Download - Voltaire VI

Transcript
Page 1: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 1/474

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!"

Page 2: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 2/474

 The WORKS of VOLT A I RE

Page 3: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 3/474

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

Page 4: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 4/474

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

Page 5: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 5/474

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

Page 6: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 6/474

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

Page 7: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 7/474

: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

Page 8: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 8/474

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

Page 9: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 9/474

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

Page 10: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 10/474

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'"

Page 11: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 11/474

 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

Page 12: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 12/474

$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

Page 13: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 13/474

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

Page 14: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 14/474

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"

Page 15: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 15/474

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

Page 16: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 16/474

)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

Page 17: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 17/474

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(

Page 18: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 18/474

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

Page 19: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 19/474

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

Page 20: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 20/474

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

Page 21: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 21/474

)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

Page 22: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 22/474

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

Page 23: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 23/474

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

Page 24: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 24/474

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

Page 25: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 25/474

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(

Page 26: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 26/474

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

Page 27: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 27/474

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

Page 28: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 28/474

$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

Page 29: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 29/474

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'

Page 30: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 30/474

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(

Page 31: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 31/474

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

Page 32: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 32/474

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

Page 33: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 33/474

+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(

Page 34: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 34/474

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

Page 35: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 35/474

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

Page 36: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 36/474

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

Page 37: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 37/474

)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

Page 38: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 38/474

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(

Page 39: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 39/474

: 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

Page 40: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 40/474

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

Page 41: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 41/474

)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

Page 42: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 42/474

: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"

Page 43: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 43/474

 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'"

Page 44: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 44/474

 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+

Page 45: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 45/474

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

Page 46: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 46/474

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

Page 47: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 47/474

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

Page 48: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 48/474

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'

Page 49: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 49/474

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

Page 50: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 50/474

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

Page 51: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 51/474

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"

Page 52: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 52/474

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

Page 53: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 53/474

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'

Page 54: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 54/474

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"

Page 55: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 55/474

 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"

Page 56: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 56/474

 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"

Page 57: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 57/474

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"

Page 58: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 58/474

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*(

Page 59: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 59/474

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

Page 60: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 60/474

$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"

Page 61: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 61/474

&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"

Page 62: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 62/474

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

Page 63: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 63/474

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

Page 64: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 64/474

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'"

Page 65: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 65/474

 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(

Page 66: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 66/474

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

Page 67: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 67/474

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"

Page 68: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 68/474

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

Page 69: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 69/474

/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

Page 70: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 70/474

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++

Page 71: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 71/474

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

Page 72: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 72/474

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

Page 73: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 73/474

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

Page 74: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 74/474

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+

Page 75: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 75/474

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

Page 76: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 76/474

*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

Page 77: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 77/474

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+

Page 78: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 78/474

 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

Page 79: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 79/474

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

Page 80: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 80/474

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+

Page 81: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 81/474

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"

Page 82: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 82/474

 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

Page 83: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 83/474

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+

Page 84: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 84/474

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"

Page 85: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 85/474

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"

Page 86: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 86/474

!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

Page 87: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 87/474

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

Page 88: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 88/474

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

Page 89: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 89/474

 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

Page 90: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 90/474

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

Page 91: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 91/474

$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

Page 92: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 92/474

Page 93: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 93/474

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

Page 94: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 94/474

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

Page 95: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 95/474

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"

Page 96: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 96/474

 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

Page 97: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 97/474

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"#

Page 98: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 98/474

&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

Page 99: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 99/474

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

Page 100: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 100/474

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

Page 101: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 101/474

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

Page 102: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 102/474

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"

Page 103: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 103/474

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

Page 104: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 104/474

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

Page 105: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 105/474

)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"

Page 106: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 106/474

 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++

Page 107: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 107/474

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

Page 108: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 108/474

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'

Page 109: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 109/474

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

Page 110: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 110/474

Page 111: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 111/474

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

Page 112: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 112/474

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"

Page 113: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 113/474

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

Page 114: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 114/474

Page 115: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 115/474

Page 116: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 116/474

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"

Page 117: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 117/474

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(

Page 118: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 118/474

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+

Page 119: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 119/474

$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"

Page 120: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 120/474

!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'"

Page 121: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 121/474

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+"

Page 122: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 122/474

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

Page 123: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 123/474

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

Page 124: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 124/474

$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

Page 125: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 125/474

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

Page 126: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 126/474

*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

Page 127: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 127/474

$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+

Page 128: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 128/474

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"

Page 129: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 129/474

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*

Page 130: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 130/474

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"

Page 131: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 131/474

 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

Page 132: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 132/474

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>

Page 133: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 133/474

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

Page 134: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 134/474

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

Page 135: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 135/474

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

Page 136: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 136/474

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

Page 137: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 137/474

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"

Page 138: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 138/474

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(

Page 139: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 139/474

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

Page 140: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 140/474

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

Page 141: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 141/474

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"

Page 142: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 142/474

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"

Page 143: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 143/474

 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

Page 144: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 144/474

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

Page 145: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 145/474

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

Page 146: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 146/474

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

Page 147: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 147/474

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

Page 148: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 148/474

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

Page 149: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 149/474

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"

Page 150: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 150/474

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

Page 151: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 151/474

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

Page 152: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 152/474

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

Page 153: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 153/474

)+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

Page 154: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 154/474

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

Page 155: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 155/474

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

Page 156: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 156/474

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"

Page 157: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 157/474

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

Page 158: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 158/474

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(

Page 159: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 159/474

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

Page 160: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 160/474

Page 161: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 161/474

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

Page 162: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 162/474

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

Page 163: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 163/474

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"

Page 164: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 164/474

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"

Page 165: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 165/474

Page 166: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 166/474

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

Page 167: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 167/474

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

Page 168: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 168/474

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"

Page 169: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 169/474

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

Page 170: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 170/474

@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

Page 171: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 171/474

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

Page 172: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 172/474

Page 173: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 173/474

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

Page 174: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 174/474

Page 175: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 175/474

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

Page 176: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 176/474

 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

Page 177: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 177/474

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

Page 178: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 178/474

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*'"

Page 179: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 179/474

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+(

Page 180: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 180/474

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

Page 181: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 181/474

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

Page 182: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 182/474

 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"

Page 183: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 183/474

 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+

Page 184: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 184/474

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

Page 185: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 185/474

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"

Page 186: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 186/474

 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+

Page 187: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 187/474

Page 188: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 188/474

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

Page 189: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 189/474

)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"

Page 190: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 190/474

 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"

Page 191: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 191/474

/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

Page 192: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 192/474

)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

Page 193: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 193/474

Page 194: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 194/474

Page 195: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 195/474

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(

Page 196: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 196/474

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"

Page 197: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 197/474

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'

Page 198: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 198/474

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

Page 199: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 199/474

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+'

Page 200: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 200/474

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

Page 201: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 201/474

)+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

Page 202: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 202/474

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

Page 203: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 203/474

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

Page 204: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 204/474

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

Page 205: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 205/474

Page 206: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 206/474

Page 207: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 207/474

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(

Page 208: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 208/474

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(

Page 209: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 209/474

$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"

Page 210: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 210/474

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

Page 211: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 211/474

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

Page 212: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 212/474

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

Page 213: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 213/474

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

Page 214: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 214/474

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

Page 215: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 215/474

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"

Page 216: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 216/474

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

Page 217: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 217/474

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(

Page 218: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 218/474

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

Page 219: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 219/474

+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

Page 220: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 220/474

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

Page 221: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 221/474

$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

Page 222: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 222/474

Page 223: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 223/474

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

Page 224: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 224/474

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"(

Page 225: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 225/474

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"

Page 226: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 226/474

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

Page 227: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 227/474

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

Page 228: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 228/474

+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 "

Page 229: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 229/474

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

Page 230: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 230/474

*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

Page 231: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 231/474

Page 232: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 232/474

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

Page 233: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 233/474

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

Page 234: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 234/474

@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(

Page 235: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 235/474

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

Page 236: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 236/474

Page 237: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 237/474

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"

Page 238: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 238/474

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

Page 239: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 239/474

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*

Page 240: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 240/474

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

Page 241: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 241/474

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

Page 242: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 242/474

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(

Page 243: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 243/474

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

Page 244: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 244/474

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"

Page 245: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 245/474

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$"

Page 246: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 246/474

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

Page 247: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 247/474

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"

Page 248: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 248/474

Page 249: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 249/474

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

Page 250: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 250/474

)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

Page 251: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 251/474

Page 252: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 252/474

)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(

Page 253: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 253/474

$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

Page 254: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 254/474

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'

Page 255: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 255/474

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"

Page 256: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 256/474

 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"

Page 257: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 257/474

&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

Page 258: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 258/474

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

Page 259: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 259/474

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

Page 260: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 260/474

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

Page 261: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 261/474

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+'

Page 262: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 262/474

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

Page 263: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 263/474

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

Page 264: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 264/474

$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

Page 265: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 265/474

Page 266: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 266/474

Page 267: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 267/474

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

Page 268: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 268/474

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

Page 269: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 269/474

)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"

Page 270: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 270/474

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

Page 271: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 271/474

+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

Page 272: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 272/474

Page 273: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 273/474

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

Page 274: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 274/474

$or+d 7B( and the construction of the to$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"

Page 275: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 275/474

Page 276: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 276/474

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

Page 277: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 277/474

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++

Page 278: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 278/474

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

Page 279: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 279/474

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

Page 280: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 280/474

Page 281: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 281/474

 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

Page 282: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 282/474

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

Page 283: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 283/474

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(

Page 284: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 284/474

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

Page 285: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 285/474

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

Page 286: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 286/474

@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

Page 287: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 287/474

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

Page 288: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 288/474

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

Page 289: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 289/474

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

Page 290: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 290/474

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

Page 291: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 291/474

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

Page 292: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 292/474

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'

Page 293: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 293/474

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

Page 294: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 294/474

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+'

Page 295: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 295/474

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

Page 296: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 296/474

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"

Page 297: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 297/474

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"

Page 298: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 298/474

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

Page 299: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 299/474

$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

Page 300: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 300/474

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

Page 301: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 301/474

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"

Page 302: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 302/474

 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'" :?

Page 303: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 303/474

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

Page 304: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 304/474

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

Page 305: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 305/474

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

Page 306: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 306/474

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

Page 307: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 307/474

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"

Page 308: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 308/474

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

Page 309: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 309/474

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

Page 310: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 310/474

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"

Page 311: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 311/474

!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'" :?>

Page 312: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 312/474

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

Page 313: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 313/474

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

Page 314: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 314/474

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

Page 315: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 315/474

 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

Page 316: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 316/474

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'

Page 317: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 317/474

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"

Page 318: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 318/474

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"

Page 319: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 319/474

 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"

Page 320: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 320/474

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

Page 321: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 321/474

$ou+d e use+ess( and e%en dan*erous( no$ 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"

Page 322: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 322/474

: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"

Page 323: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 323/474

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"

Page 324: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 324/474

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

Page 325: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 325/474

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

Page 326: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 326/474

'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"

Page 327: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 327/474

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+

Page 328: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 328/474

!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"

Page 329: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 329/474

!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

Page 330: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 330/474

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

Page 331: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 331/474

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'

Page 332: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 332/474

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"

Page 333: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 333/474

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

Page 334: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 334/474

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

Page 335: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 335/474

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"

Page 336: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 336/474

!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

Page 337: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 337/474

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

Page 338: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 338/474

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

Page 339: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 339/474

#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

Page 340: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 340/474

::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

Page 341: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 341/474

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

Page 342: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 342/474

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+

Page 343: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 343/474

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"

Page 344: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 344/474

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

Page 345: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 345/474

)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"

Page 346: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 346/474

: :" 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

Page 347: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 347/474

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"

Page 348: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 348/474

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

Page 349: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 349/474

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

Page 350: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 350/474

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

Page 351: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 351/474

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

Page 352: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 352/474

$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

Page 353: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 353/474

*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

Page 354: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 354/474

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

Page 355: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 355/474

: 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

Page 356: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 356/474

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"#

Page 357: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 357/474

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

Page 358: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 358/474

:? 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

Page 359: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 359/474

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+"#

Page 360: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 360/474

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+

Page 361: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 361/474

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'

Page 362: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 362/474

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

Page 363: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 363/474

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"

Page 364: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 364/474

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

Page 365: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 365/474

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

Page 366: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 366/474

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

Page 367: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 367/474

$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"

Page 368: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 368/474

!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

Page 369: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 369/474

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

Page 370: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 370/474

: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"

Page 371: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 371/474

&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"

Page 372: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 372/474

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

Page 373: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 373/474

: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"

Page 374: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 374/474

!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

Page 375: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 375/474

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+

Page 376: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 376/474

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(

Page 377: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 377/474

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

Page 378: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 378/474

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

Page 379: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 379/474

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'

Page 380: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 380/474

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

Page 381: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 381/474

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

Page 382: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 382/474

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

Page 383: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 383/474

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

Page 384: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 384/474

+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

Page 385: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 385/474

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

Page 386: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 386/474

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

Page 387: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 387/474

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

Page 388: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 388/474

+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

Page 389: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 389/474

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

Page 390: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 390/474

)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

Page 391: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 391/474

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"

Page 392: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 392/474

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"

Page 393: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 393/474

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

Page 394: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 394/474

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

Page 395: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 395/474

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

Page 396: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 396/474

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"

Page 397: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 397/474

 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

Page 398: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 398/474

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

Page 399: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 399/474

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

Page 400: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 400/474

*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'" :>

Page 401: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 401/474

 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

Page 402: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 402/474

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

Page 403: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 403/474

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

Page 404: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 404/474

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

Page 405: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 405/474

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

Page 406: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 406/474

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"

Page 407: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 407/474

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 $e fo++o$

Page 408: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 408/474

 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

Page 409: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 409/474

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

Page 410: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 410/474

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

Page 411: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 411/474

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

Page 412: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 412/474

: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

Page 413: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 413/474

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"#

Page 414: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 414/474

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+

Page 415: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 415/474

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"

Page 416: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 416/474

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

Page 417: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 417/474

Page 418: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 418/474

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

Page 419: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 419/474

: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

Page 420: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 420/474

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(

Page 421: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 421/474

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+

Page 422: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 422/474

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

Page 423: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 423/474

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

Page 424: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 424/474

+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(

Page 425: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 425/474

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

Page 426: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 426/474

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

Page 427: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 427/474

+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

Page 428: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 428/474

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(

Page 429: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 429/474

!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

Page 430: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 430/474

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

Page 431: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 431/474

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

Page 432: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 432/474

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

Page 433: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 433/474

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 -

Page 434: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 434/474

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

Page 435: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 435/474

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

Page 436: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 436/474

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*"#

Page 437: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 437/474

!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"

Page 438: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 438/474

 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

Page 439: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 439/474

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(

Page 440: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 440/474

:> 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

Page 441: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 441/474

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

Page 442: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 442/474

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"

Page 443: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 443/474

:> 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

Page 444: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 444/474

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

Page 445: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 445/474

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+

Page 446: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 446/474

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

Page 447: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 447/474

)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

Page 448: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 448/474

!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

Page 449: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 449/474

?? 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 -

Page 450: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 450/474

: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++

Page 451: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 451/474

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

Page 452: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 452/474

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

Page 453: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 453/474

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

Page 454: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 454/474

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

Page 455: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 455/474

? 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

Page 456: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 456/474

*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

Page 457: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 457/474

@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+" :?

Page 458: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 458/474

? 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

Page 459: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 459/474

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'

Page 460: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 460/474

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

Page 461: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 461/474

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

Page 462: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 462/474

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

Page 463: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 463/474

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+

Page 464: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 464/474

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'(

Page 465: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 465/474

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

Page 466: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 466/474

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

Page 467: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 467/474

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

Page 468: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 468/474

*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"#

Page 469: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 469/474

 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

Page 470: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 470/474

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

Page 471: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 471/474

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

Page 472: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 472/474

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

Page 473: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 473/474

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

Page 474: Voltaire VI

8/20/2019 Voltaire VI

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-vi 474/474

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