Voltaire II

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

T H E W O R K S O F

VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION

W ITH NOTES BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED AND MODERNIZED

NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN

INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH

A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY

BY

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

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

ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS

OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,

AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES

VOLUME II

AKRON, OHIO

THE WERNER COMPANY

1!"



The WORKS of VOLTAIRE



EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION

Limited to one thousand sets

for America and reat !ritain"

# $!et%een t%o ser&ants of 'umanit() %ho a**eared

ei+hteen hundred (ears a*art) there is a m(sterious re,ation"

- - - - Let us sa( it %ith a sentiment of

*rofound res*ect. /ES0S WEPT. VOLTAIRE S1ILED"

Of that di&ine tear and of that human smi,e is com*osed the

s%eetness of the *resent ci&i,i2ation#

VICTOR '0O"

T'EN TOOK

RA3OR AND W

'ER '0S!ANO$4 TO1!



TO

EDITION DE LA PACIFICATION

T'E WORKS OF

VOLTAI RE

A CONTE1PORAR5 VERSION

WIT' NOTES !5 TO!IAS S1OLLETT) REVISED AND 1ODERNI3E#6

NEW TRANSLATIONS !5 WILLIA1 F" FLE1IN) AND AW

INTROD0CTION !5 OLIVER '" ) LEI'



A CRITI70E AND !IORAP'5

!5

T'E RT" 'ON" /O'N 1ORLE5

FORT58T'REE VOL01ES

O1! '0NDRED AND SI9T58!I'T DESINS) CO1PRISIN REPROD0CTIONS

OF RARE OLD ENRAVINS) STEEL PLATES) P'OTORAV0RES)

A1D C0RIO0S FAC8SI1IL!:

VOL01E II

AKRON) O'IO

T'E WERNER CO1PAN5

;<=4



COPTEI'T ;<=;

!5 E" R" D01ONT

OWNED !5

T'E WERNER CO1PAN5

AKRON) O'IO

1ADE !5

T'E WERNER CO1PAN5

AKRON) O'IO

Stac>

Anne?

P7

@=B



EBS4

VOLTAIRE

RO1ANCES

IN T'REE VOL01ES

VOL" I"

NOTICE"

ort stories) are

in

uc8

%as



rror

e of

"; SO

it a

'OW TO OPEN A !OOK"

From #1odern !oo>indin+"# t

e reound" $ he &o,um eand it had to

'P'ESE RO1ANCES) most,( short stories) are

- re+arded ( man( of the foremost e?*erts in

,iterature as amon+ the nest and stron+est *roduc8

tions of Vo,taire$s uniGue ,iterar( +enius" Each %as

%ritten %ith a denite *ur*oseH it ho,ds the mirror

u* to a de,usion of the da() and *erha*s to some of

our da(" This it does ruth,ess,( enou+h) (et %ith so

+racious a humor that the shoc> carries %ith it a

sensation of e?Guisite *,easure and tonic after8eect"



The( ha&e a,, the est characteristics of the Orienta,

ta,es then in &o+ue) and as e?am*,es of *ure st(,e in

its most de,icate modes of e?*ression the( are ri+ht,(

*ronounced incom*ara,e"

CONTENTS

I" 3ADI . T'E 15STER5 OF FATE " " B

The ,ind of one e(e H the nose H the do+ and

the horseH the en&ious manH the +enerousH

the minister H the dis*utes and the audiences H

Jea,ous(H the %oman eaterH s,a&er(H the

funera, *i,eH the su**erH the rende2&ousH the

danceH ,ue e(esH the roerH the shermanH

the asi,is> H the comats H the hermit H the

eni+mas"

II" T'E STOR5 OF /O'NN5H OR) T'E AT'EIST

AND T'E SAE ;;



Ad&entures of /ohnn( and his %orth( fatherH

the contro&ers( of the # uts# H /ohnn( returns

to London H the( %ant to +et /ohnn( marriedH

a terri,e ad&enture H %hat ha**ened in

America H dia,o+ue on atheism H /ohnn($s

marria+e"

III" T'E W'ITE !0LL ;<

The Princess Amasidia meets a u,,H Pha8

raoh$s ma+icianH the Princess and the ser8

*ent H the( %anted to sacrice the u,, and

e?orcise the Princess H the ser*ent comforts

the Princess %ith stories H it fai,s to do so H

the( %ant to ehead the Princess) ut do not H

a*otheosis of the %hite u,,"

IV" T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS " " " @

Nationa, *o&ert( H disaster of the man of

fort( cro%ns H con&ersation %ith a +eometri8

cian H ad&enture %ith a Carme,ite H the man

of fort( cro%ns marries H on ta?es *aid to a

forei+n *o%erH on *ro*ortionsH a +reat Guar8

re,H a rasca, re*u,sed H a +ood su**er at 1r"

Andre%$s"



LIST OF PLATES

VOL" II

11

T'E WIDOW A3ORA DROPS T'E RA3OR

Frontis*iece

AL1ONA S0IN FOR 3ADI$S PARDON " " 4@

1R" FREIND ADVISES /O'NN5 " " " ;

T'E CAR1ELITE AND T'E 1ENDICANT " " @4

3ADI. T'E 15STER5 OF FATE"

C'APTER I"

T'E !LIND OF ONE E5E"

There ,i&ed at !a(,on) in the rei+n of Kin+

1oadar) a (oun+ man) named 3adi+) of a +ood



natura, dis*osition) stren+thened and im*ro&ed (

education" Thou+h rich and (oun+) he had ,earned

to moderate his *assions" 'e had nothin+ sti

or aected in his eha&ior" 'e did not *retend to

e?amine e&er( action ( the strict ru,es of reason)

ut %as a,%a(s read( to ma>e *ro*er a,,o%ances

for the %ea>ness of man>ind" It %as a matter of

sur*rise that) not%ithstandin+ his s*ri+ht,( %it) he

ne&er e?*osed ( his rai,,er( those &a+ue) inco8

herent) and nois( discourses H those rash censures)

i+norant decisions) coarse Jests) and a,, that em*t(

Jin+,e of %ords %hich at !a(,on %ent ( the

name of con&ersation" 'e had ,earned) in the rst

oo> of 3oroaster) that se,f8,o&e is a foot8a,,

s%e,,ed %ith %ind) from %hich) %hen *ierced) the

most terri,e tem*ests issue forth" Ao&e a,,)

3adi+ ne&er oasted of his conGuests amon+ the

%omen) nor aected to entertain a contem*ti,e

o*inion of the fair se?" 'e %as +enerous) and %as

B

4 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"



ne&er afraid of o,i+in+ the un+ratefu, H remem8

erin+ the +rand *rece*t of 3oroaster) #When

thou eatest) +i&e to the do+s) shou,d the( e&en ite

thee"# 'e %as as %ise "as it is *ossi,e for a man

to eH for he sou+ht to ,i&e %ith the %ise"

Instructed in the sciences of the ancient Cha,dseans)

he understood the *rinci*,es of natura, *hi,os8

o*h() such as the( %ere then su**osed to eH and

>ne% as much of meta*h(sics as has e&er een

>no%n in an( a+e) that is) ,itt,e or nothin+ at a,,"

'e %as rm,( *ersuaded) not%ithstandin+ the ne%

*hi,oso*h( of the times) that the (ear consisted of

three hundred and si?t(8&e da(s and si? hours)

and that the sun %as the centre of the so,ar s(s8

tem" When the *rinci*a, ma+i to,d him) %ith a

hau+ht( and contem*tuous air) that his sentiments

%ere of a dan+erous tendenc() and that it %as to

e an enem( to the state to e,ie&e that the sun

re&o,&ed around its o%n a?is) and that the (ear had

t%e,&e months) he he,d his ton+ue %ith +reat mod8

est( and mee>ness"

Possessed as he %as of +reat riches) and conse8

Guent,( of man( friends) ,essed %ith a +ood con8

stitution) a handsome +ure) a mind Just and mod8

erate) and a heart no,e and sincere) he fond,(



ima+ined that he mi+ht easi,( e ha**(" 'e %as

+oin+ to e married to Semira) %ho) in *oint of

eaut() irth and fortune) %as the rst match in

!a(,on" 'e had a rea, and &irtuous aection for

this ,ad() and she ,o&ed him %ith the most *assion8

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

ate fondness" The ha**( moment had a,most ar8

ri&ed that %as to unite them fore&er in the ands

of %ed,oc>) %hen) ha**enin+ to ta>e a %a,> to8

+ether to%ard one of the +ates of !a(,on) under

the *a,m8trees that adorn the an>s of the Eu8

*hrates) the( sa% some men a**roachin+) armed

%ith sares and arro%s" These %ere the attendants

of (oun+ Orcan) the minister$s ne*he%) %hom his

unc,e$s creatures had Mattered into an o*inion that

he mi+ht do e&er(thin+ %ith im*unit(" 'e had

none of the +races nor &irtues of 3adi+H ut thin>8

in+ himse,f a much more accom*,ished man) he

%as enra+ed to nd that the other %as *referred

efore him" This Jea,ous() %hich %as mere,( the

eect of his &anit() made him ima+ine that he %as

des*erate,( in ,o&e %ith SemiraH and accordin+,(



he reso,&ed to carr( her o" The ra&ishers sei2ed

herH in the &io,ence of the outra+e the( %ounded

her) and made the ,ood Mo% from a *erson) the

si+ht of %hom %ou,d ha&e softened the ti+ers of

1ount Imaus" She *ierced the hea&ens %ith her

com*,aints" She cried out. #1( dear husand

the( tear me from the man I adore#

Re+ard,ess of her o%n dan+er) she %as on,(

concerned for the fate of her dear 3adi+) %ho) in

the meantime) defended himse,f %ith a,, the

stren+th that coura+e and ,o&e cou,d ins*ire" As8

sisted on,( ( t%o faithfu, s,a&es) he *ut the co%8

ard,( ra&ishers to Mi+ht) and carried home Semira)

insensi,e and ,ood( as she %as"

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

#O) 3adi+)# said she) on o*enin+ her e(es) and

eho,din+ her de,i&erer) #I ,o&ed thee former,( as

m( intended husand" I no% ,o&e thee as the *re8

ser&er of m( honor and m( ,ife#

Ne&er %as heart more dee*,( aected than that



of Semira" Ne&er did a more charmin+ mouth

e?*ress more mo&in+ sentiments) in those +,o%in+

%ords ins*ired ( a sense of the +reatest of a,,

fa&ors) and ( the most tender trans*orts of a

,a%fu, *assion" 'er %ound %as s,i+ht) and %as

soon cured" 3adi+ %as more dan+erous,( %ound8

ed" An arro% had *ierced him near his e(e) and

*enetrated to a considera,e de*th" Semira %earied

hea&en %ith her *ra(ers for the reco&er( of her

,o&er" 'er e(es %ere constant,( athed in tearsH

she an?ious,( %aited the ha**( moment %hen

those of 3adi+ shou,d e a,e to meet hersH ut

an ascess) +ro%in+ on the %ounded e(e) +a&e

e&er(thin+ to fear" A messen+er %as immediate,(

des*atched to 1em*his) for the +reat *h(sician)

'ermes) %ho came %ith a numerous retinue" 'e

&isited the *atient) and dec,ared that he %ou,d ,ose

his e(e" 'e e&en foreto,d the da( and hour %hen

this fata, e&ent %ou,d ha**en"

#'ad it een the ri+ht e(e)# said he) #I cou,d

easi,( ha&e cured itH ut the %ounds of the ,eft e(e

are incura,e"#

A,, !a(,on ,amented the fate of 3adi+) and

admired the *rofound >no%,ed+e of 'ermes" In



t%o da(s the ascess ro>e of its o%n accord) and

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" <

3adi+ %as *erfect,( cured" 'ermes %rote a oo>)

to *ro&e that it ou+ht not to ha&e een cured"

3adi+ did not read itH ut) as soon as he %as a,e

to +o aroad) he %ent to *a( a &isit to her in %hom

a,, his ho*es of ha**iness %ere centred) and for

%hose sa>e a,one he %ished to ha&e e(es" Semira

had een in the countr( for three da(s *ast" 'e

,earned on the road that that ne ,ad() ha&in+

o*en,( dec,ared that she had an unconGuera,e

a&ersion to one8e(ed men) had the ni+ht efore

+i&en her hand to Orcan" At this ne%s he fe,,

s*eech,ess to the +round" 'is sorro%s rou+ht

him a,most to the rin> of the +ra&e" 'e %as ,on+

indis*osedH ut reason at ,ast +ot the etter of his

aiction) and the se&erit( of his fate ser&ed e&en

to conso,e him"

#Since)# said he) #I ha&e suered so much from

the crue, ca*rice of a %oman educated at court)

I must no% thin> of marr(in+ the dau+hter of a



citi2en"#

'e *itched u*on A2ora) a ,ad( of the +reatest

*rudence) and of the est fami,( in to%n" 'e mar8

ried her) and ,i&ed %ith her for three months in

a,, the de,i+hts of the most tender union" 'e on,(

oser&ed that she had a ,itt,e ,e&it(H and %as too

a*t to nd that those (oun+ men %ho had the most

handsome *ersons %ere ,i>e%ise *ossessed of the

most %it and &irtue"

io 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

C'APTER II"

T'E NOSE"

One mornin+ A2ora returned from a %a,> in a

terri,e *assion) and utterin+ the most &io,ent

e?c,amations"

#What ai,eth thee)# said he) #m( dear s*ouse



What is it that can thus ha&e distured thee#

#A,as# said she) #thou %ou,dst ha&e een as

much enra+ed as I am) hadst thou seen %hat I ha&e

Just ehe,d" I ha&e een to comfort the (oun+

%ido% Cosrou) %ho) %ithin these t%o da(s) hath

raised a tom to her (oun+ husand) near the ri&8

u,et that %ashes the s>irts of this meado%" She

&o%ed to hea&en) in the itterness of her +rief) to

remain at this tom %hi,st the %ater of the ri&u,et

shou,d continue to run near it"#

#We,,)# said 3adi+) #she is an e?ce,,ent %oman)

and ,o&ed her husand %ith the most sincere aec8

tion"#

#Ah# re*,ied A2ora) #didst thou ut >no% in

%hat she %as em*,o(ed %hen I %ent to %ait u*on

her#

#In %hat) *ra( te,, me) eautifu, A2ora Was

she turnin+ the course of the ri&u,et#

A2ora ro>e out into such ,on+ in&ecti&es) and

,oaded the (oun+ %ido% %ith such itter re8

*roaches) that 3adi+ %as far from ein+ *,eased



%ith this ostentation of &irtue"

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" ; ;

3adi+ had a friend named CadorH one of those

(oun+ men in %hom his 9&ife disco&ered more

*roit( and merit than in others" 'e made him

his condant) and secured his de,it( as much as

*ossi,e ( a considera,e *resent" A2ora) ha&in+

*assed t%o da(s %ith a friend in the countr()

returned home on the third" The ser&ants to,d her)

%ith tears in t>eir e(es) that her husand died

sudden,( the ni+ht eforeH that the( %ere afraid

to send her an account of this mournfu, e&entH

and that the( had Just een de*ositin+ his cor*se

in the tom of his ancestors) at the end of the +ar8

den" She %e*t) she tore her hair) and s%ore she

%ou,d fo,,o% him to the +ra&e" In the e&enin+)

Cador e++ed ,ea&e to %ait u*on her) and Joined

his tears %ith hers" Ne?t da( the( %e*t ,ess) and

dined to+ether" Cador to,d her that his friend had

,eft him the +reater *art of his estateH and that

he shou,d thin> himse,f e?treme,( ha**( in shar8

in+ his fortune %ith her" The ,ad( %e*t) fe,, into



a *assion) and at ,ast ecame more mi,d and +ent,e"

The( sat ,on+er at su**er than at dinner" The(

no% ta,>ed %ith +reater condence" A2ora *raised

the deceasedH ut o%ned that he had man( fai,in+s

from %hich Cador %as free"

Durin+ su**er Cador com*,ained of a &io,ent

*ain in his side" The ,ad() +reat,( concerned) and

ea+er to ser&e him) caused a,, >inds of essences to

e rou+ht) %ith %hich she anointed him) to tr(

if some of them mi+ht not *ossi,( ease him of his

;@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

*ain" She ,amented that the +reat 'ermes %as not

sti,, in !a(,on" She e&en condescended to touch

the side in %hich Cador fe,t such e?Guisite *ain"

#Art thou suJect to this crue, disorder# said

she to him) %ith a com*assionate air"

#It sometimes rin+s me)# re*,ied Cador) #to

the rin> of the +ra&eH and there is ut one rem8

ed( that can +i&e me re,ief and that is) to a**,(



to m( side the nose of a man %ho is ,ate,( dead"#

#A stran+e remed() indeed# said A2ora"

#Not more stran+e)# re*,ied he #than the satch8

e,s of Arnou) a+ainst the a*o*,e?("#

This reason) added to the +reat merit of the

(oun+ man) at ,ast determined the ,ad("

#After a,,)# sa(s she) #%hen m( husand sha,,

cross the rid+e Tchina&ar in his Journe( to the

other %or,d) the an+e, Asrae, %i,, not refuse him

a *assa+e ecause his nose is a ,itt,e shorter in the

second ,ife than it %as in the rst"#

She then too> a ra2or) %ent to her husand$s

tom) ede%ed it %ith her tears) and dre% near to

cut o the nose of 3adi+) %hom she found e?8

tended at fu,, ,en+th in the tom" 3adi+ arose)

ho,din+ his nose %ith one hand) and *uttin+ ac>

the ra2or %ith the other"

#1adam)# said he) #don$t e?c,aim so &io,ent,(

a+ainst the %ido% Cosrou" The *roJect of cuttin+

o m( nose is eGua, to that of turnin+ the course



of a ri&u,et"#

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;:

C'APTER III"

T'E DO AND T'E 'ORSE"

3adi+ found ( e?*erience that the rst month

of marria+e) as it is %ritten in the oo> of 3end)

is the moon of hone() and that the second is the

moon of %orm%ood" 'e %as some time after

o,i+ed to re*udiate A2ora) %ho ecame too diQ8

cu,t to e *,easedH and he then sou+ht for ha**i8

ness in the stud( of nature"

#No man)# said he) #can e ha**ier than a *hi8

,oso*her) %ho reads in this +reat oo> %hich od

hath *,aced efore our e(es" The truths he dis8

co&ers are his o%nH he nourishes and e?a,ts his

sou, H he ,i&es in *eaceH he fears nothin+ from menH

and his tender s*ouse %i,, not come to cut o his



nose"#

Possessed of these ideas) he retired to a coun8

tr( house on the an>s of the Eu*hrates" There

he did not em*,o( himse,f in ca,cu,atin+ ho%

man( inches of %ater Mo% in a second of time

under the arches of a rid+e) or %hether there fe,,

a cue8,ine of rain in the month of the mouse more

than in the month of the shee*" 'e ne&er dreamed

of ma>in+ si,> of co%es) or *orce,ain of ro>en

ott,esH ut he chieM( studied the *ro*erties of

*,ants and anima,s) and soon acGuired a sa+acit(

that made him disco&er a thousand dierences

%here other men see nothin+ ut uniformit("

; 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

One da() as he %as %a,>in+ near a ,itt,e %ood)

he sa% one of the Gueen$s eunuchs runnin+ to%ard

him) fo,,o%ed ( se&era, oQcers) %ho a**eared to

e in +reat *er*,e?it() and %ho ran to and fro ,i>e

men distracted) ea+er,( searchin+ for somethin+

the( had ,ost) of +reat &a,ue"



#5oun+ man)# said the rst eunuch) #hast thou

seen the Gueen$s do+#

#It is a itch)# re*,ied 3adi+) %ith +reat mod8

est() #and not a do+"#

#Thou art in the ri+ht)# returned the rst

eunuch"

#It is a &er( sma,, she8s*anie,)# added 3adi+H

she has ,ate,( %he,*edH she ,im*s on the ,eft fore

foot) and has &er( ,on+ ears"#

#Thou hast seen her)# said the rst eunuch)

Guite out of reath"

#No)# re*,ied 3adi+) #I ha&e not seen her) nor

did I so much as >no% that the Gueen had a itch"#

E?act,( at the same time) ( one of the common

frea>s of fortune) the nest horse in the >in+$s

sta,e had esca*ed from the Joc>e( in the *,ains

of !a(,on" The *rinci*a, huntsman) and a,, the

other oQcers) ran after him %ith as much ea+erness

and an?iet( as the rst eunuch had done after the

itch" The *rinci*a, huntsman addressed himse,f



to 3adi+) and as>ed him if he had not seen the

>in+$s horse *assin+ ("

#'e is the Meetest horse in the >in+$s sta,e)#

re*,ied 3adi+H #he is &e feet hi+h) %ith &er( sma,,

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" ;B

hoofs) and a tai, three feet and a ha,f in ,en+thH

the studs on his it are +o,d) of t%ent(8three car8

ats) and his shoes are si,&er of e,e&en *enn(8

%ei+hts"#

#What %a( did he ta>e %here is he# de8

manded the chief huntsman")

#I ha&e not seen him)# re*,ied 3adi+) #and

ne&er heard ta,> of him efore"#

The *rinci*a, huntsman and the rst eunuch

ne&er douted ut that 3adi+ had sto,en the >in+$s

horse and the Gueen$s itch" The( therefore had

him conducted efore the assem,( of the +rand

desterham) %ho condemned him to the >nout) and



to s*end the rest of his da(s in Sieria" 'ard,(

%as the sentence *assed) %hen the horse and the

itch %ere oth found" The Jud+es %ere reduced

to the disa+reea,e necessit( of re&ersin+ their

sentenceH ut the( condemned 3adi+ to *a( four

hundred ounces of +o,d for ha&in+ said that he

had not seen %hat he had seen" This ne he %as

o,i+ed to *a() after %hich he %as *ermitted to

*,ead his cause efore the counci, of the +rand des8

terham) %hen he s*o>e to the fo,,o%in+ eect.

#5e stars of Justice) a(ss of sciences) mirrors

of truth) %ho ha&e the %ei+ht of ,ead) the hard8

ness of iron) the s*,endor of the diamond) and man(

of the *ro*erties of +o,dH since I am *ermitted to

s*ea> efore this au+ust assem,() I s%ear to (ou

( Oroma2es) that I ha&e ne&er seen the Gueen$s

res*ecta,e itch) nor the sacred horse of the >in+

;4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

of >in+s" The truth of the matter is as fo,,o%s.

I %as %a,>in+ to%ard the ,itt,e %ood) %here I after8

%ard met the &enera,e eunuch and the most i,,us8



trious chief huntsman" I oser&ed on the sand the

traces of an anima,) and cou,d easi,( *ercei&e them

to e those of a ,itt,e do+" The ,i+ht and ,on+ fur8

ro%s im*ressed on ,itt,e eminences of sand et%een

the mar>s of the *a%s *,ain,( disco&ered that it

%as a itch) %hose du+s %ere han+in+ do%n) and

that therefore she must ha&e %he,*ed a fe% da(s

efore" Other traces of a dierent >ind) that

a,%a(s a**eared to ha&e +ent,( rushed the sur8

face of the sand near the mar>s of the fore feet

sho%ed me that she had &er( ,on+ earsH and as I

remar>ed that there %as a,%a(s a s,i+hter im*res8

sion made on the sand ( one foot than ( the

other three) I found that the itch of our au+ust

Gueen %as a ,itt,e ,ame) if I ma( e a,,o%ed the

e?*ression" With re+ard to the horse of the >in+

of >in+s) (ou %i,, e *,eased to >no% that) %a,>8

in+ in the ,anes of this %ood) I oser&ed the mar>s

of a horse$s shoes) a,, at eGua, distances" $This

must e a horse)$ said I to m(se,f) $that +a,,o*s

e?ce,,ent,("$ The dust on the trees in a narro%

road) that %as ut se&en feet %ide) %as a ,itt,e

rushed o) at the distance of three feet and a ha,f

from the midd,e of the road" The horse)$ said I)

$has a tai, three feet and a ha,f ,on+) %hich) ein+

%his>ed to the ri+ht and ,eft) has s%e*t a%a( the



dust"$ I oser&ed under the trees) that formed an

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;

aror &e feet in hei+ht) that the ,ea&es of the

ranches %ere ne%,( fa,,en) from %hence I inferred

that the horse had touched them) and that he must)

therefore) e &e feet hi+h" As to his it) it must

e +o,d of t%ent(8three carats) for he had rued

its osses a+ainst a stone %hich I >ne% to e a

touchstone) and %hich I ha&e tried" In a %ord)

from a mar> made ( his shoes on Mints of another

>ind) I conc,uded that he %as shod %ith si,&er

e,e&en deniers ne"#

A,, the Jud+es admired 3adi+ for his acute and

*rofound discernment" The ne%s of this s*eech

%as carried e&en to the >in+ and Gueen" Nothin+

%as ta,>ed of ut 3adi+ in the antechamers) the

chamers) and the cainetH and thou+h man( of

the ma+i %ere of o*inion that he ou+ht to e urnt

as a sorcerer) the >in+ ordered his oQcers to

restore him the four hundred ounces of +o,d %hich

he had een o,i+ed to *a(" The re+ister) the



attorne(s) and ai,is %ent to his house %ith +reat

forma,it( to carr( him ac> his four hundred

ounces" The( on,( retained three hundred and

ninet(8ei+ht of them to defra( the e?*enses of

JusticeH and then their ser&ants demanded their

fees"

3adi+ sa% ho% e?treme,( dan+erous it some8

times is to a**ear too >no%in+) and therefore

reso,&ed that on the ne?t occasion of the ,i>e

nature he %ou,d not te,, %hat he had seen"

Such an o**ortunit( soon oered" A *risoner

Vo," @@

; 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

of state made his esca*e and *assed under the %in8

do%s of 3adi+$s house" 3adi+ %as e?amined) and

made no ans%er" !ut it %as *ro&ed that he had

,oo>ed at the *risoner from this %indo%" For this

crime he %as condemned to *a( &e hundred

ounces of +o,d H and) accordin+ to the *o,ite custom

of !a(,on) he than>ed his Jud+es for their indu,8



+ence"

#reat od# said he to himse,f) #%hat a mis8

fortune it is to %a,> in a %ood throu+h %hich the

Gueen$s itch) or the >in+$s horse has *assed ho%

dan+erous to ,oo> out at a %indo% and ho% diQ8

cu,t to e ha**( in this ,ife#

C'APTER IV"

T'E ENVIO0S 1AN"

3adi+ reso,&ed to comfort himse,f ( *hi,oso*h(

and friendshi* for the e&i,s he had suered from

fortune" 'e had in the suurs of !a(,on a house

e,e+ant,( furnished) in %hich he assem,ed a,, the

arts and a,, the *,easures %orth( the *ursuit of a

+ent,eman" In the mornin+ his ,irar( %as o*en

to the ,earned" In the e&enin+ his ta,e %as sur8

rounded ( +ood com*an(" !ut he soon found

%hat &er( dan+erous +uests these men of ,etters

are" A %arm dis*ute arose on one of 3oroaster$s

,a%s) %hich forids the eatin+ of a +riQn"



#Wh()# said some of them) #*rohiit the eat8

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;<

in+ of a +riQn) if there is no such anima, in na8

ture#

#There must necessari,( e such an anima,)-$

said the others) #since 3oroaster forids us to

eat it"#

3adi+ %ou,d fain ha&e reconci,ed them ( sa(8

in+.

#If there are no +riQns) %e cannot *ossi,( eat

themH and thus) either %a() %e sha,, oe( 3o8

roaster"#

A ,earned man) %ho had com*osed thirteen &o,8

umes on the *ro*erties of the +riQn) and %as)

esides) the chief theur+ite) hasted a%a( to accuse

3adi+ efore one of the *rinci*a, ma+i) named

5eor) the +reatest ,oc>head) and therefore the

+reatest fanatic) amon+ the Cha,dseans" This man



%ou,d ha&e em*a,ed 3adi+ to do honor to the sun)

and %ou,d then ha&e recited the re&iar( of

3oroaster %ith +reater satisfaction" The friend

Cador a friend is etter than a hundred *riests6

%ent to 5eor) and said to him.

#Lon+ ,i&e the sun and the +riQnsH e%are of

*unishin+ 3adi+H he is a saintH he has +riQns in

his inner court) and does not eat themH and his

accuser is a heretic) %ho dares to maintain that

raits ha&e c,o&en feet) and are not unc,ean"#

#We,,)# said 5eor) sha>in+ his a,d *ate) #%e

must em*a,e 3adi+ for ha&in+ thou+ht contem*t8

uous,( of +riQns) and the other *art( for ha&in+

s*o>en disres*ectfu,,( of raits"#

;= 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

Cador hushed u* the matter ( a**ea,in+ to a

*erson %ho had +reat interest in the co,,e+e of t&ie

ma+i" Nood( %as em*a,ed" This ,enit( occa8

sioned a +reat murmurin+ amon+ some of the doc8

tors) %ho from thence *redicted the fa,, of !a(,on"



#0*on %hat does ha**iness de*end# said 3a8

di+H I am *ersecuted ( e&er(thin+ in the %or,d)

e&en on account of ein+s $that ha&e no e?istence"#

'e cursed those men of ,earnin+ and reso,&ed

for the future to ,i&e %ith none ut +ood com8

*an("

'e assem,ed at his house the most %orth( men

and the most eautifu, ,adies of !a(,on" 'e

+a&e them de,icious su**ers) often *receded (

concerts of music) and a,%a(s animated ( *o,ite

con&ersation) from %hich he >ne% ho% to anish

that aectation of %it %hich is the surest method

of *re&entin+ it entire,() and of s*oi,in+ the *,eas8

ure of the most a+reea,e societ(" Neither the

choice of his friends) nor that of the dishes) %as

made ( &anit() for in e&er(thin+ he *referred the

sustance to the shado%H and ( these means he

*rocured that rea, res*ect to %hich he did not

as*ire"

O**osite to his house ,i&ed one Arima2es) a

man %hose deformed countenance %as ut a faint

*icture of his sti,, more deformed mind" 'is heart



%as a mi?ture of ma,ice) *ride) and en&(" 'a&in+

ne&er een a,e to succeed in an( of his under8

ta>in+s) he re&en+ed himse,f on a,, around him (

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" ; ;

,oadin+ them %ith the ,ac>est ca,umnies" Rich

as he %as) he found it diQcu,t to *rocure a set of

Matterers" The ratt,in+ of the chariots that entered

3adi+$s court in the e&enin+ ,,ed him %ith uneasi8

ness H the sound of his *raises enra+ed him sti,, more"

'e sometimes %ent to 3adi+$s house) and sat

do%n at ta,e %ithout ein+ desired) %here he

s*oi,ed a,, the *,easure of the com*an() as the har8

*ies are said to infect the &iands the( touch"

It ha**ened that one da( he too> it in his head

to +i&e an entertainment to a ,ad() %ho) instead

of acce*tin+ it) %ent to su* %ith 3adi+" At another

time) as he %as ta,>in+ %ith 3adi+ at court) a min8

ister of state came u* to them and in&ited 3adi+

to su**er) %ithout in&itin+ Arima2es" The most

im*,aca,e hatred has se,dom a more so,id founda8

tion" This man) %ho in !a(,on %as ca,,ed the



en&ious) reso,&ed to ruin 3adi+ ecause he %as

ca,,ed the ha**() #The o**ortunit( of doin+ mis8

chief occurs a hundred times in a da() and that of

doin+ +ood ut once a (ear)# as saith the %ise

3oroaster"

The en&ious man %ent to see 3adi+) %ho %as

%a,>in+ in his +arden %ith t%o friends and a ,ad()

to %hom he said man( +a,,ant thin+s) %ithout an(

other intention than that of sa(in+ them" The

con&ersation turned u*on a %ar %hich the >in+ had

Just rou+ht to a ha**( conc,usion a+ainst the

*rince of 'ircania) his &assa," 3adi+) %ho had si+8

na,i2ed his coura+e in this short %ar) esto%ed

@@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

+reat *raises on the >in+) ut +reater sti,, on the

,ad(" 'e too> out his *oc>et8oo>) and %rote

four ,ines e?tem*ore) %hich he +a&e to this amia,e

*erson to read" 'is friends e++ed the( mi+ht see

them H ut modest() or rather) a %e,,8re+u,ated se,f8

,o&e) %ou,d not a,,o% him to +rant their reGuest"

'e >ne% that e?tem*orar( &erses are ne&er a*8



*ro&ed ( an( ut the *erson in %hose honor the(

are %ritten" 'e therefore tore in t%o the ,eaf on

%hich he had %ritten them) and thre% oth the

*ieces into a thic>et of rose8ushes) %here the rest

of the com*an( sou+ht for them in &ain" A s,i+ht

sho%er) fa,,in+ soon after) o,i+ed them to return

to the house"

The en&ious man) %ho remained in the +arden)

continued to search) ti,, at ,ast he found a *iece of

the ,eaf" It had een torn in such a manner that

each ha,f of a ,ine formed com*,ete sense) and

e&en a &erse of a shorter measureH ut %hat %as

sti,, more sur*risin+) these short &erses %ere found

to contain the most inJurious reMections on the

>in+" The( ran thus.

To Ma+rant crimes

'is cro%n he o%es)

To *eacefu, times

The %orst of foes"

The en&ious man %as no% ha**( for the rst

time in his ,ife" 'e had it in his *o%er to ruin a



*erson of &irtue and merit" Fi,,ed %ith this end8

,i>e Jo() he found means to con&e( to the >in+

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" @:

the satire %ritten ( the hand of 3adi+) %ho %as

immediate,( thro%n into *rison) to+ether %ith the

,ad( and 3adi+$s t%o friends"

'is tria, %as soon nished) %ithout his ein+

*ermitted to s*ea> for himse,f" As he %as +oin+ to

recei&e his sentence) the en&ious man thre% him8

se,f in his %a( and to,d him) %ith a ,oud &oice)

that his &erses %ere +ood for nothin+" 3adi+ did

not &a,ue himse,f on ein+ a +ood *oetH ut it

,,ed him %ith ine?*ressi,e concern to nd that

he %as condemned for hi+h treasonH and that the

fair ,ad( and his t%o friends %ere conned in

*rison for a crime of %hich the( %ere not +ui,t("

'e %as not a,,o%ed to s*ea>) ecause his %ritin+

s*o>e for him" Such %as the ,a% of !a(,on"

Accordin+,( he %as conducted to the *,ace of e?e8

cution throu+h an immense cro%d of s*ectators)

%ho durst not &enture to e?*ress their *it( for



him) ut %ho carefu,,( e?amined his countenance

to see if he died %ith a +ood +race" 'is re,ations

a,one %ere inconso,a,e) for the( cou,d not succeed

to his estate" Three8fourths of his %ea,th %as con8

scated into the >in+$s treasur() and the other

fourth %as +i&en to the en&ious man"

/ust as he %as *re*arin+ for death) the >in+$s

*arrot Me% from its ca+e) and a,i+hted on a rose8

ush in 3adi+$s +arden" A *each had een ,o%n

thither ( the %ind) from a nei+horin+ tree) and

had fa,,en on a *iece of the %ritten ,eaf of " the

*oc>et8oo>) to %hich it stuc>" The ird carried

@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

o the *each and the *a*er) and ,aid them on the

>in+$s >nee" The >in+ too> u* the *a*er %ith

+reat ea+erness) and read the %ords) %hich formed

no sense) and seemed to e the endin+s of &erses"

'e ,o&ed *oetr() and there is a,%a(s some merc(

to e e?*ected from a *rince of that dis*osition"

The ad&enture of the *arrot caused him to reMect"

The Gueen) %ho rememered %hat had een



%ritten on the *iece of 3adi+$s *oc>et8oo>) or8

dered it to e rou+ht" The( com*ared the t%o

*ieces to+ether) and found them to ta,,( e?act,("

The( then read the &erses as 3adi+ had %ritten

them"

T(rants are *rone to Ma+rant crimesH

To c,emenc( his cro%n he o%esH

To concord and to *eacefu, times

Lo&e on,( is the %orst of foes"

The >in+ +a&e immediate orders that 3adi+

shou,d e rou+ht efore him) and that his t%o

friends and the ,ad( shou,d e set at ,iert(" 3adi+

fe,, *rostrate on the +round efore the >in+ and

Gueen) hum,( e++ed their *ardon for ha&in+

made such ad &erses) and s*o>e %ith so much

*ro*riet() %it) and +ood sense) that their maJesties

desired the( mi+ht see him a+ain" 'e did him8

se,f that honor) and insinuated himse,f sti,, farther

into their +ood +races" The( +a&e him a,, the

%ea,th of the en&ious man) ut 3adi+ restored him

ac> the %ho,e of it) and this instance of +enerosit(

+a&e no other *,easure to the en&ious man than



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" @B

that of ha&in+ *reser&ed his estate" The >in+$s

esteem for 3adi+ increased e&er( da(" 'e admit8

ted him into a,, his *arties of *,easure) and con8

su,ted him in a,, aairs of state" From that time

the Gueen e+an to re+ard him %ith an e(e of ten8

derness) that mi+ht one da( *ro&e dan+erous to

herse,f) to the >in+) her au+ust consort) to 3adi+)

and to the >in+dom in +enera," 3adi+ no% e+an

to thin> that ha**iness %as not so unattaina,e

as he had former,( ima+ined"

C'APTER V"

T'E ENERO0S"

The time had no% arri&ed for ce,eratin+ a

+rand festi&a,) %hich returned e&er( &e (ears" It

%as a custom in !a(,on so,emn,( to dec,are) at

the end of e&er( &e (ears) %hich of the citi2ens

had *erformed the most +enerous action" The



+randees and the ma+i %ere the Jud+es" The rst

satra*) %ho %as char+ed %ith the +o&ernment of

the cit() *u,ished the most no,e actrons that

had ha**ened under his administration" The com8

*etition %as decided ( &otes) and the >in+ *ro8

nounced the a%ard" Peo*,e came to this so8

,emnit( from the e?tremities of the earth" The con8

Gueror recei&ed from the monarch$s hands a +o,den

cu*) adorned %ith *recious stonec) his maJest( at

the same time ma>in+ him this com*,iment. #Re8

@4 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

cei&e this re%ard of th( +enerosit() and ma( the

+ods +rant me man( suJects ,i>e to thee"#

This memora,e da( ha&in+ come) the >in+

a**eared on his throne) surrounded ( the +ran8

dees) the ma+i) and the de*uties of a,, the nations

that came to these +ames) %here +,or( %as ac8

Guired) not ( the s%iftness of horses) nor (

stren+th of od() ut ( &irtue" The rst satra*

recited) %ith an audi,e &oice) such actions as mi+ht

entit,e the authors of them to this in&a,ua,e *ri2e"



'e did not mention the +reatness of sou, %ith

%hich 3adi+ had restored to the en&ious man his for8

tune) ecause it %as not Jud+ed to e an action

%orth( of dis*utin+ the *ri2e"

'e rst *resented a Jud+e) %ho) ha&in+ made

a citi2en ,ose a considera,e cause ( a mista>e) for

%hich) after a,,) he %as not accounta,e) had +i&en

him the %ho,e of his o%n estate) %hich %as Just

eGua, to %hat the other had ,ost"

'e ne?t *roduced a (oun+ man %ho) ein+ des8

*erate,( in ,o&e %ith a ,ad( %hom he %as +oin+

to marr() had (ie,ded her u* to his friend) %hose

*assion for her had a,most rou+ht him to the

rin> of the +ra&e) and at the same time had +i&en

him the ,ad($s fortune"

'e after%ards *roduced a so,dier) %ho) in the

%ars of 'ircania) had +i&en a sti,, more no,e in8

stance of +enerosit(" A *art( of the enem( ha&8

in+ sei2ed his mistress) he fou+ht in her defence

%ith +reat intre*idit(" At that &er( instant he



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" @

%as informed that another *art() at the distance

of a fe% *aces) %ere carr(in+ o his mother" 'e

therefore ,eft his mistress) %ith tears in his e(es)

and Me% to the assistance of his mother" At ,ast

he returned to the dear oJect of his ,o&e) and

found her e?*irin+" 'e %as Just +oin+ to *,un+e

his s%ord into his o%n osom) ut his mother

remonstratin+ a+ainst such a des*erate deed) and

te,,in+ him that he %as the on,( su**ort of her ,ife)

he had the coura+e to endure to ,i&e"

The Jud+es %ere inc,ined to +i&e the *ri2e to

the so,dier" !ut the >in+ too> u* the discourse)

and said.

#The action of the so,dier) and those of the

other t%o) are dout,ess *raise%orth() ut the( ha&e

nothin+ in them sur*risin+" 5esterda( 3adi+ *er8

formed an action that ,,ed me %ith %onder" I

had a fe% da(s efore dis+raced Core) m( min8

ister and fa&orite" I com*,ained of him in the most

&io,ent and itter termsH a,, m( courtiers assured

me that I %as too +ent,e) and seemed to &ie %ith

each other in s*ea>in+ i,, of Core" I as>ed 3adi+



%hat he thou+ht of him) and he had the coura+e to

commend him" I ha&e read in our histories of

man( *eo*,e %ho ha&e atoned for an error ( the

surrender of their fortuneH %ho ha&e resi+ned a

mistress) or *referred a mother to the oJect of

their aectionH ut ne&er efore did I hear of a

courtier %ho s*o>e fa&ora,( of a dis+raced min8

ister that ,aored under the dis*,easure of his so&8


erei+n" I +i&e to each of those %hose +enerous

actions ha&e Just een recited) t%ent( thousand *ieces

of +o,d H ut the cu* I +i&e to 3adi+"#

#1a( it *,ease th( maJest()# said 3adi+) #th(8

se,f a,one deser&est the cu*" Thou hast *erformed

an action of a,, others the most uncommon and

meritorious) since) not%ithstandin+ th( ein+ a

*o%erfu, >in+) thou %ast not oended at th( s,a&e

%hen he *resumed to o**ose th( *assion"#

The >in+ and 3adi+ %ere eGua,,( the oJect of

admiration" The Jud+e %ho had +i&en his estate



to his c,ientH the ,o&er %ho had resi+ned his mis8

tress to his friend) and the so,dier %ho had *re8

ferred the safet( of his mother to that of his mis8

tress recei&ed the >in+$s *resents) and sa% their

names enro,,ed in the cata,o+ue of +enerous men"

3adi+ had the cu*) and the >in+ acGuired the re*8

utation of a +ood *rince) %hich he did not ,on+

enJo(" The da( %as ce,erated ( feasts) %hich

,asted ,on+er than the ,a% enJoined) and the mem8

or( of it is sti,, *reser&ed in Asia" 3adi+ said.

#No% I am ha**( at ,ast"# !ut he %as decei&ed"

C'APTER VI"

T'E 1INISTER"

The >in+ had ,ost his rst minister) and chose

3adi+ to su**,( his *,ace" A,, the ,adies in !a(8

,on a**,auded the choice) for) since the foundation

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" @<



of the em*ire) there had ne&er een such a (oun+

minister" !ut a,, the courtiers %ere ,,ed %ith

Jea,ous( and &e?ation" The en&ious man" in *artic8

u,ar) %as trou,ed %ith a s*ittin+ of ,ood) and a

*rodi+ious inMammation in his nose" 3adi+) ha&8

in+ than>ed the >in+ and Gueen for their +oodness)

%ent ,i>e%ise to than> the *arrot"

#!eautifu, ird)# said he) # $tis thou that hast

sa&ed m( ,ife and made me rst minister" The

Gueen$s itch and the >in+$s horse did me a +reat

dea, of mischief) ut thou hast done me much +ood"

0*on such s,ender threads as these do the fates of

morta,s han+# #!ut)# added he) #this ha**iness

*erha*s %i,, &anish &er( soon"#

#Soon)# re*,ied the *arrot"

3adi+ %as some%hat start,ed at this %ord" !ut

as he %as a +ood natura, *hi,oso*her) and did not

e,ie&e *arrots to e *ro*hets) he Guic>,( reco&8

ered his s*irits) and reso,&ed to e?ecute his dut(

to the est of his *o%er"

'e made e&er( one fee, the sacred authorit( of

the ,a%s) ut no one fe,t the %ei+ht of his di+nit("



'e ne&er chec>ed the de,ierations of the di&an)

and e&er( &i2ier mi+ht +i&e his o*inion %ithout fear

of incurrin+ the minister$s dis*,easure" When he

+a&e Jud+ment) it %as not he that +a&e itH it %as

the ,a%H the ri+or of %hich) ho%e&er) %hene&er

it %as too se&ere) he a,%a(s too> care to softenH

and %hen ,a%s %ere %antin+) the eGuit( of his de8

:= 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

cisions %as such as mi+ht easi,( ha&e made them

*ass for those of 3oroaster"

It is to him that the nations are indeted for this

+rand *rinci*,e) to %it) that it is etter to run the

ris> of s*arin+ the +ui,t( than to condemn the

innocent" 'e ima+ined that ,a%s %ere made as

%e,, to secure the *eo*,e from the suerin+ of

inJuries as to restrain them from the commission

of crimes" 'is chief ta,ent consisted in disco&erin+

the truth) %hich a,, men see> to oscure" This

+reat ta,ent he *ut in *ractice from the &er( e+in8

nin+ of his administration"



A famous merchant of !a(,on) %ho died in the

Indies) di&ided his estate eGua,,( et%een his t%o

sons) after ha&in+ dis*osed of their sister in mar8

ria+e) and ,eft a *resent of thirt( thousand *ieces

of +o,d to that son %ho shou,d e found to ha&e

,o&ed him est" The e,dest raised a tom to his

memor(H the (oun+est increased his sister$s *or8

tion) ( +i&in+ her a *art of his inheritance" E&er(

one said that the e,dest son ,o&ed his father est)

and the (oun+est his sister) and that the thirt(

thousand *ieces e,on+ed to the e,dest"

3adi+ sent for oth of them) the one after the

other" To the e,dest he said.

#Th( father is not dead) ut has sur&i&ed his

,ast i,,ness) and is returnin+ to !a(,on"#

#od e *raised)# re*,ied the (oun+ manH #ut

his tom cost me a considera,e sum"#

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" :;

3adi+ after%ards re*eated the same stor( to the



(oun+est son"

#od e *raised)# said heH I %i,, +o and restore

to m( father a,, that I ha&e H ut I cou,d %ish that he

%ou,d ,ea&e m( sister %hat I ha&e +i&en her"#

#Thou sha,t restore nothin+)# re*,ied 3adi+) and

thou sha,t ha&e the thirt( thousand *ieces) for thou

art the son %ho ,o&es his father est"#

A %ido%) ha&in+ a (oun+ son) and ein+ *os8

sessed of a handsome fortune) had +i&en a *romise

of marria+e to t%o ma+i) %ho %ere oth desirous

of marr(in+ her" -----

#I %i,, ta>e for m( husand)# said she) #the man

%ho can +i&e the est education to m( e,o&ed son"#

The t%o ma+i contended %ho shou,d rin+ him

u*) and the cause %as carried efore 3adi+" 3adi+

summoned the t%o ma+i to attend him"

#What %i,, (ou teach (our *u*i,# said he to

the rst"

#I %i,, teach him)# said the doctor) #the ei+ht



*arts of s*eech) ,o+ic) astro,o+() *neumatics) %hat

is meant ( sustance and accident) astract and

concrete) the doctrine of the monads) and the *re8

esta,ished harmon("#

#For m( *art)# said the second) #I %i,, endea&or

to +i&e him a sense of Justice) and to ma>e him

%orth( the friendshi* of +ood men"#

3adi+ then cried.

#Whether thou art the chi,d$s fa&orite or not)

thou sha,t ha&e his mother"#

:@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

C'APTER VII"

T'E DISP0TES AND T'E A0DIENCES"

In this manner he dai,( disco&ered the sut,et(

of his +enius and the +oodness of his heart" The

*eo*,e at once admired and ,o&ed him" 'e *assed

for the ha**iest man in the %or,d" The %ho,e



em*ire resounded %ith his name" A,, the ,adies

o+,ed him" A,, the men *raised him for his Justice"

The ,earned re+arded him as an orac,e) and e&en

the *riests confessed that he >ne% more than the

o,d arch8ma+i) 5eor" The( %ere no% so far from

*rosecutin+ him on account of the +riQns) that

the( e,ie&ed nothin+ ut %hat he thou+ht credi,e"

There had continued at !a(,on) for the s*ace

of fteen hundred (ears) a &io,ent contest) that had

di&ided the em*ire into t%o sects" The one *re8

tended that the( ou+ht to enter the tem*,e of

1ithra %ith the ,eft foot foremostH the other he,d

this custom in detestation) and a,%a(s entered %ith

the ri+ht foot rst" The *eo*,e %aited %ith +reat

im*atience for the da( on %hich the so,emn feast

of the sacred re %as to e ce,erated) to see %hich

sect 3adi+ %ou,d fa&or" A,, the %or,d had their

e(es ?ed on his t%o feet) and the %ho,e cit( %as

in the utmost sus*ense and *erturation" 3adi+

Jum*ed into the tem*,e %ith his feet Joined to8

+ether) and after%ards *ro&ed) in an e,oGuent dis8

course) that the So&erei+n of hea&en and earth)



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ::

%ho acce*teth not the *ersons of men) ma>eth no

distinction et%een the ri+ht foot and the ,eft foot"

The en&ious man and his %ife a,,e+ed that his dis8

course %as not +urati&e enou+h) and that he did

not ma>e the roc>s and mountains dance %ith suf8

cient a+i,it("

#'e is dr()# said the() #and &oid of +enius" 'e

does not ma>e the sea to M() and stars to fa,,) nor

the sun to me,t ,i>e %a?" 'e has not the true

orienta, st(,e"#

3adi+ contented himse,f %ith ha&in+ the st(,e

of reason" A,, the %or,d fa&ored him) not ecause

he %as in the ri+ht road) or fo,,o%ed the dictates

of reason) or %as a man of rea, merit) ut ecause

he %as *rime &i2ier"

'e terminated %ith the same ha**( address the

+rand dis*ute et%een the ,ac> and the %hite

ma+i" The former maintained that it %as the

hei+ht of im*iet( to *ra( to od %ith the face

turned to%ard the east in %interH the ,atter asserted

that od ahorred the *ra(ers of those %ho turned



to%ard the %est in summer" 3adi+ decreed that

e&er( man shou,d e a,,o%ed to turn as he *,eased"

Thus he found out the ha**( secret of nishin+

a,, aairs) %hether of a *ri&ate or a *u,ic nature)

in the mornin+" The rest of the da( he em*,o(ed

in su*erintendin+ and *romotin+ the eme,,ish8

ments of !a(,on" 'e e?hiited tra+edies that

dre% tears from the e(es of the s*ectators) and com8

edies that shoo> their sides %ith ,au+hter) a cus8

Vo," @ :

: 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

torn %hich had ,on+ een disused) and %hich his

+ood taste no% induced him to re&i&e" 'e ne&er

aected to e more >no%in+ in the *o,ite arts than

the artists themse,&es" 'e encoura+ed them (

re%ards and honors) and %as ne&er Jea,ous of their

ta,ents" In the e&enin+ the >in+ %as hi+h,( enter8

tained %ith his con&ersation) and the Gueen sti,,

more"

#reat minister)# said the >in+"



#Amia,e minister)# said the GueenH and oth

of them added. #It %ou,d ha&e een a +reat ,oss

to the state had such a man een han+ed"# - - - -

1ean%hi,e 3adi+ *ercei&ed that his thou+hts

%ere a,%a(s distracted) as %e,, %hen he +a&e audi8

ence as %hen he sat in Jud+ment" 'e did not

>no% to %hat to attriute this asence of mind) and

that %as his on,( sorro%"

'e had a dream) in %hich he ima+ined that he

,aid himse,f do%n u*on a hea* of dr( hers) amon+

%hich there %ere man( *ric>,( ones that +a&e him

+reat uneasiness) and that he after%ard re*osed

himse,f on a soft ed of roses) from %hich there

s*run+ a ser*ent that %ounded him to the heart

%ith its shar*) &enomed fan+s" #A,as)# said he) #I

ha&e ,on+ ,ain on these dr( and *ric>,( hersH I

am no% on the ed of rosesH ut %hat sha,, e the

ser*ent#

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" :B



C'APTER VIII"

/EALO0S5"

3adi+$s ca,amities s*run+ e&en from his ha**i8

ness) and es*ecia,,( from his merit" 'e e&er( da(

con&ersed %ith the >in+ and his au+ust consort"

The charms of 3adi+$s con&ersation %ere +reat,(

hei+htened ( that desire of *,easin+ %hich is to

the mind %hat dress is to eaut(" 'is (outh and

+racefu, a**earance insensi,( made an im*ression

on Astarte) %hich she did not at rst *ercei&e"

'er *assion +re% and Mourished in the osom of

innocence" Without fear or scru*,e she indu,+ed

the *,easin+ satisfaction of seein+ and hearin+ a

man %ho %as so dear to her husand) and to the

em*ire in +enera," She %as continua,,( *raisin+

him to the >in+" She ta,>ed of him to her %omen)

%ho %ere a,%a(s sure to im*ro&e on her *raises"

And thus e&er(thin+ contriuted to *ierce her heart

%ith a dart) of %hich she did not seem to e sen8

si,e" She made se&era, *resents to 3adi+) %hich

disco&ered a +reater s*irit of +a,,antr( than she

ima+ined" She intended to s*ea> to him on,( as

a Gueen satised %ith his ser&icesH and her e?*res8

sions %ere sometimes those of a %oman in ,o&e"



Astarte %as much more eautifu, than that

Semira %ho had such a stron+ a&ersion to one8

e(ed men) or that other %oman %ho had reso,&ed

to cut o her husand$s nose" 'er unreser&ed

:4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

fami,iarit() her tender e?*ressions) at %hich she

e+an to ,ushH and her e(es) %hich) thou+h she

endea&ored to di&ert them to other oJects) %ere

a,%a(s ?ed u*on his) ins*ired 3adi+ %ith a *as8

sion that ,,ed him %ith astonishment" 'e stru+8

+,ed hard to +et the etter of it" 'e ca,,ed to his

aid the *rece*ts of *hi,oso*h() %hich had a,%a(s

stood him in steadH ut from thence) thou+h he

cou,d deri&e the ,i+ht of >no%,ed+e) he cou,d *ro8

cure no remed( to cure the disorders of his ,o&e8

sic> heart" Dut() +ratitude) and &io,ated maJest()

*resented themse,&es to his mind) as so man(

a&en+in+ +ods" 'e stru++,edH he conGuered" !ut

this &ictor() %hich he %as o,i+ed to *urchase

afresh e&er( moment) cost him man( si+hs and

tears" 'e no ,on+er dared to s*ea> to the Gueen



%ith that s%eet and charmin+ fami,iarit( %hich

had een so a+reea,e to them oth" 'is counte8

nance %as co&ered %ith a c,oud" 'is con&ersation

%as constrained and incoherent" 'is e(es %ere

?ed on the +roundH and %hen) in s*ite of a,, his

endea&ors to the contrar() the( encountered those

of the Gueen) the( found them athed in tears) and

dartin+ arro%s of Mame" The( seemed to sa( . #We

adore each other) and (et are afraid to ,o&eH %e are

consumed %ith a *assion %hich %e oth condemn"#

3adi+ ,eft the ro(a, *resence fu,, of *er*,e?it(

and des*air) and ha&in+ his heart o**ressed %ith a

urden %hich he %as no ,on+er a,e to ear" In

the &io,ence "of his *erturation he in&o,untari,(

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" :

etra(ed the secret to his friend Cador) in the same

manner as a man) %ho) ha&in+ ,on+ endured a

crue, disease) disco&ers his *ain ( a cr( e?torted

from him ( a more se&ere attac>) and ( the co,d

s%eat that co&ers his ro%"

#I ha&e a,read( disco&ered)# said Cador) #the



sentiments %hich thou %ou,dst fain concea, from

ih(se,f" The s(m*toms ( %hich the *assions

sho% themse,&es are certain and infa,,i,e" /ud+e)

m( dear 3adi+) since I ha&e read th( heart) %hether

the >in+ %i,, not disco&er somethin+ in it that ma(

+i&e him oence" 'e has no other fau,t ut that

of ein+ the most Jea,ous man in the %or,d" Thou

canst resist the &io,ence of th( *assion %ith +reater

fortitude than the Gueen) ecause thou art a *hi8

,oso*her) and ecause thou art 3adi+" Astarte is

a %oman" She suers her e(es to s*ea> %ith so

much the more im*rudence) as she does not as (et

thin> herse,f +ui,t(" Conscious of her o%n inno8

cence) she unha**i,( ne+,ects those e?terna, a*8

*earances %hich are so necessar(" I sha,, trem,e

for her so ,on+ as she has nothin+ %here%itha, to

re*roach herse,f" - - - - A +ro%in+ *assion

%hich %e endea&or to su**ress) disco&ers itse,f in

s*ite of a,, our eorts to the contrar("# - - - -

1ean%hi,e) the Gueen mentioned the name of

3adi+ so freGuent,() and %ith such a ,ushin+ and

do%ncast ,oo>" She %as sometimes so ,i&e,() and

sometimes so *er*,e?ed) %hen she s*o>e to him in

the >in+$s *resence) and %as sei2ed %ith such a dee*



: 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

thou+htfu,ness at his +oin+ a%a() that the >in+

e+an to e trou,ed" 'e e,ie&ed a,, that he sa%)

and ima+ined a,, that he did not see" 'e *articu8

,ar,( remar>ed that his %ife$s shoes %ere ,ue) and

that 3adi+$s shoes %ere ,ueH that his %ife$s ri8

ons %ere (e,,o%) and that 3adi+$s onnet %as

(e,,o%H and these %ere terri,e s(m*toms to a

*rince of so much de,icac(" In his Jea,ous mind

sus*icion %as turned into certaint("

A,, the s,a&es of >in+s and Gueens are so man(

s*ies o&er their hearts" The( soon oser&ed that

Astarte %as tender) and that 1oadar %as Jea,ous"

The en&ious man *ersuaded his %ife to send anon(8

mous,( to the >in+ her +arter) %hich resem,ed

those of the GueenH and to com*,ete the misfor8

tune) this +arter %as ,ue" The monarch no%

thou+ht of nothin+ ut in %hat manner he mi+ht

est e?ecute his &en+eance" 'e one ni+ht reso,&ed

to *oison the Gueen) and in the mornin+ to *ut

3adi+ to death ( the o%strin+" The orders %ere

+i&en to a merci,ess eunuch) %ho common,( e?e8



cuted his acts of &en+eance"

There ha**ened at that time to e in the >in+$s

chamer a ,itt,e d%arf) %ho) thou+h dum) %as not

deaf" 'e %as a,,o%ed) on account of his insi+8

nicance) to +o %here&er he *,easedH and) as a

domestic anima,) %as a %itness of %hat *assed in

the most *rofound secrec("

This ,itt,e mute %as stron+,( attached to the

Gueen and 3adi+" With eGua, horror and sur*rise

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" :<

he heard the crue, orders +i&enH ut ho% cou,d

he *re&ent the fata, sentence that) in a fe% hours)

%as to e carried into e?ecution 'e cou,d not

%rite) ut he cou,d *aint H and e?ce,,ed *articu,ar,(

in dra%in+ a stri>in+ resem,ance" 'e em*,o(ed

a *art of the ni+ht in s>etchin+ out %ith his *enci,

%hat he meant to im*art to the Gueen" The *iece

re*resented the >in+ in one corner) oi,in+ %ith

ra+e) and +i&in+ orders to the eunuch H a ,ue o%8

strin+) and a o%, on a ta,e) %ith ,ue +arters and



(e,,o% rionsH the Gueen in the midd,e of the *ic8

ture) e?*irin+ in the arms of her %oman) and 3adi+

stran+,ed at her feet" The hori2on re*resented a

risin+ sun) to e?*ress that this shoc>in+ e?ecution

%as to e *erformed in the mornin+" As soon as

he had nished the *icture) he ran to one of

Astarte$s %omen) a%o>e her) and made her under8

stand that she must immediate,( carr( it to the

Gueen"

At midni+ht a messen+er >noc>s at 3adi+$s

door) a%a>es him) and +i&es him a note from the

Gueen" 'e douts %hether it is not a dream. and

o*ens the ,etter %ith a trem,in+ hand" !ut ho%

+reat %as his sur*rise) and %ho can e?*ress the

consternation and des*air into %hich he %as

thro%n u*on readin+ these %ords. #F,() this in8

stant) or thou art a dead man F,() 3adi+) I con8

Jure thee ( our mutua, ,o&e and m( (e,,o% ri8

ons" I ha&e not een +ui,t() ut I nd that I

must die ,i>e a crimina,"#

= 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"



3adi+ %as hard,( a,e to s*ea>" 'e sent for

Cador) and) %ithout utterin+ a %ord) +a&e him the

note" Cador forced him to oe() and forth%ith to

ta>e the road to 1em*his"

#Shou,dst thou dare)# said he) #to +o in search

of the Gueen) thou %i,t hasten her death" Shou,dst

thou s*ea> to the >in+) thou %i,t infa,,i,( ruin her"

I %i,, ta>e u*on me the char+e of her destin(H fo,8

,o% th( o%n" I %i,, s*read a re*ort that thou hast

ta>en the road to India" I %i,, soon fo,,o% thee

and inform thee of a,, that sha,, ha&e *assed in

!a(,on"#

At that instant Cador caused t%o of the s%iftest

dromedaries to e rou+ht to a *ri&ate +ate of the

*a,ace" 0*on one of these he mounted 3adi+)

%hom he %as o,i+ed to carr( to the door) and %ho

%as read( to e?*ire %ith +rief" 'e %as accom8

*anied ( a sin+,e domestic H and Cador) *,un+ed in

sorro% and astonishment) soon ,ost si+ht of his

friend"

This i,,ustrious fu+iti&e arri&in+ on the side of a

hi,,) from %hence he cou,d ta>e a &ie% of !a(,on)

turned his e(es to%ards the Gueen$s *a,ace) and



fainted a%a( at the si+htH nor did he reco&er his

senses ut to shed a torrent of tears) and to %ish for

death" At ,en+th) after his thou+hts had een ,on+

en+rossed in ,amentin+ the unha**( fate of the

,o&e,iest %oman and the +reatest Gueen in the

%or,d) he for a moment turned his &ie%s on him8

se,f) and cried.


#What then is human ,ife O &irtue) ho% hast

thou ser&ed me T%o %omen ha&e ase,( decei&ed

meH and no% a third) %ho is innocent) and more

eautifu, than oth the others) is +oin+ to e *ut

to death Whate&er +ood I ha&e done hath een

to me a continua, source of ca,amit( and aictionH

and I ha&e on,( een raised to the hei+ht of

+randeur to e tum,ed do%n the most horrid *rec8

i*ice of misfortune"#

Fi,,ed %ith these +,oom( reMections) his e(es

o&ers*read %ith the &ei, of +rief) his countenance

co&ered %ith the *a,eness of death) and his sou,

*,un+ed in an a(ss of the ,ac>est des*air) he con8



tinued his Journe( to%ard E+(*t"

C'APTER I9"

T'E WO1AN8!EATER"

3adi+ directed his course ( the stars" The con8

ste,,ation of Orion) and the s*,endid Do+stars)

+uided his ste*s to%ards the *o,e of Cano*us" 'e

admired those &ast +,oes of ,i+ht %hich a**ear to

our e(es as so man( ,itt,e s*ar>s) %hi,e the earth)

%hich in rea,it( is on,( an im*erce*ti,e *oint in

nature) a**ears8 to our fond ima+inations as some8

thin+ so +rand and no,e" 'e then re*resented to

himse,f the human s*ecies) as it rea,,( is) as a *arce,

of insects de&ourin+ one another on a ,itt,e atom of

c,a(" This true ima+e seemed to annihi,ate his mis8


fortunes) ( ma>in+ him sensi,e of the nothin+8

ness of his o%n ein+) and that of !a(,on" 'is



sou, ,aunched out into innit() and detached from

the senses) contem*,ated the immuta,e order of

the uni&erse" !ut %hen) after%ard) returnin+ to

himse,f) and enterin+ into his o%n heart) he con8

sidered that Astarte had *erha*s died for him) the

uni&erse &anished from his si+ht) and he ehe,d

nothin+ in the %ho,e com*ass of nature ut Astarte

e?*irin+) and 3adi+ unha**("

Whi,e he thus a,ternate,( +a&e u* his mind to

this Mu? and reMu? of su,ime *hi,oso*h( and in8

to,era,e +rief) he ad&anced to%ard the frontiers of

E+(*tH and his faithfu, domestic %as a,read( in the

rst &i,,a+e) in search of a ,od+in+"

1ean%hi,e) as 3adi+ %as %a,>in+ to%ard the

+ardens that s>irted the &i,,a+e) he sa%) at a sma,,

distance from the hi+h%a() a %oman athed in tears

and ca,,in+ hea&en and earth to her assistance) and

a man in a furious *assion *ursuin+ her"

This madman had a,read( o&erta>en the %oman)

%ho emraced his >nees) not%ithstandin+ %hich he

,oaded her %ith ,o%s and re*roaches" 3adi+

Jud+ed ( the frantic eha&ior of the E+(*tian) and

( the re*eated *ardons %hich the ,ad( as>ed him)



that the one %as Jea,ous) and the other unfaithfu,"

!ut %hen he sur&e(ed the %oman more narro%,()

and found her to e a ,ad( of e?Guisite eaut() and

e&en to ha&e a stron+ resem,ance to the unha**(

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" :

Astarte) he fe,t himse,f ins*ired %ith com*assion

for her) and horror to%ard the E+(*tian"

#Assist me)# cried she to 3adi+) %ith the dee*est

si+hs) #de,i&er me from the hands of the most ar8

arous man in the %or,d Sa&e m( ,ife #

1o&ed ( these *itifu, cries) 3adi+ ran and

thre% himse,f et%een her and the ararian" As

he had some >no%,ed+e of the E+(*tian ,an+ua+e)

he addressed him in that ton+ue.

#If)# said he) #thou hast an( humanit() I conJure

thee to *a( some re+ard to her eaut( and %ea>8

ness" 'o% canst thou eha&e in this outra+eous

manner to one of the master*ieces of nature) %ho

,ies at th( feet) and hath no defence ut her tears #



#Ah) ah# re*,ied the madman) #thou art ,i>e8

%ise in ,o&e %ith her" I must e re&en+ed on

thee too"#

So sa(in+) he ,eft the ,ad() %hom he had hitherto

he,d %ith his hand t%isted in her hair) and) ta>in+

his ,ance) attem*ted to sta the stran+er" 3adi+)

%ho %as in co,d ,ood) easi,( e,uded the ,o% aimed

( the frantic E+(*tian" 'e sei2ed the ,ance near

the iron %ith %hich it %as armed" The E+(*tian

stro&e to dra% it ac>H 3adi+ to %rest it from the

E+(*tianH and in the stru++,e it %as ro>en in t%o"

The E+(*tian dra%s his s%ordH 3adi+ does the

same" The( attac> each other" The former +i&es

a hundred ,o%s at randomH the ,atter %ards them

o %ith +reat de?terit(" The ,ad() seated on a turf)

readJusts her head8dress) and ,oo>s at the comat8


ants" The E+(*tian e?ce,,ed in stren+th H 3adi+

in address" The one fou+ht ,i>e a man %hose arm

%as directed ( his Jud+mentH the other ,i>e a



madman) %hose ,ind ra+e made him dea, his ,o%s

at random" 3adi+ c,oses %ith him) and disarms him H

and %hi,e the E+(*tian) no% ecome more furious)

endea&ors to thro% himse,f u*on him) he sei2es

him) *resses him c,ose) and thro%s him do%nH and

then) ho,din+ his s%ord to his reast) oers him his

,ife" The E+(*tian) frantic %ith ra+e) dra%s his

*oniard) and %ounds 3adi+ at the &er( instant that

the conGueror %as +rantin+ a *ardon" 3adi+) *ro8

&o>ed at such ruta, eha&ior) *,un+ed his s%ord

in the osom of the E+(*tian) %ho) +i&in+ a hor8

ri,e shrie> and a &io,ent stru++,e) instant,( e?8

*ired" 3adi+ then a**roached the ,ad() and said to

her %ith a +ent,e tone.

#'e hath forced me to >i,, him" I ha&e a&en+ed

th( cause" Thou art no% de,i&ered from the most

&io,ent man I e&er sa%" What further) madam)

%ou,dst thou ha&e me do for thee #

#Die) &i,,ain)# re*,ied she) #thou hast >i,,ed m(

,o&er" O) that I %ere a,e to tear out th( heart#

#Wh() tru,() madam)# said 3adi+) #thou hadst a

stran+e >ind of a man for a ,o&erH he eat thee %ith

a,, his mi+ht) and %ou,d ha&e >i,,ed thee) ecause



thou hadst entreated me to +i&e thee assistance"#

#I %ish he %ere eatin+ me sti,,)# re*,ied the

,ad() %ith tears and ,amentation" #I %e,, deser&ed

itH for I had +i&en him cause to e Jea,ous" Wou,d

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" B

to hea&en that he %ere no% eatin+ me) and that

thou %ert in his *,ace"#

3adi+) struc> %ith sur*rise) and inMamed %ith a

hi+her de+ree of resentment than he had e&er fe,t

efore) said.

#!eautifu, as thou art) madam) thou deser&est

that I shou,d eat thee in m( turn for th( *er&erse

and im*ertinent eha&ior" !ut I sha,, not +i&e

m(se,f the trou,e"#

So sa(in+) he remounted his came,) and ad8

&anced to%ard the to%n" 'e had *roceeded ut a

fe% ste*s) %hen he turned ac> at the noise of four

!a(,onian couriers) %ho came ridin+ at fu,, +a,,o*"



One of them) u*on seein+ the %oman) cried.

#It is the &er( same" She resem,es the descri*8

tion that %as +i&en us"#

The( +a&e themse,&es no concern aout the dead

E+(*tian) ut instant,( sei2ed the ,ad(" She ca,,ed

out to 3adi+.

#'e,* me once more) +enerous stran+er" I as>

*ardon for ha&in+ com*,ained of th( conduct"

De,i&er me a+ain) and I %i,, e thine fore&er"#

3adi+ %as no ,on+er in the humor of +htin+

for her"

#A**,( to another)# said he) #thou sha,t not

a+ain ensnare me in th( %i,es"#

!esides) he %as %oundedH his ,ood %as sti,,

Mo%in+) and he himse,f had need of assistance H and

the si+ht of four !a(,onians) *roa,( sent (

Kin+ 1oadar) ,,ed him %ith a**rehension" 'e




therefore hastened to%ard the &i,,a+e) una,e to

com*rehend %h( four !a(,onian couriers shou,d

come and sei2e this E+(*tian %oman) ut sti,, more

astonished at the ,ad($s eha&ior"

C'APTER 9"

SLAVER5"

As he entered the E+(*tian &i,,a+e) he sa% him8

se,f surrounded ( the *eo*,e" E&er( one said.

#This is the man %ho carried o the eautifu,

1issouf) and assassinated C,itos"#

#ent,emen)# said he) #od *reser&e me from

carr(in+ o (our eautifu, 1issouf" She is too

ca*ricious for me" And %ith re+ard to C,itos) I

did not assassinate him" I on,( fou+ht %ith him

in m( o%n defence" 'e endea&ored to >i,, me)

ecause I hum,( interceded for the eautifu, 1is8

souf) %hom he eat most unmercifu,,(" I am a



stran+er) come to see> refu+e in E+(*tH and it is

not ,i>e,( that) in comin+ to im*,ore (our *rotec8

tion) I shou,d e+in ( carr(in+ o a %oman) and

assassinatin+ a man"#

The E+(*tians %ere then Just and humane" The

*eo*,e conducted 3adi+ to the to%n8house" The(

rst of a,, ordered his %ound to e dressed) and

then e?amined his ser&ant a*art) in order to dis8

co&er the truth" The( found that 3adi+ %as not an

assassinH ut as he %as +ui,t( of ha&in+ >i,,ed a


man) the ,a% condemned him to e a s,a&e" 'is

t%o came,s %ere so,d for the enet of the to%nH

a,, the +o,d he had rou+ht %ith him %as distri8

uted amon+ the inhaitantsH and his *erson) as

%e,, as that of the com*anion of his Journe() %as

e?*osed for sa,e in the mar>et8*,ace" An Araian

merchant) named Setoc) made the *urchase) ut as

the ser&ant %as tter for ,aor than the master) he

%as so,d at a hi+her *rice" There %as no com*ari8

son et%een the t%o men" Thus 3adi+ ecame a



s,a&e suordinate to his o%n ser&ant" The( %ere

,in>ed to+ether ( a chain to their feet) and in this

condition the( fo,,o%ed the "Araian merchant to

his house"

!( the %a( 3adi+ comforted his ser&ant) and

e?horted him to *atienceH ut he cou,d not he,*

ma>in+) accordin+ to his usua, custom) some reMec8

tions on human ,ife" #I see)# said he) #that the

unha**iness of m( fate hath an inMuence on thine"

'itherto e&er(thin+ has turned out in a manner most

unaccounta,e to me" I ha&e een condemned to

*a( a ne for ha&in+ seen the mar>s of a itch$s feet"

I thou+ht that I shou,d once ha&e een em*a,ed

a,i&e on account of a +riQn" I ha&e een sent to

e?ecution for ha&in+ made some &erses in *raise of

the >in+" I ha&e een on the *oint of ein+

stran+,ed) ecause the Gueen had (e,,o% rions H and

no% I am a s,a&e %ith thee) ecause a ruta, %retch

eat his mistress" Come) ,et us >ee* a +ood heartH

a,, this %i,, *erha*s ha&e an end" The Araian mer8




chants must necessari,( ha&e s,a&esH and %h( not

me as %e,, as another) since) as %e,, as another) I

am a man This merchant %i,, not e crue," 'e

must treat his s,a&es %e,, if he e?*ects an( ad&an8

ta+e from them"#

!ut %hi,e he s*o>e thus his heart %as entire,(

en+rossed ( the fate of the Gueen of !a(,on"

T%o da(s after) the merchant Setoc set out for

Araia Deserta) %ith his s,a&es and his came,s" 'is

trie d%e,t near the desert of Ore" The Journe(

%as ,on+ and *ainfu," Setoc set a much +reater &a,ue

on the ser&ant than the master) ecause the former

%as more e?*ert in ,oadin+ the came,s) and a,, the

,itt,e mar>s of distinction %ere sho%n to him" A

came, ha&in+ died %ithin t%o da(s Journe( of Ore)

his urden %as di&ided and ,aid on the ac>s of the

ser&antsH and 3adi+ had his share amon+ the rest"

Setoc ,au+hed to see a,, his s,a&es %a,>in+ %ith their

odies inc,ined" 3adi+ too> the ,iert( to e?*,ain to

him the cause) and inform him of the ,a%s of the

a,ance" The merchant %as astonished) and e+an

to re+ard him %ith other e(es" 3adi+) ndin+ he

had raised his curiosit() increased it sti,, further

( acGuaintin+ him %ith man( thin+s that re,ated



to commerceH the s*ecic +ra&it( of meta,s and

commodities under an eGua, u,>H the *ro*erties

of se&era, usefu, anima,s H and the means of render8

in+ those usefu, that are not natura,,( so"

At ,ast Setoc e+an to consider 3adi+ as a sa+e)

and *referred him to his com*anion) %hom he had

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" <

former,( so much esteemed" 'e treated him %e,,)

and had no cause to re*ent of his >indness"

As soon as Setoc arri&ed amon+ his o%n trie he

demanded the *a(ment of &e hundred ounces of

si,&er) %hich he had ,ent to a /e% in *resence of t%o

%itnessesH ut as the %itnesses %ere dead) and the

det cou,d not e *ro&ed) the 'ere% a**ro*riated

the merchant$s mone( to himse,f) and *ious,( than>ed

od for *uttin+ it in his *o%er to cheat an Araian"

Setoc im*arted this trou,esome aair to 3adi+) %ho

had no% ecome his counse,"

#In %hat *,ace)# said 3adi+) #didst thou ,end the



&e hundred ounces of si,&er to this inde, #

#0*on a ,ar+e stone)# re*,ied the merchant) #that

,ies near the mountain of Ore"#

#What is the character of th( detor# said 3adi+"

#That of a >na&e)# returned Setoc"

#!ut I as> thee %hether he is ,i&e,( or *h,e+matic)

cautious or im*rudent#

#'e is) of a,, ad *a(ers)# said Setoc) #the most

,i&e,( fe,,o% I e&er >ne%"#

#We,,)# returned 3adi+) #a,,o% me to *,ead th(

cause"#

In eect) 3adi+ ha&in+ summoned the /e% to the

triuna,) addressed the Jud+e in the fo,,o%in+ terms .

#Pi,,o% of the throne of eGuit() I come to demand

of this man) in the name of m( master) &e hundred

ounces of si,&er) %hich he refuses to re*a("#

#'ast thou an( %itnesses)# said the Jud+e"



#No) the( are deadH ut there remains a ,ar+e

V& @8 8

B= 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

stone u*on %hich the mone( %as counted H and) if it

*,ease th( +randeur to order the stone to e sou+ht

for) I ho*e that it %i,, ear %itness" The 'ere%

and I %i,, tarr( here ti,, the stone arri&es" I %i,,

send for it at m( master$s e?*ense"#

#With a,, m( heart)# re*,ied the Jud+e) and

immediate,( a**,ied himse,f to the discussion of

other aairs"

When $the court %as +oin+ to rea> u*) the

Jud+e said to 3adi+.

#We,,) friend) hath not th( stone (et arri&ed#

The 'ere% re*,ied %ith a smi,e.

#Th( +randeur ma( sta( here# ti,, to8morro%)



and after a,, not see the stone" It is more than si?

mi,es from hence H and it %ou,d reGuire fteen men

to mo&e it"#

#We,,)# cried 3adi+) #did I not sa( that the stone

%ou,d ear %itness Since this man >no%s %here

it is) he there( confesses that it %as u*on it that

the mone( %as counted"#

The 'ere% %as disconcerted) and %as soon

after o,i+ed to confess the truth" The Jud+e

ordered him to e fastened to the stone) %ithout

meat or drin>) ti,, he shou,d restore the &e hurf8

dred ounces) %hich %ere soon after *aid"

The s,a&e 3adi+ and the stone %ere he,d in +reat

re*ute in Araia"

3adi+ H The 1(ster( of Fate" B ;

C'APTER 9L



T'E F0NERAL PILE"

Setoc) charmed %ith the ha**( issue of this

aair) made his s,a&e his intimate friend" 'e had

no% concei&ed as +reat an esteem for him as e&er

the >in+ of !a(,on had done H and 3adi+ %as +,ad

that Setoc had no %ife" 'e had disco&ered in his

master a +ood natura, dis*osition) much *roit( of

heart) and a +reat share of +ood sense H ut he %as

sorr( to see that) accordin+ to the ancient custom of

Araia) he adored the host of hea&enH that is) the

sun) moon) and stars" 'e sometimes s*o>e to him

on this suJect %ith +reat *rudence and discretion"

At ,ast he to,d him that these odies %ere ,i>e a,,

other odies in the uni&erse) and no more deser&in+

of our homa+e than a tree or a roc>"

#!ut)# said Setoc) #the( are eterna, ein+s H and

it is from them %e deri&e a,, %e enJo(" The( ani8

mate natureH the( re+u,ate the seasonsH and) e8

sides) are remo&ed at such an immense distance

from us) that %e cannot he,* re&erin+ them"#

#Thou recei&est more ad&anta+e)# re*,ied 3adi+)

#from the %aters of the Red Sea) %hich carr( th(

merchandise to the Indies" Wh( ma( not it e as



ancient as the stars and if thou adorest %hat is

*,aced at a distance from thee) thou shou,dst adore

the ,and of the an+arides) %hich ,ies at the e?8

tremit( of the earth"#

B@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

#No)# said Setoc) #the ri+htness of the stars

commands m( adoration"#

At ni+ht 3adi+ ,i+hted u* a +reat numer of

cand,es in the tent %here he %as to su* %ith Setoc H

and the moment his *atron a**eared) he fe,, on his

>nees efore these ,i+hted ta*ers) and said.

#Eterna, and shinin+ ,uminaries e (e a,%a(s

*ro*itious to me"#

'a&in+ thus said) he sat do%n at the ta,e) %ith8

out ta>in+ the ,east notice of Setoc"

#What art thou doin+# said Setoc in ama2e"

#I act ,i>e thee)# re*,ied 3adi+) #I adore these



cand,es and ne+,ect their master and mine"#

Setoc com*rehended the *rofound sense of this

a*o,o+ue" The %isdom of his s,a&e sun> dee* into

his sou," 'e no ,on+er oered incense to the crea8

tures) ut he adored the eterna, !ein+ %ho made

them"

There *re&ai,ed at that time in Araia a shoc>8

in+ custom) s*run+ ori+ina,,( from Sc(thia) and

%hich) ein+ esta,ished in the Indies ( the credit

of the !rahmins) threatened to o&errun a,, the

East" When a married man died) and his e,o&ed

%ife as*ired to the character of a saint) she urned

herse,f *u,ic,( on the od( of her husand" This

%as a so,emn feast) and %as ca,,ed the Funera, Pi,e

of Wido%hoodH and that trie in %hich the most

%omen had een urned %as the most hi+h,(

res*ected" An Araian of Setoc$s trie ein+ dead)

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" B:

his %ido%) %hose name %as A,mona) and %ho %as

&er( de&out) *u,ished the da( and hour %hen she



intended to thro% herse,f into the re) amidst the

sound of drums and trum*ets"

3adi+ remonstrated a+ainst this horri,e custom"

'e sho%ed Setoc ho% inconsistent it %as %ith the

ha**iness of man>ind to suer (oun+ %ido%s to

urn themse,&es %ido%s %ho %ere ca*a,e of +i&8

in+ chi,dren to the state) or at ,east of educatin+

those the( a,read( had H and he con&inced him that

it %as his dut( to do a,, that ,a( in his *o%er to

ao,ish such a ararous *ractice"

#The %omen)# said Setoc) #ha&e *ossessed for

more than a thousand (ears the ri+ht of urnin+

themse,&esH and %ho sha,, dare to aro+ate a ,a%

%hich time hath rendered sacred Is there an(8

thin+ more res*ecta,e than ancient auses#

#Reason is more ancient)# re*,ied 3adi+) #mean8

%hi,e) s*ea> thou to the chiefs of the tries) and I

%i,, +o to %ait on the (oun+ %ido%"#

Accordin+,() he %as introduced to her) and)

after ha&in+ insinuated himse,f into her +ood +races

( some com*,iments on her eaut() and to,d her

%hat a *it( it %as to commit so man( charms to



the Mames) he at ,ast *raised her for her constanc(

and coura+e"

#Thou must sure,( ha&e ,o&ed th( husand)#

said he to her) #%ith the most *assionate fondness"#

#Who) I# re*,ied the ,ad() #I ,o&ed him not at

B 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

a,," 'e %as a ruta,) Jea,ous) and insu**orta,e

%retchH ut I am rm,( reso,&ed to thro% m(se,f

on his funera, *i,e"#

#It %ou,d a**ear then)# said 3adi+) #that there

must e a &er( de,icious *,easure in ein+ urnt

a,i&e"#

#Oh it ma>es me shudder)# re*,ied the ,ad()

#ut that must e o&er,oo>ed" I am a de&otee H I

shou,d ,ose m( re*utationH and a,, the %or,d %ou,d

des*ise me) if I did not urn m(se,f"#

3adi+ ha&in+ made her ac>no%,ed+e that she



urned herse,f to +ain the +ood o*inion of others)

and to +ratif( her o%n &anit() entertained her %ith

a ,on+ discourse ca,cu,ated to ma>e her a ,itt,e in

,o&e %ith ,ife) and e&en %ent so far as to ins*ire

her %ith some de+ree of +ood %i,, for the *erson

%ho s*o>e to her"

#And %hat %i,t thou do at ,ast)# said he) #if

the &anit( of urnin+ th(se,f shou,d not continue#

#A,as)# said the ,ad() #I e,ie&e I shou,d desire

thee to marr( me"#

3adi+$s mind %as too much en+rossed %ith the

idea of Astarte not to e,ude this dec,aration H ut he

instant,( %ent to the chiefs of the tries) to,d them

%hat had *assed) and ad&ised them to ma>e a ,a%

( %hich a %ido% shou,d not e *ermitted to urn

herse,f ti,, she had con&ersed *ri&ate,( %ith a

(oun+ man for the s*ace of an hour" Since that

time not a sin+,e %ido% has urned herse,f in

Araia" The( %ere indeted to 3adi+ a,one for

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" BB



destro(in+ in one da( a crue, custom that had ,asted

for so man( a+esH and thus he ecame the ene8

factor of Araia"

C'APTER 9II"

T'E S0PPER"

Setoc) %ho cou,d not se*arate himse,f from this

man in %hom d%e,t %isdom) carried 3adi+ to the

+reat fair of !assora) %hither the richest merchants

of the earth resorted" 3adi+ %as hi+h,( *,eased to

see so man( men of dierent countries united in

the same *,ace" 'e considered the %ho,e uni&erse

as one ,ar+e fami,( assem,ed at !assora" The

second da( he sat at ta,e %ith an E+(*tian) an

Indian) an inhaitant of Catha() a ree>) a Ce,t)

and se&era, other stran+ers) %ho) in their freGuent

&o(a+es to the Araian u,f) had ,earned enou+h

of the Araic to ma>e themse,&es understood"

The E+(*tian seemed to e in a &io,ent *assion"

#What an aomina,e countr()# said he) #is !as8



sora The( refuse me a thousand ounces of +o,d

on the est securit( in the %or,d"#

#'o%# said Setoc" #On %hat securit( ha&e

the( refused thee this sum#

#On the od( of m( aunt)# re*,ied the E+(*tian"

#She %as the most nota,e %oman in E+(*tH she

a,%a(s accom*anied me in m( Journe(sH she died

on the road" I ha&e con&erted her into one of the

B4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

nest mummies in the %or,d and in m( o%n coun8

tr( I cou,d otain an( amount ( +i&in+ her as a

*,ed+e" It is &er( stran+e that the( %i,, not here

,end me a thousand ounces of +o,d on such a so,id

securit("#

An+r( as he %as) he %as +oin+ to he,* himse,f

to a it of e?ce,,ent oi,ed fo%,) %hen the Indian)

ta>in+ him ( the hand) cried out in a sorro%fu,

tone) #Ah %hat art thou +oin+ to do#



#To eat a it of this fo%,)# re*,ied the man %ho

o%ned the mumm("

#Ta>e care that thou dost not)# re*,ied the In8

dian" #It is *ossi,e that the sou, of the deceased

ma( ha&e *assed into this fo%,H and thou %ou,dst

not) sure,() e?*ose th(se,f to the dan+er of eatin+

th( aunt To oi, fo%,s is a manifest outra+e on

nature"#

#What dost thou mean ( th( nature and th(

fo%,s# re*,ied the cho,eric E+(*tian" #We adore

a u,,) and (et %e eat hearti,( of eef"#

#5ou adore a u,, is it *ossi,e# said the

Indian"

#Nothin+ is more *ossi,e)# returned the otherH

#%e ha&e done so for these hundred and thirt(8&e

thousand (earsH and nood( amon+st us has e&er

found fau,t %ith it"#

#A hundred and thirt(8&e thousand (ears# said

the Indian" #This account is a ,itt,e e?a++erated"

It is ut ei+ht( thousand (ears since India %as rst

*eo*,ed) and %e are sure,( more ancient than (ou




are" !rahma *rohiited our eatin+ of o?8Mesh e8

fore (ou thou+ht of *uttin+ it on (our s*its or

a,tars"#

#This !rahma of (ours)# said the E+(*tian) #is

a *,easant sort of an anima,) tru,() to com*are %ith

our A*is" What +reat thin+s hath (our !rahma

done #

#It %as he)# re*,ied the !rahmin) #that tau+ht

man>ind to read and %rite) and to %hom the %or,d

is indeted for the +ame of chess"#

#Thou art mista>en)# said Cha,daean) %ho sat

near him" #It is to the sh Cannes that %e o%e

these +reat ad&anta+esH and it is Just that %e shou,d

render homa+e to none ut him" #A,, the %or,d

%i,, te,, thee that he is a di&ine ein+) %ith a +o,den

tai,) and a eautifu, human headH and that for

three hours e&er( da( he ,eft the %ater to *reach

on dr( ,and" 'e had se&era, chi,dren) %ho %ere



>in+s) as e&er( one >no%s" I ha&e a *icture of him

at home) %hich I %orshi* %ith ecomin+ re&erence"

We ma( eat as much eef as %e *,easeH ut it is

sure,( a +reat sin to dress sh for the ta,e" !e8

sides) (ou are oth of an ori+in too recent and

i+no,e to dis*ute %ith me" The E+(*tians rec>on

on,( a hundred and thirt(8&e thousand (ears) and

the Indians ut ei+ht( thousand) %hi,e %e ha&e

a,manacs of four thousand a+es" !e,ie&e meH re8

nounce (our fo,,iesH and I %i,, +i&e to each of (ou

a eautifu, *icture of Oannes"#

B 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

The man of Catha( too> u* the discourse) and

said.

#I ha&e a +reat res*ect for the E+(*tians) the

Cha,daeans) the ree>s) the Ce,ts) !rahma) the

u,, A*is) and the eautifu, sh CannesH ut I

cou,d thin> that Li) or Tien) as he is common,(

ca,,ed) is su*erior to a,, the u,,s on the earth) or a,,

the sh in the sea" I sha,, sa( nothin+ of m( nati&e

countr(H it is as ,ar+e as E+(*t) Cha,dsea) and the



Indies *ut to+ether" Neither sha,, I dis*ute aout

the antiGuit( of our nationH ecause it is of ,itt,e

conseGuence %hether %e are ancient or notH it is

enou+h if %e are ha**(" !ut %ere it necessar( to

s*ea> of a,manacs) I cou,d sa( that a,, Asia ta>es

ours) and that %e had &er( +ood ones efore arith8

metic %as >no%n in Cha,daea"#

#I+norant men) as (e a,, are)# said the ree>)

#do (ou not >no% that Chaos is the father of a,,H

and that form and matter ha&e *ut the %or,d into

its *resent condition#

The ree> s*o>e for a ,on+ time) ut %as at ,ast

interru*ted ( the Ce,t) %ho) ha&in+ drun> *rett(

dee*,( %hi,e the rest %ere dis*utin+) ima+ined he

%as no% more >no%in+ than a,, the others) and

said) %ith an oath) that there %ere none ut Teutat

and the mist,etoe of the oa> that %ere %orth the

trou,e of a dis*ute H that) for his o%n *art) he had

a,%a(s some mist,etoe in his *oc>etH and that the

Sc(thians) his ancestors) %ere the on,( men of

merit that had e&er a**eared in the %or,dH that it



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" B<

%as true the( had sometimes eaten human Mesh)

ut that) not%ithstandin+ this circumstance) his

nation deser&ed to e he,d in +reat esteemH and

that) in ne) if an( one s*o>e i,, of Teutat) he %ou,d

teach him etter manners"

The Guarre, had no% ecome %arm) and Setoc

feared the ta,e %ou,d e stained %ith ,ood"

3adi+) %ho had een si,ent durin+ the %ho,e

dis*ute) arose at ,ast" 'e rst addressed himse,f

to the Ce,t) as the most furious of the dis*utants"

'e to,d him that he had reason on his side) and

e++ed a fe% mist,etoes" 'e then *raised the

ree> for his e,oGuence) and softened a,, their e?as8

*erated s*irits" 'e said ut ,itt,e to the man of

Catha() ecause he had een the most reasona,e

of them a,," At ,ast he said.

#5ou are +oin+) m( friends) to Guarre, aout

nothin+H for (ou are a,, of one mind"#

At this assertion the( a,, cried out in dissent"



#Is it not true)# said he to the Ce,t) #that (ou

adore not this mist,etoe) ut him that made oth

the mist,etoe and the oa>#

#1ost undouted,()# re*,ied the Ce,t"

#And thou) 1r" E+(*tian) dost not thou re&ere)

in a certain u,,) him %ho created the u,,s#

#5es)# said the E+(*tian"

#The sh Cannes)# continued he) must (ie,d to

him %ho made the sea and the shes" The Indian

and the Cathaian)# added he) #ac>no%,ed+e a rst

*rinci*,e" I did not fu,,( com*rehend the admira,e

4= 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

thin+s that %ere said ( the ree>H ut I am sure

he %i,, admit a su*erior ein+ on %hom form and

matter de*end"#

The ree>) %hom the( a,, admired) said that

3adi+ had e?act,( ta>en his meanin+"



#5ou are a,, then)# re*,ied 3adi+) #of one o*in8

ion and ha&e no cause to Guarre,"#

A,, the com*an( emraced him"

Setoc) after ha&in+ so,d his commodities at a

&er( hi+h *rice) returned to his o%n trie %ith his

friend 3adi+H %ho ,earned) u*on his arri&a,) that

he had een tried in his asence and %as no% +oin+

to e urned ( a s,o% re"

C'APTER 9III"

I" T'E RENDE3VO0S"

Durin+ his Journe( to !assora the *riests of the

stars had reso,&ed to *unish 3adi+" The *recious

stones and ornaments of the (oun+ %ido%s %hom

the( sent to the funera, *i,e e,on+ed to them of

ri+ht H and the ,east the( cou,d do no% %as to urn

3adi+ for the i,, oQce he had done them" Accord8

in+,( the( accused him of entertainin+ erroneous

sentiments of the hea&en,( host" The( de*osed



a+ainst him) and s%ore that the( had heard him sa(

that the stars did not set in the sea" This horrid

,as*hem( made the Jud+es trem,eH the( %ere

read( to tear their +arments u*on hearin+ these

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" 4;

im*ious %ords) and the( %ou,d certain,( ha&e torn

them had 3adi+ had %here%itha, to *a( them for

ne% ones" !ut) in the e?cess of their 2ea, and

indi+nation) the( contented themse,&es %ith con8

demnin+ him to e urnt ( a s,o% re" Setoc)

,,ed %ith des*air at this unha**( e&ent) em*,o(ed

a,, his interest to sa&e his friend) ut in &ain" 'e

%as soon o,i+ed to ho,d his *eace" The (oun+

%ido%) A,mona) %ho had no% concei&ed a +reat

fondness for ,ife) for %hich she %as o,i+ed to

3adi+) reso,&ed to de,i&er him from the funera, *i,e)

of the ause of %hich he had fu,,( con&inced her"

She reso,&ed the scheme in her o%n mind %ithout

im*artin+ it to an( *erson %hate&er" 3adi+ %as

to e e?ecuted the ne?t da(" If she cou,d sa&e

him at a,,) she must do it that &er( ni+htH and the

method ta>en ( this charita,e and *rudent ,ad(



%as as fo,,o%s.

She *erfumed herse,fH she hei+htened her eaut(

( the richest and +a(est a**are,) and %ent to de8

mand an audience of the chief *riest of the stars"

As soon as she %as introduced to the &enera,e

o,d man) she addressed him in these terms. #E,d8

est son of the +reat ear) rother of the u,,) and

cousin of the +reat do+ such %ere the tit,es of

this *onti6) I come to acGuaint thee %ith m( scru8

*,es" I am much afraid that I ha&e committed a

heinous crime in not urnin+ m(se,f on the funera,

*i,e of m( dear husandH for) indeed) %hat had I

%orth *reser&in+ Perisha,e Mesh) thou seest)

4@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

that is a,read( entire,( %ithered"# So sa(in+) she

dre% u* her ,on+ s,ee&es of si,>) and sho%ed her

na>ed arms) %hich %ere of an e,e+ant sha*e and

a da22,in+ %hiteness" #Thou seest)# said she)

#that these are ,itt,e %orth"# The *riest found in

his heart that the( %ere %orth a +reat dea," 'e

s%ore that he had ne&er in his ,ife seen such eau8



tifu, arms" #A,as# said the %ido%) #m( arms) *er8

ha*s) are not so ad as the restH ut thou %i,t con8

fess that m( nec> is not %orth( of the ,east re+ard"#

She then disco&ered the most charmin+ osom that

nature had e&er formed" Com*ared to it) a rose8

ud on an a**,e of i&or( %ou,d ha&e a**eared ,i>e

madder on the o?8tree) and the %hiteness of ne%8

%ashed ,ams %ou,d ha&e seemed of a dus>( (e,8

,o%" 'er ,ar+e ,ac> e(es) ,an+uishin+ %ith the

+ent,e ,ustre of a tender reH her chee>s animated

%ith the nest *in>) mi?ed %ith the %hiteness of

mi,>H her nose) %hich had no resem,ance to the

to%er of 1ount LeanonH her ,i*s) ,i>e t%o or8

ders of cora,) enc,osin+ the nest *ear,s in the Ara8

ian SeaH a,, cons*ired to ma>e the o,d man fanc(

and e,ie&e that he %as (oun+ a+ain" A,mona)

seein+ his admiration) no% entreated him to *ardon

3adi+" #A,as# said he) #m( charmin+ ,ad() shou,d

I +rant thee his *ardon) it %ou,d e of no ser&ice)

as it must necessari,( e si+ned ( three others)

m( rethren"# #Si+n it) ho%e&er)# said A,mona"

#With a,, m( heart)# said the *riest" -----

A,81OI1A) SEEIN 'IS AD1IRATION) NOW



ENTREATED 'I1 TO PARDON 3ADIC:

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" 4:

#!e *,eased to &isit me)# said A,mona) #%hen the

ri+ht star of Sheat sha,, a**ear in the hori2on"#

A,mona then %ent to see the second *onti"

'e assured her that the sun) the moon) and a,, the

,uminaries of hea&en %ere ut +,immerin+ meteors

in com*arison to her charms" She as>ed the same

fa&or of him) and he a,so +ranted it readi,(" She

then a**ointed the second *onti to meet her at the

risin+ of the star A,+eni" From thence she %ent

to the third and fourth *riest) a,%a(s ta>in+ their

si+natures) and ma>in+ an a**ointment from star

to star" She then sent a messa+e to the Jud+es)

entreatin+ them to come to her house on an aair

of +reat im*ortance" The( oe(ed her summons"

She sho%ed them the four names) and to,d them

that the *riests had +ranted the *ardon of 3adi+"

Each of the *ontis arri&ed at the hour a**ointed"

Each %as sur*rised at ndin+ his rethren there)

ut sti,, more at seein+ the Jud+es a,so *resent"



3adi+ %as sa&ed) and Setoc %as so charmed %ith

the s>i,, and address of A,mona that he at once

made her his %ife"

!usiness aairs no% reGuired Setoc$s *resence

in the is,and of SerendiH ut durin+ the rst

month of his marria+e the month %hich is ca,,ed

the hone(moon he cou,d not *ermit himse,f to

,ea&e A,mona) nor e&en to thin> he cou,d e&er

,ea&e her) and he reGuested 3adi+ to ma>e the

Journe( in his *,ace" #A,as# said 3adi+) #must I

*ut a sti,, +reater distance et%een the eautifu,


Astarte and m(se,f !ut it %ou,d e un+ratefu,

not to ser&e m( friend) and I %i,, endea&or to do

m( dut("#

Setoc and 3adi+ no% too> ,ea&e of each other

%ith tears in their e(es) oth s%earin+ an eterna,

friendshi*) and *romisin+ to a,%a(s share their

fortunes %ith each other" 3adi+ then) after ha&in+

thro%n himse,f at the feet of his fair de,i&erer) set



out on his Journe( to Serendi) sti,, musin+ on the

unha**( Astarte) and meditatin+ on the se&erit(

of fortune) %hich seemed to *ersistent,( ma>e him

the s*ort of her crue,t( and the oJect of her *er8

secution"

#What# said he to himse,f) #ned four hundred

ounces of +o,d for ha&in+ oser&ed a itch con8

demned to ,ose m( head for four ad &erses in

*raise of the >in+ sentenced to e stran+,ed e8

cause the Gueen had shoes the co,or of m( turan

reduced to s,a&er( for ha&in+ succored a %oman %ho

%as eaten and on the *oint of ein+ urned for

ha&in+ sa&ed the ,i&es of a,, the (oun+ %ido%s of

Araia #

II" T'E DANCE"

Arri&in+ in due time at the is,and of Serendi)

3adi+$s merits %ere at once reco+ni2ed) and he

%as *o*u,ar,( re+arded as an e?traordinar( man"

'e ecame the friend of the %ise and ,earned) the

aritrator of dis*utes) and the ad&iser of the sma,,

numer of those %ho %ere %i,,in+ to ta>e ad&ice"



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" 4B

'e %as du,( *resented to the >in+) %ho %as *,eased

%ith his aai,it() and soon chose him for his

friend" !ut this ro(a, fa&or caused 3adi+ to trem8

,e) for he %e,, rememered the misfortunes %hich

the >indness of Kin+ 1oadar had former,(

rou+ht u*on him" #I *,ease the >in+)# said heH

#sha,, I not therefore e ,ost# Sti,,) he cou,d not

refuse the >in+$s friendshi*) for it must e confessed

that Naussan) >in+ of Serendi) son of Nussana)

son of Naassau) son of Sanusna) %as one of the

most amia,e *rinces in Asia"

!ut this +ood *rince %as a,%a(s Mattered) de8

cei&ed and roed" It %as a contest %ho shou,d

most *i,,a+e the ro(a, treasur(" The e?am*,e set

( the recei&er8+enera, of Serendi %as uni&ersa,,(

fo,,o%ed ( the inferior oQcers"

This the >in+ >ne%" 'e had often chan+ed his

treasurers) ut had ne&er een a,e to chan+e the

esta,ished custom of di&idin+ the re&enues into

t%o uneGua, *arts) of %hich the sma,,er came to

his maJest() and the ,ar+er to his oQcers"



This custom Naussan e?*,ained to 3adi+"

#5ou) %hose >no%,ed+e emraces so man( su8

Jects)# said he) #can (ou not te,, me ho% to se,ect

a treasurer %ho %i,, not ro me# Assured,()#

said 3adi+H I >no% a sure method for ndin+ (ou

a man %ho %i,, >ee* his hands c,ean"#

The >in+ %as charmed) and as>ed) %hi,e he

emraced him) ho% this %as to e done"

#5ou ha&e on,()# said 3adi+) #to cause a,, those

Vo," @B


%ho a**,( for the oQce of treasurer to dance" 'e

%ho dances the ,i+htest %i,, sure,( *ro&e to e the

most honest man"#

#5ou Jest)# said the >in+" #A stran+e %a() cer8

tain,() of choosin+ a recei&er of m( re&enues"

What do (ou *retend that he %ho cuts the neat8

est ca*er %i,, e the most Just and s>i,fu, nan8



cier#

#I %i,, not ans%er)# returned 3adi+) #for his

ein+ the most s>i,fu,) ut I assure (ou he %i,, e

the most honest"#

3adi+ s*o>e %ith so much condence that the

>in+ ima+ined he had some su*ernatura, test for

se,ectin+ honest nanciers"

#I do not ,i>e the su*ernatura,)# said 3adi+H

#*eo*,e and oo>s dea,in+ in *rodi+ies ha&e a,%a(s

dis*,eased me" If (our maJest( %i,, *ermit me to

ma>e the test) (ou %i,, e con&inced it is the easiest

and sim*,est thin+ *ossi,e"#

Naussan consented) and %as more aston8

ished to hear that the test %as sim*,e) than if it had

een c,aimed as a mirac,e"

#Lea&e a,, the detai,s to me)# said 3adi+" #5ou

%i,, +ain more ( this tria, than (ou ima+ine"#

The same da( he made *roc,amation in the

>in+$s name) and a,, candidates for the oQce of re8

cei&er8in8chief of the re&enues of his +racious maJ8



est() Naussan) son of Nussana) must *resent

themse,&es in dresses of ,i+ht si,>) on the rst da(

of the month of the crocodi,e) in the >in+$s ante8

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" 4

chamer" The candidates came) accordin+,() to the

numer of si?t(8four" 1usicians %ere *,aced in

an adJoinin+ room) and a,, %as *re*ared for the

dance" As the door of the sa,oon %as c,osed) it

%as necessar() in order to enter it) to *ass throu+h

a sma,, +a,,er( %hich %as s,i+ht,( dar>ened" An

usher directed each candidate in succession throu+h

this oscure *assa+e) in %hich he %as ,eft a,one for

some moments" The >in+) ein+ a%are of the *,an)

had tem*tin+,( s*read out in this +a,,er( man( of

his choicest treasures" When a,, the candidates

%ere assem,ed in the sa,oon) the >in+ ordered the

and to *,a( and the dance to e+in" Ne&er had

dancers *erformed more un%i,,in+,( or %ith ,ess

+race" Their heads %ere do%n) their ac>s ent) their

hands *ressed to their sides"

#What rasca,s# murmured 3adi+"



One a,one danced %ith +race and a+i,it( his

head u*) his ,oo> assured) his od( erect) his arms

free) his motions natura,"

#Ah) the honest man) the e?ce,,ent man# cried

3adi+"

The >in+ emraced this u*ri+ht dancer) a**oint8

ed him treasurer) and *unished a,, the others %ith

the utmost Justice) for each one had) %hi,e *assin+

throu+h the +a,,er() ,,ed his *oc>ets ti,, he cou,d

hard,( %a,>" 'is maJest( %as distressed at this

e?hiition of dishonest() and re+retted that amon+

these si?t(8four dancers there shou,d e si?t(8

4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

three thie&es" This dar> +a,,er( %as then named

the Corridor of Tem*tation"

In Persia these si?t(8three ,ords %ou,d ha&e

een em*a,ed H in other countries a chamer of Jus8

tice %ou,d ha&e consumed in costs three times the



mone( sto,en) re*,acin+ nothin+ in the >in+$s cof8

fersH in (et another >in+dom the( %ou,d ha&e

een honora,( acGuitted) and the ,i+ht dancer dis8

+racedH in Serendi the( %ere on,( sentenced to

add to the *u,ic treasure) for Naussan %as &er(

indu,+ent"

'e %as a,so &er( +ratefu,) and %i,,in+,( +a&e

3adi+ a ,ar+er sum than an( treasurer had e&er sto,en

from the re&enue" This %ea,th 3adi+ used to send a

courier to !a(,on to ,earn the fate of 7ueen

Astarte" 'is &oice trem,ed %hen directin+ the

courier" 'is ,ood seemed -o sta+nate in his &eins"

'is heart a,most ceased to eat" 'is e(es %ere

suused %ith tears"

III" !L0E E5ES"

After the courier had +one 3adi+ returned to

the *a,ace) and) for+ettin+ that he %as not in his

o%n room) a,most unconscious,( uttered the %ord

LOVE"

#Ah) ,o&e# e?c,aimed the >in+H #that is indeed

the cause of m( unha**iness" 5ou ha&e di&ined

%hat it is that causes me *ain" 5ou are indeed a



+reat man" I ho*e (ou %i,, assist me in m( search

for a %oman) *erfect in a,, res*ects) and of %hose

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" 4<

aection I ma( fee, assured" 5ou ha&e *ro&ed

(our ai,it( for this ser&ice ( se,ectin+ for me an

honest nancier) and I ha&e entire condence in

(our success"#

3adi+) ha&in+ reco&ered his com*osure) *rom8

ised to ser&e the >in+ in ,o&e as he had in nance)

a,thou+h the tas> seemed to him far more diQcu,t"

#The od( and the heart)# said the >in+"

At these %ords 3adi+ cou,d not refrain from in8

terru*tin+ his maJest(" #5ou sho% +ood taste)#

said he) #( not sa(in+ the mind and the heartH

for %e hear nothin+ ut these %ords in the ta,> of

!a(,on" We see nothin+ ut oo>s %hich treat

of the heart and mind) %ritten ( *eo*,e %ho ha&e

neither the one nor the other" !ut *ardon me)

sire) and dei+n to continue"#



#I ha&e in m( *a,ace)# said the >in+) #one hun8

dred %omen %ho are a,, ca,,ed charmin+) +racefu,)

eautifu,) aectionate e&en) or *retendin+ to e so

%hen in m( com*an( H ut I ha&e too often rea,i2ed

that it is to the >in+ of Serendi the( *a( court)

and that the( care &er( ,itt,e for Naussan" This

*retended aection does not satisf( m( desires" I

%ou,d nd a consort that ,o&es me for m(se,f) and

%ho %ou,d %i,,in+,( e a,, m( o%n" For such a

treasure I %ou,d Jo(fu,,( arter the hundred eau8

ties %hose forced smi,es aord me no de,i+ht" Let

us see if out of these hundred Gueens (ou can se,ect

one true %oman to ,ess me %ith her ,o&e"#

3adi+ re*,ied to him) as he had *re&ious,( done

(o 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

in re+ard to the nances. #Sire) a,,o% me to ma>e

the attem*t) and *ermit me to a+ain use the treas8

ure former,( dis*,a(ed in the Court of Tem*tation"

I %i,, render (ou a faithfu, account"#



The >in+ %i,,in+,( acceded to this reGuest) and

*ermitted 3adi+ to do as he desired" 'e rst chose

thirt(8three of the u+,iest ,itt,e hunchac>s that

cou,d e *rocured in Serendi) then thirt(8three of

the handsomest *a+es to e found) and ,ast,() thir8

t(8three on2es *riests6) the most e,oGuent and

roust he cou,d se,ect" 'e +a&e them a,, ,iert(

to enter the >in+$s *ri&ate a*artments in the *a,ace)

and secure a *artner if the( so desired" Each ,itt,e

hunchac> had four thousand +o,d *ieces +i&en to

him) and on the rst da( each had secured a com8

*anion" The *a+es) %ho had nothin+ to +i&e ut

themse,&es) did not succeed in man( cases unti, the

end of t%o or three da(s" The *riests had sti,,

more trou,e in otainin+ *artners) ut na,,( thir8

t(8three de&otees Joined their fortunes %ith these

*ious suitors" The >in+) throu+h the ,inds %hich

o*ened into his a*artments) sa% a,, these tria,s) and

%as astounded" Of these hundred %omen) ninet(8

nine discarded his *rotection" There sti,, remained

one) ho%e&er) sti,, Guite (oun+) %ith %hom his

maJest( had ne&er con&ersed" The( sent to her

one) t%o) three hunchac>s) %ho dis*,a(ed efore

her t%ent( thousand *ieces of +o,d" She sti,, re8

mained rm) and cou,d not refrain from ,au+hin+

at the idea of these cri**,es) that %ea,th cou,d




chan+e their a**earance" The( then *resented

efore her the t%o most eautifu, *a+es" She said

she thou+ht the >in+ %as sti,, more eautifu," The(

attac>ed her %ith the most e,oGuent of the *riests)

and after%ards %ith the most audacious" She found

the rst a *ratt,er) and cou,d not *ercei&e an( merit

in the second"

#The heart)# said she) #is e&er(thin+" I %i,,

ne&er (ie,d to the hunchac>s$ +o,d) the *a+es$

&anit() or the *om*ous *ratt,e of the *riests" I

,o&e on,( Naussan) son of Nussana) and I %i,,

%ait unti, he condescends to ,o&e me in return"#

The >in+ %as trans*orted %ith Jo() astonish8

ment) and ,o&e" 'e too> ac> a,, the mone( that

had rou+ht success to the hunchac>s) and made

a *resent of it to the eautifu, Fa,ide) %hich %as

the name of this charmin+ ,ad(" 'e +a&e her his

heart) %hich she am*,( deser&ed) for ne&er %ere

+,ances from fema,e e(es more ri,,iant than her



o%n) nor the charms of (outhfu, eaut( more en8

chantin+" En&() it is true) asserted that she courte8

sied a%>%ard,(H ut candor com*e,s the admis8

sion that she danced ,i>e the fairies) acted ,i>e the

+races) san+ ,i>e the sirens) and that she %as) in

truth) the &er( emodiment of inte,,i+ence and &ir8

tue" Naussan ,o&ed and adored her) ut) a,as

she had !L0E E5ES) and this a**arent,( tri&ia, fact

%as the cause of the +ra&est misfortunes"

There %as an o,d ,a% in Serendi foriddin+

the >in+s to marr( those to %hom the ree>s a*8


*,ied the %ord !oai?ts" A hi+h *riest had

esta,ished this ,a% thousands of (ears a+o" 'e

had anathemati2ed ,ue e(es in order that he mi+ht

secure for himse,f the hand of the >in+$s fa&orite"

The &arious orders of the em*ire no% remonstrated

%ith Naussan for disre+ardin+ this or+anic ,a%

and ,o&in+ the eautifu, Fa,ide" The( *u,ic,( as8

serted that the ,ast da(s of the >in+dom had ar8

ri&edH that this act of ro(a, ,o&e %as the hei+ht



of sacri,e+eH that a,, nature %as threatened %ith

a sinister endin+) and a,, ecause Naussan) son

of Nussana) ,o&ed t%o ma+nicent ,ue e(es" The

cri**,es) the ca*ita,ists) the on2es and the ru8

nettes ,,ed the >in+dom %ith their com*,aints"

The ararians of the northern *ro&inces *rof8

ited ( the +enera, discontent" The( in&aded the

territor( of the +ood Naussan and demanded a

triute from his suJects" The *riests) %ho *os8

sessed ha,f the re&enues of the state) contented

themse,&es %ith raisin+ their hands to hea&en) and

refused to *ut them in their coers to aid the >in+"

The( chanted eautifu, *ra(ers) and ,eft the state

a *re( to the in&aders"

#O) m( dear 3adi+# sad,( cried Naussan) #can

(ou not rescue me from this im*endin+ dan+er#

#Ver( %i,,in+,()# re*,ied 3adi+" #5ou sha,,

ha&e for (our defence as much mone( from the

*riests as (ou ma( desire" Lea&e) I *ra( (ou) %ith8

out +uard) the *ro*ert( of the on2es) and defend

on,( (our o%n *ossessions"#



3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" :

Naussan %ise,( fo,,o%ed this ad&ice" The

*riests ecame a,armed) thre% themse,&es at his

feet) and im*,ored his *rotection" The >in+ re8

*,ied %ith a+reea,e music) and chanted forth *ra(8

ers and in&ocations to hea&en %ith much s%eetness

and me,od(" Fina,,() the *riests re,uctant,( con8

triuted the mone() and the >in+ rou+ht the %ar

to a ha**( termination"

Thus 3adi+) ( his sensi,e ad&ice and Judicious

ser&ices) dre% u*on himse,f the enmit( of the most

*o%erfu, *arties in the state" The on2es and the

runettes s%ore to destro( himH the ca*ita,ists and

the cri**,es did not s*are him" The( caused the

+ood Naussan to sus*ect him" #Ser&ices rendered

often remain in the ante8chamer) and distrust

enters into the cainet"# So said 3oroaster" E&8

er( da( there %ere fresh accusations H the rst is re8

*e,,ed) the second is ,i+ht,( thou+ht of) the third

%ounds) the fourth >i,,s"

3adi+ %as disma(ed) and ha&in+ no% satisfac8

tori,( arran+ed Setoc$s aairs) he on,( thou+ht of



,ea&in+ the is,and in safet("

#!ut %here sha,, I +o# said he" #If I remain

in Serendi the *riests %i,, dout,ess ha&e me em8

*a,edH in E+(*t I shou,d *roa,( e ens,a&edH

urnt) accordin+ to a,, a**earances) in AraiaH

stran+,ed in !a(,on" 'o%e&er) I must ,earn

%hat has ecome of 7ueen Astarte) and %i,, +o on

and see %hat sad fate destin( has sti,, in store for

me"#


C'APTER 9IV"

T'E RO!!ER"

Arri&in+ on the frontiers %hich di&ide Araia

Petraea from S(ria) he *assed ( a &er( stron+

cast,e from %hich a *art( of armed Araians sa,,ied

forth" The( instant,( surrounded him and cried .

#A,, thou hast e,on+s to us) and th( *erson is

the *ro*ert( of our master"#



3adi+ re*,ied ( dra%in+ his s%ord" 'is ser8

&ant) %ho %as a man of coura+e) did the same"

The( >i,,ed the rst Araians that *resumed to ,a(

hands on them) and thou+h the numer %as re8

dou,ed the( %ere not disma(ed) ut reso,&ed to

*erish in the conMict" T%o men defended them8

se,&es a+ainst a mu,titude) ut such a comat cou,d

not ,ast ,on+" The master of the cast,e) %hose

name %as Aro+ad) ha&in+ oser&ed from a %in8

do% the *rodi+ies of &a,or *erformed ( 3adi+)

concei&ed a hi+h esteem for this heroic stran+er"

'e descended in haste) and %ent in *erson to ca,,

o his men and de,i&er the t%o tra&e,,ers"

#A,, that *asses o&er m( ,ands)# said he) #e8

,on+s to me) as %e,, as %hat I nd u*on the ,ands

of othersH ut thou seemest to e a man of such

undaunted coura+e that I %i,, e?em*t thee from the

common ,a%"#

'e then conducted him to his cast,e) orderin+

his men to treat him %e,,) and in the e&enin+ Ar




o+ad su**ed %ith 3adi+" The ,ord of the cast,e

%as one of those Araians %ho are common,(

ca,,ed roers) ut he no% and then *erformed

some +ood actions amidst a mu,titude of ad ones"

'e roed %ith a furious ra*acit() and +ranted

fa&ors %ith +reat +enerosit(" 'e %as intre*id in

action) aa,e in com*an() a deauchee at ta,e)

ut +a( in his deaucher() and *articu,ar,( remar>8

a,e for his fran> and o*en eha&ior" 'e %as

hi+h,( *,eased %ith 3adi+) %hose ,i&e,( con&ersa8

tion ,en+thened the re*ast" At ,ast Aro+ad said

to him.

#I ad&ise thee to enro,, th( name in m( cata8

,o+ue" Thou canst not do etter" This is not a

ad trade) and thou ma(est one da( ecome %hat

I am at *resent"#

#1a( I ta>e the ,iert( of as>in+ thee)# said

3adi+) #ho% ,on+ thou hast fo,,o%ed this no,e *ro8

fession #

#From m( most tender (outh)# re*,ied the ,ord)

#I %as ser&ant to a *ett() +ood8natured Araian)

ut cou,d not endure the hardshi*s of m( situation"



I %as &e?ed to nd that fate had +i&en me no share

of the earth) %hich eGua,,( e,on+s to a,, men" I

im*arted the cause of m( uneasiness to an o,d Ara8

ian) %ho said to me.

# $1( son) do not des*airH there %as once a +rain

of sand that ,amented that it %as no more than a

ne+,ected atom in the desertsH at the end of a fe%

(ears it ecame a diamond) and it is no% the ri+ht8


est ornament in the cro%n of the >in+ of the In8

dies

#This discourse made a dee* im*ression on m(

mind" I %as the +rain of sand) and I reso,&ed to

ecome the diamond" I e+an ( stea,in+ t%o

horses" I soon +ot a *art( of com*anions" I *ut

m(se,f in a condition to ro sma,, cara&ans) and

thus) ( de+rees) I destro(ed the dierence %hich

had former,( susisted et%een me and other men"

I had m( share of the +ood thin+s of this %or,d)

and %as e&en recom*ensed %ith usur( for the hard8



shi*s I had suered" I %as +reat,( res*ected) and

ecame the ca*tain of a and of roers" I sei2ed

this cast,e ( force" The satra* of S(ria had a

mind to dis*ossess me of it) ut I %as too rich to

ha&e an(thin+ to fear" I +a&e the satra* a hand8

some *resent) ( %hich means I *reser&ed m(

cast,e) and increased m( *ossessions" 'e e&en a*8

*ointed me treasurer of the triutes %hich Araia

Petrsea *a(s to the >in+ of >in+s" I *erform m(

oQce of recei&er %ith +reat *unctua,it() ut ta>e

the freedom to dis*ense %ith that of *a(master"

#The +rand desterham of !a(,on sent hither

a *ett( satra*) in the name of Kin+ 1oadar) to

ha&e me stran+,ed" This man arri&ed %ith his or8

ders" I %as a**rised of a,," I caused to e stran8

+,ed) in his *resence) the four *ersons he had

rou+ht %ith him to dra% the noose) after %hich I

as>ed him ho% much his commission of stran+,in+

me mi+ht e %orth" 'e re*,ied that his fees %ou,d


amount to ao&e three hundred *ieces of +o,d" I



then con&inced him that he mi+ht +ain more (

sta(in+ %ith me" I made him an inferior roer)

and he is no% one of m( est and richest oQcers"

If thou %i,t ta>e m( ad&ice) th( success ma( e

eGua, to his" Ne&er %as there a etter season for

*,under) since Kin+ 1oadar is >i,,ed) and a,,

!a(,on thro%n into confusion"#

#1oadar >i,,ed# said 3adi+) #and %hat has

ecome of 7ueen Astarte#

#I >no% not)# re*,ied Aro+ad" A,, I >no% is

that 1oadar ,ost his senses and %as >i,,edH that

!a(,on is a scene of disorder and ,oodshedH that

a,, the em*ire is deso,ated H that there are some ne

stro>es to e made (etH and that) for m( o%n *art)

I ha&e struc> some that are admira,e"#

#!ut the Gueen)# said 3adi+H #for hea&en$s sa>e)

>no%est thou nothin+ of the Gueen$s fate#

#5es)# re*,ied he) #I ha&e heard somethin+ of a

*rince of 'ircania" If she %as not >i,,ed in the tu8

mu,t) she is *roa,( one of his concuines" !ut I am

much fonder of oot( than ne%s" I ha&e ta>en

se&era, %omen in m( e?cursions) ut I >ee* none



of them" I se,, them at a hi+h *rice %hen the(

are eautifu,) %ithout inGuirin+ %ho the( are" In

commodities of this >ind ran> ma>es no dierence)

and a Gueen that is u+,( %i,, ne&er nd a *urchaser"

Perha*s I ma( ha&e so,d 7ueen AstarteH *erha*s

she is dead H ut) e it as it ma() it is of ,itt,e con8


seGuence to me) and I shou,d ima+ine of as ,itt,e

to thee"#

So sa(in+) he dran> a ,ar+e drau+ht) %hich

thre% a,, his ideas into such confusion that 3adi+

cou,d otain no further information"

3adi+ remained for some time %ithout s*eech)

sense) or motion" Aro+ad continued drin>in+)

constant,( re*eated that he %as the ha**iest man

in the %or,d) and e?horted 3adi+ to *ut himse,f in

the same condition" At ,ast the so*oriferous fume

of the %ine ,u,,ed him into a +ent,e re*ose" 3adi+

*assed the ni+ht in the most &io,ent *erturation"

#What# said he) #did the >in+ ,ose his senses



And is he >i,,ed I cannot he,* ,amentin+ his fate"

The em*ire is rent in *ieces) and this roer is

ha**(" O fortune O destin( A roer is

ha**() and the most eautifu, of nature$s %or>s

hath *erha*s *erished in a ararous manner) or

,i&es in a state %orse than death" O Astarte %hat

has ecome of thee#

At da(rea> he Guestioned a,, those he met in

the cast,e) ut the( %ere a,, us() and he recei&ed

no ans%er" Durin+ the ni+ht the( had made a ne%

ca*ture) and the( %ere no% em*,o(ed in di&idin+

the s*oi," A,, he cou,d otain in this hurr( and

confusion %as an o**ortunit( of de*artin+) %hich

he immediate,( emraced) *,un+ed dee*er than e&er

in the most +,oom( and mournfu, reMections"

3adi+ *roceeded on his Journe( %ith a mind

fu,, of disGuiet and *er*,e?it() and %ho,,( em8


*,o(ed on the unha**( Astarte) on the Kin+ of

!a(,on) on his faithfu, friend Cador) on the ha**(



roer Aro+ad) on that ca*ricious %oman %hom

the !a(,onians had sei2ed on the frontiers of

E+(*t) in a %ord) on a,, the misfortunes and dis8

a**ointments he had hitherto suered"

C'APTER 9V"

T'E FIS'ER1AN"

At a fe% ,ea+ues distance from Aro+ad$s cast,e

he came to the an>s of a sma,, ri&er) sti,, de*,orin+

his fate) and considerin+ himse,f as the most

%retched of man>ind" 'e sa% a sherman ,(in+

on the an> of the ri&er) scarce,( ho,din+ in his

%ea> and fee,e hand a net %hich he seemed read(

to dro*) and ,iftin+ u* his e(es to hea&en"

#I am certain,()# said the sherman) #the most

unha**( man in the %or,d" I %as uni&ersa,,( a,8

,o%ed to e the most famous dea,er in cream

cheese in !a(,on) and (et I am ruined" I had the

most handsome %ife that an( man in m( situation

cou,d ha&e) and ( her I ha&e een etra(ed" I

had sti,, ,eft a *a,tr( house) and that I ha&e seen *i,8



,a+ed and destro(ed" At ,ast I too> refu+e in this

cotta+e) %here I ha&e no other resource than sh8

in+) and (et I cannot catch a sin+,e sh" Oh) m(

net no more %i,, I thro% thee into the %aterH I

%i,, thro% m(se,f in th( *,ace"#

o 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

So sa(in+) he arose and ste**ed for%ard) in

the attitude of a man read( to thro% himse,f into

the ri&er) and thus to nish his ,ife"

#What# said 3adi+) #are there men as %retched

as I#

'is ea+erness to sa&e the sherman$s ,ife %as

as sudden as this reMection" 'e runs to him) sto*s

him) and s*ea>s to him %ith a tender and com*as8

sionate air" It is common,( su**osed that %e are

,ess misera,e %hen %e ha&e com*anions in our

miser(" This) accordin+ to 3oroaster) does not *ro8

ceed from ma,ice) ut necessit(" We fee, ourse,&es

insensi,( dra%n to an unha**( *erson as to one

,i>e ourse,&es" The Jo( of the ha**( %ou,d e an



insu,t" !ut t%o men in distress are ,i>e t%o s,ender

trees) %hich) mutua,,( su**ortin+ each other) fortif(

themse,&es a+ainst the tem*est"

#Wh()# said 3adi+ to the sherman) #dost thou

sin> under th( misfortunes#

#!ecause)# re*,ied he) #I see no means of re,ief"

I %as the most considera,e man in the &i,,a+e of

Der,ac>) near !a(,on) and %ith the assistance of

m( %ife I made the est cream cheese in the em8

*ire" 7ueen Astarte) and the famous minister)

3adi+) %ere e?treme,( fond of them" I had sent

them si? hundred cheeses) and one da( %ent to the

cit( to recei&e m( mone() ut on m( arri&a, at

!a(,on %as informed that the Gueen and 3adi+

had disa**eared" I ran to the house of Lord 3adi+)

%hom I had ne&er seen) and found there the infe8

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" ;

rior oQcers of the +rand desterham) %ho) ein+ fur8

nished %ith a ro(a, ,icence) %ere *,underin+ it %ith

+reat ,o(a,t( and order" From thence I Me% to the



Gueen$s >itchen) some of the ,ords of %hich to,d

me that the Gueen %as deadH some said she %as in

*rison) and others *retended that she had made her

esca*eH ut the( a,, a+reed in assurin+ me that I

%ou,d not e *aid for m( cheese" I %ent %ith m(

%ife to the house of Lord Orcan) %ho %as one of

m( customers) and e++ed his *rotection in m(

*resent distress" 'e +ranted it to m( %ife) ut

refused it to me" She %as %hiter than the cream

cheeses that e+an m( misfortune) and the ,ustre

of the T(rian *ur*,e %as not more ri+ht than the

carnation %hich animated this %hiteness" For this

reason Orcan detained her) and dro&e me from his

house" In m( des*air I %rote a ,etter to m( dear

%ife" She said to the earer . $'a) ha I >no% the

%riter of this a ,itt,e" I ha&e heard his name men8

tioned" The( sa( he ma>es e?ce,,ent cream cheeses"

Desire him to send me some and he sha,, e *aid"$

#In m( distress I reso,&ed to a**,( to Justice" I

had sti,, si? ounces of +o,d remainin+" I %as

o,i+ed to +i&e t%o to the ,a%(er %hom I con8

su,ted) t%o to the *rocurator %ho undertoo> m(

cause) and t%o to the secretar( of the rst Jud+e"

When a,, this %as done) m( usiness %as not e8

+unH and I had a,read( e?*ended more mone( than



m( cheese and m( %ife %ere %orth" I returned to

Vo," @4


m( o%n &i,,a+e) %ith an intention to se,, m( house)

in order to ena,e me to reco&er m( %ife"

#1( house %as %e,, %orth si?t( ounces of +o,d H

ut as m( nei+hors sa% that I "%as *oor) and

o,i+ed to se,, it) the rst to %hom I a**,ied of8

fered me thirt( ounces) the second t%ent() and the

third ten" !ad as these oers %ere) I %as so ,ind

that I %as +oin+ to stri>e a ar+ain) %hen a *rince

of 'ircania came to !a(,on) and ra&a+ed a,, in his

%a(" 1( house %as rst sac>ed and then urned"

#'a&in+ thus ,ost m( mone() m( %ife) and m(

house) I retired into this countr() %here thou no%

seest me" I ha&e endea&ored to +ain a susistence

( shin+) ut the sh ma>e a moc> of me) as %e,,

as the men" I catch noneH I die of hun+erH and

had it not een for thee) au+ust comforter) I shou,d

ha&e *erished in the ri&er"#



The sherman %as not a,,o%ed to +i&e this ,on+

account %ithout interru*tion" At e&er( moment)

3adi+) mo&ed and trans*orted) said .

#What) >no%est thou nothin+ of the Gueen$s

fate#

#No) m( ,ord)# re*,ied the sherman) #ut I

>no% that neither the Gueen nor 3adi+ ha&e *aid

me for m( cream cheesesH that I ha&e ,ost m( %ife)

and am no% reduced to des*air"#

#I Matter m(se,f)# said 3adi+) #that thou %i,t

not ,ose a,, th( mone(" I ha&e heard of this 3adi+H

he is an honest man) and if he return to !a(,on)

as he e?*ects) he %i,, +i&e thee more than he o%es

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" :

thee" !ut %ith re+ard to th( %ife) %ho is not so

honest) I ad&ise thee not to see> to reco&er her"

!e,ie&e me) +o to !a(,onH I sha,, e there efore

thee) ecause I am on horseac>) and thou art on



foot" A**,( to the i,,ustrious Cador" Te,, him

thou hast met his friend" Wait for me at his house"

oH *erha*s thou %i,t not a,%a(s e unha**("

#O) *o%erfu, Oroma2es# continued he) #thou

em*,o(est me to comfort this man" Whom %i,t

thou em*,o( to +i&e me conso,ation#

So sa(in+) he +a&e the sherman ha,f the mone(

he had rou+ht from Araia" The sherman)

struc> %ith sur*rise and ra&ished %ith Jo() >issed

the feet of the friend of Cador) and said .

#Thou art sure,( an an+e, sent from hea&en to

sa&e me#

1ean%hi,e 3adi+ continued to ma>e fresh in8

Guiries) and to shed tears" #What m( ,ord)# cried

the sherman) #and art thou then so unha**() thou

%ho esto%est fa&ors#

#A hundred times more unha**( than thee)#

re*,ied 3adi+"

#!ut ho% is it *ossi,e)# said the +ood man)

#that the +i&er can e more %retched than the re8



cei&er#

#!ecause)# re*,ied 3adi+) #th( +reatest miser(

arose from *o&ert() and mine is seated in the heart"#

#Did Orcan ta>e th( %ife from thee# said the

sherman"

This %ord reca,,ed to 3adi+$s mind the %ho,e


of his ad&entures" 'e re*eated the cata,o+ue of

his misfortunes) e+innin+ %ith the Gueen$s itch)

and endin+ %ith his arri&a, at the cast,e of the ro8

er Aro+ad"

#Ah# said he to the sherman) #Orcan deser&es

to e *unishedH ut it is common,( such men as

those that are the fa&orites of fortune" 'o%e&er)

+o thou to the house of Lord Cador) and there

a%ait m( arri&a,"#

The( then *arted" The sherman %a,>ed) than>8



in+ hea&en for the ha**iness of his conditionH and

3adi+ rode) accusin+ fortune for the hardness of

his ,ot"

C'APTER 9VI"

T'E !ASILISK"

Arri&in+ in a eautifu, meado%) he there sa%

se&era, %omen) %ho %ere searchin+ for somethin+

%ith +reat a**,ication" 'e too> the ,iert( to a*8

*roach one of them) and to as> if he mi+ht ha&e

the honor to assist them in their search"

#Ta>e care that thou dost not)# re*,ied the S(r8

ian" What %e are searchin+ for can e touched

on,( ( %omen"#

#Stran+e)# said 3adi+" #1a( I *resume to as>

thee %hat it is that %omen on,( are *ermitted to

touch#

#It is a asi,is>)# said she"



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" B

#A asi,is>) madam and for %hat *ur*ose) *ra()

dost thou see> for a asi,is>#

It is for our ,ord and master) O+u,) %hose cast,e

thou seest on the an> of that ri&er) at the end of

that meado%" We are his most hum,e s,a&es"

The ,ord O+u, is sic>" 'is *h(sician has ordered

him to eat a asi,is>) ste%ed in rose8%ater) and as

it is a &er( rare anima,) and can on,( e ta>en (

%omen) the ,ord O+u, hath *romised to choose for

his %e,,8e,o&ed %ife the %oman that sha,, rin+

him a asi,is>" Let me +o on in m( search) for

thou seest %hat I sha,, ,ose if I am foresta,,ed (

m( com*anions"#

3adi+ ,eft her and the other Ass(rians to search

for their asi,is>) and continued his Journe(

throu+h the meado%H %hen) comin+ to the rin>

of a sma,, ri&u,et) he found a ,ad( ,(in+ on the

+rass) and %ho %as not searchin+ for an(thin+"

'er *erson seemed maJestic) ut her face %as co&8

ered %ith a &ei," She %as inc,ined to%ard the ri&8



u,et) and *rofound si+hs *roceeded from her osom"

In her hand she he,d a sma,, rod) %ith %hich she

%as tracin+ characters on the ne sand that ,a(

et%een the turf and the roo>"

3adi+ had the curiosit( to e?amine %hat this

%oman %as %ritin+" 'e dre% near" 'e sa% the ,etter

3) then an A H he %as astonished H then a**eared a D H

he started" !ut ne&er %as sur*rise eGua, to his %hen

he sa% the ,ast t%o ,etters of his name" 'e stood


for some time immo&a,e" At ,ast) rea>in+ si,ence

%ith a fa,terin+ &oice.

#Oh) +enerous ,ad( *ardon a stran+er) an un8

fortunate man) for *resumin+ to as> thee ( %hat

sur*risin+ ad&enture I here nd the name of 3adi+

traced out ( th( di&ine hand #

At this &oice) and these %ords) the ,ad( ,ifted u*

the &ei, %ith a trem,in+ hand) ,oo>ed at 3adi+)

sent forth a cr( of tenderness) sur*rise) and Jo() and



sin>in+ under the &arious emotions %hich at once

assau,ted her sou,) fe,, s*eech,ess into his arms" It

%as Astarte herse,fH it %as the Gueen of !a(,onH

it %as she %hom 3adi+ adored) and %hom he had

re*roached himse,f for adorin+H it %as she %hose

misfortunes he had so dee*,( ,amented) and for

%hose fate he had een so an?ious,( concerned"

'e %as for a moment de*ri&ed of the use of his

senses) %hen he had ?ed his e(es on those of

Astarte) %hich no% e+an to o*en a+ain %ith a ,an8

+uor mi?ed %ith confusion and tenderness"

#O (e immorta, *o%ers # cried he) #%ho *re8

side o&er the fates of %ea> morta,s) do (e indeed

restore Astarte to me At %hat a time) in %hat a

*,ace) and in %hat a condition do I a+ain eho,d

her#

'e fe,, on his >nees efore Astarte) and ,aid his

face in the dust at her feet" The Gueen of !a(,on

raised him u*) and made him sit ( her side on the

rin> of the ri&u,et" She freGuent,( %i*ed her e(es)

from %hich the tears continued to Mo% afresh" She




t%ent( times resumed her discourse) %hich her

si+hs as often interru*ted" She as>ed ( %hat

stran+e accident the( %ere rou+ht to+ether) and

sudden,( *re&ented his ans%er ( other Guestions"

She %ai&ed the account of her o%n misfortunes)

" and desired to e informed of those of 3adi+" At

,ast) oth of them ha&in+ a ,itt,e com*osed the tu8

mu,t of their sou,s) 3adi+ acGuainted her in a fe%

%ords ( %hat ad&enture he %as rou+ht into that

meado%"

#!ut) O unha**( and res*ecta,e Gueen) ( %hat

means do I nd thee in this ,one,( *,ace) c,othed in

the hait of a s,a&e) and accom*anied ( other

fema,e s,a&es) %ho are searchin+ for a asi,is>)

%hich) ( order of the *h(sician) is to e ste%ed in

rose8%ater#

#Whi,e the( are searchin+ for their asi,is>)#

said the fair Astarte) #I %i,, inform thee of a,, I

ha&e suered) for %hich hea&en has suQcient,(

recom*ensed me ( restorin+ thee to m( si+ht"

Thou >no%est that the >in+) m( husand) %as

&e?ed to see thee) the most amia,e of man>ind)



and that for this reason he one ni+ht reso,&ed to

stran+,e thee and *oison me" Thou >no%est ho%

hea&en *ermitted m( ,itt,e mute to inform me of

the orders of his su,ime maJest(" 'ard,( had the

faithfu, Cador o,i+ed thee to de*art) in oedience

to m( command) %hen he &entured to enter m(

a*artment at midni+ht ( a secret *assa+e" 'e

carried me o) and conducted me to the tem*,e of


Oroma2es) %here the ma+i) his rother) shut me

u* in that hu+e statue) %hose ase reaches to the

foundation of the tem*,e) and %hose to* rises to the

summit of the dome" I %as there uried in a man8

ner) ut %as ser&ed ( the ma+i) and su**,ied %ith

a,, the necessaries of ,ife" At rea> of da( his

maJest($s a*othecar( entered m( chamer %ith a

*otion com*osed of a mi?ture of henane) o*ium)

hem,oc>) ,ac> he,,eore) and aconiteH and another

oQcer %ent to thine %ith a o%strin+ of ,ue si,>"

Neither of us %ere to e found" Cador) the etter

to decei&e the >in+) *retended to come and accuse

us oth" 'e said that thou hadst ta>en the road



to the Indies) and I that to 1em*hisH on %hich

the >in+$s +uards %ere immediate,( des*atched in

*ursuit of us oth"

#The couriers %ho *ursued me did not >no% me"

I had hard,( e&er sho%n m( face to an( ut thee)

and to thee on,( in the *resence and ( the order of

m( husand" The( conducted themse,&es in the

*ursuit ( the descri*tion that had een +i&en of

m( *erson" On the frontiers of E+(*t the( met

%ith a %oman of the same stature as mine) and *os8

sessed *erha*s of +reater charms" She %as %ee*8

in+ and %anderin+" The( made no dout ut that

this %oman %as the Gueen of !a(,on) and accord8

in+,( rou+ht her to 1oadar" Their mista>e at

rst thre% the >in+ into a &io,ent *assionH ut

ha&in+ &ie%ed this %oman more attenti&e,() he

found her e?treme,( handsome) and %as comforted"


She %as ca,,ed 1issouf" I ha&e since een in8

formed that this name) in the E+(*tian ,an+ua+e)

si+nies the ca*ricious fair one" She %as so in



rea,it() ut she had as much cunnin+ as ca*rice"

She *,eased 1oadar) and +ained such an ascend8

enc( o&er him as to ma>e him choose her for his

%ife" 'er character then e+an to a**ear in its

true co,ors" She +a&e herse,f u*) %ithout scru*,e)

to a,, the frea>s of a %anton ima+ination" She

%ou,d ha&e o,i+ed the chief of the ma+i) %ho %as

o,d and +out() to dance efore her) and) on his

refusa,) she *ersecuted him %ith the most unre,ent8

in+ crue,t(" She ordered her master of the horse

to ma>e her a *ie of s%eetmeats" In &ain did he

re*resent that he %as not a *astr(8coo>" 'e %as

o,i+ed to ma>e it) and ,ost his *,ace ecause it %as

a>ed a ,itt,e too hard" The *ost of master of the

horse she +a&e to her d%arf) and that of chance,,or

to her *a+e" In this manner did she +o&ern !a(8

,on" E&er(od( re+retted the ,oss of me" The

>in+) %ho) ti,, the moment of his reso,&in+ to

*oison me and stran+,e thee) had een a to,era,(

+ood >ind of man) seemed no% to ha&e dro%ned a,,

his &irtues in his immoderate fondness for this ca*ri8

cious fair one" 'e came to the tem*,e on the +reat

da( of the feast he,d in honor of the sacred re" I

sa% him im*,ore the +ods in eha,f of 1issouf) at the

feet of the statue in %hich I %as enc,osed" I raised

m( &oiceH I cried out.



# $The +ods reJect the *ra(ers of a >in+ %ho is

<= 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

no% ecome a t(rant) and %ho attem*ted to mur8

der a reasona,e %ife) in order to marr( a %oman

remar>a,e for nothin+ ut her fo,,( and e?tra&a8

+ance"$

#At these %ords 1oadar %as confounded) and

his head ecame disordered" The orac,e I had *ro8

nounced) and the t(rann( of 1issouf) cons*ired to

de*ri&e him of his Jud+ment) and in a fe% da(s his

reason entire,( forsoo> him"

#'is madness) %hich seemed to e the Jud+ment

of hea&en) %as the si+na, for a re&o,t" The *eo*,e

rose) and ran to armsH and !a(,on) %hich had

een so ,on+ immersed in id,eness and eeminac()

ecame the theatre of a ,ood( ci&i, %ar" I %as

ta>en from the heart of m( statue and *,aced at the

head of a *art(" Cador Me% to 1em*his to rin+

thee ac> to !a(,on" The *rince of 'ircania)



informed of these fata, e&ents) returned %ith his

arm() and made a third *art( in Cha,daea" 'e at8

tac>ed the >in+) %ho Med efore him %ith his ca8

*ricious E+(*tian" 1oadar died) *ierced %ith

%ounds" 1issouf fe,, into the hands of the con8

Gueror" I m(se,f had the misfortune to e ta>en (

a *art( of 'ircanians) %ho conducted me to their

*rince$s tent) at the &er( moment that 1issouf %as

rou+ht efore him" Thou %i,t dout,ess e

*,eased to hear that the *rince thou+ht me more

eautifu, than the E+(*tianH ut thou %i,t e sorr(

to e informed that he desi+ned me for his sera+,io"

'e to,d me) %ith a ,unt and reso,ute air) that as

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" <;

soon as he had nished a mi,itar( e?*edition)

%hich he %as Just +oin+ to underta>e) he %ou,d

come to me" /ud+e ho% +reat must ha&e een m(

+rief" 1( ties %ith 1oadar %ere a,read( dis8

so,&edH I mi+ht ha&e een the %ife of 3adi+H and

I %as fa,,en into the hands of a ararian" I an8

s%ered him %ith a,, the *ride %hich m( hi+h ran>

and no,e sentiment cou,d ins*ire" I had a,%a(s



heard it aQrmed that hea&en stam*ed on *ersons

of m( condition a mar> of +randeur) %hich) %ith

a sin+,e %ord or +,ance) cou,d reduce to the ,o%,i8

ness of the most *rofound res*ect those rash and

for%ard *ersons %ho *resume to de&iate from the

ru,es of *o,iteness" I s*o>e ,i>e a Gueen) ut %as

treated ,i>e a maid8ser&ant" The 'ircanian) %ith8

out e&en dei+nin+ to s*ea> to me) to,d his ,ac>

eunuch that I %as im*ertinent) ut that he thou+ht

me handsome" 'e ordered him to ta>e care of me

and to *ut me under the re+imen of fa&orites) so

that) m( com*,e?ion ein+ im*ro&ed) I mi+ht e the

more %orth( of his fa&ors %hen he shou,d e at

,eisure to honor me %ith them" I to,d him that)

rather than sumit to his desires) I %ou,d *ut an

end to m( ,ife" 'e re*,ied) %ith a smi,e) that

%omen) he e,ie&ed) %ere not so ,oodthirst() and

that he %as accustomed to such &io,ent e?*res8

sionsH and then ,eft me %ith the air of a man %ho

had Just *ut another *arrot into his a&iar(" What

a state for the rst Gueen of the uni&erse) and) %hat

is more) for a heart de&oted to 3adi+#

<@ 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"



At these %ords 3adi+ thre% himse,f at her feet)

and athed them %ith his tears" Astarte raised him

%ith +reat tenderness) and thus continued her

stor( .

#I no% sa% m(se,f in the *o%er of a ararian)

and ri&a, to the foo,ish %oman %ith %hom I %as con8

ned" She +a&e me an account of her ad&entures

in E+(*t" From the descri*tion she +a&e of (our

*erson) from the time) from the dromedar( on

%hich (ou %ere mounted) and from e&er( other cir8

cumstance) I inferred that 3adi+ %as the man %ho

had fou+ht for her" I douted not ut that (ou

%ere at 1em*his) and therefore reso,&ed to re*air

thither" $!eautifu, 1issouf)$ said I) $thou art more

handsome than I) and %i,, *,ease the *rince of 'ir8

cania much etter" Assist me in contri&in+ the

means of m( esca*e" Thou %i,t then rei+n a,one"

Thou %i,t at once ma>e me ha**( and rid th(se,f

of a ri&a,"$

#1issouf concerted %ith me the means of m(

Mi+htH and I de*arted secret,( %ith a fema,e s,a&e"

As I a**roached the frontiers of Araia) a famous

roer) named Aro+ad) sei2ed me and so,d me to



some merchants %ho rou+ht me to this cast,e

%here Lord O+u, resides" 'e ou+ht me %ithout

>no%in+ %ho I %as" 'e is a &o,u*tuar() ami8

tious of nothin+ ut +ood ,i&in+) and thin>s that

od sent him into the %or,d for no other *ur*ose

than to sit at ta,e" 'e is so e?treme,( cor*u,ent)

that he is a,%a(s in dan+er of suocation" 'is *h(8

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" <:

sician) %ho has ut ,itt,e credit %ith him %hen he

has a +ood di+estion) +o&erns him %ith a des*otic

s%a( %hen he has eaten too much" 'e has *er8

suaded him that a asi,is> ste%ed in rose8%ater %i,,

eect a com*,ete cure" The ,ord O+u, hath *rom8

ised his hand to the fema,e s,a&e that rin+s him a

asi,is>" Thou seest that I ,ea&e them to &ie %ith

each other in meritin+ this honorH and ne&er %as I

,ess desirous of rindin+ the asi,is> than since

hea&en hath restored thee to m( si+ht"#

This account %as succeeded ( a ,on+ con&ersa8

tion et%een Astarte and 3adi+) consistin+ of e&er(8

thin+ that their ,on+ su**ressed sentiments) their



+reat suerin+s) and their mutua, ,o&e) cou,d in8

s*ire into hearts the most no,e and tenderH and

the +enii %ho *reside o&er ,o&e carried their %ords

to the s*here of Venus"

The %omen returned to O+u, %ithout ha&in+

found the asi,is>" 3adi+ %as introduced to this

mi+ht( ,ord) and s*o>e to him in the fo,,o%in+

terms.

#1a( immorta, hea,th descend from hea&en to

,ess a,, th( da(s I am a *h(sician" At the rst

re*ort of th( indis*osition I Me% to th( cast,e) and

ha&e no% rou+ht thee a asi,is> ste%ed in rose8

%ater" Not that I *retend to marr( thee" A,, I

as> is the ,iert( of a !a(,onian s,a&e) %ho hath

een in th( *ossession for a fe% da(sH and if I

shou,d not e so ha**( as to cure thee) ma+nicent

< 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

Lord O+u,) I consent to remain a s,a&e in her

*,ace"#



The *ro*osa, %as acce*ted" Astarte set out for

!a(,on %ith 3adi+$s ser&ant) *romisin+) imme8

diate,( u*on her arri&a,) to send a courier to inform

him of a,, that had ha**ened" Their *artin+ %as

as tender as their meetin+" The moment of meet8

in+) and that of *artin+ are the t%o +reatest e*ochas

of ,ife) as saith the +reat oo> of 3end" 3adi+

,o&ed the Gueen %ith as much ardor as he *ro8

fessedH and the Gueen ,o&ed 3adi+ more than she

thou+ht *ro*er to ac>no%,ed+e"

1ean%hi,e 3adi+ s*o>e thus to O+u,.

#1( ,ord) m( asi,is> is not to e eatenH a,, its

&irtues must enter throu+h th( *ores" I ha&e in8

c,osed it in a ,itt,e a,,) ,o%n u* and co&ered %ith

a ne s>in" Thou must stri>e this a,, %ith a,, th(

mi+ht) and I must stri>e it ac> for a considera,e

timeH and ( oser&in+ this re+imen for a fe%

da(s) thou %i,t see the eects of m( art"# .

The rst da( O+u, %as out of reath) and

thou+ht he shou,d ha&e died %ith fati+ue" The

second he %as ,ess fati+ued) and s,e*t etter" In

ei+ht da(s he reco&ered a,, the stren+th) a,, the hea,th)

a,, the a+i,it( and cheerfu,ness of his most a+reea,e



(ears"

#Thou hast *,a(ed at a,,) and hast een tem*er8

ate)# said 3adi+" #Kno% that there is no such thin+

in nature as a asi,is>H that tem*erance and e?er8

cise are the t%o +reat *reser&ati&es of hea,thH and

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" <B

that the art of reconci,in+ intem*erance and hea,th

is as chimerica, as the *hi,oso*her$s stone) Judicia,

astro,o+() or the theo,o+( of the ma+i"#

O+u,$s rst *h(sician oser&in+ ho% dan+erous

this man mi+ht *ro&e to the medica, art) formed a

desi+n) in conJunction %ith the a*othecar() to send

3adi+ to search for a asi,is> in the other %or,d"

Thus) after ha&in+ suered such a ,on+ train of

ca,amities on account of his +ood actions) he %as

no% u*on the *oint of ,osin+ his ,ife) for curin+ a

+,uttonous ,ord" 'e %as in&ited to an e?ce,,ent

dinner) and %as to ha&e een *oisoned in the second

courseH ut) durin+ the rst) he ha**i,( recei&ed a

courier from the fair Astarte"



#When one is e,o&ed ( a eautifu, %oman)#

sa(s the +reat 3oroaster) #he hath a,%a(s the +ood

fortune to e?tricate himse,f out of e&er( >ind of

diQcu,t( and dan+er"#

C'APTER 9VII"

T'E CO1!ATS"

The Gueen %as recei&ed at !a(,on %ith a,,

those trans*orts of Jo( %hich are e&er fe,t on the

return of a eautifu, *rincess %ho hath een in&o,&ed

in ca,amities" !a(,on %as no% in +reater tran8

Gui,,it(" The *rince of 'ircania had een >i,,ed in

att,e" The &ictorious !a(,onians dec,ared that

the Gueen shou,d marr( the man %hom the( shou,d

+4 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

choose for their so&erei+n" The( %ere reso,&ed

that the rst *,ace in the %or,d) that of ein+ hus8



and to Astarte and >in+ of !a(,on) shou,d not

de*end on caa,s and intri+ues" The( s%ore to

ac>no%,ed+e for >in+ the man %ho) u*on tria,)

shou,d e found to e *ossessed of the +reatest

&a,or and the +reatest %isdom" Accordin+,() at the

distance of a fe% ,ea+ues from the cit() a s*acious

*,ace %as mar>ed out for the ,ists) surrounded %ith

ma+nicent am*hitheatres" Thither the comat8

ants %ere to re*air in com*,ete armor" Each of

them had a se*arate a*artment ehind the am*hi8

theatres) %here the( %ere neither to e seen nor

>no%n ( an( one" Each %as to encounter four

>ni+htsH and those that %ere so ha**( as to con8

Guer four) %ere then to en+a+e %ith one anotherH

so that he %ho remained the ,ast master of the e,d)

%ou,d e *roc,aimed conGueror at the +ames" Four

da(s after he %as to return to the same *,ace) and

to e?*,ain the eni+mas *ro*osed ( the ma+i" If

he did not e?*,ain the eni+mas) he %as not >in+H

and the runnin+ at the ,ances %as to e+in afresh)

ti,, a man shou,d e found %ho %as conGueror in

oth these comats H for the( %ere aso,ute,( deter8

mined to ha&e a >in+ *ossessed of the +reatest %is8

dom and the most in&inci,e coura+e" The Gueen

%as a,, the %hi,e to e strict,( +uarded" She %as

on,( a,,o%ed to e *resent at the +ames) and e&en



there she %as to e co&ered %ith a &ei, H ut %as not

a,,o%ed to s*ea> to an( of the com*etitors) that so

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" <

the( mi+ht neither recei&e fa&or nor suer inJustice"

These *articu,ars Astarte communicated to her

,o&er) ho*in+ that) in order to otain her) he %ou,d

sho% himse,f *ossessed of +reater coura+e and %is8

dom than an( other *erson"

3adi+ set out on his Journe() eseechin+ Venus

to fortif( his coura+e and en,i+hten his understand8

in+" 'e arri&ed on the an>s of the Eu*hrates on

the e&e of this +reat da(" 'e caused his de&ice to

e inscried amon+ those of the comatants) con8

cea,in+ his face and his name) as the ,a% ordainedH

and then %ent to re*ose himse,f in the a*artment

that fe,, to him ( ,ot" 'is friend) Cador) %ho)

after the fruit,ess search he had made for him in

E+(*t) had no% returned to !a(,on) sent to his

tent a com*,ete suit of armor) %hich %as a *resent

from the GueenH as a,so from himse,f) one of the

nest horses in Persia" 3adi+ *resent,( *ercei&ed



that these *resents %ere sent ( Astarte H and from

thence his coura+e deri&ed fresh stren+th) and his

,o&e the most animatin+ ho*es"

Ne?t da() the Gueen ein+ seated under a cano*(

of Je%e,s) and the am*hitheatres ,,ed %ith a,, the

+ent,emen and ,adies of ran> in !a(,on) the comat8

ants a**eared in the circus" Each of them came

and ,aid his de&ice at the feet of the +rand ma+i"

The( dre% their de&ices ( ,otH and that of 3adi+

%as the ,ast" The rst %ho ad&anced %as a certain

,ord) named Itoad) &er( rich and &er( &ain) ut

*ossessed of ,itt,e coura+e) of ,ess address) and

Vo," @

< 3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate"

scarce,( of an( Jud+ment at a,," 'is ser&ants had

*ersuaded him that such a man as he ou+ht to e

>in+" 'e had said in re*,() #Such a man as I

ou+ht to rei+n# H and thus the( had armed him

ca*8a8*ie" 'e %ore an armor of +o,d ename,,ed

%ith +reen) a *,ume of +reen feathers) and a ,ance



adorned %ith +reen rions" It %as instant,( *er8

cei&ed ( the manner in %hich Itoad mana+ed his

horse) that it %as not for such a man as him that

hea&en reser&ed the sce*tre of !a(,on" The rst

>ni+ht that ran a+ainst him thre% him out of his

sadd,eH the second ,aid him Mat on his horse$s ut8

toc>s) %ith his ,e+s in the air) and his arms e?8

tended" Itoad reco&ered himse,f) ut %ith so ad

a +race) that the %ho,e am*hitheatre urst out

a8,au+hin+" The third >ni+ht disdained to ma>e

use of his ,anceH ut) ma>in+ a *ass at him) too>

him ( the ri+ht ,e+) and %hee,in+ him ha,f round)

,aJd him *rostrate on the sand" The sGuires of the

+ames ran to him ,au+hin+) and re*,aced him in

his sadd,e" The fourth comatant too> him ( the

,eft ,e+) and tum,ed him do%n on the other side"

'e %as conducted ac> %ith scornfu, shouts to his

tent) %here) accordin+ to the ,a%) he %as to *ass

the ni+ht H and as he ,im*ed a,on+ %ith +reat diQ8

cu,t() he said . #What an ad&enture for such a man

as I#

The other >ni+hts acGuitted themse,&es %ith

+reater ai,it( and success" Some of them con8

Guered t%o comatantsH a fe% of them &anGuished



3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" <<

threeH ut none ut Prince Otamus conGuered

four" At ,ast 3adi+ fou+ht in his turn" 'e suc8

cessi&e,( thre% four >ni+hts o their sadd,es %ith

a,, the +race ima+ina,e" It then remained to e

seen %ho shou,d e conGueror) Otamus or 3adi+"

The arms of the rst %ere +o,d and ,ue) %ith a

*,ume of the same co,orH those of the ,ast %ere

%hite" The %ishes of a,, the s*ectators %ere di&ided

et%een the >ni+ht in ,ue and the >ni+ht in

%hite" The Gueen) %hose heart %as in a &io,ent

*a,*itation) oered *ra(ers to hea&en for the suc8

cess of the %hite co,or"

The t%o cham*ions made their *asses and &au,ts

%ith so much a+i,it() the( mutua,,( +a&e and re8

cei&ed such de?terous ,o%s %ith their ,ances) and

sat so rm,( in their sadd,es) that e&er(od( ut

the Gueen %ished there mi+ht e t%o >in+s in

!a(,on" At ,en+th) their horses ein+ tired and

their ,ances ro>en) 3adi+ had recourse to this

strata+em . 'e *asses ehind the ,ue *rince H

s*rin+s u*on the uttoc>s of his horseH sei2es him



( the midd,eH thro%s him on the earthH *,aces

himse,f in the sadd,e) and %hee,s around Otamus as

he ,a( e?tended on the +round" A,, the am*hi8

theatre cried out) #Victor( to the %hite >ni+ht#

Otamus rises in a &io,ent *assion and dra%s his

s%ordH 3adi+ ,ea*s from his horse %ith his sare

in his hand" !oth of them are no% on the +round)

en+a+ed in a ne% comat) %here stren+th and

a+i,Jt( trium*h ( turns" The *,umes of their he,8

ioo 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

mets) the studs of their race,ets) and the rin+s of

their armor are dri&en to a +reat distance ( the

&io,ence of a thousand furious ,o%s" The( stri>e

%ith the *oint and the ed+eH to the ri+ht) to the

,eftH on the head) on the reastH the( retreatH the(

ad&anceH the( measure s%ordsH the( c,oseH the(

sei2e each otherH the( end ,i>e ser*entsH the(

attac> ,i>e ,ionsH and the re e&er( moment

Mashes from their ,o%s" At ,ast 3adi+) ha&in+ re8

co&ered his s*irits) sto*sH ma>es a feintH ,ea*s

u*on Otamus H thro%s him on the +round) and dis8

arms himH and Otamus cries out.



#It is thou a,one) O %hite >ni+ht) that ou+htest

to rei+n o&er !a(,on#

The Gueen %as no% at the hei+ht of her Jo("

The >ni+ht in ,ue armor) and the >ni+ht in %hite)

%ere conducted each to his o%n a*artment) as %e,,

as a,, the others) accordin+ to the intention of the

,a%" 1utes came to %ait on them) and to ser&e them

at ta,e" It ma( e easi,( su**osed that the Gueen$s

,itt,e mute %aited on 3adi+" The( %ere then ,eft

to themse,&es to enJo( the s%eets of re*ose ti,, ne?t

mornin+) at %hich time the conGueror %as to rin+

his de&ice to the +rand ma+i) to com*are it %ith

that %hich he had ,eft) and ma>e himse,f >no%n"

3adi+) thou+h dee*,( in ,o&e) %as so much

fati+ued that he cou,d not he,* s,ee*in+" Itoad)

%ho ,a( near him) ne&er c,osed his e(es" 'e arose

in the ni+ht) entered his a*artment) too> the %hite

arms and the de&ice of 3adi+) and *ut his +reen

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;=;



armor in their *,ace" At rea> of da() he %ent

o,d,( to the +rand ma+i) to dec,are that so +reat a

man as he %as conGueror" This %as ,itt,e e?*ected H

ho%e&er) he %as *roc,aimed %hi,e 3adi+ %as sti,,

as,ee*" Astarte) sur*rised and ,,ed %ith des*air)

returned to !a(,on" The am*hitheatre %as a,most

em*t( %hen 3adi+ a%o>eH he sou+ht for his arms

ut cou,d nd none ut the +reen armor" With this

he %as o,i+ed to co&er himse,f) ha&in+ nothin+

e,se near him" Astonished and enra+ed) he *ut it

on in a furious *assion and ad&anced in this

eGui*a+e"

The *eo*,e that sti,, remained in the am*hi8

theatre and the circus recei&ed him %ith hoots and

hisses" The( surrounded him) and insu,ted him

to his face" Ne&er did man suer such crue, morti8

cations" 'e ,ost his *atienceH %ith his sare he

dis*ersed such of the *o*u,ace as dared to aront

himH ut he >ne% not %hat course to ta>e" 'e

cou,d not see the GueenH he cou,d not c,aim the

%hite armor she had sent him %ithout e?*osin+

herH and thus) %hi,e she %as *,un+ed in +rief) he

%as ,,ed %ith fur( and distraction" 'e %a,>ed

on the an>s of the Eu*hrates) fu,,( *ersuaded that

his star had destined him to ine&ita,e miser(H and



re&o,&in+ in his mind a,, his misfortunes) from the

ad&enture of the %oman %ho hated one8e(ed men)

to that of his armor"

#This)# said he) #is the conseGuence of m( ha&8

in+ s,e*t too ,on+" 'ad I s,e*t ,ess) I shou,d no%

IO@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

ha&e een >in+ of !a(,on) and in *ossession of

Astarte" Kno%,ed+e) &irtue) and coura+e) ha&e

hitherto ser&ed on,( to ma>e me misera,e"#

'e then ,et fa,, some secret murmurin+s a+ainst

Pro&idence) and %as tem*ted to e,ie&e that the

%or,d %as +o&erned ( a crue, destin() %hich o*8

*ressed the +ood) and *ros*ered >ni+hts in +reen

armor"

C'APTER 9VIII"

T'E 'ER1IT"



One of 3adi+$ s +reatest mortications %as his

ein+ o,i+ed to %ear that +reen armor %hich had

e?*osed him to such contume,ious treatment" A

merchant ha**enin+ to *ass () he so,d it to him for a

triMe) and ou+ht a +o%n and a ,on+ onnet" In

this +ar he *roceeded a,on+ the an>s of the

Eu*hrates) ,,ed %ith des*air) and secret,( accusin+

Pro&idence) %hich thus continued to *ersecute him

%ith unremittin+ se&erit("

Whi,e he %as thus saunterin+ a,on+) he met a

hermit) %hose %hite and &enera,e eard hun+

do%n to his +ird,e" 'e he,d a oo> in his hand)

%hich he read %ith +reat attention" 3adi+ sto**ed)

and made him a *rofound oeisance" The hermit

returned the com*,iment %ith such a no,e and en8

+a+in+ air) that 3adi+ had the curiosit( to enter

into con&ersation %ith him" 'e as>ed him %hat

oo> it %as that he had een readin+"

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;=:

#It is the oo> of destinies)# said the hermit"



#Wou,dst thou choose to ,oo> into it#

'e *ut the oo> into the hands of 3adi+) %ho)

thorou+h,( &ersed as he %as in se&era, ,an+ua+es)

cou,d not deci*her a sin+,e character of it" This

on,( redou,ed his curiosit("

#Thou seemest)# said the +ood father) #to e in

+reat distress"#

#A,as# re*,ied 3adi+) #I ha&e ut too much

reason"#

#If thou %i,t *ermit me to accom*an( thee)# re8

sumed the o,d man) #*erha*s I ma( e of some

ser&ice to thee" I ha&e often *oured the a,m of

conso,ation into the ,eedin+ heart of the unha**("#

3adi+ fe,t himse,f ins*ired %ith res*ect for the

di+nit() the 8eard) and the oo> of the hermit" 'e

found) in the course of the con&ersation) that he

%as *ossessed of su*erior de+rees of >no%,ed+e"

The hermit ta,>ed of fate) of Justice) of mora,s) of the

chief +ood) of human %ea>ness) and of &irtue and

&ice) %ith such a s*irited and mo&in+ e,oGuence)

that 3adi+ fe,t himse,f dra%n to%ard him ( an



irresisti,e charm" 'e earnest,( entreated the fa&or

of his com*an( ti,, their return to !a(,on"

#I as> the same fa&or of thee)# said the o,d man"

#S%ear to me ( Oroma2es that) %hate&er I do)

thou %i,t not ,ea&e me for some da(s"#

3adi+ s%ore) and the( set out to+ether" In the

e&enin+ the t%o tra&e,,ers arri&ed at a su*er cast,e"

The hermit entreated a hos*ita,e rece*tion for him8

IO 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

se,f and the (oun+ man %ho accom*anied him"

The *orter) %hom one mi+ht ha&e mista>en for a

+reat ,ord) introduced them %ith a >ind of disdain8

fu, ci&i,it(" 'e *resented them to a *rinci*a,

domestic) %ho sho%ed them his master$s ma+ni8

cent a*artments" The( %ere admitted to the ,o%er

end of the ta,e) %ithout ein+ honored %ith the

,east mar> of re+ard ( the ,ord of the cast,eH ut

the( %ere ser&ed) ,i>e the rest) %ith de,icac( and

*rofusion" The( %ere then *resented) in a +o,den

asin adorned %ith emera,ds and ruies) %ith %ater



to %ash their hands" At ,ast the( %ere conducted

to ed in a eautifu, a*artmentH and in the mornin+

a domestic rou+ht each of them a *iece of +o,d)

after %hich the( too> their ,ea&e and de*arted"

#The master of the house)# said 3adi+) as the(

%ere *roceedin+ on their Journe() #a**ears to e a

+enerous man) thou+h some%hat too *roud" 'e

no,( *erforms the duties of hos*ita,it("#

At that instant he oser&ed that a >ind of ,ar+e

*oc>et) %hich the hermit had) %as ,,ed and dis8

tendedH and u*on ,oo>in+ more narro%,() he found

that it contained the +o,den asin adorned %ith

*recious stones) %hich the hermit had sto,en" 'e

durst not then ta>e an( notice of itH ut he %as

,,ed %ith a stran+e sur*rise"

Aout noon the hermit came to the door of a

*a,tr( house) inhaited ( a rich miser) and e++ed

the fa&or of a hos*ita,e rece*tion for a fe% hours"

An o,d ser&ant) in a tattered +ar) recei&ed them

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;=B



%ith a ,unt and rude air) and ,ed them into the

sta,e) %here he +a&e them some rotten o,i&es) sour

%ine) and mou,d( read" The hermit ate and dran>

%ith as much seemin+ satisfaction as he had done

the e&enin+ efore) and then addressin+ himse,f to

the o,d ser&ant %ho %atched them oth to *re&ent

them stea,in+ an(thin+) and had rude,( *ressed

them to de*art) he +a&e 'im the t%o *ieces of +o,d

he had recei&ed in the mornin+) and than>ed him

for his +reat ci&i,it("

#Pra()# added he) #a,,o% me to s*ea> to th(

master"#

The ser&ant) ,,ed %ith astonishment) introduced

the t%o tra&e,,ers"

#1a+nicent ,ord# said the hermit) #I cannot

ut return thee m( most hum,e than>s for the

no,e manner in %hich thou hast entertained us"

!e *,eased to acce*t of this +o,den asin as a sma,,

mar> of m( +ratitude"#

The miser started) and %as read( to fa,, ac>8

%ards H ut the hermit) %ithout +i&in+ him time to



reco&er from his sur*rise) instant,( de*arted %ith

his (oun+ fe,,o% tra&e,,er"

#Father)# said 3adi+) #%hat is the meanin+ of

a,, this Thou seemest to me to e entire,( dier8

ent from other men" Thou stea,est a +o,den asin

adorned %ith *recious stones from a ,ord %ho re8

cei&ed thee ma+nicent,() and +i&est it to a miser

%ho treats thee %ith indi+nit("#

#Son)# re*,ied the o,d man) #this ma+nicent

io4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

,ord) %ho recei&es stran+ers on,( from &anit( and

ostentation) %i,, here( e rendered more %iseH

and the miser %i,, ,earn to *ractise the duties of

hos*ita,it(" !e sur*rised at nothin+) ut fo,,o%

me"#

3adi+ >ne% not as (et %hether he %as in com8

*an( %ith the most foo,ish or the most *rudent of

man>indH ut the hermit s*o>e %ith such an as8

cendenc( that 3adi+) %ho %as moreo&er ound (



his oath) cou,d not refuse to fo,,o% him"

In the e&enin+ the( arri&ed at a house ui,t

%ith eGua, e,e+ance and sim*,icit() %here nothin+

sa&ored either of *rodi+a,it( or a&arice" The mas8

ter of it %as a *hi,oso*her %ho had retired from the

%or,d) and %ho cu,ti&ated in *eace the stud( of

&irtue and %isdom) %ithout an( of that ri+id and

morose se&erit( so common,( found in men of his

character" 'e had chosen to ui,d this ne house

in %hich he recei&ed stran+ers %ith a +enerosit(

free from ostentation" 'e %ent himse,f to meet

the t%o tra&e,,ers) %hom he ,ed into a commodious

a*artment) and desired them to re*ose themse,&es"

Soon after he came and in&ited them to a decent

and %e,, ordered re*ast) durin+ %hich he s*o>e

%ith +reat Jud+ment of the ,ast re&o,utions in !a(8

,on" 'e seemed to e stron+,( attached to the Gueen

and %ished that 3adi+ had a**eared in the ,ists to

contend for the cro%n"

#!ut the *eo*,e)# added he) #do not deser&e to

ha&e such a >in+ as 3adi+"#



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;=

3adi+ ,ushed and fe,t his +riefs redou,ed"

The( a+reed) in the course of the con&ersation)

that the thin+s of this %or,d did not a,%a(s ans%er

the %ishes of the %ise" The hermit maintained that

the %a(s of Pro&idence %ere inscruta,eH and that

men %ere in the %ron+ to Jud+e of a %ho,e) of

%hich the( understood ut the sma,,est *art" The(

ta,>ed of the *assions .

#Ah)# said 3adi+) #ho% fata, are their eects#

#The( are the %inds)# re*,ied the hermit) #that

s%e,, the sai,s of the shi*H it is true) the( some8

times sin> her) ut %ithout them she cou,d not sai,

at a,," The i,e ma>es us sic> and cho,ericH ut

%ithout the i,e %e cou,d not ,i&e" E&er(thin+ in

this %or,d is dan+erous) and (et e&er(thin+ in it is

necessar("#

The con&ersation turned on *,easureH and the

hermit *ro&ed that it %as a *resent esto%ed (

the Deit("

#For)# said he) #man cannot either +i&e himse,f



sensations or ideasH he recei&es a,,H and *ain and

*,easure *roceed from a forei+n cause as %e,, as

his ein+"#

3adi+ %as sur*rised to see a man %ho had een

+ui,t( of such e?tra&a+ant actions ca*a,e of rea8

sonin+ %ith so much Jud+ment and *ro*riet(" At

,ast) after a con&ersation eGua,,( entertainin+ and

instructi&e) the host ,ed ac> his t%o +uests to

their a*artment) ,essin+ hea&en for ha&in+ sent

him t%o men *ossessed of so much %isdom and

io 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

&irtue" 'e oered them mone( %ith such an eas(

and no,e air that it cou,d not *ossi,( +i&e an(

oence" The hermit refused it) and said that he

must no% ta>e his ,ea&e of him) as he *ro*osed to

set out for !a(,on in the mornin+ efore it %as

,i+ht" Their *artin+ %as tender" 3adi+ es*ecia,,(

fe,t himse,f ,,ed %ith esteem and aection for a

man of such an amia,e character"

When he and the hermit %ere a,one in their



a*artment the( s*ent a ,on+ time in *raisin+ their

host" At rea> of da( the o,d man a%a>ened his

com*anion"

#We must no% de*art)# said heH #ut %hi,e a,,

the fami,( are sti,, as,ee*) I %i,, ,ea&e this man a

mar> of m( esteem and aection"#

So sa(in+ he too> a cand,e and set re to the

house" 3adi+) struc> %ith horror) cried a,oud) and

endea&ored to hinder him from committin+ such a

ararous actionH ut the hermit dre% him a%a(

( a su*erior force) and the house %as soon in

Mames" The hermit) %ho) %ith his com*anion) %as

a,read( at a considera,e distance) ,oo>ed ac> to

the conMa+ration %ith +reat tranGui,,it("

#Than>s e to od)# said he) #the house of m(

dear host is entire,( destro(ed 'a**( man#

At these %ords 3adi+ %as at once tem*ted to

urst out in ,au+hin+) to re*roach the re&erend

father) to eat him) and to run a%a(" !ut he did

none of a,, theseH for sti,, sudued ( the *o%erfu,



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;=<

ascendenc( of the hermit) he fo,,o%ed him) in s*ite

of himse,f) to the ne?t sta+e"

This %as at the house of a charita,e and &ir8

tuous %ido%) %ho had a ne*he% fourteen (ears of

a+e) a handsome and *romisin+ (outh) and her on,(

ho*e" She *erformed the honors of the house as

%e,, as she cou,d" Ne?t da() she ordered her

ne*he% to accom*an( the stran+ers to a rid+e)

%hich ein+ ,ate,( ro>en do%n) %as ecome e?8

treme,( dan+erous in *assin+" The (oun+ man

%a,>ed efore them %ith +reat a,acrit(" As the(

%ere crossin+ the rid+e) the hermit said to the"

(outh .

#Come) I must sho% m( +ratitude to th( aunt"#

'e then too> him ( the hair) and *,un+ed him

into the ri&er" The o( san>) a**eared a+ain on the

surface of the %ater) and %as s%a,,o%ed u* ( the

current"

#O monster O thou most %ic>ed of man>ind#



cried 3adi+"

#Thou *romised to eha&e %ith +reater *a8

tience)# said the hermit) interru*tin+ him" #Kno%)

that under the ruins of that house %hich Pro&idence

hath set on re) the master hath found an immense

treasureH >no%) that this (oun+ man) %hose ,ife

Pro&idence hath shortened) %ou,d ha&e assassin8

ated his aunt in the s*ace of a (ear) and thee in that

of t%o"#

#Who to,d thee so) ararian# cried 3adi+)

#and thou+h thou hadst read this e&ent in th( oo>

no 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

of destinies) art thou *ermitted to dro%n a (outh

%ho ne&er did thee an( harm#

Whi,e the !a(,onian %as thus e?c,aimin+) he

oser&ed that the o,d man had no ,on+er a eard)

and that his countenance assumed the features and

com*,e?ion of (outh" The hermit$s hait disa*8

*eared) and four eautifu, %in+s co&ered a maJestic



od( res*,endent %ith ,i+ht"

#O sent of hea&en O di&ine an+e,# cried

3adi+) hum,( *rostratin+ himse,f on the +round)

#'ast thou then descended from the em*(rean to

teach a %ea> morta, to sumit to the eterna, decrees

of Pro&idence#

#1en)# said the an+e, /esrad) #Jud+e of a,, %ith8

out >no%in+ an(thin+H and) of a,, men) thou est

deser&est to e en,i+htened"#

3adi+ e++ed to e *ermitted to s*ea> .

#I distrust m(se,f)# said he) #ut ma( I *resume

to as> the fa&or of thee to c,ear u* one dout that

sti,, remains in m( mind" Wou,d it not ha&e een

etter to correct this (outh) and ma>e him &irtuous)

than to dro%n him#

#'ad he een &irtuous)# re*,ied /esrad) #and

enJo(ed a ,on+er ,ife) it %ou,d ha&e een his fate

to e assassinated himse,f) to+ether %ith the %ife he

%ou,d ha&e married) and the chi,d he %ou,d ha&e

had ( her"#



#!ut %h()# said 3adi+) #is it necessar( that there

shou,d e crimes and misfortunes) and that these mis8

fortunes shou,d fa,, on the +ood#

3adi+ . The 1(ster( of Fate" ; ; ;

#The %ic>ed)# re*,ied /esrad) #are a,%a(s un8

ha**(" The( ser&e to *ro&e and tr( the sma,,

numer of the Just that are scattered throu+hout the

earth H and there is no e&i, that is not *roducti&e of

some +ood"#

#!ut)# said 3adi+) #su**ose there %as nothin+

ut +ood) and no e&i, at a,,"#

#Then)# re*,ied /esrad) #this earth %ou,d e an8

other earthH the chain of e&ents %ou,d e ran+ed

in another order) and directed ( %isdon" !ut this

other order) %hich %ou,d e *erfect) can e?ist on,(

in the eterna, aode of the Su*reme !ein+) to

%hich no e&i, can a**roach" The Deit( hath cre8

ated mi,,ions of %or,ds) amon+ %hich there is not

one that resem,es another" This immense &ariet(

is the eect of his immense *o%er" There are not



t%o ,ea&es amon+ the trees of the earth) nor t%o

+,oes in the un,imited e?*anse of hea&en) that are

e?act,( simi,arH and a,, that thou seest on the ,itt,e

atom in %hich thou art orn) ou+ht to e) in its

*ro*er time and *,ace) accordin+ to the immuta,e

decrees of him %ho com*rehends a,," 1en thin>

that this chi,d) %ho hath Just *erished) is fa,,en into

the %ater ( chance) and that it is ( the same

chance that this house is urned" !ut there is no

such thin+ as chance" A,, is either a tria,) or a

*unishment) or a re%ard) or a foresi+ht" Remem8

er the sherman) %ho thou+ht himse,f the most

%retched of man>ind" Oroma2es sent thee to

;;@ 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

chan+e his fate" Cease then) frai, morta,) to dis*ute

a+ainst %hat thou ou+htest to adore"#

#!ut)# said 3adi+

As he *ronounced the %ord #!ut)# the an+e,

too> his Mi+ht to%ard the tenth s*here" 3adi+ on

his >nees adored Pro&idence) and sumitted" The



an+e, cried to him from on hi+h.

#Direct th( course to%ard !a(,on #

C'APTER 9I9"

T'E ENI1AS"

3adi+) entranced as it %ere) and ,i>e a man

aout %hose head the thunder had urst) %a,>ed

at random" 'e entered !a(,on on the &er( da(

%hen those %ho had fou+ht at the tournaments

%ere assem,ed in the +rand &estiu,e of the

*a,ace to e?*,ain the eni+mas) and to ans%er the

Guestions of the +rand ma+i" A,, the >ni+hts %ere

a,read( *resent) e?ce*t the >ni+ht in +reen armor"

As soon as 3adi+ a**eared in the cit( the *eo*,e

cro%ded around himH e&er( e(e %as ?ed on him)

e&er( mouth ,essed him) and e&er( heart %ished

him the em*ire" The en&ious man sa% him *assH

he fro%ned and turned aside" The *eo*,e con8

ducted him to the *,ace %here the assem,( %as

he,d" The Gueen) %hen informed of his arri&a,)

ecame a *re( to the most &io,ent a+itations of



ho*e and fear" She %as ,,ed %ith an?iet( and

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;;:

a**rehension" She cou,d not com*rehend %h( 3a8

di+ %as %ithout arms) nor %h( Itoad %ore the

%hite armor"

When the >ni+hts %ho had fou+ht %ere di8

rected to a**ear in the assem,() 3adi+ said. #I

ha&e fou+ht as %e,, as the other >ni+hts) ut an8

other here %ears m( arms H and %hi,e I %ait for

the honor of *ro&in+ the truth of m( assertion) I de8

mand the ,iert( of *resentin+ m(se,f to e?*,ain the

eni+mas"#

The Guestion %as *ut to &ote) and his re*utation

for *roit( %as so %e,, esta,ished that the( ad8

mitted him %ithout scru*,e"

The rst Guestion *ro*osed ( the +rand ma+i

%as. #What) of a,, thin+s in the %or,d) is the

,on+est and the shortest) the s%iftest and the s,o%8

est) the most di&isi,e and the most e?tended) the



most ne+,ected and the most re+retted) %ithout

%hich nothin+ can e done) %hich de&ours a,, that

is ,itt,e) and en,i&ens a,, that is +reat#

Itoad %as to s*ea>" 'e re*,ied) that so +reat

a man as he did not understand eni+mas) and that

it %as suQcient for him to ha&e conGuered (

his stren+th and &a,or" Some said that the mean8

in+ of the eni+ma %as fortuneH some) the earthH

and others) the ,i+ht" 3adi+ said that it %as time"

#Nothin+)# added he) #is ,on+er) since it is the

measure of eternit(" Nothin+ is shorter) since it

is insuQcient for the accom*,ishment of our *ro8

Jects" Nothin+ more s,o% to him that e?*ects)

Vo," @

;; 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

nothin+ more ra*id to him that enJo(s" In +reat8

ness it e?tends to innit(H in sma,,ness it is in8

nite,( di&isi,e" A,, men ne+,ect itH a,, re+ret the

,oss of it H nothin+ can e done %ithout it" It con8

si+ns to o,i&ion %hate&er is un%orth( of ein+



transmitted to *osterit() and it immorta,i2es such

actions as are tru,( +reat"#

The assem,( ac>no%,ed+ed that 3adi+ %as in

the ri+ht"

The ne?t Guestion %as. #What is the thin+

%hich %e recei&e %ithout than>s) %hich %e enJo(

%ithout >no%in+ ho%) and %hich %e ,ose %ithout

*ercei&in+ it#

E&er( one +a&e his o%n e?*,anation" 3adi+

a,one +uessed that it %as ,ife) and he e?*,ained a,,

the eni+mas %ith the same faci,it(" Itoad a,%a(s

said that nothin+ %as more eas() and that he cou,d

ha&e ans%ered them %ith the same readiness) had

he chosen to +i&e himse,f the trou,e" 7uestions

%ere then *ro*osed on Justice) on the so&er8

ei+n +ood) and on the art of +o&ernment" 3adi+$ s

ans%ers %ere Jud+ed to e the most so,id) and the

*eo*,e e?c,aimed.

#What a *it( it is that so +reat a +enius shou,d

e so ad a >ni+ht#

#I,,ustrious ,ords)# said 3adi+) #I ha&e had the



honor of conGuerin+ in the tournaments" It is to

me that the %hite armor e,on+s" Lord Itoad

too> *ossession of it durin+ m( s,ee*" 'e *ro8

a,( thou+ht it %ou,d t him etter than the +reen"

3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;;B

I am no% read( to *ro&e in (our *resence) %ith

m( +o%n and s%ord) a+ainst a,, that eautifu, %hite

armor %hich he too> from me) that it is I %ho ha&e

had the honor of conGuerin+ the ra&e Otamus"#

Itoad acce*ted the cha,,en+e %ith the +reatest

condence" 'e ne&er douted ut that) armed as

he %as %ith a he,met) a cuirass) and rassarts) he

%ou,d otain an eas( &ictor( o&er a cham*ion in

a ca* and a ni+ht8+o%n" 3adi+ dre% his s%ord)

sa,utin+ the Gueen) %ho ,oo>ed at him %ith a mi?8

ture of fear and Jo(" Itoad dre% his) %ithout sa8

,utin+ an( one" 'e rushed u*on 3adi+ ,i>e a man

%ho had nothin+ to fearH he %as read( to c,ea&e

him in t%o" 3adi+ >ne% ho% to %ard o his ,o%s)

( o**osin+ the stron+est *art of his s%ord to the

%ea>est of that of his ad&ersar() in such a manner



that Itoad$s s%ord %as ro>en" 0*on %hich

3adi+) sei2in+ his enem( ( the %aist) thre% him on

the +roundH and ?in+ the *oint of his s%ord at

the e?tremit( of his reast8*,ate) e?c,aimed . #Suf8

fer th(se,f to e disarmed) or thou art a dead man"#

Itoad) +reat,( sur*rised at the dis+race that

ha**ened to such a man as he) %as o,i+ed to

(ie,d to 3adi+) %ho too> from him) %ith +reat

com*osure) his ma+nicent he,met) his su*er

cuirass) his ne rassarts) his shinin+ cuissesH

c,othed himse,f %ith them) and in this dress ran

to thro% himse,f at the feet of Astarte" Cador

easi,( *ro&ed that the armor e,on+ed to 3adi+"

'e %as ac>no%,ed+ed >in+ ( the unanimous con8

n4 3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate"

sent of the %ho,e nation) and es*ecia,,( ( that

of Astarte) %ho) after so man( ca,amities) no%

tasted the e?Guisite *,easure of seein+ her ,o&er

%orth() in the e(es of the %or,d) to e her husand"

Itoad %ent home) to e ca,,ed ,ord in his o%n

house" 3adi+ %as >in+) and %as ha**(" 'e rec8



o,,ected %hat the an+e, /esrad had said to him"

'e e&en rememered the +rain of sand that ecame

a diamond" 'e sent in search of the roer Ar8

o+ad) to %hom he +a&e an honora,e *ost in his

arm() *romisin+ to ad&ance him to the rst di+8

nities if he eha&ed ,i>e a true %arrior) and threat8

enin+ to han+ him if he fo,,o%ed the *rofession of

a roer"

Setoc) %ith the fair A,mona) %as ca,,ed from

the heart of Araia) and *,aced at the head of the

commerce of !a(,on" Cador %as *referred and

distin+uished accordin+ to his +reat ser&ices" 'e

%as the friend of the >in+) and the >in+ %as then

the on,( monarch on earth that had a friend" The

,itt,e mute %as not for+otten" A ne house %as

+i&en to the sherman) and Orcan %as condemned

to *a( him a ,ar+e sum of mone() and to restore

him his %ifeH ut the sherman) %ho had no% e8

come %ise) too> on,( the mone("

The eautifu, Semira cou,d not e comforted for

ha&in+ e,ie&ed that 3adi+ %ou,d e ,ind of an

e(eH nor did A2ora cease to ,ament her attem*t

to cut o his noseH their +riefs) ho%e&er) he soft8

ened ( his *resents" The ca*ricious eaut() 1is8



3adi+. The 1(ster( of Fate" ;;

souf) %as ,eft unnoticed" The en&ious man died

of ra+e and shame" The em*ire enJo(ed *eace)

+,or( and *,ent(" This %as the ha**iest a+e of the

earth" It %as +o&erned ( ,o&e and Justice" The

*eo*,e ,essed 3adi+) and 3adi+ ,essed hea&en"

T'E STOR5 OF /O'NN5H OR) T'E

AT'EIST AND T'E SAE"

INTROD0CTION"

5ou reGuest me) sir) to +i&e (ou some account

of our %orth( friend) and his sin+u,ar son" The

,eisure that the retirement of Lord Peterorou+h

no% aords me) *,aces it in m( *o%er to o,i+e (ou"

5ou %i,, e as astonished as I %as) and *erha*s

ado*t m( o*inion on the suJect"



5ou scarce,( >ne% the (oun+ and unfortunate

/ohnn() Freind$s on,( son) %hom his father too>

%ith him to S*ain %hen he recei&ed the a**oint8

ment of cha*,ain to our armies) in ;=B" 5ou

started for A,e**o efore m( ,ord esie+ed !ar8

ce,onaH (et (ou %ere ri+ht %hen (ou said /ohn$s

countenance %as amia,e and interestin+) and that

he +a&e *roofs of inte,,i+ence and coura+e" It %as

Guite true" E&er( one %ho >ne% him) ,o&ed him"

At rst he %as intended for the churchH ut) as

he manifested much a&ersion for that *rofession)

%hich) indeed) reGuires +reat s>i,,) mana+ement)

and nesse) his *rudent father considered it a fo,,(

and a crime to o**ose his inc,ination"

/ohn %as not t%ent( (ears o,d %hen he assisted)

;;

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;;<

as a &o,unteer) at the attac> on 1ont8/oui) %hich

%as ca*tured) and %here U the Prince of 'esse ,ost

his ,ife" Our *oor /ohnn( %as %ounded) ta>en



*risoner) and carried into the to%n" The fo,,o%in+ is

an account of his ad&entures from the attac> of

1ont8/oui ti,, the ta>in+ of !arce,ona" It is as

to,d ( a Cata,onian ,ad() a ,itt,e too free and too

sim*,e" Such stories do not nd a %a( to the hearts

of (our %ise men" I recei&ed it from her %hen I

entered !arce,ona in the suite of Lord Peteror8

ou+h" 5ou must read it %ithout oence) as a true

descri*tion of the manners of the countr("

C'APTER I"

ADVENT0RES OF /O'NN5) A 5O0N ENLIS'1AN)

WRITTEN !5 DONA LAS NALAS"

When %e %ere informed that the same sa&a+es

%ho came throu+h the air to sei2e on ira,tar

%ere comin+ to esie+e our eautifu, !arce,ona)

%e e+an to oer *ra(ers at Notre Dame de 1an8

resa assured,( the est mode of defence"

These *eo*,e) %ho come from so far) are ca,,ed

( a name &er( hard to *ronounce) that is)

En+,ish" Our re&erend father inGuisitor) Don /er8



onimo !ueno Caracucarador) *reached a+ainst

these ri+ands" 'e anathemati2ed them in Notre

Dame d$E,*ino" 'e assured us that the En+,ish

had mon>e( tai,s) ears$ *a%s) and *arrot headsH

I@O The Atheist and the Sa+e"

that the( sometimes s*o>e ,i>e men) ut in&aria,(

made a +reat hissin+H that the( %ere) moreo&er)

notorious hereticsH that) thou+h the !,essed Vir+in

%as often indu,+ent to *oor sinners) she ne&er for8

+a&e heretics) and that conseGuent,( the( %ou,d

a,, e infa,,i,( e?terminated) es*ecia,,( if the( *re8

sumed to a**ear efore 1ont8/oui" 'e had

scarce,( nished his sermon %hen he heard that

1ont8/oui %as ta>en ( storm"

The same e&enin+ %e ,earned that a (oun+ En+8

,ishman) %ho had een %ounded in the assau,t) %as

our *risoner" Throu+hout the to%n arose cries of

&ictor( &ictor( And the i,,uminations %ere &er(

+enera,"

Dona !oca VermeJa) %ho had the honor to e



the re&erend inGuisitor$s fa&orite) %as &er( desir8

ous to see %hat the En+,ish anima, and heretic %as

,i>e" She %as m( intimate friend" I shared her

curiosit(" We %ere o,i+ed to %ait ti,, his %ound

%as cured) and this did not ta>e &er( ,on+"

Soon after) %e ,earned that he %as in the hai$"

of &isitin+ dai,( at the residence of E,o) m(

cousin +erman) %ho) as e&er( one >no%s) is the

est sur+eon in the to%n" 1( friend !oca VermeJa$s

im*atience to see this sin+u,ar monster increased

t%o8fo,d" We had no rest ourse,&es) and +a&e

none to our cousin) the sur+eon) ti,, he a,,o%ed us

to concea, ourse,&es in a sma,, c,oset) %hich %e

entered on ti*toe %ithout sa(in+ a %ord) and

scarce,( &enturin+ to reathe) Just as the En+,ish8

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;@;

man arri&ed" 'is face %as not turned to%ard us"

'e too> o a sma,, ca*) %hich enc,osed his ,i+ht

hair) %hich then fe,, in thic> cur,s do%n the nest

nec> I e&er ehe,d" 'is form *resented a *,um*8

ness) a nish) an e,e+ance) a**roachin+) in m( o*in8



ion) the A*o,,o !e,&edere at Rome a co*( of %hich

m( unc,e) the scu,*tor) *ossesses"

Dona !oca VermeJa %as trans*orted %ith sur8

*rise) and de,i+hted" I shared her ecstas() and

cou,d not forear e?c,aimin+. #O Gue hermoso

muchacho #

These %ords made the (oun+ man turn around"

We then sa% the face of an Adonis on the od( of

a (oun+ 'ercu,es" Dona !oca VermeJa near,( fe,,

ac>%ards at the si+ht"

#St" /ames# she e?c,aimed) #'o,( Vir+in is

it *ossi,e heretics are such ne men 'o% %e

ha&e een decei&ed aout them"#

Dona !oca %as soon &io,ent,( in ,o&e %ith

the heretica, monster" She is handsomer nan I

am) I must confessH and I must a,so confess that

I ecame dou,( Jea,ous of her on that account"

I too> care to sho% her that to forsa>e the re&er8

end father inGuisitor) Don /eronimo !ueno Cara8

cucarador) for an En+,ishman) %ou,d e a crime

fa,,in+ nothin+ short of damnation"



#Ah) m( dear Las Na,+as# she said Las Na,8

+as is m( name6) #I %ou,d forsa>e 1e,chi2ede>

himse,f for so ne a (oun+ man"#

O e of the inGuisitors %ho attended four masses

;@@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

dai,() to otain from Our Lad( of 1anresa the

destruction of the En+,ish) heard of our admiration"

The Re&erend Father Don Caracucarador %hi**ed

us oth) and had our dear En+,ishman arrested (

t%ent(8four A,+ua2i,s of St" 'ermandad" /ohnn(

>i,,ed four) and %as at ,en+th ca*tured ( the

remainin+ t%ent(" 'e %as conned in a &er(

dam* ce,,ar) and sentenced to e urnt the fo,,o%8

in+ Sunda() in fu,, ceremon() c,othed in a san

enito) %earin+ a su+ar8,oaf ca*) in honor of Our

Sa&iour and the Vir+in 1ar() his mother" Don

Caracucarador *re*ared a ne sermon) ut had no

occasion for it) as the to%n %as ta>en at four o$c,oc>

on the Sunda( mornin+"

'ere Dona Las Na,+as$ ta,e terminates" This



,ad( %as not %ithout a descri*tion of %it) %hich

in S*ain %e ca,, a+ude2a"

C'APTER II"

CONTIN0ATION OF T'E ADVENT0RES OF /O'N) T'E

5O0N ENLIS'1ANH ALSO T'OSE OF 'IS

WORT'5 FAT'ER) D"D") 1"P") AND F"R"S"

5ou >no% the s>i,fu, conduct of the Ear, of

Peterorou+h after he too> !arce,onaH ho% suc8

cessfu,,( he *re&ented *i,,a+e) restored order) and

rescued the Duchess of Po*o,i from the hands of

some drun>en ermans) %ho roed and aused

her" Concei&e the sur*rise) +rief) ra+e) and tears

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;@:

of our friend) Freind) on ,earnin+ that /ohn %as

conned in the dun+eons of the 'o,( InGuisition)

and condemned to the staJce" 5ou >no% that co,d

tem*eraments are freGuent,( most ener+etic %hen



+reat e&ents ca,, them into action" 5ou shou,d

ha&e seen this distracted father) %hom (ou %ere

accustomed to thin> im*ertura,e) M( to the dun8

+eon of his son more ra*id,( than the horses at

Ne%mar>et hasten to the +oa," The ft( so,diers

%ho %ent %ith him %ere soon out of reath) and

a,%a(s a hundred *aces ehind" At ,en+th he

reached the ce,, and entered it" What a scene

%hat tears %hat Jo( T%ent( &ictims) de&oted to

the same ceremon() are de,i&ered" A,, the *ris8

oners ta>e arms and +ht %ith our so,diers" The

ui,din+s of the 'o,( OQce are destro(ed in ten

minutes) and the( rea>fasted eside the ruins)

on the %ine and ham of the inGuisitors"

In the midst of the roar of cannon) the sound

of trum*ets and drums) announcin+ our &ictor(

to Cata,onia) our friend Freind reco&ered his accus8

tomed tranGui,,it( of manner" 'e %as as ca,m as

the s>( after a da( of storm" 'e %as raisin+ to

od a heart as serene as his countenance) %hen

he *ercei&ed a ,ac> s*ectra, +ure) c,ad in a sur8

*,ice) issue from a &au,t) and fa,, at his feet) cr(in+

for merc("

#Who are (ou # said our friend" #Do (ou come



from 'ades#

#A,most)# reJoined the other" #I am Don /ero8

;@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

nimo !ueno Caracucarador) inGuisitor" I so,icit

most hum,( (our for+i&eness for %ishin+ to roast

(our son in *u,ic" I too> him for a /e%"#

#Su**osin+ that to e the case)# said our friend)

%ith his customar( san+8froid) #does it ecome (ou)

Seor Caracucarador) to roast *eo*,e a,i&e e8

cause the( are descended from a sect that former,(

inhaited a roc>( canton near the S(rian desert

What does it matter to (ou %hether a man is cir8

cumcised or not that he oser&e Easter at the fu,,

of the moon) or on the fo,,o%in+ Sunda( It is

&er( ad reason to sa() $That man is a /e%H there8

fore I must ha&e him urnt) and ta>e his *ro*ert("$

The Ro(a, Societ( of London do not reason in

that %a("

#Do (ou >no%) Seor Caracucarador) that /esus



Christ %as a /e% that he %as orn) ,i&ed) and died

a /e% that he oser&ed the Passo&er ,i>e a /e%)

at the fu,, of the moon that a,, his a*ost,es

%ere /e%s that the( %ent to the tem*,e after his

death) as %e are e?*ress,( to,d that the rst fteen

secret isho*s of /erusa,em %ere /e%s !ut m(

son is no /e%H he e,on+s to the esta,ished church"

'o% came it into (our head to urn him a,i&e#

The inGuisitor) o&era%ed ( the ,earnin+ of

1onsieur Freind) and sti,, *rostrate at his feet) re8

*,ied.

#A,as sir) %e >no% nothin+ aout this at the

0ni&ersit( of Sa,amanca" For+i&e me) once more"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;@B

The true reason is) (our son too> from me m(

fa&orite) Dona !oca VermeJa"#

#Ah if he too> (our fa&orite) that$s another

thin+" We shou,d ne&er ta>e $our nei+hor$s

+oods"$ That is not) ho%e&er) a suQcient reason



for urnin+ a (oun+ man to death" As Leinit2

sa(s. $The *unishment shou,d e in *ro*ortion to

the crime"$ 5ou Christians on the other side of the

!ritish Channe,) es*ecia,,( to%ard the south) ma>e

no more of roastin+ each other) e it the Coun8

se,,or Duour+) 1" Ser&etus) or those %ho %ere

urned in the rei+n of Phi,i* II") surnamed E,

Discreto) than %e do of roastin+ a Joint of eef

in London" !ut rin+ 1iss !oca VermeJa efore

me) that I ma( ,earn the truth from her o%n

mouth"#

!oca VermeJa a**eared) %ee*in+) ,oo>in+ the

handsomer for her tears) as %omen +enera,,( do"

#Is it true) 1iss) that (ou are de&oted,( attached

to 1" Caracucarador) and that m( son has a8

ducted (ou#

#Aducted me The En+,ish +ent,eman I

ne&er met %ith an( one so amia,e and +ood8,oo>8

in+ as (our son" 5ou are &er( fortunate in ein+

his father" I cou,d fo,,o% him to the %or,d$s end)

I a,%a(s hated that u+,( inGuisitor) %ho %hi**ed

me and 1ademoise,,e Las Na,+as ti,, he near,(

rou+ht ,ood" If (ou %ish to ma>e me ha**()



(ou %i,, cause the o,d fe,,o% to e han+ed at m(

edroom %indo%"#

;@4 The Atheist and the Sa+e"

/ust as !oca VermeJa %as thus s*ea>in+) the

Ear, of Peterorou+h sent for the inGuisitor Car8

acucarador) to ha&e him han+ed" 5ou %i,, not e

sur*rised to hear that 1r" Freind rm,( o**osed

this measure"

#Let (our Just dis*,easure)# said he) #+i&e %a(

to +enerous fee,in+s" A man shou,d ne&er e *ut

to death ut %hen it is aso,ute,( necessar( for the

safet( of others" The S*aniards sa( the En+,ish

are ararians) %ho >i,, a,, the *riests %ho come

in their %a(" This mi+ht ha&e inJured the cause of

the archdu>e) for %hom (ou ha&e ta>en !arce,ona"

I ha&e suQcient satisfaction in rescuin+ m( son)

and *uttin+ it out of the *o%er of this rasca,,(

mon> to e?ercise his inGuisitoria, functions"#

In a %ord) the %ise and charita,e Freind %as

contented %ith +ettin+ Caracucarador Mo++ed) as



he had %hi**ed 1iss !oca VermeJa and 1iss Las

Na,+as"

Such c,emenc( aected the Cata,onians" The

*ersons rescued from the InGuisition fe,t that our

re,i+ion %as etter than theirs" Near,( a,, re8

Guested to e admitted memers of the esta,ished

churchH e&en some ache,ors of the 0ni&ersit( of

Sa,amanca) %ho chanced to e at !arce,ona) re8

Guested instruction" The +reater *art soon ecame

en,i+htened) %ith the e?ce*tion of a certain Don

Ini+o ( 1edroso ( Comodios ( Pa*a,amiendo) %ho

ostinate,( adhered to his o*inions"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;@

C'APTER III"

S011AR5 OF T'E CONTROVERS5 OF T'E #0TS# !E8

TWEEN 1R" FREIND AND DON INIO 5 1EDROSO 5

CO1ODIOS 5 PAPALA1IENDO) !AC'ELOR OF SALA8

1ANCA"

The fo,,o%in+ is a summar( of the *,easant dis8



*utation) %hich our dear friend Freind and the

!ache,or Don Pa*a,amiendo he,d) in the *resence

of the Ear, of Peterorou+h" This fami,iar con8

&ersation %as ca,,ed the dia,o+ue of the #!uts"#

As (ou read it (ou %i,, disco&er %h("

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) sir) not%ithstandin+ a,,

the ne thin+s (ou ha&e said) (ou must admit that

(our res*ecta,e esta,ished church did not e?ist

efore the time of Don Luther and Don CEco,am8

*adius H conseGuent,() it is Guite ne%) and can hard,(

e said to e,on+ to the fami,("

FREIND" 5ou mi+ht as %e,, sa( I am not a

descendant of m( +randfather) ecause another

ranch of the fami,() ,i&in+ in Ita,() sei2ed on his

%i,,) and m( c,aims" I ha&e fortunate,( found them

a+ain) and it is no% Guite c,ear that I am m(

+randfather$s +randson" 5ou and I are) as it %ere)

of the same fami,() ut %ith this dierence. We

read our +randfather$s testament in our mother

ton+ue) %hi,e (ou are foridden to read it in (ours"

5ou are the s,a&es of a forei+nerH %e ,isten to the

dictates of reason"




T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut su**ose (our reason

shou,d ,ead (ou astra( For) in a %ord) (ou ha&e

no faith in our 0ni&ersit( of Sa,amanca) %hich has

dec,ared the infa,,ii,it( of the *o*e) and his indis8

*uta,e contro, of the *ast) the *resent) the future)

and the *au,o8*ost8future"

FREIND" Neither did the a*ost,es" It is %rit8

ten that Peter) %ho denied his master /esus) %as

se&ere,( reu>ed ( Pau," I ha&e not e?amined

the case to see %hich %as in the %ron+H *erha*s)

as is the case in most dis*utes) neither %as ri+htH

ut I do not nd one *assa+e in the #Acts of the

A*ost,es# to *ro&e that Peter %as considered the

master of his com*anions) and of the *au,o8*ost8

future"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut St" Peter %as certain,(

archisho* of Rome) for Sanche2 te,,s us that this

+reat man came there in the rei+n of Nero) and

,,ed the archisho*$s throne t%ent(8&e (ears

under the same Nero) %ho on,( rei+ned thirteen"

!esides) it is a matter of faith) and Don ri,,andus)



the *rotot(*e of the InGuisition) aQrms it for %e

ne&er read the 'o,( !i,e6) that St" Peter %as at

Rome durin+ a certain (ear) for he dates one of

his ,etters from !a(,on" No%) since !a(,on is

&isi,( the ana+ram of Rome) it is c,ear that the

*o*e) ( di&ine ri+ht) is ,ord of the %or,dH more8

o&er) a,, the ,icentiates of Sa,amanca ha&e sho%n

that Simon race8of8od) rst sorcerer and coun8

se,,or of state at the court of Nero) sent his com8

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;@<

*,iments ( his do+ to Simon !arJona) other%ise

ca,,ed St" Peter) as soon as he came to RomeH that

St" Peter) %ho %as scarce,( ,ess *o,ite) sent a,so

his do+ to com*,iment Simon race8of8od) and

then the( di&erted themse,&es ( tr(in+ %hich

cou,d soonest raise from the dead a cousin +erman

of Nero$sH that race8of8od on,( succeeded in ef8

fectin+ a *artia, restoration) %hi,e !arJona %on the

+ame ( %ho,,( restorin+ the dead man to ,ifeH

that race8of8od sou+ht to ha&e his re&en+e (

M(in+ throu+h the air ,i>e St" Daeda,usH and that

!arJona ro>e his ,e+s) ( ma>in+ him fa,," On



this account St" Peter recei&ed the mart(r$s cro%n)

ein+ crucied %ith his hee,s u*%ard" Therefore

%e ha&e *ro&ed that his ho,iness) the *o*e) ou+ht

to rei+n o&er a,, %ho %ear cro%nsH that he is ,ord

of the *ast) the *resent) and a,, the futures in the

%or,d"

FREIND" It is c,ear these thin+s ha**ened in

the da(s %hen 'ercu,es se*arated at a stro>e the

t%o mountains) Ca,*e and A(,a) and crossed the

straits of ira,tar in his +o,et" !ut it is not on

such histories) ho%e&er authentic the( ma( e) that

%e ase our re,i+ion" We found it on the +os*e,"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) sir) on %hat *assa+es of

the +os*e, I ha&e read a *ortion of the +os*e, in

our theo,o+ica, tracts" Do (ou ase it on the de8

scent of the an+e, to announce to the Vir+in 1ar(

that she had concei&ed ( the 'o,( host On

the Journe( of the three >in+s after the star On

Vo," @ <

;:= The Atheist and the Sa+e"



the massacre of a,, the chi,dren of the countr( On

the trou,e the de&i, too> to carr( od into the

%i,derness) to *,ace him on a *innac,e of the tem*,e)

and on the summit of a mountain from %hence he

ehe,d a,, the >in+doms of the %or,d On the mir8

ac,e of %ater chan+ed into %ine at a &i,,a+e %ed8

din+ On the i mirac,e of t%o thousand *i+s

dro%ned ( the de&i, in a ,a>e at the command

of /esus On

FREIND" Sir) %e res*ect these thin+s ecause

the( are in the +os*e, H ut %e ne&er s*ea> of them

ecause the( are too far ao&e our %ea> human

reason"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut the( sa( (ou ne&er ca,,

the 'o,( Vir+in) 1other of od

FREIND" We re&ere and cherish her" !ut %e

thin> she cares &er( ,itt,e for the tit,es +i&en her

in this %or,d" She is ne&er st(,ed the 1other of

od in the +os*e," In the (ear :; there %as a

+reat dis*ute at the counci, of E*hesus to ascertain

if 1ar( %as TheotocosH and if /esus Christ) ein+

at the same time od and the son of 1ar() 1ar(



cou,d at the same time e mother of od the

Father and od the Son" We do not enter into

these dis*utes of E*hesus" The Ro(a, Societ( at

London does not concern itse,f %ith such contro8

&ersies"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) sir) (ou ta,> of Theoto8

cos" What ma( Theotocos mean) if (ou *,ease

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;:;

FREIND" It means 1other of od" What) are

(ou a ache,or of Sa,amanca) and don$t under8

stand ree>

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut ree> Of %hat use can

ree> e to a S*aniard !ut) sir) do (ou e,ie&e

that /esus Christ has one nature) one *erson) and

one %i,,H or t%o natures) t%o *ersons and t%o

%i,,sH or) one %i,,) one nature) and t%o *ersonsH

or) t%o %i,,s) t%o *ersons and one natureH or

FREIND" This) a,so) e,on+s to the E*hesian

contro&ers() and does not concern us"



T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut %hat does concern (ou)

then Do (ou su**ose there are on,( three *er8

sons in od) or that there are three ods in one

*erson Does the second *erson *roceed from the

rst *erson) and the third from the t%o others) or

from the second intrinsecus) or on,( from the rst

'as the father a,, the attriutes of the son e?ce*t

*aternit( And does the third *erson *roceed (

infusion) ( identication) or ( s*iration

FREIND" This Guestion is not mooted in the +os8

*e," St" Pau, ne&er %rote the name of the Trinit("

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut (ou a,%a(s refer to the

+os*e,) and ne&er ma>e mention of St" !ona&en8

tura) of A,ert the reat) of Tamourini) of ri,8

,andus) of Escoar"

FREIND" !ecause I do not ca,, m(se,f a Do8

minican) a Franciscan or a /esuit" I am satised

%ith ein+ a Christian"

;:@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"



T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut if (ou are a Christian) te,,

me if (ou conscientious,( thin> the rest of man>ind

%i,, e damned

FREIND" It does not ecome me to ,imit the

com*assion or the Justice of od"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut to come to the *oint) if

(ou are a Christian) %hat do (ou e,ie&e

FREIND" I e,ie&e %ith /esus Christ that %e

ou+ht to ,o&e od and our nei+hor) for+i&e our

enemies) and do +ood for e&i," These are the ma?8

ims of /esus" So true are the() that no ,e+is,ator)

no *hi,oso*her) e&er had other *rinci*,es efore

him) and it is im*ossi,e that there can e an(

other" These truths ne&er ha&e and ne&er can meet

%ith contradiction) sa&e from our *assions"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) in re+ard to the *assions)

is it true that (our isho*s) *riests) and deacons are

a,, married

FREIND" 7uite true" St" /ose*h) %ho *assed

for the father of /esus) %as married" /ames the



Less) surnamed O,ia) rother of our Lord) %as

his son) %ho) after the death of /esus) s*ent his ,ife

in the tem*,e" St" Pau, the +reat St" Pau, %as

a married man"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut ri,,andus and 1o,ina as8

sert the contrar("

FREIND" Let them sa( %hat the( *,easeH I *re8

fer e,ie&in+ St" Pau, himse,f on the suJect" In

i Corinthians) i?" 8) he sa(s. #'a&e %e not

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;::

*o%er to eat and to drin> 'a&e %e not *o%er

to ,ead aout a sister) a %ife) as %e,, as other a*os8

t,es) and as the rethren of the Lord) and Ce*has

Or I on,( and !arnaas) ha&e %e not *o%er to for8

ear %or>in+ Who +oeth a %arfare at an( time

at his o%n char+es Who *,anteth a &ine(ard and

eateth not of the fruit thereof#

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) sir) did St" Pau, rea,,(

sa( that



FREIND" 5es) he said that) and &er( much more"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) rea,,( that *rodi+( of the

eQcac( of +race

FREIND" It is true) sir) that his con&ersion %as

a +reat mirac,e" I admit) from the #Acts of the

A*ost,es)# that he %as the most crue, sate,,ite of

the enemies of /esus" The #Acts# sa( that he as8

sisted at the stonin+ of Ste*hen" 'e admits him8

se,f) that %hen the /e%s condemned to death a fo,8

,o%er of Christ) he %ou,d see to the e?ecution of

the sentence) detu,i sententiam" I admit that

Adia) his disci*,e) and the trans,ator /u,ius) the

African) accused him of *uttin+ to death /ames

O,ia) the rother of our LordH ut his *ersecu8

tions increase the %onder of his con&ersion) and

( no means *re&ented his ha&in+ a %ife" I as8

sure (ou he %as married" St" C,ement of A,e?an8

dria e?*ress,( dec,ares it"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut St" Pau,) then) %as a %or8

th( man of od Rea,,() I am +rie&ed to thin> he



;: The Atheist and the Sa+e"

assassinated St" Ste*hen) and St" /ames) and I am

sur*rised to nd he tra&e,,ed to the third hea&en"

!ut *ra( continue"

FREIND" We +ather from St" C,ement of A,e?8

andria that St" Peter had chi,dren H one St" Petro8

ni,,a is mentioned amon+ them" Euseius) in his

#'istor( of the Church)# sa(s that St" Nicho,as) one

of the rst disci*,es) had a &er( handsome %ifeH

and that the disci*,es ,amed him for ein+ o&er

fond and Jea,ous" #Sirs)# said he) #,et an( one

ta>e her %ho ,i>esH I +i&e her to (ou"#

In the /e%ish econom() %hich shou,d ha&e

,asted fore&er) ut to %hich) ne&erthe,ess) the Chris8

tian dis*ensation succeeded) marria+e %as not on,(

*ermitted) ut e?*ress,( enJoined on *riests) since

the( %ere a,%a(s of the same race" Ce,iac( %as

considered infamous"

It is certain that ce,iac( cou,d not ha&e een

considered a &er( *ure and honora,e state ( the

rst Christians) since %e nd amon+ the isho*s



e?communicated ( the rst counci,s) chieM( those

%ho o**ose the marria+e of *riests) such as Satur8

nians) !asi,idians) 1ontanists) Encrasists) and other

ans and ists" This accounts for the %ife of re+or(

of Na2ian2e earin+ another re+or( of Na2ian2e)

and enJo(in+ the inestima,e fe,icit( of ein+ at

one and the same time the %ife and mother of a

canoni2ed saint a *ri&i,e+e %hich e&en St" 1on8

ica) the mother of St" Au+ustine did not enJo("

!( the same reason I mi+ht name as man( and

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;:B

e&en more of the ancient isho*s %ho %ere mar8

ried) and account for (our not ha&in+ had) in the

ear,ier a+es of the church) isho*s and *o*es %ho

indu,+ed in fornication) adu,ter() and e&en %orse

crimes" Thin+s are not so no%" This is a,so the

reason %h( the ree> church) the mother of the

Latin church) a,,o%s *riests to marr(" In a %ord)

the reason %h( I m(se,f am married) and ha&e a

son) as ne a fe,,o% as (ou cou,d %ish to see"



!esides) m( dear ache,or) ha&e (ou not in (our

church se&en sacraments %hich are out%ard si+ns

of thin+s in&isi,e Does not a ache,or of Sa,a8

manca enJo( the ad&anta+e of a*tism as soon as

he comes into the %or,dH of conrmation as soon

as he has committed a fe% fo,,ies or understands

those of othersH of communion) thou+h a ,itt,e dif8

ferent from ours) %hen he is fourteen (ears of a+e H

of ho,( orders) %hen the( sha&e the cro%n of his

head and +i&e him a ,i&in+ of t%ent() thirt() or

fort( thousand *iastresH and ,ast,( of e?treme unc8

tion) %hen he is i,, 1ust he then e de*ri&ed of

the sacrament of marria+e) %hen he is in hea,th

Es*ecia,,( %hen od united Adam and E&e in mar8

ria+e. Adam) the rst ache,or in the %or,d) since)

accordin+ to (our schoo,s) he had >no%,ed+e (

infusionH E&e) the rst fema,e ache,or) since she

tasted the tree of >no%,ed+e efore her husand"

T'E !AC'ELOR" !ut) if thin+s are so) I ma(

cease m( #uts"# This is certain) I ado*t (our

re,i+ionH I %i,, e,on+ to the esta,ished church of

;:4 The Atheist and the Sa+e"



En+,andH %i,, marr( an honest %oman) %ho at

,east %i,, *retend to ,o&e me %hi,e I am (oun+)

ta>e care of me %hen I +ro% o,d) and %hom I %i,,

ur( decent,() shou,d I sur&i&e her" I thin> this

is etter than roastin+ men and enticin+ +ir,s after

the fashion of m( cousin) Don Caracucarador) the

inGuisitor of the faith"

This is a faithfu, summar( of the con&ersation

et%een 1r" Freind and the ache,or Don Pa*a,8

amiendo) since ca,,ed ( us Pa*a De?ando" This

curious dia,o+ue %as dra%n u* ( /aco 'u,,) on-

of m( ,ord$s secretaries"

After this con&ersation) the ache,or too> m

aside and said.

#This En+,ishman) %hom I too> at rst for as

anthro*o*ha+us) must e a &er( +ood) man) for he J

a theo,o+ian and can >ee* his tem*er"#

I informed him that 1r" Freind %as to,erant)

or a 7ua>er) and a descendant of the dau+hter o

Wi,,iam Penn) %ho founded Phi,ade,*hia" #7ua8

>er) Phi,ade,*hia # he cried) #I ne&er heard of those



sects#

I +a&e him some information on the suJect" 'e

cou,d scarce,( e,ie&e me" It seemed to him ,i>e

another uni&erse" And) indeed) he %as in the ri+ht"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;:

C'APTER IV"

/O'N RET0RNS TO LONDON AND IS LED INTO !AD

CO1PAN5"

Whi,e our %orth( *hi,oso*her Freind %as en8

,i+htenin+ the *riests of !arce,ona) and his son

/ohn de,i+hted the ,adies) Lord Peterorou+h ,ost

a,, fa&or %ith the Gueen and archdu>e for sei2in+

!arce,ona for them" The courtiers censured him

for ta>in+ the cit( contrar( to a,, ru,e) %ith an arm(

,ess stron+ ( ha,f than the +arrison" At rst the

archdu>e %as hi+h,( incensed) and our friend %as

o,i+ed to *rint an a*o,o+( for the +enera," 5et



this archdu>e) %ho had come to conGuer S*ain)

had not the %here%ith to *a( for his choco,ate" A,,

7ueen Anne had +i&en him %as sGuandered"

1ontecucu,i) in his #1emoirs)# sa(s three thin+s

are necessar( to maintain a %ar. First) mone(H

second) mone(H and third) mone(" The archdu>e

%rote from uada,aJara) %here he %as on the

nth of Au+ust) ;=4) to Lord Peterorou+h) a

,on+ ,etter si+ned #5o e, Re()# in %hich he e++ed

him to hasten to enoa and raise on credit ;==)==="

So our Sertorius) from +enera, of an arm() thus

ecame a enoese an>er" 'e communicated his

distress to our friend Freind" The( started for

enoa" I %ent %ith them) for (ou >no% m( heart

,eads me thither" I admired the s>i,, and s*irit of

conci,iation m( friend dis*,a(ed in this de,icate

;: The Atheist and the Sa+e"

usiness" I sa% at once that inte,,i+ence ma( meet

e&er( e?i+enc(" Our +reat Loc>e %as a *h(sicianH

he ecame the rst meta*h(sician in Euro*e) and

restored the &a,ue of the !ritish coina+e" In three



da(s Freind raised the ;==)===) ut the court of

Char,es the VI" contri&ed to sGuander it in three

%ee>s" After this the +enera,) accom*anied ( his

theo,o+ian) %as o,i+ed to re*air to London to Jus8

tif( himse,f efore the *ar,iament for conGuerin+ Cat8

a,onia a+ainst a,, ru,e) and for ruinin+ himse,f in

the common cause" The aair %as *rotracted and

&e?atious) as are a,, *art( dis*utes"

5ou >no% that 1r" Freind %as a memer of

*ar,iament efore he ecame a *riest) and he is the

on,( *erson %ho has een a,,o%ed to comine func8

tions so o**osed" One da() %hen Freind %as

thin>in+ o&er a s*eech he intended to de,i&er in the

house of %hich he %as a most res*ected memer6)

a S*anish ,ad( %as announced as desirous of seein+

him on *articu,ar usiness" It %as Dona !oca

VermeJa herse,f) in tears" Our +ood friend or8

dered a ,uncheon" She too> some refreshment)

dried her e(es) and thus e+an .

#5ou %i,, rememer) sir) %hen (ou %ent to

enoa) (ou ordered (our son /ohn to ,ea&e !ar8

ce,ona for London) and to commence his duties aa

a c,er> in the e?cheGuer) a *ost %hich (our in8

Muence had otained for him" 'e emar>ed in



the #Triton)# %ith a (oun+ ache,or of arts) Don

Pa*a De?ando) and others %hom (ou had con&erted"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;:<

5ou ma( %e,, su**ose that I) %ith m( dear friend

Las Na,+as) accom*anied them"#

!oca VermeJa then to,d him) a+ain sheddin+

tears) ho% /ohn %as Jea,ous) or aected to e Jea,8

ous) of the ache,orH ho% a certain 1adame C,i&e8

'art) a &er( o,d) s*itefu,) mascu,ine) (oun+ mar8

ried ,ad() had ens,a&ed his mindH ho% he ,i&ed

%ith ,iertines %ho had no fear of odH ho%) in

a %ord) he ne+,ected !oca VermeJa for the artfu,

i&e8'artH and a,, ecause C,i&e8'art had a ,it8

t,e more red and %hite in her com*,e?ion than

*oor !oca VermeJa"

#I %i,, ,oo> into the matter at ,eisure)# said

the %orth( 1r" Freind" #I must no% attend *ar8

,iament) to ,oo> after Lord Peterorou+h$s usi8

ness"#



Accordin+,() to *ar,iament he %ent) %here I

heard him de,i&er a rm and concise discourse)

free from common*,ace e*ithets and circum,ocu8

tions" 'e ne&er in&o>ed a ,a% or a testimon("

'e Guoted) enforced and a**,ied them" 'e did not

sa( the( had ta>en the re,i+ion of the court (

sur*rise) ( accusin+ Lord Peterorou+h of e?*os8

in+ 7ueen Anne$s troo*s to ris>) ecause it had

nothin+ to do %ith re,i+ion" 'e did not ca,, a con8

Jecture a demonstration) nor for+et his res*ect to

an au+ust *ar,iament) ( usin+ common Jo>es" 'e

did not ca,, Lord Peterorou+h his c,ient) ecause

c,ient si+nies a *,eeian *rotected ( a senator"

Freind s*o>e %ith condence and modest(H he %as

;= The Atheist and the Sa+e"

,istened to in si,ence) on,( distured ( cries of

#'ear him hear him#

The 'ouse of Commons *assed a &ote of than>s

to Ear, Peterorou+h) instead of condemnin+ him"

'is ,ordshi* otained the same Justice from the

'ouse of Peers) and *re*ared to set out %ith his



dear Freind to de,i&er the >in+dom of S*ain to

the archdu>e" This did not ta>e *,ace) so,e,( e8

cause thin+s do not a,%a(s turn out as %e %ish

them"

On ,ea&in+ the house) our rst care %as to in8

Guire after the hea,th of /ohn" We ,earned that he

%as ,eadin+ a dissi*ated and deauched ,ife %ith

1rs" i&e8'art and a *art( of (oun+ men inte,8

,i+ent) ut atheists %ho e,ie&ed.

#That man is in no res*ect su*erior to the

rutesH that he ,i&es and dies as the( doH that oth

s*rin+ from and oth return to the earth H that %is8

dom and &irtue consist in enJo(ment) and in ,i&in+

%ith those %e ,o&e) as So,omon sa(s at the end of the

$Kohe,eth %hich %e ca,, $Ecc,esiastes #

These sentiments %ere chieM( ad&anced amon+

them ( one Warurton)- a &er( for%ard) ,icen8

-In ;: !isho* Warurton *u,ished his famous %or>)

#The Di&ine Le+ation of 1oses)$ in %hich he asserted) #that

the doctrine of a future state of re%ard and *unishment

%as omitted in the oo>s of 1oses)# and then *roceeded to

demonstrate #from that &er( omission) that a s(stem %hich



cou,d dis*ense %ith a doctrine) the &er( ond and cement

of human societ() must ha&e come from od) and that the

!Ho*,e to %hom it %as +i&en must ha&e een *,aced under

is immediate su*erintendence"# In other %ords) the

di&ine ori+in of the 1osaic # s(stem# is demonstrated) e8

cause 1oses did not teach to the chosen *eo*,e the doctrine

of a future ,ife e(ond the +ra&e"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;;

tious fe,,o%" I ha&e +,anced at some of the *oor

author$s 1SS") %hich) hea&en +rant) ma( not one

da( e *rinted" Warurton *retends that 1oses

did not e,ie&e in the immorta,it( of the sou,) e8

cause he ne&er s*ea>s of it) and considers that to

e the on,( *roof of his di&ine mission" This a8

surd conc,usion ,eads to the su**ositon that the

re,i+ion of the /e%s is fa,se" Inde,s thence ar+ue

that ours) ein+ founded thereon) is fa,se a,soH and

ours) %hich is the est of a,,) ein+ fa,se) a,, others

are) if *ossi,e) sti,, more fa,seH therefore) there is

no re,i+ion" 'ence some conc,ude that there is

no od" Let us add to these conc,usions) that this



,itt,e Warurton is an intri+uin+) s,anderin+ fe,,o%"

See %hat *eri,

!ut %orse than a,,) /ohn %as head o&er ears in

det) and had a stran+e %a( of *a(in+" One of his

creditors came to him %ith a c,aim for a hundred

+uineas) %hi,e %e %ere in the house" /ohn) %ho

a,%a(s a**eared *o,ite and +ent,e) fou+ht his cred8

itor) and *aid him %ith a s%ord8%ound" It %as

a**rehended the %ounded man %ou,d die) and

/ohn) not%ithstandin+ Lord Peterorou+h$s *ro8

tection) ran the ris> of im*risonment and han+in+"


C'APTER V"

T'E5 WANT TO ET /O'N 1ARRIED"

5ou rememer the an+uish of the &enera,e

Freind %hen he ,earned that /ohn %as in the *rison

of the inGuisition at !arce,ona" Ima+ine his ra+e

%hen he ,earned of the deaucher( and dissi*ation

of the unfortunate ,ad) his %a( of *a(in+ dets)



and his dan+er of +ettin+ han+ed" 5et Freind

restrained himse,f" This e?ce,,ent man$s se,f8com8

mand is rea,,( astonishin+" 'is reason re+u,ates

his heart) as a +ood master ru,es his ser&ants" 'e

does e&er(thin+ reasona,() and Jud+es %ise,( %ith

as much ce,erit( as hast( *eo*,e act rash,("

#This is no time to ,ecture) /ohn)# said he" $$We

must snatch him from the *reci*ice"#

5ou must >no% that on the da( *re&ious our

friend had come into a handsome sum) ,eft him (

eor+e 'uert) his unc,e" 'e %ent himse,f in

search of our +reat sur+eon) Chese,den" We found

him at home) and then *roceeded to+ether to the

%ounded creditor" The %ound %as ins*ected" It

%as not dan+erous" Freind +a&e the suerer a

hundred +uineas as the rst ste*) and ft( others

( %a( of re*aration) and then as>ed for+i&eness

for his son" Indeed) he e?*ressed his re+ret so

touchin+,( that the *oor man emraced him) and"

%ee*in+) %ished to return the mone("




This si+ht mo&ed and sur*rised (oun+ 1r" Ches8

e,den) %hose re*utation is ecomin+ &er( +reat) and

%hose heart is as >ind as his hand is s>i,fu,"

I %as mo&ed) I %as eside m(se,f" Ne&er had I

admired and ,o&ed our friend so much"

On returnin+ home I as>ed him if he did not

intend to send for his son) and to admonish him"

#No)# said he" #Let him fee, his fau,ts efore

I s*ea> of them" Let us su* to+ether to8ni+ht"

We %i,, see %hat in honest( I ou+ht to do" E?am8

*,es correct etter than re*rimands"#

Whi,e %aitin+ for su**er) I ca,,ed on /ohn" I

found him in the state %hich a,, men e?*erience

after their rst crime that is) *a,e) %ith sun>en

e(es and hoarse &oice a+itated) and ans%erin+ at

random %hen s*o>en to"

I to,d him %hat his father had Just done"

'e ,oo>ed at me steadi,() then turned a%a( to

dash a tear from his e(e" I ar+ued %e,, from this)



and e+an to ho*e that /ohn %ou,d (et *ro&e a

%orth( man" I fe,t read( to c,as* him in m( arms)

%hen 1adame C,i&e8'art came in) accom*anied ( a

%i,d fe,,o%) ca,,ed !irton"

#We,,)# said the ,ad() ,au+hin+) #ha&e (ou rea,,(

>i,,ed a man to8da( Some tiresome fe,,o%" $Tis

%e,, to rid the %or,d of such *eo*,e" When (ou

are ne?t in the >i,,in+ mood) *ra( thin> of m( hus8

and" 'e *,a+ues me to death"#

I sur&e(ed this %oman from head to foot" She

; The Atheist and the Sa+e"

%as handsome) ut there %as somethin+ sinister in

her countenance" /ohn dared not re*,() and) con8

fused ( m( *resence) ,oo>ed do%n%ard"

#What$s the matter# said !irton" #5ou ,oo>

as if (ou had done somethin+ %ron+" I come to

+i&e (ou aso,ution" 'ere is a ,itt,e oo> I ha&e

Just ou+ht at Lintot$s" It *ro&es as c,ear,( as t%o

and t%o ma>e four that there is neither od) nor



&ice) nor &irtue a &er( conso,in+ fact So) ,et

us drin> to+ether"#

On hearin+ this sin+u,ar discourse) I %ithdre%

Guic>,() and re*resented to 1r" Freind ho% much

his son reGuired his ad&ice"

#I see it as c,ear,( as (ou do)# said this >ind

father H #ut ,et us e+in ( *a(in+ his dets"#

The( %ere a,, dischar+ed the ne?t da(" /ohn

came and thre% himse,f at his father$s feet" Wi,,

(ou e,ie&e it The father made no re*roaches"

'e ,eft him to conscience) on,( oser&in+. #Re8

memer) m( son) there is no ha**iness a*art from

&irtue"#

1r" Freind then sa% that the ache,or married

!oca VermeJa) %ho rea,,( ,o&ed him) not%ith8

standin+ her tears for /ohn" Women >no% ho%

to confuse such fee,in+s %onderfu,,(" One %ou,d

a,most sa( that their hearts are a und,e of con8

tradictionsH *erha*s ecause the( %ere ori+ina,,(

formed from one of our ris"

Our +enerous Freind +a&e her a,so a do%r() and



APART

FRO1 VIRT0

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;B

too> care to secure *,aces for his con&erts" It

is not enou+h to ta>e care of *eo*,e$s sou,s) if %e

ne+,ect to *ro&ide for their *resent %ants"

After *erformin+ these +ood actions) %ith his

astonishin+ san+8froid) he cond,uded he had noth8

in+ more to do to restore his son to &irtue than

to marr( him to a (oun+ *erson of eaut() &irtue)

ta,ents) and some %ea,th" This) indeed) %as the

on,( %a( to %ean him from the detesta,e C,i&e8

'art) and others) %hom he freGuented"

I had heard *eo*,e s*ea> of a 1iss Prim8



rose) a (oun+ heiress) rou+ht u* ( her re,ati&e)

Lad( 'er&e(" The Ear, of Peterorou+h introduced

me to Lad( 'er&e(" I sa% 1iss Primrose) and

considered her a *ro*er *erson to fu,, the %ishes

of m( friend" /ohn) in the midst of his dissi*ation)

had +reat re&erence) and e&en aection) for his

father" 'e %as chieM( aected that his father had

ne&er ,amed him for his fo,,ies" Dets *aid %ithout

informin+ himH %ise counse,s seasona,( +i&en)

and %ithout re*rimandH *roofs of friendshi* +i&en

from time to time) (et free from the fami,iarit(

%hich mi+ht de*reciate them" A,, this %ent to

/ohn$s heart) for he %as oth inte,,i+ent and sen8

siti&e"

Lord Peterorou+h introduced the father and

son to Lad( 'er&e(" I *ercei&ed that the e?treme

eaut( of /ohn soon made a fa&ora,e im*ression

on 1iss PrimroseH for I sa% her ,oo> stea,thi,(

Vo," @ IO

;4 The Atheist and the Sa+e"



at him and ,ush" /ohn seemed on,( *o,ite) and

Primrose admitted to Lad( 'er&e( that she %ished

his *o,iteness mi+ht ecome ,o&e"

The (oun+ man soon disco&ered the %orth of

this charmin+ +ir,) thou+h he %as the com*,ete

s,a&e of C,i&e8'art" 'e %as ,i>e the Indian in8

&ited to +ather ce,estia, fruit) ut restrained ( the

c,a%s of a dra+on"

!ut here the reco,,ection of %hat I %itnessed

o&er%he,ms me" Tears moisten m( *a*er" When

I reco&er) I %i,, resume m( ta,e"

C'APTER VI"

A TERRI!LE ADVENT0RE"

The marria+e of /ohn and the ,o&e,( 1iss Prim8

rose %as aout to e ce,erated" Freind ne&er fe,t

more Jo(" I shared it" !ut the occasion %as chan+ed

into one of dee* sorro% and suerin+"

C,i&e8'art ,o&ed /ohn) thou+h constant,( faith8



,ess" The( sa( this is the ,ot of those %omen %ho)

&io,atin+ modest() renounce their honor" In *artic8

u,ar she decei&ed /ohn for her dear !irton and

for another of the same schoo," The( ,i&ed to8

+ether in deauch) and) %hat is *erha*s *ecu,iar

to our nation) the( had a,, of them sense and %orth"

0nfortunate,() the( em*,o(ed their sense a+ainst

od" 1adame di&e8'art$s house %as a rende28

&ous for atheists" We,, for them had the( een

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;

such atheists as E*icurus) Leontium) Lucretius)

1emmius and S*ino2a the most u*ri+ht man of

'o,,and or 'oes) so faithfu, to his unfortunate

>in+) Char,es I"

!ut) ho%e&er it ma( e) i&e8'art) Jea,ous of

the *ure and +ent,e 1iss Primrose) cou,d not en8

dure the marria+e" She de&ised a &en+eance) %hich

I concei&e to e unsur*assed e&en in London)

%here I e,ie&e our fathers ha&e %itnessed crimes of

e&er( >ind" She ,earned that 1iss Primrose) re8

turnin+ from sho**in+) %ou,d *ass ( her door" She



too> ad&anta+e of the o**ortunit() and had a se%er

o*ened) communicatin+ %ith her *remises"

1iss Primrose$s carria+e) on its return) %as

o,i+ed to dra% u* at this ostruction" C,i&e8'art

+oes out) and entreats her to a,i+ht and ta>e some

refreshment) %hi,e the *assa+e is ein+ c,eared"

This in&itation made 1iss Primrose hesitateH ut

she *ercei&ed /ohn standin+ in the ha,,) and) (ie,d8

in+ to an im*u,se stron+er than her discretion) she

+ot out" /ohn oered her his hand" She enters"

di&e8'art$s husand %as a si,,( drun>ard) as hate8

fu, to his %ife as he %as sumissi&e and trou,e8

some ( his ci&i,it(" 'e *resents refreshments to

the (oun+ ,ad() and drin>s after her" 1rs" C,i&e8

'art ta>es them a%a( instant,() and rin+s others"

!( this time the street is c,eared" 1iss Primrose

enters her carria+e) and dri&es to her mother$s"

She soon fa,,s sic>) and com*,ains of +iddiness"

The( su**ose it is occasioned ( the motion of the




carria+e" !ut the i,,ness increased) and the ne?t

da( she %as d(in+"

1r" Freind and I hastened to the house" We

found the ,o&e,( creature *a,e and ,i&id) a *re( to

con&u,sionsH her ,i*s o*en) her e(es +,a2ed) and

a,%a(s starin+" !,ac> s*ots dis+ured her face

and throat" 'er mother had fainted on her ed"

Chese,den em*,o(ed in &ain a,, the resources of his

art" I %i,, not attem*t to descrie Freind$s an+uish"

It %as intense" I hurried to C,i&e8'art$s house)

and found that the husand %as Just dead) and that

the %ife had Med"

I sou+ht /ohn" 'e cou,d not e found" A

ser&ant to,d me that his mistress had esou+ht him

not to ,ea&e her in her misfortune) and that the( had

+one o to+ether) accom*anied ( !irton) no one

>ne% %hither"

O&ercome ( these ra*id and numerous shoc>s)

terried at the fri+htfu, sus*icions %hich haunted

me) I hastened to the d(in+ ,ad("

#5et)# said I to m(se,f) #if this aomina,e

%oman thre% herse,f on /ohn$s +enerosit() it does



not fo,,o% that he is an accom*,ice" /ohn is inca8

*a,e of so horri,e and co%ard,( a crime) %hich

he had no interest in committin+) %hich de*ri&es

him of a charmin+ %ife) and renders him odious

to the human race" Wea>) he has *roa,( a,,o%ed

himse,f to (ie,d to a %retch) of %hose crime he %as

i+norant" 'e did not see) as I ha&e) 1iss Prim8

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;<

rose d(in+ H he ne&er %ou,d ha&e deserted her *i,,o%

to accom*an( the %oman %ho *oisoned her" O*8

*ressed ( these thou+hts) I entered) shudderin+)

the room %hich I e?*ected contained a cor*se"#

She %as sti,, a,i&e" O,d C,i&e8'art died soon) e8

cause his *h(sica, stren+th %as %orn out ( deauch8

er(H ut (oun+ 1iss Primrose %as sustained ( a

constitution as roust as her ,ood %as *ure" She

sa% me) and inGuired) in a tender tone) after /ohn"

A Mood of tears +ushed from m( e(es" I cou,d not

re*,(" I %as una,e to s*ea> to the father" I %as

o,i+ed to ,ea&e her to the faithfu, hands that ser&ed

her"



We %ent to inform his ,ordshi* of this disaster"

'e is as >ind to his friends as terri,e to his foes"

Ne&er %as there a more com*assionate man %ith

so stern a countenance" 'e too> as much *ains

to assist the d(in+ ,ad() and to o&erta>e the aan8

doned %oman) and disco&er /ohn) as he had done

to +i&e S*ain to the archdu>e" !ut a,, our search

*ro&ed in &ain" I thou+ht it %ou,d >i,, Freind"

No% %e Me% to the residence of 1iss Primrose)

%hose d(in+ %as *rotracted) no% to Rochester) Do8

&er) Portsmouth" Couriers %ere des*atched e&er(8

%here" We %andered aout at random) ,i>e do+s

that ha&e ,ost the scent) %hi,e the unfortunate

mother e?*ected hour,( the death of her chi,d"

At ,en+th %e ,earned that a handsome ,ad() ac8

com*anied ( three (oun+ men and some ser&ants)

; B= The Atheist and the Sa+e"

had emar>ed at Ne%*ort) in 1onmouthshire) in

a ,itt,e smu++,in+ &esse, that %as in the roads) and

had sai,ed for North America"



Freind sim*,( si+hed at this inte,,i+enceH then

sudden,( reco&erin+ himse,f) and *ressin+ m( hand)

he said.

#I must +o to America"#

I re*,ied) %ee*in+ %ith admiration. #I %i,, not

,ea&e (ou" !ut %hat can (ou do#

#Restore m( on,( son)# said he) #to &irtue and

his countr() or ur( m(se,f %ith him"#

Indeed) from our information) %e cou,d not

dout ut he had Med thither %ith that horri,e

%oman) !irton) and the other &i,,ains of the *art("

The +ood father too> ,ea&e of Lord Peteror8

ou+h) %ho returned soon after to Cata,oniaH and

%e %ent to !risto, and frei+hted a shi* for the De,a8

%are and the a( of 1ar(,and"

Freind) >no%in+ these coasts to e in the heart

of the En+,ish *ossessions) thou+ht it ri+ht to +o

there) %hether his son had sou+ht concea,ment in

the North or South"



'e su**,ied himse,f %ith mone() ,etters of credit)

and *ro&isions) and ,eft a condentia, ser&ant in

London) to %rite to him ( shi*s that %ere ,ea&in+

e&er( %ee> for 1ar(,and or Penns(,&ania"

We started" The cre%) Jud+in+ from the *,acid

countenance of m( friend) thou+ht %e %ere on an

e?cursion of *,easure" !ut %hen he %as a,one %ith

me) his si+hs e?*ressed the de*th of his an+uish"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;B;

At times I con+ratu,ated m(se,f on the ha**iness

of conso,in+ such a no,e mind"

A %est %ind >e*t us a ,on+ time o the Sci,,(

Is,ands" We %ere o,i+ed to steer for Ne% En+8

,and" What inGuiries %e made on e&er( coast

What time and toi, %ere thro%n a%a( At ,en+th)

a northeast %ind arisin+) %e steered for 1ar(,and"

There) it %as said) /ohn and his com*anions had

ta>en refu+e"



The fu+iti&es had soJourned on the coast more

than a month) and had astonished the %ho,e co,on(

( indu,+ences in ,u?ur( and deauch) ti,, then un8

>no%n in that *art of the %or,d" Then the( disa*8

*eared) no one >ne% %here"

We ad&anced into the a() intendin+ to +o to !a,8

timore for fresh information"

C'APTER VII"

W'AT 'APPENED IN A1ERICA"

On the %a( %e found) to the ri+ht) a &er( hand8

some house" It %as ,o%) ut con&enient and neat)

*,aced et%een a s*acious arn and a ,ar+e sta,e)

the %ho,e enc,osed ( a +arden) %e,, stoc>ed %ith

fruits of the countr(" It e,on+ed to an o,d man)

%ho in&ited us to a,i+ht at his retreat" 'e did

not ,oo> ,i>e an En+,ishman H his accent sho%ed us

he %as a forei+ner" We anchored and %ent on

shore" The o,d man %e,comed us cordia,,() and



;B@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

+a&e us the est cheer to e had in the Ne% Wor,d"

We discreet,( insinuated our %ish to >no% to %hom

%e %ere indeted for so >ind a rece*tion"

#; am)# said he) #of the race (ou ca,, sa&a+es"

I %as orn on the !,ue 1ountains) %hich ound

this countr( in the %est" In m( chi,dhood I %as

itten ( a ratt,esna>e) and aandoned" I %as on

the *oint of death" The father of the *resent Lord

!a,timore) fa,,in+ in %ith me) conded me to his

*h(sician) and to him I o%e m( ,ife" I soon dis8

char+ed the det) for I ha&e sa&ed his in a s>irmish

%ith the nei+horin+ tries" 'e +a&e me) in re8

turn) this haitation"#

1r" Freind inGuired if he %as of Lord !a,ti8

more$s re,i+ion

#'o%)# said he) #%ou,d (ou ha&e me *rofess

another man$s re,i+ion I ha&e m( o%n"#

This short and ener+etic ans%er made us reMect

a ,itt,e"



#5ou ha&e) then)# said I) #(our o%n ,a% and

(our o%n od#

#5es)# he re*,ied) %ith an assurance %ho,,( free

from *ride" #1( od is there)# and he *ointed to

hea&en" #1( ,a% is here)# and he *ut his hand on

his reast"

1( friend %as struc> %ith admiration) and) *ress8

in+ m( hand) he said .

#This sim*,e nature reasons more %ise,( than a,,

the ache,ors %ith %hom %e con&ersed at !arce8

,ona"#

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ; B:

'e %as an?ious to >no% if he cou,d +ain an(

information res*ectin+ his son /ohn" It %as a

%ei+ht that o**ressed him" 'e inGuired if his host

had heard s*ea> of some (oun+ *eo*,e) %ho had

made a +reat noise in the nei+horhood"



#Indeed I ha&e)# said he" #I recei&ed them in

m( house) and the( %ere so satised %ith the rece*8

tion I +a&e them that the( ha&e carried a%a( one

of m( dau+hters"#

/ud+e of m( friend$s distress at this inte,,i+ence"

In his emotion) he cou,d not a&oid e?c,aimin+.

#What 'as m( son run a%a( %ith (our

dau+hter#

#ood En+,ishman)# said the host) #do not ,et

that +rie&e (ou" I am +,ad to nd he is (our son"

'e is handsome) %e,, made) and seems coura+eous"

'e did not run a%a( %ith m( dear Paroua) for

(ou must >no% that Paroua is her name) ecause

it is mine" 'ad he ta>en o Paroua it %ou,d ha&e

een a roer() and m( &e sons) %ho are no%

huntin+ some fort( or ft( mi,es from here) %ou,d

not ha&e endured such an aront" It is a +reat sin

to thie&e" 1( dau+hter %ent of her o%n accord

%ith these (oun+ *eo*,e" She has +one to see the

countr( a *,easure one cannot den( to one of

her a+e" These tra&e,,ers %i,, rin+ her ac> to

me efore a month is *ast" I am sure of it" The(

*romised to do so"#



These %ords %ou,d ha&e made me ,au+h) had

; B The Atheist and the Sa+e"

not the e&ident distress of m( friend se&ere,( af8

Micted me"

In the e&enin+) Just as %e %ere aout to start

to ta>e ad&anta+e of the %ind) one of Paroua$s

sons arri&ed) out of reath) his face e?*ressin+ hor8

ror and des*air"

#What is the matter) m( son I thou+ht (ou

%ere huntin+ far a%a(" Are (ou %ounded ( some

sa&a+e east#

#No) fatherH not %ounded) (et in *ain"#

#!ut %hence do (ou come) son#

#From a distance of fort( mi,es) %ithout sto*8

*in+H and I am a,most dead"#



The a+ed father ma>es him sit do%n" The(

+i&e him restorati&es" 1r" Freind and I) his ,itt,e

rothers and sisters) %ith the ser&ants) cro%d

around him" When he reco&ered his reath he e?8

c,aimed .

#A,as) m( sister Paroua is a *risoner of %ar)

and %i,, no dout e >i,,ed"#

The %orth( Paroua %as +rie&ed at this recita,"

1r" Freind) fee,in+ for him as a father) %as struc>

to the &er( heart" At ,ast the son informed us that

a *art( of si,,( (oun+ En+,ishmen had attac>ed) for

di&ersion) the *eo*,e of the mountains" 'e said

the( had %ith them a &er( eautifu, ,ad( and her

maid) and he >ne% not ho% his sister came to e

%ith them" The handsome En+,ish ,ad( had een

sca,*ed and >i,,ed) and his sister ca*tured"

#I come here for aid a+ainst the *eo*,e of the


!,ue 1ountains" I %i,, >i,, them) too) and %i,,



reta>e m( dear sister or *erish"#

1r" Freind$s haits of se,f8command su**orted

him in this tr(in+ moment"

#od has +i&en me a son)# said he" #Let him

ta>e oth father and son) %hen the eterna, decree

sha,, +o forth" 1( friend) I am tem*ted to thin>

od sometimes acts ( a s*ecia, *ro&idence) since

he a&en+es) in America) crimes committed in

Euro*e) and since this %ic>ed C,i&e8'art died as

she deser&ed" Perha*s the So&erei+n of the uni8

&erse does in 'is +o&ernment *unish) e&en in this

%or,d) crimes committed here" I dare not assertH

I %ish to thin> soH indeed I shou,d e,ie&e it) %ere

not such an o*inion o**osed to a,, meta*h(sica,

,a%s"#

After these sad reMections on an e&ent common

in America) Freind resumed his usua, demeanor"

#I ha&e a +ood shi*)# said he to his host) #%ith

aundant stores" Let us +o u* the +u,f as near as

%e ma( to the !,ue 1ountains" 1( most an?ious

usiness no% is to sa&e (our dau+hter" Let us +o

to (our countr(men H sa( I ear the *i*e of *eace



that I am the +randson of Penn" That name a,one

%i,, suQce"#

At the name of Penn) so much re&ered throu+h8

out North America) the %orth( Paroua and his

son fe,t the +reatest res*ect and the +reatest ho*e"

We emar>ed) and in thirt(8si? hours reached !a,8

timore"

;B4 The Atheist and the Sa+e"

We %ere scarce,( in si+ht of this a,most desert

*,ace %hen %e sa% in the distance a numerous and

of mountaineers descendin+ to the *,ain) armed

%ith a?es) tomaha%>s) and those mus>ets %hich

Euro*eans so foo,ish,( so,d to them) to *rocure

s>ins" A,read( (ou mi+ht hear their fri+htfu,

ho%,in+s" From another side %e sa% four *ersons

a**roachin+ on horseac>) accom*anied ( others

on foot" We %ere ta>en for *eo*,e of !a,timore)

come there for the *ur*ose of +htin+" The horse8

men +a,,o*ed to%ard us) s%ord in hand" Our com8

*anions *re*ared to recei&e them" 1r" Freind) o8

ser&in+ them steadi,() shuddered for a moment)



ut soon) resumin+ his san+8froid.

#Do not stir) m( friends)# said he" #Lea&e a,,

to me"#

'e ad&anced a,one and unarmed to%ard the

*art(" In a moment %e sa% the chief ,et fa,, the

rid,e from his horse) s*rin+ to the +round) and fa,,

*rostrate" We uttered a cr( of sur*rise) and ad8

&anced" It %as /ohn himse,f) %ho) athed in tears)

had fa,,en at the feet of his father" Neither of them

%as a,e to s*ea>" !irton) and the t%o horsemen

%ith him) a,i+hted" !ut !irton) in his character8

istic %a() said.

#1( dear friend) I did not e?*ect to see (ou

here" 5ou and I seem orn for ad&entures" I am

+,ad to see (ou"#

Freind) %ithout dei+nin+ to re*,() ,oo>ed to%ard


the arm( of mountaineers) no% a**roachin+ us"



'e %a,>ed to%ard them) accom*anied ( Paroua)

%ho acted as inter*reter"

#Fe,,o% countr(men)# said Paroua) #eho,d a

descendant of Penn) %ho rin+s (ou the *i*e of

*eace"#

At these %ords the e,dest of the trie) raisin+ his

hands and e(es to hea&en) e?c,aimed.

#A son of Penn 'e is %e,come 1a( the

Penns ,i&e fore&er The +reat Penn is our mani8

tou) our +od" 'e and his %ere the on,( Euro*eans

%ho did not decei&e us) and sei2e on our ,and" 'e

ou+ht the territor( %e +a&e u* to himH he *aid

for it ,iera,,(H he maintained *eace amon+ usH he

rou+ht us remedies for the fe% diseases %e had

cau+ht from the Euro*eans" 'e tau+ht us ne%

arts" We ne&er du+ u* a+ainst him and a+ainst his

chi,dren the hatchet of %ar" For the Penns %e

a,%a(s entertain res*ect"#

Freind immediate,( sent for thirt( hams) as

man( *ies and fo%,s) %ith t%o hundred ott,es of

Pontac) from the shi*" 'e seated himse,f c,ose to

the chief of the !,ue 1ountains" /ohn and his com8



*anions assisted at the festi&a," /ohn %ou,d rather

ha&e een a hundred feet under the earth" 'is

father said nothin+ to him) and this si,ence in8

creased his confusion"

!irton) %ho cared for nothin+) seemed &er(

Jo&ia," Freind) efore he e+an to eat) said to Par8

oua.

;B The Atheist and the Sa+e"

#One *erson) &er( dear to (ou) is %aitin+ here"

I mean (our dau+hter"#

The chief of the !,ue 1ountains ordered her to

e rou+ht" She had suered no inJur(" She

smi,ed to her rother and father) as if she had on,(

returned from a %a,>"

The chief of the !,ue 1ountains ordered her to

inGuire %h( the %arriors of the !,ue 1ountains had

*ut to death 1adame C,i&e8'art) and had done

nothin+ to Paroua$s dau+hter"



#!ecause %e are Just)# returned the chief" #That

*roud En+,ish %oman e,on+ed to the *art( that

attac>ed us" She >i,,ed one of our men ( rin+ a

*isto, ehind him" We did nothin+ to Paroua as

soon as %e ascertained that she %as a dau+hter of

our tries) and on,( came here for di&ersion" E&er(

one shou,d e treated accordin+ to his desert"#

Freind %as aected ( this ma?im) ut he re*8

resented to them that the custom of urnin+ ca*8

ti&es at the sta>e %as de+radin+ to %orth( *eo*,e)

and that) %ith so much &irtue) the( shou,d e ,ess

ferocious"

The chief then as>ed us %hat %e did %ith those

%hom %e >i,,ed in att,e"

#We ur( them"#

#I understand" 5ou ,ea&e them for %orms to

eat" Cannia,s thin> *ro*er to +i&e themse,&es the

*reference" Their stomachs are a more honora,e

+ra&e"#

!irton su**orted %ith *,easure the o*inions of



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;B<

the mountaineer" 'e said the custom of oi,in+

and roastin+ a nei+hor must e oth ancient and

natura,) since it *re&ai,ed in oth hemis*heres) and

therefore it must e an innate idea H that men %ere

hunted efore easts ecause it %as easier to >i,,

men than %o,&esH that if the /e%s) in their oo>s)

so ,on+ un>no%n) ima+ined that a certain Cain

>i,,ed a certain Ae,) it cou,d on,( e %ith a &ie%

to eatin+ him H that the same /e%s admit the( had

often fed on human MeshH thdi the est historians

descrie the /e%s as eatin+ the ,eedin+ Mesh of

Romans) %hom the( massacred in E+(*t) C(*rus)

and Asia) in their re&o,ts a+ainst the em*erors

TraJan and Adrian"

We a,,o%ed him to indu,+e in these coarse Jo>es)

%hich) thou+h unfortunate,( true at the ottom) had

neither recian %it nor Roman uranit("

Freind) %ithout ans%erin+ him) addressed the

nati&es" Paroua trans,ated) *hrase ( *hrase"

Ti,,otson himse,f ne&er s*o>e %ith more force"



The insinuatin+ Sma,drid+e ne&er dis*,a(ed more

touchin+ +races" The +reat secret of e,oGuence is

to con&ince" 'e *ro&ed to them) accordin+,() that

the e?ecra,e custom of urnin+ ca*ti&es ins*ired

a ferocit( destructi&e to the human race" For this

reason the( %ere stran+ers to the comforts of so8

ciet( and the ti,,a+e of the +round"

At ,ast the( a,, s%ore) ( their +reat manitou)

that the( %ou,d not urn men and %omen a+ain"

Thus) from a sin+,e con&ersation) Freind ecame

; 4= The Atheist and the Sa+e"

their ,e+is,ator) ,i>e an Or*heus tamin+ ti+ers" In

&ain ma( the /esuits descrie their mirac,es in ,et8

ters %hich are rare,( curious or edif(in+H the( can

ne&er eGua, our +ood friend"

After ,oadin+ the chiefs of the !,ue 1ountains

%ith *resents) he conducted the %orth( Paroua

ac> to his residence" 5oun+ Paroua) %ith his

sister) accom*anied us" The others %ent huntin+



in the distant forest"

/ohn) !irton) and his com*anions a,so emar>ed

in the shi*"

Freind *ersisted in his *,an of not re*roachin+

his son) %hene&er the (oun+ scam* did %ron+" 'e

,eft him to se,f8e?amination) and to consume his

heart) as P(tha+oras has it" Ne&erthe,ess) he too>

u* the ,etter thrice) %hich had een recei&ed from

En+,and) and ,oo>ed at his son as he read it" The

(oun+ man %ou,d then cast his e(es on the +round)

and res*ect and re*entance mi+ht e read on his

face"

!irton continued as +a( and nois( as if he had

Just returned from the *,a(" 'e %as in character

,i>e the ,ate Du>e of Rochester) e?treme in de8

aucher() ra&er() sentiments) ,an+ua+e) and) in

his E*icurean *hi,oso*h() attachin+ himse,f on,( to

the e?traordinar( and soon dis+usted e&en thenH

ha&in+ the turn of mind that mista>es *roai,8

ities for demonstrationsH more %ise and e,oGuent

than an( (oun+ man of his a+eH ut too indo,ent

to e *rofound in an(thin+"



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;4;

Whi,e dinin+ %ith us on oard 1r" Freind said

to me.

#Indeed) m( dear friend) I ho*e od %i,, ins*ire

these (oun+ *eo*,e %ith *urer mora,s) and that

di&e8'art$s terri,e e?am*,e %i,, e a ,esson to

them"#

!irton) hearin+ these %ords) said) in a dis8

dainfu, tone.

#For a ,on+ time I had een dissatised %ith

that %ic>ed C,i&e8'art" Indeed) I scarce,( care

more for her than I do for a trussed fo%," !ut do

(ou e,ie&e there e?ists I don$t >no% %here6

a" ein+ *er*etua,,( occu*ied in *unishin+ the

%ic>ed men and %omen %ho *eo*,e and de*o*u,ate

the four Guarters of our ,itt,e %or,d Do (ou for+et

that the terri,e 1ar() dau+hter of 'enr( VIII") %as

ha**( ti,, her death And (et she had caused the

e?ecution of ei+ht hundred citi2ens) of oth se?es)

on the *rete?t that the( did not e,ie&e in transu8



stantiation and the *o*e" 'er father) near,( as

crue,) and her husand) more *rofound,( %ic>ed)

s*ent their ,i&es in enJo(ment" Po*e A,e?ander

IV") %orse than these) %as sti,, more fortunate" A,,

his crimes succeeded" 'e died at the a+e of se&8

ent(8t%o) rich and *o%erfu,) courted ( the >in+s

of the a+e" Where) then) is this Just and a&en+in+

od#

1r" Freind) %ith austerit( and ca,mness) re*,ied.

#It seems to me) sir) (ou ou+ht not to sa( $there

is no od"$ Rememer) Loc>e and Ne%ton ne&er

Vo," @ ii

; 4@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

*ronounced that %ord ut in a tone of re&erence

that e&er( one remar>ed"#

#What care I)# returned !irton) #for t%o men$s

+rimaces 'o% did Ne%ton ,oo> %hen he %rote

his #Commentar( on the A*oca,(*se# Or Loc>e

%hen he %rote the #Dia,o+ue !et%een a Parrot and



the Prince 1aurice#

Then Freind re*eated the +o,den %ords %hich

shou,d e +ra&en on e&er( heart.

#Let us for+et the dreams of +reat men) and re8

memer the truths the( ha&e tau+ht us"#

This re*,( +a&e %a( to a %e,,8sustained con&er8

sation) more interestin+ than that of the ache,or

of Sa,amanca" I sat in a corner and too> notes"

The com*an( dre% round the dis*utants" The %or8

th( Paroua) his son) and dau+hter) /ohn$s de8

auched com*anions) and /ohn himse,f) %ith his

head restin+ on his hands a,, ,istened %ith ea+er

attention"

C'APTER VIII"

DIALO0E !ETWEEN FREIND AND !IRTON ON AT'EIS1"

FREIND" I %i,, not re*eat to (ou) sir) the met8

a*h(sica, ar+uments of our ce,erated C,ar>eH I

on,( e?hort (ou to read them a+ain" The( are



rather intended to con&ince than aect (ou" I sha,,

conne m(se,f to ar+uments ca,cu,ated to touch

(our heart"

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;4:

!IRTON" 5ou %i,, +ratif( me &er( much" I

,i>e to e amused and interested" I hate so*hisms"

1eta*h(sica, ar+uments seem to me ,i>e a,,oons

,,ed %ith air used et%een the dis*utants" The

,adders urst) and nothin+ remains"

FREIND" It is *ossi,e there ma( e some o8

scurit( some ,adders in the dee* thin+s of

C,ar>e) the res*ecta,e Arian" Perha*s he %as de8

cei&ed on the suJect of actua, innit(" Perha*s

%hen he too> u*on himse,f to comment on od)

he fo,,o%s too c,ose,( a commentator of 'omer)

%ho attriutes ideas to his author %hich he ne&er

entertained"

At the %ords #innit()# #'omer)# #commenta8

tors)# the %orth( Paroua and his dau+hter) and

e&en a fe% of the En+,ish) seemed dis*osed to +o



and ta>e an airin+ on the dec>" !ut Freind *rom8

isin+ to e inte,,i+i,e) the( consented to remain"

I e?*,ained in a %his*er to Paroua scientic e?8

*ressions) %hich a nati&e of the !,ue 1ountains

%as not ,i>e,( to understand so %e,, as a doctor of

O?ford or Camrid+e"

FREIND" It %ou,d e sad) indeed) if %e cou,d

not e sure of the e?istence of od %ithout ein+

meta*h(sicians" In a,, En+,and scarce,( a hun8

dred minds %ou,d e found ca*a,e of fathomin+

the m(steries of the for and a+ainstH and the rest

of the %or,d %ou,d e en&e,o*ed in i+noranceH a

*re( to ruta, *assionsH s%a(ed ( instinct a,oneH

and on,( ca*a,e of reasonin+ on the &u,+ar no8


tions of their carna, interests" To nd out od)

I on,( reGuire (ou to ma>e one eort to o*en

(our e(es"

!IRTON" I see (our aim" 5ou are returnin+ to

the %orn8out ar+uments that the sun turns on its



a?is in t%ent(8&e da(s and a ha,f) in s*ite of the

asurd inGuisition of RomeH that the ,i+ht comes

to us reMected from Saturn in fteen minutes) in

s*ite of the asurd su**osition of Descartes) that

e&er( ?ed star is a sun) ,i>e ours) surrounded (

*,anetsH that the count,ess stars) scattered throu+h

s*ace) oe( mathematica, ,a%s) disco&ered and

*ro&ed ( the +reat Ne%tonH that a catechist an8

nounces od to chi,dren) and that Ne%ton re&ea,s

'im to the sa+e) as a *hi,oso*hica, Frenchman said)

%ho %as *ersecuted in his o%n countr( for assert8

in+ as much" Do not trou,e (ourse,f to rin+

efore me the cease,ess order %hich *re&ai,s in

a,, *arts of the uni&erse" A,, that e?ists must ha&e

order of some sort" Rareed matter must ta>e a

hi+her *,ace than denser sustances" The stron+8

est *ress u*on the %ea>est" !odies mo&ed %ith a

+reater im*u,se *ro+ress more ra*id,( than those

mo&ed %ith ,ess" Thin+s arran+e themse,&es in this

%a( of their o%n accord" In &ain) after drin>in+ a

*int of %ine) ,i>e Esdras) %ou,d (ou ta,> to me for

a hundred and si?t( hours to+ether %ithout shut8

tin+ the mouth) I shou,d not e con&inced" Do

(ou %ish me to ado*t an eterna, ein+) innite and

immuta,e) %ho sa% t I do not >no% %hen6 to



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;4B

create) from nothin+) thin+s %hich chan+e e&er(

moment) and s*iders to disemo%e, Mies Wou,d

(ou ha&e me su**ose) %ith the +ossi* Nieu%ent(t)

that od +a&e us ears that %e mi+ht ha&e faith)

since faith cometh ( hearin+ No no I %i,,

not e,ie&e these Guac>s %ho ha&e so,d their dru+s

at a +ood *rice to foo,s" I >ee* to the ,itt,e oo>

of a Frenchman) %ho maintains that nothin+ e?8

ists nor can e?ist ut natureH that nature does a,,)

and is a,,H that it is im*ossi,e and contradictor(

that an(thin+ can e?ist e(ond ALL" In a %ord)

I e,ie&e on,( in nature"

FREIND" What if I te,, (ou there is no such

thin+ as nature H and that in us) around us) a thou8

sand mi,,ions of ,ea+ues from us) a,, is art) %ithout

an( e?ce*tion"

!IRTON" What A,, art That$s somethin+

ne%"

FREIND" Fe% oser&e that" Nothin+) ho%e&er)



is more true" I sha,, a,%a(s sa() ma>e use of (our

e(es) and (ou %i,, reco+ni2e and adore od" Thin>

ho% those &ast +,oes) %hich (ou see re&o,&e in

their immense orits) oser&e dee* mathematica,

,a%s" There is then a +reat ca,cu,ator %hom P,ato

ca,,ed the eterna, +eometrician" 5ou admire those

ne%,( in&ented machines) ca,,ed orreries) ecause

Lord Orrer( in&ented them ( imitatin+ the ma>er"

It is a fee,e co*( of our *,anetar( s(stem and its

re&o,utionsH a,so the *eriods of the chan+es of the

so,stice and eGuino? %hich rin+ us from da( to da(

; 44 The Atheist and the Sa+e"

a ne% *o,ar *,anet" This *eriod) this s,o% course of

aout t%ent(8si? thousand (ears) cou,d not e ef8

fected in our fee,e hands ( human orreries" The

machine is &er( im*erfectH it must e turned ( a

hand,eH (et it is a chef8d$oeu&re of the s>i,, of our

artisans" Concei&e) then) the *o%er and *atience) the

+enius) of the eterna, architect) if %e ma( a**,( such

terms to the Su*reme !ein+"

When I descried an orrer( to Paroua) he said .



#If the co*( indicates +enius) ho% much more

must there e in the ori+ina,#

A,, *resent) En+,ish and American) fe,t the force

of these %ords) and raised their hands to hea&en"

!irton remained thou+htfu," Then he cried.

#What a,, art Nature the resu,t of art Can

it e *ossi,e#

FREIND" No%) consider (ourse,fH e?amine %ith

%hat art) ne&er suQcient,( e?*,ored) a,, is con8

structed %ithin and %ithout for a,, (our %ishes and

actions" I do not *retend no% to ,ecture on anat8

om(" 5ou >no% %e,, enou+h there is not one su*er8

Muous &esse,) nor one that does not) in the e?ercise

of its functions) de*end on nei+horin+ &esse,s"

So articia, is the arran+ement throu+hout the

od() that there is not a sin+,e &ein %ithout &a,&es

and s,uices) ma>in+ a *assa+e for the ,ood" From

the roots of the hair to the toes) a,, is art) desi+n)

cause) and eect" Indeed) %e cannot su**ress fee,8

in+s of indi+nation to%ard those %ho *resume to

den( na, causes) and ha&e the rashness to sa( that



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ; 4

the mouth %as not made to eat and s*ea> %ith that

the e(es are not admira,( contri&ed for seein+) the

ears for hearin+) the ner&es for fee,in+" Such au8

dacit( is madness" I cannot concei&e it"

Let us admit that e&er( anima, renders testimon(

to the su*reme faricator"

The sma,,est her *er*,e?es human inte,,ect" So

true is this that the a++re+ate toi, of a,, men cou,d

not create a stra% un,ess the seed e so%n in the

earth" Let it not e said that the seed must rot in

the earth to *roduce" Such nonsense shou,d not e

,istened to no%"

The com*an( fe,t the force of these *roofs more

stron+,( than the others) ecause the( %ere more *a,8

*a,e" !irton murmured . #1ust I then ac>no%,8

ed+e od We sha,, see" It is not (et *ro&ed"#

/ohn remained thou+htfu,) and seemed aected"

FREIND" No) m( friends" We ma>e nothin+)

%e can do nothin+" It is in our *o%er to arran+e)



unite) ca,cu,ate) %ei+h) measure) ut) to ma>e

What a %ord The essentia, !ein+) e?istin+ (

'imse,f) a,one can ma>e" This is %h( Guac>s) %ho

,aor at the *hi,oso*her$s stone) *ro&e themse,&es

such foo,s" The( oast that the( create +o,d) and

the( cannot e&en create c,a(" Let us then confess)

m( friends) that there is a necessar( and incom*re8

hensi,e !ein+ %ho made us"

!IRTON" If 'e e?ists) %here is 'e Wh( is 'e

concea,ed 'as an( one e&er seen 'im Shou,d

the creator of +ood hide 'imse,f


FREIND" Did (ou e&er see Sir Christo*her

Wren) the architect of St" Pau,$s) %hen (ou %ere in

London 5et it is c,ear that church is the %or> of

a +reat architect"

!IRTON" E&er( one >no%s that Wren erected)

at a +reat e?*ense) the &ast edice in %hich !ur8

+ess) %hen he *reaches) sends us to s,ee*" We

>no% &er( %e,, %h( and ho% our fathers ui,t it"



!ut %h( and ho% did od ma>e the uni&erse from

nothin+ 5ou >no% %e,, the ancient ma?im .

#Nothin+ can create nothin+H nothin+ returns to

nothin+"# No one e&er douted that truth" 5our

!i,e itse,f sa(s that (our od made hea&en and

earth) thou+h the hea&en) that is) the assem,a+e

of stars) is as su*erior to the earth) as the earth itse,f

is to one ,ade of +rass" !ut (our !i,e does not

te,, us that od made hea&en and earth from noth8

in+" It does not *retend that the Lord made %o8

man from nothin+" She %as >neaded in a &er(

sin+u,ar %a() from a ri ta>en from her husand$s

side" Accordin+ to the !i,e) chaos e?isted efore

the %or,dH therefore matter must e as eterna, as

(our od"

A s,i+ht murmur then %ent round the com*an(H

#!irton mi+ht e ri+ht)# the( said"

FREIND" I thin> I ha&e *ro&ed to (ou that there

is a su*reme inte,,i+enceH an eterna, *o%er to %hom

%e o%e our *assin+ e?istence" I ha&e not en+a+ed

to te,, (ou the ho% and the %h(" od has +i&en

me suQcient reason to >no% that 'e e?ists) ut not



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;4<

enou+h to disco&er %hether matter has een suJect

to 'im from eternit() or %hether 'e created it in

time" What ha&e (ou to do %ith the creation of mat8

ter) *ro&ided (ou ac>no%,ed+e a od the ru,er of

matter and of (ourse,f 5ou as> me %here od is

I do not >no%" I ou+ht not to >no%" I >no% that

'e is H I >no% that 'e is m( ma>er H that 'e ma>es

a,,) and that %e ou+ht to de*end on 'is +oodness"

!IRTON" 'is +oodness Are (ou Jestin+ %ith

me Did (ou not te,, me to ma>e use of m( e(es

1a>e use of (ours" ,ance at the %or,d) and then

ta,> of the +oodness of od"

1r" Freind sa% that he had no% reached the most

diQcu,t *art of the dis*ute) and that !irton %as

*re*arin+ a rude assau,t" 'e sa% that the hearers)

es*ecia,,( the Americans) to+ether %ith himse,f) re8

Guired a ,itt,e res*ite" Recommendin+ himse,f there8

fore to od) the( %ent on dec> for e?ercise" When

tea %as ser&ed) the dis*utation %as rene%ed"



C'APTER I9"

ON AT'EIS1"

!IRTON" 5ou must not e?*ect such success) sir)

on the suJect of +oodness as (ou ha&e had on in8

+enuit( and *o%er" First) I sha,, touch on the

misconstructions of our +,oe) in man( instances

o**osed to the c,e&erness so much oasted ofH then

;= The Atheist and the Sa+e"

I intend to d%e,, on the *er*etua, crimes and mis8

fortunes of the inhaitantsH and (ou %i,, Jud+e of

the +reat ru,er$s *aterna, aection for them"

I sha,, e+in ( te,,in+ (ou that in ,oucester8

shire) m( count() %hen %e reed horses) %e rear

them %ith care) in ne *astura+e and +ood sta,es)

%ith ha( and oats" Pra() %hat she,ter and food had

these *oor Americans) %hen %e disco&ered their con8

tinent The( %ere o,i+ed to scour o&er thirt( or

fort( mi,es for food" A,, the northern coast of the



o,d %or,d is e?*osed to the same crue, necessit( H and

from S%edish La*onia to the Sea of /a*an) a hun8

dred tries s*end a ,ife as short as it is %retched) in

the most com*,ete %ant) amidst eterna, sno%s"

Fine c,imates are continua,,( e?*osed to destruc8

ti&e scour+es" There %e %a,> o&er urnin+ *reci8

*ices) co&ered ( ferti,e *,ains) %hich *ro&e ut

dead,( snares" There is no he,, ut this) dout,ess H

and it o*ens a hundred times eneath our feet"

The( te,, us of a uni&ersa, de,u+e) an e&en *h(s8

ica,,( im*ossi,e) and at %hich a,, sensi,e *eo*,e

,au+h" !ut the( conso,e us ( sa(in+ it on,( ,asted

ten months" I %onder it did not *ut out the res

%hich ha&e since destro(ed so man( Mourishin+

to%ns" 5our St" Au+ustine te,,s us of a hundred

cities urnt or s%a,,o%ed u* in Li(a ( an earth8

Gua>e" Vo,canoes ha&e se&era, times de&astated

,o&e,( Ita,(" As a cro%nin+ misfortune) the inhai8

tants of the Arctic Circ,e are not e?em*t from these

suterranean res" The Ice,ander) a,%a(s in a,arm)




has hun+er starin+ him in the face) and a hundred

feet of Mame or ice to the ri+ht or ,eft) under his

1ount 'ec,aH for the +reat &o,canoes are a,%a(s

found amon+ terri,e mountains"

It is in &ain to sa( that mountains of t%o thou8

sand toises in e,e&ation are nothin+ on a +,oe nine

thousand mi,es in diameter) or ,i>e the irre+u,arities

of an oran+e com*ared %ith the u,> of that fruit

that it is scarce,( one foot to e&er( three thousand

feet" A,as %hat then are %e) if hi+h mountains

are ut as +ures one foot hi+h for e&er( three

thousand feet) or four inches for e&er( nine thou8

sand inches We are then anima,s aso,ute,( im8

*erce*ti,eH (et %e are ,ia,e to e crushed ( a,,

that surrounds us) thou+h our innite ,itt,eness) so

c,ose,( orderin+ on nothin+) mi+ht seem to secure

us from a,, accidents" !esides the count,ess cities)

destro(ed and redestro(ed ,i>e as man( ant8hi,,s)

%hat sha,, %e sa( to the seas of sand that cross the

centre of Africa) and %hose urnin+ %a&es raised

( the %ind ha&e uried entire armies What is

the use of the &ast deserts on the orders of S(ria

deserts so horri,e that the ferocious anima,s)

ca,,ed /e%s) ima+ined the( had reached Paradise



%hen the( *assed from these scenes of horror into

a ,itt,e corner of ,and %here the( cou,d cu,ti&ate a

fe% acres It is not enou+h that man the no,e

creature6 shou,d e so i,, ,od+ed) c,othed) and fed)

for so man( a+es" 'e comes into the %or,d to ,i&e for

a fe% da(s) *er*,e?ed ( deceitfu, ho*es and rea,


&e?ations" 'is od() contri&ed %ith use,ess art) is

a *re( to a,, the i,,s resu,tin+ from that &er( art"

'e ,i&es et%een the dan+ers of *oison and *,a+ue"

No one can rememer the ,ist of i,,s %e are suJect

toH and the modest doctors of S%it2er,and *retend

the( can cure them a,,"

Whi,e !irton said this) the com*an( ,istened

%ith attention and e&en emotion" Paroua said.

#Let us see ho% the doctor %i,, +et o&er this"#

E&en /ohn said in a ,o% tone. #On m( %ord) he

is ri+ht" I %as a foo, to e so soon touched ( m(

father$s con&ersation"#



1r" Freind %aited ti,, their ima+inations %ere a

,itt,e reco&ered from the assau,t) and then resumed

the discussion"

FREIND" A (oun+ theo,o+ian %ou,d ans%er

these sad truths ( so*hisms) ac>ed %ith Guota8

tions from St" !asi, and St" C(ri," For m( *art) I

sha,, admit that there are man( *h(sica, e&i,s in the

%or,d" I %i,, not e&en ,essen the numer) thou+h

1r" !irton has seen t to e?a++erate" I as> (ou)

m( dear Paroua) is not (our c,imate made for (ou

It cannot e inJurious) since neither (ou nor (our

com*anions %ish to ,ea&e it" EsGuimau?) Ice,and8

ers) La*,anders) Asiatics) and Indians) ne&er thin> of

,ea&in+ theirs" The reindeer) %hich od has sent to

c,othe and feed them) die %hen trans*orted to an8

other 2one" La*,anders themse,&es die in southern

c,imates" The south of Sieria is too %arm for them H


here the( %ou,d die of heat" It is e&ident that od

made e&er( >ind of anima, and &e+eta,e for the

c,ime in %hich it thri&es" Ne+roes) a race of men so



dierent from ours) are so thorou+h,( formed for

their countr() that thousands of them ha&e *referred

death to s,a&er( e,se%here" The came, and ostrich

are Guite at home in the sands of Africa" The u,,

aounds in ferti,e countries) %here the +rass is

e&er fresh for his nourishment" Cinnamon and

s*ice on,( +ro% in India" !ar,e( is on,( usefu, in

those countries %here od has a**ointed it to

+ro%" From one end of America to the other) (ou

ha&e dierent >inds of food" The &ine cannot e

rou+ht to *erfection in En+,and) nor in S%eden

and Canada" This is the reason that in some

countries the e,ements of re,i+ious rites consist in

read and %ine H and the( do %e,, to than> od for

the food and e&era+e 'is +oodness has *ro&idedH

and Americans %ou,d do %e,, to than> 'im for their

Indian corn and arro%8root" Throu+hout the %or,d

od has suited a,, anima,s) from the snai, to man)

to the countries in %hich 'e has *,aced them" Let

us not re*roach Pro&idence %hen %e o%e 'im

*raises"

!ut to consider scour+es) such as inundations)

&o,canoes) earthGua>es" If (ou conne (our atten8

tion to the accidents %hich sometimes ha**en to

the %hee,s of the eterna, machine) (ou ma( %e,,



consider od as a t(rant H ut oser&e his cease,ess

enets) and 'e ecomes a com*assionate father"


5ou ha&e Guoted Au+ustine and his account of the

destruction of a hundred citiesH ut rememer the

African rhetorician often contradicts himse,f and

%as *rodi+a, of e?a++erations in his %ritin+s" 'e

%rote of earthGua>es as he did of the eQcac( of

+race) and the damnation of chi,dren d(in+ %ithout

a*tism" 'as he not said in his thirt(8se&enth ser8

mon) that he had seen *eo*,e in Ethio*ia %ith one

e(e in the midd,e of the forehead ,i>e the C(c,o*s)

and a %ho,e race %ithout heads

We) %ho are not fathers of the church) ou+ht not

to +o e(ond nor to sto* short of truthH and the

truth is) that of the houses destro(ed) %e cannot

rec>on that more than one out of e&er( hundred

thousand is destro(ed ( the res necessar( to the

due *erformance of the o*erations of the %or,d"

So essentia, to the nature of the uni&erse is re)



that ut for it there %ou,d e no sun nor stars) no

anima,s) &e+eta,es) or minera,s" The re) *,aced

under the earth) is suJect to ?ed natura, ,a%s"

Some disasters ma( ne&erthe,ess occur" 5ou can8

not sa( a man is a *oor artisan %hen an immense

machine) formed ( him) ,asts unim*aired for (ears"

If a man in&ented a h(drau,ic en+ine to %ater a

*ro&ince) %ou,d (ou dis*ara+e his %or> ecause it

destro(s some insects

I ha&e sho%n (ou that the machine of the %or,d

is the %or> of an inte,,i+ent and *o%erfu, !ein+H

(ou) %ho are inte,,i+ent) ou+ht to admire 'im


(ou) %ho are ,aden %ith 'is +ifts) ou+ht to adore

'im"

!ut ho%) (ou inGuire) can the %retches %ho are

condemned to ,an+uish under incura,e e&i,s ho%

can the( admire and ,o&e I must te,, (ou) that

such i,,s are +enera,,( rou+ht on ourse,&es) or

come to us from our fathers) %ho aused their



odies) and not from the +reat faricator" No dis8

ease ut decre*itude %as >no%n in America ti,, %e

introduced stron+ ,iGuors) the source of a,, e&i,s"

Let us rememer that in 1i,ton$s *oem) the

sim*,e Adam is made to inGuire if he %i,, ,i&e ,on+"

5es) is the re*,() if (ou ta>e nothin+ to e?cess"

Oser&e this ru,e) m( friends" Can (ou reGuire that

od shou,d ,et (ou ,i&e for a+es) as the re%ard of

(our +,utton() (our drun>enness) (our incontinence)

and (our indu,+ence in infamous *assions) %hich

corru*t the ,ood and necessari,( shorten ,ife

I a**ro&ed of this re*,(" Paroua ,i>ed it H ut

!irton %as not mo&ed" I read in /ohn$s e(es that

he %as sti,, doutfu," !irton reJoined in these terms .

!IRTON" Since (ou ha&e made use of common

ar+uments) %ith a fe% no&e, remar>s) I ma( e

a,,o%ed to fo,,o% (our *,an" If so +ood and *o%er8

fu, a od e?isted) sure,( 'e %ou,d not ha&e suered

e&i, to enter the %or,d) nor ha&e de&oted 'is crea8

tures to +rief and crime" If 'e cannot *re&ent e&i,)

'e is not a,mi+ht( H if 'e %i,, not) 'e is crue,"

The anna,s of the !rahmins on,( e?tend ac>




)=== (earsH those of the Chinese on,( B)===" Our

>no%,ed+e is ut of (esterda(H ut in that rief

s*ace a,, is horror" 1urder has een the *ractice

from one end of the earth to the otherH and men

ha&e een %ea> enou+h to +i&e to those men %ho

s,e% the +reatest numer of their fe,,o% creatures)

the tit,es of heroes) demi8+ods) and e&en +ods"

In America there %ere ,eft t%o +reat nations)

e+innin+ to enJo( the s%eets of *eace and ci&i,i2a8

tion) %hen the S*aniards came there to s,a( e,e&en

mi,,ions" The( hunted men do%n %ith do+sH and

Kin+ Ferdinand of Casti,e +a&e those do+s *en8

sions for their ser&ices"

The heroes %ho sudued the Ne% Wor,d mas8

sacred innocent and he,*,ess aes) murdered

*eacea,e and defence,ess Indians) and committed

the most inhuman ararities The( roasted Kin+

uatemo2in) in 1e?ico) on a +ridiron" The( has8

tened to Peru to con&ert the Inca) Atahua,*a" A



*riest) named A,ma+ro) son of a *riest condemned

to e han+ed in S*ain for hi+h%a( roer() %ent

there %ith one Pi2arro) to inform the Em*eror of

the Peru&ians) ( the &oice of another *riest) that

a third *riest) named A,e?ander IV") *o,,uted (

incest) assassination) and homicide) had +i&en) %ith

his fu,, consent *ro*rio motu and %ith fu,, *o%er)

not on,( Peru) ut one8ha,f of the Ne% Wor,d) to

the Kin+ of S*ainH and that Atahua,*a ou+ht in8

stant,( to sumit) under *ain of suerin+ the indi+8

nation of the a*ost,es Peter and Pau," !ut as this


>in+ >ne% as ,itt,e of Latin as the *riest %ho read

the *a*a, u,,) he %as instant,( dec,ared heretica,

and incredu,ous"

The( urned Atahua,*a) as the( had urned

uatemo2in" The( s,e% his *eo*,e H and a,, to +ain

that hard and (e,,o% earth %hich has on,( ser&ed to

de*o*u,ate and im*o&erish S*ainH for it has made

her ne+,ect the cu,ti&ation of the earth) %hich rea,,(

nourishes man"



No%) m( dear 1r" Freind) if the fantastic and

ridicu,ous ein+ men ca,, the de&i, had %ished to

ma>e men in his ima+e) %ou,d he ha&e made them

other%ise Do not) then) attriute such an aom8

ina,e %or> to od"

This s*eech rou+ht the *art( round a+ain to

!irton$s &ie%s" I sa% /ohn reJoice in himse,fH e&en

(oun+ Paroua heard %ith horror of the *riest

A,ma+ro of the *riest %ho read the Latin u,,

of the *riest A,e?ander IV" of a,, Christians %ho

committed) under *retence of de&otion) such crimes

to otain +o,d" I confess) I trem,ed for Freind" I

des*aired of his cause" 'e re*,ied) ho%e&er) %ith8

out emarrassment"

FREIND" Rememer) m( friends) there is a od"

This I *ro&ed to (ouH (ou a+reed to it) and after

ein+ dri&en to admit that he e?ists) (ou stri&e to

nd out his im*erfections) &ices) and %ic>edness"

I am far from assertin+) %ith some reasoners)

Vo," @ ;@



i( The Atheist and the Sa+e"

that *ri&ate i,,s form the +enera, +ood" This is too

ridicu,ous a sentiment" I admit) %ith +rief) that the

%or,d contains much mora, and *h(sica, e&i,H ut)

since it is certain that od e?ists) it is a,so certain

that a,, these e&i,s cannot *re&ent od$s e?istence"

'e cannot e crue," What interest cou,d ma>e 'im

so There are horri,e e&i,s in the %or,d) m(

friends" Let us not s%e,, their numer" It is im*os8

si,e that od can e other than +ood H ut men are

*er&erse) and ma>e a detesta,e use of the ,iert(

that od has +i&en and ou+ht to ha&e +i&en that

is) the *o%er of e?ercisin+ their %i,,s) %ithout %hich

the( %ou,d e sim*,e machines) formed ( a %ic>ed

ein+) to e ro>en at his ca*rice"

A,, en,i+htened S*aniards a+ree that a sma,,

numer of their ancestors aused this ,iert( so far

as to commit crimes that ma>e human nature shud8

der" The second Don Car,os did %hat he cou,d to

re*air the atrocities committed ( the S*aniards

under Ferdinand and Char,es V"

If there is crime in the %or,d) m( friends) there



is &irtue as %e,,"

!IRTON" Ah ha &irtue A +ood Jo>e I

shou,d ,i>e to see this &irtue" Where is she to e

found

At these %ords I cou,d not contain m(se,f"

#5ou ma( nd her)# said I) #in the %orth( 1r"

Freind) in Paroua) e&en in (ourse,f %hen (our

heart is c,eansed of its &ices"#

'e ,ushedH and /ohn a,so" The ,atter ,oo>ed


do%n and seemed to fee, remorse" 'is father sur8

&e(ed him %ith com*assion and resumed"

FREIND" 5es) dear friends" If there ha&e a,8

%a(s een crimes) there ha&e a,%a(s een &irtues)

too" Athens had such men as Socrates) as %e,, as

such as Anitus" Rome had Catos as %e,, as Su,,as"

Nero fri+htened the %or,d ( his atrocities) ut



Titus) TraJan) and the Antonines conso,ed it ( their

ene&o,ence" 1( friend %i,, e?*,ain to Paroua

%ho these +reat men %ere" Fortunate,() I ha&e

E*ictetus in m( *oc>et" E*ictetus %as a s,a&e) ut

the eGua, of 1arcus Aure,ius in mind" Listen)

and ma( a,, %ho *retend to teach men hear %hat

E*ictetus sa(s to himse,f. #od made meH I fee,

this H and sha,, I dare to dishonor 'im ( infamous

thou+hts) crimina, actions) and ase desires# 'is

mind a+reed %ith his con&ersation" 1arcus Au8

re,ius) on the throne of Euro*e and t%o *arts of our

hemis*here) did not thin> other%ise than the s,a&e

E*ictetus" The one %as ne&er humi,iated ( mean8

ness) nor the other da22,ed ( +reatness H and %hen

the( %rote their thou+hts it %as for the use of their

disci*,es) and not to e e?to,,ed in the *a*ers" Pra()

in (our o*inion) %ere not Loc>e) Ne%ton) Ti,,ot8

son) Penn) C,ar>e) the +ood man ca,,ed #The 1an

of Ross)# and man( others) in and e(ond (our

is,and) mode,s of &irtue

5ou ha&e a,,uded to the crue, and unJust %ars of

%hich so man( nations ha&e een +ui,t(" 5ou ha&e

descried the aominations of Christians in 1e?ico



; = The Atheist and the Sa+e"

and PeruH (ou mi+ht add the St" !artho,ome% of

France and the Irish massacre" !ut are there not

*eo*,e %ho ha&e a,%a(s he,d in ahorrence th

sheddin+ of ,ood 'a&e not the !rahmins in a,,

a+es +i&en this e?am*,e to the %or,d and) e&en in

this countr() ha&e %e not near us) in Penns(,&ania)

our Phi,ade,*hians) %hom the( attem*t in &ain tP"

ridicu,e ( the name of 7ua>ers) and %ho ha&fc

a,%a(s hated %ar

'a&e %e not the Caro,inas) %here the +reat

Loc>e dictated ,a%s In these t%o ,ands of &irtue)

a,, citi2ens are eGua,H a,, consciences are freeH a,,

re,i+ions +oodH *ro&ided the( %orshi* od" There

a,, men are rethren" 5ou ha&e seen) 1r" !irton)

the inhaitants of the !,ue 1ountains ,a( do%n

their arms efore a descendant of Penn" The( fe,t

the force of &irtue" 5ou *ersist in disa&o%in+ it"

!ecause the earth *roduces *oisons as %e,, as

%ho,esome *,ants) %i,, (ou *refer the *oisons

!IRTON" Oh) sir) (our *oisons are not to the

*oint" If od made them) the( are his %or>" 'e



is master) and does a,," 'is hand directs Crom8

%e,,$s %hen he si+ns the death %arrant of Char,es I"

'is arm conducts the headsman$s %ho se&ers his

head from the od(" No) I cannot admit that od

is a homicide"

FREIND" Nor I" Pra() hear me" 5ou %i,, ad8

mit that od +o&erns ( +enera, ,a%s" Accordin+

to these ,a%s) Crom%e,,) a monster of fanaticism

and en&() determines to sacrice Char,es I" to his


o%n interest) %hich) no dout) a,, men see> to *ro8

mote) thou+h the( do not understand it a,i>e" Ac8

cordin+ to the ,a%s of motion esta,ished ( od)

the e?ecutioner cuts o his head" !ut assured,( it

is not od %ho commits the assassination ( a *ar8

ticu,ar act of his %i,," od %as not Crom%e,,) nor

Ra&ai,,ac) nor !a,thasar erard) nor the *reachin+

friar) /ames C,ement" od does not *ermit) nor

command) nor authori2e crime" !ut he has made

manH he has esta,ished ,a%s of motionH and these

eterna, ,a%s are eGua,,( e?ecuted ( the +ood man



%ho stretches out his hand to the *oor) and ( the

hand of a &i,,ain %ho assassinates his rother" In

the same %a( that od did not e?tin+uish the sun"

or s%a,,o% u* S*ain) to *unish Cortes) A,ma+ro)

and Pi2arro) so) a,so) he does not send a com*an(

of an+e,s to London) nor ma>e a hundred thousand

*i*es of !ur+und( to descend from hea&en to de,i+ht

the hearts of his dear En+,ishmen) %hen the( do

+ood" 'is +enera, *ro&idence %ou,d ecome ridicu8

,ous) if thus made manifest to e&er( indi&idua, H and

this is so stri>in+) that od ne&er *unishes a crimina,

immediate,() ( a decided stro>e of his *o%er" 'e

,ets the sun shine on the e&i, and the +ood" If some

%retches e?*ire in their crimes) it is ( the +enera,

,a%s that +o&ern the %or,d" I ha&e read in a +reat

oo>) ( a Frenchman ca,,ed 1e2era() that od

caused our 'enr( V" to suer a *ainfu, death) e8

cause he dared to sit on the throne of a Christian

>in+"

; @ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

The *h(sica, *art of a ad action is the eect of

the *rimar( ,a%s +i&en to matter ( the hand of



od" A,, mora, e&i, is the eect of the ,iert(

%hich man auses"

In a %ord) %ithout *,un+in+ into the fo+s of

meta*h(sics) ,et us rememer that the e?istence of

od is *ro&ed" We ha&e no ,on+er to ar+ue on

that *oint" Ta>e od from the %or,d) and does the

assassination of Char,es I" ecome more ,a%fu,

Do (ou fee, ,ess a&ersion to%ards his e?ecutioner

od e?ists" Enou+h" If he e?ists) he is Just" !e)

then) Just a,so"

!IRTON" 5our ar+ument has stren+th and

force) thou+h it does not a,to+ether e?onerate od

from ein+ the author of *h(sica, and mora, e&i," I

see (our %a( of Justif(in+ him ma>es an im*ression

on the assem,( H ut mi+ht it not e contri&ed that

these ,a%s shou,d not in&o,&e such *articu,ar mis8

fortunes 5ou ha&e *ro&ed to me a *o%erfu, and

eterna, od) and I %as a,most on the *oint of e8

,ie&in+" !ut I ha&e some ; terri,e oJections to

ma>e" Come) /ohn) coura+eH ,et us not e cast

do%n"



The Atheist and the Sa+e" ; :

C'APTER 9"

ON AT'EIS1"

Ni+ht c,osed in eautifu,,(" The atmos*here

*resented a &au,t of trans*arent a2ure) s*an+,ed

%ith +o,den stars" Such a s*ectac,e a,%a(s aects

man) and ins*ires him %ith *,easant re&eries" The

%orth( Paroua admired the hea&ens) ,i>e a er8

man %hen he eho,ds St" Peter$s at Rome) or the

O*era at Na*,es) for the rst time"

#What a o,d,( arched &au,t)# said he to Freind"

#It is no arch at a,,)# re*,ied Freind" #The ,ue

dome (ou eho,d is nothin+ more than a co,,ection

of &a*ors) %hich od has so dis*osed and comined

%ith the mechanism of (our e(es that) %here&er

(ou ma( e) (ou are sti,, in the centre of (our

*romenade) and *ercei&e %hat is ca,,ed hea&en)

arched ao&e (our head"#

#And those stars) 1r" Freind#



#As I ha&e a,read( said) the( are so man( suns)

round %hich other %or,ds re&o,&e" Far from ein+

attached to that ,ue &au,t) rememer that the( are

at &arious and *rodi+ious distances from us" That

star is t%e,&e hundred mi,,ions of mi,es from our

sun"#

Then) sho%in+ him the te,esco*e he had

rou+ht) he *ointed out to him the *,anets /u*i8

ter) %ith his four moonsH Saturn) %ith his &e

moons and m(sterious rin+"


#It is the same ,i+ht)# said he) #%hich *roceeds

from a,, these ,uminaries) and comes to us from this

*,anet) in a Guarter of an hour) and from that star)

in si? months"#

Paroua %as dee*,( im*ressed) and said. #The

hea&ens *roc,aim a od"# A,, the cre% ,oo>ed on

%ith admiration" !ut the *ertinacious !irton) un8

mo&ed) continued as fo,,o%s.



!IRTON" !e it so There is a odH I +rant it"

!ut %hat is that to (ou and me What connection

is there et%een the su*erior !ein+ and %orms of

the earth What re,ation is there et%een 'is es8

sence and ours E*icurus) %hen he su**osed a

od in the *,anets) did %e,, to conc,ude that he too>

no *art in our horrors and fo,,iesH that %e cou,d

neither *,ease nor oend him H that he had no need

of usH nor %e of him" 5ou admit a od) more

%orth( of the human mind than the od of E*i8

curus) or the +ods of the east and %estH ut if (ou

assert) %ith so man( others) that od made the

%or,d and man for 'is o%n +,or( H that 'e former,(

reGuired sacrices of o?en for 'is +,or(H that 'e

a**eared for 'is +,or( in our i*ed form) (ou

%ou,d) I thin>) e assertin+ an asurdit(" The ,o&e

of +,or( is nothin+ ut *ride" A *roud man is a

conceited fe,,o%) such as Sha>es*eare %ou,d intro8

duce in his *,a(s" This e*ithet cannot suit od

it does not a+ree %ith the di&ine nature an( more

than inJustice) crue,t( or inconstanc(" If od con8




descended to re+u,ate the uni&erse) it cou,d on,(

e to ma>e others ha**(" 'as 'e done so

FREIND" 'e has dout,ess succeeded %ith a,,

Just s*irits" The( %i,, e ha**( one da(H if the(

are not so no%"

!IRTON" 'a**( 'o% When Who to,d

(ou so

FREIND" 'is Justice"

!IRTON" Wi,, (ou te,, me that %e sha,, ,i&e eter8

na,,( that %e ha&e immorta, sou,s after admittin+

that the /e%s) %hom (ou oast of ha&in+ succeeded)

did not entertain this notion of immorta,it( u* to the

time of 'erod This idea of an immorta, sou, %as

in&ented ( the !rahmins) ado*ted ( the Persians)

Cha,daeans) and ree>s) and %as for a ,on+ time

un>no%n to the insi+nicant and su*erstitious /e%ish

tries" A,as sir) ho% do %e >no% that %e ha&e

sou,s or ho% do %e >no% ut other anima,s) %ho

ha&e simi,ar *assions) %i,,s) a**etites) and mem8

ories) so incom*rehensi,e to us) ha&e not sou,s

as %e,,



'itherto I ha&e thou+ht that there is in nature a

*o%er ( %hich %e ha&e the facu,t( of ,ife in a,, our

od() %a,>in+ %ith our feet) ta>in+ %ith our

hands) seein+ %ith our e(es) fee,in+ %ith our

ner&es) thin>in+ %ith our rain) and that a,, this

is ca,,ed the sou,) %hich is mere,( a &a+ue %ord)

si+nif(in+ the un>no%n *rinci*,e of our facu,ties"

With (ou) I %i,, ca,, od the inte,,i+ent *rinci*,e


animatin+ natureH ut has 'e condescended to re8

&ea, 'imse,f to us

FREIND" 5es) ( 'is %or>s"

!IRTON" 'as 'e re&ea,ed 'is ,a%s) or s*o>en

to us

FREIND" 5es) ( the &oice of conscience" Is it

true) that) if (ou >i,,ed (our father and mother)

(our conscience %ou,d e a *re( to a remorse as

terri,e as it %ou,d e in&o,untar( Is not this

truth a&o%ed and fe,t throu+hout the %or,d To



come do%n to ,esser crimes do the( not a,, re&o,t

us at the rst +,ance ma>e us turn *a,e %hen %e

commit them for the rst time and ,ea&e in our

hearts the stin+s of re*entance

!IRTON" I must confess it"

FREIND" od) in thus s*ea>in+ to (our heart)

has commanded (ou to astain from crime" As for

eGui&oca, actions) %hich some condemn and others

a**ro&e) %hat can %e do etter than fo,,o% the

+rand ru,e of 3oroaster #When (ou are not sure

%hether the action (ou are aout to commit is +ood

or ad) astain from it"#

!IRTON" An admira,e ma?im) and dout,ess

the most eautifu, e&er ad&anced in mora,s" I ad8

mit that) from time to time) od has raised u* men

to teach &irtue to their de+raded fe,,o%s" I a*o,o8

+i2e to (ou for s*ea>in+ ,i+ht,( of &irtue"

FREIND" Rather a*o,o+i2e to the Su*reme !e8

in+) %ho can re%ard and *unish eterna,,("




!IRTON" What %i,, od *unish me for (ie,d8

in+ to *assions 'e has +i&en me

FREIND" 'e has +i&en (ou *assions %ith %hich

(ou can do oth +ood and e&i," I do not te,, (ou 'e

%i,, *unish eterna,,(H nor ho% 'e %i,, *unishH for

no one can >no% that" The !rahmins %ere the

rst to concei&e a *,ace of im*risonment for those

%ho had re&o,ted from odH the( %ere shut u* in

a descri*tion of he,,) ca,,ed Onderah) ut %ere

+radua,,( ,ierated at &arious *eriods" 'ence %e

ha&e our mi?ture of &irtues) &ices) *,easures) and

ca,amities" This conceit is in+enious) and that of

Pandora and Prometheus more so" Less *o,ished

nations ha&e &u,+ar,( imitated the same fa,e"

These in&entions are the fancies of Eastern *hi8

,oso*h(" A,, I can sa( is) that if ( ausin+ (our ,i8

ert( (ou ha&e done e&i,) (ou cannot sa( od %i,,

not *unish (ou"

!IRTON" I ha&e tried to con&ince m(se,f that 'e

cou,d notH ut in &ain" I confess I ha&e aused

m( ,iert() and that od ma( %e,, *unish me"

!ut I cannot e *unished %hen I ha&e ceased to



e?ist"

FREIND" The est course is to e &irtuous as

,on+ as (ou e?ist"

!IRTON" To e &irtuous We,,) I confess I

thin> (ou are ri+ht" It is the est course"

I %ish) m( dear friend) (ou had %itnessed the

eect of Freind$s discourse on oth the En+,ish


and Americans" The ,i+ht) sauc( !irton ecame

thou+htfu, and modest" /ohn fe,, at his father$s

feet) %ith tears in his e(es) and his father emraced

him" I sha,, no% *roceed to re,ate the ,ast scene

of this interestin+ dis*utation"

!IRTON" I concei&e that the +reat master of the

uni&erse is eterna,H ut %e) %ho are ut of (ester8

da() ma( %e *resume to e?*ect immorta,it( A,,

ein+s around us# *erish) from the insect de&oured

( the s%a,,o%) to the e,e*hant) eaten ( %orms"



FREIND" Nothin+ *erishesH ut a,, thin+s

chan+e" The +erms of anima,s and &e+eta,es su8

sist) de&e,o*) and mu,ti*,(" Wh( can (ou not a,,o%

that od mi+ht *reser&e the *rinci*,e %hich ma>es

us act and thin>) of %hate&er nature it ma( e

od *reser&e me from ma>in+ a s(stemH ut cer8

tain,( there is in us somethin+ that %i,,s and thin>s"

This somethin+) former,( ca,,ed a monad) is im8

*erce*ti,e" od has +i&en it us) or) rather) od

has +i&en us to it" Are (ou sure he cannot *reser&e

it in ein+ Can (ou +i&e me an( *roof

!IRTON" No I ha&e sou+ht for a *roof in a,,

the atheistica, oo>s %ithin m( reach) and es*ecia,,(

in the third oo> of Lucretius) ut I ne&er found

an(thin+ ut conJectures"

FREIND" And sha,, %e on sim*,e conJecture

+i&e ourse,&es u* to fata, *assions) and ,i&e ,i>e

rutes) %ith no other restraint u*on us than the fear

of men) rendered eterna,,( crue, to each other (

their mutua, dread For %e a,%a(s %ish to destro(




%hat %e fear" Thin>) sir thin> serious,() m( son

/ohn" To e?*ect neither re%ard nor *unishment

is the true s*irit of atheism" What is the use of a

od %ho has no *o%er o&er (ou As thou+h one

shou,d sa() #There is a &er( *o%erfu, >in+ in

China)# I re*,() #Success to himH ,et him >ee* in

his territor() I in mine" I care no more for him

than he cares for me" 'e has no more contro,

o&er me than a canon of Windsor o&er a memer

of *ar,iament"# Then shou,d I e a od to m(se,f)

sacricin+ the %ho,e %or,d to m( ca*rice And

reco+ni2in+ no ,a%) I shou,d on,( consider m(se,f

If others are shee*) I shou,d ecome the %o,f" If

the( choose to *,a( the chic>en) I shou,d *,a( the

fo?"

I %i,, *resume od forid it6 that a,, En+,ish8

men are atheists" I %i,, a,,o% that there ma( e

some *eacea,e citi2ens) Guiet ( nature) rich

enou+h to e honest) re+u,ated ( honor) and so

attenti&e to demeanor) that the( contri&e to ,i&e to8

+ether in societ(" The( cu,ti&ate the arts %hich

im*ro&e mora,s H the( ,i&e at *eace in the innocent

+a(et( of honest *eo*,e" !ut the *oor and need(



atheist) sure of im*unit() %ou,d e a foo, if he did

not assassinate or stea, to +et mone(" Then %ou,d

a,, the onds of societ( e sundered" A,, secret

crimes %ou,d inundate the %or,d) and) ,i>e ,ocusts)

thou+h at rst im*erce*ti,e) %ou,d o&ers*read the

earth" The common *eo*,e %ou,d ecome hordes

of thie&es) ,i>e those of our da() of %hom not a

;<= The Atheist and the Sa+e"

tenth *art are han+ed at our sessions" The( %ou,d

*ass their %retched ,i&es in ta&erns) %ith ad

%omen" The( %ou,d +ht to+ether) and fa,, do%n

drun> amidst the *e%ter *ots %ith %hich the(

rea> each other$s heads" Nor %ou,d the( rise ut

to stea, and murder a+ain) to recommence the

same round of hideous ruta,it(" Who) then)

%ou,d restrain +reat >in+s in their fur( An atheist

>in+ is more dan+erous than a fanatica, Ra&ai,,ac"

Atheism aounded in Ita,( durin+ the fteenth

centur(" What %as the conseGuence It %as as

common a matter to *oison another as to in&ite him

to su**er" The stro>e of the sti,etto %as as fre8



Guent as an emrace" There %ere then *rofessors

of crime) as %e no% ha&e *rofessors of music and

mathematics" Churches) e&en) %ere the fa&orite

scenes of murder) and *rinces %ere s,ain at the a,tar"

In this %a( Po*e Si?tus IV" and archisho* of

Pisa *ut to death t%o of the most accom*,ished

*rinces of Euro*e" E?*,ain) m( dear friend) to

Paroua and his chi,dren) %hat I mean ( a *o*e

and an archisho*H ut te,, them %e ha&e no

such monsters no%" !ut to resume. A du>e of

1i,an %as a,so s,ain in a church" E&er( one >no%s

the astonishin+ horrors of A,e?ander VI" 'ad

such mora,s continued) Ita,( %ou,d ha&e een more

deso,ate than Peru after the in&asion"

Faith) then) in a od %ho re%ards +ood ac8

tions) *unishes the ad) and for+i&es ,esser fau,ts)

is most usefu, to man>ind" It is the on,( restraint

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;<;

on *o%erfu, men) %ho inso,ent,( commit crimes

on the *u,ic) and on others %ho s>i,fu,,( *er*e8

trate oences" I do not te,, (ou to min+,e) %ith



this necessar( faith) su*erstitious notions that dis8

+race it" Atheism is a monster that %ou,d *re( on

man>ind on,( to satisf( its &oracit(" Su*erstition

is another *hantom) *re(in+ u*on men as a deit("

I ha&e often oser&ed that an atheist ma( e cured)

ut %e rare,( cure su*erstition radica,,(" The athe8

ist is +enera,,( an inGuirin+ man) %ho is decei&edH

the su*erstitious man is a ruta, foo,) ha&in+ no

ideas of his o%n" An atheist mi+ht assau,t E*hi+e8

nia %hen on the *oint of marr(in+ Achi,,es) ut a

fanatic %ou,d *ious,( sacrice her on the a,tar) and

thin> he did ser&ice to /u*iter" An atheist %ou,d

stea, a +o,den &esse, from the a,tar to feast his fa8

&orites) ut the fanatic %ou,d ce,erate an auto

da fe in the same church) and sin+ h(mns %hi,e he

%as causin+ /e%s to e urned a,i&e" 5es) m(

friends) su*erstition and atheism are the t%o *o,es

of a uni&erse in confusion" Tread these *aths %ith

a rm ste*) e,ie&e in a +ood od) and e +ood"

This is a,, that the +reat *hi,oso*hers) Penn and

Loc>e) reGuire of their *eo*,e"

Ans%er me) 1r" !irton) and (ou) m( friends)

%hat harm can the %orshi* of od) Joined to the

ha**iness of a &irtuous ,ife) do (ou We mi+ht e

sei2ed %ith morta, sic>ness) e&en no% %hi,e I am



s*ea>in+" Who) then) %ou,d not %ish to ha&e ,i&ed

innocent,( Read) in Sha>es*eare) the death of our

;<@ The Atheist and the Sa+e"

%ic>ed Richard III") and see ho% the hosts of

those he had murdered haunted his ima+ination"

Witness the death of Char,es I9" after the horrors

of St" !artho,ome%" In &ain his cha*,ain assured

him he had done %e,," 'is ,ood started from

e&er( *ore" A,, the ,ood he had shed cried out

a+ainst him" !e,ie&e me) a,, these monsters %ere

tortured ( remorse) and died in des*air"

!irton and his friends cou,d contain themse,&es

no ,on+er" The( fe,, at Freind$s feet" #5es)# said

!irton) #I e,ie&e in od) and I e,ie&e (ou"#

C'APTER 9I"

RET0RN TO ENLAND /O'N$S 1ARRIAE"



We %ere a,read( near Paroua$s house) and

%e su**ed there" /ohn cou,d eat nothin+" 'e sat

a*art in tears" 'is father %ent to conso,e him"

#Ah)# said /ohn) #I do not deser&e such a father"

I sha,, die of shame for (ie,din+ to the fascination

of that %ic>ed C,i&e8'art" I am the cause of 1iss

Primrose$s death" /ust no%) %hen (ou ta,>ed of

*oison) I shuddered) for I thou+ht I sa% C,i&e8'art

*resentin+ the horri,e drau+ht to Primrose" 'o%

cou,d I ha&e so far ,ost m(se,f as to accom*an(

so &i,e a creature I %as ,ind" I did not disco&er

m( error ti,, she %as ta>en ( the sa&a+es" In a

t of ra+e she a,most admitted her +ui,t" From

that moment I ha&e ,oathed her) and) for a *un8

The Atheist and the Sa+e" ;<:

ishment) the form of Primrose is e&er efore me)

and seems to sa() $I died ecause I ,o&ed (ou #

'is father said a ,ame,ess ,ife cou,d a,one re*air

his *ast errors"

The ne?t da( %e sai,ed for En+,and) after +i&in+



*resents to the Parouas" Tears min+,ed %ith our

adieus) and !irton) %ho had een on,( +idd() a,8

read( seemed a reasona,e *erson"

When %e %ere out at sea Freind said to /ohn)

in m( *resence. #Do (ou sti,, cherish the memor(

of the amia,e Primrose# These %ords so %run+

the heart of the (oun+ man that I feared he %ou,d

thro% himse,f into the sea"

#Conso,e (ourse,f) then)# said Freind" #1iss

Primrose is a,i&e) and ,o&es (ou sti,,"#

Freind had recei&ed certain information on this

suJect from his ser&ant) %ho had %ritten to him

*unctua,,( ( e&er( shi*" 1r" 1ead) %ho has

since acGuired so +reat a re*utation ( his s>i,, in

the counteraction of *oisons) had sa&ed the (oun+

,ad($s ,ife" In a moment /ohn *assed from des*air

to e?treme Jo(" I %i,, not attem*t to descrie the

chan+e" It %as the ha**iest moment of his ,ife"

!irton and his friends shared his Jo(" What more

sha,, I sa( The %orth( Freind %as as a father to

a,," The %eddin+ %as ce,erated at Dr" 1ead$s"

!irton) no% another man) a,so married) and he and

/ohn are no% amon+ the est *eo*,e in En+,and"



Admit that a %ise man can instruct foo,s"

Vo," @ ;:

T'E W'ITE !0LL"

C'APTER I"

'OW T'E PRINCESS A1ASIDIA 1EETS A !0LL"

The *rincess Amasidia) dau+hter of Amasis)

>in+ of Tanis in E+(*t) too> a %a,> u*on the hi+h8

%a( of Pe,uaium %ith the ,adies of her train" She

%as sun> in dee* me,ancho,(" Tears +ushed from

her eautifu, e(es" The cause of her +rief %as

>no%n) as %e,, as the fears she entertained ,est that

+rief shou,d dis*,ease the >in+) her father" The

o,d man) 1amres) ancient ma+ician and eunuch

of the Pharaohs) %as eside her) and se,dom ,eft

her" 'e %as *resent at her irth" 'e had edu8

cated her) and tau+ht her a,, that a fair *rincess

%as a,,o%ed to >no% of the sciences of E+(*t" The

mind of Amasidia eGua,,ed her eaut(" 'er sensi8

i,it( and tenderness ri&a,,ed the charms of her *er8

son) and it %as this sensii,it( %hich cost her so



man( tears"

The *rincess %as t%ent(8four (ears o,d H the ma8

+ician) 1amres) aout thirteen hundred" It %as

he) as e&er( one >no%s) %ho had that famous dis8

*ute %ith 1oses) in %hich the &ictor( %as so ,on+

doutfu, et%een these t%o *rofound *hi,oso*hers"

;<

The White !u,," ;<B

If 1amres (ie,ded) it %as o%in+ to the &isi,e *ro8

tection of the ce,estia, *o%ers) %ho fa&ored his

ri&a," It reGuired +ods to o&ercome 1amres"

Amasis made him su*erintendent of his dau+h8

ter$s househo,d) and he acGuitted himse,f in this of8

ce %ith his usua, *rudence" 'is com*assion %as

e?cited ( the si+hs of the eautifu, Amasidia"

#O m( ,o&er# said she to herse,f) #m( (oun+)

m( dear ,o&er O +reatest of conGuerors) most ac8

com*,ished) most eautifu, of men A,most se&en

(ears hast thou disa**eared from the %or,d" What



+od hath snatched thee from th( tender Amasidia

Thou art not dead" The %ise E+(*tian *ro*hets

confess this" !ut thou art dead to me" I am a,one

in the %or,d" To me it is a desert" !( %hat e?8

traordinar( *rodi+( hast thou aandoned th(

throne and th( mistress th( throne) %hich %as

the rst in the %or,d" 'o%e&er) that is a matter of

sma,, conseGuence H ut to aandon me) %ho adores

thee O m( dear Ne8 #

She %as +oin+ on"

#Trem,e to *ronounce that fata, name)# said

1amres) the ancient eunuch and ma+ician of the

Pharaohs" #5ou %ou,d *erha*s e disco&ered (

some of the ,adies of (our court" The( are a,, &er(

much de&oted to (ou) and a,, fair ,adies certain,(

ma>e it a merit to ser&e the no,e *assions of fair

*rincesses" !ut there ma( e one amon+ them in8

discreet) and e&en treacherous" 5ou >no% that

(our father) a,thou+h he ,o&es (ou) has s%orn to

;<4 The White !u,,"



*ut (ou to death shou,d (ou *ronounce the terri,e

name a,%a(s read( to esca*e (our ,i*s" This ,a%

is se&ere) ut (ou ha&e not een educated in E+(*8

tian %isdom to e i+norant of the +o&ernment of

the ton+ue" Rememer that 'i**ocrates) one of

our +reatest +ods) has a,%a(s his n+er u*on his

mouth"#

The eautifu, Amasidia %e*t) and %as si,ent"

As she *ensi&e,( ad&anced to%ards the an>s

of the Ni,e she *ercei&ed at a distance) under a

thic>et %atered ( the ri&er) an o,d %oman) in a

tattered +ra( +arment) seated on a hi,,oc>" This

o,d %oman had eside her a she8ass) a do+) and

a he8+oat" O**osite to her %as a ser*ent) %hich

%as not ,i>e the common ser*ents) for its e(es %ere

mi,d) its *h(sio+nom( no,e and en+a+in+) %hi,e

its s>in shone %ith the ,i&e,iest and ri+htest co,8

ors" A hu+e sh) ha,f immersed in the ri&er) %as

not the ,east astonishin+ +ure in the +rou*) and

on a nei+horin+ tree %ere *erched a ra&en and a

*i+eon" A,, these creatures seemed to carr( on a

&er( animated con&ersation"



#A,as# said the *rincess) in a ,o% tone) #these

anima,s undouted,( s*ea> of their ,o&es) and it

is not so much as a,,o%ed me to mention the name

of mine"#

The o,d %oman he,d in her hand a s,ender stee,

chain a hundred fathoms ,on+) to %hich %as fast8

ened a u,,) %ho fed in the meado%" This u,, %as

%hite) *erfect,( %e,, made) *,um*) and at the same

The White !u,," ;<

time a+i,e) %hich is a thin+ se,dom to e found"

'e %as indeed the most eautifu, s*ecimen that %as

e&er seen of his >ind" Neither the u,, of Pasi*hse)

nor that in %hose sha*e /u*iter a**eared %hen he

carried o Euro*a) cou,d e com*ared to this no,e

anima," The charmin+ (oun+ heifer into %hich Isis

%as chan+ed %ou,d ha&e scarce een %orth( of his

com*an("

As soon as the u,, sa% the *rincess he ran

to%ard her %ith the s%iftness of a (oun+ Araian

horse) that *ric>s u* his ears and Mies o&er the



*,ains and ri&ers of the ancient Saana to a**roach

the ,o&e,( consort %hose ima+e rei+ns in his heart"

The o,d %oman used her utmost eorts to restrain

the u,," The ser*ent %anted to terrif( him ( its

hissin+" The do+ fo,,o%ed him and it his eauti8

fu, ,ims" The she8ass crossed his %a( and >ic>ed

him to ma>e him return" The +reat sh remounted

the Ni,e) and) dartin+ himse,f out of the %ater)

threatened to de&our him" The he8+oat remained

immo&a,e) a**arent,( struc> %ith fear" The ra&en

Muttered round his head as if it %anted to tear out

his e(es" The *i+eon a,one accom*anied him from

curiosit() and a**,auded him ( a s%eet murmur"

So e?traordinar( a si+ht thre% 1amres into se8

rious reMections" In the mean%hi,e the %hite u,,)

dra++in+ after him his chain and the o,d %oman)

had a,read( reached the *rincess) %ho %as struc>

%ith astonishment and fear" 'e thre% himse,f at

her feet" 'e >issed them" 'e shed tears" 'e

;< The White !u,,"

,oo>ed u*on her %ith e(es in %hich there %as a



stran+e mi?ture of +rief and Jo(" 'e dared not to

,o%) ,est he shou,d terrif( the eautifu, Amasidia"

'e cou,d not s*ea>" A %ea> use of the &oice)

+ranted ( hea&en to certain anima,s) %as denied

himH ut a,, his actions %ere e,oGuent" The *rin8

cess %as de,i+hted %ith him" She *ercei&ed that a

triMin+ amusement cou,d sus*end for some mo8

ments e&en the most *oi+nant +rief"

#'ere)# said she) #is a most amia,e anima," I

cou,d %ish much to ha&e him in m( sta,e"#

At these %ords the u,, ent himse,f on his >nees

and >issed the +round"

#'e understands me)# cried the *rincess" #'e

sho%s me that he %ants to e mine" Ah) hea&en,(

ma+ician ah) di&ine eunuch i&e me this con8

so,ation" Purchase this eautifu, o&ine" Sett,e

the *rice %ith the o,d %oman) to %hom he no dout

e,on+s" This anima, must e mine" Do not re8

fuse me this innocent comfort"#

A,, the ,adies Joined their reGuests to the en8

treaties of the *rincess" 1amres (ie,ded to them)

and immediate,( %ent to s*ea> to the o,d %oman"



The White !u,," ;<<

C'APTER II"

'OW T'E WISE 1A1!RES) FOR1ERL5 1AICIAN OF

P'ARAO') KNEW AAIN T'E OLD WO1AN) AND

WAS KNOWN !5 'ER"

#1adam)# said 1amres to her) #(ou >no% that

,adies) and *articu,ar,( *rincesses) ha&e need of

amusement" The dau+hter of the >in+ is distract8

ed,( fond of (our u,," I e+ that (ou %i,, se,, him

to us" 5ou sha,, e *aid in read( mone("#

#Sir)# ans%ered the o,d %oman) #this *recious

anima, does not e,on+ to me" I am char+ed) to8

+ether %ith a,, the easts %hich (ou see) to >ee*

him %ith care) to %atch a,, his motions) and to +i&e

an e?act account of them" od forid that I shou,d

e&er ha&e an( inc,ination to se,, this in&a,ua,e

anima,"#



1amres) u*on this discourse) e+an to ha&e

a confused rememrance of somethin+ %hich he

cou,d not (et *ro*er,( distin+uish" 'e e(ed the

o,d %oman in the +ra( c,oa> %ith +reater atten8

tion"

#Res*ecta,e ,ad()# said he to her) #I either mis8

ta>e) or I ha&e seen (ou former,("#

#I ma>e no mista>e) sir)# re*,ied the o,d %oman"

I ha&e seen (ou se&en hundred (ears a+o) in a

Journe( %hich I made from S(ria into E+(*t some

months after the destruction of Tro() %hen 'iram

@== The White !u,,"

the Second rei+ned at T(re) and Ne*he, Keres in

ancient E+(*t"#

#Ah 1adam)# cried the o,d man) #(ou are the

remar>a,e %itch of Endor"#

#And (ou) sir)# said the sorceress) emracin+



him) #are the +reat 1amres of E+(*t"#

#O unforeseen meetin+ memora,e da( eterna,

decrees # said 1amres" #It certain,( is not %ith8

out *ermission of the uni&ersa, *ro&idence that %e

meet a+ain in this meado%) u*on the an>s of the

Ni,e) near the no,e cit( of Tanis" What) is it in8

deed (ou)# continued 1amres) #%ho are so fa8

mous u*on the an>s of (our ,itt,e /ordan) and the

rst *erson in the %or,d for raisin+ a**aritions#

#What) is it (ou) sir# re*,ied 1iss Endor) #%ho

are so famous for chan+in+ rods into ser*ents) the

da( into dar>ness) and ri&ers into ,ood#

#5es) madam) ut m( +reat a+e has in *art de8

*ri&ed me of m( >no%,ed+e and *o%er" I am i+8

norant from %hence (ou ha&e this eautifu, u,,)

and %ho these anima,s are that) to+ether %ith (ou)

%atch round him"#

The o,d %oman) reco,,ectin+ herse,f) raised her

e(es to hea&en) and then re*,ied.

#1( dear 1amres) %e are of the same *rofes8

sion) ut it is e?*ress,( foridden me to te,, (ou



%ho this u,, is" I can satisf( (ou %ith re+ard to

the other anima,s" 5ou %i,, easi,( >no% them (

the mar>s %hich characteri2e them" The ser*ent

is that %hich *ersuaded E&e to eat an a**,e) and

The White !u,,"

to ma>e her husand *arta>e of it" The ass) that

%hich s*o>e to (our contem*orar() !a,aam) in a

remar>a,e discourse" The sh) %hich a,%a(s car8

ries its head ao&e %ater) is that %hich s%a,,o%ed

/onah a fe% (ears a+o" The do+ is he %ho fo,,o%ed

Ra*hae, and the (oun+ Toit in their Journe( to

Ra+usa in 1edia) in the time of the +reat Sa,aman8

2ar" This +oat is he %ho e?*iates a,, the sins of

(our nation" The ra&en and the *i+eon) those

%hich %ere in the ar> of Noah" reat e&ent uni8

&ersa, catastro*he of %hich a,most a,, the %or,d

is sti,, i+norant" 5ou are no% informed" !ut of

the u,, (ou can >no% nothin+"#

1amres) ha&in+ ,istened %ith res*ect) said.

$The Eterna,) O i,,ustrious %itch re&ea,s and



concea,s %hat he thin>s *ro*er" A,, these anima,s

%ho) to+ether %ith (ou) are intrusted %ith the

custod( of the %hite u,,) are on,( >no%n to (our

+enerous and a+reea,e nation) %hich is itse,f un8

>no%n to a,most a,, the %or,d" The mirac,es %hich

(ou and (ours) I and mine) ha&e *erformed)

sha,, one da( e a +reat suJect of dout and scan8

da, to inGuisiti&e *hi,oso*hers" !ut ha**i,( these

mirac,es sha,, nd e,ief %ith the de&out sa+es) %ho

sha,, *ro&e sumissi&e to the en,i+htened in one

corner of the %or,dH and this is a,, that is neces8

sar("#

As he s*o>e these %ords the *rincess *u,,ed him

( the s,ee&e) and said to him .

#1amres) %i,, (ou not u( m( u,,#

@=@ The White !u,,"

The ma+ician) *,un+ed into a dee* re&erie) made

no re*,() and Amasidia *oured forth her tears"

She then addressed herse,f to the o,d %oman"



#1( +ood %oman)# said she) #I conJure (ou) (

a,, (ou ho,d most dear in the %or,d) ( (our father)

( (our mother) ( (our nurse) %ho are certain,(

sti,, a,i&e) to se,, me not on,( (our u,,) ut ,i>e8

%ise (our *i+eon) %hich seems &er( much attached

to him"#

#As for the other anima,s) I do not %ant themH

ut I sha,, catch the &a*ors if (ou do not se,, me

this charmin+ u,,) %ho %i,, e a,, the ha**iness of

m( ,ife"#

The o,d %oman res*ectfu,,( >issed the frin+e of

her +au2e roe) and re*,ied.

#Princess) m( u,, is not to e so,d" 5our i,,us8

trious ma+ician is acGuainted %ith this" A,, that

I can do for (our ser&ice is to *ermit him to feed

e&er( da( near (our *a,ace" 5ou ma( caress him)

+i&e him iscuits) and ma>e him dance aout at

(our *,easureH ut he must a,%a(s e under the

e(es of a,, these anima,s %ho accom*an( me) and

%ho are char+ed %ith the >ee*in+ of him" If he

does not endea&or to esca*e from them) the( %i,,

*ro&e *eacea,eH ut if he attem*t once more to



rea> his chain) as he did u*on seein+ (ou) %oe

e unto him" I %ou,d not then ans%er for his ,ife"

This ,ar+e sh) %hich (ou see) %i,, certain,( s%a,8

,o% him) and >ee* him ,on+er than three da(s in

The White !u,," @=:

his e,,(H or this ser*ent) %ho a**ears to (ou so

mi,d) %i,, +i&e him a morta, stin+"#

The %hite u,,) %ho understood *erfect,( the o,d

%oman$s con&ersation) ut %as una,e to s*ea>)

hum,( acce*ted a,, the *ro*osa,s" 'e ,aid himse,f

do%n at her feetH he ,o%ed soft,(H and) ,oo>in+

tender,( at Amasidia) seemed to sa( to her.

#Come and see me sometimes) u*on the ,a%n"#

The ser*ent no% too> u* the con&ersation .

#Princess)# said he) #I ad&ise (ou to act im8

*,icit,( as mademoise,,e of Endor has to,d (ou"#

The she8ass ,i>e%ise *ut in her %ord) and %as of



the o*inion of the ser*ent"

Amasidia %as aicted that this ser*ent and this

ass shou,d s*ea> so %e,,H %hi,e a eautifu, u,,)

%ho had such no,e and tender sentiments) %as un8

a,e to e?*ress them"

#A,as # said she) in a ,o% &oice) #nothin+ is more

common at court" One sees there e&er( da( ne

,ords %ho cannot con&erse) and contem*ti,e

%retches %ho s*ea> %ith assurance"#

#This ser*ent)# said 1amres) #is not a con8

tem*ti,e %retch" 'e is *erha*s the *ersona+e of

the +reatest im*ortance"#

The da( no% dec,ined) and the *rincess %as

o,i+ed to return home) after ha&in+ *romised to

come ac> ne?t da( at the same hour" 'er ,adies

of the *a,ace %ere astonished) and understood noth8

in+ of %hat the( had seen or heard" 1amres made

;= The White !u,,"



reMections" The *rincess) reco,,ectin+ that the ser8

*ent ca,,ed the o,d %oman 1iss) conc,uded at ran8

dom that she %as sti,, unmarried) and fe,t some

aiction that such %as a,so her o%n condition"

Res*ecta,e aiction %hich she concea,ed) ho%8

e&er) %ith as much care as the name of her ,o&er"

C'APTER III"

'OW T'E !EA0TIF0L A1ASIDIA 'AD A SECRET CON8

VERSATION WIT' A !EA0TIF0L SERPENT"

The eautifu, *rincess recommended secrec( to

her ,adies %ith re+ard to %hat the( had seen" The(

a,, *romised it) and >e*t their *romise for a %ho,e

da("

We ma( e,ie&e that Amasidia s,e*t ,itt,e that

ni+ht" An ine?*,ica,e charm continua,,( reca,,ed

the idea of her eautifu, u,," As soon) therefore)

as she %as at freedom %ith her %ise 1amres) she

said to him.

#O sa+e) this anima, turns m( head"#



#'e em*,o(s mine &er( much)# said 1amres"

#I see *,ain,( that this o&ine is &er( much su8

*erior to those of his s*ecies" I see that there is

a +reat m(ster() and I sus*ect a fata, e&ent" 5our

father Amasis is sus*icious and &io,entH and this

aair reGuires that (ou conduct (ourse,f %ith the

+reatest *recaution"#

#Ah# said the *rincess) #I ha&e too much cu8

The White !u,," @=B

riosit( to e *rudent" It is the on,( sentiment

%hich can unite in m( heart %itE that %hich *re(s

u*on me on account of the ,o&er I ha&e ,ost" 1a(

I not >no% %ho this %hite u,, is that +i&es me

such stran+e disGuiet#

1amres re*,ied.

#I ha&e a,read( confessed to (ou) fran>,() that m(

>no%,ed+e dec,ines in *ro*ortion as m( a+e ad8

&ances) ut I mista>e much if the ser*ent is not



informed of %hat (ou are so &er( desirous of

>no%in+" 'e does not %ant sense" 'e e?*resses

himse,f %ith *ro*riet(" 'e has een ,on+ accus8

tomed to interfere in the aairs of the ,adies"#

#Ah undouted,()# said Amasidia) #this is the

eautifu, ser*ent of E+(*t) %ho) ( ?in+ his tai,

into his mouth) ecomes the em,em of eternit(H

%ho en,i+htens the %or,d %hen he o*ens his e(es)

and dar>ens it %hen he shuts them#

#No) 1iss"#

#It is then the ser*ent of Escu,a*ius #

#Sti,, ,ess"#

#It is *erha*s /u*iter under the +ure of a ser8

*ent#

#Not at a,,"#

#Ah) no% I see) I see" It is the rod %hich (ou

former,( chan+ed into a sea ser*ent #

#No) indeed) it is notH ut a,, these ser*ents are



of the same fami,(" This one has a &er( hi+h char8

acter in his o%n countr(" 'e *asses there for the

most e?traordinar( ser*ent that %as e&er seen) Ad8

ao4 The White !u,,"

dress (ourse,f to him" 'o%e&er) I %arn (ou it is

a dan+erous underta>in+" Were I in (our *,ace

I %ou,d hard,( trou,e m(se,f either %ith the u,,)

the she8ass) the he8+oat) the ser*ent) the sh) the

ra&en) or the *i+eon" !ut *assion hurries (ou on)

and a,, I can do is to *it( (ou) and trem,e"#

The *rincess conJured him to *rocure her a

tete8a8tete %ith the ser*ent" 1amres) %ho %as

o,i+in+) consented) and) ma>in+ *rofound reMec8

tions) he %ent and communicated to the %itch in

so insinuatin+ a manner the %him of the *rincess)

that the o,d %oman to,d him Amasidia mi+ht ,a(

her commands u*on herH that the ser*ent %as *er8

fect,( %e,,8red) and so *o,ite to the ,adies that he

%ished for nothin+ more than to o,i+e them) and

%ou,d not fai, to >ee* the *rincess$ a**ointment"



The ancient ma+ician returned to inform the

*rincess of this +ood ne%s) ut he sti,, dreaded

some misfortune) and made reMections"

#5ou desire to s*ea> %ith the ser*ent) made8

moise,,e" This (ou ma( accom*,ish %hene&er

(our hi+hness thin>s *ro*er" !ut rememer (ou

must Matter him) for e&er( anima, has a +reat dea,

of se,f8,o&e) and the ser*ent in *articu,ar" It is

said he %as former,( dri&en out of hea&en for e?8

cessi&e *ride"#

#I ha&e ne&er heard of it)# re*,ied the *rincess"

#I e,ie&e it)# said the o,d man"

'e then informed her of a,, the re*orts %hich

had een s*read aout this famous ser*ent"

The White !u,," @=

#!ut) m( dear *rincess) %hate&er sin+u,ar ad8

&entures ma( ha&e ha**ened to him) (ou ne&er can

e?tort these secrets from him ut ( Matter(" 'a&8



in+ former,( decei&ed %omen) it is eGuita,e that

a %oman in her turn shou,d decei&e him"#

#I %i,, do m( utmost)# said the *rincess) and

de*arted %ith her maids of honor" The o,d %oman

%as feedin+ the u,, at a considera,e distance"

1amres ,eft Amasidia to herse,f) and %ent and

discoursed %ith the %itch" One ,ad( of honor

chatted %ith the she8ass) the others amused them8

se,&es %ith the +oat) the do+) the ra&en) and the

*i+eon" As for the ,ar+e sh that fri+htened e&er(8

od() he *,un+ed himse,f into the Ni,e ( order of

the o,d %oman"

The ser*ent then attended the eautifu, Ama8

sidia into the +ro&e) %here the( had the fo,,o%in+

con&ersation .

SERPENT" 5ou cannot ima+ine) mademoise,,e)

ho% much I am Mattered %ith the honor %hich

(our hi+hness dei+ns to confer u*on me"

PRINCESS" 5our +reat re*utation) sir) the eau8

t( of (our countenance) and the ri,,ianc( of (our

e(es ha&e emo,dened me to see> for this con&er8



sation" I >no% ( *u,ic re*ort if it e not fa,se6

that (ou %ere former,( a &er( +reat ,ord in the

em*(rean hea&en"

SERPENT" It is true) 1iss) I had there a &er(

distin+uished *,ace" It is *retended I am a dis8

+raced fa&orite" This is a re*ort %hich once %ent

,oS The White !u,,"

aroad in India" The !rahmins %ere the rst %ho

+a&e a histor( of m( ad&entures" And I dout

not ut one da( or other the *oets of the North %i,,

ma>e them the suJect of an e?tra&a+ant e*ic *oem)

for in truth it is a,, that can e made of them" 5et

I am not so much fa,,en ut that I ha&e ,eft in this

+,oe a &er( e?tensi&e dominion" I mi+ht &enture

to assert that the %ho,e earth e,on+s to me"

PRINCESS" I e,ie&e it) for the( te,, me that (our

*o%ers of *ersuasion are irresisti,e) and to *,ease

is to rei+n"

SERPENT" I fee,) mademoise,,e) %hi,e I eho,d



and ,isten to (ou) that (ou ha&e o&er me the same

*o%er %hich (ou ascrie to me o&er so man( oth8

ers"

PRINCESS" 5ou are) I e,ie&e) an amia,e con8

Gueror" It is said that (our conGuests amon+ the

fair se? ha&e een numerous) and that (ou e+an

%ith our common mother) %hose name I ha&e un8

fortunate,( for+otten"

SERPENT" The( do me inJustice" She honored

me %ith her condence) and I +a&e her the est

ad&ice" I desired that she and her husand shou,d

eat hearti,( of the fruit of the tree of >no%,ed+e"

I ima+ined in doin+ this that I shou,d *,ease the

Ru,er of a,, thin+s" It seemed to me that a tree so

necessar( to the human race %as not *,anted to e

entire,( use,ess" Wou,d the Su*reme !ein+ ha&e

%ished to ha&e een ser&ed ( foo,s and idiots

Is not the mind formed for the acGuisition of >no%,8

The White !u,," @=<

ed+e and for im*ro&ement Is not the >no%,ed+e



of +ood and e&i, necessar( for doin+ the one and

a&oidin+ the other I certain,( merited their

than>s"

PRINCESS" 5et the( te,, me that (ou ha&e suf8

fered for it" Proa,( it is since this *eriod that

so man( ministers ha&e een *unished for +i&in+

+ood ad&ice) and so man( rea, *hi,oso*hers and

men of +enius *ersecuted for their %ritin+s that

%ere usefu, to man>ind"

SERPENT" It is m( enemies %ho ha&e to,d (ou

these stories" The( sa( that I am out of fa&or at

court" !ut a *roof that m( inMuence there has not

dec,ined is their o%n confession that I entered into

the counci, %hen it %as in a+itation to tr( the +ood

man /oH and I %as a+ain ca,,ed u*on %hen the

reso,ution %as ta>en to decei&e a certain *ett(

>in+ ca,,ed Aha" I a,one %as char+ed %ith this

honora,e commission"

PRINCESS" Ah) sir I do not e,ie&e that (ou

are formed to decei&e" !ut since (ou are a,%a(s

in the ministr() ma( I e+ a fa&or of (ou I ho*e

so amia,e a ,ord %i,, not den( me"



SERPENT" 1ademoise,,e) (our reGuests are

,a%s H name (our commands"

PRINCESS" I entreat that (ou %i,, te,, me %ho

this %hite u,, is) for %hom I fee, such e?traordi8

nar( sentiments) %hich oth aect and a,arm me"

I am to,d that (ou %ou,d dei+n to inform me"

SERPENT" Curiosit( is necessar( to human na8

Vo," @ ;

@io The White !u,,"

ture) and es*ecia,,( to (our amia,e se?" Without

it the( %ou,d ,i&e in the most shamefu, i+norance"

I ha&e a,%a(s satised) as far as ,a( in m( *o%er)

the curiosit( of the ,adies" I am accused) indeed) of

usin+ this com*,aisance on,( to &e? the Ru,er of the

%or,d" I s%ear to (ou that I cou,d *ro*ose nothin+

more a+reea,e to m(se,f than to oe( (ouH ut

the o,d %oman must ha&e informed (ou that the

re&ea,in+ of this secret %i,, e attended %ith some

dan+er to (ou"



PRINCESS" Ah it is that %hich ma>es me sti,,

more curious"

SERPENT" In this I disco&er the se? to %hom I

ha&e former,( done ser&ice"

PRINCESS" If (ou *ossess an( fee,in+H if ra8

tiona, ein+s shou,d mutua,,( assist each otherH if

(ou ha&e com*assion for an unfortunate creature)

do not refuse m( reGuest"

SERPENT" 5ou aect me" I must satisf( (ouH

ut do not interru*t me"

PRINCESS" I *romise (ou I %i,, not"

SERPENT" There %as a (oun+ >in+) eautifu,)

charmin+) in ,o&e) e,o&ed

PRINCESS" A (oun+ >in+ eautifu,) charmin+)

in ,o&e) e,o&ed And ( %hom And %ho %as

this >in+ 'o% o,d %as he What has ecome of

him Where is his >in+dom What is his name

SERPENT" See) I ha&e scarce e+un) and (ou

ha&e a,read( interru*ted me" Ta>e care" If (ou



The White !u,," @;;

ha&e not more command o&er (ourse,f) (ou are

undone"

PRINCESS" Ah) *ardon me) sir" I %i,, not re*eat

m( indiscretion" o on) I eseech (ou"

SERPENT" This +reat >in+) the most &a,iant of

men) &ictorious %here&er he carried his arms) often

dreamed %hen as,ee*) and for+ot his dreams %hen

a%a>e" 'e %anted his ma+icians to rememer

and inform him %hat he had dreamed) other%ise he

dec,ared he %ou,d han+ them H for that nothin+ %as

more eGuita,e" It is no% near,( se&en (ears since he

dreamed a ne dream) %hich he entire,( for+ot %hen

he a%o>e H and a (oun+ /e%) fu,, of e?*erience) ha&8

in+ re&ea,ed it to him) this amia,e >in+ %as imme8

diate,( chan+ed into an o? for

PRINCESS" Ah it is m( dear Ne

She cou,d not nishH she fainted a%a(" 1am8



res) %ho ,istened at a distance) sa% her fa,,) and

e,ie&ed her dead"

C'APTER IV"

'OW T'E5 WANTED TO SACRIFICE T'E !0LL AND

E9ORCISE T'E PRINCESS"

1amres runs to her) %ee*in+" The ser*ent is

aected" 'e) a,as) cannot %ee*) ut he hisses in

a mournfu, tone" 'e cries out) #She is dead"# The

ass re*eats) #She is dead"# The ra&en te,,s it o&er

@;@ The White !u,,"

a+ain" A,, the other anima,s a**eared aicted

e?ce*t the sh of /onah) %hich has a,%a(s een

merci,ess" The ,ad( of honor) the ,adies of the court)

arri&e and tear their hair" The %hite u,,) %ho fed

at a distance and heard their cries) ran to the +ro&e)

dra++in+ the o,d %oman after him) %hi,e his ,oud

e,,o%in+s made the nei+horin+ echoes resound"



To no *ur*ose did the ,adies *our u*on the e?8

*irin+ Amasidia their ott,es of rose8%ater) of *in>)

of m(rt,e) of en2oin) of a,m of i,ead) of amo8

mum) of +i,,(Mo%er) of nutme+) of amer+ris" She

had not as (et +i&en the sma,,est si+ns of ,ife" !ut

as soon as she *ercei&ed that the eautifu, %hite

u,, %as eside her she came to herse,f) more

,oomin+) more eautifu, and ,i&e,( than e&er" A

thousand times did she >iss this charmin+ anima,)

%ho ,an+uishin+,( ,eaned his head on her sno%(

osom" She ca,,ed him) #1( master) m( >in+) m(

dear) m( ,ife# She thro%s her fair arms around

his nec>) %hich %as %hiter than the sno%" The ,i+ht

stra% does not adhere more c,ose,( to the8 amer)

the &ine to the e,m) nor the i&( to the oa>" The

s%eet murmur of her si+hs %as heard" 'er e(es

%ere seen) no% s*ar>,in+ %ith a tender Mame) and

no% oscured ( those *recious tears %hich ,o&e

ma>es us shed"

We ma( easi,( Jud+e into %hat astonishment the

,ad( of honor and ,adies of her train %ere thro%n"

As soon as the( entered the *a,ace the( re,ated to

their ,o&ers this e?traordinar( ad&enture) and e&er(



The White !u,," @;:

one %ith dierent circumstances) %hich increased

its sin+u,arit() and %hich a,%a(s contriutes to the

&ariet( of a,, histories"

No sooner %as Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) informed

of these e&ents) than his ro(a, reast %as inMamed

%ith Just indi+nation" Such %as the %rath of 1i8

nos %hen he understood that his dau+hter Pasi*hse

,a&ished her tender fa&ors u*on the father of the

1inotaur" Thus ra+ed /uno %hen she ehe,d /u*iter

caressin+ the eautifu, co% ,o) dau+hter of the ri&er

Inachus" Fo,,o%in+ the dictates of *assion) the

stern Amasis im*risoned his unha**( dau+hter) the

eautifu, Amasidia) in her chamer) and *,aced o&er

her a +uard of ,ac> eunuchs" 'e then assem,ed

his *ri&( counci,"

The +rand ma+ician *resided there) ut had no

,on+er the same inMuence as former,(" A,, the min8

isters of state conc,uded that this %hite u,, %as

a sorcerer" It %as Guite the contrar(" 'e %as

e%itched" !ut in de,icate aairs the( are a,%a(s

mista>en at court"



It %as carried ( a +reat maJorit( that the *rin8

cess shou,d e e?orcised) and the o,d %oman and

the u,, sacriced"

The %ise 1amres contradicted not the o*inion

of the >in+ and counci," The ri+ht of e?orcisin+

e,on+ed to him" 'e cou,d de,a( it under some

*,ausi,e *retence" The +od A*is had ,ate,( died

at 1em*his" A +ood o? dies Just ,i>e another o?"

And it %as not a,,o%ed to e?orcise an( *erson in

@; The White !u,,"

E+(*t unti, a ne% o? %as found to re*,ace the

deceased"

It %as decreed in the counci, to %ait unti, the

nomination shou,d e made of a ne% +od at 1em8

*his"

The +ood o,d man) 1amres) *ercei&ed to %hat

dan+er his dear *rincess %as e?*osed" 'e >ne%



%ho her ,o&er %as" The s(,,a,es Neu ) %hich

had esca*ed her) ,aid o*en the %ho,e m(ster( to the

e(es of this sa+e"

The d(nast( of 1em*his e,on+ed at this time

to the !a(,onians" The( *reser&ed this remainder

of the conGuests the( had +ained under the +reat8

est >in+ of the %or,d) to %hom Amasis %as a morta,

enem(" 1amres had occasion for a,, his %isdom

to conduct himse,f *ro*er,( in the midst of so man(

diQcu,ties" If the >in+ Amasis shou,d disco&er the

,o&er of his dau+hter) her death %ou,d e ine&8

ita,e" 'e had s%orn it" The +reat) the (oun+)

the eautifu, >in+ of %hom she %as enamored) had

dethroned the >in+) her father) and Amasis had

on,( reco&ered his >in+dom aout se&en (ears"

From that time it %as not >no%n %hat had ecome

of the adora,e monarch the conGueror and ido,

of the nations the tender and +enerous ,o&er of

the charmin+ Amasidia" Sacricin+ the %hite u,,

%ou,d ine&ita,( occasion the death of the eautifu,

*rincess"

What cou,d 1amres do in such critica, circum8





der to *o,ish and rene them"

#Such metamor*hoses must not sur*rise (ou"

5ou >no% that former,( I *erformed more e?8

traordinar( ones" Nothin+ %as at that time more

common than those chan+es %hich at *resent as8

tonish *hi,oso*hers" True histor() %hich %e ha&e

read to+ether) informs us that L(caon) >in+ of Ar8

cadia) %as chan+ed into a %o,fH the eautifu, Ca,8

,isto) his dau+hter) into a ear H ,o) the dau+hter of

Inachus) our &enera,e Isis) into a co%H Da*hne

into a ,aure,H S(rin? into a MuteH the fair Edith)

@i4 The White !u,,"

%ife of Lot the est and most aectionate hus8

and and father e&er >no%n in the %or,d has she

not ecome) in our nei+horhood) a *i,,ar of sa,t)

&er( shar* tasted) %hich has *reser&ed oth her

,i>eness and form) as the +reat men attest %ho ha&e

seen it I %as %itness to this chan+e in m( (outh"

I sa% se&en *o%erfu, cities in the most dr( and

*arched situation in the %or,d) a,, at once trans8

formed into a eautifu, ,a>e" In the ear,( *art of



m( ,ife the %ho,e %or,d %as fu,, of metamor*hoses"

#In ne) madam) if e?am*,es can soothe (our

+rief) rememer that Venus chan+ed Cerastes into

an o?"#

#I do not >no%)# said the *rincess) #that e?am8

*,es comfort us" If m( ,o&er %ere dead) cou,d I

comfort m(se,f ( the idea that a,, men die#

#5our *ain ma( at ,east e a,,e&iated)# re*,ied

the sa+e H #and since (our ,o&er has ecome an o?)

it is *ossi,e from an o? he ma( ecome a man"

As for me) I shou,d deser&e to e chan+ed into

a ti+er or a crocodi,e if I did not em*,o( the ,itt,e

*o%er I ha&e in the ser&ice of a *rincess %orth(

of the adoration of the %or,dH if I did not ,aor for

the eautifu, Amasidia) %hom I ha&e nursed u*on

m( >nees) and %hom fata, destin( e?*oses to such

rude tria,s"#

The White !u,," @;

C'APTER V"



'OW T'E WISE 1A1!RES COND0CTED 'I1SELF

WISEL5"

The sa+e 1amres) ha&in+ said e&er(thin+ he

cou,d to comfort the *rincess) ut %ithout succeed8

in+ in so doin+) ran to the o,d %oman"

#1( com*anion)# said he to her) #ours is a

charmin+ *rofession) ut a &er( dan+erous one"

5ou run the ris> of ein+ han+ed) and (our o? of

ein+ urned) dro%ned or de&oured" I don$t

>no% %hat the( %i,, do %ith (our other anima,s)

for) *ro*het as I am) I >no% &er( ,itt,e H ut do (ou

carefu,,( concea, the ser*ent and the sh" Let not

the one sho% his head ao&e %ater) nor the other

&enture out of his ho,e" I %i,, *,ace the o? in one

of m( sta,es in the countr(" 5ou sha,, e there

%ith him) since (ou sa( that (ou are not a,,o%ed

to aandon him" The +ood sca*e+oat ma() u*on

this occasion) ser&e as an e?*iation" We %i,, send

him into the desert ,oaded %ith the sins of a,, the rest"

'e is accustomed to this ceremon() %hich does him

no harm) and e&er( one >no%s that sin is e?*iated

( means of a he8+oat) %ho %a,>s aout for his o%n

amusement" I on,( e+ of (ou to ,end me imme8



diate,( Toit$s do+) %ho is a &er( s%ift +re(hound H

!a,aam$s ass) %ho runs etter than a dromedar(H

the ra&en and the *i+eon of the ar>) %ho M( %ith

ama2in+ s%iftness" I %ant to send them on an em8

@ ; The White !u,,"

ass( to 1em*his" It is an aair of +reat conse8

Guence"#

The o,d %oman re*,ied to the ma+ician .

#5ou ma( dis*ose as (ou *,ease of Toit$s do+)

of !a,aam$s ass) of the ra&en and the *i+eon of the

ar>) and of the sca*e+oatH ut m( o? cannot enter

into a sta,e" It is said) Danie,) &" @;) that he must

e a,%a(s made fast to an iron chain) e a,%a(s %et

%ith the de% of hea&en) and eat the +rass of the

e,d) and his *ortion e %ith the %i,d easts"

#'e is intrusted to me) and I must oe(" What

%ou,d Danie,) E2e>ie, and /eremiah thin> of me if

I trusted m( o? to an( other than to m(se,f I

see (ou >no% the secret of this e?traordinar( ani8



ma,) ut I ha&e not to re*roach m(se,f %ith ha&in+

re&ea,ed it to (ou" I am +oin+ to conduct him far

from this *o,,uted ,and) to%ard the ,a>e Siron)

%here he %i,, e she,tered from the crue,ties of

the >in+ of Tanis" 1( sh and m( ser*ent %i,,

defend me" I fear nood( %hen I ser&e m( master"#

#1( +ood %oman)# ans%ered the %ise 1am8

res) #,et the %i,, of od e done Pro&ided I can

nd (our %hite u,, a+ain) the ,a>e Siron) the ,a>e

1ceris) or the ,a>e of Sodom are to me *erfect,( in8

dierent" I %ant to do nothin+ ut +ood to him and

to (ou" !ut %h( ha&e (ou s*o>en to me of Dan8

ie,) E2e>ie,) and /eremiah #

#Ah sir)# ans%ered the o,d %oman) #(ou >no%

as %e,, as I %hat concern the( ha&e in this im*or8

tant aair" !ut I ha&e no time to ,ose" I don$t de8

The White !u,," @;<

sire to e han+ed" I %ant not that m( u,, shou,d

e urned) dro%ned) or de&oured" I +o to the ,a>e

Siron ( Cano*us) %ith m( ser*ent and m( sh"



Adieu"#

The u,, fo,,o%ed her *ensi&e,() after ha&in+ tes8

tied his +ratitude to the enecent 1amres"

The %ise 1amres %as +reat,( trou,ed" 'e

sa% that Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) distracted ( the

stran+e *assion of his dau+hter for this anima,)

and e,ie&in+ her e%itched) %ou,d *ursue e&er(8

%here the unfortunate u,,) %ho %ou,d infa,,i,( e

urned as a sorcerer in the *u,ic *,ace of Tanis)

or +i&en to the sh of /onah) or e roasted and

ser&ed u* for food" 1amres %anted at a,, e&ents

to sa&e the *rincess from this crue, disaster"

'e %rote a ,etter) in sacred characters) to his

friend) the hi+h *riest of 1em*his) u*on the *a*er

of E+(*t) %hich %as not (et in use" 'ere are the

identica, %ords of this ,etter.

#Li+ht of the %or,d) ,ieutenant of Isis) Osiris)

and 'orus) chief of the circumcised) (ou %hose a,8

tar is Just,( raised ao&e a,, thrones I am in8

formed that (our +od) the o? A*is) is dead" I

ha&e one at (our ser&ice" Come Guic>,( %ith (our

*riests to ac>no%,ed+e) to %orshi* him) and to



conduct him into the sta,e of (our tem*,e" 1a(

Isis) Osiris) and 'orus >ee* (ou in their ho,( and

%orth( *rotection) and ,i>e%ise the *riests of 1em8

*his in their ho,( care"

#5our aectionate friend) 1amres"#

@@= The White !u,,"

'e made four co*ies of this ,etter) for fear of

accidents) and enc,osed them in cases of the hardest

eon(" Then) ca,,in+ to him his four couriers)

%hom he had destined for this em*,o(ment these

%ere the ass) the do+) the ra&en) and the *i+eon6)

he said to the ass.

#I >no% %ith %hat de,it( (ou ser&ed !a8

,aam) m( rother" Ser&e me as faithfu,,(" There is

not a unicorn %ho eGua,s (ou in s%iftness" o)

m( dear friend) and de,i&er this ,etter to the *erson

himse,f to %hom it is directed) and return"#

The ass ans%ered .



#Sir) as I ser&ed !a,aam) I %i,, ser&e (ou" I

%i,, +o) and I %i,, return"#

The sa+e *ut the o? of eon( into her mouth)

and she s%ift,( de*arted" 'e then ca,,ed Toit$s

do+"

#Faithfu, do+)# said 1amres) #more s*eed( in

th( course than the nim,e8footed Achi,,es) I >no%

%hat (ou *erformed for Toit) son of Toit) %hen

(ou and the an+e, Ra*hae, accom*anied him from

Nine&eh to Ra+usa) in 1edia) and from Ra+usa to

Nine&eh) and that he rou+ht ac> to his father ten

ta,ents) %hich the s,a&e Toit) the father) had ,ent to

the s,a&e ae,us H for the s,a&es at that time %ere

&er( rich" Carr( this ,etter as it is directed" It is

much more &a,ua,e than ten ta,ents of si,&er"#

The do+ then re*,ied.

#Sir) if I former,( fo,,o%ed the messen+er Ra8

The White !u,," @@;



*hae,) I can %ith eGua, ease e?ecute (our com8

mission"#

1amres *ut the ,etter into his mouth"

'e ne?t s*o>e in the same manner to the *i+8

eon) %ho re*,ied.

#Sir) if I rou+ht ac> a ou+h into the ar>) I

%i,, ,i>e%ise rin+ (ou ac> an ans%er"#

She too> the ,etter in her i,,) and the three mes8

sen+ers %ere out of si+ht in a moment" Then

1amres addressed the ra&en.

#I >no% that (ou fed the +reat *ro*het E,iJah)

%hen he %as concea,ed near the torrent of Cherith)

so much ce,erated in the %or,d" 5ou rou+ht

him e&er( da( +ood read and fat *u,,ets" I on,(

as> of (ou to carr( this ,etter to 1em*his"#

The ra&en ans%ered in these %ords.

#It is true) sir) that I carried e&er( da( a dinner

to the +reat *ro*het E,iJah) the Tishite" I sa%

him mount in a chariot of re dra%n ( er(



horses) a,thou+h this is not the usua, method of

tra&e,,in+" !ut I a,%a(s too> care to eat ha,f the

dinner m(se,f" I am &er( %e,, *,eased to carr(

(our ,etter) *ro&ided (ou ma>e me certain of t%o

+ood mea,s e&er( da() and that I am *aid mone( in

ad&ance for m( commission"#

1amres) an+r() re*,ied.

#,uttonous and ma,icious creature) I am not

astonished that A*o,,o has made (ou ,ac> as a

mo,e) after ein+ %hite as a s%an) as (ou %ere for8

@@@ The White !u,,"

mer,() efore (ou etra(ed in the *,ains of Thessa,(

the eautifu, Coronis) the unfortunate mother of

Escu,a*ius" Te,, me) did (ou eat ris of eef and

*u,,ets e&er( da( %hen (ou %ere ten %ho,e months

in the ar>#

#Sir)# said the ra&en) #%e had there &er( +ood

cheer" The( ser&ed u* roast meat t%ice a da( to

a,, the fo%,s of m( #s*ecies %ho ,i&e u*on nothin+



ut Mesh) such as the &u,tures) >ites) ea+,es) u28

2ards) s*arro%8ha%>s) o%,s) terce,s) fa,cons) +reat

o%,s) and an innumera,e cro%d of irds of *re("

The( furnished) %ith the most *,entifu, *rofusion)

the ta,es of the ,ions) ,eo*ards) ti+ers) *anthers)

h(enas) %o,&es) ears) fo?es) *o,ecats) and a,, sorts

of carni&orous Guadru*eds" There %ere in the ar>

ei+ht *ersons of distinction and the on,( ones %ho

%ere then in the %or,d6) continua,,( em*,o(ed in

the care of our ta,e and our %ardroe H Noah and his

%ife) %ho %ere aout si? hundred (ears o,d) their

three sons and their three %i&es" It %as charmin+

to see %ith %hat care) %hat de?terit() %hat c,ean,i8

ness) our ei+ht domestics ser&ed four thousand of

the most ra&enous +uests) %ithout rec>onin+ the

ama2in+ trou,e %hich aout ten or t%e,&e thou8

sand other anima,s reGuired) from the e,e*hant and

the +irae) to the si,> %orm and M(" What aston8

ishes me is) that our *ur&e(or Noah is un>no%n to

a,, the nations of %hom he is the stem) ut I don$t

much mind it" I had a,read( een *resent at a sim8

i,ar entertainment %ith 9esustres) >in+ of Thrace"

The White !u,," @@:



Such thin+s as these ha**en from time to time for

the instruction of ra&ens" In a %ord) I %ant to

ha&e +ood cheer) and to e *aid in read( mone("#

The %ise 1amres too> care not to +i&e his

,etter to such a discontented and a,in+ anima,H

and the( se*arated &er( much dissatised %ith each

other"

!ut it is necessar( to >no% %hat ecame of the

%hite u,,) and not to ,ose si+ht of the o,d %oman

and the ser*ent" 1amres ordered his inte,,i+ent

and faithfu, domestics to fo,,o% themH and as for

himse,f) he ad&anced in a ,itter ( the side of the

Ni,e) a,%a(s ma>in+ reMections"

#'o% is it *ossi,e)# said he to himse,f) #that a

ser*ent shou,d e master of a,most a,, the %or,d) as

he oasts) and as so man( ,earned men ac>no%,8

ed+e) and that he ne&erthe,ess oe(s an o,d %oman

'o% is it) that he is sometimes ca,,ed to the counci,

of the 1ost 'i+h) %hi,e he cree*s u*on earth In

%hat manner can he enter ( his *o%er a,one into

the odies of men) and that so man( men *retend

to dis,od+e him ( means of %ords In short) %h(



does he *ass %ith a sma,, nei+horin+ *eo*,e for

ha&in+ ruined the human race And ho% is it that

the human race are entire,( i+norant of this I am

o,d) I ha&e studied a,, m( ,ife) ut I see a cro%d of

inconsistencies %hich I cannot reconci,e" I cannot

account for %hat has ha**ened to m(se,f) neither

for the +reat thin+s %hich I ,on+ a+o *erformed)

nor those of %hich I ha&e een %itness" E&er(8

@@ The White !u,,"

thin+ %e,, considered) I e+8in to thin> that this

%or,d susists ( contradictions) rerum concordia

discors) as m( master 3oroaster former,( said"#

Whi,e he %as *,un+ed in this oscure meta8

*h(sica, reasonin+ oscure ,i>e a,, meta*h(sics

a oatman sin+in+ a Jo&ia, son+) made fast a sma,,

oat ( the side of the ri&er) and three +ra&e *er8

sona+es) ha,f c,othed in dirt() tattered +arments)

,anded from itH ut *reser&ed) under the +ar of

*o&ert() the most maJestic and au+ust air" These

stran+ers %ere Danie,) E2e>ie,) and /eremiah"



C'APTER VI"

'OW 1A1!RES 1ET T'REE PROP'ETS) AND AVE

T'E1 A OOD DINNER"

These three +reat men %ho had the *ro*hetic

,i+ht in their countenance) >ne% the %ise 1amres

to e one of their rethren) ( some mar>s of the

same ,i+ht %hich he had sti,, remainin+) and *ros8

trated themse,&es efore his ,itter" 1amres ,i>e8

%ise >ne% them to e *ro*hets) more ( their un8

couth dress) than ( those +,eams of re %hich

*roceeded from their au+ust heads" 'e conJectured

that the( came to ,earn ne%s of the %hite u,, H and

conductin+ himse,f %ith his usua, *ro*riet() he

a,i+hted from his carria+e and ad&anced a fe% ste*s

to%ards them) %ith di+nied *o,iteness" 'e raised

them u*) caused tents to e erected) and *re*ared a

The White !u,," @@B

dinner) of %hich he ri+ht,( Jud+ed that the *ro*hets



had &er( +reat need"

'e in&ited the o,d %oman to it) %ho %as on,(

aout &e hundred *aces from them" She acce*ted

the in&itation) and arri&ed ,eadin+ her %hite u,,"

T%o sou*s %ere ser&ed u*) one de !isGue) and the

other a ,a Reine" The rst course consisted of a

car*$s ton+ue *ie) ,i&ers of ee,8*outs) and *i>esH

fo%,s dressed %ith *istachios) *i+eons %ith trues

and o,i&es H t%o (oun+ tur>e(s %ith +ra&( of cra(8

sh) mushrooms) and more,s H and a chi*o,ata" The

second course %as com*osed of *heasants) *ar8

trid+es) Guai,s) and orto,ans) %ith four sa,adsH the

e*er+ne %as in the hi+hest tasteH nothin+ cou,d e

more de,icious than the side dishesH nothin+ more

ri,,iant and more in+enious than the dessert" !ut

the %ise 1amres too> +reat care to ha&e no oi,ed

eef) nor short ris) nor ton+ue) nor *a,ate of an o?)

nor co%$s udder) ,est the unfortunate monarch near

at hand shou,d thin> that the( insu,ted him"

This +reat and unfortunate *rince %as feedin+

near the tent H and ne&er did he fee, in a more crue,

manner the fata, re&o,ution %hich had de*ri&ed him

of his throne for se&en ,on+ (ears"



#A,as)# said he to himse,f) #this Danie, %ho has

chan+ed me into a u,,) and this sorceress) m(

>ee*er) ma>e the est cheer in the %or,d H %hi,e I)

the so&erei+n of Asia) am reduced to the necessit(

of eatin+ +rass) and drin>in+ %ater"#

When the( had drun> hearti,( of the %ine of

Vo," @;B

@@4 The White !u,,"

En+addi) of Tadmor) and of Shira2) the *ro*hets

and the %itch con&ersed %ith more fran>ness than

at the rst course"

#I must ac>no%,ed+e)# said Danie,) #that I did

not ,i&e so %e,, in the ,ion$s den"#

#What) sir)# said 1amres) #did the( *ut (ou

into a den of ,ions 'o% came (ou not to e

de&oured#

#Sir)# said Danie,) #(ou >no% &er( %e,, that



,ions ne&er eat *ro*hets"#

#As for me)# said /eremiah) #I ha&e *assed m(

%ho,e ,ife star&in+ of hun+er" This is the on,( da(

I e&er ate a +ood mea, H and %ere I to s*end m( ,ife

o&er a+ain) and had it in m( *o%er to choose m(

condition) I must o%n I %ou,d much rather e com*8

tro,,er8+enera, or isho* of !a(,on) than *ro*het

at /erusa,em"#

E2e>ie, cried) #I %as once ordered to s,ee* three

hundred and ninet( da(s u*on m( ,eft side) and to

eat a,, that time read of %heat) and ar,e() and

eans) and ,enti,s) coo>ed in the stran+est manner"

Sti,, I must o%n that the coo>er( of Sei+neur 1am8

res is much more de,icate" 'o%e&er) the *ro8

*hetic trade has its ad&anta+es) and the *roof is)

that there are man( %ho fo,,o% it"#

After the( had s*o>en thus free,() 1amres en8

tered u*on usiness" 'e as>ed the three *i,+rims

the reason of their Journe( into the dominions of

the >in+ of Tanis" Danie, re*,ied) #That the >in+8

dom of !a(,on had een a,, in a Mame since



The White !u,," @@

Neuchadne22ar had disa**earedH that accordin+

to the custom of the court) the( had *ersecuted a,,

the *ro*hets) %ho *assed their ,i&es in sometimes

seein+ >in+s hum,ed at their feet) and sometimes

recei&in+ a hundred ,ashes from themH that at

,en+th the( had een o,i+ed to ta>e refu+e in

E+(*t for fear of ein+ star&ed"#

E2e>ie, and /eremiah ,i>e%ise s*o>e a ,on+ time

in such ne terms) that it %as a,most im*ossi,e to

understand them" As for the %itch) she had a,%a(s

a strict e(e o&er her char+e" The sh of /onah con8

tinued in the Ni,e) o**osite to the tent) and the ser8

*ent s*orted u*on the +rass" After drin>in+ coee)

the( too> a %a,> ( the side of the Ni,eH and the

%hite u,,) *ercei&in+ the three *ro*hets) his ene8

mies) e,,o%ed most dreadfu,,() ran furious,( at

them) and +ored them %ith his horns" As *ro*hets

ne&er ha&e an(thin+ ut s>in u*on their ones) he

%ou,d certain,( ha&e run them throu+hH ut the

ru,er of the %or,d) %ho sees a,, and remedies a,,)

chan+ed them immediate,( into ma+*iesH and the(

continued to chatter as efore" The same thin+



ha**ened since to the PieridesH so much has fa,e

a,%a(s imitated sacred histor("

This incident caused ne% reMections in the mind

of 1amres"

#'ere)# said he) #are three +reat *ro*hets

chan+ed into ma+*ies" This ou+ht to teach us

ne&er to s*ea> too much) and a,%a(s to oser&e a

suita,e discretion"#

@@ The White !u,,"

'e conc,uded that %isdom %as etter than e,o8

Guence) and thou+ht *rofound,( as usua,H %hen a

+reat and terri,e s*ectac,e *resented itse,f to his

e(es"

C'APTER VII"

'OW KIN A1ASIS WANTED TO IVE T'E W'ITE !0LL

TO !E DEVO0RED !5 T'E FIS' OF /ONA') AND DID



NOT DO IT"

C,ouds of dust Moated from south to north" The

noise of drums) fes) *sa,teries) har*s) and sac>uts

%as heard" Se&era, sGuadrons and atta,ions ad8

&anced) and Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) %as at their

head u*on an Araian horse ca*arisoned %ith scar,et

tra**in+s emroidered %ith +o,d" The hera,ds *ro8

c,aimed that the( shou,d sei2e the %hite u,,) ind

him) and thro% him into the Ni,e) to e de&oured

( the sh of /onah H #for the >in+ our ,ord) %ho is

Just) %ants to re&en+e himse,f u*on the %hite u,,)

%ho has e%itched his dau+hter"#

The +ood o,d man 1amres made more reMections

than e&er" 'e sa% &er( *,ain,( that the ma,icious

ra&en had to,d a,, to the >in+) and that the *rincess

ran a +reat ris> of ein+ eheaded"

#1( dear friend)# said he to the ser*ent) #+o

Guic>,( and comfort the fair Amasidia) m( foster

dau+hter" !id her fear nothin+ %hate&er ma( ha*8

*en) and te,, her stories to a,,e&iate her inGuietude H

for stories a,%a(s amuse the ,adies) and it is on,(



The White !u,," @@<

( interestin+ them that one can succeed in the

%or,d"#

1amres ne?t *rostrated himse,f efore Amasis)

>in+ of Tanis) and thus addressed him .

#O >in+) ,i&e fore&er The %hite u,, shou,d

certain,( e sacriced) for (our maJest( is a,%a(s

in the ri+ht H ut the ru,er of the %or,d has said this

u,, must not e s%a,,o%ed u* ( the sh of /onah ti,,

1em*his sha,, ha&e found a +od to su**,( the *,ace

of him %ho is dead" Then thou sha,t e re&en+ed)

and th( dau+hter e?orcised) for she is *ossessed"

5our *iet( is too +reat not to oe( the commands

of the ru,er of the uni&erse"#

Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) remained for some time

si,ent and in dee* thou+ht"

#The +od A*is)# said he) at ,en+th) #is dead od

rest his sou, When do (ou thin> another o? %i,,

e found to rei+n o&er the fruitfu, E+(*t#



#Sire)# re*,ied 1amres) #I as> ut ei+ht da(s"#

#I +rant them to (ou)# re*,ied the >in+) %ho %as

&er( re,i+ious) #and I %i,, remain here the ei+ht

da(s" At the e?*iration of that time I %i,, sacrice

the enem( of m( dau+hter"#

Amasis immediate,( ordered that his tents) coo>s)

and musicians shou,d e rou+ht) and remained

here ei+ht da(s) as it is re,ated in 1anethon"

The o,d %oman %as in des*air that the u,, she

had in char+e had ut ei+ht da(s to ,i&e" She

raised *hantoms e&er( ni+ht) in order to dissuade

the >in+ from his crue, reso,ution H ut Amasis for8

@:= The White !u,,"

+ot in the mornin+ the *hantoms he had seen in

the ni+htH simi,ar to Neuchadne22ar) %ho had

a,%a(s for+otten his dreams"



C'APTER VIII"

'OW T'E SERPENT TOLD STORIES TO T'E PRINCESS

TO CO1FORT 'ER"

1ean%hi,e the ser*ent to,d stories to the fair

Amasidia to soothe her" 'e re,ated to her ho% he

had former,( cured a %ho,e nation of the ite of

certain ,itt,e ser*ents) on,( ( sho%in+ himse,f at

the end of a sta Num" ??" <6" 'e informed her

of the conGuests of a hero %ho made a charmin+

contrast %ith Am*hion) architect of Thees" Am8

*hion assem,ed he%n stones ( the sound of his

&io,in" To ui,d a cit( he had on,( to *,a( a ri+a8

doon rnd a minuetH ut the other hero destro(ed

them ( the sound of rams$ horns" 'e e?ecuted

thirt(8one *o%erfu, >in+s in a countr( of four

,ea+ues in ,en+th and four in readth" 'e made

stones rain do%n from hea&en u*on a atta,ion of

routed AmoritesH and ha&in+ thus e?terminated

them) he sto**ed the sun and moon at noonda( e8

t%een ieon and AJa,on) in the road to !eth8'oron)

to e?terminate them sti,, more) after the e?am*,e of

!acchus) %ho had sto**ed the sun and the moon in

his Journe( to the Indies"



The White !u,," @:;

The *rudence %hich e&er( ser*ent ou+ht to

ha&e did not a,,o% him to te,, the fair Amasidia of

the *o%erfu, /e*hthah) %ho made a &o% and e8

headed his dau+hter ecause he had +ained a at8

t,e" This %ou,d ha&e struc> terror into the mind

of the fair *rincess" !ut he re,ated to her the ad8

&entures of the +reat Samson) %ho >i,,ed a thou8

sand Phi,istines %ith the Ja%one of an ass) %ho

tied to+ether three hundred fo?es ( the tai,) and

%ho fe,, into the snares of a ,ad() ,ess eautifu,) ,ess

tender) and ,ess faithfu, than the charmin+

Amasidia"

'e re,ated to her the stor( of the unfortunate

Sechem and Dinah) as %e,, as the more ce,erated

ad&entures of Ruth and !oa2H those of /udah and

TamarH those e&en of Lot$s t%o dau+htersH those

of Araham and /aco$s ser&ant maidsH those of

Reuen and !i,hahH those of Da&id and !ath8

sheaH and those of the +reat Kin+ So,omon" In

short) e&er(thin+ %hich cou,d dissi*ate the +rief of

a fair *rincess"



C'APTER I9"

'OW T'E SERPENT DID NOT CO1FORT T'E PRINCESS"

#A,, these stories tire me)# said Amasidia) for

she had understandin+ and taste" #The( are +ood

for nothin+ ut to e commented u*on amon+ the

Irish ( that madman Aadie) or amon+ the We,sh

@:@ The White !u,,"

( that *ratt,er d$'oute&i,,e" Stories %hich mi+ht

ha&e amused the +reat8+reat8+reat8+randmother of

m( +randmother a**ear insi*id to me %ho ha&e

een educated ( the %ise 1amres) and %ho ha&e

read #'uman 0nderstandin+)# ( the E+(*tian

*hi,oso*her named Loc>e)- and the #1atron of

E*hesus"# I choose that a stor( shou,d e founded

on *roai,it() and not a,%a(s resem,e a dream" I

desire to nd nothin+ in it tri&ia, or e?tra&a+ant H and

I desire ao&e a,,) that under the a**earance of fa,e



there ma( a**ear some ,atent truth) o&ious to the

discernin+ e(e) thou+h it esca*e the oser&ation of

the &u,+ar"

#I am %ear( of a sun and of a moon %hich an

o,d e,dam dis*oses of at her *,easure) of moun8

tains %hich dance) of ri&ers %hich return to their

sources) and of dead men %ho rise a+ain H ut I am

ao&e measure dis+usted %hen such insi*id stories

are %ritten in a omastic and uninte,,i+i,e man8

ner" A ,ad( %ho e?*ects to see her ,o&er s%a,,o%ed

u* ( a +reat sh) and %ho is a**rehensi&e of ein+

eheaded ( her o%n father) has need of amuse8

mentH ut suit m( amusement to m( taste"#

#5ou im*ose a diQcu,t tas> u*on me)# re*,ied the

ser*ent" #I cou,d ha&e former,( made (ou *ass a

fe% hours a+reea,( enou+h) ut for some time

*ast I ha&e ,ost oth m( ima+ination and memor("

A,as %hat has ecome of those facu,ties %ith

-The doctrine of metem*s(chosis must e re,ied u*on to

e?*,ain this seemin+ anachronism" E"



The White !u,," @::

%hich I former,( amused the ,adies Let me tr()

ho%e&er) if I can reco,,ect one mora, ta,e for (our

entertainment"

#Fi&e and t%ent( thousand (ears a+o Kin+

naof and 7ueen Patra rei+ned in Thees %ith its

hundred +ates" Kin+ naof %as &er( handsome)

and 7ueen Patra sti,, more eautifu," !ut their

home %as un,est %ith chi,dren) and no heirs %ere

orn to continue the ro(a, race"

#The memers of the facu,t( of medicine and of

the academ( of sur+er( %rote e?ce,,ent treatises

u*on this suJect" The Gueen %as sent to drin>

minera, %atersH she fasted and *ra(edH she made

ma+nicent *resents to the tem*,e of /u*iter Am8

mon) ut a,, %as to no *ur*ose" At ,en+th a #

#1on Dieu# said the *rincess) #ut I see %here

this ,eads" This stor( is too common) and I must

,i>e%ise te,, (ou that it oends m( modest(" Re,ate

some &er( true and mora, stor() %hich I ha&e ne&er

(et heard) to com*,ete the im*ro&ement of m(

understandin+ and m( heart) as the E+(*tian *ro8



fessor Linro sa(s"#

#'ere) then) madam)# said the eautifu, ser*ent)

#is one most incontesta,( authentic"

#There %ere three *ro*hets a,, eGua,,( amitious

and discontented %ith their condition" The( had

in common the fo,,( to %ish to e >in+sH for there

is on,( one ste* from the ran> of a *ro*het to that

of a monarch) and man a,%a(s as*ires to the hi+hest

ste* in the ,adder of fortune" In other res*ects

@: The White !u,,"

their inc,inations and their *,easures %ere tota,,(

dierent" The rst *reached admira,( to his as8

sem,ed rethren) %ho a**,auded him ( c,a**in+

their hands) the second %as distracted,( fond of

music) and the third %as a *assionate ,o&er of the

fair se?"

#The an+e, Ithurie, *resented himse,f one da(

to them %hen the( %ere at ta,e discoursin+ on the

s%eets of ro(a,t("



#The Ru,er of the Wor,d)$ said the an+e, to

them) $sends me to re%ard (our &irtue" Not on,(

sha,, (ou e >in+s) ut (ou sha,, constant,( satisf(

(our ru,in+ *assions" 5ou) rst *ro*het) I ma>e

>in+ of E+(*t) and (ou sha,, continua,,( *reside in

(our counci,) %ho sha,, a**,aud (our e,oGuence and

(our %isdomH and (ou) second *ro*het) I ma>e

>in+ o&er Persia) and (ou sha,, continua,,( hear

most hea&en,( musicH and (ou) third *ro*het) I

ma>e >in+ of India) and I +i&e (ou a charmin+

mistress %ho sha,, ne&er forsa>e (ou"$

#'e to %hose ,ot E+(*t fe,, e+an his rei+n ( as8

sem,in+ his counci,) %hich %as com*osed on,( of

t%o hundred sa+es" 'e made them a ,on+ and e,o8

Guent s*eech) %hich %as &er( much a**,auded) and

the monarch enJo(ed the *,easin+ satisfaction of

into?icatin+ himse,f %ith *raises uncorru*ted (

Matter("

#The counci, for forei+n aairs succeeded to the

*ri&( counci," This %as much more numerous) and

a ne% s*eech recei&ed sti,, +reater encomiums" And



The White !u,," @:B

it %as the same in the other counci,s" There %as not

a moment of intermission in the *,easures and +,or(

of the *ro*het >in+ of E+(*t" The fame of his e,o8

Guence ,,ed the %or,d"

#The *ro*het >in+ of Persia e+an his rei+n (

an Ita,ian o*era) %hose choruses %ere sun+ (

fteen hundred eunuchs" Their &oices *enetrated

his sou, e&en to the &er( marro% of the ones)

%here it resides" To this o*era succeeded another)

and to the second a third) %ithout interru*tion"

#The >in+ of India shut himse,f u* %ith his mis8

tress) and enJo(ed *erfect *,easure in her societ("

'e considered the necessit( of a,%a(s Matterin+ her

as the hi+hest fe,icit() and *itied the %retched situ8

ation of his t%o rethren) of %hom one %as o,i+ed

a,%a(s to con&ene his counci,) and the other to e

continua,,( at an o*era"

#It ha**ened at the end of a fe% da(s that each

of these >in+s ecame dis+usted %ith his occu*a8

tion) and ehe,d from his %indo% certain %ood8



cutters %ho came from an a,e8house) and %ho %ere

+oin+ to %or> in a nei+horin+ forest" The(

%a,>ed arm in arm %ith their s%eethearts) %ith

%hom the( %ere ha**(" The >in+s e++ed of the

an+e, Ithurie, that he %ou,d intercede %ith the Ru,er

of the Wor,d) and ma>e them %ood8cutters"#

#I do not >no% %hether the Ru,er of the Wor,d

+ranted their reGuest or not)# interru*ted the tender

Amasidia) #and I do not care much aout it) ut I

>no% &er( %e,, that I shou,d as> for nothin+ of an(

@:4 The White !u,,"

one %ere I %ith m( ,o&er) %ith m( dear NE!0C'AD8

NE33AR #

The &au,ts of the *a,ace resounded this mi+ht(

name" At rst Amasidia had on,( *ronounced

Ne ) after%ards Ne ) then Neu " At ,en+th

*assion hurried her on) and she *ronounced entire

the fata, name) not%ithstandin+ the oath she had

s%orn to the >in+) her father" A,, the ,adies of the

court re*eated Neuchadne22ar) and the ma,icious



ra&en did not fai, to carr( the tidin+s to the >in+"

The countenance of Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) sun>)

ecause his heart %as trou,ed" And thus it %as

that the ser*ent) the %isest and most sut,e of ani8

ma,s) a,%a(s e+ui,ed the %omen) thin>in+ to do

them ser&ice"

Amasis) in a fur() sent t%e,&e a,+ua2i,s for his

dau+hter" These men are a,%a(s read( to e?ecute

ararous orders) ecause the( are *aid for it"

C'APTER 9"

'OW T'E5 WANTED TO !E'EAD T'E PRINCESS) AND

DID NOT DO IT"

No sooner had the *rincess entered the cam* of

the >in+) than he said to her. #1( dau+hter) (ou

>no% that a,, *rincesses %ho disoe( their fathers

are *ut to death H %ithout %hich it %ou,d e im*os8

si,e that a >in+dom cou,d e %e,, +o&erned" I

char+ed (ou ne&er to mention the name of (our



The White !u,, @:

,o&er) Neuchadne22ar) m( morta, enem() %ho de8

throned me aout se&en (ears a+o) and disa**eared"

In his *,ace (ou ha&e chosen a %hite u,,) and (ou

ha&e cried Neuchadne22ar" It is Just that I e8

head (ou"#

The *rincess re*,ied. #1( father) th( %i,, e

doneH ut +rant me some time to e%ai, m( sad

fate"#

#That is reasona,e)# said Kin+ AmasisH #and it

is a ru,e esta,ished amon+ the most Judicious *rin8

ces" I +i&e (ou a %ho,e da( to e%ai, (our destin()

since it is (our desire" To8morro%) %hich is the

ei+hth da( of m( encam*ment) I %i,, cause the

%hite u,, to e s%a,,o%ed u* ( the sh) and I

%i,, ehead (ou *recise,( at nine o$c,oc> in the

mornin+"#

The eautifu, Amasidia then %ent forth in sor8

ro%) to e%ai, her father$s crue,t() and %andered

( the side of the Ni,e) accom*anied ( the ,adies

of her train"



The %ise 1amres *ondered eside her) and

rec>oned the hours and the moments"

#We,, m( dear 1amres)# said she to him)

#(ou ha&e chan+ed the %aters of the Ni,e into

,ood) accordin+ to custom) and cannot (ou chan+e

the heart of Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) m( father Wi,,

(ou suer him to ehead me to8morro%) at nine

o$c,oc> in the mornin+#

#That de*ends)# re*,ied the reMectin+ 1amres)

#u*on the s*eed and di,i+ence of m( couriers)#

@: The White !u,,"

The ne?t da() as soon as the shado%s of the oe8

,is>s and *(ramids mar>ed u*on the +round the

ninth hour of the da() the %hite u,, %as secure,(

ound) to e thro%n to the sh of /onahH and the(

rou+ht to the >in+ his ,ar+e sare"

#A,as a,as# said Neuchadne22ar to himse,f)

#I) a >in+) ha&e een a u,, for near,( se&en (earsH



and scarce,( ha&e I found the mistress I had ,ost

%hen I am condemned to e de&oured ( a sh"#

Ne&er had the %ise 1amres made such *ro8

found reMectionsH and he %as Guite asored in his

me,ancho,( thou+hts %hen he sa% at a distance a,,

he e?*ected" An innumera,e cro%d dre% ni+h"

Three +ures of Isis) Osiris) and 'orus) Joined to8

+ether) ad&anced) dra%n in a carria+e of +o,d and

*recious stones ( a hundred senators of 1em*his)

*receded ( a hundred +ir,s *,a(in+ u*on the

sacred sistrums" Four thousand *riests) %ith their

heads sha&ed) %ere each mounted u*on a hi**o8

*otamus"

At a +reat distance a**eared %ith the same

*om* the shee* of Thees) the do+ of !uastis) the

cat of Phoee) the crocodi,e of Arsinoe) the +oat

of 1endes) and a,, the inferior +ods of E+(*t) %ho

came to *a( homa+e to the +reat o?) to the mi+ht(

A*is) as *o%erfu, as Isis) Osiris) and 'orus) united

to+ether"

In the midst of the demi8+ods) fort( *riests car8

ried an enormous as>et) ,,ed %ith sacred onions"



The White !u,," @:<

These %ere) it is true) +ods) ut the( resem,ed

onions &er( much"

On oth sides of this ais,e of +ods) fo,,o%ed (

an innumera,e cro%d of *eo*,e) marched fort(

thousand %arriors) %ith he,mets on their heads)

scimitars u*on their ,eft thi+hs) Gui&ers at their

shou,ders) and o%s in their hands"

A,, the *riests san+ in chorus) %ith a harmon(

%hich ra&ished the sou,) and %hich me,ted it)

#A,as a,as our o? is dead

We$,, ha&e a ner in its stead"#

And at e&er( *ause %as heard the sound of the

sistrums) of c(ma,s) of taors) of *sa,teries) of a+8

*i*es) har*s) and sac>uts"

Amasis) >in+ of Tanis) astonished at this s*ec8

tac,e) eheaded not his dau+hter" 'e sheathed his

scimitar"



C'APTER 9L

APOT'EOSIS OF T'E W'ITE !0LL TRI01P' OF T'E

WISE 1A1!RES T'E SEVEN 5EARS PROCLAI1ED

!5 DANIEL ARE ACCO1PLIS'ED NE!0C'ADNE38

3AR RES01ES T'E '01AN FOR1) 1ARRIES T'E

!EA0TIF0L A1ASIDIA) AND ASCENDS T'E T'RONE

OF !A!5LON"

#reat >in+)# said 1amres to him) #the order

of thin+s is no% chan+ed" 5our maJest( must set

the e?am*,e" O >in+ Guic>,( unind the %hite

u,,) and e the rst to adore him"#

@= The White !u,,"

Amasis oe(ed) and *rostrated himse,f %ith a,,

his *eo*,e" The hi+h *riest of 1em*his *resented

to the ne% +od A*is the rst handfu, of ha(H the

Princess Amasidia tied to his eautifu, horns fes8

toons of roses) anemones) ranuncu,acese) tu,i*s) *in>s)



and h(acinths" She too> the ,iert( to >iss him)

ut %ith a *rofound res*ect" The *riests stre%ed

*a,ms and Mo%ers on the road ( %hich the( %ere

to conduct him to 1em*his" And the %ise 1am8

res) sti,, ma>in+ reMections) %his*ered to his friend

the ser*ent.

#Danie, chan+ed this monarch into a u,,) and I

ha&e chan+ed this u,, into a +od#

The( returned to 1em*his in the same order)

and the >in+ of Tanis) in some confusion) fo,,o%ed

the and" 1amres) %ith a serene and di*,omatic

air) %a,>ed ( his side" The o,d %oman came after)

much ama2ed" She %as accom*anied ( the ser8

*ent) the do+) the she8ass) the ra&en) the *i+eon)

and the sca*e8+oat" The +reat sh mounted u* the

Ni,e" Danie,) E2e>ie,) and /eremiah) chan+ed into

ma+*ies) rou+ht u* the rear"

When the( had reached the frontiers of the >in+8

dom) %hich are not far distant) Kin+ Amasis too>

,ea&e of the u,, A*is) and said to his dau+hter.

#1( dau+hter) ,et us return into m( dominions)

that I ma( ehead (ou) as it has een determined



in m( ro(a, reast) ecause (ou ha&e *ronounced

the name of Neuchadne22ar) m( enem() %ho de8

The White !u,," " @;

throned me se&en (ears a+o" When a father has

s%orn to ehead his dau+hter) he must either fu,,

his oath or sin> into he,, fore&er) and I %i,, not

damn m(se,f out of ,o&e for (ou"#

The fair Princess Amasidia re*,ied to the Kin+

Amasis .

#1( dear father) %hom it *,eases (ou +o and

ehead) ut it sha,, not e me" I am no% in the

territories of Isis) Osiris) 'orus) and A*is" I %i,,

ne&er forsa>e m( eautifu, %hite u,,) and I %i,,

continue to >iss him) ti,, I ha&e seen his a*otheosis

in his sta,e in the ho,( cit( of 1em*his" It is a

%ea>ness *ardona,e in a (oun+ ,ad( of hi+h

irth"#

Scarce had she s*o>en these %ords) %hen the o?

A*is cried out.



#1( dear Amasidia) I %i,, ,o&e (ou %hi,st I

,i&e#

This %as the rst time that the +od A*is had

een heard to s*ea> durin+ the fort( thousand

(ears that he had een %orshi**ed"

The ser*ent and the she8ass cried out) #The se&en

(ears are accom*,ished# And the three ma+*ies

re*eated) #The se&en (ears are accom*,ished#

A,, the *riests of E+(*t raised their hands to

hea&en"

The +od on a sudden %as seen to ,ose his t%o

hind ,e+s) his t%o fore ,e+s %ere chan+ed into t%o

human ,e+sH t%o %hite muscu,ar arms +re% from

Vo," @ ;4

@@ The White !u,,"

his shou,ders H his taurine &isa+e %as chan+ed to the

face of a charmin+ heroH and he once more ecame



the most eautifu, of morta,s"

#I choose)# cried he) #rather to e the ,o&er of

the eautifu, Amasidia than a +od" I am NE!08

C'ADNE33AR) KIN OF KINS#

This metamor*hosis astonished a,, the %or,d e?8

ce*t the %ise 1amres" !ut %hat sur*rised no8

od( %as that Neuchadne22ar immediate,( mar8

ried the fair Amasidia in *resence of this assem,("

'e ,eft his father8in8,a% in Guiet *ossession of

the >in+dom of Tanis) and made no,e *ro&ision

for the she8ass) the ser*ent) the do+) the *i+eon)

and e&en for the ra&en) the three ma+*ies) and the

,ar+e shH sho%in+ to a,, the %or,d that he >ne%

ho% to for+i&e as %e,, as to conGuer"

The o,d %oman had a considera,e *ension

*,aced at her dis*osa,"

The sca*e8+oat %as sent for a da( into the %i,d8

erness) that a,, *ast sins mi+ht e e?*iated H and had

after%ards t%e,&e s*ri+ht,( +oats for his com8

*anions"



The %ise 1amres returned to his *a,ace and

made reMections"

Neuchadne22ar) after ha&in+ emraced the

ma+ician) his enefactor) +o&erned in tranGui,,it(

the >in+doms of 1em*his) !a(,on) Damascus) !a,8

ec) T(re) S(ria) Asia 1inor) Sc(thia) the countries

of Thiras) 1oso>) Tua,) 1adai) o+) 1a+o+)

/a&an) So+diana) Aroriana) the Indies) and the

The White !u,," @:

Is,es H and the *eo*,e of this &ast em*ire cried out

a,oud e&er( mornin+ at the risin+ of the sun .

#Lon+ ,i&e +reat Neuchadne22ar) >in+ of >in+s)

%ho is no ,on+er an o?#

Since %hich time it has een a custom in !a(8

,on) %hen the so&erei+n) decei&ed ( his satra*s)

his ma+icians) treasurers or %i&es) at ,en+th ac8

>no%,ed+es his errors) and amends his conduct) for

a,, the *eo*,e to cr( out at his +ate.



#Lon+ ,i&e our +reat >in+) %ho is no ,on+er an

o?,#

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS"

C'APTER I"

NATIONAL POVERT5"

An o,d man) %ho is fore&er *it(in+ the *resent

times) and e?to,,in+ the *ast) %as sa(in+ to me.

#Friend) France is not so rich as it %as under

'enr( IV"#

#And %h(#

#!ecause the ,ands are not so %e,, cu,ti&atedH

ecause hands are %antin+ for the cu,ti&ationH and

ecause the da(8,aorer ha&in+ raised the *rice of

his %or>) man( ,and8o%ners ,et their inheritances ,ie

fa,,o%"#



#Whence comes this scarcit( of hands #

#From this) that %hoe&er nds in himse,f an(8

thin+ of a s*irit of industr() ta>es u* the trade of

emroiderer) chaser) %atchma>er) si,>8%ea&er) at8

torne() or di&ine" It is a,so ecause the re&ocation

of the Edict of Nantes has ,eft a +reat &oid in the

>in+domH ecause nuns and e++ars of a,, >inds

ha&e +reat,( mu,ti*,iedH ecause the *eo*,e in +en8

era, a&oid as much as *ossi,e the hard ,aor of

cu,ti&ation) for %hich %e are orn ( od$s destina8

tion) and %hich %e ha&e rendered i+nominious (

our o%n o*inionsH so &er( %ise are %e

@

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @B

#Another cause of our *o&ert( ,ies in our ne%

%ants" We *a( our nei+hors four mi,,ions of ,i&res

on one artic,e) and &e or si? u*on anotherH such)

for e?am*,e) as a stin>in+ *o%der for stuQn+ u*

our noses) rou+ht from America" Our coee) tea)

choco,ate) cochinea,) indi+o) s*ices) cost us ao&e

si?t( mi,,ions a (ear" A,, these %ere un>no%n to



us in the rei+n of 'enr( IV") e?ce*t the s*ices)

of %hich) ho%e&er) the consum*tion %as not so

+reat as it is no%" We urn a hundred times more

%a?8,i+hts than %ere urnt then) and +et more than

ha,f of the %a? from forei+n countries) ecause

%e ne+,ect our o%n hi&es" We see a hundred times

more diamonds in the ears) round the nec>s) and on

the hands of our cit( dies of Paris) and other +reat

to%ns) than %ere %orn ( a,, the ,adies of 'enr(

IV"$s court) the Gueen inc,uded" A,most a,, the su8

*erMuities are necessari,( *aid for %ith read( s*ecie"

#Oser&e es*ecia,,( that %e *a( to forei+ners

ao&e fteen mi,,ions of annuities on the 'ote, de

Vi,,e) and that 'enr( IV") on his accession) ha&in+

found t%o mi,,ions of det in a,, on this ima+inar(

hote,) &er( %ise,( *aid o a *art) to ease the state of

this urden"

#Consider that our ci&i, %ars %ere the occasion

of the treasures of 1e?ico ein+ *oured into the

>in+dom) %hen Don Phi,i* e, Discrete too> it into

his head to u( France) and that since that time

our forei+n %ars ha&e eased us of a +ood ha,f of

our mone("



@4 The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

#These are *art,( the causes of our *o&ert( a

*o&ert( %hich %e hide under &arnished cei,in+s) or

%ith the he,* of our dea,ers in fashion" We are

*oor %ith taste" There are some oQcers of re&enue)

there are contractors or Joers) there are mer8

chants) &er( rich H their chi,dren) their sons8in8,a%)

are a,so &er( richH ut the nation in +enera, is un8

fortunate,( not so"#

This o,d man$s discourse) %e,, or i,, +rounded)

made a dee* im*ression on meH for the curate of

m( *arish) %ho had a,%a(s had a friendshi* for me)

had tau+ht me a ,itt,e of +eometr( and of histor(H

and I e+an to reMect a ,itt,e) %hich is &er( rare in

m( *ro&ince" I do not >no% %hether he %as ri+ht

or not in e&er(thin+) ut ein+ &er( *oor) I cou,d

&er( easi,( e,ie&e that I had a +reat man( com8

*anions in m( miser("

C'APTER II"



DISASTER OF T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS"

I &er( readi,( ma>e >no%n to the uni&erse that

I ha&e a ,anded estate %hich %ou,d (ie,d me fort(

cro%ns a (ear) %ere it not for the ta? ,aid on it"

There came forth se&era, edicts from certain *er8

sons) %ho) ha&in+ nothin+ etter to do) +o&ern the

state at their reside" The *ream,e of these edicts

%as) #that the ,e+is,ati&e and e?ecuti&e %as orn)

Jure di&ino) the co8*ro*rietor of m( ,and# H and that

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @

I o%e it at ,east the ha,f of %hat I *ossess" The

enormit( of this ,e+is,ati&e and e?ecuti&e *o%er

made me ,ess m(se,f" What %ou,d it e if that

*o%er %hich *resides o&er #the essentia, order of

societ()# %ere to ta>e the %ho,e of m( ,itt,e estate

The one is sti,, more di&ine than the other"

The com*tro,,er8+enera, >no%s that I used to

*a( in a,, ut t%e,&e ,i&resH that e&en this %as a



hea&( urden on me) and that I shou,d ha&e sun>

under it) if od had not +i&en me the ta,ent of

ma>in+ %ic>er as>ets) %hich he,*ed to carr( me

throu+h m( tria,s" !ut ho% shou,d I) on a sudden)

e a,e to +i&e the >in+ t%ent( cro%ns

The ne% ministers a,so said in their *ream,e

that it %as not t to ta? an(thin+ ut the ,and) e8

cause e&er(thin+ arises from the ,and) e&en rain

itse,f) and conseGuent,( that nothin+ %as *ro*er,(

,ia,e to ta?ation ut the fruits of the ,and"

Durin+ the ,ast %ar one of their co,,ectors came

to m( house) and demanded of me) for m( Guota)

three measures of corn and a sac> of eans) the

%ho,e %orth t%ent( cro%ns) to maintain the %ar

of %hich I ne&er >ne% the reason) ha&in+ on,(

heard it said that there %as nothin+ to e +ot ( it

for our countr() and a +reat dea, to ,ose" As I had

not at that time either corn) or eans) or mone()

the ,e+is,ati&e and e?ecuti&e *o%er had me dra++ed

to *rison H and the %ar %ent on as %e,, as it cou,d"

On m( re,ease from the dun+eon) ein+ nothin+

ut s>in and one) %hom shou,d I meet ut a Jo,,(



@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

fresh8co,ored man in a coach and si? 'e had si?

footmen) to each of %hom he +a&e for his %a+es

more than the dou,e of m( re&enue" 'is head

ste%ard) %ho) ( the %a() ,oo>ed in as +ood *,i+ht

as himse,f) had of him a sa,ar( of t%o thousand

,i&res) and roed him e&er( (ear of t%ent( thou8

sand more" 'is mistress had in si? months stood

him in fort( thousand cro%ns" I had former,(

>no%n him %hen he %as ,ess %e,,8to8do than m(8

se,f" 'e o%ned) ( %a( of comfort to me) that he

enJo(ed four hundred thousand ,i&res a (ear"

#I su**ose) then)# said I) #that (ou *a( out of

this income t%o hundred thousand to the state) to

he,* to su**ort that ad&anta+eous %ar %e are car8

r(in+ on) since I) %ho ha&e ut Just a hundred and

t%ent( ,i&res a (ear) am o,i+ed to *a( ha,f of

them"#

#I# said he) #I contriute to the %ants of the

state 5ou are sure,( Jestin+) m( friend" I ha&e

inherited from an unc,e his fortune of ei+ht mi,,ions)



%hich he +ot at Cadi2 and at SuratH I ha&e not a

foot of ,and H m( estate ,ies in +o&ernment contracts

and in the funds" I o%e the state nothin+" It is for

(ou to +i&e ha,f of (our sustance (ou %ho are

a *ro*rietor of ,and" Do (ou not see that if the

minister of the re&enue %ere to reGuire an(thin+ of

me in aid of our countr() he %ou,d e a ,oc>head

that cou,d not ca,cu,ate for e&er(thin+ is the

*roduce of the ,and" 1one( and the *a*er currenc(

are nothin+ ut *,ed+es of e?chan+e" """ If)

I

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @<

after ha&in+ ,aid the so,e ta?) the ta? that is to su*8

*,( the *,ace of a,, others) on those commodities)

the +o&ernment %ere to as> mone( of me) do (ou

not see that this %ou,d e a dou,e ,oad that it

%ou,d e as>in+ the same thin+ t%ice o&er 1(

unc,e so,d at Cadi2 to the amount of t%o mi,,ions of

(our corn) and of t%o mi,,ions of stus made of

(our %oo, H u*on these t%o artic,es he +ained ;==

*er cent" 5ou must easi,( thin> that this *rot



came out of ,ands a,read( ta?ed" What m( unc,e

ou+ht for ten *ence of (ou) he so,d a+ain for ao&e

ft( ,i&res at 1e?icoH and thus he made a shift to

return to his o%n countr( %ith ei+ht mi,,ions c,ear"

#5ou must e sensi,e) then) that it %ou,d e a

horrid inJustice to re8demand of him a fe% farthin+s

on the ten *ence he *aid (ou" If t%ent( ne*he%s

,i>e me) %hose unc,es had +ained each ei+ht mi,8

,ions at !uenos A(res) at Lima) at Surat) or at

Pondicherr() %ere) in the ur+ent necessities of the

state) each to ,end to it on,( t%o hundred thousand

,i&res) that %ou,d *roduce four mi,,ions" !ut %hat

horror %ou,d that e Pa( then thou) m( friend)

%ho enJo(s Guiet,( the neat and c,ear re&enue of

fort( cro%ns H ser&e th( countr( %e,,) and come no%

and then to dine %ith m( ser&ants in ,i&er("#

This *,ausi,e discourse made me reMect a +ood

dea,) ut I cannot sa( it much comforted me"

@B= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

C'APTER III"



CONVERSATION WIT' A EO1ETRICIAN"

It sometimes ha**ens that a man has no ans%er

to ma>e) and (et is not *ersuaded" 'e is o&er8

thro%n %ithout the fee,in+ of ein+ con&inced" 'e

fee,s at the ottom of his heart a scru*,e) a re*u+8

nance) %hich hinders him from e,ie&in+ %hat has

een *ro&ed to him" A +eometrician demonstrates

to (ou that et%een a circ,e and a tan+ent (ou

ma( thread a numer of cur&es) and (et cannot +et

one strai+ht ,ine to *ass" 5our e(es) (our reason)

te,, (ou the contrar(" The +eometrician +ra&e,(

ans%ers (ou that it is an innitesima, of the second

order" 5ou stare in stu*id si,ence and Guit the

e,d a,, astonished) %ithout ha&in+ an( c,ear idea)

%ithout com*rehendin+ an(thin+) and %ithout ha&8

in+ an( re*,( to ma>e"

Consu,t ut a +eometrician of more candor) and

he e?*,ains the m(ster( to (ou"

#We su**ose)# sa(s he) #%hat cannot e in

nature) ,ines %hich ha&e ,en+th %ithout readth"

Natura,,( and *hi,oso*hica,,( s*ea>in+) it is im*os8

si,e for one rea, ,ine to *enetrate another" No

cur&e) nor no ri+ht ,ine) can *ass et%een t%o rea,



,ines that touch one another" These theorems that

*u22,e (ou are ut s*orts of the ima+ination) idea,

chimeras) %hereas true +eometr( is the art of meas8

urin+ thin+s actua,,( e?istent"#

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @B;

I %as *erfect,( %e,, satised %ith the confession

of the sensi,e mathematician) and) %ith a,, m( mis8

fortune) cou,d not he,* ,au+hin+ on ,earnin+ that

there %as a Guac>er( e&en in that science %hich is

ca,,ed the su,ime science" 1( +eometrician %as a

>ind of *hi,oso*hica, *atriot) %ho had dei+ned to

chat %ith me sometimes in m( cotta+e" I said

to him .

#Sir) (ou ha&e tried to en,i+hten the coc>ne(s of

Paris on a *oint of the +reatest concern to man8

>ind . that of the duration of human ,ife" It is to

(ou a,one that the ministr( o%es its >no%,ed+e of

the due rate of annuities for ,i&es) accordin+ to dif8

ferent a+es" 5ou ha&e *ro*osed to furnish the

houses in to%n %ith %hat %ater the( ma( %ant) and

to de,i&er us at ,en+th from the shame and ridicu,e of



hearin+ %ater cried aout the streets) and of seein+

%omen enc,osed %ithin an o,on+ hoo*) carr(in+

t%o *ai,s of %ater) oth to+ether of aout thirt(

*ounds %ei+ht) u* to a fourth stor(" !e so +ood)

in the name of friendshi*) to te,, me ho% man(

t%o8handed i*eds there ma( e in France#

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" It is assumed that there

ma( e aout t%ent( mi,,ions) and I am %i,,in+ to

ado*t this ca,cu,ation as the most *rota,e) ti,, it

can e &eried) %hich it %ou,d e &er( eas( to do)

and %hich) ho%e&er) has not hitherto een done)

ecause one does not a,%a(s thin> of e&er(thin+"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 'o% man( acres)

thin> (ou) the %ho,e territor( of France contains

@B@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" One hundred and thirt(

mi,,ions) of %hich a,most ha,f is in roads) in to%ns)

&i,,a+es) moors) heaths) marshes) sands) arren

,ands) use,ess con&ents) +ardens of more *,easure

than *rot) uncu,ti&ated +rounds) and ad +rounds



i,, cu,ti&ated" We mi+ht reduce a,, the ,and %hich

(ie,ds +ood returns to se&ent(8&e mi,,ions of sGuare

acresH ut ,et us state them at fourscore mi,,ions"

One cannot do too much for one$s countr("

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 'o% much ma(

(ou thin> each acre rin+s in (ear,() one (ear %ith

another) in corn) seeds of a,, >inds) %ine) sh8

*onds) %ood) meta,s) catt,e) fruit) %oo,) si,>) oi,)

mi,>) c,ear of a,, char+es) %ithout rec>onin+ the

ta?

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Wh() if the( *roduce

each t%ent(8&e ,i&res aout t%ent( En+,ish shi,8

,in+s6 it is a +reat dea,H ut not to discoura+e our

countr(men) ,et us *ut them at thirt( ,i&res" There

are acres %hich *roduce constant,( re+eneratin+

&a,ue) and %hich are estimated at three hundred

,i&resH there are others %hich on,( *roduce three

,i&res" The mean *ro*ortion et%een three and

three hundred is thirt() for (ou must a,,o% that

three is to thirt( as thirt( is to three hundred" If)

indeed) there %ere com*arati&e,( man( acres at

thirt( ,i&res) and &er( fe% at three hundred) our ac8

count %ou,d not ho,d +ood H ut) once more) I %ou,d

not e o&er8*uncti,ious"



The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @B:

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" We,,) sir) ho%

much %i,, these fourscore mi,,ions of acres (ie,d of

re&enue) estimated in mone(

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" The account is read(

madeH the( %i,, *roduce t%o thousand four hun8

dred mi,,ions of ,i&res of the *resent currenc("

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS I ha&e read that

So,omon *ossessed) of his o%n *ro*ert() t%ent(8&e

thousand mi,,ions of ,i&res) in read( mone( H and

certain,( there are not t%o thousand four hundred

mi,,ions of s*ecie circu,atin+ in France) %hich) I

am to,d) is much +reater and much richer than So,o8

mon$s countr("

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" There ,ies the m(ster("

There ma( e aout nine hundred mi,,ions circu,at8

in+ throu+hout the >in+dom) and this mone() *ass8

in+ from hand to hand) is suQcient to *a( for a,,

the *roduce of the ,and and of industr(" The same



cro%n ma( *ass ten times from the *oc>et of the

cu,ti&ator into that of the a,e8house>ee*er and of the

ta?8+atherer"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" I a**rehend

(ou" !ut (ou to,d me that %e are) in a,,) aout

t%ent( mi,,ions of inhaitants) men) %omen) o,d and

(oun+" 'o% much) *ra() do (ou a,,o% for each

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" One hundred and t%ent(

,i&res) or fort( cro%ns"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 5ou ha&e Just

+uessed m( re&enue) / ha&e four acres) %hich)

@B The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

rec>onin+ the fa,,o% (ears %ith those of *roduce)

rin+ me in one hundred and t%ent( ,i&res) %hich

is ,itt,e enou+h) od >no%s"

!ut if e&er( indi&idua, %ere to ha&e his contin8

+ent) %ou,d that e no more than &e ,ouis d$ors a

(ear



T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Certain,( not) accordin+

to our ca,cu,ation) %hich I ha&e a ,itt,e am*,ied"

Such is the state of human nature" Our ,ife and

our fortune ha&e narro% ,imits" In Paris the( do

not) one %ith another) ,i&e ao&e t%ent(8t%o or

t%ent(8three (earsH and) one %ith another) ha&e

not) at the most) ao&e a hundred and t%ent( ,i&res

a (ear to s*end" So that (our food) (our raiment)

(our ,od+in+) (our mo&a,es) are a,, re*resented (

the sum of one hundred and t%ent( ,i&res"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" A,as What

ha&e I done to (ou) that (ou thus arid+e me of m(

fortune and ,ife Can it then e true that I ha&e

ut three and t%ent( (ears to ,i&e) un,ess I ro m(

fe,,o%8creatures of their share

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" This is incontesta,e in

the +ood cit( of Paris" !ut from these t%ent(8three

(ears (ou must deduct ten) at the ,east) for (our chi,d8

hood) as chi,dhood is not an enJo(ment of ,ifeH it

is a *re*aration H it is the *orch of the edice H it

is the tree that has not (et +i&en fruitsH it is the

da%n of a da(" Then a+ain) from the thirteen (ears

%hich remain to (ou) deduct the time of s,ee*) and



that of tiresomeness of ,ife) and that %i,, e at ,east

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @BB

a moiet(" 5ou %i,, then ha&e si? (ears and a ha,f

,eft to *ass in &e?ation) in *ain) in some *,easures)

and in ho*es"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 1ercifu, hea&en

At this rate (our account does not a,,o% us ao&e

three (ears of to,era,e e?istence"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN That is no fau,t of mine"

Nature cares &er( ,itt,e for indi&idua,s" There are

insects %hich do not ,i&e ao&e one da() ut of

%hich the s*ecies is *er*etua," Nature resem,es

those +reat *rinces %ho rec>on as nothin+ the ,oss

of four hundred thousand men) so the( ut accom8

*,ish their au+ust desi+ns"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" Fort( cro%ns

and three (ears of ,ife What resource can (ou im8

a+ine a+ainst t%o such curses



T'E EO1ETRICIAN" As to ,ife) it %ou,d e

reGuisite to render the air of Paris more *ure H that

men shou,d eat ,ess and ta>e more e?erciseH that

mothers shou,d suc>,e their o%n chi,drenH that

*eo*,e shou,d e no ,on+er so i,,8ad&ised as to dread

inocu,ation" This is %hat I ha&e a,read( said) and

as to fortune) %h() e&en marr( and rear a fami,("

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 'o% Can the

%a( to ,i&e more at ease e to associate to m( o%n

ad circumstances those of others

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Fi&e or si? ad circum8

stances *ut to+ether form a to,era,e esta,ishment"

et a +ood %ife) and %e %i,, sa( on,( t%o sons and

t%o dau+hters" This %i,, ma>e se&en hundred and

@B4 The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

t%ent( ,i&res for (our ,itt,e fami,( H that is to sa()

if distriuti&e Justice %ere to ta>e *,ace) and that

each indi&idua, had a hundred and t%ent( ,i&res

a (ear" 5our chi,dren) in their infanc() stand (ou

in a,most nothin+H %hen +ro%n u* the( %i,, ease



and he,* (ou" Their mutua, aid %i,, sa&e (ou a

+ood *art of (our e?*enses) and (ou ma( ,i&e &er(

ha**i,() ,i>e a *hi,oso*her" A,%a(s *ro&ided) ho%8

e&er) that those %orth( +ent,emen %ho +o&ern the

state ha&e not the ararit( to e?tort from each of

(ou t%ent( cro%ns a (ear" !ut the misfortune is)

%e are no ,on+er in the +o,den a+e) %here the men)

orn a,, eGua,s) had an eGua, *art in the nutriti&e

*roductions of uncu,ti&ated ,and" The case is no%

far from ein+ so +ood a one) as that e&er( t%o8

handed i*ed *ossesses ,and to the &a,ue of a hun8

dred and t%ent( ,i&res a (ear"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" $Sdeath 5ou

ruin us" 5ou said ut Just no% that in a countr(

of fourscore mi,,ions of inhaitants each of them

ou+ht to enJo( a hundred and t%ent( ,i&res a (ear)

and no% (ou ta>e them a%a( from us a+ain"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN I %as com*utin+ accord8

in+ to the re+isters of the +o,den a+e) ut %e must

rec>on accordin+ to that of iron" There are man(

inhaitants %ho ha&e ut the &a,ue of ten cro%ns

a (ear) others no more than four or &e) and ao&e

si? mi,,ions of men %ho ha&e aso,ute,( nothin+"



T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" Nothin+ Wh()

the( %ou,d *erish of hun+er in three da(s$ time"


T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Not in the ,east" The oth8

ers) %ho *ossess their *ortions) set them to %or>

and share %ith them" It is from this arran+ement

that the "*a( comes for the di&ine) the confectioner)

the a*othecar() the *reacher) the actor) the attorne()

and the hac>ne(8coachman" 5ou thou+ht (ourse,f

&er( i,, o to ha&e no more than a hundred and

t%ent( ,i&res a (ear) reduced to a hundred and ei+ht

( (our ta? of t%e,&e ,i&res" !ut consider the so,8

diers %ho de&ote their ,ood to their countr( at the

rate of four*ence a da(" The( ha&e not ao&e

si?t(8three ,i&res a (ear for their ,i&e,ihood) and (et

the( ma>e a comforta,e shift) ( a numer of them

Joinin+ their ,itt,e stoc> and ,i&in+ in common"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" So) then) an e?8

/esuit has more than &e times the *a( of a so,dier"

And (et the so,diers ha&e done more ser&ice to the

state under the e(es of the >in+ at Fonteno() at



La%fe,d) at the sie+e of Friour+) than the re&er8

end father La&a,ette e&er did in his ,ife"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Nothin+ can e truerH

na() e&er( one of these turned8adrift /esuits) ha&8

in+ no% ecome free) has more to s*end than %hat

he cost his con&ent" There are e&en some amon+

them %ho ha&e +ained a +ood dea, of mone( (

scri,in+ *am*h,ets a+ainst the *ar,iaments) as)

for e?am*,e) the re&erend father Patoui,,et) and the

re&erend father Nonnotte" In short) in this %or,d

e&er( one sets his %its to %or> for a ,i&e,ihood" One

is at the head of a manufactor( of stus H another

Vo," @ ;

@B The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

of *orce,ain H another underta>es the o*era H another

the #Ecc,esiastica, a2etteH# another a tra+ed( in

fami,iar ,ife) or a no&e, or romance in the En+,ish

st(,e" This maintains the stationer) the in>ma>er)

the oo>se,,er) the ha%>er) %ho mi+ht e,se e re8

duced to e++ar(" There is nothin+) then) ut the



restitution of the hundred and t%ent( ,i&res to those

%ho ha&e nothin+ that ma>es the state Mourish"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" A *rett( %a( of

Mourishin+) tru,(

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" And (et there is no other"

In e&er( countr( it is the rich that ena,e the *oor to

,i&e" This is the sou, source of the industr( of com8

merce" The more industrious a nation itse,f is) the

more it +ains from forei+n countries" Cou,d %e) on

our forei+n trade) +et ten mi,,ions a (ear ( the a,8

ance in our fa&or) there %ou,d) in t%ent( (ears) e

t%o hundred mi,,ions more in the nation" This

%ou,d aord ten ,i&res a head more) on the su*8

*osition of8 an eGuita,e distriution" That is to

sa() that the dea,ers %ou,d ma>e each *oor *er8

son earn ten ,i&res the more) once *aid) in the ho*es

of ma>in+ sti,, more considera,e +ains" !ut com8

merce) ,i>e the ferti,it( of the earth) has its ounds)

other%ise its *ro+ression %ou,d e ad innitum"

Nor) esides) is it c,ear that the a,ance of our trade

is constant,( fa&ora,e to us" There are times in

%hich %e ,ose"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" I ha&e heard



much ta,> of *o*u,ation" If our inhaitants %ere

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @B<

dou,ed) so that %e numered fort( mi,,ions of

*eo*,e instead of t%ent() %hat %ou,d e the conse8

Guence

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" It %ou,d e this. that)

one %ith another) each %ou,d ha&e) instead of fort()

ut t%ent( cro%ns to ,i&e u*onH or that the ,and

shou,d *roduce dou,e the cro*s it no% does H or that

there shou,d e dou,e the nationa, industr() or of

+ain from forei+n countries H or that ha,f of the *eo8

*,e shou,d e sent to AmericaH or that one8ha,f of

the nation shou,d eat the other"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" Let us then re8

main satised %ith our t%ent( mi,,ions of inhai8

tants) and %ith our hundred and t%ent( ,i&res a

head) distriuted as it sha,, *,ease the Lord" 5et this

situation is a sad one) and (our iron a+e is hard

indeed"



T'E EO1ETRICIAN" There is no nation that

is etter o) and there are man( that are %orse"

Do (ou e,ie&e that there is in the north %here%itha,

to aord to each inhaitant the &a,ue of a hundred

and t%ent( of our ,i&res a (ear If the( had had

the eGui&a,ent of this) the 'uns) the Vanda,s) and

the Fran>s %ou,d not ha&e deserted their countr(

in Guest of esta,ishments e,se%here) %hich the()

conGuered) re and s%ord in hand"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" If I %ere to

,isten to (ou) (ou %ou,d *ersuade me *resent,( that

I am ha**( %ith m( hundred and t%ent( ,i&res"

;4= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" If (ou %ou,d ut thin>

(ourse,f ha**( (ou %ou,d then e so"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS A man cannot

ima+ine %hat actua,,( is not) un,ess he e mad"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" I ha&e a,read( to,d (ou

that) in order to e more at (our ease) and more



ha**( than (ou are) (ou shou,d ta>e a %ife H to

%hich I -tac>) ho%e&er) this c,ause . that she has)

as %e,, as (ou) one hundred and t%ent( ,i&res a

(earH that is to sa() four acres at ten cro%ns an

acre" The ancient Romans had each ut one" If

(our chi,dren are industrious the( can each earn

as much ( their %or>in+ for others"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" So that the( ma(

+et mone( %ithout others ,osin+ it"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Such is the ,a% of a,, na8

tions H there is no ,i&in+ ut on these terms"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" And must m(

%ife and I +i&e each of us the ha,f of our *roduce

to the ,e+is,ati&e and e?ecuti&e *o%er) and the ne%

ministers of state ro us of the *rice of our hard

,aor) and of the sustance of our *oor chi,dren)

efore the( are a,e to +et their ,i&e,ihood Pra(

te,, me) ho% much mone( %i,, these ne% ministers

of ours rin+ into the >in+$s coers ( this Jure

di&ino s(stem

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" 5ou *a( t%ent( cro%ns

on four acres %hich rin+ (ou in fort(" A rich



man) %ho *ossesses four hundred acres) %i,,) (

the ne% tari) *a( t%o thousand cro%ns) an the

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @4;

%ho,e fourscore mi,,ions of acres %i,, (ie,d to the

>in+ t%e,&e hundred mi,,ions of ,i&res a (ear) or

four hundred mi,,ions of cro%ns"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" That a**ears to

me im*ractica,e and im*ossi,e"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" And &er( much (ou are

in the ri+ht to thin> so H and this im*ossii,it( is a

+eometrica, demonstration that there is a funda8

menta, defect in the ca,cu,ation of our ne% min8

isters"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" Is not there a,so

demonstra,( a *rodi+ious inJustice in ta>in+ from

me the ha,f of m( corn) of m( hem*) of the %oo, of

m( shee*) etc") and at the same time to reGuire no

aid from those %ho sha,, ha&e +ained ten) t%ent()

or thirt( thousand ,i&res a (ear) ( m( hem*) of



%hich the( %i,, ha&e made ,inen H ( m( %oo,) of

%hich the( %i,, ha&e made c,oth H ( m( corn) %hich

the( %i,, ha&e so,d at so much more than it cost

them

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" The inJustice of this ad8

ministration is as e&ident as its ca,cu,ation is erro8

neous" It is ri+ht to fa&or industr() ut o*u,ent

industr( ou+ht to contriute to su**ort the state"

This industr( %i,, ha&e certain,( ta>en from (ou a

*art of (our one hundred and t%ent( ,i&res)

and a**ro*riated that *art to itse,f) in se,,in+ (ou

(our shirts and (our coat t%ent( times dearer than

the( %ou,d ha&e cost (ou if (ou had made them

(ourse,f" The manufacturer %ho sha,, ha&e en8

@4@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

riched himse,f at (our e?*ense %i,,) I a,,o%) ha&e

a,so *aid %a+es to his %or>men) %ho had nothin+

of themse,&es H ut he %i,,) e&er( (ear) ha&e sun>

and *ut ( a sum that %i,,) at ,en+th) ha&e *roduced

to him thirt( thousand ,i&res a (ear" This fortune)

then) he %i,, ha&e acGuired at (our e?*ense" Nor



can (ou e&er se,, him the *roduce of (our ,and dear

enou+h to reimurse (ou for %hat he %i,, ha&e +ot

( (ou H for %ere (ou to attem*t such an ad&ance

of (our *rice he %ou,d *rocure %hat he %anted

chea*er from other countries" A *roof of %hich is"

that he remains constant,( *ossessor of his thirt(

thousand ,i&res a (ear) and (ou of (our one hundred

and t%ent( ,i&res) that often diminish8 instead of

increasin+"

It is then necessar( and eGuita,e that the re8

ned industr( of the trader shou,d *a( more than

the +ross industr( of the farmer" The same is to

e said of the co,,ectors of the re&enue" 5our ta?

had *re&ious,( een ut t%e,&e ,i&res) efore our

+reat ministers %ere *,eased to ta>e from (ou

t%ent( cro%ns" Of these t%e,&e ,i&res the co,,ector

retained ten*ence) or ten so,s) for himse,f" If in (our

*ro&ince there %ere &e hundred thousand sou,s he

%i,, ha&e +ained t%o hundred and ft( thousand

,i&res a (ear" Su**ose he s*ends ft( thousand H it

is c,ear that at the end of ten (ears he %i,, e t%o

mi,,ions in *oc>et" It is then ut Just that he shou,d

contriute his *ro*ortion) other%ise e&er(thin+

%ou,d e *er&erted and +o to ruin"



The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @4:

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" I am &er( +,ad

(ou ha&e ta?ed the oQcer of the re&enue" It is some

re,ief to m( ima+ination" !ut since he has so %e,,

increased his su*erMuit() %hat sha,, I do to au+8

ment m( sma,, modicum

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" I ha&e a,read( to,d (ou

( marr(in+) ( ,aorin+) ( tr(in+ to *rocure

from (our ,and some shea&es of corn in addition to

%hat it *re&ious,( *roduced"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" We,, +ranted)

then) that I sha,, ha&e een du,( industrious H that

a,, m( countr(men %i,, ha&e een so too H and that

the ,e+is,ati&e and e?ecuti&e *o%er sha,, ha&e re8

cei&ed a +ood round ta? H ho% much %i,, the nation

ha&e +ained at the end of the (ear

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Nothin+ at a,,) un,ess it

sha,, ha&e carried on a *rota,e forei+n trade" !ut

,ife %i,, ha&e een more a+reea,e in it" E&er( one

%i,,) res*ecti&e,() in *ro*ortion) ha&e had more



c,othes) more ,inen) more mo&a,es than he had e8

fore" There %i,, ha&e een in the nation a more

aundant circu,ation" The %a+es %ou,d ha&e een)

in *rocess of time) au+mented) near,( in *ro*ortion

to the numer of the shea&es of corn) of the tods

of %oo,) of the o?8hides) of the shee* and +oats)

that %i,, ha&e een added H of the c,usters of +ra*es

that %i,, ha&e een sGuee2ed in the %ine8*ress"

1ore of the &a,ue of commodities %i,, ha&e een

*aid to the >in+ in mone() and the >in+ %i,, ha&e

returned more &a,ue to those he %i,, ha&e em*,o(ed


under his ordersH ut there %i,, not e ha,f a

cro%n the more in the >in+dom"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" What %i,, then

remain to the +o&ernment at the end of the (ear

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Once more) nothin+" This

is the case of +o&ernment in +enera," It ne&er ,a(s

( an(thin+" It %i,, ha&e +ot its ,i&in+ that is

to sa() its food) raiment) ,od+in+) mo&a,es" The



suJect %i,, ha&e done so) too" Where a +o&ernment

amasses treasure) it %i,, ha&e sGuee2ed from the cir8

cu,ation so much mone( as it %i,, ha&e amassed"

It %i,, ha&e made so man( %retched as it %i,, ha&e

*ut ( fort( cro%ns in its coers"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" At this rate) then)

'enr( IV" %as ut a mean8s*irited %retch) a miser)

a *,underer H for I ha&e een to,d that he had chest8

ed u* in the !asti,,e ao&e ft( mi,,ions of ,i&res

accordin+ to our *resent currenc("

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" 'e %as a man as +ood

and as *rudent as he %as ra&e" 'e %as *re*arin+

to ma>e a Just %ar) and ( amassin+ in his coers

t%ent(8t%o mi,,ions of the currenc( of that time)

esides %hich he had t%ent( more to recei&e) %hich

he ,eft in circu,ation) he s*ared the *eo*,e ao&e a

hundred mi,,ions that it %ou,d ha&e cost if he had

not ta>en those usefu, measures" 'e made himse,f

mora,,( sure of success a+ainst an enem( %ho had

not ta>en the ,i>e *recaution" The *roai,ities %ere

*rodi+ious,( in his fa&or" 'is t%ent(8t%o mi,,ions

in an> *ro&ed that there %as then in this >in+dom



The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @4B

t%ent(8t%o mi,,ions of sur*,usa+e of the territoria,

*roduce) so that no one %as a suerer"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" 1( father then

to,d me the truth %hen he said that the suJect %as

in *ro*ortion more rich under the administration of

the Du>e of Su,,( than under that of our ne% min8

isters) %ho ,aid on the sin+,e ta?) the so,e ta?) and

%ho) out of m( fort( cro%ns) ha&e ta>en a%a(

t%ent(" Pra( te,, me) is there another nation in the

%or,d that enJo(s this *recious ad&anta+e of the so,e

ta?

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" Not one o*u,ent nation"

The En+,ish) %ho are not much +i&en to ,au+hin+)

cou,d not) ho%e&er) he,* urstin+ out %hen the(

heard that men of inte,,i+ence amon+ us had *ro8

*osed this >ind of administration" The Chinese

e?act a ta? from a,, the forei+n tradin+ shi*s that

resort to Canton" The Dutch *a() at Na+asa>i)

%hen the( are recei&ed in /a*an) under *rete?t that

the( are not Christians" The La*,anders and the

Samoieds are indeed suJected to a so,e ta? in sa,es



or marten8s>ins" The re*u,ic of San 1arino *a(s

nothin+ more than tithes for the maintenance of

that state in its s*,endor"

There is) in Euro*e) a nation ce,erated for its

eGuit( and its &a,or that *a(s no ta?" This is S%it8

2er,and" !ut thus it has ha**ened" The *eo*,e ha&e

*ut themse,&es in the *,ace of the du>es of Austria

and 3ahrin+en" The sma,, cantons are democratica,)

and &er( *oor" Each inhaitant *a(s ut a triMin+


sum to%ard the su**ort of this ,itt,e re*u,ic" In the

rich cantons the *eo*,e are char+ed) for the state)

%ith those duties %hich the archdu>es of Austria

and the ,ords of the ,and used to e?act" The Prot8

estant cantons are) in *ro*ortion) t%ice as rich as the

Catho,ic) ecause the state) in the rst) *ossesses the

,ands of the mon>s" Those %ho %ere former,( su8

Jects to the archdu>es of Austria) to the du>e of

3ahrin+en) and to the mon>s) are no% the suJects of

their o%n countr(" The( *a( to that countr( the

same tithes) the same nes of a,ienation) that the(



*aid to their former masters) and as the suJects) in

+enera,) ha&e &er( ,itt,e trade) their merchandise is

,ia,e to no char+es) e?ce*t some sma,, sta*,e du8

ties" The men ma>e a trade of their coura+e) in

their dea,in+s %ith forei+n *o%ers) and se,, them8

se,&es for a certain term of (ears) %hich rin+s

some mone( into their countr( at our e?*ense H and

this e?am*,e is as sin+u,ar a one in the ci&i,i2ed

%or,d as is the so,e ta? no% ,aid on ( our ne%

,e+is,ators"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" So) sir) the S%iss

are not *,undered) Jure di&ino) of one8ha,f of their

+oodsH and he that has four co%s in S%it2er,and

is not o,i+ed to +i&e t%o of them to the state

T'E EO1ETRICIAN 0ndouted,( not" In one

canton) u*on thirteen tons of %ine) the( *a( one

and drin> the other t%e,&e" In another canton)

the( *a( the t%e,fth) and drin> the remainin+

e,e&en"

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @4



T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" Wh( am I not a

S%iss That cursed ta?) that sin+,e and sin+u,ar,(

iniGuitous ta?) that has reduced me to e++ar(

!ut then a+ain) three or four hundred ta?es) of

%hich it is im*ossi,e for me to retain or *ronounce

the are names) are the( more Just and more to,8

era,e Was there e&er a ,e+is,ator %ho) in found8

in+ a state) %ished to create counse,,ors to the >in+)

ins*ectors of coa,8measurers) +au+ers of %ine) meas8

urers of %ood) searchers of ho+8ton+ues) com*tro,8

,ers of sa,t utter or to maintain an arm( of rasca,s

t%ice as numerous as that of A,e?ander) com8

manded ( si?t( +enera,s) %ho ,a( the countr( under

contriution) %ho +ain e&er( da( si+na, &ictories)

%ho ta>e *risoners) and %ho sometimes sacrice

them in the air) or on a oarded sta+e) as the an8

cient Sc(thians did) accordin+ to %hat m( &icar

to,d me

No%) %as such a ,e+is,ation) a+ainst %hich so

man( outcries %ere raised) and %hich caused the

sheddin+ of so man( tears) much etter than the

ne%,( im*osed one) %hich at one stro>e c,ean,( and

Guiet,( ta>es a%a( ha,f of m( susistence I am

afraid that on a fair ,iGuidation it %i,, e found that

under the ancient s(stem of the re&enue the( used



to ta>e) at times and in detai,) three8Guarters of it"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" I,iacos intra muros *ec8

catur et e?tra" Est modus in reus" Ca&eas ne

Guid nintis"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" I ha&e ,earned a


,itt,e of histor() and somethin+ of +eometr() ut I

do not understand a %ord of Latin"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" The sense is *rett( near,(

as fo,,o%s. There is %ron+ on oth sides" Kee*

to a medium in e&er(thin+" Nothin+ too much"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" I sa() nothin+

too much H that is rea,,( m( situation H ut the %orst

of it is) I ha&e not enou+h"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" I a,,o% that (ou must *er8

ish of %ant) and I) too) and the state) too) if the ne%

administration shou,d continue on,( t%o (ears



,on+er H ut it is to e ho*ed hea&en %i,, ha&e merc(

on us"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS" We *ass our

,i&es in ho*e) and die ho*in+ to the ,ast" Adieu)

sirH (ou ha&e en,i+htened me) ut m( heart is

+rie&ed"

T'E EO1ETRICIAN" This is) indeed) often the

fruit of >no%,ed+e"

C'APTER IV"

AN ADVENT0RE WIT' A CAR1ELITE"

When I had than>ed the academician of the Acad8

em( of Sciences for ha&in+ set me ri+ht) I %ent a%a(

Guite out of heart) *raisin+ Pro&idence) ut mutterin+

et%een m( teeth these do,efu, %ords. #What

to ha&e no more than fort( cro%ns a (ear to ,i&e on)

nor more than t%ent(8t%o (ears to ,i&e A,as ma(

our ,ife e (et shorter) since it is to e so misera,e #



eON) KNOW T'AT WE O0RSELVES !EX:

C'ARIT5H WK DO NOT !ESTOW IT

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @4<

As I %as sa(in+ this) I found m(se,f Just o**osite

a &er( im*osin+ house" A,read( %as I fee,in+ m(8

se,f *ressed ( hun+er" I had not so much as the

hundred and t%entieth *art of the sum that ( ri+ht

e,on+s to each indi&idua," !ut as soon as I %as to,d

that this %as the *a,ace of m( re&erend fathers) the

are8footed Carme,ites) I concei&ed +reat ho*es) and

said to m(se,f) #Since these saints are hum,e enou+h

to +o are8footed) the( %i,, e charita,e enou+h to



+i&e me a dinner"#

I ran+" A Carme,ite came to the door"

#What %ou,d (ou *,ease to ha&e) m( son #

#A morse, of read) m( re&erend father" The

ne% edicts ha&e stri**ed me of e&er(thin+"#

#Son) >no% that %e ourse,&es e+ charit( H %e do

not esto% it"#

#What %hi,e (our ho,( institute forids (ou to

%ear shoes) (ou ha&e the house of a *rince) and can

(ou refuse to +i&e me a mea, #

#1( son) it is true) %e +o %ithout stoc>in+s and

shoes H that is an e?*ense the ,ess H %e fee, no more

co,d in our feet than in our hands" As to our ne

house) %e ui,t it &er( easi,() and %e ha&e a hundred

thousand ,i&res a (ear of income from houses in the

same street"#

#So) then (ou suer me to die of hun+er) %hi,e

(ou ha&e an income of a hundred thousand ,i&res

I su**ose (ou *a( ft( thousand of these to the ne%



+o&ernment #

#f/ea&en *reser&e us from *a(in+ a sin+,e far

@= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

thin+ It is on,( the *roduce of the ,and) cu,ti&ated

( ,aorious hands) ca,,ous %ith %or>) and moistened

%ith tears) that o%es ta?es to the ,e+is,ati&e and e?8

ecuti&e *o%er" The a,ms %hich ha&e een esto%ed

u*on us ha&e ena,ed us to ui,d those houses ( the

rent of %hich %e +et a hundred thousand ,i&res a

(ear" !ut these a,ms) comin+ from the fruits of the

earth) and ha&in+) conseGuent,() a,read( *aid the ta?)

ou+ht not to *a( t%ice" The( ha&e sanctied the

faithfu, e,ie&ers) %ho ha&e im*o&erished themse,&es

to enrich us) and %e continue to e+ charit() and to

,a( under contriution the Fauour+ of St" er8

main in order to sanctif( a sti,, +reater numer of

the faithfu, e,ie&ers"#

'a&in+ thus s*o>en) the Carme,ite *o,ite,( shut

the door in m( face"



I then *assed a,on+ and sto**ed efore the 'ote,

of the 1ousGuetaires +ris) and re,ated to those +en8

t,emen %hat had Just ha**ened to me" The( +a&e

me a +ood dinner and a ha,f8cro%n u( ecu" One

of them *ro*osed to +o direct,( and set re to the

con&entH ut a mus>eteer) more discreet than he)

remonstrated %ith him) insistin+ that the time for

action had not (et arri&ed) and im*,ored him to %ait

*atient,( a ,itt,e ,on+er"

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @;

C'APTER V"

A0DIENCE OF T'E CO1PTROLLER8ENERAL"

I %ent) %ith m( ha,f8cro%n) to *resent a *etition

to the com*tro,,er8+enera,) %ho %as that da( +i&in+

audience"

'is ante8chamer %as ,,ed %ith *eo*,e of a,,

>inds" There %ere there es*ecia,,( some %ith more

,u faces) more *rominent e,,ies) and more arro8

+ant ,oo>s than m( man of ei+ht mi,,ions" I durst



not dra% near to them H I sa% them) ut the( did not

oser&e me"

A mon>) a +reat man for tithes) had e+un a suit at

,a% a+ainst certain suJects of the state) %hom he

ca,,ed his tenants" 'e had a,read( a ,ar+er income

than the ha,f of his *arishioners *ut to+ether) and

%as moreo&er ,ord of the manor" 'is c,aim %as)

that %hereas his &assa,s had) %ith innite *ains) con8

&erted their heaths into &ine(ards) the( o%ed him a

tithe of the %ine) %hich) ta>in+ into the account the

*rice of ,aor) of the &ine8*ro*s) of the cas>s and

ce,,ara+e) %ou,d carr( o ao&e a Guarter of the

*roduce"

#!ut)# said he) #as the tithes are due) Jure di&ino)

I demand the Guarter of the sustance of m( tenants)

in the name of od"#

The minister of the re&enue said to him) #I see

ho% charita,e (ou are"#

@@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"



A farmer8+enera,) e?treme,( %e,,8s>i,,ed in as8

sessments) inter*osed) sa(in+ .

#Sir) that &i,,a+e can aord nothin+ to this mon>)

as I ha&e) ut the ,ast (ear) made the *arishioners *a(

thirt(8t%o ta?es on their %ine) esides their o&ercon8

sum*tion of the a,,o%ance for their o%n drin>in+"

The( are entire,( ruined" I ha&e sei2ed and so,d their

catt,e and mo&a,es) and (et the( are sti,, m( det8

ors" I *rotest) then) a+ainst the c,aim of the re&erend

father"#

#5ou are in the ri+ht)# ans%ered the minister of

the re&enue) #to e his ri&a, H (ou oth eGua,,( ,o&e

(our nei+hor) and (ou oth edif( me"#

A third) a mon> and ,ord of the manor) %hose

tenants %ere in mortmain) %as %aitin+ for a decree

of the counci, that shou,d *ut him in *ossession of a,,

the estate of a Paris sim*,eton %ho) ha&in+ inad&er8

tent,( ,i&ed a (ear and a da( in a house suJect to

this ser&itude and enc,osed %ithin the *ro*ert( of

this *riest) had died at the (ear$s end" The mon>

%as c,aimin+ a,, the estate of this *erson) and c,aim8

in+ it Jure di&ino"



The minister found ( this that the heart of this

mon> %as as Just and as tender as those of the others"

A fourth) %ho %as com*tro,,er of the ro(a, do8

mains) *resented a s*ecious memoria,) in %hich he

sou+ht $to Justif( his ha&in+ reduced t%ent( fami,ies

to e++ar(" The( had inherited *ro*ert( from their

unc,es) their aunts) their rothers) or cousins) and

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @:

%ere ,ia,e to *a( the duties" The oQcers of the do8

main had +enerous,( *ro&ed to them that the( had

not set the fu,, &a,ue on their inheritances that the(

%ere much richer than the( e,ie&ed) and) conse8

Guent,() ha&in+ condemned them to a tri*,e ne)

ruined them in char+es) and thre% the heads of the

fami,ies into Jai,) he had ou+ht their est *ossessions

%ithout unt(in+ his *urse8strin+s"

The com*tro,,er8+enera, said to him) in a tone in8

deed rather itter .

#Eu+e) contro,,eur one et 0de,,s) Guia su*ra



*auca fuisti 0de,,s) fermier8 +enera, te constituam"#

!ut to a master of the reGuests) %ho %as standin+

at his side) he said in a ,o% &oice .

#We must ma>e these ,ood8suc>ers) sacred and

*rofane) dis+or+e" It is time to +i&e some re,ief to

the *eo*,e) %ho) %ithout our care) and our eGuit()

%ou,d ha&e nothin+ to ,i&e u*on) in this %or,d at

,east) ho%e&er the( mi+ht fare in the other"#

Some) of *rofound +enius) *resented *roJects to

him" One of them had ima+ined a scheme to ,a( a

ta? on %it" #A,, the %or,d)# said he) #%i,, e ea+er

to *a() as no one cares to *ass for a foo,"#

The minister dec,ared to him) #I e?em*t (ou from

the ta?"#

Another *ro*osed to ,a( the on,( ta? u*on son+s

and ,au+hin+) in consideration that %e %ere the mer8

riest nation under the sun) and that a son+ %as a re8

,ief and comfort for e&er(thin+" !ut the minister

Vo," @ ;




oser&ed that of ,ate there %ere hard,( an( son+s of

*,easantr( made H and he %as afraid that) to esca*e

the ta?) %e %ou,d ecome too serious"

The ne?t that *resented himse,f %as a trust( and

,o(a, suJect) %ho oered to raise for the >in+ three

times as much ( ma>in+ the nation *a( three times

,ess" The minister ad&ised him to ,earn arithmetic"

A fourth *ro&ed to the >in+ in the %a( of friend8

shi*) that he cou,d not raise ao&e se&ent(8&e mi,8

,ions) ut that he %as +oin+ to *rocure him t%o hun8

dred and t%ent(8&e" #5ou %i,, o,i+e me in this)#

said the minister) #as soon as %e sha,, ha&e *aid the

*u,ic dets"#

At ,en+th) %ho shou,d a**ear ut a de*ut( of the

ne% author) %ho ma>es the ,e+is,ati&e *o%er co8*ro8

*rietor of a,, our ,ands) Jure di&ino) and %ho %as

+i&in+ the >in+ t%e,&e hundred mi,,ions of re&enue"

I >ne% the man a+ain %ho had Mun+ me into *rison

for not ha&in+ *aid m( t%ent( cro%ns) and thro%in+

m(se,f at the feet of the com*tro,,er8+enera,) I im8



*,ored his Justice H u*on %hich he urst out a8,au+h8

in+) and te,,in+ me it %as a tric> that had een *,a(ed

me) he ordered the doers of this mischief in Jest to

*a( me a hundred cro%ns dama+es) and e?em*ted

me from the ,and8ta? for the rest of m( ,ife" I said

to him) #od ,ess (our honor #


C'APTER VI"

T'E 1AN OF FORT5 CROWNS 1ARRIES) !ECO1ES A

FAT'ER) AND DESCANTS 0PON T'E 1ONKS"

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns ha&in+ im*ro&ed his

understandin+) and ha&in+ accumu,ated a moderate

fortune) married a &er( *rett( +ir,) %ho had a hun8

dred cro%ns a (ear of her o%n" As soon as his son

%as orn) he fe,t himse,f a man of some conseGuence

in the state" 'e %as famous for ma>in+ the est

as>ets in the %or,d) and his %ife %as an e?ce,,ent

seamstress" She %as orn in the nei+horhood of a



rich ae( of a hundred thousand ,i&res a (ear" 'er

husand as>ed me one da( %h( those +ent,emen) %ho

%ere so fe% in numer) had s%a,,o%ed so man( of

the fort(8cro%n ,ots #Are the( more usefu, to their

countr( than I am# #No) dear nei+hor"# #Do the()

,i>e me) contriute at ,east to the *o*u,ation of it#

#No"# #Do the( cu,ti&ate the ,and Do the( defend

the state %hen it is attac>ed# #No) the( *ra( to

od for us"# #We,,) then) I %i,, *ra( to od for

them in return"#

70ESTION" 'o% man( of these usefu, +entr()

men and %omen) ma( the con&ents in this >in+dom

contain

ANSWER" !( the ,ists of the su*erintendents)

ta>en to%ard the end of the ,ast centur() there %ere

aout ninet( thousand"

70ESTION" Accordin+ to our ancient account)

IJ4 The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

the( ou+ht not) at fort( cro%ns a head) to *ossess



ao&e ten mi,,ion ei+ht hundred thousand ,i&res"

Pra() ho% much ha&e the( actua,,(

ANSWER" The( ha&e to the amount of ft( mi,8

,ions) inc,udin+ the masses) and a,ms to the mendi8

cant mon>s) %ho rea,,( ,a( a considera,e ta? on the

*eo*,e" A e++in+ friar of a con&ent in Paris *u8

,ic,( ra++ed that his %a,,et %as %orth fourscore

thousand ,i&res a (ear"

70ESTION" Let us no% consider ho% much the

distriution of ft( mi,,ions amon+ ninet( thousand

sha&en cro%ns +i&es to each Let us see) is it not

&e hundred and ft(8&e ,i&res

ANSWER" 5es) and a considera,e sum it is in a

numerous societ() %here the e?*enses e&en diminish

( the Guantit( of consumers H for ten *ersons ma(

,i&e to+ether much chea*er than if each had his se*8

arate ,od+in+ and ta,e"

70ESTION" So that the e?8 /esuits) to %hom there

is no% assi+ned a *ension of four hundred ,i&res) are

then rea,,( ,osers ( the ar+ain"

ANSWER" I do not thin> so) for the( are a,most



a,, of them retired amon+ their friends) %ho assist

them" Se&era, of them sa( masses for mone() %hich

the( did not do efore H others +et to e *rece*tors H

some are maintained ( fema,e i+ots H each has made

a shift for himse,f H and) *erha*s) at this time) there

are fe% of them %ho ha&e tasted of the %or,d) and of

,iert() that %ou,d resume their former chains" The

mon>ish ,ife) %hate&er the( ma( sa() is not at a,, to


e en&ied" It is a ma?im %e,, >no%n that the mon>s

are a >ind of *eo*,e %ho assem,e %ithout >no%in+)

,i&e %ithout ,o&in+) and die %ithout re+rettin+ each

other"

70ESTION" 5ou thin>) then) that it %ou,d e do8

in+ them a +reat ser&ice to stri* them of a,, their

mon>s$ haits

ANSWER" The( %ou,d undouted,( +ain much

( it) and the state sti,, more" It %ou,d restore to the

countr( a numer of suJects) men and %omen) %ho

ha&e rash,( sacriced their ,iert() at an a+e to %hich



the ,a%s do not a,,o% a ca*acit( of dis*osin+ of ten8

*ence a (ear income" It %ou,d e ta>in+ these cor*ses

out of their toms) and aord a true resurrection"

Their houses mi+ht ecome hos*ita,s) or e turned

into *,aces for manufactures" Po*u,ation %ou,d e

increased" A,, the arts %ou,d e etter cu,ti&ated"

One mi+ht at ,east diminish the numer of these &o,8

untar( &ictims ( ?in+ the numer of no&ices" The

countr( %ou,d ha&e suJects more usefu,) and ,ess

unha**(" Such is the o*inion of a,, the ma+istrates)

such the unanimous %ish of the *u,ic) since its un8

derstandin+ is en,i+htened" The e?am*,e of En+,and

and other states is an e&ident *roof of the necessit(

of this reformation" What %ou,d En+,and do at this

time) if) instead of fort( thousand seamen) it had

fort( thousand mon>s The more the( are mu,ti8

*,ied) the +reater need there is of a numer of indus8

trious suJects" There are undouted,( uried in the

c,oisters man( ta,ents %hich are ,ost to the state" To

@( The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

ma>e a >in+dom Mourish) there shou,d e the fe%est

*riests and the most artisans *ossi,e" So far ou+ht



the i+norance and ararism of our forefathers to e

from ein+ an( ru,e for us) that the( ou+ht rather

to e an admonition to us to do %hat the( %ou,d do

if the( %ere in our *,ace) %ith our im*ro&ements in

>no%,ed+e"

70ESTION" It is not then out of hatred to mon>s

that (ou %ish to ao,ish them) ut out of ,o&e to (our

countr( I thin> as (ou do" I %ou,d not ha&e m(

son a mon>" And if I thou+ht I %as to rear chi,dren

for nothin+ etter than a c,oister) I %ou,d not %ish

to ecome a father"

ANSWER" Where) in fact) is that +ood father of a

fami,( that %ou,d not +roan to see his son and dau+h8

ter ,ost to societ( This is see>in+ the safet( of the

sou," It ma( e so) ut a so,dier that see>s the safet(

of his od() %hen his dut( is to +ht) is *unished"

We are a,, so,diers of the state H %e are in the *a( of

societ( H %e ecome deserters %hen %e Guit it"

Wh() then) has mon>ishness *re&ai,ed !ecause)

since the da(s of Constantine) the +o&ernment has

een e&er(%here asurd and detesta,e H ecause the

Roman Em*ire came to ha&e more mon>s than so,8

diersH ecause there %ere a hundred thousand of



them in E+(*t a,oneH ecause the( %ere e?em*t

from ,aor and ta?es H ecause the chiefs of those ar8

arous nations %hich destro(ed the em*ire) ha&in+

turned Christians) in order to +o&ern Christians) e?8

ercised the most horrid t(rann( H ecause) to a&oid the


fur( of these t(rants) *eo*,e thre% themse,&es in

cro%ds into c,oisters) and so) to esca*e one ser&i8

tude) *ut themse,&es into another H ecause the *o*es)

( institutin+ so man( dierent orders of sacred

drones) contri&ed to ha&e so man( suJects to them8

se,&es in other states H ecause a *easant ,i>es rather

to e ca,,ed re&erend father) and to +i&e his enedic8

tions) than to fo,,o% a *,ou+h$s tai, H ecause he does

not >no% that the *,ou+h is no,er than a mon>$s

hait H ecause he had rather ,i&e at the e?*ense of

foo,s than ( a ,aorious occu*ation H in short) e8

cause he does not >no% that) in ma>in+ a mon> of

himse,f) he is *re*arin+ for himse,f unha**( da(s)

of %hich the sad +round%or> %i,, e nothin+ ut a

tedium &ita and re*entance"



70ESTION" I am satised" Let us ha&e no

mon>s) for the sa>e of their o%n ha**iness) as %e,,

as ours" !ut I am sorr( to hear it said ( the ,and8

,ord of our &i,,a+e) %ho is father to four o(s and

three +ir,s) that he does not >no% ho% to dis*ose

of his dau+hters) un,ess he ma>es nuns of them"

ANSWER" This too often re*eated *,ea is at once

inhuman) detrimenta, to the countr() and destructi&e

to societ(" E&er( time that it can e said of an(

condition of ,ife %hate&er) that if a,, the %or,d %ere

to emrace it man>ind %ou,d *erish) it is *ro&ed that

that condition is a %orth,ess one) and that %hoe&er

emraces it does a,, the mischief to man>ind that in

him ,ies"

No%) it ein+ a c,ear conseGuence that if a,, the

@= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

(outh of oth se?es %ere to shut themse,&es u* in

c,oisters the %or,d %ou,d *erish) mon>er( is) if it

%ere ut in that ,i+ht a,one) the enem( to human na8

ture) inde*endent,( of the horrid e&i,s it has former,(



caused"

70ESTION" 1i+ht not as much e said of so,8

diers

ANSWER" Certain,( not) for if e&er( suJect car8

ried arms in his turn) as former,( %as the *ractice

in a,, re*u,ics) and es*ecia,,( in that of Rome) the

so,dier is ut the etter farmer for it" The so,dier)

as a +ood suJect ou+ht to do) marries) and +hts for

his %ife and chi,dren" Wou,d it %ere the %i,, of

hea&en that e&er( ,aorer %as a so,dier and a married

man The( %ou,d ma>e e?ce,,ent suJects" !ut a

mon>) mere,( in his Gua,it( of a mon>) is +ood for

nothin+ ut to de&our the sustance of his countr(8

men" There is no truth more +enera,,( ac>no%,8

ed+ed"

70ESTION" !ut) sir) the dau+hters of *oor +en8

t,emen) %ho cannot *ortion them o in marria+e)

%hat are the( to do

ANSWER"$ Do The( shou,d do) as has a thou8

sand times een said) ,i>e the dau+hters in En+,and)

in Scot,and) Ire,and) S%it2er,and) 'o,,and) ha,f er8

man() S%eden) Nor%a() Denmar>) Tartar() Tur>e()



Africa) and in a,most a,, the rest of the +,oe" The(

%i,, *ro&e much etter %i&es) much etter mothers)

%hen it sha,, ha&e een the custom) as in erman()

to marr( %omen %ithout fortune" A %oman) indus8

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @;

trious and a +ood economist) %i,, do more +ood in

a house than a dau+hter of a farmer of the re&enue)

%ho s*ends more in su*erMuities than she %i,, ha&e

rou+ht of income to her husand"

There is a necessit( for houses of retreat for o,d

a+e) for inrmit() for deformit(" !ut ( the most

detesta,e of a,, auses) these foundations are for

%e,,8made *ersons" Let a hum*ac>ed o,d %oman

*resent herse,f to enter into a c,oister) and she %i,,

e reJected %ith contem*t) un,ess she %i,, +i&e an

immense *ortion to the house" !ut %hat do I sa(

E&er( nun must rin+ her do%er %ith herH she is

e,se the refuse of the con&ent" Ne&er %as there a

more into,era,e ause"

70ESTION" Than> (ou) sir" I s%ear to (ou that



no dau+hter of mine sha,, e a nun" The( sha,, ,earn

to s*in) to se%) to ma>e ,ace) to emroider) to render

themse,&es usefu," I ,oo> u*on the &o%s of con&ents

to e crimes a+ainst one$s countr( and one$s se,f"

No%) sir) I e+ (ou %i,, e?*,ain to me) ho% comes

it that a certain %riter) in contradiction to human

>ind) *retends that mon>s are usefu, to the *o*u,a8

tion of a state) ecause their ui,din+s are >e*t in

etter re*air than those of the noi,it() and their

,ands etter cu,ti&ated

ANSWER" 'e has a mind to di&ert himse,fH he

>no%s ut too %e,, that ten fami,ies) %ho ha&e each

&e thousand ,i&res a (ear in ,and) are a hundred) na()

a thousand times more usefu, than a con&ent that

enJo(s ft( thousand ,i&res a (ear) and %hich has

@@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

a,%a(s a secret hoard" 'e cries u* the ne houses

ui,t ( the mon>s) and it is *recise,( those ne

houses that *ro&o>e the rest of the suJects H it is the

&er( cause of com*,aint to a,, Euro*e" The &o% of

*o&ert( condemns those *a,aces) as the &o% of humi,8



it( *rotests a+ainst *ride) and as the &o% of e?tin8

+uishin+ one$s race is in o**osition to nature"

70ESTION" !,ess me Who can this e that ad8

&ances so stran+e a *ro*osition

ANSWER" It is the friend of man>ind Y1on8

sieur ,e 1" de 1iraeau) in his oo> ca,,ed L$ Amides

'ommes" It is a+ainst this marGuis that the Jest on

the on,( ta? is ,e&e,,edH a ta? *ro*osed ( himZ) or

rather the friend of the mon>s"

70ESTION" I e+in to thin> it ad&isa,e to e

&er( distrustfu, of oo>s"

ANSWER" The est %a( is to ma>e use) %ith re8

+ard to them) of the same caution as %ith men"

Choose the most reasona,e) e?amine them) and ne&er

(ie,d un,ess to e&idence"

C'APTER VII"

ON TA9ES PAID TO A FOREIN POWER"



Aout a month a+o the 1an of Fort( Cro%ns

came to me) ho,din+ oth his sides) %hich seemed

read( to urst %ith ,au+hin+" In short) he ,au+hed

so hearti,( that I cou,d not he,* ,au+hin+ a,so) %ith8

out >no%in+ at %hat" So true it is) that man is orn

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @:

an imitati&e anima,) that instinct ru,es us) and that

the +reat emotions of the sou, are catchin+" 0t

ridentius arrident) ita Mentius adMent) 'umani

&u,tus"

When he had his ,au+h out) he to,d me that he

had Just come from meetin+ %ith a man %ho ca,,ed

himse,f the *rothonotar( of the 'o,( See) and that

this *ersona+e %as sendin+ a%a( a +reat sum of

mone( to an Ita,ian) three hundred ,ea+ues o) in the

name and eha,f of a Frenchman) on %hom the >in+

had esto%ed a sma,, ef or feeH ecause the said

Frenchman cou,d ne&er enJo( this enet of the

>in+$s conferrin+) if he did not +i&e to this Ita,ian the

rst (ear$s income"



#The thin+)# said I) #is &er( trueH ut it is not

Guite such a ,au+hin+ matter either" It costs France

aout four hundred thousand ,i&res a (ear) in *ett(

duties of this >ind) and in the course of t%o cen8

turies and a ha,f) that this custom has ,asted) %e ha&e

a,read( sent to Ita,( fourscore mi,,ions"#

#'ea&en,( father# he e?c,aimed) #ho% man(

fort( cro%ns %ou,d that ma>e Some Ita,ian) then)

sudued us) I su**ose) t%o centuries and a ha,f a+o)

and ,aid that triute u*on us #

#In +ood faith)# ans%ered I) #he used to im*ose

on us) in former times) in a much more urdensome

%a(" That is ut a triMe in com*arison to %hat) for

a ,on+ time) he ,e&ied on our *oor nations of Euro*e"#

Then I re,ated to him ho% those ho,( usur*ations

had ta>en *,ace and came to e esta,ished" 'e


>no%s a ,itt,e of histor() and does not %ant for sense"

'e easi,( concei&ed that %e had een s,a&es) and



that %e %ere sti,, dra++in+ a ,itt,e it of our chain

that %e cou,d not +et rid of" 'e s*o>e much) and

%ith ener+() a+ainst this auseH ut %ith %hat re8

s*ect for re,i+ion in +enera," With %hat re&erence

did he e?*ress himse,f for the isho*s 'o% hearti,(

did he %ish them man( fort( cro%ns a (ear) that the(

mi+ht s*end them in their dioceses in +ood %or>s"

'e a,so %ished that a,, the countr( &icars mi+ht

ha&e a numer of fort( cro%ns) that the( mi+ht ,i&e

%ith decenc("

#It is a sad thin+)# said he) #that a &icar shou,d e

o,i+ed to dis*ute %ith his Moc> for t%o or three

shea&es of corn) and that he shou,d not e am*,( *aid

( the countr(" These eterna, contests for ima+inar(

ri+hts) for the tithes) destro( the res*ect that is o%in+

to them" The unha**( cu,ti&ator %ho sha,, ha&e

a,read( *aid to the co,,ectors his tenth *enn() and the

t%o*ence a ,i&re) and the ta?) and the ca*itation) and

the *urchase of his e?em*tion from ,od+in+ so,diers

after he sha,, ha&e ,od+ed so,diers for this unfor8

tunate man) I sa() to see the &icar ta>e a%a( in ad8

dition the tithe of his *roduce) he can no ,on+er ,oo>

on him as his *astor) ut as one that Ma(s him a,i&e

that tears from him the ,itt,e s>in that is ,eft him"



'e fee,s ut too sensi,e) that %hi,e the( are) Jure

di&ino) roin+ him of his tenth sheaf) the( ha&e the

diao,ica, crue,t( not to +i&e him credit for a,, that

it %i,, ha&e cost him to ma>e that sheaf +ro%" What


then remains to him for himse,f and fami,( Tears)

%ant) discoura+ement) des*air) and thus he dies of

fati+ue and miser(" If the &icar %ere *aid ( the

countr() he %ou,d e a comfort to his *arishioners)

instead of ein+ ,oo>ed on ( them as their enem("#

The %orth( man me,ted as he uttered these %ords H

he ,o&ed his countr() and the *u,ic +ood %as his

ido," 'e %ou,d sometimes em*hatica,,( sa() #What

a nation %ou,d the French e if it *,eased# We

%ent to see his son) %hom the mother) a &er( neat and

c,ean %oman) %as nursin+" #A,as # said the father)

#here thou art) *oor chi,d) and hast nothin+ to *re8

tend to ut t%ent(8three (ears of ,ife) and fort(

cro%ns a (ear"#



C'APTER VIII"

ON PROPORTIONS"

The *roduce of the e?tremes is eGua, to the *ro8

duce of the means H ut t%o sac>s of corn sto,en

are not) to those %ho sto,e them) as the ,oss of their

,i&es is to the interest of the *erson from %hom the(

%ere sto,en"

The *rior of ) from %hom t%o of his domes8

tic ser&ants in the countr( had sto,en t%o measures

of corn) has Just had the t%o de,inGuents han+ed"

This e?ecution has cost him more than a,, his har&est

has een %orth to himH and since that time he has

not een a,e to +et a ser&ant"

If the ,a%s had ordained that such as sto,e their


master$s corn shou,d %or> in his +rounds durin+ their

,i&es in fetters) and %ith a e,, at their nec>) ?ed to

a co,,ar) the *rior %ou,d ha&e een a considera,e



+ainer ( it"

#Terror shou,d e *re&enti&e,( em*,o(ed a+ainst

crimes#H &er( true) ut %or>) on com*u,sion) and

,astin+ shame) stri>e more terror than the +a,,o%s"

There %as) some months a+o at London) a ma,e8

factor %ho had een condemned to e trans*orted to

America to %or> there at the su+ar %or>s %ith the

ne+roes" In En+,and an( crimina,) as in man( other

countries) ma( +et a *etition *resented to the >in+)

either to otain a free *ardon or a miti+ation of the

sentence" This one *resented a *etition to e han+ed)

a,,e+in+ that he morta,,( hated %or>) and that he had

rather suer stran+,in+ for a minute than to ma>e

su+ar a,, his ,ifetime"

Others ma( thin> other%iseH e&er( one to his

taste" !ut it has een a,read( said) and cannot e

too often re*eated) that a man han+ed is +ood for

nothin+) and that *unishments ou+ht to e usefu,"

Some (ears a+o) in Tur>e() t%o (oun+ men %ere

condemned to e em*a,ed) for ha&in+ %ithout ta>8

in+ o their ca*s6) stood to see the *rocession of the

Lama *ass (" The Em*eror of China) %ho is a man



of &er( +ood sense) said) that for his *art) he shou,d

ha&e condemned them to %a,> areheaded) in e&er(

*u,ic *rocession) for three months after%ards"

#Pro*ortion *unishments to crimes)# sa(s the


1arGuis !eccariaH ut those %ho made the ,a%s

%ere not +eometricians"

I hate the ,a%s of Draco) %hich *unish eGua,,(

crimes and fau,ts) %ic>edness and fo,,(" Let us

es*ecia,,( in a,, ,iti+ations) in a,, dissensions) in a,,

Guarre,s distin+uish the a++ressor from the *art(

oended) the o**ressor from the o**ressed" An of8

fensi&e %ar is the *rocedure of a t(rant H he %ho de8

fends himse,f is in the character of a Just man"

As I %as asored in these reMections) the 1an of

Fort( Cro%ns came to me a,, in tears" I as>ed) %ith

emotion) if his son) %ho %as ( ri+ht to ,i&e t%ent(8

three (ears) %as dead



#No)# said he) #the ,itt,e one is &er( %e,,) and

so is m( %ife H ut I %as summoned to +i&e e&idence

a+ainst a mi,,er) %ho has een *ut to the torture)

ordinar( and e?traordinar() and %ho has een found

innocent" I sa% him faint a%a( under redou,ed

tortures" I heard the crash of his ones" 'is out8

cries and screams of a+on( are not (et out of m( ears H

the( haunt me" I shed tears for *it() and shudder

%ith horror"

'is tears dre% mine" I trem,ed) too) ,i>e him)

for I ha&e natura,,( an e?treme sensii,it("

1( memor( then re*resented to me the dreadfu,

fate of the Ca,as fami,( . A &irtuous mother in irons

her chi,dren in tears) and forced to M( her

house +i&en u* to *i,,a+e a res*ecta,e father of a

fami,( ro>en %ith torture a+oni2in+ on a %hee,)


and e?*irin+ in the Mames H a son ,oaded %ith chains)

and dra++ed efore the Jud+es) one of %hom said to

him.



#We ha&e Just no% ro>en (our father on the

%hee,H i&e %i,, rea> (ou a,i&e) too"#

I rememer the fami,( of Sir&en) %hom one of m(

friends met %ith amon+ the mountains co&ered %ith

ice) as the( %ere M(in+ from the *ersecution of a

Jud+e as i+norant as he %as unJust" This Jud+e he

to,d me6 had condemned an innocent fami,( to death

on a su**osition) %ithout the ,east shado% of *roof)

that the father and mother) assisted ( t%o of their

dau+hters) had cut the throat of the third) and

dro%ned her esides) for +oin+ to mass" I sa% in

Jud+ments of this >ind at once an e?cess of stu*idit()

of inJustice) and of ararit("

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns Joined %ith me in *it(8

in+ human nature" I had in m( *oc>et the discourse

of an attorne(8+enera, of Dau*hin() %hich turned

u*on &er( im*ortant matters" I read to him the fo,8

,o%in+ *assa+es .

#Certain,( those must ha&e een tru,( +reat men)

%ho) at rst) dared to ta>e u*on themse,&es the oQce

of +o&ernin+ their fe,,o% creatures) and to set their

shou,ders to the urden of the *u,ic %e,fare H %ho)



for the sa>e of the +ood the( meant to do to men)

e?*osed themse,&es to their in+ratitude) and for the

*u,ic re*ose renounced their o%n H %ho made them8

se,&es) as one ma( sa() midd,e8men et%een their fe,8


,o% creatures and Pro&idence) to com*ose for them)

( artice) a ha**iness %hich Pro&idence seems other8

%ise to ha&e refused to them ( an( other means"

#What ma+istrate %as e&er so care,ess of his re8

s*onsii,ities and duties to humanit( as to entertain

such ideas Cou,d he) in the so,itude of his c,oset)

%ithout shudderin+ %ith horror and *it() cast his

e(es on those *a*ers) the unfortunate monuments of

+ui,t or of innocence Shou,d he not thin> he hears

a *,ainti&e &oice and +roans issue from those fata,

%ritin+s) and *ress him to decide the destin( of a

suJect) of a husand) of a father) or of a %ho,e fam8

i,( What Jud+e can e so unmercifu, if he is

char+ed %ith ut one sin+,e *rocess6 as to *ass in

co,d ,ood efore the door of a *rison Is it I must

he sa( to himse,f6 %ho detain in that e?ecra,e *,ace



m( fe,,o% creature) *erha*s m( countr(man) one of

human>ind) in short Is it I that conne him e&er(

da( that shut those e?ecra,e doors u*on him

Perha*s des*air %i,, ha&e sei2ed him" 'e sends u*

to hea&en m( name ,oaded %ith his curses) and

dout,ess ca,,s to %itness a+ainst me that +reat Jud+e

of the %or,d %ho oser&es us and %i,, Jud+e us oth"

#'ere a dreadfu, si+ht *resents itse,f on a sudden

to m( e(es . The Jud+e) tired %ith interro+atin+ (

%ords) has recourse to interro+ation ( tortures" Im8

*atient in his inGuiries and researches) and *erha*s

irritated at their inuti,it() he has rou+ht to him

torches) chains) ,e&ers) and a,, those instruments in8

Vo," @ ;<

@<= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

&ented for *roducin+ *ain) An e?ecutioner comes to

inter*ose in the functions of the ma+istrac() and ter8

minates ( &io,ence a Judicia, interro+ation"

#ent,e *hi,oso*h( thou %ho ne&er see>est



truth ut %ith attention and *atience) cou,dst thou

e?*ect) in an a+e that ta>es th( name) that such in8

struments %ou,d e em*,o(ed to disco&er that truth

#Can it e rea,,( true that our ,a%s a**ro&e this

inconcei&a,e method) and that custom consecrates it

#Their ,a%s imitate their *reJudices) their *u,ic

*unishments are as crue, as their *ri&ate &en+eance)

and the acts of their reason are scarce ,ess unmerci8

fu, than those of their *assions" What can e the

cause of this stran+e contrariet( It is ecause our

*reJudices are ancient) and our mora,it( ne%H it is

ecause %e are as *enetrated %ith our o*inions as %e

are inattenti&e to our ideas H it is ecause our *assion

for *,easures hinders us from reMectin+ on our %ants)

and that %e are more ea+er to ,i&e than to direct our8

se,&es ri+ht H it is) in a %ord) ecause our mora,s are

+ent,e %ithout ein+ +ood H it is ecause %e are *o,ite)

and are not so much as humane"#

These fra+ments) %hich e,oGuence had dictated

to humanit() ,,ed the heart of m( friend %ith a s%eet

conso,ation" 'e admired %ith tenderness"

#What # said he) #are such master*ieces as these



*roduced in a *ro&ince I had een to,d that Paris

%as a,, the %or,d) or the on,( *,ace in it"#

#It is# said I) #the on,( *,ace for *roducin+ comic

o*eras H ut there are at this time) in the *ro&inces)

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @<;

ma+istrates %ho thin> %ith the same &irtue and e?8

*ress themse,&es %ith the same force" Former,() the

orac,es of Justice) ,i>e those of mora,it() %ere noth8

in+ ut matter of mere ridicu,e" Dr" !a,ouard de8

c,aimed at the ar) and 'ar,eGuin in the *u,*it"

Phi,oso*h( has at ,en+th come) and has said) $Do not

s*ea> in *u,ic) un,ess to set forth ne% and usefu,

truths) %ith the e,oGuence of sentiment and of rea8

son"$ #

!ut) sa( the *raters) if %e ha&e nothin+ ne% to

sa() %hat then Wh() ho,d (our ton+ues) re*,ies

*hi,oso*h(" A,, those &ain discourses for *arade)

that contain nothin+ ut *hrases) are ,i>e the re on

the e&e of St" /ohn$s) >ind,ed on that da( of the (ear

in %hich there is the ,east %ant of it to heat one$s se,f



it causes no *,easure) and not so much as the ashes

of it remain"

Let a,, France read +ood oo>s" !ut not%ith8

standin+ a,, the *ro+ress of the human understand8

in+) there are fe% that read) and amon+ those

%ho sometimes see> instruction) the readin+ for the

most *art is &er( i,, chosen" 1( nei+hors) men and

%omen) *ass their time) after dinner) at *,a(in+ an

En+,ish +ame) %hich I ha&e much diQcu,t( to *ro8

nounce) since the( ca,, it %hist" 1an( +ood citi2ens)

man( thic> heads) %ho ta>e themse,&es for +ood

heads) te,, (ou) %ith an air of im*ortance) that oo>s

are +ood for nothin+" !ut) 1essieurs) the critics) do

not (ou >no% that (ou are +o&erned on,( ( oo>s

Do not (ou >no% that the statutes) the mi,itar( code)

@<@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

and the +os*e, are oo>s on %hich (ou continua,,(

de*end ReadH im*ro&e (ourse,&es" It is readin+

a,one that in&i+orates the understandin+ H con&ersa8

tion dissi*ates it H *,a( contracts it"



Thus it %as that the 1an of Fort( Cro%ns *ro8

ceeded to form) as one ma( sa() his head and his

heart" 'e not on,( succeeded to the inheritance

of his t%o fair cousins) ut he came a,so to a fortune

,eft ( a &er( distant re,ation) %ho had een a su8

farmer of the mi,itar( hos*ita,s) %here he had fat8

tened himse,f on the strict astinence to %hich he had

*ut the %ounded so,diers" This man ne&er %ou,d

marr(" 'e ne&er %ou,d o%n an( of his re,ations"

'e ,i&ed in the hei+ht of deaucher() and died at

Paris of a surfeit" 'e %as) as an( one ma( see) a

&er( usefu, memer of the state"

Our ne% *hi,oso*her %as o,i+ed to +o to Paris

to +et *ossession of the inheritance of this re,ati&e"

At rst the farmers of the domain dis*uted it %ith

him" 'e had the +ood ,uc>) ho%e&er) to +ain his

cause) and the +enerosit( to +i&e to the *oor of his

nei+horhood) %ho had not their contin+ent of fort(

cro%ns a (ear) a *art of the s*oi,s of the deceased son

of fortune" After %hich he set himse,f aout satis8

f(in+ his *assion for ha&in+ a ,irar("

'e read e&er( mornin+ and made e?tracts" In

the e&enin+ he consu,ted the ,earned to >no% in %hat

,an+ua+e the ser*ent had ta,>ed to our +ood mother H



%hether the sou, is in the ca,,ous od() or in the *inea,

+,and H %hether St" Peter ,i&ed &e and t%ent( (ears

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @<:

at Rome H %hat s*ecic dierence there is et%een a

throne and a dominion H and %h( the ne+roes ha&e a

Mat nose" 'e *ro*osed to himse,f) esides) ne&er to

+o&ern the state) nor to %rite an( *am*h,ets a+ainst

ne% dramatic *ieces" 'e %as ca,,ed 1r" Andre%)

%hich %as his Christian name" Those %ho ha&e

>no%n him do Justice to his modest( and to his Gua,8

ities) oth natura, and acGuired"

C'APTER I9"

A REAT 70ARREL"

Durin+ the sta( of 1r" Andre% at Paris there ha*8

*ened a &er( im*ortant Guarre," The *oint %as to

decide %hether 1arcus Antoninus %as an honest man

and %hether he %as in he,, or in *ur+ator() or in



,imo) %aitin+ ti,, the da( of resurrection" A,, the

men of sense too> the *art of 1arcus Antoninus"

The( said . #Antoninus has een a,%a(s Just) tem8

*erate) chaste) and enecent" It is true) he has not

so +ood a *,ace in *aradise as St" Anthon() for *ro8

*ortions ou+ht to e oser&ed) as has een efore rec8

ommended" !ut certain,( the sou, of Antoninus is

not roastin+ on a s*it in he,," If he is in *ur+ator() he

ou+ht to e de,i&ered out of it H there need on,( e

masses said for him" Let the /esuits) %ho ha&e no

,on+er an(thin+ to do) sa( three thousand masses for

the re*ose of the sou, of 1arcus Antoninus" Put8

tin+ each mass at fteen *ence) the( %i,, +et t%o

@< The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

thousand t%o hundred and ft( ,i&res ( it" !e8

sides) some res*ect is o%in+ to a cro%ned head" 'e

shou,d not e ,i+ht,( damned"

The *art( o**osed to these +ood *eo*,e *retended)

on the contrar() that no com*oundin+ for sa,&ation

ou+ht to e a,,o%ed to 1arcus AntoninusH that he

%as a heretic H that the Car*ocratians and the A,o+i



%ere not so ad as he H that he had died %ithout con8

fession H that it %as necessar( to ma>e an e?am*,e H

that it %as ri+ht to damn him) if ut to teach etter

manners to the em*erors of China and /a*an to

those of Persia) Tur>e() and 1orocco to the >in+s

of En+,and) S%eden) Denmar>) and Prussia to the

stadtho,der of 'o,,and to the a&o(ers of the Canton

at !erne) %ho no more +o to confession than did the

Em*eror 1arcus Antoninus H that) in short) there is

an uns*ea>a,e *,easure in *assin+ sentence a+ainst a

dead so&erei+n) %hich one cou,d not fu,minate

a+ainst him in his ,ifetime) for fear of ,osin+ one$s

ears"

This Guarre, ecame as furious as %as former,(

that of the 0rsu,ines and the Annonciades" " " "

In short) it %as feared that it %ou,d come to a schism)

as in the time of the hundred and one 1other oose$s

ta,es) and of certain i,,s *a(a,e to the earer in the

other %or,d" To e sure) a schism is somethin+ &er(

terri,e" The meanin+ of the %ord is a di&ision in

o*inion) and ti,, this fata, moment a,, men had een

a+reed to thin> the same thin+"

1r" Andre%) %ho %as an e?ce,,ent memer of so8



The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @<B

ciet() in&ited the chiefs of the t%o *arties to su* %ith

him" 'e is one of the est com*anions that %e ha&e"

'is humor is +ent,e and ,i&e,(H his +a(et( is not

nois( H he is o*en) fran>) and eas(" 'e has not that

sort of %it %hich seems to aim at stiMin+ that of

others" The authorit( %hich he conci,iates to him8

se,f is due to nothin+ ut his +racefu, manner) to his

moderation) and to a round) +ood8natured face) %hich

is Guite *ersuasi&e" 'e cou,d ha&e rou+ht to su*

cheerfu,,( to+ether a Corsican and a enoese a re*8

resentati&e of ene&a and a ne+ati&e man the mufti

and an archisho*" 'e mana+ed so de?trous,( as

to ma>e the rst stro>e that the dis*utants of oth

*arties aimed at each other fa,, to the +round) ( turn8

in+ o the discourse and ( te,,in+ a &er( di&ertin+

ta,e) %hich *,eased eGua,,( the damnin+ and the

damned" In short) %hen the( had +ot a ,itt,e +ood8

humored and e,e&ated %ith %ine) he made them si+n

an a+reement that the sou, of 1arcus Antoninus

shou,d remain in statu Guo that is to sa() nood(

>no%s %here ti,, the da( of na, Jud+ment"



The sou,s of the doctors of di&init( returned Gui8

et,( to their ,imos after su**er) and a,, %as ca,m"

This adJustment of the Guarre, did +reat honor to the

1an of Fort( Cro%ns H and) since then) %hene&er an(

&er( *ee&ish &iru,ent dis*ute arose amon+ men of ,et8

ters) or amon+ men not of ,etters) the ad&ice +i&en

%as) #ent,emen) +o and su* at 1aster Andre%$s#

@<4 The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

C'APTER 9"

A RASCAL REP0LSED"

The re*utation %hich 1r" Andre% had acGuired

for *acif(in+ Guarre,s ( +i&in+ +ood su**ers

dre% u*on him ,ast %ee> a sin+u,ar &isit" A dar>8

com*,e?ioned man) shai,( enou+h dressed) rather

croo>8ac>ed) %ith his head ,eanin+ to%ard one

shou,der) a ha++ard e(e and dirt( hands) as>ed to e

in&ited to a su**er %ith his enemies"



#Who are (our enemies # said 1r" Andre%) #and

%ho are (ou #

#A,as) sir)# said he) #I am forced to confess that

I am ta>en for one of those %retches that com*ose

,ie,s to +et read) and %ho are fore&er cr(in+ out)

$Re,i+ion re,i+ion re,i+ion $ in order to come into

some ,itt,e enece" I am accused of ha&in+ ca,umni8

ated some of the most tru,( re,i+ious suJects) the

most sincere adorers of di&init() and the most honest

men of the >in+dom" It is true) sir) that in the heat

of com*osition there often fa,, from the *en of those

of m( trade certain ,itt,e inad&ertencies or s,i*s)

%hich are ta>en for +ross errors) and some ,ierties

ta>en %ith the truth) %hich are termed im*udent ,ies"

Our 2ea, is ,oo>ed u*on in the ,i+ht of a horrid mi?8

ture of &i,,ain( and fanaticism" It has een a,,e+ed

that %hi,e %e are ensnarin+ the eas( faith of some

si,,( o,d %omen) %e are the scorn and e?ecration of

a,, the men of %orth %ho can read"


#1( enemies are the *rinci*a, memers of the



most i,,ustrious academies of Euro*e) %riters much

esteemed) and enecent memers of societ(" I ha&e

ut Just *u,ished a oo> under the tit,e of #Anti8

*hi,oso*hica,"# I had nothin+ ut the est intentions)

and (et no one %ou,d u( m( oo>" Those to %hom

I made *resents of it thre% it into the re) te,,in+ me

it %as not on,( anti8reasona,e) ut anti8Christian)

and e?treme,( anti8decent"#

#We,,) then# said 1r" Andre% to him) #fo,,o%

the e?am*,e of those to %hom (ou *resented (our

,ie,) thro% it into the re) and ,et no more e said

of it" It is unnecessar( to as> (ou to su* %ith men

of %it) %ho can ne&er e (our enemies) since the( %i,,

ne&er read (ou"#

#Cou,d not (ou) sir) at ,east)# said the h(*ocrite to

him) #reconci,e me %ith the re,ations of the deceased

1onsieur de 1ontesGuieu) to %hose memor( I of8

fered an indi+nit() that I mi+ht +i&e honor and +,or(

to the re&erend father Rout"

#3ounds # said 1r" Andre%) #the re&erend father

Rout has een dead this ,on+ time H +o and su* %ith

him"#



@< The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

C'APTER 9L

T'E OOD SENSE OF 1R" ANDREW"

!ut ho% +reat,( did the sense of 1r" Andre% im8

*ro&e in &i+or from the time he *rocured a ,irar(

'e ,i&es %ith oo>s as %ith men) and is carefu, in his

choice of them" What a *,easure it is to +ain instruc8

tion) to en,ar+e one$s mind ( stud(in+ the est %or>s

of the +reatest authors"

'e con+ratu,ates himse,f on ein+ orn at a time

%hen human reason is tendin+ to%ard *erfection"

#'o% unha**( shou,d I ha&e een)# he used to sa()

#if the a+e I ,i&e in had een that in %hich the( used

to condemn to the +a,,e(s those %ho %rote a+ainst

the cate+ories of Aristot,e"#

Distress had %ea>ened the s*rin+s of 1r" An8

dre%$s sou,H ut +ood fortune restored their e,as8

ticit(" There are man( Andre%s in the %or,d to

%hom nothin+ is %antin+ ut a turn of the %hee, of



fortune to ma>e of them men of true merit"

'e is no% %e,, acGuainted %ith a,, the aairs of

Euro*e) and es*ecia,,( %ith the *ro+ress of the hu8

man understandin+"

'e recent,( remar>ed to me that Reason tra&e,s (

s,o% Journe(s from north to south) in com*an( %ith

her t%o intimate friends) E?*erience and To,eration"

A+ricu,ture and Commerce attend them" When Rea8

son *resented herse,f in Ita,() the con+re+ation of the

Inde? stern,( re*u,sed her" A,, she cou,d do %as to

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" @<<

secret,( send some of her a+ents) %ho) in s*ite of her

enemies) do some +ood" Let ut some (ears more

*ass) and it is to e ho*ed that the countr( of the

Sci*ios %i,, no ,on+er e that of har,eGuins in mon>s$

haits"

She has sometimes met %ith crue, foes in France H

ut she has no% so man( friends in that >in+dom that

she stands a +ood chance of at ,en+th ecomin+ rst



minister there"

When she *resented herse,f in !a&aria and Aus8

tria) she found t%o or three +reat %i+8,oc>s that

stared at her %ith stu*id and astonished e(es" Their

+reetin+ %as. #1adam) %e ne&er heard of (ouH

%e do not >no% (ou"# 'er ans%er to %hich %as .

#ent,emen) in time (ou %i,, come to >no% me and

to ,o&e me" I ha&e een %e,, recei&ed at !er,in) at

1osco%) at Co*enha+en) at Stoc>ho,m" It is ,on+

a+o that I ha&e een natura,i2ed ( Act of Par,iament

in En+,and) throu+h the ,aors of Loc>e) ordon)

Trenchard) Lord Shaftesur() and a numer of others

of the same nation" 5ou %i,,) some da( or other)

confer on me the ,i>e +rant" I am the dau+hter of

Time" I e?*ect e&er(thin+ from m( father"#

When she *assed o&er the frontiers of S*ain and

Portu+a,) she ,essed od on oser&in+ that the res

of the InGuisition %ere ,ess freGuent,( >ind,ed" She

reJoiced on seein+ the /esuits e?*e,,edH ut %as

afraid that) %hi,e the countr( had een c,eared of the

fo?es) it %as sti,, ,eft e?*osed to the ra&a+es of

%o,&es"



: oo The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

If she ma>es an( fresh attem*ts to +ain entrance

into Ita,( it is thou+ht she %i,, e+in ( esta,ishin+

herse,f at Venice H and that she %i,, ta>e u* her aode

in the >in+dom of Na*,es) in s*ite of the ,iGuefaction

of the saint$s ,ood in that countr() %hich a%a>ens

in her mind mournfu, reMections on human credu,8

it(" It is *retended that she has an infa,,i,e secret

for unt(in+ the strin+s of a cro%n) %hich are en8

tan+,ed) nood( >no%s ho%) in those of a mitre"

C'APTER 9II"

T'E OOD S0PPER AT 1R" ANDREW$S"

We su**ed at 1r" Andre%$s (esterda() to+ether

%ith a Doctor Soronne) %ith 1onsieur Pinto) the

ce,erated /e%) %ith the cha*,ain of the Protestant

cha*e, of the Dutch amassador) the secretar( of the

Prince a,,itsin of the ree> Church) a Ca,&inist

S%iss ca*tain) t%o *hi,oso*hers) and three ,adies of

+reat %it"



The su**er %as a &er( ,on+ one H and (et) so *o,ite

it must e o%ned %e are +ro%n so much is one

afraid at su**er to +i&e an( cause of oence to one$s

rethren) that there %as no more dis*utin+ u*on re8

,i+ion than as if not one of those at ta,e had e&er had

an(" It is not so %ith the Re+ent Co+e) and the e?8

/esuit Patoui,,et) and %ith a,, the anima,s of that

>ind" Those *itifu, creatures %i,, sa( more stu*id,(

ausi&e thin+s in one *am*h,et of t%o *a+es than

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" :=;

the est com*an( in Paris can sa( a+reea,e and in8

structi&e ones in a su**er of four hours" And %hat

is stran+er (et) the( dare not te,, a man to his face

%hat the( ha&e the im*udence to *rint"

The con&ersation turned at rst on a *iece of *,eas8

antr( in the #Persian Letters)# in %hich it is re8

*eated) after a numer of +ra&e *ersona+es) that the

%or,d is not on,( +ro%in+ %orse) ut that it is e8

comin+ de*o*u,ated) so that if the *ro&er shou,d

ha&e an( truth in it) that #the more foo,s there are)



the more ,au+hter)# ,au+hin+ is ,i>e,( to e soon

anished from the face of the earth"

The Doctor of Soronne assured us that) in fact)

the %or,d %as a,most reduced to nothin+" 'e Guoted

the Father Petau) %ho demonstrates that in ,ess

than three hundred (ears the descendants of one of

the sons of Noah I for+et %hether it %as Shem or

/a*heth6) amounted to si? hundred and t%e,&e mi,8

,ions three hundred and ft(8ei+ht thousand true e8

,ie&ers %ithin t%o hundred and ei+ht(8&e (ears after

the uni&ersa, de,u+e"

1r" Andre% as>ed) %h( in the time of Phi,i* ,e

!e,) that is to sa() aout three hundred (ears after

'u+h Ca*et) there %ere not si? hundred and t%ent(8

three thousand mi,,ions of *rinces of the ro(a, fam8

i,(

#It is)# said the Doctor of Soronne) #ecause the

stoc> of faith has +reat,( decreased"#

A +reat dea/ %as said aout Thees and its hun8

dred +ates) and of the mi,,ion of so,diers that issued



:=@ The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

out of those +ates %ith the t%ent( thousand chariots

of %ar"

#Shut the oo> there)# said 1r" Andre% . #Since

I ha&e ta>en to readin+ I e+ to sus*ect that the same

+enius that %rote ara+antua used of (ore to %rite

a,, the histories"#

#!ut) in short)# said one of the com*an() #Thees)

1em*his) !a(,on) Nine&eh) Tro() Se,eucia %ere

+reat cities once) and no% no ,on+er e?ist"#

#ranted)# ans%ered the secretar( of the Prince

a,,itsinH #ut 1osco%) Constantino*,e) London)

Paris) Amsterdam) L(ons %hich is etter than

e&er Tro( %as6) and a,, the to%ns of France) er8

man() S*ain) and the North %ere then deserts"#

The S%iss ca*tain) a +ent,eman of +reat >no%,8

ed+e) o%ned to us that %hen his ancestors too> it

into their heads to Guit their mountains and their

*reci*ices to +o and ta>e forci,e *ossession) as %as

ut reasona,e) of a ner countr() Caesar) %ho sa%



%ith his o%n e(es the ,ist of those emi+rants) found

that their numer amounted to three hundred and

si?t(8ei+ht thousand) inc,usi&e of the o,d) the chi,8

dren) and the %omen" At this time the sin+,e canton

of !erne *ossesses as man( inhaitants) %hich is not

Guite the ha,f of S%it2er,and) and I can assure (ou

that the thirteen cantons ha&e ao&e se&en hundred

and t%ent( thousand sou,s) inc,udin+ the nati&es %ho

are ser&in+ or carr(in+ on usiness in other countries"

From such data +ent,emen of ,earnin+ ma>e asurd

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" :=:

ca,cu,ations and the( ase fa,,acious s(stems on no

etter footin+"

The Guestion ne?t a+itated %as %hether the citi8

2ens of Rome) in the time of the Caesars) %ere richer

than the citi2ens of Paris in the time of 1onsieur

Si,houette

#Oh)# sa(s 1r" Andre%) #this is a *oint on %hich

I ha&e some ca,, to s*ea>" I %as a ,on+ time the 1an

of Fort( Cro%ns) ut I concei&e that the citi2ens of



Rome had more" Those i,,ustrious roers on the

hi+h%a( *i,,a+ed the nest countries of Asia) of

Africa) and of Euro*e" The( ,i&ed s*,endid,( on the

*roduce of their ra*ines H ut (et there %ere dout8

,ess some e++ars at Rome" I am *ersuaded that

amon+ those conGuerors of the %or,d there %ere

some reduced to an income of fort( cro%ns a (ear) as

I former,( %as"#

#Do (ou >no%)# said a ,earned memer of the

Academ( of Inscri*tions and !e,,es8,ettres) #that

it cost Lucu,,us) for e&er( su**er he +a&e in the sa8

,oon of A*o,,o) thirt(8nine thousand three hundred

and t%e,&e ,i&res of our mone( H ut that the ce,e8

rated e*icurean Atticus did not e?*end ao&e t%o

hundred and thirt( ,i&res a month for his ta,e"#

#If that e true)# said I) #he deser&ed to e *resi8

dent of the 1iser8societ() ,ate,( esta,ished in Ita,("

I ha&e read) as (ou ha&e done) in F,orus) that incred8

i,e anecdote H ut) *erha*s F,orus had ne&er su**ed

%ith Atticus) or e,se his te?t) ,i>e so man( others)

:= The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"



has een corru*ted ( co*(ists" No F,orus sha,, e&er

ma>e me e,ie&e that the friend of Caesar and of Pom8

*e() of Cicero and of Anton() a,, of %hom %ere often

entertained at his house) +ot o for somethin+ ,ess

than ten ,ouis d$or a month" !ut thus e?act,( $tis

that histor( is %ritten"#

1adam Andre%) for her *art) to,d the ,earned

memer of the Academ( that if he %ou,d >ee* her

ta,e for ten times as much) she %ou,d e +reat,(

o,i+ed to him"

I am *ersuaded that this e&enin+ at 1r" Andre%$s

cost him as much as the month,( e?*ense of Atticus"

As for the ,adies) the( e?*ressed a dout %hether the

su**ers of Rome %ere more a+reea,e than those of

Paris" The con&ersation %as &er( +a( thou+h ,ean8

in+ a ,itt,e to the ,earned" There %as no ta,> of ne%

fashions nor of the ridicu,ous *art of an( one$s char8

acter or conduct) nor of the scanda,ous histor( of the

da("

The Guestion u*on ,u?ur( %as discussed and

searched to the ottom" It %as mooted %hether or

not ,u?ur( had een the ruin of the Roman Em*ire H



and it %as *ro&ed that the t%o em*ires of the east

and %est o%ed their destruction to nothin+ ut to

re,i+ious contro&ersies and to the mon>s H and) in fact)

%hen A,aric too> Rome) its %ho,e attention %as en8

+rossed ( theo,o+ica, dis*utes H %hen 1ahomet too>

Constantino*,e the mon>s defended much etter the

eternit( of the ,i+ht of 1ount Taor) %hich the(

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" :=B

sa% on their na&e,) than the( defended the to%n

a+ainst the Tur>s"

One of our men of ,earnin+ made a &er( si+ni8

cant remar>" It %as that those t%o +reat em*ires

%ere annihi,ated) ut that the %or>s of Vir+i,) 'or8

ace) and O&id sti,, e?ist"

From the a+e of Au+ustus the( made ut one

s>i* to the a+e of Louis 9IV" A ,ad( *ut the Gues8

tion %h( it %as that %ith a +reat dea, of %it there

%as no ,on+er *roduced scarce,( an( %or> of +enius

1r" Andre% ans%ered that it %as ecause such



%or>s had een *roduced in the ,ast a+e" This idea

%as ne,( s*un) and (et so,id,( true" It ore a thor8

ou+h hand,in+" After that the( fe,, %ith some

harshness u*on a Scotchman) %ho had ta>en it

into his head to +i&e ru,es to taste) and to criticise

the most admira,e *assa+es of Racine) %ithout

understandin+ French" !ut there %as one De8

nina sti,, more se&ere,( treated" 'e had aused

1ontesGuieu$s #S*irit of La%s# %ithout com*re8

hendin+ him) and had es*ecia,,( censured %hat is

the most ,i>ed and a**ro&ed in that %or>"

This reca,,ed to m( mind !oi,eau$s ma>in+ a

*arade of his aected contem*t of Tasso" One of

the com*an( ad&anced that Tasso) %ith a,, his

fau,ts) %as as su*erior to 'omer as 1ontesGuieu)

%ith his sti,, +reater im*erfections) %as ao&e the

farra+o of rotius" !ut there %as *resent,( a

stron+ o**osition made to these fa,se criticisms)

Vo," @ @=

:=4 The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns"

dictated ( nationa, hatred and *reJudice" The



Sei+nior Denina %as treated as he deser&ed) and

as *edants ou+ht to e ( men of %it"

It %as es*ecia,,( remar>ed) %ith much sa+acit()

that the +reatest *art of the ,iterar( %or>s of this

a+e) as %e,, as of the con&ersations) turned on the

e?amination of the master*ieces of the ,ast centur()

in %hich %e are ,i>e disinherited chi,dren) %ho are

ta>in+ an estimate of their father$s estate" It %as

confessed that *hi,oso*h( had made +reat *ro+ress)

ut that the ,an+ua+e and st(,e %as some%hat cor8

ru*ted"

It is the nature of a,, these con&ersations to ma>e

transitions from one suJect to another" A,, these

oJects of curiosit() of science) and of taste) soon

&anished) to +i&e %a( to the +reat scene %hich the

Em*ress of Russia and the Kin+ of Po,and %ere

+i&in+ to the %or,d" The( had een Just raisin+ u*

and restorin+ the ri+hts of o**ressed humanit()

and esta,ishin+ ,iert( of conscience in a *art of

the +,oe of a much +reater e?tent than the o,d

Roman Em*ire" This ser&ice done to human >ind)

this e?am*,e +i&en to so man( courts) %as men8

tioned %ith the a**,ause it deser&ed" 'ea,ths %ere

drun> to the *hi,oso*hica, em*ress) to the ro(a,



*hi,oso*her) and to the *hi,oso*hica, *rimate) %ith

the %ish of their ha&in+ man( imitators" E&en the

doctors of Soronne admired them) for there are

some *ersons of +ood sense in that od() as there

%ere former,( some men of %it amon+ the !oeotians"

The 1an of Fort( Cro%ns" :=

The Russian secretar( astonished us %ith a recita,

of the +reat esta,ishments the( %ere formin+ in

Russia" It %as as>ed %h( *eo*,e %ere) in +enera,)

more fond of readin+ the histor( of Char,es

9II") %ho *assed his ,ife in destro(in+) than that

of Peter the reat) %ho consumed his in creatin+

On this %e conc,uded that %ea>ness and a fri&o,ous

turn of mind are the causes of this *referenceH that

Char,es 9II" %as the Don 7ui?ote) and Peter) the

So,on of the NorthH that su*ercia, understand8

in+s *refer a %i,d) e?tra&a+ant heroism to the +reat

&ie%s of a ,e+is,atorH that the *articu,ars of the

foundation of a to%n are ,ess *,easin+ to them than

the rashness of a man %ho) at the head of on,( his

domestics) ra&es an arm( of ten thousand Tur>sH

and that) in short) most readers ,o&e amusement



etter than instruction" Thence it is that a hundred

%omen read #The Thousand and One Araian

Ni+hts# for one that reads t%o cha*ters of Loc>e"

What %as not ta,>ed of at this su**er of %hich

I sha,, ,on+ retain the rememrance It %as a,so

in course to sa( a %ord of the actors and actresses)

that eterna, suJect of the ta,e8ta,> of Versai,,es

and of Paris" It %as a+reed that a +ood dec,aimer

%as as rare as a +ood *oet" For m( *art) I must

o%n that P,ato$s anGuet cou,d not ha&e +i&en me

more *,easure than that of 1onsieur and 1adame

Andre%"

Our &er( *rett( +ent,emen and our &er( ne

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Voltaire II