d
ma@e the %o'a*e $ithout emar@in* at .o))a( $hich
$as then in the )o$er of the Crusaders( $hich ren4
dered the enter)rise dou+' mar%e++ous" The t$o
>? Phi+oso)hica+
Mrst must ha%e found a Crusaders2 %esse+ read' to
con%e' them in an amica+e manner( and the t$o
+ast must ha%e found another"
&o$e%er( a hundred authors( one after another(
ha%e re+ated this ad%enture( thou*h .oin%i++e( a con4
tem)orar'( $ho $as on the s)ot( sa's nothin*
aout it #Et %oi+a ustement comme on ecrit
V histoire"#
The .esuit 0aimour*( the .esuit Danie+( t$ent'
other .esuits( and 0e1erai thou*h he $as not a
.esuit ha%e re)eated this asurdit'" The Ae Ve+i(
in his histor' of France( te++s it o%er a*ain $ith )er4
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fect com)+aisance( $ithout an' discussion( $ithout
an' eamination( and on the $ord of one Wi++iam of
Nan*is( $ho $rote aout sit' 'ears after this Mne
aair is said to ha%e ha))ened at a time $hen his4
tor' $as com)osed from nothin* ut to$n ta+@"
If none ut true and usefu+ thin*s $ere recorded(
our immense historica+ +iraries $ou+d e reduced
to a %er' narro$ com)assJ ut $e shou+d @no$
more( and @no$ it etter"
For si hundred 'ears the stor' has een to+d
o%er and o%er a*ain( of the O+d 0an of the &i++
+e %ieu de +a monta*ne $ho( in his de+i*htfu+
*ardens( intoicated his 'oun* e+ect $ith %o+u)4
tuous )+easures( made them e+ie%e that the' $ere
in )aradise( and sent them to the ends of the earth
to assassinate @in*s in order to merit an eterna+
)aradise"
Dictionar'" >7
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Near the Le%antine shores there d$e+t of o+d
An a*ed ru+er( feared in e%er' +andJ
Not that he o$ned enormous hea)s of *o+d(
Not that %ast armies marched at his command(
!ut on his )eo)+e2s minds he thin*s im)ressed(
Which M++ed $ith des)erate coura*e e%er' reast
The o+dest of his suects Mrst he too@(
Of )aradise to *i%e them a foretaste
The )aradise his +a$*i%er had )aintedJ
With e%er' o' the +'in* )ro)het2s oo@
Within his fa+se+'4)ictured hea%en had )+aced(
The' thou*ht their senses had ecome acuainted"
And ho$ $as this eectedH 2T$as ' $ine
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Of this the' dran@ ti++ e%er' sense *a%e $a'(
A2nd( $hi+e in drun@en +ethar*' the' +a'(
Were orne( accordin* to their chief2s desi*n(
To s)orts of )+easantness to sunshine *+ades"
De+i*htfu+ *ardens and in%itin* shades"
8oun* tender eauties $ere aundant there(
In ear+iest +oom( and euisite+' fairJ
These *a'+' thron*ed around the s+ee)in* men(
Who( $hen at +en*th the' $ere a$a@e a*ain"
Wonderin* to see the eauteous oects round(
!e+ie%ed that some $a' the'2d a+read' found
Those Me+ds of +iss( in e%er' eaut' dec@ed(
The fa+se 0ahomet )romised his e+ect"
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Acuaintance uic@+' made( the Tur@s ad%anceJ
The maidens oin them in a s)ri*ht+' danceJ
S$eet music charms them as the' tri) a+on*J
And e%er' feathered $ar+er adds his son*"
The o's that cou+d for e%er' sense suce(
Were found $ithin this earth+' )aradise"
Wine( too( $as there and its eects the sameJ
These )eo)+e dran@( ti++ the' cou+d drin@ no more(
!ut sin@in* do$n as sense+ess as efore(
Were carried to the )+ace from $hence the' came"
And $hat resu+ted from this tric@er'H
These men e+ie%ed that the' shou+d sure+' e
A*ain trans)orted to that )+ace of )+easure(
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If( $ithout fear of suerin* or of death(
The' sho$ed de%otion 7? 0ahomet2s faith(
And to their )rince oedience $ithout measure"
Thus mi*ht their so%erei*n $ith reason sa'(
&is suects $ere determined to oe'(
And that( no$ his de%ice had made them so(
&is $as the mi*htiest em)ire here e+o$" " " "
>: Phi+oso)hica+
A++ this mi*ht e %er' $e++ in one of La Fon4
taine2s ta+es settin* a)art the $ea@ness of the
%erse J and there are a hundred historica+ anecdotes
$hich cou+d e to+erated there on+'"
SECTION II"
Assassination ein*( net to )oisonin*( the crime
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most co$ard+' and most deser%in* of )unishment(
it is not astonishin* that it has found an a)o+o*ist
in a man $hose sin*u+ar reasonin* is( in some thin*s(
at %ariance $ith the reason of the rest of man@ind"
In a romance entit+ed #Emi+ius(# he ima*ines
that he is the *uardian of a 'oun* man( to $hom he
is %er' carefu+ to *i%e an education such as is re4
cei%ed in the mi+itar' schoo+ teachin* him +an4
*ua*es( *eometr'( tactics( fortiMcation( and the his4
tor' of his countr'" &e does not see@ to ins)ire
him $ith +o%e for his @in* and his countr'( ut con4
tents himse+f $ith ma@in* him a oiner" &e $ou+d
ha%e this *ent+eman4oiner( $hen he has recei%ed a
+o$ or a cha++en*e( instead of returnin* it and
M*htin*( #)rudent+' assassinate the man"# 0o+iere
does( it is true( sa' estin*+'( in #/ Amour Peintre(#
#assassination is the safest# J ut the author of this
romance asserts that it is the most ust and reason4
a+e" &e sa's this %er' serious+'( and( in the im4
mensit' of his )aradoes( this is one of the three or
four thin*s $hich he Mrst sa's" The same s)irit of
$isdom and decenc' $hich ma@es him dec+are that
a )rece)tor shou+d often accom)an' his )u)i+ to a
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Dictionar'" >
)+ace of )rostitution( ma@es him decide that this
disci)+e shou+d e an assassin" So that the educa4
tion $hich .ean .acues $ou+d *i%e to a 'oun* man
consists in teachin* him ho$ to hand+e the )+ane(
and in Mttin* him for sa+i%ation and the ro)e"
We dout $hether fathers of fami+ies $i++ e
ea*er to *i%e such )rece)tors to their chi+dren" It
seems to us that the romance of Emi+ius de)arts
rather too much from the maims of 0entor in
#Te+emachus# J ut it must a+so e ac@no$+ed*ed
that our a*e has in a++ thin*s %er' much %aried from
the *reat a*e of Louis =IV"
&a))i+'( none of these horri+e infatuations are
to e found in the #Enc'c+o)aedia"# It often dis)+a's
a )hi+oso)h' seemin*+' o+d( ut ne%er that atro4
cious and etra%a*ant a+in* $hich t$o or three
foo+s ha%e ca++ed )hi+oso)h'( and t$o or three +adies(
e+ouence"
ASTROLO8"
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ASTROLO8 mi*ht rest on a etter foundation than
ma*ic" For if no one has seen farfadets( or +emures(
or di%es( or )eris( or demons( or cacodemons( the
)redictions of astro+o*ers ha%e often een found
true" Let t$o astro+o*ers e consu+ted on the +ife
of an infant( and on the $eatherJ if one of them
sa' that the chi+d sha++ +i%e to the a*e of man( the
other that he sha++ not J if one forete++ rain and the
other fair $eather( it is uite c+ear that there $i++
e a )ro)het"
> Phi+oso)hica+
The *reat misfortune of astro+o*ers is that the
hea%ens ha%e chan*ed since the ru+es of the art
$ere +aid do$n" The sun( $hich at the euino
$as in the Ram in the time of the Ar*onauts( is
no$ in the !u++ J and astro+o*ers( most unfortunate+'
for their art( no$ attriute to one house of the sun
that $hich %isi+' e+on*s to another" Sti++( this
is not a demonstrati%e ar*ument a*ainst astro+o*'"
The masters of the art are mista@enJ ut it is not
)ro%ed that the art cannot eist"
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There $ou+d e no asurdit' in sa'in*( #Such a
chi+d $as orn durin* the moon2s increase( in a
storm' season( at the risin* of a certain starJ its
constitution $as ad( and its +ife short and miser4
a+e( $hich is the ordinar' +ot of $ea@ tem)era4
ments J another( on the contrar'( $as orn $hen the
moon $as at the fu++( and the sun in a++ his )o$er(
in ca+m $eather( at the risin* of another )articu+ar
starJ his constitution $as *ood( and his +ife +on*
and ha))'"# If such oser%ations had een fre4
uent+' re)eated( and found ust( e)erience mi*ht(
at the end of a fe$ thousand centuries( ha%e formed
an art $hich it $ou+d ha%e een dicu+t to ca++ in
uestionJ it $ou+d ha%e een thou*ht( not $ithout
some a))earance of truth( that men are +i@e trees and
%e*eta+es( $hich must e )+anted on+' in certain
seasons" It $ou+d ha%e een of no ser%ice a*ainst
the astro+o*ers to sa'( #0' son $as orn in Mne
$eather( 'et he died in his crad+e"# The astro+o*er
$ou+d ha%e ans$ered( #It often ha))ens that trees
AGTROLOER
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Dictionar'" >B
)+anted in the )ro)er season )erish )remature+' J I
$i++ ans$er for the stars( ut not for the )articu+ar
conformation $hich 'ou communicated to 'our
chi+d J astro+o*' o)erates on+' $hen there is no cause
o))osed to the *ood $hich the' ha%e )o$er to
$or@"#
Nor $ou+d astro+o*' ha%e suered an' more dis4
credit from it ein* said- #Of t$o chi+dren $ho
$ere orn in the same minute( one ecame a @in*(
the other nothin* more than church$arden of his
)arish J# for a defence $ou+d easi+' ha%e een made
' sho$in* that the )easant made his fortune in
ecomin* church$arden( ust as much as the )rince
did in ecomin* @in*"
And if it $ere a++e*ed that a andit( hun* u)
' order of Situs the Fifth( $as orn at the same
time as Situs( $ho( from ein* a s$ineherd( e4
came )o)e( the astro+o*ers $ou+d sa' that there $as
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a mista@e of a fe$ seconds( and that( accordin* to
the ru+es( the same star cou+d not esto$ the tiara
and the *a++o$s" It $as( then( on+' ecause +on*4
accumu+ated e)erience *a%e the +ie to the )redic4
tions that men at +en*th )ercei%ed that the art $as
i++usor' J ut their credu+it' $as of +on* duration"
One of the most famous mathematicians of Eu4
ro)e( named Stoer( $ho Qourished in the Mfteenth
and siteenth centuries( foreto+d a uni%ersa+ de+u*e
for the 'ear 7B:" This de+u*e $as to ha))en in
the month of Feruar'( and nothin* can e more
)+ausi+e( for Saturn( .u)iter( and 0ars $ere then
> Phi+oso)hica+
in conunction in the si*n of the Fishes" E%er'
nation in Euro)e( Asia( and Africa that heard of the
)rediction $as in consternation" The $ho+e $or+d
e)ected the de+u*e( in s)ite of the raino$" Se%4
era+ contem)orar' authors re+ate that the inhaitants
of the maritime )ro%inces of erman' hastened to
se++ their +ands( at an' )rice( to such as had more
mone' and +ess credu+it' than themse+%es" Each
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one )ro%ided himse+f $ith a oat to ser%e as an ar@"
A doctor of Tou+ouse( in )articu+ar( named Aurio+(
had an ar@ ui+t for himse+f( his fami+'( and friends J
and the same )recautions $ere ta@en in a *reat )art
of Ita+'" At +ast the month of Feruar' arri%ed(
and not a dro) of rain fe++( ne%er $as a month more
dr'( ne%er $ere the astro+o*ers more emarrassed"
&o$e%er( $e neither discoura*ed nor ne*+ected
themJ a+most a++ our )rinces continued to consu+t
them"
I ha%e not the honor to e a )rince J ne%erthe+ess(
the ce+erated Count de !ou+ain%i++iers and an Ita+4
ian( named Co+onna( $ho had *reat re)utation at
Paris( oth foreto+d to me that I shou+d assured+'
die at the a*e of thirt'4t$o" I ha%e a+read' een
so ma+icious as to decei%e them thirt' 'ears in their
ca+cu+ation for $hich I most hum+' as@ their
)ardon"
ASTRONO08(
WIT& A FEW 0ORE REFLECTIONS ON ASTROLO8"
0" D/VAL( $ho( if I mista@e not( $as +irarian to
the Em)eror Francis I"( *i%es us an account of the
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Dictionar'" >9
manner in $hich( in his chi+dhood( )ure instinct
*a%e him the Mrst ideas of astronom'" &e $as con4
tem)+atin* the moon $hich( as it dec+ined to$ards
the $est( seemed to touch the trees of a $ood" &e
douted not that he shou+d Mnd it ehind the trees(
and( on runnin* thither( $as astonished to see it
at the etremit' of the hori1on"
The fo++o$in* da's his curiosit' )rom)ted him
to $atch the course of this +uminar'( and he $as sti++
more sur)rised to Mnd that it rose and set at %arious
hours" The dierent forms $hich it too@ from
$ee@ to $ee@( and its tota+ disa))earance for some
ni*hts( a+so contriuted to M his attention" A++
that a chi+d cou+d do $as to oser%e and to admire(
and this $as doin* much J not one in ten thousand
has this curiosit' and )erse%erance"
&e studied( as he cou+d( for three 'ears( $ith no
other oo@ than the hea%ens( no other master than
his e'es" &e oser%ed that the stars did not
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chan*e their re+ati%e )ositions J ut the ri++ianc'
of the )+anet Venus ha%in* cau*ht his attention(
it seemed to him to ha%e a )articu+ar course( +i@e
that of the moon" &e $atched it e%er' ni*htJ
it disa))eared for a +on* timeJ and at +en*th he
sa$ it ecome the mornin* instead of the e%enin*
star" The course of the sun( $hich from month to
month( rose and set in dierent )arts of the hea%ens(
did not esca)e him" &e mar@ed the so+stices $ith
t$o sta%es( $ithout @no$in* $hat the so+stices $ere"
It a))ears to me that some )roMt mi*ht e de4
Voi" 9
>G Phi+oso)hica+
ri%ed from this eam)+e( in teachin* astronom' to
a chi+d of ten or t$e+%e 'ears of a*e( and $ith much
*reater faci+it' than this etraordinar' chi+d( of
$hom I ha%e s)o@en( tau*ht himse+f its Mrst e+e4
ments"
It is a %er' attracti%e s)ectac+e for a mind dis4
)osed to the contem)+ation of nature to see that the
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dierent )hases of the moon are )recise+' the same
as those of a *+oe round $hich a +i*hted cand+e is
mo%ed( sho$in* here a uarter( here the ha+f of its
surface( and ecomin* in%isi+e $hen an o)aue
od' is inter)osed et$een it and the cand+e" In
this manner it $as that a+i+eo e)+ained the true
)rinci)+es of astronom' efore the do*e and sen4
ators of Venice on St" 0ar@2s to$erJ he demon4
strated e%er'thin* to the e'es"
Indeed( not on+' a chi+d( ut e%en a man of mature
a*e( $ho has seen the conste++ations on+' on ma)s
or *+oes( Mnds it dicu+t to reco*ni1e them in the
hea%ens" In a +itt+e time the chi+d $i++ uite $e++
com)rehend the causes of the sun2s a))arent course(
and the dai+' re%o+utions of the Med stars"
&e $i++( in )articu+ar( disco%er the conste++ations
$ith the aid of these four Latin +ines( made ' an
astronomer aout Mft' 'ears a*o( and $hich are not
sucient+' @no$n -
De+ta Aries( Perseum Taurus( eminiue Ca)e &amJ
Ni+ Cancer( P+austrum Leo( Vir*o Coman( atue !ootem(
Lira A n*uem( A n*uiferum fert Scor)ios J A ntinoiim A rcusJ
De+)hinum Ca)er( Am)hora Euos( Ce)heida Pisces"
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Nothin* shou+d e said to him aout the s'stems
Dictionar'" >>
of Pto+em' and T'cho !rahe( ecause the' are
fa+seJ the' can ne%er e of an' other ser%ice than
to e)+ain some )assa*es in ancient authors( re+atin*
to the errors of antiuit'" For instance( in the
second oo@ of O%id2s #0etamor)hoses(# the sun
sa's to Phaeton -
A dde( uod assidua ra)itur %erti*ine cce+um J
Nitor in ad%ersum J nee me( ui ccetera( %incit
Im)etus J et ra)ido contrarius e%ehor ori"
A ra)id motion carries round the hea%ensJ
!ut I and I a+one resist its force(
0archin* secure in m' o))osin* )ath"
This idea of a Mrst mo%er turnin* the hea%ens
round in t$ent'4four hours $ith an im)ossi+e mo4
tion( and of the sun( thou*h acted u)on ' this Mrst
motion( 'et im)erce)ti+' ad%ancin* from #$est to
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east ' a motion )ecu+iar to itse+f( and $ithout a
cause( $ou+d ut emarrass a 'oun* e*inner"
It is sucient for him to @no$ that( $hether the
earth re%o+%es on its o$n ais and round the sun(
or the sun com)+etes his re%o+ution in a 'ear( a)4
)earances are near+' the same( and that( in astron4
om'( $e are o+i*ed to ud*e of thin*s ' our e'es
efore $e eamine them as natura+ )hi+oso)hers"
&e $i++ soon @no$ the cause of the ec+i)ses of
the sun and the moon( and $h' the' do not occur
e%er' ni*ht" It $i++ at Mrst a))ear to him that( the
moon ein* e%er' month in o))osition to and in
conunction $ith the sun( $e shou+d ha%e an ec+i)se
of the sun and one of the moon e%er' month" !ut
TOO Phi+oso)hica+
$hen he Mnds that these t$o +uminaries are not in
the same )+ane and are se+dom in the same +ine $ith
the earth( he $i++ no +on*er e sur)rised"
&e $i++ easi+' e made to understand ho$ it is
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that ec+i)ses ha%e een foreto+d( ' @no$in* the
eact circ+e in $hich the a))arent motion of the sun
and the rea+ motion of the moon are accom)+ished"
&e $i++ e to+d that oser%ers found ' e)erience
and ca+cu+ation the numer of times that these t$o
odies are )recise+' in the same +ine $ith the earth
in the s)ace of nineteen 'ears and a fe$ hours( after
$hich the' seem to recommence the same course J so
that( ma@in* the necessar' a++o$ances for the +itt+e
ineua+ities that occurred durin* those nineteen
'ears( the eact da'( hour( and minute of an ec+i)se
of the sun or moon $ere freto+d" These Mrst e+e4
ments are soon acuired ' a chi+d of c+ear con4
ce)tions"
Not e%en the )recession of the euinoes $i++
terrif' him" It $i++ e enou*h to te++ him that the
sun has constant+' a))eared to ad%ance in his an4
nua+ course( one de*ree in se%ent'4t$o 'ears( to4
$ards the east J and this is $hat O%id meant to e4
)ress- #Contrarius e%chor oriJ# #0archin* se4
cure in m' o))osin* )ath"#
Thus the Ram( $hich the sun former+' entered
at the e*innin* of s)rin*( is no$ in the )+ace $here
the !u++ $as then" This chan*e $hich has ta@en
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)+ace in the hea%ens( and the entrance of the sun
into other conste++ations than those $hich he for4
Dictionar'" 7?7
mer+' occu)ied( $ere the stron*est ar*uments
a*ainst the )retended ru+es of udicia+ astro+o*'"
It does not( ho$e%er( a))ear that this )roof $as
em)+o'ed efore the )resent centur' to destro' this
uni%ersa+ etra%a*ance $hich so +on* infected a++
man@ind( and is sti++ in *reat %o*ue in Persia"
A man orn( accordin* to the a+manac( $hen the
sun $as in the si*n of the Lion( $as necessari+' to
e coura*eous J ut( unfortunate+'( he $as in rea+it'
orn under the si*n of the Vir*in" So that auric
and 0ichae+ 0orin shou+d ha%e chan*ed a++ the ru+es
of their art"
It is indeed odd that a++ the +a$s of astro+o*'
$ere contrar' to those of astronom'" The $retched
char+atans of antiuit' and their stu)id disci)+es(
$ho ha%e een so $e++ recei%ed and so $e++ )aid '
a++ the )rinces of Euro)e( ta+@ed of nothin* ut 0ars
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and Venus( stationar' and retro*rade" Such as had
0ars stationar' $ere a+$a's to conuer" Venus
stationar' made a++ +o%ers ha))'" Nothin* $as
$orse than to e orn under Venus retro*rade" !ut
the fact is that these )+anets ha%e ne%er een either
retro*rade or stationar'( $hich a %er' s+i*ht @no$+4
ed*e of o)tics $ou+d ha%e suced to sho$"
&o$( then( can it ha%e een that( in s)ite of
)h'sics and *eometr'( the ridicu+ous chimera of
astro+o*' is entertained e%en to this da'( so that $e
ha%e seen men distin*uished for their *enera+ @no$+4
ed*e( and es)ecia++' )rofound in histor'( $ho ha%e
a++ their +i%es een infatuated ' so des)ica+e an
IO: Phi+oso)hica+
errorH !ut the error $as ancient( and that $as
enou*h"
The E*')tians( the Cha+dseans( the .e$s( foreto+d
the future J therefore( it ma' e foreto+d no$" Ser4
)ents $ere charmed and s)irits $ere raised in those
da'sJ therefore( s)irits ma' e raised and ser)ents
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charmed no$" It is on+' necessar' to @no$ the )re4
cise formu+a made use of for the )ur)ose" If )re4
dictions are at an end( it is the fau+t( not of the art(
ut of the artist" 0ichae+ 0orin and his secret
died to*ether" It is thus that the a+chemists s)ea@
of the )hi+oso)her2s stoneJ if( sa' the'( $e do not
no$ Mnd it( it is ecause $e do not 'et @no$ )re4
cise+' ho$ to see@ it J ut it is certain+' in So+omon2s
co++ar4one" And( $ith this *+orious certaint'( more
than t$o hundred fami+ies in France and erman'
ha%e ruined themse+%es"
It is not then to e $ondered at that the $ho+e
$or+d has een du)ed ' astro+o*'" The $retched
ar*ument( #there are fa+se )rodi*ies( therefore there
are true ones(# is neither that of a )hi+oso)her( nor
of a man acuainted $ith the $or+d" #That is fa+se
and asurd( therefore it $i++ e e+ie%ed ' the mu+4
titude(# is a much truer maim"
It is sti++ +ess astonishin* that so man' men(
raised in other thin*s so far ao%e the %u+*arJ so
man' )rinces( so man' )o)es( $hom it $ou+d ha%e
een im)ossi+e to mis+ead in the sma++est aair of
interest( ha%e een so ridicu+ous+' seduced ' this
astro+o*ica+ nonsense" The' $ere %er' )roud and
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Dictionar'" 7?
%er' i*norant" The stars $ere for them a+one J the
rest of the $or+d a ra+e( $ith $hom the stars had
nothin* to do" The' $ere +i@e the )rince $ho trem4
+ed at the si*ht of a comet( and said *ra%e+' to those
$ho did not fear it( #8ou ma' eho+d it $ithout
concern J 'ou are not )rinces"#
The famous erman +eader( Wa++enstein( $as one
of those infatuated ' this chimera J he ca++ed him4
se+f a )rince( and conseuent+' thou*ht that the
1odiac had een made on )ur)ose for him" &e
ne%er esie*ed a to$n( nor fou*ht a att+e( unti+ he
had he+d a counci+ $ith the hea%ens J ut( as this *reat
man $as %er' i*norant( he )+aced at the head of
this counci+ a ro*ue of an Ita+ian( named Seni( @ee)4
in* him a coach and si( and *i%in* him a )ension
of t$ent' thousand +i%res" Seni( ho$e%er( ne%er
foresa$ that Wa++enstein $ou+d e assassinated '
order of his most *racious so%erei*n( and that he
himse+f $ou+d return to Ita+' on foot"
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It is uite e%ident that nothin* can e @no$n of
the future( other$ise than ' conectures" These
conectures ma' e so $e++4founded as to a))roach
certaint'" 8ou see a shar@ s$a++o$ a +itt+e o'J
'ou ma' $a*er ten thousand to one that he $i++ e
de%ouredJ ut 'ou cannot e aso+ute+' sure of it(
after the ad%entures of &ercu+es( .onas( and Or4
+ando Furioso( $ho each +i%ed so +on* in a Msh2s
e++'"
It cannot e too often re)eated that A+ertus
0a*nus and Cardina+ d2Ai++i oth made the horo4
IO Phi+oso)hica+
sco)e of .esus Christ" It $ou+d a))ear that the'
read in the stars ho$ man' de%i+s he $ou+d cast out
of the odies of the )ossessed( and $hat sort of death
he $as to die" !ut it $as unfortunate that these
+earned astro+o*ers foreto+d a++ these thin*s so +on*
after the' ha))ened"
We sha++ e+se$here see that in a sect $hich )asses
for Christian( it is e+ie%ed to e im)ossi+e for the
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Su)reme Inte++i*ence to see the future other$ise
than ' su)reme conectureJ for( as the future does
not eist( it is( sa' the'( a contradiction in terms to
ta+@ of seein* at the )resent time that $hich is not"
AT&EIS0"
SECTION I"
On the Com)arison so Often 0ade et$een Athe4
ism and Ido+atr'"
IT seems to me that( in the #Dictionnaire En4
c'c+o)ediue# a more )o$erfu+ refutation mi*ht
ha%e een rou*ht a*ainst the .esuit Richeome2s
o)inion concernin* atheists and ido+aters an o)in4
ion former+' maintained ' St" Thomas( St" re*or'
Na1ian1en( St" C')rian( and Tertu++ian an o)inion
$hich Arnoius )+aced in a stron* +i*ht $hen he said
to the )a*ans( #Do 'ou not +ush to re)roach us $ith
contem)t for 'our *ods H Is it not etter to e+ie%e
in no *od than to im)ute to them infamous actions H#
an o)inion +on* efore esta+ished ' P+utarch(
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Dictionar'" 7?B
$ho stated that he $ou+d rather ha%e it said that
there $as no P+utarch than that there $as a P+u4
tarch( inconstant( cho+eric( and %indicti%e an o)in4
ion( too( fortiMed ' a++ the dia+ectica+ eorts of
!a'+e"
Such is the *round of dis)ute( )+aced in a %er'
stri@in* )oint of %ie$ ' the .esuit Richeome( and
made sti++ more s)ecious ' the $a' in $hich !a'+e
sets it o -
#There are t$o )orters at the door of a house"
8ou as@ to s)ea@ to the master" &e is not at home(
ans$ers one" &e is at home( ans$ers the other( ut
is usied in ma@in* fa+se mone'( fa+se contracts(
da**ers( and )oisons( to destro' those $ho ha%e
on+' accom)+ished his desi*ns" The atheist resem4
+es the former of these )orters( the )a*an the +atter"
It is then e%ident that the )a*an oends the Di%init'
more *rie%ous+' than the atheist"
With the )ermission of Father Richeome( and
that of !a'+e himse+f( this is not at a++ the state of
the uestion" For the Mrst )orter to e +i@e the
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Sti++ P+utarch does not come to the rea+ )oint in
discussion" It is on+' as@ed $ho most oends the
Su)reme !ein* he $ho denies &im( or he $ho dis4
M*ures &imH It is im)ossi+e to @no$( other$ise
than ' re%e+ation( $hether od is oended at the
%ain discourses $hich men ho+d aout &im"
Phi+oso)hers a+most a+$a's fa++ unconscious+'
into the ideas of the %u+*ar( in su))osin* that od
is ea+ous of &is *+or'( $rathfu+( and *i%en to re4
%en*e( and in ta@in* rhetorica+ M*ures for rea+ ideas"
That $hich interests the $ho+e $or+d is to @no$
$hether it is not etter to admit a re$ardin* and
a%en*in* od( recom)ensin* hidden *ood actions(
and )unishin* secret crimes( than to admit no od
at a++"
!a'+e ehausts himse+f in re)eatin* a++ the in4
famous thin*s im)uted to the *ods of antiuit'"
&is ad%ersaries ans$er him ' unmeanin* common4
)+aces" The )artisans and the enemies of !a'+e ha%e
a+most a+$a's fou*ht $ithout comin* to c+ose uar4
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Dictionar'" 7?9
ters" The' a++ a*ree that .u)iter $as an adu+terer(
Venus a $anton( 0ercur' a ro*ue" !ut this( I con4
cei%e( ou*ht not to e considered J the re+i*ion of the
ancient Romans shou+d e distin*uished from O%id2s
#0etamor)hoses"# It is uite certain that neither
the' nor e%en the ree@s e%er had a tem)+e dedi4
cated to 0ercur' the Ro*ue( Venus the Wanton( or
.u)iter the Adu+terer"
The *od $hom the Romans ca++ed #Dens o)timus
maimus# most *ood( most *reat $as not e4
+ie%ed to ha%e encoura*ed C+odius to +ie $ith Caesar2s
$ife( nor Caesar to ecome the minion of Kin* Nico4
medes"
Cicero does not sa' that 0ercur' incited Verres
to ro Sici+'( thou*h( in the fa+e( 0ercur' had
sto+en A)o++o2s co$s" The rea+ re+i*ion of the an4
cients $as that .u)iter( most *ood and ust( $ith
the secondar' di%inities( )unished )erur' in the in4
ferna+ re*ions" Thus( the Romans $ere +on* the
most re+i*ious oser%ers of their oaths" It $as in no
$ise ordained that the' shou+d e+ie%e in Leda2s t$o
e**s( in the transformation of Inachus2s dau*hter
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into a co$( or in A)o++o2s +o%e for &'acinthus"
Therefore it must not e said that the re+i*ion of
Numa $as dishonorin* to the Di%init'" So that( as
ut too often ha))ens( there has een a +on* dis)ute
aout a chimera"
Then( it is as@ed( can a )eo)+e of atheists eistH
I consider that a distinction must e made et$een
the )eo)+e( )ro)er+' so ca++ed( and a societ' of )hi4
ioG Phi+oso)hica+
+oso)hers ao%e the )eo)+e" It is true that( in e%er'
countr'( tiie )o)u+ace reuire the stron*est curJ
and that if !a'+e had had ut M%e or si hundred
)easants to *o%ern( he $ou+d not ha%e fai+ed to an4
nounce to them a re$ardin* and a%en*in* od"
!ut !a'+e $ou+d ha%e said nothin* aout them to
the E)icureans( $ho $ere )eo)+e of $ea+th( fond of
uiet( cu+ti%atin* a++ the socia+ %irtues( and friend4
shi) in )articu+ar( shunnin* the dan*ers and emar4
rassments of )u+ic aairs +eadin*( in short( a +ife
of ease and innocence" The dis)ute( so far as it re4
*ards )o+ic' and societ'( seems to me to end here"
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As for )eo)+e entire+' sa%a*e( the' can e counted
neither amon* the theists nor amon* the atheists"
To as@ them $hat is their creed $ou+d e +i@e as@in*
them if the' are for Aristot+e or Democritus" The'
@no$ nothin*J the' are no more atheists than the'
are )eri)atetics"
!ut( it ma' e insisted( that the' +i%e in societ'(
thou*h the' ha%e no od( and that( therefore( societ'
ma' susist $ithout re+i*ion"
In this case I sha++ re)+' that $o+%es +i%e so J and
that an assem+a*e of ararous cannia+s( as 'ou
su))ose them to e( is not a societ'" And( further(
I $i++ as@ 'ou if( $hen 'ou ha%e +ent 'our mone' to
an' one of 'our societ'( 'ou $ou+d ha%e neither
'our detor( nor 'our attorne'( nor 'our notar'(
nor 'our ud*e( e+ie%e in a odH
Dictionar'" 7?>
SECTION II"
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it e that P+ato( $ho @ne$ not one of these +a$s
the e+ouent ut chimerica+ P+ato( $ho said that the
foundation of the earth $as an eui+atera+ trian*+e(
and that of $ater a ri*ht4an*+ed trian*+e the
stran*e P+ato( $ho said there cou+d e ut M%e
$or+ds( ecause there $ere ut M%e re*u+ar odies
no Phi+oso)hica+
ho$( I sa'( $as it that P+ato( $ho $as not e%en
acuainted $ith s)herica+ tri*onometr'( had ne%er4
the+ess so Mne a *enius( so ha))' an instinct( as to
ca++ od the Eterna+ eometrician to fee+ that there
eists a formin* Inte++i*ence H S)ino1a himse+f con4
fesses it" It is im)ossi+e to contro%ert this truth(
$hich surrounds us and )resses us on a++ sides"
Ar*ument of the Atheists"
I ha%e( ho$e%er( @no$n refractor' indi%idua+s(
$ho ha%e said that there is no formin* inte++i*ence(
and that motion a+one has formed a++ that $e see
and a++ that $e are" The' sa' o+d+' that the com4
ination of this uni%erse $as )ossi+e ecause it
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eists J therefore it $as )ossi+e for motion of itse+f
to arran*e it" Ta@e four )+anets on+' 0ars(
Venus( 0ercur'( and the Earth J +et us consider them
so+e+' in the situations in $hich the' no$ are J and
+et us see ho$ man' )roai+ities $e ha%e that mo4
tion $i++ rin* them a*ain to those res)ecti%e )+aces"
There are ut t$ent'4four chances in this com4
ination J that is( it is on+' t$ent'4four to one that
these )+anets $i++ not e found in the same situa4
tions $ith res)ect to one another" To these four
*+oes add that of .u)iterJ and it is then on+' a
hundred and t$ent' to one that .u)iter( 0ars(
Venus( 0ercur'( and our *+oe $i++ not e )+aced
in the same )ositions in $hich $e no$ see them"
Last+'( add Saturn J and there $i++ then e on+'
se%en hundred and t$ent' chances to one a*ainst
Dictionar'" 7 7 7
)uttin* these )+anets in their )resent arran*ement(
accordin* to their *i%en distances" It is( then(
demonstrated that once( at +east( in se%en hundred
and t$ent' cases( chance mi*ht )+ace these )+anets
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in their )resent order"
Then ta@e a++ the secondar' )+anets( a++ their
motions( a++ the ein*s that %e*etate( +i%e( fee+( thin@(
act( on a++ these *+oesJ 'ou ha%e on+' to increase
the numer of chances J mu+ti)+' this numer to a++
eternit' to $hat our $ea@ness ca++s inMnit' there
$i++ sti++ e an unit in fa%or of the formation of the
$or+d( such as it is( ' motion a+one J therefore it is
)ossi+e that( in a++ eternit'( the motion of matter
a+one has )roduced the uni%erse as it eists" Na'(
this comination must( in eternit'( of necessit' ha)4
)en" Thus( sa' the'( not on+' it is )ossi+e that the
$or+d is as it is ' motion a+one( ut it $as im)os4
si+e that it shou+d not e so after inMnite comina4
tions"
Ans$er"
A++ this su))osition seems to me to e )rodi4
*ious+' chimerica+( for t$o reasons - the Mrst is( that
in this uni%erse there are inte++i*ent ein*s( and 'ou
cannot )ro%e it )ossi+e for motion a+one to )roduce
understandin*" The second is( that( ' 'our o$n
confession( the chances are inMnit' to unit'( that an
inte++i*ent formin* cause )roduced the uni%erse"
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Standin* a+one a*ainst inMnit'( a unit ma@es ut a
)oor M*ure"
77: Phi+oso)hica+
A*ain S)ino1a himse+f admits this inte++i*enceJ
it is the asis of his s'stem" 8ou ha%e not read
him( ut 'ou must read him" Wh' $ou+d 'ou *o
further than he( and( throu*h a foo+ish )ride( )+un*e
into the a'ss $here S)ino1a dared not to descend H
Are 'ou not a$are of the etreme fo++' of sa'in*
that it is o$in* to a +ind cause that the suare of
the re%o+ution of one )+anet is a+$a's to the suares
of the others as the cue of its distance is to the
cues of the distances of the others from the com4
mon centre H Either the )+anets are *reat *eometri4
cians( or the Eterna+ eometrician has arran*ed the
)+anets"
!ut $here is the Eterna+ eometricianH Is &e
in one )+ace( or in a++ )+aces( $ithout occu)'in*
s)aceH I @no$ not" &as &e arran*ed a++ thin*s
of &is o$n sustanceH I @no$ not" Is &e im4
mense( $ithout uantit' and $ithout ua+it'H I
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@no$ not" A++ I @no$ is( that $e must adore &im
and e ust"
Ne$ Oection of a 0odern Atheist"
Can it e said that the conformation of anima+s
is accordin* to their necessitiesH What are those
necessitiesH Se+f4)reser%ation and )ro)a*ation"
No$( is it astonishin* that( of the inMnite comina4
tions )roduced ' chance( those on+' ha%e sur%i%ed
$hich had or*ans ada)ted for their nourishment and
the continuation of their s)eciesH 0ust not a++
others necessari+' ha%e )erishedH
Dictionar'" 77
Ans$er"
This ar*ument( ta@en from Lucretius( is su4
cient+' refuted ' the sensation *i%en to anima+s
and the inte++i*ence *i%en to man" &o$( as has ust
een said in the )recedin* )ara*ra)h( shou+d com4
inations )roduced ' chance )roduce this sensation
and this inte++i*enceH 8es( dout+ess( the memers
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of anima+s are made for a++ their necessities $ith an
incom)rehensi+e art( and 'ou ha%e not the o+dness
to den' it" 8ou do not mention it" 8ou fee+ that
'ou can sa' nothin* in ans$er to this *reat ar*u4
ment $hich Nature rin*s a*ainst 'ou" The dis4
)osition of the $in* of a Q'( or of the fee+ers of a
snai+( is sucient to confound 'ou"
An Oection of 0au)ertuis"
The natura+ )hi+oso)hers of irodern times ha%e
done nothin* more than etend these )retended ar4
*uments J this the' ha%e sometimes done e%en to
minuteness and indecenc'" The' ha%e found od
in the fo+ds of a rhinoceros2s hide J the' mi*ht( $ith
eua+ reason( ha%e denied &is eistence on account
of the tortoise2s she++"
Ans$er"
What reasonin* The tortoise and the rhi4
noceros( and a++ the dierent s)ecies( )ro%e a+i@e in
their inMnite %arieties the same cause( the same de4
si*n( the same end( $hich are )reser%ation( *enera4
tion( and death" /nit' is found in this immense
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of them are %enomous J 'ou ha%e een so too" The
on+' suect at )resent under consideration is the
)rodi*ious art $hich has formed ser)ents( uad4
ru)eds( irds( Mshes( and i)eds" This art is e%ident
enou*h" 8ou as@( Wh' is not the ser)ent harm+ess H
And $h' ha%e 'ou not een harm+essH Wh' ha%e
'ou een a )ersecutorH $hich( in a )hi+oso)her( is
the *reatest of crimes" This is uite another ues4
tion J it is that of )h'sica+ and mora+ e%i+" It has
+on* een as@ed( Wh' are there so man' ser)ents(
and so man' $ic@ed men $orse than ser)ents H If
Qies cou+d reason( the' $ou+d com)+ain to od of the
eistence of s)idersJ ut the' $ou+d( at the same
Dictionar'" 77B
time( ac@no$+ed*e $hat 0iner%a confessed to Ar4
achne in the fa+e( that the' arran*e their $es in a
$onderfu+ manner"
We cannot( then( do other$ise than ac@no$+ed*e
an inea+e Inte++i*ence( $hich S)ino1a himse+f ad4
mitted" We must o$n that it is dis)+a'ed as much
in the meanest insect as in the )+anets" And $ith
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to Q'"
7 7 Phi+oso)hica+
Aristot+e is accused of atheism ' a )riest( and
not ein* )o$erfu+ enou*h to )unish his accuser(
he retires to Cha+cis" !ut the death of Socrates is
the *reatest +ot on the )a*e of recian histor'"
Aristo)hanes he $hom commentators admire
ecause he $as a ree@( for*ettin* that Socrates
$as a+so a ree@ Aristo)hanes $as the Mrst $ho
accustomed the Athenians to re*ard Socrates as an
atheist"
This comic )oet( $ho is neither comic nor )oetica+(
$ou+d not( amon* us( ha%e een )ermitted to ehiit
his farces at the fair of St" La$rence" &e a))ears
to me to e much +o$er and more des)ica+e than
P+utarch re)resents him" Let us see $hat the $ise
P+utarch sa's of this uoon- #The +an*ua*e of
Aristo)hanes es)ea@s his misera+e uac@er' J it is
made u) of the +o$est and most dis*ustin* )unsJ
he is not e%en )+easin* to the )eo)+e J and to men of
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ud*ment and honor he is insu))orta+e J his arro4
*ance is into+era+e( and a++ *ood men detest his
ma+i*nit'"#
This( then( is the ac@4)uddin* $hom 0adame
Dacier( an admirer of Socrates( %entures to admire
Such $as the man $ho( indirect+'( )re)ared the
)oison ' $hich infamous ud*es )ut to death the
most %irtuous man in reece"
The tanners( co+ers( and seamstresses of Athens
a))+auded a farce in $hich Socrates $as re)resented
+ifted in the air in a ham)er( announcin* that there
$as no od( and oastin* of ha%in* sto+en a c+oa@
Dictionar'" 779
$hi+e he $as teachin* )hi+oso)h'" A $ho+e )eo)+e(
$hose *o%ernment sanctioned such infamous +i4
cences( $e++ deser%ed $hat has ha))ened to them( to
ecome s+a%es to the Romans( and( suseuent+'( to
the Tur@s" The Russians( $hom the ree@s of o+d
$ou+d ha%e ca++ed ararians( $ou+d neither ha%e
)oisoned Socrates( nor ha%e condemned A+ciiades
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to death"
We )ass o%er the a*es et$een the Roman com4
mon$ea+th and our o$n times" The Romans( much
more $ise than the ree@s( ne%er )ersecuted a )hi4
+oso)her for his o)inions" Not so the ararous
nations $hich succeeded the Roman Em)ire" No
sooner did the Em)eror Frederic@ II" e*in to uar4
re+ $ith the )o)es( than he $as accused of ein* an
atheist( and ein* the author of the oo@ of #The
Three Im)ostors(# conoint+' $ith his chance++or De
Vincis"
Does our hi*h4chance++or( de 72&o)ita+( dec+are
a*ainst )ersecutionH &e is immediate+' char*ed
$ith atheism #&omo doctus( sed %etus atheus"#
There $as a .esuit( as much eneath Aristo)hanes
as Aristo)hanes is eneath &omer a $retch( $hose
name has ecome ridicu+ous e%en amon* fanatics
the .esuit arasse( $ho found atheists e%er'$here"
&e esto$s the name u)on a++ $ho are the oects
of his %iru+ence" &e ca++s Theodore !e1a an atheist"
It $as he( too( that +ed the )u+ic into error con4
cernin* Vanini"
The unfortunate end of Vanini does not ecite
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nG Phi+oso)hica+
our )it' and indi*nation +i@e that of Socrates( e4
cause Vanini $as on+' a forei*n )edant( $ithout
merit J ho$e%er( Vanini $as not( as $as )retended(
an atheist J he $as uite the contrar'"
&e $as a )oor Nea)o+itan )riest( a theo+o*ian
and )reacher ' trade( an outra*eous dis)uter on
uiddities and uni%ersa+s( and #utrum chimYra
ominans in %acua )ossit comedere secundas in4
tentiones"# !ut there $as nothin* in him tendin*
to atheism" &is notion of od is that of the sound4
est and most a))ro%ed theo+o*'- #od is the e4
*innin* and the end( the father of oth( $ithout
need of either( eterna+ $ithout time( in no one )+ace(
'et )resent e%er'$here" To him there is neither
)ast nor future J he is $ithin and $ithout e%er'4
thin* J he has created a++( and *o%erns a++ J he is
immuta+e( inMnite $ithout )artsJ his )o$er is his
$i++"# This is not %er' )hi+oso)hica+( ut it is the
most a))ro%ed theo+o*'"
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Vanini )rided himse+f on re%i%in* P+ato2s Mne
idea( ado)ted ' A%erroes( that od had created a
chain of ein*s from the sma++est to the *reatest(
the +ast +in@ of $hich $as attached to his eterna+
throne J an idea more su+ime than true( ut as dis4
tant from atheism as ein* from nothin*"
&e tra%e++ed to see@ his fortune and to dis)ute J
ut( unfortunate+'( dis)utation +eads not to fortune J
a man ma@es himse+f as man' irreconci+a+e enemies
as he Mnds men of +earnin* or of )edantr' to ar*ue
a*ainst" Vanini2s i++4fortune had no other source4
Dictionar'" 77>
&is heat and rudeness in dis)utation )rocured him
the hatred of some theo+o*iansJ and ha%in* uar4
re++ed $ith one Franconi( this Franconi( the friend
of his enemies( char*ed him $ith ein* an atheist
and teachin* atheism"
Franconi( aided ' some $itnesses( had the ar4
arit'( $hen confronted $ith the accused( to main4
tain $hat he had ad%anced" Vanini( on the stoo+(
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ein* as@ed $hat he thou*ht of the eistence of a
od( ans$ered that he( $ith the Church( adored a
od in three )ersons" Ta@in* a stra$ from the
*round( #This(# said he( #is sucient to )ro%e that
there is a creator"# &e then de+i%ered a %er' Mne
discourse on %e*etation and motion( and the neces4
sit' of a Su)reme !ein*( $ithout $hom there cou+d
e neither motion nor %e*etation"
The )resident rammont( $ho $as then at Tou+4
ouse( re)eats this discourse in his histor' of France(
no$ so +itt+e @no$nJ and the same rammont(
throu*h some unaccounta+e )reudice( asserts that
Vanini said a++ this #throu*h %anit'( or throu*h
fear( rather than from in$ard con%iction"#
On $hat cou+d this atrocious( rash ud*ment of
the )resident e foundedH It is e%ident( from
Vanini2s ans$er( that he cou+d not ut e acuitted
of the char*e of atheism" !ut $hat fo++o$ed H This
unfortunate forei*n )riest a+so da+ed in medicine"
There $as found in his house a +ar*e +i%e toad( $hich
he @e)t in a %esse+ of $aterJ he $as forth$ith ac4
cused of ein* a sorcerer" It $as maintained that
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7 :? Phi+oso)hica+
this toad $as the *od $hich he adored" An im4
)ious meanin* $as attriuted to se%era+ )assa*es of
his oo@s( a thin* $hich is oth common and eas'(
' ta@in* oections for ans$ers( *i%in* some ad
sense to a +oose )hrase( and )er%ertin* an innocent
e)ression" At +ast( the faction $hich o))ressed
him forced from his ud*es the sentence $hich con4
demned him to die"
In order to ustif' this eecution it $as neces4
sar' to char*e the unfortunate man $ith the most
enormous of crimes" The *re' friar the %er' *re'
friar 0arsenne( $as so esotted as to )u+ish that
#Vanini set out from Na)+es( $ith t$e+%e of his
a)ost+es( to con%ert the $ho+e $or+d to atheism"#
What a )itifu+ ta+e &o$ shou+d a )oor )riest ha%e
t$e+%e men in his )a'H &o$ shou+d he )ersuade
t$e+%e Nea)o+itans to tra%e+ at *reat e)ense( in
order to s)read this re%o+tin* doctrine at the )eri+ of
their +i%esH Wou+d a @in* himse+f ha%e it in his
)o$er to )a' t$e+%e )reachers of atheism H No one
efore Father 0arsenne had ad%anced so enormous
an asurdit'" !ut after him it $as re)eatedJ the
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ourna+s and historica+ dictionaries cau*ht it( and
the $or+d( $hich +o%es the etraordinar'( has e4
+ie%ed the fa+e $ithout eamination"
E%en !a'+e( in his misce++aneous thou*hts 6Pen4
sees Di%erse[( s)ea@s of Vanini as of an atheist"
&e cites his eam)+e in su))ort of his )arado( that
#a societ' of atheists mi*ht eist"# &e assures us
that Vanini $as a man of %er' re*u+ar mora+s( and
Dictionar'" 7: .
that he $as a mart'r to his )hi+oso)hica+ o)inions"
On oth these )oints he is eua++' mista@en" Vanini
informs us in his #Dia+o*ues(# $ritten in imitation
of Erasmus( that he had a mistress named Isae+"
&e $as as free in his $ritin*s as in his conduct J ut
he $as not an atheist"
A centur' after his death( the +earned Lacro1e(
and he $ho too@ the name of Phi+a+etes( endea%ored
to ustif' him" !ut as no one cares an'thin* aout
the memor' of an unfortunate Nea)o+itan( scarce+'
an' one has read these a)o+o*ies"
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The .esuit &ardouin( more +earned and no +ess
rash than arasse( in his oo@ entit+ed #Athei De4
tecti(# char*es the Descartes( the Arnau+ds( the
Pasca+s( the 0a+eranches( $ith atheism" &a))i+'(
Vanini2s fate $as not theirs"
SECTION IV"
A $ord on the uestion in mora+s( a*itated '
!a'+e( #Whether a societ' of atheists can eist"#
&ere +et us Mrst oser%e the enormous se+f4contra4
dictions of men in dis)utation" Those $ho ha%e een
most %io+ent in o))osin* the o)inion of !a'+e( those
$ho ha%e denied $ith the *reatest %iru+ence the )os4
sii+it' of a societ' of atheists( are the %er' men $ho
ha%e since maintained $ith eua+ ardor that atheism
is the re+i*ion of the Chinese *o%ernment"
The' ha%e most assured+' een mista@en concern4
in* the *o%ernment of China J the' had on+' to read
the edicts of the em)erors of that %ast countr'( and
7:: Phi+oso)hica+
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the' $ou+d ha%e seen that those edicts are sermons(
in $hich a Su)reme !ein* *o%ernin*( a%en*in*(
and re$ardin* is continua++' s)o@en of"
!ut( at the same time( the' are no +ess decei%ed
res)ectin* the im)ossii+it' of a societ' of atheists J
nor can I concei%e ho$ !a'+e cou+d for*et a stri@in*
instance $hich mi*ht ha%e rendered his cause %ic4
torious"
In $hat does the a))arent im)ossii+it' of a so4
ciet' of atheists consistH In this - It is ud*ed that
men $ithout some restraint cou+d not +i%e to*ether J
that +a$s ha%e no )o$er a*ainst secret crimes J and
that it is necessar' to ha%e an a%en*in* od )un4
ishin*( in this $or+d or in the net( such as esca)e
human ustice"
The +a$s of 0oses( it is true( did not teach the
doctrine of a +ife to come( did not threaten $ith
chastisements after death( nor e%en teach the )rimi4
ti%e .e$s the immorta+it' of the sou+ J ut the .e$s(
far from ein* atheists( far from e+ie%in* that the'
cou+d e+ude the di%ine %en*eance( $ere the most re4
+i*ious of men" The' e+ie%ed not on+' in the e4
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istence of an eterna+ od( ut that &e $as a+$a's
)resent amon* them J the' trem+ed +est the' shou+d
e )unished in themse+%es( their $i%es( their chi+dren(
their )osterit' to the fourth *eneration" This $as
a %er' )o$erfu+ chec@"
!ut amon* the enti+es %arious sects had no re4
straintJ the S@e)tics douted of e%er'thin*J the
Academics sus)ended their ud*ment on e%er'thin*J
Dictionar'" 7:
the E)icureans $ere )ersuaded that the Di%init'
cou+d not medd+e in human aairs( and in their
hearts admitted no Di%init'" The' $ere con%inced
that the sou+ is not a sustance( ut a facu+t' $hich
is orn and )erishes $ith the od'J conseuent+'(
the' had no restraint ut that of mora+it' and honor"
The Roman senators and @ni*hts $ere in rea+it'
atheists J for to men $ho neither feared nor ho)ed
an'thin* from them( the *ods cou+d not eist" The
Roman senate( then( in the time of Caesar and Cicero(
$as in fact an assem+' of atheists"
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That *reat orator( in his oration for C+uentius(
sa's to the $ho+e assem+ed senate - #What does he
+ose ' deathH We reect a++ the si++' fa+es aout
the inferna+ re*ions" What( then( can death ta@e
from himH Nothin* ut the susce)tii+it' of sor4
ro$"#
Does not Caesar( $ishin* to sa%e the +ife of his
friend Cati+ine( threatened ' the same Cicero( o4
ect that to )ut a crimina+ to death is not to )unish
him that death is nothin* that it is ut the termi4
nation of our i++s a moment rather fortunate than
ca+amitousH Did not Cicero and the $ho+e senate
'ie+d to this reasonin*H The conuerors and +e*is4
+ators of a++ the @no$n $or+d then( e%ident+'( formed
a societ' of men $ho feared nothin* from the *ods(
ut $ere rea+ atheists"
!a'+e net eamines $hether ido+atr' is more
dan*erous than atheism $hether it is a *reater
crime not to e+ie%e in the Di%init' than to ha%e
7: Phi+oso)hica+
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and uiet( $hi+e the fanatics of his time de+u*ed
En*+and( Scot+and( and Ire+and $ith +ood" S)i4
no1a $as not on+' an atheist he tau*ht atheism J
ut assured+' he had no )art in the udicia+ assassina4
tion of !arne%e+dt J nor $as it he $ho tore in )ieces
Dictionar'" 7:B
the t$o rothers De Witt( and ate them o the
*ridiron"
Atheists are( for the most )art( men of +earnin*(
o+d ut e$i+dered( $ho reason i++ and( una+e
to com)rehend the creation( the ori*in of e%i+( and
other dicu+ties( ha%e recourse to the h')othesis of
the eternit' of thin*s and of necessit'"
The amitious and the %o+u)tuous ha%e ut +itt+e
time to reason J the' ha%e other occu)ations than
that of com)arin* Lucretius $ith Socrates" Such
is the case $ith us and our time"
It $as other$ise $ith the Roman senate( $hich
$as com)osed a+most entire+' of theoretica+ and
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)ractica+ atheists( that is( e+ie%in* neither in Pro%i4
dence nor in a future stateJ this senate $as an as4
sem+' of )hi+oso)hers( men of )+easure( and am4
itious men( $ho $ere a++ %er' dan*erous( and $ho
ruined the common$ea+th" /nder the em)erors(
E)icureanism )re%ai+ed" The atheists of the sen4
ate had een factious in the times of Su++a and of
CaesarJ in those of Au*ustus and Tierius( the'
$ere atheistica+ s+a%es"
I shou+d not $ish to come in the $a' of an athe4
istica+ )rince( $hose interest it shou+d e to ha%e me
)ounded in a mortar J I am uite sure that I shou+d
e so )ounded" Were I a so%erei*n( I $ou+d not
ha%e to do $ith atheistica+ courtiers( $hose interest
it $as to )oison me J I shou+d e under the necessit'
of ta@in* an antidote e%er' da'" It is then aso4
+ute+' necessar' for )rinces and )eo)+e that the
7: Phi+oso)hica+
idea of a Su)reme !ein* creatin*( *o%ernin*( re4
$ardin*( and )unishin* e )rofound+' en*ra%ed
on their minds"
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There are nations of atheists( sa's !a'+e in his
#Thou*hts on Comets"# The Kars( the &otten4
tots( and man' other sma++ )o)u+ations( ha%e no *od J
the' neither arm nor den' that there is one J the'
ha%e ne%er heard of &im J te++ them that there is
one( and the' $i++ easi+' e+ie%e it J te++ them that a++
is done ' the nature of thin*s( and the' $i++ e4
+ie%e 'ou ust the same" To )retend that the' are
atheists $ou+d e +i@e sa'in* the' are anti4Carte4
sians" The' are neither for Descartes nor a*ainst
himJ the' are no more than chi+drenJ a chi+d is
neither atheist nor deist J he is nothin*"
From a++ this( $hat conc+usion is to e dra$nH
That atheism is a most )ernicious monster in those
$ho *o%ern J that it is the same in the men of their
cainet( since it ma' etend itse+f from the cainet
to those in oce J that( a+thou*h +ess to e dreaded
than fanaticism( it is a+most a+$a's fata+ to %irtue"
And es)ecia++'( +et it e added( that there are fe$er
atheists no$ than e%er since )hi+oso)hers ha%e e4
come )ersuaded that there is no %e*etati%e ein*
$ithout a *erm( no *erm $ithout a desi*n( etc"(
and that the corn in our Me+ds does not s)rin* from
rottenness"
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/n)hi+oso)hica+ *eometricians ha%e reected Mna+
causes( ut true )hi+oso)hers admit them J and( as
it is e+se$here oser%ed( a catechist announces od
Dictionar'" 7:9
to chi+dren( and Ne$ton demonstrates &im to the
$ise"
If there e atheists( $ho are to +ameH Who ut
the mercenar' t'rants of our sou+s( $ho( $hi+e dis4
*ustin* us $ith their @na%er'( ur*e some $ea@
s)irits to den' the od $hom such monsters dis4
honorH &o$ often ha%e the )eo)+e2s +oodsuc@ers
forced o%erurdened citi1ens to re%o+t a*ainst the
@in*
0en $ho ha%e fattened on our sustance( cr'
out to us - #!e )ersuaded that an ass s)o@e J e+ie%e
that a Msh s$a++o$ed a man( and thre$ him u) three
da's after( safe and sound( on the shore J dout not
that the od of the uni%erse ordered one .e$ish
)ro)het to eat ecrement( and another to u' t$o
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)rostitutes( and ha%e astards ' themJ# such are
the $ords )ut into the mouth of the od of )urit'
and truth !e+ie%e a hundred thin*s either %isi+'
aomina+e or mathematica++' im)ossi+e J other$ise
the od of 0erc' $i++ urn 'ou in he++4Mre( not on+'
for mi++ions of mi++ions of a*es( ut for a++ eternit'(
$hether 'ou ha%e a od' or ha%e not a od'"
These ruta+ asurdities are re%o+tin* to rash and
$ea@ minds( as $e++ as to Mrm and $ise ones" The'
sa' - #Our teachers re)resent od to us as the most
insensate and ararous of a++ ein*sJ therefore(
there is no od"# !ut the' ou*ht to sa'( #Our
teachers re)resent od as furious and ridicu+ous(
therefore od is the re%erse of $hat the' de4
scrie &im J &e is as $ise and *ood as the' sa' &e
7:G Phi+oso)hica+
is foo+ish and $ic@ed"# Thus do the $ise decide"
!ut( if a fanatic hears them( he denounces them to a
ma*istrate a sort of )riest2s ocer( $hich ocer
has them urned a+i%e( thin@in* that he is therein
imitatin* and a%en*in* the Di%ine 0aest' $hich
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free $i++ ma@e so man' ein*s misera+e( did not
eist"
Su))ose( for eam)+e( a natura+ )hi+oso)her of
the Mfteenth centur' readin* these $ords in #St"
Thomas2s Dream#- #Virtus cce+i( +oco s)ermatis(
suiMcit cum dementis et )utrefactione ad *enera4
tionem anima+ium im)erfectrum"# #The %irtue
of hea%en instead of seed is sucient( $ith the e+e4
ments and )utrefaction( for the *eneration of im4
)erfect anima+s"# Our )hi+oso)her $ou+d reason
thus- #If corru)tion suces $ith the e+ements to
Vo+" >
I o Phi+oso)hica+
)roduce unformed anima+s( it $ou+d a))ear that
a +itt+e more corru)tion( $ith a +itt+e more heat(
$ou+d a+so )roduce anima+s more com)+ete" The
%irtue of hea%en is here no other than the %irtue of
nature" I sha++ then thin@( $ith E)icurus and St"
Thomas( that men ma' ha%e s)run* from the s+ime
of the earth and the ra's of the sun a no+e ori*in(
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too( for ein*s so $retched and so $ic@ed" Wh'
shou+d I admit a creatin* od( )resented to me
under so man' contradictor' and re%o+tin* as)ects H#
!ut at +en*th )h'sics arose( and $ith them )hi+oso4
)h'" Then it $as c+ear+' disco%ered that the mud
of the Ni+e )roduced not a sin*+e insect( nor a sin*+e
ear of corn( and men $ere found to ac@no$+ed*e
throu*hout( *erms( re+ations( means( and an aston4
ishin* corres)ondence amon* a++ ein*s" The )ar4
tic+es of +i*ht ha%e een fo++o$ed( $hich *o from
the sun to en+i*hten the *+oe and the rin* of Sat4
urn( at the distance of three hundred mi++ions of
+ea*ues J then( comin* to the earth( form t$o o))o4
site an*+es in the e'e of the minutest insect( and
)aint a++ nature on its retina" A )hi+oso)her $as
*i%en to the $or+d $ho disco%ered the sim)+e and
su+ime +a$s ' $hich the ce+estia+ *+oes mo%e in
the immensit' of s)ace" Thus the $or@ of the uni4
%erse( no$ that it is etter @no$n( es)ea@s a $or@4
man( and so man' ne%er4%ar'in* +a$s announce a
+a$4*i%er" Sound )hi+oso)h'( therefore( has de4
stro'ed atheism( to $hich oscure theo+o*' fur4
nished $ea)ons of defence"
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Dictionar'" 77
!ut one resource $as +eft for the sma++ numer
of dicu+t minds( $hich( ein* more forci+' struc@
' the )retended inustices of a Su)reme !ein*
than ' his $isdom( $ere ostinate in den'in* this
Mrst mo%er" Nature has eisted from a++ eternit'J
e%er'thin* in nature is in motion( therefore e%er'4
thin* in it continua++' chan*es" And if e%er'thin*
is fore%er chan*in*( a++ )ossi+e cominations must
ta@e )+aceJ therefore the )resent cominations of
a++ thin*s ma' ha%e een the eect of this eterna+
motion and chan*e a+one" Ta@e si dice( and it is
(BB to one that 'ou do not thro$ si times si"
!ut sti++ there is that one chance in (B" So(
in the inMnit' of a*es( an' one of the inMnite num4
er of cominations( as that of the )resent arran*e4
ment of the uni%erse( is not im)ossi+e"
0inds( other$ise rationa+( ha%e een mis+ed '
these ar*umentsJ ut the' ha%e not considered
that there is inMnit' a*ainst them( and that there
certain+' is not inMnit' a*ainst the eistence of od"
The' shou+d( moreo%er( consider that if e%er'thin*
$ere chan*in*( the sma++est thin*s cou+d not re4
main unchan*ed( as the' ha%e so +on* done" The'
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ha%e at +east no reason to ad%ance $h' ne$ s)ecies
are not formed e%er' da'" On the contrar'( it is
%er' )roa+e that a )o$erfu+ hand( su)erior to
these continua+ chan*es( @ee)s a++ s)ecies $ithin
the ounds it has )rescried them" Thus the )hi+os4
o)her( $ho ac@no$+ed*es a od( has a numer of
7: Phi+oso)hica+
)roai+ities on his side( $hi+e the atheist has on+'
douts"
It is e%ident that in mora+s it is much etter to
ac@no$+ed*e a od than not to admit one" It is
certain+' to the interest of a++ men that there shou+d
e a Di%init' to )unish $hat human ustice cannot
re)ressJ ut it is a+so c+ear that it $ere etter to
ac@no$+ed*e no od than to $orshi) a ararous
one( and oer &im human %ictims( as so man' na4
tions ha%e done"
We ha%e one stri@in* eam)+e( $hich )+aces this
truth e'ond a dout" The .e$s( under 0oses(
had no idea of the immorta+it' of the sou+( nor of a
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future state" Their +a$*i%er announced to them(
from od( on+' re$ards and )unishments )ure+'
tem)ora+ J the'( therefore( had on+' this +ife to )ro4
%ide for" 0oses commands the Le%ites to @i++ t$en4
t'4three thousand of their rethren for ha%in* had
a *o+den or *i+ded ca+f" On another occasion t$en4
t'4four thousand of them are massacred for ha%in*
had commerce $ith the 'oun* $omen of the coun4
tr'J and t$e+%e thousand are struc@ dead ecause
some fe$ of them had $ished to su))ort the ar@(
$hich $as near fa++in*" It ma'( $ith )erfect re%4
erence for the decrees of Pro%idence( e armed(
human+' s)ea@in*( that it $ou+d ha%e een much
etter for these Mft'4nine thousand men( $ho e4
+ie%ed in no future state( to ha%e een aso+ute
atheists and ha%e +i%ed( than to ha%e een massacred
in the name of the od $hom the' ac@no$+ed*ed"
Dictionar'" 7
It is uite certain that atheism is not tau*ht in
the schoo+s of the +earned of China( ut man' of
those +earned men are atheists( for the' are indif4
ferent )hi+oso)hers" No$ it $ou+d undouted+'
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e etter to +i%e $ith them at Pe@in( eno'in* the
mi+dness of their manners and their +a$s( than to
e at oa( +ia+e to *roan in irons( in the )risons
of the inuisition( unti+ rou*ht out in a rimstone4
co+ored *arment( %arie*ated $ith de%i+s( to )erish
in the Qames"
The' $ho ha%e maintained that a societ' of
atheists ma' eist ha%e then een ri*ht( for it is
+a$s that form societ'( and these atheists( ein*
moreo%er )hi+oso)hers( ma' +ead a %er' $ise and
ha))' +ife under the shade of those +a$s" The'
$i++ certain+' +i%e in societ' more easi+' than su)er4
stitious fanatics" Peo)+e one to$n $ith E)icureans
such as Simonides( Prota*oras( Des !arreu( S)i4
no1aJ and another $ith .ansenists and 0o+inists"
In $hich do 'ou thin@ there $i++ e the most uar4
re+s and tumu+ts H Atheism( considerin* it on+' $ith
re+ation to this +ife( $ou+d e %er' dan*erous amon*
a ferocious )eo)+e( and fa+se ideas of the Di%init'
$ou+d e no +ess )ernicious" 0ost of the *reat
men of this $or+d +i%e as if the' $ere atheists" E%4
er' man $ho has +i%ed $ith his e'es o)en @no$s
that the @no$+ed*e of a od( &is )resence( and &is
ustice( has not the s+i*htest inQuence o%er the $ars(
the treaties( the oects of amition( interest or
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)+easure( in the )ursuit of $hich the' are $ho++'
7 Phi+oso)hica+
occu)ied" 8et $e do not see that the' *ross+'
%io+ate the ru+es esta+ished in societ'" It is much
more a*reea+e to )ass our +i%es amon* them than
amon* the su)erstitious and fanatica+" I do( it is
true( e)ect more ustice from one $ho e+ie%es in a
od than from one $ho has no such e+ief J ut from
the su)erstitious I +oo@ on+' for itterness and )er4
secution" Atheism and fanaticism are t$o mon4
sters $hich ma' tear societ' in )ieces J ut the
atheist )reser%es his reason( $hich chec@s his )ro
)ensit' to mischief( $hi+e the fanatic is under the
inQuence of a madness $hich is constant+' ur*in*
him on"
SECTION II"
In En*+and( as e%er'$here e+se( there ha%e een(
and there sti++ are( man' atheists ' )rinci)+eJ for
there are none ut 'oun*( ine)erienced )reachers(
%er' i++4informed of $hat )asses in the $or+d( $ho
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arm that there cannot e atheists" I ha%e @no$n
some in France( $ho $ere uite *ood natura+ )hi4
+oso)hersJ and ha%e( I o$n( een %er' much sur4
)rised that men $ho cou+d so a+' de%e+o) the se4
cret s)rin*s of nature shou+d ostinate+' refuse to
ac@no$+ed*e the hand $hich so e%ident+' )uts those
s)rin*s in action"
It a))ears to me that one of the )rinci)+es $hich
+eads them to materia+ism is that the' e+ie%e in the
)+entitude and inMnit' of the uni%erse( and the eter4
nit' of matter" It must e this $hich mis+eads them(
Dictionar'" 7B
for a+most a++ the Ne$tonians $hom I ha%e met
admit the %oid and the termination of matter( and
conseuent+' admit a od"
Indeed( if matter e inMnite( as so man' )hi+os4
o)hers( e%en inc+udin* Descartes( )retend( it has
of itse+f one of the attriutes of the Su)reme !ein* -
if a %oid e im)ossi+e( matter eists of necessit'J
it has eisted from a++ eternit'" With these )rin4
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ci)+es( therefore( $e ma' dis)ense $ith od( cre4
atin*( modif'in*( and )reser%in* matter"
I am a$are that Descartes( and most of the
schoo+s $hich ha%e e+ie%ed in the )+enum( and
the inMnit' of matter( ha%e ne%erthe+ess admitted
a odJ ut this is on+' ecause men scarce+' e%er
reason or act u)on their )rinci)+es"
&ad men reasoned( conseuent+'( E)icurus and
his a)ost+e Lucretius must ha%e een the most re+i4
*ious assertors of the Pro%idence $hich the' com4
atedJ for $hen the' admitted the %oid and the
termination of matter( a truth of $hich the' had
on+' an im)erfect *+im)se( it necessari+' fo++o$ed
that matter $as the ein* of necessit'( eistin* '
itse+f( since it $as not indeMnite" The' had( there4
fore( in their o$n )hi+oso)h'( and in their o$n de4
s)ite( a demonstration that there is a Su)reme
!ein*( necessar'( inMnite( the faricator of the uni4
%erse" Ne$ton2s )hi+oso)h'( $hich admits and
)ro%es the %oid and Mnite matter( a+so demonstra43
ti%e+' )ro%es the eistence of a od"
Thus I re*ard true )hi+oso)hers as the a)ost+es
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7 Phi+oso)hica+
of the Di%init'" Each c+ass of men reuires its )ar4
ticu+ar onesJ a )arish catechist te++s chi+dren that
there is a od( ut Ne$ton )ro%es it to the $ise"
In London( under Char+es II" after Crom$e++2s
$ars( as at Paris under &enr' IV" after the $ar
of the uises( )eo)+e too@ *reat )ride in ein* athe4
istsJ ha%in* )assed from the ecess of crue+t' to
that of )+easure( and corru)ted their minds success4
i%e+' ' $ar and ' %o+u)tuousness( the' reasoned
%er' indierent+'" Since then the more nature has
een studied the etter its Author has een @no$n"
One thin* I $i++ %enture to e+ie%e( $hich is( that
of a++ re+i*ions( theism is the most $ide+' s)read
in the $or+d" It is the )re%ai+in* re+i*ion of China J
it is that of the $ise amon* the 0ahometans J and(
amon* Christian )hi+oso)hers( ei*ht out of ten are
of the same o)inion" It has )enetrated e%en into
the schoo+s of theo+o*'( into the c+oisters( into the
conc+a%eJ it is a sort of sect $ithout association(
$ithout $orshi)( $ithout ceremonies( $ithout dis4
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7G Phi+oso)hica+
father in a dierent manner" Indeed(# said the'(
#$hat u)ri*ht man $ou+d @i++ his e+der rother e4
cause one of them had sa+uted their father after the
Chinese and the other after the Dutch fashion(
es)ecia++' $hi+e it $as undecided in $hat $a' the
father $ished their re%erence to e made to himH
Sure+' he $ho shou+d act thus $ou+d e a ad
rother rather than a *ood son"#
I am $e++ a$are that these maims +ead direct+'
to #the aomina+e and eecra+e do*ma of to+era4
tion# J ut I do no more than sim)+' re+ate the fact"
I am %er' carefu+ not to ecome a contro%ersia+ist"
It must( ho$e%er( e admitted that if the dierent
sects into $hich Christians ha%e een di%ided had
)ossessed this moderation( Christianit' $ou+d ha%e
een distured ' fe$er disorders( sha@en ' fe$er
re%o+utions( and stained $ith +ess +ood"
Let us )it' the theists for comatin* our ho+'
re%e+ation" !ut $hence comes it that so man' Ca+4
%inists( Lutherans( Anaa)tists( Nestorians( Arians(
)artisans of Rome( and enemies of Rome( ha%e
een so san*uinar'( so ararous( and so misera+e(
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no$ )ersecutin*( no$ )ersecutedH It is ecause
the' ha%e een the mu+titude" Whence is it that
theists( thou*h in error( ha%e ne%er done harm to
man@indH !ecause the' ha%e een )hi+oso)hers"
The Christian re+i*ion has cost the human s)ecies
se%enteen mi++ions of men( rec@onin* on+' one mi+4
+ion )er centur'( $ho ha%e )erished either ' the
Dictionar'" 7>
hands of the ordinar' eecutioner( or ' those of
eecutioners )aid and +ed to att+e a++ for the sa+4
%ation of sou+s and the *reater *+or' of od"
I ha%e heard men e)ress astonishment that a
re+i*ion so moderate( and so a))arent+' conforma+e
to reason( as theism( has not een s)read amon* the
)eo)+e" Amon* the *reat and +itt+e %u+*ar ma' e
found )ious her4$omen( 0o+inist duchesses( scru4
)u+ous seamstresses $ho $ou+d *o to the sta@e for
anaa)tism( de%out hac@ne'4coachmen( most deter4
mined in the cause of Luther or of Arius( ut no
theists J for theism cannot so much e ca++ed a re4
+i*ion as a s'stem of )hi+oso)h'( and the %u+*ar(
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$hether *reat or +itt+e( are not )hi+oso)hers"
Loc@e $as a dec+ared theist" I $as astonished
to Mnd( in that *reat )hi+oso)her2s cha)ter on innate
ideas( that men ha%e a++ dierent ideas of ustice"
Were such the case( mora+it' $ou+d no +on*er e
the same J the %oice of od $ou+d not e heard '
man J natura+ re+i*ion $ou+d e at an end" I am
$i++in* to e+ie%e( $ith him( that there are nations
in $hich men eat their fathers( and $here to +ie
$ith a nei*hor2s $ife is to do him a friend+' oce J
ut if this e true it does not )ro%e that the +a$(
#Do not unto others that $hich 'ou $ou+d not ha%e
others do unto 'ou(# is not *enera+" For if a father
e eaten( it is $hen he has *ro$n o+d( is too fee+e
to cra$+ a+on*( and $ou+d other$ise e eaten ' the
enem'" And( I as@( $hat father $ou+d not furnish
7? Phi+oso)hica+
a *ood mea+ to his son rather than to the enemies
of his nation H !esides( he $ho eats his father ho)es
that he in turn sha++ e eaten ' his chi+dren"
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If a ser%ice e rendered to a nei*hor ' +'in*
$ith his $ife( it is $hen he cannot himse+f ha%e a
chi+d( and is desirous of ha%in* one J other$ise he
$ou+d e %er' an*r'" In oth these cases( and in
a++ others( the natura+ +a$( #Do not to another that
$hich 'ou $ou+d not ha%e another do to 'ou(# re4
mains unro@en" A++ the other ru+es( so dierent
and so %aried( ma' e referred to this" When( there4
fore( the $ise meta)h'sician( Loc@e( sa's that men
ha%e no innate ideas( that the' ha%e dierent ideas
of ustice and inustice( he assured+' does not mean
to assert that od has not *i%en to a++ men that in4
stincti%e se+f4+o%e ' $hich the' are of necessit'
*uided"
ATO0S"
EPIC/R/S( eua++' *reat as a *enius( and res)ect4
a+e in his mora+sJ and after him Lucretius( $ho
forced the Latin +an*ua*e to e)ress )hi+oso)hica+
ideas( and to the *reat admiration of Rome to
e)ress them in %erse E)icurus and Lucretius( I
sa'( admitted atoms and the %oid" assendi su)4
)orted this doctrine( and Ne$ton demonstrated it"
In %ain did a remnant of Cartesianism sti++ comat
for the )+enumJ in %ain did Leinit1( $ho had at
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Mrst ado)ted the rationa+ s'stem of E)icurus( Lu4
cretius( assendi( and Ne$ton( chan*e his o)inion
Dictionar'" 77
res)ectin* the %oid after he had emroi+ed himse+f
$ith his master Ne$ton" The )+enum is no$ re4
*arded as a chimera"
In this E)icurus and Lucretius a))ear to ha%e
een true )hi+oso)hers( and their intermediaries(
$ho ha%e een so much ridicu+ed(( $ere no other
than the unresistin* s)ace in $hich Ne$ton has
demonstrated that the )+anets mo%e round their
orits in times )ro)ortioned to their areas" Thus
it $as not E)icurus2 intermediaries( ut his o))o4
nents( that $ere ridicu+ous" !ut $hen E)icurus
after$ards te++s us that his atoms dec+ined in the
%oid ' chanceJ that this dec+ination formed men
and anima+s ' chance J that the e'es $ere )+aced in
the u))er )art of the head and the feet at the end
of the +e*s ' chance J that ears $ere not *i%en to
hear( ut that the dec+ination of atoms ha%in* for4
tuitous+' com)osed ears( men fortuitous+' made use
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of them to hear $ith this madness( ca++ed )h'sics(
has een %er' ust+' turned into ridicu+e"
Sound )hi+oso)h'( then( has +on* distin*uished
$hat is *ood in E)icurus and Lucretius( from their
chimeras( founded on ima*ination and i*norance"
The most sumissi%e minds ha%e ado)ted the doc4
trine of creation in time( and the most darin* ha%e
admitted that of creation efore a++ time" Some
ha%e recei%ed $ith faith a uni%erse )roduced from
nothin*J others( una+e to com)rehend this doc4
trine in )h'sics( ha%e e+ie%ed that a++ ein*s $ere
emanations from the reat the Su)reme and /ni4
7: Phi+oso)hica+
%ersa+ !ein*J ut a++ ha%e reected the fortuitous
concurrence of atomsJ a++ ha%e ac@no$+ed*ed that
chance is a $ord $ithout meanin*" What $e ca++
chance can e no other than the un@no$n cause
of a @no$n eect" Whence comes it then( that )hi4
+oso)hers are sti++ accused of thin@in* that the stu4
)endous and indescria+e arran*ement of the uni4
%erse is a )roduction of the fortuitous concurrence
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of atoms an eect of chanceH Neither S)ino1a
nor an' one e+se has ad%anced this asurdit'"
8et the son of the *reat Racine sa's( in his )oem
on Re+i*ion -
O toi ui fo++ement fais ton Dieu du ha1ard(
Viens me de%e+o))er ce nid u2a%ec tant d2art(
Au meme ordre touours arc hitecte M de+e(
A I 7 aide de son ee maonne rhironde++eJ
Comment( )our e+e%er ce hardi atiment(
A4t4e++e en +e ro'ant arrondi son cintentH
Oh 'e( $ho raise Creation out of chance(
As erst Lucretius from th2 atomic dance
Come %ie$ $ith me the s$a++o$2s curious nest(
Where eaut'( art( and order( shine confessed"
&o$ cou+d rude chance( fore%er dar@ and +ind(
Preside $ithin the +itt+e ui+der2s mindH
Cou+d she( $ith accidents unnumered cro$ned(
Its mass concentrate( and its structure round
These +ines are assured+' thro$n a$a'" No one
ma@es chance his odJ no one has said that $hi+e
a s$a++o$ #tem)ers his c+a'( it ta@es the form of
his aode ' chance"# On the contrar'( it is said
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that #he ma@es his nest ' the +a$s of necessit'(#
$hich is the o))osite of chance"
The on+' uestion no$ a*itated is( $hether the
author of nature has formed )rimordia+ )arts un4
Dictionar'" 7
susce)ti+e of di%ision( or if a++ is continua++' di%id4
in* and chan*in* into other e+ements" The Mrst
s'stem seems to account for e%er'thin*( and the
second( hitherto at +east( for nothin*"
If the Mrst e+ements of thin*s $ere not inde4
structi+e one e+ement mi*ht at +ast s$a++o$ u) a++
the rest( and chan*e them into its o$n sustance"
&ence( )erha)s it $as that Em)edoc+es ima*ined
that e%er'thin* came from Mre( and $ou+d e de4
stro'ed ' Mre"
This uestion of atoms in%o+%es another( that of
the di%isii+it' of matter ad inMnitum" The $ord
atom si*niMes $ithout )arts not to e di%ided"
8ou di%ide it in thou*ht( for if 'ou $ere to di%ide
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it in rea+it' it $ou+d no +on*er e an atom"
8ou ma' di%ide a *rain of *o+d into ei*hteen
mi++ions of %isi+e )arts J a *rain of co))er dis4
so+%ed in s)irit of sa+ ammoniac has ehiited u)4
$ards of t$ent'4t$o thousand )arts J ut $hen
'ou ha%e arri%ed at the +ast e+ement the atom esca)es
the microsco)e( and 'ou can di%ide no further e4
ce)t in ima*ination"
The inMnite di%isii+it' of atoms is +i@e some
)ro)ositions in *eometr'" 8ou ma' )ass an inMnit'
of cur%es et$een a circ+e and its tan*ent( su))osin*
the circ+e and the tan*ent to e +ines $ithout
readth J ut there are no such +ines in nature"
8ou +i@e$ise esta+ish that as'm)totes $i++ a)4
)roach one another $ithout e%er meetin*J ut it
is under the su))osition that the' are +ines ha%in*
7 Phi+oso)hica+
+en*th $ithout readth thin*s $hich ha%e on+' a
s)ecu+ati%e eistence"
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So( a+so( $e re)resent unit' ' a +ine( and di%ide
this +ine and this unit' into as man' fractions as
'ou )+ease J ut this inMnit' of fractions $i++ ne%er
e an' other than our unit' and our +ine"
It is not strict+' demonstrated that atoms are indi4
%isi+e( ut it a))ears that the' are not di%ided '
the +a$s of nature"
AVARICE"
AVARITIES( amor haendi desire of ha%in*(
a%idit'( co%etousness" Pro)er+' s)ea@in*( a%arice
is the desire of accumu+atin*( $hether in *rain(
mo%a+es( mone'( or curiosities" There $ere a%4
aricious men +on* efore coin $as in%ented"
We do not ca++ a man a%aricious $ho has
four and t$ent' coach horses( 'et $i++ not +end one
to his friend - or $ho( ha%in* t$o thousand ott+es
of !ur*und' in his ce++ar( $i++ not send 'ou ha+f
a do1en( $hen he @no$s 'ou to e in $ant of them"
If he sho$ 'ou a hundred thousand cro$ns2
$orth of diamonds 'ou do not thin@ of as@in* him
to )resent 'ou $ith one $orth t$ent' +i%resJ 'ou
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consider him as a man of *reat ma*niMcence( ut not
at a++ a%aricious"
&e $ho in Mnance( in arm' contracts( and *reat
underta@in*s *ained t$o mi++ions each 'ear( and
$ho( $hen )ossessed of fort'4three mi++ions( esides
Dictionar'" 7B
his houses at Paris and his mo%a+es( e)ended Mft'
thousand cro$ns )er annum for his ta+e( and some4
times +ent mone' to no+emen at M%e )er cent( in4
terest( did not )ass( in the minds of the )eo)+e( for
an a%aricious man" &e had( ho$e%er( a++ his +ife2
urned $ith the thirst of *ain J the demon of co%4
etousness $as )er)etua++' tormentin* him J he con4
tinued to accumu+ate to the +ast da' of his +ife" This
)assion( $hich $as constant+' *ratiMed( has ne%er
een ca++ed a%arice" &e did not e)end a tenth )art
of his income( 'et he had the re)utation of a *en4
erous man( too fond of s)+endor"
A father of a fami+' $ho( $ith an income of
t$ent' thousand +i%res( e)ends on+' M%e or si(
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and accumu+ates his sa%in*s to )ortion his chi+dren(
has the re)utation amon* his nei*hors of ein*
a%aricious( mean( stin*'( a ni**ard( a miser( a *ri)4
farthin*J and e%er' ausi%e e)ithet that can e
thou*ht of is esto$ed u)on him"
Ne%erthe+ess this *ood citi1en is much more to
e honored than the Croesus I ha%e ust mentioned J
he e)ends three times as much in )ro)ortion" !ut
the cause of the *reat dierence et$een their re)4
utations is this -
0en hate the indi%idua+ $hom the' ca++ a%ari4
cious on+' ecause there is nothin* to e *ained '
him" The )h'sician( the a)othecar'( the $ine4mer4
chant( the dra)er( the *rocer( the sadd+er( and a fe$
*ir+s *ain a *ood dea+ ' our Croesus( $ho is tru+'
a%aricious" !ut $ith our c+ose and economica+ cit4
Vo+" io
7 Phi+oso)hica+
i1en there is nothin* to e done" Therefore he is
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+oaded $ith ma+edictions"
As for those amon* the a%aricious $ho de)ri%e#
themse+%es of the necessaries of +ife( $e +ea%e them
to P+autus and 0o+iere"
A//R8"
0/ST not a man e %er' thorou*h+' )ossessed
' the demon of et'mo+o*' to sa'( $ith Pe1ron and
others( that the Roman $ord au*urium came from
the Ce+tic $ords au and *urf Accordin* to these
+earned men au must( amon* the !asues and !as4
!retons( ha%e si*niMed the +i%er( ecause asu( $hich
6sa' the'; si*niMed +eft( dout+ess stood for the
+i%er( $hich is on the ri*ht sideJ and *ur meant
man( or 'e++o$( or red( in that Ce+tic ton*ue of
$hich $e ha%e not one memoria+" Tru+' this is
)o$erfu+ reasonin*"
Asurd curiosit' 6for $e must ca++ thin*s '
their ri*ht names; has een carried so far as to see@
&ere$ and Cha+dee deri%ations from certain Teu4
tonic and Ce+tic $ords" This( !ochart ne%er fai+s
to do" It is astonishin* $ith $hat conMdence these
men of *enius ha%e )ro%ed that e)ressions used on
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the an@s of the Tier $ere orro$ed from the )a4
tois of the sa%a*es of !isca'" Na'( the' e%en as4
sert that this )atois $as one of the Mrst idioms of
the )rimiti%e +an*ua*e the )arent of a++ other +an4
*ua*es throu*hout the $or+d" The' ha%e on+' to
)roceed( and sa' that a++ the %arious notes of irds
Dictionar'" 79
come from the cr' of the t$o Mrst )arrots( from
$hich e%er' other s)ecies of irds has een )ro4
duced"
The re+i*ious fo++' of au*uries $as ori*ina++'
founded on %er' sound and natura+ oser%ations"
The irds of )assa*e ha%e a+$a's mar@ed the )ro*4
ress of the seasons" We see them come in Qoc@s
in the s)rin*( and return in the autumn" The
cuc@oo is heard on+' in Mne $eather( $hich his note
seems to in%ite" The s$a++o$s( s@immin* a+on*
the *round( announce rain" Each c+imate has its
ird( $hich is in eect its au*ur'"
Amon* the oser%in* )art of man@ind there
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$ere( no dout( @na%es $ho )ersuaded foo+s that
there $as somethin* di%ine in these anima+s( and
that their Qi*ht )resa*ed our destinies( $hich $ere
$ritten on the $in*s of a s)arro$ ust as c+ear+' as
in the stars"
The commentators on the a++e*orica+ and inter4
estin* stor' of .ose)h so+d ' his rethren( and
made Pharaoh2s )rime minister for ha%in* e)+ained
his dreams( infer that .ose)h $as s@i++ed in the
science of au*uries( from the circumstance that .o4
se)h2s ste$ard is commanded to sa' to his rethren(
#Is not this it 6the si+%er cu); in $hich m' +ord
drin@ethH and $here' indeed he di%inethH# .o4
se)h( ha%in* caused his rethren to e rou*ht ac@
efore him( sa's to them - #What deed is this that
'e ha%e doneH Wot 'e not that such a man as I
can certain+' di%ineH#
7G Phi+oso)hica+
.udah ac@no$+ed*es( in the name of his reth4
ren( that .ose)h is a *reat di%iner( and that od
has ins)ired him- #od hath found out the in4
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As for au*uries( the' )erished $ith the Roman
Em)ire" On+' the isho)s ha%e retained the au*ur4
ia+ sta( ca++ed the crosier J $hich $as the distinct4
Dictionar'" 7>
i%e mar@ of the di*nit' of au*ur J so that the s'm4
o+ of fa+sehood has ecome the s'mo+ of truth"
There $ere innumera+e @inds of di%inations( of
$hich se%era+ ha%e reached our +atter a*es" This
curiosit' to read the future is a ma+ad' $hich on+'
)hi+oso)h' can cure( for the $ea@ minds that sti++
)ractise these )retended arts of di%ination e%en
the foo+s $ho *i%e themse+%es to the de%i+
a++ ma@e re+i*ion suser%ient to these )rofanations(
' $hich it is outra*ed"
It is an oser%ation $orth' of the $ise( that Cic4
ero( $ho $as one of the co++e*e of au*urs( $rote
a oo@ for the so+e )ur)ose of turnin* au*uries into
ridicu+eJ ut the' ha%e +i@e$ise remar@ed that
Cicero( at the end of his oo@( sa's that #su)ersti4
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tion shou+d e destro'ed( ut not re+i*ion" For(#
he adds( #the eaut' of the uni%erse( and the order
of the hea%en+' odies force us to ac@no$+ed*e an
eterna+ and )o$erfu+ nature" We must maintain
the re+i*ion $hich is oined $ith the @no$+ed*e of
this nature( ' utter+' etir)atin* su)erstition( for
it is a monster $hich )ursues and )resses us on
e%er' side" The meetin* $ith a )retended di%iner(
a )resa*e( an immo+ated %ictim( a ird( a Cha+dsean(
an arus)ice( a Qash of +i*htnin*( a c+a) of thunder(
an e%ent accidenta++' corres)ondin* $ith $hat has
een foreto+d to us( e%er'thin* disturs and ma@es
us uneas' J s+ee) itse+f( $hich shou+d ma@e us for4
*et a++ these )ains and fears( ser%es ut to redou+e
them ' fri*htfu+ ima*es"#
7 B? Phi+oso)hica+
Cicero thou*ht he $as addressin* on+' a fe$
Romans( ut he $as s)ea@in* to a++ men and a++
a*es"
0ost of the *reat men of Rome no more e4
+ie%ed in au*uries than A+eander VI"( .u+ius II"(
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and Leo ="( e+ie%ed in Our Lad' of Loretto and
the +ood of St" .anuarius" &o$e%er( Suetonius
re+ates that Octa%ius( surnamed Au*ustus( $as so
$ea@ as to e+ie%e that a Msh( $hich +ea)ed from
the sea u)on the shore at Actium( foreoded that
he shou+d *ain the att+e" &e adds that( ha%in*
after$ards met an ass4dri%er( he as@ed him the name
of his assJ and the man ha%in* ans$ered that
his ass $as named Nicho+as( $hich si*niMes con4
ueror of nations( he had no +on*er an' douts
aout the %ictor'J and that he after$ards had
ra1en statues erected to the ass4dri%er( the ass(
and the um)in* Msh" &e further assures us that
these statues $ere )+aced in the Ca)ito+"
It is %er' +i@e+' that this a+e t'rant +au*hed at
the su)erstitions of the Romans( and that his ass( the
dri%er( and the Msh( $ere nothin* more than a o@e"
!ut it is no +ess +i@e+' that( $hi+e he des)ised a++
the fo++ies of the %u+*ar( he had a fe$ of his o$n"
The ararous and dissimu+atin* Louis =L had
a Mrm faith in the cross of St" Louis" A+most a++
)rinces( ece)tin* such as ha%e had time to read(
and read to ad%anta*e( are in some de*ree infected
$ith su)erstition"
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Dictionar'" 7B7
A//STINE"
A//STINE( a nati%e of Ta*aste( is here to e
considered( not as a isho)( a doctor( a father of
the Church( ut sim)+' as a man" This is a uestion
in )h'sics( res)ectin* the c+imate of Africa"
When a 'outh( Au*ustine $as a *reat +iertine(
and the s)irit $as no +ess uic@ in him than the
Qesh" &e sa's that efore he $as t$ent' 'ears o+d
he had +earned arithmetic( *eometr' and music $ith4
out a master"
Does not this )ro%e that( in Africa( $hich $e
no$ ca++ !arar'( oth minds and odies ad%ance
to maturit' more ra)id+' than amon* usH
These %a+ua+e ad%anta*es of St" Au*ustine
$ou+d +ead one to e+ie%e that Em)edoc+es $as not
a+to*ether in the $ron* $hen he re*arded Mre as
the )rinci)+e of nature" It is assisted( ut ' su4
ordinate a*ents" It is +i@e a @in* *o%ernin* the
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actions of a++ his suects( and sometimes inQamin*
the ima*inations of his )eo)+e rather too much" It
is not $ithout reason that S')ha sa's to .ua( in
the Cato of Addison( that the sun $hich ro++s its
Mer' car o%er African heads )+aces a dee)er tin*e
u)on the chee@s( and a Mercer Qame $ithin their
hearts" That the dames of <ama are %ast+' su)e4
rior to the )a+e eauties of the north -
The *+o$in* dames of <ama2s ro'a+ court
&a%e faces Qushed $ith more ea+ted charmsJ
Were 'ou $ith these( m' )rince( 'ou2d soon for*et
The )a+e unri)ened eauties of the north"
7B: Phi+oso)hica+
Where sha++ $e Mnd in Paris( Strasur*( Ratis4
on( or Vienna 'oun* men $ho ha%e +earned arith4
metic( the mathematics and music $ithout assist4
ance( and $ho ha%e een fathers at fourteenH
Dout+ess it is no fa+e that At+as( )rince of
0auritania( ca++ed ' the ree@s the son of hea%en(
$as a ce+erated astronomer( and constructed a ce4
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+estia+ s)here such as the Chinese ha%e had for so
man' a*es" The ancients( $ho e)ressed e%er'4
thin* in a++e*or'( +i@ened this )rince to the mountain
$hich ears his name( ecause it +ifts its head ao%e
the c+ouds( $hich ha%e een ca++ed the hea%ens '
a++ man@ind $ho ha%e ud*ed of thin*s on+' from
the testimon' of their e'es"
These 0oors cu+ti%ated the sciences $ith success(
and tau*ht S)ain and Ita+' for M%e centuries"
Thin*s are *reat+' a+tered" The countr' of Au*us4
tine is no$ ut a den of )irates( $hi+e En*+and(
Ita+'( erman'( and France( $hich $ere in%o+%ed
in ararism( are *reater cu+ti%ators of the arts
than e%er the Araians $ere"
Our on+' oect( then( in this artic+e is to sho$
ho$ chan*ea+e a scene this $or+d is" Au*ustine(
from a deauchee( ecomes an orator and a )hi+os4
o)herJ he )uts himse+f for$ard in the $or+dJ he
teaches rhetoricJ he turns 0anichaean( and from
0anichaeanism )asses to Christianit'" &e causes
himse+f to e a)ti1ed( to*ether $ith one of his as4
tards( named Deodatus J he ecomes a isho)( and a
father of the Church" &is s'stem of *race has een "
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Dictionar'" 7 B
re%erenced for e+e%en hundred 'ears as an artic+e of
faith" At the end of e+e%en hundred 'ears some
.esuits Mnd means to )rocure an anathema a*ainst
Au*ustine2s s'stem( $ord for $ord( under the
names of .ansenius( St" C'ri+( Arnaud( and 5uesne+"
We as@ if this re%o+ution is not( in its @ind( as *reat
as that of Africa( and if there e an'thin* )erma4
nent u)on earthH
A//ST/S 6OCTAVI/S;"
The 0ora+s of Au*ustus"
0ANNERS can e @no$n on+' from facts( $hich
facts must e incontesta+e" It is e'ond dout
that this man( so immoderate+' )raised as the re4
storer of mora+s and of +a$s( $as +on* one of the
most infamous deauchees in the Roman common4
$ea+th" &is e)i*ram on Fu+%ia( $ritten after the
horrors of the )roscri)tions( )ro%es that he $as no
+ess a des)iser of decenc' in his +an*ua*e than he
$as a ararian in his conduct" This aomina+e
e)i*ram is one of the stron*est testimonies to Au4
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*ustus2 infamous immora+it'" Setus Pom)eius a+so
re)roached him $ith shamefu+ $ea@nesses - #Ef4
feminatum infectatus est"# Anton'( efore the
trium%irate( dec+ared that Caesar( *reat4unc+e to
Au*ustus( had ado)ted him as his son on+' ecause
he had een suser%ient to his )+easures- #Ado)t4
ionem a%uncu+i stu)ro meritum"#
Lucius Caesar char*ed him $ith the same crime(
7B Phi+oso)hica+
and e%en asserted that he had een ase enou*h to
se++ himse+f to &irtius for a %er' considera+e sum"
&e $as so shame+ess as to ta@e the $ife of a con4
su+ from her husand in the midst of a su))er J he
too@ her to a nei*horin* c+oset( staid $ith her there
for some time( and rou*ht her ac@ to ta+e $ithout
himse+f( the $oman( or her husand +ushin* at
a++ at the )roceedin*"
We ha%e a+so a +etter from Anton' to Au*ustus(
couched in these terms - #Ita %a+eas ut hanc c)is4
to+am cum +e*es( non inieris Testu++am( aut Teren4
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the incest of Au*ustus $ith .u+ia" So sa's Sueton4
ius( in his +ife of Ca+i*u+a"
We @no$ that Au*ustus re)udiated the mother
of .u+ia the %er' da' she $as rou*ht to ed of her(
and on the same da' too@ Li%ia from her husand
$hen she $as )re*nant of Tierius another mon4
ster( $ho succeeded him" Such $as the man to
$hom &orace said - #Res Ita+as armis tuteris( mori
us ornes( Le*ius emendes" " " "#
It is hard to re)ress our indi*nation at readin*
at the commencement of the eor*ics that Au*ustus
is one of the *reatest of di%initiesJ and that it is
not @no$n $hat )+ace he $i++ one da' dei*n to
occu)' in hea%en J $hether he $i++ rei*n in the air(
or ecome the )rotector of cities( or %ouchsafe to
acce)t the em)ire of the seas -
An Deus immensi %enias marts( ac tua nauta
Numina so+a ce+ant tii ser%ia+ u+tima Thu+e"
Ariosto s)ea@s $ith much more sense as $e++ as
*race( $hen he sa's in his Mne thirt'4Mfth canto -
Nonfu si santo ne eni*no Au*usta
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Come +a troma di Vir*i+io sonnaJ
Lea%er a%uto in )oesia uon *usto
La )roscri)tione iniua *+i )erdona"
Au*ustus $as not uite so mi+d and chaste
As he2s ' honest Vir*i+ re)resentedJ
!ut then( the t'rant had )oetic tasteJ
With this the )oet fu++' $as contented"
The Crue+ties of Au*ustus"
If Au*ustus $as +on* aandoned to the most
shamefu+ and frantic dissi)ation( his crue+t' $as no
+ess uniform and de+ierate" &is )roscri)tions
7 B Phi+oso)hica+
$ere )u+ished in the midst of feastin* and re%e+r' J
he )roscried more than three hundred senators(
t$o thousand @ni*hts( and one hundred oscure ut
$ea+th' heads of fami+ies( $hose on+' crime $as
their ein* rich" Anton' and Octa%ius had them
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@i++ed( so+e+' that the' mi*ht *et )ossession of their
mone'J in $hich the' diered not the +east from
hi*h$a' roers( $ho are condemned to the $hee+"
Octa%ius( immediate+' after the Persian $ar(
*a%e his %eterans a++ the +ands e+on*in* to the citi4
1ens of 0antua and Cremona( thus recom)ensin*
murder ' de)redation"
It is ut too certain that the $or+d $as ra%a*ed(
from the Eu)hrates to the etremities of S)ain( '
this man $ithout shame( $ithout faith( honor( or
)roit'( @na%ish( un*ratefu+( a%aricious( +ood4
thirst'( coo+ in the commission of crime( $ho( in
an' $e++4re*u+ated re)u+ic( $ou+d ha%e een con4
demned to the *reatest of )unishments for the Mrst
of his oences"
Ne%erthe+ess( the *o%ernment of Au*ustus is
sti++ admired( ecause under him Rome tasted )eace(
)+easure and aundance" Seneca sa's of him -
#C+ementiam non %oco +assam crude+itatem# #I do
not ca++ ehausted crue+t' c+emenc'"#
It is thou*ht that Au*ustus ecame mi+der $hen
crime $as no +on*er necessar' to him J and that(
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ein* aso+ute master( he sa$ that he had no other
interest than to a))ear ust" !ut it a))ears to me
that he sti++ $as )iti+ess rather than c+ementJ for(
Dictionar'" 7B9
after the att+e of Actium( he had Anton'2s son
murdered at the feet of Caesar2s statue J and he $as
so ararous as to ha%e 'oun* Caesarion( the son of
Csesar and C+eo)atra( eheaded( thou*h he &ad
reco*ni1ed him as @in* of E*')t"
Sus)ectin* one da' that the )raetor 5uintus a+4
+ius had come to an audience $ith a )oinard under
his roe( he had him )ut to the torture in his )res4
enceJ and( in his indi*nation at hearin* that sena4
tor ca++ him a t'rant( he tore out his e'es $ith his
o$n hands J at +east( so sa's Suetonius"
We @no$ that Caesar( his ado)ted father( $as
*reat enou*h to )ardon a+most a++ his enemies J ut
I do not Mnd that Au*ustus )ardoned one of his"
I ha%e *reat douts of his )retended c+emenc' td
Cinna" This aair is mentioned neither ' Sueton4
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tit+e of consu+ J ut it is not at a++ )roa+e that
Cinna sou*ht ' a cons)irac' to sei1e the su)reme
authorit' he( $ho had ne%er commanded an arm'(
$as su))orted ' no )art'( and $as a man of no
consideration in the em)ire" It is not %er' +i@e+'
that a mere suordinate courtier $ou+d thin@ of
succeedin* a so%erei*n $ho had een t$ent' 'ears
Mrm+' esta+ished on his throne( and had heirs J nor
is it more +i@e+' that Au*ustus $ou+d ma@e him
consu+ immediate+' after the cons)irac'"
If Cinna2s ad%enture e true( Au*ustus )ardoned
him on+' ecause he cou+d not do other$ise( ein*
o%ercome ' the reasonin* or the im)ortunities of
Li%ia( $ho had acuired *reat inQuence o%er him(
and )ersuaded him( sa's Seneca( that )ardon $ou+d
do him more ser%ice than chastisement" It $as
then on+' throu*h )o+ic' that he( for once( $as
mercifu+ J it certain+' $as not throu*h *enerosit'"
Sha++ $e *i%e a roer credit for c+emenc'( e4
cause( ein* enriched and secure( eno'in* in )eace
the fruits of his ra)ine( he is not e%er' da' assas4
sinatin* the sons and *randsons of the )roscried(
$hi+e the' are @nee+in* to and $orshi))in* himH
After ein* a ararian he $as a )rudent )o+itician"
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Dictionar'" 7B>
It is $orth' of remar@ that )osterit' ne%er *a%e
him the tit+e of %irtuous( $hich $as esto$ed on
Titus( on Traan( and the Antonines" It e%en e4
came customar' in the com)+iments )aid to em4
)erors on their accession(( to $ish that the' mi*ht
e more fortunate than Au*ustus( and more %irtu4
ous than Traan" It is no$( therefore( a++o$a+e
to consider Au*ustus as a c+e%er and fortunate
monster"
Louis Racine( son of the *reat Racine( and heir
to a )art of his ta+ents( seems to for*et himse+f
$hen he sa's( in his #ReQections on Poetr'(# that
#&orace and Vir*i+ s)oi+ed Au*ustus J the' e4
hausted their art in )oisonin* the mind of Au*ustus
' their )raises"# These e)ressions $ou+d +ead one
to e+ie%e that the eu+o*ies so mean+' +a%ished '
these t$o *reat )oets( corru)ted this em)eror2s Mne
dis)osition" !ut Louis Racine %er' $e++ @ne$ that
Au*ustus $as an eceedin*+' ad man( re*ardin*
crime and %irtue $ith indierence( a%ai+in* himse+f
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a+i@e of the horrors of the one and the a))earances
of the other( attenti%e so+e+' to his o$n interest(
em)+o'in* +oodshed and )eace( arms and +a$s( re4
+i*ion and )+easure( on+' to ma@e himse+f master
of the earth( and sacriMcin* e%er'thin* to himse+f"
Louis Racine on+' sho$s us that Vir*i+ and &orace
had ser%i+e sou+s"
&e is( unfortunate+'( too much in the ri*ht $hen he
re)roaches Cornei++e $ith ha%in* dedicated #Cinna#
to the Mnancier 0ontoron( and said to that recei%er(
7? Phi+oso)hica+
#What 'ou most es)ecia++' ha%e in common $ith
Au*ustus is the *enerosit' $ith $hich(# etc"( for(
thou*h Au*ustus $as the most $ic@ed of Roman
citi1ens( it must e confessed that the Mrst of the
em)erors( the master( the )aciMcator( the +e*is+ator
of the then @no$n $or+d( shou+d not e )+aced a4
so+ute+' on a +e%e+ $ith a c+er@ to a com)tro++er4
*enera+ in au+"
The same Louis Racine( in ust+' condemnin*
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the mean adu+ation of Cornei++e( and the aseness
of the a*ed &orace and Vir*i+( mar%e++ous+' +a's
ho+d of this )assa*e in 0assi++on2s #Petit Careme"#
#It is no +ess cu+)a+e to fai+ in truth to$ards mon4
archs than to e $antin* in Mde+it'J the same
)ena+t' shou+d e im)osed on adu+ation as on re4
%o+t"#
I as@ 'our )ardon( Father 0assi++onJ ut this
stro@e of 'ours is %er' oratorica+( %er' )reacher4
+i@e( %er' ea**erated" The Lea*ue and the Fronde
ha%e( if I am not decei%ed( done more harm than
5uinau+t2s )ro+o*ues" There is no $a' of con4
demnin* 5uinau+t as a ree+" #Est modus in
reusU2 Father 0assi++on( $hich is $antin* in a++
manufacturers of sermons"
AVINON"
AVINON and its countr' are monuments of
$hat the ause of re+i*ion( amition( @na%er'( and
fanaticism united can eect" This +itt+e countr'(
after a thousand %icissitudes( had( in the t$e+fth
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Dictionar'" 77
centur'( )assed into the hands of the counts of Tou4
+ouse( descended from Char+ema*ne ' the fema+e
side"
Ra'mond VI"( count of Tou+ouse( $hose fore4
fathers had een the )rinci)a+ heroes in the cru4
sades( $as stri))ed of his states ' a crusade $hich
the )o)e stirred u) a*ainst him" The cause of the
crusade $as the desire of ha%in* his s)oi+sJ the
)retet $as that in se%era+ of his to$ns the citi1ens
thou*ht near+' as has een thou*ht for u)$ards of
t$o hundred 'ears in En*+and( S$eden( Denmar@(
three4fourths of S$it1er+and( &o++and( and ha+f of
erman'"
This $as hard+' a sucient reason for *i%in*( in
the name of od( the states of the count of Tou4
+ouse to the Mrst occu)ant( and for de%otin* to
s+au*hter and Mre his suects( cruciM in hand( and
$hite cross on shou+der" A++ that is re+ated of the
most sa%a*e )eo)+e fa++s far short of the arari4
ties committed in this $ar( ca++ed ho+'" The ridicu4
+ous atrocit' of some re+i*ious ceremonies a+$a's
accom)anied these horrid ecesses" It is @no$n
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that Ra'mond VI" $as dra**ed to a church of St"
i+es2s( efore a +e*ate( na@ed to the $aist( $ithout
hose or sanda+s( $ith a ro)e aout his nec@( $hich
$as he+d ' a deacon( $hi+e another deacon Qo**ed
him( and a third sun* miserere $ith some mon@s4 4
and a++ the $hi+e the +e*ate $as at dinner" Such
$as the ori*in of the ri*ht of the )o)es o%er
A%i*non"
Vo+" it
7 : Phi+oso)hica+
Count Ra'mond( $ho had sumitted to the Qa*e+4
+ation in order to )reser%e his states( under$ent this
i*nomin' to no )ur)ose $hate%er" &e had to de4
fend ' arms $hat he had thou*ht to )reser%e '
suerin* a fe$ stri)esJ he sa$ his to$ns +aid in
ashes( and died in 7:7 amid the %icissitudes of the
most san*uinar' $ar"
&is son( Ra'mond VII"( $as not( +i@e his father(
sus)ected of heres' J ut he $as the son of a heretic(
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and $as to e stri))ed of a++ his )ossessions( '
%irtue of the Decreta+sJ such $as the +a$" The
crusade( therefore( $as continued a*ainst him J he
$as ecommunicated in the churches( on Sunda's
and ho+ida's( to the sound of e++s and $ith ta)ers
etin*uished"
A +e*ate $ho $as in France durin* the minorit'
of St" Louis raised tenths there to maintain this
$ar in Lan*uedoc and Pro%ence" Ra'mond de4
fended himse+f $ith coura*e J ut the heads of the
h'dra of fanaticism $ere incessant+' rea))earin*
to de%our him"
The )o)e at +ast made )eace ecause a++ his
mone' had een e)ended in $ar" Ra'mond VII"
came and si*ned the treat' efore the )orta+ of the
cathedra+ of Paris" &e $as forced to )a' ten thou4
sand mar@s of si+%er to the +e*ate( t$o thousand to
the ae' of Citeau( M%e hundred to the ae' of
C+air%au( a thousand to that of rand4Se+%e( and
three hundred to that of !e++e)erche a++ for the
Dictionar'" 7
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sa+%ation of his sou+( as is s)eciMed in the treat'
So it $as that the Church a+$a's ne*otiated"
It is %er' remar@a+e that in this document the
count of Tou+ouse constant+' )uts the +e*ate e4
fore the @in*- #I s$ear and )romise to the +e*ate
and to the @in* faithfu++' to oser%e a++ these thin*s(
and to cause them to e oser%ed ' m' %assa+s and
suects(# etc"
This $as not a++" &e ceded to Po)e re*or' I="
the countr' of Venaissin e'ond the Rhone( and the
so%erei*nt' of se%ent'4three cast+es on this side the
same ri%er" The )o)e adud*ed this Mne to him4
se+f ' a )articu+ar act( desirous that( in a )u+ic
instrument( the ac@no$+ed*ment of ha%in* e4
terminated so man' Christians for the )ur)ose of
sei1in* u)on his nei*hor2s *oods( shou+d not a)4
)ear in so *+arin* a +i*ht" !esides( he demanded
$hat Ra'mond cou+d not *rant( $ithout the con4
sent of the Em)eror Frederic@ II" The count2s
+ands( on the +eft an@ of the Rhone( $ere an im4
)eria+ Mef( and Frederic@ II" ne%er sanctioned this
eaction"
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A+)honso( rother of St" Louis( ha%in* married
this unfortunate )rince2s dau*hter( ' $hom he had
no chi+dren( a++ the states of Ra'mond VII" in
Lan*uedoc( de%o+%ed to the cro$n of France( as
had een sti)u+ated in the marria*e contract"
The countr' of Venaissin( $hich is in Pro%ence(
had een ma*nanimous+' *i%en u) ' the Em)eror
7 Phi+oso)hica+
Frederic@ II" to the count of Tou+ouse" &is
dau*hter .oan( efore her death( had dis)osed of
them ' $i++ in fa%or of Char+es of Anou( count
of Pro%ence( and @in* of Na)+es"
Phi+i) the !o+d( son of St" Louis( ein* )ressed
' Po)e re*or' I="( *a%e the countr' of Venaissin
to the Roman church in 7:9" It must e confessed
that Phi+i) the !o+d *a%e $hat in no $a' e+on*ed
to himJ that this cession $as aso+ute+' nu++ and
%oid( and that no act e%er $as more contrar' to
a++ +a$"
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It is the same $ith the to$n of A%i*non" .oan
of France( ueen of Na)+es( descended from the
rother of St" Louis( ha%in* een( $ith ut too *reat
an a))earance of ustice( accused of causin* her
husand to e stran*+ed( desired the )rotection of
Po)e C+ement VI"( $hose see $as then the to$n of
A%i*non( in .oan2s domains" She $as countess of
Pro%ence" In 79 the Pro%en*a+s made her s$ear(
on the *os)e+( that she $ou+d se++ none of her so%4
erei*nties" She had scarce+' ta@en this oath efore
she $ent and so+d A%i*non to the )o)e" The au4
thentic act $as not si*ned unti+ .une 7( 7GJ the
sum sti)u+ated for $as ei*ht' thousand Qorins of
*o+d" The )o)e dec+ared her innocent of her hus4
and2s murder( ut ne%er )aid her" .oan2s recei)t
has ne%er een )roduced" She )rotested uridica++'
four se%era+ times a*ainst this deceitfu+ )urchase"
So that A%i*non and its countr' $ere ne%er
considered to ha%e een dismemered from Pro%4
Dictionar'" 7B
ence( other$ise than ' a ra)ine( $hich $as the
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more manifest( as it had een sou*ht to co%er it $ith
the c+oa@ of re+i*ion"
When Louis =I" acuired Pro%ence he acuired
it $ith a++ the ri*hts a))ertainin* theretoJ and( as
a))ears ' a +etter from .ohn of Foi to that mon4
arch( had in 7 reso+%ed to enforce them" !ut
the intri*ues of the court of Rome $ere a+$a's so
)o$erfu+ that the @in*s of France condescended to
a++o$ it the eno'ment of this sma++ )ro%ince" The'
ne%er ac@no$+ed*ed in the )o)es a +a$fu+ )osses4
sion( ut on+' a sim)+e eno'ment"
In the treat' of Pisa( made ' Louis =IV" $ith
A+eander VII"( in 7( it is said that( #e%er' o4
stac+e sha++ e remo%ed( in order that the )o)e ma'
eno' A%i*non as efore"# The )o)e( then( had
this )ro%ince on+' as cardina+s ha%e )ensions from
the @in*( $hich )ensions are discretiona+"
A%i*non and its countr' $ere a constant source
of emarrassment to the French *o%ernment J the'
aorded a refu*e to a++ the an@ru)ts and smu*4
*+ers( thou*h %er' +itt+e )roMt thence accrued to the
)o)e"
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A/STERITIES"
0ORTIFICATIONS( FLAELLATIONS"
S/PPOSE that some chosen indi%idua+s( +o%ers of
stud'( united to*ether after a thousand catastro)hes
had ha))ened to the $or+d( and em)+o'ed them4
se+%es in $orshi))in* od and re*u+atin* the time
of the 'ear( as is said of the ancient !rahmins and
0a*i J a++ this is )erfect+' *ood and honest" The'
mi*ht( ' their fru*a+ +ife( set an eam)+e to the
rest of the $or+dJ the' mi*ht astain( durin* tKe
ce+eration of their feasts( from a++ intoicatin*
+iuors( and a++ commerce $ith their $i%esJ the'
mi*ht e c+othed modest+' and decent+'J if the'
$ere $ise( other men consu+ted them J if the' $ere
ust( the' $ere +o%ed and re%erenced" !ut did not
su)erstition( ra$+in*( and %anit' soon ta@e the
)+ace of the %irtues H
Was not the Mrst madman that Qo**ed himse+f
Dictionar'" 79
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)u+ic+' to a))ease the *ods the ori*ina+ of the
)riests of the S'rian *oddess( $ho Qo**ed them4
se+%es in her honor J of the )riests of Isis( $ho did
the same on certain da's J of the )riests of Dodona(
named Sa+ii( $ho inQicted $ounds on themse+%es J of
the )riests of !e++ona( $ho struc@ themse+%es $ith
saresJ of the )riests of Diana( $ho dre$ +ood
from their ac@s $ith rods J of the )riests of C'e+e(
$ho made themse+%es eunuchs J of the fa@irs of
India( $ho +oaded themse+%es $ith chainsH &as
the ho)e of otainin* aundant a+ms nothin* at a++
to do $ith the )ractice of these austerities H
Is there not some simi+arit' et$een the e**ars(
$ho ma@e their +e*s s$e++ ' a certain a))+ication
and co%er their odies $ith sores( in order to force
a fe$ )ence from the )assen*ers( and the im)ostors
of antiuit'( $ho seated themse+%es u)on nai+s( and
so+d the ho+' nai+s to the de%out of their countr' H
And had %anit' ne%er an' share in )romotin*
these )u+ic mortiMcations( $hich attracted the e'es
of the mu+titudeH #I scour*e m'se+f( ut it is to
e)iate 'our fau+ts J I *o na@ed( ut it is to re)roach
'ou $ith the richness of 'our *arments J I feed on
hers and snai+s( ut it is to correct in 'ou the %ice
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)esti+ence( )reci)itate a son from a roc@J to ha%e
infa++i+' a *ood har%est( thro$ a dau*hter into the
Ni+e"
These Asiatic su)erstitions *a%e rise to the
Qa*e++ations $hich $e ha%e imitated from the .e$s"
Their de%otees sti++ Qo* themse+%es( and Qo* one
another( as the )riests of E*')t and S'ria did of
o+d" Amon* us the aots Qo**ed their mon@s(
and the confessors their )enitents of oth sees"
St" Au*ustine $rote to 0arce++inus( the triune(
that #the Donatists must e $hi))ed as schoo+4
masters $hi) their scho+ars"#
It is said that it $as not unti+ the tenth cen4
tur' that mon@s and nuns e*an to scour*e them4
se+%es on certain da's of the 'ear" The custom of
scour*in* sinners as a )enance $as so $e++ esta4
+ished that St" Louis2s confessor often *a%e him the
Dictionar'" 7>
$hi)" &enr' II" $as Qo**ed ' the mon@s of Can4
terur' 6in 7:?9;" Ra'mond( count of Tou+ouse(
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$ith a ro)e round his nec@( $as Qo**ed ' a deacon(
at the door of St" i+es2s church( as has efore een
said"
The cha)+ains to Louis VIII"( @in* of France(
$ere condemned ' the )o)e2s +e*ate to *o at the
four *reat feasts to the door of the cathedra+ of
Paris( and )resent rods to the canons( that the'
mi*ht Qo* them in e)iation for the crime of the
@in*( their master( $ho had acce)ted the cro$n of
En*+and( $hich the )o)e had ta@en from him '
%irtue of the )+enitude of his )o$er" Indeed( the
)o)e sho$ed *reat indu+*ence in not ha%in* t&e
@in* himse+f $hi))ed( ut contentin* himse+f $ith
commandin* him( on )ain of damnation( to )a' to
the a)osto+ic chamer the amount of t$o 'ears2
re%enue"
From this custom is deri%ed that $hich sti++ e4
ists( of armin* a++ the *rand4)enitentiaries in St"
Peter2s at Rome $ith +on* $ands instead of rods(
$ith $hich the' *i%e *ent+e ta)s to the )enitents(
+'in* a++ their +en*th on the Qoor" In this manner
it $as that &enr' IV"( of France( had his )osteriors
Qo**ed ' Cardina+ Ossat and Du)erron" So true
is it that $e ha%e scarce+' 'et emer*ed from ar4
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arism"
At the commencement of the thirteenth centur'
fraternities of )enitents $ere formed at Perosia and
!o+o*na" 8oun* men a+most na@ed( $ith a rod in
79? Phi+oso)hica+
one hand and a sma++ cruciM in the other( Qo**ed
themse+%es in the streetsJ $hi+e the $omen )ee)ed
throu*h the $indo$4+inds and $hi))ed themse+%es
in their chamers"
These Qa*e++ators inundated Euro)eJ there are
man' of them sti++ to e found in Ita+'( in S)ain(
and e%en in France( at Per)i*nan" At the e*innin*
of the siteenth centur' it $as %er' common for
confessors to $hi) the )osteriors of their )enitents"
A histor' of the Lo$ Countries( com)osed ' 0et4
eren( re+ates that a corde+ier named Adriacem( a
*reat )reacher at !ru*es( used to $hi) his fema+e
)enitents uite na@ed"
The .esuit Edmund Au*er( confessor to &enr'
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III"( )ersuaded that unfortunate )rince to )ut him4
se+f at the head of the Qa*e++ators"
F+o**in* the )osteriors is )ractised in %arious
con%ents of mon@s and nuns J from $hich custom
there ha%e sometimes resu+ted stran*e immodesties(
o%er $hich $e must thro$ a %ei+( in order to s)are
the +ushes of such as $ear the sacred %ei+( and
$hose se and )rofession are $orth' of our hi*hest
re*ard"
A/T&ORS"
A/T&OR is a *eneric term( $hich( +i@e the names
of a++ other )rofessions( ma' si*nif' author of the
*ood( or of the adJ of the res)ecta+e( or of the
ridicu+ousJ of the usefu+( or the a*reea+eJ or
+ast+'( the )roducer of dis*ustin* trash"
Dictionar'" 797
This name is a+so common to dierent thin*s"
We sa' eua++' the author of nature and the author
of the son*s of the Pont Neuf ( or of the +iterar' a*e"
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The author of a *ood $or@ shou+d e$are of three
thin*s tit+e( dedication( and )reface" Others
shou+d ta@e care of the fourth( $hich is $ritin*
at a++"
As to the tit+e( if the author has the $ish to )ut
his name to it( $hich is often %er' dan*erous( it
shou+d at +east e under a modest formJ it is not
)+easant to see a )ious $or@( fu++ of +essons of hu4
manit'( ' Sir or 0' Lord" The reader( $ho is
a+$a's ma+icious( and $ho often is $earied( usua++'
turns into ridicu+e a oo@ that is announced $ith so
much ostentation" The author of the #Imitation of
.esus Christ# did not )ut his name to it"
!ut the a)ost+es( 'ou $i++ sa'( )ut their names to
their $or@s J that is not true( the' $ere too modest"
The a)ost+e 0atthe$ ne%er entit+ed his oo@ the
os)e+ of St" 0atthe$J it is a homa*e that has
een )aid to him since" St" Lu@e himse+f( $ho co+4
+ected a++ that he had heard said( and $ho dedicated
his oo@ to Theo)hi+us( did not ca++ it the os)e+
of St" Lu@e" St" .ohn a+one mentions himse+f in
the A)oca+')seJ and it is su))osed that this oo@
$as $ritten ' Cerinthus( $ho too@ the name of
.ohn to *i%e authorit' to his )roduction"
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&o$e%er it ma' ha%e een in )ast a*es( it
a))ears to me %er' o+d in authors no$ to )ut
names and tit+es at the head of their $or@s" The
79: Phi+oso)hica+
isho)s ne%er fai+ to do so( and the thic@ uartos
$hich the' *i%e us under the tit+e of mandaments
are decorated $ith armoria+ earin*s and the in4
si*nia of their stationJ a $ord( no dout( is said
aout Christian humi+it'( ut this $ord is often
fo++o$ed ' atrocious ca+umnies a*ainst those $ho
are of another communion or )art'" We on+' s)ea@
here( ho$e%er( of )oor )rofane authors" The du@e
de +a Rochefoucau+d did not announce his thou*hts
as the )roduction of 0onsei*neur +e due de +a
Rochefoucau+d( )air de France" Some )ersons $ho
on+' ma@e com)i+ations in $hich there ma' e Mne
thin*s( $i++ Mnd it inudicious to announce them as
the $or@ of A" !"( )rofessor of the uni%ersit' of
( doctor of di%init'( memer of this or of that
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academ'( and so on" So man' di*nities do not
render the oo@ etter" It $i++ sti++ e $ished that
it $as shorter( more )hi+oso)hica+( +ess M++ed $ith
o+d stories" With res)ect to tit+es and ua+it'( no4
od' cares aout them"
Dedications are often on+' oerin*s from inter4
ested aseness to disdainfu+ %anit'" Who $ou+d
e+ie%e that Rohaut( soi4disant )h'sician( in his
dedication to the du@e of uise( to+d him that his
ancestors had maintained( at the e)ense of their
+ood( )o+itica+ truth( the fundamenta+ +a$s of the
state( and the ri*hts of so%erei*nsH Le !a+afre
and the du@e of 0a'enne $ou+d e a +itt+e sur)rised
if this e)ist+e $ere read to them in the other $or+d"
And $hat $ou+d &enr' IV" sa' H 0ost of the dedi4
Dictionar'" 79
cations in En*+and are made for mone'( ust as the
ca)uchins )resent us $ith sa+ad on condition of our
*i%in* them drin@"
0en of +etters in France are i*norant of this
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shamefu+ aasement( and ha%e ne%er ehiited so
much meanness( ece)t some unfortunates( $ho ca++
themse+%es men of +etters in the same sense that
si*n4dauers oast of ein* of the )rofession of
Ra)hae+( and that the coachman of Vertamont $as
a )oet"
Prefaces are another roc@" #The U is hatefu+(#
sa's Pasca+" S)ea@ of 'ourse+f as +itt+e as 'ou can(
for 'ou ou*ht to e a$are that the se+f4+o%e of the
reader is as *reat as 'our o$n" &e $i++ ne%er )ar4
don 'ou for $ishin* to o+i*e him to esteem 'ou"
It is for 'our oo@ to s)ea@ to him( shou+d it ha)4
)en to e read amon* the cro$d"
#The i++ustrious sura*es $ith $hich m' )iece
has een honored $i++ ma@e me dis)ense $ith an4
s$erin* m' ad%ersaries the a))+auses of the )u4
+ic"# Erase a++ that( sir J e+ie%e me 'ou ha%e had no
i++ustrious sura*es J 'our )iece is eterna++' for4
*otten"
#Some censors ha%e )retended that there are too
man' e%ents in the third act J and that in the fourth
the )rincess is too +ate in disco%erin* the tender
sentiments of her heart for her +o%er" To that I
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ans$er # Ans$er nothin*( m' friend( for nood'
has s)o@en( or $i++ s)ea@ of th' )rincess" Th' )iece
has fa++en ecause it is tiresome( and $ritten in Qat
7 9 Phi+oso)hica+
and ararous %erseJ th' )reface is a )ra'er for
the dead( ut it $i++ not re%i%e them"
Others attest that a++ Euro)e has not understood
their treatises on com)atii+it' on the Su)ra+a)4
sarians on the dierence $hich shou+d e made
et$een the 0acedonian and Va+entinian heresies(
etc" Tru+'( I e+ie%e that nood' understands them(
since nood' reads them"
We are inundated $ith this trash and $ith con4
tinua+ re)etition J $ith insi)id romances $hich co)'
their )redecessorsJ $ith ne$ s'stems founded on
ancient re%eriesJ and +itt+e histories ta@en from
+ar*er ones"
Do 'ou $ish to e an authorH Do 'ou $ish to
ma@e a oo@H Reco++ect that it must e ne$ and
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usefu+( or at +east a*reea+e" Wh' from 'our
)ro%incia+ retreat $ou+d 'ou assassinate me $ith
another uarto( to teach me that a @in* ou*ht to e
ust( and that Traan $as more %irtuous than Ca+i*4
u+aH 8ou insist u)on )rintin* the sermons $hich
ha%e +u++ed 'our +itt+e oscure to$n to re)ose( and
$i++ )ut a++ our histories under contriutions to e4
tract from them the +ife of a )rince of $hom 'ou
can sa' nothin* ne$"
If 'ou ha%e $ritten a histor' of 'our o$n time(
dout not ut 'ou $i++ Mnd some +earned chrono+o4
*ist( or ne$s)a)er commentator( $ho $i++ re+ie%e
'ou as to a date( a Christian name( or a suadron
$hich 'ou ha%e $ron*+' )+aced at the distance
of three hundred )aces from the )+ace $here if
Dictionar'" 79B
rea++' stood" !e *ratefu+( and correct these im4
)ortant errors forth$ith"
If an i*noramus( or an em)t' foo+( )retend to
criticise this thin* or the other( 'ou ma' )ro)er+'
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confute him J ut name him rare+'( for fear of soi+4
in* 'our $ritin*s" If 'ou are attac@ed on 'our
st'+e( ne%er ans$er J 'our $or@ a+one shou+d re)+'"
If 'ou are said to e sic@( content 'ourse+f that
'ou are $e++( $ithout $ishin* to )ro%e to the )eo4
)+e that 'ou are in )erfect hea+thJ and( ao%e a++(
rememer that the $or+d cares %er' +itt+e $hether
'ou are $e++ or i++"
A hundred authors com)i+e to *et their read(
and t$ent' foo+s etract( criticise( a)o+o*i1e( and
satiri1e these com)i+ations to *et read a+so( ecause
the' ha%e no )rofession" A++ these )eo)+e re)air on
Frida's to the +ieutenant of the )o+ice at Paris to
demand )ermission to se++ their dru*s" The' ha%e
audience immediate+' after the courtesans( $ho do
not re*ard them( ecause the' @no$ that the' are
)oor customers"
The' return $ith a tacit )ermission to se++ and
distriute throu*hout the @in*dom their storiesJ
their co++ection of on4mots J the +ife of the unfor4
tunate Re*is J the trans+ation of a erman )oem J
ne$ disco%eries on ee+sJ a ne$ co)' of %ersesJ a
treatise on the ori*in of e++s( or on the +o%es of the
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toads" A oo@se++er u's their )roductions for ten
cro$ns J the' *i%e M%e of them to the ourna+ist( on
condition that he $i++ s)ea@ $e++ of them in his
79 Phi+oso)hica+
ne$s)a)er" The critic ta@es their mone'( and sa's
a++ the i++ he can ?7 their oo@s" The a**rie%ed
)arties *o to com)+ain to the .e$( $ho )rotects the
$ife of the ourna+ist( and the scene c+oses ' the
critic ein* carried to Fort E%eue J and these are
the' $ho ca++ themse+%es authors
These )oor )eo)+e are di%ided into t$o or three
ands( and *o e**in* +i@e mendicant friars J ut not
ha%in* ta@en %o$s their societ' +asts on+' for a fe$
da's( for the' etra' one another +i@e )riests $ho
run after the same eneMce( thou*h the' ha%e no
eneMce to ho)e for" !ut the' sti++ ca++ themse+%es
authors
The misfortune of these men is that their fathers
did not ma@e them +earn a trade( $hich is a *reat
defect in modern )o+ic'" E%er' man of the )eo)+e
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$ho can rin* u) his son in a usefu+ art( and does
not( merits )unishment" The son of a mason e4
comes a .esuit at se%enteen J he is chased from so4
ciet' at four and t$ent'( ecause the +e%it' of his
manners is too *+arin*" !eho+d him $ithout read
&e turns ourna+ist( he cu+ti%ates the +o$est @ind
of +iterature( and ecomes the contem)t and horror
of e%en the mo" And such as these( a*ain( ca++
themse+%es authors
The on+' authors are the' $ho ha%e succeeded in
a *enuine art( e it e)ic )oetr'( tra*ed'( comed'(
histor'( or )hi+oso)h'( and $ho teach or de+i*ht
man@ind" The others( of $hom $e ha%e s)o@en(
are( amon* men of +etters( +i@e ats amon* the
Dictionar'" 799
irds" We cite( comment( criticise( ne*+ect( for*et(
and( ao%e a++( des)ise an author $ho is an author
on+'"
A)ro)os of citin* an author( I must amuse m'4
se+f $ith re+atin* a sin*u+ar mista@e of the re%erend
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so+ent asurdit' $ith $hich 'ou condemned a+i+eo(
and I s)ea@ to 'ou of it for the hundred and Mrst" I
$ou+d ha%e it inscried o%er the door of 'our ho+'
oce"
Se%en cardina+s( assisted ' certain minorite
friars( thre$ into )rison the master of thin@in* in
Ita+'( at the a*e of se%ent'J and made him +i%e
u)on read and $ater ecause he instructed man4
@ind in that of $hich the' $ere i*norant"
&a%in* )assed a decree in fa%or of the cate*ories
of Aristot+e( the ao%e unta +earned+' and euita+'
doomed to the )ena+t' of the *a++e's $hoe%er
shou+d dare to e of another o)inion from the
Dictionar'" 79>
Sta*'rite( of $hom t$o counci+s had urned the
oo@s"
Further( a Facu+t'( $hich )ossessed %er' sma++
facu+ties( made a decree a*ainst innate ideas( and
after$ards another for them( $ithout the said
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Facu+t' ein* informed( ece)t ' its ead+es( of
$hat an idea $as"
In nei*horin* schoo+s +e*a+ )roceedin*s $ere
commenced a*ainst the circu+ation of the +ood" A
)rocess $as issued a*ainst inocu+ation( and the )ar4
ties cited ' summons"
One and t$ent' %o+umes of thou*hts in fo+io
ha%e een sei1ed( in $hich it $as $ic@ed+' and
fa+se+' said that trian*+es ha%e a+$a's three an*+es J
that a father $as o+der than his sonJ that Rhea
Si+%ia +ost her %ir*init' efore her accouchement J
and that farina diers from oa@ +ea%es"
In another 'ear the fo++o$in* uestion $as de4
cided- #/trum chimara ominans in %acuo )os4
sit comedere secundas intentionesH# and decided
in the armati%e" These ud*es( of course( con4
sidered themse+%es much su)erior to Archimedes(
Euc+id( Cicero( or P+in'( and strutted aout the /ni4
%ersities accordin*+'"
A=IS"
&o$ is it that the ais of the earth is not )er4
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)endicu+ar to the euator H Wh' is it raised to$ard
the north and inc+ined to$ards the south )o+e( in a
)osition $hich does not a))ear natura+( and $hich
7 G? Phi+oso)hica+
seems the conseuence of some deran*ement( or the
resu+t of a )eriod of a )rodi*ious numer of 'ears H
Is it true that the ec+i)tic continua++' inc+ines '
an insensi+e mo%ement to$ards the euator and that
the an*+e formed ' these t$o +ines has a +itt+e di4
minished in t$o thousand 'ears H
Is it true that the ec+i)tic has een former+'
)er)endicu+ar to the euator( that the E*')tians ha%e
said so( and that &erodotus has re+ated itH This
motion of the ec+i)tic $ou+d form a )eriod of aout
t$o mi++ions of 'ears" It is not that $hich astounds
us( for the ais of the earth has an im)erce)ti+e
mo%ement in aout t$ent'4si thousand 'ears $hich
occasions the )recession of the euinoes" It is as
eas' for nature to )roduce a rotation of t$ent' thou4
sand as of t$o hundred and sit' a*es"
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We are decei%ed $hen $e are to+d that the E*')4
tians had( accordin* to &erodotus( a tradition that
the ec+i)tic had een former+' )er)endicu+ar to the
euator" The tradition of $hich &erodotus s)ea@s
has no re+ation to the coincidence of the euinoctia+
and ec+i)tic +ines J that is uite another aair"
The )retended scho+ars of E*')t said that the sun
in the s)ace of e+e%en thousand 'ears had set t$ice
in the east and risen t$ice in the $est" When the
euator and the ec+i)tic coincided( and $hen the da's
$ere e%er'$here eua+ to the ni*hts the sun did not
on that account chan*e its settin* and risin*( ut
the earth turned on its ais from $est to east( as
at this da'" This idea of ma@in* the sun set in the
Dictionar'" 7 G 7
east is a chimera on+' $orth' of the rains of the
)riests of E*')t and sho$s the )rofound i*norance
of those u**+ers $ho ha%e had so much re)utation"
The ta+e shou+d e c+assed $ith those of the sat'rs
$ho san* and danced in the train of Osiris J $ith the
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+itt+e o's $hom the' $ou+d not feed ti++ after the'
had run ei*ht +ea*ues( to teach them to conuer the
$or+d J $ith the t$o chi+dren $ho cried ee in as@4
in* for read and $ho ' that means disco%ered that
the Phr'*ian $as the ori*ina+ +an*ua*e J $ith Kin*
Psammeticus( $ho *a%e his dau*hter to a thief $ho
had deterous+' sto+en his mone'( etc"
Ancient histor'( ancient astronom'( ancient )h's4
ics( ancient medicine 6u) to &i))ocrates;( ancient
*eo*ra)h'( ancient meta)h'sics( a++ are nothin* ut
ancient asurdities $hich ou*ht to ma@e us fee+ the
ha))iness of ein* orn in +ater times"
There is( no dout( more truth in t$o )a*es of the
French Enc'c+o)sedia in re+ation to )h'sics than in
a++ the +irar' of A+eandria( the +oss of $hich is so
much re*retted"
!A!EL"
SECTION I"
!A!EL si*niMes amon* the Orienta+s( od the
Father( the )o$er of od( the *ate of od( accordin*
to the $a' in $hich the $ord is )ronounced" It a)4
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Lucas has seen the remains of it and it is a Mne thin*
to e as @een4si*hted as Pau+ Lucas( ut these di4
mensions are not the on+' dicu+ties $hich ha%e e4
ercised the +earned"
Peo)+e ha%e $ished to @no$ ho$ the chi+dren of
Noah( after ha%in* di%ided amon* themse+%es the
is+ands of the nations and esta+ished themse+%es in
%arious +ands( $ith each one his )articu+ar +an*ua*e(
fami+ies( and )eo)+e( shou+d a++ Mnd themse+%es in
the )+ain of Shinaar( to ui+d there a to$er sa'in*(
#Let us ma@e us a name +est $e e scattered aroad
u)on the face of the $ho+e earth"#
The !oo@ of enesis s)ea@s of the states $hich
the sons of Noah founded" It has re+ated ho$ the
Dictionar'" 7 G
)eo)+e of Euro)e( Africa( and Asia( a++ came to Shi4
naar s)ea@in* one +an*ua*e on+'( and )ur)osin* the
same thin*"
The Vu+*ate )+aces the De+u*e in the 'ear of the
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$or+d 7B( and the construction of the to$er of
!ae+ 7997( that is to sa'( one hundred and Mfteen
'ears after the destruction of man@ind( and e%en dur4
in* the +ife of Noah"
0en then must ha%e mu+ti)+ied $ith )rodi*ious
ce+erit'J a++ the arts re%i%ed in a %er' +itt+e time"
When $e reQect on the *reat numer of trades $hich
must ha%e een em)+o'ed to raise a to$er so hi*h $e
are ama1ed at so stu)endous a $or@"
The )atriarch Araham $as orn( accordin* to the
!i+e( aout four hundred 'ears after the de+u*e( and
a+read' $e see a +ine of )o$erfu+ @in*s in E*')t
and in Asia" !ochart and other sa*es ha%e )+eas4
ant+' M++ed their *reat oo@s $ith Phoenician and
Cha+daean $ords and s'stems $hich the' do not un4
derstand" The' ha%e +earned+' ta@en Thrace for
Ca))adocia( reece for Crete( and the is+and of C'4
)rus for T're J the' s)ort in an ocean of i*norance
$hich has neither ottom nor shore" It $ou+d ha%e
een shorter for them to ha%e a%o$ed that od( after
se%era+ a*es( has *i%en us sacred oo@s to render us
etter men and not to ma@e us *eo*ra)hers( chrono+4
o*ists( or et'mo+o*ists"
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famous to$er of !ae+ J nothin* of this stor' of the
confusion of ton*ues is found in an' oo@" This
memora+e ad%enture $as as un@no$n to the $ho+e
uni%erse as the names of Noah( 0ethuse+ah( Cain(
and Adam and E%e"
This dicu+t' tanta+i1es our curiosit'" &erodo4
tus( $ho tra%e++ed so much( s)ea@s neither of Noah(
or Shem( Reu( Sa+ah( or Nimrod" The name of Nim4
rod is un@no$n to a++ )rofane antiuit' J there are
on+' a fe$ Aras and some modern Persians $ho
ha%e made mention of Nimrod in fa+sif'in* the oo@s
of the .e$s"
Nothin* remains to conduct us throu*h these an4
cient ruins( un@no$n to a++ the nations of the uni4
Dictionar'" 7GB
%erse durin* so man' a*es( ut faith in the !i+e(
and ha))i+' that is an infa++i+e *uide"
&erodotus( $ho has min*+ed man' fa+es $ith
some truths( )retends that in his time( $hich $as
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that of *reatest )o$er of the Persian so%erei*ns of
!a'+on( a++ the $omen of the immense cit' $ere
o+i*ed to *o once in their +i%es to the tem)+e of
0'+itta( a *oddess $ho $as thou*ht to e the same
as A)hrodite( or Venus( in order to )rostitute them4
se+%es to stran*ers( and that the +a$ commanded
them to recei%e mone' as a sacred triute( $hich
$as )aid o%er to the )riesthood of the *oddess"
!ut e%en this Araian ta+e is more +i@e+' than that
$hich the same author te++s of C'rus di%idin* the
Indus into three hundred and sit' cana+s( $hich a++
dischar*ed themse+%es into the Cas)ian Sea What
shou+d $e sa' of 0e1era' if he had to+d us that
Char+ema*ne di%ided the Rhine into three hundred
and sit' cana+s( $hich fe++ into the 0editerranean(
and that a++ the +adies of his court $ere o+i*ed once
in their +i%es to )resent themse+%es at the church of
St" ene%ie%e to )rostitute themse+%es to a++ comers
for mone'H
It must e remar@ed that such a fa+e is sti++ more
asurd in re+ation to the time of =eres( in $hich
&erodotus +i%ed( than it $ou+d e in that of Char+e4
ma*ne" The Orienta+s $ere a thousand times more
ea+ous than the Fran@s and au+s" The $i%es of a++
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the *reat +ords $ere carefu++' *uarded ' eunuchs"
This custom eisted from time immemoria+" It is
7 G Phi+oso)hica+
seen e%en in the .e$ish histor' that $hen that +itt+e
nation $ished +i@e the others to ha%e a @in*( Samue+(
to dissuade them from it and to retain his authorit'(
said #that a @in* $ou+d t'ranni1e o%er them and that
he $ou+d ta@e the tenths of their %ines and corn to
*i%e to his eunuchs"# The @in*s accom)+ished this
)rediction( for it is $ritten in the First !oo@ of
Kin*s that Kin* Aha had eunuchs( and in the Sec4
ond that .oram( .ehu( .ehoia@im( and <ede@iah had
them a+so"
The eunuchs of Pharaoh are s)o@en of a +on* time
)re%ious+' in the !oo@ of enesis( and it is said that
Poti)har( to $hom .ose)h $as so+d( $as one of the
@in*2s eunuchs" It is c+ear( therefore( that there $ere
*reat numers of eunuchs at !a'+on to *uard the
$omen" It $as not then a dut' for them to )rosti4
tute themse+%es to the Mrst comer( nor $as !a'+on(
the cit' of od( a %ast rothe+ as it has een )re4
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tended"
These ta+es of &erodotus( as $e++ as a++ others in
the same taste( are no$ so decried ' a++ )eo)+e of
sense reason has made so *reat )ro*ress that e%en
o+d $omen and chi+dren $i++ no +on*er e+ie%e such
etra%a*ances #Non est %etu+a ua credat nee )ueri
credunt( nisi ui nondum 6Ere +a%antur"#
There is in our da's on+' one man $ho( not )ar4
ta@in* of the s)irit of the a*e in $hich he +i%es(
$ou+d ustif' the fa+e of &erodotus" The infam'
a))ears to him a %er' sim)+e aair" &e $ou+d )ro%e
that the !a'+onian )rincesses )rostituted themse+%es
Dictionar'" 7G9
throu*h )iet'( to the Mrst )assen*ers( ecause it is
said in the ho+' $ritin*s that the Ammonites made
their chi+dren )ass throu*h the Mre in )resentin*
them to 0o+och" !ut $hat re+ation has this custom
of some ararous hordes this su)erstition of )ass4
in* their chi+dren throu*h the Qames( or e%en of
urnin* them on )i+es( in honor of I @no$ not $hom
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Third+'( the Lu)erca+ feast has no re+ation $hat4
7 GG Phi+oso)hica+
e%er to the )retended +a$ of !a'+on( $hich com4
mands the $i%es and dau*hters of the @in*( the sa4
tra)s( and the ma*i to se++ and )rostitute themse+%es
to stran*ers out of )ure de%otion"
When an author( $ithout @no$in* either the hu4
man mind or the manners of nations( has the mis4
fortune to e o+i*ed to com)i+e from )assa*es of
o+d authors( $ho are a+most a++ contradictor'( he
shou+d ad%ance his o)inions $ith modest' and @no$
ho$ to dout( and to sha@e o the dust of the co+4
+e*e" Ao%e a++ he shou+d ne%er e)ress himse+f
$ith outra*eous inso+ence"
&erodotus( or Ctesias( or Diodorus of Sici+'( re4
+ate a fact - 'ou ha%e read it in ree@( therefore this
fact is true" This manner of reasonin*( $hich is not
that of Euc+id( is sur)risin* enou*h in the time in
$hich $e +i%e J ut a++ minds $i++ not e instructed
$ith eua+ faci+it'J and there are a+$a's more )er4
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sons $ho com)i+e than )eo)+e $ho thin@"
We $i++ sa' nothin* here of the confusion of
ton*ues $hich too@ )+ace durin* the construction
of the to$er of !ae+" It is a mirac+e( re+ated in the
&o+' Scri)tures" We neither e)+ain( nor e%en e4
amine an' mirac+es( and as the authors of that *reat
$or@( the Enc'c+o)aedia( e+ie%ed them( $e a+so e4
+ie%e them $ith a +i%e+' and sincere faith"
We $i++ sim)+' arm that the fa++ of the Roman
Em)ire has )roduced more confusion and a *reater
numer of ne$ +an*ua*es than that of the to$er of
!ae+" From the rei*n of Au*ustus ti++ the time
Dictionar'" 7 G>
of the Atti+as( the C+e%ises( and the ondierts( dur4
in* si a*es( #terra erat unius +aii(# #the @no$n
earth $as of one +an*ua*e"# The' s)o@e the same
Latin at the Eu)hrates as at 0ount At+as" The +a$s
$hich *o%erned a hundred nations $ere $ritten in
Latin and the ree@ ser%ed for amusement( $hi+st
the ararous ar*on of each )ro%ince $as on+' for
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the )o)u+ace" The' )+eaded in Latin at once in the
triuna+s of Africa and of Rome" An inhaitant of
Corn$a++ de)arted for Asia 0inor sure of ein* un4
derstood e%er'$here in his route" It $as at +east one
*ood eected ' the ra)acit' of the Romans that
)eo)+e found themse+%es as $e++ understood on the
Danue as on the uada+ui%er" At the )resent time
a !er*amas@ $ho tra%e+s into the sma++ S$iss can4
tons( from $hich he is on+' se)arated ' a mountain(
has the same need of an inter)reter as if he $ere in
China" This is one of the *reatest )+a*ues of modern
+ife"
SECTION II"
Vanit' has a+$a's raised state+' monuments" It
$as throu*h %anit' that men ui+t the +oft' to$er of
!ae+" #Let us *o and raise a to$er( the summit
of $hich sha++ touch the s@ies( and render our name
ce+erated efore $e are scattered u)on the face of
the earth"# The enter)rise $as underta@en in the
time of a )atriarch named Pha+e*( $ho counted the
*ood man Noah for his Mfth ancestor" It $i++ e seen
that architecture( and a++ the arts $hich accom)an' it(
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7 >? Phi+oso)hica+
had made *reat )ro*ress in M%e *enerations" St"
.erome( the same $ho has seen fauns and sat'rs(
has not seen the to$er of !ae+ an' more than I
ha%e( ut he assures us that it $as t$ent' thousand
feet hi*h" This is a triQe" The ancient oo@( #.a4
cu+t# $ritten ' one of the most +earned .e$s( dem4
onstrates the hei*ht to e ei*ht'4one thousand .e$
ish feet( and e%er' one @no$s that the .e$ish foot
$as near+' as +on* as the ree@" These dimensions
are sti++ more +i@e+' than those of .erome" This
to$er remains( ut it is no +on*er uite so hi*h J se%4
era+ uite %eracious tra%e++ers ha%e seen it" I( $ho
ha%e not seen it( $i++ ta+@ as +itt+e of it as of m'
*randfather Adam( $ith $hom I ne%er had the honor
of con%ersin*" !ut consu+t the re%erend father Ca+4
met J he is a man of Mne $it and a )rofound )hi+oso4
)her and $i++ e)+ain the thin* to 'ou" I do not
@no$ $h' it is said( in enesis( that !ae+ si*niMes
confusion( for( as I ha%e a+read' oser%ed( a an4
s$ers to father in the eastern +an*ua*es( and e+ si*4
niMes od" !ae+ means the cit' of od( the ho+'
cit'" !ut it is incontesta+e that !ae+ means con4
fusion( )ossi+' ecause the architects $ere con4
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founded after ha%in* raised their $or@ to ei*ht'4one
thousand feet( )erha)s( ecause the +an*ua*es $ere
then confounded( as from that time the ermans no
+on*er understood the Chinese( a+thou*h( accordin*
to the +earned !ochart( it is c+ear that the Chinese is
ori*ina++' the same +an*ua*e as the &i*h erman"
Dictionar'" 7>7
!ACC&/S"
OF ALL the true or fau+ous )ersona*es of )rofane
antiuit' !acchus is to us the most im)ortant" I do
not mean for the Mne in%ention $hich is attriuted to
him ' a++ the $or+d ece)t the .e$s( ut for the
)rodi*ious resem+ance of his fau+ous histor' to the
true ad%entures of 0oses"
The ancient )oets ha%e )+aced the irth of !acchus
in E*')t J he is e)osed on the Ni+e and it is from
that e%ent that he is named 0ises ' the Mrst Or4
)heus( $hich( in E*')tian( si*niMes #sa%ed from the
$aters(# accordin* to those $ho )retend to under4
stand the ancient E*')tian ton*ue( $hich is no +on*er
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@no$n" &e is rou*ht u) near a mountain of Araia
ca++ed Nisa( $hich is e+ie%ed to e 0ount Sinai"
It is )retended that a *oddess ordered him to *o and
destro' a ararous nation and that he )assed
throu*h the Red Sea on foot( $ith a mu+titude of
men( $omen( and chi+dren" Another time the ri%er
Orontes sus)ended its $aters ri*ht and +eft to +et
him )ass( and the &'das)es did the same" &e com4
manded the sun to stand sti++J t$o +uminous ra's
)roceeded from his head" &e made a fountain of
$ine s)out u) ' stri@in* the *round $ith his th'r4
sis( and en*ra%ed his +a$s on t$o ta+es of mar+e"
&e $anted on+' to ha%e aicted E*')t $ith ten
)+a*ues( to e the )erfect co)' of 0oses"
Vossius is( I thin@( the Mrst $ho has etended
this )ara++e+" The isho) of A%ranches( &uet( has
7>: Phi+oso)hica+
)ushed it uite as far( ut he adds( in his #E%an*e+i4
ca+ Demonstrations(# that 0oses is not on+' !acchus(
ut that he is a+so Osiris and T')hon" &e does not
ha+t in this Mne )ath" 0oses( accordin* to him( is
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scu+a)ius( Am)hion( A)o++o( Adonis( and e%en
Pria)us" It is )+easant enou*h that &uet founds his
)roof that 0oses is Adonis in their oth @ee)in*
shee) - #Et formosus o%es( ad Mumina )a%it Adonis"#
&e contends that he is Pria)us ecause Pria)us
is sometimes )ainted $ith an ass( and the .e$s $ere
su))osed( amon* the enti+es( to adore an ass" &e
*i%es another )roof( not %er' canonica+( $hich is that
the rod of 0oses mi*ht e com)ared to the sce)tre of
Pria)us" #Sce)trum triuitur Pria)o( %ir*a 0osi"#
Neither is this demonstration in the manner of Eu4
c+id"
We $i++ not here s)ea@ of the more modern
!acchuses( such as he $ho +i%ed t$o hundred 'ears
efore the Troan $ar( and $hom the ree@s ce+e4
rated as a son of .u)iter( shut u) in his thi*h" We
$i++ )ause at him $ho $as su))osed to e orn on the
conMnes of E*')t and to ha%e )erformed so man'
)rodi*ies" Our res)ect for the sacred .e$ish oo@s
$i++ not )ermit us to dout that the E*')tians( the
Aras( and e%en the ree@s( ha%e imitated the his4
tor' of 0oses" The dicu+t' consists so+e+' in not
@no$in* ho$ the' cou+d e instructed in this in4
contro%erti+e histor'" With res)ect to the E*')4
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tians( it is %er' +i@e+' that the' ne%er recorded these
mirac+es of 0oses( $hich $ou+d ha%e co%ered them
Dictionar'" 7 >
$ith shame" If the' had said a $ord of it the histo4
rians( .ose)hus and Phi+o( $ou+d not ha%e fai+ed to
ha%e ta@en ad%anta*e of it" .ose)hus( in his ans$er
to A))ion( made a )oint of citin* a++ the E*')tian
authors $ho ha%e mentioned 0oses( and he Mnds
none $ho re+ate one of these mirac+es" No .e$ has
e%er uoted an' E*')tian author $ho has said a
$ord of the ten )+a*ues of E*')t( of the miracu+ous
)assa*e throu*h the Red Sea( etc" It cou+d not e
amon* the E*')tians( therefore( that this scanda+ous
)ara++e+ $as formed et$een the di%ine 0oses and
the )rofane !acchus"
It is %er' c+ear that if a sin*+e E*')tian author
had said a $ord of the *reat mirac+es of 0oses a++
the s'na*o*ue of A+eandria( a++ the dis)utatious
church of that famous to$n $ou+d ha%e uoted such
$ord( and ha%e trium)hed at it( e%er' one after his
manner" Athena*orus( C+ement( Ori*en( $ho ha%e
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said so man' use+ess thin*s( $ou+d ha%e re+ated this
im)ortant )assa*e a thousand times and it $ou+d
ha%e een the stron*est ar*ument of a++ the fathers"
The $ho+e ha%e @e)t a )rofound si+ence J the' &ad(
therefore( nothin* to sa'" !ut ho$ $as it )ossi+e
for an' E*')tian to s)ea@ of the e)+oits of a man
$ho caused a++ the Mrst orn of the fami+ies of E*')t
to e @i++ed J $ho turned the Ni+e to +ood( and $ho
dro$ned in the Red Sea their @in* and a++ his arm' H
A++ our historians a*ree that one C+odo$ic@( a
Sicamrian( suu*ated au+ $ith a handfu+ of ar4
arians" The En*+ish are the Mrst to sa' that the
Vo+" 7
7> Phi+oso)hica+
Saons( the Danes( and the Normans came ' turns
to eterminate a )art of their nation" If the' had
not a%o$ed this truth a++ Euro)e $ou+d ha%e e4
c+aimed a*ainst its concea+ment" The uni%erse shou+d
ec+aim in the same manner at the ama1in* )rodi*ies
of 0oses( of .oshua( of ideon( Samson( and of so
man' +eaders and )ro)hets" The uni%erse is si+ent
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not$ithstandin*" Ama1in* m'ster' On one side
it is )a+)a+e that a++ is true( since it is found in the
ho+' $ritin*s( $hich are a))ro%ed ' the Church J on
the other it is e%ident that no )eo)+e ha%e e%er men4
tioned it" Let us $orshi) Pro%idence( and sumit
ourse+%es in a++ thin*s"
The Aras( $ho ha%e a+$a's +o%ed the mar%e+4
+ous( $ere )roa+' the Mrst authors of the fa+es in4
%ented of !acchus( after$ards ado)ted and eme+4
+ished ' the ree@s" !ut ho$ came the stories of
the Aras and ree@s to a*ree so $e++ $ith those of
the .e$s H It is @no$n that the &ere$s ne%er com4
municated their oo@s to an' one ti++ the time of the
Pto+emies J the' re*arded such communication as a
sacri+e*e( and .ose)hus( to ustif' their ostinac' in
concea+in* the Pentateuch from the rest of the $or+d(
sa's that od )unished a++ forei*ners $ho dared to
s)ea@ of the .e$ish histories" If $e are to e+ie%e
him( the historian Theo)om)us( for on+' desi*nin*
to mention them in his $or@( ecame deran*ed for
thirt' da's( and the tra*ic )oet Theodectes $as
struc@ +ind for ha%in* introduced the name of the
.e$s into one of his tra*edies" Such are the ecuses
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Dictionar'" 7>B
that F+a%ius .ose)hus *i%es in his ans$er to A))ion
for the histor' of the .e$s ein* so +on* un@no$n"
These oo@s $ere of such )rodi*ious scarcit' that
$e on+' hear of one co)' under Kin* .osiah( and this
co)' had een +ost for a +on* time and $as found in
the ottom of a chest on the re)ort of Sha)han( scrie
to the Ponti &i+@iah( $ho carried it to the @in*"
This circumstance ha))ened( accordin* to the Sec4
ond !oo@ of Kin*s( si hundred and t$ent'4four
'ears efore our %u+*ar era( four hundred 'ears after
&omer( and in the most Qourishin* times of reece"
The ree@s then scarce+' @ne$ that there $ere an'
&ere$s in the $or+d" The ca)ti%it' of the .e$s at
!a'+on sti++ more au*mented their i*norance of
their o$n oo@s" Esdras must ha%e restored them
at the end of se%ent' 'ears and for a+read' more
than M%e hundred 'ears the fa+e of !acchus had
een current amon* the ree@s"
If the ree@s had founded their fa+es on the
.e$ish histor' the' $ou+d ha%e chosen facts more
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interestin* to man@ind( such as the ad%entures of
Araham( those of Noah( of 0ethuse+ah( of Seth(
Enoch( Cain( and E%e J of the fata+ ser)ent and of
the tree of @no$+ed*e( a++ $hich names ha%e e%er
een un@no$n to them" There $as on+' a s+i*ht
@no$+ed*e of the .e$ish )eo)+e unti+ a +on* time
after the re%o+ution that A+eander )roduced in Asia
and in Euro)e J the historian .ose)hus a%o$s it in
forma+ terms" This is the manner in $hich he e4
)resses himse+f in the commencement of his re)+'
7> Phi+oso)hica+
to A))ion( $ho 6' $a' of )arenthesis; $as dead
$hen he ans$ered him( for A))ion died under the
Em)eror C+audius( and .ose)hus $rote under Ves4
)asian"
#As the countr' $e inhait is distant from the
sea $e do not a))+' ourse+%es to commerce and ha%e
no communication $ith other nations" We content
ourse+%es $ith cu+ti%atin* our +ands( $hich are %er'
ferti+e( and $e +aor chieQ' to rin* u) our chi+dren
)ro)er+'( ecause nothin* a))ears to us so necessar'
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as to instruct them in the @no$+ed*e of our ho+'
+a$s and in true )iet'( $hich ins)ires them $ith the
desire of oser%in* them" The ao%e reasons( added
to others a+read' mentioned( and this manner of +ife
$hich is )ecu+iar to us( sho$ $h' $e ha%e had no
communication $ith the ree@s( +i@e the E*')tians
and Phoenicians" Is it astonishin* that our nation( so
distant from the sea( not aectin* to $rite an'thin*(
and +i%in* in the $a' $hich I ha%e re+ated( has een
+itt+e @no$nH#
After such an authentic a%o$a+ from a .e$( the
most tenacious of the honor of his nation that has
e%er $ritten( it $i++ e seen that it is im)ossi+e for
the ancient ree@s to ha%e ta@en the fa+e of !ac4
chus from the ho+' oo@s of the &ere$s( an' more
than the sacriMce of I)hi*enia( that of the son of
Idomeneus( the +aors of &ercu+es( the ad%enture of
Eur'dice( and others" The uantit' of ancient ta+es
$hich resem+e one another is )rodi*ious" &o$ is it
that the ree@s ha%e )ut into fa+es $hat the &e4
Dictionar'" 7>9
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re$s ha%e )ut into historiesH Was it ' the *ift
of in%ention J $as it ' a faci+it' of imitation( or in
conseuence of the accordance of Mne mindsH To
conc+ude - od has )ermitted it a truth $hich ou*ht
to suce"
Of $hat conseuence is it that the Aras and
ree@s ha%e said the same thin*s as the .e$s H We
read the O+d Testament on+' to )re)are ourse+%es for
the Ne$( and in neither the one nor the other do $e
see@ an'thin* ut +essons of ene%o+ence( modera4
tion( *ent+eness( and true charit'"
!ACON 6ROER;"
IT is *enera++' thou*ht that Ro*er !acon( the
famous mon@ of the thirteenth centur'( $as a %er'
*reat man and that he )ossessed true @no$+ed*e( e4
cause he $as )ersecuted and condemned to )rison
' a set of i*noramuses" It is a *reat )reudice in
his fa%or( I o$n" !ut does it not ha))en e%er' da'
that uac@s *ra%e+' condemn other uac@s( and that
foo+s ma@e other foo+s )a' the )ena+t' of fo++' H This(
our $or+d( has for a +on* time resem+ed the com)act
ediMces in $hich he $ho e+ie%es in the eterna+
Father anathemati1es him $ho e+ie%es in the &o+'
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host J circumstances $hich are not %er' rare e%en
in these da's" Amon* the thin*s $hich render
Friar !acon commenda+e $e must Mrst rec@on his
im)risonment( and then the no+e o+dness $ith
$hich he dec+ared that a++ the oo@s of Aristot+e
$ere Mt on+' to e urned and that at a time $hen the
7>G Phi+oso)hica+
+earned res)ected Aristot+e much more than the .an4
senists res)ect St" Au*ustine" &as Ro*er !acon(
ho$e%er( done an'thin* etter than the Poetics( the
Rhetoric( and the Lo*ic of Aristot+eH These three
immorta+ $or@s c+ear+' )ro%e that Aristot+e $as a
%er' *reat and Mne *enius )enetratin*( )rofound(
and methodica+ J and that he $as on+' a ad natura+
)hi+oso)her ecause it $as im)ossi+e to )enetrate
into the de)ths of )h'sica+ science $ithout the aid
of instruments"
Does Ro*er !acon( in his est $or@( in $hich he
treats of +i*ht and %ision( e)ress himse+f much more
c+ear+' than Aristot+e $hen he sa's +i*ht is created
' means of mu+ti)+'in* its +uminous s)ecies( $hich
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action is ca++ed uni%oca+ and conforma+e to the
a*entH &e a+so mentions another eui%oca+ mu+ti4
)+ication( ' $hich +i*ht en*enders heat and heat
)utrefaction"
Ro*er !acon +i@e$ise te++s us that +ife ma' e )ro4
+on*ed ' means of s)ermaceti( a+oes( and dra*ons2
Qesh( and that the )hi+oso)her2s stone $ou+d render
us immorta+" It is thou*ht that esides these Mne
secrets he )ossessed a++ those of udicia+ astro+o*'(
$ithout ece)tion( as he arms %er' )ositi%e+' in
his #O)us 0a us(# that the head of man is suect
to the inQuences of the ram( his nec@ to those of the
u++( and his arms to the )o$er of the t$ins" &e
e%en demonstrates these Mne thin*s from e)erience(
and hi*h+' )raises a *reat astro+o*er at Paris $ho
sa's that he hindered a sur*eon from )uttin* a )+as4
Dictionar'" 7>>
ter on the +e* of an in%a+id( ecause the sun $as then
in the si*n of Auarius( and Auarius is fata+ to
+e*s to $hich )+asters are a))+ied"
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It is an o)inion uite *enera++' recei%ed that
Ro*er $as the in%entor of *un)o$der" It is certain
that it $as in his time that im)ortant disco%er' $as
made( for I a+$a's remar@ that the s)irit of in%ention
is of a++ times and that the doctors( or sa*es( $ho
*o%ern oth mind and od' are *enera++' )rofound+'
i*norant( foo+ish+' )reudiced( or at $ar $ith com4
mon sense" It is usua++' amon* oscure men that
artists are found animated $ith a su)erior instinct(
$ho in%ent admira+e thin*s on $hich the +earned
after$ards reason"
One thin* that sur)rises me much is that Friar
!acon @ne$ not the direction of the ma*netic need+e(
$hich( in his time( e*an to e understood in Ita+'(
ut in +ieu thereof he $as acuainted $ith the secret
of the ha1e+ rod and man' such thin*s of $hich he
treats in his #Di*nit' of the E)erimenta+ Art"#
8et( not$ithstandin* this )itia+e numer of a4
surdities and chimeras( it must e confessed that
Ro*er !acon $as an admira+e man for his a*e"
What a*e H 'ou $i++ as@ that of feuda+ *o%ernment
and of the schoo+men" Fi*ure to 'ourse+f Samo4
'edes and Ostiacs $ho read Aristot+e" Such $ere
$e at that time"
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Ro*er !acon @ne$ a +itt+e of *eometr' and o)tics(
$hich made him )ass for a sorcerer at Rome and
Paris" &e $as( ho$e%er( rea++' acuainted $ith the
aoo Phi+oso)hica+
matter contained in the Araian #A+ha1en# for in
those da's +itt+e $as @no$n ece)t throu*h the
Aras" The' $ere the )h'sicians and astro+o*ers of
a++ the Christian @in*s" The @in*2s foo+ $as a+$a's
a nati%e J his doctor an Ara or a .e$"
Trans)ort this !acon to the times in $hich $e
+i%e and he $ou+d e( no dout( a *reat man" &e
$as *o+d( encrusted $ith the rust of the times in
$hich he +i%ed( this *o+d $ou+d no$ e uic@+' )uri4
Med" Poor creatures that $e are &o$ man' a*es
ha%e )assed a$ r a' in acuirin* a +itt+e reason
!ANIS&0ENT"
!ANIS&0ENT for a term of 'ears( or for +ife- a
)ena+t' inQicted on de+inuents( or on indi%idua+s
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$ho are $ished to e considered as such"
Not +on* a*o it $as the custom to anish from
$ithin the +imits of the urisdiction( for )ett' thefts(
for*eries( and assau+ts( the resu+t of $hich $as that
the oender ecame a *reat roer( for*er( or mur4
derer in some other urisdiction" This is +i@e thro$4
in* into a nei*hor2s Me+d the stones that incommode
us in our o$n"
Those $ho ha%e $ritten on the +a$s of nations
ha%e tormented themse+%es *reat+' to determine
$hether a man $ho has een anished from his coun4
tr' can ust+' e said sti++ to e+on* to that countr'"
It mi*ht a+most as $e++ e as@ed $hether a *am+er(
$ho has een dri%en a$a' from the *amin*4ta+e( is
sti++ one of the )+a'ers at that ta+e"
Dictionar'" :?7
If ' the +a$ of nature a man is )ermitted to
choose his countr'( sti++ more is the man $ho has
+ost the ri*hts of a citi1en at +iert' to choose himse+f
a ne$ countr'" 0a' he ear arms a*ainst his former
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fe++o$4citi1ens H Of this $e ha%e a thousand eam4
)+es" &o$ man' French Protestants( natura+i1ed in
En*+and( &o++and( or erman'( ha%e ser%ed( not
on+' a*ainst France( ut a*ainst armies in $hich
their re+ati%es( their o$n rothers( ha%e fou*ht H The
ree@s in the armies of the @in* of Persia fou*ht
a*ainst the ree@s( their o+d fe++o$4countr'men"
The S$iss in the ser%ice of &o++and ha%e Mred u)on
the S$iss in the ser%ice of France" This is e%en
$orse than M*htin* a*ainst those $ho ha%e anished
'ou( for( after a++( dra$in* the s$ord in re%en*e
does not seem so ad as dra$in* it for hire"
!APTIS0"
A ree@ Word( Si*nif'in* Immersion"
SECTION I"
WE DO not s)ea@ of a)tism as theo+o*ians J $e
are ut )oor men of +etters( $ho sha++ ne%er enter
the sanctuar'" The Indians )+un*e( and ha%e from
time immemoria+ )+un*ed( into the an*es" 0an4
@ind( a+$a's *uided ' their senses( easi+' ima*ined
that $hat )uriMed the od' +i@e$ise )uriMed the sou+"
In the suterranean a)artments under the E*')tian
tem)+es there $ere +ar*e tus for the )riests and the
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initiated"
O nimium faci+es ui tristia crimina cced,2
F+untinea to++i )osse )utatis auat
:O: Phi+oso)hica+
O+d !audier( $hen he $as ei*ht'( made the fo+4
+o$in* comic trans+ation of these +ines
C2est une dro+e de maime(
5u2une +essi%e eace un crime"
One can2t ut thin@ it some$hat dro++(
Pum)4$ater thus shou+d c+eanse a sou+"
E%er' si*n ein* of itse+f indierent( od %ouch4
safed to consecrate this custom amon*st the &ere$
)eo)+e" A++ forei*ners that came to sett+e in Pa+es4
tine $ere a)ti1edJ the' $ere ca++ed domici+iar'
)rose+'tes"
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The' $ere not forced to recei%e circumcision( ut
on+' to emrace the se%en )rece)ts of the Noachides(
and to sacriMce to no stran*e *od" The )rose+'tes of
ustice $ere circumcised and a)ti1edJ the fema+e
)rose+'tes $ere a+so a)ti1ed( uite na@ed( in the
)resence of three men" The most de%out amon* the
.e$s $ent and recei%ed a)tism from the hands of
the )ro)hets most %enerated ' the )eo)+e" &ence
it $as that the' Qoc@ed to St" .ohn( $ho a)ti1ed in
the .ordan"
.esus Christ &imse+f( $ho ne%er a)ti1ed an' one(
dei*ned to recei%e a)tism from St" .ohn" This
custom( $hich had +on* een an accessor' of the
.e$ish re+i*ion( recei%ed ne$ di*nit'( ne$ %a+ue
from our Sa%iour( and ecame the chief rite( the
)rinci)a+ sea+ of Christianit'" &o$e%er( the Mrst
Mfteen isho)s of .erusa+em $ere .e$s" The Chris4
tians of Pa+estine +on* continued to circumcise" St"
.ohn2s Christians ne%er recei%ed a)tism from Christ"
Se%era+ other Christian societies a))+ied a cau4
Dictionar'" :?
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ter' to the a)ti1ed( $ith a red4hot iron( ein* de4
termined to the )erformance of this etraordinar'
o)eration ' the $ords of St" .ohn the !a)tist( re4
+ated ' St" Lu@e- #I a)ti1e 'ou $ith $ater( ut
&e that cometh after me sha++ a)ti1e 'ou $ith Mre"#
This $as )ractised ' the Se+eucians( the &er4
minians( and some others" The $ords( #&e sha++
a)ti1e 'ou $ith Mre(# ha%e ne%er een e)+ained"
There are se%era+ o)inions concernin* the a)tism
' Mre $hich is mentioned ' St" Lu@e and St" 0at4
the$" Perha)s the most +i@e+' o)inion is that it $as
an a++usion to the ancient custom of the de%otees to
the S'rian *oddess( $ho( after )+un*in* into $ater(
im)rinted characters on their odies $ith a hot iron"
With misera+e man a++ $as su)erstition( ut .esus
sustituted for these ridicu+ous su)erstitions a sa4
cred ceremon' a di%ine and ecacious s'mo+"
In the Mrst a*es of Christianit' nothin* $as more
common than to )ost)one the recei%in* of a)tism
unti+ the +ast a*on'" Of this the eam)+e of the Em4
)eror Constantine is a %er' stron* )roof" St" Andre$
had not een a)ti1ed $hen he $as made isho) of
0i+an" The custom of deferrin* the use of the sa4
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cred ath unti+ the hour of death $as soon ao+ished"
!a)tism of the Dead(
The dead a+so $ere a)ti1ed" This is esta+ished
' the )assa*e of St" Pau+ to the Corinthians - #If
$e rise not a*ain $hat sha++ the' do that recei%e
a)tism from the deadH# &ere is a )oint of fact"
:? Phi+oso)hica+
Either the dead themse+%es $ere a)ti1ed( or a)4
tism $as recei%ed in their names( as indu+*ences
ha%e since een recei%ed for the de+i%erance of the
sou+s of friends and re+ati%es out of )ur*ator'"
St" E)i)hanius and St" Chr'sostom inform us that
it $as a custom in some Christian societies( and )rin4
ci)a++' amon* the 0arcionites( to )ut a +i%in* man
under the dead man2s ed J he $as then as@ed if he
$ou+d e a)ti1edJ the +i%in* man ans$ered 'es(
and the cor)se $as ta@en and )+un*ed into a tu of
$ater" This custom $as soon condemned" St" Pau+
mentions it ut he does not condemn it J on the con4
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trar' he cites it as an in%inci+e ar*ument to )ro%e
resurrection"
!a)tism ' As)ersion"
The ree@s a+$a's retained a)tism ' immer4
sion" The Latins( aout the c+ose of the ei*hth cen4
tur'( ha%in* etended their re+i*ion into au+ and
erman' and seein* that immersion mi*ht e fata+ to
infants in co+d countries( sustituted sim)+e as)ersion
and thus dre$ u)on themse+%es freuent anathemas
from the ree@ Church"
St" C')rian( isho) of Cartha*e( $as as@ed if
those $ere rea++' a)ti1ed $ho had on+' had their
odies s)rin@+ed a++ o%er" &e ans$ers( in his se%4
ent'4sith +etter( that se%era+ churches did not e+ie%e
the s)rin@+ed to e ChristiansJ that( for his o$n
)art( he e+ie%es that the' are so( ut that the' ha%e
inMnite+' +ess *race than those $ho ha%e een thrice
di))ed( accordin* to custom"
Dictionar'" :?B
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A )erson $as initiated amon* the Christians as
soon as he $as di))ed J unti+ then he $as on+' a cate4
chumen" To e initiated it $as necessar' to ha%e
s)onsors to ans$er to the Church for the Mde+it' of
the ne$ Christians and that the m'steries shou+d not
e di%u+*ed" &ence it $as that in the Mrst a*es the
enti+es had( in *enera+( as +itt+e @no$+ed*e of the
Christian m'steries as the Christians had of the m's4
teries of Isis and the E+eusinian Ceres"
C'ri+ of A+eandria( in his $ritin* a*ainst the
Em)eror .u+ian( e)resses himse+f thus - #I $ou+d
s)ea@ of a)tism ut that I fear m' $ords $ou+d
reach them $ho are not initiated"# At that time
there $as no $orshi) $ithout its m'steries( its as4
sociations( its catechumens( its initiated( and its )ro4
fessed" Each sect reuired ne$ %irtues and recom4
mended to its )enitents a ne$ +ife #initium no%a
%ita# $hence the $ord initiation" The initiation
of Christians( $hether ma+e or fema+e( consisted in
their ein* )+un*ed uite na@ed into a tu of co+d
$ater( to $hich si*n $as attached the remission of
a++ their sins" !ut the dierence et$een Christian
a)tism and the ree@( S'rian( E*')tian( and Ro4
man ceremonies $as the dierence et$een truth
and fa+sehood" .esus Christ $as the &i*h Priest of
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the ne$ +a$"
In the second centur' infants e*an to e a)4
ti1ed J it $as natura+ that the Christians shou+d de4
sire their chi+dren( $ho $ou+d ha%e een damned
$ithout this sacrament( to e )ro%ided $ith it" If
:? Phi+oso)hica+
$as at +en*th conc+uded that the' must recei%e it at
the e)iration of ei*ht da's( ecause that $as the
)eriod at $hich( amon* the .e$s( the' $ere circum4
cised" In the ree@ Church this is sti++ the custom"
Such as died in the Mrst $ee@ $ere damned( ac4
cordin* to the most ri*orous fathers of the Church"
!ut Peter Chr'so+o*os( in the Mfth centur'( ima*ined
+imo( a sort of miti*ated he++( or )ro)er+'( the or4
der( the outs@irt of he++( $hither a++ infants d'in*
$ithout a)tism *o and $here the )atriarchs re4
mained unti+ .esus Christ2s descent into he++" So
that the o)inion that .esus Christ descended into
+imo( and not into he++( has since then )re%ai+ed"
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It $as a*itated $hether a Christian in the deserts
of Araia mi*ht e a)ti1ed $ith sand( this $as an4
s$ered in the ne*ati%e" It $as as@ed if rose$ater
mi*ht e used( it $as decided that )ure $ater $ou+d
e necessar' ut that mudd' $ater mi*ht e made
use of" It is e%ident that a++ this disci)+ine de)ended
on the discretion of the Mrst )astors $ho esta4
+ished it"
The Anaa)tists and some other communions out
of the )a+e ha%e thou*ht that no one shou+d e a)4
ti1ed $ithout a thorou*h @no$+ed*e of the merits
of the case" 8ou reuire( sa' the'( a )romise to e of
the Christian societ'( ut a chi+d can ma@e no en4
*a*ement" 8ou *i%e it a s)onsor( ut this is an
ause of an ancient custom" The )recaution $as
reuisite in the Mrst esta+ishment" When stran*ers(
adu+t men and $omen( came and )resented them4
Dictionar'" :?9
se+%es to e recei%ed into the societ' and share in the
a+ms there $as needed a *uarantee to ans$er for
their Mde+it' J it $as necessar' to ma@e sure of them J
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the' s$ore the' $ou+d e .e$s( ut an infant is in a
diametrica++' o))osite case" It has often ha))ened
that a chi+d a)ti1ed ' ree@s at Constantino)+e has
after$ards een circumcised ' Tur@s( a Christian
at ei*ht da's o+d and a 0ussu+man at thirt' 'ears( he
has etra'ed the oaths of his *odfather"
This is one reason $hich the Anaa)tists mi*ht
a++e*eJ it $ou+d ho+d *ood in Tur@e'( ut it has
ne%er een admitted in Christian countries $here
a)tism insures a citi1en2s condition" We must con4
form to the ri*hts and +a$s of our countr'"
The ree@s re4a)ti1e such of the Latins as )ass
from one of our Latin communions to the ree@
communion" In the +ast centur' it $as the custom
for these catechumens to )ronounce the fo++o$in*
$ords - #I s)it u)on m' father and m' mother $ho
had me i++ a)ti1ed"# This custom sti++ eists( and
$i++( )erha)s( +on* continue to eist in the )ro%inces"
Notions of Ri*id /nitarians Concernin* !a)tism"
It is e%ident to $hosoe%er is $i++in* to reason
$ithout )reudice that a)tism is neither a mar@ of
*race conferred nor a sea+ of a++iance( ut sim)+' a
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mar@ of )rofession"
That a)tism is not necessar'( neither ' neces4
sit' of )rece)t( nor ' necessit' of means"
That it $as not instituted ' Christ and that it
:?G Phi+oso)hica+
ma' e omitted ' the Christian $ithout his suer4
in* an' incon%enience therefrom"
That a)tism shou+d e administered neither to
chi+dren( nor to adu+ts( nor( in *enera+( to an' indi4
%idua+ $hatsoe%er"
That a)tism mi*ht e of ser%ice in the ear+' in4
fanc' of Christianit' to those $ho uitted )a*anism
in order to ma@e their )rofession of faith )u+ic and
*i%e an authentic mar@ of it( ut that no$ it is aso4
+ute+' use+ess and a+to*ether indierent"
SECTION II"
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!a)tism( immersion in $ater( astersion( )uriM4
cation ' $ater( is of the hi*hest antiuit'" To e
c+ean+' $as to e )ure efore the *ods" No )riest
e%er dared to a))roach the a+tar $ith a soi+ u)on his
od'" The natura+ inc+ination to transfer to the
sou+ that $hich a))ertains to the od' +ed to the e4
+ief that +ustrations and a+utions too@ a$a' the
stains of the sou+ as the' remo%ed those of the *ar4
ments and that $ashin* the od' $ashed the sou+
a+so" &ence the ancient custom of athin* in the
an*es( the $aters of $hich $ere thou*ht to e
sacred J hence the +ustrations so freuent amon* e%4
er' )eo)+e" The Orienta+ nations( inhaitin* hot
countries( $ere the most re+i*ious+' attached to these
customs"
The .e$s $ere o+i*ed to athe after an' )o++u4
tion after touchin* an unc+ean anima+( touchin* a
cor)se( and on man' other occasions"
When the .e$s recei%ed amon* them a stran*er
Dictionar'" :?>
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con%erted to their re+i*ion the' a)ti1ed( after cir4
cumcisin* him( and if it $as a $oman she $as sim)+'
a)ti1ed that is( di))ed in $ater in the )resence of
three $itnesses" This immersion $as re)uted to *i%e
the )ersons a)ti1ed a ne$ irth( a ne$ +ifeJ the'
ecame at once .e$ish and )ure" Chi+dren orn e4
fore this a)tism had no share in the inheritance of
their rethren( orn after them of a re*enerated
father and mother" So that( $ith the .e$s( to e
a)ti1ed and to e orn a*ain $ere the same thin*(
and this idea has remained attached to a)tism do$n
to the )resent da'" Thus( $hen .ohn( the forerunner(
e*an to a)ti1e in the .ordan he did ut fo++o$
an immemoria+ usa*e" The )riests of the +a$ did
not ca++ him to account for this a)ti1in* as for an'4
thin* ne$( ut the' accused him of arro*atin* to
himse+f a ri*ht $hich e+on*ed ec+usi%e+' to them
as Roman Catho+ic )riests $ou+d ha%e a ri*ht to
com)+ain if a +a'man too@ u)on himse+f to sa' mass"
.ohn $as doin* a +a$fu+ thin* ut $as doin* it un4
+a$fu++'"
.ohn $ished to ha%e disci)+es( and he had them"
&e $as chief of a sect amon* the +o$er orders of the
)eo)+e and it cost him his +ife" It e%en a))ears that
.esus $as at Mrst amon* his disci)+es( since he $as
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a)ti1ed ' him in the .ordan( and .ohn sent some
of his o$n )art' to &im a short time efore &is
death"
The historian .ose)hus s)ea@s of .ohn ut not of
.esus an incontesta+e )roof that in his time .ohn
Vo+" 7
:7? Phi+oso)hica+
the !a)tist had a *reater re)utation than &e $hom
he a)ti1ed" A *reat mu+titude fo++o$ed him( sa's
that ce+erated historian( and the .e$s seemed dis4
)osed to underta@e $hate%er he shou+d command
them"
From this )assa*e it a))ears that .ohn $as not
on+' the chief of a sect( ut the chief of a )art'"
.ose)hus adds that he caused &erod some uneasi4
ness" &e did indeed ma@e himse+f formida+e to
&erod( $ho( at +en*th( )ut him to death( ut .esus
medd+ed $ith none ut the Pharisees" .ose)hus(
therefore( mentions .ohn as a man $ho had stirred
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u) the .e$s a*ainst Kin* &erod J as one $hose 1ea+
had made him a state crimina+( ut .esus( not ha%in*
a))roached the court( $as un@no$n to the historian
.ose)hus"
The sect of .ohn the !a)tist diered $ide+' in
disci)+ine from that of .esus" In the Acts of the
A)ost+es $e see that t$ent' 'ears after the eecu4
tion of .esus( A)o++os of A+eandria( thou*h ecome
a Christian( @ne$ no a)tism ut that of .ohn( nor
had an' idea of the &o+' host" Se%era+ tra%e++ers(
and amon* others Chardin( the most accredited of
a++( sa' that in Persia there sti++ are disci)+es of .ohn(
ca++ed Sais( $ho a)ti1e in his name and ac@no$+4
ed*e .esus as a )ro)het( ut not as a *od"
As for .esus Christ &imse+f &e recei%ed a)tism
ut conferred it on no one J &is a)ost+es a)ti1ed the
catechumens( or circumcised them as occasion re4
uiredJ this is e%ident from the o)eration of cir4
Dictionar'" :77
cumcision )erformed ' Pau+ on his disci)+e
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Timoth'"
It a+so a))ears that $hen the a)ost+es a)ti1ed it
$as a+$a's in the name of .esus Christ a+one" The
Acts of the A)ost+es do not mention an' one a)ti1ed
in the name of the Father( Son( and &o+' host
$hence it ma' e conc+uded that the author of the
Acts of the A)ost+es @ne$ nothin* of 0atthe$2s
*os)e+( in $hich it is said- #o and teach a++ na4
tions( a)ti1in* them in the name of the Father( and
of the Son( and of the &o+' host"# The Christian
re+i*ion had not 'et recei%ed its form" E%en the
S'mo+( $hich $as ca++ed the S'mo+ of the A)ost+es(
$as not made unti+ after their time( of this no one
has an' dout" In Pau+2s E)ist+e to the Corinthians
$e Mnd a %er' sin*u+ar custom $hich $as then in4
troduced that of a)ti1in* the dead( ut the risin*
Church soon reser%ed a)tism for the +i%in* a+one J
at Mrst none $ere a)ti1ed ut adu+ts( and the cere4
mon' $as often deferred unti+ the a*e of Mft'( or tMe
+ast sic@ness( that the indi%idua+ mi*ht carr' $ith
him into the other $or+d the unim)aired %irtue of a
a)tism recent+' )erformed"
No$( a++ chi+dren are a)ti1ed - none ut the Ana4
a)tists reser%e this ceremon' for the mature a*eJ
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the' )+un*e their $ho+e odies into the $ater" The
5ua@ers( $ho com)ose a %er' numerous societ' in
En*+and and in America( do not use a)tism- the
reason is that .esus Christ did not a)ti1e an' of &is
disci)+es( and their aim is to e Christians on+' as &is
:7: Phi+oso)hica+
disci)+es $ere $hich occasions a %er' $ide dier4
ence et$een them and other communions"
Addition to the Artic+e #!a)tism# ' Ai Nicaise"
The Em)eror .u+ian( the )hi+oso)her( in his im4
morta+ 22Satire on the Caesars(# )uts these $ords into
the mouth of Constantius( son of Constantine-
#Whosoe%er fee+s himse+f *ui+t' of ra)e( murder(
)+under( sacri+e*e( and e%er' most aomina+e crime(
so soon as I ha%e $ashed him $ith this $ater( he
sha++ e c+ean and )ure"#
It $as( indeed( this fata+ doctrine that occasioned
the Christian em)erors( and the *reat men of the
em)ire( to defer their a)tism unti+ death" The'
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thou*ht the' had found the secret of +i%in* crimina+
and d'in* %irtuous"
&o$ stran*e an idea that a )ot of $ater shou+d
$ash a$a' e%er' crime No$( a++ chi+dren are a)4
ti1ed ecause an idea no +ess asurd su))oses them
a++ crimina+J the' are a++ sa%ed unti+ the' ha%e the
use of reason and the )o$er to ecome *ui+t' Cut
their throats( then( as uic@+' as )ossi+e( to insure
their entrance into )aradise" This is so ust a conse4
uence that there $as once a de%out sect that $ent
aout )oisonin* and @i++in* a++ ne$+'4a)ti1ed in4
fants" These de%out )ersons reasoned $ith )erfect
correctness( sa'in*- #We do these +itt+e innocents
the *reatest )ossi+e *oodJ $e )re%ent them from
ein* $ic@ed and unha))' in this +ife and $e *i%e
them +ife eterna+"#
Dictionar'" :7
!AR/C&( OR !ARAK( AND DE!ORA&J
AND( INCIDENTALL8( ON C&ARIOTS OF WAR"
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WE &AVE no intention here to inuire at $hat
time !aruch $as chief of the .e$ish )eo)+eJ $h'(
ein* chief( he a++o$ed his arm' to e commanded
' a $oman J $hether this $oman( named Deorah(
had married La)idothJ $hether she $as the friend
or re+ati%e of !aruch( or )erha)s his dau*hter or his
motherJ nor on $hat da' the att+e of Taor( in
a+i+ee( $as fou*ht et$een this Deorah and Sisera(
ca)tain4*enera+ of the armies of Kin* .ain $hich
Sisera commanded in a+i+ee an arm' of three hun4
dred thousand foot( ten thousand horse( and three
thousand chariots of $ar( accordin* to the historian
.ose)hus"
We sha++ at )resent +ea%e out of the uestion this
.ain( @in* of a %i++a*e ca++ed A1or( $ho had more
troo)s than the rand Tur@" We %er' much )it'
the fate of his *rand4%i1ier Sisera( $ho( ha%in* +ost
the att+e in a+i+ee( +ea)ed from his chariot and four
that he mi*ht Q' more s$ift+' on foot" &e $ent and
e**ed the hos)ita+it' of a ho+' .e$ish $oman( $ho
*a%e him some mi+@ and dro%e a *reat cart4nai+
throu*h his head $hi+e he $as as+ee)" We are %er'
sorr' for it( ut this is not the matter to e discussed"
We $ish to s)ea@ of chariots of $ar"
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The att+e $as fou*ht at the foot of 0ount Taor(
near the ri%er Kishon" 0ount Taor is a stee)
mountain( the ranches of $hich( some$hat +ess in
:7 Phi+oso)hica+
hei*ht( etend o%er a *reat )art of a+i+ee" !e4
t$een this mountain and the nei*horin* roc@s there
is a sma++ )+ain( co%ered $ith *reat Qint4stones and
im)ractica+e for ca%a+r'" The etent of this )+ain is
four or M%e hundred )aces" We ma' %enture to e4
+ie%e that Sisera did not here dra$ u) his three
hundred thousand men in order of att+e J his three
thousand chariots $ou+d ha%e found it dicu+t to
2manoeu%re on such a Me+d"
We ma' e+ie%e that the &ere$s had no chariots
of $ar in a countr' reno$ned on+' for asses( ut
the Asiatics made use of them in the *reat )+ains"
Confucius( or rather Confut1e( sa's )ositi%e+' that(
from time immemoria+( each of the %icero's of the
)ro%inces $as e)ected to furnish to the em)eror
a thousand $ar4chariots( each dra$n ' four horses"
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Chariots must ha%e een in use +on* efore the
Troan $ar( for &omer does not s)ea@ of them as a
ne$ in%ention( ut these chariots $ere not armed +i@e
those of !a'+on( neither the $hee+s nor the a+es
$ere furnished $ith stee+ +ades"
At Mrst this in%ention must ha%e een %er' for4
mida+e on +ar*e )+ains( es)ecia++' $hen the chariots
$ere numerous( dri%en $ith im)etuosit'( and armed
$ith +on* )i@es and sc'thes( ut $hen the' ecame
fami+iar it seemed so eas' to a%oid their shoc@ that
the' fe++ into *enera+ disuse"
In the $ar of 797 it $as )ro)osed to rene$ and
reform this ancient in%ention" A minister of state
had one of these chariots constructed and it $as
Dictionar'" :7B
tried" It $as asserted that in +ar*e )+ains( +i@e that
of Liit1en( the' mi*ht e used $ith ad%anta*e '
concea+in* them ehind the ca%a+r'( the suadrons of
$hich $ou+d o)en to +et them )ass and then fo++o$
them( ut the *enera+s ud*ed that this manoeu%re
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$ou+d e use+ess( and e%en dan*erous( no$ that at4
t+es are *ained ' cannon on+'" It $as re)+ied that
there $ou+d e as man' cannon in the arm' usin* the
chariots of $ar to defend them as in the enem'2s
arm' to destro' them" It $as added that these char4
iots $ou+d( in the Mrst instance( e she+tered from the
cannon ehind the atta+ions or suadrons( that the
+atter $ou+d o)en and +et the chariots run $ith im4
)etuosit' and that this une)ected attac@ mi*ht ha%e
a )rodi*ious eect" The *enera+s ad%anced nothin*
in o))osition to these ar*uments( ut the' $ou+d not
re%i%e this *ame of the ancient Persians"
!ATTALION"
LET us oser%e that the arran*ements( the march4
in*( and the e%o+utions of atta+ions( near+' as the'
are no$ )ractised( $ere re%i%ed in Euro)e ' one
$ho $as not a mi+itar' man ' 0achia%e++i( a secre4
tar' at F+orence" !atta+ions three( four( and M%e
dee) J atta+ions ad%ancin* u)on the enem' J atta+4
ions in suare to a%oid ein* cut o in a rout J at4
ta+ions four dee) sustained ' others in co+umnJ
atta+ions Qan@ed ' ca%a+r' a++ are his" &e tau*ht
Euro)e the art of $arJ it had +on* een )ractised
$ithout ein* @no$n"
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:i Phi+oso)hica+
The *rand du@e $ou+d ha%e had his secretar'
teach his troo)s their eercises accordin* to his ne$
method" !ut 0achia%e++i $as too )rudent to do so J
he had no $ish to see the ocers and so+diers +au*h
at a *enera+ in a +ac@ c+oa@J he reser%ed himse+f
for the counci+"
There is somethin* sin*u+ar in the ua+ities $hich
he reuires in a so+dier" &e must Mrst ha%e *a*4
+iardia( $hich si*niMes a+ert %i*orJ he must ha%e a
uic@ and sure e'e in $hich there must a+so e a
+itt+e *a'et' J a stron* nec@( a $ide reast( a muscu4
+ar arm( round +oins( ut +itt+e e++'( $ith s)are +e*s
and feet a++ indicatin* stren*th and a*i+it'"
!ut ao%e a++ the so+dier must ha%e honor( and
must e +ed ' honor a+one" #War(# sa's he( #is
ut too *reat a corru)ter of mora+s(# and he reminds
us of the Ita+ian )ro%er- War ma@es thie%es( and
)eace Mnds them *iets"
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0achia%e++i had ut a )oor o)inion of the French
infantr'( and unti+ the att+e of Rocroi it must e
confessed that it $as %er' ad" A stran*e man this
0achia%e++i &e amused himse+f $ith ma@in*
%erses( $ritin* )+a's( sho$in* his cainet the art of
@i++in* $ith re*u+arit'( and teachin* )rinces the art
of )erurin* themse+%es( assassinatin*( and )oisonin*
as occasion reuired a *reat art $hich Po)e A+e4
ander VI"( and his astard Csesar !or*ia( )ractised
in $onderfu+ )erfection $ithout the aid of his +es4
sons"
!e it oser%ed that in a++ 0achia%e++i2s 4$or@s on
Dictionar'" :79
so man' dierent suects there is not one $ord
$hich renders %irtue amia+e not one $ord )ro4
ceedin* from the heart" The same remar@ has een
made on !oi+eau" &e does not( it is true( ma@e %irtue
+o%e+'( ut he re)resents it as necessar'"
!A8LE"
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W&8 has Louis Racine treated !a'+e +i@e a dan4
*erous man( $ith a crue+ heart( in an e)ist+e to .ean
!a)tiste Rousseau( $hich( a+thou*h )rinted( is ut
+itt+e @no$n H
&e com)ares !a'+e( $hose +o*ica+ acuteness de4
tected the errors of o))osin* s'stems( to 0arius sit4
tin* u)on the ruins of Cartha*e -
Ainsi d2un cei+ content 0arius( dans safuite(
Contem)+ait +es deris de Cartha*e detruite"
Thus ei+ed 0arius( $ith contented *a1e(
Th' ruins( Cartha*e( si+ent+' sur%e's"
&ere is a simi+e $hich ehiits %er' +itt+e resem4
+ance( or( as Po)e sa's( a simi+e dissimi+ar" 0arius
had not destro'ed reason and ar*uments( nor did
he contented+' %ie$ its ruins( ut( on the contrar'(
he $as )enetrated $ith an e+e%ated sentiment of
me+ancho+' on contem)+atin* the %icissitudes of hu4
man aairs( $hen he made the ce+erated ans$er -
#Sa' to the )roconsu+ of Africa that thou hast seen
0arius seated on the ruins of Cartha*e"#
We as@ in $hat 0arius resem+ed !a'+e H Louis
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Racine( if he thin@s Mt( ma' a))+' the e)ithets #hard4
hearted# and #crue+# to 0arius( to Su++a( to the tri4
: 7 G Phi+oso)hica+
um%irs( ut( in reference to !a'+e the )hrases #de4
testa+e )+easure(# #crue+ heart(# #terri+e man(#
shou+d not e )ut in a sentence $ritten ' Louis Ra4
cine a*ainst one $ho is on+' )ro%ed to ha%e $ei*hed
the ar*uments of the 0anichaeans( the Pau+icians(the
Arians( the Eut'chians( a*ainst those of their ad%er4
saries" Louis Racine )ro)ortions not the )unishment
to the oence" &e shou+d rememer that !a'+e
comated S)ino1a( $ho $as too much of a )hi+oso4
)her( and .urieu( $ho $as none at a++" &e shou+d
res)ect the *ood manners of !a'+e and +earn to rea4
son from him" !ut he $as a .ansenist( that is to sa'(
he @ne$ the $ords of the +an*ua*e of .ansenism and
em)+o'ed them at random" 8ou ma' )ro)er+' ca++
crue+ and terri+e a )o$erfu+ man $ho commands his
s+a%es( on )ain of death( to *o and rea) corn $here
he has so$n thist+es J $ho *i%es to some of them too
much food( and suers others to die of hun*er J $ho
@i++s his e+dest son to +ea%e a +ar*e fortune to the
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'oun*er" A++ that is fri*htfu+ and crue+( Louis Ra4
cine It is said that such is the *od of th' .ansenists(
ut I do not e+ie%e it" Oh s+a%es of )art'( )eo)+e
attac@ed $ith the aundice( 'ou constant+' see e%er'4
thin* 'e++o$
And to $hom has the unthin@in* heir of a father
$ho had a hundred times more taste than he has )hi4
+oso)h'( addressed this misera+e e)ist+e a*ainst the
2 %irtuous !a'+e H To Rousseau to a )oet $ho thin@s
sti++ +ess J to a man $hose )rinci)a+ merit has con4
sisted in e)i*rams $hich are re%o+tin* to the most
Dictionar'" :7>
indu+*ent readerJ to a man to $hom it $as a+i@e
$hether he san* .esus Christ or iton" Such $as
the a)ost+e to $hom Louis Racine denounced !a'+e
as a miscreant" What moti%e cou+d the author of
#Phaedra# and #I)hi*enia# ha%e for fa++in* into such
a )rodi*ious errorH Sim)+' this( that Rousseau had
made %erses for the .ansenists( $hom he then e4
+ie%ed to e2 in hi*h credit"
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Such is the ra*e of faction +et +oose u)on !a'+e(
ut 'ou do not hear an' of the do*s $ho ha%e
ho$+ed a*ainst him ar@ a*ainst Lucretius( Cicero(
Seneca( E)icurus( nor a*ainst the numerous )hi+oso4
)hers of antiuit'" It is a++ reser%ed for !a'+e J he is
their fe++o$ citi1en he is of their time his *+or'
irritates them" !a'+e is read and Nico+e is not read J
eho+d the source of the .ansenist hatred !a'+e Ts
studied( ut neither the re%erend Father Croiset( nor
the re%erend Father CaussinJ hence .esuitica+ de4
nouncement
In %ain has a Par+iament of France done him the
*reatest honor in renderin* his $i++ %a+id( not$ith4
standin* the se%erit' of the +a$" The madness of
)art' @no$s neither honor nor ustice" I ha%e not
inserted this artic+e to ma@e the eu+o*' of the est
of dictionaries( $hich $ou+d not e ecomin* here(
and of $hich !a'+e is not in need J I ha%e $ritten it
to render( if I can( the s)irit of )art' odious and
ridicu+ous"
::O Phi+oso)hica+
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!DELLI/0"
WE ARE %er' much )u11+ed to @no$ $hat this
!de++ium is $hich is found near the shores of the
Pison( a ri%er of the terrestria+ )aradise $hich turns
into the countr' of the &a%i+ah( $here there is *o+d"
Ca+met re+ates that( accordin* to se%era+ commenta4
tors( !de++ium is the carunc+e( ut that it ma' a+so
e cr'sta+" Then it is the *um of an Araian tree and
after$ards $e are to+d that ca)ers are intended"
0an' others arm that it si*niMes )ear+s" Nothin*
ut the et'mo+o*ies of !ochart can thro$ a +i*ht on
this uestion" I $ish that a++ these commentators
had een u)on the s)ot"
The ece++ent *o+d $hich is otained in this coun4
tr'( sa's Ca+met( sho$s e%ident+' that this is the
countr' of Co+chis and the *o+den Qeece is a )roof of
it" It is a )it' that thin*s ha%e chan*ed so much
for 0in*re+ia J that eautifu+ countr'( so famous for
the +o%es of 0edea and .ason( no$ )roduces *o+d
and !de++ium no more than u++s $hich %omit Mre
and Qame( and dra*ons $hich *uard the Qeece"
E%er'thin* chan*es in this $or+d J and if $e do not
s@i+fu++' cu+ti%ate our +ands( and if the state remain
a+$a's in det( $e sha++ ecome a second 0in*re+ia"
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!EARD"
CERTAIN natura+ists assure us that the secretion
$hich )roduces the eard is the same as that $hich
)er)etuates man@ind" An entire hemis)here testiMes
Dictionar'" ::7
a*ainst this fraterna+ union" The Americans( of
$hate%er countr'( co+or( or stature the' ma' e( ha%e
neither eards on their chins( nor an' hair on their
odies( ece)t their e'ero$s and the hair of their
heads" I ha%e +e*a+ attestations of ocia+ men $ho
ha%e +i%ed( con%ersed( and comated $ith thirt' na4
tions of South America( and the' attest that the'
ha%e ne%er seen a hair on their odiesJ and the'
+au*h( as the' $e++ ma'( at $riters $ho( co)'in* one
another( sa' that the Americans are on+' $ithout
hair ecause the' )u++ it out $ith )incersJ as if
Christo)her Co+umus( Fernando Cortes( and the
other ad%enturers had +oaded themse+%es $ith the
+itt+e t$ee1ers $ith $hich our +adies remo%e their
su)erQuous hairs( and had distriuted them in a++ the
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countries of America"
I e+ie%ed for a +on* time that the Esuimau
$ere ece)ted from the *enera+ +a$s of the ne$
$or+d J ut I am assured that the' are as free from
hair as the others" &o$e%er( the' ha%e chi+dren in
Chi+e( Peru( and Canada( as $e++ as in our earded
continent" There is( then( a s)eciMc dierence e4
t$een these i)eds and ourse+%es( in the same $a' as
their +ions( $hich are di%ested of the mane( and in
other res)ects dier from the +ions of Africa"
It is to e remar@ed that the Orienta+s ha%e ne%er
%aried in their consideration for the eard" 0ar4
ria*e amon* them has a+$a's eisted( and that )eriod
is sti++ the e)och of +ife from $hich the' no +on*er
sha%e the eard" The +on* dress and the eard im4
::: Phi+oso)hica+
)ose res)ect" The Westerns ha%e a+$a's een chan*4
in* the fashion of the chin" 0ustaches $ere $orn
under Louis =IV" to$ards the 'ear 79:" /nder
Louis =III" a +itt+e )ointed eard )re%ai+ed" In the
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time of &enr' IV" it $as suare" Char+es V"( .u+ius
II"( and Francis I" restored the +ar*e eard to honor
in their courts( $hich had een a +on* time in fashion"
o$nsmen( throu*h *ra%it' and res)ect for the cus4
toms of their fathers( sha%ed themse+%es J $hi+e the
courtiers( in dou+ets and +itt+e mant+es( $ore their
eards as +on* as the' cou+d" When a @in* in those
da's sent a +a$'er as an amassador( his comrades
$ou+d +au*h at him if he suered his eard to *ro$(
esides moc@in* him in the chamer of accounts or
of reuests" !ut uite enou*h u)on eards"
!EASTS"
W&AT a )it' and $hat a )o%ert' of s)irit to as4
sert that easts are machines de)ri%ed of @no$+ed*e
and sentiment( $hich eect a++ their o)erations in
the same manner( $hich +earn nothin*( ne%er im4
)ro%e( etc"
What this ird( $ho ma@es its nest in a semicirc+e
$hen he attaches it to a $a++ J and in a circ+e on a tree
this ird does a++ in the same +ind manner The
hound( $hich 'ou ha%e disci)+ined for three months(
does he not @no$ more at the end of this time than
he did eforeH Does the canar'( to $hich 'ou )+a'
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an air( re)eat it direct+' H Do 'ou not em)+o' a con4
sidera+e time in teachin* itH &a%e 'ou not seen
Dictionar'" ::
that he sometimes mista@es it( and that he corrects
himse+fH
Is it ecause I s)ea@ to 'ou that 'ou ud*e I ha%e
sentiment( memor'( and ideasH We++( su))ose I do
not s)ea@ to 'ou J 'ou see me enter m' room $ith
an aicted air( I see@ a )a)er $ith disuietude( I
o)en the ureau in $hich I reco++ect to ha%e shut it(
I Mnd it and read it $ith o'" 8ou )ronounce that
I ha%e fe+t the sentiment of aiction and of o'J
that I ha%e memor' and @no$+ed*e"
Etend the same ud*ment to the do* $ho has
+ost his master( $ho has sou*ht him e%er'$here
$ith *rie%ous cries( and $ho enters the house a*i4
tated and rest+ess( *oes u)stairs and do$n( from
room to room( and at +ast Mnds in the c+oset the
master $hom he +o%es( and testiMes his o' ' the
*ent+eness of his cries( ' his +ea)s and his caresses"
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Some ararians sei1e this do*( $ho so )rodi4
*ious+' ece+s man in friendshi)( the' nai+ him to a
ta+e and dissect him +i%in* to sho$ the mesenteric
%eins" 8ou disco%er in him the same or*ans of senti4
ment $hich are in 'ourse+f" Ans$er me( machinist(
has nature arran*ed a++ the s)rin*s of sentiment in
this anima+ that he shou+d not fee+ H &as he ner%es(
and is he inca)a+e of suerin*H Do not su))ose
this im)ertinent contradiction in nature"
!ut the masters of this schoo+ as@( $hat is the
sou+ of eastsH I do not understand this uestion"
A tree has the facu+t' of recei%in* in its Mres the
sa) $hich circu+ates( of e%o+%in* its uds( its +ea%es(
:: Phi+oso)hica+
and its fruits" 8ou $i++ as@ me $hat is the sou+ of
this treeH It has recei%ed these *ifts" The anima+
has recei%ed those of sentiment( memor'( and a cer4
tain numer of ideas" Who has esto$ed these
*ifts J $ho has *i%en these facu+ties H &e $ho has
made the her of the Me+d to *ro$( and $ho ma@es
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the earth *ra%itate to$ards the sun"
The sou+s of easts are sustantia+ forms( sa's
Aristot+eJ and after Aristot+e( the Araian schoo+J
and after the Araian schoo+( the An*e+ica+ schoo+ J
and after the An*e+ica+ schoo+( the SoronneJ and
after the Soronne( e%er' one in the $or+d"
The sou+s of easts are materia+( ec+aim other
)hi+oso)hers" These ha%e not een more fortunate
than the former" The' are in %ain as@ed $hat is a
materia+ sou+H The' sa' that it is a matter $hich
has sensation J ut $ho has *i%en it this sensation H
It is a materia+ sou+( that is to sa'( it is com)osed of
a matter $hich *i%es sensation to matter" The' can4
not *et out of this circ+e"
Listen to one @ind of easts reasonin* u)on an4
otherJ their sou+ is a s)iritua+ ein*( $hich dies
$ith the od' J ut $hat )roof ha%e 'ou of it H What
idea ha%e 'ou of this s)iritua+ ein*( $hich has sen4
timent( memor'( and its share of ideas and comina4
tions( ut $hich can ne%er te++ $hat made a chi+d of
si 'ears o+dH On $hat *round do 'ou ima*ine
that this ein*( $hich is not cor)orea+( )erishes $ith
the od'H The *reatest easts are those $ho ha%e
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su**ested that this sou+ is neither od' nor s)irit
Dictionar'" ::B
an ece++ent s'stem We can on+' understand '
s)irit somethin* un@no$n( $hich is not od'" Thus
the s'stem of these *ent+emen amounts to this( that
the sou+ of easts is a sustance $hich is neither
od'( nor somethin* $hich is not od'" Whence
can )roceed so man' contradictor' errorsH From
the custom $hich men ha%e of eaminin* $hat a
thin* is efore the' @no$ $hether it eists" The'
ca++ the s)eech the eect of a reath of mind( the
sou+ of a si*h" What is the sou+ H It is a name $hich
I ha%e *i%en to this %a+%e $hich rises and fa++s( $hich
+ets the air in( re+ie%es itse+f( and sends it throu*h
a )i)e $hen I mo%e the +un*s"
There is not( then( a sou+ distinct from the ma4
chine" !ut $hat mo%es the +un*s of anima+sH I
ha%e a+read' said( the )o$er that mo%es the stars"
The )hi+oso)her $ho said( #Deus est anima ru4
torum(# od is the sou+ of the rutes is ri*htJ
ut he shou+d ha%e *one much further"
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!EA/TIF/L 6T&E;"
SINCE $e ha%e uoted P+ato on +o%e( $h' shou+d
$e not uote him on #the eautifu+(# since eaut'
causes +o%e" It is curious to @no$ ho$ a ree@
s)o@e of the eautifu+ more than t$o thousand 'ears
since"
#The man initiated into the sacred m'steries( $hen
he sees a eautifu+ face accom)anied ' a di%ine
form( a somethin* more than morta+( fee+s a secret
emotion( and I @no$ not $hat res)ectfu+ fear" &e
Vo+" 7B
:: Phi+oso)hica+
re*ards this M*ure as a di%init' When the
inQuence of eaut' enters into his sou+ ' his e'es
he urns J the $in*s of his sou+ are ede$ed J the'
+ose the hardness $hich retains their *erms and
+iuef' themse+%esJ these *erms( s$e++in* eneath
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the roots of its $in*s( the' e)and from e%er' )art
of the sou+ 6for sou+ had $in*s former+';(# etc"
I am $i++in* to e+ie%e that nothin* is Mner than
this discourse of the di%ine P+ato J ut it does not
*i%e us %er' c+ear ideas of the nature of the eau4
tifu+"
As@ a toad $hat is eaut' the *reat eaut' To
Ka+onJ he $i++ ans$er that it is the fema+e $ith
t$o *reat round e'es comin* out of her +itt+e head(
her +ar*e Qat mouth( her 'e++o$ e++'( and ro$n
ac@" As@ a ne*ro of uinea J eaut' is to him a
+ac@( oi+' s@in( sun@en e'es( and a Qat nose" As@
the de%i+J he $i++ te++ 'ou that the eautifu+
consists in a )air of horns( four c+a$s( and a tai+"
Then consu+t the )hi+oso)hers J the' $i++ ans$er 'ou
$ith ar*on J the' must ha%e somethin* conforma4
+e to the archet')e of the essence of the eautifu+
to the To Ka+on"
I $as once attendin* a tra*ed' near a )hi+oso)her"
#&o$ eautifu+ that is(# said he" #What do 'ou Mnd
eautifu+H# as@ed I" #It is(# said he( #that the author
has attained his oect"# The net da' he too@ his
medicine( $hich did him some *ood" #It has at4
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tained its oect(# cried I to him J #it is a eautifu+
medicine"# &e com)rehended that it cou+d not e
!EA/TIR/L4 FAO! ACCO0PANIED
DIVINE FOR0#
Dictionar'" ::9
said that a medicine is eautifu+( and that to a))+'
to an'thin* the e)ithet eautifu+ it must cause ad4
miration and )+easure" &e admitted that the tra*ed'
had ins)ired him $ith these t$o sentiments( and
that it $as the To Ka+on( the eautifu+"
We made a ourne' to En*+and" The same )iece
$as )+a'ed( and( a+thou*h a+' trans+ated( it made
a++ the s)ectators 'a$n" #Oh( oh # said he( #the To
Ka+on is not the same $ith the En*+ish as $ith the
French"# &e conc+uded after man' reQections that
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#the eautifu+# is often mere+' re+ati%e( as that $hich
is decent at .a)an is indecent at RomeJ and that
$hich is the fashion at Paris is not so at Pe@in J and
he $as there' s)ared the trou+e of com)osin* a
+on* treatise on the eautifu+"
There are actions $hich the $ho+e $or+d considers
Mne" A cha++en*e )assed et$een t$o of Caesar2s
ocers( morta+ enemies( not to shed each other2s
+ood ehind a thic@et ' tierce and uarte( as amon*
us( ut to decide $hich of them $ou+d est defend
the cam) of the Romans( aout to e attac@ed ' the
ararians" One of the t$o( after ha%in* re)u+sed
the enem'( $as near fa++in*J the other Qe$ to his
assistance( sa%ed his +ife( and *ained the %ictor'"
A friend de%otes himse+f to death for his friend(
a son for his father" The A+*onuin( the French(
the Chinese( $i++ mutua++' sa' that a++ this is %er'
eautifu+( that such actions *i%e them )+easure( and
that the' admire them"
The' $i++ sa' the same of *reat mora+ maims J
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::G Phi+oso)hica+
of that of <oroaster - #If in dout that an action e
ust( desistJ# of that of Confucius- #For*et in4
uries J ne%er for*et eneMts"#
The ne*ro( $ith round e'es and Qattened nose(
$ho $ou+d not *i%e the +adies of our court the name
of eautifu+( $ou+d *i%e it $ithout hesitation to these
actions and these maims" E%en the $ic@ed man
reco*ni1es the eaut' of the %irtues $hich he can4
not imitate" The eautifu+( $hich on+' stri@es the
senses( the ima*ination( and $hat is ca++ed the s)irit(
is then often uncertain J the eaut' $hich stri@es the
heart is not" 8ou $i++ Mnd a numer of )eo)+e $ho
$i++ te++ 'ou the' ha%e found nothin* eautifu+ in
three4fourths of the #I+iad# J ut nood' $i++ den'
that the de%otion of Codrus for his )eo)+e $as Mne(
su))osin* it $as true"
!rother Attinet( a .esuit( a nati%e of Dion( $as
em)+o'ed as desi*ner in the countr' house of the Em4
)eror Camhi( at the distance of some +ea*ues from
Pe@in"
#This countr' house(# sa's he( in one of his +et4
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ters to 0" Du)ont( #is +ar*er than the to$n of Dion"
It is di%ided into a thousand haitations on one +ine J
each one has its courts( its )arterres( its *ardens( and
its $aters J the front of each is ornamented $ith *o+d
%arnish and )aintin*s" In the %ast enc+osures of the
)ar@( hi++s ha%e een raised ' hand from t$ent' to
sit' feet hi*h" The %a++e's are $atered ' an in4
Mnite numer of cana+s( $hich run a considera+e
distance to oin and form +a@es and seas" We Qoat
Dictionar'" ::>
on these seas in oats %arnished and *i+t( from t$e+%e
to thirteen fathoms +on* and four $ide" These
ar@s ha%e ma*niMcent sa+oons( and the orders of
the cana+s are co%ered $ith houses( a++ in dierent
tastes" E%er' house has its *ardens and cascades"
8ou *o from one %a++e' to another ' a++e's( a+ter4
nate+' ornamented $ith )a%i+ions and *rottoes" No
t$o %a++e's are a+i@e J the +ar*est of a++ is surrounded
' a co+onnade( ehind $hich are *i+ded ui+din*s"
A++ the a)artments of these houses corres)ond in
ma*niMcence $ith the outside" A++ the cana+s ha%e
rid*es at stated distances J these rid*es are or4
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dered $ith a+ustrades of $hite mar+e scu+)tured in
asso4re+ie%o"
#In the midd+e of the *reat sea is raised a roc@(
and on this roc@ is a suare )a%i+ion( in $hich are
more than a hundred a)artments" From this suare
)a%i+ion there is a %ie$ of a++ the )a+aces( a++ the
houses( and a++ the *ardens of this immense en4
c+osure( and there are more than four hundred of
them"
#When the em)eror *i%es a fete a++ these ui+d4
in*s are i++uminated in an instant( and from e%er'
house there are Mre$or@s"
#This is not a++ J at the end of $hat the' ca++ the
sea is a *reat fair( he+d ' the em)eror2s ocers"
Vesse+s come from the *reat sea to arri%e at this fair"
The courtiers dis*uise themse+%es as merchants and
artiMcers of a++ sorts J one @ee)s a coee house( an4
other a ta%ern J one ta@es the )rofession of a thief(
:? Phi+oso)hica+
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another that of the ocer $ho )ursues him" The
em)eror and a++ the +adies of the court come to u'
stus( the fa+se merchants cheat them as much as
the' canJ the' te++ them that it is shamefu+ to dis4
)ute so much aout the )rice( and that the' are )oor
customers" Their maesties re)+' that the merchants
are @na%es J the +atter are an*r' and aect to de)art J
the' are a))eased J the em)eror u's a++ and ma@es
+otteries of it for a++ his court" Farther on are s)ec4
tac+es of a++ sorts"#
When rother Attinet came from China to Ver4
sai++es he found it sma++ and du++" The ermans(
$ho $ere de+i*hted to stro++ aout its *ro%es( $ere
astonished that rother Attinet $as so dicu+t" This
is another reason $hich determines me not to $rite
a treatise on the eautifu+"
!EES"
T&E ees ma' e re*arded as su)erior to the
human race in this( that from their o$n sustance
the' )roduce another $hich is usefu+ J $hi+e( of a++
our secretions( there is not one *ood for an'thin*J
na'( there is not one $hich does not render man@ind
disa*reea+e"
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I ha%e een charmed to Mnd that the s$arms
$hich turn out of the hi%e are much mi+der than our
sons $hen the' +ea%e co++e*e" The 'oun* ees then
stin* no oneJ or at +east ut rare+' and in etra4
ordinar' cases" The' suer themse+%es to e carried
uiet+' in the are hand to the hi%e $hich is destined
Dictionar'" : 7
for them" !ut no sooner ha%e the' +earned in their
ne$ haitation to @no$ their interests than the' e4
come +i@e us and ma@e $ar" I ha%e seen %er' )eace4
a+e ees *o for si months to +aor in a nei*horin*
meado$ co%ered $ith Qo$ers $hich secreted them"
When the mo$ers came the' rushed furious+' from
their hi%e u)on those $ho $ere aout to stea+ their
)ro)ert' and )ut them to Qi*ht"
We Mnd in the Pro%ers attriuted to So+omon
that #there are four thin*s( the +east u)on earth( ut
$hich are $iser than the $ise men the ants( a +itt+e
)eo)+e $ho +a' u) food durin* the har%estJ the
hares( a $ea@ )eo)+e $ho +ie on stones J the *rassho)4
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)ers( $ho ha%e no @in*s and $ho ourne' in Qoc@s J
and the +i1ards( $hich $or@ $ith their hands and
d$e++ in the )a+aces of @in*s"# I @no$ not ho$ So+o4
mon for*ot the ees( $hose instinct seems %er' su4
)erior to that of hares( $hich do not +ie on stone J or
of +i1ards( $ith $hose *enius I am not acuainted"
0oreo%er( I sha++ a+$a's )refer a ee to a *rass4
ho))er"
The ees ha%e( in a++ a*es( furnished the )oet $ith
descri)tions( com)arisons( a++e*ories( and fa+es"
0ande%i++e2s ce+erated #Fa+e of the !ees# made a
*reat noise in En*+and" &ere is a short s@etch of it -
Once the ees( in $or+d+' thin*s(
&ad a ha))' *o%ernmentJ
And their +aorers and their @in*s
0ade them $ea+th' and contentJ
!ut some *reed' drones at +ast
Found their $a' into their hi%eJ
Those( in id+eness to thri%e(
To+d the ees the' ou*ht to fast"
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: :" Phi+oso)hica+
Sermons $ere their on+' +aorsJ
Wor@ the' )reached unto their nei*hors"
In their +an*ua*e the' $ou+d sa'(
# 8ou sha++ sure+' *o to hea%en(
When to us 'ou2%e free+' *i%en
Wa and hone' a++ a$a'"
Foo+ish+' the ees e+ie%ed(
Ti++ ' famine undecei%edJ
When their miser' $as com)+ete(
A++ the stran*e de+usion %anished
No$ the drones are @i++ed or anished(
And the ees a*ain ma' eat"
0ande%i++e *oes much furtherJ he asserts that
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ees cannot +i%e at their ease in a *reat and )o$erfu+
hi%e $ithout man' %ices" #No @in*dom( no state(#
sa's he( #can Qourish $ithout %ices" Ta@e a$a' the
%anit' of +adies of ua+it'( and there $i++ e no more
Mne manufactures of si+@( no more em)+o'ment for
men and $omen in a thousand dierent ranches J a
*reat )art of the nation $i++ e reduced to e**ar'"
Ta@e a$a' the a%arice of our merchants( and the
Qeets of En*+and $i++ e annihi+ated" De)ri%e artists
of en%'( and emu+ation $i++ cease J $e sha++ sin@ ac@
into )rimiti%e rudeness and i*norance"#
It is uite true that a $e++4*o%erned societ' turns
e%er' %ice to accountJ ut it is not true that these
%ices are necessar' to the $e++4ein* of the $or+d"
Ver' *ood remedies ma' e made from )oisons( ut
)oisons do not contriute to the su))ort of +ife" !'
thus reducin* the #Fa+e of the !ees# to its ust
%a+ue( it mi*ht e made a $or@ of mora+ uti+it'"#
Dictionar'" :
!EAR 0ENDICANT"
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EVER8 countr' $here e**in*( $here mendicit'(
is a )rofession( is i++ *o%erned" !e**ar'( as I ha%e
e+se$here said( is a %ermin that c+in*s to o)u+ence"
8es J ut +et it e sha@en o J +et the hos)ita+s e for
sic@ness and a*e a+one( and +et the sho)s e for the
'oun* and %i*orous"
The fo++o$in* is an etract from a sermon com4
)osed ' a )reacher ten 'ears a*o for the )arish of
St" Leu and St" i+es( $hich is the )arish of the e*4
*ars and the con%u+sionaries - #Pau)eres e%an*e+#
icantur# #the *os)e+ is )reached to the )oor"#
#0' dear rethren the e**ars( $hat is meant '
the $ord *os)e+ H It si*niMes *ood ne$s" It is( then(
*ood ne$s that I come to te++ 'ou J and $hat is it H
It is that if 'ou are id+ers 'ou $i++ die on a dun*4
hi++" Kno$ that there ha%e een id+e @in*s( so at
+east $e are to+d( and the' at +ast had not $here
to +a' their heads" If 'ou $or@( 'ou $i++ e as ha))'
as other men"
#The )reachers at St" Eustache and St" Roche
ma' de+i%er to the rich %er' Mne sermons in a Qo$er'
st'+e( $hich )rocure for the auditors a +i*ht s+umer
$ith an eas' di*estion( and for the orator a thou4
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sand cro$nsJ ut I address those $hom hun*er
@ee)s a$a@e" Wor@ for 'our read( I sa' J for the
Scri)ture sa's that he $ho does not $or@ deser%es
not to eat" Out rother in ad%ersit'( .o( $ho $as
for some tiroH ti 'our condition( sa's that man is
: Phi+oso)hica+
orn to +aor as the ird is to Q'" Loo@ at this im4
mense cit'J e%er' one is us'J the ud*es rise at
four in the mornin* to administer ustice to 'ou and
send 'ou to the *a++e's $hen 'our id+eness has
caused 'ou to thie%e rather a$@$ard+'"
#The @in* $or@sJ he attends his counci+ e%er'
da' J and he has made cam)ai*ns" Perha)s 'ou $i++
sa' he is none the richer" ranted J ut that is not
his fau+t" The Mnanciers @no$( etter than 'ou or I
do( that not one4ha+f his re%enue e%er enters his
coers" &e has een o+i*ed to se++ his )+ate in order
to defend us a*ainst our enemies" We shou+d aid
him in our turn" The Friend of 0an 6I2 Ami des
&omines; a++o$s him on+' se%ent'4M%e mi++ions )er
annum" Another friend a++ at once *i%es him se%en
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hundred and fort'" !ut of a++ these .o2s comforters(
not one $i++ ad%ance him a sin*+e cro$n" It is neces4
sar' to in%ent a thousand in*enious $a's of dra$in*
this cro$n from our )oc@ets( $hich( efore it reaches
his o$n( is diminished ' at +east one4ha+f"
#Wor@( then( m' dear rethrenJ act for 'our4
se+%es( for I fore$arn 'ou that if 'ou do not ta@e care
of 'ourse+%es( no one $i++ ta@e care of 'ou J 'ou $i++
e treated as the @in* has een in se%era+ *ra%e re4
monstrances J )eo)+e $i++ sa'( 2od he+) 'ou"2
#We $i++ *o into the )ro%inces( 'ou $i++ ans$er J
$e sha++ e fed ' the +ords of the +and( ' the
farmers( ' the curates" Do not Qatter 'ourse+%es(
m' dear rethren( that 'ou sha++ eat at their ta+es J
the' ha%e for the most )art enou*h to do to feed
Dictionar'" :B
themse+%es( not$ithstandin* the 20ethod of Ra)id+'
ettin* Rich ' A*ricu+ture(2 and Mft' other $or@s
of the same @ind( )u+ished e%er' da' at Paris for the
use of the )eo)+e in the countr'( $ith the cu+ti%ation
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of $hich the authors ne%er had an'thin* to do"
#I eho+d amon* 'ou 'oun* men of some ta+ent(
$ho sa' that the' $i++ ma@e %erses( that the' $i++
$rite )am)h+ets( +i@e Chisiac(Nonnotte(or Patoui++et J
that the' $i++ $or@ for the 2Nou%e++es Ecc+esias4
tiues2 that the' $i++ $rite sheets for Freron( funera+
orations for isho)s( son*s for the comic o)era" An'
of these $ou+d at +east e an occu)ation" When a
man is $ritin* for the 2Annee Litteraire2 he is not
roin* on the hi*h$a'( he is on+' roin* his cred4
itors" !ut do etter( m' dear rethren in .esus
Christ m' dear e**ars( $ho( ' )assin* 'our +i%es
in as@in* charit'( run the ris@ of the *a++e'sJ do
etter J enter one of the four mendicant orders J 'ou
$i++ then e not on+' rich( ut honored a+so"#
!EKKER(
#T&E WORLD !EWITC&EDU2 T&E DEVIL( T&E !OOK OF
ENOC&( AND SORCERERS"
T&IS !a+tha1ar !e@@er( a %er' *ood man( a *reat
enem' of the e%er+astin* he++ and the de%i+( and a
sti++ *reater of )recision( made a *reat dea+ of noise
in his time ' his *reat oo@( #The Wor+d !e4
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$itched"#
One .acues4eor*e de Chaufe)ied( a )retended
: Phi+oso)hica+
continuator of !a'+e( assures us that !e@@er +earned
ree@ at ascoi*ne" Niceron has *ood reasons for
e+ie%in* that it $as at Frane@er" This historica+
)oint has occasioned much dout and trou+e at
court"
The fact is that in the time of !e@@er( a minister
of the &o+' os)e+ as the' sa' in &o++and the
de%i+ $as sti++ in )rodi*ious credit amon* di%ines
of a++ sorts in the midd+e of the se%enteenth centur'(
in s)ite of the *ood s)irits $hich $ere e*innin* to
en+i*hten the $or+d" Witchcraft( )ossessions( and
e%er'thin* e+se attached to that Mne di%init'( $ere in
%o*ue throu*hout Euro)e and freuent+' had fata+
resu+ts"
A centur' had scarce+' e+a)sed since Kin* .ames
himse+f ca++ed ' &enr' IV" 0aster .ames that
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*reat enem' of the Roman communion and the )a)a+
)o$er( had )u+ished his #Demono+o*'# 6$hat a
oo@ for a @in*; and in it had admitted sorceries(
incuuses( and succuuses( and ac@no$+ed*ed the
)o$er of the de%i+( and of the )o)e( $ho( accordin*
to him( had ust as *ood a ri*ht to dri%e Satan from
the odies of the )ossessed as an' other )riest" And
$e( misera+e Frenchmen( $ho oast of ha%in* re4
co%ered some sma++ )art of our senses( in $hat a hor4
rid sin@ of stu)id ararism $ere $e then immersed
Not a )ar+iament( not a )residentia+ court( ut $as
occu)ied in tr'in* sorcerers J not a *reat urisconsu+t
$ho did not $rite memoria+s on )ossessions ' tha
de%i+" France resounded $ith the cries of )oor im,
Dictionar'" :9
eci+e creatures $hom the ud*es( after ma@in* them
e+ie%e that the' had danced round a cau+dron( tor4
tured and )ut to death $ithout )it'( in horri+e tor4
ments" Catho+ics and Protestants $ere a+i@e in4
fected $ith this asurd and fri*htfu+ su)erstitionJ
the )retet ein* that in one of the Christian *os4
)e+s it is said that disci)+es $ere sent to cast out
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de%i+s" It $as a sacred dut' to )ut *ir+s to the tor4
ture in order to ma@e them confess that the' had
+ain $ith Satan( and that the' had fa++en in +o%e $ith
him in the form of a *oat" A++ the )articu+ars of the
meetin*s of the *ir+s $ith this *oat $ere detai+ed in
the tria+s of the unfortunate indi%idua+s" The' $ere
urned at +ast( $hether the' confessed or deniedJ
and France $as one %ast theatre of udicia+ carna*e"
I ha%e efore me a co++ection of these inferna+ )ro4
ceedin*s( made ' a counse++or of the Par+iament of
!ordeau( named De Lan*re( and addressed to 0on4
sei*neur Si++eri( chance++or of France( $ithout 0on4
sei*neur Si++eri2s ha%in* e%er thou*ht of en+i*htenin*
those infamous ma*istrates" !ut( indeed( it $ou+d
ha%e een necessar' to e*in ' en+i*htenin* the
chance++or himse+f" What $as France at that time H
A continua+ St" !artho+ome$ from the massacre of
Vass' to the assassination of 0arsha+ d2Ancre and
his innocent $ife"
Wi++ it e e+ie%ed that in the time of this %er'
!e@@er( a )oor *ir+ named 0a*da+en Chaudron( $ho
had een )ersuaded that she $as a $itch( $as urned
at ene%a H
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: G Phi+oso)hica+
The fo++o$in* is a %er' eact summar' of the
)roces4%era+ of this asurd and horrid act( $hich is
not the +ast monument of the @ind -
#0iche++e( ha%in* met the de%i+ as she $as *oin*
out of the to$n( the de%i+ *a%e her a @iss( recei%ed
her homa*e( and im)rinted on her u))er +i) and
her ri*ht reast the mar@ $hich it is his custom to
a on a++ )ersons $hom he reco*ni1es as his
fa%orites" This sea+ of the de%i+ is a sma++ si*n4
manua+( $hich( as demono+o*ica+ urisconsu+ts af4
Mrm( renders the s@in insensi+e"
#The de%i+ ordered 0iche++e Chaudron to e4
$itch t$o *ir+sJ and she immediate+' oe'ed her
+ord" The re+ati%es of the 'oun* $omen udicia++'
char*ed her $ith de%i+ish )ractices( and the *ir+s
themse+%es $ere interro*ated and confronted $ith
the accused" The' testiMed that the' constant+' fe+t a
s$armin* of ants in certain )arts of their odies( and
that the' $ere )ossessed" The )h'sicians $ere then
ca++ed in( or at +east those $ho then )assed as )h'4
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sicians" The' %isited the *ir+s and sou*ht on
0iche++e2s od' for the de%i+2s sea+( $hich the )roces4
%era+ ca++s the satanic mar@s" The' thrust a +ar*e
need+e into the s)ot( and this of itse+f $as a *rie%ous
torture" !+ood Qo$ed from the )unctureJ and
0iche++e made @no$n ' her cries that satanic mar@s
do not )roduce insensii+it'" The ud*es( seein* no
satisfactor' e%idence that 0iche++e Chaudron $as a
$itch( had her )ut to the torture( $hich ne%er fai+s
to rin* forth )roofs" The unfortunate *ir+( 'ie+d4
Dictionar'" :>
in* at +en*th to the %io+ence of her tortures( con4
fessed $hate%er $as reuired of her"
#The )h'sicians a*ain sou*ht for the satanic
mar@" The' found it in a sma++ dar@ s)ot on one of
her thi*hs" The' a))+ied the need+eJ ut the tor4
ture had een so ecessi%e that the )oor( e)irin*
creature scarce+' fe+t the $oundJ she did not cr'
outJ therefore the crime $as satisfactori+' )ro%ed"
!ut( as manners $ere ecomin* +ess rude( she $as
not urned unti+ she had een han*ed"#
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E%er' triuna+ in Christian Euro)e sti++ rin*s
$ith simi+ar condemnations J so +on* did this arar4
ous imeci+it' endure( that e%en in our o$n da'( at
Wiir1ur*( in Franconia( there $as a $itch urned
in 79B?" And $hat a $itch A 'oun* $oman of
ua+it'( the aess of a con%ent and in our o$n
times( under the em)ire of 0aria Theresa of Aus4
tria
These horrors( ' $hich Euro)e $as so +on* M++ed(
determined !e@@er to M*ht a*ainst the de%i+" In %ain
$as he to+d( in )rose and %erse( that he $as doin*
$ron* to attac@ him( seein* that he $as etreme+'
+i@e him( ein* horri+' u*+'J nothin* cou+d sto)
him" &e e*an $ith aso+ute+' den'in* the )o$er
of Satan J and e%en *re$ so o+d as to maintain that
he does not eist" #If(# said he( #there $ere a de%i+(
he $ou+d re%en*e the $ar $hich I ma@e u)on him"#
!e@@er reasoned ut too $e++ in sa'in* that if the
de%i+ eisted he $ou+d )unish him" &is rother min4
isters too@ Satan2s )art and sus)ended !e@@erJ for
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:? Phi+oso)hica+
heretics $i++ a+so ecommunicate J and in the artic+e
of cursin*( ene%a mimics Rome"
!e@@er enters on his suect in the second %o+ume"
Accordin* to him( the ser)ent $hich seduced our Mrst
)arents $as not a de%i+( ut a rea+ ser)ent J as !a4
+aam2s ass $as a rea+ ass( and as the $ha+e that s$a+4
+o$ed .onah $as a rea+ $ha+e" It $as so decided+'
a rea+ ser)ent( that a++ its s)ecies( $hich had efore
$a+@ed on their feet( $ere condemned to cra$+ on
their e++ies" No ser)ent( no anima+ of an' @ind( is
ca++ed Satan( or !ee+1eu( or de%i+( in the Penta4
teuch" There is not so much as an a++usion to Satan"
The Dutch destro'er of Satan does( indeed( admit
the eistence of an*e+s J ut at the same time he as4
sures us that it cannot e )ro%ed ' reasonin*" #And
if there are an'(# sa's he( in the ei*hth cha)ter of his
second %o+ume( #it is hard to sa' $hat the' are" The
Scri)ture te++s us nothin* aout their nature( nor in
$hat the nature of a s)irit consists" The !i+e $as
made( not for an*e+s( ut for men J .esus $as made
a man for us( not an an*e+"#
If !e@@er has so man' scru)+es concernin* an*e+s
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it is not to e $ondered at that he has some concern4
in* de%i+s J and it is %er' amusin* to see into $hat
contortions he )uts his mind in order to a%ai+ him4
se+f of such tets as a))ear to e in his fa%or and to
e%ade such as are a*ainst him"
&e does his utmost to )ro%e that the de%i+ had
nothin* to do $ith the aictions of .o J and here
Dictionar'" :7
he is e%en more )ro+i than the friends of that ho+'
man"
There is *reat )roai+it' that he $as condemned
on+' throu*h the i++4humor of his ud*es at ha%in*
+ost so much time in readin* his $or@" If the de%i+
himse+f had een forced to read !e@@er2s #Wor+d
!e$itched# he cou+d ne%er ha%e for*i%en the fau+t
of ha%in* so )rodi*ious+' $earied him"
One of our Dutch di%ine2s *reatest dicu+ties is
to e)+ain these $ords - #.esus $as trans)orted '
the s)irit into the desert to e tem)ted ' the de%i+"#
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No tet can e c+earer" A di%ine ma' $rite a*ainst
!ee+1eu as much as he )+eases( ut he must of ne4
cessit' admit his eistence J he ma' then e)+ain
the dicu+t tets if he can"
Whoe%er desires to @no$ )recise+' $hat the de%i+
is ma' e informed ' referrin* to the .esuit Scott J
no one has s)o@en of him more at +en*th J he is much
$orse than !e@@er"
Consu+tin* histor'( $here the ancient ori*in of the
de%i+ is to e found in the doctrine of the Persians(
Ahrimanes( the ad )rinci)+e( corru)ts a++ that the
*ood )rinci)+e had made sa+utar'" Amon* the
E*')tians( T')hon does a++ the harm he can J $hi+e
Oshireth( $hom $e ca++ Osiris( does( to*ether $ith
Isheth( or Isis( a++ the *ood of $hich he is ca)a+e"
!efore the E*')tians and Persians( 0o1a1or(
amon* the Indians( had re%o+ted a*ainst od and e4
come the de%i+( ut od had at +ast )ardoned him"
Vo+" 7
:: Phi+oso)hica+
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If !e@@er and the Socinians had @no$n this anec4
dote of the fa++ of the Indian an*e+s and their restor4
ation( the' $ou+d ha%e a%ai+ed themse+%es of it to
su))ort their o)inion that he++ is not )er)etua+( and
to *i%e ho)es of sa+%ation to such of the damned as
read their oo@s"
The .e$s( as has a+read' een oser%ed( ne%er
s)o@e of the fa++ of the an*e+s in the O+d Testament J
ut it is mentioned in the Ne$"
Aout the )eriod of the esta+ishment of Chris4
tianit' a oo@ $as attriuted to #Enoch( the se%enth
man after Adam(# concernin* the de%i+ and his asso4
ciates" Enoch *i%es us the names of the +eaders of
the ree++ious and the faithfu+ an*e+s( ut he does
not sa' that $ar $as in hea%enJ on the contrar'(
the M*ht $as u)on a mountain of the earth( and it
$as for the )ossession of 'oun* $omen"
St" .ude cites this oo@ in his E)ist+e - #And the
an*e+s( $hich @e)t not their Mrst estate( ut +eft their
o$n haitation( he hath reser%ed in e%er+astin* chains
under dar@ness( unto the ud*ment of the *reat da'
"""" Woe unto them( for the' ha%e *one in the $a'
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of Cain" " " " And Enoch( a+so( the se%enth from
Adam( )ro)hesied of these #
St" Peter in his second E)ist+e a++udes to the
!oo@ of Enoch $hen he sa's - #For if od s)ared
not the an*e+s that sinned( ut cast them do$n to
he++ and de+i%ered them into chains of dar@4
ness " " " "#
!e@@er must ha%e found it dicu+t to resist )as4
Dictionar'" :
sa*es so forma+" &o$e%er( he $as e%en more in4
Qei+e on the suect of de%i+s than on that of
an*e+sJ he $ou+d not e sudued ' the !oo@ of
Enoch( the se%enth man from Adam J he maintained
that there $as no more a de%i+ than there $as a
oo@ of Enoch" &e said that the de%i+ $as imitated
from ancient m'tho+o*'( that it $as an o+d stor' re4
%i%ed( and that $e are nothin* more than )+a*iarists"
We ma' at the )resent da' e as@ed $h' $e ca++
that Lucifer the e%i+ s)irit( $hom the &ere$ %er4
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sion( and the oo@ attriuted to Enoch( named Sam4
'a1a" It is ecause $e understand Latin etter than
&ere$"
!ut $hether Lucifer e the )+anet Venus( or the
Sam'a1a of Enoch( or the Satan of the !a'+onians(
or the 0o1a1or of the Indians( or the T')hon of the
E*')tians( !e@@er $as ri*ht in sa'in* that so enor4
mous a )o$er ou*ht not to e attriuted to him as
that $ith $hich( e%en do$n to our o$n times( he has
een e+ie%ed to e in%ested" It is too much to ha%e
immo+ated to him a $oman of ua+it' of Wiir1ur*(
0a*da+en Chaudron( the curate of au)idi( the $ife
of 0arsha+ d2Ancre( and more than a hundred thou4
sand other $i1ards and $itches( in the s)ace of
thirteen hundred 'ears( in Christian states" &ad
!e+tha1ar !e@@er een content $ith )arin* the
de%i+2s nai+s( he $ou+d ha%e een %er' $e++ recei%ed J
ut $hen a curate $ou+d annihi+ate the de%i+ he +oses
his cure"
: Phi+oso)hica+
!ELIEF"
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WE sha++ see at the artic+e #Certaint'# that $e
ou*ht often to e %er' uncertain of $hat $e are cer4
tain of J and that $e ma' fai+ in *ood sense $hen de4
cidin* accordin* to $hat is ca++ed common sense"
!ut $hat is it that $e ca++ e+ie%in*H
A Tur@ comes and sa's to me( #I e+ie%e that the
an*e+ arie+ often descended from the em)'rean( to
rin* 0ahomet +ea%es of the Koran( $ritten on +ue
%e++um"#
We++( 0usta)ha( and on $hat does th' sha%en
head found its e+ief of this incredi+e thin* H
#On this - That there are the *reatest )roai+i4
ties that I ha%e not een decei%ed in the re+ation
of these im)roa+e )rodi*iesJ that Aue@er( the
father4in4+a$( A&( the son4in4+a$( Aisha( or Aisse(
the dau*hter( Omar( and Osman( certiMed the truth
of the fact in the )resence of Mft' thousand men
*athered to*ether a++ the +ea%es( read them to the
faithfu+( and attested that not a $ord had een a+4
tered"
#That $e ha%e ne%er had ut one Koran( $hich
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has ne%er een contradicted ' another Koran" That
od has ne%er )ermitted the +east a+teration to e
made in this oo@"
#That its doctrine and )rece)ts are the )erfection
of reason" Its doctrine consists in the unit' of od(
for Whom $e must +i%e and die J in the immorta+it'
of the sou+ J the eterna+ re$ards of the ust and )un4
Dictionar'" :B
ishments of the $ic@ed J and the mission of our *reat
)ro)het 0ahomet( )ro%ed ' %ictories"
#Its )rece)ts are- To e ust and %a+iantJ to
*i%e a+ms to the )oor J to astain from that enormous
numer of $omen $hom the Eastern )rinces( and in
)articu+ar the )ett' .e$ish @in*s( too@ to themse+%es
$ithout scru)+eJ to renounce the *ood $ines of
En*addi and Tadmor( $hich those drun@en &ere$s
ha%e so )raised in their oo@s J to )ra' to od M%e
times a da'( etc"
#This su+ime re+i*ion has een conMrmed ' the
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mirac+e of a++ others the Mnest( the most constant( and
est %eriMed in the histor' of the $or+d J that 0a4
homet( )ersecuted ' the *ross and asurd scho+astic
ma*istrates $ho decreed his arrest( and o+i*ed to
uit his countr'( returned %ictoriousJ that he made
his imeci+e and san*uinar' enemies his footstoo+J
that he a++ his +ife fou*ht the att+es of the LordJ
that $ith a sma++ numer he a+$a's trium)hed o%er
the *reater numer J that he and his successors ha%e
con%erted one4ha+f of the earth J and that( $ith od2s
he+)( $e sha++ one da' con%ert the other ha+f"#
Nothin* can e arra'ed in more da11+in* co+ors"
8et 0usta)ha( $hi+e e+ie%in* so Mrm+'( a+$a's fee+s
some sma++ shado$s of dout arisin* in his sou+
$hen he hears an' dicu+ties started res)ectin* the
%isits of the an*e+ arie+J the sura or cha)ter
rou*ht from hea%en to dec+are that the *reat
)ro)het $as not a cuc@o+d J or the mare !ora@( $hich
carried him in one ni*ht from 0ecca to .erusa+em"
: Phi+oso)hica+
0usta)ha stammers J he ma@es %er' ad ans$ers( at
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$hich he +ushes J 'et he not on+' te++s 'ou that he
e+ie%es( ut $ou+d a+so )ersuade 'ou to e+ie%e"
8ou )ress 0usta)ha J he sti++ *a)es and stares( and
at +ast *oes a$a' to $ash himse+f in honor of A++ah(
e*innin* his a+ution at the e+o$ and endin* $ith
the foreMn*er"
Is 0usta)ha rea++' )ersuaded con%inced of a++
that he has to+d usH Is he )erfect+' sure that 0a4
homet $as sent ' od( as he is sure that the cit'
of Stamou+ eists H as he is sure that the Em)ress
Catherine II" sent a Qeet from the remotest seas of
the North to +and troo)s in Pe+o)onnesus a thin*
as astonishin* as the ourne' from 0ecca to .erusa4
+em in one ni*ht and that this Qeet destro'ed that
of the Ottomans in the Dardane++es H
The truth is that 0usta)ha e+ie%es $hat he does
not e+ie%e" &e has een accustomed to )ronounce(
$ith his mo++ah( certain $ords $hich he ta@es for
ideas" To e+ie%e is %er' often to dout"
#Wh' do 'ou e+ie%e thatH# sa's &ar)a*on" #I
e+ie%e it ecause I e+ie%e it(# ans$ers 0aster
.acuesJ and most men mi*ht return the same an4
s$er"
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!e+ie%e me fu++'( m' dear reader( $hen I sa' one
must not e+ie%e too easi+'" !ut $hat sha++ $e sa' of
those $ho $ou+d )ersuade others of $hat the' them4
se+%es do not e+ie%e H and $hat of the monsters $ho
)ersecute their rethren in the hum+e and rationa+
doctrine of dout and se+f4distrust H
Dictionar'" :9
!ET&S&E0ES&"
Of the Fift' Thousand and Se%ent' .e$s Struc@
$ith Sudden Death for &a%in* Loo@ed /)on the
Ar@J of the Fi%e o+den Emeroids Paid ' 2the
Phi+istinesJ and of Dr" Kennicott2s Incredu+it'"
0EN of the $or+d $i++ )erha)s e astonished to
Mnd this $ord the suect of an artic+e J ut $e here
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address on+' the +earned and as@ their instruction"
!ethshemesh $as a %i++a*e e+on*in* to od2s
)eo)+e( situated( accordin* to commentators( t$o
mi+es north of .erusa+em" The Phoenicians ha%in*(
in Samue+2s time( eaten the .e$s( and ta@en from
them their Ar@ of a++iance in the att+e( in $hich the'
@i++ed thirt' thousand of their men( $ere se%ere+'
)unished for it ' the Lord -
#Percussit eos in secretion )arte natium( et eu+4
+ierunt %i++a et a*ri" " " " et nati sunt mures( et
facta est confusio mortis ma*na in ci%itate"# Liter4
a++'- #&e struc@ them in the most secret )art of
the uttoc@sJ and the Me+ds and the farmhouses
$ere trou+ed """" and there s)run* u) miceJ
and there $as a *reat confusion of death in the cit'"#
The )ro)hets of the Phoenicians( or Phi+istines(
ha%in* informed them that the' cou+d de+i%er them4
se+%es from the scour*e on+' ' *i%in* to the Lord
M%e *o+den mice and M%e *o+den emeroids( and send4
in* him ac@ the .e$ish Ar@( the' fu+M++ed this or4
der( and( accordin* to the e)ress command of their
)ro)hets sent ac@ the Ar@ $ith the mice and erne4
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:G Phi+oso)hica+
roids on a $a*on dra$n ' t$o co$s( $ith each a
suc@in* ca+f and $ithout a dri%er"
These t$o co$s of themse+%es too@ the Ar@
strai*ht to !ethshemesh" The men of !ethshemesh
a))roached the Ar@ in order to +oo@ at it( $hich +i4
ert' $as )unished 'et more se%ere+' than the )ro4
fanation ' the Phoenicians had een" The Lord
struc@ $ith sudden death se%ent' men of the )eo)+e(
and Mft' thousand of the )o)u+ace"
The re%erend Doctor Kennicott( an Irishman(
)rinted in 79G a French commentar' on this oc4
currence and dedicated it to the isho) of Oford"
At the head of this commentar' he entit+es himse+f
Doctor of Di%init'( memer of the Ro'a+ Societ' of
London( of the Pa+atine Academ'( of the Academ'
of ottin*en( and of the Academ' of Inscri)tions at
Paris" A++ that I @no$ of the matter is that he is
not of the Academ' of Inscri)tions at Paris" Per4
ha)s he is one of its corres)ondents" &is %ast erudi4
tion ma' ha%e decei%ed him( ut tit+es are distinct
from thin*s"
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&e informs the )u+ic that his )am)h+et is so+d at
Paris ' Sai++ant and 0o+ini( at Rome ' 0ona+4
dini( at Venice ' Pasua+i( at F+orence ' Cam4
ia*i( at Amsterdam ' 0arc40iche+ Re'( at The
&a*ue ' osse( at Le'den ' .auau( and in Lon4
don ' !ec@ett( $ho recei%es suscri)tions"
In this )am)h+et he )retends to )ro%e that the
Scri)ture tet has een corru)ted" &ere $e must
e )ermitted to dier $ith him" Near+' a++ !i+es
Dictionar'" :>
a*ree in these e)ressions - se%ent' men of the )eo)+e
and Mft' thousand of the )o)u+ace #De )o)u+o se)4
tua*inta %iros( et uinua*inta mi++ia )+eis"# The
re%erend Doctor Kennicott sa's to the ri*ht re%erend
the +ord isho) of Oford that former+' there $ere
stron* )reudices in fa%or of the &ere$ tet( ut
that for se%enteen 'ears his +ordshi) and himse+f
ha%e een freed from their )reudices( after the de4
+ierate and attenti%e )erusa+ of this cha)ter"
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In this $e dier from Dr" Kennicott( and the more
$e read this cha)ter the more $e re%erence the $a's
of the Lord( $hich are not our $a's" It is im)ossi4
+e( sa's Kennicott( for the candid reader not to
fee+ astonished and aected at the contem)+ation of
Mft' thousand men destro'ed in one %i++a*e men(
too( em)+o'ed in *atherin* the har%est"
This does( it is true( su))ose a hundred thousand
)ersons( at +east( in that %i++a*e( ut shou+d the doc4
tor for*et that the Lord had )romised Araham that
his )osterit' shou+d e as numerous as the sands of
the seaH
The .e$s and the Christians( adds he( ha%e not
scru)+ed to e)ress their re)u*nance to attach faith
to this destruction of Mft' thousand and se%ent' men"
We ans$er that $e are Christians and ha%e no
re)u*nance to attach faith to $hate%er is in the &o+'
Scri)tures" We ans$er( $ith the re%erend Father
Ca+met( that #if $e $ere to reect $hate%er is e4
traordinar' and e'ond the reach of our conce)tion
$e must reect the $ho+e !i+e"# We are )ersuaded
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:B? Phi+oso)hica+
that the .e$s( ein* under the *uidance of od him4
se+f( cou+d e)erience no e%ents ut such as $ere
stam)ed $ith the sea+ of the Di%init' and uite dif4
ferent from $hat ha))ened to other men" We $i++
e%en %enture to ad%ance that the death of these Mft'
thousand and se%ent' men is one of the +east sur4
)risin* thin*s in the O+d Testament"
We are struc@ $ith astonishment sti++ more re%er4
entia+ $hen E%e2s ser)ent and !a+aam2s ass ta+@J
$hen the $aters of the cataracts are s$e++ed ' rain
Mfteen cuits ao%e a++ the mountains J $hen $e e4
ho+d the )+a*ues of E*')t( and the si hundred and
thirt' thousand M*htin* .e$s Q'in* on foot throu*h
the di%ided and sus)ended seaJ $hen .oshua sto)s
the sun and moon at noonda' J $hen Samson s+a's
a thousand Phi+istines $ith the a$4one of an ass"
"""" In those di%ine times a++ $as mirac+e( $ith4
out ece)tion( and $e ha%e the )rofoundest re%er4
ence for a++ these mirac+es for that ancient $or+d
$hich $as not our $or+d J for that nature $hich $as
not our natureJ for a di%ine oo@( in $hich there
can e nothin* human"
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!ut $e are astonished at the +iert' $hich Dr"
Kennicott ta@es of ca++in* those deists and atheists(
$ho( $hi+e the' re%ere the !i+e more than he does(
dier from him in o)inion" Ne%er $i++ it e e+ie%ed
that a man $ith such ideas is of the Academ' of
0eda+s and Inscri)tions" &e is( )erha)s( of the
Academ' of !ed+am( the most ancient of a++( and
$hose co+onies etend throu*hout the earth"
Dictionar'" :B7
!IL&A& !ASTARDS"
!IL&A&( ser%ant to Rache+( and <i+)ah( ser%ant
to Leah( each ore the )atriarch .aco t$o chi+dren(
and( e it oser%ed( that the' inherited +i@e +e*itimate
sons( as $e++ as the ei*ht other ma+e chi+dren $hom
.aco had ' the t$o sisters Leah and Rache+" It
is true that a++ their inheritance consisted in a +ess4
in*J $hereas( Wi++iam the !astard inherited Nor4
mand'"
Thierri( a astard of C+o%is( inherited the est )art
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of au+( in%aded ' his father" Se%era+ @in*s of
S)ain and Na)+es ha%e een astards" In S)ain
astards ha%e a+$a's inherited" Kin* &enr' of
Transtamare $as not considered as an i++e*itimate
@in*( thou*h he $as an i++e*itimate chi+d( and this
race of astards( founded in the house of Austria(
rei*ned in S)ain unti+ Phi+i) V"
The +ine of Ara*on( $ho rei*ned in Na)+es in the
time of Louis =II"( $ere astards" Count de Dunois
si*ned himse+f #the astard of Or+eans(# and +etters
$ere +on* )reser%ed of the du@e of Normand'( @in*
of En*+and( $hich $ere si*ned #Wi++iam the !as4
tard"#
In erman' it is other$ise J the descent must e
)ureJ astards ne%er inherit Mefs( nor ha%e an'
estate" In France( as has +on* een the case( a @in*2s
astard cannot e a )riest $ithout a dis)ensation
from Rome( ut he ecomes a )rince $ithout an'
dicu+t' as soon as the @in* ac@no$+ed*es him to
:B: Phi+oso)hica+
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e the os)rin* of his sire( e%en thou*h he e the
astard of an adu+terous father and mother" It is the
same in S)ain" The astard of a @in* of En*+and
ma' e a du@e ut not a )rince" .aco2s astards
$ere neither )rinces nor du@es J the' had no +ands(
the reason ein* that their father had none( ut the'
$ere after$ards ca++ed )atriarchs( $hich ma' e ren4
dered arch4fathers"
It has een as@ed $hether the astards of the
)o)es mi*ht e )o)es in turn" Po)e .ohn =L $as(
it is true( a astard of Po)e Ser*ius III"( and of the
famous 0aro1ia J ut an instance is not a +a$"
!IS&OP"
SA0/EL ORNIK( a nati%e of !as+e( $as( as is $e++
@no$n( a %er' amia+e 'oun* man( $ho( moreo%er(
@ne$ his erman and ree@ Ne$ Testament '
heart" At the a*e of t$ent' his )arents sent him to
tra%e+" &e $as commissioned to carr' oo@s to the
coadutor at Paris in the time of the Fronde" &e ar4
ri%ed at the archisho)2s *ate and $as to+d ' the
S$iss that monsei*neur sa$ no one" #0' dear fe+4
+o$(# said Orni@( #'ou are %er' rude to 'our coun4
tr'men J the a)ost+es a++o$ed e%er' one to a))roach(
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and .esus Christ desired that +itt+e chi+dren shou+d
come unto him" I ha%e nothin* to as@ of 'our master J
on the contrar'( I rin* him somethin*"# #Enter(
then(# said the S$iss"
&e $aited an hour in the Mrst ante4chamer"
!ein* uite art+ess he attac@ed $ith uestions a do4
Dictionar'" :B
mestic $ho $as %er' fond of te++in* a++ he @ne$
aout his master" #&e must e )rett' rich(# said
Orni@( #to ha%e such a s$arm of )a*es and footmen
runnin* in and out of the house"# #I don2t @no$(#
ans$ered the other( #$hat his income is( ut I hear
.o+i and the Ae Charier sa' that he is t$o mi++ions
in det"# #!ut $ho is that +ad' $ho came out of a
cainet and is )assin* 'H# #That is 0adame de
Pomereu( one of his mistresses"# #She is rea++' %er'
)rett'( ut I ha%e not read that the a)ost+es had such
com)an' in their edchamers in a mornin*"# #Ah
that( I e+ie%e( is monsieur( aout to *i%e audience"#
#Sa' sa *randeur( monsei*neur"# #We++( $ith a++
m' heart # Orni@ sa+uted sa *randeur( )re4
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sented his oo@s( and $as recei%ed $ith a most *ra4
cious smi+e" Sa *randeur said three $ords to him(
and ste))ed into his carria*e( escorted ' Mft' horse4
men" In ste))in* in( monsei*neur dro))ed a sheath
and Orni@ $as astonished that monsei*neur shou+d
carr' so +ar*e an in@horn" #Do 'ou not see(# said the
ta+@er( #that it is his da**erH e%er' one that *oes
to )ar+iament $ears his da**er H# Orni@ uttered an
ec+amation of astonishment( and de)arted"
&e $ent throu*h France and $as ediMed ' to$n
after to$n" From thence he )assed into Ita+'" In
the )a)a+ territories he met a isho) $ith an income
of on+' a thousand cro$ns( $ho $ent on foot" Or4
ni@( ein* natura++' @ind( oered him a )+ace in
his camiatura" #Si*ner( 'ou are no dout *oin* to
comfort the sic@H# #Sir( I am *oin* to m' master"#
:B Phi+oso)hica+
#8our masterH &e( no dout( is .esus Christ"#
#Sir( he is Cardina+ A1o+ino J I am his a+moner" &e
*i%es me a %er' )oor sa+ar'( ut he has )romised
to )+ace me $ith Donna O+im)ia( the fa%orite sister4
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in4+a$ of nostro si*nore# #What are 'ou in the
)a' of a cardina+ H !ut do 'ou not @no$ that there
$ere no cardina+s in the time of .esus Christ and
St" .ohnH# #Is it )ossi+e# ec+aimed the Ita+ian
)re+ate" #Nothin* is more true J 'ou ha%e read it in
the os)e+"# #I ha%e ne%er read it(# re)+ied the
isho)J #I @no$ on+' the oce of Our Lad'"# #I
te++ 'ou there $ere neither cardina+s nor isho)s( and
$hen there $ere isho)s the )riests $ere a+most
their eua+s( as St" .erome( in se%era+ )+aces( assures
us"# #&o+' Vir*in # said the Ita+ian( #I @ne$ noth4
in* aout it J and $hat of the )o)es H# #There $ere
no )o)es either"# The *ood isho) crossed himse+f(
thin@in* he $as $ith the e%i+ one( and +ea)ed from
the side of his com)anion"
!LASP&E08"
T&IS is a ree@ $ord si*nif'in* an attac@ on re)4
utation" We Mnd +as)hemia in Demosthenes" In
the ree@ Church it $as used on+' to e)ress an in4
ur' done to od" The Romans ne%er made use
of this e)ression( a))arent+' not thin@in* that od2s
honor cou+d e oended +i@e that of men"
There scarce+' eists one s'non'm" !+as)hem'
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does not a+to*ether con%e' the idea of sacri+e*e" We
sa' of a man $ho has ta@en od2s name in %ain(
Dictionar'" :BB
$ho( in the %io+ence of an*er( has s$orn as it is e4
)ressed ' the name of od( that he has +as4
)hemedJ ut $e do not sa' that he has committed
sacri+e*e" The sacri+e*ious man is he $ho )erures
himse+f on the *os)e+( $ho etends his ra)acit' to
sacred thin*s( $ho imrues his hands in the +ood
of )riests"
reat sacri+e*es ha%e a+$a's een )unished $ith
death in a++ nations( es)ecia++' those accom)anied
' +oodshed" The author of the #Institutes au Droit
Crimine+# rec@ons amon* di%ine hi*h treasons in
the second de*ree( the non4oser%ance of Sunda's
and ho+ida's" &e shou+d ha%e said the non4oser%4
ance attended $ith mar@ed contem)t( for sim)+e ne*4
+i*ence is a sin( ut not( as he ca++s it( a sacri+e*e" It
is asurd to c+ass to*ether( as this author does( sim4
on'( the carr'in* o of a nun( and the for*ettin* to
*o to %es)ers on a ho+ida'" It is one *reat instance
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of the errors committed ' $riters on uris)rudence(
$ho( not ha%in* een ca++ed u)on to ma@e +a$s(
ta@e u)on themse+%es to inter)ret those of the state"
!+as)hemies uttered in intoication( in an*er( in
the ecess of deaucher'( or in the heat of un*uarded
con%ersation ha%e een suected ' +e*is+ators to
much +i*hter )ena+ties" For instance( the ad%ocate
$hom $e ha%e a+read' cited sa's that the +a$s of
France condemn sim)+e +as)hemers to a Mne for the
Mrst oence( $hich is dou+ed for the second( tri)+ed
for the third( and uadru)+ed for the fourth oence J
for the Mfth re+a)se the cu+)rit is set in the )i++or'(
:B Phi+oso)hica+
for the sith re+a)se he is )i++oried( and has his u))er
+i) urned o $ith a hot iron( and for the se%enth
he +oses his ton*ue" &e shou+d ha%e added that this
$as an ordinance of the 'ear 7"
Punishments are a+most a+$a's aritrar'( $hich
is a *reat defect in uris)rudence" !ut this defect
o)ens the $a' for c+emenc' and com)assion( and this
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com)assion is no other than the strictest ustice( for
it $ou+d e horri+e to )unish a 'outhfu+ indiscre4
tion as )oisoners and )arricides are )unished" A
sentence of death for an oence $hich deser%es noth4
in* more than correction is no other than an assassi4
nation committed $ith the s$ord of ustice"
Is it not to the )ur)ose here to remar@ that $hat
has een +as)hem' in one countr' has often een
)iet' in anotherH
Su))ose a T'rian merchant +anded at the )ort of
Cano)e - he mi*ht e scanda+i1ed on seein* an onion(
a cat( or a *oat carried in )rocession J he mi*ht s)ea@
indecorous+' of Isheth( Oshireth( and &oreth( or
mi*ht turn aside his head and not fa++ on his @nees
at the si*ht of a )rocession $ith the )arts of human
*eneration +ar*er than +ifeJ he mi*ht e)ress his
o)inion at su))er( or e%en sin* some son* in $hich
the T'rian sai+ors made a est of the E*')tian a4
surdities" &e mi*ht e o%erheard ' the maid of
the inn( $hose conscience $ou+d not suer her to
concea+ so enormous a crimeJ she $ou+d run and
denounce the oender to the nearest shoen that ore
the ima*e of the truth on his reast( and it is @no$n
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Dictionar'" :B9
ho$ this ima*e of truth $as made" The triuna+
of the shoens( or shotim( $ou+d condemn the T'rian
+as)hemer to a dreadfu+ death( and conMscate his
%esse+" 8et this merchant mi*ht e considered at
T're as one of the most )ious )ersons in Phoenicia"
Numa sees that his +itt+e horde of Romans is a
co++ection of Latin freeooters $ho stea+ ri*ht and
+eft a++ the' can Mnd oen( shee)( fo$+s( and *ir+s"
&e te++s them that he has s)o@en $ith the n'm)h
E*eria in a ca%ern( and that the n'm)h has een
em)+o'ed ' .u)iter to *i%e him +a$s" The sena4
tors treat him at Mrst as a +as)hemer and threaten
to thro$ him head+on* from the Tar)eian roc@"
Numa ma@es himse+f a )o$erfu+ )art' J he *ains o%er
some senators $ho *o $ith him into E*eria2s *rotto"
She ta+@s to them and con%erts them J the' con%ert
the senate and the )eo)+e" In a +itt+e time Numa is
no +on*er a +as)hemer( the name is *i%en on+' to
such as dout the eistence of the n'm)h"
In our o$n times it is unfortunate that $hat is
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+as)hem' at Rome( at our Lad' of Loretto( and
$ithin the $a++s of San ennaro( is )iet' in London(
Amsterdam( Stoc@ho+m( !er+in( Co)enha*en( !erne(
!ase+( and &amur*" It is 'et more unfortunate
that e%en in the same countr'( in the same to$n( in
the same street( )eo)+e treat one another as +as4
)hemers"
Na'( of the ten thousand .e$s +i%in* at Rome
there is not one $ho does not re*ard the )o)e as the
chief of the +as)hemers( $hi+e the hundred thousand
Vo+" 79
:BG Phi+oso)hica+
Christians $ho inhait Rome( in )+ace of t$o mi++ions
of .o%ians $ho M++ed it in Traan2s time( Mrm+' e4
+ie%e that the .e$s meet in their s'na*o*ues on Sat4
urda' for the )ur)ose of +as)hemin*"
A Corde+ier has no hesitation in a))+'in* the
e)ithet of +as)hemer to a Dominican $ho sa's that
the &o+' Vir*in $as orn in ori*ina+ sin( not$ith4
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standin* that the Dominicans ha%e a u++ from the
)o)e $hich )ermits them to teach the macu+ate con4
ce)tion in their con%ents( and that( esides this u++(
the' ha%e in their forum the e)ress dec+aration of
St" Thomas Auinas"
The Mrst ori*in of the schism of three4fourths of
S$it1er+and and a )art of Lo$er erman' $as a
uarre+ in the cathedra+ church of Fran@fort et$een
a Corde+ier( $hose name I for*et( and a Dominican
named Vi*and"
!oth $ere drun@( accordin* to the custom of that
da'" The drun@en Corde+ier( $ho $as )reachin*(
than@ed od that he $as not a .acoin( s$earin*
that it $as necessar' to eterminate the +as)hemin*
.acoins $ho e+ie%ed that the &o+' Vir*in had een
orn in morta+ sin( and de+i%ered from sin on+' '
the merits of her son" The drun@en .acoin cried
out- #Thou hast +iedJ thou th'se+f art a +as4
)hemer"# The Corde+ier descended from the )u+)it
$ith a *reat iron cruciM in his hand( +aid it aout his
ad%ersar'( and +eft him a+most dead on the s)ot"
To re%en*e this outra*e the Dominicans $or@ed
man' mirac+es in erman' and S$it1er+and J these
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Dictionar'" :B>
mirac+es $ere desi*ned to )ro%e their faith" The' at
+en*th found means to im)rint the mar@s of our
Lord .esus Christ on one of their +a' rethren named
.et1er" This o)eration $as )erformed at !erne '
the &o+' Vir*in herse+f( ut she orro$ed the hand
of the su4)rior( $ho dressed himse+f in fema+e at4
tire and )ut a *+or' round his head" The )oor +itt+e
+a' rother( e)osed a++ +ood' to the %eneration of
the )eo)+e on the a+tar of the Dominicans at !erne(
at +ast cried out murder sacri+e*e The mon@s( in
order to uiet him as uic@+' as )ossi+e administered
to him a host s)rin@+ed $ith corrosi%e su+imate( ut
the ecess of the dose made him dischar*e the host
from his stomach"
The mon@s then accused him to the isho) of
Lausanne of horri+e sacri+e*e" The indi*nant )eo4
)+e of !erne in their turn accused the mon@s( and
four of them $ere urned at !erne on the Ith of
0a'( 7B?>( at the 0arsi++' *ate" Such $as the ter4
mination of this aomina+e aair( $hich determined
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the )eo)+e of !erne to choose a re+i*ion( ad indeed
in Catho+ic e'es( ut $hich de+i%ered them from the
Corde+iers and the .acoins" The numer of simi+ar
sacri+e*es is incredi+e" Such are the eects of )art'
s)irit"
The .esuits maintained for a hundred 'ears that
the .ansenists $ere +as)hemers( and )ro%ed it '
a thousand +ettres4de4cachetJ the .ansenists ' u)4
$ards of four thousand %o+umes demonstrated that
it $as the .esuits $ho +as)hemed" The $riter of the
:? Phi+oso)hica+
#a1ettes Ecc+esiastiues# )retends that a++ honest
men +as)heme a*ainst him( $hi+e he himse+f +as4
)hemes from his *arret on hi*h a*ainst e%er' honest
man in the @in*dom" The *a1ette4$riter2s )u+isher
+as)hemes in return and com)+ains that he is star%4
in*" &e $ou+d Mnd it etter to e honest and )o+ite"
One thin* eua++' remar@a+e and conso+in* is
that ne%er in an' countr' of the earth( amon* the
$i+dest ido+aters( has an' man een considered as a
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+as)hemer for ac@no$+ed*in* one su)reme( eterna+(
and a++4)o$erfu+ od" It certain+' $as not for ha%4
in* ac@no$+ed*ed this truth that Socrates $as con4
demned to the hem+oc@( for the doctrine of a Su)reme
od $as announced in a++ the recian m'steries"
It $as a faction that destro'ed Socrates J he $as ac4
cused( at a %enture( of not reco*ni1in* the secondar'
*ods( and on this )oint it $as that he $as accused
as a +as)hemer"
The Mrst Christians $ere accused of +as)hem'
for the same reason( ut the )artisans of the ancient
re+i*ion of the em)ire( the .o%ians( $ho re)roached
the )rimiti%e Christians $ith +as)hem'( $ere at
+en*th condemned as +as)hemers themse+%es( under
Theodosius II" Dr' den sa's -
This side to4da'( to4morro$ t2other urns(
And the'2re a++ ods A+mi*ht' in their turns"
!OD8"
!OD8 and matter are here the same thin* a+thou*h#
there is hard+' an' such thin* as s'non'm in the
most ri*orous sense of the $ord" There ha%e een
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Dictionar'" :7
)ersons $ho ' this $ord #od'# ha%e understood
#s)irit# a+so" The' ha%e said s)irit ori*ina++' si*ni4
Mes reath J on+' a od' can reathe( therefore od'
and s)irit ma'( after a++( e the same thin*" In this
sense La Fontaine said to the ce+erated Du@e de +a
Rochefoucau+d - #.2entens +es es)rits cor)s et )etris
de matttre"# In the same sense he sa's to 0adame
Sa+iere -
.e suti+iserais un morceau de matiere(
5uintessence d2atome( e trait de +a +umiire(
.e ne sais *uoi )+us %if et)+us suti+ encor """"
No one thou*ht of harassin* *ood 0onsieur La
Fontaine( or rin*in* him to tria+ for his e)res4
sions" Were a )oor )hi+oso)her( or e%en a )oet( to
sa' as much no$ada's( ho$ man' $ou+d there e to
fa++ on him &o$ man' scri+ers to se++ their e4
tracts for si)ence &o$ man' @na%es( for the so+e
)ur)ose of ma@in* mischief( to cr' )hi+oso)her
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)eri)atetic disci)+e of assendi )u)i+ of Loc@e( and
the )rimiti%e fathers damna+e
As $e @no$ not $hat a s)irit is( so a+so $e are
i*norant of $hat a od' is J $e see %arious )ro)er4
ties( ut $hat is the suect in $hich those )ro)erties
resideH #There is nothin* ut od'(# said Democ4
ritus and E)icurus J #there is no such thin* as od'(#
said the disci)+es of <eno( of E+ia"
!er@e+e'( isho) of C+o'ne( is the +ast $ho( ' a
hundred ca)tious so)hisms( has )retended to )ro%e
that odies do not eist" The' ha%e( sa's he( neither
co+or( nor sme++( nor heat J a++ these moda+ities are in
:: Phi+oso)hica+
'our sensations( not in the oects" &e mi*ht ha%e
s)ared himse+f the trou+e of )ro%in* this truth for
it $as a+read' sucient+' @no$n" !ut thence he
)assed to etent and so+idit'( $hich are essentia+ to
od'( and thin@s he )ro%es that there is no etent
in a )iece of *reen c+oth ecause the c+oth is not in
rea+it' *reen( the sensation of *reen ein* in our4
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se+%es on+'( therefore the sensation of etent is +i@e4
$ise in ourse+%es on+'" &a%in* thus destro'ed e4
tent he conc+udes that so+idit'( $hich is attached to
it( fa++s of itse+f( and therefore that there is nothin*
in the $or+d ut our ideas" So that( accordin* to
this doctor( ten thousand men @i++ed ' ten thousand
cannon shots are in rea+it' nothin* more than ten
thousand a))rehensions of our understandin*( and
$hen a fema+e ecomes )re*nant it is on+' one idea
+od*ed in another idea from $hich a third idea $i++
e )roduced"
Sure+'( the isho) of C+o'ne mi*ht ha%e sa%ed
himse+f from fa++in* into this ecessi%e asurdit'"
&e thin@s he sho$s that there is no etent ecause
a od' has a))eared to him four times as +ar*e
throu*h a *+ass as to his na@ed e'e( and four times
as sma++ throu*h another *+ass" &ence he conc+udes(
that( since a od' cannot e at the same time four
feet( siteen feet( and ut one foot in etent( there
is no etent( therefore there is nothin*" &e had on+'
to ta@e an' measure and sa' - of $hate%er etent this
od' ma' a))ear to me to e( it etends to so man'
of these measures"
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Dictionar'" :
&e mi*ht %er' easi+' see that etent and so+idit'
$ere uite dierent from sound( co+or( taste( sme++"
It is uite c+ear that these are sensations ecited in
us ' the conM*uration of )arts( ut etent is not a
sensation" When this +i*hted coa+ *oes out( I am no
+on*er $arm J $hen the air is no +on*er struc@( I
cease to hear J $hen this rose $ithers( I no +on*er
sme++ it - ut the coa+( the air( and the rose ha%e e4
tent $ithout me" !er@e+e'2s )arado is not $orth
refutin*"
Thus ar*ued <eno and Parmenides of o+d( and
%er' c+e%er the' $ere J the' $ou+d )ro%e to 'ou that
a tortoise $ent a+on* as s$ift+' as Achi++es( for there
$as no such thin* as motion J the' discussed a hun4
dred other uestions eua++' im)ortant" 0ost of the
ree@s made )hi+oso)h' a u**+e( and the' trans4
mitted their art to our schoo+men" !a'+e himse+f
$as occasiona++' one of the set and emroidered
co$es +i@e the rest" In his artic+e( #<eno(# a*ainst
the di%isi+e etent of matter and the conti*uit' of
odies he %entures to sa' $hat $ou+d not e to+erated
in an' si4months *eometrician"
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It is $orth @no$in* ho$ !er@e+e' $as dra$n
into this )arado" A +on* $hi+e a*o I had some con4
%ersation $ith him( and he to+d me that his o)inion
ori*inated in our ein* una+e to concei%e $hat the
suect of this etension is( and certain+'( in his
oo@( he trium)hs $hen he as@s &'+as $hat this
suect( this sustratum( this sustance isH It is the
etended od'( ans$ers &'+as" Then the isho)(
: Phi+oso)hica+
under the name of Phi+onous( +au*hs at him( and
)oor &'+as( Mndin* that he has said that etension
is the suect of etension( and has therefore ta+@ed
nonsense( remains uite confused( ac@no$+ed*es that
he understands nothin* at a++ of the matterJ that
there is no such thin* as od'J that the natura+
$or+d does not eist( and that there is none ut an
inte++ectua+ $or+d"
&'+as shou+d on+' ha%e said to Phi+onous - We
@no$ nothin* of the suect of this etension( so+id4
it'( di%isii+it'( moi+it'( M*ure( etc" J I @no$ no more
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of it than I do of the suect of thou*ht( fee+in*( and
$i++( ut the suect does not the +ess eist for it has
essentia+ )ro)erties of $hich it cannot e de)ri%ed"
We a++ resem+e the *reater )art of the Parisian
+adies $ho +i%e $e++ $ithout @no$in* $hat is )ut in
their ra*outsJ ust so do $e eno' odies $ithout
@no$in* of $hat the' are com)osed" Of $hat does
a od' consistH Of )arts( and these )arts reso+%e
themse+%es into other )arts" What are these +ast
)arts H The'( too( are odies J 'ou di%ide incessant+'
$ithout ma@in* an' )ro*ress"
In short( a sut+e )hi+oso)her( oser%in* that a
)icture $as made of in*redients of $hich no sin*+e
in*redient $as a )icture( and a house of materia+s of
$hich no one materia+ $as a house( ima*ined that
odies are com)osed of an inMnit' of sma++ thin*s
$hich are not odies( and these are ca++ed monads"
This s'stem is not $ithout its merits( and( $ere it
re%ea+ed( I shou+d thin@ it %er' )ossi+e" These +itt+e
Dictionar'" :B
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ein*s $ou+d e so man' mathematica+ )oints( a sort
of sou+s( $aitin* on+' for a tenement- here $ou+d
e a continua+ metem)s'chosis" This s'stem is as
*ood as another J I +i@e it uite as $e++ as the dec+ina4
tion of atoms( the sustantia+ forms( the %ersati+e
*race( or the %am)ires"
!OOKS"
SECTION I"
8ou des)ise oo@s J 'ou( $hose +i%es are asored
in the %anities of amition( the )ursuit of )+easure( or
in indo+ence( ut rememer that a++ the @no$n $or+d(
ece)tin* on+' sa%a*e nations( is *o%erned ' oo@s"
A++ Africa( to the +imits of Ethio)ia and Ni*ritia
oe's the oo@ of the Koran after o$in* to the
oo@ of the os)e+" China is ru+ed ' the mora+
oo@ of Confucius( and a *reat )art of India ' the
Veda" Persia $as *o%erned for a*es ' the oo@s of
one of the <oroasters"
In a +a$suit or crimina+ )rocess( 'our )ro)ert'(
'our honor( )erha)s 'our +ife( de)ends on the inter4
)retation of a oo@ $hich 'ou ne%er read" It is(
ho$e%er( $ith oo@s as $ith men( a %er' sma++ num4
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er )+a' a *reat )art( the rest are confounded $ith
the mu+titude"
!' $hom are man@ind +ed in a++ ci%i+i1ed coun4
tries H !' those $ho can read and $rite" 8ou are
acuainted $ith neither &i))ocrates( nor !oerhaa%e(
nor S'denham( ut 'ou )+ace 'our od' in the hands
of those $ho can read them" 8ou +ea%e 'our sou+
: Phi+oso)hica+
entire+' to the care of those $ho are )aid for readin*
the !i+e( a+thou*h there are not Mft' of them $ho
ha%e read it throu*h $ith attention"
The $or+d is no$ so entire+' *o%erned ' oo@s
that the' $ho command in the cit' of the Sci)ios and
the Catos ha%e reso+%ed that the oo@s of their +a$
sha++ e for themse+%es a+one J the' are their sce)tre(
$hich the' ha%e made it hi*h treason in their suects
to touch $ithout an e)ress )ermission" In other
countries it has een foridden to thin@ in )rint $ith4
out +etters4)atent"
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There are nations in $hich thou*ht is considered
mere+' as an artic+e of commerce( the o)erations of
the human understandin* ein* %a+ued on+' at so
much )er sheet" If the oo@se++er ha))ens to desire
a )ri%i+e*e for his merchandise $hether he is se++in*
#Rae+ais(# or the #Fathers of the Church(# the ma*4
istrate *rants the )ri%i+e*e $ithout ans$erin* for
the contents of the oo@"
In another countr' the +iert' of e)+ainin* 'our4
se+f ' oo@s is one of the most in%io+a+e )rero*a4
ti%es" There 'ou ma' )rint $hate%er 'ou )+ease( on
)ain of ein* tiresome( and of ein* )unished if 'ou
ha%e too much aused 'our natura+ ri*ht"
!efore the admira+e in%ention of )rintin*( oo@s
$ere scarcer and dearer than e$e+s" There $ere
scarce+' an' oo@s in our ararous nations( either
efore Char+ema*ne or after him( unti+ the time of
Char+es V"( @in* of France( ca++ed the Wise( and from
this time to Francis I" the scarcit' $as etreme" The
Dictionar'" :9
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Aras a+one had them from the ei*hth to the thir4
teenth centur' of our era" China $as fu++ of them
$hen $e cou+d neither read nor $rite"
Co)'ists $ere much em)+o'ed in the Roman Em4
)ire from the time of the Sci)ios unti+ the irru)tion
of the ararians" This $as a %er' un*ratefu+ em4
)+o'ment" The dea+ers a+$a's )aid authors and
co)'ists %er' i++" It reuired t$o 'ears of assiduous
+aor for a co)'ist to transcrie the $ho+e !i+e $e++
on %e++um( and $hat time and trou+e to co)' cor4
rect+' in ree@ and Latin the $or@s of Ori*en( C+em4
ent of A+eandria and a++ the others $riters ca++ed
Fathers
St" &ieron'mos( or &ieron'mus( $hom $e ca++
.erome( sa's( in one of his satirica+ +etters a*ainst
RuMnus that he has ruined himse+f $ith u'in*
the $or@s of Ori*en( a*ainst $hom he $rote $ith so
much itterness and %io+ence" #8es(# sa's he( #I
ha%e read Ori*en( if it e a crime I confess that I am
*ui+t' and that I ehausted m' )urse in u'in* his
$or@s at A+eandria"#
The Christian societies of the three Mrst centuries
had Mft'4four *os)e+s( of $hich( unti+ Dioc+etian2s
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time scarce+' t$o or three co)ies found their $a'
amon* the Romans of the o+d re+i*ion"
Amon* the Christians it $as an un)ardona+e
crime to sho$ the *os)e+s to the enti+es J the' did
not e%en +end them to the catechumens"
When Lucian 6insu+tin* our re+i*ion of $hich he
@ne$ %er' +itt+e; re+ates that #a troo) of e**ars
:G Phi+oso)hica+
too@ him u) into a fourth stor' $here the' $ere in4
%o@in* the Father throu*h the Son( and forete++in*
misfortunes to the em)eror and the em)ire(# he does
not sa' that the' sho$ed him a sin*+e oo@" No
Roman historian( no Roman author $homsoe%er
ma@es mention of the *os)e+s" (
When a Christian( $ho $as unfortunate+' rash
and un$orth' of his ho+' re+i*ion had )u+ic+' torn
in )ieces and tram)+ed under foot an edict of the
Em)eror Dioc+etian( and had thus dra$n do$n u)on
Christianit' that )ersecution $hich succeeded the
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*reatest to+eration( the Christians $ere then o+i*ed
to *i%e u) their *os)e+s and $ritten authors to the
ma*istrates( $hich efore then had ne%er een done"
Those $ho *a%e u) their oo@s throu*h fear of im4
)risonment( or e%en of death( $ere he+d ' the rest
of the Christians to e sacri+e*ious a)ostates( the'
recei%ed the surname of traditores( $hence $e ha%e
the $ord #traitor(# and se%era+ isho)s asserted that
the' shou+d e rea)ti1ed( $hich occasioned a dread4
fu+ schism"
The )oems of &omer $ere +on* so +itt+e @no$n
that Pisistratus $as the Mrst $ho )ut them in order
and had them transcried at Athens aout M%e hun4
dred 'ears efore the Christian era"
Perha)s there $as not at this time in a++ the East
a do1en co)ies of the Veda and the <end4A%esta"
In 79?? 'ou $ou+d not ha%e found a sin*+e oo@
in a++ Rome( ece)tin* the missa+s and a fe$ !i+es
in the hands of )a)as drun@ $ith rand'"
Dictionar'" :>
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The com)+aint no$ is of their too *reat aun4
dance" !ut it is not for readers to com)+ain( the
remed' is in their o$n hands J nothin* forces them
to read" Nor for authors( the' $ho ma@e the mu+ti4
tude of oo@s ha%e not to com)+ain of ein* )ressed"
Not$ithstandin* this enormous uantit' ho$ fe$
)eo)+e read !ut if the' read( and read $ith ad%an4
ta*e( shou+d $e ha%e to $itness the de)+ora+e in4
fatuations to $hich the %u+*ar are sti++ e%er' da' a
)re'H
The reason that oo@s are mu+ti)+ied in s)ite of
the *enera+ +a$ that ein*s sha++ not e mu+ti)+ied
$ithout necessit'( is that oo@s are made from oo@s"
A ne$ histor' of France or S)ain is manufactured
from se%era+ %o+umes a+read' )rinted( $ithout add4
in* an'thin* ne$" A++ dictionaries are made from
dictionaries J a+most a++ ne$ *eo*ra)hica+ oo@s are
made from other oo@s of *eo*ra)h' J St" Thomas2s
Dream has rou*ht forth t$o thousand +ar*e %o+4
umes of di%init'( and the same race of +itt+e $orms
that ha%e de%oured the )arent are no$ *na$in* the
chi+dren"
cri%e *ut %oudra( chacun a son metier
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Peut )erdre im)undment de rencre et du )a)ier"
Write( $rite a$a'J each $riter at his )+easure
0a' suander in@ and )a)er $ithout measure"
SECTION II"
It is sometimes %er' dan*erous to ma@e a oo@"
Si+houete( efore he cou+d sus)ect that he shou+d one
da' e com)tro++er4*enera+ of the Mnances( )u+ished
:9? Phi+oso)hica+
a trans+ation of Warurton2s #A++iance of Church
and State(# and his father4in4+a$( Astuce the )h'si4
cian( *a%e to the )u+ic the #0emoirs(# in $hich the
author of the Pentateuch mi*ht ha%e found a++ the
astonishin* thin*s $hich ha))ened so +on* efore
his time"
The %er' da' that Si+houete came into oce( some
*ood friend of his sou*ht out a co)' of each of
these oo@s ' the father4in4+a$ and son4in4+a$( in
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order to denounce them to the )ar+iament and ha%e
them condemned to the Qames( accordin* to custom"
The' immediate+' ou*ht u) a++ the co)ies in the
@in*dom( $hence it is that the' are no$ etreme+'
rare"
There is hard+' a sin*+e )hi+oso)hica+ or theo+o*i4
ca+ oo@ in $hich heresies and im)ieties ma' not e
found ' misinter)retin*( or addin* to( or sutract4
in* from( the sense"
Theodore of 0o)suestes %entured to ca++ the
#Cantic+e of Cantic+es(# #a co++ection of im)urities"#
rotius )u++s it in )ieces and re)resents it as horrid(
and Chati++on s)ea@s of it as #a scanda+ous )roduc4
tion"#
Perha)s it $i++ hard+' e e+ie%ed that Dr" Tam4
)onet one da' said to se%era+ others - #I $ou+d en4
*a*e to Mnd a mu+titude of heresies in the Lord2s
Pra'er if this )ra'er( $hich $e @no$ to ha%e come
from the Di%ine mouth( $ere no$ for the Mrst time
)u+ished ' a .esuit"#
I $ou+d )roceed thus - #Our Father( $ho art in
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Dictionar'" :97
hea%en # a )ro)osition inc+inin* to heres'( since
od is e%er'$here" Na'( $e Mnd in this e)ression
the +ea%en of Socinianism( for here is nothin* at a++
said of the Trinit'"
#Th' @in*dom comeJ th' $i++ e done on earth
as it is in hea%en # another )ro)osition tainted $ith
heres'( for it said a*ain and a*ain in the Scri)tures
that od rei*ns eterna++'" 0oreo%er it is %er' rash
to as@ that &is $i++ ma' e done( since nothin* is or
can e done ut ' the $i++ of od"
#i%e us this da' our dai+' read # a )ro)osition
direct+' contrar' to $hat .esus Christ uttered on an4
other occasion - #Ta@e no thou*ht( sa'in* $hat sha++
$e eatH or $hat sha++ $e drin@H """" for after
a++ these thin*s do the enti+es see@" " " " !ut see@
'e Mrst the @in*dom of od and &is ri*hteousness(
and a++ these thin*s sha++ e added unto 'ou"#
#And for*i%e us our dets( as $e for*i%e our
detors # a rash )ro)osition( $hich com)ares man
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to od( destro's *ratuitous )redestination( and
teaches that od is ound to do to us as $e do to
others" !esides( ho$ can the author sa' that $e for4
*i%e our detorsH We ha%e ne%er for*i%en them a
sin*+e cro$n" No con%ent in Euro)e e%er remitted
to its farmers the )a'ment of a sou" To dare to sa'
the contrar' is a forma+ heres'"
#Lead us not into tem)tation # a )ro)osition
scanda+ous and manifest+' heretica+( for there is no
tem)ter ut the de%i+( and it is e)ress+' said in St"
.ames2 E)ist+e - #od is no tem)ter of the $ic@ed J
:9: Phi+oso)hica+
&e tem)ts no man"# #Deus enim intentator ma+or4
um estJ i)se autem neminem tentat(#
8ou see( then( said Doctor Tam)onet( that there
is nothin*( thou*h e%er so %enera+e( to $hich a
ad sense ma' not e *i%en" What oo@( then( sha++
not e +ia+e to human censure $hen e%en the Lord2s
Pra'er ma' e attac@ed( ' *i%in* a diao+ica+ in4
ter)retation to a++ the di%ine $ords that com)ose it H
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As for me( I trem+e at the thou*ht of ma@in* a
oo@" Than@ od( I ha%e ne%er )u+ished an'thin* J
I ha%e not e%en +i@e rothers La Rue( Du Ce%eau(
and Fo+ard had an' of m' theatrica+ )ieces )+a'ed(
it $ou+d e too dan*erous"
If 'ou )u+ish( a )arish curate accuses 'ou of
heres' J a stu)id co++e*ian denounces 'ou J a fe++o$
that cannot read condemns 'ou J the )u+ic +au*h at
'ou J 'our oo@se++er aandons 'ou( and 'our $ine
merchant *i%es 'ou no more credit" I a+$a's add
to m' )aternoster( #De+i%er me( O od( from the itch
of oo@ma@in*"#
O 'e $ho( +i@e m'se+f( +a' +ac@ on $hite and
ma@e c+ean )a)er dirt' ca++ to mind the fo++o$in*
%erses $hich I rememer to ha%e read( and ' $hich
$e shou+d ha%e een corrected -
Tout ce fatras fut du chan%re en son tem)s(
Lin*e i+ de%int )ar I2 art des tisserands J
Puts en +ameau des )i+ons +e )resserent
II fut )a)ier" Cent cer%eau a I2en%ers
De %isions a fen%i +e char*erentJ
Puts on +e ru+eJ i+ %o+e dans +es airs(
II estfume2e aussi ien ue +a *+oire"
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De nos tra%au %oi+a ue++e est rhistoire"
Tout estfume2e( et tout nous fait sentir
Ce *rand ntant ui doit nous en*+outir"
Dictionar'" :9
This misce++aneous ruish once $as Qa(
Ti++ made soft +inen ' the honest $ea%erJ
!ut $hen at +en*th it dro))ed from )eo)+e2s ac@s(
2T$as turned to )a)er( and ecame recei%er
Of a++ that Mft' mot+e' rains cou+d fashionJ
So no$ 2tis urned $ithout the +east com)assionJ
It no$( +i@e *+or'( terminates in smo@eJ
Thus a++ )ur toi+s are nothin* ut a o@e
A++ ends in smo@eJ each nothin* that $e fo++o$
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Te++s of the nothin* that must a++ thin*s s$a++o$"
SECTION III"
!oo@s are no$ mu+ti)+ied to such a de*ree that
it is im)ossi+e not on+' to read them a++ ut e%en
to @no$ their numer and their tit+es" &a))i+'( one
is not o+i*ed to read a++ that is )u+ished( and Cara4
mue+2s )+an for $ritin* a hundred fo+io %o+umes and
em)+o'in* the s)iritua+ and tem)ora+ )o$er of
)rinces to com)e+ their suects to read them( has
not een )ut in eecution" Rin*e+ur*( too( had
formed the desi*n of com)osin* aout a thousand
dierent %o+umes( ut( e%en had he +i%ed +on* enou*h
to )u+ish them he $ou+d ha%e fa++en far short of
&ermes Trisme*istus( $ho( accordin* to .am+icus(
com)osed thirt'4si thousand M%e hundred and
t$ent'4M%e oo@s" Su))osin* the truth of this fact(
the ancients had no +ess reason than the moderns to
com)+ain of the mu+titude of oo@s"
It is( indeed( *enera++' a*reed that a sma++ numer
of choice oo@s is sucient" Some )ro)ose that $e
shou+d conMne ourse+%es to the !i+e or &o+' Scri)4
tures( as the Tur@s +imit themse+%es to the Koran"
!ut there is a *reat dierence et$een the fee+in*s
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of re%erence entertained ' the 0ahometans for their
Vo+" 7G
:9 Phi+oso)hica+
Koran and those of the Christians for the Scri)tures"
The %eneration testiMed ' the former $hen s)ea@in*
of the Koran cannot e eceeded" It is( sa' the'(
the *reatest of a++ mirac+es J nor are a++ the men in
eistence )ut to*ether ca)a+e of an'thin* at a++ a)4
)roachin* it J it is sti++ more $onderfu+ that the au4
thor had ne%er studied( nor read an' oo@" The Ko4
ran a+one is $orth sit' thousand mirac+es 6the num4
er of its %erses( or thereaouts; J one risin* from
the dead $ou+d not e a stron*er )roof of the truth
of a re+i*ion than the com)osition of the Koran" It
is so )erfect that it ou*ht not to e re*arded as a
$or@ of creation"
The Christians do indeed sa' that their Scri)4
tures $ere ins)ired ' the &o+' host( 'et not on+'
is it ac@no$+ed*ed ' Cardina+ Caetan and !e++ar4
mine that errors ha%e found their $a' into them
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throu*h the ne*+i*ence and i*norance of the oo@4
se++ers and the rais( $ho added the )oints( ut
the' are considered as a oo@ too dan*erous for the
hands of the maorit' of the faithfu+" This is e4
)ressed ' the Mfth ru+e of the Inde( a con*re*ation
at Rome( $hose oce it is to eamine $hat oo@s are
to e foridden" It is as fo++o$s -
#Since it is e%ident that if the readin* of the
!i+e( trans+ated into the %u+*ar ton*ue( $ere )er4
mitted to e%er' one indiscriminate+' the temerit' of
man@ind $ou+d cause more e%i+ than *ood to arise
therefrom $e $i++ that it e referred to the ud*4
ment of the isho) or inuisitor( $ho( $ith the ad4
Dictionar'" :9B
%ice of the curate or confessor( sha++ ha%e )o$er to
*rant )ermission to read the !i+e rendered in the
%u+*ar ton*ue ' Catho+ic $riters( to those to $hom
the' sha++ ud*e that such readin* $i++ do no harm J
the' must ha%e this )ermission in $ritin* and sha++
not e aso+%ed unti+ the' ha%e returned their !i+e
into the hands of the ordinar'" As for such oo@4
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se++ers as sha++ se++ !i+es in the %u+*ar ton*ue to
those $ho ha%e not this $ritten )ermission( or in
an' other $a' )ut them into their hands( the' sha++
+ose the )rice of the oo@s 6$hich the isho) sha++
em)+o' for )ious )ur)oses;( and sha++ moreo%er e
)unished ' aritrar' )ena+ties" Nor sha++ re*u+ars
read or u' these oo@s $ithout the )ermission of
their su)eriors"#
Cardina+ Du)erron a+so asserted that the Scri)4
tures( in the hands of the un+earned( $ere a t$o4
ed*ed @nife $hich mi*ht $ound them( to a%oid $hich
it $as etter that the' shou+d hear them from the
mouth of the Church( $ith the so+utions and inter4
)retations of such )assa*es as a))ear to the senses
to e fu++ of asurdit' and contradiction( than that
the' shou+d read them ' themse+%es $ithout an'
so+ution or inter)retation" &e after$ards made a
+on* enumeration of these asurdities in terms so
unua+iMed that .urieu $as not afraid to dec+are that
he did not rememer to ha%e read an'thin* so fri*ht4
fu+ or so scanda+ous in an' Christian author"
.urieu( $ho $as so %io+ent in his in%ecti%es
a*ainst Cardina+ Du)erron( had himse+f to sustain
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:9 Phi+oso)hica+
simi+ar re)roaches from the Catho+ics" #I heard that
minister(# sa's Pa)( in s)ea@in* of him( #teachin*
the )u+ic that a++ the characteristics of the &o+'
Scri)tures on $hich those )retended reformers had
founded their )ersuasion of their di%init'( did not
a))ear to him to e sucient" 2Let it not e inferred(2
said .urieu( 2that I $ish to ta@e from the +i*ht and
stren*th of the characteristics of Scri)ture( ut I
$i++ %enture to arm that there is not one of them
$hich ma' not e e+uded ' the )rofane" There is
not one of them that amounts to a )roofJ not one
to $hich somethin* ma' not e said in ans$er( and(
considered a+to*ether( a+thou*h the' ha%e *reater
)o$er than se)arate+' to $or@ a mora+ con%iction
that is( a )roof on $hich to found a certaint' ec+ud4
in* e%er' dout I o$n that nothin* seems to me to
e more o))osed to reason than to sa' that these
characteristics are of themse+%es ca)a+e of )roduc4
in* such a certaint'"2 #
It is not then astonishin* that the .e$s and the
Mrst Christians( $ho( $e Mnd in the Acts of the
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A)ost+es( conMned themse+%es in their meetin*s to the
readin* of the !i+e( $ere( as $i++ e seen in the
artic+e #&eres'(# di%ided into dierent sects" For
this readin* $as after$ards sustituted that of %ari4
ous a)ocr')ha+ $or@s( or at +east of etracts from
them" The author of the #S'no)sis of Scri)ture(#
$hich $e Mnd amon* the $or@s of St" Athanasius(
e)ress+' a%o$s that there are in the a)ocr')ha+
oo@s thin*s most true and ins)ired ' od $hich
Dictionar'" :99
ha%e een se+ected and etracted for the )erusa+ of
the faithfu+"
!O/RES"
O/R uestions ha%e ut +itt+e to do $ith *eo*4
ra)h'( ut $e sha++( )erha)s( e )ermitted to e)ress
in a fe$ $ords our astonishment res)ectin* the to$n
of !our*es" The Tre%ou Dictionar' asserts that
#it is one of the most ancient in Euro)e J that it $as
the seat of em)ire of the au+s( and *a%e +a$s to the
Ce+ts"#
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I $i++ not comat the antiuit' of an' to$n or of
an' fami+'" !ut $as there e%er an em)ire of au+H
had the Ce+ts @in*sH This ra*e for antiuit' is a
ma+ad' $hich is not easi+' cured" In au+( in er4
man'( and in the North there is nothin* ancient ut
the soi+( the trees( and the anima+s" If 'ou $i++ ha%e
antiuities *o to Asia( and e%en there the' are hard+'
to e found" 0an is ancient( ut monuments are
ne$ J this has a+read' een said in more artic+es than
one"
If to e orn $ithin a certain stone or $ooden
+imit more ancient than another $ere a rea+ *ood it
$ou+d e no more than reasona+e to date the foun4
dation of the to$n from the *iants2 $ar( ut since this
%anit' is in no $ise ad%anta*eous +et it e renounced"
This is a++ I ha%e to sa' aout !our*es"
!RAC&0ANS !RA&0INS"
CO/RTEO/S reader( oser%e( in the Mrst )+ace( that
Father Thomassin( one of the most +earned men of
:9G Phi+oso)hica+
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modern Euro)e( deri%es the !rachmans from the
.e$ish $ord arac( ' a c su))osin*( of course( that
the .e$s had a c" This arac( sa's he( si*niMed to
Q'J and the !rachmans Qed from the to$ns su)4
)osin* that there $ere an' to$ns"
Or( if 'ou +i@e it etter( !rachmans comes from
ara@ ' a @( meanin* to +ess or to )ra'" !ut $h'
mi*ht not the !isca'ans name the !rahmins from
the $ord ranH $hich e)resses I $i++ not sa'
$hat" The' had as *ood a ri*ht as the &ere$s"
Rea++'( this is a stran*e sort of erudition" !' re4
ectin* it entire+'( $e shou+d @no$ +ess( ut $e
shou+d @no$ it etter"
Is it not +i@e+' that the !rahmins $ere the Mrst
+e*is+ators( the Mrst )hi+oso)hers( the Mrst di%ines( of
the earth H Do not the fe$ remainin* monuments of
ancient histor' form a *reat )resum)tion in their
fa%orH since the Mrst ree@ )hi+oso)hers $ent to
them to +earn mathematicsJ and the most ancient
curiosities( those co++ected ' the em)erors of China(
are a++ Indian( as is attested ' the re+ations in Du
&a+de2s co++ection"
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Of the Shastah( $e sha++ s)ea@ e+se$here" It is
the Mrst theo+o*ica+ oo@ of the !rahmins( $ritten
aout Mfteen hundred 'ears efore the Vedah( and
anterior to a++ other oo@s"
Their anna+s ma@e no mention of an' $ar under4
ta@en ' them at an' time" The $ords #arms(#
#@i++in*(# #maimin*(# are to e found neither in the
fra*ments of the Shastah that ha%e reached us( nor in
INDIA WAS /NKNOWN TILL AFTER ALE=4
ANDER2S CON5/ESTS
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in* of India ti++ after A+eander2s conuests and their
o$n sett+in* in that E*')t of $hich the' had s)o@en
so i++" The name of India is to e found on+' in the
oo@ of Esther( and in that of .o( $ho $as not a
&ere$" We Mnd a sin*u+ar contrast et$een the
sacred oo@s of the &ere$s and those of the In4
dians" The Indian oo@s announce on+' )eace and
mi+dness J the' forid the @i++in* of anima+s - ut the
&ere$ oo@s s)ea@ of nothin* ut the s+au*hter
and massacre of men and eastsJ a++ are utchered
in the name of the Lord J it is uite another order of
thin*s"
We are incontesta+' indeted to the !rahmins
for the idea of the fa++ of ce+estia+ ein*s re%o+tin*
a*ainst the So%erei*n of NatureJ and it $as )ro4
a+' from them that the ree@s too@ the fa+e of the
Titans J and +ast+'( from them it $as that the .e$s(
in the Mrst centur' of our era( too@ the idea of Luci4
fer2s re%o+t"
&o$ cou+d these Indians su))ose a ree++ion in
hea%en $ithout ha%in* seen one on earthH Such a
+ea) from the human to the di%ine nature is dicu+t
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:G? Phi+oso)hica+
of com)rehension" We usua++' ste) from $hat is
@no$n to $hat is un@no$n"
A $ar of *iants $ou+d not e ima*ined( unti+ some
men more roust than the rest had een seen to
t'ranni1e o%er their fe++o$4men" To ima*ine the
+i@e in hea%en( the !rahmins must either ha%e e)e4
rienced %io+ent discords amon* themse+%es( or at
+east ha%e $itnessed them amon* their nei*hors"
!e that as it ma'( it is an astonishin* )henomenon
that a societ' of men $ho had ne%er made $ar shou+d
ha%e in%ented a sort of $ar carried on in ima*inar'
s)ace( or in a *+oe distant from our o$n( or in $hat
is ca++ed the Mrmament the em)'rean" !ut +et it
e carefu++' oser%ed( that in this re%o+t of the ce+es4
tia+ ein*s a*ainst their So%erei*n( there $ere no
+o$s *i%en( no ce+estia+ +ood s)i++ed( no mountains
thro$n at one another2s heads( no an*e+s c+eft in
t$ain( as in 0i+ton2s su+ime and *rotesue )oem"
Accordin* to the Shastah( it $as on+' a forma+
disoedience of the orders of the 0ost &i*h( $hich
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od )unished ' re+e*atin* the ree++ious an*e+s to
a %ast )+ace of dar@ness ca++ed Onderah( for the term
of a $ho+e mononthour" A mononthour is a hundred
and t$ent'4si mi++ions of our 'ears" !ut od
%ouchsafed to )ardon the *ui+t' at the end of M%e
thousand 'ears( and their Onderah $as nothin* more
than a )ur*ator'"
&e turned them into 0hurd( or men( and )+aced
them on our *+oe( on condition that the' shou+d not
Dictionar'" :G7
eat anima+s( nor cohait $ith the ma+es of their ne$
s)ecies( on )ain of returnin* to the Onderah"
These are the )rinci)a+ artic+es of the !rahmin
faith( $hich has endured $ithout intermission from
time immemoria+ to the )resent da'"
This is ut a sma++ )art of the ancient cosmo*on'
of the !rahmins" Their rites( their )a*ods( )ro%e
that amon* them a++ $as a++e*orica+" The' sti++ re)4
resent Virtue in the form of a $oman $ith ten arms(
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comatin* ten morta+ sins t')iMed ' monsters" Our
missionaries $ere acute enou*h to ta@e this ima*e of
Virtue for that of the de%i+( and arm that the de%i+
is $orshi))ed in India" We ha%e ne%er %isited that
)eo)+e ut to enrich ourse+%es and ca+umniate them"
The 0etem)s'chosis of the !rahmins"
The doctrine of the metem)s'chosis comes from
an ancient +a$ of feedin* on co$2s mi+@ as $e++ as on
%e*eta+es( fruits( and rice" It seemed horri+e to the
!rahmins to @i++ and eat their feeder J and the' had
soon the same res)ect for *oats( shee)( and a++ other
anima+s - the' e+ie%ed them to e animated ' the
ree++ious an*e+s( $ho $ere com)+etin* their )uriM4
cation in the odies of easts as $e++ as in those of
men" The nature of the c+imate seconded( or rather
ori*inated this +a$" A urnin* atmos)here creates a
necessit' for refreshin* food( and ins)ires horror for
our custom of sto$in* carcasses in our stomachs"
The o)inion that easts ha%e sou+s $as *enera+
:G: Phi+oso)hica+
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throu*hout the East( and $e Mnd %esti*es of it in the
ancient sacred $ritin*s" In the oo@ of enesis( od
forids men to eat #their Qesh $ith their +ood and
their sou+"# Such is the im)ort of the &ere$ tet"
#I $i++ a%en*e(# sa's he( #the +ood of 'our sou+s on
the c+a$s of easts and the hands of men"# In
Le%iticus he sa's( #The sou+ of the Qesh is in the
+ood"# &e does moreJ he ma@es a so+emn com4
)act $ith man and $ith a++ anima+s( $hich su))oses
an inte++i*ence in the +atter"
In much +ater times( Ecc+esiasticus forma++' sa's(
#od sho$s that man is +i@e to the easts J for men
die +i@e easts J their condition is eua+ - as man dies(
so a+so dies the east" The' reathe a+i@e" There is
nothin* in man more than in the east"# .onah(
$hen he $ent to )reach at Nine%eh( made oth men
and easts fast"
A++ ancient authors( sacred oo@s as $e++ as )ro4
fane( attriute @no$+ed*e to the easts J and se%era+
ma@e them s)ea@" It is not then to e $ondered at
that the !rahmins( and after them the P'tha*oreans(
e+ie%ed that sou+s )assed successi%e+' into the odies
of easts and of men J conseuent+' the' )ersuaded
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themse+%es( or at +east the' said( that the sou+s of the
*ui+t' an*e+s( in order to Mnish their )ur*ation( e4
+on*ed sometimes to easts( sometimes to men" This
is a )art of the romance of the .esuit !ou*eant( $ho
ima*ined that the de%i+s are s)irits sent into the
odies of anima+s" Thus( in our da'( and at the e4
tremit' of the $est( a .esuit unconscious+' re%i%es an
Dictionar'" :G
artic+e of the faith of the most ancient Orienta+
)riests"
The Se+f4urnin* of 0en and Women amon* the
!rahmins"
The !rahmins of the )resent da'( $ho do a++ that
the ancient !rahmins did( ha%e( $e @no$( retained
this horri+e custom" Whence is it that( amon* a
)eo)+e $ho ha%e ne%er shed the +ood of men or of
anima+s( the Mnest act of de%otion is a )u+ic se+f4
urnin*H Su)erstition( the *reat uniter of contra4
ries( is the on+' source of these fri*htfu+ sacriMces(
the custom of $hich is much more ancient than the
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+a$s of an' @no$n )eo)+e"
The !rahmins assert that their *reat )ro)het
!rahma( the son of od( descended amon* men( and
had se%era+ $i%es J and that after his death( the $ife
$ho +o%ed him the most urned herse+f on his funera+
)i+e( that she mi*ht oin him in hea%en" Did this
$oman rea++' urn herse+f( as it is said that Portia(
the $ife of !rutus( s$a++o$ed urnin* coa+s( in order
to e reunited to her husand H or is this a fa+e in4
%ented ' the )riestsH Was there a !rahma( $ho
rea++' *a%e himse+f out as a )ro)het and son of od H
It is +i@e+' that there $as a !rahma( as there after4
$ards $ere a <oroaster and a !acchus" Fa+e sei1ed
u)on their histor'( as she has e%er'$here constant+'
done"
No sooner does the $ife of the son of od urn
herse+f( than +adies of meaner condition must urn
:G Phi+oso)hica+
themse+%es +i@e$ise" !ut ho$ are the' to Mnd their
husands a*ain( $ho are ecome horses( e+e)hants(
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ha$@s( etc" H &o$ are the' to distin*uish the )recise
east( $hich the defunct animatesH ho$ reco*ni1e
him and e sti++ his $ife H This dicu+t' does not in
the +east emarrass the &indoo theo+o*iansJ the'
easi+' Mnd a distin*uo a so+ution in sensu com4
)osito in sensu di%iso" The metem)s'chosis is on+'
for common )eo)+eJ for other sou+s the' ha%e a
su+imer doctrine" These sou+s( ein* those of the
once ree+ an*e+s( *o aout )urif'in* themse+%es J
those of the $omen $ho immo+ate themse+%es are
eatiMed( and Mnd their husands read'4)uriMed" In
short( the )riests are ri*ht( and the $omen urn
themse+%es"
This dreadfu+ fanaticism has eisted for more
than four thousand 'ears( amon*st a mi+d )eo)+e(
$ho $ou+d fear to @i++ a *rassho))er" The )riests
cannot force a $ido$ to urn herse+f J for the in%ari4
a+e +a$ is( that the se+f4de%otion must e aso+ute+'
%o+untar'" The +on*est married of the $i%es of the
deceased has the Mrst refusa+ of the honor of mount4
in* the funera+4)i+e J if she is not inc+ined( the second
)resents herse+f J and so of the rest" It is said( that
on one occasion se%enteen urned themse+%es at once
on the )i+e of a raah - ut these sacriMces are no$
%er' rareJ the faith has ecome $ea@er since the
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0ahometans ha%e *o%erned a *reat )art of the coun4
tr'( and the Euro)eans traded $ith the rest"
Sti++( there is scarce+' a *o%ernor of 0adras or
Dictionar'" :GB
Pondicherr' $ho has not seen some Indian $oman
%o+untari+' )erish in the Qames" 0r" &o+$e++ re+ates
that a 'oun* $ido$ of nineteen( of sin*u+ar eaut'(
and the mother of three chi+dren( urned herse+f in
the )resence of 0rs" Russe++( $ife of the admira+
then in the 0adras roads" She resisted the tears
and the )ra'ers of a++ )resentJ 0rs" Russe++ con4
ured her( in the name of her chi+dren( not to +ea%e
them or)hans" The Indian $oman ans$ered( #od(
$ho has *i%en them irth( $i++ ta@e care of them"#
She then arran*ed e%er'thin* herse+f( set Mre to the
)i+e $ith her o$n hand( and consummated her sac4
riMce $ith as much serenit' as one of our nuns +i*hts
the ta)ers"
0r" Charnoc@( an En*+ish merchant( one da' see4
in* one of these astonishin* %ictims( 'oun* and
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+o%e+'( on her $a' to the funera+4)i+e( dra**ed her
a$a' ' force $hen she $as aout to set Mre to it(
and( $ith the assistance of some of his countr'men(
carried her o and married her" The )eo)+e re4
*arded this act as the most horri+e sacri+e*e"
Wh' do husands ne%er urn themse+%es( that
the' ma' oin their $i%es H Wh' has a se( natura++'
$ea@ and timid( a+$a's had this frantic reso+utionH
Is it ecause tradition does not sa' that a man e%er
married a dau*hter of !rahma( $hi+e it does arm
that an Indian $oman $as married to a son of that
di%init' H Is it ecause $omen are more su)erstitious
than menH Or is it ecause their ima*inations are
$ea@er( more tender( and more easi+' *o%erned H
:G Phi+oso)hica+
The ancient !rahmins sometimes urned them4
se+%es to )re%ent the )ains and the +an*uor of o+d
a*e J ut( ao%e a++( to ma@e themse+%es admired"
Ca+anus $ou+d not( )erha)s( ha%e )+aced himse+f on
the )i+e( ut for the )ur)ose of ein* *a1ed at '
A+eander" The Christian rene*ade Pere*rinus
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urned himse+f in )u+ic( for the same reason that a
madman *oes aout the streets dressed +i@e an Arme4
nian( to attract the notice of the )o)u+ace"
Is there not a+so an unfortunate miture of %anit'
in this terri+e sacriMce of the Indian $omen H Per4
ha)s( if a +a$ $ere )assed that the urnin* shou+d
ta@e )+ace in the )resence of one $aitin* $oman
on+'( this aomina+e custom $ou+d e fore%er de4
stro'ed"
One $ord more - A fe$ hundreds of Indian
$omen( at most( ha%e furnished this horrid s)ectac+e J
ut our inuisitions( our atrocious madmen ca++in*
themse+%es ud*es( ha%e )ut to death in the Qames
more than a hundred thousand of our rethren
men( $omen( and chi+dren for thin*s $hich no one
has understood" Let us )it' and condemn the !rah4
mins J ut +et us not for*et our misera+e se+%es
Tru+'( $e ha%e for*otten one %er' essentia+ )oint
in this short artic+e on the !rahmins( $hich is( that
their sacred oo@s are fu++ of contradictions J ut the
)eo)+e @no$ nothin* of them( and the doctors ha%e
so+utions read' senses M*ured and M*urati%e( a++e4
*ories( t')es( e)ress dec+arations of !irma(
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!rahma( and Vishnu( sucient to shut the mouth
of an' reasoner"
Dictionar'" :G9
!READ4TREE"
T&E read4tree *ro$s in the Phi+i))ine is+ands(
and )rinci)a++' in those of uam and Tinian( as the
cocoa4tree *ro$s in the Indies" These t$o trees(
a+one( if the' cou+d e mu+ti)+ied in our c+imate(
$ou+d furnish food and drin@ sucient for a++ man4
@ind"
The read4tree is ta++er and more u+@' than our
common a))+e4trees J its +ea%es are +ac@( its fruit is
'e++o$( and eua+ in dimensions to the +ar*est a))+e"
The rind is hardJ and the cutic+e is a sort of soft(
$hite )aste( $hich has the taste of the est French
ro++sJ ut it must e eaten fresh( as it @ee)s on+'
t$ent'4four hours( after $hich it ecomes dr'( sour
and disa*reea+eJ ut( as a com)ensation( the trees
are +oaded $ith them ei*ht months of the 'ear" The
nati%es of the is+ands ha%e no other food J the' are
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a++ ta++( stout( $e++ made( sucient+' Qesh'( and in
the %i*orous hea+th $hich is necessari+' )roduced '
the use of one $ho+esome a+iment a+one - and it is to
ne*roes that nature has made this )resent"
Corn is assured+' not the food of the *reater )art
of the $or+d" 0ai1e and cassa%a are the food of a++
America" We ha%e $ho+e )ro%inces in $hich the
)easants eat none ut chestnut read( $hich is more
nourishin* and of etter Qa%or than the r'e or ar+e'
read on $hich so man' feed( and is much etter than
the rations *i%en to the so+diers" !read is un@no$n
in a++ southern Africa" The immense Indian Archi4
:GG Phi+oso)hica+
)e+a*o( Siam( Laos( Pe*u( Cochin4China( Tonuin(
)art of China( the 0a+aar and Coromande+ coasts(
and the an@s of the an*es( )roduce rice( $hich is
easier of cu+ti%ation( and for $hich $heat is ne*4
+ected" Corn is aso+ute+' un@no$n for the s)ace
of M%e hundred +ea*ues on the coast of the Ic' Sea"
The missionaries ha%e sometimes een in *reat
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triu+ation( in countries $here neither read nor $ine
is to e found" The inhaitants to+d them ' inter4
)reters - #8ou $ou+d a)ti1e us $ith a fe$ dro)s of
$ater( in a urnin* c+imate( $here $e are o+i*ed to
)+un*e e%er' da' into the ri%ers J 'ou $ou+d confess
us( 'et 'ou understand not our +an*ua*e J 'ou $ou+d
ha%e us communicate( 'et 'ou $ant the t$o neces4
sar' in*redients( read and $ine" It is therefore e%i4
dent that 'our uni%ersa+ re+i*ion cannot ha%e een
made for us"# The missionaries re)+ied( %er' ust+'(
that *ood $i++ is the one thin* needfu+ J that the'
shou+d e )+un*ed into the $ater $ithout an'
scru)+e J that read and $ine shou+d e rou*ht from
oa J and that( as for the +an*ua*e( the missionaries
$ou+d +earn it in a fe$ 'ears"
!/FFOONER8 !/RLES5/E LOW
CO0ED8"
&E WAS a %er' sut+e schoo+man( $ho Mrst said
that $e o$e the ori*in of the $ord #uoon# to a
+itt+e Athenian sacriMcer ca++ed !u)ho( $ho( ein*
tired of his em)+o'ment( asconded( and ne%er re4
turned" The Areo)a*us( as the' cou+d not )unish
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Dictionar'" :G>
the )riest( )roceeded a*ainst his hatchet" This farce(
$hich $as )+a'ed e%er' 'ear in the tem)+e of .u)iter(
is said to ha%e een ca++ed #uooner'# This stor'
is not entit+ed to much credit" !uoon $as not a
)ro)er nameJ ou)honos si*niMes an immo+ator of
oen" The ree@s ne%er ca++ed an' est ou)honia"
This ceremon'( fri%o+ous as it a))ears( mi*ht ha%e an
ori*in $ise and humane( $orth' of true Athenians"
Once a 'ear( the sua+tern sacriMcer( or more )ro)4
er+' the ho+' utcher( $hen on the )oint of immo+at4
in* an o( Qed as if struc@ $ith horror( to )ut men
in mind that in $iser and ha))ier times on+' Qo$ers
and fruits $ere oered to the *ods( and that the ar4
arit' of immo+atin* innocent and usefu+ anima+s $as
not introduced unti+ there $ere )riests desirous of
fattenin* on their +ood and +i%in* at the e)ense of
the )eo)+e" In this idea there is no uooner'"
This $ord #uoon# has +on* een recei%ed
amon* the Ita+ians and the S)aniards( si*nif'in*
mimus( scurra( ocu+ator a mimic( a ester( a )+a'er
of tric@s" 0ena*e( after Sa+masius( deri%es it from
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occa inMata a +oated face J and it is true that a
round face and s$o++en chee@s are reuisite in a uf4
foon" The Ita+ians sa' ufo ma*ro a mea*re uf4
foon( to e)ress a )oor ester $ho cannot ma@e 'ou
+au*h"
!uoon and uooner' a))ertain to +o$ comed'(
to mountean@in*( to a++ that can amuse the )o)u4
+ace" In this it $as to the shame of the human
mind e it s)o@en that tra*ed' had its e*innin* -
Vo+" 7>
:>? Phi+oso)hica+
Thes)is $as a uoon efore So)hoc+es $as a *reat
man"
In the siteenth and se%enteenth centuries( the
S)anish and En*+ish tra*edies $ere a++ de*raded '
dis*ustin* uooneries" The courts $ere sti++ more
dis*raced ' uoons than the sta*e" So stron* $as
the rust of ararism( that men had no taste for more
reMned )+easures" !oi+eau sa's of 0o+iere -
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Oest )ar4+a ue 0o+tire( i++ustrant ses 0erits(
Peut4Stre de son art eut em)ortt +e )ri"
Si( mains ami du )eu)+e en ses doctes )eintures(
II ri eut fait *ue+*uefois( *rimacer ses M*ures(
5uitfe# )our +e ouon I2a*rta+e etMn(
Et sans honte a Terence a++ie# Taarin"
Dans ce sac ridicu+e ou Sca)in s2en%e+o))e(
.e ne reconnais )+us I2auteur du 0isanthro)e"
0o+iere in comic *enius had ece++ed(
And mi*ht( )erha)s( ha%e stood un)ara++e+ed(
&ad he his faithfu+ )ortraits ne2er a++o$ed
To *a)e and *rin to *ratif' the cro$dJ
Desertin* $it for +o$ *rimace and est(
And sho$in* Terence in a mot+e' %est"
Who in the sac@( $here Sca)in )+a's the foo+"
Wi++ Mnd the *enius of the comic schoo+H
!ut it must e considered that Ra)hae+ conde4
scended to )aint *rotesue M*ures" 0o+iere $ou+d
not ha%e descended so +o$( if a++ his s)ectators had
een such men as Louis =IV"( Conde( Turenne( La
Rochefoucau+d( 0ontausier( !eau%i++iers( and such
$omen as 0ontes)an and Thian*es J ut he had a+so
to )+ease the $ho+e )eo)+e of Paris( $ho $ere 'et
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uite un)o+ished" The citi1en +i@ed road farce( and
he )aid for it" Scarron2s #.cie+ets# $e re a++ the
ra*e" We are o+i*ed to )+ace ourse+%es on the +e%e+
of our a*e( efore $e can rise ao%e it J and( after a++(
Dictionar'" :>7
$e +i@e to +au*h no$ and then" What is &omer2s
#!att+e of the Fro*s and 0ice(# ut a )iece of uf4
fooner' a ur+esue )oem H
Wor@s of this @ind *i%e no re)utation( ut the'
ma' ta@e from that $hich $e a+read' eno'"
!uooner' is not a+$a's in the ur+esue st'+e"
#The Ph'sician in S)ite of &imse+f(# and the
#Ro*ueries of Sca)in(# are not in the st'+e of Scar4
ron2s #.ode+ets"# 0o+iere does not( +i@e Scarron( *o
in search of s+an* termsJ his +o$est characters do
not )+a' the mountean@" !uooner' is in the thin*(
not in the e)ression"
!oi+eau2s #Lutrin# $as at Mrst ca++ed a ur+esue
)oem( ut it $as the suect that $as ur+esue J the
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st'+e $as )+easin* and reMned( and sometimes e%en
heroic"
The Ita+ians had another @ind of ur+esue( much
su)erior to ours that of Aretin( of Archisho) La
Ca1a( of !erni( 0auro( and Do+ce" It often sacriMces
decorum to )+easantr'( ut oscene $ords are $ho++'
anished from it" The suect of Archisho) La
Ca1a2s #Ca)ito+o de+ Forno# is( indeed( that $hich
sends the Desfontaines to the !icetre( and the Des4
chau fours to the P+ace de re%e - ut there is not one
$ord oensi%e to the ear of chastit'J 'ou ha%e to
di%ine the meanin*"
Three or four En*+ishmen ha%e ece++ed in this
$a' - !ut+er( in his #&udiras(# $hich $as the ci%i+
$ar ecited ' the Puritans turned into ridicu+e J Dr"
arth( in his #Dis)ensar'# J Prior( in his #A+ma(# in
Phi+oso)hica+
$hich he %er' )+easant+' ma@es a est of his suect,
and Phi++i)s( in his #S)+endid Shi++in*"#
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!ut+er is as much ao%e Scarron as a man accus4
tomed to *ood com)an' is ao%e a sin*er at a )ot4
house" The hero of #&udiras# $as a rea+ )erson4
a*e( one Sir Samue+ Lu@e( $ho had een a ca)tain in
the armies of Fairfa and Crom$e++" See the com4
mencement of the )oem( in the artic+e #Prior(# #!ut4
+er(# and #S$ift"#
arth2s )oem on the )h'sicians and a)othecaries
is not so much in the ur+esue st'+e as !oi+eau2s
#Lutrin#- it has more ima*ination( %ariet'( and
nai%ete than the #Lutrin# J and( $hich is rather as4
tonishin*( it dis)+a's )rofound erudition( eme++ished
$ith a++ the *races of reMnement" It e*ins thus -
S)ea@( oddess( since 2tis thou that est canst te++
&o$ ancient +ea*ues to modern discord fe++ J
And $h' )h'sicians $ere so cautious *ro$n
Of others2 +i%es( and +a%ish of their o$n"
Prior( $hom $e ha%e seen a )+eni)otentiar' in
France efore the Peace of /trecht( assumed the of4
Mce of mediator et$een the )hi+oso)hers $ho dis4
)ute aout the sou+" This )oem is in the st'+e of
#&udiras(# ca++ed do**ere+ rh'me( $hich is the
sti+o !erniesco of the Ita+ians"
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The *reat Mrst uestion is( $hether the sou+ is a++
in a++( or is +od*ed ehind the nose and e'es in a cor4
ner $hich it ne%er uits" Accordin* to the +atter
s'stem( Prior com)ares it to the )o)e( $ho con4
stant+' remains at Rome( $hence he sends his nun4
Dictionar'" :>
cios and s)ies to +earn a++ that is doin* in Christen4
dom"
Prior( after ma@in* a est of se%era+ s'stems( )ro4
)oses his o$n" &e remar@s that the t$o4+e**ed ani4
ma+( ne$4orn( thro$s its feet aout as much as )os4
si+e( $hen its nurse is so stu)id as to s$add+e it-
thence he ud*es that the sou+ enters it ' the feet J
that aout Mfteen it reaches the midd+e J then it as4
cends to the heart J then to the head( $hich it uits
a+to*ether $hen the anima+ ceases to +i%e"
At the end of this sin*u+ar )oem( fu++ of in*enious
%ersiMcation( and of ideas a+i@e sut+e and )+easin*(
$e Mnd this charmin* +ine of Fontene++e - #II est des
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hochets )our tout a*e"# Prior e*s of fortune to
#i%e us )+a'4thin*s for o+d a*e"#
8et it is uite certain that Fontene++e did not ta@e
this +ine from Prior( nor Prior from Fontene++e"
Prior2s $or@ is t$ent' 'ears anterior( and Fontene++e
did not understand En*+ish" The )oem terminates
$ith this conc+usion -
For P+ato2s fancies $hat care I H
I ho)e 'ou $ou+d not ha%e me die
Li@e sim)+e Cato in the )+a'(
For an'thin* that he can sa'-
E2en +et him of ideas s)ea@
To heathens( in his nati%e ree@"
If to e sad is to e $ise(
I do most hearti+' des)ise
Whate%er Socrates has said(
Or Tu++' $rit( or Wan+e' read"
Dear Drift( to set our matters ri*ht(
Remo%e these )a)ers from m' si*htJ
!urn 0at2s Descartes and Aristot+e
&ere( .onathan( 'our master2s ott+e"
In a++ these )oems( +et us distin*uish the )+easant(
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:> Phi+oso)hica+
the +i%e+'( the natura+( the fami+iar from the *ro4
tesue( the farcica+( the +o$( and( ao%e a++( the sti
and forced" These %arious shades are discriminated
' the connoisseurs( $ho a+one( in the end( decide the
fate of e%er' $or@"
La Fontaine $ou+d sometimes descend to the ur4
+esue st'+e Phaedrus ne%er J ut the +atter has not
the *race and unaected softness of La Fontaine(
thou*h he has *reater )recision and )urit'"
!/LARIANS"
T&ESE )eo)+e $ere ori*ina++' &uns( $ho sett+ed
near the Vo+*a J and Vo+*arians $as easi+' chan*ed
into !u+*arians"
Aout the end of the se%enth centur'( the'( +i@e
a++ the other nations inhaitin* Sarmatia( made irru)4
tions to$ards the Danue( and inundated the Roman
Em)ire" The' )assed throu*h 0o+da%ia and Wa++a4
chia( $hither their o+d fe++o$4countr'men( the Rus4
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sians( carried their %ictorious arms in 79>( under
the Em)ress Catherine II"
&a%in* crossed the Danue( the' sett+ed in )art
of Dacia and 0cesia( *i%in* their name to the coun4
tries $hich are sti++ ca++ed !u+*aria" Their dominion
etended to 0ount &semus and the Euine Sea"
In Char+ema*ne2s time( the Em)eror Nice)horus(
successor to Irene( $as so im)rudent as to march
a*ainst them after ein* %anuished ' the Saracens J
and he $as in +i@e manner defeated ' the !u+*a4
Dictionar'" :>B
rians" Their @in*( named Krom( cut o his head(
and made use of his s@u++ as a drin@in*4cu) at his
ta+e( accordin* to the custom of that )eo)+e in
common $ith a++ the northern nations"
It is re+ated that( in the ninth centur'( one !o4
*oris( $ho $as ma@in* $ar u)on the Princess Theo4
dora( mother and *uardian to the Em)eror 0ichae+(
$as so charmed $ith that em)ress2s no+e ans$er to
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his dec+aration of $ar( that he turned Christian"
The !u+*arians( $ho $ere +ess com)+aisant( re4
%o+ted a*ainst him J ut !o*oris( ha%in* sho$n them
a cruciM( the' a++ immediate+' recei%ed a)tism"
So sa' the ree@ $riters of the +o$er em)ire( and so
sa' our com)i+ers after them- #Et %oi+Y ustement
comme on ecrit I2histoire"#
Theodora( sa' the'( $as a %er' re+i*ious )rincess(
e%en )assin* her +atter 'ears in a con%ent" Such $as
her +o%e for the ree@ Catho+ic re+i*ion that she )ut
to death in %arious $a's a hundred thousand men ac4
cused of 0anichaeism #this ein*(# sa's the modest
continuator of Echard( #the most im)ious( the most
detesta+e( the most dan*erous( the most aomina+e
of a++ heresies( for ecc+esiastica+ censures $ere $ea)4
ons of no a%ai+ a*ainst men $ho ac@no$+ed*ed not
the church"#
It is said that the !u+*arians( seein* that a++ the
0anichseans suered death( immediate+' concei%ed
an inc+ination for their re+i*ion( and thou*ht it the
est( since it $as the most )ersecuted one - ut this(
for !u+*arians( $ou+d e etraordinari+' acute"
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:> Phi+oso)hica+
At that time( the *reat schism ro@e out more %io4
+ent+' than e%er et$een the ree@ church( under the
Patriarch Photius( and the Latin church( under Po)e
Nicho+as I" The !u+*arians too@ )art $ith the ree@
churchJ and from that time( )roa+'( it $as that
the' $ere treated in the $est as heretics( $ith the
addition of that Mne e)ithet( $hich has c+un* to them
to the )resent da'"
In G97( the Em)eror !asi+ sent them a )reacher(
named Peter of Sici+'( to sa%e them from the heres'
of 0anichaeism J and it is added( that the' no sooner
heard him than the' turned 0anichaeans" It is not
%er' sur)risin* that the !u+*arians( $ho dran@ out
of the s@u++s of their enemies( $ere not etraordinar'
theo+o*ians an' more than Peter of Sici+'"
It is sin*u+ar that these ararians( $ho cou+d
neither $rite nor read( shou+d ha%e een re*arded as
%er' @no$in* heretics( $ith $hom it $as dan*erous
to dis)ute" The' certain+' had other thin*s to thin@
of than contro%ers'( since the' carried on a san*uin4
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ar' $ar a*ainst the em)erors of Constantino)+e for
four successi%e centuries( and e%en esie*ed the ca)4
ita+ of the em)ire"
At the commencement of the thirteenth centur'(
the Em)eror A+eis( $ishin* to ma@e himse+f reco*4
ni1ed ' the !u+*arians( their @in*( .oannic( re)+ied(
that he $ou+d ne%er e his %assa+" Po)e Innocent
III" $as carefu+ to sei1e this o))ortunit' of attachin*
the @in*dom of !u+*aria to himse+f - he sent a +e*ate
to .oannic( to anoint him @in* J and )retended that
Dictionar'" :>9
he had conferred the @in*dom u)on him( and that
he cou+d ne%er more ho+d it ut from the ho+' see"
This $as the most %io+ent )eriod of the crusades"
The indi*nant !u+*arians entered into an a++iance
$ith the Tur@s( dec+ared $ar a*ainst the )o)e and
his crusaders( too@ the )retended Em)eror !a+d$in
)risoner( had his head cut o( and made a o$+ of
his s@u++( after the manner of Krom" This $as uite
enou*h to ma@e the !u+*arians ahorred ' a++ Eu4
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ro)e" It $as no +on*er necessar' to ca++ them 0ani4
chaeans( a name $hich $as at that time *i%en to
e%er' c+ass of heretics- for 0anichaean( Patarin(
and Vaudois $ere the same thin*" These terms
$ere +a%ished u)on $hosoe%er $ou+d not sumit
to the Roman church"
!/LL"
A 5/ADR/PED( armed $ith horns( ha%in* c+o%en
feet( stron* +e*s( a s+o$ )ace( a thic@ od'( a hard
s@in( a tai+ not uite so +on* as that of the horse( $ith
some +on* hairs at the end" Its +ood has een +oo@ed
u)on as a )oison( ut it is no more so than that of
other anima+sJ and the ancients( $ho $rote that
Themistoc+es and others )oisoned themse+%es $ith
u++2s +ood( $ere fa+se oth to nature and to histor'"
Lucian( $ho re)roaches .u)iter $ith ha%in* )+aced
the u++2s horns ao%e his e'es( re)roaches him un4
ust+' J for the e'e of a u++ ein* +ar*e( round( and
o)en( he sees %er' $e++ $here he stri@es J and if his
:>G Phi+oso)hica+
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e'es had een )+aced hi*her than his horns( he cou+d
not ha%e seen the *rass $hich he cro)s"
Pha+aris2s u++( or the !ra1en !u++( $as a u++ of
cast meta+( found in Sici+'( and su))osed to ha%e
een used ' Pha+aris to enc+ose and urn such as he
chose to )unish a %er' un+i@e+' s)ecies of crue+t'"
The u++s of 0edea *uarded the o+den F+eece" The
u++ of 0arathon $as tamed ' &ercu+es"
Then there $ere the u++ $hich carried o Eu4
ro)a( the u++ of 0ithras( and the u++ of Osiris J
there are the !u++( a si*n of the 1odiac( and the !u++2s
E'e( a star of the Mrst ma*nitude( and +ast+'( there
are u++4M*hts( common in S)ain"
!/LL 6PAPAL;"
T&IS $ord desi*nates the u++( or sea+ of *o+d( si+4
%er( $a( or +ead( attached to an' instrument or
charter" The +ead han*in* to the rescri)ts des4
)atched in the Roman court ears on one side the
head of St" Peter on the ri*ht( and that of St" Pau+
on the +eftJ and( on the re%erse( the name of the
rei*nin* )o)e( $ith the 'ear of his )ontiMcate" The
u++ is $ritten on )archment" In the *reetin*( the
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)o)e ta@es no tit+e ut that of #Ser%ant of the Ser%4
ants of od(# accordin* to the ho+' $ords of .esus
to &is Disci)+es #Whosoe%er $i++ e chief amon*
'ou( +et him e 'our ser%ant"#
Some heretics assert that( ' this formu+a( hum+e
in a))earance( the )o)es mean to e)ress a sort of
feuda+ s'stem( of $hich od is chiefJ $hose hi*h
Dictionar'" :>>
%assa+s( Peter and Pau+( are re)resented ' their
ser%ant the )onti J $hi+e the +esser %assa+s are a++
secu+ar )rinces( $hether em)erors( @in*s( or du@es"
The' dout+ess found this assertion on the famous
u++ In coena Domini( $hich is )u+ic+' read at Rome
' a cardina+4deacon e%er' 'ear( on &o+' Thursda'(
in the )resence of the )o)e( attended ' the rest of
the cardina+s and isho)s" After the ceremon'( his
ho+iness casts a +i*hted torch into the )u+ic suare
in to@en of anathema"
This u++ is to e found in Tome i"( )" 97 of the
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!u++aire( )u+ished at L'ons in 79( and at )a*e 77G
of the edition of 79:9" The o+dest is dated 7B"
Pau+ III"( $ithout noticin* the ori*in of the cere4
mon'( here sa's that it is an ancient custom of the
so%erei*n )ontis to )u+ish this ecommunication
on &o+' Thursda'( in order to )reser%e the )urit' of
the Christian re+i*ion( and maintain union amon*
the faithfu+" It contains t$ent'4four )ara*ra)hs( in
$hich the )o)e ecommunicates -
7" &eretics( a++ $ho fa%or them( and a++ $ho
read their oo@s"
:" Pirates( es)ecia++' such as dare to cruise on
the seas e+on*in* to the so%erei*n )onti"
" Those $ho im)ose fresh to++s on their +ands"
7?" Those $ho( in an' $a' $hatsoe%er( )re%ent
the eecution of the a)osto+ica+ +etters( $hether the'
*rant )ardons or inQict )ena+ties"
n" A++ +a' ud*es $ho ud*e ecc+esiastics( and
rin* them efore their triuna+( $hether that tri4
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?? Phi+oso)hica+
una+ is ca++ed an audience( a chancer'( a counci+( or
a )ar+iament"
7:" A++ chance++ors( counse++ors( ordinar' or e4
traordinar'( of an' @in* or )rince $hatsoe%er( a++
)residents of chanceries( counci+s( or )ar+iaments( as
a+so a++ attorne's4*enera+( $ho ca++ ecc+esiastica+
causes efore them( or )re%ent the eecution of the
a)osto+ica+ +etters( e%en thou*h it e on )retet of
)re%entin* some %io+ence"
In the same )ara*ra)h( the )o)e reser%es to him4
se+f a+one the )o$er of aso+%in* the said chance++ors(
counse++ors( attorne's4*enera+( and the rest of the
ecommunicated J $ho cannot recei%e aso+ution un4
ti+ the' ha%e )u+ic+' re%o@ed their acts( and ha%e
erased them from the records"
:?" Last+'( the )o)e ecommunicates a++ such as
sha++ )resume to *i%e aso+ution to the ecommuni4
cated as aforesaid - and( in order that no one ma'
)+ead i*norance( he orders -
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:7" That this u++ e )u+ished( and )osted on
the *ate of the asi+ic of the Prince of the A)ost+es(
and on that of St" .ohn of Lateran"
::" That a++ )atriarchs( )rimates( archisho)s(
and isho)s( ' %irtue of their ho+' oedience( sha++
ha%e this u++ so+emn+' )u+ished at +east once a
'ear"
:" &e dec+ares that $hosoe%er dares to *o
a*ainst the )ro%isions of this u++( must @no$ that he
is incurrin* the dis)+easure of A+mi*ht' od and of
the +essed a)ost+es Peter and Pau+"
Dictionar'" ?7
The other suseuent u++s( ca++ed a+so In ccena
Domini( are on+' du)+icates of the Mrst" For in4
stance( the artic+e :7 of that of Pius V"( dated 7B9(
adds to the )ara*ra)h of the one that $e ha%e
uoted( that a++ )rinces $ho +a' ne$ im)ositions on
their states( of $hat nature soe%er( or increase the
o+d ones( $ithout otainin* )ermission from the &o+'
See( are ecommunicated i)so facto" The third u++
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In ccena Domini of 77?( contains thirt' )ara*ra)hs(
in $hich Pau+ V" rene$s the )ro%isions of the t$o
)recedin*"
The fourth and +ast u++ In ccena Domini $hich $e
Mnd in the !u++aire( is dated A)ri+ I( 79:" In it
/ran VIII" announces that( after the eam)+e of his
)redecessors( in order in%io+a+' to maintain the in4
te*rit' of the faith( and )u+ic ustice and tranui+4
+it'( he $ie+ds the s)iritua+ s$ord of ecc+esiastica+ dis4
ci)+ine to ecommunicate( on the da' $hich is the
anni%ersar' of the Su))er of our Lord -
7" &eretics"
:" Such as a))ea+ from the )o)e to a future
counci+ J and the rest as in the three former"
It is said that the one $hich is read no$( is of a
more recent date( and contains some additions"
The &istor' of Na)+es( ' iannone( sho$s us
$hat disorders the ecc+esiastics stirred u)4 in that
@in*dom( and $hat %eations the' eercised a*ainst
the @in*2s suects( e%en refusin* them aso+ution
and the sacraments( in order to eect the rece)tion
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of this u++( $hich has at +ast een so+emn+' )ro4
?: Phi+oso)hica+
scried there( as $e++ as in Austrian Lomard'( in
the states of the em)ress4ueen( in those of the Du@e
of Parma( and e+se$here"
In 7BG?( the French c+er*' chose the time et$een
the sessions of the )ar+iament of Paris( to ha%e the
same u++ In caena Domini )u+ished" !ut it $as o)4
)osed ' the )rocureur4*enera+ J and the Chamre des
Vacations( under the )residenc' of the ce+erated
and unfortunate !risson( on Octoer ( )assed a de4
cree( enoinin* a++ *o%ernors to inform themse+%es( if
)ossi+e( $hat archisho)s( isho)s( or *rand4%icars(
had recei%ed either this u++ or a co)' of it entit+ed
Litterce )rocessus( and $ho had sent it to them to e
)u+ished J to )re%ent the )u+ication( if it had not
'et ta@en )+ace J to otain the co)ies and send them
to the chamerJ or( if the' had een )u+ished( to
summon the archisho)s( the isho)s( or their *rand4
%icars( to a))ear on a certain da' efore the cham4
er( to ans$er to the suit of the )rocureur4*enera+ J
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and( in the meantime( to sei1e their tem)ora+ )osses4
sions and )+ace them in the hands of the @in*J to
forid a++ )ersons ostructin* the eecution of this
decree( on )ain of )unishment as traitors and enemies
to the state J $ith orders that the decree e )rinted
an that the co)ies( co++ated ' notaries( ha%e the fu++
force of the ori*ina+"
In doin* this( the )ar+iament did ut fee+' imi4
tate Phi+i) the Fair" The u++ Auscu+ta Fi++( of Dec"
B( 7?7( $as addressed to him ' !oniface VIII"(
$ho( after ehortin* the @in* to +isten $ith doci+it'(
Dictionar'" ?
sa's to him - #od has esta+ished us o%er a++ @in*s
and a++ @in*doms( to root u)( and destro'( and thro$
do$n( to ui+d( and to )+ant( in &is name and ' &is
doctrine" Do not( then( suer 'ourse+f to e )er4
suaded that 'ou ha%e no su)erior( and that 'ou are
not suect to the head of the ecc+esiastica+ hierarch'"
Whosoe%er thin@s this( is a madman J and $hosoe%er
ostinate+' maintains it( is an inMde+( se)arated from
the Qoc@ of the ood She)herd"# The )o)e then en4
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ters into +on* detai+s res)ectin* the *o%ernment of
France( e%en re)roachin* the @in* for ha%in* a+tered
the coin"
Phi+i) the Fair had this u++ urned at Paris( and
its eecution )u+ished on sound of trum)et throu*h4
out the cit'( ' Sunda'( Fe" n( 7?:" The )o)e(
in a counci+ $hich he he+d at Rome the same 'ear(
made a *reat noise( and ro@e out into threats a*ainst
Phi+i) the FairJ ut he did no more than threaten"
The famous decreta+( /nam Sanctam( is( ho$e%er(
considered as the $or@ of his counci+ J it is( in su4
stance( as fo++o$s-
#We e+ie%e and confess a ho+'( catho+ic( and
a)osto+ic church( out of $hich there is no sa+%ation J
$e a+so ac@no$+ed*e its unit'( that it is one on+'
od'( $ith one on+' head( and not $ith t$o( +i@e a
monster" This on+' head is .esus Christ( and St"
Peter his %icar( and the successor of St" Peter"
Therefore( the ree@s( or others( $ho sa' that the'
are not suect to that successor( must ac@no$+ed*e
that the' are not of the Qoc@ of Christ( since &e
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? Phi+oso)hica+
himse+f has said 6.ohn( ( 7; 2that there is ut one
fo+d and one she)herd"2
#We +earn that in this church( and under its
)o$er( are t$o s$ords( the s)iritua+ and the tem4
)ora+ - of these( one is to e used ' the church and
' the hand of the )onti J the other( ' the church
and ' the hand of @in*s and $arriors( in )ursuance
of the orders or $ith the )ermission of the )onti"
No$( one of these s$ords must e suect to the
other( tem)ora+ to s)iritua+ )o$erJ other$ise( the'
$ou+d not e ordinate( and the a)ost+es sa' the'
must e so" 6Rom" iii( I"; Accordin* to the testi4
mon' of truth( s)iritua+ )o$er must institute and
ud*e tem)ora+ )o$er J and thus is %eriMed $ith re4
*ard to the church( the )ro)hec' of .eremiah
6i" 7?; - 2I ha%e this da' set thee o%er the nations
and o%er the @in*doms"2 #
On the other hand( Phi+i) the Fair assem+ed the
states4*enera+J and the commons( in the )etition
$hich the' )resented to that monarch( said( in so
man' $ords - #It is a *reat aomination for us to
hear that this !oniface stout+' inter)rets +i@e a !ou+4
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*are 6dro))in* the U and the a; these $ords of s)irit4
ua+it' 60att"( %i" 7>; - 2Whate%er thou sha+t ind
on earth( sha++ e ound in hea%en J2 as if this si*ni4
Med that if a man e )ut into a tem)ora+ )rison( od
$i++ im)rison him in hea%en"#
C+ement V"( successor to !oniface VIII"( re4
%o@ed and annu++ed the odious decision of the u++
/nam Sanctam( $hich etends the )o$er of the
Dictionar'" ?B
)o)es to the tem)ora+ities of @in*s( and condemns as
heretics a++ $ho do not ac@no$+ed*e this chimerica+
)o$er" !oniface2s )retension( indeed( ou*ht to e
condemned as heres'( accordin* to this maim of
theo+o*ians - #Not on+' is it a sin a*ainst the ru+es
of the faith( and a heres'( to den' $hat the faith
teaches us( ut a+so to set u) as )art of the faith that
$hich is no )art of it"# 6.oan" 0a" m" sent" dist"
94 4 :";
Other )o)es( efore !oniface VIII"( had arro*ated
to themse+%es the ri*ht of )ro)ert' o%er dierent
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@in*doms" The u++ is $e++ @no$n( in $hich re*4
or' VII" sa's to the Kin* of S)ain - #I $ou+d ha%e
'ou to @no$( that the @in*dom of S)ain( ' ancient
ecc+esiastica+ ordinances( $as *i%en in )ro)ert' to
St" Peter and the ho+' Roman church"#
&enr' II" of En*+and as@ed )ermission of Po)e
Adrian IV" to in%ade Ire+and" The )onti *a%e him
+ea%e( on condition that he im)osed on e%er' Irish
fami+' a ta of one caro+us for the &o+' See( and
he+d that @in*dom as a Mef of the Roman church"
#For(# $rote Adrian( #it cannot e douted that
e%er' is+and u)on $hich .esus Christ( the sun of
ustice( has arisen( and $hich has recei%ed the +essons
of the Christian faith( e+on*s of ri*ht to St" Peter
and to the ho+' and sacred Roman church"#
!u++s of the Crusade and of Com)osition"
If an African or an Asiatic of sense $ere to+d that
in that )art of Euro)e $here some men ha%e for4
Vo+" :?
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? Phi+oso)hica+
idden others to eat Qesh on Saturda's( the )o)e
*i%es them +ea%e to eat it( ' a u++( for the sum of
t$o ria+s( and that another u++ *rants )ermission to
@ee) sto+en mone'( $hat $ou+d this African or Asi4
atic sa'H &e $ou+d( at +east( a*ree $ith us( that
e%er' countr' has its customsJ and that in this
$or+d( ' $hate%er names thin*s ma' e ca++ed( or
ho$e%er the' ma' e dis*uised( a++ is done for
mone'"
There are t$o u++s under the name of La Cru4
sada the CrusadeJ one of the time of Ferdinand
and Isae++a( the other of that of Phi+i) V" The Mrst
of these se++s )ermission to eat $hat is ca++ed the
*rossura( %i1"( tri)es( +i%ers( @idne's( *i11ards(
s$eet4reads( +i*hts( )+uc@s( cau+s( heads( nec@s( and
feet"
The second u++( *ranted ' Po)e /ran VIII"(
*i%es +ea%e to eat meat throu*hout Lent( and a4
so+%es from e%er' crime ece)t heres'"
Not on+' are these u++s so+d( ut )eo)+e are or4
dered to u' themJ and( as is ut ri*ht( the' cost
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more in Peru and 0eico than in S)ainJ the' are
there so+d for a )iastre" It is reasona+e that the
countries $hich )roduce *o+d and si+%er shou+d )a'4
more than others"
The )retet for these u++s is( ma@in* $ar u)on
the 0oors" There are )ersons( dicu+t of con%ic4
tion( $ho cannot see $hat +i%ers and @idne's ha%e to
do $ith a $ar a*ainst the Africans J and the' add(
Dictionar'" ?9
that .esus Christ ne%er ordered $ar to e made on
the 0ahometans on )ain of ecommunication"
The u++ *i%in* )ermission to @ee) another2s
*oods is ca++ed the u++ of Com)osition" It is farmed J
and has +on* rou*ht considera+e sums throu*hout
S)ain( the 0i+anese( Na)+es( and Sici+'" The hi*h4
est idders em)+o' the most e+ouent of the mon@s to
)+each this u++" Sinners $ho ha%e roed the @in*(
the state( or )ri%ate indi%idua+s( *o to these )reach4
ers( confess to them( and sho$ them $hat a sad thin*
it $ou+d e to ma@e restitution of the $ho+e" The'
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oer the mon@s M%e( si( and sometimes se%en )er
cent"( in order to @ee) the rest $ith a safe conscience J
and( as soon as the com)osition is made( the' recei%e
aso+ution"
The )reachin* rother $ho $rote the #Tra%e+s
throu*h S)ain and Ita+'# 6Vo'a*e d2Es)a*ne et
d2 Ita+ic;( )u+ished at Paris( a%ec )ri%i+e*e ' .ean4
!a)tiste de 72M)ine( s)ea@in* of this u++( thus e4
)resses himse+f - #Is it not %er' *racious to come o
at so +itt+e cost( and e at +iert' to stea+ more( $hen
one has occasion for a +ar*er sum H#
!u++ /ni*enitus"
The u++ In caena Domini $as an indi*nit' oered
to a++ Catho+ic so%erei*ns( and the' at +en*th )ro4
scried it in their statesJ ut the u++ /ni*enitus
$as a trou+e to France a+one" The former attac@ed
the ri*hts of the )rinces and ma*istrates of Euro)e(
?G Phi+oso)hica+
and the' maintained those ri*htsJ the +atter )ro4
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scried on+' some maims of )iet' and mora+s( $hich
*a%e no concern to an' ece)t the )arties interested
in the transient aairJ ut these interested )arties
soon ri++ed a++ France" It $as at Mrst a uarre+ e4
t$een the a++4)o$erfu+ .esuits and the remains of the
crushed Port4Ro'a+"
5uesne+( a )reacher of the Orator'( refu*ee in
&o++and( had dedicated a commentar' on the Ne$
Testament to Cardina+ de Noai++es( then isho) of
Cha+ons4sur40arne" It met the isho)2s a))roa4
tion and $as $e++ recei%ed ' a++ readers of that sort
of oo@s"
One Lete++ier( a .esuit( a confessor to Louis
=IV" and an enem' to Cardina+ de Noai++es( re4
so+%ed to mortif' him ' ha%in* the oo@( $hich $as
dedicated to him( and of $hich he had a %er' hi*h
o)inion( condemned at Rome"
This .esuit( the son of an attorne' at Vire in
Lo$er Normand'( had a++ that ferti+it' of e)edi4
ent for $hich his father2s )rofession is remar@a+e"
Not content $ith emroi+in* Cardina+ de Noai++es
$ith the )o)e( he determined to ha%e him dis*raced
' the @in* his master" To ensure the success of
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this desi*n( he had mandaments com)osed a*ainst
him ' his emissaries( and *ot them si*ned ' four
isho)sJ he a+so indited +etters to the @in*( $hich
he made them si*n"
These manoeu%res( $hich $ou+d ha%e een )un4
ished in an' of the triuna+s( succeeded at court - the
Dictionar'" ?>
@in* $as soured a*ainst the cardina+( and 0adame
de 0aintenon aandoned him"
&ere $as a series of intri*ues( in $hich( from
one end of the @in*dom to the other( e%er' one too@
a )art" The more unfortunate France at that time
ecame in a disastrous $ar( the more the )u+ic
mind $as heated ' a theo+o*ica+ uarre+"
Durin* these mo%ements( Lete++ier had the con4
demnation of 5uesne+2s oo@( of $hich the monarch
had ne%er read a )a*e( demanded from Rome '
Louis =IV" himse+f" Lete++ier and t$o other
.esuits( named Doucin and La++emant( etracted one
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hundred and three )ro)ositions( $hich Po)e C+ement
=I" $as to condemn" The court of Rome struc@ out
t$o of them( that it mi*ht( at +east( ha%e the honor of
a))earin* to ud*e for itse+f"
Cardina+ Faroni( in $hose hands the aair $as
)+aced( and $ho $as de%oted to the .esuits( had the
u++ dra$n u) ' a Corde+ier named Father Pa+erno(
E+io a Ca)uchin( Terro%i a !arnaite( and Caste++i a
Ser%ite( to $hom $as added a .esuit named A+faro"
C+ement =I" +et them )roceed in their o$n $a'"
&is on+' oect $as to )+ease the @in* of France(
$ho had +on* een dis)+eased $ith him( on account
of his reco*ni1in* the Archdu@e Char+es( after$ards
em)eror( as Kin* of S)ain" To ma@e his )eace $ith
the @in*( it cost him on+' a )iece of )archment sea+ed
$ith +ead( concernin* a uestion $hich he himse+f
des)ised"
C+ement =L did not $ait to e so+icited J he sent
7? Phi+oso)hica+
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the u++( and $as uite astonished to +earn that it
$as recei%ed throu*hout France $ith hisses and
*roans" #What # said he to Cardina+ Car)e*no( #a
u++ is earnest+' as@ed of meJ I *i%e it free+'( and
e%er' one ma@es a est of it#
E%er' one $as indeed sur)rised to see a )o)e( in
the name of .esus Christ( condemnin* as heretica+(
tainted $ith heres'( and oensi%e to )ious ears( this
)ro)osition - #It is *ood to read oo@s of )iet' on
Sunda's( es)ecia++' the &o+' Scri)tures J# and this -
#The fear of an unust ecommunication shou+d not
)re%ent us from doin* our dut'"#
The )artisans of the .esuits $ere themse+%es
a+armed at these censures( ut the' dared not s)ea@"
The $ise and disinterested ec+aimed a*ainst the
scanda+( and the rest of the nation a*ainst the a4
surdit'"
Ne%erthe+ess( Lete++ier sti++ trium)hed( unti+ the
death of Louis =IV" J he $as he+d in ahorrence(
ut he *o%erned" This $retch tried e%er' means to
)rocure the sus)ension of Cardina+ de Noai++es J ut
after the death of his )enitent( the incendiar' $as
anished" The du@e of Or+eans( durin* his re*enc'(
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etin*uished these uarre+s ' ma@in* a est of them"
The' ha%e since thro$n out a fe$ s)ar@s J ut the'
are at +ast for*otten( )roa+' fore%er" Their dura4
tion( for more than ha+f a centur'( $as uite +on*
enou*h" 8et( ha))' indeed $ou+d man@ind e( if
the' $ere di%ided on+' ' foo+ish uestions un)ro4
ducti%e of +oodshed
Dictionar'" 77
CESAR"
IT is not as the husand of so man' $omen and
the $ife of so man' men J as the conueror of Pom4
)e' and the Sci)ios J as the satirist $ho turned Cato
into ridicu+eJ as the roer of the )u+ic treasur'(
$ho em)+o'ed the mone' of the Romans to
reduce the Romans to suection J as he $ho(
c+ement in his trium)hs( )ardoned the %anuishedJ
as the man of +earnin*( $ho reformed the ca+endar J
as the t'rant and the father of his countr'( assas4
sinated ' his friends and his astard sonJ that I
sha++ here s)ea@ of Caesar" I sha++ consider this e4
traordinar' man on+' in m' ua+it' of descendant
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from the )oor ararians $hom he suu*ated"
8ou $i++ not )ass throu*h a to$n in France( in
S)ain( on the an@s of the Rhine( or on the En*+ish
coast o))osite to Ca+ais( in $hich 'ou $i++ not Mnd
*ood )eo)+e $ho oast of ha%in* had Caesar there"
Some of the to$ns)eo)+e of Do%er are )ersuaded
that Caesar ui+t their cast+e J and there are citi1ens
of Paris $ho e+ie%e that the *reat chate+et is one
of his Mne $or@s" 0an' a countr' suire in France
sho$s 'ou an o+d turret $hich ser%es him for a do%e4
cote( and te++s 'ou that Caesar )ro%ided a +od*in*
for his )i*eons" Each )ro%ince dis)utes $ith its
nei*hor the honor of ha%in* een the Mrst to $hich
Csesar a))+ied the +ash J it $as not ' that road( ut
' this( that he came to cut our throats( emrace our
$i%es and dau*hters( im)ose +a$s u)on us ' inter4
7: Phi+oso)hica+
)reters( and ta@e from us $hat +itt+e mone' $e
had"
The Indians are $iser" We ha%e a+read' seen
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that the' ha%e a confused @no$+ed*e that a *reat
roer( named A+eander( came amon* them $ith
other roers J ut the' scarce+' e%er s)ea@ of him"
An Ita+ian antiuarian( )assin* a fe$ 'ears a*o
throu*h Vannes in !rittan'( $as uite astonished
to hear the +earned men of Vannes oast of Csesar2s
sta' in their to$n" #No dout(# said he( #'ou ha%e
monuments of that *reat manH# #8es(# ans$ered
the most nota+e amon* them( #$e $i++ sho$ 'ou
the )+ace $here that hero had the $ho+e senate of
our )ro%ince han*ed( to the numer of si hundred"#
#Some i*norant fei+o$s( $ho had found a hun4
dred eams under *round( ad%anced in the ourna+s
in 79BB that the' $ere the remains of a rid*e ui+t
' Caesar J ut I )ro%ed to them in m' dissertation
of 79B that the' $ere the *a++o$s on $hich that
hero had our )ar+iament tied u)" What other to$n
in au+ can sa' as muchH We ha%e the testimon'
of the *reat Caesar himse+f" &e sa's in his 2Com4
mentaries2 that $e 2are Mc@+e and )refer +iert' to
s+a%er'"2 &e char*es us $ith ha%in* een so in4
so+ent as to ta@e hosta*es of the Romans( to $hom
$e had *i%en hosta*es( and to e un$i++in* to return
them un+ess our o$n $ere *i%en u)" &e tau*ht us
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*ood eha%ior"#
#&e did $e++(# re)+ied the %irtuoso( #his ri*ht
$as incontesta+e" It $as( ho$e%er( dis)utedJ for
Dictionar'" 7
'ou @no$ that $hen he %anuished the emi*rant
S$iss( to the numer of three hundred and sit'4
ei*ht thousand( and there $ere not more than a hun4
dred and ten thousand +eft( he had a conference in
A+sace $ith a erman @in* named Ario%istus( and
Ario%istus said to him- 2I come to )+under au+(
and I $i++ not suer an' one to )+under it ut m'4
se+fJ2 after $hich these *ood ermans( $ho $ere
come to +a' $aste the countr'( )ut into the hands
of their $itches t$o Roman @ni*hts( amassadors
from Csesar J and these $itches $ere on the )oint of
urnin* them and oerin* them to their *ods( $hen
Caesar came and de+i%ered them ' a %ictor'" We
must confess that the ri*ht on oth sides $as eua+(
and that Tacitus had *ood reason for esto$in* so
man' )raises on the manners of the ancient er4
mans"#
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This con%ersation *a%e rise to a %er' $arm dis4
)ute et$een the +earned men of Vannes and the an4
tiuarian" Se%era+ of the !retons cou+d not con4
cei%e $hat $as the %irtue of the Romans in decei%4
in* one after another a++ the nations of au+( in
ma@in* them ' turns the instruments of their o$n
ruin( in utcherin* one4fourth of the )eo)+e( and re4
ducin* the other three4fourths to s+a%er'"
#Oh nothin* can e Mner(# returned the anti4
uarian" #I ha%e in m' )oc@et a meda+ re)resentin*
Caesar2s trium)h at the Ca)ito+J it is in the est
)reser%ation"# &e sho$ed the meda+" A !reton( a
+itt+e rude( too@ it and thre$ it into the ri%er( e4
7 Phi+oso)hica+
c+aimin*- #Oh that I cou+d so ser%e a++ $ho use
their )o$er and their s@i++ to o))ress their fe++o$4
men Rome decei%ed us( disunited us( utchered us(
chained usJ and at this da' Rome sti++ dis)oses of
man' of our eneMcesJ and is it )ossi+e that $e
ha%e so +on* and in so man' $a's een a countr' of
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s+a%es H#
To the con%ersation et$een the Ita+ian anti4
uarian and the !reton I sha++ on+' add that
Perrot d2A+ancourt( the trans+ator of Caesar2s #Com4
mentaries(# in his dedication to the *reat Conde(
ma@es use of these $ords - #Does it not seem to 'ou(
sir( as if 'ou $ere readin* the +ife of some Christian
)hi+oso)herH# Caesar a Christian )hi+oso)her I
$onder he has not een made a saint" Writers of
dedications are remar@a+e for sa'in* Mne thin*s
and much to the )ur)ose"
CALENDS"
T&E feast of the Circumcision( $hich the church
ce+erates on the Mrst of .anuar'( has ta@en the )+ace
of another ca++ed the Feast of the Ca+ends( of Asses(
of Foo+s( or of Innocents( accordin* to the dierent
)+aces $here( and the dierent da's on $hich( it $as
he+d" It $as most common+' at Christmas( the Cir4
cumcision( or the E)i)han'"
In the cathedra+ of Rouen there $as on Christmas
da' a )rocession( in $hich ecc+esiastics( chosen for
the )ur)ose( re)resented the )ro)hets of the O+d
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Dictionar'" 7B
Testament( $ho foreto+d the irth of the 0essiah(
and $hich ma' ha%e *i%en the feast its name
!a+aam a))eared( mounted on a she4assJ ut as
Lactantius2 )oem( and the #!oo@ of Promises(#
under the name of St" Pros)er( sa' that .esus in the
man*er $as reco*ni1ed ' the o and the ass( ac4
cordin* to the )assa*e Isaiah- #The o @no$eth
his o$ner( and the ass his master2s cri# 6a circum4
stance( ho$e%er( $hich neither the *os)e+ nor the
ancient fathers ha%e remar@ed;( it is more +i@e+'
that( from this o)inion( the Feast of the Ass too@
its name"
Indeed( the .esuit( Theo)hi+us Ra'naud( testiMes
that on St" Ste)hen2s da' there $as sun* a h'mn
of the ass( $hich $as a+so ca++ed the Prose of Foo+s J
and that on St" .ohn2s da' another $as sun*( ca++ed
the Prose of the O" In the +irar' of the cha)ter
of Sens there is )reser%ed a manuscri)t of %e++um
$ith miniature M*ures re)resentin* the ceremonies
of the Feast of Foo+s" The tet contains a descri)4
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tion of it( inc+udin* this Prose of the AssJ it $as
sun* ' t$o choirs( $ho imitated at inter%a+s and as
the urden of the son*( the ra'in* of that anima+"
There $as e+ected in the cathedra+ churches a
isho) or archisho) of the Foo+s( $hich e+ection
$as conMrmed ' a++ sorts of uooneries( )+a'ed
o ' $a' of consecration" This isho) ociated
)ontiMca++' and *a%e his +essin* to the )eo)+e( e4
fore $hom he a))eared earin* the mitre( the crosier(
and e%en the archie)isco)a+ cross" In those churches
7 Phi+oso)hica+
$hich he+d immediate+' from the &o+' See( a )o)e
of the Foo+s $as e+ected( $ho ociated in a++ the
decorations of )a)ac'" A++ the c+er*' assisted in the
mass( some dressed in $omen2s a))are+( others as
uoons( or mas@ed in a *rotesue and ridicu+ous
manner" Not content $ith sin*in* +icentious son*s
in the choir( the' sat and )+a'ed at dice on the a+tar(
at the side of the ociator" When the mass $as o%er
the' ran( +ea)ed( and danced aout the church( utter4
in* oscene $ords( sin*in* immodest son*s( and )ut4
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tin* themse+%es in a thousand indecent )ostures(
sometimes e)osin* themse+%es a+most na@ed" The'
then had themse+%es dra$n aout the streets in tum4
re+s fu++ of M+th( that the' mi*ht thro$ it at the
mo $hich *athered round them" The +ooser )art
of the secu+ars $ou+d mi amon* the c+er*'( that
the' mi*ht )+a' some foo+2s )art in the ecc+esiastica+
hait"
This feast $as he+d in the same manner in the
con%ents of mon@s and nuns(asNaude testiMes in his
com)+aint to assendi( in 7B( i n $hich he re+ates
that at Anties( in the Franciscan monaster'( neither
the ociatin* mon@s nor the *uardian $ent to the
choir on the da' of the Innocents" The +a' rethren
occu)ied their )+aces on that da'( and( c+othed in
sacerdota+ decorations( torn and turned inside out(
made a sort of oce" The' he+d oo@s turned u)side
do$n( $hich the' seemed to e readin* throu*h
s)ectac+es( the *+asses of $hich $ere made of oran*e
)ee+J and muttered confused $ords( or uttered
Dictionar'" 79
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stran*e cries( accom)anied ' etra%a*ant contor4
tions"
The second re*ister of the church of Autun( '
the secretar' Rotarii( $hich ends $ith 77( sa's(
$ithout s)ecif'in* the da'( that at the Feast of Foo+s
an ass $as +ed a+on* $ith a c+er*'man2s ca)e on his
ac@( the attendants sin*in*- #&e ha$ 0r" Ass(
he ha$ #
Ducan*e re+ates a sentence of the ocia+t' of
Vi%iers( u)on one Wi++iam( $ho( ha%in* een e+ected
foo+4isho) in 7??( had refused to )erform the
so+emnities and to defra' the e)enses customar' on
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