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

T H E W O R K S O F

 VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION

 W ITH NOTES BY  TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED  AND MODERNIZED

NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN

INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH

 A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY 

BY 

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

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

ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS

OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,

 AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES

 VOLUME XIV 

 AKRON, OHIO

THE WERNER COMPANY

1!"

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I am a heritage because I

brin you years oj tboupbt

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and ibe lore of time *-**

I impart yet I can pot s|

I have traveled arnons tbe

peoples o^ tbe eartb -^

am a rover-^ Oft-Urpes

I strc^ froro tbe/lresLde

of tbe or!s "bo #oves and

cberlsbes n$e-aabo

rotooeo n!e ujber! I an!

^or!e*^%bould you/Lnd

me va^rai$t please send

n!e bon&e-an$oi$' n!y

brothers -on tbe bool^

shelves of

()O()+, O

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 +he O)12 of 3OL+4I)

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5I+IO6 5 L4 (4#II#4+IO6

Limited to one thousand sets

for 4merica and 7reat 8ritain0

.8et"een t"o servants of 9umanity: "ho appeared

eighteen hundred years apart: the rf ;< a mysterious relation0

* * * Let us say it "ith a sentiment of

profound respect= >2U2 (+= 3OL+4I) 2?IL50

Of that divine tear and of that human smile is composed the

s"eetness of the present civili@ation0 ; ;

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ode0 It is proper that all things occupy their o"n

places0

4Nect not strange terms of epression: or ne"

"ords: in a treatise on religion: lie the 4bbe 9oute-

ville J neither declaim in a physical treatise0 4void

pleasantry in the mathematics: and ourish and e-

travagant Kgures in a pleading0 If a poor intoi-

cated "oman dies of an apopley: you say that she

is in the regions of death J they bury her: and you

%

F (hilosophical

eclaim that her mortal remains are conKded to the

earth0 If the bell tolls at her burial: it is her

funeral nell ascending to the sies0 In all this you

thin you imitate #icero: and you only copy ?aster

Littlejohn

ithout style: it is impossible that there can be a

good "or in any ind of elouence or poetry0 4

profusion of "ords is the great vice of all our mod-

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ern philosophers and anti-philosophers0 +he .2ys-

tlme de la 6ature. is a great proof of this truth0 It

is very diMcult to give just ideas of 7od and na-

ture: and perhaps eually so to form a good style0

4s the ind of eecution to be employed by every

artist depends upon the subject of "hich he treats

as the line of (oussin is not that of +eniers: nor

the architecture of a temple that of a common house:

nor music of a serious opera that of a comic one

so has each ind of "riting its proper style: both

in prose and verse0 It is obvious that the style of

history is not that of a funeral oration: and that the

despatch of an ambassador ought not to be "ritten

lie a sermon J that comedy is not to borro" the

boldness of the ode: the pathetic epression of the

tragedy: nor the metaphors and similes of the epic0

very species has its diNerent shades: "hich may:

ho"ever: be reduced to t"o: the simple and the ele-

vated0 +hese t"o inds: "hich embrace so many

others: possess essential beauties in common: "hich

beauties are accuracy of idea: adaptation: elegance:

propriety of epression: and purity of language0

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5ictionary0 &

very piece of "riting: "hatever its nature: calls

for these ualities J the diNerence consists in the em-

ployment of the corresponding tropes0 +hus: a

character in comedy "ill not utter sublime or philo-

sophical ideas: a shepherd spout the notions of a

conueror: not a didactic epistle breathe forth pas-

sion J and none of these forms of composition ought

to ehibit bold metaphor: pathetic eclamation: or

vehement epression0

8et"een the simple and the sublime there are

many shades: and it is the art of adjusting them

"hich contributes to the perfection of elouence and

poetry0 It is by this art that 3irgil freuently ealts

the eclogue0 +his verse= Ut vidi ut peril: ut me

mains abstulit errorP Qclogue viii: v0 HDR I sa"0

I perished: yet indulged my painP Q5rydenR "ould

be as Kne in the mouth of 5ido as in that of a shep-

herd: because it is nature: true and elegant: and the

sentiment belongs to any condition0 8ut this =

: #astaneasue nuces me uas 4maryllis amabat0

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clogue: it: 30>'0

4nd pluc the chestnuts from the neigboring grove:

2uch as my 4maryllis used to love0

5),560

belongs not to an heroic personage: because the al-

lusion is not such as "ould be made by a hero0

 +hese t"o instances are eamples of the cases

in "hich the mingling of styles may be defended0

 +ragedy may occasionally stoopJ it even ought to

do so0 2implicity: according to the precept of 9or-

ace: often relieves grandeur0 t tragicus plerumuc

G (hilosophical

dolet sermone pedestri Q4rs (oet0: v0 $%R 4nd oft

the tragic language humbly o"s QrancisR0

 +hese t"o verses in +itiis: so natural and so ten-

der=

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5epuis cin arts tntiers chauejourje la vois0

t crois toujours la voirpour fa premttrefois0

8)6I#: acte ii: scene I0

ach day: for Kve years: have I seen her face:

4nd each succeeding time appears the Krst0

"ould not be at all out of place in serious comedy J

but the follo"ing verse of 4ntiochus = 5ans I; orient

desert uel dcvint mon ennuiP QId0: acte i: scene HR

 +he lonely east: ho" "earisome to me P "ould not

suit a lover in comedyJ the Kgure of the .lonely

east. is too elevated for the simplicity of the busin0

e have already remared: that an author "ho

"rites on physics: in allusion to a "riter on physics:

called 9ercules: adds that he is not able to resist a

philosopher so po"erful0 4nother "ho has "ritten

a small boo: "hich he imagines to be physical and

moral: against the utility of inoculation: says that if

the smallpo be diNused artiKcially: death "ill be

defrauded0

 +he above defect springs from a ridiculous aNec-

tation0 +here is another "hich is the result of neg-

ligence: "hich is that of mingling "ith the simple

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and noble style reuired by history: popular phrases

and lo" epressions: "hich are inimical to good

taste0 e often read in ?e@eray: and even in 5an-

iel: "ho: having "ritten so long after him: ought to

be more correct: that .a general pursued at the heels

5ictionary0 $

of the enemy: follo"ed his trac: and utterly basted

him. d plate couture0 e read nothing of this

ind in Livy: +acitus: 7uicciardini: or #larendon0

Let us observe: that an author accustomed to this

ind of style can seldom change it "ith his subject0

In his operas: La ontaine composed in the style of

his fablesJ and 8enserade: in his translation of

Ovid;s .?etamorphoses:. ehibited the same ind

of pleasantry "hich rendered his madrigals success-

ful0 (erfection consists in no"ing ho" to adapt

our style to the various subjects of "hich "e treat J

but "ho is altogether the master of his habits: and

able to direct his genius at pleasure !

34)IOU2 2+,L2 5I2+I67UI2950

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 +he eeble0

eaness of the heart is not that of the mind:

nor "eaness of the soul that of the heart0 4 feeble

soul is "ithout resource in action: and abandons

itself to those "ho govern it0 +he heart "hich is

"ea or feeble is easily softened: changes its incli-

nations "ith facility: resists not the seduction or

the ascendency reuired: and may subsist "ith a

strong mindJ for "e may thin strongly and act

"ealy0 +he "ea mind receives impressions "ith-

out resistance: embraces opinions "ithout eami-

nation: is alarmed "ithout cause: and tends naturally

to superstition0

4 "or may be feeble either in its matter or its

IO (hilosophical

style J by the thoughts: "hen too common: or "hen:

being correct: they are not suMciently profoundJ

and by the style: "hen it is destitute of images: or

turns of epression: and of Kgures "hich rouse

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attention0 #ompared "ith those of 8ossuet: the fu-

neral orations of ?ascaron are "ea: and his style

is lifeless0

very speech is feeble "hen it is not relieved by

ingenious turns: and by energetic epressions J but

a pleader is "ea: "hen: "ith all the aid of elo-

uence: and all the earnestness of action: he fails in

ratiocination0 6o philosophical "or is feeble: not-

"ithstanding the deKciency of its style: if the reason-

ing be correct and profound0 4 tragedy is "ea:

although the style be other"ise: "hen the interest is

not sustained0 +he best-"ritten comedy is feeble

if it fails in that "hich the Latins call the .vis com-

ica:. "hich is the defect pointed out by #aesar in

 +erence= .Lenibus atue utinant scriptis adjuncta

foret vis comical.

 +his is above all the sin of the "eeping or sen-

timental comedy QlarmoyanteR 0 eeble verses are

not those "hich sin against rules: but against gen-

iusJ "hich in their mechanism are "ithout va-

riety: "ithout choice epression: or felicitous inver-

sions J and "hich retain in poetry the simplicity and

homeliness of prose0 +he distinction cannot be bet-

ter comprehended than by a reference to the sim-

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ilar passages of )acine and #ampistron: his imi-

tator0

5ictionary0 D D

lo"ery 2tyle0

.lo"ery/; that "hich is in blossom J a tree in

blossom: a rose-bush in blossom = people do not say:

o"ers "hich blossom0 Of o"ery bloom: the car-

nation seems a miture of "hite and rose-color0 e

sometimes say a o"ery mind: to signify a person

possessing a lighter species of literature: and "hose

imagination is lively0

4 o"ery discourse is more replete "ith agree-

able than "ith strong thoughts: "ith images more

sparling than sublime: and terms more curious

than forcible0 +his metaphor is correctly taen from

o"ers: "hich are sho"y "ithout strength or sta-

bility0

 +he o"ery style is not unsuitable to public

speeches or addresses "hich amount only to compli-

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ment0 +he lighter beauties are in their place "hen

there is nothing more solid to say J but the o"ery

style should be banished from a pleading: a sermon:

or a didactic "or0

hile banishing the o"ery style: "e are not to

reject the soft and lively images "hich enter nat-

urally into the subject J a fe" o"ers are even ad-

missible J but the o"ery style cannot be made suit-

able to a serious subject0

 +his style belongs to productions of mere amuse-

ment J to idyls: eclogues: and descriptions of the sea-

sons: or of gardens0 It may gracefully occupy a

portion of the most sublime ode: provided it be duly

relieved by stan@as of more masculine beauty0 It

D' (hilosophical

has little to do "ith comedy: "hich: as it ought to

0 possess a resemblance to common life: reuires more

of the style of ordinary conversation0 It is still less

admissible in tragedy: "hich is the province of

strong passions and momentous interests J and "hen

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occasionally employed in tragedy or comedy: it is

in certain descriptions in "hich the heart taes no

part: and "hich amuse the imagination "ithout mov-

ing or occupying the soul0

 +he o"ery style detracts from the interest of

tragedy: and "eaens ridicule in comedy0 It is in

its place in the rench opera: "hich rather ourishes

on the passions than ehibits them0 +he o"ery

is not to be confounded "ith the easy style: "hich re-

 jects this class of embellishment0

#oldness of 2tyle0

It is said that a piece of poetry: of elouence: of

music: and even of painting: is cold: "hen "e loo

for an animated epression in it: "hich "e Knd not0

Other arts are not so susceptible of this defect J for

instance: architecture: geometry: logic: metaphysics:

all the principal merit of "hich is correctness: can-

not properly be called "arm or cold0 +he picture

of the family of 5arius: by ?ignard: is very cold in

comparison "ith that of Lebrun: because "e do not

discover in the personages of ?ignard the same af-

iction "hich Lebrun has so animatedly epressed

in the attitudes and countenances of the (ersian

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princesses0 ven a statue may be cold J "e ought

5ictionary0 Ij

to perceive fear and horror in the features of an 4n-

dromeda: the eNect of a "rithing of the musclesJ

and anger mingled "ith courageous boldness in the

attitude and on the bro" of 9ercules: "ho suspends

and strangles 4ntaeus0

In poetry and elouence the great movements of

the soul become cold: "hen they are epressed in

common terms: and are unaided by imagination0 It

is this latter "hich maes love so animated in )acine:

and so languid in his imitator: #ampistron0

 +he sentiments "hich escape from a soul "hich

sees concealment: on the contrary: reuire the most

simple epression0 6othing is more animated than

those verses in .+he #id. = .7o J I hate thee not

thou no"est it J I cannot0. +his feeling "ould be-

come cold: if conveyed in studied phrases0

or this reason: nothing is so cold as the timid

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style0 -4 hero in a poem says: that he has encoun-

tered a tempest: and that he has beheld his friend

perish in the storm0 9e touches and aNects: if he

speas "ith profound grief of his loss that is: if

he is more occupied "ith his friend than "ith all the

restJ but he becomes cold: and ceases to aNect us:

if he amuses us "ith a description of the tempest J

if he speas of the source of .the Kre "hich "as boil-

ing up the "aters: and of the thunder "hich roars

and "hich redoubles the furro"s of the earth and

of the "aves0. #oldness of style: therefore: often

arises from a sterility of ideasJ often from a deK-

ciency in the po"er of governing them J freuently

DH (hilosophical

from a too common diction: and sometimes from one

that is too far-fetched0

 +he author "ho is cold only in conseuence of

being animated out of time and place: may correct

this defect of a too fruitful imagination J but he "ho

is cold from a deKciency of soul is incapable of self-

correction0 e may allay a Kre "hich is too in-

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tense: but cannot acuire heat if "e have none0

On #orruption of 2tyle0

4 general complaint is made: that elouence is

corrupted: although "e have models of almost all

inds0 One of the greatest defects of the day: "hich

contributes most to this defect: is the miture of

style0 It appears to me: that "e authors do not

suMciently imitate the painters: "ho never introduce

the attitudes of #alot "ith the Kgures of )aphael0

I perceive in histories: other"ise tolerably "ell "rit-

ten: and in good doctrinal "ors: the familiar style

of conversation0 2ome one has formerly said: that

"e must "rite as "e spea J the sense of "hich la"

is: that "e should "rite naturally0 e tolerate ir-

regularity in a letter: freedom as to style: incorrect-

ness: and bold pleasantries: because letters: "ritten

spontaneously: "ithout particular object or act: are

negligent conversations J but "hen "e spea or treat

of a subject formally: some attention is due to de-

corum J and to "hom ought "e to pay more respect

than to the public !

Is it allo"able to "rite in a mathematical "or:

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the style of very bad company0

4uthors have sought to spea of science as 3oi-

ture spoe to ?ademoiselle (aulet of gallantry:

"ithout dreaming that 3oiture by no means ehib-

its a correct taste in the species of composition in

"hich he "as esteemed ecellent J for he often taes

the false for the reKned: and the aNected for the nat-

ural0 (leasantry is never good on serious points:

because it al"ays regards subjects in that point

D F (hilosophical

of vie" in "hich it is not the purpose to consider

them0 It almost al"ays turns upon false relations

and euivoue: "hence joers by profession usually

possess minds as incorrect as they are superKcial0

It appears to me: that it is as improper to mingle

styles in poetry as in prose0 +he macaroni style has

for some time past injured poetry by this medley of

mean and of elevated: of ancient and of modern e-

pression0 In certain moral pieces it is not musical

to hear the "histle of )abelais in the midst of

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sounds from the ute of 9orace a practice "hich

"e should leave to inferior minds: and attend to the

lessons of good sense and of 8oileau0 +he follo"-

ing is a singular instance of style: in a speech deliv-

ered at 3ersailles in D&H%=

2peech 4ddressed to the 1ing QLouis C30R by ?0

le #amus: irst (resident of the #ourt of 4ids0

.2ire +he conuests of your majesty are so

rapid: that it "ill be necessary to consult the po"er

of belief on the part of posterity: and to soften their

surprise at so many miracles: for fear that heroes

should hold themselves dispensed from imitation:

and people in general from believing them0

.8ut no: sire: it "ill be impossible for them to

doubt it: "hen they shall read in history that your

majesty has been at the head of your troops: record-

ing them yourself in the Keld of ?ars upon a drum0

 +his is to engrave them eternally in the temple of

?emory0

5ictionary0 D&

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.4ges the most distant "ill learn: that the ng-

lish: that bold and audacious foe: that enemy so

 jealous of your glory: have been obliged to turn

a"ay from your victory J that their allies have been

"itnesses of their shame: and that all of them have

hastened to the combat only to immortali@e the glory

of the conueror0

.e venture to say to your majesty: relying on

the love that you bear to your people: that there is

but one "ay of augmenting our happiness: "hich is

to diminish your courageJ as heaven "ould lavish

its prodigies at too costly a rate: if they increased

your dangers: or those of the young heroes "ho con-

stitute our dearest hopes0.

2U()2+I+IO60

2#+IO6 I0

I 943 sometimes heard you say e are no

longer superstitiousJ the reformation of the si-

teenth century has made us more prudent J the (rot-

estants have taught us better manners0

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8ut "hat then is the blood of a 2t0 >anuarius:

"hich you liuefy every year by bringing it near his

head ! ould it not be better to mae ten thousand

beggars earn their bread: by employing them in use-

ful tass: than to boil the blood of a saint for their

amusement! +hin rather ho" to mae their pots

boil0

hy do you still: in )ome: bless the horses and

3ol0 id a

3-

D G (hilosophical

mules at 2t0 ?ary;s the 7reater ! hat mean those

bands of agellators in Italy and 2pain: "ho go

about singing and giving themselves the lash in the

presence of ladies ! 5o they thin there is no road

to heaven but by ogging!

4re those pieces of the true cross: "hich "ould

suMce to build a hundred-gun ship are the many

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relics acno"ledged to be false are the many false

miracles so many monuments of an enlightened

piety !

rance boasts of being less superstitious than the

neighbors of 2t0 >ames of #ompostello: or those of

Our Lady of Loretto0 ,et ho" many sacristies are

there "here you still Knd pieces of the 3irgin;s

go"n: vials of her mil: and locs of her hair P 4nd

have you not still: in the church of (uy-en-3elay:

her 2on;s foresin preciously preserved!

 ,ou all no" the abominable farce that has been

played: ever since the early part of the fourteenth

century: in the chapel of 2t0 Louis: in the (alais at

(aris: every ?aundy +hursday night0 4ll the pos-

sessed in the ingdom then meet in this church0

 +he convulsions of 2t0 ?edard fall far short of the

horrible grimaces: the dreadful bo"lings: the vio-

lent contortions: made by these "retched people0

4 piece of the true cross is given them to iss: en-

chased in three feet of gold: and adorned "ith pre-

cious stones0 +hen the cries and contortions are

redoubled0 +he devil is then appeased by giving the

demoniacs a fe" sousJ but the better to restrain

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5ictionary0 D $

them: Kfty archers of the "atch are placed in the

church "ith Ked bayonets0

 +he same eecrable farce is played at 2t0 ?aur0

I could cite t"enty such instances0 8lush: and cor-

rect yourselves0

 +here are "ise men "ho assert: that "e should

leave the people their superstitions: as "e leave them

their raree-sho"s: etc0 J that the people have at all

times been fond of prodigies: fortune-tellers: pil-

grimages: and uac-doctors J that in the most re-

mote antiuity they celebrated 8acchus delivered

from the "aves: "earing horns: maing a fountain

of "ine issue from a roc by a stroe of his "and:

passing the )ed 2ea on dry ground "ith all his

people: stopping the sun and moon: etc0 J that at

Lacedaemon they ept the t"o eggs brought forth

by Leda: hanging from the dome of a temple J that

in some to"ns of 7reece the priests sho"ed the nife

"ith "hich Iphigenia had been immolated: etc0

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 +here are other "ise men "ho say 6ot one of

these superstitions has produced any goodJ many

of them have done great harm= let them then be

abolished0

2#+IO6 II0

I beg of you: my dear reader: to cast your eye

for a moment on the miracle "hich "as lately

"ored in Lo"er 8rittany: in the year of our Lord

D&&D0 6othing can be more authentic = this publica-

tion is clothed in all the legal forms0 )ead =

'O (hilosophical

.2urprising 4ccount of the 3isible and ?iraculous

4ppearance of Our Lord >esus #hrist in the

9oly 2acrament of the 4ltarJ "hich "as "ored

by the 4lmighty (o"er of 7od in the (arish

#hurch of (aimpolc: near +rcguier: in Loiter

8rittany: on +"elfth-day0

.On >anuary F: D&&D: being +"elfth-day: dur-

ing the chanting of the 2alve: rays of light "ere

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seen to issue from the consecrated host: and in-

stantly the Lord >esus "as beheld in natural Kgure:

seeming more brilliant than the sun: and "as seen

for a "hole half-hour: during "hich there appeared

a rainbo" over the top of the church0 +he foot-

prints of >esus remained on the tabernacle: "here

they are still to be seenJ and many miracles are

"ored there every day0 4t four in the afternoon:

 >esus having disappeared from over the tabernacle:

the curate of the said parish approached the altar:

and found there a letter "hich >esus had leftJ he

"ould have taen it up: but he found that he could

not lift it0 +his curate: together "ith the vicar:

"ent to give information of it to the bishop of

 +reguier: "ho ordered the forty-hour prayers to be

said in all the churches of the to"n for eight days:

during "hich time the people "ent in cro"ds to

see this holy letter0 4t the epiration of the eight

days: the bishop "ent thither in procession: at-

tended by all the regular and secular clergy of the

to"n: after three days; fasting on bread and "ater0

 +he procession having entered the church: the

5ictionary0 ' D

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bishop nelt do"n on the steps of the altarJ and

after asing of 7od the grace to be able to lift this

letter: he ascended to the altar and too it up "ith-

out diMculty J then: turning to the people: he read

it over "ith a loud voice: and recommended to all

"ho could read to peruse this letter on the Krst

riday of every monthJ and to those "ho could

not read: to say Kve paternosters: and Kve ave-

marias: in honor of the Kve "ounds of >esus #hrist:

in order to obtain the graces promised to such as

shall read it devoutly: and the preservation of the

fruits of the earth0 (regnant "omen are to say:

for their happy delivery: nine paters and nine aves

for the beneKt of the souls in purgatory: in order

that their children may have the happiness of re-

ceiving the holy sacrament of baptism0

.4ll that is contained in this account has been

approved by the bishop: by the lieutenant-general

of the said to"n of +reguier: and by many persons

of distinction "ho "ere present at this miracle0.

.#opy of the Letter ound Upon the 4ltar: at the

 +ime of the ?iraculous 4ppearance of Our

Lord >esus #hrist: in the ?ost 9oly 2acrament

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of the 4ltar: on +"elfth-day: D&&D0

.verlasting life: everlasting punishments: or

everlasting delights: none can foregoJ one part

must be chosen either to go to glory: or to depart

into torment0 +he number of years that men pass

on earth in all sorts of sensual pleasures and e-

DD (hilosophical

cessive debaucheries: of usurpation: luury: mur-

der: theft: slander: and impurity: no longer per-

mitting it to be suNered that creatures created in

?y image and lieness: redeemed by the price of

?y blood on the tree of the cross: on "hich I suf-

fered passion and death: should oNend ?e continu-

ally: by transgressing ?y commands and abandon-

ing ?y divine la" I "arn you all: that if you con-

0tinue to live in sin: and I behold in you neither

remorse: nor contrition: nor a true and sincere con-

fession and satisfaction: I shall mae you feel the

"eight of ?y divine arm0 8ut for the prayers of

?y dear mother: I should already have destroyed

the earth: for the sins "hich you commit one against

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another0 I have given you si days to labor: and

the seventh to rest: to sanctify ?y 9oly 6ame: to

hear the holy mass: and employ the remainder of

the day in the service of 7od ?y ather0 8ut: on

the contrary: nothing is to be seen but blasphemy

and drunennessJ and so disordered is the "orld

that all in it is vanity and lies0 #hristians: instead

of taing compassion on the poor "hom they be-

hold every day at their doors: prefer fondling dogs

and other animals: and letting the poor die of hunger

and thirst abandoning themselves entirely to 2atan

by their avarice: gluttony: and other vices J instead

of relieving the needy: they prefer sacriKcing all to

their pleasures and debauchery0 +hus do they de-

clare "ar against ?e0 4nd you: iniuitous fathers

and mothers: suNer your children to s"ear and bias-

5ictionary0 'S

pheme against ?y holy name J instead of giving

them a good education: you avariciously lay up

for them "ealth: "hich is dedicated to 2atan0 I

tell you: by the mouth of 7od ?y ather and

?y dear mother: of all the cherubim and sera-

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phim: and by 2t0 (eter: the head of ?y church:

that if you do not amend your "ays: I "ill send

you etraordinary diseases: by "hich all shall perish0

 ,ou shall feel the just anger of 7od ?y atherJ

you shall be reduced to such a state that you

shall not no" one another0 Open your eyes:

and contemplate ?y cross: "hich I have left to be

your "eapon against the enemy of manind: and

your guide to eternal gloryJ loo upon ?y head

cro"ned "ith thorns: ?y feet and hands pierced

"ith nailsJ I shed the last drop of ?y blood to

redeem you: from pure fatherly love for ungrateful

children0 5o such "ors as may secure to you

?y mercy J do not s"ear by ?y 9oly 6ame J pray

to ?e devoutly J fast often J and in particular give

alms to the poor: "ho are members of ?y body

for of all good "ors this is the most pleasing to

?e J neither despise the "ido" nor the orphan J

mae restitution of that "hich does not belong to

you J y all occasions of sin J carefully eep ?y

commandmentsJ and honor ?ary ?y very dear

mother0

.2uch of you "ho shall not proKt by the "arn-

ings I give them: such as shall not believe ?y

"ords: "ill: by their obstinacy: bring do"n ?y

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'H (hilosophical

avenging arm upon their heads J they shall be over-

"helmed by misfortunes: "hich shall be the fore-

runners of their Knal and unhappy endJ after

"hich they shall be cast into everlasting ames:

"here they shall suNer endless pains the just

punishment reserved for their crimes0

.On the other hand: such of you as shall mae

a holy use of the "arnings of 7od: given them in

this letter: shall appease 9is "rath: and shall ob-

tain from 9im: after a sincere confession of their

faults: the remission of their sins: ho" great soever

they may be0

.ith permission: 8ourges: >uly SE: D&&D0

.5 84U3OI): Lieut0-7en0 of (olice0

.+his letter must be carefully ept: in honor of

our Lord >esus #hrist0.

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60 80 It must be observed that this piece of

absurdity "as printed at 8ourges: "ithout there

having been: either at +reguier or at (aimpole: the

smallest pretence that could aNord occasion for such

an imposture0 9o"ever: "e "ill suppose that in a

future age some miracle-Knder shall thin Kt to

prove a point in divinity by the appearance of >esus

#hrist on the altar at (aimpole: "ill he not thin

himself entitled to uote #hrist;s o"n letter: printed

at 8ourges ."ith permission. ! ill he not prove:

by facts: that in our time >esus "ored miracles

every"here! 9ere is a Kne Keld opened for the

9outevilles and the 4badies0

5ictionary0 '%

2#+IO6 III0

4 resh Instance of the ?ost 9orrible 2uper-

stition0

 +he thirty conspirators "ho fell upon the ing

of (oland: in the night of 6ovember S: of the pres-

ent year: D&&D: had communicated at the altar of

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the 9oly 3irgin: and had s"orn by the 9oly 3irgin

to butcher their ing0

It seems that some one of the conspirators "as

not entirely in a state of grace: "hen he received

into his stomach the body of the 9oly 3irgin;s o"n

2on: together "ith 9is blood: under the appearance

of breadJ and that "hile he "as taing the oath

to ill his ing: he had his god in his mouth for only

t"o of the ing;s domestics0 +he guns and pistols

Kred at his majesty missed him J he received only a

slight shot-"ound in the face: and several sabre-

"ounds: "hich "ere not mortal0 9is life "ould

have been at an end: but that humanity at length

combated superstition in the breast of one of the

assassins named 1osinsi0 hat a moment "as

that "hen this "retched man said to the bleeding

prince= .,ou are: ho"ever: my ingP. .,es:.

ans"ered 2tanislaus 4ugustus: .and your good

ing: "ho has never done you any harm0. .+rue:.

said the otherJ .but I have taen an oath to ill

you0.

 +hey had s"orn before the miraculous image of

the virgin at #@entoshova0 +he follo"ing is the

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'F (hilosophical

formula of this Kne oath= .e "ho: e-

cited by a holy and religious @eal: have resolved to

avenge the 5eity: religion: and our country: out-

raged by 2tanislaus 4ugustus: a despiser of la"s

both divine and human: a favorer of atheists and

heretics: do promise and s"ear: before the sacred

and miraculous image of the mother of 7od: to

etirpate from the face of the earth him "ho dis-

honors her by trampling on religion0 0000 2o

help us 7odP.

 +hus did the assassins of 2for@a: of ?edici: and

so many other holy assassins: have masses said: or

say them themselves: for the happy success of their

undertaing0

 +he letter from arsa" "hich gives the par-

ticulars of this attempt: adds= .+he religious "ho

employ their pious ardor in causing blood to o"

and ravaging their country: have succeeded in

(oland: as else"here: in inculcating on the minds

of their aMliated: that it is allo"able to ill ings0.

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Indeed: the assassins had been hidden in ar-

sa" for three days in the house of the reverend

5ominican fathers J and "hen these accessory

mons "ere ased "hy they had harbored thirty

armed men "ithout informing the government of

it: they ans"ered: that these men had come to per-

form their devotions: and to fulKl a vo"0

O ye times of #hatel: of 7uinard: of )icodovis: of

(oltrot: of )availlac: of 5amiens: of ?alagrida: are

you then returning! 9oly 3irgin: and +hou her

5ictionary0 '&

i

holy 2on: let not ,our sacred names be abused for

the commission of the crime "hich disgraced them P

?0 >ean 7eorges le ranc: bishop of (uy-en-

3elay: says: in his immense pastoral letter to the

inhabitants of (uy: pages '%G-$: that it is the phi-

losophers "ho are seditious0 4nd "hom does he

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accuse of sedition! )eaders: you "ill be aston-

ishedJ it is Loce: the "ise Loce himselfP 9e

maes him an accomplice in the pernicious designs

of the earl of 2haftesbury: one of the heroes of the

philosophical party0

4lasP ?0 >ean 7eorges: ho" many mistaes in

a fe" "ords P irst: you tae the grandson for the

grandfather0 +he earl of 2haftesbury: author of

the .#haracteristics. and the .Inuiry Into 3irtue:.

that .hero of the philosophical party:. "ho died in

D&DS: cultivated letters all his life in the most pro-

found retirement0 2econdly: his grandfather: Lord-

#hancellor 2haftesbury: to "hom you attribute mis-

deeds: is considered by many in ngland to have

been a true patriot0 +hirdly: Loce is revered as a

"ise man throughout urope0

I defy you to sho" me a single philosopher: from

Boroaster do"n to Loce: that has ever stirred up

a seditionJ that has ever been concerned in an at-

tempt against the life of a ing J that has ever dis-

turbed societyJ and: unfortunately: I "ill Knd you

a thousand votaries of superstition: from hud

do"n to 1osinsi: stained "ith the blood of ings

and "ith that of nations0 2uperstition sets the

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'G (hilosophical

"hole "orld in amesJ philosophy etinguishes

them0 (erhaps these poor philosophers are not de-

voted enough to the 9oly 3irgin J but they are so

to 7od: to reason: and to humanity0

(olesP if you are not philosophers: at least do

not cut one another;s throats0 renchmen P be gay:

and cease to uarrel0 2paniardsP let the "ords

.inuisition. and .holy brotherhood. be no longer

uttered among you0 +urs: "ho have enslaved

7reece mons: "ho have brutali@ed her disap-

pear ye from the face of the earth0

2#+IO6 I30

5ra"n from #icero: 2eneca: and (lutarch0

6early all that goes farther than the adoration

of a supreme being: and the submission of the

heart to his eternal orders: is superstition0 +he for-

giveness of crimes: "hich is attached to certain cere-

monies: is a very dangerous one0

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t nigras mactant pecudes: et manibuT divis:

Infenas rnittunt0

LU#)+IU2: b0 9i: %'-%S0

O faciles nimium: gut tristia crimina cadis:

luminea to 9i posse putatis auaP

O3I5: asti ii: H%-HF0

 ,ou thin that 7od "ill forget your homicide: if

you bathe in a river: if you immolate a blac sheep:

and a fe" "ords are pronounced over you0 4 sec-

ond homicide then "ill be forgiven you at the same

price: and so of a thirdJ and a hundred murders

"ill cost you only a hundred blac sheep and a

hundred ablutions0 3e miserable mortals: do bet-

5ictionary0 '$

ter J but let there be no murders: and no oNerings of

blac sheep0

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hat an infamous idea: to imagine that a priest

of Isis and #ybele: by playing cymbals and castanets:

"ill reconcile you to the 5ivinity0 4nd "hat then

is this priest of #ybele: this vagrant eunuch: "ho

lives on your "eaness: and sets himself up as a

mediator bet"een heaven and you! hat patent

has he received from 7od! 9e receives money

from you for muttering "ords J and you thin that

the 8eing of 8eings ratiKes the utterance of this

charlatan P

 +here are innocent superstitions J you dance on

festival days: in honor of 5iana or (omona: or some

one of the secular divinities of "hich your calendar

is full J be it so0 5ancing is very agreeable J it is

useful to the body J it ehilarates the mind J it does

no harm to any oneJ but do not imagine that

(omona and 3ertumnus are much pleased at your

having jumped in honor of them: and that they

may punish you for having failed to jump0 +here

are no (omona and 3ertumnus but the gardener;s

spade and hoe0 5o not be so imbecile as to believe

that your garden "ill be hailed upon: if you have

missed dancing the pyrrhic or the corda0

 +here is one superstition "hich is perhaps par-

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donable: and even encouraging to virtue that of

placing among the gods great men "ho have been

benefactors to manind0 It "ere doubtless better

to conKne ourselves to regarding them simply as

SE (hilosophical

venerable men: and above all: to imitating them0

3enerate: "ithout "orshipping: a 2olon: a +hales:

a (ythagorasJ but do not adore a 9ercules for

having cleansed the stables of 4ugeas: and for

having lain "ith Kfty "omen in one night0

4bove all: be"are of establishing a "orship for

vagabonds "ho have no merit but ignorance: en-

thusiasm: and KlthJ "ho have made idleness and

beggary their duty and their glory0 5o they "ho

have been at best useless during their lives: merit an

apotheosis after their deaths! 8e it observed: that

the most superstitious times have al"ays been those

of the most horrible crimes0

2#+IO6 v0

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 +he superstitious man is to the nave: "hat the

slave is to the tyrant J nay more the superstitious

man is governed by the fanatic: and becomes a

fanatic himself0 2uperstition: born in (aganism:

adopted by >udaism: infected the #hurch in the

earliest ages0 4ll the fathers of the #hurch: "ith-

out eception: believed in the po"er of magic0 +he

#hurch al"ays condemned magic: but she al"ays

believed in itJ she ecommunicated sorcerers: not

as madmen "ho "ere in delusion: but as men "ho

really had intercourse "ith the devils0

4t this day: one half of urope believes that the

other half has long been and still is superstitious0

 +he (rotestants regard relics: indulgences: macera;

tions: prayers for the dead: holy "ater: and almost

5ictionary0 S D

all the rites of the )oman church: as mad supersti-

tions0 4ccording to them: superstition consists in

mistaing useless practices for necessary ones0

4mong the )oman #atholics there are some: more

enlightened than their forefathers: "ho have re-

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nounced many of these usages formerly sacred J and

they defend their adherence to those "hich they

have retained: by saying they are indiNerent: and

"hat is indiNerent cannot be an evil0

It is diMcult to mar the limits of superstition0

4 renchman travelling in Italy thins almost

everything superstitious J nor is he much mistaen0

 +he archbishop of #anterbury asserts that the arch-

bishop of (aris is superstitiousJ the (resbyterians

cast the same reproach upon his grace of #anter-

bury: and are in their turn called superstitious by

the Auaers: "ho in the eyes of the rest of #hris-

tians are the most superstitious of all0

It is then no"here agreed among #hristian so-

cieties "hat superstition is0 +he sect "hich appears

to be the least violently attaced by this mental dis-

ease: is that "hich has the fe"est rites0 8ut if: "ith

but fe" ceremonies: it is strongly attached to an

absurd belief: that absurd belief is of itself euiva-

lent to all the superstitious practices observed from

the time of 2imon the ?agician: do"n to that of

the curate 7aufredi0 It is therefore evident that

"hat is the foundation of the religion of one sect: is

by another sect regarded as superstitious0

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 +he ?ussulmans accuse all #hristian societies of

S' (hilosophical

it: and are accused of it by them0 ho shall decide

this great cause ! 2hall not reason ! 8ut each sect

declares that reason is on its side0 orce then "ill

decide: until reason shall have penetrated into a suf-

Kcient number of heads to disarm force0

or instance = there "as a time in #hristian u-

rope "hen a ne"ly married pair "ere not permitted

to enjoy the nuptial rights: until they had bought

that privilege of the bishop and the curate0 ho-

soever: in his "ill: did not leave a part of his prop-

erty to the #hurch: "as ecommunicated: and de-

prived of burial0 +his "as called dying uncon-

fessed i0 e0: not confessing the #hristian religion0

4nd "hen a #hristian died intestate: the #hurch re-

lieved the deceased from this ecommunication: by

maing a "ill for him: stipulating for and enforcing

the payment of the pious legacy "hich the defunct

should have made0

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 +herefore it "as: that (ope 7regory IC0 and

2t0 Louis ordained: after the #ouncil of 6ice: held

in D'S%: that every "ill to the maing of "hich a

priest had not been called: should be null J and the

pope decreed that the testator and the notary should

be ecommunicated0

 +he ta on sins "as: if possible: still more scan-

dalous0 It "as force "hich supported all these la"s:

to "hich the superstition of nations submitted J and

it "as only in the course of time that reason caused

these shameful veations to be abolished: "hile it

left so many others in eistence0

5ictionary0 SS

9o" far does policy permit superstition to be

undermined! +his is a very notty uestionJ it

is lie asing ho" far a dropsical man may be

punctured "ithout his dying under the operationJ

this depends on the prudence of the physician0

#an there eist a people free from all supersti-

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tious prejudices! +his is asing: #an there eist

a people of philosophers! It is said that there is

no superstition in the magistracy of #hina0 It is

liely that the magistracy of some to"ns in urope

"ill also be free from it0 +hese magistrates "ill

then prevent the superstition of the people from

being dangerous0 +heir eample "ill not enlighten

the mobJ but the principal citi@ens "ill restrain it0

ormerly: there "as not perhaps a single religious

tumult: not a single violence: in "hich the to"ns-

people did not tae part: because these to"nspeople

"ere then part of the mobJ but reason and time

have changed them0 +heir ameliorated manners

"ill improve those of the lo"est and most ferocious

of the populace J of "hich: in more countries than

one: "e have striing eamples0 In short: the

fe"er superstitions: the less fanaticism J and the less

fanaticism: the fe"er calamities0

2,?8OL: O) #)5O0

)2?8L not the celebrated comedian:

?ademoiselle 5uclos: to "hom somebody said=

.I "ould lay a "ager: mademoiselle: that you no"

not your credo P. .hat P. said she: .not no" my

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3ol0 DHS

SH (hilosophical

credo! I "ill repeat it to you0 ;(ater noster iii0;

0000 9elp me: I remember no more0. or myself:

I repeat my pater and credo every morning0 I am

not lie 8roussin: of "hom )eminiac said: that al-

though he could distinguish a sauce almost in his

infancy: he could never be taught his creed or pater-

noster =

8roussin: des 4ge le plus tendre:

(osstda la sauce )obert:

2ans ue son prtcepteur luiputjamais apprende

6i son credo: ni son pater0

 +he term . symbol. comes from the "ord .sytn-

bolein:. and the Latin church adopts this "ord be-

cause it has taen everything from the 7ree

church0 ven slightly learned theologians no"

that the symbol: "hich "e call apostolical: is not

that of all the apostles0

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2ymbol: among the 7rees: signiKed the "ords

and signs by "hich those initiated into the mysteries

of #eres: #ybele: and ?ythra: recogni@ed one

anotherJ and #hristians in time had their symbol0

If it had eisted in the time of the apostles: "e

thin that 2t0 Lue "ould have spoen of it0

4 history of the symbol is attributed to 2t0

4ugustine in his one hundred and Kfteenth sermon J

he is made to say: that (eter commenced the symbol

by saying= .I believe in 7od: the ather 4lmighty0.

 >ohn added = .?aer of heaven and earth J. >ames

proceeded = .I believe in >esus #hrist: 9is only 2on:

our Lord:. and so on "ith the rest0 +his fable has

been epunged from the last edition of 4ugustineJ

5ictionary0 S%

and I relate it to the reverend 8enedictine fathers: in

order to no" "hether this little curious article

ought to be left out or not0

 +he fact is: that no person heard anything of this

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.creed. for more than four hundred years0 (eople

also say that (aris "as not made in a day: and peo-

ple are often right in their proverbs0 +he apostles

had our symbol in their hearts: but they put it not

into "riting0 One "as formed in the time of 2t0

Irenaeus: "hich does not at all resemble that "hich

"e repeat0 Our symbol: such as it is at present: is

of the Kfth century: "hich is posterior to that of

6ice0 +he passage "hich says that >esus descended

into hell: and that "hich speas of the communion

of saints: are not found in any of the symbols "hich

preceded ours J and: indeed: neither the gospels: nor

the 4cts of the 4postles: say that >esus descended

into hell J but it "as an established opinion: from

the third century: that >esus descended into 9ades:

or +artarus: "ords "hich "e translate by that of

hell0 9ell: in this sense: is not the 9ebre" "ord

.sheol:. "hich signiKes .under ground:. .the pit. J

for "hich reason 2t0 4thanasius has since taught

us ho" our 2aviour descended into hell0 9is hu-

manity: says he: "as not entirely in the tomb: nor

entirely in hell0 It "as in the sepulchre: according

to the body: and in hell: according to the soul0

2t0 +homas aMrms that the saints "ho arose at

the death of >esus #hrist: died again to rise after-

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"ards "ith him: "hich is the most general senti-

SF (hilosophical

ment0 4ll these opinions are absolutely foreign to

morality0 e must be good men: "hether the

saints "ere raised once or t"ice0 Our symbol has

been formed: I confess: recently: but virtue is from

all eternity0

If it is permitted to uote moderns on so grave

a matter: I "ill here repeat the creed of the 4bbe

de 2t0 (ierre: as it "as "ritten "ith his o"n hand: in

his boo on the purity of religion: "hich has not

been printed: but "hich I have copied faithfully =

.I believe in one 7od alone: and I love 9im0

I believe that 9e enlightens all souls coming into

the "orldJ thus says 2t0 >ohn0 8y that: I under-

stand all souls "hich see 9im in good faith0 I

believe in one 7od alone: because there can be but

one soul of the 7reat 4ll: a single vivifying being:

a sole #reator0

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.I believe in 7od: the ather 4lmighty J because

9e is the common ather of nature: and of all men:

"ho are eually 9is children0 I believe that 9e

"ho has caused all to be born eually: "ho arranges

the springs of their life in the same manner: "ho

has given them the same moral principles: as soon

as they reect: has made no diNerence bet"een 9is

children but that of crime and virtue0

.I believe that the just and righteous #hinese is

more precious to 9im than the cavilling and arro-

gant uropean scholar0 I believe that 7od: being

our common ather: "e are bound to regard all men

as our brothers0 I believe that the persecutor is

5ictionary0 S&

abominable: and that he follo"s immediately after

the poisoner and parricide0 I believe that theo-

logical disputes are at once the most ridiculous farce:

and the most dreadful scourge of the earth: im-

mediately after "ar: pestilence: famine: and leprosy0

.I believe that ecclesiastics should be paid and

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"ell paid: as servants of the public: moral teachers:

eepers of registers of births and deaths J but there

should be given to them neither the riches of farm-

ers-general: nor the ran of princes: because both

corrupt the soul J and nothing is more revolting

than to see men so rich and so proud preach humil-

ity through their clers: "ho have only a hundred

cro"ns; "ages0

.I believe that all priests "ho serve a parish

should be married: as in the 7ree church J not

only to have an honest "oman to tae care of their

household: but to be better citi@ens: to give good

subjects to the state: and to have plenty of "ell-

bred children0

.I believe that many mons should give up the

monastic form of life: for the sae of the country

and themselves0 It is said that there are men "hom

#irce has changed into hogs: "hom the "ise Ulysses

must restore to the human form0.

.(aradise to the beneKcentP. e repeat this

symbol of the 4bbe 2t0 (ierre historically: "ithout

approving of it0 e regard it merely as a curious

singularity: and "e hold "ith the most respectful

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faith to the true symbol of the #hurch0

SG (hilosophical

2,2+?0

U65)2+465 by system a supposition J for if

a system can be proved: it is no longer a system:

but a truth0 In the meantime: led by habit: "e say

the celestial system: although "e understand by it

the real position of the stars0

I once thought that (ythagoras had learned the

true celestial system from the #haldaeansJ but I

thin so no longer0 In proportion as I gro" older:

I doubt of all things0 6ot"ithstanding that 6e"-

ton: 7regory: and 1eil honor (ythagoras and the

#haldaeans "ith a no"ledge of the system of

#opernicus: and that latterly ?0 ?onier is of their

opinion: I have the impudence to thin other"ise0

One of my reasons is: that if the #haldaeans had

been so "ell informed: so Kne and important a dis-

covery "ould not have been lost: but "ould have

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been handed do"n from age to age: lie the ad-

mirable discoveries of 4rchimedes0

4nother reason is that it "as necessary to be

more "idely informed than the #haldaeans: in order

to be able to contradict the apparent testimony of

the senses in regard to the celestial appearances=

that it reuired not only the most reKned eperi-

mental observation: but the most profound mathe-

matical scienceJ as also the indispensable aid of

telescopes: "ithout "hich it is impossible to dis-

cover the phases of 3enus: "hich prove her course

5ictionary0 S$

around the sun: or to discover the spots in the sun:

"hich demonstrate his motion round his o"n almost

immovable ais0 4nother reason: not less strong:

is that of all those "ho have attributed this dis-

covery to (ythagoras: no one can positively say ho"

he treated it0

5iogenes Laertius: "ho lived about nine hundred

years after (ythagoras: teaches us: that according to

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this grand philosopher: the number one "as the Krst

principle: and that from t"o sprang all numbers J

lhat body has four elements Kre: "ater: air: and

tarthJ that light and darness: cold and heat: "et

tnd dry: are eually distributed J that "e must not

at beans J that the soul is divided into three parts J

that (ythagoras had formerly been 4talides: then

uphorbus: after"ards 9ermotimus J and: Knally:

that this great man studied magic very profoundly0

5iogenes says not a "ord concerning the true sys-

tem of the "orld: attributed to this (ythagoras J and

it must be confessed that it is by no means to an

aversion to beans that "e o"e the calculations "hich

at present demonstrate the motion of the earth and

planets generally0

 +he famous 4rian usebius: bishop of #aesarea:

in his .vangelical (reparation:. epresses himself

thus = .4ll the philosophers declare that the earth is

in a state of repose J but (hilolaus: the peripatetic:

thins that it moves round Kre in an obliue circle:

lie the sun and the moon0. +his gibberish has

HO (hilosophical

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nothing in common "ith the sublime truths taught

by #opernicus: 7alileo: 1epler: and above all by

6e"ton0

4s to the pretended 4ristarchus of 2amos: "ho:

it is asserted: developed the discoveries of the #hal-

daeans in regard to the motion of the earth and other

planets: he is so obscure: that allace has been

obliged to play the commentator from one end of

him to the other: in order to render him intelligible0

inally: it is very much to be doubted "hether

the boo: attributed to this 4ristarchus of 2amos:

really belongs to him0 It has been strongly sus-

pected that the enemies of the ne" philosophy have

constructed this forgery in favor of their bad cause0

It is not only in respect to old charters that similar

forgeries are resorted to0 +his 4ristarchus of

2amos is also the more to be suspected: as (lutarch

accuses him of bigotry and malevolent hypocrisy:

in conseuence of being imbued "ith a direct con-

trary opinion0 +he follo"ing are the "ords of

(lutarch: in his piece of absurdity entitled .+he

)ound 4spect of the ?oon0. 4ristarchus the

2amian said: .that the 7rees ought to punish

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#leanthes of 2amos: "ho suggested that the heavens

"ere immovable: and that it is the earth "hich

travels through the @odiac by turning on its ais0.

 +hey "ill tell me that even this passage proves

that the system of #opernicus "as already in the

head of #leanthes and others of "hat import is it

"hether 4ristarchus the 2amian "as of the opinion

5ictionary0 HD

of #leanthes: or his accuser: as the >esuit 2einer

"as subseuently 7alileo;s! it eually follo"s that

the true system of the present day "as no"n to

the ancients0

I reply: noJ but that a very slight part of this

system "as vaguely surmised by heads better or-

gani@ed than the rest0 I further ans"er that it "as

never received or taught in the schools: and that it

never formed a body of doctrine0 4ttentively peruse

this .ace of the ?oon. of (lutarch: and you "ill

Knd: if you loo for it: the doctrine of gravitation J

but the true author of a system is he "ho demon-

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strates it0

e "ill not tae a"ay from #opernicus the

honor of this discovery0 +hree or four "ords

brought to light in an old author: "hich ehibit

some distant glimpse of his system: ought not to

deprive him of the glory of the discovery0

Let us admire the great rule of 1epler: that the

revolutions of the planets round the sun are in pro-

portion to the cubes of their distances0 Let us still

more admire the profundity: the justness: and the

invention of the great 6e"ton: "ho alone discovered

the fundamental reasons of these la"s unno"n to

all antiuity: "hich have opened the eyes of man-

ind to a ne" heaven0

(etty compilers are al"ays to be found "ho dare

to become the enemies of their age0 +hey string

together passages from (lutarch and 4thenaeus: to

prove that "e have no obligations to 6e"ton: to

H' (hilosophical

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9alley: and to 8radley0 +hey trumpet forth the

glory of the ancients: "hom they pretend have said

everythingJ and they are so imbecile as to thin

that they divide the glory by publishing it0 +hey

t"ist an epression of 9ippocrates: in order to per-

suade us that the 7rees "ere acuainted "ith the

circulation of the blood better than 9arvey0 hy

not also assert that the 7rees "ere possessed of

better musets and Keld-piecesJ that they thre"

bomb-shells farther: had better printed boos: and

much Kner engravings! +hat they ecelled in oil-

paintings: possessed looing-glasses of crystal: tele-

scopes: microscopes: and thermometers! 4ll this

may be found out by men: "ho assure us that 2olo-

mon: "ho possessed not a single seaport: sent eets

to 4merica: and so forth0

One of the greatest detractors of modern times

is a person named 5utens: "ho Knished by com-

piling a libel: as infamous as insipid: against the

philosophers of the present day0 +his libel is en-

titled the .+ocsin. J but he had better have called

it his cloc: as no one came to his aid J and he has

only tended to increase the number of the Boilusses:

"ho: being unable to produce anything themselves:

spit their venom upon all "ho by their productions

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do honor to their country and beneKt manind0

 +48O): O) +948O)0

4 4?OU2 mountain in >udaea: often alluded to

in general conversation0 It is not true that this

5ictionary0 HS

mountain is a league and a half high: as mentioned

in certain dictionaries0 +here is no mountain in

 >udaea so elevated J +abor is not more than si hun-

dred feet high: but it appears loftier: in conseuence

of its situation on a vast plain0

 +he +abor of 8ohemia is still more celebrated

by the resistance "hich the imperial armies encoun-

tered from Bisa0 It is from thence that they have

given the name of +abor to intrenchments formed

"ith carriages0 +he +aborites: a sect very similar

to the 9ussites: also tae their name from the latter

mountain0

 +4LI2?460

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 +4LI2?46: an 4rabian "ord: signiKes properly

.consecration0. +he same thing as .telesma:. or

.philactery:. a preservative charm: Kgure: or char-

acterJ a superstition "hich has prevailed at all

times and among all people0 It is usually a sort of

medal: cast and stamped under the ascendency of

certain constellations0 +he famous talisman of

#atherine de ?edici still eists0

 +4)+U +4)+U)I0

 +4)+U: a name invented by ?oliere: and no"

adopted in all the languages of urope to signify

hypocrites: "ho mae use of the cloa of religion0

.9e is a +artuNe J he is a true +artuNe0. +ar-

tuferie: a ne" "ord formed from +artuNe the

HH (hilosophical

action of a hypocrite: the behavior of a hypocrite:

the navery of a false devotee J it is often used in

the disputes concerning the 8ull Unigenitus0

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 +42+0

2#+IO6 I0

 +9 taste: the sense by "hich "e distinguish the

avor of our food: has produced: in all no"n

languages: the metaphor epressed by the "ord

.taste. a feeling of beauty and defects in all the

arts0 It is a uic perception: lie that of the tongue

and the palate: and in the same manner anticipates

consideration0 Lie the mere sense: it is sensitive

and luuriant in respect to the good: and rejects the

bad spontaneously J in a similar "ay it is often un-

certain: divided: and even ignorant "hether it ought

to be pleasedJ lastly: and to conclude the resem-

blance: it sometimes reuires to be formed and cor-

rected by habit and eperience0

 +o constitute taste: it is not suMcient to see and

to no" the beauty of a "or0 e must feel and be

aNected by it0 6either "ill it suMce to feel and be

aNected in a confused or ignorant mannerJ it is

necessary to distinguish the diNerent shadesJ

nothing ought to escape the promptitude of its dis-

cernment J and this is another instance of the re-

semblance of taste: the sense: to intellectual tasteJ

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for an epicure "ill uicly feel and detect a miture

of t"o liuors: as the man of taste and connoisseur

"ill: "ith a single glance: distinguish the miture of

5ictionary0 H%

t"o styles: or a defect by the side of a beauty0 9e

"ill be enthusiastically moved "ith this verse in

the 9oratii=

Aue voule@-vous uilKt contre trots f Au;il mourutP

hat have him do .gainst three! 5ieP

9e feels involuntary disgust at the follo"ing=

Ou gu;un beau dtsespoir alors le secourut0

4#+ iii: sc0 F0

Or: "hether aided by a Kne despair0

4s a physical bad taste consists in being pleased

only "ith high seasoning and curious dishes: so a bad

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taste in the arts is pleased only "ith studied orna-

ment: and feels not the pure beauty of nature0

4 depraved taste in food is gratiKed "ith that

"hich disgusts other people = it is a species of dis-

ease0 4 depraved taste in the arts is to be pleased

"ith subjects "hich disgust accomplished minds:

and to prefer the burlesue to the noble: and the Kni-

cal and the aNected to the simple and natural = it is

a mental disease0 4 taste for the arts is: ho"ever:

much more a thing of formation than physical taste J

for although in the latter "e sometimes Knish by

liing those things to "hich "e had in the Krst in-

stance a repugnance: nature seldom renders it neces-

sary for men in general to learn "hat is necessary

to them in the "ay of food: "hereas intellectual

taste reuires time to duly form it0 4 sensible young

man may not: "ithout science: distinguish at once

the diNerent parts of a grand choir of musicJ in

a Kne picture: his eyes at Krst sight may not perceive

HF (hilosophical

the gradation: the chiaroscuro perspective: agree-

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ment of colors: and correctness of design J but by

little and little his ears "ill learn to hear and his

eyes to see0 9e "ill be aNected at the Krst rep-

resentation of a Kne tragedy: but he "ill not perceive

the merit of the unities: nor the delicate manage-

ment that allo"s no one to enter or depart "ithout

a suMcient reason: nor that still greater art "hich

concentrates all the interest in a single oneJ nor:

lastly: "ill he be a"are of the diMculties overcome0

It is only by habit and reection: that he arrives

spontaneously at that "hich he "as not able to dis-

tinguish in the Krst instance0 In a similar "ay: a

national taste is gradually formed "here it eisted

not before: because by degrees the spirit of the best

artists is duly imbibed0 e accustom ourselves to

loo at pictures "ith the eyes of Lebrun: (oussin:

and Le 2ueur0 e listen to musical declamation

from the scenes of Auinalt "ith the ears of Lulli:

and to the airs and accompaniments "ith those of

)ameau0 inally: boos are read in the spirit of

the best authors0

If an entire nation is led: during its early culture

of the arts: to admire authors abounding in the de-

fects and errors of the age: it is because these au-

thors possess beauties "hich are admired by every-

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body: "hile at the same time readers are not suM-

ciently instructed to detect the imperfections0 +hus:

Lucilius "as pri@ed by the )omans: until 9orace

made them forget him J and )egnier "as admired

5ictionary0 H&

by the rench: until the appearance of 8oileau J and

if old authors "ho stumble at every step have: not-

"ithstanding: attained great reputation: it is be-

cause purer "riters have not arisen to open the eyes

of their national admirers: as 9orace did those of

the )omans: and 8oileau those of the rench0

It is said that there is no disputation on taste: and

the observation is correct in respect to physical taste:

in "hich the repugnance felt to certain aliments:

and the preference given to others: are not to be

disputed: because there is no correction of a defect

of the organs0 It is not the same "ith the arts "hich

possess actual beauties: "hich are discernible by a

good taste: and unperceivable by a bad one J "hich

last: ho"ever: may freuently be improved0 +here

are also persons "ith a coldness of soul: as there

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are defective mindsJ and in respect to them: it is

of little use to dispute concerning predilections: as

they possess none0

 +aste is arbitrary in many things: as in raiment:

decoration: and euipage: "hich: ho"ever: scarcely

belong to the department of the Kne arts: but are

rather aNairs of fancy0 It is fancy rather than taste

"hich produces so many ne" fashions0

 +aste may become vitiated in a nation: a misfor-

tune "hich usually follo"s a period of perfection0

earing to be called imitators: artists see ne" and

devious routes: and y from the pure and beautiful

nature of "hich their predecessors have made so

much advantage0 If there is merit in these labors:

HG (hilosophical

this merit veils their defects: and the public in love

"ith novelty runs after them: and becomes dis-

gusted: "hifch maes "ay for still minor eNorts to

please: in "hich nature is still more abandoned0

 +aste loses itself amidst this succession of novelties:

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the last one of "hich rapidly eNaces the other J the

public loses its ."hereabout:. and regrets in vain

the ight of the age of good taste: "hich "ill re-

turn no more: although a remnant of it is still pre-

served by certain correct spirits: at a distance from

the cro"d0

 +here are vast countries in "hich taste has never

eisted = such are they in "hich society is still rude:

"here the sees have little general intercourse: and

"here certain arts: lie sculpture and the painting of

animated beings: are forbidden by religion0 here

there is little general intercourse: the mind is strait-

ened: its edge is blunted: and nothing is possessed

on "hich a taste can be formed0 here several of

the Kne arts are "anting: the remainder can seldom

Knd suMcient support: as they go hand in hand: and

rest one on the other0 On this account: the 4siat-

ics have never produced Kne arts in any department:

and taste is conKned to certain nations of urope0

2#+IO6 II0

Is there not a good and a bad taste! ithout

doubtJ although men diNer in opinions: manners:

and customs0 +he best taste in every species of cul-

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tivation is to imitate nature "ith the highest Kdelity:

5ictionary0 H$

energy: and grace0 8ut is not grace arbitrary ! 6o:

since it consists in giving animation and s"eetness

to the objects represented0 8et"een t"o men: the

one of "hom is gross and the other reKned: it "ill

readily be allo"ed that one possesses more grace

than the other0

8efore a polished period arose: 3oiture: "ho in

his rage for embroidering nothings: "as occasion-

ally reKned and agreeable: "rote some verses to the

great #onde upon his illness: "hich are still re-

garded as very tasteful: and among the best of this

author0

4t the same time: L;Ktoile: "ho passed for a

genius L;Ktoile: one of the Kve authors "ho con-

structed tragedies for #ardinal )ichelieu made

some verses: "hich are printed at the end of ?al-

herbe and )acan0 hen compared "ith those of

3oiture referred to: every reader "ill allo" that the

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verses of 3oiture are the production of a courtier

of good taste: and those of L;Ktoile the labor of a

coarse and unintellectual pretender0

It is a pity that "e can gift 3oiture "ith occa-

sional taste only = his famous letter from the carp to

the pie: "hich enjoyed so much reputation: is a too

etended pleasantry: and in passages ehibiting

very little nature0 Is it not a miture of reKnement

and coarseness: of the true and the false! as it

right to say to the great #onde: "ho "as called .the

pie. by a party among the courtiers: that at his

name the "hales of the 6orth perspired profusely:

3ol0 DH H

%E (hilosophical

and that the subjects of the emperor had epected

to fry and to eat him "ith a grain of salt ! as it

proper to "rite so many letters: only to sho" a lit-

tle of the "it "hich consists in puns and conceits!

4re "e not disgusted "hen 3oiture says to the

great #onde: on the taing of 5unir = .I epect

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you to sei@e the moon "ith your teeth0. 3oiture ap-

parently acuired this false taste from ?arini: "ho

came into rance "ith ?ary of ?edici0 3oiture

and #ostar freuently cite him as a model in their

letters0 +hey admire his description of the rose:

daughter of 4pril: virgin and ueen: seated on a

thorny throne: etending majestically a o"ery

sceptre: having for courtiers and ministers the amor-

ous family of the @ephyrs: and "earing a crov"i of

gold and a robe of scarlet =

8ella Kglia c+4prile:

3ergtnella e reina0

2ic to spinoso trono

5el verde cesfo asstsa:

5e; Kor; lo scettro in maesta sostune J

corteggiata intorno

5a lascvvia famiglia

5i BeKri ministri:

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(orta c+or; la corona et tfostro il man to0

3oiture: in his thirty-Kfth letter to #ostar: com-

pliments the musical atom of ?arini: the feathered

voice: the living breath clothed in plumage: the

"inged song: the small spirit of harmony: hidden

amidst diminutive lungsJ all of "hich terms are

employed to convey the "ord nightingale=

5ictionary0 %D

Una voce pennuta: un suon; volatile:

vestito di penne: un vivoKato:

Una piuma canora: un canto alato:

Un spiritef che Qfarmonia compos to

3ive in auguste viscere nascosto0

 +he bad taste of 8al@ac "as of a diNerent de-

scription J he composed familiar letters in a fustian

style0 9e "rote to the #ardinal de la 3alette: that

neither in the deserts of Libya: nor in the abyss of

the sea: there "as so furious a monster as the sciat-

ica J and that if tyrants: "hose memory is odious

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to us: had instruments of cruelty in their possession

eual to the sciatica: the martyrs "ould have en-

dured them for their religion0

 +hese emphatic eaggerations these long and

stately periods: so opposed to the epistolary style

these fastidious declamations: garnished "ith 7ree

and Latin: concerning t"o middling sonnets: the

merits of "hich divided the court and the to"n: and

upon the miserable tragedy of .9erod the Infanti-

cide:. all indicate a time and a taste "hich "ere

yet to be formed and corrected0 ven .#inna:. and

the .(rovincial Letters:. "hich astonished the na-

tions: had not yet cleared a"ay the rust0

4s an artist forms his taste by degrees: so does

a nation0 It stagnates for a long time in barbarism J

then it elevates itself feebly: until at length a noon

appears: after "hich "e "itness nothing but a long

and melancholy t"ilight0 It has long been agreed:

that in spite of the solicitude of rancis I0: to pro-

duce a taste in rance for the Kne arts: this taste

%' (hilosophical

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"as not formed until to"ards the age of Louis

CI30: and "e already begin to complain of its de-

generacy0 +he 7rees of the lo"er empire confess:

that the taste "hich reigned in the days of (ericles

"as lost among them: and the modern 7rees admit

the same thing0 Auintilian allo"s that the taste of

the )omans began to decline in his days0

Lope de 3ega made great complaints of the bad

taste of the 2paniards0 +he Italians perceived:

among the Krst: that everything had declined among

them since their immortal siteenth century: and

that they have "itnessed the decline of the arts:

"hich they caused to spring up0

4ddison often attacs the bad taste of the ng-

lish in more than one department as "ell "hen he

ridicules the carved "ig of 2ir #loudesley 2hovel:

as "hen he testiKes his contempt for a serious em-

ployment of conceit and pun: or the introduction of

mountebans in tragedy0

If: therefore: the most gifted minds allo" that

taste has been "anting at certain periods in their

country: their neighbors may certainly feel it: as

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looers-on J and as it is evident among ourselves

that one man has a good and another a bad taste:

it is eually evident that of t"o contemporary na-

tions: the one may be rude and gross: and the other

reKned and natural0

 +he misfortune is: that "hen "e spea this truth:

"e disgust the "hole nation to "hich "e allude: as

"e provoe an individual of bad taste "hen "e

5ictionary0 %S

see to improve him0 It is better to "ait until time

and eample instruct a nation "hich sins against

taste0 It is in this "ay that the 2paniards are be-

ginning to reform their drama: and the 7ermans to

create one0

Of 6ational +aste0

 +here is beauty of all times and of all places: and

there is lie"ise local beauty0 louence ought to

be every"here persuasive: grief aNecting: anger im-

petuous: "isdom tranuil J but the details "hich

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may gratify a citi@en of London: "ould have little

eNect on an inhabitant of (aris0 +he nglish dre"

some of their most happy metaphors and compari-

sons from the marine: "hile (arisians seldom see

anything of ships0 4ll "hich aNects an nglishman

in relation to liberty: his rights and his privileges:

"ould mae little impression on a renchman0

 +he state of the climate "ill introduce into a cold

and humid country a taste for architecture: furni-

ture: and clothing: "hich may be very good: but

not admissible at )ome or in 2icily0 +heocritus and

3irgil: in their eclogues: boast of the shades and of

the cooling freshness of the fountains0 +homson:

in his .2easons:. d"ells upon contrary attractions0

4n enlightened nation "ith little sociability "ill

not have the same points of ridicule as a nation

eually intellectual: "hich gives in to the spirit of

society even to indiscretion J and: in conseuence:

these t"o nations "ill diNer materially in their com-

edy0 (oetry "ill be very diNerent in a country

%H (hilosophical

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"here "omen are secluded: and in another in "hich

they enjoy liberty "ithout bounds0

8ut it "ill al"ays be true that the pastoral paint-

ing of 3irgil eceeds that of +homson: and that

there has been more taste on the bans of the +iber

than on those of the +hamesJ that the natural

scenes of the (astor ido are incomparably superior

to the shepherdi@ing of )acan J and that )acine and

?oliere are inspired persons in comparison "ith the

dramatists of other theatres0

On the +aste of #onnoisseurs0

In general: a reKned and certain taste consists

in a uic feeling of beauty amidst defects: and de-

fects amidst beauties0 +he epicure is he "ho can

discern the adulteration of "ines: and feel the pre-

dominating avor in his viands: of "hich his asso-

ciates entertain only a confused and general per-

ception0

4re not those deceived "ho say: that it is a mis-

fortune to possess too reKned a taste: and to be too

much of a connoisseur J that in conseuence "e be-

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come too much occupied by defects: and insensible

to beauties: "hich are lost by this fastidiousness!

Is it not: on the contrary: certain that men of taste

alone enjoy true pleasure: "ho see: hear: and feel:

that "hich escapes persons less sensitively organ-

i@ed: and less mentally disciplined !

 +he connoisseur in music: in painting: in archi-

tecture: in poetry: in medals: etc0: eperiences sen-

5ictionary0 %%

sations of "hich the vulgar have no comprehension J

the discovery even of a fault pleases him: and maes

him feel the beauties "ith more animation0 It is the

advantage of a good sight over a bad one0 +he man

of taste has other eyes: other ears: and another tact

from the uncultivated man J he is displeased "ith

the poor draperies of )aphael: but he admires the

noble purity of his conception0 9e taes a pleas-

ure in discovering that the children of Laocoon

bear no proportion to the height of their father: but

the "hole group maes him tremble: "hile other

spectators are unmoved0

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 +he celebrated sculptor: man of letters and of

genius: "ho placed the colossal statue of (eter the

7reat at 2t0 (etersburg: criticises "ith reason the

attitude of the ?oses of ?ichelangelo: and his

small: tight vest: "hich is not even an Oriental cos-

tumeJ but: at the same time: he contemplates the

air and epression of the head "ith ecstasy0

)arity of ?en of +aste0

It is aicting to reect on the prodigious number

of men above all: in cold and damp climates "ho

possess not the least spar of taste: "ho care not for

the Kne arts: "ho never read: and of "hom a large

portion read only a journal once a month: in or-

der to be put in possession of current matter: and

to furnish themselves "ith the ability of saying

things at random: on subjects in regard to "hich

they have only confused ideas0

%F (hilosophical

nter into a small provincial to"n= ho" rarely

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"ill you Knd more than one or t"o good libraries:

and those private0 ven in the capital of the prov-

inces "hich possess academies: taste is very rare0

It is necessary to select the capital of a great

ingdom to form the abode of taste: and yet even

there it is very partially divided among a small num-

ber: the populace being "holly ecluded0 It is un-

no"n to the families of traders: and those "ho are

occupied in maing fortunes: "ho are either en-

grossed "ith domestic details: or divided bet"een

unintellectual idleness and a game at cards0 very

place "hich contains the courts of la": the oMces

of revenue: government: and commerce: is closed

against the Kne arts0 It is the reproach of the hu-

man mind that a taste for the common and ordinary

introduces only opulent idleness0 I ne" a com-

missioner in one of the oMces at 3ersailles: "ho

eclaimed = .I am very unhappy J I have not time

to acuire a taste0.

In a to"n lie (aris: peopled "ith more than si

hundred thousand persons: I do not thin there are

three thousand "ho cultivate a taste for the Kne arts0

hen a dramatic masterpiece is represented: a cir-

cumstance so very rare: people eclaim = .4ll (aris

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is enchanted:. but only three thousand copies: more

or less: are printed0

 +aste: then: lie philosophy: belongs only to a

small number of privileged souls0 It "as: there-

5ictionary0 %&

fore: great happiness for rance to possess: in Louis

CI30: a ing born "ith taste0

(auci: uos auus amavit

 >upiter: aut ardens: eveit ad athera virtus

5is geniti: potuere0

/6I5: bV vi: v0 D'$ and s0

 +o fe" great >upiter imparts his grace:

4nd those of shining "orth and heavenly race0

5)3560

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Ovid has said in vain: that 7od has created us

to loo up to heaven= .rectos ad sidera tollere

vultus. ?en are al"ays crouching on the ground0

hy has a misshapen statue: or a bad picture: "here

the Kgures are disproportionate: never passed for a

masterpiece ! hy has an ill-built house never been

regarded as a Kne monument of architecture ! hy

in music "ill not sharp and discordant sounds please

the ears of any one! 4nd yet: very bad and bar-

barous tragedies: "ritten in a style perfectly 4llo-

brogian: have succeeded: even after the sublime

scenes of #orneille: the aNecting ones of )acine:

and the Kne pieces "ritten since the latter poet0 It is

only at the theatre that "e sometimes see detestable

compositions succeed both in tragedy and comedy0

hat is the reason of it ! It is: that r0 species of

delusion prevails at the theatre J it is: that the suc-

cess depends upon t"o or three actors: and some-

times even upon a single oneJ and: above all: that

a cabal is formed in favor of such pieces: "hilst men

of taste never form any0 +his cabal often lasts for

an entire generation: and it is so much the more act-

ive: as its object is less to elevate the bad author than

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%G (hilosophical

to depress the good one0 4 century possibly is

necessary to adjust the real value of things in the

drama0

 +here are three inds of taste: "hich in the long

run prevail in the empire of the arts0 (oussin "as

obliged to uit rance and leave the Keld to an in-

ferior painter J Le ?oine illed himself in despair J

and 3anloo "as near uitting the ingdom: to eer-

cise his talents else"here0 #onnoisseurs alone have

put all of them in possession of the ran belonging

to them0 e often "itness all inds of bad "ors

meet "ith prodigious success0 +he solecisms: bar-

barisms: false statement: and etravagant bombast:

are not felt for a"hile: because the cabal and the

senseless enthusiasm of the vulgar produce an into-

ication "hich discriminates in nothing0 +he con-

noisseurs alone bring bac the public in due time J

and it is the only diNerence "hich eists bet"een

the most enlightened and the most cultivated of na-

tions J for the vulgar of (aris are in no respect be-

yond the vulgar of other countriesJ but in (aris

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there is a suMcient number of correct opinions to

lead the cro"d0 +his cro"d is rapidly ecited in

popular movements: but many years are necessary

to establish in it a general good taste in the arts0

 +4U)O8OLIU?0

 +4U)O8OLIU?: a sacriKce of epiation: very com-

mon in the third and fourth centuries0 +he throat

of a bull "as cut on a great stone slightly hoi-

5ictionary0 %$

lo"ed and perforated in various places0 Under-

neath this stone "as a trench: in "hich the person

"hose oNence called for epiation received upon

his body and his face the blood of the immolated

animal0 >ulian the (hilosopher condescended to

submit to this epiation: to reconcile himself to the

priests of the 7entiles0

 +4C 0

(O( (ius II0: in an epistle to >ohn (eregal: ac-

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no"ledges that the )oman court gives nothing

"ithout money J it sells even the imposition of hands

and the gifts of the 9oly 7host J nor does it grant

the remission of sins to any but the rich0

8efore him: 2t0 4ntonine: archbishop of lor-

ence: had observed that in the time of 8oniface IC0:

"ho died in DHEH: the )oman court "as so infa-

mously stained "ith simony: that beneKces "ere con-

ferred: not so much on merit: as on those "ho

brought a deal of money0 9e adds: that this pope

Klled the "orld "ith plenary indulgences J so that

the small churches: on their festival days: obtained

them at a lo" price0

 +hat pontiN;s secretary: +heodoric de 6ieur:

does indeed inform us: that 8oniface sent uestors

into diNerent ingdoms: to sell indulgences to such

as should oNer them as much money as it "ould

have cost them to mae a journey to )ome to fetch

them J so that they remitted all sins: even "ithout

FE (hilosophical

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penance: to such as confessed: and granted them:

for money: dispensations for irregularities of every

sortJ saying: that they had in that respect all the

po"er "hich #hrist had granted to (eter: of binding

and unbinding on earth0

4nd: "hat is still more singular: the price of

every crime is Ked in a Latin "or: printed at

)ome by order of Leo C0: and published on 6o-

vember DG: D%DH: under the title of ;+aes of the

9oly and 4postolic #hancery and (enitentiary0.

4mong many other editions of this boo: pub-

lished in diNerent countries: the (aris edition

uarto D%'E: +oussaint 5enis: )ue 2t0 >acues: at

the "ooden cross: near 2t0 ,ves: "ith the ing;s

privilege: for three years bears in the frontispiece

the arms of rance: and those of the house of ?ed-

ici: to "hich Leo C0 belonged0 +his must have de-

ceived the author of the .(icture of the (opes.

Q+ableau de (apesR: "ho attributes the establish-

ment of these taes to Leo C0: although (olydore

3irgil: and #ardinal d;Ossat agree in King the

period of the invention of the chancery ta about

the year DS'E: and the commencement of the peni-

tentiary ta about siteen years later: in the time

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of 8enedict CII0

 +o give some idea of these taes: "e "ill here

copy a fe" articles from the chapter of absolutions =

4bsolution for one "ho has carnally no"n his

mother: his sister: etc0: costs Kve drachmas0 4bso-

lution for one "ho has deo"ered a virgin: si

5ictionary0 FD

drachmas0 4bsolution for one "ho has revealed

another;s confession: seven drachmas0 4bsolution

for one "ho has illed his father: his mother: etc0:

Kve drachmas0 4nd so of other sins: as "e shall

shortly see J but: at the end of the boo: the prices

are estimated in ducats0

4 sort of letters too are here spoen of: called

confessional: by "hich: at the approach of death: the

pope permits a confessor to be chosen: "ho gives

full pardon for every sin J these letters are granted

only to princes: and not to them "ithout great dif-

Kculty0 +hese particulars "ill be found in page S'

of the (aris edition0

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 +he court of )ome "as at length ashamed of this

boo: and suppressed it as far as it "as able0 It

"as even inserted in the epurgatory inde of the

#ouncil of +rent: on the false supposition that here-

tics had corrupted it0

It is true that 4ntoine 5u (inet: a rench gen-

tleman of ranche-#omte: had an abstract of it

printed at Lyons in D%FH: under this title= .#asual

(eruisites of the (ope;s 2hop. Q+aes des (arties

#asuclles de la 8outiue du (apcR: .taen from the

5ecrees: #ouncils: and #anons: ancient and modern:

in order to verify the discipline formerly observed

in the #hurchJ by 40 50 (0. 8ut: although he

does not inform us that his "or is but an abridg-

ment of the other: yet: far from corrupting his orig-

inal: he on the contrary stries out of it some odious

passages: such as the follo"ing: beginning page 'S:

F' (hilosophical

line $ from the bottom: in the (aris edition = .4nd

carefully observe: that these inds of graces and dis-

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pensations are not granted to the poor: because: not

having "here"ith: they cannot be consoled0.

It is also true: that 5u (inet estimates these taes

in tournois: ducats: and carlins J but: as he observes

Qpage H'R that the carlins and the drachmas are of

the same value: the substituting for the ta of Kve:

si: or seven drachmas in the original: the lie num-

ber of carlins: is not falsifying it0 e have a proof

of this in the four articles already uoted from the

original0

4bsolution says 5u (inet for one "ho has a

carnal no"ledge of his mother: his sister: or any

of his indred by birth or aMnity: or his godmother:

is taed at Kve carlins0 4bsolution for one "ho

deo"ers a young "oman: is taed at si carlins0

4bsolution for one "ho reveals the confession of

a penitent: is taed at seven carlins0 4bsolution for

one "ho has illed his father: his mother: his

brother: his sister: his "ife: or any of his indred

they being of the laity is taed at Kve carlins J for

if the deceased "as an ecclesiastic: the homicide

"ould be obliged to visit the sanctuary0 e "ill

here repeat a fe" others0

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4bsolution continues 5u (inet for any act of

fornication "hatsoever: committed by a cler:

"hether "ith a nun in the cloister or out of the

cloister: or "ith any of his ins"omen: or "ith his

spiritual daughter: or "ith any other "oman "hat-

5ictionary0 FS

soever: costs thirty-si tournois: three ducats0 4b-

solution for a priest "ho eeps a concubine: t"enty-

one tournois: Kve ducats: si carlins0 +he absolu-

tion of a layman for all sorts of sins of the esh:

is given at the tribunal of conscience for si tour-

nois: t"o ducats0

 +he absolution of a layman for the crime of adul-

tery: given at the v tribunal of conscience: costs four

tournoisJ and if the adultery is accompanied by

incest: si tournois must be paid per head0 If: be-

sides these crimes: is reuired the absolution of the

sin against nature: or of bestiality: there must be

paid ninety tournois: t"elve ducats: si carlins J but

if only the absolution of the crime against nature:

or of bestiality: is reuired: it "ill cost only thirty-

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si tournois: nine ducats0

4 "oman "ho has taen a beverage to procure

an abortion: or the father "ho has caused her to

tae it: shall pay four tournois: one ducat: eight car-

lins J and if a stranger has given her the said bev-

erage: he shall pay four tournois: one ducat: Kve

carlins0

4 father: a mother: or any other relative: "ho

has smothered a child: shall pay four tournois: one

ducat: eight carlins J and if it has been illed by the

husband and "ife together: they shall pay si tour-

nois: t"o ducats0

 +he ta granted by the datary for the contract-

ing of marriage out of the permitted seasons: is

t"enty carlins J and in the permitted periods: if the

FH (hilosophical

contracting parties are the second or third degree

of indred: it is commonly t"enty-Kve ducats: and

four for epediting the bulls J and in the fourth de-

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gree: seven tournois: one ducat: si carlins0

 +he dispensation of a layman from fasting on

the days appointed by the #hurch: and the permis-

sion to eat cheese: are taed at t"enty carlins0 +he

permission to eat meat and eggs on forbidden days

is taed at t"elve carlins J and that to eat butter:

cheese: etc0: at si tournois for one person only J

and at t"elve tournois: three ducats: si carlins for

a "hole family: or for several relatives0

 +he absolution of an apostate and a vagabond:

"ho "ishes to return into the pale of the #hurch:

costs t"elve tournois: three ducats: si carlins0 +he

absolution and reinstatement of one "ho is guilty

of sacrilege: robbery: burning: rapine: perjury: and

the lie: is taed at thirty-si tournois: nine ducats0

4bsolution for a servant "ho detains his de-

ceased master;s property: for the payment of his

"ages: and after receiving notice does not restore

it: provided the property so detained does not e-

ceed the amount of his "ages: is taed in the tribu-

nal of conscience at only si tournois: t"o ducats0

or changing the clauses of a "ill: the ordinary ta

is t"elve tournois: three ducats: si carlins0 +he

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permission to change one;s proper name costs nine

tournois: t"o ducats: nine carlinsJ and to change

the surname and mode of signing: si tournois: t"o

ducats0 +he permission to have a portable altar for

5ictionary0 F%

one person only: is taed at ten carlins = and to have

a domestic chapel on account of the distance of the

parish church: and furnish it "ith baptismal fonts

and chaplains: thirty carlins0

Lastly: the permission to convey merchandise:

one or more times: to the countries of the inKdels:

and in general to traMc and sell merchandise "ith-

out being obliged to obtain permission from the

temporal lords of the respected places: even though

they be ings or emperors: "ith all the very ample

derogatory clauses: is taed at only t"enty-four

tournois: si ducats0

 +his permission: "hich supersedes that of the

temporal lords: is a fresh evidence of the papal pre-

tensions: "hich "e have already spoen of in the

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article on .8ull0. 8esides: it is no"n that all re-

scripts: or epeditions for beneKces: are still paid

for at )ome according to the ta J and this charge

al"ays falls at last on the laity: by the impositions

"hich the subordinate clergy eact from them0 e

shall here notice only the fees for marriages and

burials0

4 decree of the (arliament of (aris: of ?ay D$:

DHE$: provides that every one shall be at liberty to

sleep "ith his "ife as soon as he pleases after the

celebration of the marriage: "ithout "aiting for

leave from the bishop of 4miens: and "ithout pay-

ing the fee reuired by that prelate for taing oN

his prohibitions to consummate the marriage dur-

ing the Krst three nights of the nuptials0 +he mons

3ol0 DH-%

FF (hilosophical

of 2t0 2tephen of 6evers "ere deprived of the same

fee by another decree of 2eptember '&: D%$D0 2ome

theologians have asserted: that it too its origin

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from the fourth #ouncil of #arthage: "hich had or-

dained it for the reverence of the matrimonial ben-

ediction0 8ut as that council did not order its pro-

hibition to be evaded by paying: it is more liely that

this ta "as a conseuence of the infamous custom

"hich gave to certain lords the Krst nuptial night

of the brides of their vassals0 8uchanan thins that

this usage began in 2cotland under 1ing van0

8e this as it may: the lords of (rellay and (er-

sanny: in (iedmont: called this privilege .carrajio. J

but having refused to commute it for a reasonable

payment: the vassals revolted: and put themselves

under 4madeus 3I0: fourteenth count of 2avoy0

 +here is still preserved a prods-verbal: dra"n

up by ?0 >ean raguier: auditor in the #hambre

des #omptes: at (aris: by virtue of a decree of the

said chamber of 4pril &: D%E&: for valuing the

county of u: fallen into the ing;s eeping by the

minority of the children of the count of 6evers: and

his "ife #harlotte de 8ourbon0 In the chapter of

the revenue of the barony of 2t0 ?artin-le-7aillard:

dependent on the county of u: it is said = .Item:

the said lord: at the said place of 2t0 ?artin: has

the right of ;cuissage; in case of marriage0.

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 +he lords of 2ouloire had the lie privilege: and

having omitted it in the acno"ledgment made by

them to their sovereign: the lord of ?ontlevrier: the

5ictionary0 F&

acno"ledgment "as disapprovedJ but by deed of

5ec0 D%: DFE&: the sieur de ?ontlevrier formally

renounced itJ and these shameful privileges have

every"here been converted into small payments:

called .marchetta0.

6o": "hen our prelates had Kefs: they thought

as the judicious leury remars that they had as

bishops "hat they possessed only as lords J and the

curates: as their under-vassals: bethought them-

selves of blessing their nuptial bed: "hich brought

them a small fee under the name of "edding-dishes

i0 e0: their dinner: in money or in ind0 On one

of these occasions the follo"ing uatrain "as put

by a country curate under the pillo" of a very aged

president: "ho married a young "oman named La

?ontague0 9e alludes to ?oses; horns: "hich are

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spoen of in odus0

Le (resident a barbe grise

2ur La ?ontagne va monter J

?ais certes il peut bien compter

9en descendre comme ?oise0

4 "ord or t"o on the fees eacted by the clergy

for the burial of the laity0 ormerly: at the de-

cease of each individual: the bishops had the con-

tents of his "ill made no"n to them J and forbade

those to receive the rights of sepulchre "ho had

died .unconfessed:. i0 e0: left no legacy to the

#hurch: unless the relatives "ent to the oMcial: "ho

commissioned a priest: or some other ecclesiastic:

to repair the fault of the deceased: and mae a leg-

acy in his name0 +he curates also opposed the pro-

FG (hilosophical

fession of such as "ished to turn mons: until they

had paid their burial-fees J saying that since they

died to the "orld: it "as but right that they should

discharge "hat "ould have been due from them

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had they been interred0

8ut the freuent disputes occasioned by these

veations obliged the magistrates to K the rate of

these singular fees0 +he follo"ing is etracted from

a regulation on this subject: brought in by rancis

de 9arlai de #hamvallon: archbishop of (aris: on

?ay SE: DF$S: and passed in the court of parliament

on the tenth of >une follo"ing =

?arriages0

Liv0 2ous0

or the publication of the bans i DE

or the betrothing ' o

or celebrating the marriage F o

or the certiKcate of the publication of the bans:

and the permission given to the future husband

to go and be marriea in the parish of his future

"ife % o

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or the "edding mass i DE

or the vicar000 W - i DE

or the cler of the sacraments I o

or blessing the bed I DE

uneral (rocessions0

Of children under seven years old: "hen the clergy

do not go in a body=

or the curate I DE

or each priest I DE

hen the clergy go in a body=

or the curial fee H o

or the presence of the curate ' o

or each priest 0- o DE

or the vicar I o

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for drin: etc S o

4nd in the day: each ' o

or the celebration of the mass I o

or the service etraordinaryJ called the complete

serviceJ vi@0: the vigils and the t"o masses of

the 9oly 7host and the 9oly 3irgin H DE

or each of the priests that carry the body I o

or carrying the great cross o DE

or the holy "ater-pot carrier o %

or carrying the little cross o %

or the cler of the processions o i

or conveying bodies from one church to another

there shall be paid: for each of the above fees:

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one-half more0

or the reception of bodies thus conveyed=

 +o the curate F jo

 +o the vicar I DE

 +o each priest o D%

 +4)20

 +4)2 are the silent language of grief0 8ut

"hy! hat relation is there bet"een a melancholy

idea and this limpid and briny liuid Kltered through

a little gland into the eternal corner of the eye

"hich moistens the conjunctiva and little lachrymal

points: "hence it descends into the nose and mouth

by the reservoir called the lachrymal duct: and by

its conduits! hy in "omen and children: "hose

organs are of a delicate teture: are tears more

easily ecited by grief than in men: "hose formation

is Krmer!

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 jo (hilosophical

9as nature intended to ecite compassion in us

at the sight of these tears: "hich soften us and lead

us to help those "ho shed them ! +he female sav-

age is as strongly determined to assist her child "ho

cries: as a lady of the court "ould be: and perhaps

more so: because she has fe"er distractions and pas-

sions0

verything in the animal body has: no doubt: its

object0 +he eyes: particularly: have mathematical re-

lations so evident: so demonstrable: so admirable

"ith the rays of light J this mechanism is so divine:

that I should be tempted to tae for the delirium of

a high fever: the audacity of denying the Knal causes

of the structure of our eyes0 +he use of tears

appears not to have so determined and striing

an objectJ but it is probable that nature caused

them to o" in order to ecite us to pity0

 +here are "omen "ho are accused of "eeping

"hen they choose0 I am not at all surprised at their

talent0 4 lively: sensible: and tender imagination

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can K upon some object: on some melancholy recol-

lection: and represent it in such lively colors as to

dra" tearsJ "hich happens to several performers:

and particularly to actresses on the stage0

omen "ho imitate them in the interior of their

houses: join to this talent the little fraud of appear-

ing to "eep for their husbands: "hile they really

"eep for their lovers0 +heir tears are true: but the

object of them is false0

It is impossible to aNect tears "ithout a subject:

5ictionary0 &D

in the same manner as "e can aNect to laugh0 e

must be sensibly touched to force the lachrymal

gland to compress itself: and to spread its liuor on

the orbit of the eye J but the "ill alone is reuired

to laugh0

e demand "hy the same man: "ho has seen

"ith a dry eye the most atrocious events: and even

committed crimes "ith sang-froid: "ill "eep at the

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theatre at the representation of similar events and

crimes ! It is: that he sees them not "ith the same

eyes J he sees them "ith those of the author and the

actor0 9e is no longer the same man J he "as bar-

barous: he "as agitated "ith furious passions: "hen

he sa" an innocent "oman illed: "hen he stained

himself "ith the blood of his friend J he became a

man again at the representation of it0 9is soul "as

Klled "ith a stormy tumult J it is no" tranuil and

void: and nature re-entering it: he sheds virtuous

tears0 2uch is the true merit: the great good of

theatrical representation: "hich can never be ef-

fected by the cold declamation of an orator paid to

tire an audience for an hour0

 +he capitoul 5avid: "ho: "ithout emotion: sa"

and caused the innocent #alas to die on the "heel:

"ould have shed tears at seeing his o"n crime in

a "ell-"ritten and "ell-acted tragedy0 (ope has

elegantly said this in the prologue to 4ddison;s

#ato=

 +yrants no more their savage nature ept:

4nd foes to virtue "ondered ho" they "ept0

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&' (hilosophical

 +)L420

 +)L42: (terelas: or (terlaus: just "hich you

please: "as the son of +aphus: or +aphius0 hich

signiKes "hat you say! 7ently: I "ill tell you0

 +his +erelas had a golden loc: to "hich "as at-

tached the destiny of the to"n of +aphia: and "hat

is more: this loc rendered +erelas immortal: as he

"ould not die "hile this loc remained upon his

headJ for this reason he never combed it: lest he

should comb it oN0 4n immortality: ho"ever: "hich

depends upon a loc of hair: is not the most certain

of all things0

4mphitryon: general of the republic of +hebes:

besieged +aphia: and the daughter of 1ing +erelas

became desperately in love "ith him on seeing him

pass the ramparts0 +hus ecited: she stole to her

father in the dead of night: cut oN his golden loc:

and sent it to the general: in conseuence of "hich

the to"n "as taen: and +erelas illed0 2ome

learned men assure us: that it "as the "ife of +er-

elas "ho played him this ill turnJ and as they

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ground their opinions upon great authorities: it

might be rendered: the subject of a useful disserta-

tion0 I confess that I am some"hat inclined to be

of the opinion of those learned persons: as it appears

to me that a "ife is usually less timorous than a

daughter0

 +he same thing happened to 6isus: ing of ?e-

gara: "hich to"n "as besieged by ?inos0 2cylla:

5ictionary0 &S

the daughter of 6isus: became madly in love "ith

him J and although in point of fact: her father did

not possess a loc of gold: he had one of purple: and

it is no"n that on this loc depended eually his

Tife and the fate of the ?egarian mpire0 +o oblige

?inos: the dutiful 2cylla cut it oN: and presented

it to her lover0

.4ll the history of ?inos is true:. "rites the

profound 8annierJ .and this is attested by all an-

tiuity0. I believe it precisely as I do that of +er-

elas: but I am embarrassed bet"een the profound

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#almet and the profound 9uet0 #almet is of opin-

ion: that the adventure of the loc of 6isus pre-

sented to ?inos: and that of +erelas given to 4m-

phitryon: are obviously taen from the genuine his-

tory of 2amson0 9uet the demonstrator: on the

contrary sho"s: that ?inos is evidently ?oses: as

cutting out the letters n and e: one of these names

is the anagram of the other0

8ut: not"ithstanding the demonstration of 9uet:

I am entirely on the side of the reKned 5om #al-

met: and for those "ho are of the opinion that all

"hich relates to the locs of +erelas and of 6isus

is connected "ith the hair of 2amson0 +he most

convincing of my triumphant reasons is: that "ith-

out reference to the family of +erelas: "ith the met-

amorphoses of "hich I am unacuainted: it is cer-

tain that 2cylla "as changed into a lar: and her

father 6isus into a sparro"-ha"0 6o": 8ochart

being of opinion that a sparro"-ha" is called

&H (hilosophical

.neis. in 9ebre": I thence conclude: that the his-

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tory of +erelas: 4mphitryon: 6isus: and ?inos is

copied from the history of 2amson0

I am a"are that a dreadful sect has arisen in

our days: eually detested by 7od and man: "ho

pretend that the 7ree fables are more ancient than

the >e"ish history J that the 7rees never heard a

"ord of 2amson any more than of 4dam: ve: #ain:

4bel: etc0: "hich names are not cited by any 7ree

author0 +hey assert: as "e have modestly intimated

in the articles on .8acchus. and .> e" . tnat the

7rees could not possibly tae anything from the

 >e"s: but that the >e"s might derive something

from the 7rees0

I ans"er "ith the doctor 9ayet: the doctor 7au-

chat: the e->esuit (atouillet: and the e->esuit

(aulian: that this is the most damnable heresy

"hich ever issued from hellJ that it "as formerly

anathemati@ed in full parliament: on petition: and

condemned in the report of the 2ieur (0 J and

Knally: that if indulgence be etended to those "ho

support such frightful systems: there "ill be no more

certainty in the "orldJ but that 4ntichrist "ill

uicly arrive: if he has not come already0

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 +2+20

2#+IO6 I0

 +9I2 "ord is scientiKc: and a little obscure: sig-

nifying small "itnesses0 2itus 30: a #ordelier be-

come pope: declared: by his letter of the '%th of

5ictionary0 &%

 >une: D%G&: to his nuncio in 2pain: that he must

unmarry all those "ho "ere not possessed of tes-

ticles0 It seems by this order: "hich "as eecuted

by (hilip II0: that there "ere many husbands in

2pain deprived of these t"o organs0 8ut ho" could

a man: "ho had been a #ordelier: be ignorant that the

testicles of men are often hidden in the abdomen:

and that they are eually if not more eNective in

that situation! e have beheld in rance three

brothers of the highest ran: one of "hom pos-

sessed three: the other only one: "hile the third pos-

sessed no appearance of any: and yet "as the most

vigorous of the three0

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 +he angelic doctor: "ho "as simply a >acobin:

decides that t"o testicles are .de essentia matri-

monii. Qof the essence of marriageR J in "hich opin-

ion he is follo"ed by )icardus: 2cotus: 5urandus:

and 2ylvius0 If you are not able to obtain a sight

of the pleadings of the advocate 2ebastian )ouil-

lard: in DFEE: in favor of the testicles of his client:

concealed in his abdomen: at least consult the dic-

tionary of 8ayle: at the article .Auellenec0. ,ou

"ill there discover: that the "iced "ife of the client

of 2ebastian )ouillard "ished to render her mar-

riage void: on the plea that her husband could not

ehibit testicles0 +he defendant replied: that he had

perfectly fulKlled his matrimonial duties: and of-

fered the usual proof of a re-performance of them

in full assembly0 +he jilt replied: that this trial "as

too oNensive to her modesty: and "as: moreover: su-

 jF (hilosophical

peruous: since the defendant "as visibly deprived

of testicles: and that messieurs of the assembly "ere

fully a"are that testicles are necessary to perfect

consummation0

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I am unacuainted "ith the result of this process:

but I suspect that her husband lost his cause0 hat

induces me to thin so is: that the same (arliament

of (aris: on the Gth of >anuary: DFF%: issued a de-

cree: asserting the necessity of t"o visible testicles:

"ithout "hich marriage "as not to be contracted0

9ad there been any member in the assembly in the

situation described: and reduced to the necessity of

being a "itness: he might have convinced the as-

sembly that it decided "ithout a due no"ledge of

circumstances0 (ontas may be proKtably consulted

on testicles: as "ell as upon any other subject0 9e

"as a sub-penitentiary: "ho decided every sort of

case: and "ho sometimes comes near to 2anche@0

2#+IO6 II0

4 "ord or t"o on hermaphrodites0 4 prejudice

has for a long time crept into the )ussian #hurch:

that it is not la"ful to say mass "ithout testiclesJ

or: at least: they must be hid in the oMciator;s

pocet0 +his ancient idea "as founded in the #oun-

cil of 6ice: "ho forbade the admission into orders

of those "ho mutilated themselves0 +he eample of

Origen: and of certain enthusiasts: "as the cause of

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this order: "hich "as conKrmed a second time in the

#ouncil of 4ries0

5ictionary0 &&

 +he 7ree #hurch did not eclude from the altar

those "ho had endured the operation of Origen

against their o"n consent0 +he patriarchs of #on-

stantinople: 6icetas: Ignatius: (hotius: and ?etho-

dius: "ere eunuchs0 4t present this point of dis-

cipline seems undecided in the #atholic #hurch0 +he

most general opinion: ho"ever: is: that in order to

be ordained a priest: a eunuch "ill reuire a dis-

pensation0

 +he banishment of eunuchs from the service of

the altar appears contrary to the purity and chastity

"hich the service eacts J and certainly such of the

priests as confess handsome "omen and girls "ould

be eposed to less temptation0 Opposing reasons of

convenience and decorum have determined those

"ho mae these la"s0

In Leviticus: all corporeal defects are ecluded

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from the service of the altar the blind: the crooed:

the maimed: the lame: the one-eyed: the leper: the

scabby: long noses: and short noses0 unuchs are

not spoen of: as there "ere none among the >e"s0

 +hose "ho acted as eunuchs in the service of their

ings: "ere foreigners0

It has been demanded "hether an animal: a man

for eample: can possess at once testicles and ova-

ries: or the glands "hich are taen for ovaries J in a

"ord: the distinctive organs of both sees! #an

nature form veritable hermaphrodites: and can a

hermaphrodite be rendered pregnant! I ans"er:

that I no" nothing about it: nor the ten-thousandth

& G (hilosophical

part of "hat is "ithin the operation of nature0 I

believe: ho"ever: that urope has never "itnessed

a genuine hermaphrodite: nor has it indeed pro-

duced elephants: @ebras: giraNes: ostriches: and

many more of the animals "hich inhabit 4sia:

4frica: and 4merica0 It is ha@ardous to assert: that

because "e never beheld a thing: it does not eist0

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amine .#heselden:. page SH: and you "ill

behold there a very good delineation of an animal

man and "oman a negro and negress of 4ngola:

"hich "as brought to London in its infancy: and

carefully eamined by this celebrated surgeon: as

much distinguished for his probity as his informa-

tion0 +he plate is entitled .?embers of an 9erma-

phrodite 6egro: of the 4ge of +"enty-si ,ears:

of both 2ees0. +hey are not absolutely perfect:

but they ehibit a strange miture of the one and

the other0

#heselden has freuently attested the truth of

this prodigy: "hich: ho"ever: is possibly no such

thing in some of the countries of 4frica0 +he t"o

sees are not perfect in this instance J "ho can as-

sure us: that other negroes: mulatto: or copper-col-

ored individuals: are not absolutely male and fe-

male! It "ould be as reasonable to assert: that a

perfect statue cannot eist: because "e have "it-

nessed none "ithout defects0 +here are insects

"hich possess both seesJ "hy may there not be

human beings similarly endo"ed ! I aMrm nothing J

7od eep me from doing so0 I only doubt0

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5ictionary0 &$

9o" many things belong to the animal man: in

respect to "hich he must doubt: from his pineal

gland to his spleen: the use of "hich is unno"n J

and from the principle of his thoughts and sensa-

tions to his animal spirits: of "hich everybody

speas: and "hich nobody ever sa" or ever "ill see P

 +9I2?0

 +9I2? is a religion diNused through all relig-

ionsJ it is a metal "hich mies itself "ith all the

others: the veins of "hich etend under ground to

the four corners of the "orld0 +his mine is more

openly "ored in #hina J every"here else it is hid-

den: and the secret is only in the hands of the adepts0

 +here is no country "here there are more of

these adepts than in ngland0 In the last century

there "ere many atheists in that country: as "ell

as in rance and Italy0 hat the chancellor 8acon

had said proved true to the letter: that a little philos-

ophy maes a man an atheist: and that much philos-

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ophy leads to the no"ledge of a 7od0 hen it

"as believed "ith picurus: that chance made

everything: or "ith 4ristotle: and even "ith sev-

eral ancient theologians: that nothing "as created

but through corruption: and that by matter and

motion alone the "orld goes on: then it "as im-

possible to believe in a providence0 8ut since

nature has been looed into: "hich the ancients did

not perceive at allJ since it is observed that all is

organi@ed: that everything has its germJ since it

Go (hilosophical

is "ell no"n that a mushroom is the "or of in-

Knite "isdom: as "ell as all the "orlds J then those

"ho thought: adored in the countries "here their

ancestors had blasphemed0 +he physicians are be-

come the heralds of providenceJ a catechist an-

nounces 7od to children: and a 6e"ton demon-

strates 9im to the learned0

?any persons as "hether theism: considered

abstractedly: and "ithout any religious ceremony:

is in fact a religion ! +he ans"er is easy = he "ho

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recogni@es only a creating 7od: he "ho vie"s in

7od only a 8eing inKnitely po"erful: and "ho sees

in 9is creatures only "onderful machines: is not

religious to"ards 9im any more than a uropean:

admiring the ing of #hina: "ould thereby pro-

fess allegiance to that prince0 8ut he "ho thins

that 7od has deigned to place a relation be-

t"een 9imself and manindJ that 9e has made

him free: capable of good and evilJ that 9e has

given all of them that good sense "hich is the in-

stinct of man: and on "hich the la" of nature is

foundedJ such a one undoubtedly has a religion:

and a much better religion than all those sects "ho

are beyond the pale of our #hurchJ for all these

sects are false: and the la" of nature is true0 +hus:

theism is good sense not yet instructed by revela-

tion J and other religions are good sense perverted

by superstition0

4ll sects diNer: because they come from menJ

morality is every"here the same because it comes

5ictionary0 G D

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from 7od0 It is ased "hy: out of Kve or si hun-

dred sects: there have scarcely been any "ho have

not spilled bloodJ and "hy the theists: "ho are

every"here so numerous: have never caused the

least disturbance! It is because they are philoso-

phers0 6o" philosophers may reason badly: but

they never intrigue0 +hose "ho persecute a philoso-

pher: under the pretet that his opinions may be

dangerous to the public: are as absurd as those

"ho are afraid that the study of algebra "ill

raise the price of bread in the maret J one must

pity a thining being "ho errsJ the persecutor is

frantic and horrible0 e are all brethren J if one

of my brothers: full of respect and Klial love: in-

spired by the most fraternal charity: does not salute

our common ather "ith the same ceremonies as

I do: ought I to cut his throat and tear out his

heart !

hat is a true theist ! It is he "ho says to 7od =

.I adore and serve ,ou J. it is he "ho says to

the +ur: to the #hinese: the Indian: and the )us-

sian= .I love you0. 9e doubts: perhaps: that

?ahomet made a journey to the moon and put

half of it in his pocet J he does not "ish that after

his death his "ife should burn herself from devo-

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tion J he is sometimes tempted not to believe the

story of the eleven thousand virgins: and that of

2t0 4mable: "hose hat and gloves "ere carried by

a ray of the sun from 4uvergne as far as )ome0

8ut for all that he is a just man0 6oah "ould have

3ol0 &H F

G' (hilosophical

placed him in his ar: 6uma (ompilius in his

councilsJ he "ould have ascended the car of Bo-

roaster J he "ould have taled philosophy "ith the

(latos: the 4ristippuses: the #iceros: the 4tticuses

but "ould he not have drun hemloc "ith 2oc-

rates!

 +9I2+0

 +9 theist is a man Krmly persuaded of the e-

istence of a 2upreme 8eing eually good and po"er-

ful: "ho has formed all etended: vegetating: sen-

tient: and reecting eistences J "ho perpetuates

their species: "ho punishes crimes "ithout cruelty:

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and re"ards virtuous actions "ith indness0

 +he theist does not no" ho" 7od punishes:

ho" 9e re"ards: ho" 9e pardonsJ for he is not

presumptuous enough to atter himself that he un-

derstands ho" 7od actsJ but he no"s that 7od

does act: and that 9e is just0 +he diMculties op-

posed to a providence do not stagger him in his

faith: because they are only great diMculties: not

proofsJ he submits himself to that providence: al-

though he only perceives some of its eNects and

some appearancesJ and judging of the things he

does not see from those he does see: he thins that

this providence pervades all places and all ages0

United in this principle "ith the rest of the uni-

verse: he does not join any of the sects: "ho all

contradict themselvesJ his religion is the most

ancient and the most etended J for the simple

O#4+? O. EOO)4+1$

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5ictionary0 GS

adoration of a 7od has preceded all the systems

in the "orld0 9e speas a language "hich all

nations understand: "hile they are unable to un-

derstand each other;s0 9e has brethren from (ein

to #ayenne: and he recons all the "ise his brothers0

9e believes that religion consists neither in the

opinions of incomprehensible metaphysics: nor in

vain decorations: but in adoration and justice0 +o

do good that is his "orship J to submit oneself to

7od that is his doctrine0 +he ?ahometan cries

out to him = .+ae care of yourself: if you do not

mae the pilgrimage to ?ecca0. .oe be to thee:.

says a ranciscan: .if thou dost not mae a journey

to our Lady of Loretto0. 9e laughs at Loretto

and ?ecca J but he succors the indigent and defends

the oppressed0

 +9O#)4#,0

7overnment of 7od or 7ods0

I 5#I3 myself every dayJ but I suspect that

all the nations "ho have cultivated the arts have

lived under a theocracy0 I al"ays ecept the

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#hinese: "ho appear learned as soon as they be-

came a nation0 +hey "ere free from superstition

directly #hina "as a ingdom0 It is a great pity:

that having been raised so high at Krst: they should

remain stationary at the degree they have so long

occupied in the sciences0 It "ould seem that they

have received from nature an ample allo"ance of

good sense: and a very small one of industry0 ,et

GH (hilosophical

in other things their industry is displayed more than

ours0

 +he >apanese: their neighbors: of "hose origin I

no" nothing "hatever for "hose origin do "e

no"! "ere incontestably governed by a theoc-

racy0 +he earliest "ell-ascertained sovereigns "ere

the .dairos:. the high priests of their godsJ this

theocracy is "ell established0 +hese priests reigned

despotically about eight hundred years0 In the mid-

dle of our t"elfth century it came to pass that a

captain: an .imperator:. a .seogon:. shared their

authority J and in our siteenth century the captains

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dently theocratical0 hen a man says = .I give you

la"s furnished by the godsJ it is not I: it is a

god "ho speas to you. then it is 7od "ho is

ing: and he "ho tals thus is lieutenant-general0

4mong all the #eltic nations "ho had only elec-

tive chiefs: and not ings: the 5ruids and their

sorceries governed everything0 8ut I cannot ven-

ture to give the name of theocracy to the anarchy of

these savages0

 +he little >e"ish nation does not deserve to be

considered politically: ecept on account of the

prodigious revolution that has occurred in the

"orld: of "hich it "as the very obscure and un-

conscious cause0

5o but consider the history of this strange

people0 +hey have a conductor "ho undertaes to

guide them in the name of his 7od to (hoenicia:

"hich he calls #anaan0 +he "ay "as direct and

plain: from the country of 7oshen as far as +yre:

from south to north J and there "as no danger for

si hundred and thirty thousand Kghting men:

having at their head a general lie ?oses: "ho: ac-

cording to lavius >osephus: had already van-

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uished an army of thiopians: and even an army

of serpents0

Instead of taing this short and easy route: he

conducts them from )ameses to 8aal-2ephon: in

an opposite direction: right into the middle of

gypt: due south0 9e crosses the sea J he marches

GF (hilosophical

for forty years in the most frightful deserts: "here

there is not a single spring of "ater: or a tree: or a

cultivated Keld nothing but sand and dreary rocs0

It is evident that 7od alone could mae the >e"s:

by a miracle: tae this route: and support them there

by a succession of miracles0

 +he >e"ish government therefore "as then a

true theocracy0 ?oses: ho"ever: "as never pontiN:

and 4aron: "ho "as pontiN: "as never chief nor

legislator0 4fter that time "e do not Knd any

pontiN governing0 >oshua: >ephthah: 2amson: and

the other chiefs of the people: ecept lias and

2amuel: "ere not priests0 +he >e"ish republic: re-

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duced to slavery so often: "as anarchical rather than

theocratical0

Under the ings of >udah and Israel: it "as but

a long succession of assassinations and civil "ars0

 +hese horrors "ere interrupted only by the entire

etinction of ten tribes: after"ards by the enslave-

ment of t"o others: and by the destruction of the

city amidst famine and pestilence0 +his "as not

then divine government0

hen the >e"ish slaves returned to >erusalem:

they "ere subdued by the ings of (ersia: by the

conueror 4leandria and his successors0 It ap-

pears that 7od did not then reign immediately over

this nation: since a little before the invasion of

4leander: the pontiN >ohn assassinated the priest

 >esus: his brother: in the temple of >erusalem: as

5ictionary0 G&

2olomon had assassinated his brother 4donijah on

the altar0

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 +he government "as still less theocratical "hen

4ntiochus piphanes: ing of 2yria: employed

many of the >e"s to punish those "hom he re-

garded as rebels0 9e forbade them all: under pain

of death: to circumcise their children J he com-

pelled them to sacriKce s"ine in their temple: to

burn the gates: to destroy the altar J and the "hole

enclosure "as Klled "ith thorns and brambles0

?atthias rose against him at the head of some

citi@ens: but he "as not ing0 9is son: >udas ?ac-

cabaeus: taen for the ?essiah: perished after

glorious struggles0 +o these bloody contests suc-

ceeded civil "ars0 +he men of >erusalem destroyed

2amaria: "hich the )omans subseuently rebuilt

under the name of 2ebasta0

In this chaos of revolutions: 4ristobulus: of the

race of the ?accabees: and son of a high priest:

made himself ing: more than Kve hundred years

after the destruction of >erusalem0 9e signali@ed

his reign lie some +urish sultans: by cutting his

brother;s throat: and causing his mother to be put

to death0 9is successors follo"ed his eample:

until the period "hen the )omans punished all these

barbarians0 6othing in all this is theocratical0

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If anything aNords an idea of theocracy: it must

be granted that it is the papacy of )ome J it never

announces itself but in the name of 7od: and its

GG (hilosophical

subjects live in peace0 or a long time +hibet en-

 joyed the same advantages under the 7rand Lama J

but that is a gross error striving to imitate a sub-

lime truth0

 +he Krst Incas: by calling themselves descend-

ants in a right line from the sun: established a

theocracy J everything "as done in the name of the

sun0 +heocracy ought to be universalJ for every

man: "hether a prince or a boatman: should obey

the natural and eternal la"s "hich 7od has given

him0

 +9O5O2IU20

3), prince "ho puts himself at the head of

a party: and succeeds: is sure of being praised to

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all eternity: if the party lasts that time J and his ad-

versaries may be assured that they "ill be treated by

orators: poets: and preachers: as +itans "ho re-

volted against the gods0 +his is "hat happened to

Octavius 4ugustus: "hen his good fortune made

him defeat 8rutus: #assius: and 4ntony0 It "as

the lot of #onstantine: "hen ?aentius: the legiti-

mate emperor: elected by the )oman senate and

people: fell into the "ater and "as dro"ned0

 +heodosius had the same advantage0 oe to

the vanuishedP blessed be the victoriousP that is

the motto of manind0 +heodosius "as a 2panish

oMcer: the son of a 2panish soldier of fortune0 4s

soon as he "as emperor he persecuted the anti-

consubstantialists0 >udge of the applauses: bene-

5ictionary0 G$

dictions: and pompous eulogies: on the part of the

consubstantialists P +heir adversaries scarcely sub-

sist any longerJ their complaints and clamors

against the tyranny of +heodosius have perished

"ith them: and the predominant party still lavishes

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on this prince the epithets of pious: just: clement:

"ise: and great0

One day this pious and clement prince: "ho loved

money to distraction: proposed laying a very heavy

ta upon the city of 4ntioch: then the Knest of 4sia

?inor0 +he people: in despair: having demanded

a slight diminution: and not being able to obtain it:

"ent so far as to brea some statues: among "hich

"as one of the soldier: the emperor;s father0 2t0

 >ohn #hrysostom: or golden mouth: the priest and

atterer of +heodosius: failed not to call this action

a detestable sacrilege: since +heodosius "as the

image of 7od: and his father "as almost as sacred

as himself0 8ut if this 2paniard resembled 7od:

he should have remembered that the 4ntiochians also

resembled 9im: and that men formed after the e-

emplar of all the gods eisted before emperors0

init in eMgiem moderantum cuncta deorum0

O3I5: ?et0 i: b0 GS0

 +heodosius immediately sent a letter to the gov-

ernor: "ith an order to apply the torture to the

principal images of 7od "ho had taen part in this

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passing sedition J to mae them perish under blo"s

received from cords terminated "ith leaden ballsJ

to burn some: and deliver others up to the s"ord0

$E (hilosophical

 +his "as eecuted "ith all the punctuality of a

governor "ho did his duty lie a #hristian: "ho

paid his court "ell: and "ho "ould mae his "ay

there0 +he Orontes bore nothing but corpses to

the sea for several days J after "hich: his gracious

imperial majesty pardoned the 4ntiochians "ith

his usual clemency: and doubled the ta0

9o" did the emperor >ulian act in the same city:

"hen he had received a more personal and injurious

outrage! It "as not a paltry statue of his father

"hich they defaced J it "as to himself that the 4n-

tiochians addressed themselves: and against "hom

they composed the most violent satires0 +he philo-

sophical emperor ans"ered them by a light and in-

genious satire0 9e too from them neither their

lives nor their purses0 9e contented himself "ith

having more "it than they had0 +his is the man

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"hom 2t0 7regory 6a@ian@en and +heodoret: "ho

"ere not of his communion: dare to calumniate so far

as to say that he sacriKced "omen and children to

the moon J "hile those "ho "ere of the communion

of +heodosius have persisted to our day in copying

one another: by saying in a hundred "ays: that

 +heodosius "as the most virtuous of men: and by

"ishing to mae him a saint0

e no" "ell enough "hat "as the mildness of

this saint in the massacre of Kfteen thousand of

his subjects at +hessalonica0 9is panegyrists re-

duce the number of the murdered to seven or eight

thousand: "hich is a very small number to themJ

5ictionary0 $D

but they elevate to the sy the tender piety of this

good prince: "ho deprived himself of mass: as also

that of his accomplice: the detestable )uKnus0 I con-

fess once more: that it "as a great epiation: a great

act of devotion: the not going to massJ but it re-

stores not life to Kfteen thousand innocents: slain

in cold blood by an abominable perKdy0 If a heretic

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"as stained "ith such a crime: "ith "hat pleasure

"ould all historians turn their boasting against

himJ "ith "hat colors "ould they paint him in

the pulpits and college declamations P

I "ill suppose that the prince of (arma entered

(aris: after having forced our dear 9enry I30 to

raise the siege J I "ill suppose that (hilip II0 gave

the throne of rance to his #atholic daughter: and

to the young #atholic due of 7uiseJ ho" many

pens and voices "ould forever have anathemati@ed

9enry I30: and the 2alic la"P +hey "ould be

both forgotten: and the 7uises "ould be the heroes

of the state and religion0 +hus it is applaud the

prosperous and y the miserable P .t cole felices:

miseros fuge0.

If 9ugh #apet dispossess the legitimate heir of

#harlemagne: he becomes the root of a race of

heroes0 If he fails: he may be treated as the brother

of 2t0 Louis since treated #onradin and the due

of 4ustria: and "ith much more reason0

(epin rebels: dethrones the ?erovingian race:

and shuts his ing in a cloisterJ but if he succeeds

not: he mounts the scaNold0 If #lovis: the Krst

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archangels are the medium bet"een angels and

principalitiesJ that baptism regenerates of itself

and by chanceJ that the catechism is not a sacra-

ment: but sacramental J that certainty springs from

the cause and subjectJ that concupiscence is the

appetite of sensitive delectation J that conscience is

an act and not a po"er0

 +he angel of the schools has "ritten about four

thousand Kne pages in this style: and a shaven-

cro"ned young man passes three years in Klling his

brain "ith this sublime no"ledge J after "hich he

5ictionary0 $S

receives the bonnet of a doctor of the 2orbonne: in-

stead of going to 8edlam0 If he is a man of uality:

or the son of a rich man: or intriguing and for-

tunate: he becomes bishop: archbishop: cardinal: and

pope0

If he is poor and "ithout credit: he becomes the

chaplain of one of these people J it is he "ho

preaches for them: "ho reads 2t0 +homas and

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2cotus for them: "ho maes commandments for

them: and "ho in a council decides for them0

 +he title of theologian is so great that the fathers

of the #ouncil of +rent give it to their coos:

.cuoco celeste: gran theologo. +heir science is

the Krst of sciences: their condition the Krst of con-

ditions: and themselves the Krst of men J such the

empire of true doctrine J so much does reason gov-

ern manind P

hen a theologian has become thans to his

arguments either prince of the holy )oman m-

pire: archbishop of +oledo: or one of the seventy

princes clothed in red: successors of the humble

apostles: then the successors of 7alen and 9ippoc-

rates are at his service0 +hey "ere his euals

"hen they studied in the same universityJ they

had the same degrees: and received the same furred

bonnet0 ortune changes all J and those "ho dis-

covered the circulation of the blood: the lacteal

veins: and the thoracic canal: are the servants of

those "ho have learned "hat concomitant grace is:

and have forgotten it0

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$H (hilosophical

2#+IO6 II0

I ne" a true theologian J he "as master of the

languages of the ast: and "as instructed as much

as possible in the ancient rites of nations0 +he

8rahmins: #haldaeans: ire-"orshippers: 2abeans:

2yrians: and gyptians: "ere as "ell no"n to him

as the >e"s J the several lessons of the 8ible "ere

familiar to him J and for thirty years he had tried

to reconcile the gospels: and endeavored to mae

the fathers agree0 9e sought in "hat time pre-

cisely the creed attributed to the apostles "as

digested: and that "hich bears the name of 4than-

asius J ho" the sacraments "ere instituted one after

the other J "hat "as the diNerence bet"een synais

and massJ ho" the #hristian #hurch "as divided

since its origin into diNerent parties: and ho" the

predominating society treated all the others as

heretics0 9e sounded the depth of policy "hich

al"ays mies "ith these uarrels J and he distin-

guished bet"een policy and "isdom: bet"een the

pride "hich "ould subjugate minds and the desire

of self-illumination: bet"een @eal and fanaticism0

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 +he diMculty of0 arranging in his head so many

things: the nature of "hich is to be confounded:

and of thro"ing a little light on so many clouds:

often checed himJ but as these researches "ere

the duty of his profession: he gave himself up to

them not"ithstanding his distaste0 9e at length

arrived at no"ledge unno"n to the greater part

of his brethren= but the more learned he "aed:

5ictionary0 $%

the more mistrustful he became of all that he ne"0

hile he lived he "as indulgent J and at his death:

he confessed that he had spent his life uselessly0

 +9U65)0

2#+IO6 I0

3idi et crudeles dantem 2almonea poenas

5um ammas >ovis et sonitus imitatur Olympia: etc0

3I)7IL: Xneid: b0 vi: D0 %G%0

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"orld: since all antiuity believed in it0 4stonish

"as not the proper "ordJ it "as alarm0 9e be-

$F (hilosophical

lieves that it is 7od "ho thunders J but he thunders

only as he hails: as he rains: and as he produces

Kne "eather as he operates all: as he performs

all0 It is not because he is angry that he sends

thunder and rain0 +he ancients paint >upiter taing

thunder: composed of three burning arro"s: and

hurling it at "homsoever he chose0 2ound reason

does not agree "ith these poetical ideas0

 +hunder is lie everything else: the necessary

eNect of the la"s of nature: prescribed by its author0

It is merely a great electrical phenomenon0 ranlin

forces it to descend tranuilly on the earth J it fell

on (rofessor )ichmann as on rocs and churchesJ

and if it struc 4ja Oileus: it "as assuredly not

because ?inerva "as irritated against him0

If it had fallen on #artouche: or the abbe 5es-

fontaines: people "ould not have failed to say =

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.8ehold ho" 7od punishes thieves and 0. 8ut

it is a useful prejudice to mae the sy fearful to

the perverse0 +hus all our tragic poets: "hen they

"ould rhyme to .poudre. or .resoudre:. invariably

mae use of .foudre.J and uniformly mae .ton-

nerre. roll: "hen they "ould rhyme to .terre.

 +heseus: in .(htdre:. says to his son act iv:

scene '=

?onstre: yu;a trop longtemps tyargnt le tonnerre:

)este impur des brigands dontfaipurgf la terreP

2everus: in .(olyeucte:. "ithout even having oc-

casion to rhyme: "hen he learns that his mistress is

married: tals to abian: his friend: of a clap of

5ictionary0 $&

thunder0 9e says else"here to the same abian

act iv: scene F that a ne" clap of .foudre. stries

upon his hope: and reduces it to .poudre. =

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Au;est ceci: abian: uel nouveau coup de foudre

 +ombe sur mon espoir t et le rtduit en poudre!

4 hope reduced to po"der must astonish the pit P

Lusignan: in .Baire. prays 7od that the thunder

"ill burst on him alone =

Aue la foudre en tclats ne tombe ue sur mot0

If +ydeus consults the gods in the cave of a

temple: the cave ans"ers him only by great claps

of thunder0

I;ve Knally seen the thunder and . foudre.

)educe verses to cinders and rhymes into . poudre/;

e must endeavor to thunder less freuently0

I could never clearly comprehend the fable of

 >upiter and +hunder: in La ontaine b0 viii:

fable 'E0

3ulcain remplit sesfourneau

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5e deu sortes de carreau0

Lunjamais ne sefour-voie:

t c;est celni ue toujours

L;Olympe en corps nous en-vote0

L;autre s;e;carte en son cours:

#e n estuau monts tKl en coute J

8ien souvent meme il se perdJ

t ce dernier en sa route

6ous vient du seul >upiter0

.3ulcan Klls his furnaces "ith t"o sorts of thun-

derbolts0 +he one never "anders: and it is that

"hich comes direct from Olympus0 +he other di-

verges in its route: and only spends itself on moun-

tainsJ it is often even altogether dissipated0 It is

this last alone "hich proceeds from >upiter0.

3ol0 DH &

$G (hilosophical

as the subject of this fable: "hich La ontaine

put into bad verse so diNerent from his general

style: given to him! ould it infer that the min-

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isters of Louis CI30 "ere ineible: and that the

ing pardoned! #rebillon: in his academical dis-

course in foreign verse: says that #ardinal leury

is a "ise depositary: the eagle: using his thunder:

yet the friend of peace =

Usant en citoyen du pouvoir arbitraire:

4igle de >upiter: mat;s ami de iafai:

II gouverne lafoudre: et tie tonne jamais0

9e says that ?arshal 3illars made it appear that

he survived ?alplauet only to become more cele-

brated at 5enain: and that "ith a clap of thunder

(rince ugene "as vanuished =

it voir: iia ?alplauet il n;avait survtecu

Aue pour rendre a 5enain sa valeut plus ct1bre

t uunfoudre du mains ugene etait -vaincu0

 +hus the eagle leury governed thunder "ithout

thundering: and ugene "as vanuished by thunder0

9ere is uite enough of thunder0

2#+IO6 II0

9orace: sometimes the debauched and sometimes

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the moral: has said boo i: ode S that our folly

etends to heaven itself= .#ahtm ipsum petimus

stultitia.

e can say at present that "e carry our "isdom

to heaven: if "e may be permitted to call that blue

and "hite mass of ehalations "hich causes "inds:

rain: sno": hail: and thunder: heaven0 e have de-

5ictionary0 $$

composed the thunderbolt: as 6e"ton disentangled

light0 e have perceived that these thunderbolts:

formerly borne by the eagle of >upiter: are really

only electric KreJ that in short "e can dra" do"n

thunder: conduct it: divide it: and render ourselves

masters of it: as "e mae the rays of light pass

through a prism: as "e give course to the "aters

"hich fall from heaven: that is to say: from the

height of half a league from our atmosphere0 e

plant a high Kr "ith the branches lopped oN: the top

of "hich is covered "ith a cone of iron0 +he clouds

"hich form thunder are electricalJ their electricity

is communicated to this cone: and a brass "ire "hich

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is attached to it conducts the matter of thunder "her-

ever "e please0 4n ingenious physician calls this

eperiment the inoculation of thunder0

It is true: that inoculation for the smallpo:

"hich has preserved so many mortals: caused some

to perish: to "hom the smallpo had been inconsid-

erately given J and in lie manner the inoculation of

thunder ill-performed "ould be dangerous0 +here

are great lords "hom "e can only approach "ith the

greatest precaution: and thunder is of this number0

e no" that the mathematical professor )ichmann

"as illed at 2t0 (etersburg: in D&%S: by a thunder-

bolt "hich he had dra"n into his chamber = .4rte sua

periit. 4s he "as a philosopher: a theological pro-

fessor failed not to publish that he had been thun-

derstruc lie 2almoneus: for having usurped the

rights of 7od: and for "ishing to hurl the thunder =

ioo (hilosophical

but if the physician had directed the brass "ire out-

side the house: and not into his pent-up chamber: he-

"ould not have shared the lot of 2almoneus: 4ja

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Oileus: the emperor #ams: the son of a rench min-

ister of state: and of several mons in the (yrenees0

 +OL)4+IO60

2#+IO6 I0

94+ is toleration! It is the appurtenance of

humanity0 e are all full of "eaness and errors J

let us mutually pardon each other our follies it is

the Krst la" of nature0

hen: on the echange of 4msterdam: of Lon-

don: of 2urat: or of 8assora: the 7ueber: the 8anian:

the >e": the ?ahometan: the #hinese 5eist: the

8rahmin: the #hristian of the 7ree #hurch: the

)oman #atholic #hristian: the (rotestant #hristian:

and the Auaer #hristian: traMc together: they do

not lift the poniard against each other: in order to

gain souls for their religion0 hy then have "e

been cutting one another;s throats almost "ithout

interruption since the Krst #ouncil of 6ice!

#onstantine began by issuing an edict "hich al-

lo"ed all religions: and ended by persecuting0 8e-

fore him: tumults "ere ecited against the #hris-

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tians: only because they began to mae a party in the

state0 +he )omans permitted all inds of "orship:

even those of the >e"s: and of the gyptians: for

"hom they had so much contempt0 hy did )ome

tolerate these religions ! 8ecause neither the gyp-

5ictionary0 DED

tians: nor even the >e"s: aimed at eterminating

the ancient religion of the empire: or ranged through

land and sea for proselytesJ they thought only of

money-getting J but it is undeniable: that the #hris-

tians "ished their o"n religion to be the dominant

one0 +he >e"s "ould not suNer the statue of >upi-

ter at >erusalem: but the #hristians "ished it not to

be in the capitol0 2t0 +homas had the candor to

avo": that if the #hristians did not dethrone the

emperors: it "as because they could not0 +heir

opinion "as: that the "hole earth ought to be #hris-

tian0 +hey "ere therefore necessarily enemies to the

"hole earth: until it "as converted0

4mong themselves: they "ere the enemies of each

other on all their points of controversy0 as it Krst

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of all necessary to regard >esus #hrist as 7od!

 +hose "ho denied it "ere anathemati@ed under the

name of bionites: "ho themselves anathemati@ed

the adorers of >esus0

5id some among them "ish all things to be in

common: as it is pretended they "ere in the time of

the apostles! +heir adversaries called them 6ico-

laites: and accused them of the most infamous

crimes0 5id others profess a mystical devotion!

 +hey "ere termed 7nostics: and attaced "ith fury0

5id ?arcion dispute on the +rinity ! 9e "as treated

as an idolater0

 +ertullian: (raeas: Origen: 6ovatus: 6ovatian:

2abellius: 5onatus: "ere all persecuted by their

brethren: before #onstantine J and scarcely had #on-

IO' (hilosophical

stantine made the #hristian religion the ruling one:

"hen the 4thanasians and the usebians tore each

other to pieces J and from that time to our o"n days:

the #hristian #hurch has been deluged "ith blood0

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 +he >e"ish people "ere: I confess: a very bar-

barous nation0 +hey mercilessly cut the throats of

all the inhabitants of an unfortunate little country

upon "hich they had no more claim than they had

upon (aris or London0 9o"ever: "hen 6aaman

"as cured of the leprosy by being plunged seven

times in the >ordan "hen: in order to testify his

gratitude to lisha: "ho had taught him the secret:

he told him he "ould adore the god of the >e"s

from gratitude: he reserved to himself the liberty to

adore also the god of his o"n ingJ he ased

lisha;s permission to do so: and the prophet did not

hesitate to grant it0 +he >e"s adored their god:

but they "ere never astonished that every nation

had its o"n0 +hey approved of #hemos having

given a certain district to the ?oabites: provided

their god "ould give them one also0 >acob did not

hesitate to marry the daughters of an idolater0 La-

ban had his god: as >acob had his0 2uch are the e-

amples of toleration among the most intolerant and

cruel people of antiuity0 e have imitated them

in their absurd passions: and not in their indulgence0

It is clear that every private individual "ho perse-

cutes a man: his brother: because he is not of the

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same opinion: is a monster0 +his admits of no diM-

culty0 8ut the government: the magistrates: the

5ictionary0 D ES

princes P ho" do they conduct themselves to"ards

those "ho have a faith diNerent from their o"n! If

they are po"erful foreigners: it is certain that a

prince "ill form an alliance "ith them0 +he ?ost

#hristian rancis I0 "ill league himself "ith the

?ussulmans against the ?ost #atholic #harles 30

rancis I0 "ill give money to the Lutherans in 7er-

many: to support them in their rebellion against their

emperor J but he "ill commence: as usual: by having

the Lutherans in his o"n country burned0 9e pays

them in 2aony from policy J he burns them in (aris

from policy0 8ut "hat follo"s ! (ersecutions mae

proselytes0 rance "ill soon be Klled "ith ne" (rot-

estants0 4t Krst they "ill submit to be hanged J

after"ards they "ill hang in their turn0 +here "ill

be civil "ars J then 2aint 8artholome" "ill come J

and this corner of the "orld "ill be "orse than all

that the ancients and moderns have ever said of hell0

8locheads: "ho have never been able to render

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a pure "orship to the 7od "ho made you P

retches: "hom the eample of the 6oachides: the

#hinese literati: the (arsees: and of all the "ise: has

not availed to guide P ?onsters: "ho need super-

stitions: just as the gi@@ard of a raven needs carrion P

e have already told you and "e have nothing

else to say if you have t"o religions among you:

they "ill massacre each otherJ if you have thirty:

they "ill live in peace0 Loo at the 7rand +ur = he

governs 7uebers: 8anians: #hristians of the 7ree

#hurch: 6estorians: and )oman #atholics0 +he

IOH (hilosophical

Krst "ho "ould ecite a tumult is empaled J and all

is tranuil0

2#+IO6 II0

Of all religions: the #hristian ought doubtless

to inspire the most toleration: although hitherto the

#hristians have been the most intolerant of all men0

 >esus: having deigned to be born in poverty and lo"-

liness lie his brethren: never condescended to prac-

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tise the art of "riting0 +he >e"s had a la" "ritten

"ith the greatest minuteness: and "e have not a

single line from the hand of >esus0 +he apostles

"ere divided on many points0 2t0 (eter and 2t0

8arnabas ate forbidden meats "ith the ne" stranger

#hristians: and abstained from them "ith the >e"-

ish #hristians0 2t0 (aul reproached them "ith this

conductJ and this same 2t0 (aul: the (harisee: the

disciple of the (harisee 7amaliel this same 2t0

(aul: "ho had persecuted the #hristians "ith fury:

and "ho after breaing "ith 7amaliel became a

#hristian himself nevertheless: "ent after"ards

to sacriKce in the temple of >erusalem: during his

apostolic vacation0 or eight days he observed pub-

licly all the ceremonies of the >e"ish la" "hich he

had renounced J he even added devotions and puri-

Kcations "hich "ere superabundantJ he completely

 >udai@ed0 +he greatest apostle of the #hristians

did: for eight days: the very things for "hich men

are condemned to the stae among a large portion

of #hristian nations0

 +heudas and >udas "ere called ?essiahs: before

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5ictionary0 DE%

 >esus= 5ositheus: 2imon: ?enander: called them-

selves ?essiahs: after >esus0 rom the Krst cen-

tury of the #hurch: and before even the name of

#hristian "as no"n: there "ere a score of sects

in >udaea0

 +he contemplative 7nostics: the 5ositheans: the

#erintheins: eisted before the disciples of >esus had

taen the name of #hristians0 +here "ere soon

thirty churches: each of "hich belonged to a dif-

ferent society J and by the close of the Krst century

thirty sects of #hristians might be reconed in 4sia

?inor: in 2yria: in 4leandria: and even in )ome0

4ll these sects: despised by the )oman govern-

ment: and concealed in their obscurity: nevertheless

persecuted each other in the hiding holes "here they

lured J that is to say: they reproached one another0

 +his is all they could do in their abject condition=

they "ere almost "holly composed of the dregs of

the people0

hen at length some #hristians had embraced ;

the dogmas of (lato: and mingled a little philosophy

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"ith their religion: "hich they separated from the

 >e"ish: they insensibly became more considerable:

but "ere al"ays divided into many sects: "ithout

there ever having been a time "hen the #hristian

church "as reunited0 It too its origin in the midst

of the divisions of the >e"s: the 2amaritans: the

(harisees: the 2adducees: the ssenians: the >uda-

ites: the disciples of >ohn: and the +herapeutae0 It

"as divided in its infancy J it "as divided even amid

ioF (hilosophical

the persecutions it sometimes endured under the

Krst emperors0 +he martyr "as often regarded by

his brethren as an apostateJ and the #arpocratian

#hristian epired under the s"ord of the )oman

eecutioner: ecommunicated by the bionite #hris-

tian: "hich bionite "as anathemati@ed by the 2a-

bellian0

 +his horrible discord: lasting for so many cen-

turies: is a very striing lesson that "e ought mu-

tually to forgive each other;s errors = discord is the

great evil of the human species: and toleration is

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its only remedy0

 +here is nobody "ho does not assent to this truth:

"hether meditating coolly in his closet: or eamin-

ing the truth peaceably "ith his friends0 hy:

then: do the same men "ho in private admit charity:

beneKcence: and justice: oppose themselves in pub-

lic so furiously against these virtues! hyP it

is because their interest is their godJ because they

sacriKce all to that monster "hom they adore0

I possess dignity and po"er: "hich ignorance and

credulity have founded0 I trample on the heads of

men prostrated at my feet J if they should rise and

loo me in the face: I am lost J they must: therefore:

be ept bound do"n to the earth "ith chains of iron0

 +hus have men reasoned: "hom ages of fanati-

cism have rendered po"erful0 +hey have other per-

sons in po"er under them: and these latter again

have underlings: "ho enrich themselves "ith the

spoils of the poor man: fatten themselves "ith his

5ictionary0 DE&

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P

blood: and laugh at his imbecility0 +hey detest all

toleration: as contractors enriched at the epense of

the public are afraid to render their accounts: and

as tyrants dread the name of liberty0 +o cro"n all:

in short: they encourage fanatics "ho cry aloud=

)espect the absurdities of my master J tremble: pay:

and be silent0

2uch "as the practice for a long time in a great

part of the "orld J but no": "hen so many sects

are balanced by their po"er: "hat side must "e tae

among them ! very sect: "e no": is a mere title

of error J "hile there is no sect of geometricians: of

algebraists: of arithmeticians J because all the prop-

ositions of geometry: algebra: and arithmetic: are

true0 In all the other sciences: one may be mistaen0

hat +homist or 2cotist theologian can venture to

assert seriously that he goes on sure grounds!

If there is any sect "hich reminds one of the time

of the Krst #hristians: it is undeniably that of the

Auaers0 +he apostles received the spirit0 +he

Auaers receive the spirit0 +he apostles and dis-

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ciples spoe three or four at once in the assembly

in the third story J the Auaers do as much on the

ground oor0 omen "ere permitted to preach:

according to 2t0 (aul: and they "ere forbidden ac-

cording to the same 2t0 (aul = the Auaeresses

preach by virtue of the Krst permission0

 +he apostles and disciples s"ore by yea and nay J

the Auaers "ill not s"ear in any other form0

 +here "as no ran: no diNerence of dress: among

ioG (hilosophical

apostles and disciplesJ the Auaers have sleeves

"ithout buttons: and are all clothed alie0 >esus

#hrist bapti@ed none of his apostlesJ the Auaers

are never bapti@ed0

It "ould be easy to push the parallel farther J it

"ould be still easier to demonstrate ho" much the

#hristian religion of our day diNers from the re-

ligion "hich >esus practised0 >esus "as a >e": and

"e are not >e"s0 >esus abstained from por: be-

cause it is uncleanly: and from rabbit: because it

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ruminates and its foot is not cloven J "e fearlessly

eat por: because it is not uncleanly for us: and "e

eat rabbit "hich has the cloven foot and does not

ruminate0

 >esus "as circumcised: and "e retain our fore-

sin0 >esus ate the (aschal lamb "ith lettuce: 9e

celebrated the feast of the tabernaclesJ and "e do

nothing of this0 9e observed the 2abbath: and "e

have changed it J 9e sacriKced: and "e never sacri-

Kce0

 >esus al"ays concealed the mystery of 9is in-

carnation and 9is dignity J 9e never said 9e "as

eual to 7od0 2t0 (aul says epressly: in his pistle

to the 9ebre"s: that 7od created >esus inferior

to the angelsJ and in spite of 2t0 (aul;s "ords:

 >esus "as acno"ledged as 7od at the #ouncil of

6ice0

 >esus has not given the pope either the march

of 4ncona or the duchy of 2poleto J and: not"ith-

standing: the pope possesses them by divine right0

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5ictionary0 DE$

 >esus did not mae a sacrament either of marriage

or of deaconryJ and: "ith us: marriage and dea-

conry are sacraments0 If "e "ould attend closely

to the fact: the #atholic: apostolic: and )oman re-

ligion is: in all its ceremonies and in all its dogma:

the reverse of the religion of >esus P

8ut "hat P must "e all >udai@e: because >esus

 >udai@ed all 9is life! If it "ere allo"ed to reason

logically in matters of religion: it is clear that "e

ought all to become >e"s: since >esus #hrist: our

2aviour: "as born a >e": lived a >e" and died a

 >e": and since 9e epressly said: that 9e accom-

plished and fulKlled the >e"ish religion0 8ut it is

still more clear that "e ought mutually to tolerate

one another: because "e are all "ea: irrational: and

subject to change and error0 4 reed prostrated by

the "ind in the mire ought it to say to a neighbor-

ing reed placed in a contrary direction = #reep after

my fashion: "retch: or I "ill present a reuest for

you to be sei@ed and burned !

2#+IO6 III0

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religion is "ell received= not"ithstanding "hich:

commerce ourishes and population increases0 Let

us al"ays reect: that the Krst la" of the mpire

of )ussia: "hich is greater than the )oman m-

pire: is the toleration of every sect0

 +he +urish mpire: and the (ersian: al"ays al-

lo"ed the same indulgence0 ?ahomet II0: "hen he

too #onstantinople: did not force the 7rees to

abandon their religion: although he looed on them

as idolaters0 very 7ree father of a family got

oN for Kve or si cro"ns a year0 ?any prebends

and bishoprics "ere preserved for them J and even

at this day the +urish sultan maes canons and

bishops: "ithout the pope having ever made an

imam or a mollah0

?y friends: there are only some mons: and some

(rotestants as barbarous as those mons: "ho are

still intolerant0 e have been so infected "ith this

5ictionary0 D D D

furor: that in our voyages of long duration: "e have

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carried it to #hina: to +onuin: and >apan0 e

have introduced the plague to those beautiful climes0

 +he most indulgent of manind have been taught

by us to be the most ineible0 e said to them at

the outset: in return for their ind "elcome 1no"

that "e alone on the earth are in the right: and

that "e ought to be masters every"here0 +hen they

drove us a"ay forever0 +his lesson: "hich has cost

seas of blood: ought to correct us0

2#+IO6 I30

 +he author of the preceding article is a "orthy

man "ho "ould sup "ith a Auaer: an 4nabaptist:

a 2ocinian: a ?ussulman: etc0 & "ould push this

civility farther J I "ould say to my brother the +ur

Let us eat together a good hen "ith rice: invoing

4llah J your religion seems to me very respectable J

you adore but one 7od J you are obliged to give the

fortieth part of your revenue every day in alms: and

to be reconciled "ith your enemies on the day of the

8airam0 Our bigots: "ho calumniate the "orld:

have said a hundred times: that your religion suc-

ceeded only because it "as "holly sensual0 +hey

have lied: poor fello"s P ,our religion is very aus-

tere J it commands prayer Kve times a day J it im-

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poses the most rigorous fast J it denies you the "ine

and the liuors "hich our spiritual directors en-

courage J and if it permits only four "ives to those

"ho can support them "hich are very fe" it con-

DD' (hilosophical

demns by this restriction the >e"ish incontinence:

"hich allo"ed eighteen "ives to the homicide 5a-

vid: and seven hundred: "ithout reconing concu-

bines: to 2olomon: the assassin of his brother0

I "ill say to my brother the #hinese = Let us sup

together "ithout ceremony: for I dislie grimacesJ

but I lie your la": the "isest of all: and perhaps the

most ancient0 I "ill say nearly as much to my

brother the Indian0

8ut "hat shall I say to my brother the >e"!

2hall I invite him to supper! ,es: on condition

that: during the repast: 8alaam;s ass does not tae

it into its head to brayJ that @eiel does not mi

his dinner "ith our supperJ that a Ksh does not

s"allo" up one of the guests: and eep him three

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days in his belly J that a serpent does not join in the

conversation: in order to seduce my "ifeJ that a

prophet does not thin proper to sleep "ith her: as

the "orthy man: 9osea: did for Kve francs and a

bushel of barleyJ above all: that no >e" parades

through my house to the sound of the trumpet:

causes the "alls to fall do"n: and cuts the throats

of myself: my father: my mother: my "ife: my chil-

dren: my cat and my dog: according to the ancient

practice of the >e"s0 #ome: my friends: let us have

peace: and say our benedicite0

 +O(9+0

 +O(9+ "as: and is still: a precipice near >eru-

salem: in the valley of 9innom: "hich is a frightful

5ictionary0 DDS

place: abounding only in ints0 It "as in this dreary

solitude that the >e"s immolated their children to

their god: "hom they then called ?olochJ for "e

have observed: that they al"ays besto"ed a foreign

name on their god0 2hadai "as 2yrian J 4donai:

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(hoenician J >ehovah "as also (hoenician J loi:

lohim: loa: #haldsean J and in the same manner:

the names of all their angels "ere #haldaean or (er-

sian0 +his "e have remared very particularly0

4ll these diNerent names eually signify .the

lord:. in the jargon of the petty nations bordering

on (alestine0 +he "ord ?oloch is evidently de-

rived from ?el: "hich "as the same as ?elcom or

?elcon: the divinity of the thousand "omen in the

seraglio of 2olomonJ to-"it: seven hundred "ives

and three hundred concubines0 4ll these names sig-

nify .lord. = each village had its lord0

2ome sages pretend that ?oloch "as more par-

ticularly the god of Kre J and that it "as on that ac-

count the >e"s burned their children in the hollo"

of the idol of this same ?oloch0 It "as a large

statue of copper: rendered as hideous as the >e"s

could mae it0 +hey heated the statue red hot: in

a large Kre: although they had very little fuel: and

cast their children into the belly of this god: as our

coos cast living lobsters into the boiling "ater of

their cauldrons0 2uch "ere the ancient #elts and

 +udescans: "hen they burned children in honor of

 +eutates and 9irminsule0 2uch the 7allic virtue:

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and the 7erman freedomP

9H (hilosophical

 >eremiah "ished: in vain: to detach the >e"ish

people from this diabolical "orship0 In vain he re-

proaches them "ith having built a sort of temple

to ?oloch in this abominable valley0 .+hey have

built high places in +ophet: "hich is in the valley of

the children of 9innom: in order to pass their sons

and daughters through the Kre0.

 +he >e"s paid so much the less regard to the re-

proaches of >eremiah: as they Kercely accused him

of having sold himself to the ing of 8abylon J of

having uniformly prophesied in his favorJ and of

having betrayed his country0 In short: he suNered

the punishment of a traitor J he "as stoned to death0

 +he 8oo of 1ings informs us: that 2olomon

built a temple to ?oloch: but it does not say that it

"as in the valley of +ophet: but in the vicinity upon

the ?ount of Olives0 +he situation "as Kne: if

anything can be called Kne in the frightful neighbor-

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hood of >erusalem0

2ome commentators pretend: that 4ha@: ing

of >udah: burned his son in honor of ?oloch: and

that 1ing ?anasses "as guilty of the same barbar-

ity0 Other commentators suppose: that these ings

of the chosen people of 7od "ere content "ith cast-

ing their children into the ames: but that they "ere

not burned to death0 I "ish that it may have been

so J but it is very diMcult for a child not to be burned

"hen placed on a lighted pile0

 +his valley of +ophet "as the .#lamart. of

(aris: the place "here they deposited all the rub-

5ictionary0 DD%

bish and carrion of the city0 It "as in this valley

that they cast loose the scape-goat J it "as the place

in "hich the bodies of the t"o criminals "ere cast

"ho suNered "ith the 2on of 7od J but our 2aviour

did not permit 9is body: "hich "as given up to the

eecutioner: to be cast in the high"ay of the valley

of +ophet: according to custom0 It is true: that 9e

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might have risen again in +ophet: as "ell as in #al-

vary J but a good >e": named >oseph: a native of

4rimathea: "ho had prepared a sepulchre for him-

self on ?ount #alvary: placed the body of the 2a-

viour therein: according to the testimony of 2t0 ?at-

the"0 6o one "as allo"ed to be buried in the

to"nsJ even the tomb of 5avid "as not in >eru-

salem0

 >oseph of 4rimathea "as rich .a certain rich

man of 4rimathea:. that the prophecy of Isaiah

might be fulKlled= .4nd he made his grave "ith

the "iced: and "ith the rich in his death0.

 +O)+U)0

 +9OU79 there are fe" articles of jurisprudence

in these honest alphabetical reections: "e must:

ho"ever: say a "ord or t"o on torture: other"ise

called .the uestion. J "hich is a strange manner of

uestioning men0 +hey "ere not: ho"ever: the sim-

ply curious "ho invented itJ there is every ap-

pearance: that this part of our legislation o"es its

Krst origin to a high"ayman0 ?ost of these gen-

tlemen are still in the habit of scre"ing thumbs:

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nF (hilosophical

burning feet: and uestioning: by various torments:

those "ho refuse to tell them "here they have put

their money0

#onuerors having succeeded these thieves:

found the invention very useful to their interestsJ

they made use of it "hen they suspected that there

"ere bad designs against them= as: for eample:

that of seeing freedom "as a crime of high treason:

human and divine0 +he accomplices must be no"n J

and to accomplish it: those "ho "ere suspected "ere

made to suNer a thousand deaths: because: accord-

ing to the jurisprudence of these primitive heroes:

"hoever "as suspected of merely having a disre-

spectful opinion of them: "as "orthy of death0 4s

soon as they have thus merited death: it signiKes lit-

tle "hether they had frightful torments for several

days: and even "ees previously a practice "hich

savors: I no" not ho": of the 5ivinity0 (rovi-

dence sometimes puts us to the torture by employ-

ing the stone: gravel: gout: scrofula: leprosy: small-

po J by tearing the entrails: by convulsions of the

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nerves: and other eecutors of the vengeance of

(rovidence0

6o": as the Krst despots "ere: in the eyes of

their courtiers: images of the 5ivinity: they imitated

it as much as they could0 hat is very singular is:

that the uestion: or torture: is never spoen of in

the >e"ish boos0 It is a great pity that so mild:

honest: and compassionate a nation ne" not this

method of discovering the truth0 In my opinion:

5ictionary0 DD&

the reason is: that they had no need of it0 7od al-

"ays made it no"n to them as to 9is cherished

people0 2ometimes they played at dice to discover

the truth: and the suspected culprit al"ays had

double sies0 2ometimes they "ent to the high

priest: "ho immediately consulted 7od by the urim

and thummim0 2ometimes they addressed them-

selves to the seer and prophet J and you may believe

that the seer and prophet discovered the most hid-

den things: as "ell as the urim and thummim of the

high priest0 +he people of 7od "ere not reduced:

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lie ourselves: to interrogating and conjecturingJ

and therefore torture could not be in use among

them: "hich "as the only thing "anting to com-

plete the manners of that holy people0 +he )omans

inicted torture on slaves alone: but slaves "ere not

considered as men0 6either is there any appear-

ance that a counsellor of the criminal court regards

as one of his fello"-creatures: a man "ho is brought

to him "an: pale: distorted: "ith sunen eyes: long

and dirty beard: covered "ith vermin "ith "hich

he has been tormented in a dungeon0 9e gives him-

self the pleasure of applying to him the major and

minor torture: in the presence of a surgeon: "ho

counts his pulse until he is in danger of death: after

"hich they recommence J and as the comedy of the

.(laideurs. pleasantly says: .that serves to pass

a"ay an hour or t"o0.

 +he grave magistrate: "ho for money has bought

the right of maing these eperiments on his neigh-

D D G (hilosophical

bor: relates to his "ife: at dinner: that "hich has

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passed in the morning0 +he Krst time: madam shud-

ders at itJ the second: she taes some pleasure in

it: because: after all: "omen are curious J and after-

"ards: the Krst thing she says "hen he enters is=

.?y dear: have you tortured anybody to-day !. +he

rench: "ho are considered: I no" not "hy: a very

humane people: are astonished that the nglish: "ho

have had the inhumanity to tae all #anada from

us: have renounced the pleasure of putting the ues-

tion0

hen the #hevalier de 8arre: the grandson of

a lieutenant-general of the army: a young man of

much sense and great epectations: but possessing

all the giddiness of unbridled youth: "as convicted

of having sung impious songs: and even of having

dared to pass before a procession of #apuchins "ith-

out taing his hat oN: the judges of 4bbeville: men

comparable to )oman senators: ordered not only

that his tongue should be torn out: that his hands

should be torn oN: and his body burned at a slo"

Kre: but they further applied the torture: to no"

precisely ho" many songs he had sung: and ho"

many processions he had seen "ith his hat on his

9ead0

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It "as not in the thirteenth or fourteenth century

that this aNair happened J it "as in the eighteenth0

oreign nations judge of rance by its spectacles:

romances: and pretty versesJ by opera girls "ho

have very s"eet manners: by opera dancers "ho pos-

5ictionary0 DD$

sess grace J by ?ademoiselle #lairon: "ho declaims

delightfully0 +hey no" not that: under all: there

is not a more cruel nation than the rench0 +he

)ussians "ere considered barbarians in D&EEJ this

is only the year D&F$ J yet an empress has just given

to this great state la"s "hich "ould do honor to

?inos: 6uma: or 2olon: if they had had intelligence

enough to invent them0 +he most remarable is uni-

versal tolerance J the second is the abolition of tor-

ture0 >ustice and humanity have guided her pen J

she has reformed all0 oe to a nation "hich: being

more civili@ed: is still led by ancient atrocious cus-

toms I .hy should "e change our jurisprudence !.

say "e0 .urope is indebted to us for coos: tailors:

and "ig-maers J therefore: our la"s are good0.

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 +)462U82+46+I4+IO60

()O+2+46+2: and above all: philosophical (rot-

estants: regard transubstantiation as the most signal

proof of etreme impudence in mons: and of im-

becility in laymen0 +hey hold no terms "ith this

belief: "hich they call monstrous: and assert that

it is impossible for a man of good sense ever to have

believed in it0 It is: say they: so absurd: so contrary

to every physical la": and so contradictory: it "ould

be a sort of annihilation of 7od: to suppose 9im ca-

pable of such inconsistency0 6ot only a god in a

"afer: but a god in the place of a "afer J a thousand

crumbs of bread become in an instant so many gods:

"hich an innumerable cro"d of gods mae only one

I'O (hilosophical

god0 hiteness "ithout a "hite substance J round-

ness "ithout rotundity of body J "ine changed into

blood: retaining the taste of "ineJ bread changed

into esh and into Kbres: still preserving the taste

of bread all this inspires such a degree of horror

and contempt in the enemies of the #atholic: apos-

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tolic: and )oman religion: that it sometimes insen-

sibly verges into rage0

 +heir horror augments "hen they are told that:

in #atholic countries: are mons "ho rise from a bed

of impurity: and "ith un"ashed hands mae gods

by hundreds J "ho eat and drin these gods: and

reduce them to the usual conseuences of such an

operation0 8ut "hen they reect that this super-

stition: a thousand times more absurd and sacrile-

gious than those of gypt: produces for an Italian

priest from Kfteen to t"enty millions of revenue:

and the domination of a country containing a hun-

dred thousand suare leagues: they are ready to

march "ith their arms in their hands and drive

a"ay this priest from the palace of #aesar0 I no"

not if I shall be of the party: because I love peace J

but "hen established at )ome: I "ill certainly pay

them a visit0 8y ?0 7UILL4U?: a (rotestant

minister0

 +)I6I+,0

 +9 Krst among the esterns "ho spoe of the

 +rinity "as +imaeus of Locri: in his .2oul of the

orld0. irst came the Idea: the perpetual model

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5ictionary0 D'D

or archetype of all things engenderedJ that is to

say: the Krst .ord:. the internal and intelligible

.ord0. 4fter"ards: the unformed mode: the sec-

ond "ord: or the "ord spoen0 Lastly: the .son:.

or sensible "orld: or the spirit of the "orld0 +hese

three ualities constitute the entire "orld: "hich

"orld is the 2on of 7od .?onogenes0. 9e has a

soul and possessed reason J he is .empsuos: logi-

os0.

7od: "ishing to mae a very Kne 7od: has engen-

dered one = .+out on epoie theon genaton0.

It is diMcult clearly to comprehend the system

of +imaeus: "hich he perhaps derived from the

gyptians or 8rahmins0 I no" not "hether it "as

"ell understood in his time0 It is lie decayed and

rusty medals: the motto of "hich is eNaced = it could

be read formerly J at present: "e put "hat construc-

tion "e please upon it0

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It does not appear that this sublime balderdash

made much progress until the time of (lato0 It "as

buried in oblivion: and (lato raised it up0 9e con-

structed his ediKce in the air: but on the model of

 +imaeus0 9e admits three divine essences= the

ather: the 2upreme #reator: the (arent of other

gods: is the Krst essence0 +he second is the visible

7od: the minister of the invisible one: the .ord:.

the understanding: the great spirit0 +he third is the

"orld0

It is true: that (lato sometimes says uite dif-

ferent and even uite contrary things J it is the priv-

ill (hilosophical

ilege of the 7ree philosophers J and (lato has made

use of his right more than any of the ancients or

moderns0 4 7ree "ind "afted these philosoph-

ical clouds from 4thens to 4leandria: a to"n pro-

digiously infatuated "ith t"o things money and

chimeras0 +here "ere >e"s in 4leandria "ho:

having made their fortunes: turned philosophers0

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?etaphysics have this advantage: that they re-

uire no very troublesome preliminaries0 e may

no" all about them "ithout having learned any-

thing J and a little to those "ho have at once subtle

and very false minds: "ill go a great "ay0 (hilo

the >e" "as a philosopher of this ind J he "as con-

temporary "ith >esus #hristJ but he has the mis-

fortune of not no"ing 9im any more than >ose-

phus the historian0 +hese t"o considerable men:

employed in the chaos of aNairs of state: "ere too far

distant from the da"ning light0 +his (hilo had uite

a metaphysical: allegorical: mystical head0 It "as he

"ho said that 7od must have formed the "orld in

si days J he formed it: according to Boroaster: in

si times: .because three is the half of si and t"o

is the third of it J and this number is male and fe-

male0.

 +his same man: infatuated "ith the ideas of

(lato: says: in speaing of drunenness: that 7od

and "isdom married: and that "isdom "as deliv-

ered of a "ell-beloved son: "hich son is the "orld0

9e calls the angels the "ords of 7od: and the "orld

the "ord of 7od .logon tou +heou0.

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5ictionary0 D'S

4s to lavius >osephus: he "as a man of "ar

"ho had never heard of the logos: and "ho held

to the dogmas of the (harisees: "ho "ere solely

attached to their traditions0 rom the >e"s of 4l-

eandria: this (latonic philosophy proceeded to

those of >erusalem0 2oon: all the school of 4lean-

dria: "hich "as the only learned one: "as (latonic J

and #hristians "ho philosophi@ed: no longer spoe

of anything but the logos0

e no" that it "as in disputes of that time the

same as in those of the present0 +o one badly un-

derstood passage: "as taced another unintelligible

one to "hich it had no relation0 4 second "as in-

ferred from them: a third "as falsiKed: and they

fabricated "hole boos "hich they attributed to au-

thors respected by the multitude0 e have seen a

hundred eamples of it in the article on

.4pocrypha0.

5ear reader: for heaven;s sae cast your eyes on

this passage of #lement the 4leandrian= .hen

(lato says: that it is diMcult to no" the ather of

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the universe: he demonstrates by that: not only that

the "orld has been engendered: but that it has been

engendered as the 2on of 7od0.

5o you understand these logomachies: these eui-

voues! 5o you see the least light in this chaos

of obscure epressions! Oh: LoceP LoceP come

and deKne these terms0 In all these (latonic dis-

putes I believe there "as not a single one under-

stood0 +hey distinguished t"o "ords: the .logos

D 'H (hilosophical

cndiathetos. the "ord in thought: and the "ord

produced .logos prophorios0. +hey had the eter-

nity from one "ord: and the prolation: the emanation

from another "ord0

 +he boo of .4postolic #onstitutions:. an an-

cient monument of fraud: but also an ancient depos-

itory of these obscure times: epresses itself thus=

.+he ather: "ho is anterior to all generation: all

commencement: having created all by 9is only 2on:

has engendered this 2on "ithout a medium: by 9is

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"ill and 9is po"er0.

4fter"ards Origen advanced: that the 9oly

2pirit "as created by the 2on: by the "ord0 4fter

that came usebius of #aesarea: "ho taught that the

spirit paraclete is neither of ather nor 2on0 +he

advocate Lactantius ourished in that time0

.+he 2on of 7od:. says he: .is the "ord: as the

other angels are the spirits of 7od0 +he "ord is a

spirit uttered by a signiKcant voice: the spirit pro-

ceeding from the nose: and the "ord from the

mouth0 It follo"s: that there is a diNerence

bet"een the 2on of 7od and the other angels J

those being emanated lie tacit and silent spiritsJ

"hile the 2on: being a spirit proceeding from the

mouth: possesses sound and voice to preach to the

people0.

It must be confessed: that Lactantius pleaded his

cause in a strange manner0 It "as truly reasoning

a la (lato: and very po"erful reasoning0 It "as

about this time that: among the very violent dis-

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5ictionary0 D'%

putes on the +rinity: this famous verse "as inserted

in the irst pistle of 2t0 >ohn = .+here are three

that bear "itness in earth the "ord or spirit: the

"ater: and the blood J and these three are one0.

 +hose "ho pretend that this verse is truly 2t0

 >ohn;s: are much more embarrassed than those "ho

deny itJ for they must eplain it0 2t0 4ugustine

says: that the spirit signiKes the ather: "ater the

9oly 7host: and by blood is meant the ord0 +his

eplanation is Kne: but it still leaves a little con-

fusion0

2t Irenaeus goes much farther J he says: that )a-

hab: the prostitute of >ericho: in concealing three

spies of the people of 7od: concealed the ather:

2on: and 9oly 7host J "hich is strong: but not con-

sistent0 On the other hand: the great and learned

Origen confounds us in a diNerent "ay0 +he fol-

lo"ing is one of many of his passages = .+he 2on

is as much belo" the ather as 9e and the 9oly

7host are above the most noble creatures0.

hat can be said after that! 9o" can "e help

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confessing: "ith grief: that nobody understands it!

9o" can "e help confessing: that from the Krst

from the primitive #hristians: the bionites: those

men so mortiKed and so pious: "ho al"ays revered

 >esus though they believed 9im to be the son of

 >oseph until the great controversy of 4thanasius:

the (latonism of the +rinity "as al"ays a subject

of uarrels0 4 supreme judge "as absolutely re-

uired to decide: and he "as at last found in the

D 'F (hilosophical

#ouncil of 6ice: "hich council after"ards pro-

duced ne" factions and "ars0

C(L464+IO6 O( +9 +)I6I+,: 4##O)5I67 +O

484UBI+0

.e can spea "ith eactness of the manner in

"hich the union of 7od and >esus #hrist eists: only

by relating the three opinions "hich eist on this

subject: and by maing reections on each of them0

;;Opinion of the Orthodo0

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.+he Krst opinion is that of the orthodo0 +hey

establish: Dst 4 distinction of three persons in

the divine essence: before the coming of >esus #hrist

into the "orld J 'nd +hat the second of these per-

sons is united to the human nature of >esus #hrist J

Srd +hat the union is so strict: that by it >esus

#hrist is 7odJ that "e can attribute to 9im the

creation of the "orld: and all divine perfectionsJ

and that "e can adore 9im "ith a supreme "orship0

.Opinion of the Unitarians0

.+he second is that of the Unitarians0 6ot con-

ceiving the distinction of persons in the 5ivinity:

they establish: Dst +hat divinity is united to the

human nature of >esus #hrist J 'nd +hat this union

is such that "e can say: that >esus #hrist is 7od J

that "e can attribute to 9im the creation of the

"orld: and all divine perfections: and adore 9im

"ith a supreme "orship0

5ictionary0 D'&

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.Opinion of the 2ocinians0

.+he third opinion is that of the 2ocinians: "ho:

lie the Unitarians: not conceiving any distinction

of persons in the 5ivinity: establish: ist +hat di-

vinity is united to the human nature of >esus #hrist J

'nd +hat this union is very strictJ Srd +hat it

is not such that "e can call >esus #hrist 7od: or

attribute divine perfections and the creation to 9im:

or adore 9im "ith a supreme "orshipJ and they

thin that all the passages of 2cripture may be e-

plained "ithout admitting any of these things0

.)eections on the irst Opinion0

.In the distinction "hich is made of three per-

sons in the 5ivinity: "e either retain the common

idea of persons: or "e do not0 If "e retain the

common idea of persons: "e establish three godsJ

that is certain0 If "e do not establish the ordinary

idea of three persons: it is no longer any more than

a distinction of propertiesJ "hich agrees "ith the

second opinion0 Or if "e "ill not allo" that jt

is a distinction of persons: properly speaing: "e

establish a distinction of "hich "e have no idea0

 +here is no appearance: that to imagine a distinction

in 7od: of "hich "e can have no idea: 2cripture

"ould put men in danger of becoming idolaters:

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by multiplying the 5ivinity0 It is besides surprising

that this distinction of persons having al"ays e-

isted: it should only be since the coming of >esus

#hrist that it has been revealed: and that it is neces-

sary to no" them0

D'G (hilosophical

.)eections on the 2econd Opinion0

.+here is not: indeed: so great danger of pre-

cipitating men into idolatry in the second opinion

as in the Krst J but it must be confessed that it is not

entirely eempt from it0 Indeed: as by the nature of

the union "hich it establishes bet"een divinity and

the human nature of >esus #hrist: "e can call him

7od and "orship him: but there are t"o objects of

adoration >esus #hrist and 7od0 I confess it may

be said: that it is 7od "hom "e should "orship in

 >esus #hrist J but "ho no"s not the etreme in-

clination "hich men have to change invisible ob-

 jects of "orship into objects "hich fall under the

senses: or at least under the imagination ! an incli-

nation "hich they "ill here gratify "ithout the

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least scruple: since they say that divinity is person-

ally united to the humanity of >esus #hrist0

.)eections on the +hird Opinion0

.+he third opinion: besides being very simple:

and conformable to the ideas of reason: is not sub-

 ject to any similar danger of thro"ing men into

idolatry0 +hough by this opinion >esus #hrist can

be no more than a simple man: it need not be feared

that by that 9e can be confounded "ith prophets or

saints of the Krst order0 In this sentiment there

al"ays remains a diNerence bet"een them and 9im0

4s "e can imagine: almost to the utmost: the de-

grees of union of divinity "ith humanity: so "e can

conceive: that in particular the union of divinity "ith

5ictionary0 D'$

 >esus #hrist has so high a degree of no"ledge:

po"er: felicity: perfection: and dignity: that there

is al"ays an immense distance bet"een him and the

greatest prophets0 It remains only to see "hether

this opinion can agree "ith 2cripture: and "hether

it be true that the title of 7od: divine perfections:

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creation: and supreme "orship: are not attributed

to >esus #hrist in the 7ospels0.

It "as for the philosopher 4bau@it to see all

this0 or myself I submit: "ith my heart and mouth

and pen: to all that the #atholic church has decided:

and to all that it may decide on any other such

dogma0 I "ill add but one "ord more on the +rin-

ity: "hich is a decision of #alvin;s that "e have on

this mystery0 +his is it =

.In case any person prove heterodo: and scru-

ples using the "ords +rinity and (erson: "e believe

not that this can be a reason for rejecting him J "e

should support him "ithout driving him from the

#hurch: and "ithout eposing him to any censure

as a heretic0.

It "as after such a solemn declaration as this:

that >ohn #alvin the aforesaid #alvin: the son of a

cooper of 6oyon caused ?ichael 2ervetus to be

burned at 7eneva by a slo" Kre "ith green fagots0

 +)U+90

. (IL4+ therefore said unto him: ;4rt thou a ing

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then!; >esus ans"ered: ;+hou sayest that I am a

ing0 +o this end "as I born: and for this cause

3ol0 DH $

DSE (hilosophical

came I into the "orld: that I should bear "itness

unto truth= eve,y one that is of the truth heareth

my voice0; (ilate saith unto him: ;hat is truth!;

and "hen he had said this: he "ent out:. etc0 2t0

 >ohn: chap: viii0

It is a pity for manind that (ilate "ent out:

"ithout hearing the reply= "e should then have

no"n "hat truth is0 (ilate "as not very curious0

 +he accused: brought before him: told him that he

"as a ing: that he "as born to be a ing: and he in-

forms himself not ho" this can be0 9e "as supreme

 judge in the name of #aesar: he had the po"er of the

s"ord: his duty "as to penetrate into the meaning

of these "ords0 9e should have said= +ell me

"hat you understand by being ing! ho" are you

born to be ing: and to bear "itness unto the truth !

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It is said that you can only arrive at the ear of

ings "ith diMcultyJ I: "ho am a judge: have al-

"ays had etreme trouble in reaching it0 Inform

me: "hile your enemies cry outside against you J

and you "ill render me the greatest service ever

rendered to a judge0 I "ould rather learn to no"

the truth: than condescend to the tumultuous de-

mand of the >e"s: "ho "ish me to hang you0

e doubtless dare not pretend to guess "hat the

4uthor of all truth "ould have said to (ilate0

ould he have said= .+ruth is an abstract "ord

"hich most men use indiNerently in their boos and

 judgments: for error and falsehood.! +his deKni-

tion "ould be "onderfully convenient to all maers

5ictionary0 DSD

of systems0 +hus the "ord "isdom is often taen

for folly: and "it for nonsense0 9umanly speaing:

let us deKne truth: to better understand that "hich is

declared such as it is0

2uppose that si months only had been taen to

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teach (ilate the truths of logic he "ould doubtless

have made this concluding syllogism = 4 man;s life

should not have been taen a"ay "ho has only

preached a good doctrine J no" he "ho is brought

before me: according even to his enemies: has often

preached an ecellent doctrine J therefore: he should

not be punished "ith death0

9e might also have inferred this other argument =

?y duty is to dissipate the riots of a seditious peo-

ple: "ho demand the death of a man "ithout reason

or juridical formJ no" such are the >e"s on this

occasion J therefore I should send them a"ay: and

brea up their assembly0 e tae for granted that

(ilate ne" arithmetic J "e "ill not therefore spea

of these inds of truths0

4s to mathematical truths: I believe that he

"ould have reuired three years at least before he

"ould have been acuainted "ith transcendent

geometry0 +he truths of physics: combined "ith

those of geometry: "ould have reuired more than

four years0 e generally consume si years in

studying theologyJ I as t"elve for (ilate: con-

sidering that he "as a (agan: and that si years

"ould not have been too many to root out all his

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old errors: and si more to put him in a state "orthy

DS' (hilosophical

to receive the bonnet of a doctor0 If (ilate had a

"ell organi@ed head: I "ould only have demanded

t"o years to teach him metaphysical truths: and as

these truths are necessarily united "ith those of

morality: I atter myself that in less than nine

years (ilate "ould have become a truly learned and

perfectly honest man0

9istorical +ruths0

I should after"ards have said to (ilate= 9is-

torical truths are but probabilities0 If you have

fought at the battle of (hilippi: it is to you a truth:

"hich you no" by intuition: by sentiment J but to

us "ho live near the desert of 2yria: it is merely

a probable thing: "hich "e no" by hearsay0 9o"

can "e: from report: form a persuasion eual to that

of a man: "ho having seen the thing: can boast of

feeling a ind of certainty !

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9e "ho has heard the thing told by t"elve

thousand ocular "itnesses: has only t"elve thousand

probabilities eual to one strong one: "hich is not

eual to certainty0 If you have the thing from only

one of these "itnesses: you are sure of nothing

you must doubt0 If the "itness is dead: you must

doubt still more: for you can enlighten yourself no

further0 If from several deceased "itnesses: you

are in the same state0 If from those to "hom the

"itnesses have only spoen: the doubt is still aug-

mented0 rom generation to generation the doubt

augments: and the probability diminishes: and the

probability is soon reduced to @ero0

5ictionary0 DSS

Of the 5egrees of +ruth: 4ccording to hich the

4ccused arc >udged0

e can be made accountable to justice either for

deeds or "ords0 If for deeds: they must be as cer-

tain as "ill be the punishment to "hich you "ill con-

demn the prisonerJ if: for eample: you have but

t"enty probabilities against him: these t"enty prob-

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abilities cannot eual the certainty of his death0

If you "ould have as many probabilities as are re-

uired to be sure that you shed not innocent blood:

they must be the fruit of the unanimous evidences

of "itnesses "ho have no interest in deposing0

rom this concourse of probabilities: a strong

opinion "ill be formed: "hich "ill serve to ecuse

your judgment J but as you "ill never have entire

certainty: you cannot atter yourself "ith no"ing

the truth perfectly0 #onseuently you should al"ays

lean to"ards mercy rather than to"ards rigor0 If

it concerns only facts: from "hich neither man-

slaughter nor mutilation have resulted: it is evident

that you should neither cause the accused to be put

to death nor mutilated0

If the uestion is only of "ords: it is still more

evident that you should not cause one of your fel-

lo"-creatures to be hanged for the manner in "hich

he has used his tongueJ for all the "ords in the

"orld being but agitated air: at least if they have

not caused murder: it is ridiculous to condemn a

man to death for having agitated the air0 (ut all

the idle "ords "hich have been uttered into one

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DSH (hilosophical

scale: and into the other the blood of a man: and

the blood "ill "eigh do"n0 6o": if he "ho has

been brought before you is only accused of some

"ords "hich his enemies have taen in a certain

sense: all that you can do is to repeat these "ords to

him: "hich he "ill eplain in the sense he intended J

but to deliver an innocent man to the most cruel and

ignominious punishment: for "ords that his enemies

do not comprehend: is too barbarous0 ,ou mae the

life of a man of no more importance than that of a

li@ard J and too many judges resemble you0

 +,)466,0

 +9 sovereign is called a tyrant "ho no"s no

la"s but his caprice J "ho taes the property of his

subjects: and after"ards enlists them to go and tae

that of his neighbors0 e have none of these

tyrants in urope0 e distinguish the tyranny of

one and that of many0 +he tyranny of several is

that of a body "hich "ould invade the rights of

other bodies: and "hich "ould eercise despotism

by favor of la"s "hich it corrupts0 6either are

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there any tyrannies of this ind in urope0

Under "hat tyranny should you lie best to live !

Under noneJ but if I must choose: I should less

detest the tyranny of a single one: than that of many0

4 despot has al"ays some good momentsJ an as-

semblage of despots: never0 If a tyrant does me

an injustice: + can disarm him through his mistress:

his confessor: or his page J but a company of tyrants

5ictionary0 DS%

is inaccessible to all seductions0 hen they are not

unjust: they are harsh: and they never dispense

favors0 If I have but one despot:P am at liberty to set

myself against a "all "hen I see him pass: to pros-

trate myself: or to strie my forehead against the

ground: according to the custom of the countryJ

but if there is a company of a hundred tyrants: I

am liable to repeat this ceremony a hundred times

a day: "hich is very tiresome to those "ho have

not supple joints0 If I have a farm in the neighbor-

hood of one of our lords: I am crushed J if I com-

plain against a relative of the relatives of any one

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of our lords: I am ruined0 9o" must I act0! I fear

that in this "orld "e are reduced to being either

the anvil or the hammer J happy at least is he "ho

escapes this alternative0

 +,)46+0

.+,)466O2:. formerly .he "ho had contrived to

dra" the principal authority to himself. J as .ing:.

.8asileus:. signiKed .he "ho "as charged "ith re-

lating aNairs to the senate0. +he acceptations of

"ords change "ith time0 .Idiot. at Krst meant only

a hermit: an isolated man J in time it became synony-

mous "ith fool0 4t present the name of .tyrant. is

given to a usurper: or to a ing "ho commits vio-

lent and unjust actions0

#rom"ell "as a tyrant of both these inds0 4

citi@en "ho usurps the supreme authority: "ho in

spite of all la"s suppresses the house of peers: is

DSF (hilosophical

"ithout doubt a usurper0 4 general "ho cuts the

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throat of a ing: his prisoner of "ar: at once violates

"hat is called the la"s of nations: and those of

humanity0

#harles I0 "as not a tyrant: though the victorious

faction gave him that name J he "as: it is said: ob-

stinate: "ea: and ill-advised0 I "ill not be certain:

for I did not no" him J but I am certain that he

"as very unfortunate0

9enry 3III0 "as a tyrant in his government as

in his family: and alie covered "ith the blood of

t"o innocent "ives: and that of the most virtuous

citi@ensJ he merits the eecrations of posterity0

 ,et he "as not punished: and #harles I0 died on a

scaNold0

li@abeth committed an act of tyranny: and her

parliament one of infamous "eaness: in causing

Aueen ?ary 2tuart to be assassinated by an eecu-

tionerJ but in the rest of her government she "as

not tyrannical J she "as clever and maneuvering:

but prudent and strong0

)ichard III0 "as a barbarous tyrant J but he "as

punished0 (ope 4leander 3I0 "as a more ee-

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crable tyrant than any of these: and he "as fortunate

in all his undertaings0 #hristian II0 "as as "iced

a tyrant as 4leander 3I0: and "as punished: but

not suMciently so0

If "e "ere to recon +urish: 7ree: and )oman

tyrants: "e should Knd as many fortunate as the

contrary0 hen I say fortunate: I spea according

5ictionary0 DS&

to the vulgar prejudice: the ordinary acceptation of

the "ord: according to appearances J for that they

can be really happy: that their minds can be con-

tented and tranuil: appears to me to be impossible0

#onstantine the 7reat "as evidently a tyrant in

a double sense0 In the north of ngland he usurped

the cro"n of the )oman mpire: at the head of

some foreign legions: not"ithstanding all the la"s:

and in spite of the senate and the people: "ho legiti-

mately elected ?aentius0 9e passed all his life

in crime: voluptuousness: fraud: and imposture0 9e

"as not punished: but "as he happy ! 7od no"s J

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but I no" that his subjects "ere not so0

 +he great +heodosius "as the most abominable

of tyrants: "hen: under pretence of giving a feast:

he caused Kfteen thousand )oman citi@ens to be

murdered in the circus: "ith their "ives and chil-

dren: and "hen he added to this horror the facetious-

ness of passing some months "ithout going to tire

himself at high mass0 +his +heodosius has almost

been placed in the rans of the blessed J but I should

be very sorry if he "ere happy on earth0 In all

cases it "ould be "ell to assure tyrants that they

"ill never be happy in this "orld: as it is "ell to

mae our ste"ards and coos believe that they "ill

be eternally damned if they rob us0

 +he tyrants of the Lo"er 7ree mpire "ere

almost all dethroned or assassinated by one another0

4ll these great oNenders "ere by turns the ee-

cutioners of human and divine vengeance0 4mong

DSG (hilosophical

the +urish tyrants: "e see as many deposed as

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those "ho die in possession of the throne0 ith

regard to subaltern tyrants: or the lo"er order of

monsters "ho burden their masters "ith the eecra-

tion "ith "hich they are loaded: the number of these

9amans: these 2ejanuses: is inKnite0

U6I3)2I+,0

5u 8OUL4,: in his .9istory of the University of

(aris:. adopts the old: uncertain: not to say fabu-

lous tradition: "hich carries its origin to the time

of #harlemagne0 It is true that such is the opinion

of 7uagin and of 7illes de 8eauvais J but in addition

to the fact that contemporary authors: as ginhard:

4lmon: )eginon: and 2igebert mae no mention of

this establishmentJ (asuier and 5u +illet e-

pressly assert that it commenced in the t"elfth cen-

tury under the reigns of Louis the ,oung and of

(hilip 4ugustus0

?oreover: the Krst statutes of the university "ere

dra"n up by )obert de #oceon: legate of the pope:

in the year D'D%: "hich proves that it received from

the Krst the form it retains at presentJ because a

bull of 7regory IC0: of the year D'SD: maes men-

tion of masters of theology: masters of la": physi-

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cians: and lastly: artists0 +he name .university.

originated in the supposition that these four bodies:

termed faculties: constituted a universality of stud-

ies J that is to say: that they comprehended all "hich

could be cultivated0

5ictionary0 DS$

 +he popes: by the means of these establishments:

of the decisions of "hich they made themselves

 judges: became masters of the instruction of the

peopleJ and the same spirit "hich made the per-

mission granted to the members of the (arliament

of (aris to inter themselves in the habits of #or-

deliers: be regarded as an especial favor as related

in the article on .Auete. dictated the decrees

pronounced by that sovereign court against all

"ho dared to oppose an unintelligible scholastic sys-

tem: "hich: according to the confession of the abbe

 +riteme: "as only a false science that had vitiated

religion0 In fact: that "hich #onstantine had only

insinuated "ith respect to the #umaean 2ibyl: has

been epressly asserted of 4ristotle0 #ardinal (al-

lavicini supported the maim of I no" not "hat

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mon (aul: "ho pleasantly observed: that "ithout

4ristotle the #hurch "ould have been deKcient in

some of her articles of faith0

 +hus the celebrated )amus: having composed

t"o "ors in "hich he opposed the doctrine of

4ristotle taught in the universities: "ould have been

sacriKced to the fury of his ignorant rival: had not

1ing rancis I0 referred to his o"n judgment the

process commenced in (aris bet"een )amus and

4nthony 7ovea0 One of the principal complaints

against )amus related to the manner in "hich he

taught his disciples to pronounce the letter A0

)amus "as not the only disputant persecuted for

these grave absurdities0 In the year DF'H: the (ar-

DHE (hilosophical

liament of (aris banished from its district three

persons "ho "ished to maintain theses openly

against 4ristotle0 very person "as forbidden to

sell or to circulate the propositions contained in

these theses: on pain of corporal punishment: or to

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5ictionary0 DHD

hat "e have observed of the university of

(aris: may serve to give us an idea of other uni-

versities: of "hich it "as regarded as the model0

In fact: in imitation of it: eighty universities passed

the same decree as the 2orbonne in the fourteenth

century J to "it: that "hen the cap of a doctor "as

besto"ed: the candidate should be made to s"ear

that he "ill maintain the immaculate conception of

the 3irgin ?aryJ "hich he did not regard: ho"-

ever: as an article of faith: but as a #atholic and

pious opinion0

U24720

#ontemptible #ustoms do not 4l"ays Imply a

#ontemptible 6ation0

 +9) are cases in "hich "e must not judge of

a nation by its usages and popular superstitions0

2uppose #aesar: after having conuered gypt:

"ishing to mae commerce ourish in the )oman

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mpire: had sent an embassy to #hina by the port

of 4rsinoe: the )ed 2ea and Indian Ocean0 +he

emperor ,venti: the Krst of the name: then reigned

in #hinaJ the #hinese annals represent him to us

as a very "ise and learned prince0 4fter receiving

the ambassadors of #aesar "ith all #hinese polite-

ness: he secretly informs himself through his in-

terpreter of the customs: the usages: sciences: and

religion of the )oman people: as celebrated in the

est as the #hinese people are in the ast0 9e

Krst learns that their priests have regulated their

DH' (hilosophical

years in so absurd a manner: that the sun has

already entered the celestial signs of 2pring "hen

the )omans celebrate the Krst feasts of inter0 9e

learns that this nation at a great epense supports

a college of priests: "ho no" eactly the time in

"hich they must embar: and "hen they should

give battle: by the inspection of a bulloc;s liver: or

the manner in "hich fo"ls eat grain0 +his sacred

science "as formerly taught to the )omans by a

little god named +ages: "ho came out of the earth

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in +uscany0 +hese people adore a supreme and

only 7od: "hom they al"ays call a very great and

very good 7od J yet they have built a temple to a

courtesan named lora: and the good "omen of

)ome have almost all little gods (enates in their

houses: about four or Kve inches high0 One of

these little divinities is the goddess of bosoms:

another that of posteriors0 +hey have even a divin-

ity "hom they call the god (et0 +he emperor

 ,venti began to laugh J and the tribunals of 6anin

at Krst thin "ith him that the )oman ambassadors

are naves or impostors: "ho have taen the title

of envoys of the )oman )epublic J but as the em-

peror is as just as he is polite: he has particular

conversations "ith them0 9e then learns that the

)oman priests "ere very ignorant: but that #aesar

actually reformed the calendar0 +hey confess to

him that the college of augurs "as established in

the time of their early barbarity: that they have

allo"ed this ridiculous institution: become dear to

5ictionary0 DHS

a people long ignorant: to eist: but that all sensible

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people laugh at the augursJ that #aesar never con-

sulted them J that: according to the account of a

very great man named #ato: no augur could ever

loo another in the face "ithout laughingJ and

Knally: that #icero: the greatest orator and best

philosopher of )ome: "rote a little "or against

the augurs: entitled .Of 5ivination:. in "hich he

delivers up to eternal ridicule all the predictions

and sorceries of soothsayers "ith "hich the earth

is infatuated0 +he emperor of #hina has the curi-

osity to read this boo of #iceroJ the interpreters

translate it J and in conseuence he admires at once

the boo and the )oman )epublic

34?(I)20

94+ P is it in our eighteenth century that vam-

pires eist ! Is it after the reigns of Loce: 2haftes-

bury: +renchard: and #ollins! Is it under those of

d;4lembert: 5iderot: 2t0 Lambert: and 5uclos that

"e believe in vampires: and that the reverend father

5om #almet: 8enedictine priest of the congregation

of 2t0 3annes: and 2t0 9idulphe: abbe of 2enon

an abbey of a hundred thousand livres a year: in

the neighborhood of t"o other abbeys of the same

revenue has printed and reprinted the history of

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vampires: "ith the approbation of the 2orbonne:

signed ?arcilli!

 +hese vampires "ere corpses: "ho "ent out of

thir graves at night to suc the blood of the living:

DHH (hilosophical

either at their throats or stomachs: after "hich they

returned to their cemeteries0 +he persons so suced

"aned: gre" pale: and fell into consumption J "hile

the sucing corpses gre" fat: got rosy: and enjoyed

an ecellent appetite0 It "as in (oland: 9ungary:

2ilesia: ?oravia: 4ustria: and Lorraine: that the

dead made this good cheer0 e never heard a "ord

of vampires in London: nor even at (aris0 I confess

that in both these cities there "ere stoc-jobbers:

broers: and men of business: "ho suced the blood

of the people in broad daylight J but they "ere not

dead: though corrupted0 +hese true sucers lived

not in cemeteries: but in very agreeable palaces0

ho "ould believe that "e derive the idea of

vampires from 7reece! 6ot from the 7reece of

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4leander: 4ristotle: (lato: picurus: and 5emos-

thenesJ but from #hristian 7reece: unfortunately

schismatic0 or a long time #hristians of the 7ree

rite have imagined that the bodies of #hristians of

the Latin church: buried in 7reece: do not decay:

because they are ecommunicated0 +his is pre-

cisely the contrary to that of us #hristians of the

Latin church: "ho believe that corpses "hich do not

corrupt are mared "ith the seal of eternal beati-

tude0 2o much so: indeed: that "hen "e have paid

a hundred thousand cro"ns to )ome: to give them a

saint;s brevet: "e adore them "ith the "orship of

.rKfe0.

 +he 7rees are persuaded that these dead are

sorcerersJ they call them .broucolacas:. or .vrou-

5ictionary0 DH%

colacas:. according as they pronounce the second

letter of the alphabet0 +he 7ree corpses go into

houses to suc the blood of little children: to eat

the supper of the fathers and mothers: drin their

"ine: and brea all the furniture0 +hey can only

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be put to rights by burning them "hen they are

caught0 8ut the precaution must be taen of not

putting them into the Kre until after their hearts are

torn out: "hich must be burned separately0 +he

celebrated +ournefort: sent;into the Levant by Louis

CI30: as "ell as so many other virtuosi: "as "it-

ness of all the acts attributed to one of these .brou-

colacas:. and to this ceremony0

4fter slander: nothing is communicated more

promptly than superstition: fanaticism: sorcery: and

tales of those raised from the dead0 +here "ere

.broucolacas. in allachia: ?oldavia: and some

among the (olanders: "ho are of the )omish

church0 +his superstition being absent: they ac-

uired it: and it "ent through all the east of 7er-

many0 6othing "as spoen of but vampires: from

D&SE to D&S% J they "ere laid in "ait for: their

hearts torn out and burned0 +hey resembled the

ancient martyrs the more they "ere burned: the

more they abounded0

inally: #almet became their historian: and

treated vampires as he treated the Old and 6e"

 +estaments: by relating faithfully all that has been

said before him0

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 +he most curious things: in my opinion: "ere the

3ol0 DH DE

DHF (hilosophical

verbal suits juridically conducted: concerning the

dead "ho "ent from their tombs to suc the little

boys and girls of their neighborhood0 #almet re-

lates that in 9ungary t"o oMcers: delegated by the

emperor #harles 3I0: assisted by the bailiN of the

place and an eecutioner: held an inuest on a vam-

pire: "ho had been dead si "ees: and "ho had

suced all the neighborhood0 +hey found him in

his coMn: fresh and jolly: "ith his eyes open: and

asing for food0 +he bailiN passed his sentenceJ

the eecutioner tore out the vampire;s heart: and

burned it: after "hich he feasted no more0

ho: after this: dares to doubt of the resuscitated

dead: "ith "hich our ancient legends are Klled: and

of all the miracles related by 8ollandus: and the sin-

cere and revered 5om )uinart! ,ou "ill Knd

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stories of vampires in the .>e"ish Letters. of

d;4rgens: "hom the >esuit authors of the .>ournal

of +revou. have accused of believing nothing0 It

should be observed ho" they triumph in the history

of the vampire of 9ungary J ho" they thaned 7od

and the 3irgin for having at last converted this

poor d;4rgens: the chamberlain of a ing "ho

did not believe in vampires0 .8ehold:. said they:

.this famous unbeliever: "ho dared to thro" doubts

on the appearance of the angel to the 9oly 3irgin J

on the star "hich conducted the magi J on the cure

of the possessed J on the immersion of t"o thousand

s"ine in a laeJ on an eclipse of the sun at the

full moon J on the resurrection of the dead "ho

5ictionary0 DH&

"aled in >erusalem his heart is softened: his mind

is enlightened J he believes in vampires0.

 +here no longer remained any uestion: but to

eamine "hether all these dead "ere raised by their

o"n virtue: by the po"er of 7od: or by that of the

devil0 2everal great theologians of Lorraine: of

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?oravia: and 9ungary: displayed their opinions

and their science0 +hey related all that 2t0 4u-

gustine: 2t0 4mbrose: and so many other saints: had

most unintelligibly said on the living and the dead0

 +hey related all the miracles of 2t0 2tephen: "hich

are found in the seventh boo of the "ors of 2t0

4ugustine0 +his is one of the most curious of

them = In the city of 4ub@al in 4frica: a young man

"as crushed to death by the ruins of a "all J the

"ido" immediately invoed 2t0 2tephen: to "hom

she "as very much devoted0 2t0 2tephen raised

him0 9e "as ased "hat he had seen in the other

"orld0 .2irs:. said he: ."hen my soul uitted my

body: it met an inKnity of souls: "ho ased it more

uestions about this "orld than you do of the other0

I "ent I no" not "hither: "hen I met 2t0 2tephen:

"ho said to me: ;7ive bac that "hich thou hast re-

ceived0; I ans"ered: ;hat should I give bac ! you

have given me nothing0; 9e repeated three times:

;7ive bac that "hich thou hast received0; +hen I

comprehended that he spoe of the credo J I repeated

my credo to him: and suddenly he raised me0. 4bove

all: they uoted the stories related by 2ulpicius

2everus: in the life of 2t0 ?artin0 +hey proved that

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DHG (hilosophical

2t0 ?artin: "ith some others: raised up a condemned

soul0

8ut all these stories: ho"ever true they might

be: had nothing in common "ith the vampires "ho

rose to suc the blood of their neighbors: and after-

"ards replaced themselves in their coMns0 +hey

looed if they could not Knd in the Old +estament:

or in the mythology: some vampire "hom they

could uote as an eampleJ but they found none0

It "as proved: ho"ever: that the dead dran and

ate: since in so many ancient nations food "as

placed on their tombs0

 +he diMculty "as to no" "hether it "as the

soul or the body of the dead "hich ate0 It "as de-

cided that it "as both0 5elicate and unsubstantial

things: as s"eetmeats: "hipped cream: and melting

fruits: "ere for the soul: and roast beef and the lie

"ere for the body0

 +he ings of (ersia "ere: said they: the Krst "ho

caused themselves to be served "ith viands after

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their death0 4lmost all the ings of the present

day imitate them J but they are the mons "ho eat

their dinner and supper: and drin their "ine0

 +hus: properly speaing: ings are not vampires J

the true vampires are the mons: "ho eat at the e-

pense of both ings and people0

It is very true that 2t0 2tanislaus: "ho had

bought a considerable estate from a (olish gentle-

man: and not paid him for it: being brought before

1ing 8oleslaus by his heirs: raised up the gentleman J

5ictionary0 DH$

but this "as solely to get uittance0 It is not said

that he gave a single glass of "ine to the seller: "ho

returned to the other "orld "ithout having eaten

or drun0 +hey after"ards treated of the grand

uestion: "hether a vampire could be absolved "ho

died ecommunicated: "hich comes more to the

point0

I am not profound enough in theology to give

my opinion on this subjectJ but I "ould "illingly

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be for absolution: because in all doubtful aNairs "e

should tae the mildest part0 .Odia restringtnda:

favores ampliandi0.

 +he result of all this is that a great part of u-

rope has been infested "ith vampires for Kve or si

years: and that there are no" no moreJ that "e

have had #onvulsionaries in rance for t"enty

years: and that "e have them no longerJ that "e

have had demoniacs for seventeen hundred years:

but have them no longerJ that the dead have been

raised ever since the days of 9ippolytus: but that

they are raised no longer J and: lastly: that "e have

had >esuits in 2pain: (ortugal: rance: and the t"o

2icilies: but that "e have them no longer0

3L+)I:

4 2mall +o"n of Umbria: 6ine Leagues from

)omeJ and: Incidentally: of the 5ivinity of

4ugustus0

 +9O2 "ho love the study of history are glad to

understand by "hat title a citi@en of 3eletri gov-

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D %E (hilosophical

erned an empire: "hich etended from ?ount

 +aurus to ?ount 4tlas: and from the uphrates to

the estern Ocean0 It "as not as perpetual dictator J

this title had been too fatal to >ulius #aesar: and

4ugustus bore it only eleven days0 +he fear of

perishing lie his predecessor: and the counsels of

4grippa: induced him to tae other measuresJ he

insensibly concentrated in his o"n person all the

dignities of the republic0 +hirteen consulates: the

tribunate rene"ed in his favor every ten years: the

name of prince of the senate: that of imperator:

"hich at Krst signiKed only the general of an army:

but to "hich it "as no"n ho" to besto" a more

etensive signiKcation such "ere the titles "hich

appeared to legitimate his po"er0

 +he senate lost nothing by his honors: but pre-

served even its most etensive rights0 4ugustus

divided "ith it all the provinces of the empire: but

retained the principal for himselfJ Knally: he "as

master of the public treasury and the soldiery: and

in fact sovereign0

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hat is more strange: >ulius #aesar having been

enrolled among the gods after his death: 4ugustus

"as ordained god "hile living0 It is true he "as

not altogether a god in )ome: but he "as so in the

provinces: "here he had temples and priests0 +he

abbey of 4inai at Lyons "as a Kne temple of 4u-

gustus0 9orace says to him= .>urandasue tuum

per nomen ponintus aras0. +hat is to say: among

the )omans eisted courtiers so Knished as to have

5ictionary0 D%D

small altars in their houses dedicated to 4ugustus0

9e "as therefore canonised during his life: and the

name of god divus became the title or nicname

of all the succeeding emperors0 #aligula consti-

tuted himself a god "ithout diMculty: and "as "or-

shipped in the temple of #astor and (olluJ his

statue "as placed bet"een those of the t"ins: and

they sacriKced to him peacocs: pheasants: and

6umidian fo"ls: until he ended by immolating him-

self0 6ero bore the name of god: before he "as

condemned by the senate to suNer the punishment

of a slave0

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e are not to imagine that the name of .god.

signiKed: in regard to these monsters: that "hich

"e understand by itJ the blasphemy could not be

carried uite so far0 .5ivus. precisely ans"ers to

.sanctus0. +he 4ugustan list of proscriptions and

the Klthy epigram against ulvia: are not the pro-

ductions of a divinity0

 +here "ere t"elve conspiracies against this god:

if "e include the pretended plot of #inna J but none

of them succeeded J and of all the "retches "ho

have usurped divine honors: 4ugustus "as doubt-

less the most unfortunate0 It "as he: indeed: "ho

actually terminated the )oman )epublic J for #aesar

"as dictator only si months: and 4ugustus reigned

forty years0 It "as during his reign that manners

changed "ith the government0 +he armies: for-

merly composed of the )oman legions and people of

Italy: "ere in the end made up from all the bar-

D %' (hilosophical

barians: "ho naturally enough placed emperors of

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their o"n country on the throne0

In the third century they raised up thirty tyrants

at one time: of "hom some "ere natives of +ransyl-

vania: others of 7aul: 8ritain: and 7ermany0 5io-

cletian "as the son of a 5almatian slave J ?aimian

9ercules: a peasant of 2irmiJ and +heodosius: a

native of 2pain not then civili@ed0

e no" ho" the )oman mpire "as Knally de-

stroyedJ ho" the +urs have subjugated one half:

and ho" the name of the other still subsists among

the ?arcomans on the shores of the 5anube0 +he

most singular of all its revolutions: ho"ever: and

the most astonishing of all spectacles: is the manner

in "hich its capital is governed and inhabited at this

moment

: 364LI+,0

 +9 forger of "hom "e have spoen so much:

"ho made the testament of #ardinal )ichelieu: says

in chapter iv0 = .+hat it "ould be much better to

allo" venality and the ;droit annuel; to continue to

eist: than to abolish these t"o establishments:

"hich are not to be changed suddenly "ithout sha-

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ing the state0.

4ll rance repeated: and believed they repeated

after #ardinal )ichelieu: that the sale of oMces of

 judicature "as very advantageous0 +he abbe de

2t0 (ierre "as the Krst "ho: still believing that the

pretended testament "as the cardinal;s: dared to say

5ictionary0 D%S

in his observation on chapter iv0 = .+he cardinal en-

gaged himself on a bad subject: in maintaining that

the sale of places can be advantageous to the state0

It is true that it is not possible to other"ise reim-

burse all the charges0.

 +hus this abuse appeared to everybody: not only

unreformable: but useful0 +hey "ere so accustomed

to this opprobrium that they did not feel it J it seemed

eternalJ yet a single man in a fe" months has

overthro"n it0 Let us therefore repeat: that all may

be done: all may be corrected J that the great fault

of almost all "ho govern: is having but half "ills

and half means0 If (eter the 7reat had not "illed

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strongly: t"o thousand leagues of country "ould

still be barbarous0

9o" can "e give "ater in (aris to thirty thou-

sand houses "hich "ant it! 9o" can "e pay the

debts of the state! 9o" can "e thro" oN the

dreaded tyranny of a foreign po"er: "hich is not a

po"er: and to "hich "e pay the Krst fruits as a

tribute! 5are to "ish it: and you "ill arrive at

your object more easily than you etirpated the

 >esuits: and purged the theatre of petits-maitres0

36I#J

4nd: Incidentally: of Liberty0

6o (O) can reproach the 3enetians "ith

having acuired their liberty by revoltJ none can

say to them: I have freed you here is the diploma

of your manumission0

D %H (hilosophical

 +hey have not usurped their rights: as #aesar

usurped empire: or as so many bishops: commencing

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"ith that of )ome: have usurped royal rights0 +hey

are lords of 3enice if "e dare use the audacious

comparison as 7od is Lord of the earth: because

9e founded it0

4ttila: "ho never too the title of the scourge of

7od: ravaged Italy0 9e had as much right to do

so: as #harlemagne the 4ustrasian: 4rnold the #or-

inthian 8astard: 7uy: due of 2poleto: 8erenger:

maruis of riuli: or the bishops "ho "ished to

mae themselves sovereigns of it0

In this time of military and ecclesiastical rob-

beries: 4ttila passed as a vulture: and the 3enetians

saved themselves in the sea as ingKshers: "hich

none assist or protect J they mae their nest in the

midst of the "aters: they enlarge it: they people it:

they defend it: they enrich it0 I as if it is possible

to imagine a more just possession! Our father

4dam: "ho is supposed to have lived in that Kne

country of ?esopotamia: "as not more justly lord

and gardener of terrestrial paradise0

I have read the .2uittinio della libertd: di 3ene-

@ia:. and I am indignant at it0 hat P 3enice could

not be originally free: because the 7ree emperors:

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superstitious: "ea: "iced: and barbarous: said

 +his ne" to"n has been built on our ancient terri-

toryJ and because a 7erman: having the title of

mperor of the est: says= +his to"n being in

the est: is of our domain !

5ictionary0 D%%

It seems to me lie a ying-Ksh: pursued at once

by a falcon and a shar: but "hich escapes both0

2anna@arius "as very right in saying: in compar-

ing )ome and 3enice = .Illam homines dices: hanc

posuisse deos0. )ome lost: by #aesar: at the end

of Kve hundred years: its liberty acuired by 8ru-

tus0 3enice has preserved hers for eleven centu-

ries: and I hope she "ill al"ays do so0

7enoa P "hy dost thou boast of sho"ing the grant

of a 8erenger: "ho gave thee privileges in the year

$%G! e no" that concessions of privileges are

but titles of servitude0 4nd this is a Kne title P0 the

charter of a passing tyrant: "ho "as never properly

acno"ledged in Italy: and "ho "as driven from it

t"o years after the date of the charter P

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 +he true charter of liberty is independence: main-

tained by force0 It is "ith the point of the s"ord

that diplomas should be signed securing this natural

prerogative0 +hou hast lost: more than once: thy

privilege and thy strong bo: since D&HG = it is neces-

sary to tae care of both0 9appy 9elvetia P to "hat

charter o"est thou thy liberty ! +o thy courage: thy

Krmness: and thy mountains0 8ut I am thy emperor0

8ut I "ill have thee be so no longer0 +hy fathers

have been the slaves of my fathers0 It is for that

reason that their children "ill not serve thee0 8ut

I have the right attached to my dignity0 4nd "e

have the right of nature0

hen had the 2even United (rovinces this in-

contestable right! 4t the moment in "hich they

D%F (hilosophical

"ere united J and from that time (hilip II0 "as the

rebel0 hat a great man "as illiam: prince of

Orange= he found them slaves: and he made them

free men P hy is liberty so rare ! 8ecause it is the

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Krst of blessings0

3)20

I+ is easy to "rite in prose: but very diMcult to

be a poet0 ?ore than one .prosateur. has aNected

to despise poetry J in reference to "hich propensity:

"e may call to mind the bon-mot of ?ontaigne=

.e cannot attain to poetryJ let us revenge our-

selves by abusing it0.

e have already remared: that ?ontesuieu:

being unable to succeed in verse: professed: in his

.(ersian Letters:. to discover no merit in 3irgil or

9orace0 +he elouent 8ossuet endeavored to mae

verses: but they "ere detestable J he too care: ho"-

ever: not to declaim against great poets0

enelon scarcely made better verses than 8os-

suet: but ne" by heart all the Kne poetry of an-

tiuity0 9is mind "as full of it: and he continually

uotes it in his letters0

It appears to me: that there never eisted a truly

elouent man "ho did not love poetry0 I "ill simply

cite: for eample: #aesar and #icero J the one com-

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posed a tragedy on #dipus: and "e have pieces of

poetry by the latter "hich might pass among the

best that preceded Lucretius: 3irgil: and 9orace0

4 certain 4bbe +rublet has printed: that he can-

5ictionary0 D%&

not read a poem at once from beginning to end0 In-

deed: ?r0 4bbeP but "hat can "e read: "hat can

"e understand: "hat can "e do: for a long time to-

gether: any more than poetry!

3I46520

orbidden 3iands: 5angerous 3iands0 4 short

amination of >e"ish and #hristian (recepts:

and of those of the 4ncient (hilosophers0

.3I465. comes no doubt from .victus. that

"hich nourishes and sustains life= from victus "as

formed viventiaJ from viventa: .viand0. +his "ord

should be applied to all that is eaten: but by the

caprice of all languages: the custom has prevailed of

refusing this denomination to bread: mil: rice:

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pulses: fruits: and Ksh: and of giving it only to ter-

restrial animals0 +his seems contrary to reason: but

it is the fancy of all languages: and of those "ho

formed them0

2ome of the Krst #hristians made a scruple of eat-

ing that "hich had been oNered to the gods: of

"hatever nature it might be0 2t0 (aul approved not

of this scruple0 9e "rites to the #orinthians=

.?eat commendeth us not to 7od= for neither if

"e eat are "e the better J neither if "e eat not: are

"e the "orse0. 9e merely ehorts them not to eat

viands immolated to the gods: before those brothers

"ho might be scandali@ed at it0 e see not: after

that: "hy he so ill-treats 2t0 (eter: and reproaches

him "ith having eaten forbidden viands "ith the

D%G (hilosophical

7entiles0 e see else"here: in the 4cts of the

4postles: that 2imon (eter "as authori@ed to eat

of all indiNerently J for he one day sa" the Krma-

ment open: and a great sheet descending by the four

corners from heaven to earth J it "as covered "ith

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all inds of four-footed beasts: "ith all inds of

birds and reptiles or animals "hich s"im and a

voice cried to him = .1ill and eat0.

 ,ou "ill remar: that Lent and fast-days "ere

not then instituted0 6othing is ever done: ecept

by degrees0 e can here say: for the consolation

of the "ea: that the uarrel of 2t0 (eter and 2t0

(aul should not alarm us = saints are men0 (aul

commenced by being the jailer: and even the ee-

cutioner: of the disciples of >esus J (eter had denied

 >esusJ and "e have seen that the da"ning: suf-

fering: militant: triumphant church has al"ays been

divided: from the bionites to the >esuits0

I thin that the 8rahmins: so anterior to the

 >e"s: might "ell have been divided alsoJ but they

"ere the Krst "ho imposed on themselves the la" of

not eating any animal0 4s they believed that souls

passed and repassed from human bodies to those of

beasts: they "ould not eat their relatives0 (erhaps

their best reason "as the fear of accustoming men

to carnage: and inspiring them "ith ferocious man-

ners0

e no" that (ythagoras: "ho studied geom-

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etry and morals among them: embraced this humane

doctrine: and brought it into Italy0 9is disciples

5ictionary0 D%$

follo"ed it a very long time = the celebrated philoso-

phers: (lotinus: >amblicus: and (orphyry: recom-

mended and even practised it though it is very rare

to practise "hat is preached0 +he "or of (orphyry

on abstinence from meat: "ritten in the middle of

our third century: and very "ell translated into our

language by ?0 de 8urigni: is very much esteemed

by the learned J but it has not made more disciples

among us than the boo of the physician 9euet0

It is in vain that (orphyry proposes: as models:

the 8rahmins and (ersian magi of the Krst class:

"ho had a horror of the custom of burying the en-

trails of other creatures in our o"n J he is not no"

follo"ed by the fathers of La +rappe0 +he "or

of (orphyry is addressed to one of his ancient dis-

ciples: named irmus: "ho: it is said: turned #hris-

tian: to have the liberty of eating meat and drining

"ine0

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9e sho"s irmus: that in abstaining from meat

and strong liuors: "e preserve the health of the soul

and body J that "e live longer: and more innocently0

4ll his reections are those of a scrupulous theolo-

gian: of a rigid philosopher: and of a mild and sensi-

ble mind0 e might thin: in reading his "or:

that this great enemy of the church "as one of its

fathers0

9e speas not of metempsychosis: but he regards

animals as our brethren: because they are animated

lie ourselvesJ they have the same principles of

lifeJ they have: as "ell as ourselves: ideas: senti-

DFE (hilosophical

ment: memory: and industry0 +hey "ant but speech J

if they had it: should "e dare to ill and eat them J

should "e dare to commit these fratricides ! here

is the barbarian "ho "ould roast a lamb: if it con-

 jured him by an aNecting speech not to become at

once an assassin: an anthropophagus !

 +his boo proves: at least: that among the 7en-

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tiles there "ere philosophers of the most austere

virtue J but they could not prevail against butchers

and gluttons0 It is to be remared: that (orphyry

maes a very Kne eulogium on the ssenians = he is

Klled "ith veneration for them: although they some-

times eat meat0 9e "as for "hoever "as the most

virtuous: "hether ssenians: (ythagoreans: 2toics:

or #hristians0 hen sects are formed of a small

number: their manners are pure J and they degene-

rate in proportion as they become po"erful0 Lust:

gaming: and luury then prevail: and all the virtues

y a"ay=

La gola t it dado e f otiose piume

9anno daf mondo ogni virtu sbandita0

3I)+U0

0 2#+IO6 I0

I+ is said of ?arcus 8rutus: that before illing

himself: he pronounced these "ords = .Oh: 3irtue P

I believed that thou "ert something: but thou art

only a vile phantom P.

 +hou "ast right: 8rutus: if thou madest virtue

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consist in being the chief of a party: and the assassin

5ictionary0 DFD

of thy benefactor: of thy father: >ulius #aesar0

9adst thou made virtue to consist only in doing good

to those "ho depended on thee: thou "ouldst not

have called it a phantom: or have illed thyself in

despair0

I am very virtuous: says a miserable ecrement

of theology0 I possess the four cardinal virtues:

and the three theological ones0 4n honest man ass

him= hat are the cardinal virtues! +he other

ans"ers= +hey are fortitude: prudence: temper-

ance: and justice0

9O62+ ?460

If thou art just: thou hast said all0 +hy forti-

tude: prudence: and temperance are useful uali-

ties = if thou possessest them: so much the better for

theeJ but if thou art just: so much the better for

others0 It is not suMcient to be just: thou shouldst

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be beneKcent J this is being truly cardinal0 4nd thy

theological virtues: "hat are they!

 +9OLO7I460

aith: hope: and charity0

9O62+ ?460

Is there virtue in believing! If that "hich thou

believest seems to thee to be true: there is no merit

in believing it J if it seems to thee to be false: it is

impossible for thee to believe it0

9ope should no more be a virtue than fear J "e

fear and "e hope: according to "hat is promised or

threatened us0 4s to charity: is it not that "hich

3ol0 DH ii

D F' (hilosophical

the 7rees and )omans understood by humanity

love of your neighbor! +his love is nothing: if it

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does not act J beneKcence is therefore the only true

virtue0

 +9OLO7I460

hat a foolP ,es: truly: I shall trouble myself

to serve men: if I get nothing in returnP very

trouble merits payment0 I pretend to do no good ac-

tion: ecept to insure myself paradise0

Auis enim virtutem amplectitur: ipsam

(rermia si tollasf >U364L: sat0 0

or: if the gain you tae a"ay:

 +o virtue "ho "ill homage payP

9O62+ ?460

4h: good sir: that is to say: that if you did not

hope for paradise: or fear hell: you "ould never do

a good action0 ,ou uote me lines from >uvenal:

to prove to me that you have only your interest in

vie"0 )acine could at least sho" you: that even in

this "orld "e might Knd our recompense: "hile "ait-

ing for a better =

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Auel plaisir de penser: et de dire en vous-mtme0

(ar tout en ce moment on me be.nit: on maimeP

On ne voit point lepeuple a mon nom s;alarmerJ

Le ciel dans tons levrs pleurs ne m; entend point nommer:

Leur sombre inimitit nefuit point mon visageJ

 >e vois vpler partout les caeurs a mon passage0

 +els ttaient vos plaisirs0

)4#I6: 8ritannicus: act iv: sc0 ii0

9o" great hiJ: pleasure "ho can justly say:

4ll at this moment either bless or love meJ

 +he people at my name betray no fear:

6or in their plaints does heaven e;er hear of meP

 +heir enmity ne;er maes them y my presence:

8ut every heart springs out at my approachP

2uch "ere your pleasuresP

5ictionary0 D FS

8elieve me: doctor: there are t"o things "hich de-

serve to be loved for themselves 7od and 3irtue0

 +9OLO7I460

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4h: sir P you are a enelonist0

9O62+ ?460

 ,es: doctor0

 +9OLO7I460

I "ill inform against you at the tribunal of

?eau0

9O62+ ?460

7o: and inform P

2#+IO6 II0

hat is virtue ! 8eneKcence to"ards your neigh-

bor0 #an I call virtue anything but that "hich does

good P I am indigent: thou art liberal0 I am in dan-

ger: thou succorest me0 I am deceived: thou tellest

me the truth0 I am neglected: thou consolest me0

I am ignorant: thou teachest me0 I can easily call

thee virtuous: but "hat "ill become of the cardinal

and theological virtues! 2ome "ill remain in the

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schools0

hat signiKes it to me "hether thou art tem-

perate! It is a precept of health "hich thou ob-

servestJ thou art the better for itJ I congratulate

thee on it0 +hou hast faith and hope J I congratu-

late thee still moreJ they "ill procure thee eternal

life0 +hy theological virtues are celestial gifts J thy

cardinal ones are ecellent ualities: "hich serve to

DFH (hilosophical

guide theeJ but they are not virtues in relation

to thy neighbor0 +he prudent man does himself

goodJ the virtuous one does it to other men0 2t0

(aul "as right in telling thee: that charity rans

above faith and hope0

8ut ho"P "ilt thou admit of no other virtues

than those "hich are useful to thy neighbor ! 9o"

can I admit any others ! e live in society J there

is therefore nothing truly good for us but that "hich

does good to society0 4n hermit "ill be sober: pious:

and dressed in saccloth= very "ellJ he "ill be

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holy J but I "ill not call him virtuous until he shall

have done some act of virtue by "hich men may have

proKted0 hile he is alone: he is neither beneKcent

nor the contrary J he is nobody to us0 If 2t0 8runo

had made peace in families: if he had assisted the

indigent: he had been virtuous J having fasted and

prayed in solitude: he is only a saint0 3irtue be-

t"een men is a commerce of good actions = he "ho

has no part in this commerce: must not be reconed0

If this saint "ere in the "orld: he "ould doubtless

do good: but "hile he is not in the "orld: "e have

no reason to give him the name of virtuous= he

"ill be good for himself: and not for us0

8ut: say you: if an hermit is gluttonous: drunen:

given up to a secret debauch "ith himself: he is

vicious J he is therefore virtuous: if he has the con-

trary ualities0 I cannot agree to this = he is a very

vile man: if he has the faults of "hich you spea J

but he is not vicious: "iced: or punishable by so-

5ictionary0 DF%

ciety: to "hich his infamies do no harm0 It may be

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presumed: that if he re-enters society: he "ill do

evil to itJ he then "ill be very viciousJ and it is

even more probable that he "ill be a "iced man:

than it is certain that the other temperate and chaste

hermit "ill be a good manJ for in society faults

augment: and good ualities diminish0

4 much stronger objection is made to me= 6ero:

(ope 4leander 3I0: and other monsters of the

ind: have performed good actions0 I reply boldly:

that they "ere virtuous at the time0 2ome theolo-

gians say: that the divine mperor 4ntoninus "as

not virtuous J that he "as an infatuated 2toic: "ho:

not content "ith commanding men: "ould further be

esteemed by them J that he gave himself credit for

the good "hich he did to manind J that he "as all

his life just: laborious: beneKcent: through vanityJ

and that he only deceived men by his virtues0 +o

"hich I eclaim= ?y 7odP often send us such

naves P

3I2IO60

96 I spea of vision: I do not mean the admi-

rable manner in "hich our eyes perceive objects:

and in "hich the pictures of all that "e see are

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painted on the retina a divine picture designed ac-

cording to all the la"s of mathematics: "hich is: con-

seuently: lie everything else from the hand of the

ternal geometrician J in spite of those "ho; eplain

it: and "ho pretend to believe: that the eye is not

D FF (hilosophical

intended to see: the ear to hear: or the feet to "al0

 +his matter has been so learnedly treated by so many

great geniuses: that there is no further remnant to

glean after their harvests0

I do not pretend to spea of the heresy of "hich

(ope >ohn CCII0 "as accused: "ho pretended that

saints "ill not enjoy beatiKc vision until after the

last judgment0 I give up this vision0 ?y subject

is the innumerable multitude of visions "ith "hich

so many holy personages have been favored or tor-

mented J "hich so many idiots are believed to have

seen J "ith "hich so many navish men and "omen

have duped the "orld: either to get the reputation of

being favored by heaven: "hich is very attering:

or to gain money: "hich is still more so to rogues in

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general0

#almet and Langlet have made ample collections

of these visions0 +he most interesting in my opin-

ion is the one "hich has produced the greatest ef-

fects: since it has tended to reform three parts of

the 2"iss that of the young >acobin ,et@er: "ith

"hich I have already amused my dear reader0 +his

 ,et@er: as you no": sa" the 9oly 3irgin and 2t0

8arbara several times: "ho informed him of the

mars of >esus #hrist0 ,ou are not ignorant of

ho" he received: from a >acobin confessor: a host

po"dered "ith arsenic: and ho" the bishop of Lau-

sanne "ould have had him burned for complaining

that he "as poisoned0 ,ou have seen: that these

abominations "ere one of the causes of the mis-

 +9 3I2IO6P

5ictionary0 DF&

fortune "hich happened to the 8ernese: of ceasing

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to be #atholic: 4postolical: and )oman0

I am sorry that I have no visions of this conse-

uence to tell you of0 ,et you "ill confess: that the

vision of the reverend father #ordeliers of Orleans:

in D%SH: approaches the nearest to it: though still

very distant0 +he criminal process "hich it occa-

sioned is still in manuscript in the library of the ing

of rance: 6o0 D&&E0

 +he illustrious house of 2t0 ?emin did great

good to the convent of the #ordeliers: and had their

vault in the church0 +he "ife of a lord of 2t0 ?e-

min: provost of Orleans: being dead: her husband:

believing that his ancestors had suMciently impov-

erished themselves by giving to the mons: gave

the brothers a present "hich did not appear to them

considerable enough0 +hese good ranciscans con-

ceived a plan for disinterring the deceased: to force

the "ido"er to have her buried again in their holy

ground: and to pay them better0 +he project "as

not clever: for the lord of 2t0 ?emin "ould not have

failed to bury her else"here0 8ut folly often mies

"ith navery0

4t Krst: the soul of the lady of 2t0 ?emin ap-

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peared only to t"o brothers0 2he said to them=

.I am damned: lie >udas: because my husband has

not given suMcient0. +he t"o naves "ho related

these "ords perceived not: that they must do more

harm to the convent than good0 +he aim of the

convent "as to etort money from the lord of 2t0

D FG (hilosophical

?emin: for the repose of his "ife;s soul0 6o": if

?adame de 2t0 ?emin "as damned: all the money

in the "orld could not save her0 +hey got no

moreJ the #ordeliers lost their labor0

4t this time there "as very little good sense in

rance= the nation had been brutali@ed by the in-

vasion of the rans: and after"ards by the inva-

sion of scholastic theology J but in Orleans there

"ere some persons "ho reasoned0 If the 7reat

8eing permitted the soul of ?adame de 2t0 ?emin

to appear to t"o ranciscans: it "as not natural:

they thought: for this soul to declare itself damned

lie >udas0 +his comparison appeared to them to

be unnatural0 +his lady had not sold our Lord

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 >esus #hrist for thirty deniers J she "as not hanged J

her intestines had not obtruded themselvesJ and

there "as not the slightest pretet for comparing

her to >udas0

 +his caused suspicionJ and the rumor "as still

greater in Orleans: because there "ere already her-

etics there "ho believed not in certain visions: and

"ho: in admitting absurd principles: did not al"ays

fail to dra" good conclusions0 +he #ordeliers:

therefore: changed their battery: and put the lady in

purgatory0

2he therefore appeared again: and declared that

purgatory "as her lot J but she demanded to be dis-

interred0 It "as not the custom to disinter those in

purgatoryJ but they hoped that ?0 de 2t0 ?e-

min "ould prevent this etraordinary aNront: by

5ictionary0 DF$

giving money0 +his demand of being thro"n out

of the church augmented the suspicions0 It "as "ell

no"n: that souls often appeared: but they never de-

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manded to be disinterred0

rom this time the soul spoe no more: but it

haunted everybody in the convent and church0 +he

brother #ordeliers eorcised it0 8rother (eter of

4rras adopted a very a""ard manner of conjuring

it0 9e said to it = .If thou art the soul of the late

?adame de 2t0 ?emin: strie four nocs J. and the

four nocs "ere struc0 .If thou are damned: strie

si nocs J. and the si nocs "ere struc0 .If

thou art still tormented in hell: because thy body is

buried in holy ground: noc si more times J. and

the other si nocs "ere heard still more distinctly0

.If "e disinter thy body: and cease praying to 7od

for thee: "ilt thou be the less damned ! 2trie Kve

nocs to certify it to us J. and the soul certiKed it

by Kve nocs0

 +his interrogation of the soul: made by (eter of

4rras: "as signed by t"enty-t"o #ordeliers: at the

head of "hich "as the reverend father provincial0

 +his father provincial the net day ased it the same

uestions: and received the same ans"ers0

It "ill be said: that the soul having declared

that it "as in purgatory: the #ordeliers should not

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have supposed that it "as in hell J but it is not my

fault if theologians contradict one another0

 +he lord of 2t0 ?emin presented a reuest to the

ing against the father #ordeliers0 +hey presented

i jo (hilosophical

a reuest on their sides J the ing appointed judges:

at the head of "hom "as 4drian umee: master of

reuests0

 +he procureur-general of the commission re-

uired that the said #ordeliers should be burned:

but the sentence only condemned them to mae the

.amende honorable. "ith a torch in their bosom:

and to be banished from the ingdom0 +his sen-

tence is of ebruary DG: D%S%0

4fter such a vision: it is useless to relate any

others= they are all a species either of navery or

folly0 3isions of the Krst ind are under the prov-

ince of justice J those of the second are either vis-

ions of diseased fools: or of fools in good health0

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 +he Krst belong to medicine: the second to 8edlam0

3I2IO6 O #O62+46+I60

7)43 theologians have not failed to allege a

specious reason to maintain the truth of the appear-

ance of the cross in heaven J but "e are going to

sho" that these arguments are not suMciently con-

vincing to eclude doubt J the evidences "hich they

uote being neither persuasive nor according "ith

one another0

irst: they produce no "itnesses but #hristians:

the deposition of "hom may be suspected in the

treatment of a fact "hich tended to prove the di-

vinity of their religion0 9o" is it that no (agan

author has made mention of this miracle: "hich "as

5ictionary0 D&D

seen eually by all the army of #onstantine! +hat

Bosimus: "ho seems to have endeavored to diminish

the glory of #onstantine: has said nothing of it: is

not surprising J but the silence appears very strange

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in the author of the panegyric of #onstantine: pro-

nounced in his presence at +rierJ in "hich ora-

tion the panegyrist epresses himself in magniKcent

terms on all the "ar against ?aentius: "hom this

emperor had conuered0

4nother orator: "ho: in his panegyric: treats so

elouently of the "ar against ?aentius: of the

clemency "hich #onstantine sho"ed after the vic-

tory: and of the deliverance of )ome: says not a

"ord on this apparition J "hile he assures us: that

celestial armies "ere seen by all the 7auls: "hich

armies: it "as pretended: "ere sent to aid #onstan-

tine0

 +his surprising vision has not only been un-

no"n to (agan authors: but to three #hristian "ri-

ters: "ho had the Knest occasion to spea of them0

Optatianus (orphyrius mentions more than once the

monogram of #hrist: "hich he calls the celestial

sign: in the panegyric of #onstantine "hich he "rote

in Latin verse: but not a "ord on the appearance of

the cross in the sy0

Lactantius says nothing of it in his treatise on the

.5eath of (ersecutors:. "hich he composed to"ards

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the year SDH: t"o years after the vision of "hich

"e spea J yet he must have been perfectly informed

of all that regards #onstantine: having been tutor

D&' (hilosophical

to #rispus: the son of this prince0 9e merely re-

lates: that #onstantine "as commanded: in a dream:

to put the divine image of the cross on the buclers

of his soldiers: and to give up "ar = but in relating

a dream: the truth of "hich had no other support

than the evidence of the emperor: he passes in si-

lence over a prodigy to "hich all the army "ere "it-

nesses0

urther: usebius of #aesarea himself: "ho has

given the eample to all other #hristian historians

on the subject: speas not of this "onder: in the

"hole course of his .cclesiastical 9istory:. though

he enlarges much on the eploits of #onstantine

against ?aentius0 It is only in his life of this em-

peror that he epresses himself in these terms=

.#onstantine resolved to adore the god of #onstan-

tius J his father implored the protection of this god

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against ?aentius0 hilst he "as praying: he had

a "onderful vision: "hich "ould appear incredible:

if related by another J but since the victorious em-

peror has himself related it to us: "ho "rote this

history J and that: after having been long no"n to

this prince: and enjoying a share in his good graces:

the emperor conKrming "hat he said by oath "ho

could doubt it ! particularly since the event has con-

Krmed the truth of it0

.9e aMrmed: that in the afternoon: "hen the

sun set: he sa" a luminous cross above it: "ith this

inscription in 7ree ;8y this sign: conuer=; that

this appearance astonished him etremely: as "ell

5ictionary0 D&S

as all the soldiers "ho follo"ed him: "ho "ere "it-

nesses of the miracle J that "hile his mind "as fully

occupied "ith this vision: and he sought to pene-

trate the sense of it: the night being come: >esus

#hrist appeared to him during his sleep: "ith the

same sign "hich 9e had sho"n to him in the air in

the day-time: and commanded him to mae a stand-

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ard of the same form: and to bear it in his battles:

to secure him from danger0 #onstantine: rising at

brea of day: related to his friends the vision "hich

he had beheldJ and: sending for goldsmiths and

lapidaries: he sat in the midst of them: eplained to

them the Kgure of the sign "hich he had seen: and

commanded them to mae a similar one of gold and

 je"elsJ and "e remember having sometimes seen

it0.

usebius after"ards adds: that #onstantine: as-

tonished at so admirable a vision: sent for #hristian

priestsJ and that: instructed by them: he applied

himself to reading our sacred boos: and concluded

that he ought to adore "ith a profound respect the

7od "ho appeared to him0

9o" can "e conceive that so admirable a vision:

seen by so many millions of people: and so calcu-

lated to justify the truth of the #hristian religion:

could be unno"n to usebius: an historian so care-

ful in seeing all that could contribute to do honor

to #hristianity: as even to uote profane monuments

falsely: as "e have seen in the article on .clipse !.

4nd ho" can "e persuade ourselves that he "as not

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tacing the tyrant: and "as on his march "ith his

army0 4rthemius: uoted by ?etaphrastus and 2u-

rius: mentions the 'oth of October: and says that it

"as at noon J others spea of the afternoon at sunset0

4uthors do not agree better even on the vision =

the greatest number acno"ledged but one: and that

in a dream0 +here is only usebius: follo"ed by

(hilostorgius and 2ocrates: "ho speas of t"o J the

one that #onstantine sa" in the day-time: and the

5ictionary0 D&%

other "hich he sa" in a dream: tending to conKrm

the Krst0 6icephorus #allistus recons three0

 +he inscription oNers ne" diNerences = usebius

says that it "as in 7ree characters: "hile others do

not spea of it0 4ccording to (hilostorgius and

6icephorus: it "as in Latin characters J others say

nothing about it: and seem by their relation to sup-

pose that the characters "ere 7ree0 (hilostorgius

aMrms: that the inscription "as formed by an as-

semblage of stars J 4rthemius says that the letters

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"ere golden0 +he author uoted by (hotius: rep-

resents them as composed of the same luminous mat-

ter as the crossJ and according to 2osomenes: it

had no inscription: and they "ere angels "ho said

to #onstantine = .8y this sign: gain the victory0.

inally: the relation of historians is opposed on

the conseuences of this vision0 If "e tae that of

usebius: #onstantine: aided by 7od: easily gained

the victory over ?aentius J but according to Lac-

tantius: the victory "as much disputed0 9e even

says that the troops of ?aentius had some ad-

vantage: before #onstantine made his army approach

the gates of )ome0 If "e may believe usebius and

2osomenes: from this epoch #onstantine "as al"ays

victorious: and opposed the salutary sign of the

cross to his enemies: as an impenetrable rampart0

9o"ever: a #hristian author: of "hom ?0 de 3alois

has collected some fragments: at the end of 4mmi-

anus ?arcellinus relates: that in the t"o battles

given to Licinius by #onstantine: the victory "as

D&F (hilosophical

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certain of his salvation0

e might conKne ourselves to these general re-

ections: but by superabundance of right "e "ill

discuss the authority of usebius: as an historian:

5ictionary0 D&&

and that of #onstantine and 4rthemius: as ocular

"itnesses0

4s to 4rthemius: "e thin that he ought not to

be placed in the ran of ocular "itnessesJ his dis-

course being founded only on his .4cts:. related by

?etaphrastus: a fabulous author= .4cts. "hich

8aronius pretends it "as "rong to impeach: at the

same time that he confesses that they are interpo-

lated0

4s to the speech of #onstantine: related by u-

sebius: it is indisputably an astonishing thing: that

this emperor feared that he should not be believed

unless he made oathJ and that usebius has not

supported his evidence by that of any of the oMcers

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or soldiers of the army0 8ut "ithout here adopting

the opinion of some scholars: "ho doubt "hether

usebius is the author of the life of #onstantine: is

he not an author "ho: in this "or: bears through-

out the character of a panegyrist: rather than that

of a historian ! Is he not a "riter "ho has carefully

suppressed all "hich could be disadvantageous to his

hero! In a "ord: does he not sho" his partiality:

"hen he says: in his .cclesiastical 9istory:. spea-

ing of ?aentius: that having usurped the sover-

eign po"er at )ome: to atter the people he feigned

at Krst to profess the #hristian religion! 4s if it

"as impossible for #onstantine to mae use of such

a feint: and to pretend this vision: just as Licinius:

some time after: to encourage his soldiers against

3ol0 DH D'

iyG (hilosophical

?aimin: pretended that an angel in a dream had

dictated a prayer to him: "hich he must repeat "ith

his army0

9o" could usebius really have the eNrontery

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to call a prince a #hristian "ho caused the temple

of #oncord to be rebuilt at his o"n epense: as is

proved by an inscription: "hich "as read in the time

of Lelio 7eraldi: in the temple of Latran ! 4 prince

"ho caused his son #rispus: already honored "ith

the title of #aesar: to perish on a slight suspicion of

having commerce "ith austa: his stepmother J "ho

caused this same austa: to "hom he "as indebted

for the preservation of his life: to be suNocated in

an overheated bath J "ho caused the emperor ?a-

imian 9ercules: his adopted father: to be strangled J

"ho too a"ay the life of the young Licinius: his

nephe": "ho had already displayed very good ual-

itiesJ and: in short: "ho dishonored himself by so

many murders: that the consul 4blavius called his

times 6eronian! e might add: that much de-

pendence should not be placed on the oath of #on-

stantine: since he had not the least scruple in per-

 juring himself: by causing Licinius to be strangled:

to "hom he had promised his life on oath0 use-

bius passes in silence over all the actions of #onstan-

tine "hich are related by utropius: Bosimus: Oro-

sius: 2t0 >erome: and 4urelius 3ictor0

4fter this: have "e not reason to conclude that

the pretended appearance of the cross in the sy

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is only a fraud "hich #onstantine imagined to

5ictionary0 D&$

favor the success of his ambitious enterprises ! +he

medals of this prince and of his family: "hich are

found in 8anduri: and in the "or entitled: .6u-

mismata Imperatorum )omanorum.J the triumphal

arch of "hich 8aronius speas: in the inscription of

"hich the senate and the )oman people said that

#onstantine: by the direction of the 5ivinity: had

rid the republic of the tyrant ?aentius: and of all

his factionJ Knally: the statue "hich #onstantine

himself caused to be erected at )ome: holding a

lance terminating in the form of a cross: "ith this

inscription as related by usebius= .8y this

saving sign: I have delivered your city from the

yoe of tyranny. all this: I say: only proves the

immoderate pride of this artiKcial prince: "ho "ould

every"here spread the noise of his pretended dream:

and perpetuate the recollection of it0

 ,et: to ecuse usebius: "e must compare him

to a bishop of the seventeenth century: "hom La

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8ruyere hesitated not to call a father of the #hurch0

8ossuet: at the same time that he fell so unmerci-

fully on the visions of the elegant and sensible

enelon: commented himself: in the funeral oration

of 4nne of 7on@aga of #leves: on the t"o visions

"hich "ored the conversion of the (rincess (ala-

tine0 It "as an admirable dream: says this prelate J

she thought that: "aling alone in a forest: she met

"ith a blind man in a small cell0 2he compre-

hended that a sense is "anting to the incredulous

as "ell as to the blind J and at the same lime: in the

DGE (hilosophical

midst of so mysterious a dream: she applied the

Kne comparison of the blind man to the truths of

religion and of the other life0

In the second vision: 7od continued to instruct

her: as 9e did >oseph and 2olomon J and during the

dro"siness "hich the trouble caused her: 9e nut

this parable into her mind: so similar to that in the

gospel= 2he sa" that appear "hich >esus #hrist

has not disdained to give us as an image of 9is

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tenderness a hen become a mother: anious round

the little ones "hich she conducted0 One of them

having strayed: our invalid sa" it s"allo"ed by a

hungry dog0 2he ran and tore the innocent animal

a"ay from him0 4t the same time: a voice cried

from the other side that she must give it bac to the

ravisher0 .6o:. said she: .I "ill never give it

bac0. 4t this moment she a"aened: and the e-

planation of the Kgure "hich had been sho"n to her

presented itself to her mind in an instant0

3O20

 +o ?41 a vo" for life: is to mae oneself a

slave0 9o" can this "orst of all slavery be allo"ed

in a country in "hich slavery is proscribed! +o

promise to 7od by an oath: that from the age of

Kfteen until death "e "ill be a >esuit: >acobin: or

#apuchin: is to aMrm that "e "ill al"ays thin lie

a #apuchin: a >acobin: or a >esuit0 It is very pleas-

ant to promise: for a "hole life: that "hich no man

can certainly insure from night to morning P

5ictionary0 D G D

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9o" can governments have been such enemies

to themselves: and so absurd: as to authori@e citi-

@ens to alienate their liberty at an age "hen they

are not allo"ed to dispose of the least portion of

their fortunes! 9o": being convinced of the e-

tent of this stupidity: have not the "hole of the

magistracy united to put an end to it!

Is it not alarming to reect that there are more

mons than soldiers! Is it possible not to be

aNected by the discovery of the secrets of cloisters J

the turpitudes: the horrors: and the torments to

"hich so many unhappy children are subjected: "ho

detest the state "hich they have been forced to

adopt: "hen they become men: and "ho beat "ith

useless despair the chains "hich their "eaness has

imposed upon them!

I ne" a young man "hose parents engaged to

mae a #apuchin of him at Kfteen years and a half

old: "hen he desperately loved a girl very nearly

of his o"n age0 4s soon as the unhappy youth had

made his vo" to 2t0 rancis: the devil reminded

him of the vo"s "hich he had made to his mistress:

to "hom he had signed a promise of marriage0 4t

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last: the devil being stronger than 2t0 rancis: the

young #apuchin left his cloister: repaired to the

house of his mistress: and "as told that she had

entered a convent and made profession0

9e e" to the convent: and ased to see her:

"hen he "as told that she had died of grief0 +his

ne"s deprived him of all sense: and he fell to the

D G' (hilosophical

ground nearly lifeless0 9e "as immediately trans-

ported to a neighboring monastery: not to aNord

him the necessary medical aid: but in order to pro-

cure him the blessing of etreme unction before his

death: "hich infallibly saves the soul0

 +he house to "hich the poor fainting boy "as

carried: happened to be a convent of #apuchins:

"ho charitably let him remain at the door for three

hours J but at last he "as recogni@ed by one of the

venerable brothers: "ho had seen him in the mon-

astery to "hich he belonged0 On this discovery: he

"as carried into a cell: and attention paid to re-

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cover him: in order that he might epiate: by a

salutary penitence: the errors of "hich he had been

guilty0

4s soon as he had recovered strength: he "as

conducted: "ell bound: to his convent: and the fol-

lo"ing is precisely the manner in "hich he "as

treated0 In the Krst place he "as placed in a

dungeon under ground: at the bottom of "hich "as

an enormous stone: to "hich a chain of iron "as

attached0 +o this chain he "as fastened by one leg:

and near him "as placed a loaf of barley bread and

a jug of "aterJ after "hich they closed the en-

trance of the dungeon "ith a large bloc of stone:

"hich covered the opening by "hich they had de-

scended0

4t the end of three days they "ithdre" him

from the dungeon: in order to bring him before the

criminal court of the #apuchins0 +hey "ished to

5ictionary0 + GS

no" if he had any accomplices in his ight: and

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to oblige him to confess: applied the mode of tor-

ture employed in the convent0 +his preparatory

torture "as inicted by cords: "hich bound the

limbs of the patient: and made him endure a sort

of rac0

4fter having undergone these torments: he "as

condemned to be imprisoned for t"o years in his

cell: from "hich he "as to be brought out thrice a

"ee: in order to receive upon his naed body the

discipline "ith iron chains0

or si months his constitution endured this

punishment: from 0"hich he "as at length so for-

tunate as to escape in conseuence of a uarrel

among the #apuchins: "ho fought "ith one an-

other: and allo"ed the prisoner to escape during the

fray0

4fter hiding himself for some hours: he ventured

to go abroad at the decline of day: almost "orn out

by hunger: and scarcely able to support himself0 4

passing 2amaritan too pity upon the poor: fam-

ished spectre: conducted him to his house: and gave

him assistance0 +he unhappy youth himself related

to me his story in the presence of his liberator0 8e-

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hold here the conseuence of vo"s P

It "ould be a nice point to decide: "hether the

horrors of passing every day among the mendicant

friars are more revolting than the pernicious riches

of the other orders: "hich reduce so many families

into mendicants0

D GH (hilosophical

4ll of them have made a vo" to live at our e-

pense: and to be a burden to their country J to injure

its population: and to betray both their contempo-

raries and posterity J and shall "e suNer it !

9ere is another interesting uestion for oMcers

of the army= hy are mons allo"ed to recover

one of their brethren "ho has enlisted for a soldier:

"hile a captain is prevented from recovering a de-

serter "ho has turned mon !

3O,47 O 2+0 (+) +O )O?0

O +9 famous dispute: "hether (eter made the

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 journey to )ome: is it not in the main as frivolous

as most other grand disputes ! +he revenues of the

abbey of 2t0 5enis: in rance: depend neither on

the truth of the journey of 2t0 5ionysius the 4reo-

pagite from 4thens to the midst of 7aulJ his

martyrdom at ?ontmartreJ nor the other journey

"hich he made after his death: from ?ontmartre

to 2t0 5enis: carrying his head in his arms: and

issing it at every step0

 +he #arthusians have great riches: "ithout there

being the least truth in the history of the canon of

(aris: "ho rose from his coMn three successive

days: to inform the assistants that he "as damned0

In lie manner it is very certain that the rights

and revenues of the )oman pontiN can eist:

"hether 2imon 8arjonas: surnamed #ephas: "ent

to )ome or not0 4ll the rights of the archbishops

of )ome and #onstantinople "ere established at the

5ictionary0 DG%

#ouncil of #halcedon: in the year H%D of our vulgar

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era: and there "as no mention in this council of

any journey made by an apostle to 8y@antium or to

)ome0

 +he patriarchs of 4leander and #onstantinople

follo"ed the lot of their provinces0 +he ecclesi-

astical chiefs of these t"o imperial cities: and of

opulent gypt: must necessarily have more author-

ity: privileges: and riches: than bishops of little

to"ns0

If the residence of an apostle in a city decided

so many rights: the bishop of >erusalem "ould have

been: "ithout contradiction: the Krst bishop of

#hristendom0 9e "as evidently the successor of

2t0 >ames: the brother of >esus #hrist: acno"l-

edged as the founder of this church: and after"ards

called the Krst of all bishops0 e should add by

the same reasoning: that all the patriarchs of >eru-

salem should be circumcised: since the Kfteen Krst

bishops of >erusalem the cradle of #hristianity

and tomb of >esus #hrist had all received circum-

cision0 It is indisputable that the Krst largesses

made to the church of )ome by #onstantine: have

not the least relation to the journey of 2t0 (eter0

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i0 +he Krst church raised at )ome "as that of

2t0 >ohn J it is still the true cathedral0 It is evident

that it "ould have been dedicated to 2t0 (eter: if

he had been the Krst bishop of it0 It is the strongest

of all presumptions: and that alone might have

ended the dispute0

D GF (hilosophical

'0 +o this po"erful conjecture are joined con-

vincing negative proofs0 If (eter had been at

)ome "ith (aul: the 4cts of the 4postles "ould

have mentioned it J and they say not a "ord about it0

S0 If 2t0 (eter "ent to preach the gospel at )ome:

2t0 (aul "ould not have said: in his pistle to the

7alatians= .hen they sa" that the gospel of the

uncircumcisions "as committed unto me: as the

gospel of the circumcision "as unto (eterJ and

"hen >ames: #ephas: and >ohn: "ho seemed to be

pillars: perceived the grace that "as given unto me:

they gave to me and 8arnabas the right hand of

fello"ship: that "e should go unto the heathen: and

they unto the circumcision0.

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H0 In the letters "hich (aul "rites from )ome:

he never speas of (eterJ therefore: it is evident

that (eter "as not there0

%0 In the letters "hich (aul "rites to his brethren

of )ome: there is not the least compliment to (eter:

nor the least mention of him J therefore: (eter

neither made a journey to )ome "hen (aul "as

in prison: nor "hen he "as free0

F0 e have never no"n any letter of 2t0 (eter;s

dated from )ome0

&0 2ome: lie (aul Orosius: a 2paniard of the

Kfth century: say that he "as at )ome in the Krst

years of the reign of #laudius0 +he 4cts of the

4postles say that he "as then at >erusalem J and

the pistles of (aul: that he "as at 4ntioch0

G0 I do not pretend to bring for"ard any proof:

5ictionary0 DG&

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but speaing humanly: and according to the rules of

profane criticism: (eter could scarcely go from

 >erusalem to )ome: no"ing neither the Latin nor

even the 7ree language: "hich 2t0 (aul spoe:

though very badly0 It is said that the apostles spoe

all the languages of the universe J therefore: I am

silenced0

$0 inally: the Krst mention "hich "e ever had of

the journey of 2t0 (eter to )ome: came from one

named (apias: "ho lived about a hundred years

after 2t0 (eter0 +his (apias "as a (hrygianJ he

"rote in (hrygia J and he pretended that 2t0 (eter

"ent to )ome: because in one of his letters he

speas of 8abylon0 e have: indeed: a letter: at-

tributed to 2t0 (eter: "ritten in these obscure

times: in "hich it is said = .+he #hurch "hich is at

8abylon: my "ife: and my son ?ar: salute you/;

It has pleased some translators to translate the

"ord meaning my "ife: by .chosen vessel. = .8aby-

lon: the chosen vessel0. +his is translating com-

prehensively0

(apias: "ho "as: it must be confessed: one of the

great visionaries of these ages: imagined that 8aby-

lon signiKed )ome0 It "as: ho"ever: very natural

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for (eter to depart from 4ntioch to visit the

brethren at 8abylon0 +here "ere al"ays >e"s at

8abylon J and they continually carried on the trade

of broers and peddlers J it is very liely that sev-

eral disciples sought refuge there: and that (eter

"ent to encourage them0 +here is not more reason

D GG (hilosophical

in supposing that 8abylon signiKes )ome: than in

supposing that )ome means 8abylon0 hat an e-

travagant idea: to suppose that (eter "rote an e-

hortation to his comrades: as "e "rite at present: in

ciphersP 5id he fear that his letter should be

opened at the post ! hy should (eter fear that his

 >e"ish letters should be no"n so useless in a

"orldly sense: and to "hich it "as impossible for

the )omans to pay the least attention! ho en-

gaged him to lie so vainly! hat could have pos-

sessed people to thin: that "hen he "rote 8abylon:

he intended )ome!

It "as after similar convincing proofs that the

 judicious #almet concludes that the journey of 2t0

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(eter to )ome is proved by 2t0 (eter himself: "ho

says epressly: that he has "ritten his letter from

8abylon J that is to say: from )ome: as "e interpret

"ith the ancients0 Once more: this is po"erful

reasoningP 9e has probably learned this logic

among the vampires P

 +he learned archbishop of (aris: ?arca: 5upin:

8londel: and 2panheim: are not of this opinion J but

it "as that of #almet: "ho reasoned lie #almet: and

"ho "as follo"ed by a multitude of "riters so

attached to the sublimity of their principles that

they sometimes neglected "holesome criticism and

reason0 It is a very poor pretence of the partisans

of the voyage to say that the 4cts of the 4postles

are intended for the history of (aul: and not for

that of (eter J and that if they pass in silence over

5ictionary0 DG$

the sojourn of 2imon 8arjonas at )ome: it is that

the actions and eploits of (aul "ere the sole object

of the "riter0

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 +he 4cts spea much of 2imon 8arjonas: sur-

named (eter J it is he "ho proposes to give a suc-

cessor to >udas0 e see him strie 4nanias and

his "ife "ith sudden death: "ho had given him

their property: but unfortunately not all of it0 e

see him raise his sempstress 5orcas: at the house

of the tanner 2imon at >oppa0 9e has a uarrel

in 2amaria "ith 2imon: surnamed the ?agician J

he goes to Lippa: #aesarea: and >erusalemJ "hat

"ould it have cost him to go to )ome !

It is very diMcult to decide "hether (eter "ent

to )ome under +iberius: #aligula: #laudius: or

6ero0 +he journey in the time of +iberius is only

founded on the pretended apocryphal fasti of Italy0

4nother apocrypha: entitled .#atalogues of

8ishops:. maes (eter bishop of )ome immediately

after the death of his master0 I no" not "hat

4rabian tale sent him to )ome under #aligula0

usebius: three hundred years after: maes him to

be conducted to )ome under #laudius by a divine

hand: "ithout saying in "hat year0

Lactantius: "ho "rote in the time of #onstantine:

is the Krst veracious author "ho has said that (eter

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"ent to )ome under 6ero: and that he "as cruciKed

there0

e must avo": that if such claims alone "ere

brought for"ard by a party in a la"suit: he "ould

D $E (hilosophical

not gain his cause: and he "ould be advised to eep

to the maim of .uti possedetis. J and this is the

part "hich )ome has taen0

8ut it is said that before usebius and Lactan-

tius: the eact (apias had already related the ad-

venture of (eter and 2imonJ the virtue of 7od

"hich removed him into the presence of 6ero J the

insman of 6ero half raised from the dead: in the

name of 7od: by 2imon: and "holly raised by (eter J

the compliments of their dogs J the bread given by

(eter to 2imon;s dogs J the magician "ho e" into

the airJ the #hristian "ho caused him to fall by

a sign of the cross: by "hich he broe both his legs J

6ero: "ho cut oN (eter;s head to pay for the

legs of his magician: etc0 +he grave ?arcellus re-

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peats this authentic history: and the grave 9egesip-

pus again repeats it: and others repeat it after them J

and I repeat to you: that if ever you plead for a

meado" before the judge of 3augirard: you "ill

never gain your suit by such claims0

I doubt not that the episcopal chair of 2t0 (eter

is still at )ome in the Kne church0 I doubt not but

that 2t0 (eter enjoyed the bishopric of )ome

t"enty-nine years: a month: and nine days: as it is

said0 8ut I may venture to say that that is not

demonstratively proved J and I say that it is to be

thought that the )oman bishops of the present time

are more at their ease than those of times past^-

obscure times: "hich it is very diMcult to penetrate0

5ictionary0 D$D

4LL)0

 +9 celebrated aller has been much spoen of

in rance J he has been praised by La ontaine: 2t0

Kvremond: and 8ayle: "ho: ho"ever: ne" little of

him beyond his name0

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9e had pretty nearly the same reputation in

London as 3oiture enjoyed in (aris: but I believe

that he more deserved it0 3oiture eisted at a time

"hen "e "ere Krst emerging from literary ignor-

ance: and "hen "it "as aimed at: but scarcely at-

tained0 +urns of epression "ere sought for in-

stead of thoughts: and false stones "ere more easily

discovered than genuine diamonds0 3oiture: "ho

possessed an easy and triing turn of mind: "as the

Krst "ho shone in this aurora of rench literature0

9ad he come after the great men "ho have thro"n

so much lustre on the age of Louis CI30: he "ould

have been forced to have had something more than

mere "it: "hich "as enough for the hotel de )am-

bouillet: but not enough for posterity0 8oileau

praises him: but it "as in his Krst satires: and before

his taste "as formed0 9e "as young: and of that

age in "hich men judge rather by reputation than

from themselvesJ and: besides: 8oileau "as often

unjust in his praise as "ell as his censure0 9e

praised 2egrais: "hom nobody read J insulted Aui-

nault: "ho everybody repeated by heart J and said

nothing of La ontaine0

aller: although superior to 3oiture: "as not

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D$' (hilosophical

perfect0 9is poems of gallantry are very graceful:

but they are freuently languid from negligence:

and they are often disKgured by conceits0 In his

days: the nglish had not learned to "rite correctly0

9is serious pieces are replete "ith vigor: and e-

hibit none of the softness of his gallant eNusions0

9e composed a monody on the death of #rom"ell:

"hich: "ith several faults: passes for a master-

pieceJ and it "as in reference to this eulogy that

aller made the reply to #harles II0: "hich is in-

serted in .8ayle;s 5ictionary0. +he ing to "hom

aller: after the manner of ings and poets: pre-

sented a poem stuNed "ith panegyric told him that

he had "ritten more Knely on #rom"ell0 aller

immediately replied= .2ire: "e poets al"ays suc-

ceed; better in Kction than in truth0. +his reply

"as not so sincere as that of the 5utch ambassador:

"ho: "hen the same ing complained to him that

his masters had less regard for him than for #rom-

"ell: replied= .4h: sireP that #rom"ell "as uite

another thing0. +here are courtiers in ngland:

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as else"here: and aller "as one of themJ but

after their death: I consider men only by their "ors J

all the rest is annihilated0 I simply observe that

aller: born to an estate of the annual value of

sity thousand livres: had never the silly pride or

carelessness to neglect his talent0 +he earls of

5orset and )oscommon: the t"o dues of 8uc-

ingham: the earl of 9alifa: and a great many

others: have not thought it belo" them to become

5ictionary0 D$S

celebrated poets and illustrious "ritersJ and their

"ors do them more honor than their titles0 +hey

have cultivated letters as if their fortunes depended

on their success: and have rendered literature re-

spectable in the eyes of the people: "ho in all things

reuire leaders from among the great "ho: ho"-

ever: have less inuence of this ind in ngland

than in any other place in the "orld0

4)0

4LL animals are perpetually at "ar J every spe-

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cies is born to devour another0 +here are none:

even to sheep and doves: "ho do not s"allo" a

prodigious number of imperceptible animals0 ?ales

of the same species mae "ar for the females: lie

?enelaus and (aris0 4ir: earth: and the "aters:

are Kelds of destruction0

It seems that 7od having given reason to men:

this reason should teach them not to debase them-

selves by imitating animals: particularly "hen nature

has given them neither arms to ill their fello"-

creatures: nor instinct "hich leads them to suc their

blood0

 ,et murderous "ar is so much the dreadful lot

of man: that ecept t"o or three nations: there are

none but "hat their ancient histories represent as

armed against one another0 +o"ards #anada: man

and "arrior are synonymousJ and "e have seen:

in our hemisphere: that thief and soldier "ere the

same thing0 ?anichaeans P behold your ecuse0

3ol0 DH DS

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D$H (hilosophical

 +he most determined of atterers "ill easily

agree: that "ar al"ays brings pestilence and famine

in its train: from the little that he may have seen in

the hospitals of the armies of 7ermany: or the fe"

villages he may have passed through in "hich some

great eploit of "ar has been performed0

 +hat is doubtless a very Kne art "hich desolates

countries: destroys habitations: and in a common

year causes the death of from forty to a hundred

thousand men0 +his invention "as Krst cultivated

by nations assembled for their common good J for

instance: the diet of the 7rees declared to the diet

of (hrygia and neighboring nations: that they in-

tended to depart on a thousand Kshers; bars: to

eterminate them if they could0

 +he assembled )oman people judged that it "as

to their interest to go and Kght: before harvest:

against the people of 3eii or the 3olscians0 4nd

some years after: all the )omans: being easperated

against all the #arthaginians: fought them a long

time on sea and land0 It is not eactly the same at

present0

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4 genealogist proves to a prince that he descends

in a right line from a count: "hose parents made a

family compact: three or four hundred years ago:

"ith a house the recollection of "hich does not even

eist0 +his house had distant pretensions to a

province: of "hich the last possessor died of apo-

pley0 +he prince and his council see his right at

once0 +his province: "hich is some hundred leagues

5ictionary0 D$%

distant from him: in vain protests that it no"s

him notJ that it has no desire to be governed by

himJ that to give la"s to its people: he must at

least have their consentJ these discourses only

reach as far as the ears of the prince: "hose right

is incontestable0 9e immediately assembles a great

number of men "ho have nothing to lose: dresses

them in coarse blue cloth: borders their hats "ith

broad "hite binding: maes them turn to the right

and left: and marches to glory0

Other princes "ho hear of this euipment: tae

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part in it: each according to his po"er: and cover

a small etent of country "ith more mercenary

murderers than 7enghis 1han: +amerlane: and

8aja@et employed in their train0 5istant people

hear that they are going to Kght: and that they may

gain Kve or si sous a day: if they "ill be of the

partyJ they divide themselves into t"o bands: lie

reapers: and oNer their services to "hoever "ill

employ them0

 +hese multitudes fall upon one another: not only

"ithout having any interest in the aNair: but "ith-

out no"ing the reason of it0 e see at once Kve

or si belligerent po"ers: sometimes three against

three: sometimes t"o against four: and sometimes

one against KveJ all eually detesting one another:

uniting "ith and attacing by turns J all agree in

a single point: that of doing all the harm possible0

 +he most "onderful part of this infernal enter-

prise is that each chief gf the murderers causes his

D$F (hilosophical

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colors to be blessed: and solemnly invoes 7od be-

fore he goes to eterminate his neighbors0 If a

chief has only the fortune to ill t"o or three thou-

sand men: he does not than 7od for it J but "hen

he has eterminated about ten thousand by Kre and

s"ord: and: to complete the "or: some to"n has

been levelled "ith the ground: they then sing a long

song in four parts: composed in a language un-

no"n to all "ho have fought: and moreover re-

plete "ith barbarism0 +he same song serves for

marriages and births: as "ell as for murders J "hich

is unpardonable: particularly in a nation the most

famous for ne" songs0

6atural religion has a thousand times prevented

citi@ens from committing crimes0 4 "ell-trained

mind has not the inclination for it J a tender one is

alarmed at it: representing to itself a just and

avenging 7odJ but artiKcial religion encourages

all cruelties "hich are eercised by troops con-

spiracies: seditions: pillages: ambuscades: surprises

of to"ns: robberies: and murder0 ach marches

gaily to crime: under the banner of his saint0

4 certain number of orators are every"here paid

to celebrate these murderous days J some are dressed

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in a long blac close coat: "ith a short cloa J others

have a shirt above a go"n J some "ear t"o varie-

gated stuN streamers over their shirts0 4ll of them

spea for a long time: and uote that "hich "as

done of old in (alestine: as applicable to a combat

in 3eteravia0

5ictionary0 D$&

 +he rest of the year these people declaim against

vices0 +hey prove: in three points and by an-

titheses: that ladies "ho lay a little carmine upon

their chees: "ill be the eternal objects of the

eternal vengeances of the ternal J that (olyeuctus

and 4thalia are "ors of the demonJ that a man

"ho: for t"o hundred cro"ns a day: causes his table

to be furnished "ith fresh sea-Ksh during Lent: in-

fallibly "ors his salvation J and that a poor man

"ho eats t"o sous and a half "orth of mutton: "ill

go forever to all the devils0

Of Kve or si thousand declamations of this ind:

there are three or four at most: composed by a 7aul

named ?assillon: "hich an honest man may read

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"ithout disgustJ but in all these discourses: you

"ill scarcely Knd t"o in "hich the orator dares to

say a "ord against the scourge and crime of "ar:

"hich contains all other scourges and crimes0 +he

unfortunate orators spea incessantly against love:

"hich is the only consolation of manind: and the

only mode of maing amends for itJ they say

nothing of the abominable eNorts "hich "e mae to

destroy it0

 ,ou have made a very bad sermon on impurity

oh: 8ourdaloue P but none on these murders: varied

in so many "ays J on these rapines and robberies J

on this universal rage "hich devours the "orld0

4ll the united vices of all ages and places "ill never

eual the evils produced by a single campaign0

?iserable physicians of soulsP you eclaim: for

D$G (hilosophical

Kve uarters of an hour: on some prics of a pin:

and say nothing on the malady "hich tears us into

a thousand pieces P (hilosophers P moralists P burn all

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your boos0 hile the caprice of a fe" men maes

that part of manind consecrated to heroism: to

murder loyally millions of our brethren: can there

be anything more horrible throughout nature !

hat becomes of: and "hat signiKes to me: hu-

manity: beneKcence: modesty: temperance: mildness:

"isdom: and piety: 0"hile half a pound of lead: sent

from the distance of a hundred steps: pierces my

body: and I die at t"enty years of age: in ine-

pressible torments: in the midst of Kve or si thou-

sand dying men: "hile my eyes "hich open for the

last time: see the to"n in "hich I "as born de-

stroyed by Kre and s"ord: and the last sounds "hich

reach my ears are the cries of "omen and children

epiring under the ruins: all for the pretended in-

terests of a man "hom I no" not!

hat is "orse: "ar is an inevitable scourge0 If

"e tae notice: all men have "orshipped ?ars0

2abaoth: among the >e"s: signiKes the god of arms J

but ?inerva: in 9omer: calls ?ars a furious: mad:

and infernal god0

 +he celebrated ?ontesuieu: "ho "as called hu-

mane: has said: ho"ever: that it is just to bear Kre

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and s"ord against our neighbors: "hen "e fear that

they are doing too "ell0 If this is the spirit of la"s:

it is also that of 8orgia and of ?achiavelli0 If un-

5ictionary0 D$$

fortunately he says true: "e must "rite against this

truth: though it may be proved by facts0

 +his is "hat ?ontesuieu says= .8et"een so-

cieties: the right of natural defence sometimes in-

duces the necessity of attacing: "hen one people

sees that a longer peace puts another in a situation

to destroy it: and that attac at the given moment is

the only "ay of preventing this destruction0.

9o" can attac in peace be the only means of

preventing this destruction ! ,ou must be sure that

this neighbor "ill destroy you: if he become po"-

erful0 +o be sure of it: he must already have made

preparations for your overthro"0 In this case: it

is he "ho commences the "ar J it is not you = your

supposition is false and contradictory0

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If ever "ar is evidently unjust: it is that "hich

you propose = it is going to ill your neighbor: "ho

does not attac you: lest he should ever be in a state

to do so0 +o ha@ard the ruin of your country: in

the hope of ruining "ithout reason that of another:

is assuredly neither honest nor useful J for "e are

never sure of success: as you "ell no"0

If your neighbor becomes too po"erful during

peace: "hat prevents you from rendering yourself

eually po"erful! If he has made alliances: mae

them on your side0 If: having fe"er mons: he has

more soldiers and manufacturers: imitate him in this

"ise economy0 If he employs his sailors better: em-

ploy yours in the same manner = all that is very just0

'OO (hilosophical

8ut to epose your people to the most horrible mis-

ery: in the so often false idea of overturning your

dear brother: the most serene neighboring prince P

it "as not for the honorary president of a paciKc

society to give you such advice0

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41622 O6 8O+9 2I520

41622 on both sides is: as "e no": the

motto of all uarrels0 I spea not here of those

"hich have caused blood to be shed the 4nabap-

tists: "ho ravaged estphalia J the #alvinists: "ho

indled so many "ars in ranceJ the sanguinary

factions of the 4rmagnacs and 8urgundiansJ the

punishment of the ?aid of Orleans: "hom one-half

of rance regarded as a celestial heroine: and the

other as a sorceress J the 2orbonne: "hich presented

a reuest to have her burned J the assassination of

the due of Orleans: justiKed by the doctors J sub-

 jects ecused from the oath of Kdelity by a decree

of the sacred faculty J the eecutioners so often em-

ployed to enforce opinions J the piles lighted for un-

fortunates "ho persuaded others that they "ere sor-

cerers and heretics all that is more than "eaness0

 ,et these abominations "ere committed in the good

times of honest 7ermanic faith and 7allic naiveteP

I "ould send bac to them all honest people "ho

regret times past0

I "ill mae here: simply for my o"n particular

ediKcation: a little instructive memoir of the Kne

things "hich divided the minds of our grandfathers0

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5ictionary0 'ED

In the eleventh century in that good time in "hich

"e ne" not the art of "ar: "hich ho"ever "e have

al"ays practised J nor that of governing to"ns: nor

commerce: nor society: and in "hich "e could

neither read nor "rite men of much mind disputed

solemnly: at much length: and "ith great vivacity:

on "hat happened at the "ater-closet: after having

fulKlled a sacred duty: of "hich "e must spea only

"ith the most profound respect0 +his "as called the

dispute of the stercoristsJ and: not ending in a

"ar: "as in conseuence one of the mildest imper-

tinences of the human mind0

 +he dispute "hich divided learned 2pain: in the

same century: on the ?osarabic version: also termi-

nated "ithout ravaging provinces or shedding hu-

man blood0 +he spirit of chivalry: "hich then pre-

vailed: permitted not the diMculty to be enlightened

other"ise than in leaving the decision to t"o noble

nights0 4s in that of the t"o 5on Auiotes: "hich-

ever overthre" his adversary caused his o"n party

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to triumph0 5on )uis de ?artan@a: night of the

?osarabic ritual: overthre" the 5on Auiote of the

Latin ritualJ but as the la"s of chivalry decided

not positively that a ritual must be proscribed be-

cause its night "as unhorsed: a more certain and

established secret "as made use of: to no" "hich

of the boos should be preferred0 +he epedient

alluded to "as that of thro"ing them both into the

Kre: it not being possible for the sound ritual to per-

ish in the ames0 I no" not ho" it happened: ho"-

'E' (hilosophical

ever: but they "ere both burned: and the dispute

remained undecided: to the great astonishment of

the 2paniards0 8y degrees: the Latin ritual got

the preferenceJ and if any night after"ards pre-

sented himself to maintain the ?osarabic: it "as the

night and not the ritual "hich "as thro"n into

the Kre0

In these Kne times: "e and other polished people:

"hen "e "ere ill: "ere obliged to have recourse to

an 4rabian physician0 hen "e "ould no" "hat

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day of the moon it "as: "e referred to the 4rabs0

If "e "ould buy a piece of cloth: "e must pay a >e"

for it J and "hen a farmer "anted rain: he addressed

himself to a sorcerer0 4t last: ho"ever: "hen some

of us learned Latin: and had a bad translation of

4ristotle: "e Kgured in the "orld "ith honor: pass-

ing three or four hundred years in deciphering some

pages of the 2tagyrite: and in adoring and condemn-

ing them0 2ome said that "ithout him "e should

"ant articles of faith J others: that he "as an atheist0

4 2paniard proved that 4ristotle "as a saint: and

that "e should celebrate his anniversaryJ "hile a

council in rance caused his divine "ritings to be

burned0 #olleges: universities: "hole orders of

mons: "ere reciprocally anathemati@ed: on the sub-

 ject of some passages of this great man "hich nei-

ther themselves: the judges "ho interposed their au-

thority: nor the author himself: ever understood0

 +here "ere many KsticuNs given in 7ermany in

these grave uarrels: but there "as not much blood-

5ictionary0 'ES

shed0 It is a pity: for the glory of 4ristotle: that

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they did not mae civil "ar: and have some regular

battles in favor of uiddities: and of the .universal

of the part of the thing0. Our ancestors cut the

throats of each other in disputes upon points "hich

they understood very little better0

It is true that a much celebrated madman named

Occam: surnamed the .invincible doctor:. chief of

those "ho stood up for the .universal of the part of

thought:. demanded from the emperor Louis of

8avaria: that he should defend his pen "ith his im-

perial s"ord against 2cott: another 2cottish mad-

man: surnamed the .subtle doctor:. "ho fought for

the .universal of the part of the thing0. 9appily:

the s"ord of Louis of 8avaria remained in its scab-

bard0 ho "ould believe that these disputes have

lasted until our days: and that the (arliament of

(aris: in DF'H: gave a Kne sentence in favor of 4ris-

totle !

 +o"ards the time of the brave Occam and the in-

trepid 2cott: a much more serious uarrel arose:

into "hich the reverend father #ordeliers inveigled

all the #hristian "orld0 +his "as to no" if their

itchen garden belonged to themselves: or if they

"ere merely simple tenants of it0 +he form of the

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co"ls: and the si@e of the sleeves: "ere further sub-

 jects of this holy "ar0 (ope >ohn CCII0: "ho in-

terfered: found out to "hom he "as speaing0 +he

#ordeliers uitted his party for that of Louis of 8a-

varia: "ho then dre" his s"ord0

'EH (hilosophical

 +here "ere: moreover: three or four #ordeliers

burned as heretics: "hich is rather strong J but after

all: this aNair having neither shaen thrones nor

ruined provinces: "e may place it in the ran of

peaceable follies0

 +here have been al"ays some of this ind: the

greater part of "hom have fallen into the most pro-

found oblivion J and of four or Kve hundred sects

"hich have appeared: there remain in the memory

of men those only "hich have produced either e-

treme disorder or etreme folly t"o things "hich

they "illingly retain0 ho no"s: in the present

day: that there "ere Orebites: Osmites: and Ins-

dorKans! ho is no" acuainted "ith the

4nointed: the #ornacians: or the Iscariots !

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5ining one day at the house of a 5utch lady: I

"as charitably "arned by one of the guests: to tae

care of myself: and not to praise 3oetius0 .I have

no desire/ said I: .to say either good or evil of

your 3oetius J but "hy do you give me this advice !.

.8ecause madam is a #occeian:. said my neighbor0

.ith all my heart:. said I0 2he added: that there

"ere still four #occeians in 9olland: and that it

"as a great pity that the sect perished0 4 time "ill

come in "hich the >ansenists: "ho have made so

much noise among us: and "ho are unno"n every-

"here else: "ill have the fate of the #occeians0

4n old doctor said to me = .2ir: in my youth: I have

debated on the ;mandata impossibilia volentibus et

conantibus0; I have "ritten against the formulary

5ictionary0 'E%

and the pope: and I thought myself a confessor0 I

have been put in prison: and I thought myself a mar-

tyr0 I no" no longer interfere in anything: and I

believe myself to be reasonable0. .hat are your

occupations!. said I to him0 .2ir:. replied he: .I

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am very fond of money0. It is thus that almost all

men in their old age in"ardly laugh at the follies

"hich they ardently embraced in their youth0 2ects

gro" old: lie men0 +hose "hich have not been sup-

ported by great princes: "hich have not caused great

mischief: gro" old much sooner than others0 +hey

are epidemic maladies: "hich pass over lie the

s"eating sicness and the "hooping-cough0

 +here is <no longer any uestion on the pious rev-

eries of ?adame 7uyon0 e no longer read the

most unintelligible boo of ?aims of the 2aints:

but +elemachus0 e no longer remember "hat the

elouent 8ossuet "rote against the elegant and

amiable enelonJ "e give the preference to his

funeral orations0 In all the dispute on "hat is called

uietism: there has been nothing good but the old

tale revived of the honest "oman "ho brought a

torch to burn paradise: and a cruse of "ater to e-

tinguish the Kre of hell: that 7od should no longer

be served either through hope or fear0

I "ill only remar one singularity in this pro-

ceeding: "hich is not eual to the story of the good

"oman J it is: that the >esuits: "ho "ere so much ac-

cused in rance by the >ansenists of having been

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founded by 2t0 Ignatius: epressly to destroy the

'oF (hilosophical

love of 7od: "armly interfered at )ome in favor of

the pure love of enelon0 It happened to them as

to ?0 de Langeais: "ho "as pursued by his "ife to

the (arliament of (aris: on account of his impotence:

and by a girl to the (arliament of )ennes: for hav-

ing rendered her pregnant0 9e ought to have gained

one of these t"o causes J he lost them both0 (ure

love: for "hich the >esuits made so much stir: "as

condemned at )ome: and they "ere al"ays sup-

posed at (aris to be against loving 7od0 +his opin-

ion "as so rooted in the public mind that "hen:

some years ago: an engraving "as sold representing

our Lord >esus #hrist dressed as a >esuit: a "it

apparently the loustic of the >ansenist party "rote

lines under the print intimating that the ingenious

fathers had habited 7od lie themselves: as the sur-

est means of preventing the love of him =

4dmire@ r artiKce etrbne

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Les cesptres ingtnitu =

Ils vous ont habil? comme eu:

?on 5ieu: eU peur uon ne vous aitne0

4t )ome: "here such disputes never arise: and

"here they judge those that tae place else"here:

they "ere much annoyed "ith uarrels on pure love0

#ardinal #arpegne: "ho "as the reporter of the af-

fairs of the archbishop of #ambray: "as ill: and suf-

fered much in a part "hich is not more spared in

cardinals than in other men0 9is surgeon bandaged

him "ith Kne linen: "hich is called cambrai Qcam-

bricR in Italy as in many other places0 +he cardi-

nal cried out: "hen the surgeon pleaded that it "as

5ictionary0 'E&

the Knest cambrai= .hatP more cambrai still!

Is it not enough to have one;s head fatigued "ith

it!. 9appy the disputes "hich end thusP 9appy

"ould man be if all the disputers of the "orld: if

heresiarchs: submitted "ith so much moderation:

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such magnanimous mildness: as the great arch-

bishop of #ambray: "ho had no desire to be an

heresiarchP I no" not "hether he "as right in

"ishing 7od to be loved for himself alone: but ?0

de enelon certainly deserved to be loved thus0

In purely literary disputes there is often as much

0snarling and party spirit as in more interesting uar-

rels0 e should: if "e could: rene" the factions of

the circus: "hich agitated the )oman mpire0 +"o

rival actresses are capable of dividing a to"n0 ?en

have all a secret fascination for faction0 If "e can-

not cabal: pursue: and destroy one another for

cro"ns: tiaras: and mitres: "e fall upon one another

for a dancer or a musician0 )ameau had a violent

party against him: "ho "ould have eterminated

him J and he ne" nothing of it0 I had a violent

party against me: and I ne" it "ell0

9,2 Q+9R0

9, do "e scarcely ever no" the tenth part

of the good "e might do ! It is clear: that if a na-

tion living bet"een the 4lps: the (yrenees: and the

sea: had employed: in ameliorating and embellishing

the country: a tenth part of the money it lost in the

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him: content himself "ith having four propositions

maintained in his universities: and refuse the prayers

of the "hole magistracy: "ho solicited an eternal

rupture "ith the court of )ome!

hy: in maing the la"s: "as it forgotten to

place all the provinces of the ingdom under one

uniform la": leaving in eistence a hundred diNer-

ent customs: and a hundred and forty-four diNerent

measures !

hy "ere the provinces of this ingdom still re-

puted foreign to one another: so that the merchan-

dise of 6ormandy: on being conveyed by land into

8rittany: pays duty: as if it came from ngland!

hy "as not corn gro"n in #hampagne allo"ed

to be sold in (icardy "ithout an epress permis-

sion as at )ome permission is obtained for three

giuli to read forbidden boos!

hy "as rance left so long under the reproach

of venality! It seemed to be reserved for Louis

CI30 to abolish the custom of buying the right to

sit as judges over men: as you buy a country house:

and maing pleaders pay fees to the judge: as tic-

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ets for the play are paid for at the door0

3ol0 DH DH

'io (hilosophical

hy institute in a ingdom the oMces and digni-

ties of ing;s counsellors= Inspectors of drin: in-

spectors of the shambles: registrars of inventories:

controllers of Knes: inspectors of hogs: pereuateurs

of tailles: fuel-measurers: assistant-measurers: fuel-

pilers: unloaders of green "ood: controllers of tim-

ber: marers of timber: coal-measurers: corn-sifters:

inspectors of calves: controllers of poultry: gaugers:

assayers of brandy: assayers of beer: rollers of

cass: unloaders of hay: oor-clearers: inspectors

of ells: inspectors of "igs!

 +hese oMce2j in "hich doubtless consist the pros-

perity and splendor of an empire: formed numerous

communities: "hich had0 each their syndics0 +his

"as all suppressed in D&D$ J but it "as to mae room

for others of a similar ind: in the course of time0

ould it not be better to retrench all the pomp and

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luury of greatness: than miserably to support them

by means so lo" and shameful !

hy has a nation: often reduced to etremity

and to some degree of humiliation: still supported

itself in spite of all the eNorts made to crush it!

8ecause that nation is active and industrious0 +he

people are lie the0 bees= you tae from them "a

and honey: and they forth"ith set to "or to pro-

duce more0

hy: in half of urope: do the girls pray to 7od

in Latin: "hich they do not understand! hy: in

the siteenth century: "hen nearly all the popes

and bishops notoriously had bastards: did they per-

5ictionary0 'DD

sist in prohibiting the marriage of priestsJ "hile

the 7ree #hurch has constantly ordained that cu-

rates should have "ives!

hy: in all antiuity: "as there no theological

dispute: nor any people distinguished by a sectarian

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appellation ! +he gyptians "ere not called Isiacs

or Osiriacs0 +he people of 2yria "ere not named

#ybelians0 +he #retans had a particular devotion

for >upiter: but "ere not called >upiterians0 +he

ancient Latins "ere much attached to 2aturn: but

there "as not a village in all Latium called 2atur-

nian0 +he disciples of the 7od of +ruth: on the

contrary: taing the title of their master himself:

and calling themselves: lie him: .anointed:. de-

clared: as soon as they "ere able: eternal "ar against

all nations that "ere not .anointed:. and made "ar

upon one another for up"ards of fourteen hundred

years: taing the names of 4rians: ?anichseans:

5onatists: 9ussites: (apists: Lutherans: #alvinists:

etc0 ven the >ansenists and ?olinists have e-

perienced no mortiKcation so acute as that of not

having it in their po"er to cut one another;s throats

in pitched battle0 hence is this!

hy does a booseller publicly sell the .#ourse

of 4theism:. by the great Lucretius: printed for the

dauphin: only son of Louis CI30: by order and un-

der the direction of the "ise due of ?ontausier:

and of the elouent 8ossuet: bishop of ?eau: and

of the learned 9uet: bishop of 4vranches! +here

you Knd those sublime impieties: those admirable

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'D' (hilosophical

lines against (rovidence and the immortality of the

soul: "hich pass from mouth to mouth: through all

after-ages =

nihilo: nihilJ in nihilum nil (osse reverti0

rom nothing: noughtJ to nothing nought returns0

 +angere tnim ac tangi nisi corpus nulla protest res0

?atter alone can touch and govern matter0

6ee bene (ro meretis capitur: nee tangitur ira Q5eusR0

6othing can atter 7od: or cause his anger0

 +antiim religio potuit suadtre malorum0

9o" great the evil by religion causedP

5esipire est mortale eterno jungere et una

#onsentire putare: et fungi mutua posse0

;+is "ea in mortals to attempt to join

 +o transient being that "hich lasts forever0

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6il igitur mors est: ad nos neue pertinet hilum0

hen death is: "e are notJ the body dies: and "ith it all

?ortalem tamen esse animam fatere necesse est0

 +here is no futureJ mortal is the soul0

9inc 4cherusia Kt stultorum deniue vita0

9ence ancient fools are superstition;s prey0

4nd a hundred other lines "hich charm all nations

the immortal productions of a mind "hich be-

lieved itself to be mortal0 6ot only are these Latin

verses sold in the )ue 2t0 >acues and on the

Auai des 4ugustins: but you fearlessly purchase

the translations made into all the patois derived

from the Latin tongue translations decorated "ith

learned notes: "hich elucidate the doctrine of ma-

terialism: collect all the proofs against the 5ivinity:

and "ould annihilate it: if it could be destroyed0

5ictionary0 'DS

 ,ou Knd this boo: bound in morocco: in the Kne

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library of a great and devout prince: of a cardinal:

of a chancellor: of an archbishop: of a round-capped

president= but the Krst eighteen boos of de +hou

"ere condemned as soon as they appeared0 4 poor

7allic philosopher ventures to publish: in his o"n

name: that if men had been born "ithout Kngers:

they "ould never have been able to "or tapestry J

and immediately another 7aul: "ho for his money

has obtained a robe of oMce: reuires that the boo

and the author be burned0

hy are scenic ehibitions anathemati@ed by cer-

tain persons "ho call themselves of the Krst order

in the state: seeing that such ehibitions are neces-

sary to all the orders of the state: and that the la"s

of the state uphold them "ith eual splendor and

regularity !

hy do "e abandon to contempt: debasement:

oppression: and rapine: the great mass of those la-

borious and harmless men "ho cultivate the earth

every day of the year: that "e may eat of all its

fruits! 4nd "hy: on the contrary: do "e pay re-

spect: attention: and court: to the useless and often

very "iced man "ho lives only by their labor: and

is rich only by their misery!

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hy: during so many ages: among so many men

"ho so" the corn "ith "hich "e are fed: has there

been no one to discover that ridiculous error "hich

teaches that the grain must rot in order to germi-

nate: and die to spring up again an error "hich

'DH (hilosophical

has led to many impertinent assertions: to many

false comparisons: and to many ridiculous opin-

ions!

hy: since the fruits of the earth are so neces-

sary for the preservation of men and animals: do

"e Knd so many years: and so many centuries: in

"hich these fruits are absolutely "anting! "hy is

the earth covered "ith poisons in the half of 4frica

and of 4merica! "hy is there no tract of land

"here there are not more insects than men! "hy

does a little "hitish and oNensive secretion form a

being "hich "ill have hard bones: desires: and

thoughts ! and "hy shall those beings be constantly

persecuting one another! "hy does there eist so

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much evil: everything being formed by a 7od "hom

all +heists agree in calling good ! "hy: since "e are

al"ays complaining of our ills: are "e constantly

employed in redoubling them! "hy: since "e are

so miserable: has it been imagined that to die is an

evil "hen it is clear that not to have been: before

our birth: "as no evil ! "hy does it rain every day

into the sea: "hile so many deserts demand rain:

yet are constantly arid! "hy and ho" have "e

dreams in our sleep: if "e have no soul ! and if "e

have one: ho" is it that these dreams are al"ays so

incoherent and so etravagant ! "hy do the heavens

revolve from east to "est: rather than the con-

trary "ay! "hy do "e eist! "hy does anything

eist !

5ictionary0 0 'D%

I#150

4) told that human nature is essentially per-

verseJ that man is born a child of the devil: and

"iced0 6othing can be more injudicious J for thou:

my friend: "ho preachest to me that all the "orld is

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born perverse: "arnest me that thou art born such

also: and that I must mistrust thee as I "ould a fo

or a crocodile0 Oh: no P sayest thou J I am regen-

eratedJ I am neither a heretic nor an inKdelJ you

may trust in me0 8ut the rest of manind: "hich

are either heretic: or "hat thou callest inKdel: "ill

be an assemblage of monsters: and every time that

thou speaest to a Lutheran or a +ur: thou mayest

be sure that they "ill rob and murder thee: for they

are children of the devil: they are born "iced J the

one is not regenerated: the other is degenerated0 It

"ould be much more reasonable: much more noble:

to say to men= .,ou are all born goodJ see ho"

dreadful it is to corrupt the purity of your being0

4ll manind should be dealt "ith as are all men

individually0. If a canon leads a scandalous life:

"e say to him = .Is it possible that you "ould dis-

honor the dignity of canon !. e remind a la"yer

that he has the honor of being a counsellor to the

ing: and that he should set an eample0 e say to

a soldier to encourage him = .)emember that thou

art of the regiment of #hampagne0. e should say

to every individual= .)emember thy dignity as a

man0.

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'DF (hilosophical

4nd indeed: not"ithstanding the contrary theory:

"e al"ays return to thatJ for "hat else signiKes

the epression: so freuently used in all nations=

.8e yourself again!. If "e are born of the devil:

if our origin "as criminal: if our blood "as formed

of an infernal liuor: this epression= .8e your-

self again:. "ould signify= .#onsult: follo" your

diabolical natureJ be an impostor: thief: and as-

sassin J it is the la" of your nature0.

?an is not born "icedJ he becomes so: as he

becomes sic0 (hysicians present themselves and

say to him = .,ou are born sic0. It is very certain

these doctors: "hatever they may say or do: "ill not

cure him: if the malady is inherent in his natureJ

besides: these reasoners are often very ailing them-

selves0

4ssemble all the children of the universeJ you

"ill see in them only innocence: mildness: and fear J

if they "ere born "iced: mischievous: and cruel:

they "ould sho" some signs of it: as little serpents

try to bite: and little tigers to tear0 8ut nature not

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having given to men more oNensive arms than to

pigeons and rabbits: she cannot have given them an

instinct leading them to destroy0

?an: therefore: is not born bad J "hy: therefore:

are several infected "ith the plague of "icedness !

It is: that those "ho are at their head being taen

"ith the malady: communicate it to the rest of men =

as a "oman attaced "ith the distemper "hich

#hristopher #olumbus brought from 4merica:

5ictionary0 'D&

spreads the venom from one end of urope to the

other0

 +he Krst ambitious man corrupted the earth0

 ,ou "ill tell me that this Krst monster has so"ed

the seed of pride: rapine: fraud: and cruelty: "hich

is in all men0 I confess: that in general most of our

brethren can acuire these ualities J but has every-

body the putrid fever: the stone and gravel: because

everybody is eposed to it !

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 +here are "hole nations "hich are not "iced=

the (hiladelphians: the 8anians: have never illed

any one0 +he #hinese: the people of +onuin: Lao:

2iam: and even >apan: for more than a hundred

years have not been acuainted "ith "ar0 In ten

years "e scarcely see one of those great crimes

"hich astonish human nature in the cities of )ome:

3enice: (aris: London: and 4msterdam J to"ns in

"hich cupidity: the mother of all crimes: is etreme0

If men "ere essentially "iced if they "ere all

born submissive to a being as mischievous as unfor-

tunate: "ho: to revenge himself for his punishment:

inspired them "ith all his passions "e should

every morning see husbands assassinated by their

"ives: and fathers by their children J as at brea

of day "e see fo"ls strangled by a "easel "ho comes

to suc their blood0

If there be a thousand millions of men on the

earth: that is muchJ that gives about Kve hundred

millions of "omen: "ho se": spin: nourish their lit-

tle ones: eep their houses or cabins in order: and

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'i G (hilosophical

slander their neighbors a little0 I see not "hat great

harm these poor innocents do on earth0 Of this

number of inhabitants of the globe: there are at

least t"o hundred millions of children: "ho certainly

neither ill nor steal: and about as many old people

and invalids: "ho have not the po"er of doing so0

 +here "ill remain: at most: a hundred millions of

robust young people capable of crime0 Of this hun-

dred millions: there are ninety continually occupied

in forcing the earth: by prodigious labor: to furnish

them "ith food and clothingJ these have scarcely

time0 In the ten remaining millions "ill be com-

prised idle people and good company: "ho "ould

enjoy themselves at their ease J men of talent occu-

pied in their professionsJ magistrates: priests: vis-

ibly interested in leading a pure life: at least in ap-

pearance0 +herefore: of truly "iced people: there

"ill only remain a fe" politicians: either secular

or regular: "ho "ill al"ays trouble the "orld: and

some thousand vagabonds "ho hire their services to

these politicians0 6o": there is never a million of

these ferocious beasts employed at once: and in this

number I recon high"aymen0 ,ou have therefore

on the earth: in the most stormy times: only one

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man in a thousand "hom "e can call "iced: and he

is not al"ays so0

 +here is: therefore inKnitely less "icedness on

the earth than "e are told and believe there is0 +here

is still too much: no doubt J "e see misfortunes and

horrible crimesJ but the pleasure of complaining

5ictionary0 'D$

of and eaggerating them is so great: that at the

least scratch "e say that the earth o"s "ith blood0

9ave you been deceived! all men are perjured0 4

melancholy mind "hich has suNered injustice: sees

the earth covered "ith damned people = as a young

rae: supping "ith his lady: on coming from the

opera: imagines that there are no unfortunates0

ILL0

2O? very subtle 7rees formerly consulted (ope

9onorius I0: to no" "hether >esus: "hen 9e "as

in the "orld: had one "ill or t"o: "hen 9e "ould

sleep or "atch: eat or repair to the "ater-closet:

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"al or sit0

.hat signiKes it to you!. ans"ered the very

"ise bishop of )ome: 9onorius0 .9e has certainly

at present the "ill for you to be "ell-disposed

people that should satisfy you J 9e has no "ill for

you to be babbling sophists: to Kght continually for

the bishop;s mitre and the ass;s shado"0 I advise

you to live in peace: and not to lose in useless dis-

putes the time "hich you might employ in good

"ors0.

.9oly father: you have said "ell J this is the most

important aNair in the "orld0 e have already set

urope: 4sia: and 4frica on Kre: to no" "hether

 >esus had t"o persons and one nature: or one nature

and t"o persons: or rather t"o persons and t"o na-

tures: or rather one person and one nature0.

.?y dear brethren: you have acted "rongly J "e

''O (hilosophical

should give broth to the sic and bread to the poor0

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It is doubtless right to help the poor P but is not the

patriarch 2ergius about to decide in a council at

#onstantinople: that >esus had t"o natures and one

"ill ! 4nd the emperor: "ho no"s nothing about

it: is of this opinion0.

.ell: be it soP but above all defend yourself

from the ?ahometans: "ho bo your ears every day:

and "ho have a very bad "ill to"ards you0 It is

"ell said P 8ut behold the bishops of +unis: +ripoli:

4lgiers: and ?orocco: all declare Krmly for the t"o

"ills0 e must have an opinion J "hat is yours !.

.?y opinion is: that you are madmen: "ho "ill

lose the #hristian religion "hich "e have estab-

lished "ith so much trouble0 ,ou "ill do so much

mischief "ith your folly: that +unis: +ripoli: 4l-

giers: and ?orocco: of "hich you spea to me: "ill

become ?ahometan: and there "ill not be a #hris-

tian chapel in 4frica0 ?eantime: I am for the em-

peror and the council: until you have another coun-

cil and another emperor0.

.+his does not satisfy us0 5o you believe in t"o

"ills or one !.

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.Listen= if these t"o "ills are alie: it is as if

there "as but one J if they are contrary: he "ho has

t"o "ills at once "ill do t"o contrary things at

once: "hich is absurd= conseuently: I am for a

single "ill0.

.4h: holy father: you are a monothelite P 9eresy P

the devil P communicate him P depose him P 4

5ictionary0 ''D

council: uicP another councilP another emperorP

another bishop of )ome P another patriarch P.

.?y 7od P ho" mad these poor 7rees are "ith all

their vain and interminable disputes P ?y successor

"ill do "ell to dream of being po"erful and rich0.

2carcely had 9onorius uttered these "ords "hen

he learned that the emperor 9eraclius "as dead:

after having been beaten by the ?ahometans0 9is

"ido": ?artina: poisoned her son-in-la" J the sen-

ate caused ?artina;s tongue to be cut out: and the

nose of another son of the emperor to be slit= all

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the 7ree mpire o"ed in blood0 ould it not

be better not to have disputed on the t"o "ills!

4nd this (ope 9onorius: against "hom the >ansen-

ists have "ritten so much "as he not a very sen-

sible man !

I+: 2(I)I+: I6+LL#+0

4 ?46 "ho had some no"ledge of the human

heart: "as consulted upon a tragedy "hich "as to

be representedJ and he ans"ered: there "as so

much "it in the piece: that he doubted of its suc-

cess0 hatP you "ill eclaim: is that a fault: at a

time "hen every one is in search of "it "hen each

one "rites but to sho" that he has it "hen the pub-

lic even applaud the falsest thoughts: if they are

brilliant! ,es: doubtless: they "ill applaud the

Krst day: and be "earied the second0

hat is called "it: is sometimes a ne" compar-

ison: sometimes a subtle allusionJ here: it is the

''' (hilosophical

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orician J "hereas he is a statesman0

 +he art of the admirable )acine is far above

"hat is called "it J but if (yrrhus had al"ays e-

pressed himself in this style =

5ictionary0 ''S

3aincu: chargt defers: de regrets consume.:

8rXlt de plus defeu ueje ri en allumai 0000

9e D lasP jus-jejamais si cruel ue vous I;etesf

#onuered and chained: "orn out by vain desire:

2corched by more ames than I have ever lighted 0000

4lasP my cruelty ne;er eualled yoursP

if Orestes had been continually saying that the

.2cythians are less cruel than 9ermione:. these t"o

personages "ould ecite no emotion at all J it "ould

be perceived that true passion rarely occupies itself

"ith such comparisons J and that there is some dis-

proportion bet"een the real ames by "hich +roy

"as consumed and the ames of (yrrhus; love

bet"een the 2cythians immolating men: and 9er-

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mione not loving Orestes0 #inna says: speaing

of (ompey=

Le ciel choisit sa mort:pour servir dignement

5;une marue 2terne lie a ce grand cnangement J

t devait cette gloire au manes d;un tel homme:

5;emporter a-vec eu la liberti de )ome0

9eaven chose the death of such a man: to be

 +h* eternal landmar of this mighty change0

9is manes called for no less oNering

 +han )oman liberty0

 +his thought is very brilliant J there is much "it

in it: as also an air of imposing grandeur0 I am

sure that these lines: pronounced "ith all the en-

thusiasm and art of a great actor: "ill be applauded J

but I am also sure that the play of .#inna. had it

been "ritten entirely in this taste: "ould never have

been long played0 hy: indeed: "as heaven bound

to do (ompey the honor of maing the )omans

slaves after his death ! +he contrary "ould be truer =

the manes of (ompey should rather have obtained

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''H (hilosophical

from heaven the everlasting maintenance of that

liberty for "hich he is supposed to have fought and

died0

hat: then: "ould any "or be "hich should

be full of such far-fetched and uestionable

thoughts ! 9o" much superior to all these brilliant

ideas are those simple and natural lines =

#inna: tu fen souviens: et veu n! assassiner P

#I664: act v: scene i0

 +hou dost remember: #inna: yet "ouldst ill meP

2oyons amis: #inna J c;est moi gut fen convie0

I50: act v: scene iii0

Let us be friends: #innaJ ;tis I "ho as it0

 +rue beauty consists: not in "hat is called "it:

but in sublimity and simplicity0 Let 4ntiochus: in

.)odogune:. say of his mistress: "ho uits him:

after disgracefully proposing to him to ill his

mother =

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Uefuit: mats en (arthe: en nous f errant te cantr0

2he ies: but: lie the (arthian: ying: "ounds0

4ntiochus has "it J he maes an epigram against

)odoguneJ he ingeniously liens her last "ords in

going a"ay: to the arro"s "hich the (arthians used

to discharge in their ight0 8ut it is not because

his mistress goes a"ay: that the proposal to ill

his mother is revolting = "hether she goes or stays:

the heart of 4ntiochus is eually "ounded0 +he

epigram: therefore: is falseJ and if )odogune did

not go a"ay: this bad epigram could not be re-

tained0

I select these eamples epressly from the best

5ictionary0 ''%

authors: in order that they may be the more striing0

I do not lay hold of those puns "hich play upon

"ords: the false taste of "hich is felt by all0 +here

is no one that does not laugh "hen: in the tragedy

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of the .7olden leece:. 9ypsipyle says to ?edea:

alluding to her sorceries =

 >e ;ai ue des attraits: et vous ave@ des charmes0

I have attractions only: you have charms0

#orneille found the stage and every other de-

partment of literature infested "ith these puerilities:

into "hich he rarely fell0

I "ish here to spea only of such stroes of "it

as "ould be admitted else"here: and as the serious

style rejects0 +o their authors might be applied the

sentence of (lutarch: translated "ith the happy

naivete of 4miot= .+u tiens sans propos beaucoup

de bons propos0.

 +here occurs to my recollection one of those bril-

liant passages: "hich I have seen uoted as a model

in many "ors of taste: and even in the treatise on

studies by the late ?0 )ollin0 +his piece is taen

from the Kne funeral oration on the great +urenne:

composed by lechier0 It is true: that in this ora-

tion lechier almost eualled the sublime 8ossuet:

"hom I have called and still call the only elouent

man among so many elegant "riters J but it appears

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to me that the passage of "hich I am speaing "ould

not have been employed by the bishop of ?eau0

9ere it is =

.,e po"ers hostile to rance: you live J and the

3ol0 DHD%

''F (hilosophical

spirit of #hristian charity forbids me to "ish your

death 0000 but you live J and I mourn in this

pulpit over a virtuous leader: "hose intentions "ere

pure .

4n apostrophe in this taste "ould have been

suitable to )ome in the civil "ar: after the assas-

sination of (ompey J or to London: after the murder

of #harles I0 J because the interests of (ompey and

#harles I0 "ere really in uestion0 8ut is it decent

to insinuate in the pulpit a "ish for the death of

the emperor: the ing of 2pain: and the electors:

and put in the balance against them the commander-

in-chief employed by a ing "ho "as their enemy !

2hould the intentions of a leader "hich can only

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Of all our operas: that "hich is the most orna-

mented: or rather the most overloaded: "ith this

epigrammatic spirit: is the ballet of the .+riumph

of the 4rts:. composed by an amiable man: "ho

al"ays thought "ith subtlety: and epressed him-

self "ith delicacyJ but "ho: by the abuse of this

talent: contributed a little to the decline of letters

after the glorious era of Louis CI30 In this ballet:

in "hich (ygmalion animates his statue: he says

to it=

3os premiers mouvemens ont DH de m* aimer0

4nd love for me your earliest movements sho"ed0

I remember to have heard this line admired by

some persons in my youth0 8ut "ho does not per-

ceive that the movements of the body of the statue

are here confounded "ith the movements of the

heart: and that in any sense the phrase is not

rench that it is: in fact: a pun: a jest! 9o"

could it be that a man "ho had so much "it: had

not enough to retrench these egregious faults ! +his

same man "ho: despising 9omer: translated him J

"ho: in translating him: thought to correct him:

and by abridging him: thought to mae him read

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had a mind to mae 9omer a "it0 It is he "ho:

"hen 4chilles reappears: reconciled to the 7rees

"ho are ready to avenge him: maes the "hole

camp eclaim=

''G (hilosophical

Aue ne vaincra-t-il point ;f II s;est vaincu lui-mfme0

hat shall oppose him: conueror of himself!

4 man must indeed be fond of "itticisms: "hen

he maes Kfty thousand men pun all at once upon

the same "ord0

 +his play of the imagination: these uips: these

crans: these random shafts: these gayeties: these

little broen sentences: these ingenious familiarities:

"hich it is no" the fashion to lavish so profusely:

are beKtting no "ors but those of pure amusement0

 +he front of the Louvre: by (errault: is simple and

majestic J minute ornaments may appear "ith grace

in a cabinet0 9ave as much "it as you "ill: or as

you can: in a madrigal: in light verses: in a scene of

a comedy: "hen it is to be neither impassioned nor

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simple: in a compliment: in a .novellette:. or in a

letter: "here you assume gayety yourself in order

to communicate it to your friends0

ar from having reproached 3oiture "ith hav-

ing "it in his letters: I found: on the contrary: that

he had not enough: although he "as constantly

seeing it0 It is said that dancing-masters mae

their bo" ill: because they are anious to mae it

too "ell0 I thought this "as often the case "ith

3oiture J his best letters are studied J you feel that

he is fatiguing himself to Knd that "hich presents

itself so naturally to #ount 4nthony 9amilton: to

?adame de 2evigne: and to so many other "omen:

"ho "rite these tries "ithout an eNort: better than

3oiture "rote them "ith labor0 5espreau: "ho

5ictionary0 ''$

in his Krst satires had ventured to compare 3oiture

to 9orace: changed his opinion "hen his taste "as

ripened by age0 I no" that it matters very little:

in the aNairs of this "orld: "hether 3oilure "as

or "as not a great genius J "hether he "rote only

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a fe" pretty letters: or that all his pieces of pleas-

antry "ere models0 8ut "e: "ho cultivate and love

the liberal arts: cast an attentive eye on "hat is

uite indiNerent to the rest of the "orld0 7ood

taste is to us in literature "hat it is to "omen in

dress J and provided that one;s opinions shall not

be made a party matter: it appears to me that one

may boldly say: that there are but fe" ecellent

things in 3oiture: and that ?arot might easily be

reduced to a fe" pages0

6ot that "e "ish to tae from them their repu-

tationJ on the contrary: "e "ish to ascertain pre-

cisely "hat that reputation cost them: and "hat are

the real beauties for "hich their defects have been

tolerated0 e must no" "hat "e are to follo":

and "hat "e are to avoid J this is the real fruit of

the profound study of the belles-lettres J this is "hat

9orace did "hen he eamined Lucilius critically0

9orace made himself enemies thereby J but he en-

lightened his enemies themselves0

 +his desire of shining and of saying in a novel

manner "hat has been said by others: is a source

of ne" epressions as "ell as far-fetched thoughts0

9e "ho cannot shine by thought: sees to bring

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 +hey "ho charge our language "ith not being

suMciently copious: must indeed have found sterility

some"here: but it is in themselves0 .)em verba

seuuntur0. hen an idea is forcibly impressed on

the mind "hen a clear and vigorous head is in full

possession of its thought it issues from the brain:

arrayed in suitable epressions: as ?inerva came

forth in full armor to "ait upon >upiter0 In Kne:

the conclusion from this is that neither thoughts nor

epressions should be far-fetched J and that the art:

in all great "ors: is to reason "ell: "ithout enter-

5ictionary0 'S D

ing into too many arguments J to paint "ell: "ith-

out striving to paint everything J and to be aNecting:

"ithout striving constantly to ecite passions0

#ertes: I am here giving Kne counsel0 9ave I taen

it myself ! 4las P no P

(auci uos eeuus amavit

 >upiter: aut ardens eveit ad cethera: virtus:

5is geniti potuere0 ^6I5: b0 vi: v0 D'$0

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 +o fe" great >upiter imparts this grace:

4nd those of shining "orth and heavenly race0

5),560

2#+IO6 II0

2pirit it0

 +he "ord .spirit:. "hen it signiKes .a uality of

the mind:. is one of those vague terms to "hich

almost every one "ho pronounces it attaches a dif-

ferent senseJ it epresses some other thing than

 judgment: genius: taste: talent: penetration: compre-

hensiveness: grace: or subtlety: yet is ain to all

these merits J it might be deKned to be .ingenious

reason0.

It is a generic "ord: "hich al"ays needs another

"ord to determine itJ and "hen "e hear it said=

.+his is a "or of spirit:. or .9e is a man of spirit:.

"e have very good reason to as = .2pirit of "hat !.

 +he sublime spirit of #orneille is neither the eact

spirit of 8oileau: nor the simple spirit of La on-

taineJ and the spirit of La 8ruyere: "hich is the

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art of portraying singularity: is not that of ?ale-

branche: "hich is imaginative and profound0

hen a man is said to have .a judicious spirit:.

'S' (hilosophical

the meaning is: not so much that he has "hat is

called spirit: as that he has an enlightened reason0

4 spirit Krm: masculine: courageous: great: little:

"ea: light: mild: hasty: etc0: signiKes the character

and temper of the mind: and has no relation to

"hat is understood in society by the epression

.spirited0.

2pirit: in the ordinary acceptation of the "ord: is

much ain to "it J yet does not signify precisely the

same thing J for the term: .man of spirit:. can never

be taen in a bad senseJ but that of .a "it:. is

sometimes pronounced ironically0

hence this diNerence! It is that .a man of

spirit. does not signify .superior "it:. .mared

talent.J and .a "it. does0 +his epression: .man

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of spirit:. announces no pretensionsJ but ."it. is

a sort of advertisement J it is an art "hich reuires

cultivation J it is a sort of profession J and thereby

eposes to envy and ridicule0

In this sense: ather 8ouhours "ould have been

right in giving us to understand that the 7ermans

had no pretensions to "itJ for at that time their

learned men occupied themselves in scarcely any

"ors but those of labor and painful research: "hich

did not admit of their scattering o"ers: of their

striving to shine: and miing up "it "ith learning0

 +hey "ho despise the genius of 4ristotle should:

instead of contenting themselves "ith condemning

his physics "hich could not be good: inasmuch as

they "anted eperiments be much astonished to

5ictionary0 'SS

Knd that 4ristotle: in his rhetoric: taught perfectly

the art of saying things "ith spirit0 9e states that

this art consists in not merely using the proper "ord:

"hich says nothing ne" J but that a metaphor must

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be employed a Kgure: the sense of "hich is clear:

and its epression energetic0 Of this: he adduces

several instances J and: among others: "hat (ericles

said of a battle in "hich the o"er of the 4thenian

youth had perished = .+he year has been stripped of

its spring0.

4ristotle is very right in saying that novelty is

necessary0 +he Krst person "ho: to epress that

pleasures are mingled "ith bitterness: liened them

to roses accompanied by thorns: had "it J they "ho

repeated it had none0

2pirited epression does not al"ays consist in a

metaphorJ but also in a ne" term in leaving one

half of one;s thoughts to be easily divined J this is

called .subtleness:. .delicacy.J and this manner is

the more pleasing: as it eercises and gives scope

for the "it of others0

4llusions: allegories: and comparisons: open a

vast Keld for ingenious thoughts0 +he eNects of

nature: fable: history: presented to the memory: fur-

nish a happy imagination "ith materials of "hich it

maes a suitable use0

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It "ill not be useless to give eamples in these

diNerent inds0 +he follo"ing is a madrigal by ?0

de la 2abliere: "hich has al"ays been held in high

estimation by people of taste =

'SH (hilosophical

eU tremble ue: dans ce jour:

L 9ymen: plus puissant ue r 4mour:

6;fnleve ses trtsprs: sans uelle ose sen plamdre

lle a neeligi mes avisJ

2i la bel+e Us etit suivis:

lle n;aurait plus rien a craindre0

eeping: murmuring: complaining:

Lost to every gay delight:

?ira: too sincere for feigning:

ears th; approaching bridal night

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 ,et "hy impair thy bright perfection:

Or dim thy beauty "ith a tear!

9ad ?ira follo"ed my direction:

2he long bad "anted cause of fear0 7OL52?I+90

It does not appear that the author could either

better have mased: or better have conveyed: the

meaning "hich he "as afraid to epress0 +he fol-

lo"ing madrigal seems more brilliant and more

pleasing J it is an allusion to fable =

3ous etes belle: et votre soeur est belleJ

ntre -vous deu tout choi serait bien dou

L! 4mour ttait blonde comme vous:

?ais il amait une brunt comme elle0

 ,ou are a beauty: and your sister: tooJ

In choosing ;t"it you: then: "e cannot errJ

Love: to be sure: "as fair lie youJ

8ut: then: he courted a brunette lie her0

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 +here is another: and a very old one0 It is by

8ertaut: bishop of 2ee@: and seems superior to the

t"o former J it unites "it and feeling =

Auandj;e revis ce uefai tant aiml:

fYeu s;en fallut ue mon cceur rallumt

6* en Kt le charme en mon dme renattreJ

t ue mon cceur: autrefois son captif:

6e ressembldt esclave fugitif:

4 ui le sort Kt recontrer son mattre0

hen I beheld again the once-loved form:

4gain "ithin my heart the rising storm

9ad nearly cast the spell around my soul:

hich erst had bouna me captive at her feet:

4s some poor slave: escaped from rude control:

9is master;s dreaded face may haply meet0

5ictionary0 'S%

2troes lie these please every one: and charac-

teri@e the delicate spirit of an ingenious nation0 +he

great point is to no" ho" far this spirit is admis-

sible0 It is clear that: in great "ors: it should be

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employed "ith moderation: for this very reason:

that it is an ornament0 +he great art consists in

propriety0

4 subtle: ingenious thought: a just and o"ery

comparison: is a defect "hen only reason or passion

should spea: or "hen great interests are to be dis-

cussed0 +his is not false "it: but misplaced J and

every beauty: "hen out of its place: is a beauty no

longer0

 +his is a fault of "hich 3irgil "as never guilty:

and "ith "hich +asso may no" and then be charged:

admirable as he other"ise is0 +he cause of it is

that the author: too full of his o"n ideas: "ishes to

sho" himself: "hen he should only sho" his per-

sonages0

 +he best "ay of learning the use that should be

made of "it: is to read the fe" good "ors of genius

"hich are to be found in the learned languages and

in our o"n0 alse "it is not the same as misplaced

"it0 It is not merely a false thought: for a thought

might be false "ithout being ingeniousJ it is a

thought at once false and elaborate0

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It has already been remared that a man of great

"it: "ho translated: or rather abridged 9omer into

rench verse: thought to embellish that poet: "hose

simplicity forms his character: by loading him "ith

'SF (hilosophical

ornaments0 On the subject of the reconciliation of

4chilles: he says =

 +out U camp s;icria dans unejoie etreme:

Aut n* -vairura-t-il (oint t II s;est vaincu lui-tnime0

#ried the "hole camp: "ith overo"ing joy

hat still resist him! 9e;s o;ercome himself0

In the Krst place it does not at all follo": because

one has overcome one;s anger: that one shall not

be beaten0 2econdly: is it possible that a "hole

army should: by some sudden inspiration: mae in-

stantaneously the same pun!

If this fault shocs all judges of severe taste: ho"

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revolting must be all those forced "itticisms: those

intricate and pu@@ling thoughts: "hich abound in

other"ise valuable "ritingsP Is it to be endured:

that in a "or of mathematics it should be said=

.If 2aturn should one day be missing: his place

"ould be taen by one of the remotest of his satel-

lites J for great lords al"ays eep their successors at

a distance !. Is it endurable to tal of 9ercules be-

ing acuainted "ith physics: and that it is impossible

to resist a philosopher of such force ! 2uch are the

ecesses into "hich "e are led by the thirst for

shining and surprising by novelty0 +his petty

vanity has produced verbal "itticisms in all lan-

guages: "hich is the "orst species of false "it0

alse taste diNers from false "it: for the latter

is al"ays an aNectation an eNort to do "rongJ

"hereas the former is often a habit of doing "rong

"ithout eNort: and follo"ing instinctively an es-

tablished bad eample0

5ictionary0 'S&

 +he intemperance and incoherence of the imagi-

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nations of the Orientals: is a false tasteJ but it is

rather a "ant of "it than an abuse of it0 2tars

falling: mountains opening: rivers rolling bac: sun

and moon dissolving: false and gigantic similes: con-

tinual violence to nature: are the characteristics of

these "ritersJ because in those countries "here

there has never been any public speaing: true elo-

uence cannot have been cultivated J and because it

is much easier to "rite fustian than to "rite that

"hich is just: reKned: and delicate0

alse "it is precisely the reverse of these trivial

and inated ideasJ it is a tiresome search after

subtleties: an aNectation of saying enigmatically

"hat others have said naturallyJ or bringing to-

gether ideas "hich appear incompatible J of dividing

"hat ought to be unitedJ of laying hold on false

aMnities J of miing: contrary to decency: the triing

"ith the serious: and the petty "ith the grand0

It "ere here a superuous tas to string together

uotations in "hich the "ord spirit is to be found0

e shall content ourselves "ith eamining one

from 8oileau: "hich is given in the great dictionary

of +revou = .It is a property of great spirits: "hen

they begin to gro" old and decay: to be pleased "ith

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stories and fables0. +his reection is not just0 4

great spirit may fall into this "eaness: but it is no

property of great spirits0 6othing is more calcu-

lated to mislead the young than the uoting of faults

of good "riters as eamples0

'SG (hilosophical

e must not here forget to mention in ho" many

diNerent senses the "ord .spirit. is employed0 +his

is not a defect of languageJ on the contrary: it is

an advantage to have roots "hich ramify into so

many branches0

.2pirit of a body:. .of a society:. is used to e-

press the customs: the peculiar language and con-

duct: the prejudices of a body0 .2pirit of party:.

is to the .spirit of a body:. "hat the passions are to

ordinary sentiments0

.2pirit of a la":. is used to designate its inten-

tion J in this sense it has been said = .+he letter

illeth: but the spirit giveth life0. .2pirit of a

"or:. to denote its character and object0 .2pirit

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of revenge:. to signify desire and intention of taing

revenge0 .2pirit of discord:. .spirit of revolt:. etc0

In one dictionary has been uoted .spirit of

politeness. J but from an author named 8ellegarde:

"ho is no authority0 8oth authors and eamples

should be selected "ith scrupulous caution0 e

cannot say .spirit of politeness:. as "e say .spirit

of revenge:. of .dissension:. of .faction.J for

politeness is not a passion animated by a po"erful

motive "hich prompts it: and "hich is metaphori-

cally called spirit0

.amiliar spirit:. is used in another sense: and

signiKes those intermediate beings: those genii:

those demons: believed in by the ancientsJ as the

.spirit of 2ocrates:. etc0

2pirit sometimes denotes the more subtle part of

5ictionary0 'S$

matterJ "e say: .animal spirits:. .vital spirits:. to

signify that "hich has never been seen: but "hich

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gives motion and life0 +hese spirits: "hich are

thought to o" rapidly through the nerves: are

probably a subtile Kre0 5r0 ?ead is the Krst "ho

seems to have given proofs of this: in his treatise

on poisons0 2pirit: in chemistry: too: is a term

"hich receives various acceptations: but al"ays de-

notes the more subtile part of matter0

2#+IO6 III0

2pirit0

Is not this "ord a striing proof of the imper-

fection of languagesJ of the chaos in "hich they

still are: and the chance "hich has directed almost

all our conceptions ! It pleased the 7rees: as "ell

as other nations: to give the name of "ind: breath

.pneuma. to that "hich they vaguely understand

by respiration: life: soul0 2o that: among the an-

cients: soul and "ind "ere: in one sense: the same

thingJ and if "e "ere to say that man is a pneu-

matic machine: "e should only translate the lan-

guage of the 7rees0 +he Latins imitated them:

and used the "ord .spiritus:. spirit: breath0

.4nima. and .spiritus. "ere the same thing0

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 +he .rouha. of the (hoenicians: and: as it is

said: of the #haldaeans lie"ise: signiKed breath and

"ind0 hen the 8ible "as translated into Latin:

the "ords: breath: spirit: "ind: soul: "ere al"ays

used diNerently0 .2piritus 5ei ferebatur super

'HE (hilosophical

auas. the breath of 7od the spirit of 7od "as

borne on the "aters0

.2piritus vita. the breath of life the soul of

life0 .Inspiravit in facicm cjns spiraculum:. or

.spiritum vita. 4nd he breathed upon his face

the breath of lifeJ and: according to the 9ebre":

he breathed into his nostrils the breath: the spirit: of

life0

.9cec uum diisset: insuavit et diit eis: ac-

cipite spiritum sanctum. 9aving spoen these

"ords: he breathed on them: and said= )eceive ye

the holy breath the holy spirit0

.2piritus ubi vult spirat: et vocem ejus audisJ

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say .verstandig. J and "hen they mean to epress

ingenious: lively: agreeable thoughts: they say .rich

in sensations. .sinnreich. 9ence it is that the

nglish: "ho have retained many of the epressions

of the ancient 7ermanic and rench tongue: say:

.sensible man0. +hus almost all the "ords that e-

press ideas of the understanding are metaphors0

.Ingegno. .ingenium. comes from .that "hich

generates.J .agudesa:. from .that "hich is

pointed. J .sinnreich. from .sensations. J .spirit:.

from ."ind. J and ."it:. from ."isdom0.

In every language: the "ord that ans"ers to

spirit in general is of several inds J and "hen you

are told that such a one is a .man of spirit:. you

have a right to as = Of "hat spirit !

7irard: in his useful boo of deKnitions: enti-

tled .rench 2ynonymes:. thus concludes = .In our

intercourse "ith "omen: it is necessary to have "it:

or a jargon "hich has the appearance of it0 Q+his

is not doing them honorJ they deserve better0R Un-

derstanding is in demand "ith politicians and

courtiers0. It seems to me that understanding is

necessary every"here: and that it is very etraordi-

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nary to hear of understanding in demand0

.7enius is proper "ith people of project and

epense0. ither I am mistaen: or the genius of

#orneille "as made for all spectators the genius

of 8ossuet for all auditors yet more than for people

of epense0

3oL DHDF

'H' (hilosophical

 +he "ind: "hich ans"ers to .2piritus:. spirit:

"ind: breath necessarily giving to all nations the

idea of air: they all supposed that our faculty of

thining and acting that "hich animates us is

airJ "hence our .souls are a subtile air0. 9ence:

manes: spirits: ghosts: shades: are composed of air0

9ence "e used to say: not long ago: .4 ;spirit;

has appeared to himJ he has a ;familiar spiritJ; that

castle is haunted by ;spirits J; . and the populace say

so still0

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 +he "ord .spiritus.0 has hardly ever been used

in this sense: ecept in the translations of the 9e-

bre" boos into bad Latin0

.?anes:. .umbra:. .simulacra:. are the epres-

sions of #icero and 3irgil0 +he 7ermans say:

.geist.J the nglish: .ghost.J the 2paniards:

.duende:. .trasgo.J the Italians appear to have no

term signifying ghost0 +he rench alone have made

use of the "ord .spirit. QespritR0 +he "ords for all

nations should be: .phantom:. .imagination:. .rev-

erie:. .folly:. .navery0.

2#+IO6 I30

it0

hen a nation is beginning to emerge from bar-

barism: it strives to sho" "hat "e call "it0 +hus:

in the Krst attempts made in the time of rancis I0:

"e Knd in ?arot such puns: plays on "ords: as

"ould no" be intolerable0

)emorentin la (arte rememore =

#ognac fen cogne en sa HYoitrine blhne:

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4njou faict jou: 4ngouleme est de mime0

5ictionary0 'HS

 +hese Kne ideas are not such as at once present

themselves to epress the grief of nations0 ?any

instances of this depraved taste might be adduced J

but "e shall content ourselves "ith this: "hich is

the most striing of all0

In the second era of the human mind in rance

in the time of 8al@ac: ?airet: )otrou: #orneille

applause "as given to every thought that sur-

prised by ne" images: "hich "ere called ."it0.

 +hese lines of the tragedy of .(yramus. "ere very

"ell received =

4hP void le poignard ui du sang de son mattre

2est souillt IdchementJ il en rougit: le traitrel

8ehold the dagger "hich has basely drun

Its master;s bloodP 2ee ho" the traitor blushesP

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 +here "as thought to be reat art in giving feel-

ing to this dagger: in maing it red "ith shame at

being stained "ith the blood of (yramus: as much

as "ith the blood itself0 6o one eclaimed against

#orneille: "hen: in his tragedy of .4ndromeda:.

(hineus says to the sun =

 +u luis: soleil: et ta lumiere

2emble se plaire a n#aiger0

4hP mon amour te va bien obliger

4 uitter soudain ta carriere0

3iens: soleil: viens voir la beautt:

5ont le divin tclat me dompte:

t tufuiras de honte

5. avoir mains de clartt0

O sun: thou shincst: and thy light

2eems to tae pleasure in my "oeJ

8ut soon my love shall shame thee uite:

4nd be thy glory;s overthro"0

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#ome: come: O sun: and vie" the face

hose heavenly splendor I adoreJ

 +hen "ilt thou nee apace:

4nd sho" thy o"n no more0

'HH (hilosophical

 +he sun ying because he is not so bright as 4n-

dromeda;s face: is not at all inferior to the blushing

dagger0 If such foolish sallies as these found favor

"ith a public "hose taste it has been so diMcult to

form: "e cannot be surprised that stroes of "it: in

"hich some glimmering of beauty is discernible:

should have had these charms0

6ot only "as this translation from the 2panish

admired =

#e sang ui: tout verse. : fume encor de courrou:

5e se voir ripandu pour d.autres ue pour vous0

#l5: act ii: sc0 $0

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 +his blood: still foaming "ith indignant rage0

 +hat it "as shed for others: not for youJ

not only "as there thought to be a very spirited

reKnement in the line of 9ypsipyle to ?edea: in the

.7olden leece. = .I have attractions only J you have

charmsJ. but it "as not perceived and fe" con-

noisseurs perceive it yet that in the imposing part

of #ornelia: the author almost continually puts "it

"here grief alone "as reuired0 +his "oman: "hose

husband has just been assassinated: begins her stud-

ied speech to #aesar "ith a .for.=

#esar: car le destin ue dans tesfersje brave

? ;a fait ta prisonntere: et non pas ton esclaveJ

t tu ne (retends (as u;iP m;abatte le catur0

 >usu; a te rendre hommage et te nommer seigneur0

?O)+ 5 (O?(: act iii: sc0 H0

#aesar:

or the hard fate that binds me in thy chains:

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?aes me thy prisoner: but not thy slaveJ

6or "ouldst thou have it so subdue my heart

 +hat I should call thee lord and do thee homage0

 +hus she breas oN: at the very Krst "ord: in

?1))1 #O)61IIWtW1

5ictionary0 'H%

order to say that "hich is at once far-fetched and

false0 6ever "as the "ife of one )oman citi@en

the slave of another )oman ;citi@en = never "as any

)oman called lordJ and this "ord .lord. is: "ith

us: nothing more than a term of honor and cere-

mony: used on the stage0

ille de 2cipion: et:pour dire encor plus:

)omaine: man courage est encore au-dessus0 I50

5aughter of 2cipio: and: yet more: of )ome:

2till does my courage rise above my fate0

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8esides the defect so common to all #orneille;s

heroes: of thus announcing themselves of saying:

I am great: I am courageous: admire me here is

the very reprehensible aNectation of taling of her

birth: "hen the head of (ompey has just been pre-

sented to #aesar0 )eal aiction epresses itself

other"ise0 7rief does not see after a .yet more0.

4nd "hat is "orse: "hile she is striving to say .yet

more:. she says much less0 +o be a daughter of

)ome is indubitably less than to be daughter of

2cipio and "ife of (ompey0 +he infamous 2epti-

mius: "ho assassinated (ompey: "as )oman as "ell

as she0 +housands of )omans "ere very ordinary

men= but to be daughter and "ife to the greatest

of )omans: "as a real superiority0 In this speech:

then: there is false and misplaced "it: as "ell as false

and misplaced greatness0

2he then says: after Lucan: that she ought to

blush that she is alive =

 >e dots rougir: partout: aKres un tel malheur:

5e ri avoir (U mourir Qfun eces de douleur0 I50

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'HF (hilosophical

9o"ever: after such a great calamity:

D ought to blush I am not dead of grief0

Lucan: after the brilliant 4ugustan age: "ent in

search of "it: because decay "as commencing J and

the "riters of the age of Louis CI30 at Krst sought

to display "it: because good taste "as not then com-

pletely found: as it after"ards "as0

#/sar: de to0 victoire icoute mains le bruit J

lU n;est ue eNet du malheur ui me suit: I50

#aesar: rejoice not in thy victoryJ

or my misfortune "as its only cause0

hat a poor artiKce P "hat a false as "ell as im-

pudent notion P #aesar conuered at (harsalia only

because (ompey married #orneliaP hat labor to

say that "hich is neither true: nor liely: nor Kt: nor

interesting P

5eufois du monde entierfai caust la disgrace T50

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 +"ice have I caused the living "orld;s disgrace0

 +his is the .bis nocui mundo. of Lucan0 +his

line presents us "ith a very great ideaJ it cannot

fail to surprise J it is "anting in nothing but truth0

8ut it must be observed: that if this line had but

the smallest ray of verisimilitude had it really its

birth in the pangs of grief: it "ould then have all

the truth: all the beauty: of theatrical Ktness =

9eureuse en mes malheurs: si ce triste hymint;e

(our le bonheur du monde a )ome m;etit donnte

t sifeusse avec moi portt dans ta maison0

B/un astre envenimt invincible poisonP

#ar enKn n; attends fYas ue fabaisse ma haine =

 >e te fai dtja dit: #/fsar:je suis )omaine J

t: uoiue ta captive: un caeur tel ue le mien:

5epeur de s;oublier: ne te demande rien0 I50

5ictionary0 'H&

 ,et happy in my "oes: had these sad nuptials

7iven me to #aesar for the good of )omeJ

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9ad I but carried "ith me to thy house

 +he mortal venom of a noious starP

or thin not: after all: my hate is less=

4lready have I told thee I am a )omanJ

4nd: though thy captive: such a heart as mine:

Lest it forget itself: "ill sue for nothing0

 +his is Lucan again0 2he "ishes: in the .(har-

salia:. that she had married #aesar0

4tue utinam in thalamis invisi #cesaris essem

 >njeli conju: et nulli Iceta maritot

Lib0: viii: v0 GG: G$0

4hP "herefore "as I not much rather led

4 fatal bride to #aesar;s hated bed: etc0

)O0

 +his sentiment is not in natureJ it is at once gi-

gantic and puerile= but at least it is not to #aesar

that #ornelia tals thus in Lucan0 #orneille: on

the contrary: maes #ornelia spea to #aesar him-

self= he maes her say that she "ishes to be his

"ife: in order that she may carry into his house

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.the mortal poison of a noious star.J for: adds

she: my hatred cannot be abated: and I have told thee

already that I am a )oman: and I sue for nothing0

9ere is odd reasoning = I "ould fain have married

thee: to cause thy death J and I sue for nothing0 8e

it also observed: that this "ido" heaps reproaches

on #aesar: just after #aesar "eeps for the death of

(ompey and promises to avenge it0

It is certain: that if the author had not striven to

mae #ornelia "itty: he "ould not have been guilty

of the faults "hich: after being so long applauded:

are no" perceived0 +he actresses can scarcely

'HG (hilosophical

longer palliate them: by a studied loftiness of de-

meanor and an imposing elevation of voice0

 +he better to feel ho" much mere "it is belo"

natural sentiment: let us compare #ornelia "ith her-

self: "here: in the same tirade: she says things uite

opposite =

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 >e dois toutefois rendre grace au dieu

5e ceuen arrivantje trouve en ces lieu:

Out Q:fsary commands: et non pas (tolemte0

9tlasP et sous uel astre: F ciei: m ;as-tu formle:

2ije leur dois des vceu: de ce uils ontpermis:

Aueje recontre id mes plus grands ennemis:

t tombe entre leurs mains t plutFt uau mains d;un (rince

Aui doit a man tpou son trdne et sa province0 I50

 ,et have I cause to than the gracious gods:

 +hat #aesar here commands not (tolemy0

4lasP beneath "hat planet "as I formed:

If I o"e thans for being thus permitted

9ere to encounter my "orst enemies

4nd fall into their hands: rather than those

Of him "ho to my husband o"es his throne!

Let us overloo the slight defects of style: and

consider ho" mournful and becoming is this speech J

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it goes to the heart = all the rest da@@les for a mo-

ment: and then disgusts0 +he follo"ing natural

lines charm all readers=

O vousP a ma douleur objet terrible et tendre:

ternel entretien de haine et de pitif:

)estes de grand (omp^e: tcoute@ sa moitit: etc0

O dreadful: tender object of my grief:

ternal source of pity and of hate:

 ,e relics of great (ompey: hear me no"

9ear his yet living half0

It is by such comparisons that our taste is formed:

and that "e learn to admire nothing but truth in

its proper place0 In the same tragedy: #leopatra

thus epresses herself to her conKdante: #harmion =

5ictionary0 'H$

4pprends gu;une princesse aimant sa renommte:

Auand elle dit gu;elle aime: est sure d*etre aimte J

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t ue les plus oeau feu dont son cceur soit tpris

6;oseraient eposer au hontes d;un mtpris0

4ct ii: sc0 I0

1no": that a princess jealous of her fame:

hen she o"ns love: is sure of a returnJ

4nd that the noblest ame her heart can feel:

5ares not epose her to rejection;s shame0

#harmion might ans"er= ?adam: I no" not

"hat the noble ame of a princess is: "hich dares not

epose her to shameJ and as for princesses "ho

never say they are in love: but "hen they are sure

of being loved I al"ays enact the part of conK-

dante at the play= and at least t"enty princesses

have confessed their noble ames to me: "ithout

being at all sure of the matter: and especially the in-

fanta in .+he #id0.

6ay: "e may go further= #aesar #aesar him-

self addresses #leopatra: only to sho" oN double-

reKned "it=

?ais: d 5ieuP ce moment ueje vous ai uitte;e

5.un trouble bien plus grand a mon dme agit^e J

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t ces soins importans gut m;arrachaient de vous:

#entre ma grandeur meme allumaient mon courrouJ

fe lui voulais du mal de m;etre si contraire J

?aisje lui pardonnais: au simple souvenir

5u bonheur gu;a ma amme elle fait obtenir0

#est elle: dontje tiens cette haute esptrance:

Auiatte mes dtsirs d;une illustre apparence 0000

#eZtait:pour acgu?r un droit si prtcieu J

Aue combattait partout mon bras ambitieu J

t dans (harsale meme il a tirt I;tpte

(lus pour le conserver ue pour vainer e (ompte0

4ct iv: sc0 S0

8ut: O the moment that I uitted you:

4 greater trouble came upon my soulJ

4nd those important cares that snatched me from you

4gainst my very greatness moved my ireJ

I hated it for th"arting my desires 0000

'%E (hilosophical

8ut I have pardoned it remembering ho"

4t last it cro"ns my passion "ith success=

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 +o it I o"e the lofty hope "hich no"

latters my vie" "ith an illustrious prospect0

;;I "as but to gain this dearest privilege:

 +hat my ambitious arm "as 0aised in battleJ

6or did it at (harsalia dra" the s"ord:

2o much to conuer (ompey: as to eep

 +his glorious hope0

9ere: then: "e have #aesar hating his greatness

for having taen him a"ay a little "hile from #leo-

patra J but forgiving his greatness "hen he remem-

bers that this greatness has procured him the suc-

cess of his passion0 9e has the lofty hope of an

illustrious probabilityJ and it "as only to acuire

the dear privilege of this illustrious probability: that

his ambitious arm fought the battle of (harsalia0

It is said that this sort of "it: "hich it must be

confessed is no other than nonsense: "as then the

"it of the age0 It is an intolerable abuse: "hich

?oliere proscribed in his .(recieuses )idicules.

It "as of these defects: too freuent in #orneille:

that La 8ruyere said= .I thought: in my early

youth: that these passages "ere clear and intelli-

gible: to the actors: to the pit: and to the boes J that

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their authors themselves understood them: and that

I "as "rong in not understanding them = I am un-

deceived0.

2#+IO6 v0

In ngland: to epress that a man has a deal of

"it: they say that he has .great parts0. hence

can this phrase: "hich is no" the astonishment of

the rench: have come! rom themselves0 or-

5ictionary0 '%D

merly: "e very commonly used the "ord .parties.

in this sense0 .#lelia:. .#assandra:. and our other

old romances: are continually telling us of the

.parts. of their heroes and heroines: "hich parts

are their "it0 4nd: indeed: "ho can have all! ach

of us has but his o"n small portion of intelligence:

of memory: of sagacity: of depth and etent of

ideas: of vivacity: and of subtlety0 +he "ord .parts.

is that most Ktting for a being so limited as

man0 +he rench have let an epression escape

from their dictionaries "hich the nglish have laid

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four hundred children brought up together: under

the same masters and the same discipline: there are

scarcely Kve or si that mae any remarable prog-

ress0 4 great majority never rise above mediocrity:

and among them there are many shades of distinc-

tion0 In short: minds diNer still more than faces0

2#+IO6 3I0

#rooed or 5istorted Intellect0

e have blind: one-eyed: cross-eyed: and suint

ing people visions long: short: clear: confused:

"ea: or indefatigable0 4ll this is a faithful image

of our understandingJ but "e no" scarcely any

false vision= there are not many men "ho al"ays

tae a coc for a horse: or a coNeepot for a church0

9o" is it that "e often meet "ith minds: other"ise

 judicious: "hich ate absolutely "rong in some things

of importance! 9o" is it that the 2iamese: "ho

"ill tae care never to be overreached "hen he has

to receive three rupees: Krmly believes in the met-

amorphoses of 2ammonocodom ! 8y "hat strange

"him do men of sense resemble 5on Auiote: "ho

beheld giants "here other men sa" nothing but

"indmills! ,et "as 5on Auiote more ecusable

than the 2iamese: "ho believes that 2ammonoco-

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dom came several times upon earth and the +ur:

"ho is persuaded that ?ahomet put one-half of the

moon into his sleeve ! 5on Auiote: impressed "ith

the idea that he is to Kght "ith a giant: may imag-

ine that a giant must have a body as big as a mill:

5ictionary0 '%S

and arms as long as the sails J but from "hat sup-

position can a man of sense set out to arrive at a

conclusion: that half the moon "ent into a sleeve:

and that a 2ammonocodom came do"n from heaven

to y ites at 2iam: to cut do"n a forest: and to

ehibit sleight-of-hand !

 +he greatest geniuses may have their minds

"arped: on a principle "hich they have received

"ithout eamination0 6e"ton "as very "rong-

headed "hen he "as commenting on the 4pocalypse0

4ll that certain tyrants of souls desire: is that

the men "hom they teach may have their intellects

distorted0 4 fair brings up a child of great prom-

iseJ he employs Kve or si years in driving it into

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his head: that the god o appeared to men in the

form of a "hite elephant J and persuades the child:

that if he does not believe in these metamorphoses:

he "ill be ogged after death for Kve hundred thou-

sand years0 9e adds: that at the end of the "orld:

the enemy of the god o "ill come and Kght against

that divinity0

 +he child studies: and becomes a prodigy J he

Knds that o could not change himself into anything

but a "hite elephant: because that is the most beau-

tiful of animals0 +he ings of 2iam and (egu: say

he: "ent to "ar "ith one another for a "hite ele-

phant = certainly: had not o been concealed in that

elephant: these t"o ings "ould not have been so

mad as to Kght for the possession of a mere animal0

o;s enemy "ill come and challenge him at the

'%H (hilosophical

end of the "orld = this enemy "ill certainly be a rhi-

nocerosJ for the rhinoceros Kghts the elephant0

 +hus does the fair;s learned pupil reason in mature

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age: and he becomes one of the lights of the Indies =

the more subtle his intellect: the more crooed J and

he: in his turn: forms other intellects as distorted as

his o"n0

2ho" these besotted beings a little geometry: and

they learn it easily enough J but: strange to say: this

does not set them right0 +hey perceive the truths of

geometry J but it does not teach them to "eigh prob-

abilities = they have taen their bent J they "ill rea-

son against reason all their livesJ and I am sorry

for them0

Unfortunately: there are many "ays of being

"rong-headed0 I0 6ot to eamine "hether the

principle is true: even "hen just conseuences are

dra"n from it J and this is very common0

'0 +o dra" false conseuences from a principle

acno"ledged to be true0 or instance = a servant

is ased "hether his master be at home: by persons

"hom he suspects of having a design against his

master;s life0 If he "ere blochead enough to tell

them the truth: on pretence that it is "rong to tell

a lie: it is clear that he "ould dra" an absurd conse-

uence from a very true principle0

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 +he judge "ho should condemn a man for ill-

ing his assassin: "ould be alie iniuitous: and a

bad reasoner0 #ases lie these are subdivided into

a thousand diNerent shades0 +he good mind: the

5ictionary0 '%%

 judicious mind: is that "hich distinguishes them0

9ence it is: that there have been so many iniuitous

 judgmentsJ not because the judges "ere "iced

in heart: but because they "ere not suMciently en-

lightened0

O?60

(hysical and ?oral0

O?46 is in general less strong than man:

smaller: and less capable of lasting labor0 9er blood

is more aueous J her esh less Krm J her hair

longerJ her limbs more roundedJ her arms less

muscular J her mouth smaller J her hips more prom-

inentJ and her belly larger0 +hese physical points

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distinguish "omen all over the earth: and of all

races: from Lapland unto the coast of 7uinea: and

from 4merica to #hina0

(lutarch: in the third boo of his .2ymposiacs.

pretends that "ine "ill not intoicate them so easily

as menJ and the follo"ing is the reason "hich he

gives for this falsehood =

.+he temperament of "omen is very moist J this:

"ith their courses: renders their esh so soft: smooth:

and clear0 hen "ine encounters so much humid-

ity: it is overcome: and it loses its color and its

strength: becoming discolored and "ea0 2omething

also may be gathered from the reasoning of 4ris-

totle: "ho observes: that they "ho drin great

draughts "ithout dra"ing their breath: "hich the

ancients call ;amusi@ein; are not intoicated so soon

l[F (hilosophical

as others J because the "ine does not remain "ith-

in the body: but being forcibly taen do"n: passes

rapidly oN0 6o" "e generally perceive that "omen

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drin in this mannerJ and it is probable that their

bodies: in conseuence of the continual attraction of

the humors: "hich are carried oN in their periodical

visitations: are Klled "ith many conduits: and fur-

nished "ith numerous pipes and channels: into

"hich the "ine disperses rapidly and easily: "ith-

out having time to aNect the noble and principal

parts: by the disorder of "hich intoication is pro-

duced0. +hese physics are altogether "orthy of the

ancients0

omen live some"hat longer than men J that is

to say: in a generation "e count more aged "omen

than aged men0 +his fact has been observed by all

"ho have taen accurate accounts of births and

deaths in uropeJ and it is thought that it is the

same in 4sia: and among the negresses: the copper-

colored: and olive-compleioned: as among the

"hite0 .6atura est semper sibi consona0.

e have else"here adverted to an etract from

a #hinese journal: "hich states: that in the year

D&'%: the "ife of th emperor ,ontchin made a dis-

tribution among the poor "omen of #hina "ho had

passed their seventieth year J and that: in the prov-

ince of #anton alone: there "ere $G:''' females aged

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more than seventy: HE:G$S beyond eighty: and SH%S

of about the age of a hundred0 +hose "ho advocate

Knal causes say: that nature grants them a longer

5ictionary0 '%&

life than men: in order to recompense them for the

trouble they tae in bringing children into the "orld

and rearing them0 It is scarcely to be imagined

that nature besto"s recompenses: but it is probable

that the blood of "omen being milder: their Kbres

harden less uicly0

6o anatomist or physician has ever been able to

trace the secret of conception0 2anche@ has curiously

remared = .?ariam et spiritum sanctum emisisse

semen in copulation!: et e semine amborum natum

esse >esum. +his abominable impertinence of the

most no"ing 2anche@ is not adopted at present by

any naturalist0

 +he periodical visitations "hich "eaen females:

"hile they endure the maladies "hich arise out of

their suppression: the times of gestation: the neces-

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sity of sucling children: and of "atching contin-

ually over them: and the delicacy of their organi-

@ation: render them unKt for the fatigue of "ar: and

the fury of the combat0 It is true: as "e have al-

ready observed: that in almost all times and coun-

tries "omen have been found on "hom nature has

besto"ed etraordinary strength and courage: "ho

combat "ith men: and undergo prodigious laborJ

but: after all: these eamples are rare0 On this point

"e refer to the article on .4ma@ons0.

(hysics al"ays govern morals0 omen being

"eaer of body than "e are: there is more sill in

their Kngers: "hich are more supple than ours0 Lit-

tle able to labor at the heavy "or of masonry: car-

3ol0 DHD&

'%G (hilosophical

pentering: metalling: or the plough: they are neces-

sarily intrusted "ith the lighter labors of the in-

terior of the house: and: above all: "ith the care of

children0 Leading a more sedentary life: they pos-

sess more gentleness of character than men: and are

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less addicted to the commission of enormous crimes

a fact so undeniable: that in all civili@ed countries

there are al"ays Kfty men at least eecuted to one

"oman0

?ontesuieu: in his .2pirit of La"s:. underta-

ing to spea of the condition of "omen under di-

vers governments: observes that .among the 7rees

"omen "ere not regarded as "orthy of having any

share in genuine loveJ but that "ith them love as-

sumed a form "hich is not to be named0. 9e cites

(lutarch as his authority0

 +his mistae is pardonable only in a "it lie

?ontesuieu: al"ays led a"ay by the rapidity of

his ideas: "hich are often very indistinct0 (lutarch:

in his chapter on love: introduces many interlocu-

tors J and he himself: in the character of 5aphneus:

refutes: "ith great animation: the arguments of

(rotagenes in favor of the commerce alluded to0

It is in the same dialogue that he goes so far as to

say: that in the love of "oman there is something

divineJ "hich love he compares to the sun: that

animates nature0 9e places the highest happiness

in conjugal love: and concludes by an elouent eulo-

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too: a superiority both in body and mind0 3ery

learned "omen are to be found in the same manner

as female "arriors: but they are seldom or ever

inventors0

4 social and agreeable spirit usually falls to

their lot J and: generally speaing: they are adapted

to soften the manners of men0 In no republic have

they ever been allo"ed to tae the least part in gov-

ernmentJ they have never reigned in monarchies

purely electiveJ but they may reign in almost all

'FE (hilosophical

the hereditary ingdoms of urope in 2pain: 6a-

ples: and ngland: in many states of the 6orth: and

in many grand Kefs "hich are called .feminines0.

#ustom: entitled the 2alic la": has ecluded them

from the cro"n of rance J but it is not: as ?e@eray

remars: in conseuence of their unKtness for gov-

erning: since they are almost al"ays intrusted "ith

the regency0

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It is pretended: that #ardinal ?a@arin confessed

that many "omen "ere "orthy of governing a

ingdomJ but he added: that it "as al"ays to be

feared they "ould allo" themselves to be subdued

by lovers "ho "ere not capable of governing a do@en

pullets0 Isabella in #astile: li@abeth in ngland:

and ?aria +heresa in 9ungary: have: ho"ever:

proved the falsity of this pretended bon-mot: attrib-

uted to #ardinal ?a@arin J and at this moment "e

behold a legislatri in the 6orth as much respected

as the sovereign of 7reece: of 4sia ?inor: of 2yria:

and of gypt: is disesteemed0

It has been for a long time ignorantly assumed:

that "omen are slaves during life among the ?a-

hometans J and that: after their death: they do not

enter paradise0 +hese are t"o great errors: of a

ind "hich popes are continually repeating in regard

to ?ahometanism0 ?arried "omen are not at all

slaves J and the 2ura: or fourth chapter of the 1o-

ran: assigns them a do"ry0 4 girl is entitled to in-

herit one-half as much as her brother J and if there

are girls only: they divide among them t"o-thirds

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5ictionary0 'FD

of the inheritanceJ and the remainder belongs to

the relations of the deceased: "hose mother also

is entitled to a certain share0 2o little are married

"omen slaves: they are entitled to demand a di-

vorce: "hich is granted "hen their complaints are

deemed la"ful0

4 ?ahometan is not allo"ed to marry his sister-

in-la": his niece: his foster-sister: or his daughter-

in-la" brought up under the care of his "ife0 6ei-

ther is he permitted to marry t"o sisters J in "hich

particular the ?ahometan la" is more rigid than

the #hristian: as people are every day purchasing

from the court of )ome the right of contracting

such marriages: "hich they might as "ell contract

gratis0

(olygamy0

?ahomet has limited the number of "ives to

four J but as a man must be rich in order to main-

tain four "ives: according to his condition: fe" e-

cept great lords avail themselves of this privilege0

 +herefore: a plurality of "ives produces not so

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much injury to the ?ahometan states as "e are in

the habit of supposing J nor does it produce the de-

population "hich so many boos: "ritten at random:

are in the habit of asserting0

 +he >e"s: agreeable to an ancient usage: estab-

lished: according to their boos: ever since the age

of Lameth: have al"ays been allo"ed several "ives

at a time0 5avid had eighteen J and it is from his

time that they allo" that number to ings J although

'F' (hilosophical

it is said that 2olomon had as many as seven hun-

dred0

 +he ?ahometans "ill not publicly allo" the >e"s

to have more than one "ife J they do not deem them

"orthy of that advantage J but money: "hich is al-

"ays more po"erful than la": procures to rich >e"s:

in 4sia and 4frica: that permission "hich the la"

refuses0

It is seriously related: that Lelius #inna: tribune

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of the people: proclaimed: after the death of #aesar:

that the dictator had intended to promulgate a la"

allo"ing "omen to tae as many husbands as they

pleased0 hat sensible man can doubt: that this "as

a popular story invented to render #aesar odious!

It resembles another story: "hich states that a sen-

ator in full senate formally professed to give #aesar

permission to cohabit "ith any "oman he pleased0

2uch silly tales dishonor history: and injure the

minds of those "ho credit them0 It is a sad

thing: that ?ontesuieu should give credit to this

fable0

It is not: ho"ever: a fable that the emperor 3al-

entinian: calling himself a #hristian: married >us-

tinian during the life of 2evera: his Krst "ife: mother

of the emperor 7ratianJ but he "as rich enough

to support many "ives0

4mong the Krst race of the ings of the rans:

7ontran: #herebert: 2igebert: and #hilperic: had

several "ives at a time0 7ontran had "ithin his

palace 3enerande: ?ercatrude: and Ostregilda: ac-

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5ictionary0 'FS

no"ledged for legitimate "ivesJ #herebert had

?erida: ?arcovesa: and +heodogilda0

It is diMcult to conceive ho" the e->esuit 6on-

notte has been able: in his ignorance: to push his

boldness so far as to deny these facts: and to say

that the ings of the Krst race "ere not polygamists:

and thereby: in a libel in t"o volumes: thro" dis-

credit on more than a hundred historical truths:

"ith the conKdence of a pedant "ho dictates les-

sons in a college0 8oos of this ind still continue

to be sold in the provinces: "here the >esuits have

yet a party: and seduce and mislead uneducated

people0

ather 5aniel: more learned and judicious: con-

fesses the polygamy of the rench ings "ithout

diMculty0 9e denies not the three "ives of 5ago-

bert I0: and asserts epressly that +heodoret espoused

5eutery: although she had a husband: and himself

another "ife called 3isigalde0 9e adds: that in this

he imitated his uncle #lothaire: "ho espoused the

"ido" of #leodomir: his brother: although he had

three "ives already0

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4ll historians admit the same thing J "hy: there-

fore: after so many testimonies: allo" an ignorant

"riter to spea lie a dictator: and say: "hile utter-

ing a thousand follies: that it is in defence of re-

ligion! as if our sacred and venerable religion had

anything to do "ith an historical point: although

made serviceable by miserable calumniators to their

stupid impostures0

'FH (hilosophical

Of the (olygamy 4llo"ed by #ertain (opes and

)eformers0

 +he 4bbe leury: author of the .cclesiastical

9istory:. pays more respect to truth in all "hich

concerns the la"s and usages of the #hurch0 9e

avo"s that 8oniface: confessor of Lo"er 7er-

many: having consulted (ope 7regory: in the year

&'F: in order to no" in "hat cases a husband might

be allo"ed to have t"o "ives: 7regory replied to

him: on the ''nd of 6ovember: of the same year:

in these "ords = .If a "ife be attaced by a malady

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"hich renders her unKt for conjugal intercourse: the

husband may marry anotherJ but in that case he

must allo" his sic "ife all necessary support and

assistance0. +his decision appears conformable to

reason and policy J and favors population: "hich

is the object of marriage0

8ut that "hich appears opposed at once to rea-

son: policy: and nature: is the la" "hich ordains

that a "oman: separated from her husband both in

person and estate: cannot tae another husband: nor

the husband another "ife0 It is evident that a race

is thereby lost J and if the separated parties are both

of a certain temperament: they are necessarily e-

posed and rendered liable to sins for "hich the legis-

lators ought to be responsible to 7od: if

 +he decretals of the popes have not al"ays had

in vie" "hat "as suitable to the good of estates:

and of individuals0 +his same decretal of (ope

5ictionary0 'F%

7regory II0: "hich permits bigamy in certain cases:

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denies conjugal rights forever to the boys and girls:

"hom their parents have devoted to the #hurch in

their infancy0 +his la" seems as barbarous as it is

unjustJ at once annihilating posterity: and forcing

the "ill of men before they even possess a "ill0

It is rendering the children the slaves of a vo" "hich

they never madeJ it is to destroy natural liberty:

and to oNend 7od and manind0

 +he polygamy of (hilip: landgrave of 9esse: in

the Lutheran community: in D%S$: is "ell no"n0

I ne" a sovereign in 7ermany: "ho: after having

married a Lutheran: had permission from the pope

to marry a #atholic: and retained both his "ives0

It is "ell no"n in ngland: that the chancellor

#o"per married t"o "ives: "ho lived together in

the same house in a state of concord "hich did

honor to all three0 ?any of the curious still pos-

sess the little boo "hich he composed in favor of

polygamy0

e must distrust authors "ho relate: that in cer-

tain countries "omen are allo"ed several husbands0

 +hose "ho mae la"s every"here are born "ith too

much self-love: are too jealous of their authority:

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and generally possess a temperament too ardent in

comparison "ith that of "omen: to have instituted

a jurisprudence of this nature0 +hat "hich is op-

posed to the general course of nature is very rarely

true J but it is very common for the more early trav-

ellers to mistae an abuse for a la"0

'FF (hilosophical

 +he author of the .2pirit of La"s. asserts: that

in the caste of 6airs: on the coast of ?alabar: a

man can have only one "ife: "hile a "oman may

have several husbands0 9e cites doubtful authors:

and above all (icard J but it is impossible to spea

of strange customs "ithout having long "itnessed

themJ and if they are mentioned: it ought to be

doubtinglyJ but "hat lively spirit no"s ho" to

doubt!

.+he lubricity of "omen:. he observes: .is so

great at (atan: the men are constrained to adopt

certain garniture: in order to be safe against their

amorous enterprises0.

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 +he president ?ontesuieu "as never at (atan0

Is not the remar of ?0 Linguet judicious: "ho ob-

serves: that this story has been told by travellers "ho

"ere either deceived themselves: or "ho "ished to

laugh at their readers! Let us be just: love truth:

and judge by facts: not by names0

nd of the )eections on (olygamy0

It appears that po"er: rather than agreement:

maes la"s every"here: but especially in the ast0

e there beheld the Krst slaves: the Krst eunuchs:

and the treasury of the prince directly composed of

that "hich is taen from the people0

9e "ho can clothe: support: and amuse a num-

ber of "omen: shuts them up in a menagerie: and

commands them despotically0 8en 4boul 1iba: in

his .?irror of the aithful:. relates that one of the

5ictionary0 'F&

vi@iers of the great 2olyman addressed the follo"-

ing discourse to an agent of #harles 30 =

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.5og of a #hristianP for "hom: ho"ever: I

have a particular esteem canst thou reproach me

"ith possessing four "ives: according to our holy

la"s: "hilst thou emptiest a do@en barrels a year:

and I drin not a single glass of "ine ! hat good

dost thou eNect by passing more hours at table than

I do in bed ! I may get four children a year for the

service of my august master: "hilst thou canst

scarcely produce one: and that only the child of a

drunard: "hose brain "ill be obscured by the va-

pors of the "ine "hich has been drun by his father0

hat: moreover: "ouldst thou have me do: "hen

t"o of my "ives are in child-bed! ?ust I not at-

tend to the other t"o: as my la" commands me!

hat becomes of them! "hat part dost thou per-

form: in the latter months of the pregnancy of thy

only "ife: and during her lyings-in and seual mal-

adies ! +hou either remainest idle: or thou repairest

to another "oman0 8ehold thyself bet"een t"o

mortal sins: "hich "ill infallibly cause thee to fall

headlong from the narro" bridge into the pit of

hell0

.I "ill suppose: that in our "ars against the dogs

of #hristians "e lose a hundred thousand soldiers J

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behold a hundred thousand girls to provide for0

Is it not for the "ealthy to tae care of them ! vil

betide every ?ussulman so cold-hearted as not to

give shelter to four pretty girls: in the character of

'FG (hilosophical

legitimate "ives: or to treat them according to their

merits P

.hat is done in thy country by the trumpeter

of day: "hich thou callest the coc J the honest ram:

the leader of the ocJ the bull: sovereign of the

heifersJ has not every one of them his seraglio!

It becomes thee: truly: to reproach me "ith my four

"ives: "hilst our great prophet had eighteen: the

 >e" 5avid: as many: and the >e" 2olomon: seven

hundred: all told: "ith three hundred concubinesP

 +hou perceivest that I am modest0 #ease: then: to

reproach a sage "ith luury: "ho is content "ith so

moderate a repast0 I permit thee to drin J allo" me

to love0 +hou changest thy "inesJ permit me to

change my females0 Let every one suNer others to

live according to the customs of their country0 +hy

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hat "as not made to give la"s to my turban J thy

ruN and thy curtailed doublets are not to command

my doliman0 ?ae an end of thy coNee: and go and

caress thy 7erman spouse: since thou art allo"ed

to have no other0.

)eply of the 7erman0

.5og of a ?ussulman P for "hom I retain a pro-

found venerationJ before I Knish my coNee I "ill

confute all thy arguments0 9e "ho possesses four

"ives: possesses four harpies: al"ays ready to cal-

umniate: to annoy: and to Kght one another0 +hy

house is the den of discord: and none of them can

love thee0 ach has only a uarter of thy person:

5ictionary0 'F$

and in return can besto" only a uarter of her heart0

6one of them can serve to render thy life agreeable J

they are prisoners "ho: never having seen anything:

have nothing to sayJ and: no"ing only thee: are

in conseuence thy enemies0 +hou art their abso-

lute masterJ they therefore hate thee0 +hou art

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obliged to guard them "ith eunuchs: "ho "hip them

"hen they are too happy0 +hou pretendest to com-

pare thyself to a coc: but a coc never has his pul-

lets "hipped by a capon0 +ae animals for thy e-

amples: and copy them as much as thou pleasestJ

for my part: I love lie a man J I "ould give all my

heart: and receive an entire heart in return0 I "ill

give an account of this conversation to my "ife to-

night: and I hope she "ill be satisKed0 4s to the

"ine "ith "hich thou reproachest me: if it is an evil

to drin it in 4rabia: it is a very praise"orthy habit

in 7ermany0 4dieu D.

C6O(94620

84,L has made the article .Cenophanes. a pre-

tet for maing a panegyric on the devil J as 2imon-

ides: formerly: sei@ed the occasion of a "restler "in-

ning the pri@e of boing in the Olympic games: to

form a Kne ode in praise of #astor and (ollu0 8ut:

at the bottom: of "hat conseuence to us are the

reveries of Cenophanes! hat do "e gain by

no"ing that he regarded nature as an inKnite being:

immovable: composed of an inKnite number of small

corpuscles: soft little mounds: and small organic

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'&E (hilosophical

molecules! +hat he: moreover: thought pretty

nearly as 2pino@a has since thought! or rather

endeavored to thin: for he contradicts himself fre-

uently a thing very common to ancient philoso-

phers0

If 4naimenes taught that the atmosphere "as

7odJ if +hales attributed to "ater the foundation

of all things: because gypt "as rendered fertile by

inundationJ if (herecides and 9eraclitus give to

Kre all "hich +hales attributes to "ater to "hat

purpose return to these chimerical reveries !

I "ish that (ythagoras had epressed: by num-

bers: certain relations: very insuMciently under-

stood: by "hich he infers: that the "orld "as built

by the rules of arithmetic0 I allo": that Ocellus

Lucanus and mpedocles have arranged everything

by moving antagonist forces: but "hat shall I gather

from it! hat clear notion "ill it convey to my

feeble mind!

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#ome: divine (lato P "ith your archetypal ideas:

your androgynes: and your "ord J establish all these

Kne things in poetical prose: in your ne" republic:

in "hich I no more aspire to have a house: than in

the 2alentum of +elemachus J but in lieu of becom-

ing one of your citi@ens: I "ill send you an order

to build your to"n "ith all the subtle manner of

5escartes: all his globular and diNusive matter J and

they shall be brought to you by #yrano de 8er-

gerac0

8ayle: ho"ever: has eercised all the sagacity of

5ictionary0 '&D

his logic on these ancient fancies J but it is al"ays

by rendering them ridiculous that he instructs and

entertains0

O philosophers P (hysical eperiments: ably con-

ducted: arts and handicraft these are the true phi-

losophy0 ?y sage is the conductor of my "indmill:

"hich deterously catches the "ind: and receives

my corn: deposits it in the hopper: and grinds it

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eually: for the nourishment of myself and family0

?y sage is he "ho: "ith his shuttle: covers my "alls

"ith pictures of linen or of sil: brilliant "ith the

Knest colorsJ or he "ho puts into my pocet a

chronometer of silver or of gold0 ?y sage is the

investigator of natural history0 e learn more from

the single eperiments of the 4bbe 6ollet than

from all the philosophical "ors of antiuity0

C6O(9O6:

465 +9 )+)4+ O +9 +6 +9OU24650

I C6O(9O6 had no other merit than that of

being the friend of the martyr 2ocrates: he "ould

be interestingJ but he "as a "arrior: philosopher:

poet: historian: agriculturist: and amiable in society0

 +here "ere many 7rees "ho united these ualities0

8ut "hy had this free man a 7ree company in

the pay of the young #hosroes: named #yrus by

the 7rees! +his #yrus "as the younger brother

and subject of the emperor of (ersia: 4rtaeres

?nemon: of "hom it "as said that he never forgot

anything but injuries0 #yrus had already attempted

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'&' (hilosophical

to assassinate his brother: even in the temple in

"hich the ceremony of his consecration too place

for the ings of (ersia "ere the Krst "ho "ere

consecrated0 4rtaeres had not only the clemency

to pardon this villain: but he had the "eaness to

allo" him the absolute government of a great part

of 4sia ?inor: "hich he held from their father:

and of "hich he at least deserved to be despoiled0

4s a return for such surprising mercy: as soon

as he could ecite his satrapy to revolt against his

brother: #yrus added this second crime to the Krst0

9e declared by a manifesto: .that he "as more

"orthy of the throne of (ersia than his brother:

because he "as a better magus: and dran more

"ine0. I do not believe that these "ere the reasons

"hich gained him the 7rees as allies0 9e too

thirteen thousand into his pay: among "hom "as the

young Cenophon: "ho "as then only an adventurer0

ach soldier had a daric a month for pay0 +he dar

is eual to about a guinea or a louis d;or of our

time: as the #hevalier de >aucourt very "ell ob-

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serves: and not ten francs: as )ollin says0

hen #yrus proposed to march them "ith his

other troops to Kght his brother to"ards the

uphrates: they demanded a daric and a half:

"hich he "as obliged to grant them0 +his "as

thirty-si livres a month: and conseuently the

highest pay "hich "as ever given0 +he soldiers of

#aesar and (ompey had but t"enty sous per day

in the civil "ars0 8esides this eorbitant pay: of

5ictionary0 '&S

"hich they obliged him to pay four months in ad-

vance: #yrus furnished them four hundred chariots:

laden "ith "ine and meal0

 +he 7rees "ere then precisely "hat the 2"iss

are at present: "ho hire their service and courage

to neighboring princes: but for a pay three times

less than "as that of the 7rees0 It is evident:

though they say the contrary: that they did not

inform themselves "hether the cause for "hich

they fought "as justJ it "as suMcient that #yrus

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paid "ell0

 +he greatest part of these troops "as composed

of Lacedaemonians: by "hich they violated their

solemn treaties "ith the ing of (ersia0 hat "as

become of the ancient aversion of the 2partans for

gold and silver! here "as their sincerity in

treaties! here "as their high and incorruptible

virtue! #learchus: a 2partan: commanded the

principal body of these brave mercenaries0

I understand not the military manoeuvres of

4rtaeres and #yrusJ I see not "hy 4rtaeres:

"ho came to his enemy "ith t"elve hundred thou-

sand soldiers: should begin by causing lines of t"elve

leagues in etent to be dra"n bet"een #yrus and

himselfJ and I comprehend nothing of the order

of battle0 I understand stTll less ho" #yrus: fol-

lo"ed only by si hundred horse: broe into the

midst of si thousand horse-guards of the emperor:

follo"ed by an innumerable army0 inally: he "as

illed by the hand of 4rtaeres: "ho: having ap-

3ol0 DHDG

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'&H (hilosophical

parently drun less "ine than the rebel: fought "ith

more coolness and address than this drunard0 It

is clear that he completely gained the battle: not-

"ithstanding the valor and resistance of thirteen

thousand 7rees since 7ree vanity is obliged to

confess that 4rtaeres told them to put do"n their

arms0 +hey replied that they "ould do nothing of

the indJ but that if the emperor "ould pay them

they "ould enter his service0 It "as very indiNer-

ent to them for "hom they fought: so long as they

"ere paid J in fact: they "ere only hired murderers0

8esides the 2"iss: there are some provinces of

7ermany "hich follo" this custom0 It signiKes not

to these good #hristians "hether they are paid to

ill nglish: rench: or 5utch: or to be illed by

them0 ,ou see them say their prayers: and go to

the carnage lie laborers to their "orshop0 4s

to myself: I confess I "ould rather observe those

"ho go into (ennsylvania: to cultivate the land "ith

the simple and euitable Auaers: and form col-

onies in the retreat of peace and industry0 +here

is no great sill in illing and being illed for si

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sous per day: but there is much in causing the re-

public of 5uners to ourish these ne" +hera-

peutae on the frontier of a country the most savage0

4rtaeres regarded the 7rees only as accom-

plices in the revolt of his brother: and indeed they

"ere nothing else0 9e betrayed himself to be be-

trayed by them: and he betrayed them: as Cenophon

pretends J for after one of his captains had s"orn in

5ictionary0 '&%

his name to allo" them a free retreat: and to furnish

them "ith food: after #learchus and Kve other com-

manders of the 7rees "ere put into his hands: to

regulate the march: he caused their heads to be cut

oN: and sle" all the 7rees "ho accompanied them

in this intervie": if "e may trust Cenophon;s

account0

 +his royal act sho"s us that ?achiavellism is

not ne"J but is it true that 4rtaeres promised

not to mae an eample of the chief mercenaries

"ho sold themselves to his brother! as it not

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permitted him to punish those "hom he thought so

guilty! It is here that the famous retreat of the

ten thousand commences0 If I comprehend nothing

of the battle: I understand no more of the retreat0

 +he emperor: before he cut oN the heads of si

7ree generals and their suite: had s"orn to allo"

the little army: reduced to ten thousand men: to

return to 7reece0 +he battle "as fought on the

road to the uphratesJ he must therefore have

caused the 7rees to return by estern ?eso-

potamia: 2yria: 4sia ?inor: and Ionia0 6ot at all J

they "ere made to pass by the astJ they "ere

obliged to traverse the +igris in boats "hich "ere

furnished to themJ they returned after"ards by

the 4rmenian roads: "hile their commanders "ere

punished0 If any person comprehends this march:

in "hich they turn their bacs on 7reece: they "ill

oblige me much by eplaining it to me0

One of t"o things = either the 7rees chose their

'&F (hilosophical

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route themselves and in this case they neither

ne" "here they "ent: or "hat they "ished or

4rtaeres made them march against their "ill

"hich is much more probable and in this case: "hy

did he not eterminate them!

e may etricate ourselves from these diMculties:

by supposing that the (ersian emperor only half

revenged himselfJ that he contented himself "ith

punishing the principal mercenary chiefs "ho sold

the 7ree troops to #yrusJ that having made a

treaty "ith the fugitive troops: he "ould not de-

scend to the meanness of violating it J that being

sure that a third of these "andering 7rees "ould

perish on the road: he abandoned them to their fate0

I see no other manner of enlightening the mind of

the reader on the obscurities of this march0

e are astonished at the retreat of the ten

thousand J but "e should be much more so: if

4rtaeres: a conueror: at the head of a hundred

thousand men at least it is said so had allo"ed

ten thousand fugitives to travel in the north of his

vast states: "hom he could crush in every village:

every bridge: every deKle: or "hom he could have

made perish "ith hunger and misery0

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9o"ever: they "ere furnished: as "e have seen:

"ith t"enty-seven great boats: to enable them to

pass the +igris: as if they "ere conducted to the

Indies0 +hence they "ere escorted to"ards the

6orth for several days: into the desert in "hich

8agdad is no" situated0 +hey further passed the

5ictionary0 '&&

river Babata: and it "as there that the emperor sent

his orders to punish the chiefs0 It is clear that

they could have eterminated the army as easily as

they inicted punishment on the generals0 It is

therefore very liely that they did not choose to do

so0 e should: therefore: rather regard the 7ree

"anderers in these savage countries as "ay"ard

travellers: "hom the bounty of the emperor allo"ed

to Knish their journey as they could0

e may mae another observation: "hich ap-

pears not very honorable to the (ersian govern-

ment0 It "as impossible for the 7rees not to have

continual uarrels for food "ith the people "hom

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they met0 (illages: desolations: and murders: "ere

the inevitable conseuence of these disordersJ and

that is so true: that in a road of si hundred leagues:

during "hich the 7rees al"ays marched irregu-

larly: being neither escorted nor pursued by any

great body of (ersian troops: they lost four thou-

sand men: either illed by peasants or by sicness0

9o" did it happen: therefore: that 4rtaeres did

not cause them to be escorted from their passage of

the river Babata: as he had done from the Keld of

battle to the river!

9o" could so "ise and good a sovereign commit

so great a fault! (erhaps he did command the

escort J perhaps Cenophon: "ho eaggerates a little

else"here: passes it over in silence: not to diminish

the "onder of the .retreat of the ten thousand. J

perhaps the escort "as al"ays obliged to march at

'&G (hilosophical

a great distance from the 7ree troop: on account

of the diMculty of procuring provisions0 9o"-

ever it might be: it appears certain that 4rtaeres

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captain: one of the tyrants of 4thens: in the service

of a rebel and an assassin J and that: becoming chief

of fourteen hundred men: he put himself into the pay

of a barbarian0

5ictionary0 '&$

hat is "orse: necessity did not constrain him

to this servitude0 9e says himself that he deposited

a great part of the gold gained in the service of

#yrus in the temple of the famous 5iana of

phesus0

Let us remar: that in receiving the pay of a

ing: he eposed himself to be condemned to death:

if the foreigner "as not contented "ith him: "hich

happened to ?ajor-7eneral 5oat: a man born

free0 9e sold himself to the emperor #harles 3I0:

"ho commanded his head to be cut oN: for having

given up to the +urs a place "hich he could not

defend0

)ollin: in speaing of the return of the ten thou-

sand: says: .that this fortunate retreat Klled the

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people of 7reece "ith contempt for 4rtaeres: by

sho"ing them that gold: silver: delicacies: luury:

and a numerous seraglio: composed all the merit of

a great ing0.

)ollin should consider that the 7rees ought not

to despise a sovereign "ho had gained a complete

battleJ "ho: having pardoned as a brother: con-

uered as a heroJ "ho: having the po"er of e-

terminating ten thousand 7rees: suNered them to

live and to return to their country J and "ho0 being

able to have them in his pay: disdained to mae use

of them0 4dd: that this prince after"ards con-

uered the Lacedaemonians and their allies: and im-

posed on them humiliating la"s J add also that in

a "ar "ith the 2cythians: called #aducians: to"ards

'GE (hilosophical

the #aspian 2ea: he supported all fatigues and

dangers lie the lo"est soldier0 9e lived and died

full of glory J it is true that he had a seraglio: but

his courage "as only the more estimable0 e must

be careful of college declamations0

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If I dared to attac prejudice I "ould venture

to prefer the retreat of ?arshal 8elle-Isle to that of

the ten thousand0 9e "as bloced up in (rague by

sity thousand men: "hen he had not thirteen thou-

sand0 9e too his measures "ith so much ability

that he got out of (rague: in the most severe cold:

"ith his army: provisions: baggage: and thirty

pieces of cannon: "ithout the besiegers having the

least idea of it0 9e gained t"o days; march "ith-

out their perceiving it0 4n army of thirteen thou-

sand men pursued him for the space of thirty

leagues0 9e faced them every"here he "as never

cast do"nJ but sic as he "as: he braved the

season: scarcity and his enemies0 9e only lost those

soldiers "ho could not resist the etreme rigor of

the season0 hat more "as "anting! 4 longer

course and 7recian eaggeration0

 ,3+O+0

 +9I2 is the name of a to"n in rance: si

leagues from )ouen: in 6ormandy: "hich: accord-

ing to )obert 7aguin: a historian of the siteenth

century: has long been entitled a ingdom0

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 +his "riter relates that 7autier: or 3autier: lord

of ,vetot: and grand chamberlain to 1ing #lotaire

5ictionary0 'GD

I0: having lost the favor of his master by calumny:

in "hich courtiers deal rather liberally: "ent into

voluntary eile: and visited distant countries:

"here: for ten years: he fought against the enemies

of the faithJ that at the epiration of this term:

attering himself that the ing;s anger "ould be

appeased: he "ent bac to ranceJ that he passed

through )ome: "here he sa" (ope 4gapetus: from

"hom he obtained a letter of recommendation to

the ing: "ho "as then at 2oissons: the capital of

his dominions0 +he lord of ,vetot repaired thither

one 7ood riday: and chose the time "hen #lotaire

"as at church: to fall at his feet: and implore his

forgiveness through the merits of 9im "ho: on

that day: had shed 9is blood for the salvation of

menJ but #lotaire: ferocious and cruel: having

recogni@ed him: ran him through the body0

7aguin adds that (ope 4gapetus: being in-

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formed of this disgraceful act: threatened the ing

"ith the thunders of the #hurch: if he did not mae

reparation for his oNenceJ and that #lotaire: justly

intimidated: and in satisfaction for the murder of

his subject: erected the lordship of ,vetot into a

ingdom: in favor of 7autier;s heirs and successors J

that he despatched letters to that eNect signed by

himself: and sealed "ith his seal J that ever since

then the lords of ,vetot have borne the title of

ingsJ and continues 7aguin I Knd from estab-

lished and indisputable authority: that this e-

traordinary event happened in the year of grace %S$0

'G' (hilosophical

On this story of 7agnin;s "e have the same re-

mar to mae that "e have already made on "hat

he says of the establishment of the (aris uni-

versity that not one of the contemporary histor-

ians maes any mention of the singular event:

"hich: as he tells us: caused the lordship of ,vetot

to be erected into a ingdom J and: as #laude

?alingre and the abbe 3ertot have "ell observed:

#lotaire I0: "ho is here supposed to have been

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sovereign of the to"n of ,vetot: did not reign over

that part of the country J Kefs "ere not then heredi-

tary J acts "ere not: as )obert 7aguin relates: dated

from the year of grace J and lastly: (ope 4gapetus

"as then deadJ to this it may be added that the

right of erecting a Kef into a ingdom belonged e-

clusively to the emperor0

It is not: ho"ever: to be said that the thunders

of the #hurch "ere not already made use of: in the

time of 4gapetus0 e no" that 2t0 (aul ecom-

municated the incestuous man of #orinth0 e also

Knd in the letters of 2t0 8asil: some instances of

general censure in the fourth century0 One of these

letters is against a ravisher0 +he holy prelate there

orders the young "oman to be restored to her

parents: the ravisher to be ecluded from prayers:

and declared to be ecommunicated: together "ith

his accomplices and all his household: for three

yearsJ he also orders that all the people of the

village "here the ravished person "as received:

shall be ecommunicated0

5ictionary0 'GS

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4uilius: a young bishop: ecommunicated the

"hole family of #lacitienJ although 2t0 4ugustine

disapproved of this conduct: and (ope 2t0 Leo laid

do"n the same maims as 4ugustine: in one of his

letters to the bishop of the province of 3ienne yet:

conKning ourselves here to rance (retetatus:

bishop of )ouen: having been assassinated in the

year %GF in his o"n church: Leudovalde: bishop of

8ayeu: did not fail to lay all the churches in )ouen

under an interdict: forbidding divine service to be

celebrated in them until the author of the crime

should be discovered0

In DDHD: Louis the ,oung having refused his

consent to the election of (eter de la #hatre: "hom

the pope caused to be appointed in the room of

4lberic: archbishop of 8ourges: "ho had died the

year preceding: Innocent II0 laid all rance under

interdict0

In the year D'EE: (eter of #apua: commissioned

to compel (hilip 4ugustus to put a"ay 4gnes: and

tae bac Ingeburga: and not succeeding: pub-

lished the sentence of interdict on the "hole ing-

dom: "hich had been pronounced by (ope Innocent

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III0 +his interdict "as observed "ith etreme

rigor0 +he nglish chronicle: uoted by the 8ene-

dictine ?artenne: says that every #hristian act: e-

cepting the baptism of infants: "as interdicted in

ranceJ the churches "ere closed: and #hristians

driven out of them lie dogsJ there "as no more

divine oMce: no more sacriKce of the mass: no eccle-

'GH (hilosophical

siastical sepulture for the deceasedJ the dead

bodies: left to chance: spread the most frightful in-

fections: and Klled the survivors "ith horror0

 +he chronicle of +ours gives the same descrip-

tion: adding only one remarable particular: con-

Krmed by the abbe leury and the abbe de 3ertot

that the holy viaticum "as ecepted: lie the bap-

tism of infants: from the privation of holy things0

 +he ingdom "as in this situation for nine months J

it "as some time before Innocent III0 permitted the

preaching of sermons and the sacrament of con-

Krmation0 +he ing "as so much enraged that he

drove the bishops and all the other ecclesiastics

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from their abodes: and conKscated their property0

8ut it is singular that the bishops "ere some-

times solicited by sovereigns themselves to pro-

nounce an interdict upon lands of their vassals0 8y

letters dated ebruary: DS%F: conKrming those of

7uy: count of 6evers: and his "ife ?atilda: in

favor of the citi@ens of 6evers: #harles 30: regent

of the ingdom: prays the archbishops of Lyons:

8ourges: and 2ens: and the bishops of 4utun:

Langres: 4uerre: and 6evers: to pronounce an e-

communication against the count of 6evers: and an

interdict upon his lands: if he does not fulKl the

agreement he has made "ith the inhabitants0 e

also Knd in the collection of the ordinances of the

third line of ings: many letters lie that of 1ing

 >ohn: authori@ing the bishops to put under interdict

5ictionary0 'G%

those places "hose privileges their lords "ould see

to infringe0

4nd to conclude: though it appears incredible:

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the >esuit 5aniel relates that: in the year $$G: 1ing

)obert "as ecommunicated by 7regory 30: for

having married his ins"oman in the fourth degree0

4ll the bishops "ho had assisted at this marriage

"ere interdicted from the communion: until they

had been to )ome: and rendered satisfaction to the

holy see0 +he people: and even the court: separated

from the ingJ he had only t"o domestics left:

"ho puriKed by Kre "hatever he had touched0

#ardinal 5amien and )omualde also add: that

)obert being gone one morning: as "as his custom:

to say his prayers at the door of 2t0 8artholome";s

church: for he dared not enter it: 4bbon: abbot of

leury: follo"ed by t"o "omen of the palace: car-

rying a large gilt dish covered "ith a napin: ac-

costed him: announced that 8ertha "as just brought

to bedJ and uncovering the dish: said= .8ehold

the eNects of your disobedience to the decrees of

the #hurch: and the seal of anathema on the fruit

of your loveP. )obert looed: and sa" a monster

"ith the head and nec of a ducP 8ertha "as

repudiatedJ and the ecommunication "as at last

taen oN0

Urban II0: on the contrary: ecommunicated

)obert;s grandson: (hilip I0: for having put a"ay

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his ins"oman0 +his pope pronounced the sentence

'GF (hilosophical

of ecommunication in the ing;s o"n dominions:

at #lermont: in 4uvergne: "here his holiness "as

come to see an asylum: in the same council in

"hich the crusade "as preached: and in "hich: for

the Krst time: the name of pope QpapaR "as given

to the bishop of )ome: to the eclusion of the other

bishops: "ho had formerly taen it0

It "ill be seen that these canonical pains "ere

medicinal rather than mortal J but 7regory 3II0 and

some of his successors ventured to assert: that an

ecommunicated sovereign "as deprived of his

dominions: and that his subjects "ere not obliged to

obey him0 9o"ever: supposing that a ing can be

ecommunicated in certain serious cases: ecom-

munication: being a penalty purely spiritual: can-

not dispense "ith the obedience "hich his subjects

o"e to him: as holding his authority from 7od

9imself0 +his "as constantly acno"ledged by the

parliaments: and also by the clergy of rance: in

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the ecommunications pronounced by 8oniface

3II0: against (hilip the air J by >ulius II0: against

Louis CII0 J by 2itus 30: against 9enry III0 J by

7regory CIII0: against 9enry I30 J and it is lie-

"ise the doctrine of the celebrated assembly of the

clergy in DFG'0

B4L0

 +9I2: in religion: is a pure and enlightened at-

tachment to the maintenance and progress of the

"orship "hich is due to the 5ivinityJ but "hen

5ictionary0 'G&

this @eal is persecuting: blind: and false: it becomes

the greatest scourge of humanity0

2ee "hat the emperor >ulian says of the #hris-

tians of his time= .+he 7alileans:. he observes:

.have suNered eile and imprisonment under my

predecessor J those "ho are by turns called heretics:

have been mutually massacred0 I have recalled the

banished: liberated the prisonersJ I have restored

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their property to the proscribedJ I have forced

them to live in peace J but such is the restless rage

of the 7alileans: that they complain of being no

longer able to devour each other0.

 +his picture "ill not appear etravagant if "e

attend to the atrocious calumnies "ith "hich the

#hristians reciprocally blacened each other0 or

instance: 2t0 4ugustine accuses the ?anichaeans of

forcing their elect to receive the eucharist: after

having obscenely polluted it0 4fter him: 2t0 #yril

of >erusalem has accused them of the same infamy

in these terms = .I dare not mention in "hat these

sacrilegious "retches "et their ischas: "hich they

give to their unhappy votaries: and ehibit in the

midst of their altar: and "ith "hich the ?anichaean

soils his mouth and tongue0 Let the men call to

mind "hat they are accustomed to eperience in

dreaming: and the "omen in their periodical af-

fections0. (ope 2t0 Leo: in one of his sermons:

also calls the sacriKce of the ?anichaeans the same

turpitude0 inally: 2uidas and #edrenus have still

further improved on the calumny: in asserting that

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'GG (hilosophical

the ?anichaeans held nocturnal assemblies: in

"hich: after etinguishing the ambeau: they

committed the most enormous indecencies0

Let us Krst observe that the primitive #hristians

"ere themselves accused of the same horrors "hich

they after"ards imputed to the ?anichaeansJ and

that the justiKcation of these eually applies to the

others0 .In order to have pretets for persecuting

us:. said 4thenagoras: in his .4pology for the

#hristians:. .they accuse us of maing detestable

banuets: and of committing incest in our assem-

blies0 It is an old tric: "hich has been employed

from all time to etinguish virtue0 +hus "as

(ythagoras burned: "ith three hundred of his

disciplesJ 9eraclitus epelled by the phesiansJ

5emocritus by the 4bderitansJ and 2ocrates con-

demned by the 4thenians0.

4thenagoras subseuently points out that the

principles and manners of the #hristians "ere suf-

Kcient of themselves to destroy the calumnies spread

against them0 +he same reasons apply in favor of

the ?anichaeans0 hy else is 2t0 4ugustine: "ho

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is positive in his boo on heresies: reduced in that

on the morals of the ?anichaeans: "hen speaing of

the horrible ceremony in uestion: to say simply=

.+hey are suspected of the "orld has this opinion

of them if they do not commit "hat is imputed to

them rumor proclaims much ill of them J but they

maintain that it is false!.

hy not sustain openly this accusation in his

5ictionary0 'G$

dispute "ith ortunatus: "ho publicly challenged

him in these terms= .e are accused of false

crimes: and as 4ugustine has assisted in our "or-

ship: I beg him to declare before the "hole people:

"hether these crimes are true or not0. 2t0 4u-

gustine replied= .It is true that I have assisted in

your "orshipJ but the uestion of faith is one

thing: the uestion of morals another J and it is that

of faith "hich I brought for"ard0 9o"ever: if the

persons present prefer that "e should discuss that

of your morals: I shall not oppose myself to them0.

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ortunatus: addressing the assembly: said= .I

"ish: above all things: to be justiKed in the minds

of those "ho believe us guilty J and that 4ugustine

should no" testify before you: and one day before

the tribunal of >esus #hrist: if he has ever seen: or

if he no"s: in any "ay "hatever: that the things

imputed have been committed by us!. 2t0 4u-

gustine still replies = .,ou depart from the uestion J

"hat I have advanced turns upon faith: not upon

morals0. 4t length: ortunatus continuing to press

2t0 4ugustine to eplain himself: he does so in these

terms = .I acno"ledge that in the prayer at "hich

I assisted I did not see you commit anything im-

pure0.

 +he same 2t0 4ugustine: in his "or on the

.Utility of aith:. still justiKes the ?anichaeans0

.4t this time:. he says: to his friend 9onoratus:

."hen I "as occupied "ith ?anichaeism: I "as yet

full of the desire and the hope of marrying a hand-

3ol0 DH D$

'$E (hilosophical

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some "oman: and of acuiring riches J of attaining

honors: and of enjoying the other pernicious pleas-

ures of life0 or "hen I listened "ith attention to

the ?anichaean doctors: I had not renounced the de-

sire and hope of all these things0 I do not attribute

that to their doctrineJ for I am bound to render

this testimony that they sedulously ehorted men

to preserve themselves from those things0 +hat is:

indeed: "hat hindered me from attaching myself

altogether to the sect: and ept me in the ran of

those "ho are called auditors0 I did not "ish to

renounce secular hopes and aNairs0. 4nd in the

last chapter of this boo: "here he represents the

?anichaean doctors as proud men: "ho had as gross

minds as they had meagre and sinny bodies: he

does not say a "ord of their pretended infamies0

8ut on "hat proofs "ere these imputations

founded ! +he Krst "hich 4ugustine alleges is: that

these indecencies "ere a conseuence of the ?ani-

chaean system: regarding the means "hich 7od

maes use of to "rest from the prince of darness

the portion of his substance0 e have spoen of

this in the article on .7enealogy:. and these are

horrors "hich one may dispense "ith repeating0 It

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is enough to say here: that the passage from the

seventh boo of the .+reasure of ?anes:. "hich

4ugustine cites in many places: is evidently falsi-

Ked0 +he arch heretic says: if "e can believe it:

that these celestial virtues: "hich are transformed

sometimes into beautiful boys: and sometimes into

5ictionary0 '$D

beautiful girls: are 7od the ather 9imself0 +his

is false J ?anes has never confounded the celestial

virtues "ith 7od the ather0 2t0 4ugustine: not

having understood the 2yriac phrase of a . virgin of

light . to mean a virgin light: supposes that 7od

sho"s a beautiful maiden to the princes of darness:

in order to ecite their brutal lust J there is nothing

of all this taled of in ancient authors J the uestion

concerns the cause of rain0

. +he great prince:. says +irbon: cited by 2t0

piphanius: . sends out for himself: in his passion:

blac clouds: "hich daren all the "orld J he

chafes: "orries himself: thro"s himself into a per-

spiration: and that it is* "hich maes the rain: "hich

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is no other than the s"eat of the great prince0. 2t0

4ugustine must have been deceived by a mistrans-

lation: or rather by a garbled: unfaithful etract

from the . +reasure of ?anes:. from "hich he only

cites t"o or three passages0 +he ?anichaean 2e-

cundinus also reproaches him "ith comprehending

nothing of the mysteries of ?anichaeism: and "ith

attacing them only by mere paralogisms0 . 9o":

other"ise:. says the learned ?0 de 8eausobre

"hom "e here abridge ."ould 2t0 4ugustine

have been able to live so many years among a sect

in "hich such abominations "ere publicly taught !

4nd ho" "ould he have had the face to defend it

against the #atholics ! .

rom this proof by reasoning: let us pass to the

proofs of fact and evidence alleged by 2t0 4u-

(hilosophical

gustine: and see if they are more substantial0 .It

is said:. proceeds this father: .that some of them

have confessed this fact in public pleadings: not only

in (aphlagonia: but also in the 7auls: as I have

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heard said at )ome by a certain #atholic0.

2uch hearsay deserves so little attention that 2t0

4ugustine dared not mae use of it in his con-

ference "ith ortunatus: although it "as seven

or eight years after he had uitted )ome J he seems

even to have forgotten the name of the #atholic

from "hom he learned them0 It is true: that

in his boo of .9eresies:. he speas of the con-

fessions of t"o girls: the one named ?argaret: the

other usebia: and of some ?anichaeans "ho: hav-

ing been discovered at #arthage: and taen to the

church: avo"ed: it is said: the horrible fact in ues-

tion0

9e adds that a certain 3iator declared that they

"ho committed these scandals "ere called #ath-

aristes: or purgatorsJ and that: "hen interrogated

on "hat scripture they founded this frightful prac-

tice: they produced the passage from the .+reasure

of ?anes:. the falsehood of "hich has been demon-

strated0 8ut our heretics: far from availing them-

selves of it: have openly disavo"ed it: as the "or

of some impostor "ho "ished to ruin them0 +hat

alone casts suspicion on all these acts of #arthage:

"hich .Auod-vult-5eus. had sent to 2t0 4ugustineJ

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and these "retches "ho "ere discovered and taen

to the church: have very much the air of persons

5ictionary0 '$S

suborned to confess all they "ere "anted to con-

fess0

In the H&th chapter on the .6ature of 7ood:.

2t0 4ugustine admits that "hen our heretics "ere

reproached "ith the crimes in uestion: they replied

that one of their elect: a seceder from the sect: and

become their enemy: had introduced this enormity0

ithout inuiring "hether this "as a real sect

"hom 3iator calls #atharistes: it is suMcient to ob-

serve here: that the Krst #hristians lie"ise im-

puted to the 7nostics the horrible mysteries of

"hich they "ere themselves accused by the >e"s

and (agansJ and if this defence is good on their

behalf: "hy should it not be so on that of the ?ani-

chaeans !

It is: ho"ever: these vulgar rumors "hich ?0

de +illemont: "ho piues himself on his eactness

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there0 8esides: the style "hich this father adopts

is that of a historian "ho cites the actual "ords of

his author0

6evertheless: to save the honor and good faith

of 2t0 #yril: ?0 Baccagni: and after him ?0 de

 +illemont: suppose: "ithout any proof: that the

translator or copyist has omitted the passage in the

.4cts. uoted by this father J and the journalists of

 +revou have imagined t"o sorts of .4cts of

4rchaelaus. the authentic ones "hich #yril has

copied: and others invented in the Kfth century by

some historian0 hen they shall have proved this

conjecture: "e "ill eamine their reasons0

inally: let us come to the testimony of (ope Leo

touching these ?anichaean abominations0 9e says:

in his sermons: that the sudden troubles in other

countries had brought into Italy some ?anichaeans:

"hose mysteries "ere so abominable that he could

not epose them to the public vie" "ithout sacri-

Kcing modesty0 +hat: in order to ascertain them:

he had introduced male and female elect into an

assembly composed of bishops: priests: and some

lay noblemen0 +hat these heretics had disclosed

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5ictionary0 '$%

many things respecting their dogmas and the cere-

monies of their feast: and had confessed a crime

"hich could not be named: but in regard to "hich

there could be no doubt: after the confession of the

guilty parties that is to say: of a young girl of only

ten years of age J of t"o "omen "ho had prepared

her for the horrible ceremony of the sect J of a young

man "ho had been an accompliceJ of the bishop

"ho had ordered and presided over it0 9e refers

those among his auditors "ho desire to no" more:

to the informations "hich had been taen: and

"hich he communicated to the bishops of Italy: in

his second letter0

 +his testimony appears more precise and more

decisive than that of 2t0 4ugustineJ but it is any-

thing but conclusive in regard to a fact belied by the

protestations of the accused: and by the ascertained

principles of their morality0 In eNect: "hat proofs

have "e that the infamous persons interrogated by

Leo "ere not bribed to depose against their sect !

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It "ill be replied that the piety and sincerity

of this pope "ill not permit us to believe that he

has contrived such a fraud0 8ut if as "e have

said in the article on .)elics. the same 2t0 Leo "as

capable of supposing that pieces of linen and rib-

bons: "hich "ere put in a bo: and made to de-

scend into the tombs of some saints: shed blood "hen

they "ere cut ought this pope to mae any scruple

in bribing: or causing to be bribed: some abandoned

"omen: and I no" not "hat ?anichsean bishop:

'$F (hilosophical

"ho: being assured of pardon: "ould mae con-

fessions of crimes "hich might be true as regarded

themselves: but not as regarded their sect: from

"hose seduction 2t0 Leo "ished to protect his peo-

ple! 4t all times: bishops have considered them-

selves authori@ed to employ those pious frauds

"hich tend to the salvation of souls0 +he conjec-

tural and apocryphal scriptures are a proof of this J

and the readiness "ith "hich the fathers have put

faith in those bad "ors: sho"s that: if they "ere

not accomplices in the fraud: they "ere not scrupu-

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lous in taing advantage of it0

In conclusion: 2t0 Leo pretends to conKrm the

secret crimes of the ?anich@eans by an argument

"hich destroys them0 .+hese eecrable mysteries:.

he says: ."hich the more impure they are: the more

carefully they are hid: are common to the ?ani-

chaeans and to the (riscillianists0 +here is in all

respects the same sacrilege: the same obscenity: the

same turpitude0 +hese crimes: these infamies: are

the same "hich "ere formerly discovered among

the (riscillianists: and of "hich the "hole "orld is

informed0.

 +he (riscillianists "ere never guilty of the

crimes for "hich they "ere put to death0 In the

"ors of 2t0 4ugustine is contained the instruc-

tionary remars "hich "ere transmitted to that

father by Orosius: and in "hich this 2panish priest

protests that he has pluced out all the plants of

perdition "hich sprang up in the sect of the (ris-

5ictionary0 '$&

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cillianistsJ that he had not forgotten the smallest

branch or root J that he eposed to the surgeon all

the diseases of the sect: in order that he might labor

in their cure0 Orosius does not say a "ord of the

abominable mysteries of "hich Leo speas J an un-

ans"erable proof that he had no doubt they "ere

pure calumnies0 2t0 >erome also says that (riscil-

lian "as oppressed by faction: and by the intrigues

of the bishops Ithacus and Idacus0 ould a man

be thus spoen of "ho "as guilty of profaning re-

ligion by the most infamous ceremonies! 6ever-

theless: Orosius and 2t0 >erome could not be igno-

rant of crimes of "hich all the "orld had been

informed0

2t0 ?artin of +ours: and 2t0 4mbrosius: "ho

"ere at +rier "hen (riscillian "as sentenced:

"ould have been eually informed of them0 +hey:

ho"ever: instantly solicited a pardon for him J and:

not being able to obtain it: they refused to hold in-

tercourse "ith his accusers and their faction0 2ul-

picius 2everus relates the history of the misfortunes

of (riscillian0 Latronian: uphrosyne: "ido" of

the poet 5elphidius: his daughter: and some other

persons: "ere eecuted "ith him at +rier: by order

of the tyrant ?aimus: and at the instigation of

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Ithacus and Idacus: t"o "iced bishops: "ho: in

re"ard for their injustice: died in ecommunication:

loaded "ith the hatred of 7od and man0

 +he (riscillianists "ere accused: lie the ?ani-

chaeans: of obscene doctrines: of religious naed-

'$G (hilosophical

ness and immodesty0 9o" "ere they convicted!

(riscillian and his accomplices confessed: as is said:

under the torture0 +hree degraded persons: +er-

tullus: (otamius: and >ohn: confessed "ithout

a"aiting the uestion0 8ut the suit instituted

against the (riscillianists "ould have been founded

on other depositions: "hich had been made against

them in 2pain0 6evertheless: these latter informa-

tions "ere rejected by a great number of bishops

and esteemed ecclesiastics J and the good old man

9igimis: bishop of #ordova: "ho had been the de-

nouncer of the (riscillianists: after"ards believed

them so innocent of the crimes imputed to them

that he received them into his communion: and

found himself involved thereby in the persecution

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"hich they endured0

 +hese horrible calumnies: dictated by a blind

@eal: "ould seem to justify the reection "hich

4mmianus ?arcellinus reports of the emperor

 >ulian0 .+he savage beasts:. he said: .are not more

formidable to men than the #hristians are to each

other: "hen they are divided by creed and opinion0.

It is still more deplorable "hen @eal is false and

hypocritical: eamples of "hich are not rare0 It is

told of a doctor of the 2orbonne: that in departing

from a sitting of the faculty: +ournely: "ith "hom

he "as strictly connected: said to him= .,ou see

that for t"o hours I have maintained a certain

opinion "ith "armthJ "ell: I assure you: there is

not one "ord of truth in all I have said P.

5ictionary0 '$$

 +he ans"er of a >esuit is also no"n: "ho "as

employed for t"enty years in the #anada missions:

and "ho himself not believing in a 7od: as he con-

fessed in the ear of a friend: had faced death t"enty

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times for the sae of a religion "hich he preached to

the savages0 +his friend representing to him the

inconsistency of his @eal= .4hP. replied the >esuit

missionary: .you have no idea of the pleasure a

man enjoys in maing himself heard by t"enty

thousand men: and in persuading them of "hat he

does not himself believe0.

It is frightful to observe ho" many abuses and

disorders arise from the profound ignorance in

"hich urope has been so long plunged0 +hose

monarchs "ho are at last sensible of the importance

of enlightenment: become the benefactors of man-

ind in favoring the progress of no"ledge: "hich

is the foundation of the tranuillity and happiness

of nations: and the Knest bul"ar against the in-

roads of fanaticism0

BO)O42+)0

I I+ is Boroaster "ho Krst announced to man-

ind that Kne maim= .In the doubt "hether an

action be good or bad: abstain from it:. Boroaster

"as the Krst of men after #onfucius0

If this beautiful lesson of morality is found only

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in the hundred gates of the .2adder:. let us bless

the author of the .2adder0. +here may be very

SEE (hilosophical

ridiculous dogmas and rites united "ith an ecel-

lent morality0

ho "as this Boroaster! +he name has some-

thing of 7ree in it: and it is said he "as a

?ede0 +he (arsees of the present day call him

Berdust: or Berdast: or Baradast: or Barathrust0 9e

is not reconed to have been the Krst of the name0

e are told of t"o other Boroasters: the former of

"hom has an antiuity of nine thousand years

"hich is much for us: but may be very little for the

"orld0 e are acuainted "ith only the latest

Boroaster0

 +he rench travellers: #hardin and +avernier:

have given us some information respecting this

great prophet: by means of the 7uebers or (arsees:

"ho are still scattered through India and (ersia:

and "ho are ecessively ignorant0 5r0 9yde:

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4rabic professor of Oford: has given us a hun-

dred times more "ithout leaving home0 Living in

the "est of ngland: he must have conjectured the

language "hich the (ersians spoe in the time of

#yrus: and must have compared it "ith the modern

language of the "orshippers of Kre0 It is to him:

moreover: that "e o"e those hundred gates of the

.2adder:. "hich contain all the principal precepts

of the pious Kre-"orshippers0

or my o"n part: I confess I have found nothing

in their ancient rites more curious than the t"o

(ersian verses of 2adi: as given by 9ydeJ signi-

fying that: although a person may preserve the

5ictionary0 SED

sacred Kre for a hundred years: he is burned "hen

he falls into it0

 +he learned researches of 9yde indled: a fe"

years ago in the breast of a young renchman: the

desire to learn for himself the dogmas of the

7uebers0 9e traversed the 7reat Indies: in order

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to learn at 2urat: among the poor modern (arsees:

the language of the ancient (ersians: and to read

in that language the boos of the so-much cele-

brated Boroaster: supposing that he has in fact

"ritten any0

 +he (ythagorases: the (latos: the 4ppolloniuses

of +hyana: "ent in former times to see in the

ast "isdom that "as not there J but no one has

run after this hidden divinity through so many suf-

ferings and perils as this ne" rench translator of

the boos attributed to Boroaster0 6either disease

nor "ar: nor obstacles rene"ed at every step: nor

poverty itself: the Krst and greatest of obstacles:

could repel his courage0

It is glorious for Boroaster that an nglishman

"rote his life: at the end of so many centuries: and

that after"ards a renchman "rote it in an en-

tirely diNerent manner0 8ut it is still Kner: that

among the ancient biographers of the poet "e have

t"o principal 4rabian authors: each of "hom had

previously "ritten his historyJ and all these four

histories contradict one another marvellously0 +his

is not done by concert J and nothing is more con-

ducive to the no"ledge of the truth0

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SE' (hilosophical

 +he Krst 4rabian historian: 4bu-?ohammed

?ustapha: allo"s that the father of Boroaster "as

called spintamanJ but he also says that spinta-

man "as not his father: but his great-great-grand-

father0 In regard to his mother: there are not t"o

opinionsJ she "as named 5ogdu: or 5odo: or

5odu that is: a very Kne turey hen J she is very

"ell portrayed in 5octor 9yde0

8undari: the second historian: relates that Bo-

roaster "as a >e": and that he had been valet to

 >eremiah J that he told lies to his master J that: in

order to punish him: >eremiah gave him the leprosy J

that the valet: to purify himself: "ent to preach a

ne" religion in (ersia: and caused the sun to be

adored instead of the stars0

4ttend no" to "hat the third historian relates:

and "hat the nglishman: 9yde: has recorded some-

"hat at length= +he prophet Boroaster having

come from (aradise to preach his religion to the

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ing of (ersia: 7ustaph: the ing said to the

prophet = .7ive me a sign0. Upon this: the prophet

caused a cedar to gro" up before the gate of the

palace: so large and so tall: that no cord could either

go round it or reach its top0 Upon the cedar he

placed a Kne cabinet: to "hich no man could ascend0

2truc "ith this miracle: 7ustaph believed in Bo-

roaster0

our magi: or four sages it is the same thing

envious and "iced persons: borro"ed from the

royal porter the ey of the prophet;s chamber dur-

5ictionary0 SES

ing his absence: and thre" among his boos the

bones of dogs and cats: the nails and hair of dead

bodies such being: as is "ell no"n: the drugs

"ith "hich magicians at all times have operated0

4fter"ards: they "ent and accused the prophet of

being a sorcerer and a poisonerJ and the ing:

causing the chamber to be opened by his porter:

the instruments of "itchcraft "ere found there

and behold the envoy from heaven condemned to

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SEH (hilosophical

those days: as all the "orld no"s: a great number

of very po"erful magicians J they "ere "ell a"are

that one day Boroaster "ould be greater than them-

selves: and that he "ould triumph over their magic0

 +he prince of magicians caused the infant to be

brought to him: and tried to cut him in t"oJ but

his hand instantly "ithered0 +hey thre" him into

the Kre: "hich "as turned for him into a bath of

rose "ater0 +hey "ished to have him trampled on

by the feet of "ild bulls J but a still more po"erful

bull protected him0 9e "as cast among the "olves J

these "olves "ent incontinently and sought t"o

e"es: "ho gave him suc all night0 4t last: he "as

restored to his mother 5ogdu: or 5odo: or 5odu: a

"ife ecellent above all "ives: or a daughter above

all daughters0

2uch: throughout the "orld: have been all the

histories of ancient times0 It proves "hat "e have

often remared: that able is the elder sister of

9istory0 I could "ish that: for our amusement

and instruction: all these great prophets of antiuity:

the Boroasters: the ?ercurys +rismegistus: the

4barises: and even the 6umas: and others: should

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no" return to the earth: and converse "ith Loce:

6e"ton: 8acon: 2haftesbury: (ascal: 4rnaud: 8ayle

"hat do I say! even "ith those philosophers of

our day "ho are the least learned: provided they are

not the less rational0 I as pardon of antiuity: but

I thin they "ould cut a sorry Kgure0

4las: poor charlatansP they could not sell their

5ictionary0 SE%

drugs on the (ont-neuf0 In the meantime: ho"-

ever: their morality is still good: because morality

is not a drug0 9o" could it be that Boroaster

 joined so many egregious fooleries to the Kne pre-

cept of .abstaining "hen it is doubtful "hether one

is about to do right or "rong!. It is because men

are al"ays compounded of contradictions0

It is added that Boroaster: having established

his religion: became a persecutor0 4lasP there is

not a seton: or a s"eeper of a church: "ho "ould

not persecute: if he had the po"er0

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One cannot read t"o pages of the abominable

trash attributed to Boroaster: "ithout pitying human

nature0 6ostradamus and the urine doctor are

reasonable compared "ith this inspired personageJ

and yet he still is and "ill continue to be taled of0

hat appears singular is: that there eisted: in

the time of the Boroaster "ith "hom "e are ac-

uainted: and probably before: prescribed formulas

of public and private prayer0 e are indebted to

the rench traveller for a translation of them0 +here

"ere such formulas in India J "e no" of none such

in the (entateuch0

hat is still stranger: the magi: as "ell as the

8rahmins: admitted a paradise: a hell: a resurrec-

tion: and a devil0 It is demonstrated that the la" of

the >e"s ne" nothing of all this J they "ere be-

hindhand "ith everything a truth of "hich "e are

convinced: ho"ever little the progress "e have made

in Oriental no"ledge0

3ol0 DH 'E

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SEF (hilosophical

5#L4)4+IO6 O +9 4?4+U)2: I6-

AUI))2: 465 5OU8+)2:

9O 943 4?U25 +9?2L32 I+9 ()O(O2I67

 +O +9 L4)65 +9 ()#5I67 AU2+IO62 I6

 +92 3OLU?20

5#L4) to the learned that being: lie them-

selves: prodigiously ignorant of the Krst principles

of all things: and of the natural: typical: mystical:

allegorical sense of many things: "e acuiesce: in

regard to them: in the infallible decision of the

holy Inuisition of )ome: ?ilan: lorence: ?adrid:

Lisbon: and in the decrees of the 2orbonne: the per-

petual council of the rench0

Our errors not proceeding from malice: but being

the natural conseuence of human "eaness: "e

hope "e shall be pardoned for them both in this

"orld and the net0

e entreat the small number of celestial spirits

"ho are still shut up in the mortal bodies in rance:

and "ho thence enlighten the universe at thirty

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sous per sheet: to communicate their gifts to us for

the net volume: "hich "e calculate on publishing

at the end of the Lent of D&&': or in the 4dvent of

D&&SJ and "e "ill pay forty sous per sheet for

their lucubrations0

e entreat the fe" great men "ho still remain

to us: such as the author of the .cclesiastical

7a@ette. J the 4bbe 7uyon J "ith the 4bbe #avei-

rac: author of the .4pology for 2t0 8artholome". J

5ictionary0 SE&

and he "ho too the name of #hiniacJ and the