8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 1/460
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!"
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 2/460
I am a heritage because I
brin you years oj tboupbt
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 3/460
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
.0 L
+he O)12 of 3OL+4I)
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 4/460
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 ; ;
ri#+O) 9U7O0
+9)O65 U(O6 +9 )UI62 O) +9
842+ILL
I6A1)8OI0I-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 5/460
5I+IO6 5 L4 (4#II#4+IO6
+9 O)12 O
3OL+4I )
4 #O6+?(O)4), 3)2IO6
I+9 6O+2 8, +O8I42 2?OLL++: )3I25 465 ?O5)6IB5
6 +)462L4+IO62 8, ILLI4? 0 L?I67: 465 46
I6+)O5U#+IO6 8, OLI3) 90 70 LI79
4 #)I+IAU 465 8IO7)4(9,
8,
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 6/460
+9 )+0 9O60 >O96 ?O)L,
O)+,-+9) 3OLU?2
O6 9U65)5 465 2IC+,-8I79+ 52I762: #O?()I2I67 )()O5U#+IO62
O 14)8 OL5 67)43I672: 2+L (L4+2: (9O+O7)43U)2:
4?5 #U)IOU2 (4#-2I?IL82
3OLU? CI3
41)O6: O9IO
+9 )6) #O?(46,
D$EF
#O(,)I79+ D$ED
8, 0 )0 5u?o6+
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 7/460
O65 8,
+9 )6) #O?(46,
41)O6: O9IO
ivii "f??f) #O?(46,
U1?: O90O
(A
'O&%
F2F
D$EF
v-/ D /
3OL+4I)
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 8/460
4 (9ILO2O(9I#4L 5I#+IO64),
I6 +6 3OLU?2
3OL0 C0
2+,L BO)O42+)
465 5#L4)4+IO6 O +9 4?4+U)2: I6AUI))2: 465 5OU8+)2
LI2+ O (L4+2
3OL0 CI3
3OL+4I);2 )?4I62 O6 +9 842+ILL
rontispiece
+9 54+9 O 2O#)4+2 0000 G'
+9 3I2IO6 000 000 DFF
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 10/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 11/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 12/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 13/460
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=
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 14/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 15/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 16/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 17/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 18/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 19/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 20/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 21/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 22/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 23/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 25/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 26/460
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&
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 27/460
.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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 28/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 29/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 30/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 31/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 32/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 33/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 34/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 35/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 36/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 37/460
'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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 38/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 39/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 40/460
'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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 41/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 42/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 43/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 44/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 45/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 46/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 47/460
+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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 48/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 49/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 50/460
+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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 51/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 52/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 53/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 54/460
.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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 55/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 56/460
.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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 57/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 58/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 59/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 60/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 61/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 62/460
#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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 63/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 64/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 65/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 66/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 67/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 68/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 69/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 70/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 71/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 72/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 73/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 74/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 75/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 76/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 77/460
(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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 78/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 79/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 80/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 81/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 82/460
"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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 83/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 84/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 85/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 86/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 87/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 88/460
%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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 89/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 90/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 91/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 92/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 93/460
+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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 94/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 95/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 96/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 97/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 98/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 99/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 100/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 101/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 102/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 103/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 104/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 106/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 107/460
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!
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 108/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 109/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 110/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 111/460
&' (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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 112/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 113/460
#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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 114/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 115/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 116/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 117/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 118/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 119/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 120/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 121/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 122/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 123/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 124/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 125/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 126/460
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$
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 127/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 128/460
#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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 130/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 131/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 132/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 133/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 134/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 135/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 136/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 137/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 138/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 139/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 141/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 142/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 143/460
$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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 144/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 146/460
"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 =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 147/460
.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. =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 148/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 149/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 150/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 151/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 152/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 153/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 154/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 155/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 156/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 157/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 158/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 159/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 160/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 161/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 162/460
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&
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 163/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 164/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 165/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 166/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 168/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 169/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 170/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 171/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 172/460
(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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 173/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 174/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 175/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 176/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 177/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 178/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 179/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 180/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 181/460
+)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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 182/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 183/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 184/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 185/460
?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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 186/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 187/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 188/460
"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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 189/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 190/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 191/460
.+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'&
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 192/460
.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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 193/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 194/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 195/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 196/460
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 !
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 197/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 198/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 199/460
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 !
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 200/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 201/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 202/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 203/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 204/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 205/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 206/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 207/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 208/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 209/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 210/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 212/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 213/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 214/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 215/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 216/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 217/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 218/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 219/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 220/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 221/460
?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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 222/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 223/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 224/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 225/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 226/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 227/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 228/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 229/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 230/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 231/460
"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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 232/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 233/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 234/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 235/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 236/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 237/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 238/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 239/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 240/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 241/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 242/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 243/460
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 =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 244/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 245/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 246/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 247/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 248/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 249/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 250/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 251/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 252/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 253/460
>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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 254/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 255/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 256/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 257/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 258/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 259/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 260/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 262/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 263/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 265/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 266/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 267/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 268/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 269/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 270/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 271/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 272/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 273/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 274/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 275/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 276/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 277/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 278/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 279/460
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&
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 280/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 281/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 282/460
(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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 283/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 284/460
"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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 285/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 286/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 287/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 288/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 289/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 290/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 291/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 292/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 293/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 294/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 295/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 296/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 297/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 298/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 299/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 300/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 301/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 302/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 303/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 304/460
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 !
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 305/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 306/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 307/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 308/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 309/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 312/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 313/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 314/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 315/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 316/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 317/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 318/460
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!
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 319/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 320/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 321/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 322/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 323/460
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 !
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 324/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 325/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 326/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 327/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 328/460
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 !.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 329/460
.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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 330/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 332/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 333/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 334/460
''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 =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 335/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 336/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 337/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 339/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 340/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 341/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 342/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 344/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 345/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 346/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 347/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 348/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 349/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 350/460
,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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 351/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 352/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 353/460
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"
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 354/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 355/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 356/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 357/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 358/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 359/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 361/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 362/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 363/460
+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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 364/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 365/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 366/460
#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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 367/460
+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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 368/460
?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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 369/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 370/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 371/460
+"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 372/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 373/460
.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 =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 374/460
>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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 375/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 376/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 377/460
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=
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 378/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 379/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 381/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 382/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 383/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 384/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 385/460
+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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 386/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 387/460
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 $G:''' females aged
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 388/460
more than seventy: HE:G$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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 389/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 390/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 392/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 393/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 394/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 395/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 396/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 397/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 398/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 399/460
"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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 400/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 401/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 402/460
+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 =
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 403/460
.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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 404/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 405/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 406/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 407/460
'&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!
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 408/460
#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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 409/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 410/460
'&' (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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 411/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 412/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 413/460
'&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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 414/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 415/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 416/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 417/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 418/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 420/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 421/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 422/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 423/460
+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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 424/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 425/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 426/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 427/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 428/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 429/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 430/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 431/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 432/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 433/460
'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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 434/460
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.
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 435/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 436/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 437/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 438/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 439/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 440/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 442/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 443/460
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 !
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 444/460
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-
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 445/460
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 '$&
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 446/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 447/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 448/460
"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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 449/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 450/460
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:
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 451/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 452/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 453/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 454/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 456/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 457/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 458/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 459/460
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
8/20/2019 Voltaire XIV
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/voltaire-xiv 460/460
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